'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFRxyBzLAe
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ11VEZ8bdzm
'Can you find other quests for me?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡacveVLoKo9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0xMKMjiDEV
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0JNmi6qpf
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZTCVLc9Hh
'Risk?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJn0EQdj9Vf
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXouxLSadf
'You could die.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNXkAcYUXy
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxUHDZz1Dr
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?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwGwh5b9vNU
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTXPryUrj9
'As a vampire?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWILWJxU9q
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIawHaokCId
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvXDFOsQRf
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2rP7Ko6fm
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc28SttUioN
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn6kbElT47U
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNtSALarKv
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJD7oNQ1cLJ
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrcpMyOAuFL
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mDEhhN5SI
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpx0XKIIbdi
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs5smmzThqU
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvLYpllBqi
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpuAsFCMA3a
'True.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHdvmNUpEx
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu60NSRuhPH
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hjjLXfSBy
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy2iJWg6Kn
'Sire?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8K82lCPCbn
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFrjVi0ia4
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdI94siYX1
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1JiHTLocKC
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBmTcHI8zP
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡClYe770O02
'Not too likely to kill me?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeABagnQT9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvW1PwXDCT
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn87Zs5cTt
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mRJFjpX6S
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy7ql8gj2ZW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡweaalicFlq
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriIdBfQ7VJ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxhC5mBS6Cr
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcdhW5jQdm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXW6M4OiYq3
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwwCXqZcKrG
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGP1z9ZmHmx
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu97tElmeGo
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgAfQOOXvh
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtpnmHOH6jZ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU4pelpYvf
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBERrervsED
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQ5X7tduPV
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxOzdzDynYO
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgpPK6iLljv
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcl7l1ZKrn
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9nyIm4N9W
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPa743cCzp
Church level 1366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VIIcixNX1
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvMgx6Da1O
Priest: Cleric level 1366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTdBbOlB54
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡicQYsBeA2y
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99eRuzU8LW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSqsKGrgMQ5
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAP5L7xb1ig
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85XQB6H0rK
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW9QyvThYb
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDGEK09auu
'Sire?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikKuaWGiPI
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ002TT2Xhfc
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QIuavUxzK
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwKHrew7q5
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNai6oBIxBL
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe0uAk9RMMV
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3SED482Qi
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8by8iYk6f
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4LuqllsMh
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Kt1FGKoBe
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8SAZY3FSZ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGzbEbigYr
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AJJ9XhACT
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEF2MoFpVcf
'What are you building now?' she asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMcGL8slvx
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjMPyC4hVuA
'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?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOroOHDSoQ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfhE7Vhm1gQ
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrJPglXOhR
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4q4AOiSnL5
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1664kWxOK0
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kYIOygpUV
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5J5vjVHUr
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPFAqhRiKG
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVdZyqP3rQG
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPiB6NrMwM
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxOkXqIjBB
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyN8I7VDwkf
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPD2eShRccq
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYxVNZOlaU
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaWAa7Yj3g
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUHsXyzZPj
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbQmsavUgX4
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx29IStRMZv
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJfT1iKtQs
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHBawMoh8Ml
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZuy2zjhlBI
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRYwJh3Aefn
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGk1rntsEz
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQll2iYR8we
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90oxzgYxCe
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzaPmc8cL0L
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOHoKCwyUQc
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡotjQDsmN5j
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F5cOcxvH9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAFWAuQxvJ
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDNR2cdLHq
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOqAaQvFse
'Here!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4QraL3A5R0
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyTLX3zN56W
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6AnENbUmVm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgsq5FD6imJ
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8sK3VqTLm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqukoA1eO6
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoIEso8Tuh
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXOAhi7Co9
Bad news.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvDm2HjCN6
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3pTYuvAQu
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBcNNwkXDtW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fdj7Rs1iz
'Freeze!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpj6PAqlPNc
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXRRNdnWNoV
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ83vasBdTj4
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsBDyjCv88
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIfM6JFKqJs
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRL0lFkDTe
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGINsNAlupR
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGPVksz85I
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmr7A6DSBx
