After saying up to there, the man turned back to look at the others. Somehow, Shara felt like she could hear a number of mixed voices coming from the bound figures, yet she was unable to properly understand them. “Okay, everyone. We’ll begin the transfer in a few minutes. Once we’re on the other side, there will be no fighting. Anyone that attempts to attack someone will be placed in isolation. If you have family on the other side, we will attempt to help you locate them in a timely manner.”
Before anyone could respond, he let out a long sigh. “Okay, everyone, get ready!” He called out loudly, causing the various unbound figures from above to descend. All in all, there were over a hundred of them, and they spread out in a circular formation around the group of bound souls.
When the various figures landed, they clasped their hands together in front of themselves, and Shara saw a sudden change in the surrounding environment. All around her, the landscape turned more and more blurry, the last remnants of color being leached from the very air itself. After that, the shapes grew distorted and cloudy, until they appeared as nothing but wisps of smoke that scattered with an invisible wind.
At this point, the only thing left in the world that she could see were herself, the bound souls from the battle, and the unbound ones who were doing the ‘transfer’. “And, synchronize!” The apparent leader of the winged men shouted out, causing the faces of the unbound souls to stiffen in focus.
Now, the smoke surrounding them began to take a new form. Colors once again returned to the world as Shara felt a stone floor beneath her feet, as if she was standing atop a mountain. Looking down, she saw the stone was black, and stretched out several meters in any direction. Outside of their circle of souls, she saw stone pillars rising up like great trees, supporting a building larger than she had ever seen.
Glancing behind her, she saw the stones taking shape into the form of people. Ten of them, standing in a circle. One such shape was immediately recognizable to Shara, and made her bring a hand to cover her mouth in shock. She saw the statue of Aurivy, the goddess whose form she had never seen before, yet knew instinctively.
At some point, she realized that the vines tying them down had disappeared, and she was able to again move her body. This realization came when she heard a sudden shout from behind, and turned to see one of her people charging at one of the strange creatures that they had fought. However, before he could even cover half the distance, a black box formed around him, holding him in place.
Shara heard a sigh from somewhere off to the side of her, and turned to see the same winged man from before looking at the now trapped halfling. “I did warn you.” He said, shaking his head, before signalling to some of the others. “Haul that one off to containment. For attempting to attack another civilian upon entry to the Underworld, one week of isolation. Try to arrange for someone he used to know to go explain things to him when the time is up.”
Another winged person nodded, snapping their fingers as a rope materialized around the black box, one end leading to their hands. After that, she flew off into the air, the black box dragging behind her. It was at this point that Shara actually noticed the sky, or lack thereof.
No matter where she looked above her, there was only a boundless, grey horizon of shifting smoke. Far above, she could faintly see an object floating amidst the smoke, but was unable to tell just what it was. “Shara!” It was at this moment that she heard a loud call off to her side, causing her to turn and see something that took her breath away. If she still had breath, at least.
Running towards her was a young halfling, one that she barely recognized, yet could never forget. Her father, who had died months ago, looking younger than she had ever seen him. “D-daddy!” She cried out, her voice echoing out without meaning to. Startled, she raised her hands to her mouth again, surprised to hear her own voice.
Hearing that, Savir laughed, running up and picking Shara up in his arms, spinning her around once before pulling her in for a tight embrace. “I’m sorry I left you like that.” He said gently, and Shara suddenly felt like she was a kid again, before any of this fighting had happened.
“She one of yours?” The winged man asked, looking indifferently towards Savir, who only nodded happily.
“She’s my daughter, sir. I’d like to take custody while everything gets settled.” He answered, never releasing his firm grip on Shara.
The man looked to Shara for a moment, but seeing her happy smile, he realized that he was telling the truth. With a small smile of his own, he nodded his head. “Alright. From what we’ve heard, the instigators behind the war have already been tried. There shouldn’t be any issues if you take custody of her, just be sure to have her available if we need her for something.”
Savir quickly nodded his head again at that. “Of course, sir.” He said, before smiling down at Shara. “Come on, let’s go home.” He said with a laugh, setting Shara down and holding her hand to guide her.
Home? She thought to herself, confused. Did her father have a home built here? She had assumed after seeing this place that he would want to explore again. And, seeing the variety of people, and the different characteristics of their races, she couldn’t help but wonder. “Dad… what is this place? Who are all these people?”
“Well…” He smiled awkwardly at that, glancing around. “This is the Underworld, Shara. The place where the dead… live. Ever since coming here, I feel like I’ve learned so much more about the world that we never imagined. But, that’s not the best part.”
