In their travels, player characters also happen across notes, journal entries, marching orders, and other missives that have been left behind, pillaged, or discarded. These pieces of parchment help immerse players into the game world by enhancing storylines, hinting at routes to take, and suggesting areas where caution may be warranted. Signposts also exist, especially in the dwarven dungeons, to point out sites of note or importance. Players can flag these areas to remind themselves, for example, that north leads to the remnants of an inn overtaken by orcs, while southwest takes one into the main square.
Travel, incidentally, doesn't always mean footing it through rubble and slimy dungeons. Later in the game, a magical device known as the orrery allows players to cruise strands of magic upheld by the power of the Mythal. Given the size of the ruined city, new adventurers might find themselves disoriented while using such a device. But with their trusty maps available, characters can employ the orrery to cut down on time lost simply moving between places, enabling them to devote more time to discovering and dealing with the disturbance concerning the new pools of radiance.

Knowing where you have left to go and what areas you've already cleared out is an essential part of any roleplaying game. An adventuring party had best stay alert to new areas since unknown dangers could be formidable. In the end, it will be that old, worn-out map stuffed deep in the reaches of your backpack that leads you to your ultimate battle with fate. Now . . . was it right or left at the fork up ahead to breach the battlements of Castle Cormanthor's outer wall?