'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAOUAT1gHiqR
375Please respect copyright.PENANAIhwLGqkt69
'Can you find other quests for me?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAp7xCsnpJzM
375Please respect copyright.PENANAhSnr6tJqaF
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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAhlaeqdfVag
375Please respect copyright.PENANAzWLyIDJbGA
'Risk?'375Please respect copyright.PENANACiCOgs3rjh
375Please respect copyright.PENANAJltnhe28bG
'You could die.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA0xbnWpERrK
375Please respect copyright.PENANAn9PiK5KzLL
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?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAIFIn6kyM1s
375Please respect copyright.PENANAfzO5xJwuvi
'As a vampire?'375Please respect copyright.PENANA7YPILit86a
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5GYqM6Ve8q
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA5HQ4aipGwl
375Please respect copyright.PENANAzuXjPWa9wB
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAEI5kVbL7G9
375Please respect copyright.PENANACO5H4ccIC4
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'375Please respect copyright.PENANALTEf1oW1Zc
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZ2NtPJPpYz
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA88vSyEa0y7
375Please respect copyright.PENANAmHhMfVRedB
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAKOjj2STRpU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAvE1YOTz40Z
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAL16p996ebU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZbgm5gMTGk
'True.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA5xK0gb3qqh
375Please respect copyright.PENANAI7k0PYKEgg
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAPPPsFMCaGe
375Please respect copyright.PENANA1D0S7NeBiF
'Sire?'375Please respect copyright.PENANA0M8mezaWYG
375Please respect copyright.PENANAN0L8xs9fwK
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAhfPkIk4cId
375Please respect copyright.PENANAHt9n6cjcBE
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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANALdmhNr4AcH
375Please respect copyright.PENANAO4siDIOFou
'Not too likely to kill me?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAmOGFf6WUSJ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAyz1k6QdA4W
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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA8MQY6iFMjr
375Please respect copyright.PENANA42ToemP5SI
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAgxokeMwgJs
375Please respect copyright.PENANAiAKdFqCQd2
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.375Please respect copyright.PENANA9ENJtc4m1C
375Please respect copyright.PENANAnL7jGBQDTE
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAjuLHgD9u3i
375Please respect copyright.PENANAfbrThNWTl9
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqZAc4sjTer
375Please respect copyright.PENANAS2sKVlzLOR
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAoQdtDng4tz
375Please respect copyright.PENANAckqV8efuFx
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAde3zfD6IFv
375Please respect copyright.PENANAgCCzcxj5iN
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANATjYHzlv35p
375Please respect copyright.PENANAguFrnBm6IJ
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAC29QNBPFRm
375Please respect copyright.PENANA9ZTt4yipSC
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.375Please respect copyright.PENANAenUSXVjQuU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAehaaYTsPyb
375Please respect copyright.PENANAeenx4yy9so
Church level 1375Please respect copyright.PENANAELO3AH2ouR
375Please respect copyright.PENANAn6sqZ26drb
Priest: Cleric level 1375Please respect copyright.PENANAsW3VWb0XqQ
375Please respect copyright.PENANALbTDTkE3H5
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.375Please respect copyright.PENANATp8UPEe3mH
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPMkTKaHb8i
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAPVFmKCJYCR
375Please respect copyright.PENANAVR5RZXy2zh
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAmLxolkaFK7
375Please respect copyright.PENANAIBnAS93If4
'Sire?'375Please respect copyright.PENANA9Q8RzwRshR
375Please respect copyright.PENANA9OSf8VpnI7
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAiCH0tpWb7c
375Please respect copyright.PENANAYs5sJuAEn3
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.375Please respect copyright.PENANAA5PlE1OE0V
375Please respect copyright.PENANAqzFwYjVinO
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAgg1nkSmBAD
375Please respect copyright.PENANAV6wM2zJwIH
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAECWGpLf9vA
375Please respect copyright.PENANAR6cvpfn0dk
'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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAnP2m0AeSj3
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkAnUijcv33
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAmFZXvfTAUn
375Please respect copyright.PENANAGLwmuIrSCy
'What are you building now?' she asked.375Please respect copyright.PENANAPPTL5XV7f3
375Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ0hzH9wbd
'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?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAKWQUeFZsUQ
375Please respect copyright.PENANA3VJpL3j0pR
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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAU0unMHS98S
375Please respect copyright.PENANAToiOvZxXoy
