[X] Plan: Making Good on our Loans
-[X] Yes
--[X] Sell: 2 Basic Work Knives, 1 Decent Toolkit (+3.5 Silver)
--[X] 32 Oz of Bog Iron (2 Silver) (For feeding Sten's forge)
--[X] 48 Oz of Bog Iron (3 Silver) (for Personal Use)
-[X] There's somebody telling tales in the Headsman's hall, go listen for a spell
0~0~0
Drumming your fingers on the table, you quickly run through the financial calculations once more. Nodding, you fork over the five ounces of silver and shake hands with the smiling smith.
"Good doing business with you," he says as he finishes stringing the iron up. You slip the thread over your head and wear it like a sash of dangling iron bars. The iron will definitely draw the eye, but how else are you supposed to carry it? You need your hands free for violence!
Resting Sagaseeker on your shoulder, you stroll away from the stall with your purse five ounces lighter yet your burden eighty ounces heavier. It, of course, is a burden you are perfectly content with bearing. After all, you need to pay Sten back!
'Good thinking, Halla. Though he is your brother, he shouldn't be expected to provide for your every need.' You find yourself walking with a lighter step and a cheery whistle on your lips. The tune is familiar to your ears; the same tune that Jerasmus whistles whenever he works.
Now then, with your shopping done, what else will you do with your day?
Before you can start thinking in any real capacity, however, you pass by the Headsman's hall and find yourself listening to the muffled-yet-rhythmic sounds of a skald at work. Your heart skips a beat as your mouth begins to water at the scent of honeyed mutton filling your nose. You breath deep of the sweet smell and your feet guide you through the dark wood doors of the Headsman's hall.
The inside of the Headsman's hall isn't outstandingly grand, at least compared to the storied halls of the Warbands and Jarls, but it brings a comfortable, homey sense to those inside its walls. Six pillars keep the roof steady and a large, stone-based hearth warms the building with a crackling fire.
The Headsman, the uncle of the Jarl of Jurgdby, is a middle-aged man with streaks of gray in his braided beard. Wrinkles creep in the corners of his eyes, though they still hold the fierceness of his youth. A great cloak of bear fur is draped about his heavyset shoulders.
His name is Dorri Rattlespear and he and his sons are the sole members of Jarl standing in a village of Karls and Thralls. You can sense his eyes on you as you bathe in the warmth of his hall.
You take one of the seats at the edge of the hall, next to a younger warrior sleeping off more than a few horns of alcohol — no doubt one of Dorri's hirdmen. The hird, of course, being the armed men that accompany Jarls in their day-to-day lives as well as into battle. He must be relatively new and you expect that he'll be getting a chewing out once all the tales are told.
And speaking of telling tales, the skald launches into another story. Even though your seat is far away from the graybeard storyteller, you still hear his honey voice perfectly. It's your eyesight that suffers at distance, not your hearing, though his talent for speaking surely plays a role.
The tale begins as many tales do, with a man killing another man. However, the first man, instead of facing his punishment head-on as is expected of all men of standing, fled and ran from his righteous pursuers. He was declared an Outlaw and was now on the run.
The Outlaw retreated and ran like a coward, always staying just one or two steps ahead of the vengeful pursuers. He used trickery and hid from them wherever he found them, always refusing to stand and fight like a man.
Until one day he found a secret carved into the bones of the earth. A recipe for evil creations of malformed and warped form and demeanor. Using these secrets, the Outlaw crafted monsters from the flesh of animals to aid him in his endeavor.
The tale ends with the Outlaw harassing the heroes, only to be impaled on the horns of one of his own creations.
For some reason, you feel the skald's eyes on you as the final words are spoken. By the time the hall clears out, you fail to find the storyteller among those leaving or those who stay behind.
You're left standing outside the hall as snow begins to fall and the sun begins to shine it's evening glow.
What do you do now?
[ ] There's some kind of a commotion in the middle of Asvir, go check it out
-(It'll be nighttime by the time you get back home)
[ ] Go home
0~0~0
AN: Not a lot to say here other than offering a thank you to Alectai for adding in the listening in the hall part of the plan. A reward dice for you, as thanks for sparing me from having to write an extended shopping scene.
No moratorium and a short voting period.
Edit: Internal Screaming as I once again forget to correct the italics
What's all this commotion about?
...You've got no idea what you're looking at here.
Neither does Blackhand, for that matter.
It's got four legs and gray, wrinkled skin. A pair of tusks grow out from its face like a boar, but what kind of boar has flappy ears bigger than shields and an arm on its face? It towers over most buildings — how you missed it you're not sure — and it seems rather bored and out of place. There's a spark of intelligence to those eyes, like it knows more than it lets on.
It's some kind of creature, that's for sure, but what manner of beast it is? Well, that's uncertain. The man trying to sell it claims it to be a war-spirit from 'Tunis', wherever that may be, but the price he's asking for it?
Eight hundred ounces of silver?! For a creature you can't even name? Absolutely outrageous.
The trader's not having much luck with the crowd, not at that price, and they disperse rather quickly. You do see Knappr of all people lingering behind, though not for very long. What could he want with this creature?
Dejected, the trader leads the beast back to the ship. You briefly consider stopping by, to see if you could needle out some more information from the trader, but a glance at the sun tells you that you'd best get going.
After all, Steinarr would be rather cross if he learned that you were out after dark, during winter.
Saying your goodbyes to the people that you know, you set out on your journey back home.
0~0~0 (Encounter? 2) A negative encounter. (Severity? 2, 1, 2, 4, 2) 3 Failures... Oh boy, better strap in!
You breathe deeply of the crisp, winter air. The cool wind washes over you like a particularly enjoyable bath.
As you walk with the woods to the left of you, you're treated to a glowing blue light shining from deep in the trees. Two pinpricks of blue light greet your gaze as you turn to look properly. As they begin to move, fear creeps its way up your spine and takes a hold of your heart.
You take an involuntary step back as the rotting body of a monster emerges from the shadows.
Armed with sword and spear, it looks at you with a face made of bone and eyes of icy embers. A piece of carved wood sits in its open mouth and its forehead bears rune script. Tattered pieces of mail drape off its frame as it staggers towards you.
'Draugr,' liquid dread drips from Blackhand's voice as he identifies the creature. Icy terror claws at your heart, only to be banished by the warmth of the sky-forge. He sounds unusually focused as he gives you as much information as he has, 'It possesses a fear aura, likely derived from an ice hugareida. Proceed with utmost caution and I will keep the fear at bay. It's feigning its weakness. Good luck, Halla.'
What do you do?
[ ] Stand and Fight (Begins Combat Encounter: An Evening Stroll Gone Terribly Wrong)
[ ] Turn and Flee (Gain Flaw: Haunted by the Night - Until you kill this draugr, its eyes will haunt your every sleeping moment.)
0~0~0
AN: Looks like you're getting a taste of the draugr treatment.
...This isn't Glam, by the way. You'd know if it was Glam.
You stand on a pathway made from dozens of feet walking to and fro Asvir. To your front and the left is the draugr, behind which is a light smattering of the Hading. To your right and behind is slowly sloping hill, not the kind of thing that makes good fighting. However, at the bottom of the hill is a large scattering of good-sized rocks for throwing.
You are having trouble reading the draugr's movements, thanks to it being a rotted, skeletal, undead corpse. As far as you can tell, it's going to keep moving at you. However, you remember Blackhand's words that the draugr is 'feigning', that it's lying about its weakness. Assuming that it's at least as smart and as strong as you is probably your best bet.
It seems to leave frosted over footsteps in its wake, so it might not be limited by its hands with using hugareida. After all, draugr aren't human so why would they be restricted by human limitations?
