Grand Game 593: Sealed Alliances

Note from Tom: Last week was a slow writing week, and I only managed to complete the week's chapters today. They're coming right up.

Some edits made:

Chapter 585: rift sense description modified as follows:

Rift sense is a factional trait that is similar to the explorer trait but is geared specifically towards rifts. It immediately makes a faction member aware of any rifts in the sector they are in. Both the rift’s location and its tier are revealed to the player. In addition, when in the sector, the locations always shine bright in the faction member’s mind, ensuring they are never lost.

Chapter 585: Explanation of rift sense operation:

Warning! There are currently 3 open rifts in sector 30,199.

The first rift is a tier 3 rift designated Rift-W, the second is a tier 5 rift designated Rift-Y, and the third is a tier 6 rift designated Rift-Z. The destinations of all 3 rifts are unknown.

The locations of Rift-W, Rift-Y, and Rift-Z have been added to your Logs.

Concern shot through me. There were three more rifts in this sector? And all three were active?

Damnation! That leaves us wide open to an ambush!

We could be assaulted from any direction—and not just from the mature tree’s nest in the south. The shock of that realization was almost enough to force me to my feet to sound the alarm.

But before I could do so, another Game message, unbidden, opened in my mind.

Rift sense activated.

Your mind has been attuned to the locations of the newly-discovered rifts.

I settled back down as a trio of pulses impinged on my awareness. They were coming from the three rifts, and from the sense I got of them, they were even farther away than the mature nest.

Chapter 591: to clarify rift sense operation

“They pose no danger,” I assured them. “The rifts are even farther away than the mature tree’s nest, and lower leveled than the one we just closed.”

“Are you sure?” Duskar demanded at the same time Cait asked, “How can you tell?”

“I can tell,” I said, addressing both of them, “because of rift sense.” Seeing from their mystified expressions that they still remained unenlightened, I added, “Thanks to the trait, the three rifts shine like beacons in my awareness. I can tell exactly where they are and how far away—” I tapped the side of my head—“in here.”

“That’s exactly how rift sense works,” Kartara agreed before anyone could argue with my assessment. “It’s a remarkable trait. How did your faction get it?”

Now for today's chapter.

Enjoy!

_________________________________________________________

Your Pact to speak no falsehoods to Kartara, Duskar, Senzo, and Cait has expired.

You have accepted Duskar, Cait, and Senzo into the Forerunners faction. 

The four brotherhood officers and I did not deliberate long over what needed to be done or how to go about doing it. Feeling the press of time, and the not-insignificant threat from the mature tree to the south we formalized our alliance through four separate Pacts.

You have sealed a Pact with Senzo and Kartara. Both players have agreed to never reveal their membership status in the Forerunners. In addition, Kartara will see your faction supplied with weapons and money. In exchange, you will share any information gathered about the stygians that does not compromise the source.

These Pacts will only terminate when the void has been fully vanquished.

You have 9 / 20 active Pacts.

You have sealed a Pact with Cait and Duskar. Both players have agreed to never reveal their membership status in the Forerunners. In addition, Duskar and Cait will never return to the Kingdom again and will also ensure no other member of the brotherhood’s Nethersphere chapter does so either. In exchange, you will see the brotherhood’s Nethersphere chapter supplied with food and will provide them with any military assistance they require.

This Pact will only terminate when the void has been fully vanquished.

You have 11 / 20 active Pacts.

The Pacts I formed with Senzo and Kartara were identical and, of necessity, did not cover every eventuality. Doing so would have been impossible, and in the end, it was not the Pacts themselves, but trust and shared goals that underpinned our alliance.

Likewise, the Pacts sealed between me and the two members of the newly dubbed Nethersphere chapter were also identical. Many of the details—like when and how often we’d provision them, what sort of military aid we would provide, and so on—still needed to be hashed out, but that could only happen once the new chapter had established a base of operations.

 And it was finding such a base that was the focus of most of our deliberations.

“Then we are agreed,” Kartara said, rising to her feet as our discussions drew to a close. “Dusk and Cait, you will head north into the mountains.”

The pair nodded. 

I’d inducted the duo into the Forerunners, which meant that they, too, now had rift sense. Which was all to the good. The factional trait, it turned out, was going to prove its worth sooner than any of us had anticipated.

