The term "MMORPG" is an abbreviation for "Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game." In this genre of game, thousands of players interact with each other in a vast and persistent online world. Players can meet, join together, and adventure in a virtual landscape that spans for miles. The world is populated by friendly inhabitants as well as monsters. By fighting monsters and completing a wide variety of quests, players grow in power and prestige.

Monato Esprit™ is a unique MMORPG that is free to download and play. Players take the role of winged Archons who enter the world of Monato Esprit™ through their dreams. Archons fight to protect the land from an invasion of nightmares, which are slowly turning the beautiful plants and animals of Monato Esprit™ into fiends. The game has stylized graphics and addictive gameplay that is suitable for young and old. Special features of the game include:

• The MetaTIX™ System – Monato Esprit™ is free to play and uses the MetaTIX™ online currency system, giving players control over the in-game economy.
• Unique World – The colorful world of Monato Esprit™ features a vast and scenic landscape filled with helpful citizens, majestic cities, and vile monsters.
• Six Powerful Classes – Archons gain special skills by joining one of six classes, ranging from arcane Mages to gunslinging Sheriffs.
• Guilds – Players can create their own social organizations called Guilds. Guild members can share items, join together on adventures, and gain prestige within the online community.
• Alchemy – Each Archon is skilled in the ways of Alchemy and can create useful items to aid in their adventures. By locating rare recipes, players can create, use, and distribute valuable items.

Monato Esprit™ uses the e-currency MetaTIX™ as its in-game currency. You can purchase MetaTIX™ from the MetaTIX™ website and spend them in Monato Esprit™ like you would "gold coins" in other games. There are a number of advantages to the MetaTIX™ system:

Free Gaming

There is no cost to download or play Monato Esprit™. Some activities in the game cost MetaTIX™, such as taking certain elite quests, going on rides, and delving into special dungeons. Players have the freedom to spend as much or as little as they want on these extra areas. If you play conservatively, you could play for free. It is also possible to gain MetaTIX™ through trade with other players. If you play and trade well, it's even possible to earn a profit by playing the game!

Player-Run Economy

Most games control trade and the prices of items by including NPC merchants who buy and sell basic items at fixed rates. Players must sell heaps of useless "Vendor Trash" to merchants for the money to buy items. Trade between players is reduced to a secondary market. In Monato Esprit™, however, there are no NPC merchants and no useless items. Players take complete control of trade, setting their own prices and running their own businesses. Special trade functions and Consignment Stores make it easy for players to buy and sell with each other in hopes of turning a profit. Can you beat the market?

Spread the Wealth

By using MetaTIX™, you gain access to a growing list of online games that use them as their payment method. MetaTIX™ in your account can be spent in any game in the MetaTIX™ network. You can sample each one to find the games you most enjoy. If you're running a successful business in Monato Esprit™, you could choose to spend your profits by buying or playing new games.

Download the Monato Esprit™ client from the Monato Esprit™ website and follow the installation instructions. You must use a MetaTIX™ account to log into the game, so if you don't already have one, you can go to MetaTIX.com and open an account for free.

After logging in, you will be taken to the character selection screen. Once you have created one or more characters, click on the character you wish to play, select a channel on the right side of the screen, and click "Connect."

If this is your first time playing Monato Esprit™, you must first create a character. You can have up to three different characters stored in each server. To create a new character, hit the "Create Character" button. On the right side of the character creation screen, you can change the gender and appearance of your character. This is also the time to select the character’s Horoscope and Season. Each Horoscope sign and Season provides a permanent bonus to your character, such as an increase in hit points or attack power. You cannot change your Horoscope or Season later, so choose wisely. When you select a name, be sure to think of something unique because you can't share the same name with another character on your server. Once you’re happy with your new character, hit the "Create" button. If this isn't your first time creatng a character, and you've already been through Moonrise Beach, feel free to skip the tutorial. For more information on characters, see Characters.

Monato Esprit™ is a three dimensional world navigated mostly with the mouse. To walk to a location, left-click on your destination. To spin the camera, hold down the right mouse button and move the mouse. You can zoom in and out by scrolling the mouse wheel. On the bottom left corner of your screen is a grey window that will display game text as well as chat text from fellow players. You can click on the white text box to chat with other players. For more options on chatting, see Chatting.

While walking around, you will notice some fellow Archons in the world. Those with Blue names over their heads are players like you. Those with Yellow names are non-player characters, or NPCs. NPCs can be valuable sources of information and can also give you quests. Left-clicking on an NPC will open up a dialog window. You can see what the NPC has to say by clicking the "Chat" button, or engage in quests by clicking the "Quest" button. For more about Quests, see Quests.

The world of Monato Esprit™ is divided into a number of zones. The name of the zone you are currently in is listed at the top of your map, in the upper right corner of your screen. You can expand the map to show the entire zone by left-clicking on the magnifying glass icon. Clicking on the icon again will shrink the map back down. Icons on the map show the location of various notable destinations in the zone. Transition points between zones appear as glowing circles on the ground.

On the bottom right side of your screen are icons that open various game menus. The most important icon is on the far right and opens the System Menu. In this menu you can adjust your game settings, select a different character to play, and exit the game.

Each character has a number of attributes that determine how they interact with the world. You can examine your character's attributes by clicking the "Char Info" icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. Your most important attribute is your level. With each level your character gains, your attributes will grow. You gain levels by gaining experience points through combat and quests. Items in your inventory and certain skills can also provide bonuses to your attributes.

Other important attributes include your Hit Points and Mana Points. Your Hit Points represent your health and life force. You lose Hit Points when you take damage from monster attacks. If you lose all your Hit Points, your character will be knocked unconscious and revive at the nearest safe point. Mana Points are used to power your various special skills. Using a skill costs MP, so use your skills wisely or you may run out of Mana at the wrong time. Hit Points and Mana Points can both be restored with potions, certain skills, and magic crystals found throughout the world.

Each character begins the game as a Novice. Once you reach level 5, you will be able to take a quest to join a specialized class. The class you select will determine how many Hit Points and Mana Points you receive each level, what equipment you can use, and which skills you can learn. In a broader sense, your class will also determine what tactics you use in combat and what role you serve in groups. Each class is described below. You can click on a class to see a more detailed description.

• Hwarang – These elite warriors rely on strength and martial training to overwhelm their enemies.
• Templar – These stalwart guardians use divine power to protect the innocent from harm.
• Mage – Masters of the four elements, these scholars wield destructive magic to smite evil wherever it treads.
• Cleric – Brimming with holy energy, these emissaries of light tap into the healing power of dreams.
• Harlequin – These cunning rogues use speed and style to turn every combat into a work of art.
• Sheriff – These dedicated officers carry firearms and other special weapons to uphold justice.

Each character has a number of skills that grant special abilities. When your character gains a level, you receive one skill point that can be used to purchase a level in a skill. At least one rank is required to use a skill, and further ranks increase its effectiveness. The skills you can buy depend on your level and class. Each class has its own unique skill roster, with more powerful skills becoming available as you gain levels.

Skills are broken into two types: passive and active. Passive skills permanently increase your character's attributes. Thus, buying a passive skill could raise your Strength attribute or your Defense rating. Active skills include attack spells, special melee strikes, healing, and temporary enchantments. Using an active skill costs mana, which limits the number of times a skill can be used over a short period.

