'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXTLtxEuRY
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymfVCROftT
'Can you find other quests for me?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPaYhCG5SA
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOo6snEZwQj
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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPljtBDcKq
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0n83PfUuu
'Risk?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfk6KXZ9ea
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4iShck5JjK
'You could die.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqMygDuR2g
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXNXO8iOuD
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?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn0vDL4LEJ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEmIftHmDi
'As a vampire?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJqQnbsItl
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe09c8i4Gpm
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlPgsAl9tI
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQzE8dRy4w
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacuWrqvCBX
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpAnO12WeE
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9btUE93LAy
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfw7nSZBPvk
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh2VCqEXUW
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN3gPfwa3H
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9opdhlh9W
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImRF4E7PbW
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOi6lbcxwC
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpR7n6NFfos
'True.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz99nBq766s
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBcH7tJrKc
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXAeqhrKF5
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUBzsZjmps
'Sire?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPxWV4GFoQE
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVKaMAtnDj
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhYpOK8Lxr
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrSYpApMxP
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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8WIXuJBpQ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLDW3HntNy
'Not too likely to kill me?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFt10cUdnZ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDB2OY0XTn
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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaTN9Lx5AJ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvZj2So94d
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStPhV6yx2F
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxQWv7CcI2
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jA4nfbwiU
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwhThEdz4N
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFWvutOYbz
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nM1x3X8LN
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQjBiPBHus
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmlsTeMCTS
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMR2uhYsH5E
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLKM1f5Wck
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqWCmfI0lU
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQigraGLSCj
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1uczBg3499
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qhKCXogO9
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtXmTNxk81
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspWsG5XRl3
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3AiFYAe98
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPUdNczoPX
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaE2dR1vHbe
Church level 1422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRilPmy4r65
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Priest: Cleric level 1422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6BTaP3D9k
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Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iT3UfZGaJ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tN2J7FQZB
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVledbM3bd
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4tbIZDP93
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrghijWX2V
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLs6xxVLfi
'Sire?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZcXCvqQEr
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EvIFzVZuv
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKiguyCcoX0
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpCnGhomqw
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeK4hjz58z
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuyZ2cMo3P
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00pUT4DXwE
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhzdJs8rSj
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBjbWkMsul
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1vyYJwX69
'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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwEoefN8cU
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuns2srup3Z
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBeKxkegd6
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ryjQ8fUJ1
'What are you building now?' she asked.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFy0Z3wpRG
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIX0D8kHi4
'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?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbt09YhrGoW
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF8CGaVzT88
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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG2h7wdFPu
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9K64bCtiU
'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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpTITemc1X
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiprldj5mAY
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5VcgCcege
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5l8vnU9qlt
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ote7TXE6J
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZ46xPNCiQ
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0XDIiZdcr
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCB5BFpPeHq
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUWebRvirZ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3f5XosvzMA
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5kzFQyLLY
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jTggNQoKn
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2P62meaqh
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6E59NUlPf
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRL0cDoE0ES
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfX81OzkYI
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3rRoM2gAh
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsodeNutkd4
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFeWBmOOcT
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJVaRTzUnS
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrEKJ8KLRk
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoj2zmhUgv
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6enbGI1Uws
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ghVy98QW1
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJihdCa1UK
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff8fpAX1pb
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsmg4gjCgK
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm92hRSwgw1
'Here!'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB15kHHXhU3
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNOWfFYSpnb
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvMrCCBxkH
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWXlYEB4Ud
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlYEpU3nBX
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdULuqDpgvh
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFAqBzv231
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpKtnA8keX
Bad news.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBTVKLQK15
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZRQfV7xcoi
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLcYQHa9xj
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mhyZGXiF9
'Freeze!'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkDE7yulm6
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAs2wIR9dJ
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyg9i3Px1H
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhVXpDPi9Dh
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWNOR0gCdj
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOD2dsjt239
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlRS5xlvZr
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJHsxv0XAy
