I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Sure. I don't see why not.
NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)
- Thread starter I.F. Ister
- Start date
- Original Fantasy Action
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- 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
Summer 2/Turn 2
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Plan Keep Looking For The Witch But No Climbing
-[X] (Seasonal) Check and reset the animal traps.
-[X] (Personal) Abjorn came by, asking if you wanted to go chop wood with him. (Hamr)
-[X] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
--[X] The Hading!
---[X] Try to find a way into the Hedge
-[X] (Training) Hamr (3 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr itself - 3d6
--[X] Train Shield 3d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Poetry 1d6
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 2 Hamr (QM Edit: reduced to max, overflow went to reserve)
--[X] 4 Hugr
--[X] 5 free for tricks
-[X] (Seasonal) Check and reset the animal traps.
-[X] (Personal) Abjorn came by, asking if you wanted to go chop wood with him. (Hamr)
-[X] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
--[X] The Hading!
---[X] Try to find a way into the Hedge
-[X] (Training) Hamr (3 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr itself - 3d6
--[X] Train Shield 3d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Poetry 1d6
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 2 Hamr (QM Edit: reduced to max, overflow went to reserve)
--[X] 4 Hugr
--[X] 5 free for tricks
(Hamr Training: 5, 4, 3) 4 Successes. (Shield Training: 1, 6, 3) 2 Successes
Twisting to the side, you bring your shield up to meet Crowfeeder. Sparks fly as sword meets boss, but that's all that happens as Crowfeeder bounces away. The shield's left fully intact.
You grin, you're starting to get good at blocking!
(Hamr Rank Up! 6 More Successes)
(Shield Rank Up! 1 More Success)
0~0~0
(Poetry Training: 1) 1 Failure. Ouch, bad luck.
You stare at the sky, a groan of annoyance escaping your throat.
Poetry! Why must you be so damn hard!?
Sighing, you slump forward and resolve to try again later
Twisting to the side, you bring your shield up to meet Crowfeeder. Sparks fly as sword meets boss, but that's all that happens as Crowfeeder bounces away. The shield's left fully intact.
You grin, you're starting to get good at blocking!
(Hamr Rank Up! 6 More Successes)
(Shield Rank Up! 1 More Success)
0~0~0
(Poetry Training: 1) 1 Failure. Ouch, bad luck.
You stare at the sky, a groan of annoyance escaping your throat.
Poetry! Why must you be so damn hard!?
Sighing, you slump forward and resolve to try again later
Check and reset the animal traps. (Fylgja: ???)
There's a heavy sense of trepidation as you check the animal traps. After all, the last time you did it, you ended up in a fight!
You smile, resting a hand on the axe on your hip.
And you got Thievesbane out of it, which is a win in your saga.
...You steadily ignore the memory of burning orthstirr. How the blackened ash clung to every surface and how the acrid stench of scorched hair filled your nose.
You gulp, pushing it from your mind with all the force you can muster.
A smile spreads across your face as you see the bounty of the traps. Five rabbits, a non-inconsiderable amount.
It won't make up for the missing cows, though, once winter conquers the land.
You grimace as you once again think of the reason for those missing cows.
Why'd you have to go and kill Lori? If you hadn't, Steinarr wouldn't have to consider going on a raid to make up the difference. Shame wraps around your heart at the thought of being the reason for your father's absence. But from another part springs the desire to go on the raid with him, though you know that you would never be allowed to, not with the lacking strength in your bones.
The worst part of it all might be that you weren't in control. That it wasn't you who did the killing.
You are mistaken, girl.
Whispers hiss at the edge of your mind, but you brush them aside and carry on with your day.
Only to stop as the hairs on the back of your neck stand up straight. Waves of gooseflesh crash over your skin, like someone's breathing on you.
You scan the forest, but find nothing.
Even so, the Hading no longer feels safe.
You dream of blue sparks in the night.
0~0~0
Abjorn came by, asking if you wanted to go chop wood with him. (Hamr: 6, 5, 5) 6 Successes... Okay, Halla, I see how it is, pulling out the max successes for Abjorn.
