'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ctl6n5KG1
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'Can you find other quests for me?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYURo8VnYC
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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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAiaCMT3NB6
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'Risk?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFimFmCPmqF
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtFxxH75J3
'You could die.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTDWzIh2Qd
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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?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCspoZsOoW9
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'As a vampire?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2C9M51t14z
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'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzJzmQpDKR
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With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0LT5UFEXJS
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I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWjoEwMSU1
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'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshGMQpEvH9
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiqLf6CnIqf
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8sippxFGqt
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'True.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwX1loJGkBV
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhFZd9CSY6p
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'Sire?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2o9Q6dreyj
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlkNNqEF0GS
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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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBt8LVze3j
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'Not too likely to kill me?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8Kz9uY2z0
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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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x7wFwEals
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'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9MmyFoOi2
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We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwjydeTa8Mc
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNw9elfNKf
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlSQT6khtP7
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj7CM5K1IGf
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After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJN3cOUKbsu
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjeqnkp7ey
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ72084q9Oyf
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT40QHwA3eO
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XKNZMQZkz
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Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0mRK1tkbUN
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Church level 1349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPULk6QYrP
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Priest: Cleric level 1349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tR3iEswmo
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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 1.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3rApafqIt
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbW8Z7fNmx
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQpwogmsYS
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'Sire?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJpNEJGtAt
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkEgP86RoO
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'Get your armour,' added Carlena.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNUrZXJMgdO
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGtygsF29v
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3WcckC3gwA
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIUYJ58C75
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRzXDIzV6a
'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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DNwAnLI9w
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqVUm6wsq4
'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPTBylETG66
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'What are you building now?' she asked.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz24e0vGdiS
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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?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFT7YrawUX
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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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAADeUcx69M
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'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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZY1vAhfa9
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNFdh8ikvMD
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZ8hhoqgDX
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFWqoSw61q
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWG0zUVMfi9
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHd8T6NQYWI
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHVatl4Spi
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Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqvNV52FZv
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGanwG1Fj8
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeE9Opf6cid
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj4huq2jhk
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡON8VnU6Ig7
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsnA9R0C4E
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6VpeXz8nzO
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'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUd6t5NHFLE
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'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VEi5Bmw5N
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEcduR7089
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj08LfsGe6i
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP9l2lWmhPE
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Nc8bBd10L
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC978leGddc
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'Here!'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01QM7wlWIY
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgQBAA9DjN
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtlW3HtpM2b
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yz9M8rf87
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDnMTVtVOAz
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Bad news.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPoGEbacO78
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdYeb7zwnAX
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'Freeze!'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGPs4FsRTf
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMxU8DuXO9a
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'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYTfj5pnIJ
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnEfxd4NGOf
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRimGBqUceE
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You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdpEcLlsFG
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That was progress at least.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ7YjlHB0j
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My next shot went wide and high.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0L4A5Zap2c
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUuof4QKdpE
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVyvPXpcvKJ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFV5gYzXxzK
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGhY6GU40B
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSWb6qmUkj
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A heal landed.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4FKuEbSK20
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIvSgBUGdH
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNF9avCcJhX
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I missed.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChrJNDnx8J
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ559dl1IOGT
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWUfd8FTy1K
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYdW0ABfV1j
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgZIW3cYnx
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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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLmJcUetmP
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJy6td27ZHU
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQUNvPoigWP
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'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH38cUThKIS
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'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ62haIemrPu
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'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0EH8WmyMk
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'All?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV0xviRWEa
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOszRwg3IR
'Sorry sire.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8522HuXIsA
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRnxXW0ngH
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwHaRghkGqg
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqNRAu2UkG
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0hm2ZLsUp
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ9gNsiIbqK
'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqa6ibFz8I
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhBc8y8jFt
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2yE6gW3Ff
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhPp0HqV46
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2qDlUvDqt
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmV5s0sR3L
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pTq0tqDIv
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQiQBncnAa
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKcVDRaG3V
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuiHhUytO5M
'I think there is something at that rock.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51mqVLOE1q
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo3dzkaYURo
'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBpyrnOmQM5
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iQNiBTdbg
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4RzzxzjH4
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxPcvJ6YFS
'Freeze!'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEAkucGvgW
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTyjuytR5aL
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIcGrahxZc
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGmkoqGen6
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxsj201mghI
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9woq3kvf95
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnTmnHRFq6T
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0Gky8VDcR
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG74m8fHNHX
You cannot become better at Lunge.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2dgHdSdZup
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6aUU3Pxt3G
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznEd9M2y5v
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEFPUTtUR7
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbSJAO7c5el
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1f0kFZ9WZ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8A1YXKVP8Q
'Who are you?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeZoHOgiqt
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡULyOY4pMKR
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡME8MuYRWOa
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJ7TMG9LcB
'Of Southway?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWGTCj1iocw
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwK3pPoWdMf
'Aye.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IQxnQFN3Y
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTRBvl7duU
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8UT0XQ0Iq
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeodtbuNKi
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw7kLm7fTHY
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGUnonsCkt
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ80wlRx6fiS
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQS0tkQCCl
You have killed a Rogue!349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuTHsoxe4Lp
You cannot become better at Lunge.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3Wn1bLeIM
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhMmcdzpnA
You have gained 35 Experience.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMToOKynSrJ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2MAnZWjkTR
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEkTZPYIox
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw9JAJt7w5k
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElUDyM7ftZ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGmhdNjLDMV
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZk6vOEBJF
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJktANAg6z
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LerRjTrf8
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGS3aM8wqVR
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE6KxuUxVSB
'What next?'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ99GK2Px642
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qFxmhGMF2
'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.'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRIIksKCXk
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwoTVAyc5O
'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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFmeN6vaWy
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu0kFuO07Lp
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSg8Ke0nnN
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmc27UBwLh
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fvH60C2N1
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPO0o4EDET3
'Freeze!'349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafjWyZZLzz
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2InRwsoaaK
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZMOS65nWJ
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml8vO4JFPa
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!349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYNnEEa5n0
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI83SIyTsul
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHqcE2PAxtP
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyyzLPcJQGO
You have killed a Ciatern!349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbArRYoyID
You cannot become better at Lunge.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8fE8R50zAS
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEyj7KQOPIK
You have gained 75 Experience.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUEMmlL6LFG
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNARKyN5zX
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.349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx05rfJhhwE
349Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6lOBDWxPPx
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.
