Chapter 1: The World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdLoVwpCkza
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHHlmLbLnRz
I was lying on the couch, in front of the TV, which was displaying my maxed out Storm Wars warrior. Drowsy, I had to blink twice when a line of text began to flash before my eyes. Strangely, it seemed to float about half way between myself and the screen.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJGapoKWvQF
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ5HN9qe8SM
I was lying on the couch, in front of the TV, which was displaying my maxed out Storm Wars warrior. Drowsy, I had to blink twice when a line of text began to flash before my eyes. Strangely, it seemed to float about half way between myself and the screen.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDhXvyzAr6S
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡElT1KJFljB
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqEim5MTaPr
You have an invitation to join the World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms. Do you accept?637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxGB7GolU0X
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5HdF8plLvG
Yes / No
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFnSgt3RBph
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3KDVT9Rl38
Amazing. Some sort of new 3D advert?637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY2NPP5Kr2m
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9hzQ7jcH6o
Alert now, I sat up and I was surprised to see the text moving to keep its prominent position in the middle of my vision. That was strange. It was like I was wearing 3D glasses. And, for a second, I caught myself reaching up to my face to check whether I really was. How the hell did they manage that? It was annoying now, intrusive. Plus, I wasn't going to start a new game, no matter now smart the technology. Not after becoming the most indestructible warrior in Storm Wars. Two years and pretty much non-stop play during COVID lockdown had equipped me to be the most sought-after tank in the game. Only yesterday, I had been the main tank for a raid of three guilds, nearly two hundred players, against Warwrath, the mightiest dragon in the game.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsNLUXwoVx
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f3Ir9pUJK
After attempting to get rid of the message with a finger movement, I discovered I could focus on the 'no' button with my eyes, getting it to glow, before a blink sent it away.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbpwOsvFtbn
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCcbKXjSju8
Lying back on the couch, I felt tired. Of course, late hours playing Storm Wars made me tired. But it wasn't just that. It ran deeper. It was two years since my parents had died in a car crash and since then, I'd felt cut adrift from the world. There were friends whom I cared about and who cared for me. But since COVID restrictions, I hadn't seen them. Then too, my college course in Occupation Therapy had been moved online and I'd lost a lot of interest in that as a result. It was all biology now and the practical side of the course, with the opportunity to help people, was on hold. No, it wasn't lack of sleep. It was despair that made my energy levels low.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3UjGV0TiC5
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTt9Z9xDoaf
The popup came back.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uM2IpwFYT
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8z9PnAxik1
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbqfU4EdEm
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOnSz8f5ahw
You have an invitation from the World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms. Do you accept?637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAto0CE3anm
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgyOFaOZmQF
Yes / No
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QeCOAKLW2
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡubqqCWUMF7
This time, more from curiosity to find out how this technology was working than any desire to try a new game I concentrated on the 'yes'.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2LMMJtl27
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtMkFQEo1nS
A huge lurch seemed to shake the house, like an earthquake. It was unpleasant and something dark crossed my vision. A feeling of nausea swelled up in my throat, which I was just able to quash. And then I could see again.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0jrtRHPfz7
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgX7BZp8ZNd
I was in room with three other people: a silver-haired woman in fancy dress, like a medieval LARPer; a grey-bearded, slender man, dressed like a medieval noble; and a clean-shaven, stocky man in chainmail armour, scabbarded sword at his side. All three of them were staring at me with extraordinary intensity.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfClIkQsbEv
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUZUoF8qqmM
'Who are you?' asked the woman.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwe9LAh9Kjb
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0NjKgg7YRf
'Sean de Courcy.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6gEIupnrlq
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ57b8JRByTT
Astonishingly, there were smells; this wasn't a normal game: burning candles; incense; sweat; and that sharp tang you get when racing with electric cars. How did the game-makers achieve such realism? I looked around. It was a dim room, with a wooden floor, bare stone walls, with arrow slits in them. Like the inside of a castle tower. Across the floor was a complicated design, with unrecognisable, fanciful letters and candles distributed in an uneven way, like a constellation. And a slight haze of purple-tinged mist was everywhere.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRoYhZmnwjl
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzyQpoY7kTp
The warrior took a step towards me, then hesitated. 'Sire? Are you well?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhfhKMggpp1
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3Vwz9rK9F
Sire? Apart from that strange term, it was a good question. I felt disorientated but no longer sick. In fact, I was hungry. Looking down, I had a shock. My body was that of a very fat man. My fingers – I held them up – were stocky. My vast stomach blocked my view of my feet. There was a weight on my head. Reaching up, I felt a band of metal. A moment later I held it in my hands. A crown of gold with diamonds and rubies.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWCXpnzE0sD
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE1mEUfTHV
'Where am I?' My voice was different too. Deeper, somewhat older than my own.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvvJgCQDs2W
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4BvQJ4btTU
The three people looked at each other and the concern on their faces shifted to becoming signs of excitement.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4z2xp2Bp9
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl2ywxbn9gd
The woman smiled and stepped over to offer her hand, which I shook. Perhaps I was supposed to kiss the back of it as for a moment she looked surprised. Then she spoke with a gentle voice, 'welcome Sean, I am Carlena and you are in my tower, in the town of Carrick, in the kingdom of Greyland, in the world of Regnia. You have been summoned to replace a king who was leading us to disaster. Please forgive us if this is undesired on your part. We will make it worth your while.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVAyhD54XiI
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhkP5rwQlIO
The bearded man fidgeted anxiously at my side. 'Now, sire. My name is Chancellor Parrin. If you would, please look up at the roof and raise your right arm, what do you see?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7XcGnduRdc
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQwGVKg86J
The roof was a dull, near-black set of planks and I was about to say so when I reached up and a menu of tables filled with silver words cascaded down to hover about three feet away from me.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpmu1xj7y0G
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdxk7WEy3Hp
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgjXPxSs0o
Greyland637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVc7TuFRoJp
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkBZxb4ruR
Economy Military People637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy9NITkuJoD
Currently building: granary level 2637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nzMAGgKwP
Monthly trade income: 0637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGwiMIPZsC
Monthly tax income: 54637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTz5gAMAjw
Research: steel pickaxes
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIuhzenfys9
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzmHuZaBgD
And a lot more that I didn't take in.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYGAu4XTgPP
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnreT4JRut2
'What was that?' I blurted out in surprise. 'Those messages in the air?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAfn0HHDEM
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzK0Q9KAN1I
'Oh, how marvellous,' the elderly man – Chancellor Parrin – brought his hands together in front of his chest: half a prayer, half a clap. 'You can access the kingdom's menu. We had very much been afraid that you would not be able to do so. And that would have been catastrophic. But matters are so desperate, we had to take the risk that bringing you here, into the king's body, would not cut us off from the realm controls.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMck3tyZI1n
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJ3MENlPvh
'So this is a game? But it's so real.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡquShzEtik5
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnLPlqrcnr
'A game? To you, perhaps, but this is our world.' The woman looked intently at me through startling indigo eyes, 'our lives are at stake.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqYNRciN2Q
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj5hYI7kC2n
'Sire,' touching my arm, Chancellor Parrin gave me a grin that was probably supposed to be encouraging. It wasn't. 'If our spell located you correctly, you are the foremost warrior and strategist of your own world?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo9kR8gcsPa
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXN4PVBAkhB
I had been experiencing some anger at the thought that if this was true – and it certainly felt completely real – these people were effectively kidnappers. But at this I had to laugh. 'I'm a student of Occupational Therapy not… oh… wait. In Storm Wars, maybe I am. My warrior was maxed at level one hundred.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3CaZKzsYow
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhjQXm1cl14
For once, it was their turn to look puzzled.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmcbtQgCj0
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ12dthpbVNb
'You can fight, sire?' The man in chainmail came closer, speaking with urgency. 'You can lead us to victory in war?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uhCqtQ17t
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXF7G4ke2ZZ
'Sure. No problem.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvN8Vs05ZeP
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD9mZbaW1eY