You're woken from your stupor by a feeling of wet on your chin.
You blink and heat rushes to your cheeks as you realize you were drooling.
"You okay, Halla?" Abjorn asks as he sets down the young tree he ripped out of the damned ground with his bare hands mere moments ago. He eyes your cheeks, concern clear in his gaze. "Do you need water or something? You look hot."
Bad, brain! Very bad!
"I'm fine!" You manage to squeak out as the heat spreads all over your face, neck, and chest. Your damn ears feel like they're about to catch on fire. "I'll be right back!"
You almost stumble as you leave at a near sprint. Abjorn scratches his head as he watches you go, confusion and worry in his eyes.
You stop at a nearby stream and kneel before it. After splashing the cool water in your face, you gaze into your reflection.
A frazzled girl looks back at you, her face as red as her hair.
"Thor's beard," the swear slips from your mouth as you bury your face in your hands. "I can't go on on like this. I just can't."
(+1 Success to Hamr.)
(Working through your feelings towards Abjorn is now a free action)
0~0~0
Go on a walk through the Hading and try to find a way through the Hedge. (Hamingja+Reward Dice: 3, 1 Reroll (Flekkr) 6, 4 + 5) 6 Successes
You are being hunted. You know this in your bones.
The stench of the dead follows your footsteps. Blue lights shine from the edges of your vision.
You pass by the body of the deer-monster you encountered, its head removed from its body with a single swipe of a sword.
You gulp, and find it difficult to breathe.
The desire to stop, to turn back and flee this place grips your heart. A haze of fear clouds your mind. It feels as if your limbs are heavy with weight, making every movement deeper into the Hading like a slog through mud.
You cry out, falling to your hands and knees. Your throat clogs and Flekkr tries to keep you moving with whines and desperate licks.
The words of your father filter through the haze in your mind.
No matter the perceived danger, there are only two outcomes to every encounter; Either you will live and reap the rewards or you will die a glorious death.
So, girl, for what reason do you falter? The paltry castings of a witch? The pitiful spells of those too cowardly to move on?
Keep. Moving.
A surge of flaming power flows through your limbs, casting aside the mental fog and breaking it like an axe does a shield.
You swallow your fear, grit your teeth, and keep moving.
0~0~0
For a moment, you think you must have missed the hedge-wall, for in its place is a cottage built into the roots of a giant ash tree. The ash creaks as you approach, its waving boughs reaching towards the heavens.
Your mouth waters as the warm scent of cooking meals floats through the air, accompanied by a wordless song sung by a woman's voice. A large ring of iron rests on the hut's door, as if begging you to knock.
So you do.
Once, twice, the iron thumps against the wood.
The singing stops and footsteps approach the door.
(Hugr (Composure): 4, 2, 1, 4, 2) ...1 Failure. Halla, girl, come on. Get ahold of yourself!
You choke on your spit as the door opens.
When you think of a 'witch', you picture a gnarled old woman with warts and mushrooms growing all over her. So when she opened the door, you were not ready for her to look like that.
She's all curves and legs, with a head of gorgeous hair that can only be described as 'raven-like'.
She watches you, a single perfect eyebrow raised, as you gasp for air on her porch.
"Are you done?" She asks after a minute of this.
You nod, climbing to your feet. The heat's back in your cheeks, and its not just from choking.
"First of all, how did you get in?"
"I walked?" You shrug and she blinks, a heavy sigh leaving her full lips as she pinches the bridge of her nose.
"You... walked."
"And ran, at times." Flekkr barks, corroborating your statement. The Witch jerks back, as if she just now noticed Flekkr.
The Witch turns her gaze to the heavens. "All-Father, Cat-Mother, why? Just why. That's all I ask."
There's no answer. She sighs, looking rather tired.
"Alright, whatever, who are you and what do you want?"
"I'm Halla Steinarsdottir and this is Flekkr." You pet the good boy.
