Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEODFfRQi9
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'Except those guarding prisoners, fall in to your units!' My order brought their training back and even the most wretched looking stiffened and hurried to find a place in the ranks.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4feuj6DaB
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'You fought well. Very well! And today will be the day I promised you. You will eat out on the story of the battle of Three Ways for the rest of your lives. But our work isn't yet done. Those of you on horseback…' I made my way to the light cavalry, half of whom were missing, chasing the retreating enemy, 'ride down the road, killing any enemy stragglers you find. Then, when our own soldiers return, scout beyond them until evening and report back here by dark… On you go!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK7pWHNgZfU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jd0CEyNgB
As the riders rode off, I turned to our archers. 'Sergeants, have your squads take the abandoned bows and quivers of the enemy; gather any unbroken arrows you can.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJRULWuaip
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJSnOgguOF
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'Sergeant of the swordsmen,' this to the squad leader of our twelve heavy infantry, 'take the prisoners and find a way to lock them in the small tower. They can be given food and water but make sure none of them is armed.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzh3kmY5oZ
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'Yes sire!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfoIuYXxAJ
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIzm3dJrwe
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKvpZ1FSl0W
'And you,' looking at the sergeant of my other infantry squad, 'get a cart and fill it with the abandoned weapons and any armour that is still useful. Also, tell the ballista crew to report to me at the bridge.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOaWkkZ3jk
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6Z4qaVBVZ
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3zz9vjrcT
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIphSWnlOF4
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Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhHQjNp4Hy
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5F8ueAy8f4
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYLK3bXx6Vg
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡka5gcVB6JZ
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxcM5HOFXux
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsV4nbUQY6U
'That… that was magnificent. Your charge. I'll never forget it, ever. I don't have the words.' And indeed, I could see tears were welling up in the elderly man's dark eyes.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYfZNjWIQuc
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15PGte0Bn0
'Good man yourself, Chancellor, your backstab was an excellent initiative.' I gave him a slap with my free arm. 'The Shaman might not have been able to save the battle for them, but we were about to lose a lot of men. It was brave too, with the sabre-toothed tiger at his side.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlmELeElzaQ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UW2Ud4TEs
I turned to Carlena. 'You too. To face the Shaman's spells and his pet without hesitation was impressive. I'm proud to be working with such courageous comrades.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0hPlQKsGkE
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiYpKQYBz9
Carlena gave me the warmest smile I'd yet seen from her, a sincere one, from the heart. 'A rhino was a good choice for the potion.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4x99XpuT7O
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVJtK6Kdqfa
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HFNPNyyfX
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTo8Pu30zju
'Well done sire.' She dropped her voice to a whisper. 'Thank you Sean de Courcy. You really are the warrior we need. King Carlos would have stayed in Carrick. Yet that was a battle we might easily have lost and with it, the realm.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZVgX6cZoa
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1yhjzOGNK
Our mutual fan club was broken up by the arrival of the ballista crew, who had come at the double, as if to make up for the fact they had missed out on the fighting. Their sergeant saluted.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqeaWgsnCBG
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkb9BpbuGx
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqnV1Cl32mR
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZ63DlA9O3
Checking first that I wasn't looking too serious, the powerful-looking young man allowed himself a reply. 'We're very disappointed sire; next time I hope you'll leave some for us.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUGYyLfurmb
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tdm77XQIX
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCUwxHWRsGi
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5HAL8Vnwm
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF71l8frro7
'That's what I hoped. I want you to search all the enemy bodies for coin. Then roll the corpses into the river along with any dead horses. We'll demoralise their army downstream as their dead comrades float past. Our own dead we'll bring home in carts for their families. When you've all the coin, report to me and I'll share it equally with every soldier here. Even you lot.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNlHZNwi5h
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOZXEQirhu
'You heard the king!' The sergeant gave me a salute and the crew immediately set to their somewhat morbid task as though it was a pleasure. Which perhaps it was. Loot was loot after all. Which gave me a thought.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwLAitfxeJ
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6re1P9ke6t
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIzr8hnZ4I
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15fYvqI974
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmOW8pPDTg
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbJaLjwAA6
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNRKtY9Wup7
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡviCRAg4E4O
'Soon I'll want you to go scouting again, in case the rest of their army moves up towards us. I've a feeling that they won't. For now though, if you could find some decent wine and tolerable bread, I could really use it. Being a rhino for eight minutes is a hell of a calorie burn… I mean it gives you an appetite.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjiKmNhwCFu
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpea2RCucpS
Slowly, I made my way back over the bridge and up to the gatehouse, bringing the Cleric with me. On my way, busy soldiers glanced at me in an entirely different way than they had before the battle. There was respect and admiration in their eyes. Affection too even. I was becoming the king they wanted. And whenever my gaze rested on soldiers performing their duties, they hurried that bit faster, as though wanting to demonstrate their backing for me. This was a complete contrast to the sullen looks and slow responses when I had first gone to the barracks in Carrick.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OuG6H7MGx
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxjI6nRcow
Of course, I'd been wanting to study the effects of the battle on my character sheet ever since the fighting had ended, but only now, after a deliberate pause to consider if I had overlooked any important orders, did I feel the time had come when I could open that menu.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7ELtgic2JO
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qm60AoBxE
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6WbS1lCqH
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Str 7282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzqp61RnvW
