'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHrDsjMcwbJ
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'Can you find other quests for me?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0unLjVpWvL
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The Sorceress shook her head, silver hair swinging to emphasise the negative response. 'I no longer think questing is wise. I… we can't risk further aggravating the people. Already, they hate you. If they also thought you were not the legitimate king, that would be extremely dangerous. It seems that Carlos did all the introductory quests. If you were able to repeat them, well, the people aren't stupid.' After a moment she sighed. 'We are going to have to risk battle.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWaK485Yq5u
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXyOqHNlR2U
'Risk?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTlHpRL3eV
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqiKUKH5VE
'You could die.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt6Krgfbov
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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?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvmOWPpugU
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKdp3FESxR
'As a vampire?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2pvBv8GF6
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aVcWFPuAI
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2051fFGNmm
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EqMSllzZ0
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVwa1fAPYa
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDeTxMx5wQ
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKNnLFsth5
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMj6tBP7Zz
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEw7xSTKNj
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7eOfn3k5ra
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LljJb8v4v
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTRjccznPr
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'True.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfq5Usvgh3
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Her comment about the potion reminded me of the other magic items that were in possession of the PCs of the kingdom. I checked under the town menu, people sub-menu and looked at the items again. Lord Arval had Shield of Defence +1; Trueblade +2; and Ring of Strength +1 which could all be of use. His Potion of Haste sounded good too, but that clearly had to be saved for war. Chancellor Parrin owned a Dagger +1; leather jerkin +1; Ring of Silent Movement. Nice too. Unfortunately, both were away just now or I would have borrowed those items.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI3tLCU1Cib
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'Sire?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiavu0N1wl
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstr5yZcgJb
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I suggest we obtain the services of the Cleric at the Church of Miya, for healing, and then the three of us go towards Mount Djace. There are monsters and dangerous wild animals for you to fight there, not too far from the city walls.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAJxLoyGEPy
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'Not too likely to kill me?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEnQEnd4iw
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There was no trace of a smile on Carlena's face. 'I don't think so. I have Freeze as one of my spells and if necessary, will destroy any challenge too hard for you with Fire Darts.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoUV9tg518
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDrxuHre6mA
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPCXtHKE0h
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksF0YxV7hY
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJhbrNDcQE
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o9WgNlhMu
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfEYkCOREt
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmpwvQX6Ti
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCPNu7wMJd5
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1WHXHtVyz
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaOZgNJ4AL
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpQmjKGipB
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiXXTVyLi5p
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnBw8cu9kb
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlZVDvByxy
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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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFqaM6OEBa
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Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Elep8hVa7
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Church level 1425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8UPIYI9Do
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Priest: Cleric level 1425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ba6n3uGpp
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Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7gf3Mc6QIQ
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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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3st1ANiwDH
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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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF1k8E0lXk
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'Sire?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUPICPe7Of
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrv4WxECay0
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'Get your armour,' added Carlena.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvvPDaFsrd
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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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvhESspp3g3
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmSdswFQ1p
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK773hYGCI
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdD3QIMy4h
'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.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZNW99WWeRZ
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl1QQqRb8q
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeDasY1jt9
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'What are you building now?' she asked.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiqBBD0laI
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'Hunting lodge three. Which is only a two-day build, whereas a scriptorium level one would take three days. What's the logic here, do you know? What makes some buildings longer than others?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXZ0ugFlsh
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEPSmjVR3s
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.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcNpf8RKFVY
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi5Rd3u1hLR
'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.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWLZviSgTbn
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NjBVRKbBq
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2C6lsPi3a
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuXjUPBnJu
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2R8IsRMetG
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBZ8DrTw0k
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFj47at2Zdb
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPT6ivnIsQh
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0tbEJnlA5
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ3c2kJvan
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡescOBRcgMW
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOh8KcdgZch
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnDFViI1Rk
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjUw9atw03
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ33JjPNaw1d
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lHyoipj8Q
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoBDdwFM0h
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k0P3dWsRw
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rMgKSuoBB
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhmM9gpFGXQ
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0baKB6jWQU
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLev2SS0Rw5
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CSEbQofbA
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAP2gLyh2x
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOUVidjA0mH
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9am7wgMONN
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAJ1fWAVjz
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'Here!'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKoY6sMX6UU
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Carlena was hurrying back towards me, with a brown creature chasing her that looked somewhat like a small ostrich or a baby tyrannosaurus. It was sprinting on two legs in an impressively fast waddle, its head swaying on a thin neck with the weight of a sharp-looking beak. It was feathered, but unlike an ostrich had two small arms with claws.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaCa3xolUs
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOziWAU1AIg
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxfe97myNx
