- Pronouns
- He/Him
Right, archery, how could I not think of that? Him becoming an archer and wrestler to avoid blood but still fight makes a lot of sense.
NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)
- Thread starter I.F. Ister
- Start date
- Original Fantasy Action
-
- 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
Right, archery, how could I not think of that? Him becoming an archer and wrestler to avoid blood but still fight makes a lot of sense.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Crossbows made by cultivators with Cultivation bonuses to craftsmanship might be fine, though their power is likely to be based on their creator rather than their user.
Yeah, definitely molten iron weapons for that kid.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
This is going to be an interesting one, I feel.
I'm almost done with the turn, just gotta finish up Stigulf's part, update the turn planning choices, and then we're off!
I'm almost done with the turn, just gotta finish up Stigulf's part, update the turn planning choices, and then we're off!
Winter 6/Turn 2
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
(You have cultivated 12 Odr)
0~0~0
0~0~0
(Rare Weapon: 6) 3 Successes. (Kindle Spinner: 4, 5) 4 Successes. (Firebomb: 5, 1) 2 Successes. (EWC: 2, 5) 2 Successes. (Campfire: 1, 4) 2 Successes. (Hugr: 5, 1, 5, 3, 1, 2) 2 Successes
...
(+3 to Rare Weapon)
(+4 to Kindle Spinner)
(+2 to Firebomb)
(+2 to EWC)
(+2 to Campfire)
(+2 to Hugr)
0~0~0
Talking Shop with Toki
Once more you ride the spiraling staircase into the dark depths of the underhome. Once more, you call forth a torch to light the way.
This time, though, you extinguish the flame before knocking upon the door of your dwarven neighbors.
This time, though, it is not Toki that opens the door, but a larger, grumpier dwarf with a lack of hair atop the head and a lengthy beard tucked into his belt. Though he may be bald, the hedge-like eyebrows — so bushy they obscure his eyes! — more than make up for the lack of hair.
He arches one of the brows to reveal a mere glimpse of an eye. "Can I help you, Dwarf-Friend?" His eye swivels to your distended stomach and he tacks more onto his question, "and soon-spawn?"
"I was wondering if Toki was he-"
"He's not. Neither is Patti." The dwarf, who — through process of elimination — you determine to be Oinn, interrupts you with a grumble and a tug of the beard.
It's then that you notice the armor covering his body. Circles of spiraling metal sit on his shoulders, chest, back, and stomach while strong mail rests underneath the bird's head-adorned plates. Thick gloves of banded iron and some kind of sturdy leather cover his hands as similarly built armor covers his feet. A battle mask-clad helmet is held underneath his arm — the bottom cut out to allow the beard to flow free, though it is protected by a blanket of mail — and he's got an axe slipped through his belt. The palm width-thick shield on his back brings the image of a warrior-smith together nicely.
It would be difficult to kill him, but you could probably do it. Step one would be to-
You stomp down your instincts.
He doesn't miss your gawking. "It's war."
"War?"
"With the Lurkaling scum." A dark scowl passes over his face as he says something in Dwarfish that might have set a child's ears to bleeding had it been said in Norse. "We received the skin of our father and his mining party two days ago. Curtains," he growls — voice like dry gravel, "that's what they called them and aye, true enough, that's what was in the box."
For a moment, you consider asking after the possibility of making a trade. After that moment passes and you get a good look at the storm brewing on his face, you swiftly think better of it.
Bidding the dwarf good luck — which he returns — you make your way back to sunlight's embrace.
0~0~0
Tryggr and Trausti
With an echoing, belly-deep grunt, Trausti brings his broad-headed axe down as his laughter-maddened brother races to meet the strike with one of his own.
The clash is a carefree one that sees them moving all across the stretch of land dedicated for training purposes. They're definitely leaving their marks on the already heavily cratered surface as wind and sax meet axe and ice.
Both twins wield their hugareida like extensions of their body as they dart to and fro, back and forth. A spear of ice here, a wall of wind there, it all serves to make their battle that much more interesting.
You didn't even have to ask them if they wanted to spar, they approached you about it!
These two are good investments, without a doubt.
Now, if only you could get Tryggr to lay off the alcohol...
(+6d6 to Training Pool thanks to Sparring with Tryggr and Trausti)
0~0~0
To Be Berserk
You sit across the table from Stigulf Snowbeard, the room utterly silent save for the tinkling sound of tea being stirred.
