I do not, but the knowledge that people do enjoy it provides me with the desire to work on it. I reckon that it'll be done soon, likely around Winter — though it'll only come into effect at the start of the new year.
Well that pretty much confirms that True Cultivation lets one exceed one's Fate-allotted timespan, I suppose. Wonder if that's a natural consequence or if there's some cultivation action we'll have to figure out to pull it off.
It's time for you to get a good look at The Enemy's grunts
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on May 3, 2023 at 7:13 PM, finished with 162 posts and 12 votes.
[X] Plan Simple And Straightforward
-[X] Invest 30 Orthstirr in Combat Pool, 5 in Hugr, 3 in Tactics, 4 in Composure, and 4 in Scouting (-46 Orthstirr).
-[X] Stoke Frami (+40 Orthstirr)
-[X] If we have time, eat a Hearthroot berry.
-[X] Dedicate our first kill to Sagaseeker
-[X] 37d6 Attack (31d6 all tricks)
-[X] 17d6 Defense (6d6 Tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Put 5 Orthstirr into 10 layers of Reinforce Shield before the combat begins if we have time, if we don't we'll do it after the Ember-Wing Cloak (-5 Orthstirr)
-[X] Immediately use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap to the top of the hill, carrying Abjorn with us (-12 Orthstirr), while moving tell Abjorn what we know about these things.
-[X] Make a 11d6+1 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack hitting as many of them as possible to encourage them to close and spending 3 Orthstirr on extra dice and 2 Odr on damage (-6 Orthstirr, -2 Odr for damage), then make an 8d6+1 Honed Skewer Flick attack using Orthstirr to add Lightning Damage and 1 Odr for damage (-6 Orthstirr, -1 Odr for damage) followed by a 7d6+1 Honed Power Chop using Orthstirr to add Lightning Damage hopefully batting it out of the air (-3 Orthstirr), then repeat that whole sequence again hopefully on another target (8d6+1 Honed Skewer-Flick followed by 7d6+1 Honed Power Chop, same costs), then launch six 3d6+1 (w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strik attacks (-2 Orthstirr each)
-[X] In response to normal attacks make a 2d6+5 Honed Defense (-1 Orthstirr) against the first 10, in response to any serious Trick Attack against either us or Abjorn use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr). If the attack penetrates our Halting Vortex, use an 10d6+5 Honedx2 Reinforced Sway (-5 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Jump to the top of the hill with Abjorn, launching a Kindle Spinner either immediately before that if we have time, or as soon as we land otherwise, then go back to back with him and get to work chopping our foes down as they come. Specifically, we will take advantage of our speed-boosting rune to use Skewer-Flick Trick to toss an enemy into the air and then bat them out of it with Power Chop, ideally twice, powered by lightning, then fall back on Firebomb-Strikes.
I do not, but the knowledge that people do enjoy it provides me with the desire to work on it. I reckon that it'll be done soon, likely around Winter — though it'll only come into effect at the start of the new year.
Well that pretty much confirms that True Cultivation lets one exceed one's Fate-allotted timespan, I suppose. Wonder if that's a natural consequence or if there's some cultivation action we'll have to figure out to pull it off.
Not necessarily. Reaching that age was very possible in that era, just rare, so that's still potentially within 'fated end' timeline. It does prove that aging isn't a significant problem for them, though, given he was still running around being Blackhand at that age.
I do think we can break our fate-appointed ends, but that age doesn't actually prove it.
I think it's more that "Fated End" is bullshit in a sense, it's the Fates looking at the arc of your history and putting a pin down on the spot where your luck runs out. We know they're not above doing revisions though, and they vastly prefer that your end be plausible as opposed to Complete Bullshit, like a superhuman killing machine just falling down dead one day from a tummyache.
Stronger people live longer because there's fewer opportunities for you to get into trouble, and Cultivation lets you become stronger than your age allows for, which means that statistically speaking, you're going to live longer than others simply because there's fewer scenarios that can put your life in any real danger.
It's not that "Older people are inevitably beasts", but "Strong people live long enough to get old."
[X] Plan Simple And Straightforward
-[X] Invest 30 Orthstirr in Combat Pool, 5 in Hugr, 3 in Tactics, 4 in Composure, and 4 in Scouting (-46 Orthstirr).
-[X] Stoke Frami (+40 Orthstirr)
-[X] If we have time, eat a Hearthroot berry.
