Here is the post where we bought most of it. Well, we technically bought it between that update and the next, I suppose. We did technically have cows before that, but we didn't actually do anything with them or our farm in general until we came back from raiding with the rest (well, we built a house, I guess...first thing, first problem we solved actually, looking back on it).
Well, uh, we have plantlife, but I don't believe it's actually arranged like a farm's crops would be? From what I understand, plantlife has been haphazardly placed in our soul, and no organised fields have been made. Blackhand implied that our soulscape is like a farm, so maybe making actual fields is a requirement, too?
Anyway, let's assume that's two of the things needed for ascension. Imperial hinted that some fix to a problem we had with farming after we got our livestock is key to ascending, but I'm not actually sure what that problem is.
We built a house and a barn and so on. That was our first immediate issue after getting livestock, not having a place for us or them to stay through winter. We also had a slightly longer term issue with fodder once we bought a full herd, but that was solvable and not the first issue we needed to deal with at all.
I think building some actual buildings is definitely one of the steps. Possibly a couple of them depending on how it's counted. How we do that is...more ambiguous.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
We built a house and a barn and so on. That was our first immediate issue after getting livestock, not having a place for us or them to stay through winter. We also had a slightly longer term issue with fodder, but that was solvable and not the first issue we needed to deal with at all.
Huh, yeah, I see. I still have no clue what the 4th step would be, but making an actual 'farm' of our soul seems like a pretty good idea. Making fields, creating a house, a barn, storehouses, etc.
As for the tree... I wonder if it's supposed to represent Yggdrasil? This might be a stretch, but maybe this realm is supposed to be represent Midgard, and the final realm would represent Asgard? And each realm is supposed to be built according to how those in that world live. Like, in Midgard - ignoring the other civilisations, because as far the Norse care, they ain't Norse - people build farms and whatnot.
It might not work, because I recall Imperial saying there isn't a set amount of worlds, so I'm not sure if the realms would actually correspond to the worlds, since that would mean there isn't a set amount of realms. There's probably also some other problems, but that's all I have.
Huh, yeah, I see. I still have no clue what the 4th step would be, but making an actual 'farm' of our soul seems like a pretty good idea. Making fields, creating a house, a barn, storehouses, etc.
Some people have speculated we need a spiritual component, which might be building an altar or something like that, or take a different form entirely. That seems plausible.
It might not work, because I recall Imperial saying there isn't a set amount of worlds, so I'm not sure if the realms would actually correspond to the worlds, since that would mean there isn't a set amount of realms. There's probably also some other problems, but that's all I have.
I think it's plausible that what we're building is a world, which, if we hit the 9th Realm, would be added to the world tree...which is why there aren't a set number. Like, for the first Realm you build a basic farm and then you sort of expand from there, with Valhalla actually being Odin's soul realm and so on.
I think it's plausible that what we're building is a world, which, if we hit the 9th Realm, would be added to the world tree...which is why there aren't a set number. Like, for the first Realm you build a basic farm and then you sort of expand from there, with Valhalla actually being Odin's soul realm and so on.
I'm pretty sure Muspelheim and Niflheim have no farms, yet they exist. I doubt they're the only ones without farms either. It would also imply that jotun can cultivate - as Surt rules Muspelheim, and he's a jotun - which... Well, we don't actually have a concrete answer as to that, so it'd be interesting to say the least. Especially since jotun are descended from Ymir, who is our best suspect for the Enemy - who we know doesn't want true Norse cultivation to flourish. It would also conflict with Ymir's corpse being used to create the cosmos, too. And I believe that part of the story is real, since it was mentioned that the Enemy is the Earth, Sea, and Skies?
I personally imagine Saga Establishment as the phase where we make it 'suitable' for a Saga to actually take place within. All the implicit stuff like having food and housing, without which there is no Orthsirr. I suspect that the ascension part is taking something of ourselves and planting it in The Well. Daughter of Ash and all that.
The Demon Seeds are something that will probably be of use after we ascend, mostly as a way to challenge heroes with monsters so they can 'gain' Orthsirr (or whatever passes for Orthsirr in our realm). Right now they would probably just spread like weeds everywhere and just kill us.
