Chapter 1: The World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFL7OZP7fWA
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSMj0XZF6aj
I was lying on the couch, in front of the TV, which was displaying my maxed out Storm Wars warrior. Drowsy, I had to blink twice when a line of text began to flash before my eyes. Strangely, it seemed to float about half way between myself and the screen.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7ZyvF73aI
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvDSlcXeu8R
I was lying on the couch, in front of the TV, which was displaying my maxed out Storm Wars warrior. Drowsy, I had to blink twice when a line of text began to flash before my eyes. Strangely, it seemed to float about half way between myself and the screen.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6Jh6hE3Wka
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeRPhiKcggL
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOVUT1hpt3
You have an invitation to join the World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms. Do you accept?548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuu9gbQWAj0
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtRZyb9wMD3
Yes / No
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKXnLrv9wkC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡveYOnCUKqC
Amazing. Some sort of new 3D advert?548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx3aiF8QXA0
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE0IZAXCWui
Alert now, I sat up and I was surprised to see the text moving to keep its prominent position in the middle of my vision. That was strange. It was like I was wearing 3D glasses. And, for a second, I caught myself reaching up to my face to check whether I really was. How the hell did they manage that? It was annoying now, intrusive. Plus, I wasn't going to start a new game, no matter now smart the technology. Not after becoming the most indestructible warrior in Storm Wars. Two years and pretty much non-stop play during COVID lockdown had equipped me to be the most sought-after tank in the game. Only yesterday, I had been the main tank for a raid of three guilds, nearly two hundred players, against Warwrath, the mightiest dragon in the game.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYXjveutsO9
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoNSLRKlorA
After attempting to get rid of the message with a finger movement, I discovered I could focus on the 'no' button with my eyes, getting it to glow, before a blink sent it away.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0oH43p4G3
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpr7Sz6pGLl
Lying back on the couch, I felt tired. Of course, late hours playing Storm Wars made me tired. But it wasn't just that. It ran deeper. It was two years since my parents had died in a car crash and since then, I'd felt cut adrift from the world. There were friends whom I cared about and who cared for me. But since COVID restrictions, I hadn't seen them. Then too, my college course in Occupation Therapy had been moved online and I'd lost a lot of interest in that as a result. It was all biology now and the practical side of the course, with the opportunity to help people, was on hold. No, it wasn't lack of sleep. It was despair that made my energy levels low.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjDKd0WQOD
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsfInMEa52F
The popup came back.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGZxliLtieS
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡavJy4YxiHd
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6fH5zIcXPH
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ32gxG0UPnr
You have an invitation from the World of the Twenty-Five Kingdoms. Do you accept?548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCyMw9UX0ls
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJjpxiVxYGd
Yes / No
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJzuf61zcDA
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa548DdQmwa
This time, more from curiosity to find out how this technology was working than any desire to try a new game I concentrated on the 'yes'.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7x77OwyEqq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwSdvetOKja
A huge lurch seemed to shake the house, like an earthquake. It was unpleasant and something dark crossed my vision. A feeling of nausea swelled up in my throat, which I was just able to quash. And then I could see again.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUWUDklE9Bp
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡq3kS5YnItc
I was in room with three other people: a silver-haired woman in fancy dress, like a medieval LARPer; a grey-bearded, slender man, dressed like a medieval noble; and a clean-shaven, stocky man in chainmail armour, scabbarded sword at his side. All three of them were staring at me with extraordinary intensity.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQzJxoMq7u
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaOaydaPBQG
'Who are you?' asked the woman.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOVp7ArlQRL
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDzPWT4DBRD
'Sean de Courcy.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡa572ZO8Ksl
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9trCDBxTQt
Astonishingly, there were smells; this wasn't a normal game: burning candles; incense; sweat; and that sharp tang you get when racing with electric cars. How did the game-makers achieve such realism? I looked around. It was a dim room, with a wooden floor, bare stone walls, with arrow slits in them. Like the inside of a castle tower. Across the floor was a complicated design, with unrecognisable, fanciful letters and candles distributed in an uneven way, like a constellation. And a slight haze of purple-tinged mist was everywhere.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdptvtck0Sk
