'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUYpI4xSLb
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCeCj62vlnY
'Can you find other quests for me?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPv6DDMi6FL
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQDgDOSXZT
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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwWWlMNIMz
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsA6jwByw9p
'Risk?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFxSKM7GcT
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp8T72bTzo9
'You could die.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwLF6ih5Op
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqdYet6zao
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?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4n8aWart7
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYL2Zy0oRh
'As a vampire?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7xWAtkTIz
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh2MoNxqici
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXySXW1NR2v
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFGaQ7hnj4t
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06WmeBGkUQ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xTueSMppA
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMuodOLdk0
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLcZ7EoPEL
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVCnQrBiLL
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHHsuc1zGX
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3bujdIGVC
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkYBkBrm4GL
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtHCrFjr0G
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLdA3k4nRF
'True.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pUMjvBfKo
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIez9DgEHX
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4bQdZOsa22
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOpiQy8fQP
'Sire?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmaMBQjOqhP
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsEfPNiS7k1
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbQ8YSoRtS
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4jzo5QlDpu
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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AWaGOmroi
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA5rtdbXBd
'Not too likely to kill me?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkqnlXp0o6
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOP7TVGf2Wu
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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDlVTS8jSW
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkwHeecJzW
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlm7OVUVWMA
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhrUcAf3h2
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrn3le2O6Ih
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlvXVyMrka3
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfha3l5gC1
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Jt7BPqb1h
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOis5zLNmQT
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZi9OgAlyd7
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy4VpjyXBy
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLGlidpAfAq
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNnzzY8Ex1
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcubugRzUIA
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡub4eFMN5Xt
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9GMLwNJXnH
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn36JhkjlnT
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMV0PHnsfzR
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL2wOlsqMe3
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5WcOOs949
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ86dW6KMQm
Church level 1456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsG97vlnJi
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0gAULo1D0
Priest: Cleric level 1456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtWdOqxXwie
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡojjJTxGVvw
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd5uIuXKt1O
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp62eD3R9DB
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40SiLZ0Y0u
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO2ppuIGtF
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjn5WE9b5Bv
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyFqVvedCw
'Sire?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwV8mNEyNuf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTIOKa6lRy
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAhc1bSTRZF
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMVgot0F5rh
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh77S2mz8G7
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvIyfRmq1AE
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqjsuH2gZu
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJuAGpovb0i
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlOvwZN8vw
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS8HtKBLDyL
'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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtyRXO7uHQC
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTFrcaDOfg
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjPac81c00
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZzognFtHTY
'What are you building now?' she asked.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQPF4nbr1t
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAfpe8IMO3K
'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?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxknRAaJnOM
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gPwMA3dzr
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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMygPRem59
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKq3PYudXdJ
'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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaG8U5XzxIx
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtwn7gfmHV
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadIB1i7nQT
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGrf8Wx2Lec
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkUZfbmfz4
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuYnAYIuc4t
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9z7cYtd8fa
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8H4LHlv3oe
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtkZ9g4JXhi
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Kb43LPhrh
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbOHoZEXDN
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev0w8OpUgL
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5xxbFIn3H
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREDNrPlhA3
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjdcptmzyp
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvraoofDgxl
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IvbqvtIaD
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIhzMri8TWQ
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1faqgzmND
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4pXLhn12t
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF28pYjLS9M
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsFbnWvclID
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAEBohl33X9
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPvGyv7ZA4A
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJDP3xxWBb
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUjQeu8BHEx
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQRf0GVtew
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ430xP2PYQR
'Here!'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOg1kvpakF
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTKxrAYjsR
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDwAYtJRmAj
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6P926eZeN
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuGhPXq4lwd
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXgJ1MJOlA
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTQq6xF3pan
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeEdNJ8sbM1
Bad news.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIXMypXb8P
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡckZ5HNxvd4
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrhBFQwTVBG
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvT8lC9k7c
'Freeze!'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLWT0jXum9s
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwhrMaLZH3O
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpQi1tnQCZ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWcefYk9eN
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolsBknWWeK
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Vfud0aN6a
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWEyTU58Ka
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOODsZ82ia
