New Island: Maati

[lifeaftr_mods]

NEW ISLAND: MAATI

The votes are in! And despite the abstracted nature of this round of voting, most characters elected to vote for the fourth option presented: the one represented by golden flames, a set of scales, and a number of shapes that resemble birds.

The newest addition to LifeAftr can be found on our Locations page. The Storyteller alert explorers on the night prior that the new island will be ready for exploration via the mana pools on November 10th.

Transportation
The Storyteller will manage to link Maati's mana pool with Ensō's. As they are still in a state of recovering from the havoc the fabric of Mu has played on your psyches, as well as the multiple resurrections they had to enact all at once, they do not - or rather, cannot - inform you of any specific dangers or things to watch out for on the island of Maati.

The mana pool is present on the E5 square, should the characters choose to arrive via that method. In addition, characters are free to sail there on their own, if they so choose.

The Storyteller does mention the name of the island, at least, in the initial dream.

MAATI has now been added to the Locations page.

Be the Power to Compel Me
The island itself is relatively bare, surrounded on all sides by cliffs. The cliffs are sheer, so much so that attempts to climb them will come with a high chance of failure unless characters invest a few stories into proper climbing gear. Those with powers of flight and teleportation will also be incapable of reaching the top until these areas have been explored...or otherwise made available to them.

This land lacks very many natural resources due to how rocky and desolate it appears to be. However, that does not mean that nothing can be uncovered in this area at all - old tools and equipment can be uncovered with enough searching, as though a great many struggles or battles were fought here, a long time ago.

However, from a distance, it can be discerned that Maati is a peculiarly shaped island: a seven-pointed star. While the center remains the only part of that land that can be initially charted, the different prongs of the star are each walled off with a large door, each bearing a different, glowing sigil. Those who remember the caves underneath Ensō might recall this occurrence as worryingly similar. No matter how they are approached, the doors refuse to open; they will not yield to magic, to pleas, to prayers, or to brute force attack. Yet that doesn't mean they won't ever open. As for the rest, you'll just have to wait and see, won't you?

Won't You Liberate Me?
The avatar of Maati, similar to Harv, will make their presence known rather quickly. Their temple can be found at the island's center, and it will be fairly obvious when one draws close: some of the only green on Maati can be found there! Their temple is a fairly simple thing, built of iron and copper. Yet more copies of the same seven sigils that can be found on the doors are inlaid periodically across the exterior, carved from differently-colored variants of jasper. Twined about the metallic construct, woven neatly throughout the composition of the building, several chestnut trees rear out into the sky. And everywhere you look, the symbol of the eagle can be found - fanning wings, hooked beak, outspread talons - carved into the walls, in the form of simple ornaments mounted on ledges and peaks. Maati's avatar will answer to a great many titles: Tyreg, Utag, the Iron Will, and others. For their part, they prefer Anbaki. Their shape is unsurprising to anyone who has so much as glanced at their temple. Anbaki takes the shape of a golden eagle, slightly larger than average, but despite the fearsome curve of their beak, they are surprisingly gentle.

Surprisingly gentle, we say, because Anbaki is the avatar of justice. And they might be able to explain those symbols mounted on all those doors, too...

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Comments

[galrarm]

Player: Michelle
Character/Username: Takashi Shirogane | galrarm
Prior to coming to LifeAftr, what is an aspect of your character that they struggled with - be it a shortcoming, a fear, a bad habit, or eccentricity? OOOOOF oh boy. Shiro has very, very intense PTSD, due to his being kidnapped by aliens while on a mission and then, not soon after, being experimented on and then forced to fight as a gladiator for the Galra. While it's not known how many battles Shiro fought in, what is known is that he was seen as a bloodthirsty, merciless warrior named "The Champion." We also know he bulked up considerably during his time in the arena, so it's definitely not a small number. As such, when Shiro is stressed, he's more likely to suffer most from it; he's been shown to suffer panic attacks and freeze up when those memories are triggered.

What do they struggle with now? Is it the same as the above? Somewhat! Shiro also struggles with the idea that he's missing a lot of information. It's definitely not something as severe as his PTSD, though. He also has Romantic Feelings that he refuses to face. So. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

What personal demons, specifically, haunt your character from canon or from past game experiences? He definitely is haunted by a twisted version of himself--a version of himself that's twisted beyond recognition. He's also haunted by the fact that Zarkon came very close to taking the Black Lion back on several occasions; and while Shiro has strengthened his bond with Black considerably, it's something that still nags at the back of his mind.

What is the type of person your character hopes to become? Someone people can look up to here! Shiro wants to be able to help in any way he can, even to those not from his home.

What is the type of person you hope your character will become? Christ. Let him rest!! Also let him stop being so dumb wrt his feelings for Keith. More than that, I just want him to be happy.

Do any of the Seven Deadly Sins or Virtues stand out as applicable to your character? Why?
Gluttony. Sometimes, Shiro just... bites off more than he can chew; he's unfailingly selfless, but he takes on more than even he can handle, sometimes.
Wrath. Not severe, but when Shiro loses his cool (Slav.) he loses his cool.

Patience. After all, Shiro's mantra is "patience yields focus."
Diligence. To ridiculous levels! He's easily the best pilot at the Garrison, and broke several records during his time there simply through hard work.
Kindness. Self-explanatory, really.

[lifeaftr_mods]

At some point after November 20th, Shiro will awaken to find this curious symbol emblazoned on the back of his hand. It emits a strange, colorful glow, and not unlike a tattoo, seems to exist almost beneath the skin. Attempts to remove or destroy it appear futile. Its true meaning, whatever that might be, will only come to be clear in time. -- ❀ --