'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DmD5XrSxW
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3DK0B9ZLCl
'Can you find other quests for me?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPty86jDNA9
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR6VmYdDeCo
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4frsEbM792
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwWTH3d6p4
'Risk?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKoplT7JBi
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcHOZM9TPj
'You could die.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3uE6y0upF
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJiULj45tf
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?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1lG8kPNw9
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBMiS6YaZ5
'As a vampire?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡILyTlbPzhp
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzLglw6Wlf
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC98vDR1cvo
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Un5WcJh0y
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReJUxvh8dK
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkd9l4BKAf
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BqnSfbLHx
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqMIeRjzHS
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIh8P9MslB
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17wxkFpyK1
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoTZLeHKeV
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3K7sIDu03Y
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeHNcjlhr6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMqzdIzxoo
'True.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9UblHeo1z
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tz0EHx4CV
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO5QEp5X2i
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddGhkbL40T
'Sire?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH0O1WKphiE
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2UVF5vfrKF
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvhWT0xdAS
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7gNPE7Vcn
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSW6uoqLvIl
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEfnrrtdZc
'Not too likely to kill me?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqkJNbINzbR
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBnz0hwiVKi
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGY2a4xP9Be
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXgQODrI7q
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhiGzJmqI5
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxQj6HBK4lv
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsAcxmIcPJ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRe3CX5kSv
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzYWeaGxEz
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzmQJLP99W
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8JZI2IXXEx
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm0Et1R3eoH
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6v5cFbqbSA
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwkUe7w0zL
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbgiNKBwmr
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57L2sE79YA
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH8DqapEdqK
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPWksqheGg
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyNXm9LLfn
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8QNBRVWspY
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYcWEMvry8
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULgJAPab9v
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLX8ccZ117t
Church level 1474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFR2A1gS2hp
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRdqm8qL59b
Priest: Cleric level 1474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvMUXOTIM7A
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMwnoOsFMu
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJakiVEAMk6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAKKKL86EL
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkHNuB22C4B
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQm9HuT44Dq
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt5ZGkwJo6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQGJ8hJHRy
'Sire?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQfPjHSJSJ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMn2Dy8wXP
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP2XfhehQF
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiHKIkII6T
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZE2Qb41Nnp
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MqKd9b0D6
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRc8Gd4MWMZ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzo0EOfW1tR
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD33PHmDJE7
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbg5AX6YG33
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzmQtjaEnY0
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRDvHlg15gY
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61aAQoXqEW
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzedQVXeHY
'What are you building now?' she asked.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQDFK5JnY9
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoiiB28lte
'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?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjULJ6qN4G
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS2hR22mlK
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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0mTlREIQL
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyZMEK61Ij
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshnoa63pRM
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPJKOqMkvL
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3i5mIzfAaJ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe40mCdB6oi
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5L0sGKHSaj
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSZNAuNy0E
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90ch6NbVXu
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDtnpSieXcp
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfa3qrCwPg
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjOu4S1jpi
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAPyk0AxY28
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOXerP3DHF
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76xKauBg0H
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMNGhHqH6y
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmzF3o7oVf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX5Ng7qjHHz
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5kFoUtv9eC
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdzNTgycMBy
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYU4bbyka6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbqFPukgQ2
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMfjM3VhC8
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpNheZz1boi
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCxVmh0RiR
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSAvfchdr4N
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3M5RLFC3O
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqemIHagVin
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ2GhvHtbU
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTn8jobmzE
'Here!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3JTxnWgVf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHS4kJPUi1
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZwUG1sfyGL
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGiIS6M9Wug
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXPvJYs76Q
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu74YqE8HuP
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwvpxTAIA3E
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlc8j4jBuDe
Bad news.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnl4TQh1AK
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAHZ99D6f4
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94sQ1qFq64
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JOfPXz9fZ
'Freeze!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqJ9Bsfw1Y
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVMdSFjh2M
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45lUXWB3EZ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlK5e5euvWv
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn5YIsmGGs
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK80QqN6Jzw
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8027yLEknL
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPxmPUttRF
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk0xkW9Ink0
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡErUu6fGRo7
