NorseQuest (A Norse Xianxia)

[I.F. Ister]

Call it a day and go home
In the split seconds you have before the tree closes in on itself, you make your decision. Today is not the day that you would be following a sorcerer into their domain, into the seat of their power. That just sounds like you're begging to be smeared on the wall by some kind of screwed up trap or security measure.

You're brave, bold, and perhaps a little foolhardy, but you're not stupid.

If anyone calls you that, they can say it again to Sagaseeker's edge!

Regardless, even if you're not following Horra, you still made out with a lot of new information — details that would have been an utter pain to unwittingly encounter. It'll be bad even with forewarning, but at least you're not walking into oversized bows and glue traps unaware.

As you flap your wings and take once more to the air, you decide to review the information gathered. Namely, the bows, the sealwood, the camps, Horra's hideout, and that Horra's daughter exists.

Out of all the things you learned, what draws the eye the most is the prospect of facing those odd, oversized, tension-operated machines. The designs implied that they'll be stationary, or at least mostly immobile. That means that even though they may have tremendous damage potential, they'll still be vulnerable to return fire — taken literally in the case of your father.

It would be mighty useful to have something like that on a raid in case you ran into a Knight...

A sad, but resolute man sitting astride a horned horse in a field of demolished flowers appears before your mind's eye as your thoughts drift to the raid. You scowl, pushing aside that line of thinking. For now, at least.

But even as you try, your thoughts stubbornly refuse to bend the knee to your will.

Now that you're a farmer and a mother in truth, you can't help but empathize with the Knight as he watched his hard work be demolished around him. How it would feel for your fields to turn to stomp-churned mud and trampled plants, to have the knowledge that your death would see to the destruction of all you lived for.

It would simply...

Swallowing the dryness in your throat, a surge of potent willpower has you back on the matter at hand.

The bow-machine would be useful, but so would the ability to stick people to the ground, to stop them from being able to dodge the shots in the first place. You could easily cover an exposed flank with a scattered line of sticky traps. Anyone falling for it would be easy pickings for any archers or ranged weapon users looking their way.

Not a good situation to be in by any stretch of the imagination. Not at all.

Bandits armed with either or even both of those things would be a nasty fight. Fortunate that you'll be able to learn the locations of their camps relatively easily — which, over the course of the next few days, you do.

Two bandit camps lie to the East while only one stands in the North. It would appear that the bandits have been having trouble up North, or perhaps the East is simply fattier? Whatever the reason, you now know their locations.

And speaking of scouting locations, Horra's hideout springs to mind. The true gem of this little escapade.

With that little piece of information committed, you now have several avenues open to you. Evidence gathering, a regularly walked route which leaves Horra alone, a place that you know he'll be at if you ever need him away from something. There's a lot you can do with information like that!

However, the existence of Horra's daughter puts a kink in the plan. How did she see through the rags? What was that flicker of recognition? Why didn't she reveal your presence? Does she have her own agenda?

Now that you think about it, though, it seems that Horra's exceptional children are rather... odd, to say the least. Hasvir has an attitude that straddles the line between confidence and arrogance, but he doesn't seem stupid. The daughter... there's just not enough known about her to draw any real conclusions, though she has to have some kind of magical knowledge, right?

Compared to those two, Knappr, Hod, and the as-of-yet unknown brother aren't all that special. They'd put up a fight, that much is certain, but you don't think that they would be all that much trouble to take on.

But that might be hubris talking.

'Good catch,' Blackhand says with a sagely nod.

Regardless, you arrive back at your farm with more than enough time to kiss Abjorn goodnight and put the children to bed.
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Empty Sack) ...Maybe you should try stuffing that empty sack full of straw? (Costs 6 Fodder)
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with... (Sparring with people reveals a summery of their character sheets)
-[ ] Spar with Abjorn, your husband
-[ ] Spar with Gabriel, without armor
--[ ] (Optional) With armor
-[ ] Spar with Stigmar
-[ ] Spar with Stigr
-[ ] Spar with Aki
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Abjorn to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Court) Send Abjorn to make a case at the Thing (Write in) (Can only be selected on Turn 3 of a Season)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
-[ ] (Optional) Focus on repairing something (Write in)
[ ] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (Write in one of your Inspirations)
0~0~0
Exploration/Travel (Pick 1 or none):
[ ] (Visit) Go visit... (Unavailable)
-[ ] The Witch! (Actually, it's probably a good idea to avoid her entirely)
-[ ] Asvir!
-[ ] Steinby, your Father's Farm
-[ ] Vidby, Vidar's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] Horrby, Horra's Farm (Has a very good chance of ending in a fight)
--[ ] Rather than visiting normally, you instead stealthily approach and try to scout it out.
-[ ] Halfdanby, Halfdan's Farm
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about
-[ ] The hills!
[ ] (Battle) Go and attack somewhere...
-[ ] Attack the bandit camp to the North
-[ ] Attack one of the bandit camps to the East
0~0~0
Training: You have 28d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Research) Try to figure out how things work (Write in)
[ ] (Blackhand) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hamr (61 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (27 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (10 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 279
How do you want to use your orthstirr? You can turn on passive tricks here.
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
Fylgja Capacity: 4/4
Do you want to withdraw or deposit anything in your fylgja?
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
Equipment Management
What do you want to have equipped? Leaving this blank means that no changes are made.
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
(Wizard-Owl Gacha: 6x3, 5x1, 3x3, 2x3, 1x3) 5 Successes (Relevancy: 6)
As you're pulled away from the warmth of Abjorn by the soft hooting of your fylgja, you're met with a twig clutched in your owl's mouth. The twig leaks a white substance which you swiftly recognize as the sap from the sealwood tree!

The only problem is that there's not a lot of it, so you'll only be able to make one bigger thing or two smaller things, if you stretch your supply.

Well, you shrug and stow the twig away as you pat the owl on the head, at least you've got a sample to test!

(A sealwood twig has been added to your Inventory)
0~0~0

AN: And there we go, the update for today as well as the owl gacha.

I've added in a small section for going to go attack something. I ask that you only do one of those a season — outstanding circumstances being the exception to this, of course.

I've also added an option to send Abjorn to the Thing, though it will be available next turn.

25-minute moratorium. Don't expect any further updates, though, as I'll be working on interludes throughout the day.


Note: Land Management is currently suspended as it is going through needed overhauls.

 

[I.F. Ister]

(You have gained 10 Odr through Cultivation)

Spoiler: Seizing Back The Means Of Planning

[X] Plan: Seizing Back The Means Of Planning
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...
--[X] The Neighboring Dwarves, make sure you've got a solid greeting gift ready for them though.
---[X] The Superior Forged Iron Wood-Axe We Made
---[X] 3 Meat-Keeping Sticks
---[X] A Significant Amount of Food and Mead (Equivalent of 12 Food in the old system, plus the Mead)
-[X] (Battle) Go and attack somewhere...
--[X] Attack one of the bandit camps to the East
---[X] It's a known issue in the area--while you're not quite willing to tip your hand to Horra yet, it's not like these ones are a secret either, take your little crew on an enthusiastic walk so you can chip away at Horra's influence and build your reputation in the area. Maybe win some allies or get some extra evidence in the process?
--[X] Stigr
--[X] Discuss runes with him (both those on his bow and using explosive charm on arrows) and start teaching him Hone if he currently lacks it.
-[X] (Rolled)
--[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 Campfire 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Sickness Sear 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train Beaconlight 2d6 (1d6) (+1 Success from Born of Fire)
--[X] Train 'Sax' Weaponcraft Skill-Trick 4d6
-[X] (Research) Try to figure out how things work
--[X] Your magical plant now has leaves. They're oily but also from some kind of magical plant so maybe the leaves themselves are useful as well as the oil. Take some time to see what kind of uses you can put the fronds of the Hearthroot to (1d6)
--[X] Sealwood might produce a useful sap, but what could happen if you had _more_ of it? You don't think you had enough of it to grow it conventionally, but what would happen if you planted the twig in your Soul and fed it some Odr? Could you get a magical Sealwood tree of your own? (1d6)
--[X] Bible Study Continues... (1d6)
--[X] You've got a decent quantity of Odr now and a good grasp of how much you can accumulate. While the opportunities to cultivate the flora in your soul are reasonably understood by now, you're curious what could happen if you used it to help fuel a Trick... Like Kindle-Spinner, you've got a pretty good grasp of that now. Try spending 1 Odr to help with this Trick, and the rest with Orthstirr if necessary. (1d6--to be done _after_ we've rolled for training this turn)
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks
--[X] Train Halting Vortex 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Tricks
--[X] Train Goal-Tell 1d6 x
--[X] Train Cool-Off 1d6 x
--[X] Train Skewer-Flick 1d6 x
--[X] Train 'Mail' Armorcraft Skill-Trick 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Hamr (61 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hamr itself 1d6 x
-[X] (Training) Hugr (27 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Hugr itself 1d6 x
--[X] Train Armorcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) X
--[X] Train Composure (1d6) x
--[X] Train Housecraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) x
--[X] Train Silver-Tongue (1d6) X
--[X] Train Weaponcraft 1d6 (+1 Success from Sten) X
--[X] Train Wordplay (1d6) x
-[X] (Training) Fylgja (10 success to rank up)
--[X] Train Fylgja Itself (1d6) x
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 1 Odr + 5-6 Orthstirr into Hamr (however much orthstirr it will take after the Odr)
---[X] 4 Chop, 4 Defend, 4 Dodge, 4 Glima, 3 Bash, 3 Pierce, 3 Throw, 3 Cut, 3 Labor, 3 Overland (34 total)
--[X] 6 Hugr
---[X] 3 Barb-Tongue, 3 Composure, 5 Housecraft, 3 Management, 4 Scouting, 4 Silver-Tongue, 3 Strategy, 3 Tactics, 4 Wordplay, 5 Wildcraft (36 total)
--[X] 4 Fylgja
---[X] 3 Command
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 189/188 free for tricks (depending on how much Orthstirr we can put into Hamr)
-[X] (Fylgja Capacity)
--[X] Remove Halting Vortex. Kindle Spinner, and Ember-Wing Cloak
--[X] Add Fine Bog Iron Tools
--[X] Add Boulder
--[X] Add Shield

0~0~0

Spoiler: Training

Spoiler: Steady Rank Ups

Armorcraft
Silver-Tongue
Weaponcraft

0~0~0
(Kindle-Spinner: 6, 5) 5 Successes. (Firebomb-Strike: 3, 1) 2 Successes. (Ember-Winged Cloak: 3, 6) 4 Successes. (Campfire: 3, 2) 2 Successes. (Sickness Sear: 2, 5) 2 Successes. (Beaconlight: 3, 6) 4 Successes. (Sax Skill-Trick: 3, 4, 4, 3) 4 Successes
...
(Kindle Spinner is now Mastered!)
(+2 to Firebomb Strike)
(+4 to EWC)
(+2 to Campfire)
(+2 to Sickness Sear)
(Beaconlight is now Refined!)
(Sax Skill-Trick is now unlocked! Overflow added to skill)

Spoiler: Research

Sealwood Sapling
As you go to plant the sealwood sapling into your soulscape, you immediately encounter a problem. How are you supposed to plant it if you can't get it into your soulscape in the first place?

