'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6nM8LCYtW
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡduN1U3SmqG
'Can you find other quests for me?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvEgyrZYbc
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡej9FQIbbq3
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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOsD9OzLBte
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS1blTBOOe
'Risk?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOlJ3WSaZv
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ADQWBM2Y5
'You could die.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEsB3degtg
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgNFndMaPy
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?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTrckJq0pH
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0K6DDttQQ0
'As a vampire?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4ZyagoFlj
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrdDzvdH5I
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxP5NBraRA
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCRIZnBgQAw
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVU7cCd5Xq7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEnrmHUsqC
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR7c1sDLUu1
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVNsaEWMg0
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDN9NWGyyY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WpbWYgLeV
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqnRBXq1Ay
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcoVl7I91G
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFweOEP4b9R
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2dU8QBaRy
'True.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs2g2m70wKR
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9ImETb8Fd
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡED4jI1CVRr
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SMku2cXjZ
'Sire?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jAr13kiHG
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhCOG6W2OD
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLwa7x5VrAr
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47FP00WblV
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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIoBsK06sM
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTRUOZGtqw
'Not too likely to kill me?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwakyfIJ6iH
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdIiFhAn6E
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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJse7eaPBkh
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp3iio2yaf
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3o7kVuflKB
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtYbJxM3FI
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOa7aUIlXa
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKaNrdJYkC
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8efPSVxGsx
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsi1BS6pj1
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZg446ri9P
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ619EsCJEnB
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CIruiEc6A
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDMAJDehXZ
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ufKhnIGSj
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTScb3K8Pu3
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRobNtugaO
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnB2hoyyLj
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjglv6A4uV
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRfHFojnmjj
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wIjFg1RWP
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5fIO8SBqg
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcd1xG0piv
Church level 1399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZqREmLAps
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7rypEvi0y0
Priest: Cleric level 1399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiiRlBmqou
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8sAyflog8
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29x3kvSAbs
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxVxLte8od
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05TKEkUiSh
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrstF3A2Vf
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIkOoweosN
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OzdpF7KEL
'Sire?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlqQwwnFL4
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡguQBX0ttBF
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUVF8hnRDf
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvy8pfkrPgd
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGb7oXOJk4X
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBEFAIo4Bm
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IUexztjBC
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuOdZP5bbZ
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWM67OBgu95
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2z2MhJlgmE
'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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkl5K5d8BT
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ28LGJAGzc
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E252qKZXs
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPxJb02LMR
'What are you building now?' she asked.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBgkXp2G2VJ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7QBQgpC51
'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?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmwffCfMJ7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf6MkThwCt
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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMNTWJiaHRL
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCU7Mirxnim
'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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5oW4n7n1qb
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBukLnq5Tp
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcGOM5EKNu
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GPC4uxSNc
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaekwRb47kY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfagbo9jpKc
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDylyM2Wk2F
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDXApl4yBa5
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmHPjZUBU7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMd6HIienX
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufeyMFjCPN
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOusoNY9cEp
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhDCnIwZ2E
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyV1pVtDvp4
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjPmWK1fEtZ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDMVLsNGu7
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBy9Zerdh7
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc9X2g3Bft
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAE3rzNB7Yq
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv9sIfRWMu
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd53jlcIEVp
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6YDRBeWnF
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpPl8X3x4I
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPoluS4Fbo
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3yWcD7WPz
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMod0roEsX
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnN4aH4XjI
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZTeZ85Ar7
'Here!'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTxZFSdNKr
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8izIUAsi4
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZazhCpNj8N
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyA4LtmqM6s
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo0c62TNtp9
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgeY6pnajn
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKV9CyPQLC4
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GEJtr4AeY
Bad news.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWIwuc2dnyc
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLEco6oFa38
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4EFnKRaVj
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiTgyqrPqg
'Freeze!'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHOB0xTkbQ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGwQ4B8Gofi
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXDBRSfG9U
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO67p0azo3
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshATs0yxnt
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTokn0xH4g
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw6UPf0SFs
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWFZoaQLykV
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7aKTrtZRq
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcIJQYPMc8
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaMnTRlDDg
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEL8pDdXXt
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlfnZ0OvD3i
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZQYZICaLn
That was progress at least.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O9SCRk6PP
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45n2s0wW1z
My next shot went wide and high.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLF9HpRjOk
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxlimsSzhG
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlXr4UvSm1
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ4uoA7vHpy
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4oz9liaq1
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDOAlIX4M0
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuq7RazThY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJlvLb5eqk
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6SZ8Z83Yw
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOt664pkls
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwNWirate7Z
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFUMe9lms2
A heal landed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJR9WRLXUY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HpGQesqqc
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37lpRc5u5R
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjNnISpC1Ya
'Last chance,' said Carlena.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNmp7uMvYB
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpwik79X0Z
I missed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc1IPkCvFN
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfxTfMf2bl
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSk97ZtlVZv
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQX6fiOHwU
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTsvsDc9tR
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30SIP0vmor
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFLOu0KQScZ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYQxKAleeJ
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7ij3y5rRJ
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU1tIyRU2x
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJU5uii69h
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5VGw4vnD4f
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡge69hMsuho
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX7lPzYdCe
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwygfqoFHar
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcx8OzuBnI
'All?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkdlm7xGSm
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUXFLOvpug
'Sorry sire.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX2cPnNBTo
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgHiZXUoId
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUTHCOhxXD
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyaw61Ot6W
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVAi6h0Ngf
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxYVvlvkJ1
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX2kicpUcq
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6sQMqCDcr
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG8brWaIETF
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSeSZYJ9Wf
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcI12dvrpit
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAF8eBUPwUt
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9t22ijytIo
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNF4ECxTqv
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ScMfyyV0T
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRU2isqekP
'I think there is something at that rock.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1kabRX2C9
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4q9ARhD4p
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxI1c8Hejm3
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73flnasxMZ
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EhltcOEfv
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0b2RTFvku0
'Freeze!'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZZse1o8DY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK3mtZhmJDU
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NmNLblJLp
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNqYSwTDnM
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBdwZmsECrR
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9RVhGC5Nr
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XpNECqY6K
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINTHfTdIJW
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScRzLIQbqt
You cannot become better at Lunge.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkBZVB7OTS
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMPD4ha4ekc
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAA4hJ3uP8
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8dyV8Qme1
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90srxydIk4
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCARZ1wwYlj
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGVAazZPPd
'Who are you?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX7GjrK2JSD
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8ZigkhWip
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQb0UXggug
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wOf4Yb2AL
'Of Southway?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ulSiMOGRq
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmf6glH5Pxz
'Aye.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaL6wBYSMje
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbh0Zo9sjJ
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNZbUlP2bN
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEABiHyMweK
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F381Qlvir
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyiMH7CLs1
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTDLK0NQzc
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7zIFkTVon
You have killed a Rogue!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJCjgdnUnKg
You cannot become better at Lunge.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vHl38IpvL
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7GPFbL6cAU
You have gained 35 Experience.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6YzKZWve5
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua1GA27Vxu
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIs6X8993D2
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gDinyHs4W
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlP4B06uGbK
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVHIETFzfz
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2MpBgfAYE
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoUusnNsMp
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtgFim7qrKQ
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuAakqbHUeO
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5BdFBrOMa
'What next?'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIKkwwcInze
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡybAJFsLdgO
'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.'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUWLanVHaY
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs8wdpKvfi1
'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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WIcud123J
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9ojqpRjxy
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolhJFyNkM4
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZxI6QGkkT
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuka0Qu2bbb
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxWpxhSZVB
'Freeze!'399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBF6HebBHEu
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznrsikiWYL
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEFUXVlbmw
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD93CFDCaNf
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!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmzSv3gDH1
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcSsjUWPA2
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuntGdQi0VV
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYSwBrJJJY
You have killed a Ciatern!399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NZr9RJIRx
You cannot become better at Lunge.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQweDnpBm6
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tLeYrLej3
You have gained 75 Experience.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMf3mK9hxx
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvyP6lPr82
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.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyA7wYQGLa
399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMi9JuCMtb
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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