My first thought on waking, was that I was happy. Not so much because I was living the life of a king (although I wasn't complaining about that), but because I had a reason for living: a mission. It was such a different feeling, having a purpose in life, to waiting around for the COVID restrictions to end. While Greyland was starting in a very difficult situation, I believed I could turn it around.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8f23ejR2gZ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTe2XxmjT5z
For a start, I had to ramp up iron production and correct my earlier mistake. As my first action, I assigned the realm's three iron ingots to the Smithy for more steel pickaxes.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTKbpza3NQ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDWfNzBdAMT
Crucial to my success in this world would be my personal character progression. With some anxiety I called up my character sheet to see if I'd managed to improve it by my efforts of the previous day.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKqIGnzjdyp
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE4Fh2gzMEz
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpS3BXgxbW
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfcpFCqEbSp
Str 7575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqQNt9gCkZg
Dex 4575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhrMm3FAD5W
Con 8575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsHOxqI4qRC
Int 16575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFG6wHPiyyF
Wis 16575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF6uyCqbg3O
Cha 4575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhRr3lb04kI
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf1XGxgOyby
Please choose a character archetype:575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QcfHa1u8a
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4fzdnMG1H
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqwUiEO3xSR
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfSIlu0n3o
Of course, neither my Strength of Constitution had shifted. I sighed to myself. How many more days of exercise would it take to test whether those stats would rise? Should I give it a week and then give in and choose a Wizard or Healer path? The people who had summoned me here wanted a battlefield leader and my own desire led me to want to be a martial class of some sort. But it would be idiotic to aim for that if I was stuck with these stats.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFEi7FjHhzR
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrQjXjxiKC
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzvKDNNfjS5
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBeXs4Af9JQ
Stats could be worked on. A glow of pleasure rushed through me. Okay, so it wasn't a Fighter stat that had moved, but really, after one day, even if I had focused on Strength, I could hardly have expected to see progress. I had a hunch that the reason I'd seen Charisma move was that it was a lot easier to raise a 3 to a 4 than a 7 to an 8.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3LgOauEUM9
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBUqKsjDeh
Following that last thought, I had to admit to myself that it might take months to move Strength to something useful in battle, but even so I decided to take the risk and commit to Fighter. It was time to get going. I missed being the most bad-ass warrior in Storm Wars and couldn't even imagine what it would feel like to be on top of the game be like in a world where it really mattered? Still, it was pointless, counterproductive even, to daydream. There was a mountain to climb. And I hadn't even taken one step yet towards the summit.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEEeHg1FRpR
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtaG4DJa8u
I selected Fighter and got a message:575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMMlhnY9l6
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb1pbVkrRCw
Welcome Sean de Courcy, to the path of the Fighter. You have chosen to stand toe to toe with your foes, dealing blows to them and evading their own attempts to harm you. It is a path for the brave and for the resolute. If you are fortunate and progress, in due course you will unlock specialisations within the Fighter class.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP7sG0LxXyJ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHa8NTFGX5R
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pe8ai1CQD
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlqPAoNJaHc
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGFPqkHvbF
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtHbsHGq15
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XVvJAgp0W
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUnHpueYm9o
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡogogConeiO
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhCeKq3kHuV
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqQqWXhJOw
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYsAp2xIUb
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1r1UhoY4Nt
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhJluRAkYGs
Quite a lot to think about there. And I had to make my choice right away, as the screen couldn't be flicked away in the usual fashion. Generally, I preferred a min-max approach to RPG gaming. It was usually better to be really good at one skill and adapt your strategy to that skill than to have no particular specialism and be somewhat competent at everything. Ideally, I would have had a taste of fighting before make my choice, so as to get a feel for what would be the best skill to invest in. Here, though, there was going to be a lot of guesswork.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmH0JUL3uJ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkptk4zAfZM
On the assumption I'd have the support of the high level people who had summoned me, I decided I should focus on attack rather than defence. Back in Storm Wars defence was crucial but here, at the low levels at least, I felt it best to try to rack up experience fast through killing mobs. Lunge appealed most, surely an extra attack and a bit more range on an attack was going to prove useful? When I tried to put my ten points into the skill, however, I got a message.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS4QHjuFGxJ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnN9hYzCGTJ
Skills are capped at Level x 5575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4qsDlPUI3
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6JTo2JuuqQ
Adding 5 points to Lunge worked. So for my other choice? Was I going to use a shield? Probably but not necessarily. I didn't know what weapons were going to be available to me here. Parry then. While Quick draw had its appeal, it was very situational. Whereas pretty much every fight I was in would involve the opportunity to parry.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqDgJ32FpXN
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW59KYBiknX
