'What now?' Carlena had caught up with me at the solar of the keep, where I sat glumly on the throne. Once again, she had ushered all the servants out before speaking to me. Her face, usually pale and thoughtful, was flushed.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLh9FD2fBV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxleFb43ow
'Can you find other quests for me?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcPtb0Er25
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQNOWx7VCS
The Sorceress shook her head, silver hair swinging to emphasise the negative response. 'I no longer think questing is wise. I… we can't risk further aggravating the people. Already, they hate you. If they also thought you were not the legitimate king, that would be extremely dangerous. It seems that Carlos did all the introductory quests. If you were able to repeat them, well, the people aren't stupid.' After a moment she sighed. 'We are going to have to risk battle.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQtTYk4GcBP
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkyY2siP37
'Risk?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigUXY9pSl5
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIX0YmFGQf
'You could die.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSXjaDMzkM
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMUIdXZIZY
Neither of us spoke. For my part, I was thinking back to my gaming experience. Obviously, when it wasn't real, I'd taken risks and died many times as a result. No biggie. Here, it seemed, the PCs didn't respawn. First of all I confirmed that. 'No one returns after death?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0lYaqnLCU
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4klXeGi1P
'As a vampire?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUBojsCe4a
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4VYJOaBB0
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq50SqHY8R
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMkYf8VEoOB
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvfAdnriPF
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTk8GIumAMc
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIt1dP1Wnu
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDLKCoJafYz
'I don't have the Polymorph spell; there's my Potion of Transformation which would last for eight minutes.' There was a reluctance in her answer.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGf4fO01IC
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGGNx32sEF
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJcMWzWnpw
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKf7TggiNg
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquTCAhIJSA
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBpqIKr0B1
'True.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XUlHiPyhk
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDqvTLhjJB
Her comment about the potion reminded me of the other magic items that were in possession of the PCs of the kingdom. I checked under the town menu, people sub-menu and looked at the items again. Lord Arval had Shield of Defence +1; Trueblade +2; and Ring of Strength +1 which could all be of use. His Potion of Haste sounded good too, but that clearly had to be saved for war. Chancellor Parrin owned a Dagger +1; leather jerkin +1; Ring of Silent Movement. Nice too. Unfortunately, both were away just now or I would have borrowed those items.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXOtwPbDDm
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAeAGXQWlR
'Sire?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK4DyW5e7w
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmVYVSe29e
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrUz6QVPQI
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYbHtFdN8G
I suggest we obtain the services of the Cleric at the Church of Miya, for healing, and then the three of us go towards Mount Djace. There are monsters and dangerous wild animals for you to fight there, not too far from the city walls.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaK83fVfLd6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCKjfDX46G
'Not too likely to kill me?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQX5dRsGFu
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMLuEx8Vpw
There was no trace of a smile on Carlena's face. 'I don't think so. I have Freeze as one of my spells and if necessary, will destroy any challenge too hard for you with Fire Darts.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaMdFbxfOs
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡskD4FTcMor
'Right so.' I felt more cheerful. If Carlena and the Cleric could power level me for the rest of this afternoon, then with the borrowed magic items I could hope to steam along later in the week.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnghEW2RXEx
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZNiryc6DR
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6g6JNUQWp
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NTdfaMxbe
There were no pieces of armour that could fit me. And in any case, I needed to travel light. This body wouldn't go more than a couple of miles without being exhausted. I selected a simple rapier, mainly for its sharp point, and a light wooden shield. Then, at the last moment I had an inspiration. If Carlena could freeze mobs, I needed missile weapons. So I took a bow and a quiver of arrows.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡum6Dj3Pdd4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuY5qmcvqT
Carlena equipped for action was quite a different woman to the one I'd seen around the town. Gone was the long hair for a start, it was gathered at the back of her head and tied up very tightly, with a blue headband to keep stray hairs from her eyes. Instead of the robes that had earlier swayed around her with a certain aristocratic grace, she now wore high leather boots, leggings and a sand-coloured waistcoat over a dark brown blouse. Two bandoliers of small purses criss-crossed her chest and back, while another belt at her waist also had several pouches. In addition had a backpack that seemed half full.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBViCcLMar
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wQqYVZ86E
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqwx9WDLxz
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfmZEjDxis
