Winter 8/Turn 3
I.F. Ister
Fortifying The Thread
- Pronouns
- He/They
(You have cultivated 20 Odr)
0~0~0
Rolled
(Kindle Spinner: 4, 6) 4 Successes. (Firebomb Strike: 1, 6) 2 Successes. (EWC: 6, 1) 2 Successes. (Heat Hold: 2, 1) 1 Failure. (Fireside Barrage: 5, 5) 5 Successes. (Tenderize Roast: 3, 1) 1 Success. (Hamr: 2, 3) 1 Success. (Hugr: 6, 1) 1 Success. (Tactics: 2, 4) 1 Success. (Campfire: 5x4, 4x2, 3x1, 2x1) 11 Successes. (Stoker State: 6x1, 5x3, 4x2, 3x1, 1x1) 11 Successes.
...
(+4 to Kindle Spinner)
(+2 to Firebomb Strike)
(+2 to EWC)
(Fireside Barrage is now Refined!)
(Tenderize Roast is now Rough!)
(+1 to Hamr)
(+1 to Hugr)
(+1 to Tactics)
(Campfire is now Grade III!)
(Stoker State is now Mastery 4!)
0~0~0
New
(Fire Poker: 6) 3 Successes. (Devouring Blaze: 6) 3 Successes. (Stoking Strike: 6) 3 Successes. (Stoking Guard: 3) 2 Successes
You grin as you stretch, feeling pretty good after a solid day of training. Who knew you had such a knack for the Stoker State?
(Fire Poker is now Rough!)
(Devouring Blaze is now Rough!)
(Stoking Strike is now Rough!)
(+2 to Stoking Guard)
0~0~0
Drifa's Ranged Aptitude: 11 out of 100
Saying that the rock landed at your feet would be extremely generous. It doesn't so much land at your feet as it does end up in your general direction.
Drifa scowls as she winds up another rock. You sigh as the rock sails about five or so feet above your head while she's only about eight or so feet away.
Drifa has rather low aptitude for ranged combat, it would seem.
0~0~0
Talking to Steinarr
One morning, after a light spar, you sit across from Steinarr as he re-laces his shoes — which had come loose in the scuffle. Steinarr... You love your father, it's just that he's, well, he's not the greatest teacher alive.
Which is why you've decided to quiz him over some things. But before you can open up, he starts to talk.
"You know," Steinarr remarks as he pulls the laces taut and tucks them into the shoe neck, "I don't think I've ever seen you use your Aspects to heal yourself."
While that wasn't the topic you were looking for, you'll take knowledge where you can get it. "Is that something you can do?"
He blinks. "Yeah? Didn't I show it to you when I spoke of Aspects?"
"You said that was a trick, though," you say as you squint at your father.
"Did I?" His ears flush red with embarrassment. "Ah, I must have misspoke. Well," he scratches at his bearded cheek, "you can use your Aspects to heal yourself in battle. It's not all that well known, at least not when I was young, but it's a good tool to have on your belt if you're not worrying for orthstirr."
"You said that it's not widely known, but why is that? Surely something like that would spread far and wide!" After all, you get news from all across Norse lands typically within a week or two of it happening!
"Like I said, it wasn't widely known when I was young, as it had just been figured out by a man by the name of Bram Ironjaw, who was my teacher at the time."
'What.' If Blackhand had eyes, he'd be blinking them long and slow.
Steinarr continues on, oblivious to your shock. "You probably don't know about him, but he's the man who taught me how to fight after father died. Never did take to his styles, but he's a powerful man."
"Dad..." You sigh, shaking your head back and forth, "I know who Bram Ironjaw is."
He smiles, pleasantly surprised. "Oh, good!"
A small silence falls between you two as the conversation trips over a lull. Taking the opportunity, you shift topics to that of your hamr and fylgja.
"So, dad, do you know how fylgjur and hamr progresses? Does anything happen as you improve them? Or even hugr, if you know that?"
Steinarr runs thumb and forefinger across chin and jaw as he thinks, his elbows resting on his knees. "Well, improving your hamr allows you to take the forms of animals, as well as shapeshifting on the fly. I'm no good at that kind of shapeshifting, so I can't teach you much about it. As for your fylgja," at that he whistles and a shape emerges from the underbrush, "why don't we use my fylgja as an example."
