The Guide

Someone who knows a stretch of the road the traveler does not.

This name counts verified appearances. It does not grade the idea. Corpus size and editorial depth are different.

Circe knows the way to the dead. Tiresias knows the condition of return. Worsley knows the sextant. Ninshubur knows what to do if Inanna does not come back. Guides may be gods, specialists, or friends. They are not a single archetype with a staff.

Do not merge every helper into Hermes or ‘the mentor.’ Names first.

Circe, Tiresias, Nausicaa, Athena.
The Odyssey
Ninshubur, Enki’s creatures.
Inanna’s Descent
Worsley’s navigation.
Shackleton