Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.392Please respect copyright.PENANAPhf2cXYAUt
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAXMFf3bQss8
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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!'392Please respect copyright.PENANANeelAmYwQE
392Please respect copyright.PENANAZFt696miAY
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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAqYWCwPhCHZ
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'392Please respect copyright.PENANARBrDnVsfHN
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAekghR1DjTC
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'Yes sire!'392Please respect copyright.PENANARaNTShj3sf
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAF2elcURTwG
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAeTHp4ONElU
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.392Please respect copyright.PENANA4RMKSYfPpK
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'392Please respect copyright.PENANA3hrs2xJC3T
392Please respect copyright.PENANAPjmH6TM3mc
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAfvUeZgmmVQ
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA1vAqIg4S3y
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAUriAjRSNck
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAIIdsJImfyi
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANA5vByealDJh
392Please respect copyright.PENANALEcUJAHDC3
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAFmTpmFIGr5
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAzEn8JE9Fje
392Please respect copyright.PENANAtlc3YcHpad
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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAAHWRc5PLmL
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAfP7wAKxHEA
392Please respect copyright.PENANAoW5a5YxNkV
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA8G9LQMcl77
392Please respect copyright.PENANAENFWhLF4Kq
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAtKlf2VU4Vo
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAPxT54JNU8f
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAV8QcGjmVJX
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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?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAwvOrRGwhEK
392Please respect copyright.PENANAcfYv3a1n76
'As honest as a mirror sire.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA3gYCjoxMsF
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA2PaddLGlA3
392Please respect copyright.PENANAdRyuaYeuDZ
'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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAATbpUz7QAJ
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.392Please respect copyright.PENANAxcxwIdEIds
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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?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAmYtxbMbUVd
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.392Please respect copyright.PENANAc5zdlPGoyK
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.392Please respect copyright.PENANACLvgEiAJhS
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAPPeaYc9YmW
392Please respect copyright.PENANArj06av0QJ3
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAWxAYiUdFVe
392Please respect copyright.PENANAolSfksftVU
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANACZiuoFWAT2
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland392Please respect copyright.PENANAchvAJOfKk1
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0392Please respect copyright.PENANAgnzCDrriuh
392Please respect copyright.PENANAsF7w186Bkp
Str 7392Please respect copyright.PENANAIJp3o1J9oS
Dex 4392Please respect copyright.PENANAwDREuhhxef
Con 8392Please respect copyright.PENANArNBO7RDOzp
Int 16392Please respect copyright.PENANAjjimEKgTxh
Wis 16392Please respect copyright.PENANATzrvTOYg8w
Cha 4392Please respect copyright.PENANALrQKvov7xX
392Please respect copyright.PENANAc91D49B7OP
Top Skills392Please respect copyright.PENANAMJMh9oIPKA
Bash 25392Please respect copyright.PENANAhzyhRt8tWD
Impale 25392Please respect copyright.PENANAcLsqBd5avl
Lunge 5392Please respect copyright.PENANAoDs9r9xnUv
Parry 5392Please respect copyright.PENANAW8VrGhJO5x
Wield Rapier 5392Please respect copyright.PENANA0A4i7SBGTz
Wield Shortbow 3392Please respect copyright.PENANAArnzqGzdWf
Block 1392Please respect copyright.PENANAvbImiegpa2
Defensive Stance 1392Please respect copyright.PENANAI8KJpwlTXe
Deflect 1392Please respect copyright.PENANAohPlw9Se73
Dodge 1392Please respect copyright.PENANAvK8V0j93Ht
392Please respect copyright.PENANAzPRLF2HwL1
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.392Please respect copyright.PENANAIYD5XJMDw8
You have 15 skill points to assign.392Please respect copyright.PENANAy3rZVHp7sD
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
392Please respect copyright.PENANA7M2hpJYpBp392Please respect copyright.PENANAF6qohZGLuT
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAbKKtfzLpb3
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.392Please respect copyright.PENANAyAGL9pUnie
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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:392Please respect copyright.PENANATETrsr3y3A
392Please respect copyright.PENANATyDgf29hmC
Berserker392Please respect copyright.PENANAgHFkz5SAno
Champion392Please respect copyright.PENANAEypoOxw2Jr
Paladin392Please respect copyright.PENANAlqaRedQtOm
Shadow Knight392Please respect copyright.PENANAQKhH6kRP7D
Warlord
392Please respect copyright.PENANAxlJKLU0wWn
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAPfdrzfYg4s
392Please respect copyright.PENANAIbapuTpXRn
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAnQcXRuhnkU
392Please respect copyright.PENANA7xhfch7jC1
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANA0TpQKepwda
392Please respect copyright.PENANAvS0trr3hvm
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAXc2cjGqwZp
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAWhB6H7Me50
392Please respect copyright.PENANAzvRu0fKlbc
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:392Please respect copyright.PENANA4vEODv3js1
