'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCHQKE3RCRJ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19uT82zFT1
'Can you find other quests for me?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPfSnv8DnG
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnoipLXewk2
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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGu8CrkrHNL
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDDMjF8JXI
'Risk?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh3ZUA4kPT
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPg1okjNzOU
'You could die.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9hMPGPcfB
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMb7SSuSqJ
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?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorak68agfY
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSSk8HsXKq
'As a vampire?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB5eYtncvcI
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIDRjfhwzv
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NPFI9rcQ5
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH5zquyhFUp
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzX9fhqmgn
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qpNmD94Di
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4gCVz3cjO
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojWwzh02MC
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7O1DXKoAJ9
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMij6gEZqq
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqAKVpjuhi
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡen1RFwUrsv
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡualHghucWh
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkq8BFLUrtf
'True.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6TymQHo5d
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEtkn7HUtq
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbVZwnxGbK
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2S3J8v8Zk
'Sire?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJlR6ElLve
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pYJD8Uwtx
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlaJzFKc8S
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KlNgtOoRC
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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApYZaNyzN0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyLrBBfnSU
'Not too likely to kill me?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiWDGeZ2dt
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAB1wdZpAkw
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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrQOPk5g73E
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKzlIW86NJH
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZKguBCYhY
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVZ2gjgQFI
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboxyNaHTi2
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyrtlVFpBq
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3K0IXujq7
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXeiSe4L8k
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZJiXF3eKj
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBN7OWZAoD
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLVzW0PHl9
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZj2NdbzqD
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ57N72UUd0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vQNGuWqdt
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN5yjt7pim
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MPJ1zYqqd
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGiA8ZUzi5
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLHrYimtro
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKJ0kBlWLQ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWTnvUNg4Y0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rzaTMtcf3
Church level 1462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgE7RvXNsNb
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1iB65cIWZh
Priest: Cleric level 1462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBYtenxHtx
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxNLYw8AEWd
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2Wirptf9I
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX26JMRT74y
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQcSSZafJh9
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYf7KoM09E
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH28DkeKYLA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgggjPilq4p
'Sire?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoaURdAqYR
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKGLZ6Mo7zF
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK4LJtXBxN
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKaw9yjRGA
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFvWCeydHcr
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeICIveEw2
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AmnrMDieK
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx8fnTygZB
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7rDM7CoYu
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fZPcwfpGd
'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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDn6KETkiL
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbN82GR4TY7
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoWMUdhSMq
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5L1TiN5W6
'What are you building now?' she asked.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTR6JvomCJQ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NNgwQNxoy
'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?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrc7A8jY1bd
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOkT7q83eIB
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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqWFNyoLbz
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIv46gMwBf
'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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcImwKE3Px
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ18qAYfRHYL
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6VQY32QQc
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr9sbJzGJq
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkbA1T7uvE
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl95DfLJvsx
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NkK5fzQiu
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BZcb3Cgol
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCEA89O3yP3
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ92LQIOVdkP
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMiE0OfC2fl
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2PWUJiYeDQ
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKK1wWkfj32
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkCLw2j1bc
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WzJhwAM16
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJxuIrv1dL
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLPzKXZzmW
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqdsUOXEDQ
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmn1j4guC5R
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqTdqq20rm
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MMuVriQnD
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg8bT05EqUj
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ42YjJLEFc0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXzBa1i5MV
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEWdHVzH7P4
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ4r1x8TqK
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukhuopm6MG
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUPE9bfFH5e
'Here!'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZS6FStvO8
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡONRo1a4hYq
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGei0lSVV1
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4aleqCXrV
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6l3ERewbp6
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6lLzjYAeg
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uyivHahnt
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡykSgDQTInC
Bad news.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsxwsWhUfh
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlsUhRsQPI
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6s5crecc9
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8tWApFXOj
'Freeze!'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfF9MU1dYkk
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchF41t9tC4
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTk8WKpSlK
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eoJTD8CjE
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMSLhNsj3M
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK1rWJKn12
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiriZCM3o3T
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRx5f5SPbCZ
