== VORTEX QUEST 2-5 ==
== THE WAY FORWARD ==
The pantheon took a fang from each of Mightfate's mouths as proof, then fell upon the Wyrm's hoard. Nectar was scarce. They took turns preventing each other from rushing the gulps, interspersing the consumption with drinks of water.
Stomachs sloshing, the men collected a jar of one dozen nectar buds, a sack of obols, the shadowblade safely wrapped in black leather, and a silk bag of gold bars.
Goro got settled with the gold and money. He'd need to find a way of covering up since he had given his clothing to Marcus. Chay's fundoshi had gotten sliced during the Wyrm bite and was irrecoverable, leaving three of them nude.
Goro was starting to love nudity.
He hadn't had as much of an exhibitionist streak as Xane had always shown but having his nudes spread against his will had ultimately awoken something in him. He couldn't risk the aegis giving him away, though.
They left through the main entrance, passing by Hellion corpses and torn meat bits. The death of Mightfate would become known across Phivvinum soon enough.
The track back promised to be another long one but Chay directed them off the crawlway to a platform. He took his Cinereant form -- a vague man-shape of thick smoke.
Xane was still 'covered' by his illusory schlong of silly proportions. Goro didn't judge him, tough. If he'd been able to give himself a massive dong, he'd have done it, too -- just maybe not in front of the bros.
Goro covered his dick cage with their treasure bags as Chay approached a parked barge.
The flying ship, docked at the platform, was an assembly of black iron arches and thick chains bending over a platform, creating the impression of an upside down ship hull, about 60 foot long. Blue sails fluttered underneath on two iron spires.
The silver runes etched into the side called it 'Ceiling Dancer -- property of Lasher in service to Lord Prevlinnar'.
The crew of six was busy unloading chests. Four Aeobolds, one Ultrabold, one Glitzer -- a faceless elemental of unrefined, white and blue crystal in a bulky humanoid shape.
Chay raised a smoke dripping hand. "Are you going toward Gele-Cruaa?" He gestured in the direction where the massive canyon dipped lower, a glint in the distance promising an urban area.
Goro noticed the leader was speaking Pandemonic. Most powerful beings wouldn't use Boldian casually even if they spoke it. He almost wanted to nod with approval.
The Ultrabold inside the ship lunged. The green skinned lizard-man with back spikes had crystals embedded in calves and feet which apparently let him jump like a demigod.
He landed gracefully in front of Chay. "You and three slaves? Five obols. We leave when our scheduled passengers are here. I'm Captain Lasher, welcome aboard."
Chay gave a curt bow and tossed the captain a penta-obol.
===***===
Deep red lightning flickered along the chains hanging between hull arches as the ship left dock. A stream of sparks trailed from the sails below, propelling the barge by expelling soul energy. Liners didn't just look upside down - they also *worked* in reverse to earthly sailing vessels.
Goro had no issue with heights, but flying was a different matter. Even when using his godly powers to attack from the air he preferred to have a target on the ground in mind first.
He stayed in the middle of the platform, keeping Marcus in line who kept leaning over the railing between the arches, rather un-slave-like.
Their final passengers were a triple of Trolls - their ridiculously massive backs forming a convenient blockade between the demigods and the crew -- and a Wraith accompanied by two Hellions in casual robes. The dark, hundred-handed creature's metal plate head was hung with purple crystals and bones. It stayed in animated conversation with the Hellions, while Chay seemed to eavesdrop.
Goro stood perfectly stoic and breathing deeply as the realm-liner lurched. He reminded himself that he was able to fly. Nothing going wrong could possible cause him harm. He held onto Xane -- to keep his aegis shielded and for no other reason.
The view from the Ceiling Dancer was admittedly spectacular, like a flight over the Grand Canyon, if the canyon also stretched overhead and was saturated with geodes the size of city blocks and skulls big enough to live in.
"Nervous, big guy?" Xane asked with a smirk, his head tilted to look at Goro.
"Fuck no," Goro said.
Xane put a hand on his taller friend's heart and felt the beat. He retracted the hand with a nipple flick. Goro nearly went into a rage with lust.
"Don't do that."
Xane rolled his eyes. "Scared I'll blow our cover? They think we're figments. We're supposed to act a little kooky."
"I... I meant don't make me horny." Goro couldn't help but grin at the absurdity. "Unless you're gonna follow through. Or I'll rape your ass right here."
"Would love to see you try, dude, hehe."
Goro ran two fingers down Xane's glistening back and into his crack. Xane subtly poked his ass out to welcome the hook going in and slowly massaging his insides.
Never in a million years would Goro have thought he'd fulfill the wet dreams of all the fags and shipping-obsessed girls who kept leaving thirsty comments on his posts with Xane. If only he had known how much fun Xane's reaction would be.
The shorter demigods reciprocated, three fingers of a mage-hand digging into Goro's hole. All fear of flying was forgotten while the best friends tried to stay inconspicuous.
The Glitzer stepped around them, pulling chains to move the sails underneath. Arcane lightening sparked along the arcs overhead. The ship clinked and swayed. Goro took a broader stance as the massive crystal creature stomped past.
"Don't suppose," Xane said, "we can unpack a couple of those nectar buds?"
"Would love nothing more," Goro said. "But you know we can't. Emergencies only."
"If I start a fight with that Wraith we'd have an emergency."
"Really thinking like a junky, huh?"
"Just joking," Xane said, sounding humorless.
===***===
A ten minute walk after landing and the pantheon was back at Oldblue's lair, presenting her slain rival's teeth.
[Excellent,] the koi-head said at the end of their recounting. [You are as capable as expected. I have already referred you to my contacts, who should be on their way. Our business will conclude once you've been introduced.]
[Oh and,] the goat-head added, [unless you have somewhere to spend those gold bars within the next hour, you should drop the bag -- *outside* my lair. The metal is cursed and will drain your strength continuously.]
"Are the coins save?" Chay asked. "And what about the blade?"
[Yes the obols are fine. Show me the sword.] The goat's serpent eyes went wide. [Oh! A voidblade. Haven't seen one in a long time. It is safe to *touch* but if you summon the blade it will strike you with the Carnal Craving Curse.]
[You'd be driven to consume,] the koi-head said. [Eat any flesh in proximity, even cannibalizing yourself, gorging for minutes. Several voidblade wielders have burst their guts from gulping more meat than they can fit. I'm amazed you're alive.]
"Well," Chay said. "The rules are a bit different for us."
[If you can wield it,] Oldblue continued, [a voidblade cuts better than the sharpest Elderite.]
