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
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
As Alectai says, this is NorseQuest. It stops being NorseQuest if you stop being Norse.
Now, that's not to say that you can't take ideas and adapt techniques, because you can — the Norse were extremely pragmatic and culturally adaptive, after all (which is why you can interface with foreign magical items at all) — you just can't change systems.
Also, I gotta keep some things in my back pocket for the inevitable ChivalryQuest ;P
Hmm, lemme see... Alright, looking at the original google doc that I wrote down the initial idea for the system on, I started May 2nd of last year. That original idea was about a Knight, a Viking, and a Samurai all washing up on the shores of China and being forced to work together through circumstance.
'It is a natural process. Without the earth growing our food, we would not be able to earn orthstirr. It is a simple act of giving back.
What isn't so natural is that many, many beings out there like to tap into that natural process to siphon it towards their own ends.'
'Power Requires Sacrifice. If you want something to happen, something needs to be spent to fuel it.
As for the second question, while that is a good idea, I have no idea if it would work.'
0~0~0
Alright, I'm back home a fair bit later than expected, but it's fine.
Voting is now closed.
- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I think there might be another quote somewhere, but I recall Sten being sent off to Finland as a kid. Or baby. Not sure. Wait, no. Sten mentioned that it's been ten years since he last saw Halla, so he definitely wasn't a baby. Huh. Pretty sure he didn't choose to go by himself, though... he would've been a teen.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I mean, hell, I came up with the idea of "It's weird that our cultivation is so weak compared to the Christian system despite having a lot of parallels" based on clashing with a literal child with comparable levels of overall training who was still dumpstering us, and that's what got me the idea to play around with our Aspects in the first place, which led us to the discovery of Odr.
There is a lot to learn by studying the Cultivation of others, but that's mostly by comparing commonalities to deduce a path forward, rather than just replacing our own.
There is a lot to learn by studying the Cultivation of others, but that's mostly by comparing commonalities to deduce a path forward, rather than just replacing our own.
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
There was one a while back on your character sheet about him going off to be fostered, in the little blurb involving his relations
- Location
- Bretonnia
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- He/Him
Ah, yeah, that was it. How old was he when he was sent off?
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
11-ish, or thereabouts.
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- Space between realms
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- He
I wonder how Gabby could incorporate Orthstirr (or at least the relative ease it is gathered) into Chivalric Cultivation
Edit: Have we bothered to ask big J about the higher ends of Knight Cultivation?
- Location
- Space between realms
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- He
Fair. It's just I wonder how he'll feel when Archers supplant Knights as the most devestating thing in England.
Also has Willy the Conq been born? Or is this hundreds of years before that.
- Location
- Bretonnia
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- He/Him
We should ask Sten why he came home one day. I wanna know what had him so scared, and if any of his foster siblings are alive, and about Steel...
I mean, I realise that most of that has nothing to do with us, and he probably won't give up anything about Steel anytime soon, but it's really interesting...
I mean, I realise that most of that has nothing to do with us, and he probably won't give up anything about Steel anytime soon, but it's really interesting...
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- Space between realms
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Does seem like an Un-Halla thing to not ask him why. Agreed.
Also I wonder if we'll find Jotun/Giants (I also wonder if they're just Niphelim (who were also Giants of a sort)).
Also I know it's a long shot but I kinda want to eventually re-create the Great Raid from the For Honor - Viking Story portion. Just Viking Dragon-ships trying to storm Japanese beaches is just AWESOME.
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- Space between realms
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I mean people paint using Ochre which is a form of red-clay so I guess using MERCURY (II) SULFIDE would be ok. As long as we don't smelt it and inhale toxic fumes.
- Location
- Norway
It is 897 AD, and Willy isn't scheduled to be born until 1028, which is a long way away, x10 for xianxia time.
If you're curious what's going on around this time over there, Alfred the Great is running around in England trying to gather the Saxons into a kingdom, while France is having a messy transition period between Odo of the Robertians and Charles III of the Carolingians, as "France" is born by breaking off from the greater Carolingian Empire.
Athelstan has been born recently, and is on course to become King of England in the future. His descendants of the House of Wessex will rule for a while before Svein Forkbeard shows up from Denmark to install Viking rule yet again (England will have a lot of back-and-forth with Viking rule).
hm... interesting....
looked through the thread if there was any WoG on this, but no. Not after the chapter, at least. but there is this.
so, the orthstirr seeped in the ground quicker and that's that. we also got a feeling in our gut.
that would have been a big help if we didn't weave all 3 together in the very next update., i think.
