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I walked across the Necropolis clearing to get a potion from my bag. Though Artix used a dulled blade for our sparring match's, the sword strikes still hurt. I had many a bruise, though reportedly not as many as expected. It seemed fending for oneself with no more than a tree branch in Doomwood was good practice for actual fighting. At the very least, I wasn't as weak as normal wannabe adventure's.

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I nodded, and we got started. There were many different different move's that a Paladin learned, and many more that were just improvised. The one's I used the most were: Zeal (a move that was light spell-uppercut-downstrike), Combo (light spell-spinstrike-uppercut-downstrike), Phoenix (summon a bird of light from the Light Plane to hit for you- or shield you, or blind your opponent- and then hit with an uppercut-jump back), Swords (summon many different swords of light to strike opponents- my favorite, because as a mage I could forces the swords and make them do much for damage then usual), and Spear (transform your weapon into a spear and toss it- Artix's favorite move). One other move I invented and used were: Portal (a spell that opened a portal to the Light Plane and concentrated the light into an attack), Sun (a spell that summoned a ball of light to hit and blind enemies), and of course I used all the usual mage spells. Besides these moves I learned their components: Spinstrike, Uppercut, Downslash, Empower (infuse weapon with light energy), Heal spells (either light-healing or vampire style) and Resistance spells (darkness and magic resistance); many of which I used either by themselves or with other moves. Besides these were just mage moves: Light, fireball, iceball, energy bolt, wind strike, powrerup, multihit, and death spell (death really just a powerful spell), and of course my dark energy attacks. I was more mage-y then most Paladins, but at the heart I was a mage first and Paladin second, which is why I used a staff to fight. Not that Artix agreed with this idea....

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You see, when I trained as a child I used a tree branch I carved into a staff. But since that wouldn't anything, over time I added bits of metal to the staff to form to blades on it:

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A sword staff works like a two regular swords joined at the hilt, just with less edge to cut yourself on. It may not be entirely practical, but its better than any alternative I can think of

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I think we would need to see Yulgar for that- and we need to go to him anyways for your Paladin armor."
Yes, I wasn't wearing any armor, just my usual black shirt and slacks. "I though you made that armor yourself and just lugged it around with you."
Artix gave a me a are-you-serious look and replied, "No, I commission Yulgar to make the armor, usually before the trainee is done training, and then present it to them once they graduate. Your close enough to finishing that this would be an excellent way to knock out two birds with one stone."
"Okay then. But where is Yulgar?"
"Where else? Falconreach, the hero capital of Lore."
I grinned broadly at the thought of going to such a famous place, then frowned. Seeing my expression, Artix queried, "What is the matter?"
"The hero capital part. There are quite a few people who would like to see me dead, and quite a few hero's who would kill me just to get the money for it."

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The only place I could go was Hunter's Paradise, as that was a den of robbers as well as adventurer's, and no one cared about the rumor's floating around about me. Indeed, the only initiation I required was to tell different stories about how I lived and hunted in Doomwood even as a small child- they seem to like my story of defeating a Gorrilipant at age six (it was wounded, but still!)- so I became an honorary adventurer there as well. But Falconreach? No way, too big, too dangerous.

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Here in Doomwood where its dark that works, but sunny Falconreach will reveal me."

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I walked of to where my stuff was, and pulled out a worn spell book from my bag. I had purchased it, from a rural village where it was too dark to see who I was, with some money I earned during different jobs at Hunter's Paradise. In it were several spells I mostly knew, and a few that were new and useful. My favorite's were the flying spell, teleportation one (my teleportation was barely passible), an item strengthening spell, and a cloaking I had been working on. That spell wouldn't cast right, and ended up making me green or invisible (parts of me at least) and just in general messing up. I decided that instead of trying to get a 'normal' look I would just shoot for how I used to appear- granted, amber eyes, white skin and jet-black hair weren't normal, but passable at least. Concentrating hard, I started to chant the incantation.

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A veil of light surrounded me, and when it faded I looked down at myself. My shirt was now purple with trailing sleeves, and my pants were much more tailored then I could afford. But the best part was that my skin was back to being white, and... I looked up and asked Artix, "Are my eyes normal looking now?"
"There amber and human, if that's what you mean, yes. That should be suitable for Falconreach."
I nodded. "So when do we leave?"
"Right now if you wish, I had nothing else planned."
"Then lets go!" I said, jumping up and stuffing my stuff into my knapsack and positioning my staff back on my back, before swinging my knapsack over it. I used some rope to make a holder for the staff, much like a sword holder, so that I didn't have to carry it or put it in my bag. The staff was long- it came up a few inches under my shoulder- but it was something I was accustomed to doing. So setting things in order, Artix and I set off towards the home of the hero's, Falconreach.

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"Great! Just let me gather my things." I did so, and we started the hike through Doomwood

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The fact that Artix had trained me didn't help my chances, as he knew every move I would use, and I probably hadn't seen all of his.

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"And I still have a hundred necro's out there..." I said softly, but I think Artix heard me.
After a pause, he said, "If you need any recommendations, I know a few necro's that are just ripe for defeating."

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 nor to treat the wound on my face that was blinded me.