Their first day as initiates was both underwhelming and overwhelming at the same time. The first order of business was finding a spawn point…the obvious choices were guildhalls. However, they failed to secure admission into a guild…which meant that idea was off the table. Other spawn point options included taverns, inns, and brothels. The three quickly ruled out the brothels…those places were filled with unsavory and dubious individuals.
"The Pavilion daily rates are 120 Nanocoins per person…that's more than the daily quest income." Wain informed the group.
He continued, "the Hearth is about the same price…most inns near the guildhalls and shops will be higher priced, roughly 180 to 250 Nanocoins per person per night…that pretty much rules out the east and west sides of Avalor."
"So, what are our options then?" Arthos asked a bit annoyed…for a game, why did things have to be so difficult?
"We haven't checked out the south side…near Castle Avalor." Wain replied.
"The south side is far away from the city gates…that means we would waste a lot of time running around the city just to exit through the gates every day." Arthos pointed out.
"Doesn't look like we have a choice…let's get this over with." Kristan chimed in.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived at the Kettle Inn…the place was run down and smelled like urine. There were plenty of rooms available at 50 Nanocoins per person. However, since the shopkeeper was charmed by Arthos, she lowered the price to 30 Nanocoins provided that Arthos and Wain shared a room.
"I think we did good with that deal…that means if we complete our daily quests, we will earn 100 Nanocoins daily…subtract the 30 coin room fee…that means we will have 70 Nanocoins each per day." Wain explained as he worked out the math.
The bedroom smelled like damp wood combined with a hint of smoke that never seemed to leave. The floorboards creaked under every step no matter how lightly a person stepped. The furniture in the room was sparce…just a wobbly wooden table, two stools, and two small beds. It wasn't much…but for two orphans this was THEIR HOME…all theirs and no one else's.
There is a unique feeling that comes from ownership…like walking into a store and picking a pair of shoes. Even though all the shoes are identical, the moment you pick your pair, they cease to be identical to the rest…suddenly they become yours…like an invisible stamp is engraved onto them.
"What should we do next?" Wain asked.
"Let's mark our re-spawn points here and head out to complete our daily quest." Arthos replied.
KNOCK, KNOCK
"Hey Kristan, whenever you are ready let's head out and complete the daily quest." Arthos called out from her door.
"Be right there! I just need a minute…I'm changing." she replied.
The thought of Kristan changing made Wain blush crimson red like a tomato.
"Dude…she is like my sister. Take it easy will you." Arthos said in annoyance.
[…]
Avalor city was huge…that's probably the best way to describe it. Imagine New York City with its boroughs all combined into one massive city with no separation. On the east side of town were the major guildhalls…each had easy access to the eastern gates, which meant guildmembers could exit the city quickly. On the west side were the top-shelf smiths, enchanters, jewelers, and craftsmen shops. In the north stood the Trainee Academy secluded by its own gates and high walls. In the center of town were the traders, merchants, inns, and other shops. The south side contained mostly small houses (privately owned) and a few shops…it was inconveniently located which meant fewer people wanted to stay there.
After a 45-minute stroll through Avalor city, the team reached the western gates. The guard scanned their IDs and allowed them to exit the city.
[...]
[WESTERN FIELDS OF AVALOR]
"Wow! Would you look at that!" Wain said in amazement.
The western fields were truly breathtaking. Tall mountains covered in pine trees could be seen in the far distance. Smaller mountain ranges were spread close by interlaced with rivers and streams. There were not enough trees in the area to call it a forest, however, an abundance of trees along with shrubs and plants blanketed the earth green.
!ALERT!
[Daily Quest has arrived]
[Defeat 10 mobs reward 100 Nanocoins]
"Ok, let's get to work…Kristan you tank. I will stick close by and deal damage. Wain, you support from the rear and blast the mobs with magic." Arthos said as he reviewed the strategy.
The team nodded in agreement. Within a few minutes they encountered a swarm of spiders near a thickly wooden area.
HACK, THUMP, HACK
"That was easy…these spiders didn't give much XP." Kristan said somewhat disappointed.
"Look at how real this game is…most games when you kill the mob, the carcass disappears and leaves behind drops like coins or stuff…this game is completely different. It's like real life. The dead carcass is still here…and look at this! This spider has eggs! Why would you program that into a game?" Wain asked, his voice full of curiosity.
GROWL
The group looked at each other and laughed hearing the avatar's stomach grumble.
"I guess it's lunchtime. I think I saw some berries and fruit back there." Arthos suggested.
As the group approached the berry patch, Wain exclaimed, "WAIT!"
"Those are poison berry's…judging by their location, I would say they did not grow here by accident. I think someone planted them here."
"Why would someone plant poison berries near the city gate? Wait…never mind…I get it." Kristan said annoyed.
"Anyone have a backup plan? We will waste too much time going back…and we haven't completed the quest yet…which means we have no money." Arthos said disappointed.
"Well…it might not be the savoriest dish…but we can eat the spiders…all you need to do is remove the venom glands." Wain offered.
The group was definitely not excited about eating spiders…but they didn't have other options. Food is food, at the end of the day.
Within a few minutes Wain started a fire and proceeded to cook the defeated spiders.
"Where did you learn how to cook like that?" Kristan asked somewhat surprised by Wain's secret ability.
"Before going to the Last Stop Orphanage…I was…I was actually homeless."
"You mean…you lived on the streets?" Kristan asked.
"Yeah…I was tired of being passed around from orphanage to orphanage like a trading card. So, I left…I had no money and food was scarce…so I scrapped my way around the streets." Wain answered softly as painful memories returned.
"Hey…umm…me too…I did the same…lived on the streets for a while…except I always had to be on guard against pervy men trying to grope me or worse…" Kristan admitted.
"Forget the world! Forget the system…and the establishment….and the guilds with their fancy manors. I say we stick together and form our own guild…just for us. We do everything our way…and we split everything evenly…not politics…no drama…just us." Arthos stated with furry in his voice.
"Forming a guild is expensive…like 1 million Nanocoins…besides what are going to call it?" Wain asked in disbelief.
"Scavengers." Kristan answered.
"We call it Scavengers guild…. that's what we are in the end…just three people left behind, scavenging through life." Kristan said.
"Scavengers it is." Arthos said firmly as he nodded in agreement.