The Guardians are a quintet of warriors chosen to protect the universe by Kandrakar, the very center of the universe itself. Each Guardian rules over one of the classical natural elements of water, fire, earth, air, and quintessence (an unspecified form of pink-colored pure energy in the comics and chapter books), the fifth element.
The leader of the Guardians is also a Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar, the bright pink-colored, orbicular crystal pendant that allows the Guardians to transform into their empowered costumes by channeling the elemental energy of the Aurameres into the Heart itself. The crystal amulet even magnifies all of their elemental and shared Guardian abilities to tremendous levels when transformed. If not, both of their unique elemental powers, and Guardian abilities, are greatly weakened and much less effective.
Members[]
W.I.T.C.H.[]
- Main article: W.I.T.C.H. (Guardians)
| “ | Will, Irma, Taranee, Cornelia, Hay Lin... you have been chosen as the new Guardians of the Veil. | ” |
The current Guardians
The current Guardians are known as W.I.T.C.H.
- Will Vandom: The Guardian of quintessence and leader of .I.C.H. and a former Keeper of the Heart of Kandrakar.
- Irma Lair: The Guardian of water.
- Taranee Cook: The Guardian of fire.
- Cornelia Hale: The Guardian of earth.
- Hay Lin: The Guardian of air.
- Orube: Orube briefly served as Taranee's replacement, although she was given no elemental powers. Orube left after the events of the 3rd arc, but continued living in Heatherfield.
C.H.Y.K.N.[]
- Main article: C.H.Y.K.N.
| “ | As you know, you were not the first Guardians. Decades ago there were five others- Cassidy, Halinor, Yan Lin, Kadma and Nerissa. | ” |
C.H.Y.K.N.
The group of Guardians who immediately preceded W.I.T.C.H. are known as C.H.Y.K.N.
- Cassidy: The former Guardian of water. She was also briefly the Keeper of the Heart and second leader of C.H.Y.K.N. before being killed by her predecessor Nerissa
- Halinor: The former Guardian of fire.
- Yan Lin: The former Guardian of air and the final Keeper of the Heart and leader of C.H.Y.K.N..
- Kadma: The former Guardian of earth.
- Nerissa: The former Guardian of quintessence and the former Keeper of the Heart and first leader of C.H.Y.K.N.
Plot[]
Ancient history[]
When Kandrakar was first created in the center of infinity by the five nymphs Xin Jing of the elements, Oneide of life, Tea of the sun, Ebla of the moon, and N'ghala of the stars, the latter became the first oracle and formed the Congregation.
Possibly the first Guardians of the Veil.
At some later point, N'ghala called forth a pair of the two Guardians to bring justice throughout the universe. However, they were unable to properly control the immense power that the Heart of Kandrakar granted to them which resulted in the first oracle renouncing their Guardian status and they were eventually succeeded by a trio of Guardians who eventually succumbed to the same fate and were themselves succeeded by a quartet of Guardians. In the end, N'ghala understood that five was the perfect number.
Throughout the series[]
To be added...
Powers and abilities[]
As magical beings,[1] the Guardians can wield traditional magic by casting spells. For example, they can cast spells to turn themselves and others invisible,[2] transform other beings or objects,[3] and make effective use of glamours.[citation needed] Nerissa claimed to have cast a devastating curse on two talismans that enabled folding and she cast an infatuation spell on the boys at Heatherfield.[4]
The Guardians can also combine their powers together and create a beam of concentrated mystical energy from their hands.[5]
When the Guardians transform, their appearance is similar to that of fairies. However, except the Guardian of Air, they could not fly, despite having wings. In the TV series, all five Guardians could fly, though the Guardian of Air is the fastest and most skilled at flying.
In order to magically travel to another place in the same world, each Guardian can teletransport. Teletransporting is a difficult ability to learn and one can materialize into another solid object if not careful enough. If a Guardian teletransports while not connected to an Auramere or a mystic Heart then they will drain their life force.[6]
Individual elemental powers[]
Each of the five Guardians possesses power over one of the five classical elements: fire, water, earth, air, and quintessence. Each of the five Guardian's powers are derived and strengthened via the Aurameres, transmitted to the Heart. The Aurameres grant the same exact elemental powers to each of their Guardians; for instance, powers held by Irma would also have been possessed by Cassidy.[citation needed]
In the television series the Guardians are able to turn themselves into a pure elemental variation of oneself which was actually the true embodiment of their powers (eg. become one with their dragon or the powerful nymph Xin Jing) while increasing all of their elemental abilities to their zenith of strength by forfeiting their humanity which could render them susceptible to be easily controlled and enthralled.[7]
It is possible for the Guardians (except for the Keeper of the Heart) to switch powers if they don't think their current element is the right one for them, or retire from being a Guardian although they will retain their former Guardian abilities as a part of an eternal gift.[citation needed]
| Element | Powers | |
|---|---|---|
| Guardian of Water | Water | Control over water, limited mind-control,[1][8] emotion metabolization[citation needed] |
| Guardian of Fire | Fire | Control over fire and temperature, limited telepathy,[9][8] enhanced olfactory senses[citation needed] |
