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Grand Game 589: Sharing Truths
🕑 Added 2025-02-28 21:00:07 +0000 UTCI took my time rejoining the brotherhood, my thoughts largely preoccupied with how to approach the forthcoming conversation. It was not going to be easy, especially when it came to making sure I didn’t reveal too much.
I found Kartara and her officers waiting exactly where I’d left them.
“Welcome back, Havick,” Duskar said with only the faintest trace of sarcasm.
Nodding absently, I scanned the battlefield. There were no longer any stygians in sight, or at least none that were free. All those that remained had either been slain, fled, or captured.
The rest of the brotherhood army was not standing idly by either. Except for the four officers waiting for me—Fiona and Heglin were not with them anymore—every other player had been pressed into service looting the dead stygians or corralling the captured ones—presumably with the intent of taking them back to the brotherhood’s castle so that they could be shackled with obedience collars.
My gaze focused on the six dozen mages crawling over the harbinger’s corpse. “How long is it going to take them to retrieve its netherstone?”
Cait shrugged. “They’re nearly done, but I will supervise the final stage myself.”
“Which reminds me,” Kartara said. “What do you want us to do with the nagas you killed?”
My brows rose. “You’re offering me their loot?”
She shrugged. “It’s yours by right. They’re your kills.”
I shook my head. “No, they’re not. I promised your people the spoils from the nagas. It doesn’t matter that I killed them. They’re yours.” Besides, it was largely my fault that many of the nagas had fled. Then too, the forerunners already had a tidy haul of scales from the nagas I’d slain on the other side of the rift.
“Thank you,” Kartara said simply.
Nodding in acknowledgment, I glanced at Senzo. “Any sign of movement from the south?” The four hours I’d allocated for this mission was about up, and if the mature tree had sent any reinforcements—beside the three dead harbingers—they would be showing up soon.
The spymaster shook his head. “None.”
“Good,” I said, relieved, and turned back to the huntmistress.
“You ready to begin?” she prompted.
“Almost.” I took a second look at the surrounding dunes but failed to spot any brotherhood corpses amongst the dead. Kartara’s people must have recovered the bodies already. “How many did you lose?”
“Eighty-three,” she replied.
I sucked in a breath. The number was low, fantastically low. Still, their sacrifice had been real. That was eighty-three players who would not be coming back—ever.
I ducked my head in respect, before meeting Kartara’s gaze again. “I am honored by their sacrifice. Without your people’s help, without the sacrifice of the eighty-three fallen, me and my people would never have succeeded in doing what we set out to. No matter what happens from here on out, I promise I will not forget what the brotherhood has done for us.”
For a long moment, Kartara said nothing. “I can say the same, Havick,” she said finally and with equal gravity. “We have lost fewer people on this expedition than we have on any previous major rift dive, and that is due in no small part to your own intervention.” She inclined her head. “You have my thanks, Havick.”
On the tail end of the huntmistress’ words, a surprising Game message unfurled in my mind.
Your task, Brotherhood Obligations, has been updated. By the huntmistress’ own words, you have completed your first expedition with the brotherhood, albeit under the guise of Havick. Revised objective: Join the brotherhood on 2 more nether expeditions.
“Well, the Adjudicator has spoken, it seems,” Kartara said lightly, breaking the solemnity of the moment. “I guess that is one less expedition you owe us.”
I smiled. “I will not begrudge you the remaining two I owe you.” I paused. “Although, I am not so certain you will want my help after you hear what I have to say.”
Kartara’s smile faded. “Then, shall we get down to business?”
“Yes, but before we do—” I glanced at Cait—“can you cast a shield of silence spell?”
“I can,” the elf replied. “Why?”
“What I have to say shouldn’t be discussed out in the open.”
Duskar’s brows drew down. “Why the hell not? There is no one here but us!”
“That’s not quite true,” I murmured. “There are spores aplenty in the vicinity.”
He blinked.
The cause of the orc’s surprise was not what I assumed it to be, though—as I soon learned when Cait shook her head. “The spores have been dealt with,” the nether witch pronounced.
It was my turn to evince surprise. “You’re sure?”
She nodded. “I am. Go ahead and check for yourself if you wish.”
Not quite willing to take her word for it, I drew stamina. “I’ll do that,” I said and released the casting I wove.
You have cast vanish. You are invisible. Duration: 5 minutes.
“Huh, fancy that,” I said as the spell activated without a hitch, and without any telltale notices from the Game that I’d been detected either.
