'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnCVL2tKrF
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAt1WB8MN5b
'Can you find other quests for me?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOUpYhsYCS
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcxYIJYMOY
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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7k14W4qGod
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7QAEq2BrS
'Risk?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCwQuLuBgp
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNT1eILCdJu
'You could die.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzZ0YN3fUA
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgOVmZIs5H
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?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQKoO888ng
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPWo8UrZBz
'As a vampire?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXy6AbcdEW
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNdZxQA1jCL
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQn25diIgIF
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU78yvFnQfo
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdyU08sUCf
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwYZBXBuOZ
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TsptspgdA
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DmN6fzEnh
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTblDx1nsS
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Yn5wA8OX1
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDM9nzdOBo
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvbSLn7uZQt
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwDvFJPfXs
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2ruC3vpeW
'True.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mxroovK1x
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78tiVuPhwS
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiVSEBqTFh
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlW3iIQHYa1
'Sire?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjV3G8TAGfp
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47xq2OVYsa
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLrT6qr60s
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtPXxqRaMM
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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRRo3N5QX1
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrpRDNGvJwY
'Not too likely to kill me?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6l503IrAu
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbB8V9o2w1
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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygpNJUZ7yL
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdDzcnc2Is
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMr8QAtWwS
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ozWlU7ssI
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkk2DxZ48u
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqcTPpo9mz
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiltSIeLvIy
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡERlt53omLv
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTKmhmCHLi
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb894QUwNz
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZjgEfsZ8g
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY07qcTEsZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYjxgXHG8WT
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQ3OX4Zdod
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXUFMwc3MK
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPl2PpdbQK
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZPesMcReQ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPNUu7OU8G
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNaSwSSDfH
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoLxZ7Ofo7
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZFnyDdMKBn
Church level 1391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05LBIIhk4l
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEHLOrciLu
Priest: Cleric level 1391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ08rLtIkyvr
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbq38TF0RCm
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Nlon1aXLP
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaj41umorx
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCstsMpOZrf
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3B4JPw2dGO
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIv8tdo0X3I
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLaxyeGy13j
'Sire?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5pidxFXyS
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOEH9jzkeJ
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34PHUCkbSa
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYp8tnZCzA
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9tHlgkRFi9
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjgarsi4AH
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTT7eYYaKQQ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUzP51x34l
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBNJ0m7Jhl
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNPB5vD5o5
'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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5JvnRbPIs
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6XUdcBsPX
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4r3oXY367u
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLzwGQbuvQ
'What are you building now?' she asked.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoLTMSUD3O
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0NuB2EzVh
'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?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZVoG3gObo
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK93uc8rcg
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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrmp2AEzcz
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqLl501BiLy
'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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnen2NYoXJM
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXnTt0qzyP
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3aqicRC6m
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0tIyfSofi
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHTUY3QBiU
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjwumrpXIbe
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPY2nQQxnsD
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzbPc5gXF9
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIjOauanAN
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfGVvFwsEJ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyGZ3oKh7G
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDaAQIeqsj
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡieGs6c1g2b
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgcx7apIaM
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYPuKHBiF5
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRo2cNN32J
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8srJwOO3c
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLHTJvbpGl
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLzjg5YKBg
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEsNQ4WTPm
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNx3dxIi8YZ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZOf2srJeTh
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2AkcLxbOY
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcojNdxZadW
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz5ePCdM5A
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDrqtUtTV8
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHMfZzlMx8
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5x5cdM71vg
'Here!'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPSq8G7nwc
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHal3CiSPrl
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkFsUuxir3
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQWlQF0ute
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2Jnwm8Jf5
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzwSnwd8jn
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9clv5BSahP
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYXSe7HBZp
Bad news.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStq0ROLXtu
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHh589G4HpU
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWOSP5VHcs
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QjUfqcmCb
'Freeze!'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQrxOZ61ms
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN0UEeu2eo
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOxfIvVrh3
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ70IFOisDX
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyHxAFJUW1z
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsUqueooHm
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiWpKmjO3W
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDnUbk1vIU
