The weapon is still there, not destroyed. If we unfreeze it, he can just grab it and use it again even when he is not tugging on it at the moment. He just needs to see it fall and grab it.
In the Eric spar, we never had to concentrate on keeping his shield frozen, and I feel Imperial Fistet would've clarified if we had to hold Inertia-Arresting-Throw for it to work. I'm pretty sure it's fire-and-forget. I do wonder if it's possible to break out of it, though (from what we've seen, it isn't possible, but this is a xianxia world, so I wouldn't count on it having a guaranteed success rate).
That's nice to know. Guess we got pretty lucky when we got Standstill.
By the way, you said that it's possibly to combine hugareida. How exactly is this done? Like, do we need to do something that resonates with both hugareida? Or is it something that Halla would need to learn in the quest?
Actually, I realise that asking Hallr how to do it would most likely be our best bet.
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on Mar 4, 2023 at 6:45 PM, finished with 50 posts and 11 votes.
[X] Plan Save Jordan, but a little Bloodthirstier
-[X] Tap frami, virthing, and saemd (+21 Orthstirr)
-[X] Add 12 orthstirr to combat dice pool (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] 8d Attack
-[X] 7d Defense
-[X] 5d Intercept
-[X] Invest 2 Orthstirr in Reinforce-Shield Trick, use 1 for Hone Trick defensively the first time either we or Abjorn are attacked, use one each for Hone Trick and Power Chop on the same attack to make a real hit on the Enforcer, save the rest of our orthstirr for now (-3 Orthstirr, -5 if we use the big attack).
-[X] Tactics Write in
--[X] First send Aki away to get help, along with our own fylgja.
--[X] Do not immediately draw our axe, approach the enforcer with Abjorn, telling him to hit the guy as hard as he can when we make an opening, then use Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) on the Enforcer's weapon, using Knee-Groin Trick at the same time as that (-1 Orthstirr) then draw our axe and help Abjorn kill the guy.
--[X] Combine our Power-Chop and Hone Attack on the Enforcer with Abjorn's attack, trying to take him out as quickly as possible.
[X] Plan Save Jordan
-[X] Tap frami, virthing, and saemd (+21 Orthstirr)
-[X] Add 12 orthstirr to combat dice pool (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] 6d Attack
-[X] 9d Defense
-[X] 5d Intercept
-[X] Invest 2 Orthstirr in Reinforce-Shield Trick, use 1 for Hone Trick defensively the first time either we or Abjorn are attacked, use one each for Hone Trick and Power Chop on the same attack to make a real hit on the Enforcer, save the rest of our orthstirr for now (-3 Orthstirr, -5 if we use the big attack).
-[X] Tactics Write in
--[X] First send Aki away to get help, along with our own fylgja.
--[X] Do not immediately draw our axe, approach the enforcer with Abjorn, telling him to hit the guy as hard as he can when we make an opening, then use Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) on the Enforcer's weapon, using Knee-Groin Trick at the same time as that (-1 Orthstirr) then draw our axe and help Abjorn kill the guy.
--[X] Wait to use our big attack (the one with Hone Attack and Power Chop) until it's clear whether this guy can weather Abjorn's offense (we do it if he looks like he'll survive, we let Abjorn have the kill and conserve our resources if he can't)
[X] Plan Save Jordan, but a little Bloodthirstier and not wasting assets
-[X] Tap frami, virthing, and saemd (+21 Orthstirr)
-[X] Add 12 orthstirr to combat dice pool (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] 8d Attack
-[X] 7d Defense
-[X] 5d Intercept
-[X] Invest 2 Orthstirr in Reinforce-Shield Trick, use 1 for Hone Trick defensively the first time either we or Abjorn are attacked, use one each for Hone Trick and Power Chop on the same attack to make a real hit on the Enforcer, save the rest of our orthstirr for now (-3 Orthstirr, -5 if we use the big attack).
-[X] Tactics Write in
--[X] First have Aki hide in the forest, using his raven to keep an eye on the bandits we aren't actively fighting and calling out to us if the bandits try something surprising
--[X] Send the Owl Fylgja to go get Steinarr
--[X] Do not immediately draw our axe, approach the enforcer with Abjorn, telling him to hit the guy as hard as he can when we make an opening, then use Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) on the Enforcer's weapon, using Knee-Groin Trick at the same time as that (-1 Orthstirr) then draw our axe and help Abjorn kill the guy.
