Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbthovrbt33
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xWENiORjV
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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!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbTZX0fsRKi
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ27bIu1zXaf
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRey1oI9cp
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWulQtH52P
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'Yes sire!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZyvleUBc4
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUSAVhAiby
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3MxbyjxJeD
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRazL0mmP17
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmYFJCBWSeQ
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyMQ0iEUma
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiNvP1gwIy
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwceBw1oWhG
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xM9lRqxbg
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQKn3TRoFfU
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxrL2OwBxM
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViT1j3ZKfA
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXm26Z2C67
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2BUp25sdut
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYk0t6HKx6
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8INkfHJcW
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqQ95vl3vr
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvITIrCtESC
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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?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobVZSU80iV
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXL1xkP05Pt
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFDKLs6MdW
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTFxAJBR9m
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNV2UApSBX
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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?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IJJ5n2gFp
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhj8yM8VgSF
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrlMzs6yUw
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovMmfPKH1G
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWWWs6rZL7
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwaIzjy9rDJ
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNxRI1DMl2a
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkOMjlHoGc
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Str 7355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PoV0V4eyB
Dex 4355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58HFwv1KaM
Con 8355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEuenUWAPj
Int 16355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXC6WjtKWJf
Wis 16355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoSJSe95K8q
Cha 4355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoA5hxkkSz
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Top Skills355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHkVxDTIWz
Bash 25355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYe8fl9aGP
Impale 25355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZrwVEexaFT
Lunge 5355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3fL5BFwMIt
Parry 5355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTYvP9cDO0
Wield Rapier 5355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXN4sObTIv
Wield Shortbow 3355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgBgyVIVuX
Block 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4h04uY8LW
Defensive Stance 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoQA67lWvg
Deflect 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVARqUor6u
Dodge 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoXyeqtu3z
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nKpV4Iysq
You have 15 skill points to assign.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLD7NCQXBiY
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7i5RPSRdN
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x5EJQyYIF
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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:355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMyi9DLOIq
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Berserker355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRMkaZBsrC
Champion355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7qh2gsSK9
Paladin355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvk46joDPa
Shadow Knight355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsY36XjXqUR
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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwi2knqVIa
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SPpHaGZlS
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejWfKTqFor
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdtgN0xfCv
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZadJHEaLq
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5cQ1yBCwND
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Military355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSPmW1eznOG
Light infantry: 26*355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRuen1S0GQ
Heavy infantry: 11*355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb5m71IoKm
Archers: 34*355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkBM0suzWN
Light cavalry: 18*355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQIdsX32em
Heavy cavalry: 4*355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2h8uBy7rn
Ballista: 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5sdFLfOxrw
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(*veterans)355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSSwf7n7yC
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Hospital: 18355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWutRQpjB74
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDf54WI73S
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Currently training:355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xXtdlbRuV
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEWK86WvM2
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9FERC7ncx
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPhsbaVhyO
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'Take a seat.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59zg0dt38D
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She obeyed me.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZB28D8OtjX
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'What's your name?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i8WuAvM6c
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhx4UW14Bad
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEP8AuAc4LB
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'Yes sire.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LjBz5fOzX
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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?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSls68jygmJ
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9BNUjWNswY
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoQNnJTd89
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xK3wqIU6T
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDUlmjF7zw
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSjwolBc5R
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqw0dSWQSr
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'Well done Chancellor.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHGrfhGQq1C
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'Thank you sire.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmKw2LirPoW
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA6WImw3LG
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI65QtUTaE
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrP1V9dNG6
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMft6ksHMKN
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I nodded.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVCyLUFH8l
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncSYZfm4Nt
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpN3iVFRiT
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iKUgiZ71c
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PqiPvXRpy
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7d3lynTWkm
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ElJFKQy4b
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Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMJGAPxi49
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2YRBjSlvA
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTfm9iLfORg
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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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9c9xfKVDiz
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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 8.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyb8dP2F96Z
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGbvp4Hm72
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HP 79355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKhpJGeiRol
AC 18355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTQD476t6m
XP 30,124 (64,200)355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepmATNYbBw
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvE9R2HPwhh
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!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwxSFa4lj35
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'Congratulations!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKc5bDYOkqS
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'To Lord Arval!'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZYQpTRG1JQ
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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.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgN3BuA2Qk
355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWW9P99TcBD
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.'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYPnI0ajpv
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5tKKyNKZA
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6V7tZsVhwy
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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?'355Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TMaYHvfUD
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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.
