'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQo7u4FBXAC
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiG9fvD76tb
'Can you find other quests for me?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjSnqUQWHa
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0HA1EXOXC
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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkCzcZt3Cr
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13ePzCY9rQ
'Risk?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4O63rNWG6h
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWLOQE8cV6
'You could die.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MbzlMh1oZ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHtHH5Nkub
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?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzxWzHaEne
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hdCkmiSGf
'As a vampire?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIca4iMKNS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9MVH1JGy5A
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNkoLdk3mWG
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy0f6bIggH
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXw6chM5jPU
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSp5blZkp6
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3SdqHzjyB
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuKlsxGZyZp
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡITg55WaFWF
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOq9ePMnHT
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4jsoUbzpT
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ47Ye7Anm8l
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gaUGg08tg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRPlsXzyst
'True.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwZnXQIkas
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSl1q4IopYX
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDIhcdkUnt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWi74D4bI75
'Sire?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmek51pZdt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkugQKpk6O2
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcSOZrIonf
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyuhBhzURt
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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWkiHLIL4E
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21rz5GPSgY
'Not too likely to kill me?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPqErckkEb
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LlFR4jz8F
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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A2Ah98rwc
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlu8bX36iuH
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LQcBlZ37e
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuotJ4Lwq3L
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmtOjLTyyV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqkgWq7gC9
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi58HoQDRg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1okm7IsJeO
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp5VE53ZFbu
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38l3wdfPuS
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUryoXt6jQ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0uKp5bWVJ
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡux858q2ftk
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8nylzR0GUx
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfknN6Dedo6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxnRragHW6
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTz5WRDoDmO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eZ1vvETLp
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvEgI6oyMV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1pJ1fhC23
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJiHVchXxG
Church level 1376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchgjhQlLgB
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVN6Z8qsJ8j
Priest: Cleric level 1376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu9NSqbesAk
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC4PuEf5nd
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcyN0RocKv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpP0WPlw78
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyEMJsvowc8
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrLjYnKMHZ
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5CsvBkYNHa
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLEFY3EVzz
'Sire?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJW7vhuKaO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZ9Bqe7JJj
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmAOGJnhi37
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSrxmfbhaW1
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiFM9iDaGt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9zeNr5X4M
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaW8CX0AYAq
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAWscx9DK5b
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNGCSyz8i6X
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDk0WhecIkj
'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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrGHm69ijO9
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2DBFGF04l
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8vGCoGp6R
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWECpfcWN0E
'What are you building now?' she asked.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEcHDjbT9H
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYZ9avx9LU
'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?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RdBrKx4vB
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSJB96Jizu
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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HmmyW7GF7
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgIY7CCF2R
'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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjnJnnuMzv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhgDPxnnrN
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr4ol11t9f
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0dekB1SlI
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm27jGjNu3d
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoc8NJv1yE
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuVWTLfXmS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLZXxglRON
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8zjnleklIa
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9rDiA3Hz1t
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdQDcErM4j
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjr4PY6ubBy
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmFfIsXz1c6
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC8Crfl1JEd
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAXeBfVnXg
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ97VbY2fc8N
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvwyNrVmh3
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6Lb9YR83e
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQnTArlh5Y2
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFUUWIjMHm
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqoPcVV0XO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3SjcuA79K
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPTw6MywmZ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxwfKk3Uwe
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KdTP9UU62
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJL1CIcUQW
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHdflhZEr8
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyw42dNvBz
'Here!'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BrdN1SHxl
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnkxjUm7ecp
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6nYFEFInEV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg0rtkpMnC
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMeizG36yY
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAnXqpSQq5B
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RzS8dk6D5
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAalBdcN53j
Bad news.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4IhWiCoyk
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjbfivMT9P
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqQ6JVF0Ep
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOqJHEAhN0
'Freeze!'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVvQGKbRHX
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZXzi2bV87
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgD5EJ8atyR
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ar1LhdkcM
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyFlA4uilR
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1alcgBHGI
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxWVUbCFmt
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4FInzxlUK
