Anika returned to the Explorers Guild and found the noticeboard where she had placed her request for a map of Gliphos. It was hard for her at first to see the scrap of paper because it was covered in hundreds of additional requests. She finally managed to locate it and saw with delight that a response had been scribbled on it:

Full map of Gliphos available. 50 silver.

Find me at the Explorer's Tavern, Crane.

Although she was a couple of silver coins short of being able to buy the map, Anika was delighted that she could get a complete view of the continent where her son was located. She went to the Explorers Tavern and asked around for Crane. One of the players at the tavern pointed him out.

Crane was a short, dark-haired goblin of some sort. His skin was almost green but browner, and it kind of resembled the type of camouflage clothing army people wore. His clothes were dirty, and he looked like someone who had been travelling quite far by the way his clothes were worn and the tired posture he had.

Anika approached him intending to buy the map and prepare for her journey to Belhaven, but he looked like he was deep in discussions with two other players. They had a map in front of them, and he was explaining various locations and objectives that marked on the map. She drew attention to herself by coughing gently after watching them for a few moments; she felt it would be rude to continue standing there as if she was eavesdropping on the conversation.

"Hi, I'm Anika. About the map of Gliphos?"

Crane took a brief look at her and told her to sit down at the table. He then finished his conversation, which ended with a request for support from the other players. They didn't look convinced by whatever he was trying to explain to them. He appeared desperate and even threw in the promise of financial rewards if they would just do what he had proposed. The other players told him they would think about it and excused themselves.

"Yes Anika, I've got the map you're looking for. Can you pay?" He looked exhausted and keen to wrap up the conversation.

"I'm so glad to hear that, yes I have almost 50 silver. If you bear with me, I'm sure I can find a buyer for a couple of my leather skins to make up the difference. Can you wait for me while I sort that out?"

"I could do, I'm here for another couple of days. But tell me this why do you need a map of Gliphos? Do you realise it is a massive PvP zone? At your level, you will get killed instantly, so I can't see why you would want to go there at all."

Crane ordered a beer from the barmaid and asked if she wanted anything. She politely refused but was happy that he would stay a little while longer, she would like to learn more about the place she was going to, and this was her chance.

"I'm not too bothered about playing the game out there. I was told my son is on Gliphos, and I desperately need to speak with him, so I'm just going to make my way there and do my best to find him. Have you heard about the Crimson Alliance and the Pure Warheads?"

Crane took a few moments to think about her question. The look he was giving her suggested that she had told him a lie. His brow scrunched up oddly, and his goblin face showed every sign of distrust.

"You're joking, right? Of course, I've of heard of the Crimson Alliance. And I know a few things about the Pure Warheads. Are you telling me that your son is fighting for them?"

"Yes, I know he got sponsored by the Pure Warheads. That's about it."

"Well, I can tell you that you are headed in the right direction. Finding your son won't be easy, but the Pure Warheads are a big deal on Gliphos."

"Is there anything you can tell me about where I should look for him? I know he plays in the tournaments, so I was hoping to get there by using your map."

"If I let you have it that is." His eyes squinted as if he was trying to work her out. "I'm here recruiting on behalf of the League of Ash. We are the main faction opposing the Crimson Alliance on Gliphos. You can see where I'm coming from right? Why should I help you?"

Anika didn't have an answer. Her heart sank as she looked away trying to work out if this was a major setback. Maybe she was better off just ending the conversation and making her way to Belhaven, then figuring things out from there.

"Listen. I'm not a complete arse hole, and this is just a game, right? If finding your son is important, I've got no problem giving you this map to help you out. Just pay me 10 silver or something. It's out of date, but it has some of the major battle zones and borders drawn on it."

He rolled out the map and showed her the continent of Gliphos. It was clearly marked out where the League of Ash had its headquarters and outposts. There were also some notes on where the Crimson Alliance had their fortifications and garrisons, but these were less detailed.

"I would be really grateful for that."

"Just tell no one you got this from me okay. The guys I work for are already pissed off with me, I'm having trouble recruiting anyone to come out and fight for us. In most areas, we are losing ground, and it seems like the Crimson Alliance has a never-ending supply of resources and players willing to join them. I wish you the best of luck, but remember that you will die a lot out there and I doubt you will find a garrison willing to let you resurrect in their camp."

"So where do you recommend I set my resurrection point?"

"That's the trouble with Gliphos. If you don't have an alliance with one of the factions, you won't get to resurrect there. The only place you will be able to resurrect will be Belhaven, so every time you get killed, you will have to go back there. There is a boat that leaves once a day, so it is a major setback if you are going to make your way around Gliphos. If you were at max level and had experience with PvP combat, then I would recommend that you join a garrison. Garrisons are basically outposts, fortifications that allow the major opposing factions to increase their borders, fight skirmishes and ultimately gain more ground from the opposition."

He showed a couple of areas where the Crimson Alliance and the League of Ash had been clashing. "These garrisons here desperately need more players, we also need more resources. That's why I am here, I'm trying to find players willing to join us, but everybody seems to want to fight for the crimson alliance."

"What about tournaments? I heard that my son is fighting in some kind of tournament on a regular basis."

"Okay. He must be one of the top players in the Pure Warheads then. Basically, the Everscape organisers put on PvP tournaments on a regular basis, most of them are on Gliphos or in similar PvP zones. There is a tournament hub right here," he pointed at an area in the middle of the map, "and if I'm not mistaken, the next tournament is scheduled for one week from now. If you somehow got there, you should be all right for a while. It turns into a neutral zone, so you'll be safe from other players during the tournament. I still don't see any way of you getting there though, you will have both of the main factions killing you on sight, just for fun."

Crane might have been right, but Anika thought to herself that she would not let any of this deter her from her objective. Even if it took several attempts, she would get there and find her son regardless of the risk. The only alternative was to level up her character by running dungeons and completing quests, but that would take many months, so she didn't even consider it an option. If there was a tournament going on in a week, she was determined to get there for that.

Anika thanked Crane for letting her have the map at a discounted price and thanked him for all of his advice. He shrugged as if it was nothing and wished her best of luck, making a point that she would definitely need it.