'What now?' Carlena had caught up with me at the solar of the keep, where I sat glumly on the throne. Once again, she had ushered all the servants out before speaking to me. Her face, usually pale and thoughtful, was flushed.171Please respect copyright.PENANAuxMn0KJ4ta
171Please respect copyright.PENANA05CRuGu81d
'Can you find other quests for me?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAJm1d61JZJy
171Please respect copyright.PENANA3Y4kx3fGQf
The Sorceress shook her head, silver hair swinging to emphasise the negative response. 'I no longer think questing is wise. I… we can't risk further aggravating the people. Already, they hate you. If they also thought you were not the legitimate king, that would be extremely dangerous. It seems that Carlos did all the introductory quests. If you were able to repeat them, well, the people aren't stupid.' After a moment she sighed. 'We are going to have to risk battle.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAsjk09yxytg
171Please respect copyright.PENANAxMG2DAqNcF
'Risk?'171Please respect copyright.PENANA062qucNhDo
171Please respect copyright.PENANA5Rdn8RZXEb
'You could die.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAaVqnsD0ZPb
171Please respect copyright.PENANAAzIxwemad9
Neither of us spoke. For my part, I was thinking back to my gaming experience. Obviously, when it wasn't real, I'd taken risks and died many times as a result. No biggie. Here, it seemed, the PCs didn't respawn. First of all I confirmed that. 'No one returns after death?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAR4EPfQnB8y
171Please respect copyright.PENANAwVA5iT4tJW
'As a vampire?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAvn7LYC9jFK
171Please respect copyright.PENANAkrrYel2oGI
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA23hv3Gdjhf
171Please respect copyright.PENANAUf2vQWWmNS
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAnZ5uCt3k2v
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQhaehT8olK
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAuTzpkr2BHr
171Please respect copyright.PENANA2itimtYivQ
'I don't have the Polymorph spell; there's my Potion of Transformation which would last for eight minutes.' There was a reluctance in her answer.171Please respect copyright.PENANAMyIYHwO813
171Please respect copyright.PENANA9gjfj8SpUZ
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAjRkhynUz90
171Please respect copyright.PENANAFGUCtzgO9h
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAbZUhyY1ld0
171Please respect copyright.PENANAy1x4lzQZov
'True.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA60Py9QO5VT
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMr0WlW4OqG
Her comment about the potion reminded me of the other magic items that were in possession of the PCs of the kingdom. I checked under the town menu, people sub-menu and looked at the items again. Lord Arval had Shield of Defence +1; Trueblade +2; and Ring of Strength +1 which could all be of use. His Potion of Haste sounded good too, but that clearly had to be saved for war. Chancellor Parrin owned a Dagger +1; leather jerkin +1; Ring of Silent Movement. Nice too. Unfortunately, both were away just now or I would have borrowed those items.171Please respect copyright.PENANA1cDYVLs4Vo
171Please respect copyright.PENANAPkZqZigayN
'Sire?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAoGzrf3bFoi
171Please respect copyright.PENANA5Ay0eEUjzS
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAsTpu02Dxh9
171Please respect copyright.PENANAsNXWYUR12n
I suggest we obtain the services of the Cleric at the Church of Miya, for healing, and then the three of us go towards Mount Djace. There are monsters and dangerous wild animals for you to fight there, not too far from the city walls.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAnqmZMI8PI5
171Please respect copyright.PENANAq2eQGXzQbX
'Not too likely to kill me?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAi4qZz4sIEf
171Please respect copyright.PENANAUupKnT55ed
There was no trace of a smile on Carlena's face. 'I don't think so. I have Freeze as one of my spells and if necessary, will destroy any challenge too hard for you with Fire Darts.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAZuFOaLPQU4
171Please respect copyright.PENANAeRsAlAhPlI
