Guild Wars 2

We can be fairly certain that the Sylvari and the Jungle Dragon are linked somehow. The reason I believe that this is the case is when we consider how the Elder Dragons have managed to influence living beings. These beings are often geographically tied to the region in which the ED awoke. Thus, the Norn (among others) are influenced by Jormag; the dead of Orr (humans predominantly) by Zaithan (who awoke from the seas around that area); the Krait, Quaggan etc etc by the DSD; the Charr (and others) by Kralkatorik; the Dwarves, Asura etc etc by Primordus. In some cases, an Elder Dragon may be linked to the creation of a species of living beings. In the case of Primordus, we have the destroyers.
And that’s where the Sylvari come in. We know that the stirrings of each ED are linked to social upheaval amongst groups of sentient beings. Large migrations conflicts etc etc have taken place as they awaken. We also know that the Inquest are aware of the presence of a Jungle Dragon because we see a Zone in the CoE dungeon with hostile plant beings. We also know that no other race comes from the Maguuma Jungle, the resting place of the Jungle Dragon, save for the Sylvari.
The problem that most of us have with any such hypothesis about this is that it leads to the idea that the Pale Tree is a Dragon. Although possible, this is highly unlikely. So how can the Pale Tree (and hence the Sylvari) be the creation/offspring of the Jungle Dragon if they are not aware of him? The answer may lie in the human warrior who stole the Pale Tree seed from the cave. It was removed from an area prepared by creatures such as those observed in CoE and so the psychic link between the seed and the Dragon was severed. It was instead Ventari who was able to “tame” the seed in the same way that the wild vicious nature of animals can be bred and/or trained out of them through the love and affection of human beings.
Of course, this is merely theory and I am sure that many will disagree.
One objection has been that Sylvari are immune to Zaithan’s corruption and hence cannot be servants of the Jungle Dragon, since they would fall sway to him if they were. However, only one Sylvari has died so far according to lore – and that not by natural causes. He was slain. Furthermore, Sylvari are plants, whereas Zaithan corrupts mammals, birds, reptiles etc etc anything with red blood that dies a natural death. Hence, Sylvari would not fall under Zaithan’s sway because they are not red-blooded creatures.
More on this later.

To continue the theme of a psychic link between Sylvari, their “Tree” and the Jungle Dragon, think about the conundrum of the Harbinger. Where does he come from? A tree, obviously, but one that we have not seen. The Nightmare Court (offspring of the Pale Tree) sought him out (so he did not come from them). He obviously fell prematurely from a Tree and was swept (as a pod) down a river that separated him geographically from his “Tree” such that it was no longer able to communicate with him. Hence, he has no more than his own memories to guide him. Thus, he is no more able to tell us where he came from than we are to tell him.
The Harbinger demonstrates that the psychic link between “Trees” and and their offspring is affected by their spatial distance. In the same way it is possible that the same goes for Dragons. Thus, Zaithan does not corrupt Dredge in the Shiverpeaks, he corrupts the dead around him. Similarly, Jormag does not corrupt the dead of Orr. In this way it is also possible to explain why removing the Pale Tree seed from the midst of the Jungle Dragon’s minions was enough to free it from enslavement to the Jungle Dragon’s will.

This again?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/On-the-Sixth-Elder-Dragon-and-its-corruption/first

Here, the poster brings up that Pale Tree = Dragon Champion theory, and gives decent reasoning as to why it probably isn’t true.

This and the other thread ispretty interesting

It’s name was Mordremoth.

I accept that people may not agree with this theory. But for anyone who wishes to delve deeper into the nature of Sylvari and the Tree please feel free to keep reading (not necessarily because I am correct but for the sake of investigation).
My point is not that the Nightmare Court are worshiping Dragon openly, but that they are influenced by it. Of course we are apt to refer to Zaithan as the model corrupter and so measure Sylvari “corruption” in light of this. But we shouldn;t see Zaithan as the model of Dragon corruption. in fact quite the opposite. Think about the Six Dragons: What do they represent?
1) DSD: Water
2) Kralkatorik: Earth (crystal etc etc)
3) Jormag: Ice (frozen deserts and the forces that shape them (wind))
4) Primordus: Lava, fire and seismic activity within Tyria
5) Zaithan: Death and the afterlife of the soul
6) Mordremoth: Plants

Notice anything? Four of the six EDs are involved in inanimate forces of Nature and each can ultimately be said to be loosely associated with a natural force within Tyria. But Zaithan and Mordremoth are the only EDs directly affecting living beings. More importantly, Zaithan is the only ED that actually ENSLAVES sentient beings (when we say sentient beings we talk of higher life forms such as Charr, Humans, Asura etc etc). Why? Because you don’t choose to serve Zaithan, he chooses to reanimate you regardless of whether you CHOOSE to serve him or not. So when we try to use Zaithan’s corruption to understand how the other Dragons empower their servants we forget that his abilities are far weaker than those of the other Dragons. They seduce, Zaithan forces.

Nilkemia.8507:

This again?

https://forum-en.gw2archive.eu/forum/game/lore/On-the-Sixth-Elder-Dragon-and-its-corruption/first

Here, the poster brings up that Pale Tree = Dragon Champion theory, and gives decent reasoning as to why it probably isn’t true.

Wasn’t expecting my thread to be linked here.