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Good news. The pain was mild, nothing like that of a real wound. And there was no blood, no exposed ribs, only a patch of red.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHDWn8MHdRA
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Bad news.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoowg250IB
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN6PA3fm11
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'Freeze!'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhYYsDRfMKi
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I staggered back, just before the monster lashed into me again. With a screech of outrage, the Ciatern – as I'd just learned it was called – strained its utmost to finish me off but trashed impotently with its two feet fastened to the ground.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvR6DFCm8P
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'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiH5AlGGY9w
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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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmfHjtwN92
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Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGd7ONXjvWG
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxbLoJnzefN
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtFTQMf47G
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIoKW44RW9z
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That was progress at least.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUQbqF4Fqg
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My next shot went wide and high.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGStuWc06UG
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOwzoqP7q8
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425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwZ772RyIi
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9DTin9tt6
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxZvVbpheR
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRpUMtmMAG
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFOXLwko8K
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A heal landed.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBRnq7G9qU3
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns2PzX98Ux
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7VP2p4Nvh
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I missed.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVi2Zosy6B3
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Buq0hRZuA
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U5mfnlFmO
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5TZJLkLyoo
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnHLecyHVF
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6EDjShfiW
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJo8GHHf8A
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfNi7aork7
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Lcqfrrsb9
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA8BRJuy0ap
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYq6dh4TjmI
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yFIOcrOIe
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qZ8yxJIe4
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'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU9g4wGmSV
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'All?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65jBI5yXjV
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'Sorry sire.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajdSsuikyL
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQwRf5VtAe
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOombenpEn
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq4E4zRIFB
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWCgJ0tHAe
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FhU4dpRUd
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSyo6ubzXJ
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4Emzgqmax
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf8VwkJOhb
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DchtXgHRw
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVq1UVRLRK
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCAxpwbVP18
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8MaEfQDtd
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69PLtVyKeM
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjK6nUqkxyd
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGOFdkT5ja
'I think there is something at that rock.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCP5qR61qSh
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ65Hwcknahx
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ7NHauzeDX
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFm4FCvpmY
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUNknuKajGH
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndrYOJtQja
'Freeze!'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYn8lW8GnzC
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2utp5IMMhf
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUNBHtxq7N
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xZ1L3IbkL
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wuTgrpwNb
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYB2kDbiRJS
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbRKvHXnKSV
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADQEQxEuGN
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrEbvJMSujm
You cannot become better at Lunge.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyabA9GiKkU
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc3itGwjZw
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnRHSRS8mE
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBLk4AHLfV
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPMNnuqIzd
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhuhVtpM9Wl
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kbMZnqrId
'Who are you?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6vJ9MyJCo
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiiC04MbfGK
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvLmeTuz4l
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8C7oIPvUH7
'Of Southway?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM1UkC1uDdI
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'Aye.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2mF5It7xZ
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6NhTCQpW5K
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnMQIa1flxN
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryR2mk5Ygs
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIxi5ywvSeM
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFAf2W1UQIZ
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMngVxjmuye
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWslIvOA1q
You have killed a Rogue!425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFF7SOdvuI4
You cannot become better at Lunge.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk276zEec0p
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIron4b0Tb
You have gained 35 Experience.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWLV6GA4MT
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4aqcUXl7F
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEqEvV6p2Lh
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSS7VjZmj5P
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpZQDaIRDjX
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5iQCw0Zp6o
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpHQOgPTPl
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonpXxVE8RF
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcRGp7mZUz
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPNgzCciv3
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rQPvlFIVK
'What next?'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg0xMGLGMK
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiGeOj1DRDl
'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.'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeHl2llUvk
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIC5WuIZYPv
'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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXjV2fDcLQ
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOf5yQMcfL
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG59PPUeHhh
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjAG8vq2zZZ
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBtkOIEK2Oa
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C3qfy9E6n
'Freeze!'425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRwEbU9wHY
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZg0sghTuR8
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtVMNXWbQY
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiLfEX99Li
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!425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFTt6YeCIY
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDAOXErlO2z
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj8aB4StPN
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbfsvXm3KcP
You have killed a Ciatern!425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7w5E0LGf2N
You cannot become better at Lunge.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYF8bTRFlyT
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHy4ylkbGm1
You have gained 75 Experience.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpfx4151tz8
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxui1mQtNEL
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.425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cEehFWtyA
425Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVg26mqalbU
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.