You can view what skills you have available by clicking on the Skill menu icon at the bottom right corner of the screen to open your Skill Menu. In this menu, you can review how many points you have placed in each skill and how many unused skill points you have earned. You can use your skills by clicking on their icons in this menu, but it's easier to drag the icons down to your Quick Bar at the bottom of your screen so that you can use them any time.

The world of Monato Esprit™ has been overrun by monsters that must be defeated in combat. When you left-click on a monster, its stat window will appear beside your own in the upper left corner of the screen. To attack a monster that you have targeted, left-click on it again or hit the space bar. Once a monster is defeated, you can left-click on the monster's corpse to open a window of loot items. Click on the loot items you wish to take, or simply click the "Take All" button. Looted items are added to your Inventory.

Most active skills and many consumable items are useful in combat. To use an offensive skill, click on its icon in your Quick Bar or Skill Menu. Most offensive skills will launch an attack at the monster you have targeted, but others can inflict damage in an area-of-effect. Other skills will grant you temporary combat benefits, such as an increase in HP or Defense. It's best to use these skills just before you enter combat. If you find yourself running low on HP or MP, you can use potions to instantly restore yourself. After you use a potion or skill, the icon will turn dark and become unusable for a short period of time. With practice, you'll learn how to time your use of potions and skills for maximum effect.

Monato Esprit™ is filled with other players, so there are plenty of people to talk to. You can chat with any player on your server, no matter where they are in the world. To say something, simply type your message into the white chat box at the bottom left corner of your screen. Chat text appears in the game text window and is sometimes visible over the speaker's head. The tabs just above the chat box will put you in various chat channels and control who hears what you say. By default, all players who are nearby will hear what you say. You can use special channels to speak only to your Guild, members of your party, or one specific player.

Items you collect during your adventures are stored in your Inventory. To open your Inventory, select the Inventory icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. Your inventory is divided into two sections. The top section shows all the items you currently have equipped. To equip an item, right-click on the item or drag it onto an equipment slot. Your character model will change to reflect what weapons and armor you have equipped. Be sure to watch the Endurance rating of weapons and armor you have equipped. The more you use them in combat, the more damage they will sustain, and will eventually need to be repaired by a Blacksmith. Some items have certain requirements before they can be equipped at all. If your character doesn't meet the requirements, you won't be able to equip the item.

The bottom section of your inventory shows everything else that you're carrying. Each item takes up a slot in your inventory, though some items will stack together in the same slot. You can click on the right side of your inventory to open an additional bag. If you run out of space, you can store extra items in your Bank account and retrieve them at any city in Monato Esprit™.

Getting the best equipment can be difficult all on your own. Often it's best to trade with other players for the items you need. To trade with another player, left-click on their character to target them, then right-click on their stat window in the upper left corner of the screen and select "Trade." This will open a trade window. You and your trading partner can each put items and MetaTIX™ on your own side of the trade window. The trade will only take place once you're both happy with the terms. If you're looking for a particular item or have something to sell, you should let people know in the Trade chat channel or visit the Consignment Store.

Many items you find in the world are ingredients that can be combined to create new items using Alchemy. To open your Alchemy Menu, select the Alchemy icon at the bottom right corner of your screen. Recipes that your character knows are listed on the left side of the menu. Clicking on a recipe will show its ingredients on the right side of the menu. If you have all the necessary ingredients in your inventory, you can click "Create" to make one new item. To learn new recipes, you will have to find Recipe Scrolls in the world, then right-click on the recipe to add it to your Alchemy Menu. The Alchemy tab also allows you to break down a complex item into it's materials through item decomposition.

Heroic Archons help the other citizens of Monato Esprit™ by going on quests. When an NPC has a quest to give you, an exclamation mark will appear over his or her head, or a green MetaTIX(tm) symbol will appear over their head for premium quests. Click on the "Quest" button while talking to an NPC to see what Quests the NPC has available. Each quest is a task that must be completed for the benefit of Monato Esprit™. Completing quests will grant you experience points and special item rewards. To keep track of your ongoing quests, consult your Quest Menu by clicking on the Quest icon in the lower right corner of your screen.

Players can create and run their own in-game organizations called guilds. Guilds offer a terrific opportunity to enhance your game experience by providing a network of friends to help you out and share your adventures. Guild members can pool their resources and help each other whenever someone has need. Many dungeon and enemies in Monato Esprit™ are very dangerous for a single Archon to handle alone. When you've got a guild of friends at your side, nothing can stop you!

Joining a guild is a helpful way to meet new people and maintain a ready supply of traveling companions. If you're interested in joining a particular guild, get to know the guild members and ask if they're accepting new members. Only guild officers can approve new members, so make sure you meet with the guild's leadership and make a good impression. Also make sure that the members of the guild are people you'd like to play with. Once you are approved, you will become a member of the guild. Helpful members may get promoted up the ranks of the guild leadership and gain the authority to recruit new members. Maybe someday you'll be running the guild!

In your day-to-day adventures, you may find that you enjoy joining up with the same players for quests and adventures. Adventuring parties make it easy to make friends within the game, but once a player leaves the game, they leave the party. Starting a guild with your friends is a good way to create more permanent ties and keep track of each other. The creator of a guild automatically becomes the Guild Leader, so creating your own guild allows you to start right at the top of the hierarchy. To create a guild, you must take the Guild Creation quest in Isildra.

Monato Esprit™ uses the eCurrency MetaTIX™ as the in-game currency, much like other MMORPGs might use "gold" or "credits." Money in your account can be spent in Monato Esprit or any other game in the MetaTIX™ network. While playing Monato Esprit™, your current total is displayed at the bottom right corner of the screen. No matter which character you are playing, you always have access to the full amount of MetaTIX™ in your account.

The easiest way to get more MetaTIX™ is to login to the MetaTIX™ website and make a purchase. That way, your characters never have to go broke. You can also gain MetaTIX™ by trading with other players. If you have a rare item that other players might want, you can offer to sell the item for MetaTIX™. Because there are no NPC merchants in Monato Esprit™, trade is conducted solely between players. This allows the players themselves to control the prices of items.

While playing Monato Esprit™ is free, certain activities in the world will cost MetaTIX™. For example, some Quests and Dungeons require the character to pay a fee to participate in them, and some cities require that the character pay a toll to visit them. If you find yourself with some extra MetaTIX™, you can use them to unlock this additional content.

Another way to use MetaTIX™ is through trade. If you don't have any items to trade, you can purchase goods from other players with MetaTIX™.

Artifact #3 is an old journal discovered by Dr. Julian on 23rd Moon, 6844 under a pile of rubble near the entrance of the Temple of Eternity. All attempts to locate the original owner of the diary have failed. Section One of the journal documents the first few days in the life of an Archon newly arrived to Monato Esprit.

1st Moon, 6842
Since I appeared on the shores of Moonrise Beach, I haven't been able to remember much about my other life outside of the dreamworld. Somehow, it doesn't seem to matter. Here in Monato Esprit, I'm Laszlo, and I'm an Archon. My new life in the dreamworld has just begun, and something tells me that great deeds and high adventures lie in store for me. A cool breeze blows from the sea as I sit beneath the starlight and write these words. I cannot wait to begin!