--[X] Combine our Power-Chop and Hone Attack on the Enforcer with Abjorn's attack, trying to take him out as quickly as possible.
[X] Plan Sky-Axe
-[X] Tap frami, virthing, and saemd (+21 Orthstirr)
-[X] Add 12 orthstirr to combat dice pool (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] 8d Attack
-[X] 6d Defense
-[X] 6d Intercept
-[X] Invest 2 Orthstirr in Hone-Trick on our axe to use offensively and Invest 1 Orthstirr in Power-Chop to make a real hit on the Enforcer, hold 6 Orthstirr for Hefty-Halter-Chop Trick/ Contested Movement, save the rest of our orthstirr for now (-3 Orthstirr, -5 if we use the big attack).
-[X] Tactics Write in
--[X] First send Aki away to get help.
--[X] Tell Abjorn that you are going to distract the Enforcer and take away his weapon. Tell him to take advantage. Put away our shield, approach the enforcer with Abjorn, telling him to hit the guy as hard as he can when we make an opening. Pretend to go for Leaping-Cleave only to use Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) on the Enforcer's weapon, and then use our axe to help Abjorn kill the guy.
--[X] Combine our Power-Chop and Hone Attack on the Enforcer with Abjorn's attack, trying to take him out as quickly as possible.
--[X] Use Hefty-Halter-Chop Trick/ Contested Movement if needed to defend yourself.
[X] Plan Save Jordan, but a little Bloodthirstier
-[X] Tap frami, virthing, and saemd (+21 Orthstirr)
-[X] Add 12 orthstirr to combat dice pool (-12 Orthstirr)
-[X] 8d Attack
-[X] 7d Defense
-[X] 5d Intercept
-[X] Invest 2 Orthstirr in Reinforce-Shield Trick, use 1 for Hone Trick defensively the first time either we or Abjorn are attacked, use one each for Hone Trick and Power Chop on the same attack to make a real hit on the Enforcer, save the rest of our orthstirr for now (-3 Orthstirr, -5 if we use the big attack).
-[X] Tactics Write in
--[X] First send Aki away to get help, along with our own fylgja.
--[X] Do not immediately draw our axe, approach the enforcer with Abjorn, telling him to hit the guy as hard as he can when we make an opening, then use Inertia-Arresting Throw (-6 Orthstirr) on the Enforcer's weapon, using Knee-Groin Trick at the same time as that (-1 Orthstirr) then draw our axe and help Abjorn kill the guy.
--[X] Combine our Power-Chop and Hone Attack on the Enforcer with Abjorn's attack, trying to take him out as quickly as possible.
0~0~0
"Aki, go to my house and find Steinarr. Bring him back while Abjorn and I take on the Enforcer," you say after a moment spent thinking.
"A-alright," Aki nods with a gulp before adding, "Be careful. Please."
As much as he may not want to admit it, he's worried for you, you and Abjorn. For a boy as lonely as he, the possibility of losing his only friends must be daunting. His eyes tremble and his knees shake, but he still follows your commands.
You watch Aki go, silently wishing him a speedy passage. As he disappears into the woods, you turn to Abjorn, "I'm going to make an opening, you hit that big bastard with everything you've got."
"Everything?" He asks, arching a brow.
You pull him close, a hand on his shoulder as you look your husband-to-be dead in the eye. "I want you to split him. Head. To. Tail."
Abjorn looks as if some great truth was revealed to him. A confused smile spreads across his bearded face as he snaps to attention. "Yes, ma'am!"
You grin and gather up Standstill with your freehand. Pivoting on your heel, you lead the charge up the hill.
Each step brings you closer to the crush of battle. Orthstirr flows over your body as your heart's smoldering embers reignite into a glorious raging inferno. Laughter rips through your mouth as a crown of fire flares into being around your head. (Honed Attack: 9 vs Defense: 1, Attacker wins)
The Enforcer isn't blind to your approach. As he plants his Honed axe into Jordan's chest, his eyes flick to you with a glare like iron.
You meet his gaze as you throw the Standstill thick in your grip. It spreads out and spins like a thrown cloak.
The Enforcer twists on the spot and swings with a mighty roar. The still-alive boy on the end of his axe slips off and flies through the air, colliding with your Standstill and stopping it and Jordan and leaving them both dead in the water.
Jordan hangs in the air, limp in Standstill's hold. He's not dead yet, you can see his eyes flicking about as his chest rises and falls. He's just currently unable to move or be moved. Which, all things considered, is probably the best and safest place for him to be right now.