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtchN9YOatj
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGreSEKDnK
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vnTSXozPA
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwHzxYdu5A
That was progress at least.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnl8oj97Tuy
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡky88vGlR18
My next shot went wide and high.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjupximuBj
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLBiBNtfJq
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzPt4ZdxFfh
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6e2MojGrb6
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6kPd35ZQbk
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidByAYtDYb
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAymgQrhb7
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd7VFOxCKUT
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi45mB71PRp
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugzAtmipqk
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5aLOPMxIC
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73rlOtY5Ds
A heal landed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQ5HRoQRuZ
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLkSW72bkCt
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6YjERhTAiv
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG71m5pqmNG
'Last chance,' said Carlena.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGVvFKdJ2d
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuf9XHOduaL
I missed.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp81cip1ARL
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpCL6PlSJa
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7mEqo4798
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPdVP54ai1
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRC3Y9QUOiH
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BEPe3K2yE
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQwps5lSt4D
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡohJYRSGBjZ
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNp1JTWkQxy
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQK0duRGmI
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowNO6rhKpp
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHm0F197jpK
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWed95C08jM
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBdMIw4ret
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iQLAGT5rn
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoknsaGPTLl
'All?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOa7jfAo9pf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEa9HyTamfe
'Sorry sire.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMgzVSAvXf
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUUj40Weip
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M8bRpuI8w
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NFY0BQuns
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEeuM044MN
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5lYdBNpAa
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIH5X4QnwaY
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufzkEov04J
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvz4qaqDrAv
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQUZCrpFe7
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Qu8EmUi18
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhY5BYiFqYs
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7cKkCJbtwd
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX6ftQJHWtQ
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmGaEX7kMmr
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37wvglxrAF
'I think there is something at that rock.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyQNDjlurR
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEgvxnSQaML
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO5MC2NPnW0
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWPsb4W4uD
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvHW8T7Xh1k
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbjsBQHVSv
'Freeze!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgvuKDoI5yt
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZsubyCX3pP
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmotQJllYeT
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC9DfP26lR
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEpwOPTyn7
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdM4fljJf4D
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6d5mx9abt
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡprhWTPK8qr
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubqSZCrNzE
You cannot become better at Lunge.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkkRDv9UNHh
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMuarPTd7TU
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eUP9c7syO
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjt80kIQpa
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj9x0UqsPID
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OtAcKP6ST
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7OwSVc8KG
'Who are you?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgTAeyaqAO
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4MyyAiCRX
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsssHRVg3Q8
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJXvZ69QrY
'Of Southway?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuKbsuQFSq
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI03wvivXLV
'Aye.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaqrCodRmds
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfjLLd2gHo
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLioXNsTat
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZDoQeEvq6V
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXAyWYbHQa2
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuTCiiou4L
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4svqiCfVV
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyRQuoGQvD
You have killed a Rogue!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jg2LEfbZS
You cannot become better at Lunge.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqyMIEF2gC
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzDELXlZa7
You have gained 35 Experience.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1g5OozhQP
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB5cQCkRVE
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ53NFZpbk
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeI9cwirJ9Q
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf9L8EM060
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjCnqYFeHl
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLKVQejaJu
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FjbjGFfsR
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0EWhqCs6A
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBKxyLPvLF
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAojKsaHg0S
'What next?'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELdmi2wAvR
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Gie2bM96e
'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.'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiULITnlsya
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHC3UMP7taB
'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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ930FxBGmGs
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvytsRDJz4h
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeulW2gA4V
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfAghN6WQF
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUVb9ELb5vt
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwBjq2imeG
'Freeze!'474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeYuRVpl8g
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06C78IxDoJ
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYpdaXg4Q6J
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12eYIi7NhU
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!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoEMmkpMoEA
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZHGu5DYgM
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA7rbkadHp
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDr6W1pA5VM
You have killed a Ciatern!474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe3AVCwGPZg
You cannot become better at Lunge.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGbeyLT8no
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvWmE8JwSO
You have gained 75 Experience.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpyGsK4MAk
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc5tcLFxiF
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.474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bBpZRoBLU
474Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg0pxr6KUT9
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.
