'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAxLh9FD2fBV
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'Can you find other quests for me?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAmcPtb0Er25
473Please respect copyright.PENANAyQNOWx7VCS
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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAQtTYk4GcBP
473Please respect copyright.PENANALkyY2siP37
'Risk?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAigUXY9pSl5
473Please respect copyright.PENANAjIX0YmFGQf
'You could die.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAqSXjaDMzkM
473Please respect copyright.PENANADMUIdXZIZY
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?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAe0lYaqnLCU
473Please respect copyright.PENANAw4klXeGi1P
'As a vampire?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAzUBojsCe4a
473Please respect copyright.PENANAR4VYJOaBB0
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAsq50SqHY8R
473Please respect copyright.PENANAMkYf8VEoOB
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAEvfAdnriPF
473Please respect copyright.PENANATk8GIumAMc
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAIIt1dP1Wnu
473Please respect copyright.PENANADLKCoJafYz
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjGf4fO01IC
473Please respect copyright.PENANAcGGNx32sEF
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAGJcMWzWnpw
473Please respect copyright.PENANAlKf7TggiNg
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAquTCAhIJSA
473Please respect copyright.PENANAmBpqIKr0B1
'True.'473Please respect copyright.PENANA6XUlHiPyhk
473Please respect copyright.PENANAyDqvTLhjJB
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANABXOtwPbDDm
473Please respect copyright.PENANAvAeAGXQWlR
'Sire?'473Please respect copyright.PENANARK4DyW5e7w
473Please respect copyright.PENANAMmVYVSe29e
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'473Please respect copyright.PENANALrUz6QVPQI
473Please respect copyright.PENANAfYbHtFdN8G
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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAaK83fVfLd6
473Please respect copyright.PENANAkCKjfDX46G
'Not too likely to kill me?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAzQX5dRsGFu
473Please respect copyright.PENANAyMLuEx8Vpw
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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAuaMdFbxfOs
473Please respect copyright.PENANAskD4FTcMor
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAnghEW2RXEx
473Please respect copyright.PENANACZNiryc6DR
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.473Please respect copyright.PENANAL6g6JNUQWp
473Please respect copyright.PENANA0NTdfaMxbe
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAum6Dj3Pdd4
473Please respect copyright.PENANAVuY5qmcvqT
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAgBViCcLMar
473Please respect copyright.PENANA3wQqYVZ86E
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAjqwx9WDLxz
473Please respect copyright.PENANAQfmZEjDxis
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA6FA7l56R4g
473Please respect copyright.PENANAusJzfuwDnE
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjdrVezjfMT
473Please respect copyright.PENANAHAWUdOMxPZ
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA3Qx6sfeiVC
473Please respect copyright.PENANA8GyrKYcsO4
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.473Please respect copyright.PENANAbzrlGHdurZ
473Please respect copyright.PENANAUILU3sH7D7
473Please respect copyright.PENANAG8H7xi4YM7
Church level 1473Please respect copyright.PENANAOVyJBWVqYu
473Please respect copyright.PENANAeVCufS1Gs6
Priest: Cleric level 1473Please respect copyright.PENANAdgta08aMQ9
473Please respect copyright.PENANAWLBG5jhKT9
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.473Please respect copyright.PENANAQAwES9Y4dP
473Please respect copyright.PENANAwZoaHOePNW
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAzCC2q8EhTI
473Please respect copyright.PENANAr6zbRsuCQm
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANArp0ACp3GRB
473Please respect copyright.PENANAQqPZhGHLEV
'Sire?'473Please respect copyright.PENANADOCsZldNaR
473Please respect copyright.PENANAsgVhXW7wvV
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAd1L94nrWKX
473Please respect copyright.PENANA6e5zQYvm1K
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.473Please respect copyright.PENANAmxvJFN6xJ2
473Please respect copyright.PENANAqTkNeRhDFe
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANArwKPLGjI8C
473Please respect copyright.PENANAw4ICnwILKb
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAeoU9YYU4n2
473Please respect copyright.PENANA3ZWNXhPe7O
'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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAAXngFjUvJB
473Please respect copyright.PENANAK3YVrfie8x
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAqyegaqeHA0
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'What are you building now?' she asked.473Please respect copyright.PENANAROTjjtpVcY
473Please respect copyright.PENANAV9uvm9K9bY
'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?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAQ9TCpGy5PW
473Please respect copyright.PENANAFyjyqnnNfS
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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAuTW1N419eQ
473Please respect copyright.PENANAyxqjjydLLo
'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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANA1Iz8FXDdmd
