Deciding the discretion is the better part of valor, whatever the hell that meant, I slipped through the trees and began to walk in the direction of the city.  All new players are conferred with five gold coins at the first log in to the game.  This gold is the total sum of all my wealth.   Not a whole lot to conquer the world I thought grimly but maybe enough to survive Ingame for a while.  

After several minutes of walking I approached the city gate.  Guarded by two Kings Guards and two City Guards’ it was an imposing structure.  At least twenty feet thick with four levels with kill slots on each level on each side.  It was narrow at four meters just wide enough for carts to pass through but nothing else.

I approached the city guard and politely waited for him to acknowledge my presence.  After a couple of minutes it was apparent that he would not speak to me.  It’s annoying that even Npcs could see that I was a poor cousin to the many players coming and going through the gate. Regardless of his disdain, I called out to the City Guard in a polite way and began to speak.  “Excuse me sir, may I have a moment of your time?” 

The guard finally looked at me and nodded.  “I am a newcomer and was wondering if you could tell me of an Inn that won’t take all my savings?”  The guard seemed to consider this for a moment then spoke.  “On the second level near the abandoned area is an Inn called Hearthhome.”    “No one will bother you there lad, but be warned, just down the road is the entrance to the Kradula.” 

“What is a Kradula?”  I asked.  The guard just looked at me, “It is the old city orphanage, been abandoned for years now.”   “Often many of you newcomers attempt to get in there and then out the back to the abandoned part of the city.”  “Do not try it lad, men who have leveled up, seasoned warriors have failed,”  “And the abandoned area of the city, it has been walled up for thirty years now, no one lives near there.” 

“Some say the walking dead roam the streets and wraiths fly within, they say that the shrine to the Gods has been desecrated and the living are not welcome.”  We lost three units bringing the people out and building the walls.”  Shaking his head the guard spit and then turned back to the street. Clearly the discussion was over. 

I walked in through the city gates and followed the road till a series of shops appeared.  Seeing a shop with a map on display I walked in and address the shopkeeper.  "Sir I am in need of a map." The shopkeeper’s eyes looked at me and then his partially formed smile faded away.  "Lad, my maps are the best in the city and the cost is one coin, a gold coin." One gold, that is highway robbery legalized.

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Clearly being poor in the game was just as bad as being poor in real life.  "Sir, do you have any used maps or old maps, this city is so large I will never find my way without a map."  Looking at me the shopkeeper sighed, “all right let me look." After going through an old desk drawer he pulled out a well folded map.  "I have had this for years, an adventurer dropped it off, you can have it for 10 silver but you must learn cartography to be able to use it." 

"How much does that skill training cost?"  "One silver coin and another for the supplies you will need."  "Done I said" and paid the man.  I reached under his desk and pulled out a small book.  "Read it and then open you map and see if it makes sense."  Shrugging I opened the book and quickly read the pages.  

Putting the small volume down I opened the map and surprisingly there in front of me was a map of the city with a glowing blue dot.  I tapped on the dot and the area of the map enlarged, showing the street I was standing on and all the shops labeled.  Double tapping the map shrunk the area and expanded the city.  Experimenting I tapped a number of spots and watched them enlarge and then shrink.

I also observed handwritten notes along the maps side when areas were enlarged.  Way cool, this was going to be a lifesaver.  Thanking the merchant I plotted my way to the Inn then when I had my directions firm in my mind I left the shop and wondered out into the city.  As I made my way to the Inn my thoughts wondered to the map and one of the notes I had seen.  It described a tunnel that led from a park near the Inn to what was now the abandoned area.  I knew  I would be looking at this Kradula and also this tunnel. 

I felt great; the fresh air and the beauty of this world were combining to make me feel alive in a way I had not felt in a long time.  Perhaps it was just having a plan, a purpose, a goal that I was working towards.  

Whatever it was I felt I would be able to succeed at whatever I did.