You're not sure what condition its body is in, thanks to it, of course, being a walking corpse. A ting of fear shudders up your spine as you realize that its groin has rotted off, which means that — much to your grim realization — Knee-Groin Trick isn't going to be effective.
That wood in its mouth looks like a weak spot, but the draugr won't make it easy for you to hit it, that's for sure.
From what you recall from story time with Randi, the main weakness of draugr is that they are lacking in orthstirr. However, if the draugr was artificially raised, it can draw from its master's orthstirr supply. Naturally risen draugr can also devour the orthstirr of the living. And judging by those footprints... It's got orthstirr, one way or another.
You have 5/5 Endurance | 8/8 Armor | N/A Shield
You have 19 orthstirr in reserve and you have not tapped Frami, Virthing, or Saemd
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr held in its reservoir
You can put 18 more points of orthstirr into your Combat Pool.
Your have 14d6 in your Combat Pool
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Good luck, everyone. I believe all the math is right, but I'm not 100% certain.
25-minute moratorium and this will be the final update for today.... probably.
[X] Plan Right In The Face
-[X] Tap Frami, Virthing, and Saemd (+46 Orthstirr)
-[X] Max out our combat dice pool (-18 Orthstirr)
-[X] 23d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 9d6 Defense (all tricks)
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Spend 2 Orthstirr using Reinforce Shield on her armor (-2 Orthstirr)
-[X] In response to its first real attack, use Inertia-Arresting Throw 9d6 (11d6 with Hugareida) to defensively trap both of its weapons (-6 Orthstirr), then, while it is trapped, make an 9d6 Honed Power Chop (-2 Orthstirr) directly into the talisman in its mouth (and through into its mouth if possible), then three more 5d6 Power Chops directly into its face aiming for the rune (-3 Orthstirr)
-[X] In response to attacks after the first, try to use Contested Movement (-3 Orthstirr) which should work vs. two attacks and, if the attack seems dangerous, our Reinforce Shield has been broken, _and_ that doesn't work, use Halting Vortex (-8 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics - Basically, just close the distance while keeping one hand free but don't attack first, waiting for the draugr to attempt an attack, and then use a powerful Inertia-Arresting Throw to stop the attack in its tracks and trap the draugr and then _hit it repeatedly in the face really hard_. It's a simple plan, but it seems like a decent one.
0~0~0
The walking corpse from a time-long past fills the path with its rotting stench as it shambles ever closer. You meet its cold, icy gaze with one of determined fire.
You take a step forward, bring it to a sudden pause as it eyes you with a reconsidering glare. You scowl as you realize exactly why it's doing that; it thought you under its spell and moving dashed that assumptions aside.
Dammit! If only you'd realized it sooner!
You curse under your breath as you quickly coat your armor in layers of crimson orthstirr and stoke your power to a brilliant blaze.
Just in time, too, as the draugr launches into motion the moment you do.
It draws back its spear, ice crawling up its weapon, and takes one, two powerful steps forward. With ancient might backing its throw, it hurls the weapon with all its frozen power.
The spear hurtles through the air at breakneck speed, the ice gleaming with deadly potential. (Hugareida Attack: 29 vs Hugareida Defense: 55, Defender Wins)
But you weren't idle as it prepared its attack, not at all!
With a handful of Standstill, you step into the throw and capture the ice-driven spear in inertia-dampening cloth. It hangs midair like some demented ornament just waiting to be used. You swallow a gulp as you eye the sharp point of the icicle-like spear a few feet from your face.
But even as dead as it is, the draugr still remembers its days as a deadly warrior. As soon as it threw its spear, it was already moving with jagged, black ice coating its sword and lethal intent in its gaze. Only a mere half-dozen steps away, it's already starting to swing.
With no time to defend, you recall Standstill and let the spear go free. Ice shatters against the ground as you pour orthstirr into defense and attack. Time slows to a crawl as the draugr attacks and you respond with a Honed Sagaseeker Hamr Contest (Draugr: 19 vs Halla: 24) Halla Wins! 4 Damage Dealt
Twisting on your heel, the black-ice blade carves hairs from your head as you dodge. Sagaseeker swings up and orthstirr-coated iron meets ancient skin and bone.
But even as you cleave your way up through its ribcage, some deeply set instinct tells it to dodge. It jerks its head back just as Sagaseeker would've taken its jaw clean off — the carved wood along with it.
Bone fragments shower you and the draugr in turn as it raises its hand and your eyes snap wide. Deadened orthstirr flows and the fallen spear whistles through the air behind you. You spin, dodging the recalled spear only to feed the momentum into another face-aimed strike. (Trick Attack: 18 vs Trick Defense: 29, Defender Wins)
The draugr meets your attack with crossed weapons. Wood and iron clash against Sagaseeker and manage to ward it away.
Some instinct in the back of your head draws your gaze down, just in time to see a skeletal knee rise up with orthstirr riding its movement. Hamr Contest (Draugr: 24 vs Halla: 17) Draugr Wins!
An arrow of ice flies from the knee and you know that you're not going to make it. Freeing a hand from Sagaseeker, you twist Standstill into a whirling vortex just in time to meet the attack. The arrow smashes against your shield, forcing you back and away from the draugr but draining you of orthstirr in the process.
With a few degrees of distance between you and it, you're treated with a good look at damage dealt. The left side of its ribcage dangles by a thread and you took out a good chunk of its spine, though that doesn't seem to have hurt it all that much.
The draugr cracks its neck and you grimace as orthstirr flows. Ice cracks up from the ground and coats its body in freezing, jagged armor.
'Glacial Armor,' Blackhand mutters, taking a moment away from battling the creeping dread, 'of the same quality as your armor.'
"Got it," you shoot back as you prepare for another round of combat.
You stand on a pathway made from dozens of feet walking to and fro Asvir. To your front is the draugr, behind which is a light smattering of the Hading. To your left and right is the path, which extends all across the battlefield. Behind you is a slowly sloping hill, not the kind of thing that makes good fighting. However, at the bottom of the hill is a large scattering of good-sized rocks — perfect for throwing.
Your back is to the hill and two more steps back will have you rolling down it. The draugr seems to have noticed this and looks to be thinking of how to capitalize. With its Glacial Armor providing ample protection, it's likely going to use a highly aggressive offense.
The draugr seems to be weak to chopping attacks, though immune to piercing and resistant to slashing. It's taken heavy damage, though is making up for it with its Glacial Armor. It appears to have used up most of its orthstirr with the creation of its armor, though it does have some left in the tank. The draugr seems to be barely stronger than you, which makes it on the weaker end of draugr.
You have 5/5 Endurance | 8/8 Armor | N/A Shield
You have 30 orthstirr in reserve and you have tapped Frami, Virthing, or Saemd
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr held in its reservoir
You can put 0 more points of orthstirr into your Combat Pool.
You have 32 dice in your Combat Pool
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: One of the ways a round can end early is if a new variable (like armor being equipped) is added to the fight.
I believe all the math is correct, but please let me know if it isn't.
25-minute moratorium and probably a shorter voting period today. I think that you all want this to be over with quickly. If I'm wrong, please let me know so that the voting period can remain its usual length.
You've done pretty well so far, good job. One thing to note is that, if you hadn't been forced back and the draugr didn't use its Glacial Armor, you would've eventually taken a few auto-hits thanks to not having any dice in basic defense. I don't recommend dedicating 100% of your dice to tricks, as then you're lacking the cornerstone of combat: your basics.
[X] Plan Leaping Cleave
-[X] 26d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 6d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Spend 2 Orthstirr using Reinforce Shield on her armor again (-2 Orthstirr)
-[X] Make a Honed Leaping Cleave coming down around the draugr (so we can force it down the hill) 11d6 (-7 Orthstirr, from Sagaseeker), then follow up with two more 8d6 Power Chops (-2 Orthstirr)
-[X] In response to being attacked with a trick, try to use Contested Movement (-3 Orthstirr) which should work and (like last turn), if the attack seems dangerous, our Reinforce Shield has been broken, _and_ that doesn't work, use Halting Vortex (-8 Orthstirr). Respond to the first non-trick attack with Contested Movement then to subsequent ones with normal defenses.