The sigh of relief that leaves her mouth could be put into the sagas. You wait a spell, but The Witch doesn't elaborate. Alright, then. Moving on.
"And what do I want...?" A lot of things, really. Money, power, fame, a good husband — you ignore the image of a certain large boy that pops into your head. But, at the moment, what you want most are... "Answers, I want answers."
The corners of her mouth quirks up and a sparkle enters her eye as she invites you into her home. "Why isn't that interesting? Now, my dear Halla Steinarsdottir, what questions do you want answers to?"
You soon find yourself before her hearth, in a fresh change of clothes, and with a warm meal in your hands. You take one, hesitant bite and your eyes shoot open in surprise. You gobble it down, as swift as any growing child.
The Witch sits across from you, watching you intently with her chin resting on a knee.
Swallowing the last mouthful of food, you begin to ask her your questions.
"Fylgjur are your companion spirit, often taking the form of an animal." She flicks her hand at Flekkr, who contentedly chews on a large bone. "They most often play the role of a sentry, warning you of approaching danger." She chuckles, her laughter like birdsong. "Have you ever felt the hairs on your neck stand up or bumps flow across your skin like the flesh of a goose? All of that is your fylgja warning you of danger."
"And... and what took control of my body?"
She tsks, as if disappointed in herself. "I don't know."
"Oh." All this way, for nothing...
"I don't know the identity of the being that did it, that is." She corrects herself, eyes staying locked on you as your crestfallen expression turns to one of hope. "I know of many possibilities, but all of them would require rituals to identify them, which I require time to prepare. And they wouldn't be free, for that matter."
Determination lances through you like an arrow from a bow. "Your price?"
Pick your price carefully, Daughter of Cats.
"Just a simple favor, equal in value to your desires, no more, no less." The Witch hurriedly states. A tiny bead of sweat rolls down her brow.
"That seems fair, I accept." You frown as you catch her wide-eyed gaze. "Is something wrong?"
"No! No, it's just..." She grimaces, glancing out the nearest window. "Oh would you look at the time, it's almost nightfall! You wouldn't want the monsters to get you, would you!?"
There's an almost manic look to her as she keeps glancing from you to the door, like she's weighing her options.
There's no backing out now, Witch. I look forward to your efforts.
She flinches, teeth grinding together.
"Well, uh, I guess I'll be going then?" You share a confused look with Flekkr, who follows you out the door.
The door slams shut behind you.
Well. That was weird.
(The Hading Witch added to Relations)
0~0~0
Seasonal (Pick 1):
[ ] (Seasonal) Top off the firewood supply.
[ ] (Seasonal) The fields need to be harvested and stored in the barn, for the animals to eat once the snow begins to fall.
[ ] (Seasonal) Help prepare the wagon for hauling the yearly tax to the Asvir headsman.
[ ] (Seasonal) Begin moving the animals back to their winter pastures.
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 1):
[ ] (What Happened to Me?) Something happened to you, start asking around.
-[ ] Who? (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) You've got some uncertain feelings towards Abjorn that you need to start working through. (Hugr) (Free)
[ ] (Personal) Steinarr's been talking about going on a raid...
[ ] (Personal) Eric's been asking after you, saying he wants your advice on something
[ ] (Personal) Stigr came by, asking if you wanted to go fishing with him. (Hamr)
[ ] (Personal) Ask Randi to tell you some stories
-[ ] (Optional) Write in
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with...
-[ ] Eric, your older brother, for fun
-[ ] Steinarr, as part of your training
-[ ] One of the local boys, for violence! (Optional Write In)
-[ ] Asva (You doubt she'd be willing to fight you, but maybe you can needle her enough?)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr)
0~0~0
Exploration/Travel (Pick 1)
[ ] (Visit) Go visit...
-[ ] The Witch!
-[ ] Asvir!
-[ ] Vidby, Abjorn's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] One of the two undiscovered farms
--[ ] The newly built one to the north
--[ ] The one at the bottom of the river
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
-[ ] The hills!
