After you die, you feel a moment of peace enveloping your body and then a light. The light shimmers all around you, wrapping across your appendages as they pull you forward. Faster and faster they pull you until suddenly your surroundings disappeared and shift to a black abyss. The light unwraps from your body as they settle you down onto the ground. And there you see a woman dressed in white, a soft light draping her body as she plays what looks to be a rectangular guitar. The woman's hands strum over the strings of the item, producing almost ethereal sounds of music that echoes within the abyss that you stand in. She looks up to you and simply says,
"Welcome.
Flippantly waving his fingers, in an obviously dismissive gesture at the woman clad in white not caring an iota about the events which transpired, Yuudai Oshiro rolled his neck around while he allowed his other hand to hang by his side. "
Hmph. Yeah, yeah you don't need to explain this bit; I'm a lucid dreamer. Usually I get more of your types to fawn over me in the throne-room." The young man continued to idly crane his neck as he peered at his squalid surroundings, there was naught but darkness and echoes. It appeared that Yuudai was slightly off his game in mastering the dream as by now he would at least have his throne room; this failing was chalked up in his mind due to upcoming stress for university.
Lazily raising up his free palm up, and looking down at the woman, he reached over to begin clapping his hands in a quick manner. "Well? Bring out the rest of the ladies to entertain His Royal Majesty." After all Yuudai probably wasn't going to keep this dream up for long so he figured might as well make the most of it while it lasts.
A goddess sat within the middle of the abyss, a light draping down upon her, illuminating her surroundings. With a soft motion, the goddess plucks a singular string of her instrument. She began to hum a quiet tune, her ethereal song would shift into a peaceful melody, her fingers dancing along the seven strings of the instrument, "This is no dream, child of earth. " Her voice was loud, booming across the abyss as she spoke.
Yuudai eyed them with disdain as he slowly placed both of his palms behind his head, "Still no babes, I'm waiting."
Arrogant was the first word the goddess had thought of her, her eyes wandering into the abyss for a few moment and then quickly returning her eyes to the man. She chuckles under her breath, plucking a singular string of instrument, emitting a flat note. The sound of the note would fill the abyss, and from this note would cause Yuudai to fall to his knees, an unknown force pulling him down. "Child of earth I am no maiden, for I am a goddess. "
Rightfully disturbed, Yuudai in this forced genuflect proceed to give the Goddess the 'bird' - or as most refer to it 'the middle finger' - "ONE DOESN'T SIMPLY MAKE THE EMPEROR BOW TO ANYTHING!" Howled out the Japanese Youth as he continued on, "IF ANYONE SHOULD BE KNEELING IT OUGHTA BE YOU. SO BETTER SWITCHEROO THIS RIGHT ABOUT NOW!"
The note would become louder and as it does the unknown force would push him to the ground, "Child of earth, do not belittle a goddess. "
"Or what? I'LL BELITTLE WHOMEVER AND WHATEVER I WANT!"
"Then. You will fall through the abyss, until you've quenched your rage. " The goddess would strike another string, emitting a flat note. A note of which would scream throughout the abyss, "Fall. " Her voice hushed and stern, Yuudai would then begin to fall through the abyss, the goddess coming out of view as he could still hear the screeching note as he fell.
"AAAAIIIIIIIIEEEEEEEEEEEE!~" was the instinctive high pitch shriek of the situation, which was followed by several flails of all limbs. This then progressed to furious yelling, then to bemused grumblings before finally settling on a motion. "Fine what the hell is your sales pitch? ...Can'tbelievethemountaingodsrippedmeofflikethis..." It appeared he backed the wrong local shrines in his various bids for power.
Yuudai instantly apparated in front of the goddess. Though this time a low-rise wooden table would seperate the two. She smiles, her eyes still closed as she plays a song of peace and tranquility, "Child of earth, are you calm now? "
His lips curled in contempt, before he placed his hands behind his head yet again. Satisfied with this pose he peered towards the Goddess, "Yeah, sure. So again, the hell is the sales pitch now?"
