Chapter 1: Bastard of Winterfell

Jon was in a foul mood today, and his day started out so pleasant.

Waking up this morning he knew what the day had in store for him, he had finally reached his sixteenth name day.

Today he was man grown! By all customs of the First Men and Andals he had reached the age of majority and was free to make of his life whatever he wished.

But then things quickly took a turn for the worse.

At first no one even dained to mention his nameday, Jon never expected a feast of sorts to be thrown in his honor or anything, but for his Lord Father not to even bring it up or give him a silent congratulation.

Then to add to his day he ran amok with that squid. Ever since his Lord Father brought him home after the Greyjoy Rebellion, the two of them never got along, and their distaste for one another was palpable.

Some words were exchanged between them, but what Jon never expected was for his own brother to side with the squid.

Jon remembered a time when the two of them were inseparable, they would run freely around Winterfell causing all sorts of mischief, and no matter how much Lady Catelyn tried to split them they never left each other's company.

However, like he said before that all changed when Theon Greyjoy came to Winterfell. Robb befriended the squid who was smart enough to ingratiate himself into the company of the next Lord of Winterfell.

Although their brotherly bond of friendship and companionship never broke, Robb had been spending an awfully lot of time with the squid.

And it wasn't like Jon was jealous or anything or at least that was what he told himself. But it was sad to see that his brother was spending time with someone who might be their foe one day in the future.

That is why now here he was deep within the crypts of Winterfell, to try to clear his head or as some would jokingly put it brood on his own. Here and the Godswood were the only places he could find a piece of mind. He didn't know what attracted him to these places. Maybe it was his blood or his disposition of quiet, dreary places. But it was here that he could be himself far away from the judging eyes of others!

Suddenly as if out of the blue something appeared right before Jon's eyes.

[System Initializing...]

[Please Wait!]

...

...

Jon came to a skidding halt as he tried to wave away the words that appeared right before his face. Yet no matter how much hand waving he did, the words in bright blue colors refused to disappear.

The thoughts that were racing though his head was what kind of sorcery was this?

Then as if to answer his question more words appeared before his very eyes.

Welcome new player! You have been chosen at random from amongst the Multiverse as the new host of the Gamer System!

Jon read it and reread the prompt before him multiple times, but he couldn't make heads or tales of it. What did it mean by player, multiverse, gamer system?

They were such strange words he never heard about, and the litany of new prompts continued to appear unabated.

New Skills Gained!

[Gamer's Mind] - Allows the user to calmly and logically think things through. Allows a peaceful state of mind. Immunity to mental effects.

[Gamer's Body] - Grants a body that allows for the user to live the real world like a game. Sleeping in a bed restores HP, SP, MP and all other mass effects.

Before Jon could come to ahead with that he was seeing another prompt appeared that obstructed his view.

You have entered the (Ancient) Dungeon of the ‘Kings of Winter!’

WARNING!

It is advised that you flee this zone as soon as possible. This dungeon is way above your preferred leveling area!

This time instead of the bright blue wording he had gotten used to in so short of time, the words that were now dark red as if blood was dripping down with each syllable.

And to further add to the mix as soon as Jon was able to look around he saw he wasn't in the same place he was in before. Whereas before there were the old Lords of Winterfell looking down at him now there was hard, cold, iron men that seemed to be chiseled out of ice baring down at him with their gazes.

New Quest Alert!

You have found yourself in over your head. It's now time to turn tail and flee.

Objective: Escape the Dungeon!

Reward: Map of the crypts!

Failure: You will never be heard of again!

Reading the prompt, Jon didn’t like it one bit. He guessed he could understand the quest bit, though he had imagined it could only be found in Sansa’s fanciful tales of knights and maidens. But what the quest was implying was the worrying bit, this dungeon or whatever was very dangerous.

Just then Jon heard a screech come from around a bend in the tunnels. He came to a pause in the road, looking around where the sound originated from, but could find nothing. He was just about to continue on his way when a shadow suddenly came darting in his direction.

Before he even knew what hit him, the small form came bowling into him knocking the air right out of his lungs and making him fall backwards. Looking down at what struck him, Jon’s eyes nearly came popping off.

Right before him was a giant mangy rat the size of a hound, and very quickly Jon felt pain erupt across his chest as the beast was trying to bore right into him, biting and scratching with mania.

A couple more prompts appeared before his face, but Jon did his best to ignore it.

New Skill Gained!

[Observe] - Provides information on the target!

…

Giant Plague Rat - Lv.1

-2 HP

-3 HP

-1 HP

With a shout, he grabbed the scruff of the creature’s neck and tossed it to the side. He quickly got to his feet while grabbing his chest as blood dripped down it and he grimaced in pain.

Jon swore under his breath by the Old Gods what was that thing?

He knew the system, as it liked to call itself, had already told him what it was, but how in the hell could a rat grow so big?

All of the sudden Jon remembered the tall tales the Old Nan used to tell them of the crypts of Winterfell. Of how ghosts, ice spiders, and giant rats wandered these ancient halls. And how it went on forever and forever all the way down to the crypts of their family founder and then some.

Jon then recalled the warning, ‘you will never be heard of again!’ And he knew then, he had to get out of here quickly.

Once again, Jon heard that familiar screech as the giant rat came barreling towards him. In his anger and frustration Jon kicked out with all his might and he struck true. The giant rat bounced once against the wall then another time across the floor and came to a skidding halt.

Still that didn’t seem to be enough to put the beast down as it stood right back up drunkenly, however Jon saw that he did plenty of damage to it as it avoided using its left back leg. The rat stared at him with pure malice as its unnaturally dark green eyes glowed in the dark.

Having enough of this, Jon reached for his waist and pulled out his hunting knife. It was all he had for weaponry, so he better make the best out of it.