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6S4EFrNze
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSiXefzsAc0
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TnazN4DUd
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VGYlJBkgw
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qKA3xgcWf
That was progress at least.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdEyAzNdJp
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2jiRX1kvQ
My next shot went wide and high.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhoT54250C
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9LIE7JZEfP
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0S7t4oOns
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKggBP7bQii
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1XMsSjdgQ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMX8xeyWmaV
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3cazGZEAIo
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3dQUP84z8o
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoK9OaQhLo
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuO8kQtBNae
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXAfyA6IeU
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1q88MfupYX
A heal landed.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡseb2c88TUp
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUgXzy9oNJ
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgu6cj3h3as
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusmWVK4Ign
'Last chance,' said Carlena.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ98Z1X9YdAn
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjObiJrCgD
I missed.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZht6aIKRC
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwL7av7ultp
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdwTvIyRiZt
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPHtihsSUI
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdTy2yDz5oj
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTiLE1E7eC
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡssEtN52xSu
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLokuV3X65S
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYIJ2gkg5m
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrecoBUFyAm
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRf86Ia6T7
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Y9M4q1zi7
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyH3JbAhbIA
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8uP2bVsNYG
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhA2fZ44qsg
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLab9aNRXzU
'All?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4JBN9jdoo
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsDDUEKjvFl
'Sorry sire.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5NqmVGtjql
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyQVXNaMNU
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMeq5rvtrFl
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYkiZUCuABr
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8PyFaz2Hv
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTb53kpcZHe
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvoA4mZtxOl
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCFFtUyYdn
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvZPgHbJMW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0XnUfeZhS
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyguiHX9bTm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG62VkqdL9
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26Qvkk3F9B
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡThaA5Adjo0
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjowBzF0Nw9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvA6LcI3lI
'I think there is something at that rock.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72zPHS8cI2
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPVeeDrxvnP
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vmxI90aAj
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3oTHID8Ce
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJg3kZocIGp
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqKWoGC9PR
'Freeze!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY62J1Vo77P
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGiguP73Ta
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEyIQENHqx
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR3gxQM6Lrn
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpywSxSr2X9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsW3VTq83P
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcClxjyqmtv
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6uFZMcx893
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtkhVSqK6L
You cannot become better at Lunge.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKi76or6jYv
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxh6wxg6Epb
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpkdLrHEX5i
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDw5n50SjA
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxce70PNJOq
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdqWJoMw0j
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcxgXwH67YR
'Who are you?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrJXpzNLAdi
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMc0Uh8A4M
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr5mcG1hxr
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv3SKBzrUg
'Of Southway?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQvedkSM7s
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ew2LZNO5P
'Aye.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfhccekgQI
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIsCsvwQvf
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpuWJct5EC
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEs4xKWee7
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmQJ99GdvH
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡroqlXwIo8J
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx7fduChVMK
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdVJAVr4jL
You have killed a Rogue!366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCZidgzebn
You cannot become better at Lunge.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmZUXNaTFA
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJ5Ka7wG61
You have gained 35 Experience.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLndOyousgI
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYwYWAx4fOD
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdxnzC5c8G
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pkwy5Etep
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQdUWnS6qD
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvDzGrcuG6
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOj7uRLNQjC
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tE790mpin
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGNHrFYEWb
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzRu1rbUfb
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcFQCz8pQR
'What next?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlKukqp0b3x
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifQU8fKu2w
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuEML9nvVhw
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZSwzJDgHJI
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcVvxnQ2Gs
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsEuUfGnuw
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZfHRQ9Les7
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDmCtfXeil
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ67TeeEj420
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhR2vQNqp3y
'Freeze!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9HzrvxR6k
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuGpE4VhQD
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWqTlcO5a8G
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NpYH0gyUz
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!366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6QdCsftCCa
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTEJ7N7fgib
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfENunn3rmU
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1D3NBMG1n
You have killed a Ciatern!366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe737aztS4y
You cannot become better at Lunge.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyKvHDRvRzp
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbi4sSZdZgq
You have gained 75 Experience.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvfZ4IRRvf
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0PwOtxZzY7
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy1mKJ8tSnl
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DFVavKlQG
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.
