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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAisnc8rmWh
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQD0okr8VKg
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQvvvzOm3jx
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTuTnFuRJ3E
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlF2oszLKXT
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJlzpMnrI31
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUDjj91blne
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWriveVZbpE
Str 7570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2SuMFcAFf7
Dex 4570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRu8k29Nt7C
Con 8570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRTMYf1cU3T
Int 16570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPKbkuFRMSs
Wis 16570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAwCkSVR1Zr
Cha 4570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVfvBmPNvN9
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5QMDvn39vn
Please choose a character archetype:570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡenICv2nawk
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKHXkJr8EoK
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NqCsHVwfr
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7otDh0M7wO
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡunCqqOEdW4
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRCdzd2g1hc
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQVh1cY9k33
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqXDiKHvrFl
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 8.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB8Wo1MFf2h
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm7KxQTRFXT
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIU5bTu5szh
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxpO7eUQSW
I selected Fighter and got a message:570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXQfNm4Oonz
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWhT6EfCVX4
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa4V4awZBxG
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrNqHmVpeNy
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdHSs2uQpGn
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOOsaJctk1
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1P0DtgInY2
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUJqsV5I9Vq
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRSxAi2mReL
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0ArRFSjpJO
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7dox8ICKGl
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyB0uQEePm4
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNYNFGUMiPz
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkx3B1GDAEX
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡl5rtddawTC
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNC7OCgEPRP
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDIihsdqxxG
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAlG2IExexN
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhXYOVEWfML
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDz0E6MAI23
Skills are capped at Level x 5570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnnQVaGboD5
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡf3sJ2lM2wy
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAO9jjkSixZ
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkqBcNeWBbt
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFtjeTwmYHS
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXk8hvLLS7a
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0rLi1u9q6
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvrGSsbodO5
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKv157UUuC1
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjTvjOfbvcu
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGeZJAMwll7
Str 7570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4GmKlpE5NH
Dex 4570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrLZA6LeXbh
Con 8570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEAJg8wI1UJ
Int 16570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡps4X5rDsG0
Wis 16570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ49qj5zusLs
Cha 4570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjhj2NGDhJr
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRLJlWnqr4j
Lunge 5570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOCy0B6HRPs
Parry 5570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡadworGVAxv
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq4gfyeVaRq
Exp 5/100570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdprxEV3kz4
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfoDngqvAed
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6bllTUu7ej
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDCaleoCa1J
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3S8cSHLwZ7
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBk0LiwZNMj
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJxnrxs1oqn
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPDcZLeT0Hy
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVM7PO68mEQ
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgURqxWFyPM
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT1fNc4soVh
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSIpEIZ4sec
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtDdyYgj8ZU
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOhysWrjZzc
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBdaLLdNqb
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSSEunmmUqA
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡygf6MwCnyb
'Stiff, but yes.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3vQegmN8iT
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhC0EJJ3hym
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1IL15nLqAI
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡywbJRdv4Lw
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡufhK7Xvhja
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfKUbSx99Qb
He looked at me expectantly.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLTBfs0PJZA
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFIMauvfGJK
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxnrucn9Y3C
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfVSJ7320HU
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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5tYSVhULFN
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1gw2wfMYMU
'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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡj0lgio6NwC
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxyO0f7Mn3
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJJTAxmDPhs
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbWqy6T4mwa
'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?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUvgQi7OP9E
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPPfIrltaVW
'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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsRF1CDrntu
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡG9AQzDvb6T
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSUaYeIjkgm
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0GEdav5jFA
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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH73aD6Rh8t
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlPbMDtGvWR
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcUn3OYBbGi
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpvxmsU1s91
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?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwBezSTA4p4
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSdjRrNOucq
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74rKLHfG6S
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFcUDzVDifw
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsdbHArEcBR
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmHDWukC5U2
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1nZ9o7NLnU
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNv7nLsk7mp
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9pS6YpaHFH
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm8cnD00JTR
'You wanted me to help with quests?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrBzcLJNgvA
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4mAFvEjZdG
'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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRvQI89LA87
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIIFpqzJxfe
'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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5yuXljUo9N
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3Nhp9NoQfT
'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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOoTMc80Ck0
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPmTeNvyBIt
'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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpy1MgAbbg0
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMSlQwPF5XE
'He was a thug, right?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡobcbZlERDR
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbYWLVfdK5W
'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.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQrAGuBKtMz
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimuBE2Wq80
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHIAqlvzDeE
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHnYSXI8GOR
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2hMZXbrHGV
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGuzPcbz0hT
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlILQPHBImd
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQjeMziVzlK
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!'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkAOD0P9sE3
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡN2dR1cF1Xo
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJXRi9pgQwd
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjnzGKqf3x0
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6pGccaRyig
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH9gHwqAAcv
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLZL3cDrz3I
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRkMQPojzOV
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?570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJdW6QoOlWt
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTamfoJtcZR
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.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡW7X5CmEfnm
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4fw1BAqrwX
'You have a task?' I asked.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIj6T2wf7Zd
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCsmOcw0S1U
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDaGRDkrou
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2rmpo3JIWC
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpqQREKqkfh
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtewhISLBfn
'Give it to me again.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeAaVbW9gGE
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡACh3cxUNgM
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEaO0xCL38e
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFQiQAf8ebJ
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3QeKjopPEj
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4H9sdGGq3G
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOcN7Te46OU
570Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKUhxh0qH5x
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.