What isn't so safe is the Enforcer leaping into the air and spring-boarding off Jordan's frozen form. The sun gleams off the polished, blood-stained iron of his axe as he thunders down with furious might. Orthstirr hones his axe to a fine edge as he brings it down on your readied form. (Honed Trick Attack: 8 vs Honed Defense: 4, Attacker Wins. Intercept: 3, ??? triggers, Intercepted! -2 Gambeson HP)
'That's no ordinary bandit!' Blackhand shouts as the Enforcer skillfully slips a foot around your shield and wrenches it from your hand with a sharp kick — all in a bare-few fractions of a second. 'That's a member of the Skirsvikingar!'
The shield flies from your hand, leaving you exposed and vulnerable. Just as the axe head falls, Abjorn leaps into the way and tackles the Skirsvikingr from the air.
They tumble to the ground, the Enforcer's axe scoring a terrible blow against Abjorn's gambeson but finds no flesh to bite. Abjorn scrambles to his feet first as you grab your axe from your belt and your shield from the ground. (Trick Attack: 30 vs Reinforced Trick Defense: 29, Attacker Wins! 2 Endurance Damage Dealt)
Abjorn swings his trick-laden sax just as the Skirsvikingr kicks up an orthstirr-covered leg. Sparks fly as a man of Agder meets one of Vestfold.
The sax carves through flesh and bites into bone as the Skirsvikingr grits his teeth and rolls away and to his feet. Deep red blood trickles down his shin as he holds his axe firm in his hands.
Raging orthstirr flickers off the Enforcer's body as Abjorn raises his shield and coats it in layers of defensive power. The larger man seems to blur as he moves, leaving afterimages in his wake. He swings as you dart to the side. (3Fold Honed Attack #1: 7 vs Defense: 3, Reinforced-Shield Eats it) (3Fold Honed Attack #2: 8 vs Defense 3, -2 Shield HP) (3Fold Honed Attack #3: 4 vs Defense: 5, Defender Wins)
Just as the axe breaks open the layers of Reinforce-Shield and carves deep into wood, you swing your own axe at the Skirsvikingr's wounded leg. You pour orthstirr into the strike as Abjorn, seeing your intentions, shoves the axe from his shield and throws the Skirsvikingr off his balance for but a moment. (Honed Trick Attack: 12 vs Reinforced Defense: 12, Max Success! Defender Wins Ties. 1 Endurance Damage Dealt!)
Only for your axe to hit nothing but dirt as the same damn foot that kicked away your shield now kicks you in the chest.
You fall back, breath catching in your throat as the wind is knocked out of you. The pain in your chest is sharp and throbbing as you grit your teeth and hold back tears. Curse your womanhood! Curse it to the ends of the world!
You regain your focus just in time to see a Honed axe sail towards Abjorn. (Honed Attack: 5 vs Defense: 5, Defender Wins Ties)
Only for Abjorn to duck out of the way and deliver a heavy strike to the Enforcer's unguarded stomach. (Trick Attack: 40 vs Reinforced Trick Defense: 31, Attacker Wins. 2 Endurance Damage Dealt)
He carves a bloody swathe through hardened, clenching skin. Meat parts for his sax's path as blood and fleshy chunks falls to the ground. (Grapple Attack: 12, Max Success! vs Defense: 3, Attacker Wins! 1 Endurance Damage Dealt)
The Skirsvikingr's eyes flash red as his hand darts out in a flash of lightning. Your heart leaps to your throat as fingers wrap around Abjorn's throat. They clench, hard, and Abjorn chokes as the larger man twists and throws him aside.
Abjorn hits the ground with a heavy thump and you're already moving. (Attack: 1 vs Reinforced Defense: 10, Defender Wins!) (Honed Attack: 3 vs Defense: 5, Defender Wins)
You swing at the Skirsvikingr, who dances back and responds with a heavy axe strike of his own. The air whistles as you grunt and throw yourself into a dodge. You land with firm footing, which you use to take your swift vengeance. (Trick Attack: 12, Max Success! vs Reinforced Trick Defense: 12, Max Success trumps Defender's Tie... 3 Endurance Damage Dealt)
"This is for kicking me in the chest, asshole!" You growl as you spring-board off the ground. Your leg shines with blazing crimson orthstirr as you lead with your powerful knee.
Your knee flies up and you lock eyes with the Skirsvikingr. Realization half-cut with fear flares in his eyes as, for the second time in your life, you knee someone in the groin.
