Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoaO4WInwDA
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf2nBpxcs9
'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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRQ5hnbkdD
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxi2v3t2Zf
'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!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEojwqVV07
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcursT4xXn
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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8bDGZSOrAg
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡejOJqrpzwe
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeClD8bNlQD
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGoRJsv8gN
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIybizQux8
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOYeJqRTRG
'Yes sire!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QEGpg1Asr
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzDBOzuBDB
'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbwKQFUjuZ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTswvkmmXwl
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJwca3XPfu
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9J9MxBtl1
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6M418HkvT
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu3LtTkvgll
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxwprdHCT2X
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdlFYmiBRie
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Re853d6bJ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImrJTQ9RJx
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTj1Q6zBtU
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPdmJYL2Hu
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEdhK110oK
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJYm7eZhebm
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrOr0uUYdoP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV5ogvaj7n
'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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvt0itvZcxp
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfA3z21nMW
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSs7Pixxq8x
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEJAZImLqZ
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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhadXR0bLo
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡla8eVcyOyS
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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEe2NPxq3u
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6n7TkACfey
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d7AsD0Y8u
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt5WWYRfJ3q
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkygzPhjeB
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd01xtiQe7M
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqf2BXllEa8
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8jrtRLheC
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtK8I0bXQT
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTsp9qI7o6
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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeYNI7GYMal
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLGP504q2N
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxSciRJEjH
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEQR5WtpAxj
'As honest as a mirror sire.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFgrQy27wjV
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYeCshUhyx
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJfbZdZhZZ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4MVsKQrWDl
'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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gAl4IYErw
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAHLrJ6oebe
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YqT7wBgck
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlxHQCTrDGr
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCQmoedceL
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW8Jn9WpapA
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqkF6hJDIR
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSByLkYA3o
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDNfhrMtWJ5
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQjhy5ihPY
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXgbaooIQH
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO7n84Vxdl
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYj6cQ59H4
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdvoLta18zb
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0DbJdQLDlv
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPNMBXOllGy
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsC2xdsZUnh
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgciCaD77EV
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqWK66en8y
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBghWw6JjJ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡothKqc8qWC
Str 7446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlbCKWNB6iM
Dex 4446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyGCVKD4JP9
Con 8446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8DL6ORNum
Int 16446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTkeC8gvQo
Wis 16446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIykLpoQKaj
Cha 4446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwafPzk8ll8
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLVyKe74HX
Top Skills446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FsLetAghi
Bash 25446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWfnmyz0Kgh
Impale 25446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAe5ifFepy
Lunge 5446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp4ar5jTbVl
Parry 5446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDnzjG5KKx
Wield Rapier 5446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFg1yNUYvy
Wield Shortbow 3446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNrBVwW0Af
Block 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH212qJdU3T
Defensive Stance 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQth9PfQmg
Deflect 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78EKqwAbN7
Dodge 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuc00yLlSm
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJurXbJxiY
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx5WL4aPyfA
You have 4 attribute points to assign.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡluYdAgCEqz
You have 15 skill points to assign.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFYoOtqS1t
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3m0w8G3cC7
XP 2,860 (3,200)
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446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3834fN80SP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXycFAzprgD
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUUVSus3q8T
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6P6fOPAtuh
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Y0pqW3TTs
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT2i9LHauDu
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFetNis7Of
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrsSMnr619K
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg7DkG3dmi4
Berserker446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ1P90YcCDY
Champion446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX9QKIDgyiM
Paladin446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwPjYaqbA7
Shadow Knight446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumnhDioZx3
Warlord
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPtenwWYXjK
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGcXwxo45Ar
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXa3HTBa3rI
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh0SX53kYSx
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLLWOVt3hS
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pHilIAqTe
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkWqDxfz08
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFFKAhxODB
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNZp6Uc6vd
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaa1Xyzw0f
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtac7ZTE4zX
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBhlAPtycxA
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Military446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcCYzXcdeZR
Light infantry: 26*446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7JVrF36tZz
Heavy infantry: 11*446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqntmyMQfEL
Archers: 34*446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡloq7rYbBdi
Light cavalry: 18*446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6583OGpQ4b
Heavy cavalry: 4*446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1RY69SV8SW
Ballista: 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0m9HUZKPnj
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5MDZy5aRMC
(*veterans)446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd14Qz7bZyH
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqg0zIrmzL
Hospital: 18446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTiTHPILijC
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4cayKRPPIe
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡObUOrIXwcq
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdAnn24ElD
Currently training:446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFpaUhvmWb
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNeIOhtntOg
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAGt3Z4nvx
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNpVumMLkSA
Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6OfcAGdFh
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA9oTrhtxZk
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDTmmAFIKh
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6bc1RjRrC
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3xzvYtKlB
'Take a seat.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRHhW9cOAXP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVnAA5yZCWn
She obeyed me.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPPwjf6aek
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58IOFUTlRl
'What's your name?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEhjEGP2PyM
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6jf7YcTJL
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Y3OzKN3MP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTxeBN9A9Vf
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWY19rxB2eI
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU6O670pEC1
'Yes sire.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3JPZylEBMv
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmnqmfCATeE
'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?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75BTPmjxTw
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡChXXQ93Ox0
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HnwQsSP2H
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBbv49T0CL9
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXGApOKgaF
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQh8r7tB4f
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUcambkNJv1
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS1Tyn7BbZE
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFjWusa0PT
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8COaokq3UQ
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvLzkgXqk2
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeH4tqcTedQ
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCEuCPUI5Z
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxKJwU2WfE
'Well done Chancellor.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYAvfm6105v
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjBklEkOWut
'Thank you sire.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIsD3NGraNZ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1YBK1eEI8
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6hMxKTzUI
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQ27KInYlO
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPgHduTaEZn
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXAAWJOjp3
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLF6yYtnWe
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEcx7mC9Jvm
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQuX7sbMP3c
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGCZHyyZqh
I nodded.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Sj8O3kKVl
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZJz41BhKQ
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyY274LfIK1
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCaIRRwRFh
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGYLStBGK2
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvskh6XgKs
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnabmfRtDb
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpOUCUIyaVV
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYaDver98NJ
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQ80xQkOh7
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6eIanwveNc
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMyBrtubecp
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdK7ijyE1KD
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysP799PrWT
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPuJxNoVeB
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBxMNj0oo6
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWF7TTYxxxc
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2aJ60In8TP
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCEQVAYLg9
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaXvGPHT7j
'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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsNrDWre10
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡto84dJp7Jx
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 8.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvsOK783sg
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCI7eUNJBo
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡklXHzwG8iz
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcr1aK4uWf
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1YZuJRz3k
HP 79446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJZAQR6huU
AC 18446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19WVhEfJN9
XP 30,124 (64,200)446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUdqreHjMs
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC605bM3HE4
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3jXlB0GCOc
'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!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfGsKGXNvp0
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3aAiuF5RH
'Congratulations!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRWp9DgGjQ0
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9skyfWAiG
'To Lord Arval!'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZymai0hxP
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJh6tGqdNKO
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.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFB11wtwW9d
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJEQrYUrv7v
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.'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmB8GdyF97Q
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaUWFZ06zS9
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ36vVZx0PzC
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjm3hjTltB
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLhlB1YZQ7
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLHLKMMjXJS
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?'446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovdfyhf4Yv
446Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHifQukzhO
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
