Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyHqeagEAG
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4v1CFnYiLx
'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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE3e6zqBpma
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUc3s1UxvPw
'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!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDc2UXl8Eqv
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OTBngEGYE
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZA4gtC7Hfg
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKjK4woJNy
'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztY1dlSISP
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuDZTMa7rM
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI6Xc0UlhuL
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdP1jSm0DP9
'Yes sire!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSY97uW5YPA
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZHH1aFkiy0
'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Ykm7Kf2sV
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0H5HrXF9KQ
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZxo2K7Cla
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00khpuadqo
There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTCecqqVUg
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vW7hc43GU
'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD3rEZtn7cz
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzIhYSLaeg
I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNrQtX4idl
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5BbHrReqbZ
Coming down the hillside was a weak-looking Parrin, being helped by Carlena. I gestured towards them. 'Go heal the chancellor.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDrbtghpsu
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdcay6G6Zl
By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugSUas9gbM
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjYxJMnqB8
'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgUpC31Afr
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfHsg55Kgs
'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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡStqkKelZPn
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVC8HZLzkC
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2VWPYP8mi
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhFgoFrtlP
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMt03TyqejS
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmORZcYeMA9
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77euz9WxPa
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWThSyQ4bcm
'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6rmDr5Ehjp
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOavJz2RdH
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvSwwDwbnbA
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlXTNpVoXR
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHb8v7cHAOS
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW0tAmNo76g
'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouTKV6N65g
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLOBco5Jv8
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFxMiS5zlRr
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMUPJfx3S46
'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ823uYNBAat
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFLRhYgte5
'As honest as a mirror sire.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQIVMFkq8OA
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Vu1xd6Ck7
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQrnpP2GfX
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQE9d25hRiT
'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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpid40ltru
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdKyORH8DUF
'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOWWoHymo9
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡheU4OUSyjb
'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkO5HwYNIBP
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFkHmxa2n2X
'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHuOAbUs1Cg
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6mEVVaWN6g
'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeP0SCZahIF
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbxTXhoIrNp
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7fQMmROkWm
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5wj7sBcpwH
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmhGZSucTes
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbZhlH6J6pS
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnZXJLcEw4S
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZCredxcnL
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkywIcfGjoL
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCg9M2KaCHz
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRALElCglR
Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquG1N4LD8U
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGOcYeHjrw
Str 7380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaweUqItfL
Dex 4380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBL6plm4h2A
Con 8380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzz0ld6jA1Q
Int 16380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8At6kde7HY
Wis 16380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9U9YhkSnb
Cha 4380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7zJVCDcye
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnqFhJi6keX
Top Skills380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2cuwVTFlVw
Bash 25380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8moZkVIKnt
Impale 25380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKfbVPUYpL7
Lunge 5380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDfwkJr4od
Parry 5380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSQiC9egvzj
Wield Rapier 5380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnCUEofb0fr
Wield Shortbow 3380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhS9vLUrpiQ
Block 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMqkwyBQJVG
Defensive Stance 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg5uLuMayW3
Deflect 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUhHLDmQP5d
Dodge 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ6lSCISL50
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAalvr2uQda
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGXilZtlxOT
You have 4 attribute points to assign.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzYgJIIvvU
You have 15 skill points to assign.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcTRcoKWXR
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffNtyiMtjM
XP 2,860 (3,200)
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA1nzZhfCWt
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFl11DWYYHb
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Of6mRNq3a
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTscWJjGtc
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9JmcWYSlME
There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlr2sYclre
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaY5rQhSWl
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiUYicLdrE8
Congratulations Sean de Courcy on reaching Level 5 in Fighter. You have unlocked the following specialisations within the Fighter class. Please choose one:380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv9ztuM4s0A
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5jCNHwwJg
Berserker380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFPwRDwnWa
Champion380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcoPpRFf1F
Paladin380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnFyomA3bF
Shadow Knight380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf5Pw2iMuRP
Warlord
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHVS0TrcALK
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5WQsAGMgoK
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJ1dBRQVX6
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO80VHRgNqo
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwWTRlR1zq7