-[X] Tactics - Leap over the draugr to both wreck its armor and position ourselves to push it down the hill with Leaping Cleave, then keep hitting hard.
0~0~0
You meet the draugr's cold glare with one forged of raging fire.
It draws its spear back and you leap into motion. Orthstirr swirls around you just as afterimages flicker around the draugr. (2fold Attack #1: 2 vs Defense: 2, Defender Wins) (2fold Attack #2: 1 vs Defense: Leaping-Cleave Autopass)
The spear flicks out and you bat it aside just as you throw yourself into the air. A second spear-stab slams itself into the ground where you just stood, missing you by inches.
Spinning Sagaseeker around, you twist through the air as your cloak of fire whirls around you. It spreads out like the wings of bird as you fall with Sagaseeker held high. Sagaseeker purrs its song of joy as you feed from its reservoir.
Caught up in the second attack, the draugr is left near defenseless as you bear down on its ice-coated form. (Honed Trick Attack: 39 vs Defense: 6, Attacker Wins, 5 Armor Damage Dealt)
A wild grin tears its way across your face as you tear Sagaseeker through the once-ice-coated back of the draugr. Laughter plays out across the battlefield as the draugr stumbles forward, wavering on the edge of the hill.
You throw yourself into another attack the moment you touch down. (Trick Attack: 19 vs Staggered Defense: 3, Attacker Wins, 3 Damage Dealt)
Crimson orthstirr blazes into being as you make Sagaseeker bite deep into its exposed back. Wrenching your purring atgeir free, you watch as the draugr falls forward into a tumble.
Following its fall, you catch it as it uses its spear to help it to its feet. It glances up at you and freezes in its tracks. With the evening sun shining brightly down on your blazing form, you must look like an avenging Valkyrie sent to drive it back to its deserved end.
Crown of golden flames on your head, you point your atgeir at the ice-covered monster.
"It's over." Your words though simple strike a tune in both your souls.
Orthstirr coats Sagaseeker just as ice freezes over the spear.
You leap into motion, throwing yourself off the lip off the hill just as the ice finishes its work.
The draugr twists and thrusts and you force time to heed your will. (Halla's Hamr: 26 vs Draugr's Hamr: 25, Halla Wins)
You land a foot on its spearhead; your weight forcing it down as you twist and swing. (Trick Attack: 22 vs Defense: 3, Attacker Wins)
Ice shatters and bone fragments scatter as Sagaseeker crushes the draugr's skull.
It falls limp as you land on your feet, a smile on your face and pride in your soul. Sagaseeker sings a song of happy victory, as its utter joy infects you in turn.
You watch the sun set over the horizon as you bathe in your victory.
'Good job, Halla,' Blackhand's words bring you back to the present as realization rolls over your form, 'now burn it before it gets back up.'
0~0~0
With the adrenaline gone, all that's left is a stark chill of shocking terror.
"Why does it feel like whenever I fight, I win because of luck rather than skill?" You whisper as you watch the draugr burn, your knees drawn up to your chest.
You'd fought against a monster that was earnestly trying to kill you without a shadow of remorse in its eyes. It wanted you dead and it tried its damnedest to make it so. And it all came down to luck
It was mere moments away from running its spear through you when you drove Sagaseeker through its skull. If you hadn't landed perfectly, it would have.
'Is there a difference?' Blackhand's answer draws you up short. 'And if there is one, does it matter?'
"What?" You ask, your brows furrowing in confusion.
'Luck plays a role in all things. You got lucky with the draugr, but it was with skill that you took that opportunity and turned it into an edge. It was skill that ignites fire.' You take his words to heart, but your mind stubbornly clings to his words. One word in particular; (Hamingja: Autopass thanks to hidden Boon: Born of Fire)
Ignite
You stand up as if in a trance, eyes locked to the fire. The fire that would banish your enemy forever.
Ignite
You stand before a blazing inferno devouring the remains of your enemy. An enemy that would've been rendered inept by the simple presence of fire to melt its icy claws. You've always been happier in fire's presence, but now... But now your blood screams its desire to know.
Ignite
Your hand trembles, but you know what you must do.
IGNITE
You scream as fire devours your flesh and burns your bones.
Wrenching your hand from the blaze, you fall back with tears in your eyes and your teeth grinding together. The fire roars its crackling glee as it greedily accepts your sacrifice.
Sacrifice in exchange for power, one of the truths of the world.
Odin sacrificed himself on Yggdrasill's branches in exchange for the power of seidr.
You sacrificed yourself in exchange for the power of fire.
By the time your senses return to you, the fire has long since burnt out and the sun peaks over the horizon. Your hand is as good as new, though you know that beneath the skin and muscle is nothing but fire-blackened bones. Welcome home, Daughter of Ash
You shiver as your blood greets the fire in the sky.
'You'll get used to it.' Blackhand's words bring you little comfort, though they weren't supposed to.
You sigh and climb to your feet.
Well, what's one more thing to complicate your life?
But hey, now you've got a good topic to write poetry about!
(Muna: Lesson of Fire unlocked)
(Muna: Lesson of Fire - You remember how your blood sang so sweetly as you plunged your hand into fire. You now understand fire, at least this level of it. Unlocks Ignition Hugareida)
(Boon: Born of Fire revealed!)
(Boon: Born of Fire - A trait guaranteed to be passed down to your children. You are resistant to fire and find it far easier to develop fire-based hugareida (+1 Successes to training rolls) but take additional damage from water-based hugareida.)
(Poetic Inspiration Gained: The Draugr)
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Personal) Ask Randi to tell you some stories
-[ ] (Optional) Write in the topic
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with...
-[ ] Gabriel, he's always down for a spar.
-[ ] Asva (You doubt she'd be willing to fight you, but maybe you can needle her enough?)
-[ ] ...Drifa? (Maybe when she's older...)
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Steinarr to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
[ ] (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!
-[ ] Vidby, Abjorn'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...
-[ ] Go Exploring with Drifa!
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about
-[ ] The hills!
--[ ] (Optional) Towards where the flaming thing landed. Maybe there's something you missed?
0~0~0
Training: You have 17d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (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 (30 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (31 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (8 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 46
How do you want to use your orthstirr? You can turn on passive tricks here.
[ ] (Orthstirr Usage) (Write in)
0~0~0
Fylgja Capacity: 0/4
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: Good job, everyone, good job indeed.
I decided against giving you orthstirr as a reward because, well, nobody saw it except for you. Which is why I introduced Poetic Inspirations.
Essentially, Poetic Inspirations are what you get when cool stuff happens but nobody is there to see it except for you. Completing Poetic Inspirations allows you to not just get orthstirr, but other rewards as well.
[X] Plan Halting Vortex
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...(Write in)
--[X] Gabriel and Jerasmus
--[X] Try and learn more about Christians
-[X] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (The Draugr)
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with... (Hallr)
--[X] See if he has any ideas on where you can take Ignition, and if he can help you train in its use. Now that you can do fire too, you want to do it well!
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
--[X] Train Halting-Vortex 8d6
--[X] Train Imaging Skill-Trick – 1 Reward Die courtesy of jy3
--[X] Ask Hallr about how combining hugareida and muna works
-[X] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
--[X] Train Leaping-Cleave Trick 1d6
--[X] Ask more about Gabriel and Jerasmus's circumstances: Why haven't they been ransomed? It sounds like Gabriel is a member of some sort of order or brotherhood, don't they want to pay? Is there something else going on?
