Petra - Guardian of Stone

"Χαιρετίσματα..? Oh! Greetings, I am Petra, Guardian of Stone. Who may you be?"

- Petra, giving her greetings

One of the three Guardians that reside in the world of Alanoth, Petra is the Guardian of Stone. Originally fighting in the Proto Polemo, saving Alanoth from Skotati and the twisted Guardian of Decay, she travels the world of Alanoth alongside her closest companion Nera.

Appearance
She is a decently small wyvern, standing at 7'3 ft in height, with a dark stone grey color for her body, with a pair of fins on the side of her head.

Her entire body has a stony texture to it, being well crafted and smooth as stone, without any strange protrusions that you'd see from various rock dragons within Alanoth. She lacks scales, essentially just a smooth moving statue of a wyvern.

Her body is more artificial, being held together by magic, the stone gives off a magical signature, so someone like Nera would be able to tell the difference between Petra versus just a normal rock. Guardian colors fade depending on physical state, so a weakened Petra fades from orange to grey red, to pure grey, and on the flip side, as she gets stronger, she starts off at her normal darkish grey and orange, turns lighter grey with yellow as she manipulates stone, light grey and blue if she's engaging an enemy in combat, and white and pink if she enters her Dynami mode, which is reserved for the serious fights or if she's backed against a corner.

Personality
Much like Nera, she is a compassionate creature who cares for the various creatures of Alanoth, she is the wiser and more knowledgeable of the two however. Being a very polite and soft spoken wyvern, that said, she doesn't use harsh language often, but when some subjects are brought up, notably the sadistic and terrifying creature known as Pali, she doesn't hold back, specifically describing her as "the tavern bathroom shit stain on this universe; her joy being the pain of others, and her powers accompanying that"

She often travels the lands meditating,, her thoughts and mind floating as if in a bath of heavy air as she locks into a trance, though she isn't bound to one place as she does this, so she summons focus to keep walking and avoid any obstacles. During her initial journey to Nuo, she meditated while flying across the oceans. Despite her rocky exterior, she can be a soft and welcoming figure, emitting happy and sleepy thoughts in her friends if they are under a crisis. She also cares for all life on Alanoth, particularly humans, which are her favorite species.

For a wyvern who's so imposing and heavy, she's very pacifist, she often tries to go for a non violent option when she can, preferring to spare life rather than extinguish it, "You can call me Petra, Guardian of Stone, and I believe you have outstayed your welcome on my planet." - Addressing Alama.

"The only problem with being proud around guardians is that we are not afraid to get violent." Petra's eyes burn a little brighter.

But that being said, she is capable of bringing the hurt if you try and cross her. She dislikes the path that both the Gales Order and the Draknovi Factions have taken, the former for personal reasons given their hatred for all non Dragon life, and the latter for moral reasons given the terrible actions they take. Given how often she runs into the latter trying to cause trouble, such as selling her stones as "Stones of the ancient gods", she finds they make good Magma fodder. She also has an intense hatred for creatures who break and torture life, whether for misguided goals like the Exiled Royals, or due to sadistic joy such as Pali or Alama.

Abilities
"That is somewhat accurate. My title implies what element I can control, which happens to be rock and stone. My body is made of stone and magma, which I can spit out to a certain point. My main power is manipulation of stone, which means I can form the stone around me to my will."

'''To show this off, she spits a glob of magma on a bush and quickly turns it to stone, along with creating a small mushroom-like outcropping. - Petra demonstrating her abilities.'''

She may be smaller, but compared to Nera she is far more powerful, being capable of manipulating the elements of the earth in order to dispatch her enemies. Her main power is her magma breath, which she conjours from her own body. This magma is brought about by her powerful energy heating up her body. She also has a healing magma, but this drains her far faster than any of her other powers. One trick she often does is spit magma then hardening it into a stone shape, such as a basket or mushroom shape.
 * Magma

Magma in general is a common ability for her, whether she's blasting it at a troublesome foe or drbbling it onto a cluster of Sko Roots, even her tears are magma based, given her entire body is made out of stone and magma. Since her magma is also essentially her blood, she can run out of this, so she generally tries to be careful with when she uses it, since Petra's body relies heavily on magic, and if the magma cools due to magic loss, she gets extremely weak.