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27HpYb5zC2
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8te3KKA8j9
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0owqcnrcMn
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyACYP6kEUg
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyw8IT1v0Sc
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ASqV6BFmJ
That was progress at least.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4IVRMcYBo
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kixueT7up
My next shot went wide and high.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRM7xbgYGD
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgKsX3qtnl
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdSLSaRGVYc
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh2hN2sOmf
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpD2umUzh0f
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu27kpj4Px
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1Q8veR6RY
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcq4jE1az6g
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBXs8JplWG
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPFL0R6ZJq
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xQzZ20lfa
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOeo3DRoGG
A heal landed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58McnXtUb7
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMYSulaXBz
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cpvw7UfKY
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqPFf8W15Z
'Last chance,' said Carlena.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9r9Rzdr1e
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMw9IVx89i
I missed.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQw1JjqVeP
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLaoPhdwXt
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7MMqsNbpY
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1KUDJwhtix
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGcUduVQBf
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7XQ0mtTSZ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdJ6hndsen
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hsgrdvghM
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cd580GbVe
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCwuJDNSSB
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5SUyVBetFx
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFAgJLKL8b
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBJ27fWttZ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUfR1XXwXKG
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQG0bX6xpI8
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGMJ1kRFtZ
'All?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzQDwNNSOr
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxt5w9Z8yOn
'Sorry sire.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF4EFx7W1C
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgMJWYRH5B
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVZm4TmcXx
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQVYOjGRtg
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mr0pxBkZZ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwCdPug16e
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN7jDJKjLz
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPInOEt57E2
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR32SM0kbaq
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA0c1raaPnU
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76WPDfYc3q
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbazTEs5TBI
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr59fwKXurW
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvHDaaNpaD
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxnIQp0jkt
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqg8xqFlko
'I think there is something at that rock.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKhoJcJ1Ny
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBhCTz0B0i
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PPWyXcVRi
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WR1wRiRK0
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDAq6QU3TJ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4L3gINjJp4
'Freeze!'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgL4JcVJrs
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Ko88RfBwI
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBQTaRqe8q
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1QKFGLupxv
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyjNIwfvd3
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYGtCa8ffM
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiVHWdnciv
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqVL9OXCJq
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0oOb6TqbaB
You cannot become better at Lunge.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPRtSkUuPD
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ70yl9m8Le
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgNQhm7USw
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsFelS7uLQ
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1lplVl0aqE
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Czt50N74G
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mxnFABMjy
'Who are you?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLL7fWvM5ms
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCUl6AajTJ
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYZMI9KMYD
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVBZob80hy
'Of Southway?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeiWHXz0i75
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHNo5JlEHO
'Aye.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvlhaYmPeV
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNjpFe3SsT
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntgBAGpr28
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBOprbJlIP
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ731YpVCk6o
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPswsD7cKP
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIog2BgyIwW
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡglgcLObZI7
You have killed a Rogue!391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINmN26nduI
You cannot become better at Lunge.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHMrWoqlhg
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTlc4kmazE
You have gained 35 Experience.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJAwEGPBBK
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDTXRsWaBD
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbQXBBgbEH
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8h7mgDFt0
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXYwpTZCHR
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfNQKl7jMxW
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqDmS2e1oR
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxiH3m1eA9
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN0OWRV7pdn
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJ2tSCJcaN
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIXRTbdpyD
'What next?'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvKbWeoVpw
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLjP3X5AGas
'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.'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq458j0uft
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sBGk8feyT
'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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopRtp3a6UI
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe8ibwrtAzT
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6jAqMylky
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cG1DxvYBu
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1HQBBzh6H
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3OkjlvB19
'Freeze!'391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLmKJ9tCxd
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Y3ybMdvQJ
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVJFHUXUNe
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Dm7loN7iI
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!391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVJdpZQbQz
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByf2DFjSl4
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFlikF4VlT
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyCRggtOTi
You have killed a Ciatern!391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwDthTiLnM
You cannot become better at Lunge.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs31QATsFV
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIR0MOCqqw
You have gained 75 Experience.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoxKtHZN7E
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtQJzJnd8g
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.391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5T0sXGOCO
391Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YKMm08SMl
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.
