Without Blackhand there we would have died by overcultivation.
We didn't know how to close the gate AND were unconscious.
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
We didn't know how to close the gate AND were unconscious.
Yes, Norse Quest life expectancy should logically be higher.
Okay, but you did make the choice to give everyone superpowers which make them immune to most diseases and accidents. 😅
If we're talking historical Norse demography, then honestly I doubt it would be especially different to most other migration period or early medieval societies. Which show a fair degree of uniformity with most of the rest of pre-modernity, honestly. Fifteen the population being over 50 is roughly what you'd expect with an average life expectancy of around 55 for those who have survived childhood, I think, although we'd need to look at a population pyramid to visualise it.
Winter 9/Turn 1 Part 2
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] "I... Will wait till Yule."
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Talk to Steinarr about what Tricks are available in Wildfire and Firestorm that he'd recommend, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, as well as any additional Stoker State Tricks he may have for us...what Stoker State Tricks there are to gain Stoker Dice, in particular. We'll mention Stoking Engage at this point just in case he doesn't have an equivalent, and to clarify what we already have. Also consult with him on the seeds we got in Wessex and how best to use them, and ask if he could teach us Greek at some point?
-[X] [Social] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Steinarr
--[X] After the more prosaic training conversation mentioned below, talk with him about the Gabriel situation and what exactly happened on that raid, particularly in regards to Gabriel's companions.
-[X] (Personal) Speak with the Dwarves,
--[X] Buy more crafting materials,
--[X] Specifically note that we gave them more Food than we should've on the one-time deal last time (which is true, doing that is why we were personally not gonna make it through the winter without the expedition), and will thus be doing a lot less of that going forward (though all existing deals stand, obviously).
--[X] Maybe ask them about the weirdness of the Underhouse
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Talk to Steinarr about what Tricks are available in Wildfire and Firestorm that he'd recommend, and what their strengths and weaknesses are, as well as any additional Stoker State Tricks he may have for us...what Stoker State Tricks there are to gain Stoker Dice, in particular. We'll mention Stoking Engage at this point just in case he doesn't have an equivalent, and to clarify what we already have. Also consult with him on the seeds we got in Wessex and how best to use them, and ask if he could teach us Greek at some point?
-[X] [Social] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Steinarr
--[X] After the more prosaic training conversation mentioned below, talk with him about the Gabriel situation and what exactly happened on that raid, particularly in regards to Gabriel's companions.
-[X] (Personal) Speak with the Dwarves,
--[X] Buy more crafting materials,
--[X] Specifically note that we gave them more Food than we should've on the one-time deal last time (which is true, doing that is why we were personally not gonna make it through the winter without the expedition), and will thus be doing a lot less of that going forward (though all existing deals stand, obviously).
--[X] Maybe ask them about the weirdness of the Underhouse
Talking to Steinarr
The sun warms your smile as you step free from your father's home. After eventually deciding against opening Asva's present right then and there, the conversation turned towards the make-up you were using.
Waving goodbye to the now soot-eyed Asva, you turn just in time to meet Steinarr's curious gaze.
"Your chat went well, I hope?" He leans on his shovel, an amused glow on his face. He'd been hard at work with rebuilding a section of the fence that had collapsed under the weight of the winter snow.
"It did, yeah," you nod, failing to keep the smile off your face. "It's... Nice, not having to worry about Asva and I fighting anymore."
His shoulders rise and fall as he chuckles, "Gods, those always stressed me out. Good to hear you've made up and," he pauses as he gets a good look at your face. "Is that new make-up?" You nod and he smiles, "It's a good look! Reminds me of the Basileia of Miklagard, back when I was one of her bodyguards."
"Thanks, Dad." You pause as the unfamiliar word tickles your ears, "'Basileia?'"
"It's a Greek title that they give to the Chair-King's wife," Steinarr explains as your ears perk up.
"You know Greek?"
Steinarr laughs, "I'm not fluent, not after all these years, but I remember some." His eyes glimmer as he cuts you off before you can even open your mouth, "And yes, I'll teach you what I can."
