The words hung in the air. Jade's stomach twisted as he stared at Yuzon, who looked like he'd just solved a math problem that ended with "we're doomed." The bandit's sword, its wolf-head hilt glinting in the sunlight, seemed to mock them. The village buzzed with villagers hauling away the unconscious bandits, their chatter a mix of gratitude and grumbling, but Jade's crew was frozen, grappling with Yuzon's bombshell.
"Okay, hold up," Nathaniel said, his voice cracking as he waved his hands like he could shoo away the idea. "You're saying we're inside Bannerlord? Like, the game we were playing last night? That's insane! Games don't just… suck you in!"
"Tell that to the guy who tried to turn me into a kebab," Numerius said, kicking at the dirt. His bent pitchfork leaned against the stone wall, looking as defeated as he felt. "That wasn't a controller in my hand, Nate. That was real sweat, real pain."
Jade's mind raced, trying to piece it together. The village, the fields, the bandits, it all matched Calradia's vibe, down to the gritty details. The air smelled of hay and smoke, not coded. His dagger, chipped and heavy, wasn't some high-res texture. And that "father" guy? His stick had left a real bruise. Jade rubbed his arm, wincing. "Yuzon, how sure are you?" he asked, hoping for a crack in the theory.
Yuzon crouched by the bandit's sword, tracing the wolf-head emblem with a trembling finger. "The Sturgian design is specific, curved hilt, etched runes. I've seen it a hundred times in-game. The village layout matches Pravend's outskirts, down to the well's position." He pointed to a stone well in the village square, its wooden bucket swinging slightly. "And the AI… I mean, the people here. They're too real, like the new update's NPC behavior, but… alive."
Mataranas, still catching his breath, squinted at the well. "So, what? We're in the game? How does that even happen?"
"Beats me," Yuzon said, standing up. "Could be some freak tech glitch with the update. Maybe Taleworlds' new engine tapped into some sci-fi nonsense we don't understand. Or…" He hesitated, his usual confidence faltering. "Maybe it's not tech. Maybe it's… something else."
"Something else?" Nathaniel's voice hit a new pitch. "Like what, magic? Aliens? A wizard with a grudge? Come on, Yuzon, you're the science guy! Give me logic!"
"I'm trying," Yuzon snapped, his calm cracking. "But logic's out the window when we're swinging pitchforks at bandits in a game world!"
"Guys, chill," Jade said, stepping between them. His heart was still pounding from the fight, but he forced his voice to stay steady. "We need to figure out what's going on and how to get back. If this is Calradia, we know the rules, right? We've played Bannerlord for years."
"Rules?" Nathaniel laughed, a bit unhinged. "Jade, in the game, I haggle for horses and scam merchants! I don't dodge actual swords! And what if we die here? No respawn, no loading screen…just dead!"
Numerius clapped Nathaniel on the shoulder, nearly knocking him over again. "Relax, Nate. We took down those bandits, didn't we? Total noobs, by the way. Lousy aim."
"Barely," Mataranas muttered, rubbing his sore arms. His shattered plank-shield lay in pieces by the wall. "My shield is kindling now. Next time, I need something better."
Jade nodded, his brain kicking in. "Okay, if this is Calradia, we treat it like a campaign. We stick together, gather resources, and figure out the goal. In-game, it's about building a warband, right? Maybe that's our ticket, play the game, win, get home."
"Win?" Nathaniel stared, incredulous. "Win what? Conquer Calradia? We're five idiots with farm tools! We're not exactly the Bannerlord Avengers."
Numerius puffing out his chest. "I'm ready to be a warlord. Gimme a castle, some ale, and I'm set."
Yuzon rolled his eyes but nodded. "Jade's got a point. If this is the game's world, there's a system to it, quests, factions, progression. We need to find a way, get better gear, and maybe find someone who knows what's happening. Like a lord or a sage."
"Or a tech support NPC," Nathaniel muttered, half-joking. "Maybe there's a log out button in a tavern somewhere."
The villagers were starting to regroup, dragging the unconscious bandits to a cart. The overseer stomped over, his switch still in hand but his scowl softened. "Not bad for a bunch of layabouts," he grunted, eyeing the group. "You held your own. Maybe you're not useless after all."
