voice; un: mogget

[themogget]

Name: Mogget
Date: May 8th
Format: Voice

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How is death viewed in the world you come from?

[Now there's a question. Mogget pauses a moment before he continues, just to let it sink in.]

In the Old Kingdom, when one dies, their soul moves over into a different realm. There they traverse nine gates along a river until finally passing on. I understand that this isn't the norm outside of my home world.

[Not close to it, in fact.]

So, indulge me, if you would.

Comments

voice; u/n l.yagami

[worldcleansing]

Is that the belief held by everybody in your world? In my world, the belief depends on the culture. Some people believe we go to a better or worse place, depending on our actions. Some people believe we're reborn. Some believe there's nothing after death. Is there some proof that makes the whole world believe the same thing?

[themogget]

What I said is a fact, not a belief. It isn't a fact known by everyone, or believed by everyone, but that doesn't make it less of one.

[He lets a moment of silence hang.]

There is proof, if you go looking for it. Not something I would usually recommend.

[worldcleansing]

That might be true in your world, but it's not as definitive in mine. The dead remain dead, and we haven't figured out a way to track what happens after.

[themogget]

That the dead remain dead is a boon you shouldn't take for granted.

[But then;]

I assume there are theories.

[worldcleansing]

There are. I've mentioned the major theories, but they depend on the culture and more specifically the religion. A cycle of rebirth, a better or worse place depending on your behavior, and nothingness are the most believed.

Even people with the same religion might have different feelings about it. The people who think better things happen after we die might still be sad or afraid to leave what they have now behind.

[themogget]

That sounds like a potent recipe for conflict.

[His immediate thought had been that this would certainly be the kind of thing that people would fight about. As if humans really needed a reason to fight.]

[worldcleansing]

There's a lot of fighting, and religion can be a part of it, but it usually isn't over where we go when we die. Sometimes, it's over something material, like land. For the more extreme religions, they believe they'll be rewarded for killing anyone against their religion, but they're not the majority.

I have a question about your own world. You said they eventually 'pass on'. Do you mean they stop existing?

[themogget]

They pass on.

[As he'd said. He doesn't seem to be willing to add any more to that.]

When a soul passes through the final gate, the river becomes a perfectly still pool and the sky over it is filled with stars. The deceased soul will feel an irresistable compulsion to look up at the sky, and when they do, they will ascend into it.