INFELIOUS RHAPLANCA

[pastalishe]

How many times has the girl called Rhaplanca been born into this world?

Rhaplanca always appeared when the city had turned into ruins.

And then, she always had to decide between protecting or not protecting this world, which was abandoned by the Gods. Thus, when the time came for her final story to be chronicled, she couldn't avoid despairing.

That city was absolutely devastated.
This was the great metropolis of Elm, which had the great tree of Implanta at its heart.
The great tree that symbolized this city had been withering away since a long time ago, and now, only its gray bark showed this.
Under these circumstances, Rhaplanca was born, as the last of the legitimate members in a priestess lineage of the city. She lived inside the temple, away from this earthly life, and was deeply instructed in the precepts of benevolence.
Thus, she was very worried about the ruined city of Elm. She didn't care about social status or money, she just helped the troubled people every day, and just continued with her voluntary service.

While she was revered by some of the people as a saint, most of the populace just looked at her with cold eyes.

She was still doing her voluntary service diligently, when a turning point came to her life.
Maoh, the only son of the city's lord, had fallen in love at first sight with Rhaplanca when she was doing her voluntary service, and he persuaded his father into allowing him to marry her.
Thus, when Rhaplanca turned 16 years old, her life and Maoh's crossed paths.

Maoh, as would be typical of the only children of the lord of a city that was falling into decay, was an extremely arrogant person.
And because of his love for her, Maoh's father forced her to marry him.

Despite this, Maoh did his best to make Rhaplanca happy. He gave her many jewels, gold and rare fruits from other countries, regardless of whether they were bought by his father or whether he took them from the townspeople.
He also forced music troupes to play for them.
However, Rhaplanca never returned even a single smile to Maoh. To Maoh, this was completely incomprehensible, because Rhaplanca never smiled at him.
Yet when she smiled, it wasn't for him, but for the poor and the humble. She always went out to the city, and like the time when Maoh first fell in love with her, she still continued performing charity by healing the sick and comforting the poor.

There it was that he noticed that her most beautiful smile was reserved for these people.

One day, Maoh unexpectedly decided to accompany Rhaplanca as she performed her voluntary service.
While at the beginning he only watched her from behind, after watching Rhaplanca work so hard, he suddenly decided to try doing it as well.
That time, Rhaplanca smiled at him for the first time.
Maoh was surprised, and that happiness allowed him to work his hardest. If he could have what he desired the most, he would work the hardest he could to help Rhaplanca. However, even that was just temporary.

And this was because he noticed that the smile that Rhaplanca gave him was exactly the same she gave to the poor and humble that overflowed the streets of the city.
Instantly, Maoh's mood worsened, and he returned to leaving Rhaplanca alone in her duty. After this, he never went to help Rhaplanca even once.

After this, he even went to the extreme of practically confining Rhaplanca, since he couldn't help but hate that Rhaplanca smiled to everyone except him.
Her walks to the city were restricted, and Maoh desperately encouraged her to smile at him, which made him feel more invigorated.
However, this only made her much more depressed.
The days continued like this for a while, and one day while she was at the temple, she received a terrible revelation from the God she worshiped: Juklizda.
The revelation was that the land would be completely destroyed right now. And then, the ones selected by Him would be led to the new land of Metel Filios.

God had already chosen these people, and ordered them to lead the others.
Rhaplanca cried, and she appealed to Juklizda in an attempt to stop Him from destroying the world. However, Juklizda ignored her pleas.
The humans were failed creations, and thus, with the exception of a few that still had pure souls, all of them would be annihilated.
Yet still, Rhaplanca believed in their potential.
Because of this, she promised to lead them to purity and righteousness, like she did ages ago.
But then, Juklizda spoke:

"If you cannot reform your own husband, what hope do you have of reforming the rest of the people in this world?"

Then, He raised his hands, producing a sound that rang as high as the Heavens.
Then, the knell of this world's destruction resounded. That was the sound that beckoned the end of this world.

The world was already completely covered in rubble and corpses. The skies glowed a bright red, and the rivers boiled. The land was cut open, and part of it floated to the skies, while the rest of it fell to the bottom of the abyss.
Rhaplanca despaired. That floating land was the only place where salvation could be found.
A large tree... the great, withered tree of Implanta was adjacent to the floating island, and many people already headed to the tree. She had to save them...!!

