'What now?' Carlena had caught up with me at the solar of the keep, where I sat glumly on the throne. Once again, she had ushered all the servants out before speaking to me. Her face, usually pale and thoughtful, was flushed.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN84OxUzySh
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xfr7vTASH
'Can you find other quests for me?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnZ4DcAJRq
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo40CHGhRhg
The Sorceress shook her head, silver hair swinging to emphasise the negative response. 'I no longer think questing is wise. I… we can't risk further aggravating the people. Already, they hate you. If they also thought you were not the legitimate king, that would be extremely dangerous. It seems that Carlos did all the introductory quests. If you were able to repeat them, well, the people aren't stupid.' After a moment she sighed. 'We are going to have to risk battle.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5iZ6CJ49W
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtcbManTIZ
'Risk?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2kC9ZfpFEG
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09E7FEp7fS
'You could die.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEZraR3I47
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H89UVEhJ2
Neither of us spoke. For my part, I was thinking back to my gaming experience. Obviously, when it wasn't real, I'd taken risks and died many times as a result. No biggie. Here, it seemed, the PCs didn't respawn. First of all I confirmed that. 'No one returns after death?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT41toOLru
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TkFrSCxBD
'As a vampire?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolirlnJY51
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PWSuMCkyI
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VQ3xQ1ko5
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7h2uyThD4
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH7IP0OkoJ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLDQZZPkt8
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKMBLOacru
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9S4weKtsxP
'I don't have the Polymorph spell; there's my Potion of Transformation which would last for eight minutes.' There was a reluctance in her answer.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wQhzm90I7
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3kTGesSBYW
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KJAcR30Vd
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkh5vKE7wS
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSYC4S6WVo
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3QgUVNznl
'True.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVgtauvucFf
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKi2Kdmadc
Her comment about the potion reminded me of the other magic items that were in possession of the PCs of the kingdom. I checked under the town menu, people sub-menu and looked at the items again. Lord Arval had Shield of Defence +1; Trueblade +2; and Ring of Strength +1 which could all be of use. His Potion of Haste sounded good too, but that clearly had to be saved for war. Chancellor Parrin owned a Dagger +1; leather jerkin +1; Ring of Silent Movement. Nice too. Unfortunately, both were away just now or I would have borrowed those items.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj54flX5mN
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU3lx1iTcBb
'Sire?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSfoJ2Gyik
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnOBneGTTco
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgye8SQGQV
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIt61OQTnKJ
I suggest we obtain the services of the Cleric at the Church of Miya, for healing, and then the three of us go towards Mount Djace. There are monsters and dangerous wild animals for you to fight there, not too far from the city walls.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSfhQGiGo4r
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaKQzMsToR
'Not too likely to kill me?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekeM2fg9F4
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvRuKreuK8
There was no trace of a smile on Carlena's face. 'I don't think so. I have Freeze as one of my spells and if necessary, will destroy any challenge too hard for you with Fire Darts.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRAXoAHQjhl
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KEPKPdgfk
'Right so.' I felt more cheerful. If Carlena and the Cleric could power level me for the rest of this afternoon, then with the borrowed magic items I could hope to steam along later in the week.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZFVonnsR0
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOPhSKGDeg
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfB2GZt9F1G
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpBdtJH5hZ
There were no pieces of armour that could fit me. And in any case, I needed to travel light. This body wouldn't go more than a couple of miles without being exhausted. I selected a simple rapier, mainly for its sharp point, and a light wooden shield. Then, at the last moment I had an inspiration. If Carlena could freeze mobs, I needed missile weapons. So I took a bow and a quiver of arrows.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwcz9BpJC56
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe6tZ1nymi
Carlena equipped for action was quite a different woman to the one I'd seen around the town. Gone was the long hair for a start, it was gathered at the back of her head and tied up very tightly, with a blue headband to keep stray hairs from her eyes. Instead of the robes that had earlier swayed around her with a certain aristocratic grace, she now wore high leather boots, leggings and a sand-coloured waistcoat over a dark brown blouse. Two bandoliers of small purses criss-crossed her chest and back, while another belt at her waist also had several pouches. In addition had a backpack that seemed half full.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRi1BJeHpdr
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhgJ2J5Npe
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnf89nt4wt
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiazXhQL8VM