You grin, rolling your eyes, "Am I really that predictable?"
He returns your grin, "Curiosity is a cloak about your shoulders."
'I have never known you to refuse an opportunity to lear-'
"You're a lot like Dad," Blackhand chokes as Steinarr unknowingly cuts him off, "No matter how much he knew, he was always willing to learn more." He laughs, a fond smile warming his face, "It's why I named you after him, you know? You've got the same spark of curiosity in your eyes."
"Thanks, Dad..." you trail off as a certain armored figure pops in your mind. Rocking back and forth on your heels, you sigh through a grimace, "Hey, Dad? I, uh, have something to tell you."
Cloud-cast shadows darken his face, "Go on."
"It's... About Gabriel, about how he's-"
"Planning on killing me," Steinarr bluntly sums up everything with a nonchalant shrug. He arches a brow as you gape at him, "I'm not an idiot, Halla, he was glaring a hole in my back the entire trip back. That's not exactly an invitation to a picnic."
"I," you stammer, not sure where to go from here, "I just thought that you should know?"
"Though I already did know," he says as he lays a hand on your shoulder, "thank you anyways for thinking of me."
You fall silent as he pulls away, returning to his work on the fence. The silence, however, only lasts a few heartbeats before you once again step forward, "Gabriel said that you killed his best friends, his companions. Did you?"
"I did, yes," Steinarr doesn't pause in his shoveling as he continues as casually as if he was discussing the weather. "They were trying to kill me, so I killed them first."
"So..." You frown, feeling a bit sick to your stomach, "Gabriel is in the right, here."
"Is he?" Steinarr flings a shovel-full of dirt to the side.
"Well, you killed his friends and his teacher, and took him as a thrall."
The shovel stops as it finds a home in the dirt mound. Steinarr sighs and lets his head hang as he resumes his lean, "It really doesn't matter who's right or wrong. At the end of the day, all that's happening is that someone's trying to kill somebody else."
You open your mouth to speak, but...
"I... guess you're not wrong," you begin with a frown, "but it, but..." You're having a lot of trouble articulating your thoughts on the matter.
Steinarr shrugs as he plucks the shovel once more, "Give it some thought and come back to me once you've figured it out, alright?"
"Alright, but..." you have just one thing to ask before you head back home, "If you had to kill..."
'Steingrim.'
"Steingrim, would it still be that simple?"
Steinarr remains silent, unable or unwilling to answer. A spark of curiosity flashes in his eyes as you say that name.
(You can now devote training dice to learning Greek)
0~0~0
Talking to the dwarves
"Ah, Halla!" Toki says with a smile as he welcomes you into his home-turned-headquarters. "How can I help you today?"
"Well, I was hoping to do some business," Toki's eyes light up as he runs a hand through his rope-like beard, "and also ask you some questions about the Underhouse, if you'd be willing?"
"Business first, questions after!" He announces before beckoning you to the negotiation chamber. You're already tasting the foul sulfur on your tongue as you take your seat across from him.
"Now then," he says as he accepts the surprisingly-quickly-sourced poison from the Mediator's Judge—which you do likewise, of course, "let's get down to business."
Goodwill: 6
Current Balance: +6
Your Holdings:
227 Food) 1 Food = +1 Balance
48 Goods) 3 Goods = +1 Balance
Their Holdings:
Resources:
Forged Iron) 12oz = -1 Balance
Magical Metal) 6oz (Write In) = -1 Balance
Socket Stones) 1 Stone = -1 Balance
Precious Gemstones) 1oz = -1 Balance
Semi-Precious Gemstones) 2oz = -1 Balance
(Others determined via thread discussion)
Knowledge:
"Advice on Underhouse") = -4 Balance
(Extras determined via thread discussion)
Services:
(Determined via thread discussion)
How do you wish to proceed?
[ ] Write in
0~0~0
AN: Well, I forgot about the dwarves being on the docket. You win some, you lose some, I guess. Regardless, this was a good chance for me to get back in the saddle!
