November Adventure: It's Easier to Bury

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: MAATI

Who: Everyone!
What: Maati appears, and a new adventure begins
When: November 10th and onward
Where: Maati
Warnings: Tag as you go!

I Pray for the Ground to Swallow Me Whole
As of November 10th, the mana pools on Ensō and its islets will now allow for travel to the new island of Maati.

Travelers will arrive on a mana pool situated on the E5 square, within the temple of the avatar that dwells here. Their temple is a sturdy thing, built into and around the chestnut trees that thread deeply into its very construction. The symbol of the eagle can be found nearly everywhere one looks.

Three guesses as to what shape the avatar of this land assumes.

---

Welcome to the new island of Maati! As the island is now accessible, feel free to create new logs of your own, or use this post as a catch-all for exploration! For further information in regards to the island, or plotting, the following links may prove handy:

[ ♆ ] OOC info and introductory post
[ ♆ ] Future event opt-in form
[ ♆ ] Maati on the Locations page
[ ♆ ] Search Requests page

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LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

anbaki | e5 | ota

[thankgods]

[The temple inside is warmly lit - torches mounted on the walls throw it into a spectacular golden-bronze relief. The altar itself is a fairly unremarkable thing, though the symbols of the eagle are inlaid in jasper across its coppery finish.]

[If you wish to speak to the deity that lives here, you need only wait a minute or two. Then, inevitably, you will hear them before you see them. The loud flap of wings, the rush of feathers in the air, and they will sweep into view. Anbaki's shape is somewhat larger than any ordinary eagle, settling nearby with the clatter of talons and the fixed expression of a single, glaring, golden eye.]

[They wait for you to speak first, if you are able.]

[savedbyasong]

[Shion has a lot on his mind but that doesn't stop him from heading to Maati, Cobweb the tigerlilly at his side. Exploring new places when they appear has become part of his routine. Prepared for the worst but still curious about what this new island will bring Shion steps through the mana pool.

The temple is obvious and Shion goes there first. It is not long before he hears the beating of wings. He smiles politely at the eagle-god.] Hello. Are you the deity of this island?

[thankgods]

[Their amber-colored eye fixes on him for a long, quiet moment. Then:]

That I am. And you? A visitor, are you?

[savedbyasong]

I am. We have just arrived I hope you don't mind, you might get quite a few new people exploring your island.

[Talking to gods is never going to not feel strange.] What would you like me to call you?

[catpiper]

[The temptation to start this with a caw caw is overwhelming-it takes every bit of self control to force it back down. All the gods before this one could speak their language. This one is probably the same and doesn't need things cawslated for them.]

Are you alone here?

[thankgods]

[The eagle is decidedly unbirdlike in terms of mannerisms - they stare at her for a long, quiet moment, unblinking, before answering.]

I was. I am, at times. I no longer am, now that you are here.

[catpiper]

[That's logic she can get behind, honestly. They're not wrong and they probably won't be alone again until the mana pool is disconnected.]

Were you lonely? Are you happy we're here?

[tokenflavortownie]

[For what was assuredly a god, or some similar being nonetheless, Pyrrha wasn't feeling especially troubled being in its presence. Maybe it was the long several months she's been put through, or the year before that. Maybe it's the fact that this deity is a big bird.

Whatever it is, she's keen on being polite, at least.]

My, you're beautiful, if you don't mind me saying so.

[thankgods]

[And polite they will be in turn, though the uncanny tilt of their head as they look at her for several, long moments nearly has their head turned upside down.]

Mind? No. I do not mind. So says the eye of the beholder. Beauty. Majesty.

[Stated factually; not a hint of pride to be found.]

Both I have heard before.

[tokenflavortownie]

[A talking bird. Now she can add that to the list.]

I guess I'll have to take your word for that.

[She gives a little bow. It feels appropriate.]

My name is Pyrrha, and I'm new to your island.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[This is beginning to become tradition.]

[It's an odd thought, but not an unwelcome one. Muffet finds some comfort in ritual, in routine, however bizarre the routine itself might be. The process of meeting a new god, from the Storyteller's months-old advice, has begun to solidify itself for her.]

[Make something worthwhile, a work of her many hands. Imperfect, inevitably, but done with as much skill as she can muster. Find a temple or wait for them to manifest, and present it to them when the opportunity arises.]

[Try to be polite.]

Hello.

[This one is, at least, fairly easy to find. She greets them with a polite curtsy, and holds out her offering:]

[A candle, the wax from their newly-acquired beehives and the wick made of her own tightly-braided silk.]

I've brought this as a gift for you. I hope it's to your liking.

[She knows very little about their tastes, but she has some slight hope that giving them something made from the bounty of Harv's island might bring them a little happiness- the Storyteller seemed to worry about other gods, in their own way, and the twin god(s?) of Monsun had mourned Rapsho in their passing. The candle is, if nothing else, proof that Nuidan's avatar was alive and well when last she saw them.]

[thankgods]

Hello.

[Their tone is relatively neutral, but they lower their beak to inspect the candle. They're not as liable to appreciate the gift as deeply as, say, Harv might, but that does not mean they cannot acknowledge the effort.]

