jasper

[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

[soldieronwards]

[is silent, just looking at the others in the room]

Re: discussion

[grand_finale]

So we're a ghost?

answer

[dramatispersonae]

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

Re: answer

[soldieronwards]

Something cold; something 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

[soldieronwards]

I've been there. It's cold, and you go...far away.

But the rest? I don't know. I got brought back before I could find out.

Re: discussion

[grand_finale]

...This one's easy.

"I answered that way because one of the Knights suggested it was the right answer and if I answer right, I will win the game and be rewarded with more memories."

Re: discussion

[whyitgottabeblack]

[musing to himself aloud] I think it's what we want to be true. Or what we think The Dog wants to be true? I don't know, the only people I had a chance at loving got killed in front of me. And the people around me after that taught me that death and killing were the norm. I never thought about what was on the other side for them and I still haven't. Just about The Dog now that this stupid game is happening...

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

[grand_finale]

Our experiences here at Aather have educated us considerably about death, which we've tried to include in this answer beyond simple instinctual reactions. It's terrifying. It's painful. There's no guarantees you will return to life, pass on to whatever else might await, or... anything in between. All of us do know it is inevitable. We can only hope that this helps the Dog come to its own conclusions.

round two

[dramatispersonae]

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

discussion

[dramatispersonae]

Re: discussion

[grand_finale]

Oh geez. This just gets more and more depressing as it goes on...

Re: discussion

[soldieronwards]

I don't know if there's..."a time to die." Dying's better than some things. Worse than most. But it just--is.

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

[grand_finale]

Death is the end, but also the beginning. The final curtain on the stage of life. None of us intend to live forever. The time should really only come when the alternative is living on as something that isn't you.

The end of you, the beginning of something else.

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

[soldieronwards]

[a slow breath, and then silence.]

answer

[dramatispersonae]

Re: answer

[soldieronwards]

...it's cold, Dog. It's cold and dark and you might be feelin' like you screwed up to wind up there. And it's hazy and hard to remember, too. Not exactly a great vacation spot.

But it ain't like that forever. 'Cause the thing about that place is it's not somewhere you stay. It's just somewhere in the dark that you fall for a while. Till you get up and move on to whatever's next.

result

[dramatispersonae]