| Guardian of Earth | Earth | Control over earth, particularly plants, geokinetic healing,[citation needed] geomancy,[citation needed] green speaking,[10] Telekinesis,[8] manipulation of her own hair (TV series only)[citation needed] |
| Guardian of Air | Air | Control over air, wingless flight,[citation needed] Invisibility(TV series only;[8] in the comics all Guardians can become invisible[11]), see history through objects,[12] enhanced hearing[citation needed] |
| Guardian of Quintessence | Quintessence | Energy projection, electrokinesis (TV series only), communicate with electronics,[3][8] animation and reanimation,[citation needed] animal empathy, sixth sense,[citation needed] levitation,[citation needed] enhanced strength,[citation needed] enhanced eyesight[citation needed] |
The Heart of Kandrakar[]
- Main article: Heart of Kandrakar
Using the Heart of Kandrakar (or a mystic source of equal or greater power), the Guardians can magnify their powers and alter their appearance to their benefit. When the Guardians transform, they alter their form, height, attain supernatural strength and durability, and grow wings. In the comics, their wings originally did not grant them the ability to fly, not until they received their New Powers.[13] According to Cassidy, within every Keeper, a spark of the Heart of Kandrakar continues to burn.[14]
According to the Oracle, the nymph Xin Jing gifted the Guardians with the power of regeneration to allow them to withstand the physical strain of transforming from one state to another. Apparently, every time the Guardians are touched by the power of the Heart of Kandrakar, they become stronger; they are afforded supernatural longevity (e.g. this allowed Yan Lin to serve as a Guardian for longer than any ordinary mortal could have) and little physical imperfections disappear overtime (e.g. Taranee's eyesight improved because of this gift).[15] The Oracle also stated that this gift can be refused.[citation needed]
Weaknesses[]
- Aurameres: If a Guardian uses their elemental powers and is not connected to an Auramere, it will drain their life force, making them much weaker.[6] This may be why Nerissa aged so much faster than the rest of C.H.Y.K.N..[citation needed]
- Mortality: Despite their mystical attributes, the Guardians are still human and share many of the same weaknesses as non-supernatural beings (e.g. age, blood loss, suffocation, etc.). However, the Guardians can get around this weakness through the use of magic.[citation needed]
- Magic: The Guardians are susceptible to the powers of magic. This is includes magical objects such as the Star of Threbe[16] or the Horn of Hypnos.[17]
- Overexertion: The Guardians are not invincible, and they could be exhausted from excessive activity.
- Team Balance: Yan Lin revealed that when the Guardians argue and are not united, their individual powers diminish in strength and they are more vulnerable especially if the group is partially disbanded.[18][19]
Etymology[]
When the Veil was in place, the Guardians were known as the Guardians of the Veil. Later in the comics, they are known as Guardians of Kandrakar and in the TV series, they are referred to as the Guardians of the Infinite Dimensions.
Trivia[]
- While male Guardians were never confirmed to exist in the TV series, the comics did make mention of men having been Guardians.[citation needed]
- Althor was revealed to be have been a Guardian himself, prior to being a member of the Council of Kandrakar.[citation needed]
- In the TV series, before striking their ending poses during the transformations, all the Guardians call out the names of their elements.
- Will was initially an exception to this, as she exclaimed Keeper! or the Heart! prior to the reveal of her elemental power in K is for Knowledge; she cries out Quintessence! from that episode onward.
- Despite Irma claiming that the Guardian's couldn't cast spells in Divide and Conquer, the Guardians were described as doing so in the comics, and Nerissa and Yan Lin seemed to have cast spells in the TV series.[citation needed]
- Irma confirmed in that while the Guardians have elemental powers, they can also perform traditional acts of magic.[20]
- In the previous special issue, Will was shown to be able to trade powers, at the cost of her role as a keeper.
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Issue 001: Halloween
- ↑ Issue 008: The Black Roses of Meridian
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Issue 002: The Twelve Portals
- ↑ T is for Trauma
- ↑ It Begins
- ↑ 6.0 6.1 J is for Jewel
- ↑ Z is for Zenith
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 C is for Changes
- ↑ Issue 003: The Dark Dimension
- ↑ Q is for Quarry
- ↑ Issue 011: The Crown of Light
- ↑ Issue 004: The Power of Fire
- ↑ Issue 076: Earth
- ↑ Issue 021: Under the Shadow Sign
- ↑ Issue 027: The Departure
- ↑ The Stone of Threbe
- ↑ G is for Garbage
- ↑ The Mudslugs
- ↑ Issue 013: I Know Who You Are
- ↑ Issue 083: Back to Kandrakar
| Guardians | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| W.I.T.C.H. | Will Vandom · Irma Lair · Taranee Cook · Cornelia Hale · Hay Lin · Orube | ||
| C.H.Y.K.N. | Cassidy · Halinor · Yan Lin · Kadma · Nerissa | ||
| Guardian elements | Quintessence · Water · Fire · Earth · Air | ||
| Items | Heart of Kandrakar · Aurameres | ||
| Background | Xin Jing · Four Dragons · Nymphs · Oracle · Kandrakar | ||
| Media |
|---|
| Comics · TV series · Video game · Music From and Inspired by W.I.T.C.H. · Books · Manga |
| Manga | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Manga Issue 1 · Manga Issue 2 · Manga Issue 3 · Manga Issue 4 · Manga Issue 5 · Manga Issue 6 · Manga Issue 7 · Manga Issue 8 | |||