would "charging up" ranged attacks give them more narrative weight?
like if you drew your bow and held it ready for some time before firing, would that have more narrative weight than firing it off immedietly?
would "charging up" ranged attacks give them more narrative weight?
like if you drew your bow and held it ready for some time before firing, would that have more narrative weight than firing it off immedietly?
Per the discussion, big attacks have more narrative weight than small ones, it's just that a ranged attack of whatever size is never as narratively heavy as an equally sized melee one.
[X] Yes, you would!
-[X] "Want to hear the story of the time I threw riddles with a Jotun?"
0~0~0
"So," you start as you eye a flashy, lightning-filled chunk of polished amber, "wanna hear about the time I threw riddles with a Jotun?"
Lidrun of the Red Scarf arches a brow, the movement revealing a scar just above her left eye—a wound typically hidden away in the folds of the eye socket. "Riddles with a Jotun?" She tilts her head to the side, her slender and sharp features catching the light just so, "I believe I've heard your tale in passing, but haven't been able to collect the story in detail. So yes," she nods, "I would like to listen."
You grin and bob your head as you launch into a retelling of the events. She listens intently as you describe the stillness of the ocean and the way the waves froze. You tell her of the falling birds and the laughter of an invisible audience. Your words bring to life how you felt, how the tension in the air kept the wind from cackling and the waves from lapping.
As your words spill from your mouth, you find that you don't need to stop for even a moment—not to wet your throat nor even to take a breath! As she nods along, yellow eyes transfixed to yours, it's like you're the focus of the world as the story unfolds from your voice.
You can almost see the words as they travel from you to her. Letters and syllables twist together to form words and sentences as spoken noise becomes recited story.
As the story ends with the Jotun swearing revenge, Lidrun blinks and the eyes of the world close with her. You stagger back, suddenly out of breath and with a dry throat. A cough sends you scrambling for your water, only for your hands to be filled with a leather-wrapped canteen. Lidrun nods as you meet her gaze. Permission granted and dehydrated confusion-cleared, you swiftly down the contents and sigh as the refreshing liquid soothes your cracked throat.
Capping the canteen, you pass it back as you wipe your mouth. "Thank you," you wheeze, still unsteady from the sudden thirst.
Lidrun shakes her head as she tucks the canteen away, "Think nothing of it. It was my fault for not checking your readiness."
"Remembering to drink water is hard sometimes," you offer a sheepish shrug as the next question springs from your lips. "What... What was that thing you did," you gesture around you in a somewhat erratic manner, not overly sure how to describe what it felt like, "with the, uh, the eyes of the world?"
"I recorded your story, like you asked," her eyes narrow as she places a finger to her lips. "Did you not know that would happen?"
Your sheepish shrug gains a grin, "I, uh, haven't had the chance to interact much with skalds."
"Ah," she nods like she expected that, "the, in that case, allow me to explain things to you." She clears her throat before launching into an explanation of a skald's work. "A skald is someone who travels in search of stories to remember and recite as needed. Skalds are often hired by those of standing to record and recite the efforts and accomplishments of them and their men, further enhancing the glory earned by those actions. The recording of these stories is an intensive process, as the best way to learn something is to either experience it yourself or to experience it as if you were there, which requires the engagement of all your senses."
"Well, did it work?" You'll process through Lidrun's words later, but for now your curiosity remains unsated.
"It did, yes," Lidrun chuckles to herself. "As you were neither aware of what would happen nor were you ready, I offer a choice of Twist as recompense."
Lidrun holds out an empty hand as she brings forth Twists. With eyes closed and lungs empty, she breaths in potential and breathes out the threads of tales long told. A trio of red, blue, and yellow threads filter through the air before coiling above her cupped hand.
"The first Twist," the red strand wiggles, "recalls the time that a Berserk stood alone against impossible odds. With axe in hand, he stayed the course while challenging all those who came before him."
"The second Twist," the blue strand twitches, "recalls the time that a man of two shields threw himself bodily before arrow after spear-cast, stopping them all before they reached his wounded comrade."
"The third Twist," the yellow strand quivers, "recalls the time that a man in search of stolen treasure donned a dress to fool a Jotun."
Which Twist do you choose?
[ ] The Red Twist
[ ] The Blue Twist
[ ] The Yellow Twist
0~0~0
With that, Lidrun of the Red Scarf departs to the Headsman's Hall, where she is to stay until summer comes and the way to Jurgdby is open.
This leaves you with a chance to get some shopping done, yay!
During your discussion with Lidrun, you were examining the exotic and magical goods and plants on display.
This year's offerings are mighty indeed!