Rhaplanca then decided to go outside the temple.
Immediately, Maoh came to her running, trying to catch his breath. He was worried for her, and thus came running to the temple as fast as he could. Without saying anything, he immediately took Rhaplanca's arm, and began running.
Although Rhaplanca told him she wanted to save everyone, he still continued running while pulling her by the arm.

Maoh was headed to Implanta.

Soon enough, they reached the base of the tree, and a bizarre scene unfolded before their eyes.

An immeasurable number of people were clinging to the withered tree of Implanta,
and were climbing higher and higher through it.
It was as if the great tree was unleashing screams of agony, which make this a particularly painful scene to see.
While Rhaplanca was still dazed from this sight, Maoh ran towards to the tree.

And then, as he climbed through it, he pulled some of the people away, making a way for Rhaplanca. Maoh climbed first the tree, and then shouted "Hurry!" as he pulled Rhaplanca to get her up. However, Rhaplanca didn't climb.

Instead, she allowed not just one, but a great number of people to climb the tree before her. She believed she had to help the people to escape from death, and then she separated from the tree and turned away from it. But in that same instant, a great rumble was heard, and then as she had thought, the tree began to fall!
Now it had withered so much, Implanta was unable to sustain this amount of people.
If things continued this way, all of the people that climbed into the tree would fall and crash into the ground with it. That was something that couldn't be allowed to happen, no matter what...

Then, Rhaplanca decided to transform herself into a cornerstone.

She prayed to the Gods, to allow her to use just a single miracle. And then, the Gods bestowed this to her, and she successfully transformed her body into a large rock.

Now that Rhaplanca had become a rock, no matter how much the great tree of Implanta leaned, it wouldn't fall down. Her wishes had reached the Heavens.
However, once Maoh saw this, he screamed in horror, and jumped off the tree.
Then he ran to Rhaplanca crying and screaming, while the body of his wife was already mostly transformed into stone!

"Why!? Why have you done this!!? Don't leave me alone!! Please... Even if only you remained alive, that would have been enough to me!! Your smile was what made me the happiest person in the world..."

Then, Rhaplanca spoke to her husband while holding a gentle smile on her face, while he still cried and screamed.

"My beloved husband, please, make sure to live a long life. I made a promise with my God, Juklizda. By using my soul, I shall save everyone.
So please, make sure to lead all the people with you to this tree and save them.
And please, once you reach the new world, make sure to love, give, and thank all the people as your companions,
and make a new country with these same principles. Right now, you are the only one who can do this, my dearest. You helped me only once back then, correct?
Then, please, never forget that smile I gave you when you were working so hard.
That is why I believe in you, that you are the person who can give love more than anyone else.
So please be sure to grant me this... the final wish of your wife..."

And then, Rhaplanca completely turned into a rock.
Maoh stood in that place for some time, crying in silence, but then, he wiped off his tears, and with a newfound determination, he ran back into the city.
And then, he took the injured, the aged and the children, and carried many, many of them to the tree, and helped them climb.

Gradually, everything around began burning in an scorching red. From far away, a bright red, burning lava began flowing down to them. The end of this world had finally come.

Until the instant in which the lava reached Implanta, Maoh continued helping the people.

It might have been reckless, but he innocently continued saving them. And once the last person had finally reached the floating island, the lava below began flowing all around. The floating island then became an island floating in the lava, with the people squeezing on it, and praying while they endured the incredible heat.

Maoh prayed, too. For the very first time in his life, he prayed not for himself, but for this world, and for Rhaplanca. And at this time, since the very first time He appeared, God Juklizda spoke to Maoh's heart.

"You were a person cruel beyond anything this world has known, yet I shall forgive you for these actions, and entrust the land that remained, and the people in it to you.

However, you must continue keeping the promise you made to your wife for the rest of your life."

Maoh promised so to Juklizda.
That he would never forget the last words that his beloved wife told him. And that every life that inhabited this world would be sincere for the rest of eternity.
In that instant, the lava cooled down, and the land became firm again. Then, it became a vast plateau.
Maoh kept his promise to Rhaplanca, and led the people in a way few rulers have done.

And then, this new land, which was named [Metel Filios] as the Gods had dictated, restarted as a completely new world.

Thus, this was how the land that later on came to be known as [Metafalss] was born.
The rugged plateau that was created by the lava is a symbol of the rage of the Gods and the promise that was made with them.
In that moment, the people cast off their greed, and lived loving their companions, and attempting to be able to converse with the Gods within themselves, in the same way that Maoh did on that fateful day.