'Right so.' I felt more cheerful. If Carlena and the Cleric could power level me for the rest of this afternoon, then with the borrowed magic items I could hope to steam along later in the week.171Please respect copyright.PENANAoAJy86uqoz
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMETme1pwpg
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.171Please respect copyright.PENANAPR2hC6PkmW
171Please respect copyright.PENANAngyHlbs3YT
There were no pieces of armour that could fit me. And in any case, I needed to travel light. This body wouldn't go more than a couple of miles without being exhausted. I selected a simple rapier, mainly for its sharp point, and a light wooden shield. Then, at the last moment I had an inspiration. If Carlena could freeze mobs, I needed missile weapons. So I took a bow and a quiver of arrows.171Please respect copyright.PENANANcEUc288Q3
171Please respect copyright.PENANAuKXLTn8NrS
Carlena equipped for action was quite a different woman to the one I'd seen around the town. Gone was the long hair for a start, it was gathered at the back of her head and tied up very tightly, with a blue headband to keep stray hairs from her eyes. Instead of the robes that had earlier swayed around her with a certain aristocratic grace, she now wore high leather boots, leggings and a sand-coloured waistcoat over a dark brown blouse. Two bandoliers of small purses criss-crossed her chest and back, while another belt at her waist also had several pouches. In addition had a backpack that seemed half full.171Please respect copyright.PENANAVRUZvoEKBK
171Please respect copyright.PENANADStrwqdL79
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAdM0NPSGDRy
171Please respect copyright.PENANAkZ8cWE63Nn
Already feeling encumbered – not in the sense of any game penalty, just with the clutter of my gear – I felt even more so when we finally left the keep, having ordered servants to bring me an empty backpack and a large skin of water.171Please respect copyright.PENANAG5ZZz6Dfmw
171Please respect copyright.PENANABMrIi9KK08
There was no need for Carlena to discreetly guide me to the church, a tall wooden spire acted as my route marker. As we walked, I checked the timers on all my projects, so that I could react promptly as soon as they were complete. Figus was out on a trade negotiation, time to complete unknown. Chancellor Parrin, similarly, was scouting with an unknown completion time. There were four hours to go until the smithy used up the iron I'd assigned this morning, at which point I would have twenty-four more steel pickaxes for the miners. Three days and six hours remained on my Shipbuilding 1 research countdown; exactly one day on the hunting lodge 3; and, from the military menu, just over two days for tower machicolations. As far as planning the kingdom went, I just had to allocate the new pickaxes when they were ready and I was good until the morning, when I would have at least 3 – hopefully 4 – iron ingots to assign.171Please respect copyright.PENANA4qQC2Q007N
171Please respect copyright.PENANAl4ftrok9lz
Although the spire of the church stood out above the low roofs of the shops and houses of the town, the building itself was a simple wooden hexagon shape. It was more roof than room. Each of the six sides had a window that was simply a circular hole in the wall. Since we were experiencing a mild, if dull, day (late summer perhaps?) it wasn't uncomfortable, but surely winter assemblies here would be cold? The décor consisted of carvings in the wooden walls, some of them quite impressive interlacing. If there was a message, it was probably about fertility, given all the flowers and plants that were depicted.171Please respect copyright.PENANApUgCsmxL7g
171Please respect copyright.PENANA1fGj7XDRW0
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.171Please respect copyright.PENANAvRcG9PQK22
171Please respect copyright.PENANAbpMtYNOMEs
171Please respect copyright.PENANAx8xFNLoBSq
Church level 1171Please respect copyright.PENANAGhPqaT1OOv
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMUP8DgT4HG
Priest: Cleric level 1171Please respect copyright.PENANAGTfaJrRzxm
171Please respect copyright.PENANA7ZXWkG9wU5
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.171Please respect copyright.PENANAsox3nKJnWK
171Please respect copyright.PENANAXnoWLEraeQ
