Apocalypse AU - Guards
BEEP BOOP MORE SHIT
Let’s talk about the most complicated part of this universe that I made complicated for no fuckin reason
What the FUCK are you talking about
So!!! What the hell is a Guard, let’s unpack that,
It’s kinda hard to explain but, in essence, a Guard is a source of energy that’s half-fused with its host. So it’s half a part of that person, and half its own thing. That half that’s separate is also kind of sentient, but no one is really sure what the extent of that is. That part with a mind is what extends outwards and has its own will, and the part that materializes when it takes a physical form.
Think of it like a sort of mind-meld. Having a Guard is like sharing your body with a second brain, except it’s content to just live in the background of the rest of you. Its only goal is to protect its host, so it usually only acts on its own volition when its host is in danger.
How does it work?
So, there are a few things to go over in terms of actual mechanics.
FORMS - Guard forms!!! So, this is basically the shape a Guard will take by default when it manifests physically.
It manifests by using concentrating its energy outside the host body into a physical shape.
A Guard doesn’t manifest too often- usually only if it needs to fight with/for its host or if the host wants it to manifest for whatever reason.
What forms can a Guard take, you ask??? The short answer is- whatever the fuck you want!!! Using animals is overdone and also kind of racist as I understand it (bc of the whole spirit animal thing) and also Boring to me!!! So instead, almost every Guard you’ll see will be some kind of mythical beast or creature (Griffins, minotaurs, basilisks, etc.)
COMMUNICATION - Just bc you share a body with your Guard doesn’t mean you got an instant friend for life!! Just like any good relationship, it gets stronger the more you communicate with it.
There’s no real guide to communicating with your Guard, but generally, it’s just a lot of practice. The easiest way to do it is a process very similar to meditation- focusing yourself, and sort of just letting yourself exist in the same mental space as your Guard.
It’s a very non-direct form of communication. It’s not like you sit there and talk to it. Communicating with your Guard is a very intimate experience, of connecting your mind and emotions, and understanding each other.
The more you communicate with your Guard, the stronger your bond with them will be. This dictates a lot of things.
A Guard with a strong bond to its host is more likely to exert free will, will more freely use its power in different ways, and may even reach out to communicate first. The stronger your bond with your Guard, the better you’ll be able to command it as well.
ABILITIES - As you know, the Guard lends its host their own ability, but it also has its own powers!
As stated before, the Guard can manifest itself physically. Those who fight mostly with their Guard will usually do it through a sort of mind-meld with their Guard’s form. It uses the energy that makes up its form to deliver extra force with its blows. The combat style is determined by the form it takes- for example, a Guard in the form of a valkyrie would fight with the weapon it materializes in, while a Guard in the form of a hydra will bite and use its tail.
The Guard lends its energy to its host through their ability. If a host is using their Guard ability, that energy is being taken through the Guard themselves. A Guard may not be able to manifest while the ability is being used due to the amount of power being taken- on the other hand, a Guard may manifest itself if a lot of energy is exerted at once, simply as a byproduct of the exertion.
No one is quite sure the extent of a Guard’s power or the limit of their abilities. There’s no telling what they can or can’t do. Some will spend their lives building communication just to see how far that power can reach.
Wait wait wait go back to that ability thing
While we’re here, let’s also go over Guard abilities
SO, Guard abilities are the powers that each host gets from their Guard. There’s no real determining factor for what your ability can be. The ability usually presents itself early on in childhood, though it’s not unheard of for more subtle powers to stay unrevealed until adolescent or even adult years.
Powers can range from dangerous and flashy to extremely subtle. Some use their powers constantly, while others couldn’t care less.
Using your Guard ability draws from the same source of energy that is your Guard itself. This is not a finite resource, but it is limited and will need to regenerate if used excessively. Constant overuse of Guard energy will begin to drain the physical energy of the host and may cause damage.
Generally, the stronger your bond with your Guard, the more control and freedom you’ll have in relation to your ability.
I think that’s it for now??? If anything is confusing or I forgot to go over something shoot me an ask and lmk!!! I’m happy to answer any questions