"Sales pitch? What do you mean child of earth? Do you mean where we are? Or what I offer you? "
The youth gave a shrug, before stretching his head back, and scratching at his back. "Sure, sure both those things. Less so first; it's an inky black void I can see that. I don't need much beyond inky black void."
"Child of earth you rest within the abyss, a place of souls. Meaning you are currently deceased and I offer you a second chance. "
"Oooooh, right, right, I'm deceased." Yuudai slowly began nodding his head acting as if such a phenomena was normal, before blinking a few times realizing just what he said. "DONE! I like living."
"Hm. Do you remember how you passed on child of earth? "
Yuudai gave a shrug, "Hardly important now."
"Assuming from your statement just seconds ago you enjoy living child of earth? Would you like to live again? Experiences things you've never experienced? "
"
Gee..." Yuudai smirked as he waggled his finger in front of the Goddess, "...I wonder if saying that before would imply that yes, yes I would like to return to life. Being dead isn't what those salarymen say it is cracked up to be."
The goddess was skeptical, she wasn't sure if Yuudai was fully aware of the situation he was in though she disregarded that fact. "Well then, child of earth-... " She paused for a moment, "I will begin with a proper introduction then. I am, Alaela. Goddess of the South Winds. One of the many protecters of my homeworld, Akohana. "
"Okaaaaay." Yuudai Oshiro responded slowly nodding, as his mind was partially drifting away from the exposition and partially that he was a little bastard who didn't care much.
"Usually, most would answer back with their name. "
"Yeah but I'm the Emperor." Yuudai Oshiro smirked as he pointed his thumb towards his chest, "And nobody can make Emperor Oshiro do anything he doesn't want to do." spake the man clearly oblivious to the fact he was giving them what they wanted.
"Then, Emperor Oshiro. You are a demigod, and I am the goddess. Emperors of your world are worshipped but emperors serve a gods judgement. "
Yuudai gave a quick shrug before shaking his head, "Eh I'd say more inclined to serving their denizens, after all an emperor needs the populace to be blindly fanatical to their Emperor." Grinning from ear to ear he balled up his hand and slammed it into his palm, "And that is what all of my subjects will be. Blindly devoted to my cause and willing to stake everything they have for my whims!"
"You are a tyrant, Emperor Oshiro. And do you know what happens to most tyrants? " The goddess opens her eyes, revealing a sharp blue hue, her eyes piercing the self-named Emperor.
"I'm already dead." Yuudai pointed out with a chuckle, "So I don't think I would have anything to worry about; plus they are remembered forever and ever."
"Souls of sin are taken to the deep-abyss and are forced to relive the worst memories. Would you like to experience those memories child of earth?"
"Can we just cut to the chase at living again?"
"No. " The goddess would close her eyes, her hands returning to the top of her instrument as she begins playing a soft melody.
Yuudai raised a singular eyebrow as the melody commenced before idly raising his hand behind him to scratch at his back. "C'mon, I've got better things to do than to not be alive. Iunno about you." Rolling his head around, Yuudai let out a yawn before gnawing at his teeth a few times. "It'll be better for all involved to yanno give the Emperor life again."
"Time is flows differently within the abyss. I am patient and never ending, though I am unsure of you child of earth. "
"Yeah so then, why AREN'T we bringing myself back to life now then?"
The goddess would stay silent.
"I'm not saying pretty please if that's what you're angling for. You're the one who put the offer up on the table so why not just, you know indulge me on it?"
"Well then child of earth, you shall wait. Rebirth is impossible for souls, though out of the sextillions you were chosen to be rebirthed. Though just as easily will I allow you to pass on into the sea of souls in which you'll bask in a great light. "
"Sooo..." Yuudai began, trailing off as he looked from side to side at the inky black void. "...Why aren't we doing that now?"
