Nowhere did I say "no matter what". Or that we couldn't co-exist with christianity. Or that we can't be friends with christians at all.
But we should take some care.
Jerasmus rightfully reminded Gabriel not to tell us about christian cultivation secrets. What about the other way around? Does Halla keep norse cultivation secret? If they leave anything they learned could spread among christian cultivators, strengthening christian cultivation or their strategies&tactics against norse cultivators, which could become a big issue if there is a crusade against the north.
Plus the whole question of when/with what mindset to approach it.
I'm honestly not convinced there are 'Norse cultivation secrets' to let slip at the moment. It's all too variable from individual to individual to make generalizations that are worth a damn. And if we were worried about our personal abilities, that secret's already out of the bag given all the sparring we do with Gabriel. Like, this seems like a non-issue to me due to the way Norse cultivation works.
The relevant bits (all cultivators, get stronger from fame, big bursts of power rather than lots of endurance) are surely well known by Christians at this point, and there just aren't any deeper secrets than that which are applicable widely.
I suspect not, though she'd get called a Steelmother...but same thing in practice. Other stuff does seem to prevent it, but I don't think her gender is actually one of those things.
You know I was gonna complain about how nothing seems to be easy.
Unlocking Fylgja? Evil witch tricked us instead of friendly seeress unlocks it for 3 silver, but we got Blackhand from it as well.
The first raid? Jarl decides to go understaffed but we get some larger share of loot and orthstirr due to less divisions.
Killing Horra? Gonna be hard as all hell but the rewards somehow still seem worth it.
Then I remember some idiots decided they wanted hard mode (harder challenges, more loot) before I even found this quest.
In order to learn the power of runes, Odin sacrificed himself to himself. He hanged himself from Yggdrasil, impaled himself on his own spear, and stared into the abyss all while refusing any amount of help from anyone. He did this straight for nine days and nine nights.
Only then, at the end of this ordeal, was he allowed the power and understanding of runes and, through them, seid.
Compared to that, I think that you guys have it kind of easy.
0~0~0
Also, got distracted again, sorry.
Voting is now closed
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on Apr 7, 2023 at 7:00 PM, finished with 233 posts and 10 votes.
[X] Yes, go shopping
-[X] See if any livestock are for sale, particularly milk cows
-[X] See if we can hire a farmhand who will bring his wife to help us with housework and children
-[X] See about buying more land
-[X] Check the blacksmith for tools, weapons, and metals
-[X] Visit the Seeress
--[X] reveal Asbjorns Fylgja
--[X] does she know how to get evidence on the nisse or evidence that could get Horra outlawed
--[X] Ask about the prophecy we got about Steinarr getting involved in the Horra situation being bad...see why she didn't go to him about this.
--[X] Ask about finding Thievesbane's original owner
[X] Visit the Seeress
--[X] reveal Asbjorns Fylgja
--[x] reveal Stigmar's Fylgja
--[X] does she know how to get evidence on the nisse or evidence that could get Horra outlawed
--[X] Ask about the prophecy we got about Steinarr getting involved in the Horra situation being bad...see why she didn't go to him about this.
-[X] See if any livestock are for sale, particularly milk cows
-[x] See if there are any farmhands or nurse thralls available
[X] Yes, go shopping
-[X] See if any livestock are for sale, particularly milk cows
-[X] See if we can hire a farmhand who will bring his wife to help us with housework and children
-[X] Visit the Seeress
--[X] reveal Asbjorns Fylgja
--[X] does she know how to get evidence on the nisse or evidence that could get Horra outlawed
--[X] Ask about the prophecy we got about Steinarr getting involved in the Horra situation being bad...see why she didn't go to him about this.
[X] Yes, go shopping
-[X] See if any livestock are for sale, particularly milk cows
-[X] See if we can hire a farmhand who will bring his wife to help us with housework and children
-[X] See about buying more land
-[X] Visit the Seeress
--[X] reveal Asbjorns Fylgja
--[X] does she know how to get evidence on the nisse or evidence that could get Horra outlawed
--[X] Ask about the prophecy we got about Steinarr getting involved in the Horra situation being bad...see why she didn't go to him about this.
In order to learn the power of runes, Odin sacrificed himself to himself. He hanged himself from Yggdrasil, impaled himself on his own spear, and stared into the abyss all while refusing any amount of help from anyone. He did this straight for nine days and nine nights.
