proceed to new world (do not ask questions, do not collect delightful prizes)

[space_between]

Here is a young woman curled up on a bed, shivering, having thrown off her blankets when she woke earlier.

She is asleep. For now.

Comments

[shadopolis]

"I am presenting you with options for a new life. If you do not choose one, I will choose for you."

The shadow smiles with its eyes, tilting its head to emphasize the rotten-egg smoke that puffs from where its mouth should be. Its gnarled, many-jointed hands press her down into the mattress, painfully tight around her wrists.

[space_between]

"Can. Can I ask questions about the options?" she asks carefully, as she looks at the cards.

(She barely even notices the pain or the smoke amidst her suppressed panic and churning thoughts.)

[shadopolis]

The creature inclines its head, then nods as if granting a favor. "Yes."

[space_between]

...They are Tarot cards. What-- no, focus.

"What would happen if I chose the Hermit?" she asks of the leftmost card. "--And why are the choices Tarot cards?"

[shadopolis]

The shadow taps two of its overly-long fingers together. "You would be born into a new body in another world. Your other question is irrelevant to the matter at hand."

[space_between]

Yes, but why.

"Would be born?" She takes a moment to try to phase her question. "That's, the next thing after I chose? How does that affect my mind?"

[shadopolis]

The shadow nods. "Yes, and your mind would be intact: you would awaken at the same age as you are in this world."

[space_between]

"...How would I awaken at the same age if, if it also involves being born in another world? Unless that's retroactive?"

[shadopolis]

"It is indeed retroactive. You would have been born in another world."

[space_between]

"How does that work? Would I remember growing up there?"

[shadopolis]

"You will wake up in a new life. Your memories will not be modified - I already said your mind would be intact, didn't I?"

[space_between]

"New experiences can be added while the old stay intact. So I would have a new life I don't remember anything about except for this conversation? --I will remember this conversation, right?"

[shadopolis]

"Yes, and yes, you will remember this conversation. How many times do I have to say that your mind will remain intact?"

[space_between]

"I -- apologize," she replies carefully, "I'm, still not sure what you mean by that."

Deep breath. How can she -- can she just ask what they mean?

"--What do you -- have you -- meant when you said that my mind would remain intact?"

[shadopolis]

"You will be materially the same person, with no significant negative change in your cognitive abilities or alteration to your personal identity. Obviously I cannot say 'no change', since having had this rather interesting conversation will no doubt change who you are, somewhat."

[space_between]

"...would there be any changes to to my identity or abilities -- cognitive or otherwise -- apart from those resulting from this conversation itself? --conversation not including the choices made after it."

[shadopolis]

"Yes, of course. You're waking up in a new body, did you expect everything to be the same as it was? That would rather defeat the purpose, don't you think?"

[space_between]

"Well, I don't know what the purpose is. --What is it? And what changes would occur? What are the characteristics of the new body?"

[shadopolis]

The creature rolls its shoulders with a sound like snapping branches. "The changes are dependent on the card you pick - all of them place you into new bodies. And naturally the characteristics of the body you occupy are are dependent on which one you choose. The purpose is war, as you might expect from the methods being employed. Press-gangs don't operate for tribal causes, and you're being press-ganged."

The shadow smiles with its eyes, since it has no mouth. "Incidentally, thank you for asking that question, because I can stretch it to "what is my purpose here", and that means I can explain myself as well. I am compelled to certain actions and words by the Law of my world. If you do not choose a card quickly, I will pick one for you at random. If you trust me, pick the Hanged Man before I pick for you: I believe it is the best option. If you need proof of my compulsion, ask me why I'm answering your questions."

[space_between]

"How long do I have to choose? Why do you believe that Hanged Man is the best option? Why are you answering my questions?"

[shadopolis]

"Until you run out of questions. If you are not actively asking questions or listening to an answer from me, then you are stalling. I will pick a card if you stall. The Hanged Man is the best option because its most significant unshared drawback is that you will appear quite young for the rest of your lifespan, which will be considerable. It otherwise offers benefits on par with or better than the other cards."

The creature sighs as the last question is spoken.
"The Law is binding. For the Choice, I must truly answer all. Still, time is winding. I will punish if you stall."

[space_between]

"How will you punish me if I stall, other than picking a card for me? How much time am I allowed to consider your answers and produce questions?"

She pauses to take deep breath, and then adds, "What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Hanged Man option, and which of these are shared with other cards?"

[shadopolis]

"There is no other punishment - if I pick for you, you will not enjoy the results. Exceedingly little. If you are not asking a question or listening to an answer, you are stalling."

The thing's too-long fingers twitch to touch the cards even in the space of Nicole's single deep breath.

"The Hanged Man's shared drawbacks are that it will place you into a body, a family, and world that are not your own, where you will be subject to scrutiny, fear and hostility. It has no unique drawbacks that I have not already mentioned. Its major benefits are a high social status, supernatural powers, and a body that will live for ten thousand years. No other cards grant high social status, and no other cards grant a ten thousand year lifespan: other cards also present supernatural powers, but the Hanged Man's powers are the only significant ones that can be used without exhausting the user somehow."

[space_between]

"Will the family etc. remember my retroactive history? Which other cards share those drawbacks? What are the lifespans for the other cards? What are the Hanged Man's powers?"

"Do questions about the mechanics of the choice not count for not stalling? Exactly how much time do I have? Does it reset when I ask a new question? Will you warn me before you chose a card? --Can I get you to not chose randomly?"

She stops to catch her breath and let the shadow-thing answer.

[shadopolis]

"Yes, it depends on which drawbacks, all are likely to be shorter than ten thousand years, many and varied, no, the units are not familiar to you but perhaps two dozen heartbeats, yes, no, yes, but you would not wish me to."