'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDyZW5qpRj
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iuHcUmBec
'Can you find other quests for me?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kCAW3Aabu
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡePz8PROybH
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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAQbjpBSbE
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxtWBRonW3n
'Risk?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtuWPRWObVm
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHuYutdy8y
'You could die.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjHfII3y2m
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxED4u5Obp
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?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGI0yPbUNAD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnMJxegsfp
'As a vampire?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLQupo7WSqA
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFOfcf2SzKp
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZj7nGM6JKm
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ycBUjirLl
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarbgAxwiml
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxdzK034NrV
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6uxMkoUKK
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9VcK89RmXp
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQQAHW8tCjB
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWFb9eQxOg
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6yJO2JGVQ0
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XqPvv5Pue
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAd4G0V2FOA
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6jSi93Y4ig
'True.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhs6epTClUZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoCPbXsMwt
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxd9F3GMLMN
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwT38K649P
'Sire?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ17UlArUSCU
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvURhLg1qNS
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ29jNsLnrHP
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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOErdSXStF
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsp5rnGi7Nb
'Not too likely to kill me?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKgItlwr4lb
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGWbSnLTku
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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9aoxlDtPWx
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHDvqXaGQw
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7LasnRerd
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsUyWlkZ1F
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgDoJpgMru8
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv9o1Lza20
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKh4eQC08Q
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUFCRYWu9me
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkoMOtxIT8W
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0vda7ST8Y
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJpXbzfcby
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFvbztIsxb
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJFFT580cK
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoQ3WugZ8ba
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6uud3AX8B
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfKwbmJ271
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQbFX3UXAM
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnUD6rmi5k5
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYswoE7yuGX
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKT6Cofqxu
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZnyyu15cJ
Church level 1407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr5kmghCDRo
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Priest: Cleric level 1407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiCzfz61RKB
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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 1.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Gp8XmrsMz
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ38vznraWPt
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6o8cLXLyic
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkXtoX4pjF
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPR4MvLpyh9
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'Sire?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkVZS4TR1B
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkSdwLkoh8
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmVjdLlVwAv
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCMkuXLH6z
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjaLGfp178v
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcd2kXywKGW
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhXyrcyJXQ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3DClmcJve
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8zNZCpTJu
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv0DzBVIEaY
'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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4jSJDXxyV
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoWlQLZyvM5
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9swlfuLbYx
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2STRgBlElq
'What are you building now?' she asked.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1CPaVBL43u
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jyZEwUJTX
'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?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTnOkqh8Vrl
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRB3TsQ6CcZ
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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7FL4tAW7ZP
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5kQS93Fz5
'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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbumMIR4hGf
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB16V8pZC18
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgIjYlIUF9G
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP9yTgysSw
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEpJ5K6xht
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8XcCKVcs3v
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x4zu0OCDz
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwzJRvm6lbd
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygS2mAwDB8
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfWE7oBqUgr
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZwHc4aBs7
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoO4obvwB16
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHzXp7gwO4
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfIVVFuwO5M
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKuzS95cJls
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKp0ZpR0OTk
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8jaJN6mvD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9up29STVuz
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSw3ovtVAX7
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDdJdJNOUUr
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNCLMIOhQy3
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHKmuZD6jFJ
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LpaEh20JJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOzrIth8xH3
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lCF5n9wNk
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqqzOCIiEDr
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJF4PJnpS58
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrEJkGH2fD
'Here!'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwRD8dEHe8
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbxP0hPbrc
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xEI4sVSKS
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLERAaPCc05
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBmOwOTVPdv
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYBQFTAklK
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYkGAe5xY3
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTPHmlflZjz
Bad news.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYufTzCje9t
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQfl7v9x8U
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ8vpI7nwbY
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxU9PBEI9Nm
'Freeze!'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRDCb9hsKG
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ51sS6u7KLq
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbGq4EAlN0Y
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXtThZ7EtW
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY13U9xL4FD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJijvLow2TT
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1NA53dY7i
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcqC7mCg8yf
