This is not my Afterlife - First Edit.

Well, death isn’t what I’d expected. This is just a great black void, a complete lack of anything comparable to the afterlife I believe in. Obviously there is something wrong. I’ve been to a couple of afterlives but it is still concerning to have one’s soul thrust from their own body. I’ve also done a number of things to prove the existence of the gods, so truly, there is no way this could be the afterlife I am destined to.

If the gods had done this, and I know that I am in their favour, then why? I was born to one of the oldest of the great empires, for Elistraee’s sake! This isn’t Limbo, and this isn’t my world!

Dying to that lich so my son could have more time… it was worth it. The lich must have killed me, so all I can do now is hope I had helped my children, even if I am full of questions about my own state. If the lich had soul-caged me, as I had thought in the first instance, I would know by now. So where am I?

As if answering my question, words appeared before me.

You’ve completed your first playthrough of The Game!

Calculating Final Score!

‘What on earth-’ and my thoughts cut off as more words filled my vision.

The Game is the system in which you lived before your demise. You just completed our first trial of the world of Faerun - a fictional world we created. We thank you for your participation, and are elated to offer you new options!

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Would you like to see them?

Yes

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No

I am utterly unsure of what is happening now. I could only assume my soul had been taken before I could reach my true afterlife and so now these new creatures or gods were going to reincarnate me. In the past, I’d hoped my death would be final. Maybe a hundred years ago, I would have said no. The concept of living all over again was not immediately appealing to me. But now presented with the option, I knew what I wanted. I breathed deeply and said aloud, “Yes.” The world shifted and I could see myself, as if in a mirror, looking back.

My straight black hair, just a touch longer than my shoulders, eyes an uncommon lilac shade even for my people. High cheekbones are the only notable feature on my overall unremarkable face. I’ve been an Elf for many long years of life. Being so unremarkable, average really, had done me well.

The image of myself when I had been young was beside what I look like now, the human equivalent of six. Longer hair, a soft face, and no tattoo on my right arm. If only it had stayed that way.

Would you like to make any cosmetic changes before we continue? Most worlds don’t have Elves. Perhaps you may like to change your ears?

We will allow you to revise this later if you so wish, before character creation is complete

I nodded my understanding and began, clasping my hands behind my back. “Please remove the tattoo and round out my ears. I would like to pass as a human,” I say, assuming it would hear me. In my long life, especially towards the end, I had gotten along with humans best. All of my adopted children are - or rather, had been human, so I wouldn’t mind the change of species.

Would you like to change your Name?

Kalanast Sindrie Amaglain was not a common human name, at least in the life I had lived. I’d instead take the name of a good friend I’d had, something more common that humans often named their children.

“Yes,” I reply. “Could you change my name to Aubrey? I suppose if I’m getting a new life, I won’t get exact control of whom I’m born to,” I pondered aloud, before pausing. “And is there a way to issue commands mentally?”

Of course! Mental Commands enabled

Name changed!

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Depending on the world you go to, you may have control of your last name, but this is variable You can edit it later if you don’t agree with it

Do you want to review potential worlds now?

‘Yes please,’ I think.

Very well! After some calculations we think you would like these three worlds best

Pokemon

A world full of powerful magical creatures who are tamed and used to fight for glory, against crime, and generally for other things the humans want. Very peaceful generally, trouble is brewing

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The Magical World

This is a world known as earth, where many people known as Wizards and Witches covertly separated themselves from the rest of humanity, due to the normal humans fearing their power and trying to kill them decades ago, forcing all other magical creatures into hiding with them. There are many sources of good and evil - and never is there a shortage of intrigue!

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The Elemental Nations

This world is largely controlled and managed by people known as Shinobi. These Shinobi take jobs for money, and can control the elements with their internal energies, known as chakra. With it they can do things like magic in your world could, including walking on water, teleportation over a certain distance, and of course elemental control

I’m not one for animal fighting or relying on others, so the Pokemon world is out. Both this Magical World and the Elemental Nations sound interesting, but ultimately, I suppose I didn’t want to deal with anything too different from what I know. I like to think I know magic pretty well. I always like intrigue anyways.

‘Let's go with the Magical World,’ I decided. ‘Say, if I die, would I get to choose again?’

Magical World selected

Perhaps. If you continue to impress and put on such a wonderful show like you have been, we’d be honoured to have you continue the test with us!

So this was based on a merit system? How odd.

Would you like to continue character creation, or would you like to have a randomly generated life?

