Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFy1Bvdae6y
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqbYCG4yB0
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiSgCXMvQhX
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As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdPAaEXRT6d
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjX8QxLwmv0
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhNQszSw8t
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'Yes sire!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjlZPPWIJ2
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjx1zRUIiXt
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'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdytI0lk4ZP
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4484MVPsOl
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyD4yZ9WlhD
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQuSUAOXHj
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC1aTV0vsU
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxDAOSpJXy
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpWUd04K6W
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'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftYfAScp00
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'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZTZ0V0Jc3
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I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlxs0vyciV
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Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrQ0QuEJvc
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLybVMdtRe
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'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9j60LHdGQD
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Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIPPWPHzlT2
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPizG41T4Zk
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Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfgJaR7eeDQ
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuP4EScIJY
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjy700D9seT
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'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxydKDLG4T
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'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKMBqJiQc5y
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFyDMgTJdXf
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9mmYfHL6q
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJZq7EpTVW
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9fEfy0m4Xe
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'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCNJG59ouWI
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Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcQoJd7qdpN
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Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeiP0q5A6j
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ61612sevGI
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3r13eHE7m
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Str 7379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2xr91raxd
Dex 4379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3OCVd6yYv
Con 8379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmslF67FO1r
Int 16379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK2gYPSvfBU
Wis 16379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3P0fBV7cix
Cha 4379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dOYQynlwp
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Top Skills379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbcIQwrqdj
Bash 25379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjHNQOvpni
Impale 25379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAv9tRjYciu
Lunge 5379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrXy7p9NiHK
Parry 5379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfxCrnXPLS2
Wield Rapier 5379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8BiN4qlNyf
Wield Shortbow 3379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUIqTRBLKf
Block 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqgzYIFBNG
Defensive Stance 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJABx8SgvjR
Deflect 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEI9AKDvcD
Dodge 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu723cHenJ1
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKPD0C5Xox
You have 15 skill points to assign.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQJuETkhtl
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PJvnfSd2q
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7jZW37nBh
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzthJrAHeg
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Berserker379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIQU57wTLt
Champion379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdr3EPmafIr
Paladin379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFe33JHPAkr
Shadow Knight379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xpscLWUCG
Warlord
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Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqx5I5mccW
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Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DK8as8mlV
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Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaKAv6Dz7Le
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It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5AVVo3mTUI
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7SbChfOF1
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5bf6DJBPl
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Military379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs0M1mZrcQp
Light infantry: 26*379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMdSC3JmNA
Heavy infantry: 11*379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSCw4GkX4jq
Archers: 34*379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9pV8EN9U5
Light cavalry: 18*379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqgsXWAa5x
Heavy cavalry: 4*379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T0mziKY3S
Ballista: 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7up123viU
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(*veterans)379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNfeEhlEZlZ
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Hospital: 18379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1aSQ3WPSW
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmgg4Hor9ih
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Currently training:379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Vz5maecVU
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡblfEwJd5q5
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp907wigAGu
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There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXrQEQgrzQ
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'Take a seat.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ4rX8MZQLe
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She obeyed me.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8YmL6VfOZE
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'What's your name?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQDuYSQ8LJ
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTY87OspDw
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnCBlnFtLx
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'Yes sire.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIY6ECt9y5j
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB8oPqqiky
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF5W217OEb
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'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dSqkUz3qx
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'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZ0dlxqPKs
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'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8chTRI4fV
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It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vMG1fPGtj
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Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqpCYefytjQ
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'Well done Chancellor.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7ZryOqsFc
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'Thank you sire.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUw4nssw0pl
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One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXI9muS9ghZ
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7TkvgykhGB
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I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO8woU1EYI
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'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3u1KvAv1qr
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I nodded.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrkerp4Ep0L
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubWQmvby1x
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvAv5QpsqD8
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'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pWf3XQtF9
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLRV1lGc9d
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'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnY2CPzAMq
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIF040CgnNh
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Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaUyjHvR8V
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We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHgJngj7HR
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZbdjjVgMj
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8kgQOgD3Z
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOItdumDwnL
'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCDhxM63tkF
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA5C4iHFkzU
Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFsAreY5uGe
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUALQV7xvFC
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HP 79379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb41YUpVAj9
AC 18379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgLUlK3F6Lx
XP 30,124 (64,200)379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJeFwpz562j
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOImHh5vdX
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
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'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJx75eUGRj
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'Congratulations!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUnA1PzD50
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'To Lord Arval!'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiheYn3F0Us
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Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV676d251F
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkInK1nCgx
At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdqq1A2uGnN
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZobP3dwY8e
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbA4POF5Mu
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6w8m2dsvCD
379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiswjx6Tste
He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'379Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxlrNLuvLW
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How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
