The Paladin in the Abyss

That night, Lancelot emptied the Dimensional Bag used for storing supplies and shared the food gifted by the residents of Raventown with the Dwarves. This greatly boosted the morale of the survivors, especially when everyone received a mug of beer from the Wolf's Head Tavern. Lancelot even believed that had he brought out the beer earlier, Moradin's divine intervention might not have been necessary at all.

After resting in the temple for a night, the group set out again, first to negotiate the specific terms of their deal with the Ferryman Demon. Although the Bone Duke could provide free service for Lancelot, that twin-masted schooner could carry at most thirty people at a time, and they would definitely need other Ferryman Demons, who were under no obligation to provide free services.

Besides, Ferryman Demons, being a kind of Yugros Demon, while not boasting about treachery like the Tanari, were certainly not paragons of honesty. Their loyalty was reserved for the highest bidder or the one whose betrayal carried the grave consequences. Though Vexus had previously acted very respectfully because of the divine blessing on the companions, Lancelot wouldn't take it as proof that they could be fully trusted.

The descent was much faster than the ascent, as Bruto's father stayed at the temple, and the rest were seasoned Adventurers. Even Kalalin, the least physically fit among them, had grown remarkably agile from prolonged exposure to the elements, and with a little magical aid, kept up with the group effortlessly.

There were unavoidable skirmishes along the way, but the companions were in such a hurry that they held back nothing, swiftly dispatching any foes daring to approach. Just past noon, they reached the banks of the Stygian River again. Finding a concealed fjord, Lancelot used Spirit Perception and Kalalin used a Detection Spell to ensure no one was watching before Lancelot blew the bone horn once more.

The horn's sound wasn't very loud, yet its low hum seemed to reach another world. Before the echo of the prolonged horn note had faded, the Bone Duke emerged from a fog downriver, effortlessly cutting through the black waters as it approached the group upstream.

"Oh my gods…," Bruto exclaimed, gripping his Warhammer, "Who are those people!"

The Dwarf's unease was not unfounded; the former demon warship had other passengers aboard. On either side of the ship's railing sat three humans, an Elf, a Goblin, and two humanoid figures with yellow-green skin, a kind the group had never seen before. Despite the ship's rolling, these passengers sat very steadily, as if nailed to the deck.

However, with better vision, Lancelot noticed that these people's eyes had been sewn shut and their faces bore an expression Lancelot knew well — the stillness of the dead.

"Good day, Sir Lancelot," the Ferryman Demon's hoarse and deep voice came from the stern, "I didn't expect you to summon me again so soon..."

"You seem to have other passengers," Lancelot said, suspiciously eyeing the people sitting on the deck. They appeared unbothered by the ferry's temporary stop and didn't acknowledge the conversation with the boatman. In fact, they gave no response at all, as if asleep.

"Ah, these are the dead I am ferrying to the realm of the King of the Dead," the Ferryman Demon replied with a peculiar smile, "Considering our contractual obligations, your relationship with Lord Cranvo, and the leisure time these passengers possess, I doubt anyone would object to my immediate response to your summons. Of course, if you wish to travel in a more private setting, you'll have to wait a little while..."

"What's wrong with their eyes?" Bruto asked cautiously, "Why are they stitched closed?"

"Not just their eyes, but also their ears and noses are sealed shut," Vexus shrugged, "For the sights of the lower planes can unsettle the faith of mortals, so measures are taken to keep their souls closed until they reach the Domain of the Vague. Just trivial matters of technique, think of them as ordinary cargo. Now, is there anything this humble servant can assist with?"

"I have a big job," Lancelot looked directly into the Ferryman Demon's eyes under the hood, "I need to transport over a thousand people from here to Mogrondale with absolute safety."

"You mean the living, right?"

"Of course," Lancelot nodded, adding, "Cost is not an issue, but it must be done in one trip."

The Ferryman Demon's eyes glowed with a blazing red light, as if a flame were ignited within. After a moment of silence, it slowly spoke:

"I am not sure whether to thank you for your trust or mock your naivety, but I regret to say, Sir, there is no absolutely safe plan. The Bone Duke is already a large ship, but it can barely fit thirty people. We have a limited number of Stygian River transits per day, so to accomplish it in one trip, we would have to gather more Ferryman Demons to share in this business. However, none of them knows of your prowess as I do, so I am afraid—no, certain—that regardless of the payment offered, absolute safety cannot be guaranteed. After all, we are just creatures of the lower planes, and I trust the insincerity of my peers as much as I trust your nobility."

"You are honest, at least," Bruto grunted, "But I like it. Better than betrayal afterward."

"Thank you for the reminder," Lancelot sighed in disappointment, "Is there really no other way?"

"It seems you have grasped the main reason why the residents of the lower planes have yet to conquer the Multiverse," the Ferryman Demon shrugged, "Does it have to be done in one trip? It would be much simpler if it could be divided into several..."

"There are many other issues with split transport; it's best to solve it at once," Lancelot glanced at the bone ship beneath the Ferryman Demon's feet, "What if we get you a bigger ship... can you sail it?"

"Of course, as long as it truly is a ship... but where would you find one? Only the Bartez Navy's transport ships can meet your demands, but the notion of capturing one is insanity, and the larger the ship, the longer the preparation needed for Stygian River transits. You couldn't possibly bring it back..."

"Really... that's quite disappointing," Lancelot said jokingly, "Is there any way to build one? Given your expertise in navigation, might you also know shipbuilding?"

"Of course," the Ferryman Demon puffed its chest, "We possess the finest shipbuilding techniques, capable of crafting a fine vessel in the blink of an eye, but not all vessels can float on the Stygian River; only few materials suffice..."

"Like what?"

"The most common would be the bones of mortal dead. Ten bodies' worth of bones can barely float one person on the Stygian River, and to build a ship that can carry one person in one go..." Vexus paused, "Do you need me to recommend some mortal settlements near the Stygian River, Sir?"

"Perhaps you haven't heard, but the current Lord of the Dead isn't fond of large-scale unnatural death," Lancelot shook his head, "In fact, I happen to know a place with plenty of ready-made bones, more than enough for your needs..."