This is the first entry in a series of short profiles of the guardians that will update regularly. Dead serious, I’m going to write up a few of these while I’m waiting for chapter 8 to come back from the editing process, and then I’m going to set them to release at the same time every week. These won’t contain spoilers for the stories that they appear in, but will provide some context for and information on the guardians. For the sake of those who might know better than me about symbolism, the items I use for symbols are subject to my own creative license. For example, just because a sapphire stands for fidelity and insight in the real world doesn’t mean it’s going to represent that in my world. Also, brief update: remember Aaron’s newer character profile? Yeah, I’m making a minor update.

The Pantheon

An Introduction

The guardians are deific beings, but with a bit of twist: they were “created”. The guardians are a product of the Progenitor, the Creator of Eirmoda and the First God, shedding aspects of himself in order to create peers he could commune with. It must be stated that the guardians were created after the advent of humanity, because humanity was originally meant to serve this purpose, but they strayed from the Progenitor’s vision (which is pretty sad, he wasn’t asking much). With each new guardian, the Progenitor himself lost more of himself, growing weaker with every passing moment. He watched as his creations, extensions of himself, turned their eyes to the pursuits of man, just as he would, and their came a day when he no longer had a place in this world. Thus, he disappeared. He did, however, give on final gift to humanity before leaving; he established earthbound guardians to keep the world around them in balance. In the aftermath, the intelligent guardians took on the role of guiding humanity and the excess of residual magic left behind from the Progenitor’s work spawned several weaker, sometimes even bestial guardians.

Showcase #1

Sorowa

Sorowa is the incarnation of the Progenitor’s woes. Everything she sees in the world is a tragedy. She cannot help but weep for the state of the world. She yearns for happy endings but can never find them. Despite her comically exaggerated crying, she genuinely cares for humans and their sorrows.

Religion:

Domain: Sorrow, Sadness, Lamentation

Associated Pantheon: Koeleth Sentimentals

Religious Order: The Weeping Temple

Native Magical Element: Water

Symbolic Weapon: Halberd

Symbolic Gem: Lapis Lazuli

Symbolic Plant: Cypress

Symbolic Bird: Loon

Insignia: A Tear Held in Hand

Appearance:

Body Shape: Hourglass, Medium Frame

Eyes: Azure

Hair Style: Waist Length, Straight

Hair Color: Bluish-Black

Skin Tone: White, Pale

Attire: Ornate Sapphire Kimono

Weapon: Halberd

Markings: None

Notable Features: None

Background:

Titles: Lady of Tears, Mourning Maiden, Weeping Woman

Siblings: Isolati

Significant Subordinates: The River Dragon (Formerly), Leviathan (Formerly)

Relationships: There would be, if only only Apathos would care about her

Antithesis: Joye

Notable Events:

Leviathan’s Departure: Leviathan is one of the most powerful earthbound guardians. He was appointed by the Progenitor to guard the oceans and rivers of Eirmoda. Initially, he was subservient to Sorowa, when Sorowa had a broader range of duties, a position which he held no reservations about. As Sorowa’s focus drifted towards exclusively human concerns, Leviathan began to distance himself from her command, relegated himself to the darkest depths of his eponymous home ocean. The Progenitor’s departure was the final nail in the coffin for Leviathan, who promptly declared that he was severing all ties to greater guardians.

The River Dragon’s Downfall: After the departure of Leviathin, the River Dragon’s loyalty was split. He was sworn to serve directly under Leviathan, but also was beholden to Sorowa. As a result, Sorowa and Leviathan frequently clashed over the role of the River Dragon. The River Dragon put forth his best effort to perform as many tasks as he could for the both of them. After some time of this, he resorted to just concerning himself with the needs of his people. In the conflict that arose around the rise of the River People, he was slain by a human barbarian with exceptional strength and skill. With his unfortunate demise, the war over his allegiance also died.