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NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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'Voting' is now closed. Gotta say, that seems to have been the trick. I'm already feeling way more focused on writing then I was yesterday
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on Oct 24, 2023 at 2:12 PM, finished with 1 posts and 0 votes.
No votes were able to be tallied!
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Blademaster said:
honestly I am starting to feel like we should have considered taking on Corpsemaker's offer. probably still not, and all our reasons are valid. but having someone of Dorri's camp replace him, rather then someone directly opposed, might have been good.
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If that was really his motivation, then there are other options who would fall under that category and he will likely look into one of them. We have things to do that the particular job offer would cause issues with, but much more importantly, it would necessitate us swearing an oath to Corpsemaker, and I don't think we can do that for several reasons even if he isn't behind Steinarr's death (and he's still, like, #2 on the suspect list on that). Turning that offer down was right, at least for right now.

Imperial Fister said:
'Voting' is now closed. Gotta say, that seems to have been the trick. I'm already feeling way more focused on writing then I was yesterday
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Yay! Glad that worked.
 
DeadmanwalkingXI said:
If that was really his motivation, then there are other options who would fall under that category and he will likely look into one of them. We have things to do that the particular job offer would cause issues with, but much more importantly, it would necessitate us swearing an oath to Corpsemaker, and I don't think we can do that for several reasons even if he isn't behind Steinarr's death (and he's still, like, #2 on the suspect list on that). Turning that offer down was right, at least for right now.
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I don't doubt that, I was just thinking of the possibilities and saying there were some reasons to accept. would still have voted no if it was for a vote now
 
DeadmanwalkingXI said:
If that was really his motivation, then there are other options who would fall under that category and he will likely look into one of them. We have things to do that the particular job offer would cause issues with, but much more importantly, it would necessitate us swearing an oath to Corpsemaker, and I don't think we can do that for several reasons even if he isn't behind Steinarr's death (and he's still, like, #2 on the suspect list on that). Turning that offer down was right, at least for right now.
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I think that our weakness in this situation is that we lack information on what the fuck is exactly going on.

We have mostly ignored the politics of both the Valley and Agder until now. Knowing just the basics like who is the Jarl and who is the King.

We don't even know what exactly are the factions involved in this mess and what are their motivations and goals.

Who are Dorri supporters? Who are Corpsemaker supporters? How many they are? What resources they have? Why they oppose each other? Do we know any of them already?

When Corpsemaker made his offer we simply couldn't make an informed decision.
 
I've had an idea. Why don't I just have you folks roll for crafting?

As a test for this, I'll need someone to roll Housecraft + Artcraft for the Forged Iron Knife and the Runes
I'll also need someone else to roll Artcraft to redo the runes on the drinking horn
 
Housecraft + Forgefire for the knife
AeonIlluminate threw 12 6-faced dice. Reason: House+Art Craft (Knife) Total: 39
3 3 5 5 4 4 4 4 2 2 2 2 6 6 1 1 1 1 4 4 4 4 3 3
AeonIlluminate threw 3 6-faced dice. Reason: 3 more dice for Forgefire Total: 11
5 5 2 2 4 4
 
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To clarify the dice you'll be rolling, as there will be 3 separate rolls
Housecraft + Forgefire to roll for the Knife
Artcraft + Forgefire to roll for the Knife's Runes

Artcraft + Forgefire to roll for the Drinking Horn's Runes

edit: To make your lives easier, here's the code for Rolz.org that @Shard was kind enough to make for me... I think it was Shard, anyways
#15d3 E2 subfail=1 xmax=1
 
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3 more dice for that first roll, currently at 6 successes.

Since I'm here, fine, I'll roll for Knife Runes. This can only lead to tears.

EDIT: I TOLD YOU

That is... 2 successes total.
Alectai threw 12 6-faced dice. Reason: Artcraft + Forgefire (6 + 9) Total: 29
4 4 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 5 5 3 3 4 4 1 1 4 4 1 1 3 3
Alectai threw 3 6-faced dice. Reason: The Rest Of The Dice Total: 8
4 4 3 3 1 1
 
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7 in total actually!

