Grand Game 590: An Outstretched Hand

Note from Tom:

Hi all.

I know everyone has been eagerly awaiting the next chapter. Apologies for the delay. Going forward, I've decided to shift to weekly posting, i.e. instead of posting on three/two different days per week, I'll be posting all the chapters for the week in question on the same day. I find that is easier for me to manage and disrupts my writing flow less.

So, after this, you can expect two more chapters today :).

Happy reading,
Tom
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For a drawn-out moment, no one said anything.

Finally, though, Kartara broke the silence. “That makes no sense,” she said slowly.

Duskar nodded emphatically. “It can’t be true. It can’t.”

“He must be mistaken,” Senzo agreed.

“The huntmistress is right, what you say makes no sense,” Cait added, biting her lip. “No one—not even the Triumvirate—can claim to know the exact size of the Endless Dungeon. Yet, here you are stating half of it has fallen? It’s nonsense, that’s what it is.”

“It is not,” I refuted implacably. “It’s the truth.”

I understood and even sympathized with their struggle to digest what I was telling them. I’d seen the huntmistress’ map of the Nethersphere in the brotherhood castle, after all. As far as I could tell, there had been no dungeon sectors marked on it.

And indeed, from every discussion I’d ever had with Kartara and the others, there had been nothing to suggest they were even aware of the void’s presence in the Endless Dungeon.

Which was part of the reason why my statement had left them undone.

The other part, of course, was learning that half of the Endless Dungeon had already fallen.

Today, the brotherhood had just learned that the war they’d been waging all their lives had another front—one they were totally ignorant off. So, of course, the news hit hard.

Pressing her hands together, the huntmistress leaned forward. “Who told you this? The Adjudicator?”

I shook my head. “He did not. Someone else did.”

Some of the tightness around the huntmistress’ eyes vanished. “Then you could’ve been lied to. You have no direct evidence of what you’ve been told.”

“On the contrary, I do. I and some of my allies were instrumental in stopping the nether’s invasion in a dungeon.” I paused. “That’s where I killed my first Power—a harbinger—and gained the netherstone. That’s where I learned the stygian seeds are dangerous to handle. And that’s where I found out that it’s not just the Kingdom, but the Endless Dungeon, that’s under assault by the void.”

“What’s the name of the dungeon?” Duskar asked.

“I cannot say.”

“And what about the one who shared this information with you?” Senzo queried. “Can you tell us his name?”

“I cannot.”

Neither Senzo nor Duskar looked happy by my refusals, but before they could make much of it, Cait rejoined the conversation. “What you say still does not make sense,” she protested. “The Endless Dungeon is already part of the Nethersphere. Why would the void bother invading it?”

I turned her way. “Perhaps because the Game has cut off their access to those sectors and they want back in? Or perhaps because the void fathers have realized that if you rob players of their dungeons, they will be weaker and easier to kill?”

“But that would imply—” She broke off.

“It would imply the void is not nearly as mindless as we’ve been assuming,” the huntmistress finished for her. Her gaze found mine. “They have a strategy in mind.”

I nodded. “I think so too.” I leaned forward. “And I think it goes beyond reclaiming territory they’ve lost to the Endless Dungeon.”

Kartara’s brows creased. “Explain.”

“I and my, uhm… associates believe the void’s expansion is not random, that there is a reason they appear in the Kingdom sectors they do, and that reason is the ley lines.”

Kartara’s eyes narrowed. “You believe they are using the portals between dungeon and Kingdom sectors to identify their targets,” she surmised.

I smiled. The huntmistress caught on quickly. “Yes.”

“That would mean if we identified the fallen dungeons, we can predict which Kingdom sectors are in peril!” Cait exclaimed.

“Also correct.”

Kartara scrutinized me carefully. “Things are still not adding up. If as many dungeons have fallen to the void as you’re claiming, why haven’t we heard anything of it? The factions must be aware of what’s going on. They control most of the dungeons in the Game. So, why haven’t they told anyone?”

I tilted my head to the side. “That’s the question, isn’t it?”

The huntmistress’ gaze sharpened “Are you suggesting—”

 “There have been rumors,” Senzo said abruptly.

Kartara stared at him. “What rumors?” she rasped.

“Nothing about the void,” the spymaster replied hastily. “But…” He pressed his closed fist against his mouth and bit down worriedly. “There has been talk of dungeons being temporarily sealed, of others being permanently closed to the public, and of portals not working.” He met the huntmistress’ gaze. “The usual stuff, and nothing we’d ordinarily concern ourselves with.”

She nodded slowly.

“The rumors are sporadic,” Senzo went on, “and on their own, they are not enough to conclude that dungeons are being lost to the void—and certainly not on the scale Havick is implying.” He sighed. “But admittedly the gossip does lend credence to his tale. We will have to dig further for confirmation.” 

