'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ0HAXnRCL
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvcmVZgaMF
'Can you find other quests for me?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZTXxnTmhYt
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4IYVgqwDJ
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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VI2Bn5xKB
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyc67vZzKre
'Risk?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkykCWldwCS
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hhfuh0Yap
'You could die.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9kCAiKtQi
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5oTLgcq6v
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?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZGNeBJpnJ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PkwNgFApN
'As a vampire?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQnEkqPP6H
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkzYs69ba6
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLRNt0oPUB
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9tBz4h2yX
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLanvBf4wq
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡav8Nm8nWfm
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TD0vJ1DoX
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRMe24jCqXw
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpozHkraYK
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sIc0ONGAt
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP24Lk9DVrA
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TDDQ0yQut
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysJS8izJJy
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRoezgyahf
'True.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7usUQ8vXOL
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrS4C9LEXuC
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziBZujIKT4
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD5fNffMQO
'Sire?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2K4Y09NE3
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N3wbkUdtM
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6J8JTRMh6
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbrvagIW7Qp
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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0kZYP2MVA
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXt1g2r9ZyI
'Not too likely to kill me?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsHDleyjex
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQo7fdPlLa
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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadDDxa8DUX
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjyvu20zgD
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4YlZq0AB3
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3MdvV2KaE
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN6fXQxzbe
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLjspOUSUD
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsGqW0uWf1
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuyHgCpOBx
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFCA7vOkLb
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkKc1p9yhr
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLhlDztfzg
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHD81tI8nm
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqbCMzXKZw
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgM6IWqZJah
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsnqmkSYap
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FUrVegZJC
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgyzgdJrzf
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C9OGBdrAb
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ48RNFWLlqN
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUBKlFFCHt
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBG9Klu0nl
Church level 1498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3NDfWuawB
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6DFNs1N4u
Priest: Cleric level 1498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7VO2LaEvu
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUUJv94wwb
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXAlgISYTA
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5r0th0FpDK
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQzSyNFu8FZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3XOJMprnV
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM24FcmHtlv
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGh1EdZSlye
'Sire?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jefm0cfWz
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOkToQh48z
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9roZIuRvT
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9pq61Dre8
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCkP3QUKt8J
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuD3bw3HGSN
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclc6hkPRSo
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTJcKL1eFc
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrgD5JAQvY
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQjRw0ltFS
'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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXJ4mXFVzP
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8cMOqXn8T
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjIEChqnga
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGAzeT4lAMe
'What are you building now?' she asked.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmp4ahzUnf6
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfamOjgRBOr
'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?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SYb1W2ZtO
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6QnrlIbc3
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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUleGpuOLO
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVj3JOqOYP
'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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPtknNXGOw
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwFMtFqe7l
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv7VNWreaZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXc8M0QOYk
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyO1g1HvoFo
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKj0CqjyMi
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTA8rsvLyhJ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw0EkSVnHw
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDUGq7Dwz0
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBPRz8STcq
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur8VSFz6qA
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhru9KJcSDk
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgVAl3mTNpP
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTlIrF2ZXJ
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrdX3mIPpyl
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNwvJ5WLaX
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKI6YtdPXy
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPym5W0ghYm
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3HpVkcxLW
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJGsDM6Ape
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8dNCAJOGWD
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguNClKUt6j
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUjqUpLAW3
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJnT8HGaC6
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOJcG4bFIU
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K9sy9Rety
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHeXLKYshdF
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Hc0BgshqW
'Here!'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEPWTufyFN
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsEJWs8Vrd
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t3KYIc3tn
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmPLDuVdgT
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXfXCUC9dh
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyps9nZYtzm
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡupqQzAXj9O
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrLuV1jeKa
Bad news.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECv98ICr2b
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg2mI9hYnD
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNX3QCG7PKF
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp5N36nKCk
'Freeze!'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnJdLp21SA
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYABt8Zjwa
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8ek4kJcQf
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJ0CWWDZAh
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxY3dKNZWO
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXKXnJAKbcE
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgxmpuDlAe
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnQm3FODRp
