'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjHFhuNPFR
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'Can you find other quests for me?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsibxYjdwT
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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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25F6Y7kxXn
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBGc3QZPvp
'Risk?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguQE8SeB9U
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77xoppS1kY
'You could die.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJv9lmaVFs
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ioA0xFrv0
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?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSKO7xdE0J
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvmX08VQwi
'As a vampire?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Et1YpvXW
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2U5AQ2Ohi
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡALxmk3vQig
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jg5LbQLSs
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVtRKeoU6h
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPM6zE3LtL
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHxVQpLD05
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4A0YmkdF7
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡup38G3cGBq
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qhn71QsQa
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLx6MnfmCi
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oKGUHrg1R
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'True.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24jwl6leJ5
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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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzGUWEDvMp
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9yeSaz3NG
'Sire?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiop5H51cO6
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGL8kOlareU
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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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbPAxLAwBN
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'Not too likely to kill me?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCbHGxwTeI
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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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N5q6BvCxP
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOyu6C8ahx
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX00xT7l4qc
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsO9D4jleS
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1JNCSKNys
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGJYGKjsIO
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgkuvE85te
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbcgEpqjTL
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA1Hw0VgHA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEkPOux6nnl
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHkPqDKI9F
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6G7kqgypEH
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ1C8MUrG1g
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2XjwZHKZI
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvwkM9XDB7
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsizzv7gHff
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkecaL78A6
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTmDmsjCTL
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlRSmGjRQd
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Church level 1339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVhbQgFnDo
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Priest: Cleric level 1339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAbLom4hDN
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Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuT0T61xQVO
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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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWaLYWDheg
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqenCnw01C
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0XSFq2SDl2
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'Sire?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPimRhFFACN
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjyonRRLKT
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOGikXbP7p
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M1vU9rV2u
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzeOkiVrjI
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyvNMXdassk
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGmnGrzcai
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWepVhvkqi
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkkxGEPMNw
'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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGaRyWu7Uz
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GVVV8tS0Z
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPzC1q9vwH
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRABNweq6g4
'What are you building now?' she asked.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNa2Il9osv
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'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?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7S0V66G76X
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP2TbVFxdYe
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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuOskHoGAD
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasLhauMU1U
'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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5Yuxu3pfe
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvZUFiZQhM
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIUzvyGZoK
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWjte4VwHb
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HaOY97XoU
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLH2ChyIQKj
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3fEBe6Jq0
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3veLiShWb
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNBCuNXK85
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwmzOvgZFQ
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8jbetLEC9
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgOVlAylyb
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApZDKwXR89
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64o2HWDtZE
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO0HOVEM3n
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBEg0a5JyC
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0BnFbqCjrU
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pYq7bVZRd
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiX4EjwKEWr
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqFibZVjLi
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGlb0Bak9Um
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMg30wQHAKw
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEKkVeNTg7b
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa6GheIlcdX
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGO3OlYnAy
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4S7qWRkxK
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREMTIJs8dF
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEluKQ76a0R
'Here!'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWZ2YbXaFG
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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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3RJ7AABhz
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNk2adeU9J
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtEbElL60tW
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD685HBRS2
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ktE0PqY4r
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Bad news.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C3p3VHbY2
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRsLPYRWMC
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'Freeze!'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzUOu112gB
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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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqK09GEziDv
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXYmJsesZa
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlMGqJViGxZ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU21nmVeI9G
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJxK840joQ
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Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Vtj1hB4l6
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbksTRk79wO
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzxgCCMqUK
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPjx4dTSII
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That was progress at least.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUCoRFtsHY
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My next shot went wide and high.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadoTAODuW1
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5URW8UYGms
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5arFvb444
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebJVmnxfpt
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339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPWFxGdcSM
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWlkEp1HnF
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33bvPKgIIn
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsQnWGjuOi
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGXh5Zqcav
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A heal landed.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jUDExbXEl
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuekXLWsP4
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1JlNYcIXG
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I missed.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCDSzHnN6C
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAp2OUCwbK
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡci1wY0biHI
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXraOYSqtD
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcSpeR9zQ86
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAi6vQQRkU
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡENgkrQsBB1
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAN8U8liVCR
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnonA8biug
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQNIanFdqb
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6lOuYKoqH
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnY8ru6yk9W
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiccpmGyoLm
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P21e7I1ks
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCdY7LH3lJB
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyttNi5ZdXU
'All?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBsIkYAVXyk
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AUHQAz61C
'Sorry sire.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLORRlnymQ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL5Tobc7XNr
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOMRpyF6tZ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XDVrjWE6w
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKqaBpxnIv
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG6FyYX0Vx
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRVkTmTvcl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99PTnQjaum
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOYSTorEiE
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdLxoawJ4a
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfKTA6MIIb
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnP4VDlPVbX
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrsCQg9tlk
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkuQudVQc1O
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKegUcPrHDi
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKOEVkecaK
'I think there is something at that rock.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKNEBO7FXh
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCkZacBEEG
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AJkcoVEtP
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrqMy7y8E3
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUdWr9o4TqA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHt44x7ASp
'Freeze!'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZyAV9wtcu
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhtu8iIiYtA
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6jgpwXdo6
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6TadCz9uQ
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4rK1Cp2I0
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotO7wqvyQn
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFSXsi4grp
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4CFb0qPwR
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUGZhSRPiw
You cannot become better at Lunge.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVysjpMAQl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hpEtg04A1
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqStZkJlTod
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW2S0o4rlU4
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqnbzIBz49
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvsdGlrWfi
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrhM6EpKdK
'Who are you?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewy8RL4K2h
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1pOi8OYkN
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBtpVuGIBl
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsVGCb9TzC1
'Of Southway?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtwBV4q01TI
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxsBDS73f3
'Aye.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0bifdUaty
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5I3kLBkWW
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6GTNJKK97
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyDXvcAVmh
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN9QXqcZipP
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiI7BEyTZQ8
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WQ4QCKgGf
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG84jdHfVK1
You have killed a Rogue!339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9TaSFa0A3X
You cannot become better at Lunge.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqmImnnmSoa
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡciVJP80NxE
You have gained 35 Experience.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83ThfZOzFr
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMS0OqPjPV
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUE0u1Ibq0
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBszmAevqC
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ947TScXVie
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugCbmGZl1w
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW7BVzXURb
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBpcs2uYjE
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeV0Rh7ZWOP
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGZWLCpvCU
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQHdeKr7jy
'What next?'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOKCCNtoAe
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnJzXDGZ4x
'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.'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmGUPSxFya
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡleAQhQV1da
'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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNzDtm13V0
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡisRucVynFl
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mkL85LxAt
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBlird9gFy
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKW9no6XAA
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOI2KYYfsEW
'Freeze!'339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwdvAluEQG
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Eqbn3zVw4
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGvCsWJSZi4
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfZxE2TNvT
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!339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFTP26gtCM
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fGt29ONFM
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRMd09F4wl
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6leqPvG7T
You have killed a Ciatern!339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1wYmGkzLF
You cannot become better at Lunge.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6VeT8WvBY
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHpfwvZYeY5
You have gained 75 Experience.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTH9cCd4un
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxv9VYHQmt7
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.339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDq7wNEwqZQ
339Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWVPVJUTzD3
This was more like it. I was delighted with myself. Yes, there was still a mountain to climb, but at least I was properly on the path now.
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