'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7i1LwtIWB
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSnU3mxvdI
'Can you find other quests for me?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvTDVftLAA
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9D8mawV9Y
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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AHgTfE69C
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RFnARG31Q
'Risk?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPPcWGllC3
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1AlmZiv5h
'You could die.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSg5tGBML7I
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVck8o1JvXP
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?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhO46aGv6zD
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPlWkPXiVx
'As a vampire?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhFXRunAMw
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwglsvGK9kf
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywvTMP8ohV
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIen64cnFUS
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RpsnRLYEp
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nUQSabexn
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoPJR9Gtnh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkdQtIJqh39
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QE1d0NHpz
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ04PW5sU6my
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTh6QioTtX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZi9ySZY0E
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnJfyfsRST
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylNgPcyFhI
'True.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡakGNu7jmul
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeTuX0QaCOT
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhb0tFrZM7P
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7WCAGjtur
'Sire?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAOG6HwD1JJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEm6f12o5r
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIbB4WcHFo
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMwYYruZwH
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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSsAG102gu
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzZL677zhs
'Not too likely to kill me?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTleKFY6C8K
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5gIrlxBZ0
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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQABgGxt106
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22wOnP1mUV
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpi97iPSQ2
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk3LxoWREf
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgSpPMxpQXD
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztEOH8wuwF
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDD9tLWkLhj
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqhhpK35MD
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVPH2JAXYW
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZi5gjdpOg
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFX1HRmnGQi
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFmlWoYigA
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAmJO4tZSB7
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmea4qSjlb
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DeCqclvS4
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAoUOUXhx3
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO4XSVQGrL
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOSsOjJXS5
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJZdULnWKac
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQe8RKPyYJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9fvgcNGle
Church level 1362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCUctWo2WQ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQknuQ1qe3
Priest: Cleric level 1362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQauvnbTSf6
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLvU8LS5Ss
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoLu0o6sgZ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlG0UY6aPAa
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1IEWmDYHH
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5j7xN9Phr
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHp4X6QOhz
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDtbxRPZR4
'Sire?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6Lr5yvBR1
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwcrRyBxl2
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZosbrX8kf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZVFxqKVuFl
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqneMfDIUR5
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZlcuovMpR
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmI8MLcoCn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlhTPo1Ea0
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmpz7qOFQK
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxK8LGpEzp
'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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpXfTqW4b6D
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pKwCBWQ5h
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfbT0BG0bj
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvJSNwKmj3
'What are you building now?' she asked.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjG64JcCvSX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxw6KC9H8H
'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?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8hoA14DgB
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvT31puQnfP
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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4yoRdBy0B
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVGQGpMz7T
'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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHuxw2Sy3L
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaoV3GuIzL
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKYyBkZgmx
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSYO32Rdgbu
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQ1oMEh439
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjoL1idoE6
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIk3LH6Idk
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ63Pqy6BNf
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8P7fEbCDkm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2l7RVtkpe
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdg1X8tx0Y
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjZEbx0tK6
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAjZokjJAM
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmstyw7LjCY
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYoJOV8Fnq
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaLSYbRBMkP
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYd5PlYqs4
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKeUaWm30V
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwnV8fONC9
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsDNY8T5Xg
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIerHrxMjPJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVoveypZ3h
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlJ5jA2Edr
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYlB5cH8Vt
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwsXm1LUPw
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqYE3ktmghP
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqb0m25jYXH
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPCWsWeAgb
'Here!'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwl4OaMRuMz
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hKp093Y4K
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38mpSuNdWJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4PCBgNuvi
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIMKgO2Acz
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI6eUIPtUg
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0aPQNrYfl
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjFz9To6Ur
Bad news.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLB6bj6Zcrm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BYs31QOik
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnC3v53oXZq
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hwFk0P3uN
'Freeze!'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqR4kdHxXp
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7nePHh3I2
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanQ1MFmYEm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrnrHedLbZ
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd1et2Ngwn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9eiKUyjZA
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkxOvwcpAJY
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx4ylQOvsnJ
