Congratulations! You have been selected by the 'OLD ONES' as a player for the PERK SYSTEM.

Please select an option.

[Continue] or [Decline (Die)]

I rubbed my eyes. What the hell was I seeing? I could not say that I had never seen anything like this before as I did indeed read novels and play video games. The concept of reincarnation through a videogame was intriguing, to say the least. I decided not to ponder too much on it and decided to give it a go as I did not want to die.

[Continue] Selected.

Welcome to the PERK SYSTEM. The system was created specifically for a mortal of your understanding. As the divines cannot simply give power out for free a system was created in order to barter for divine blessings or PERKs.

I blinked at the message. I soon noticed that something was gravely wrong. I looked left and right, swaying in my gaze, yet I did not see my body or anything at all. I could not see anything but the screen in front of me. As if it read my mind, the screen spoke.

Your mortal body has yet to be 'chosen', dependent on the choices you make in the customization.

I calmed down just a little bit. I decided not to think too hard on the fact that I would most likely take over a 'chosen' body of someone, better them than me. What was the perk system anyways?

The PERK SYSTEM is a store where the player can exchange currency for powers. As the chosen one, you will get a random special PERK for free as the 'OLD ONES' want at least some amusement and would not leave you helpless.

I got excited at the mention of powers. Regardless of what hell this system was planning on having me endure, I would gladly embrace fire, ash and steel. Who were these 'Old Ones' that the system kept on mentioning?

The OLD ONES are the elder spirits and deities of the world of Planetos. They are the trees and roots of the world. They are both chaos and order. They shape life how they see fit. Further information will be revealed later.

I nodded at the message. I got slightly excited to see that the world that I would enter would be one of my favourites. Don't get me wrong, the world of ice and fire is dangerous, however, it is only really dangerous to those who play the game and those who dabble in arts which are dangerous. Unlike the majority of the world, I was educated much more than the greatest maester, who would only have a medieval education. Just my speech alone should fool even nobles to think that I'm of some importance. The powers are just icing on the cake.

Character 'Creation'

[Male] or [Female]

I shouted 'male' so fast and loud the voice echoed for a moment of two. I breathed heavily for a few moments, no doubt in my mind that I would be red-faced if I still had a face. This was not going to be one of those weird gender-bending games. If that happened I would probably jump off the nearest cliff to end the suffering. I shook my head.

Choose starting continent:

Westeros (The lands beyond the wall are not fully known.)

Essos (Majority of continent known.)

Sothoryos (Rumoured to be as big as Essos. Only the coast is known.)

Ulthos (Almost completely unknown landmass.)

Unknown Part (Start in a place not known. Warning: not recommended.)

I thought for minutes on which place to begin. The unknown part was completely thrown out, hell even the system didn't recommend it. I wouldn't want to end up in some devilish place where rituals of the night took place. Ulthos was thrown out for that same reason, as well as the fact that it was so close to Asshai and I was staying the hell away from that place as long as I could.

Essos was out due to the rampant slavery and the general amount of dangerous shit there. There were too many knives there for my liking. Sothoryos might at first seem cool as there were wyverns there, but make no mistake, it was a land of pestilence. Nine out of ten people there would contract some disease and half of those would die, the other half would wish they had died. The local people were also cannibals and strange pig-like men. I would like to visit Sothoryos, however, not while I was weak.

Westeros wasn't actually that bad. If you played your cards right you could be very powerful. However, the key to winning in Westeros is to not become a person of power, to instead influence that person of power from the shadows. You could still become a powerful person, just not set your eyes on that cursed throne and you would be fine.

[Westeros] Selected.

Please select region:

Beyond the Wall (1 extra special PERK point awarded)

The North

The Iron Islands

The Riverlands

The Vale

The Westerlands

The Crownlands

The Stormlands

The Reach

Dorne

As I viewed the options I was slightly conflicted. The extra perk point was tempting, but the dangers of being a wildling were so great that it wasn't worth it. Plus what if the Others could somehow sense I knew of them and the fate that was to come. Also, someone might kill me if I end up taking over someone's body and start acting differently as skinchanging is very real beyond the wall and although I know it's not really possible for just any person to enter the mind of a person, the wildlings believe that skinchangers can, even though it is taboo even to them.