...great, Halla lives in a capitalist world too
Joke aside though... yeah, that's good., now, if only we could find an energy field that's around the size of our head....
...
*looks back at blackhand's answer about the spent orthstirr seeping into the earth*
hm.... nah, to easy to fuck up the land we live on with it.
but... it does give me an idea...
IF, could we power the runes with something nonphysical that isn't... as esoteric as orthstirr or odr? like say, lightning?
edit:
Oh right, i also found this little gem while searching...
sounds funny with the revelation that Odr also makes you stand out more in the story, haha...
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- Space between realms
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- He
So in Norse Mythology a bunch of stuff (like giants and consequently the ENTIRE WORLD) is made up of Eitr (a sort of Divine Poison) I wonder if thats what's absorbing the remaining orthstirr. Maybe it's like how Ymir passively Cultivating.
Also love the similarities between Ymir of Norse fame and Pangu of Chinese Mythology (both giants that died in order to become the world (1 more willing than the other))
Also love the similarities between Ymir of Norse fame and Pangu of Chinese Mythology (both giants that died in order to become the world (1 more willing than the other))
Horra on Trial: Round 1
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
**[X] Plan: Start with the Reason**
-[X] Enhance Argument with **Fight for your Life**
-[X] He's only got two accusations he's made, Trespassing and Thievery--and the latter requires him to admit that he's been supplying a hostile Felag with arms and armaments, since you've otherwise been very careful not to touch a damn thing that belongs to him, which means you can safely deny any such accusations as a fabrication. So he's going to start with Trespassing and try to use that to sow doubt as to your intentions. Time to counter that, and fortunately, you have an angle--after all, Horra shouldn't actually know _when_ you trespassed unless he's gotten it from his daughter or his sanctum. If it's the former, you know she's not your friend, and if it's the latter, then he can't admit to having it, which means he has to lie about it.
-[X] So, start with the tale of the curse upon Steinby. Bring out the Scorn-Pole, tell the tale of the spell that befell your father, the company that marched into the hills to find the source of the curse, the Troll that was guarding it. That you and your fellows unraveled the spell upon it, and when the Troll emerged later, that through clever words you brought it to believe that it had been betrayed by the one who offered it a 'Home' in this place, as long as it defended the Scorn-Pole--one that, you would note, made use of a horse head taken from the sireling of the prize winning horse Stronghoof, brought to a contest hosted by Runar by one Hasvir. Now, while it is _entirely_ possible that this is a coincidence, or a false name, the fact that when you sent your Fylgja to follow the Troll you had outwitted, it led you straight to Horrby, and then was promptly struck down by Horra Hasvisson through a dagger bearing the power of the Sun, before being ground to dust by his son Hasvir, _does_ strongly suggest a connection.
-[X] Further Strategy and elaboration: Use the Scorn-Pole Incident as our inciting factor, leverage how the preponderance of evidence pointed towards Horra desiring to reignite a feud that had long been quiet, evade the Trespassing accusation by focusing on your following of the troll and leaving the question of how much you actually learned there up in the air, a technicality you can damn well argue. Straight up deny any accusations of thievery because we _didn't_ take a damned thing--except in the case of the ballista, in which case, explain that you acquired this on a shipment going to the camp of Jordan Sharkmouth and his Felag, bandits who have been menacing the people of the north. Explain the make of the ballista, the discoveries you and Sten made of it and its likely origins, and then draw a connection between a short fellow wreathed in shadows discussing matters with him, and the sudden infusion of sun-infused armaments currently being wielded by the Lurkalings, Sun Infused weapons that you yourself witnessed Horra wielding. Isn't that _something_ how dwarf-designed weapons are appearing from his workshops, while weapons no dwarf could hope to forge are appearing in a war in the deeps. Why, it's almost like they're _meddling in each other's politics._
-[X] Enhance Argument with **Fight for your Life**
-[X] He's only got two accusations he's made, Trespassing and Thievery--and the latter requires him to admit that he's been supplying a hostile Felag with arms and armaments, since you've otherwise been very careful not to touch a damn thing that belongs to him, which means you can safely deny any such accusations as a fabrication. So he's going to start with Trespassing and try to use that to sow doubt as to your intentions. Time to counter that, and fortunately, you have an angle--after all, Horra shouldn't actually know _when_ you trespassed unless he's gotten it from his daughter or his sanctum. If it's the former, you know she's not your friend, and if it's the latter, then he can't admit to having it, which means he has to lie about it.
