lifeaftr | November Adventure: It's Easier to Bury

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 )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

The island's sole limitations are physical.

[Perhaps they mean the coast, which is what makes the island an island. Perhaps they mean the cliffs that are difficult to scale, restricting exploration. Perhaps they mean something more. They do not specify.]

Islands are all pieces, in a sense. They were part of something greater once.

What happened that made them all pieces? [He files away the remark about an island's limitations being physical. He can always ask for clarification later.]

Do you mind if I sit down for this talk? I would rather sit since I think this will take a while.

[The avatar lowers their beak in a slow, meditative nod.] Of course, if that is more comfortable.

[But, to answer his question:]

Sometimes things come apart naturally, of their own accord. Sometimes it is a cataclysm that shakes them. For me, it has been so long that I cannot remember when things were not so.

[Keith sinks down and folds his legs under him. So they don’t know what happened. He should be surprised but he keeps running into this answer.]

So if there’s any trace of it left I have to find it myself. [Still right on track for what he figured. He nods.] I’m Keith. ...what are the symbols on the outside of the temple? I can’t tell what they mean.

The birds are a representation of myself, naturally. The others are the seven sigils of judgment.

The seven sigils of judgment. [He repeats carefully and glancing back towards the temple entrance. Keith looks back to Anbaki as he weighs his question.]

...are they seven different types of judgment or do they all ultimately mean the same thing?

Not types of judgment, no...

[The bird's words are thoughtful. It seems they've not had to summarize this sort of thing in language in quite some time.]

There are seven trials for judgment, shall we say.

[Keith tries to picture it. Could...Wait. He has so many questions. But it's better to focus on the most important part of that.]

...why are there seven trials? Are they separate or do you have to go through them all?

[They're struggling further to find the right words for all of this, their speech peppered with pauses and moments where they do not seem to know what term to use.]

Seven separate trials, yes. I believe old stories speak of the trials in weighing one's heart against the burden of their sins. These trials are not quite the same, but...I suppose you could say they function in a similar way.

[He watches them struggle. ...maybe.]

Is there an easier way for you to communicate? I don't want to cause you any trouble. [Maybe drawing?]

So seven separate trials. They weigh the heart against the burden of sin. So they're different based on what sins they're being weighted against?

I am...simply not the best with words. That was always the Storyteller's way. It has been some time since I have needed to communicate so...directly.

[What does that mean? Who knows! Maybe they don't even know.]

...I suppose that would be the best way to put it.

[What does that even mean? He has a picture of being fed images and ideas the way the Black Lion talks to him. Keith blinks once.]

Do you remember why people were judged? Not, in general. Why they were given these trials.

These trials were undertaken to better oneself. To learn from the errors of the past, and do better in the future.

[Keith stills. The concept of the trials had been a concern. Now, they're something he's staring at weighing the pros and cons of undergoing.

He has people who need him. It would be better for now not to do it. Yet he's tempted.]

So...people came here to be better than they were. Do I have that right?

That is...the hope.

[They are not a god of hope, but they do sound - hopeful.]

There were failures, of course. Those who could not move forward, even with as many tries as they were given...

What happened to them? [He has to know. If this comes up and he takes this shot he needs to know the stakes.]

They perished.

[It's said simply, as calmly as one might state the weather. A fact of life. There is no sorrow in it, but nor is there any joy.]

A life in stagnation is no life at all.

[In his memory Kolivan's voice echoes, 'These trials result in one of two things, knowledge or death'. He stares down at the floor of the temple and back up at the god in front of him.]

...is it possible these trials might happen again? We can't accidentally trip over what would activate them, can we? I get they had a purpose and could people good. But I'm not sure how many are prepared for that among our group.

If the trials were to be activated, [says Anbaki, very calmly,] it would never be by accident.

...what are the times they become active? Just to give me a frame of reference.

That, I cannot say. It rather depends on circumstance.

Do you remember what triggered them in the past? If you don’t that’s fine. I’m just curious.

Large groups tend to bring with them many sins. With those burdens weighing so heavily on everyone's shoulders, judgment will always follow.

If it does trigger...how is it announced? Or does it just happen?

Certain signs do precede the trials before they are undertaken. There is always a great risk involved in them, of course.

[There might be something disconcerting in that - the matter-of-fact way their tone simply never changes as they relate this.]

November Adventure: It's Easier to Bury

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