She also has a natural heat around her, though given it's as hot as molten magma, this can be uncomfortable if you're not careful. She is however weak to intensive colds, such as those from the Far North regions of Tanzanite, sub zero temperatures can actually kill her, it wouldn't be simple but it's still a possibility.


 * Stone

Her other main ability revolves around manipulating stone and rock, moving her wings to channel her energy to manipulate the stone, but it must already be present to be used by her. She can only manipulate stone and create a small portion with her natural magma, but usually she uses the rock beds on land deep underground to fight, if she's over the ocean she has a much harder time fighting.

In combat she often summons stone spikes. Often as a shield for her allies or to skewer a foe with the jagged rocks.

She can also control sand, to a level, however sand doesn't do a lot for Petra, she can control it but it takes way too much concentration as it isn't as grounded as normal rock.


 * Physical Abilities

Beyond those, in combat she can smack someone with her tail or knock someone out with a smack of her wings. She can also bite but her bite isn't the strongest and is mostly dangerous if backed up by her magma.


 * Mind Reading

Like all Guardians, Petra is capable of reading minds and transmitting feelings and images within another living being, she is incapable of communicating back and forth via mind reading unless it is with another Guardian however.

Petra can also enter a dynami mode (called supernova mode), which entails her growing to an extreme temperature as her body changes to a mainly hot-white with bright pink frills, something she made great use of during the Proto Polemo. This change isn't permanent, and takes a lot of energy to use.

Relationships
"I do, actually! Her name is Nera, and she is a wonderful soul. Her full title would be Nera, Guardian of Clouds; you might have heard of her before" The fire in her eyes only shows love for the vaporous wyvern". - Petra describing Nera
 * Nera

Going very far back, she and Nera are very close, their time together going way back to before the days of the Proto Polemo.

Initially Nera happened across a small village with another creature just like her, a rather small and unknown guardian named Petra, who traveled on Alanoth at a time where nobody knew or cared about the planet. Nera learned some basic guardian lessons under her and at first saw her as a hero, Petra went off to fight in the Proto Polemo, leaving a much more capable Nera alone on Alanoth, She actually liked Petra as a childhood crush she knew she couldn't have,

Petra returned, the now 40ft in size and grown Nera saw Petra as a flattering, kind, and humorous personality, thus making the small crush into attraction and adoration, Petra liked her back and from there they spent a lot of time together in a romantic relationship. a common nickname given from Nera is "kókkino nános" which translates to Red Dwarf,

"Hm... Her mind is reminicent of floating in a cloud, misty and cold but wonderful... It hugs you with wings of down, and you feel as if you could get lost in her emotions..." - Petra describing Nera, Her voice has gotten quiet with longing.

Nowadays they travel the land of Tanzanite together, they share a lot of fluff together and deal with the problems they come across within these harsh lands, often constantly sharing what they're sensing without concentrating; it isn't any sort of attack mind, they're just really close, with Nera often playfully trapping her in her massive blue neck fluff. the two hoping to see the end of the universe together after living a long and happy life.

One thing they do is mind meld, where they leave each others bodies and enter their minds, enveloping each other and mixing around, their consciousness becoming one for a brief moment. At one point she comforted Nera after a mind meld with Cécile Bellerose, with Nera feeling distressed she had lost some of her love for Petra, figuring there'd be no way a rabbits soul would be able to draw her in. ''Petra balks at the clouds. "N-n-ee.." Her eyes fill with magma tears "-Nera.. ghurnn.. com..e..bac..k..-" -'' An alternate timeline where Nera perishes.

