I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Fair enough, I'll go with KittyEmpress' in that case
NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)
- Thread starter I.F. Ister
- Start date
- Original Fantasy Action
-
- 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
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
IF confirmed it just now when I pressed him on it, Affirmation just gives you a toggle form, but your Fylgja can still manifest as a Familiar regardless. You don't lose functionality by taking an Attribute further, Power Requires Sacrifice doesn't work that way. It adds things, and those things introduce New And More Interesting Problems.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm definitely down for glasses in that case. At least potentially. I still think we want the current configuration for combat and likely most crafting, so we want an alternative that's suited for things other than those activities and glasses seem solid in that regard.
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- Location
- In the oldest city on the oldest land
ok hear me out: we make a norse king arthur
step 1: forge the ubersword
step 2: drug/seidr the whoeverson who wanted to conquer some lands(the one on our ship) into a delirious state
step 3: dress up somebody as odin and have them lead whoeverson to the lake
step 4: halla rises out of the lake holding the ubersword before giving it to the guy and doing some speech about honor and chivalry and being the rightfull king of the place he wanted to conquer
step 5: ??????????????????????????????????
step 6: he conquers the kingdom with the help of ubersword and his huscarls of the square feasting table
step 7: norse king arthur
(obviously most of this is a joke but it wouldnt be the worst investment to give the guy that might conquer themself a jarldom one day a heirloom tier sword.)
Whaling
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
(Bad Luck: 83) You're safe
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How well do you butcher the whale? (Wildcraft: 12) 12 Successes
The beached whale's carcass greets the pair of warships rounding the coast. The Wavedancer leads the way—its ship-soul proud of its newfound position's prestige—and the Sea-Snake with its serpent prow brings up the rear.
While it wasn't entirely dead when you left, the whale certainly is now. Stepping ashore on the sandy coast, you get a good look at the barnacles and dying coral growing on the back of the majestic beast. Colors of all hues run up and down the creature's spine as you clamber up the reef-backed monster's seaweed-choked surface.
The stench of dead, rotting fish is strong in the air as you stand atop your lucky find. Tucked away in tight crevices and coral-pockets are thousands and thousands of trapped fish schools that met their ends in the surface world's air. Birds circle overhead as crabs pick over the fishy remnants with glee.
Giving a nod to the rest of the crew, they pull out their weapons and set to work. Thick, oily skin meets blades of iron as swords, axes, and saxes hack away at the beast. Layers of flesh peels away to reveal fat and muscle as the sun slowly travels across the sky. Hours pass as you work, sweat drenching your brow and body in equal measure as you put your back into the labor.
It's hard work to butcher such a massive beast as this, but with every hour that passes, you grow ever closer to finding the treasure that's sure to lie within. While the fat and muscle of a whale is more than valuable simply for its ability to feed a region for a winter, the real wealth can only be found deep within.
Whalebone is extremely magically potent. A work wrought from whalebone will be tough, durable, and lightweight as the magic contained within helps the crafter along. A man with a whalebone-hilted weapon will find his grip never slipping and his blows that much stronger. Tools and furniture of whalebone are long-lasting and ever-so prestigious, a finer gifting material you will never find.
By the time the setting sun tickles the horizon, you've stripped the whale's flesh from its bones and piled the profit on the Wavedancer and Sea-Snake. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of flesh and food weigh your ships down heavily, but with two ships you're able to manage it. It's a good thing this whale is on the smaller side, else you would've had to leave some even with two ships!
(+5500 Food)
(+150 Whalebone, each usable for 1 project or for 12oz of silver)
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Talking to Brother Bartholomew
As the Hersir Banquet-Ronald once more recites the poem he composed praising your gift-giving—on account of you giving him a few tons of food and whalebone as thanks for being such a good host—you find yourself alone with Bartholomew of Chester. In a secluded, shadow-choked corner of the Hersir's wealthy hall, Bartholomew nibbles away at a chunk of butter-lathered bread. He lifts a bushy brow as you plop yourself down at his side.
