'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFlhPJVZdtp
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdULCOG2U2I
'Can you find other quests for me?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXK1tHsvrW
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavcBVDR03x
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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTBTngp4BO9
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLj7EkkjT6
'Risk?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEOjZ0BEle
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjlF1b344id
'You could die.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡspvPFBESv6
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9jrT2Taygi
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?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWPbTguIX9G
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CBCWDVJmv
'As a vampire?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiwF7w6h7dG
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNvbPIg9hr
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPhVjRAhDF
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOcWhnkMBL
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡigQVvspKHC
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFoUtWRPbfP
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsR54IsF2Bn
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb9ScdYYwR7
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVjusCKN5rT
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEfA14iDVV
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbex6Q2Pqyh
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hMT22crHH
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhiAOU9zGdw
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKeObrSSwin
'True.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDquWPtbTko
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEznl7i67Mr
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZcJxM1I9Mm
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPGpAfjIES2
'Sire?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPiNR98BLCo
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeuGe40NESr
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdINnoqgf9B
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsORgNUlup7
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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxHyY4NTFLq
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhTsixUfQnj
'Not too likely to kill me?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxoxAq2BUDj
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4Izjeu45JL
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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1mPtHqf0Z5
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1OLYRpfsJ7
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FPUZYu7Hx
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BBB3uIxdt
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFXWSJ04AjP
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOwk81p3vvp
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaFZqyh3Mcx
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw5KYIXEVf
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlLSrl105mX
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEjR2kXc0DH
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCa0j3uLG4
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjwNnbm7qG
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTJCTKbBB9
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSX9sBci0H9
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9M7QL1q8JA
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8V5Ta1092
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPRfrnAg8fg
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz23pnbD7k
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQgnMYMlw0
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bfjaFiTin
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzl8nEmVqgF
Church level 1313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmr4vR85h5
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0SIbc4hmSw
Priest: Cleric level 1313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Gu7cMsE1Y
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBxhLGpIwzZ
Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UVZcvO67F
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjyXdswJezJ
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzy643s9ki2
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAYBiAQ51uw
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXNDZU6amOD
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgw2nni6dZg
'Sire?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4kUvzyrUlt
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpbbv1YnjJ
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡByc3TuQVwm
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMHdixumqR
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKj3Zb6vtF1
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFmtlyrVoY7
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnd8tfPK6J
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWpQo9ZlU3P
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiRic65TyUi
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJftQdAslSR
'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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkcvFglEXx
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYI8BfD1kjb
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGVPHPZIaqs
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ3zXjGmhu
'What are you building now?' she asked.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrprci7oF1W
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6uKUsok3j
'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?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr9zPL51NK0
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCl4E1KH0sB
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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmaBy1SNX0
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ8ylWuQJBR
'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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsyGoosBve
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz0OyOqPzgr
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWyMnSC0m2
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBirswKXEMA
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBV1EoCCXlp
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnshkPrTQJa
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQbQ2HN9VA
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsJIzzkpCKs
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzp1rfwAysn
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSLmq7m7Z3
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGTe7agOJ5
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypFgJ1pdgo
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDiT3ip8R8
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUQFhQL3LrO
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtQoWdWCWIw
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXwplHXbtPk
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9Nt0wbFAO
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KEnzWNIZU
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQsbTm3cV3
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9Sn5fHCuQw
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LlvMPlBgA
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHww2Xq8XkQ
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPG2xqwR3YK
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhWruD5SK4o
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8o3nk8WseI
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcVtM3Mglu
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmfvDhhfLR
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSmLMm2ZjCx
'Here!'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjnqHKSzih
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBscSFQYlPl
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRXHUGY1cx
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk6SNs5e0in
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRZxxwG4y94
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKIDwXjOZ8
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujYEUjer0w
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXFcHOqSRsg
Bad news.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmAW1MWqA7
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1o4en84TAa
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7EKF4wmJY
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeLOf2IRTmF
'Freeze!'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijq0hZ6bXp
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmvOnHWRoY5
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwKz3OLd54a
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFqbP92C7MW
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROP3IhSMcN
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxF27wl1rxT
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOGF3Svqu1H
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyaSbTW30H5