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Xe9UkdrFu
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hEzlMpisR
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHILB6VdzQF
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqWmppOhin
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2bxifayZ7
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VYHofjrRP
That was progress at least.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBoVYQDkwhF
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1QpmczKK6
My next shot went wide and high.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSSsGKyl7l
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WmchyVkPz
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPk3pLnN0Y
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNFllOLBQk
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfER9sp8IP
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjPvtEiLZW
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVPB8HUSIH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKf6iOH6M0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUz2zppVXIj
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3xsPI0dcY
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3hjV85leBB
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKnRnhbyfM
A heal landed.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0L98a98ND
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO33ljI0Bp7
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7HUZNT6WG
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWMqVmDW8U
'Last chance,' said Carlena.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg3IxGyW1b
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1dlaNSNNvX
I missed.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MGeJjBU4K
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiIsdP33eA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HfiwdJvUz
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNnL9yGcBzi
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhVgFx5VA0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aaiUL3iPZ
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKvCCTUaKv
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHbfayLevAU
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2UaBbVvLZ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXMYs6HXCo
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePjZ6WuepE
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOj49rH5B9
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoGKgLik8X3
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCePZrgSrJH
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFaFTrkvqY
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57WSELAWaE
'All?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z1tb8fXwx
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQcQxRQkOM
'Sorry sire.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXIMCCVKmA
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUqznxIqtO
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDgTi0ilLwE
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKECXEXsZRh
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGy6ePaLkFu
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡam3ckPN1bp
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWE3Rzd48y
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvLSNDv7sE
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo16xsra0bZ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUkrIVYGqy
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6QDVPxUla
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEltiGR2jyt
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEXOdqNzxk
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9epRpZegLr
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZlYiCDf5A
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxraWxkzWKy
'I think there is something at that rock.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMkrPSZEdV
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcF5APfrbM
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTTPIKEEpAy
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqijobaefF
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqjtehnoRj
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX7nI5Kjby
'Freeze!'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6GDb6mghTQ
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPXCyOokZHA
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1duWYeaBeh
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFZ2fSIdBj
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKWfixwMAM
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qkD7OaEkM
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl7e5NQzqmY
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCVcMpnWNu
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XCEugcgYn
You cannot become better at Lunge.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YtrEk1nPu
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqEht1PIs1
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwDLsXV4sm
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVglv07u3Co
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSed1WwBAo
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxC5C68ml6q
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZhBiWo5ZP
'Who are you?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRt7vAH9umS
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DMiJdqnIl
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegSUttxjNO
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEahqzcihb
'Of Southway?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZlcrX1LIT
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhWbJZmNvF
'Aye.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJyIXbIpdFr
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXX0cVuPWrj
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LGFRvM9LL
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvPK4D31fC
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56VpHyfK4u
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVKtZeE012
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQaz2kjVCQK
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡziutbWTTEO
You have killed a Rogue!462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu50PT1XqQ
You cannot become better at Lunge.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JQ1EfYyLt
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlMF32jzz1
You have gained 35 Experience.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXE2SEMxAN
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWlMaKiTZtW
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLGScuDD1L
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡare1lMlXqM
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPb3fVayg0
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO78rwst366
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4zpSbIf4z
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumYigd5lKo
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Lq1y1Dro
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvDHBeI3MS
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRXsDp3B9u
'What next?'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwf7DcP1ZTC
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr9Q4U5XpF
'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.'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2jgYiim14
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2qQxuEfxs3
'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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjm4mTQrCTv
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZISloup1A
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYf2u8Ckc85
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1NbmUvbxn5
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnZaQPdtTH
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYlaitZ1ri
'Freeze!'462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbfPDFEFn9
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP49CNbQppF
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qTSKpAMqN
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtWLtg1A12
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!462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvb4zVDzXg7
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXOcZy4FTV
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBRDg90beO
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYZYNCUb2lm
You have killed a Ciatern!462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTy7EzLSmwC
You cannot become better at Lunge.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjIZwjENL6
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxswV3Wb69
You have gained 75 Experience.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJenNYYoqM
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrw45sAvqth
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.462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kU386qPk3
462Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHvUIy4EYZ
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.