The Iron Islands were completely thrown out, no question about it. I had no desire to rape and pillage. The Riverlands were a nice place to live normally, however it was unfortunately located in the middle of Westeros and as such wars always seemed to be fought in its lands. The Westerlands were dismissed due to Tywin and the fact that 'The Mountain' lived there. The Mountain was so horrible he would even rape and kill his own subjects.

The vale was actually alright. I could see myself among the more passive lords there, however that crazy bitch Lysa Arryn was ruler there and I did not want any part in Peter's games. Dorne and the Crownlands were too treacherous for my taste, too much politics. Even though Doran Martell was a genius seemingly in name only, as he had yet to really do anything, he was still too dangerous. The Crownlands were dismissed simply because I was staying the hell away from the bloody Lannisters and 'The Spider' seemingly hated sorcery and I would catch his ire if he caught wind of my abilities.

The Reach was okay until they would undoubtedly get burned to the ground. They also had the 'Faith' which again would not tolerate sorcery. I sighed deeply, the majority of this world looked at magic as if it were an abomination, it instead is how you use the gifts you were given that would mark you as good or evil. I decided against the Stormlands as I really didn't want to get mixed up in a bullshit succession war and the fact that Renly really had no claim to the throne. As much as people hate on Stannis, he actually was the true king, however, no one really acknowledged the fact.

With all that in mind, I selected 'The North' as it was more tolerant of magic than other places as the First Men did possess magic in their blood through interbreeding with the 'Children'. Also, I did like the Stark children and even though they could be dark at times, the light they shone outweighed it. Also, the family was one of prophecy and hopefully, my place and my own journey could be discovered along the way.

[The North] Selected.

Choose social standing:

Noble (50% chance of being crippled or deformed. 90% chance of belonging to a minor house.)

Bastard (Smallfolk and nobles hate you alike. Does not mean you will be an acknowledged bastard. 1 minor PERK awarded. Will start off with coin.)

Commoner (People will disrespect you, however, you are in charge of your destiny. Greater respect among the smallfolk. 2 minor PERKs awarded.)

Goddamn, I didn't want to be a noble, but with those negatives, I certainly wouldn't choose it now. Besides this is a time for me to make my own name and have it be told as a song for ages to come. What are minor perks anyway?

Special PERKs are supernatural mutations that alter your body to become something more than it once was. Magical abilities fall under this. Minor PERKs consist of altering your body to grant abilities you could have earned in time. Weapon masteries and skills like hunting or crafting fall under this. You may combine minor Perks to increase mastery of a skill.

I was getting more and more excited by the second. Being a bastard would be absolutely horrible, especially if I wasn't acknowledged as then I would basically be a commoner with a target on my back. Plus the only acknowledged bastards that I remembered were Jon and Ramsay and somehow I highly doubt that I would be reborn as Jon. Even the sliver of a chance that I would take on the form of a Bolton convinced me to choose the commoner path.

[Commoner] Selected.

Character Creation now complete. Please select 2 minor PERKs from the list below or use both to increase mastery of one skill. 5 Years of mastery will be added to your body and mind for each skill.

Hunting (Can sneak up on animals much easier. Animals will be less skittish around you and will trust you more)

Tracking (Able to differentiate between different animal tracks. Able to spot the lightest of tracks)

Stealth (Can blend in the background. Lighter footsteps and nimble fingers)

Archery (Can always hit a still target, greater chance to hit moving ones)

Swordsmanship (Average Knight)

Blacksmithing (You have been an apprentice for some time, you can now forge iron and steel)

Negotiation (You have a silver tongue. Note: due to commoner status, will not be as effective on nobles)

Navigation (You can sail like the Ironborn)

Swimming (You can swim as well as any Ironborn. Ability to hold breath underwater increased)

Horsemanship (Average knight's horsemanship.)

There were a lot of choices here. All of them sounded good and all were skills that I needed in a medieval place like Westeros. Blacksmithing might seem like a good skill to have to make some coin, however, I did not want to just reduce my destiny to be a supporting character. Plus it was useless unless I had the materials to work with.

It would be easier to just steal a sword off a person or bandit. Navigation and swimming might have been good if I had chosen to become a reaver, but in the North, it was quite useless as there were not really any ships. I already knew basic hunting and tracking myself so I wouldn't waste my points on them.

