Brilyante

The Brilyantes are fictional gemstones in the Filipino fantasy television series Encantadia as well as its 2016 requel. They are the elemental gems that holds the balance in Encantadia. Each gem manifests the classical elements: aether, fire, air, water, and earth. The tranquility and future of Encantadia rests on these gemstones. In both series, each Brilyante are being carefully kept by each kingdom in Encantadia. The kingdom of fairies, Lireo, in the east of Encantadia, is the keeper of Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air). Adamya, the kingdom of elves in the south is the keeper of Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water). Sapiro, the northern kingdom of valiant warriors and healers, kept the Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth). Hathoria, the kingdom of proud and violent blacksmiths and orcs in the west, is the keeper the Brilyante ng Apoy (Gemstone of Fire). But after the Hathoria attempted to seize the all the gemstones, they are turned-over to Queen Mine-a of Lireo for safekeeping. Later, the four daughters of Queen Mine-a became the keeper of these gemstones.^[1][2]

2005-2006 series

History

The four brilyante first appeared in Encantadia, but the history of the gemstones appeared on its prequel, Etheria. The history of the four elemental gems date back to the First Great War in Encantadia with the fall of the Etherian Empire.

Etheria and the First Great War

The four brilyantes were initially created as a single gem that the deity Emre, the highest god in Encantadia, bequethed to the leaders of each kingdom in Encantadia; it was called as the Brilyante ng mga Elemento (Gem of the Elements): King Bartimus of Hathoria, King Meno of Sapiro, Queen Cassiopeia of Lireo and Elder Aegen of Adamya, used it to aid them in their struggle against the abusive empire of Etheria (followers of the fallen snake deity, Ether) under the rule of Queen Avria. The gem contains the four elements that will keep the balance in Encantadia. After the fall of Etheria, the jewel was entrusted to the most stable nation at the time, Sapiro. Fearful that the gem's power will corrupt Sapiro, Cassiopeia, the first Queen of Lireo, made the fateful decision and used the Kabilan Sword (the sword once belong to Etheria) to break the gem into four fragments that embodies the four elements it contain: water, fire, wind and earth. Because of this act, the four kingdoms of Encantadia lost their alliance with each other and Cassiopeia was cursed by Bathalang Emre and banished from Lireo. The four gem fragments were vested upon the four kingdoms. Sapiro was given the Brilyante ng Lupa, Hathoria was given the Brilyante ng Apoy, Lireo was given the Brilyante ng Hangin, and Adamya was given the Brilyante ng Tubig.

Encantadia (2005)

King Arvak of Hathoria, resentul of Cassiopeia's decision and deeply concerned by Hathoria's lack of apparent natural resources, launched a campaign of conquest throughout Encantadia, aided by his son and heir Hagorn. They successfully conquered Adamya and acquired the Brilyante ng Tubig, but were stopped cold when the Sapirians came to Adamya's rescue. Though successful in slaying King Armeo and acquiring the Brilyante ng Lupa, King Arvak died at the hands of Prince Raquim, and he then took the three gems. To ensure its protection, Prince Raquim of Sapiro traveled to Lireo and took the three gems to the queen of the Diwatas (Fairies), Queen Mine-a's custody and guardianship of all four elemental jewels, assured that the powerful Lirean throne would never let the brilyante fall into Hathorian hands. The brilyantes remained safe in Lireo until Sang'gre Pirena, the first-born of Mine-a, stole the Brilyante ng Apoy to aid her in defeating Mine-a during the challenge for the throne. Failing in her attempt and bitter of Minea's imagined favoritism, Pirena fled to Hathoria, carrying with her the Brilyante ng Apoy as bargaining chip with now King Hagorn. To protect the three remaining brilyantes, Mine-a entrusted them to her three remaining children, Amihan (Brilyante ng Hangin), Alena (Brilyante ng Tubig) and Danaya (Brilyante ng Lupa).