0~0~0
Training: You have 7d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Training) Hamr (5 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
-[ ] (Steinarr's Training) (Optional) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 11
How do you want to use your orthstirr?
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
(Random Event: 4, nothing happens)
0~0~0
AN: Halla, girl, you need to calm down.
25-minute moratorium.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well, that went...okay? Ridiculous success with Abjorn aside anyway.
We definitely need to talk further with the witch now that we know the way, resolve our feelings for Abjorn (now that it's free), and work a bit more on shields and poetry...or possibly just more on our base stats themselves? Investing 7 dice in either Hamr or Hugr probably raises it, and we need one more point in each before we're comfortable, I think, so raising them directly is pretty reasonable.
We definitely need to talk further with the witch now that we know the way, resolve our feelings for Abjorn (now that it's free), and work a bit more on shields and poetry...or possibly just more on our base stats themselves? Investing 7 dice in either Hamr or Hugr probably raises it, and we need one more point in each before we're comfortable, I think, so raising them directly is pretty reasonable.
I mean he will be an adult a year earlier than us and who knows how many other girls are interested in him. Not that Halla would accept that and probably would try to make him notice her over them but still.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hamr is 4-5 for adult warriors while Hugr is more like 4. But Hugr is cheaper for us, and I think we want to be cleverer than average, so Hamr 4 and Hugr 5 are sort of the 'minimal acceptable levels' for Halla, IMO. Past that they start being expensive (probably 16 successes to get one more level, at the current rates) and we can start arguing if they're worth it, but I think Hamr 4 and Hugr 5 are indisputably worth getting.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Hm. Shields only needs one more success to gain another rank, so I think we should do that.
When it comes to our other stats... I recall Eric having only 3 hamr, so I believe we're relatively average right now? But having 4 in both hamr and hugr is pretty enticing. We should also work on our poetry - shame it didn't go very well this time.
Also, I feel like it's pretty clear the Witch knows more than she let's on. Hopefully she doesn't have malicious intentions.
When it comes to our other stats... I recall Eric having only 3 hamr, so I believe we're relatively average right now? But having 4 in both hamr and hugr is pretty enticing. We should also work on our poetry - shame it didn't go very well this time.
Also, I feel like it's pretty clear the Witch knows more than she let's on. Hopefully she doesn't have malicious intentions.
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Hala has some feminine charms to cope with this problem.
The Nutcracker (1/9): Opens certain events and facilitates the intimidation of men. Unlock by cracking nuts.
Some invisitext from this update.
Daughter of Cats is probably a reference to the witch worshipping Freya.
Interestingly, our spirit is challenging the witch to find him.
Ominously, the spirit seems to think that the 'worst part' is not the loss of control; presumably the spirit is much worse. Or maybe it's saying we were in control.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Actually, I think that's just the spirit disagreeing that we weren't in control. I think he's saying we're mistaken that it wasn't us.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I got the impression that the spirit was saying we were in control the whole time, and Halla was underplaying what she did. I'm not inclined to think it's malicious as of now, considering that whatever it did to us is in our boons rather than our flaws.
Still, doesn't meant that the spirit actually has our best intentions in mind, but he hasn't let us down so far.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
The moratorium seems to be over, so:
[X] Plan Witchcraft and Feelings
-[X] (Seasonal) The fields need to be harvested and stored in the barn, for the animals to eat once the snow begins to fall.
-[X] (Personal) You've got some uncertain feelings towards Abjorn that you need to start working through. (Hugr) (Free)
-[X] (Personal) Eric's been asking after you, saying he wants your advice on something
-[X] (Visit) Go visit...
--[X] The Witch!
-[X] (Training) Hamr (5 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr Itself 5d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Poetry 2d6
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 3 Hamr
--[X] 4 Hugr
--[X] 4 free for tricks
For Seasonal...I admit I sorta just picked one? I'd swap it out instantly if someone has strong feelings.
For Personal, I don't think we're quite up to participating in raids as of yet, and Eric asking our advice seems interesting and might raise our Little Sister boon to boot. Plus we should deal with our feelings since that's a free action.