He raises the cup to his lips and drinks, eyes never leaving yours as your own cup sits cold and untouched.
If you were to flip the table, that would distract him long enough for Ashen Kiss to carve his hands off and leave him defenseless against any further attacks.
He shifts his leg, which puts a stop to that line of thought — perfectly positioned to stop any sort of table movement.
Stigulf changes his grip on the teacup and now holds the basin between fingers and palm. He'll break the pottery and take your eyes with the shards.
You lean on an elbow, the back of the hand supporting your head. You sit ready to catch and intercept the incoming shards.
"So it's true." Stigulf's words catch you by surprise, which you immediately chastise yourself for. "I had thought that Sten might've been exaggerating, or simply incorrect, but no," he sips again, "you are a Berserk."
Your mind whirls as you take into account verbal distractions as he sighs. "You can stop that now, you know?" He pauses, anticipating your words. "You can't, can you? It's always at full power?"
You have to hurry to get a word in as his Frenzy predicts the flow of the conversation. "No shapecrafter."
He hums to himself as he nods, barely even acknowledging your words. "A lack of fasts would cause this, I think. Fasts are spaces where Berserks store the majority of their Frenzy when not in use." He shrugs. "It'll never go away, not totally, but you can soothe it. I don't know how to shapecraft, but I can point you towards the Jurgdby Shapecrafter, a man called Luthinn Limpwrist."
He grins for some unknown reason as a sense comes over you that, throughout that entire exchange — if you could even call it that — he had you hook, line, and sinker.
Blackhand grumbles something about 'lesson plan-stealing bastards' as you start to make your way back home.
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Empty Sack) ...Maybe you should try stuffing that empty sack full of straw?
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with... (Sparring with people reveals a summery of their character sheets) (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] Spar with Abjorn, your husband
-[ ] Spar with Gabriel, without armor
--[ ] (Optional) With armor
-[ ] Spar with Stigmar
-[ ] Spar with Stigr
-[ ] Spar with Aki
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Abjorn to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Court) Send Abjorn to make a case at the Thing (Write in) (Unavailable)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
-[ ] (Optional) Focus on repairing something (Write in)
[ ] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (Write in one of your Inspirations)
0~0~0
Exploration/Travel (Pick 1 or none):
[ ] (Visit) Go visit...
-[ ] The Witch! (Actually, it's probably a good idea to avoid her entirely)
-[ ] Asvir!
--[ ] (Optional) Attend the Thing (Unavailable)
-[ ] Steinby, your Father's Farm
-[ ] Vidby, Vidar's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight) (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] Horrby, Horra's Farm (Has a very good chance of ending in a fight) (Not while you're pregnant)
--[ ] Rather than visiting normally, you instead stealthily approach and try to scout it out.
-[ ] Halfdanby, Halfdan's Farm
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] The hills!
[ ] (Battle) Go and attack somewhere...
-[ ] Attack the bandit camp to the North (Not while you're pregnant)
0~0~0
Training: You have 32d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Research) Try to figure out how things work (Write in)
[ ] (Blackhand) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hamr (58 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (23 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (7 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 325
How do you want to use your orthstirr? You can turn on passive tricks here.
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
Fylgja Capacity: 4/6
Do you want to withdraw or deposit anything in your fylgja?
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
Equipment Management
What do you want to have equipped? Leaving this blank means that no changes are made.
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
AN: I was initially going to have a short action scene between you and Stigulf, but then I realized that what I went with here was way more interesting.
This came to me way easier than yesterday's, which was very nice!
25-minute moratorium.
[X] Name it "Ashen Kiss"
[X] (Fourth Born) Commanding Presence
-[X] Lock in Godly Luck with Muna
-[X] Lock in Seeing Eyes with 1 Hamingja
-[X] Lock in Leader with 1 Hamingja
-[X] Add 2 Reward Dice to Giant's Blood courtesy of [@DeadmanwalkingXI](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/89786/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to Snake's Tongue courtesy of [@DeadmanwalkingXI](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/89786/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to Snake's Tongue courtesy of [@Toboe](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/82198/)
-[X] Add 2 Reward Dice to Friendly courtesy of [@Dromuthra](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/22995/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to not getting Bloodlust courtesy of [@Alectai](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/391/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to not getting Wrathful courtesy of [@Exmorri](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/21246/)
[X] Plan Berserker Life Advice
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Toki Thunsson
--[X] Buy 200 oz. Forged Iron and maybe other things if they've got them (we could use a Helm)
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with... (again)
--[X] Stigulf Snowbeard
--[X] Ask for training in how to control your rage as a berserker (and how that works and so on)
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with... (and again)
--[X] Tryggr and Trausti
--[X] Invite them to spar with the rest of us and generally hang out
-[X] (Rolled)
--[X] Train Kindle-Spinner 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Firebomb-Strike 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Ember-Winged Cloak 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Campfire 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Hugr itself 6d6
-[X] (Research)
--[X] Cultivation Note: Do so _outside_ the fence again.
