The Modern Death

Death has always acted as both a custodian and a bridge, being the means for the dead to pass on to whatever awaits them afterwards. It was intended to handle this matter impartially, sending away each soul without much thought about what it was doing. But with the ability to appear anywhere that the dying are present, and the ability to slow time to a halt for itself and the next deceased on its list, it eventually became curious. Whenever Death allowed a human enough time to see it, the reaction was fairly consistent. Panic. Fear. Begging to a being that knows nothing other than its duty. This behavior bored it, so it quickly sent along anyone who acted the same way. Though it still always gave people a chance to react, a chance to respond to their fate differently than the rest.

The most interesting reaction came during the fifteenth century, when a scholar passed away in his sleep in his study. In the limbo where he faced Death, he didn’t so much as raise an eyebrow at the sight of it. Instead, he simply asked Death for a final game of chess before he moved on. While Death was an immaterial being, incapable of aging and tiring, it did often feel boredom. And this was the first time someone offered to play a game with it.

Weeks passed within this frozen moment, only Death, the scholar and the chess set between them moving. The mortal taught the immortal the basic rules, then the advanced techniques, then the intricacies of the mind games that made chess a truly advanced test of tactics and wit. The competition became intense, and even seemed to revitalize the will of the scholar as Death became his equal, then exceeded him. When the scholar was satisfied, he told Death that it could keep his chess set so that others could entertain it with the challenge before they passed on. Death did not know how to handle this new development, its first present from beings that had no reason to treat it as an equal during their final moments. This moment of compassion caused it to deviate from its role, and before it knew what it was doing, it repaired the scholar’s failed heart and allowed him to return to the living.

This is the only account of a human coming back from the brink of death with a clear memory of Death’s appearance: A tall, sinewy skeleton wearing tattered black robes. Those that had near-death experiences before this scholar only saw brief glimpses, their memory muddled by the trauma, as do all of those who have briefly faced death afterwards. It’s unclear whether this person was the only one that Death intentionally let go, or if some other factor allowed him to retain such a detailed memory of it.

As the centuries advanced, so did the games. While chess still remained popular enough that many accepted Death’s offer to play a game of it before truly passing, other games became prominent, and it began to slowly collect them. When electricity was first harnessed by humans, Death no longer carried just the chess set. At that point it began to carry a large pack, like those intended for beasts of burden, in order to carry the different board games it had amassed.

Then in the 1990′s, gaming entered an unprecedented golden age. It wasn’t unusual for a person to wake up from their death bed, see Death’s collection of classic board games, and ask if Street Fighter, Mario Kart or Magic: The Gathering were available to play before they proceeded to the afterlife. Death always accepted, hiding its enthusiasm for playing something new, and the games it carried began to dramatically vary in size and shape.

This has shaped Death into the form it holds today. While it is still a sinewy skeleton in tattered black robes, it now stands taller and with far more musculature than in previous centuries. The customized arcade cabinet strapped to a cargo harness on its back is the most likely explanation for the increase in physical strength, a monstrosity of electronics and modular control schemes that is compatible with almost every competitive video game made since the medium’s inception. On Death’s front is two bandoliers, made to hold dozens of deckboxes and several packs of playing cards. Then lower is the belt, which holds sacks of dice, jacks and similar gaming objects. Finally, strapped over Death’s shoulder is a large leather bag containing compact versions of every board game meant for two players (except chess, for which Death still carries its original set). He can meet almost any request for a specific game, and he is always the master of it.

When your time comes, and you have to face Death, do not be overcome by fear, nor should you mock its appearance. React calmly and wait for it to bet your life over a game of your choosing. The offer does not matter, for it always wins, even when it accepts all rematches. The point is not the prize, but the struggle against the unbeatable. This struggle done on familiar terms will leave you weary, but more able to accept what Death is when you finally give in. It is not defeat nor is it evil harboring ill will towards you. It is simply inevitable. So in the face of inevitability, why not take your time to enjoy a game of chess before finding out what comes next?

(Originally written 9/5/2017)