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy3m2WNg4fK
The warrior took a step towards me, then hesitated. 'Sire? Are you well?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtcnKvajNIO
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡc4SHJkNwZq
Sire? Apart from that strange term, it was a good question. I felt disorientated but no longer sick. In fact, I was hungry. Looking down, I had a shock. My body was that of a very fat man. My fingers – I held them up – were stocky. My vast stomach blocked my view of my feet. There was a weight on my head. Reaching up, I felt a band of metal. A moment later I held it in my hands. A crown of gold with diamonds and rubies.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtNE5rz1a2o
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiMREak8adU
'Where am I?' My voice was different too. Deeper, somewhat older than my own.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVr5l8iIInW
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXV1VIwESLR
The three people looked at each other and the concern on their faces shifted to becoming signs of excitement.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOKTrJ87lNM
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHMIljBK3uY
The woman smiled and stepped over to offer her hand, which I shook. Perhaps I was supposed to kiss the back of it as for a moment she looked surprised. Then she spoke with a gentle voice, 'welcome Sean, I am Carlena and you are in my tower, in the town of Carrick, in the kingdom of Greyland, in the world of Regnia. You have been summoned to replace a king who was leading us to disaster. Please forgive us if this is undesired on your part. We will make it worth your while.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcRR4MbT6w7
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNPH8B3v3xz
The bearded man fidgeted anxiously at my side. 'Now, sire. My name is Chancellor Parrin. If you would, please look up at the roof and raise your right arm, what do you see?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWtBwgGVF1o
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvnvLbqWtHz
The roof was a dull, near-black set of planks and I was about to say so when I reached up and a menu of tables filled with silver words cascaded down to hover about three feet away from me.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWmh6mvcDuZ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAKuJ5na9K0
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5UkNxb66nF
Greyland548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmW2koEmTVN
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2DGLJxoNUm
Economy Military People548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡADqscukuJ2
Currently building: granary level 2548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6u6cWIGkza
Monthly trade income: 0548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ87ybHrCtvk
Monthly tax income: 54548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTVG9KSSH70
Research: steel pickaxes
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0owb6OHPoK
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡD2X6qf4eb3
And a lot more that I didn't take in.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5lP8Wmbr7O
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNtzlhSy75K
'What was that?' I blurted out in surprise. 'Those messages in the air?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdUv9Jlaefw
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOYhpuVw602
'Oh, how marvellous,' the elderly man – Chancellor Parrin – brought his hands together in front of his chest: half a prayer, half a clap. 'You can access the kingdom's menu. We had very much been afraid that you would not be able to do so. And that would have been catastrophic. But matters are so desperate, we had to take the risk that bringing you here, into the king's body, would not cut us off from the realm controls.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNO6OSPUa5y
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjspukSvo2
'So this is a game? But it's so real.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL41NHmXHjq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKEJzVpzV8f
'A game? To you, perhaps, but this is our world.' The woman looked intently at me through startling indigo eyes, 'our lives are at stake.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpF08stS7yp
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZgIA7M3nuA
'Sire,' touching my arm, Chancellor Parrin gave me a grin that was probably supposed to be encouraging. It wasn't. 'If our spell located you correctly, you are the foremost warrior and strategist of your own world?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXbhmUdvWY7
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPpSnz0lu0i
I had been experiencing some anger at the thought that if this was true – and it certainly felt completely real – these people were effectively kidnappers. But at this I had to laugh. 'I'm a student of Occupational Therapy not… oh… wait. In Storm Wars, maybe I am. My warrior was maxed at level one hundred.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAycmWUsTNt
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQMoNBO94oB
For once, it was their turn to look puzzled.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKx1RFbM7Pl
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfPqRdeUgEU
'You can fight, sire?' The man in chainmail came closer, speaking with urgency. 'You can lead us to victory in war?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4M2C4LOxdH
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡimKfyfW6IM
'Sure. No problem.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNjitzlqHPf
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4KcgnmJOwn