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡokD9Ueynph
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe6WbAEbDyZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeCScRwpMT
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCQ7ydZfHz
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGoidOYFKd
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9YEKNpzs6Z
That was progress at least.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOx7UcSf1ip
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRiaffOIbNf
My next shot went wide and high.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYIsA2hhSt
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa32FNr9bT3
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgNHcKkzaXB
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbyMdlFnIA
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFjjOdqFczD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkH23J1MBvV
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOseTe0sYEG
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvEywF63sVZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8LPkjIGKo
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WoZDOchYy
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kpG5OUJhf
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LBSC2ZzuQ
A heal landed.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRv16qKlGOI
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXvtKha79Q
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnmEphoFbT
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQq3Dn5T8h
'Last chance,' said Carlena.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpQL5phK9z
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5osSUGtbea
I missed.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9F7fAxMU7f
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIJvimf0CnA
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLLA10Sy0L
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcfo4LdIUW
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmDU5SsUcK
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlapNKEJ2i
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyXd8M8LvRC
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP33owf7p49
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXvJvYpQd5x
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMCznB0fNp
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJs91Xa75jg
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyuX4zRfIw
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFW8ckmohD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ML36zL1T
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN40QYG44ht
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz97czePxVW
'All?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡim6JQCj3Q0
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZjInu4n98w
'Sorry sire.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdn7sPYZ9Mh
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbPjNVktvA
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qgY5nMHMQ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGgwMppZl5V
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHC1E1um8O
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8WBIGb2d5
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN3Qtu8S2Sd
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1R5KFfXTXp
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CsljEBpUD
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKH4sK7CulD
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2JvOXKAiJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VfvjZiVku
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44kaRuGmYY
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUoviUZmG2
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPFlxvblCrm
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMRGaOKEXa
'I think there is something at that rock.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHzdAEmLFf
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDG6Emh7l1b
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSxljuJgBo
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhHhUXilIcM
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7BcvwY0YV
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjSnzzFpAti
'Freeze!'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaxlUQwX0b
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zrrp6cygJ
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1aWawzu4dy
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDUTfvskUaK
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDkUbAuTVq
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4AAuRlh5G
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwEMrX31VIO
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxqzYk99SmS
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqKRXV6S93
You cannot become better at Lunge.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNtolHol5Z
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHU0ggI8WJM
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSt71YcLB8v
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3chqdjCZzG
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvve5ua3jMa
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgzllqUrXKR
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8grHGnStvV
'Who are you?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVqWISc3fO
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66etF1Vwml
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5V0sNGr8N4
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIIyop5fP3
'Of Southway?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwJR36hdlR
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJre4lyGug
'Aye.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZAPeKD9Hsw
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJTMjh806I
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpiq30zDPcs
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMvVhoIw5FU
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjX1DE1whq
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmJKFWsphk
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhAEXKbpbR
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLRZEiCRy9
You have killed a Rogue!407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrPy4bPN9d
You cannot become better at Lunge.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXblm4prbP0
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpLCaCid77
You have gained 35 Experience.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40JNcd7h4u
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzRMEEiWBfJ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw27Kn2Gzkx
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuo7oG50jAc
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuHNhWfCN6E
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlDsCiSObl
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7fCVCPUNR
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XZVDJ8gsP
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBXc1U6IX6h
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrRPSdTQzAV
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDvf8HfLcpU
'What next?'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4JQwWxUoxG
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32y8hDyivF
'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.'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7T57MUSCj7
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP67tWeHQMJ
'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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbg3XCnDuv
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgf9NX4qJ3G
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6S5PrLZn8Q
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6V2eobH2x
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lzmbPDUw2
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvsKOIGIdI
'Freeze!'407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzBOluFYfB
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovD5CwcUeV
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubeKpXETP2
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZkWZkNoQhr
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!407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpdm2Zzx8A
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpRS9djLSqr
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2S22NJoeJ
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5MylnsKAo
You have killed a Ciatern!407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLF2Pgaq5bZ
You cannot become better at Lunge.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV4i3x5FoU
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjfnne9PIw
You have gained 75 Experience.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8oG0TxUBrZ
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4QDGSvWGv
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.407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9vuy9ZD3MO
407Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtRFW0JJOp
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.
