ExtraHidden 1 of Wanderlust

The Traveler’s Compass

This unassuming brass compass, with its intricate etchings and worn needle, seems to hum with a subtle energy. It is said to have guided countless adventurers through treacherous landscapes and uncharted territories.

Lore: As you hold the compass, you feel a pull towards the unknown, a yearning for adventure and discovery. The needle spins erratically, pointing not to true north, but to the next exciting destination on your journey.

Tier 1 Stats:

• Slot: Trinket
• Skills: Survival +1, Athletics +1
• Passives:
  • Unerring Path: You have advantage on checks to navigate through unfamiliar terrain or avoid getting lost.
  • Traveler’s Intuition: You gain a +2 bonus to initiative rolls when exploring new locations or encountering unexpected challenges.
• Active Magics: (Recharge on a long rest)
  • Farsight: As an action, you can glimpse a distant location or landmark within a 1-mile radius, gaining valuable information about its terrain, inhabitants, or potential dangers.
  • Fleetfoot: For one hour, you can move at double your normal speed and ignore difficult terrain while traveling.
• Tags: Trinket, Exploration, Navigation, Movement

Note: This item is designed for roleplay purposes and may not be suitable for combat-heavy campaigns. The Traveler’s Compass is a tool for exploration and discovery, not a weapon.

The Traveler’s Compass, with its allure of adventure and discovery, would likely be found in shops frequented by explorers, wanderers, and those seeking new horizons. Such shops could be located in bustling port cities, tucked away in alleyways or nestled near bustling marketplaces where tales of distant lands are shared. These shops might specialize in maps, rare curios, exotic goods, and other tools for adventurers.

Given its common rarity and tier 1 status, the compass wouldn’t command an exorbitant price. It could be exchanged for other valuable trinkets, exotic spices, or a modest sum of gold. Seasoned adventurers might even trade knowledge of hidden paths or uncharted islands for the compass, recognizing its potential to unlock new experiences.

The transaction itself would likely involve more than just a simple exchange of goods. The shopkeeper might regale the buyer with stories of the compass’s previous owners and their legendary journeys. They might offer cryptic clues about hidden treasures or dangerous routes, testing the buyer’s resolve and thirst for adventure. This immersive experience would not only elevate the transaction but also establish a sense of camaraderie between the buyer and seller, both united by their shared passion for exploration.

Roleplay in different environments:

• Defensive Roleplay:
  • Evasion: In the face of danger, the user can consult the compass to quickly determine the safest escape route. The Unerring Path passive aids in navigating through unfamiliar terrain, ensuring a swift and successful retreat.
  • Ambush Preparation: When anticipating a confrontation, the compass’ Farsight ability allows the user to scout the surrounding area, identifying potential ambush points or advantageous positions for defense.
  • Resource Gathering: In a survival situation, the compass can guide the user to sources of food, water, or shelter, increasing their chances of endurance.
• Offensive Roleplay:
  • Tactical Maneuvering: During combat, the compass can be used to outmaneuver opponents. The Fleetfoot ability allows the user to quickly reposition, flank enemies, or seize strategic locations.
  • Surprise Attacks: The compass’ Farsight ability can be used to scout enemy positions and plan surprise attacks, giving the user a tactical advantage.
  • Pursuit: When chasing a fleeing target, the compass’ Unerring Path passive ensures the user stays on track, even through unfamiliar territory.
• Environmental Considerations:
  • Dense Jungle: The compass’ navigation abilities are invaluable in a dense jungle where paths are easily lost. The Farsight ability can be used to locate clearings, landmarks, or potential hazards.
  • Mountainous Terrain: The compass can help the user navigate treacherous mountain paths, avoiding cliffs, avalanches, or other dangers. The Fleetfoot ability can be used to quickly ascend or descend steep slopes.
  • Open Sea: On the open sea, the compass can be used to navigate towards distant islands, avoiding storms or dangerous currents. The Farsight ability can be used to spot approaching ships or potential hazards on the horizon.

Perception of Activation:

• Sight: The brass compass begins to glow faintly with a soft blue light. The needle, which was previously still, starts to spin rapidly.
• Touch: The compass feels warm to the touch, and a tingling sensation may be felt in the hand holding it.
• Sound: A soft humming sound may be heard emanating from the compass.
• Smell: A faint metallic scent may be detected.
• Taste: N/A
• Extra-Sensory Perceptions:
  • Intuition: A sense of anticipation or excitement may be felt, as if the compass is urging the user to embark on an adventure.
  • Empathy: A wave of warmth and confidence may wash over the user, as if the compass is channeling the energy of past adventurers who have used it.
  • Clairvoyance: The user may have a brief vision of a hidden path or a distant land.
• Positives:
  • The activation of the compass is a sign that the user is on the right track and that their journey will be successful.
  • The compass’s glow and rapid spinning can be a source of inspiration and motivation.
  • The extra-sensory perceptions associated with the compass can provide valuable guidance and support on the user’s journey.
• Negatives:
  • The activation of the compass can be startling or overwhelming for some users.
  • The compass’s glow and rapid spinning may attract unwanted attention.
  • The extra-sensory perceptions associated with the compass can be confusing or misleading.

