This post is part of the [NEXON PEAK Post Challenge].

Mabinogi Mobile belongs to an IP I first encountered through Mabinogi back in 2004, if I remember correctly. It has already been well over 20 years. Mabinogi, Vindictus, and Mabinogi Mobile all share that same IP, and I am currently playing the newest of the three, Mabinogi Mobile. I found myself reflecting on why I spent so much time playing Mabinogi then, why I am so devoted to Mabinogi Mobile now, and what has kept the Mabinogi IP so well loved all these years.

I think the answer may lie in Mabinogi's distinctive world and its unmatched character customization system, which really is the ultimate in making a character your own. Still, it is the Mabinogi IP that has stood the test of time; Mabinogi Mobile itself has only been around for about 1 year and 6 months. Calling it a long-running game would be a stretch. But as a player, I want Mabinogi Mobile to have a long life! It brings its own interpretation of the Mabinogi IP to the series, and I want that to endure. With that, let us begin the Ten Symbols of Longevity Project in Mabinogi Mobile.

Sipjangsaeng, or the Ten Symbols of Longevity, refers to ten things associated with long life, and it is a familiar expression in Korea whenever longevity comes to mind. Throughout Korean history, these symbols have often appeared in paintings expressing wishes for a long life. The literal meaning is “ten long-lived beings,” although biologically speaking, the list includes both living and nonliving things. The nonliving symbols are the sun, mountains, water, rocks, and the moon or clouds, while the living ones are the herb of immortality, deer, pine trees, turtles, and cranes. Let us start with a quick look at the nonliving ones.

First, the Sun

This is a photo I took in Mabinogi Mobile at New Year. Isn't that a magnificent sunrise? The sun comes first among the Ten Symbols of Longevity, perhaps because it is eternal. A quick search would tell me why it became the first symbol, but that is not our subject today—we are here to find the Ten Symbols of Longevity within Mabinogi Mobile! So I have started with the sun. May you keep shining for years to come, Mabinogi Mobile, just like that bright sun.





Second, Mountains

Mabinogi Mobile has so many magnificent mountain views. Once I started looking for them, I found them in one region after another and ended up taking far too many photos. Still, the scenery in Mabinogi Mobile is more moving when you come across it on your own travels, so I will share just one. These are the mountains I photographed in front of the Tir Chonaill lookout. Aren't they beautiful? That is the second symbol easily found!



Third, Water

Water is the third of the Ten Symbols of Longevity, and the first place that came to mind was 이델리아 Stream in Tir Chonaill. According to Endelyon, the priestess at Tir Chonaill's Church of Morrighan, 이델리아 was a priestess who served at the village church long ago. She was a great source of support during difficult times and spent her life caring for others. They say her spirit lives on throughout the village in its fields and streams, which, as I understand it, is why the stream flowing through Tir Chonaill is called 이델리아 Stream. In any case, water is our third symbol of longevity. I hope clear water will always flow through Tir Chonaill.

 It felt a shame to share only the stream in Tir Chonaill, so I wanted to include the sea at Colhen as well. This village of mercenaries overlooks a vast sea, complete with a dock and fishermen. I included this view in the hope that the game will endure forever, like the waters of the sea.



Fourth, Rocks

Rocks are the fourth symbol of longevity, an enduring presence. There were so many to choose from that I spent quite some time deciding which to share. In the end, I chose this photo of a rocky cliff near the fishing spot in Gairech Hills. Isn't it beautiful? I hope the game will enjoy a long, long life, as solid and steadfast as these rocks.

Fifth, the Moon or Clouds

The fifth symbol of longevity is said to be the moon or clouds, so I put quite a bit of effort into capturing both in a single photo. As it happened, the moon was a waxing crescent when I went out to take this picture—or was it waning? I kept adjusting the camera angle to make it as clear and visible as possible. That brings us halfway through the Ten Symbols of Longevity, with all the nonliving symbols covered.





