Story Teller: And so, ends the tale of Hasvis, savior of the Hading Valley.
And now, i will tell you the tale of his grandson, named after him...
Random Kid 1: Wait, his grandson? what about his son, and the father of his grandson?
ST: Ah, yes... you see, he has fallen in the depths of despair after Hasvis' death, as he had no chance to stand against Hasvis' killer, the one who later would be know as Hallr Blackhand.... but a venegance unfulfilled is an ugly thing, and it ate away at him... until Blackhand died by 9 steelfathers of the Jornvikingar, after killing 4 of them! Alass, his is another story... Where was I?
RK2: The revenge?
ST: Ah, yes, the revenge... after hearing the death of the one who killed his father, the unfulfilled venegance that eat away at his mind like a malaise erupted. he hunted down and killed most of Hall'rs sons, but not face to face like a dreng, not even with schemes and cunning like and odreng, but stabbing them in the back or feeding them to monsters like a Nidheart!
All The Kids: Waaa! no way! How could he?
ST: Yes, as i said, Horra Hasvisson has fallen in despair, and he has fallen deep... so much so he is more known from the tales of Steinar Freedfire, as the most cowardly foe, than from his own deeds. Alas, not is all lost, for Horra's children, one and all, have more in common with their grandpa Hasvis, than with their father Horra. And so, let us return to Hasvis The Swimmer! And his own adventures... and how he burried the hatched of blood feud between the families of his own and that of Steinarr, who's daughter will be known as Halla Longstride....
Imperial Fister I was wondering OOC how easy it is for new cultivation systems to branch off and develop from existing ones especially within a larger society. Like could the officers of the Victorian British Royal Navy end up with a cultivation system which was divergent (in whole and in part) from the main system? And can non-elite cultivation systems exist? Mostly I am asking because I am curious about it from a worldbuilding perspective. Not because I am plotting shenanigans or anything like that.
Also I am vaguely thinking about United States cultivation mostly because I came up with one amusing idea relayed to it. Just if the US had Cultivators who had extended lifespans but kept real world term limits/lengths. So students would need to remember about ten times the presidents and the threat of nuclear Armageddon is replaced with the threat of the Executive Elders leaving closed door cultivation
Imperial Fister I was wondering OOC how easy it is for new cultivation systems to branch off and develop from existing ones especially within a larger society.
Cultivation is based off the commonly held beliefs of a group of people. It branches off into a new one when the culture splits with it.
It is a slow, gradual thing. Unfortunately, cultivation systems tend to be rather difficult to follow if you're already following a different one, so your example of the British Royal Navy having its own separate cultivation system would not be possible.
The United States' cultivation system would be very individualistic, but with a focus on egalitarianism and friendly competition. The core of it would be built upon things like Jeffersonian democracy and the goal would be achieving the American Dream... which is different for every person.
I think that the best time periods to set an American cultivation story would be Civil War-era, the Post-Civil War Old West, and then the Cold War. Also Prohibition-era.
Dammit, now you've got me thinking of a cultivation story set in WWII.
0~0~0
Anyways, I'm gonna call voting now.
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on May 26, 2023 at 5:01 PM, finished with 100 posts and 7 votes.
[X] Plan Skyfire
-[X] 44d6 Attack (44d6 tricks)
-[X] 40d6 Defense (12d6 tricks technically, like 36d6 in practice)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Leap into the air with Ember-Wing Cloak (-6 Orthstirr) immediately and stay there while we use our 3fold Kindle Spinner.
-[X] Make an 18d6+3 (w/Hugareida) 3Fold Kindle Spinner attack using it as a flamethrower from outside the Threaded-Man's reach (-7 Orthstirr), then charge the Threaded-Man immediately with a 15d6+3 Honedx3 Lightning-Charged Leaping Cleave (-7 Orthstirr) which we will maneuver during with Ember-Wing Cloak if needed (-9 Orthstirr), then make three 12d6+3 (w/Hugareida) Orthstirr-Enhancedx2 Lightning-Charged Firebomb-Strike attacks (-5 Orthstirr each).
