'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezFvzCdiow
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuPBE9qivX
'Can you find other quests for me?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJWCD8f1dS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxXVubbANDO
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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQd19gsp2e
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrszWaa2Ix
'Risk?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nXwETgGfj
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJLvUhDxMm
'You could die.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmmK9MmfLC
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDmNia7o5RS
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?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBA2S8VqOf
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkD4drWvlU
'As a vampire?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgJm8g7AAsF
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFALejuJT20
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMZJ74k9P3
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsyFoX6wOU
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZma9RrZwT
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nksYdGH1I
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVcYPAvtwO
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeQiXlMVuX
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GgJAK3iRo
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6wGSsDHEH
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5hJiKQsJiq
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5vswGXtpU
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZPhzkePCDg
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZSJEkDLmM
'True.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrsI4WSTCA
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBqFc6Rald
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYJrcGUzf4
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHCytJSsDd
'Sire?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DmRKi2Q9o
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEfkOK2aeM
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdG4lHyIc4u
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYtvT3DnLI
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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9IXDDT0U6
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViX23wfDDe
'Not too likely to kill me?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyzuacUaOP
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkxsWBOk09
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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NMm3AJ8sw
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPfTzrqVg2
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4oYZqUnC2r
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOhdbhiRMa
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRdgfqqlzP
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ks0UcI0D4
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQF6KhJXKo
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1A6CiHZ5q
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA3mVgtXyXR
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYlTFqA8yz
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztLHAKradk
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJF32IurdG
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtyEQqhrT5
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCVgPULyCoZ
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Jhl9kMaM
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQADNkhgzxd
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mElD50eHa
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4MRvdLQAn
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZC96MkLwBF
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLOGiFUz3x
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlcZi2w3Co
Church level 1476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn5GP5f4sp
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpD0tNVPRc
Priest: Cleric level 1476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nT4gTALa7
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUFfGwkqcO
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNPhtLFFOy
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPjbIYVnpR
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbnUquQMps
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTv2Dsqh2pm
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRpPMQDCg2
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxK1vuc0dmS
'Sire?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMJ1JEMDmxO
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPw4aliHZrC
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa26wul8ZfP
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhkbhgxoYM
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6nSsqLecK
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLyvYAneVpl
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvFlnzLz3fQ
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfbKzVPiEJ
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvg4mZFIl0V
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto8MFBedt1
'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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUVNXg2bNS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUmbIXh4tYl
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEfKuNGPNx
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKRC2KJr33
'What are you building now?' she asked.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxEEvBY4OPm
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYOORFkfLE
'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?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TBDNBJgQ3
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JThyy4MHw
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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NoNZkbZQW
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1cw2MJw5o3
'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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jHWVYtsk9
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFBEDjJP05
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnSuXxQssv
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTUpYz8ffvs
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66XlTJaS0U
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxmQzP2728
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIFinq5LJH
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrh7sGP2x0
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUbbwUDQ9T
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUa02dpp6V
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK5IoobPXm
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDEu9yXaDY
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfTGxmgXWD
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22Ez2ARtI6
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVoXdlbDQS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANnMOhHGBq
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSjU5MalKo
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5ksDmZ4er
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHSnI4fwA0
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuseDrbf5s
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzEZVbxbfiZ
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKJm4BOXVA
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNz3CcBR0O
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU40uYk6I7Q
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDsgw3p4Fp
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuiRrpeQJt
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7zZ1dCmis
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzorSLKXI7E
'Here!'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQ39MVFrKm
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaKoqxpxLx
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0RCglQlrl
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3QysQ3XKE
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kahwvXrXC
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRM7ycmRMz8
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAl8QlhvbCA
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTYmvptnZE
Bad news.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rtY7RhKmN
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemQ2LmuRv7
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxOe7c0fvj
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtYG2ADXeX
'Freeze!'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs9RuAX5tV
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCgs2kgQtY
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VuJzbrQKh
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuj7pEw1Uv
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtX66RiI8l
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLr1WzoU9Za
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHkHOApKvf
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmQevslS9W