Steinarr's fylgja is a, well, it's a big dog. Not only does it come up to Steinarr's ribcage, but it also is as wide as he is! Its paws are the size of your face, for crying out loud! A long, gray tongue flops from its mouth as black-and-gray sludge leaks like slobber. Where it splashes against the ground, it swiftly starts to harden into a rock-like substance. Its teeth are heavy slabs of brick-like bone, perfect for crunching and grinding up whatever it is it eats. Its body is covered in a thick forest of lengthy, curly fur that looks to be filled with rocky spikes.
But despite its fearsome appearance, the dog before you has nothing but tenderness in its eyes — at least when it considers you. It plops down right in front of you, so you give it a pat on the head.
...Wait, this is Steinarr's fylgja and not a real dog that you can just pet like that...
"Sorry," you immediately turn to Steinarr, who snorts and waves it off.
"It happens, but moving on," he shrugs before turning towards his fylgja. "As you can see, this is a dog — a Craghund, to be specific. When you reach a certain point, your fylgja shifts from a more mundane creature to one of myth and legend, like mine here. When this happens, you gain a broad array of abilities relating to that creature. For example, I can live off a rock-only diet if I had to, I can use my spit as an adhesive, and I can grow rock spikes in my hair — if I were to eat a lot of rocks first, that is."
You nod as you listen to the lesson — which was quickly devolving into a list of good-tasting rocks and bad-tasting rocks — your thoughts already filling with fylgja 'what ifs'.
0~0~0
Sparring with Gabriel
Gabriel stands before you, Sparrowflight in hand and armor on his body. He bends his knees as he holds his swords parallel to the earth, the tip pointing at you.
"I am Gabriel Blackstone, Squire at the Third Bead of the Fourth Decade." There's a slight bit of humor to his voice as he says that, a glimmer of sparkling amusement in his eyes.
...Well, at least he's not officially a Knight, right?
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x1, 5x3, 4x2, 3x2, 2x1, 1x3)8+5(Frenzy)=13 Successes
You stand in a shallow, snow-blanketed valley. It's not very big and is surrounded by a number of short hills. A variety of naked trees slumbering through winter stand scattered across the hills and valley.
Gabriel is stronger than you, you don't need to be a genius to realize that right off the bat, but he's not that much stronger than you. Actually, it's completely possible that he's not actually stronger than you and you're just not reading him right. Either way, he's certainly not weaker.
He's wearing his armor, which has actually lost some of its decorative additions. It seems to be more focused towards practical measures than anything. He's armed with Sparrowflight and in its use seems to be where his combat skills primarily lie.
He seems to be trying to bait something out of you, while he's focusing on overall balanced tactics. He's not going to be giving you time to do your preferred preparations, at least not for free. He'll be applying pressure right off the bat.
What do you do?
Endurance: (13/13) | Frenzy: (5/5) (+5 to all Combat Rolls) | Armor Health: (17/17) (+4 to Defense)
Orthstirr: (473/561) | Odr: (21)
( ) Frami: 187 | ( ) Virthing: 187 | ( ) Saemd: 187
Sagaseeker has 35 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your Armor has 13 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Shapeshifting is granting you (+1 Damage and +1 Attack-Speed)
Your combat pool is 86d6
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Alrighty, looks like we've got ourselves a rather interesting battle ahead!
If you're wondering why this was only the opening for the spar, it's because that's the order it was in on the plan.
No moratorium.
[X] Plan Sparring With Gabriel
-[X] Spar with Gabriel
--[X] (Optional) With armor
--[X] Talk with him afterwards about styles and cultivation
-[X] (Crafting) Try to make something
--[X] Forged Iron Adjustable Weighted Harness (+15 successes from Tools/Workshop)
--[X] Add Runes saying "Bear my weight, burden willfully, / Spirit strengthening as the hand-sacrificed god. / Feel my fetters, free from rest, / Sight sharpening as old one eye's twin stares." - Hopefully Fylgja Training Item (Exact wording and poetry courtesy of [@Shard](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/6983/) and found [here](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/norsequest-a-norse-xianxia.113540/page-974?post=28476196#post-28476196)) --[X] Switch Forgefire Slots to Dice before starting and back afterwards
--[X] Spending ****1 Odr**** on the crafting of the item itself, and burning Frami, Virthing, and Saemd (for +1 Success each, +3 successes total) and spending **3 Odr** to enhance the Runes we are putting on it.
