The Ferrymen

The Ferrymen

11th of The First Seed



"There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow men, true nobility lies in being superior to your former self." -  D. Doug

The metallic crunch of boots filled the roads of Almaris, a lingering aura of a rising power carving its way through the bustling highways, oppressing the filled streets which were awash with leech-like merchants. A common peddler, a man who had slaved for these tyrants drew a fearful breath, rubbing at his weary eyes as his gaze fell upon the never seen before group, all donning green and grey. As the group came to a standstill and the streets fell so silent, the wobbling jowls of a merchant could be discerned. The humble, yet worn man glanced down at his blistered hands and offered his paltry work to what he assumed to be the lead figure. The man snapped his eyes shut, “I’s all ‘ave got kind sir!” A moment’s silence passed fleetingly. Yet as the figure peeped through his narrowed gaze, he found himself now with a bag of coin and a pamphlet in his grasp; the lead figure standing over him with a sincere look.

The pamphlet read plain and simple.

“To the downtrodden, labourers and toilers of the world,

''We present a chance to at last put an end to those who would only provide for themselves and to finally rebalance the scales of society. Those who turn their noses up at the common man, and spit as they work tirelessly from the comfort of their own filled coffers. Our roster focuses upon community and the protection of the honest working man or woman. We as a group strive to ensure that the widening divide between the wealthy and the poor is abolished; giving all a chance to provide for a greater society. Until this great societal imbalance is put to an end, all on the opposite side of the scale, providing nothing will be targeted. Those being merchants, bankers or of sufficient rank, will either have to pay their way fairly, balancing the scales rightfully so. If not, they will be put to work forcefully to finally toil away alongside the good working man; for they are fundamental pillars of society.''

''If you are one of the many that work tirelessly on a day to day basis, yet receive nothing in return except for snotty, unjustified comments by the lounging nobleman. We invite you to join our band recognized as the Ferrymen, where you will no longer have to endure the hardships of this unsparing society.”''

The Initiation

To become fully integrated into the band, one must first:

Become credible, members of our roster shall not point to others for the problems of the world. They shall strive towards the solving of problems, acting upon their own accord. To humble oneself and to become integrated, they must remove one finger from their offhand so they can no longer point said blame and direct it onto others; also a sign of loyalty. This act is also to ensure the loyalty of the fledgling member.

Become fair, no man who is truly fair will hold entirely onto their precious mina, nor their bourgeois artefacts, or items or value. They should instead share a percentage of their own monetary value with those at the other side of the scale, creating balance and ultimately fairness. To exhibit their fairness, during their integration all members should either share some of their wealth with another on the other side of the scale. That or take mina or items of value from a particularly intemperate merchant, or nobleman to provide for somebody less fortunate.

Become judicious, it is expected that those fully integrated into the community show good judgement and greater understanding. Nobody is truly shown to be capable of fine judgment until put into a demanding situation, in which they must choose between one thing or another; ending in the correct verdict. During their times on the roads, it is inevitable that they come across a particularly caustic and unwilling noble, or merchant. The member must judge the wastrel of whether to remove the eyeball of the individual for looking down upon those below them. It is a plain as day problem, with a demanding, yet faithful verdict.

A group of Ferrymen, straying away after donating to the needy.

The Ferryman’s Tradition

''Despite the majority of noblemen, merchants and whatnot staging their kind to be excessively rapacious, spite-ridden and a disgrace to society. Not all are unforgivable. We, the Ferryman offer redemption to those who show compassion and self-reproach upon death. Each and every person in the band carries a Ferryman’s coin, the passage to the seven skies: Upon demise, the unfortunate one will rise on the opposite side of a lake to their rightful layer of the seven skies, where a boatsman will only allow you aboard his boat if you can pay his toll. The toll being a singular ferryman’s coin, most will remain on the ill-fated side for eternity, gazing on for everlasting reflection on how they should have lived their lives differently.''

''The Ferrymen are enlightened, merciful folk, all being in possession of at least one of these coins. So when a scandalous, wicked noble or merchant wallows in the jaws of death, said Ferryman may grant them passage through to the seven skies. It is the purest form of mercy, where the Ferryman will place their coin into the mouth of the man, or woman at death’s door. They may choose to keep the coin in their mouth, granting them passage to the skies. But most will not plead, but instead endure their last moments of their life still ill-natured, spitting the coin out and nullifying this final act of mercy.''