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NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

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Imperial Fister said:
The Askafroa—for that is what the Hading is in truth—turns towards you without pulling her hand away from her husband's surface. Her face is so beautiful that it fills your stomach with an odd unease. Perfection made manifest, there's not a speck of inconsistency in her uniform face. Like the wings of a butterfly, both sides of her face are a perfect copy of the other. "Speak, braver of danger, for there is precious little time to waste."
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Look, Halla has not spilled her spaghetti! She has really grown up! :V

[X] Plan: Three Questions

Both the questions and the order is fine for me.
 
The Askafroa is giving me a lot of Uncanny Valley feels.

Imperial Fister is really good at writing non-human characters and make them feel truly inhuman and yet relatable.
 
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@Alectai, @DeadmanwalkingXI , we already know why it is called land of barrows. Its because there are a massive number of barrows, literally. What we need to ask is why there are so many barrows and whose are they. Now, I believe that the Hading wont screw us over because we misworded a question, but its better to not take that risk, right?
 
Solar Saiyan said:
@Alectai, @DeadmanwalkingXI , we already know why it is called land of barrows. Its because there are a massive number of barrows, literally. What we need to ask is why there are so many barrows and whose are they. Now, I believe that the Hading wont screw us over because we misworded a question, but its better to not take that risk, right?
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The question is about the word 'Crowned' more than barrows. Knowing what's up with that seems pretty important.
 
Hey Halla,

In the eyes of Norsepeople, is Finn magic kind of like Seidr, i.e do they see a difference between the two?
Did Lars Forkbeard end up enthralled or not? Since his body was, like, in the Hading at time of death.
What's the difference between Odr Soul Shock and Orthstirr Seive? Could enough Odr Soul Shocks initiate someone into Odr cultivation?

Do you think these spells below are creatable?

===

Some spell ideas:

Slow Time (Weave/Stitch Seidr - Based somewhat on Standstill)

Slows the passage of time for a single willing individual or object. All bodily and mental processes are slowed by a factor of 3/9* (For 9/81 Orthstirr respectively) as long as the spell is in place, letting the Seeress figure out a solution for their problems in a longer span of time, or even cast delicate spells at a better time frame (like Draw Poison, for example.) Or for a certain Halla, make Frenzy Initiation somewhat less fraught. Can be left in place if needed (deducts from caster's Orthstirr pool until dismissed).

*Factor of 27/81 for 81 Orthstirr + 9 Odr/81 Orthstirr + 81 Odr respectively, or however it is mechanics work out behind the screen.

Neutralize Poison (Healing, Stitch Seidr, Cost 9 Orthstirr)

Transmutes poison to harmless liquids. More effective against magical poison than Draw Poison.

Requires up to 1/3 Experiences to Cast:

1) The sensation of drinking truly vile medicine (the worst tasting, the better).
2) Water (ideally murky and poisonous water) being purified by boiling.
3) The warmth of sunlight on skin.

Optional 1/3/9 Reagents (Consumed in casting) :
1) Silver dust
2) Salt
3) Charcoal
4-9) Medicinal Plants (There's A LOT, not listing them all)

Mind/Soul Shroud (Mental, Stitch/Weave, ? Orthstirr)

Creates a 'simulacrum' of the caster's mind/soul on top of their own, with the intention of it being 'hit first' by mental/soul magics. Absolutely will not pass inspection for a real mind/soul by anyone doing more than a cursory glance, does not actually possess any real thoughts, only the appearance of such.

Optionals:

1) Experience of looking at your own reflection.
2) A mirror.

Make Whole (Utility, Weave Seidr)

Mends different parts of an object together. Uses the principle that they used to be the same, and enforcing that reality that used to be there. (May need Odr or an appropriate malleable material to fully 'seal cracks' in the case of some objects)

===

@Imperial Fister
 
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It's time again. Voting is now closed
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on Dec 26, 2023 at 6:45 PM, finished with 42 posts and 15 votes.
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The Heart of the Hading 3
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Plan: Three Questions
    -[X] Drysalt Hadingsbane has begun to meddle again, I need to know how Hasvir Hadinghero sealed him, or barring that, a means to ask his spirit myself.
    -[X] On that note, there's a few words I'd like to speak to my husband, would you and yours be willing and able to keep certain prying eyes and ears obscured for a moment? Not without recompense of course.
    -[X] Why is this called the Valley of Crowned Barrows by some? What's the story behind that name?
    0~0~0

    'Three questions is probably the trick,' Blackhand mutters as you nod along, 'that's how these things so often go.'