-[X] (Crafting) Try to make something (again)
--[X] Ornate Silver Drinking Horn (+15 successes from Tools/Workshop)
--[X] Adding runes saying "From horn's mouth, filling drinker's spirit / Bringing bountiful strength to thee. / Grow in power, gain in might / As the one who dared to drink the sea." – Hopefully another Hamr Training Item (Poem courtesy of [@Shard](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/6983/) and found [here](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/norsequest-a-norse-xianxia.113540/page-969?post=28465909#post-28465909))
--[X] Add the bone-ash of a particularly strong bull
--[X] Carefully attempting to _not_ Realize this item while still decorating it
--[X] Spending ****1 Odr**** on the crafting of the item itself, and burning Frami (for +1 Success) and Virthing and Saemd (for +3 successes each, +7 total) to enhance the Runes we are putting on it.
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Minna
--[X] Talk with her and try to get to know her better.
-[X] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
--[X] The Hading!
--[X] Searching for the Blackhand and Hasvir battle site
---[X] (Optional) Send your fylgja in your place (Does not cost an action)
-[X] (Research)
--[X] Ask Steinarr about putting Stoker State Tricks, and especially Flame-Tending Blade in our Fasts. Does that work? Would it cause problems?
--[X] Experiment a bit with the clay deposit we found, see what different things it seems useful for 1d6
--[X] Continue setting up our soulscape's land as a farm, attempting to use the clay deposit we found to improve it if that seems useful after looking at it (use all three of our Aspects for +1 success each) 1d6
--[X] Being careful not to break the seal on its container, try researching the Earthblood we have and how it is being kept hot and liquid...maybe ask Sten about it? 1d6
--[X] Examine the bible we have and see of we can figure out what it's made of and what we could use to make something like it (if perhaps less fancy) 1d6
--[X] Collect some of the healing water from the spring and see what we can do with it. Does storing it maintain its potency? 1d6
-[X] (Drifa) Teach Drifa some of your tricks
--[X] Expand into teaching her some ranged stuff. For example, Halla puts all shapeshifts into damage reduction, then they play catch, where Drifa has to catch Halla shooting/throwing at her, with Halla holding back enough so it stays a reasonable challenge for Drifa 1d6
-[X] (Training) Solo Seidr Training
--[X] Quickest Stitch 1d6 x
--[X] Draw Poison 1d6 x
--[X] Sear Diseased Flesh 1d6 x
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Train Halting Vortex 1d6 x
--[X] Train Clearwater 1d6 x
--[X] Train Slipstream 1d6 x
--[X] Train Gale Spear 1d6 X
--[X] Train Sword Guard 1d6 x
--[X] Train Sword Strike 1d6 x
--[X] Train Atgeir Counter Stab 1d6 x
--[X] Train Atgeir Bodyguard 1d6 X
--[X] Train Forceful Lever 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Tricks
--[X] Talk to Sten about how to make a Gambeson and Shield
--[X] Ask Steinarr about how Fylgja and Hamr progress (and Hugr, if he knows) and any big changes in capabilities that occur as you improve in them. Fylgja obviously evolve several times, and we heard somewhere that eventually shapeshifting gets much quicker...is there anything else? What order do they happen in? Does he have any other fylgja-related knowledge, or is that more of a seeress thing? Are there similar advancement stages for skills as well and if so, what are they on any skills he's aware of having them?
