Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhAKTwa5C4h
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLrjuUolsk
'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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0z3zZOipL
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnTaZMyVsl
'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!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRIdQZ0tpMS
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62pUTI9I7x
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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TZCCzgVkX
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcSLsffOUu
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAkr1NwXZz
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcF5BIIjfh1
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVAQbAzwbT
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3IYXUGsKPa
'Yes sire!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Mt36tTsMu
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTzLpBZXcg
'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEYrxH12CPg
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3baS5dkJq
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkye0z7Ncg
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2fRiKeeRF
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKDoSKEuJd
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzFeWQne02
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡos43mli3zT
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf6kBpezp8S
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡff4zI1BQq4
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRhgjj7R5u
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WmjtnFBpj
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyqG3nBFb9Z
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgBC8F9wue
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf5PREh9uG
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK8VMW3SvWG
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvzE6lhs5d
'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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHDuPpD4sx
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsgDhSjmtc
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0IiaQuVVZ
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiaYl8ALkL
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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LLMQWdOpB
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf53FuEYxnC
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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSM5OPIdDsv
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZhKMtlL1po
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumv9CvTI4f
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2inDCXz5XH
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgWkhalUx5R
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3uTisJRfm
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbspTQgokit
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzD8RlZYIe
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgT4pW9th9
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIS5LNupi4
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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3WnrliUX7
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK2WER02nc
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzzM52sHfg
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhw7eWs013e
'As honest as a mirror sire.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX36BWxi7bP
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWSIxgYVCrl
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm6mY3hkPkr
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabtHk8Xm4F
'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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC6mnwGlqP
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZGQeITPZZB
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Z24WRtj5
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHwc5eWrjB
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWesQz9YeaL
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡso4A1H4md5
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPiqCsUpXm
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbioHXEWMLS
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsppDcitPtV
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gBBW3ku4v
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIuoD4OxxM
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIK4sGtNGn
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfHPNsrp9r
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkVP9M4J41
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjHV10yFX04
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj2aoqjqDHn
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj4xKmdr1HY
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QYTXFqwvz
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR6ctx0k8f
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUSoefYuZPD
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡon2MK1nS4u
Str 7484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvHOQ13zLs
Dex 4484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWMBxeDIG4P
Con 8484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7ktYGG1X4
Int 16484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS6Ra9686WD
Wis 16484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgcLwN3bJdp
Cha 4484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cYJQBPJrE
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVlqPFG2l3
Top Skills484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMTLkhezpj
Bash 25484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegGZQcP2KR
Impale 25484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzd27tQBvPl
Lunge 5484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MdnUwDNO3
Parry 5484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7om8UCXdm
Wield Rapier 5484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCh4emrteJ
Wield Shortbow 3484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlu1Zj8duz
Block 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxrJaFVlS9
Defensive Stance 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNxQinSQaY
Deflect 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWjYDSMb6C
Dodge 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXnKHM6ZxxO
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB2rekVMIpK
You have 15 skill points to assign.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdRPFOI9Cgm
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3ETofxiYe
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5oJJLBW0y
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcplNxRdjJy
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgD3543uyW
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTkeZtYLHv
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07UAofRoL4
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEjdmIGAsR
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsd4JdIxiKg
Berserker484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACLaIh36g2
Champion484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJo5n7OGPq
Paladin484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM5Zbd5rNkP
Shadow Knight484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOnJTAVYi0
Warlord
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5GXKYUDJ26
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAS85n35Ng
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsFwwGl0fC
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRhGLYkNh4
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJb6gFDIJ7
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡayHsRThtGs
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4TJHRIimr
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYKuXblN5S
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFG0jYXMYe
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIV4JzgwFA4
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNh2TADWJTE
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSfGkDW90s
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtEuNe8HiI
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmyklFfRTC
Military484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOD5MYFw6e
Light infantry: 26*484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbHcBOgg8O
Heavy infantry: 11*484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiTmzSTUMyO
Archers: 34*484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknxGJgM2aE
Light cavalry: 18*484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDDl3GixGC
Heavy cavalry: 4*484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeURfPwz4H
Ballista: 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Gt61R66fQ
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0Ifm2rdpl
(*veterans)484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUPxo4M6DN
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Hospital: 18484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLRPhIGjt2
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEwl6mwS6Q
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OGofpSPlY
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJSYNCV1ht
Currently training:484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsO8C9Yqdd
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ003rHY7fpO
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYV3xJoIba
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5StxK5dZE7
Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlT3Ee9S5v
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RHz0lRxSt
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEvaHNfhZ9
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjfd6K2b8fm
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvAI0pl3Gd
'Take a seat.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbT8IlcwLc
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cn5uUSOv1
She obeyed me.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbTRNXc62F
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbj15Y2aix
'What's your name?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtGHnlT3D7
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKKWOm3ChT
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOR5jFsBMPJ
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzClmKHUuiI
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNU5Y8pXxJy
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8lsu0HXkfl
'Yes sire.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9LlvcMwjN
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVBA7pRyZY
'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?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDLEp7lQof
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4hZpaDzfPH
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUqIJkeNQn
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66XZ1K3pV3
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBnKvhYQoh
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfbAT4Qs4U
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjFaWikLRGF
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH7v79r2Dp
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QhWrJ4BDJ
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNADceeQ3fm
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOuZY0vx9P
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVoTZPaqc2
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIn3mC3fFe7
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HTNH8JcB9
'Well done Chancellor.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIiqwYyoGl
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKKvoHPpsy
'Thank you sire.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJyP6PcBNu
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0ukn3sAn1
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpgkZF0l6t
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbcxW6fYQD
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyYLVkPwa6
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEIngoqqUe
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WcwMaaymA
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTHtkUdwoQ
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8NRoUELyn
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhASGyHZdhq
I nodded.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbkIm7qWdl
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTC2HzlzKi
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNQ55AxGDw
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstHb4EufZd
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3779JxdRXx
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7y4Qf74bH
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VHRbs3jP2
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcqPGcXV6O
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm64j2RwI9d
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4Jvf00Xne
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWLCsBY8at
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJvUfVH3nV
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWbbZ2BqZq
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5pfQtwJkIv
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfhy82j0ra
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F8vupGMTL
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyJjTjTB6b
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46crHq0XkT
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WRodFgfaf
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVTZLoTv0D
'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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8HisCdpUg
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy920P9ZZA
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 8.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmylANFgVM
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOBi1Ad2p1
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5b3gcxDVg
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzEXSmHuab
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDGSHgstgw
HP 79484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVyR0fGE1P
AC 18484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JenvpW354
XP 30,124 (64,200)484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dhM3tO27X
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtFG2cnUYb
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqFX5kiyZZ
'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!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPLly0dUsx
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW5gnkpH40c
'Congratulations!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvRJkvdoir
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyAuVqGuuC
'To Lord Arval!'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzuqsBHWvq
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmQqtfZj85v
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.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXhtOCqO0m
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqOEz7zxos
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.'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQaaMjpgYL
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREwlxx1Z7C
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjQR3V2bKC
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNVm5B63dz
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuR81DzD5AA
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmeXOYHYNM
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?'484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirbw80FEds
484Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsDGBdp9RC
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