--[X] Ask both Steinarr and Hallr about how orthstirr transferring from the dying to their killer works, we've seen it a few times now and are curious how that functions
-[X] (Training) Hamr (30 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Bas - 1 Reward Die courtesy of Alectai
--[X] Train Glima 1d6
--[X] Train Throw 2d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (31 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Armorcraft 1d6
--[X] Train Composure 1d6
--[X] Train Housecraft 1d6
--[X] Train Scouting 2d6
--[X] Train Wordplay – 1 Reward Die courtesy of Pempelune
-[X] Orthstirr Usage
--[X] 5 Hamr
--[X] 6 Hugr
--[X] 4 Fylgja
--[X] 3 Chop
--[X] 3 Defend
--[X] 3 Dodge
--[X] 2 Glima
--[X] 2/3 Composure (depending on whether we increase it with training)
--[X] 1/2 Scouting (depending on whether we increase it with training)
--[X] 3 Silver-Tongue
--[X] 1 First Impression
--[X] 3 Tactics
--[X] 2 Wildcraft
--[X] 3 Wordplay
--[X] 5/3 free for tricks (depending on whether we increase Composure and Scouting with training)
-[X] (Fylgja Capacity)
--[X] Shield
--[X] Good Work Knife
--[X] Set of Decent Tools
--[X] Travel pack of food, water, a blanket, and other survival stuff
---[X] Food and water replaced regularly if necessary (I dunno if storing stuff in the fylgja's capacity preserves it)
0~0~0
Solo Reward Dice (Wordplay: 6) 2 Successes (Imaging: 4) 1 Success
You spend time focusing on refining your wordplay and your art, to great results.
(+2 to Wordplay)
(Imaging Skill-Trick Acquired!)
0~0~0 (Hamr Trick Training: 2) 1 Failure
You're not sure what it is, but Leaping-Cleave just isn't coming to you as easily as it normally does.
You take a long drink of water before wiping the sweat from your brow. Sweat-wet hair soaks through your clothing, bringing a groaning frown to your face.
It's gotten quite long, your hair has. Before it merely reached your shoulders, now it reaches past your waist — while you've got it in your usual ponytail. It's only gotten thicker and more voluminous as you've aged, and, if your eyes aren't deceiving you, *redder* too. Still as unruly as ever, though.
You watch as Gabriel runs through another set of swordstrokes with that strange, long-handled sword of his. After that first spar he, with Steinarr's permission, has taken to practicing his swordplay alongside you.
As you eye him, though, a thought trickles in from the back of your head. Gabriel is clearly a member of some kind of warrior order, or else he'd never have obtained the level of competency he so clearly displays. When such people are defeated on the battlefield, they most often are ransomed back.
So why wasn't Gabriel? And Jerasmus, for that matter.
Well, Steinarr's right there, so you might as well ask your question.
"Hey dad, why didn't you ransom back Gabriel and Jerasmus?" You ask your father as he throws a stick for Flekkr.
"Because," Steinarr releases a heavy groan and slumps over as if deflating, "before I killed Gabriel's master I offered him a last request as is a just act for a worthy opponent once defeated. I figured he'd ask me to spare his Squire or something, which I was already planning on doing. I was right, that is what he asked me to do," Steinarr stares off into the horizon, his eyes dead and hollow from his exasperation-filled memories, "one of the things he asked me to do. The rest included things like," he starts listing off a litany of demands, amongst them things like 'make sure my Squire is cared for properly' and 'make sure my Squire gets a good education', "so, after I sat through that ordeal, I killed him and decided to just take the Squire and his teacher as thralls."
You wince in sympathy and lay a pat across your father's back.
"But, uh, one more thing," you sheepishly begin as Steinarr stares you dead in the eyes, the warning clear as the summer sun, "um, unrelated to my last question, that is." his eyes soften and you take a deep breath. "Why is it that the orthstirr of the dying transfers to their killer?"
"That's a good question and one that's easy to answer." He seems rather relieved to have a different topic of conversation and approaches this one with gusto. "Shaming strikes, they're called. Killing a man is one thing, but that act in itself doesn't bring you any orthstirr. However, if you manage to bring nid to a man before his end, you earn the right to some of his orthstirr." He tsks and purses his lips. "'Course, that's gonna piss his family off far more than simply killing him would've, so they'll almost certainly demand blood rather than silver."
You nod, putting that to memory. "And how does one 'bring nid' to someone?"
Steinarr flinches, a wince on his face. "Careful who you ask that to. But, to answer your question in vague terms, you damage his pride or his property, sometimes both."
"I'll keep that in mind." You nod and thank your father for his time.
0~0~0 (Hugareida Trick Training: 3, 5, 6, 5, 3, 3, 3, 3) 11 Successes
What is coming to you, though, is Halting Vortex!
A shield almost as big as you are tall spins at a steady velocity as you defend against blow after blow. You do have to remanifest it after every strike, but it's at such cheap a cost that it's practically negligible!
As you walk home from a good session of training, you figure you should ask Blackhand a question that's been on your mind.
"How do I 'combine hugareida'?" You ask the voice in your head, who answers with his usual snark.
'You use them at the same time,' he laughs as you heave a heavy sigh, 'Alloying, though, is something else entirely.'
"And what is this 'alloying'?"
'Taking two separate hugareida and making something new from them. Fire and Water creates Steam. Water and Earth can create Mud, but it can also create Wood. Those are just a few of the examples I've witnessed in my travels.'
"Interesting," you mutter, mind filling with fresh ideas and new concepts. "Do you lose access to the hugareida you used to make the, uh, the Alloy?"
'You do not.'
"That's good to hear!" You breathe a sigh of relief. You'd been worried that you would lose Standstill!
'Speaking of Standstill,' Blackhand starts, more lessons on his tongue, 'my knowledge of it may be incomplete, but I haven't heard-nor-seen any Alloys made from it. I believe this is because Alloying doesn't work when the resulting hugareida is antithetical to one of the comprising hugareida. An example of this is Fire and Ice, which creates Water, which extinguishes Fire.'
"And Standstill doesn't play nicely with other hugareida..." You frown. That does put a knot in your plans.
'Correct.'
(Halting Vortex is now Refined!)
0~0~0 (Glima Training: 5, 6 (Reward Dice)) 4 Successes (Throw Training: 1, 3) Neutral Outcome, 1 Success
You absolutely crushed your wrestling today, but your throwing is coming up a bit short... Well, at least you're still making progress on it!
(Glima Rank Up!)
(Throw Rank Up!)
0~0~0 (Armorcraft Training: 6) 2 Successes (Composure: 3) 1 Success (Housecraft: 6) 2+1=3 Successes (Scouting: 2, 4) Neutral Outcome, 1 Success
You breathe a heavy sigh of relief as you slump to the ground. It feels almost as though a heavy weight was suddenly lifted from your shoulders.
0~0~0 Hanging out with Gabriel and Jerasmus (Hugr (Silver-Tongue): 4, 2, 6, 3, 5, 4, 1, 5, 1, 1) 5 Successes
"So, what is that thing you do," you suddenly ask one morning as you watch Gabriel shovel snow from the farm paths, "you know, with your hands."
You press your hands together, palm-against-palm. Gabriel squints at you and plants his shovel in the snow. "You mean... praying?"
"Is that what it's called?" You quirk your head in a manner resembling an owl as he sighs. He mutters something about 'bloody heathens'.
"Yep," he pops the 'p', "and it's holy, so you better not misuse it or anything."
"How so?" You have to admit, it's fun to needle the Squire-turned-thrall.
He blinks as he's caught off-foot. "Uh, well, it's a tool to help deepen our relationship with The Lord? Through prayer you can channel your Fervor towards certain ends." He takes out the string of beads he always carries on him, and almost subconsciously plays it with thumb and forefinger.
