I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Just finished the main text of the update.
Moving on to tactics and then it'll be shipped off to the presses.
Moving on to tactics and then it'll be shipped off to the presses.
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 6/Attacking Bandit Camp East 1.6
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
[X] Heal the brother (-12 Orthstirr) (???)
[X] Plan Probing While Defending
-[X] Give Abjorn and Gabriel the Insulation Ointment
-[X] Stoke our Frami (+93 Orthstirr) and Virthing (+93 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate our Punching Up Twist (-35 Orthstirr)
-[X] 48d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 5d6 Defense
-[X] 14d6 Intercept (all tricks)
-[X] Make two 15d6 Honed x3 Power Chop attacks (-4 Orthstirr each), a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strike attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-5 Orthstirr), and a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-3 Orthstirr) all whenever seems most appropriate
-[X] The first time he attacks one of our family with a weapon, use a 21d6 Reinforcedx4 Honedx3 Hefty-Halter Chop (-10 Orthstirr) to defend and hopefully disarm him. In response to any mundane attacks against us we use up to 5 Reinforcedx3 Honedx2 Defenses (6d6 and -5 Orthstirr each) and use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr) if we run out of those and our Reinforce Shield has been broken. If he attacks either us or our family with a Trick Attack, or any attack that looks likely to put them down (ie: they're on their last legs), use Halting Vortex to stop that attack dead (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – We move forward, making sure to position ourselves between Sten and Abjorn so we can use Halting Vortex to protect both of them from big attacks as necessary, then probe the guy's defenses with fairly serious attacks using our entire repertoire of straightforward options (so he won't expect the less direct ones later, we hope). The main goal is to protect Abjorn and Sten from anything too nasty, though.
[X] Plan Probing While Defending
-[X] Give Abjorn and Gabriel the Insulation Ointment
-[X] Stoke our Frami (+93 Orthstirr) and Virthing (+93 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate our Punching Up Twist (-35 Orthstirr)
-[X] 48d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 5d6 Defense
-[X] 14d6 Intercept (all tricks)
-[X] Make two 15d6 Honed x3 Power Chop attacks (-4 Orthstirr each), a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strike attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-5 Orthstirr), and a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-3 Orthstirr) all whenever seems most appropriate
-[X] The first time he attacks one of our family with a weapon, use a 21d6 Reinforcedx4 Honedx3 Hefty-Halter Chop (-10 Orthstirr) to defend and hopefully disarm him. In response to any mundane attacks against us we use up to 5 Reinforcedx3 Honedx2 Defenses (6d6 and -5 Orthstirr each) and use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr) if we run out of those and our Reinforce Shield has been broken. If he attacks either us or our family with a Trick Attack, or any attack that looks likely to put them down (ie: they're on their last legs), use Halting Vortex to stop that attack dead (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – We move forward, making sure to position ourselves between Sten and Abjorn so we can use Halting Vortex to protect both of them from big attacks as necessary, then probe the guy's defenses with fairly serious attacks using our entire repertoire of straightforward options (so he won't expect the less direct ones later, we hope). The main goal is to protect Abjorn and Sten from anything too nasty, though.
"Abjorn!" Your voice draws your husband's attention as you underhand toss the Insulation Ointment to him. "Here!"
He plucks it from the air with a curious expression on his face. The leather pouch looks utterly tiny in his palm, but you know that it holds more than enough oil to coat his entire body.
"Rub it into your skin, it'll protect you from fire," you say as you slide up next to him and Sten — who nods at your presence. Abjorn starts rubbing the ointment into his skin as the Captain silently observes.
Sten turns to you with a raised brow. "How'd your fights go?"
You grin. "I killed one, captured another. You?"
Sten's grin is wider. "Four dead."
"Nice." You share a laugh with your eldest brother before you turn to regard the elephant in the room — the Captain.
The Captain breathes in deeply while closing his eyes. The lungful of air slowly escapes his mouth as he silently offers a prayer to the Gods on high.
His eyes open, twin pools of deep green shining in the torchlight of the cavern, and battle commences once again.
With sword in hand, Sten roars a challenge as he darts across the battlefield — his hair whipping behind him as he charges. The Captain's eyes flick to the side as crimson orthstirr sparks in Sten's hand. A lengthy spike of sharpened iron springs from his palm and leaps out clad in its lethal intent.
