Guide

Lore & Background

Guides are born with a natural affinity for the Tower's complex spatial and temporal structure. While most inhabitants rely on the Floor Administrators' tests or the 'Shinsu' currents to move between floors, Guides can perceive the 'paths'—invisible threads of probability and connection that weave through the Tower's architecture. This ability is not learned but innate, and it manifests differently in each Guide, from sensing the safest route to foreseeing the outcome of a battle. The most powerful Guides, like Evan Edroch, are said to see the 'fate' of individuals, though this power is limited and often cryptic.

In Their Own Story

The air hummed with tension as the Regulars faced a maze of shifting walls. 'We're lost,' someone muttered. Then a quiet voice spoke—a young woman with silver eyes that seemed to look through the stone. 'No. The path is there, but it's fading. Follow me, and don't look back.' She stepped forward, and the wall before her rippled like water, revealing a corridor that had not existed a moment before. Behind her, the others followed in awe, trusting the Guide's silent promise that the Tower would not betray her sight.

Reader's Guide

A Guide's primary function is to navigate the Tower's floors, which are not always connected in a straightforward manner. They can sense 'paths'—spatial shortcuts or hidden passages—that allow faster or safer travel. This ability also extends to combat and decision-making; a Guide might advise a team to avoid a fight or to strike at a precise moment, based on the flow of events they perceive. Guides are not fighters by nature, though some, like Evan Edroch, are powerful enough to defend themselves. They are highly sought after by Rankers and FUG alike, as their insight can bypass the Tower's tests or reveal the location of rare artifacts. However, their abilities are not infallible—they see possibilities, not certainties, and the Tower's will can change the paths unpredictably. Notable wielders include Evan Edroch, the Guide of the 10 Great Families, and Hwaryun, a Red Witch Guide who serves FUG. Both demonstrate that Guides are often bound to larger factions, using their sight to further the goals of their patrons.

Did You Know?

• Guides are often born with distinctive eye colors, such as silver or red, which are said to reflect their connection to the Tower's paths.
• The most famous Guide, Evan Edroch, is a High Ranker who serves as the personal navigator for the 10 Great Families, though his true loyalty remains ambiguous.
• Red Witches, like Hwaryun, are a subtype of Guides who can see 'fate' more directly, often at the cost of their own safety.
• A Guide's ability is tied to the Tower's Shinsu, and they cannot use it outside the Tower's influence.