[X] Speak to your mother about your concerns regarding Astrid and Brunhildr acting oddly.

If two of the main girls in your life are acting weirdly, who better to go to for advice than your mother? Mother should have some good insights as unlike you, she is a woman like Astrid and Brunhildr are.

Ingrid Goodwife is an excellent example of a Norsewoman as exemplified by her Kenning. While the least impressive heritage wise of the women that Father sleeps with, Mother is easily the only one he truly loves. When Father married Mother, it was out of love while every woman he has taken as a concubine is nothing more than a prize in his eyes.

While commoner women are generally expected to do everything themselves with only the aid of their daughters or thralls, Mother is a noblewoman and as the wife of a man who rules over a city, much of her time is spent organising others. Her responsibility isn't to cook dinner or weave new clothes, but to manage the multitude of lesser women who do that on the behalf of the entire household.

Nonetheless, she does take it upon herself to occasionally make a meal for Father and the rest of you or to weave some clothing for you, clothing that you treasure amongst your most valuable possessions. And she always makes time for you when you need it, something you are counting upon now.

Mother isn't a great beauty like Astrid is growing up to be or many of Father's concubines. Plain brown hair, soft brown eyes and the slender figure of someone who spends their time managing others over performing their own labour. Her attractiveness is a homely one, a faithful and reliable wife who will tend to your hearth whilst you are out doing business.

"Mother," you say as you approach her one evening, "There is something I want to speak with you about."

"That something wouldn't happen to be young Astrid, would it?" inquires your mother with a knowing smile.

"Yes, her and Brunhildr," you confirm, "You noticed something about them too?"

"I've noticed how you've been looking at her and I don't blame you," says Mother with some amusement, "You're both still young, but you are around the age that you start to notice the other sex. And Astrid is quite the looker."

"What are you talking about?" you ask, genuinely confused at what Mother is talking about because this is not what you had in mind.

"Young love," answers Mother with a grin.

"Oh, I was talking about how weird Astrid has been acting recently," you explain hastily, "She has been really odd lately."

"Torvald, she is a girl who is becoming a woman," says Mother, "Behaving differently is normal for someone of her age."

"But she has given up her secret shieldmaiden training and we don't help each other practice our seidr anymore!" you protest.

"Maybe she has chosen to follow a new path for her adulthood?" suggests Mother, but her belief in her words sounds weak.

"I've known Astrid for almost my entire life," you say, "She wouldn't just change like that. And it isn't just her either, Brunhildr has been acting odd. She keeps watching the warriors spar and she actually follows what they are up to. She behaves almost like Astrid should be acting."

""I suspect that it might have something to do with your father's correspondence with the Jarl," says Mother, "There has been discussion about marriages between Torsten and Brunhildr with the Jarl's children. If Brunhildr has caught word of that, it might be the cause behind her change in behaviour. I suppose I could mention it to your father or Solvieg, but perhaps you should just speak with them.

"I'v tried, but Astrid just brushed me off," you tell her.

"Then perhaps try with Brunhildr?" suggests Mother.


That night, you notice that Astrid and Brunhildr aren't around. A quick check in with Sigrid reveals that both girls left shortly after they finished eating. That bit of news causes you to frown upon hearing it. That is also unlike them. Brunhildr loves to socialise and Astrid usually hangs about with you though she has been doing that increasingly less so for the last several days.

Thanking Sigrid for her help, you make your own exit as you look for Astrid or Brunhildr. Wondering if Astrid might have gone back to her secret training, you check some of her usual haunts and to your surprise, you hear the sounds of people at one of them.

Calling upon your Lightning Blood, you sneak upon them. If it is someone other than Astrid and Brunhildr, you'll just move on with and leave them to their business, but if it is…

As you sneak closer, you hear the voices of Brunhildr giving instruction to Astrid. Your eyes widen as you finally get within sight of Brunhildr and Astrid sparring with each other. No, not sparring, but Brunhildr teaching Astrid how to fight? What in the name of the Gods is going on here?

No plan voting.

What does Torvald do?
[ ] He confronts both girls here and now about what is going on.
[ ] He waits until morning to talk with Astrid about why she is training with Brunhildr, but not you.
[ ] He waits until morning to speak with Brunhildr about her own odd behaviour.
[ ] Ask Sigrid if she has any idea what is going on.
[ ] Raise your concerns with your father about both Astrid and Brunhildr acting oddly.
[ ] Speak with Volva Solvieg to see if she can provide any information or wisdom regarding the matter.

What does Torvald think is going on? Aka the voters attempt to solve the mystery.
[ ] Write-in.



