The Trial of Mythia is a perilous and sacred journey undertaken by those chosen by the Archon of Water, Mythia, to become the Avatar of the Sea. Reserved for the most worthy of the Unknown and other inhabitants of The Sea Realm, the trial is both a physical and spiritual ordeal that tests harmony with water, resilience, and the resolve to safeguard the delicate balance of the oceans. It culminates in the presence of the Seastonee, an artifact of immeasurable power that serves as the heart of the oceans and a conduit of the Riftways.
Descent into Abythis
The trial begins with the chosen one making the daunting journey to the Abythis, the deepest and most forbidding part of the ocean. The trench is a realm of eternal darkness and crushing pressure, where even the mightiest sea creatures fear to tread. Legends speak of ancient aberrations dwelling within its depths—primordial beings older than the Aesir or even the Storm Giant of Utgard, who themselves inhabit parts of the trench. These aberrations are said to have been shaped by the chaotic energies of the Abyss long before the world knew balance.
As the chosen descends, the ocean grows colder and darker. The bioluminescent glow of deep-sea creatures offers the only light, casting eerie shadows that play tricks on the mind. Strange sounds echo through the water—distant roars, low rumbles, and haunting whispers—that seem to come from nowhere and everywhere all at once. The pressure mounts with each passing moment, threatening to crush even the most resilient of beings.
To survive the descent, the chosen must wield Water-Rifting in perfect harmony, manipulating the water around them to create a protective sphere. This sphere does not merely deflect the immense pressure but channels it, converting the crushing force into a stabilizing energy that allows the chosen to endure.
Aberrations of the Abyss
The journey through the Abythis Trench is fraught with danger, as the chosen must navigate past the aberrations that dwell in its depths. These creatures are nightmarish amalgamations of tentacles, fangs, and bioluminescent appendages, each more monstrous than the last. Some are enormous leviathans capable of swallowing ships whole, while others are smaller but no less deadly, using their speed and cunning to strike from the shadows.
To proceed, the chosen must outwit, evade, or, in some cases, confront these ancient guardians. Success requires more than brute strength; it demands an intimate understanding of the ocean's rhythms and an unshakable connection to its essence. The aberrations seem to test the chosen as much as they seek to devour them, as if sensing the sacred purpose of their journey.
The Maw of Mythia
At the trench's deepest point lies the Atlan Abyss, a vast, cathedral-like cavern illuminated by the soft, blue-green glow of the Seastone. The cavern is suspended in a state of ethereal beauty, with currents flowing in intricate patterns that form mesmerizing, ever-shifting designs. Towering coral formations and crystalline stalactites line the chamber, creating a surreal underwater sanctuary.
Here, the chosen meets Mythia, the Archon of Water and the primordial guardian of the Seastone. Mythia manifests as a colossal Dragon Turtle, her body adorned with coral, kelp, and barnacles that have grown over millennia. Her eyes glow with a deep, ancient wisdom, and her voice resonates like the currents themselves—gentle yet impossibly powerful.
The Trial of Harmonious Force
The trial is not a direct confrontation but a test of harmony with the ocean's essence. Mythia conjures a series of challenges that push the chosen to their limits, from navigating violent whirlpools to calming raging storms within the cavern itself. Each challenge tests a different aspect of Water-Rifting, demanding perfect balance between control and surrender.
The final test is the Judgment of Mythia, where the Archon gazes into the chosen's soul, assessing their intentions, resilience, and connection to the oceans. Mythia’s eyes seem to pierce through time and space, reflecting not just the chosen's life but their potential to shape the future of the Sea Realm.
If the chosen passes, Mythia grants them her blessing and allows them to approach the Seastone.
Witnessing the Seastone
The Seastone rests atop a pedestal of living coral, its surface shifting and shimmering like the ocean itself. It emits a soft, otherworldly light that fills the chamber, creating a sense of peace and awe. To gaze upon the Seastone is to witness the ocean’s memory—its creation, its triumphs, and its tragedies. The chosen is imbued with the wisdom of the seas, their mind flooded with visions of marine life, ancient battles, and the ebb and flow of water throughout the cosmos.
The Seastone’s power flows through the chosen, granting them the knowledge and strength to protect the balance of the oceans. This profound connection marks the culmination of the trial and the ascension of the chosen as the Avatar of the Sea.
Legacy
The Trial of Mythia is one of the most sacred rites in the Sea Realm, its completion marking the chosen as a true steward of the oceans. Among the legends of those who have succeeded are Avatar Atla, who united the Sea Realm and founded the civilization of Atla, and Avatar Vapora, who defeated the World Eater Serpent alongside the Storm Giant Paramount Thoryn.
The trial remains a symbol of the ocean’s enduring power and mystery, a rite that ensures the legacy of the Sea Realm and its guardianship of the elemental balance. To undertake the Trial of Mythia is to embrace the infinite depths of the ocean and become one with its eternal flow.