'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSxAB4ErSL
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'Can you find other quests for me?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJAD1Dub9E
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXMoGwbfq2
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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANrBJUSwSU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmJlq9N3Zne
'Risk?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxUeMHfDNlS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJr42NQJra
'You could die.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTdl9Hqj03
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEWIT3QDUY
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?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpII0jUUbE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡInVyqZ8lHu
'As a vampire?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfmQcthRLp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36nPuFrtMX
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VE2Yc3Uko
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CW3Mrlr1t
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J0iZAMVRp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ebFAGUlYb
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqlx4Gy2sd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWtlUv5hRc
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJv789jlEiq
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYHbmofb0b
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ253PvcBjhl
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2vQIEU5Mm
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'True.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLdfm1gOTl
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcwZTjpKbH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14ZbKO4lVK
'Sire?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRdGkBlmZY
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb769NYQ4J
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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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWDfiY2NLYT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgeJdELnxv
'Not too likely to kill me?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9AGWG5jcq
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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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWwC8NEzfE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZQkmRshPj
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDUvVOLsIU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI93BPKT5s6
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSiVu4Ogm2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWemXMQ1Ouw
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdUWCYnVpg
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJoomVRAHfm
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHi9LGQaTY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CeMpJCDc7
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLMdIVSOHR
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GE0gb1VLt
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsvnUXFmdC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42OGoOmFqU
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TaI7hmmbV
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkekg1vfXwp
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyts8fCz7h
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIVBKLAViW
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnXV97Qy2au
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Church level 1421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwe7otlo4S
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Priest: Cleric level 1421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SIqnJPfhu
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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 1.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtsvGijhER
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQi7bNJOB6
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabTTtYF8kG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWXq10kxXq
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhhAXVgQrK
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'Sire?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcuS5J6r5Kw
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mCKcPLOaj
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBPvPc1E3c
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8uYzNJtWI
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgKW6QJ4Vgt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4OYMQA10Q
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF22ahZ8gL4
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBEuUdzJXC
'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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrEvZukIrg
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj55rfAVgZH
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8XiFXblyv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwIvolqx2y
'What are you building now?' she asked.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KZR6mVJ8o
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'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?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGv6sig5Ut
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIYqm038Ke
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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTmjZ1ZzSAd
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRef6gSwki
'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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6cBYBV5C2P
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKztKz48tm
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEZ3UBJkEn
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRspyNVLOI
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7kcHNAcCN
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERPK2dhKQZ
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2yC8vgvpd7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCbHHhnAxm
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbAeeNoOcXs
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqM3GrM4va
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yLeKYaKHP
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYmFUGSjGo
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF2dFiuTEK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3QJqlOPJK
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CBZjXyr8i
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLJ0Nj5suE
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBj4yLflPv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFgD4zgM7Y
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcIDnT0Pj5
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DXV5Gbymw
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6s7mJVfFG
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMj0Mz8YIQ
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWlD7QOjPO
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcmr0L1zje
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdmuug4A2W
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPeeBVSGeu
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNnWkDNfFb
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW3y9moljm
'Here!'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI56iFIAHJ
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlsm273OtB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROX7VFvf1X
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQBFgIaMlBx
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfNf00EpyB
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Bad news.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZFjEoF8xc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeMH1ksHRa
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2XHZauZBS
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav5xJhhyQt
'Freeze!'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxALrXCJ5qx
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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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ojIPwUyUT
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSprps3Pgm
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMCYucOrLZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoM60Yb1jG
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEN3bvPm0g
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Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqIo9s12WE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViDM3V1WPM
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNk4BlvPVkd
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrA3uKPB47M
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That was progress at least.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9NmlC39xb
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My next shot went wide and high.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuh9MO7yX7E
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoYE0ku7H7
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nsLSA6SfG
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QYDZCHdH6
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tT56xxrWk
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zEsjdgU6m
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhl7BDXnhwD
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ui6kLPmNc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZMiVC7prx
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZY2zlCD3HW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2EnTlJUGZ3
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tQqgnnvuD
A heal landed.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReHY2fzRs4
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKX1rcMs5PB
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPQGoNrZm1
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I missed.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDB600NUvp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtn4BLNuIr
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmJn6EVwWa
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMA79yXRFGt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24tSyKZBJQ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGT0j5NPuz
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIktaNd1rh
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡut9aNQF0Ic
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzUdklnB2D
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRa3tHjRG7
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNZsZiOUCp
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkg1jt7yrg
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQg8I2GI9ey
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQwRZhHN9V
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4TLmp3vfa
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'All?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW6c6fBpfE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ7zeyzApRu
'Sorry sire.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKMsnkrKIW
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qxqtSjKqw
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafhOhit874
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIW3rwgRLcW
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EuBFT1CCQ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRMCc4jOTH
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThegvxSLZL
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4rkNn8biY
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZvlqVCQTZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMOPXNAzTy
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRazPAUXrGV
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoEcjZx2cq
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKom9jKIUs
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B6iW4I9aK
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVNDIwON8s
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVI3snV28cT
'I think there is something at that rock.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxgCK55Bks
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTykTg8qzR8
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfKfVdqEVB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH14agAAYD
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSrcQW4Tz8
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnacaJELB7G
'Freeze!'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLXIpzBF0P
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdRmJiQsfp
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrisQQDTLH0
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgVvMwqkff
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0bAH2WWWt
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03vVgbsNyi
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8SLBp4Roq
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTckW0wNpP
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcojZzTFKu8
You cannot become better at Lunge.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSSwMsA9U8
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPztCvMnl9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjUDj6QhXS
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznjbidpl00
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqhLW03oaQ
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYrBsvzf3z
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtuzFJ8Mil
'Who are you?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWIUeTudsk
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'I'm a scout for King Wace.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAuSE1yBJE
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnwrKzy6lbj
'Of Southway?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVQR9LQqSc
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkunqQEtLhp
'Aye.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZXyXF7WvZ
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARfUzV4EM0
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xI1pYksB9
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2urPpCyh2a
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsVaIJzJvv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRyfrWeAyC
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtoZCJP2fEO
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIerawBrOL
You have killed a Rogue!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWCt9QEqAW
You cannot become better at Lunge.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrE2JLNxSj
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDLh9avbHc
You have gained 35 Experience.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡldJgHcUTIU
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDkvV5exq2
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyUhfd0UnT
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJ0tbj1gVX
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421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bA7dpOh8m
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00jsinB2wI
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsShczH1nHo
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQu5HM2timZ
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4NZpHO4TH
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDyzat9kwaD
'What next?'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCWAvFALLTB
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUl3QmFjsG
'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.'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgmlm1uejyw
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDHJDMxz4w
'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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUeuHpUdhY
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwk3RZCVgGX
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2jdP2QIxBP
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUPuCvGeQ4
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNWMrUNyJvA
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6R6iEK5OX
'Freeze!'421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJuHSaAneF
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwa3wCj3AG
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoZ2u5D97Z
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQoKARv5fQ
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!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsuOw7VU7u
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ47eANPoK
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsJ1gFmUx9
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbD9vBX5rRm
You have killed a Ciatern!421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARlc58JKcb
You cannot become better at Lunge.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHDIl6wjhH
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUYS8bHnT9
You have gained 75 Experience.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFlxCGuwkl
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm89mAY6m1B
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.421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCovFL88Oyv
421Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lnapWipys
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.