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo6GBqGGo3
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBgZLd0DlB
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwdC4GwqUr
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYyzW4gLvF
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitkCsb9Og6
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAWyKQ8JQh
That was progress at least.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ohru7qpje
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIVSRHn71B
My next shot went wide and high.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQU8Gr3kqm
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡld08b7va3G
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgnbrSImXva
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVptt4ptIY
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDV12yJSH07
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV7EjDswFf
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrV07NKOHm3
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6lIYyLzjO
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKleWx4iA3
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRN2bUzs0vX
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4m5M3Il09
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5Q7covxvb
A heal landed.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbrEAip0IK
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgScuThDyFt
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIEQspxEGx8
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdwK1r6ZhM
'Last chance,' said Carlena.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4T5bk4a3G
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWvXTIYEM7
I missed.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjxeD2lBNr2
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05C378ZqVU
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgF5iltx6tN
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFHj4jHiQA
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEYPGoEd6X
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU9eZkxcB7
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAUCaFrHUV
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUEDhkKmnc
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0RaAMDnmS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwLS0A3r3CT
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkDFN43w0t
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH5oUjQpiD
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpU4jaCxm0
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqooMlSIDIL
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVMNpZvXrK
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOFbcVmHnr
'All?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDox8xH9l7C
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIDUQ25UCOF
'Sorry sire.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU6XHSoCM8
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHyDrZereQ
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KMwPNeZaB
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOA2VOqu55
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4PiAf4NHS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMz9KneRlof
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dKnnS4NZj
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsndZxvCxMD
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWKOVeidKI
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZWbRSiMck
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpS05ukaOx
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY8sFHNydY
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlqOoHJEVX
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUqACBbPMD
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot7YVqH8ng
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcCgRG3Wuw
'I think there is something at that rock.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RMI3Viec8
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1HBzwl0xy
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82aSFbsHL2
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOxtZRSMJx
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhRO8ztujJ
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HMuuRUMdh
'Freeze!'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mQir0e2GO
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSsmw7ht0L
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSp39kCMv9r
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKTPzIJvUq
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVlhcB4uVuf
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KI13qTRZN
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZq6FsBSgn
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8SlVVFQilA
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1S83bATBz
You cannot become better at Lunge.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkhj5D7wzs
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPN2Avn88Tr
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeBB5JKPg80
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFllJ3wImgA
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhpjxDpbnE
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnV2gmDV5eg
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4YkDvdXji
'Who are you?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfwmK2lD3S
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIm8J7GTx0c
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSpjH6yS74
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDrbxKjaIw
'Of Southway?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRaZqDKOWP
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT82vBeEZXh
'Aye.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS316CsLSTR
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPghpMpiTmL
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefVgED2dpo
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUwyN5p069e
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxfdM0IDDL
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBI9cjPwv2
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTqG2tj2f5
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9HvSV7lDp
You have killed a Rogue!476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1i9WlLkT8v
You cannot become better at Lunge.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgfdk9KaIf
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1mtn5Vl1E
You have gained 35 Experience.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFty7Vav75
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sTKPqnhNp
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWcMbmTsex
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvBoanfnSk
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvCSPt25h9
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQfcusuj4J
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSjDNfmxIoU
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtefXlb4MHg
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpP26AbMMw
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnQ9eNdWOV
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYRWgWE6rY
'What next?'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFAvVyjpBJ
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnl8SvSeZy
'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.'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuCZgDygcE
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexGBompGvL
'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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6e3IWFvBD
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLGbY6mMLY
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwTowJejQS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3pPyrhwNn
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavtPrhaVgS
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEEvddFh0c
'Freeze!'476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPlKQPO4k1R
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuPn1BAZzP
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjb25DqvEgi
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6T8hEW1ar
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!476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIFc2Nf0ur
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDChQC4zHmJ
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqV2sjoC87
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipOnDfQwhs
You have killed a Ciatern!476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoPww5qdrh7
You cannot become better at Lunge.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrzdSLLo6jS
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9pP5sxl5C
You have gained 75 Experience.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4DQvoCKMn
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡao9ZbjNnLq
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.476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ezRZgjWhN
476Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1dC23DznZ
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.
and then Add to home screen.