When Lord Arval asked me about my past victories, the others in the room – Carlena and Parrin – looked at me expectantly and I realised that this was a pivotal moment. Part of my mind scrambled to put together a story about being a real general. Perhaps I could remember enough about the campaigns of Alexander the Great or Julius Caesar from my games of Classic War to reconstruct convincing episodes? This part of my mind saw my companions as being in need of reassurance and justified making up a history for myself as a great general on the grounds of the value of inspiring confidence in their commander.374Please respect copyright.PENANAXkQ5fvnxmG
374Please respect copyright.PENANAuZNEkbGkig
On the other hand, if I lied now, I would be stuck with having to remember my backstory for my entire time here and inevitably the fake history would have to grow and grow. Even thinking about that made me feel tired. Moreover, these people were no fools, none of them. Probably, they would be able to detect my bullshit and evasions.374Please respect copyright.PENANAaQzdGQMOMH
374Please respect copyright.PENANAWmbcGHmI8N
If we were to turn the fortunes of the realm around and conquer the twenty-five kingdoms, Arval, Carlena and Parrin needed to become heroes in their own right and be utterly dependable too. You didn't lay the foundation of a victorious team on lies.374Please respect copyright.PENANAodBAmV2qWK
374Please respect copyright.PENANArnVLk3FdZJ
Then too, I knew that if there was ever a time to explain that I was not, in fact, an experienced general it was now, when they had no qualms at all about my leadership.374Please respect copyright.PENANA8jykaUt4ne
374Please respect copyright.PENANAkC1etTtNaD
'I'll answer that question, Lord Arval, but first I have to explain something about the world I come from.374Please respect copyright.PENANA9CBDJrQ16i
374Please respect copyright.PENANAwki57AGycX
'In my old world, there are no menus for planning the realm, no magic at all and no levels to be obtained by specialists like us.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAGXfslf70ln
374Please respect copyright.PENANASPtLvRXzDo
'No menus?' Lord Arval shook his bald head. 'It must be chaos. How does anything get done? What would stop everyone from making their own plans?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAxsBuzmzYLe
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6OzqqUXNlX
'Staying on the topic of my battles…' I really didn't want to be deflected into the politics I'd left behind, 'we have games… tournaments… that are very much like what's happening in this world, Regnia. And it is in these tournaments that I have fought and won battles like this one: much bigger battles, with thousands of troops.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAWzWPm3wA7a
374Please respect copyright.PENANAfpk6EuZHaT
I wanted to try and express that my game playing experience was a transferable skill to their world. That no commander in real life participated in battles with enemy magic and monsters coming into action, whereas as a gamer I had fought in hundreds. But as I struggled with how to phrase this point, Lord Arval spoke.374Please respect copyright.PENANAsD8auyMa3f
374Please respect copyright.PENANATVT7WRqrj2
'Tournaments?' he looked puzzled. 'Of thousands?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAVjIAbIEjPq
374Please respect copyright.PENANAtm43ywMpvf
'Yes, indeed.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAXHq93pR09o
374Please respect copyright.PENANAF0u4sVXs9W
'Did the soldiers die though?' asked Carlena.374Please respect copyright.PENANAeUXbF6OAHA
374Please respect copyright.PENANABBrPIhoRUe
'They died as if they were soldiers, but most were only… models.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAcHiOhwYrwJ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIvPhjRx09C
'Golems?' she offered.374Please respect copyright.PENANAx8Sszf3Fr7
374Please respect copyright.PENANAaYWpW5PMgN
'Yes. That's quite a good comparison.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA74cz8u8sVX
374Please respect copyright.PENANAaS1HzRgUs5
No one spoke and I could not judge the mood of the room until Lord Arval said, 'well sire, if you would, can you tell us about one of your battles in a tournament?' This was greeted by looks of interest from Parrin and Carlena.374Please respect copyright.PENANAEKPp9otost
374Please respect copyright.PENANA28dCFwT49A
'Happily.' Whether it was the flush of victory that was still upon me, or the wine, or the sense that these people were still with me, despite my confession, I really did feel happy and I enjoyed recounting the final battle of the Crown of the Frost Giant Kings quest in Storm Wars. There, I'd led a raid of over two hundred PCs as we fought alongside a dwarven army in a battle with frost giants.374Please respect copyright.PENANANjRus87DSX
