Chapter 1: A Modern Man in Westeros
The Unexpected Crash
Sam Wilson didn't exactly expect to be torn out of his perfectly normal Tuesday morning and dropped into a medieval landscape, but life, as he soon discovered, had a twisted sense of humor. One minute, he was sitting at his computer, playing a modded version of Mount & Blade II: Bannerlord, fending off a vicious group of bandits in Westeros. The next moment, he blinked, and the game screen began to warp.
"What the…?" Sam muttered, reaching for his monitor. He touched the screen, but instead of the cold glass of his computer, he felt a gust of wind—a strong, earthy wind that brought with it the unmistakable scent of grass, dust, and… manure?
Before he could make sense of the strange sensations, his vision went dark.
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Welcome to Westeros
When Sam opened his eyes again, he wasn't staring at his apartment walls or his high-tech gaming setup. He was lying on the ground, his head pounding, and surrounded by open fields under a blue, cloud-speckled sky. He scrambled to his feet, looking around wildly. The medieval clothing on his body, the leather boots, the faint metallic clinking from the dagger strapped to his side—all pointed to one alarming fact.
This wasn't Kansas. Or Brooklyn, or wherever he'd last lived. It was Westeros.
"Okay, calm down," he whispered to himself, hyperventilating a little. "You've seen this in anime and movies. Transmigration, right? Some god wants me here, or maybe I was reincarnated. Right?" He pinched himself hard. "Ow! Okay, not a dream."
As he staggered to his feet, a familiar-looking, transparent panel popped up in front of him.
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[SYSTEM INITIALIZED: Realm of Thrones Mod Active]
Welcome, Player! You are in Westeros. Please select your starting skill set:
Knight: Heavy armor and melee skills.
Archer: Long-range and survival skills.
Merchant: Trading and persuasion.
Rogue: Stealth and agility.
Sam blinked. "Holy… I have a system?! A system… in Westeros?"
The choices blinked impatiently. Sam thought hard. Sure, he loved watching Jaime Lannister swing a sword around, but realistically, he'd never lifted anything heavier than a gym barbell. And Westeros wasn't exactly forgiving. He needed something that would keep him alive.
"Uh… let's go with Merchant," he decided.
The system chimed as if pleased by his choice.
[Merchant Skill Set Selected]
Starting Traits: Trading +10, Charisma +5, and Persuasion +5.
Inventory Unlocked: Basic horse, 100 silver coins, and a dagger.
"Nice." Sam grinned. A small pouch with coins appeared at his hip, and he could suddenly feel the weight of a dagger in his belt. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. "Guess I'll be buying my way to survival."
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First Encounters
After hours of trudging through the countryside, Sam finally stumbled upon a small village with a stone wall, no doubt to keep out roving bandits and wolves. A few villagers gave him curious glances, eyeing his worn clothes and the awkward way he carried his dagger. He cleared his throat and decided to approach an elderly man stacking hay.
"Hey, uh, good day! Can you tell me where I am?"
The man squinted at him. "Where are ye? Yer in the Reach, south of Highgarden, boy."
"Highgarden… The Reach…" Sam muttered. He remembered these places from Game of Thrones and A Song of Ice and Fire. "Thanks! So, uh, any work around here?"
The old man chuckled. "If ye got a horse, ye can join the merchant caravan heading up to Oldtown. They always need another hand, if ye ain't squeamish."
Quest Alert!
Join the Caravan to Oldtown
Reward: +50 Silver Coins, chance to improve Trading skill.
Sam grinned. "A quest! All right, thank you, sir."
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Traveling with the Caravan
The next day, Sam mounted his new, somewhat stubborn horse and joined the caravan—a small group of traders, farmers, and their guards, all headed to Oldtown to sell wares. They didn't talk much, but that was fine with him; it gave him a chance to explore his system menu.
Under "Skills," he could see his current stats:
Sam Wilson - Merchant Class
Charisma: 5
Trading: 10
Persuasion: 5
Inventory: Basic horse, dagger, 50 silver coins
Not bad, but he was more intrigued by a section labeled "Companions." It was locked, with a tantalizing "Unlock at Level 5" tag hovering over it.
"Companions, huh? Wonder if I'll get my own band of misfits," Sam thought, chuckling.
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Trouble on the Road
Three days into their journey, trouble came, as Sam had somewhat expected in this harsh land. The caravan was ambushed by bandits—an unruly bunch with dirty cloaks, crude weapons, and an appetite for plunder. As they stormed down the hill, Sam's heart pounded, and his brain screamed, "Run!"
Quest Alert!
Survive the Bandit Attack
Reward: +2 XP to Agility if you survive.
Not exactly comforting.
"Stay back!" shouted one of the caravan guards, holding up a spear as he rallied the other fighters.
Sam took a few steps back, ducking behind a cart. His system menu glowed briefly, showing a new option: "Flee to the woods or stay and fight?"
Sam gritted his teeth. As much as he wanted to pick the "flee" option, he'd already made himself a bit of a target by joining the caravan. Abandoning them now wouldn't do much for his reputation, and if he wanted to get anywhere in Westeros, he'd need allies. He decided to fight, brandishing his dagger as best he could.
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Victory and an Unexpected Friend
With a mix of luck, brute force, and a few helpful distractions from the caravan guards, the group managed to fend off the bandits. Sam, panting and bruised, staggered back as the last of the attackers fled into the woods.
Quest Complete: Survive the Bandit Attack
Reward: +2 XP to Agility
"Well, that was… intense," he muttered, watching the bandits disappear.
One of the guards—a scarred man with a surprisingly friendly face—clapped him on the shoulder. "You handled yourself well, lad. Most merchants would have run."
"Well, I'm not most merchants," Sam replied, grinning. "I think this journey might be the start of something… interesting."
The guard nodded. "Oldtown's not far now. Stick with us, lad. You'll go far."
As they resumed their journey, Sam couldn't help but feel a thrill of excitement. He had a system, he'd survived his first encounter with Westeros' brutality, and he'd even earned a friend. It was the first step in his journey, and he had no idea what lay ahead.
But one thing was clear: Sam Wilson was ready to make a name for himself in the world of Westeros.
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End of Chapter 1