She tried to get him to elaborate on that, but he only grinned, looking to her and telling her that it was a secret. Even when they reached the edge of the city, and found an expanse of empty greyness waiting for him, Savir just continued walking ahead. And Shara followed, leaving the capital behind them, only to notice that their speed had somehow increased drastically after leaving the city.
Soon, they found themselves at another, smaller city. Although the buildings here were also made of stone, they were far smaller than what she had seen before, and some looked ready to fall apart. It was in front of one such building that Savir finally stopped, standing in front of a wide door. With a gentle pat on her back, he urged her forward. “Welcome home, Shara.” He said with a wide smile.
Shara nodded, walking up and slowly pushing the door open. She heard a female voice call out from within as she stepped into the house. “Savir, is that you?” Shara felt her heart stop when she heard the voice, her feet frozen at the door. Somehow, she knew who the voice was, or she was able to quickly figure it out.
When she saw a young halfling woman step out of a nearby doorway, Shara couldn’t help but feel her eyes begin to water. Intellectually, she knew that she should not be able to cry. She was not even alive anymore, and yet the tears came.
“Shara?” The woman asked, briefly stunned.
“Mom!” She shouted, running forward and embracing the woman, burying her head in her mother’s shoulder and crying. She had wanted to see her mother again for so long. And while she felt that she would be able to find her father after dying, she had never considered that there would be someone else waiting for her here too. Silently, she thanked Aurivy for giving her this chance, for letting her be with her family again.
Appendix
Inventory System
How is the inventory accomplished?
Through the game system menu(Game setting required)
A spatial magic spell
A special ore that can be shaped into an inventory artifact like a ring
A special thread from certain monsters or plants that can be reshaped into an inventory artifact or bag. Note: keeper must either choose already created monster or plant in system that has trait to make this kind of thread, or create a new one from scratch.
A special wood from certain monsters and trees that once successfully prepared and formed into an inventory artifact or container Note: keeper must either choose already created monster or tree in system that has trait to make this kind of
wood, or create a new one from scratch.
Stomachs of certain monsters have special property/trait of slightly bending space, once prepared correctly, their stomachs can be transformed into an inventory artifact/bag. Note: keeper must either choose already created monster in system that has trait to have this kind of stomach, or create a new one from scratch.
A machine that creates a pocket dimension
A machine and/or ray that digitizes items into code
Enchantment, can be placed on a wide range of items to make it act as an inventory item/artifact
Custom/other
What is maximum storage capacity?
Unlimited
X inventory slots
X cubic feet
X pounds
Dependent on class
Dependent on level
Dependent on magic power, ki, spiritual energy, or other energy source
Dependent on quality and quantity of inventory artifact material
Combination of above options
Other/Custom
What happens to item weight in inventory?
Completely negated
Partially negates x% of item weight
Partially negates up to x pounds
Does not negate weight (note: Unavailable for digitization)
Amplifies weight of item by x%
Amplifies weight of item by x pounds
Custom/Other
To what degree are items preserved?
Once placed in inventory, items are frozen in time, completely preserved
Items are partially preserved as time moves x times slower in inventory
Items are not preserved as time in inventory matches outside world
Items actually degrade faster as inventory is x times faster than outside world
Custom/other
What happens to the items after the inventory owner dies?
The deceased continues to have access to their inventory items in their respective afterlife(note: Unavailable for object-based inventories)
The items automatically go to a storage area in the admin room
Items are destroyed
The appear right next to the corpse of the deceased
They stay in the inventory where others can access them if they retrieve the inventory artifact
Items in inventory are dispersed to random locations. Dispersal range decided by keeper before implementation. Can be potentially as small as a five foot radius or as large as to encompass the entire world.
Inventory is transferred into the killer’s inventory. Keeper must choose another option in cases where where killer’s inventory is full or becomes full in midst of transfer. Keepers must also decide the factor in determining the priority of items transferred to killer if all of deceased inventory can not be transferred over. Examples include most valuable, least valuable, oldest items, newest items, and random.
Deceased inventory is transferred to killer’s saved home point. Home point must be a location the killer has personally visited. Home point can be changed and deleted. Keeper must determine method of setting home point. Examples include setting it through game world menu, praying to personal deity, and saying “save as home point”. If no home point is specifically set, last place the killer slept will act as the default.
Items in inventory spout from the deceased body like a fountain until all items are removed from the inventory. Keeper must set the height of these “item fountains” though random height is also an option.
A portal appears by deceased body from which people can pull out the inventory items of the deceased. Portal remains until all items are removed.