(Trick Attack: 30 vs Trick Defense: 24+7=31, Defender Wins!)
The shiny atgeir flicks to the side as it catches the iron spike. Silver orthstirr mixes with crimson might as the Captain redirects the attack into the ground. The cavern shudders from the force of the blow as little flecks of rock rain down from the ceiling.
Sten skids to a halt as he pivots into a swing of the sword. Iron clangs against iron as the Captain meets him head-on. With superior strength, the Captain shoves Sten a step back and clocks him across the jaw with the iron-capped end of his atgeir.
Sten stumbles back, a hand darting to the side of his face as he tries to recover. The Captain casually walks forward as he twirls his atgeir around to drive a thrust through your brother's back.
(Honed Trick Attack: 23 vs Hefty Halter Chop: 81, Halla Wins!)
That is, if you weren't already there with crimson orthstirr falling off you in blazing droves. Stomping against the ground with enough force to shake more dust from the rocky ceiling, you swing Sagaseeker hard enough to force the Captain back and nearly knock his weapon from his hands.
He takes a few steps back — a fresh evaluatory look in his eyes — just as Abjorn makes his appearance in the fight.
Abjorn's bear pelt sways in the cavern-wind as he leaps into action. Ruddy red orthstirr pours off Avow as he takes a wicked-fast and deadly swing at the Captain's mail-encased neck.
(Honed Trick Attack: 20 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 18+7=25, Defender Wins)
Sparks fly as that same atgeir darts up to stop Avow in its tracks. Instead of trying to overpower a Giant's Blooded man, the Captain instead pulls away to deliver an attack of his own at your armor-less husband — one coated in his silvery orthstirr.
Danger screams in your ears as you once more dart forward with arm extended to stop his attack in its tracks. Halting Vortex whips into existence as the atgeir bounces off and away.
The Captain scowls. "You're rather annoying."
You grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."
The Captain merely grunts as your hand darts to Sagaseeker's shaft and you instantly transition into an incredibly overclocked Power Chop. The strike thunders through the air with the force of a raging Thunder God as the Captain eyes it with a blank stare.
(Honed Trick Attack: 55 vs Trick Defense: 49+7=56, Defender Wins!)
Sagaseeker's edge races towards him like a strike of lightning. He makes no attempt to defend himself, merely watching as his death approaches. Moments before contact is made, he tilts his head to the side and his body follows his slight movement as he sways out of the way.
Sagaseeker carves a deep gouge into the ground as the hostile atgeir swings up and around. Its razor-sharp point sings songs of bloodshed as it races towards your face. Silver orthstirr coats its length in a double layer of might.
Another Halting Vortex swirls into existence before you as a smirk slips over your face.
"You really think that's gonna get through this?" Hubris overtakes your senses as a smug grin overtakes your face.
The Captain says nothing, his face impassive, as the first layer of orthstirr on his atgeir explodes out as it makes contact with the whirlwind of stopping force.
The smirk leaves your face as it doesn't stop. The first layer of silver punches holes into your trusty shield as you jerk back — your mouth hanging open from fear and shock.
The second layer shines bright as he brings it down on your body, only for your reflexes to kick in and you to Sidestep out of the way.
You stare wide-eyed at the weapon that could've dealt serious harm to you, if you hadn't been ready in more ways than one. You swallow a gulp as the Captain quirks his head and makes a mental note of something.
And that's when Sten lands right next to him with crimson fire in his eyes — his rage at his little sister almost being harmed overtaking his senses. He jams his palm into the Captain's mail-clad stomach, who merely responds with a quirked brow and an impassive gaze.
Sten growls and orthstirr sparks.
(Trick Attack: 38 vs Trick Defense: 38+7=45, Defender Wins!)
The Captain pulls back and his atgeir twists into a rapid spin as a dozen iron daggers spray out from Sten's palm. The shining atgeir darts left and right, up and down as he's forced back from the onslaught — but not a one manages to slip past his defenses.
Sten's eyes blaze with crimson fury as Abjorn slides in with Avow in hand and his orthstirr weighing his weapon down. He lifts the heavy weapon over his head as he aims to bring it down on the Captain's
The air crackles with incredible power as it sloughs off Abjorn in heavy waves. His jaw clenches tight as he brings the Leveraged attack down with the force of a landslide behind it.
