Grand Game 355: Pondering Cardinal Points (Patreon)

On death, the Force Multiplier crumpled into dust.

It made for a sizable pile that for a few minutes, and left me scrambling frantically for my lost gear. Thankfully, though, I found the equipment without much effort.

You have equipped a ranger’s kit, gaining +40% physical damage reduction and +4 ranks in stealth.

You have equipped the sword, faithful blade, gaining…

…

...

A little later, I was fully dressed. I had double and triple-checked my equipment. Nothing had been lost or damaged during the intervening period. I’d also combed through the canyon thrice over—without uncovering any sign of Ghost.

I had found multiple hiding spots along the base of the cliff where she could have taken shelter. But, being a spirit, Ghost left no physical marks. And I could not say for certain she had managed to hide from the spores or escape the harbinger’s oblivion spell.

For a moment, I contemplated searching the canyon for a fourth time, then grudgingly dismissed the idea. It was no use. Ghost was not here.

Returning to the canyon’s center, I considered the elite I had so recently slain. The battle had not been as hard as I had feared—for which I had my secret bloodline trait to thank. Nonetheless, I had gained three player levels, and after giving the matter only brief consideration, I invested my new attribute points.

Your Mind has increased to rank 92. Other modifiers: +12 from items.

Turning my attention inwards, I called up the rest of the battle report.

Your insight has reached rank 20. Note, you cannot learn tier 5 abilities until you reach player level 200.

Your sneaking has reached rank 17.

Your telekinesis has reached rank 16.

Your null force skill has reached rank 3.

“Huh, imagine that,” I grunted on seeing the Adjudicator’s warning regarding my insight skill. It confirmed my earlier suspicions and made me doubly thankful I’d not delayed investing my Class point.

Leaving the elite’s remains behind, I strode to the inconspicuously looking box a few feet away. It was a gold loot chest, and I had left its opening for last. Crouching down, I flipped open the lid without ceremony and peered within.

The target is a piece of enchanted mosaic.

The target is a greater attribute gem. It grants you 3 attribute points.

The target is an upgrade gem and allows you to improve any ability by a single tier.

The target is the rank 4 soulbound artifact: a pioneer’s compass. Unlike an ordinary compass, this item does not point to true north. Instead, it can be attuned to any discovered key point in a sector, after which it will point unerringly towards it.

For a second, I simply stared at the chest’s contents. Finally, I picked up the compass, the main source of my befuddlement.

You have acquired a pioneer’s compass. This artifact is presently unbound. Do you wish to soul-bind this item?

“Is this a joke?” I wondered aloud.

Had the Adjudicator finally tired of me getting lost?

I knew that a loot chest’s contents were tailored—somewhat, anyway—to the player that had earned them, but still... Had I really been lost so much that the Adjudicator believed I needed a compass to find my way?

“It seems so,” I murmured.

But, as strange as the loot item was, I would not turn it away. Replying in the affirmative to the Adjudicator, I held myself still as the Game forged unbreakable bonds between the artifact and myself.

You have soulbound a pioneer’s compass.

A pioneer’s compass is an essential tool of every budding explorer and has time and again saved many a scout from starvation, death, and even worse fates. With it, you will always be able to find your way back to any known safe zone or portal.

From this point onwards, this artifact cannot be wielded by any other, stolen, lost, or kept from your hands except by the strongest of enchantments.

Budding explorer, I mused, recalling that was also the name of the trait I’d earned by discovering the hidden sector.

So perhaps this ‘gift’ wasn’t just my reward for getting lost. Perhaps, I’d done more to earn it than that. Then again, ‘explorer’ was also what I had branded myself when entering New Haven. So maybe the Adjudicator was having a bit of fun at my expense.

Gift and joke, I thought. I like that.

Stowing away the compass and the upgrade gem in my backpack, I rose to my feet. I left the mosaic tile where it was, not needing the item. The greater attribute gem, I used immediately.

Your Mind has increased to rank 95. Other modifiers: +12 from items.

One hundred was my target for my Mind rank—a nice round number. It would leave me with plenty of ability slots to expand my repertoire of psi spells. Thereafter, I would switch my attribute investments to Dexterity. And perhaps Magic, too.

Walking away from the chest, I surveyed the canyon again. It was time to leave, but for some reason, I found myself reluctant to do so. This was where I’d last seen Ghost and I couldn’t shake the irrational feeling that by leaving, I was giving up on her.

