Harm didn't know how long he had stood there staring at the swirling patterns of misty silver within the black orb of glass. It was mesmerising but also frightening to a degree that made a cold sweat trickle down his back. As it did, a tremor ran through him.
He questioned his sanity even more as the sky darkened, standing staring at the orb, transfixed by its haunting beauty. The only sounds were the return of birds tweeting in the trees and the movement of an animal in the underbrush. As he stood, a stiff wind struck the upper branches of the trees, whispering and calling to him.
He blinked rapidly as the hoot of an owl on its early evening prowl broke him from his trance.
Have I just spoken to a god? He thought.
The voice didn't reply.
He turned the crystal ball over in his hands again before he identified it:
Crystal Ball of Following - Soulbound
Grade: Astral
This artefact allows the soulbound owner to communicate telepathically with their followers. As long as it is in the owner's possession, it does not require holding.
As your number of followers increases, so will the benefits you receive.
1-50—Rage—This lasts for two minutes or until broken by the leader. It significantly boosts your followers' morale, removing all fear and uncertainty. However, when completed, it can leave followers confused or dazed.
51-250 - Leaders - You may assign up to five party leaders to your followers. Party leaders will receive a 10% boost to all of their attributes.
251-1000 - Influence - Your presence alone increases the attributes of all followers by 10%. Party leaders receive a 20% bonus to all attributes. Up to ten party leaders may be assigned.
1001-5000 - Commander - Followers' attributes increase by 15% base, and party leaders' attributes increase by 25%. Up to fifty party leaders may be assigned.
5000+ - General - Followers' attributes increase by 20% base, and party leaders' attributes increase by 30%. A new party leader may be assigned for every 100 followers.
Range: Unbound
Followers Limit: Unbound
"What?" Harm said aloud. He rechecked the crystal ball. It definitely stated that its grade was astral, and the skills it listed were unbelievable. Harm had never seen anything like it before in his life, and he had handled and examined some fantastic pieces of equipment throughout his career as an adventurer. Some of his previous colleagues owned items that he could only dream of. This small glass orb, which he held in his hand, took it to a completely different level. It also meant that if Harm ever wanted to get the most out of it, he would have to increase his following. He had no idea how he had even started to get followers. There wasn't an explanation provided.
The consideration of what the item pointed towards filled Harm with both dread and excitement. He had never even commanded a party before he took over the clan. Yes, it felt natural to him, but how could he ever consider leading 5000 or more followers? It was insane even to consider, especially as this item was a tool of war. It had no other purpose. Harm considered the behaviour of the goblins when Murgo's clan had visited them. The Rage skill seemed very similar to what happened to the clan members immediately after Harm had slain Murgo.
As Harm stood in shock, staring at the crystal ball and the immense power and potential he held in his hand, his hand shook visibly, his pulse quickened, and nausea gripped and pulled at his stomach. The sheer difference this item could make in any conflict was unbelievable. He felt so nervous he fought back bile, his breathing coming as a tremor, and his teeth gritted.
Enchanted items followed a grading system based on the benefits they offered and their power. The grading system was the same for all items: common, good, rare, epic, mythic, legendary and finally astral.
Harm had heard of astral items, as all beings of Amathera had. The problem was that not only were they beyond rare, but they were only ever granted by deities. He almost threw the crystal ball into the woods as the realisation sank in fully, not just the fact that he had spoken to a god, but also what this item meant. When the god of death stated he would become his tool and his weapon of justice, he now had an idea how.
Or maybe he was just going insane, and none of this was real.
He added the crystal ball to his inventory and then recalled it. It reappeared. Harm did this three more times, and each time it reappeared. It was real. He had been granted an astral item, an item beyond legend, an item that stories may one day be written about. There had been items over the centuries. The Torch of Aslastis, Barthos's Blade and the Crown of Dragons, to name just three. All these items were Astral, and tales were told about their wielders and the benefits these items brought.
It took Harm a while before he eventually attempted to speak to the god again.
You want me to be a leader? Harm thought.
