Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡML3cJSG2yt
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEFkXACKs1
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcCwRZuPf9
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As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjog9CmMsn
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIADz5V6est
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxrRQxAv6E
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'Yes sire!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDOo6rdTbt
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSklgHCxhYq
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'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbQzTg1uEV
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtxvFCeuqPg
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqoHrNg5H6
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcbgK9MjUSA
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbK31myVvg
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1cBEM1E0E
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNG4WcTFQ1
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'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuIFgFE6SP
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'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZCHKwvkk1
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I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspS9JvB5YY
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Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMMUQDRJ0B
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbCpywtjRz
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'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGCuS70Txh
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Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPCVTDFq13
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nid45QroP
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Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAlJF8r1tx
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc9AcCECdy
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfpgssER06I
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'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2B5h1Lp6a
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'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi1ONeRpxAX
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5p1YMklxq
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5hk5A1aLI
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQ8kFZNcfz
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2ECY1PXGl
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'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhByYs0FDe
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Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2Wai8H9bQ
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Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2U9ofFWc9F
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHealjVmlwo
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkU3ouVbjz8
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Str 7451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTJf8o9NbK8
Dex 4451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxR58nYUmz
Con 8451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPU9Ca7jhC
Int 16451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWXQx6qpyp
Wis 16451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdKHE2La0U
Cha 4451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qHsfl9yEn
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Top Skills451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6apKfBo7uL
Bash 25451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDStpxnLnqZ
Impale 25451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCIiZapKNn9
Lunge 5451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcSad4argq
Parry 5451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx4zIYk1Si
Wield Rapier 5451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6tB69ihma
Wield Shortbow 3451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCpCsP78jzF
Block 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CdM9YzGeM
Defensive Stance 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKNxPjcA5tI
Deflect 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXNti8Z2u6
Dodge 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5T1G9cHQ5
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinqErvxnwB
You have 15 skill points to assign.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSU9AURj8pD
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKbYhHHxPW
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos5ylITbeI
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sUhSpcYoX
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Berserker451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLSftp3BTL2
Champion451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwx7m1fMe06
Paladin451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡls4ufUpqfQ
Shadow Knight451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjyoiWrXTP
Warlord
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Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYWBQqc5qE
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Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriiqgbhu83
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Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPoHNweuVS
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It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMMNkRkwg8d
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxTmuxjoSJ
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg47RXkwLG
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Military451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bS3YKbm9J
Light infantry: 26*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyIZB5tFi3
Heavy infantry: 11*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23AzQvOGsj
Archers: 34*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32dkcEHcbE
Light cavalry: 18*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVH0i7tWHHf
Heavy cavalry: 4*451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4nz6xjESC
Ballista: 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5BuTDRtoj
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(*veterans)451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioWptZFVOS
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Hospital: 18451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0VCqn3JVM
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3co1myAuI
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Currently training:451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXJUNZ8OXH
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MMkIEWVE5
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw93iprxNtx
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There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxl9wtU7TNI
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'Take a seat.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJv4P8N1k0
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She obeyed me.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRDIWjsF4a
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'What's your name?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYhdFVr27z
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgeOEr0WwMS
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd2Psuy9b2R
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'Yes sire.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLj9E2IERZ
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHXvQkPEOt
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9xALVGcMH
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'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0hFRQlgLT
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'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjxmytihai
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'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXP2Qh8iJCd
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It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1JTpNffEU
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Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmhmUO6pXk
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'Well done Chancellor.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHbWsefq9G
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'Thank you sire.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9rBgQ1ijN
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One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMMaf6kDfR
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEbCoEKC6sw
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I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeFDlxTuis
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'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTajdCo9w9b
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I nodded.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfjb1jRmmL
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSfIH45cOs
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeY0ZoolG4
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'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdcS7TYA57
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2avQpchnl
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'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudLSIUbqqb
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRayHkt84KC
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Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3mrg4XsiI
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We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLuDZs7cFt
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'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDPMnk1FRbF
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'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMZbeYuyhD
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Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4f9H2wT8I6
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJwrtzYDTO
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HP 79451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDCov3zZs1
AC 18451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0pqTSaUKU
XP 30,124 (64,200)451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4EwI2irOO
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOid5NqoKmU
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
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'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXO7hJ02Uz
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'Congratulations!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhAnkucnCB
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'To Lord Arval!'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp9DtnJWJl9
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Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5vxLFQS2Q
451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoIzHstG8d
At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogsaKv24MX
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ9VyqVwOw
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0Pp89XyLj
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He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'451Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdkBFi0SuJ
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How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
