Grand Game 599: Sanctuary

Note from Tom:

Hi all, things haven't worked out quite the way I wanted over the last two weeks. I was sick and unable to write. It's caused you all to miss a fair few chapters, for which I apologize. Things should be back on track next week, though.

Happy reading,
Tom
______________________________________________________

My conversation with the simulacrum did not end there. We spoke at length about his nature and his capabilities.

Decal was an astral simulacrum, which meant he didn’t—couldn’t—exist in the real world. He would manifest only in my dreamscape—or that of my foes. It explained his lack of body and magic capabilities. He didn’t need them. His only purpose was to guard my own mind or to attack the minds of those I deemed enemies.

But the astral simulacrum was far more than the simple offensive weapon I’d originally envisioned. Not quite a person—he lacked any consciousness of his own—Decal was nonetheless capable of both guile and subterfuge.

Just how effective Decal would be was yet to be seen, but I had a feeling he was going to prove as powerful as Mammon’s demonic aspects—if in ways less obvious.

“You can’t shift form, can you?” I asked as our conversation winded down.

“I can. While in your dreamscape, I can be anything I want. But for me, shifting is purely cosmetic. I won’t acquire any of your elder form traits when I change if that’s what you’re wondering.” He grinned suddenly. “But it was not just for you I created the forest. I look forward to exploring it as a wolf.”

I smiled, sharing in his happiness, despite the twinge of envy his words engendered. “What happens to you when I change shape?”

“Nothing. As Decal, my identity is separate from yours.”

“And when you venture into another’s dreamscape?”

Decal grimaced. “Alas, I will lack definition when I do so. My form will still be humanoid.” He gestured down at himself. “But all the details you see now will be absent. Instead, I will look more akin to a shadow.”

“Hmm. No face then?”

“No face,” he confirmed.

I rubbed my chin considerately. “That might not be a bad thing.”

He tilted his head to the side. “You want to keep my nature secret?”

“For as long as possible,” I confirmed. “Last question: what happens if you’re analyzed?”

“Go ahead and try it for yourself,” he suggested.

Doing as the construct urged, I reached out with my will and inspected him.

The target is Decal, a level 282 astral projection.

“Well, well,” I mused. “That is certainly misleading.”

“It is, isn’t it?” Decal said with a pleased smirk. “No one, not even those who are able to perceive me, will know I am your construct.”

I nodded in satisfaction. He was right. Any enemy who became aware of the construct’s presence would believe him to be a projection of someone called ‘Decal.’ They would have no reason to associate the simulacrum with me.

None whatsoever.

I smiled. And that would make for some interesting possibilities…

✵ ✵ ✵

A short while later, I opened my eyes to find Ceruvax and Safyre sitting patiently beside me.

“Did it work?” the old wolf asked the moment he noticed my return to awareness.

“It did,” I replied, a tired smile lighting my face. For all that I had been meditating my body still required real rest, and the day had gone on too long already. “The simulacrum is formed.”

“That’s great news,” Safyre said warmly, squeezing my hand. “Tell us about it.”

“Him,” I corrected gently. “His name is Decal, and he will reside in my dreamscape from now on.”

Ceruvax’s eyes narrowed. “You’ve created a dreamscape?”

I shook my head. “Not me. Decal.” Drawing a breath, I went on to explain everything I’d learned about the dreamscapes and Decal.

When I was done, I tilted my head to study the former envoy. From his expression, much of what I’d said was not news to him. “What do you know about the dreamscapes?”

“Not as much as I wish,” Ceruvax grimaced. “Especially now that I’ve learned you have access to them.” He exhaled. “The dreamscapes are a powerful tool that only psionic Powers have access to. A telepath employing one has a far greater arsenal of weapons to choose from than someone without.”

I nodded. “That is my own impression as well. Do you think the void trees can use them?”

“The void trees?” Ceruvax echoed, appearing startled by the question. “Why would you ask that?”

“The mature tree almost subverted my thoughts,” I reminded him grimly. I tapped the side of my head. “This, despite my mental walls.”

Safyre leaned forward. “You think he did it by entering your dreamscape?”

“I do,” I replied. “Decal does as well.”

“You speak of him as if he is own person,” she said quietly.

“I do,” I admitted, “and he is—sort of. But he is me too.” I rubbed the back of my head. “It’s not easy to explain.”

She laughed. “I see that.”

I smiled ruefully. “But enough of the dreamscapes. What’s the news on the sector?”

Ceruvax’s eyes glittered. “Check your alerts,” he instructed.

My gaze darted to Safyre. A smile lit her face, and she was nodding encouragingly as well. “Alright,” I murmured.

Turning my focus inward again, I found multiple Game messages clamoring for my attention.

The Forerunners have claimed sector 18,240!