15-minute moratorium. We'll see if there's any possibility of a second update, but I wouldn't hold my breath.
Also, you didn't ask about the tricks because you were already asking a lot of him in the free social while training bit.
- Location
- Many Places
They absolutely are not or are you forgetting how Asveig died?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yes, Norse Quest life expectancy should logically be higher.
I mean, there are those pesky Fated Days. Which clearly have something to do with it.
The thing I found said half those born dead by 7, half of those who lived to 20 dead before 50, with 15% of the population 50+ and only 1-3% at 60+.
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@Imperial Fister to know what we need to buy we really need to know the amount of Iron required for Tryggr and Trausti's weapons. Is that higher because they're Giant-Blooded or not, and what is it for Trausti's axe in either case?
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
It's not higher, I'll say.
As for Trausti, I'll just say that it's, oh, 20oz of iron
They absolutely are, or we would already have lost a couple of children to disease by now.
Halla has also never had a seriously debilitating fever or other illness in the quest, and with the exception of our mother, no named character that I can recall has died due to illness either. That would be more or less unheard of in pre-modernity. Presumably Asveig dying is because it was her Fated Day or for some other reason. I did say "most", not "totally immune", for that reason.
That's a fair point. I don't know whether Fated Days should override other factors, or happen at around the average life expectancy..
It's Wiki, so treat with caution, but this gives an overview for different periods and has some links to sources. Another thing to factor in for Steinarr is that the average life expectancy for someone who has already made it to forty is higher than the average person who's made it to ten or twenty, because they've already survived the mortality risk of those years. Also that Steinarr's and our nutrition is solidly that of gentry or nobility by pre-modern standards, which means the comparison point is more like aristocracy, who have higher averages to begin with.
But I feel guilty as this is now distracting from the update. 😅
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Voting is now open
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Sweet, so we need 16 oz. for the two saxes for Tryggr, but already have 10. That makes our total needs for stuff we want soon, 24 oz. Icy Iron, 18 oz. Storm Iron (for Stigmar's sword), 6 oz. Drafty Iron, and 6 oz. Molten Iron for us.
I mean...Halla, unlike most people, has actual disease prevention magic, and her children are all Giant-Blooded and thus literally superhumanly healthy in a way most Norse children are not. Her circumstances should not be considered typical. And one of her siblings did die of disease, actually, as a baby pre-quest.
Can we ask them to help us smith?
Get more done in an AP for some tradebalance.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Okay, so, here's what we need:
[X] Plan Needed Iron And Information
-[X] Pay 48 Goods, 5 Food (+21 Balance)
-[X] Purchase "Advice on Underhouse" (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 24 oz. Icy Iron (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 18 oz. Storm Iron (-3 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Drafty Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Molten Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 7 Socket Stones (-7 Balance)
I think we should throw in a tiny bit of Food, but only a tiny bit and this gets us what we need plus a reputation-up with them. It also gets us a tad extra of everything. I'd be pleased to reassign the 3 Balance in extra there to something else...I'm just not sure what.
Dwarven smithing all stops working in sunlight. It's a problem.
EDIT: Shit. Forgot Socket Stones. Fixed. Added on a little bit of Food, but still not too much.
[X] Plan Needed Iron And Information
-[X] Pay 48 Goods, 5 Food (+21 Balance)
-[X] Purchase "Advice on Underhouse" (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 24 oz. Icy Iron (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 18 oz. Storm Iron (-3 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Drafty Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Molten Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 7 Socket Stones (-7 Balance)
I think we should throw in a tiny bit of Food, but only a tiny bit and this gets us what we need plus a reputation-up with them. It also gets us a tad extra of everything. I'd be pleased to reassign the 3 Balance in extra there to something else...I'm just not sure what.
Dwarven smithing all stops working in sunlight. It's a problem.
EDIT: Shit. Forgot Socket Stones. Fixed. Added on a little bit of Food, but still not too much.
