Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.352Please respect copyright.PENANAIjnI6kLv2l
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.352Please respect copyright.PENANAW8Zxl9Jg8W
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'352Please respect copyright.PENANAUIkbEAGFFw
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As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAkp0uBzOpRD
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'352Please respect copyright.PENANAwMgDbEotzd
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA38rvAiO4OX
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'Yes sire!'352Please respect copyright.PENANA3XUUNN8JeM
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA2h1iORlQUV
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'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAuqXT0AzpHr
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.352Please respect copyright.PENANACgmu7mTSuu
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'352Please respect copyright.PENANA3lGJf5V0jJ
352Please respect copyright.PENANAE4EQ4OgHRE
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAVCAFaHjGCy
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA59hIXztxjg
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAmPLTcnDkaL
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.352Please respect copyright.PENANAvgWR2YFnnQ
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'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.352Please respect copyright.PENANAz4rGrlVfUH
352Please respect copyright.PENANAngGTaztiEQ
'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAtF8cX2dFnR
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I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAhEs7UXDdQS
352Please respect copyright.PENANAvFmzc1xOR2
Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAhLiBtaknSr
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'352Please respect copyright.PENANArHIJBuFVIF
352Please respect copyright.PENANARCVpimwoDK
'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAlEqoa3Rfuu
352Please respect copyright.PENANATA8qg0kraZ
Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.352Please respect copyright.PENANAx4zH8nCDdA
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAMf34rNidpG
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Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'352Please respect copyright.PENANATOv5PddnRj
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'352Please respect copyright.PENANAf2xG0Esckv
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAD2WfgR17VO
352Please respect copyright.PENANAhVbMrIfkye
'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAD2Wsb7yuBO
352Please respect copyright.PENANAmDxlX8ODTG
'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.352Please respect copyright.PENANAY68Rbc0puy
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.352Please respect copyright.PENANAi4KPQPB0o3
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'352Please respect copyright.PENANANcraEAr378
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.352Please respect copyright.PENANAE5AqBU40bB
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.352Please respect copyright.PENANA5b2Mto4iFV
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'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'352Please respect copyright.PENANACbsWqJ9LNo
352Please respect copyright.PENANAqnDTAhFVdD
Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.352Please respect copyright.PENANAXjxgfAW25e
352Please respect copyright.PENANAwr8EUs7vrR
Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.352Please respect copyright.PENANAU562LoToaW
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland352Please respect copyright.PENANAEV5ZhKl6dh
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0352Please respect copyright.PENANALjRbjRtz3a
352Please respect copyright.PENANAcS0yoPLfI2
Str 7352Please respect copyright.PENANASa8HHt4d8z
Dex 4352Please respect copyright.PENANAZitKYosb05
Con 8352Please respect copyright.PENANA4ogcsZwVJR
Int 16352Please respect copyright.PENANAI6GPWb7w3X
Wis 16352Please respect copyright.PENANA2HfUOUUHqV
Cha 4352Please respect copyright.PENANAmcwvTn3v7K
352Please respect copyright.PENANAfmhPlMspTG
Top Skills352Please respect copyright.PENANAjP1qPUIwIR
Bash 25352Please respect copyright.PENANAcPmzD5yE5S
Impale 25352Please respect copyright.PENANAiPhawV5aZW
Lunge 5352Please respect copyright.PENANAFEcQ3sncQb
Parry 5352Please respect copyright.PENANAADjFc4dwIQ
Wield Rapier 5352Please respect copyright.PENANAybCGVTWvHl
Wield Shortbow 3352Please respect copyright.PENANAXPMCtmW2YZ
Block 1352Please respect copyright.PENANAI2svyoEusy
Defensive Stance 1352Please respect copyright.PENANAJ4M7hw7IyS
Deflect 1352Please respect copyright.PENANAve0RdHrNAd
Dodge 1352Please respect copyright.PENANAbSpXHnIRbg
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.352Please respect copyright.PENANAZDpxp9PyLq
You have 15 skill points to assign.352Please respect copyright.PENANA4mF08xRka2
352Please respect copyright.PENANAtjBMGK1j26
XP 2,860 (3,200)
352Please respect copyright.PENANAnz3F5rzJA4352Please respect copyright.PENANALoQni5qxnm
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.352Please respect copyright.PENANAeI5lnziCqY
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.352Please respect copyright.PENANAJUowFWSKuC
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:352Please respect copyright.PENANAQIFdW2781V
352Please respect copyright.PENANAHOtpqVMFWF
Berserker352Please respect copyright.PENANAXyAIc1mTFh
Champion352Please respect copyright.PENANAa208qeJamY
Paladin352Please respect copyright.PENANA3ytqpKF38b
Shadow Knight352Please respect copyright.PENANAllNPn2w0Li
Warlord
352Please respect copyright.PENANANb6t6DtQNd
Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.352Please respect copyright.PENANArEZWDF5H9i
352Please respect copyright.PENANAtbBKI8XgCc
Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.352Please respect copyright.PENANARgAYe6HnvQ
352Please respect copyright.PENANAT6xKMfG4Q1
Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.352Please respect copyright.PENANAm7hnM0zY0L
352Please respect copyright.PENANAQZGTi6efa8
It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.352Please respect copyright.PENANArNvHSxJm1m
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.352Please respect copyright.PENANA9KthEM0Eox
352Please respect copyright.PENANAMzpYzRDrpD
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:352Please respect copyright.PENANAyjW5rLfh92