Then as if at some unknown signal, the two of them charged at each other. No matter how ferocious the rat was or how unusually big it was for its size in the end it was only a beast. With practice ease Jon stabbed the creature right in its neck, and it collapsed onto the ground, bleeding out on the floor.

Jon panted in and out while another one of these accursed screens appeared right before his face.

+3 EXP

New Skill Gained!

[Dagger Mastery] - Allows the user to freely handle daggers & knives. Increase in attack damage with daggers & knives.

The screen disappeared and Jon was finally left to his own thoughts. Nothing made sense anymore, and he couldn’t wrap his head around a single fact so far. However what was clear was that he needed to get out of here right now.

He had no clue what else was wandering these halls.

Jon grunted and looked down at his chest which had been bothering him this whole time. He could feel the fiery burn come off of it as if acid was eating away at his chest. Pulling back the thin strips left of his tunic, Jon groaned when he saw his chest.

The giant bugger really did a number on him, he chest was bleeding and somehow puss was wozzing out. He could tell when he saw an infection.

Looking about, Jon spotted a blue mushroom growing on the walls and ceiling. Grabbing a bunch of them, he mashed them in his mouth then tore a long strip from his shirt since it was already ruined, leaving him all but bare chested with only his furs on his shoulders keeping the chill winds in the tunnels away from him.

Without further ado, Jon slattered the mushroom he had been chewing all over his wound, hoping that his herbology lessons with Maester Luwin really panned out. Then he tied it off with the piece of clothing acting as bandage.

With that one action, Jon received a slew of prompts, almost having his whole vision blinded with the blue screens.

New Skills Gained!

[Herbology] - You can identify and directly handle magical and mundane plants and fungi.

[First Aid] - Allows the user to heal wounds & cure diseases on the spot during emergencies.

[Disease Resistance] - The ability to prevent or reduce the presence of diseases in host.

(A/N: You have no idea how important that skill is in this world, only closely followed up with Poison resis)

Going through the prompts one by one as they quickly disappeared before his eyes, Jon took it in strides. He could use whatever advantage he could find whether it be sorcery or not to get out of this place.

Looking up ahead down the tunnel a hint of trepidation entered Jon's mind, however he quickly squashed it. He will make it out of here alive no matter what!

Unknown to him, his first new skill was already at work calming his mind and letting him think through

With a big deep breath, Jon steadied himself then took the first step forward and went deeper into the unknown.

***

Back outside on the surface on top, there was a massive search going on. Guards were all but turning the castle upside down looking for one sole individual.

Lord Eddard Stark, head of House Stark, Lord of Winterfell, and Warden of the North stood on the walkway overlooking the castle grounds while overseeing the search he set out for his son.

Just this morning he was spotting in the castle, but then he never showed up for his training with Ser Rodrik Cassel or his lessons with Maester Luwin which was quite strange since he never skipped lessons.

Then at lunch and dinner Jon was reminisced as well. At first Lord Eddard thought the boy was taking his meals elsewhere so as to not deal with his lady wife, but then when he asked for him nobody seemed to have seen him anywhere.

That was when he got suspicious and set out a search party.

“My Lord,” someone called from behind him. Turning around, Lord Eddard faced Jory Cassel, captain of his household guard.

“Did you find him?” the Warden asked immediately.

“No, my Lord,” the captain shook his head.

“Keep searching then,” the Stark Lord simply said, turning back to face the courtyard.

“Dear husband,” someone else called out. Looking in the direction of his wife, he saw that she didn’t come along. Nearly all the children were here except for little Rickon who was put down for sleep, and Sansa who was busy with her lessons with Septa Mordane.

“My lady,” Lord Eddard nodded his head towards his wife. “What brings you all here?” he then asked.

“What is the meaning of all this?” his lady wife asked, clearing pointing to the hive of activity going on.

“Jon had gone missing, if you didn’t know,” the man curtly, not wanting to do this dance with her all over again.

“So what,” she all but sneered, showing her clear distaste for the boy.

“Jon is OUR BROTHER,” little Arya screamed while good old Bran nodded his head off to the side.

“Young lady,” her mother turned on her. “Shouldn’t you be at your lessons?”

Lord Eddard cut in coolly and simply stated, “I would do the same for all my children if they got lost!”

“What’s the matter, Robb,” the Lord asked his son, seeing him not speak up at all. Ever since he came in with the others, he noticed that his heir had been looking around suspiciously.

“Nothing, father,” the boy was too quick to say.

Raising an eyebrow, Lord Eddard said nothing but stare at his son until he finally spilled the beans.

“I think it's my fault that Jon is missing!” the boy all but got out in one breath.

“Please do share,” Lord Eddard was the only one to speak as everyone stared at the young heir.

“I-i… Me and Theon were just joking and Jon took an offense to what we said. That is why he is gone, I think.”

“Why are you always siding with Theon and not your own brother,” Arya looked as if she wanted to jump her so called brother.

“Young Theon is a lord’s son, young lady. So you best afford him the respect he deserves,” her mother spoke up. “While that bastard is nothing more than…”

“ENOUGH,” Lord Eddard shouted.

“I hope this is lesson enough for you, son,” he looked down at his son who had the decency to look ashamed. “And always remember when the snows fall and the white winds blow, the lone wolf dies, but the pack survives. Whatever the world might say Jon is a Stark, he is part of your pack. Theon isn’t!”

“Yes, Lord Father,” the boy bowed his head respectfully.

“My lady wife,” Lord Eddard turned to face the Tully woman. “I will handle things from here, you can return to your quarters!”

Without another word, everyone left, leaving the Stark Lord all to himself as the cold northern winds blew across him, billowing his cloak in the wind. There was one single line repeating in his mind over and over again as he stared up ahead into the distance.

“Promise me…”