--[X] Cultivation Note: Put 9 Odr into our new Sealwood Sapling
--[X] Try to bring additional useful mundane plants into our soulscape with our Fylgja, as well as a fertilized chicken egg 1d6
--[X] Commune with Sagaseeker's weapon spirit, once we get to know each other better see how it would feel about being reforged to be more powerful 1d6
--[X] Do more bible reading with Jerasmus 1d6
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Train Halting Vortex 1d6 x
--[X] Train Mire Ward 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Tricks
--[X] Talk to Sten about how to make an atgeir
--[X] Train Goal-Tell 1d6 x
--[X] Train Cool-Off 1d6 x
--[X] Train Skewer-Flick 1d6 x
--[X] Train Chuck 1d6 x
--[X] Train Sway 1d6 X
--[X] Train Slice-Aside 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Rare Weapon' Weaponcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten)
-[X] (Training) Hamr (59 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr itself 1d6 x
--[X] Train Chop 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Hugr (25 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Artcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Housecraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Weaponcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
-[X] (Training) Fylgja (8 success to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja Itself 1d6 x
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] **4 Odr** and 3 Orthstirr to Hamr
---[X] 3 Chop, 4 Defend, 4 Dodge, 4 Glima, 3 Bash, 3 Pierce, 3 Throw, 3 Cut, 3 Farmwork, 3 Labor, 3 Overland (36 total)
--[X] 5 Orthstirr to Hugr
---[X] 4 Artcraft, 5 Armorcraft, 3 Barb-Tongue, 4 Composure, 5 Housecraft, 3 Management, 4 Scouting, 4 Silver-Tongue, 3 Strategy, 3 Tactics, 5 Weaponcraft, 4 Wordplay, 5 Wildcraft (52 total)
--[X] 2 Orthstirr to Fylgja
---[X] 3 Command
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 222 free for tricks
[X] (Fourth Born) Commanding Presence
-[X] Lock in Godly Luck with Muna
-[X] Lock in Seeing Eyes with 1 Hamingja
-[X] Lock in Leader with 1 Hamingja
-[X] Add 2 Reward Dice to Giant's Blood courtesy of [@DeadmanwalkingXI](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/89786/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to Snake's Tongue courtesy of [@DeadmanwalkingXI](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/89786/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to Snake's Tongue courtesy of [@Toboe](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/82198/)
-[X] Add 2 Reward Dice to Friendly courtesy of [@Dromuthra](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/22995/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to not getting Bloodlust courtesy of [@Alectai](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/391/)
-[X] Add 1 Reward Die to not getting Wrathful courtesy of [@Exmorri](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/21246/)
[X] Plan Berserker Life Advice
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Toki Thunsson
--[X] Buy 200 oz. Forged Iron and maybe other things if they've got them (we could use a Helm)
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with... (again)
--[X] Stigulf Snowbeard
--[X] Ask for training in how to control your rage as a berserker (and how that works and so on)
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with... (and again)
--[X] Tryggr and Trausti
--[X] Invite them to spar with the rest of us and generally hang out
-[X] (Rolled)
--[X] Train Kindle-Spinner 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Firebomb-Strike 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Ember-Winged Cloak 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Campfire 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Hugr itself 6d6
-[X] (Research)
--[X] Cultivation Note: Do so _outside_ the fence again.
