voice + text

[theferryman]

[You feel it before you hear it: an uncanny sensation like you aren't alone, like someone just out of sight has fixed their attention on you.

They're not hiding, though. The Ferryman is simply speaking, directly into all of your minds, as clear as if they were standing right beside you.]

It's starting.

Sorry. Was hoping you'd all have more time to rest before we got going. But when it's time, it's time.

We're going to Cross. Not now, but soon. You'll feel it when the moment gets here. And you need to be ready for what that means, when it does.

It's a dangerous journey. There's still a lot of yourself left to lose, even if it doesn't feel like it now. That's my role here. I can guide you through it. Keep you safe.

There's a cost. You'll have to give something up, a part of your life Before. A face. A feeling. A memory. That's your toll to Cross. You pay it to me, and you won't get it back.

You don't have to pay. But if you're not with me, I can't keep you safe. You'll have to make The Crossing on your own. And if you do, there's a chance you lose a whole lot more than what the toll is asking from you.

There's some time left still. You don't need to decide now. But you do need to decide. You'll find out soon what sort of toll The Crossing is asking for, this time around.

Come find me if you want to talk. I'll be where I always am.

[The connection is tenuous; message delivered, The Ferryman's voice fades from your mind. If you're quick, and you concentrate, you might be able to grab on long enough to ask a question or two more.

Otherwise, all that remains is the object that purports to connect you with the other souls, all tasked with making the same decision. Whether it's a page or a screen, there's a new message for you:]

A toll to be levied for safe passage
from the cavern to ǝɹǝɥʍǝsʅǝ

Hear a voice that causes you pain
words spoken with rage or grief or envy
fueled by hate or love or suffering

offer it to The Ferryman
and let go

---

[ ooc | And we're off! Remember: The Ferryman is (for now!) the only one who can communicate to everyone via voice; the rest of you are stuck with text! The only exception is if characters try to hijack the fading connection to talk with The Ferryman one-on-one; there's a header for those questions here.

Otherwise, consider this a mingle! Chat, threadhop, go nuts. ]

Comments

[knockingatthedoor]

yeah. all personal stuff I'd rather discuss in person. I can tell you it was morning, at least? And that may make sense, yes. BUT
One of the people here that I know
died years before me.

[blindluck]

[Oh, well that's interesting.] I think you're the first person I've spoken to who knows others here. But they died years before you did? Is there some sort of queue? That would probably be worth asking Ferryman-san about.

[The idea that he might come across someone he knows who died years earlier is--not something he wants to think about right now.]

[knockingatthedoor]

Yeah. It's complicated. She didn't seem to be aware of how long it had been for... well, us. On the other side. But there have been so many other people in our little city that passed during those years, so- why her?

It's all a bit of a mess, honestly.

[blindluck]

It does sound complicated. Is she someone you know well? [Knew well? If they're both dead now, it's probably "know" again. Nagito is probing for information, meanwhile; is this something he might have to worry about?]

[knockingatthedoor]

Someone I deeply care about. Still do. [She would have been his sister in law if everything went well, he can totally say she's someone he knew well enough.] I can't share much more, can't talk for her, but I have two people I knew from home here. Maybe our town is especially cursed?

[blindluck]

Normally, I would say you shouldn't believe in curses, but when we're all dead like this, who knows! Maybe the rest of us should be looking out for people we recognize, as well.

[knockingatthedoor]

That was more a joke than anything else but... maybe? Who knows, perhaps there are other groups like ours out there, who says our Ferryman is the only one. I don't know how you arrived, but the river did feel pretty large and deep...

[blindluck]

And painful! [So yes, he also arrived via river.] I wouldn't be eager to jump back in, but it could be that there are different places to go based on where you climb out.

[knockingatthedoor]

Yeah. One would expect we don't feel pain considering, you know... we're dead. But it hurt so much. And... do you think things would have been different if we climbed on the other side?

I mean. the other side doesn't -have- a light.

[blindluck]

We should try to see if someone will swim across and check it out!

[Is he joking? Who knows!]