While swallowing it is certainly an option... the prospect of putting something that is explicitly known to be sticky through your throat isn't exactly an attractive one. That would be an embarrassing way to die!

With that out of the question, you're left with relying on Blackhand for help. Unfortunately...

'I don't recall anything about this.'

He's not very helpful, though he does have some advice.

'Perhaps try using your fylgja? Or maybe you'll have to get your hands on a sealwood seed?' He shrugs. 'You might just have to plant it in reality and hope it takes.'

You frown. Well, that was a bust.

0~0~0
Bible Study
Jerasmus coughs as your eyes glaze over. "You're not finding this very interesting, are you?"

Face flushing red with embarrassment, you offer a slight shrug and a thin smile. "I, uh, well..."

"You can be honest with me, dear child. I will not think less of you, no matter your answer." Where others might have some ulterior motive, there's nothing but raw, honest sincerity in the Mendicant's gaze.

"I... You're right, I'm not really finding this that interesting." For some reason, you can't bring yourself to look him in the eye as you say that.

He laughs. "It's quite alright, child. I've not exactly been covering the parts relevant to Christianity." There's a gleam in his eyes as he clears his throat. "Now, obviously the Old Testament isn't something that works for you, but what about the New Testament?"

You shrug, settling in as Jerasmus begins to teach about a man named Jesus.

(+1 to Understanding the Bible)

0~0~0
Hearthroot Fronds
Once more in the meadow of your soul, you stand with one of the fronds of the Hearthroot in your hands. It was surprisingly easy to harvest, all it took was a light pull and a soft pop and boom, you had it.

The overall shape of the leafy frond is that of a spearhead. Or, rather, spearheads look like leaves. One side tapers to a sharp, angled point while the other is far gentler in its softly curving shape. It is very long, easily the size of your forearm, and the end curls inwards to form a sort of pouch — which is where most of the oil lies.

But, as you hold it in hand, it is the oil that catches your eye the most. It leaves a reddish trail as the droplets flow across the leafy, green surface of the frond. You get the feeling that this could be used in a multitude of different ways, but the idea that initially springs to mind is to rub it into your skin.

With a flick of the wrist you bring the frond to reality. Forming a shallow bowl from your crimson orthstirr, you pour in the oil. There's not a lot of it, but there's enough to cover a single person.

The oil shifts around the bowl in waves of reddish color. Light bounces off the liquid, leaving odd bits of rainbow in the glossy sheen.

Well, only one way to find out!

Dipping your hand into the bowl, you scoop up a palmful. Moving quickly, you rub it into your forearm before it has time to leak through your fingers.

When you finish, the skin on your arm has gained a slight, pale red tint. It feels... almost insulating? Is that the right word? Whatever the reason, a slight chill passes over your arm as the summer sun suddenly can't warm it.

Hmm, it seems that rubbing the oil into your skin provides you with protection against heat and, presumably, fire.

While not the most useful thing for you — given your family's general disposition towards fire — it would definitely help out anybody who isn't blessed with hair of fire and eyes of steel.

(Hearthroot Oil reduces incoming fire damage by 1)
0~0~0
Putting Odr into Kindle Spinner and Hamr
With Sigurdr watching intently from nearby — the little guy had thrown a fit when you tried to leave — you shoot a glare at the army of scorched and broken logs you've set up as target practice.

You've been at it for over an hour at this point. Kindle Spinner after Kindle Spinner sent hurtling down the field. Lines of scorched earth shows the path each took to reaching their targets — which were reduced to smoking splinters and burnt kindling upon impact.

You're getting good with Kindle Spinner. Good enough to call yourself a master of it!

'You are doing very well with the Spinner and your fire tricks in general.'

A pleased smile spreads across your face as Blackhand nods his praise, which draws a happy laugh and a gleeful clap from Sigurdr.

'But, you still have a lot to learn. For example, you've not done any experimenting with odr.'

You roll your eyes, which Sigurdr imitates — the gentle breeze playfully batting at his red hair. "I don't exactly have a lot to play around with, you know?"

'And when has that ever stopped you before? When you got your first few drops of orthstirr, you were playing with it left and right.'

Planting your hands on your hips, you lean in towards nothing — which Sigurdr tries his best to copy from the rocks on which he sits. "I was young then, and orthstirr replenishes swiftly."

Blackhand scoffs, grumbling to himself as you crack a smirk. 'Less talking, more training.'

Well, you've got enough odr to do a little bit of testing. Eyeing the battered log targets, an idea occurs to you. Since you've got all the stuff for Kindle Spinner set up, you might as well use it for testing, right?

Calling forth a droplet of odr, you feed it into the familiar technique. Though orthstirr eagerly leaps to fill the spot, you keep it away with a flex of will.

As you carefully spin a Kindle Spinner into existence, you immediately notice two things as you feed the odr in. The first is that you absolutely can use odr in the place of orthstirr. Heck, you feel like you could make another entire Kindle Spinner and a half just from this single droplet of odr! Amazing!

The second thing you notice is that it feels like if you hadn't used odr to fuel the trick — or used more of it — you could... enhance the effect? Is that the right way to put it? It feels like you can increase how much damage it deals.

Tossing the Kindle Spinner down range, it burns a path through the grass as it bounces off the ground and into the last standing log. It explodes, just like any of the other Kindle Spinners.

Interesting.

As you turn to pick the giggling Sigurdr up, an idea strikes you out of the blue. What if... what if you use it to fuel your hamr?

Stepping away from Sigurdr — who starts to cry the moment you do. He's a bit of a mama's boy, he is — you draw up another droplet of odr as you pull a drop of orthstirr away from your hamr. Breathing deeply, you close your eyes as you let the odr trickle into the newly empty slot.

The moment it fills it to the brim, the odr hardens and cements itself in place. Slowly, it fades away to join the foundation of might at the base of your soul. Opening your eyes, it's to a quiet world — Sigurdr had stopped crying when you started your work.

Your body feels... different, somehow. Like it was once made of soft clay that was only now fired. You feel just generally tougher, more robust. Like you could take that much more damage than you once could.

It's a good feeling. Like you could do more with less.

All in all, you're feeling pretty good!

Grinning ear to ear, you heft your Giant's Blooded son as easily as if you were lifting a runaway lamb.

(Hamr's Odr Infusion is now Rank 1! This means that the base dice for hamr is now 2d6 rather than 1d6. You also no longer have to put 6 orthstirr into your hamr to reach your dice max. Your Endurance has also increased by 1)
(-2 Odr)
0~0~0
Making Contact with the Dwarves (Hugr (Silver-Tongue): 6x3, 5x2, 4x3, 3x1, 2x1, 1x1)12+1=13 Successes
With a bag of gifts in one hand, you stand with the other pressed against the soft bark of the golden-boughed tree. The stone door of the underhouse sits impassively in the ground, uncaring one way or another if you proceed or turn back.

Taking a deep breath, you find a spike and, following your instincts, press your palm against it. The spike pricks your palm, drawing blood from the wound as the trees all shudder and shake in unison.

An ground-shattering shake rumbles through the earth and nearly throws you off your feet. Steadying yourself on the tree trunk, you watch wide-eyed as the door lifts into the air, revealing a stone set of carved spiral staircases rising up from the earth.

The world stops shaking and you swallow a gulp as you check the gifts. Finding them all okay, you steel yourself and set onwards in your goal. One way or another, you would meet your dwarfy neighbors.

Your steps echo around you as you descend deep underground, into the bowels of the earth. You eventually have to call forth a palmful of fire as you find yourself immersed in darkness. The walls of the staircase are covered in carvings depicting a variety of scenes. Mostly concerning the lineage of the dwarves inside the underhold, you reckon.

Eventually, you find yourself at the bottom of the stairs, before a door of smooth, carved stone. Swallowing your nerves, you rap your knuckles against rock thrice. Each knock of skin on stone echoes around you like a church bell. If they didn't know you were there before, they do now.

Suddenly, without a shred of warning, the door swings... somewhere. One moment it was in front of you, the next it was swinging in all directions at once. Blinking as you step back, the door is gone and you're left staring at nothing.

A voice clears its throat and you look down to meet a pair of black-voids behind squinting eyes. A short, squat figure stands before you, cringing in the light of your fire. His skin is a pale, stony gray and instead of being smooth like a human's, it's about as smooth as a pebble beach. His hair is black and wiry as it falls down around the heavy slabs of muscle he calls shoulders and joins with the braided beard tucked into his belt.

All in all, he can't be taller than your hips, but he's as broad in build as Steinarr or Abjorn.

"Can you turn down the light?" He whisper-hisses, his voice like water over rocks. "It hurts."

Apologizing profusely — which he waves off genially — you shrink the light till its little more than a flicker of a candle. The dwarf still doesn't seem to like it, but he's not complaining.

He holds out a hand, which you take. His hand is like a vice-grip. You thought you were strong —you thought *Abjorn* was strong! — but compared to the dwarf... It's like you were a newborn babe and he a full-grown man.

"Toki Thunsson, of Clan Duckling," the dwarf announces his name and lineage with clear pride in his voice.

You respond in kind. "Halla Longstride."

The dwarf seems to be waiting for something that never comes. After several heartbeats of awkward hand-shaking, he coughs into his fist. "You're, uh, you're supposed to state your clan as well."

You blink. "Oh. Uh..."

He coughs again. "Based off of the name of the person who founded the clan."

'Volsung.'

You nod to both as you start once more. "I'm Halla Longstride, of Clan Volsung."

The dwarf's brows rise high on his stumpy head as he gives a low whistle. "Impressive lineage."

He releases your hand and bows, showing respect to the superior clan. You... have no idea what he means. "Uh, thanks?"

'...I'll tell you later.' You'll hold him to that.

The dwarf laughs as he stands up straight. "So, daughter of ash, what can we sons of stone do for you?"

You smile as you hold up the sack of gifts. "I recently came into ownership of the land upon which you dwell," he nods slowly, squinting harder, "and I decided that I had best come by to offer greetings to my neighbors, as well as gifts."

His entire demeanor changes as you mention gifts. He was polite and friendly before, but now he's downright pleasant. "Gifts, you say?" There's a sparkle in his eye as he speaks, a pleased grin spreading across his face.

"Yes, gifts," you say as you reach into the bag and retrieve the three sets of gifts you brought along. "The first," you begin as you hold up the axe, "is an axe I forged with my own two hands from iron earned through my own efforts."