-[X] When attacked with a bunch of simultaneous melee attacks, use a 20d6 (w/Hugareida) Orthstirr-Enhancedx4 Inertia-Arresting Throw enhanced with Odr (-10 Orthstirr, -2 Odr) to stop as many as possible
-[X] Aside from that instance, in response to any ranged or Trick Attack while not using Folded Attacks (or keeping up IAT) use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr), and if we are using Folded Attacks (or IAT is up) or something gets through that use up to three 14d6+7 Reinforcedx3 Honed x3 defense (-6 Orthstirr). If we are out of those or are attacked with single non-Trick melee attacks use up to four Reinforcedx2 Honedx2 Defenses using our Defense dice (-4 Orthstirr each, 5d6+7 each) and if that doesn't work and our armor is penetrated use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Leap into the air and rain fire down on the Threaded Man, hopefully dodging its ranged reprisals (which it shouldn't have too many of left anyway), then fall on it like a meteor and hopefully finish it off. If it's still up at that point, defend against its multiple attacks with IAT, paralyzing it for long enough to finish it off with Firebomb-Strikes. If it actually gets into melee before we get into the air, rearrange the order of that (ie: use IAT, then Firebomb-Strikes, then take to the air if it's still alive and finish up with the Leaping Cleave)
Cultivation is based off the commonly held beliefs of a group of people. It branches off into a new one when the culture splits with it.
It is a slow, gradual thing. Unfortunately, cultivation systems tend to be rather difficult to follow if you're already following a different one, so your example of the British Royal Navy having its own separate cultivation system would not be possible.
Well, you might be able to get something going during the peak Age of Sail period when it was commonplace to enroll literal infants and toddlers "on the books" of a warship to maximize their seniority in grade so they could get promoted.
But that's not the Victorian RN, because they reformed the seniority system partway through as I recall. Eventually.
The United States' cultivation system would be very individualistic, but with a focus on egalitarianism and friendly competition. The core of it would be built upon things like Jeffersonian democracy and the goal would be achieving the American Dream... which is different for every person.
I think that the best time periods to set an American cultivation story would be Civil War-era, the Post-Civil War Old West, and then the Cold War. Also Prohibition-era.
Fuckin' Constitution Rewriting cultivators in DC emerging from closed doors, decreeing that heavenly law will now regard the time-honored Booze Qi cultivation method to be demonic, refusing to explain, leaving, then changing their minds again 120 years later just to fuck with everybody...
I blame Spirit Severing Carrie Nation and her Hatchet Qi.
Thinking about it I think the US would have a really messy system. Where there would be an egalitarian base system which most people would practice. This would cover the equivalents of Hamr, Hugr, Hamingja, Tricks, and Orthstirr. And then people would join various groups to unlock more advanced forms of cultivation.
The United States' cultivation system would be very individualistic, but with a focus on egalitarianism and friendly competition. The core of it would be built upon things like Jeffersonian democracy and the goal would be achieving the American Dream... which is different for every person.
Ahh, so the capitalists in this setting would be Steelfather like, in their immense desire for more power they suppress the common man, ensuring almost no one can actually reach the American Dream realm.
I wouldn't assume that. Something unrelated to our fight might have changed the state of play. We are outside and thus part of the larger battle now...several of the people with us might do things with widespread effects.
Or heck, maybe we won (vs. this specific opponent). If literally everything went our way, that would actually be pretty quick, and from what we saw we had a pretty solid dice advantage on all actions we took.
Or heck, maybe we won (vs. this specific opponent). If literally everything went our way, that would actually be pretty quick, and from what we saw we had a pretty solid dice advantage on all actions we took.
[X] Plan Skyfire
-[X] 44d6 Attack (44d6 tricks)
-[X] 40d6 Defense (12d6 tricks technically, like 36d6 in practice)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Leap into the air with Ember-Wing Cloak (-6 Orthstirr) immediately and stay there while we use our 3fold Kindle Spinner.
-[X] Make an 18d6+3 (w/Hugareida) 3Fold Kindle Spinner attack using it as a flamethrower from outside the Threaded-Man's reach (-7 Orthstirr), then charge the Threaded-Man immediately with a 15d6+3 Honedx3 Lightning-Charged Leaping Cleave (-7 Orthstirr) which we will maneuver during with Ember-Wing Cloak if needed (-9 Orthstirr), then make three 12d6+3 (w/Hugareida) Orthstirr-Enhancedx2 Lightning-Charged Firebomb-Strike attacks (-5 Orthstirr each).
