WARNING: NOT OFFICIALLY CERTIFIED BY MAGES ASSOCIATION EDITORS

Mages Association Journal of Inquiry and Knowledge
Heaven: An Exploration
by Dragyn


INTRODUCTION [jump:int]
In this article I hope to clear up what is (to my knowledge) currently known about Heaven, and provide an adequate guide and map to those wishing to explore Heaven’s mysteries. The information will be presented by screen, one at a time. The format will be as such:

Name: The commonly used name of the area.
JJC: The “Javascript Journey Code” of the area, I’ll leave it to the reader to discover a use for this.
Connections: A list of the other areas to which this area links.
Physical Description: A rundown of what the area looks like, with any image URLs in parenthesis (the image can be found at gokrida/heaven/[given file name]).
Metaphysical Significance: Here I shall delve into a brief synopsis this area may have in the backstory of GoKrida, or if that is unknown, conjecture as to what the area may mean.
Special Notes: If there are any, I’ll include them here.

Dotted throughout the area descriptions I may include a related passage from the story ~First~ ~Awakening~, to add flavor or detail or something like that...
These will appear in the black boxes for easy identification. Credits for the story go to Joseph Rienstra. For the full story, message me and I’ll send you the full text.

The Rim will only be included briefly- for further information, see MAJIK II (2) 2.

To jump to a certain page header, use “Find” twice on this simple code I’ve included:

Introduction [jump:int]
Lower Heavens [jump:lh]
Middle Heavens
Outside [jump:mho]
Zefiel’s Temple [jump:mhz]
Higher Heavens [jump:hi]
Secret Areas [jump:sa]
Credits [jump:cr]





LOWER HEAVENS [jump:lh]
Four areas total

Name: Lower Piazza
JJC: 5
Connections: Stairway
Physical Description: This is the area where one departs for the worlds. It includes the images for the gates (_plaza0.gif through _plaza4.gif), and a small cherub-like creature (elementalangel.jpg). From ~First~ ~Awakening~:

[[The stairs ended in a huge plaza with five coloured gates opening into nothingness.      
"The Lower Heavens," said Sebian.      
"A forsaken place," remarked Zefiel.      
"Someday, this sacred ground will be overflowing with souls embarking to the Worlds," I said, feeling grand for a moment.      
I walked up to a gate carved with vines, flowers and grapes, and stepped through.]]

Metaphysical Significance: This is where it all happens. Energy flows down from Heaven through these Gates in the Piazza and into us. Our daily minor souls also travel through here. Basically, this is the connection to the worlds, and the only one we know of so far.
Special Notes: Clicking on an element here will incarnate you on Manifest Chaos as that element.

Name: Stairway
JJC: 4
Connections: Middle Heavens, Lower Piazza
Physical Description: This is merely a connecting stairway between Middle and Lower Heavens (stairs.jpg)

Name: Ledge
JJC: 6
Connections: The Rim, Middle Heavens
Physical Description: This is the place where you decide to go down the Rim. (mheaven_edge.jpg)

Name: The Rim
JJC: 213
Connections: Ledge
Physical Description: Rather dreary, and only text-based. It has this for a background: (greyness.jpg) See TP’s MAJIK article for all of the known messages.
Metaphysical Significance: This is the divider between Heaven and Manifest Chaos. As one travels down, the division gets fuzzy, and actually one travels into Greyness nearing the “end,” if there is one (it is the author’s opinion that the Rim does end). This seems to suggest that Greyness is a divider between different places, as it exists between Higher and Middle Heaven, as well as Lower Heaven and whatever is on the end of the Rim. Greyness does not occur whilst on the Stairway, however, which means this may just be two unrelated incidences.
Special Notes: Use JJC -87 or -88 to move away and back

Name: Belvedere
JJC: 7
Connections: Middle Heavens
Physical Description: ‘Tis a lookout off of the Rim- or more correctly, down the staircase. Here is the unsatisfying view (overlook.jpg)
Metaphysical Significance: Not being able to see down to the worlds suggests there is some sort of barrier in the way...my guess is, it’s Greyness.
Special Notes: The Belvedere can only be accessed through the Minimap on Middle Heavens.