2016 series

Like in the original series, the four gemstones were used to be a single gem called Inang Brilyante (Mother Gem). It was a glowing egg shaped diamond. It has all the powers of nature and is the only item in Encantadia that can fight the powers of a deity. The Inang Brilyante is protected by Cassiopeia in her island. Adhara, an evil diwata, attempted to seize the Inang Brilyante for her personal ambitions, but she failed when Cassiopeia used the gem against her and destroyed her airship armada and sea fleet. To protect the Inang Brilyante, Cassiopeia shattered it into the four elemental gems using the Kabilan, a god-sword previously owned by Queen Avria of the fallen Etherian empire. She gave each piece to Adamya, Hathoria, Sapiro and Lireo's respective rulers to prevent Adhara from acquiring them and to help ensure an era of peace in the land. However, Bathalang Emre did not like what Cassiopeia did so he cursed her with immortality and to serve as a seer. He also banished her from her kingdom, Lireo, and cannot set foot on her kingdom until the "Inang Brilyante" is whole again.

After Pirena stole the Brilyante ng Apoy , Mine-a entrusted the three other ‘’brilyantes’’ to her other daughters, Amihan (Brilyante ng Hangin), Alena (Brilyante ng Tubig) and Danaya (Brilyante ng Lupa). It was later revealed that there was a fifth gem, a diamond shaped clear quartz that was thrown to an island during the explosion when Cassiopeia cleaved the Mother Gem. It was later known as the "Brilyante ng Diwa" or the Soul Gem. It was discovered by a mortal child named Paopao that was abducted into Encantadia to become a slave. He became the first keeper of the said gem.

All brilyantes float and are all sentient meaning they all understand and have a connection with their current and sometimes former keepers. If the brilyante is not transferred to another keeper properly by its current dying wielder and was taken to the afterlife, the element is represents will slowly wither and disappear until it is retrieved from the afterlife. It can never be stolen and must be given willfully. The brilyantes can be "stolen" if the brilyante choses to go with its new keeper. All brilyantes can create a copy of itself with a fraction of the powers of the original.

The shapes of the brilyantes in the 2016 series changed from their shape in 2005 series. The Brilyante ng Apoy from diamond-shaped became a tear-shaped ruby, the Brilyante ng Hangin from being circular became sapphire shaped like a tornado, the Brilyante ng Tubig from being lens-shaped became a circular shaped emerald inspired by water ripples, and the Brilyante ng Lupa from being rectangular became an oval-shaped golden topaz. Another difference from the 2005 series is the presence of respective magic circles for each of the gems to show that the gem has accepted the current wielder as its keeper.

The Brilyantes in the 2016 version

Brilyante ng Apoy (Gemstone of Fire)

Keeper of Fire Gem: Pirena - Deshna
The gem grants its keeper the power to control and conjure fire, enabling the person to control warmth/heat, temperature and light. In this sense, the beholder can intensify or withhold sunlight. This fire is sometimes used to create a portal window to see what other people are doing at the time. Fire can also be used as a container of power, knowledge and even souls/consciousness so that it may be kept or transferred to others. This gem has the ability of shapeshifting/glamouring into another person. Pirena used this ability many times. Her notable transformations are: Ades, Amihan, Aquil, Danaya, Lira, Ybrahim, Agane, Muros, Mira, Asval, Andora, and even the deities, Emre and Ether. It can also create a volcanic eruption with burning lava that can reach even the farthest place in Encantadia. It can also grant immunity to fire. It can also conjure a rain of fireballs. It can conjure a fire shield. It can let someone fly like a comet. When used with other gems, it can be used to enhance defense and deter attack for a whole kingdom. It can also locate others through body heat. This gem can give the ability to command all kinds of dragons. This gem is infamous for being used for evil. This gem chooses a keeper like Pirena and Deshna, with a scheming and wise personality. This gem is used by Pirena when she and Lira went to Avila.