Temporary Portal, basically the same as option 10, however the portal is not permanent. Instead, the keeper sets a time the portal remains by corpse. If the time eclipses and not all the items are pulled out, portal disappears and items go through choosen secondary inventory dispersal option from this list.
If person is killed in a dungeon, items are transferred to the dungeon master where the items can be either converted into magical power or preserved for personal use. Note: While this option takes priority in dungeons, it is only applicable if a person is killed in a dungeon. Keepers must choose another option for cases if a person is killed outside of dungeons.
Custom/Other
Inventory Activation Options
Open through personal menu
Voice Activation. Note: Keeper must set activation code with an example being “Open Inventory”
Hand Gesture. Note: Keeper must set specific hand gesture that activates inventory
Recast inventory spell. Note: Only applicable for spatial magic spell inventory option
Infusing inventory artifact with energy (mana, ki, spiritual energy, ect.)
Open inventory container lid
Determined by inventory owner. Inventory owner can set whatever gesture or code word to activate their personal inventory. They are also free to change inventory activation process anytime they wish. Note: Keeper must determine how a person sets inventory activation process. Examples include praying to personal deity to describe process or saying “Set Inventory Activation as followed…”. In addition, if this option is chosen, person will not have access to their inventory until they set activation process.
Pressing on button for inventory machines.
Custom/other
How to place items in inventory
Push item through inventory menu slot(note: requires Game System inventory)
Physically place in special inventory container (bag, chest, ect.)
Push or carry item through a portal summoned by inventory. This portal opens up to a separate dimensional space where item will be stored. Note: Portal will remain open while there are living beings in inventory space.
After activating inventory lift item off of ground for set amount of time determined(x seconds) by keeper.
After activating inventory touch object for x amount of seconds determined by keeper.
After activating inventory, state name of object or description of object that want to place in inventory. Note: Keeper must set maximum distance(x meters) that person can be from object in order to place in inventory.
After activating inventory, envelop item that want to place in inventory with a thin coating of person’s energy (mana, ki, spiritual energy, ect.)
Place on a special platform connected to inventory system
Shoot a ray at item that want to place in inventory. Note: keeper must set maximum length(x meters) of ray to place item in inventory and how long ray must be in contact with item(y seconds).
A special hand gesture that indicates the item that person wants to place in inventory. An example is pointing at item with a finger. Note: Keeper must set a hand gesture that clearly indicates what item person wants to place in inventory and Keeper must set maximum distance(x meters) that person can be from object in order to place in inventory.
Place item in an incorporeal chest composed of a special energy summoned by inventory system
Think of/Imagine item that want to place in inventory. Note: Keeper must set maximum distance(x meters) that person can be from object in order to place in inventory.
Custom/Other
How to remove items from inventory
Pull item from inventory menu slot(note: requires Game System inventory)
Tap inventory slot of item that wish to remove from inventory
Push, pull, carry item of inventory space through summoned portal
After activating inventory, state name or description of item that wish to remove from inventory
Click image of item displayed on computer screen that wish to remove from computer screen(note: requires Game System or tech-based inventory)
Pull item out of inventory container (bag, chest, ect.)
After summoning incorporeal inventory chest, remove/pull item out of chest
Think of/Imagine item that wish to remove from inventory
Custom/Other
None
Will not have access to inventory till x age
Will not have access to inventory till earn a class
Will not not have access to inventory till x level
Only certain classes(x number) designated by the keeper will have access to an inventory
Cannot place an item into you inventory unless you are considered to be the item’s “owner”. Whether or not you are the item’s owner will be judged by the inventory system itself. Note: While having a firm grasp on item and carrying it might raise possibility of being considered the new or temporary owner, it is not definitive that it will work immediately or at all for some items.
For digitalization inventory system, x number of times an item’s code can be copied will be determined by Keeper. If exceed this number in order to make multiple copies of item, will cause code to degrade and make it impossible for item to materialize.
Can not open inventory in midst of battle
Custom/Other
Inventory Slot Options (inventory slot option required)
Objects larger than x cubic feet will occupy multiple inventory slots
Objects heavier than x pounds will occupy multiple inventory spots
Regardless of item’s weight or size will occupy only one inventory spot
Container with multiple items inside will be treated as a single object and can potentially occupy only a single inventory spot
Container with multiple items inside will not be treated as a single object and can not be placed into inventory
Container will multiple items inside will not be treated as a single object. Container will be emptied and items inside will occupy other inventory slots. If not enough room, will not be able to place entire container inside inventory.
World Keeper: Birth of a World Page 58