-[X] When attacked with a bunch of simultaneous melee attacks, use a 20d6 (w/Hugareida) Orthstirr-Enhancedx4 Inertia-Arresting Throw enhanced with Odr (-10 Orthstirr, -2 Odr) to stop as many as possible
-[X] Aside from that instance, in response to any ranged or Trick Attack while not using Folded Attacks (or keeping up IAT) use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr), and if we are using Folded Attacks (or IAT is up) or something gets through that use up to three 14d6+7 Reinforcedx3 Honed x3 defense (-6 Orthstirr). If we are out of those or are attacked with single non-Trick melee attacks use up to four Reinforcedx2 Honedx2 Defenses using our Defense dice (-4 Orthstirr each, 5d6+7 each) and if that doesn't work and our armor is penetrated use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Leap into the air and rain fire down on the Threaded Man, hopefully dodging its ranged reprisals (which it shouldn't have too many of left anyway), then fall on it like a meteor and hopefully finish it off. If it's still up at that point, defend against its multiple attacks with IAT, paralyzing it for long enough to finish it off with Firebomb-Strikes. If it actually gets into melee before we get into the air, rearrange the order of that (ie: use IAT, then Firebomb-Strikes, then take to the air if it's still alive and finish up with the Leaping Cleave)
0~0~0
The once-distant clouds have rolled in, the first hints of unmarred snow falling from the sky. How long will it go untarnished, you wonder? How long will it remain unbloodied?
You suppose you'll find your answer soon enough.
Six pupils stay fixed to your form as you bend the knee. Muscles tense and breathing steadies as you spread fiery wings. Melting snow sprays out as you kick off the ground throwing yourself up and forwards.
You hurtle into the air like a flaming comet, a single flap taking you farther faster across the blazing sky — the sun at your back as you near the Threaded Man. The monstrosity's muscles tense as your limbs start to blur, leaving flowing afterimages in their wakes. (3Fold Ranged Trick Attack #1: 46+3=49, #2: 59+3=61, #3: 43+3=46 vs Threaded Defense #1: 40+12=52, #2: 48+12=60, #3: 40+12=52, Damage Negated by Cloak!)
The already-battered ceiling collapses as the Threaded Man kicks off into the air. Kindle Spinners blazing with your might follow its flight, bathing it and the inside of the house in eager crimson flames.
Its silhouette bursts from the fire with its machine at the ready — its cloak lost to the hungry flames — and a sword in each of its hands.
Time seems to hang in the air, the tension pulling it taut as the gleaming arrowhead rides the tight bowstring. It slips free of its bonds, eager to find a new home in your body. Light dances across the edges of the blades, each waiting with bloodlusted intent.
The drums of war pound in your ears, your breath catching in your throat. Somehow, you know that this is the apex of the fight. It all hinges on this. The motion shimmers show two outcomes, a yes or no question that will decide it all.
Can you, Halla Longstride, defend against that arrow?
If that arrow hits you, your armor will be pierced and you will be stunned — defenseless against those scything blades.
If that arrow doesn't hit you, the Threaded Man will be unable to dodge the Inertia Arresting Throw that's already pooling in your Folded palms.
Time ticks on as anticipation hangs like leaden weights on your heart. Your body twists, desperate to dodge, to move, to do *anything* to stop that arrow from hitting you.
But will it be enough?
Only time will tell. (Ranged Attack: 36 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 57+7=64, Defender Wins)
The arrow smoothly parts the air as it flies, waves of force flowing around it in ripples of lethal potential. The craftsmanship of the arrowhead is second-to-none, the culmination of hundreds of thousands of hours spent practicing, spent honing the skills of the smith. The dark wood is a fine grain, the kind of wood one would use to carve a gift for a favored sibling or as a reward for a child's hard work. The fletching is that of an eagle's tailfeathers, strong, proud, and stabilizing. All of this comes together to perform one, very specific purpose to its upmost capability.
But it all amounts to nothing, its purpose will go unfulfilled.
The arrow whistles harmlessly by your tilting head.
Your arm flies up, Standstill held tight in your grip, and releases.
There's nothing the Threaded Man can do to stop the passage of the odr-enhanced Inertia Arresting Throw. Nothing but get caught in the folds.
The Threaded Man hangs motionless in the air, completely helpless in the folds of your Standstill.
Sagaseeker stands proud in your hands, its purrs ringing in your ears as you rocket forwards on the fires of Ignition. Crimson orthstirr flows along Sagaseeker's sparking blade, the fires of ambition stoking bright in your heart as a wide, rabid grin spreads across your face.
There's nothing that can be done for the Threaded Man. Its fate is sealed.
Sagaseeker slams down to the snow-covered ground as blood rains like water from the heavens. Twin halves of the Threaded Man follow you down, each landing on a separate side.
