Post by Deleted on May 16, 2009 20:27:10 GMT -8
Note: this is a repost with revisions and added information. this is not about a chara persay, only the details of a guardian.
Well, It seems there's a bit of confusion to the where and how the Elemental Guardians get their powers and build them up. This is intended to be for your information as well as to clear up any misconceptions on the order, their power's and the way to tap into them.
The Classes
Elemental Guardians are divided into 4 sects, and three different classes, all with different weapons suited to fit him/her:
Guardians are the standard one element-wielding warriors, each with a unique form suited to their element. Usually, they are in groups of six as a complete set. Their robes and/or armor often carry an symbol of their element, thoughsome chose to conceal it, and bear the symbol on their bodies
Master guardians are those deemed to have attributes of all six elements, and are often given a human form to conceal their granted powers. if they bore an element symbol, it is replaced with a circle. They are also required to with a set of guardians to command and give orders to.
The Grandmaster is the head of all guardians, and the only one who is able to grant and strip guardianship. As the Grandmaster, they are the only one able to bring about the very spirits that govern each of the elements. when a Master Guardian is given this title, he or she is given a name of their choice, made by rearranging the words Fu, Ku, Sui, and Chi.
Often, there are many other cratures and individuals that learn the ways of the guardian, including how to craft their weapons.
The Elements: Physical
The physical elements are ever present, in many forms which bend to the will of the guardian representing that element, so long as the emotional conditions are met.
Earth: Like the earth they shape, Earth Guardians must channel feelings of strong resolve, and adamant choices to make their stone walls and iron lances. Often, when solely fixed on their willpower, they can create armor of earthen byproduct over their skin/fur/feathers.The emotions that govern this element are determination and undying faith.
Wind: As graceful as a breeze, Wind Guardians rely on the freedom and jubilation that fill them to control and build up wind storms, typhoons, even a shift of climate and weather. With extreme joy, they can take flight, or levitate others with the winds. The feelings that rule this element are happiness and elation.
Water: more enigmatic than still waters, Water Guardians use the waters to create illusions, heal wounds and create ice like object or heavy fog. The true masters can even form dupicates of water granted sentience with the fixed calmness of their mind. Emotions that control this element are serenity and focus.
Fire: With tempers and wraths burning within them, Fire Guardians can channel heat and fire though their bodies,weapon, and even through others, creating spontaneous explosions of flame and entrails. When in a berserk-like fury, their ability is enhanced, and can create a crater from a town, forest or even an entire island. The mindset for this element is pure rage and unbridled blood lust.
The Elements: Spiritual
Unlike their counterparts of the material order, the Spiritual Elements do not always need the symbol of their physical aspects, as their energies come from the spirit, embodied in that particular form when wielded by the guardian of that aspect.
Light: From the light of the sun, to the light of their palms, Light Guardians can create protective screens from a prism crystals , weapons of illumination out of firelight, and even restore souls that are drained of positive emotion and spiritual strength. The best of the Light Guardians can even rid wraiths and ghosts of malevolent energies, allowing them to have peace of mind and move on to eternal rest. Dispositions for this element's use are positive emotions, such as love and trust.
Shadow: Darkness is both around and within Shadow Guardians, as they are the polar opposite of the former. Using the shadows as they see fit, they can see or hear others, traverse through places, and even create shadows of immense sizes. The true Shadow Guardians are those than can overshadow souls within a body, and control them like puppets, even alter memories of the possessed. The state of mind for this element is negative emotions, such as strife and pain.
Weapons
A guardian's weapon is crafted from a metal that is empowered with all six elements, which is carefully supervised, taking up to a year to make. Usually, the elements clash together, and create Void, a flux in space where one can be negated or even obliterated from existance. The Grandmaster is usually the one to monitor and control the flow implanted into the weapon. When completed, the weapon takes the form of a black steel rod. This rod is a Guardian's weapon in its dormant form, not yet awakend. When invoked by it's wielder (sometimes an apprentice or hopeful) the weapon changes pending the style of combat prefered by the owner. More direct warriors wield blades, poleaxes or spears. Those prefering distance often have whips, chains or bows. Defensive fighters use staves, spears and on the rare occasion shields. As well as it's form, the weapon the guardian wields grows with it's owner (which is why Dai's scythe is massive, after his nine changes, when compared to the other weapons, like Shio's sword, with his changes at three). Upon awakening, the rod will glow white, as it takes it's shape, before the transforming energies scatter, and imprint themselves as white runes along the newly formed weapon. These runes give the wielder the power of transmutation, though limited to transmute wood, water, fire, earth and metal into any of the others. Master Guardians have a symbol on their weapons that can strip the power from a Guardian of their sect.
