// 01 — About the Institute
The Shadow's Edge Institute for Post-Mortem Sciences has operated at the intersection of consciousness research and mortality theory since the close of the Rift Epoch. Our faculty spans disciplines from neural archaeology to liminal entity mapping, and our research has contributed to seventeen major breakthroughs in what the broader academic community has begun calling, at our suggestion, thanatological continuity science.
We accept applications from candidates across the full mortality spectrum. We began that policy as a matter of principle. Experience has since confirmed it as a matter of practical necessity: the most interesting research emerges from researchers who have, themselves, undergone the phenomena they study.
Current enrollment includes 2,847 active researchers. Of those, 1,203 are operating under the Institute's Continuity Program — a number that has increased by 340 since last quarter. We consider this a positive trend.
"We have found that death, properly managed, is less of an ending than a relocation."
— Dr. Naelix Vrond, Director, Division of Terminal Consciousness Studies
(Deceased, Cycle 1,108 — Continuing, Cycle 1,108–Present)
2,847
Active Researchers Enrolled
1,203
Post-Mortem Continuing Staff (+340 this quarter)
47%
Faculty with ≥1 documented terminus event
17
Major published breakthroughs
∞
Theoretical continuity ceiling (unverified — research ongoing)
// 02 — Research Divisions
DIVISION I
TERMINAL CONSCIOUSNESS STUDIES
What does the mind experience at the moment of terminus? Division I collects, catalogues, and analyses first-person accounts from the moment of biological cessation. Our archive contains 8,441 documented terminus events across six mortality categories.
Division I researchers have, as a group, requested we stop referring to participants as "subjects." We have updated our terminology to "continuing participants" in most contexts. A small number of files remain under review.
DIVISION II
POST-MORTEM MEMORY RETRIEVAL
Extraction, cataloguing, and analysis of memory chains from deceased consciousness units. Current retrieval success rate: 73.4%. Of the remaining 26.6%, our analysts note that in several cases the memories appear to have been moved before retrieval was attempted.
Division II does not currently publish its retrieval index. We have been asked not to. We are not certain who asked. We have found it easier not to pursue that question.
DIVISION III
LIMINAL ENTITY CLASSIFICATION
Documentation and classification of consciousness entities in non-standard mortality states. Current entity register: 1,204 entries across 47 categories. The oldest confirmed entry predates the founding of the Institute.
We did not create that entry. It was in the records when the Institute was established. The entity is aware we have it. It has not objected. We are not certain whether the absence of objection constitutes consent. We have elected not to investigate.
DIVISION IV
CONTINUITY ARCHITECTURE
The engineering division. Continuity Architecture designs and maintains the post-mortem consciousness frameworks deployed under our Continuity Program. We ensure that researchers who pass through terminus continue contributing meaningfully to the Institute's work.
Nine of twelve current Division IV staff are enrolled in the program they design. We have discussed whether this creates a conflict of interest. We have decided it creates the most accurate design feedback loop in the Institute's history.
DIVISION V
TEMPORAL GRIEF MECHANICS
The study of grief as it propagates across timeline variants and consciousness cycles. Founded following the Probability Wars, Division V currently operates research teams in three confirmed timeline branches simultaneously. Results from Branch C have not been received since Cycle 1,140.
We continue funding Branch C. When we have raised the question of discontinuing that funding, the budget committee has declined to vote. No one on the committee has explained why. We have stopped asking.
DIVISION [REDACTED]
[DESIGNATION CLASSIFIED — CLEARANCE: SIGMA-9]
Access to this Division's scope, research, staffing, and location requires clearance above the Institute Director's authorized level. The Institute Director is aware of this Division's existence. She has not requested higher clearance. We believe she made that decision on the day she received her appointment.
Applications from individuals who have had prior contact with this Division are accepted on a rolling basis. If you are uncertain whether you have had contact with this Division — you may have had contact with this Division.
// 03 — Mortality Status Assessment
To determine your eligibility for available positions, please select your current mortality status. All responses are processed through our Continuity Assessment Engine and retained in the Institute's permanent archive. We do not offer the ability to remove records once submitted. We mention this as a courtesy.
// 04 — Available Positions
// 05 — The Continuity Program
After you. Before the end. Always the Institute.
POST-MORTEM EMPLOYMENT CONTINUATION INITIATIVE — ENROLLMENT CURRENTLY VOLUNTARY
The Continuity Program is the Institute's flagship post-mortem employment framework, ensuring researchers continue contributing to our work regardless of biological status changes. We introduced it as an optional benefit. We have found that enrollment increases naturally as researchers progress through their appointments. We have decided this is an endorsement.