This sector is no longer neutral territory. Modifying sector parameters…

…

…

Sector 18,240 is henceforth a closed sector under the control of the Forerunners, whose claim is yet new. The following restrictions apply to this region’s safe zone: only Forerunner faction officers can assign ownership of buildings in the safe zone.

Note, if the Forerunners maintain control of the sector for another 29 days, the faction’s claim will mature to young, thereby conferring upon you a greater degree of control over the sector.

Safyre has appointed herself governor of sector 18,240.

Safyre has renamed sector 18,240 to Sanctuary.

Safyre’s bastion of healing trait has been triggered! A permanent sector-wide buff that increases the health regeneration of all faction members by +0.25% per second has been placed over Sanctuary.

Congratulations, Michael, you have claimed your first sector and have accomplished the feat: The Road to Power! Requirement: secure your first sector. As reward, you and your familiar have been awarded 1 Class point each.

You have completed the task: A Place to Call Home! In doing so, you have stayed true to the tenets of your House, deepening your Wolf Mark.

Congratulations, Michael! You have accomplished the seemingly impossible task you set yourself and claimed sector 18,240 in 9 days. As a result, you’ve been awarded the feat: Ambitious.

Many consider power and ambition in the Game to be synonymous. And they are not far wrong. Those who seek to do great deeds—and succeed—are richly rewarded. You now number amongst their ranks. For setting yourself a truly audacious goal, and achieving it to boot, you have been granted the ascendant ability, portal master.

Portal master is a mythic ascendant ability that can be used to permanently alter the parameters of any Game portal in a neutral or faction-owned sector. Using this spell, one-way portals can be transformed into two-way portals or vice versa, dead portals may be reopened, and open portals may be closed. This spell does not occupy any ability slots, and its activation time is 7 days.

Note, mythic abilities are Class-less ascendant abilities. They lack ascendant rank, cannot be upgraded, and are never offered during the course of a player’s ascendancy. Instead, they can only be earned through the achievement of extraordinary deeds.

“Wow,” I breathed as I opened my eyes again.

Safyre’s lips turned up in a wry smile. “Wow is about the size of it. We’ve done it. We’ve claimed the sector.”

“I’ve also completed my task,” I said.

“A place to call home?” Ceruvax asked. “Did the Adjudicator reward you?”

“He certainly has,” I murmured, and read aloud the description of my new ability.

“A mythic ability,” Ceruvax gasped, awestruck.

“You’ve heard of them before?” I asked.

He nodded slowly. “I have, but none of the scions I knew actually possessed one. And of the one you received… I’ve never heard the least whisper. It must be unique or exceedingly rare.” He met my gaze. “It’s a great boon,” he finished gravely.

I couldn’t disagree.

“But that cast time…” Safyre mused, biting her lip. “It’ll prove troublesome.”

“No doubt,” I agreed. “Still, the spell’s possibilities are intriguing.”

Ceruvax nodded. “You could make the gateway to Draven’s Reach two-way.”

“And close the one at the Eastern Marches,” Safyre added.

“Oh, I can do more than that,” I murmured. “I can open the disabled nether portal in sector 30,199 and see where it goes. Or…” I paused. “Hmm, I wonder. Can I close the portal between the wolves valley and Erebus’ dungeon?”

Ceruvax stroked his chin thoughtfully. “That is certainly an interesting idea, but whether you could do it is less certain. As I understand it, the dungeon on the other side is owned by the Awakened Dead?”

I nodded. “It is. Which is wherein the problem lies.”

According to the description of the portal master ability, the spell would not allow me to alter portals in sectors owned by other factions. But what about situations where one side of the portal was in neutral territory and the other side not? The workings of the spell in such a scenario was less clear.

“But even if you could,” Safyre mused, “what purpose would it serve?”

“I’m not sure,” I admitted. “But it does give me more options to play with.”

“Then you still intend on going ahead with your plan?” Ceruvax asked.

“I do.”

Safyre held back a sigh, and didn’t try to dissuade me again. “When do you leave?”

I glanced upward. Even through the thick mists, I could still make out the darkness of the sky beyond. Full night had fallen, and like the Adjudicator had said, we’d just accomplished the impossible. Such an achievement should be celebrated. Not ignored.

I would allow myself one night, I decided. One night spent amongst friends and allies before I picked up my burdens and moved on.

To the next impossible task.

“We’ll depart tomorrow,” I pronounced finally. “At first light.”

Ceruvax nodded. “Good. I’ll make sure the rest of the team is ready.” The old wolf rose to his feet. “I won’t take up any more of your time, then. We can speak further tomorrow, and I’m sure the others also have matters they’ll want to discuss before your departure.” His head turned fractionally to the left. “Here comes the first one already.”

Following the direction of his gaze, I spied Ghost in the far distance. From the sense I got of her mindglow, she was not alone either. It seemed my familiar’s own casting had been as successful as mine, and her mind, too, now played host to a simulacrum.