You stand up, frami outlining you in crimson flames, and look to the house of Horra as it burns on the top of the hill. The plume of rising smoke only adds to the chaos gripping the compound, where man meets monster in a clash of iron arm and iron will.
Leaping into the building full of devouring flames, smoke burns your eyes as you search the fiery wreckage for the one that brought you here. (Hamingja: 6x3, 5x2, 4x3, 3x2, 2x2, 1x4) 9 Successes
Hefting a burning support fallen to the ground, you toss it aside to reveal the ashen-faced form of Hasvir Horrasson. He's lying still, motionless on the pile of broken furniture as the flames begin to encroach.
Grabbing him by the shoulders, you hurl him out the window. He lands in the snow with a heavy, wet crunch... He'll be fine.
As you make to follow him, you pause in the window as something tickles the edge of your consciousness. Glancing over your shoulder, you see the doors to the sleeping closet rattle and shake — the noise drowned out by the crackling flames. A fallen support holds the door shut, locking any potential survivors in it.
Could it be...?
Clenching your jaw, you rush to the door just as it catches fire. Hands balling into fists, you punch through the burning wood and wrench it open to reveal the occupants huddling together. Veny screams as Hardir holds up an axe held in trembling, shaking hands.
What a sight you must be, covered in blood, gore, and now the ash of their burning home. No wonder they're scared!
You step forward and Hardir takes a swing. You roll your eyes and casually bat it aside, wrenching it from his hands in the process. Fists uselessly batter at your mail-covered back as you scoop them up on your shoulders.
Turning back to the window, you pause as it collapses into a barricade of flaming wood. No problem for you, but a major one for the newly weds in your care. Glancing about the room, you swiftly find the solution.
The roof! It's partly collapsed!
With clenching teeth, you huck the couple up and out the roof before following them with a leap of your own. You snatch them out of the air, before they can hit the ground, and touch down with a graceful bounce.
You drop them off near Hasvir and they scramble away, fear in their eyes. Veny eventually works up the nerve to speak.
"Wh-who are you?"
You plant your hands on your hips, legs spread wide, as a smile grows on your ash-smeared face. You point a thumb at your chest as your name slips from your lips.
"I'm Halla Skyfire."
A heartbeat passes.
You blink.
'Sometimes, kennings are given. Sometimes, kennings are chosen. And sometimes,' Blackhand grins, nostalgia shining in his voice, '...well, sometimes, Halla Skyfire, they are simply right.'
(Muna added: Fire in the Sky)
(Skyfire is now your dominant kenning)
(+12 Orthstirr)
0~0~0
Glancing about the compound, you're left with a choice.
Where to go next?
[ ] The collapsed Brewery
[ ] Where the ship sits where the Blacksmith used to be
[ ] Where the flames engulf the Woodshop
[ ] To the silent Weavery
0~0~0
AN: It seems I lied about this being a short one, whoops ;P
Anyways, no moratorium. A short vote.
Next update will be a very short one, to be clear. Just the preamble for the next part of this phase.
This was the area that most needs help if something hit the fan, I'm confident that Abjorn and Gabriel probably handled their front fine, but Aki is the big rookie here, and the other fronts were well reinforced.
Also, yay! Skyfire Kenning! It's a strong one too! +1 die to all combat rolls when flying? That's huge and gives us a big incentive to perfect EWC soon. It's especially valuable in aerial combat and bombarding, but it'll be great as a Dragoon Jump booster too.
I'm glad my anxiety was wrong!
Also, Veny and Hardir at least are okay, no word on the other brothers, but those were the critical ones, if the others are fine, so be it.
EDIT: Whoops, I might have gotten some names mixed up, let me review...
[ ] Head to the Blacksmith with Torsten, the Elephant Merchant, Haleikr, and Sten
[ ] Head to the Woodshop with Stigmar, Steinarr, Folkmarr, and Audrikr
[ ] Head to the Weavery with Abjorn and Gabriel
[ ] Head to the Brewery with Tryggr, Trausti, and Aki
Very epic moment, so i'm sorry to point out that this should be 'second-to-none'. Shame on you for the trickery, by the way!
Also, finally got that Skyfire kenning. Been a long time coming.
[X] The collapsed Brewery
Who was at the weavery? It being silent somewhat worries me.
Ah. Abjorn and Gabriel. They can handle themselves, probably.
Also, I thought Veny was married to Harald, Wolfwind's son? Not Hardir, who is her brother...? Oh wait, Harald is Wolfwind's name, isn't it? Nevermind.
