Year of the RPG: Kingdom Come, Delivered

Athena opened the great wooden doors to find a very haggard-looking man standing in the doorway. He looked like he had recently tried to wash himself in a water trough, and his clothes were dusty. He handed the letter to Athena without a word, tipped his hat, and disappeared back down the path. Puzzled, Athena broke the unfamiliar wax seal and began to read.

To Athena, seeker of understanding and patron to adventurers, from the Lady Stephanie of Talmberg, greetings.

I hope this letter finds you in good health, and I pray that God smiles kindly on you and those you hold dear. I have been compelled to write to you on behalf of a young man I have met, and I urge to to hear my words, that you may assist in his journey and, I pray, protect him wherever he may travel.

The son of a blacksmith, Henry by name, has been brought to me in his darkest hour, after the death of his poor, kindly parents. I say he is brought to me, but it is indeed I who sought him out, seeing a kindred spirit in him and a common heart in our losses. After speaking with him, I was moved to write on his behalf, although I am sure that, were he able, he would contact you himself.

I ask not that you ponder too long on how I have come to this information, but rather that you see Henry’s plight for yourself in the included images.

So much of Henry’s life was spent in Skallitz, working with his father, the master blacksmith, and while he wished for something more, he was, in the end, more content with his lot than he ever truly expressed.

An eager and bright young man, Henry was interested in learning swordsmanship, and I fear that his skills, merely beginning to develop, were put to the test far too soon. He escaped a dreadful attack on his home with barely his life, although he did bravely save a young woman of about his age from a terrible fate, for which I am sure she is grateful. Such is the heart of a hero, I imagine; afraid, in the throes of self-preservation, but willing to turn back to save another soul.

His flight brought him first to Talmberg, where my lord Sir Divish, and Sir Robard, protected him most gallantly and cleverly when the invading army came to call. Such are the times, I fear.

Henry did manage to get himself into some trouble; I believe he was trying to escape to return to Skallitz and bury his poor parents, but the guards caught him attempting to steal one of their uniforms, and instead of simply leaving the guardhouse, Henry somehow wound up in a fist-fight with them. While he fought bravely, he truly was foolish. Had he stayed and behaved himself, he may have had a horse at his disposal, as well as fewer bruises.

But no matter. Upon returning to Skallitz, I am told that he had a run-in with some of the brutes from the attacking army. Sir Robard arrived only in the nick of time to save him, with the young woman whom Henry had saved appearing suddenly to return the favor.

She also buried Henry’s poor parents for him, as he was gravely injured from his attack. And so he was brought, eventually, to Rattay, after the young mill maid patched him up.

He has since been busy, working with the guard called the Nightingale to keep order in Rattay, and has gone hunting with the young noble Sir Hans Capon, who, by all accounts, is… not the man his father was, nor the man Sir Hanush, his uncle and acting lord of Rattay.

I feel for poor Henry. He is slowly progressing through his journey, but complains often of headaches and a queasy feeling in his stomach. I wonder sometimes if the stress he has imposed on himself to become the squire of Lord Radzig, to avenge his parents, and to find his father’s sword, lost when he was attacked in Skallitz, is too much for one soul to bear. Or perhaps it is an illness of which I do not know the name.

In either case, I hope the remainder of Henry’s journeys pass smoothly for him. I will write to you the instant I hear of any more news. I know we have never met, but I truly believe that you will look out for Henry on his journeys.

Humbly, your most loyal servant,

Lady Stephanie of Talmberg

Have you played Kingdom Come: Deliverance? What have you thought of it/thought of it so far? Do you have any tips for poor Henry as he tries to survive first-person sickness whatever is ailing him? Let me know in the comments!

Thanks for stopping by, and I’ll see you soon!
~ Athena

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