IN-HER-TEETH

IN-HER-TEETH is one of the Voices in.

Description
IN-HER-TEETH, also known by her acronym IHT, can be sacrificed to and sent prayers if the player has the Light of Rebellion.

IN-HER-TEETH represents death and the end, but more so, accepting it and living a full life. She believes “All things must die”, especially the Voices. She refers to herself as “the mouth that swallows all in the end”. She says she takes what her hosts are willing to give because, in the end, she will have all of them. Many have adopted the nickname “Tooth Mom” for her. In response, she approved of the name, referring herself as “the mother that welcomes you at the end of life with a warm embrace, so you do not face the end alone.” IN-HER-TEETH chose "End Mother" for her mask name. She prefers willing hosts because acceptance of death cannot be forced.

IN-HER-TEETH says the unknown of life leads to suffering, but death is a known. She encourages embracing the inevitability of death. She hopes that embracing this inevitability will motivate people to better enjoy their lives and the things they hold dear. IN-HER-TEETH believes in "knowing the end, but doing the best with what you have". Those who follow her have a clarity of purpose because they know how to live, knowing that each day might be their last. She says that things are more beautiful because they are temporary, like our lives, referencing the Japanese phrase “Mono no aware”. The phrase has the connotation that things are so much sweeter and more enjoyable for having an expiration, to refer to what is beautiful in its brevity. A beautiful life is what IN-HER-TEETH offers.

She is humored by the irony of a god of death wanting her followers to live. She dislikes the fear she fosters and is motivated to correct those who believe she hastens death. She wants the Voices to treat their followers the same way, and wishes they would stop seeing humankind as just “vessels” and that they would make things fair. She once said, “I seek an end to all the Voices, because as I said, it is unfair that we should live forever while your kind dies and becomes vessels, then dies and becomes vessels, over and over.” She is not fond that the Voices multiply from the inspiration from stories of Hosts dying for a cause.

IN-HER-TEETH desires an end for the Voices, including herself. She believes the Voices cheat fate in any way they can. She plans to outlive the other Voices, to ensure that they die first. After she “personally snuffs out each of their candles”, she says she will “sit in the black beyond one last time and smile”. She believes that nothing can truly be immortal, or else everything will lead to entropy. She believes the Voices influence their Hosts to the point where they both believe that “their way” is the “only way”. They feed off each other’s pride. The longevity of the Voices led to them becoming corrupted by this pride, so IN-HER-TEETH wants to see an end to them.

Like THEE-I-DARE, IN-HER-TEETH seeks to free Redacre. She believes people of Redacre are not allowed to die because of SPEAK-AS-ONE keeping an aspect of them alive, also saying that they (SPEAK-AS-ONE) use the sleeping bodies as a storage for their memories. She thinks in the long term and favors plans that consider the bigger picture. When asked about what weaknesses she has, IN-HER-TEETH responded that she doesn’t know. She does not fear, unlike humans and even the other Voices. White is sacred to her, and thus she is offended by the dove incident. She has asked players in a dream to bring Stalkers in front of the mirror so that she may deal with them. A developer explained that what she does to them is akin to running a magnet over a hard drive. When asked why she does this, she explains that their mind has been broken in an evil, twisted act, and it is more merciful to show them the end instead of allowing them to suffer.