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvPuOlTtd4
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtc8i4Y09Vo
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVcYxW8tEaO
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsj6pZ19tcm
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxvtAUrWTgu
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLytpjQBrh
That was progress at least.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi581KlBpti
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNrhA8mVhsD
My next shot went wide and high.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCPjJiyKb7
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqVdFThxjPN
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2sHiLRgCAO
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYa8dpl4Szu
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpKfnY8zw1E
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqaPMxCe4kQ
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWjgoyG6aR6
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7fYUXdpZg
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9EqNca8Kvd
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡysRKjdhQmS
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZhaWMHnjn
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbOSpZ7R443
A heal landed.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPla7OGQ0J
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP6jxpjhtZn
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt0Sh857HvX
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbOlxskncz
'Last chance,' said Carlena.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ05HQqJRM7E
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKNACiERMj
I missed.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIjRObPR1zI
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzH8gEeWhq8
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR9DnGP8Yrl
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG3ZtwRYPyO
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ55UEMCHqcC
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBqQF5TGVv
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCbLfOHy7zi
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBm2XDa7jou
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfmn6aMhUOs
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3SshupxcR5
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5dt04bTpB7
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXgg3zxcOS
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsKffM2gbTU
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgK3fwgjPYb
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc2eaTuejDE
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUSOLvVl4n
'All?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVtgGVBYh1v
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9x51AfynYR
'Sorry sire.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrDTAATViA1
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKOxidzrgnG
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUWH8fOUJC
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuCeVlQI2q
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzKLnCyOYh
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYttHTylLx4
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1p8GUahl2Y
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsqltZ7EAb4
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbsWPoolS39
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pAUsSquVJ
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tWTyN2UkE
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEwEt7yRcbV
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTgrgwubThO
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHc9NpuwKNn
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kub3cMG8w
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgugp27BIxb
'I think there is something at that rock.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBM5kGe7uxP
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLxpElhtHk
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNAHi9TW4q
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHLEWYev8Pd
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9yBWL7G29
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizX8WTYs2j
'Freeze!'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1edDOFmXqH
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnBCQ3O3zrd
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIvrUEkGuy
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2zHj7TSE6
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBkBVLpjIs
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ0tLn7ac8X
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLVK793zJpx
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW9xA4yJ1I6
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsd5AKAVxx
You cannot become better at Lunge.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5ZnWDWxhVZ
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKAJIOViPUJ
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcLBwvgReyp
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIVEjiuMS1c
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXfnKSQDrwG
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡttAQd4EMjL
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxphJrnQy9H
'Who are you?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡraOvnUjxwF
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIuFeiwJi0
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjAumkF5rW
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOIl9qtBCR
'Of Southway?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLtxSQDwTv5
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBCO63P90c5
'Aye.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVy4mNSoCd0
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWQbqrrJt7G
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDoLKE3GQJ
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87SDgbQmEn
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OQpC1S9eE
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLzX9SRYqk
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOqMHVhbK6
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpWxvv2O5Y
You have killed a Rogue!313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHa4l6K2Cd
You cannot become better at Lunge.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQN0tUGJnow
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIop8FCePGV
You have gained 35 Experience.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LR1COtKBa
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl4BZoT7LMB
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP4VLK2auCU
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwt3j3eU3hv
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSHIxfxUTAM
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWygyenLc7r
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTYJ1xfzpBw
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPe523a46L
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCzlLalTEMg
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0WNGuO4RAx
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUJZIxws2H
'What next?'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44p2KezC7P
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKk7yshR5cB
'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.'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnO8gIhhQq
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXdA8EFwkg
'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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8bqvT2Qeg
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjtHFLAcljn
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWD4BXZzsXI
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKHoqjNHPV
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEdH9NxB6dR
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbHQV6kz3B
'Freeze!'313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6W5koRxXRt
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjGPV0LfvAr
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtvd3AFF2H0
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEB17j3oUCv
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!313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhr286RXPcv
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBQ9mn9099
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa1iDZgwRYO
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvodmPlc0nQ
You have killed a Ciatern!313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSA2UQlsiF
You cannot become better at Lunge.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytM1xq9DqG
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwOGQ3PHAIf
You have gained 75 Experience.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLRsI2V6Loa
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdIfjjkiVd
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.313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzYeEvsWWwW
313Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfOziao2SM
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.
