'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiV9lLPeers
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhO3uPCeUV
'Can you find other quests for me?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTV0Lm1KPq
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ0LhL938lg
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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7bEQ0bi91
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNq8bPAoTD
'Risk?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0i7nzxTROR
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvIziWYcac
'You could die.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfH0Dv4wVMB
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwS6BZ74WJ
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?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyv1EdSsdZ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssJawZkwAG
'As a vampire?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCS6YYg94GS
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQDCypowYI
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNshwXtaZRX
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyVGrXJG4B
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLF6dXyY5x
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0tWUt9Lx0
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11tTMRgmx3
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2EuiKTBrO
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Sjnb2lrCW
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmZeE9SINX
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ121z7giGo
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXqhaTrze6
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhMfBDXNN4
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKUMAf0zuf
'True.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpVT81bU1j
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3ukcHuZYJ
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrHN6XblNK
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWhI5KDveo
'Sire?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ET3LQ8cQ5
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDfSXBLQC9D
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuRsXAlIux
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyz72wajqw
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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEQNoweD6d
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKqb9UYj3H
'Not too likely to kill me?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzeKl03CSF
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHD5mNjn58
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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLVagkj7rr
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIY0VTmy1N
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjvsMavPpt
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VUMrFEBjO
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZq7nmoF8Vx
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKdv5Aabxx
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0iUH3FJ8b
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrxzxiEET3
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3s0lHZsw6z
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡst6xSB60eU
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxoJne0CZG
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc6ZKAMAvG
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gEWYkrasu
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPdluEflUK
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjO44xYLBD7
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqUkcjxnSL
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5bpX4tO73
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwDvQwoOC2
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh9ovM9cW35
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2ovXdynaZ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAdOAraQxY
Church level 1382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATZ4l5r8EL
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbins4n9UNS
Priest: Cleric level 1382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZwVM7oud3
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡou7lDtO6ur
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMC6g3b50aK
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUe7ZiSn7bO
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlopMxm8VxX
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0d5YRXyzo
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBqiTxNYB6
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvBmNvavbj
'Sire?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcByGGHpdpj
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg8vGUrE9z
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNBZFyMEyj
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLl7RltWCK
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBNUg5uhHb
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtEfOmAS2R
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGldjnRGb8Z
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LmFbgw1xS
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCTJfoKUfU
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoYPPVOmky
'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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnEbq3o00w
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc72RRuVN3p
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YNV3fmMyQ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Q45CIbujU
'What are you building now?' she asked.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dCN7Ck1RP
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqW8bNSFPdo
'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?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNtx1zbwsu
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKIp4oEW4Qf
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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDi4BdVYvDF
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlt5EZwWKl
'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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoI7yCpEK4y
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHie23JeYI
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96dYKeTutP
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaAPIPTomFl
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhzYekDhC0
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG2NuD7h1E
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59c76cbVCU
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXy43QM3w3
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPiEljsj8t
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcsukGL8xDN
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2q7Bg8Qw5
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZCSeYw4izq
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMvjulY4b3
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuMbIL9fAOI
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiZYIHEkkC
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTjzYnuufS
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFyRmp9pqq
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr38Mo9E70
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1cXkCpu7k
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaadoY9PToC
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNNDeVksN5
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WDqmg2wRT
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XXcx3RAAG
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKlGuEaEEJ8
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLiV295K3mU
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQP86KRbkp
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVT46aMlsD
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o1VRzq1JN
'Here!'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RORYx7Tho
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlO2ab0t6f
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ79uqrPMkn
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMTA4iHKTH
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1zdNKAkTFV
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFfcM0huUI
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUHa50McKu7
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTo5E0AHyH
Bad news.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8fmeKsTP6
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZ8D4VF273
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK608YEFWm9
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDzo3ksxYt
'Freeze!'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLSLvaT5qq
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0djB5Yf3zN
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Av7m2oKRU
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvvnhKHaqW
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy8MI8JGJEb
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzj6kNA6IlU
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlAmDPXMr1
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkejRE0Y3c
