HEAVEN IN A HANDBASKET

 by Rose_Blossom

Once again, it looked like it was going to be a quiet, slightly lazy kinda wrap-up for the week last Sunday night.  I just finished up all my assignments and put the cover on my word processor for the evening.  I was ready to “shake off the hum-drums” by doing some laps over at Sunset Speedway, my favorite pastime now to help relax me after a long, hard day. 

Just as I jumped into my favorite buggy (my ZMW Voice convertible, of course!), I received a call from my good friend, and favorite interview subject, Banshee_Kate.  “Aylana is ready for you.”  O…M…G…  This was it!  This was what I’d been waiting all weekend to hear!  I received an e-mail, sort of a press release, late last week, and was awaiting the word for me to come see what all the excitement was about!  I just needed to utter those two words, “Summon please!” 

While I was landing, I noticed a very peculiar sign.  It read “Welcome to Ther-gatory”.  That’s strange.  Why would someone give their PAZ a name like that?  Fully loaded, I recognized where I was immediately.  I was right on the heart of Compass Island.  As soon as I landed and loaded, I spun around.  There in front of me was … a … well … what would YOU call it???   

It was a PAZ, certainly, but … what was IN it?  The outside was a fortress, or labyrinth structure, while the peek I got of the inside was simply a conglomeration of green, spooky-looking vines, and scary, blood-thirsty serpents.  Ummmm…I don’t know about you, but I don’t think I want to go in THAT PAZ. 

“Welcome, Rose,” I heard, “Welcome to Ther-gatory.”  That was what the sign said, I think!  I turned around to see Kate_Banshee, Rickpa, and Aylana waiting for my eyes to clear.  “Thank you,” I said, a little unsure, “I think.”  This story was becoming stranger and stranger.  

“We’re about to take you to Hell and back,” said Aylana.  (’’’WOW’)   “Haven’t you even wanted to visit Hell?” she asked seductively?  I couldn’t say that it was something that I strove for, but if there was a way to see Hell and then, of course, come back and report on it … well, wouldn’t that be every reporter’s dream?  Well…no… I guess snatching a clear shot of Clive Owen, on a beach, eating a hot dog would be…. *AHEM!*  WHERE was I?  

“Before I take you into Hell and Ther-gatory, I would like to take you to Heaven,” Aylana continued.  “But only on one condition…  You must never, NEVER reveal, to even your closest, and dearest friends and confidantes, where Heaven is located.  If you do, you might disrupt the entire time and space continuum of There and cause massive destruction and the end of your world as you know it.”  “Do you mean the end of the world in There?” I asked, NEVER considering that I would tell ANYone!  “Both,” she answered simply.   “Now….let me put this sack over your head!” 

*Reporter’s note:  I will never, never, never, never, tell EVER how to reach the location I have been taken, even under pain of torture, even under Oli’s peanut butter and tickle torment!   

With a whisper and a prayer we were on our way… to … heaven???  I still couldn’t believe it.  What would it be like?  Would I see angels?  Would there be pearly gates?  All of the figments of my imagination and dreams started coming to my mind all at once. 

Since the trip was a long one, I decided to talk to Aylana and find out exactly why would she build Heaven, Hell and Ther-gatory, how long it took her (6 days?) and what her plans were for this … place.   

“It started with Hell,” she told me.  “The true idea of Hell came when I had an event, and a griefer ruined it for everybody.  I wanted to send him to Hell but there was no Hell…So I created one!” 

Up until now, Aylana built mostly holiday themed PAZs, and usually they have not been advertised. “Halloween, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, Easter. 

“Do you use objects that are already in world?” I asked.  “Yes,” she said, “But for this project, I used designers like Tablatronix, MaxSmoke777, Michaelfla and Banshee_Kate.  They have all done special commissions for me.” 

“The idea for my PAZ’s is to do a quest.  The quest, called ‘Ther-gatory Quest’ will be mostly trivia-based and there will be a small charge for the privilege of participating.  The quest will take the traveler on a journey, beginning in Hell, then to Ther-gatory, and ending in Heaven.” Aylana explained.  “If the traveler can make it to Heaven, they will be highly rewarded!  The quest begins at midnight on Thursday, May 19^th, and it is ongoing.” 

“In ‘Heaven,’ for those who complete the journey, along with the award for enduring the long and arduous journey, there is a memorial to view.  I heard about Kaylea’s dear departed friend, Etienne, and her tribute to his memory, and was moved to tears.  I decided to designate part of the Heaven PAZ as a memorial for anyone who wants to drop scrolls in remembrance of loved ones.  It's called Remembrances- Sacred Ground.” 