Swallowing the food in his mouth with slight difficulty—he hadn't been quite ready to swallow—he shuffles around on the bench until he's facing you head-on. With a seated bow, he greets you, "Good evening, my lady-mistress, how may I serve you today?"
"Well," you begin as you pick at an unfortunate hangnail—the whale hadn't been kind to your hand, "I was planning on freeing you," his eyes narrow as the grip on his bread tightens, "and so I shall." With a flick of the wrist and a flourish of a key, you unlock the iron collar around his neck—the symbol of Thralldom.
He blinks as the rusted iron clinks against the ground, his neck covered in dead skin and calluses from years under its yoke. A hand darts to his neck as, for the first time in who knows how long, he lacks cold iron on his skin.
The bread falls to the butter-smeared plate as tears well in his eyes. "It's been so long," he whispers as he wipes away the wet, "so long since I felt air on my neck." With shaky breathes, he turns to you with as much strength as he can muster, "I-I don't know how I can repay you, but thank you. May God bless your steps and see you home unharmed, for I shall keep you in my prayers."
You quirk a brow as an odd feeling brushes up against the limits of your soul. It's not hostile and you get the sense that the only reason you felt anything was because it wanted you to. Regardless of the presence, you've got a question to ask. Shuffle closer, you crack a grin Bartholomew's way, "I've got a way for you to repay me, and a way for you to buy passage home."
"Name it." Bartholomew's words are quick and heartfelt, the offer of going home too enticing to refuse.
"Teach me Latin."
"Done," Bartholomew's eyes shine with renewed purpose as he nods, "Your lessons will begin tomorrow, Lady Halla," his lips spread into a spine-chilling grin as he claps his hands together. "I hope you're prepared for this, for I will teach you Latin come Hell or highwater."
Blackhand chuckles as a bead of sweat drips down your brow, 'This is going to be entertaining, that much is sure.'
(Bartholomew of Chester will teach you Latin and isn't taking prisoners. You will lose 2 actions next turn, but will learn Latin inside and out.)
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Current Destination:
Denmark (2 Days, 20% chance of Bad Luck, on account of being weighed down)
Personal (Pick equal to days spent travelling)
[ ] Talk to a Crewmember
-[ ] Write in who and about what
[ ] Pay Close Attention to a Crewmember
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Craft or Repair
-[ ] Write in
Training (You get 30 XP per day spent travelling)
[ ] Training
-[ ] Write in
Nighttime (Number of Nights equal to days spent travelling)
[ ] Write in how many nights are spent in each
-[ ] Put to shore (+5% bad luck per night spent sleeping ashore)
-[ ] Lodge with local landowners (Silver-Tongue Check, -1 Success for every 10 crew you have, +1 Morale)
-[ ] Sleep on the ship (No XP per night spent sleeping aboard the ship)
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AN: Bartholomew hasn't been home in hundreds of years.
15-minute moratorium
[X] Plan To The Whale!
-[X] Whale Carcass (1 Day, 5% chance of Bad Luck)
-[X] Talk to a Crewmember
--[X] Brother Bartholomew
--[X] Free him and discuss lessons in Latin in exchange for protection, a ride home fairly soon once we've learned it, and maybe some money if he seems reluctant.
-[X] Nighttime: Spend all nights
--[X] Lodge with local landowners (Silver-Tongue Check, -1 Success for every 10 crew you have, +1 Morale)
--[X] Reassign all 8 shapeshift slots to Improved Attractiveness for this roll.
-[X] (Training) Hamr (511 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train an Throw Trick for actual thrown weapons, designed for general applicability 4xp (2xp)
-[X] (Training) Hugr (256 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train Sparkbomb 36xp (9xp)
--[X] Train Sunshine Slap 36 xp (9xp)
--[X]Train Sunfire Spear 36 xp (9xp)
--[X] Train a Campfire Trick to grant someone (including the user)additional fire resistance 4xp (1xp)
--[X] Train an Ignition Trick to blind a target with a bright flash of light 4xp (1xp)
--[X] Train a Gale Trick to use wind to keep people trapped in our vicinity by pulling them toward us, making us the center of a vortex 3xp
-[X] Whale Carcass (1 Day, 5% chance of Bad Luck)
-[X] Talk to a Crewmember
--[X] Brother Bartholomew
--[X] Free him and discuss lessons in Latin in exchange for protection, a ride home fairly soon once we've learned it, and maybe some money if he seems reluctant.