You purse your lips, curiosity getting the better of you. He's obviously nervous when it comes to talking about this topic, but you just can't help yourself. "Can you show me one of your prayers?"
He scowls, the shackles on his wrists rattling. "I would if I could, heathen, but the only ones that these manacles have left me are those of the rosary and those aren't very... well, not very obvious to onlookers." The nervous fingering of what must be a rosary intensifies as he stammers. "I-it's part of our cultivation, b-but-"
You tune him out as he stammers and stumbles over his words. Why is talking about his faith so difficult for him? You go to voice this question, but find yourself locking eyes with Jerasmus as he exits the longhouse.
"Good morn to you, Young Lady and Squire Gabriel." The mendicant greets you with clasped hands and a gentle bow. "Forgive me for eavesdropping, but I couldn't help but catch the topic of your discussion." He smiles, big and wide. "I, of course, am rather well-studied on the subject of prayer. Is there anything you wish to learn?"
You can't help but notice how he subtly positions himself between you and the now-hyperventilating Gabriel. "Not right now... but I'll take you up on that offer later, alright?"
Jerasmus bows and Blackhand recoils in an almost cat-like fashion, a hiss ringing through head. "By your leave, Young Lady."
0~0~0 (Hugr (Wordplay): 2, 6, 5, 4, 4, 4, 1, 2, 2, 1) 2 Successes
You squint in confusion as you try and recite what you just composed. Instead of flowing like a good poem should, it really just sounds like a jumbled bunch of letters and words falling from your mouth in a big, jumbled pile of vowels and consonants.
...Yeah, that's not doing it justice, not at all.
Do you wish to keep the poem or discard it? A poem of this quality will net you nothing.
[ ] Keep the Poem
[ ] Discard the Poem
0~0~0
"Hallr!" You roar at the voice in your head.
'What?!' The voice in your head roars back.
"Teach me fire!"
'Fine!'
(Blackhand's Fire Safety Course added. Doubles number of dice put towards training fire-based hugareida tricks)
0~0~0
Personal (Pick 2/3, if no Exploration is picked):
[ ] (Fire in the Sky) Alright, you've got the art skills, go see Aki to progress
[ ] (Personal) Ask Randi to tell you some stories
-[ ] (Optional) Write in the topic
[ ] (Violent) Pick a fight or spar with...
-[ ] Gabriel, he's always down for a spar.
-[ ] Asva (You doubt she'd be willing to fight you, but maybe you can needle her enough?)
-[ ] ...Drifa? (Maybe when she's older...)
-[ ] Someone else (Write in)
[ ] (Personal) Spend time with... (Write in)
[ ] (Shopping) Ask Steinarr to buy something for you (Write in) (Can only be used to buy or sell things you are already aware of and cannot haggle)
[ ] (Crafting) Try to make something (Write in) (Hugr+Some kind of crafting skill)
[ ] (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!
-[ ] Vidby, Abjorn'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...
-[ ] Go Exploring with Drifa!
-[ ] The fields!
-[ ] The Hading!
--[ ] (Optional) Try to find those bandits you heard about
-[ ] The hills!
--[ ] (Optional) Towards where the flaming thing landed. Maybe there's something you missed?
0~0~0
Training: You have 17d6 training dice to spend as you see fit.
[ ] (Research) Try to figure out how magical items 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 (30 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hamr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Hugr (31 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a hugr skill or trick (Write in)
[ ] (Training) Fylgja (8 successes to rank up)
-[ ] (Optional) Train a fylgja skill or trick (Write in)
0~0~0
Orthstirr Available: 46
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
(Bird Gacha: 2, 3, 1, 5, 5) 4 Successes (Relevancy? 4, 6, 1, 3, 6) 5 Successes
Wizard-Owl daintily drops a sharpened piece of wood into your palm. He preens with clear pride as you examine the stake.
Runes wrap around the surface of the stick, carved and colored red. According to Blackhand, it's a meat-keeping stick. Which is a stick you stab into meat to keep it fresh for extended lengths of time.
Sounds useful, so you pocket it.
(+1 Meat-Keeping Stick added to Inventory)
0~0~0
AN: Lotta information in this update.
I'm planning on having bird gacha trigger on the second turn of each season. So mid-summer and mid-winter. This way you don't get overwhelmed with magical items but also get a steady stream of them.
I've added an option in training to let you put dice towards understanding how the heck magical items work.
[X] Discard the Poem
[X] Plan And Finally The Meteor
-[X] (Fire in the Sky) Alright, you've got the art skills, go see Aki to progress
-[X] (Poetry) Try to realize an Inspiration (Write in one of your Inspirations)
--[X] The Draugr
-[X] (Personal) Spend time with...(Write in)
--[X] Sten
--[X] Ask about receiving training (in smithing, combat, whatever he's willing to teach)
-[X] (Blackhand's Training) Try to develop old/train new hugareida tricks (Write in)
--[X] Train attack hugareida that charges thrown objects with explosive force 6d6 (3d6)
--[X] Train hugareida mobility trick using Ignite 6d6 (3d6)
--[X] Train a direct attack hugareida with Ignite that enhances our melee attacks (setting things we hit with a weapon on fire or making them explode) 4d6 (2d6)
-[X] (Steinarr's Training) Ask Steinarr to teach you a trick/some tricks (Write in)
--[X] Train Leaping-Cleave Trick 1d6
--[X] Ask about what tricks he would recommend for: defense, dodging, movement (mention the after images we seen by both the slagson and the draugr), and throwing. Preferably cheap ones.
-[X] (Training) Hamr (30 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Glima 1d6
--[X] Train Throw 1d6
-[X] (Training) Hugr (31 successes to rank up)
--[X] Train Artcraft 1d6
--[X] Train Management 1d6
--[X] Train Scouting 1d6
--[X] Train Strategy 1d6
--[X] Train Wordplay 1d6
--[X] Train Weaponcraft 1d6
-[X] (Orthstirr Usage)
--[X] 5 Hamr
---[X] 3 Chop, 3 Defend, 3 Dodge, 2 Glima, (11 total)
--[X] 6 Hugr
---[X] 3/4 Artcraft, 3 Composure, 2 Scouting, 3 Silver-Tongue, 3 Tactics, 3/4 Wordplay (17/19 Total, depending on if Artcraft and Wordplay increase)
--[X] 4 Fylgja
--[X] 3/1 free for tricks (depending on if Artcraft and Wordplay go up)
0~0~0
(Hamr Trick Training: 5) 2 Successes
Finally...
Finally.
Finally!
You've finally done it. You've finally refined Leaping-Cleave to a decent level of refinement!
And it only took you...
A couple years...
You groan, flopping to the ground. Steinarr eyes you with a bemused look on his face.
"Finally got it down?" He shares a smile as he sits down at your side. "Good job, I know you put a lot of work into it. Must feel good now that you've gotten it."
"You've got no idea," you breathe out your smile as Steinarr chuckles, eyes distant with memory. "But, uh, I've got some questions about some tricks I've been thinking about."
"You're relentless, aren't you?" A soft frown floats across his face as he purses his lips. "Alright, then, you ask me your questions and then I'll ask you two of mine."
"Sounds good to me." You shuffle around until you're facing him. "Alright, then, the tricks..."
You launch into the list you prepared for today's session as Steinarr thinks each over thoroughly.
"For defense, I would probably go with some kind of spinning staff move, since you've taken to your atgeir so well. Maybe some kind of 'batting aside' trick. For dodging I would suggest either Sidestep or Backstep Trick, which are both rather common and fairly cheap orthstirr-wise. Backstep's a tiny bit more expensive, but it'll take you out of the line of fire better than Sidestep will. Up to you which one you want to pursue." He clicks his tongue against his teeth. "As for movement, I'd probably suggest Leaping or Hastening. Leaping Trick gives you a solid jumping trick and the Hastening Trick'll get you places quickly. And for throwing..." He grimaces sheepishly, "not something I'm especially good at. I can teach you Recall if you want?"
