Guardians

**Guardians** can be considered forces of nature, incarnations of Mogar's will and agenda. Each Guardian embodies a certain will of Mogar and one can only become a Guardian if their values align with Mogar's. To become one, one must accept the world, and the world must accept them back. Only by giving back what the planet has given them, is it possible to pass the world's tribulations and reach the Guardian state. Contrary to popular conception, Guardians are not benevolent gods, tasked with taking care of people. Guardians are not gods and couldn't care less about single individuals.

However, Mogar doesn't boss Guardians around, they expect them to do their stuff. They call Guardians only when something big is going on, but Guardians contact them at any time. Guardians don't go around helping people like the heroes of the bards' tales. What they do is inspire others and provide them with what they need to achieve their potential. Tyris helped Lochra Silverwing to share her knowledge, bringing a golden era for magic. Leegaain taught people like Milea, who didn't use their powers to rule, but to be chosen as rulers. Back when the Gorgon Empire was plagued by the slave collars, it was Zagran who orchestrated events that eventually led the Empire to become the most advanced magical power on Garlen. Guardians are not heroes - they don't go around saving people randomly. They are the ones who set the domino tiles so that the right person can trigger the change.

* Tyris the Griffon embodies Mogar's nurturing nature and desires to promote the development of all species.
* Leegaain the Dragon embodies Mogar's will to collect and preserve the knowledge of the world.
* Salaark the Phoenix represents Mogar's desire to create and enforce innovation.
* Fenagar the Leviathan represents Mogar's curiosity for the unknown.
* Zagran the Garuda embodies Mogar's and all races' desire for strength.
* Roghar the Fenrir represents Mogar's desire to find new ways to give life.
* Scarlett the Sekhmet represents Mogar's desire to protect new life.
* Ileza the Bastet represents Mogar's will to protect life and nature.

## Traits

All Guardians have an ideal that they strive to uphold, but not for personal gratification. They do it because it's a part of them that they want to share with others, something that even Mogar agrees on. The planet isn't their master, it just gives Guardians the means to do what they want and helps them to never forget the reason why they gained their powers in the first place.

### Physical traits

Guardian bodies can serve as extremely valuable Forgemastering materials. Even one drop of Dragon blood can be used to craft artifacts and fuel golems the likes of which Mogar has never seen before.

Guardian bloodlines are so potent that even if their children choose to become fully human, they still carry their blood (e.g. All the members of the Griffon Kingdom Royal Family share Tyris' silver eyes). A Guardian's heritage can't be erased by something as trivial as time. It's a very rare occurrence, but when one of their descendants has a child with another descendant of a powerful bloodline, it's possible for them to be born hybrids even though both parents have human bodies.

### Personality

Guardians are very proud and don't like their flaws being pointed out. Due to their conflicting natures Leegaain despises Fenagar, Salaark can't stand Zagran, and Tyris dislikes Roghar. Because of this Leegaain, Tyris, and Salaark live on the Garlen Continent while Fenagar, Zagran, and Roghar live on the Jiera Continent. Tyris is the first Guardian, followed by Leegaain, Fenagar, Salaark, Zagran, and Roghar. Guardians have a symbiotic relationship that allows them to take care of everything in the time they have. For instance, Leegaain is the to-go guy for knowledge while Salaark is in charge of "major ass-kicking".

Mogar doesn't pick humans as Guardians, as they are too egotistical and only take but never give. Moreover, despite their connection to Mogar, plants do not become Guardians due to their innate sociopathy - they need love to not turn into predatory beings, which is unsuitable for Guardianhood, and are too detached. Beasts are the only race to have accepted becoming Guardians.

### Territory

There are 3 Guardians per continent, totaling around 15-20 Guardians on Mogar in total.

Each Guardian has their own territory. Due to their territorial nature, Guardians cannot enter another's turf without being invited and accompanied by the owner. When on another Guardian's turf without their permission, their powers are greatly limited.