I should not roll, but I cannot resist the temptation. Still had a positive number, but yeah, that's probably gonna have to be redone.

The actual forging came out okay though at 8 successes.
 
Alectai said:
That is... 2 successes total.
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Not including the +16 successes from your tools + workshop, +3 successes from stoking your aspects, and +1d3 successes from Sundersight

But yeah, not the best roll I've ever seen

However, you could, if so desired, use Heat Hold on it to try again later. That's one of the reasons why I've decided to try it this way, as then you can actually use Heat Hold in the way it was intended
 
Have we used heat hold at all? I can't recall using it at all since we got it. It sort of has combat applications but that would trade off our abilities to use runes.
 
Those dice totals are wrong. We are currently at 26 dice each on Housecraft and Artcraft rolls because we add Hugr.

That totals 11 rolled successes on the first roll and wildly doesn't help the second at all. Then Sundersight adds 2 on the first and 1 on the second.

Both get +19 successes from gear, Wrokshop, and Aspects, for 32 total on the Housecraft and 22 on the Artcraft. Quality then gets one free upgrade netting Wondrous on the Housecraft and Grand for the Artcraft.
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 11 6-faced dice. Reason: Hugr on Housecraft Total: 31
1 1 5 5 1 1 3 3 3 3 4 4 2 2 3 3 2 2 6 6 1 1
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 11 6-faced dice. Reason: Hugr on Artcraft Total: 32
1 1 1 1 6 6 4 4 2 2 1 1 6 6 1 1 6 6 2 2 2 2
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 2 3-faced dice. Reason: Sundersight Total: 3
2 2 1 1
 
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God, even with another 11 dice each, Artcraft doesn't improve.

At least Housecraft got another 3 though, and then +2 from Sundersight, 13 + 19 = 32, which hits Wondrous, but yeah, dat Artcraft be cursed at only 22 raised to 26 from Forge in Hand, Still Grand of course, but it could have been a lot better.
 
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Imperial Fister said:
However, you could, if so desired, use Heat Hold on it to try again later. That's one of the reasons why I've decided to try it this way, as then you can actually use Heat Hold in the way it was intended
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Would this actually save us an action over just doing it again later? We might want to on that Artcraft all things considered, but I'm not sure what the benefit is there in a mechanics sense.
 
Imperial Fister said:
It would, yes. Well over half the time is spent waiting for the metal to heat up, anyways
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So we'd get to try again as a free action? Yeah, we probably want to do that even if it delays the project's completion until next turn.

Alright, I'll give the Drinking Horn's Runes a try in terms of rolling, I guess:

Okay, that's 21 successes on the dice so something silly like 44 after everything. We're good there.
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 11 6-faced dice. Reason: Hugr on Drinking Horn Total: 38
6 6 5 5 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 1 1 1 1 2 2 3 3 1 1
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 6 6-faced dice. Reason: Artcraft on Drinking Horn Total: 30
6 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 1 1 6 6
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 9 6-faced dice. Reason: Forgefire on Drinking Horn Total: 25
4 4 3 3 3 3 3 3 1 1 2 2 2 2 2 2 5 5
DeadmanwalkingXI threw 1 3-faced dice. Reason: Sundersight on Drinking Horn Total: 2
2 2
 
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Winter 10/Turn 1 Part 1
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan Friendly Divisions
    -[X] Attempt to see if Asva and Jordan want the farm, if not try and help Sten keep it together until, likely, one of our younger siblings comes of age and wants it (we'd split it between them if they desired, actually). The livestock will go to the younger siblings and be split between them either way (or bought out by whoever winds up with the farm) when they come of age.
    -[X] Divide Steinarr's wealth and prestige into 6 parts and divide them evenly among his 6 children. Those for the two youngest will be held in trust until they come of age (probably by Sten).
    -[X] Give Eric Crowfeeder unless Sten voices objections. If neither wants it, hold it for one of our younger siblings.
    -[X] Discuss freeing Randi if that hasn't been done yet. We don't think she needs to stay a thrall to stick around and help with the kids. Halla will pay any needed monies to make this work.