It just so happened that Rift-W, the smallest of the sector’s remaining rifts, was also in the north, and by my best estimate, also somewhere in the region’s northern mountains. As such, Cait and Duskar would navigate by the rift itself, and use it to lead the army unerringly north across the desert—at least until they reached the mountain range. Thereafter, they would deviate course and hopefully find somewhere suitable to settle in.

Duskar’s gaze slid in my direction. “If all goes well, we should reach the mountains in two days.”

I knew the reason for the orc’s stare. For the moment, the brotherhood was wholly dependent on my understanding of the sector’s geography—which admittedly was incomplete—and it was clear to see that did not sit well with the Duskar.

“After which,” Cait continued, unaware of the dark looks her new commander was throwing me, “we will kick off our sector 30,199 campaign in earnest and start probing the rifts and the creche.”

I nodded. “With the eventual goal of destroying the mature tree.”

“The tree must fall,” Kartara agreed, echoing the sentiment. The huntmistress paused, looking uncharacteristically unsure for the first time. Finally, she stuck out an arm in Duskar’s direction. “Well, then, I guess this is—”

She broke off, her gaze turning inward. 

I knew what that portended—a Game alert. I’d received one too, and it was flashing urgently for attention. Letting the message unfurl in my mind, I scanned its contents.

The Adjudicator has allocated you a new task: Campaign 30,199. In keeping with your recent declaration and the alliance you formed with the brotherhood, you are charged with seeing sector 30,199 freed from the void’s clutches. 

Objective 1: Close Rift-W. 

Objective 2: Close Rift-Y. 

Objective 3: Close Rift-Z. 

Objective 4: Defeat the mature void tree. 

“Well,” Kartara murmured. “Isn’t that interesting.” Noticing my preoccupied expression, her gaze sharpened. “You got a task too?”

“I did,” I replied, seeing no reason to hide the fact.

She glanced at the others. “You three did as well?”

“I got two,” Cait said, sounding shocked.

My brows rose. “Two?”

She nodded mutely.

“Recite it,” the huntmistress instructed.

The nether witch did just that. 

Her first task turned out to be identical to the one given to me, Senzo, and Duskar. Her second task was one she shared only with Duskar and charged the pair to establish a brotherhood stronghold in sector 30,199.

“Well,” Senzo remarked, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, “if we didn’t already know, we now know: the Adjudicator is keenly following what we do here.”

Kartara nodded. “And as we all know already, doing what the Game wants can prove highly beneficial. Let’s not disappoint the Adjudicator.”

The others nodded in agreement.

Extending her arm again, the huntmistress clasped hands with first Duskar, then Cait. “Good luck, you two.”

“Thank you, ma’am,” Duskar replied.

The huntmistress smiled. “It’s just Kartara. We’re equals now, remember? And if everything goes well, it will not be long before you surpass me.”

Duskar shifted uncomfortably.

Sensing his discomfort, Kartara laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder. “You’ll do fine.” Her gaze swapped to Cait. “You both will.” 

Stepping back, her eyes found me. “Ready to go?”

I glanced at Senzo.

Understanding my unspoken question, he fielded the huntmistress’ question instead. “We’ve just the final preparations to see to.”

“Then go get it done,” Kartara ordered. Turning away, she headed towards the dead harbinger. “In the meantime, I’ll help Cait finish harvesting the netherstone.”

✵ ✵ ✵

“This here is Eccleston.”

I inclined my head in acknowledgment to the player Senzo had picked out. Eccleston was posted on sentry duty on the top of a tall dune about a mile out from the main body of brotherhood soldiers, and except for the three of us, no one else was nearby.

“Eccleston is one of my best people,” the spymaster continued as me and the player in question shook hands silently. “He is also a loner. And even though he served in the brotherhood for more than half a century, he had no friends within our order.”

My brows rose at that. “That true?” I asked Eccleston.

“It’s true,” he replied in a voice that sounded rough and unused.

“Eccleston spends more time on scouting missions than he does back at home base,” Senzo explains. “And given his expertise and the sensitive nature of his missions, he reports directly to me.”

I grunted. “Useful that.”

Senzo smiled. “It’s one of the main reasons I picked him. Given Eccleston’s seniority and erratic routine, no one will question your comings and goings into the brotherhood keep.”

