Oskaraka Temple

**Oskaraka Temple** is the historical site where the martial art Mitsuori-dō originates, and is located on the Southern-most island of Svarga, and island that sits between the New World and the Calm Belt, it's southern tip making contact with the latter.

It was once the center of authority that all Svarga bowed to, however due to the omission of certain historical records within the nation of Svarga itself, many are left unaware of what truly occurred to see such a dramatic shift of authoritative power, which transferred from the leaders of the temple, to the Fortune 5 at an undisclosed time. Additionally, Oskaraka Temple was once connected to the mainland of Svarga itself, but has since broken away for unknown reasons as well.

The Temple yet remains as an important location however, as those who wish to learn the martial art of Mitsuori-dō **must** make the pilgrimage to it, where they will either be rejected entry, or allowed entry, where they should be prepared to remain for an extended period of time.

The island itself that the Temple resides upon is known as **Bhu**, and the island itself is something of a wonder in and of itself. Many natural marvels are seen here that are not present whatsoever on the mainland of Svarga, though perhaps they once were.

A thick jungle spans across **Bhu,** trees scraping the skies and mountains reaching taller still. A massively diverse ecosystem resides here, completely alien even to the rest of Svarga, with many species left undocumented to the rest of the world. Among these, flora too seems foreign, and there are even legends speaking of "guardians of the forest," resembling beings who herd and protect the bounty of the natural splendor that resides here, and according to the teachings of Mitsuori-dō, they are the first wielders of the Spell Arts, from whom the people of Svarga initially were taught.

## Manussa-Ka

Scattered across Bhu are various sites that are claimed and constructed under the name of the Temple. The reasoning for this is due to the diversity of the education within the discipline of **Ra**, students are sent to attune themselves to the natural element that the wish to understand, and subsequently begin to be able to manipulate. Those seeking to attune with fire will be sent to a location riddled with it, those seeking water must bathe within it in a place filled to the brim, and so on.

The most important location of Oskaraka Temple is known as **Manussa-Ka**. Manussa-Ka is the location where all students must first come, and is the general location of where the initial stages of both the disciplines of **Ska** and **Ka** are taught.

The complex that makes up Manussa-Ka is massive, being easily visible from the sky, though is obscured by the thick jungle if approached by land.

It features millions of rooms, varying from general purpose rooms to bedrooms, kitchens, arenas, observatories, horticultural structures, and a great deal more. The majority of these rooms have been vacant for a very long time, yet upon exploration they don't appear to have withered at all, remaining in perfect condition as if awaiting their use again someday.

Some of the facilities are still used by the current students of the temple, however their number nears not even close to what it seems the structure was made to hold.

A notable facility within the temple is the Great Library, however many of it's books are blank. Though the ones that are readable provide deep philosophy, as well as effective methods as towards mastering the arts of Mitsuori-dō.

Within the main hall of Manussa-Ka stands a large statue of a man holding a sword in one hand, dressed in garb that appears to designate him as a king or lord of some sort. Lit candles adorn the base of this statue, though past students recall never having seen anyone tend to them.

Additionally, the identity of the man that the statue was sculpted to resemble is also unknown, him simply being referred to as "a savior" by Kuraokami Coatl, the current Headmaster of Oskaraka Temple as a whole, though she never goes into specifics regarding his character, consciously evading inquiries into such.

## The Ra Installations

Venturing past **Manussa-Ka**, one would eventually find themselves stumbling upon one, or many, of the **Ra Installations**. The Ra Installations as a term refers to facilities that were created in order to allow students to reside close to locations of attunement, being located near sources of natural elements and power.

They vary widely in structure, the most frequented in the modern day being those of the four classical elements, Water, Earth, Air, and Fire. In addition to this, the temples of Ice and Sand still remain to have frequent use as well.

## **Nara-Ka**

The first of these structures, and the closest to **Manussa-Ka** in terms of distance, is the temple of **Nara-Ka**. It is a temple dedicated to the classical element and subsequent Spell Art of **Earth**, and it is located atop a mountain near Manussa-Ka.

**T**he entrance itself lacks grandeur, appearing to be a simple structure, albeit with a strange pit lying before the entrance. This is deceptive, however, as the bulk of the temple actually lies within the mountain itself, digging underground beneath the structure that sits upon it's peak. The entirety of the temple underground is carved and cut earth, tunnels and rooms being created by masters of the Spell Art of Earth from a time long past.

As for the gaping hole lying to the entrance's fore, it is unknown where it leads, however in the past it was said that a "guardian beast" dwelled deep within, much farther down than the reaches of the temple itself, delved and assimilated to the earth below.

There are surprisingly few students who pursue the study of the Spell Art of Earth, however this may be due to it's notoriety of being extremely tedious to learn, and requiring of the student a great deal of control over themselves in addition to the simple raw ability of being able to manipulate the Spell Art itself, with the argument that "one standing upon earth becomes one with the earth themselves, thus to control earth, one must first find their own harmony."