Headquarters
The guardians are usually located in a large pagoda, given the name Pinnicle, as it lay in a land east of the moon and west from the sun. As such, the sky is parted in an eternal mix of day and night. the levels of this building are as follows:
The first floor is an atrium of sorts, with the bodies of the oldest guardians, some of the first to fall serving their order. To the back one can see the workshop that is used to make weapons of all sorts, and the stairs winding to the basement storehouse.
The second floor is reserved for teaching hopefuls the art of magic they wish to learn, for those prefering abrand of magic rather than an element. Sometimes, there are special mixed classes, usually the offensive and defensive groups practicing with each other.
The third level is a meal hall for hopefuls and a dwelling area for instructors of both hopefuls and Apprentices. It can get rather confusing for newer students and teachers not yet familiar with where things are.
The fourth level is the Apprentice quarters and lesson area, where six rooms are used for aprentices of that element. There is also a rumor of a shortcut to the weapon storage room being hidden somewhere on this floor. Also on this floor is the hall where fallen Guardians are placed.
The fifth level is the War Room and conference hall, used during times of uneasy peace, or when advocating between to warring or rival factions or contries. The first use time the room was used for such purpose was when dealing with the higher level advocates from Heaven and Hell, the meeting later on known as the 3 powers pact.
The sixth level is the Guardian quarters and Obliteration chamber.The only rooms unoccupied are the Northeren Guardian's rooms. The Obliteration chamber is used for the storage of traitors, and the victims of Dai's Fobbiden Sixth fist technique.
The last floor is the Grandmaster's audiance chamber and quarters, which is always occupied by The Grandmaster, save durring times of personal crisis. Before Fuku Chisui, the current Grandmaster, there have been 4 others, each using a vaiaion of Fu, Sui, Ku, and Chi.
Rules and treatment of traitors for the Order
Just like any other place, there are rules to abide by within the Pagoda, which are as follows:
A Guardian exists to mantain the balance for both good and evil, and if one is found aiding too much for one cause, they will be reprimanded with a year of mortality. (Dai has served almost 80 years for over-aiding good magic over his lifespan)
When a Guardian takes a wife, mate, life partner, etc; the guardian's spouse is given protection by the Guardian order, and is viewed by them as an honorary Guardian. It is also not uncommon for the guardian to give their spouse a part of their power for their own use.
Durring the Change (see below), a Guardian can choose to stay as their current form by battling the master of their sect. if they fail, the change is forced onto them and they must also change their name (this is a fate shared by Vincent and Fredric, who were formerly known as Joseph and Di-Mensi respectivly)
Children of a Guardian may ask to take the Challenge of the Elements, to prove themselves worthy to be guardians, but only if their is a position available. To be fair, Aprentices are given priorety over Guardian children, and theresults are taken into account.
When a Guardian decides to resign, they must surrender their power, otherwise give it to someone willing to take it, or risk their body becoming an animal in both form and mind. Also, they must surrender their weapon as well, unless they name it and allow the power of transmutation to fade. (none have done this in the past, so there is often a plethora of spare weapons in storage for practice.)
When a Guardian has a problem with another that interferes with their duty, They are transported to the Spiritual Plane, where the Guardian Spirits reside. They settle their despute in a set of three tasks, the winner declared as the one with the best of three. these could be anything, from boiling a sea of water without using fire or water spells, to even Striking the most blows in 16 seconds.If it is a tie, then a battle to first blood takes place, and even then, should that result in a tie, then the decision of winner is made by the spirits. when a winner is declared, the two who fought are then sat at a table with drinks and food to wash over any lasting resentment. sometimes rivalries are sparked up to give the order and the individuals within Pinnical Pagoda a show. Challenges can also be given to settle disputes, but are simply two tasks, with a measurment of will as the tie breaker. (currently, Dai holds the record of strength of will, whereas Ex is a champion warrior for first-blood duels.)