473Please respect copyright.PENANAFyVN8OmI5s
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAi1DYDdc1UT
473Please respect copyright.PENANAl1zndIKQnd
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA4zk8NCwyWv
473Please respect copyright.PENANAMxrfO2Vpiz
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAsJPYb6vYWx
473Please respect copyright.PENANAs8FcFOB5T8
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAklUOi7whke
473Please respect copyright.PENANArh2GvfSDnA
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAwD2c6bLzdj
473Please respect copyright.PENANAaIXNjjovkM
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANADTueEylnMb
473Please respect copyright.PENANAjIsK26LeMF
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAWvmr3rKOyt
473Please respect copyright.PENANAIgc0ueL8Ed
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAxrZSoCm8QI
473Please respect copyright.PENANAFw9NjrxmQO
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.473Please respect copyright.PENANAoF7IUB8uvK
473Please respect copyright.PENANAe3CasvIrhD
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAudZEoMWFAr
473Please respect copyright.PENANAyqN6l3TjVB
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAwmxKQhOuNa
473Please respect copyright.PENANAXXA0D3zyk9
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA0ptPdMNdnY
473Please respect copyright.PENANAfYG2x8BbIN
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANASopZn2gMUH
473Please respect copyright.PENANAhqqb5XAK5f
'Here!'473Please respect copyright.PENANAFDsrmK9wqP
473Please respect copyright.PENANALFmUj9KYhy
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAsNazLPHhWl
473Please respect copyright.PENANAAdUgIWLnGe
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAhj5vEYqZ1U
473Please respect copyright.PENANAeHGK0vw9dF
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAy45c4mLWmf
473Please respect copyright.PENANATDjIsP1y4Q
Bad news.473Please respect copyright.PENANAnjIdh1EoNg
473Please respect copyright.PENANAnnFpuEfagy
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!473Please respect copyright.PENANAUyGY7bS3sz
473Please respect copyright.PENANAXWXgKArsiv
'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.PENANAvMmuCrxem0
473Please respect copyright.PENANAPjiMcsjsPn
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAEWE9eNCGDi
473Please respect copyright.PENANAGfRsiOeXfm
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.473Please respect copyright.PENANApgB8bILhZY
473Please respect copyright.PENANAB7rfnGTTKo
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAExlYyilZlR
473Please respect copyright.PENANAfc3cGtBmHn
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.473Please respect copyright.PENANAQrBsQWt5M2
473Please respect copyright.PENANAbNbu5rgLKv
473Please respect copyright.PENANAUP93iyWmIo
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency473Please respect copyright.PENANAIvwFRoYnYl
473Please respect copyright.PENANA9Z1VZwLV93
473Please respect copyright.PENANANbNKjgytAf
That was progress at least.473Please respect copyright.PENANA3QITZuqFXT
473Please respect copyright.PENANAIMURLvQFs0
My next shot went wide and high.473Please respect copyright.PENANALD0ItzOdKq
473Please respect copyright.PENANAOAR4kyXhqV
473Please respect copyright.PENANAV1NFrGzLew
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1473Please respect copyright.PENANATjfS4DqPnn
473Please respect copyright.PENANAvRM1FVZyAc
473Please respect copyright.PENANAnzRGxdLq2W
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAGGgByGEU07
473Please respect copyright.PENANAkmCe9O7eFI
473Please respect copyright.PENANAOGSFxusQMh
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2473Please respect copyright.PENANAk4Z39FDxYk
473Please respect copyright.PENANAqqrQ99i0KE
473Please respect copyright.PENANA1vCLMaGeGk
A heal landed.473Please respect copyright.PENANAjBAoaPC7TY
473Please respect copyright.PENANAc1JorkRg6E
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.473Please respect copyright.PENANAZsFY7s9RD8
473Please respect copyright.PENANA4pVn6oYFUd
'Last chance,' said Carlena.473Please respect copyright.PENANA4b4CtRNJ36
473Please respect copyright.PENANA3zOfsiU4Fe
I missed.473Please respect copyright.PENANAb9fNMu5E7r
473Please respect copyright.PENANApTQ9JQK23q
473Please respect copyright.PENANAQvk7PypnoZ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3473Please respect copyright.PENANAKZa63IFT73
473Please respect copyright.PENANASD7Ppf11M8
473Please respect copyright.PENANAT4gecA8lrL
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANABMMMukYsW4
473Please respect copyright.PENANATq2wEU9rAh
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.473Please respect copyright.PENANAc1h5QMswea
473Please respect copyright.PENANAGOoKqUFCHi
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAMc5GngWaRI
473Please respect copyright.PENANAzDOEqAg4mh
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'473Please respect copyright.PENANA8hOFIPJ3UB
473Please respect copyright.PENANA33j3QtfFjj
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.473Please respect copyright.PENANAwjVDe0H2Wv
473Please respect copyright.PENANA3n9L2ryGSS
'All?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAuK6VZkLYny
473Please respect copyright.PENANAX8PKAYc9w0
'Sorry sire.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAXplET3g46h
473Please respect copyright.PENANAj21ULQO7SH
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAoAkf53UhrE
473Please respect copyright.PENANANaYDjcwO71
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAe3TzzHJUEc
473Please respect copyright.PENANAPTfh3cstPp
