Lore: The Shrine Ruins

Describe a ruined structure that nature has reclaimed. What was its original purpose?

According to Korean mythology, people who die are judged for their actions in life, facing trials in the underworld, often depicted as seven stages of hell, each with its own punishments. Those who pass these trials may eventually be reincarnated, while others may face further consequences or punishment debating on whether or not they learned their lesson.

However, much like how the movie very well changed how the Underworld probably works since Gwi-Ma is the only demonic entity mentioned in the story so far and the 10 kings have been completely forgotten, Gamb/t also changes much of how the Underworld works.

Within Gamb/t, while the selection of the land seen in the movie is still one of the main focal-points when regarding the landscape of the Underworld, the Underworld that is depicted in the movie, is not JUST the Underworld/hell, but is instead simply just a small selected portion of a larger swath of land split into several distinct pieces.

These pieces are defined often by their nature, essentially designating themselves as something similar to the seven stages of hell sort of like what can be found in works of literature like the Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri, with each selection of land following their own distinct landscapes, fauna, flora, trials, and challenges as well as unique quirks, as well as “Grace Zones” where the land is more noticeably calm in-between.

The area in which the movie and thus Gambit takes place, is essentially what would have been considered as the final judgement area.

It is the far right part of the world and part of Gwi-ma’s kingdom, and how it was said to have originally worked is that souls sent down into what would have been considered purgatory, or what the movie simply refers too as the “Underworld”, would have been made to go on a pilgrimage to meet up with the “Usher of Death”, a title given to the King/Queen who would be tasked with watching over the gate’s leading into paradise, judging those on their life and the experiences made during their long journey.

Those said to have learned their lesson and the error of their ways would ultimately be allowed to pass through the gates freely, granting them access to the True Paradise promised to all from the moment of their birth. However, not all are permitted, and most often those who aren’t would be forced back, forever bound to the respective purgatory in compliance with their sins, yet freely given the choice to ultimately learn from their mistakes or be forever bound to the land, not ever receiving their final rest.

The area in which Gwi-ma’s kingdom lies, is an area vastly filled with old temples and Shrines once belonging to civilizations long since passed. The land itself, or at least the area where the Saja-Boys themselves are said to reside while trying to keep a low profile from the ever watchful gaze of Gwi-ma, is a location that features tall, rocky spires, lush forests of bamboo and deciduous trees, as well as several large bodies of fresh water, where due to constant flow, the majority of this side of the forest has long since become submerged, taking much of the shrines along with it, while also leaving the area shrouded in a cooling mist.

Dotted around the area, the ruins of the old Shrines are said to hide secrets within their crumbling and mossy walls. Once a place where souls prayed for final protection before completing their journey to the gates, many of these shrines have now long since fallen into decay and are now instead haunted by the roars of monsters. However, it still maintains its holy nature and exudes a mysterious aura.

The area, much like the rest of Gwi-ma’s territory, is also seemingly stuck between night and day, something that leaves much of the area tiptoeing between a pleasant blue colored sky, and a straining almost hellish reddish hue similar to that of a dawn but being more close to a dusk the closer you get to Gwi-ma. The area in which the boys reside, or actually at least call home within the Underworld, lies within a secluded area deep within the Shrine Ruins, marked by an entrance nearly engulfed by foliage and spanning walls, keeping much of the area away from wandering eyes.

Beforehand, none of the boys had an established territory, instead living within the Underworld as Vagabonds, all except Jinu who often resided within Gwi-ma’s Court. However, ever the wandering soul, it wasn’t long before he started exploring the lands outside the Court walls, eventually landing in a place where even the Old God could not seem to detect him. The place where he slept so peaceful the first night.

Since then, this area had become something like Jinu’s rest-stop, eventually becoming the boys “side-home”. However it was once again left abandoned when the boys ultimately decided living on Earth would be safer for them…perhaps maybe they might come back…

Fun Fact

Above the roof of one of the buildings that reside in the boy’s old territory, one might see a strange trail of blue-gold light seemingly stretching across the sky that points in a particular direction.

This stretch of light and all like it, are what are known as Guidance Lights.

Despite being a journey that one must often make alone, the dead are easily prone to getting lost and losing their way whilst on their pilgrimage towards the Gates to Paradise.

Wishing to aid them but not give a direct hand in showing them the way, ancient civilizations long ago developed what are known as Guidance Lights; long beams of ethereal light high in the sky that would connect to the closest statue nearby, thus maintaining a consistent trail of divine light that the dead could follow that would lead them all the way to Gwi-ma’s castle and into their new life.

No one follows the lights anymore...

Type

Shrine