That said if one died before the other, they don't take it very well, something demonstrated within a few timelines alternate to U1-GA


 * The Fang Posse

She's very close with these rambunctious reptiles, considering them like they were her adoptive kids, traveling with them on their various misadventures and seeing that they get out of those alive. She and Nera often watch over the gang as they travel around the various villages of western Tanzanite, or venture deep into the forests, busting them out of various jams and troubles they find themselves in.

They are particularly playful with Salama, the little adorable lightning bean. Both of them watching over her like she were their child.

She has a particular worry with Shiro, the poor thing experimented on and twisted for much of it's life, being mentally and physically deformed because of those. Being naturally caring for all life, she worries for the poor creature.

With Glacies she doesn't exactly tolerate his abrasive attitude all the time, often getting on her nerves at times, but she knows deep down for as rude as he is, he's not totally corrupt, particularly in regards to Shiro given he's the reason Shiro is even still around.

And as for Cryll, she tries to help him get through the days, hoping one day the shy Komodo Dragon gains some form of confidence. The two mostly get along though Cryll, being as timid as he is, often doesn't know what to say.

She, much like Nera, see's Derpblock as the adorable cloud that he is. The derpy green dragon turning up when she least expects him, whether he gives the stone wyvern some nose boops or gives her a basket of pears and mangoes. He doesn't turn up all the time, but when he does she enjoys his presence all the same.
 * Derpblock

"Unfortunately, I know who that is. Pali... She is the tavern bathroom shit stain on this universe; her joy being the pain of others, and her powers accompanying that. You are lucky to live after witnessing such a monster." - Petra addressing Pali, one of the rare times she uses harsher language.
 * Pali

She had a very intense hatred for Pali. Her sadistic nature not aligning with Petra's way of treating life on Alanoth. She and Nera have encountered Pali a few times and rarely is it ever positive.

"Some creatures live for themselves, some creatures live for others." - Petra Addressing the Draknovi
 * Draknovi

Originally knowing them as the Runic Arcana, she knew of them as heroes who wished to rid the lands of evil. After she informed them how powerful the creatures could be, it seemed even then that they were dissatisfied with the danger involved, especially after the grueling trials they had up to that point, with many losing their altruistic nature or leaving. One of Petra's regrets is not keeping a closer eye on them.

Nowadays she often finds herself in conflict with the Draknovi, for the various shady and immoral behaviors they undertake as they prey upon the weak to extract their treasures, with Draknovi at one point attempting to sell some of her stones as "The Stone of the Gods". Given she often travels around the deserts in the west, she and the Fang Posse run into them often enough that they know what to expect from them.


 * Selene Mondlied

At a later point in her journeys through Tanzanite, she encounters Selene Mondlied, a wandering thief often known by many as "Shade", who carries interest in the Guardians. She encountered the Thief while traveling into an old, Sko infested town alongside Ilakos, the roots in the fallen village are almost exactly the same as Ground 0 roots from Sygnal; the defensive capabilities of these roots are much lower than the ones that have spread farther, she had hoped to be able to discover a cure for these. Then, with that base, she could work on the adaptations of the new growths.

The Wolfen Thief looting the place, given the former presence of Draknovi, she seeked to reap the rewards, unconcerned for her own safety., they eventually managed to clear the town, with Petra taking notice of Shade's being, noticing the Thiefs soul ripped apart and missing several crucial pieces, the void it left being incredibly noticeable to a Guardian reading her surface thoughts, The wolfen was a mess of mental illnesses and seemed to be listless and lost, no thanks to a sadistic dream serpent by the name of Alama, who totally broke Shade leaving the poor thing as this lost husk.

Nowadays she usually runs into Shade, or one of the Venusa Legion members she often travels alongside, whenever she happens across the forests of Mistwood, the band of adventurers reminding her of the rambunctious reptiles she herself travels with, seeing to it that they get through what they do alive. She finds them to be a lot of fun, the little panther Allison Chaucer reminding her alot of Salama.


 * Itha

In one depiction of Petra, she and Nera have a daughter named Itha, Guardian of Smog, a little baby, by Guardian estimates, who only speaks Greek in peoples minds.


