Guild Wars 2

Yeah i know that title, right?

One thing that i from time to time wonder about is the seraph and their wing- like theme. i am talking about the weapons. As far as i recall the humans and their worship of dwayna and the others never resulted in that many “angel” wings on their weapons in gw1.
What changed?
I remember dwayna’s derwish avatar maybe remotely resembeling an angel. But why does the human royal guard (?) present arms embellished with symbols that are linked to a rather peacefull goddess? Is it to emphasize the peace keeping role of the Seraph? Or is there a more militaristic twist to it. I read the novels and do not recall any mention on why the Seraph choose these ornaments.
Did the Interpretation of dwayna change? And are Seraph similar to crussaders in other fantasy releases? ( i have to stress fantasy, not real life) Do they See them selfes as holy Warriors? I thought that one was for the Guardians, but then again; there are asura, charr and cabbage guardians. Why do they use the goddess’ symbol on their arms. I think there is a difference to displaying wings on your regalia (?) and banners and forging weapons that resemble religious symbols.
Is there any explanation in game or lore?
And i do apologize, i did ramble a wee bit.

Edit:
I am aware of this: "their shields bear wings out of respect to the goddess Dwayna. " but this only speaks of shields not axes, swords and rifles.

Makes sence to me why humans have the winged theme on thing. Dwayna always had a angel look to her (like her GW1 statues)
and theres also the Avatar of Dwayna npc that look likes GW version of a angel
(also the kryta we saw in GW1 was mantle ruled they prolly wouldnt allow such to a point)

(for random NPC when it comes to weapon and armor i think it more like if it works use it! practicality—>style. when your life in danger)

To quote Salma’s speech at the end of War in Kryta: “Honoring the winged goddess who protected us in our final battle against the fiends who had usurped our kingdom, this new group will be called the Seraph… You will know the Seraph by the wings that adorn their helms and shields, and by their resolute defense of our land. They shall be the protectors of Kryta.”

The symbolism was just a display of piety on the part of the monarch who envisioned them, a monarch who rose to her throne at a time when her country had been torn apart by a cult worshiping false gods. It’s not that Dwayna was seen in a martial light, it’s that the Seraph were founded as an extension of a queen’s attempts to foster peace and goodwill, and a return to the human traditions.

On angels- that wouldn’t come from the dervish avatar, but from the avatar Dwayna spoke through. If Balthazar and Grenth can be taken as a trend, she may have a whole set of those serving her.

Finally, guardians: their power is drawn from faith and loyalty in general. That can be a crusading zeal born of belief in the gods, but it can just as easily be faith in the Legions or a soldier’s warband, or in the tenets of Ventari and the Dream, or even just commitment to one’s fellows. The profession includes crusaders, but only as one of several possible facets.

Thanks guys both make sense. It was just that i interpret shields as a means to protect while arms are means of conquer and enslave, as seen with the centaurs and tengu. That is why i struggled with the winged symbolism. Silly me i main warrior, I should know a shields is an offensive ( yes terrible pun but i stand to it) weapon.

Thanks for your insights!

No problem!

I get what you’re saying there, but I think it all depends on how the swords are used. By the time the Seraph were founded, the centaurs had long ago been driven out of Kryta, so any use against them has been defensive in the face of their recent rampages, and as far as we know non-humans have never been enslaved in Tyria. (Mind you, the traditional approach of the Tyrian kingdoms of slaughtering them like beasts can hardly be considered better… but, again, those days were largely past by the time the Seraph were founded.) To the best of our knowledge, the only war in which the Seraph have been the aggressors is the on-again, off-again involvement in the Siege of Ebonhawke, and even that is easily framed as defending their fellow humans.