-[X] Dedicate our first kill to Sagaseeker
-[X] 37d6 Attack (31d6 all tricks)
-[X] 17d6 Defense (6d6 Tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Put 5 Orthstirr into 10 layers of Reinforce Shield before the combat begins if we have time, if we don't we'll do it after the Ember-Wing Cloak (-5 Orthstirr)
-[X] Immediately use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap to the top of the hill, carrying Abjorn with us (-12 Orthstirr), while moving tell Abjorn what we know about these things.
-[X] Make a 11d6+1 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack hitting as many of them as possible to encourage them to close and spending 3 Orthstirr on extra dice and 2 Odr on damage (-6 Orthstirr, -2 Odr for damage), then make an 8d6+1 Honed Skewer Flick attack using Orthstirr to add Lightning Damage and 1 Odr for damage (-6 Orthstirr, -1 Odr for damage) followed by a 7d6+1 Honed Power Chop using Orthstirr to add Lightning Damage hopefully batting it out of the air (-3 Orthstirr), then repeat that whole sequence again hopefully on another target (8d6+1 Honed Skewer-Flick followed by 7d6+1 Honed Power Chop, same costs), then launch six 3d6+1 (w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strike attacks (-2 Orthstirr each)
-[X] In response to normal attacks make a 2d6+5 Honed Defense (-1 Orthstirr) against the first 10, in response to any serious Trick Attack against either us or Abjorn use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr). If the attack penetrates our Halting Vortex, use an 10d6+5 Honedx2 Reinforced Sway (-5 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Jump to the top of the hill with Abjorn, launching a Kindle Spinner either immediately before that if we have time, or as soon as we land otherwise, then go back to back with him and get to work chopping our foes down as they come. Specifically, we will take advantage of our speed-boosting rune to use Skewer-Flick Trick to toss an enemy into the air and then bat them out of it with Power Chop, ideally twice, powered by lightning, then fall back on Firebomb-Strikes.
0~0~0
Your heart happily hammers away as you stand back-to-back with your husband — weapons in hand and ready to kill to your heart's content. Foemen creep from the shadows, revealing their forms to the sun's light.
Large, bulbous noses and a heavy, sloping brow are the first things you notice about the Foemen. The second thing is their size, for all their lacking height, they easily outclass you in sheer mass. Thick, robust bodies with short limbs and a cunning gleam to their gaze.
They stand on two legs and move with an uncanny grace as they creep out, trying to flank you on all sides. Their faces are that of a human's, but... they aren't human.
Frankly, just looking at them puts a sick feeling in your gut. Uncanny creatures stalk the Hading Valley.
"Abjorn," you words are mere breathes on the wind, yet Abjorn hears them all the same. He nods, putting his trust in you without needing any further word. You smile, that's the man you married!
The moment your arm starts moving, though, all hell breaks loose.
In the blink of an eye, a Foeman is in your face. They blur into motion at a disturbingly quick pace, accelerating from a near-standstill to full speed in less time than it takes to close an eye. A palmed rock — flintstone, shaped into a razor-sharp point — hurtles towards your face as you jerk back, momentarily stunned by the raw speed they employ. (Attack: 14 vs Honed Defense: 4+5=9, Attacker Wins! 2 Layer Damage Dealt!)
The flint blade rips through the layers of orthstirr, but fails to find purchase in your flesh. Teeth grinding together, you lock eyes with the Foeman as it meets your gaze.
It's fast, all of them are. Easily faster than you without even really trying. Fortunately, Sagaseeker got an upgrade.
So when you swing back before it can, its eyes snap wide in surprise. (Attack: 4+1=5 vs Defense: 28, Defender Wins!)
But even with Sagaseeker's speed, it easily sways out of the way of the incoming blow. Of course, you saw that coming so you were already lashing out with a kick — aimed right at where it was heading.
Your shoe-clad foot drives deep into the Foeman's chest as he's thrown back by the force of the blow. Pivoting on the spot, you wrap an arm around Abjorn's waist and, with a surge of Frami, you throw yourself into the air on ember-cloaked wings. Abjorn grunts in surprise as he's lifted off his feet, but quickly relaxes when he realizes it's you.
"Spot anything we can use? Any weaknesses?" You ask Abjorn as you hurtle through the air.
He frowns as he eyes his shield — barely hanging on to life by a thread. "Very, very fast. Nothing else yet."
You nod, your grimacing face mirroring your husband's. "I gathered much the same, unfortunately."