The Skirsvikingr squeaks as he falls back, pain screwing his eyes shut. His axe clatters to the ground as his hands rush to his groin. It's like he's trying to curl into a ball while still standing on his feet.
The acrid stench of shame fills the air as the Enforcer groans, tears in the corners of his eye. He falls to the ground, giving you the perfect angle at his head.
You raise the axe high and bring it down hard. (Attack: 1 vs Absent Defense: Autofail, Attacker Wins. 1 Endurance Damage Dealt.)
He looks up just in time to see your axe cleave his face in two.
You take a step back as his orthstirr leaves his body. Awe shines on your face as you look at just how *much* there was. Great clouds of the stuff floats away, leaving his body empty. A small portion of it breaks away and mixes with your own orthstirr.
Abjorn staggers to his feet and you're by his side in an instant. He coughs, throat covered in angry purple bruises as you help him up.
He looks to the Skirsvikingr's body and then to you. He smiles, eyes full of adoration. "Gods, you're beautiful."
A blush as red as the blood clinging to your clothes springs up to your face. You stammer, trying to come up with anything remotely intelligent or clever. (Aki's Hamingja: 3, 1, 1, 4) Neutral Outcome, 1 Success. Holy Fucking Shit, that was close.
An icy feeling digs into the back of your neck and you turn your head to look. You lock eyes with the bandit's leader as he stands in the edge of the forest. Glossy black feathers cling to his clothes, which are in quite the ragged state, like he'd been attacked by a bi- THIS DEED CANNOT BE UNDONE
The air tenses as fate's invisible coils tighten around you. A deadly premonition to a now inevitable future.
You lock gazes for a long moment. He looks to the body of his friend, breaking the stare in the process.
He turns and walks into the woods, the trees swallowing him whole.
But it doesn't matter.
In the deepest parts of your soul, you know that you'll be seeing him again. It might not be tomorrow, it might not be this year. It might not even be this decade.
But whether you like it or not, when Halla Steinarsdottir and Reidar Swordfury next lock eyes, one of you will die and the other shall live.
That is a certainty. FATE HAS BEEN SEALED
0~0~0
You're helping with clearing away the bodies when Halfdan approaches you and Abjorn.
"Halla Steinarsdottir, Abjorn Vidsson." He looks between the two of you, tears in his eyes. "From the very depths of my soul, thank you for what you've done today." He presses a hand to his chest as he kneels before you. "I swear to the Gods on high and to the spirits of the land that you and your descendants shall always find friends and allies in the children of Halfdan the Dane."
You stand there awkwardly, not really sure how to receive this. After all, you are both a woman and a child. You haven't exactly been trained on how to handle something like this and, from the looks of things, neither has Abjorn.
"We were just doing what any neighbor would do." You shrug as he rises to his feet.
"That may very well be true," he says. His accent is a strange one, like he's talking around something very hot and large in his mouth. "But it was my family you helped today and that deserves a reward."
You and Abjorn step back as two weapons are brought forth. You recognize them instantly as the sword and the atgeir Halfdan was wielding in battle.
"My sword, Wanderlust, and my atgeir, Sagaseeker," he holds them out. "I offer them to you."
You and Abjorn share a glance and you know that he's expecting you to take the lead. You nod, very slightly, and turn back to Halfdan.
Which weapon do you accept? (The other will go to Abjorn)
[ ] The Atgeir, Sagaseeker (4d6, but is two-handed)
[ ] The Sword, Wanderlust (3d6)
(+10 Relations with Halfdan)
(+15 Orthstirr)
(+1 towards acquiring Boon: Nut Cracker)
(+1 Drengskapr)
(Feat Added: Saving Halfdan's Farm)
0~0~0
AN: I thought that was going to last longer, lmao. Aki is fine, by the way, he made it to Steinarr, if only just.
No moratorium today. Sorry for being a bit late.
The Skirsvikingar, by the way, weren't an actual group of vikings.
Also, a piece of pertinent information. When you turn 16, there will be a boss fight — a boss fight that could very easily lead to Halla dying or worse. This enemy is small but has immense strength and an extremely poisonous bite.
This seems like an obvious vote, Abjorn is much bigger than us and can better use the two-handed weapon. Especially since we have a shield and magic already occupying our off hand.
Well, that all went...well? I'm gonna call it well under the circumstances. 15 Orthstirr is also a massive boon and will let us do a bunch of cool stuff going forward (the feat also gives us 2 Orthstirr a year as well, to boot). I'm worried about our apparent fight to the death against something poisonous, so we'll need to think on what to do about that (beyond the obvious 'raise our combat skills' which, yeah, we're gonna do that).
