Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFce6mmyVO
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHm5dCxroL
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxejySkhg23
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As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi89VJ2gbbq
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqmq8oMRdb
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkvhP5Ne9aU
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'Yes sire!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d67I70kab
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgQEN83Q7e
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'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82JYlHCeKj
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaCAfqZ1yz
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJqVCXUqcN
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtIm0Mv7ny
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ569m0Njcl5
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ139PkD1iir
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWCnDV1Zob
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'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6RodaROW0
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'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyATozW3ro
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I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqX9jl6qEg
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Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOJjHZMx5k
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlvqd4AqF2
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'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIIeE6a1y9
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Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcMseGIDcQ
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLRBQ3eHvh
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Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQZQI6xYPrx
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPBEp06SbU
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8HVdEHjDTy
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'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEQpKpHOSJ
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'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7a2zMJxig7
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBOKlDbly2
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjzkXgRasG
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAu1UppDhHp
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNQ02nfzDS
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'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQ0LTm7b9s
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Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bw6QewvQu
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Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmQRPh9m9A
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0p4XzAQEr
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroAV9VtFDD
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Str 7521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiTDD6Xt0d
Dex 4521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccttPOK1E9
Con 8521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyOE3Sfajc
Int 16521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfpSnmXqrz
Wis 16521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmt1nA28xLD
Cha 4521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAUIJxMl5F
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Top Skills521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUm5meQWwMn
Bash 25521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbC3qlLoj3
Impale 25521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd5RMud8Op
Lunge 5521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyDTOzR3Vd
Parry 5521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm75Mb7QgW
Wield Rapier 5521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUETJcsI6r0
Wield Shortbow 3521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy52j9xyQ0T
Block 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZr2vfjv9b
Defensive Stance 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe30LOtCYTR
Deflect 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTXFhjWVUD
Dodge 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFb5gvQqDLZ
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUMZGiSuYJ
You have 15 skill points to assign.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWl0x1dCzC
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfT7890i7jx
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOy2HaJjiQ
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aVC43O7b5
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Berserker521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3NQfRVz6C
Champion521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF93pu3Lz3n
Paladin521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFERrs2O3NR
Shadow Knight521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38odPESdmg
Warlord
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Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VbMf4h7w8
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Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLsrQEiaht
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Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDRpkHJPYTd
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It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hbDL6ug84
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBAXX7p7I4
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbmVvzCKg0
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Military521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C2pxVvxBJ
Light infantry: 26*521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLyoCwVyRD
Heavy infantry: 11*521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0S7DtrpcD
Archers: 34*521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyfs8LVHWk
Light cavalry: 18*521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdVyhB5ka5
Heavy cavalry: 4*521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN378vJyXp
Ballista: 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJnxQnwGE5
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(*veterans)521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSC3TQQMGM
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Hospital: 18521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrtkKyofP2U
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu13IOGp38a
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Currently training:521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2uu8QYlfmz
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmXC9ig8Zr
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrkdOjevjN
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There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eUDy3HL3k
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'Take a seat.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW2zoVYUAc
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She obeyed me.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrpyVXt6CN
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'What's your name?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnZgLnON41
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzpesDKqmX
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y5Y1noHdV
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'Yes sire.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oDpJwc0LG
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZO6tjM6vA
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPEqk3WHsM
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'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8vX4dKxqF
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'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7JpAucrk5
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'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8FuDCtFKff
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It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ424AXe0DuB
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Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpDLXke6hU
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'Well done Chancellor.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81j4t4mFEU
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'Thank you sire.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsCTT6CgUU
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One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8evEmSs64
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W2x1AesGZ
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I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnwCwfUnMu
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'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6nnF6b1O9
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I nodded.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9np6wLZ8Kk
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJaqocu2QhO
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4q85qhmrH
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'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77CSm4dFdR
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jPPHj78ny
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'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOdCdGUBBO
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsozmVnSS9e
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Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5C7mae1sXw
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We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vjdgrXl1I
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'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjaPv7HRpB
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'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHBNfdiqyG
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Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGfdRbceVN
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYFM2i61Ns
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HP 79521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBFAorWvNrA
AC 18521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVsjeMlljE
XP 30,124 (64,200)521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wAHYRw0GK
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Ark7SBigB
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
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'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpLiXZKJ4x
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'Congratulations!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4OEil7Ua3
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'To Lord Arval!'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI8HD1eLSG
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Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmNWITTEVf
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At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDTP1GLRrS
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXGK1iBmMZ
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRtf5MiooQ4
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He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'521Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgx3aY7EzL
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How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
