Afterlife

Humans are the most variable species in temperament and can achieve one of seven different afterlives. Each of the seven spheres of gods created one for humans, called the Seven Fates.

Since karelia, mandeans, and querra are benevolent, they also usually arrive Leisiran, as do kryll.

Sorrairyn (Ascension)

For humans who are the very best in disposition, the gods of the green sphere created the afterlife of Sorrairyn. This is not only the title for such individuals, but Sorrairyn became the name of the City of the Gods due to this being where sorrairyn dwell. They are allowed to enjoy the pleasures of Leisiran as well, being able to come and go at will.

Each sorrairyn is chosen by a god usually because they exemplify a trait that the god champions as well. For example, the bard Ronyn (from The Epic of Ronyn) is one of the greatest bard in history. After dying, he could be chosen by the god of music to become a sorrairyn of music, and patron to musicians. If  prayed to, Ronyn might grant a musician favors just as the god would, albeit favors of less magnitude.

Sorrairyn are believed to be immortal and will exist indefinitely unless unusual means are taken to destroy one, usually at the risk of engraging the god who allowed them to become sorrairyn. They always have special powers and can be tasked with many responsibilities, such as guarding something precious, acting as a messenger, or performing another service for gods. Many of these services are why they dwell in the City of the Gods, which subsequently inherited their name.

The other benevolent humanoids (karelia, mandeans, querra, and morkais) can also achieve Sorrairyn.

Hear Sorrairyn pronounced:

Leisiran (Pleasure)

As conceived by the gods of the yellow sphere, most who’ve lived a good life will enjoy unrivaled pleasures in Leisiran. This includes entertainment such as music, plays, sporting events and more.  An abundance of food and drink is here, all of it enriching the soul instead of a body long gone. There is nothing to fear in this paradise and everyone in Leisiran assumes the best of everyone else and all things, being in a perpetual state of bliss, calm, and relaxation. Beautiful landscapes and architecture abound, as does every pleasant form of animal and plant life.

Hear Leisiran pronounced:

Daeijonen (Rebirth)

A second chance at life through rebirth is what the gods of the indigo sphere envisioned for the least good of humans. While Daeijonen gives a new life, some people may fall even lower in this new life, while others might rise higher. While life is prized, it is also hard, which is another reason the least good receive this fate.

Anyone experiencing Daeijonen has their memory of a past life erased, though this is sometimes not complete. Or the memories can be partially – or even fully – recovered by a skilled magician or karelia. A mark is also put upon the soul of daeijonen because the gods decided that no one gets a third life and these individuals must therefore be known. Some karelia have the ability to see this mark upon the soul, though most don’t reveal this fact out of respect.

Hear Daeijonen pronounced:

Myrradim

None are certain the myrradim really exist, but those few who are truly neutral at death will experience this fate as the neutral gods of the red sphere devised it. Returning to Llurien as immortal beings with no will or character traits of their own, the myrradim look just like humans and will adopt whatever traits are projected onto them.

If you imply one has a big ego, it acts like it has a big ego, but only toward you. If you assume one is humble, it behaves more humbly toward you. If you accuse one of being a murderer (always a false accusation), it kills you. They become what you say they are (i.e., be careful what you wish for). The catch is that you have no idea it’s a myrradim and not a human, resulting in the popular phrase, “May your next enemy be a myrradim.”

Myrradim seldom remain in one place for long, or if they do, they change their sex and appearance (at will) and reintroduce themselves to the society they’ve already been a part of; this only happens in cities large enough to not notice new strangers as readily.

The goal behind myrradim was to give humans pause in projecting traits and intentions onto other people. Humans should listen and ask, not accuse and state opinion as fact. Doing so could have consequences if faced with a myrradim.

Hear Myrradim pronounced:

Maeryndor (Boredom)

Unending boredom awaits the least evil, courtesy of the violet sphere gods. An unbroken, flat, barren landscape stretches in all directions. A black, starless sky devoid of clouds, birds, or anything else hangs overhead. There is nothing to do, see, hear, taste, touch, or smell. There is no one else and never will be. There is no sleep. Utter isolation reigns in Maeryndor.

The only reprieve is sudden, violent “death,” as Maeryndor intersects with the afterlives of daekais, riven, and jhaikan. A person suffering this fate will suddenly be transported to Daekaisyn, Rivenan, or Jhaikandor only to be hunted, brutally killed, and possibly consumed. A return to Maeryndor follows, the victim haunted by what has just happened – and will happen again at random moments never-ending.

Hear Maeryndor pronounced:

Lochiare (Torture)

Perpetual torture of every kind is what the gods of the blue sphere want for most evil people. Rivers of blood. A sky of fire. A ground alternately burning, frozen, full of spikes, or an impassable morass. All food and drink is like poison, causing pain, but thirst and hunger drive residents to consume them anyway. The air is caustic and deadly to anyone living who enters Lochiare. Happiness is flayed, bodies are torn apart, and souls are made to dream of an escape to E’kainum.

Hear Lochiare pronounced:

E’kainum (Oblivion)

The most wicked among humans are consigned to oblivion, all signs of their existence annihilated, as decreed by the gods of the orange sphere. No one (except karelia) will remember they ever existed. Every likeness (like a portrait or statue) will alter to show someone else. Their name will become illegible on every document. Their deeds will be assigned to someone else or no one. In extreme cases for the most wicked of all, every last one of their descendants dies at once, also being forgotten.

But first, they are sent to Maeryndor, then Lochiare, and finally E’kainum. Souls are sent spiraling into a vast emptiness where the wails of terror from the others all around them are the last sound they know.  The shrieks pour forth from near the great void in a great cacophony as the damned are, at last, devoured utterly.

Hear E’kainum pronounced:

Three of the afterlives are for the three nefarious species. Daekais have their own, as do riven and jhaikan. After all, if four obnoxious gods created jhaikan, the jhaikan are terrible through no fault of theirs, so it’s not appropriate to punish them, for example.

Daekaisyn

Reserved for daekais, this endless, forest-covered mountain setting is only rarely broken by open land. Since they’re obsessed with treasure, it lies everywhere. It can be found behind trees, under the ground, in the water, and sometimes even falling from the sky when dropped by other daekais. This is both good and bad to them because they try to horde it, but it’s constantly being stolen by other daekais.

Hear Daekaisyn pronounced:

Jhaikandor

Jhaikan spend eternity in a mountainous forest they wish to dominate but cannot due to unending competition. While they can win battles, no one can win a war for long, leaving them perpetually striving for what they cannot achieve for very long. It’s also harder to terrorize their own kind, leaving them unsatisfied.

Hear Jhaikandor pronounced:

Rivenan

In their afterlife of forest covered rolling hills, the perpetually sick and violent riven are finally cured of their diseases and sicknesses, but they have no weapons to attack each other with and must resort to their fists.

Hear Rivenan pronounced:

Some species have an alternate race that has a different temperament and are therefore judged differently. They do not have additional afterlives; rather, they experience those mentioned above.

Similarly, species and races can interbreed, causing slightly altered dispositions that can affect behavior and their fate. An example would by a half human, half jhaikan being more predisposed toward aggression.

• Dariven are more pleasant riven and are judged like humans
• Kadeans are obnoxious mandeans and judged like humans
• Morkais are a benevolent race of kais, unlike daekais, and therefore typically go to Leisiran
• Niquerra are corrupted querra and are also judged like humans
• Sorelia are corrupted karelia, so instead of going to Leisiran, they are judged like humans