The opening gate to the Ardent Isles is a round, white room with pillars and a single digital screen plaque in the center. Next to the screen is a small board with post-it notes that are occasionally changed. Curved windows reveal a starry expanse all around.
Welcome to the Ardent Isles.
This is a work in the "digital garden" vein of sites, focusing less on polish and more on creating and connecting. I frequently produce small stories, notes, fragments, drabbles, etc that are nice but not likely to be fleshed out further, and I don't think that "piecemeal" quality should consign these bits and pieces to oblivion. My creation philosophy is to make things just to put them out there for whoever to find, but they need to be Somewhere. So, here are the Ardent Isles, a big archipelago of space islands containing small works, people jabbering in places, and some nice nonsense.
The small board currently reads:
6/8/2025 - The Ardent Isles are open! Some sections are still under construction. This space will be updated to indicate when they have opened. There isn't too much yet, but still enough to start with.
One exit, by a sign labeled "Existential Weave," leads outward onto a walkway surrounded by the spread of space.
Another exit, labeled "Yapper Plaza," leads out into a sunny area. You can hear the mingled discussions of people from this direction.
A third exit is blocked by a huge boulder haphazardly leaned against the doorframe. A sign is hung over it that reads "under construction."
On the far side of the room is a staircase leading downward, with a sign placed in front of it.
Where will you go?