'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGobxzsCbPb
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFRRxtLrK7
'Can you find other quests for me?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9YgItIIjZ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5x3gYMYzt
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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICYCtg9Ojk
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzlKIogkJy
'Risk?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmQW21bPjr
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqUB7rEr87
'You could die.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI7JflxCu8
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8TqpQHWJM
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?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7DEQ6hQzu
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFSg0e59CY
'As a vampire?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH642XVg0ty
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaf8Nl40LB
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYipwE8jJ8S
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgExGheLUf
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy5p7umkyj
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A96fl2ZZA
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItbgI2KeBV
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit51qQyYRr
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjD2TpCaItx
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuVdw2rrX1Z
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3avC94dJb
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLysNfi8KxY
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBg4TaBlxD
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHzK642hRw
'True.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu26OcCMkz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu8xy5JrOh
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA57ZCjlEBO
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9pVZpkIWE
'Sire?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nV6nEVxxv
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudmEgvns6i
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BGYQX97K7
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFviEVFBAC
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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFuxNDNNPL
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSh5opVO3kq
'Not too likely to kill me?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIzGHX2hcN
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKqa1a11xb
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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJrrfXPiLi
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbFtGZHNNf
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn8uIRH0IG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1wR7B2KvT
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYcJ1eIlUk
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEML4yVNiL
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMkgtQ4LIP
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Xxar8l1f7
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4iY7ch2b2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRR8sqFrGC
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoggFwADCdY
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSYS9oDZzZ
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRIpXigI8E
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcxwdaFlD0
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXeV54nN1P
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQS2rroaqQ
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLjuZQXdbR
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDpDrN6H2Q
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtX1G7wz6ft
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nBliJx8b6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3BNm4conlT
Church level 1369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWd0XWOy1cs
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcgNIoQHIr
Priest: Cleric level 1369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxkkK79ye8
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcZugOTUwx
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMvYzQxD3p
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNmcgj5B2k
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI78XluHAP7
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQZmuSJVIO
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UWyqRmcDf
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQlbh0Pa7H
'Sire?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzdJFuJfGn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18O2pnUrqZ
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLwJJ3rxdc
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUwXLwV5nf
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9sqgNrDcg
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPnUBw7jac
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmFfHSCoVL
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Dcwtv1q4H
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv2RDIySco
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf5D7jlrkH
'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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcj9YxH47u
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HrvrWIt8Y
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45pRU1iDsz
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKetBDnFDj0
'What are you building now?' she asked.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjA5HmaKhLr
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnX2k4La5hE
'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?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4Tu0lfDB7
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEfKWUCnQz
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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQKdOLzavU
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWX6aU2K4Y
'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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFn5DHCBHn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1WhS96ZNt
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrylhIgcNk
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsWMFpbF92
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVf61fYQp6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpM2pldXk4
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡengmkHgn25
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FQUqw4cVy
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4NIvmZG5M
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgaQZmmJ9hG
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6v0zvmYnN
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgwN9rb3AN
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6XzugNeLk
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDV5hnCA4m
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkAXfX5haS
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkunj74qX5
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpHwQDM2s3b
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsPsZVLuXz
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIerE2Tw45x
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9p0A2W3SBx
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnEWoPSgoy
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK686ma0pvt
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgVl436x1a
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHab3Fj8zT
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNArpgY308
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhraGhR70SQ
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qbsVOb9xl
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NwzLbcoOj
'Here!'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BhCuzx75F
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwwmK3a7hP
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOdbS1EDLU
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPpdWzfymJ
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMXRwqikLF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxuTPeDXL0
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55X0S4Mqqr
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJLlExYGZd
Bad news.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2acmOW3Cg
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnITCyUYk48
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCzBAYTGfs
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BxVWoHiXT
'Freeze!'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO5slRcqAT
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAxg7VAOgN
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7x1rh6rBc
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EVIXHyXJb
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBOyizSKX2
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyP7kBDASW
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjlRHXVVQH
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKJIPy2mCU
