'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMNLaoGSna
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'Can you find other quests for me?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1vgKnUBNUy
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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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmIQgDCpML8
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WCQlUv3kM
'Risk?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXZlWDmnNTY
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡclAEd3I5bd
'You could die.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8KsoFtJwJL
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtE782ZIpxi
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?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHF0Ogqc71C
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'As a vampire?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGd7Ay9rpL
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'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1MsINUotI
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLbTf7IwWlx
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYXcDvcWrr
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN4fsFAsHv
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgEsgxNAQKn
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoN1PvaCh8L
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM4OMvROhW5
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHS48uyQMci
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDarWszfWYQ
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'True.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhCuDZupP6
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg1qRp2HlqC
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'Sire?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOyv73ikIF
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3RPWYGfx2t
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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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdbAXMaIVmS
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'Not too likely to kill me?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡItUqko9yxa
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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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoy51Mbkphi
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxsyv7UTix
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEajdsTik47
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We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡesG5QrUYNe
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaiS0TnZqB0
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQMX7Tj8yF
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPCPa4xlH9F
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ23EmC3kcem
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGHWundYl3O
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZedfxmx3Fk
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXTKmg05h6h
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZf0UUgamg
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ40tMRHg7JX
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWegoiwLBOd
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdCxSs2rdX
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Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ00llw0T6a
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Church level 1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLCELGqnOq
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Priest: Cleric level 1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JdqZLf6HH
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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 1.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDpzGp7PBYG
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkaVAVBFS6
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjstQPvoIG
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwa9YrynGsD
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'Sire?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqLOHah665
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOlI0MLp6M
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'Get your armour,' added Carlena.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNr8GwwsJC
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSoMdmt455U
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU5wuwwMDNa
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtEINJCa06
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXgndeTzt1H
'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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3LzXNZJxJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNBxONZxHvg
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyPLYLfEzuF
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'What are you building now?' she asked.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhM9uvsJC9D
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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?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcYX0rR1KY
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFPi90jYO5o
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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJghgJHyAK4
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLvBUrbPMTw
'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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jqoxWEPjJ
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'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRjQe38Fmg
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4cY8Nr0fZ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpH9oxAL6lG
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEuadLsw3m
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp3h8MZ6nB4
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Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGjm7pHaBJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFBCVx5UQi
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwrw7ohw7p
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKRtTs1EeT
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNoMZubxVTK
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqCPxiGbiY9
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVf29rTkGEF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qSIQhy5Qg
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZD9hYjzHd
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFva7wQgNOm
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBp1YE7Vwh
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCtsvCYjXO
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL3UDSAo6SH
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6uSxL9RZn
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAyFPPtj1jS
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDStFO6hr3B
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOe0dB9BOYy
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJxnqm1MJ8
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'Here!'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXEc1F7yWvv
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5BPvBh1Fr
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVGBnfCT5mG
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc0b3hiVTWO
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaFLXMJjlT
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Bad news.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7LQLTB0uPS
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6VLfNiQ0y
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBU6QU2lUAO
'Freeze!'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsGsPz8sDZ
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpBFIAu9V5
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'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQ04is1lbG
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlIv7tIuRm4
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecXTy129xs
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJMbeOJ72h
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You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm4VhxJKF5S
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOuxED1rSJF
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That was progress at least.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHtnq2MP92W
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My next shot went wide and high.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKZUHJXL6T
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyZ5MnXJpJm
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaraVIUqW9I
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1tlmuzS2CR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDasgxvP1Uu
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiNMfobfBg5
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm20LGNBAvi
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A heal landed.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnRnJPzcR7
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTc6cbMynpl
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCnSts478X
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I missed.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDtcpRkfPb
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260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFYPyLwVnF
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTq2Fu8NMj6
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6sjCiXz7FZ
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORLV0aYVKV
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDiIvs2d1ra
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkjekxDTc2s
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYTxeqt2hjO
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQacS3Dui9Q
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTppsb8C6Xg
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSO7Mh9uFWR
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdCxxe7rTs
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Uwsj8ylWm
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'All?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJjK9VDxys
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'Sorry sire.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzr6sCPydMu
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUCtGrJeVF
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTJdoiTWPK
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbWYUpgiJ2
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIz1TdsKPa8
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIZHZXPCUzt
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuyE2W5EH0V
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJeBGWemaX
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tEa2god9Y
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNXkyjMw33
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqJ4g8z0DS9
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYNFtI3v5pP
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz8rw9QADVE
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeGkqBIpi4
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKcY0iClVl
'I think there is something at that rock.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMTYtUeqB6
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KwUNXQre3
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjz8EuOjdLY
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG6el1kiNM
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfkFfn3fHj
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMW4K5Ml411
'Freeze!'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmxyg6n8nB
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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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMKTBL35jY
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRzQUJ8SJr0
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXMD7r9out
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpRcAkjJyi
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You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztGrvaQMOV
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXSyA9oflNt
You cannot become better at Lunge.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2VARYg39Xw
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3AMxSCBmC
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The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡELqb1xwglj
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'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpV0KSHIeie
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'Who are you?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8xuwS0RGu
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'I'm a scout for King Wace.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA83w2o2gVm
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'Of Southway?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLC6RUGJHQQ
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'Aye.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pn8YheG4U
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdYNnC7Fgk
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq9V7qYVXn7
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4gxWaM701i
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbeJIjiPcJD
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp7WIg6E49J
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJWEjQlrB6q
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbC1xs327Yg
You have killed a Rogue!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBGyyVxIKc
You cannot become better at Lunge.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgpn0G3bGU
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTCj8WuoJn
You have gained 35 Experience.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmDhVh8ZqcE
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6TxQubBWwQ
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Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn7u2XM8M1d
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'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlpKv2fptq
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BZE1uXjWI
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl55xtH84eL
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'What next?'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvpV6Cb4VMQ
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'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.'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4t0rJaaK7l
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbDzvtcAlZf
'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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOVv8JX6vJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFTBhcOhYJ
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7oXl1RnaV
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqlRYds4Rlh
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWsK6MhO8N
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡegxMMH9Guc
'Freeze!'260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSK2kiUIFBU
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbhpC5PkSX
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZfkLOJpql
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXG2lEHfESp
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!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaNCw5rNP61
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2j662NR36j
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Lj4SgTjAa
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRboeSqDTAV
You have killed a Ciatern!260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXACF6IQHk1
You cannot become better at Lunge.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMK3rpL9xps
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mLuVkI84g
You have gained 75 Experience.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu4ElMvtTA
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuUqQxcUN1M
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.260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86dYd5nNAJ
260Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps3KA3jUXO
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.