    It makes sense, after all. Three is an ever-so special number.

    Dark hair longer than any man spreads out behind the Askafroa like the wings of a soaring hawk as she waits for your questions. Black strands wrap around branches as a chair of woven twigs lowers from the depths of her husband's boughs. One leg over the other, she takes a seat as you find your words.

    Lifting your chin, you meet the spirit's empty eyes with your steel, "Drysalt Hadingsbane has begun to meddle again, I need to know how Hasvir Hadingshero sealed him, or barring that, a means to ask his spirit myself."

    A pained rattle sweeps across the surface of her husband as she closes her eyes. Fingers tracing the length of the crack-bordered crater, she releases a heavy sigh, "The one known as Drysalt is an ever-so-perfidious thorn in my side and has already made moves to stop any attempt at sealing him away. My husband," a branch lowers to brush up against her traveling hand, "a warden tree, was planted to serve as the lock and this wound," tears threaten to trickle down her cheeks, "was meant to break my dearest. It failed, as can clearly be seen, but the lock is in no condition to be used as long as this wound remains."

    The wind whispers warnings as the Askafroa's lips twist into a deep frown, "Hasvir Hadingshero will know how to heal the wound, as it was his ancestors that planted my love so many years ago. He rests in the field of flowers, Folkvangr, and my blessing shall ensure your entry to Sessrumnir."

    As her words reach your ears, so too does a certain warmth reach your soul. The heat of a gentle summer's touch, like a bird's wings wrapping around its young, alights upon your very being in an unknowable, imperceptible mass of glowing strength. How long it will last you know not, but it shall certainly see you into Freyja's great hall.

    'For something so potent to be freely given...' Blackhand muses as you breathe uncertain, a gentle chuckle on his lips, 'It seems the rumors of the Hading loving humans has truth to it.'

    Taking a deep breath to center yourself, you nod your silent thanks as you turn to your next question, "On that note, there's a few words I'd like to speak to my husband, would you and yours be willing and able to keep certain prying eyes and ears obscured for a moment? Not without recompense of course."

    The Hading chuckles as the tree creaks its laughter, "Oh Child of Ash and Elm, there is no distance I would not go for you. You have my aid, free of charge, for however long you need of it." A gentle sigh splits her lips as her shoulders fall, "However, I fear you will not have enough time for all you desire, for the shadowed remnants are deeply jealous of that which is."

    Shadowed remnants? The eyes still linger from the forest, but now you have a name to call them by and a third question to ask, "Why is this called the Valley of Crowned Barrows by some? What's the story behind that name?"

    "When this valley was known by that name," the Hading begins as the trees creak and shake with the growing wind, "my earliest ancestor was merely a wisp in the wind, barely capable of thought let alone memory. My husband had not yet been born, nor would he be born for tens of thousands of years. The Valley of Crowned-Barrows," the air sizzles as she speaks that name, "is all that is left of a people now gone, wiped away by the passage of time." Directing a hand towards the forest, her next words confirm a certain theory of yours, "You can sense their watchful gaze, can't you? The eyes of those that came before, the Shades of ages past, can hardly stand to see others with that which they once had. Their jealousy shall soon breed anger and resentment. They won't be able to resist the urge to attack, should you dawdle too long."

    Taking her words to heart, you consider your next action.
    [ ] Leave now
    [ ] Initiate Abjorn
    [ ] Investigate
    -[ ] Write in
    [ ] Ask further questions
    -[ ] Write in

    0~0~0

    AN: The Hading cares not for such silly things as 'wasting time' or 'beating about the bush'.

    No moratorium, potential for another update as my VtM game got cancelled because of shit weather.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Initiate Abjorn

    Telling him everything wouldn't work, but we can definitely point out "Our book is the guide, be especially careful with Hugr though as part of it."
     
    We are going to get attacked by the shadows when we leave anyway. If we initiate Abjorn, will the Enemy make them stronger, add more minions to the fight, or would the shadows count as enough of a challenge that they already balance the scale of given knowledge?
     
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