--[X] Train Sharpen 1d6 X
--[X] Train Focus Guard 1d6 x
--[X] Train Backstep 1d6 x
--[X] Train Long-Lunge 1d6 x
--[X] Train Facial Schooling 1d6 x
--[X] Train Talent Tell 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Residence' Design Skill-Trick 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Utility' Design Skill-Trick 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Stealth' Wildcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Gambeson' Armorcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train 'Shield' Armorcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
-[X] (Training) Martial Style
--[X] Train Flame Tending Blade 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire) X
-[X] (Training) Hamr (117 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Overland 1d6 x
--[X] Train Defend 1d6 X
--[X] Train Dodge 1d6 X
--[X] Train Shoot 1d6 X
--[X] Train Strike 1d6 X
-[X] (Training) Hugr (55 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Barb-Tongue 1d6 x
--[X] Train Artcraft 1d6 (+1 success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Silver-Tongue 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Fylgja (23 success to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja Itself 1d6 x
-[X] (Rolled Training)
--[X] Train Kindle-Spinner 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Firebomb-Strike 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Ember-Winged Cloak 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Heat Hold 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Fireside Barrage 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Tenderize Roast 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Campfire 8d6 (4d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoker State 8d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Hamr Itself 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Hugr itself 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Tactics 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Fire Poker 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Devouring Blaze 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoking Strike 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoking Guard 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
-[X] (Work Dice Usage)
--[X] Construction: Complete working on Storage 5 (8 Total)
--[X] Buildings: 6 Quality, 1 Living Space, 2 Storage, 5 Workshop (14 Total)
--[X] Resources: 6 Quality, 7 Food, 7 Goods, 5 Silver (25 Total)
--[X] Livestock: 5 Quality, 4 Food, 4 Goods, 4 Silver (17 Total)
--[X] Crafting: Making 1 Explosive Charm (3 Total)
--[X] Conversion: Spend for 5 Research Dice (10 Total)
-[X] (Incidentals)
--[X] Adding Taafl Board Capacity Gains to: Abjorn, Sigurdr (Abjorn: 5, Sigurdr 6)
--[X] Receiving Metal from Dwarves: 6 oz Drafty Iron
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 1 Orthstirr to Hamr
---[X] 4 Chop, 4 Defend, 5 Dodge, 4 Glima, 4 Bash, 4 Pierce, 4 Throw, 4 Cut, 4 Strike, 4 Shoot, 3 Farmwork, 4 Labor, 3 Overland (51 total)
--[X] 2 Orthstirr to Hugr
---[X] 5 Artcraft, 5 Armorcraft, 3 Barb-Tongue, 1 Composure, 3 Design, 6 Housecraft, 4 Management, 3 Scouting, 3 Silver-Tongue, 5 Sailing, 3 Strategy, 3 Tactics, 5 Weaponcraft, 3 Wordplay, 5 Wildcraft (58 total)
--[X] **8 Odr** and 1 Orthstirr to Fylgja
---[X] **1 Odr** and 3 Orthstirr to Command
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 398 free for tricks
-[X] (Assign Hugareida Levels)
--[X] Assign 2 Forgefire Levels to Damage
--[X] Assign 2 Emberwind Level to Damage
--[X] Assign 3 Standstill Levels to Instances
--[X] Assign 2 Ignition Levels to Dice and 2 to Damage
--[X] Assign 1 Campfire Level to Instances
-[X] Spar with Gabriel
--[X] (Optional) With armor
--[X] Talk with him afterwards about styles and cultivation
-[X] (Crafting) Try to make something
--[X] Forged Iron Adjustable Weighted Harness (+15 successes from Tools/Workshop)
--[X] Add Runes saying "Bear my weight, burden willfully, / Spirit strengthening as the hand-sacrificed god. / Feel my fetters, free from rest, / Sight sharpening as old one eye's twin stares." - Hopefully Fylgja Training Item (Exact wording and poetry courtesy of [@Shard](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/6983/) and found [here](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/norsequest-a-norse-xianxia.113540/page-974?post=28476196#post-28476196)) --[X] Switch Forgefire Slots to Dice before starting and back afterwards
--[X] Spending ****1 Odr**** on the crafting of the item itself, and burning Frami, Virthing, and Saemd (for +1 Success each, +3 successes total) and spending **3 Odr** to enhance the Runes we are putting on it.
-[X] (Crafting) Try to make something (again)
--[X] Ornate Silver Drinking Horn (+15 successes from Tools/Workshop)
--[X] Adding runes saying "From horn's mouth, filling drinker's spirit / Bringing bountiful strength to thee. / Grow in power, gain in might / As the one who dared to drink the sea." – Hopefully another Hamr Training Item (Poem courtesy of [@Shard](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/members/6983/) and found [here](https://forums.sufficientvelocity.com/threads/norsequest-a-norse-xianxia.113540/page-969?post=28465909#post-28465909))
--[X] Add the bone-ash of a particularly strong bull
--[X] Carefully attempting to _not_ Realize this item while still decorating it
--[X] Spending ****1 Odr**** on the crafting of the item itself, and burning Frami (for +1 Success) and Virthing and Saemd (for +3 successes each, +7 total) to enhance the Runes we are putting on it.
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] Minna
--[X] Talk with her and try to get to know her better.
-[X] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
--[X] The Hading!
--[X] Searching for the Blackhand and Hasvir battle site
---[X] (Optional) Send your fylgja in your place (Does not cost an action)
-[X] (Research)
--[X] Ask Steinarr about putting Stoker State Tricks, and especially Flame-Tending Blade in our Fasts. Does that work? Would it cause problems?
