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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCg6nMZoKj
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUWPWrTkIQ
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ16GHZ3WY7t
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiKOOM0adHP
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMwrbznJZAc
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSNtuz1bpUf
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCz8NuZofs
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWeGhLjQJQB
Str 7366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfvpWoosrZd
Dex 4366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBf7gkapX4
Con 8366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIfVXoKw9A
Int 16366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKxUigH7xs
Wis 16366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEpTuEegPN
Cha 4366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7e1tdi3aAY
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL0dHzjUo2o
Please choose a character archetype:366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkXQvH8xbaa
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjbYMSMF3zB
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV9C2F66CCE
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApzKrlzeSZ
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSV5RBcVcG9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA6eXd9u1NU
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU0DR0NLxaH
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScE3TZ5J3R
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 8.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHq3t7JMGac
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZm77Rr0ii5
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgHL7nCgiQQ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyF2n2mPecp
I selected Fighter and got a message:366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9SL9YJQhXG
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnGMzqM4OJU
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEkU8uBQi6
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL4m3EzchWm
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEM5WHz9XR
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHkstwBgs56
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufz607SlzV
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡg42OerdhyK
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6RKDNxIQ0
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIHXd5eyBC
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKPM2PvuibR
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftZhwCjmrm
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWxlgkz7pSM
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZJnL2ZkbTg
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0dZslbRa9q
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4IKdsz2tL
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4POr3sQD8Y
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtcQPWL8nX
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvsMuzJHYv
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2mwDlauG2a
Skills are capped at Level x 5366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwRaOM1NPDW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb5XIj61YYw
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiApTFvTIbg
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdNu3ClSa8G
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoHvaHh64kB
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡju8rRDoNqd
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZDaHQR6kV
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoLsWJ3sPHN
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDsiRqCiBAB
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3yF1ZNF51L
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE8fsTDbqd
Str 7366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfuMPRNYc4
Dex 4366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIlMjFTMICA
Con 8366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RAnkq2Hqp
Int 16366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxExDaSazYO
Wis 16366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡViabK4EeF7
Cha 4366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlYAOXkIQiL
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSUUP3V2x1
Lunge 5366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhINUgnPKpU
Parry 5366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡARMRLNDSgL
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJfHbWGdirr
Exp 5/100366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0rBDJZYL1E
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDbsviOkisC
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk4gRGNMFe8
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1YgTY2czTh
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN7PDaJ05j
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4WPl4HPAU
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46QUYYxLdL
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmZhd4Aku94
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMlD8253LpT
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPK35QD9tdo
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1aOInRR55
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0YeLl1Xst
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsYbiicobYS
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOdxa1Eoz7K
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc1h2TDZSZk
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwghWM6yRMn
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCuuY4x5Tc6
'Stiff, but yes.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBVnoHkMpEn
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9QC4zy79J8
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKCkGX3ddTo
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEtAmDRGLZ
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw8Nc0LEnxE
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMxzOgZ1Xw
He looked at me expectantly.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRQa4i9UF9u
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVSiB0nSx27
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTjRSgZGgUx
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6twusAhpOo
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUDW2d0I7r
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMtT7fu216K
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTIMRu8xFfF
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcrtOsz7vBm
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYzMpyqWX7
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbhEulcjEQY
'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?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTLEMumb16K
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡullQf8V0mL
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkS43w2RmXP
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn70R384zjt
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEoymtAn4GQ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWv6QljWZuq
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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiybT8YmbnR
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ94kmZp3EPH
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtAJTKVVdbT
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV4q432fh2Z
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?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYQELEEZ5IP
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQPV63RN6h
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0ovLVxsCi
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNowSna97dw
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi3QawC3oQq
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfHpvErNz5I
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaIFRTbBQ5k
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYMEJz1LTIi
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtp52Q4oU6N
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuj78gC7AJt
'You wanted me to help with quests?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnRRWtBCUkm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn2ETUm3fD
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW1eVrl2tla
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIYIGGbm07T
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeO6kdzfLw9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmlBGqLrJRd
'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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡozvdv5mfHg
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbgY6tw5soR
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgOlJLYZ6XG
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVN9GYsMSw
'He was a thug, right?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbtiVa7LHmK
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzzzjFgsUnE
'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.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOqkCwIILCz
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqAf6GxXag6
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIPvYFtDWc
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0TAgFtR7H1
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrfbtPLXK7a
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQImpyupIhz
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb7bx1jF6jW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXiMH7vBys
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!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqGXCWxOpz9
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrTKRZOPfex
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdfU6QXnPiQ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1ktu6mzUd
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8PwHnqPhW
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVt3LFj0jyk
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWKhaM57wSJ
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI8iyzFI9W
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?366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwd62VdQrX
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTP3shyBZF
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.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAZ5bxeYTOe
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyRuPuFm1TL
'You have a task?' I asked.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡarN5YE5880
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ORtedjz3T
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwnuu7Q1Pd
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnNzzweveU2
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBfPMJaY3Dg
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkUK8t0FHog
'Give it to me again.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJra5hUTNOm
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuQJDmcumer
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDAjynfgVa
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqgpYbGy2xq
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Pd2zUi2eN
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE8bfzHexxt
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZpg39PAc01
366Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpAFFHuI16J
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.