The relief in the room was palpable. Everyone was distinctly more relaxed and their smiles were genuine. Probably mine was too. Admittedly, I knew very little about military command, but I was good at RPGs and assuming this was an RPG, they'd gotten hold of the right guy.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn24fqsqLhP
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHCmjfQjzFt
'Then,' said the chancellor, 'let us go somewhere more comfortable and explain the dire crisis faced by our kingdom.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwpUmj8sLG
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw6msCGjl3l
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡouT8RAzZvr
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4SbmDBXDB
***
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRlyHwpLTL
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4lPJfEE5mX
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYITkscYD1n
By the time we reached a large room with a huge map spread out on a table in the centre of it, I'd learned the name of the soldier – Lord Arval – and reached several conclusions.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFCBucg9YdY
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXCcvHgTY1K
First, I absolutely hated this body. It was immensely fat and slow and made even walking up five steps a task that sapped my energy and made me breathless. It was also useless for fighting. Yes, probably this guy I was inhabiting was stronger than me and probably too, he had an ability to soak up blows, but he was so ponderous and lumbering that no opponent would have any trouble killing him. I wouldn't back myself against the kid I'd seen sweeping the halls. Plus, he reeked of stale body odour; his hair was greasy (I made the mistake of touching it); and he had sores and bites on his globular skin that I felt as incessant itches.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8iKtEa0xjO
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0KwGmsy4JW
Second, this definitely was real. No game could get you to sweat and feel the signals of discomfort that this body was giving me. The ambient sounds alone, or the subtle scents, were too much for a game. Just possibly, I had somehow been hypnotised. But when Carlena had said that she had cast a spell to exchange my consciousness with the previous owner of this body, well, that had resonated with everything my senses were telling me.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFmsMnJVQp
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGNGeYBIGLN
Thirdly, these people really needed me and feck it, I was going to embrace the challenge. Not only because at heart I was a decent guy and always responded to a call for help, but also because I was up for this. Having the task of saving this kingdom from its enemies energised me; motivated me in a way I hadn't felt for months. I needed this just as much as they needed me.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlSlOC3FJJ
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn91DRN1KSc
'This is our kingdom, Greyland,' Lord Arval placed a finger on the lower left part of the map. 'Three days ago, having lost a battle against a united army of two of our neighbours, we forfeited control of all this region,' he moved his finger, 'leaving us with just the capital and the territory around these mountains.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ra1Vkx5dY
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2HcJ90RF3
I came to stand beside the soldier and studied the map for some time. It was detailed enough to give me a pretty good idea of the situation. We were easily the smallest kingdom of twenty-five in the bottom corner of a five-by-five grid. Worse, the region we had lost was farmland. The tiny patch labelled Greyland only consisted of hills, valleys and a mountain.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32qquEHcqK
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ28oVIJTEhN
'Is the world a sphere?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwnSgcpLoLp
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGFhwEj1fFm
Lord Arval looked shocked; Carlena snorted with what might have been derision; and Chancellor Parrin raised his eyebrows in a pretty good expression of surprise.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5Gd0kCi5b
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRUQb8xDNt
When Carlena saw that I was serious, she shook her head. 'No. It's as you see here.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYIrSrfrKs
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA7PNYrnMeS
There was a small section of sea around the entire world. I gestured to it. 'What happens if you sail off the edge?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBC8ifuiyYu
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUTR8MmHQqj
It was the Sorceress who answered, 'some say there are other realms beyond the mist. But no ship can survive the thundering torrents.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4CpdcJFy3
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC2YFNPeX9d
'Well, at least we have one flank secure.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7GYWDtM7t
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnpXjgY97w
'Indeed, sire.' Lord Arval gave me a nod. 'Although sea invasion is possible. There is enough sea room for an enemy fleet to avoid the current that draws you to the edge.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqTxjDpDmKy
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡodNGMhTk0f
I lifted my fleshy right arm and pointed up. Immediately the silver menus cascaded in front of my vision.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ3btQSj3JX
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYskby2RpbN
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRydWj6dEX