-[X] So, start with the tale of the curse upon Steinby. Bring out the Scorn-Pole, tell the tale of the spell that befell your father, the company that marched into the hills to find the source of the curse, the Troll that was guarding it. That you and your fellows unraveled the spell upon it, and when the Troll emerged later, that through clever words you brought it to believe that it had been betrayed by the one who offered it a 'Home' in this place, as long as it defended the Scorn-Pole--one that, you would note, made use of a horse head taken from the sireling of the prize winning horse Stronghoof, brought to a contest hosted by Runar by one Hasvir. Now, while it is _entirely_ possible that this is a coincidence, or a false name, the fact that when you sent your Fylgja to follow the Troll you had outwitted, it led you straight to Horrby, and then was promptly struck down by Horra Hasvisson through a dagger bearing the power of the Sun, before being ground to dust by his son Hasvir, _does_ strongly suggest a connection.
-[X] Further Strategy and elaboration: Use the Scorn-Pole Incident as our inciting factor, leverage how the preponderance of evidence pointed towards Horra desiring to reignite a feud that had long been quiet, evade the Trespassing accusation by focusing on your following of the troll and leaving the question of how much you actually learned there up in the air, a technicality you can damn well argue. Straight up deny any accusations of thievery because we _didn't_ take a damned thing--except in the case of the ballista, in which case, explain that you acquired this on a shipment going to the camp of Jordan Sharkmouth and his Felag, bandits who have been menacing the people of the north. Explain the make of the ballista, the discoveries you and Sten made of it and its likely origins, and then draw a connection between a short fellow wreathed in shadows discussing matters with him, and the sudden infusion of sun-infused armaments currently being wielded by the Lurkalings, Sun Infused weapons that you yourself witnessed Horra wielding. Isn't that _something_ how dwarf-designed weapons are appearing from his workshops, while weapons no dwarf could hope to forge are appearing in a war in the deeps. Why, it's almost like they're _meddling in each other's politics._
"The Gods have seen fit to bless my daughter, Veny, with the gift of Shroudsight." Horra's words sends brows shooting up as the Judges lean in. The Seeress — who had arrived at court only a few minutes before — stills in her seat. "And my son-in-law, Hardir Haraldsson, has come to testify on her behalf." Horra steps aside as the man who resembles a young Harald Wolfwind steps forward — either ignoring or missing the look of disappointment in his father's gaze.
Blackhand helpfully takes the time to explain as Hardir makes his oaths. 'Shroudsight is one of several ways that Seeing Eyes can develop. It allows the holder to See through disguises and magical shrouds, like your Hidden in Rags.'
Hardir clears his throat after adding his blood to the Oathring. "Veny, as my father-in-law said — " Harald has to visibly stifle a scoff at that — "has the gift of Shroudsight and, with said gift, she saw the fylgja of Halla Longstride spying on my father-in-law's home under a magical shroud."
With that, Hardir bows to the judges and returns to his seat. Horra takes his spot, a gleam in his eye. "So not only was she trespassing, but she was doing so in secret! What kind of a drengr does an act like that in secret? If she was truly as respectable as she claims, then she would never have done such a thing!"
(Horra's Silver-Tongue: 6x2, 5x4, 4x1, 3x4, 2x2, 1x2)13+8=21 Successes
The crowd starts to murmur as Horra sits back down — the sting of nid threatening to encroach on your soul — and the floor is yours to take as you please. Thumb and forefinger working your chin and jaw, you consider your options — with the counsel of Blackhand, of course.
You could go the route of questioning how they could know it was yours.
'But all that would do is stall for time, which is not a winning strategy right now.'
Which is why you need a different strategy. That nid isn't exactly attractive, but getting out of it might not be possible...
'When there is only one path forwards, you must take it no matter where it leads. Once a path is chosen, a drengr boldly continues unflinching even when confronted with the knowledge that certain doom awaits him. That is what it means to be drengr, to stay true even at the final eve.'
Cast doubt on your honor, will he?
Then if nid is unavoidable, then you'll take it like a drengr.
But also like a drengr, you won't go softly.
