Given how Hugr Infusion works, all PCs will wind up berserkers eventually...and probably pretty early for future ones. Being a berserker is really good as long as you have Fasts prepared.
We've, uh, done this one. We are in fact a pretty excellent smith and rune scriber by most standards, and will only get better once we add Forgefire. We aren't quite on Sten's level but, like, who is?
There are dedicated doctors, but Seidr also seems to cover healing to some degree and we're definitely getting that. Heck, we can already cure poisons and diseases and stabilize the dying...
Honestly, it *was* kinda weird to pop it immediately, we had a good chunk left over even with how much we have bound up. Would have had to pop it second round when we got low, sure, but we could have gotten through round one just fine.
We'd already spent more than its value, and its not like it gives Sten more information (he's seen our Frami before). Tactically, not popping it risks running out of orthstirr (unlikely, but possible) while popping it risks nothing. It was lossless...it's surprising to Sten because he hasn't yet run into Punching Up so he's confused what we spent the Orthstirr on. Well, and because we have less Orthstirr than he might expect...but we're not really keeping that a secret from our family.
I needs to be done, either way. Will cut down on expenses for one, and will be a great advantage.
Just the sheer utility alone makes it worth it, but the force multipler? just go on year long adventure and hunt monsters for materials and bam, our descendant/hier/PC can say they got lucky helped a someone who turned out to be a shapecrafter.
(its even true, because they DO know how to shapecraft, not to mention letting the shapecrafter's soul stretch a bit.)
If Seidr would be enough, there wouldn't be a difference between seidr user and seeress though. The seeing eyes are just and advantage imo, but the two together still doesnt make a seeress... but we will see when we can finally learn seidr.
True, but she is just being an average norse warrior, not a professional Skald, and we still dont know how to make them, just have the capacity to do so, big difference. And Skalds probably got more tricks up their sleeves, not just twist making or modifying.
Given how Hugr Infusion works, all PCs will wind up berserkers eventually...and probably pretty early for future ones. Being a berserker is really good as long as you have Fasts prepared.
We've, uh, done this one. We are in fact a pretty excellent smith and rune scriber by most standards, and will only get better once we add Forgefire. We aren't quite on Sten's level but, like, who is?
Just dabling in it doesnt make us master smiths, not even with forgefire. Just look at sten, he spent YEARS being an apprentice of a master smith.
And that's without trade secrets, like how to make steel.
There are dedicated doctors, but Seidr also seems to cover healing to some degree and we're definitely getting that. Heck, we can already cure poisons and diseases and stabilize the dying...
Yeah, we are warriors, but there is nothing special in that, aside from Halla being a woman doing it. And yes Seidr is just too handy not to learn. I imagine most big names know some.
The point though, deadman, is that we don't need to achieve them all on Halla or on the next PC.
its just a list of professions that would be nice to get mastered, one for each new heir. we would not have either the dice nor the consistent attention on if we tried to do it in one person.
And that's where Charred Soul kicks in. Because the souls of multiple masters would tag along for the new PC, helping them, speeding up training in general (thanks again, Hallr!) but also giving a new Ace up the sleeve that no one else knows about.
I needs to be done, either way. Will cut down on expenses for one, and will be a great advantage.
Just the sheer utility alone makes it worth it, but the force multipler? just go on year long adventure and hunt monsters for materials and bam, our descendant/hier/PC can say they got lucky helped a someone who turned out to be a shapecrafter.
(its even true, because they DO know how to shapecraft, not to mention letting the shapecrafter's soul stretch a bit.)
Not really? We can just pay for Shapecrafting if we really need it. If the side effects of learning Shapecrafting is that we go insane, I would rather pay if anything. I'll admit, I am somewhat curious about how one does learn Shapecrafting, but I wouldn't say it's necessary at all.
Not really? We can just pay for Shapecrafting if we really need it. If the side effects of learning Shapecrafting is that we go insane, I would rather pay if anything. I'll admit, I am somewhat curious about how you one does learn Shapecrafting, but I wouldn't say it's necessary at all.
