“Hello…”
“Uh, hello?”
The two Voidborns somewhat stared at each other. Phovoula was doing her normal job, dissuading meaner beings from entering the Pink Paradise. This visiting Voidborn was mostly not really understanding what he was looking at. After some more staring, Phovoula crossed her arms and started asking her standard series of questions for visiting Voidborns.
“Hello. Hi. So you’re a Voidborn. What’s your name? Where you from? Are you part of a cult or are you Adogtic? Because culted Voidborns are not allowed here.”
The Voidborn, a pretty standard black and gold one with a short pair of horns instead of antlers, hesitated for a moment, then proceeded to answer Phovoula’s questions.
“I am Tasocydus, former member of the Goldblessed, now Adogtic. I have been wandering the otherwise empty Alsyrian Sea since the destruction of the Goldblessed and have entered the Kinigian Wilderness mostly out of curiosity. I did not know there was… more traffic here. May I ask, what sort of Voidborn are you? You appear to have features similar to a Life Goddess.”
Phovoula crossed her arms and tutted. “I’m a Geneseon Voidborn. One who had mortal parents. It’s… complicated. What’s your business being here?”
“I want to rest briefly before I head south.”
“Where are you going?”
“The Ventra Expanse. I have heard it is safer there for Adogtic Voidborns.”
“Somewhat. There’s no distinct presence there. Good place to find a corner to live in and keep to yourself. At least, that’s what Theocydes says.”
Tasocydus looked Phovoula up and down. “You know Theocydes?”
“Yeah. He and my girlfriend Phovos helped me connect to the Eternal Darkness when I first got out here.”
“And are… are you the main Voidborn of the Kinigian Wilderness?” Tasocydes asked.
Phovoula thought for a moment, then shrugged. “Uh… I guess?”
“This Life Oasis is your territory?”
“Well, technically, my territory is the Athata Rift. That belongs to me now. I’m here temporarily as a favour to Sini, the Life Goddess who runs this place.”
“Huh…”
Tasocydus glanced to one side, past Phovoula. A colossal reptilian being had approached.
“Phovoula, it’s my job to be on guard right now!” Fragiir growled. “I just went-”
“I was covering for you.”
“Yeah, but… still… Also, do you know when Nyssi is coming round?”
“I don’t. Mind if I deal with this guy?” Phovoula gestured at Tasocydus.
“That’s my job.”
Tasocydus grunted. “I just wish to sit for a few hours and have a drink. I have no ulterior motive. But I would like to converse with this Voidborn here, as he seems somewhat curious.”
Fragiir eyed both Voidborns, then relented. “Alright, whatever. I’m taking back my shift, Phovoula, you go do whatever. You don’t even technically work here anyway. And let me know when Nyssi is heading this way.”
Phovoula smiled a little. “Will do. Tasocydus, please, come with me.”
The more traditional Voidborn did as he was told and followed Phovoula deeper into the oasis. They headed to the bar, where Lissandra immediately brought over two fizzy fruit-flavoured drinks. Apparently, all Goldblessed Voidborns (or at least, former ones) only ever seemed to drink those drinks, assuming they drank anything at all.
“So, what do you want to talk about?”
Tasocydus glanced around before turning back to Phovoula. “I am scouting the area for safer locations to live in. I know the Goldtorn Remains are not safe in the slightest ever since the Crystal Doom were destroyed, I assumed the Kinigian Wilderness was no better, since it is still technically Decay Lord territories. But the Alsyr and Pentathax presence here seems minimal.”
“That’s because the Kinigian Wilderness technically belongs to the Thantir, and they’re a smaller sect that are more friendly to Voidborns.”
“But…” Tasocydus hesitated. “I thought… I thought the Thantir were behind the destruction of the Crystal Doom AND the Golden Defenders.”
“Um…” Phovoula also hesitated. “Alright, yeah, sure, they did that, but that was before I joined them. The Thantir are perfectly accepting of honest Adogtic Voidborns.”
“You… are a member of a Decay Lord sect?”
“Yeah.”
“Why?”
Phovoula shrugged. “It’s way better than joining a cult. I don’t get threatened by Life Goddesses trying to kidnap me, I’m free to do whatever I want within reason and I don’t get other Voidborns or Decayons trying to kill me either. Well, most of the time.”
“Are you partnered though?”
More hesitations. “Uh… that’s… um…”
“You belong to a Life Goddess?”
“No, no, that’s inaccurate. Phovos and I are both equal members of the Thantir. All members of the Thantir are equal, even its leaders, the Tattered Navigators and the Missing. Phovos just happens to also be my girlfriend. But more about you, what are you looking for?”
Tasocydus closed his eyes, sipped his drink and thought deeply for a moment. “I… I do not know. Purpose, I think.”
“Well… what were your duties in your old cult?” Phovoula asked.
“I was a Path Cutter. My duty was to clear the void lanes for expansion for the Goldblessed. Mostly from Corruption, occasionally from Decayon ships and wrecks.”
“There’s nothing stopping you from doing that, just not for the Goldblessed.”
“Yes, that is true. But I cannot risk doing it in Kentarasa. The Alsyr and their companions, the Ekthris, would murder me without question. And I cannot head into much of Patagenic either. The Decay Lords of the Goldtorn Remains would tear me apart.”
“Yeah, fair enough, but you can pass through the Kinigian Wilderness pretty safely and head to the Ventra Expanse. Once you’re there, you can head… west, I guess, and start tackling the edges of the… uh… the place full of Corruption. Theocydes told me there’s a cult in that hellhole called the Silvered Sanctifiers or something, and they just do Corruption Purges all the time… Simply put, you have options…” Phovoula suddenly paused, then glanced at her communicator. She’d heard a beep and just received a message. And, almost instantly, Phovos had appeared by her side.
“Hey, babe!” Phovos exclaimed. “Do you know where Vexer is?”
“Uh… I think he’s sleeping right now. Why?”
“Can you go fetch him, please?”
“Yeah, sure, my dear, but why?”
Phovos grinned. “Arkay is on his way to pick Vexer up. Elksia’s egg is going to hatch soon.”