'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡliVDbU3AX7
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JklFPL3gf
'Can you find other quests for me?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsgWznd6QkJ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQiSCA4k6nL
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QCAsfLiBU
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCgYzKxWcrD
'Risk?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98rLGXosN3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3eXn58muN
'You could die.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ60TMdDpY3i
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvtACV0rpQY
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?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77ldn1i5BN
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmMHoPcndFw
'As a vampire?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoMyTKFX4yY
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx8xKE9GpQg
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolPdXCCT3u
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGRaOACaB3t
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhDwjZvEDTh
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7OyJBa0qhq
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLrNjaUXY03
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1kSdUvwim
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12164aEAh8
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGUApZ2rcqS
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGcTTjAb8c
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSBGlAJqMi8
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenyRPxqTCP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmebZX9LrVm
'True.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LqFn7OM0t
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhUppdwK7r
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxaERBgggT
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hYE7LTZh2
'Sire?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyrVGpbJf3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGwKAOwuuX
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8Vyyyv8Mz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKsVtIAMwy
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMIdTdpCYX
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkcmDeHIGHs
'Not too likely to kill me?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkrcSA7kSb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxeEeDmn3dJ
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXHG6FjbGz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVQHZlOk2K
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgp1hEaCON
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1qA5E7HpYh
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk58FvuDrpb
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd80EKZMofH
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFSP62li1C
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBoj2daJtl
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OwqOkDf21
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLry90P5pTL
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gwmK6oG7g
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzOc1PEacB
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I2xK2ZcBN
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmXRWmFptKq
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXzGunWF1c
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoBrPT7Z4Km
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidZSDjt3U4
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJPjgpoAa8
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxHisRUfJe
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5T9zMggIA
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1JNnxKSqV
Church level 1408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk88GjGA4N
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6zNeDWhTz
Priest: Cleric level 1408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlIRgRIfPs
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFMWLbLnXh
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo6cP0fcTxf
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ekob7HMRD
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIHBQxQmlU
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvf0KTxTld2
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XPDA5S0Hx
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9mk391NAWv
'Sire?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡta5oENsCk4
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1I0NgT13Jo
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpxg4ogAcr8
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE9TDUR2b7G
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ghszPscbs
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12hrxByYNV
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6HwyL316QJ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRrfYNk9vs
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHvQ5kCo0G
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYFpwvLk6Oa
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGYCbvDn7n
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwd5CV25Ua
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiMrqonpzL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxtRIn8xj2
'What are you building now?' she asked.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7wW4zBLiaZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVxMcm9koT
'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?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXJqZH42s0
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatZetxuJcO
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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlStdpySU4f
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0laDemcXd9
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGjjlHJZ4yo
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIL3Kb2AjU
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡllGyY3Hpfa
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO8DnzgVMi
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfvphA3Wli
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIAbAi5U9P
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAgixAXob6
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRN1IoDfyC
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiBn2C8cYms
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5mXsO7I9BY
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7HSLRQ3Nq
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHlYWq77DGc
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyCuzvQgHm
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKSNE1UkO5
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBz31ttXDS
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNDf8r72d8
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ52xp1k7wfz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvgfzsoSdT4
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSN1RQFfhR9
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvnbNTL3hl
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgWkeTNItP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCrnWKpMMq4
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡECCrmyx1wN
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9xMuNe2xD
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41yposB6j5
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAdwkFsh54G
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9qknXchPm
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxZbHNFXBa8
'Here!'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwJIIq9JBa
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WIGTPJms1
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXnC1iJi0G
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqZITxmn1Nh
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbT1TQFdAog
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIcPy5eYf2
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwdhzg5aVm
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOietbLFhr
Bad news.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PxE7aKJfC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIKU9Nf9Ik
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUfk0T4P01
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFSe71kI4iq
'Freeze!'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d4nFNAvjP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvVmnR7tYq
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXjTUG9ugh
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPP2VSjfvPZ
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOM2Aod3M6p
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkDUp3eGr2g
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiPuhBdpAX
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbau2zFyNx
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr2r0Ds4nZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFiOG2nw7ve
