alternative
"dwarf home" instead of "Ymirs bones" as kenning for rock, in case referring to the suspected enemy causes issues.
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NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)
- Thread starter I.F. Ister
- Start date
- Original Fantasy Action
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- Tags
- norse mythology (mythology) original xianxia cultivation western cultivation ask sirihand did your mother tell you anything? discussion pleases yggdrasil farming gloating gets people killed granary management hubris is a coward's word you will die norsemen do not die when they are killed the qm has a bad memory the qm is bad at math viking courtroom drama (legal drama) vikings
"dwarf home" instead of "Ymirs bones" as kenning for rock, in case referring to the suspected enemy causes issues.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Voting is now closed, let's rock
So what won " Attack now, with the element of surprise!" or "Artillery is King of the Battlefield"?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The two are basically the same choice in this instance. Attacking now requires a combat plan, and Artillery is that plan.
In theory, with multiple competing combat plans, that might not be the case quite as thoroughly, but it is here.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
It's both actually, we just need to do pre-battle prep first. Which doesn't take too long.
I intentionally over-stacked the Chuck Tricks since we were cutting out the frag bombs, to maximize our chances of getting the largest groupings.
Both. Attack now is a vote for what we do and Artilery is a vote for attack plan
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Almost done.
I realized while I was writing that if I handled it like I would a smaller scale fight, I would literally be here forever. To avoid losing my mind, I devised a system that I don't intend to use again.
Essentially, each person involved added the result of all their dice rolled + total orthstirr dedicated together to determine how many they killed.
As a result, I kind of feel like I've unintentionally cheated you somewhat, though I don't know why I feel this way.
I realized while I was writing that if I handled it like I would a smaller scale fight, I would literally be here forever. To avoid losing my mind, I devised a system that I don't intend to use again.
Essentially, each person involved added the result of all their dice rolled + total orthstirr dedicated together to determine how many they killed.
As a result, I kind of feel like I've unintentionally cheated you somewhat, though I don't know why I feel this way.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
It's fine, we got here in good order and have a good strategy, as well as having basically rendered it impossible for them to hurt our front line. They're allowed to kick ass too.
It's only cheating if this somehow manages to produce fewer kills than even our more pessimistic assumptions prior to this, and I don't think we're producing less than 1.2K kills here. We've just stacked up so many consumables in a Target Rich Environment to get less given how weak and shitty Troll-Men are.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
That system seems entirely reasonable for the most part, but there should definitely be some sort of multiplier to the number of enemies for using AoE attacks, which was the plan. Otherwise AoEs are suddenly less useful in this system which seems...pretty wrong. Like, if Halla and Abjorn roll exactly the same number in this sistem, spending the same Orthstirr, but one is using AoEs and the other isn't, the one using AoEs should get more kills by a fair bit.
Presumably the boulders also just flat-out kill a huge number of weak enemies since those are sort of a separate special attack?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Definitely. How large scale the AoE is should also matter. Ours are small-ish (boulders aside) and the multiplier wouldn't be all that high, but the one for something that hits 20 people per attack would obviously be quite a bit higher.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
With how I've done it, I don't think that multipliers are necessary (with the exception of the person who spent, more or less, his entire childhood training to battle stupid amounts of enemies). You'll see what I mean here in a bit.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Yeah, at the end of the day, Kindle-Spinners are nice, but they're the All-Rounder Elementary Fire Attack Trick. That they have AoE applications is more because our targets are so packed and our attacks are so strong compared to their defenses that we can get multiple with one shot.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fair enough. As long as AoE attacks actually kill more people than single-target ones for the same Orthstirr costs the same goal is achieved.
Oh, and actually, how does this interact with Mastered and Perfected attacks? If we got credit for the Kindle Spinners at their 'official' 5 Orthstirr a pop that's probably pretty impressive (by that rate we threw the equivalent of 580 Orthstirr in Kindle Spinners here).
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I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
I've abstracted it a lot, suffice to say. You should probably save your questions for after the update, as I imagine that it'll answer most, if not all, of them.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Does give us some incentive to start picking up some Firestorm down the line though, since it seems to hit its stride in Mass Combat.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fair. I'll hold off, though that last one was more speculating than actually intending to ask anything, though my phrasing made that less than clear looking back on it.
If we think mass combat is gonna be a big deal, yeah. Personally, I think we'll likely be fine making do with Wildfire, which is a lot easier for us to get (we can get it literally any time we want via Alloying Campfire and Ignition again in a different way). Wildfire isn't quite as AoE happy as Firestorm but it's pretty solid in that regard IIRC.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Hah, I wonder if we might actually get something as a Muna depending on our performance here? An expedition into the Deeps leading to Five Warriors bringing low an Army would absolutely be Muna-Worthy.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
It's possible. I wasn't expecting anything but some relatively minimal Orthstirr (which would still be at least in the double digits, given our Drengskapr), but a Muna can always happen, depending on circumstances.