374Please respect copyright.PENANA7mV1bPj1K2
I was just explaining how we broke through the shield wall of the bodyguard of the frost giant king when the sergeant of the ballista crew came up the stairs.374Please respect copyright.PENANADcZ5NyQLkH
374Please respect copyright.PENANA4r2A24kn8L
'Apologies for the interruption sire, we have the coin.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAgTfQVD1ESa
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsTb0nLdl4O
'How much.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA6xNCfRUbxb
374Please respect copyright.PENANAgudWfeCrHq
'Ten gold, a hundred and seventy-two silver and a thousand one hundred and eighteen copper. Plus a few bent and clipped ones.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAwYZLOXpSnW
374Please respect copyright.PENANAguIA3wGcDV
I knew from the economy menus that a gold was ten silver and a silver was ten copper, so the total was 3,838 copper. Arriving at that figure was manageable in my head but to divide it by our 114 soldiers wasn't possible without a calculator. Or maybe I could come at this a different way. If each soldier got 30, that would be 3,420. Then that left 418 divided by 114, which was somewhere between 3 and 4.374Please respect copyright.PENANAwE4DIZ5oOT
374Please respect copyright.PENANAqZ4uX2Uxvt
'Right so, give every soldier thirty-three copper, including our dead. The families can have it. There will be about eighty left over. That can go in the castle coffers.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAiZHKKqq8uX
374Please respect copyright.PENANARdf5M7EuMa
'Very well sire.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAWZNykHdhzi
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsePTRQLWY8
The soldiers were getting about a month's pay. Not a bad reward and surely one that would help with my popularity.374Please respect copyright.PENANALG2M6ssJgO
374Please respect copyright.PENANAIJoEQPLepg
The sergeant left and I stood up, feeling the aches of my tired muscles. 'I'll tell you about the rest of that encounter another time, if you are still interested.374Please respect copyright.PENANAeY4eP3aRLw
374Please respect copyright.PENANAp1O6siInPW
'Lord Arval, any thoughts on our dispositions before I go?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAHYdVa62YoF
374Please respect copyright.PENANAVfyKnBpUSI
The Paladin rubbed his beard. 'It might be wise to keep the light cavalry here to scout and half the archers and the ballista. The rest could be granted two days leave. Then give the other half their two days and once that is over, station most of the army here with enough at Carrick to hold the walls against a sea invader.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAFS2YV5FW7N
374Please respect copyright.PENANAgz4sgTojvt
'Make it so,' I did the best to keep a smile from my face as I uttered the words. 'I'll return to the keep at Carrick. I'll be needing a cart.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA5gZBBbAQa2
374Please respect copyright.PENANACCCyvqtz3B
'Wait. Shouldn't we consider going on the offensive?' Carlena asked. 'Their morale must be shaken right now.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAjadXt7aGh1
374Please respect copyright.PENANAFeBhISlDES
The three of them looked at me.374Please respect copyright.PENANAJPuP0WGtk2
374Please respect copyright.PENANAGFLoXUJhyE
'That had crossed my mind but let's suppose we march down the valley and engage the other half of their army. What's the best possible outcome? We regain our farmland. What's the worst possible outcome? We lose everything: the whole realm and perhaps our lives. So even if there is an advantage with us, it's a mistake to take the gamble. Especially as this is an excellent defensive position.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAZASgfNfKDV
374Please respect copyright.PENANA2FCUzeCqtj
The Sorceress nodded and I continued on to the top of the stairs.374Please respect copyright.PENANA94C7JKkWwT
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJjVxJHVRiM
'What about the prisoners, sire?' asked Chancellor Parrin, bringing me to a halt.374Please respect copyright.PENANAw39uj8GwnN
374Please respect copyright.PENANArGz5wYsVrc
'What's the usual practice?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAMVYVpM8xkm
374Please respect copyright.PENANArhdsUMuPX5
The chancellor shrugged, 'keep them locked up and perhaps arrange an exchange or include them in truce negotiations?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAdfWaR6Izad