MIDDLE HEAVENS- OUTSIDE [jump:mho]
Four areas total

Name: Middle Heavens (so I’m not that creative?)
JJC: 3
Connections: All on the Minimap, Zefiel’s Temple, Stairway
Physical Description: This is a visually pleasing page, as far as Heavenly locales can go. It includes a nice picture of the Temple (zefiel_temple.gif) and a minimap of where one can go (map0.gif through map4.gif).

Name: Mountains
JJC: 1
Connections: Greyness, Middle Heavens
Physical Description: Merely some large mountains ()
Special Notes: The Corridor lets out here.

Name: Greyness
JJC: -1 or an incorrect JJC
Connections: First Light (after moving back through it), Forsaken Plains
Physical Description: This is the place where all dead glazed souls congregate.
Metaphysical Significance: One moves through this Greyness to reach the First Light, and as one moves farther through it, older souls are seen. This may mean all souls are naturally drawn towards the First Light but can never seen to reach it.
Special Notes: Each level of Greyness you move back makes it seem as if you haven’t logged on for a certain number of days. (check your lookup)

Name: Forsaken Plains
JJC:
Connections: Mountains, Middle Heavens, Greyness
Physical Description: These are barren plains (mheaven_plains.jpg), however, they do connect to all other outside areas in Middle Heaven.





MIDDLE HEAVENS- ZEFIEL’S TEMPLE [jump:mhz]
Thirteen areas total

Name: Zefiel’s Temple (shining creativity again)
JJC: 404
Connections: Middle Heavens, Desk, Trivia Room
Physical Description: This is the main entrance to Zefiel’s Temple (ztem.jpg) and is what leads you to the other important areas in the Temple.

[[I followed Sebian down a corridor of light to Middle Heaven-- usually she travels via the Spheres, she told me-- and to my surprise I found a large building made of slender pillars and soaring arches casting a good deal of shade over a small collection of buildings.
     "Good heavens.   What is that?"   I said, once we had walked into the shadow of the enormous thing.
     "Zefiel's Temple," said Sebian.]]

Special Notes: All areas in Zefiel’s Temple (as of the time of this writing) are in the 400s (this applies to all other areas in the Temple)

Name: Desk
JJC: 421
Connections: Zefiel’s Temple, Book of Names, Macroscope
Physical Description: This is Zefiel’s desk where he keeps the Artefact he’s been charged with (the BoN) and a curious little tool (the macroscope)
Special Notes: The Box lets you out here

Name: Book of Names
JJC: 800
Connections: Desk
Physical Description: This is the Book, in which every name of every player is recorded at some point. You can view two pages at a time, and can flip forward, backwards, or to a certain page in the Book.
Metaphysical Significance: In ~First~ ~Awakening~, God tells Zefiel that he must keep the Book of Names:

[[I paused on a landing lost in a nowhere of shifting fogs and rummaged through my robes.
     "Here."   I handed him a book as large as his chest.   "The Book of Names."
     He took it and almost fell down.   Sebian's face dimpled.
     "You must record the name of every important soul in that book," I said.  
"Without it, people will merge into Greyness."
     "But...   well, there is so much more work to be done," muttered Zefiel.
     "You've done enough hard work.   Now you are the Archangel of the Book of Names.   That book is more important than Heaven."]]

When one is erased from the Book of Names, some part of your soul that is linked to the worlds is gone, leaving you unable to log on. However, you soul itself does remain, as evidenced by my presence in Greyness despite being erased. Also, the Book can be edited retroactively and constructively, and it has been twice (at least). Once, to make God into Shzuru and Arzyeka’s empty space into God, and twice, to put me back into my old page. It has been used many times to record new souls, and to delete multis.

Name: Macroscope
JJC: 827
Connections: Desk
Physical Description: Apparently some sort of telescope (macro meaning large, so to see something large?) one uses it to see a certain part of the worlds. The pictures seen are very small, however, and presented akin to the “Terrain” option for Map Display. Usually the macroscope is centered on Shzuru, but a consistant pattern has yet to be seen, mostly because of the multitude of terrains on the world that may match those seen in the macroscope.
Metaphysical Significance: It seems Zefiel has this tool to be able to look down on Manifest Chaos (the worlds), but why would he look down on us? It doesn’t seem to have anything to do with his charge of guarding the Book of Names, unless this is used to see multis, possibly? The macroscope is still very misunderstood, so hopefully in the future its mysteries will be dispelled.
Special Notes: You cannot control what image you see through the ‘scope.