(Honed Trick Attack: 192 vs Trick Defense: 62+7=69, Attacker Wins! 10-1=6 Armor Damage Dealt! Armor Pierced! 1 Endurance Damage Dealt!)
Smoke billows out from the impact-site of Abjorn's strike. He hit with such force, such power, that the structural integrity of the cave is definitely in question. The earth itself seems to groan in pain as rocks start to tumble from the ceiling.
The smoke begins to clear, revealing the Captain still standing proud. Broken links of mail falls from his armor as a small wound on his chest oozes blood. He pokes a finger at the wound, as if surprised by its presence.
His brows rise a fraction of an inch. "Steel? Very impressive."
Abjorn grunts as he struggles to stay standing, having poured his entire frami into that attack.
"Lets see if you can't keep it up, shall we?"
(Premature Round End: Abjorn Did The Thing)
(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x1, 5x1, 4x3, 3x2, 2x3)6+6(Rounds)=12 Successes
The structural integrity of the cave is in serious question. It can't take much more before collapsing in on itself.
(How is Stigmar doing? 17) (How is Gabriel Doing? 91)
Gabriel has dispatched his adversaries, though Stigmar was knocked unconscious in the fighting. Turns out, the archer the Captain was guarding had some serious shit up his sleeve. Gabriel is currently torn between moving to help you fight and getting Stigmar out before the cave collapses. He is open to direction.
The Captain's armor has taken a heavy hit, though it's still majorly intact. He's altered his stance and the exposed part is now covered by his defense. He's taken a small wound, curtesy of Abjorn, but doesn't seem fazed by it.
He's still got a lot of orthstirr left in the tank.
At the moment, he's probably planning on focusing down you and Abjorn, though he hasn't forgotten about Sten. He's got a lot of tricks left up his sleeve.
Sten is very angry and is struggling to listen to direction. He's planning on doing something that takes a long time to prepare.
Abjorn is tired, but he's still ready to fight. He looks to you for direction.
Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (4/8) | Shield Health: (NA) | Layers: (16/16)
Orthstirr: (199/279) | Odr: (25)
(X) Frami: 93 | (X) 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: This was the least likely premature round end that could've triggered, lmao. The Angry Sten flag is also active now, too. Oh boy, things are gonna get spicy.
Man, I find Stigmar's situation to be utterly hilarious. He's not exactly a weak guy, but he has to contend with a team that counts the likes of Gabriel, Halla, Sten, and Abjorn among its roster. The poor guy just doesn't have the orthstirr to keep up with your shenanigans.
No moratorium, but don't expect another update today as I'd like to give you folks as much time as possible to plan.
After all, this is a boss fight.
There's a good chance I miscounted orthstirr somewhere.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Holy shit.
Did Abjorn realize the fact he had an unbreakable weapon meant that he could pour arbitrarily high amounts of power and force into it that would snap a lesser weapon like a twig?
Because holy fuck.
Does this guy still get the Mail defense bonus even after his armor's pierced? Also, how was this an unlikely outcome of the round? Also, how did 6 armor piercing damage out of 9 total only turn into 1 actual damage?
Did Abjorn realize the fact he had an unbreakable weapon meant that he could pour arbitrarily high amounts of power and force into it that would snap a lesser weapon like a twig?
Because holy fuck.
Does this guy still get the Mail defense bonus even after his armor's pierced? Also, how was this an unlikely outcome of the round? Also, how did 6 armor piercing damage out of 9 total only turn into 1 actual damage?
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God damn, that was frustrating, so many attacks missed by thin margins.
I'm not sure what was going on with the multiple layers of orthstirr on the weapon - a folded attack? A new Trick?
Guess the cavern's stability means Explosive charms are a no-go, unless we want to bring the house down for some reason. That probably limits our Firebomb Strikes too...
I'm not sure what was going on with the multiple layers of orthstirr on the weapon - a folded attack? A new Trick?
Guess the cavern's stability means Explosive charms are a no-go, unless we want to bring the house down for some reason. That probably limits our Firebomb Strikes too...
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Armor piercing only lasts the round it happened in.