    [X] Plan After The Funeral
    -[X] [Sacrifices] Sacrifice 45 Food for 5 Temporary Hamingja
    -[X] [Social] (Personal) Spend time with...
    --[X] Sten and Eric
    --[X] Discuss inheritance stuff, including helping out Sten if he winds up holding onto the farm for now, bring up training items if people want or need those.
    --[X] Discuss revenge plans and the fact that the looming war means we should probably plan to kill the people involved during that for the most part, not now. We need a list, and we'll see them all dead (and maybe bound in knots on Sten's cord...speaking of which, how does that work, practically speaking?), but no need to go running off without a good plan.
    --[X] Eric
    --[X] Do what we can to make sure he's okay
    -[X] (Information) Try and find out about the doppelganger situation
    --[X] If we find useful information relay it to the relevant authorities (probably Dorri)
    -[X] (Crafting) Try to make something (1)
    --[X] Forged Iron Work Knife (+16 successes from Tools/Workshop)
    --[X] Add runes saying "May using me teach the use of a knife."–Training Item for Pierce and Slash if we can manage it
    --[X] Add beaver bone ash
    -[X] (Crafting) Try to make something (2)
    --[X] Redo the Drinking Horn's Runes (+16 successes from Tools/Workshop)
    --[X] Replace the runes with "May that drunk from me grant skill with words and a honeyed tongue." - Hopefully a Silver-Tongue and Wordplay Training Item that actually doubles xp
    --[X] Burn Saemd and Virthing instead of merely Stoking them on the runes(+7 successes instead of +3)
    -[X] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
    --[X] The hills!
    ---[X] (Optional)Send your fylgja in your place (Does not cost an action)
    ---[X] Try and find the skogtatt
    -[X] Special Note: On all Crafting add the following if possible unless otherwise specified:
    --[X] For metal items have Heat Hold available just in case
    --[X] Using Sundersight (+1d3 Successes)
    --[X] Stoking Frami, Virthing, and Saemd (for +1 Success each, +3 successes total) to enhance the crafting process
    -[X] (Research)
    --[X] Offer Sagaseeker additional magical metal of whatever type he prefers from our current stockpile up to a total of 6 oz., as well as giving him our per turn haul from the dwarves (which will likewise be whatever variety of metal he'd prefer for his consumption)
    --[X] Try infusing **1 Odr** into Clearwater to see if that works
    --[X] Set up a full slate of wards around our house and the Underhouse –1 Research
    --[X] Plan out and, if possible, build a gatehouse in our soul to defend the gate and force invaders down a specific path where we can deal with them more effectively – 1 Research
    ---[X] Stoke all three Aspects for +3 successes and use Sundersight if possible. Tools should help with the building process as well, for a net total of +12 successes +1d3 from Sundersight.
    --[X] Set up a full slate of wards (including a Barricade Ward) to defend our soulscape from any intruders, particularly around the Gate – 1 Research
    ---[X] As a free action afterward set up a beacon with Seidr to guide Blackhand back to us if possible
    --[X] Find out from prisoners a list of those who went to kill Steinarr, figure out which have met their Final Day and who is still on the list – 1 Research
    ---[X] We'd be willing to help arrange better treatment in exchange for this if needed, but it probably isn't hard info to get out of them
    ---[X] Relatedly, make sure none of those involved in torturing Eric wind up ransomed or anywhere good.
    --[X] Work to find out who in the Valley and Jurgdby and other surrounding areas can match the messenger's fire-running Trick – 1 Research
    --[X] Write a poem for use at Steinarr's funeral and put it on a Runestone in our soulscape – 1 Research
    -[X] (Training) Hamr (255 successes to rank up)
    --[X] Train Knee-Drop Back-Breaker 6xp (3xp)
    --[X] Train Ember Stoke 4xp (2xp)
    -[X] (Training) Hugr (207 successes to rank up)
    --[X] Train Hugr 116xp (58xp)
    --[X] Train Composure 6xp
    -[X] (Work Dice Usage)
    --[X] Buildings, Resources, and Livestock: 2Living Space, 2 Storage, otherwise maxed out (59 Total)
    --[X] Crafting: Making 1 Glue Bomb (2 Total)
    --[X] Construction: Improve Building – Workshop by 15 (15 Total)
    --[X] Conversion: Spend for 6 Research Dice (12 Total)
    --[X] Other: Help what was Steinarr's Farm out a bit while Sten gets used to things - 8 Work Dice (8 Total)
    -[X] (Incidentals)
    --[X] Infuse **64 Odr** into Fylgja
    --[X] Adding Taafl Board Capacity Gains to: Abjorn, Hallbjorn,
    --[X] Receiving Metal from Dwarves: 24 oz Forged Iron, 6 oz of whatever metal Sagaseeker would prefer
    -[X] (Alloy Slots)
    --[X] Assign Stoked Body
    -[X] (Capacity Slots)
    --[X] Unassign Gale Spear, assign Hooknails Reckoning, Flamecalling, and Unleash Inferno
    -[X] (Assign Hugareida Levels)
    --[X] Assign 3 Emberwind Level to Damage
    --[X] Assign 4 Firestorm Level to Damage
    --[X] Assign 3 Standstill Levels to dice and 2 to Instances
    --[X] Assign 6 Ignition Levels to Damage
    --[X] Assign 1 Atgeir Level to Instances
    -[X] (Fylgja Capacity)
    --[X] Add another shield in the new Capacity
    -[X] (Fylgja Alloy/Shapeshifting Slots)
    --[X] Assign Fylgja's new slot to Fast Creation, move 2 Frenzy there from Pockets, use the other Fast slot to store an Inertia-Arresting Throw.
    --[X] Remove the Orthstirr-Enhanced on the stored Kindle Spinners and Sparkbombs.
    -[X] (Standing Orders)
    --[X] Switch the replacing 3Fold Kindle Spinners and Sparkbombs to not be Orthstirr-Enhanced
    --[X] ???
    0~0~0
    Hugr 9-10
    Composure 3-4
    Knee-Drop Back-Breaker (Rough-Refined)
    Ember Stoke (Vague-Rough)
    0~0~0
    Hugr 10
    Where once there was inviolate fact, there is now but moldable opinion. What once was ironclad reality is now but softened clay ready for the sculptor's fine touch.