That's... what? Insanity isn't something that can be dealt with that easily. Especially if it's insanity caused by/a side effect of supernatural shenanigans, rather than just hitting your breaking point.
I suspect it's less "causes insanity" and more "you have to tie your brain in knots in order to get there" based on the whole "you have to be someone with a loose connection with your physical form" comment but yeah, first step would be talking to one and get some idea of what we'd be dealing with.
[X] Plan Slow Down And Shut Up
-[X] Invest 3 Orthstirr into Tactics (-3 Orthstirr)
-[X] 47d6 Attack (39d6 tricks)
-[X] 35d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Activate Mire Ward immediately (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] Attack Sten immediately after the Mire Ward with up to two 15d6+2 Honed x3 Skewer-Flick attacks using Orthstirr for extra Lightning damage (-8 Orthstirr each) hoping to pierce his armor (preferably in a location he won't be expecting or care about, and making sure to toss him somewhere still in melee range), if his armor is pierced (and before the second Skewer-Flick if we pierce it on the first try), draw Ashen Kiss and attempt a 18d6+2 Honed x3 Power Chop attack (-4 Orthstirr) in the gap in the armor to shut him up and negate his magic, and then follow up with eight 4d6+2 Honed x3 attacks using Ashen Kiss if his armor is pierced but the first one doesn't work, or Sagaseeker otherwise (and switching to Sagaseeker once he is, in fact, silenced), and adding lightning damage in the latter case (-3 Orthstirr each with Ashen Kiss, -4 each with Sagaseeker).
-[X] If at any point he distances himself from us enough that we can't attack, drop Mire Ward, use EWC to reengage (-6 Orthstirr), and then try to get Mire Ward up again (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] If attacked with any melee Trick Attack attempt to use Contested Movement (-3 Orthstirr), and if that doesn't work or he uses a ranged trick attack use up to two 12d6+6 Reinforced x2 Honed x3 defenses (-5 Orthstirr each). If we are attacked with a non-Trick attack use up to seven 6d6+6 Reinforcedx1 Honed x2 defenses (-4 Orthstirr each).
-[X] Tactics – Try and slow him down with Mire Ward, defend against his basic attacks, breach his armor with our heaviest attacks and then silence him with Ashen Kiss. Then just keep hitting him.
0~0~0
Barely a heartbeat passes before you're back in the thick of it.
Sten's foot digs into the earth to arrest his momentum before he pushes off the ground and flings himself into a whip-fast lunge. His sword scythes through the air, the wind whistling off his blade as he shreds it to pieces. Crimson orthstirr burns brightly across the cutting surface as it hones into a fine, razor-sharp edge.
But the moment he starts moving, you're already slamming your palm to the earth. Standstill spreads out around you like ripples in a lake as it forms an invisible field of slowing force. His movements noticeably slow as his boots cross into the field — you're fighting at the same level now.
Standstill ripples as time slows down around you. Heart beating in your throat, you shift on the spot and swing Sagaseeker up into a lunge just as Sten swings his sword down.
Hamr strives against hamr as you struggle for victory. (Halla's Hamr: 29+2=31 vs Sten's Hamr: 32, Sten Wins! 3 Armor Damage!)
Mail screams as Honed iron parts it like water. Crimson orthstirr mingles together as you're forced a half-step back and Sten presses in with sword shining bright.
But even as you're forced back, your foot finds a sturdy spot on the ground. Pushing off it with all your might, you drive Sagaseeker forward with its song filling the air. Power runs up and down its length as your jaw clenches, electricity arcing across Sagaseeker's edge. (Honed Trick Attack: 57+2=59 vs Honed+Reinforced Trick Defense: 49+6=55, Attacker Wins! 5+1(Damage Up)+1(Lightning)=7 Armor Damage!)
Sagaseeker's head flies through the air with happy purrs flowing in its wake. Sten's eyes flick from you to it as his free hand comes up with palm out. Orthstirr sparks and an iron spike bursts out from his palm, aiming to knock Sagaseeker off course.
