‘Luschian’ nearly approaches the modernized concrete jungle, his horse slowing down to a steady trot as the dirt road they had been traveling on blends and molds into concrete.

The duo enters the city, and stores greet their customers through transparent windows; various establishments teeming with life. As Pomp passes by on the sidewalk, he scans every store with interest -- products on full display with ‘Now Hiring!’ posters.

Granted, he did garner some curious eyes, considering he was on horseback while moving ‘iron carriages’ -- cars -- passed him on the road. He supposes he couldn’t blame people for gawking at the out-of-place circumstances.

But he also could care less. It’s not like they were looking at him, exactly. And that’s just how he wanted it to be.

“Look, mommy! Horsie!”

Several children would momentarily awe at the Guide’s steed, the ever-innocent curiosity of youth. But are then beckoned to continue on by their parents.

“Come on, sweetie. Let’s go get some breakfast.”

……….

Pomp was never a fan of the ‘City life’ but appreciated the technological advancements - even though he had seen, known, and possessed far better. But as he continued towards his designation, he overheard some gospel as he and his horse passed by two men smoking a cigarette against a brick wall.

“Did you hear?”

“What?” The other man responds, inhaling his tobacco.

“One of those flying equines from the Hallow Biome was seen in these parts, a big six-foot-tall white one. And what’s more, it had a horn. Along with -- get this -- a SUN on its ass.”

“Shit, really? When did this happen?”

“Just earlier this morn’n -- ‘round eight o’clock, give or take. Kept asking for the Guide - probably wants to kill ‘em as much as the whole frigg’n planet does.”

“Sucks to be him. You know, I once saw a pony like the one you described, but with some differences.”

“Wait, really?”

“Yeah, it was a purple one -- maybe a few inches shorter than five feet at height. It was during that quest I took for Sai Sahan and Celestia when they called a gathering of us for the venture into the Crimson Biome.”

“Ah! Yeah, I remember you telling me about that. You guys fought some giant worm-thing, too, right?”

“Heh, yeah. But that was in the desert…”

The voices became distant as Pomp drew further away, the clops of his horse, Valserion, sounding off.

“Not the rumors I want to hear.” ‘Luschian’ lifts his right arm and gazes down at a watch, “I’ve still got some decent time left until my little side-gig kicks off.” He raises his gaze forward. “Guess there’s only one thing left to do: head down to the local Tavern and do some collective research.”

---

-???-

Unbeknownst to the Guide, entities from far beyond are currently watching him within a realm of infinite libraries with countless books and ever-changing green skies; an endless black sea with writhing tentacles dancing both in the waters and through various tears in reality.

“Yog, why isss he collecting information when he’ssss a literal Guide?” Comments a feminine figure with two serpents coiled and draped around her - one black and the other white, along with four elongated mantis-like arms protruding from her back.

“Ssseemsss pointlessss for a being like him to do ssso.”

“An excellent inquiry, Yig, my dear,” Yog responds as the green stallion adjusts his black mane, and the duo watches the Guide through a spiraling green vortex. “Yes, I can understand why it might seem that way to you - but there’s more to it than that.”

Something seems to click within Yig’s mind, and the serpent suddenly has the urge to leave. “Actually, on sssecond thought, I think i’ll-”

“Too late!” Yog interjects, a black tendril wrapping itself around Yig, preventing her from trying to flee. “Mwahahahahaha!”

Yog’s laughter causes the entire realm to shake. A flashing green light illuminates the local area, and a single chalkboard is manifested before a chair and table - specially designed for Yig. And the woman-like being herself is fastened onto her seat, her serpents rearing up on either of her shoulders while the four appendages on her back curls up.

“I hate when you ussse your mind to warp reality…” She comments with a facepalm, her serpents licking her cheeks.

Yog presents himself in front of the board and before Yig, holding a chalk stick with a tentacle and a wooden appointer with his left forelimb.

“When the student is ready, the teacher appears!” He declares quite dramatically.

“A sssimple answer would suffice!” Yig tries to reason. “Pleassse, don’t make me endure the dreadful ‘Yogging Out,’ my lord…”

It was worth noting that several large entities nearby fled from the scene.

The chalk goes to work at rapid speeds behind Yog’s back, drawing out several scenarios, diagrams, and pictures - drawn entirely of chalk, including a small smiling emoji of Yog himself up in the upper right corner of the board.

“Now then-”

“Kill mehehehe!” Yig cries out; her snakes seemingly are in agony. “This isn’t necessary, Yog!”

Yog slams the stick against the board, resulting in a loud [THWACK] sound.

“Nein!” He shouts but suddenly shifts into a neutral tone and expression. “That’s ‘No’ in German, by the way.” He flashes a smile.

“I know that!” Yig screams out, her hands tempted to tear her hair out. “All I did wassss assssk one ssssimple quesssstion! One! Sssimple! Quessstion!”

“Even the simplest of questions require-”

“No! No, they do not!” Yig interrupts. “Cut straight to the chase and give me a simple answer! Like ‘Yes’ or ‘No.’ What are you going to do when sssomeone asksss sssomething ssso sssimple like, I don’t know, can I go to the bathroom? You gonna give them an hour lecture of why they can not?”

“Ohohohahahaha!”

Yog bursts into laughter, and the local spacial vicinity shifts again, returning everything to what it was before the last manipulation.

“I’m just teasing you, Yig. After all, you accused me of not being capable of trolling like my son, Kthanid, once.” Yog bears a shit-eating grin, his eyes filled with yellow energy. “Would you like to run that one by me again?”

Yig blows a strand of hair away from her face, hissing and growling as a rattlesnake’s rattle can be heard in tandem.

“You’ve made your point in the mossst irritable of waysss, my lord.” She takes a breath and composes herself. “Now, about my question?”

Yog nods, turning back to the ever-present vortex that depicts the Guide’s actions.

“He’s simply embracing his mortality and isn’t allowing his ‘all-knowing’ capabilities to become something he relies heavily upon. You see, mortals aren’t as privileged as powerful beings who can, for instance, learn things with but a simple snap of a finger. Therefore, mortals acquire knowledge by various means, whether by experience, the passing of one family member to another, or libraries - obviously. Or, in this case,” Yog smirks, “Nothing beats a good-old visit to the local pub, where information and rumors flow like milk and honey.”

“I sssee…” Yig responds, turning back to the vortex. “But I mussst asssk: why him?”

Yog turns to her. “Why I chose him out of the many Guides for my project?” She nods. “It’s simple, really. This Guide intrigues me, and he’s displayed characteristics I’ve never seen before in any other Guide. We shall see if he passes the test.”

“Tessst?”

“Misguidance has already targetted him, but what Pomp does next will determine the outcome of this test. And should he prove himself worthy, I’ll be ready to enact a sort of trump card.” Yog looks skyward, a look of anticipation and excitement plastered on his features, along with a slightly eerie feeling in the air - at least, that’s what Yig suddenly picked up.

“Don’t disappoint me, Pomp. We Outer Gods tend to hate being disappointed.”

The eldritch in pony form suddenly conjures two figurines into existence, holding them in two black tendrils that escape from his form. One depicts Silence, and the other, Pomp the Guide. Both are similarly designed to be chess pieces, and Yog places them onto a board made entirely of spectral energy.

Yog places Pomp and Silence down - Pomp as the King and Silence as the Queen.

“I’ve been retired from ‘The Game’ for countless millennia. Of course, I help Terra and Zalgo in the game with Azathoth, but there’s no harm in playing a side-match -- with me at the helm.”

Shockingly, someone or something was placing pieces of their own on the other side of the board. Some of these pieces depicted various GrimDarks, Demons, eldritch entities, and several prominent figures who currently threaten Terraria.

However, hauntingly, there are even those who would defend Terraria to their dying breath. And yet, there they were -- on the opposite side of the board.

Then, a sudden distorted male voice calls out to Yog as if they were present on the other side of the board.

“Good to see you ‘coming out of retirement,’ grandpa.” The voice giggles, and this giggling grows to maniacal laughter before it stops suddenly. “Alllllrighty, then. It’s time to- wait. Is this a joke, Yoggy? Only two pieces? Against my fully established set?”

Yog chuckles. “Ah, silly me,” Another tendril rises, and this piece depicts a particular equine figure. “I nearly forgot about my Celestia piece.” Then, he feigns ignorance with a hoof covering his muzzle.

“Oh! Dear me, I just remembered,” Two more tendrils rise with two more pieces. “I have two more pieces to set down.”

“Stop it, Yoggy-boy! There’s only one Jester here, and that’s me!”

“Oh, alright,” Yog responds with a dismissive forehoof. “But only because you said please.”

With that, Yog places Celestia at the forefront as the lone pawn. Both Silence and Pomp remain in the back row as King and Queen, but to their sides, Yog sets down the other two pieces.

“I’ll be having Celestia represent the other pawns. As for these two,” Yog grins, “Ambient of the Divide and Astralshia of the Astral Infection will suffice, and they’ll be taking on the roles of Knight, Castle, and Rook.”

Yog sets Ambient down to the right of Silence, with Astralshia to the left of Pomp.

“Oh, dear,” The voice mocks, “I’m shivering in my eldritch underwear. Five pieces set down by Yog, oh, mercy me, whatever shall I do?!”

Yog closes his eyes with a chuckle. “Ah. Arrogance. But let’s stop with the theatrics, Misguidance,” Yog opens his eyes and narrows them, “Your act is charming, but I’d like to play with the real you, please.”

Misguidance goes silent for a moment, but what breaks the silence has lost all of its jester-like tone from before, replaced by a frightening voice with several others screaming out in pain all around it. And yet, despite these screams, the male, demonic-like voice spoke over them flawlessly.

“Very well. So is this your official roster? You do know that you’re a few pieces short, right?”

“Quality over quantity, my boy,” Yog looks on unabated.

“Then the board is set, and the pieces need moving,” Misguidance chuckles. “I must say, I’m honored to have you of all eldritch play with me. The smartest Outer God vs. Cthuhlu’s greatest creation? All of the Outer Realms must be quaking in anticipation.”

“Charmed,” Yog responds. “Well, if there are no more objections…”

Misguidance chuckles before the two declare in unison:

”Iiahe h’ ah mgepuaaah, l’ ahor hnahh ah. It’s time to play The Game.”

Next Chapter: Chapter 101 - Alfheim. Estimated time remaining: 2 Hours, 15 Minutes