Moments later, you hit the top of the hill with all the fury of the storm. Twisting around, you and Abjorn alike turn your gaze to your enemies.
It doesn't take long to sniff them out as they move through trees and bushes with an unnaturally fast gait. By the time you hit the hill, they were already halfway there.
But as they burst from the trees at a dead-sprint, you notice something. Their brows run slick with sweat as they blur into motion once again. There's barely been any fighting! Do they have an endurance problem or something?
Moving as one, they race up the hill — giving you the perfect target.
Hand cupped at your side, a tightly-packed and fast-spinning ball of raging fire ignites in your palm. Raising it behind you, you step forward and hurl it with all your might behind it. A roar of exertion accompanies the Kindle Spinner as it hurtles down the hill while leaving a trail of burnt grass in its wake. (Trick Attack: 40+1=41 vs Double-Point Defense #1: 39, #2: 40, #3: 40, Attacker wins against all! 3+2(Odr)-1=4 Damage Dealt!)
The two groups of Foemen had stayed separate, forcing you to pick between one or the other. You made your choice, though, and the explosion catches all three of your Foemen — though not for a lack of them trying to escape.
A grin spreads across your face as their bloodied bodies stumble confused from the cloud of billowing smoke. Strong, fast, and tough they may be, but fire consumes all.
Unfortunately, though, you're not able to capitalize as Abjorn's Foemen reach him moments later and you're forced to help him weather the onslaught. (Attack: 18 vs Honed Defense: 9, Attacker Wins! Shield Destroyed)
Abjorn's shield shatters as a club renders it little more than firewood. Abjorn barely has time to grunt in shock before the Foeman is moving once again.
The club whistles through the air, only to be met by Sagaseeker's point as you aim to run him through the middle. (Honed Trick Attack: 28+1=29 vs Defense: 19, Attacker Wins! 5+1(Odr)+1(Lightning)-1=6 Damage Dealt!)
Lightning arcs across Sagaseeker as you drive it through the Foeman. Blood and gore explodes out his back as you thrust with all your might. Laughing your joy, you twist on the spot and hurl the Foeman into the sky.
Blood rains down like a shower of red ichor, but before you can capitalize, two more Foemen blur into your vision. The first draws back a handful of bone darts as the second moves to engage Abjorn.
The thrown Foeman hits the ground as the first chucks the darts with the force of a thunderstorm. Three bone-carved darts whip through the air, a whipcrack of force following their movements as they race toward you with unrelenting power. (Double-Point Attack #1: 50, #2: 43, #3: 33 vs Honed Defense #1: 4+5=9, #2: 6+5=11, #3: 3+5=8. Attacker Wins All! 6 Layer Damage!)
The darts are too fast, far too fast. Unnaturally so, uncannily so.
Each digs deep into the layers of orthstirr, but none manage to penetrate its depth. The Foeman — No, wait, Foe*woman? What?!* — races after her darts, club held high with an unnatural fluidity to her movements.
Unfortunately for her, you've got the greater reach here!
Sagaseeker explodes with power as you stomp and fling churned-up dirt into the air as you twist into a frenzied attack. (Honed Trick Attack: 27+1=28 vs Defense: 18, Attacker Wins! 4-1=3 Damage!)
You swing and Sagaseeker takes her across the jaw. Lightning crackles as it's discharged directly into her head as she jerks back. Her jaw is only barely hanging on from the force of your blow, but her eyes remain undaunted in the face of her inevitable death.
You move forward as you heft Sagaseeker and aim to run her through, but before you can even take a step she's already delivering an attack of her own. (Double-Point Attack: 40 vs Honed Defense: 3+5=8, Attacker Wins! Layers are broken!)
The breath is driven out of your lungs from the force of her strike. Her club crashes through your paltry shields and into your armor as you're forced back.
The Foemen are very fast, the only reason you're able to trade blows as you are is because of Sagaseeker's runework. If you didn't have that, you'd be making one attack for every two of theirs.
They are also very tough. The one you sent flying is heavily injured, but is staggering to his feet to keep on fighting. The burnt ones are also almost ready for more combat, they'll be flanking you soon enough.
However, it's obvious that they have an endurance problem. Strong, tough, and unbelievably fast, but they can't keep it up forever.
Poor Abjorn is forced on the defensive. He just doesn't have the speed to keep up with his opponent. He's giving as good as he gets, though, but what he's getting is a lot. Judging by how much the Foeman is sweating, he'll soon be dead, though Abjorn will have taken a fair few injuries from that fight.
