/Inferno: Jun Li: Right, that would be the shortest mugging ever.

/Inferno: Sharl: I'd pay credits to watch that show.

Nix changed his settings to Ghost and then closed his hud.

/Inferno: Semmi: HQ is fricken awesome, by the way. Tobias was living like a king.

/Inferno:Nix: I have some allies who will start searching the Great Desert for raid bosses.

[Whisper: Semmi to Nix] Stop by the new City Center tomorrow. There's an office for you there and Nebs has really been working hard. Maybe we should steal her from Salamander.

[Whisper: Nix to Semmi] I'll have to thank her personally.

*********************

Welcome to Ever Flame, the Gateway to the Everspire Continent.

Ever Flame was the starter city for the Ever Spire expansion. Although most of the Inferno members had been bogged down with quests the moment they arrived, Nix was thrown to the wolves in the Northern Territory of t.i.tania.

Quest Updated.

Curse of the Ice G.o.ddess

Objective: Find Tanner Benton in Market Square.

Ever Flame was considerably less crowded a week after the expansion went live. A large percentage of the players had earned the right to travel out of the immediate area. Ever Flame was a pioneer town. The walls protecting the city were made from waist-thick logs that had been driven deep into the ground and sharpened on the top. The streets were simple dirt, although they were fairly smooth.

Nix walked down the boarded walkway that lined both sides of Main street. There were a wide variety of shops, many of the owners were also crafting trainers. When he noticed the large Taxidermy sign, he decided to walk in.

The shopkeeper whistled when he saw him. "Well met sir, it isn't often I see experts here."

A few of the players in the shop looked at him. Nix nodded politely, "any tips for me?"

The shopkeeper was a stout man of average height, his ma.s.sive hands and forearms seemed like they would be better served holding a weapon. He had a wide jaw and dark eyes, the man had definitely been a fighter at some time in his life.

"No. Look for a man named Wallace in Free Trader City. It's possible he could show you something."

The shopkeeper wrote something down on a piece of paper and handed it to him. "Tell him Lan sent you, that should be enough."

Nix looked down at the paper, "thanks, Lan."

Lan waved for him to follow and walked through a curtained doorway leading to the back. "Could I see something you made?"

Nix pulled out his golden Razir and handed it to him. "This is the only one I have on me. It's only a revenant level."

"That's better than I can make." Lan studied it for a few minutes, taking out a scratch pad to make some notes; after finis.h.i.+ng he hands it back to Nix with a coin."

You have joined the Everspire Crafting Guild.

A few minutes later, Lan walks Nix back into the shop and shakes his hand. "Don't forget to look up Wally."

Nix nodded and exited, glancing down the coin as he resumed his walk toward the market area.

Everspire Craftsman Guild Coin

No-Drop Item

Description: This coin will

open doors and conversations

that might otherwise have been closed.

At the far side of the Market area, several freshly skinned hides were stretched out to dry in the sun. A thin man with hair the color of fire was carefully sc.r.a.ping the hanging hides. Nix approached him and watched him work. This man actually knew about being a Tanner, he didn't possess some crafting queue that he could experiment with.

Nix said his name when the man looked up. "Tanner Benton?"

The man looked up from his work, his face expressionless for a moment before breaking into a smile. "You've finally arrived."

"I was held up by an unexpected trip to the Forest of t.i.tania."

The man looked somewhat skeptical. "What are the names of the Clan Leader and War Leader of the t.i.tan Clan??"

"Scarlett and Mortimus."

Benton sat his tools down and extended his hand. "Sorry, I had to make certain. Do you have anything to show me?"

Nix showed him his Steward Crest and the Guild coin he'd received from Lan.

Benton scratched his head as if considering something important. "For these, I can reduce the favor you must build up by half."

Quest Updated.

Quest: Curse of the Ice G.o.ddess

Objective: Many important people

live in lower Everspire. Find them and

increase your favor. You will need their support

in the days to come.

Objective: Find Zane the Blacksmith.

Objective: Find Bor Na the Oracle.

Objective: Find Enu Bak the Water Sprite