Of the many minor offerings, three stand out to your senses. The first is a whalebone bedrest said to promote strength and fertility. The second is a strange, long-necked horn taken from a tomb in the Danelaw. It is said to strengthen the courage of your allies while shaking the foundations of your enemies. The third is an odd, one-edged sword with a long, gently sweeping blade found floating atop the ocean's waves. The guard is circular and bears the design of black, interlocking crow's feathers while the grip is long and covered with red thread in diamond-shaped patterns.
On the plant side of things, there's a moss said to cushion a fall from any height, a red-petaled flower said to absorb blood with ease, and a stumpy, twisting tuber said to bore through rock and earth in search of water.
Of course, there's a number of other minor knick-knacks like lightning caught in amber, a canteen containing lightning, and, strangely enough, a long metal pole said to attract lightning. Lots of lightning-themed goods on display here today, that much is clear.
How would you like to spend your money?
[ ] Write in
Whalebone Bedrest (45oz Silver) (Adds 3 Extra Dice when rolling for children and a free trait pick)
Boar-Headed Horn (70oz Silver) (Encourages your allies while discouraging your enemies)
Strange Sword (110oz Silver) (7d6 Dice. ???)
Falling Moss (3 seeds per 1/4oz Silver, to a maximum of 2oz) (Falling in this allows someone to survive a fall from any height)
Blood-Seeking Petal (2 seeds per 1/2oz Silver, to a maximum of 1oz) (Stops bleeding and mends wounds, allowing warriors to get back in the fight quicker)
Drill-Well Tuber (3 seeds per 1/4oz Silver, to a maximum of 3oz) (When it is planted, it drills down in search of water sources which it then pumps back to the surface)
Amber-Trapped Lightning (1 per 2oz Silver, to a maximum of 14oz) (Crushing this unleashes the stored lightning, often in a violent manner)
Lightning in a Bottle (1 per 8oz Silver, to a maximum of 24oz) (Opening this is said to bring great inspiration for a short period of time, allowing for a project to be made in a fraction of the time—though, once used, it can't be re-used)
Lightning Rod (180oz Silver) (A long, copper pole that is said to attract lightning. There is only one available in this market)
0~0~0
After you finish shopping, what would you like to do next? You reckon you'll only be able to accomplish two more things before you have to return home.
[ ] Go meet with the Headsman for some purpose or another
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Go listen to what rumors are floating around
-[ ] (Optional Write In) Focus your search on subjects of your choice
[ ] Continue speaking with Lidrun of the Red-Scarf
-[ ] Write in the topics
0~0~0
AN: And there we go, an interesting turn of events indeed!
15-minute moratorium and what is likely to be a short vote
Anyway, Whalebone Bedrest is important, the katana would be interesting research, we can add some nice new plants to our Soulscape too, and the Lightning Rod looks like a way to actually initiate someone into the Lightning Hugareida. Which would be good for one of our kids once they've grown up and gotten swole enough. (I know I wanted Sigurdr to pick up Lightning myself if possible.)
In terms of Twists, I think we want Red or Blue...we need more options in combat, and Yellow overlaps a lot with Dressed In Rags.
In terms of items, well, we need that bed. It's great. We should also buy at least one seed of every sort because why not? The Lightning in a bottle also sounds extremely useful if it does what it says on the tin...getting more projects done to clear up our backlog would be great.
I could go either way on the Horn and the Sword. Well, okay, we want the sword just to find out about it...it's a trifle expensive though.
I dunno about the lightning rod...that seems like a very expensive way to do something unwise. On the other hand, maybe it's less unwise than I'm thinking?
In terms of Twists, I think we want Red or Blue...we need more options in combat, and Yellow overlaps a lot with Dressed In Rags.
In terms of items, well, we need that bed. It's great. We should also buy at least one seed of every sort because why not? The Lightning in a bottle also sounds extremely useful if it does what it says on the tin...getting more projects done to clear up our backlog would be great.
I could go either way on the Horn and the Sword. Well, okay, we want the sword just to find out about it...it's a trifle expensive though.
I dunno about the lightning rod...that seems like a very expensive way to do something unwise. On the other hand, maybe it's less unwise than I'm thinking?
I dunno about the lightning rod...that seems like a very expensive way to do something unwise. On the other hand, maybe it's less unwise than I'm thinking?
Lightning Hugareida is said to be very powerful. and since the rod isn't consumed and copper doesn't corrode quickly our children can likely use it too. maybe even theirs.
plus, we really need to continue Blackhand's legacy of sticking our hand into all sorts of dangerous stuff
in terms of plants, I think we should go with the Falling moss, simply because of it might synergize nicely with flying combat. the blood flower also looks like a nice thing to have in our soulscape.
the lightning in a bottle might be worth the investment honestly, if we can use it to craft one, or maybe even two things without an action, then sell them we might make much more then the price of iron and lightning, so clean profit. it can also be a pretty nice way to get out of crafting hell
Yellow sounds like the story of Thor and Thrym; I'm tempted to vote on it due to it being derived from the gods. Otoh, Blue sounds like it came from Two-Shields, which is cool. And we can always use Interrupts.
