History Main / TheFerryman

The most classic depiction is Charon of the River Styx[[note]]Early sources have him ply the River Acheron instead[[/note]], [[{{Psychopomp}} who aided souls across said river]] if [[CoinsForTheDead he was paid]], as there was a worse price to pay if you tried to swim through the waters. And like Charon, the archetype's representative need not be good or even evil; the character need not also be a ''literal'' ferryman; practically anything that can transport something/someone from one place to another is considered acceptable, including flight, teleportation, or even "dream walking."

In some cases the Ferryman is the neutral counterpart to the {{Mentor|s}}, even adviser, as the ferryman can guide through more than just the obstacles of the physical spectrum... though usually at a price/reason of fair enough degree (be it a coin of burial gold, or a promise to aid the nation's resistance against the [[TheEmpire Empire]]).

* ''Literature/TheDivineComedy'':

* ''{{TabletopGame/Pathfinder}}'' thanadaemons can be hired to bring you anywhere the interplanar River Styx flows on their skiffs, though they have a tendency to [[MovingTheGoalposts renegotiate their payment]] mid-journey. And even people powerful enough not to fear a thanadaemon's betrayal should be wary of their master [[DemonLordsAndArchdevils Charon]], [[TheFourHorsemenOfTheApocalypse Horseman of Death]], who has a fondness for impersonating them.

* ''VideoGame/KingsQuestIIRomancingTheThrone'' has one to help Graham to the vampire's castle. The FanRemake version gets creepier as he WasOnceAMan, and knows why Graham is there, but will ferry him anyway. A second one is in ''VideoGame/KingsQuestVIHeirTodayGoneTomorrow'', literally ferrying the souls of the dead across the underworld's river--if they have their fare, that is. If you don't have yours, [[EverythingTryingToKillYou you die]].

* Charon naturally makes an appearance in ''VideoGame/{{Hades}}'', selling items on the bank of the Styx. While Zagreus would happily pay his fee to be brought to the world of the living, he unfortunately never takes him up on the offer. [[spoiler:He does, however, take Zagreus and Persephone back down the river when the latter returns to the underworld in the game's ending.]] Charon also serves as a shopkeeper and provides the prince with various wares for a price, punishing theft by engaging him in a challenging fight.

The most classic depiction is Charon of the River Styx,[[note]]Early sources have him ply the River Acheron instead.[[/note]] [[{{Psychopomp}} who aided souls across said river]] if [[CoinsForTheDead he was paid]], as there was a worse price to pay if you tried to swim through the waters. And like Charon, the archetype's representative need not be good or even evil; the character need not also be a ''literal'' ferryman; practically anything that can transport something/someone from one place to another is considered acceptable, including flight, teleportation, or even "dream walking."

* Oddly enough, Truth in ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'' (only in the manga and second anime). He is neutral, requires a toll, is oddly personal, knows more than he's saying, and is connected to death.
* Enma Ai's job in ''Anime/HellGirl'' is to ferry people across the Sanzu River to Hell after they are sent there by means of Hell Correspondence. [[spoiler:As of the end of the fourth season, Michiru has the same job.]]
* In ''Manga/SaintSeiya'', the heroes come across the Acheron river after arriving on Hades's Underworld. In order to get across it, they need to be escorted by Acheron Charon, one of the Specters under Hades. Like its classic counterpart, he allows the Saints of Athena to embark on his boat even though they're enemies, as long as they can pay the equivalent toll, which is paid by Shun with a pendant he had as a memento of his mother.
* Botan of ''Manga/YuYuHakusho'' [[note]]along with the other ferry girls[[/note]] is the Japanese equivalent of the Ferryman, which is why she wields a paddle as a weapon.

* ''VideoGame/{{Ultrakill}}'' features the Ferryman as a boss enemy rather than a guide. It appears as a blue skeleton with a veil over its head and upper body, and wields its oar as its weapon. Battling it on the deck of it ship will allow you to continue on to the next level, which is the ferry itself. Alternatively, you could toss a coin to the Ferryman for it to open the exit door, calling back to how ferrymen accept money to allow you to board their boat.

* ''VideoGame/RogueLegacy'' and [[VideoGame/RogueLegacy2 its sequel]], Charon will escort you to the castle at the cost of all of your gold on hand. After upgrading your castle, you can keep a portion of your gold to use on upgrades for your next run.

* Captain Briney serves this role in ''VideoGame/PokemonRubyAndSapphire''. After rescuing his Wingull Peeko from a {{Mook}}, he offers to ferry you aroud, letting you freely go between Petalburg City, Dewford Island, and Slateport City, all several hours before you can teach your pokemon surf to go there by yourself.

* One of the gods of Theros (each inspired by Greek deities) in ''TabletopGame/MagicTheGathering'' is Athreos who's an {{Expy}} of Charon. His duties are incorporated into his card's effect, which forces your opponent to pay a toll of life in order to ensure that your creatures stay dead.