A number of guides have helped me get my bearings in this strange and wonderful land. They told me that the world was once a peaceful paradise, created by the Basileus Crystal as a haven for wayward dreamers. Generations of Archons before me built magnificent cities that still stand somewhere far away. Now everything has changed. Nightmares have fallen on Monato Esprit, corrupting the peaceful plants and animals into monsters. I've seen these evil beasts swarming across the countryside. Some of them were once simple crops, like the Leeks over in the next field, but now they're controlled by an evil force.

My guides have told me that all Archons must stand against these nightmares. I will have to learn everything I can about battle and magic in order to save this world. Through my adventures, I will learn the skills to combat this evil and defeat it. I am Laszlo, the Archon, and this was my first day in Monato Esprit.

2nd Moon, 6842
This day was very productive, and I'm learning quickly. A soldier named Jack gave me a small Knife and showed me how to use my magical abilities to fight these evil Leeks. It didn’t take long for me to develop a strategy. Leeks are rather stupid, and will not attack until I strike the first blow. I use my Stone Pitch skill to smack them right between their beady eyes from a distance. I have a great throwing arm, if I do say so myself. Once the Leek charges at me, I use Bash to deliver a crushing blow. It doesn't take much more than that to defeat the Leek and move on. All this fighting has made me hungry for some homemade potato leek soup. Mmmm!

Fighting isn't all fun and games, though. These Leeks can hit hard with those whip-like stems. I've taken more than a few hard knocks. Luckily, Jack showed me how to heal myself. There are large glowing Crystals all over Monato Esprit that will heal my wounds until I feel as good as new. Another guide named Hilly taught me how to brew my own Potions. The Red Potions taste like peppermint and make me feel like I could fight for three weeks straight. The Blue Potions never taste the same way twice and make me feel more alert and focused. Ingredients are limited, so I try to save my potions for emergencies only.

3rd Moon, 6842
I plunged into my first dungeon today. A guide named Rhea has been trapping various monsters in an underground cellar, and I was asked to help clear the place out a bit. The dungeon was a maze of dim rooms and hallways, ominously lit with flickering candelabras. It was hard not to get lost. The monsters in the dungeon looked harmless and almost cute, but they were very dangerous. Every room presented a tough fight, and soon I felt completely exhausted. Just as I started to think about turning back, I caught sight of a large silvernion lurking in the gloom. As a chill ran down my spine, I ran back to the entrance and escaped.

Rhea thanked me for clearing out some of the monsters from the dungeon. I didn't mention the silvery creature to her because I felt a little ashamed for running away. If I ever go back into Rhea's dungeon, I think I'll bring some friends along to help me out. That's all for now. Maybe tomorrow I'll get a chance to prove my bravery.

4th Moon, 6842
Today was a day of hard lessons. I feel lucky to be alive and writing in this journal. After a busy morning chopping down some rambunctious fungi, I stumbled upon a small cluster of Leeks, including those nasty Leek Warriors with their mace stems. I plunged into the fray and was happily vanquishing the evil nightmares when a large shadow fell across me. Up I looked to see a Giant Leek towering over me, massive, bronze and horrible. Every instinct told me to flee, but I steeled myself and stood my ground. The Leek glowered at me and poised to strike. I shouted a mighty war cry and charged the foul beast.

I don't remember much of what happened next. I know that I scored several solid hits that landed with satisfying thumps, but the Giant Leek barely seemed to notice. Its massive stem whacked me with crushing blows that sent my head spinning. I cracked open my emergency Potions, but I couldn't drink them fast enough, and then the world went a little black.

Somehow I awoke on the shores near Weber's house. I felt a little sore, but otherwise I was perfectly fine. It took me a while to remember that the Crystals of Monato Esprit will protect Archons who fight against the nightmares. Without them, I'd be a goner. Still, my clothes are all torn up, and I wasted a bunch of good Potions. I suppose I'll have to find a balance between bravery and foolishness.

5th Moon, 6842
Today a guide named Bella told me all about the currency system here, called MetaTIX™. I'm broke right now, but apparently these MetaTIX™ can be used in all sorts of other worlds outside of Monato Esprit. If I ever get some, I'll be sure to spend them wisely.

Later in the day, I saw another young Archon fighting a tiny little scarecrow. She gave it a good whacking and afterwards we chatted for a little while. Today was her first day in Monato Esprit, so I grouped up with her and helped her fight some of the smaller monsters around Moonrise Beach. It was fun to have someone to talk to while roaming around the countryside. I thought about suggesting that we hunt down that silvernion in the dungeon, but she was still too young to take that sort of risk. We parted ways in the evening, but I think I made a friend, and I promised that I'd check in on her from time to time.

6th Moon, 6842
The time has come to move on. Weber tells me that I've learned all there is to learn at Moonrise Beach, and my adventures in the wide world of Monato Esprit are just beginning. At the end of my training, he handed me a magical Escape Scroll. By reading the arcane text on the scroll, I'll be instantly teleported to a city called Isildra. I'm a little overwhelmed by the idea of visiting an entire city of Archons. I hope I don't get lost.

Weber also told me that I'll have to join a class in Isildra if I want to continue gaining skills and power. I've worked hard to learn the basics as a Novice, but now the kid gloves are coming off. I have an opportunity to join the elite warriors and magicians of Monato Esprit, and really make a difference. I haven't been this excited since the day I arrived in the dreamworld. Tomorrow I'll write all about my first day in Isildra.

7th Moon, 6842
What a day! I hardly know where to begin. Isildra is a beautiful city that sparkles with crystals of all shapes and sizes. As I write these words, I'm sitting on a balcony in Kai Falls Plaza as a magnificent waterfall roars down from above me. Even in these troubled times, the city feels alive with magic and energy. I wonder if all the dreamworld's cities are as enchanting as Isildra!

I've met so many new people today that I'm struggling to keep track of them all. Most of them were very friendly and helpful. Salvador, the Lord of Isildra, was noble and polite, though I could tell that he's under a great deal of pressure keeping the city safe. He gave me a few gifts and welcomed me to his city. That was very nice of him.

I also met the Marketer, a very intelligent young man who talked circles around me. I could barely keep up with half of what he said, but the parts that I did understand were very wise. I'm sure he puts that brain power to use as the manager of the Consignment Store. Archons go to him to buy and sell their items. He has to keep track of all the items and remember their prices and everything. As soon as I get some MetaTIX™, I'll have to do some shopping and get something cool.

Not everyone was nice, however. I stopped by the Inn with the hope of taking a midday nap, but Ivy, the hostess, practically knocked my head off before I could even open my mouth. That lady is scary, so I don't think I'll go back there. Dana, the tailor, said that Ivy used to be very friendly, but the nightmares have turned her sour. Nowadays she's only nice when she's thinking about her secret crush, but Dana wouldn't tell me the name of the lucky gentleman.

I could write all night about the interesting characters around Isildra, but I'm feeling pretty sleepy, so I think I'll just end here. Tomorrow I'm going to go find Zoe at the Bank and learn about joining a new class.

