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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvek2kHS7cl
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOmxghV4R9Z
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUpT1cXIX04
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡml0huttiD0
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs7RwfzcYnt
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHcaOoe1cHI
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdeyRfBJZ51
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRpnmzv0N7i
Str 7848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAQ99N45FK5
Dex 4848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJtM4Q0TC0N
Con 8848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQztJeNjDAu
Int 16848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJqgU1PT9PY
Wis 16848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡAxzFlSam9i
Cha 4848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaDpEVcYqCQ
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY1y8FqHCmY
Please choose a character archetype:848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIQLB8qrPrB
Fighter; Wizard; Healer; Scout848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtIGwXAM7Ue
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHvn6ekX6Sz
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡd0LaYBZUiC
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ19Qd21337x
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxmJa1jeByB
Then I noticed the final attribute, Charisma. It had gone from 3 to 4. Yes! Yes! And again Yes!848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRwlW2G5SPM
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1yzY2yXAw3
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 8.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdf8YGeuIYv
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmxQaU3v2XF
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQAoK9wPVZ4
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ78aDEr982b
I selected Fighter and got a message:848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡU2XfuGkQTy
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡZlWbLRUWVJ
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIbjdzzYhPX
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvaO1dkT4c6
You will also unlock new skills by discovering them through action. For now, you have 10 skill points to assign among the following:848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡeFiQQDYg2l
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTDIPicWoAU
Bash: action, shield users only, additional attack with shield848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2ac70wpSvO
Block: passive, shield users only, wards melee attacks if successful848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoe4lugmeWO
Deflect: passive, shield users only, wards missile attacks if successful848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQgxf9rPKFb
Defensive Stance: passive, reduces damage of hits received if successful848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9C2Gs3sH7h
Dodge: passive, avoid an opponent's attack848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡs9mUk8SSsA
Grapple: action, unarmed attack that restricts opponent if successful848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ50XMJQBXHR
Lunge: action, pointed weapons only, additional attack at up to +1m range848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqcPmyrBjrC
Parry: passive, intercept your opponent's attack with your main hand weapon848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxn3eNaARco
Quick draw: action, produce hidden or sheathed weapon848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOBFtJPahD
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡnxBktHEscY
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1DypnAj9Ry
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBATgNkSXa9
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEVVKROMO7D
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡusAkXfFN3P
Skills are capped at Level x 5848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2QHeM6uzhK
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpzVNRtcJVq
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaeirtrDddx
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzOQ9rL58h2
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡde7M7VwS97
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5Mow9q8RFs
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NYZ4qpAfS
Sean de Courcy, king of Greyland848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoubptAhTyy
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrd6bxvAjsd
Fighter, Level 1 HP 8 AC 0848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡx9Wf2oH5Y0
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ86jrnLx7aK
Str 7848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Z5POG98Ic
Dex 4848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUIMcwiM7KW
Con 8848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQw5qyBWgup
Int 16848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ66wHr5Jd6V
Wis 16848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqdTyts02V7
Cha 4848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡutp6KVagHW
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFKOyTb61Do
Lunge 5848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwPwOIbgaTU
Parry 5848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUP9AffdgWt
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvPGjnaTu3C
Exp 5/100848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlC78iegc2X
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsSC8gko1oP
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVrO439CeXC
With the help of the PCs in Greyland, I should be able to level up fast.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ88g5pHOhn6
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVpvCDqDL2T
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡow9KRPvYIs
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhNXBr0tOEt
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLR06ig48nB
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQFjp2yCeqw
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYrY0Dbwz5f
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbu3SQ5F815
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7R7ZMHPmci
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡyYdajnkzUK
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUoFiMpcghJ
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7VC6H1OQ3S
'How are you today sire? Able to continue?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3aXkE7gUCc
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtXMFRGZBIL
'Stiff, but yes.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxssEYpguzq
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7BCF4KH4tS
'I suggest another march then. Sixty circuits.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbFiYCFmmLo
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhQtwFCwE3L
'Right so. Before I set off, I've a question you might know the answer to.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJnI4u2Qyc8
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBR6nLPb0mn
He looked at me expectantly.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVLsZLCcoa2
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMAWBvQapQt
'I just learned the Lunge skill. Do you know how I utilise it?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXlt0xOzU86
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3J67tWfcMp
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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaRmDrxKRAK
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡUxnCy22b5b
'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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡezl23cl0rm
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQbOzVsdjEM
On lap six, Lord Arval fell in step. 'Sire?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡY6qadlTP42
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡR8hckdXG6O
'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?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMmZ00E1bdq
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbagKApB71n
'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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLNwZOPy753
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoYcpDMPC00
I nodded, hands swinging like pendulum weights as I strode determinedly around the square.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtK5UWphswZ
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrqlwHpWzgB
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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRbklDroNzg
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEnciW1jq6y
'Good. I'll be done here by midday, come with me this afternoon and show me these quests.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡk1qDOfhUDh
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡy2RoTFmlRh
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?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡFZ6rEwTjjl
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ74ww1yd94E
I caught his – grey – eyes and gave the slightest of nods.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡkfhPLdZWw2
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0IYVStAqeO
'Very good sire,' Lord Arval spoke loudly and deferentially. 'As you ask, so it will be.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOpvh59nZyF
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡB3A2UJ32pJ
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlItNjz00yn
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwoGEWfQMPR
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBaZhm5OZHu
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRsWjySMEDJ
'You wanted me to help with quests?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡE1oiW7FU9i
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCvuHKjVTTN
'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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp0colTsrgn
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡBN1n3evG4G
'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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRcFN5Nc6fQ
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTWbT9TVDUw
'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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtM6VaoOe0X
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMOvUGO2P08
'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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWV9FV7uUr8
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCCpfCu96Dw
'He was a thug, right?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡfa2L8QOrL4
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQJQr3pvNWJ
'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.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2OTCGaHvFY
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ96xnYRM0XI
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Ff8nRqQkX
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoP5hrIaINF
'In there is a female baker who needs a large rat killed.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzO4dCR6oDc
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡySZ4QWfSai
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiIVO6vFxuT
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJOyl5MDAZo
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!'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡaT4sIEthPp
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2auqtxmUIS
'I believe you have a problem with a rat?'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0wWm8hVCUV
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKKBJ6rAGxm
No one moved or spoke, until the boy dropped his brush and ran. Then the woman did the same.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYIjFjLtNp
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ20AzQKjNCL
'Guards!' yelled Carlena. When two soldiers came running, she instructed them to bring the baker back.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi9IBp1N22z
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgC0FkEHOQu
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?848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ44ycVL1B7y
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡSKKV5MYn9f
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.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1kLOxYxxuX
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlj2hyCWZnD
'You have a task?' I asked.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTbEVTmQcG3
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvRvJxri6Ky
'But…' she was looking at the floor. 'But… you've already done it.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡiVhAwdYqWC
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡCGgDa0E4z9
I shot a glance of alarm at Carlena who remained perfectly impassive. No doubt for the benefit of the guards.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYsX7epUp6A
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡM9Rjy34j0u
'Give it to me again.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwfCzETCNH5
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRRd20yV6LO
'I can't sire, I really can't. Please don't kill me, I have three children.'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡztO7h5nZEg
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdpxXNktG2E
'Just try. Just say the words. I'm sure it will work. Go ahead!'848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8Sxc45Oadf
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoawEqZtwmY
But she couldn't. Her mouth opened and closed without a sound coming out. Tears ran down her face.848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ79mesoDda4
848Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3NKZLUghuS
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.
and then Add to home screen.