Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jowBl4FfQ
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡht1hdkeOhV
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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!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Jrj7ft5wC
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJTcN5ZOCw
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAXiNVYsYI
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnfdL5a43H
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'Yes sire!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwuh8y34Nu
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GrvgQuOtK
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1g0SeRB0Ri
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLu1iSk7HK
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OndZVr9St
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDa7Ttycdk
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6VDGvGTUm
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRM7x7lKrE
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrouuQkSe96
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSndwgh2Y3
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2HFfPrsn8
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WST7oQdLD
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYPQwtNrAl
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdFxUJIhSSr
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclQjbdzEl1
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFTPnD7rrw
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcul1d21lGF
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0X9R738dS
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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?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5bM4LSTu0
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7KcioBl4T
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZiTkEMZSO
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTpNh1nD8OY
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mfwiHwo0s
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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?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlmJ6vFphh
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8ECpeSkCi
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sd1CdxnOY
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5PYMpHXai
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSzHjpK4NF
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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsahzFlxChl
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sTtHudDhm
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qVfpncDZQ
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTrYmLdfiU
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Str 7361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztwLmvnIb6
Dex 4361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29yf9ZMTdU
Con 8361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtiTT4D5nc
Int 16361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrJyU80wQu
Wis 16361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbeASORbaZ
Cha 4361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWnE2YlPFw
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh9bUWz43S
Top Skills361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0h9C3br5Qa
Bash 25361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeutAhgWhl
Impale 25361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JQn0LxUNw
Lunge 5361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nvtfkZFo3
Parry 5361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSAq1oZbgO
Wield Rapier 5361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SsFo3VQ3d
Wield Shortbow 3361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJbqMptCjP
Block 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW4wCsHitc
Defensive Stance 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQL2Rc2o40
Deflect 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkM47k975b
Dodge 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIER6kxxrn9
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnWRkIxeYba
You have 15 skill points to assign.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjuU2oSBayY
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1a4fEnTUj
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡANPVqoHbKK
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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:361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyOINhV4iy
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Berserker361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvG6UWhy3D
Champion361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwcvQQT2B0
Paladin361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gXkffgPjr
Shadow Knight361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLxpIWKDWe
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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFOZAWcbsu
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo16f4hAuOA
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2AGkkHTzH0
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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15LrOGeCTn
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kFdnFmlDJ
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBrO1mUImQF
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvj4wQDf91U
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Military361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3PNHq7EGU
Light infantry: 26*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuBagejmPnD
Heavy infantry: 11*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dTia5u5dv
Archers: 34*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbOVk1M8UX
Light cavalry: 18*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5TcZ5pLcy
Heavy cavalry: 4*361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3L8chXack0
Ballista: 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPcknQQA8lw
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(*veterans)361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5e4BEU8Us
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Hospital: 18361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGAXSLin9T
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCQUXEYasu
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Currently training:361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNBJWYaGiA
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEfU1fsVzpY
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGQi2q0ZIV
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZaIvnXodk
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'Take a seat.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm67yCbilGl
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She obeyed me.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8Ira84MU1
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'What's your name?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMm09Vig7z
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQO7U0RM7E
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH40lYm5Snm
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'Yes sire.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtb7mKYopu
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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?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkYZIMZjkg
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStUL3Srq0a
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtlKX2ZOaF
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRdTjQXj0h
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWehtqYZUYk
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SUz6DvFz4
'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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjg8QGYajH
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TN07UxSJR
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQauCERE0A
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'Well done Chancellor.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIxsuL2l2H
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'Thank you sire.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTvpaBlFkOj
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3uTfJaoREL
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXuQLIe2NI9
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXpuM2hFsM
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGFdwzh6ih
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I nodded.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpgRzY7YnqA
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1oIiXAsv0I
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkaAVVpKHj
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFwH7S1VQw8
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBMenJmhpG
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBLvvnxEXab
'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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0h5gt1bGM
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36Dvin9hB9
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMBRqGPtzC
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU71S4qA2y3
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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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWinfdOVY4i
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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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCoHJginVj
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzeFzB5qmWj
'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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4d4PNvfYz
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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 8.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb94lML9fi5
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzSutgl3zcu
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HP 79361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUK0bZQAYHc
AC 18361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kxMb0VjWi
XP 30,124 (64,200)361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjgHkQFgxL
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYZEsJWj6W
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!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9aMySbJtR
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'Congratulations!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTXnFADO8R
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'To Lord Arval!'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgy1z9A13z8
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSc21VLocS
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.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7A0nExbhFb
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGAn0Em57v
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.'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHO1brfpSW
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ4iCqrMAe
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcKgvwnAfL
361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxVvJBmj7J
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?'361Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvF2jVh4l6z
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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.