There’s a lot that’s been seen since then too which further disprove the notion that sylvari=ED minions.

Husks are traded to the Inquest by the Nightmare Court in Sparkly Fen, for example.

But the main counters is:

1. Malyck’s uninfluenced by anything, but is not very dragon minion like.
2. Sylvari are immune to all dragon corruption (or rather, they cannot become minions – they die when touched by a dragon’s corruption). As Crucible of Eternity proves to us, dragon minions can be influenced by other dragons’ corruption.

Stephen.6312:

Of course we are apt to refer to Zaithan as the model corrupter and so measure Sylvari “corruption” in light of this. But we shouldn;t see Zaithan as the model of Dragon corruption. in fact quite the opposite.

I’m not sure what you’re trying to get here.

It was told during “sylvari week” prior to release that sylvari are immune to all dragon corruption – that they die before becoming corrupted, when touched by it.

It’s why there’s never going to be an Icebrood Sylvari, or Branded Sylvari. It just cannot happen.

But Subject Alpha, Kudu, and Kudu’s Monster shows that normal beings can be influenced by multiple dragons – including what was originally a risen (Kudu’s Monster being a Risen Giant).

Stephen.6312:

However, only one Sylvari has died so far according to lore – and that not by natural causes. He was slain.

Uh….

You need to pay a hell of a lot more attention. Rionnac was the first, not the only. I mean, what about all those Nightmare Courtiers? Terebirth Tree’s story? Seira? Tegwen? There’s a LOT of sylvari who die to risen.

Stephen.6312:

Furthermore, Sylvari are plants, whereas Zaithan corrupts mammals, birds, reptiles etc etc anything with red blood that dies a natural death. Hence, Sylvari would not fall under Zaithan’s sway because they are not red-blooded creatures.

Go to central Sparkfly Fen. Go to Orr. You’ll find that Zhaitan’s influence reaches plants too.

Stephen.6312:

He obviously fell prematurely from a Tree and was swept (as a pod) down a river that separated him geographically from his “Tree” such that it was no longer able to communicate with him. Hence, he has no more than his own memories to guide him. Thus, he is no more able to tell us where he came from than we are to tell him.

This is actually untrue. It’s just that he had no Dream of Dream experience, he had all of his memories and everything, and knew where his tree came from. Just never saw it.

Stephen.6312:

The Harbinger demonstrates that the psychic link between “Trees” and and their offspring is affected by their spatial distance. In the same way it is possible that the same goes for Dragons.

Except all syvlari from the Pale Tree proves you wrong. As do the risen seen in Fireheart Rise during the personal story if you get it.

Stephen.6312:

Thus, Zaithan does not corrupt Dredge in the Shiverpeaks, he corrupts the dead around him.

He corrupted Mazdak from his tomb on the other side of Kryta…

Stephen.6312:

Similarly, Jormag does not corrupt the dead of Orr.

Jormag corrupts primarily those who willing desire power and accept him.

Stephen.6312:

Think about the Six Dragons: What do they represent?
1) DSD: Water
2) Kralkatorik: Earth (crystal etc etc)
3) Jormag: Ice (frozen deserts and the forces that shape them (wind))
4) Primordus: Lava, fire and seismic activity within Tyria
5) Zaithan: Death and the afterlife of the soul
6) Mordremoth: Plants

Notice anything? Four of the six EDs are involved in inanimate forces of Nature and each can ultimately be said to be loosely associated with a natural force within Tyria. But Zaithan and Mordremoth are the only EDs directly affecting living beings.

In the GuildMag magazine that last came out, there was an interview with Scott, Jeff, and Ree. In it, Jeff made mention of what certain Elder Dragons can effect. He says:

“Some of them could affect life, some of them could affect inanimate objects, some of them could affect the elements, vegetation, water, you know they all had their some specialty but they also have some overlap”

“life” “inanimate objects” “the elements” “vegetation” “water”

Now, I’d like to disagree with your assessment of Kralkatorrik, Primordus, and Zhaitan.

Kralkatorrik and his Branded utilize earth, crystal, lightning, and fire. But he seems unable/unwilling to corrupt water and souls.

Primordus affects lava/fire and earth, but his “seismic activity” seems more of an after-effect of being underground and being large.

Zhaitan is less of death and more of rot/decay and “new life” – I say rot/decay because even fresh corpses, when corrupted and turned into a Risen, turn gray-skinned and rotten. And only his strongest minions affect the soul. With Captain Whiting from Sea of Sorrows novel among some Risen in Orr making mention of immortality and eternal life. His corruption feels more like a… “counteraction to dying,” I guess? Idk how to word it.

Also, you’re entirely wrong that Mordremoth and Zhaitan are the only ones affecting living beings. In fact, we don’t know what Mordremoth affects, it’s all speculative at this time. Saying he affects plants is based on very limited information.

Kralkatorrik twisted ogres, charr, humans, and dogs. Jormag’s twisted norn, trolls, and quaggan. Even Primordus is hinted to twist living beings (see above linked interview):

Stephen.6312:

More importantly, Zaithan is the only ED that actually ENSLAVES sentient beings (when we say sentient beings we talk of higher life forms such as Charr, Humans, Asura etc etc).

Again: Kralkatorrik does this. Jormag does too, from time to time.

I appreciate the feedback and can safely put my ideas to rest.