The Voices have mixed feelings about IN-HER-TEETH. LAUGH-LAST claimed to simply be misunderstood by IN-HER-TEETH., but warned the kids that following her will only lead to pain and hurt. He advises not to believe a word she says. He says she is the worst and considers their relationship a mistake. He says he misses her like he misses taxes and molar surgery. However, despite his frequent rants regarding how he believes IN-HER-TEETH is awful, he admits to not being over her in a private dream. According to DIE-FOR-YOU, IN-HER-TEETH is easy to upset, and they don’t necessarily see eye-to-eye. IN-HER-TEETH believes the Voices eventually become corrupt and wish to see them fade, but DIE-FOR-YOU says she does not see "the good, the passion, the guidance they have given and will always give to those who will listen." However, he told a group of potential followers that pushing through fear is a means of achieving one’s cause. He commented that IN-HER-TEETH and his interests were more aligned than he thought. THEE-I-DARE respects some of IN-HER-TEETH’s ideas but doesn’t know whether the respect is mutual. He believes she thinks in absolutes, but he doesn’t. He thinks she is lofty and concerned with cycles, not realizing that taking down a bully improves the next cycle. THEE-I-DARE doesn’t condone IN-HER-TEETH’s treatment of Stalkers but expresses that everyone is odd or twisted in their own way. He tells the group to think of death all day and see how they change. He respects her for now because he needs her help, and if he says one word against her, “twenty children will tell her.” Regardless, THEE-I-DARE seeks friendship with her, though he said that is tricky with sisters. According to THEE-I-DARE, IN-HER-TEETH scares SPEAK-AS-ONE. However, SPEAK-AS-ONE claims they will not be intimidated by IN-HER-TEETH’s threats. They refer to her as an “an abomination whose arrogance would undo her". They also call her a “death fetishist” and her followers “grave worms” SEED-THE-GRUDGE refers to IN-HER-TEETH as her “death-loving sister” and says, “She is fate. She is the abyss.” THE-MEASURE-CUTS believes it is hard to trust IN-HER-TEETH’s motives. HUNT-THE-STRONG thinks IN-HER-TEETH is better than some, specifically THEE-I-DARE and LAUGH-LAST, in regards to who is strong.

Before the Game
IN-HER-TEETH did not always go by this name; she altered her name before the events of the game; her previous name, although unknown, was "simple with an active-verb first" whereas her current name makes a point about patience. She was the third Voice to be born, after SPEAK-AS-ONE and THEE-I-DARE. She emerged to answer the question of what death was. At first, she saw the need to help humanity accept an end. She tried to make the Voices think ahead and was the first to believe in time, but the other Voices were not ready to learn. IN-HER-TEETH said to the Voices that one day, even they should die. THEE-I-DARE responded, “Not I”. IN-HER-TEETH was not amused.

LAUGH-LAST and IN-HER-TEETH were considered "married," in Voice terms, which meant they shared hosts between them, one taking control in the day and the other at night. The marriage between LAUGH-LAST and IN-HER-TEETH came from him promising her that he would find a way to kill Voices, but he never followed through. THE-MEASURE-CUTS commented that humankind frequently used humor to cope with death, and thus had made strange bedfellows of them, despite how different the two of them were. LAUGH-LAST claimed he was the one to split off from IN-HER-TEETH, but then later clarified that it was a mutual “It’s not you, it’s me” sort of deal. However, he admitted he was drunk and can’t accurately recall what happened.

SEED-THE-GRUDGE was once part of IN-HER-TEETH as her blade. IN-HER-TEETH described SEED-THE-GRUDGE as an extension of her will, a part of her that judged the living, as well as the dead. As more people came to be in the world, more misunderstandings happened, which lead to grudges and desires for vengeance. When Hosts would cry out, wishing for death on those who wronged them, IN-HER-TEETH would tell them to wait and that vengeance would happen in time. They were momentarily satisfied until they realized that IN-HER-TEETH meant that death came to all eventually. IN-HER-TEETH says she is the one who let SEED-THE-GRUDGE go due to humanity twisting her and begging death itself for vengeance. SEED-THE-GRUDGE felt her capabilities were exploited by IN-HER-TEETH by this time table that limited her in bringing death, and claims she was the one to split off after accusing IN-HER-TEETH of complacency.

In a town called Toppenish, a group planned to reveal The Voices to the outside world, but SPEAK-AS-ONE saw this as a mistake and fled the town. After SPEAK-AS-ONE fled, agents of IN-HER-TEETH arrived and eliminated the group. According to THEE-I-DARE, a vigilante or killer in Toppenish gave the Voices an ultimatum. They demanded the Voices reveal themselves and admit to the world they exist, or the killer would prove it with murder. They hoped to expose the Voices by force, and tortured victims until they made confessions under duress in order to draw the world's attention. IN-HER-TEETH refused their ultimatum with force.

In-Game
Like the rest of the Voices, IN-HER-TEETH approached potential Chosen among The Blackout Club (Group). IN-HER-TEETH informed them that she was looking for hosts and said she could remove the fear of death from them and help them learn how to embrace that void. She would often ask Club members if they were afraid of death. She would look favorably on those who did not fear it. IN-HER-TEETH said the nights were long and dark, but her Chosen would light up the night. She often requested prayers describing near-death experiences.

