'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2rauDLDAH
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIri8oeEB9V
'Can you find other quests for me?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5uuArax68j
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZmJjpUHGM
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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUgyCEEMpGf
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHXPuho5W2q
'Risk?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi8ZqVB82ii
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK97zPuTof2
'You could die.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡecckMDJEIg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVsYcNv1mZ
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?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4U3nTU6z4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqRV7hYFq5
'As a vampire?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2H0AJU88k2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXjNL67jbx
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vMb1HZWlN
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU9XbCAgPk
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQRG6mQDnh4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFa95IQL70
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI8VCoeAjMr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiE5o3taU5R
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjsUqpRGQuw
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIS75v8Dat
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLsfPYCWK94
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0HRfm8yToz
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfZAELfp88j
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS2xLG7hCub
'True.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsmDwKnAPyV
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYF3mVRwOV
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Ny6lY7YRW
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmG1NekKr8b
'Sire?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJpvkdQx4l
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBbQCj8dVc
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaoq9hHh9Dt
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx6EfQnCRdN
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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCA5T13S1No
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlUMmH7JV1n
'Not too likely to kill me?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0geGS10DrS
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuW4ngCvK3
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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhIQzRfjfG
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLoRzXQhfNV
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuK0qGIQrDE
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoXXBwBbDnY
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ppK4qzi4i
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzBH66qWhbM
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYlea3fR0jL
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4NeJz2w52s
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wBB2Oo2FP
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSnpCiS7fZk
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPac4NQ9H4d
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTlCaHLzb3f
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCjSCMxUjn
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpicHiEsjgb
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUCuAIiS177
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXeWEK6RIu
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ0N1jfPP6J
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIqAvDnyua
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTtdSKRuPr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvsusaLlm4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsYCIM3gQ1
Church level 1266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlk9Hbr0uVn
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPzlvpP5NZr
Priest: Cleric level 1266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8aliXFvWKy
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPQfsAHVNK
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt9pRvMaAlo
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgfYFpiuKLg
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHnFpxjdzG
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpI7kHIDvNm
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqvuaQy5FN
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdcMmmfw07q
'Sire?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDoBNZ2vRQq
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGZsMQVDDZ
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysFUw5FaQl
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOIMIpzKjF
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP3IJbq5m50
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡATtprkFpbG
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9hvPjgIIB
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFL9K0ajr6
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsI3MqJ0laa
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW3j98fvsHF
'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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf4C5Ksbxnu
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk1dB4A5C6
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjJMAxWc9uA
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpnYdJwIObx
'What are you building now?' she asked.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJmnRdZ66e
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7QY292tTU3
'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?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC12gumSgB
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5nQEkwZbxn
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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoKCuGxBeeg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv4sIXh5OYS
'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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBj47AZpIr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyVKJWp1dLp
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPWegHRbNg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxjUexJE5Zx
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKFcrlMaqd
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5fO6qPggg
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXWAGsJiYd
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ22kcJQhqWB
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5omj2jbvPc
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BVV7CHzpS
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdlM9tQD93
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaTB12ZBOy7
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa7kE6seyLv
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKDkRJYEktf
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEJ1Xs43a8Q
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5dWqJ18nK
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbVvzm7zNSH
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8tL0ZFz2JN
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡapTzgY3u4t
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ71CTuw0Kuo
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMlkdlR5bz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLKlL0GTzcq
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFFaGiRpkr
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl8ox7Fx4fF
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7zg15I0deY
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe4Zhi2IrDJ
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIiNUpKsPSM
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZa7ELllcm
'Here!'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlyqPMG2Il9
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa3auET1yvX
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WGUgb7eLV
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOaBTRuP2yb
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnH7GtciJm
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZknZPprjkS
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaa15Aa5r26
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLdRKgLI4Tv
Bad news.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpVz6bstcP
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMo9iYSloiC
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzWBz3tmxfb
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXHtCi5GrZe
'Freeze!'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz2fFsxXtVW
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpE1tXDHnFV
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMIDKaykze5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1G7RyU7GVT
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZkH7VpWPB
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UVXJV4UYZ
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubBcasgfho
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhrlaw9Qlz