You rise to your feet, an eager fire igniting in your fearless, fighting heart.
'Sometimes, the correct move in a fight is to accept a minor injury in order to deliver a greater wound in return.'
"As many of you know, my mother died of sickness not long ago." You address the judges, their eyes full of curiosity at where you're going with this. "What many of you may not know is that, soon after my mother perished, this was erected near the hills of my father's house."
A collective gasp slips from the wide-eyed faces of the judges and audience alike as you raise the Scorn-Pole high above your head. Curiously, Horra's eyes show no signs of recognition as his brows furrow into a deep valley — he's as confused as you're feeling now.
"You all know what this is; a Scorn-Pole. A threat not only to my father and his home, but to the Valley at large. A horse-headed Scorn-Pole that bears the name Stronghoof!"
(Halla's Silver-Tongue: 6x2, 5x5, 4x1, 3x1, 2x3)13+3(Frenzy)+9(Drengskapr)+8(Fight of Your Life)=33 Successes
One of the judges leaning Horra's way, a man by the name of Glebr Quickrider — one of your newer neighbors in the Valley — nasally scoffs as he hears that name. "Stronghoof? The stallion?"
"One and the same!" You nod to the judge, who shoots a scowl Horra's way. "Mounted at the top of this Scorn-Pole was the head of a horse sired by none other than a champion horse-fighter owned by a certain man named Hasvir."
Horra's eye twitches violently as his son's brows furrow in confusion. You get the impression that he either wasn't aware of the horse-siring or the Scorn-Pole being raised — maybe even both! But, by the looks of things, neither was Hasvir.
'I... did not see that one coming.'
Hasvir takes to the stand, his head already shaking as he makes his denials. "I swear on the name I bear that I have never even touched Stronghoof, let alone brought him out to horse fights. I hate horses, can't stand the things. Whoever did this could not have been me."
Nothing happens as he speaks, no oaths have been broken. Whether that's because he's telling the truth or because he's snaked his way through you don't know.
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x2, 5x3, 4x3, 3x2, 2x1)14+3(Frenzy)+2(Rounds)=19 Successes
You have three judges firmly on your side, with Glebr having swapped to your side — likely out of a desire to sue the shit out of Horra. One of the three judges leaning your way has moved back to undecided thanks to Horra's argument, leaving you with two.
Horra has one judge firmly on his side with one judge leaning his way.
Two judges remain undecided — Haklangr's brother and the Elephant Merchant.
You're on the offensive right now, initiative is yours. Horra is planning on counterattacking with how he and his had nothing to do with the Scorn-Pole. Afterwards, he'll move into reiterating that, despite appearances, you are not above using underhanded tactics.
There will be a referendum at the end of the next round of arguing. If you have seven or more judges leaning your way, you win. If Horra has seven or more, he wins. If neither of you have enough, then it goes on for another two rounds before another referendum is held. If nothing is still not decided, then a final two rounds are allowed before the final referendum — after which the case is thrown out of court.
What do you do?
[ ] Write in
0~0~0
AN: This one's a bit of a spicy one, that's for sure.
Also, this is confirmation that Seersight and its siblings are legal evidence as long as a woman possessing it has a man to represent her in court.
25-minute moratorium.
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
I wonder if there's a shot we'll get a double-tap update tonight? This is interesting.
[ ] Plan: Press the Attack
-[ ] "I admit, this was not necessarily enough to warrant much suspicion, after all, the quarrel between our houses has been silent for some time, and I would not completely put out the possibility of another manipulating us. And yet, defending this very Scorn-Pole was a Troll! When my fellows and I undid the spell on the Pole, we laid a trap for the Troll. When it was injured, I tricked it into thinking it had been betrayed by the one who set up the Scorn-Pole. It spoke then of one 'Drysalt' putting him in contact with another who promised him a home on the condition that he protect the Pole, and proceeded to turn away, vengeance in his heart. Seeking an opportunity, I followed it, wishing to get to the bottom of this deed most foul, and who does it confront? But Horra Hasvison, his son in tow. It let out an accusation, of being cheated, and was promptly struck down with an iron dagger infused with the power of the Sun, its remains worn away by Hasvir's son."
-[ ] "Now, admittedly, the Drysalt question is still up in the air, so I continued digging in the aftermath of this, this is likely when my Fylgja was noticed. I certainly have no idea how that somehow became thievery, as I've not taken a thing from your property, but given how as far as I know, you set up a forbidden curse pole and set a Troll to guard it, I had no reason to expect you to welcome me with open arms, and I had every reason to be trying to protect my family from such magic."