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibaPbuWLqJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmzmSheCqM
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvrvluJeT0
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7BZJB5Bjn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ4mQBTBkXk
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0BJfo1t9o
That was progress at least.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkWi1Bjnvh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27m15uv7VK
My next shot went wide and high.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXBfSLUwLa
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgr4du01cX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjRGxcSFBC
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGp9HSUqiRi
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4liGggp9x5
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzbXrJMUvlb
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbzF57tNFh
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmNFgaovttf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0CNMg9pC9
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJzPtBXNg8
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvR27bW2Bxb
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjXzcrBnLOW
A heal landed.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtX0DmW7Lu
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0YtH7XALPz
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcTF0kavpW
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9Xhc6ZIUy
'Last chance,' said Carlena.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCsy5x9qcW
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrKr826efo
I missed.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07K9uREtGk
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8dSya3heI
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdWJqT04j7
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBta2RGWLM
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdfxQULmEx
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmEnVjV9Ib
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXxiUGBRx6
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsrF9pPjahe
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlPCDbOA0h
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMn89wS0rtc
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNO1kcskbe
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGgkTPbwSm
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSIPvrvTMK
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxR2rp9yJZ
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSGUOIkYe9
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOEJd1SP6U
'All?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9OJiTEERHv
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYK60ZuXKj3
'Sorry sire.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwN8aFDb03T
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOtng3387g
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvYoWvtLYR
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOMHR3OSnQ
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8McowpAnM
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed6xQF6Fz2
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVX2DsZ7RxU
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L1KbrRLLk
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPfIXvrbgI
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd48JohJ0z
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡop2oHrXbzP
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWs5pfS6ZMq
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Hr758frle
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKMXkeFwSo
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORTnPF0STU
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVlxVFRZYb
'I think there is something at that rock.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57woa5Lbxe
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7zUoCdW3E
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIq7660KGS
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQ3Mgv38c0
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEEfzZ7h2V
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzlD9DRp9aQ
'Freeze!'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwxunQDcsU
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqMD3VNtXz
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeNaRiH7y1H
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jRsJj0dbK
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIZv9YRkSm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMjF8i6ZuB
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNw7Gr78s3
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZTNBc3too
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8Mg3Ve2H6
You cannot become better at Lunge.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7byW1IPjOm
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7L4mBPGGIn
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcKG6Y3Hzz
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHTsvB0PMf
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzcPvdYehzJ
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xzS7Sm4Zo
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoTlpFda9X
'Who are you?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWSaWA2E1X
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRMCn53kGF
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0E2RSeXMgE
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYL1rU1Egg
'Of Southway?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdF6QruFbl
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkmpXqIoSj
'Aye.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljayO6JLss
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdPYGLXpBr
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG09oz4hH0B
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu67dnRQp69
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDhqClnZZN
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFBejVOl7IY
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQuGBhlWWB
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzrbUh9WXn
You have killed a Rogue!362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWDGHMpUXa
You cannot become better at Lunge.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxVYzhOmta7
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxy9Bo9XeQ7
You have gained 35 Experience.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrfSi1rvrX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RDA4N5gAw
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazPr8E9Dt1
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXGxv7VyQ2
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE459vPzeQ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2oZxY5nV7
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cAP4W2oFE
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnW4LyInXUa
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq5BjWrXX0
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6cZp6IxjL
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbYX2edbbI
'What next?'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIRhdojP9X8
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetbydr43Pv
'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.'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqz5UiVDRtg
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCf9aNKI5BX
'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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLxGWykWTwG
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1GWB6flYB
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXGK22RvjX
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyGrri3F4J
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFXWaIFrcJ
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWntCIKeXH
'Freeze!'362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxgK19jjEH
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATyw4OYCBc
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡengMv218GW
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCaVnHHyH3f
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!362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDBCdQ90zgG
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2A1UeOloj6
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgKqUi0mvO
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjSJjgaxTU
You have killed a Ciatern!362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QCSwkMVPH
You cannot become better at Lunge.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt9AK8YvTC
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWASt8pm2E
You have gained 75 Experience.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO3OzlkFJ5
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxB3Z6ABbch
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.362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfg4shpvKRk
362Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiMcJjWtQh
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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