374Please respect copyright.PENANAFaH4crd54O
'The problem there is food. We are desperately short. There's no tradition of killing prisoners then?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAGuUjSvWwjJ
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEzIxxCjLNE
'Only among evil kingdoms,' said Lord Arval pointedly.374Please respect copyright.PENANAvlrFfpM0Au
374Please respect copyright.PENANAikKFE12VVS
'Or putting them to work in the mines?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAN56i5z7W8K
374Please respect copyright.PENANAhed9QAjx9h
'That's possible,' observed Carlena, 'but it has consequences. Since they will hate you, it will lower your popularity among the people, which is critically low as it is.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAer1O3fRBKj
374Please respect copyright.PENANAx0m3x9MPHh
'Right. Oh well. Keep them under guard here for now, minimal rations. Chancellor, as soon as you feel up to it, I'd appreciate you scouting the enemy again.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAY7ugJ8p4Ny
374Please respect copyright.PENANATmFbPsQ7Zu
'Certainly sire, I'll set out shortly.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAsg5hCWVxnD
374Please respect copyright.PENANAUrcm0OTrGD
I checked his character sheet, he was only on 32 from 53 hit points. 'Rest until you are healed.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAFfTJNK9iFE
374Please respect copyright.PENANACjBIVoRmQg
'I can scout while wounded. I will recover.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAgSPLMzvpGT
374Please respect copyright.PENANAsMp0KaUmWm
'No. Please order the Cleric to remain here and don't set out until you've had at least two of her heals.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAeYbqkZP5TY
374Please respect copyright.PENANA8DkkcrFY87
He nodded and still poised to descend the stairs – impatient as I was to get back to Carrick – I addressed the Paladin.374Please respect copyright.PENANAHA4KR13FGq
374Please respect copyright.PENANAkrVk0OP4Oz
'Lord Arval, you'll want to remain here and see to our army.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAjdMpif30md
374Please respect copyright.PENANA9bucv7jaF9
'Indeed sire.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA4LEnSWqKDv
374Please respect copyright.PENANAn6f6667nYY
'And do you have a heal spell?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAEQfWTIOuv7
374Please respect copyright.PENANA8XwiQ88hja
He nodded. 'Although I am out of mana for now.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA71FGz0zJhl
374Please respect copyright.PENANAuGx5W9Rxk3
'Then please use it on Parrin when you can. And how about you Sorceress?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAtOPHxzmBKP
374Please respect copyright.PENANAcAlpn35qzI
'I'll accompany you back to Carrick, if I may? I recover mana quicker resting properly in my tower.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAS1vxYpSYvk
374Please respect copyright.PENANA75Q8RUSDvi
'With pleasure.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAWsM1QWaYVO
374Please respect copyright.PENANAVoZuv256Uv
With a final nod to them all and a farewell to those who were staying, I managed the staircase with care, then called for a cart.374Please respect copyright.PENANAUZ2Buoo54T
374Please respect copyright.PENANASMfGJmbxVk
***
374Please respect copyright.PENANAlmbdWqyPjJ
On arrival at Carrick after an extremely bumpy journey (during which I searched and discovered I could upgrade the road, which when I had completed more urgent upgrades would be useful for swift movement as well as a more comfortable journey), I bid goodbye to Carlena.374Please respect copyright.PENANAC5hMuhivRt
374Please respect copyright.PENANABkUdNVSxYj
On entering the keep I found Figus, my charismatic ambassador, seated outside the solar, waiting for me. He was eating an apple and this caused him some embarrassment as he stood up to greet me and couldn't find a place to put it. Eventually, he just gave a twitch of apology, put it on the arm of the chair and made his bow.374Please respect copyright.PENANAtIggUMwNfB
374Please respect copyright.PENANAxdpm4RGbfQ
'I hear congratulations are in order, sire.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAxNJYjNUzqg
374Please respect copyright.PENANABBdYyV0tzC
'You know about the battle at Three Ways?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAYMPhT6Ao8k
374Please respect copyright.PENANA84ifpnqbTN
'Lord Arval sent a rider with the good news. That's why the bell of the church is ringing.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAOr5tg3HIrB