## **Deva-Ka**

Trekking beyond the grand mountains and hills that stretch across the land near the central temple of Manussa-Ka, the terrain begins to shift, with grand valleys and plains finding themselves presiding in between the increasingly scattered mountains.

It is within one such valley that the Grand Installation of **Deva-Ka** is located.

The first thing one would notice would be strange inconsistencies in the gravitational flow of the land around them, pebbles remaining in the air for moments too long, eventually not falling whatsoever.

Pebbles turn to rocks, rocks turn to stone, and stone finds itself replaced by fragments of the earth itself. Hovering above are 'floating islands' varying in size, growing ever-larger as one progresses through.

A series of buildings dot the islands, many of the islands being connected by long bridges that allows travel between them. The islands themselves do not remain at a consistent elevation, and in fact can be equated to stepping stones, rising higher and higher until they pierce even the clouds. Thus, one must trek upon them, and the bridges they hold, to reach the actual structure that is **Deva-Ka**, these being described at the road to it.

After a journey that takes many hours, sometimes days, one would finally break past the line of clouds, and become able to gaze upon the sight that is the Grand Installation of **Deva-Ka**. It sits atop the largest of the floating islands, the base of the island barely being visible to the ground were one to look up from below it, and it sits as the location for the attunement, and training for the manipulation of the Spell art of the, classical element of **Air.**

It remains as the most sought out temple for the current generation of Mitsuori-dō practitioners, who claim that air is "objectively the strongest element." A notion that makes no practical sense, but something that has allowed the structure to remain in almost constant occupation, and use.

Air is additionally the easiest of the Spell Arts to learn to manipulate, making it sought out by those who practitioners who simply wish to find a Spell Art to display in order to gain their certificate of mastery, which in itself is a valuable file that maintains itself as a title of respect within Svarga, though this has done little to reinvigorate the population of students.

Upon the highest floor of Deva-Ka lies an open-top area featuring two rows of statues with a single statue to the far-fore of the area.

The statues flanking the pathway to the central statue appear to be winged, and donned with traditional armor and arms at their sides. They open their posture into the set form that is a staple stance of the discipline of **Ska**, and the position itself means "I accept thy peace."

The statue at the end of the passage both spread wings and arms, as if beckoning the entrance and presence of those who make the trip. Even for those who do not actively practice the Spell Art of Air, this site atop the temple of Deva-Ka, known as "**Askaratos**," remains a site where all students are recommended to visit at least once during their studies, though it is not by any means required. It is said that some, when standing before the unnamed winged figure, find inspiration within themselves, revelations of sorts, and many come to seek this marvel, as to find, or secure, purpose within themselves.

## **Sagara-Ka**

As the valleys and plains turn to solely the latter, one will see grand rivers flowing down from the previously unseen side of some of the mountains, as well as one forged from beneath one of the floating islands themselves.

They flow along the plains, turning the surrounding area to lush grasslands, before eventually converging at a grand lake known as **Lake Moiir**.

**L**ake Moiir stretches far beneath sea level, and while the surface is not extravagantly large, once one were to submerge themselves into the lake, a massive expanse of caverns and forests would delight their eyes, the lake teeming with a giant, and diverse, ecosystem of it's own. It is said that within this lake was the birthplace of the Gonga, though it seems they have since departed.

**Located** at the bottom of this lake stands the Grand Installation of the classical element of **Water**, it being the destination for students wishing to attune with water, and learn the Spell Art of it.

**W**ithin the building, which is known as **Amunarr**, there is air, so there should be no worry regarding the integrity of it's interior. However, the exterior is quite dangerous, with there being a great many dangers lurking within the depths of the water where the structure itself lay. Giant marine creatures patrol the waters alongside their teeming prey, and see not much difference between a man and an equally-sized fish.

 File:Waterguard.png  Unlike the prior two **Ra Installations**, Amunarr is situated nearby the residences of one of the "Guardian Beasts," which lives within Lake Moiir. While some of the other beasts are thought to no longer exist, having not been sighted for many years, the Guardian Beast of Water yet remains active, and while isn't usually hostile towards the Installation of Amunarr, one should yet tread carefully when travelling to Amunarr regardless, as it has turned aggressive in the past.

This incident occurred when a student found it within their interest to capture a rare local fauna to 'keep as a pet,' upon which they were the target of the Guardian Beast's wrath, which stalked their every move until they vacated the Installation of Amunarr to return to the surface, when the Beast unceremoniously sought, and secured, their fall within mere moments, though it left the other students who had been swimming to the surface at the same time alone entirely.

Moving past Lake Moiir, which itself actually isn't necessary to enter to journey beyond it, one would find themselves treading upon broken land. Fractured, with holes and ridges rife along the landscape, increasingly devoid of the flora that has been so prevalent across the rest of the island. In the far distance there stands a single black mountain, from it leaking molten lava, as it has done so allegedly since even the beginning of the founding of the martial art here, though it has never truly erupted.