“So?” Duskar demanded impatiently when I reappeared after letting the buff lapse. “Tell us what you came to say.”
“One moment.” I turned to Cait. “I’d still like you to raise that shield of silence.”
Rolling her eyes, the nether witch glanced at the huntmistress.
“Do it,” Kartara replied. “I don’t think Havick is going to talk otherwise.”
The elf closed her eyes, and a moment later, another Game message opened before me.
You have been enclosed in a ward of silence. This is a sound barrier and will prevent any noise from intruding or escaping.
“Satisfied?” Cait asked.
I nodded. “Very.” I sank down to the ground, sitting cross-legged on the naked sand. “Sit, everyone. This is probably going to take a while.”
✵ ✵ ✵
You have sealed a Pact with Kartara, Duskar, Senzo, and Cait. For the next hour, you will not speak any falsehoods to them.
A quiet sigh went around the circle formed by me and the four brotherhood officers as the Pact I’d decided to enact went into effect. More than anything else, it would convince them of the truthfulness of my words.
“So,” Senzo exhaled. “It’s true then. You are a Powerful Initiate.”
I understood the reason for his remark. Pacts were the domain of Powers and even the least amongst them—a Powerful Initiate like me—could form one.
“I am,” I replied simply.
“What level are you?” Duskar asked quickly.
“Level two hundred and eighty-two,” I answered. That made me higher leveled than their huntmistress. I stole a glance in her direction, but Kartara’s face was devoid of expression.
“What ascendant Class did you adopt?” Cait asked curiously.
“I won’t answer that,” I said evenly.
Duskar’s brows drew down. “Why not?”
“Because not only will it endanger me, it will endanger your lives as well.”
“Nonsense,” the orc scoffed. “How can just knowing your Class be dangerous?”
“I won’t answer that either,” I replied equably.
Duskar’s face devolved into a scowl, but before he could retort, Kartara raised a hand, stopping him. “What about your other Classes, will you tell us what they are?”
“No.”
She nodded, seemingly unperturbed by my refusal. “Because it will be dangerous too?”
“Correct.”
“What about your name?” Kartara asked. “Can you tell us that?”
“There is nothing inherently dangerous about knowing my true name—” I began slowly.
“Well, thank the Powers for that,” Duskar muttered.
“—but I prefer not to share it all the same.”
The orc gnashed his teeth in frustration. “Goddamn.”
Ignoring him, I address Kartara again. “Knowing who I am may lead you to figure out things about myself that I prefer to remain secret for now. However, knowing my true name is not necessary and will have no bearing on the other truths I have to share.”
“I see,” the huntmistress murmured. Sitting back, she drummed her fingers on her leg. “Then perhaps it's best if you told us what you deem necessary before we question you further.”
I inclined my head in acknowledgment, then inhaling deeply, began, “So, obviously, my name is not Havick.”
“Obviously,” Senzo murmured.
I threw him a wry look. “What you need to know is as follows.” Holding up my right hand, I raised one finger. “I am a human Powerful Initiate and belong to a faction with only one other Power. She, too, is a Powerful Initiate like me. We are not allied with any of the Game’s other Powers. Our faction has discovered a hidden sector, one already cloaked by a shield generator, and which I fully expect to see claimed by tomorrow.”
I paused, scanning their faces. But none of the four evinced more than mild surprise. They had guessed or surmised for themselves much of what I’d just said.
I raised another finger. “When I said earlier that it would be dangerous, I was not being precise. Let me rectify that now. If knowledge of what I am spreads, I believe every Power in the Game would bestir themselves to see me and those allied with me dead. That includes Loken, Arinna, Tartar, and the Triumvirate.”
Cait gasped, Senzo’s eyes widened in alarm, and even Duskar paled. Only Kartara showed minimal reaction. But for the slight tightening of her lips, her expression remained unchanged.
I ticked off another point on my fingers. “Thirdly: I am committed to fighting the void. As is my faction. We believe them to be one of the biggest threats facing the Kingdom. If they are not stopped, they will consume the whole world.”
My pledge and heartfelt words seemed to please the brotherhood players, and I could almost see the tension ease from their shoulders.
“Fourth: there is more to the void than you think.” I paused, deliberating silently with myself on whether it was really necessary to reveal the next bit. But the brotherhood had a right to know the nature of the threat they were facing.
“The trees are sentient,” I stated badly.
The four said nothing, waiting for me to go on, but when I didn’t frowns creased their faces.
“Uhm, we knew that already,” Cait said delicately.
