'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7PT4CfBBT
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26Noc1CMUa
'Can you find other quests for me?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf37pO8rCHQ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOh0Pv2UqB
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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS5fi5MHcGr
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0MZWi0JP1Z
'Risk?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpm1539K3Tt
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYDiG3dEeEK
'You could die.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtrbRfnJ0lx
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN50OTcdnAb
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?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwqLAr5pSwW
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmcBd8damE
'As a vampire?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSax5sQjOa2
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcdVA6MczQi
'No, as themselves, just back at a spawn point like this keep, but without their gear.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJiAmJh78bs
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2cBLJ3Lct
With a somewhat feline look of contempt, Carlena said, 'what a strange world you have come from. No, of course not.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7SBalSLYQR
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIY6aqPvtj
I didn't bother to correct her. 'Can you change my shape, so that I can fit in armour?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeC1CBRWLEp
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZuLiUYNyT
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLnJiYSCsV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSTtOldmTLa
'Could I turn into a dragon with that?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgoIAM4Q322
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3XR5KjW0Xa
'A creature approximating your current size, sire. But we should save that for emergencies, such as a critical battle.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl1BYEcbons
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiFkromUzNd
'True.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAscDPcYAJo
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTFebjb5yKp
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgGNP1c64sf
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX2hzKjDZ7x
'Sire?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuvxSTu01i
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHfMMRAjNkN
I blinked away the menus. 'Yes?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyQ1dWfshEs
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ark8UKY7K
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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcJXyvXAYJ6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGub8AHYltn
'Not too likely to kill me?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13PWSpkOJH
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxDiWTThnH
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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOQ0sHt7Ws7
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwyF8mgY5Ig
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfmm9NV9Ig
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrstVhtBKa
We parted ways: me to the armoury in the keep; her to change to her travelling clothes, as she put it.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvmKLnWvWzQ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOIcekXmdo4
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEGpYDmIVQu
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3gjJNaMnHJ
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLITJ5fApVV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ShfikbIoW
After looking me over, the Sorceress simply nodded. 'Sire, you need water.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4zWrNUYeT0
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWwJZjeBF7
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjIK3v8Lcfj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTf3YfaJwgX
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrKWHGiRdv9
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI0wRBUk6CE
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7qxqNdOb3l
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡonM9ivDS4Y
Looking through the town menu and buildings submenu, I found the church.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiYYYg0d5Y1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvuQxnzRqdx
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMsVIbbI9fp
Church level 1336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07lj1peSnP
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Priest: Cleric level 1336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3AIwfscHul
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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 1.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC4T7eWtoR5
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGN9Zl0ZyWd
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPLISr96UdL
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ2SNUvHhV9
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1xq7kK7H73
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwmkzba2h0V
'Sire?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEzqsq3kfeT
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpEqY3spWRd
'Come with us. I need you to assist while I fight.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeIaFiC2nFv
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5PYgLJid6s
'Get your armour,' added Carlena.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NeOMvGNeb
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVTlHhDkk6D
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeDvdVgeAYI
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmOUpZrSN8
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmVtm2XFM8
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFrUNDLKDFa
'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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFx5GALJZYn
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3FXEosZyj
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPBKS525do
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGSatisGii
'What are you building now?' she asked.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0VPHs7EjnB
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyBdp16tRO
'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?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCA7x3iuoC
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBczPrcgyYa
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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkd1X6r8bEP
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLqHGt141Jo
'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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRVLaOKpwy
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZxEBqAC5k
'We. We have to solve this. You are not really king, Sean de Courcy. Remember that.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjt2XTqDNV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5UkGOFjOs
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjvZJlmzpGf
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2p5CkXzXE
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9qUqIi6gY
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlOdscRFGzK
Carlena stood up, adjusting her headband. 'Good, let's go. We might manage two hours of hunting before sunset.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hA6ss1eGY
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvexGRcu7y
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT10sfABl6X
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYsgvq9mvA
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmPLFyc85bC
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡra1VvSV9IK
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dbpHQVgRe
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU4Fmboa8KF
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡok8OvMRfio
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEYc6x7CpF
'Ready?' asked Carlena, eyes on the slopes.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QWTOe2Vl1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7yDMPTbb2
'Wait. Let me get my breath. Tell me the plan.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPwiu44T58g
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdWc0dlvLwW
'I flush something out and bring it here, you kill it. If I have to cast Freeze use your bow.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn2RIJq3bN
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCZGtwvfspO
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8AyubGF5Nc
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡowN5SE13ug
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEHJ1een7ZI
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7IHf9aiaM
'Here!'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡchd0rPlJCE
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsq1KXfJ5Xu
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2eujMbXWoV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGz96zhO4hU
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPaTZRYo5ub
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhk3lGbYxa1
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrLGzsC63g
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtFfFlS9Ckl
Bad news.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbJSMguW0x4
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwyvIE1t8R
You have been hit by a Ciatern for 6 points of damage!336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmbyaPB1JxD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZacQl8twV
'Freeze!'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHyvSxDZDWa
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBQ4kV7CJzO
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrAcGxGdRxm
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeHDMMqe8xI
'Quickly!' shouted Carlena.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhcgwGOtOj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYbxvJ0Vd0
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ9BwHDRg2K
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5nhm3x4gq
Finally, I got the arrow set properly, but when I released the bowstring, the arrow shattered on a rock well wide of the monster.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZEfYgLPI7r
