Elemental Guardians

Overview

When the elementals were sealed away at the end of The Age of the Primordial, the Primordial deities supposed left a set of Guardian behind to monitor and maintain the natural order. In parts of Axora, the Elemental Guardians are effectively worshipped as minor gods, with prayers and offering to these mythical beings. As each of the Guardians have a specific role necessary to sustain life in the world, this worship takes many forms, from providing guidance home when lost in the dangerous jungles or to summon the rains needed for a bountiful harvest. Plenty claim to have seen these gargantuan beasts, but very few actually have.

The Guardians

Gormantis

Gormantis is viewed as the Guardian to the Guardians. They are depicted as a monstrous mantis/worm hybrid. Despite this, as with all the others, Gormantis is benevolent. They are referred to as Nature's Equilibrium, with Gormantis' function being a warning system for when something is wrong in the natural world. It is thought that Gormantis may hold aspects of all the elements, as Gormantis is in tune with the frequencies of all living things, and so when any of those are out of balance, Gormantis can detect that imbalance and will deal with the problem if they can. A Gormantis sighting is occasionally cited as the reason for an adventurer's mighty quest, though such claims are usually dismissed as fanciful flavour to these tales. Though, in terms of great imbalance, such as the corruption of The Ancestral Tree during The Cataclysm War, Gormantis itself can be affected, becoming disorientated by the severity of the incident and can appear randomly, attacking anything around it.

Alpallon

The Swamp King, Alpallon is the Guardian of Decay. Usually depicted as a gorilla with mantle and/or cape of moss, Alpallon is in charge of the natural breakdown of all formerly living beings. Sometimes images of Alpallon include a peaty element to their body. as if created from the loam of the marsh itself. He supposedly sits on his throne in the centre of swampland, connected to the world via the many waterways and able to sense the deaths of all things through them. Sometimes mistaken as an aspect of Shadow, Alpallon is usually accepted as being the creation of the elements of Earth and Water.

Terunthor

Terunthor, the Sky Breaker, is nature's lightning rod. Terunthor's realm is that of the forested highlands, the enormous sauropod's duty is to attract lightning during storms, preventing unnecessary wildfires. They absorb the lightning into their crystalline crown atop their head and contain the energy through their body, or decide to ground it entirely. The contained energy can be utilised when defending their territory, turning any antagonistic forces into dust via concentrated electrical blasts.

Solumbra

Solumbra is viewed as Terunthor's counterpart. Where Terunthor can prevent unwanted lightning striking wooded areas, Solumbra is in charge of controlling the wildfires necessary for renewal of the forests. A confluence of Shadow and Fire, Solumbra is also the guardian of sacred burial grounds. She is portrayed as a large cat with deep black fur and a mane of fire. If anyone dares to desecrate a burial ground, and they see her eclipse-like eyes, then they're already dead. The Embered Eclipse does not allow second chances. She also hunts necromancers who target the dead under her care with the same ferocity, though she is far more forgiving to any who try to quench the needed fires under her control. Her appearance alone is enough to indicate to any budding fire fighters to leave the fire alone.

Cryvalis

The giant winged serpent, also known as the Tempest Ray, is the guardian of seasonal storms. Cryvalis does not bring storms without purpose. Their rains swell rivers, renew parched lands, and can shift them out of the way of endangered sailors upon the oceans. Anyone who dreams of harnessing the storms beyond the capabilities of man, may incur their wrath, though. Over the years, a few damming projects have mysterious been destroyed without warning, with the destruction attributed to Cryvalis deciding the dam would cause more harm than good.

Khelonarth

Khelonarth is The Sleeper Beneath. The enormous tortoise, of the aspects of Fire and Earth, is similar to Solumbra in a way. Khelonarth rests most of the time, only called into action when a volcano is to be triggered. The volcanoes can create new land, but also new fertile ground. Arguably the least spotted of all the Guardians due to his supposed subterranean dwelling, he is only summoned outside of his natural function by the greed of men. When mortals mine too deep and deplete the natural resources of mountains too much, Khelonarth awakens, and his judgment is final.

Elycierva

The Radiant Hart is seen as a beacon of renewal. This Guardian of Light & Air glides across the land, their hooves never touching the ground. Wherever he goes, grass stands straight, the rivers become clearer, and the air smells of the dawn. Wherever blight or corruption are attempted to bring into the world, they appear and their intentions are revealed under Elycierva's gaze. If you see Elycierva lower their antlers, you have been judged and are soon swept away by lances of beaming brilliance.

Varkuun

High upon the frozen plateaus and glaciers where mortals seldom tread, The Shardwalker roams. He is the protector of the peaks, and anyone who risks disturbing the mountains, risks falling under Varkuun's freezing diamond-shard infused breath. Ironically, the frozen corpses of the foolish victims of the crystalline quadruped end up more valuable than whatever resource they tried to strip from the peaks.

Thylixis

The Stormflame Predator is a six-legged draconic figure with a mane of arcing electricity and claws wreathed in flame. Legends say Thylixis appears during conflicts where blood has been shed in great quantities, not to revel in the carnage but to remind the mortals that war has consequences. Its storms scorch the land, forcing the survivors to reconsider their actions. Any who seek to persist with the conflict in spite of its presence are dealt with swiftly and succinctly.

Polilluma

Polilluma is the Shepherd of Souls. This giant moth with wings of starry night, a beast of Light and Shadow, appears to both lost living souls in need to guidance to a safe haven and the souls of the dead, shepherding them to the afterlife. She is a comforting presence to anyone regardless of their status. She is also considered to be the mother of the Glowbinder insect, who have been recorded fulfilling the same duty of guiding wayward individuals in the dark jungles of Suriima in particular.

Virellan

This being of the elements of Wisdom and Water is also referred to as The Memory Coil. They are the keeper of the River of Memories. This serpent has glassy scales making them hard to spot in the water. Their gaze reflects possible futures and forgotten pasts. They are not a being of prophecy, like Erathex, but these futures are based upon the memories kept within their realm.

Zarkairos

Born of Intelligence and Light, Zarkairos is also called the Silent Halo, but also sometimes The Thought Beyond Thought. Zarkairos is the Guardian of knowledge. They are said to impart this knowledge in flashes of radiant script. Scholars who behold it find themselves weeping, grasping at revelations they struggle to hold, whilst fools are left blinded by its brilliance. This floating divine tentacled Guardian drifts wherever knowledge is in danger of being lost, such as forgotten libraries.

Tarusonqu

Tarusonqu is an antelope-like Guardian of Shadow and Wisdom. The Shadow Horn brings the silence of introspection wherever it goes. Sometimes, they are said to work in conjunction with Thylixis, providing the much needed clarity for warring factions. They are also the protector of sacred ritual sites across the world.

Erathex

The Fractured Archive is a whirling storm of parchment and crystal, formed of Intelligence and Air. Those who pass beneath its shadow may begin to see visions and mutter fragments of prophecies. Any page that falls from its body may contain such confusing prophecies, often misunderstood until too late. Anyone who can piece together its shards, may glimpse the truth of what is yet to come.

Zoku'ren

This towering tree-like creature is particularly sacred to the Zurkali people, who are said to be born in its image. The Bloom Oracle constitutes the elements of Wisdom and Earth, and is the Guardian against wild magic. Chaotic forces and volatile spells are said to become calmed under its boughs. Many seek Zoku'ren for insight into difficult arcane questions.

Telmirra

Telmirra is a being of Intelligence and Water. The whale-like entity protects the magical ley lines of the world, swimming along them as if they were rivers. Where Zoku'ren calms magics on the surface realm, The Aeon Fin stabilises the magics of the spiritual realm.