Toki takes the axe gingerly as his gaze turns greedy. No matter how humanlike he may seem, it's important to remember that dwarves are not humans. What is greed to a human is appreciation for a dwarf.

"Gorgeous work," his words bring warm pride to your heart, "this is a true gift, especially from one such as yourself."

"The second gift," you say as you hold up the next in line, "comes in the form of three crafts of runic make. These are called Meat-Keeping Sticks and they will stop meat from going bad when stuck in."

Toki tucks the axe into his belt as he carefully examines the sticks. Finding them satisfactory, he slips them into his beard. "We of Clan Duckling thank you for your gifts.... but," he sniffs the air, avarice filling his eyes, "I can't help but smell your third and final offering."

You smile as you unveil the satchel of bundled-up food and mead. "I don't think I need to say what this is, do I?"

He takes it from you with blinding speed, eyes bulging from his head as he hunches over and opens the satchel. A shout of pure joy springs from his lips as he leaps into the air, heels clacking together before he touches back down.

"Food of the sun!" He cries as tears of happiness trickle down his face. "By the blood in my veins and the weight of my bones, I name you a Friend of Clan Duckling!"

You smile as the dwarf promises you three favors for the kindness shown this day.

0~0~0
Talking with Stigr about runes and tricks
After a morning spent walking Stigr through the process of wielding Hone, you find yourself sitting next to your friend as he practices his archery. As you watch him draw back the bowstring, your eyes catch a glimpse of the runes coating the arms.

"Say, Stigr," you begin as he lets loose another arrow, "can I see the runes on your bow?"

"Of course." He hands you Shivershot and you examine the runes from every angle.

Let all struck by falling-feathers be like the trees.

Frowning as you find yourself deep in thought, you hand the bow back to Stigr who takes it with a nod as he returns to practicing archery.

The both of you would be puzzling over runes for some time, him over the explosives and you over the bow.

('Let all struck by falling-feathers be like the trees.' added to Known Runes )
0~0~0
Attacking one of the bandit camps to the East
(Hugr (Tactics): 5, 3, 1, 1, 6, 4, 3, 2, 1, 1) 2 Successes

You stand with Stigr, Stigmar, Sten, Gabriel, Abjorn, and Aki all around you as you watch the bandit camp from the distance — Magnify-Sight providing a much-needed boost to your eyesight. Joarr Halfdansson, Jordan Halfdansson's younger brother, elected to accompany you on this venture. He carries a bow and a sax.

The camp is little more than pitched tents in the mouth of a cave. A small half-circle of fence-posts rings around the entrance as a lone guard stands at the entrance — a spear in one hand, shield in the other, and a gambeson over his body. A sax hangs from his belt.

Something hangs from his neck, an amulet of some kind. You can tell that there are runes on it from here, but it's not clear enough to read. A shame.

The guard doesn't seem especially strong, but you can't glean much from how he holds himself. He looks somewhere around twenty, if you had to make a guess. Probably a bit older. Just from the amount of equipment he wears, he's obviously been on a raid before.

You don't know how many bandits there are right now, but there were eight when you scouted it out with your fylgja a month ago.

Your crew look to you for directions.
-Abjorn (Fine/Fresh): Avow + Shield
-Stigmar (Fine/Fresh): Sword + Shield + Gambeson
-Gabriel (Fine/Fresh/Focused): Sparrowflight + Knightly Armor
-Sten (Fine/Fresh): Sword + Shield + Mail
-Stigr (Fine/Fresh): Shivershot + Wanderlust + Shield + Gambeson
-Joarr (Fine/Fresh): Bow + Sax
-Aki (Fine/Fresh): Axe + Shield + Sword Raven

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (8/8) | Shield Health: (NA)
Orthstirr: (279/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
You can put 33 points of orthstirr into your combat pool
Your combat pool is 12d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: Oh boy, I'm excited to see your reactions to all the crazy bullshit that happens in this one!

Also, this will serve as a good way to ease yourself back into fighting now that your plot armor is 100% gone.

25-minute moratorium. Good luck!

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Plan

[X] Plan: Shock and Awe (v 1.1)
-[X] Max out Combat Pool (-33 Orthstirr), Max out Hugr, Tactics, Composure, Scouting, Wildcraft, Barb-Tongue, and Silver-Tongue (-28 Ortshtirr)
-[X] (20d) Five 5d6 Attacks (Honed Power Chops -2 Orthstirr Each)
-[X] (0d) Defenses
-[X] (9d) Intercept (11d6 Honed and Reinforced Hefty-Halter Chop -5 Orthstirr)
-[X] Reinforce Shield on our Armor for 3 Orthstirr (6 Layers) (-3 Osrthstirr)
-[X] Ember-Winged Cloak to position, including using it with Leaping Cleave if necessary to avoid being damaged mid-leap (-12 Orthstirr, -18 Orthstirr if needed to adjust Leaping Cleave mid-leap)
-[X] (16d) (17d6 Honed Leaping Cleave) (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] Contingencies: Use Sidestep on any physical attack it applies to (-2 Orthstirr) and Halting Vortex on attacks it doesn't or to stop any big nova attempts on us or Aki's Murderbirb, or to suppress any Bullshit that might happen on the way, (-4 Orthstirr each)
--[X] You and Aki's raven move in from above. Us using Ember-Winged Cloak, and Aki's murderbirb using its murderbirb powers.
--[X] Stigr and Joarr attack just prior to us using their bows, attempting to distract or otherwise pin the sentry.
--[X] Halla descends using Leaping Cleave in tandem with Aki's Raven.
--[X] Clean up the Sentry while Abjorn, Sten, and Gabriel move past and disrupt and damage the Bandits as much as possible before they can get their act together. Join them once we're done.

0~0~0

"Everybody ready?" Your words are met with resounding nods and steely-eyed gazes. You grin as you Sagaseeker from its sheath. "Stigr, Joarr, if you would like to start us off, be my guest."

The two archers nod as the put arrows to string. Stigr's iron arrowhead glows with a razor-sharp, Honed shine. Drawing string to ear, the archers empty their lungs as they line up their target.

A heartbeat passes as you stoke your orthstirr into a battle-frenzy.

Bowstrings thwang! as arrows loose like lightning and you hurtle into the air on wings of fire — Aki's Sword Raven a mere heartbeat behind.

The Sentry's head jerks around as the sound of twanging bowstrings reach his ears — the arrows themselves not far behind. His eyes snap wide, darting first to you, then to the raven, and then to death in the shape of arrows.
(Honed Ranged Attack: 9 vs Trick Defense: 8-2(Surprise)=6, Stigr Wins! 2 Damage Dealt to Shield!)
To his credit, the Sentry isn't slow to act. Shining orthstirr coats his shield as he swings it in defense, not a moment to spare between action and arrow.

Unfortunately for him, Stigr's Honed arrow rips right through the comparatively flimsy trick and buries itself deep into the wood. The Sentry stumbles back a step as the force of the blow nearly knocks him from his knees.
(Attack: 3 vs Defense: 5, Defender Wins!)
Joarr's arrow doesn't fare quite as well, as the Sentry hops a half-step back. The arrow hits the dirt, quivering in the air as the bandit tears his gaze from it to you.

A shadow falls across his face as your fiery wings block out the sun. Torso twisting, you bring Sagaseeker back for a powerful Leaping-Cleave.
(Split-Second Decision: 4)
In the mere handful of heartbeats you give him to act, he makes his decision.
(Sidestepped)
Digging his heel into the ground, he throws himself to the side mere moments before you hit the earth with thunderous force. A plume of dust blasts into the air as Sagaseeker carves deep into grass, dirt, and stone — but not blood, flesh, nor bone.

Growling, you whip around as the dust cloud reveals the unmarred form of the Sentry locked in combat with the Sword Raven.
(Fylgja Attack: 9 vs Trick Defense: 9, Defender Wins)
The Sentry sways as the Sword Raven slips a sword-like talon around his shield. The blades miss him by a hair's breadth as he strikes out with his shield, batting the bird away in a cloud of feathers.

Stomping against the ground, you throw yourself into motion as he brings his orthstirr-coated spear to bear on you. Full body twisting, he lunges out with gritted teeth as you charge.
(Sidestepped)
The Honed Power Thrust hits nothing but air as you sidestep beyond his reach.

Your gaze locks as you find your balance and take a breath while he does the same. This... something's different about this bandit.

You blink as something occurs to you. It's not that there's something different, it's that you're facing an enemy at your level of power with the tools to actually fight against your utter bullshit.

Frankly, you're starting to have fun! Heart pounding in your ears, a bloodthirsty smile spreads across your face as you breathe deep of the battle-heavy air.

Almost every other fight you've been in, it's been one-sided to a wild degree. Now, though? With an enemy your equal in strength? In a fight where you don't just crush them instantly?

...Going back is going to suck.

Raising Sagaseeker above your head, you cry your happiness to the world as you leap into a charge. The Sentry narrows his eyes as he rushes to meet you, orange orthstirr coating his spear as crimson power coats your atgeir.

Sagaseeker has him beat for length, so your strike reaches first.
(Trick Attack: 20 vs Trick Defense: 22, Defender Wins!)
Orthstirr screams as his shield bounces Sagaseeker away. Shoes scraping against dirt as he skids into a lunge, the orange-honed spearhead shooting straight towards your face.
(Sidestepped)
Jerking back, you kick up a cloud of dust as you spring away from the clash. He skids to a halt as a shadow falls across him — the shadow of the Sword Raven.

An ear-piercing screech rips through its beak as its iron-feathers gleam in the sun. Diving at breakneck speed, it spreads out its wings moments before impact with the ground.
(Fylgja Attack: 12 vs Trick Defense: 11, Fylgja Wins! 2 Damage Done to Shield! Shield Broken!)
Iron gleams as wood splinters and the shield is reduced to kindling.

The Sentry grunts as he stumbles back, the newly-freed hand darting to the spear. Finding his footing, his gaze darts from you to the bird as if weighing his options.

(Premature Round End: Shield Break)
(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x5, 5x2, 3x2, 2x1)15+1(Rounds)=16 Successes.

The battle is going well. Though you can't see into the camp, you've heard the death cries of two unfamiliar men. Jets of flame and spears of iron tell you that Sten's hit a steady stride. Good for him.

Your pseudo-duel with the Sentry... could be going better. Could also be going much worse. He's going strong with his orthstirr supply, not yet tapped into any of his Aspects. You reckon that, if push came to shove, you could out-orthstirr him, but that would leave you more or less useless for the rest of the fight.

He's about as strong as you are. His armor is only Decent and his shield is gone. His max orthstirr supply is a bit more than half your orthstirr supply. He's undamaged, as is his armor.

He's planning on using the opportunity granted from your next Sidestep to do something annoyingly defensive. After that, he's going on the attack.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (8/8) | Shield Health: (NA) | Layer Health: (6/6)
Orthstirr: (193/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: If the after-round details are missing anything, let me know. I feel like I'm a bit out of practice.

