Death in Igen
Aug 22, 2013 22:12:31 GMT
Post by Master of the Bazaar on Aug 22, 2013 22:12:31 GMT
Death is cheap in the Neath. A stabbing can be fixed with some stitches and an apology and in most cases even drowning can be fixed up easily. So long as you're careful and don't bite the dust too many times, death is an inconvenience at best. It gets a bit more difficult when you've got a wher or a dragon, but we'll cover that later.
When you die, you go somewhere else. Few people remember it. Some claim they went Between, just without their bodies. Others claim they saw a light. Still others claim they played chess with a skeleton, which is just ridiculous. It can feel like days even though their body only stops moving for a few hours at the longest.
When you wake up it's like you've got a bad hangover. Some of the more romantic individuals call it death sickness. Most people call it a pain in the ass. This usually gives the murderer time to get away, which is a headache for the enforcers.
There are ways to keep people dead permanently, of course. The most popular is 'death by wher.' It's why they're so popular. Wonderful deterrents to criminals.
If someone is killed a few too many times they become something called a 'tomb colonist.' So named because they're often forced into unpleasant parts of the holds nicknamed 'tomb colonies', these individuals are people whose bodies haven't quite caught up on the whole 'alive again' thing. They don't heal quite right. They look sort of dead. They SMELL sort of dead. Sometimes body parts fall off. They can be reattached, though. They aren't actually rotting, but they certainly look like they are.
An unfortunate reality is that death takes quite a toll on whers and dragons. In most cases, the deceased rider comes back quickly enough to reassure the wher or dragon in question. Sometimes, however, they aren't quick enough and the bond is lost. In such a case, the dragon naturally disappears Between. Even if they are saved, a death can take a large toll on a dragon and it can take months for them to recover mentally. Whers just tend to get even more aggressive and protective.
These former riders are often called the 'Betweened' in whispers.
Once you die, however, you can never go back to the surface. Why would you want to, though? It's so lovely down here, with the soft glows and all the black water.
When you die, you go somewhere else. Few people remember it. Some claim they went Between, just without their bodies. Others claim they saw a light. Still others claim they played chess with a skeleton, which is just ridiculous. It can feel like days even though their body only stops moving for a few hours at the longest.
When you wake up it's like you've got a bad hangover. Some of the more romantic individuals call it death sickness. Most people call it a pain in the ass. This usually gives the murderer time to get away, which is a headache for the enforcers.
There are ways to keep people dead permanently, of course. The most popular is 'death by wher.' It's why they're so popular. Wonderful deterrents to criminals.
If someone is killed a few too many times they become something called a 'tomb colonist.' So named because they're often forced into unpleasant parts of the holds nicknamed 'tomb colonies', these individuals are people whose bodies haven't quite caught up on the whole 'alive again' thing. They don't heal quite right. They look sort of dead. They SMELL sort of dead. Sometimes body parts fall off. They can be reattached, though. They aren't actually rotting, but they certainly look like they are.
An unfortunate reality is that death takes quite a toll on whers and dragons. In most cases, the deceased rider comes back quickly enough to reassure the wher or dragon in question. Sometimes, however, they aren't quick enough and the bond is lost. In such a case, the dragon naturally disappears Between. Even if they are saved, a death can take a large toll on a dragon and it can take months for them to recover mentally. Whers just tend to get even more aggressive and protective.
These former riders are often called the 'Betweened' in whispers.
Once you die, however, you can never go back to the surface. Why would you want to, though? It's so lovely down here, with the soft glows and all the black water.