To be honest, the only skills that appealed to me were the only ones that couldn't be learned easily. Swordsmanship and horsemanship. You couldn't really receive instruction in the sword unless you were really rich or a noble. Guards may be trained a little, but only to a level where they knew how to use the sword. Horsemanship because it really was the main travel method of this time and I didn't want to look like a fool. So I decided to choose both of them.

[Swordsmanship] and [Horsemanship] Selected.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have completed the customization.

You will now be transported to your 'new' body.

Warning: Magical mutation will occur as you are unconscious.

The system will remind the player that this is not a game. One lucky hit will kill the player as one hit would even kill a dragon. There will not be any quests except for ones that the player chooses to go on himself. This will be the last time that the player will interact with the system like this. From now on it will simply be an exchange shop. As is in this brutal world, magic and power often has the price of blood and death.

In order to gain PERK points, the player will have to kill and capture the souls of the fallen. This can only be done by consuming the heart of the fallen while the blood is still fresh and in the presence of moonlight. Every 10 sacrifices will earn you a minor PERK point and at 100 sacrifices you shall be given a special PERK. However, certain events shall gift you with a special mutation, not all these events will be pleasant.

The system wishes you luck, for now, oblivion awaits.

I had no time to process the fact that I would soon become a cannibal in this twisted adventure. As soon as the system bade me farewell I felt a fiery pain that soon consumed me. I could only taste of fire and ash, of life and death. Soon the blackness of night and the unknown seemed to take over my consciousness and I seemed to fade.

When I woke up, I felt unsteady and in pain. I soon shook myself out of my stupor as I felt wet grass around me and as the morning dew invaded my senses. "Where am I? W-what happened to me?" I stammered out as tried to remember why I was in a forest of massive proportions.

As I observed my environment, I noticed something was off about me. As I brought my hand towards my face I noticed my skin was different, not only was it pale, almost deathly so, but it was seemingly more rough as if it was struck by sandpaper. I brought my hand toward my face and pulled at the locks in my hair. I pulled a long black lock of hair, so black it seemed as if was burnt.

I noticed my clothing and it was strange, to say the least. I seemed to be wearing furs and a gambeson of some sort. Then all of a sudden, memories seemed to assault my mind and I almost screamed out. At the end of it, I remembered everything and more. I remembered of the system and man whose body I now claimed for my own. Griffith was his name and other than hunting, he seemingly lived a boring life, except he dreamed of exploring the world and unravelling mysteries that are clouded in darkness. I would fulfill these dreams in honour of the fallen soul. It was the least that could be done.

Luckily it seemed as he had no family left, all having died in wars. An awful thing to be thankful for I'm sure, but I could not risk being seen as different by those close to the original body. I noticed I had a bow and a steel dagger with me so I would not be defenceless. I was weary so I decided to rest against the trunk of a tree.

"Ah, it has all gone to shit, hasn't it?" I asked myself as I sighed heavily.

I looked on in the distance, I was doing it unconsciously, but as I stared ahead I imagined the area and soon I felt like I was ripped from space and time as I seemingly appeared in that area. I looked left and right and I was indeed in another place.

"What the hell!" I shouted out in disbelief. This could only have been the cause of some sorcery. In that moment I was answered.

Special PERK gained.

Blink:

The journey of a thousand miles starts with but a single step and you have to travel much further in your quest for destiny. You have traversed through dimensions and as such you have found shortcuts in your travels. Ability to instantly travel between places without traversing the space in between. Can teleport anywhere in a radius of 100 meters around the player. This distance cannot be increased, however, it can be used as much as you want. To activate, just think of an area around you and 'blink'.

I rubbed my eyes at the message. The knowledge of everything relating to the ability seemed to travel towards my mind and I stood there stunned. I tried it a few more times and each time I felt more and confident in my abilities.

I suddenly remembered that the year was 296 AC and that there would be a tourney soon enough in Winterfell as there was yearly to boost morale in the North. I had one year to boost my abilities and grow my strength, I may have had reservations about consuming hearts and sacrificing people, but in this dark world, it could be considered a mercy for those pitiful souls.

As I was contemplating morals, I heard a howl in the distance followed by more. I grabbed my dagger and prepared myself for the battle to come. This was certainly an interesting introduction to the world of ice and fire.