So, HoT, as we will call it for now, is quite likely going to be an expansion.
Lets talk, what could the plot revolve around from what we saw in the trailer teaser?
1. The Pact is divided:
The Pact brought armies not just from its own borders but from the Grove and other nations of Tyria to rally against the Mordrem. With the fleet crashing somewhere in the Maguuma (possibly Magus Falls even) the survivors are going to be bitter, and most of them will know who to blame.
This Xenophobia is going to be what likely starts events in motions both in exploring deeper into the Maguuma, and returning to Tyria to resolve threats there.
2. Queen Jennah could die/be injured!
Canach is clearly shown in D.R. before a very angry mob threatening to skewer him. I have no doubt we will have to save him from this unpleasant predicament.
As to why? Something big must have happened in the heartland of the human capital to trigger such a big response and nothing says big other than random Sylvari trying to kill the queen.
3. The Player Character might be Corrupted
We saw the vision that Scarlet Saw, this lowered her immunity to the corruption of dragon influences which essentially made her vulnerable in the first place. Her actions set in motion this entire event which leads one to believe that the player may end up being subject to Mordremoth’s mind magic later on in the expansion.
Imagine, if you will, the horror, of hallucinating a Mordrem attack, only to discover you singlehandedly slaughtered an entire camp of Pact Refugee’s.
Or the potential of fighting your own companions, as they attempt to bring you back to redemption, and “fight” destiny.
4. The Pale Tree might become an Elder Dragon.
Glint was supposedly capable and nearly at her potential of becoming one, even if she had been around a lot longer. Maybe Caithe’s plan is to sacrifice her child to make her mother into an Elder Dragon to fight the others?
5. If the above is true, dragon v dragon battle, 100% confirmed.
Godzilla, nuffsaid.
6. Mursaat or Guild wars Utopia Chronomancer?
A lot of theories on that mysterious fellow, but we still dont have an absolute answer yet, if its a Mursaat this could potentially play into the idea of the enemy of my enemy mentality.
We may find unexpected allies in old foes, more likely out of a necessity of mutual survival than anything else.
7. Treaherne might end up becoming a major antagonist.
His wild-hunt is over, his purpose questioned by Treesus himself at Zhaitans defeat, not sure what he was supposed to do.
He was just a humble scholar, never a leader, never meant to command armies.
Its evident hes also incompetent as a military strategist, but Mordremoth might change that once he has his brain on his side and his knowledge of Tyrians.
8. We might encounter other Pale Trees, but that doesn’t mean the Sylvari they create would be Humanoid.
Twitter posted some interesting pics from areas we haven’t seen in game yet, namely a pic of strange kittenroach/termite like creatures with glowing backs not so unlike Sylvari that was shown with Rytlock and the caption “they belong to the dragon now”.
As we see in the trailer for HoT, this quote is stated directly as Rytlock mentions “You cant trust the Sylvari, they belong to the dragon now.”
Corrupted Pale Tree’s may not produce humanoid Sylvari, keep that in mind.