Shard
One and Many
- Location
- Malaysia
Nobody likes Trollmen, not even the writer.
Knights train to fight overwhelming numbers of enemies, huh? Interesting.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I mean, for all the Norse are a plague, the real thing Knights are trained to fight are other Christians or adjacent forces.
And their paradigm is basically "Mortal soldiers supported by superhumans." So a Knight absolutely is trained to blendo them, especially as apparently the mortal forces empower the superheroes.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I mean, that tracks. They're mostly fighting other Christians, which is to say both their Knights and their entire armies of non-cultivators. Minion sweeping is gonna be a much more standard tactic the more minions there are to sweep.
EDIT: Ninja'd. Ah, well.
Your Pound of Troll-men Flesh Final
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Attack now, with the element of surprise!
-[X] Halla moves in first and sets up to flank from above, when in position, the main party baits out the Troll Men, when they all bunch up to attack the main party, bombard them with the Bomb Boulders and then go to town with Explosive Charms and Kindle Spinners. CONVERT SHAPESHIFT: Convert Dense Muscles to Thick Skin , advise Eric and Stigmar to also strengthen their defenses so we can focus on the offense, Remove our mail and store it in our Owl because it's just going to get fucked up for nothing here if we take hits. Give the frontline a helping of our Fireproof Oil so we can risk going danger-close without hurting them over much. (Total of 3 expended), also, eat a Hearthroot Berry to increase our killing power (Last one for the year eaten)
**[X] Plan: Artillery is King of the Battlefield**
-[X] 2 4x Honed Chuck Tricks with the Bomb Boulders empowered with Odr (1d6 + 4d6 (Hone) +1d6 (Skyfire)+ 4 (Frenzy), 9 Orthstirr + 1 Odr each (Orthstirr paid with Sagaseeker's pool), When all explosives are expended, use all remaining dice on 2-fold Kindle-Spinners (A total of 58 sets of two Kindle-Spinners, 1d6 + 6d6 (Ignition), + 1d6 (Skyfire), 4 Orthstirr each (Total cost of 232 Orthstirr).
-[X] Use Halting-Vortex on any Troll-Men who look like they might actually be able to hurt us through our DR (4 Orthstirr each), otherwise, ignore them, they can't hurt us!
-[X] Ember-Winged Cloak as required to get into position and otherwise maximize our kill-per-attack ratio. (6 Orthstirr each)
-[X] Gabriel, Eric, and Stigmar serve as the frontline, as they're tough enough to be mostly immune to the Troll-Men's attacks between Shapeshifts and Armor, Halla flanks from above and bombards the depth of the tide when they all clump up to attack the frontline with her explosives first, as Odr should amplify their effects _dramatically_, the cave has been described as big enough that the blasts shouldn't significantly disrupt its integrity, especially when it has to explode through the tide of Troll-Men first! When we run out of bombs, shift to Kindle-Spinner strafing runs until they die or the Round ticks over. Tap Aspects as required to sustain, though chances are good they'll all be dead before we run out of gas. _Try_ to avoid catching our allies in the crossfire if possible, but with them tanked up and with Hearthroot Oil as defenses, they'll likely be okay for all but direct flamethrower hits.
-[X] Halla moves in first and sets up to flank from above, when in position, the main party baits out the Troll Men, when they all bunch up to attack the main party, bombard them with the Bomb Boulders and then go to town with Explosive Charms and Kindle Spinners. CONVERT SHAPESHIFT: Convert Dense Muscles to Thick Skin , advise Eric and Stigmar to also strengthen their defenses so we can focus on the offense, Remove our mail and store it in our Owl because it's just going to get fucked up for nothing here if we take hits. Give the frontline a helping of our Fireproof Oil so we can risk going danger-close without hurting them over much. (Total of 3 expended), also, eat a Hearthroot Berry to increase our killing power (Last one for the year eaten)
**[X] Plan: Artillery is King of the Battlefield**
-[X] 2 4x Honed Chuck Tricks with the Bomb Boulders empowered with Odr (1d6 + 4d6 (Hone) +1d6 (Skyfire)+ 4 (Frenzy), 9 Orthstirr + 1 Odr each (Orthstirr paid with Sagaseeker's pool), When all explosives are expended, use all remaining dice on 2-fold Kindle-Spinners (A total of 58 sets of two Kindle-Spinners, 1d6 + 6d6 (Ignition), + 1d6 (Skyfire), 4 Orthstirr each (Total cost of 232 Orthstirr).