"The second Twist," the blue strand twitches, "recalls the time that a man of two shields threw himself bodily before arrow after spear-cast, stopping them all before they reached his wounded comrade."
Falling Moss (3 seeds per 1/4oz Silver, to a maximum of 2oz) (Falling in this allows someone to survive a fall from any height)
Blood-Seeking Petal (2 seeds per 1/2oz Silver, to a maximum of 1oz) (Stops bleeding and mends wounds, allowing warriors to get back in the fight quicker)
Drill-Well Tuber (3 seeds per 1/4oz Silver, to a maximum of 3oz) (When it is planted, it drills down in search of water sources which it then pumps back to the surface)
Yellow sounds like the story of Thor and Thrym; I'm tempted to vote on it due to it being derived from the gods. Otoh, Blue sounds like it came from Two-Shields, which is cool. And we can always use Interrupts.
but Halla is already a woman. A Twist to make her look like a woman, while hilarious, is kind of a waste. (especially because she already has the beautiful trait too....)
I mean...that would give us better stealth, maybe? Do we need better stealth? Our stealth is good. I think we need better combat more than we need the chance at that (and it is a chance, we don't know this would work).
Utility isn't everything, but we've been sort of desperately looking for more Combat Twists for a while. Turning one down when we have the opportunity is a bad call, IMO.
[X] The Blue Twist
Okay, so, here's the plan for buying basically everything:
[X] Plan Let's Buy Everything!
-[X] Whalebone Bedrest (45oz Silver) (Adds 3 Extra Dice when rolling for children and a free trait pick)
-[X] Boar-Headed Horn (70oz Silver) (Encourages your allies while discouraging your enemies)
-[X] Strange Sword (110oz Silver) (7d6 Dice. ???)
-[X] Falling Moss (24 seeds for 2oz Silver) (Falling in this allows someone to survive a fall from any height)
-[X] Blood-Seeking Petal (4 seeds for 1oz Silver) (Stops bleeding and mends wounds, allowing warriors to get back in the fight quicker)
-[X] Drill-Well Tuber (21 seeds for 1 and 3/4oz Silver) (When it is planted, it drills down in search of water sources which it then pumps back to the surface)
-[X] Amber-Trapped Lightning (7 for 14oz Silver) (Crushing this unleashes the stored lightning, often in a violent manner)
-[X] Lightning in a Bottle (3 for 24oz Silver) (Opening this is said to bring great inspiration for a short period of time, allowing for a project to be made in a fraction of the time—though, once used, it can't be re-used)
-[X] Lightning Rod (1 for 180oz Silver) (A long, copper pole that is said to attract lightning. There is only one available in this market)
Total Cost: 447 and 3/4 oz silver.
This is a slight misnomer since we're not buying every seed possible (we're buying every type, but not quite as many Drill-Well Tubers as possible). But I don't think we need 36 of those and this evens out our money a bit.
I dunno what we do next honestly.
EDIT:
Approval Voting these for the moment:
[X] The Red Twist
[X] Continue speaking with Lidrun of the Red-Scarf
-[X] "My kids aren't old enough yet, but I'm considering apprenticeships for some of them with a Skald, can you tell me something about your craft and do you know any Skalds that would be interested when my kids are old enough?"
-[X] "Do Skalds pick up intersting rumours, for example about Vestfold, or is that overshadowed by the heroic stories?"
[X] Go meet with the Headsman for some purpose or another
-[X] Buy more land for your Farm, if its possible buy the land who once belonged to Kerby or Runby. See also if you can pay with Dwarf Coins.
I don't think we need the horn? We've got effects that can do the same already, but the rest is all really cool. We can make a sweet-ass playplace for the kids with the moss for instance!
Why the amber-trapped lightning? For bling my friends, as literal lightning jewels would be super cool accents to our upcoming Plate design, and also that meditating on them might give us some Standstill Insights as well.
[X] Go listen to what rumors are floating around
-[X] Especially around Vestfold, you don't plan on going there in the immediate future, but it'd be good to keep an ear open.
They're a relatively cheap consumable grenade. Also, as amber they may be useful with Standstill related stuff. There's been talk about playing around with amber for a while...
Getting the lightning rod or amber sounds promising. Not so much that I want Halla to get Lightning, but I do want to get it at least once, and at least with the lightning rod we can actually consider the possibility.
[X] The Red Twist
Doubt it'll win, but with us having Standstill I'd rather get the Red Twist.
war referring to a post about learning to unravel Fylgja