"Then child of earth, I shall. " Her eyes would open, revealing a flame of blue to her left eye and then a right to her right eye. She then would transition into a song of resentment and guilt, the song growers louder as seconds pass though suddenly is canceled out by a different noise. A noise not from the instrument. A portal of red hue and distorting shape would appear twenty feet above the two. A draft of air would rise upwards, almost as if the portal was sucking everything out, and it was. Slowly the winds became stronger until the goddess instrument would be lifted into the air and sucked into the portal along with the table that separated the two and then a ball of light would escape Yuudai's body. Yuudai would then collapse to the floor, his senses all being canceled out except for sight. The ball of light or rather, his soul slowly rising towards the red portal.
And so there Yuudai was, in an alien shape that could never be known as human - a shape which lacked the essential semblance of being that was intutive to man - a ball. Yuudai was for all intents and purposes, a gaseous form, an alien form which un-nerved him to no end. His thoughts were all screaming in unison for the return of hands and feet for tactile motions, for eyes and the oculary sights, for the nose and the olfactory - in short for any and all senses other than the mind. This was a far more aggravating prospect than falling for whoever knows how long after all. At least there he could flail his limbs and shriek. But as a ball of soul materials he could not.
The portal grew larger as the soul neared but before the soul could enter, the goddess would speak with a booming voice, "Close. " The portal would close and the soul would jump back in Yuudai's body as if it was startled.
"...WAS THAT JUST SOME KINDA SICK JOKE!?" Yuudai remarked as he began prodding at his corporeal form, really appreciating the fact that yes, yes he had a body. "YOU'RE A JACKASS."
"That is what it feels like to be a soul in the sea of souls. Only being able to see as you stare at a great light for countless of eons, would you rather bask in a great light for eternity or have another chance at life? "
"Didn't, didn't I already say yes a few times?"
The goddess laughs, "An answer without respect is no answer, child of earth. "
"No?" Yuudai just stared completely baffled at how an answer was not an answer. Surely the answer remained an answer, regardless of its delivery. And Yuudai had delivered an answer several times to affirm. At least it was getting through now he supposed.
Before, the goddess could speak a loud thundering sound would emit behind her, a deep voice roared with anger, clouds of black smoke surrounded the area of where the two stood, "I am tired of this bickering, this child has no understanding of respect to the gods and so should be thrown out to the sea. "
Alaela quickly stood in front of Yuuda, pushing him back lightly, "Ulro. No. He is one of the twelve chosen, we cannot disobey the great crystals. " She said with a panicked tone, "This child is of no use, Alaela and I will not have him disrespect you. " And so with a quick movement, Ulro made his way towards Yuuda pushing, the goddess out of the way as he gripped the boy's neck tightly and held him high up into the air. He growled and spoke with intense anger, "Summoned into the abyss, and at the chance of rebirth in which is known to no other, you accept it with arrogance. Child of earth I will personally bring you to the sea of souls and will watch you drown. "
"Bite me." This was no God of his, this was not the gods of the mountain - the only true gods, despite the fact they probably abandoned Yuudai's butt - and frankly he was already dead, what more could this creature do to him? Of course being held by the neck was generally a painful position so his teeth were gritted as he raised his finger yet again to the other.
Ulro scrowls as his hands begin to glow a purple hue, "You will feel only pain, child of earth-- " But before Ulro can cast his spell, a beam of light shoots towards the larger god shooting him across the room, piercing through the dark clouds that surrounded the three of them. With erratic movement the goddess rushes towards Yuuda, "Are you alright? " She asks softly, her hands shaking with intense fear. "He's immobilized but won't be for long. "
Yuudai, collapsing to the ground made a loud yelp as he began rubbing at his neck. It was clear that pain was one of the many senses he got back from his expedition after achieving ball-form. "Sooo - this does mean we can get a move on now right? I'd rather not have him crushing my windpipe."