--[X] Experiment a bit with the clay deposit we found, see what different things it seems useful for 1d6
--[X] Continue setting up our soulscape's land as a farm, attempting to use the clay deposit we found to improve it if that seems useful after looking at it (use all three of our Aspects for +1 success each) 1d6
--[X] Being careful not to break the seal on its container, try researching the Earthblood we have and how it is being kept hot and liquid...maybe ask Sten about it? 1d6
--[X] Examine the bible we have and see of we can figure out what it's made of and what we could use to make something like it (if perhaps less fancy) 1d6
--[X] Collect some of the healing water from the spring and see what we can do with it. Does storing it maintain its potency? 1d6
-[X] (Drifa) Teach Drifa some of your tricks
--[X] Expand into teaching her some ranged stuff. For example, Halla puts all shapeshifts into damage reduction, then they play catch, where Drifa has to catch Halla shooting/throwing at her, with Halla holding back enough so it stays a reasonable challenge for Drifa 1d6
-[X] (Training) Solo Seidr Training
--[X] Quickest Stitch 1d6 x
--[X] Draw Poison 1d6 x
--[X] Sear Diseased Flesh 1d6 x
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Train Halting Vortex 1d6 x
--[X] Train Clearwater 1d6 x
--[X] Train Slipstream 1d6 x
--[X] Train Gale Spear 1d6 X
--[X] Train Sword Guard 1d6 x
--[X] Train Sword Strike 1d6 x
--[X] Train Atgeir Counter Stab 1d6 x
--[X] Train Atgeir Bodyguard 1d6 X
--[X] Train Forceful Lever 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Tricks
--[X] Talk to Sten about how to make a Gambeson and Shield
--[X] Ask Steinarr about how Fylgja and Hamr progress (and Hugr, if he knows) and any big changes in capabilities that occur as you improve in them. Fylgja obviously evolve several times, and we heard somewhere that eventually shapeshifting gets much quicker...is there anything else? What order do they happen in? Does he have any other fylgja-related knowledge, or is that more of a seeress thing? Are there similar advancement stages for skills as well and if so, what are they on any skills he's aware of having them?
--[X] Train Sharpen 1d6 X
--[X] Train Focus Guard 1d6 x
--[X] Train Backstep 1d6 x
--[X] Train Long-Lunge 1d6 x
--[X] Train Facial Schooling 1d6 x
--[X] Train Talent Tell 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Residence' Design Skill-Trick 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Utility' Design Skill-Trick 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Stealth' Wildcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Gambeson' Armorcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train 'Shield' Armorcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
-[X] (Training) Martial Style
--[X] Train Flame Tending Blade 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire) X
-[X] (Training) Hamr (117 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Overland 1d6 x
--[X] Train Defend 1d6 X
--[X] Train Dodge 1d6 X
--[X] Train Shoot 1d6 X
--[X] Train Strike 1d6 X
-[X] (Training) Hugr (55 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Barb-Tongue 1d6 x
--[X] Train Artcraft 1d6 (+1 success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Silver-Tongue 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Fylgja (23 success to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja Itself 1d6 x
-[X] (Rolled Training)
--[X] Train Kindle-Spinner 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Firebomb-Strike 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Ember-Winged Cloak 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Heat Hold 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Fireside Barrage 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Tenderize Roast 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Campfire 8d6 (4d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoker State 8d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Hamr Itself 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Hugr itself 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Tactics 2d6 (1d6)
--[X] Train Fire Poker 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Devouring Blaze 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoking Strike 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Stoking Guard 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