My character sheet now had my class and skills, also, an EXP bar, showing that I needed 100 to get to Level 2 and HP. I had hit points! Not many though. And an armour class that at 0 probably reflected the fact that I had no armour on at all. Even if I did, that poor Dexterity score probably carried a penalty.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCd5JjAauiB
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwHuMmGwUe
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRy6kMGH9jy
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75Y7sFhGLR
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffNEibzpOP
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6wePmpY9Wy
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6usK2xjqYH
Str 7575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90I8ycHmpe
Dex 4575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxvF2Ds6Kk
Con 8575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMrDCE9uLGN
Int 16575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6qR8islG9p
Wis 16575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvl9E3oSWBo
Cha 4575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVFe4E6mgFh
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6vXiZgFv1k
Lunge 5575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpjRUzL6u3m
Parry 5575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj1GH3Dou1c
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9EDvcVZHy
Exp 5/100575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGV3GevmHIa
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbbEsllxzQF
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡffYWrisxg1
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxgyQqv69U
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQNtcVanDVq
If it wasn't for my heavy body, I'd have leapt out of bed with a spring in my step and an eager desire to get going. As it was, I had to lever myself up and then struggle with every single garment before managing to get dressed. It didn't help that I ached all over from yesterday's marching around the barracks square. At last, I was presentable and down I went to breakfast.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPHC2tiYZY
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOfd9hwaeQJ
Today, the castle servants were ready for me and along with a glass of apple juice was a bowl with more apples and a plate with two poached eggs. I felt desperately hungry and was tempted, when a new servant tentatively approached, to ask for more. But I had to get down to a size where armour could fit me and a horse could carry me. So I had to diet. End of. Back home, I had sometimes tried to cut out unhealthy snacks, and managed for a while, before invariably returning to them and sometimes bingeing while hooked up to Storm Wars. Here, I felt differently. Here, getting the king's body into shape was just as important as levelling up and sorting out Greyland's food supply. There was no 'Will I? Won't I?' discussion to be had with myself. It had to be done.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96p6Z8Z58W
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt4MWRuXDi6
After breakfast, I left the keep and walked slowly in the direction of the barracks. The citizens of the town hurried away from me or redoubled their efforts if they were working. For the first time, I noticed that stored away in the shadowy corner of a large cobbled square was a gibbet and a chopping block. Had my predecessor really executed people by hanging and beheadings? It was not a question I could ask anyone except one of the three who had been there at the summoning.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAuV60LiRoK
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ZVhFAid3q
The soldiers were already drilling when I got to the barracks and I was pleased to see archers firing at straw scarecrows. Thirteen, fourteen… yet fifteen. Those were my new recruits. It might have been a dumb move using up all my iron before the steel pickaxes were completed but I was glad to see the archers all the same.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgSVPDAec3
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeX6amS7551
Carradock was there, marching some foot soldiers back and forth. He passed the duty to one of the men and came over at a brisk walk on seeing me.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0QQ4Lw6Hh3
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡev7asrwfQ2
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUYz81SOnTJ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡylZQN7DRcs
'Stiff, but yes.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12ecGf7mEi
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYmuVLduKRh
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡopr5MkS0wM
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqR8dUscZ5B
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOBXtIia3Ce
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNsSVCRSLD6
He looked at me expectantly.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡndsXwwwIBP
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEUzL0JViTr
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcmCF7aSW5J
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxfPdLeoG2w
Surprise, then caution crossed the trainer's face. 'Not I sire. Skills like what you're talking about are special. You need to talk to someone like Lord Arval.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKtVSUA95HC
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7UZxY7fms
'Good idea. Send someone to fetch him will you.' As was my nature, I almost added 'please', but no doubt that would be taking my change in character too far.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMDELboUti
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBHvzG4YFvB
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpeprVTDkqc
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9wvLrk8tkw
'Two questions.' I already felt the need to be economical with my breath. 'Active skills like Lunge, how do I use them? And what's the quickest way for me to level up? Got some giant bats I can kill?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmj4TKX5Zw1
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeMIbEZ9qm
'Skills? You'll see them as selectable icons when the right conditions are met. I mean when timers are ready; or the right weapon is in hand; or you've moved yourself into the right position. Skills are very experiential. You get to discover them and advance them mostly by practice.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8urpzk5rvT
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2t1tmeCWnd
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZVK1tXIJk
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqCLr0lkQv
Lord Arval kept pace effortlessly. 'For levelling up, I think quests. Without access to the menus I can't be exact, but I felt that just by performing chores for the townspeople I became significantly stronger. Perhaps reaching level three or four.' He gave me a sharp look. 'It helps with your reputation with them too.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn5bqWHjtK1
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgFoOrWu4Zb