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- Location
- Many Places
[X] Plan Needed Iron And Information
-[X] Pay 48 Goods, 5 Food (+21 Balance)
-[X] Purchase "Advice on Underhouse" (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 24 oz. Icy Iron (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 18 oz. Storm Iron (-3 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Drafty Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Molten Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 7 Socket Stones (-7 Balance)
-[X] Pay 48 Goods, 5 Food (+21 Balance)
-[X] Purchase "Advice on Underhouse" (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 24 oz. Icy Iron (-4 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 18 oz. Storm Iron (-3 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Drafty Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 6 oz. Molten Iron (-1 Balance)
-[X] Purchase 7 Socket Stones (-7 Balance)
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- Location
- In the oldest city on the oldest land
Didn't we need stone for the house or something?
- Location
- Bretonnia
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- He/Him
? From what I remember, only Halla's sister died, and that had some real shady shit behind it. Whatever it was, I'm pretty sure it was evident that it wasn't disease.
Stops working or their magic gets weaker?
Would have sworn it was the latter.
(Seems weird if stuff like Mjölnir stopped working in sunlight)
- Pronouns
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I don't think so, and it likely wouldn't be cheaper from the Dwarves anyway.
There are two dead siblings. Her brother died of disease and her sister to something weirder.
Stops working is what we were told.
- Location
- California
I would much rather only move on from Halla once she actually dies and the Charred Soul gets inherited. Not only am I fond of the character and want to play through her fully, I've always been fascinated by the opportunities offered by the set-up of the quest. If everything goes well and we don't end up playing our son until he's in his 20s and has already had a few adventures to establish himself, it'll mean that playing him will be more firmly separated from Halla. He'll have his own developed skills and tricks, so we won't be tempted to just try and port the ones we already know and like onto him. It gives IF a chance to establish a whole new cast and world-state right off the bat for us to get to know.
Lets play Halla until her Fated Day. Whether that is on the fields of the upcoming war, or wherever our adventures take us afterwards.
Lets play Halla until her Fated Day. Whether that is on the fields of the upcoming war, or wherever our adventures take us afterwards.
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But it also means no agencies in what his skills+tricks / style is.
socket stones are always great. help building stuff in the underhouse we cleared is also nice, or maybe help for people taking refuge there should they need it? like basically agreeing that if our people have to shelter there the dwarves will help/protect them while the do(within reasonable limits, of course)
also, maybe advice on runes? interaction of living weapons/armor? maybe some advice on how to improve our grade of smithing?
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Shit forgot Socket Stones. We actually need those this turn, I can't believe I forgot. Fixed.
That does mean we have no leeway for much other stuff, though.
- Location
- California
Yes, exactly. That's what I like about it. It will force us to begin innovating with an entirely new set of tools, keep us fresh and sharp.
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- He/Him
IF said on Discord that we probably shouldn't start playing anyone after they were about 20. Like, 20th birthday as the latest start possible so that we still have time to play them and fiddle with their build rather than it being set in stone. I think 20 is plenty to have something of a build established, though, given that Halla is all of 20 right now herself and the kids will get better and earlier training they'll likely have a fair bit of stuff already at that point.
Which, actually, is one thing that inclines me to want to play Sigurdr before she dies...I'd like Halla to live past 37 if possible, and Sigurdr seems particularly fun to play.
- Location
- California
I guess to me it comes down to the fact that I don't think Halla is really likely to live that long. I'd like us to see the war out to it's conclusion, but I wouldn't be surprised if our life stops there. I'm pretty sure Steiner won't be making it off those fields alive. 37 is a damn good age for someone of this society, and the fact that our dad made it into his late 50s in a miracle nearly in defiance of fate, and we shouldn't assume any of our lives are gonna reach that any time soon.
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Well, all this is if we survive the war. We have to play it through until then at the very least. This discussion only becomes relevant post-war.
And 37 isn't that great, as lifespans go. It's not as bad as it could be, but it's not great. 50% of people who make it to 20 make it to 50, after all. Halla has made it to 20, so from here she's in the bottom 50% if she doesn't make it to 50...that's possible, but not ideal.
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