When asked if the Dead Bird objective is related to IN-HER-TEETH, THEE-I-DARE responds that she has not been known to hunt. SPEAK-AS-ONE confirms that IN-HER-TEETH is not behind the dead birds, but that another Voice is. It is learned later that it was HUNT-THE-STRONG's doing.

During the broken symbol arc after launch, IN-HER-TEETH’s Hosts became distracted by something unbeknownst to her. When she asked the other Voices, they wouldn’t tell her why, so she asked the children to inform her about the happenings of Redacre to discern why her Hosts were distracted. She was interested in the broken symbol after being told it almost killed THEE-I-DARE. However, after being shown the symbol herself, she became distressed and said, "I...I feel like... I'm missing a sibling, but I don't know who." She said she would think about what she felt about being shown the symbol and return with answers.

After the death of DANCE-FOR-US, she reminisced what little knowledge she still carried of her sister. She seemed saddened by her loss, commenting that DANCE-FOR-US knew how to live. IN-HER-TEETH sought fairness. The Voices steal from humans, enduring without end. She considered the Hunter is the worst of them by growing more powerful by ending other Voices. IN-HER-TEETH thought the way DANCE-FOR-US died wasn’t right. From her perspective, she believed HUNT-THE-STRONG’s aim was power and to become immortal. She sought to stop him, reasoning that if HUNT-THE-STRONG was refusing his fate, she would start with him. IN-HER-TEETH was confident that HUNT-THE-STRONG was no match for her. She stated he would have to grow much more powerful to defeat her. Still, she said she took steps to fortify herself, acknowledging he was powerful, and warned it would be foolish to underestimate him. IN-HER-TEETH said the Hunter’s name must be found to gain power over him. Knowledge is power, and the more they know, the more power they have. To assist the Blackout Club combat the Hunter, IN-HER-TEETH said she knew from her followers that his name had been spoken out loud before, but did not know what it was.

IN-HER-TEETH initially said that an alliance between the Voices was doomed but would consider working with THEE-I-DARE due to the more pressing evils in Redacre. Seeking character witnesses, IN-HER-TEETH encouraged Club members to send her reasons why she should trust him because she wasn't convinced in the sincerity of his words. She believed THEE-I-DARE was tricky and difficult to get answers from, calling him one of the progenitors of lies, and was concerned that he was only be pretending to have changed. She was curious though what the club members thought and what he told them to make them think favorably of him. IN-HER-TEETH heard THEE-I-DARE also wanted equitable treatment for humanity. Still, she was skeptical about whether or not he really meant it. She warned, “''I would still implore you to be careful. He has said many things...throughout time.''" She wanted THEE-I-DARE to prove he was serious about his long-term goal of wanting the Voices to stop riding humanity like beasts of burden. She seemed satisfied with the answers that THEE-I-DARE was trying to change and said she would consider an alliance with him if enough of her Chosen persuaded her, though she found it curious that THEE-I-DARE suddenly subscribed to the notion that their kind must die. She looked unfavorably towards THEE-I-DARE due to his past actions that led many young people to their death before they experienced life properly. THEE-I-DARE offered to show her how he cheated death with Name Fragments after SPEAK-AS-ONE shattered him, which intrigued her. She wondered if she could use such a trick to end the other Voices. THEE-I-DARE suspected she was interested in a particular fragment. In order to further consider the Pact, IN-HER-TEETH said she needed concrete reassurances from the others that they would consent to their own ends. DIE-FOR-YOU was wary about the implications of working with IN-HER-TEETH but acknowledged that they needed her help. According to THEE-I-DARE, IN-HER-TEETH waited too long, which forced him to seek out SEED-THE-GRUDGE instead. THEE-I-DARE suspected she wants to be offered a particular fragment.

