Overhill and underhill you travel

Well, wherever one is- whatever it is- you're not going to find it just sulking in the cave. You'd say your cave, but it's apparently not yours anymore. You fume momentarily, then sigh. Gripping your staff, you set out on your expedition. During the first half-hour of your hike, you mentally review the various locations nearby that might be useful to you. The forest to the east is full of goblins, and not exactly something you want to poke. They have the sheer numbers to make traveling through there difficult, no matter how much you outclassed their shamans individually. The mountains to the north have a drakeling. One higher level then you. No need to pick that fight.

To the north-east, however, neatly between the two territories... was an abandoned wizards' tower. Apparently overrun by lesser shades. Could be useful, if you can clear them out. Far enough away you're not infringing on either of their territories, but close enough to (admittedly, just barely) access both kinds of resources.

You make up your mind, before remembering its' far enough away that it'll take you nearly two days to get there, traveling at a reasonable rate. And you're going to have to be careful- you may not have a respawn point anymore now that you've lost your cave. You'll have to be very careful if you decide to make that trek. But the question is... do you have a choice but to risk it? An abandoned wizards' tower sounds exactly like the sort of place that would have a claim crystal. And, well... you're a wizard. Sort of. Derived class, anyway. It'd be way more useful to you then your old cave. The cave had advantages- namely, not being a landmark- but the tower...

You sigh, and keep walking. There's but one way to get anywhere in your current state, and that is to put one foot in front of the other until you get there. Or you collapse from exhaustion. You hope it's not the latter. That there's some sort of open rest area along the way, because if you can only rest or sleep within your own lair... You'd experimented with sleep deprivation once before. Once. That was enough. With that lending urgency to your steps, you continue on your way.

That night, you sit beside a campfire in a cave turned apparent neutral zone. The good news is that it counted enough for you to sleep, at least. The bad news... is that it was well and truly neutral. A goblin shaman-priestess-poisoner was making eyes at you, a paladin was trying to kill you with his glare, and... well. There were a number of people here, 'monsters' and 'players' alike. Admittedly, you were most disturbed by the goblin- the body of a child, the mind of an assassin, the fanaticism of a cultist, and less manners then the worst street dregs. None of them particularly endeared their flirting to you. At least the paladin just wanted to kill you, not... whatever was up with the goblin. You sigh, and retire to the patch of brushed dirt set aside for you to sleep in.