Part 32

Update number 31.



This place looks suspicious and worth investigating. Let us see.


Boring walls are boring.


A Terminal! Hooray!


... What is he doing in here?




That's useful.



Hooray! Steven kicks ass and is helpful!


Waiting.


There. Now Aleph can use the Terminal Stones in the Abyss. No longer limited to only the ones in the Earth/Malkuth.




It can even take the party to the ones IN the Earth.
Let's see what else is in here.


The BAR! Time to get the latest gossip.















The Abyss is shaped then like the Sefirotic tree!

Wikipedia posted:

Sephirot [or "enumerations", Sephiroth, Sefiroth (סְפִירוֹת, singular: Sephirah, also Sefirah (סְפִירָה "enumeration" in Hebrew)], in the Kabbalah of Judaism, are the ten attributes that God (who is referred to as אור אין סוף Aur Ain Soph, "Limitless Light, Light Without End") created through which he can manifest not only the physical but the metaphysical universe.

Through a careful study of the Tanakh, Jewish sages identified ten Sephirot (ten being the number of divine perfection) known by the following names/characteristics from highest to lowest:
Keter/Crown - Divine Plan/Creator/infinite light/Ehyeh Asher Ehyeh - I AM THAT I AM (Supreme/Total Consciousness)
Chokmah - Divine Reality/revelation/Yesh me-ayin - being from nothingness (Power of Wisdom)
Binah - Understanding/repentance/reason (Power of Love)
Chesed - Mercy/Grace/Love of (intention to emulate) God (Power of Vision)
Gevurah - Judgment/strength/determination (Power of Intention)
Tipheret - Symmetry/balance/compassion (Creative Power)
Netzach - Contemplation/Initiative/persistence (Power of the Eternal Now)
Hod - Surrender/sincerity/steadfastness (Intellectual/Observational Power)
Yesod - Foundation/wholly remembering/coherent knowledge (Power of Manifesting)
Malkuth/Lower Crown - Kingdom/physical presence/vision and illusion (Power of Healing/Accomplishment/Level of Realization of Divine Plan)

The Sephirot above are listed in order according to the version given to us by rabbi #REDIRECT Moses ben Jacob Cordovero. However, #REDIRECT Rabbi Isaac Luria listed the Sephirot somewhat differently by taking out Keter and adding in da'at:
Chokmah - Divine Reality/revelation/Yesh me-ayin - being from nothingness (Power of Wisdom)
Binah - Understanding/repentance/reason (Power of Love)
Da'at - Knowledge, the bridge between the intellect and emotion
Chesed - Mercy/Grace/Love of (intention to emulate) God (Power of Vision)
Gevurah - Judgment/strength/determination (Power of Intention)
Tipheret - Symmetry/balance/compassion (Creative Power)
Netzach - Contemplation/Initiative/persistence (Power of the Eternal Now)
Hod - Surrender/sincerity/steadfastness (Intellectual/Observational Power)
Yesod - Foundation/wholly remembering/coherent knowledge (Power of Manifesting)
Malkuth/Lower Crown - Kingdom/physical presence/vision and illusion (Power of Healing/Accomplishment/Level of Realization of Divine Plan)

The Da'at is the mystical state of unity of the 10 Sephiroth, also called the Tree of Life. These ten levels are associated with Kabbalah's (Zohar) four different "worlds" or "planes" which serve as the guide for returning to the Creator.
Atziluth (אֲצִילוּת, or "World of Emanations", on this level of Creator, Reality/the light of the Ain Sof radiates and is united with its source.
Beri'ah (בְּרִיאָה or "World of Creation", on this conceptual level of creation ex nihilo without form, only the highest ranking Angels (purity of being) inhabit.
Yetzirah (יְצִירָה or "World of Formation" on this level, creation (creativity) is related to form.
Asiyah' (עֲשִׂיָּה or "World of Actions", on this level creation is relegated to the 'physical Asiyah' comprising our physical world with all its creatures.

Each of these worlds are progressively grosser and further removed from the Divine (Plan), however the ten Sephiroth manifest in all of them.

Whereas in the Zohar and elsewhere there are four worlds or universes (planes of existence), in the Lurianic system, Five Worlds, a fifth plane, Adam Kadmon-manifest Godhead level, mediates between the Ein Sof and the four lower worlds which can be understood as descriptive of dimensional levels of intentionality related to the man's natural "desire to receive" and a (secret Science of Kabbalah) method for the soul's progress upward toward unity with or return to the Creator.

Graphic






So someone is blocking the way, eh? That will have to be dealt with.






So, in order to not get horribly, horribly crushed, one should fight Hecate in a phase with no light... Okay.




And that is useful to know. I think.





Oh goddamnit.






Artificial Messiahs don't lie! (except when they do)


Boring boring map of the area.



This is te entrance of the Corridor. Impressive, eh?


Ugh. Another fugly cave.


A Black Widow!



As she is a Neutral being, killing her leaves no anasty effects on alignment. And because she is a Dark Demon, she gives Mag. And that is awesome.



Going down.



What lies beyond this door?


It is Hecate!


And because there is moonlight, there is no way to pass her. Time to waste some time.


Ah, excellent.


DOUBLY excellent.


Incomplete map.


Now let's see. It is New Moon. She can't do anything!



Sure, sure, whatever.


Hecate!

Wikipedia posted:

Hecate, Hekate (Hekátē, or Hekat was originally a goddess of the wilderness and childbirth, naturalized early in Thrace, but originating among the Carians of Anatolia,[1] the only region where theophoric names are attested[2], and where Hekate remained a great goddess into historical times, at Lagina. The monuments to Hekate in Phrygia and Caria are numerous but of late date.[3] Popular cults venerating her as a mother goddess integrated her persona into Greek culture as Ἑκάτη. In Ptolemaic Alexandria she ultimately achieved her connotations as a goddess of sorcery and her role as the "Queen of Ghosts", in which guise she was transmitted to post-Renaissance culture. Today she is often seen as a goddess of witchcraft and Wicca. One aspect of Hecate is represented in the Roman Trivia.

The earliest inscription is found in late archaic Miletus, close to Caria, where Hecate is a protector of entrances.[4]

Videos!
First: DYING.
Then: NOT Dying.


Take that, Mudo-On using furry thing!


Where should Aleph head for? Tipheret is not a good option, because it is locked, so the proper courses would be: NETZACH and HOD.
Where should the next destination be?