emerald

[dramatispersonae]

[ The hill in the Ring dissolves, leaving you alone with your team in a soft, featureless grey space. The Dog's genderless, gentle "voice" speaks into all of your minds, less anxious and more confident now; confiding. ]

My name is The Dog Who Dies At The End Of The Story. I don't remember the name I had before that, and I didn't know what this one was either, not till I chose a new Master. I don't think I was supposed to do that, but I did, so here we are.

I understand being a dog, and sometimes dogs die. But I don't understand dying, even when I know what it is. . . and in order to make a choice about it, I need to catch answers. I've died over and over and not understood yet. Maybe some of you have, too. I wanted . . . to ask what you thought. . . ?

Thank you. . . I won't be able to answer for a little while, so if you would. . . please answer for me.

[ You know instinctively that while the Dog will not answer your words for a while, once it asks you its questions you will be able to speak your answers when you've reached a consensus and be heard. ]

Comments

round one part one

[dramatispersonae]

[ The questions click into your mind like pieces into a puzzle. You know that you must answer them together as a group. ]

In your story, you've just died. They're mourning you back where your body is, or they're not; I don't know how much they loved you in this story.

The rest of you is following a trail away. What's at the end of it?

something warm or something cold.

something close or something far.


something or nothing.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[morbidlysexy]

Oh, to hell with this.

Re: discussion

[zen_master]

Sangria, please.

answer

[dramatispersonae]

[ Please answer as a group if you choose to answer this question: one answer each for the three "or" choices. ]

Re: answer

[zen_master]

warm, far, something

round one part two

[dramatispersonae]

Why did you answer that way? Is that how you think it is, or know it is? How are you sure? Or is it just what you want to be true... has someone you loved died, and now you hope they're there?

Please help me understand.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[morbidlysexy]

Well, this was your show. And we already chatted 'bout it a bit.

Re: discussion

[zen_master]

[i will continue to make every sad face at you]

Alright.

answer

[dramatispersonae]

[ Please answer as a group if you choose to answer this question: you can go into detail or not, but the thoughtfulness of your answer will affect your score and game results. ]

Re: answer

[zen_master]

I don't know what comes after death, Dog. Between being honest and kind, I want to be kind, though. This is a place where we can determine much of what happens by our own hands, more than anywhere else. We can be kinder to ourselves and others. Out of everything that we've created and changed, why can't we change death? There are even people here who show that death has already been changed . . .

So, with that in mind, when death comes (and it does come, it can't be avoided when it is time), it should be to a place that is warm, far, and something. Warmth can mean many things: Heat that we need to survive, friendship and love from others, and more. I don't think death means that those can't be kept and found, even if the shape is different. You still carry the memories of others with you even when they're far away, right? I think that the distance is far, though. To be cut off from others in the ways that we are used to, it creates a great distance between people. That's what makes death truly sad, to lose the ability to see, touch, and communicate with others like you could before. The journey to accept that loss on both sides would be a long one, even if there isn't a true physical distance. Something is because you have your memories . . . Especially in Aather, where we know what it means to be without them, to gain them back and make our own, that is something that comes with you. I don't want that to be erased. Even if it may be painful to be far from those you love, it's better to remember them then to forget them entirely.

round two

[dramatispersonae]

What does death mean to you? Is there ever a time to die?

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[zen_master]

Should I answer for my own? Or what someone else's means to me . . . ?

Re: discussion

[morbidlysexy]

[puts a hand on his shoulder, grudgingly supportive]

What do you want to answer?

answer

[dramatispersonae]

[ Please answer as a group if you choose to answer this question: you can go into detail or not, but the thoughtfulness of your answer will affect your score and game results. ]

Re: answer

[morbidlysexy]

Death's not in me. I've done so much to avoid it—and I'd do it again, if I had to do it over. But I suppose you hit a point where you have to decide if there's something that means more to you. When you find that moment, you make it count, yeah?

round three

[dramatispersonae]

Tell me about. . . the place you talked about in the first question, even if your answer was that it wasn't a place. What it looks like and feels like around you. Just so I can. . .

Thank you.

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[zen_master]

[h-hah]

Okay . . .

answer

[dramatispersonae]

Re: answer

[zen_master]

There are people there. It's a warm place that has people that you can talk to. There aren't princes, serfs, nobles, or any kind of rank or status; no roles or stories; no war, no hunger, no hate, no injustice, no abuse— It's a peaceful place, a beautiful place, that might be a little boring, but it's nice, I promise.

results

[dramatispersonae]

Re: results

[dramatispersonae]

[ The grey space warms deeply around you, filling with light and noise; there's hustle and bustle, a collection of individuals without burden or markers of status, talking and laughing together. It's so perfect that it's almost a little unreal, but deeply calm.

Something about it seems very, very far away, though... you won't be here any time soon. Here and now... you're alive. ]

((endgame.))