NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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Slapping a palm to your chest, your body is quickly covered in four layers of hardened, crimson orthstirr anchored in place thanks to your mail. It won't hold up against a serious barrage, but it will give you time to counterattack and that's all you need it for.

Besides, Sagaseeker purrs in your hand as you grin, these are only troll-men.

Bristle-backed troll-men jostle and jockey for position as the ravenous tide draws ever closer. But even as the hordes close in, fear has no hold in your heart.

A handful of flames ignites in your palm as you regard your companions. "There's gonna be an awful lot of fire here in a moment, so sorry if I catch you in a blast."

There's no time for your companions to respond as the troll-men descend upon you like an all-consuming wave of claws, teeth, and an ever-present, nostril-burning stench of the highest order. The first troll-men reaches you and all thoughts leave your mind as the rush of battle takes ahold.
(Trick Attack: 23+4=27 vs Defense #1: 7, #2: 5, #3: 2. Attacker Wins! 4 Damage!)
Fire leaps from your hand as you laugh, a trio of troll-men bearing down on you. The flames crackle and giggle as they bathe the monsters from head to toe. The screams of the incinerated are lost in the ear-splitting din of battle cries and dying moans.

A fourth, uglier troll-man leaps over the burning bodies of its comrades as a fifth follows only a step behind. It flies through the air while bellowing a howl, its tusks wet with spit as its shining claws splay wide.
(Attack: 3+4=7 vs Defense: 6, Attacker Wins! 2 Damage!)
Sagaseeker's edge puts a stop to both its howls and its ugliness as it cleaves its head in two. The force crumples the troll-man to the ground, trapping Sagaseeker in its gore. Taking advantage of your momentary impairment, the fifth advances with claws extended.
(Attack: 5+4=9 vs Defense: 9, Defender Wins Ties!)
You yank at your weapon, only for Sagaseeker to stay trapped in the body — locked in place by a crumpled ribcage — leaving you vulnerable to the troll-man's rush. It moves in with ravenous delight, slobber spraying from its open mouth.
(Attack: 4 vs Defense: 3+8=11, Defender Wins!)
You easily sway away from the mad flurry of telegraphed swipes and wide, frantic slashes as your hand darts to Ashen Kiss on your waist.
(Attack: 4+4=8 vs Defense: 4, Attacker Wins! 2 Damage!)
Kicking off the ground, you drive away it's air with a sharp knee to the stomach. Ashen Kiss flies up and pins the troll-man's jaw to the roof of its mouth with a ringing click of teeth-against-teeth. The tip of Ashen Kiss erupts from the top of its head, the blade's fresh coat of blood glistening in the light.
(Ranged Attack: 13 vs Defense: 5, Attacker Wins! 2 Damage!)
Freeing Ashen Kiss from its bloody sheath, you throw the troll-man aside just in time to receive the sixth. But before you can unleash your fire, its head snaps back as a green-feathered arrow sprouts from its face — one of Stigr's.

You exchange a nod as your grin widens, a quartet of troll-men rushing through the smoke and flames. More fire sparks in your palm as you start to really have some fun.
(Trick Attack: 31+4=35 vs Defense #1: 5, #2: 6, #3: 5, Attacker Wins! 4 Damage!)
Three more bags of charcoal join those scattered about the ground as you throw your head back and laugh. The last doesn't care of its fellow's fates and races to join them anyways. Does the fool not know that suicide is the coward's way out?
(Attack: 3+4=7 vs Defense: 6, Attacker Wins! 2 Damage!)
A horizontal chop sends the troll-man's head tumbling to the ground. You sigh, eyes closed as you breathe in the smell of ash, blood, and sweat — the scent of furious combat. Out of all the smells and scents this world has to offer, only one beats it out as your favorite.

Sagaseeker is your weapon, there's no doubt about that, but it is equally undeniable that keeping your enemies at distance leaves combat lacking that certain something.

Oh well, such is life.

You slide Ashen Kiss away and open your eyes, the troll-men horde now little more then crow feed on the ground.

The battle is won, the only cost the occasional broken arrow.

Now then, where to next?
[ ] The left-hand passage, where the troll-men came from
[ ] The right-hand passage, where the troll-men were going

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Endurance: (10/10) | Frenzy: (4/4) (+4 to all Combat Rolls) | Armor Health: (9/17) (+4 to Defense) | 4/4 Shield Layers
Orthstirr: (382/449) | Odr: (13)
( ) Frami: 150 | ( ) Virthing: 150 | ( ) Saemd: 149
Sagaseeker has 35 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your Armor has 13 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Shapeshifting is granting you (+1 Damage and +1 Attack-Speed)
Your combat pool is 60d6.

You currently have these on your person:
x1 Bottled Sunlight
x7 Exploding Charms
x1 Set of Digging Tools
x4 Torches
Plenty of Rope (Enough for any given scenario)

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AN: Not an especially extended battle, but this was only 60-ish troll-men and you are all cultivators, with you and Gabriel both having internal power.

Total Kills: 67
-You: 9
-Stigr: 6
-Gabriel: 34
-Eric: 11
-Stigmar: 7

Note: This is not representative of power ranking. It is simply a result of the fact that the troll-men literally cannot get through Gabriel's armor so he can just swing like a madman while everyone else has to pay at least token attention to their own safety.

No moratorium. You'll get rewards at the end of the adventure. Short vote today.