'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqS2D5eeVwV
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'Can you find other quests for me?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ84EQ5zCS4u
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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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLzg5mUlufP
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2uBBtya11
'Risk?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRjtFUxhsI
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXsgoh87I4
'You could die.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYljnCFTgIW
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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?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9meoDUhz3I
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2pyhjhbIjb
'As a vampire?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKGyLZgclc
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'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UP61LMcMa
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpRNMadhSj
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuuR3ofOd8
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I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLQd34LjgJ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgAqWVnGp32
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkDhhicgzB
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBA2yjDtEkm
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dQdz7z3lW
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'True.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7znt7kvsmR
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgl36lcRJCk
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'Sire?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhQoeFxqbP
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfySNzH0cM
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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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDMUiNkbTf
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'Not too likely to kill me?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡajyh441hBv
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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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiAqH1MJoT0
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'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8ag2nU624
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOTAi7HyFM
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbiFGxLsFHo
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLFw6Gt8u9
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGwLk9TVig
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdH54eFzx2
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After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8z6EEpxn6
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNzQyEYAY2V
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9NfoGPSivF
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjl8sZIUO6t
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBx5FN9WnFJ
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Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5YCXUBGLj
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Church level 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKpQFZ1p38
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Priest: Cleric level 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS11qDBS20X
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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 1.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyhOhfDfTAk
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxzAsE8Bec
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUbvVNTCfaQ
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'Sire?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9IdhYyGfA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMF5LOeMjo0
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7B7NAAolnm
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'Get your armour,' added Carlena.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WJk5J9IKl
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0miAIyV8y
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8qpVGY45fr
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysrCOX3StG
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYphw9Rrjs
'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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3VBwA0diZ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ZKifalpp
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ73rEpVytK
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'What are you building now?' she asked.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlEE9PxTaJl
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'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?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmP48jx5XZG
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPUcxppGkg
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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82oXctxSOA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHV7BXlNeBp
'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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9u0Q3768y
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPy1BV264ZI
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡafCuaF6zuF
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡddClH55Eao
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAcFlTLm0N
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3JMWERQik
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ91FOL9kLZ0
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Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Ke3OAUnEG
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2hNdgpKVT
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3iAVrI3PAf
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkpwJH6ozaP
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouNyl75rP6
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpU4GvfmunV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4KM82Zbr3
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmujrDHDwG8
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdA5ISiGVOP
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ30klaa1si2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEu3A255fcK
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOU6JA2NUL
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'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfuuCKlcq2s
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDF5FACAVvv
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKh9hwIRus
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwtYoY0J3W
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDajqp4Q5w
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'Here!'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6odYnBO9OA
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmcF94myVtB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK41wwvFoTF
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4xBL0rVfee
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVrjBE4dKq
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Bad news.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xi2y1coNi
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQk1cdLCiO
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'Freeze!'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCaFum1Uax
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e6hIDgSit
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'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQAyzyTVjV
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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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoAe00H9qX
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Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvvZNLNaOl
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY7xEL2sQGu
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsdLjAFWGx
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRo54fTARGy
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That was progress at least.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxzvNz9WbBD
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My next shot went wide and high.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFanflhhc9W
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383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhcRF10zLTa
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWedexe3Ha
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383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGutgJQFlvn
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG17vZAgomx
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRosEJq5P5p
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbI10FrFIPI
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqoulON4jfB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIWiUleu6T
A heal landed.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGWs4gAfIWa
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHdAEWLdgI
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnM1PwOYlo2
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I missed.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRFcjJf1rCm
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383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgvlkMVsCo
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWJ4VGQni0d
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2IpvuFbDwc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe1UkdfJ514
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOK8KOKdJOw
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwYXqzAH06O
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0UPGVqWCu7
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYI8vrxE91
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNiB4VcGSs
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPSb7KqG0Iw
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD6qa1Z5m8Z
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'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenb5pcLzhM
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'All?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAgTfKGyTlL
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'Sorry sire.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1nDEEaYvE
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc9tMI34plC
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4cNlYoA0h
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKlMuwXQi0
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡknJQPXPDhd
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHFyZvlmdFD
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTX8dh8uBY
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRzeYkWEnM
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXcQ2Ktvrwb
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoxhfluBlfY
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9TeFOPEkq
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIi6wAr3v3
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDER2cJSAR
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfo00HYtCwP
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRql8nAgTyf
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TBx9sx9uA
'I think there is something at that rock.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡamHKvGVbQs
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWRWscMtP12
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQXyhRwN0L
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtS8n1xvMX
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4yDZzksyeI
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlJK1duGk9q
'Freeze!'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcaThtbduN4
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZWXa8652Q
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlarzR8SqNk
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdGxXEh18je
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJKzDBoN1dp
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcGEcqCwV9
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4a3EPe4dJ
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GuXLriBIB
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIw6V9nngcW
You cannot become better at Lunge.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvZTIkgVsO
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBRTlfvSht
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWkfU4vaWbh
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkF0tC3Sjft
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRIffke1VU
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVUQ5mugl9
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QIeLX05Hu
'Who are you?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3PmZSdlXVQ
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIeGlkF236c
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtP3IFLKs60
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRF1yOd3dN
'Of Southway?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7sfapuXyv
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQRcsO8R1h
'Aye.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7V2LJnAQg
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKvRekxND4
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhb18Fprjc
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEN22ZpwCKv
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEbcTd2jM0
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtVYrlmMQbR
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEk0uHHvwFb
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT3FhMTXDHc
You have killed a Rogue!383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnjY6aKOacU
You cannot become better at Lunge.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalykGoNcxH
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBgz4K4y8g
You have gained 35 Experience.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc93e2dslXg
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3MOsAgYeC
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMtrZWm3H8
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SZ721twhm
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3VgaSEoKB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZ3p3o2n3y
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJsrAlT3U68
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGWO07z2E3
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdCyDcxggbr
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd1yVy9ggbO
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1RnTaKiul
'What next?'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRrWU4ZYwV
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuSlHasQXuz
'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.'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlG8dNlMLK
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQnZWn7yXQ
'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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2stXv5zrGs
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbIRBqJcYE5
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHfdKOqxgM
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI1nWGMaTz6
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8hM8vYzZ5e
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh5FXbzW9q3
'Freeze!'383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡal8GrQarhB
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJi1VPQ4tFt
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV5kWFk6v7g
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQkVsFBnfsj
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!383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN1GDKiNDU2
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8cBu55ZVmw
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOrMEcjtvhU
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZXmaO7R2a
You have killed a Ciatern!383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1K6NDxTF6N
You cannot become better at Lunge.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQEOy0JF5YG
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7EfkayQrE
You have gained 75 Experience.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1EYt4pxVdA
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2lF2fzYAw
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.383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoY13cuZccY
383Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9J9D2GgjPk
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.