Name: Time Governor
JJC: 406
Connections: Zefiel’s Temple
Physical Description: Here one can see the Time Governor’s copper webs clicking and whirring away, counting time for the universe.
Metaphysical Significance: From ~First~ ~Awakening~:

[[There on the balcony was a spinning web of copper wire and spheres, and in the center of this glowed a familiar light.   The light of my heart.   The beating of Time.]]

This seems to suggest that Time flows because of God’s (Shzuru’s) continued existance, and shows why it would be so horrible if he were to die- time would stop flowing.
Special Notes: It does not tell the Essence of Time here.

Name: Trivia Room
JJC: 400
Connections: Zefiel’s Temple, Redhill’s Workshop, Cimi’s Office
Physical Description: This is a very odd room. It has a general view (trivia.jpg) and an unknown symbol on the ground (trivia1.jpg through trivia3.jpg) which I’ll call the “Trivia Aspects” known as Light, Night, and Sight.
Metaphysical Significance: An interesting connection between some different sources:
From Logos (the Bedside Book)- “Zefiel shall maintain crossroads”
The word for “crossroads” in Latin is ~trivia~, which seems to mean Zefiel has to protect this symbol, which may be the reason he built his Temple. Also, this responsibility would logically outweigh that of his care for the BoN, because he was told to “maintain crossroads” long before Shzuru told him to record all new souls.
Also, an interesting mystery are the Trivia Aspects themselves: “Light,” “Night,” and “Sight.” What could they mean? Light may refer to the First Light, new souls, spiritual energy, or the “lights” that Logos calls the elements. Night may refer to dreaming, Astral sleep, and Arzyeka. Sight may have something to do with the Belvedere, the Balcony, or some other thing we don’t know about yet. Special Notes: Clicking on the Trivia Aspects, as of yet, has no effect.

Name: Redhill’s Workshop
JJC: 405
Connections: Trivia Room, Redhill’s Devices, Staircase
Physical Description: This is where Redhill does whatever he is supposed to do. It has a nice picture of him (redhill.jpg).

Name: Redhill’s Devices
JJC: 407
Connections: Redhill’s Workshop
Special Notes: You don’t know how to operate these devices! So then, who does?

Name: Staircase
JJC: 410
Connections: Redhill’s Workshop, Catwalk
Physical Description: A staircase to get to the catwalk.

Name: Catwalk
JJC: 411
Connections: Staircase, Egress
Physical Description: The catwalk (catwalk.jpg) that leads to the egress area.

Name: Egress
JJC: 412
Connections: Catwalk, Precarious Ledge
Physical Description: The final step before getting to the ledge

Name: Precarious Ledge
JJC: 413
Connections: Egress
Physical Description: This area allows you to see those traveling down the “Lower Heavens” portion of the Rim (before Greyness).
Metaphysical Significance: It is interesting that one cannot see into Greyness from this Ledge...possibly it can only look into Heaven, and not past. The three-headed angels may be related to the three Trivia Aspects, and the linden sapling may have something to do with the Tree.

Name: Cimi’s Office
JJC: 450
Connections: Trivia Room
Physical Description: Cimi’s workplace in Zefiel’s Temple (ctem.jpg)
Special Notes: This room may not be finished, as nothing seems to exist in this area (or at least nothing that can be utilised by a normal major soul)





HIGHER HEAVENS [jump:hi]
Nine areas total

Name: First Light
JJC: None
Connections: Above First Light, Shzuru’s Bedroom
Physical Description: This is the light at which you began the game (heavenlight.jpg)
Metaphysical Significance: This is the source of energy that powers the universe in the forum of energy flow. Not only is it spiritual energy, however- each element is a fracture of the spectrum that the First Light emits. The Light flows down through the Gates and splits into the “chromatic airs” (as Logos puts it) that represent the Five Elements. Also, in ~First~ ~Awakening~, Shzuru refers to the First Light as his soul (and Heaven as his mind)
Special Notes: This can only be accessed through Greyness, as it does not have a shortcut JJC, per se.

Name: Above First Light
JJC: 71
Connections: Tree of Souls, Sebian’s Temple
Physical Description: Merely a continuation of the First Light area. (heavensurface.jpg)
Metaphysical Significance: See above.

Name: Tree of Souls
JJC: 72
Connections: Sebian’s Temple
Physical Description: This giant tree is where you first received your minor souls and holy bread. (tree.jpg, however, it is larger)
Metaphysical Significance: The Tree is what creates minor souls. They are basically an extension of the Tree, and merge back to it when they die.
Special Notes: You cannot get extra souls or holy bread here if you revisit it.