Unfortunately for Sten, you saw a shimmer of him doing exactly that.
Sagaseeker shifts up a half-inch and slips by the iron as it drives deep into Sten's armor.
He grunts, eyes widening in shock as you shift on the spot. Leverage gained and momentum building, you lift him up off his feet. With a grunt of exertion spilling from between clenched teeth, you hurl him over your shoulder where he slams into the ground.
He leaps to his feet as you turn around, body smoking as the broken links in his armor fall to the ground as if carried by feathers — Mire Ward affecting even them.
His armor's damaged, but still well intact. Eyes narrowing, you resolve to rectify that error post-haste.
Sten, though, has a strong preference towards his armor remaining intact. His hand swings up, iron spike still in his grip, and points straight at you. Orthstirr burns as his own Ignition makes its appearance.
A small explosion leaves scorch marks in his palm as his eyes gleam with might. The iron spike bolts forward on a wave of explosive power, aiming to skewer you through the middle. (Ranged Trick Attack: 49 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 43+6=49, Defender Wins Ties!)
Sagaseeker whips up and just barely manages to smack the spike away in time. Your eyes dart back to Sten as he moves to escape the Mire Ward — but he's not moved beyond Sagaseeker's reach just yet! (Honed Trick Attack: 48+2=50 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 48+6=54, Defender Wins!)
This time, though you read the shimmers perfectly, Sten was ready for your lunge.
As Sagaseeker aims to run him through, his leg swings up and an iron spike flies up from his knee. Sparks fly as iron strikes iron and knocks your weapon off-course.
He steps beyond the reaches of Standstill and comes to a stop by the oak tree. You eye him and he returns the gaze.
"You've improved since we fought those bandits," he says with a nod, a pleased smile on his face. "Strength suits you."
"I gotta say," you release your hold on Mire Ward and rest Sagaseeker on your shoulder, "you've got a deep bag of tricks. I can't wait to see more!"
Fiery wings snap out as you hurl yourself into the air. There's not enough time for him to catch you in his net, so as you race towards him — Standstill rippling out behind you — he simply holds his sword out to the side.
"You're good, don't get me wrong," he says as orthstirr travels down his blade and shaves a layer of iron off the edge, "but you're not there yet."
'He's better than I thought!' Blackhand laughs as you make contact with the ground and Sten immediately moves to engage. '*I'm remembering what that is now, too! That's Sharpen, the advanced form of Hone.'
The Sharpened sword cuts through the air with blisteringly fast speed. Its orthstirr burns bright and strong as he aims to drive it through you. (Sharpened Attack: 27 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 20+6=26, Attacker Wins! 2 Armor Damage! Armor Pierced! 1 Frenzy Damage!)
Sagaseeker spins up to counter, but it's no use as Sten simply smashes aside your guard, carves through your armor, and cracks your Frenzy.
The force of the blow sends you stumbling back as Sten easily keeps up. His sword flashes as another layer of iron is shaved from its edge. (Sharpened Attack: 26 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 27+5=32, Defender Wins!)
This time, though, you manage to dart out of the way as Sten's sword whistles past your ear. Sten's keeping pace, meaning that you'll have to make space in order to get Mire Ward off again. Gripping Sagaseeker tight, you aim to do just that. (Honed Attack: 13+2=15 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 18+6=24, Defender Wins!)
He jerks out of the way as a Honed Sagaseeker nearly takes his beard off. But even as he's dodging, he moves into a retaliatory strike of his own with yet another layer of iron shaved from his sword. (Sharpened Attack: 22 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 26+5=31, Defender Wins!)
You duck and dodge under the strike only to be immediately met with his follow-up, downward swing. (Sharpened Attack: 21 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 23+5=28, Defender Wins!)
Stomping against the ground, you throw yourself to the side. His sword digs deep into the earth as you roll to your feet, a hand pressed to the ground.
Standstill ripples out and Mire Ward rises from the earth. A massive grin slides across your face as you're once again on an even playing field.
