[Elescia] Guardian Deities

[elescia]

Last update: 2015-04-17

Introduction

In the folklore surrounding the creation of Elescia, it was said that the world was born along with divine forces known as Guardian Deities. Legends surrounding them varies from region to region, but most of them share a few things in common:

• The existence of the world is tied to the Guardians itself. The world was born together with them, and shall the day come when Guardians cease to exist, it's very likely the world itself will come to an end.
• The energy that makes every living being and the environment as a whole, namely sola and aros, supposedly came from the Guardians themselves, meaning that for as long as they exist, the inhabitants of this world do not need to worry about running out of said energy.
• Related to the above, the ability of people to use magic heavily relies on the existence of the Guardians themselves. It was said that people of Ancient Elescia were capable of using magic far beyond what exists today, such as ability to revive the dead and manipulate time, and said ability was gone when the records of the related Guardian were erased from history.

Taking accounts on surviving legends in Elescia, there are approximately 62 Guardian Deities known in total. However, this number doesn't take into account on possible Guardian Deities those were lost from the history, as well as the possibility that a Guardian on a certain region is simply known by different name in another region.

Guardian Deities in Inserian Mythology: Elemental Lords

In the stories surrounding Ancient Inseria civilization, or at least the surviving ones, there exist a group of Guardian Deities known as Elemental Lords. Their existence allows humanity to manipulate the forces of nature to some extent; to put it simply, to use elemental magic. There are ten Elemental Lords known from the stories surviving to this day, namely:

• Aqua Queen Aramis (Water)
  The Elemental Lord that rules over all bodies of water, Aramis is the closest Guardian Deity that is associated with life itself. The legend describes Aramis' appearance as a woman with bluish skin and hair wielding a trident, hence the title. Being the Guardian that is associated with life itself most, Aramis is generally regarded as the highest Guardian among the Elemental Lords.
• Foliage Fairy Hillscrad (Tree/Forest)
  Said to be the ruler of all plants and forests, Guardian Hillscrad allegedly takes form of a small girl with leaf ornaments. It is stated that any withering plants those come into contact with Hillscrad directly will be revived and become more flourishing than ever.
• Zephyr Rider Sylphede (Wind)
  The ruler of wind and flow of air, Sylphede's legend describes the Guardian as a small boy with wings. However, another tale has it that wind and air are not merely Sylphede's specialization, but also matters such as wave and sound.
• Flame Dragon Agnos-Lhei (Fire)
  The conqueror of heat and fire Agnos-Lhei, as its name suggests, is described as a Guardian with draconic appearance. While generally associated with light and warmth, Agnos-Lhei is also associated with calamity; one legend states that when the end of the world comes, the world shall be reduced to ashes by Agnos-Lhei's final blaze.
• Thunder Hammer Legroda (Lightning)
  The Guardian conquering spark and thunder, Legroda's appearance is stated to be a gigantic man wielding a massive hammer that causes sky-shattering lightning bolts every time it strikes. Due to the description of this Guardian's appearance, Legroda is generally associated with justice and judgment; several tales recite that when a gigantic lightning strikes over a man's land, then the people of the land had invited Legroda's wrath.
• Shadow Sage Vriesius (Darkness)
  The Guardian that controls night and darkness, tales revolving Vriesius depict the Guardian as a pale old man covered in black cape. Despite the Guardian's generally grim association with darkness and death, Vriesius is also depicted as the Guardian governing knowledge and wisdom. This originates from an ancient teaching that in order to reach Guardian Encarda's blessing (enlightenment), one must familiarize themselves with Vriesius' trial (darkness and confusion) to overcome it, gaining knowledge along the way.
• Radiant Wings Encarda (Light)
  The Guardian conquering sun and light, Encarda's tale describes the guardian as an androgynous human-like being with pure white wings. Legend has it that the light of the day originates from Encarda's wings spreading through the entire sky. In addition, Encarda is generally depicted as the ultimate destination of humanity as a whole: enlightenment and a bright, blessed life.
• Frozen Spear Celsias (Ice)
  The Elemental Lord of winter and coldness, Celsias' tales paint the Guardian as an effeminate man with dark hair wielding crystal-like giant spear. While associated with death and calamity together with Agnos-Lhei and Vriesius, Celsias is also said to be representation of calmness and one's levelheaded nature. Celsias is said to have a bird that goes through cycle of life and death for eternity; upon its death, its remnants shall dissipate and fall into the world as the countless snow crystals.
• Earth Golem Greido-Arg (Earth/Stone)
  The Guardian of stone and earth with an appearance of a gigantic golem, it's said that the planet itself is the actual body of Greido-Arg. Generally depicted as a Guardian ruling over land and fertility, Greido-Arg is occasionally described as the bearer of calamity, as legends said that earthquakes and landslides originate from the Guardian's uncontainable wrath. Another legend has it that shall the Guardians were threatened, Greido-Arg would be the first defense line for the Elemental Lords.
• Force Guardian Malgion (Force/Power)
  The Elemental Lord associated with all kinds of force in the world. Unlike other Elemental Lords, Guardian Malgion doesn't possess definite physical form, although one legend stated that Malgion is always covered with transparent barrier that can crush anything it violently comes into contact with. It is said the ability for every living being to move around is a result of Guardian Malgion's blessing.