    Reality responds readily to the flexing of your mind, though you know well that asking anything of it would take every ounce of focus in your body to make reality pay heed to your will.

    What once was impossible is now merely improbable, if you are willing to pay the price for it.

    (Loopholes have been unlocked)
    Sagaseeker
    Sagaseeker happily gobbles down the six ounces of Drafty Iron, further increasing how many times he can bend the wind to his will.

    0~0~0
    Infusing Odr into Clearwater
    Infusing Odr into Clearwater doesn't seem to do much, if anything.

    0~0~0
    Warding House + Underhouse + Soulscape + Beacon
    After setting up a number of wards around your home, Underhouse, and Soulscape, you find yourself working on a beacon tuned to Blackhand's spiritual signature.

    Wiping your brow, you sit back as a flex of will powers up the ritual. Hopefully, that'll help speed up his return.

    0~0~0
    Working on a gatehouse
    It doesn't take much time to sketch out a design for a gatehouse in the dirt of your soulscape. However...

    You frown as you sigh, kicking at a nearby lump of conveniently-placed dirt. Unfortunately, you're not entirely sure how to build a gatehouse. It's not really something you've seen much in the way of in the Hading, or even in Norway as a whole.

    0~0~0
    Prisoners List
    Unfortunately, it seems that the prisoners weren't aware that anything was targeted at Steinarr in specifics. They also wouldn't know who had their Final Day and who didn't.

    You do make certain to confirm the thrall status of those who helped torture Eric—Sharkmouth among then—so that's nice.

    0~0~0

    You only manage to find out who in the Valley has a fire-running trick, in the limited time you have to work on it. The results are something of a mixed bag, unfortunately, as there is only one person who has such a trick in the Valley—a boy by the name of 'Peter Flamestepper'.

    Peter was too young to fight in the raid, but is an eager servant to Dorri nonetheless.