8th Moon, 6842
Templar Laszlo reporting for duty! Yes, today I have joined the honored ranks of the Templars, and I feel great about it, but perhaps I should start from the beginning. Zoe told me all about the various classes that I can join. I'm more of a hands-on person, I think, so the warrior classes most interested me. The Hwarang are a noble society of fighters who wield gigantic two-handed swords. Sometimes I see them running by with those swords resting on their shoulders. I wonder how they manage not to cut themselves in half! In the end, the Templars interested me more. I would rather stand my ground with a sturdy shield to protect me than rush into battle like those Hwarang. Templars are also dedicated to defending the holy and magical places of Monato Esprit. After my tour of Isildra yesterday, I can see why that job is so important.

Unfortunately, my Templar trainer Angelo seems more interested in himself than his job as a holy defender. He nearly put me to sleep talking about his great fame and heroic deeds. Something tells me that he's not half as famous as he thinks he is. His poor pet Puma looked even more bored than I was. Anyway, in order to become a Templar, I had to hunt Wasps and strange little creatures called Cabbageheads. The wasps were a little scary. They were the first flying nightmare I'd ever seen, and their stingers poked me full of holes. The Cabbageheads were a lot less scary, looking like little walking salads. Do people have nightmares about cabbages?

Once I completed my trials, Angelo admitted me into the order of the Templar. It's time to leave behind my life as a simple Novice and become a full citizen of Monato Esprit. Angelo gave me a nice new suit of heavy armor, a proper Longsword, and a sturdy shield. I certainly look the part, and I've even learned a neat new skill called Divine Blade, which lets me channel my new magical powers into a crushing blow with my sword. Evil nightmares beware, Laszlo the Templar is here!

9th Moon, 6842
The area to the east of Isildra is the Rolling Hills Vineyard. I visited the family that runs the vineyard and they seemed like nice folks. Well, the two parents were nice at least. I think their troublemaker son Claude threw a fish at me while my back was turned. I guess I can’t be too mad at him. His parents are busy managing a vineyard that is always under attack by monsters. They're just too busy to raise him properly.

Everyone else around Isildra is busy, too. I spent most of today running errands for people. No one seems to have enough time to get everything done. They usually thank me for my help and give me a little trinket. I've built up quite a collection of Potions, equipment, and other useful things. Pretty soon I'll have to start storing my extra items in the Bank. I hope it's as safe as Zoe claims.

While running back and forth through the city, I've noticed those security agents in black suits eyeballing me. At least, I assume that they're eyeballing me. Their dark sunglasses make it hard to tell just what they're looking at. Max gave me an introduction to Isildra when I first arrived, but he seemed very suspicious of me. I wonder if there are any nightmares that look like Archons. That would be scary. Besides asking a lot of questions and taking themselves very seriously, I'm not sure what those security agents do. I'd go ask Salvador, but I think he's got too much on his mind already.

10th Moon, 6842
I've been feeding three little birds around Crystal Plaza. I think they're too young to fly away, or perhaps they're frightened of the nightmares outside the city. I named the red one "Sue," and the blue ones are "Jerry" and "Balthazar Tiberius Rex." I don't think Captain Johnson appreciates me sprinkling breadcrumbs all over Crystal Plaza. Uh oh, he's coming over here...

12th Moon, 6842
I've been venturing farther away from the protection of Isildra lately and seeing all sorts of interesting sights. Today I discovered Kanna's Flower Garden, a beautiful park to the southeast of Isildra. Kanna is friendly and a very hard worker. She explained that she inherited the garden from her parents, who taught her everything they knew about gardening. The garden has been a popular picnic spot for hundreds of years, but lately it's become infested with some noisy and foul-tempered parrots. It's amazing how nightmares can twist such harmless little animals into monsters. I helped Kanna out by bird-hunting all day.

As I was taking a break and sipping some water from the fountain, I noticed that Kanna's helper Broso was trying to build a fence between the garden and Needle Leaf Forest, which lies just over a hill. Apparently some evil sprite has taken control of the forest and wrangled up all sorts of monsters. I don't envy Kanna for living so close to that evil place. I wandered into the forest, just to see what it looks like, but the place was way too spooky for me. I ran back out and told Broso that maybe someday soon I'll return and help him sort out his problem.

13th Moon, 6842
I've been picking up some new equipment lately in my adventures. Early this morning I found a Sharp Longsword after defeating a Blue Parrot. I wonder how that bird managed to swallow such a dangerous morsel. The sword swings like a dream and I've already noticed a big difference in my battles with nightmares. Just a few hours ago I also found a Cadet's Coat, perfect for a young Templar like me. It fits like it was custom tailored. Now I'm on the lookout for a full suit of Cadet armor.

15th Moon, 6842
I've been having so many adventures that I've forgotten to write about them. A few days ago I joined up with a nice party of Archons and we cleared out the first floor of Isildra's Warehouse. It was a tough job, but with our powers combined we managed to hunt down the boss of the dungeon and finally defeat it. I'm a little bit jealous of the powers displayed by some of my old party members. Our Cleric kept everyone in fighting condition with his Heal skill, and the Mage hurled Magic Missiles with amazing effect. I also take back what I said earlier about Hwarang. They aren't reckless or wild at all; they simply have a different outlook about battle. The dungeon was much less spooky with some companions by my side, and I feel honored to have fought with them.

I'm too sleepy to write about any more of my recent adventures. I've got to get some rest and start having more adventures!

17th Moon, 6842
Finally I feel like a complete Archon! I got my first pair of wings today! I'd noticed that there are a bunch of Beetles in the countryside surrounding Kanna's Flower Garden. Sometimes from a distance one of the Beetles would look strange. Other times I'd see what looked like an Archon standing around a group of Beetles. Finally I tracked this phony Archon down and discovered it to be Kafka, an evil little nightmare faker that looks like an Archon and pretends to be a bug. It attacked me with two giant arm-blades, but it was no match for me. I defeated the foul creature and discovered a pair of Beetle Wings. They're not the most glamorous wings I've ever seen, but I think they look pretty good on me. My wingless days are officially over.

20th Moon, 6842
Perhaps I've bitten off more than I can chew. I've traveled far away from Isildra to a place called Cherry Blossom Village, a charming little town that is completely surrounded by vicious nightmares. These monsters are a lot tougher than I'm used to, but I've had some success. Perhaps I should focus on the positive. I found a Steel Shield, which has saved my neck on a few occasions, and a new Saber. I've also found some Quilted Armor, and that's helped a lot. It's much heavier than my old armor, but it sure does take a beating!

I hear that to the west of here is a fabulous city called Holinhigh. I sure could use a break from these nightmares, but I think I'll stick around for at least a little while longer. I caught sight of a big creepy temple up north that is guarded by a fellow Templar. I suppose it's my duty to go pay a visit.

21st Moon, 6842
Doyle, the Templar I spotted yesterday, has convinced me to go inside the Temple of Eternity and sort the place out. I don't see how I can refuse a brother Templar. He's been stationed in this lonely post for years now, and he seems a little odd. I don't know how safe the Temple is for an Archon of my abilities, but this is no time for cowardice. I'm sure it will be okay. Doyle seems to think I'm equal to the task, and who else can I trust but a Templar? Yes, I'm sure I'll be fine. He's looking at me right now, with his hand on the door, waiting for me to stop writing and send me in. As soon as I stop writing, I'll have to go.

