Don't Pay the Ferryman

According to legends, and according to lore, ferrymen take you into the fog evermore.

You'll never turn 'round, and you'll never find home; you'll only find fog and the mists, all alone. So listen here truly, and listening's wise; don't pay the ferryman until you're safely on the other side.

-The third stanza of a popular song in Stilton Head
The traditional method of paying the numerous ferry operators across Pax, and indeed the world, after they give you the ride stems from this myth, which is purported by the elite storytellers of the rural Stilton Head territories to be older than many of the hills "out east". It is so tightly ingrained into society, that no one pays for anything until after the service has been rendered. Many hotels and inns do not take reservations, and do not charge for the rooms until after one leaves, or unless other arrangements have been made beforehand.

Summary

"Never pay the ferryman before he gets you to the other side" is a quip as old as the dirt the hills are made of, and it stems from the myth that ferrymen can steal your soul in the fog, by poling the ferry straight through to Avernus. Every fog-bound waterway is a path straight to the legendary River Styx, and all ferrymen are unwitting agents of fate, slowly poling souls away to hell.

Historical Basis

During the first few hundred years of the Celestial Calendar's adoption by most of Pax, times were still chaotic and life was still very hard while Tellus recovered from the Impact that nearly wiped out all life on the planet. In fact, if it were not for the efforts of experienced Travelers, life would have been hard for a lot longer than it wound up being.

The myth sprouted up at that time, with so many people just disappearing forever. The ferrymen were not paid, when loved ones did not return from a hunt or some journey.

Spread

This myth has spread throughout Pax and Taisha, taking strong root in the folklore of the cultures involved. Yet the etymology of it all started out in western Pax.

Variations & Mutation

In some traditions, the ferrymen are judges, and arbiters, and will take folks to either heaven, or hell, depending on how they comported themselves in life. In others, they are dark-cloaked avatars of death, beckoning souls to hell.

Cultural Reception

This myth has, somehow, permeated every level of society in Pax and Taisha.

In Literature

There have been books with entire premises built around this myth, and songs are performed all the time that reference it. Plays and spoken word dramas abound containing references to the ancient legend.

In Art

The myth of the Ferryman stretches far back in Pax's history, and is deeply ingrained into its society in many ways, including art. There are famous songs depicting the "ferryman" imagery, numerous classic paintings and etchings...almost every home has the imagery in some form or another, be it on a beer mug, or a serving dish.



Cover image: by Nightcafe AI

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