    0~0~0
    Poem
    After carving the last bit of poem onto a rock in your soul, you step back to admire it.

    While it feels nice to have some way of memorializing your father, you can't help but feel like it would be better suited if it could be viewed by other people.
    0~0~0
    Inheritance
    As Randi moves around the table while topping-off your drinks as she goes, you, Sten, and Eric sit crowded around several piles of rune-marked sticks—your inheritance made manifest. Over the course of the next several hours, you'll be working with your brothers to divvy up the land and wealth of your father.

    Sighing, you nurse your mead while gesturing at the sticks marked with land and farm shares, "None of us are all that skilled in working fields, and I've got my own farm to worry about, so why don't we table this one for now and offer it to Asva and her husband?"

    Sten nods along as he runs fingers through his bead-filled beard—a result of letting his children have the run of his face, "If they don't want it, then I guess I'll look after it as best I can till Sterki or Steinkell come of age. Either of them, or both, could well have the plant-touch."

    Sten's probably just going along with your idea because he doesn't particularly enjoy farming all that much. It's too monotonous for him, as he is so very fond of saying whenever this discussion comes up.

    Eric, on the other hand, isn't so thrilled by the idea. He folds his arms and narrows his eyes as he gestures at the stick piles, "I think that's a good idea, but I'd like to have some kind of assurance that we can change our minds later, should we be so inclined."

    "Why's that?" You tilt your head to the side as you lean in.

    He shrugs, "Not for any reason in particular. I'm just worried about what the future may hold for my family and I, if we might need to have some kind of back-up plan."

    You and Sten exchange a brows-arching glance as Eric dances around why he may need such a plan. Regardless, it's a good enough reason as any so you both accept it.

    "I'm sure that Halla would do the same thing," Sten nods towards you, "but my home will always be open to you and your family. If that's not enough, then I suppose we can parcel off a portion of the land in case of emergency." He pushes a land-marked stick off to the side before turning to you, "Thoughts, Halla?"

    "Like Sten said, my home is open to you and yours. However," you wiggle a finger at the lonely stick, "that emergency parcel should probably be available to all of us, just in case." With nobody voicing any objections to that, you move on to the next item on the list: Steinarr's wealth.

    Steinarr, as much as you may want to deny it, was a man of little material wealth. The fortunes he made as a Varangian were gone long before you were ever a gleam in his eye. He was the sort of person who gave generous gifts to all those he deemed deserving—which, to a man as gregarious as he, was just about everyone. As a result, he wound up with little in the way of silver or gold, but much in the way of friendship.

    However, his generous nature left little for his children. You'd never hold it against him, but you can't deny that you wouldn't mind having a little bit more.

    "So," you reach across the table, grasp the wealth-sticks, and swiftly sort them into six, equally-sized stacks. Sitting back, you wave a hand at the piles as you continue, "here's my idea for Dad's wealth. Six shares of equal size, three to us, one to Asva, and two held for Sterki and Steinkell."

    You're met with a round of flat stares from Sten and Eric as a strained smile splits your face in two. Sten sighs and leans in, "I'd say that was fair, if," his stare stays flat as he taps the table, "you hadn't already received land as your dowry and Mom's bridal crown. By all rights, that crown should've gone to Asva."

    "And don't think we missed where Crowfeeder ended up," Eric nods towards the sword-marked stick nestled within your proposed pile.

    You laugh and shake your head from side-to-side. Lifting your hands in mock surrender, you acquiesce to their demands, "Alright, alright, I'll give up my claim on Crowfeeder if I can keep the rest. Eric," you nudge Crowfeeder's stick his way, "do you want it?"

    Flicking the stick the rest of his way, Eric sighs and accepts the offer of recompense. Sten, however, isn't so easily soothed.

    "In that case," Sten reaches across the table to slide some extra livestock-sticks to himself, "I'll have the sheep for myself, while also taking the right of looking after Sterki and Steinkell's shares until they're grown."

    "If that lets me keep the cattle," yeah, you're being greedy, but so what? It's not like they wouldn't, after all, "then it's acceptable."

