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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbMEmtoNdQD
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwspP5Hxz62
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmRFuusdFBI
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxrqSYIwglZ
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlWPWlxHCNg
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEMLdCqUCYR
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIFqZFr3z2t
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxslsQPKEFV
Str 7475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnSr7HawyeO
Dex 4475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPHi27gN5J
Con 8475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUlOI6DjuFs
Int 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdEQ3tySu8h
Wis 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKZOG0pjKHC
Cha 4475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9B6Ink1wXg
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxDA5CmGX2w
Please choose a character archetype:475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlAdZpnKNF
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Y8IDSZB9H
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBZKu4TF8jH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXdYricQixa
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoeztMrs61A
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBwFa4W6Okc
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzGnIbWP0hn
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV7mu9Il86M
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 8.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5XSdCNOhm
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡekpA3COWVb
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgZsK6GGvSM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZMwPQC9ZwA
I selected Fighter and got a message:475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNAts7pJMl8
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIrvjkz5n6F
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJDYrHvNZAi
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhT3YY1iBOl
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHf8nbHa3Ep
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhN73Rv8Vok
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmEa4kcGDRW
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNi2mdTpca
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDJBbcuQfe
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXaooD9NHIU
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCn7Ihlxh3H
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNZBbN0XV3b
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiLFAhCwraV
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSlSnRN5Fub
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6Pa8ckf6r
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX0hGrd9xsl
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFuNMyHlEkq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaZOeehjdNb
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpMvycQJCl
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPuuzwtJmXG
Skills are capped at Level x 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDVd5n9SwGn
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJwXg3JMmQ9
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaSsuiAzbQq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQmLNUqYrR5
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvXMwJjItQ2
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjEGQpO93o9
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm9I0CO0aFi
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOeCuwUXCX
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcuentOKrD
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvlTBzHSZwc
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCtfet6W9sk
Str 7475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZ8Q8TvCWSH
Dex 4475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ3bLxYRaa0
Con 8475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKr1fPw3mWW
Int 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWiVzw1DPON
Wis 16475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNEiCUKwmt
Cha 4475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBz57PCoeG4
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf9AwuXXd6s
Lunge 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAMF16WGpvp
Parry 5475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4nQGrKgf7y
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNFe4H6uCB
Exp 5/100475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAchBbbajaz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoZ1xW2NLko
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8RNzd81VJ1
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeaZCLf5UMs
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8UjFhat9TL
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv8OcIdnap0
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQWyO7aHErc
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFFU74NJqn
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGj63IJeJYc
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwkY2C841bO
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdg0numvTn
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ9A6CVKVjc
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLm3mrjiC3t
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbU8zVxdNRN
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Mi5YBgCYT
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUtSIuFcuoU
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5vKQ43rbzf
'Stiff, but yes.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8PHmDfEsBK
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡryIhSGsQ8H
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQdNNPtuhBR
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0kopyN9MUu
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqH9Ao2XtYB
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNIIE4hrXsT
He looked at me expectantly.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFv2O4xrWJO
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNL8kpJHIRk
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGBNSsJzCjL
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwFUO4W2VKE
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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXOlbRgUqQ2
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1pflJQoPtp
'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡagwoK2Xyqf
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgnSxH3B0I
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWZxrlaFnnz
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ0oA2zlwF
'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?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtucNAX7k0B
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡirYBfwEMVS
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOPFOnItn6X
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl0xIMKm8RU
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr43OXSsIzM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡabQ2twrn0D
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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkGlfBB8hS9
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJagStSdSIr
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXeb8N1cCw
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzqknd3Rgqx
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?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2tvH1SDDXP
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡX1i6e5KbeX
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKogNJU4Y52
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3ls5ngqn6
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCJOnxrRu47
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNY2zBCqCfZ
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7xiq0dWSJH
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBTphxNWEAl
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzHkp7sJxXL
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo45rc4P0Mi
'You wanted me to help with quests?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zcp52oRAO
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr06kwkGXpf
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrrWk62bOGC
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ26dXlDPo3
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTOfQQI9rGd
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmr6fucleCd
'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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9xfTtON2wu
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5jhwPrOH1c
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0GpKNLRXM
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeeoDjmAJPN
'He was a thug, right?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLlvtj5radW
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP5DZELUFTC
'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.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNmkMjqSSOL
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5k2RAhOfpA
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl6xRyBeHRq
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOt0VzM6lo
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO4TLStoE8D
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3zjLr1Ct9G
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcFgbkuaWFp
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIHoDAFGbrO
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!'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYEVtMal8e1
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlTcZ1abks7
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOlmnKb4w3F
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhs61E1ck7
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNNPuzZ8D86
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNd6ZSYMNRw
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgrepwlCJKE
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzUKDAXgdr2
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?475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEE4BJIQIIF
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡReFT9XZ1ss
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.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlp0HdbYJgj
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDKaS87P345
'You have a task?' I asked.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuRkMbQSIaw
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxPp6Az3Unl
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHN7rDsqOrp
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMKzEMHzpeP
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrSoYKdSB4f
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhwv96OscWK
'Give it to me again.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBagGKUHwWR
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcArx9XC0ym
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSSdV30knA
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTNIS0G2lHy
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoC9W5x0YRx
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVYRmRBCN6J
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTRFimXKNy
475Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZa3P6Z3CzP
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.
