NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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[X]Demand that he come with you to Steinarr. (Easy Hugr (Silver-Tongue))
Eric, like all Norsemen, knows that he will one day meet his fated end, ready or not.

Eric, like many Norsemen, also knows that rushing to meet it is a fool's endeavor. That even if you don't die, you can still suffer a great deal from making a mistake.

Which is why you reckon that you have a good chance of stopping him now. Before his blood makes him do something foolish, something that he'll later regret.
(Hugr (Silver-Tongue): 6, 6, 5) 3 Super-Successes, 1 Success needed, rewards granted
Eric starts to move and you don't hesitate.

"Eric, wait!" He looks over his shoulder as you call out to him. They say that the eyes are the windows to the soul and when you lock gazes, it's clear as day to how he's feeling. He's conflicted.

Anyone who spent any amount of time with Eric would know that he's not a warrior. Sure, when pushed he's shove, but he's not one to go out looking for violence. Never has, never will. It's simply not in his nature.

He's going after the thief because of the future risk to his family, not out of a desire to extract vengeance for what's been done already. He doesn't want to fight anyone, but he'll do it to keep his family safe.

In your most private of thoughts, you might think less of him for it. But here and now? When you want nothing more than to keep your brother safe?

You couldn't be happier with how his nature guides him.

"Come find dad with me," you hold out your hand, "so we can hunt this thief down together, as a family."

He stares at your hand for a long time, his eyes cloudy with inner turmoil. He's a man, a part of him whispers, he shouldn't be listening to a woman in matters of battle. Yet, his better senses point out as they reassert themselves, there is strength in numbers, especially when fighting an unknown villain.

Reaching out, Eric takes your hand and his eyes clear up. "You are a good sister, Halla. Thank you," he grimaces, eyes glimmering with realized relief, "I fear I would've done something stupid had you not stopped me."

"It's what little sisters are for, Eric."

"Then you must be the wisest of them all."

(+1 Relations with Eric)
(+1 Hamingja for showing wisdom beyond your age)
(+1 to earning Boon: Little Sister's Wisdom. Little Sister's Wisdom added to Incomplete Boons)

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Finding Steinarr took no time at all and explaining everything took even less.

He looks down to the wood axe in his hand and frowns. He can't just *leave* such a valuable tool here, not with a thief around, but he also can't just take it with him, he needs both hands to fight.

An idea occurs to him. You can tell by the way he suddenly straightens up, like he sat his bare-bottom on a block of ice.

"Halla," Steinarr begins slowly, "can you please take the axe back home?"

You don't hesitate to agree and he carefully hands you the axe.

"It is very sharp, so don't cut yourself, alright?" You nod, hardly listening as he and Eric begin heading off. "Be careful, and make sure to tell your mother and Asva what we're doing!"

You have an opportunity here, you realize as you clutch the wood axe in hand. It's not a weapon, no, but it could still split a skull if used correctly... As your father is fond of saying, 'an axe is an axe is an axe.'

What do you do?
[ ] Heed your father's instructions and take the axe home
-(Ends the encounter, Steinarr and Eric will both be fine, even if they didn't catch the thief)
[ ] Follow behind them, axe in hand and ready to pounce
-(Proceeds to combat, chance for the thief to have already gotten away)

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AN: Weapons add additional dice to your combat dice pool, but wood axes are tools, not weapons though they are still axes. As such, they do not grant you any additional dice.

If you get good at using, for example, improvised weaponry, then you can get weapon dice from non-weapons. There are instances where Norsemen discarded their weapons in favor of grabbing things like sled runners, which sometimes proved to be especially effective, more so than even their actual weapons.

Additional important thing to note, named and important characters won't die 'off-screen' in combat scenarios, with certain exceptions to this rule. On-screen, however, all bets are off.

I'll give you a 15-minute moratorium on this one

Follow behind them, axe in hand and ready to pounce. (Timing: 6)
You smell the thief before you spot him, such is the stench of his unwashed body.

You weren't quite quick enough to catch the pre-battle posturing, but you arrive just in time to see the moments immediately following.

You don't recognize the thief, so they weren't a local. He carries a battered-looking shield in one hand and a surprisingly well-cared for axe in the other. Dark eyes glint as they dart about, a frantic, wild look to their movements.

He's looking for a way out, the coward.
(Attack: 4 vs Defense: 6, Defender wins)
"Die with dignity, you thieving dog!" Steinarr growls, eyes full of righteous fury as he sees the same as you. His crimson orthstirr whips itself into a frenzy as the thief barely manages to deflect his sword, Crowfeeder — an heirloom passed down through several generations.

The shield holds up, if only just.

"Thieving dog!?" The thief grits his yellow teeth. "I'll show you a thieving dog!"
(Attack: 3 vs Defense: 2, Attacker wins. Intercept: 6, Intercepted)
The thief bashes Crowfeeder aside and throws Steinarr off balance. The axe sails straight towards Steinarr's unprotected side, only to catch on Eric's spear as he intercepts the blow.

There's a clatter of wood on wood as the axe meets spear. The axe is nearly wrenched from the thief's hand, only saved by the thief backing off at the perfect moment.

Eric takes a step forward, face a mask of determination, both hands holding the spear as he thrusts.
(Attack: 1 vs Defense: 3, Defender wins)
The spear punches through the shield, but stops before making any headway. The thief roars and throws his now broken shield to the side, taking Eric's spear with it.

"That's it!" The thief grips his axe with both hands, his own pale yellow orthstirr climbing up the weapon. "I'm ending this!"

Eric, now weaponless and his own shield dropped on the ground behind him, trips as he backs away. He stumbles to the ground, wide-eyed as the thief advances. The thief's axe rises high, sickly yellow orthstirr pouring off of it in thick droves. There's sadistic glee in the outlaw's murderous eyes.
(Trick Attack: 18 vs Shieldless Defense: 4, Attacker wins. Trick Intercept: 22, Intercepted. Endurance damage dealt)
A crimson-coated shield slams into the outlaw's jaw. There's a sharp cracking sound as bloody teeth sail from his mouth and he stumbles back. A wordless scream of pain rips its way through his throat as Crowfeeder carves its way down the thief's side.

A heavy wound, but not enough to take the thief out of the fight.
(Attack: 6 vs Trick Defense: 7, Defender wins)
Blood coats Steinarr's furious face as he brings Crowfeeder around for another strike. He swings with a blow that would've taken the thief's head clean off, had he not managed to bring his axe up in time.

The thief stumbles back, but stays on his feet. He wheezes, drawing ragged breath as the two warriors on their feet stare each other down.

Steinarr moves first, putting himself between Eric and the thief. He stands there, shield held before him as blood drips off Crowfeeder, prioritizing the safety of his son over securing the death of the thief.
(Hugr: 5, 2, 6) 2 Super Successes, 1 Failure
The thief is looking to run, he's likely not expecting to be attacked by a little girl like yourself. Which means he won't be defending himself, not from you.

Which leaves an opening for you.

You came all this way already, you'd be a fool not to take it!

You have 1 combat dice and 2 points of reserve orthstirr.
[ ] Write in
[ ] Wait, redistribute orthstirr

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AN: And here we are, your first combat encounter. Combat mechanics will be added under Turns and the Passage of Time

This time, to let you gain a better understanding of combat and because it's rather important to this quest, I've temporarily given you an extra two orthstirr to spend as you will.

Remember, orthstirr can be freely put into things, but cannot be freely taken out.

Please feel free to ask any questions you may have.

Take a look at the invisitext to get an understanding of how combat breaks down.

15-minute moratorium again.
Combat