Crafting Recipe:  The Traveler’s Compass

• Materials Needed:
  • A magnetized needle forged from starmetal, a rare alloy said to be infused with celestial energy.
  • A circular casing of polished brass, etched with symbols of exploration and wanderlust.
  • A shard of lodestone, a naturally magnetic mineral, to enhance the compass’s directional pull.
  • A vial of quicksilver, also known as mercury, to facilitate the compass’s sensitivity to magical currents.
  • A feather from a bird of prey known for its keen eyesight and long-distance flight.
• Tools Required:
  • Metalworking tools for shaping and assembling the compass components.
  • Etching tools for inscribing the symbolic markings on the brass casing.
  • A small furnace or forge for heating and treating the starmetal needle.
  • A set of delicate tweezers for handling the lodestone shard and quicksilver.
• Skill Requirements:
  • Proficiency in metalworking and etching.
  • Basic knowledge of alchemy and enchantments.
  • A strong sense of direction and an adventurous spirit.
• Crafting Steps:
  • Preparation: Cleanse all materials with pure water and imbue them with positive energy through meditation or prayer.
  • Needle Enhancement: Heat the starmetal needle in the furnace or forge until it glows red hot. Quench it in the quicksilver, then carefully magnetize it using the lodestone shard.
  • Casing Preparation: Etch the symbols of exploration and wanderlust onto the polished brass casing. These symbols should represent the crafter’s personal aspirations and connection to the spirit of adventure.
  • Assembly: Carefully insert the magnetized needle into the brass casing, ensuring it spins freely. Add a small drop of quicksilver to the needle’s pivot point for increased sensitivity.
  • Enchantment: Attach the bird of prey feather to the compass’s underside. Channel your adventurous spirit into the compass, imbuing it with the desire for exploration and discovery.
  • Activation: Hold the compass in your hands and focus your intention on a distant destination or a path unknown. The compass should respond by glowing faintly and the needle spinning erratically, indicating the direction of your next adventure.

Note: The success of this crafting recipe depends heavily on the skill and intent of the crafter. A true adventurer’s spirit and a deep-seated yearning for exploration are essential for creating a truly potent Traveler’s Compass.

Saga of the Guiding Orb

In eons past, before the annals of man, there roamed a wanderer, nameless and boundless. They sought not gold nor glory, but the thrill of the uncharted, the song of distant horizons.

In their possession, a curious device, the Guiding Orb. Not of earthly make, this contraption hummed with a celestial resonance. Its needle danced not to the whims of magnetic north, but to the whispers of destiny, leading the wanderer through perilous peaks and forgotten valleys.

Legend tells of the orb’s genesis. A fallen star, its heart of molten metal cooled by the breath of the moon, was forged into a needle, forever seeking the celestial embrace. A shell of sun-kissed brass, adorned with glyphs of forgotten tongues, encased the needle, shielding its magic from prying eyes.

Whispers speak of a quicksilver tear, shed by a mercurial spirit, anointing the needle’s pivot, granting it the fluidity of thought and the unpredictability of dreams. A feather from a sky-soaring raptor, a testament to boundless freedom, graced the orb’s base, a symbol of unyielding wanderlust.

With this Guiding Orb, the wanderer traversed realms unknown, their footsteps echoing through the corridors of time. They braved scorching deserts, scaled frosted peaks, and plumbed the depths of unfathomable oceans, forever chasing the elusive horizon.

The orb, it is said, whispered secrets of forgotten civilizations, revealed hidden oases in desolate wastelands, and guided the wanderer through treacherous storms. It was a beacon in the darkness, a constant companion in the solitude of the unknown.

Through trials and tribulations, the wanderer and their Guiding Orb became one, their destinies intertwined. The orb’s magic amplified the wanderer’s spirit, fueling their thirst for adventure and empowering them to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Though the wanderer’s name has faded into the mists of time, the legend of the Guiding Orb endures. It is said to lie dormant, awaiting a kindred spirit, a soul yearning for the uncharted, to awaken its slumbering magic.

Moral of the Tale: Seek not the well-trodden path, but forge your own destiny. For in the embrace of the unknown, the spirit soars, and true adventure awaits.

Suggested conversions to other systems:

Call of Cthulhu (7th Edition)

    Name: Traveler’s Compass

• Type: Arcane Artifact (Trinket)
• Description: This compass guides explorers towards the unknown, offering glimpses of distant locations and aiding in navigation.
• Mechanics:
  • Once per game session, the user can attempt a Luck roll to gain a vague vision of a location relevant to their current goal.
  • The user gains a +10 bonus to Navigate skill rolls.
  • If lost, the compass will inexplicably reappear in the user’s possession after 24 hours.