There was a low chuckle. You already are; you have been leading them to me all along! Have you not taken over three clans and combined their forces? You are more than you believe! Gain more followers and grow!
You're still here then? Harm thought as the voice returned.
I will always be here. As I told you, your pull is strong. Few have I ever spoken to so easily.
Harm was sure now that what he believed had been his sanity slowly drifting away was actually a god that had been playing mind games with him. Manipulating him as it wished, pulling him in a direction that he now followed, willing or not. Had his family's deaths been part of the gods' plan? Or had his weakness for alcohol? He may never know for sure, but whatever it had been caused by, he now believed was his new reality. Reflexively, he rubbed his brow, his head throbbing, stomach twisting.
How do I use this? Harm asked.
Continue to gain followers through fear or power! The voice replied.
A further shiver ran down Harm's spine, bile again attempting to rise.
Harm steadied himself before he asked. How do I gain followers?
You already have, and I have told you this already. The voice said, sounding upset.
But how can I possibly gain followers through fear? If a being fears me, why would they follow me or become a follower? Harm asked.
Security is beyond many things! If you offer security and protection to beings, many will take that over anything else! They may fear you, but they would rather be on your side than against you if you wield the power!
Harm considered that it made sense, but couldn't directly consider using fear as a purely emotional mechanism to gain followers.
You should check your notifications; they will list all your followers! The voice sighed deeply.
He navigated to his notifications, a function he'd ignored for years. After a moment of searching with his new purpose, he found what he was looking for: a list of followers. There were thousands of unread messages from all his fights, his illness, his recovery, and so on. Everything that occurred to a being was listed. He eventually found the first entry, which was buried deep within the listings, and he removed all others. Now he knew what he was looking for. He hadn't spent this amount of time on his display since he gained his level 20 perks, years previously.
Dafu has started to follow you.
Nathic has started to follow you.
Jillew has started to follow you.
Cassew has started to follow you.
Luubu has started to follow you.
The list went on and on, totalling thirty-eight followers. Harm rechecked his display, and at the bottom of his character sheet, under his attributes listing, there was a single line.
Followers: 36 (2 deceased)
Harm frowned, then considered that both Cassew and Orlew had been mentioned as followers, and both were now deceased because of him. How could he ever allow himself to be responsible for the deaths of more? Cassew's death had angered him, and Orlew dying at the ambush had sent him into a rage. What would happen as his remorse grew over those who died under his leadership? Would his mind fracture? Would he lose himself in a pit of despair? Would his rage be so great that he would attack anyone around him? Harm had no answers, yet every question entered his mind, and the voice didn't reply.
It took Harm even longer to fight back his emotions; eventually, he sat again by a tree. It was too much to take in, and he felt tired, confused, uncertain and scarred. A god had put its faith in him, but why him? He had been a run-of-the-mill adventurer and a humble dairy farmer. It didn't make sense.
As Harm sat contemplating his new life and role, he reopened his display. It said that he could communicate telepathically with his followers. After opening the followers list, he focused on Dafu's name. It gave him the option to select all, groups or individuals. Harm selected Dafu's name and highlighted it. This then allowed Harm to assign Dafo to a group. He left him as an individual before thinking about speaking to Dafu.
Dafu, can you hear me? Harm thought.
There was no reply.
Dafu?
Nothing.
"Well, that's not working," he said. Harm stood, shaking his head. "Fuck this," he said as he started back to where the party was, feeling torn between frustration and confusion.
Luubu was sitting in the clearing alone, her short sword out, cleaning it. Harm opened his display and selected her under his followers screen.
Luubu? Harm thought.
Harm watched as Luubu frowned and looked up. Harm was over thirty feet from her.
"You're back then?" Luubu said quietly.
"You heard me?" Harm said as he neared.
"Yeah. You just shouted my name. I know there's unlikely to be anyone around here, but still probably not a good idea to shout."
Harm looked thoughtful. "I shouted?"
"Yes. I just said that," Luubu's frown deepened.
What about now? Harm thought.
Luubu was still looking at Harm, her face scrunched with confusion.