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlebh01dFdm
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NHZfzI1tM
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBX3rKe2HjL
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrIhkJGa98
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4B26l99Jo9
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWH7ZjshpP
Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDcO8244eas
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg4GTFuUivG
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVucHemr5g
Military380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxR1UdEiKXl
Light infantry: 26*380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfR2S1O8GU
Heavy infantry: 11*380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO9mPxiLPYE
Archers: 34*380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTEvUH3HGP
Light cavalry: 18*380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcpbv8sGNNE
Heavy cavalry: 4*380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wkBEuS4p6
Ballista: 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvlIHLyuhc
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTMlh3WSSWA
(*veterans)380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6eH7jkcmF
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWsb60w7On
Hospital: 18380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ca0KBlVPZ
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34XZ2Va8yX
Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy4AqFmx0fK
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3qAhf1vQ0i
Currently training:380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRygkSgo1bU
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzTXyhKSV9a
Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEecEYB1JzT
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfP7EArmPkC
Currently building: tower machicolations, 23 hours
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFVzIyX5ZlO
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWZcIQw7Q5
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ySdvg5L4n
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYf4k0aTGu
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8A2R3FXsf
'Take a seat.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ95cC7U1GLY
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrZzc6Q0Xjb
She obeyed me.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9KbErgcUQ8
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZJ3HrnPnx
'What's your name?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrC9mtPDpWr
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydavKWMQRl
'Anthea Greyford, sire.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMCHz0vCHek
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJvHbA2J4k
'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZXZlbGTcEj
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVjTKobNs7
'Yes sire.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhqktzDsy3
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnVU2cmjz5N
'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?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMYfuxMX0m0
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfq4qXyxq6
'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSJzDvHMALi
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiylu6HF44
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKd1fiIoQE
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41G3ecGiUX
'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡns5DQAhRSv
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVP2a0nlWHN
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmSvcMeyAM
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXeYCEFR5e
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI5MBwzwp7F
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbcqPUSvaj
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSZuVqazpIG
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Shgwc5kK3
'Well done Chancellor.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgjm7fXNvzS
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82wSEtiLjt
'Thank you sire.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxkLpaEgHR
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoSjseV7uC
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIgETJkLCpB
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0vb0MDKSH2
'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaM6gsQcOV9
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLnZ3fdVWa
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugaiUZKFbm
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8VZo2KZZn9
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwdDYDhEotw
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6k45vDEAVl
I nodded.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnefoUIEVB
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY4XJqrI9kr
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZI7XCihs3
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiOxL2GCNZ9
'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ujLOQ7usL
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvQ97htj7QA
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3QX8Or4AD
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2B8IDgLMpv
'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7s5VIWZxGn
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXCdu1xOOm
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhxyIg0bp5p
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrrczFqkqB
'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2orCMC31kk
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnmAnhu9dFR
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpKRLeXHYg
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfw7kkYxi2
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75ygMVAr6e
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeSYWVD16p2
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo8RpImHVZm
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaOnoFgMRW
'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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOTgg3aZlAB
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTCbLO53qSB
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 8.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BG11kn0tx
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHyieQ4JQV
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVmJx9bBfE9
Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmvBHPTiSx
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpoMlwumfs
HP 79380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDONmOGIQEw
AC 18380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY0PooXa5Nm
XP 30,124 (64,200)380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTHBa98nV6P
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtC6pVBNH6T
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqq3QmOJeSz
'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!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiysQn2Txl2
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYh1vraKkk
'Congratulations!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0iQh2YaGLy
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIuBbSHnCx
'To Lord Arval!'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaYsagDTfWG
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoUDQroEpVr
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.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHRDx404Sa
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Avu1gScee
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.'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod55dl0EUD
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOhND1nhes
'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9qwm142UHe
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0qgX5yrX5r
I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZmSIB7MWL
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbAfBgtnXY
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?'380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZOSvEVH3h
380Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWmRVy2OAb
How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
