City Guide
The following guide is available in the game at Silverwood Manor.
Thanks goes to Kahrla for putting this information together.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Welcome to Ta'Vaalor
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
The following articles of interest to the newcomer are contained herein:
1 ........................ How Do I Start Out?
2 ........................ The Local Inns/City Hall
3 ........................ Ye Olde Hunting Grounds
4 ........................ Selling Your Goods
5 ........................ Gathering Spots
6 ........................ Etiquette
7 ........................ How Do I Get A Job?
8 ........................ Keeping Law and Order in Ta'Vaalor
9 ........................ Death and Dying in Elanthia
This is just a hint of what is in store for you inside the newcomer's guide.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
How Do I Start Out?
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Hail, good citizen, and welcome to Ta'Vaalor, the military fortress of the Elven
Nations.
You have in your possession some basic equipment and silvers for starting out.
This is a loan and your debt needs to be paid back to the clerk in Wyvern Hall
once you are earning a living.
To get started, it is best to acquaint yourself with the city by walking around
and visiting every building. Be sure to go inside each one to learn to your
fullest advantage. Be careful not to go through any gates or grates without your
weapon in your right hand and shield in your left. After visiting all the sites
in the city, you should be able to train. It is a good idea to read up on how to
best train in your profession.
Be sure to let your personality (be it grumpy, happy, moody, honorable, etc.)
shine through while interacting with others you meet in Ta'Vaalor. Save your
attacks for the critters out in the wilds, and not our merchants, citizens, and
local pets; otherwise, you may find yourself in jail.
If you have any questions about what to do next, it is probably best to whisper
to another person nearby. Ask them about deeds, maps, free drinks, etc. In
addition, mentors can be found by ringing the bell at Silverwood Manor, located
on the west side of the city. Be patient as they may not be able to answer the
bell right away. They are here to help the new adventurer get started, and may
even have a better weapon or some clothes for you.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
The Local Inns/City Hall
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Two local Inns are provided in Ta'Vaalor at which adventurers may train. You can
also find tables to rest at or socialize with friends, or even find a private
room where you can lock uninvited guests out.
On the southwest side of town is Malwith's Inn. To train, find Malwith himself
and check in with him. Heading east you will find a free bar, a free buffet, and
tables to sit at. Upstairs you will find a conference room for meetings and
other rooms to enjoy.
On the north side of town is The Legendary Rest. You can check in with Rouschall
when you want to train. If you go through the double doors and find Coleesta, you can find some tables, order some food or drinks, and enjoy the
courtyard with its beautiful fountain. It is possible to converse with some of
our merchants. Ask them about the food and each other, for example. Be sure to
wander around and see all the beautiful rooms this Inn has to offer.
Also on the north side of town is Wyvern Keep, our city hall. You can find the
clerk through the arch to pay your debts; just pay the amount to the clerk. You
can also find public lockers east, then south, through the curtains, to store
your extra items in.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Ye Olde Hunting Grounds
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Before you venture into the hunting areas, be sure to gear up. Get your weapon
out first, to make sure it is in your right hand, and then remove your shield
from your shoulder to place it in your left hand. Be sure to let people know
where you will be hunting, so we can find you if you should die. While roaming
around, keep yourself in a defensive posture. When you are ready to attack a
beast, change your posture to advanced or offensive. After killing the beast, be
sure to skin it and then search it. Skins can be sold to the furrier for
silvers. Some creatures give you silvers or other treasure when you search them.
Get in the habit of changing back to a defensive stance after searching your
creatures, to be safe.
The best place to start patrolling in Ta'Vaalor is underneath the city in our
sewers. To get there, climb down the grate on the west side of town. You will
find many fanged rodents in the catacombs to exterminate. If you see another
hunter attacking a rodent, do not automatically start attacking his vermin. You
might ask if you can join him and make a new friend, however. Making friends via
group hunting can be one of your best experiences in Elanthia, as well as being
safer if you should happen to fall to a critter. It's a great way to whisper
questions about hunting strategies and training tactics. It's also a good place
to work on your personality - will you be afraid and shriek at a rodent, or will
you roar at it to instill fear? Make sure everyone in the group is getting in
enough damage on the creatures to learn equitably.
Once you have mastered the art of exterminating rodents, we have Barefoot Hill,
infested with fire ants. Look for a shady path outside Victory Gate. If you are
feeling strong, you might take on some kobolds, thyrils, and snakes. The
graveyard can be quite rewarding if you are able to get your weapon blessed. Ask
your newfound friends to take you hunting in new areas or point you in the right
direction.
Most importantly, make sure you have gotten some deeds by gaining Lorminstra's
favor! Your new acquaintances will be happy to help you obtain them.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Selling Your Goods
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Ghaerdish, our furrier, will buy skins and pelts of just about any type and
quality. His shop is situated on the north side of the city, in between the
Amaranth and Vermilion gates. You can sell your pelts individually, bundle them
up in groups of ten, or just sell your container that holds the pelts. Ghaerdish
will only buy the pelts from your container and hand it back to you.
