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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyIeEQ2k08
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbInjhlOMHh
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7DYNdCbzix
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXmK5CH2Gs
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVojOcvBvhJ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjf0QtMKq0b
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWzVaOLF6D
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhyPP7aWcy
Str 7342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk9hYXGdxau
Dex 4342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZv4XG2BNnk
Con 8342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMXqHnJHVL4
Int 16342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgjPM0R4rk
Wis 16342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡak9lynqBi8
Cha 4342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYyPFaOjvwM
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9dJrHUWsoc
Please choose a character archetype:342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU9hXVcxHnm
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzkHEplKe1l
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvO0Fk5p7V9
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvUiBOEwyp7
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDH1p0kupAk
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVxbQwvPC4D
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkb70LbZATo
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwCmPFHrrok
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 8.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWuOGTGHfyg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt6ZdsW0Gd0
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf25N3rVUNi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7CbFJBQ0dm
I selected Fighter and got a message:342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAxpUOTr6c
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlwugmSUDGi
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡizhoKW8oYH
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrs5gN8iShv
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7tCNKDQrbU
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsOmtnb9pdF
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhGIffQpYb0
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtBHvXT0ufG
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡetBp2oJ9am
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDjDXz1qAr
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsXHue0lOnC
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlRSe7CMQ0V
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDZhfeTycz5
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡurWWIkJMsq
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeMJnqaaDPR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD7HcupuqS5
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhJ8Oh9SYb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiJtaJCq4CI
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡilcojhq0dg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn1f6mmqT0U
Skills are capped at Level x 5342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMPMSKNHt0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnSb26DMoz
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8WMFCGc6NZ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSf6epAF8J
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbnVeDI24ET
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEl7pO6IGE3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ43OpCEIgPk
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJBMQaOQjQg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRK0ZPjlYpK
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBIMhVAvx8V
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEglbY6b3Js
Str 7342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL901saEFXl
Dex 4342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkyRpzNwqea
Con 8342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzQ3zYhXLuN
Int 16342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW6L6gvsaNy
Wis 16342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyG9zkuZZR8
Cha 4342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkzKKke7ZS6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyjLgjEr3nN
Lunge 5342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhEI5VhAr7I
Parry 5342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9ofCBv1wj
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡemmUy7fwGt
Exp 5/100342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsAUMzpbFV
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLLcXKvW3xC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWAXBvj7WqR
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6ah8GfsYh
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoDCzNakDiI
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd8P0kAyFAS
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX01DYW93Ik
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ45JEXcQeHi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPfkuTJavoM
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4k5fKTHCxE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVUVeKHo714
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡntOyxV66tr
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezKkYJvoPg
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyixZbFXA8O
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaxD0TVBKOQ
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5aAANOu2w5
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLXcPcEAa4f
'Stiff, but yes.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG00UV4KctY
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeKKPAbXtyR
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡexEEdtwZFE
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡinsu8yqZsA
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG7tlLDNBuO
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ396Sia3G0d
He looked at me expectantly.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgCGlON0Y5Y
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPMxm8IoqGn
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ3Dw3EBUM
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjLD7wz1rvv
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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡioE53nFsyb
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4dm4I5Jp0A
'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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZKCu3heU3
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJp5gAxLPR
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdD5gUDZh76
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn0RxzdZUSA
'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?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNSPLExedUz
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLCgID91ilv
'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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXflixcCoVi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ15kl4fMtIb
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfSOBcMD2Fl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHUMRazh3oU
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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8pHENB8Cz1
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡksnXnzJ3nx
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCicQI32djg
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmxcNXGnTO
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?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLV5msU5q8i
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUrC7VzGLNm
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfbq1NJIkBn
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQueBtOkjNq
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavteKsln6q
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡelEDou9Kja
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjUzWMmTWoQ
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdXNuNz0bm4
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvyqcTngGN0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5JinqbrfY
'You wanted me to help with quests?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4WAQqIuf8
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLDro6CvK9a
'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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjg9W46oJep
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL37ARjwJHE
'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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKBIuj4TFVX
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtD4etIK4mR
'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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFmncSyqh0
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpTPirkLuTT
'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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzuBXWBwAO1
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeULwRmIIzW
'He was a thug, right?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMdnos8doc
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhyNbLCahjZ
'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.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFJnuZsBvcL
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8OD5mjBi4
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡscDTg1Uwbt
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq2ajD403tz
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh4FZfqAmxR
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbARbGOuOH
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDHdl3svbhA
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnidSF88LG2
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!'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqrp0EWGtXG
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdBUL4SB9md
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCYKRkIyQsK
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpdStk1Ld4d
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqsYfaKwhD7
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgV5HjcNRR
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4OesXLXZi
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRaBioE44z
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?342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ844rtCHDpK
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMQsBcNsrJm
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.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4vbVswSEPO
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡujD84gOxbo
'You have a task?' I asked.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwIfjYu50us
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'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYSERSYVogC
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGTxCOYz1do
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoAKzte3aDl
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ90VltphVLH
'Give it to me again.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ54ZoN7E8l6
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2PxjbxRLq
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM8FInSfp4
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡorNqN7HSdu
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDDzZLn92Lm
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNqDlUMhMbf
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTRhJEb0FOI
342Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFFK8ecjIQT
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.