-[X] Nighttime: Spend all nights
--[X] Lodge with local landowners (Silver-Tongue Check, -1 Success for every 10 crew you have, +1 Morale)
--[X] Reassign all 8 shapeshift slots to Improved Attractiveness for this roll.
-[X] (Training) Hamr (511 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train an Throw Trick for actual thrown weapons, designed for general applicability 4xp (2xp)
-[X] (Training) Hugr (256 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train Sparkbomb 36xp (9xp)
--[X] Train Sunshine Slap 36 xp (9xp)
--[X]Train Sunfire Spear 36 xp (9xp)
--[X] Train a Campfire Trick to grant someone (including the user)additional fire resistance 4xp (1xp)
--[X] Train an Ignition Trick to blind a target with a bright flash of light 4xp (1xp)
--[X] Train a Gale Trick to use wind to keep people trapped in our vicinity by pulling them toward us, making us the center of a vortex 3xp
Sparkbomb (Refined-Mastered)
Sunshine Slap (Refined-Mastered)
Sunfire Spear (Refined-Mastered)
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New Tricks
0~0~0
Power Throw Trick. Eyeshine Blind. Vortex Gathering.
Power Throw Trick (Cost 2 Orthstirr/1 Odr): A fairly basic trick, all things considered, that allows one to throw with great force.
Eyeshine Blind (Cost 12 Orthstirr/3 Odr): An Ignition trick allowing one to generate a burst of bright light in the hopes of blinding nearby foes.
Vortex Gathering (Cost 16 Orthstirr/4 Odr): A Gale trick that allows one to pull people, animals, and unsecured items to themselves while keeping those affected trapped. The user cannot move while this trick is being used.
(Fire is inherently unable to protect from fire. Your XP is refunded for that trick)
Sunshine Slap (Refined-Mastered)
Sunfire Spear (Refined-Mastered)
0~0~0
New Tricks
0~0~0
Power Throw Trick. Eyeshine Blind. Vortex Gathering.
Power Throw Trick (Cost 2 Orthstirr/1 Odr): A fairly basic trick, all things considered, that allows one to throw with great force.
Eyeshine Blind (Cost 12 Orthstirr/3 Odr): An Ignition trick allowing one to generate a burst of bright light in the hopes of blinding nearby foes.
Vortex Gathering (Cost 16 Orthstirr/4 Odr): A Gale trick that allows one to pull people, animals, and unsecured items to themselves while keeping those affected trapped. The user cannot move while this trick is being used.
(Fire is inherently unable to protect from fire. Your XP is refunded for that trick)
Development
0~0~0
Landowner Hosts (Silver-Tongue: 20+1(Friendly)+1(Beautiful)+1(First Impressions)-4(Crew)) 19 Successes
Your host—Banquet-Ronald once again—was more than happy to have you sup in his hall again. When you gave him some portions of your whaling haul, he was absolutely delighted. So much so that he even composed a poem praising your gift-giving prowess!
(Praise-Poem: +1 Orthstirr a year)
0~0~0
Landowner Hosts (Silver-Tongue: 20+1(Friendly)+1(Beautiful)+1(First Impressions)-4(Crew)) 19 Successes
Your host—Banquet-Ronald once again—was more than happy to have you sup in his hall again. When you gave him some portions of your whaling haul, he was absolutely delighted. So much so that he even composed a poem praising your gift-giving prowess!
(Praise-Poem: +1 Orthstirr a year)
How well do you butcher the whale? (Wildcraft: 12) 12 Successes
The beached whale's carcass greets the pair of warships rounding the coast. The Wavedancer leads the way—its ship-soul proud of its newfound position's prestige—and the Sea-Snake with its serpent prow brings up the rear.