This is most generous of you.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Yeah, you know what? She'll take it. Given the debacles that came of meeting hostile gods, "politely neutral" is fine by her.]

I'm more than happy to offer what I can, in the interests of politeness. It's only proper to bring a gift when visiting.

[Honestly, it seemed pretty reasonable even back when the Storyteller first mentioned it. It's basically the godly equivalent of bringing a bottle of wine to someone's house party, it's What You Do.]

My name is Muffet. May I ask yours?

[forwearemany]

(The knowledge that another god can be found on this island arouses their curiosity, and thus they will eventually make their way to the temple, at night, when others are unlikely to be there.)

Greetings.

[thankgods]

Greetings.

[A mirror of a greeting to their own, and a measured stare.]

[They won't be initiating this conversation without further prompting. If you wish to maintain the discussion, you will have to do that on your own. They're quite content to sit here in silence, otherwise.]

[forwearemany]

You are the diety of this island?

(Legion is ... not the best at this but they will try.)

[deathfindsaway]

[He was a little wary about this new place- not that Nudian gave him much to be worried for, but he's finding himself getting his hopes too high only for them to be quickly dashed. He knows he shouldn't expect to find his Goddess, but anything that would be even remotely more normal would be a nice change of pace. That said, Ren sees fit to make sure he knows that this one is a bird, and for the sake of his curiosity, he can't not arrive.

Even dressed slightly down, he has plenty of bird imagery on his clothes; the raven skull holding his tie at his collar, the buttons with wings and the subtle feather pattern on his jacket makes him look like he fits right in. And sure enough, he has just enough time to look around before they appear, and Kravitz bows when they settle.]

I assume you are the god of this place-- thank you for allowing me into your temple. May I ask your name?

[thankgods]

[We're terribly sorry, Kravitz; this particular avatar isn't liable to get in touch with your mom and send her a wave via carrier pigeon, however much you might hope.]

That is respectful of you. [The bird inclines their head back, a mirror of his polite bow.] I am called many things. "Anbaki" is what I am referred to as most often, and it has come to be what I prefer.

[deathfindsaway]

[Listen, can't he at least try--]

Anbaki it is, then. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Kravitz, emissary of the Raven Queen. Though I, uhm... don't expect you to know who that is.

[He just wants to feel fancy.]

Thank you for allowing us into your domian.

[thermalwind]

[A new island and a temple. He decides to take the direct approach and discuss matters with whoever the deity is first. But he isn’t prepared for all for Anbaki.

He stares at them in open awe and wonder. Anbaki is incredible! Keith masters himself a moment later. Focus, Keith.]

Hi. Thanks for letting me come into your temple. [so far; so good.] I was hoping to talk to you if you have some time.

[thankgods]

[If they are put off by Keith's moment of awe, they do not show it. Then again, an eagle is not a conventionally expressive creature. And then again, even those birdlike expressions are not present; there is no ruffling or fluffing of feathers, or cocking of their head. The avatar simply watches, and waits for him to speak.]

I have plenty of time. I am not the one whose existence is finite.

[So he may ask however many questions he feels he has the time to afford.]

[thermalwind]

[Rigjt to business. He likes that. It reminds him of being a Blade and focusing on what needs done. He starts from the top.] Alright. How far onto your island are we allowed to explore? This is your domain. Felt important to ask for your permission.

I’m looking for answers to what happened to your world and...why. [He needs to figure out just what occurred to even have a guess on what to focus on first.] So far, all I know is the world seemed to break. Everything I’ve looked at are pieces.

Nothing seems to link them together.

[ohshitsweetflips]

[Time for the nth envoy from Ensō's very own Fort Asshole, in the form of two elves. Taako has barely had a chance to surreptitiously touch the altar before the sound of the god's arrival gives him a guilty startle. What a loud bird. Pretty sure being that loud is a choice, and not like a super godly one, in his opinion, as much as he generally appreciates drama.

Awkward, unwelcoming silence is also a choice. Weirdly enough, that's also bad form for a god. So, pretty much par for the course.]

Oh, hey.

[hellawrath]

[Yeah Taako, that's what you get for fondling god shit, can't take you anywhere. Lup, of course, was totally behaving herself and not at all picking some chestnut twigs that she surreptitiously has to drop behind her back when the god swoops in.

Does it help that she brought Hot Boi? That's like a smaller, more on fire version of them sitting on her shoulder.]

Hail and well met! I assume the Storyteller like, called ahead about us?

[thankgods]

[ If Anbaki has noticed Lup's fidgeting or Taako's hands-on inspection of the altar...they don't seem bothered by it, as they don't react at all. The twins' presence in their temple has the entirety of their attention.

They look back and forth, a few quick twitches of their head to affix both siblings with that golden gaze, before settling completely. Barely a glance is spared for the little firebird sitting on Lup's shoulder, but it is a glance. It's more than no reaction at all. ]

Yes. I was made aware of your presence.

[ The two islands are now connected, after all. It gives Anbaki a certain kind of insight.

...

Are they going to say anything else? Apparently not, unless you ask them a direct question. ]