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

---

LOGS ● OOC ● STORIES ● MAIN NAVIGATION

( CODED BY BOOTYCALL )

Comments

[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?

[thankgods]

You may.

I have a great many names. I find that I prefer "Anbaki," but others have called me terms different. Some kind. Some less so. Few bring offerings in the process.

[A welcome change, then.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[She nods, smiling warmly.]

Then I am pleased to meet you, Anbaki. Has it been a long time since you've received visitors to your island?

[thankgods]

In a manner of speaking. In some manners. In others, it has not been very long at all. It all depends on relativity.

[We hope you weren't tired of deities being cryptic in your general direction.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[In retrospect, she should have known better than to ask them, seeing how well the Storyteller understands linear time. That is, not at all.]

Relative to what?

[Still, she can't quite stop herself from asking.]

[thankgods]

What do you mean by "a long time"? How long is a long time, in your eyes?

[prettypurpleparlor]

Hm...

[She tilts her head, considering the question thoughtfully.]

I suppose we would naturally have different perspectives on the matter, since we have different needs- you don't seem to age the way more mortal beings do, for example. For me, a year without speaking to another person would be long, but I do live among many other people instead of making my home on an island...

Each perspective is different, I admit. I believe I would say that, in your situation, I would consider a decade without visitors to be a long time.

[thankgods]

Then I believe, in regards to that sort of definition...a very long time indeed.

[This does not seem to trouble them unduly, but one might be hard-pressed to find something that does. They have taken the presence of visitors on their island altogether quite placidly. There is none of Harv's fervent zest for work, and certainly none of Bliss's slow-burning wait, tuning up to an inevitable climax.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet nods, unsurprised by the answer. Her first instinct is to offer condolences, for lonely times and lack of company, but... they had just spoken of different perspectives. Perhaps they preferred the solitude?]

Was it unpleasant, having no one else to speak to?

[thankgods]

It was the passage of time. All things come and go, and all things change. And, when you came, things did change.

[So a neutral answer.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

True.

[It is what it is.]

This change having come, is there anything in particular you would prefer that we do while on your island?

[thankgods]

What you do will be your choice, and under your own power. I cannot offer a preference.

[That's a strange way of putting it, isn't it? Cannot. Maybe that has more to do with their sense of neutrality.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Something about the phrasing nags at her...]

Ah... pardon, but if I might ask for clarification- will not or cannot?

[thankgods]

What sort of justice would I be, if I were to put forth clear biases from the very beginning?

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Ah, just like the Storyteller: a response that in no way actually answers her previous question, but does raise several new ones.]

Is it possible for any of us to have an entirely unbiased viewpoint? Even if we try our best to avoid one, all the experiences we have had in the past will give us different ways of thinking about an issue. That's only natural.

[thankgods]

What is possible for a mortal is not the same as what is possible for a deity.

[Which neither confirms nor denies the existence of previous biases, actually.]

[prettypurpleparlor]

Is such a thing possible for you, then?

[thankgods]

In my earlier days, I think it might have been. When I was still unshaped by what was to come. Our lives shape us, as does everything.

Now, I can only endeavor to be as true to that essence as possible.

[prettypurpleparlor]

[Muffet nods respectfully, acknowledging the answer.]

I would call that a worthy goal to strive for, if that matters.

[thankgods]

[The deity lowers their beak in a mirror of Muffet's action.]

It is generous of you to say so.