I had to go, though. Ghost was not here, and the longer I delayed the less chance I had of finding her. But where to begin?

I turned another slow circle. Where would Ghost go? Back to our starting point? Or onwards to our destination? My gaze turned east. The exile was somewhere that way. I swung southwest. The hidden portal lay in that direction. I hesitated, then reluctantly considered a third possibility. South—the direction of the exit portal, and our ultimate destination.

I pondered my choices. They were not the only options, of course, but if the spirit wolf had headed in a random direction, my chances of finding her were nil. But I didn’t think she’d do that.

Ghost was no longer the willful spirit I’d first met. Sure, she remained insatiably curious. But she had learned to restrain her curiosity and focus on the mission. And in this case, her mission was finding me. Just as mine was to locate her.

So, which will it be? South, east, or southwest?

After some consideration, I ruled out southwest. Ghost had never been one to retreat. She would move onwards, hoping to learn something of value to further our goals in the event she didn’t find me. That left me with two options: south or east. Both were equally possible.

I turned eastwards. It was the closer of the two destinations. I will begin my search there, I decided, if for no other reason than that I could rule it out quicker.

Setting off across the canyon, I headed east to find the exile.

✵ ✵ ✵

My search was disrupted almost immediately.

I was less than an hour out of the canyon when a familiar shape darkened the horizon. The harbinger had come looking for me, and sooner than I’d expected.

I scanned my surroundings, looking for cover. The plateau was barren, and the nearest pile of rocks was a few hundred yards away. Deciding against sprinting toward it, I cast fade and hid myself. Then, I resumed my journey but kept one eye peeled skyward.

As the stygian Power drew closer, his destination became apparent. The harbinger was heading for the canyon I had just vacated. Turning around, I watched to see what he would do.

The stygian circled the valley a dozen times, swooping and diving to take a closer look at whatever had caught his interest, but he did not land. Then he headed east. In the very direction I watched from.

My eyes narrowing, I squinted at the dark shape growing steadily larger with every passing second. There could be no doubt. The harbinger was flying my way.

Why?

The harbinger couldn’t know where I was. That was impossible. But if he did, there would be no fleeing. The very characteristics that made the plateau a perfect highway also made escaping aerial pursuit impossible. There was only one thing to do: trust in my stealth. Renewing my fade, I crouched down small and waited.

The harbinger drew closer, gliding on unseen currents of air. I tightened my hands around my blades. Would he dive?

A hostile entity has failed to detect you! You are hidden.

The stygian did not stop. Nor did he betray the least sign he was aware of my insignificant form huddled beneath his outstretched wings, and in only a matter of seconds, he flew past.

Turning my head, I watched him go. The harbinger was angling left. I frowned. Wherever he was going, it was not back to the central fog bank.

But what could be north?

We were almost at the northern boundary of the dungeon. The glistening violet protective barrier on my left was a reminder of that, and from what I could see, nothing lay between me and it except a spiderwork of narrow chasms.

Suddenly the harbinger dived.

What? Where is he—?

Before I could finish the thought, the stygian disappeared from view. He’d gone into the chasm, I realized. But why?

He must be after something.

Something like a spirit wolf, maybe? Maybe. Dropping my stealth in favor of speed I jogged after the harbinger.

✵ ✵ ✵

Chasing after a Power was not the smartest thing I’d ever done. On the other hand, it wasn’t the most idiotic either.

My body was flagging, and I was mentally exhausted, too. I needed rest, if not urgently, then soon. Still, I persevered. Wherever the harbinger was going and whatever he was after, I had to know.

Borne up by wings of fear—or hope—I reached my destination sooner than I’d anticipated. Panting lightly, I drew to a halt. The near side of the chasm was less than a hundred yards ahead. A modicum of caution was called for.

Dropping into a crouch, I crept forward.

I had barely advanced six feet before a bright mindglow appeared ahead. A second later, I saw the harbinger in the ‘real,’ his wings beating energetically as he strived for altitude.

A hostile entity has failed to detect you.

Freezing in place, I watched silently as the huge stygian emerged from the chasm. Had he found what he’d come for? I wondered. I couldn’t tell from his demeanor. The only thing I knew for certain was that he was in a hurry. Arrowing straight south, the harbinger headed back to the central fog bank.

I waited a full minute, only turning back to the chasm when the stygian had disappeared entirely from sight. Weapons at the ready, I padded closer.