    With nobody voicing any further objections, you smile as negotiations finish and Randi tops off your drinks one final time. As you watch her navigate the room, however, you can't help but think of how long she's been a thrall. Surely she yearns for freedom, right?

    "What should we do with Randi?" You turn the question to your brothers as Randi pauses, her previously-neutral gaze turning cautiously-curious as they consider the question. "Should we free her now that Steinarr's dead?"

    Surprising everyone, Randi speaks up with a frown on her lightly-wrinkled face as she stands upright. "I'd ask you not do that, children, as it would be little more then a curse after so long spent in Steinarr's service."

    "But," your frown mirrors her own as you struggle with her refusal, "but surely you want to master your destiny, right?"

    "I have little-to-no prospects for marriage, and, as a woman of my age, I have only the slightest hope for children." She sighs and shakes her head, clearly deeply unhappy with those facts, "At the very least, I can keep my promise to your father by helping raise your children."

    "Promise?" It's not clear which of you—Sten, Eric, or yourself—asked that question, but Randi answers it nevertheless.

    "I was not always a thrall," she laughs as she rests the pitcher on the table—a loose rag protecting the wood from condensation, "I was sold into thralldom by my family so that they could survive a harsh winter." She doesn't seem to hold anything against her once-family, but that may just be a result of having a long time to come to terms with it, "Being the comely girl I was, I knew I was destined for the bedside. Fortunately, it was Steinarr who bought me first and, as long as I kept watch over his children, he swore to never touch me in any unwanted way." A light blush graces her cheeks as she looks towards the sleeping cabinet, "A promise he kept always."

    You stare at her—a scandalous look mirrored on your siblings' aghast faces—and you clear your throat. "Well, uh," coughing into your fist, you decide to ignore that last detail and just carry on with the discussion, "I guess we'll just keep you around?"

    "I'd like that, yes," Randi nods as she picks the pitcher back up and moves off towards the kitchen—her surprisingly ample rear drawing more then a few glances, and not just from the men.

    Blinking as if struck by lightning, Sten forcibly pulls his gaze back to the table and coughs, "A-anyways," he pauses as his imagination shakes him by the shirt collar. Scrambling for literally any other topic, he lands on the first thing that comes to mind, "How should we plan our revenge?"

    The mood immediately sours at the reminder of Steinarr's death.

    Scowling, your fingers drum a steady beat against the table, "We need a list, first and foremost, of who had a hand in it."

    "If you give me a couple months to get in contact, I can poke the Kyrsviking Skalds until they get us a list of all the Helhundings who recently went on raid," Eric says as he munches on a chunk of toasted bread slathered in butter—he'd been eating a lot more then usual ever since he was tortured. "With that in hand, we can hunt them down once the war kicks off."

    "Helhundings?" You and Sten both arch a brow, but you beat him to the punch.

    "Heljarskinn's Warband?" Eric blinks and looks between the two of you as realization dawns, "Oh, sorry, I've been working on memorizing Warband Standards for my Iron Trials. The people who tortured me were Helhundings, though only Abjorn Hooknails and Alarik Dragon-Dancer were of Heljarskinn's Hird, while the rest of the raiders were free warriors of Rogaland and Aggilsfjord."

    "Abjorn?" Wait, is that what Hooknails was named?!

    "Abjorn Hooknails, yeah," Eric nods with a knowing grimace, "Yeah, there's, uh, some unfortunate irony in that one."

    "No kidding," Sten snorts as your eyes twitch, the corners of his mouth curling upwards with a flicker of humor dancing across his gaze. "That's almost worse than Other-Sten's entire existence!"

    Would you like to add anything more to that plan or do you reckon it's good enough—for now, at least?
    [ ] You've got a few ideas
    -[ ] Write in
    [ ] You reckon it's good enough for now

    (+3 to Livestock Quality and Food)
    (+85oz Silver)
    (+150 Orthstirr)
    0~0~0

    AN: Apologies for not having all of the turn in this update. I've got things I need to do today and also need to get used to writing normal turns again, lmao.

    No moratorium.
     
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