--[X] Cultivation Note: Put 9 Odr into our new Sealwood Sapling
--[X] Try to bring additional useful mundane plants into our soulscape with our Fylgja, as well as a fertilized chicken egg 1d6
--[X] Commune with Sagaseeker's weapon spirit, once we get to know each other better see how it would feel about being reforged to be more powerful 1d6
--[X] Do more bible reading with Jerasmus 1d6
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Train Halting Vortex 1d6 x
--[X] Train Mire Ward 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Tricks
--[X] Talk to Sten about how to make an atgeir
--[X] Train Goal-Tell 1d6 x
--[X] Train Cool-Off 1d6 x
--[X] Train Skewer-Flick 1d6 x
--[X] Train Chuck 1d6 x
--[X] Train Sway 1d6 X
--[X] Train Slice-Aside 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Rare Weapon' Weaponcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten)
-[X] (Training) Hamr (59 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr itself 1d6 x
--[X] Train Chop 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Hugr (25 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Artcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Housecraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Weaponcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
-[X] (Training) Fylgja (8 success to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja Itself 1d6 x
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] **4 Odr** and 3 Orthstirr to Hamr
---[X] 3 Chop, 4 Defend, 4 Dodge, 4 Glima, 3 Bash, 3 Pierce, 3 Throw, 3 Cut, 3 Farmwork, 3 Labor, 3 Overland (36 total)
--[X] 5 Orthstirr to Hugr
---[X] 4 Artcraft, 5 Armorcraft, 3 Barb-Tongue, 4 Composure, 5 Housecraft, 3 Management, 4 Scouting, 4 Silver-Tongue, 3 Strategy, 3 Tactics, 5 Weaponcraft, 4 Wordplay, 5 Wildcraft (52 total)
--[X] 2 Orthstirr to Fylgja
---[X] 3 Command
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 222 free for tricks
Fourthborn Son
Locked In:
-The Bloody Basics (Auto-Locked)
-Born of Fire (Auto-Locked)
-Godly Luck
-Seeing Eyes
-Leader
Rolled For
-Giant's Blood (Reward Dice)
-Snake's Tongue (Reward Dice)
-Friendly (Reward Dice)
-Stoic Silence
-The Terror-Bear's Loyalty
-Poet
-Beardless
-Hemophobia
Locked In:
-The Bloody Basics (Auto-Locked)
-Born of Fire (Auto-Locked)
-Godly Luck
-Seeing Eyes
-Leader
Rolled For
-Giant's Blood (Reward Dice)
-Snake's Tongue (Reward Dice)
-Friendly (Reward Dice)
-Stoic Silence
-The Terror-Bear's Loyalty
-Poet
-Beardless
-Hemophobia
Sway Trick
Slice-Aside Trick
Slice-Aside Trick
(Rare Weapon: 6) 3 Successes. (Kindle Spinner: 4, 5) 4 Successes. (Firebomb: 5, 1) 2 Successes. (EWC: 2, 5) 2 Successes. (Campfire: 1, 4) 2 Successes. (Hugr: 5, 1, 5, 3, 1, 2) 2 Successes
...
(+3 to Rare Weapon)
(+4 to Kindle Spinner)
(+2 to Firebomb)
(+2 to EWC)
(+2 to Campfire)
(+2 to Hugr)
Sealwood Watering
With the sealwood sapling planted in your soul, you get to work on watering it. Odr washes over it, nourishing it to greater and grander heights — both figuratively and very literally.
It springs to life and motion alike as it grows and grows and grows, eventually surpassing you in height. Five branches sprout and broad, shield-shaped leaves spiderweb out in turn before a border of lengthy, pine-like needles grow along the outline of each leaf.
As it finishes growing, you notice something about the leaves. They have a sort of waxy coating that is slick to the touch. The needles seem to naturally twist together into knots.
0~0~0
Mundane Planting + Chicken Egg
Over the course of several days, you bring in bundles of the more mundane plants around the farm. Nothing really stands out from the crowd, though it does feel right on a fundamental level to see your soul so full of life.
Two things stick out to your senses, though.
The first is that even with all this life, you're still lacking in something. Variety, perhaps? Complexity? Maybe spirituality? Whatever the reason, you can't quite put your finger on it.
The second is that you're nearing something, but any further details are blocked from your senses. There's not a drop of doubt in your Well, this obscurement is the work of The Enemy. But what is it hiding and for what purpose?
'The Enemy doesn't do anything for nothing, it can't afford to.' Blackhand shrugs as you turn your questioning gaze to him. 'I don't remember what it has to afford, or why that is the case. I don't believe I ever knew the truth behind it in the first place.'
You find yourself frowning for two reasons. The first being that Blackhand's words are rather unfortunate, as they often tend to be.
The second is that the Owl keeps failing to bring the chicken egg into your soul. It struggles to get a grip, the fertilized egg slipping through its weak, shadowy folds.
