'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqe4qMOOVui
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeIiSAYUxz
'Can you find other quests for me?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mKYDQLcCQ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz89BbZ292N
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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAs4frlqZYY
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQvXOpYtyD
'Risk?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K75T0KhGV
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF5rQw8Fwz
'You could die.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWOgKcPIBr4
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYDSBLsQMd
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?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtSy34AknH
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6atTB1nBNs
'As a vampire?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWfCsUyLM8
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNFNdDsQKQ
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmTgThutnZ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPsmFSQuwk
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJrZgeOkCOK
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEi1wvF8gSg
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppoREEJkD3
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RZKIO5KjB
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWU04q1fD2L
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDfK5bWtRB
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUA0x4Kw5jq
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvJbngH6sN
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo9bwlMwCA
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLe4Fr9qYMw
'True.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKbXiHnj7o
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlnOThGwKfP
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpS0WrzkQdv
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLjFRHdElj
'Sire?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu1gk6fP8Qi
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNlyQMzl0sq
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8AE03wjBH
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZpTArFns7
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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcx2mK0tgB
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtvWkroSzs
'Not too likely to kill me?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaEGVmdKvR
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOv1N9hTntN
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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv6kXgFCaMi
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfUsREZjwa
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBuswDQe1rH
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznNOH22Uur
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMMA1gquYt
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPSblnqscs
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9alwyiPg7b
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK1qefeqSo
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2B3ouOmVv
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGDg03jveU
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWMugebemW
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0BdjLe58E
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZI9hW8BFUp
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM2cxdD3SZ
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR438ictTU
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyI7DyfHgVM
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQhKChXIgun
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84ki8EwlaR
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ31SUsVv4Uv
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIT0G9PnA9b
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvMkEuxaEi
Church level 1764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQlnnGDJjW
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWUZiaASxf
Priest: Cleric level 1764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dv1RqZJGZ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfGyRfFkUU
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yX66YCyvP
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZojsZ0bWL
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3ZJu3o5GC
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshHy0LMV6e
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto6Geeibkn
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMun3ADaWm
'Sire?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQblfg8wdgz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9NzmE8Jj7
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SXKtYHih5
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6GWuszJcj
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaR2yUmgBve
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnHvffZeYl
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8dKM0ObP2
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZdAHtx2BGV
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHo7ztlv5B
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELl9zQT08G
'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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8jeH5ihaz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RKwEU79P0
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiiJqagq7b
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9AFLbMkPJZ
'What are you building now?' she asked.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQHsjh2JBi
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacvQ0wdMvh
'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?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa38Xs8Rxz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGdqXezyCb
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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWulmQJf8yB
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkwARhHknzw
'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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4jeoEFlVY
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvVKugtz5iL
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNETi718lQK
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UdttmEgYu
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7CrKiCyyF
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8DEXWUp35
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVXbEFQZye
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡru5HdW615n
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStG23wbp5c
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ7T4Ckj8xM
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayzHSnHVmk
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllYZduRzW1
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgqpb6jGKU
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolJ0p1vLpy
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vnlUOOimx
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYlnSMxlNR
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteylUF2wuU
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvXV5R3eQB
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3a7ULgd1v
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhOtRseR4n
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qjlZZKevx
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWG7wv88wy
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4VmomJ5u2
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTE7ecMYdg
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUNzSvvQP5
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8G4ugwMI2
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TPj1oH8Fh
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IdvpYLIJm
'Here!'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3Uq37FDBN
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO41APumLlq
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rcANo1HPq
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHV7j9i6Ex
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjllPCKE3G
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvUMqKQP9t
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYBGdCToyU
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQVV6azeXV
Bad news.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9BSewb2wn
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7RcIdAfaVI
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7mWOxEQlz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPooPpKDuMq
'Freeze!'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0p2RPa1uYe
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu9KpjJPZA
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4PRZG0dwY
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpP0XOHjJX
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRf8rdHH7e
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mFGy6WCAx
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJC8O6NBd0
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBf8NMOT3e4