‘I’ll go to character creation, please,’ I mentally pushed. I didn’t want to be some random person, left to chance in a whole new world I knew nothing about. I prefer having control.

Very well! You need to assign your statistics

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Strength - How hard you hit and how much you can lift

Agility - How fast you are

Dexterity - How much fine motor control you have

Constitution- How good your immune system is and how much damage you can take

Intelligence - Your ability to learn new things

Wisdom - Your ability to use what you know

Luck - How fortune smiles on you

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You have 40 Stat Points for Level 1 - you will be starting as a four year old

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Your stats may change with Perks and your Bloodline, which come later

Well, spellcasting isn’t about being strong, so I can neglect that for now. Fine motor control, ability to learn, reason and luck... all very important. The ability to do things for longer would be good too. I imagine building speed would come if I exercised, so I would leave the two simplest stats low and work on them as I aged in this new body. I’d just do the light routines I’d had my children and grandchildren do. A short jog and a few repetitions of exercises. It would be nice to have the energy of a child again! Not to mention how my years as an assassin would likely come to pay off in this new world of unknowns.

Aubrey ??

Age - ??

Race - ??

Sex - ??

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??

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Str - 3

Agi - 3

Dex - 6

Con - 5

Int - 6

Wis - 6

Luc - 6

Finalize stats?

‘Yes.’

Stats Complete!

Please pick your Bloodline!

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Half-Giant

Half again as large as normal, your might is far greater than normal - this does cost you some points of Agility, as your speed decreases proportionally to the increase in your strength

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Veela

An Avian race that looks human, but can at will or under duress change into an avian creature with immense control of fire. Comes with the Drawback of an Allure - all those attracted to your sex are involuntarily drawn to you, unless they have immense self-control

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Part-Goblin

As a part-goblin you’re smaller than normal, and as a result your physical might goes down. However, your speed goes up, as does your control of your body!

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Human
Normal, standard human. Nothing special, but no baggage coming with it. Humans have the most liberty, but the least gifts

‘Human,’ I chose at a snap. People probably dislike veela, half-giants would not fit into society easily and I’d never allow myself to be called a goblin after my last life. Blighters could all go burn in Avernus for all I cared!

Race Selection Complete!

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Calculations Complete!

You have 18 Perk Points to spend and pick your new body's abilities!

There are many kinds of perks, as you will see. Generally, the more expensive, the more powerful or useful. Some perks will change the experience you have within the game, so choose carefully!

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Actor - 1 Point

You are an exceptionally skilled actor, naturally. You can pick up details, such as the habits and quirks of a person by watching them for a while to successfully impersonate them. Why, with some Polyjuice potion (a substance which, when consumed, makes you look like the person it’s keyed to), you could convince anyone you are someone you are not (Observation, Acting and Deception all start at “Adept”)

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Investigative - 1 Point

You are a gumshoe of some note, capable of making connections that others would miss. You are keenly observant, allowing you to get a much more accurate idea of the situation with a simple glance at a crime scene than an ordinary person would get by combing it carefully (Investigation, and Perception start at “Adept”)

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Seeker - 1 Point

Your skill at catching things is downright unnatural, you could catch an inaccurately thrown cockroach in a teapot from across a large room. Your ability to accurately predict the path an object is going to take in the air is uncanny and your hand-eye coordination is such that you can make catches others would think are impossible (Hand-Eye Coordination starts at “Adept” and Flying (All types) starts at “Adept”)

And so the list went on. And on. And on. But a few caught my eye.

People Like You - 2 Points

You’ve got a way about you that makes people just like you. You could be sweating copiously while sitting across from someone who can read your mind and they’ll still usually come away thinking of you fondly. Treat people decently and you’ll have more close friends than you know what to do with (Give +10 to all reaction checks in interactions with any other creature)

And of course:

Occlumens - 2 Points

Your mastery of Occlumency means a fully ordered mind with the ability to instantly recall any memory, and hold off Legilimencers through use of memory redirection of brute force. You can resist a multitude of truth potions, serums, and concoctions which otherwise would force you to tell no lies

I asked The Game, or the Gods of The Game, to define this. That was a dream for me as it meant no one could read my mind or force me to tell the truth. Any assassin’s dream! Also a good way to defend my knowledge of this entire Game. It may be new to me, but I was not stupid enough to think it shouldn’t remain a secret.

All kinds of magical boons, titles, and even a way to control my birth situation! If this could be considered ‘birth’. After doing some tinkering with the system, I came out with the following.