[ ] "Halla" (Female)
(Halla is a harder start than Hallr is thanks to, well, being a woman in the middle ages. You'll have to work harder, be better, than the boys. You won't just have to succeed, you'll have to excel. But for all the difficulty, the rewards of the Halla start are far sweeter than the Hallr. Halla also would have an easier time learning seidr (magic) as it was seen as a womanly thing so most men would want nothing to do with it.)
I assume we are still in the starting part i doubt the hard mode ended with the Nisse fight ending the tutorial
If Horra was easier to kill we would get less orthstirr from it and a stronger Horra = more Magic spells, Runes, and Items to loot and learn. Basically the increased difficulty is increasing the rewards for this action, might gives a better Muna or whatever
Oh no doubt being a woman was hard mode for us. Honestly wonder how hard courtship would have been for us as a male. Well that will probably be for one of our future kids life.
Oh no doubt being a woman was hard mode for us. Honestly wonder how hard courtship would have been for us as a male. Well that will probably be for one of our future kids life.
We have the Friendly and Beautiful traits both Boons useful for social situations, though we were able to take a free flaw by being female (beardless) allowing us easier access to extra boons.
My main thing is for all our social boons we didn't exactly do much to leverage it and went full combat mode. Honestly to leverage them we could have gone full merchant/poet. Or possibly get a Jarls attention for a husband candidate.
Mind you I completely enjoyed the Abjorn romance and marriage. Just pointing out how we could have used those boons.
we have snake's tongue, bloodlust, bold, friendly, and beautiful which i think jibes well for safe combat build we took no flaws beyond the forced bloodlust flaw for the boon. its good because we have the 2 fighting boons (could only take one stat up boon at character creation) and 2 social boons to smooth out any feathers we might ruffle by being awesome while avoiding social boons a like leader which might make us ruffle a jarl's feathers.
We always could have taken godly luck, poet, prosperous, wanderlust, and friendly/beautiful (maybe both with like a bastard flaw) for a bard/merchant Halla build though!
Edit: on the topic of traits remember Wrathful is boon that comes with a flaw not a straight up flaw! infact boys #1 only straight up flaw is low self control and stubborn. (both boy 1 and girl 1 have 4 flaws total) (well 5 for girl 1 if you count woman in man's world)
Jerasmus has a number of story flags, and they're pretty much all on the 'wise old moral mentor' archetype. I don't know if he's going to be throwing fireballs like Father Gerritt, but I do suspect he has a lot of valuable wisdom to be plundered. I also don't think he's interested in active conversion or frankly it's likely he, could have turned our siblings Christian already.
Halla noted that Gerritt lacks something that Jerasmus , so Jerasmus must be pretty strong, but thats kinda expected considering how strong Gabriel's master is.
Hmmm next child gen opportunity we should lock in traits like Poet and Prosperous, these triplets have all the cultivation skills possible wanna see some merchants and stuff, plus it leaves more room for traits like giant blood and snake eyes to be rolled instead of boons with flaws attached. (due to how QM orders boons it appears they are rolled in order from cultivation boon->straight up boon->flaw and boon->pure flaws->flaws with boon attached (if they are even rolled for that is))
I guess we'll find out if he did when they're born, huh? (Him spending one per each to lock in Seeing Eyes each would make sense though, since that was a recessive, and yet all of our kids got it?)
Yeesh, Gen 2 is looking like Baby Aesir or Vanir by all indications, I love it.
I guess we'll find out if he did when they're born, huh? (Him spending one per each to lock in Seeing Eyes each would make sense though, since that was a recessive, and yet all of our kids got it?)
This is more a game mechanic than an in-setting thing. I don't think it would be very fun to have random chance decide everything about the character you're going to be forced to play in the future.
This is more a game mechanic than an in-setting thing. I don't think it would be very fun to have random chance decide everything about the character you're going to be forced to play in the future.
[X] Yes, go shopping
-[X] See if any livestock are for sale, particularly milk cows
-[X] See if we can hire a farmhand who will bring his wife to help us with housework and children
-[X] See about buying more land
-[X] Check the blacksmith for tools, weapons, and metals
-[X] Visit the Seeress
--[X] reveal Asbjorns Fylgja
--[X] does she know how to get evidence on the nisse or evidence that could get Horra outlawed
--[X] Ask about the prophecy we got about Steinarr getting involved in the Horra situation being bad...see why she didn't go to him about this.
