'We are not alone in the fight against The Enemy. The Enemy has suffered defeats before, one of them resulting in Shapecrafting and, as a consequence, the re-emergence of Berserks. The side effects are that Shapecrafters are rarely completely sane, though they can be persuaded with copious amounts of treasure to do things for you without doing anything extra.'
hm?
"Hey, Blackhand..... do you know of any sign we can identify people that fight against the enemy or its more of a list of things that usually follow or surround people that know of it? Like the Foeman, for example....
Also, what other defeats do you know of?
And... do you have any idea of how hard it is to become an a shapecrafter or become the apprentice of one?"
The "not sane" side of shapecrafters is interesting, sounds kinda similar to odr infusion to to mental skills to me... It would also give us some cover for doing stupidly dangerous if not outright stupid experiments.
I think the Enemy is focused on Norse cultivation is because it is losing elsewhere. This ties into the whole idea of the Norse being wielded as a weapon of the Enemy idea, just it would like to do the same to other groups but lacks the means to do so.
Also. I think Horra's magical secrets might be of Gaulish origin. I don't know much about it but I do know that Gauls had been to the Eastern Mediterranean at some point and it would explain the whole Irish style multi-pupil thing. Even if the Irish and the Gauls are not particularly well connected (I honestly don't know) it is still a possible point of connection.
So if we can shapeshift fasts to store frenzy and that is roughly how Shapecrafters make beserks... do the shapecrafters just make a very frenzy friendly fast and hope you frenzy... maybe some other elements and ritual involved to it.
I mean if they are somehow skipping the odr step to create frenzy and doing it for other people to boot... yeah that is some kind of weird work around. And if they cannot even properly talk about it ... that might be PART (only part mind you) of why they come off as crazy.
Makes me wonder if Halla met one if they would seem, less or at least differently crazy
So if we can shapeshift fasts to store frenzy and that is roughly how Shapecrafters make beserks... do the shapecrafters just make a very frenzy friendly fast and hope you frenzy... maybe some other elements and ritual involved to it.
I mean if they are somehow skipping the odr step to create frenzy and doing it for other people to boot... yeah that is some kind of weird work around. And if they cannot even properly talk about it ... that might be PART (only part mind you) of why they come off as crazy.
Makes me wonder if Halla met one if they would seem, less or at least differently crazy
I suspect to make a berserk they make sure you have a Fast (probably usually installing them themselves, since they can do that), extract the Frenzy from monsters (which we know have Frenzy now) and then inject it directly into your brain. Which is wild, but seems in line with the mad scientist vibe they have going on.
'SirArtorias, when my cousins and I did battle and established the Danelaw. I was barely a man when I met him in battle and it was only thanks to tremendous amounts of luck that I survived.'
Sir Artorias...probably not the abyss walker, but that name is very close to the Latin name Artorius which is a Latin ancestor of the Welsh name Arthur which in turn leads to the thought of King Arthur. And I really hope I'm barking up the wrong tree with that thought.
I think the Enemy is focused on Norse cultivation is because it is losing elsewhere. This ties into the whole idea of the Norse being wielded as a weapon of the Enemy idea, just it would like to do the same to other groups but lacks the means to do so.
Also. I think Horra's magical secrets might be of Gaulish origin. I don't know much about it but I do know that Gauls had been to the Eastern Mediterranean at some point and it would explain the whole Irish style multi-pupil thing. Even if the Irish and the Gauls are not particularly well connected (I honestly don't know) it is still a possible point of connection.
It's possible! One thing is that the eye might have been Irish, but the necromancy might not have been - it could have been a matter of putting together body parts, including some from an Irish cultivator. The cloak of skin bound to the shoulders and the nisse makes me think we're dealing with a Frankensteining process. That Horra disappeared in Persia makes me think he might have learned his arts there, but I haven't found any description of a creature that matches anywhere close... if you stretch really far you could get to a Middle Eastern ghul, but folkloric ghuls aren't undead, they just eat people (or sometimes corpses) and live in cemeteries.
Sir Artorias...probably not the abyss walker, but that name is very close to the Latin name Artorius which is a Latin ancestor of the Welsh name Arthur which in turn leads to the thought of King Arthur. And I really hope I'm barking up the wrong tree with that thought.