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWBlZUAnqu
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZL9KcRyga
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLaMrCq94a
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi0beAN2eJG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4VslutKw1
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kJeRDkF41
That was progress at least.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7kDydrDJX
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNfLG7GWAb
My next shot went wide and high.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwvW2KBb3B
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBJF29Qmvi
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqXXcGCCfZ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHqW5sFSyI
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2XXVqRFA0
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsy5l6FFFu2
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡghjCDxXNmY
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWo8cIu8fQ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9VltZdUKJ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJdXzovMab
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7ygb0ZD2m
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk3X9vYgY9
A heal landed.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72IKJD1QfS
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRpCpkSkpG
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXyBhT6ShK
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7oXO5W13yh
'Last chance,' said Carlena.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSgXMS7Y6T
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlLXBB4BVH
I missed.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89BIEqHYeb
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLhI1csmGX
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2D6fSKYFVU
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGsf0QpkVU
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleTivh55N4
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUiQlESXNp
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmHL2m05Nl
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgtwcts8PS
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2yMF6vpHN
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxifC1ZPbAR
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLndy4Xpkh
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcLOgilIGx
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSYq9oquye
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAx3PCBGW7
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD353WEQ6Zs
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgz64eXQDVK
'All?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHSz4cawqO
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs64Hn7CNE5
'Sorry sire.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxzuvrQI2u
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2RXB36oqq
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx2RSGJLAKj
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGdaCUhERL
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfNO1fOGxF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgp7C1Y5um
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZcJq5ulSv
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy8ObIcXGM
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jLja74dnD
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHE8fRtRK7
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LAkEhm5dO
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMGiquAgUf
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJcVjDWiKP
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiyzw25bHc
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAU3wjsY8J
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxb8PlmCiyH
'I think there is something at that rock.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6onYpvRjM6
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwR1tNE7ema
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDxrcxVr1o
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKOfpSEPh1
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYInHjsPlvH
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjWD5aXepm
'Freeze!'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2vdKui0RoJ
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO0DckTVTU
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNjVQKhXLy
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf8nxgINrgr
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhFzBn0c5i
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFloLkm6pLO
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6dQbUJEOc
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrauhetAL2h
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwAAazG9rwJ
You cannot become better at Lunge.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7uAVHOLKgK
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wBYSzKFo3
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFv4ovuDkE
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI5RBeXixy
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeshAAfChR
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzMAAyHBAF
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UlUh746fT
'Who are you?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqd4yZrAYTA
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJd7bxArL3
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjOqSabyUbr
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim66tWD06F
'Of Southway?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtg82XhR9Dh
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW088uzgnA6
'Aye.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkhZ1P5Mwc
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1m6ziZE0
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDP2W5sffIq
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXb7Rny89gn
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMla80Skwn
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc18RxOarE
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQGK9cuO1n
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsEkeyqHty
You have killed a Rogue!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp7j2NnVLr
You cannot become better at Lunge.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDP3jFTiYa
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hafAjxOb2
You have gained 35 Experience.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gfakzhGaS
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl41hGwSqEL
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAMcP8pT0S
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrB84w5nu9w
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX71Tj7zLLM
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgD8DfyiPG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTP2xwtKIYL
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAsi0l439g
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJc1V7HtNpU
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc6ggm8ihx
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmgopJCfqG
'What next?'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3bMb0qADC
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoQ7qu5hIF
'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.'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQW0pzziVR
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbsZrbl2F3
'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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWJqMMMCMY
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8Fb6nWwGE
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsAf1rl123
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxpBRBHgXsq
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxmdOKpc06
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJLSrIHiXX
'Freeze!'369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRNRTBpUzpx
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD705L7fIWE
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPawVozveol
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIehziTIJFC
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!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnvf2uW6uN
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7HPglW65i
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU3oK5u4bZ
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxsmYLAb3T
You have killed a Ciatern!369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxu1b8mPKE5
You cannot become better at Lunge.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGeCjp6JeF
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfk30mv3rf
You have gained 75 Experience.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4nzAaLhLG
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxPukHUKQP
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.369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5Sm1ajFku
369Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SvTixteuL
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.
