Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMHG8UMVL3
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDh5GwmhdTG
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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!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVG76iTEJc
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nxvgR4Qi8
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrA3ebd112
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQ3hqur2ar
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'Yes sire!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtla9Yfwl7
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76QcqW2CpM
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViAZlxMGPQ
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxNkwCknvC
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFVeKJ3XL9
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCvwYOiL63
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsclQFGgZld
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegpJq8k01b
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTVvhuAgoA
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAJa6EFpjI
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ664Mh9l1sC
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwl17RFKww
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhDR9l5aoS
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Vg0aik4MK
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuolKXQOPWS
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVd9OwqXzrN
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCuAa5D3VB
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6uP8L9wPl
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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?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TSJw0ZQL8
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZiCkAd60R
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYpQ68c9Qo
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90K7B3Scuh
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoIUAVLyAT
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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?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqblHokLhSO
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡawkhfQGc4D
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4GaHVnFOr
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6pMQXsmDE
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BtI2pZ0eB
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72RI2jhapk
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuGhV1COWs
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rdEujqmVi
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Str 7394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kOZbtXs0S
Dex 4394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR4NjpUBUP
Con 8394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFp7b0CmG5h
Int 16394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKBo7exlqT
Wis 16394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuByTA9AJCw
Cha 4394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2Jsu5Iqcw
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Top Skills394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtuZ4UfYdc
Bash 25394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9kYY28Wym
Impale 25394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kJVm0QXrm
Lunge 5394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuajpdYuh5u
Parry 5394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJK5t0hk1h
Wield Rapier 5394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVC4PMkMH49
Wield Shortbow 3394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlfrCm7gpf
Block 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkywifPpPPF
Defensive Stance 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡktyHs6B8PC
Deflect 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCbWfz5chn
Dodge 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMwxIlsard
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlBO3Aorn6H
You have 15 skill points to assign.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFikN0tQ98
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlpTq8BCST9
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0XvfFZe8r
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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:394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuZcidPn02
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Berserker394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamLGGDlbPp
Champion394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxEBpehjgM
Paladin394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCLIWZiehQx
Shadow Knight394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbarPidefnK
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLQKkVJzTo
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ132w40BkAC
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjGrq73ZEh
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1QyXTh4WG
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUOsX0B0bL
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpOv1a4Q8x
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Military394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI9tuFDlQr
Light infantry: 26*394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrVpNmhKPf
Heavy infantry: 11*394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTqbZxnTbqj
Archers: 34*394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw77S4cmqxa
Light cavalry: 18*394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRXm2eSkerk
Heavy cavalry: 4*394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRng9q3HyhF
Ballista: 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSiW5iQx3k
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(*veterans)394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVvijGNb9u
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Hospital: 18394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwz9c1ttUD
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqs3egvwmvq
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Currently training:394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMvNhjvgDA
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9NC1xQQjd
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGR2kXSRNn
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZj80Q1LTo
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'Take a seat.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhnAAzbmYg
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She obeyed me.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqsxQbnJ6p
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'What's your name?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9jzvvujnQ
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4znkRUZ6P
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjudeGdkx4Q
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'Yes sire.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEVvyWVVCQ
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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?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ68ppimMrGS
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JFGsho2PC
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIGYN6KVFL
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tn7m9Wcdu
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9oozBcdlkf
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy0QcjvQd7j
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOhiicwaEK
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'Well done Chancellor.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdI1k4nVWN
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'Thank you sire.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxGNLupvXl
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCoOv7sJCK
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoIRY30Zjj
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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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPraavqPaa
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhTWY5gRc4
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I nodded.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gV7iQLooR
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjeRqmUrH4w
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNkuROzASu
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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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDNngS8r3v
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YuCEhmmH5
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsEoTnovAS
'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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCF5Hzo4uB
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLpkIPDQNq
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1VDrYQHCa
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99zUhzK0Ul
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE2EwHujpDF
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfgarH3v6B
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscwv9hmBrK
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0D57Jf3WF
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFna83mCV9q
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPyCLxootsv
'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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjh1yCPnC6
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dod37HpDR
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 8.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBlRN2anEz7
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjatiPDQ4xg
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZIYBNg13e8
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRD6RStY2E
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs1EnEKQ6wF
HP 79394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI3eLeJINO
AC 18394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhuBs4nIgf
XP 30,124 (64,200)394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN22SXBenDz
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUWjpLdnSU
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKhA1mZdc0
'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!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0cRcJCRDN
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP04QGTXrsA
'Congratulations!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVgo7ReiN4
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jzPoU8Tuc
'To Lord Arval!'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmEcdehnYA
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDe9RGhLct
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.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1h8Xtoznl
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyzO8HnXM4B
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.'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzrtDxB8aGo
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rWfRiNAe4
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZy5Zo5Y5LV
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYqlcEo2VN
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD4xy4pFaCj
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF724sxaVOe
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?'394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpL96sWC1bO
394Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJcdvjvYnse
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
