The compass is brass, and the lid is engraved with an image of four pine trees.

When opened, the compass has four hands labeled Stanford, Stanley, Mabel, and Mason. Rather than pointing in a particular direction, each hand will point towards its respective Pines family member. If one of the four is dead or otherwise absent from Deerington, their respective hand will point towards the one holding the compass instead. At present, the compass only works when held by a member of the Pines family.