'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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAk18yDSol2j
375Please respect copyright.PENANARoIXvik45B
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAddQlZGSp41
375Please respect copyright.PENANAo3e8vYtr1g
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAMenDEbLlOA
375Please respect copyright.PENANAQUmkK10J9j
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAZu6OgNXIzg
375Please respect copyright.PENANANYcRsypMqT
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAGJ6lnCKSU9
375Please respect copyright.PENANAz33A21EMw7
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAHAbEwhegAU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAGNgUdj4792
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAcBfaxgNZov
375Please respect copyright.PENANAyyt9Vkul7t
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAPUjRRPXXDV
375Please respect copyright.PENANAlBr2wtQMsp
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqhClW4xiJa
375Please respect copyright.PENANAC9kRNi2hNz
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.375Please respect copyright.PENANAayDtxl9I31
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZ4t5lcfMIi
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAIOdmJWKGQr
375Please respect copyright.PENANAhe8Aqkiopv
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA5jjwTnZtWU
375Please respect copyright.PENANALcoXGvrsR0
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA6GUgK0SBbx
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5NQyM07wP1
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAMRBn3AnwqP
375Please respect copyright.PENANAwkCAanFHXS
'Here!'375Please respect copyright.PENANAPcKJKBIJ7b
375Please respect copyright.PENANAlV89syRgOD
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAVsZ8JzjPYZ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAA14qFHixcq
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANATjb9IyaS2x
375Please respect copyright.PENANAFnLpEEmmW3
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA2XK9uyr6i5
375Please respect copyright.PENANA4m3Qpe5YYD
Bad news.375Please respect copyright.PENANAagiJwFkodo
375Please respect copyright.PENANA4vahGd2NfU
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!375Please respect copyright.PENANABpHHeR4Zbg
375Please respect copyright.PENANAx9rgMBZVV8
'Freeze!'375Please respect copyright.PENANA1CVxdag46K
375Please respect copyright.PENANAJpWRI4ud1h
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAw7pi1IqW1s
375Please respect copyright.PENANAHyISyFAA0M
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.375Please respect copyright.PENANAMxAA4Apcf7
375Please respect copyright.PENANAjWrBAmDbbp
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAXWJBsXNUGP
375Please respect copyright.PENANAziOW4Xl5qp
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.375Please respect copyright.PENANAbz8mMwSzu6
375Please respect copyright.PENANAj6UVMKMDwt
375Please respect copyright.PENANABng0D8QaFJ
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency375Please respect copyright.PENANAfDLQYeL6Kc
375Please respect copyright.PENANAQaQxx2UbVI
375Please respect copyright.PENANAITAP4NMInq
That was progress at least.375Please respect copyright.PENANA4itTJYTiZU
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZLEcziEN4r
My next shot went wide and high.375Please respect copyright.PENANAZkMs2HSuu2
375Please respect copyright.PENANATgHwzQz6rp
375Please respect copyright.PENANAdtY7TLhCNk
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1375Please respect copyright.PENANAWT4x6uUY8W
375Please respect copyright.PENANApSLOJaivoK
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcPaj2BE8bg
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAiUJFQuyapO
375Please respect copyright.PENANAPFvGOSMwVK
375Please respect copyright.PENANA7ufYpubnqs
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2375Please respect copyright.PENANA9px2zjqjBj
375Please respect copyright.PENANA7oxkeZsMxT
375Please respect copyright.PENANAkYsbyUhusZ
A heal landed.375Please respect copyright.PENANA7Ucj9iVfXD
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5edYs0EuCd
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqznq2Zo9o3
375Please respect copyright.PENANAjhWNbGqyD3
'Last chance,' said Carlena.375Please respect copyright.PENANAAWn68Gmtyk
375Please respect copyright.PENANAa3JykfYmwz
I missed.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqyyn8l2JVo
375Please respect copyright.PENANA70P5xSTYVx
375Please respect copyright.PENANA8xemIedgbg
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3375Please respect copyright.PENANAKvgZzcr4jO
375Please respect copyright.PENANAeHVQbvjyeo
375Please respect copyright.PENANA84aUluciq3
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAFYTCcpU8Us
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUjutWNLcsZ
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.375Please respect copyright.PENANA1oMIY73doz
375Please respect copyright.PENANAUqkBHH5tQz
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAt2lDbaQsEE
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcmtgtN3cNp
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAPt28TalJsW
375Please respect copyright.PENANAjWYWPwKlRS
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.375Please respect copyright.PENANA5le1kT9rRp
375Please respect copyright.PENANAZ3Z56VQZr2
'All?'375Please respect copyright.PENANA1SpXBfH3k0
375Please respect copyright.PENANAunbDzjOePX
'Sorry sire.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA09LesmkGOv
375Please respect copyright.PENANAo0owg766gH
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAmKQzbRo6Kz