"How did you do that? You spoke without moving your lips."
I'm not speaking. Harm smiled now.
The thought brought even more confusion to Luubu's face.
"It's a neat trick, but I'm not sure what good it is not moving your lips."
"Stay here. I am going to walk off, and then hopefully you will understand," Harm said. He again crossed the clearing and moved at least forty feet this time before he thought again.
You hear me now?
This time, he watched Luubu's eyes open wider.
I am talking to you telepathically. Harm thought.
Luubu's face was now one of alarm as she stared at Harm.
"How?" she said, not shouting but loud enough to be heard across the space between them. The other goblins looked at Luubu and then at Harm, all of them confused as to what was going on.
Think about your reply. Harm thought.
Like this? Luubu's voice appeared in his mind.
Harm felt a spark of excitement. It wasn't an enjoyable sensation as his stomach was still churning over everything going on, and he belched quietly.
Yes. Like that. Harm smiled at Luubu.
In the name of the great dragons. How can you do this? Luubu thought.
Initially, Harm actually had no idea what to reply. Did he tell Luubu that a god had given him a gift? No, that wouldn't do. Especially the god of death, Harm, had never paid attention to whether the goblins even prayed to the gods, and if they did, which ones. Suddenly, announcing the god of death as his patron may not have been well received.
When I broke the chest open, I found an item. I didn't think anything of it initially, thinking it was just a jewel, Harm thought as he approached Luubu again. Once he reached her, he took the crystal ball from his inventory and showed it to her.
"Here," Harm said, handing it to Luubu. Luubu turned the crystal ball in her hands and watched the mist swirl across its surface, entranced by the swirling surface. Harm wanted to test the comment that the crystal ball's description had stated that it had to be in his possession to work.
Can you hear me? Harm thought.
Luubu didn't reply. At least that confirmed it did need to remain on his person.
Luubu frowned. "It's beautiful, but it's just a glass orb."
"You can't identify it?" Harm asked.
"Yes. It's just a rare quality glass orb," Luubu said, handing it back, shrugging.
"That's not what I see," Harm said, identifying it again and getting the exact details as before.
Luubu shook her head, looking at Harm almost quizzically, questioning Harm. "If you can speak to me telepathically. I guess you can do to others as well?"
Her look changed to one of uncertainty, and Harm felt as though she was critiquing him.
"Yes, I could do so with everyone in this raid party. All of you are my followers," Harm said, unsure if saying they were followers would be a problem. It was strange thinking that the goblins were even following him. He didn't understand what he had done to deserve such treatment or trust. "I am going to add the others to the party and see what happens," Harm said. He opened his character sheet and selected all the members present, adding them to a party. He couldn't assign a leader to the party as the option wouldn't begin until he reached 51 followers.
He looked at Luubu with trepidation. "Okay, here goes," Harm said.
Please listen. I am communicating with you through telepathy. If you can hear me, then please look at me. Harm thought.
Confusion and bewilderment filled the goblins' faces as they slowly turned to look at Harm. A couple were as far away as eighty feet on the outer edge of the area where they had hidden the bodies and wagons, yet they still turned.
That was when Harm got bombarded by a cacophony of thoughts, muddled and intermingled in response to his. He could make out two distinctive voices of Nathic and Jillew amongst them, questioning, and then a voice screamed in his mind as though terror had just befallen it. Harm turned to see one of the younger goblins who had triggered such a fearful thought. He had heard a couple of them speak in response to his comment, which was alarming and confusing. Harm opened his character sheet and looked at the followers area, where there was a silence option. He triggered it, as his head had started to pound from the pressure of those communicating.
The crystal ball stated it didn't have a range limit, which was why Harm tried Dafu first. It had annoyed him that he hadn't succeeded.
Why could I not communicate with the Dafu before? Harm asked.
The voice laughed. Simple, your friend was asleep.
Harm hadn't even considered that possibility, which would make perfect sense. That also highlighted a limitation in the use of the crystal ball. His followers were required to be awake and couldn't be woken up by his thoughts.
