GW2 OC: Asteffiel (NO usually follows, but that isn't his name)

[innercactus]

place for me to keep track of things.

THIS CONTAINS SPOILERS FOR LIVING WORLD SEASON 4 OF GUILD WARS 2.

Currently :
Nicknames
Random Headcanons + Sylvari Wiki Info
Asteffiel Appearance

Comments

Sylvari Headcanons From Wiki / Book Info

[innercactus]

Obviously, no bp/pulse means they don't have a heart organ, so instead they have a tree's vein structures. Grown clothing is technically already "dead", because bleeding clothing would contradict the "changing clothing is like getting a hair cut". Getting a leaf yanked off will sting a little, because it is attached, but not really hurt the way a hair-leaf yanked would hurt. (this is also why the midrib and veins of the leaves he wears is the same color as his skin-)

• Growing clothing will make Asteffiel hungry - he did just suddenly put out a bunch of growth, it makes sense. Perfect for mornings, get dressed, suddenly in the mood for breakfast!

"About a head shorter" is bs, he's about average-tall height for both humans and Sylvari (and use of screen caps that the slider range for both Sylvari and Humans is basically the same, sorry ANet story writers). (5'10-6'3, maybe)

As for their lack of internal organs, but still breathing and eating, and with NPC chatter indicating coughing / sneezing, and the books agreeing with breathing as a visible thing, there's probably a similar structure to the human respiratory system in the head and to the throat (for coughing and sneezing). Either this connects to a cavity of leaves that have been designed for better air absorption (I am going to assume CO2, because plants breathe that. Deal with it-), or the layering visible on the Sylvari (and more pronounced with the glow) is the gaps into the protected "lung leaves", and the nose/mouth don't actually go further than the throat for air displacement via coughing.

• This could mean that CPR from Sylvari doesn't work. Or maybe both of these are options and it changes based on how the Sylvari looks? And aqua-breathers get more complex for Sylvari or something, because I like that layering idea. /oops bodyhorror…


• Either way, this version of "lung" wouldn't be as fragile as the human lungs – the sap just oozes anyway, so there wouldn't be a flood of bleeding cutting off the ability to get air, but drowning is still possible.

Because Sylvari need to eat and drink to survive, it's pretty clear that photosynthesis isn't viable enough (because they do get an energy boost from sunlight, so light does help, and because they don't have roots, they can't get nutrients that way), but again, lack organs for a digestive system, they have something that functions like a stomach. The Sylvari in the novel lists a few plants – venus fly trap, iboga, jacaranda, pitcher plants – that are also carnivorous. However I can't find how iboga eat (they are apparently a psychedelic though-) or how jacaranda do (there is very little on wiki on the 30some types of jacaranda, this is probably why, and my googlefu sucks-), so looking at pitcher plants and venus fly traps-

• Pitcher Plants use a waxy interior so anything that falls in can't climb out, combined with: bacteria that is washed in via rain (unlikely), enzymes of its own (fairly likely), helpful insect larva that eat the food, and poo out the nutrients the pitcher plant needs (unlikely, but fascinating on a body horror level), or wild shrews, that fish out what falls in, eat it, and poo the nutrients into the pitcher (also very unlikely). Most likely to be some sort of enzymes and fluid, if go the pitcher plant route.


• Downside of this route – making a Sylvari puke would be as easy as turning them upside down. Getting a hit to the stomach – wherever it is – is still very bad.


• Venus Fly Trap – usually clamps shut because something tickled it, and continued struggling sets off "time to seal it and dump enzymes on it" reaction. It reads like it basically oxidizes the caught thing until its cells rupture, and mm tasty juices. When it gets nothing tasty anymore, it opens.


• Downside – takes about 10 days, would have sealed off their stomach (unless they have multiple, like ten, and cycle through them-), and anything considered "inedible" would remain (insect chitin). Get to leave pellets behind like owls???


• Drosophyllum showed up on searching "how do carnivorous plants digest" and offers a sticky surface that insects drown themselves on as they struggle free, which the plant then dissolves and absorbs.

I vote for a Sylvari having to chew a bit longer than a human, and having a "throat" that has the sticky substance that dissolves insects ala fly trap and drosophyllum. OKAY WE HAVE CANON ON WHAT HAPPENS TO FOOD AFTER THEY EAT IT, I guess there's magic plant nonsense involved for most food to turn into mulch

To be honest, it really doesn't surprise me about blinking. The eye and eyelid might just be made of a softer plant material with photosensitive cells to them, so they can see (eye), and movable because humans do that (eye and lids), so they can't dry out because they aren't.. squishy flesh-race eyes. They already have bioluminescent cells here and there soooo-

In terms of bark, I'd expect that they have a muted sense of touch because.. bark for skin, for the most part. Bark can vary, and for areas that need more tactile sense, probably a thinner bark, graduating to sturdier leaves and finally petals for say, finger pads.