Henry is a serf living on a medieval manor in England. As a serf, he is owned by his lord and must work the lord's land for three days a week without pay. His home is a small, dark structure made of wattle and daub with thatched roof. He wears basic clothes and mostly eats bread, cheese and thick soup. In his spare time, Henry enjoys local fairs and games, but serfs have little freedom and harsh punishments like amputation are common if laws are broken. The only way for a serf to gain freedom is to leave the manor for a year and a day without being caught.