Name: Sebian’s Temple
JJC: 73
Connections: Above First Light, Tree of Souls
Physical Description: From ~First~ ~Awakening~:
[[I turned back to the stairs and descended through the mists.   "In your spare time, build a Temple for Sebian near the First Light."      "Well, hm, I suppose you know best."]]
This is the temple built for Sebian. (sebiantemple.jpg, but a larger version) Metaphysical Significance: It seems each major part of Heaven has some sort of Temple, while worlds in Manifest Chaos also recquire Earth Temples. This may suggest some connection- that prayers go to Sebian’s or Zefiel’s Temples, or that a Temple is always recquired to maintain stability.

Name: Sebian’s Altars
JJC: 75
Connections: Sebian’s Temple
Physical Description: This is the area inside of Sebian’s Temple, where all of the newest souls (soul age 5 days and younger) are recorded, and included is their element and body age.

Name: The Spheres
JJC: 74
Connections: Mountains, First Light (needs doublechecking)
Physical Description: These are some sort of “spheres” used for transportation down to Middle Heaven from Upper Heaven. Beware- it is a one way trip, though it does have a nice view (heavenend.jpg)
Metaphysical Significance: What are the Spheres? Some sort of tool? Miniature planets? They are only mentioned once, and briefly, in ~First~ ~Awakening~, and never in Logos.

Name: Shzuru’s Bedroom
JJC: 42
Connections: Logos, Corridor
Physical Description: From ~First~ ~Awakening~:
[[Sebian sighed.   "Although sleep has held you until now.   Come, we need your presence in the Lower Heavens."
     "Quite.   First I need some proper robes."
     "This way," said Sebian.   The sweet vapours beneath the Light parted, and we descended into a homely room, a large rumpled bed dissolving in the formless light from the windows.   My bedroom.
     "How long have I slept?"
     "Time has just begun, Lord," said Sebian, who began pulling garments out of the light.]]
How the story describes it (shzuru-bedroom.jpg) is basically how the room looks- however, Conjuration of Garments is not yet a discovered knowledge ^_^ Metaphysical Significance: This room appears to predate existance, which raises the question: Who made this bedroom? The answer could be one of three people- Sebian, Zefiel, or Arzyeka. However, Sebian does not seem the building type, and Arzyeka must have been busy writing, so that leaves Zefiel as the probably constructor of this room.

Name: Logos (The Bedside Book)
JJC: javascript: sidereal(‘logos’);
Connections: Shzuru’s Bedroom
Physical Description: This is, at first glace, a simple book that reveals its secrets one page at a time (and no controlled flipping this time)
Metaphysical Significance: This book, written by Arzyeka, is probably the most metaphysically significant piece of writing in existance. The 24 pages of information contained within it have continuously baffled Gokridian scholars since its creation...however, a delve into Logos would be a whole other article in itself. If you, the reader, would like to gain information on this fantastic source, ask your nearest tight-lipped secret-grubber, or, more simply, go see it yourself.
Special Notes: Hey, it’s Logos! It predates the game!

Name: Corridor
JJC: 43
Connections: Shzuru’s Bedroom, Mountains
Physical Description: This is the counterpart to the Spheres- it return you to
Middle Heavens from the Higher Heavens (and its a one-way trip, too)





SECRET AREAS [jump:sa]

Name: The Box
JJC: 422
Connections: Desk
Physical Description: Its a box, in which one can...well, hide?
Special Notes: As of yet there is no link to The Box...also, the JJC is Streben’s place in the BoN (how I found this area)

Name: Secret Garden
JJC: 21 or 22
Connections: Forsaken Plains
Physical Description: You have found a secret garden! (www.gokrida.com/im/front/487.gif)
Special Notes: This is one of two places (the other being Greyness) that can be accessed through two different JJCs.





CREDITS [jump:cr]

I would like to thank:
Daithi, for publishing this;
Corioll, for getting me interested in this topic and telling me not to go out of sight of the Temple;
Gecko, for his HUGE contributions to this article (I said I’m give him a big space in the article, so...);

















and TransProp, for the Rim article...but not too much, because he beat my record.
[Insert thanks to reviwers here :)]

Ahsratma,
Dragyn

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