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WPrjZwMMi
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGeki5iQCX
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwj27UvSGP
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6AKZHV9Jc
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNWs0jYxwF
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAigvVlQqQg
That was progress at least.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cZ6A4LyTq
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwlqSEEy8T
My next shot went wide and high.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqXmQMYEm6
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjPDeAf2Zo
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFTmMM8JYD
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xcYF63uC1
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopjjLhVeUC
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdx3KwVrEh
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33upZYebaS
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGJtEMBA5Y
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jvLhFzbSO
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRTbngxRV3
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MUsP8jBTH
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNULkoeAfH
A heal landed.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmZ6zibFg3
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBkhwYpnfAz
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEwX6bSwP8
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEsHnLb0ouu
'Last chance,' said Carlena.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qjO0cvUXT
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbm1cf2XrrW
I missed.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPu2thbaZlQ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAwTytj5MM
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeCvVRhwSio
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBSyAYfUffS
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MQEW3hDPS
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED8qJI85Xq
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡymZ1vvPJkl
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNJmtNNXMbM
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWVgaTueYF
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfxnCEKaVJ
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxKDAoLBDZ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGORmrRXlSZ
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pZC43a15o
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Ha6gg9Vh
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtttPZzYTuE
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡosXg9hLITl
'All?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNDI3E369bC
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmz91azOI4
'Sorry sire.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlqZ0ihsix
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlg1nD3o2R
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqMYdrvBC0
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5031sSfdL
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7gvB4pgQ1
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtqrSdjdlTV
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc7CPs46B6
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0eHyHXU3xU
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNvY3EWbFi
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QCcfD0eL8
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotdxSguMvd
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE7jbttKRPO
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡti30GYI4Zj
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wqVkttrkH
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBdFSeueNt
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeB04O4pxt
'I think there is something at that rock.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP60zhYRcD
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZExyUcBtgU
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkhgzmuSWWJ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEvC7FYxP2
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot0Si9bRwO
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3N3a5OuuQb
'Freeze!'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94AbQYbBKD
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBFOJ2RozZ
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGwj15cHbz
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzawFhf22C
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqKCw7Oc2n
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyHtYHDPXV
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCznfLYgQ4z
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsMvBIc8zW
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8rGvsEI3A
You cannot become better at Lunge.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBiVpyULdh
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbMx6nzKuQ
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8rLgSmEGZ
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg435ko8Umx
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAThHAvZaU3
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0gFejskv5
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0zAQtyfhX3
'Who are you?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaRWUfq6SW
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0iU2yp3qI
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUKvDIgfyS
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBs69YACJZ
'Of Southway?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl98OnRAhek
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UGo2cqd39
'Aye.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡza8qyBykd7
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwr2mhFV3OQ
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyk92zFD1MN
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLwWKN4iti
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjZJ2yv8Tc
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNXBqLgFwtE
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfS3PN1mv8
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2OQY0OaA6
You have killed a Rogue!382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5EcAhU6X1o
You cannot become better at Lunge.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9aLO544DZ
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGdp5QKzDN
You have gained 35 Experience.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49A0Lanqcz
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXNmsdQm11
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzhsxZ5rGf
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBD7N9syBU
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQb9Hq33U2
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTshT7HwWbK
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhsbeDqGv1D
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQ1ZKP5wjq
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnS8YAxlXZ
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdXXu7xuHp
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXiYduSRe0
'What next?'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPDT35Cdeu
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WsmaBPvdj
'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.'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAf8Is21OfT
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXAbHi63rA
'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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNg8u5vvEBv
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnuKwQ6lTD
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGAWRH8Dd0
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVz3RfuqHm7
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8glhlxlxv
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEMv6GoHs0
'Freeze!'382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP5CVnQ149
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhX4mY7OMLC
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrAYU78yHG
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJjqPI8N4S
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!382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQyVLCImF5
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ246YfreKhy
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9ReYL9sPt
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjzsNBMI3w
You have killed a Ciatern!382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeXGy8iod34
You cannot become better at Lunge.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4SE4VOuWs
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04i3C32GKT
You have gained 75 Experience.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvbnSpsFx1
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNyBn9ta7q
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.382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRqVBIft7QG
382Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6hge7EXce
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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