While it wasn't entirely dead when you left, the whale certainly is now. Stepping ashore on the sandy coast, you get a good look at the barnacles and dying coral growing on the back of the majestic beast. Colors of all hues run up and down the creature's spine as you clamber up the reef-backed monster's seaweed-choked surface.
The stench of dead, rotting fish is strong in the air as you stand atop your lucky find. Tucked away in tight crevices and coral-pockets are thousands and thousands of trapped fish schools that met their ends in the surface world's air. Birds circle overhead as crabs pick over the fishy remnants with glee.
Giving a nod to the rest of the crew, they pull out their weapons and set to work. Thick, oily skin meets blades of iron as swords, axes, and saxes hack away at the beast. Layers of flesh peels away to reveal fat and muscle as the sun slowly travels across the sky. Hours pass as you work, sweat drenching your brow and body in equal measure as you put your back into the labor.
It's hard work to butcher such a massive beast as this, but with every hour that passes, you grow ever closer to finding the treasure that's sure to lie within. While the fat and muscle of a whale is more than valuable simply for its ability to feed a region for a winter, the real wealth can only be found deep within.
Whalebone is extremely magically potent. A work wrought from whalebone will be tough, durable, and lightweight as the magic contained within helps the crafter along. A man with a whalebone-hilted weapon will find his grip never slipping and his blows that much stronger. Tools and furniture of whalebone are long-lasting and ever-so prestigious, a finer gifting material you will never find.
By the time the setting sun tickles the horizon, you've stripped the whale's flesh from its bones and piled the profit on the Wavedancer and Sea-Snake. Hundreds of thousands of pounds of flesh and food weigh your ships down heavily, but with two ships you're able to manage it. It's a good thing this whale is on the smaller side, else you would've had to leave some even with two ships!
(+5500 Food)
(+150 Whalebone, each usable for 1 project or for 12oz of silver)
0~0~0
Talking to Brother Bartholomew
As the Hersir Banquet-Ronald once more recites the poem he composed praising your gift-giving—on account of you giving him a few tons of food and whalebone as thanks for being such a good host—you find yourself alone with Bartholomew of Chester. In a secluded, shadow-choked corner of the Hersir's wealthy hall, Bartholomew nibbles away at a chunk of butter-lathered bread. He lifts a bushy brow as you plop yourself down at his side.
Swallowing the food in his mouth with slight difficulty—he hadn't been quite ready to swallow—he shuffles around on the bench until he's facing you head-on. With a seated bow, he greets you, "Good evening, my lady-mistress, how may I serve you today?"
"Well," you begin as you pick at an unfortunate hangnail—the whale hadn't been kind to your hand, "I was planning on freeing you," his eyes narrow as the grip on his bread tightens, "and so I shall." With a flick of the wrist and a flourish of a key, you unlock the iron collar around his neck—the symbol of Thralldom.
He blinks as the rusted iron clinks against the ground, his neck covered in dead skin and calluses from years under its yoke. A hand darts to his neck as, for the first time in who knows how long, he lacks cold iron on his skin.
The bread falls to the butter-smeared plate as tears well in his eyes. "It's been so long," he whispers as he wipes away the wet, "so long since I felt air on my neck." With shaky breathes, he turns to you with as much strength as he can muster, "I-I don't know how I can repay you, but thank you. May God bless your steps and see you home unharmed, for I shall keep you in my prayers."
You quirk a brow as an odd feeling brushes up against the limits of your soul. It's not hostile and you get the sense that the only reason you felt anything was because it wanted you to. Regardless of the presence, you've got a question to ask. Shuffle closer, you crack a grin Bartholomew's way, "I've got a way for you to repay me, and a way for you to buy passage home."
"Name it." Bartholomew's words are quick and heartfelt, the offer of going home too enticing to refuse.
"Teach me Latin."
"Done," Bartholomew's eyes shine with renewed purpose as he nods, "Your lessons will begin tomorrow, Lady Halla," his lips spread into a spine-chilling grin as he claps his hands together. "I hope you're prepared for this, for I will teach you Latin come Hell or highwater."
