Everlife. Gena Showalter

      ★Females are known as “Madame,” males as “Sir.”

      ★Responsible for delegating assignments to all other sub-positions within the realm, while also meeting specific quotas (i.e., recruiting a certain number of souls).

      Many Ends—

      Where happiness goes to die and nightmares come to life.

      ★The realm where the Unsigned are imprisoned after Firstdeath.

      Messenger—

      Let the worlds know the horror that is Troika.

      ★One of six main positions within the realms, directly under Laborer.

      ★Responsible for teaching humans about the realms, protecting others from the enemy and chronicling exploits inside and outside the realm.

      Myriad—

      Autonomy, bliss, indulgence.

      ★The dark realm, ruled by the Prince of Ravens.

      ★Magical forests whisper enchanted tales, and secrets await you in every corner; self-indulgence is revered, and the party never stops; victors are adored and failures are abhorred; emotion always trumps logic.

      ★Motto: Might Equals Right.

      Penumbra—

      In the dark, the Light is easier to extinguish.

      ★A sentient darkness capable of draining Troikans of Light.

      ★Must be a Myriadian General to access more information.

      Realms—

      The only home that matters.

      ★Kingdoms in the Everlife: Myriad and Troika.

      ★Sub-realms: Many Ends and Troika’s widely disputed “Rest.”

      Rest, the—

      Deception cloaked in hope.

      ★Troikans believe a spirit enters into a state of absolute tranquility after Second-death, forever separated from the realms...with one exception.

      Resurrection, the—

      A promise without merit.

      ★Once every year, the people of Troika hold a vote, allowing one spirit to leave the Rest.

      ★A trick—there is no Rest.

      Second-death—

      Another end, another new beginning.

      ★When a spirit is drained of Lifeblood.

      ★The moment a spirit is Fused to another spirit(s) in order to return to the Land of the Harvest.

      ★Troikans foolishly believe a spirit enters into “the Rest.”

      Secondking—

      Bow or break.

      ★One of two sons of He Who Shall Not Be Named.

      ★Ambrosine, Prince of Ravens, rules Myriad.

      ★The Other Who Shall Not Be Named rules Troika.

      ★Ruler of a realm.

      Troika—

      Self-proclaimed leaders of justice, equality and freedom

      of choice.

      ★The realm of Light, ruled by the Other Who Shall Not Be Named.

      ★Supposedly untouched by gloom, where hard work isn’t an expectation but a way of life, equality isn’t an ideal but a standard and fear isn’t a treasured friend but a hated foe; “logic” always trumps emotion; people are governed by a strict set of rules, never allowed to play, and violators are punished.

      ★Motto: Light Brings Sight.

      Unsigned—

      Punishment rides the wings of the damned.

      ★A human who fails to make covenant with a realm before Firstdeath.

      ★Cursed to spend the Everlife inside Many Ends.

      Veil, the—

      Choose us and enter in.

      ★A doorway leading into one of the realms.

      ★The Veil of Midnight protects Myriad.

      ★The Veil of Wings protects Troika.

       Message Directory

      MYRIAD:

      Laborer Sloan Aubuchon: S_A_5/46.15.33

      Sir Zhi Chen: Z_C_4/23.43.2

      Abrogate Javier Diez: J_D_2/43.3.19

      Laborer Killian Flynn: K_F_5/23.53.6

      General Hans Schmidt: H_S_3/51.3.6

      Laborer Leonard Lockwood: L_L_5/19.36.2

      Laborer Dior Nichols: D_N_5/62.4.1

      Laborer Victor Prince: V_P_5/20.16.18

      * * *

      TROIKA:

      Laborer Raanan Aarons: R_A_5/40.5.16

      General Jane Adamson: J_A_3/19.37.30

      Messenger Clayton Anders: C_A_6/53.1.4

      General John Blake: J_B_3/19.23.4

      General Tasanee Bunyasarn: T_B_3/19.30.2

      General Shamus Campbell: S_C_3/50.4.13

      General Spike Jones: S_J_3/62.5.5

      Conduit Ten Lockwood: T_L_2/23.43.2

      General Chanel Moreau: C_M_3/5.20.1

      General Marcos Pereira: M_P_3/45.10.9

      Laborer Archer Prince: A_P_5/23.43.2

      General Luciana Rossi: L_R_3/51.3.15

      General Bahari Sekibo: B_S_3/51.3.13

      General Agape Stavros: A_S_3/42.6.31

      General Alejandro Torres: A_T_3/23.40.29

      General Mykhail Vasiliev: M_V_3/54.5.8

      General Ying Wo Li: Y_L_3/59.1.2

       PART ONE

      Troika

       TROIKA

      From: A_T_3/23.40.29

      To: L_R_3/51.3.15, J_A_3/19.37.30, S_C_3/50.4.13, C_M_3/5.20.1, Y_L_3/59.1.2, A_S_3/42.6.31, T_B_3/19.30.2, B_S_3/51.3.13, M_V_3/54.5.8, J_B_3/19.23.4, S_J_3/62.5.5, M_P_3/45.10.9

      Subject: Tenley Lockwood

      Fellow Generals,

      We have two orders of business to discuss. The first: animals. Because of the recent bombings inside our realm, our Secondking has issued a decree. Every citizen will be appointed a guardian, whether four-legged or winged. However, we all have the right to decline. I suggest you do so, and encourage your people to do the same. We haven’t trained with these animals. There’s a good chance they’ll be more of a hindrance than a help.

      The second order of business is the most important. For the first time in our realm’s history, the Prince of Doves has decided NOT to hold a vote for the Resurrection. I don’t know why, only that protests will not change his mind. Instead, Tenley Lockwood is tasked with selecting which of our fallen soldiers will leave the Rest.