Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlumVe2sCbJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBD6WHL0Ns
'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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN5TmZgpoP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4GbfJ5DvH
'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!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIUFVlRi12W
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8PQ9yWo9y
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEpxQC4hX1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SdW3jR6kK
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU11AG5kLzR
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCg9n9iwJ4
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJaX8FYO5t
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'Yes sire!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIyfgOFm4ls
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtJd1hiuQl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8Zp2SjaDe
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPp78f3c5EG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXziYOSiAX
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7Z4KFXBwP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7Du5B4efe
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxTJ28LDpF
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNbhmS4rpdH
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzTzTc3UI6
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2xfod1exj
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba4S4k55TI
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GpvrQsRpO
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmJwjDXxUN
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9y99fnZ0T2
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCeCOZ3EVU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbNcjzgZEIn
'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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgYa8o8FMi6
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQr3nMfTIgF
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavHJLdOKUc
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkbPjC7dXyW
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlkJegNgcw
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnMxnGSQy3
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsymao4BtU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMqrglMTKE
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdAIlpj3PZ7
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AXPPECLuA
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PMJBiXaqA
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFFbnJ5Sgv
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43ij6Hrmja
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IYRXh8XCo
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCSU60h80IS
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeYfcDkXR8
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeN4HzFMjY
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMs0XXYx868
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh3fJYDushm
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHZXNWq2cE
'As honest as a mirror sire.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg3TXuav9Z
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEPsF966oTe
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79emWKT5OS
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZhJHtQztu
'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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1aTO4EWns
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCDhqOzqaM
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobUwfm0gU9
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5gggmUSL8
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIKQ92dh5k
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMb78DF9ft
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWC0Hrhm5SV
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBG6R1ktYgF
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuN77KqWvvc
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfxTyOJd2k
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC14UtkhEx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMO8fvmRT2
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVesfvoPnc
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEcJME65eb
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡESb7JtQ4MJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Mw2Wzh84F
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxcYQwuzRG
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTvCPTNFMi
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxsZAlc1V2
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAtBZ6bBdAb
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Str 7497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKdKTo6aNT
Dex 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACYifEZMTh
Con 8497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgMeGzrG5Q
Int 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1B4wDD4899
Wis 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQ07Zk6ZMF
Cha 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16Lg2TmGJJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNywOB1lydl
Top Skills497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXANf0rfHxJ
Bash 25497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPluZDlZaL6
Impale 25497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGa9Dat55Wa
Lunge 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqDdRgX3DF
Parry 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIj1SpWc2y
Wield Rapier 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc4OHrcHJu
Wield Shortbow 3497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NBotiRB5K
Block 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXGvGqqaEk
Defensive Stance 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpoF49JvXFu
Deflect 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzWfBRqE1w
Dodge 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwbo50WSr6
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NfcmLLN0o
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI12dCPLMBo
You have 4 attribute points to assign.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIux8xUVWj
You have 15 skill points to assign.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7iR58PoknG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuADwB6HbQZ
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMycTler8n
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsz1drFQckc
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9DzvdG1x5r
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqy4nShZADV
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3NAaa9LC4
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDR5EEUNFp
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlaWgNwthe8
Berserker497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEaaUw13MI
Champion497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyDUzqQetJY
Paladin497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1LYEOLz3f
Shadow Knight497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyk9KZvFjv
Warlord
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi7Yme0Gsv
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtUHXxZUfq
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctFfKaZql1
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuNj8Lekpvm
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpSRScVF7zD
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vjNhVG7GD
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCk9b7B4mdP
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DJSBuPEb3
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCC7BrNPoE
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIENdfjP8IP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFRvrTWnPm
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NvPo0MYEK
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tS2Z5RgzW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3FvObB3FIW
Military497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2j3FrQFSq
Light infantry: 26*497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnvfjmSTpP1
Heavy infantry: 11*497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOReC36ixm
Archers: 34*497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i81jUAcLM
Light cavalry: 18*497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdUPVY6u8i
Heavy cavalry: 4*497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7F2KxbUv4
Ballista: 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEFalYvEWJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06cFIuNHv7
(*veterans)497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4VopXbJX0y
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o3eXwA4yx
Hospital: 18497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrZrXf7vxY
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjrvd5UPPK
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcOc5oSsfX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYpHb72aIB
Currently training:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBZfZ2MvPa
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY90ez5SOxR
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHrwm3McSn
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADnKfJLL0q
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXImAtSQHx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61aKj2m120
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNNtnfduYL
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTN2cORvy4
'Take a seat.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmcOJMlAUb
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJQIKYhoLAH
She obeyed me.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpQoO67kFrT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSRwU1dc4o
'What's your name?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC9HEg3SQ0U
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI7GB6MO0Kn
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdREUjhjbQl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKAh3r7Jg1
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWmxPOd08L
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxaKOTsVfm
'Yes sire.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCs85OAV4R8
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGjicS96fr
'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?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ema37jF8F
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkI9Ds5Q4jq
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmHeeg564K
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD45PvqaATJ
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLhBkhF6Dz
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFilE7QkYrI
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71fM53pIqm
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTlysBMrzj
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKY3k8aa5Bi
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdjdrWjbrk
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYXcE18MSj
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7IgsGVJ8L
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXAWpFHxuA
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3HY6Hed0Y6
'Well done Chancellor.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7lxxcPvRA
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFcNDsWChu
'Thank you sire.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAdBLCGAds
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGiPWRfVyj
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7M1DPwPmhf
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbhqBO5LNg
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcE0vfAaXs
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvuZ6mIIO7
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjGeDqBo34
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQfTZbMHq72
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYN7ZxNygL1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEuky77KOjL
I nodded.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfnEBEWEMx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhoHbymV5gx
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJyt9obq9O
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjrh6MGUhxF
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cboxFcyCX
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyJPUhidvp
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPa4qCrIAW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKCFEgD0Rl
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngAjGmHqaJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPbExhse0z
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuPZhqWyuLC
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA3wvffwn1
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSxZUbNWHK
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCAHnZ2qIC
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsY56qeSgr
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILUnaoM1Ul
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGNJOlpi37
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCfxT3JWxt
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxwRP84545
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ38wfH1lk
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPlkf5xa9i
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B3rQgqbAq
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 8.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBtffcmFai
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4uT6np20mz
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiLroYQLPd
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76s6tlaoc7
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1cSjYyCiS
HP 79497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mEPg5YyCv
AC 18497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n5g2nl4db
XP 30,124 (64,200)497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUyCbXKEkm
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCHzP1MVAg
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJcai8ubc5
'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!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIv9FxPvTJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoY5QtfnVD
'Congratulations!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGNiHoGh6Y
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xN2XvETKq
'To Lord Arval!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcJobi1E6E
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyZ8HnQCmv
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LQaxQ8VBf
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsAowbXyBSP
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDUlWMWQwB
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ma4P5CsjE
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7Pi1HHyjG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzLJ1ShaSM
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGck9Qnt3sA
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfEmp8jycUM
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?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CVeKAFd5Y
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgo4OJ1hqWb
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