Infelious Rhaplanca: Heavenly Prayers/Earthly Atonement

Prayers of Heaven ~Rhaplanca~

SSa aNa Nyy cHe Laaa tA chesIY mAA
hEma TTe mYYaaa IRa cUlOmaGIyyy
The flames that crept up from beneath the earth were transformed into hellfire by the breath of a god;
They devoured, dessicated and burnt the selfish, greedy people of the corrupt kingdom to naught but ash.

Was quel ga terrfa mea rre Diol Ekouolga galado ween ciel,
en rre lamenza oz plargamera agldeio ween dor.
The melodies of punishment echo through the sky.
Storms of anguish fill the earth.

Presia Juklizda OmgaFatee, dius ciel,
rrha quel ra tasyue anw mea tes yor,
wearequewie rre her syeary meycray en yorr noime ar fao.
Oh, Juklizda, my holy father in heaven,
I shall sacrifice myself to Thee.
Please, allow my prayer to reach Thee... and grant me just one miracle.

Presia Implanta,
rrha ki ra chs longherna mea sos juelicc yor etealune,
en wearequewie yorr lehaw anw plargamera der zayea pauwel.
Oh, divine tree Implanta, I shall let my body become a stone so that I might support thee for all eternity.
I beg of thee, with what remains of thy strength, please... save my people.

Presia, rrha quel ra shyfac rre Lasnatine
chs weareqye oz plargamera,
en rre murfanare oz mea meycray
tes inferiare terrma, Maoh.
I hope that the words of this prayer will bring hope to everyone.
Ah... if only these feelings could speak to the heart of my beloved one, Maoh.

MARRSEFXIL
EFAHECDOY
TITSSSYE
AZIYVRS
FOGQUW
AABIM
LXAE
IYX
CI
A
May this power be bestowed upon me, so that my love may protect my people and
Envelop this land overflowing with darkness with light.
That is the greatest reason why I must pray.
And, please, give the people lives that well up with happiness;
Fill them with your love and protect them;
Assure them, protect them, and shield them from those with evil and hateful hearts.
Light, bestow thy holy protection upon them so that they might...
Create...
A paradise of righteousness.

Atonement of the Earth ~Maoh~

Iqwayes anw jepgle irdeshen,
yanwe dorre nun parlre en wazx manafeeze kirrag,
sos alroetyye.
I shall break away from my past, full of foolishness:
From now, I must live each day of my life to the fullest,
In order to cherish and revere what remains of the land.

創世の楽土　分け入れば
怒り醒めやらぬ天が　風に叫ぶ
Sousei no rakudo, wakeireba
ikari sameyaranu sora ga
As I step into our former paradise,
I can hear the wind, still full of wrath, roaring in the sky.

道標も無く　恵み無く
幾度　倒れて　再び立ち上がる
Michishirube mo naku, megumi naku
Ikutabi taorete, futatabi tachiagaru
The path I must walk has no guideposts; there is no blessing to be found.
Yet, each time I fall, I shall regain my feet and stand upright.

Chs kearryier rre weareqye nun waglialre
en metafalya nun parlre.
Van sorrc wis zas gaedurltea tou mea,
wazx manafeeze sos alroetyye,
sos Rhaplanca nun chs dorzee annie.
She entrusted her wishes to me.
She left behind her hope for me.
The weight of those feelings are tremendous and enormous...
But I shall carry them, as an atonement,
For Rhaplanca, who became the cornerstone of this land.

いざや　千万の花を咲かせや
君の守る大地を　満たすために
寄る辺無き子等の　手を引いて
共に行こう　土に心に　種を蒔いて
Izaya chiyorozu no hana wo sakaseya
Kimi no mamoru daichi wo mitasu tameni
Yorube naki kora no te wo hiite
Tomoni yukou, tsuchi ni kokoro ni tane wo maite
I will grow countless flowers;
Enough to cover this land, which was protected by thee, completely.
I vow that I will lead helpless children by the hand,
Together, we will plant these seeds of hope in the earth and in our hearts.

Qafl weareqye oz mea meycray tes yor json?
Qafl colmask iemma oz mea toya zayea weareqye oz yor?
Qafl wi xactin anturn?
Will there come a day when my resolution satisfies thee?
Will there come a day when my way of life fulfills your final wish?
Will there come a day when I find the answers that I seek?

実を結ばぬ日を　指折りて
無力な腕を　打ち据えては嘆く
Mi wo musubanu hi wo yubiorite
Muryokuna kaina wo uchisuete wa nageku
Amid the days that pass without coming to fruition,
I blame myself for my own incompetence in despair.