0~0~0
Communing with Sagaseeker
You stare at Sagaseeker.
Sagaseeker does nothing in return, asleep as it is on the ground.
You frown, only belatedly realizing that you don't actually know how to commune with spirits... you think, at least.
Blackhand?
'Try sacrificing something to it. That'll get any spirit's attention, no matter how dormant or nascent it may be.'
"What should I sacrifice?"
'Differs from spirit to spirit. For Sagaseeker, I expect you to have to kill an enemy in its name. But, I'm sure there are lesser sacrifices that would do just as well.'
You slowly nod as you recall your ever-growing list of enemies. Surely one of them would do the job!
0~0~0
Bible Study
"Wait, he died?"
"Correct," Jerasmus nods with a twinkle in his eye.
"But he didn't really die?"
Jerasmus shook his head, a patient smile on his face. "Not quite. Jesus did die, but he returned regardless."
You squint as you realize just why that sounds so familiar. A sly grin spreads across your face as Blackhand nails you with the sharpest look possible.
'Halla, no!'
Halla, yes!
(+1 to understanding the Bible, you feel like you're almost done with it)
With the sealwood sapling planted in your soul, you get to work on watering it. Odr washes over it, nourishing it to greater and grander heights — both figuratively and very literally.
It springs to life and motion alike as it grows and grows and grows, eventually surpassing you in height. Five branches sprout and broad, shield-shaped leaves spiderweb out in turn before a border of lengthy, pine-like needles grow along the outline of each leaf.
As it finishes growing, you notice something about the leaves. They have a sort of waxy coating that is slick to the touch. The needles seem to naturally twist together into knots.
0~0~0
Mundane Planting + Chicken Egg
Over the course of several days, you bring in bundles of the more mundane plants around the farm. Nothing really stands out from the crowd, though it does feel right on a fundamental level to see your soul so full of life.
Two things stick out to your senses, though.
The first is that even with all this life, you're still lacking in something. Variety, perhaps? Complexity? Maybe spirituality? Whatever the reason, you can't quite put your finger on it.
The second is that you're nearing something, but any further details are blocked from your senses. There's not a drop of doubt in your Well, this obscurement is the work of The Enemy. But what is it hiding and for what purpose?
'The Enemy doesn't do anything for nothing, it can't afford to.' Blackhand shrugs as you turn your questioning gaze to him. 'I don't remember what it has to afford, or why that is the case. I don't believe I ever knew the truth behind it in the first place.'
You find yourself frowning for two reasons. The first being that Blackhand's words are rather unfortunate, as they often tend to be.
The second is that the Owl keeps failing to bring the chicken egg into your soul. It struggles to get a grip, the fertilized egg slipping through its weak, shadowy folds.
0~0~0
Communing with Sagaseeker
You stare at Sagaseeker.
Sagaseeker does nothing in return, asleep as it is on the ground.
You frown, only belatedly realizing that you don't actually know how to commune with spirits... you think, at least.
Blackhand?
'Try sacrificing something to it. That'll get any spirit's attention, no matter how dormant or nascent it may be.'
"What should I sacrifice?"
'Differs from spirit to spirit. For Sagaseeker, I expect you to have to kill an enemy in its name. But, I'm sure there are lesser sacrifices that would do just as well.'
You slowly nod as you recall your ever-growing list of enemies. Surely one of them would do the job!
0~0~0
Bible Study
"Wait, he died?"
"Correct," Jerasmus nods with a twinkle in his eye.
"But he didn't really die?"
Jerasmus shook his head, a patient smile on his face. "Not quite. Jesus did die, but he returned regardless."
You squint as you realize just why that sounds so familiar. A sly grin spreads across your face as Blackhand nails you with the sharpest look possible.
'Halla, no!'
Halla, yes!
(+1 to understanding the Bible, you feel like you're almost done with it)
Talking Shop with Toki
Once more you ride the spiraling staircase into the dark depths of the underhome. Once more, you call forth a torch to light the way.
This time, though, you extinguish the flame before knocking upon the door of your dwarven neighbors.
This time, though, it is not Toki that opens the door, but a larger, grumpier dwarf with a lack of hair atop the head and a lengthy beard tucked into his belt. Though he may be bald, the hedge-like eyebrows — so bushy they obscure his eyes! — more than make up for the lack of hair.
