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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAaZ2vYXQF9
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaCDdY1FOsb
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4nQCh7noj
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcjF4D7cPYw
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuC5sFKNv6P
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzewkqhyjWQ
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFUKRfzJWyH
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡII2wh6FQGc
Str 7437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtaixMowQuZ
Dex 4437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZnsO1wC2Ry
Con 8437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRId7zWOD0t
Int 16437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡImRyBhos3c
Wis 16437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb3gR1Ae2eN
Cha 4437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYH8l1yc84j
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7NTxYNIH9v
Please choose a character archetype:437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxYEI78Bkt
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR5ftWNc5fW
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhhiWhv4Uek
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDxI3BTAYvk
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4TNjs726fZ
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOxoHcxo5XQ
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7nLgPTyTKA
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWbA6lEYrzq
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 8.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIkFvAO6l8D
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzk030V1iIK
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpsjeXNiA9j
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaU7RAaR2fm
I selected Fighter and got a message:437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB2bkzGsM4
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡovN3JG1ZEX
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1m4dZYtK5Q
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw5udHPEzec
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY5uI1YcgPI
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ59DxHidDHp
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlzzEsRmXWV
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw4a58tr4OL
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtOVWQWIif
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRJo2yMaDpp
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ127ExBYD0r
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnHmYjCVyVG
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRswhZEtQCz
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNIVmtO09W
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡooFPmzEWCc
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwA89qTMutJ
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJbqCi2niZ3
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMvvBPOmhO
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGzDHCVXack
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcIB9aHzFvr
Skills are capped at Level x 5437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3luGInprcS
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvov49Ki0zb
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsUewbULl5Y
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzNSNhct3hL
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjKghG9l4q
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiaH4bkW509
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2Py2gnZz0x
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBGD9Xi5jvv
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3E5TnbRWnw
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR2At1Cp1As
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdtCvM3F8H5
Str 7437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcldsEliWpC
Dex 4437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTKZYfvOmC2
Con 8437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7hGaGCh5il
Int 16437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdayFLRIxIy
Wis 16437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkNjrWUfm5Q
Cha 4437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbdSCMh4qPl
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtlBD6YShJ
Lunge 5437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEOP8dBP61q
Parry 5437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDm5aVnxTf
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTrKMOeIw8s
Exp 5/100437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmUYFNBnJr5
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOvLuLQw4zt
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPQDXb6NnbF
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmyBUTPvyV2
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0F3ImXtNGH
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ76kN05OQS8
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6oVN0SmRu
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeF1M5LDhQ1
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2lE2HHyiwQ
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9zJ1paxw24
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhIIDfWGeMm
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdrx8W78wKA
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOZ4d13wtuj
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7p1IU8ITH6
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM2sqAyHdL
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY3C9q2vfSG
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'Stiff, but yes.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb6SVOsQEcZ
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8EAHGGInww
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUqcS8xSceC
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYgAFjC6fvp
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡed7JFnA4Hg
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcH7Ej6QMYX
He looked at me expectantly.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyWjAOWR25H
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXu01EMnxBk
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7HtZak0M3d
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMzHCqW6WlI
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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1jyWbYncNF
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwJTuyfn0u6
'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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuLqRTRHapu
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5RKXdOXu4G
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPqiOs11v5s
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUxq4vnm0R
'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?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡur5cYAA6eF
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDOrEZOAqHo
'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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcMUqZ7dUmM
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNm7UhtV0JP
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSVw75ez3ba
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYnEJO4Ee1K
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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHYhthSHN4
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtCQonzOj3l
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡApUJwnQh7e
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPWxtX8XLer
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?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp05HEZS2a0
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMWMf07WAvP
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk3209hW2eA
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt8QA5PX43W
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPYwukqhNs1
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl3choMtb7r
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3ZxH92J394
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq8rjDe8UHB
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyFqY0mRK9e
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0os32i3v0H
'You wanted me to help with quests?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjRMNSomMz8
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9yhZ4gkfAa
'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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHJ3I2SOqFH
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgbBaCqzdYT
'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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGiIYUqlMU
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQG24TIWxA
'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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXkOyFWo9dw
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlprKtinmWJ
'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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGyidZrkLu5
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡydoQxTFzqH
'He was a thug, right?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXeYFjEnNKC
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9HyXyJXkrR
'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.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCKkW5zaqct
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxYUtkC760p
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuvwlSIdT79
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu2n1ppIkBL
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNwpeJIHrj3
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMnkxu2dxVI
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPIJMjncmcO
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1GsvCJPdTy
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!'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3F4GBv6E2r
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJXieP1NYY
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ85SS2X6lN5
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF2CVVPySdh
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡikQi8Ol6t8
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMjUhhVQbq
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡP30Vi2LaTp
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgO8TjAULIb
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?437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo4dXgIiO1m
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmopqxIlDc1
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.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrvw5TzPw8G
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'You have a task?' I asked.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZU0wVjFEYv
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzdI3W0xQAA
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOXgbNGRQiz
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ24ZfjyVrRT
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhMloI4SVeJ
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsMAll8RfQA
'Give it to me again.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA64sVOigFa
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMCUqe0WsN
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVb2yDUi2S3
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlZdXGCNpfn
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL427o7E1nw
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqHVtuvz3lk
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY8lzdJ75Au
437Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG6ihM0ZJMy
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.
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