-[X] Use Halting-Vortex on any Troll-Men who look like they might actually be able to hurt us through our DR (4 Orthstirr each), otherwise, ignore them, they can't hurt us!
-[X] Ember-Winged Cloak as required to get into position and otherwise maximize our kill-per-attack ratio. (6 Orthstirr each)
-[X] Gabriel, Eric, and Stigmar serve as the frontline, as they're tough enough to be mostly immune to the Troll-Men's attacks between Shapeshifts and Armor, Halla flanks from above and bombards the depth of the tide when they all clump up to attack the frontline with her explosives first, as Odr should amplify their effects _dramatically_, the cave has been described as big enough that the blasts shouldn't significantly disrupt its integrity, especially when it has to explode through the tide of Troll-Men first! When we run out of bombs, shift to Kindle-Spinner strafing runs until they die or the Round ticks over. Tap Aspects as required to sustain, though chances are good they'll all be dead before we run out of gas. _Try_ to avoid catching our allies in the crossfire if possible, but with them tanked up and with Hearthroot Oil as defenses, they'll likely be okay for all but direct flamethrower hits.
It's a bit strange to go into a fight while lacking armor. After so many years of fighting armor-clad, the sudden absence is a stand-out anomaly. You shudder, feeling a tad bit naked without that familiar, soothing weight on your body.
Of course, you aren't naked. You still have your weapons, after all. Can't be naked if you're armed!
'I disagree on the grounds that naked combat is a thing in some places. The Great King of Miklagard in power during my youth was fond of, I believe, judging naked wrestling tournaments. He did this while both he and the contestants were covered in oil.'
Naked... wrestling? With oil? What?
'If I recall correctly, that particular Great King was assassinated by a contestant who set both himself and the Great King on fire.'
Wrestling in tournaments doesn't involve weapons, so you're still right! So there! Besides, that naked oil wrestling thing sounds kind of weird.
...Are all the Great Kings of Miklagard like that?
Blackhand scoffs, his eye roll nearly audible. 'I'm sure you'd change your tune if Abjorn were the one doing the wrestling.'
Eric quirks his head to the side as you freeze, your jaw dropping as your imagination runs wild. He chuckles and grabs Stigmar's attention with an elbow. "Halla's red in the face again. Think she's got Abjorn on the mind?"
"When does she not?" asks a grinning Stigmar as your face burns hotter than the sun.
"What're you two talking abo- Ha!" Stigr slaps his hands to his knees as he struggles to stay standing, laughter bending him over like Abjorn would his oppone- "Oh-oh-oh, she's got it bad!"
"S-shut up!" You stammer as you scowl, failing to muster up even the weakest mom stare in your arsenal. It's not like your fanta- your thoughts could ever come true, oil isn't exactly easy to com-
'Gary Tuskpuncher sells both whale and olive oil, for a reasonable price at that.'
"And there she goes again!" A chorus of laughter follows Stigr's words as you wave your arms around, trying to salvage some ounce of pride — all while your face, neck, and upper chest burn as red as the hair topping your head.
A sharp clank of iron puts a stop to the levity as Gabriel stands with his gauntlets curled into quivering fists, his body tight with tension. "Can we please put this topic to rest already?" There's an uncharacteristic sharpness to his tone. "I don't understand how you can act so carefree when there are lives on the line!"
An awkward silence falls across the group as everybody looks to each other, nobody really sure what to say.
You frown as your face cools off, the lack of heat like ice on your cheeks. This isn't the first time he's seen you joking around before a battle, so where is this sudden animosity coming from?
'I have some suspicions, but none are relevant nor helpful. Turn your focus to the fight at hand now and later him.'
Well, there's no time like the present. Taking a deep breath, you steel yourself for the upcoming battle frenzy.
"Right," you grin, turning your steel-eyed gaze to the throngs of slumbering troll-men, "let's go kill us some troll-men."
As you take flight and circle near the roof of the cavern, Stigr prepares his bow. At your signal, he'll rouse the hordes with the arrow already nocked on the bowstring. You nod, giving the signal, and he lets the arrow fly.
Chaos spreads its malignant wings as it descends on the bleary-eyed troll-men as they flock to the first enemies they see — your friends topping the cliff. Like one massive, continuous organism, they race to climb the rock face as fast as they can.
Howls, yips, and foam-mouthed roars rise from the bristle-backed monsters, their claws making short work of the cliff. The first crests the lip, mouth unhinging to reveal rows of long, dagger-like teeth, only to taste Sparrowflight's bite. Blood trails behind it as it falls backwards into the roving hordes, its screams ending abruptly — trampled under the weight of its kin.