Greyland637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyUAbwdfnnQ
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKf8tzXZsp
Economy Military People
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wrKWPxLxi
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFa1exVyYOz
I didn't open any of the three sub-menus. Instead, I swept them away with a gesture and raised my left arm. A new menu appeared.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡphWv6LSyl5
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4PKbdM17CU
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡstaUmNOn48
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0SGNXeJpw
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrlFY9K3gJC
Str 7637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZvTA0SGUpd
Dex 4637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZN1WFWhiKH
Con 8637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYPrRgfjTTt
Int 16637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNa7We1yDlb
Wis 16637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd3mxsUNbU4
Cha 3637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYO4I87Cvey
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpCGjphwp4Q
Please choose a character archetype:637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcXHf2xMw00
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP0QxXQeuf9
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcraPkBOeld
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9WaSlSjh4o
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSuTPoWgu35
Interesting. Charisma 3 though. I waved it away. 'Can I improve my stats by exercise?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZyF5wKRb5z
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCXKwe5Qmhj
'Sire?' Chancellor Parrin had wrinkles in his face that fell naturally into an expression of uncertainty.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhLUykt3O0s
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVsTCv1eTf
'I've just called up my character sheet. My Strength is seven. Can I get it to eight by working out with weights?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxSThOOwQPj
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kmh61Xgvt
Lord Arval looked to Carlena, who shook her head. Not so much as to answer me but to say she didn't know.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQeU4nCMo8b
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRG6tP6jgpy
'King Carlos kept his powers secret.' It was Chancellor Parrin who answered me. 'We know he had access to menus for himself and for the realm, but he never, ever spoke about them. He was… He feared…'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyfku9m2B8y
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkgNVYTfQS4
'He was a useless tyrant who bullied us all, knowing we couldn't replace him because he was the only one with the power to make decisions for the kingdom.' Carlena gave a bitter smile, 'but I found a way to get rid of him and still allow planning for our realm. I found you.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZqdbYNwsb9
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq5MmaMEEsE
'Can you see your own levels and stats?' While I was interested in learning about my predecessor, I didn't want to change the subject. My focus right now had to be on understanding whether this world was like RPGs I was familiar with. In particular, if I was stuck with those starting stats, I'd have to choose Wizard or Healer archetypes. If, however, I could get my Strength and Constitution to rise somehow, I'd opt for Fighter. I wanted to be a Fighter, but if I was stuck with this body and those stats, choosing Fighter would be a complete disaster.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWo6d1pOUv
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr7Gov2rRT1
'No, but I believe the king could. I know from my spells that I'm level seven Paladin,' said Lord Arval, 'but he never told me my stats and skills.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRm6emZrcGN
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksQGOcfYRP
Carlena nodded, 'King Carlos was a liar, but I know that when he said I was a level nine Sorceress, he was telling the truth. I get one new spell per level and I have nine spells.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAFyhZZ9bdU
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2HPP3JB5yx
'And that I'm a level five Scout,' Chancellor Parrin gave a shrug. 'I certain I'm above that, however.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiq6gwCrCRJ
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡExs0NVtlFC
'Interesting.' I tried pointing at Chancellor Parrin in the hope of calling up some information about him. Then simply concentrating, looking into his eyes. Nothing changed. 'Oh well. I need to conduct an experiment. Can you assign me a trainer to work on my Strength?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9luR1WiZC
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbLAMn72Enp
'Now sire?' asked the chancellor, 'it's late.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1O9FXj9inj
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHoNIRfNUUR
'In the morning then.' This body certainly felt tired. 'For now can I get a bath, fresh sheets on my bed and a clean set of clothes.'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjVmwgqbpol
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNmitPSP03
This request caused Lord Arval to chuckle and soon Chancellor Parrin and Carlena were doing their best not to grin.637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS85HQe9RLi
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRd3HiEeMK
'What?'637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYMsdYCV2q
637Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmfAW5s2n8c
'Whoever you are, Sean de Courcy, you are certainly not King Carlos.'