When a Guardian is deemed traitorous, the Grandmaster sends out a hunter to collect the guardian in question, and he or she is tried by their fellows. The punishments are various, being six months in everite Imprisonment stones, temporary banishment from guardian duty, being stripped of the power of their form, the most techerous of guardians are sentenced to being cast into the Oblivion Plane, through the doorway they reffer to as the Obliteration chamber. Some say it leads to a place where your soul is torn from the fabric of existence every day. Others claim that you neither live, nor do you die, but simply drift with no conscious thought whatsoever. In Truth, it is accually a place where one is put in their victim's perspcetive, and forced to live this way for eternity. There are times when one is granted amnesty for their help, but those are extremely rare, given only when the Order is desperate. There has only been one escape from this plane, when the fourteenth Master of the East was given the body of a planeswalker just before being tossed into the Obliteration chamber. While inside, he shifted to another plane, and was never heard from since.
A Guardian who dies while serving the Order is honored by having their body turned to stone and placed in the Hall of the Fell. The body is shown in a dignified pose, not as it was upon death.
The Change
The Change is what all Guardians experience when they complete 20 years of service to the order, or are granted their title and power for the first time. The person's body is usually encased in a cocoon or chrysalis, and take anywhere from one hour to a month to complete a body altering transformation. The body's form depends on their power, usually one that can utilize their element with optimal effect. When the Change is interrupted or one forces it to a halt, they are stuck in mid-metamorphosis, and must wait for the next change to either gain a new body or complete their transformation. This is an option, of course, and one may challenge their master to a contest to prove their form good enough for their duties. Usually most Guardians go through the Change to avoid infighting or humilliation. The expections are Masters and the Grandmaster(Ex has been an unfortune soul, in the instance that he has never completed a full change cycle)
The Challenge of The Elements
The Challenge is the test an apprentice or hopefull takes to determine if they will become a Guardian, and of what element. The one taking the test enters a higher plane, where their spirit is shown to the gods of the elements. If potential is recogized, the person is asked questions, and afterwards is told if they are to fill the empty slot of Guardian. Master Guardian selection is done througha similar method, but with canadate(s) fighting the Grandmaster before the gods.
Hope this explains the Order and their ways, as well as shed light on my charas.
Well, It seems there's a bit of confusion to the where and how the Elemental Guardians get their powers and build them up. This is intended to be for your information as well as to clear up any misconceptions on the order, their power's and the way to tap into them.
The Classes
Elemental Guardians are divided into 4 sects, and three different classes, all with different weapons suited to fit him/her:
Guardians are the standard one element-wielding warriors, each with a unique form suited to their element. Usually, they are in groups of six as a complete set. Their robes and/or armor often carry an symbol of their element, thoughsome chose to conceal it, and bear the symbol on their bodies
Master guardians are those deemed to have attributes of all six elements, and are often given a human form to conceal their granted powers. if they bore an element symbol, it is replaced with a circle. They are also required to with a set of guardians to command and give orders to.
The Grandmaster is the head of all guardians, and the only one who is able to grant and strip guardianship. As the Grandmaster, they are the only one able to bring about the very spirits that govern each of the elements. when a Master Guardian is given this title, he or she is given a name of their choice, made by rearranging the words Fu, Ku, Sui, and Chi.
Often, there are many other cratures and individuals that learn the ways of the guardian, including how to craft their weapons.
The Elements: Physical
The physical elements are ever present, in many forms which bend to the will of the guardian representing that element, so long as the emotional conditions are met.
Earth: Like the earth they shape, Earth Guardians must channel feelings of strong resolve, and adamant choices to make their stone walls and iron lances. Often, when solely fixed on their willpower, they can create armor of earthen byproduct over their skin/fur/feathers.The emotions that govern this element are determination and undying faith.
Wind: As graceful as a breeze, Wind Guardians rely on the freedom and jubilation that fill them to control and build up wind storms, typhoons, even a shift of climate and weather. With extreme joy, they can take flight, or levitate others with the winds. The feelings that rule this element are happiness and elation.
Water: more enigmatic than still waters, Water Guardians use the waters to create illusions, heal wounds and create ice like object or heavy fog. The true masters can even form dupicates of water granted sentience with the fixed calmness of their mind. Emotions that control this element are serenity and focus.