I mean, Charlemagne never got to the British Isles and just because he's Arthur (or some equivalent) doesn't mean he's unbeatable. Seems like a possibility (though far from a certainty) to me.
"Hey, Blackhand..... do you know of any sign we can identify people that fight against the enemy or its more of a list of things that usually follow or surround people that know of it? Like the Foeman, for example....
'If someone has odr, then they're against The Enemy. If they share our hair and our eyes, then you can be certain that they're not agents of The Enemy.'
Jesus... the Enemy really fucked us over, didn't they? Fylgjur unveiling and Aspect Stoking wasn't a thing? Somewhat weakens the 'Norse are a weapon for the Enemy' theory, since without those they'd be pretty weak... unless they're just throwaway troops, or something, and not expected to actually deal much damage to whoever the Enemy is trying to fight.
Jesus... the Enemy really fucked us over, didn't they? Fylgjur unveiling and Aspect Stoking wasn't a thing? Somewhat weakens the 'Norse are a weapon for the Enemy' theory, since without those they'd be pretty weak... unless they're just throwaway troops, or something, and not expected to actually deal much damage to whoever the Enemy is trying to fight.
Most of them wouldn't be that much weaker. It effectively halves Orthstirr pools, which sucks and definitely weakens people, but not enough that they aren't still highly dangerous. Look what we did vs. the Foemen with 1/3 of our actual pool, for example. Like, most Norsemen do not run out of orthstirr during a fight before something else finishes it...halving that doesn't hurt them too much (like, it hurts, but not enough they can't function or anything). Halla has historically tended to burn hard and run out of Orthstirr faster than that, but she's unusual in many ways.
And as for fylgja...not having this would weaken, like, 5% of the Norse because only around 5% have it revealed even now.
Almost all of them get significant benefits. Even if they never raise their Fylgja's level (and most will get it to at least level 4 or so because that's super cheap, which gives some solid utility even if it's not great in combat), the bonuses just for unveiling it include doubled Endurance or doubling all damage you deal, among others. Sure, you only get one of them, but they're all very good.
It's how we get Odr. Orthstirr just sort of accumulates. But yes, figuring out how to stoke aspects would've been rediscovered earlier in the 'tech tree' than Odr cultivation.
Most of them wouldn't be that much weaker. It effectively halves Orthstirr pools, which sucks and definitely weakens people, but not enough that they aren't still highly dangerous. Look what we did vs. the Foemen with 1/3 of our actual pool, for example. Like, most Norsemen do not run out of orthstirr during a fight before something else finishes it...halving that doesn't hurt them too much (like, it hurts, but not enough they can't function or anything). Halla has historically tended to burn hard and run out of Orthstirr faster than that, but she's unusual in many ways.
And as for fylgja...not having this would weaken, like, 5% of the Norse because only around 5% have it revealed even now.
How fast does Orthstirr regenerate if you don't use your aspect stoking (which can be done whenever it has enough time, iirc the walk from Squire to Knight was long enough for one aspect to be available again)?
There are a few options, there might be other ways to open the gate/get othstirr from harvesting it from sprit beasts or monsters to especially potent wild places of power or the gods themselves gave some to promising candidates.
SirArtorias, when my cousins and I did battle and established the Danelaw. I was barely a man when I met him in battle and it was only thanks to tremendous amounts of luck that I survived.'
[X] Plan Just Keep Hitting Him
-[X] Invest 31 Orthstirr into Combat Pool, 4 into Hugr, 2 into Composure, 4 into Scouting (-41 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate Punching Up (-35 Orthstirr)
-[X] Stoke Frami (+71 Orthstirr)
-[X] 51d6 Attack (48d6 tricks)
-[X] 31d6 Defense (22d6 tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Put 2 Orthstirr into 4 layers of Reinforce Shield as the combat begins (-2 Orthstirr)
-[X] Close with Sten using a 14d6+2 Honedx3 Leaping Cleave attack enhanced with Lightning Damage (-9 Orthstirr) being willing to use Ember-Wing Cloak to enhance it and dodge mid-flight if necessary (-9 Orthstirr if needed), then follow up with a 14d6+2 Honedx3 Skewer-Flick attack enhanced with Lightning Damage (-8 Orthstirr) followed by a 14d6+2 Honedx3 Power Chop attacks enhanced with Lightning Damage (-5 Orthstirr), then make three 8d6+2 Honedx3 Power Chop attacks enhanced with Lightning Damage (-5 Orthstirr each) then make up to three 4d6+2 Honedx3 Power Chop attacks enhanced with Lightning Damage (-5 Orthstirr each).
