So the Jackass and his friends want me, and not to go for coffee. My thoughts roiled around in my head, I knew I was angry but still in control. “When did you hear about the 5k reward Archon?” “It was reported by one of my people last night.” “I see, well a moving target is a hard target so shall we continue?” Striding down the street I began to eye all the alleyways and doorways wondering when and where the PK Elites would make a move.

Archon silently glided beside me; walking in a companionable silence we made our way to the next intersection where a pipe and tobacco shop was located. “I need a few minutes my friend; I need to get something from this shop.” Glancing up at the storefront Archon stared at me and then asked, when did you start smoking a pipe?” “I have not” I answered and with that I entered the shop. Having never been in a tobacco shop I was amazed at the rich aromas that hung in the air.

I had thought it would smell of stale tobacco and acrid smoke, not of light spices and sweet aromas. Greeting the shopkeeper I asked for a small bag of tobacco. The dwarf behind the counter looked at me and then pulling his pipe from between his teeth said, “ye will be wanting a light blend I be thinking.” Reaching under the counter he pulled a small grey leather bag out and unknotting the drawstring he lifted it up towards me. “Give it a good smell Human and tell me what ye think?”

Bending over I gave the bag a gentle sniff, I was overcome with the smell of sun dried flowers and honey, with a hint of cinnamon. The smell reminded me of Reona and without hesitation I bought the bag for one silver and fifty coppers. Once outside I gestured to a small bench located a few meters down the street, “shall we” I said and with a smile began to walk to the bench.

Sitting down at the bench I opened my bag and extracted my cartography supplies. Gently unrolling the thinnest sheet of parchment paper I could find I carefully began to cut it into small rectangles. Once that was done I pulled my Tobacco pouch out and opened it. Archon at this point said “oh my God you’re not, you are, well dammit. I want the first one.” Smiling I handed him my first hand rolled cigarette and quickly rolled another.

“Light” I asked and seeing him nod I held my finger to the end of his smoke and with a minor effort caused a small flame to ignite at the tip of my finger.

Lighting both of our smokes I took my first puff. Closing my eyes for a second I held the smoke in and then breathed out. Opening my eyes I became aware that several players were standing on the street, just looking at us. I glanced over at Archon and saw that he had a smile on his face as he began to blow smoke rings.

“Well?” I asked after taking another puff. Looking at me Archon sighed and then said “you realize that you have just changed the game in a fundamental way.” “What are you talking about Archon?”

Pointing to the players that were beginning to gather on the road in front of he said, “What are the two types of people who smoke in real life?” I thought for a minute then nodded, “teenagers and old folks.” “Now you are getting it, do you really think any of the players really like smoking a pipe, I don’t and I doubt very many do. We all like smoking though and now,” gesturing at our smokes he nodded. “Now we can, all because you took a moment and thought outside the box.”

At this point one of the players standing in front of us spoke up, “Hey man can you spare me a smoke?” Looking at him and the others beginning to crowd forward I nodded. “One minute please” I said as I began to roll out several more smokes. Handing them out I heard one fellow in the back say, “it’s just map making paper and tobacco.” “Shall we” I asked Archon and pointing up the street I began to walk towards gate that led to the third tier.

As we passed by a map makers shop Archon stopped and smiling at me he indicated he had to go and purchase some parchment paper. We entered the shop and he made his purchase while I looked around. It was just a shop full of map making supplies and the tools of the trade. On impulse I asked the shopkeeper if he had any old maps, really old maps of the city.

Archon hearing my request grunted and then waited with a curious look in his eye. The shopkeeper peered up at me and then gave a smile. Ah yes, I do think I might have what you are looking for. Going to one of the dusty corners behind the counter he pulled out a small copper tube, and then gently gave it to me. “Have a look boy and be careful not to tear it.”

Nodding I carefully unfastened the end of the tube and with a gentle touch began to inch the map out of the tube. The paper was ancient and delicate, just waiting for a tear. Hardly breathing I slowly began to remove it from the tube and finally freed it. Carefully I unfurled the paper and watched as the shopkeeper placed small ink pots at all four corners to weigh them down. Once the map was open I began to look it over, noting that there were several changes from the current maps of the city.

The city was only three tiers high and the rest of the mountain was wilderness all the way to the top. It was apparent that the bottom tiers were what the city had developed from. “Twink” I called out in my mind. “Are you awake?” “Poppa your okay,” the relief in her thoughts was apparent. “Yes I am good, listen; can you scan the map I am looking at right now?” There was silence for a minute then I heard the analytical tone of the AI side of Twink speak. “The document scanning is commencing, database correlation adjustment in progress. Process has finished.

Suddenly Twink spoke in her normal voice, do you need anything else Poppa?” “ I am really hungry can I go eat?” Thinking that she would probably want to go hunting I quickly decided that she should go down stairs and ask Reona to feed her. Explaining to her what to do only took a few seconds, then with a quick goodbye I ended the conversation and turned back to the shopkeeper.

“Thank you sir for showing me the map how much does it cost?” The wily old fellow looked at me in my low level gear and then shrugged. “Lad, it cost probably a bit more than you can afford right now. The price is set at one hundred gold.” Hearing this even Archon gasped, but then looking at me, he raised a brow and said, “If you need small loan,” leaving the question in the air. I silently shook my head; I already had all the info the map could offer to me thanks to Twink.

Seeing that I would not be making the purchase the shopkeeper slowly and carefully began to put the map away. Once it was gently rolled and placed in the copper tube he turned and began to walk back to the dusty drawer he had retrieved it from. Archon turned and looking at me smiled then spoke,” Hold shopkeeper I will make the purchase for one hundred gold.” Turning around the shopkeeper looked at Archon and then said, “That price of one hundred gold was for the young lad, but for you the cost is to be no less than one hundred and fifty gold.”

Archon asked “what” and then began to look at me and at the shopkeeper. “He has through hard work proven himself to the citizens of the second tier of the city, you are not from this tier, why would you receive a discount” said the shopkeeper. I breathed in both proud and pleased; I had reputation with the Npc of the second tier.