'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgQrG14CU3h
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'Can you find other quests for me?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkEp3TP051c
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXsWL9FK5N
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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrCKZDTSsF
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhvrRDGWMlt
'Risk?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzg9JUxVta9
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAtskQfi0C
'You could die.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuOtIZA0ewS
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvkQo1ChYLZ
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?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYOA07a96eX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1FuTXgnyOD
'As a vampire?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqUUqQdwKv
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiyPdccFl6P
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvWg0lqsayI
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhbe3MpBwIO
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡljrHN1K3dX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0t9OoJOfEZ
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefvIaTeTxG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmmzqRvVnVY
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCnfSare7Q
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXgareucJA
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXsvZEEkPdu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2WxwZQK6ZR
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Spw0KXMC5
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'True.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZgMOpDbsq
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOLf2T6UYHw
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKpjtOTgfP
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLE8nob58Z
'Sire?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkFAjJgtM3
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTAZjeePQbM
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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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfDHFfYxkqh
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'Not too likely to kill me?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJmK37h8yON
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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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06GYyBojVJ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLuVo8C5ZDy
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWHwqbRAlgE
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOm5Rgqvqgi
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjqwGBtr5ce
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZBPU4pPhk
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkE23C7sNYX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx6Cf1R429
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8SJHy3I9w
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjKTys745Dq
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9ZulcmWF8Y
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ZHLs2qBm4
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuFAOl9M93y
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnqiHMdM8K
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzfQ8c9pFg
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFTN0EK3k85
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH2lnCeUbjW
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsFUuTFy2o
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcHCASNmJ9u
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Church level 1346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGOEPlgOlQ7
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Priest: Cleric level 1346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuw18wQHMV2
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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 1.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ThpV9S3ME
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVDg6gsUyS
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaGoHf0o8vH
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak0TiqrlnF
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAnvzeQcc9
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'Sire?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5v0imRhpRa
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1SELoPVQ4G
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbo6qJRkJ3
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfj0vN4e6u
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOt2m3rXJwm
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHW2iYr04mZ
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMiUEwtPUw
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPEHQvtlY2r
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZf8xyNcZ0Q
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEpgfZYEi1b
'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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJkGgoUovXE
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzvAWtM7uS
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYCISir8jJw
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ42b1ZboD9
'What are you building now?' she asked.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMP9mqeIXJ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKOwXmlcBu
'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?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj8rR3w4H6d
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqf9pkPnad
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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrxfmLvb8NA
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv3eNshqtRa
'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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2S9I6Vti20
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGaO6NNoLP0
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡio9IOYTdfe
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7C3qOsy0x4
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BOdMxHklU
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74OnGqfdDE
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOJ8hLx1EZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9ve6ub1VB
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcseVDRjur
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoxLD8BlLi
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbumN4eQ5UQ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jv5eQi1aT
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa8NORttZr1
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK6RDS5FqDQ
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg6EzZ8TANV
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzXs4VfBDT
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4pAfsKCwS
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBj0JOKSm29
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCdGbnW3jA
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYvv5t87M47
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPExWe3PRrq
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZynKD2sjJT
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OD0MBhgdf
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiucFMnS9W6
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgbzqTlPnO
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJvU7XuCZ1
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeHZO2ASoh
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2CokulQHvq
'Here!'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe58UcDqTx3
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSDlhTPv7P
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTCHpYOcc8
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXv2WV5NBW
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3z55HLW7D8
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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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8I1tZJjIso
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztUofnarGI
Bad news.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzCvaxl9R0V
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Iy4fkZgUh
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqjErokvfOx
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXRqu95uUd
'Freeze!'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb4fs7j9W2d
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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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKniR6xSaN9
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmc1QRn8du
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgtve9RKGW
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzh3PcYCUbX
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc5h0W1Dcqt
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbcgI0Z52xg
