By the way, what does Halla know of the Warband political scene? As I understand it, it's fairly common knowledge that the Varangian Guard and the Jomsvikings are the biggest (if you bother to include the Varangian Guard, that is). Well, the Jomsvikings were only the premier Warband up till recently, ever since Rainmaker was slain by Ironjaw, weakening the Jomsvikings by quite a bit. But are there any other influential Warbands? We just learned of the Kyrsvikings in the latest update - which is the Jarl's own Warband, I believe, although I'm not actually sure if he's simply one of their Steelfathers or is the founder/highest rank - and we also know of the Skirsvikings since we fought some a long time ago, but are there any others? Not actually sure how influential the Kyrsvikings and the Skirsvikings actually are, either.
Totally fair. I'm not really invested in adding her as a character in any real sense (I'm not against it, but also not invested at all), offering to help her out if needed just seems like the appropriate thing to do under the circumstances.
We know the Skirsvikings are kinda on their last legs after pissing off the Jomsvikings and getting seriously massacred. They might theoretically be doing a little better now that the Jomsvikings have other problems, though.
We know the Skirsvikings are kinda on their last legs after pissing off the Jormsvikings and getting seriously massacred. They might theoretically be doing a little better now that the Jormsvikings have other problems, though.
When we first learned about them, actually. Steinarr telling us what happened to them was the impetus for Blackhand telling us how he died (since it's the first time we heard about the Jomsvikings). It's probably related to why they were attacking Halfdan's farm, though how remains unclear.
"Correct." He nods approvingly as you grin. "They're East and North of us, a few kingdoms over. But regardless, Skirsvikingar aren't a very common sight... Not anymore, at least. Actually, I thought they were all dead."
'*What.*' You echo Blackhand's dry statement.
"Got hired into a war with the Jomsvikingar on the other side," Steinarr almost spits out the name as a dark shadow falls across his face. "Managed to smear a Steelfather with dirt and the insult was paid back a hundred-thousand-fold."
Notably, they're also around Vestfold, so we probably run into Reidar Swordfury again whenever we go to deal with Mom's amulet. Just so we're aware of that.
Hm. Still tough to keep track of for that many Norsemen. I wonder if people actually feel a pressure against them giving someone a kenning that would make their name a duplicate, or against naming an infant something that will make them a duplicate name ("there is already a Sven Svenson in the Danelaw, no naming your son Sven!")
There are also variant spellings of the same name. Instead of 'Sven', you're 'Svein' or 'Svenn' or 'Sveinn' or even 'Svend'. Or maybe you're 'Asven' or 'Svettil' or 'Svengun'. Maybe in one place you're known by one kenning while somewhere else you're known by another.
Top dogs are, of course, the Jomsvikingar and the Varangians (who, simply by virtue of not actually being involved in Scandinavian shenanigans, are not being counted)
Next are the Warbands that are on the level but just don't have the concentration of power that the Jomsvikingar do. These count the Steggsmenn, the Gamla Uppsalabor, the Vagavaerings, and the Heidabysvikingar among their numbers — to name a few. The Skirsvikingar used to be here before the Jomsvikingar came down on them.
After them are the more regional powers, the least of the established Warbands. There are too many to name, but the Jarl of Jurgdby's Kyrsvikingar are here as well as the remnants of the Skirsvikingar, who are few in number and fewer in prospects.
Technically, all a Warband requires is for a felag to have a permanent base of operations. However, they will never be able to challenge a proper, established Warband without having a Steelfather of their own.
Both Longstride and Skyfire kennings are thematic in adding a slight claustrophobic effect given how much they like wide open spaces. And Halla generally doesn't seem to like places with too much people in general as well.
There were probably more than nine realms/or its not clear what each is, which is why I've swapped to using 'What in all the worlds/realms' or 'what in the worlds/realms' rather than any specific number of them.
[X] Train (You have 3d6 Training dice to spend as desired)
-[X] Sailing (3d6)
[X] Research Ginnungagap
-[X] Modgudr, who is she as a person?
0~0~0 (Sailing: 5, 3, 3)4+9(Reward Dice)=13 Successes
Eric laughs as you scowl, dripping head to toe in salty water. You spit out a lungful of water as your brother finally settles down.
He wipes his eyes, a smile still on his face. "You're doing fine, Halla, it's not easy to keep ships steady in high wind."
"Still failed," you grumble while wringing out your hair.
"Such is life," Eric shrugs, "you'll get it next time."
And hey, what do you know! He's right!
(Sailing added to Hugr)
(Sailing Rank Up x2!)
0~0~0 Researching Modgudr
"Modgudr's a goddess!"
"No, Modgudr's a jotunn!"
"She's neither! She's something else entirely!"
You scowl as you sit on the steps to the Headsman's hall as the day winds down around you. Night fires are lit and the scent of warm dinner floats through the air, drawing a grumble from your stomach.
You've not had much luck in researching Modgudr, unfortunately. She's very strong and is described as a Berserk, but that's more or less the extent of your learning. As it turns out, she's not exactly well-known in Norway, beyond a few graybeards who all clearly have their own interpretations.
"I hear you're having troubles," a voice, familiar yet not at the same time, slips into your ear. Footsteps trail behind you as the voice's owner takes a seat at your side.
As you look upon the stranger, you're hit with the strangest sense of, as Blackhand says, deja vu. The man's face is hidden by shadows cast by his hat's broad brim. His body is covered by a thick, dark red cloak, leaving the only identifying feature as the pair of raven's feathers braided into his long, gray beard.