I feel like I should apologise for how late this update is because I meant to get it out yesterday, but honestly? It has only been a couple of days so not actually that late. Anyway, Torvald's mother proves to be less helpful than predicted and you get another clue for the mystery. I'm only going to give you another couple of chances to do so before wrapping up this year of Torvald's childhood. If you succeed in solving the mystery, you get rewards. If you don't, well, I might give you conciliatory prize depending on how well you do.

Please point out any spelling or grammar mistakes that you spot. Please quote them in the thread and explain what you think is wrong so I know what you are referring to.

[X] He confronts both girls here and now about what is going on.
[X] Astrid and Brunhildr have switched bodies somehow?


Struggling with the scene that you have found, you decide to confront them head on for answers. You are blanking on how it could have happened, but from the way they've been acting like each other, you suspect they have switched bodies or something.

"Astrid! Brunhildr!" you call as you step out into the moonlight to the panicked shock of the two girls, "What's going on?"

"Torvald!" exclaims Brunhildr though you believe her to actually be Astrid in Brunhildr's body, "It isn't what it looks like!"

"It looks like you are training Brunhildr, Astrid," you retort.

"I am not!" protests Astrid-as-Brunhildr, causing Brunhildr in Astrid's body to sigh.

"Brunhildr, he has figured it out," says Brunhildr-as-Astrid as she glowers at you.

"If you're Brunhildr, why are you calling her Brunhildr?" you ask your sister, "You just said that I figured it out."

"That would be the part of the seidr on them," says an unfamiliar voice and you whirl to see a stranger, a very handsome man who stands tall and slim with curly red hair and a moustache that twirls at its ends.

Despite having never met this man before in your life, you know exactly who this is. Loki Laufeyjarson. The Sly God, the Father of Monsters and blood brother of Odin Allfather. Anyone who paid attention to their lessons on the Gods will recognise Loki, at least when he isn't disguising himself. Something he certainly isn't attempting to do right now.

"Lord Loki," you greet him and your words are echoed by Astrid and Brunhildr as they both do the same.

"Don't worry about the formalities, ladies," replies Loki casually, "We're skulking at night. I think we're a little past proper decorum."

"I'm not a lady," you protest and the god just gives you a smirk.

"We are all ladies for tonight, dearest Torhild," says Loki and you blink as instead of a tall and handsome man, you find yourself facing a slender and beautiful woman.

"Torhild?" you repeat in confusion because your name is Torvald only to pause as your voice sounds weird.

"Torhild," says Brunhildr's body, "You're a girl now."

You look down with a yelp as you find a budding bosom on your chest and your tunic and trousers have been replaced by a dress. You jerk your head back, only for locks of long red hair to get in your face.

"Wh-what?" you stutter.

"A trickster has to have their fun," says Loki with a wink, "It's all harmless in the end and the other two are already in each other's bodies. Honestly, Torhild, there are plenty worse fates than being a girl, you know. I could leave you like that and you would be fine."

"If we are being informal, Lady Loki, can we please get on with this?" asks Brunhildr-as-Astrid as she crosses her arms.

"Just a moment, Brunnie," replies Loki cheerfully as you poke your chest, still struggling with the idea of just being a girl and not a man, "Just let me get Torhild up to date with our last encounter."

"Last encounter?" you repeat.

"A week and a half ago, I found these two young lasses arguing with each other about their chosen paths in life," says Loki, "I figured why not give them a taste of each other's life and see which one does it better. It has been as funny as I thought it would be."

"That's why you did it?" snaps Astrid-as-Brunhildr, "Because you thought it would be funny?"

"Yep, the same reason I turned Torvald into Torhild," answers Loki with a grin on her face, "I found the idea amusing so I did it."

"Is there a way to go back to normal?" you ask because you do not fancy having to explain this to your parents or dealing with anyone else you know seeing you like this.

"You'll be back to being Torvald at sunrise," says Loki dismissively, "Enjoy a-no wait, you're too young for that."

"And Astrid and I?" inquires Brunhildr-as-Astrid.

"I suppose you could go back to normal as well," concedes Loki with clear reluctance, "I've had my fun here for now."

"Thank you, Lady Loki," replies Brunhildr-as-Astrid and the god waves her off.

"Yes, yes," mutters Loki as she turns her attention back to you, "Torhild, I'm not surprised you figured out my prank, but I did expect you to take at least another day to do so. So for that, you get a boon! From yours truly!"

Gain 10 Prestige
Gain 12 Piety
Gain 1 Hamingja.

What boon do you collect from Loki?
[ ] Some shape-shifting.
[ ] Deceiving a foe.
[ ] Instruction in seidr.
[ ] Write-in.



You figured out the mystery an update earlier than I expected though that might be because I had been too obvious with my clues. Anyway, it was a big prank by Loki as the Trickster decided to have some fun at the expense of Brunhildr and Astrid.

Please point out any spelling or grammar mistakes that you spot. Please quote them in the thread and explain what you think is wrong so I know what you are referring to.