You purse your lips, not overly excited at the prospect. "Sure, but, uh, what about those afterimages that I saw?"
Steinarr blinks. "Oh, yeah, those. Sorry, I forgot to teach you about those..." He deflates a little, "Nine Realms, I'm a bad teacher. But, uh, anyways," he straightens back up, "those are what are known as 'Folds'. Essentially, by 'folding' your hamr over itself, you can make multiple swings at once. Here, let me show you."
Steinarr hauls you to your feet and guides you through the motions. Sure enough, an afterimage flickers into being about your limbs.
"I'm not exactly the biggest proponent of Folding attacks, as I feel that they leave you too vulnerable," your father shrugs as he sits back down, "but they have their uses. Like when you've got someone on the ropes and just need to power through their defenses. Works great then, unless they manage to escape...." He frowns as you sit down next to him.
"You had questions for me, right?" You ask and he breathes out the side of his mouth.
Running tongue over teeth, he regards you with a careful look. "Halla, what are the Three Fundamental Truths? I'm sure you haven't forgotten them."
You blink, confusion clear across your furrowing brow, but you oblige him all the same.
"The First Fundamental Truth: Power Requires Sacrifice."
"The Second Fundamental Truth: All Men Die."
"The Third Fundamental Truth: Memory Is Forever."
It's almost as though you're a child again, just starting to learn the basics of the world, rather than the near-adult woman you are now.
"Good," he nods, pleased with your memory. "Now, why did I have you do that?"
Your mouth hangs open as you find yourself lacking an answer.
(Leaping-Cleave Trick is now Refined!)
0~0~0 (Ignition Trick Training #1: 4, 6, 5, 6, 1, 5) 8+1=9 Successes. (Ignition Trick Training #2: 3, 4, 4, 3, 1, 4) 4+1=5 Successes. (Ignition Trick Training #3: 6, 2, 6, 1) 2+1=3 Successes
Fire truly is a beautiful thing.
You'd known that since you were young, but now...?
Now your blood sings to the tune of the crackling blaze.
Who knew that playing with fire was so much fun?
A ball of tightly-packed fire spins violently a mere inch above your cupped palm. It comes to you as naturally as breathing.
'Simply by virtue of being one of my favorite Ignition Tricks, Kindle Spinner was once known as my 'signature attack'.'
You flick your hand out and Kindle Spinner detonates with an extremely violent snap into a directed blast of fiery death.
Willing a second Spinner into existence, you give it an underhand toss. It spins from your hand and bounces across the snow-strewn ground like a stone skipping over a lake. It detonates on impact with the snowy mound you've been using for target practice.
"Simple, yet versatile," you grin as you send a third hurtling down into the half-melted snowman, "I can see why you liked it... It is a bit expensive, though," you say as you note the drain on your orthstirr.
'Such is the way of things.' Blackhand muses before nudging you, 'Now, go give your other tricks a shot.'
You grumble as you're forced away from your fun new toy.
Planting your feet shoulder's width apart, you bend your knees ever-so-slightly before throwing yourself into the sky with nothing but your raw hamr carrying you up.
All-in-all, you get respectable air. It's not the best jump you've ever made, but five-times your height is a solid attempt for a standing leap.
As you fall back to the earth, your virthing unfurls around you like a mantle of fire. Jets of flame blast from beneath its folds, keeping you aloft at great cost to your orthstirr.
'You don't have the orthstirr to do any more than control your descent, but Ember-Winged Cloak will hopefully serve you well in the future.'
Touching down, you breathe deep as you call upon your frami and gain an aura of crimson fire. You'll need a little bit more orthstirr to wield your third trick, thanks to the utterly absurd costs of Ember-Winged Cloak, but it's nothing a little stoking won't fix.
Drawing Sagaseeker, you spin the catlike atgeir around before coating it in burning orthstirr. Taking three skipping-steps forward, you bring it down on the mostly-melted snowman's dripping head.
The snow explodes into a flurry as a fiery eruption sends boiling water droplets scattering.
Some land on your skin, but your natural heat resistance makes that a nonissue.
'Firebomb-Strike isn't prohibitively expensive... but I'd wait till you refined it more to use it, if I were you. Which I suppose I am, technically.'
You tune Blackhand out as he proceeds into one of his musings as you yawn, turn, and begin the long walk home. After all, it's going to be Yule soon!
(Kindler Spinner Acquired!)
(Ember-Winged Cloak Acquired!)
(Firebomb-Strike Acquired!)
0~0~0 (Glima Training: 3) 1 Success. (Throw Training: 5) 2 Successes
You spend your days wrestling and throwing things around. Which is actually coming along nicely.
(+1 to Glima)
(Throw Rank Up!)
0~0~0 (Artcraft Training: 1) 1 Failure (Management: 4) 1 Success (Scouting: 1) 1 Failure (Strategy: 6) 2 Successes (Wordplay: 1) 1 Failure (Weaponcraft: 2) 1 Failure
You note the price of your iron and, once again, wince at the price you paid when compared to your financials. Man, it'd be nice to have your own farm, then you'd be able to pay for all kinds of stuff!
(Management Acquired!)
(Strategy Acquired!)
0~0~0 Aki and the Meteor
"So, you ready?" The small, blind child asks as you emerge from the woods.
You nod, determination written deep in your eyes. "Yeah, let's do this thing."
"Great! Try not to explode!"
...
...You explode. You explode a lot.
Honestly, it's a good thing you realized your birthright before coming here, else you probably would've gotten badly injured by now. Fortunately, it was only a few light burns. Barely any bone was even exposed!
"The recreations are perfect, so it's not you that's making the errors," Aki strokes his raven as he scowls. "What gives? It's almost like..." He trails off as you poke the bone in your arm. "Halla, can you hold up the smallest amount of orthstirr you can manage?"
"Uh, sure?" You do so, the ball of crimson power is roughly the size of a pair of clasped fists.
Aki tsks, clearly annoyed by something. "Is that as small as you can make it?"
"Yeah?" Where is he going with this?
"Well, whatever the makers of this use as power is way smaller, like a... I dunno, a fish egg or something."
"That's..." Your brows shoot high on your head, "that's really small. How the heck do they do anything with power that tiny?"
"Beats me," Aki shrugs. "But, uh, I don't think that this is the way we're gonna get in there, not with small power being a requirement."
You blink as realization storms overhead. "Wait a second, I know a guy who has small power!"
"You do?" Aki clearly has doubts, but you brush them aside with glee.
"Gabriel Blackstone, thrall and Squire. He's got the manacles on, so that should restrict his power, right?"
"Yeah, that... That might actually work!" Aki leaps to his feet, a smile on his face as his raven takes to the sky. "Can you go get him?"
You wince as you pause. "Well, he and I are a little bit at odds and since I'm not his master..."
"You can't order him to do the dangerous thing of shoving his small power into the happy-explody fun-time ball." Aki finishes for you, snark dripping from his voice.
"Exactly."
(Fire in the Sky Updated)
0~0~0 Draugr Inspiration (Hugr (Wordplay): 6, 6, 3, 1, 3, 5, 1, 2, 4, 3) 7 Successes
This time around, the poem is actually pretty damn good!
It might not be the best poem you've ever made, but it's certainly up there!
Do you want to keep the poem or discard it?
[ ] Keep the poem (+7 Orthstirr)
[ ] Discard the poem
0~0~0 Talking with Sten (Hugr (Wildcraft): 1, 3, 4, 5, 3, 4, 5) 7 Successes
You watch as Steinarr looks over his shoulder for a long moment before carefully creeping into Sten's forge.