Already feeling encumbered – not in the sense of any game penalty, just with the clutter of my gear – I felt even more so when we finally left the keep, having ordered servants to bring me an empty backpack and a large skin of water.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6FA7l56R4g
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusJzfuwDnE
There was no need for Carlena to discreetly guide me to the church, a tall wooden spire acted as my route marker. As we walked, I checked the timers on all my projects, so that I could react promptly as soon as they were complete. Figus was out on a trade negotiation, time to complete unknown. Chancellor Parrin, similarly, was scouting with an unknown completion time. There were four hours to go until the smithy used up the iron I'd assigned this morning, at which point I would have twenty-four more steel pickaxes for the miners. Three days and six hours remained on my Shipbuilding 1 research countdown; exactly one day on the hunting lodge 3; and, from the military menu, just over two days for tower machicolations. As far as planning the kingdom went, I just had to allocate the new pickaxes when they were ready and I was good until the morning, when I would have at least 3 – hopefully 4 – iron ingots to assign.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdrVezjfMT
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHAWUdOMxPZ
Although the spire of the church stood out above the low roofs of the shops and houses of the town, the building itself was a simple wooden hexagon shape. It was more roof than room. Each of the six sides had a window that was simply a circular hole in the wall. Since we were experiencing a mild, if dull, day (late summer perhaps?) it wasn't uncomfortable, but surely winter assemblies here would be cold? The décor consisted of carvings in the wooden walls, some of them quite impressive interlacing. If there was a message, it was probably about fertility, given all the flowers and plants that were depicted.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Qx6sfeiVC
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GyrKYcsO4
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzrlGHdurZ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUILU3sH7D7
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8H7xi4YM7
Church level 1473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVyJBWVqYu
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeVCufS1Gs6
Priest: Cleric level 1473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgta08aMQ9
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLBG5jhKT9
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAwES9Y4dP
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZoaHOePNW
Well, that was interesting. It made me ambitious to have a high level church building, one that could heal a full range of injuries and improve the town's Happiness considerably. But then, probably every building had its uses. I needed to read up on them all.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCC2q8EhTI
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6zbRsuCQm
The Cleric was a female, her dress a simple tunic, but with a wreath of vine holding back her hair from a plain and nervous-looking face.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrp0ACp3GRB
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqPZhGHLEV
'Sire?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOCsZldNaR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgVhXW7wvV
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1L94nrWKX
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e5zQYvm1K
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxvJFN6xJ2
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTkNeRhDFe
I took a seat. The bench was too narrow for my body, but at least it faced directly into the wide space in the centre of the church and I could stretch my legs out and keep my balance. While we waited for the Cleric to put her fighting gear on, I asked Carlena about how magic worked. The short version was that spell casters had a mana bar that depleted according to the level of the spell they cast. It sounded familiar enough, although as she talked I got the impression that mana came back so slowly that she rarely cast more than four spells a day, which was stricter than most games I was used to.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwKPLGjI8C
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4ICnwILKb
With every level up, Carlena gained the capacity to cast a new spell and a new spell for her spell book. You assigned a spell from the book to a place on what was effectively a UI (she said a set of runes appeared at the edge of her vision) and in theory, you had to make a choice each morning as to which spells to acquire for your UI. In Carlena's case there was no choice because she had only nine spells for her nine slots.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeoU9YYU4n2
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZWNXhPe7O
'I believe it is possible for you to research many more spells for me. Also for me to find scrolls and other spell books from expeditions and quests. Carlos never told me he could do it; he didn't trust me enough.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXngFjUvJB
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3YVrfie8x
'Let me see if spells are in the town research menu.' There was indeed a sub-menu for spells: it seemed that you researched a spell by level and class and got a random result. This menu, however, was all greyed out and would only be available when Carrick had a scriptorium. I told her so.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqyegaqeHA0
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qB4V3vJhq
'What are you building now?' she asked.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROTjjtpVcY
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9uvm9K9bY
'Hunting lodge three. Which is only a two-day build, whereas a scriptorium level one would take three days. What's the logic here, do you know? What makes some buildings longer than others?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9TCpGy5PW
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyjyqnnNfS
Although it was obvious that Carlena didn't have a ready answer, she seemed reluctant to admit it and after a moment said, 'materials, importance, lots of factors. A scriptorium, even level one, could lift us into the first rank of kingdoms. Magic is key to winning battles. If you discovered Fireball for me, for example, that would make all the difference.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTW1N419eQ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyxqjjydLLo
'I don't know. If the people are starving, that's us defeated before we even get to battle. I have to solve that first.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Iz8FXDdmd
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyVN8OmI5s
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1DYDdc1UT
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1zndIKQnd
Something about her tone made me look carefully at the sorceress. What could I see in her face and those extraordinary indigo eyes? Determination, authority and… ambition perhaps. Given that she needed me to access the menus for the realm, I had nothing to fear from her, did I? This was, however, a new universe, I reminded myself and I should take nothing for granted.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zk8NCwyWv
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxrfO2Vpiz
At last our Cleric returned, looking completely different. Now she was wearing a chainmail suit of armour that included a coif, so she was glittering iron from head to toe. In one hand was a fierce-looking mace, in the other a shield and there was a pack on her back.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJPYb6vYWx
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8FcFOB5T8
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklUOi7whke
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrh2GvfSDnA
Walking out of the west gate of the castle, the journey was a dull and tiring affair. I could no longer talk candidly to Carlena and learn more about the rules of the world; we had to stay in character. While I could call down menus, I was self-conscious about that too, given it involved arm gestures. Perhaps, though the Cleric was used to the king waving in the air.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwD2c6bLzdj
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIXNjjovkM
About an hour into the journey, I began to falter. My thighs were sore from chaffing against each other and my shoulders ached from carrying the sword and the shield. It helped that Carlena had ordered the Cleric to carry my bow and quiver.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTueEylnMb
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIsK26LeMF
I was curious about the Cleric; what manner of person was she? What was her name even? But quite apart from the fact I needed every breath for the walk, I didn't ask. It wouldn't be true to the old King Carlos.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWvmr3rKOyt
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgc0ueL8Ed
After what felt like ten miles, but was probably only two, we were on gorse-covered, sloping ground that led up to a skyline of rounded hills. Nearby, a lively-sounding stream ran through the gorse and wild grass.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrZSoCm8QI
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw9NjrxmQO
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoF7IUB8uvK
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3CasvIrhD
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudZEoMWFAr
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqN6l3TjVB
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmxKQhOuNa
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXXA0D3zyk9
After a couple of minutes I stood up. 'Right so.' I took my bow from the cleric and put it on the ground at my feet, the quiver of arrows alongside it. Then I gripped my rapier in my left hand and hefted my shield in the right.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ptPdMNdnY
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfYG2x8BbIN
Just behind me was the Cleric, a glance showed her looking determined: in her right hand was her mace but her left was touching a circle of bronze that rested on her chest, hanging from a necklace. I gave her a nod, which I hoped was encouraging, but she just looked away fearfully.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSopZn2gMUH
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqqb5XAK5f
'Here!'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDsrmK9wqP
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFmUj9KYhy
Carlena was hurrying back towards me, with a brown creature chasing her that looked somewhat like a small ostrich or a baby tyrannosaurus. It was sprinting on two legs in an impressively fast waddle, its head swaying on a thin neck with the weight of a sharp-looking beak. It was feathered, but unlike an ostrich had two small arms with claws.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNazLPHhWl
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdUgIWLnGe
Feet thumping on the path, Carlena swept past me and I launched into the monster. Or at least I tried. Instead of being able to adjust my feet and bring my rapier point between me and the creature, I stumbled slightly and the creature was inside my reach, landing a vicious whack onto my ribs on the left hand side with that chisel-like beak. The stone-hard bone tore through my tunic and when the beak pulled back, blood should have sprayed everywhere.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj5vEYqZ1U
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHGK0vw9dF
Good news. The pain was mild, nothing like that of a real wound. And there was no blood, no exposed ribs, only a patch of red.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy45c4mLWmf
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDjIsP1y4Q
Bad news.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjIdh1EoNg
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnFpuEfagy
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUyGY7bS3sz
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWXgKArsiv
'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMmuCrxem0
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjiMcsjsPn
I staggered back, just before the monster lashed into me again. With a screech of outrage, the Ciatern – as I'd just learned it was called – strained its utmost to finish me off but trashed impotently with its two feet fastened to the ground.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWE9eNCGDi
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGfRsiOeXfm
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgB8bILhZY
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7rfnGTTKo