Swords rise and fall as arrows flow like water, each swing sending yet another monster to meet its maker. Yet no matter how strong the arm nor how sharp the sword, all things must rest.
(Stigmar's Effort: 137+101=238)
Sweat runs off Stigmar's brow like a waterfall as his shield splinters inside a troll-man's chest cavity. His sword swings around, lopping off another's grasping claws before repeating the blow to its head. His foot lashes out, crushing one more monster's skull as his newly freed hand snaps another's neck.
(Eric's Effort: 201+237=438)
The broken-necked troll-man sails through the air, bowling over a trio trying to flank around Eric. They never stand again, Eric's axe makes sure of that as his sword splits a fourth from head to hip. A fifth leaps up from the edge, but Eric drives his axe's handle into its eye and out the back of its head.
(Gabriel's Effort: 406x4=1624)
But even the deadly might of two Norsemen covering each other like brothers born to the battlefield fails to hold a candle to the blaze of a Knight-at-Work. Where Stigmar and Eric instinctively lean away from incoming rending claws, Gabriel puts every drop of his trust in his God and his armor.
And that makes all the difference.
Gabriel is a bundle of iron-wrapped violence as he goes about his bloody work. Every swing of Sparrowflight separates life and limb from another half-dozen troll-men. He lets his power sing like a choir of heavenly angels as bolts of gold energy arc across his body in brilliant flashes of white light. His blade blazes with black fire as he puts his back into every attack. Sparrowflight finds home after home in the bodies of once-living troll-men, but never does it settle for anything less than its sheath.
It's then that you make your presence known.
(Your Efforts: 212+232=444) (Boulder Bomb1: 299) (Boulder Bomb2: 325) (Other Explosives: 162) (Total: 1230)
The sea of troll-men shudders as death rains from the fiery ball of hate flying through the air. Flames devour the masses as you play the role of the chooser of the slain. Only, in this case, you choose them all.
Sagaseeker takes a troll-man through the mouth as your foot takes another's head clean off. You hurtle through the cavern's air, running troll-man after troll-man through like a Knight atop a horse of fire.
Wheeling about, you cleave through a dozen monsters in a single blow before letting your heritage sing. Fire engulfs the troll-men as you laugh, singing songs of death and glory. Sagaseeker adds its purrs to the chorus as you seek out new friends for it to play with!
(Stigr's Effort: 110+103=213)
Stigr ran out of arrows long ago, so when you next turn your attention to the cliffside, you see him with spear in hand as he drives his weapon through the faces of flanking troll-men. He's running up and down the edge of the cliff, removing heads and splitting skulls as he goes.
You laugh as he kicks a troll-man between the legs, his spear swiftly following suit. While it may not do much of anything to a troll-man, it still adds a hint of needed levity to the battle. After that, the battle blurs into a rush of colors, movements, and flashing bursts of orthstirr as you lose yourself to the frenzy of bloodshed.
Sagaseeker finds a home in the back of a troll-man, the body falling atop an ever-growing pile of the dead. Wrenching your purring partner free of the monster, you search for the next group of enemies.
A flash of confusion darts across your mind as, no matter where you look, there's not a single troll-man to be seen! Well, you smile, living troll-men. There sure are a lot of dead ones, though!
'You've killed them all, Halla. You and your friends. A fine extermination.' Blackhand had been doing a running commentary of the battle, which tickled him to no end. You don't really get it, but it makes him happy so you just shrug and carry on.
Huh, that shrug didn't feel right. Is there something wrong with your muscles?
'No, you're just tired. You should probably get some sleep sooner rather than later, like your friend over there.' Friend over where?
Looking to the cliffside — where a mountain of bodies leans against it — you find yourself witnessing a slumbering Stigr sleep-grappling a wide-awake and very-unhappy Stigmar. You smile as Stigr reminds you of how clingy Asgeirr can be. He simply refuses to sleep alone, the belligerent little guy.
Absolutely adorable.
(+25 Orthstirr)
(Journal Entry Completed: Troll-men Reprisal)
(Incomplete Boon Added: Army Cleaver)
Pick 2 Rewards:
[ ] +1 to attaining true understanding of the Atgeir
[ ] Feat: 1,200 Troll-men Slain (+3 Orthstirr Yearly)
[ ] A dangling plot thread from me, Imperial Fister
(Not anything major or pressing, just something I don't think you've connected the dots on yet)
0~0~0
AN: I had a bunch of fun writing this here update, which was great!
Unfortunately, it is possible that I end up not being able to write tomorrow, thanks to a lack of v8. It's not 100% guaranteed that there won't be an update, just that the likelihood is low. My apologies there.
No moratorium.