"Uh, thanks?" Jade said, unsure if it was a compliment. "What happens to those guys?" He nodded toward the bandits.
"Locked up till the lord decides," the overseer said. "Probably labor in the fields or a quick hanging. Bandits don't get much mercy around here." He paused, squinting at Jade. "You lot look spooked. What's eating you?"
Jade hesitated. Telling this guy they were from another world sounded like a one-way ticket to a medieval loony bin. "Just… not used to fighting," he said carefully. "We're, uh, new around here."
The overseer snorted. "New? You've been moping around this village your whole lives. Get over it. Work's done for today, clean up and eat. Don't make me drag you tomorrow." He stalked off, muttering about "soft youths."
"Well, he's a ray of sunshine," Numerius said, picking up his bent pitchfork. "So, what now? Dinner and a nap in this… game world?"
Jade scanned the village. The sun was dipping low, painting the fields orange. The villagers were heading to a long wooden hall where smoke rose from a chimney, carrying the faint smell of bread and stew. His stomach growled, and he realized he hadn't eaten anything but that awful bread all day. "Let's eat and talk to people. Maybe someone knows something weird."
"Or maybe we find a wizard," Nathaniel said, only half-kidding. "I'm still holding out for a magic portal home."
They trudged to the hall, their boots heavy with mud. Inside, it was warm and crowded, with long tables packed with villagers. The air smelled of stew, ale, and sweat. A few women ladled out bowls of something thick and brown, tossing in chunks of bread. The group grabbed a corner table, their ragtag tunics blending in, though their nervous glances didn't. Jade scanned the room, looking for anything or anyone that seemed out of place.
A grizzled man one of the militia with a scarred face sat nearby, sharpening a dagger. He caught Jade's eye and nodded, like he knew him. "Jade, you finally grow a spine out there?" he called, his voice rough but not unkind. "Heard you dropped a bandit. Not bad for a skinny kid."
"Uh, yeah," Jade said, forcing a smile. "Just… helping out." He leaned toward his friends, whispering, "Okay, that's creepy. Everyone knows us."
"Maybe we're NPCs," Numerius said through a mouthful of stew, which he was devouring like it was a five-star meal. "Like, we've got backstories programmed in. I bet I'm the village heartthrob."
"You're the village oaf," Nathaniel shot back, poking at his stew like it might attack him. "This stuff tastes like dirt. I miss pizza."
Yuzon ignored them, his eyes on the villagers. "They think we belong here. That means we've got roles, probably peasants, given the clothes. If we're in Calradia, we need to climb the ladder. Get to a city, find a lord, maybe join a faction."
Mataranas nodded, slurping his stew. "Sounds like work. But better than farming."
Jade leaned back, his mind spinning. If this was Bannerlord, they'd need more than rusty tools to survive. Bandits were one thing. Calradia had wars, sieges, and lords who'd cut your throat for looking at them funny. He glanced at his friends.. Nathaniel, Numerius, Yuzon, Mataranas. They weren't a warband yet, but they'd have to become one.
"Alright," Jade said, keeping his voice low. "Tonight, we rest and listen. Tomorrow, we find out more about this village, quests, rumors, anything that might explain why we're here. If this is Calradia, we play smart, like we did in the game."
"Minus the save-scumming," Nathaniel muttered. "No do-overs here."
"Exactly," Jade said, trying to sound confident. "So let's not screw it up."
As they ate, a young woman approached, her apron stained with flour. She set down a jug of ale, her eyes lingering on Jade. "Heard you fought well," she said, her voice soft but curious. "You don't seem like the usual rabble. Where'd you learn to fight?"
Jade froze, his spoon halfway to his mouth. "Uh… just… practice," he stammered, not sure how to explain 'hours of clicking a mouse.'
She raised an eyebrow but didn't press. "Well, keep it up. We need fighters. Bandits are getting bolder, and there's talk of worse, raiders from the north." She walked off, leaving Jade with a sinking feeling.
"Raiders?" Nathaniel whispered, his eyes wide. "That's Sturgian vibes. We're not ready for that!"
"We'll figure it out," Jade said, though his confidence was mostly bravado. He glanced at the door, where the scarred man was still watching them.