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Military392Please respect copyright.PENANAZBymZY8Csx
Light infantry: 26*392Please respect copyright.PENANABhPLaS7qux
Heavy infantry: 11*392Please respect copyright.PENANAXF6AFiTE44
Archers: 34*392Please respect copyright.PENANAXMZfahYBlr
Light cavalry: 18*392Please respect copyright.PENANAdHNgoB2cnK
Heavy cavalry: 4*392Please respect copyright.PENANAjqDO4TdrG9
Ballista: 1392Please respect copyright.PENANAb81Hs7boxY
392Please respect copyright.PENANAtzlx7eyHgJ
(*veterans)392Please respect copyright.PENANAcPNSdNR6A3
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Hospital: 18392Please respect copyright.PENANAyNcVCY0MSQ
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver392Please respect copyright.PENANA9EDoIAI8vo
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Currently training:392Please respect copyright.PENANAOOzx2tDsoE
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1392Please respect copyright.PENANA7s2WwTjZdK
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAZGBhsxxjvd
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANA4KRSzjA7j5
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'Take a seat.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAA615m0k2QL
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She obeyed me.392Please respect copyright.PENANAVjwBuSGC8R
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'What's your name?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAYGo5YQd3MJ
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAnhwVzsVWIQ
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAo9NgPaxrcC
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'Yes sire.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAgTPRKS5VSF
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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?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAsnAKZsHQJP
392Please respect copyright.PENANAzETMMSh63t
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'392Please respect copyright.PENANA3pOZDPGORy
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAxXXvBbn8xh
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAx8xkRqx75T
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANANSZb81a7v4
392Please respect copyright.PENANAFWXeWUH7tU
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAqLBXLqgxoA
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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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAnHPMVfCd1L
392Please respect copyright.PENANAK3VXdqptPP
'Well done Chancellor.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAydoLhHL9ta
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'Thank you sire.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA3jWQNv6dIV
392Please respect copyright.PENANAqwmwu52v34
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAZF5noSuxhi
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.392Please respect copyright.PENANAdAiBdLARIq
392Please respect copyright.PENANAchgBbRFajr
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ4DAtxndI
392Please respect copyright.PENANAyVfJFnZ6Dm
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA02nB3xpTLq
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I nodded.392Please respect copyright.PENANAPin0LIvuxG
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA6eaZKpCRNt
392Please respect copyright.PENANAp6FpeQM99Y
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAftS7rTFEn4
392Please respect copyright.PENANAUfEiZvCHhl
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAWEvZ7nQoVc
392Please respect copyright.PENANAj0E9F2ioN7
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'392Please respect copyright.PENANAQe1ZhNon69
392Please respect copyright.PENANApN0YEjtZJi
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAeIorsJfdYw
392Please respect copyright.PENANAtMR3i4hIJX
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAYMpqLbp0GZ
392Please respect copyright.PENANA6SQcta352u
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAPDddcGapmM
392Please respect copyright.PENANAfb2XCQXSe1
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAYa2ZUg6CeJ
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'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAR2Zc2lHznr
392Please respect copyright.PENANATUcMEmqtGt
'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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANA1REuTAcgdv
392Please respect copyright.PENANA4NZN2WR18k
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 8.392Please respect copyright.PENANASN3qC6Wo2U
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8392Please respect copyright.PENANATBO4Y1iU2h
392Please respect copyright.PENANAm3XJbqMA90
HP 79392Please respect copyright.PENANAit7NA4QCYR
AC 18392Please respect copyright.PENANA1i8KZSiaRo
XP 30,124 (64,200)392Please respect copyright.PENANA0OLi4nmaI0
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.392Please respect copyright.PENANAXzogwigxR8
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
392Please respect copyright.PENANAgAjeXE13Mu
'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!'392Please respect copyright.PENANAYXJl6F2hA8
392Please respect copyright.PENANAAeiO8XqpTU
'Congratulations!'392Please respect copyright.PENANAwZX0sbW808
392Please respect copyright.PENANAYz4Zg9LaiM
'To Lord Arval!'392Please respect copyright.PENANAMRFK6yXC4P
392Please respect copyright.PENANAzDmuKieLTq
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.392Please respect copyright.PENANAJUIVgBDQDw
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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.'392Please respect copyright.PENANAvBPplH9SSc
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.392Please respect copyright.PENANAoXR9PA6eZa
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.392Please respect copyright.PENANAQIp5Dwl4xH
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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?'392Please respect copyright.PENANA8ohyhupamS
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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.