NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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The year, by the reckoning of the followers of Christ, is 8971 AD and you, Halla Steinarsdottir, have just turned thirteen.

"Dad?" There's a grim look on your beloved father — Steinarr Hallsson's — face as he steps through the doorway. "How was..."

You trail off, not wanting to give voice to your worries.

Steinarr shakes a small bit of snow from his shoulders and hangs his cloak on the rack. "The headsman ruled that your killing of Lori Burisson was legal and that a wergild must be paid."

"And Buri accepted?" Your mother — Asveig Rovisdottir — sounds surprised at that. She's currently working with Asva to turn wool into cloth while Randi prepares the mid-day meal. "I thought that he would've jumped at the opportunity."

"He certainly thought about it," Steinarr says with a nod as he sits down at the hearth. Randi brings him a warm bowl of stew, which he happily accepts. "But I suppose he wants my money more than my life, at the moment." He strokes his chin and jaw as he swallows a mouthful of sheep stew. "Could also be that he didn't want to be known as the man who was trying to kill a girl."

"How much are we paying?" Asveig asks, sitting down next to Steinarr as Randi brings her a bowl. She accepts it without a word.

"Four cows and their calves."

"Steep."

"Cheap, given the circumstances." Steinarr shrugs, spoon in hand. "If it were Eric or Sten who died... I would've demanded three times that, at least."

"You have fewer sons."

"He loves them less."

Buri Borrusson was known throughout the valley for two things, his 'sticky fingers' and his many, many children. He did not have just one or two or even three sons, he had eleven — now ten — sons from one wife and four concubines. He also had a smattering of daughters, though their faces and names escape you.

Lori Burisson wasn't the most stand-out of Buri's sons, though he was noted for above-average spearwork for his age. You suppose that, if you had as many sons as Buri does, losing a middling son like that wouldn't be as big a deal to you.

You grimace, a queasy feeling rising from your gut. Gagging, you admonish yourself for even thinking such a horrid thought. How could Buri possibly feel that way towards his own children? You could never do that to your future sons and daughters.

But... speaking of children...

Your grimace deepens. Maybe it's a good idea to start learning how to be a good wife? A good mother?

You sigh, knowing who you're going to have to talk to about that.

"Hey... Mom?" Your voice quivers slightly as Asveig looks your way. There's a stern glint to her gaze, like she suspects you of something. "C-can you maybe show me how to, uh, how to take care of a family?"

Your parents' brows rise high on both their heads. Asveig's eyes soften, though the suspicion is still there — and probably won't ever truly leave it — it's now undercut by a layer of cautious happiness.

"I'd love to, Halla." For the first time since immediately after Helgi died, there's a level of fondness to the way she says your name.

You smile, she smiles back.

"Are... Are mom and Halla actually getting along?" Asva whispers to Eric, who looks as dumbfounded as she does.

He wipes at his eyes, but you're still there when he looks again. "I almost can't believe it, but..."

You roll your eyes. Maybe this womanly stuff won't be so bad?

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Maybe it's always been this way, but is Asveig's stomach larger than it normally is?

"Hey, mom?" You ask as you work the weaving bench. Your mother sits beside you, humming a soft tune to herself as she guides your hands. You have to admit, it's... not as bad as you were expecting, spending all day with Asveig.

Doesn't hold a candle to spending all day outdoors, with Steinarr and Eric, but...

It's nice.

"Yes, Halla?"

"Are yo- Is your stomach bigger than usual?" You'd almost asked if she was 'fatter than normal', but even you know that one wouldn't go over well.

The humming stops.

"I'm pregnant, Halla." She looks at you with an expression of vague concern. "You've had to have seen this before, with Sven and," her voice falters for a split-second, "and Helgi."

"You're pregnant." You don't know what that word means.

Asveig sighs. "It means that you, gods willing, will have another sibling, soon."

"Oh."

Your mother frowns, an unpleasant thought glimmering in her eye. "Do you... Do you know how one gets pregnant?"

