“Selling teleportation crystals!”

“Get your arrows here!”

“Come! Come! Freshly cooked meat strait off the grill! Let your taste buds enjoy the succulent flavours!”

“Looking for a party! I am a level 16 Barbarian with bronze equipment!”

The area our teleportation crystals took us to was just outside the main market.  The name of the fort was debated on for a view days, but the name Ironskull Fortress was finally decided upon. The supposed logic behind it was that the skeletons would need a skull made of iron to break into the fortress. Thousands of players lined the streets and crowding was a major issue. A cordoned off area was designated for player teleportation via crystals, otherwise people would be appearing left and right in the middle of the streets.

A few players have chosen to ignore this unwritten rule, but they soon learned their place. Those who ran into them would start a fight in the middle of the streets. Occasionally, a player would get within inches of death before being let off; however, there are rumours of some of them disappearing the next day.

That’s right. The area of our base is not protected by the system. It is a lawless town where the strong rule. Generally, if the person looks to be in a major guild or is equipped with iron gear, they will be treated with respect, but there are the occasional fights between these players.

The market covers the majority of the town and sells everything from monster drops to manufactured goods. It is entirely player run and maintained without any NPC’s present. Some players have stalls with awnings while others have spread out items over blankets on the ground. With this layout, it is possible for item theft, but anyone foolish enough to steal and get caught won’t last long.

Gem and I are walking side by side, looking at the various stalls as we pass. Many of the items are trinkets, unworthy of our attention, but occasionally a good item will appear; however, these are unfortunately too over priced. It would be cheaper to buy them back on the first island, but these users are capitalizing on the fact that not everyone can afford the teleportation fees.

“Hey you two!” Ilyena says with a hint of impatience, “Let’s get to portal before it gets too dark. You can go window shopping some other time.”

Gem responds with a brief look of annoyance before continuing to browse the stalls. I look behind and see Ilyena looking unimpressed.

*Sigh*

“How about this. I’ll bring you back window shopping later, but for now let’s head back to the portal.”

“Fine...” Gem reluctantly agrees, “But, it’ll just be us.”

“Deal.”

Gem is pleased and gives a smile in response, so we carry on towards the portal.

A small plaza, lined with basic wooden buildings, surrounds the portal. The portal itself only works from one side, so a wall was built behind it and decorated with various paintings. Painting is one of those luxury skills, like drawing, that has little to no impact on the overall game itself, but serves as a pastime. My artistic skills would be at level 0; therefore, the best I can draw are stick figures. There’s not even a teleportation via painting cheat, so obviously I’m not going to waste my time on the skill.

A large section of the wall has been taken up by a mural of the Sacred Order’s guild symbol: The golden crescent moon swallowing a cross on a background of red. Despite that, around it are less obtrusive paints such as landscapes and monsters. Even as I observe, an artist is painting a new section of the wall with a depiction of a bird.

“They’re going to run out of space soon.” Ilyena comments.

“Hmm?” Gem seems confused. She must have still been looking at the shops.

“Yup, but they’ll find another spot soon enough.” In Fairhaven, it was impossible for street artists to paint like this, but in a town unprotected by the system, they are popping up everywhere.

“I don’t understand why people would waste their time on such skill.” Ilyena starts off a tangent, “They are useless, and difficult to level. Their time would be much better spent on increasing their combat potential.”

“You know,” I interject, “That’s what they said about a certain sculptor in a novel back in the day, but he ended up being the most powerful player in the game.

“Also, you have to remember that not everyone has that same drive to become strong. Some players joined for the experience or to explore their own fantasies. I wouldn’t be expecting children to fight on the frontline. It is the rest of our responsibilities to help save those players.”

“That doesn’t excuse them from helping the rest of us.” Ilyena says with a pout.

“I agree with that, but their help can come in many different forms. Take, for example, those paintings: Just their presence alone assists with motivating the average player into not giving into despair. It shows them that there is something positive in the gloom of this world.”

I’m partially trying to convince myself with this as well. I can still clearly remember the looks on the player’s faces when I was running from the town on that first day. The look of terror. Horror. Despair. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I am still shivering in fear, but I have compartmentalized those emotions for the sake of my own sanity. I am no longer alone in this game. I have met some wonderful people that I would have never met had this happened. Yes, Phil is somewhere in here, but who knows where he is. Although it may be a month too late, I should start a search for him.

“There’s a positive to being trapped in here?” Ilyena raises her voice, attracting the attention of nearby placers. They send hostile gazes in my direction.

“Shh!” After realizing the change in atmosphere, Gem injects herself between our conversation. “This is not the place to be talking about this. Take this conversation elsewhere.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.” I drop the subject according to Gem’s request.