The Foewoman has a pair of darts hanging from a string on her wrist and carries a thick wooden club in her hands. The Foemen in general seem to lack armor, though they more than make up for it with their sheer tenacity.
Their plan is, as always, raw, unrelenting force.
Endurance: (7/7) | Frenzy: (1/1) | Armor Health: (17/17)
Orthstirr: (82/120) | Odr: (20)
(X) Frami: 40 | ( ) Virthing: 40 | ( ) Saemd: 40
Sagaseeker has 20 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your Armor has 13 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 54d6.
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: You've gotten your first taste of the kind of warriors The Enemy likes to bring to the table. How are you feeling?
We have reason to believe that loose orthstirr is kind of devoured, right? And associate that with the Enemy? The other thing we know that "devours orthstirr" is nid. This has caused several of us to associate the Enemy with Nidhogg, which makes sense.
But I'm also wondering if there's some cosmic act of nid that's still devouring all the orthstirr from the world that's not attached to people. And I'm thinking of the Titanomachy, and the slaying of Ymer (both acts of kinslaying), and Eve and the Apple, and wondering if the Enemy is some... living, sentient manifestation of Original Sin, not necessarily the Original Sin of Christianity, but some primal crime at the heart of the creation of the world.
And update dropped while I was writing. Yep, those seem to be Neanderthals!
Neanderthals had a long, low skull (compared to the more globular skull of modern humans) with a characteristic prominent brow ridge above their eyes.
Their face was also distinctive. The central part of the face protruded forward and was dominated by a very big, wide nose. Some scientists think this feature may have been an adaptation to living in colder, drier environments. The large internal volume of the nose would have acted to moisten and warm the air they breathed.
It does sound like we picked the right Rune for Sagaseeker at least, so that's nice. On the one hand, their endurance problems probably let us handle them pretty well in the long run, but in the short run, our own endurance isn't super great right now given our lowered Orthstirr. Ugh.
They're not specifically resistant to fire, but do reduce all damage by 1. Their totals are in the 40-50 range when doing their equivalent of Trick Attacks and 14-20 otherwise, seemingly both offensively and defensively (though they've only managed it defensively vs. ranged attacks...hmmm). On the bright side they seem to 'only' do 2 damage per hit, which is more survivable than it would be otherwise.
So we need, like 12d6 or more to hit them reliably (maybe less if they can't pull out a high defense there, which we can try for), and definitely the same to dodge, which is...awkward. We're probably gonna need to just start tanking this stuff for a bit, which is, uh, bad. We also need to protect Abjorn, which isn't good either.
Our reinforce shield didn't shatter, so what they do might actually just be some kind of really high huge stuff. Even their double point attack only dealt 6 layer damage, so this might be a scenario where reinforce shield over performs.
Our reinforce shield didn't shatter, so what they do might actually just be some kind of really high huge stuff. Even their double point attack only dealt 6 layer damage, so this might be a scenario where reinforce shield over performs.
That was actually three attacks. They always do 2 damage. Basically, their normal attacks/defenses are, like 14-20 (occasionally higher, probably 5d6 or so), their double-point ones are in the 40s (like, 12d6-ish), and they move at double speed, reduce all damage by 1, and do 2 damage per attack, but they've demonstrated no actual tricks aside from that.
Which makes sense with the 'unsophisticated' thing. They're fast, strong, and tough but they don't have a lot of finesse (or little 'e' endurance, their actual Health pool is pretty high since we did 6 damage to one and it survived).
Of course, Foemen are just the footsoldiers - will be interesting to see what other stuff the Enemy has in its arsenal. It might be it has a collection of all sorts of dead and forgotten beings and the Foemen are just one facet of it.
On the other hand though, well, we've established that their Endurance isn't very great, a good way to fight them might be turning this into a running battle. They're great at a stand-up fight but not fantastic at chasing. The only reason they're much of a threat at all is that our culture demands we stand and fight until we're actually losing.
On the other hand though, well, we've established that their Endurance isn't very great, a good way to fight them might be turning this into a running battle. They're great at a stand-up fight but not fantastic at chasing. The only reason they're much of a threat at all is that our culture demands we stand and fight until we're actually losing.
Hmmm. We can't run away, but we could easily just jump back to where we started and force them to run back to us, hopefully duplicating the Kindle Spinner thing. I'm now quite tempted to try that.