I figured that it would probably result with Tank or Trust, or perhaps a natural conclusion. A lot of rolls had to be missed to have this happen, lmao.
Shapeshifting.
Bringing down the house is an option. Not much walks away from a hill being dropped on them.
Omegahugger
Inattentive Idiot
I for one am absolutely willing to blow up the cave, pull everyone out and call it a day.
Yes, there's a decent chance the captain will survive the cave-in even if he doesn't escape it, but we have already caused serious damage to the bandits and there's something to be said for quitting while you still have your head.
Yes, there's a decent chance the captain will survive the cave-in even if he doesn't escape it, but we have already caused serious damage to the bandits and there's something to be said for quitting while you still have your head.
Actual image of Abjorn whenever he Does the Thing:
Do we want to just ask the Captain to move things outside? Burying all of us helps none of us.
Do we want to just ask the Captain to move things outside? Burying all of us helps none of us.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Reading over the fight, It looks like the Hefty Halter Chop (-10) and two Power-Chops (-8), plus two Halting Vortexes (-8).
We should have had 260 at round start (225 after Punching Up), so that would leave us at 199 and make this one point off exactly.
We have prisoners and an unconscious comrade we'd have to move out...I'm dubious the logistics work out for this.
I'm glad someone does. I've got some dice ideas and defense prioritization stuff (plus the fact that he does in fact have 2 DR from shapeshifting, which is annoying), but not an actual strategy.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Alright, here's the plan. We step things up a notch, similar to what we did with the other guy--we nibble the berry when we get a chance, but for the most part, we stick to what he's already seen. What we're trying to do is to fake like we're trying to defend the same way that we did before.
Except instead of Halting Vortex, we're going to hit him with a stacked IAT with burned Odr, which'll hopefully catch him out of position since he thinks he's 'Solved' the problem of our Halting Vortex. Then we follow that up with Knee-Groin Trick--also with burned Odr, and from there we repeatedly spam Kindle Spinners at point blank range while he's staggered, burning Odr with each one, stacking up as much damage as humanly possible before he has a chance to recover, while hopefully the rest of the party does their part. Kindle Spinner is both fast and cheap, and with Odr Boost, it also does a lot of fucking damage when used in point blank, which means it's ideal for exploiting stuns and openings--and we're hardly going to be the only one who's trying to take advantage either.
Anyway, on that note, what did happen to the rest of Abjorn's damage @Imperial Fister ? You wrote in that he did 10 base, -1 (Presumably from a Shapeshift), but then the target only took 6 armor damage and 1 Endurance damage. What happened to the remaining 2?
Also, Armor Pierce--I guess he's still got a fair amount of overall Armor HP left? But it can only absorb so much damage from a single attack?
Except instead of Halting Vortex, we're going to hit him with a stacked IAT with burned Odr, which'll hopefully catch him out of position since he thinks he's 'Solved' the problem of our Halting Vortex. Then we follow that up with Knee-Groin Trick--also with burned Odr, and from there we repeatedly spam Kindle Spinners at point blank range while he's staggered, burning Odr with each one, stacking up as much damage as humanly possible before he has a chance to recover, while hopefully the rest of the party does their part. Kindle Spinner is both fast and cheap, and with Odr Boost, it also does a lot of fucking damage when used in point blank, which means it's ideal for exploiting stuns and openings--and we're hardly going to be the only one who's trying to take advantage either.
Anyway, on that note, what did happen to the rest of Abjorn's damage @Imperial Fister ? You wrote in that he did 10 base, -1 (Presumably from a Shapeshift), but then the target only took 6 armor damage and 1 Endurance damage. What happened to the remaining 2?
Also, Armor Pierce--I guess he's still got a fair amount of overall Armor HP left? But it can only absorb so much damage from a single attack?
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
That seems reasonable. Pricey, but reasonable.
Upon reflection, I'm not sure using Odr on the IAT specifically is worth it, though...attacks break that, so it goes away with the Knee-Groin Trick, and would thus be spending Odr for a very nebulous result for a very brief period.
Want me to right that up real quick or are you gonna do it?
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Go ahead and write it up, I'm going to be very busy for the next little while.