Brilyante ng Hangin (Gemstone of Air)

Keeper of Air Gem: Amihan - Ariana - Muyak
The gem grants its owner with the power to control the air, wind, weather, climate and coldness/ice. In this sense, the beholder can change air currents, conjure oxygen in areas without it or withhold oxygen to asphyxiate its victim, and transform into the air itself and become invisible (the ability to teleport using the wind known as "ivictus"). This gem is sometimes used to send messages to other people. It also grants the holder the ability to fly. The gem can also be employed in detecting the presence of nearby beings by tracing the sound of their breaths. It can also give the ability to see anything that is not physically present, such as objects, animals, ivtres (ghosts/spirits), or encantados. It can also give super-agility and super-speed. It can also grant levitation/telekinesis. It can also make an air shield. If combined with Brilyante ng Lupa, it can make a sandstorm. If combined with Brilyante ng Tubig, it can make a hailstorm. If combined with Brilyante ng Apoy, it can make a fire whirlwind. When used with other gems, it can be used to enhance defense and deter attack for a whole kingdom. It can also command all birds. This brilyante chooses a keeper with a noble heart and good intentions like Amihan, Ariana, and Muyak.

Brilyante ng Tubig (Gemstone of Water)

Keeper of Water Gem: Alena - Mira - Armea
The gem grants its keeper with the power to control water and all kinds of liquids no matter its size (i.e. summoning a tsunami, storm). It enhances its keeper's strength and enables the person to control biosonar or sonokinesis, in this sense, it can be used to locate and can be used to hypotize others through a siren song. It can also command all aquatic flora and fauna. It also enables its keeper to summon rain/monsoon and portray an image and communicate through water. The keeper can also manipulate all body fluids. It can also give its wielder an aqua shield. The gem could also wash away all memories. When used with other gems, it could grant blessings and protection. It can also grant its owner to shapeshift to any aquatic animal/plant like a turtle and water lily. The powers of this brilyante is easily heightened by emotions like Hara Alena and Sang'gre Mira.

Brilyante ng Lupa (Gemstone of Earth)

Keeper of Earth Gem: Danaya - Lira - Cassandra
The gem grants its owner with earth-based powers, enabling the person to control the earth (including all geologic materials), vegetation, forests, mountains, and nature. In this sense, the beholder can conjure earthquakes (the magnitude varies to how the keeper wants the intensity to be. The keeper can also undo the damage caused by the earthquake), communicate and control all terrestrial plants and animals, shapeshift into any flora or fauna and heal herself and others (but not useful to injury that are self-inflicted or deadly). When used with other gems, it could grant blessings and protection. It can also make a force field. This gem chooses keepers with a noble heart and sturdy principles like Danaya and Lira.

Brilyante ng Diwa (Gemstone of Quintessence/Soul)

Keeper of the Soul Gem: Paopao
As the shard of the Mother Gem, it has all the secondary powers of all the other gems. It can throw energy balls like the fire gem, use "ivictus" like the air gem, locate others like the water gem, and heal others like the earth gem. When used with other gems, it could grant blessings and protection. It can also enhance defenses, agility and speed. It can also strengthen or weaken the soul of an individual. It can also make a force field. It can also conjure and command souls, as well as give the ability for astral projection and special sight for ivtres (ghosts). It can also make a force field. It alters the power of the other gem when used with it. The elemental symbol of the gem transforms back to its original Devas symbol from it was derived meaning, the fire gem could be used to control the emotions, the water gem could be used to control the mind, the air gem could alter time and space and the earth gem could be used to create or put into being, give life and alter reality. This gem is innocent and goes to whoever it summons it unless it recognizes its past/present keeper. This gem is infamous for killing Hara Amihan and resurrecting Hara Avria.

Lilang Brilyante (Purple Gemstone)

Keeper of the Gem: Emre

The sixth gemstone is a cube shaped amethyst used by Emre to tempt Lira with power, alongside with riches. It has no definite name. He said that the sixth gem has equal power to the first five gems. It has the power to balance nature. The first five gems are to create and maintain, the final gem is for destruction. Its powers is to balance all the works (the opposite) of all the other gems. Lira declined the gem and was kept until now by Emre. This is the only gem that is not part of the Inang Brilyante (Mother Gem).

References