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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM62e1JxLBx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIpjcYZI3vH
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKsRC4drIbZ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtI6KLV1HBG
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNodhngZ58
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIqi4Vsiwsu
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡggogzX9nzn
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUMuQimQ4X3
Str 7497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXBdL5lBjiS
Dex 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXVCnzqmxVx
Con 8497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpyJeSzQVO5
Int 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdJB94dFUEA
Wis 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPxCd21UPR
Cha 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn2e7eozmpq
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqi6iBejVb7
Please choose a character archetype:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdb0s3UVscm
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwXI7spwakn
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmiqKbuFCS2
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO0E6HpHpS
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQxfKG1Llq0
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnKJehvAsWA
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWi0PL4cVL
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYiJqq7Lts6
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 8.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJeFnaMbmi
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡep0wmw3jfQ
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXMoty2Q7J1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKyAhcoAiM
I selected Fighter and got a message:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4fgJraWbf
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6jLhJlxgA
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbUMviAPdHJ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGxWBdcWOQ6
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4wY7oDRKk6
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqacTK3QNT0
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡolqhpTDPxs
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYi7CxHFINj
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAoGK4zwdJZ
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwgfCeZi5AD
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdROUcmeqRy
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpIM6NrEKsJ
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuaRT0fPBT
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN4EWid6smy
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMCLyOISfG
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ06ex2n84XB
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXrTX2UpbIu
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGCAQUpwg7o
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNQqKTpRgvu
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYJJV9ccgdD
Skills are capped at Level x 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ6PqSk3uJU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTjEOu2u4z
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYKkKSM01nn
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCqxJfyODfk
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9IgSRDpPUv
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtjlrJRC2G
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6E6CJGN5hV
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQlSCU95DBU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpgcens0qU
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoq27gNZn2G
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPbQorsvdzK
Str 7497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAMYwds0ld
Dex 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIdcwCrRKeZ
Con 8497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYtdiumurkg
Int 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsb8NjxAcQh
Wis 16497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IM6SdumKg
Cha 4497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMIJVH2sMH
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQSjb6Ulm0e
Lunge 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMdhC5SxPSy
Parry 5497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoLlNCzmOt
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXqsHyMzgcg
Exp 5/100497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡipmFqqayvz
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK5DbaySvd7
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewLHBltfqb
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJUPinhVZch
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY9BFmBbYE0
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX96Tu3SRzU
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjwf5Ds2u6
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX4jubDqpSP
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyMU7a0cLlB
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJTp3JtHHIx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYoxBQCxsE
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTsZwxW6R9x
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJgUlHg7lSt
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRBhU93hUl
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQYc6tYfOX
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8IfY33CS4
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ01qWNquRHm
'Stiff, but yes.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Te9eTjwik
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWshVXqWsW
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuWuaFjg5Jj
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡijjXPzqfws
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqKduxi6JJF
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ37Tz7lmheP
He looked at me expectantly.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7PmAHS8s54
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLO3nGmIAlH
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56Jf19M1hj
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡef4yea8sJ2
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1fDe68Noxw
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPBO1omRcfx
'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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDqlR2UF8vW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLM1R8aj6P
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApv0ZV7XKc
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqRBmId212E
'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?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf2QFKLl5cW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡShtNy1b7vB
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtu2fZiRjvZ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWnqQnpEVzE
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXhGMqUJsaD
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnyZq5E7LBd
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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtQOnnHAij
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpm4rMSG9y
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4naKPoMM1i
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhgGlXTJug5
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?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsubcqrbJhb
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAw2glWLA3l
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2nlJjOj6lW
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPOGSFkOowY
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG5JrfRHzH2
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9kAGgTrfPg
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡba5jA4Gyod
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0x0AnwgHQy
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgwfGO1F7xT
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8jxAPNXD0G
'You wanted me to help with quests?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKSXIrLeNkb
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGpmLIayOTm
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡebaygaQRNv
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bI66WkEPX
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjCfeGdyDeO
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh6ULMoAcFz
'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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHRhtU7DHzR
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM3AWzVBWF
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRhKI87jEbB
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKVvR8E6DoN
'He was a thug, right?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVy8dQL6My
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfj3Xa6an5e
'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.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20ulT5Au1e
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0pf63Izgfj
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkg5B7Llr9r
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc7YhD36BdW
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjshAxrohmQ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvfOSWUCNWY
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQtdCQJtDd
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6ywvdOPPLp
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!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhn5wI4LR52
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBKKy5Ht4iD
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSbb2yCuubf
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUiCmvdOR1m
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOeeMU3M7R
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4ciukvRf7U
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc642KT3Jq1
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxCgTWc3P40
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?497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGtDkikhcTn
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFjjYyw8wn
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.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡznpVwSXmet
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOs5moYSaEI
'You have a task?' I asked.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXmVCbQwmIB
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ02ey7V5vPT
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1bKby1LCks
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN2ekU7oGq
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1VxfHR9G0N
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzgJch5obB1
'Give it to me again.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ3tks2L9ge
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpLinX1zx2v
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSyVkqFSTZx
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpW8oYzMRp1
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4YYZvoF1Ng
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQyqqIe7b0G
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAvhwxXaWJQ
497Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IUfUNI9id
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.