The relief in the room was palpable. Everyone was distinctly more relaxed and their smiles were genuine. Probably mine was too. Admittedly, I knew very little about military command, but I was good at RPGs and assuming this was an RPG, they'd gotten hold of the right guy.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0buZeNKtDu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfzi2nhz12f
'Then,' said the chancellor, 'let us go somewhere more comfortable and explain the dire crisis faced by our kingdom.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOjBlaKXtyU
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAkj6P7Ort0
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRGw3BOGeSB
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaV2U9EjjkA
***
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡScmGj5TWaS
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ26dJ2fKoqq
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfAYx909Cso
By the time we reached a large room with a huge map spread out on a table in the centre of it, I'd learned the name of the soldier – Lord Arval – and reached several conclusions.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBUmgTOByMK
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFYXoL70AiZ
First, I absolutely hated this body. It was immensely fat and slow and made even walking up five steps a task that sapped my energy and made me breathless. It was also useless for fighting. Yes, probably this guy I was inhabiting was stronger than me and probably too, he had an ability to soak up blows, but he was so ponderous and lumbering that no opponent would have any trouble killing him. I wouldn't back myself against the kid I'd seen sweeping the halls. Plus, he reeked of stale body odour; his hair was greasy (I made the mistake of touching it); and he had sores and bites on his globular skin that I felt as incessant itches.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6yFNJRYTh
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtUXdccf384
Second, this definitely was real. No game could get you to sweat and feel the signals of discomfort that this body was giving me. The ambient sounds alone, or the subtle scents, were too much for a game. Just possibly, I had somehow been hypnotised. But when Carlena had said that she had cast a spell to exchange my consciousness with the previous owner of this body, well, that had resonated with everything my senses were telling me.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ77h3rkhC1s
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaBEcvZUM2y
Thirdly, these people really needed me and feck it, I was going to embrace the challenge. Not only because at heart I was a decent guy and always responded to a call for help, but also because I was up for this. Having the task of saving this kingdom from its enemies energised me; motivated me in a way I hadn't felt for months. I needed this just as much as they needed me.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82nevoaqIP
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxgieLWzOGU
'This is our kingdom, Greyland,' Lord Arval placed a finger on the lower left part of the map. 'Three days ago, having lost a battle against a united army of two of our neighbours, we forfeited control of all this region,' he moved his finger, 'leaving us with just the capital and the territory around these mountains.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTeVBMPUBg6
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjH7ir6WqKL
I came to stand beside the soldier and studied the map for some time. It was detailed enough to give me a pretty good idea of the situation. We were easily the smallest kingdom of twenty-five in the bottom corner of a five-by-five grid. Worse, the region we had lost was farmland. The tiny patch labelled Greyland only consisted of hills, valleys and a mountain.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQTChhbOrge
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBXoTNyjBD
'Is the world a sphere?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmL0E4Gg1dc
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXoNg6KP9Hp
Lord Arval looked shocked; Carlena snorted with what might have been derision; and Chancellor Parrin raised his eyebrows in a pretty good expression of surprise.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB6avMw7NPk
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFDb8xNlNj
When Carlena saw that I was serious, she shook her head. 'No. It's as you see here.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzoFgEDsdgQ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡe2mQoe3q9F
There was a small section of sea around the entire world. I gestured to it. 'What happens if you sail off the edge?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiEDsmsr8mZ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2LGNRcuBoM
It was the Sorceress who answered, 'some say there are other realms beyond the mist. But no ship can survive the thundering torrents.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4wFGnNNgC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo7UEVv2DIP
'Well, at least we have one flank secure.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKh9mdjsbip
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNHPO3mSlgh
'Indeed, sire.' Lord Arval gave me a nod. 'Although sea invasion is possible. There is enough sea room for an enemy fleet to avoid the current that draws you to the edge.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr30HwWGXvo
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8GYSBPgeOH
I lifted my fleshy right arm and pointed up. Immediately the silver menus cascaded in front of my vision.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9XebPIWGKI
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡid2k2G6RAf
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKLgFgreOpd
Greyland548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0Q0BCUCkTb