 * Others

"I can say that I have proved myself difficult to kill at least. A shame that Edgar's fantastic work was lost to the ages, however; he spent most of his life discovering the secrets within, and his writings were enlightening even for me." - Petra Reminiscing about Edgar's writings.

She and Nera have familiarity with the wandering adventurer known as Edgar Page, an obscure researcher who's journals about the Guardians and elements of the world are the most accurate sources of information on them. Petra carrying a good deal of respect for him.

Backstory
Aged at 4.6 billion years old, part Ancient, and first guardian to go into Dynami. In her younger years, Petra actually was a tasma once, but within Ο πυρήνας της Γης, or "The Earths Core", her father gave her a piece of his energy and allowed her to get a new body, allowing her to survive.

Living in the planet of Alanoth, at at time where no Guardian cared for the planet if they knew of it at all, Within a small village she came across another unknown Guardian just like her, Nera, Petra taught Nera some of the basic Guardian lessons, the cloud wyvern seeing her as a hero.

In these early years, she had grown curious after a meteor had struck a far away landscape known as Nuo, feeling it was her responsibility to learn what she could, she didn't stick around there for long, finding their species needed to develop on its own for awhile as well as needing to do things in Tanzanite, but not before an encounter with a wandering researcher by the name of Megoki Sun, who had grown curious on the Guardians and eventually left Nuo to reach Tanzanite. She had also encountered Edgar Page around these early years as well who had sought significant research on the Guardians, his work becoming very important. Eventually an event known as the Proto Polemo kicked off, an event where Skotati had completely begun overwhelming the universe, killing many Ancients and Guardians in the process, this eventually reached Alanoth, so Petra, alongside other Guardians like Idero, ventured out and fought back against the sickly threat.

During this, she discovers Dynami, a state of existence that allows guardians to use their full Ancient potential. It tires them out extremely quickly, but this is enough to beat back the Skotati.

That's what got Petra through the Proto Polemo; it wasn't physical strength or skill, it was energy-to-energy Vos magic that she fought with.

In the process, A very.. disillusioned Guardian of Decay, desired the power of ancients and ultimate rule over the universe and its dimensions, so after years of experimenting on Alanoth. So Petra and the other Guardians sought to take her down, engaging in battle, Thora was eventually vanquished, but not before sending out this wave of roots as her body disintegrated into rotting animal carcasses, transforming the already war torn city into a disgusting hellscape full of infected beasts.

"I remember I had visited an alien planet to give a speech on the effects of the Proto Polemo, and I had been waited on by a most wonderful old being. After I had given the speech, she had handed me a jikoo, or knit, version of myself. Even though I had informed her that I could not keep it, she said that the gift was in the moment, not the item, which rang quite true with me." - Petra around the time after the Proto Polemo had ended

After the Skotati was pushed back and Thora was vanquished, the Proto Polemo and the Alanoth based 300 Year war alongside it, came to an end, Petra was hailed a hero because of that. Praised throughout the lands, and among Guardians going from an unknown to a well known name, though this fame would eventually fade over the passages of time, as she tended to keep to herself and those she knew.

Upon returning, she encountered the now 40 Feet in size Nera, the two grew very close from there, with Nera having strong feelings for the stone wyvern, and Petra reciprocating that, so the two celebrated from there.

Nowadays she mostly resides in the continent of Tanzanite alongside Nera, traveling with a group of rambunctious reptiles who christen themselves "The Fang Posse", journeying all across the lands, often settling down with Nera or spending some time meditating, all the while dealing with threats such as the infamous Drakonvi factions or the dragon centric Gales Order lead by Kaze. While she has traveled to other worlds in her time after the Proto Polemo, she always has a soft spot for the world of Alanoth.

Trivia

 * She also has fins on the back of her tail, the original reference doesn't show this but other pictures do.PetraTail.png
 * There's a version of Petra nicknamed "Perder", described as Petra but mortal and a child, known to puke magma randomly, said to be a canon character but mostly for alternate universes, very little is shared on them however.