Westeros. Beginning

- Where am I? - consciousness slowly returned, eyes began to see something.

- You are in your castle, sir! - answered a voice creaking like sand on gears.

I was lying on the ground. There were several people standing around me and I did not recognize any of them. More precisely, the way they were dressed was no less surprising than the surroundings. And what I saw from behind people's backs drove my brain into a stupor better than my favorite single malt, which I opened on holidays with friends at my house, when we were going to play various board games like "Game of Thrones" and "D&D". And I saw some stone walls! Exactly! Someone said that I was in my castle. And also called me "sir". What was happening? The last thing I remember was crossing the street at a green light and a sharp screeching of brakes. Then darkness. And here I am somewhere... Where is this "somewhere"?

- Sir, how are you? Are you okay? - that voice again.

- Yes. Wait a minute. I feel strange, - I answered almost automatically.

I looked more closely at the one who asked me the question. Some gray-haired grandfather, with various chains around his neck. Maester? He did not hide his excitement - he sat next to me and held his hand on my forehead.

- Sir, it's good that you are okay. Our people and the entire castle really need you now! The dragon is about to hatch. You need to feed it urgently so that it will take you for its master. Let's go! Hurry up!

I carefully got up and followed this grandfather. We were right next to some entrance leading down. On the sides of the corridor, torches were lit, the shadows from which danced on the walls and ceiling.

After a few dozen meters and some turns, we reached a large hall. In the center, on the still reddening coals, lay an egg. There was a certain tension around, like before a thunderstorm. At first, silence, and then thunder was about to break. And he didn’t keep himself waiting! The egg cracked and a dragon’s head appeared from there, black as deep night. Or rather, a dragon cub! The size of a medium-sized dog. He finished breaking the shell, shook himself and saw me. He froze and began to look me straight in the eyes, slowly tilting his head left and right, as if checking whether I met his high dragon criteria.

- Sir, here’s a fish in the basket. Let him taste it, - the old man appeared next to me and handed me a basket of food.

- Thank you, - without looking, I took some fish and threw it straight into the dragon cub’s mouth. He deftly grabbed the food on the fly, roared with satisfaction, looked at me and then started eating.

- You have successfully tamed the dragon Darkfyre, - the inscription flashed right in front of me. I saw the same approach when I played VR games. So I'm in the game? In some VR environment? Or maybe I'm in the hospital and everything is so bad that I've been connected to VR because something is wrong with my body and it's being treated for now? And I can't interfere, so "play this for now"? Strange thing. Let's figure out what it is, since it works!

- Congratulations, sir! Now the dragon will be able to defend our castle and participate in attacks together with our fighters, - the old man was right there and took the basket of fish from me. - When you go outside, please look into the Barracks. We need new fighters. Our scouts spotted rebels near the castle, so you should direct your troops there. And your dragon still needs to grow, gain strength and learn a lot. By the way, what will you name him?

At that moment, a window opened before my eyes with the request: “Rename Dragon [Cancel/Use] x1”. Ah, so I have one scroll to rename the dragon. Great! Little dragon, you will be called Tiamat! Like the ancient goddess of chaos. And may this chaos swallow all your enemies when they meet you.

Looking closer, I saw that the dragon can be sent for a walk - fly around, hunt something and maybe find some useful things that it can drag into the castle treasury. Excellent! Let it fly.

- Tiamat, try a one hour flight first. If you manage it - I will let you fly longer and further next time. Agreed? - I spoke to the dragon as if he understood me. Although, who knows, maybe he is smart enough. In legends, dragons are the smartest creatures.

Tiamat growled contentedly and flew into the air, just in the direction of the exit from the hall, which was right above our heads.

Yes. Everything is gradually becoming clearer. And if I make a double ‘tap’ with my index finger in front of me like tapping the imaginary tablet? Will it work? Yes!

And I saw the inscription: Welcome to Westeros, shining lord! Exciting and mysterious adventures are waiting for you, battles and alliances with other players ahead, danger, common actions with others and solo tasks that only the bravest and most successful lord of Westeros will master. You can do it. Become a legend!

And here is a new request from the system ahead of me: “Choose your name, lord!”

I enter: Anthraxus

Accept.

Great! Now it's time for the Barracks. What's up with our troops? I got out of the underground hall and headed to the Barracks. Let's see what awaits me there…

This is how my journey in Westeros began. There's still a lot to learn. What kind of battles, what alliances were we talking about? And the castles of other players? Is it possible to interact with them somehow? Trade, fight, communicate with? If you attack, then how. And another very important thing is the economy. Because you definitely need money to maintain your soldiers. So: find out the economic part and combat. And what will happen if someone attacks my castle? Defense! I have to deal with it too.

I wonder what will happen next?

Well, let's start!