The light flickers and the shadows are banished. For but a moment, a solitary eye the color of steel glimmers with wizened mischief, before the shadows surge and the eye is gone.
You squint, memory tingling as you note his appearance. "I've seen you before, haven't I?"
"Well," the man begins as he adjusts the spear propped up against his leg, "I have told many tales in this hall. Some of which might have meant something, some of which might just have been happenstance."
You blink, brows rising high. "Right... Well, you said something about hearing me having troubles... or something?" You almost stumble over your words, but the old man doesn't seem to mind.
"I did, yes." He clears his throat with a cough and a nod. "As I was saying, I, Hotter, heard your pleas and have decided to grant you access to my gathered knowledge."
"Of Modgudr?"
"Of that and more."
The shadows lengthen as the eye shines and cuts through the darkness. Steel-cast light leaves you breathless as the old man starts to speak, his voice the tongue of ancients and his words wrought of wisdom.
"In a place far from here, there flows a river crossed by a bridge and its guardian. But while that is the state of today, it was not yesterday's. The birth of she who guards the bridge, the furious battler, Modgudr, is one not often spoken of. Her siblings are the sons of he who thunders and her strength and sense of battle are said to be comparable to her father's. No number of foes could overwhelm her and her skin has the strength of the very earth beneath our feet.
When the one called Hel was given the role of death-keeper, Modgudr and the dog, Garm, took up arms to help Hel carve out the kingdom of Helheim from the claws of those who lurk in the deepest sleep. Not a single wound did they who lurk lay upon her body for so quick and so nimble was her form and so deadly and strong was her arm. Standing knee-deep in the slickest scream, she fought off all that would stop her mistress from building the bridge called Gjallarbru and establishing Helheim.
There Modgudr still stands, limbs folded and jaw set, as she waits for the next fool to dare challenge her mistress' right to rule. The only passage across the Gjoll is the Gjallarbru, all other attempts meet their end at bridge-woman's iron hand."
You're not sure when it happens exactly, but as the old man finishes and the shadows retreat, there's a brief shimmer of light and then he's gone. One moment he's there, the next he's not. A twinned pair of raven's feathers is all that's left in his place.
You blink as Blackhand chuckles.
'I feel we don't need multiple guesses as to who that just was.'
You nod, whispering the name of the highest as the laughter of the wind echoes all around you.
0~0~0
You have 3 days left to rescue Aki.
How would you like to spend Day 5? (Pick 2)
[ ] Train (You have 3d6 Training dice to spend as desired)
[ ] Research Ginnungagap
-[ ] Eitr. What is it?
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Spend Money
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Craft Something
-[ ] Something with runes that will produce light (Note: Requires you to make a phrase for it)
-[ ] Write in
[ ] Launch the Expedition!
0~0~0
AN: ;P
No moratorium. I reckon a second update is in the cards.
Grumble. Man, Blackhand wasn't lying when he said his help always comes in the form of cryptic shit. Grumble.
Uh. Right. So Helheim is a thing - not a Realm, but a place in Ginnungagap, it seems? Anyway, Modgudr's main purpose seems to be keeping those that would trouble Hel out of Helheim, so I suppose we just need to avoid that? We also need to cross the Gjallarbru, otherwise she'll kill us without listening to us. Doesn't sound easy, but doesn't impossible either.
Well, that Training roll went very well, even considering the Reward Dice.
[X] Train (You have 3d6 Training dice to spend as desired)
-[X] Train Tactics 1d6
-[X] Train Pierce 1d6
-[X] Train Throw 1d6
[X] Launch the Expedition!
We need to head out. Our remaining possibilities for our other action are, I think, researching Eitr, upping our skills like this, or trying to up Sail. Realistically, due to needing two successes, we'd need to put all our dice into Sail for that, which seems less worth it than better combat analysis and +2 Combat Pool (well, assuming 1d6 still translates to one success, anyway).
We could also use Reward Dice on Sail, but we can still do that as long as we do any Training at all.
Researching Eitr is also valid, but we already know it's awful and to stay away.
"I did, yes." He clears his throat with a cough and a nod. "As I was saying, I, Hotter, heard your pleas and have decided to grant you access to my gathered knowledge."
Wow, thanks a lot! As much as I appreciate this, I hope this doesn't become a recurring thing, otherwise I feel like I'd be cheating the people who actually bother to make poems. I really should get round to making one, especially after this.
The shadows lengthen as the eye shines and cuts through the darkness. Steel-cast light leaves you breathless as the old man starts to speak, his voice the tongue of ancients and his words wrought of wisdom.
"In a place far from here, there flows a river crossed by a bridge and its guardian. But while that is the state of today, it was not yesterday's. The birth of she who guards the bridge, the furious battler, Modgudr, is one not often spoken of. Her siblings are the sons of he who thunders and her strength and sense of battle are said to be comparable to her father's. No number of foes could overwhelm her and her skin has the strength of the very earth beneath our feet.
There Modgudr still stands, limbs folded and jaw set, as she waits for the next fool to dare challenge her mistress' right to rule. The only passage across the Gjoll is the Gjallarbru, all other attempts meet their end at bridge-woman's iron hand."
Hm.... although we can't cross the Gjoll to fetch Aki, but we can still take it to the bridge.
[X] Spend Money
-[X] Gifts for th guards, the Jotun Torsten mentioned, just in case, and to Modgudr, so she is more inclined to at least hear us out.
[X] Launch the Expedition!