You raise a brow and curiosity killed the cat.
Creeping up to the sheet hanging in the wind — that served as the door to the forge — you listen in as Steinarr begins to speak.
"Sten, I need a sword worthy of Halla." Your father declares with pride in his voice. "I need something I can give to Abjorn so that I know he'll be able to keep her safe." His voice drops to a whisper that has you straining to hear. "I need steel."
Sten's hammering falls silent for a long, long stretch of time. "Do you know what you're asking me to do? Because it is not something done lightly."
"It's Halla."
Sten sighs. "Yeah, you're right. I'll... I'll have something ready by the wedding."
"Thank you," Steinarr says as his footsteps approach the cloth flap of a door. You stifle a squeak and dive out of the way — which just so happens to be into a pile of snow.
A steel sword as a wedding sword? That's a heck of a powerful statement!
It also revealed something you'd long since suspected, but only now had it been confirmed.
Sten knows how to make steel.
Very interesting, that.
0~0~0
AN: There's no turn-planning today (besides the poem vote, of course) because tomorrow is your boss fight. I was intending to have it start today, but, uh, I may have stayed up all night because I was too excited. My bad. That's why there's anything weird, if there is anything weird.
With that in mind, I will now reveal the creature you will be fighting.
You're going to be facing a Nisse, more or less intact.
The year, by the reckoning of the followers of Christ, is 8974 AD and you, Halla Steinarsdottir, have just turned sixteen.
Which makes you an adult...
Well, you're not sure what you were really expecting. It's not like there's much of a difference between you at fifteen and you now.
With your newfound adulthood comes certain responsibilities, though. Responsibilities like caring for the family while the men are away.
Like now.
"Halla," Steinarr says with a grim look on his face. He's belting his mail shirt tight. "That draugr you fought can't have been the only one out there, there's been too many weird sightings for that. I need you to keep the house while Sten and I report this to the Thing. The Jarl's Thing."
"The... the Jarl of Jurgdby?" You nearly trip over yourself as you follow your father to Sten, who waits by the door. He too wears a shirt of mail and he's strapping a helmet on his head. He has a cloak draped across his body, leaving an arm free and unhindered. "But... you can't be going now, there aren't any ships heading west yet!"
"That is true," Sten adds after sharing a goodbye kiss with his wife. "Ice hasn't cracked, so we have to go on foot."
"There are draugar in the Hading and we need to clear them out, before they start preying on people and livestock." Steinarr clicks his tongue against his teeth, holding your objection at bay. "Asvir has the power, but the potential costs could leave them crippled at the start of the raiding season. So the Jarl of Jurgdby, with his Kyrsvikingar, is our best and likely only bet."
"How long will it be before you return?" Asveig asks with the now not-so-little Sterki on her breast. Her stomach is starting to swell again; you might be having another little sibling soon.
"Four days' time, the Meinvaldfjord causing no troubles," Stein snorts as he says that, like he can't even believe the words he speaks.
"In all likelihood, the Meinvaldfjord will hold us captive for a few days at least, no more than five." Steinarr runs finger and thumb across his chin and jaw. "I would imagine we'll be back in a week-and-a-half."
Your breath freezes in your throat as your heart pounds hammers against your ears. A week-and-a-half?! You're not ready for that, you can't be ready for that!
'Then what was the point of all that training?' Blackhand's scoffing voice nearly knocks you flat. 'This is what you wanted, isn't it? To be treated as a man, as a warrior?'
He's... he's right
"And you want Halla to watch the house?" Asveig's jaw hangs open. "She can't... I've tolerated this... this idiocy for long enough, but I have to put my foot down!"
Steinarr scowls, but keeps his voice level. "Our daughter is an accomplished warrior. She's slain man and monster both, she can do this."
You release the breath frozen in your throat and let your shoulders sit naturally. Setting your jaw and gritting your teeth, you make your choice.
"I'll do it." Your words put a stop to your parents' argument. Asveig scowls as Steinarr smiles.
He puts his hand on your shoulder and meets your gaze with eyes of fire and steel — exact copies of the eyes you bear. "I trust you, Halla. Make me proud."
"I will, I promise."
0~0~0
In the silence of the third night, the sudden battering against the window turns your blood to ice.
You snap wide awake in an instant, Sagaseeker already in your grasp as you leap to your feet.
Just as quickly as it arrived, the rattling disappears into the night. Its sudden absence leaves you uncertain, but what you do know...
Is that there's something outside the door. Its wet, ragged wheezes are loud enough to wake the house as it shuffles along.
In your bones, you know this to be an enemy. A dangerous one.
One you'll have to fight.
Your fylgja wouldn't have woken you otherwise.
"Gabriel," you hiss at the Christian Squire as he rubs at his eyes. Hooking a foot around the fancy sword — Sparrowflight — hanging from the wall, you flick it up and over to the blonde boy. He snatches it out of the air and looks to you as you lay a hand on the door, "I'm going out, keep them safe."
"I... I will, on my pride as a Squire I swear it." He nods, making a snap decision while warring with his emotions.
"W-what's," Drifa yawns as she slips free from Minna's terrified grasp, "going on?"
"A monster, dear child, has found its way to the doorstep our Young Lady has sworn to protect," Jerasmus says from the corner furthest from the hearth. His legs are crossed and a quarterstaff balances in his lap as he finishes his prayer.
He's no fighter, despite Blackhand's misgivings, but even the sworn-pacifist has taken up arms tonight.
"A monster?" Drifa's eyes sparkle as a brilliant smile smashes its way onto her face. "I wanna fight it too!" Minna gasps, eyes filling with faint-hearted terror as she drags a squirming Drifa back to her blanket. "Mama! It's not fair, lemme fight!"
You smile as Drifa tries her hardest to squirm from her mother's grasp, to little avail. But, speaking of mothers...
You meet your mother's gaze and find her unreadable.
"Well?" She asks, Asva suddenly looking very uncomfortable right now, "Aren't you going out?"
"I am."
"Then the only way you're walking through that door again is as a corpse or a victor."
"Time, then, to find out which I am."
You step through the door and go to meet your fate.
The monster twitches as it stares at the full moon hanging in the night sky. A red, pointed cap sits on its head — the only evidence to what it once was.
It towers over you, utterly dominating the landscape. It is a twisted mass of cancerous growths and rotting flesh-swamps once called skin. Its body and limbs are made of stitched-together arms, hands-interlocked as they wrap around themselves over and over again. To call it living would be to tell a lie.
Perhaps, once, it was among the living. Now, though, it is little more than a cruel mockery of the human form.
It turns its red eyes onto you and purple sludge drips from its slack jaw as it eyes you hungrily.
"...hunger...unsatisfied," it groans, its voice a dozen whispering husks all stitched together, "need... more..."
'Good luck, Halla. No matter what, know that I will always be proud of you.'
The monster stands in the middle of the three fields your family farms while you stand on your doorstep, the door closed behind you. Your house sits on a low, sloping hill, a rocky path leads down the hill and to the rest of the farm. Behind the house is Sten's forge as well as the barn and toolshed. A low-standing wall — a fence, really — surrounds the hill save for the open gap.
Snow covers the ground, hiding any sort of rocks you might be able to use. It is dark out, but not as dark as it could be thanks to the light of the moon. You can see perfectly fine, as well as you normally can.
The monster was once a nisse, your farm's fjoesnisse, to be specific — if your suspicions about the bowl of porridge are true. What it is now, of course, is an utter mystery. It stands at least three times taller than you with thin shoulders and very long, oversized limbs to match. It has a hunch to its shape and poison in its mouth. Its fingers drag along the ground.