Saying nothing, I studied the player, who weathered my regard stoically. 

Eccleston was taller than me and had broader shoulders than I did, but the differences were nothing that doppelganger couldn’t compensate for. But there was more to successfully impersonating someone than appearances alone. And if I was going to ‘become’ Eccleston there was a lot I needed to know.

And time was in short supply.

“Tell me about yourself, please,” I said. “Start with a rundown of your skills and…”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have cast doppelganger, transforming your form into that of Eccleston, a level 192 half-elf phantom assassin and concealing your Powerful Initiate Mark. Duration: infinite.

Less than an hour later, Eccleston and I were done. Leaving the real phantom assassin behind, and dressed in both his clothes and skin, I made my way back to where the huntmistress awaited, surrounded by a small group of officers.

As I strode across the sands, I noted that the brotherhood army was already in motion. Forming a long snaking line and protected by cavalry formations both at the front and the rear, the players were making steady progress northward.

Pausing on a dune top, I took a moment to scan the horizon in all directions. But no matter where I looked, I spotted no sign of any stygians. I pursed my lips thoughtfully. It seemed the mature void tree had truly decided to cut his losses and let us leave unimpeded.

Little does he know that’s not what we intend.

The collared stygians had been slaughtered too, I saw. The brotherhood obviously didn’t care to risk keeping the creatures captive in a sector containing a tree that was still very much of a threat. Descending the dune, I came to a stop before the huntmistress.

“Eccleston,” she greeted neutrally.

My gaze flickered over those accompanying her. Duskar had already left—presumably to lead the army in its march north. Cait, Heglin, Fiona, and of course, Senzo still remained behind, though. 

Staying in character, I inclined my head. “Huntmistress.”

A small smile played at the corner of Kartara’s mouth. “Heg and Fiona have been let in on the plan. Your deception is unnecessary.”

I grimaced. “Why?” We’d agreed beforehand that irrespective of the Pacts we’d sworn, the less everyone knew about me the better.

She shrugged. “Bringing them in was necessary. They, too, will be serving as Duskar’s seconds.”

The dwarf, Heglin, I’d already known about. Fiona, though… 

I shot Senzo a dark look. “You left her in charge of your scouts?”

The spymaster chuckled. “I know there is some bad blood between you two, but trust me, Fiona is more than capable of doing the job.”

“I can speak for myself, too!” the blonde woman snapped. She spun to face Kartara. “This is a mistake.”

“Your objections have been noted, Fiona,” the huntmistress replied evenly. “Nonetheless the decision has been made. You will comply with your orders.” She paused. “Unless you wish to forsake your oath?”

The diviner ground her teeth audibly. “No. I do not.” Turning around, she glared at me. “Let’s get this over with then.”

I frowned. “Get what over with?”

“Their Pact-binding,” Cait supplied. “Heg and Fi will make the same oath Duskar and I did.”

I sighed, but didn’t demur. Seeing as how Kartara had already brought the pair into the loop, forming a Pact with them was necessary—no matter how much I disliked the notion.

“Alright,” I grumbled. “Let’s do it.”

✵ ✵ ✵

You have accepted Heglin and Fiona into the Forerunners faction. 

You have sealed a Pact with Fiona and Heglin. 

You have 13 / 20 active Pacts.

Taking Heglin and Fiona’s oaths was only the work of a few minutes, and Kartara, Senzo, and I soon saw the backs of the pair as they and Cait rejoined the northbound brotherhood column.

“Here,” Kartara said, tossing me something, “this is yours.”

You have acquired a netherstone etched with the coordinates of Rift-X.

“Thanks,” I muttered, holding the black stone loosely in my hand. “I assume Cait was successful in harvesting the other stone from the harbinger?”

Kartara nodded. “She was.”

I glanced at the spot where the void tree would’ve landed—assuming any part of it had survived to do so. “Any other notable loot?”

Following the direction of my gaze, the huntmistress shook her head. “I had my people go over the area with a fine-tooth comb, but nothing of the tree remains.”

“Ah well,” I said, disappointed. I hefted the stone in my palm. “So, where should I drop you two off?”

“Sango…” Senzo replied, and when we get there, let’s try to make a good show of it.”