I think I figured out his trick. They literally stored their memories away so they can't be caught in a lie when they say they don't know what's going on.
Anyway, given the pace this is all going at, I don't know if we'll have time to go for the kill yet, or if it'll get dragged out further. This is a solid counter to his counter however, and sets up for the killing blow. the problem is I don't know if this is going to take up all the oxygen of this exchange or if we can deliver the kill-shot in this exchange.
[ ] Plan: Press the Attack
-[ ] "I admit, this was not necessarily enough to warrant much suspicion, after all, the quarrel between our houses has been silent for some time, and I would not completely put out the possibility of another manipulating us. And yet, defending this very Scorn-Pole was a Troll! When my fellows and I undid the spell on the Pole, we laid a trap for the Troll. When it was injured, I tricked it into thinking it had been betrayed by the one who set up the Scorn-Pole. It spoke then of one 'Drysalt' putting him in contact with another who promised him a home on the condition that he protect the Pole, and proceeded to turn away, vengeance in his heart. Seeking an opportunity, I followed it, wishing to get to the bottom of this deed most foul, and who does it confront? But Horra Hasvison, his son in tow. It let out an accusation, of being cheated, and was promptly struck down with an iron dagger infused with the power of the Sun, its remains worn away by Hasvir's son."
-[ ] "Now, admittedly, the Drysalt question is still up in the air, so I continued digging in the aftermath of this, this is likely when my Fylgja was noticed. I certainly have no idea how that somehow became thievery, as I've not taken a thing from your property, but given how as far as I know, you set up a forbidden curse pole and set a Troll to guard it, I had no reason to expect you to welcome me with open arms, and I had every reason to be trying to protect my family from such magic."
I think I figured out his trick. They literally stored their memories away so they can't be caught in a lie when they say they don't know what's going on.
Anyway, given the pace this is all going at, I don't know if we'll have time to go for the kill yet, or if it'll get dragged out further. This is a solid counter to his counter however, and sets up for the killing blow. the problem is I don't know if this is going to take up all the oxygen of this exchange or if we can deliver the kill-shot in this exchange.
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- Location
- Bretonnia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Well, that was embarrassing. At least we managed to regain initiative with the Scorn-Pole accusation... yet at the same time, it appears to have not even been Horra? What the fuck?
This seems... plausible? I mean, I can't see it not being Horra, and despite the fact we know little about Seidr, this is the only explanation I can think of that makes sense.
This seems... plausible? I mean, I can't see it not being Horra, and despite the fact we know little about Seidr, this is the only explanation I can think of that makes sense.
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Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
No, I'm pretty sure it was them, but that they stored their memories behind about the incriminating things so that they can legitimately claim to know nothing about that.
The only alternative is that we've been laboring under a gigantically powerful perception filter that nobody is capable of noticing. But if that's the case, victory was never a possibility.
That aside, the question is 'How much space are we going to have to press this advantage.' Because we can chain this into the Sanctum discovery, or we can continue chipping away at him.
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- Pronouns
- He/Him
True, but that means they can't do anything about the sanctum or the evidence hidden in there. They're completely unprepared for that, right?
Alectai
Speaks Words of Wisdom... On occasion
They should be, yeah. At least if that's the defense that they intend to use.
We misplayed not having someone serve as a stand in for the Seeress.
But with this we no longer need to feel guilt for wiping the board clean.
Anyway, you're argument is incomplete Alectai. Follow up with Drysalts potential existence as an unknown element left to chance, one that has not yet been resolved even now.
But in the process of investigating what occurred to lead to this conspiracy, Horras daughter spotted Halla.
Then deny the thievery outright
But with this we no longer need to feel guilt for wiping the board clean.
Anyway, you're argument is incomplete Alectai. Follow up with Drysalts potential existence as an unknown element left to chance, one that has not yet been resolved even now.
But in the process of investigating what occurred to lead to this conspiracy, Horras daughter spotted Halla.
Then deny the thievery outright
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Just to be clear: is it possible that this specific phrase, being technically true, circumvented the oathring?
"Who did this might not have been me"?
"I did it, but someone else could have done it too"?
Or does it just mean he could have hired someone to do things for him?
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