Ok so I'm basically writing a series of short stories of different people telling each other how they died whilst sitting in a bar in the afterlife. Any suggestions would be great.
Can you be more specific with your requirements? All I can suggest at the moment is 1. Think of something that exists (or if it's fantasy, something that doesn't!); 2. Use that to kill them. If you're looking for unusual/funny/idiotic deaths, you could read up on the Darwin Awards.
Drowning Car crash plane crash Heart attack Cardiac arrest (NOT the same as heart attack) Cancer Mugging Gunshot Suicide bombing (either as the victim or the bomber?) Abdominal aortic aneurysm Viral pneumonia Knifing
Ways to Kill Off a Character • Someone avenged a perceived wrong by murdering them. • They are an aerial race who are taught how to fly by jumping off a cliff. This one did not make it. • Died an honorable death in a blood duel to avenge a broken honor. • Seppuku to cleanse the dishonor smeared on the family name. • Died with valor in a battle, or hauling ass away from the fight. • Died as a POW. • Died in a sinking (onboard the RMS Titanic not mandatory.) • Was gored by some massive wild beast. • Was unjustly executed by corrupt law officials. • Was mercy killed. • Died escaping a prison. • Sacrificed themselves to save the one they loved. (Gasping out their final words to said loved one not mandatory.) • Was thrown off a cliff because they come from a brutal race of 'Proud Warrior Race Peoples' and they had some ailment that prevented them from being said 'Proud Warrior Race Person'. • Died of old age surrounded by their family and friends. • Was crucified under order of some obese Roman governor. • Was stoned to death. • Was buried alive. • Was hung, drawn, and quartered. • Was hung. • Was crushed by blocks of stones. (“More...weight...”) • Was on a spaceship that blew up. • Was on a planet that blew up. • Was pulled apart by horses. • Was flogged to death. • Was beheaded. • Died in an arena competition. • Was burned alive. (On a volcano after dueling their former best friend/because they were suspected of witchcraft not mandatory.) • Stroke. • Spontaneous combustion. • Someone went 'Lizzie Borden' on them. (That is to say, took an axe and hacked on this character.) • Was smothered by a pillow/blanket. • Was strangled. • A screechy French opera singer killed them with a small hair pin because they insulted her voice. This will prove to be an interesting thread indeed...
Your possibilities are endless. Why on earth do you need help for this? I actually like the concept, especially if they die in weird and wonderful ways (if there is a wonderful way to die). But really, just let your imagination run. You have more scope here than most get with their ideas. This forum is great, and people genuinely need help a lot of the time, but people are doing you no favours whatsoever by suggesting ideas.
Let's go another direction: Peacefully Surrounded by friends and family Kicking and screaming Willingly Purposefully Alone With a clear conscience Guilty Ready Relieved Slowly Etc., etc.
Right, well it's mostly like our world but steampunk, there are anthropomorphic cats who are looked down upon.
You could take some inspiration from movies. For example, I'm sure you would be inspired by Little Nicky (Adam Sandler movie from 2000).
I think you need to explore the situation and characters a bit more. What is the tone of the conversation in this afterlife bar? Have they happily accepted their fates? Are they laughing at each other's tall tales? Are they struggling to come to grips with their deaths? Are they commiserating with each other? Are they boasting about the audacity that led to their various demises? Knowing the light in which the deaths are viewed can help isolate the necessary details. Who are the characters? What did they do in life? Might they have worked a profession with particular risks? Did they have any extreme hobbies? Were they tangled up in any dangerous crimes? Did they look after their health? Did they have any mental hangups or complicated relationships that may have led them to do something stupid? Etc. Ask yourself questions about the sort of story you want to tell and the details will fill themselves in, or at the very least, the answers will provide some direction for others to offer assistance.
Man jumped off an overpass to kill himself and down to the highway below, was hit by a semi truck on the way down, then wound up being run over by the tires. The truck that hit him then swerved, hitting another car. In the accident, gas leaked out, caught fire, and both cars exploded. The trucker died. The man who jumped and the trucker meet in the afterlife bar. Then suddenly, another man walks in. This was the man in the other car. He didn't die in the explosion but his face was horribly disfigured and he sustained brain damage and crippling injuries to his legs, so bad he would never walk again. His life was ruined. He killed himself with a razor blade. These three men meet, all argue over who had it worst, then, to settle their dispute, have a drinking contest in the afterlife bar.