• servants of hope is the name used for the birds that nest in the chasm of Grace; known colloquially as gravebirds, as they are often associated with leading people to their death. As such, people tend to run away from the birds when they appear, and it has become a common practicum to do so. In reality, they are leading them to the land of Grace. Perhaps there is a large one named Hope, who is a partner of Faith. Servants of Hope make no sound outside the chasm; they are entirely quiet, to the point of being eerily undetectable. However, the entire host of them begin singing whenever someone takes the leap. It is the most alarmingly beautiful chorus.
  • our hero is followed by a servant of hope after accepting the quest; he interprets it as further confirmation of his impending death. Having something of a lack of will to resist his fate, he does not fear the bird and allows its company. He sometimes follows the bird when he is lost, thinking that his death would come somewhere along the true path of the quest. In ways, the bird teaches him to hope, even meekly, as he prays that he can at least complete the task he was given before greeting death.
  • The chasm of Grace is the border of the land of Grace, and there is no way around it. My original idea of it was that it is of equal height on both sides, with the only barrier being that the breadth of the gap is always just farther than one feels he can make. I like this idea, as it highlights that trying is an important aspect of Grace, and it gives us a nice point of growth for the hero after the encounter, as he “does not know what to think other than that next time he will try to jump farther.” However; narratively, this makes less sense (as Grace often does) as it opens the door for those who are ruled by things other than fear to make the jump without revelation. For example, if we wish for their to be an army of those trying to conquer the land of Grace, it is safe to assume that many within that militia would be governed by rage or arrogance or wrath. In those cases, would a nearly-spannable gap be enough to deter them?  And moreover, should they fall, where would they go? Into the country of Grace? Would they be changed? Perhaps. I think that this can be weaved into something representative of the goal, but I will need to think more. I think they would take the path of any who enter the land of Grace, and  the things that controlled them will wash away in the face of death. The reactions each have will vary for the things they have experienced: some will fear death more than ever before and seek to flee; some will have great shame once the veil of wrath or arrogance or greed has been lifted; and even still some will experience a glimpse of the true understanding of the gift and walk with gratitude to join the Kingdom of Grace. All this, in addition to the chorus of the servants of Hope, would scare the remaining army off, startled and without understanding. The Kingdom of Grace will never need to wage a war; that which is evil cannot survive the Entrance.
  • A man named Humility resides at the Border to the Country of Grace, appearing as something of a jester to those who find themselves there (think Hisoka-esque lol). He is by no means meek, instead seeming entirely confident. He is there to explain the Leap to any who are interested in entering the Country.