Although there were many smiles among our soldiers, there were others too who looked shocked: pale, slumped and tearful.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgqqfqzhgia
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYrt44355L
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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!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQFUz0VYt7
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3O3u6K4O4z
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'You heard the king!' shouted a sergeant, 'on me!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZ4bxN2AOO
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfqzCYpp7cp
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'Yes sire!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB7MxqK9iSr
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'You,' I pointed to the sergeant of a unit of twelve light infantry, 'are on the same task.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡucsBydAmq3
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N5rfWICBb
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There was a bustle of activity now and the eagerness with which the soldiers set about their tasks was heartening.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfLkNoXrBFv
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'Sire?' It was the Cleric. 'May I heal you?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQIzE63tCx
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I checked my hit points, 33 from 40. 'No.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJT4p3OzZb
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXzJwU1TUg
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By the time they reached me, the Scout was looking a lot more cheerful. 'Sire, permission to shake your hand.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RsVaN8AcK
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'Granted.' I smiled at our Parrin as he took my heavy right hand in both of his and pumped it up and down.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYNlWUQ8mC
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'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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSFV2kgHuK
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWQqYREXdq
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe2Fpa1Cdo
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdw3Y5p47V
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'When you said to pick something the size of my body… well, it came to mind.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS3rSUqp9l0
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4U6piggEJl
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxta0DMGeYx
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'Hard luck, sergeant. You were to be the hero of the battle by the original plan.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmTeIQOsUy
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSXsovwBl7Q
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'Good man. Well, I've a task that will make you popular with the rest of the army. Are you honest?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJHQ1lnMgyr
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'As honest as a mirror sire.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7jgITbnh6J
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OLPIEg73T
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'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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftwqP46aW4
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'Do you have a Detect Magic spell?' I asked Carlena, who nodded.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy6Xo26c16L
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'Can you use it and see if there are any magic items on the dead, perhaps on the Shaman or their officers?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmxZft1UWH
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'Oh, I should have thought of that.' Carlena hurried back up the hill.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHXXFM3xKA
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'Any orders for me sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHWYqfQsxlm
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8kuUhVKFcR
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDywhGFAuI
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsIo3CHNJs
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Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1hT21VVAAV
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Fighter, Level 5 HP 40 AC 0281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb06nTE5PgM
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Str 7281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyya5kCKB0N
Dex 4281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94Cjdim6o4
Con 8281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4RqA27sdK
Int 16281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ73Rff34xMp
Wis 16281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMSc43vSsr
Cha 4281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZyPmPgqwe
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Top Skills281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7m8idcyqQR
Bash 25281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjebKzApv8
Impale 25281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyZ9j0WPYL
Lunge 5281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywWrdFJiKc
Parry 5281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pcmv8p8ua
Wield Rapier 5281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvBEYFq4rAi
Wield Shortbow 3281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgb3403xxqy
Block 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGSMjQFohTw
Defensive Stance 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8G3FWkmkD
Deflect 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxfP7AUn7R
Dodge 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdfK0QWFXV
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You have 4 attribute points to assign.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSIF9gR5Qr
You have 15 skill points to assign.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTXJ9eerMjL
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ853vFow5er
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There was also a new notification attached to my character sheet, which I opened.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlaygTjy5B
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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:281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrekqbVzVe
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Berserker281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoogKZRzhoC
Champion281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwseNi6xMge
Paladin281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk5EmijsMKN
Shadow Knight281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFj8sodwiI
Warlord
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdJ25AqtHc
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHD760goo6
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdfAuhIDJv
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYX83XVZypr
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnIoMrkbsDy
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Closing my character sheet, I had a look at the state of Greyland's army on the military menu:281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ML8DyA8uF
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Military281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlraJNUoTlN
Light infantry: 26*281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMikLkBG4Z9
Heavy infantry: 11*281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5KLeTVVyS
Archers: 34*281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Mz49lyfJL
Light cavalry: 18*281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfV4kFGzdpV
Heavy cavalry: 4*281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnO2vwaa0xE
Ballista: 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtjO8K4mFHw
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(*veterans)281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKNgEXV5IG
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Hospital: 18281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡof0S2B9MV5
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Military upkeep cost: 43 gold, 6 silver281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9Qs8ikLlS
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Currently training:281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEvN4ITl8yO
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Buildings: keep level 2; curtain walls level 1; towers level 1; town walls level 1281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkrNDTHyne7
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcEHSuGLu1Z
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2NHxVI4vFu
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'Take a seat.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dIJ099kqa
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She obeyed me.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYBqbpGydrW
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'What's your name?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTBe5JaUUH
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'Anthea Greyford, sire.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLJAwAm3yoe
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'Anthea, you know I have menus for the running of ths realm?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwi1gUFYWoP
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'Yes sire.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRka3dqkd8
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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?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGl52EGI5QA
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'Apologies, sire. I don't really know. If you were to upgrade the church perhaps?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gmu8T5LAg
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHasMS2QhP8
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'I think it likely I would become second level sire, since those prayers are available to those who have reached it.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRgp9sM8JMz
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGkreM4RKKz
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodRoz0RbJP
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnirpU99AOd
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'Well done Chancellor.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwQjSbBm2jk
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'Thank you sire.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPezgnDJDx
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Y21sHlQFh
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'To Greyland!' I offered the toast and my two companions responded.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRa3io1Lfma
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS0AE2ocUHY
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbmkgpOnzD
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I nodded.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpd80SgUpro
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0R1TWyPzqz
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'Excellent, what do the bracers do?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0P47hrJFI
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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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpa1oRKZPq
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'Very nice. I'll keep them and the rapier. Can you use the scroll and the amulet?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKkwgWqawz
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'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4rieXn9H2
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'Very good, they are yours. Sorry Chancellor, nothing for you it seems, though you deserved it.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb5Uet7Zht
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnrrPvp80k
Parrin smiled and spread his hands. 'What's good for us all is good for me.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K4iL94Iq2
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD187TUK7KV
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaGoPyuti4
'By Miya! What a day. What a day. When I rose this morning, I could not dare hope for such an outcome.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAX4ZZHjSYK
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59mg9jQZg6
'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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ArObpoKPP
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiFQ2r01Sr
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 8.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrzh2XcU3O
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Lord Arval: Paladin Level 8281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrH0zXRSJ6r
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HP 79281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRhPQri5QY
AC 18281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGIc2p4ogX6
XP 30,124 (64,200)281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03LSkq4Tsr
Str 17 (18), Dex 12, Con 16, Int 8, Wis 9, Cha 9.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfxzsbwJjG
Shield of Defence +1, Trueblade +2, Ring of Strength +1, Potion of Healing.
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEh9Sjuz5OP
'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!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpFvIGPilBU
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'Congratulations!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlZuBCLOqR
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'To Lord Arval!'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7hmsmxOeW
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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.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsbQqVuT1Z5
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqMC0iBOXC
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.'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc6Dtv12YQ
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'Of course,' she got up at once and descended the stairs.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AF7EC6Ccl
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I looked at Lord Arval and no doubt my expression was curious.281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7WkB6Mrgmj
281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6FJYv16c8
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?'281Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlX8A7aDU81
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How, I wondered, should I reply to that question? I could hardly say that the only battles I had fought in had been games.