If you find gems or jewelry on a critter, you can sell these to Areacne, our
jeweler. She is also located on the north side, just two doors west of the
furrier. Sell each gem individually, or sell your container and Areacne will buy
in bulk.
Other items might be of interest to our Antique Shop, located on the south side
of the city, west of the Annatto gate. The shopkeeper will buy some weapons,
armor, magical items, containers, and others. If you go east once inside the
antique shop, be sure to look on the four tables for secondhand items at a
discounted price.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Gathering Spots
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Most citizens congregate around Victory Court North for socialization, healing,
and bringing the dead back to life. Be sure to thank your empaths and clerics
for their services. Offering a tip shows you are a civilized person that
appreciates the services bestowed upon you.
In times of emergencies, such as invasions, we try to do our socialization and
spells one block south at Kai's shrine. Too much noise might prevent a cleric
knowing when someone's lifekeep has run out and increases the chance for decays.
Locksmiths can be found one more block south to open the boxes you find.
Lockpicks are very expensive, and break, so don't be shy with your tips. You
don't want to insult a rogue - he may find a way to get his own tip from you. By
the way, it's a good idea to always deposit your silvers in the bank.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Etiquette
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Ta'Vaalor is a close-knit community and it is best you learn some proper
etiquette. Fitting in as a resident is mostly about respecting your fellow
citizens while maintaining your own sense of style.
Don't yell or say the same thing over and over again. Don't repeat your actions
over again either. If you need healing, ask once and be patient before asking
again if it's not life-threatening. The empath may be busy healing another or
herself/himself. Learn about healing herbs and potions.
Always be responsive to your environment while out in public. You want to make
sure you are able to answer someone should they speak to you. If you have a
situation where you will be unable to interact, please find a quiet area to hide
yourself from others. This way, no one gets hurt feelings thinking you are
ignoring them.
There is a bench in Victory Court North where you might find herbs, potions,
weapons, magical items, clothes, etc. If you need an item, such as an herb for
healing, please feel free to use it. If you find an item you don't need on a
creature, you can always donate it on the bench also. Please do not take items
from the bench to resell to the antique dealer. The donator could have done this
himself, but chose to place it on the bench so someone else could use it free of
charge.
As mentioned earlier, while hunting do not attack someone else's creature unless
you are invited to join them. If a creature comes into your area limping,
someone will most likely run after it within a few seconds. Hold off on
attacking wounded creatures. If you see items on the ground, they may belong to
someone else in the room who has not had time to pick it up yet, so don't think
it's there for the taking
Please don't litter. We have many barrels throughout the city to toss your
unwanted items in.
We speak only in common, race or guild speak. Slang words and gibberish such as
"AS", "DS", "cool", "dude", "lol", "brb", and "afk" may get you some pretty
funny looks.
Now that you understand what is expected of a civilized resident of Ta'Vaalor,
also understand there will sometimes be others who break the above rules of
etiquette. Please do not take this upon yourself to teach them a lesson by
making them out to be a fool. You might offer them a friendly suggestion in a
whisper, but publicly harassing them, attacking them, or dragging them away will
only make you look uncivilized.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
How Do I Get A Job?
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
If you are willing to work, you need only ask for a job from some of our
merchants or permanent citizens. First, go see Sassion in the small building by
the Vermilion Gate. She has messages you can deliver to various people around
the city.
When you deliver the message, be sure to ask the merchant for a job if he
doesn't approach you first. You will earn and learn while running messages for
your first few trainings.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Ta'Vaalor is historically known for it's military prowess. You will notice our
city is really more of a military fortress, with guardsmen all around to protect
it. The Guard Captain may not seem very friendly, but he has a job to do.
His job is to arrest those breaking our laws. If you are caught and accused of
stealing, he may visit you. He will visit you if you try to harm one of our town
mascots or permanent residents, so don't even kick them. If you murder someone
inside, or close to, the fortress, you will also find yourself in jail. Casting
certain offensive spells of war in this proximity will also put you on his
"wanted" list.
All the items in your possession at the time of the arrest will be taken from
you and placed in a box inside Justice Hall. You will get a trial, of sorts, but
the judge always sides with the Captain and will give you a fine. You will have
one hour to pay this fine and gain access to your possessions, so make sure you
pay this right away before doing anything else or you risk losing your items.
If you can't do the time, don't do the crime.
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
Death and Dying in Elanthia
~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~-~
It's always an unpleasant shock to find yourself dead. Here in Ta'Vaalor, there
are many clerics and empaths who have the capability to put you back in good
shape again. With luck, a friend, or some kind stranger, will find you and drag
your dead body to them.
The specter of permanent death looms over us all, though. To prevent it, you
must look into getting some deeds. Any adventurer you find will know how to
point you in the right direction. Or, you can look for the Garden of Ancients
and puzzle it out for yourself.