375Please respect copyright.PENANA7y3YS6Kwr7
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAk2LuPNq4WK
375Please respect copyright.PENANA3UfDWKRcIT
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANArHNEnhpRp0
375Please respect copyright.PENANA3U7lH0Azp6
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA6sKtyS7qGT
375Please respect copyright.PENANA5NMkyCedx5
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAE9ocCqt0lR
375Please respect copyright.PENANA9d9Vcz31kS
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'375Please respect copyright.PENANAmTa5K7coiP
375Please respect copyright.PENANAJRtq2O3kxk
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.375Please respect copyright.PENANA1fKfXYQv9n
375Please respect copyright.PENANAu2IAU7d60G
'I think there is something at that rock.'375Please respect copyright.PENANANwlHIO1JAr
375Please respect copyright.PENANAsqglD387qR
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAlRq2w7xX5q
375Please respect copyright.PENANAaG09FZs3tZ
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.375Please respect copyright.PENANAfLXjBtl8wa
375Please respect copyright.PENANA46Dl21fwzg
'Freeze!'375Please respect copyright.PENANA34HMvtX0PW
375Please respect copyright.PENANATNcsiILSeo
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA9nZN3nyGWt
375Please respect copyright.PENANA60WpjsoSjZ
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAfeFdHNZyff
375Please respect copyright.PENANAO7FmSCaeyC
375Please respect copyright.PENANAeBq3ZF2Qkr
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.375Please respect copyright.PENANAEFr1ToiL56
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.375Please respect copyright.PENANAbinbE5kMdh
You cannot become better at Lunge.375Please respect copyright.PENANAfoQzT8obyY
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMcCZByjIkW
375Please respect copyright.PENANAcHfYQHuUvu
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.375Please respect copyright.PENANAJtjbwgBBXC
375Please respect copyright.PENANA7P38oNB0LM
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.375Please respect copyright.PENANAZl5JrglAwl
375Please respect copyright.PENANAFfw3pkLAJw
'Who are you?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAsyM9yegz5q
375Please respect copyright.PENANAvTI5xqCDdD
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'375Please respect copyright.PENANA2Ak7n5f5ah
375Please respect copyright.PENANArZ4hLu9TxP
'Of Southway?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAgJIhpukHat
375Please respect copyright.PENANAE40EFCotTU
'Aye.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAVlWForLE55
375Please respect copyright.PENANA9yrNNApWsZ
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAgasnlAiIkI
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMagBmKIAJd
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqYLSgRKOHc
375Please respect copyright.PENANAk6HLbgkwXl
375Please respect copyright.PENANA03U5lAMvrr
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.375Please respect copyright.PENANAe4feBDMaBE
You have killed a Rogue!375Please respect copyright.PENANAHsDJHv9zzH
You cannot become better at Lunge.375Please respect copyright.PENANAG6SFjEJ8If
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1375Please respect copyright.PENANAvQkd324zIM
You have gained 35 Experience.375Please respect copyright.PENANA5YII6Ge2go
375Please respect copyright.PENANAweot0eW6FE
375Please respect copyright.PENANABkbXQUCpfb
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.375Please respect copyright.PENANAfKLUzfW2Er
375Please respect copyright.PENANAI428WUWr8s375Please respect copyright.PENANARgPRCB8Jbe
375Please respect copyright.PENANA3FA7uYzuJU
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.375Please respect copyright.PENANAqCBVeohsmD
375Please respect copyright.PENANARNqtHcQmbU
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAD4rnhPJLhJ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAbpsztiEpmJ
'What next?'375Please respect copyright.PENANAbXlSRmA9eZ
375Please respect copyright.PENANAJy1SuyfNKa
'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.'375Please respect copyright.PENANAGwTQEr8oRp
375Please respect copyright.PENANAmmztk4lEO3
'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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA0LfPXybndo
375Please respect copyright.PENANADsDk4BgChp
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAefpHAqBeCA
375Please respect copyright.PENANATHlF8DgWMf
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAGGlqZ5UZld
375Please respect copyright.PENANANFkP2YnXyv
'Freeze!'375Please respect copyright.PENANAiJ8xPIn95p
375Please respect copyright.PENANAgkTIca15qB
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANAXdyr5hOyE4
375Please respect copyright.PENANAztE8XeRKGM
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!375Please respect copyright.PENANA6TssUEH41J
375Please respect copyright.PENANAsX1J8cY8ur
375Please respect copyright.PENANA6BOQXYuF03
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.375Please respect copyright.PENANA0vxJFQKtxO
You have killed a Ciatern!375Please respect copyright.PENANAw3CbUIrhlL
You cannot become better at Lunge.375Please respect copyright.PENANAXvLuZfYjcN
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5375Please respect copyright.PENANAh9z6weADwH
You have gained 75 Experience.375Please respect copyright.PENANARDcJrZncjs
375Please respect copyright.PENANAMvyjq6eQxn
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.375Please respect copyright.PENANA44xuvzAafc
375Please respect copyright.PENANAIi7JKrqdkO
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.