As for the vote:
[X] The Sword, Wanderlust (3d6)
[X] The Atgeir, Sagaseeker (4d6, but is two-handed)
We need a hand free for hugareida. We also, obviously, need armor to make up for not having a shield, but we need that hand free long term.
EDIT: Upon clarification, this is easier with a two handed weapon, so let's go with that.
I will say that it's way easier to just let go of your spear for a moment than it is to drop an entire shield. Obviously, I don't particularly care one way or another which weapon you choose, but I'll point out where you're misinformed.
Seriously though, what the hell, that guy was a seasoned veteran and the boss is probably even stronger.
I cannot fucking believe we managed to take that guy down without anyone getting crippled. That guy was out of our weight class and it only worked out because Halla is a bag of unfair tricks and Abjorn is an absolute unit of a man.
Seriously, he lost the Standstill hit, and then fucking threw the guy he was killing into it so he wouldn't lose his weapon, ultimately forcing us to effectively waste 6 Orthstirr, how the fuck did we win?
The only good news here is that this guy apparently represented a significant portion of their entire firepower, given how they withdrew after we beat him. And our Orthstirr almost doubled from the victory. And apparently Halla was already significantly above the curve with regards to her Orthstirr related to her age?
I will say that it's way easier to just let go of your spear for a moment than it is to drop an entire shield. Obviously, I don't particularly care one way or another which weapon you choose, but I'll point out where you're misinformed.
About as well as you can defend yourself without a shield. An atgeir is, essentially, a spear with a long head that you can cut with, so yes. Comparing them to a glaive isn't entirely inaccurate, though they are decidedly not glaives.
About as well as you can defend yourself without a shield. An atgeir is, essentially, a spear with a long head that you can cut with, so yes. Comparing them to a glaive isn't entirely inaccurate, though they are decidedly not glaives.
A flexible polearm is very much one of the kings of weapons for a good reason, just because it lacks a shield doesn't mean you lack options to defend yourself with. Reach accounts for a lot.
Seriously though, what the hell, that guy was a seasoned veteran and the boss is probably even stronger.
I cannot fucking believe we managed to take that guy down without anyone getting crippled. That guy was out of our weight class and it only worked out because Halla is a bag of unfair tricks and Abjorn is an absolute unit of a man.
Seriously, he lost the Standstill hit, and then fucking threw the guy he was killing into it so he wouldn't lose his weapon, ultimately forcing us to effectively waste 6 Orthstirr, how the fuck did we win?
The only good news here is that this guy apparently represented a significant portion of their entire firepower, given how they withdrew after we beat him. And our Orthstirr almost doubled from the victory. And apparently Halla was already significantly above the curve with regards to her Orthstirr related to her age?
About as well as you can defend yourself without a shield. An atgeir is, essentially, a spear with a long head that you can cut with, so yes. Comparing them to a glaive isn't entirely inaccurate, though they are decidedly not glaives.
Check, definitely changing my vote then. Would we be able to get dice from Pierce as well as Chop while using one, or do we use whichever is higher, or what? I'm wondering how the max dice pool works here.
It only worked because he was dumbfool enough to commit to strangulation with an active enemy nearby. Presumably he underestimated Halla's sheer murder gremlin energies and paid the price in jewels for it.
It only worked because he was dumbfool enough to commit to strangulation with an active enemy nearby. Presumably he underestimated Halla's sheer murder gremlin energies and paid the price in jewels for it.
Would we be able to get dice from Pierce as well as Chop while using one, or do we use whichever is higher, or what? I'm wondering how the max dice pool works here.
Hmm, the big downside to lacking a shield is risking arrow fire, but Standstill gives us a solid defense against projectile weapons. Which means that using a two handed weapon with access to every 'Style' would be a reasonable tactical decision instead of largely suicide at our level.
Huh, I wonder if we could refine Inertial-Arresting-Throw or develop a variant that just effectively gives us access to a hands-free defensive field? Is that something we can do @Imperial Fister ?
We've got an absolute bucketload of Orthstirr and our capacity for readying Hugaredia is apparently titanic, so why not use it to compensate for going with a really good two-handed weapon? It's a unique aesthetic too rather than Yet Another Sword and Board warrior, and if we've got a rare Hugaredia that can compensate for the lack of the latter... Well, we're in business.