Even slowed by Standstill, Sten isn't a man to be trifled with. He had already started moving when you called upon Mire Ward again, so an attack was already on its way. (Sharpened Attack: 22 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 19+5=24, Defender Wins!)
Sparks fly as iron crashes against iron. Gritting your teeth, you shove Sten back and launch an attack of your own. (Honed Attack: 18+1=19 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 15+6=21, Defender Wins!)
Sten rides the momentum of your shove, managing to ride it just enough to dodge Sagaseeker. Another layer of iron shaves away from his sword, the blade starting to look a little thin. (Sharpened Attack: 25 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 19+5=24, Attacker Wins! 1 Frenzy Damage! Frenzy Broken! 2 Endurance Damage!)
Thin it may be, but with your Frenzy already cracked from the earlier blow, the shimmers aren't quite as clear.
So when he runs you through the stomach, you weren't ready for it.
Blood sprays out from your wound as you stumble away, Mire Ward breaking in the process.
The slowing effect has worn off, which means that you've now got the edge in speed.
You've gotten pretty close to the tree over the course of the fight, right next to it now. Past the tree is the downward slope of the hill. Trip near the edge and you'll be tumbling!
Sten is strong, definitely stronger than you, but not by all that much. If he had odr... man he'd be one scary guy. Not that he isn't already, but he does lack the infusions that odr brings with it. His Ignition is about as strong as yours and you don't have any way to gauge his Ironbloom's strength. He hasn't used Forgefire yet and you're not certain if he ever will.
From the looks of things, he's going to be pressing the advantage as hard as he can. That means lots of Sharpened attacks mixed with Ironbloom to change things up! And speaking of Sharpen, his sword isn't doing too hot — he can't keep it up forever.
Your Frenzy will return once you get time to take a tiny breather.
Endurance: (8/10) | Frenzy: (0/2) | Armor Health: (10/17)
Orthstirr: (118/212) | 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: Sten is strong, who woulda guessed?
One of the potential rewards from this spar will be Sharpen, by the way.
Note: I'm not super happy with the way that armor penetration works, so I'm swapping the armor penetration threshold to being 1/3rd of the total armor, rounding up. Your armor has an Armor Penetration rating of 6, as a result. Better armor should be harder to get through, so now they are.
Sharpen seems very hard on one's weapons, not something you'd want to use on an awakened, runed weapon unless you're in desperate straits, or manufacturing your own weapons with Ironbloom.
I'd assume we have to clarify in the plan if we want to try and regen our Frenzy if we have the chance to do so, but I believe IF stated we can replenish our Frenzy if there's a momentary lull in the fight.
@Imperial Fister there's a typo in the costs of our defenses last turn, it should've been only -3 Orthstirr per basic Honed x2 Reinforced Defense (there's nothing for the fourth Orthstirr to pay for). Looks like I missed fixing that when I was fiddling with different versions of the plan. Totally my bad but it means we should have a tad more Orthstirr left (I think 6 or 7?) since we did a lot of those.
He only has that listed defensively, so it's almost certainly his armor...it's either better than ours or the Helm adds another +2. Or some combination.
Alright, our defenses were about 1d shy of where we want them, and our basic attacks are just not enough dice. Check...we can work with that a bit. I'm open to tactics, but I'm thinking we go back to leaning on Halting Vortex defensively for a turn and throw out several big attacks real quick.
I'm thinking... We might want to see if we can force him to the edge of the hill to disrupt his footing, that's not as serious a problem for us as we have EWC, and we can potentially catch him in an IAT wombo-combo then too in order to set up a Leaping Cleave while he's in the air. We might not be able to win, but I think our prize would definitely be better by having done actual Endurance damage to him, and Leaping Cleave is the counterplay to Armor for the most part. We know 7 damage to armor isn't enough to pierce his after all, so using our dedicated Anti-Armor Trick is a good play.
