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Original poster

Someone who takes someone else away (fiction writing)

41 replies

IDidntWearASmileToday · 06/02/2022 15:53

I'm a wannabe writer but I'm a bit stuck on a word.
The story is set in a kind of afterlife (in between earth and heaven/hell/whatever) a 'purgatory' of sorts. There are job roles in this afterlife - characters who allow you to view your love ones left behind, characters who allow you to contact those left behind (channelers and connecters) etc but I have no job title for the character who comes and delivers you from this place to the next, any ideas?

Also very sorry for awful description, I promise it's better than it sounds!

OP posts:
AmbushedByCake · 06/02/2022 15:54

Chauffeurs?

Shortpoet · 06/02/2022 15:56

Guide

Valhalla17 · 06/02/2022 15:56

Guide?
Transporter?

TurretGunner · 06/02/2022 15:58

Conduit?
Intermediary?
Messenger?

TeenPlusCat · 06/02/2022 15:59

Escort
Chaperone

NoSquirrels · 06/02/2022 15:59

Messenger

DaisyDozyDee · 06/02/2022 15:59

Chaperone. Usher. Conductor. Porter. Bringer.

WalkingOnSonshine · 06/02/2022 16:00

Escort
Usher
Conductor

I quite like conductor if your other two roles start with C.

Hestyo · 06/02/2022 16:00

Reaper

ClariceQuiff · 06/02/2022 16:02

Ferryman

Blossom64265 · 06/02/2022 16:02

The common word is Reaper.
It can have negative connotations, but it doesn’t have to be portrayed that way.

Howmanysleepsnow · 06/02/2022 16:02

Ferryman

TurretGunner · 06/02/2022 16:02

Delivery Driver (of various types, Hermes, DPS etc)

TurretGunner · 06/02/2022 16:06

They could be put upon and also make mistakes

AlbertBridge · 06/02/2022 16:12

I love the PP suggestion of "chauffeur". I wouldn't have channellers AND connectors as then it all starts to sound a bit like an electrical circuit/fuse board.

Conductors, channellers and chauffeurs sound good.

Original poster
IDidntWearASmileToday · 06/02/2022 16:19

Thank you for your help everyone, brilliant ideas Flowers

OP posts:
itssquidstella · 06/02/2022 16:21

Hermes or Mercury?

SilverGlassHare · 06/02/2022 16:22

Psychopomp. If you want to get all mythological Greek about it.

Joystir59 · 06/02/2022 16:44

Escort? Courier? Conveyor? Conductor?

WhereDoesThisToiletGo · 06/02/2022 16:46

Gatekeeper?

HollowTalk · 06/02/2022 16:48

People who believe in the spirit world would call them guides.

BadHairDayExpert · 06/02/2022 16:52

reaper or psychopomp
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Psychopomp
I want to re-watch Dead Like Me now!

debwong · 06/02/2022 17:07

Courier
Navigator
Pointer

CatrinVennastin · 06/02/2022 17:11

I like the sound of Chauffeur.

Your book sounds intriguing OP, good luck with it.

BadHairDayExpert · 06/02/2022 17:11

Ah, silver beat me to it.
I am now envisaging them as 'pompies' on skates, like the girls in this video.
But I think pp's conductors or chauffeurs makes sense if others are ch. Like the taxi arriving in Spirited.
I like the premise. Loved Dead like me, the waiting room in Beetlejuice, Gene in Life on mars, Nobody's looking etc
Your story sounds like it fits in with my favourite genres.
Have you seen the Chinese film After Life? Don't look at it if it will hamper your own writing but it is just lovely.
Synopsis here:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/After_Life_(film)