Anyways, I'm excited for how you're going to deal with an enemy that has a few of the same tricks as you.

25-minute moratorium.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Plan

[X] Plan Fiery Aggression
-[X] 45d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Make a total of three 9d6 (11d6 w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attacks (-2 Orthstirr each) alternated with two 9d6 (11d6 w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strikes (Kindle Spinner, then Firebomb-Strike, then Kindle Spinner, and so on)
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack against us or our allies near us use Halting Vortex to avoid giving him his planned for opening (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – Just get in his face and refuse to leave using our ignition Tricks to really go to town on this guy in a way he is very much not prepared for. Our first Kindle-Spinner will be aimed at his face to hopefully blind and confuse him as much as possible.

0~0~0

You breathe in. He readies his spear.

You breathe out and, as the Christians say, all hell breaks loose.

He leaps into a lunge, orthstirr coating his spearhead and Honing it to a fine point. You suppress a cheeky grin as he bears down on you — it wouldn't do to give away the play just yet!
(Honed Attack: 9 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! 3 Damage Dealt to Layer!)
Three layers of crimson orthstirr fail as the spearhead crashes through your defenses. Or rather, you allow it to.

Credit where credit is due, he got farther through than you thought he would.

Shame, really, that it's about to end.

Mere inches away from his face, you see the exact moment his confidence turns to worry as you take his blow like it was nothing. The fire reflecting in his wide-open eyes are just the cherries on top.

He jerks back, but not nearly quick enough to avoid the Kindle Spinner. Not as close as you are.
(Trick Attack: 31 vs Trick Defense: 25, Attacker Wins! 3 Armor Damage Dealt!
He sways so hard he drops to the ground, but it's not enough to escape your well-honed aim. The vortex of fire explodes with a flick of the wrist. While you don't catch his face in the blast, you do blow a hole in his armor.

The slick sound of unsheathing iron reaches your ears as the Sentry hits the ground. His sax glows with orange orthstirr as he swings at your leg.
(Trick Attack: 15 vs Trick Defense: Autopass (Halting Vortex), Defender Wins!)
Only for his jaw to drop as his sax hits a whirling vortex of stopping energy.

"Oh come on! Really?" The Sentry complains, gesturing at where he just tried to hit you.

You shrug as you raise Sagaseeker overhead. "That's just how she goes."

He scowls. "Well, I'm not gonna make it easy for you, you know."

You grin. "I wouldn't have it any other way."

Sagaseeker blurs into motion as crimson orthstirr streaks of it in streamers. The Sentry digs his hand into the ground to throw himself out of the way.
(Trick Attack: 32 vs Trick Defense: 35, Defender Wins! 1 Armor Damage Dealt! Armor Broken!)
To his credit — which you find yourself giving quite a lot throughout this fight — he manages to avoid most of the explosion.

'Most of', being the keyword there.

He throws himself out of the way of the worst of the damage, but some licks of flame still devours the bare shreds of armor protecting his body. He rolls to his feet, spear in one hand, sax in the other.

He breathes in as you dart after him, another Kindle Spinner already twisting into existence in your palm. His eyes lock to the ball of raging fire and dread pools in your stomach as you know you made a mistake.

"You need a hand free to use that fancy shield of yours, don't you?" There's a gleam in his eye as he knows he has you. The spearhead glows as orthstirr flows into the metal — Storm Iron. Lightning arcs along its surface as he draws it back, more orthstirr feeding into a trick as he prepares to throw.

Your instincts scream at you, telling you that there's not enough time to extinguish the Kindle Spinner. Which means that you're going to have to make a choice.

Drop Sagaseeker... or take the hit?

The Sentry roars as he stomps, throwing the spear with all his might.

You make your choice.

Not stopping for an instant, you meet the spear head-on.
(Honed Trick Attack: 42 vs Defense: Declined, Layers Stripped! 1 Armor Damage Dealt!)
It hits you with the force of a thunderbolt. It strikes with enough power that the pole splinters on impact. It completely blows apart your feeble shielding as it tears a shallow hole in your armor.

But it goes no further.

The spearhead clatters to the ground.

You laugh at the look on the Sentry's face as you drive the Kindle Spinner into it.
(Trick Attack: 42 vs Trick Defense: 26, Attacker Wins! 3 Endurance Damage Dealt!
His head jerks back as the skin is scorched from his face. A foot darts out to stop him from falling, but that is all he can do as you pull Sagaseeker back for another Firebomb Strike.

Swinging forward with all your might, the explosion takes his arm at the shoulder.

He spins around like a ragdoll, arm and legs flailing every which way. Unfortunate, really, that the way he spins is directly into the third and final Kindle Spinner.

His body goes limp as his head disappears in a gore-filled explosion.

Blood rains down around you as you smile.

Ah, glorious bloodshed.

You stretch your shoulders as you move to join your fellows in the scrum.

0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x3, 5x2, 4x2, 3x1, 2x1, 1x1)11+2(Rounds)=13 Successes

As you join your fellows inside the fence, you're treated to a sight of a number duels going on all at once. Turns out, there had been thirteen warriors inside the fence.

Had been, that is.

Sten had accounted for three of the kills while Abjorn, Stigmar, and Gabriel each took one. The weaklings all died in the initial onslaught, but their deaths allowed the stronger members to arm and armor themselves.

Sten seems to have broken his shield inside of someone's ribcage, which works well for him as he's a hugareida user. He's currently dueling a mail-clad man and seems to have the upper hand in that fight.

Abjorn and another Giant's Blooded man are rolling around in the blood-soaked mud, locked in a deadly wrestling match — their weapons discarded nearby. Abjorn has his work-knife out and is working on forcing the tip through his opponent's eye.

Stigmar's starting to flag in his duel, his limbs weary from spilling blood — he'd been trying to keep up with Abjorn, Sten, and Gabriel and.... well, that just doesn't work out. His opponent, another Giant's Blooded — the brother of the man Abjorn's fighting — is armed with a pair of saxes and a thick gambeson.

Gabriel is fighting two men at once — both would-be archers, by the looks of things. He's handling himself well, but it's clear that he's not used to fighting in armor. Both of his opponents are wearing thin gambesons and are fighting with axes and shields — their bows forgotten in the fighting.

The Bandit's captain stands alone — atgeir in hand, mail on body, and helmet on head. He seems... well, you can see the wisps of gray in his beard. You know he's dangerous. He's seemingly content with guarding the third and final archer — who is having an archery duel with Stigr and Joarr.

There are three places you can go. You can take Stigmar's place and duel the Giant's Blooded man. You can take one of Gabriel's opponents. Or you can challenge the captain.

Either way, you have to make a choice.
[ ] Tag Stigmar Out
Your opponent will be the man we will be referring to as 'the Brute'. He's tall, very strong, and well-armed and armored. He's got a wind hugareida, the same as Eric's — you recognize the patterns of it well. He also doesn't seem to be all that winded by his fight with Stigmar.

[ ] Join Gabriel
Your opponent will be the man we will be referring to as 'the Archer'. He's a bit reedy and has a ratlike face. Just by looking at him you know that that fight will be nothing but bullshit left and right.

[ ] Challenge the Captain
Your opponent will be the man we will be referring to as 'the Captain'. He's an older man, with a more-pepper-than-salt beard. Definitely in his 30s. You can't glean anymore than that from him.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (7/8) | Shield Health: (NA)
Orthstirr: (175/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What is your plan for combat?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: I took some liberties with the end of that fight, as I'm sure you're well aware. I hope you're all okay with that, as I think that the outcome was pretty cool.

No moratorium, as it's getting a bit late.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Tagging Stigmar Out

[X] Tag Stigmar Out
[X] Plan Feeling Out Our Foe
-[X] 45d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Use Reinforce Shield on our armor for 8 Layers (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] Make a total of two 10d6 Honed Power Chop attacks (-2 Orthstirr each) and three Honed Shatter-Wrist Trick attacks (also -2 Orthstirr each) in whatever order seems likely to catch him off guard for the Shatter-Wrist Tricks. If he's already got two broken wrists by the time the third Shatter-Wrist Trick would be aimed his way, replace it with a Honed Power Chop (same cost and dice pool).
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack it is viable against use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr), if attacked with a Trick Attack it isn't viable against that seems likely to break Reinforce Shield, or if such an attack comes and Reinforce Shield is already gone, use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] If the Captain moves to attack any of our allies or tries something big we will use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap between him and them and Halting Vortex to stop the attack as best we can (-16 Orthstirr total)
-[X] Tactics – Move in and attack fairly aggressively to size up our foe, aiming particularly for the wrists. We want to try and see what this guy can do before committing to an expensive or tricky battle plan.

0~0~0

Stigmar tenses as you lay a hand on his shoulder, but relaxes as he sees you.

"Halla," he breathes out your name, relief in his gaze as you nod.

"Tag in." You step forward and stop a few yards away from the Brute — Stigmar stumbling away as his Aspects fade. The Brute eyes you up, gaze tracing your form as he folds his arms.

He grunts, a smile splitting his face. "You are strong. This will be good."

"Well," you shrug, falling into a battle-crouch as your opponent does the same, "at least this won't be boring."

Orthstirr flares as you both coat yourself in layers of reinforcement. Red shines against crimson as you square off.

A heartbeat passes and the ground quakes as a blast of air throws the Brute forward. Red orthstirr streams off his saxes as he hurtles through the air at breakneck paces. A joyous laugh slips free from his mouth as he grins a bloody, battle-frenzied smile.
(Honed Attack: 10 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! 3 Layer Damage Dealt!
Sagaseeker spins and blocks the first sax with clashing iron, but the second slips through your guard and gouges a deep crevice through layers of painted-on defense.

Gritting your teeth, you shove the larger man away as you launch into an attack of your own. Crimson power falls off Sagaseeker in ragged streamers as the Power Chop burns bright and freely.

The Brute grins, eyes flashing with gleeful delight as you bring your weapon down on his head.
(Honed Trick Attack: 35 vs Trick Defense: 38, Defender Wins!)
His foot digs into the dirt as he darts forward, the grin never leaving his face as he...

As he fucking headbutts Sagaseeker away.

You blink, mouth falling open in utter astonishment as the Brute laughs.

He crouches, pushing off the ground to throw himself into another furious charge. Hone shines along his saxes as a calculating look enters his eyes.
(Honed Attack: 12 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! 3 Layer Damage Dealt!
Metal crashes against metal as he once again slips a sax around your guard. This one scores another wound on your orthstirr-layered armor, leaving it dangerously close to breaking. Not good, not good at all.

You break away as he does the same, a natural lull in the fight. You both take the moment for a light breather.

"Feeling pressured?" The Brute asks with a falsely innocent smile. "There's no shame in that. I am rather impressive, after all." He eyes you again, a low whistle leaving his lips. "You'd make a fine wife."