Doyle had some very good reasons why he couldn't be the one to go, and I'm the only other Archon here. It's me or no one. Yes, it's all up to me. I'll face my fears just as soon as I finish this very important journal entry. Not that I'm afraid of a silly old tomb. No, sir! Not me. No fear from Laszlo the Brave. Laszlo the Courageous. Laszlo the Daring. What are some other words for "brave?" I'll have to sit here and think of more.

Oh, what am I doing? I should get this over with. Here I go. I'm putting my pen down and stepping into the scary, cold, dark crypt. I'm sure everything will turn out fine. Bye.

Section Two of the Journal is a detailed, though incomplete, log of places, creatures, and people found all over the dreamworld. Careful reading of the journal provides amazing insight into Monato Esprit as well as the personality of the journal's author.

My adventures have taken me all over Monato Esprit and given me the opportunity to see many amazing places. The dreamworld is unlike anything I have ever known. There is so much beauty here and yet so much ugliness as well. Brilliant cities shine as monuments to the spirit of the Archons, and yet not far away lie crumbling ruins and murky dungeons infested with monsters. Hope and tragedy combine in the landscape of this magical world.

I'm keeping a log of all the places I have explored. Maybe someday I will have seen the entire dreamworld and recorded it all into my journal, but that would be quite an accomplishment.

Moonrise Beach is a sleepy little seaside community that welcomes all new Archons to Monato Esprit. It seems like every newcomer first arrives at Weber's front yard. Weber took charge of my education, and told me all sorts of useful things. You can tell that he's a good teacher because somehow he trained his dog not to eat his pet ducks. A few of the local residents are experts on various subjects and help Weber teach some of his lessons.

While Moonrise Beach is much safer than most other areas of Monato Esprit, it is still swarming with monsters. It used to be a popular area for farming leeks and mushrooms, but most of the crops turned into monsters and ran off. The wandering plants are quite a strange site for newcomers. One of the stubborn old farmers, Django, still refuses to abandon his farm. I don't think he can bear leaving the country for some crowded city. After a few hours spent listening to the crashing waves off the coast, I guess I can sympathize.

An Archon named Rhea does her part to keep the nightmares under control. She's converted an old dungeon into a holding pen for all sorts of monsters. The dungeon is always in danger of overflowing, but I think Rhea keeps it that way on purpose. It's a good place for young Archons like me to get some experience hunting small monsters.

Moonrise Beach is cut off from the rest of Monato Esprit by mountains and water. The only way to get from the Beach to the mainland of Monato Esprit is to use an Escape Scroll. Luckily, Weber is happy to give them to his students once they complete their lessons.

This big and bustling city is quite a change of pace from the peaceful Moonrise Beach. As one of the newest cities in the dreamworld, it's built with the latest advances in magic and technology. A gigantic crystal as big as a house sits in the central plaza, creating immense amounts of magical energy. Clocks, gears, fountains, fans, lights, and a whole network of crystal shards all draw power from the central crystal. Once I tried to reach past the chain fence and touch the crystal, but some guards rushed over and shooed me away. Perhaps that was a stupid idea.

Salvador is the Lord of Isildra. Sometimes I see him pacing around his small garden, worrying about the future of his city. He comes from a long line of heroes who have ruled the city for centuries. I heard that his distant ancestor defeated the first monster ever to creep into Monato Esprit. One of his later relatives founded Isildra and built the family's beautiful home. Too bad for Salvador that the nightmares invaded during his reign. Running the city takes all of his energy, so the rest of us will have to fight the monsters ourselves.

As more and more Archons gather behind the city's walls, Isildra is starting to get crowded. Workers can barely keep up with the demand for new buildings and homes. The citizens of Isildra are mostly friendly, but there are more than a few loose screws. I think the city's security agents are the craziest of all. They stand around all day in black suits and sunglasses, staring at newcomers and asking personal questions. Captain Johnson seems to be handling the city's safety just fine.

Besides safety, Isildra offers a wealth of knowledge for those who seek it. A number of class trainers call this city home, providing citizens with easy access to experts in class skills. Zoe at the Bank seems to spend most of her day answering questions and sending Novices out to see various trainers. I wonder how she has time to manage her Bank. Unfortunately, most of the class trainers have been too busy to really teach you much. They'll give you the basics, but you're on your own after that.

The Consignment Store is popular spot for adventurers with spare equipment and those looking to buy new items. Archons who want to sell their equipment will put their items up for sale at the Store for a small fee. Buyers will browse all the items that are currently for sale and make purchases. Many Archons like to use the Store because it does away with all the legwork of matching buyers to sellers and haggling over prices. Sometimes I see Archons come back to the city after a full day of adventuring and unload all the spare items they've found into the Consignment Store. The next day they find a stack of MetaTIX™ waiting for them from all the sales they made overnight.

The Marketer runs the place in Isildra, and I honestly think he keeps track of everything in his head. I think he must have the spark of genius. Then again, maybe he just hides a calculator in that hat of his. Either way, I've never once heard him get a sum wrong.

There's a Bank in every major city in Monato Esprit. I've only been to the one in Isildra so far, but they tell me that you can retrieve any item you put into a Bank at any other Bank in the dreamworld. There must be some sort of magic going on for that to be true. Maybe someone was just pulling my leg. I put a pair of shoes in the Bank and marked them each with a little red "X" while no one was looking. Next time I go to another city, I'll see if I get back the same pair of shoes.

Zoe at the Bank of Isildra seems like a trustworthy Archon. She helped me figure out what class to join and even wrote me a nice recommendation letter, not that Angelo bothered to read it. I wonder if she had a different job before taking over the Bank. She doesn't seem like someone who would want to guard a vault all day long.

Sometimes when I'm feeling a little stressed and yearn for Moonrise Beach, I'll go to Kanna's Flower Garden for the next best thing. The garden is built around ancient and crumbling stone ruins. No one really remembers just what the ruins used to be, but they're older than Isildra and most of the other cities in Monato Esprit. People just left the place alone for centuries until Kanna's family decided to fix it up and turn it into a beautiful garden. Now Archons from all over the dreamworld come to take a stroll through the flowers.

Unfortunately Archons aren't the only things that come to the garden. Lately a bunch of nightmare parrots took over the garden and made a mess of the place. Kanna's helper Broso also has his hands full trying to keep out monsters from the neighboring Needle Leaf Forest. The garden is such a local treasure that I hope we Archons can pull together to defend it.

The climate around Isildra is perfect for growing grapes. The surrounding countryside is filled with scenic hills and meadows. Just east of Isildra is the suitably named Rolling Hills Vineyard, where a small family of growers creates the dreamworld's most celebrated wine. I've visited the vineyard on a few occasions and always receive a warm welcome. Florine and her husband Sam make the wine at their cottage, while their daughter Clara does chores around the home. Their older son Clark is always hard at work in the fields, but their younger son Claude usually wastes the day playing somewhere. No family is perfect, I suppose.

The Rolling Hills Vineyard is a hub to many nearby locations around Isildra. Roads leading to Cherry Blossom Village, Dr. Julian's Laboratory, Kanna's Flower Garden, and the Barren Land all pass right by the Vineyard. Whenever I smell those barrels of delicious wine, I know that I've almost made it back to Isildra.

