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Opens: 11/20 00:01 ET
Closes: 11/30 07:00 ET

The Four Guardians, also known as the Four Symbols, are a group of ancient Chinese mythical creatures that have played a significant role in Chinese mythology and cosmology since the 2nd century BC. These four celestial beings are associated with the cardinal directions and are believed to protect and oversee the universe. Each guardian is linked to specific elements, seasons, and attributes, embodying the harmony and balance of nature.

Azure Dragon of the East (Qinglong):
Direction: East
Element: Wood
Season: Spring
Attributes: Strength, authority, and protection
Description: The Azure Dragon, also known as Qinglong, is a powerful and benevolent creature representing the east. As a symbol of vitality and growth, it governs the element of wood and the season of spring, bringing renewal and prosperity. The Azure Dragon is often depicted as a majestic dragon with a long, sinuous body and a fierce yet noble expression.

Vermilion Bird of the South (Zhuque):
Direction: South
Element: Fire
Season: Summer
Attributes: Passion, life, and transformation
Description: The Vermilion Bird, known as Zhuque, is a graceful and radiant bird that symbolizes the south. Associated with the element of fire and the season of summer, it embodies warmth, vitality, and transformation. The Vermilion Bird is often portrayed as a beautiful phoenix-like creature with vibrant red and orange plumage, soaring elegantly in the sky.

White Tiger of the West (Baihu):
Direction: West
Element: Metal
Season: Autumn
Attributes: Courage, strength, and protection
Description: The White Tiger, or Baihu, is a fierce and formidable guardian representing the west. It is linked to the element of metal and the season of autumn, symbolizing strength, resilience, and protection. The White Tiger is typically depicted as a powerful and majestic tiger with gleaming white fur and an imposing presence.

Black Tortoise of the North (Xuanwu):
Direction: North
Element: Water
Season: Winter
Attributes: Stability, endurance, and protection
Description: The Black Tortoise, also known as Xuanwu, is a unique guardian that combines the attributes of both a tortoise and a serpent. It represents the north and is associated with the element of water and the season of winter. The Black Tortoise symbolizes endurance, stability, and protection, often depicted with a tortoise's body and a serpent coiled around it.
Together, these Four Guardians form a comprehensive and balanced system that reflects the ancient Chinese understanding of the universe's natural order. They are often featured in various cultural, religious, and artistic expressions, serving as symbols of protection, harmony, and balance.

After reading all that you may wonder. Okay, now what? Well, you're going to create a character based on the information! This is a character creation contest!

Forms

Azure Dragon of the East (Qinglong)


Vermilion Bird of the South (Zhuque)


White Tiger of the West (Baihu)


Black Tortoise of the North (Xuanwu)


If you need to void your post please use the following form and post it at the top of your entry:

Azure Dragon
Soquili
Familiar
no entrants
White Tiger
Soquili
~Spazzy_the_Wolfie~
Familiar
no entrants
Vermillion Bird
Soquili
Kirowyn Love
Familiar
no entrants
Black Tortoise
Soquili
no entrants
Familiar
no entrants

astoria voiding, won familiar in another game

IVE WON MY EVENT FREEBIES

An offering to the Azure Dragon of the East
Username: Sabra Knight
Pony or Familiar Pony
Character Name: Hualin
Short personality blurb Hualin is a soft spoken individual who prefers solitude to crowds. She prefers to serve by example from afar rather than acting as some energetic and charismatic leader, her existence more of a legend to those passing through who have been fortunate enough to be saved or guided by this mysterious figure whose melodies haunt the misty mornings. Those who are lucky enough to hear her voice speak of it in awe, the gentle melody heart warming and always giving hope to those lost in the forested mountains.

Her little existence in the forest with its various flower meadows is peaceful, Hualin spending her time there to gather her energy before the next excursion. When there her time is spent reading poetry and tending to her garden, the guardian nurturing the growing plants with her gentle words and music. She prefers to avoid conflicts when possible and outsiders see her as a reserved and mature spirit but when provoked she can be like any sudden spring storm, fierce and surprisingly quick to act.
What do they like Reading, listening to the wind and playing music on her flute or zither, wandering through the fields of flowers that she tends to and dancing in the rain when no one is looking.
Creation
Anything Else ❀ Hualin's name was inspired by meanings of flowers, change, rain and forest since she represents springs and has the element of wood.

An offering to the Azure Dragon of the East
Username: Shi Berry
Pony or Familiar: Pony
Character Name: Seiya, though many call her Seiryū
Short personality blurb

On the surface, Seiya is soft-hearted and whimsical. She is also graceful poised, but never lofty. In fact, Seiya is rather humble. Despite her title and position, she feels small. That is not to say that she feels insignificant, just small in the vastness of the universe. She understands that there are forces at work far greater than her, and craves a deeper understanding of the world.

There are many ways to do that, and she has many areas of study. The first is the movement and behaviors of the stars. She is somewhat of a rudimentary astrophysicist, and believes that answers to origin and purpose may lie amongst them. Which leads to her next area of study: song. She loves singing, and is quite talented. She finds melody in the morning breeze, in a flowing stream, in the calls of the forest, in everything really. She will often be humming to these melodies. She believes the stars have thie orwn song, and she believes that perhaps her voice could reach it- through song maybe she will harmonize with the hum of the cosmos.

As a guardian, her role is beyond physical protection. She wants to encourage others to grow into who they are meant to be, and she aims to inspire others to find their own power within themselves. Though she can defend herself as needed, she is nonviolent unless absolutely necessary. Her power lies in her resilience. Just as the blossoms bloom after harsh winters, or the sun shines again after every storm, she shows that harship can be endured and that every trial can be an opporunity for learning. In this way, she has come to earn the respect and admiration of many. She is also very protective of individuals and things she believes still have growing to do - this is not limited to the young, but anything that shows it needs time to fully develop into who or what it is destined to be.

She can occasionally seem fanciful, but only because she is resolute in her beliefs that this world is precious, sacred, and worthy of protection. That we are each a star in the sky, composing the constellation of life, and there is a song in our souls connecting us all.

What do they like

• Music
  
• Stargazing turning into watching the sunrise (in her mind, still stargazing, since the sun is a star)
  
• Mathematics
  
• Exploring the world
  
• Hearing other's stories
  
• Her fellow guardians (depending on the personalities of the other guardians & their respective owner's wishes, I would want her to be fairly close with them)
  
• Teaching
  
• Jewelry (really all things pretty and shiny, but especially jewelry)

Creation

Anything Else
Her name, Seiya, means “star arrow,” which I chose because of her connection to the stars. The Azure Dragon of the East is the group of stars/constellations in the eastern quadrant of the sky in Chinese astronomy (the other three guardians making up the remaining, respective quadrants). Additionally, in Japanese, the dragon's name is Seiryū instead of Qinglong, which phonetically plays nicely with Seiya.