He arches one of the brows to reveal a mere glimpse of an eye. "Can I help you, Dwarf-Friend?" His eye swivels to your distended stomach and he tacks more onto his question, "and soon-spawn?"
"I was wondering if Toki was he-"
"He's not. Neither is Patti." The dwarf, who — through process of elimination — you determine to be Oinn, interrupts you with a grumble and a tug of the beard.
It's then that you notice the armor covering his body. Circles of spiraling metal sit on his shoulders, chest, back, and stomach while strong mail rests underneath the bird's head-adorned plates. Thick gloves of banded iron and some kind of sturdy leather cover his hands as similarly built armor covers his feet. A battle mask-clad helmet is held underneath his arm — the bottom cut out to allow the beard to flow free, though it is protected by a blanket of mail — and he's got an axe slipped through his belt. The palm width-thick shield on his back brings the image of a warrior-smith together nicely.
It would be difficult to kill him, but you could probably do it. Step one would be to-
You stomp down your instincts.
He doesn't miss your gawking. "It's war."
"War?"
"With the Lurkaling scum." A dark scowl passes over his face as he says something in Dwarfish that might have set a child's ears to bleeding had it been said in Norse. "We received the skin of our father and his mining party two days ago. Curtains," he growls — voice like dry gravel, "that's what they called them and aye, true enough, that's what was in the box."
For a moment, you consider asking after the possibility of making a trade. After that moment passes and you get a good look at the storm brewing on his face, you swiftly think better of it.
Bidding the dwarf good luck — which he returns — you make your way back to sunlight's embrace.
0~0~0
Tryggr and Trausti
With an echoing, belly-deep grunt, Trausti brings his broad-headed axe down as his laughter-maddened brother races to meet the strike with one of his own.
The clash is a carefree one that sees them moving all across the stretch of land dedicated for training purposes. They're definitely leaving their marks on the already heavily cratered surface as wind and sax meet axe and ice.
Both twins wield their hugareida like extensions of their body as they dart to and fro, back and forth. A spear of ice here, a wall of wind there, it all serves to make their battle that much more interesting.
You didn't even have to ask them if they wanted to spar, they approached you about it!
These two are good investments, without a doubt.
Now, if only you could get Tryggr to lay off the alcohol...
(+6d6 to Training Pool thanks to Sparring with Tryggr and Trausti)
0~0~0
To Be Berserk
You sit across the table from Stigulf Snowbeard, the room utterly silent save for the tinkling sound of tea being stirred.
He raises the cup to his lips and drinks, eyes never leaving yours as your own cup sits cold and untouched.
If you were to flip the table, that would distract him long enough for Ashen Kiss to carve his hands off and leave him defenseless against any further attacks.
He shifts his leg, which puts a stop to that line of thought — perfectly positioned to stop any sort of table movement.
Stigulf changes his grip on the teacup and now holds the basin between fingers and palm. He'll break the pottery and take your eyes with the shards.
You lean on an elbow, the back of the hand supporting your head. You sit ready to catch and intercept the incoming shards.
"So it's true." Stigulf's words catch you by surprise, which you immediately chastise yourself for. "I had thought that Sten might've been exaggerating, or simply incorrect, but no," he sips again, "you are a Berserk."
Your mind whirls as you take into account verbal distractions as he sighs. "You can stop that now, you know?" He pauses, anticipating your words. "You can't, can you? It's always at full power?"
You have to hurry to get a word in as his Frenzy predicts the flow of the conversation. "No shapecrafter."
He hums to himself as he nods, barely even acknowledging your words. "A lack of fasts would cause this, I think. Fasts are spaces where Berserks store the majority of their Frenzy when not in use." He shrugs. "It'll never go away, not totally, but you can soothe it. I don't know how to shapecraft, but I can point you towards the Jurgdby Shapecrafter, a man called Luthinn Limpwrist."
He grins for some unknown reason as a sense comes over you that, throughout that entire exchange — if you could even call it that — he had you hook, line, and sinker.
Blackhand grumbles something about 'lesson plan-stealing bastards' as you start to make your way back home.
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Empty Sack) ...Maybe you should try stuffing that empty sack full of straw?
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with... (Sparring with people reveals a summery of their character sheets) (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] Spar with Abjorn, your husband
-[ ] Spar with Gabriel, without armor
--[ ] (Optional) With armor
-[ ] Spar with Stigmar
-[ ] Spar with Stigr
-[ ] Spar with Aki
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Abjorn to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Court) Send Abjorn to make a case at the Thing (Write in) (Unavailable)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
-[ ] (Optional) Focus on repairing something (Write in)
[ ] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (Write in one of your Inspirations)
0~0~0
Exploration/Travel (Pick 1 or none):
[ ] (Visit) Go visit...
