== VORTEX QUEST 2-2 ==
== OLDBLUE ==
True to their word, the Goblin clan was willing to lead the demigods to Oldblue.
Big-Stick and his lieutenant saddled two Varks the size of horses. The creature's round spine and bone ridge made it a suboptimal riding animal. Only Marcus was happy to try it.
The others declined, Xane and Goro because their holes were too sore for the minute, Chay because he had a plan.
The pantheon leader clothed himself in an excess of cloud and made Goro grab Yanik when nobody was looking. The figment held onto Chay's shoulders as the umbralist floated along on bubbling darkness, trailing the Vark riders.
"You missed out," Xane said, cheery like he hadn't been in a while. As he hop-levitated along, he tossed sparks, reshaped and recolored his hair a few times and had rings of light dancing around his arms like rave wristlets.
Chay could tell the magical artist was relaxed like after a dose of nectar.
"Maybe," Chay admitted. "But it was just too big."
"Not likely," Goro interrupted. "The Wretcher's muscle cock was about that at full flex."
Xane gestured at his friend. "There you have it. Grow some balls and sit on a mega-dick, hehe."
The travelers emerged into the wider cave system.
Phivvinum's ectoplasm tended blueish and chunks of reflective silver were omnipresent. The most stunning addition to the vista were the sparkling strips of crystal - as if the world had grown right through gigantic geodes interspersed with skulls.
The Kobold settlement along the path were more technological, their tents of bone, iron and leather connected by cable grids and pipes, alive with arcane, deep red lightning.
Chay kept his distance from the riders, to keep Yanik on his shoulders well obscured. The figment seemed to drift in and out of consciousness, sometimes drooling, sometimes glancing around in a panic.
The group dipped in and out of crawlway tunnels broad enough to accommodate the ride, skipping dozens of miles.
Xane kept falling back, enamored with the sparkling of fractured geodes among the glowing lichen and lanterns. Realm liners flew overhead, drawing Chay's attention. The upside down sailing ships were more numerous here, indicating a more densely connected and advanced region. The demigods couldn't make too big a splash before they had a plan.
The ride was long enough that the troglodytes stopped at a waterfall for a sip. The demigods drank, too, cooling off to fight the nectar craving.
Their target was something like a temple entrance built into a cliff. Over the rough stone pillars was an effigy of three animal heads -- a goat, a raccoon and a fish, perhaps a koi.
"We don't have a sacrifice," Big-Stick said. "We're not going in. You can speak without an offering but don't expect to get knowledge gifted."
"Okay," Chay said. "Thanks."
Marcus slipped off the Vark and massaged his legs. The two Goblins took off.
"Man," Marcus said, lightly squatting. "If you're not built that broad it's a bitch to sit on something that huge."
Xane chuckled. "Could have levitated like the rest of us anytime, lazy ass."
"Hey, not everyone likes a *busy* ass, gobbo whore."
Chay raised his arms and let his smoke dress dissipate. "Guys, no shame among gods."
Yanik dropped off Chay's back. "Am I free?"
Before Chay could answer, he noticed his aegis glowing, as did Xane's. They both magically covered up but the glow had clearly intensified. A demon was closing in.
Yanik threw his arms up. "I'm free! Freee!"
"Keep it down," Goro growled.
The bound soul of a man ran around like he couldn't see more than a few feet ahead. Either he was incredibly short sighted or had a bout of stupidity.