374Please respect copyright.PENANAfUsNL81FEe
Now he drew my attention to it, I could hear the faint peal of a bell.374Please respect copyright.PENANA5cN4j1vXws
374Please respect copyright.PENANA3wSaGaqCIx
'Could I trouble your highness for an account of the battle?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAxMA1qPrh4g
374Please respect copyright.PENANA9FQYyQXLMP
'Soon enough, but first tell me about your mission.' I strode up to the throne and took my seat, waving away the guards and servants, so that just the two of us occupied the large room. It was late and the setting sun turned the roof and the far wall scarlet.374Please respect copyright.PENANAGX2XoC9ysR
374Please respect copyright.PENANA6gqBg1Z0LO
'Well sire, I rode through Trolland while there was light, skirting their villages and sleeping in the barn of a farmer whose wife took a liking to me. On the morning of the second day I crossed the river Everwald and into the territory of the Necromancer. By afternoon I met the man himself, holding court in a large tent among his troops. And I have to say, I didn't care for the stench of his troops. There must have been a hundred zombies among them.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAOUJlIICOXo
374Please respect copyright.PENANAA73oJl4XVm
'So he is on the march?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAcF9VEDVp1l
374Please respect copyright.PENANArwYkFj0tnO
'Possibly, that wasn't clear from anything that was said. They could have been training or patrolling.374Please respect copyright.PENANA5kLOq0tNbG
374Please respect copyright.PENANA8mo8bNfYQs
'And what was he like?'374Please respect copyright.PENANArCxbc6d4A0
374Please respect copyright.PENANAgnwxDDGx5J
'A human male in his forties, maybe, you can never tell with spellcasters. Short black hair, grey hair at the temples. Frown lines. He didn't look like a man who had a lot of laughs. He was dressed in silks, black and purple. Several impressive rings, two gem-covered bracelets and a silver necklace.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAH3zrO0mtkx
374Please respect copyright.PENANAeCfUEVVhM1
'Magic?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAXfH0iGCA1G
374Please respect copyright.PENANAF6lcdGhlXn
'I couldn't use Detect Magic, obviously, so I can't be sure, but I'd say the bracelets could be.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAhvOaRiwCNj
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0NQixOYLib
'Go on.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAHu6u1pTLb0
374Please respect copyright.PENANAS1IDgNKFSY
'Well, I introduced myself and explained my mission and it startled him. I don't know what he was expecting, but it wasn't a trade deal. We talked it over and when he realised it was an iron for food agreement, he grabbed my arm, stared into my eyes and said I had to tell you the following: "King Carlos. You are the first of any rulers to send an ambassador to me. I appreciate that. And I appreciate the opportunity to send you our excess food in return for iron. Here's my offer: for each cargo of fifteen iron ingots that arrives to our docks, I'll provide you with a hundred-and-fifty units of food in the form of sacks of grain and rice."'374Please respect copyright.PENANAmekId8xyiN
374Please respect copyright.PENANArzpeUjl9DZ
I let out a whistle. My intuition was that this was a good enough rate to solve the food crisis and with room to spare; I'd do some detailed calculations later.374Please respect copyright.PENANANm9Zk3Ex6u
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQb3FUmZp6T
'It sounds like a very favourable offer to me too sire. And he also said to tell you this: "Despite my reputation, I'm an honourable man and I make for a dependable ally."'374Please respect copyright.PENANAFmdQke0Hw7
374Please respect copyright.PENANAoq1jvTxqtM
'Interesting. He was suggesting a military alliance?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAyMJjwdxwp2
374Please respect copyright.PENANA7XWR0kFS3l
'I think so.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAksseqo68xW
374Please respect copyright.PENANAL8Arcllcvq
'And did you believe him, about being dependable?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAnsOuPtX1vB
374Please respect copyright.PENANAXnkHY26syN
'He sounded sincere,' Figus shrugged, 'but you know what they say: promises made out of necessity are made to be broken.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAjQNMFIbGWj
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0KFTNDk5je
'That's very wise, Figus, but what do you mean by necessity?'374Please respect copyright.PENANAhnLMqcUYR8
374Please respect copyright.PENANA79pG5EnN8C
