During the night I must have been dreaming about the food crisis, because I woke up having made two decisions. As soon as I was dressed and sat in the great hall, eating my breakfast, I acted on them. Firstly, I sent a messenger to amend Chancellor Parrin's mission. He was not simply to scout for the enemy dispositions, he was to obtain information about when and how the ripened grain from our former lands was to be transported. Then he was to liaise with Lord Arval in using our light cavalry to intercept it. Assuming we had cleared the enemy from the valley that descended to the farmlands, the way should be open for such a raiding operation. If so, I'd leave the details in Lord Arval's capable hands.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i0lBMKenD
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhMxEi9cfr
Secondly, I would ask the Necromancer for a delivery of food on account. I hated having to beg, but couldn't see an alternative. This was a job for Figus, which was a shame, because I also wanted the charismatic Bard to negotiate for the release of the prisoners. They were a burden and as soon as I could get them off my hands for any kind of recompense, the better.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepZPEWwwjK
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlYREY6QdK
While drinking a mint tea (thinking that I'd give a chest of gold for a bag of coffee), I checked for the new supply of ingots. The menu showed me I had 4 now in the stores. The new picks were making a difference but I was slightly disappointed that the daily yield wasn't 5. I allocated 3 to the smithy, to finish off upgrading all the miners and was glad to put aside 1 towards my first trade with the Necromancer.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3X2G5XYk6r
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1h0zHV7k7T
Next, I called up my character sheet.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAWhRlCFuP
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcUg2frPVg
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Jqt52SkzM
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4Tjt0B2Fx
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO3AG72M5w
Str 7746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNl4SvfNi4D
Dex 5746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66dMHDtgZz
Con 8746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8RhmL9gok
Int 16746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMCD7Tkwy1
Wis 16746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzS6n9BSNg
Cha 5746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMKBzJ45Qe
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUmqCceAw5
Skills746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVn9z13CrJH
Bash 25746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6po6UScam1
Block 1746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKpIubCJTV
Defensive Stance 1746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡineE8SeWUE
Deflect 1746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoCHZLdpDUZ
Dodge 1746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KOguwPYEV
Impale 25746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbv1pIp9lpQ
Lunge 5746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYmEwyM0LS
Parry 5746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0gf2h7pt4
Wield Rapier 5746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS44n7TEAUJ
Wield Shortbow 3746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NABKoM5E3
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb88v8z1UXw
Feats746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xbPe27COR
Charge! (Wis)746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lHJdVMmLG
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6732ApWFD
You have 4 attribute points to assign.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7twoD4MVLO
You have 15 skill points to assign.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6BGk2nsHC
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVeCTVVNO7
XP 2,860 (3,200)
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1blO9TYG7v
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELwfLEpczc
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQo4c5HQVd
It was heartening to see that my dexterity and charisma had both improved a point. That gave me an insight into the process, in that I'd been exerting myself to the utmost the previous day both to use the Rhino form effectively and to encourage the army. Probably, I'd performed actions that tested them repeatedly or under very great stress. And both were moving from extremely low starting points. There was almost certainly some non-linear progression at work here in that I'd have to do more than one day's activity to increase the higher stats.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFMsNjFJyug
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdC8GvYatv
While it was probable that weight training was the likely way to improve strength, how could I exert myself enough to trigger a constitution increase?746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOt5YvIuP8
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NktIMotaB
Perhaps Carradock Goblinbane would know. In any event, I wasn't going to spend my four attribute points yet. I still had to understand the system better.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWdoi4eqhB
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKenNxFuCT
It was time to choose my fifteen new skills and after placing one point in each of the following I felt a real sense of progress: Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful; Heavy armour mastery: passive, allows the use of heavy armour; Kick: action, attack enemy with a kick; Medium armour mastery: passive, allows the use of medium armour; Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon; Ride Warhorse: passive, necessary requirement for the use of other skills from horseback; Riposte: action, counter-attack enemy (can only be triggered after a successful Parry); Shield mastery: passive, allows use of all sizes of shield; Wield espadon: passive, allows the use of a double-edged, two-handed sword; Wield longbow: passive, allows the use of longbows; Wield polearm: passive, allows the use of all polearms and spears (not thrown); Wield war axe: passive, allows use of a heavy, two-handed axe.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MZHGSph7S
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI9L8E45ZWC
Most of the Warlord skills clearly overlapped with other fighter classes as they were all pretty standard, generic ones, but my progression as Warlord had unlocked three eye-catching skills that were likely unique to this path. Battle Cry: action, raises the morale of allies within earshot; Detect Enemy Weakness: action, gain insight as to the extent to which the morale of the target is wavering; Stonewall: action, gain increased AC in proportion to skill level (this skill cannot be higher than Defensive Stance).746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeyrbSs8zuc
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlodVUCSBFi
Of course I unlocked these with a point in each. Someday on the battlefield, they could make all the difference.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDw2QvQ1Cxd
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCE6JD2UNM
I noticed too that (Wis) had appeared beside my first Feat, and I opened that sub-menu.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLF9nwQGub
Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity get a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase. Charge! is a wisdom based feat and each point of wisdom above 15 increases the buff by an additional 1 hit point and 1% move. A wisdom of 18 therefore leads to a Charge! with the effect of +8 temporary hit points and +23% movement for all those who hear the call.