"Child of earth we have little time, come and sit in front of me and we will get this over quick. " The goddess rests upon her knees, and as she does her strange-seven stringed instrument appears upon her lap, "Hurry now! "
And so Yuudai Oshiro, knowing damn well the importance as goofing around probably meant being choked to death two point o, did, in fact, listened to the goddess and sat down in front of her. This was shortly followed by clasping of his hands together and beginning in a short prayer. "Oh Mountain Gods, I ask of you a simple request from a devoted, don't screw with me here - I didn't screw with you. You owe me for worship."
The goddess would close her eyes, her hands tense as she attempts to play a song of peace and tranquility though due to the situation the notes become mellow and drowned out by the goddesses fear, though she manages. A shield of light would construct around them, her fingers shaking as she plays, "I-... " The goddess heavily breathes, her eyes darting to a shadow that moves across the black smoke that begins to envelop the shield. "I-... I cannot stop him. "
"...Oyamatsumi, Yama-no-kami - you two are assholes." solemnly remarked the boy, now bit more disillusioned with the Mountain Gods. "All I need is my ticket outta here - you know one marked for a passenger to life and not death-death, or whatever that's called."
"I will. Child of earth do you accept a gift- a fraction of my power that will allow you to defeat the--- " The shield begins to crack, "The-.... The darkness on my homeworld. " A ball of light cascades down onto the floor in between them.
"Get me out of this sinkhole and done and done! Darkness will fall before The Emperor."
"Now then child of earth, close your eyes and fe-.. " Ulro comes out from the black clouds that surround the shield of light, his glowing hand then bangs onto the shield. Tears begin to run down the goddesses cheeks as she says again, "Close your eyes and feel. Think and feel, think of your home and feel the earth beneath your feet. Child of earth close your eyes as this gift will be a manifestation of you who you are and who you will be. " The ball of light shifts into a crystal shape, hovering in front of Yuudai, "Close your eyes! " She says in panic as the shield of light cracks. (the response should be your character closing their eyes and basically choosing the race they want to be and their special ability and then when your character is done just make them open their eyes
And lo, Yuudai did in fact close his eyes and listened to the guiding message delievered to them. It was here he was treated to glimmers of his own thoughts; he would reign above all others like the elves always did - after all they were far more cooler than the rest of the fantasy races, for they had style - and he would have an artifact of the very heavens to support his rule. A weapon forged like none other, a great and terrifying, yet gleaming with a pristine shimmer - a mighty sword. It was a blade that would call upon man to serve at the beck and call, for what time they could be tethered to the plane which they occupied, for the Emperor. Such an artifact would make it known that all who witnessed Yuudai would inevitably be bound to serve the future emperor of all that he could see. Satisfied with these thoughts he opened up his eyes.
The shield of light had broken, pieces of it laying to the ground as black smoke had enveloped the goddess, suffocating her. "Ch-...child of-- child of earth, connected to the--... " The smoke around her neck would grow tighter as tears rapidly streamed down her face, "great crystals I hereby send you to Akohana. " From the glowing diamond light would unravel from its shape, strands of light escaping out of its diamond shape. These strands of light would then form into an arrow in which would instantly shoot into Yuudai's body. "Now--- " And before the goddess could finish her sentence she was enveloped in the black smoke. A few moments of silence would pass until, Yuudai suddenly falls through the abyss the scene coming out of view as all he can see is darkness. Then a light appears, enveloping his body as Yuudai awakes in a forest.
And so Yuudai slowly opened her eyes as she placed her palm down against the grassy terrain and pushed herself up. The elven ears twitched slightly hearing the various elements of nature, and a body coursing with a newfound strength. Clutching her hand into a fist she shoved it up towards the sky, "Ha with th-" It was at this point Yuudai noticed something. Something off, something that was a tad more noticeable than pointier ears. Her face began to flush as she began shaking her hand to the sky and screeching to the heavens "TH-THIS WASN'T PART OF THE DEEEEEEEEEEE-AAAAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLL!"