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjRHofXS2q
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF3MFlO7Suk
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You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vvQzw1Xao
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIzVpUWwN6l
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkrKl1GUUW
That was progress at least.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNWFtxnJxc
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtfmCy8Peoj
My next shot went wide and high.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbEY2dSC9gb
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQedzLsaiI
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDkqtncFj3i
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQiykMgaRp
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1LiA7R5dgY
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnIksjkNQL
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaMDIwBcoSO
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxecIzFSLIN
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5rxxYkccD5
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsj5nnA7D2
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79XoJpIcZ6
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxJla3t47i
A heal landed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaaSb4uBDe
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0INh9cnFd
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyq0TM0x2Jq
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH3B6djfTTH
'Last chance,' said Carlena.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnAfCahRgp
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3lfVmTAHq2
I missed.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH1Xx7B3Hu
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXWu9J0iEOL
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDYJXCH1Xmx
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMghl7aUCU
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfz8zCE1F3h
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5CSItFGyG
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJFW0feECR8
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvNh89jeAnk
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpeagYR7w1
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkR765guYel
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNV7nkavEc9
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbr2xtb3j9S
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFqH0I3QKr
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0tVsToX90d
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlFoI9Gc3Fw
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'All?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIQqarocc0
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡODsGvnKpOt
'Sorry sire.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡngx7HAghLX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMcAUfD2udB
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGHmFM627D
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPjanSiJ3AZ
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8DgsRyRm5m
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNPxZ6MGgL
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlQCEGYIWVo
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrnIi6AJQF9
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI2tw2O9hsF
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3bvBrkxX6
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyd7QO0XOsg
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndM3to6HOi
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eJPZslRid
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJDoZ1c1v5
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxO9qbhGC9O
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJqVxGhLi3
'I think there is something at that rock.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyvI7kZhQn
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7UvgWqCDh7
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIy98JmKel2
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76QqEziKv0
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCQbIl3lce
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmBYSjeCFHF
'Freeze!'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJW9fBWNZDx
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC27i9cox2Q
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVZ4rBMDgA4
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj6sFjJVKRb
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzjmQy0WtkT
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nMjbTWEru
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKatAk6nS2N
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpJjMkt5i8A
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Gke9B5bHO
You cannot become better at Lunge.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyY2ykUcto
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9w11xrti8z
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKWhsUKG1P
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRyonX63RbO
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriN2MYnRSp
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMpZpokUkX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3Wn8qxgTQ
'Who are you?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLmo14ZTv2B
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0bk0M93KUV
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLK03qAfHJd
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡORIoqNric6
'Of Southway?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZdPTbuZeT
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVGqQ8Xuj9
'Aye.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR1OafAQIac
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyCZvylpr2v
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsoR0cbtZK1
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NjHIMVBcF
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx10qN1N1LQ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrl9yd3KcM
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zKhvAjezu
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhUvwNtFBI
You have killed a Rogue!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMjnBPKmBt
You cannot become better at Lunge.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTW2x9X2iAw
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Txxrxq48r
You have gained 35 Experience.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49jRO1vVQr
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqpB4qX14A
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Lt2BXoZr
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjcQJoYThpP
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWgSku2XrdY
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN9olEC0BZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdDSqW340p
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡABirlyvIAZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNafqsGWTq8
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi2RioLb6x
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ58dpwvgJ57
'What next?'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHdQU2J18mr
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJIBoVXhnNJ
'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.'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69XqxMZ731
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85rndtX166
'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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqdESxp40C
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl6tjjKeIx
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVo1KJ5TBtX
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDQ309UJRj
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaX4RCXYVjt
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSzyfxrz3zL
'Freeze!'346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6elTnybYAZ
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQclfXa71H1
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡefBNvwK0UG
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5fzrGYUPDB
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!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8VzwwaKON
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡteXjKHse29
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwgv3TTUsW
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ONQWyQQr5
You have killed a Ciatern!346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfyCO95j55J
You cannot become better at Lunge.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiFWU1CKQP
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLREcVs3C2K
You have gained 75 Experience.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtZtyz6YCKb
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNizhohKwBn
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.346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcvGJCXwwx4
346Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVNbacTfPe5
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.
