As Zacchaeus marvels at the view of the disc of Gû below him, he flies closer than he intends. He can see beings moving through the landscape that is similar to the terrain of Earth, though there are large metal fortresses that dominate areas. He sees a golden fortress with a large castle in the middle, and there are golden homes within the golden fortress walls.
Zacchaeus is tempted to give into the urging of the Needy, to land and walk around to see what a city made of metal is like from the ground.
We don’t have to take too long. We can just stop down to see what it is like to walk along streets paved of gold.
“What if the inhabitants of this disc are as ravenous as the young kammapa from Sakpata’s disc? You said yourself, we don’t have a lot of power, and we can’t waste it trying to avoid being eaten or worse.”
What’s worse than being eaten?
“A lot of things.”
Name one.
“You’re focusing on the wrong part of that sentence. Being eaten alive.”
Oh, yes, that sounds much worse than being eaten after you’re already dead.
“I’m sure you’re going to drag me back to the Fonlands at some point in the future, or it’ll probably be an accident, but I have a feeling we’ll be back here again, whether I like it or not. Next time we’re here, I promise I won’t be so eager to get back and we can actually explore, but for now, let’s just…”
Zacchaeus is interrupted when the large, gaping mouth of a snake snaps down on his body. It catches him horizontally in its mouth and he isn’t impaled by any fangs, but the mouth holds him firmly and jerks him down to the ground while Zacchaeus screams frantically.
Before they reach the ground, Zacchaeus’s cloak stiffens into many jagged peaks that cause the giant snake to open its mouth and release Zacchaeus, who tumbles and rolls in a field of grass. When he looks back at the giant snake, it glares down at him from the height of a multistory building. The snake’s skin shines metallic and is the rusty brown color of copper.
Well, go on, find out what it wants.
“It’s a snake, I’m sure it wants to digest us.”
I bet the snake can talk, this is the Fonlands.
“What manner of bird are you, black thing?” the snake hisses. “Indombe desires to eat you. Do not protest.”
“Indombe, I am not a bird. I am a man, an Earther, in search of the Vodun Xêvioso.”
“Earther?” Indombe asked skeptically. “No, that is not possible. What arcana is this? Earthers do not dwell the Fonlands, and they certainly do not fly like birds.”
It sounds like she is familiar with Earth. Tell her about me.
“I am an Earther,” Zacchaeus explains, “and I do use Arcana to dwell the Fonlands and fly. I’m sorry I wasn’t a very good meal for you, but I really must be going to find Xêvioso….”
“An Earther looking for Xêvioso,” Indombe said with a laugh and threw her head back. “I will take you to him myself to see what the mighty Vodun does to an Earther with the gaul to seek him out. He will probably strike you with lightning until you are just dust.”
“I would definitely appreciate it if you could take me to Xêvioso,” Zacchaeus says eagerly. “But promise you won’t try to eat me again.”
“With those spikes, don’t worry. I will find another meal on the way. Follow me Earther, this will be entertaining.”
The large body of Indombe slithers past Zacchaeus.
Hop on! We can save energy if we ride along.
“She didn’t say we could ride her.”
“You’d better hop on if you hope to keep up,” Indombe says. “We should be there soon. I wish I had time to bring an audience. This is going to be classic.”
“She’s so sure Xêvioso is going to kill us,” Zacchaeus says. “Maybe we should be worried. Coffey said it’s been like two hundred years since we were here last time, he could have forgotten us in that time.”
That is a long time, even for a Vodun, probably. Nah, Xêvioso will remember us. I’m sure of it.
Zacchaeus shakes his head wearily.
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