The Afterlife Discussion for RP

[Aveilthé]

I think discussing the afterlife for our roleplays would prove to be an interesting topic for us, and I think as a forum we all ought to pitch ideas on what an ideal afterlife for our wolves should look like. I'm in the process of making subboards for Akunikai, the world of the dead and the afterlife for all life of in the world of Shinkou Ookami.

I think the idea of an afterlife is important for our characters, and I think it's already proven that it DOES exist, since it is known that wolves/other creatures with spiritual powers and connections have access to the Spirit World in Mizu Lake (which is not an afterlife per se, just a world that Spirits are born in), and also access Akunikai. Although we have to be careful to not have gods come into play, they are still as mysterious as they are in myth and story. And also, it has been known that a few wolves have come back to life.

-What do you think the afterlife could look like?
-I do have one already made up, a kind of purgatory called 'The Valley of Lost Souls' where the souls of the dead wander and await for judgment or whatever it is that takes them to the afterlife. None of them know what waits for them, and they cannot prove that there is a god that lies in wait at the end of the road to pass them on. But it could be discussed among them.
-Discuss!

[Relairah]

I definitely like the whole Valley of Souls thing XD There should be a spirit forest that is weird and colorful and changes all the time like a maze and there's some kind of reason why spirits travel through it because on the other side if you ever reach it is something... maybe redemption.. or maybe they get trapped in some kind of doom place...

Edit: Oo! Adrastos.. maybe the forest could lead to that place O:

Edit Again: Hey maybe you could make something similar to the Red Meadow but yanno.. not the Red Meadow... like maybe a huge field with different types of flowers like yellow and purple ones or something =P

[Addykins]

So like there could be a hell for bad spirits, it doesn't have to be like unbearably hot, it could be cold and dark place where its hard to find your way or you get a feeling of dread and fear. Bad spirits would be forever trapped and if a living wolf ever traveled there they would have to be pure of heart or intentions to ever get out. Somethin' like that ^^

[Addykins]

OH! like if they don't make it through the maze they get trapped in the hell place? So it would kinda be like the maze is a test of the soul and the outcome would be either the hell or like a paradise for wolves who have lived life with good in there soul?

Edit: exactly what I thought rel! lol

[Relairah]

Yea yea! That could be a really awesome idea! O:

[satumitsumi]

That's one thing I never understood about the "afterlife" concept: why is it always a designated area? Perhaps it could be "designated," but only for those groups of wolves/beings.

Let's say my character passes away in the Lowlands of Sub Serin. They could be designated to remain in the general area of the place where they fell until judgement is passed or they're allowed to be set free of their designated area, etc.

They don't necessarily have to "haunt" the area, but living wolves wouldn't have to wonder where their dead's spirit lies at the moment. If they wish to pay respects or attempt to see that spirit, simply head to the general area where the late wolf fell.

I dunno, just throwin' ideas out there.

[Relairah]

Hmm...hey Satu, maybe the Afterlife could be like an alternate dimension to the real world... so some areas are somewhat the same, but the spirits reside there instead... and then obviously there would be other areas that are completely different for purposes relating to the spirits... like the hell idea

[Aveilthé]

Rather than calling them Spirits, because technically in this world, 'Spirits' mean the energies that harness powers over the elements. I think the proper term would be to call them Souls... the energies of the dearly departed. Or whatever. >>;.

[Relairah]

Good point, Ave XD

[Felypsa]

Okay so -- this doesn't have to be a be-all end-all list, but I had the advantage of making shit up when I had an extensive exploratory roleplay in there a while back. So these were the kinds of things I came up with BUT we definitely don't have to agree on them just because I already roleplayed them. Not saying that at all. Just throwing them out there.

Also, I think that a large portion of the afterlife should be left unknown. Just 'cause.

Okay so in my version...there were two separate levels. The spirit level and the ghost level. The spirit level was where supernatural beings -- like angels -- lived. These spirits were solid and celestial and their world was full of color. Predators still fed on prey animals, but the prey would be reborn almost immediately after being eaten. It was an endless cycle. I don't think any mortals would end up there. It's like the very special level. They weren't gods but they were just...immortal beings who hung out. >>

Then there was the ghost level. That world was also a mirror of the mortal world -- i.e., it had savannahs, deserts, mountains, grasslands, etc. just like the mortal world does. But everything is dull and rather gray. There weren't any designated areas for "good" or "bad" ghosts, however. So there's plenty of room for improvement.

The only thing special about the ghost level was that, in the middle of one desert is a small jungle that's brightly-colored and resembles the higher "spirit" level. This jungle was the home to the "guardians." Their task is to make sure that no ghosts escape the ghost level and that every ghost is where it belongs. I gave these guardians the form of big cats -- lions, tigers, jaguars, leopards, etc. -- with one Lioness/Lion who were in charge of the guardians.

Yeah, that's all I really remember. >> If you need me to explain more, I can. I must reiterate, though, that this was my creation for the sake of one plot. It does not have to be how things actually are. I just thought I would share the world that I thought out for that one plot and see what you guys think of it. If you like and would like to improve on it, great. If not, we can overhaul the whole thing. Either way is fine with me. Just thought I would get more discussion going.