"...No?"

Asveig's teeth click together as she sets her jaw, determination writ into her gaze. "Alright, then."

The hair on the back of your neck stands tall like an army in a shield-wall. Calls of alarm ring out in your mind.

Asveig opens her mouth and begins to speak.

You regret ever opening yours.

(+1 Relationship with Mother)
(What has been learned cannot be unlearned)
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(Hamingja: 2, 1, 3) 1 Failure
You're in the fields, scythe in hand, Flekkr at your side.

You're trying your best to focus on the task at hand, that of clearing the fields for planting, but how are you supposed to do that when you just learned how babies are made!? How you were made!

A shudder runs down your spine.

And that's not to mention the 'changes' Asveig said were likely going to start happening soon.

...Great.

Just great.

You sigh and Flekkr licks your hand. Smiling, you pet the good boy.

At least you've got Flekkr! Odin knows that Asva's not any help...

Hey, maybe Flekkr can help you with finding that witch?

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(Hading Exploration: 4, 6, 1, Reroll (Flekkr): 6) 5 Successes
Okay, taking Flekkr along was an incredibly good idea!

Tail wagging and tongue lolling, Flekkr perfectly leads you through the monster-infested forest. Heck, you don't even see any monsters!

Good boy, Flekkr!

But...

But even he's stumped by what lays before you.

A wall of overgrown bushes stretches from the forest floor to the treetops far above. If you look closely, you can see monster skeletons engulfed by the plants, some of them look rather... fresh. One even still has blood on it!

This must be where the witch lives, but how are you supposed to get in?

You could try climbing over... You eye the bodies in the hedge with suspicion-filled eyes. Probably not a good idea.

Maybe if you walked around the whole thing, you'd find an entrance?

Or maybe there's some sort of spell you need to know to open the way?

Regardless, it's getting rather late in the day and staying out after-dark in the monster-infested Hading is not as appealing as one might imagine.

You can try some ideas tomorrow, or next week, or whenever you next get around to it.
(You're on the Witch's doorstep, just a little more and you're in.)
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Seasonal (Pick 1):
[ ] (Seasonal) You've run out of the firewood from last winter, time to go get some more.
[ ] (Seasonal) The fields need to be furrowed and seeded.
[ ] (Seasonal) Check and reset the animal traps.
[ ] (Seasonal) Help out with the animals.
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Personal (Pick 1):
[ ] (What Happened to Me?) Something happened to you, start asking around.
-[ ] Who? (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) You've got some strange feelings towards Abjorn that you need to start working through. (Hugr)
[ ] (Personal) Abjorn came by, asking if you wanted to go chop wood with him. (Hamr)
[ ] (Personal) Stigr came by, asking if you wanted to go fishing with him. (Hamr)
[ ] (Personal) Ask Randi to tell you some stories
-[ ] (Optional) Write in
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with...
-[ ] Eric, your older brother, for fun
-[ ] Steinarr, as part of your training
-[ ] One of the local boys, for violence! (Optional Write In)
-[ ] Asva (You doubt she'd be willing to fight you, but maybe you can needle her enough?)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr)
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Exploration/Travel (Pick 1)
[ ] (Visit) Go visit...
-[ ] Asvir!
-[ ] Vidby, Abjorn's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] One of the two undiscovered farms
--[ ] The newly built one to the north
--[ ] The one at the bottom of the river
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] Try to climb over the Hedge
--[ ] Try to find a way into the Hedge
-[ ] The hills!
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Training: You have 7d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Training) Hamr (3 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
-[ ] (Steinarr's Training) (Optional) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
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Orthstirr Available: 9
How do you want to use your orthstirr?
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
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(Random POV: 2)

Eyes of blue fire open.

Limbs of rotten bone flex.

Ancient swords are drawn.

Death stalks the Hading.
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AN: Halla learns some disturbing information and a danger is revealed. Lemme know if I'm going a bit overboard on the whole 'Abjorn crush thing'.

25-minute moratorium.