Climbing a Mountain... Again. (Stigma, GM)

[Cain Rhamos]

"I promised to help her."

Cain is mildly surprised at the fact this woman can tell what Stigma's power was at a glance.

"And if I am to be a God, I need to accept all facets of that title. That includes being able to deal with other deities."

[Lucifer]

She shook her head.

"Little late for that. You took the trip. You're A God. Good or shitty is up to you."

She ran her fingers through her hair.

"I can take you to see him, but there are rules to it. And dangers with it. Being a God will not protect you if your soul is too weak. And no one is immortal to the gods of death. Beyond this dock, you will have but one life. If you are willing to risk your lives, your souls, and your very selves then we can begin the process. But there is no shame in returning to the surface."

[Stigma Wyatt]

"I'm not afraid of dying..." she'd say honestly. Part of it was probably the lack of permanence. But it would be a lie to say that Stigma would suddenly feel differently even if she was on her last life. The trouble with getting 'used' to dying, maybe.

"Can I ask why his presence is so dangerous?"

Was it poisonous? Did he just suck up life-essence?

[Cain Rhamos]

"I understand rituals and rules."

Cain nods. He certainly feels... a bit apprehensive at the idea that he could be killed so easily.

"Are the dangers only from Hades himself?"

[Lucifer]

"Unfortunately no. I can not go into all of the details in front of a mortal. But the danger of Hades's presence is his power is so strong that an untempered soul can be pulled from your body by his proximity and consumed. I can take you across the water for payment, and I can temper your soul. But the process may leave you lost forever."

[Stigma Wyatt]

"What is a tempered soul?"

She's never heard that word.

[Cain Rhamos]

"What kind of payment?"

Since he also would have asked about the tempered bit.

[Lucifer]

A tempered soul is one who has ingested the waters of the dead. If you keep your life and yourself you will have some immunity. Enough to not be consumed by accident at the very least."

It was hard to explain.

"Payment is tricky. You can pay me whatever you wish, but what you pay may not be what you think. The dead have rules. Things can be less literal to them, but the underworld demands its payment to pass. It is tied to the nature of my Right and my duty. I am forbidden from telling you how to pay, but I may warn you to think about what you are really offering and do not offer what you are unwilling to give."

[Stigma Wyatt]

"Those both sound important..." she'd murmur.

"Even if we survive the water, we may unknowingly lose something else depending on how the payment is perceived?"

[Cain Rhamos]

Cain frowns thoughtfully, crossing his arms.

"Payment without knowing what you're truly paying..."

Interesting.

"...so it has to do with how we word the payment?"

[Lucifer]

"Not quite. The wording doesn't matter. It's the payment itself. What it means to the dead. But yes, it is possible to survive the water but lose something more precious than what you have already lost. Death takes from us all, and we can not always predict how. And like death, I am unable to do anything but accept the payment you offer."

[Stigma Wyatt]

"Right...the payment can be anything..." Stigma would murmur to herself.

It didn't feel right to just discard something she found no value in...but what she finds value in might not be shared by others...

She slowly reaches up to remove her mask, pulling it from her face and staring down at it. She was having second thoughts already, but, she'd quickly offer it to her before she could overthink her choice.

"I'll...pay with this then. I hope that's acceptable."

Even though the woman already said she has to accept whatever payment.

[Cain Rhamos]

Cain watches, surprised at seeing his companion take off her mask. He'd figured she was never going to take it off in the presence of other people.

That was a much more meaningful payment than Cain had on him.

He slowly pulls out a handful of coins, looking at them briefly before extending them towards the woman.

"I read that Charon takes payment in coins in order for the dead to travel. So... the best I have are these, in keeping with tradition."

[Lucifer]

Karen held out her hands. Accepting the handful of coins from Cain and the mask from Stigma. Placing both payments in her pockets she would step onto the boat, motioning with her head for them to follow her.

"You know your traditions well Godling. It is wise of you."

As she stepped into the boat, the water began to rise up, it would only be a few moments before the water would rise above the level of the docks and send them under the water which began to emit a thick clinging mist.