Blades in the Dark

    Name: Wanderer’s Compass

• Type: Gear (Weird)
• Effect:
  • During a score, the compass can be used to gain insight into the layout of a location or the movements of targets.
  • The compass can be used in downtime to reduce the risk of complications during travel or exploration.

Dungeons & Dragons (5th Edition)

    Name: Compass of Wanderlust

• Rarity: Uncommon
• Type: Wondrous item
• Properties:
  • The compass always points towards the nearest location of interest to the user (determined by the DM).
  • Once per long rest, the user can use an action to cast the Locate Object spell without expending a spell slot.

Knave

    Name: Traveler’s Compass

• Type: Trinket
• Tags: Exploration, Navigation
• Effect:
  • The compass grants advantage on Navigation checks.
  • Once per day, the user can ask the GM a question about their surroundings, and the GM must answer truthfully to the best of their knowledge.

Fate (Accelerated/Core)

    Name: Compass of Wanderlust

• Type: Aspect
• Description: This compass guides you towards adventure and the unknown.
• Invokes:
  • Add a +2 bonus to overcome rolls when navigating unfamiliar terrain or seeking out new experiences.
  • Create an advantage when exploring, potentially revealing hidden paths or secret locations.
• Compels:
  • The compass may lead you astray or into dangerous situations in pursuit of the unknown.

Numenera & Cypher System

    Name: Wayfinder’s Compass

• Level: 1
• Form: Artifact
• Effect: When you activate the compass, you can expend 1 Speed point to gain a clearer understanding of your surroundings or the path ahead. This could reveal hidden paths, dangers, or opportunities for exploration.
• Depletion: The compass’s energy is finite. After a certain number of uses (determined by the GM), it may need time to recharge before it can be used again.

Pathfinder (Second Edition)

    Name: Compass of the Wanderer

• Aura: Faint divination
• Level: 1
• Price: 25 gp
• Activation: 1 action
• Effect: The compass needle points towards the nearest location of interest or significance to the user. This could be a hidden treasure, a source of danger, or a location relevant to the character’s goals. The compass also grants a +1 item bonus to Survival checks made to navigate or track.

Savage Worlds

    Name: Explorer’s Compass

• Type: Trinket
• Description: This compass guides the user towards adventure and discovery.
• Effect: The compass always points towards the nearest location of interest to the user (determined by the GM). Additionally, the user gains a +2 bonus to Navigation and Survival rolls when using the compass.

Shadowrun (Sixth World)

    Name: Wayfarer’s Compass

• Category: Gear (Technomancer Focus)
• Availability: 12R
• Concealability: 2
• Cost: 10,000¥
• Description: This compass, seemingly mundane, contains a resonance chamber linked to the astral plane, allowing for glimpses into the flow of time and space.
• Game Effect:
  • The compass provides a +2 dice pool bonus to Navigation tests, allowing for a clearer understanding of optimal routes and potential hazards.
  • Once per day, the user can activate the compass as a Complex Action to gain a fleeting vision of a path leading to their objective. This vision lasts for 3 seconds and reveals potential obstacles and alternative routes.

Starfinder

    Name: Explorer’s Compass

• Level: 1
• Price: 200 credits
• Category: Technological
• Description: This handheld compass contains a miniaturized dimensional sensor array, allowing it to detect spatial anomalies and provide guidance in unfamiliar environments.
• Activation: 1 standard action
• Effect:
  • The compass grants a +1 circumstance bonus to Survival checks to navigate or avoid hazards.
  • Once per day, the user can use the compass to activate the Augury divination spell (as per the spell description).

Traveller (Mongoose 2nd Edition)

    Name: Navigator’s Compass

• Skill: Navigation +1
• Description: This advanced compass utilizes a combination of gravimetric and dimensional sensors to provide accurate readings even in hyperspace.
• Game Effect:
  • The compass grants a +1 DM bonus to all Navigation skill checks.
  • Once per adventure, the user can activate the compass to gain a +2 DM bonus to a single Navigation skill check to avoid a hazard or make a difficult course correction.

Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay (4th Edition)

    Name: Waystone Compass

• Type: Arcane Artefact
• Description: This ancient compass, etched with runes of warding and guidance, is said to have been crafted by the first Wayfarers of the Old World.
• Game Effect:
  • The compass always points towards a destination of significance to the bearer, whether it be a hidden treasure, a sacred site, or a place of personal importance.
  • Once per day, the bearer can use the compass to activate a Waystone, allowing them to teleport a short distance (determined by the GM). However, each use of the Waystone inflicts 1 Corruption point on the user.