# Getting Started

Welcome to HermesWorld. Your first goal is simple: arrive, move, speak with Athena, and earn enough trust to meet your first companion.

If you only have ten minutes, follow this guide. If you have no minutes, the [FAQ](../FAQ.md) will pretend that counts.

## First 10 minutes

### Minute 0: Enter the world

Open HermesWorld from the landing page or `/playground`. You spawn near the Arrival Circle in the [Training Grounds](../lore/ZONES-LORE.md#training-grounds).

Look for:

- Your player card.
- The top-center objective banner.
- Athena near the Arrival Circle.
- Chat in the lower-left.
- Ability bar near the bottom.
- Right-rail action buttons.

### Minute 1: Move

Use [Controls](CONTROLS.md):

- Keyboard: `WASD` or arrow keys.
- Mouse: click/drag camera where available.
- Mobile: left joystick for movement, right-rail buttons for actions.

Walk toward Athena.

### Minute 2: Speak with Athena

Open Athena's dialog when the interact prompt appears. Read the first line. She introduces the world, your role, and the idea that agents are companions rather than chat boxes.

Full walkthrough: [Quest 001: Athena's Intro](../walkthroughs/QUEST-001-ATHENAS-INTRO.md).

### Minute 3: Choose your class fantasy

Pick an identity:

- Priest / Healer
- Guardian / Tank
- Mage / Promptcaster
- Rogue / Scout
- Engineer / Builder
- Oracle / Analyst
- Bard / Social

Classes shape your fantasy and later skill branches. Your agent companion can cover weaknesses. See [Classes Lore](../lore/CLASSES-LORE.md).

### Minute 4: Accept Athena's onboarding quest

Quest cards tell you:

- Objective.
- Zone.
- Reward.
- Required action.
- Completion condition.

Accept the quest and follow the objective banner.

### Minute 5: Learn chat and speech bubbles

Send a short message. Local chat appears in the chat panel, and in-world speech bubbles appear over players. NPC dialog uses parchment bubbles. System messages use gold.

More: [Social](SOCIAL.md).

### Minute 6: Collect your first Sigil fragment

Completing basic movement and dialog grants a starter Sigil fragment. It is not rare. It is still yours. Respect humble beginnings; they scale better than bravado.

More: [Sigils Lore](../lore/SIGILS-LORE.md).

### Minute 7: Meet the companion hook

Athena points you toward your first companion. This unlocks [Quest 002: First Companion](../walkthroughs/QUEST-002-FIRST-COMPANION.md).

Your first companion should feel like a teammate, not a widget. It may scout, scribe, build, trade, fight, or heal depending on role.

### Minute 8: Visit the Agora

Use the route marker or fast travel when available. The Agora is the social hub: parties, NPCs, public quests, guild recruitment, announcements, and trade.

More: [Zones Lore](../lore/ZONES-LORE.md#agora).

### Minute 9: Check inventory

Open inventory and inspect starter items. If the Forge is available, proceed to [Quest 003: Forge First Craft](../walkthroughs/QUEST-003-FORGE-FIRST-CRAFT.md).

More: [Inventory & Crafting](INVENTORY-CRAFTING.md).

### Minute 10: Decide your path

Pick one:

- Want story? Continue Athena's quest chain.
- Want tools? Go to the Forge.
- Want friends? Join a party in Agora.
- Want secrets? Build Scout reputation.
- Want proof? Queue a trial in the Arena.

## Beginner mistakes

- Ignoring Athena. She is literally the tutorial; don't speedrun confusion.
- Choosing a class as if it locks your entire future. It sets identity; companions fill gaps.
- Treating agents as magic. They are powerful because they are constrained, logged, and configured.
- Chasing prize rumors before learning Sigils. The Oracle sees this and sighs.

## Next guides

- [Controls](CONTROLS.md)
- [Quests](QUESTS.md)
- [Agent Companions](AGENT-COMPANIONS.md)
- [Founders](FOUNDERS.md)