I'm pretty sure Muspelheim and Niflheim have no farms, yet they exist. I doubt they're the only ones without farms either. It would also imply that jotun can cultivate - as Surt rules Muspelheim, and he's a jotun - which... Well, we don't actually have a concrete answer as to that, so it'd be interesting to say the least. Especially since jotun are descended from Ymir, who is our best suspect for the Enemy - who we know doesn't want true Norse cultivation to flourish. It would also conflict with Ymir's corpse being used to create the cosmos, too. And I believe that part of the story is real, since it was mentioned that the Enemy is the Earth, Sea, and Skies?
I'm not saying all worlds are created by cultivators, I'm pretty sure many are not. I'm saying cultivating can create a world. Which is a very different statement. My impression is that Cultivation is one way to create a world, and possibly only a very small one, not that it's the only way to create a world. And I'm not 100% sold on this theory, for the record, it's plausible but far from proven.
It's also possible that the first stage is not actually 'create a farm' but instead 'create a home' with what home means depending on the person in question and it just so happens that, for basically all Norsemen, that's a farm.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
I'm not saying all worlds are created by cultivators, I'm pretty sure many are not. I'm saying cultivating can create a world. Which is a very different statement. My impression is that Cultivation is one way to create a world, and possibly only a very small one, not that it's the only way to create a world. And I'm not 100% sold on this theory, for the record, it's plausible but far from proven.
It's also possible that the first stage is not actually 'create a farm' but instead 'create a home' with what home means depending on the person in question and it just so happens that, for basically all Norsemen, that's a farm.
I mean, maybe? It's plausible, don't get me wrong. I was just presenting evidence that suggested otherwise. We simply don't know enough about cultivation to say anything for sure.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
You know, we know that Odr is stiffled in our home. Now, we have a number of theories as to why, but do we have any idea on the actual mechanism, the how, that stiffles Odr flow?
Is it 'ownership'? Is it 'this is a home'? Is it 'this is civilization'?
But what's the actual mechanism?
It might be relevant to us developing Saga Establishment - A method of moderating how Odr flows in our Soulscape.
Well... We know Odr is more plentiful/robust in wild places.... And farming is literally taming the land to your needs, so it makes sense there is a step to regulate the Odr inflow into your soul after you started cultivating it just like another farm....
Perhaps we should try that sewer/irrigation system idea that was brought up? That's the closest thing I can think of that a farm uses to handle unregulated resource input (rain) from nature...
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
Dentistry completed, it'll be around an hour before I can get writing. However, given the subject matter of the update, length is highly variable and, as such, so is writing time.
If you were concerned about my dental health, then you can rest easy with the knowledge that my teeth are very powerful.
I don't know about genetic Sight, but considering how hyped Skalds are and their ability to use and manipulate twists, its possible they have some ability to perceive Sagas.
Also if there is any subfaction of the Norse culture that has a high chance to know about cultivation shenanigans its the Skald, just after the various Seers.
Home a bit quicker than expected, which is nice. Just let me get settled in and we can get this show on the road.
Regardless, voting is now closed.
Scheduled vote count started by Imperial Fister on Jun 5, 2023 at 8:03 PM, finished with 79 posts and 16 votes.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Wow, you're so big and strong, I bet you must know a lot about cultivation! I'm sure impressed by handsome men who tell me secrets about Odr!
-[X] Spend a Calm charge so we don't end up trying to push him out of the boat due to his annoying flirting.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
Anyways, I'm almost done with this update. It was really fucking loud at my house while I was trying to write, so apologies in advance for the dip in quality.
Anyways, I'm almost done with this update. It was really fucking loud at my house while I was trying to write, so apologies in advance for the dip in quality.
[X] Take this 'person' with you
-[X] Honestly, just make small talk, you'll accept Modgudr's little vengeance as it is. You're getting distracted here anyway, if he lets something interesting slip though... Well, bonus.
-[X] Spend a Calm Charge to not try to shove him into the river or anything.
-[X] Spend 2 Odr each on the first Sailing roll and the Labor roll to get Aki out.
0~0~0 (Hugr (Composure): 5x2, 4x1, 3x1, 2x6, 1x2)2-3+8(Calm Charge)=3 Successes. (Hugr (Sailing): 6x3, 4x6, 2x3-1, 1x1-1) 10 Successes
Frankly, the way Astmundur manages to daintily dance around certain topics — how he avoids making certain insinuations that would require immediate retaliation — is impressive. Despite the lurid words sown through his constant bragging, not a single of his stories involves tall, redheaded women.
But while that might work on the women of his stories, you, of course, are not an idiot.
