'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtS0RpHK4Bs
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXVGd8zwl3
'Can you find other quests for me?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUsAFTnifb
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZcnJA00gM
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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYf8FroS57
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6gitdK8n4
'Risk?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZd1tYpllul
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuoDdNF8sxj
'You could die.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ianq2Li6z
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJlS7QueIU
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?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50fvMXOPeb
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3CZlkIjKk
'As a vampire?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxLuXJErqi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCKCxLOpfZ
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AhbTS238g
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfk7u65Q3Gr
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡag9j6vDIZ3
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgzPgZwBRF
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF9peHXubK
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2LSN0A0vo
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbfRmH9yTS
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTE1Qpe2JvQ
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgk7kxT5ly
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTyLGvBCEQ
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5tpOv7zdi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgc62GSkkN
'True.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXz9W0pyGXM
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQaRGr0b3n
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPzmcCJiVe
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTx0v0RRu4N
'Sire?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHVK1fCveC
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqWfZuWaxl
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qq4V9BMg5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtFOUoF5qa
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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFtxzRGQsu
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYES6pYgHfq
'Not too likely to kill me?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDuz07JOaRn
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu1qZ3CWNH
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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz9Xk3H2WUq
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaugHZe4wFu
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXyYW6y74k
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXYuyYiJqx
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VbiU79wWx
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPZvGRKiF1
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl358FldfYZ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzFiWHDgAi
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLu7U2LQNX
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3cvQuakzA
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM13i7uUwN
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQR1W1A4957
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZ31gL9kJ5
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZcRQdQdiq
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2gBc6j2zA6
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8slR9C7cN
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUpnC8bZXa
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP3vQVHSBX
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCBYNjYqlf
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXW38cBpk1
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZlurZdaaE
Church level 1469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSoaw0CQAH
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLFQbwzxKk
Priest: Cleric level 1469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZLFmNrzte
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFW4fP0EZs
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Khjju96Yi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgD27u4ajn
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPvfmH8w0n
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlBTkbzCrV
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KNziiuksk
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8HPawshcp
'Sire?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFffXlAQqtW
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw5ithYgf4
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUO61oCdWYl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo54wkY4KyA
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHfxerFJmb
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD5K8wqsuC
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVZ9b5pfx3
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaokRbzCPbO
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdJ7YwrLEo
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTim2ZYbzZ
'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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmoh69m1VME
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwj905u7Sk
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs6eLduOeVg
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRYRiHcirk
'What are you building now?' she asked.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxog6X6XpZx
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS1buyM0Df
'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?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iR02MzVWa
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zte201NpD
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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgn1gfqPNL7
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkK9DxJ2AXb
'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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKD8Rv9UKc
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16tIX7N18K
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fQfmLutKj
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZ4X3OD2BV
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7zsNgDp5o
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP76Yso6xV
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY97ehaUeg3
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDD0xrdTl6V
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQMGG2uRYd
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXYdCCbT7Z
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4aKhDeZKE
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8D0Fi6Bzc
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpwVhLzHWJ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UFrUFpvxh
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGODmObL9jd
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AxP4FwdeL
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ibqolyVx6
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaFc7AeZfK
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKp04Ixetr
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7t7BhjqZF
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kjQHh0gcE
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQKcYYTrmT
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkjc4KWu9l
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDrlZ2QR9r
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2WGa6YTDG
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFoUsZAwhJ
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpPQ5DYATh
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2ZgiMgWLz
'Here!'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgXDuu7WQF
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRteTPSou8
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3bNmREdPPv
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCwFg9Oo79
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC94twn7RT
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sa4tHbWXl
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcY8k5U9KRl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lnpn27xwz
Bad news.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjxU6qgKo7
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3WFdT9ETo
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5NmlBmmj1
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKc6IArXjd
'Freeze!'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Qvuk5WVAd
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmllusfUjHm
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgZNAUV7XW
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lyzMRlsmy
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRmF3g1mY9
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhEVAPnL4E
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9k2PQMn7aa
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0PWkuQ07l
