I figure BoD can't automatically save everyone. I've been thinking about the specific effects of her powers. How, what, why and when. I don't think the specifics would necessarily be evident to BoD or Death, but I need to know the mechanics of her powers in order to know who can be saved and who is only stalled. Or perhaps the specifics don't matter and I could just decide the outcome based on the needs of plot, but that grates against the scientist and the roleplayer in me. Even though it is a mystical/magical/miraculous type power, it should work consistently.
So far I figure:
- If BoD is around before any wounds have been inflicted, then no fatal wounds will be inflicted while she is present. Sometimes this may result in things like "It's a miracle" or "If that had have been even a tenth of an inch in either direction".
- If the person is terminally ill/wounded with no way to possibly be saved, BoD can only postpone the inevitable until she leaves, at which point natural progression resumes.
- If it is a matter of "the body could heal itself if only...", or "the person could be saved if only..." - if time is a factor of the "if only" - then BoD can help the person be saved by giving the person the time needed.
- A person's organs and systems will continue to work at level they were operating at the moment when BoD becomes present.
The power doesn't heal, nor prevent injury/illness. It simply prevents the act of death. Therefore, progression of illnesses would stall, but not regress. Wounds will close as they normally do, no acceleration.
The effect, I think, is whatever the ideal set of circumstances is for a person nearing death, that is what BoD's power creates.
Interesting question and example: if BoD were to stay with a cancer patient from before radiation or kemo treatment until the treatment had run it course, would the cancer be saved as well as the person? Meaning would that person be in the same place with the cancer as before the treatment? Hmm, I think since cancer is not considered to be living, the answer is no. The treatments would work as designed on the cancer, without killing the person. That doesn't mean there won't be other wired side effects however. Getting into specific cases like this is tricky. But based on "whatever the ideal set of circumstances is" the result would be that assuming the treatments started before the person was already beyond help, then the person would be saved.
Labels: BoD, Story