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLAaCM6tc20
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hFWrXAXyF
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDj6RBvl73
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQYYkshoeDJ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHr1wFFG5I
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyoBTrwBJyy
That was progress at least.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQTwEynoal
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMuVMkMrNX
My next shot went wide and high.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFE7naBDWE7
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡczpba8VkHX
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0o7y2oa9py
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfYvIyyfZw
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmNCFXzwYy
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKSVfdbTQy
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xOhUw87Cy
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxvwJwcNL9
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcfz7kJPUD
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyrdEzwZeb
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsl3lrlpC3i
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ173zyngurA
A heal landed.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UmBJAX0tf
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHGEU52Hpt
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPba44hyv6
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8irMRCB9lD
'Last chance,' said Carlena.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡermbQ39XFz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNDXCQsEXY
I missed.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHvKy2ppaE
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCoWAvIHff
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WrcsMAlBw
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyiUMFrvgS
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvr39vVdCG
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxc73GsdT8
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡln70Rm1Fwm
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiAZDvcRJM
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg30L97V6O1
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbjRmzBa0d
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZwHFpWlPO
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQhVjuHI1w
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyBKDpHhFr
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTUSKyWBqd
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUq3CCdYOJV
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDzj85ayIp
'All?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtpi0hzh9U
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcgHHP4INAc
'Sorry sire.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsTAdPryBrO
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI65WLZ0qxc
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zITMRB9Ey
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8HcA2anb0
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwO3WPN4bw
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OHyzQqlaM
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUvlvR1Akb
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNljNMBCfF
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSpn2FEN18H
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NKE0X8tuO
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hqCe7GzcO
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1H6IuydBZP
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQssaKODtv
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYFkw9ldtj
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDW80esMbnu
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPdkgtHU1bf
'I think there is something at that rock.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgJWqez0Oq
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpk1GM4vKe
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hKHEg5J5f
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ziJprNhiu
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYw5G7FpxmS
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTO3VJABrEW
'Freeze!'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizaEGRjP4D
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3cksWgCiN
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIRRHrVWIR
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikAL3Gb5no
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJV02y4KFi
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXR68RO7cV
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCRhg4bMsd
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tjizfhHKw
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftMMcjBLC8
You cannot become better at Lunge.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioF1Agg1En
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMK0hpcmcj
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHRMOLN1Cy
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58grn7vCpz
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjbNputZKi
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2k0Fv15zd0
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwrZOCvPsfh
'Who are you?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYc5NZ8Efvl
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZMV8TgHx9
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ64rImIHwNG
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgfmhoGNeD
'Of Southway?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLnLVQr8ZF
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhgmTfyTjZ
'Aye.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3mAMKTwtZ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIio7FF7fOB
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT0mDUegDr
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGEUI6QCic
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRLOLtJkhI
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVzJAdkEYI
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFr5HjXNsMz
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqg9nrT1Ok
You have killed a Rogue!764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYbPQJrMMb
You cannot become better at Lunge.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJNUfmlz5tt
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA5n8n0tKg
You have gained 35 Experience.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzMl682PioE
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyFip35VPT
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgclHosowTq
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSio0D3M7ND
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcBBczoaqWE
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjv1Cscgjei
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1BPWkCF7D
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15zKXC2znA
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVYJGXtg2l
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLqUNREK8E
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAibfpba0pt
'What next?'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSHQbM10UY
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kCKcbF4Eu
'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.'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZ3cI7CSyG
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhBLrfg4xO
'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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1H9tmqel4
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWwV9H18Ju
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllOmxDhyYQ
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2POJhbg8Qs
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd24IkA02p
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeo4eMjQIsU
'Freeze!'764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyDh2cIvSx
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lbe3VwFSK
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡts9UwkGHU1
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12u9eMA354
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!764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5o7Saar7Rg
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXY1WabIqPI
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vww6WjuzX
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JW59muEH8
You have killed a Ciatern!764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzgh5TxRDW
You cannot become better at Lunge.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMrn2N4mCg
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFpfriJh5hC
You have gained 75 Experience.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfmtojsEwS
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCDYl9x4EA
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.764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1WSsN6l4o
764Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5EecDNXp6
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.