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfHoDifqRH
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpaqboNvxt
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdcQN75nHA
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPFfLuO9Jq
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKAp3zkPjK
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPJAz5qfhq
That was progress at least.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPS9OzhkLMn
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsujpDJMqU8
My next shot went wide and high.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdEsftaFQO
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0FwIyzkHl
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtnl0mHgc8t
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZELKen8dy
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN5vYUQJ0c3
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gBdqHvb3H
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFfOsYdVQUM
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r9cZgPNX0
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdvtSPNE0M
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuITccobYOD
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlbxjGAWL9
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2ZKq1y5to
A heal landed.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiPWte05zP
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLDUkLufpZ
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOmqHM0Iaz
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5VG6MMbrZ
'Last chance,' said Carlena.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCPvOywkUi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2rS7RYCGv
I missed.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdADDtXv2yW
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIXWUeXVSS
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF1Nu05N0N
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0V2RBgnnEz
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi63uhsHnNx
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmJ0o7mQyJ
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa0oV0jeIZp
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7j4csFBkCp
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9h5Xgz383
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0LRDKSmhU
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpLQlKFZQ2
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmnoine493
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmxeOfTlLy
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJu3nTst06D
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkbUJ3UtbQ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsSUiiA3IC
'All?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxpQMGdEKs
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigtDhXa5gB
'Sorry sire.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUi2bbF8wfR
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hP4ogMNza
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRodRGv7Zwi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Zgxta76V7
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok5a4xsi8q
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMorhdg70yz
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2TVcje9VnR
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMHJv64Frb
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6243SJlNlZ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafIAtFN8nK
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4rNk5aLuG8
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKot858fhCU
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKm51BYiplk
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOgILQsLAM
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOk5PBbH9Yz
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwO4UjgGYr3
'I think there is something at that rock.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8L6dbtAUI
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJGOTcdwGv
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0v5Q2zb7xI
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtDq2tN3l7
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRSxGOmd7N
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoEzVjlijT
'Freeze!'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFc4ZOBuJj
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSWEV7pkUx
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02nYDdAgyu
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJvXMSvLx9
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4c3HszQhn
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5TDweej18
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCM0qJ1G2a
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZEdvJP0nw
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIqNoX1dq9
You cannot become better at Lunge.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VeKxcpEhP
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0dqb2vBgn
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMLBb3CXgS
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNFPd3vgPJ
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqn5wEue21
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkFbU0VkBc
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetmggRkm3P
'Who are you?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpr6fHOtpj
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7E0sPjG0b
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76brsl8a3S
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3khjOp6qqO
'Of Southway?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpY3esKUi2e
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWPz1OKV9B
'Aye.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyoPXzARnG
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlQxbsoZa7
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fyAeiMUHY
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasy2o7RocL
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjLVEzMZ6m
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LSAG9kaiM
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk8OotMUqO
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqortxHPpge
You have killed a Rogue!469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpMgoFeNc4
You cannot become better at Lunge.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡptGQpX8onM
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ88q1RUkpY
You have gained 35 Experience.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJopwwBOeUB
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DiS5RxCEt
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeki2CFSYY
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0RRNDeK2i
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBNZaptHjW
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYkVWVtqTN
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyQDV995pW
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhRMuAjECW
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l8YyafPPc
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vnFylsd8m
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVa26KLx0V
'What next?'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC15K0EKYwD
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlw5wgV459L
'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.'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0s6L76sPG
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAfOTl1YSG
'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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaNcUZ1p6R
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMJoFVuXwy
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWDN5e78My
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLHMHE5ABg
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTvgmEv1wG
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusMjy0t9XM
'Freeze!'469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOakIk989Sr
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSZXFP6veA
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbLo78biOi
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv27TNVXMjA
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!469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3c0DX88yh
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQAKIrH33D
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtZF7f3gX8
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SuoMyINJI
You have killed a Ciatern!469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXFc42x21l
You cannot become better at Lunge.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fcwFqVqFg
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIoSGOI7gE
You have gained 75 Experience.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV54J5I0d4w
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBBEFBinS1
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.469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSJtRxW1Pf
469Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1v5k3EIL81
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.
