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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCP3onqU0p
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtJZY1qd2zk
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡccDo58Ea0a
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiML5AylL7
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfy7iLUwCjZ
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtmo6IPoX0v
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT8Cxu3Wgil
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuDgBHtKy9a
Str 7363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnapxRICYz6
Dex 4363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCzeryHabU
Con 8363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxlNwsbDssb
Int 16363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUeqbSFxY3K
Wis 16363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5i9gNNsADV
Cha 4363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCtKRkp7X2
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo5U9KzQ3rI
Please choose a character archetype:363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYuFT2CDGM8
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU7aXouyfG3
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq7hcr3hWBa
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYUveE7eW51
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVHgPFiCQQR
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7u7Yp3Rn4O
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXikO9z45v
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNaLCAouOx
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 8.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Zkt0eHpc9
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQzWvbA3Bw
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeqTEA1wwr8
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfdX5fMAnYE
I selected Fighter and got a message:363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnK340sLc5Z
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4APj6OE0cW
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0cQEDbjH8G
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ46h9YVj2zR
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5JRkFHSFMN
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmkPHS1mpbd
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr0DpkaUSuu
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡanb9rO5dVY
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHPKbfzzCG3
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpsfERbRQK
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatref0CNfL
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFlFDF89Bl
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2aby9nGBw
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuvlQYZ9b1
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2XIuyWQsAp
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXSQ94Fv7V
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvCyNTE8471
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkCM8mmnfQx
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPUen2TxB6
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq1Km23CL5W
Skills are capped at Level x 5363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ75Mh3q05rz
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzL6sP4518o
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrHlZrC2rRa
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡugJ4juuFCy
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV8JmxjAbaX
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIjgXDE5wp
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsLVIJuea8F
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiobW8Qb1YF
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLG6qthu39l
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLgQ0QztYZk
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1nmEK4d7A
Str 7363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeN5iAjgid0
Dex 4363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyykCwP0QLP
Con 8363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81bNtbTPFx
Int 16363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx0xoMxVyaW
Wis 16363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsZPivgs7QV
Cha 4363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOJsgTk7XSe
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaggJqhmlsU
Lunge 5363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ00N0TE3cwF
Parry 5363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9tQaRVreM
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡatRGQufZaY
Exp 5/100363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzmd28PTUn
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlhqFJe1s2o
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCiw5P8JVDJ
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVE22oCpucB
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxlInr3Dp2
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVJzFRmPlB
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOXxnfYKhw
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdMEdlw28gj
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCnjzF5EOId
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5DqyiEXs0v
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEFpRQn4eM2
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZbaiKh9xsU
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoW7ZjjJOEH
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6snv66yQg
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuwYfLWswHG
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkFkVLlYrQM
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfTIV7yGruN
'Stiff, but yes.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIUKBMWexK
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3e0Wa0gclJ
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk7s8RXJ5Cv
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡS7D33zlKev
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6IVjpJd7Cj
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡua6n8FJddb
He looked at me expectantly.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwUyLayAHBZ
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡICBPvCDqYm
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5eryCcpkFA
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdOdIx3jmnU
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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0U4kq1Kg7T
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBAaJ1CHr54
'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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGqCmh8Npl8
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzw8R30Y0sl
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrjGB112O1e
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUXIYMPEkMN
'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?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE5CDrAVuaI
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡft4wmraQ7V
'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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvbyem5wM7
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnQ8HM5wL8p
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡudk8crAYPD
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe5ueNpI5ex
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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ771M36Mb3H
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqegX0tZTli
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv1waukUs6Q
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztFCaxsvPQ
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?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfkB0ANLMlv
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiWqGIK1WuB
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxvGZNboYJ
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7MIPPYBR65
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJpDDwt7n4e
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡro8B8rdkVz
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyBtqAWHJyO
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl63V1mBaCq
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnLgy5djebE
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMiis6VYVW
'You wanted me to help with quests?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMO6qzK4fa4
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC647vjO7r
'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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyLdXf8IBpo
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQadXqpp3Ww
'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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSLImjALLo
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR0Z5Psdirj
'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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxyF7OMn5co
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdYF21KlSn
'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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1MvSobHHoI
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFH9RsFKvlr
'He was a thug, right?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ar9Z8FlBU
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwN0N0uNV7
'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.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT0RiMXwNGZ
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9PB7Dlp9wk
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdV5VZxXlv
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZiUcY496R1
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zrJyQSEH2
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9eDgEufrLQ
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbuJtYFX0cb
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhmrPgC35n
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!'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGt3u6X623
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZQgcGJ5xOX
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWodALb0Uxj
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU8w9A0vR1Y
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAXwiRzTxbR
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtsYcohJpwv
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7Oi7SdSbe4
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzwEH4qfGOK
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?363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yjM2eAYp2
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86lIfSYDP3
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.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXUelePnHdl
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5d1IKKrcp6
'You have a task?' I asked.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVEnkaDBN1g
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxiMhVp8Bl
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXjOXF4xXh0
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGPbGJ6F9r0
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwryTN3f47
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvwh0ebGPBt
'Give it to me again.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlHCpAPZQpN
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdoFjahjSdF
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA65xFH2h1w
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwisFAfBk9C
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU15XLOY1Zg
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0raea6BQXl
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh1f52T5SV
363Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYoQi3lFME9
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.