-[X] If at any point he distances himself from us, use Ember-Wing Cloak to close with him immediately (-6 Orthstirr).
-[X] If attacked with any Trick Attack use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr each) and if that is penetrated by one big attack or we can't use it (like if jumping with Leaping Cleave) use up to two 16d6+6 Reinforced x2 Honed x3 defenses (-5 Orthstirr each). If we are attacked with a non-Trick attack use up to 9 Reinforcedx1 Honed x2 Defenses using our Defense dice (-3 Orthstirr each, 4d6+6 each) and if that doesn't work and Reinforce Shield is not available, use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Jump Sten immediately taking advantage of our speed and then go to town on him hitting him as hard and fast as we can arrange and not letting him retreat or get to range.
0~0~0
The wind whistles once again, this time with substance behind it. A song of combat where the backing beat is provided by the relentless pounding of Sten's heart.
You crouch low to the ground, Sagaseeker held loose-yet-ready in your eager hands.
Steel eyes meet and blood will soon be spilled.
You leap to the side as your frami ignites around you — Sten frowning slightly at the early usage. His eyes track your movements as his boots twist in the ground, a hand coming up empty and then down with a fresh knife in hand.
It slips free from his fingers as red power clings to its edge. It hurtles through the air with the force of a raging river, crimson orthstirr burning its path through the air. (Halting Vortex)
Halting Vortex springs into existence as, with one hand, you defend against the attack and, with the other, you run palms over your armor, coating it in layers of crimson might. Sagaseeker sits stabbed into the earth, easily grabbable at a moment's notice.
The flaming dagger explodes against the swirling shield of stopping substance, leaving nothing behind other than flakes of scorched metal swiftly fading away in the wind.
Sten grins. "So you've figured out shapeshifting, good."
You squint. "How do you figure that?"
"Sagaseeker isn't in your hand and yet you managed to defend all the same." He steps forward, neck cracking as he moves. "Alright, Halla," his eyes flash with drum-like power as the air grows heavy with tightly-wound strength, "show me why you should teach Drifa."
You grin and pull Sagaseeker from the earth. Spinning it around the flaming outline of your body, you meet your brother's stern steel eyes with a fiery, passionate gaze of your own.
Leaping into action, you take two steps before throwing yourself into the air on wings of orthstirr. Sagaseeker sparks with the power of tamed lightning as you raise it high above head, a cry of laughing joy spilling from your lips as it purrs its delight to all those who care to listen.
"I may not recognize that trick, but..." A sly half-smile slides its way up Sten's face as the corners of his eyes crinkle. "I've seen you fly more times than I can count."
His hands fly up, fingers curling into claws as his palms point towards you. The drumbeat of his heart grows louder as the wind's whistle reaches a fever pitch. Words of a foreign tongue fly from his lips as the wind halts. "Tuulen Verkon!"
'Wind Net,' Blackhand helpfully translates as the wind suddenly shifts direction. Instead of flowing perpendicular between you and Sten, it now whistles straight at you!
Wings of fire snap out, throwing you into a dodge — but it's not a guarantee, not against a net as wide as the wind. (Halla's Hamr: 26+2=28 vs Sten's Haltija: 28+4=32, Sten Wins!)
Wind wraps around you like a net of invisible force, leaving you trapped and struggling as Sten's half-smile turns to a full-blown grin. Some part of you notes that this isn't all that far off from your Standstill, but that part is quickly squashed as Sten's hands clench into fists and he slams his arms to the ground.
Your eyes snap wide as you soon follow his movements. You bounce off the ground, the net unraveling as the wind is knocked from your lungs. It doesn't last long and you leap to your feet mere moments later, right as the day is long.
But those mere moments are all that Sten needs to knot another rope together.
"Etanan Tuulen Ammusken!"
Snail Wind Ammunition? Now what does that mean?
You're not left very long to wonder as an arrow of wind forms above Sten's palm. Your hand flickers up as he lets the incantation loose, Halting Vortex already spinning into reality.
"You've spent a long time slowing your enemies," Sten's words send chills down your spine as the arrow draws closer and closer with all the speed of a rampaging typhoon, "I wonder if you know what it's like to be on the receiving end?"
