FAQ

[thecrossingmods]

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FAQ

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THE BASICS

How dead are we, really?
Really, really, really dead. We want to be very clear up front that there's no bait-and-switch hiding in the metaplot somewhere: all characters are really, for real, actually dead.

So what does that mean for my character? Do they have a body?
Sort of! They sure feel like they do, anyway... at least to start. ICly, characters exist as manifested souls, and that manifestation is anchored heavily on their experiences during life, as well has their expectations of how the world "should" work. This means that some fuzzy dream/death logic applies: they can breathe/eat/drink/sleep/etc but obviously don't need to anymore, they feel like their body is solid but (with some notable exceptions, see below) they can't actually be injured, etc.

Of course, as they start to lose memories, that status quo may change...

Is there a metaplot?
There sure is! The journey is, unfortunately for the characters (but fortunately for the players!) not as straightforward as it seems. Characters can work together to discover what's going on behind the scenes — and then decide what, if anything, to do about it. Given the plot framework the mods have established, the game is projected to last ~2 years.

What are the activity requirements?
We require 15 comments across 2-3 threads for AC. Given the personalized nature of the game, we do not employ a strike system; if you fail to meet AC, and did not proactively communicate with the mods beforehand, your character will be swept from the game. Idling also means that you will not be allowed to apply again for two app cycles.

Is there a network?
Kind of! Characters are already connected by virtue of being malleable souls all in the same malleable place, but (as mentioned above) the anchoring of their previous lives and experiences prevents them from fully and freely tapping in to that connection. Instead, it must be channeled through some kind of familiar object, be it a phone, a notebook, a PDA, etc.

Characters will receive this object, whatever it may be (that's up to you!), from The Ferryman. You may assume either that this was a direct gift, or something left for them to find, whichever you prefer!

As of now, this loose "network" supports written communication only. As time goes on, and characters start to figure the world out, this may change.

APPLICATIONS

What kind of characters can be applied for?
Any character from any kind of published media is acceptable, excluding historical figures and fandom OCs. We do not have an official waiting period for applying characters from recently published canons, but we ask that you please be respectful of your fellow players and warn for spoilers where applicable.

Original characters from their own universes as well as TTRPG settings are also acceptable. Malleable protagonists fall under this category as well; we ask that you include detail about your iteration's decisions & outcomes in your application.

In cases where versions of a malleable protagonist may have significantly different & distinct backstories (eg, Wardens with different origins, Tav vs The Dark Urge), we will accept one version of the character.

We do not allow CRAUs at this time.

How many characters can I apply for?
Each player may apply for up to 2 characters. However, you may only app one character per app cycle. Depending on the size of the game, we may allow players to purchase a third character slot with AC rewards in the future.

Are there any limitations on who can app?
One of the goals of the game is to personalize settings and events for player characters as much as possible, so we will be starting with a player cap of 35 and a cast cap of 7. We do not require invitations at this time; anyone may reserve and apply. Once the mods get a feel for the game's workload, these caps may change.

What if my character is still alive in canon?
That's okay! You can either lightly AU them to take advantage of a canon close-call (eg, a character who canonically was brought back from the brink of death, but never actually died), cook up something yourself, or handwave it entirely (eg, a character may not remember precisely what happened to them). Just keep in mind that here, they are really, very, actually dead.

What happens to my character's inventory?
You can't take it with you, darling. Characters have no inventory to speak of.

What about powers?
You don't even have a body! What do you mean powers? All characters are fully nerfed on arrival.

Is there any way to get powers and/or inventory items back?
👻

What about canon updates?
THERE IS NO MECHANISM FOR CANON UPDATES. Characters' previous lives are over; there is no going back. Be thoughtful about your choice of canonpoint, because you will not be able to change it.

ARRIVAL

How will my character arrive?
The details of arrival will differ depending on the current setting. These will be outlined on the TDM for that cycle, but you will be able to find them on the current setting page as well, in case you need a refresher.

As with the setting, though, some things will stay consistent! Characters will always begin in The River (though The River itself may take different forms), and will need to get themselves out of it (either on their own, with the help of other characters, or the help of The Ferryman). They will also always be missing a memory of some kind, which we've OOCly dubbed their "First Toll".

Does my character know a memory has been taken from them?
How would they? They can't remember it, after all. Depending on what was taken, they might have to do some detective work to figure it out. (Maybe a once-familiar smell doesn't do anything for them anymore, or a canonmate remembers something they don't.)

My character's canon already has an afterlife. Why are they here instead of there?
Seems weird, huh? Your character never made it to their world's afterlife; they came straight here. The Ferryman might know more.

SETTING

What is the setting?
Well, that's a complicated question, because the setting is always changing! For detailed info on our current setting, see here.

Once every three months, there is an event called The Crossing, after which the main setting of the game changes over to something new. What it changes to depends on a few factors, including: a) setups the mods already have set aside to draw from, b) the characters in the game and the kinds of memories they give up and/or lose, and c) any ideas players might want to bring to the table as well.