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7pW0UWv3VF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPnEUf7xjZH
You have unlocked the Wield Shortbow proficiency336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWXNvbaUKLF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmSo3H3dcqI
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVOBU2kX1fW
That was progress at least.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMhIgpFYtGD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG2xHPBw4tc
My next shot went wide and high.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9o8ruLF0hw
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ZkTfVSJxr
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90AL2ucd2d
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 1336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4uFfLWw16
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡncORMfh36U
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa9B7lNQbkm
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaWJ3QtaKWX
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoez6XEsU1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKWcBxMfv04
You have become better at Wield Shortbow: 2336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrmP8jaX92c
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡettsKpFUd2
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxopcZs5gCL
A heal landed.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9gXFF1zblK
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpubmlj8CqU
You have been healed of 5 points of damage.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQOaQRuomLP
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCfawdSDbjf
'Last chance,' said Carlena.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCxI4bvJGeD
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP1ONfPK1q4
I missed.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeJROki05fr
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡshFchg5DrN
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvTlxKrZpB
You have become better at Wield Shortbow proficiency: 3336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOIfiSqaUp
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6MdeqowW8g
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpq5lXmPtAl
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6BtAwJGk6d
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXtntJhKg66
A flurry of orange darts smacked into the creature, knocking it over, smoke trails rising from the twitching body.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaY4H12eQCi
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbyzN2YIuzq
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoJenpzf9v4
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtLUPYbzc8
'We all have to start somewhere, sire,' said Carlena. 'Unfortunately, that's nearly half my mana gone.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVL7swqN9R0
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn0QqB7thm
'And all of mine,' reported the Cleric.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxFOOyzx8qa
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmWPtnu3re
'All?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvC3I9Nk8Rv
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeajgArOR7
'Sorry sire.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2wk0LcCJkK
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiz3zgpxt9
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY34OIqR5uj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlHVUIaQV5
'Want to try again?' I asked, 'at least my shortbow skill went up a few times.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaHXLI8DnPa
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHwQdD6dL4x
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRHH9fePJj
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHB600pfyrU
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOtBJ3SiWZe
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzN61SLVGip
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYiWCArWs6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTBSGO8PgE
'Carlena, Cleric, come here quick!'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9RfJc4AVeF
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnYfm6Jq8qs
Maybe it was my royal authority or maybe the urgency in my voice but both ran over at once.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtHMcdyH66q
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4CpjERfU6h
'I think there is something at that rock.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqggSb5GM0
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm8wYnBkVv
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4DhwQ22Wu4
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ5eN2b3ZJj
Before either the Cleric or Carlena had taken twenty steps a man in leather armour sprinted away from the rock.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGLKekJJz8o
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGsT1trZLZf
'Freeze!'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvOWtPQtYfV
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdDlAFIO9Fv
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFdWkhfyLR9
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEnTGssZlV
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH24aSaaTh0
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VwbDWCal4
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagkoPGwbSj
You have hit a rogue for 7 hit points.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBDzlTviWKa
You have unlocked the Wield Rapier proficiency.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq0Hi1ySthw
You cannot become better at Lunge.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF12Ngzu8U8
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4IZVU7TmjG
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcTyzBtBVe
The Cleric was beside me, mace raised.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VowQcheY6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlGlFHKZKUP
'Spare me! Spare me and I'll help you.' The man was pale and faltering. I'd probably wounded him half to death.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrX89uLPx8y
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd4oTPjJDEz
'Who are you?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOepP5lpD3
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5X8x7T7vLy
'I'm a scout for King Wace.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKA6galCnXa
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvTEP48tUj3
'Of Southway?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuIVihiytw4
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqBqQaMeuc3
'Aye.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZBEar5aXQZ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8LpDMIDwhv
'Kill him,' said Carlena, heartlessly. 'You need to level.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ34jzD7eFq2
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMNPrQytRD
She was right and moving myself and the rapier until I could manifest the green box again, I triggered Lunge.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0AXmh9zzVu
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDgWPkfiOW
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwlYA93GviS
You have hit a Rogue for 4 hit points.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyAl7EcL65K
You have killed a Rogue!336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOOt2PpjI43
You cannot become better at Lunge.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmpzihBR4jv
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 1336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiQTuEJErls
You have gained 35 Experience.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0q5KyUHgmo
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMh7SCgwMxU
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1rOwSnMcFP
Pretty good. I was most of the way to Level 2.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMLNIB6Nxyd
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWNu28yvzBP
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLPSSkIJjIJ
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyS0H0mGFI
'Should we hide the body?' I wondered aloud.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPzzPqjQHA
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF1Ovref4oe
Carlena answered. 'Leave it for the monsters. There won't be a trace of it by tomorrow.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxyOcBKp5O
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ing9eFwyT
'What next?'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm1Iw9FkYUy
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2NTHWkdHd
'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.'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡURr1sqFdHE
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvcYvnttYD5
'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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiHcNxm8dw6
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ430ShG1MY4
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcg9TI2rCP2
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvmaZ7Cr4b
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwMRoE2160
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaw5lJYloal
'Freeze!'336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8vpD0V5X0F
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6dSpucFuvr
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQLP1YRpL1
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu248zFiMJy
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!336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsiPuudxHog
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd29pZKcYHM
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4EeTY7k2yy
You have hit a Ciatern for 6 hit points.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZxflbhWl7z
You have killed a Ciatern!336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ155jryYspd
You cannot become better at Lunge.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8PqQiALWV
You have become better at Wield Rapier: 5336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPWqLJpGdL
You have gained 75 Experience.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe7c5Z7GJ5H
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCthtXLQcEQ
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.336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkZMnEx97j9
336Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhRQzn4B5I
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.