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWbtklDtgW
Now that was interesting and gave me pause for a long thought. The attribute points I'd been storing up could make this a powerful area-of-effect buff. If I put all four in Wisdom and hit 20, that would be plus 25% movement and plus 10 hit points to my nearby troops. Considering the basic, level 0 archer had only 5 hit points, that was very appealing. Before I committed myself to this idea though, I needed to test the Feat to see what the reset timer was and how many soldiers it could affect.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK1gZWhgsb0
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH1CndxCeGI
Very pleased indeed with these set of skills, that reminded me of my Storm Wars days when I had the skills and feats to tank major bosses, I made my way over to the barracks. There was something odd about the behaviour of the people that I passed. A quick check on the people menu told me that an increased happiness score – now up to 21 – might have had something to do with it. But there was something else going on. Furtive smiles. Little whispers to each other and looks at me that were almost sniggers. It felt like I was in fancy dress.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BIwuQz92V
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikRm2jdylM
Carradock Goblinbane was alone at the barracks and on my arrival he saluted me eagerly and said, 'well done sire! Very well done.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL33qeJsuq0
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NIW7pzXaS
'Thank you.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsyFhd98Mh
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfn5alMPUx
'And sire. I may only have one arm, but next time I hope you'll take me with you. I can haul on a rope, or help the soldiers get into formation.' His look was earnest, almost pleading.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7ohsr7fE2
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKZCA135mg
'Consider yourself so instructed, Carradock. You can be my aide-de-camp when we are in battle.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8tRjX0Ecz
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuXa8uedFG
'Thank you sire.' His words were heartfelt and the tears in his eyes sincere. Good man.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJAjAxxiVs8
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xG99fBW8X
'Now, let's continue with my personal training. I want to get stronger,' I said, 'and I also want my constitution to increase.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnFmlrZVyp
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvQkFLgiWf
'The first I can help with. The second too, but not so much.' He glanced at me and must have seen a query in my expression, because he continued, 'if you assign soldiers to survival training, it takes three months for them to become hardier.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3JUkLjvb0
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61JSdExdVS
'Three months.' I sighed.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGglyZHUlEd
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H37wXrS1T
'In your case, it might go quicker; you can dedicate yourself to it. As much as your duties allow.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2TV5jhmYs
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW0If2SJvv
'What does survival training involve?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxKI3DuvVl
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmqy9GzvKW
'We go into the mountains and live off the land, building a lean-to, hunting and climbing every day.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfJMBZphGoh
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefIgLqTM8U
'Living off the land you say?' It occurred to me I might make a small saving in food requirements to assign some soldiers to this training. And I would end up with better troops. But with the army so tiny, I could hardly afford this measure, could I?746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKPdN3tqJ3
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddeLAqdCZB
'Yes sire, it's not the comfortable life a king is used to, no, not by a long way. We'll be hungry most nights. But I believe I see in you a determination that will meet the challenge.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kuc3TKXuL
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAInvzNkZiv
I caught Carradock's eye and nodded. All the same, there was so much to do here.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanenKhoGvD
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcZlqsesVD
'What about the strength training?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjqW0SEpin
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYWCjn7j7u
'Much more straightforward, sire. I'll teach you the lifts and you practice them over and over until you are at your limit.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VodD5Lyao
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbApYvOxTY
'Let's begin with that then.' I literally rolled up my sleeves.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJHetcjOcN
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GaDa9SrNN
Soon, I was performing a variety of exercises, aimed at strengthening my arms and shoulders mostly, but Carradock also had me work on my legs with simple squats that very quickly became a challenge.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEsRA6AW2t
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPoIHonvFl
When I took a break for water, I noticed again the presence of onlooking townspeople, who still had the furtive smiles and almost expectant expressions. Before driving them away to get on with their tasks, I leaned in towards Carradock.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODKrX3zw9s
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE61loDD55h
'What's with the smirks?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46gbP3HQ9x
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyEOaz1bMG