Well, that was interesting. It made me ambitious to have a high level church building, one that could heal a full range of injuries and improve the town's Happiness considerably. But then, probably every building had its uses. I needed to read up on them all.171Please respect copyright.PENANADOaJJCQfx4
171Please respect copyright.PENANArqgRqZEzNv
The Cleric was a female, her dress a simple tunic, but with a wreath of vine holding back her hair from a plain and nervous-looking face.171Please respect copyright.PENANADL5cVre2f6
171Please respect copyright.PENANApFWnmU8m2X
'Sire?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAxfL1XHz4Dy
171Please respect copyright.PENANAas9u8arytS
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA4Hw4RA5lC3
171Please respect copyright.PENANAkD5J4v03wO
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.171Please respect copyright.PENANASIJ6H8f3CO
171Please respect copyright.PENANAlRXqKXwcJm
I took a seat. The bench was too narrow for my body, but at least it faced directly into the wide space in the centre of the church and I could stretch my legs out and keep my balance. While we waited for the Cleric to put her fighting gear on, I asked Carlena about how magic worked. The short version was that spell casters had a mana bar that depleted according to the level of the spell they cast. It sounded familiar enough, although as she talked I got the impression that mana came back so slowly that she rarely cast more than four spells a day, which was stricter than most games I was used to.171Please respect copyright.PENANAQejVdBqVIC
171Please respect copyright.PENANAOj4NO6bkft
With every level up, Carlena gained the capacity to cast a new spell and a new spell for her spell book. You assigned a spell from the book to a place on what was effectively a UI (she said a set of runes appeared at the edge of her vision) and in theory, you had to make a choice each morning as to which spells to acquire for your UI. In Carlena's case there was no choice because she had only nine spells for her nine slots.171Please respect copyright.PENANA0zcnd9mXIX
171Please respect copyright.PENANAz01tPKCRts
'I believe it is possible for you to research many more spells for me. Also for me to find scrolls and other spell books from expeditions and quests. Carlos never told me he could do it; he didn't trust me enough.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA1nZ8VjcDS5
171Please respect copyright.PENANAv7N8JMDnlC
'Let me see if spells are in the town research menu.' There was indeed a sub-menu for spells: it seemed that you researched a spell by level and class and got a random result. This menu, however, was all greyed out and would only be available when Carrick had a scriptorium. I told her so.171Please respect copyright.PENANAalziyPpJmh
171Please respect copyright.PENANAqJEuCxVc5j
'What are you building now?' she asked.171Please respect copyright.PENANA0IKia0biFF
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQDVcL4Z3Ku
'Hunting lodge three. Which is only a two-day build, whereas a scriptorium level one would take three days. What's the logic here, do you know? What makes some buildings longer than others?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAVDGhqZoQgx
171Please respect copyright.PENANAaqT6UCYwZc
Although it was obvious that Carlena didn't have a ready answer, she seemed reluctant to admit it and after a moment said, 'materials, importance, lots of factors. A scriptorium, even level one, could lift us into the first rank of kingdoms. Magic is key to winning battles. If you discovered Fireball for me, for example, that would make all the difference.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA7ppHtF9xYb
171Please respect copyright.PENANAIwDP12oAgR
'I don't know. If the people are starving, that's us defeated before we even get to battle. I have to solve that first.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAHAjDkoSIYl
171Please respect copyright.PENANAHy2r5nIZ9V
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAl8jb5HZA0u
171Please respect copyright.PENANAfOf4ab3MSd
Something about her tone made me look carefully at the sorceress. What could I see in her face and those extraordinary indigo eyes? Determination, authority and… ambition perhaps. Given that she needed me to access the menus for the realm, I had nothing to fear from her, did I? This was, however, a new universe, I reminded myself and I should take nothing for granted.171Please respect copyright.PENANA3SMbCotzdl