-[X] (Work Dice Usage)
--[X] Construction: Complete working on Storage 5 (8 Total)
--[X] Buildings: 6 Quality, 1 Living Space, 2 Storage, 5 Workshop (14 Total)
--[X] Resources: 6 Quality, 7 Food, 7 Goods, 5 Silver (25 Total)
--[X] Livestock: 5 Quality, 4 Food, 4 Goods, 4 Silver (17 Total)
--[X] Crafting: Making 1 Explosive Charm (3 Total)
--[X] Conversion: Spend for 5 Research Dice (10 Total)
-[X] (Incidentals)
--[X] Adding Taafl Board Capacity Gains to: Abjorn, Sigurdr (Abjorn: 5, Sigurdr 6)
--[X] Receiving Metal from Dwarves: 6 oz Drafty Iron
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 1 Orthstirr to Hamr
---[X] 4 Chop, 4 Defend, 5 Dodge, 4 Glima, 4 Bash, 4 Pierce, 4 Throw, 4 Cut, 4 Strike, 4 Shoot, 3 Farmwork, 4 Labor, 3 Overland (51 total)
--[X] 2 Orthstirr to Hugr
---[X] 5 Artcraft, 5 Armorcraft, 3 Barb-Tongue, 1 Composure, 3 Design, 6 Housecraft, 4 Management, 3 Scouting, 3 Silver-Tongue, 5 Sailing, 3 Strategy, 3 Tactics, 5 Weaponcraft, 3 Wordplay, 5 Wildcraft (58 total)
--[X] **8 Odr** and 1 Orthstirr to Fylgja
---[X] **1 Odr** and 3 Orthstirr to Command
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 398 free for tricks
-[X] (Assign Hugareida Levels)
--[X] Assign 2 Forgefire Levels to Damage
--[X] Assign 2 Emberwind Level to Damage
--[X] Assign 3 Standstill Levels to Instances
--[X] Assign 2 Ignition Levels to Dice and 2 to Damage
--[X] Assign 1 Campfire Level to Instances
--[X] Train Gale Spear 1d6 X
--[X] Train Atgeir Bodyguard 1d6 X
--[X] Train Sharpen 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Stealth' Wildcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 X
--[X] Train Flame Tending Blade 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire) X
--[X] Train Defend 1d6 X
--[X] Train Dodge 1d6 X
--[X] Train Shoot 1d6 X
--[X] Train Strike 1d6 X
--[X] Train Atgeir Bodyguard 1d6 X
--[X] Train Sharpen 1d6 X
--[X] Train 'Stealth' Wildcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 X
--[X] Train Flame Tending Blade 1d6 (+1 Success from Born of Fire) X
--[X] Train Defend 1d6 X
--[X] Train Dodge 1d6 X
--[X] Train Shoot 1d6 X
--[X] Train Strike 1d6 X
(Kindle Spinner: 4, 6) 4 Successes. (Firebomb Strike: 1, 6) 2 Successes. (EWC: 6, 1) 2 Successes. (Heat Hold: 2, 1) 1 Failure. (Fireside Barrage: 5, 5) 5 Successes. (Tenderize Roast: 3, 1) 1 Success. (Hamr: 2, 3) 1 Success. (Hugr: 6, 1) 1 Success. (Tactics: 2, 4) 1 Success. (Campfire: 5x4, 4x2, 3x1, 2x1) 11 Successes. (Stoker State: 6x1, 5x3, 4x2, 3x1, 1x1) 11 Successes.
...
(+4 to Kindle Spinner)
(+2 to Firebomb Strike)
(+2 to EWC)
(Fireside Barrage is now Refined!)
(Tenderize Roast is now Rough!)
(+1 to Hamr)
(+1 to Hugr)
(+1 to Tactics)
(Campfire is now Grade III!)
(Stoker State is now Mastery 4!)
0~0~0
New
(Fire Poker: 6) 3 Successes. (Devouring Blaze: 6) 3 Successes. (Stoking Strike: 6) 3 Successes. (Stoking Guard: 3) 2 Successes
You grin as you stretch, feeling pretty good after a solid day of training. Who knew you had such a knack for the Stoker State?
(Fire Poker is now Rough!)
(Devouring Blaze is now Rough!)
(Stoking Strike is now Rough!)
(+2 to Stoking Guard)
0~0~0
Drifa's Ranged Aptitude: 11 out of 100
Saying that the rock landed at your feet would be extremely generous. It doesn't so much land at your feet as it does end up in your general direction.
Drifa scowls as she winds up another rock. You sigh as the rock sails about five or so feet above your head while she's only about eight or so feet away.
Drifa has rather low aptitude for ranged combat, it would seem.
Stoker State Steinarr Talk
Steinarr scratches at his beard as he considers your question. Eventually, he shrugs and says, "I've never tried that, so maybe? I would be careful, though, wouldn't want you to lop off your arm or something!"
0~0~0
Clay Experimentation
As you roll a ball of sparkly clay around between your palms, you find yourself noticing a few things about it. The first is that it is very cold to the touch, so cold that you're nearly shivering! This effect only grows the more clay there is.
The second is that the cold seems to kill the plants that try and grow on the patch you found. However, if you were to have some crops that prefer the cold... well, this could work nicely for that!
Unfortunately, you don't think that adding this to your soulscape's soil would be all that beneficial at the moment. Not with your lack of cold-loving plants, that is.