I will say that most people running from them would fail...they're like half as fast as EWC, which is very fast indeed, so they'd catch you and stab you in the back. We can do this, and should, but most people actually can't.
On the other hand though, well, we've established that their Endurance isn't very great, a good way to fight them might be turning this into a running battle. They're great at a stand-up fight but not fantastic at chasing. The only reason they're much of a threat at all is that our culture demands we stand and fight until we're actually losing.
[X] Plan Whoops Wrong Hill
-[X] Stoke Virthing (+40 Orthstirr)
-[X] Dedicate our first kill to Sagaseeker
-[X] Tap into Sagaseeker and the Armor's Orthstirr as necessary
-[X] 34d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 10d6 Defense (all tricks)
-[X] 10d6 Intercept (all tricks)
-[X] Grab Abjorn and use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap over to the other side of the river (-12 Orthstirr) we will use one of our Skewer-Flick attacks (see below) to clear space to do this if necessary
-[X] Take the opportunity of being at range again to launch a 15d6+1 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner using 7 Orthstirr for extra dice and 2 Odr for extra damage (-9 Orthstirr, -2 Odr), then make a total of four 8d6+1 Honed Skewer Flick attacks using Orthstirr to add Lightning Damage (-6 Orthstirr each) once they close
-[X] If we have time after the Kindle Spinner and before they get to us, put up as much Reinforce Shield as we can up to 10 layers (up to -5 Orthstirr)
-[X] Let Reinforce Shield tank attacks for as long as it lasts. In response to any attack against Abjorn (or us once Reinforce Shield is down) use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr each). If we try to use Halting Vortex but an attack penetrates it, use a 14d6+5 Honed Reinforced x3 Sway (-6 Orthstirr). If the Halting Vortexes aren't working and Abjorn is attacked defend him with a 14d6+1 Honed Reinforced x3 Hefty-Halter Chop (-7 Orthstirr). If Abjorn goes down use Stabilizing Palm on him (-12 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Leap over to the other side of the river to make them run more (maybe even swim), then attempt to hit a group of foemen with Kindle Spinner again (the same group would be funny, but we do the biggest group we can hit, and actually probably prioritize the other group if we have a choice), then after they close attack wounded Foemen (I think that's all of them at this point) with Skewer Flick to finish them off (tossing them into each other, especially tossing our own targets at those fighting Abjorn, if possible) while protecting ourselves and Abjorn from attacks as best we can, primarily with Halting Vortex.
Well, here's the kiting idea. I like it, should be fun.
That said, I'm not confident in 3 damage (what we can manage with smaller attacks due to damage reduction) to finish these guys off, but these attacks should deal no less than 5 even after that reduction (well, the Kindle Spinner does 4). That hopefully finishes things. And, of any enemy, someone focused on simplicity like this seems the ideal enemy to rely on Halting Vortex against (though we do have panic buttons even there).
To be clear, this plan burns Orthstirr like it's going out of style given our pool, but these guys endurance issues mean we can likely do that, as they won't last too much longer anyway. There are no basic attacks or defenses because their dice pool on their basics makes such things useless against them.
I mean, we're going to likely have Forgefire on Halla the minute we hit Hugr 7. Which shouldn't be too far in the future, honestly. But yeah, this seems potentially valid.
Yeah, it's further away than it looks because we have to prioritize both regaining our orthstirr by unbinding pockets and raising Hamr over it, but even so we're likely talking less than two years. Less than one year if we roll well.
Of course, Foemen are just the footsoldiers - will be interesting to see what other stuff the Enemy has in its arsenal. It might be it has a collection of all sorts of dead and forgotten beings and the Foemen are just one facet of it.
If we don't see any "Return to Monke" with the Foemen I'll be quite sore and upset
Edit: I also hope that Sub-Sahrarn Africa is like this giant super continent constantly at war with itself and is strong but divided with primal and ancient cultivators
It'd be interesting but I don't count on seeing it in this life
Actually, it might work better to jump to the river. Normally I'd call it a bad move, but given how these guys have shit endurance, giving them something else to worry about might pay off.
Mobility is apparently very important when fighting Foemen, if you let them surround you, they will tear you to shreds, but if you keep them running, they're liable to crap out before you do.
Like, if we fight them on the opposite side of a creek or a river, they're slowing down further, which doubly impacts their mobility, which is one of their biggest strengths.
www.newscientist.com