Sixth, the Herb of Immortality

The sixth symbol of longevity is the herb of immortality. When I looked it up, most explanations identified it as the reishi mushroom. I imagine Qin Shi Huang must have eaten a great many of those in his time. With that in mind, I set out to find which mushroom in Mabinogi Mobile most closely resembled reishi, the herb of immortality. My first thought was the amplifying mushroom in 구름황야. The color was not quite right, but the shape seemed closest to reishi. My second choice was the hazel mushroom growing in Emain Macha. Its rounded shape is different, but its coloring was the closest to the reishi mushrooms in the photos I found, so I went looking for it. I regularly use amplifying mushrooms to make potions and hazel mushrooms for cooking, which made both choices feel meaningful.





Seventh, Deer

The seventh symbol of longevity is the deer, which actually has the shortest lifespan among the ten symbols. Its average lifespan is said to rarely exceed 30 years. Why, then, is the deer included among the Ten Symbols of Longevity? There are several interpretations, but one is the belief that consuming a stag's velvet antlers helps people live longer. I found deer around the village of Colhen and in 창백한 산.



Eighth, Pine Trees

The eighth symbol of longevity is the pine tree, known for its long life and dignity. I do wonder whether some ginkgo trees might live even longer, but the symbol is the pine all the same. After exploring the fields of Mabinogi Mobile at length, I began to feel that I would have to compromise. Perhaps finding 7 of the ten symbols so easily had raised my expectations? From pine trees onward, I spent a great deal of time traveling and thinking about how to represent the Ten Symbols of Longevity in Mabinogi Mobile. Eventually, I settled on a possible compromise: pines are conifers, and conifers have a pointed shape.



Ninth, Cranes

I know very little about red-crowned cranes, so I took a screenshot of the crane entry in NAVER Knowledge Encyclopedia's Endangered Wildlife of Korea. If you are wondering what a red-crowned crane is, it is indeed the bird on the 500-won coin. These are large birds, said to stand over 150cm tall. I had wondered whether the Korean words “durumi” and “hak” referred to different birds, but they are two names for the same bird. With its associations of dignity, elegance, and scholarly refinement, the crane is also one of the Ten Symbols of Longevity. Cranes are very difficult to find in the game, though, so I decided to bring along the closest alternative.



 There is the eagle, another large bird, although smaller than a crane, and even its coloring is similar. If you disagree, try looking past the details: the colors do resemble those of the crane, our symbol of longevity, and with a softer focus, the resemblance is there. It does look a little small, though, doesn't it? I remembered the eagle being larger, so I went looking and found a photo from when Ruairi and Triana were nearly eaten by one.



This one is fairly large, and the coloring looks somewhat similar, doesn't it? If you think I am forcing the comparison, I admit that I am. I simply could not think of another way to represent a crane. Still, I have chosen a large, fairly long-lived bird that comes as close as possible, so I hope you will allow me this substitute.



After more thought, I remembered the fable of the crane and the fox, so I included a photo of a fox as well. I hope this shows just how much I want Mabinogi Mobile to enjoy a long life.



Tenth and Last, Turtles

The tenth and final symbol of longevity is the turtle. To me, it is both the most emblematic of the ten and the one most firmly grounded in reality. After all, it lives the longest of the living creatures on the list. The turtle truly embodies longevity! Yet there are no turtles in Mabinogi Mobile. The creature I consider the greatest symbol of long life is missing from Mabinogi Mobile! Gairech Hills and Sen Mag Plains have other reptiles, including snakes and lizards, but no turtles.



I did find a slime in 창백한 산 that I wanted to use as a turtle shell, but it is not a turtle—it is a slime, and a monster at that. Still, I could not leave out the turtle, the ultimate symbol of longevity, so I made a decision…

 I would become the turtle myself. What does a game need to enjoy a long life? The love of its players. Ultimately, a game needs players to keep going. Of course, some games shut down even when they still have players, but I hope that will not happen here. I want this game to last for many years so I can keep enjoying it.



+P.S.+

A Mabinogi Mobile version

of a Ten Symbols of Longevity painting was what I hoped to create,

and after 1 hour of struggling with AI,

this was the most convincing image I managed to produce.

They say the future belongs to those who can use AI well,

but I wonder whether I will be able to keep up.