0~0~0
Earthblood Container
You turn the vase this way and that, but no matter where you look, you find no runes on the outside. So how is it staying warm?
"You said you found this in a witch's hut?" Sten asks as he warily eyes the pot, which you had brought to him to study. "It's probably laced with a spirit of warmth or something."
You frown as you consider it. You didn't feel any spirits, but then again it could very easily get lost in the warmth...
Hmm... Maybe you should try communing with the spirit, if there is one?
0~0~0
Bible Study, but this time the actual book and not the contents
The pages of the Bible seem to be made from some kind of animal hide while they're bound together with thick, silvery thread. The covers are leather-wrapped wood and the letters are some kind of paint.
You laugh, you could definitely make this if you had enough time!
0~0~0
Healing Water
Scooping up some water, you bring the spring's offering to your lips. After swishing it around for a few moments, you nod with a smile as you just generally feel better.
Earlier that day, you had pulled a muscle while training. While it's healed by now, there was still a little bit of a sore. After drinking the water, though, the sore throb has vanished!
The water is very sweet, with a slight tangy aftertaste that sticks around on your tongue.
Steinarr scratches at his beard as he considers your question. Eventually, he shrugs and says, "I've never tried that, so maybe? I would be careful, though, wouldn't want you to lop off your arm or something!"
0~0~0
Clay Experimentation
As you roll a ball of sparkly clay around between your palms, you find yourself noticing a few things about it. The first is that it is very cold to the touch, so cold that you're nearly shivering! This effect only grows the more clay there is.
The second is that the cold seems to kill the plants that try and grow on the patch you found. However, if you were to have some crops that prefer the cold... well, this could work nicely for that!
Unfortunately, you don't think that adding this to your soulscape's soil would be all that beneficial at the moment. Not with your lack of cold-loving plants, that is.
0~0~0
Earthblood Container
You turn the vase this way and that, but no matter where you look, you find no runes on the outside. So how is it staying warm?
"You said you found this in a witch's hut?" Sten asks as he warily eyes the pot, which you had brought to him to study. "It's probably laced with a spirit of warmth or something."
You frown as you consider it. You didn't feel any spirits, but then again it could very easily get lost in the warmth...
Hmm... Maybe you should try communing with the spirit, if there is one?
0~0~0
Bible Study, but this time the actual book and not the contents
The pages of the Bible seem to be made from some kind of animal hide while they're bound together with thick, silvery thread. The covers are leather-wrapped wood and the letters are some kind of paint.
You laugh, you could definitely make this if you had enough time!
0~0~0
Healing Water
Scooping up some water, you bring the spring's offering to your lips. After swishing it around for a few moments, you nod with a smile as you just generally feel better.
Earlier that day, you had pulled a muscle while training. While it's healed by now, there was still a little bit of a sore. After drinking the water, though, the sore throb has vanished!
The water is very sweet, with a slight tangy aftertaste that sticks around on your tongue.
Food Gained: 12
Goods Gained: 16
Silver Gained: 10oz
Food Supply: 12
Goods Supply: 18
Storage Used: 30
Storage Free: 70
Goods Gained: 16
Silver Gained: 10oz
Food Supply: 12
Goods Supply: 18
Storage Used: 30
Storage Free: 70
Talking to Steinarr
One morning, after a light spar, you sit across from Steinarr as he re-laces his shoes — which had come loose in the scuffle. Steinarr... You love your father, it's just that he's, well, he's not the greatest teacher alive.
Which is why you've decided to quiz him over some things. But before you can open up, he starts to talk.
"You know," Steinarr remarks as he pulls the laces taut and tucks them into the shoe neck, "I don't think I've ever seen you use your Aspects to heal yourself."
While that wasn't the topic you were looking for, you'll take knowledge where you can get it. "Is that something you can do?"
He blinks. "Yeah? Didn't I show it to you when I spoke of Aspects?"
"You said that was a trick, though," you say as you squint at your father.
"Did I?" His ears flush red with embarrassment. "Ah, I must have misspoke. Well," he scratches at his bearded cheek, "you can use your Aspects to heal yourself in battle. It's not all that well known, at least not when I was young, but it's a good tool to have on your belt if you're not worrying for orthstirr."
"You said that it's not widely known, but why is that? Surely something like that would spread far and wide!" After all, you get news from all across Norse lands typically within a week or two of it happening!
"Like I said, it wasn't widely known when I was young, as it had just been figured out by a man by the name of Bram Ironjaw, who was my teacher at the time."