Blackhand chuckles as a bead of sweat drips down your brow, 'This is going to be entertaining, that much is sure.'
(Bartholomew of Chester will teach you Latin and isn't taking prisoners. You will lose 2 actions next turn, but will learn Latin inside and out.)
0~0~0
Current Destination:
Denmark (2 Days, 20% chance of Bad Luck, on account of being weighed down)
Personal (Pick equal to days spent travelling)
[ ] Talk to a Crewmember
-[ ] Write in who and about what
[ ] Pay Close Attention to a Crewmember
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Craft or Repair
-[ ] Write in
Training (You get 30 XP per day spent travelling)
[ ] Training
-[ ] Write in
Nighttime (Number of Nights equal to days spent travelling)
[ ] Write in how many nights are spent in each
-[ ] Put to shore (+5% bad luck per night spent sleeping ashore)
-[ ] Lodge with local landowners (Silver-Tongue Check, -1 Success for every 10 crew you have, +1 Morale)
-[ ] Sleep on the ship (No XP per night spent sleeping aboard the ship)
0~0~0
AN: Bartholomew hasn't been home in hundreds of years.
15-minute moratorium
- Pronouns
- He/Him
64 XP... We definitely need to Perfect Sunshine Slap and Sunfire Spear.
IF, I think the Praise-Poem still needs to get updated on Halla's sheet.
IF, I think the Praise-Poem still needs to get updated on Halla's sheet.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Damn. That is so much stuff.
@Imperial Fister What kind of actions? Can we spend Research and/or Work Dice on these?
It's technically 63...and I honestly don't think that's needed. We can get fylgja to 9 with that xp, for one thing, and we want that.
CedeTheBees
Probably high right now
- Location
- Somewhere
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Did we get a bit of Grace here?
- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
What about getting one of our Sunfire tricks up to Perfected? To my understanding, that would negate their downside of costing a lot of Orthstirr to use.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Ouch. Well, if it's happening it's happening. At least it'll get done real quick.
I suspect given how integral that is to their balance that Perfecting them would jjust halve them again, not remove their cost entirely. @Imperial Fister what happens if we Perfect Sunfire Tricks? Do they actually become free?
If we do want to do that, we can do it on the next leg of the trip (the one home). And I think we should know the answer before deciding. That in mind, basic plan:
[X] Plan Back To Hedeby
-[X] Denmark (2 Days, 20% chance of Bad Luck, on account of being weighed down)
-[X] Talk to a Crewmember (1)
--[X] Hakon Thunderclap
--[X] Get to know him better and sound him out about his future plans with an eye towards potential recruitment if that's possible
-[X] Talk to a Crewmember (2)
--[X] Alvis Torleifsson
--[X] Also get to know him and sound him out about his future plans with an eye towards potential recruitment if that's possible
-[X] Nighttime: Spend all nights
--[X] Lodge with local landowners (Silver-Tongue Check, -1 Success for every 10 crew you have, +1 Morale)
--[X] Reassign all 8 shapeshift slots to Improved Attractiveness for these rolls.
Training:
-[X] (Training) Hamr (511 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train Threadcutter 36xp (18xp)
-[X] (Training) Hugr (256 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train Eyeshine Blind 8xp (2xp)
-[X] (Training) Fylga (80 xp to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja itself 86 xp (43xp)
-[X] (Fylgja Capacity)
--[X] Add one shield
Hm... You know, I kinda expected this to be halla's personal loot roll.
But was this for the whole crew then?
Good haul, al considered.
Kinda curious though, did the whale had it's heart still? Did anyone braved going by nside of it?
Big G is watching, huh?
There are perks to crowdfunding all that power.
Hah! The best nightmare for those seeking knowledge, someone who loves spreading it!
That's fair, yeah.
Gotta ask though, does having a high Hugrcuts down on learning new stuff that aren't tricks like languages? I mean, action wise.
It took, what, 3 actions in 3 turn to learn English when Halla was young?