Shaking lose my shield and dropping the rapier, I gathered up the bow and grabbed an arrow, only to pull it back too far and somehow get the point jammed into the frame of the bow. My low Dexterity was really punishing me. From behind came the reassuring sounds of the cleric chanting.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExlYyilZlR
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfc3cGtBmHn
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrBsQWt5M2
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNbu5rgLKv
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP93iyWmIo
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIvwFRoYnYl
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z1VZwLV93
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbNKjgytAf
That was progress at least.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QITZuqFXT
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMURLvQFs0
My next shot went wide and high.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD0ItzOdKq
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOAR4kyXhqV
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV1NFrGzLew
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjfS4DqPnn
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRM1FVZyAc
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnzRGxdLq2W
For the third shot I really concentrated. I took my time, drew the arrow well, held my breath to steady my aim and fired. Miss again! It'd gotten closer but the arrow flew past to the right.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGGgByGEU07
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkmCe9O7eFI
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGSFxusQMh
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4Z39FDxYk
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqrQ99i0KE
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vCLMaGeGk
A heal landed.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBAoaPC7TY
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1JorkRg6E
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsFY7s9RD8
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pVn6oYFUd
'Last chance,' said Carlena.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4b4CtRNJ36
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zOfsiU4Fe
I missed.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9fNMu5E7r
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTQ9JQK23q
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvk7PypnoZ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZa63IFT73
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSD7Ppf11M8
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4gecA8lrL
The screeching monster broke free and leapt at me again and I had nothing but the bow to interpose between me and that swift-moving, sharp beak.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBMMMukYsW4
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq2wEU9rAh
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1h5QMswea
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOoKqUFCHi
'Not the start we hoped for,' I muttered apologetically. It had been years since I had played a low level tank. I'd forgotten how weak they were.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMc5GngWaRI
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDOEqAg4mh
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hOFIPJ3UB
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33j3QtfFjj
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjVDe0H2Wv
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3n9L2ryGSS
'All?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK6VZkLYny
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX8PKAYc9w0
'Sorry sire.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXplET3g46h
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj21ULQO7SH
Damn me, but this world was harsh. A day's mana on a 5 hit point heal. Admittedly, she was only a first level Cleric, but still.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAkf53UhrE
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNaYDjcwO71
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3TzzHJUEc
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTfh3cstPp
'Oh, did it?' Carlena looked at me with a quizzical expression, but she had a question she didn't voice it, perhaps holding back because of the presence of the Cleric.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rxPcwyzn9
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO7uCXIAZQy
The Cleric went forward off the path and it took me a moment to realise she was looking for my arrows. That was a good idea and picking up my rapier and shield just in case, I went after the one that had gone high.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wvBNbI4vt
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8h2fh67lLQ
There were several large boulders in the landscape and one of them had been close to where the arrow had travelled, so I used it as a landmark. As I was looking at it though, I had a sense that something had moved, some shadow in the wrong place.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqpPUaRdr2
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu72zN8uw6Q
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrXGk3fgkY
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2RfJd7bJdV
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6C5wDAKRTU
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgMlXTHTFXg
'I think there is something at that rock.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWUnxAfVIK
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5BlokX8BR
'Stay here… sire, please. Cleric, you circle to the right.' With that the Sorceress began moving to see around the back of the boulder by walking to my left, keeping her distance. Her hands, I noticed, were picking items out of her pouches. Did spells require components? It looked like it.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡedVxXJRiyo
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIm8xudZpN
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV7kVXj1jQ
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjmukgJpr2B
'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLhDnnbvhf
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9ueQGEuld