-[ ] The Witch! (Actually, it's probably a good idea to avoid her entirely)
-[ ] Asvir!
--[ ] (Optional) Attend the Thing (Unavailable)
-[ ] Steinby, your Father's Farm
-[ ] Vidby, Vidar's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight) (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] Horrby, Horra's Farm (Has a very good chance of ending in a fight) (Not while you're pregnant)
--[ ] Rather than visiting normally, you instead stealthily approach and try to scout it out.
-[ ] Halfdanby, Halfdan's Farm
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about (Not while you're pregnant)
-[ ] The hills!
[ ] (Battle) Go and attack somewhere...
-[ ] Attack the bandit camp to the North (Not while you're pregnant)
0~0~0
Training: You have 32d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Research) Try to figure out how things work (Write in)
[ ] (Blackhand) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hamr (58 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (23 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (7 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 325
How do you want to use your orthstirr? You can turn on passive tricks here.
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
Fylgja Capacity: 4/6
Do you want to withdraw or deposit anything in your fylgja?
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
Equipment Management
What do you want to have equipped? Leaving this blank means that no changes are made.
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
AN: I was initially going to have a short action scene between you and Stigulf, but then I realized that what I went with here was way more interesting.
This came to me way easier than yesterday's, which was very nice!
25-minute moratorium.
Last edited:
- Location
- Under your couch
- Pronouns
- He/Him
@Imperial Fister can I give 2 of my reward dice to Alectai? I really enjoy making poem and writing stories, but speedy decision making at midnight. Not so much.
- Location
- San Ramon, CA
So, is this the turn where we use our visit to get evidence regarding Horra's magic sanctum? It was my understanding that we had to get evidence now so we could have the trial in the summer and get ahead of Steinarr's time limit.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
No real chance to go on any Adventures right now with Boy #3 on the way, unfortunately. Definitely sticks a damper in our plans.
I think it's still doable though, a trip to the Thing doesn't count as a Visit I think, so as long as we do it in early Summer, we should be okay?
Last edited:
- Location
- Under your couch
- Pronouns
- He/Him
But we also cant let being pregnant paralyze our decision making completely though.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
'A space carved out from the body and soul that contains Frenzy, amongst other things. I remember that there are other ways of dealing with Frenzy, but I cannot recall them.'
(I'm testing out having Blackhand be able to answer questions in thread, like this, because I sometimes forget to include him. For further discussion, make sure to lead it with something like 'Blackhand, what....' or however you desire to preface the question. This way, I know what is a specific question vs general pondering/discussion. If you folks would rather not have this open to you, then that's fine. I can also limit the number of questions.)
0~0~0
He's not, he and Patti are visiting the Underhold for the funeral while Oinn guards the homefront.
Absolutely!
- Location
- Under your couch
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Great, now I can sleep.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well, crap, I guess we need to go to Asvir for Mail after all. Or more likely send Abjorn. And need to go there for shapecrafting as well...arrrgh. This is annoying. I'd like to try a few things before heading to the shapecrafter, though. See if we can solve this problem ourselves?
So far I think investing Odr into Composure might be worth a try, as might seeing if we can make some sort of storage space in our soul realm...anyone have any more experiemental ideas?
The only issue with that is that we're pregnant. I'm willing to try for it anyway, but other people might be more reluctant.
I think there are actually alternatives that are a little safer than the sanctum I'd be less concerned about doing while pregnant. Specifically doing some more fylgja spying with a specific eye towards people coming and going and tracing their paths. We could potentially set up things so our friends could even grab a lone courier if doing this.
That's the direction I'm leaning right now, anyway.
So far I think investing Odr into Composure might be worth a try, as might seeing if we can make some sort of storage space in our soul realm...anyone have any more experiemental ideas?
The only issue with that is that we're pregnant. I'm willing to try for it anyway, but other people might be more reluctant.
I think there are actually alternatives that are a little safer than the sanctum I'd be less concerned about doing while pregnant. Specifically doing some more fylgja spying with a specific eye towards people coming and going and tracing their paths. We could potentially set up things so our friends could even grab a lone courier if doing this.