Oh...
Did we just released another old monster?
Four important questions though:
Where is/was his home?
How old is he?
Does he feel stronger than Jerasmus?
Is he... More honest than Jerasmus?
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Oh...
Did we just released another old monster?
He's only 4th Decade...the Thrall Manacles keep Carolingians from cultivating. So not in the strictest sense.
- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Bartholomew is only old and not a monster.Did we just released another old monster?
4th decade and hundreds of years old...
Yeah, for some reason, I kinda doubt that will stay so for long.
Edit: oh, I missed the part where his cultivation was asked and answered, ma bad.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
He may advance rapidly now depending on how that works, yeah. I wouldn't be surprised, anyway.
EDIT:
He said he was from Chester. Which is in England...I think Mercia rather than Wessex? Taking him home as part of our British Isles trip is entirely viable, anyway.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
The impression we've gotten previously is that Carolingian Cultivation just multiplies your lifespan by 10 regardless of Decade. Like, being a cultivator at all makes you long lived. Higher Decades might extend that, but Gabriel thought he'd long outlive Halla when he was 3rd Decade, so it's clearly a thing even early on.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Correct
You have to harvest the heart when it is fresh. And no, meat-keeping sticks do not count.
Sunshine at Wolin (Oshha)
- Location
- Southampton, Great Britain
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I'm trying my hand at some poetry.
Sunshine at Wolin
To honour her word given
Sunshine descented on Wolin
With fire and fury, none survived
Until a friend turned foe appeared
Knight stood against shield-maiden
Yet Sunshine refused to fight
Friendship prevailed, revealing trickery
And so the world was rewritten
To banish the illusions of Wolin
Sunshine at Wolin
To honour her word given
Sunshine descented on Wolin
With fire and fury, none survived
Until a friend turned foe appeared
Knight stood against shield-maiden
Yet Sunshine refused to fight
Friendship prevailed, revealing trickery
And so the world was rewritten
To banish the illusions of Wolin
AeonIlluminate
The power of friendship and aggressive landscaping
- Pronouns
- They/Them
Mercia or maybe Wales, I'm not quite sure just off eyeballing a few maps. Either way, its nearly the top of the Welsh/English border, currently on the England side but hell if I know which side it falls on in Halla's time period, as the modern city literally ends the western part on the Welsh border
Edit: looking at the wikipedia map for 886 Britain, the Welsh border looks a bit further West than it is in the modern day, so I'd say safely in the North of Mercia. Mercia goes a chunk further up, well past Manchester, but still.
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- Pronouns
- She/Her
I'd definitely prefer to keep whalebone over food. I'd be down to trade people our whale meats for their bones at fair rates.
Then we can make our entire training facility for the kids and friends out of whale bone. Just the most bone filled facility. An eternal, long lasting ultra prestigious foundation of Learning.
Mwhahaha.
Then we can make our entire training facility for the kids and friends out of whale bone. Just the most bone filled facility. An eternal, long lasting ultra prestigious foundation of Learning.
Mwhahaha.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Yeah, I'm not sure Perfecting them is worth it then. It's very expensive to reduce the cost by 40-50 Orthstirr per usage...which sounds like a lot, but leaves them by far our priciest Tricks and only used occasionally.
If we're gonna Perfect something fiery and big damage, I'd be more inclined to Sparkbomb. Being able to do the Sparkbomb Mine Field for free would be pretty cool. But really, I think we hold off on Perfecting anything for a minute while we get Fylgja to 10.
Oh, right, I forgot to ask: @Imperial Fister how much of this goes to us as opposed to the crew? I have to imagine we don't get all of the food, at the very least.
Yeah, definitely. We can't even store the Food. Whatever Food we get we can keep, like, maybe 75? and that much only due to sacrificing a bunch of Food pretty quick here. The rest would need to be sold.
Ah, good to know.
Guess we need special containers for keeping freshly harvested hearts.... Fresh, then.
Is that cold clay lined box the Rot hugreida guy used for the fenriskin heart hard to make?