David's eyes fluttered open and what he saw literally caused his jaw to drop. To his left, he saw the rushing waterfalls of the city, flowing into a fenced off area that was apparently a courtyard of Epic City. To his right there was a bustling marketplace, full of wizards, warriors, and creatures of all types, engaged in various bits of commerce.
David, now Lannon, took the time to look down at himself and take stock of his own person. He could literally feel the cloth of the tunic against his skin, could feel the wind blow against his face and blow his cape behind him. He could feel the weight of everything he had selected in his inventory, including his magical tome and staff, bow and quiver, and sword in its hilt. He quickly reached for his sword and twirled it around. He manuevered it like someone who was new to this game should, not gracefully but relatively clumsily. His own experience was reflected in his in-game character.
He sheathed his sword and felt it necessary to try out some kind of magical spell. He pulled out his staff and his tome and looked for a simple spell, nothing dangerous but something to test out his newfound powers on. He quickly found a growth spell that would cause a patch of flowers or food to grow instantaneously before him with little effort. He focused his mind and began to recite the incantation....but was stopped halfway through by a large figure brushing up against him.
Instantly startled, David/Lannon turned around and saw a gigantic orc, clad in full body armor, on the back of somekind of horse-like creature. A battleaxe was brandished across his back, and a nose ring punctured between his two nostrils. Lannon swore he could smell the putrid breath of this creature, and literally saw drool fall from his overwrought fangs.
"What exactly do you think you are doing?" the orc asked, leaving David absolutely speechless. He tried to explain himself, before the orc cut him off.
"Never mind, I just looked at your information. I assume you're new to the world of Ether, correct?" David just nodded.
"Very well. I am L'rak, one of the sentries of Epic City."
"Are....are you a Sage?" David managed to sputter out, still absolutely frightened by this hulking, yet intelligible beast.
"No...a sage is even more powerful than I am. I am a sentry, an associate of a sage, who's duty it is to patrol Epic City for rules violators. As you can guess, a sage cannot be everywhere at once. We sentries are individuals who act as the eyes and ears for the sages, and have authority to punish rulebreakers."
"Was I breaking a rule?" David asked, hoping that the obvious answer was actually a no.
"Technically, yes. It is against the law to practice magic in the public squares of Epic City, unless you are a licensed magician, even simple spells such as the one you were attempting to cast. However, since you are new, I think that a warning can be administered this time....what's your name?"
"David....but my in-game..." David, again was cut off.
"No, again you are stepping on taboos. In Ether, it is proper to only be addressed as your in-game character. That is how every NPC will respond to you, and how strangers will interact with you. Only if you know the person in real-life should you identify yourself by your reallife name."
"Oh...okay. My name is Lannon then....pleased to meet you L'rak." Lannon offered out his hand to shake the orc's, now a little more comfortable with the situation. The orc returned the favor, and quickly turned to ride away.
"See that I don't catch you practicing magic like that young Lannon." As L'rak left, Lannon called after him again, remembering his promise to find Suzie.
"Wait....can you direct me towards The Cavalier's Den? I'm supposed to meet someone there."
L'rak sighed and pointed in an easterly direction, away from the main marketplace. "I'd be careful on the road to that place Lannon," L'rak warned, "There are thieves on that road."
"Thieves, what kind of thieves?"
"Most are NPC's, and most are swindlers who try to take your money. I can too little to punish them since they are part of the game's innate programming. However, there are some individuals who use the flexibility of Ether's programming to ill-gotten means. There are those who make a living in this game by stealing and hurting others."
"I see, is there anyway to tell the difference?"
"If you access the personal information of an individual, an NPC's name will be hidden from you unless you use a magical spell. However, an avatar's name would be visible to you. That is how you tell who is real and who is not."
"Sounds dicey, is there anything else I should no."
L'rak again sighed and reached into his pocket. He handed Lannon a small talisman, decorated in what appeared to be rubies and silver. "That is a calling talisman," L'rak explained. "If you will it, it will call a sentry to you. Technically it isn't given out freely, but I like you. Use it sparingly however, it can only be used once within an hour time period, and it won't work outside the city proper."
"Wow, thanks for all your help." Lannon placed the talisman around his neck, hoping it would be a sign of protection from the NPC's and other sorts that wandered the back alleys of Epic City. L'rak turned and rode off, waving back at Lannon, who turned and started on his trek to the Cavalier's Den.