Dex 4282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKTnkBLqiaQ
Con 8282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEcBegJOsj
Int 16282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYA5LNaMP2z
Wis 16282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0c7jwfrQKY
Cha 4282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSsYCcEyjPI
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQny7ADMUa9
Top Skills282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPI2WNHlEMX
Bash 25282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiCgtXWKDk
Impale 25282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcNpy7ghVE
Lunge 5282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM0xT6we7pc
Parry 5282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm2rS8BVgSU
Wield Rapier 5282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyqcLUl9n9
Wield Shortbow 3282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xP7K08iCe
Block 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdRu95SgdG
Defensive Stance 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmoxcXprGe
Deflect 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7J2Pmmiv3e
Dodge 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9FoLlDCRcE
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEvwj7j8WK
You have 15 skill points to assign.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL1clJRRe7e
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XP 2,860 (3,200)
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My attribute points I decided to save, again, tempting though it was tempting to put a point in Dexterity. Assuming I could train up the low stats, I'd want those points for later.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhzWB736bMx
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWrTX1KKx3e
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUAkbKNQOOd
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Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHyuHrJz7K
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFYPcZebZi
Berserker282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xzEwjGYfB
Champion282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QYnMOfHEM
Paladin282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY304JUtVVw
Shadow Knight282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8rgUfY9oiS
Warlord
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDSrtTiiedD
Each had a description, which corresponded to fighter sub-types I was familiar with from Storm Wars: the Berserker specialised in speed, high DPS and was a master of improvisation, downside, medium armour only; the Champion was a duellist, a weapons specialist perfect for one-on-one fights, downside, all the benefits were individual only; the Paladin had holy spells as well as combat skills, downside incompatible with evil troops and creatures; the Shadow Knight was the opposite to the Paladin, with unholy spells and an incompatibility with good; the Warlord was the opposite to the Champion, a tactical specialist, all the benefits were group ones.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lpImU4UHs
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Obviously, with Lord Arval being a Paladin, the Shadow Knight was out. And it wasn't smart to replicate his spells and skill bonuses when I could gain new ones for our realm. Even if I got this body into reasonable shape, I was never going to be a Berserker. So that left Champion and Warlord.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlDSxzPIQVq
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjzj0D25pWv
Rereading the description of both, the Champion appealed to my pride. Following that path would ultimately lead to a character who could defeat anyone else in the world in a face-to-face encounter. I could visualise myself using Lightning Draw to bring a sword into my hands faster than my opponent anticipated and cutting them down with Critical Strike before they'd even drawn breath.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoYvx9d92t
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3wIX5OV07s
It was clear though, that in this world of twenty-five kingdoms battling for mastery, the Warlord was going to be the right option. As a Warlord I'd get feats that could rally shaken troops, that could heighten the combat skills of those nearby and at high level could identify unfamiliar enemy troop types. I selected it and immediately got twenty or so new skill options and my first Warlord feat, Charge! All friendly units in the vicinity got a 20% increase to base movement and a temporary 5 hit point increase.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIOqyc7uIkD
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As for the skills, since I knew I would learn fast from practice, I would simply put one point in each to unlock them. With 15 skill points to assign, I could get all but five. My exact choices, however, could wait.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKZJsBmBGP
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7LAq8AEJZ
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIBAq01nDUF
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Military282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcrQLrXmnV
Light infantry: 26*282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgkdDmcYzD
Heavy infantry: 11*282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSaI0NR6zE2
Archers: 34*282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmjfJwfmA6A
Light cavalry: 18*282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WHxIbCznH
Heavy cavalry: 4*282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ23wkSQC4
Ballista: 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78uHxZQORX
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(*veterans)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡehzwPlowPb
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Hospital: 18282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ2SJZwxEG
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jAM5aM3tu
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Currently training:282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjgusW0RtUU
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMu4k4KpWxD
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Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
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Not at all bad. In fact, considering my original plan, which would have been costly in terms of archers and probably infantry, it was a fantastic result. Greyland's army was small, but it was still intact, a viable force with which to face the other half of the army of our enemies, should they dare advance. If anything, we were actually stronger than when the day had begun, since a new veteran tag had appeared over most of the troops.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaavMfhnat9
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2BMdC0PAu
There were rooms in the larger tower and although I struggled to get up the wooden stairs, which creaked loudly beneath me, I found a bench on the first level that could accommodate my bulk. The Cleric stood uncertainly by the door.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzhuhOPyKu
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'Take a seat.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNLfMmR4y8
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She obeyed me.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIac3o9ZMD4
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'What's your name?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOrEM9Yasm
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRKj0ZyZeav
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA2iRA4XMBP
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡREZ1GANYZe
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'Yes sire.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQ4icqML97
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'Well, you aren't…' I struggled for the words that she might understand. 'You are listed under the church menu but you aren't a special person. You can't level up, or can you?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGi41f9T03f
