I'd say they both are.
NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)
- Thread starter I.F. Ister
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- Original Fantasy Action
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- 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
The place Hallas mom wants her to visit may turn out to be a good place to settle.
There may be family from Hallas moms side and people knowing Seidr (and willing to teach).
Taking steps to overcome the seperation of warrior vs Seidr practitioner would be very cool.
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I personally very much intend Halla to survive to see as many of her children grow up as we can arrange. Once that's done, I think we start taking Serious Cultivation Risks (tm) and either we get real lucky or she's not gonna last too much longer.
For location, I'm less sure. I can see definite arguments for staying where we are, heading to England, and heading to Vestfold. Maybe some kids will settle in each place.
For location, I'm less sure. I can see definite arguments for staying where we are, heading to England, and heading to Vestfold. Maybe some kids will settle in each place.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
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Good news! I just remembered that I have a solution to the predicament I'm in, so I can now actually get to writing.
I'm still pushing for joining the Varangian Guard myself. Beyond the opportunities to learn of Orthodox cultivation, I want to see if we can contact the spirit of Julian the Apostate. For those unaware of this period of Roman history, Julian was a Roman emperor, a pagan son of Christians, who sought to reverse the increasing Christianization of the Roman Empire.
His efforts were cut short by his death in 363 AD, during a campaign in Persia. Depending on the source, he was either slain by a Lakhmid auxiliary or the Persians (most likely from what little I've read), one of his Christian soldiers, or by Saint Mercurius, a saint who was martyred by one of Julian's pagan predecessors.
Anyways, while his body was originally buried outside of Tarsus in modern-day Turkey, it was later moved to Constantinople. If we can locate his ghost, and convince him to aid us, we may be able to learn some lost secrets of Roman cultivation we can mesh with our own. I figure it would help if we play up how outmatched Norse cultivation is compared to its Christian counterpart long term, and how we don't want our people's traditions to go the way of his.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Nah, I don't think that's right, maybe something the next generation can work on, but Halla feels better as a character who nails down the roots that the subsequent characters build on. There's a lot of stuff on the table for there alone.
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I'm absolutely down with our next generation going and joining the Varangian Guard...but Halla has too many other irons in the fire, and even for those who choose to do it, that's not a place you settle down and live. Indeed, that was the whole point of the Varangian Guard...that they were foreign mercenaries without local entanglements. Like, we should definitely go there and do that, but it's not the place to set up a farm and live after your term of service is up.
So will one of our kids (or more!) join the Varangian Guard? I think that's a great idea. Will Halla? No. Does joining the Varangian Guard actually provide a new place to settle? Probably not.
So will one of our kids (or more!) join the Varangian Guard? I think that's a great idea. Will Halla? No. Does joining the Varangian Guard actually provide a new place to settle? Probably not.
I thought that's what we were talking about? Where to go for the next generation?
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Well, we're talking about where to settle for the long term. Like, where our family will live. That's slightly different, IMO.
I doubt that. Like, I don't doubt the enemy will send other agents, but nothing about Horra's presence stops that.
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- Under your couch
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( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)
The Danelaw would be interesting. If we settled there our descendants might be able to keep it in Norse hands and thus limit some of Christianity's growth. I would also be very curious what xianxia-Iceland looks like.
Abjorn said:
From a Watsonian perspective, the enemy could see us not having a big issue that slows us down as a problem that is to be fixed.
From a Doylist perspective, QM could decide us not having something acting as "house on fire" emergency is boring.
Not a guarantee, but a possiblity.
Random thought, but I wonder if the kingdom of Prester John exists in this world. And also if the Ark of the Covenant is in Ethiopia.
Summer 6/Attacking Bandit Camp East 1.3
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
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[X] Tag Stigmar Out
[X] Plan Feeling Out Our Foe
-[X] 45d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Use Reinforce Shield on our armor for 8 Layers (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] Make a total of two 10d6 Honed Power Chop attacks (-2 Orthstirr each) and three Honed Shatter-Wrist Trick attacks (also -2 Orthstirr each) in whatever order seems likely to catch him off guard for the Shatter-Wrist Tricks. If he's already got two broken wrists by the time the third Shatter-Wrist Trick would be aimed his way, replace it with a Honed Power Chop (same cost and dice pool).
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack it is viable against use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr), if attacked with a Trick Attack it isn't viable against that seems likely to break Reinforce Shield, or if such an attack comes and Reinforce Shield is already gone, use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] If the Captain moves to attack any of our allies or tries something big we will use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap between him and them and Halting Vortex to stop the attack as best we can (-16 Orthstirr total)
-[X] Tactics – Move in and attack fairly aggressively to size up our foe, aiming particularly for the wrists. We want to try and see what this guy can do before committing to an expensive or tricky battle plan.
[X] Plan Feeling Out Our Foe
-[X] 45d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Use Reinforce Shield on our armor for 8 Layers (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] Make a total of two 10d6 Honed Power Chop attacks (-2 Orthstirr each) and three Honed Shatter-Wrist Trick attacks (also -2 Orthstirr each) in whatever order seems likely to catch him off guard for the Shatter-Wrist Tricks. If he's already got two broken wrists by the time the third Shatter-Wrist Trick would be aimed his way, replace it with a Honed Power Chop (same cost and dice pool).
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack it is viable against use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr), if attacked with a Trick Attack it isn't viable against that seems likely to break Reinforce Shield, or if such an attack comes and Reinforce Shield is already gone, use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] If the Captain moves to attack any of our allies or tries something big we will use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap between him and them and Halting Vortex to stop the attack as best we can (-16 Orthstirr total)
-[X] Tactics – Move in and attack fairly aggressively to size up our foe, aiming particularly for the wrists. We want to try and see what this guy can do before committing to an expensive or tricky battle plan.