“Then perhaps you mistake my meaning. What I’m getting at is that the trees can talk.”
Palpable silence.
“What do you mean, they can talk?” the huntmistress asked carefully.
“Just that. The young void tree spoke to me in my mind.”
Alarm shot across the face of Senzo, Duskar, and Kartara. Only Cait appeared unperturbed by the news. “What did it have to say?” she asked eagerly.
I smiled. “He, not ‘it’,” I corrected. “That’s how the tree perceived himself. As for what he had to say: surprisingly little of value actually. But I did manage to gather he was the one to have created the nagas.”
“Oh my.” The elf sat back, biting her lip. “Are you sure about that?”
I nodded. “As sure I can be under the circumstances. It was why he got so angry at their destruction.”
“And it is also why you attacked the nagas in the first place, isn’t it?” Kartara guessed, composed once more. “You were trying to attract the tree’s attention.”
“Correct. It worked too.”
“That explains a lot,” Senzo whispered.
“It does indeed,” Kartara murmured. She focused on me again. “What else can you tell us about the trees?”
I hesitated again, wondering if I should go on.
“What is it?” the huntmistress asked, watching the play of emotions across my face intently.
“The young tree wasn’t the only one to speak to me. The mature tree did as well.”
More silence, and this time there was a profound and dangerous quality to it.
“Relax, he did not subvert my mind.”
Duskar inhaled sharply. How can you be so—”
“—sure he didn’t?” I finished for him grimly.
He nodded warily, looking more than a little worried.
“Because if he had, I would be dead,” I said bluntly. “I shut down the mental link between us before he could complete his spell. And my familiar has since scoured my mind. She is certain nothing is amiss.”
“Your familiar...” Kartara began. “That would be the stygian wolf?”
I nodded.
“How did you manage to acquire a stygian for a familiar?” Cait demanded.
I smiled tightly. “That’s another one of those questions I won’t answer.”
She sighed. “Can we see her at least?”
“Not right now. She’s… busy.” I raised my right hand anew, splaying all my fingers again. “But back to my list. There’s one more thing you all need to know. The fifth and most important.” I paused, leaving my words hanging there.
“What’s that?” Senzo prompted.
I drew in a deep breath. They would not like what I had to say next, I was sure.
“Half of the Endless Dungeon has already fallen to the void.”
Comments
Alexander C Hyde
Duskar inhaled sharply. (“)How can you be so—”
David Brewer
Not to be overly critical, but your reference to Safyre seems to have an error. "She, too, has not ascended (not ascendant) to the rank of minor Power."
David Brewer
You win Luna.
Tom Elliot (Rohan Vider)
lol, ye, still alive :P
Tom Elliot (Rohan Vider)
You're right. A mistake here on my part. Rephrased to: “Technically, I’m a Powerful Acolyte,” I replied. “But I haven’t advanced my ascendant Class to rank two, so I’m not yet a minor Power.” and “I am a human Powerful Acolyte and belong to a faction with only one other Power. She, too, has not ascendant to the rank of minor Power. ..."
Tom Elliot (Rohan Vider)
tx
obiwann
Lmfao wow. I’m speshul
David Brewer
... Michael from Grand Game and Jamie (Sinclair) from Dragon Mage? 🤣
obiwann
Who are Michael and jamie?
David Brewer
I suspect, he, Michael, and Jamie are having a high level planning meeting.
Grady Perry
Fr where he go?
obiwann
Wellness check on @tom Elliot. lol you alive buddy??
David Brewer
I'm expecting that if they don't know the locations, or merely just have hints, he'll negotiate with them to locate them. Perhaps not wake as the Brotherhood is comprised of forcesworn and the Guardians might react... aggressively to that. It's a good compromise between "allying" with Michael and choosing to cut off ties. And after explaining about half the dungeon being lost or more accurately having no real protection from the void... they should be eager to help in this. But yeah, if he wakes the final 4 guardians it's reasonable to hope he can get himself (possibly Safyre too) a chance to run a pristine tier 7 dungeon (maybe more).
Mike
I'm hoping that the brotherhood know of locations of the other guardians. Remember that map kartara showed him? I'm hoping he saves more Guardians and if that's the case... A couple more boons can maybe help secure higher tiered dungeons? That's a theory I have at least.