Already feeling encumbered – not in the sense of any game penalty, just with the clutter of my gear – I felt even more so when we finally left the keep, having ordered servants to bring me an empty backpack and a large skin of water.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75QqfWBQjx
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUgB15jpu6
There was no need for Carlena to discreetly guide me to the church, a tall wooden spire acted as my route marker. As we walked, I checked the timers on all my projects, so that I could react promptly as soon as they were complete. Figus was out on a trade negotiation, time to complete unknown. Chancellor Parrin, similarly, was scouting with an unknown completion time. There were four hours to go until the smithy used up the iron I'd assigned this morning, at which point I would have twenty-four more steel pickaxes for the miners. Three days and six hours remained on my Shipbuilding 1 research countdown; exactly one day on the hunting lodge 3; and, from the military menu, just over two days for tower machicolations. As far as planning the kingdom went, I just had to allocate the new pickaxes when they were ready and I was good until the morning, when I would have at least 3 – hopefully 4 – iron ingots to assign.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5n9qTObQ4B
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHWtdvRMCb
Although the spire of the church stood out above the low roofs of the shops and houses of the town, the building itself was a simple wooden hexagon shape. It was more roof than room. Each of the six sides had a window that was simply a circular hole in the wall. Since we were experiencing a mild, if dull, day (late summer perhaps?) it wasn't uncomfortable, but surely winter assemblies here would be cold? The décor consisted of carvings in the wooden walls, some of them quite impressive interlacing. If there was a message, it was probably about fertility, given all the flowers and plants that were depicted.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwp3n36rN7
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBju0Y9oY0
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhehb5Kk5sq
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM6qkMQF7SM
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtEZifiTzN
Church level 1360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhaDVt0WVzT
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WXEw1IgRb
Priest: Cleric level 1360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29QuMGUplu
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Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7YhDmU5nH0
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbmYVwFX1L
Well, that was interesting. It made me ambitious to have a high level church building, one that could heal a full range of injuries and improve the town's Happiness considerably. But then, probably every building had its uses. I needed to read up on them all.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8gMG0ODoJ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFvTWJSPcK
The Cleric was a female, her dress a simple tunic, but with a wreath of vine holding back her hair from a plain and nervous-looking face.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4cMaOe3jQ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN6YPC68pgZ
'Sire?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfUNIv6TQxE
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0DGcupFRq
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYqv8oVi1l9
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLCoER5kWd
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUtXWyy210
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNvBAOXYxXk
I took a seat. The bench was too narrow for my body, but at least it faced directly into the wide space in the centre of the church and I could stretch my legs out and keep my balance. While we waited for the Cleric to put her fighting gear on, I asked Carlena about how magic worked. The short version was that spell casters had a mana bar that depleted according to the level of the spell they cast. It sounded familiar enough, although as she talked I got the impression that mana came back so slowly that she rarely cast more than four spells a day, which was stricter than most games I was used to.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0mRHMoOG1
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vPcpwHOZ6
With every level up, Carlena gained the capacity to cast a new spell and a new spell for her spell book. You assigned a spell from the book to a place on what was effectively a UI (she said a set of runes appeared at the edge of her vision) and in theory, you had to make a choice each morning as to which spells to acquire for your UI. In Carlena's case there was no choice because she had only nine spells for her nine slots.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡID4KE4dHej
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiWFsVNd5m
'I believe it is possible for you to research many more spells for me. Also for me to find scrolls and other spell books from expeditions and quests. Carlos never told me he could do it; he didn't trust me enough.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0RBYNDPHpL
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPhuTy2NVv
'Let me see if spells are in the town research menu.' There was indeed a sub-menu for spells: it seemed that you researched a spell by level and class and got a random result. This menu, however, was all greyed out and would only be available when Carrick had a scriptorium. I told her so.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRHZBr53FI
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbHT2hTcZP
'What are you building now?' she asked.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu6pilaDPJ2
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrxDBDcAbt
'Hunting lodge three. Which is only a two-day build, whereas a scriptorium level one would take three days. What's the logic here, do you know? What makes some buildings longer than others?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0S1kp5hYSc
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWOySfRD31
Although it was obvious that Carlena didn't have a ready answer, she seemed reluctant to admit it and after a moment said, 'materials, importance, lots of factors. A scriptorium, even level one, could lift us into the first rank of kingdoms. Magic is key to winning battles. If you discovered Fireball for me, for example, that would make all the difference.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfu8Se76zkp