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA1rxPcwyzn9
473Please respect copyright.PENANAO7uCXIAZQy
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA0wvBNbI4vt
473Please respect copyright.PENANA8h2fh67lLQ
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAsqpPUaRdr2
473Please respect copyright.PENANAu72zN8uw6Q
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'473Please respect copyright.PENANAkrXGk3fgkY
473Please respect copyright.PENANA2RfJd7bJdV
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.473Please respect copyright.PENANA6C5wDAKRTU
473Please respect copyright.PENANAgMlXTHTFXg
'I think there is something at that rock.'473Please respect copyright.PENANApWUnxAfVIK
473Please respect copyright.PENANAJ5BlokX8BR
'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAedVxXJRiyo
473Please respect copyright.PENANAoIm8xudZpN
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.473Please respect copyright.PENANAFV7kVXj1jQ
473Please respect copyright.PENANAjmukgJpr2B
'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.PENANAtLhDnnbvhf
473Please respect copyright.PENANAS9ueQGEuld
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAGVLWWbmcqy
473Please respect copyright.PENANA19INTMJH11
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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA7aaoR8n92D
473Please respect copyright.PENANAwMJ4TjmcF5
473Please respect copyright.PENANAT0j6WbQQZG
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.473Please respect copyright.PENANABwE0xsb62l
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.473Please respect copyright.PENANAgoltEa8c76
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.PENANAp2YYBmOUNF
473Please respect copyright.PENANAaqLNcZAwO0
473Please respect copyright.PENANAV3REoDtUF2
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.473Please respect copyright.PENANAJBRAves0wg
473Please respect copyright.PENANAPLd5zQcirr
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.473Please respect copyright.PENANAXUwq87psis
473Please respect copyright.PENANAIBycl85kKe
'Who are you?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAbJiEEs2Fmn
473Please respect copyright.PENANA0cRKrynJLo
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'473Please respect copyright.PENANA5i3RvsJWaH
473Please respect copyright.PENANAfBtZ0eZlQZ
'Of Southway?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAGz4dc4GVUb
473Please respect copyright.PENANAIqqWGyL7h0
'Aye.'473Please respect copyright.PENANASyHWjJjw6T
473Please respect copyright.PENANAMbEiXrSs89
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAuLrLXtujQX
473Please respect copyright.PENANAox67IK4YQS
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.473Please respect copyright.PENANAU6Bt4qiYAy
473Please respect copyright.PENANA3acmVipBfa
473Please respect copyright.PENANAGrR85xL6Zn
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.473Please respect copyright.PENANAxCvRsEen1m
You have killed a Rogue!473Please respect copyright.PENANA442gPzCh6Q
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.PENANA9x4zBy994P
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1473Please respect copyright.PENANAFXZpjskIXH
You have gained 35 Experience.473Please respect copyright.PENANATphrT3svhp
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Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.473Please respect copyright.PENANAZEEj3zTfay
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'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.473Please respect copyright.PENANAXMtfyDDocu
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Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAp0t5Bewyu1
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'What next?'473Please respect copyright.PENANAwoMTNLTUmz
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'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.'473Please respect copyright.PENANAhvB9NFR5Ny
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'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.473Please respect copyright.PENANASfcFnpJqAh
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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.473Please respect copyright.PENANASltFmUXdv6
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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.473Please respect copyright.PENANAJ8bgESg4Oq
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'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.PENANAqn7v4Mrcgi
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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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA8XHyoPPs11
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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!473Please respect copyright.PENANAYklYhqEOaj
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You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.473Please respect copyright.PENANAsmcpgzbyVt
You have killed a Ciatern!473Please respect copyright.PENANAe9UWKLKaAD
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.PENANA8XyZMbJG0Q
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5473Please respect copyright.PENANABEdCR1Mt2u
You have gained 75 Experience.473Please respect copyright.PENANAfFqRmA1DRm
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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.473Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZiByBjpID
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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.