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIGd7iiMvQC
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz6m0aVAfNY
First checking no one was close enough to overhear us, Lord Arval leaned closer and dropped his voice. 'I'd never disagree with a command of yours, but I was intending to take the new archers down to Three-Ways Fort and check on our defences. I could ask Carlena to show you the easiest town quests?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrUulySSotM
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6PWNCe6AlK
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrFhoMlaoQO
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKG5RlR5a8K
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5O9M0AQ71v
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLBzZFBoR14
The laps today were a little easier and even a soft rain didn't deter me. Walking was good for studying the menus too and I drilled down into the kingdom's various options, reading up on descriptions of buildings and balancing their various benefits against the immediate need to solve our food problem and be able to resist an attack if Southway and Trolland continued their alliance.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUMSsl3iNG
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJPCNU8MVh7
After I finally completed my sixty laps, I took a salute from Carradock and went back to the keep for a bath and change of clothes. Then I sat in the very large throne in the large hall on the second floor, the solar they called it. Outside, beyond the lead crosses that contained the window glass, the day was still grey. I could have rested there, alone, for some time, but Carlena arrived and waving away the servants who had brought her to me, came over.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdhTTU2EMn
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMACU1pD6KE
'You wanted me to help with quests?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeigjMQa4c4
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WMCYGUWj0
'Yes please. I've started as a Fighter but, honestly, I'm not in the shape to hit things yet. So quests are perfect. And Lord Arval said they would level me fast.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc3w1NbHuEQ
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1UP1GGN7HJ
'Yes, they will. At least, they got me to my third spell. After that, you'll need to battle monsters. Also, your combat skills won't increase unless you do.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCOQ55PmB01
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVbcM8Edj9q
'Right so, let's go and do some quests.' It was painful, moving again after being seated for a while. But pain meant gain, right? And I had the incentive of levelling up to encourage me.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKRWfoiWMaw
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNOaogzeuf
'It's been a while since I did these…' She looked thoughtful, long, silver hair tied back so I could see her severe face clearly. 'And try to be more like King Carlos. Everyone is talking about you. About how you've changed.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZWd4wiSSiw
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaVGSJ0OlVe
'He was a thug, right?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN482V3ZsfC
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHOVj1t4sLO
'More of a sly creature, like a fox. Watching and waiting … then punishing. Never trusting anyone. You didn't know where you were with him. Not even me, who – forgive the lack of modesty – is the most important person in the kingdom. There was a time when I thought he was going to hang me for treason. Even though that would mean no sorcerer for our battles.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcoeTt4Pgay
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzceFW235SW
Having reached the large, double doors Carlena went silent and waited for me to lead her out. From just behind my right shoulder, she muttered directions as we walked down narrow cobbled streets until we came to a bakery.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeWnbC6sEGb
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVPHXJ7fmQq
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxujxhDUHqT
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmwnBh0AHGB
I barged in, under the swinging sign of a loaf of bread. My bulky body made a small room feel even smaller: counter with several loaves; bare planks for floors; whitewashed walls; back room with an aroma of newly baked bread that made my mouth water.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1svL75vMp0
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX54QSYaNmR
A boy, about ten years old, was sweeping dust. His mouth dropped open. A thin woman behind the counter looked at me with pure horror, then said quietly, 'Miya bless me!'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQi7nvAgxXY
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkSJJaEr6oX
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPW3Hk48DU
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlgmm9GR8TS
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSxLT9qM66Y
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLIVlStH87
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtlJkjbrTB
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8pOsHPBbM
Feeling impatient, I tried to strum my thick fingers on the wooden counter top, but couldn't, they just thumped down in a group. My crappy Dexterity? Or simply lack of practice with this body?575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMU6Jq8CFnx
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxummKDVMng
At last the guards returned, holding the woman between them. She was clearly terrified and I would have said something comforting, except that Carlena wanted me to stay in character.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxLhoG5oFtn
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzsQfDmRTZO
'You have a task?' I asked.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqc0UeUn9Xn
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3VCmZGfCG8
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd65hk2JC5c
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6xHhCVZ7Za
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwZskGMaSXn
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Gg8Zcm94T
'Give it to me again.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdu6g7bWdR
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsYApkHcm8
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpWGWA13oAz
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnAnzOhVXug
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznCxxgk258
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YS8wrnsoM
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNVGiYkvYDY
575Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg2IwUAabeg
Exasperated and not wanting to cause the baker to suffer any further, I strode back outside, took a second to orientate myself, and set off back toward the keep. Levelling up was going to require a rethink.