That said, there are a few things that will always be present regardless of the setting type:

• The River, where characters emerge from when they arrive (see the ARRIVAL section below), which may or may not manifest as a literal river. The River will almost always be the most prominent landmark in any given setting.


• The Ferryman, who will hold vigil at some point on the banks of The River until the next Crossing, and who also seems to get a whole lot of stuff done despite apparently never moving? Who knows with them, honestly.


• The Ferryman's Lantern, whose light defines a neutral zone for characters to reside until the next Crossing, and creates a boundary preventing wraiths from entering.


• Wraiths, creatures who linger on the other side of the boundary created by The Lantern, hungry for something, though it's hard to say what. They're only dangerous during The Crossing, but it's probably for the best not to let them get your scent before that...

What is The Crossing?
Characters are on a journey from their lives Before, to whatever comes Next. The Crossing is a transitional period on that journey, wherein characters move from one stage to another. It can be a volatile and dangerous period, and characters have two options for how to navigate it:

• Accept The Ferryman's offer to let them guide them through The Crossing. The Ferryman asks a toll to do so, and there is a trial associated with the journey, but characters are guaranteed that the only memory they will lose is the one they give up for the toll, and nothing else.


• Reject The Ferryman's offer, and try to make the journey themselves. They might get out scot free, or they could run into trouble, and lose even more of themselves in the process.

Who is The Ferryman?
The Ferryman is a guide, clearly a supernatural being of some kind, though characters don't know much beyond that. They're happy to chat, though, if your character would like to know more.

Importantly, The Ferryman never takes anything that isn't freely given. While the price of the toll is set, characters get to choose if and how they pay it, and payment is only due at the time of The Crossing. If a character initially agrees to the toll but later decides they want to back out, The Ferryman will not force them to pay anyway.

Wait, but what about the first memory that was taken? My character didn't agree to that.
Ah, you're so right! How strange! The Ferryman might have something to say about that.

Can my character be killed?
No, silly! They're already dead. 👻

Then what's the big deal with attempting The Crossing without a guide?
The Crossing is an event (characters moving forward on their journey to what's Next), but it's also a state. Whatever this place is, it goes into flux during The Crossing, which is what allows souls to move from one place to the next.

The boundaries between Before, After, Here, There, Next — whatever they are, they start to blur together. It's what some supernaturally-minded humans might call a "thinning of the veil." It affects characters, too; The Crossing is the closest to fully corporeal they've come since, y'know, dying.

This also means that they can be injured, and for them, injury means much more than some superficial damage. Damage sustained during The Crossing is damage to a character's soul, and will cause them to lose memories in a much less controlled way than if they had given something up to The Ferryman.

During The Crossing, the wraiths that follow along in the shadows can now get their claws in — literally. And it isn't just the wraiths; any injury sustained during The Crossing will result in memory loss, whether that injury was a result of a wraith attack, a tumble down a hill, or a fight with another player character.

What happens when a character drops?
Souls get lost along the way all the time. That's alright; it's The Ferryman's job to find them and put them back on course. Time around here doesn't work quite the same way as you might be used to, though, so it might be a while before you see them again...

The Ferryman could probably tell you more, if your character would be inclined to ask.

What about hiatuses?
While on hiatus, characters can either be set to autopilot, or you may have them similarly get lost & be retrieved by The Ferryman at the end of your hiatus. For more information on the latter type of hiatus, see our hiatus & drops page.

MEMORIES

How do characters lose memories?
There are currently three ways to forfeit a memory: being taken as a character's First Toll, being offered up the The Ferryman during a Crossing event, or being lost involuntarily if a character is injured trying to perform The Crossing on their own.

What kind of Crossing tolls will there be?
They vary, and the type of toll will always be tied to the event itself. Some will be positive, some will be negative, some will be minor, some will be foundational! We will announce the type of toll during the pre-event planning for each Crossing event, so that players have plenty of time to think it over. If you have trouble coming up with a memory to match the toll, just let us know and we'll be happy to brainstorm with you!

What kind of memories will my character lose if they're injured during The Crossing?
That's up to you! Generally speaking, though: the more severe the injury, the more severe the loss. Think of it as damage being done to your character's self — the wound might be superficial, or it might be a single deep puncture, or it might be a jagged tear. They might lose one important memory, or irregular pieces of many incidental memories. Get creative with it!

Mods will also be available during The Crossing events to RNG a severity level for you as a jumping off point, if you would like.

So, it's possible to get through The Crossing without losing any memories?
It is indeed. Difficult, definitely, but possible. However, characters who do may find that the wraiths become even more aggressive toward them on future Crossings.

Does losing memories affect the way characters' souls manifest in the game?
It can! We can't say exactly how this early on (that's for you to find out!), but with time characters may find that as they give up memories, they gain a better understanding of the setting's malleability, and how to use that to their advantage. Stay tuned for more info. 🤫

Is there a way to regain memories?
Currently, characters do not know of a way to get their memories back. Who says it's not possible, though? Hmm.

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FULL NAVIGATION

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