Pre-Intro Threads

[inheritthegrey]

If anyone had ever told you that death would be inert and silent, they must have been a fool. You find yourself hurtling through space and time, at the center of creation itself. Everything is darkness and light, matter and void, and you feel like your mind will implode if you have to stand this a moment longer...

Then, something settles over you, like a cloak; like cool water on a burn. You feel the void turn its gaze from you, and your soul being drawn away from the void.

...And you are standing in a forest, lush and overgrown, smelling like loam and leaves and the fresh sap of a snapped branch. Up above you, in the canopy, you can hear the sound of birds, and you may catch the lithe movement of a small animal out of the corner of your eye.

It's very nearly dark: just enough to see by, grey dawn only just beginning to filter through the leaves. You can't see colors very well, unless you have some kind of night vision, but somehow, this does not seem to make your surroundings any less vivid.

So vivid, in fact, that you might miss the wiry figure sitting propped against a tree, arms crossed over her chest. Until she speaks.

"There you are," she says.

Comments

[followedfirst]

[bringing up a hand to touch her throat when she lands, though she drops it when Yeine speaks.]

Was I expected?

[inheritthegrey]

Mhm. The name's Yeine. It's good to meet you.

[followedfirst]

Oh? And why is that?

[inheritthegrey]

Customary greeting. [quirk of a smile] But I can tell you're not much for formalities. Neither am I, so that works out.

[followedfirst]

What is this place?

[inheritthegrey]

This is a piece of my realm, within the Sphere of Energy in Kohos.

As for what Kohos is, it's a place between worlds. Between life and death.

[followedfirst]

Hm...

Why am I here?

[inheritthegrey]

You died. I called you here to offer you a chance to go back, if you want.

[followedfirst]

[that gets her attention]

Go back? How?

[inheritthegrey]

The place I mentioned, Kohos, has the power to give the dead their lives back. Give them extra powers, too, if they want that. It's not the easiest thing - you would lose your memories for a time, as your soul is re-formed, but you'd be able to regain them, exactly as they were. You'd be transparent most of the time, but there'll be ways to get temporary solidity, if you want.

[followedfirst]

Will I be able to return to the moment of my death?

[inheritthegrey]

That's the plan. You'd want to figure out a way you won't just get killed again. But yes.

[followedfirst]

Then I accept your offer.

[inheritthegrey]

Great. Lemme just fill you in on the details, before we go anywhere. You'll have to complete ten Tasks of Simplicity - one for each sphere, to go back home. Those will be run by myself and others like me. Those who wish to travel from world to world, after their time in Kohos is complete, would have to complete ten Tasks of Liberty. Simplicity tasks can be challenging, but they won't be dangerous. Liberty can be emotionally painful, or carry some risk of injury - you'd be made solid for those, I guess. Lastly, you have the Tasks of Divinity. Again, ten of those for those who wish to become gods. Those will have the tendency to be brutal. I give you my promise, right now, that I'll always tell the people involved if I am running a Task of Divinity, so those who don't wish to participate can get out of there.

There'll be other ghosts like you there. You'll probably be housed with them.

[followedfirst]

[nodding along as she listens]

Ten Tasks of Simplicity, one per sphere. Alright.

[inheritthegrey]

Looks like we're set, then. Do you want me to remind you of your name right when you arrive?

[followedfirst]

Yes. My name is Teresa.

...Can you also tell me that someone named Clare is important to me?

[inheritthegrey]

[nods] Clare. I'll remember that.

[followedfirst]

Then I'm ready.

[inheritthegrey]

[Yeine holds out her hand]

[followedfirst]

[taking it, without any trace of hesitation.]

[inheritthegrey]

[The world around them dissolves into the bright colors of sunrise, and the next thing you remember, you're emerging from the Portal of Chains into Kohos proper]

[followedfirst]

[and there she goes.]