Alternately, we could go for a Skewer-Flick to push him off the edge, IAT him on the way down, and then follow up with a Leaping Cleave boosted with Penetrate in case he tries to use a Perfect Defense to block that. This could be a good play, and while it's a lot of moves... We've got our speed advantage back, we can probably squeeze it in.
We're actually holding up pretty well given the difference in experience here, and Sten is no less talented than Halla. I think we've already passed the test, and the rest is going for bonus prizes. I Want Sharpen.
I'm thinking... We might want to see if we can force him to the edge of the hill to disrupt his footing, that's not as serious a problem for us as we have EWC, and we can potentially catch him in an IAT wombo-combo then too in order to set up a Leaping Cleave. We might not be able to win, but I think our prize would definitely be better by having done actual Endurance damage to him, and Leaping Cleave is the counterplay to Armor for the most part. We know 7 damage to armor isn't enough to pierce his after all.
The damage doesn't have to be in one hit (so two Skewer-Flicks will almost certainly pierce), but this is potentially viable...lemme see if we can work out enough dice to actually do it (this is at least one attack to disrupt his footing, likely Skewer-Flick since that has forced movement, but we can't rely on a single one to do it and need to put even more dice than last time, then the IAT itself, then the Leaping Cleave...all at 17d or more based on what we got last time). That's...pricey in terms of both Orthstirr and dice. Not undoable by any means, but pricey.
The damage doesn't have to be in one hit (so two Skewer-Flicks will almost certainly pierce), but this is potentially viable...lemme see if we can work out enough dice to actually do it (this is at least one attack to disrupt his footing, likely Skewer-Flick since that has forced movement, but we can't rely on a single one to do it and need to put even more dice than last time, then the IAT itself, then the Leaping Cleave...all at 17d or more based on what we got last time). That's...pricey in terms of both Orthstirr and dice. Not undoable by any means, but pricey.
I think it's worth trying, we had the current setup of the battlefield pointed out to us for a reason I think, and Sten's style doesn't seem to be heavily movement based either, given his focus on setting stuff up, I don't think he has an instant response to getting knocked in the air, while we can freeze him in that position using our speed advantage, which denies him a mobility based PD, with Leaping Cleave + Penetrate being enough to cleave through any block based PDs, the combination should pierce his armor as well as do a fair amount of Endurance damage.
It's heavy on Orthstirr and tricky on dice, but it should do a lot to turn the tide if it works out. It's better to spend more Orthstirr after all here than it is to take more Endurance Damage given how Orthstirr is cheap, and this gives us a good chance of finishing the spar in good terms.
A small explosion leaves scorch marks in his palm as his eyes gleam with might. The iron spike bolts forward on a wave of explosive power, aiming to skewer you through the middle.
"You're good, don't get me wrong," he says as orthstirr travels down his blade and shaves a layer of iron off the edge, "but you're not there yet."
'He's better than I thought!' Blackhand laughs as you make contact with the ground and Sten immediately moves to engage. '*I'm remembering what that is now, too! That's Sharpen, the advanced form of Hone.'
alright, that was cool.
And the advanced form of Hone, huh? makes sense though, what with us getting reinforce from reinforce shield.
Makes you thing what other basic skills and their advanced options are there... We know of recall and recall-fast though.
[X] Plan Pushing To The Edge
-[X] Stoke Virthing (+71 Orthstirr)
-[X] 64d6 Attack (64d6 tricks)
-[X] 18d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Attack Sten immediately up to two 18d6 Honed x3 Skewer-Flick attacks using Orthstirr for extra Lightning damage (-8 Orthstirr each) tossing him towards the edge of the hill to disrupt his balance, then once he's off balance (even if that's after only one attack, including the counterattack below) use a 22d6 Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) to temporarily trap him and use a 20d6 Honed x4 Leaping Cleave attack using Orthstirr for extra Lightning damage and the Pierce Twist (-19 Orthstirr), and follow it up with the remaining Skewer-Flicks if we still have any left.
