In the World of Bones, there are many gruesome ways that a strong woman might meet her death.. It is a fearful place where people are eaten and digested alive by voracious creatures on a daily basis. Throughout a girl’s life, she will be witness to dozens of her friends and family get taken by monstrosities that savour human flesh.

Even in the relative safety of a large village like Genkysou, you can’t walk down the street without seeing the sloppy remains of some unfortunate woman who’s met a nightmarish end by Swampsac as she took a shortcut through a dark alley.

It was highly desirable among the inhabitants, to meet a nice swift, painless death. When a girl has finally done her duty by spawning all the kids she could for her society, She became eligible for a mandatory retirement. It was considered among the citizens of the World of Bones as the height of honour for a woman to be skillful enough to survive to such an old age that she could no longer birth children. For those who haven’t been lucky enough to bare male heirs, a swift ceremonial execution performed by her husband, is her ultimate reward.

Gianna had been a City Guard, and a devoted mother to dozens of wonderful children. Her eldest, Joy, had just passed her own city guard examination, a source of much jubilation for the family. Now, however, Gianna’s time had come to leave this world forever.

For her entire life she’d longed for this day. When she’d seen the public retirings as a child, and watched the tears of joy as the recipients were gifted with easy deaths, she’d known that it was the way she wanted to go. Even then, Gianna had seen enough girls get nabbed by Hellhounds, and Venus Mantraps, to know that she didn’t want to die in such a horrible manner.

All grown up into a beautiful woman, now, she unclasped her City Guard Pendant and offered it to Joy.
“This is yours now Joy. It was my mothers, and her mother’s before that. Now it’s yours, to give you spiritual protection as you perform your city rounds.” Gianna said with a smile to her apprehensive daughter.

“But mama, won’t you need this for your shrine on daddy’s shelf?” she asked, barely believing that Gianna was entrusting her with the sentimental gift.

“I’ve got spare ones for my memorial… but this one is important.. This one's for you, Joy. May it protect you till you’re old enough to have your own retirement”

She patted her daughter on the head, ruffling her hair as she placed the golden chain around her thin neck. Joy stifled a sniffle.
“I don’t want you to go mama.”