Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk5YFBqd46
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ472Vsqd1KT
'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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAduGkxL3FJ
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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!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXinMWGOwGk
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwGR5fqjJ4
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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GRO83wnX0
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoT0ywfGYI
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fhvke8g9f
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00iponlXin
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIcF1DmTUF
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'Yes sire!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbXmMWfyil
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJqGAQRLA6
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksTPsnBDBk
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXubJClhnY
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmqJgXA0Ji
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWihgn4hWWs
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSEwEZThO9
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOcETjzJRS
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXpbul4u0Dy
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriQnke22J7
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlngpYz67GK
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zFUb0AjPh
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cWbcFUbLL
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzAQBVgySrl
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZsZzxGdKr
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEqgwbUWvG
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQX1Pw4Dde
'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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjAR5VRQZt
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zxNZtfT6G
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBCatwpX0p
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxReB5sV0ao
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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7prFQ1wlG
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1aSbkpMHj
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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjjkecPMnbq
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVtIMxZHlF
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGkDCoE5rZ
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BIXMgY3tc
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGI56o36KE
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAH4MQHtqwU
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjpKCASWAS
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef0RpD7WNn
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1F5kdRsSH
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZK7TekHqk
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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXsQhXjHf4
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48Kp1uROYa
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsD0SROBb0R
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74oeAdl1Cc
'As honest as a mirror sire.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7JSf7CXUc
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFOsE03sjJ
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZpDuy9eJX
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoRzVOeIXj
'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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40m6L9XVfM
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2RsR0hfRy
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRjikZadGDb
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1qe2IXgfN
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmzl4KkCDA
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9THLcCIiX
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUk8g0PuBT
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vV632Ul9Y
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieEWXjdxfe
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKms1TVDVe
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHmaEri6Z42
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tKbMxbFzx
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJdpt3vbnu
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZggSXAu1u
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡswkzOuM7ZN
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO0XXoWhqvG
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktwvzQKsOf
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuEBMS0pJM
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SzKNqtetR
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiAEXDuH7O
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Str 7438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumWpL9c7Gu
Dex 4438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80t9NI0sXF
Con 8438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTH9jFS6jJx
Int 16438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyrExXG4axG
Wis 16438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3Nj7XtGe6
Cha 4438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQqaMmRcy3
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5YYBr0qxXS
Top Skills438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsCiuofj9y
Bash 25438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5mPteNB5c
Impale 25438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3cpB5u9jX
Lunge 5438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBswVhqapZT
Parry 5438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8EUjWnPH3
Wield Rapier 5438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAAV3wpykD
Wield Shortbow 3438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMm3nfC2A4
Block 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVEtX9dt4K
Defensive Stance 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCTUxAeF6ea
Deflect 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7Kla8tDCe
Dodge 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSE2iGYsxVE
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrYJZzezPD
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcjnp484sC
You have 15 skill points to assign.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMVMpHu8Gb
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZaVFphRYd
XP 2,860 (3,200)
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438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELdsZjnvKm
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HnnKKWMJz
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDSeBxStXp
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHqlnBb378
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylkBBerDvx
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKtXgjHRJT
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINDipDfsqq
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPg97TTslc
Berserker438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeRLOCYsGz
Champion438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt7s5HBCweE
Paladin438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTZG0vGamd
Shadow Knight438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cTWlr56wN
Warlord
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgMemmNTqD
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11QHStvpFM
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzTpj3Xdif
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJlQAArFyA
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXw8I7yxht
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkWxdv0noMm
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLNDFpURyP
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwLJI0MODo
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr1EmByPVpk
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2vZMkOVUb
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAx99N9DCWF
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYU0FmNooa
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Military438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNM95JPQDoR
Light infantry: 26*438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUj7HNO7i2j
Heavy infantry: 11*438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPbpvaL6uI
Archers: 34*438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5nxAYjHpC
Light cavalry: 18*438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZYnm4D3WS
Heavy cavalry: 4*438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaXSIgJirbo
Ballista: 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVnFfbjRbw
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(*veterans)438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZP23WhOvS4
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Hospital: 18438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UKV8vKIqk
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemTH9CCLnj
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlNIeQMbWg
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnor9va6gS1
Currently training:438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYbFVrrpom
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWespunDxeI
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooK0cC46tC
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtt4i7xsMhv
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdtFhfLuhk
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPxLe6QiAl
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVdOWFRsAy
'Take a seat.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMIzzENCAV
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She obeyed me.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDeGfWNVcx
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KVBPhlaER
'What's your name?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1ULnmeE79
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuUWSfryj1
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfcXzlwb1v
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRq4KT239hJ
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPpQFqGcz1
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiqejCK7FN
'Yes sire.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2S68fmv3R
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTjFfNUdHu
'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?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6fX88tgbU
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH7RMpo46zQ
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3fU9MG5Hw
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzFZIdO7hG
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ASG4eWGqp
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8B2wwEXOql
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AmRF5djja
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01iL38CZ3I
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPZE8ahkPYC
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba8bwbP551
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZRgeIHMDr
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOBCC33cG6
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrFij48XfX
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMC8M1c7WS
'Well done Chancellor.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkMd3kiTk7l
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsFsuBcXGF
'Thank you sire.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHmtfkTw8e
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3874QLKGY9
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJ2aTbonli
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtdp4Rsulb
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeD7jgnwBk
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsqDJzaM7F
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkirE11K7I
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQDElj31Q0
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgKfcmEL9L
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I nodded.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfE2fV3ddg3
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa5YJ2lO4uL
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCdrro5BBr
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrx65shggo
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUDWXQKEtQ
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8buVGwyNM
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7D2TbwoSQ
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiaZjaEQox
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyhvuNpXBd
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWALp3j5Hp7
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnabiKZsFx
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzC0dzNQQwX
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vm1lWy2pG
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLoW7lX0DZ
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCKLfO3ZdZ
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkucK6POG8
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBJx0jWRF7
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zAred8knw
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHVhSrOZkz
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhmIWqDjoj
'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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAfxP8HxHF
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04obwb11I7
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 8.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLZ1xsrfY7
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXeSyoy1Pc
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDhvw3oYbO
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ3hlpjTpx
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYewgI94bLW
HP 79438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXlM4vhTfL
AC 18438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNtWiohhBs
XP 30,124 (64,200)438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ296kbw9xwW
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IdjHYo5OE
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyXshh3wr3
'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!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlc92UcBIC
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUOu6JCQm2
'Congratulations!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7xs3b1KCn
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTIaZngsrh
'To Lord Arval!'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvifmXbd1Um
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXR2r8aYwa
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.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFz5amO00t
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIaevgnfmTM
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.'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJpuU7hUxR
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkS7y7sbvm
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEmfr4mgwG
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDWxtUI1C0
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6p9FynY1S
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCwq1V8lhX
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?'438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIeXt1E64i
438Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsaDtBC5JWU
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