'What.' If Blackhand had eyes, he'd be blinking them long and slow.
Steinarr continues on, oblivious to your shock. "You probably don't know about him, but he's the man who taught me how to fight after father died. Never did take to his styles, but he's a powerful man."
"Dad..." You sigh, shaking your head back and forth, "I know who Bram Ironjaw is."
He smiles, pleasantly surprised. "Oh, good!"
A small silence falls between you two as the conversation trips over a lull. Taking the opportunity, you shift topics to that of your hamr and fylgja.
"So, dad, do you know how fylgjur and hamr progresses? Does anything happen as you improve them? Or even hugr, if you know that?"
Steinarr runs thumb and forefinger across chin and jaw as he thinks, his elbows resting on his knees. "Well, improving your hamr allows you to take the forms of animals, as well as shapeshifting on the fly. I'm no good at that kind of shapeshifting, so I can't teach you much about it. As for your fylgja," at that he whistles and a shape emerges from the underbrush, "why don't we use my fylgja as an example."
Steinarr's fylgja is a, well, it's a big dog. Not only does it come up to Steinarr's ribcage, but it also is as wide as he is! Its paws are the size of your face, for crying out loud! A long, gray tongue flops from its mouth as black-and-gray sludge leaks like slobber. Where it splashes against the ground, it swiftly starts to harden into a rock-like substance. Its teeth are heavy slabs of brick-like bone, perfect for crunching and grinding up whatever it is it eats. Its body is covered in a thick forest of lengthy, curly fur that looks to be filled with rocky spikes.
But despite its fearsome appearance, the dog before you has nothing but tenderness in its eyes — at least when it considers you. It plops down right in front of you, so you give it a pat on the head.
...Wait, this is Steinarr's fylgja and not a real dog that you can just pet like that...
"Sorry," you immediately turn to Steinarr, who snorts and waves it off.
"It happens, but moving on," he shrugs before turning towards his fylgja. "As you can see, this is a dog — a Craghund, to be specific. When you reach a certain point, your fylgja shifts from a more mundane creature to one of myth and legend, like mine here. When this happens, you gain a broad array of abilities relating to that creature. For example, I can live off a rock-only diet if I had to, I can use my spit as an adhesive, and I can grow rock spikes in my hair — if I were to eat a lot of rocks first, that is."
You nod as you listen to the lesson — which was quickly devolving into a list of good-tasting rocks and bad-tasting rocks — your thoughts already filling with fylgja 'what ifs'.
0~0~0
Sparring with Gabriel
Gabriel stands before you, Sparrowflight in hand and armor on his body. He bends his knees as he holds his swords parallel to the earth, the tip pointing at you.
"I am Gabriel Blackstone, Squire at the Third Bead of the Fourth Decade." There's a slight bit of humor to his voice as he says that, a glimmer of sparkling amusement in his eyes.
...Well, at least he's not officially a Knight, right?
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x1, 5x3, 4x2, 3x2, 2x1, 1x3)8+5(Frenzy)=13 Successes
You stand in a shallow, snow-blanketed valley. It's not very big and is surrounded by a number of short hills. A variety of naked trees slumbering through winter stand scattered across the hills and valley.
Gabriel is stronger than you, you don't need to be a genius to realize that right off the bat, but he's not that much stronger than you. Actually, it's completely possible that he's not actually stronger than you and you're just not reading him right. Either way, he's certainly not weaker.
He's wearing his armor, which has actually lost some of its decorative additions. It seems to be more focused towards practical measures than anything. He's armed with Sparrowflight and in its use seems to be where his combat skills primarily lie.
He seems to be trying to bait something out of you, while he's focusing on overall balanced tactics. He's not going to be giving you time to do your preferred preparations, at least not for free. He'll be applying pressure right off the bat.
What do you do?
Endurance: (13/13) | Frenzy: (5/5) (+5 to all Combat Rolls) | Armor Health: (17/17) (+4 to Defense)
Orthstirr: (473/561) | Odr: (21)
( ) Frami: 187 | ( ) Virthing: 187 | ( ) Saemd: 187
Sagaseeker has 35 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your Armor has 13 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Shapeshifting is granting you (+1 Damage and +1 Attack-Speed)
Your combat pool is 86d6
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Alrighty, looks like we've got ourselves a rather interesting battle ahead!
If you're wondering why this was only the opening for the spar, it's because that's the order it was in on the plan.
No moratorium.