'No trading partners; no one even sending communications; no allies. He must be desperate to avoid complete isolation and eventual conquest.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAvjUpL2Ysjy
374Please respect copyright.PENANAJnFeP2V2RV
'You are very wise Figus. I shall be careful. Even so, I'm very pleased with the results of your mission.'374Please respect copyright.PENANAN5ovZEHzkw
374Please respect copyright.PENANAKKsFn29LC4
My ambassador glanced at me, perhaps to confirm I was being sincere. I doubted King Carlos ever gave thanks or compliments. Then Figus nodded. 'And now, sire, if I may, can I trouble you for the details of the battle.'374Please respect copyright.PENANA8xhMHYxiZH
374Please respect copyright.PENANAim4DlvL6Vc
It was no trouble at all recounting our victory at Three Ways and Figus made for a particularly attentive audience, encouraging me to provide specific details, such as those of the sounds and smells. Only when a servant came to light the lamps and inform me that dinner was ready did I stop. And even then, having invited him to join me, our conversation was entirely about the battle.374Please respect copyright.PENANAzwVOnSSN1O
374Please respect copyright.PENANATOtSCWSsca
At last, I retired to my bed, wanting to check on the high-level economic menus before sleep and think through the offer from the Necromancer.374Please respect copyright.PENANAojl976o8H3
374Please respect copyright.PENANAEKT5FpJi4R
374Please respect copyright.PENANADgHeSn786v
Greyland374Please respect copyright.PENANA2r99wUxomt
374Please respect copyright.PENANAnmBQWhUBYX
Economy Military People374Please respect copyright.PENANAI5wATwlkfs
Currently building: hunting lodge, level 3374Please respect copyright.PENANA8jvZ6ynCJK
374Please respect copyright.PENANA1dqJTtP9pH
Monthly trade income: 0374Please respect copyright.PENANAvXNSJppwIA
Monthly tax income: 54 gold374Please respect copyright.PENANAxiiG8jJX8w
Treasury: 5 gold, 5 silver374Please respect copyright.PENANAgnFdUvq6qK
374Please respect copyright.PENANAaRkfOcWXL9
Daily food consumption: 15 units374Please respect copyright.PENANAYR3dNpOQ8w
374Please respect copyright.PENANA16YFvtnZWV
Grain yield: 0 due in 17 days374Please respect copyright.PENANAShSMXQIDOF
Vegetable yield: 35 food units due in 19 days374Please respect copyright.PENANAlF0IsDbYZD
Wool yield: 3 bales due in 32 days374Please respect copyright.PENANAO9DOKzOdnj
Meat yield: 6 units daily374Please respect copyright.PENANAohTZHBZeVc
Timber yield: 17 planks daily374Please respect copyright.PENANAnMPkLIdfTC
Iron yield: 3 ingots daily374Please respect copyright.PENANAQzHzR6oAXB
Quarry yield: 6 blocks daily374Please respect copyright.PENANAKQ5Pz7UJmR
Smithy yield: steel pickaxes on hold. Awaiting iron.374Please respect copyright.PENANAywObIvh8Da
Weaving yield: 4 bolts daily374Please respect copyright.PENANAgPftz6Vj93
374Please respect copyright.PENANAQUkigsAX2G
Research: Shipbuilding One374Please respect copyright.PENANAkcq8RzQ3HX
374Please respect copyright.PENANACzyW9utP6y
374Please respect copyright.PENANAOvTjGQaUbM
Resources:374Please respect copyright.PENANA1Aj1RWym8P
Wheat: 12 food units374Please respect copyright.PENANA0hyoirsUTG
Vegetables: 20 food units374Please respect copyright.PENANARLMu2xmYmk
Meat: 6 food units374Please respect copyright.PENANAO2f69gv84v
Wool: 6 bales374Please respect copyright.PENANAcoTJUxZ9jL
Timber: 150 planks374Please respect copyright.PENANAPdAr9DVws7
Iron: 0 ingots374Please respect copyright.PENANAZqrY5groka
Stone: 39 blocks374Please respect copyright.PENANAaO97NoWoMx
Cloth: 4 bolts374Please respect copyright.PENANAZn0k2l1FZk
374Please respect copyright.PENANAtEDjefWn8j
During the day, iron and meat production had edged up, as I had anticipated, and that was very welcome. Iron output should go up again after I assigned the waiting 24 steel pickaxes from the smithy, which I did right away. Food consumption, however, had gone up to 15 from 13, perhaps the result of capturing around 30 enemy soldiers. Even on minimal rations, that was a noticeable drain. It left me only four days away from running out. I felt a chill all over my body, despite the fact I was under warm covers. All the good of the today's victory could be undone unless I solved this issue.374Please respect copyright.PENANAmhv0yLixWC
374Please respect copyright.PENANA0if54Qg9oe
Once I had a ship making a weekly journey to the Necromancer, I'd have another 21 units a day. Enough to feed everyone and build up stores against hard times. Obviously, I had to accept his offer.374Please respect copyright.PENANAXT5RTVGIra
374Please respect copyright.PENANAONITjeg3qV
I fell asleep while looking at the timer on Shipbuilding 1: two days and fifteen hours.