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡibwPUD2yIt
'I don't know. If the people are starving, that's us defeated before we even get to battle. I have to solve that first.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMkvnQMgXq
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUsX1bWXLuC
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqNUJk83Lr
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzxncfkEnv
Something about her tone made me look carefully at the sorceress. What could I see in her face and those extraordinary indigo eyes? Determination, authority and… ambition perhaps. Given that she needed me to access the menus for the realm, I had nothing to fear from her, did I? This was, however, a new universe, I reminded myself and I should take nothing for granted.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WAlgltGEV
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqL2m0X6se
At last our Cleric returned, looking completely different. Now she was wearing a chainmail suit of armour that included a coif, so she was glittering iron from head to toe. In one hand was a fierce-looking mace, in the other a shield and there was a pack on her back.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CPwnkGCep
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uNN3VAIkr
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nKJW9hgwc
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHiSXiOpmOk
Walking out of the west gate of the castle, the journey was a dull and tiring affair. I could no longer talk candidly to Carlena and learn more about the rules of the world; we had to stay in character. While I could call down menus, I was self-conscious about that too, given it involved arm gestures. Perhaps, though the Cleric was used to the king waving in the air.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxKwHPDhFqV
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7HLY3Owmq
About an hour into the journey, I began to falter. My thighs were sore from chaffing against each other and my shoulders ached from carrying the sword and the shield. It helped that Carlena had ordered the Cleric to carry my bow and quiver.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36bYb2Izbm
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt3iVkpYGLF
I was curious about the Cleric; what manner of person was she? What was her name even? But quite apart from the fact I needed every breath for the walk, I didn't ask. It wouldn't be true to the old King Carlos.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAjtx0QfQk
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYspTatAc8f
After what felt like ten miles, but was probably only two, we were on gorse-covered, sloping ground that led up to a skyline of rounded hills. Nearby, a lively-sounding stream ran through the gorse and wild grass.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKM2Mu2gHJ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgxddROh7j
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNEhYFok0M
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0UROSAQzX
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLxJ7OyR4f
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7wqznp411
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqjrmUYqTM
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3gQeHhotF
After a couple of minutes I stood up. 'Right so.' I took my bow from the cleric and put it on the ground at my feet, the quiver of arrows alongside it. Then I gripped my rapier in my left hand and hefted my shield in the right.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Ue4KiHv2f
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAG9HeN4oWD
Just behind me was the Cleric, a glance showed her looking determined: in her right hand was her mace but her left was touching a circle of bronze that rested on her chest, hanging from a necklace. I gave her a nod, which I hoped was encouraging, but she just looked away fearfully.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsoBpprGXE
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffEXtHev00
'Here!'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYLEFXhecw
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNa91ePgIg
Carlena was hurrying back towards me, with a brown creature chasing her that looked somewhat like a small ostrich or a baby tyrannosaurus. It was sprinting on two legs in an impressively fast waddle, its head swaying on a thin neck with the weight of a sharp-looking beak. It was feathered, but unlike an ostrich had two small arms with claws.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkubYHguFGb
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6a5mmffiF
Feet thumping on the path, Carlena swept past me and I launched into the monster. Or at least I tried. Instead of being able to adjust my feet and bring my rapier point between me and the creature, I stumbled slightly and the creature was inside my reach, landing a vicious whack onto my ribs on the left hand side with that chisel-like beak. The stone-hard bone tore through my tunic and when the beak pulled back, blood should have sprayed everywhere.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdiYbLzeFQ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVSjGtFlIu
Good news. The pain was mild, nothing like that of a real wound. And there was no blood, no exposed ribs, only a patch of red.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ifOiUiIqz
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH194o2qw1
Bad news.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xFEMLmFlC
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Gj4cWZJjr
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8ZEpzaDik
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1T9BrPaO1u
'Freeze!'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yBFsWOkSZ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzInoGtOQE
I staggered back, just before the monster lashed into me again. With a screech of outrage, the Ciatern – as I'd just learned it was called – strained its utmost to finish me off but trashed impotently with its two feet fastened to the ground.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEsKvw5AoX
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF9DdRN36m
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrK9AGqRehO
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmawaoOyNx
Shaking lose my shield and dropping the rapier, I gathered up the bow and grabbed an arrow, only to pull it back too far and somehow get the point jammed into the frame of the bow. My low Dexterity was really punishing me. From behind came the reassuring sounds of the cleric chanting.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVqb0RHxqfa
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvEgVSvlzS
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8oCbYH9rX
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDQ0ONW9dY
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGEnzcvMJ1
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrbqdtv33iY
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvv4xHBFSAB
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmTff1Lj4q
That was progress at least.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKnJ8u93IY
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiPkbJAFRI7
My next shot went wide and high.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhv9cfzAKw
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpUbK0R8gwL
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPwyd27Rhx
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnc4LCzjCdb
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3M1TAy0e1
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XhVHKh17w
For the third shot I really concentrated. I took my time, drew the arrow well, held my breath to steady my aim and fired. Miss again! It'd gotten closer but the arrow flew past to the right.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkis7U2qlCz
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGphNiohh1v
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1xB0Tcqzn
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchv5vf2gBI
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vIWvbFg2R
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepDrzrSTlK
A heal landed.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt2HCiFPcN
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13HN68MyKU
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX107Y4CeTV
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZimTbUCvu
'Last chance,' said Carlena.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6iUtQcLT5
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIapL9doKN
I missed.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUcpLHebGR
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCMieDN2d0x
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3sqPBpLdqr
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkRfYruPMya
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7JaOMz8Fw
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAXVcdFq4p
The screeching monster broke free and leapt at me again and I had nothing but the bow to interpose between me and that swift-moving, sharp beak.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5hY7F8Y61
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQxMVtkomb
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEC6kUtqCbZ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6RgnrcHT6v
'Not the start we hoped for,' I muttered apologetically. It had been years since I had played a low level tank. I'd forgotten how weak they were.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDn22oE21w
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcPhPd3jop
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CjiSSFtOb
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq42wyp3RZY
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3zCrvKk9d
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtEepEjp5b
'All?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbO0CjhJIKJ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYKVJ7Dn7I
'Sorry sire.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXcQ4VGt1i
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8gmm8tEBgE
Damn me, but this world was harsh. A day's mana on a 5 hit point heal. Admittedly, she was only a first level Cleric, but still.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjUR59KQeL
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGcOq8wxHx
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBROjkIvle
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKR72RfH1Xs
'Oh, did it?' Carlena looked at me with a quizzical expression, but she had a question she didn't voice it, perhaps holding back because of the presence of the Cleric.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nl6iCgeRU
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSyYHaM3JF
The Cleric went forward off the path and it took me a moment to realise she was looking for my arrows. That was a good idea and picking up my rapier and shield just in case, I went after the one that had gone high.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnD8KPDe3vB
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgT3BF08M19
There were several large boulders in the landscape and one of them had been close to where the arrow had travelled, so I used it as a landmark. As I was looking at it though, I had a sense that something had moved, some shadow in the wrong place.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hKTnWpgwx
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpp9K76SLmr
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnu1PIW1ide
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUt3Y2nm9C
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjSwjv1zNM
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftqlBmWhZt
'I think there is something at that rock.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdfM0bhA9J
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2BB2PVuGa
'Stay here… sire, please. Cleric, you circle to the right.' With that the Sorceress began moving to see around the back of the boulder by walking to my left, keeping her distance. Her hands, I noticed, were picking items out of her pouches. Did spells require components? It looked like it.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8xYTZnSfVp
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydUXLZMtnA
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡij8pMOn1gs
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76EpIVaQYb
'Freeze!'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqI7qQ2wtJ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMDJpXu4awv
I was already running at him, as fast as my heavy body would go, which was a frustratingly slow waddle. Still, I was in a good position this time. Twist and turn as he might, the man's feet were locked on the ground and I could line up my rapier point with his back. As I did so, a green box flickered into existence, then out as the blade moved on.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fezf1VjYu