For Visit, I think we should follow up on the Witch's offer! That sounds interesting and fun. Still hoping to get her as a teacher before we're done.
In terms of Training, raising Shields is also really tempting, but raising Hamr does the same thing but more so. And, looking at the math, only one die is not the ideal use of resources when I analyze it, so 2 if we really want Poetry (and I think we do). We can raise shield next turn, maybe up Poetry more if it's only one success away, finish off Hamr if it doesn't quite get there, and maybe start working on Hugr if we have anything left over.
[X] Plan Witchcraft and Feelings
-[X] (Seasonal) The fields need to be harvested and stored in the barn, for the animals to eat once the snow begins to fall.
-[X] (Personal) You've got some uncertain feelings towards Abjorn that you need to start working through. (Hugr) (Free)
-[X] (Personal) Eric's been asking after you, saying he wants your advice on something
-[X] (Visit) Go visit...
--[X] The Witch!
-[X] (Training) Hamr (5 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr Itself 5d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (7 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Poetry 2d6
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 3 Hamr
--[X] 4 Hugr
--[X] 4 free for tricks
For Seasonal...I admit I sorta just picked one? I'd swap it out instantly if someone has strong feelings.
For Personal, I don't think we're quite up to participating in raids as of yet, and Eric asking our advice seems interesting and might raise our Little Sister boon to boot. Plus we should deal with our feelings since that's a free action.
For Visit, I think we should follow up on the Witch's offer! That sounds interesting and fun. Still hoping to get her as a teacher before we're done.
In terms of Training, raising Shields is also really tempting, but raising Hamr does the same thing but more so. And, looking at the math, only one die is not the ideal use of resources when I analyze it, so 2 if we really want Poetry (and I think we do). We can raise shield next turn, maybe up Poetry more if it's only one success away, finish off Hamr if it doesn't quite get there, and maybe start working on Hugr if we have anything left over.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Ope, sorry, I got distracted with pizza.
Voting is now open.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Plan Witchcraft and Feelings
Can't really think of a much better seasonal action - it'll be winter soon and harvesting our food seems like a pretty good idea, considering it'll probably be our lifeline in the winter.
I also agree with the Eric action; I don't see Steinarr taking us raiding, and even if he did, I'm not confident in Halla's chances at all.
As for our training... I mean, I guess? I mean, it's not like anything you said was wrong, and we can just raise our shields during the next turn.
Can't really think of a much better seasonal action - it'll be winter soon and harvesting our food seems like a pretty good idea, considering it'll probably be our lifeline in the winter.
I also agree with the Eric action; I don't see Steinarr taking us raiding, and even if he did, I'm not confident in Halla's chances at all.
As for our training... I mean, I guess? I mean, it's not like anything you said was wrong, and we can just raise our shields during the next turn.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Seasonal gets more important when you've got your own farm/land to take care of. It also gives me a way to give you updates on what's happening with the family without artificially inserting them into another section.
[X] Plan Witchcraft and Feelings
As to the control issue - that was my first thought on reading it, that Halla was mistaken about being in control - but she is being haunted by a spirit. Unless the spirit is something within her? The spirit is also powerful enough to talk back to an apparently powerful witch. Confusing all around.
As to the control issue - that was my first thought on reading it, that Halla was mistaken about being in control - but she is being haunted by a spirit. Unless the spirit is something within her? The spirit is also powerful enough to talk back to an apparently powerful witch. Confusing all around.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I think it empowered Halla rather than possessing her in the strictest sense. That was probably a rush and made Halla a bit...overly exuberant, but the killing was all her. Or at least that's my interpretation based on what we saw and its seemingly protective attitude (it could be possessive instead, but warning the witch off of overcharging us seems a tad more on the benevolent end, as these things go).
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I mean it could just be an ancestor of ours possibly. I mean we eventually will continue on in our descendants with our flygia(forgot the name exactly). So it stands to reason maybe an ancestor did the same with us.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
When/where was this said?