171Please respect copyright.PENANAH3HX3l1x6h
At last our Cleric returned, looking completely different. Now she was wearing a chainmail suit of armour that included a coif, so she was glittering iron from head to toe. In one hand was a fierce-looking mace, in the other a shield and there was a pack on her back.171Please respect copyright.PENANAGbe0YMtN0L
171Please respect copyright.PENANAwZKOzfUIIc
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'171Please respect copyright.PENANA9MJJEaRr5v
171Please respect copyright.PENANAx9mQ4sUUeV
Walking out of the west gate of the castle, the journey was a dull and tiring affair. I could no longer talk candidly to Carlena and learn more about the rules of the world; we had to stay in character. While I could call down menus, I was self-conscious about that too, given it involved arm gestures. Perhaps, though the Cleric was used to the king waving in the air.171Please respect copyright.PENANAC1sPkvPGQ7
171Please respect copyright.PENANAthIJHHRxtk
About an hour into the journey, I began to falter. My thighs were sore from chaffing against each other and my shoulders ached from carrying the sword and the shield. It helped that Carlena had ordered the Cleric to carry my bow and quiver.171Please respect copyright.PENANAkOMQSCf5vv
171Please respect copyright.PENANAKNK6R6SvmT
I was curious about the Cleric; what manner of person was she? What was her name even? But quite apart from the fact I needed every breath for the walk, I didn't ask. It wouldn't be true to the old King Carlos.171Please respect copyright.PENANA6mU1WMZJbv
171Please respect copyright.PENANAXaoFxahmWW
After what felt like ten miles, but was probably only two, we were on gorse-covered, sloping ground that led up to a skyline of rounded hills. Nearby, a lively-sounding stream ran through the gorse and wild grass.171Please respect copyright.PENANAvUaR8XECKb
171Please respect copyright.PENANAqY7GcnNOe4
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.171Please respect copyright.PENANAhV8OwOrDfU
171Please respect copyright.PENANAxZAzP29GGU
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAj36tGNM7kH
171Please respect copyright.PENANAxEU3yw94Uf
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'171Please respect copyright.PENANACI6JoOTNr2
171Please respect copyright.PENANARiBLSPupw9
After a couple of minutes I stood up. 'Right so.' I took my bow from the cleric and put it on the ground at my feet, the quiver of arrows alongside it. Then I gripped my rapier in my left hand and hefted my shield in the right.171Please respect copyright.PENANAsad8uCa4l8
171Please respect copyright.PENANA4JmQdZgBvA
Just behind me was the Cleric, a glance showed her looking determined: in her right hand was her mace but her left was touching a circle of bronze that rested on her chest, hanging from a necklace. I gave her a nod, which I hoped was encouraging, but she just looked away fearfully.171Please respect copyright.PENANAOH9fxKVXcn
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQtFgRBFDvH
'Here!'171Please respect copyright.PENANAT2BMWUP7Q8
171Please respect copyright.PENANALlZXB17Myr
Carlena was hurrying back towards me, with a brown creature chasing her that looked somewhat like a small ostrich or a baby tyrannosaurus. It was sprinting on two legs in an impressively fast waddle, its head swaying on a thin neck with the weight of a sharp-looking beak. It was feathered, but unlike an ostrich had two small arms with claws.171Please respect copyright.PENANAuxu8HJ6Gof
171Please respect copyright.PENANAxqhnsdQm20
Feet thumping on the path, Carlena swept past me and I launched into the monster. Or at least I tried. Instead of being able to adjust my feet and bring my rapier point between me and the creature, I stumbled slightly and the creature was inside my reach, landing a vicious whack onto my ribs on the left hand side with that chisel-like beak. The stone-hard bone tore through my tunic and when the beak pulled back, blood should have sprayed everywhere.171Please respect copyright.PENANAkkJbO0msV7
171Please respect copyright.PENANA2Y9cm1U7Hd
Good news. The pain was mild, nothing like that of a real wound. And there was no blood, no exposed ribs, only a patch of red.171Please respect copyright.PENANAAadb0W9t9X