--[X] Ask about finding Thievesbane's original owner
0~0~0 Shopping for Livestock (Hugr (Silver-Tongue): 6, 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 3, 1, 1, 5) 12+4(Drengskapr)=16 Successes, Fine Result
The livestock market is full of foul scents and raucous noises. Farmers stand around bleating goats and baaing sheep as they haggle over fractions of ounces. Chickens strut around with peeping chicks skipping behind them under the watchful eyes of loyal hounds.
Scanning the market for a few heartbeats, you pick one of the men and make your way towards him. Shaggy brown cows placidly chew cud as you greet the man and offer him your hand and your name.
"Hogne Scarherd," he slaps his palm to your hand gives it a vigorous shake, a cheery grin on his pox-scarred face. "Good weather we're having, eh?"
He's not wrong. The sun's out and the only clouds that have sailed across the sky came bearing light and refreshing showers.
"Indeed we are," you nod as Hogne releases your hand. You glance over his livestock on display, which he catches with a gleam in his eye.
"So, how can I help you today?" He plays with a length of rope as he speaks. His fingers dance across the braided hair, tying and untying knots while keeping time with his words. Impressive, no doubt about it.
You have 414oz Silver and 41oz Gold.
How would you like to spend your money?
[ ] Write in
6 Basic Chickens for 1/4oz Silver (Every 3 Basic Chickens produce 1 Food/Turn while consuming 1 Fodder)
6 Decent Chickens for 3/4oz Silver (Every 3 Decent Chickens produce 2 Food/Turn while consuming 1 Fodder)
6 Good Chickens for 1 1/2oz Silver (Every 3 Good Chickens produce 3 Food/Turn while consuming 1 Fodder)
6 Fine Chickens for 3oz Silver (Every 3 Fine Chickens produce 4 Food/Turn while consuming 1 Fodder)
1 Basic Rooster for 3/4oz Silver (1d6 per Chicken/Turn)
1 Decent Rooster for 1 1/2oz Silver (2d6 per Chicken/Turn)
1 Good Rooster for 3oz Silver (3d6 per Chicken/Turn)
1 Fine Rooster for 6oz Silver (4d6 per Chicken/Turn)
1 Basic Ewe for 1/4oz Silver (+1 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 1 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food.)
1 Decent Ewe for 2/4oz Silver (+1 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 2 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food.)
1 Good Ewe for 1oz Silver (+1 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 4 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food.)
1 Fine Ewe for 2oz Silver (+1 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 8 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food.)
1 Basic Ram for 1oz Silver (1d6 per Ewe/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 1 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food)
1 Decent Ram for 2oz Silver (2d6 per Ewe/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 2 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food)
1 Good Ram for 4oz Silver (3d6 per Ewe/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 4 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food)
1 Fine Ram for 8oz Silver (4d6 per Ewe/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 8 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 4 Food)
1 Basic Nanny Goat for 1/4oz Silver (+1 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 1 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Decent Nanny Goat for 2/4oz Silver (+2 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 1 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Good Nanny Goat for 3/4oz Silver (+2 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 2 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Fine Nanny Goat for 1oz Silver (+3 Food/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Produces 2 Cloth/Dice Successes. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Basic Billy Goat for 1oz Silver (1d6 per Nanny Goat/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Decent Billy Goat for 2oz Silver (2d6 per Nanny Goat/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Good Billy Goat for 3oz Silver (3d6 per Nanny Goat/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Fine Billy Goat for 4oz Silver (4d6 per Nanny Goat/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 3 Food.)
1 Basic Cow for 3 1/2oz Silver (+1 Food a Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Decent Cow for 7oz Silver (+2 Food a Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Good Cow for 14oz Silver (+4 Food a Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Fine Cow for 28oz Silver (+8 Food a Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Basic Bull for 6oz Silver (1d6 per Cow/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Decent Bull for 12oz Silver (2d6 per Cow/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Good Bull for 24oz Silver (3d6 per Cow/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
1 Fine Bull for 36oz Silver (4d6 per Cow/Turn, -1 Fodder/Turn. Can be slaughtered for 12 Food)
0~0~0 Hiring a Farmhand (Hugr (Silver-Tongue): 5, 5, 5, 5, 3, 1, 3, 5, 4, 1)11+4(Drengskapr)=15 Successes, Good Result
"Say, Hogne," you begin after finalizing your purchases and shaking on it. He perks up, ears wiggling, as you continue, "do you happen to know anyone who might be looking for employment as a farmhand?"