## Abilities

Eldritch Abominations, white cores, and Guardians share many similarities but slight differences, which is what makes Guardians so powerful. Eldritches are the rulers of death, yet being cut off from the world energy there is a cap to the power they can reach. White cored individuals, instead, are one with the world energy but cut off from Mogar's will. When an Awakened reaches the white core, their will becomes so strong that they can ignore the planet's needs, yet it caps their powers as well. Without Mogar's aid and guidance, however, they become living natural disasters prone to madness. All the white cored Awakened before Baba Yaga either killed themselves or were put down by the Guardians. Guardians are one with both the world energy and the will of Mogar. The only limit to their power is the amount of effort they put into developing their abilities.

A Guardian doesn't have a violet mana core. Yet any Guardian, even one who had a violet core before turning into a Guardian, is stronger than a white core Awakened, no matter their race. Aside from white, the color of one's mana core matters as much as the color of one's shirt when fighting a Guardian. It only affects how fashionable one would look for their own funeral, not the final result.

Guardians are so attuned with Mogar that even their simplest act is magic. When they sing, the air is filled with mana, rejuvenating the surrounding region with world energy and life. When they walk, countless runes of power spread in the air and the ground with each step. Just by stomping their feet they can summon minor earthquakes. They are also able to Warp hundreds of kilometers with ease. Thus, only Guardians can open long-distance Warps to other continents and only the Awakened Council has the means to contact them. However, not even a Guardian can open a Warp Steps across two continents and an ocean, not without the help from another of their kind.

Guardians have no need to sleep to reset Invigoration.

Guardians can call upon Mogar's consciousness. The resulting mind link isn't just a passing of thoughts, but a sharing of essences. The Guardian's mind and memories fuses with those of Mogar to the point of becoming one.

### Soul Vision

Guardians have a unique ability called **Soul Vision**, which lets them see the real nature/true form of things. Soul Vision also has the same effects as Life Vision and so much more. Elves, being attuned with Mogar, can also use Soul Vision. Unlike a Soul Projection that shows solely the dominant thought of its owner, Soul Vision reveals the true nature and even the history of its subjects, if one knows where to look. Thus, Soul Vision can even allow a Guardian to identify from a distance the presence of a pseudo blood core of thralls or the deep-seated despise for the living typical of those who choose to become an undead.

## Guardian Training

When a new Guardian ascends, they need to learn how to cut off Mogar's voice from their head, ignore the calls of those who require their attention, and most importantly, how a Guardian fights. Otherwise, an ancient Eldritch if not even a couple of white cored Awakened could kill them. No matter how powerful they are, if they don't know how to use their new body, they are barely better than a violet core.

The original 6 Guardians established a support system for newly ascended Guardians to get accustomed to their new bodies, abilities, and connection to Mogar. Leegaain explains everything about a new Guardian's condition and teaches them how to control their powers. Salaark teaches strategy and resource management. Zagran teaches self-control and discipline to control the side effects of Guardianhood, avoiding being driven insane by the voices, becoming a living natural disaster trying to make them stop, and lastly returning to their senses before turning sane again.

Keeping the same routine of when a Guardian was an Emperor Beast will help them keep their sanity until they find their own way to cope with their condition as a Guardian. Guardians are the closest thing to immortals they don't age or get ill, and it takes so much to kill them that aside from another Guardian, none can match their power alone. However, immortality doesn't mean never dying, but seeing everyone else die. Soon enough, their children, lovers, and friends will be nothing but specks of dust, their lives lasting barely the space it takes a Guardian to blink. At that point, most Guardians detach themselves from the rest of Mogar, considering anyone but Guardians and white cores like passing shadows.

While people may seen irrelevant to Guardians, their voices remind them of their purpose just like eating and sleeping help keep track of time and remember one's origin. Without them, in a few centuries, a Guardian's mind would turn into a broken mess, just like it happens to Liches. The voices in their heads aren't a cruel leash that Mogar burdens them with to keep them in line, but rather the means they have to find those who really need Guardians and to spot the danger before it escalates to the point of being dangerous to the balance.

## History

The first six Guardians were once mistaken for gods. At first, they tried to be a part of the four races and guide them to the best of their abilities. Yet after the four races either distorted or exploited their teachings to subjugate one another, forcing them to intervene and fix their messes, most of the Guardians just gave up. Even before they became Guardians, Leegaain dedicated his life to amassing knowledge, Tyris to nurture talent, and Salaark to put into practice all magical discoveries. They are respectively considered the wisest, the kindest, and the strongest Guardian. As the first Guardian, Tyris is the source of the knowledge that Leegaain hoards and Salaark uses.

