Hylek

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Concept art by Jason Juan.

The hylek are a Tyrian frogman species. They have lately spread in increasing numbers along coasts surrounding the Sea of Sorrows, such as the Tarnished Coast, the Krytan coasts, and the coasts to the west of the Shiverpeak Mountains. A few tribes have been found in the Heart of Maguuma. Although once reclusive and xenophobic, some of the hylek tribes now welcome trade with outsiders. Other tribes, especially those that produce the deadliest toxins, are still very hostile.

Physiology[edit]

The hylek are wide-mouthed frogmen with lashing tongues and are descendants from the heket species of Elona.[1] Hylek thrive in all types of water, but prefer to live in swampy areas. Despite this preference they can be found far away from their spawning grounds. All hylek have a set of poison glands filled with deadly toxins, each being immune to their own toxins and a variety of other poisons. Hylek are renowned alchemists for their mastery of poisons and antidotes.

Hylek come in wide variety of colors with each tribe having a unique color. The color hints at their aggressiveness which correlates to the deadliness of the toxin they produce. Blue hylek are always friendly, green are mostly friendly, orange/yellow are mostly hostile, and red are almost always hostile.

Hylek are capable of multiplying extremely rapidly. Hylek are born in broods as helpless tadpoles in schools of hundreds or even thousands. The early life of a hylek is a battle for survival allowing only the strongest and most aggressive hylek to survive. The average life span of a hylek is relatively short, a hylek dying of old age might die in their forties, but few make it to that age as hylek life often ends prematurely through violence or starvation.

Most hylek's preferred diet are various kinds of insects, usually types of flies, though they will also eat truffles and fish as well. Hylek in starving tribes can be seen often attacking any fly they come across. In some areas, the Risen's spreading has been corrupting their food supplies. There is a tribe of red hylek in The Silverwastes who have a herd of giant beetles.

The hylek tribes within the Heart of Maguuma vary largely from the hylek of Central Tyria. The Nuhoch hylek are far larger and physically resemble cane toads, while the Itzel Hylek resemble tree frogs.

Culture[edit]

The hylek divide themselves into different tribes which can be differentiated by their color. Each tribe has a different toxin strength, with those having the strongest toxins being the most aggressive. Tribe size can vary from dozens of members to hundreds. Due to their territorial nature, it is nearly impossible to get two tribes to cooperate. When two tribes claim the same land they often wage war until one or both tribes are destroyed. "Hylek" was once the name of a single tribe among the race, but in the past 250 years, it has expanded to refer to the race as a whole.

The tribe oversees care of a new brood of youngsters with minimal effort, leaving individuals to fend for themselves. When a brood of young hylek matures, a coming-of-age festival is held where they have competitions to show off the young hylek's strength and value to the whole tribe. How the hylek perform during the festival determines their role in the tribe for life, such as whether they become warriors or merchants.

Due to their high resistance to toxins, hylek often experiment with poisons, their antidotes, and other compounds, which in turn makes them highly valued alchemists. This has allowed hylek to form an economy with other races and groups. Other races sometimes accept hylek as apprentice alchemists, allowing both races to gain new knowledge. Even the asura value the hylek for their alchemy.[2] In most other areas, however, they fall short when compared to other races in terms of advancement, but they have made, and are still making, significant progress in social development over the last 250 years.

According to the sylvari Pellam, some of the common names for different types of hylek warriors have translations into the common language. "Amini" means "hunter", "Cuicani" means "singer", "Nahualli" means "sorcerer", and "Tlamatini" means "wise". Pellam himself is not entirely certain he remembers the meanings of these names correctly.

Religion[edit]

Hylek markings of the sun.

The hylek do not have a faith in gods but rather revere the sun as a nameless divine entity, believing it to represent both good and evil. To hylek, the sun is the bringer of life-sustaining heat and bounty, as well as the harbinger of drought and famine. They often hold festivals on the solstices to celebrate the waning and waxing of the days' lengths.

Hylek priests and shamans are masters of reading the sun and the sky and each tribe has at least one priest, if not more. These priests interpret the sun and the sky for weather patterns that could tell when it will rain and how long dry seasons would last. Among the hylek, it is often considered that an accurate priest is one of the most important factors for the prosperity of the tribe.

Though many do not call the sun god by its name, Shaman Huelec confirms that the sun god's name is Zintl. Hylek tribes in the Heart of Maguuma worship a nature goddess named Ameyalli. Hylek gathered at the Astrozintli Forelands revere the gentle life serpent Xiuquatl as a beacon of hope against Tequatl.[3]

Government[edit]

Hylek society is divided into individual tribes. Each tribe is led by a single chieftain who has absolute rule, however the chieftains often consult the priests and elders for advice in order to keep favor among the tribe. When dealing with those outside their tribe, hylek send speakers, or Tlatotetl in their language, to perform the negotiations and trade.

Hylek who make it through their harsh lives into old age are deeply respected by the tribe and are often asked for counsel on difficult issues or for judgment during disputes among the tribe.

Tribes[edit]

Crystal Desert
Heart of Maguuma
Kryta
Maguuma Jungle
Maguuma Wastes
Shiverpeak Mountains

History[edit]

Zintl with Itzel (Hylek in the Heart of Thorns).jpg

Hylek history prior to 1078 AE is unknown outside of their own tribes, and much hasn't changed over the past 250 years. Since Zhaitan's rise and the spreading of his Risen forces, hylek have been slowly being pushed out of their southern homelands. Similarly, since the krait fled to Tyria en masse, many tribes' food sources and hunting grounds have become scarce, starving the tribes. Those on the eastern edge of the Sea of Sorrows have mostly been displaced and many banded together, despite their territorial and hostile natures. Starting at an indeterminate period (1327 AE at the latest), hylek of the Zintl tribe began enslaving hylek in the Far Silverwastes and attempting to enslave the tribes of the Heart of Maguuma and convert them to the worship of their Sun God.

Types[edit]

See also: Category:Hylek

Gallery[edit]

Concept art
  • Hylek concept art.jpg
  • Hylek 2 render.jpg
  • Hylek 3 render.jpg
  • Hylek Siege Weapon concept art.jpg
  • Hylek flag stand concept art.jpg
  • Go Forth and Multiply- The Hylek header.jpg
Render
Screenshots
  • Hylek markings of the sun.

    Hylek markings of the sun.

Quotes[edit]

Female[edit]

Aggro
Jump to it brothers!
You asked for this!
You're in trouble now!
Death
I thought I was winning.
One last gasp. Uhn!

Male[edit]

Aggro
Form up!
Swarm up!
They crossed the line.
You crossed the line.
Death
You win. I die.

As a note, the Itzel and Nuhoch type hylek have different voice lines.

Related achievements[edit]

Notes[edit]

See also[edit]

Associated items

References[edit]

Gwwlogo.png The Guild Wars Wiki has an article on Heket.
  1. ^ Guild Wars 2 Guru post, Regina Buenaobra
  2. ^ In The Mind Of Genius, Secret Agent Cat
  3. ^ Legendary Armory description of Xiuquatl
    Hylek of the Astrozintli Forelands revere the life serpent Xiuquatl. While it's too small and gentle to be their savior, those traits make it Tequatl's perfect opposite—and a potent symbol of hope.
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