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrAW5gnSW4
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SdACGV8tL
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkdI745UKy
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡomDzpI0Nsk
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiXrxysQ3R
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkZo07E8RT
That was progress at least.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15yrkjH7qc
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtkqwkR5iF
My next shot went wide and high.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0fajubC7l
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0g2tnv0O8m
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8lTeOCxqB
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVfVyxOR8Z
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40j9I0ZKld
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB9eiGl14Q
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcEFL55E63
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZehSLlyUc
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSN2w3JFNH
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAVRDChq3r
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKrjG5Dqaq
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLX2VIHIdd
A heal landed.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8l4OPRJnV
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaPH9Y7X6b
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJLXRFWGPa
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFW2eTXstF
'Last chance,' said Carlena.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIRR9MoPSJ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLiwqTae7d
I missed.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETN0N4IoDW
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvLuP52XLm
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqQ3HFyKs0
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDurbndvrn
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx4bNINKN7
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7fjNJHZId
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCL9z06Qi7R
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEpCwcj6rs
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7g8S0Up4t
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQlNg324lP
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfarAfxJcuZ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YrTJqLA1v
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FsObeWO0P
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y03dZVPCP
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuIsHu05Qo
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ldXEqMTz2
'All?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcU9ePxIrE
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VPSwxwX1i
'Sorry sire.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Vvn2XefJp
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGEbxMuv9P
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMKuMfpxGD
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOiJONNEhw0
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamBFSFLihb
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxezNyYtRv
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupE7bw1AbB
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd5kzv7GNH
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKT4VyBJ13Z
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFU1J8cqi1W
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rxvbUUl6K
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe2dqm1FyX
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lf4CvT1ya
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHHNlCvNHF
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowLt934KDl
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTtP4cetoS
'I think there is something at that rock.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3XYs6GQYB
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFQVVjzBel
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qmXBibve0
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM9oJ24Fpi
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aZOvZxmi9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rQvgu2pRu
'Freeze!'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtwxdamr4k
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHTZTtdIPR
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnrSuQ8U4i
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6Wi3cff0y
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79JLo0ai09
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpwGJ6FbOx
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaA8pzmBH0O
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6HvXJWdqY
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4Z1ObJsjC
You cannot become better at Lunge.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRCwY9ZJk9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiX8U1qLQ9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImq9YkVplS
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPYiV6J8nQ
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbtD2bQjqW
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Nx52tJELS
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6Pg52V7JH
'Who are you?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQauQOAobvd
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpZPRiJX5L
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8UqKawRqf
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2p5wPOjsV
'Of Southway?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQUoZyfVwi
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hrb1rXJKu
'Aye.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS61P3mm1Sq
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiXo2Cq4zp
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMF88rpU1D
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMPn2D5BEI
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5nH6lZtAt
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMkg6pbNW4
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOZCcz6vXu
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1o5zaUs3A
You have killed a Rogue!422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oAGhehr28
You cannot become better at Lunge.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTIHrj2UMY
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjpADhD1z9
You have gained 35 Experience.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCfF5HCq0K
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtLQh4OYZt
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9X4jza1Kv
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrQbwZoOU5
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHe0hwcrtO
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBNLqcPNwTo
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDQo8HCaFK
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQHc7tW9NI
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhx7KRXLiu
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzpva5m5MH
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmnMpA0lK8
'What next?'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltA7Ty5yMA
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1jn0asmnP
'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.'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5zBGmLHXL
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKtDCD0WG7
'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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrfmeXkolM
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqftdJ0A3v
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡslBnI1rK5k
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05ppqOHBuu
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq7gJW9ub2
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z6Rx5oQ96
'Freeze!'422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUiip6lGpS
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMRHZ07sOJ
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWzCKIQE2c
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiqs1dZpnU
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!422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIQ6vUBSm9
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbK5vhGag0k
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmgd8AYgy5
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRoXcTkCBu
You have killed a Ciatern!422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAVVvJsTghS
You cannot become better at Lunge.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs5xT95OYO
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknlR4zQY0M
You have gained 75 Experience.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo36VqkqKf4
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGlUeDzkAX
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.422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDWECjzUWb
422Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknqC0hN3r0
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.