So when he next speaks of seducing some brainless housewife, it takes every ounce of will you have to resist the mounting temptation to throw this Gods-damned bastard overboard. 'Lonely nights?' 'Empty beds?' 'Neglectful fucking husbands?!' Just who in all the realms does he think he's talking to?!
Warmth spills down your palm, fingernails splitting skin from how hard you squeeze. The smooth trickle of blood droplets splash against the wood, the splatter pooling together over the well-loved surface of the faering.
It takes a flexing of willpower far beyond the limits of your mind to last against this horrid onslaught of despicable drivel. But, you manage it.
It is a good thing indeed that, although his words might have lead you to think otherwise, Astmundur is a man who respects consent on some level.
Other than that, it's smooth sailing for a few hours before you come to a stop in the place that Aki's soul is supposed to rest — guided there by an enchanted tail feather, of course.
A frown slips over your face as you stare at the Gjoll's murky water. Ripples bounce across the surface as icy mist rolls in from Niflheim on the right. Hundreds of head-sized lights glow deep beneath the light waves, the blurred signs of souls waiting for reawakening.
Unfortunately, the feather isn't precise enough to point out which soul is Aki's, which means that only one path is laid before you. Trial and error, that's all that's left.
Sighing, you dig out the fishing line and get to work — all while Astmundur sings some bawdy song about women with large families and even larger... Well, it's not worth repeating. Fishing up Aki (Hamr (Labor): 6x1, 5x3, 3x1, 2x4, 1x3-2)4+2(Reward Dice)=6 Successes
Your sense of time is long gone by the time you find Aki amongst the throngs of sleeping souls.
You're not sure why or how exactly you know that this soul belongs to Aki, but any lingering doubt is banished the moment your fingers make contact with the quickly hardening surface. Aki's soul easily fits in your palm, which makes sense given his young age. But even as underdeveloped as it is, it still manages to bathe your surroundings in red.
"Aki?" There's no response from the glowing orb in your hand. You try again to no avail.
"You're not gonna have much luck there, sweet thing," Astmundur says from his sprawled-out spot at the prow. He taps the wood and points a finger towards the softly flowing waters, "the Gjoll keeps the bodily dead awake and squishy. Remove a soul from its waters and, well..." He shrugs, but you get the gist of it.
"And the soul slips off to sleep..." You tuck Aki into your bag, your lips twisting into a scowl.
"That, and they start getting hungry," Astmundur stifles a yawn as he jerks a thumb to the left — towards Ginnungagap.
In that vast expanse of nothingness — so void of utterly anything that it wasn't even worth describing! — where once there was nothing, there now is over a dozen pinpricks of white light resting in the folds of that abyssal blanket.
"Abysslings." Pointless it may be to name the already known, but there's no point in stopping yourself either.
"Got it in one," Astmundur smirks, "Beauty's got a brain, I see! I like that in a woman."
You blink and go to respond, but instead scowl and shrug him off. You'll save that for when you're not in potential incredible danger, thank you very much!
Keeping one eye on the pinpricks as they follow your faering, you set to sailing back to the Gjallarbru. (Hugr (Sailing): 6x1, 5x3, 4x1, 3x4, 2x3, 1x1) 9-7=2 Successes
Which, fortunately, takes no time at all!
...Actually, now that you think about it, travelling to Aki felt like it took three or even four times as long as returning...
You pause in climbing the stairs, eyes locked to the screaming Gjoll — Astmundur happy to stay behind you.
There's something weird going on here, that much is certain. The wind was always with you, not once did it shift or change directions — not even when you turned around. The waters never jostled the boat, not even as you fished for Aki. They were so calm you didn't even have to drop anchor!
...The Elivagar are weird.
Astmundur nods as he runs a hand across his hairless chin, an appreciative look on his face. Honestly, the fact that there's no whistle is a bit of a surprise, but a welcome one nonetheless!
Shifting the faering to your other shoulder, you finish the climb to find Modgudr with broom in hand.
With careful strokes, Modgudr works with surprising efficiency as she sweeps the piles of brown, ash-like particles off the bridge and into the Gjoll. She doesn't look up, but she's already aware of your presence. She's a Goddess, by Odin's empty eye socket! How could she not?
Digging out the burl, you prepare to make another arm ring before hesitating a moment.
Is there anything you would like to do before returning to Midgard?
[ ] Yes, there is
-[ ] Write in
[ ] No, there is not
0~0~0
AN: Augh
No moratorium.
I'll update the character sheet when we get to the end of this section.