David Brewer
True, but they also have another problem. I strongly suspect the majority of known tier 7 dungeons in the Game are hoarded by the Forces. Honestly, it's part of the problem Michael has... clearing tier 6 dungeons will be slow (and he doesn't have one anyway), and I very much doubt anyone rents tier 7 dungeons... especially to people they can't verify as being "allied". But maybe one of sectors endangered by the void (Rifts W, Y, and Z) will be yet another unknown sector AND have an active (i.e. not lost to the void) tier 7 dungeon. Admittedly, it is possible (if unlikely) the Brotherhood has a hidden sector that contains one as well.
obiwann
They might very soon have a power to protect them… allowing them to grow their own powers.. 👌
David Brewer
Yes. Because as she herself stated... they usually spend more lives for any significant rift dive. Most stygians are in the range between 100 and 200 and large scale incursions into the nethersphere mean facing thousands of stygians. As most of the Brotherhood's soldiers are also likely between 100-200 they have to rely on teamwork to defeat larger numbers of very dangerous enemies. Also, they lost 83 players while facing a harbinger. Because the Brotherhood has exactly 1 player (Kartara) over level 250 and she's a summoner which generally means her ability to face equal level foes is reduced compared to normal mage types in exchange for being able to offset large numbers of enemies with minions. (I don't know if that actually applies, we haven't seen her abilities in combat as Michael was busy when her minions fought the flying serpents). Regardless, the Brotherhood has a significant disadvantage dealing with things like the harbinger because their players that have evolved classes can't level to 250 OR risk slaying harbingers... the Brotherhood has no Power to protect their powerful Initiates from the Powers after all (or they stay hidden). Also, as I've noted elsewhere the Brotherhood probably possesses less than 100 elites and this rift venture involved facing 70 naga. Ultimately, it wasn't that losing 83 soldiers was worth a netherstone or the resources from the naga. Closing the rift made them willing to accept the price. Every open rift (especially tier 7 or 8 rifts) means another sector threatened by the void. The Brotherhood at present can't take the fight to the trees (once they go beyond being saplings)... so they are forced to play defense and struggle to close rifts before they become to dangerous for the Brotherhood to risk trying to close. Edit: It's worth noting the Brotherhood deployed approximately 2000 players to face a harbinger, 70 nagas, and around 10,000 lesser stygians. Less than 5% casualties? Tragic for the dead and their friends and family. But honestly really light.
obiwann
From Kartaras perspective… 83 lives never to return was worth the cost of a netherstone and material from the Nagas, and closing a rift? (She didn’t know or believe the tree even COULD be killed so that doesn’t count). Is it because with the stone they can visit an infested area and treat it like their own private dungeon? (With experience gains and no loot)?? Hardly worth any lives id think… considering they surrendered many weapons to offset the naga materials. I guess im saying that balance sheet doesn’t…. Errr balance.
Michael valerio
He hasn’t obtained a legendary class
Michael valerio
You’ve slain a tier 7 creature, deepening your Power Mark. Congratulations, Michael! You have slain your 3rd tier 7 creature, thereby advancing another step down the paths of Power and acquiring the Powerful Acolyte Mark. As a result of your new Power Mark, your higher evolution trait has advanced to higher evolution II. This trait allows you to evolve your ascendant Class to rank 2. But before you can do so, you must either deepen your Wolf Mark further or reach level 300. Note, once you acquire a legendary Class you will be prohibited from attacking players who themselves do not bear a Power Mark.
David Brewer
Eh, envoys existed in the era of the Ancients too. Essentially, they are those people who choose (or in some cases like Ceruvax can't) not to gain the powerful Initiate mark by swearing to an existing Power. Or in the extremely rare case like Stayne swearing allegiance after gaining the mark because you were hunted and either surrendered or swore after dying. They are typically around the same level of power as Michael except his Ascendant classes give him significant additional abilities. They asked about envoys, my opinion, because any envoy is a trusted minion of a Power... thus him being an envoy would be a clear sign he means to ensnare the Brotherhood into his master's faction. Presumably, being a sworn or envoy grants some actual benefit to the player beyond the basic benefit for followers (up to 30 "free" attribute points, and the hope that your Power will protect and guide you in the game). But if so, Tom hasn't shared. Otherwise yes, most players likely won't realize that becoming a Power before 300 is an indicator of not being forcesworn and the ones that do know would be expected to understand about the Houses. Edit: TLDR version... envoys are the players above level 250 (generally) that choose to serve existing Powers. Powerful Initiates are the players above level 250 (again generally) that wish to become Powers.
Michael Rabbitt
I would say only if the people he’s talking to are familiar with the ancients. They did ask if he was an envoy which would be about the equivalent in the order of new powers
Alexander C Hyde
I think he meant the end of the conversation.