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoFnCwPbQVJ
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfWrlljbEC
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIWdbVRL2rE
'I was reading about the various levels of church earlier and while it's not a priority …' I held back from expressing my concern about the food supply, 'that upgrade will happen. But it wasn't clear if you would gain a level. I learned only that the town would gain a second Cleric and those attending the church would be able to obtain cures for moderate wounds and the delay of poisons and disease.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURpFaowNo4
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScylla7SVI
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvjBZP7T5HI
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjILLvDhRiT
'Let's hope so. And let's hope you can join me progressing. Because we are going to need a strong healer, both to level me up as fast as possible and for future battles.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0aaFfq2xFp
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIMsJ8TcZN7
It was hard to see her response: in her full chainmail armour the coif put most of her face in shade. Her mouth looked determined enough though and she gave a nod.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLW47V5GbDb
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9N4Jo6oKd4
Footsteps from below announced the arrival of the chancellor, bearing the very welcome load of two bottles of wine and four tin goblets. Behind him, a soldier had a basket with bread rolls and apples.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCF5BKHC9T2
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'Well done Chancellor.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZKSODtzrIX
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'Thank you sire.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrPYYJRBhV
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One of the joys of a high Dexterity, it seemed, was the ability to draw a cork from a bottle with just a narrow blade from his Scout's tool kit and it was only a moment's work before the comforting gurgle of wine being poured was heard.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnFJHoc9c7
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwfFfsQiZY
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0nX3txqYTU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1XVsHegKsd
I asked Parrin about his sneak attack on the Shaman and was listening to his account – it reminded me that the Scout had an extremely important Ring of Silent Movement – when Carlena joined us, a look of quiet pleasure on her face that made me hopeful. That and the finely made rapier she carried.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1asKWu5Vo8
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWqvehOG2S
'Four magic items sire.' She emptied a bag onto the bare wooden floor with a satisfying clatter from the three items that fell out. 'I've used the rest of my mana for the day casting Insight to discover their properties, but I thought you'd want to know.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyIjJT7FZdZ
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I nodded.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4A5TUYw8EV
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'Their Shaman had a scroll of Hold Animal and an amulet with the spell Hide from Animals stored in it; one of their officers had Bracers of Archery; and the other had this: a plus-two rapier.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQI4WMda7JW
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqP386uHRtL
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCK4JhWmPCW
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'Give you five skill points in your wield skill for all bows; a slightly faster rate of fire; and fifty-percent increase in all ranges.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLpAMBucOaP
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡja8YNVyeGc
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZtpL6ZhDvX
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtP9rmJqn6
'The pity is that I can't add them to my spell book, with their being Shaman spells not those of a sorceress, but as a once off, I can cast those spells.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRylYOYQGOf
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlhxIhWhP7
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZBbjRrb7f
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡalgohCTFFO
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzltF2X2Hj1
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsYwdQwDH3
We were well into the second bottle of wine and nothing but crumbs and apple cores remained in the basket when Lord Arval bounded up the stairs and into the room. A glance, then he stepped over to me, knelt and clasped my hands in his.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLv96S63Vw
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2VB2oQMHY
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50hVIPYrj4
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZaRhYW5ijc
'Nor I Lord Arval, now take a seat and a drink.' I freed my hands from the warrior, picked up my goblet and passed it to him. 'I'm only sorry we ate all the bread.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9oegATRrK
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkASggDPqTr
Our general was clearly exhausted, his face was wan and he sat with obvious relief. Yet his eyes were darting to check we all shared his happiness. And watching him, I had another thought. Perhaps the PCs had levelled too? I raised my arm. Carlena and Parrin were both still level 9. But Lord Arval had reached level 8.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡocSShHcIY6
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmrLt3ThhwA
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1wxGiOiKNH
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCMRenTeGW
HP 79282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeym4sShjZX
AC 18282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEV5iBcBNUa
XP 30,124 (64,200)282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhys7yr9mPh
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKenHh41Ca
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVqwF81C6m
'Another toast!' I declared, though I no longer had a goblet and had to raise just my hand. 'To Lord Arval, our level eight Paladin!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGEKRBQNWWh
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwuQX217DLC
'Congratulations!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlNfKUHQ83Y
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'To Lord Arval!'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6SAEhpI2Py
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEQ93iTmrU
Our general acknowledged the goodwill in the room with a cheerful wave. Then Carlena told him about the magic items we had gained and he told us about the rout of the enemy, whom he pursued for miles down the valley. After that we fell into a comfortable silence, the silence of those who had been through battle together and who were reflecting on the day's events.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XsmOTrcM2
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXsNfztZ2d
At least, that's what I thought they were doing. Lord Arval, however, looked over at the cleric and spoke: 'Can you leave us some privacy, please.'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr2vFBWwCYQ
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXOp1kC06F
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71d4BGYyvu
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq6ObhpyAOZ
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFba0cR96mU
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFzcZhjXP7Q
He smiled. 'It's nothing urgent. But I wanted to know: how did this day compare to the battles you experienced in your world? You must have had other victories like this?'282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooVmi3wcGj
282Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiO2XkAlxel
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