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTgXhOYSJ8
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QoiB1CCVV
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhkIEmOsiR
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnpK34aC3V
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLb2eS8Udik
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvLFhg48HWL
That was progress at least.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡltgLqIrxlV
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCinx3xIw2
My next shot went wide and high.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOvSQFEE4B
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZv8jbHFG4
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtPUAgyVrYg
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVV24omdfO
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLbSGjDdha
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKpYaVA8W4D
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvenhqaGyF
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOw2kJW6sDQ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxUJHmEKOO
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOAoSzvaKD
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡynzQdYCbAu
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfaJAx1I0ZC
A heal landed.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0e8fABmt7Z
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6zryGeUAT9
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DUs9ba1hL
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoskhEyGIAH
'Last chance,' said Carlena.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOSXL4S8VZZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36F0uNvzzA
I missed.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkDsUe1rUM
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqQ43QBBXG
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOcKaJagrI
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6l4nNwgkS
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxhNTGbsyJ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjhWWHTzej
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TNBrIg8mn
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrESeyuOpW2
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03Q84ZLfZv
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfPjpqwmbj
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaU6O62wkY
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygvdbiN6sh
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAXDJNOMvm
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXJrLq9BudF
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvT9MbFoVZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n9lqdGkuE
'All?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3c5aHmPha7
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEXvkvoGUC
'Sorry sire.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZhtD2ZLY1
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6tQ30vHMC
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkaRToKluK
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZ9lCNqrYU
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGnwBC4mSHG
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmKMSNHr1j
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqdQ3EuujF
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyp13ZSy3X
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1IkYz4ymF
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQS9MAhDy2L
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVGRr8YNz5
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObeUqN4odB
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGcw9fyFGe
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmmfLDf9cV
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OwY77jgSe
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45NHlU1Zsv
'I think there is something at that rock.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHc5SsrYYZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlLBkU2xPF
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsi3ZszTTQ1
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlsXpJ527Hw
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOdBK2XaLP
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡihYNJt2ekP
'Freeze!'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtbkUxYfx1
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NSb01Stln
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyMyxveUWP
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSqkAvw8JW
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHDwO6IIH4
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mKqKDlpz8
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoarGB8KUtz
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuH9yZ6CnOu
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx1AckWVuP
You cannot become better at Lunge.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WO55Mercb
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17rtIP4V5h
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGOjl7fFYa
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIeWM5UECz
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3cKLILV9R
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWbtJTDjKB
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRAIHSufDQ
'Who are you?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I0MzeVZDQ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TcmlsQoUM
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiysJT57EMN
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt76wQRauRF
'Of Southway?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEGc8nFvnc
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnclH2L1WV
'Aye.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2gJmGd3V5
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiscEaSHuLX
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYeGKnP7PHs
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5S3WaDJh6S
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUqmuJqYCZ
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDURbOdkjW
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMZN94AckF
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVnGVQJcuD
You have killed a Rogue!498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQVBBfoLGx
You cannot become better at Lunge.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDeNA2x3AIm
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgs1XSX4DF6
You have gained 35 Experience.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qMysQoPoy
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpN32jSvEP8
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1DJHkfvjk
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAIeunCAPB
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcS7JRbDd1
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlymL5KQsVt
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSc6jzTOlvY
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwmItLnJvx
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ14qrOC9lIn
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fYnn55xqz
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkQpdfPOs5
'What next?'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59d44b9ton
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3V5T7kMoUJ
'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.'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCWNBsepf4
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoqLvzdpb5
'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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSq3NMWl4SD
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNiSlVJLJU
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHrYTkjbfY
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4tNhqWwPQ
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdwIjH2ta6
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE2PWJLnu5
'Freeze!'498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlA6cY22SxS
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaxMsxFhCI
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPQedtLREW
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCiOboLG2x
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!498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdbc90fk4p
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡit8fe9EkRY
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOz92pmVFp5
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxQKEotbSl
You have killed a Ciatern!498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9gZyFIi57
You cannot become better at Lunge.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkQHJQRgdK
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5h4tZEM4g
You have gained 75 Experience.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Zi9A5kBVa
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡISre4MGzoF
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.498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEf6GuvWT4
498Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzS3ijUAVK1
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.
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