We swiftly make our way over to the portal, but the tension from the conversation lingers in the air.

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Notification Teleportation from this location will cost user 10,000 Tor. This fee will automatically be deducted. Do you wish you use this portal? Yes No

We all select [Yes] and get swept away by the portal. Naturally, we cannot use this method too frequently, but the drops from fighting on the second floor are enough to cover one use per day.

The scene that greets us on the other side is a familiar circular plaza of the teleportation hub. It is surrounded by a ring of uniquely designed portals, most of which are inactivated, and beyond that is a ring of roman style white marble pillars.

The ground beneath our feet is solid, but a white mist covers the floor, giving it the appearance of walking on clouds. At night, a faint glow radiants from the ground, and also elegant lamp posts illuminate the walkways.

*Yawn*

“I’m going to head back to the Prancing Mare.” Gem says while fatigue is clearly evident on her face.

“Alright, I’ll be back there shortly.” I reply, “I want to have a look around first.”

“I’ll head off as well.” Ilyena adds. I don’t know where she goes every night, but she usually disappears abruptly and then shows up the next day.

“Remember, we aren’t going hunting tomorrow. I think we’re all in need of a small break.”

“Got it.” “I’m aware.”

The two of them proceed to head off for the portal to Fairhaven and disappear into the light. Suddenly, I am left all alone in the plaza.

The flow of players in this area has lessened considerably from the day time as many settle into inns or player owned houses for the night. The teleportation hub has become a popular location to congregate and settle down as people become aware of it’s value. The land here is very limited, but there are two residential districts full of land plots. Due to the land’s exorbitant prices, only the richest players and guilds are able to afford them.

The eleven plots within the centre of the isle have largely gone unclaimed, except for a 2x1 plot the Sacred Order purchased for 2 billion Tor and a couple of the smaller plots. Of course, some individual, who shall remain nameless, has shamefully acquired the largest plot of land valued at 5 billion Tor. The plot itself is the city of an average city block and streets surround all four sides, separating the plots from each other.

The residential districts on the other hand have a lot more residents. The scaling of prices appears to be in favour of guilds, rather than individual players, purchasing the land early on in the game. Each small plot is large enough for a 2,000 square foot house along with some semblance of a yard. They cost at least 1 million Tor for the smallest plot, so it’s not something a single player can afford. However, if you’ve got a guild of 100 members, with each paying 10,000 Tor it is achievable.

The players who have raised their construction levels had a field day when it was discovered that they can build on these plots. Already a construction guild has formed and set up shop on one of the plots of land. Of course, there is a building menu for land owners that can add system designs for a monetary fee.

I make my way across the bridge between the actual teleportation hub and the centre of the isle and take a look at my plot of land straight ahead. I would love to start building on it, but I just don’t have the capital to support such an expenditure. Maybe I’ll have to start a guild to get that happening.

Many players walk past me, but I notice a few also stop and stare at he huge plot of land. They must be heading towards the viewpoint. The courtyard on the opposite side is a popular location for players to hang out. It is a semi circular protrusion like a balcony that hangs off the edge of the platform. At the very edge is a staircase that goes down below the level of island to a small landing that allows a 360 degree view of the islands below.

Since the view from there is the best in the game, many gather to watch the sun set, or just to hang out.

Since this is a structured area and protected by the system, venders cannot set up along the walkways. This helps preserve the beauty of this floating island.

While watching the players flow by, I notice a few shady characters observing my plot of land from afar. Their faces are obscured by hoods, but their green level displays show they are around 15. My appraisal level has since increased to level 2 and ever since, my actual level has become harder to discern.

A few days ago, it became widespread knowledge that those with a higher level of appraisal had their levels hidden from players with a lower level in the skill. Even someone with a higher overall level, but no appraisal skill cannot determine the level of someone lower than them with a higher appraisal level.

Many players rushed to obtain or level up this skill, so the overall effect hasn’t changed that much. I would estimate one quarter of the players have obtained level 2 appraisal, but it’s hard to tell since I am one of them. Appraisal will only give experience for on a certain item/NPC/monster the first time you appraise them, so it is impossible to be stationary and continuously level it up. Also, appraising other players does not give experience.

These hooded figures must be observing anyone who pays attention or gets too close to the land. The larger guilds, the Sacred Order in particular, don’t seem to be willing to let go of this offence; however, this is just my first move against them. Luckily events worked out this way. That Deed of Ownership was pretty much a cheat item.

“Quinn?” A familiar voice calls out from behind me. One I have not heard for over a month. “Is that really you?”