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Military352Please respect copyright.PENANAw62uYx84fw
Light infantry: 26*352Please respect copyright.PENANAe8eEbphXBJ
Heavy infantry: 11*352Please respect copyright.PENANA6EZdH8eWgv
Archers: 34*352Please respect copyright.PENANA8f4qVZJjf7
Light cavalry: 18*352Please respect copyright.PENANAVAnEME1bVM
Heavy cavalry: 4*352Please respect copyright.PENANAR5QqTfdcmB
Ballista: 1352Please respect copyright.PENANARtEyuYMiEK
352Please respect copyright.PENANAkagJwevPQR
(*veterans)352Please respect copyright.PENANAr38A9NAHuM
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Hospital: 18352Please respect copyright.PENANArWaiyOjJon
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver352Please respect copyright.PENANAxKGCigbgpU
352Please respect copyright.PENANARo2veZfWTO
Currently training:352Please respect copyright.PENANA0J41ltBlXM
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1352Please respect copyright.PENANAK4FZHOkCi1
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.352Please respect copyright.PENANA49bIcgwPHL
352Please respect copyright.PENANAfpmfA3vpBm
There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.352Please respect copyright.PENANAwqxQDtg6SU
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'Take a seat.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA4XoFFRs8lo
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She obeyed me.352Please respect copyright.PENANAyX6Xbi4XLp
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'What's your name?'352Please respect copyright.PENANA7HMzPJShym
352Please respect copyright.PENANA7F8kBz6Emd
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAMUgcADlhst
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'352Please respect copyright.PENANAz8xrUtMAns
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'Yes sire.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAMUvTpo3Kv1
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'352Please respect copyright.PENANAshdZ2N9DP9
352Please respect copyright.PENANAAs7Xkr324i
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'352Please respect copyright.PENANA2tOJfDiOuP
352Please respect copyright.PENANAT3a0gahQBI
'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAbXM9mYVJmE
352Please respect copyright.PENANAq3bhpo0XsT
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAw5OFF65mM4
352Please respect copyright.PENANAwaDxE4Qltg
'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAW8c1dq3Qrl
352Please respect copyright.PENANANWAe6EP6mS
It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.352Please respect copyright.PENANAAVXQWXBJZk
352Please respect copyright.PENANA3CQevi0zuq
Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.352Please respect copyright.PENANAhYcxGueAPc
352Please respect copyright.PENANANEPZbciGcV
'Well done Chancellor.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAeqRoCyNNvw
352Please respect copyright.PENANAfLynKTd6J5
'Thank you sire.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAgk49RvhKYj
352Please respect copyright.PENANAHb4JHdoNOz
One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.352Please respect copyright.PENANATKc04SdLAW
352Please respect copyright.PENANA51BDbRexTP
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.352Please respect copyright.PENANA2ZBghsQEpM
352Please respect copyright.PENANApRqNMUZw7Z
I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.352Please respect copyright.PENANA07ynmUICWk
352Please respect copyright.PENANAUvFaT5GgAI
'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA5QXcuHGRoE
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I nodded.352Please respect copyright.PENANA8qN89smybp
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAo2JNJe4V4q
352Please respect copyright.PENANA0i462pYXet
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'352Please respect copyright.PENANAcEBmsg4QGy
352Please respect copyright.PENANAMYw7Q6nFZ8
'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAm1EQX9rfAM
352Please respect copyright.PENANAPMrDREeRcQ
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'352Please respect copyright.PENANAsemK53oCS4
352Please respect copyright.PENANAL8RRpI7DlO
'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA2BR9e48mQd
352Please respect copyright.PENANATD85AY32Qq
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAncy1H8IaGM
352Please respect copyright.PENANAho79WxiTEQ
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAuqoIG41ExT
352Please respect copyright.PENANAnfdzFZu1hS
We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.352Please respect copyright.PENANAzlzRV71Z2C
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'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'352Please respect copyright.PENANArv86JPSN7r
352Please respect copyright.PENANAhp8fiTK2PY
'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'352Please respect copyright.PENANA9ybnyZFon5
352Please respect copyright.PENANA7q4e24ATuT
Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.352Please respect copyright.PENANACdshXKNOfj
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8352Please respect copyright.PENANAnz8xLRITxK
352Please respect copyright.PENANA0LFz7yoqP6
HP 79352Please respect copyright.PENANAlD4uiPj0bt
AC 18352Please respect copyright.PENANADX4w91xvbU
XP 30,124 (64,200)352Please respect copyright.PENANABoEAJzFiUR
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.352Please respect copyright.PENANAWO2ShtL07D
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
352Please respect copyright.PENANAcXiZk6JVCN
'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'352Please respect copyright.PENANA24xYIzjmgY
352Please respect copyright.PENANAdxPi8VaFYj
'Congratulations!'352Please respect copyright.PENANAMFkm5EsKDt
352Please respect copyright.PENANAM6mCqOePzc
'To Lord Arval!'352Please respect copyright.PENANAGo5dUkfDcz
352Please respect copyright.PENANAOGwxeisKqE
Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.352Please respect copyright.PENANAOyKNUIzAlT
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At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'352Please respect copyright.PENANAflfXisIoS2
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.352Please respect copyright.PENANArhyQR9kJvO
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.352Please respect copyright.PENANA5L2kY9z1z9
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He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'352Please respect copyright.PENANA619RaVq6ht
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How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.