I thin there's a lot of interesting stuff when it comes to Guardians and their charges
One of the questions you mentioned was the idea of 'worthiness" varying between different perspectives. Since they might all have different standards of "worthiness," do judge each other for their charges? For example, might a Guardian who has a great leader as their charge look down on a dragon who's charge is a simple farmland? Maybe there are different classes/subgroups of Guardians that associate with each other depending on the type of charge they have (object charges associate with each other, dragon charge guardians associate with each other and maybe even split between mate charges and non-mate charges)
Additionally, the concept of what happens if they lose their charge adds another level to what could be seen as "worthy"
If a dragon has something with a short life span, perhaps a Beastclan Familiar or even something fairly fragile as their charge, what they are expected to do in that case? Like what if it's an insect? They are called to protect their charge, but can they protect against time? Is something that can be affected by time considered less worth, or at least the worthiness depends on how the dragon responds? Would a Guardian dragon choose to die and even be buried alongside their charge, much like warriors and their steeds in ancient times?
If you get into a religious significance fo a charge (if said Guardian feels so inclined), perhaps they might see it as their duty to accompany and protect their charge in the afterlife as well.
The Ancient Egyptians had a ritual involving human sacrifice where pharos would have their servants killed and bury them with their master to accompany them and serve them in the afterlife. Now, hopefully the circumstanced in this situation would be more....voluntary.....but still an interesting concept over all.
One of the questions you mentioned was the idea of 'worthiness" varying between different perspectives. Since they might all have different standards of "worthiness," do judge each other for their charges? For example, might a Guardian who has a great leader as their charge look down on a dragon who's charge is a simple farmland? Maybe there are different classes/subgroups of Guardians that associate with each other depending on the type of charge they have (object charges associate with each other, dragon charge guardians associate with each other and maybe even split between mate charges and non-mate charges)
Additionally, the concept of what happens if they lose their charge adds another level to what could be seen as "worthy"
Encyclopedia: Guardian Dragons wrote:
Guardian dragons see the failure to keep their chosen charge safe as a terrible blight to their honor, and most will pine away rather than live with the shame of their failure.
If a dragon has something with a short life span, perhaps a Beastclan Familiar or even something fairly fragile as their charge, what they are expected to do in that case? Like what if it's an insect? They are called to protect their charge, but can they protect against time? Is something that can be affected by time considered less worth, or at least the worthiness depends on how the dragon responds? Would a Guardian dragon choose to die and even be buried alongside their charge, much like warriors and their steeds in ancient times?
If you get into a religious significance fo a charge (if said Guardian feels so inclined), perhaps they might see it as their duty to accompany and protect their charge in the afterlife as well.
The Ancient Egyptians had a ritual involving human sacrifice where pharos would have their servants killed and bury them with their master to accompany them and serve them in the afterlife. Now, hopefully the circumstanced in this situation would be more....voluntary.....but still an interesting concept over all.