On the whole, the idea is to pretend like we've only got the one tool--as I said, from what we've exhibited so far, it looks a lot like we're pushing our Hugr Capacity, and we shouldn't have anything completely new to show--and then sideswipe him with an overcharged IAT to lock him in a bad posture and proceed to combo-chain him as hard as we can. The Odr Boost combined with IAT's upgraded state should be enough that he can't trivially break out from it, and it should create an opening for Knee-Groin Trick to continue the wombo-combo, which boosted as it is, should work even if his Shapeshift would normally flummox it (After all, we're kneeing him in the groin with so much force that even a reasonably capable 16 year old would explode, Max Odr-Boost for Knee-Groin creates Four Fucking Damage, and the stun might be more effective in that case too).
Sirrocco
Pedantic
So... Abjorn Doing The Thing could not possibly result in pierced armor for any of us to exploit? That seems a little backwards.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Ope, looks like I forgot to put in the actual reason. My bad.
The -1 was from a little something. The -2 was from shapeshifting.
Yeah, that's one of the things about that particular outcome that makes it unfortunate.
Rounds don't typically end when Armor is pierced, this one was a-typical as I simply could not justify a reason to myself that I shouldn't allow you to plan around the cave threatening to collapse.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
Ooof, nasty.
Yeah, we want to Odr Boost IAT and Knee-Groin to the limit then if he has 2 DR going on, I don't think the latter will stun if it doesn't do actual Endurance Damage (And the more it does, probably the better)
Like I keep saying. I am entirely okay bottoming out our Well if it means everyone gets to go home today.
Point-Blank Kindle-Spinner is very fast to make and use, is that right @Imperial Fister ? Like, is that our fastest Trick?
Actually, better question, can we fold it like people have shown doing Honed Attacks and stacking a whole bunch into one Trick? Hitting him with three fireballs--all Odr Boosted--in one move would be devastating if we created an opening for it.
Yeah, we want to Odr Boost IAT and Knee-Groin to the limit then if he has 2 DR going on, I don't think the latter will stun if it doesn't do actual Endurance Damage (And the more it does, probably the better)
Like I keep saying. I am entirely okay bottoming out our Well if it means everyone gets to go home today.
Point-Blank Kindle-Spinner is very fast to make and use, is that right @Imperial Fister ? Like, is that our fastest Trick?
Actually, better question, can we fold it like people have shown doing Honed Attacks and stacking a whole bunch into one Trick? Hitting him with three fireballs--all Odr Boosted--in one move would be devastating if we created an opening for it.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
It did do 6 damage to the armor...that part doesn't go away. I do agree that the turn always ending when armor is pierced would be bad, but there may be specific reasons here.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I agree entirely on KGT, I'm less than 100% convinced on IAT...based on previous uses, the KGT will break it, so it only needs to hold for a moment. I'm not sure we need Odr for that.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I'm gambling on the possibility that the Odr Boost might actually increase how many attacks it can hold against, Imperial Fister suggested it would work differently as a non-damaging Trick.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Fair enough. That's worth a gamble, I suppose.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
Your fastest offensive active trick is Palm Strike. The fasted period is Hone/Reinforce.
But Point-Blank Kindle Spinner is up there, definitely top 5.
Tentative yes.
Also, I realize I never gave the mechanics for folding attacks.
So, you can spend 2 orthstirr to add an extra fold (a copy of the selected move) to the attack without having to re-spend anything. You can spend 3 to add a third, 4 to add a fourth, 5 to add a fifth, and so on.
This can be brutally effective, but once you start a folded attack, you can't stop until they're all done. Meaning that all you've got to defend yourself is your mundane (plus hone and reinforce) defenses.
Note: Odr does not fold easily.
Speaking of the cave collapse, are we planning on doing anything about that? As I posted above, we could ask the Captain to move outside. We both have wounded in there after all, and I imagine he's got some big stuff (like Lightning) he'd want to unleash.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I think 'try and finish this fast so we can get out' is what we're doing. Plus not using anything explosive.
Given this guy's cavalier attitude towards his subordinates lives I'm skeptical of him caring about this fact to the point it doesn't seem worth asking.
I'm not entirely convinced that's enough, tbh. We have five high-powered cultivators here. You don't necessarily need explosives to collapse the cave when your blows shake the earth...
Edit: We could also task Gabriel with dragging people out.
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