“You should do that,” I said emphatically. “As for why this has remained unnoticed for so long, I have some theories…” I rubbed my chin, wondering how much to say. “This is conjecture only, but my own feeling is that the void has been at this for centuries—eating away at the Endless Dungeon bit by bit—and so slowly most wouldn’t notice.”

“The Powers would have, though,” Cait pointed out. “Some have been around for longer than that.”

“They should’ve,” I agreed grimly and left it at that. Everyone around the circle knew what I was implying.

“I see,” Kartara murmured, glancing at Senzo. “Whatever you do, do it carefully, but I agree: this must be verified.” 

Nodding, the spymaster turned back to me. “Do you know which dungeons have fallen?”

I shook my head. “I don’t have that level of detailed information, sorry.”

He sighed in disappointment.

“But I know who does.”

“And let me guess,” Duskar growled, only half-sarcastically, “you’re not willing to name them.”

I eyed the orc. “I might be, but… it will require you binding yourself to secrecy.”

He shrank back. “Binding, as in…?”

“Becoming my follower and agreeing to obey me,” I said mildly. “Are you willing to do that?”

Duskar’s glare was answer enough.

“I didn’t think so,” I murmured. Turning back to the huntmistress, I found her studying me quizzically.

“You are much more than you appear to be, Havick,” she said softly.

I shrugged. “Aren’t we all?”

My flippant response did not faze her. “It is obvious that you have access to knowledge and things we don’t. It is obvious, too, that you could play a pivotal role in our fight against the void. We would be foolish to reject any arrangement you suggest. However—” steepling her fingers, she peered intently into my eyes, as if trying to divine my secrets—“I still don’t understand what you want from us. And until I do, I can’t risk tying the brotherhood to you or your faction.”

“I told you,” I said evenly, “I want your help fighting the void.”

“I’ll need more than that,” she replied. “Give me the specifics.”

I fell silent, considering my next words carefully. “I want the brotherhood to join my faction,” I said, finally acknowledging the issue we’d been dancing around.

“I knew it,” Duskar muttered.

“How does joining your faction help us fight the void,” the huntmistress asked, her gaze locked on mine.

“Well, for one, you’ll gain unfettered access to the knowledge you just mentioned. And as you know, information is power. Armed with such information, I have no doubt, the brotherhood can make greater inroads into the nether than you have previously—and figure out what’s truly going on in the Endless Dungeon.”

Kartara’s expression did not change. “Are you saying you will withhold the information if we don’t join your faction?”

“No,” I admitted. “I will not. I will share what I know regardless, but if the brotherhood chooses to remain separate, you and your people will have to accept that I will not—cannot—share everything. Doing so may jeopardize my own people, and that I will not do. You will also have to accept what I tell you at face value, and not knowing the source of the information.”

Kartara nodded. “I see. And what else will we gain by joining your faction?”

“A base.”

“A base?” the huntmistress echoed.

“Yes. A base hidden away in a sector that no one will likely ever find. From such a base, you will be free to focus your efforts against the stygians unhindered by the machinations of the Game.”

Senzo’s brows creased. “That will also isolate us—something we can ill-afford.”

I stared at the spymaster. “Why’s that?”

“As much as we may loath the Grand Game, we are dependent on it too,” he explained. “Without the customers who buy our wares, we’ll lack the funding necessary to pursue our war against the void. The players themselves are essential, too. Without them, we won’t have the recruits we desperately need to replenish our ranks.”

I frowned. “I imagine my own people could alleviate some of the shortfall, but you’re right, joining my faction will significantly curtail your recruitment efforts and income.” I turned back to the huntmistress. “That is something you will have to consider.”

She nodded. “So, knowledge and a base. That’s two things you have to offer. What else?”

I held out my hand, palm up. “There is also this.”

Leaning over, Cait scrutinized my outstretched arm. “Your hand’s empty,” she said, stating the obvious.

I chuckled. “It is. But that’s not why I’m holding it out. This next bit is better seen than told.” I waved my arm in the huntmistress direction. “Take it.”

Kartara studied my palm leerily. “What is it you intend on doing?”

“Adding you to my faction,” I replied. “But only for a minute,” I added loudly over the other’s protestations.

Katara’s brows creased. “What good will that do?”

“You’ll see.”

She still didn’t take my hand.

“Trust me,” I said gently. “And besides, what’s the worst that could happen? There are no consequences to abandoning a faction. You can leave any time you desire. But I’m betting you won’t want to.”

The huntmistress eyed me for a second longer, then moving decisively, clasped her hand to mine.

You have accepted Kartara, a player, into the Forerunners faction. Kartara is free to break her pledge of loyalty to the faction at any time and without consequences. As are you. However, until such time as the Forerunners disavow the dread summoner—or vice versa—she will be considered the faction’s sworn woman, and her actions will reflect on it.

As a result of her new status, Kartara has gained the factional trait: rift sense!