Samuel Strode
End? This story ends? No you haven’t been paying attention to the author there will never be an end he will leave us wanting at the end
David Brewer
I would expect so, yes. But we can't actually be certain of that. Tom has provided us the Wolf mark ascension path (and of course the other Houses should mirror that path), and the power mark path. But at no point has he explained the difference between a mark of Supreme *chosen Force* and Pack Protector (or the equivalent for the other Houses). We do know that having a Supreme Light mark permitted Safyre to become a Powerful Initiate, and obtain the Ascendant class Bastion of Light. But until Tom either explains the path for force marks or possibly until Michael meets up with Safyre and she reveals she has gained her legendary class by killing the other 2 Harbingers or that she can't obtain it, despite killing them and gaining Powerful Acolyte, until she reaches 300. And notably this doesn't mean that most players would understand the significance of being a Power and not level 300.
obiwann
Isn’t it telling that he is a scion if he can’t attack before level 300?
jb qspam
And us for having to wait for the end :)
David Brewer
Mm I think they are using powerful Initiate as short hand for still being in the transitional state between player and Power (Powers can't attack players, other than in "self defense" but Michael still can). Which he is. Powerful Acolyte is the next advancement of the power mark and necessary to become a "true" Power by upgrading your Ascendant Class from epic to legendary with all the attendant benefits. It's confusing because Michael does have the mark Powerful Acolyte, but he can't upgrade his Ascendant class yet... thus he isn't a Power. And ultimately "truth" depends on your belief... thus Michael can shade the truth by saying he's a Powerful Initiate despite having advanced the mark because he clearly isn't a Power.
R Luna
In the last few chapters Michael says he is a Powerful Initiate, but at the end of Book 8’s chapters, I thought his mark grew to Powerful Acolyte. Is it the same but different wording? I am curious because in his truths he admits to being a Powerful Initiate and not an Acolyte.
Samuel Strode
Need at least three more chapters for that
Samuel Strode
Bald works that conversation will have every one pulling their hair out
David Brewer
One could argue he did say it badly. 😉
David Brewer
This is 10. It started at 580. So instead of 1-10. We got 0-9.
Grady Perry
I thought he said 2 per day but this is only number 9? There’s one missing somewhere.
Harley Dalton Jr.
Thanks for the chapter.
David Brewer
I wasn't suggesting you thought that. But the Brotherhood has survived by being cautious. If as you suggested they are in effect a sleeper cell of loyal scions they'll be less eager to jump in just yet. Either way I'd expect a "safer" way to ally with Michael than open support. As for hiding Michael's affiliation... that's fairly irrelevant where it concerns Loken, hiding from all of the other Powers? Vital. Loken, however, "knows" Michael is a Wolf. Hiding that he's become even "merely" an Initiate is the critical detail. And yes, super sad to wait until sometime next week to learn more.
obiwann
I don’t expect this book to be them taking on the powers lol. But absolutely learning about being a power and what he going to have do to go forward. With doppelgänger I expect he can trick lokens envoy enough to be 90% himself with his house affiliations hidden. Greatly looking fwd to seeing this book play out
David Brewer
That's possible. But frankly I'd expect a more measured offer. At present neither the Brotherhood nor Michael are ready to face all the Powers. But something like agreeing to locate the last 4 guardians, or helping to find a tier 7 dungeon to aid Michael's advancement. Yeah that's more likely in my opinion.
obiwann
I wouldn’t be surprised if kartara says “we have heard enough… you are raising a house from what bloodline we don’t know.. hence why we wanted to know ur class. we couldn’t hide from the politics of the game forever… and if what you say is true about 1/2 of the kingdom falling already.. that time is obviously over. we stood with the primes eons ago.. we understand ur need for secrecy .. and the brotherhood stands with you when u call.
Blakuis Woolf
Really ripping off the bandaid with it lol. Soo yea... we're pretty much screwed but hey we're not dead yet guys!!!
Alexander C Hyde
“The trees are sentient,” I stated (baldly)badly.
R Luna
Thanks for the chapters! I am loving the lore explanation of the Void
David B
Neeeeddd moorreeee
Alexander C Hyde
Ignoring him, I (addressed)address Kartara again.
David Brewer
That's definitely an aggressive way to start the explanations. Heh... "the Powers' foolishness has doomed half the dungeon..." lol
obiwann
Yay
Suraj Rodrigo
Tftc