171Please respect copyright.PENANAjkxi2UOcRj
Bad news.171Please respect copyright.PENANAMFNhzOGjji
171Please respect copyright.PENANAeXkchhYlQR
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!171Please respect copyright.PENANAn3VA8ASFkO
171Please respect copyright.PENANA9FXAcnmCRO
'Freeze!'171Please respect copyright.PENANAxNEoXwFgmD
171Please respect copyright.PENANAPKcmQsHP7q
I staggered back, just before the monster lashed into me again. With a screech of outrage, the Ciatern – as I'd just learned it was called – strained its utmost to finish me off but trashed impotently with its two feet fastened to the ground.171Please respect copyright.PENANAcCxTjmfQaw
171Please respect copyright.PENANATb8s1zFS8p
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.171Please respect copyright.PENANAqNZg3IN4G3
171Please respect copyright.PENANA3wzOZSDXKd
Shaking lose my shield and dropping the rapier, I gathered up the bow and grabbed an arrow, only to pull it back too far and somehow get the point jammed into the frame of the bow. My low Dexterity was really punishing me. From behind came the reassuring sounds of the cleric chanting.171Please respect copyright.PENANAPm5I9QRUnI
171Please respect copyright.PENANAiyULgWWwj7
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.171Please respect copyright.PENANAbbCQWxD3CL
171Please respect copyright.PENANA13tPhDf4sq
171Please respect copyright.PENANAnPGFZE1Fc8
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency171Please respect copyright.PENANAbg7PY71xMB
171Please respect copyright.PENANAKhrWTefyD6
171Please respect copyright.PENANA0dGz9Tf4tu
That was progress at least.171Please respect copyright.PENANANpgw6iwE46
171Please respect copyright.PENANALxdBjQbhfp
My next shot went wide and high.171Please respect copyright.PENANA3VpvFw4ZQy
171Please respect copyright.PENANAaKv5UzOlbJ
171Please respect copyright.PENANAYnOj6CJ9jC
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1171Please respect copyright.PENANARI0s5MwsfW
171Please respect copyright.PENANAjC7Vms6yGr
171Please respect copyright.PENANADei3d4Tchh
For the third shot I really concentrated. I took my time, drew the arrow well, held my breath to steady my aim and fired. Miss again! It'd gotten closer but the arrow flew past to the right.171Please respect copyright.PENANAeAdQlCxmLb
171Please respect copyright.PENANAv8ctFiTMzt
171Please respect copyright.PENANAUsDujhwRLv
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2171Please respect copyright.PENANA2VXMtJ5J9C
171Please respect copyright.PENANAgQtMAAd9Ik
171Please respect copyright.PENANABetSXDCGRw
A heal landed.171Please respect copyright.PENANAlbE0jbiODd
171Please respect copyright.PENANA22s53qHfrZ
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.171Please respect copyright.PENANAstRx6541SM
171Please respect copyright.PENANADulD21MRQS
'Last chance,' said Carlena.171Please respect copyright.PENANAvReFMZh9JE
171Please respect copyright.PENANAAdkg67PSbB
I missed.171Please respect copyright.PENANAvi6kII95ZC
171Please respect copyright.PENANAefqt3cQ0bW
171Please respect copyright.PENANAX7AuSr2FTQ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3171Please respect copyright.PENANA3TWoSY0ENy
171Please respect copyright.PENANAvy9YdsmYuz
171Please respect copyright.PENANAzT1c7SQzXg
The screeching monster broke free and leapt at me again and I had nothing but the bow to interpose between me and that swift-moving, sharp beak.171Please respect copyright.PENANAKimZhQRugr
171Please respect copyright.PENANAogTmmugKP3
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.171Please respect copyright.PENANAZb4J8cq3cV
171Please respect copyright.PENANAoXSmPbUqS9
'Not the start we hoped for,' I muttered apologetically. It had been years since I had played a low level tank. I'd forgotten how weak they were.171Please respect copyright.PENANAmv4Rz47mGe
171Please respect copyright.PENANALBnXjkfFuB
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAlneQqj8o5J
171Please respect copyright.PENANAemrvfYUA9H
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.171Please respect copyright.PENANA2siuHa424f
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMIMGqbgEGb
'All?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAlXIwuNuXun
171Please respect copyright.PENANA1Odh2Bwlfc
'Sorry sire.'171Please respect copyright.PENANALQD8wi7f4C