We arrived at the first “stage” of heaven.  It was utterly breathtaking!  Beautiful trees, fairies fluttering about, and a gorgeous castle tower.  “This is where the fairies reside & greet the Therians as they arrive here.  This place is called Fairie Haven & Fairie Cove.   There will be stories & legends here for people to read.” 

At this point, possibly due to the wonder and absolutely astonishment I experienced at the sheer perfection of the atmosphere I was surrounded by, I had a difficult time moving.  I traveled as far as I could, but then was content to simply stare at my surroundings while Aylana and Kate told me about each “stairway,” or level, there is to go up in Heaven.  At The Walk of Faith, Aylana explained that we were at 1,000,049 meters high.  The last level, or Heaven and at the Remembrance – Sacred Ground, it was so high (1,000,050 meters)  that summoning, saving to favorites, or even “undoing last teleport,” would be technically impossible …  or celestially  impossible, it isn’t really known which.  (So THIS is what they were talking about when I heard people talk about “the Ghost” phenomenon around me!) 

At the highest level, there is a throne room and garden, which, should you be lucky enough to see it, will surely astound you.  Banshee_Kate is credited for the design of the throne, along with the beautiful, reflecting, rotating stars around it.  The Heaven Box was designed by Michaelfla.

 
 

 

All too soon it was time to leave Heaven (but I’ll be back, you can count on it!), and venture to *gulp* Hell!  Of course I was a little apprehensive….but I trusted Aylana and Banshee_Kate and Rickpa.  I mean… what could happen??? 

Well… the first thing was… hearing Aylana’s voice even before I finished landing…. “Welcome to Hell, you’re NEW home!”  ‘Hmmmm….  THAT wasn’t exactly what I was expecting. When everything came into focus, I was greeted by a blood-red tunnel, with a green, slimey, claw reaching out to me.  FORTUNATELY for me, I was transfixed right at the spot I landed in, due to a graphics card inadequacy  (Thank you, GOD!)…  However, sooner than I thought, Kate summoned me into the fiery throws of Hell!  Flames were all around me, and I could hear nothing but squichy, squeeshy, squooshy sounds!  I was very glad to shoot a few pics, then, right after I was rescued out of “the cage” (I don’t EVEN want to know what happens if you get stuck THERE!) I said, “Okie Dokie!  Let’s hightail it outa here and see what Ther-gatory is all about, shall we?”

 

Poof!  We were outa there!  After one of the scariest moments I ever want to live through, we were standing, once again, on Compass Island.  My fantasy…or nightmare…had come full circle. 

Rickpa and Kate had to leave, but Aylana graciously concluded my tour with a close-up look at Ther-gatory, the final piece to the PAZ trio, but not the final destination for all the lucky Quest participants.  Therga-tory is a spectacular four-level maze.  The MaxSmoke777 creation was designed to confuse you, engage you, frustrate you and pleasure you.  When you have successfully completed the quest, you will be taken, by invisible elevator, to the top of the maze where a beautiful alter awaits you in the sunshine.  Face the right direction, and you will be rewarded with the key to the Heavenly gates!  (“all they need to do is look how the temple is facing and go directly north until they run into its shadow”)  On the alter is a gold cup, which “represent something of a holy grail,” Aylana said, “and a treasure chest, which simply tells people, … that they have arrived.”

 

 

Aylana told me later, just before we parted, “This was the hardest PAZ I've ever done to date mainly I stressed over it for along time and it has been months in the making. Mainly because most PAZ's I do are for myself.  But when i started this... I sought to make an exception and take others feelings and beliefs into consideration.  That really stressed me out because there is no way I could do it justice... So I finally came up with the idea... of while seasoning it with a little of my personal beliefs... and making it beautiful... at the same time... keeping it in the fantasy of the game and the genre of the fairies.  I will also write a story... over it... that way it all came together ... so that people know that my purpose is not to out-do God Himself... but to make something that is game-related but something beautiful as well.” 

If you are able, I highly recommend that you try to visit all three of these PAZ’s.  Read all of the books outside of each PAZ, this is very important.  They will tell you about the origin of each PAZ and what it means to Aylana.  Particpate in the quest, today being the first day!  Collect your courage and pay a visit to Hell (you must work hard to leave…there is no easy exit!), visit Ther-gatory (persistence pays off with rewards richer than gold!), and, last but not least, land at Heaven’s Gates (It’s everything you’ve dreamed about, and more!)  You will be glad you did!