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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb0OKoBqJ2r
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMbB3mRS2ej
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqFhZ5s7CHM
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZskn3yFzPs
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuaS8rHOmJr
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW4tTsrCnH6
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2xmZi6YgXS
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPsN9PvxUTz
Str 7467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡewCgXqXt4h
Dex 4467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQCPpx7iUfZ
Con 8467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8W7TiHQuq5
Int 16467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvJj5Qdmolo
Wis 16467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv42XrrWLbS
Cha 4467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLYVevh4xBu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTGSCCM21Jy
Please choose a character archetype:467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxld44skPlW
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLIHyyJAZTM
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡt2py1dZOwF
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjdEA7ESVvf
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzFn1gMQik5
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5j5LdusVXN
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaN0Z6pk5W
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDJtgsiX007
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 8.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf0V4TFfO1k
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbP71fBvkKY
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBJswOqpQu3
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBPTP70NSQJ
I selected Fighter and got a message:467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa537GXBYFy
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhOCPZKXNw8
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRUMNEtX2xB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQoNme53Ex
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDy7iN8MgSV
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlrTxCfRYBg
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL6byZy1V3s
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxMUbqD4j8r
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC1f3k90U76
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSvGw9QIgEW
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0OMi6hSunM
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOiTABGPVJ
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMkuGCQNwi
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMHmGadjH0S
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5XraMPgb2I
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQ5gE3pFccP
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbwUmFM3U0b
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeOtAFzU2pj
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdZFXnIlpvi
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoD6edtQQi4
Skills are capped at Level x 5467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡA4L5IZ4aOw
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsBFsy70GNo
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9OKchrBng
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvxmCtrXTpu
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJio3KPdG6S
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvD7tVM52p6
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8PCoGYEA9
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaB0JwXgiPA
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs4sTiIwYPP
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV89rP2IIo9
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡivKcxQETrj
Str 7467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoksZbNmgFb
Dex 4467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYboVG6d5RQ
Con 8467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50VsWsHtrQ
Int 16467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh8L0L6z7I7
Wis 16467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDjYjzZ0kz
Cha 4467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhUbWFPfFA4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ07JtsLvkPH
Lunge 5467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqklQgyICuE
Parry 5467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKpusWMHVM
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3EASWgYV8D
Exp 5/100467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRD59Dj3JAN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsK8X3DiUuu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡv5vBtozyHd
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFw0CaN9PS4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfjq2fUEO9s
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQXDn8dLwmh
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOskK6e26P4
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9UyqMMzENM
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq17mX8NRIb
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlcJP3lPRZN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYHC3fUatx9
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkn7hgqfWcu
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ25CGyBN8Aw
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Z2lv5rBcl
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6WBeA4etOy
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1f0Fr8vzmN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGbNYolUW6V
'Stiff, but yes.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRSM2jWyxF
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBOrVQboe3H
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxBlpkK4XJU
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3rD92SMjCJ
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsWQrMJ95J4
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuhfcmAhUnt
He looked at me expectantly.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB0TaAmItxG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdO3eAyNxTU
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUBNjBAx3p1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Vb0GtmnS3
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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlH3nHgacBc
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVBnJIAN1dl
'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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO2PocXljFb
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWBrM941D8l
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡF0Ltwfn00Z
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuXvstuBM5o
'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?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFWXXC9qPYo
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAIo3wwKfqh
'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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKJfSObDg0X
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXGQtz4oM1l
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNcaI78OI87
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRnukvFrzY7
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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC7NC1EZzu8
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfwnb63N5Cu
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHEP0TUe6es
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnJrkOQlf92
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?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡppytFsCy5G
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz69DbvuCV1
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKkAfVixdgJ
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz4g58hsLhv
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcHYa9ASuK
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxr8lgdSaTY
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKxZ0089pkf
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnrlNDVSj6k
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGMuqxX4dwB
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWyIk37pSSH
'You wanted me to help with quests?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgdxLfnDp8L
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgS8o6UUPn8
'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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡctcJPDtCiX
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBqCXaydoOH
'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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfXw9Ra4L31
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVuXK61eDD3
'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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7KzxUTuymr
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaN8pseEH0b
'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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTInwnczsdc
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqbEH3F4gSA
'He was a thug, right?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡC6X2WSe4xe
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZmBaNUYV8l
'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.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLhG9MwDd7E
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbzoJ6rvBq4
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHz9WJqMCQG
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2duJTTQP9
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaJWOMgnf2a
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJLVxIjWsYO
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpMcQAXSgk0
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOFGn5Bue4D
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!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFDEdnpssem
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcOmCMB0UDg
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcn07DNzQGN
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHhX4XiwTKh
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfRlJ4iSwvm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJ961E2Msla
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ho9AJ3s1K
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjYgX3KcCB0
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?467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYYLVQY2Fu1
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPJek3F50gd
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.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn3lvBaKd3f
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKFHkCo49aR
'You have a task?' I asked.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXYePM2Dqdm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdI2ttV8QQ7
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbM54yTY5jF
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpt27hoC5Vs
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19JDPFBSlP
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeZd0A3bUsK
'Give it to me again.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ56L6bmzNmp
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4QTaKodEq
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrwpjQANVAt
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpaWA4PtQNa
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxD8mY5Xymg
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOSM9oGdTm
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzhzreeaOVm
467Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFW1vMDdHzm
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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