Despite what some people claim, I know that Isildra isn’t completely safe. In fact, some dark corners of the city are downright dangerous. Case in point: the Warehouse. This dark and musty cellar is filled with all sorts of beasts and monsters. I don't know how they got down there. They must have burrowed in from a cave somewhere beneath the earth. The place is so infested that even the city guards won't go down there. Many citizens used to store things down in the Warehouse, and not all of them were able to get their items before the place got too dangerous. Lately a few brave souls have made quick dashes underground, but most talk about a strange Leek chasing them out. Whatever that thing is, it's probably the ringleader of those underground monsters.

The only entrance to the Warehouse is at the steps leading up to Kai Falls. Alex guards the door, but his job is more to keep Archons from wandering inside than to prevent monsters from coming out. He doesn't carry a weapon, so I don't know what would happen if a nightmare burst through the door. At least Captain Johnson is nearby.

This dungeon full of monsters sits so close to Rhea's home in Moonrise Beach that I don't know how she sleeps at night. Instead of being afraid of the monsters, I think she makes sure that her dungeon is stocked full of them to help Novices practice their combat skills. The Training Area looks like a typical dungeon, and I'm not quite sure what it used to be. Perhaps there was some nice castle on the shores of the beach, and this was its cellar. At any rate, the place is abandoned now except for monsters, which dwell in the dim passages and terrorize any young Archon who dares to set foot below ground.

I don't think I've ever seen a town as lovely or as sad as Cherry Blossom Village. This area was once a gorgeous and peaceful community nestled amongst the cherry trees, where villagers lived in harmony with nature. Now the villagers have mostly fled their homes. A group of goat-like monsters has taken over all but a small corner of the village, which is little more than a military outpost manned by Templars and Clerics. A crystal at the center of the new village provides healing to the troops. A kind and generous Cleric called Bia also treats those villagers who are still stuck outside the safe zone, though she rarely has enough herbs to go around.

The surrounding countryside is beautiful and full of mystery. The other day I spotted a strange swing hanging between two bent cherry trees. One of the Templars at the village told me that the swing was made for a princess long ago. She was very sickly and could not swing for long before growing tired and thirsty. However, the more she drank from the nearby spring, the stronger she became. After many years she regained her strength and grew up to become a wise and noble queen. Generations of local children played on the swing until monsters drove everyone away.

I've heard about an ancient and haunted crypt called the Temple of Eternity. This is one Temple I never want to have to guard. Apparently an evil spirit has taken over the crypt and commanded all the old skeletons to start walking around again. Most of the skeletons are old heroes still in their rusty armor, but they say there are wizards and even dogs prowling through the dusty halls. I hope someone kicks down that rusty old door and returns those poor skeletons to their proper graves. I also hope that someone doesn't have to be me.

They say Holinhigh is much older than Isildra and has a long tradition as a holy place. Templars and Clerics are always going there, so maybe I should visit it sometime. The city is lead by Chancellor Baldwin. I wonder if he's under the same stress as Salvador in Isildra. The area around the city is supposed to be swampy. I can’t imagine how hard it must be to deal with monsters when your boots are stuck in mud. Maybe I'll stick to greener pastures for a while longer.

Crystals in Monato Esprit have tremendous power to build, bind, and restore. The world was made from crystals, and crystals hold it together. When I first arrived in Monato Esprit, Jack explained that certain red crystals would heal my wounds, and blue crystals would restore my Mana. Yellow ones are the best, because they do both. Some crystals radiate an aura of healing, while others must be touched to have any effect. I've found crystals in cities, villages, and even in dungeons. I try to memorize the locations of crystals so that I can use them more often. That helps me save up on my potions.

Some people say that Monato Esprit is alive. I'm not so sure about that, but I do know that there's plenty of life here. The countryside is crawling with people and creatures of all shapes and sizes. Not everything here is friendly, though. There are monsters everywhere, but there are also plenty of helpful citizens and harmless critters. Whenever I see something new, I'll write about it in my journal. That way I’ll be sure to remember if it's friendly or dangerous.

What is an Archon? In my experience, most Archons are pleasant, friendly, and helpful people. Some of us can be lazy and slow and grumpy, but nobody's perfect. Even the crankiest Archon has a tender heart buried deep inside.

Archons are native to Monato Esprit, but we dream our way here. That means that we're all something else in a different world. I don't let that bother me too much. While I'm here, I'm an Archon, and that's good enough for me.

Archons are a magical people. We all know how to use magic to make us stronger and more helpful. Part of our magic allows us to have wings, but we don't grow them naturally; we have to find them ourselves. Sometimes I envy birds because they have wings right from the moment they're born. Other times, I wonder how they can live with only one pair. I've collected three different pairs of wings so far, and I swap them out depending on my mood.

Archons are smart, resourceful, and brave. We won't give up our dreamworld for anyone or anything. We build great cities, cook delicious food, and make stylish clothes. I like Archons. I'm glad I get to be one.

Level: 1
Hit Points: 10,000
Habitat: Isildra

There are a few little birds scurrying around the Crystal Plaza in Isildra. I didn't notice them until I accidentally stepped on the red one, but she didn't seem to mind. In fact, it felt like stepping on a rock. I think the healing crystal is protecting these little birds somehow. Leon said that it might be "the product of long-term exposure to the crystal's regenerative radiation." If only all Archons could get the same protection. Then we would have nothing to fear from nightmares.

Nightmares have descended upon the dreamworld and spread monsters across the countryside. They appear through cracks in the world, with flashes of dark energy. Plants have risen up in rebellion against the Archons who tended them. Crops bite farmers. Trees swat at woodcutters. Other nightmares look like animals or creatures from legend. Many nightmares look harmless or even a little silly, like Cabbageheads, but they are just as ruthless and evil as the rest. I won't be fooled by floppy ears or smiling faces. Monsters must be defeated, or our dreamworld is lost.

Leek
Level: 1
Hit Points: 58
Habitat: Moonrise Beach

Leek Mage
Level: 1
Hit Points: 58
Habitat: Moonrise Beach

Leek Warrior
Level: 2
Hit Points: 96
Habitat: Moonrise Beach

Leeks were once a popular crop around Moonrise Beach, but not anymore. Now they run rampant all along the coast, making a mess of local residents farms and homes. They bounce around on their little bulb-heads and whip at folks with their stalks. I think the Leeks have been spying on young Archons as they receive their training. Some Leeks seem to think that they're warriors. They grow little helms on their bulbs and spiked clubs on their stalks. Others fancy themselves wizards, growing runes on their bulbs. It makes me yearn for the days when leeks were happy just to be in soup.

Level: 4 Mini Boss
Hit Points: 325
Habitat: Moonrise Beach

Wow, I hope some farmer got a prize at the country fair for this enormous leek before it turned into a monster. Too bad that it's so cowardly that it hangs around Moonrise Beach, where all the Archons are still learning how to fight. I made the mistake of trying to cut it down to size once, and learned a painful lesson. I wish I could get a second crack at that thing. It would probably take a whole party of Novices to take it down. I hope they find something special for their efforts.

