'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSlRVmB3nT
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'Can you find other quests for me?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhz7uZpygmp
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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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AOn4ot2t4
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvkIPFlrux
'Risk?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4CZMfKSzN
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXg22CKgMeg
'You could die.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWJgemrwxm
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxB6wLbJfQ
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?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCFzmGq6v71
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'As a vampire?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjN6m5o4xW
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkPFVEkS1nO
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5zpeyi4bz0
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgkQbe3mZnw
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8EtSUbNIm
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHk3eNw7iAk
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLUzWLpEUFU
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlXQmkg3OPO
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUERVKSjmO
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A2NTwu1xA
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7KE0oipfJ
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'True.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLFtjYSxEn
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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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lisVNAZRv
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'Sire?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfX5eqIO4g
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksh7sVGQEx
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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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0N4PriJVa
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'Not too likely to kill me?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsJmM0ZG3m
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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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaue7DhMP4
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u0n864eYP
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzc27v09lky
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxxmRx038z
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAcghlqnywg
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ93np9K11rZ
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVWqZlBS43T
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftOUbJPmgn
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvI6oicflS
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoVILwoMfoR
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡETs0Wdlz40
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcr70Ad2sZ
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWdhgvdpir3
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfSnm8rfvL
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFNiyrGrY5e
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡym7SvsXoX0
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjpfTzVmNd
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnFvKDgSR4t
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPWjPQbkGw
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiQNNPKUXP
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Church level 1335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCy430JHpmg
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Priest: Cleric level 1335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRBfg4fzKQt
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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 1.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZZstFaWp4I
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMeD1MWZYR
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzVinT0bRZ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcmjaDzjko
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBu2e9Rc9nu
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'Sire?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvqo0Q2zRot
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICyusxpmdQ
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGQx1TeyGwY
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMyiI1eHZx
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLVlXevLK6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJH0Gf8c5LR
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARZDShJYSh
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQsjhpz0PFw
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP0ozQPnvG
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKQ8RWUKSAM
'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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JZT5bDRou
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMO2PPBbuf
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN73HKDom0
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYRqe4EULJq
'What are you building now?' she asked.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkng5gV4uBr
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'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?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YhDmiTbMb
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZla5PiTwEO
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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU53serSQYD
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqE6RCueHV
'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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsc892y6gE
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJ9H90lt69
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUgc3t27bv
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuGFVPxHOg
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuqVok8vy6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe6LsNZsmH
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXetc6pqrH
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsUzZcy6Rs
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG4MlcUKApk
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aIZUq683V
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD6mEcRQKK
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnfeGL11IPH
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnfVJGKfBT
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpqq46N5Gm
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKaAlppA19
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOSL0UtmAl
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeK4zcUeRN
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUh4wTs28lo
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXM6eotwyD
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZt7TLzIFxS
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRxDHVXYnu
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuy06pdnRmd
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyh5fOHTwb
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGVUHp7Ucv
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhKLaCMygQH
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVfuKkbbGk
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPwMkBfQ5n
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'Here!'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckOACiVt9T
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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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGa8ToqPY0
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmer0g0h7cT
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMw7gQvjUI
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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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQMnbhxDT8
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Bad news.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLO03QTLKO
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡazfas272d3
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WVLwCTOEV
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNMSbvQHPlH
'Freeze!'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0eStJxBz2
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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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7mthgCjo5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4F03RRwdqa
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrPKHyiA5Qp
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2PIsOdUK
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYLvzV3cqt
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSuz4hj7gu
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TrNyXJ9YD
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NP7OPtlYq
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz3HeYMVDi3
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIA6uZ4zOZd
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That was progress at least.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y8zqogXho
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My next shot went wide and high.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZeHK5870a
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335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ21wt0FWaYm
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaQ0hm5rd4
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335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2KLHb0sIz2
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsvuSRzBzmg
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnoJ94WJsS
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUN9er6mwGs
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6bCeEbMb2
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCQ99RRIYC
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRcjakLbba
A heal landed.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29uaV846Pa
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbryhEn5KjI
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOgE5zDki6K
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZH6PXsnbZG
'Last chance,' said Carlena.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5KbNH21p9N
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I missed.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzv2SNBquBG
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhPZKeY38LL
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cuqqzJNQv
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxou4BwnLlX
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNetcV7qAU
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpunUOnjbyO
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BY42BeoNH
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8E5m2cZCwP
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN3I2BUifg
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpBHxxfhoOR
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QIMIHutIl
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeyAJZJQQy
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8mmeMRtQI
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2HoYYhtQE
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5voeoChupK
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'All?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZuiOTYHRj
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'Sorry sire.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReSj63ahFx
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjGU24Kksg
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROXx7dEDOH
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8MBbvKBNk
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69C52Y3DiX
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNLPDhO5RAz
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BDv2SNNwj
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPz5HBEWDq
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQF2mpINrfo
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCjsF7ZOg3x
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡulB52NIJvi
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZKyG7Zw0a
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5kV0iDA9P
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6iX3RNF7S
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmWPdHpscmA
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEpvc6GfYS
'I think there is something at that rock.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX642HhSrs
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ247JZIy6gs
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMauqNp6hlV
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeIbBOan6w
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgYHUXBP41
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK08NoxIaZ
'Freeze!'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfiUkYhnq7r
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPyDBWCGkI
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wdNrlpaur
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnhO8bDED6
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvQvVcMzvT
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpROg1fS0I
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhZx9uzqmG1
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNgpZ5IIFXo
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYMCchkFc9
You cannot become better at Lunge.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRn3g395jbh
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLd9dJ2CC5
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznB4ZSNjnB
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFiZNlF17e
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUkHGIkgRTm
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ORKXHG8lI
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkdOcePIwB
'Who are you?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIL8NVfuH2L
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9BsV4UKec
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHXDsTk5om
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKGmkfiHnF
'Of Southway?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6OzNomRe7E
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0rrHm0YRl
'Aye.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSm4zBxLgEo
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7poswHsx1m
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPuJvqBbEi
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHBf6PzP5m
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79LirVekB2
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8S3Mmo2SVw
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1lGLEQSgY
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTE46CFSO8
You have killed a Rogue!335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMfLj5P6PbC
You cannot become better at Lunge.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmkIh7XPZX
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdqvmphFYc
You have gained 35 Experience.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLy7Ut0eHC6
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg7PZnECeQ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOXaB7FhVA
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUw1pWlc5M
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWqNG32JOc
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Ev5FzFPVQ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzQnhDoCSd
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5Fq1238Zh
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi4rzwjGabB
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzKb5CPMEO
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeQQBmbVLA
'What next?'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHdF9pycmL
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWKuSzvlsJ
'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.'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNu63TMChfZ
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwTFFZYnJmr
'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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHakILhpqU
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PeeYmmAES
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYdnzeyHxA
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEmZOpN2Og
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfp4qBgbkn
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsWrphDMfW
'Freeze!'335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB31mnBxSsq
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ocFW2sj49
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BRlo2OKYO
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUyCsse1DE
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!335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqg6WSXtITz
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU173I6feuS
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnsgRDqwe00
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAAFLKoVQo2
You have killed a Ciatern!335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2P7UgjsI6
You cannot become better at Lunge.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UEjVoQjlq
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZmn8dqEh7
You have gained 75 Experience.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT6ouzcLW7V
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDMEmnAeABA
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.335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGYVk1w10Wu
335Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sopO1PD6x
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.