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkVmWMjpEA
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdjKtIRbmBg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeagHF6GGFa
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqRkOeUP3E
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzIG0rZgcjL
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZLsHgB8Ddn
That was progress at least.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtLBrGdw1kh
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWKck10ccw
My next shot went wide and high.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyeSieKsPbc
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4RFDeRN79
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwtZva8fqdx
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnPIjLQb8Jd
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZCABMUuu0
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmslFIybyWi
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZqbDJfA7g
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDo8c4D5aoW
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡriPvT2ksvt
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Dt9O3b2tf
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYaz3AYRgq
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡauFDlFuOiD
A heal landed.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfFCxKUj2Ya
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcKqwfIv65R
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUT50umzqc
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4K7QrwwD7j
'Last chance,' said Carlena.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSLAtykyUl
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgr2qz83FGe
I missed.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7N0pnlZWwA
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4osuQkb8nU
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIIuwu03zb
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqtNA45qQAy
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sQLcpBIP3
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsysKhrqNDe
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBWcy3ldmI
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZzQ9niVhC
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgca1kGQzeP
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvL2CDZKg9
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeM4rWzSYyo
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQoJLxdfkst
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwVqvRtikyS
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJynLngk6B
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJY7EVJGofR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR4GqHwMd1f
'All?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbvdBYDibLx
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrijY2cmcPG
'Sorry sire.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJU2Z4gaSWk
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEDiZ4PH0gt
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO6toVLddJ1
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvKpKAarMU
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaQgkMC8kou
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQqamd1pt89
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBvm5t6xJ4
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkOjOspLMn3
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB4FXeluyeU
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU1tkMzgvQk
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkBCxhcpU9v
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ41prg4TA2b
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVVy89lER3Y
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5LPF9J1QIt
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeGDb4cnwWK
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJegmPXtK6i
'I think there is something at that rock.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76OimoNJ54
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgTbBX4T7Hw
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡasK3SwRP64
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaEVAMRkV3o
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVgVPql3Un
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Xx4HvsWsM
'Freeze!'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz1Qds3gWqE
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnb9hh7acmZ
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX5NGdhQa5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnU5pxVE10J
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD8g2UHebjR
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2iHA3mIaGZ
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9JGA7qpVK
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD5DuefGXyo
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7lGC3VPW93
You cannot become better at Lunge.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoqjjoNpR3
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13G9Up6PDI
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbGr5QeTy2
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkv5PYZauLk
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ286dAjXzp2
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8wVyyPxBNt
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcDl18NxX2
'Who are you?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcPsU4QWWxz
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4P5LtbPXxa
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIl92wsjcoN
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8ouW3LNFB
'Of Southway?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwsAwVGzms5
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbHLQSBAX4v
'Aye.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC3fRRRZPef
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVIlRUdOQj
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EcYkzljY8
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbBjD3h1DHW
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YGoePzmw8
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk45FNHiatK
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFpKGUxaRF
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡas3slVFUmK
You have killed a Rogue!266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn9vfWNwfFY
You cannot become better at Lunge.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtMzLt6Ay3
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOC3GvGLmuL
You have gained 35 Experience.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT9m9Gie05I
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh1brkZNKPE
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmEGrXsw8e
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwABADPMs3a
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgXzm9am6mF
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpb7KdpZ7Gj
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXOxJEAtwV
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjsImkunnj
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr8BwdF8G4E
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc8RDgFGfSE
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbb24vT1Hz
'What next?'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQBSTU4Q1m
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmLyZ6pydE
'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.'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQDY0cDsuVd
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Ww3WdckZL
'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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡix8NleS5Hb
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHVXaa6BDn
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB94wiPaxYT
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRmIx8XXYZm
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuuJG6QY6XP
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlr4Mv4LoMC
'Freeze!'266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzVIwSNbobh
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoUfKfnwUP
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYokoHa6RPg
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJMYFZPuLI1
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!266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNK7pY6s8T
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ZHcKsezo2
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXxo1ZGHSO0
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKDreET9rg
You have killed a Ciatern!266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioe2FofJB8
You cannot become better at Lunge.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7h9kDnOlV7
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIcgowzfDvO
You have gained 75 Experience.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzpcfZElN3
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHjnEsySdXR
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.266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQioD81v5z
266Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnt3HylnQRv
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.