That's the direction I'm leaning right now, anyway.
Last edited:
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
It's not about paralyzing our decision making, I mean we literally can't afford to get into trouble right now. We aren't allowed to take knowingly risky actions in this state.
Anyway, shit, the Dwarves being in a state of total war is very bad, the Iron supply across the entire valley is going to drop to shit when it was already bad, and of course, Horra's stirring shit up by arming the Lurkalings.
- Location
- Norway
While the GM has answered, I'd like to supplement with a little linguistic context: A fast, holdfast, or fastness, are archaic English words meaning a fortress. (In Swedish, a fortress is still called "fästning".) It's related to the still-in-use word "fasten": to secure or tighten something, to lock it up. Which is what we want to do to the Frenzy.
- Pronouns
- He/Him
If only we could find proof...
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Actions with our fylgja are exactly as risky as they usually are. No more and no less.
Kinda annoyed that we didn't include asking about the war and how we can help (without breaking the ancient pact). Should have pestered Deadman about it.
The bit with Stigulf was interesting.
We don't want to get into trouble.
Heck, after giving birth we might be able to vote to invoke the right of exposure rather than naming the child.
We just don't want to. (At least I don't want to, though I'd bet many others don't want to either)
Halla, no!
The bit with Stigulf was interesting.
I would bet that it is another incomplete cultivation thing.
We can get into trouble.
We don't want to get into trouble.
Heck, after giving birth we might be able to vote to invoke the right of exposure rather than naming the child.
We just don't want to. (At least I don't want to, though I'd bet many others don't want to either)
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I don't think we want to rely on a Shapecrafter for this, this feels like one of the Enemy's plays. It's too easy to just delegate elsewhere, and this is an obvious pivot-point as well. It might work, but it'll probably choke out our overall growth.
I think we need to figure out how to make our own.
The good news is, I think I've got an idea for that. "A place in the body and soul to store Frenzy when it's not in use."
We have a fully active Soul Space after all, we can move things in and out. What do you think about creating a place to store a symbolic 'Weapon' and invest it with our Frenzy? Taking it up when it's time for war?
After all, All Norse are Cultivators, you don't walk around in your full panoply when it's time for peace. That's the answer I think, we need to invest our Frenzy into a physical thing in our Soul Space, something we can toggle at need, either symbolically taking up arms or something.
Fortunately, we've established by now that Halla can bring inanimate objects into her Soul Space, she just can't bring things with the potential for Life inside. How about bringing her tools and some iron inside, forging a symbolic 'Weapon' out of them, investing our Frenzy within, and then just setting it down when we don't need it?
EDIT: Yeah, I think that's the ticket, Halla's Frenzy is out of control because she's carrying it around symbolically, the solution then is to put it into something 'Real' that we can set down when we don't need it.
I think we need to figure out how to make our own.
The good news is, I think I've got an idea for that. "A place in the body and soul to store Frenzy when it's not in use."
We have a fully active Soul Space after all, we can move things in and out. What do you think about creating a place to store a symbolic 'Weapon' and invest it with our Frenzy? Taking it up when it's time for war?
After all, All Norse are Cultivators, you don't walk around in your full panoply when it's time for peace. That's the answer I think, we need to invest our Frenzy into a physical thing in our Soul Space, something we can toggle at need, either symbolically taking up arms or something.
Fortunately, we've established by now that Halla can bring inanimate objects into her Soul Space, she just can't bring things with the potential for Life inside. How about bringing her tools and some iron inside, forging a symbolic 'Weapon' out of them, investing our Frenzy within, and then just setting it down when we don't need it?
EDIT: Yeah, I think that's the ticket, Halla's Frenzy is out of control because she's carrying it around symbolically, the solution then is to put it into something 'Real' that we can set down when we don't need it.
Last edited:
Maybe make furniture?
Like a weaponrack?
Or a barrel for the frenzy? (analogue to the well, just smaller)
Also research idea: bring forged iron into our soulscape and bathe it in Odr. Smith with it afterwards.
actually...
@Imperial Fister
if the thread voted to do so, could we?
Last edited:
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Actually, important question @Imperial Fister could we send our fylgja to try and follow people leaving Horra's farm, or are we not allowed to due to pregnancy?
Going there in person is obviously right out, but fylgja scouting seems no more dangerous than usual.
Going there in person is obviously right out, but fylgja scouting seems no more dangerous than usual.
Last edited: