Primitive Compass

Alksar entered the office but the merchant he was expecting was absent. Several minutes passed and Alksar began to pace.
A small object caught his attention, an old compass. Alksar had once as a child used his grandfather's compass to find his way through the woods back on Outpost 4.
He picked up the small device and felt the weight of the brass for a moment but just then the door opened and the merchant entered.

History

An old tool with an unknown origin; this design has been used since before Time of Darkness. A navigational aid that was common before the major roadways were established is now see use only in the hands of survivalists. However, older or damaged compasses are common as paperweights and decorations.

The Frozen Needle

Broken compasses are used by the Silent Hand to give directions to their members. They are placed in locations and made to look like decorations while secretly pointing an agent to a cache, drop point, or other point of interest.

Mechanics & Inner Workings

The needle of the primitive compass points towards the Cynosure Stone. The markings on the compass provide the user with the ability to navigate on the horizontal plane.

Manufacturing process

A round casing and a circle of glass are made. Then a small piece of iron is hammered with a lodestone becoming magnetized. This small piece is placed on a stem within the casing and the glass is set atop it.

Significance

Still recognized as a symbol of exploration but replaced in the zeitgeist by the skysailor's compass.

Stub Article

This article is just a stub for now and will be expanded upon later.

Old Article

This article was written in the past and does not meet my current standards for any number of article quality, layout, or content.

In-Progress Article

This article is being worked on, perhaps not at this very moment, but it is being worked on.

Game Statistics

Special: A character using a primitive compass adds b to Navigation checks.
Encumbrance 0; Hard Points 0; Rarity 4

Item type

Navigational Aid / Instrument

Rarity

Once common among travelers but now manufactured rarely and moderately hard to find.

Weight

200-500g

Dimensions

Diameter: ~4cm

Raw materials & Components

Commonly made with metal and glass.