'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
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Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.362Please respect copyright.PENANAYXGxv7VyQ2
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'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.362Please respect copyright.PENANAnW4LyInXUa
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Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'362Please respect copyright.PENANAS6cZp6IxjL
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'What next?'362Please respect copyright.PENANAIRhdojP9X8
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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.'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
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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.362Please respect copyright.PENANAKFXWaIFrcJ
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'Freeze!'362Please respect copyright.PENANAsxgK19jjEH
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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.362Please respect copyright.PENANAengMv218GW
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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!362Please respect copyright.PENANADBCdQ90zgG
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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
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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.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.