## **Askia-Ka**

To reach the final of the four Ra Installations of the classical elements, one must trek towards this black mountain, and ascend it's rough, and scorched terrain.

Reaching the top, the peak of the mountain is not actually existent.

It folds downwards in a miniature valley, in the center of which stands a single forge-like construct, spewing out a constant flow of lava from a hole within it, with spires lit with an everlasting flame located atop and around the structure.

Similar to the Installation of **Nara-Ka**, this serves only as an entrance, with the true Installation lying below.

**One** must descend a long spiral of stairs, the heat only growing hotter, and thicker, with each step in descent. There can be no rest, sitting down would scorch one's rear, and touching the wall would burn one's hand on contact, though for some reason the soles of shoes nor feet feel any of the adverse effects of the scorch.

Upon reaching the bottom step after a redundant descent that would feel as if it took hours, the traveler to this Installation would arrive upon a vast room, with giant bowls lit with flame flanking a single passage leading to a statue bathed in light coming from above.

There lies a single room to the left towards the rear, to the right of the statue, however no other exits are present in the room aside from this.

Upon the entire party entering the width of the room, the entrance to the stairwell from whence they came would shut, leaving them with only one direction left to travel.

The statue itself, not unlike the others, is of an unknown figure. Inspecting it closely would reveal a figure lacking in most detail, though with a single message being gained by all who have visited the statue, speaking almost naturally within the mind,

"I'm Sorry"

The raw emotion of this feeling shrouds the statue, and the longer one observes it, while it physically does not change, the feeling shifts to one more solemn, more remorseful, yet also one that seeks somnolence. It almost becomes overwhelming, at least to the experience of all who have journeyed here thus far, and most exit to the only path forward at this point.

## **Sora-Ka (Beyond)**

Yet, the statue leading away from the room lit ablaze never fails to take by surprise those who wander through it.

It exits not to something one might expect of a volcano, but instead to an open-aired ridge and valley, with a clear unrestricted sky. Fresh air relieves lungs that had grown accustomed to the thick, hot air from before, and a strange species of bird sings an even stranger call here.

The first thing one would see is a single exotic tree sprouting from a patch of barely-fertile soil beneath it, devoid of large branches and featuring a single diminishing trunk that reaches towards the sky. It is the only tree in eyesight, aside from this the only present flora being moss and grass dotting the ridge. In the distance lies what appears to be a house, or perhaps a temple, though it is deceptively far, with no way to reach it.

On the contrary, there is an easily accessible bridge standing by the tree, and it leads into the valley below. Looking back, the Black Mountain would no longer appear black, this side of it completely lacking in lava, and the formation itself simply appearing as any normal mountain would.

Travelling along a clear and pathed road leading through the valley, the scenery notably shifts from a ridge made of earth and rock to one made up of what appears to be man-made. Walls, towers, all manner of ancient man-made constructs crumbled to pieces and dust lie broken, faltered, along the path.

The path itself becomes less constricted than that of the valley, as it begins to open wider and wider, though only to display more of the shattered past.

The flora noticeably shifts as well, with the exclusivity of grass and moss being lost, with bioluminescent shrubs and flowers beginning to dot the land around. Though, nothing yet seen on the island thus far. The fauna appears dramatically different as well, as if it had been separate from the rest of the island for more than just a few years, even the birds, which would be expected to easily traverse the mountains, are of wildly different make than those within the jungle and grasslands prior.

To reach from the initial tree to the end of this valley path would take multiple days, though upon arriving towards it's end, the landscape widens into a massive field, trees becoming apparent once more, and the ruins becoming mostly vacant from the space now entered.

Though, perhaps the largest ruin is that which would undoubtedly catch the eye of all who wander here.

A massive structure lies centerpiece within the field, though observably withered and weathered by time. Though, it still stands tall, arched to face the sky itself, almost as if challenging it in it's stance. A small fortification sits at the base of this behemoth construct, though upon venturing to it, it would be found to be completely vacated, with perhaps the exception of wild animals and overgrown plants.

The purpose of such a colossal mechanism has been lost to time, and it remains completely omitted form the texts of Mitsuori-dō, aside from a few lines saying that it was built "a long time ago, for unknown reasons." As most do not ever find themselves on the island of **Bhu**, even less finding themselves at the location of this design, it has been left to be simply as a passerby curiosity. The only individual who has expressed interest in it as of late would be Saturn Rezka, as well as his travelling companion at the time, Keinen Shana, who made comments on how it appeared to be a weapon or tower of some sort.

That said, it has since been left alone for the time being, though Rezka claims that he is going to thoroughly investigate the structure when he finds the time, and after more research is conducted regarding the existence of such a feat.

Beyond it, the sea can be heard, though no waves crash upon the shore.