Having spent a good ten minutes walking around the docks trying to find the Wandering Adventurer, I finally asked for directions. Now, I found myself in front of a nondescript building. Like most of the buildings closer to the docks, it was built from wood that had aged and weathered to a grayish color. There was no sign out front, and it blended in with the rest of the surrounding warehouses and office buildings so that one could walk right by it and not even know it was an inn, which was precisely what I had done…twice.


    Seriously how do they expect to attract any customers if they don’t even have a System Damn sign out front? I think, annoyance tinting my mental voice.


    <They’re probably banking on word of mouth.> Gem said <Also, if it really is run by an old adventurer, then they probably don’t actually need the money. I would almost hazard to guess they''re doing it to stave off boredom more than anything.>


    <Ha>, I grunt, still annoyed, as I push open the door. The inn''s interior was nothing like the exterior would have you believe. It was spacious and well-lit, with rich wood paneling lining the walls and a large stone fireplace dominating the left wall, its large crackling fire casting a flickering, golden glow across the room. The floor, well-maintained, polished wood planks showed very little of the ware that came with hundreds of feet treading on them every day. The overall atmosphere was warm and inviting, with the scent of roasting meat, spice wine, and fresh bread permeating the room.


    Along the back wall, a polished wooden counter spanned the length. The innkeeper is busy pouring drinks or polishing glasses. To the untrained eye, the tables and chairs appear to be placed randomly around the room, but if you look closer, it is clear that they were strategically placed to allow for easy movement by the staff. Each table had its own Light Crystal power lamp as its centerpiece. The lamps were made with heavily clouded glass that cut down on the intensity of the light, allowing only a soft glow. Waitresses and even a few waiters moved among the tables, bringing food and drink or taking orders.


    “What it’ll be,” the innkeeper asked as I approached the bar.


    “I don’t suppose you have a room available?” I ask.


    The innkeeper looked me over before asking, “You Bill’s kid?” which had me raising an eyebrow. “oh, doncha be giving me that look. Old Guildmaster Williams sent word earlier that you might be by looking for a room and that I should keep one available for ya. O’course I wouldn’t have kept it for more than a day. I do have a business ta run. Anyho, for adventurers, I charge two and a half silver, including dinner and one bath. If ya want breakfast in the morn, you’ll have ta pay extra.”


    This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.


    Thinking it was probably the best deal I was likely to get in the city, I handed the innkeeper a gold coin.


    “Pleasure doin'' business with ya,” the innkeeper said, pocketing the coin and turning to one of the staff standing near the bar. “Lucas, why dontcha make yourself useful and show the young lady to room two? I’m Garrick, by the way.” The innkeeper said the last part, handing me a key.


    “Thank you, Garrick, I’m Melissa,” I say, taking the key.


    Lucas led me up a flight of stairs to the second story and down a narrow, well-lit hallway before stopping in front of a door with a brass number two affixed to it. “Here you are, ma’am. Is there anything else I can do for you?”


    “No, I think I’m good. Thank you.” I answered, unlocking the door and entering the room. Closing the door behind me, I look around the modest room. The room was rectangular, with one wall dominated by a large bed, a small desk across from it, and a modestly sized dresser next to the desk. Another of those light crystal lamps sat on the desk; unlike the ones in the dining room, this one had a built-in shutter to block the light. A window with wooden shutters takes up the far wall, no glass, which was kind of expected in such an old building. Overall, the room was functional, and really, that was all you could ask.


    < All right, you have a place to sleep, at least for the next four days.> Gem says as I push open the shutters to see a great view of the docks at night. <So what''s your plan now? I doubt you''ll go into any of the dungeons until you’ve looked at the Guild’s Archive.>


    <Well, for the immediate future, I was planning on heading back downstairs and getting dinner; after all, I’m paying for it. Then, having an early night. Tomorrow, I was planning to take a look around the shops. Even though I might not need them. It’s always good to know where the blacksmithing and amaror shops are. Plus, I want to stock up on some potions and poisons, so finding the herbalist and position shops would also be a good idea. Hopefully, by the time I get back to the inn or the day after, my authorization to enter the archive will have been delivered, and I can spend the rest of the time looking through that.>


    <That sounds sensible. Do you know which dungeon you''re going to try delving into first?>


    <I thought I’d try the Shipwreck. It is the youngest and the most traditional of the three and should at least give me a challenge on its last two floors and then head over to the Gemstone Depths.>


    < You''re not planning on trying the Evergloom; you''re not scared of it, are you> Gem asks with a snicker.


    <Not at the moment, and no. I just think the Evergloom should be an event all on its own. Something that should have your undivided attention and not just be a means to an end. Plus, I’ll need to be a bit higher level if I want to try and challenge it all the way through. But if I get bored, I might just set my Friend or Foe setting to Friend and head in there to look around without fighting everything.>