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuqqWMtq9ZS
Economy Military People
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjQHjW1f8BE
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYbkkEzhnS4
I didn't open any of the three sub-menus. Instead, I swept them away with a gesture and raised my left arm. A new menu appeared.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcVOupIbx8G
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4pAlEnjnWY
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xxbkwO2S0
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6CEetlOlks
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm3C04N8djI
Str 7548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaHw4mWJ6f
Dex 4548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSwQDbE1pO1
Con 8548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOg9S49sqj1
Int 16548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIX2vQIHf6W
Wis 16548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡm5h1uI3xtc
Cha 3548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXDlwfVtL7h
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyo6RJTxOq6
Please choose a character archetype:548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtbjW7dqS1B
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLfYIbJXZNQ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡPHQ4Cxj69u
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlLToL1LGF
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66tzziChG7
Interesting. Charisma 3 though. I waved it away. 'Can I improve my stats by exercise?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7kGb71zZPY
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVvpcZeqMmo
'Sire?' Chancellor Parrin had wrinkles in his face that fell naturally into an expression of uncertainty.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTdb3pMAKX
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcWY7shbWYj
'I've just called up my character sheet. My Strength is seven. Can I get it to eight by working out with weights?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4r5fEqpkg
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3pvI9LswbX
Lord Arval looked to Carlena, who shook her head. Not so much as to answer me but to say she didn't know.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVsOyjOzWHL
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxf12dl8adh
'King Carlos kept his powers secret.' It was Chancellor Parrin who answered me. 'We know he had access to menus for himself and for the realm, but he never, ever spoke about them. He was… He feared…'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrr1Acr1USu
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeivSnwmrYS
'He was a useless tyrant who bullied us all, knowing we couldn't replace him because he was the only one with the power to make decisions for the kingdom.' Carlena gave a bitter smile, 'but I found a way to get rid of him and still allow planning for our realm. I found you.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFly11kNX7A
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO61Rll8fw0
'Can you see your own levels and stats?' While I was interested in learning about my predecessor, I didn't want to change the subject. My focus right now had to be on understanding whether this world was like RPGs I was familiar with. In particular, if I was stuck with those starting stats, I'd have to choose Wizard or Healer archetypes. If, however, I could get my Strength and Constitution to rise somehow, I'd opt for Fighter. I wanted to be a Fighter, but if I was stuck with this body and those stats, choosing Fighter would be a complete disaster.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHzqeVKsv91
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBliYErvZGK
'No, but I believe the king could. I know from my spells that I'm level seven Paladin,' said Lord Arval, 'but he never told me my stats and skills.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyie3GZTxhh
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡb98IA3jtY8
Carlena nodded, 'King Carlos was a liar, but I know that when he said I was a level nine Sorceress, he was telling the truth. I get one new spell per level and I have nine spells.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8KH01fn3n
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxxUY9MoPhx
'And that I'm a level five Scout,' Chancellor Parrin gave a shrug. 'I certain I'm above that, however.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8ziffaovrQ
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCQrgOyfDEp
'Interesting.' I tried pointing at Chancellor Parrin in the hope of calling up some information about him. Then simply concentrating, looking into his eyes. Nothing changed. 'Oh well. I need to conduct an experiment. Can you assign me a trainer to work on my Strength?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEmuUIaHD76
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhdwCdG55Pg
'Now sire?' asked the chancellor, 'it's late.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkQ6uoe2hCC
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNEuXUHUjpj
'In the morning then.' This body certainly felt tired. 'For now can I get a bath, fresh sheets on my bed and a clean set of clothes.'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfOownRYiO2
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2bqFpCmfgF
This request caused Lord Arval to chuckle and soon Chancellor Parrin and Carlena were doing their best not to grin.548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmTjKNRaG19
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡH4d6kPMyt0
'What?'548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqhFmtZ7MqL
548Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVCK7C0svnE
'Whoever you are, Sean de Courcy, you are certainly not King Carlos.'