I was already running at him, as fast as my heavy body would go, which was a frustratingly slow waddle. Still, I was in a good position this time. Twist and turn as he might, the man's feet were locked on the ground and I could line up my rapier point with his back. As I did so, a green box flickered into existence, then out as the blade moved on.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVLWWbmcqy
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19INTMJH11
By pointing the weapon precisely, I could get the target box to stay and I gave a mental command, go! Lunge! Activate! It wasn't the word, but the intent that seemed to work and suddenly I jerked forward and stabbed hard into the man's spine.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aaoR8n92D
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMJ4TjmcF5
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0j6WbQQZG
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwE0xsb62l
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoltEa8c76
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2YYBmOUNF
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqLNcZAwO0
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV3REoDtUF2
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBRAves0wg
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLd5zQcirr
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUwq87psis
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBycl85kKe
'Who are you?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJiEEs2Fmn
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cRKrynJLo
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i3RvsJWaH
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBtZ0eZlQZ
'Of Southway?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz4dc4GVUb
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqqWGyL7h0
'Aye.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyHWjJjw6T
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbEiXrSs89
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLrLXtujQX
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡox67IK4YQS
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6Bt4qiYAy
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3acmVipBfa
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrR85xL6Zn
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCvRsEen1m
You have killed a Rogue!473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ442gPzCh6Q
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x4zBy994P
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXZpjskIXH
You have gained 35 Experience.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTphrT3svhp
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cm1oMfb8b
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqk9jlKNQCj
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEEj3zTfay
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrM1avF1dr
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo79U8rgY7Q
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphZEeGNUKi
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMtfyDDocu
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEwtZqH9YO
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0t5Bewyu1
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0PrPm3hAt
'What next?'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoMTNLTUmz
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs126UpLnFV
'I have one more Freeze left and it seems that you have a useful attack with your sword. If I freeze something, you can get behind it and deal your damage that way, rather than try to use the bow.'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvB9NFR5Ny
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliz9vkevyB
'I agree.' And I did feel confident about this strategy. It was only a shame that Carlena was so short of mana, because I reckoned we'd now discovered a way I could grinding up several levels: Freeze and me Lunge from behind.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfcFnpJqAh
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaCiAAFyNh
The Sorceress stooped by the body of the Rogue and came up with the dagger in her hand, then tossed it and caught it. 'This will do to attract attention.' With that she moved slowly through the heather, but again, it was me who saw a movement. A possible target, another Ciatern. I gave a low whistle and pointed.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSltFmUXdv6
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcyUD2iztMK
Without responding, Carlena walked towards the monster until she was about twenty yards away. The creature looked up. Neither moved until Carlena flung the dagger. The spinning blade missed, but it galvanised the Ciatern into a dash towards her. There was something comical about the way it ran but nothing at all humorous about the hammer head and sharp beak.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8bgESg4Oq
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BGUbUsoN5
'Freeze!'473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqn7v4Mrcgi
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpT0S8t48U9
Again, that awful screeching began and I had to hurry closer to it, cleric at my side, and skirt around until I could line up my lunge at the creature's back.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XHyoPPs11
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgL6cFrTGG
It was a surprisingly long fight and I was getting anxious about the timer on Freeze when the mob finally died, after my fifth hit. With a delicious golden rush of light, I got the message I had been anticipating: I had levelled up!473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYklYhqEOaj
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbXOlCS2JWM
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTgiRfUz50
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmcpgzbyVt
You have killed a Ciatern!473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe9UWKLKaAD
You cannot become better at Lunge.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XyZMbJG0Q
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBEdCR1Mt2u
You have gained 75 Experience.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFqRmA1DRm
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8HhAYZvzD
You have gained a level! Your hit points are restored and your timers on skills and feats have reset. Please view your character sheet for other benefits.473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZiByBjpID
473Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Bywrijj5B
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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