Stigmar tenses as you lay a hand on his shoulder, but relaxes as he sees you.
"Halla," he breathes out your name, relief in his gaze as you nod.
"Tag in." You step forward and stop a few yards away from the Brute — Stigmar stumbling away as his Aspects fade. The Brute eyes you up, gaze tracing your form as he folds his arms.
He grunts, a smile splitting his face. "You are strong. This will be good."
"Well," you shrug, falling into a battle-crouch as your opponent does the same, "at least this won't be boring."
Orthstirr flares as you both coat yourself in layers of reinforcement. Red shines against crimson as you square off.
A heartbeat passes and the ground quakes as a blast of air throws the Brute forward. Red orthstirr streams off his saxes as he hurtles through the air at breakneck paces. A joyous laugh slips free from his mouth as he grins a bloody, battle-frenzied smile.
(Honed Attack: 10 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! 3 Layer Damage Dealt!
Sagaseeker spins and blocks the first sax with clashing iron, but the second slips through your guard and gouges a deep crevice through layers of painted-on defense.
Gritting your teeth, you shove the larger man away as you launch into an attack of your own. Crimson power falls off Sagaseeker in ragged streamers as the Power Chop burns bright and freely.
The Brute grins, eyes flashing with gleeful delight as you bring your weapon down on his head.
(Honed Trick Attack: 35 vs Trick Defense: 38, Defender Wins!)
His foot digs into the dirt as he darts forward, the grin never leaving his face as he...
As he fucking headbutts Sagaseeker away.
You blink, mouth falling open in utter astonishment as the Brute laughs.
He crouches, pushing off the ground to throw himself into another furious charge. Hone shines along his saxes as a calculating look enters his eyes.
(Honed Attack: 12 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! 3 Layer Damage Dealt!
Metal crashes against metal as he once again slips a sax around your guard. This one scores another wound on your orthstirr-layered armor, leaving it dangerously close to breaking. Not good, not good at all.
You break away as he does the same, a natural lull in the fight. You both take the moment for a light breather.
"Feeling pressured?" The Brute asks with a falsely innocent smile. "There's no shame in that. I am rather impressive, after all." He eyes you again, a low whistle leaving his lips. "You'd make a fine wife."
"I'm married."
He winces. "Ah, my apologies. Back to the fighting?"
"Please."
Stomping against the ground, you start off this round of combat with a snarling Power Chop — or at least, that's just what it looks like.
He swings forward to meet your advance — one sax moving to counter, the other delivering a strike in return.
(Honed Trick Attack: 38 vs Trick Defense: 23, Attacker Wins! Reinforce Layers Broken! Wrist Broken!)
A sickening snap rings out as his wrist jerks at an odd angle — the defensive trick unable to stop your orthstirr from drilling through a reinforced layer and into his wrist.
His jaw tightens as his teeth grind together, but its not enough to halt his sax's advance — he's had much worse than a mere broken wrist.
(Honed Attack: 9 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! Reinforce Layers broken!)
He buries his sax to the hilt in your trick-formed armor as it struggles to hold back the Brute's onslaught. It groans as it snaps and shatters like broken pottery.
Shards of dissolving orthstirr fall to the ground alongside a sax.
You stumble back, as does he. He flexes the fingers on his broken wrist as you check yourself for any sign of injury.
Finding none, you turn your gaze back onto your opponent.
(Premature Round End: Reinforce Layer Break)
(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 5x4, 3x2, 2x2, 1x2)6+3(Rounds)=9 Successes.
The battle is going about the same as before. No real changes other than Stigmar, after taking a moment to rest and recover some orthstirr, going to join Gabriel's fight.
Your opponent is strong, stronger than you by far. His combat potential is a fair bit higher than yours. It seems that, just as you were probing him, he was probing you. He was being careful that last round, to conceal a few tricks up his sleeve.
He is down a hand, though, so you've got an advantage on him there. However, if you recall correctly from your spar with Eric, he had used the hand with a broken wrist for his hugareida. Still, down a sax is down a sax.
From what you can read from him, he's going to be favoring the offensive this time around — probably throwing in one or two tricks to mix things up.
Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (7/8) | Shield Health: (NA)
Orthstirr: (167/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Sorry about this taking so long! I ran out of my V8s so I had to raw dog it.
Normally your layers being broken doesn't prematurely end the round, but I figured that you'd rather have this than no update today. And it naturally arrived at a good stopping point.
No moratorium. Normal voting period.
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I have no specific tactical ideas, honestly. I mean, obviously we do more Reinforce Shield but beyond that...
Maybe try and break his other wrist?
Maybe try and break his other wrist?
This seems like some sort of earth hugareida?
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I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
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Note: You'll need to create a proper lull, a pause, to do that — so something beyond what Sidestep generates.
They may be here to pillage your livelihoods and kill anyone who resists
But they'll be terribly polite in doing so.
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Take to the skies for a moment, if nothing else?
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I think it's just a Headbutt Trick. We know he has a Wind Hugareida, and while he could have two I don't think it's that likely.
Noted. Would breaking his other wrist do it?
He probably has ranged Hugareida attacks with Wind.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
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I would say so, yes.
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Alright, my first thought then is to lean hard into that with three 16d6 Honed Shatter-Wrist Tricks and using Sidestep to avoid retribution. He might avoid that, but not without showing a lot more cards than he has thus far, and if he doesn't, I think we've got him on the ropes...not beaten, but on the way there.
Maybe also add in a Hefty-Halter Chop as another way to disarm him...
Anyone have any better ideas?
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