Half-Blood - 3 Points

Your parents are magical, one born to a non-magic family and the other with a lineage of magic in their blood. The mixing of these bloodlines open up possibilities for you. A Half-Blood to a Pureblooded family comes with wealth bonuses, and racial bonuses, which grant you a bonus on Level Up! Check stats for more information

This is so I can study magic and also not be looked at as odd for doing non-magic things, I hope. I send a prayer to my gods, wherever they rest, that I will be reborn into a Pureblooded-lineage mixed with non-magic. Perks like those were exciting and useful!

Potential - 8 Points

You were born to greatness, and this reflects in everything you do. Magic is second nature to you. While you don’t get any skill or knowledge innate with this perk, nor any gifts or talents that pass down bloodlines or through rituals, you now have limitless talent in every single branch of magic. Your Magic Core is proportionally vast and you are a quick hand and learning new magic. But remember, you must put in the time to learn. Potentiality is not actuality

Of course I take Occlumens as well, and to round out my final few Points I take Actor, Investigative Skill and a feature called Parseltongue, which indicated it had its own brand of magic attached, which I like. I tack on a Specialization Perk I feel might come in handy down the line - an ace-in-the-sleeve, so to speak.

Parseltongue - 1 Point

You have the rare gift of Parselmouth. As a Parseltongue, you can talk to snakes and gain their trust. Has the potential to do far more, there are even legends of it being used in various magics. Be careful, this trait has negative stigmas attached

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The Shadowed Path - 2 Points

You have a natural affinity for the arts of the Shadow - you can use Shadow magic, and stealth starts at Apprentice (Level 31)

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Are you certain you wish to lock in these Perks?

Yes

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No

‘Yes,’ I thought certainly. ‘What does Apprentice mean, please?’

Apprentice is a Skill Rank. Here is a list of all Skill Ranks:

Novice - Level 1 to Level 5

Trainee -  Level 6 to Level 30

Apprentice - Level 31 to Level 60

Journeyman - Level 61 to Level 100
Advanced - Level 101 to Level 160

Master - Level 161-250

Grandmaster - Level 251+

As your Level goes up, so too does the required xp you need to Level Up further. You get xp for a variety of things

‘Thank you. I’d like to revise stats. Please?’ I asked, wanting to see what may have been modified from these perks.

Aubrey ??

Age - 4

Race - Human

Sex - Female

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??

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Str - 3

Agi - 4

Dex - 7

Con - 5

Int - 7

Wis - 7

Luc - 7

I assume that my modified Intelligence and Wisdom are from the ‘Potential’ Perk, while Dexterity and Luck are going to be affected by my family, as chosen with the ‘Half-Blood’ Perk. While I’d not chosen a specific name, I had laid out a pretty good plot for who they’re likely to be.

Probably.

I would really need to focus on my physical stuff to keep it all balanced, as well as figure it all out for myself when I was in my new body.

‘Will I keep access to the systems here while playing The Game?’ I asked. ‘Or will I be clueless as I was before?’

You will have access if you wish

Do note that we wish you to live as you did in your last life, and if this access becomes a deterrent to your living properly and fully, we will revoke it. We’ve seen too many get wrapped up in becoming the most powerful

This is supposed to be fun, challenging and realistic. You’ve chosen to be inordinately skilled, yes. This just means you will be challenged equally. After all, life would be very boring if you weren’t challenged

‘I agree. Any insight on those challenges?’ I asked the system, or entity that was managing it. I’m now suspecting this is not a god, or any god I had worshipped in my life. Former life, rather.

That would spoil the fun, my dear! You may choose a family name - those that match your specifications are as follows…

The list had over twenty names on it. I settled on Hawthorne. They were old and had apparently had a few Wandmakers in the line, but other than that, there wasn’t anything notable. They were powerful in magic but were solid midfielders politically. I’d rather not go into things having enemies. Certainly, some may not like it, but I do not want to choose a life of extremes if I can help it. At least not without knowing my options fully.

Ah! I seem to have a brother and a sister, both younger. I was born in 1979, which was the number of years after someone important died, according to the information I was given. Currently it is 1983, in mid-December. I had just turned four. My sister has been born recently. Basic information on who I now am covered, I prepare myself and turn to the words. Truly, the new four year old me is very uninteresting. I could do anything and it would fit this persona. It’s nice but ultimately not a challenge.

Are you ready to begin your new life?
Yes

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No

‘Yes,’ I say, assuring myself more than talking to The Game. ‘Let's begin.’

Then the world was black.