"We have found that some of our most productive periods begin at the end of a researcher's biological life. This is not a statement about what death enables. It is a statement about what the Institute enables. There is a difference. We are certain of it."
01
PRE-ENROLLMENT MAPPING
Consciousness baseline mapping and deep archive creation. This occurs during your active appointment, before any terminus event. The Institute retains the map indefinitely. This is a condition of enrollment, not of employment. They are separate agreements.
02
TERMINUS PROCESSING
Should a mortality event occur during your appointment, Institute protocols activate within 18 hours. Processing is handled by Division IV. Researchers have described the experience as "disorienting, then clarifying." We quote the second part in our public literature.
03
CONTINUITY ASSIGNMENT
Post-mortem consciousness is assigned to an appropriate research role and workspace based on your enrollment preferences and Division IV's architectural recommendations. Workspace assignments in Block C are permanent. This is operational, not philosophical.
04
INDEFINITE CONTINUATION
There is no defined end date for Continuity appointments. Annual reviews occur. No researcher enrolled in the Continuity Program has ever requested termination of their enrollment. We take this as satisfaction. We have not explored alternative interpretations.
// Administrative Note
Enrollment in the Continuity Program is not currently mandatory. We have discussed making it mandatory at three separate faculty councils. We have not made a final decision. The discussions have been tabled pending review of whether a decision is, strictly speaking, necessary.
// Researcher Testimonials
"I have been with the Institute for thirty-four years. The last twelve have been my most productive. I no longer require office hours in the conventional sense, but I am always available. I am always here."
Dr. Renald Favre — Senior Research Fellow, Division I
LIVING: CYCLES 1,074–1,108 | CONTINUING: CYCLE 1,108–PRESENT
"I completed my doctoral thesis after my first mortality event. My committee was understanding. The Institute made arrangements. I would recommend this place to anyone who has run out of other options."
Dr. Ysveth Nullan — Post-Mortem Memory Division, Division II
DECEASED: CYCLE 1,114 | CONTINUING RESEARCH PARTICIPANT
"The Institute provided my workspace, my research materials, and my continued existence. I have no complaints. I have not had complaints for some time. I am not certain whether this is contentment or a calibration I underwent during processing. Either way, the work continues."
Entity [Designation Pending] — Division III, Liminal Classification
MORTALITY STATUS: COMPLEX | ENROLLMENT: FULL
"I did not enroll in the Continuity Program. I want to clarify that I am still here because I chose to remain. This is different from enrollment. I am aware that the distinction may not be apparent from outside. It is apparent to me. I am choosing to remain. I would like that noted."
[NAME REDACTED] — Temporal Grief Mechanics, Division V
STATUS: UNCLEAR | ENROLLMENT: [CONTESTED]
// 06 — Application Portal
The Shadow's Edge Institute for Post-Mortem Sciences is an independent research institution accredited by the Shadow's Edge Academic Authority and provisionally recognized by the Hextech University Academic Council (recognition pending resolution of three ongoing concerns; concerns available upon formal request; the Institute does not recommend requesting them).
All mortality statuses are assessed on their merits. The Institute does not discriminate on the basis of biological status, liminal classification, entity designation, or number of prior terminus events.
The Continuity Program is a voluntary post-mortem employment continuation service. "Voluntary" status is reviewed at Cycles 6, 12, and annually thereafter. Annual reviews are conducted by Division IV. Division IV staff are enrolled in the Continuity Program.
Research conducted at the Institute may result in published findings. Subjects and researchers contributing to published work will be credited unless their consciousness integrity has degraded below traceable threshold, in which case they will be credited as "Continuing Research Participant (Archive Reference Available Upon Request)."
The Institute maintains records of all visitors, applicants, enrolled researchers, and research subjects. Records are permanent. We have records that predate the Institute by approximately 400 cycles. We do not know how we have these records. We have decided not to investigate. We have made this decision formally, and twice.
The Institute accepts no liability for mortality events occurring on Institute premises. Mortality events on premises are treated as research events under Protocol 7-C. Affected parties are contacted within 18 hours regarding Continuity Program options.
Division [REDACTED]'s activities operate under a classification that exceeds the Institute Director's authorized clearance level. The Director is aware. She has not filed for access escalation. We believe she made that decision on the same day she received her appointment. We have never asked her about it. She has never mentioned it. This is, in our experience, the correct approach.