"I'm not sure I..." He strokes his pox-marked chin — the patchy beard failing to grow on the scars — as he hems and haws. After a few moments, he seems to spot something over your shoulder and his eyes light up as realization strikes like a lightning bolt. "Actually, I do!"
He waves someone over and you find yourself face to face with a young man and his wife — who seems to be in the early days of pregnancy. They seem a bit out of place, like they're not from around here. Hogne gestures to them with a smile, "This is my niece, Haydis Yrlingasdottir, and her husband, Kurt Frogtongue. They just arrived from Hordaland."
"New to the valley?" Kurt nods at your words. "What skills do you have?"
Kurt smiles as he opens his mouth and reveals the origins of his kenning. "I'm pretty damn good at fishing and ain't bad at growing stuff neither." He has a very wet mouth, which makes sense given that massive tongue of his. "Hay's good with kids and we've even got a little one of our own on the way!"
You purse your lips as you consider the pros and cons of the offer before you.
They're not from the Valley, which means no relation to Horra. On the other hand, they had to have left Hordaland for a reason and that reason might come back to bite you in the ass later. However, by the time it does, Kurt and Haydis might already have left your service and, therefore, it won't be your problem.
While fishing isn't the most useful skill to your situation, the farming aspect is. Kurt doesn't seem the most useful of individuals, all things considered. His wife, though, does. You're going to be having children by the time the year is done, if you're not pregnant already. Having extra hands on deck will be a godsent boon when the time comes.
And their child might be a good playmate for your sons and daughters, which seems to have abnormal importance to your senses. Odd.
Blackhand scoffs, muttering something that you don't catch.
After haggling for a little bit, the hiring price comes down to thirty-four ounces of silver.
What is your verdict?
[ ] Accept the offer and hire Kurt and Haydis into your service (Gain a total of 13 management dice)
[ ] Thank them for their time, but politely refuse them
0~0~0 Buying more land
After finishing your talks with Hogne, Kurt, and Haydis, you make your way to the Headsman's hall. The eyes of battle-scarred hirdmen linger on you far longer than should be necessary, but otherwise do nothing more than their normal duties.
Still, you're thankful for Abjorn's calming presence. Unfortunately, your status as a woman means that things like land are normally beyond your ability to purchase. As this isn't one of those abnormal situations, Abjorn heads inside and leaves you outside with Stigmar at your side.
It doesn't take long for something to happen. Faint and fading it may be, the felag bond still hovers hazily about your person, so when Audrikr starts to approach, you see him coming.
"Hail, sister," he raises a hand, the other empty at his side. You meet his greeting with a cold gaze and he grimaces. "...Right, well," he takes a deep breath, "we're at odds right now, both of us know this, and I wanted to say that even though that is the case right now, I still consider you to be my friend."
Your silence remains unbroken.
"What I'm trying to say is that I'll do what I can to curb Folkmarr's..." he purses his lips, searching for the right word.
"Eccentricities?" You offer, breaking your silence.
"That's the word, yeah." The older man bites his lip. "It was wrong for him to use his Jarlsspeak on you for what amounts to a blood-bond between two felagi, not exactly something that's rare on a raid."
You shrug, not exactly having the words to talk right now. "What's done is done."
"Aye, sister, what's done is done." He rocks on his feet and checks the sun's position in the sky. "Well, I've gotta go say hi to the family."
He says his goodbyes, which you find yourself returning.
A few minutes later, Abjorn emerges from the hall with a piece of wood in hand. He offers it to you for final confirmation of everything.
You're offered 120 acres of land, which will have enough arable soil for another three fields. It will cost you 15oz of silver and 3oz silver per year in taxes.
[ ] Seal the deal and increase the size of your land
[ ] Reject it
0~0~0
AN: I decided to split the update into two parts because WOW is it getting long and I'd like to get something out before it turns dark outside.