'Oh,' Carradock had a thin, weasel-like face, more used to scowling than smiling to judge from the lines on it. But now it broke into a broad grin. 'Why sire, it's our new flag.' He pointed with his one hand.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSWbnbpyLC
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhOd1ZWOR9
The flagpole at the corner of the barracks had a green flag that I'd thought I'd seen previously. When the wind picked up enough to lift it fully open, however, I could see that it had indeed changed. The previous symbol had been a white circle of some sort. That was gone. Instead, it showed a galloping white rhino.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZvAx1nQux
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMZdow1GaWQ
It was probably out of character as King Carlos but I couldn't help smile. I looked around the square and shared the moment with the people who were there, letting them see I was pleased. Then called out, trying to sound gruff. 'All right, I've seen it. I approve. Now get about your tasks.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKuyAT8O34
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGDmbH5mEit
***
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746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYZivNXOPB
A couple of hours later, when I was panting from the weight training and sweat was pouring from my body, despite the cool autumn day, a messenger came hurrying to find me. It was a gangly teenage boy who I'd seen around the keep. 'Sire, sire! A ship is making for our harbour.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpaarsZzAE
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LrjNTfUDh
'What kind of ship?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqUZ9FXwpu
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dEPAWohjd
'A Viking ship!' His eyes were wide with alarm. And my heart lurched too. We had no troops at all in Carrick. Well, a one-armed sergeant, a level three Bard, an over-weight Fighter who couldn't fit into any of the town's armour, and a Sorceress. At least we had Carlena, I hoped her mana was fully restored.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhq4fNAdxXK
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiVAOoaiGs
'Go fetch the Sorceress. Tell her to meet me at the quays. Get someone else to find Figus, the ambassador.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ey4PJ3wKT
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROiecTiwwC
'Yes sire.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHTAD9mcFM
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESyB2RhB7D
'Carradock, come with me and bring your sword.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80F6V5bZaa
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxtIZYOXtJ
'Spear, sire. I can still stick 'em with it.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5UpEHcfXv
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKatcfFrh1E
'Right so.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PTbwwNhZW
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SLjFOlbS8
The quayside of the town of Carrick was a simple affair. One pier of stone stretched out into a grey sea for about thirty yards. In the protection of the lee of the wall bobbed two rowboats that were moored to buoys. It really needed a tower here, to help against invasion. At least we were outside the town walls and could fall back through a portcullis.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yiBMWoIAX
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBTLf29En9
Shading my hand from the reddish sun, I could see the ship clearly enough. A bank of oars on each side; a large, square-rigged sail with a black and white stripe; and the ominous dragon head, facing us, rising up and down as they worked their oars and drove their ship towards us.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrCzR3C725f
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBZGrwSJqy
'What do you know of these people, Carradock?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJWd6XRQ6j
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7FS4XKKWu
'Dangerous, sire. Fierce fighters. Robbers. Their land – Jomskar – is north, beyond the Kingdom of Lost Souls. We have a saying, "never turn your back on a Jomsviking", because they'd do you sire. Give you a knock on the head and you'd wake up a slave of theirs.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaqWYzKjPm
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgCB1P5kJx
A clatter of boots on cobbles heralded the arrival of Carlena, the boy with her. The Sorceress was in her fighting outfit of trousers and tunic and as she gave me a nod of greeting, she tied her hair up tightly into a bun.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eEAsTjn6l
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkJDdEhn6VH
I addressed the lad, 'get everyone you can from the town and take whatever helmets and shields we have in the armoury in the keep and hurry to the walls. Try to make it seem like we have plenty of soldiers in the town. And get some people to the portcullis.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3uzvlQaXA
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoV46xJJ4A
The boy's large Adam's apple bobbed up and down as he swallowed heavily. Then he was off, almost slipping on the cobbles as he scrambled over-eagerly back towards town. This really was a lesson for me. Never to leave the town completely without troops. Hopefully, the infantry that Lord Arval was sending on leave would arrive before nightfall but for now, we were desperately weak. Even this one ship posed a significant threat.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRQm3JJahr
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpe9WbGtfbN
'How's the mana?' I asked Carlena.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHE4wzfrPK
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'Full.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHd52lZvlg
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIQAmirSCt
'You're all we've got.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXjgCtffjz
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20z7yKhAqN