Location: Dungeon - Rhea's Dungeon
Level: 1
Hit Points: 58

Location: Dungeon - Warehouse - 1st Floor
Level: 1
Hit Points: 116

Location: Dungeon - Warehouse - 2nd Floor
Level: 6
Hit Points: 548

Real lotus blossoms could never grow underground. Stop and smell these flowers and you'll probably get whipped in the face for your trouble. Luckily I wasn't fooled by their harmless appearance or the big smiley faces on their root bulbs. They look out of place in the ominous hallways of a dungeon, but in reality they fit right in. They're just as aggressive and mean as any nightmare. It's actually a good thing that these things only show up underground. Otherwise I'd look at every harmless rose and daffodil with suspicion.

Location: Dungeon - Warehouse - 1st Floor
Level: 2
Hit Points: 193

These dumpy little rodents look like they're stuffed too full of custard to be much of a threat, but I've learned not to trust appearances, especially underground. True enough, these roly-poly rabbits pack a lot of punch when they get moving. They hop up pretty high and crash down on your head, or barrel-roll like cannonballs. Fighting them can be exhausting because they hardly ever stay in one place for longer than a moment. I don't know where they get all that energy. Whatever they're eating, it must be nutritious. Maybe I should try to find out what it is. I do like pudding...

Wasp
Level: 2
Hit Points: 96
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Angry Wasp
Level: 3
Hit Points: 137
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Kanna's Flower Garden has become infested with Wasps that grow to the size of dogs. Normal wasps are like angry bees without the honey. Now that they've become monsters, I really can’t stand them! I can hear the buzzing of their wings all the way to the gates of Isildra. Their stingers are the size of carpenter nails and have poked me full of holes on many occasions. The red ones are especially nasty. They hover at about head level, though, so they make easy targets for my longsword. I guess I should be glad that they're not "real" Wasps, because then they'd build nests as large as houses. That would be pretty scary.

Cabbagehead
Level: 1
Hit Points: 58
Habitat: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Kanna's Flower Garden

Red Cabbagehead
Level: 2
Hit Points: 96
Habitat: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Kanna's Flower Garden

These little creatures are well-named, because they look like walking heads of cabbage. I guess even nightmares had a hard time trying to make heads of cabbage dangerous, because they're pretty weak. They launch at me like little leafy battering rams, but they're too spongy to do much damage. I see them most often around the city of Isildra and the citizens don't seem to have much of a problem slicing and dicing their way through them. It's actually good practice for young Archons who still aren't ready for the bigger nightmares.

Parrot
Level: 4
Hit Points: 180
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Blue Parrot
Level: 5
Hit Points: 226
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden, Rolling Hills Vineyard

Red Parrot:
Level : 5
Hit Points: 226
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Real parrots are friendly birds with an endless hunger for crackers, but their nightmare versions have an appetite for destruction. They make a mess of every place they go, eating grapes and tearing up flowerbeds. I've noticed that there are several types of Parrots, each one a different color. The regular white parrots are the smallest and weakest. The blue are larger and have a bit of magic in them. Whenever I want to find some blue herbs, I go hunting Blue Parrots. Red Parrots are the toughest of the three, and often have red herbs on them. Red and Blue parrots must also be very good thieves, because they manage to steal some nice equipment. Whenever I meet young Archons, I suggest that they hunt Parrots if they're looking for better equipment than the standard stuff.

Level: 15 Boss
Hit Points: 2930
Habitat: Needle Leaf Forest

Somewhere in the depths of the Needle Leaf Forest is an evil sprite that has led a whole army of monsters into the woods. Stories say that the sprite has camped out in the ruins of an old temple and draws its power from the ancient stones. It burns my heart to hear that something is twisting the powers of a temple for evil purposes, but until I grow stronger there is nothing I can do.

Beetle
Level: 3
Hit Points: 137
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Water Beetle
Level: 4
Hit Points: 180
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Nightmare Beetles look something like bugs crossed with turtles. They're slow and not all that dangerous in the grand scheme of things. On the other hand, they're full of diseases and are always lurking near water sources. Water Beetles in particular like to have a dip in our rivers and lakes, spreading their diseases and poisoning the water. On the other hand, their long antennae are very useful for all sorts of things. Someone even told me that some Alchemists use them to make potions. Yuck! I'll stick to potions made with clean, tasty herbs.

Level: 5 Mini Boss
Hit Points: 407
Habitat: Kanna's Flower Garden

Kafka is proof that you can't judge anything by appearances. It looks like an Archon, but it's really a nightmare, and not a very bright nightmare at that. I think that it was supposed to try to sneak inside Isildra by dressing like an Archon. Instead, it must have gotten sidetracked by a group of Beetles and decided to dress like them instead! I can't think of any other reason why a nightmare would try to disguise itself as another kind of nightmare.

On the reverse side, I've heard stories of fish creatures that wear masks, as if they're trying to pose as people. I don't think they've fooled anyone either.

Arachnea
Level: 8
Hit Points: 377
Habitat: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Elsewhere?

Moribus
Level: 9
Hit Points: 432
Habitat: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Elsewhere?

Venomea
Level: 9
Hit Points: 432
Habitat: Rolling Hills Vineyard, Elsewhere?

I thought regular spiders were bad, but nightmare spiders are just awful! They're as big as dogs, with fangs as long as my finger. These foul creatures are way too heavy for webs, so they scuttle around the ground in search of ankles to bite. I've seen two types of spiders around Rolling Hills Vineyard, but I hear there's at least one more evil breed lurking in nearby lands. Arachneas are ugly, purple brutes with eight legs and a bad temper. Moribuses are a deathly shade of grey, and something about them gives me the creeps. I hear they like to spend time in graveyards, but I don't want to know what they do there.

Location: Dungeon - Rhea's Dungeon
Level: 3 Mini Boss
Hit Points: 247

Location: Dungeon - Warehouse - 1st Floor
Level: 3 Mini Boss
Hit Points: 494

Location: Dungeon - Warehouse - 2nd Floor
Level: 7 Mini Boss
Hit Points: 1168

There's some sort of large and menacing creature lurking in the lost hallways and dungeons underground. It skulks around in the shadows, avoiding the larger and brighter rooms near the entrance. I've only caught glimpses of it of it a few times, and I noticed that it has an eerie silver color, like starlight. I don't know if it's a ghost or a big albino dinosaur or something else entirely, but I do know that it's very dangerous. I should gather up a hunting party and track it down once and for all, because I'm just too scared to do it myself.

Every Archon adventurer eventually joins a class. Each class has its own strengths, weaknesses, and specialties. Classes seem like a pretty important topic, so I'm recording my thoughts on each class here in my journal.

Like every other Archon, I started out as a Novice when I first arrived in Monato Esprit. This is a time for learning about the world and getting your bearings. Luckily Novices arrive in Moonrise Beach, which provides a safe and comfortable area for Archons to learn. Novices do not have the advanced powers of the proper classes, but they still know some basic skills. All Novices can practice their long-range attacks with Stone Pitch, or crack some heads with Bash. Novices can also recover their hit points with Heal. In a way, Novices are miniature versions of all the classes.

