Astral Stray by Adrian Cole

Astral Stray
by Adrian Cole
in Heroic Fantasy, 1979

Elfloq is some kind of familiar creature searching for a master. He ends up at Cloudway, which is some kind of interdimensional tavern, and talks to other travelers to learn how to have the Voidal become his master.

This is part of a larger series about the Voidal, but taken alone I have no idea who, what, where, when, or why. Cloudway feels like some of the House of Mystery comics, or the Nightmare Cafe, but almost nothing is described. Feels like a one act play where the actors wear black leotards and stand on an undressed set with maybe a chair and a box on the stage.

Some concepts and shreds of character sketches, but all talking.

Collected in Heroic Fantasy, available at Amazon.

Also in The Year's Best Fantasy Stories 5, currently cheaper at Amazon