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7lxCvfmjs
By pointing the weapon precisely, I could get the target box to stay and I gave a mental command, go! Lunge! Activate! It wasn't the word, but the intent that seemed to work and suddenly I jerked forward and stabbed hard into the man's spine.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8rSKjGVc6
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfHCvuhldg
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvmaODTe3K
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwFL7t131Z
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshviU1pvub
You cannot become better at Lunge.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOlJdpiQO7
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUwBapLMDB
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXayrf4UtZl
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnF8WicDlJM
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEA9WrUlbU
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqzhtfisWiZ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6ImRMr0ng
'Who are you?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hTR0VHhWF
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhcWorDgc2
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4bVCZBBOn
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'Of Southway?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQO5eyAMh1u
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1NB9MmDhU
'Aye.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlxjSHmJJn
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4wPr1EGEJ
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnce6yXt3V
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6LgV2UkoPx
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ozen1Eapb
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNTS5p45zbQ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Tlb6gM2ce
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpuN8SVOf5
You have killed a Rogue!360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5jcBz3DeJ
You cannot become better at Lunge.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaMbv2h7un
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs3sIuXUDNi
You have gained 35 Experience.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfBQPSv7Tad
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmLTGGBJ9k
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZz881UZwR
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzOYEz8wHY
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360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnlsarsyluX
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkh2Qecvy1l
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwUZOU3rsl
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73bCoYBaOm
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jAPMhwXJg
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFgNdvxP0r
'What next?'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkN7nhiGzuT
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL7f936Xp7R
'I have one more Freeze left and it seems that you have a useful attack with your sword. If I freeze something, you can get behind it and deal your damage that way, rather than try to use the bow.'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoYK0PeQMP
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMRy41x5AW2
'I agree.' And I did feel confident about this strategy. It was only a shame that Carlena was so short of mana, because I reckoned we'd now discovered a way I could grinding up several levels: Freeze and me Lunge from behind.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREyd6xXTg5
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ09bDhVc7m1
The Sorceress stooped by the body of the Rogue and came up with the dagger in her hand, then tossed it and caught it. 'This will do to attract attention.' With that she moved slowly through the heather, but again, it was me who saw a movement. A possible target, another Ciatern. I gave a low whistle and pointed.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdGbfHIzhn
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qS8XppML3
Without responding, Carlena walked towards the monster until she was about twenty yards away. The creature looked up. Neither moved until Carlena flung the dagger. The spinning blade missed, but it galvanised the Ciatern into a dash towards her. There was something comical about the way it ran but nothing at all humorous about the hammer head and sharp beak.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATXr01Gt6l
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhU98BjpE5B
'Freeze!'360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYW2IJBNA4q
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrL24Ii4Qa0
Again, that awful screeching began and I had to hurry closer to it, cleric at my side, and skirt around until I could line up my lunge at the creature's back.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvn3588un6u
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcmtJzbWQ6
It was a surprisingly long fight and I was getting anxious about the timer on Freeze when the mob finally died, after my fifth hit. With a delicious golden rush of light, I got the message I had been anticipating: I had levelled up!360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcqezRhMIQ
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsIdq7toGOU
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdhrS6DNUz1
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTBc2nePNi
You have killed a Ciatern!360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wt3Av2uRC
You cannot become better at Lunge.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCJS31lM1P
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaiCep2irD
You have gained 75 Experience.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDUdOtvlBY
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnHuHFs7C2
You have gained a level! Your hit points are restored and your timers on skills and feats have reset. Please view your character sheet for other benefits.360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlI5jDusTOE
360Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LGQTgXel9
This was more like it. I was delighted with myself. Yes, there was still a mountain to climb, but at least I was properly on the path now.