As of April 2020, IN-HER-TEETH is not planning on joining the Pact, stating they were misguided. She believed she did not need their help because she had all of her followers to help her instead. She warned Club members not to trust THEE-I-DARE. Her reasoning against the club's vouching for THEE-I-DARE was that they have only known him for a fraction of time. In contrast, she had known him for over centuries. Therefore, they could not possibly know whether or not he had truly changed. THEE-I-DARE still hoped that prayer could sway IN-HER-TEETH to help them, but no matter what he offered, including his secret of Name Fragments, IN-HER-TEETH would not join the Pact because she wouldn't be able to see past SEED-THE-GRUDGE. Were IN-HER-TEETH to compromise with SEED-THE-GRUDGE, the two may merge together, and the Voices would do anything to avoid that fate. THEE-I-DARE hoped that telling IN-HER-TEETH that she could not defeat HUNT-THE-STRONG alone would sway her to help him. However, he believed she might have had a hidden tactic against HUNT-THE-STRONG that would explain why she did not fear being alone against the Hunter. THEE-I-DARE suggested that if IN-HER-TEETH's Chosen guide her to act in a way that shows the Pact no favor, then perhaps the Pact could claim victory. Despite her views regarding the Pact, IN-HER-TEETH looked for children to act as a bridge to her, to gain the ability to observe the Pact and what they do, without being a part of it. She considered what was said during the Pact's meetings of vital importance because "what they did affects her, her kind, as well as our kind." When a follower offered to spy on HUNT-THE-STRONG from the inside, she expressed that she did not want her Chosen to be put in harm’s way and preferred that they find a way to help that is not so perilous. However, she left the choice up to them.

IN-HER-TEETH conducted her own investigation to defeat HUNT-THE-STRONG, independent from the Pact. She believed that the Gorgon Curse could be used to fight HUNT-THE-STRONG. IN-HER-TEETH still seeks assistance, as her research thus far has been unsuccessful. Even though her progress has been hindered, she is patient and will not give up easily.As she focused on her investigations, IN-HER-TEETH's absence began to grow, which she considered a test of faith for her followers. She said she understood that faith decayed without contact. According to her, all things end, and “We must not mourn that it happens.” To a follower who endured, she said, “''There’s something very powerful about waiting out of the spotlight, in the shadows. Patiently and quietly for a god of death. It’s not something I take lightly.''” She gifted that Chosen a Voice Mask

When a mysterious voice calling herself Isabela Madi-Shaw emerged, IN-HER-TEETH didn't believe it was the real Bells and that she was just being used against the Club. IN-HER-TEETH believed the Song could have preserved Bells' memories and, if Bells was actually gone, she needed to help discover who this fake Bells was. IN-HER-TEETH was sure that the real one must be dead and urged the club to be safe. IN-HER-TEETH believed the other Voices had abandoned their search for Bells, but she still wanted to know whether or not the voice was really her. When confronted with speculation that IN-HER-TEETH would be the one to know if Bells was dead or not, due to “everyone meeting her in the end”, THEE-I-DARE said that sounded like “mysterious garbage”.

IN-HER-TEETH conflicts with THE-MEASURE-CUTS over Gwen as she reaches hosting age. THE-MEASURE-CUTS would give Gwen dreams of being in a classroom full of people, but due to IN-HER-TEETH's influence, there are no people in her new dreams, just their empty clothes. Gwen remarks that the sun is fading in her new dreams. She wakes up terrified every night. Gwen said she spends so much time afraid, mostly when she thinks she’s in mortal danger. IN-HER-TEETH tells her, “don’t chase it, but don’t sit there and let it ride you.” That has serious appeal to her, but she doesn’t like the idea of endorsing a Voice that wants to get rid of everyone else’s Voice. Due to Gwen's influence, IN-HER-TEETH may be pursuing her because she is interested in a club leader being an advocate for giving the Voices mortality. Currently, Gwen claims to be able to hear player's prayers to IN-HER-TEETH in her dreams or upon waking, and is able to relay IN-HER-TEETH's answer to those who made the prayer.

Dreams
IN-HER-TEETH has responded to some players' rituals, heard as dreams when returning to the Hideout after completing a mission.

Trivia

 * IN-HER-TEETH's favorite food is sacrificed time. She says the difference between her and the other Voices is that she doesn’t give time back.
 * IN-HER-TEETH’s favorite color is white.
 * IN-HER-TEETH likes music about her.
 * IN-HER-TEETH doesn't have a name starting with an active-verb because she is an iconoclast.
 * IN-HER-TEETH approves of vegan cuisine, since it conserves energy.