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

[witnessvelama]

[As he'd declared, Celehar has made his way to the gathering point Kel proposed. He stands out, if only because of the ears and the silvery hair, but also, as he's coming to realize, his relative age - he isn't old by any means, regardless of how world-weary he may seem, but the number of children here is - troubling.

The disquieting realization has him standing silent and grim for a while, rather than settling in to the pillows set up for an attempt at seating. He does exchange nods with the familiar and not-so-familiar faces when recognized, but otherwise he lets the conversations play out as they will, for a time.

Only when there's a break in the conversations does Celehar speak, his voice interrupting the silence.]

Since there is some concern about the subject, I would urge everyone present to consider paying the toll to the Ferryman. It may not be easy, but there are dangers, to your own soul and to those left behind among the living, in attempting to defy this.

[urtitan]

[Frieda smiled at Celehar when he arrived - despite their last meeting having been so recent, she's glad to see him at this gathering as well, regarding him as somewhat of an authority figure among them, be it due to his profession or simply the gravitas with which he carries himself.

When she speaks, her expression turns slightly alarmed.]

I agree that following the Ferryman's guidance appears to be our best course of action, but Prelate, in what way could our failure to successfully 'cross' affect the world of the living? Do you fear that we might turn into ghouls?

[Hopefully, he and Nagito don't mind that she read their exchange as it appeared in her book!]

[witnessvelama]

Ghouls, ghosts - there are all manner of ways which the dead might harm the living.

[Celehar's expression grows all the more grave, but he straightens his back and pitches his voice as best he can so that it might be overheard by others - Min Reiss can't be the only one who's had this question, given the sentiments he's read in his notebook, and been gently interrogated on.]

The dead, who linger too long, feed on the living. In some cases such as ghouls, it is by attacking the flesh. In others, a spirit held beyond their natural passing, will drain the one who carries them until they fall into an endless, deathly sleep.

[He pauses, his pointed ears pressing against his head as he marshals his words, and they come out with sharp conviction behind them.]

I understand that I must seem strange to many here, but the gentling of restless souls is my calling. I have seen too many dead by reckless action to stand by and see it here.

[urtitan]

[She feels only slightly in two minds on the matter. To her best knowledge, there are no ghosts or ghouls in her world (and thank goodness for that; the titans are more than enough already), and possibly not in anyone else's besides Celehar's, but why should the rest of them cause him such concern when a better option has already been presented to them?]

Among all of us here, you may be the one with the most experience on the matter.

[It's an acknowledgement more than a contribution, but if nothing else, she wants to signal that she respects his opinion. With almost everyone else being human, he must feel set apart to a degree no matter the situation. How would she feel, after all, if all but one or two of the others were of his kind instead of hers?

Letting her eyes wander over the assembly, she wonders whether those determined to 'cross' without a toll may just scoff at his warnings... faint as the possibility of coming to haunt the living may be for those whose worlds know no precedent, the risk does exist, and the prospect all but makes a shudder run down her spine.]

[witnessvelama]

It is my calling.

[It's a rote answer to start with - he's not going to boast the only one, or the strongest knowledge of what to do, given a number of the disturbing turns to his conversations here. It's disconcerting to speak with those who are experienced with consciousness beyond death. The prayer for settling ghouls is on his tongue. Let the darkness take you.

But here he is, still conscious of himself. Of little details of his past.]

I understand that death is not easy, but it is the way of things. Our time to rest has come.

[urtitan]

[Among all of them, Celehar's stance of accepting both their demise and the Ferryman's toll aligns most closely with Frieda's intuitive response, and hearing it reiterated, she inclines her head in a solemn nod.

Nagito's musings about potential effects of the abandoned memories on the whole group have her fearful and wary, but ultimately, she still intends to follow the proposed plan - she'll just have be choose her first toll carefully. Once they have a better understanding of what the Crossing entails, she'll be able to adjust accordingly... or so she hopes.

Going quiet for the time being, she continues to listen to what else Celehar and everyone else have to say.]

[solitarynote]

[Sunny’s pallor definitely turns a few shades paler at Celehar’s words. The teen nods though, the most empathetically he has appeared so far, at the warning.

The dead could harm the living…

He’d lived with that possibility for the past four years, seen firsthand the damage it could wrought.

That doesn’t mean he had grown any more comfortable with the thought.

He’s definitely distressed, despite his agreement]