'This I can see.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUwipMtStP
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6tbMqret79
I was hoping she'd add something reassuring to that comment. She didn't.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCM36z5cYW
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7ZWoDr20l
In contrast to the tension of Carlena's stance, the arrival of Figus was almost nonchalant in the confidence of his stride. He was well-dressed in good quality cloth, which was embroidered with intricate patterns based on the interweaving of wild flowers.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcFba86wzU
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxwoiYhKWV
'Sire.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuserrawo2l
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqVwKHhpZD
'Ambassador.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2Lq0k6xOf
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawE4y5Gg98
The four of us moved part way along the pier and stood in silence as the ship drew closer and closer. Seagulls swooped and squabbled and the scent of the ocean was as salty as on Earth. There was an extraordinary difference with my experience of the sea back home though. Here, on the horizon was a line of white mist that sparkled under the midday sun. The edge of the word, presumably.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITV4ACnyVI
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaepj1bbQ9
As the ship came around the head of the pier, I could see the men – and women – aboard. They were long-haired, tall and sturdy. How I envied them their fitness. And to my great relief, they were not brandishing weapons and helmeted up. At the front of the ship, one arm on the fabulously carved prow, was a red-haired woman whose dark green cloak fluttered around her. She caught my eye and gave a shout. 'Hail King Carlos, permission to enter your lands?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QnHM8cm1D
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgP0lj9QpsT
'Just you.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKjfyhlvw1
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxorQQQ6uY
With that their spokeswoman threw out a coiled rope with considerable dexterity and it was Carradock, despite only having one arm, who caught it and tied it off on a bollard. With an impressively uniform response to a command barked from the man at the tiller, the oars came in and the ship lay easy just a few yards from the pier. The crew were looking at us frankly, with curiosity, and were clearly unafraid.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoiidTsrYD
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RCQcSJhCs
Two planks were found to bridge the gap to us and without hesitation the woman ran across. She was in her thirties; had a wide, attractive face; and brown eyes that shone with amusement, or was it cunning?746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolD1ggJIWL
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3vFFNzgBI
'I am Jarl Injeborg the Red, here to speak to you on behalf of King Olgrim Beartooth of Jomskar.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1bmLy2O6M
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuX5WYMsrv
'Go on.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ394mAk3REV
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jTMmRCpLs
She laughed. 'In my land, we greet ambassadors with generous hospitality. No wonder this place is called Greyland. Will we not go to your castle? A room? Some wine? Or mead if you like.' She turned to her crew. 'Ragnald, throw over a bottle of mead.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKd8PmFspYn
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVdIwdHWmH
One of the Vikings rummaged up a bottle, threw it accurately and Injeborg caught it effortlessly. Again it was an impressive display of skill and the whole crew knew it too, there were grins on all their faces.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvKdHNI602
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHZ6J0OLip
'Here's just fine.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7xOXNA15N
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiJKjqCqZp
'Suspicious?' She opened her arms wide, throwing back her cloak to show that the only weapon on her was a small knife in a decorated leather scabbard on her belt. Then she dropped the smile. 'If we wanted to, we could cut you down right now.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPjcGM6oNH
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyjyfVEmNQ
'Perhaps, if you and your ship could survive a level eleven Fireball.' My heart was beating fast, but my voice was steady.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlR1d99a7nH
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhncUnPtnNO
A quick flick of her eyes towards Carlena. 'We are here in peace and I am to offer you an alliance.' She paused, expecting perhaps that I would now bring her to a room in the keep for our negotiations.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlb0SUr4dVY
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuuOwFzTtd
'I'm listening.' And I really was.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffFqs8u49w
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYxbc9a2Jww
'Very well, we'll talk out here, in the wind.' Injeborg's long, red hair had several braids, but even so often streamed across her face. 'Recently, King Olgrim had a meeting with King Cillian mac Gille Coemgáin of Rockguard and it did not go well. Knowing he has the stronger army, mac Gille Coemgáin tried to impose tribute on us. And due to adversity and the recent loss of our mines to the frost giants, our king would have agreed. Except that when it came to shaking hands on the agreement, mac Gille Coemgáin instead demanded King Olgrim kiss his foot.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ6aPyJnPxI
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh5MOoaFND