The arrow strikes your shield and flows around it like wind. You watch in frozen terror as the arrow hits your armor and...
Does nothing?
You blink in confusion only for realization to blossom across your mind like a springtime flower blooming in the summer sun.
Sten's form blurs into actions as he moves with truly incredible speed, a sword of his own making in hand — your own pace having been slowed to that of your base, un-shapeshifted state.
He's almost upon you, sword gleaming like the sun in the sky. (Honed Attack: 21 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 14+6=20, Attacker Wins! 2 Layer Damage Dealt!)
The sword falls from on high with all the power of a thunderstorm. It bats aside your feeble defense as it rips a ragged canyon across your painted-on armor.
You try to respond, but he's just too damn fast! (Honed Attack: 21 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 13+6=19, Attacker Wins! Layers Broken!)
His second strike shatters the layers of orthstirr keeping you safe. Power explodes out, throwing him back and giving you a hint of breathing room.
You are not in a good situation. Your movements have been to your base state, no shapeshifting or runework working here! To make matters worse, Sten's got his own shapeshifting going on, which is increasing his speed!
To make matters even worse, he's somehow got access to Finnish magic! You don't know a damn thing about that! Blackhand is trying to help, but his memories of Finland are spotty at best and mostly focus on getting Ilmarinen's Fire.
All in all, not a good situation to be in.
Sten seems fine. He's probably going to keep the pressure up as best he can, likely with more honed basic melee attacks. He might even crack open some Ironbloom tricks as well.
Endurance: (10/10) | Frenzy: (2/2) | Armor Health: (17/17)
Orthstirr: (191/212) | Odr: (18)
(X) Frami: 71 | ( ) Virthing: 71 | ( ) Saemd: 70
Sagaseeker has 23 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your Armor has 13 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Shapeshifting is granting you (+1 Damage and +1 Attack-Speed)
Your combat pool is 82d6.
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Super sorry, something came up so I wasn't able to finish calculating costs.
Welp. Worth trying out Ashen Kiss as the magic does seem verbal... of course, we'd still need to actually wound him for that to work, and he can make his own armor.
Kindle-Spinner at point blank should still be fast, but on the other hand, he's fire resistant.
How fast does Orthstirr regenerate if you don't use your aspect stoking (which can be done whenever it has enough time, iirc the walk from Squire to Knight was long enough for one aspect to be available again)?
We should, I think, be down exactly 17 Orthstirr (-7 total from Stoking and our initial expenditures, -4 HV, -3 each on the two defenses) for a total of 195. Maybe 191 if we tried Halting Vortex on the slow...I don't think we used it a third time?
.
.
.
Well, that did not go as planned. On the other hand, it didn't actually cost us that much all things considered. Hmmm. With him having the speed advantage, we have a problem here, but our ability to assign dice freely actually lets up like up, like, 6d6+6 vs. his basic attacks at minimal Orthstirr costs...though not minimal dice. We probably want to do a fair bit of that and try a couple of big attacks.
Mire Ward might actually be the way to go here, we need to cancel his speed advantage and we can do without HV this turn if he's mostly using basic attacks, and viewing this as a 'job interview' (which it is), he's seen that trick already.
@Imperial Fister, is Mire Ward rolled, or do we just activate it?
Worth trying out Ashen Kiss as the magic does seem verbal... of course, we'd still need to actually wound him for that to work, and he can make his own armor.
If we can do more than 5 damage, his armor is Pierced and he takes the remainder. So a 6 damage attack would do it...that's pretty hard for us to do with Ashen Kiss sans Odr, though, so we probably need to land two attacks...almost any two would probably do, though, we do hit pretty hard.
Absolutely not. The man is immune to fire (well, technically just highly resistant, I suppose), any fire attacks are useless and mean we're being stupid.
How about intercepting him with a Inertia-Arresting-Throw to the armor when he uses his high speed attack and hope that he is stunned/confused for a second giving us an in to attack him and try to get him into the defensive?
How about intercepting him with a Inertia-Arresting-Throw to the armor when he uses his high speed attack and hope that he is stunned/confused for a second giving us an in to attack him and try to get him into the defensive?
We have to hit him and that probably only happens after he's hit us several times...the hope is that Mire Ward goes up immediately, which would be a better bet if so, despite its downsides.