"I'm married."

He winces. "Ah, my apologies. Back to the fighting?"

"Please."

Stomping against the ground, you start off this round of combat with a snarling Power Chop — or at least, that's just what it looks like.

He swings forward to meet your advance — one sax moving to counter, the other delivering a strike in return.
(Honed Trick Attack: 38 vs Trick Defense: 23, Attacker Wins! Reinforce Layers Broken! Wrist Broken!)
A sickening snap rings out as his wrist jerks at an odd angle — the defensive trick unable to stop your orthstirr from drilling through a reinforced layer and into his wrist.

His jaw tightens as his teeth grind together, but its not enough to halt his sax's advance — he's had much worse than a mere broken wrist.
(Honed Attack: 9 vs Defense: N/A, Attacker Wins! Reinforce Layers broken!)
He buries his sax to the hilt in your trick-formed armor as it struggles to hold back the Brute's onslaught. It groans as it snaps and shatters like broken pottery.

Shards of dissolving orthstirr fall to the ground alongside a sax.

You stumble back, as does he. He flexes the fingers on his broken wrist as you check yourself for any sign of injury.

Finding none, you turn your gaze back onto your opponent.

(Premature Round End: Reinforce Layer Break)
(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 5x4, 3x2, 2x2, 1x2)6+3(Rounds)=9 Successes.

The battle is going about the same as before. No real changes other than Stigmar, after taking a moment to rest and recover some orthstirr, going to join Gabriel's fight.

Your opponent is strong, stronger than you by far. His combat potential is a fair bit higher than yours. It seems that, just as you were probing him, he was probing you. He was being careful that last round, to conceal a few tricks up his sleeve.

He is down a hand, though, so you've got an advantage on him there. However, if you recall correctly from your spar with Eric, he had used the hand with a broken wrist for his hugareida. Still, down a sax is down a sax.

From what you can read from him, he's going to be favoring the offensive this time around — probably throwing in one or two tricks to mix things up.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (7/8) | Shield Health: (NA)
Orthstirr: (167/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: Sorry about this taking so long! I ran out of my V8s so I had to raw dog it.

Normally your layers being broken doesn't prematurely end the round, but I figured that you'd rather have this than no update today. And it naturally arrived at a good stopping point.

No moratorium. Normal voting period.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Sicko Mode Engaged

**[X] Plan: Sicko Mode Engaged**
-[X] 25d6 Attack
-[X] 20d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] 4 Honed Power Chops (2d6 + 1d6 Hone) (8 Orthstirr), 3 Firebomb Strikes (2d6 + 2d6 Hugareida) (12 Orthstirr), 1 Contingency Honed Shatter-Wrist Trick (11d6 + 1d6 Hone) (2 Orthstirr). Mix them up as required to keep a good rhythm and minimize our openings
-[X] The Shatter-Wrist Trick is to be used if he leaves an opening to disable his other wrist.
-[X] 1 Honed, Reinforced, Hefty-Halter Chop (10d6 + 1d6 Hone + 1d6 Reinforce + 5d6 Fight for your Life) (6 Orthstirr), Up to 10x Honed, Reinforced, Defenses (3d6 Each) (Up to 20 Orthstirr). Use Halting Vortex against any powerful Trick Attacks (4 Orthstirr Each). Use the Hefty-Halter Chop at the right moment to disarm his remaining Sax and keep up the pressure. If by some unholy miracle he still has attacks left by this point, use Sidestep or Halting Vortex as appropriate (2 vs 4 Orthstirr)
-[X] If the Captain moves to attack any of our allies or tries something big we will use Ember-Wing Cloak to leap between him and them and Halting Vortex to stop the attack as best we can (-16 Orthstirr total)
-[X] Tactics – We've got the advantage, press it. Counter one of his attacks with Hefty-Halter Chop to disarm his remaining weapon and go to town, doing our best to keep up too much pressure for him to Recall it (And having Shatter-Wrist Trick if he tries to do so anyway), use Halting Vortex to counter any powerful Trick Attacks.

0~0~0

The beat of your heart pounds a merry rhythm in your ears as you brace yourself for the next round of furious clashing weapons. You had thought that the battle with the draugr was the finest battle of your life, but now... you're only now beginning to realize just how deep this well goes.

Honestly? You wouldn't have it any other way.

To reach the peak before you were even a woman grown? A tragedy!

You match the Brute's bloodthirsty grin with one of your own. Kindred spirits, you and him.

Shame that one of you has to die.

But such is life.

The Brute roars and battle is met once more.

He darts forward, his remaining sax raised high and ready to strike. Orthstirr coats his weapon with cutting force as you raise Sagaseeker in turn, ready to receive the first clash of this bout.
(Honed Attack: 6 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 15, Defender Wins!)
Orthstirr sparks as the sax swings for your head only to be met by a singing atgeir. Twisting around, you send the strike into the ground as you swap dominant hand and shift into an attack of your own.

Crimson orthstirr shines bright as the Power Chop thunders through the air. A bloody song echoes through the cave as Sagaseeker purrs its joy.
(Honed Trick Attack: 10 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 12, Defender Wins!)
That purred joy turns to snarled fury as the Brute jerks back just in time to avoid a split-open neck. Orange beard hairs float through the air — a sign of just how close that dodge was to failing.

He finds his footing in the sandy-loam soil and launches into a counter-attack just as you find your balance. Sagaseeker screams through the air as it rises to meet the incoming attack.
(Honed Attack: 7 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 5, Attacker Wins! 3 Armor Damage Dealt!)
But even as fast as you are, you're not able to keep him from slipping past your defenses to carve a trail of destruction through your armor. Your armor's taking some heavy hits in this fight, but it's not enough to get through it, not just yet.

Your teeth grind together as you stumble back, the Brute quickly pursuing with a grin on his face. He shifts his stance, angling his sax in just the right way for the light streaming in from the outside to catch on its shiny blade.

Orthstirr surges and, if you were anyone else, you would be as blind as a bat as the searing light explodes out in a blinding blast.

Fortunately, you aren't anyone else. You are Halla Longstride, and such petty things as being 'blinded by flashes of light' are not things that harry your progress.

Obviously, the Brute wasn't expecting you to shrug off his trick, so he presses on with a rather dangerous-looking attack. You have an opportunity here — the opportunity that you've been waiting this whole time for.

As his sax blurs forward with lethal intent, you shift and his eyes snap wide as Sagaseeker races to meet his attack with one of your own.
(Halla's Attack: 57 vs the Brute's Attack: 39, Halla Wins! The Brute is disarmed!)
The sax twirls through the air as if in slow-motion. The Brute's eyes open wider and wider as they follow the weapon's arc.

A smirk slips across your face as you drive a foot into the ground. Sagaseeker scrapes against the ground and carves a shallow furrow in the sandy-loam as your powerful swing takes it skyward.
(Honed Trick Attack: 50 vs Stunned Defense: 17, Attacker Wins! 2-1=1 Armor Damage Dealt! The Brute's Wrist is Broken!)
And up into the underside of the Brute's wrist.

It snaps with a crisp, wicked crack as his teeth grind together to stifle the cry of pain. But before you can capitalize, he drives his foot into the ground and throws himself back to the cavern wall with a surge of orthstirr.

Your eyes narrow as your bloodthirsty grin widens to expose a mouth filled with teeth. You're not letting him get away that easily!

Hair whipping in the air and Sagaseeker trailing behind, you race after the Brute as he recovers against the wall. Breathing heavily, he forces himself upright as his orthstirr swirls about him in a chilly gust of wind.

With two fingers pointing, he swings a trio of hugareida-powered tricks your way.

Three crescent-arcs of pressurized wind hurtle down on you with powerful force. Three crescent arcs of pressurized wind are dashed against your raised shield of stopping force. Each drains your orthstirr, but not a one gets through your guard.

"Incredible." The Brute happily whispers as you bear down on him with Sagaseeker raised and crimson sparks springing from its cutting edge.
(Trick Attack: 17 vs Reinforced Defense: 15, Attacker Wins! 3 Armor Damage!)
The first Firebomb Strike eats at his gambeson as the explosion throws him from his feet — you're not even two steps behind with another trick forming on Sagaseeker's blade.
(Trick Attack: 14 vs Reinforced Defense: 12, Attacker Wins! 3 Armor Damage! Armor Pierced!)
The second Firebomb Strike devours his gambeson enough to expose a meaty pectoral. A perfect target for the next trick up your sleeve.

You grin as Power Chop shines on your atgeir's edge. It doesn't matter how much damage he can take! As long as he can't halt your momentum, you'll just keep on hitting him until he dies!
(Honed Trick Attack: 14 vs Reinforced Defense: 19, Defender Wins!)
Sagaseeker scrapes along a hardened, Reinforced arm and you know you spoke too soon. He whips around, a ball of spinning wind in his hand as he aims to nail you to the wall.

Somehow, instinctively, you realize that you can't stop that with Halting Vortex, so you drive your foot into the ground and fling yourself away with a Sidestep instead.

The explosion of pressurized wind blows a shin-deep hole in the ground as you skid to a halt a few feet away.

Breathing with a light sheen of sweat on your brow, you eye the Brute as he eyes you in turn.

The battle isn't over yet, but he's firmly on the backfoot.

(Premature Round End: The Brute was able to escape stun-lock)
(Unused Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x1, 5x1, 4x2, 3x5, 1x1)10+4(Rounds)=14 Successes

Abjorn has finished off his opponent as has Sten. They've joined together and are moving to try and engage the Captain. Gabriel is also likely about to be joining them soon.

Your opponent is relatively undamaged, though bare scraps of armor hang off his form. He's got a lot of gas left in the tank, but that is only to be expected in a fight like this.

He's going to be trying his best to keep his distance and pepper you with his hugareida. If he can, he's going to try to retrieve his saxes, though he'll be suffering maluses to using them.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (4/8) | Shield Health: (NA)
Orthstirr: (134/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: I really enjoyed how vague the tactics were as it gave me a lot of wiggle room to play with, which is always appreciated.

I'm not 100% sure that I counted the orthstirr correctly.

No moratorium. I reckon we can get another update out today if the stars are right.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Reclaim the Initiative

**[X] Plan: Reclaim the Initiative**
-[X] 40d6 Attack
-[X] 5d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Use Ember Wing Cloak (12 Orthstirr) to close back into close quarters, and damage race his arse, a mix between 2 Honed Power Chops (6d6 + 1d6 Hone) (4 Orthstirr), 2 Kindle-Spinners (3d6 + 2d6 Ignition + 2d6 Extra Orthstirr) (8 Orthstirr) , and 2 Firebomb-Strikes (5d6 + 2d6 Ignition) (8 Orthstirr). Kindle-Spinners are prioritized if he tries to open the range again after we close in to keep him busy, but keep them under our hat unless we need a ranged option. Maintain a Contingency Honed Leaping Cleave (12d6 + 1d6 Hone) (4 Orthstirr) to close the distance if he uses some kind of Trick to create a gap again (Like a repeat of that powerful wind-ball) or goes for one of his Saxes to punish. Be willing to use EWC along with the Leaping Cleave if it's required to help it land home. (16 Orthstirr if required)
-[X] Maintain 5 Reinforced Honed Defenses (1d6 + 1d6 Hone + 3d6 Reinforce) (20 Orthstirr). Use Halting Vortex (4 Orthstirr) on any powerful Tricks, but be willing to Sidestep (2 Orthstirr) if he tries to repeat something like that wind orb, do not give him an opening to safely go for one of his weapons without having a punish on hand.
-[X] Overall Tactics: Regain the initiative using Ember Winged Cloak to close back into close quarters distance--this should make it easier to prevent him from using his Hugareida on you and he's not going to be able to wrestle well with two broken wrists. Maintain a solid defense against his counterattacks, but the priority is dropping him quickly to back up the rest of our elites against the Captain. Create a 16 layer Reinforce-Shield between defeating the Brute and engaging the Captain, unless the situation looks desperate enough that we need to join in _now_

0~0~0

A mere blink of the eye passes before you spring into action again.

Blurring into motion, you touch down on the ground for but a moment as you dart into the air. The dim cavern is suddenly brightly lit as wings of fire sprout from your back. The Brute joins you in a gleeful laugh as you rocket forward at breakneck pace.

But moments before you make contact, he too joins you in the air as a burst of wind has him dashing to the side — towards his saxes.

Your lips pull down into a scowl as you free a hand from Sagaseeker. That won't do, that won't do at all!

Licks of crimson flame spin into being as he skids to a halt. He turns around just in time for the Kindle Spinner to bounce underhanded across the sandy ground.

An arm sticks out with two fingers extended, orthstirr whirling about him in a frenzy of power. The wind whips into shape as he directs it towards the ball of compact fire, the Cutting Wind sailing out in a crescent of force.
(Trick Attack: 23 vs Trick Defense: 28, Defender Wins!)
Kindle Spinner meets Cutting Wind and the fire is extinguished.

Growling, you jam Sagaseeker up into the rocky ceiling. Spinning on the polearm, you change directions and hurl yourself into a Leaping-Cleave — one aimed straight at your enemy.

As crimson orthstirr sings its songs of frenzied glory, the pale red orthstirr of the Brute joins the chorus with a harmonious sonnet.

Hand forming a claw shape, the Brute swings his arm down and up and a wave of wind follows his movements. But the wind isn't the attack, no, the wind is merely a vehicle to carry the saxes up and into the air.

Eyes snapping wide, your jaw clenches as the saxes sail straight towards you — their edges gleaming in the light of your wings. It's a race against time as you twist, aiming to use your wings to dodge under the wall of blades before they nail you.
(Trick Attack: 40 vs Trick Defense: 40, Defender Wins Ties!)
The saxes brush against your hair, shearing away strands as you spin down and out of the way. Your back is to the floor as you swing Sagaseeker up — the Brute trying to escape with some manner of dodge trick.
(Honed Trick Attack: 44 vs Trick Defense: 33, Attacker Wins! Armor Destroyed! 5-1=4 Endurance Damage Dealt!)
The edge of your atgeir slices through the scraps of armor without a care in the world. Yanking himself back he may be, but it's not enough to escape Sagaseeker's reach.

You catch him in the stomach and carve up to the chin in a ragged line of blood. He falls back as the crimson liquid sprays out in a heavy fan.

He hits the ground, stunned, as you spin once more — your back now to the ceiling — and slam a Firebomb Strike directly into his chest.
(Trick Attack: 32 vs Stunned Defense: 19, Attacker Wins! 3-1=2 Endurance Damage Dealt!)
He disappears in an explosion of smoke and fire.

You land a dozen feet away and skid to a halt as you spin around, atgeir at the ready incase he still wants more.

As the smoke clears, you're treated to the sight of the Brute groaning on the ground — his chest caved in from the attack. He's still alive and, honestly, could probably keep fighting if he so desired.

The keyword there is 'if he so desired.'

Which he doesn't.

"I give up," he wheezes through collapsed lungs. He turns his head to look at his brother, who lays face-up with a knife through the eye — dead, but not gone. "Just... please heal my brother, if you can."

For a single heartbeat, your positions are reversed. No longer is it the Brute's brother on the ground, it's Sten with a knife through the eye.

You swallow a gulp, Blackhand silently providing the instructions for how to heal the dead man. It's a recent-enough kill that Stabilizing Palm can have an effect.

What do you do?
[ ] Heal the brother (-12 Orthstirr) (???)
[ ] Don't heal the brother

(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x2, 4x2, 3x3, 2x1, 1x2)6+5(Rounds)=11 Successes

You finished off that fight quick enough that Sten and Abjorn haven't started their fight with the Captain, which means that you quickly join up with them after painting on a bunch of Reinforce Shield layers. There's no change in the rest of the fight, other than that Stigmar and Gabriel will soon finish up their fights, likely at the end of the next round.

The Captain is impassively staring at you from under his helmet, his mail gently swaying. The atgeir in his hand gleams with a silvery sheen. He smells of burnt ozone and a layer of soot lingers around his cuticles.

You don't know how powerful he is, nor how much gas he has in the tank. All you do know is that he is definitely at least twice as strong as you.

Sten's lost his shield and he's got his frami active — it resembles the frantic sparking of too-hot metal. His mail's taken some damage and he's got a light cut on his arm, but other than that he's fine and ready for battle.

Abjorn is covered in mud and sand. His virthing is active — it resembles a flaming bear pelt wrapped around his shoulders. He's ready for a fight, though he's taken some damage to the ribs, if the ugly purple bruising is anything to go off of.

They nod as you join them, they'll follow your directions.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (4/8) | Shield Health: (NA) | Layers: (16/16)
Orthstirr: (86/279) | Odr: (25)
( ) Frami: 93 | ( ) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: I'm not certain I counted everything right, but you did use EWC twice in that round.

No moratorium as it is a bit late.

Good job, by the way.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Probing While Defending

[X] Heal the brother (-12 Orthstirr) (???)
[X] Plan Probing While Defending
-[X] Give Abjorn and Gabriel the Insulation Ointment
-[X] Stoke our Frami (+93 Orthstirr) and Virthing (+93 Orthstirr)
-[X] Activate our Punching Up Twist (-35 Orthstirr)
-[X] 48d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 5d6 Defense
-[X] 14d6 Intercept (all tricks)
-[X] Make two 15d6 Honed x3 Power Chop attacks (-4 Orthstirr each), a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Firebomb-Strike attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-5 Orthstirr), and a 15d6 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack w/1 extra Orthstirr (-3 Orthstirr) all whenever seems most appropriate
-[X] The first time he attacks one of our family with a weapon, use a 21d6 Reinforcedx4 Honedx3 Hefty-Halter Chop (-10 Orthstirr) to defend and hopefully disarm him. In response to any mundane attacks against us we use up to 5 Reinforcedx3 Honedx2 Defenses (6d6 and -5 Orthstirr each) and use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr) if we run out of those and our Reinforce Shield has been broken. If he attacks either us or our family with a Trick Attack, or any attack that looks likely to put them down (ie: they're on their last legs), use Halting Vortex to stop that attack dead (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – We move forward, making sure to position ourselves between Sten and Abjorn so we can use Halting Vortex to protect both of them from big attacks as necessary, then probe the guy's defenses with fairly serious attacks using our entire repertoire of straightforward options (so he won't expect the less direct ones later, we hope). The main goal is to protect Abjorn and Sten from anything too nasty, though.

0~0~0

"Abjorn!" Your voice draws your husband's attention as you underhand toss the Insulation Ointment to him. "Here!"

He plucks it from the air with a curious expression on his face. The leather pouch looks utterly tiny in his palm, but you know that it holds more than enough oil to coat his entire body.

"Rub it into your skin, it'll protect you from fire," you say as you slide up next to him and Sten — who nods at your presence. Abjorn starts rubbing the ointment into his skin as the Captain silently observes.

Sten turns to you with a raised brow. "How'd your fights go?"

You grin. "I killed one, captured another. You?"

Sten's grin is wider. "Four dead."

"Nice." You share a laugh with your eldest brother before you turn to regard the elephant in the room — the Captain.

The Captain breathes in deeply while closing his eyes. The lungful of air slowly escapes his mouth as he silently offers a prayer to the Gods on high.

His eyes open, twin pools of deep green shining in the torchlight of the cavern, and battle commences once again.

With sword in hand, Sten roars a challenge as he darts across the battlefield — his hair whipping behind him as he charges. The Captain's eyes flick to the side as crimson orthstirr sparks in Sten's hand. A lengthy spike of sharpened iron springs from his palm and leaps out clad in its lethal intent.
(Trick Attack: 30 vs Trick Defense: 24+7=31, Defender Wins!)
The shiny atgeir flicks to the side as it catches the iron spike. Silver orthstirr mixes with crimson might as the Captain redirects the attack into the ground. The cavern shudders from the force of the blow as little flecks of rock rain down from the ceiling.

Sten skids to a halt as he pivots into a swing of the sword. Iron clangs against iron as the Captain meets him head-on. With superior strength, the Captain shoves Sten a step back and clocks him across the jaw with the iron-capped end of his atgeir.

Sten stumbles back, a hand darting to the side of his face as he tries to recover. The Captain casually walks forward as he twirls his atgeir around to drive a thrust through your brother's back.
(Honed Trick Attack: 23 vs Hefty Halter Chop: 81, Halla Wins!)
That is, if you weren't already there with crimson orthstirr falling off you in blazing droves. Stomping against the ground with enough force to shake more dust from the rocky ceiling, you swing Sagaseeker hard enough to force the Captain back and nearly knock his weapon from his hands.

He takes a few steps back — a fresh evaluatory look in his eyes — just as Abjorn makes his appearance in the fight.

Abjorn's bear pelt sways in the cavern-wind as he leaps into action. Ruddy red orthstirr pours off Avow as he takes a wicked-fast and deadly swing at the Captain's mail-encased neck.
(Honed Trick Attack: 20 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 18+7=25, Defender Wins)
Sparks fly as that same atgeir darts up to stop Avow in its tracks. Instead of trying to overpower a Giant's Blooded man, the Captain instead pulls away to deliver an attack of his own at your armor-less husband — one coated in his silvery orthstirr.

Danger screams in your ears as you once more dart forward with arm extended to stop his attack in its tracks. Halting Vortex whips into existence as the atgeir bounces off and away.

The Captain scowls. "You're rather annoying."

You grin. "I'll take that as a compliment."

The Captain merely grunts as your hand darts to Sagaseeker's shaft and you instantly transition into an incredibly overclocked Power Chop. The strike thunders through the air with the force of a raging Thunder God as the Captain eyes it with a blank stare.
(Honed Trick Attack: 55 vs Trick Defense: 49+7=56, Defender Wins!)
Sagaseeker's edge races towards him like a strike of lightning. He makes no attempt to defend himself, merely watching as his death approaches. Moments before contact is made, he tilts his head to the side and his body follows his slight movement as he sways out of the way.

Sagaseeker carves a deep gouge into the ground as the hostile atgeir swings up and around. Its razor-sharp point sings songs of bloodshed as it races towards your face. Silver orthstirr coats its length in a double layer of might.

Another Halting Vortex swirls into existence before you as a smirk slips over your face.

"You really think that's gonna get through this?" Hubris overtakes your senses as a smug grin overtakes your face.

The Captain says nothing, his face impassive, as the first layer of orthstirr on his atgeir explodes out as it makes contact with the whirlwind of stopping force.

The smirk leaves your face as it doesn't stop. The first layer of silver punches holes into your trusty shield as you jerk back — your mouth hanging open from fear and shock.

The second layer shines bright as he brings it down on your body, only for your reflexes to kick in and you to Sidestep out of the way.

You stare wide-eyed at the weapon that could've dealt serious harm to you, if you hadn't been ready in more ways than one. You swallow a gulp as the Captain quirks his head and makes a mental note of something.

And that's when Sten lands right next to him with crimson fire in his eyes — his rage at his little sister almost being harmed overtaking his senses. He jams his palm into the Captain's mail-clad stomach, who merely responds with a quirked brow and an impassive gaze.

Sten growls and orthstirr sparks.
(Trick Attack: 38 vs Trick Defense: 38+7=45, Defender Wins!)
The Captain pulls back and his atgeir twists into a rapid spin as a dozen iron daggers spray out from Sten's palm. The shining atgeir darts left and right, up and down as he's forced back from the onslaught — but not a one manages to slip past his defenses.

Sten's eyes blaze with crimson fury as Abjorn slides in with Avow in hand and his orthstirr weighing his weapon down. He lifts the heavy weapon over his head as he aims to bring it down on the Captain's

The air crackles with incredible power as it sloughs off Abjorn in heavy waves. His jaw clenches tight as he brings the Leveraged attack down with the force of a landslide behind it.
(Honed Trick Attack: 192 vs Trick Defense: 62+7=69, Attacker Wins! 10-1=6 Armor Damage Dealt! Armor Pierced! 1 Endurance Damage Dealt!)
Smoke billows out from the impact-site of Abjorn's strike. He hit with such force, such power, that the structural integrity of the cave is definitely in question. The earth itself seems to groan in pain as rocks start to tumble from the ceiling.

The smoke begins to clear, revealing the Captain still standing proud. Broken links of mail falls from his armor as a small wound on his chest oozes blood. He pokes a finger at the wound, as if surprised by its presence.

His brows rise a fraction of an inch. "Steel? Very impressive."

Abjorn grunts as he struggles to stay standing, having poured his entire frami into that attack.

"Lets see if you can't keep it up, shall we?"

(Premature Round End: Abjorn Did The Thing)
(Unspent Orthstirr Refunded)
0~0~0
(Hugr (Tactics): 6x1, 5x1, 4x3, 3x2, 2x3)6+6(Rounds)=12 Successes

The structural integrity of the cave is in serious question. It can't take much more before collapsing in on itself.
(How is Stigmar doing? 17) (How is Gabriel Doing? 91)
Gabriel has dispatched his adversaries, though Stigmar was knocked unconscious in the fighting. Turns out, the archer the Captain was guarding had some serious shit up his sleeve. Gabriel is currently torn between moving to help you fight and getting Stigmar out before the cave collapses. He is open to direction.

The Captain's armor has taken a heavy hit, though it's still majorly intact. He's altered his stance and the exposed part is now covered by his defense. He's taken a small wound, curtesy of Abjorn, but doesn't seem fazed by it.

He's still got a lot of orthstirr left in the tank.

At the moment, he's probably planning on focusing down you and Abjorn, though he hasn't forgotten about Sten. He's got a lot of tricks left up his sleeve.

Sten is very angry and is struggling to listen to direction. He's planning on doing something that takes a long time to prepare.

Abjorn is tired, but he's still ready to fight. He looks to you for direction.

Endurance: (7/7) | Armor Health: (4/8) | Shield Health: (NA) | Layers: (16/16)
Orthstirr: (199/279) | Odr: (25)
(X) Frami: 93 | (X) Virthing: 93 | ( ) Saemd: 93
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir.
Your combat pool is 45d6.

What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in

0~0~0

AN: This was the least likely premature round end that could've triggered, lmao. The Angry Sten flag is also active now, too. Oh boy, things are gonna get spicy.

Man, I find Stigmar's situation to be utterly hilarious. He's not exactly a weak guy, but he has to contend with a team that counts the likes of Gabriel, Halla, Sten, and Abjorn among its roster. The poor guy just doesn't have the orthstirr to keep up with your shenanigans.

No moratorium, but don't expect another update today as I'd like to give you folks as much time as possible to plan.

After all, this is a boss fight.


There's a good chance I miscounted orthstirr somewhere.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: Trap, Stun, and Burn

[X] Plan Trap, Stun, and Burn
-[X] Consume a Hearthroot Berry
-[X] Task Gabriel and the rest not in this specific fight with getting Stigmar and the two Ginat-Blooded brothers out of the cave in case of collapse
-[X] Warn Abjorn and Sten to avoid big physical attacks to avoid a cave collapse. Hopefully they listen
-[X] Stoke Saemd (+93 Orthstirr) immediately after using Inertia-Arresting Throw (or simultaneously with our Knee-Groin Trick if that looks cooler)
-[X] 58d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 9d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] In response to his first attack use a 30d6 (w/Hugareida) Inertia-Arresting Throw to trap him in place,with its dice pool enhanced with 11 Orthstirr and its effects likewise enhanced with Odr (-17 Orthstirr/-3 Odr), followed up immediately with a 25d6 Knee-Groin Trick with its dice pool enhanced with 11 Orthstirr and its effects likewise enhanced with Odr (-12 Orthstirr/-3 Odr), and then while he is hopefully stunned hit him with a 25d6 (w/Hugareida) Threefold Kindle Spinner attack enhanced with 11 extra Orthstirr and its damage enhanced with Odr in each instance (-18 Orthstirr and -6 Odr), then three normal 14d6 (w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner attack with 7 extra Orthstirr added into them and their damage enhanced with Odr (-9 Orthstirr/-2 Odr each) into him.
-[X] After our initial IAT, in response to any mundane attacks against us use up to 3 Reinforcedx3 Honedx3 Defenses (7d6 and -6 Orthstirr each) and use Sidestep (-2 Orthstirr) if we run out of those and our Reinforce Shield has been broken. If he attacks during our Fivefold Kindle Spinner somehow we use one 6d6 Reinforcedx4 Honedx4 defense (14d6, -8 Orthstirr). If he attacks either us or our family with a Trick Attack while IAT is not out, or any attack that looks likely to put them down (ie: they're on their last legs), use Halting Vortex to stop that attack dead (-4 Orthstirr), and if our IAT is still out and he's somehow attacking, or his attack gets through Halting Vortex use Sidestep to avoid it.
-[X] Tactics – Gabriel gets the wounded and captured out of the cave, Abjorn and Halla move to cover Sten, when the Captain goes for an attack on anyone, have Halla feint Halting Vortex, but instead use IAT to trap him in place, following up with Knee-Groin Trick and then unleashing our full burn chain in the subsequent opening, beginning with the Threefold Kindle Spinner.

0~0~0

Dust falls from above as the Captain leaps from the crater and jams his atgeir into the ceiling. He points a hand at you and at Abjorn as he spins through the air. Lightning arcs as sparks dance around his palms, an arrow of electricity forming in each hand.

The air snaps as he releases hold and the arrows shoot out at breakneck speeds. They streak through the gloom of the cavern in a blur of crackling power, leaving trails of blue light in their wakes.

They fly with force unmatched as one bears down on you with lethal intent.

Your arm whips out, Halting Vortex raised, but even as you do a doubtful voice whispers wicked things in the back of your head. He pierced your shield once, he can do it again!

To your mounting horror, the doubtful snake in your mind is proven right as the Storm Arrow punches through the field of stopping force. Your foot digs into the ground as an instinctual Sidestep carries you to the side and the Storm Arrow explodes against the cavern wall in the distance.

Your hair whips in the wind as you dart to the side — directly into the path of another attack.

"Your reliance on perfect defenses is an exploitable weakness." The Captain's matter-of-fact words reach your ears just as his lightning strikes your legs. Electricity arcs as the Shock Shackles trigger, binding your ankles together and chaining them to the ground.

The Captain reaches up and plucks his weapon from the ceiling as he sends one last blast of lightning your way — another Storm Arrow.

Your mind races as explosive arcs of lethal intent-laden lightning sails your way. Is it another piercing arrow? Is it a bluff and he's expecting you to forgo Halting Vortex in favor of some kind of imperfect defense? Is it a double-bluff and you actually need to use an imperfect defense against it? If so, what would you even use?! Hefty-Halter-Chop can't hit non-physical things and it's not exactly a very speedy trick! There's nothing that Contested Movement can do, there's no one to attack!

In the end, you're forced to make a decision whether you like it or not.

Halting Vortex springs to life once more as the arrow makes contact.

Once more, it punches through and — unlike times before — there's nothing you can do but watch as the arrow hits you dead in the chest.
(Layer Health Stripped)
The Shock Shackles snap as you're thrown from your feet by the blast. You sail through the air as pieces of reinforced orthstirr rain down around you like the remains of a shattered sheet of stained glass.

You hit the ground with a roll — your cheek pressed against the rocky floor. Getting a hand under you, force yourself up to your feet with a groan. You're gonna have some bruises in the morning...

If you live to see the morning at all.
(Honed Attack: 17 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 29+7=36, Defender Wins!)
A bright flash of light and a shower of red sparks draws your attention back to the fight as Abjorn crosses blades with the Captain. Atgeir against sword, iron against steel. Each of Abjorn's blows gouges iron from the weapon — not even the Captain dares to put wood against steel.
(Honed Attack: 4 vs Honed Defense: 4, Defender Wins!)
The atgeir slices through the air with tremendous force, Abjorn barely managing to dodge back in time as he brings Avow back up to bear. Stepping forward, he tries to skewer the Captain through the chest.
(Honed Attack: 12 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 27+7=34, Defender Wins!)
Only for the Captain to bat his attempt aside with contemptuous ease. Off balance, Abjorn's left wide open for the Captain's return strike.
(Honed Attack: 8 vs Honed Defense: 13, Defender Wins!)
But Abjorn twists and contorts himself at just the right angle for the atgeirr to pass by harmlessly — though it does take a lock of hair for the trouble.

Driving his foot into the ground, Abjorn finds his footing as he swings up with all his might.
(Honed Attack: 11 vs Honed+Reinforced Defense: 18+7=35, Defender Wins!)
Try as hard as he might, Abjorn can't quite manage to hit the Captain as he dances back with a springboard dodge — a springboard that takes him away from Abjorn.

And into your range.

You step forward as you gather Standstill about you like the folded lengths of a cloak. Orthstirr flows through your body as you pump it into the trick.

But you're not done quite yet.

Glowing circles of red light float on a sea of steel as you fix the Captain with your best glare. Odr, red hot and divine, springs up from the depths of the well in your soul. It swirls about you in a bloodthirsty frenzy as you drive it into the folds of Standstill. With skill born from years upon years of housework, you weave the strands of odr into the trick just like you were making clothes for your children.

A crown of curving iron spikes sprouts from your head as the tips ignite with blazing fury. The Captain's head snaps to you as you meet his gaze with a stare of steel. His eyes widen in surprise as you whip Standstill above your head once, twice, before you throw it at him with force unmatched.

Standstill whirls through the air with a blindingly fast throw launching it forward. The Captain tries to defend, to do anything, but against an Inertia-Arresting-Throw that's been infused with odr?

It's like he's a child flailing about as Standstill wraps him in its folds.

Racing forward with all the force of a hurricane, your face is inches away from the Captain's struggling form — giving him a good look at your eyes of liquid steel and irises of shining red glory. Driving your foot into the ground, the earth shakes as you fling yourself knee-first into the air like a missile.

There are times in every man's life where he gets hit in his groin. No matter who it is, no matter their situation in life, it happens to everyone at some point without fail.

But what doesn't happen to everyone is being hit in the groin by an odr-empowered knee belonging to a battle-maniac of a woman named Halla Longstride.

Standstill shatters as your knee slips up and under a skirt of mail. You sail through the air with all the grace of an owl on the hunt as your knee makes contact with organs most delicate.

The poor Captain barely has time to breathe in before the pain hits him like a longship setting ashore.
(You deal 3 Endurance Damage (6-1-2), but Countershock triggers. You take 4 Armor and 2 Endurance Damage)
Lightning arcs across his body as he spends orthstirr like water. Electricity sparks and springs from him to you as your steel-filled eyes open wide with fear and surprise.

Just as you hit him, he hits you back.

The tattered, smoking remains of your gambeson fall away from your body as you're sent hurtling through the air. Your ears ring from the world-shattering thunderclap as you strike the cavern wall on the far side of the cave.

Blood smears on the wall as you fall to the ground — face down and dazed. The world spins and pretty colors dance before your eyes. You sit up after a long moment of doing nothing but laying still on the ground.

You find yourself staring at your brother as he's roaring in rage. You can't hear what he's saying as your ears still ring from the thunderclap — or if he's saying anything at all — but what you do see is what he's doing.

Hundreds upon hundreds, maybe even thousands, of small shards of sharp metal — arrowheads — float around him like a cloud of looming death. Every passing heartbeat sees him add a dozen more arrowheads to the rapidly growing mass of iron-clad death.

Each glows white-hot as he draws tendrils of black dust from the earth around him. With all his aspects stoked to full power, he weaves the dust into the near-molten metal with all the skill of a master artist at work. Whether it was held in reserve or invested, every drop of orthstirr in his body is being funneled to this task.

There's a sick whisper in the back of your mind. It tells you of failure, of contingencies kept hidden, kept in reserve for a moment just like this one.

You decide, in that very moment, that you would not let your brother's efforts go to waste.

Rising to your feet, you turn your gaze to the battle between your husband and the recovered Captain.

Abjorn fights with tearful desperation in his movements and despairing rage in his eyes. He saw you be blasted away, hit the wall, and then not move. For all he knows, you're dead. He's not holding anything back, not when something like *that* just happened.

But even in the state he's in right now, he can't quite land meaningful blows on the Captain, who dances out of the way with his twirling atgeir blocking each and every blow. To Abjorn's credit, the mail covering the Captain's body has once more been pierced and his body exposed.

Fortunately, that's all you need.

Palms held open and Sagaseeker left where it fell, you breathe in and out as afterimages start to follow your every movement. In each hand, you call forth a Kindle Spinner as you fix the Captain with a piercing gaze.

Some sixth sense warns him of your imminent attack and he turns his head just in time to catch your eyes turn to steel.

Three Kindle Spinners race across the cavern floor as bigger and larger rocks fall from the ceiling. Abjorn leaps in — still blinded by grief and rage — only to be smacked aside and out of the way by the Captain as he raises an empty palm.

Silver orthstirr shines in his hand as he raises it towards the obscured heavens. Moments before the Kindle Spinners would've hit him, he clenches his fist and a wave of power crashes over the entire battlefield.

Where the once was fire, there now is nothing but extinguished smoke.

Sten starts to laugh as your hearing comes back just in time.

"You fucking idiot!" His maddened, frenzied laughter echoes all around the cave as the source of his humor reveals itself — the wave of power had cooled off the arrowheads, which had a significant effect on its time-to-ready.

He points his arms forward, wrists pressed together as his fingers curl into claws. His laughter turns to a deep, gritty growl as his eyes ignite with literal blazing rage.

"Steel take you."

His simple words are death's herald as thousands of steel arrowheads move as one towards a single fear-stricken target.

The Captain's atgeir spins at a furious pace as he bats aside arrowhead after arrowhead. But even as many of them fall lifeless to the ground, more yet break through his guard.

Missile after missile strikes the Captain's body, riddling full of holes and slamming him against the wall.

Sten's body hits the floor — unconscious, but alive, which is more than you can say for the Captain.

The battle is won.

Oh Gods you want to throw up.

(+45 Orthstirr)
(+1 to Nutcracker!)
(Feat: Battled an Ironbrother and won)
(Congratulations, you managed to defeat an Ironbrother-tier enemy! For this feat, you have gained *two* picks from the reward options.)

Pick 2 rewards;
[ ] Upgrade Twist: Punching Up (Cost reduced to 30)
[ ] Upgrade Muna: The Fight of Your Life. (2 uses)
[ ] Muna: Failing Vortex (Unlocks Twist: Puncture)
[ ] Odr Hint

0~0~0

AN: Good job, everyone. I was actually so excited to write this one that it actually caused me a bit of struggle to write.

For those curious;
Sten's Frami resembles the sparkler-like effect of too-hot metal in the forge.

His Virthing is a cloak of red-hot chains. A rope of blonde and red hair serves as the rope.

His Saemd is a crown of iron spikes that curve inwards. Candle flames burn at the tips.


No moratorium. I'll call the voting in an hour and a half and you'll see what the (???) you picked was.

 

[I.F. Ister]

Spoiler: The Plan

[X] Odr Hint
[X] Muna: Failing Vortex (Unlocks Twist: Puncture)

0~0~0

The light of the sun is blinding as you exit the cavern, but, nevertheless, you still stand proud in the sun.

Abjorn's carrying Sten's unconscious form as he follows close behind. All of you bear wounds that would've killed lesser men outright.

But that is one thing that none of you are.

You've got ribs sticking out of your torso and your heart isn't doing so hot. It keeps forgetting to beat, stupid thing, and whenever it remembers it's all jittery. Abjorn's got several fist-sized holes in his chest, from what you've no idea. Poor Sten's burnt his eyes out and he stopped breathing not long after Abjorn picked him up.

But hey, you're not dead nor are you all that debilitated. That's success in your book!

You can't wait to see your kids again.

The Brute walks up to you as he sees you leaving the cave mouth, a cheery grin on his face. "I see you came out on top of ol' sparky there, eh?"

"We did." You nod, not forgetting the fact that his chest is *still* completely concave. Like, come on! You're pretty damn tough, but *that?* That would kill you stone-dead.

"Nice," he says, a little wobbly on his feet but no worse than you. "So, it looks like my brother and I are in the market for a new boss..."

He trails off leadingly as he gives you an arched-brow *look.*

You squint. "I'm gonna need a name before I do anything like that."

He grins, extending a hand. "I'm Tryggr and this," he flicks his chin towards his own unconscious brother, "is my twin, Trausti."

You look at his hand. "And what is your price?"

"Good fights, good booze, and a good death."

Do you take his hand?
[ ] You do and the twins join your household as huskarls.
[ ] You do not.

After your chat with Tryggr, you and the rest of the crew search the camp for anything of value.

(Poetic Inspiration Gained: The Ironbrother!)
(+400oz Silver)
(+320oz Bog Iron in the form of various arms and armors, 50oz Forged Iron in the same)
(+12oz Storm Iron)
(+1 Rune-covered amulet called an Alarm Charm.)
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Empty Sack) ...Maybe you should try stuffing that empty sack full of straw?
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with... (Sparring with people reveals a summery of their character sheets)
-[ ] Spar with Abjorn, your husband
-[ ] Spar with Gabriel, without armor
--[ ] (Optional) With armor
-[ ] Spar with Stigmar
-[ ] Spar with Stigr
-[ ] Spar with Aki
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Abjorn to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Court) Send Abjorn to make a case at the Thing (Write in)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
-[ ] (Optional) Focus on repairing something (Write in)
[ ] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (Write in one of your Inspirations)
0~0~0
Exploration/Travel (Pick 1 or none):
[ ] (Visit) Go visit...
-[ ] The Witch! (Actually, it's probably a good idea to avoid her entirely)
-[ ] Asvir!
--[ ] (Optional) Attend the Thing
-[ ] Steinby, your Father's Farm
-[ ] Vidby, Vidar's Farm
-[ ] Kerby, Stigr's Farm
-[ ] Buriby, Osborn's Farm (Has a guaranteed chance of ending in a fight)
-[ ] Glebby, Sverre's Farm
-[ ] Runby, Aki's Farm
-[ ] Horrby, Horra's Farm (Has a very good chance of ending in a fight)
--[ ] Rather than visiting normally, you instead stealthily approach and try to scout it out.
-[ ] Halfdanby, Halfdan's Farm
[ ] (Exploration) Go on a walk through...
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about
-[ ] The hills!
[ ] (Battle) Go and attack somewhere...
-[ ] Attack the bandit camp to the North
0~0~0
Training: You have 28d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Research) Try to figure out how things work (Write in)
[ ] (Blackhand) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hamr (60 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (26 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (9 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available:
How do you want to use your orthstirr? You can turn on passive tricks here.
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
Fylgja Capacity: 4/4
Do you want to withdraw or deposit anything in your fylgja?
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0
Equipment Management
What do you want to have equipped? Leaving this blank means that no changes are made.
[ ] Write in (Optional)
0~0~0

AN: Alright, took me a bit longer than expected, but here you are!

25-minute moratorium.