-[X] Use Ember-Wing Cloak as necessary for balance, to stay next to Sten, or even to dodge mid-Leaping Cleave (-6 Orthstirr, -9 Orthstirr if used mid-Leaping Cleave).
-[X] Against the first melee attack to target us use Contested Movement (-3 Orthstirr, using Fight of Our Life for +5d6) with the counterattack it provides being a Honed x3 Skewer Flick using Orthstirr for extra Lightning damage (-8 Orthstirr). If that doesn't work, if attacked at range, or if attacked with with anything at all after that first Contested Movement attempt to use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr), and if that doesn't work (or we currently have IAT out) use up to two 14d6+4 Reinforcedx2 Honed x3 defenses (-5 Orthstirr each).
-[X] Tactics – We're trying to push him to the edge of the hill where he has to worry about his footing, then, while he's worried about that, freeze him in place and hit him hard with a Leaping Cleave to break his armor and do some damage.
So, this plan is...a little dicey, and very expensive. But it hits hard hopefully hard enough to throw Sten off his game and actually do some damage, which is the goal, and with the speed advantage I think we can maybe pull it off.
I needs to be done, either way. Will cut down on expenses for one, and will be a great advantage.
Just the sheer utility alone makes it worth it, but the force multipler? just go on year long adventure and hunt monsters for materials and bam, our descendant/hier/PC can say they got lucky helped a someone who turned out to be a shapecrafter.
(its even true, because they DO know how to shapecraft, not to mention letting the shapecrafter's soul stretch a bit.)
I'm very dubious of learning any skill that makes us mad, or that it would be so easily fixable. We should maybe just aim for being rich enough to afford having a shapecrafter on staff.
If Seidr would be enough, there wouldn't be a difference between seidr user and seeress though. The seeing eyes are just and advantage imo, but the two together still doesnt make a seeress... but we will see when we can finally learn seidr.
True, but she is just being an average norse warrior, not a professional Skald, and we still dont know how to make them, just have the capacity to do so, big difference. And Skalds probably got more tricks up their sleeves, not just twist making or modifying.
Just dabling in it doesnt make us master smiths, not even with forgefire. Just look at sten, he spent YEARS being an apprentice of a master smith.
And that's without trade secrets, like how to make steel.
We're way past dabbling ant into full master smith by most reasonable standards, certainly at least professional level. Good is the highest quality of items made for sale, at least generally...we make Superior items (enough to impress dwarves) regularly and reliably. We're literally at the point where you need Forgefire to be better...and are going to get Forgefire in the near future when we hit Hugr 7 and going to be getting into actual master smith territory.
The point though, deadman, is that we don't need to achieve them all on Halla or on the next PC.
its just a list of professions that would be nice to get mastered, one for each new heir. we would not have either the dice nor the consistent attention on if we tried to do it in one person.
And that's where Charred Soul kicks in. Because the souls of multiple masters would tag along for the new PC, helping them, speeding up training in general (thanks again, Hallr!) but also giving a new Ace up the sleeve that no one else knows about.
I think we can master more than one of those per life, depending on how long we live and the other tricks we want to pick up. Like, we're on track for Seidr, Warrior, and Smith this life, and probably Skald as well if we get a tutor.
And the advanced form of Hone, huh? makes sense though, what with us getting reinforce from reinforce shield.
Makes you thing what other basic skills and their advanced options are there... We know of recall and recall-fast though.
I think Sharpen is a bit orthogonal to Hone, sort of anyway. It sounds like it does the same goal, but in a more effective but also more destructive way, damaging the weapon being Sharpened in exchange for a higher bonus.
That's true of Reinforce and Reinforce Shield as well, of course. They're related rather than one being an actual upgrade of the other.
'I believe it's called Fortify. With it, you can strengthen not only yourself, but also your surroundings and other people. I don't remember the steps to unlock it, though I imagine that it would involve either training Reinforce or witnessing it.'
'I think that The Enemy can track you through your fylgja, though I'm not certain on that. Maybe only when it's in the fold between worlds? I don't know on Aspects, maybe it can read them especially well or something?'