Hwarang date back to a society of courageous young warriors founded in the dawn of Monato Esprit. These “flower youths” swore to use their strength for the good of all Archons. With the invasion of nightmares, their training has become more vital than ever. Hwarang love to wade into melee combat. They inflict heavy damage with massive two-handed swords and boast an arsenal of damage-dealing skills. Hwarang fight fearlessly on the front lines, so they rely on heavy armor to protect against the claws and thorns of nightmares.

At first I didn’t want to like the Hwarang that I met. They were fellow warriors, so I thought of them as rivals. I also felt a little bit threatened by those giant swords, and assumed that Hwarang must be arrogant and violent. When I got to know them, however, I learned that they are not very different from me. They fight to protect Monato Esprit like I do, just in a different way.

The Cleric class is almost as old as Monato Esprit itself. Clerics helped the Demiurge and his Twelve Angels bind together the new world with crystals and holy energy. To this day, they use their powers to heal whatever damage befalls the dreamworld and its people. Clerics tend to work well in groups. With powers that heal and strengthen their fellow Archons, Clerics are always in high demand as traveling companions. Their best position is right in the center of the group, where they can safely cast their enchantments on all party members. They wield wands as weapons and wear light armor, however, so they shy away from the thick of combat.

Clerics are always my best friends. What better friends could you have than those who are constantly saving your life. Not only do Clerics allow me to fight longer and harder, but they let me fight with confidence that someone has my back. If it were up to me, there would be a lot more Clerics in Monato Esprit.

The holy order of the Templars is forever linked with the temples that we guard. When the Clerics built these bastions of creative energy, a holy order of champions formed to protect them. The Templars now stand before any dark force that would seek to extinguish the temples’ light. We specialize in defense and have many protection skills that make us nearly impossible to injure. No matter what the nightmares throw at Templars, we will keep on fighting. To augment our abilities, we wear heavy armor and shields, which provide an extra layer of defense.

Normally it's best to mix up the classes in parties, but Templars are rounded enough that a whole party of Templars can still do well. We also make a nice scene when we stand ready in a battle line, our Longswords poised and shields gleaming.

The Mages were founded by a brilliant scholar who unlocked the secrets of the four elements and learned to wield them like a tool. Many students have learned this dangerous art to enrich Monato Esprit and protect it from harm. Mages wield immense magic power. They are the "heavy artillery" of Monato Esprit, hurling a variety of destructive spells at opponents from a distance. Their favorite position is in the back of the group, where they can safely cast spells over the heads of the fighters. With only light armor and a staff to protect them, smart Mages avoid close encounters with nightmares.

Mages can be a little bit odd at times, but I suppose that's what happens when you work with so much magic. They tend to be loners, which is strange because Mages work best in groups. At first I thought that they were a little cowardly because they always stood behind me to cast their spells and let all the monsters concentrate on me. When I got to know them, though, I realized that I was wrong. They have to make due with light armor and blunt staffs. I suppose it does take some bravery to rely totally on your magic skills.

From the rough outlands surrounding Monato Esprit’s fine cities comes a special group of lawmen to keep order in the most wild and unprotected regions. They bring new and powerful weapons to bear whenever the Nightmares cause trouble. A volley from their famous firearms can level just about any foe. Their special talents are always helpful in a pinch, so they have an easy time rounding up an old-fashioned posse to go hunt nightmares.

Having a Sheriff in my party is usually a mixed blessing. On one hand, they have long-ranged attacks that are very useful, especially when there aren't any Mages around. They're pretty simple folks underneath all those fancy toys, so they're much easier for a warrior to understand than those weird spellcasting types. However, their guns make my ears go a little deaf with all those booms and bangs. After a few hours it can be a little too much to handle. I don't know how those Sheriffs deal with it, because their hearing seems fine.

The origin of the Harlequins is muddled by jokes and half-truths, but all agree that these free-spirited rascals have roamed Monato Esprit since the early days. Their showmanship and daring have become unlikely weapons in the fight against the Nightmares. Combat for Harlequins is all about speed and grace rather than vulgar power. They use their minds as much as their bodies to defeat the nightmares. These clowns might not look very tough, but after one fight you'll be reminded that the strongest cards in the deck are Jokers!

Harlequins make good traveling companions because they always lighten the mood. You can't stay depressed after watching these brightly-colored clowns prancing around like buffoons. They don’t take themselves seriously, and that helps me relax as well. Apart from their entertainment value, Harlequins are good all-around fighters who can stand toe-to-toe with any nightmare.

Active Skill: Skills that must be activated to use. Active skills include attack spells, special melee strikes, healing, and temporary enchantments.

Alchemy: The ability to change one thing into another. Alchemy can be used to create items such as potions by combining ingredients collected in Monato Esprit™. You can also take Enchant Scrolls to Alchemists in cities to enchant items.

Archons: Winged, human-like people who live in Monato Esprit™. Each player controls an Archon in Monato Esprit™, and there are many computer-controlled Archons in the world as well.

Area of Effect: Some skills have an effect on all Archons or monsters within a certain area. Using attack spells with an "area of effect" allows you to damage multiple monsters at once. Enchantment spells that affect more than one Archon also have an area of effect.

Boss: Each dungeon has a Boss monster at the end of it. Defeat the Boss and you conquer the dungeon, but it's easier said than done.

Chief: Some kinds of monsters are ruled by Chiefs, which are stronger than the rest. Chiefs often carry valuable equipment.

Consignment Store: A marketplace where players can put up items for sale for a period of time. Other players can view all the items currently for sale and make purchases. Once an item is sold, the seller receives his or her payment.

Consumable Item: Any item that is removed from your inventory after use. Examples include Potions, Escape Scrolls, and Alchemy Recipes.

Dungeon: Special locations in the world of Monato Esprit™ that are only accessible through Gatekeeper characters. Unlike other places in the world, you will not run into any other players who are not in your party while inside a dungeon. Each group of players gets their own private "instance" of the dungeon to play by themselves.

E-Currency: Money that is exchanged purely electronically, such as over the internet.

Guild: Players can create and run their own organizations within the game called Guilds. Guilds make it easier for players to organize, communicate, and share their resources with each other.

Hit Points: Life force is measured in Hit Points. If enemy attacks lower your Hit Points to zero, you will be knocked unconscious and wake up at the nearest safe point.

MetaTIX: MetaTIX™ is an electronic currency used to buy and play online games such as Monato Esprit™.

Mana Points: Magical power is measured in Mana Points. Using active skills removes Mana Points from your total. If you can't afford the cost, you can't use the skill.

Non-Player Character: A non-player character (NPC) is a character within a game that is not controlled by a human player.

Party/Group: Players can form a temporary group called a "party" within the game. Parties make it easier for players to team up to do things that none of them could do alone.

Passive Skill: A passive skill is a skill that does not need to be activated to use. Passive skills tend to provide a permanent bonus to a character's attributes.

Quick Bar: A row of ten inventory slots along the bottom of your screen. You can drag items into the quick bar to make shortcuts for those items. Clicking on the shortcut or hitting its number on your keyboard will use the item. You can toggle through two rows of ten slots by clicking the arrow buttons on the right side of the Quick Bar.

Recipe: Recipes are items found in Monato EspritTM that allow a character to learn how to make a specific item with Alchemy.