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa2NQsozep2
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVxWLV30Ic
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4SvaBn9mvH
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtSCsZHqqo4
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJf5FWODJu
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5E1InJtz3W
That was progress at least.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0wmCMUCUd
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8CstBYHs5s
My next shot went wide and high.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJXo0GfCMD
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkhYVrAdsG
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgv5ODj9tZS
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHP16zWBEm
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qgolMHZWe
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6XNAj5TRYb
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8DoTNBirS
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo1IxqCluuj
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcAwrmPYYHC
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡifohKzLE0u
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgxjzPoM37R
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVM6ONBu0d
A heal landed.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiA4NxRjyAe
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHpFMBSNqh
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49BffOcRO1
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2uMBpY9rH
'Last chance,' said Carlena.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndWAXZ6d6W
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBvxajQN9ye
I missed.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOH9Fmyt1Wm
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qVSgWoCoN
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RvMq685ZR
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtJsv8gp9w
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUzXndIGDk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIq109d9ozB
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEY2GJTFIn0
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVqE3EDLtq
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtdS0uw4cE
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCmi4U1EPqo
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjj1i4WBQr3
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdahpPETjP
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmLLucxYfY0
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLBbOWD6VL
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBrrt9u7kV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8TWG61UzRE
'All?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjfgvUPYza
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EucOdgzdo
'Sorry sire.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngWRuQ17Xx
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jAXWUaWEO
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugaBFVcE9n
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX3oEjFCtNd
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRf2zuaRkaB
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7FgkyVJs9
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkeha5b0b32
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQN49aWFuE
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aeKUqOR7E
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGeBfvVTC3
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzx3jxpCU2K
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0rp2LmfWJ
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0zujIzm3a
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf7cTIoY4mm
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWcI5xxJhQZ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN7Ou6DkK7C
'I think there is something at that rock.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoRkiCSUBf
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5qgqgggHPS
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4GIBcGyGK
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ueT6ATPZG
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01e9N6xoMY
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vY4lIhuW6
'Freeze!'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMr1zpjKbl
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0BFfacG9t
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7dtS5XegQ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2fLmMAoa5g
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX67tR9lD0y
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTZr0KwtdYr
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡitDsR13BlN
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjkAPQlkDFh
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bwXeB7kmG
You cannot become better at Lunge.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrVh6LXS6t
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81dnMTHfrq
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeQYS4MZdaE
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpw1YKU0IQk
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTfALflfcu
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrRFFUdf1A
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCOK4b5LHP
'Who are you?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjggGQOgGah
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT7wkOliJCO
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBn5yxV3WvT
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKKH8uWhjU
'Of Southway?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzJUDit8op
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxkGmDVNFlT
'Aye.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hy0kpsnaJ
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCHzxJdKD4
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9cHZU85f31
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLFDhqsdR3
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7mas2NMn0Y
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd3Ff3nekI
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaJgFDJbb4
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrMPxOvD0uY
You have killed a Rogue!456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGnaa2qbJ3
You cannot become better at Lunge.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwHKDc3jin
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIZV9KGxlb
You have gained 35 Experience.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf22BrAmK22
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeHwrootKL
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ35VsW1UbT8
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwbrw50YFV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcnjNmMNgz
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cdSryjq6y
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2y4eBVSj0T
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzV4d8H0lV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6i0Ex2Sxa8
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenLwMotVAa
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ96GxnotOs
'What next?'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0qlIFjVQS
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQszhSCzbqk
'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.'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdsK9qpRf0s
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mXYJt8yXa
'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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1tgAPzJG0
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkuqDXRdDd
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolbPeEIL4C
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWsxfw8mFdx
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKB9h9fHuRS
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSFkocSJqfw
'Freeze!'456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQM18vuaPV
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFeaDlyZWPl
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gwDWssaZK
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdExAc0At2
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!456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP6HLyBIA5
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzJiWpoJEgE
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnWA31pC5N
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtGPBPCw27V
You have killed a Ciatern!456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGix6wn42f
You cannot become better at Lunge.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77h1AItWSr
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWkrDkkF2p
You have gained 75 Experience.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoiYVggCJlm
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhqEhunQcYb
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.456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOk9O6lmqn
456Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqcZZxJZwC
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.