Tyris, the first Guardian, was considered the **god of life**. Her students would all become Magi. Most of them were less skilled or driven than Leegaain's students, but they would all focus on making Mogar a better place rather than on themselves.

Leegaain is the second Guardian and was once considered the **god of knowledge**. He accepted students and becoming one of his priestesses was considered a great honor. His students all became exceptional mages while his priestess, who shared his knowledge, were considered oracles capable of answering any question and even of predicting the future.

The third Guardian Fenagar was considered the **god of discovery** and is probably the only creature that has traveled through the entirety of Mogar, even legendary zones like the Fringes. He is similar to Leegaain, yet completely different. While Leegaain focuses on studying the existent and making sure such knowledge is preserved, Fenagar only cares for the research of the unknown, be it a physical place or a new magical discipline. His apprentices discovered new branches of magic, but just like their teacher, they lost interest after a while and started to explore new projects, so whatever Leegaain hasn't recorded has been lost to time.

Salaark is the fourth original Guardian and she too accepted students, who would become either great magical swordsmen or the makers of legendary artifacts. Salaark is considered the **god of Forgemasters**, having reached its apex with Creation Magic which lets her craft and upgrade her equipment in a split second and need only a glance to replicate any item. Salaark fights alone. The only people who survive after witnessing her battles are those she is teaching, and all of her students are now dead.

Zagran was the **god of might**. Unlike Salaark who battles to conquer and inspire others, she only fights to improve her own strength. She isn't interested in killing her opponents, because it's only through the fight that she improves. Her disciples mostly became monks and mages obsessed with reaching the white core of immortality, but none of them succeeded.

Roghar was the **god of mana**. He spends his life trying to understand how mana and world energy interact. He believes that since all living beings have mana but only sentient beings have a core, it might be linked with the soul. His disciples researched ways to turn crystals into living beings and if it was possible to reincarnate people by preserving their core. He was often mistaken for the god of the afterlife because of his knowledge, but death is not his trade.

Ileza is the Guardian of Life and Mother of All Bastets. She represents the Awakened Council of Verendi and usually has a carefree nature.

There once was a Guardian of Evolution who fell from grace, lost her powers, and was turned to dust. Afterwards, Mogar took her responsibility of evolution upon itself.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Chapter 1050: Gods and Guardians (Part 2)
2. ↑ Chapter 160: Leegaain’s Wrath
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Chapter 1595: Waves and Ripples (Part 1)
4. ↑ Chapter 1596: Waves and Ripples (Part 2)
5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Chapter 1153: Shadows of the Past (Part 1)
6. ↑ Chapter 1288: Away from Home (Part 2)
7. ↑ Chapter 1307: Parents and Donors (Part 1)
8. ↑ Chapter 167: Reunion (2)
9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5 9.6 9.7 Chapter 1051: Gods and Guardians (Part 3)
10. ↑ Legion on Discord
11. ↑ Chapter 1303: Bloodlines and Powers (Part 1)
12. ↑ Legion on Discord
13. ↑ Legion on Discord
14. ↑ Legion on Discord
15. ↑ Legion on Discord
16. ↑ Chapter 1132: Council Duty (Part 2)
17. ↑ Chapter 1585: Bonds and Chains (Part 1)
18. ↑ Legion on Discord
19. ↑ Chapter 1282: Safe Travels (Part 2)
20. ↑ Chapter 189: A Different Perspective (2)
21. ↑ Chapter 1133: A Change of Scenery (Part 1)
22. ↑ Chapter 1245: Bets and Arsenals (Part 1)
23. ↑ Legion on Discord
24. ↑ Chapter 315: Final Struggle (Part 1)
25. ↑ Chapter 1226: Soul Vision (Part 2)
26. ↑ Chapter 1305: The Price of Truth (Part 1)
27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 Chapter 1594: Training Time (Part 2)
28. ↑ Chapter 1956: Climbing the Ranks (Part 2)
29. ↑ Chapter 780: Dominance (Part 2)
30. ↑ Legion on Discord