Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaTWqMbN4M
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ855x7xnr6C
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsBOsZy4uz
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As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxlALVLujI
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQThbTtPpBG
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZecULty6V
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'Yes sire!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp5vKdqM2S
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO1dvm9DsH
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'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAN5RStyzT
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU83ym2mHU
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLoRcjNDOi
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglLxYo5oXY
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUwuqRI5jZ
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRWD6yPRDQ
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4OB8B9SNq
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'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkpgYvklzb
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'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jHnYf4K8V
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I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCDwzlPldb
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Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI2z6yqc3W
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAppj1kyrbI
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'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVe2KcIAqy
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Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOJK04ypjE
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0m6CRcFFa
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Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRQAlRU6G5
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAl1HI9hVz
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkCJJ63bos
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'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyI1WPG0n0
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'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN8h6GJYyZ
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWti8HeJQy
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt59JX2fR28
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvrQtt8QfE
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH2BniNqSn
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'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gd3CQmvTT
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Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXjYEITrNx
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Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkUjM099mG
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSOC7veYSg4
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopSnDGbsB1
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Str 7459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkRv37Zd4t
Dex 4459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmcVBb3PPx
Con 8459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJp4B5BSX3
Int 16459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftWnEEiHmG
Wis 16459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAk3oENhzpV
Cha 4459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh87okSCqxV
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Top Skills459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSGPVAw7hO
Bash 25459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZzhH89U62
Impale 25459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPUF7wSdXyk
Lunge 5459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7XsS828gG
Parry 5459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbf4KfoxhjL
Wield Rapier 5459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuqvvjzqnW
Wield Shortbow 3459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyxyhXdKJW
Block 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsSJJ2GGfg
Defensive Stance 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fc2aYTADZ
Deflect 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh8dUdebTq
Dodge 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72H248jJ2R
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmay1OrUL3
You have 15 skill points to assign.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCfUNot3TQ
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHu6NQ0g1pB
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIqM5nZW1d
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAydm8R23fs
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Berserker459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZUKyyHQDc
Champion459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUiFxLXcDR
Paladin459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyY8ahNLeN
Shadow Knight459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdu8SEFgDt
Warlord
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Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe006w60Qah
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Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwZ6Tmqtp3
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Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UX0RVbk1R
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It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfX1N3Yturh
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfJrcKWRlb
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfcjp06QJy
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Military459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpeT6cPa7n
Light infantry: 26*459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDB418y1Z7R
Heavy infantry: 11*459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyf4xZs1337
Archers: 34*459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeQ2V9Xnvg
Light cavalry: 18*459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpztPTZoPzB
Heavy cavalry: 4*459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzzDWjJ5jo
Ballista: 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUW1oYu6Ta0
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(*veterans)459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzOKD2MVor
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Hospital: 18459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjUgJlxzKb
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxfHgUzyxY
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Currently training:459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHpWgxJesq
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYQQZEQuBx
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMjJOGWGa5
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There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTi3tf9h6R
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'Take a seat.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B0mPTtwHS
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She obeyed me.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbKc9CL1RO
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'What's your name?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNjo1SfyVd
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzx6KjFe9e
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtouVYbhVwR
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'Yes sire.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFf14EMnlz
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxWQwM62c6
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lrNuN5NLL
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'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL5cB022Ba
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'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvlh9MZmZh
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'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1P5aQ4yAi
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It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYHFPJAPUg
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Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqAaObJEZ6
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'Well done Chancellor.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNmLtt2cXa
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'Thank you sire.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDl3L9yoLeX
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One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmxHps4AKn
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDdh62l38c
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I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgKIWMeQg0
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'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG6NMPqrrK
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I nodded.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUFGYcsmsW
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9n8zVtxsoW
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUzweMvgcU
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'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmzRc6FxtP
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFthfOv22Nv
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'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSujMlIAlnP
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDiKVBd42c
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWYZ8zop1z4
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEHVJdsGfe
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNf8G732S01
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSQQFjher0
We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ftICEfsVT
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'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNopE3J5UA
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNaHKoIOWA
'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e6ECrFDpN
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUR7oSAZToK
Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgkGfM71Gq
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ene5NjEke
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrsJ4aEHdd
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HP 79459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjYmo2UlU6
AC 18459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBK1ZZxhD74
XP 30,124 (64,200)459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NUzltaXVm
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbaJVYBKd0
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
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'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3JR4xzLat
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'Congratulations!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivKVSbmIeR
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'To Lord Arval!'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITRkjYMjis
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Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lqryjeqvt
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM2zYkB32KP
At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJO4kKjCGrN
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOkT5DrGZU
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEg1Vw9isP
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VqLYO6ibI
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkut8qo9Cf
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VZtRksKpF
He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VGiWKluNu
459Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYswDFtL8Yf
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
