@anonymous

[windsongs]

I have a question for the group. Has anyone tried to find family or friends they have lost over the years, or a trace that they might have passed through the Netherworld? Have you been successful?

If not, would you? What would you say to them if you managed to find them?

Comments

[windsongs]

Segmented how exactly?

[terraria]

This concept of "ascension" versus the Restless... we don't have that in my world. The afterlife is singular - as is the land of the living.

[windsongs]

I see. In my world, there are several different beliefs, so I suppose that could be viewed as segmenting the afterlife
But no one has been able to confirm what exists after one moves on from the realm of the living. It's incredibly difficult to get in touch with someone after they have crossed over
There are some who can feel their presence if they focus hard enough, but those people are incredibly rare
Even then, I have never heard of someone being able to speak to them

[terraria]

... really? That's a yearly occurrence in my world. New Year's Dawn is usually when people contact their loved ones from beyond the veil - it's the very last day of the year.

I suppose because I have seen my parents recently... it's such a shock to see them not here. And I know of those who were killed doing unforgivable things, too, that I have not seen.

[windsongs]

Is it because the veil is thinner on that day in particular? Is there any kind of significance to reaching out to them on the last day of the year

I would like to think that not everyone here has done something terrible.
There are kind and considerate Restless here, and I find it hard to believe that only doing unforgivable things would bring one here

[terraria]

I wouldn't know myself. I believe it is that the veil is thinner, but I have also heard that it is because the moon is purest at that time of the year. What that means, I cannot say. I'm not privy to religious teachings.

I also am hesitant to believe we've all been deemed terrible. That is why I wonder why I cannot find valorous or despicable people here from my world. There must be a reason for this.

[windsongs]

Interesting. I have heard of some people who put a lot of religious significance on the cycles of the moon, but to think it has some effect on the veil is fascinating

Sorry, this is a personal interest of mine. A veil exists in my world, but I never noticed a correlation between the time of year and an increase of spiritual activity
Now I regret not looking into this further myself

I agree with you, there must be another reason why we were brought here. I wonder if the Hierarchy would know something
Although I'm not sure they would tell us if they did

[terraria]

I don't see the reason to apologize...? ( he tilts his head, confused but smiling still. he seems intrigued by the topic at hand. ) I will say the ability to communicate across the veil tends to be taught in a specific sect of a specific religion in my world - thinking on it now, I wonder why everyone doesn't do it?

( he's always just known it was a pahvic bishop thing. maybe because their focus was the moon and not the stars? he'd have to think about it later. )

If they know something and are keeping it from us, I can't say I'd be surprised. That seems to be the case for most ruling parties.

[windsongs]

I've been known to talk too much or ask too many questions. Apologizing comes naturally when that happens.
Mediums exist in the world I'm from, those who can reach out to and communicate with spirits after they leave the land of the living
There are many who say that they can, but that talent is extremely rare

I expect that they are. I won't stand by as someone strikes them down, but I don't trust them as much as I did when I first arrived

[terraria]

I see no problem with the way you speak. I tend to speak more as well, but if someone will be rude about it, they clearly aren't worth my breath.

Did you trust them on instinct? When you arrived.

[windsongs]

Trust isn't the right word.
I believed that they had the Restless's best interests at heart, even if Amun didn't care about making a good first impression
But I can't say the same now. The fact that only one member stepped forward to offer any apology or explanation says it all

[ My guy stuck both feet in his mouth that day ]

What about you?

[terraria]

( he lapses into thought with a soft 'hmm'. )

I don't know yet. I have served many royals and nobles, politicians and envoys, and what I have constantly observed is that everything is never as clear-cut as it seems. Humans are messy.

I wish we were given more chances to see them, or to hear them speak. We've had such limited contact it's no wonder most are distrustful.

[windsongs]

[ Humans are messy, ain't that the truth. ]

I agree, but I doubt they would feel comfortable saying how they truly feel over the Netherwork. A sentiment many of us understand.
Is it common to have limited contact with the upper class in your world? Politicians can be difficult to reach, but the people they represent should be the ones holding more power

[ Yes, she knows that that isn't true on Earth either. She's seen people campaigning for local office, but this is something entirely different. ]

[terraria]

From my own experience, most citizens don't even know what their king or queen looks like. Well - ( he clicks his tongue. ) no, that's not entirely true... they've never seen them up close, or in person. It's a bit like a historical figure.

If someone told me, 'this is the Emperor of Sakia!' before I had actually met him, and they showed me a man who looked vaguely like his portrait on the coin - I would probably believe them. After all, I had never met the real thing, I wouldn't know details that couldn't be stamped into coins - like the mole under his eye or his cut brow. If their royalty or politicians are on their coins, they tend to know the general gist - if those people of the upper crust are largely known in portraits, then... that's very much difficult. Most citizens don't tend to have the money for portraits, so they'll not know either.

I have heard of far-off lands with ruling classes like you suggest, but the primary law of the land tend to be royalty. Something to do with all the powerful magical artifacts, I'd wager.

[windsongs]

I see. I suppose it might be similar where I'm from, despite having photos or videos easily accessible
But I doubt that I would be able to recognize some of them if we passed each other on the street, if they were alone

There are countries who still look toward royalty for guidance, but the ones that come to mind are more like figureheads. They are still important in their own right, but aren't the ones making decisions for the sake of their people

Is magic common in your world then? How common are magical artifacts where you are from?

[terraria]

Magic is quite common. Most are born with some sort of magical ability, and those who aren't tend to have similar lives. It occurs to me that in my time here, the magic of my world may be the most mundane I've heard of.

Magical artifacts on the other hand are quite rare. No one knows how they're made, or - if there are people who do know, it isn't common knowledge. These artifacts are ancient, and often passed down through generations. It's why so many royal families have them. You don't often know any common families that stumble across an artifact... it would be as if you discovered an abandoned room full of gold pieces.