'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVzVqtdf9iv
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'Can you find other quests for me?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsU0SAbrhKl
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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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc6SuiFdpT5
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'Risk?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEx9PnQoYY8
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'You could die.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrCSAZsLqn
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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?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXLjRKe30OW
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'As a vampire?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn8JOOeUVMy
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'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuJQadeHoK0
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With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMjszxasUFU
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I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDt3nl9xWvs
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ1NBumvPPn
'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAI3RulowDK
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'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiosG5rb7rY
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'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDQx2AwnVi7
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'True.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDY3eWK1aYg
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCINX28RTaU
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'Sire?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx52hIe5Lfd
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I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKX6RxgqkO
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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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pEgrGJfJL
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'Not too likely to kill me?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAzMYPDJ0Y
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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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr6rYgEBV5e
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'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB29KdRUzOp
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We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsQsAGqyiRv
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5I4ikF3za
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTzJCQmX4or
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVURMQIHXcP
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeJ2B5AcYN
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWEQgxhv0jR
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqOkF3HQa3U
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsGc700wWyQ
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiw0RBSD8g9
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Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVXk1XWN1F3
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Church level 1235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MeLNiX6ir
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Priest: Cleric level 1235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHQqx7Hd6x2
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Benefits: heals one person per day of minor wounds (cannot cure diseases, heal victims of poison or remove magical curses). Increases town Happiness by 1.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJsqtYZQXb
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKssq0RMfJ
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlt8xDfQR7O
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'Sire?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUX7J0RPqPU
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'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1BW2lly5zA
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'Get your armour,' added Carlena.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdgKEizNQkI
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPVEArccKG
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pHPj6Jdot
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHhnSDhtjp
'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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkVXT2IvIwn
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡws74RRikox
'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EM7kxyd3D
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'What are you building now?' she asked.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1POjZOdigw
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'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?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqiVznONgB1
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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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBBav2LMLDC
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9BGoue2w1
'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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjfehYhZM0
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'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK9m5kqL5D
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwc5jNudGGs
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkI54RU6cR
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMa9J8kQe3
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Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1WXZlQzscc
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdIaMeqgwGx
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyy11MnfkP
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OHG6bs3ne
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVMZPCU7SFD
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'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOsJsGP0WO
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'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavhnut7Bzc
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'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WhZPmmADB
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4RRTRj0dD
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ILRCNDWTN
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRft3RGq5eJ
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'Here!'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJF391QSWK
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrmgQrU24e
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxw6O1QTKTO
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgBRemfenj5
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Bad news.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWj1Rwryiej
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You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPrgBKD74x3
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'Freeze!'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlBuMAhC1k
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbmye1hOamr
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'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWg2fqI6lB4
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYeI2v9Fdn
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Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡukivu3Gmnf
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You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbkxGF0KJdk
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That was progress at least.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsuMsTLjG7J
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My next shot went wide and high.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ70I3j8d919
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RPh36jY9m
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBksNrQq4l7
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You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSWRioS9weu
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A heal landed.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmN2wsKU64h
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You have been healed of 5 points of damage.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkIowq2zbPN
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'Last chance,' said Carlena.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSj44GFg1bj
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I missed.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZXRmJf22V
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235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBWpnFOorHc
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrurTZlxqcq
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2b4z7LngqY
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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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzhwCy2qu3
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A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmPWT9Qev4
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'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpC9V1nk5kE
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZO8cubFV8O
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphvQDUyEGD
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'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGKeYio0Oqz
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'All?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlv0Ndp6Lr7
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'Sorry sire.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt1hNLj2x9g
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTtzqZ8GmQm
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcA4ksC6Pzk
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtNg0T4cgQ
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSf4IuG12e5
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjZ3iXNjGkm
'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF7BFyLyZoo
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hG84UiOru
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlCfGaBXOZh
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn4hOHZ9T6r
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpPrQ7Bp4Ue
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeh7MUu36n1
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxUKTHwy0s
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSkFc6tupKD
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhthyUgU55
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTofHcn9vst
'I think there is something at that rock.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1RoNPSSDh
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkiOEK8kgm
'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpbsaOuWrgv
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIXdpK30ERz
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7vX2VuDoE3
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu7DB7Rbuyz
'Freeze!'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKwYFLtjpRy
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pGSf5gbxp
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLLeu24jGY
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHe9psgSLej
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz7IsJtlKm1
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw3BH6ZlWgC
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡod8zxB2gtw
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkKo70JwPWc
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ89yScB1rnz
You cannot become better at Lunge.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF7nNQq7gs
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQspxkrc8Va
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqSmQAuNWla
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4unr1oQou
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDFNhloBMFe
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYhp2PSCPIO
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtPfmO5wMf
'Who are you?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1V0mCBLDWG
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'I'm a scout for King Wace.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nDj94Jrjn
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'Of Southway?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpDVwmkciLm
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'Aye.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd9hzJgpa0f
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ85QLToJCo
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUj7ksYUjA
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOY4J5fpN9D
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxaZLTZgSzt
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoyP3hibl02
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAYHiFXa0s
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV2QiGO22MK
You have killed a Rogue!235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkS9F4Dw53
You cannot become better at Lunge.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ69Ugagkwsn
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnpCNN8awV7
You have gained 35 Experience.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw0RCcHG89N
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVwuFMfoIT
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjysOWyRF4c
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi7oDQTEhva
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235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDX82aKPZsE
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5toRitoGM
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9jQxv9oIx
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGR0oqh6Ae3
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot4dXpGxu3
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKcHTmxNc8s
'What next?'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5FAy1BeXbj
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa83r74ILja
'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.'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡot299txsS0
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7aU984pm68
'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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdVNgGV3M4K
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxRDWMDWUVP
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6uCW51X0c
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzLBQ93apIA
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfxSpoX4Xy
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpVVIWUFNa9
'Freeze!'235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAsHPP0N7Kg
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gNTMzGkUM
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURBe82GLpW
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBYJM49YOxK
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!235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcGtrVWSSwL
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQgtifDCPl
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡypAJY8NO5f
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKbg3sy3PI7
You have killed a Ciatern!235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡidOdJW2Fif
You cannot become better at Lunge.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWieV8jbn6B
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYsbMN9Bss
You have gained 75 Experience.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcUtdMcPB5
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkLaxwZ7QhM
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.235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmY9XJ1lJxS
235Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnuMMmIzvCA
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.