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjpc9Huzr3F
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM40XC0wUb
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSwpEikt6Y
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2P9JL7Ij4
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1esDCBRsnQ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8oDhnaBWT
That was progress at least.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAgrbErT0z
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8wgyZc4NZ
My next shot went wide and high.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd22Cmjmh9m
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKslKCN3zG0
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJL8rovNJh
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJVlCrocH8
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtfQbyR3i9
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrIkNKacm59
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN15LdCmqTs
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWQDuSnE23
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLSQvPjjf1
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgY5mfchSk
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZHcBYx7JF
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzTEgQoIOh
A heal landed.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡINje1SAFEH
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzq425SVxez
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPgAzLIhvi
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLEEdD0d9g
'Last chance,' said Carlena.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JotnQ54NY
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCIlfRCtLl
I missed.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWWvG1L3efd
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMaMIxsEv7h
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWp6zitbNnZ
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGJs46K2L4b
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBpNdCvxJK
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Q78rziZNz
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Riga2dSy
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mpx29VShF
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxw5JgJNtl
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdQvd0RFxM
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8eYbl3jPaZ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22ew2NyymF
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXIsXfj1eW4
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80rmfS3Azp
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFFfN6hqHE
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe4WzqEOim
'All?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBGciCKL9J
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepoXkk0Bkm
'Sorry sire.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBVOiM6t2L
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJQtcnr76y
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcwSO9N7JtU
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wez5SjBbj
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbskZNlyaCx
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPboT9DfsGc
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNATvcsGmDE
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiREENCTMzs
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCUElE7oST
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKjQnsuwwZJ
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP47ARlEyTn
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1cEMyJQXE
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfN3sYIQumH
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPq5p86UTz
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnCsIHsRdy
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp7453rXyn
'I think there is something at that rock.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTDHLMZs72
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxBpAvwZ64
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgHaYk8RwZ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVSCRibhb3
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPYsbjkNsS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbVcE3NPNW
'Freeze!'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgiID2UoeO9
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykVYciysar
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOChs5enC9
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNY3HHkgi0
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYDeNZRyGw
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMIcCLGnRS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlJ3lKgnu1
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyktkQjt8Zl
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmjSw2xOcA
You cannot become better at Lunge.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcv47WkrgR4
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkywpeCWdee
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxIut6E1G0a
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTexTZGAmCw
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtOgGRAq36T
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4IpTye1fB
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtYXsf66zm7
'Who are you?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTdpMHihgVx
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTay5Rf3TIu
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfl6STEqim
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF6Ls8LgI4
'Of Southway?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wcpEw05kS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKmfZ0DeSR8
'Aye.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HnY8kUIom
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkWCpZzy1P
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuaaWGh1Ry
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5oWFXetM1
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBYZr8dI5Q
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35zPDPncCO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMygPfcbrq
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUvI26J38T
You have killed a Rogue!376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwFcw2KWvn
You cannot become better at Lunge.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYldhaBZ1RI
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzWcQkHarZ
You have gained 35 Experience.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuxb7jLfGFv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGcnJA7SX4
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ5JqEInTq
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIWyIJ7E4V
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BmV1Z7UBR
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWZNV9e69j
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfC2KL3oKi
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqRt2MQneY
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2YyT3keMw2
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrxtw7gaQV
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8ZE9663lh
'What next?'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIwlp7mhGgE
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcYhacxbwkQ
'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.'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQz5vI2e6dO
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVBJmrROWO
'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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5eRug5xIe
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8OhzOHJ4zN
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8OXBk5YFw
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4XNDBeH4n0
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDsN8C2eGs
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0huLBASwdd
'Freeze!'376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZsGqGBHHH
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTaT7zaqZM
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgUeRV6Gujv
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMjGwugr3V
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!376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLOYxEnG5NG
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9oOHXvZiJ
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnw15gn1kTK
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYakwJnHdM9
You have killed a Ciatern!376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2zmpVkibHl
You cannot become better at Lunge.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBHEMYi9x0
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK9Ihcd72cs
You have gained 75 Experience.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AohR256uS
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXCxbSkHUz
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.376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJrLMqh2tU
376Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKgU4eNzvQ
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.