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZr5YHqV3fq
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcopQY2iZMu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyJleXf3Hj5
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxafbhz1oH3
That was progress at least.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjNWhCv8FQ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNKeZO9O4Rz
My next shot went wide and high.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nF0WXInqg
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBjvIbkFM7
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztZyi9M7TF
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIMwYP7Lvn
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡboSdj8nx1b
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijTXCUsq70
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvzBMThydt
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTwBXimGFSZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13Z6HEBYaa
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0biC4JkvBV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0I6SU0UFu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoba547uztK
A heal landed.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBktY6yBFi
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKztVnVxbVL
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCW3WLH5top
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMFHXS3ObZ
'Last chance,' said Carlena.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbH4W1Zp9oX
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VxSyL1fTa
I missed.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCBhUQJ7DyQ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYzqGrtp6FP
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrraKBuElO
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM8sM0r755E
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsH1XNIvkzW
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHsRgl0YJFV
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0JQVC8j311
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1oWdrMJig
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXzWYDuFdT
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXLbXD32Zu
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMEItwhtpzL
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEMlElTnEw
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpFkD0jVgC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AElhjBB3r
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7sflSzF9Px
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0C8f7tz2Cc
'All?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Iu06z0qlR
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIBuqd7Aed
'Sorry sire.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsc8Wr4aBJC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw1wZ8Hmt0m
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaO3EYgLvMN
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ234QQXBhVJ
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26AnF4uqPr
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp1eqz8sVrI
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb2spLXwkkQ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlo7YdlWCA
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Btcz8Ao6H
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHeTkwsSKq
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoqHrc0FT7B
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i2cJR34xe
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76HNv8IxHu
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcz7hGFCVlt
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TNReNgTqI
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkbYtWP4bN
'I think there is something at that rock.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7Tctj98O1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡahv4R8PsEa
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK4ULDIVIRz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjt9XUvNPb
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEMP2hCd3e
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSE61EfZjH
'Freeze!'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtKgGMIrcXC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9Gopm0sc7
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDEeUtFKHnA
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjDf8T1C67d
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxArDU2eo1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7E1vQ0X14n
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrAm4Cbduz
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6oOHYTv01m
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxuXpIfYUev
You cannot become better at Lunge.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxH7i120ut
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGZOTgCUq7
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡat9Ds6uKNC
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFkRM10muO
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7I9LLG0rIF
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7CtIy9CPr
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUNHjWrpxO
'Who are you?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd6RaFzprJz
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOiI3QUDlm
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4l7L2VxuSN
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqhT47tUwz
'Of Southway?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5K0QTCAgK1
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTSct02AIxR
'Aye.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqJd0bYZ3B
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfnHjlDhl5
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKP9RCLJV9
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7z74GRRanl
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwGgoddYCR
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyiTlJEw3p
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzDgPVToQjZ
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtmqEt461O
You have killed a Rogue!408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcj4AB7qLX
You cannot become better at Lunge.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JS7qdl2kO
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtErqDQkdtL
You have gained 35 Experience.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMUQDKEd8R
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡepfa68o8nR
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77s3eLcuAv
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyOzECqfat3
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0lHcgSiFzn
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAGLkmVliFZ
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86jhtxSs1d
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbL8LDSpkKR
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSsKH205eT
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVOMSlG6cM
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgsFyW5c8u
'What next?'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxQGb1ICTA
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpli9YhImJ
'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.'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAHv0I8CxK
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4aTkGbGOkC
'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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ceGttINNV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡND2PvnGWev
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGNaJJ3EHT
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSRlpCWSdU
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCA2fGlYlo
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtdWgOIwIfO
'Freeze!'408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAWMFLDl4A
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZDC6Yzs1D
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7D9iHkVINV
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYlklLuPEB
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!408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFQqqvJRoo
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVKx1Hkj6Ec
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUAuJGaxO3
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIAHd7YqSfE
You have killed a Ciatern!408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Z0SXWCfN1
You cannot become better at Lunge.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1adaMepKT
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlL5oI4ZkcM
You have gained 75 Experience.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwq47lgYVC
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaOnn9H0Fh
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.408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5il9F0GFXI
408Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0gU071jp0f
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.