'This was in front of the courts of both realms. I was there. And our king said, "are you sure?" Mac Gille Coemgáin just laughed and said, "kiss it", holding his foot out. "Well," said King Olgrim, "it was your request." And with that he grabbed the royal foot and being a big, strong bear of a man, turned Mac Gille Coemgáin upside down. While the ruler of Rockguard wriggled like a frog, King Olgrim kissed his foot, then dropped him on his head.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMFjl1sEbj
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjfahdLSdS
'As you can imagine, their courtiers did not take this well. And, to be brief, we are at war.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHhJz4dLjt
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MJ03LHXMu
I laughed. 'I like the sound of King Olgrim. Very well. What do you want from us?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySIBZptY6h
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNC92ekZVi
'Iron. We know you have mines.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvGFzX67FH
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmLkqQSbme
Iron again. I had been ramping production up as quickly as I could but perhaps I could do more. It clearly was a vital resource. Should I reassign people from other jobs? I'd ask Carlena about this later. It seemed that the power of the menus, whether divine or magic, gave the workers the appropriate skills in response to my decisions. But perhaps there would be a cost to reassigning someone, rather than using someone who was currently without a task.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPfIHeNCTn
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdQ84nnvWj
'And in return?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkznAABsKDZ
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmEzzmKYN9
'Fish. Salted fish. Five units for each ingot of iron.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z6jpE4uUY
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsSB17vLnv
Not as good an offer as from the necromancer but, still, food was food and I wanted it badly. Deliberately slowing down my heart, looking into the distance and the slow movements of the sea, I tried to make my next words as unconcerned as possible.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3RCwI8huD
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCNuvedPJf
'Using your own trading vessels?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZpjiM61AX
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'Yes.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGTGSJa1Bq
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xMKAUQtsD
'I'll speak directly and to the point. For every seven units of fish, I'll send you an ingot of iron. Right now, however, I'm very short of iron myself. In two weeks, though, I promise I'll give you twenty if you return with a hundred and forty barrels of fish.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHYImM7WTz
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhabviZpl4
She looked thoughtful. 'I can shake hands with you now at six for one. Seven would need me to sail back to King Olgrim. And have you any iron to hand at all? We have barrels of fish with us now. Thirty of them.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pyKABT5EZ
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBbLaZQFUK
'You use slaves up in Jomskar?'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7RJ5jO89n
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'We do.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN8ViB6UEFw
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20JduUkMul
'Then I can give you two iron ingots and about fifteen slaves for those thirty barrels.' I was thinking of the four new iron ingots (possibly five) that I would have at dawn but even better of the chance to rid myself of some of the unwanted prisoners. The ones from Southway. I was still hoping to achieve peace with Trolland and their prisoners might be useful.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaNp3ZKfjR
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lh3epf8mo
For a moment, there was a silence but for the waves, the seagulls and the creaking of their ship. I tried not to let my tension show, nor stare at the holds of their ship. We really needed those fish.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHoVYzOMOL
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpck06VEyOu
'I will agree if our agreement is six units of fish for each iron ingot after this.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1AqHmTXLY
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBit3lgtJJV
I held out my hand and the jarl shook it with a very firm grip. Then she gave me a fierce look. 'This trade is only the start. I can see you are a man who despite appearances is strong at heart. Soon, we will be comrades on the battlefield.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWAxEohbU0
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNDv5PC4iP
'Perhaps. I am already at war with two kingdoms, however, I make no promises about fighting Rockguard.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuQPSN4Ykl
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodC1XOK4j0
'I understand. Let's drink all the same, to the trade agreement.' Injeborg drew her knife and cut away the wax seal on the bottle. Then she offered the drink to me.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcb7jgH8uC7
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'After you.'746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoZsIxiFeC
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTOYY2CmCG
With a laugh she took a large swig from the bottle, making sure I saw her swallow it. After which I did the same. It was fiery and sweet. Delicious. 'Put one of those bottles into the trade will you,' I said, passing it to Figus who held it for a moment distastefully, then took a modest mouthful and passed it on to Carlena.746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR40uC4AUqH
746Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbz1e0NRS9d
Injeborg laughed again, white teeth flashing. She laughed easily and while aware that I might have been affected by her obviously high charisma, I had the thought that these people might indeed make good allies.
and then Add to home screen.