Fire: With tempers and wraths burning within them, Fire Guardians can channel heat and fire though their bodies,weapon, and even through others, creating spontaneous explosions of flame and entrails. When in a berserk-like fury, their ability is enhanced, and can create a crater from a town, forest or even an entire island. The mindset for this element is pure rage and unbridled blood lust.
The Elements: Spiritual
Unlike their counterparts of the material order, the Spiritual Elements do not always need the symbol of their physical aspects, as their energies come from the spirit, embodied in that particular form when wielded by the guardian of that aspect.
Light: From the light of the sun, to the light of their palms, Light Guardians can create protective screens from a prism crystals , weapons of illumination out of firelight, and even restore souls that are drained of positive emotion and spiritual strength. The best of the Light Guardians can even rid wraiths and ghosts of malevolent energies, allowing them to have peace of mind and move on to eternal rest. Dispositions for this element's use are positive emotions, such as love and trust.
Shadow: Darkness is both around and within Shadow Guardians, as they are the polar opposite of the former. Using the shadows as they see fit, they can see or hear others, traverse through places, and even create shadows of immense sizes. The true Shadow Guardians are those than can overshadow souls within a body, and control them like puppets, even alter memories of the possessed. The state of mind for this element is negative emotions, such as strife and pain.
Weapons
A guardian's weapon is crafted from a metal that is empowered with all six elements, which is carefully supervised, taking up to a year to make. Usually, the elements clash together, and create Void, a flux in space where one can be negated or even obliterated from existance. The Grandmaster is usually the one to monitor and control the flow implanted into the weapon. When completed, the weapon takes the form of a black steel rod. This rod is a Guardian's weapon in its dormant form, not yet awakend. When invoked by it's wielder (sometimes an apprentice or hopeful) the weapon changes pending the style of combat prefered by the owner. More direct warriors wield blades, poleaxes or spears. Those prefering distance often have whips, chains or bows. Defensive fighters use staves, spears and on the rare occasion shields. As well as it's form, the weapon the guardian wields grows with it's owner (which is why Dai's scythe is massive, after his nine changes, when compared to the other weapons, like Shio's sword, with his changes at three). Upon awakening, the rod will glow white, as it takes it's shape, before the transforming energies scatter, and imprint themselves as white runes along the newly formed weapon. These runes give the wielder the power of transmutation, though limited to transmute wood, water, fire, earth and metal into any of the others. Master Guardians have a symbol on their weapons that can strip the power from a Guardian of their sect.
Headquarters
The guardians are usually located in a large pagoda, given the name Pinnicle, as it lay in a land east of the moon and west from the sun. As such, the sky is parted in an eternal mix of day and night. the levels of this building are as follows:
The first floor is an atrium of sorts, with the bodies of the oldest guardians, some of the first to fall serving their order. To the back one can see the workshop that is used to make weapons of all sorts, and the stairs winding to the basement storehouse.
The second floor is reserved for teaching hopefuls the art of magic they wish to learn, for those prefering abrand of magic rather than an element. Sometimes, there are special mixed classes, usually the offensive and defensive groups practicing with each other.
The third level is a meal hall for hopefuls and a dwelling area for instructors of both hopefuls and Apprentices. It can get rather confusing for newer students and teachers not yet familiar with where things are.
The fourth level is the Apprentice quarters and lesson area, where six rooms are used for aprentices of that element. There is also a rumor of a shortcut to the weapon storage room being hidden somewhere on this floor. Also on this floor is the hall where fallen Guardians are placed.
The fifth level is the War Room and conference hall, used during times of uneasy peace, or when advocating between to warring or rival factions or contries. The first use time the room was used for such purpose was when dealing with the higher level advocates from Heaven and Hell, the meeting later on known as the 3 powers pact.
The sixth level is the Guardian quarters and Obliteration chamber.The only rooms unoccupied are the Northeren Guardian's rooms. The Obliteration chamber is used for the storage of traitors, and the victims of Dai's Fobbiden Sixth fist technique.
The last floor is the Grandmaster's audiance chamber and quarters, which is always occupied by The Grandmaster, save durring times of personal crisis. Before Fuku Chisui, the current Grandmaster, there have been 4 others, each using a vaiaion of Fu, Sui, Ku, and Chi.