Rriulia deadl, rriulia xaczor,
en van sphilar chs kearryier,
wazx na endia anw shyfac metafalya.
Wazx haliyer anw dius ciel,
wazx yanwe anw META=FALSS,
wazx inferia anw plargamera.
Sorrc chs alefio sos yor.
My fruitless days continue,
And my questions remain unanswered.
Even though I feel overwhelmed by this reality,
I will continue to believe in hope.
I will honor the divine sky.
I will cherish and revere the earth that remains, META=FALSS,
I will devote my love to the people.
These are the ways I will fulfill my vow to thee.

誓い　この胸に刻みて　歩む
難き　茨這う荒野を　拓いて
枯れる事なき　愛を注ぎ
萌ゆる翡翠の　楽園を育め
Chikai, kono mune ni kizamite ayumu
Kataki ibarahau arano wo hiraite
Kareru koto naki ai wo sosogi
Moyuru hisui no rakuen wo hagukume
As I walk down this path, I shall carve this vow upon my heart:
I will cultivate this rough and thorny wilderness,
By sowing seeds of love that will never wither,
And transform it into a verdant paradise.

千万の花を捧げて
君の守る大地を　満たせや
贖いの旅路は　果てなくとも
いざ謳えや　語り継げや
冀望の歌を
Chiyorozu no hana wo sasagete
Kimi no mamoru daichi wo mitaseya
Aganai no tabiji wa hatenakutomo
Iza utaeya, kataritsugeya
Kibou no uta wo
I will grow countless flowers;
Enough to cover this land, which was protected by thee, completely.
While my path of atonement is without end,
I shall continue to sing and one day pass down,
The Song of Hope.

Zas amariare enllia Rhaplanca,
van amario oz mea na meycray tes yor,
wearequewie nun longhel shelle oz yor.
Oh, my beloved Rhaplanca, who still lives within my heart,
Even if my love cannot reach thy heart...
I hope that its warmth can reach your petrified body.

Syearr vie adeal sos yor.
Syearr vie eodeal sos yor.
Syearr enllia en etealuear,
azl manaf oz mea fitouva.
I have prayed to you again today.
I will pray to you again tomorrow.
I will pray to you, ceaselessly,
For as long as I shall live.


This is the finale of the Rhaplanca Legends, and it also is the story of how the world of Metafalss was born.

Because of the high level of acceptance the spiritual ideologies have among the people of Metafalss, this story serves as a great help to understand them. In other words, thanks to this myth, we know that they have a humble heart, carrying thoughts like [we were allowed to live in this world].

And since they were also [descendants of those who survived the end of the world, and were forgiven], and believe themselves to be chosen ones, they have to live up to the expectations left by their ancestors, and strive to live their lives in the most honest manner possible.

This story is essentially made of the relationship between Maoh and Rhaplanca, and despite them getting married during the course of it, it has the special feature of not containing any romantic elements.

Since Rhaplanca was completely depicted in the position of a [saint], her love for Maoh was simply [kindness].

On the other hand, the feelings that Maoh had for her were still pretty immature, which ended drawing a picture of a beautiful, yet ugly adult romantic drama.

In comparison to Sol Cluster, that looks at feeling and love with contempt, and to Sol Ciel, that holds feelings and love as supreme, the stories in Metafalss are pretty much unworldly, which have the appeal of putting as much love into them as severe lessons.

Even within the story that is said to be the most inhuman of the [Rhaplanca Legends] series, [Salavec Rhaplanca (*1)], it also depicts the relationships between men and women in a terrifyingly pure way.

Thus, the stoicism that makes the people of Metafalss so opposite to love is because the negative feelings that are associated to it (such as jealousy and betrayal) are seen as unthinkable things (they are fundamentally taboos that are taught as things that should never be done under their moral precepts).

This moral mentality has been passed down during many generations without interruption, and although Cloche, who was raised in the deepest parts of the Grand Bell and was educated in all aspects of this, can be an extremely fastidious person, even she nods her head in respect when she hears these precepts.

In comparison to the dramatic Sol Ciel and the powerful Sol Cluster, the people of Metafalss are a race of fastidious, yet humble and introvert people.

All of this is rooted in the moral precepts that live in the Rhaplanca Legends.

Source: Infelious Rhaplanca @ the Ar Tonelico wikia.
Note: While I'm using translations of the Infelious Rhaplanca myth, song, and feelings in the song that were provided by the Ar Tonelico community, I've smoothed over some rough patches to make the piece read better in English.