[Felypsa]

Edit: Yeah my concept of ghosts is what Ave refers to as "Souls"...same thing lol

And I always imagined Akunikai sort of like what Rel said, a mirrored dimension of the mortal world, with the same areas all the same. That's what my "ghost" level was like, just grayer and a little more depressing I guess xD though it can vary on whether or not a Soul is damned or whatnot.

Then the higher "Spirit" level was...just something else random that came up in the plot >> lmfao it doesn't have to stick around. Also the Guardian Cats were PURELY plot so it wouldn't break my heart if they got left out.

[satumitsumi]

Aug 11, 2010 12:55:01 GMT -6 Relairah said:

Hmm...hey Satu, maybe the Afterlife could be like an alternate dimension to the real world... so some areas are somewhat the same, but the spirits reside there instead... and then obviously there would be other areas that are completely different for purposes relating to the spirits... like the hell idea

That's exactly what I meant! I just couldn't figure out how to phrase it. xD

So it could go something like:

Dimension 1: Land of the Breathing/Living

Obvious, no explaination needed here.

Dimension 2: The Lost/Passed's Alternate World

Those who fell during battle under noble pretenses, the generally good-natured who reside in a similar-yet-different world than the Living. (The Lost could possibly treat the Living as ghosts, like they see a silhouette in the distance, but believe it to be a ghost or something, and vice versa. /random idea)

Dimension 3: Valley/Forest of the Lost

A vastly different area, designed to confuse, bewilder, and generally create terror in the most subtle fashions, morphing and re-arranging itself as it pleases. Perhaps it's a place of self-searching, where if one can understand where they went wrong, they can leave. It could be considered a generally small area, but because of the confusing, self-repeating terrain, etc., it makes it harder for the Lost to navigate it. (Think of the game "The Path." The forest you continuously find yourself lost in is mockingly only a square mile long. It's just that it repeats itself once you're inside, making it hard to make your way back to the path.)

That's what I had in mind. But Fely, your idea's pretty unique. I likey! :3

[Aveilthé]

Okies, I guess since everyone's talking about a land that's gray and gloomy, Land of Lost Souls will stay... I don't think I need to change it. >>;

I don't think things should be TOO complex in the world of Akunikai, it could get confusing. And the subboards are supposed to contain a small paragraph of information (it's actually more or less tradition, that and Wom doesn't want the information on the boards to be more than a couple of sentences long) on how things work, so I don't know how much I'll be able to put in without having to describe exactly how the afterlife actually works. x.x I guess another board COULD be made to describe it, but not a lot of people would read it. I know, because another subboard had a story behind it so I made a thread inside the subboard talking about how things worked, but when people roleplayed it was obvious that they hadn't read it.

So I think things should be kept as simple as possible. I really don't think there ought to be an explanation in Akunikai because the afterlife should still be a mystery... I don't know...

Akunikai could have levels. I do like the idea that it mirrors the mortal world (Valley of Lost Souls mirrors the mortal realm too). I like that "Also, I think that a large portion of the afterlife should be left unknown. Just 'cause." I agree with that too. That's why I think things should be kept simple and mysterious. I just think that only things like the purgatory, and maybe the other levels could be the only things known by others to definitely exist--AND MAYBE, those that are dead in these levels could still have a chance to be reincarnated/resurrected, because the Mutatio species are known for reincarnation...

-First level, Purgatory: Valley of Lost Souls... a place where all souls are put to await judgment... or they have to go through obstacles as mentioned (maze and all that) and if they make it through the obstacle, the place they end up in will be their final destination... It's uncommon that the dead are reborn/reincarnated/resurrected/whatever from this world.

-Second level, Heaven: (will get a name later)... A place where good-natured souls finally rest. Could be ruled by angels as Fely mentioned? Once a soul reaches here, it is impossible to become reborn/reincarnated/ect.

Edit: I don't know if levels will work. Dx It's too complex, maybe things should just be kept simple. What do y'all think?

[Relairah]

Wow! Actually Fely, I really like that. I think we could probably take all these and weave them in some way. What do you think Ave? Like there could be two levels, like where angels and stuff come from (for example, December's daddy XD), and then souls/ghosts are on the other level which is an alternate dimension from the living. And then maybe because it's all grey and stuff we can incorporate the alternate but not copyright stealing Red Meadow and maybe there is a forest of sorts which exists as a path for the souls to take and at the end of the path depending on their intentions/heart and their success through the ever changing forest, they could get hell as a place of fear and dread and chaos and darkness, or a sort of paradise where they just hang out and enjoy themselves eternally. And then maybe there could be a special place where they souls could venture to where they can return to finish unfinished business for redemption or something! xD

[Aveilthé]

Rel, the board I already have was inspired by The Red Meadow from The Sight, I just don't want to copy it exactly even though I would love to do that. It'd be copyright infringement, and I want it to stay unique if possible...