Rules and treatment of traitors for the Order
Just like any other place, there are rules to abide by within the Pagoda, which are as follows:
A Guardian exists to mantain the balance for both good and evil, and if one is found aiding too much for one cause, they will be reprimanded with a year of mortality. (Dai has served almost 80 years for over-aiding good magic over his lifespan)
When a Guardian takes a wife, mate, life partner, etc; the guardian's spouse is given protection by the Guardian order, and is viewed by them as an honorary Guardian. It is also not uncommon for the guardian to give their spouse a part of their power for their own use.
Durring the Change (see below), a Guardian can choose to stay as their current form by battling the master of their sect. if they fail, the change is forced onto them and they must also change their name (this is a fate shared by Vincent and Fredric, who were formerly known as Joseph and Di-Mensi respectivly)
Children of a Guardian may ask to take the Challenge of the Elements, to prove themselves worthy to be guardians, but only if their is a position available. To be fair, Aprentices are given priorety over Guardian children, and theresults are taken into account.
When a Guardian decides to resign, they must surrender their power, otherwise give it to someone willing to take it, or risk their body becoming an animal in both form and mind. Also, they must surrender their weapon as well, unless they name it and allow the power of transmutation to fade. (none have done this in the past, so there is often a plethora of spare weapons in storage for practice.)
When a Guardian has a problem with another that interferes with their duty, They are transported to the Spiritual Plane, where the Guardian Spirits reside. They settle their despute in a set of three tasks, the winner declared as the one with the best of three. these could be anything, from boiling a sea of water without using fire or water spells, to even Striking the most blows in 16 seconds.If it is a tie, then a battle to first blood takes place, and even then, should that result in a tie, then the decision of winner is made by the spirits. when a winner is declared, the two who fought are then sat at a table with drinks and food to wash over any lasting resentment. sometimes rivalries are sparked up to give the order and the individuals within Pinnical Pagoda a show. Challenges can also be given to settle disputes, but are simply two tasks, with a measurment of will as the tie breaker. (currently, Dai holds the record of strength of will, whereas Ex is a champion warrior for first-blood duels.)
When a Guardian is deemed traitorous, the Grandmaster sends out a hunter to collect the guardian in question, and he or she is tried by their fellows. The punishments are various, being six months in everite Imprisonment stones, temporary banishment from guardian duty, being stripped of the power of their form, the most techerous of guardians are sentenced to being cast into the Oblivion Plane, through the doorway they reffer to as the Obliteration chamber. Some say it leads to a place where your soul is torn from the fabric of existence every day. Others claim that you neither live, nor do you die, but simply drift with no conscious thought whatsoever. In Truth, it is accually a place where one is put in their victim's perspcetive, and forced to live this way for eternity. There are times when one is granted amnesty for their help, but those are extremely rare, given only when the Order is desperate. There has only been one escape from this plane, when the fourteenth Master of the East was given the body of a planeswalker just before being tossed into the Obliteration chamber. While inside, he shifted to another plane, and was never heard from since.
A Guardian who dies while serving the Order is honored by having their body turned to stone and placed in the Hall of the Fell. The body is shown in a dignified pose, not as it was upon death.
The Change
The Change is what all Guardians experience when they complete 20 years of service to the order, or are granted their title and power for the first time. The person's body is usually encased in a cocoon or chrysalis, and take anywhere from one hour to a month to complete a body altering transformation. The body's form depends on their power, usually one that can utilize their element with optimal effect. When the Change is interrupted or one forces it to a halt, they are stuck in mid-metamorphosis, and must wait for the next change to either gain a new body or complete their transformation. This is an option, of course, and one may challenge their master to a contest to prove their form good enough for their duties. Usually most Guardians go through the Change to avoid infighting or humilliation. The expections are Masters and the Grandmaster(Ex has been an unfortune soul, in the instance that he has never completed a full change cycle)
The Challenge of The Elements
The Challenge is the test an apprentice or hopefull takes to determine if they will become a Guardian, and of what element. The one taking the test enters a higher plane, where their spirit is shown to the gods of the elements. If potential is recogized, the person is asked questions, and afterwards is told if they are to fill the empty slot of Guardian. Master Guardian selection is done througha similar method, but with canadate(s) fighting the Grandmaster before the gods.
Hope this explains the Order and their ways, as well as shed light on my charas.