171Please respect copyright.PENANAkpv9l1XCId
Damn me, but this world was harsh. A day's mana on a 5 hit point heal. Admittedly, she was only a first level Cleric, but still.171Please respect copyright.PENANABsCDhbq2NT
171Please respect copyright.PENANA3xl29Z2a9N
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAClQzelA9MB
171Please respect copyright.PENANAfpApskf6Jy
'Oh, did it?' Carlena looked at me with a quizzical expression, but she had a question she didn't voice it, perhaps holding back because of the presence of the Cleric.171Please respect copyright.PENANALaJpnoqQwK
171Please respect copyright.PENANAunWCkEpQjB
The Cleric went forward off the path and it took me a moment to realise she was looking for my arrows. That was a good idea and picking up my rapier and shield just in case, I went after the one that had gone high.171Please respect copyright.PENANAOrlhRuYekW
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQbFcbV5ai3
There were several large boulders in the landscape and one of them had been close to where the arrow had travelled, so I used it as a landmark. As I was looking at it though, I had a sense that something had moved, some shadow in the wrong place.171Please respect copyright.PENANAoOc6aQuagA
171Please respect copyright.PENANA1TnuWqUJVr
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'171Please respect copyright.PENANAFmsKW4I5CB
171Please respect copyright.PENANAlq4GaoMwNG
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.171Please respect copyright.PENANAMYRTIYjQ3E
171Please respect copyright.PENANA2Wkk4Qy1Ws
'I think there is something at that rock.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAyCHIwgCxIT
171Please respect copyright.PENANALbCw1vOzKz
'Stay here… sire, please. Cleric, you circle to the right.' With that the Sorceress began moving to see around the back of the boulder by walking to my left, keeping her distance. Her hands, I noticed, were picking items out of her pouches. Did spells require components? It looked like it.171Please respect copyright.PENANArgCzVupbxj
171Please respect copyright.PENANAzTgnBqWVel
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.171Please respect copyright.PENANAG6ED7Tm5GJ
171Please respect copyright.PENANAuMfpDE1HSc
'Freeze!'171Please respect copyright.PENANA9kKZTTUlHo
171Please respect copyright.PENANAKdnUs7TfbI
I was already running at him, as fast as my heavy body would go, which was a frustratingly slow waddle. Still, I was in a good position this time. Twist and turn as he might, the man's feet were locked on the ground and I could line up my rapier point with his back. As I did so, a green box flickered into existence, then out as the blade moved on.171Please respect copyright.PENANARSn3nDhJFR
171Please respect copyright.PENANAMXKbJuOKrj
By pointing the weapon precisely, I could get the target box to stay and I gave a mental command, go! Lunge! Activate! It wasn't the word, but the intent that seemed to work and suddenly I jerked forward and stabbed hard into the man's spine.171Please respect copyright.PENANASOi4JuCknz
171Please respect copyright.PENANACWcvUhwPdP
171Please respect copyright.PENANAwG5BEk1Il9
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.171Please respect copyright.PENANAacpyzoDJaC
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.171Please respect copyright.PENANAebIOMTWn9L
You cannot become better at Lunge.171Please respect copyright.PENANAVSPDHk3ai4
171Please respect copyright.PENANAaxIrkueVUz
171Please respect copyright.PENANAqVwYghtL4K
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.171Please respect copyright.PENANAffGvqrflLR
171Please respect copyright.PENANAL07iVMrvkz
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.171Please respect copyright.PENANANKWRoshiVx
171Please respect copyright.PENANAjU4nsXpY62
'Who are you?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAdnLCKPjiLc
171Please respect copyright.PENANATqrfnFwfnr
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAWbd8MdpBfK
171Please respect copyright.PENANAZRu3tAZCG6
'Of Southway?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAexA9UGxdQa
171Please respect copyright.PENANAecoKof8dpo
'Aye.'171Please respect copyright.PENANARGlqHhgp8R
171Please respect copyright.PENANAH0uG7DMcs0
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAKwUmmiQLHB
171Please respect copyright.PENANAfeOPj5TOAd
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.171Please respect copyright.PENANA6KqRc0l71s
171Please respect copyright.PENANA3BihG2O5vS
171Please respect copyright.PENANAoMF5Fgbotw
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.171Please respect copyright.PENANAQmeaKLMriy
You have killed a Rogue!171Please respect copyright.PENANAJfTCsu5C1F
You cannot become better at Lunge.171Please respect copyright.PENANAFsJHME68jq
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1171Please respect copyright.PENANA9w8RHhUbct
You have gained 35 Experience.171Please respect copyright.PENANAgjrZ8KUPot
171Please respect copyright.PENANADomNDdiL7T
171Please respect copyright.PENANAPmJX2Y0aOE
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.171Please respect copyright.PENANAqxWofIE7Wp
171Please respect copyright.PENANAVJvI9nYdGj
171Please respect copyright.PENANAj5hw7Znh4X
171Please respect copyright.PENANAtnLmzs97XA
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.171Please respect copyright.PENANAaTyzKkVtlW
171Please respect copyright.PENANAYfo75cKKRj
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'171Please respect copyright.PENANAwKZEuDVfvL
171Please respect copyright.PENANAZgbZhLTA8m
'What next?'171Please respect copyright.PENANAghrlIzm5DV
171Please respect copyright.PENANAjV4Z3ZY7nJ
'I have one more Freeze left and it seems that you have a useful attack with your sword. If I freeze something, you can get behind it and deal your damage that way, rather than try to use the bow.'171Please respect copyright.PENANACezwbZX4Vq
171Please respect copyright.PENANAE5RBsfBgbI
'I agree.' And I did feel confident about this strategy. It was only a shame that Carlena was so short of mana, because I reckoned we'd now discovered a way I could grinding up several levels: Freeze and me Lunge from behind.171Please respect copyright.PENANABmENQZnELs
171Please respect copyright.PENANAt2fhN7iXIs
The Sorceress stooped by the body of the Rogue and came up with the dagger in her hand, then tossed it and caught it. 'This will do to attract attention.' With that she moved slowly through the heather, but again, it was me who saw a movement. A possible target, another Ciatern. I gave a low whistle and pointed.171Please respect copyright.PENANAR9S8bgdaTO
171Please respect copyright.PENANABuXtjgmqFC
Without responding, Carlena walked towards the monster until she was about twenty yards away. The creature looked up. Neither moved until Carlena flung the dagger. The spinning blade missed, but it galvanised the Ciatern into a dash towards her. There was something comical about the way it ran but nothing at all humorous about the hammer head and sharp beak.171Please respect copyright.PENANALAbtjUlF65
171Please respect copyright.PENANAZwa9telFkr
'Freeze!'171Please respect copyright.PENANAXpInUuR8m4
171Please respect copyright.PENANAB41ApuhyMW
Again, that awful screeching began and I had to hurry closer to it, cleric at my side, and skirt around until I could line up my lunge at the creature's back.171Please respect copyright.PENANAOT9twUHNRB
171Please respect copyright.PENANAQ80jrfqUhL
It was a surprisingly long fight and I was getting anxious about the timer on Freeze when the mob finally died, after my fifth hit. With a delicious golden rush of light, I got the message I had been anticipating: I had levelled up!171Please respect copyright.PENANAZRvljyawtQ
171Please respect copyright.PENANAWeq2kfFl1v
171Please respect copyright.PENANAtvEIvXj0z4
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.171Please respect copyright.PENANAHCtOdCDbso
You have killed a Ciatern!171Please respect copyright.PENANAvsgYAK7QdO
You cannot become better at Lunge.171Please respect copyright.PENANAS45VNbt4v8
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5171Please respect copyright.PENANAUWYn2EbTFw
You have gained 75 Experience.171Please respect copyright.PENANAs5ByI4ryM4
171Please respect copyright.PENANAey8c0ruxm4
You have gained a level! Your hit points are restored and your timers on skills and feats have reset. Please view your character sheet for other benefits.171Please respect copyright.PENANAbQZdlBIDSi
171Please respect copyright.PENANACI46tEwV8k
This was more like it. I was delighted with myself. Yes, there was still a mountain to climb, but at least I was properly on the path now.