It looks very strong, perhaps the strongest thing you've ever seen. How it compares to your father... you don't know. From what you recall from Randi's stories, nisse are strong enough to crush a cow's skull with a casual swat and possess illusionary powers. You find yourself doubting that it still has those powers in this form, but you can't be sure.
What you do know is that it has a very poisonous bite. So poisonous that it requires supernatural, otherworldly healing to cure. Healing that you don't have access to, as far as you are aware. Better not get bit, then.
From where you're standing, its plan appears to be... you're having trouble reading its movements, thanks to unfamiliarity with the form. All you can really tell, at the moment, is that it's going to be rather aggressive and rely on its raw strength.
You have 5/5 Endurance | 8/8 Armor | N/A Shield
You have 58/58 orthstirr in reserve and neither Frami (20), Virthing (19), nor Saemd (19) are tapped
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir
You can put 29 more points of orthstirr into your Combat Pool.
You have 7d6 in your Combat Pool
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: I've refunded all your orthstirr for this fight. You're sitting on a full tank of power right now.
Well, this is it. This is your boss fight. Good luck, everyone, I'm rooting for you.
Alectai, I'm sorry for the stress this is probably causing you.
25-minute moratorium. Depending on how quickly you figure out a plan of action, the vote might be called early. Obviously only if you're okay with it. I don't want you to feel rushed on something as important as this.
[X] Plan Whittle It Down
-[X] Tap Frami and Virthing (+39 Orthstirr)
-[X] Max out our combat dice pool (-29 Orthstirr)
-[X] Max out our Hugr and Tactics (-9 Orthstirr)
-[X] 26d6 Attack (all tricks)
-[X] 10d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Spend 4 Orthstirr using Reinforce Shield on her armor (-4 Orthstirr)
-[X] Attack with a 7d6 (8d6 w/Hugareida) Kindle Spinner right in its face (-5 Orthstirr) to draw its attention, and then once it closes with us aim three 4d6 Honed Power-Chop attacks (-3 Orthstirr) at its legs to whittle away its defenses and hopefully limit its mobility (moving to attacking its arms and torso if it seems immobilized), then hit it with an 8d6 Honed Leaping-Cleave (-4 Orthstirr) right in the face again once its guard is down.
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr). If it bites at us with a non-Trick attack use Honed Defenses using our Defense dice (-1 Orthstirr each, 2d6 each) if we still have Reinforce Shield available, and if the Honed Defense fails we use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr) if Reinforce Shield is down. Always respond to non-Trick, non-Bite attacks with Honed Defenses using our Defense dice (-1 Orthstirr each, 2d6 each).
-[X] Tactics – The basic idea here is to attack it at range and then lure it into following us away from the house and into areas where its size disadvantages it (having to move past fences and the like), then start really going to town on it in close combat. It's tall enough I think we need to leap to hit its face, which Leaping-Cleave seems to cover. We do all this while using Halting Vortex as necessary for cover and hopefully to avoid that bite.
0~0~0
You are all that stands between this nisse-turned-monster and your family. Gabriel, though certainly possessing power, has his shackles handicapping him.
Falling here means death and worse for your family.
That cannot be allowed.
The mantle of your virthing dispels the cool bite in the air as your blazing aura melts the nearby snow. Sagaseeker in hand, you drag its point across the ground and carve a light groove in the damp doorstep wood.
No matter what it takes, you'll stop this monster.
...Even if it means giving your life.
Stepping across the proverbial line-in-the-sand, you call up a Kindle Spinner and stare the monster dead in the eye. Your hair whips in the angry, roaring wind generated by the ball of densely-packed spinning fire.
Taking a single step forward, you roll the Kindle Spinner with as much force as you can muster. (Trick Attack: 33 vs Defense: 4, Attacker Wins. 3-2(Monstrous Vigor)=1 Damage Dealt)
The ball of fire bounces across the ground, leaving hissing puddles of snowmelt in its wake as bounces high and impacts against the monster's face. It explodes in a great plume of smoke and crackling fire, drawing a low groan from the monster but doing little more than piss it off.
The monstrosity roars in anger and whips its arm to the side. Hands unclasp and work together to wrench a fencepost from the frozen ground. It eyes you with a calculating gleam as it begins to aim.
You're already moving, of course. Can't have any attack you dodge hit the house! (Thrown Attack: 1 vs Honed Defense: 8, Defender Wins!)
With a leap, you spin and kick the sharpened length of wood away. It zips past your body and into the woods, where it impales a tree through the trunk.
The gust of trailing wind moves your hair as you stare at the vibrating fencepost growing from the tree bark. That... was a powerful throw, but what stood out the most was the fact that no orthstirr was used. At all.
You don't, however, have any time to think on what that might mean as the monster is already preparing its next throw. (Thrown Attack: 4 vs Honed Defense: 4, Defender Wins Ties!)
The fencepost with such speed and power that you barely have enough time to dart out of the way. It nearly took your head clean off!
With another piece of fence in its hands, it's clear that it's more than content with you staying at distance. Which means, much to your grim dismay, you're going to have to close in.
Great.
You scowl and drive your foot into the ground, throwing up a spray of dirt and snow as you bring yourself to a sudden stop. Pivoting on the spot, you stomp yourself into movement just as it throws yet another fencepost. (Thrown Attack: 4 vs Honed Defense: 2, Attacker Wins. 3 Damage to Reinforce-Shield)
The fencepost shatters against your armor, but manages to take three layers of Reinforce-Shield along with it. You stammer a terrified chuckle as that leaves you with one.
It does, however, mean that you are now in melee-range. With the giant, overwhelmingly strong monster.
Great. Again.
At least it's not using those fenceposts anymore, so it will hopefully deal less damage!
Sliding across the ground, you swing a Honed Power-Chop at its legs. (Honed Trick Attack: 19 vs Defense: 5, Attacker Wins. 4-2(Monstrous Vigor)=2 Damage Dealt)
And manage to scour a hefty level of rotting flesh and bone from its thigh, taking several arms with it. Doing so, you catch a glimpse of what lies beneath those arms...
Which is more arms, apparently.
It swings an arm down as you trail to the side. Your eyes snap wide as fingers-of-grasping-hands reach out towards you! (Grab Attack: 6 vs Honed Defense: 8, Defender Wins!)
Swinging Sagaseeker, you lop off a dozen hands and dart into another attack. It won't do much to damage the monster, removing the smaller, component hands, but it'll still stop grapples! (Honed Trick Attack: 16 vs Defense: 6, Attacker Wins! 3-2(Monstrous Vigor)=1 Damage Dealt)
Slamming Sagaseeker into the back of its knee, you carve a deep groove into the arms. But, yet again, it seems to be dealing little damage. Just how tough is this thing!?
And there comes the other arm, swinging down like club-tipped pendulum. (Attack: 6 vs Honed Defense: 4, Attacker Wins! 1 Damage Absorbed by Reinforce Shield! 2 dealt to Armor!
It smashes through the last layer of Reinforce-Shield and tears deep tatters in your gambeson as it bats you aside.
You crash against the ground and roll to a stop in a crumpled heap. Breathing heavily, you shake off the daze and climb to your feet.
Just in time for another Godsdamned fencepost to come hurtling your way. (Thrown Attack: 6 vs Honed Defense: 5, Attacker Wins. 3 Armor Damage Dealt!)
Somebody screams while the wooden post rips a massive hole in your armor as you throw yourself to the side. A light chill bites at the newly exposed skin of your shoulder, the post having torn through your dress, too.
You growl, utterly furious at the damage done to not just your property, but to you pride.
Up until this point in time, barely anything has been able to lay a finger on you. Out of all the dangerous and terrifying men and monsters you've faced, it's this Godsdamned patchwork, ugly-as-sin, low-quality, awful-smelling, no-fashion-sense-having, son-of-a-thrall's-whore, piece of utter fucking shit that managed to finally do it?
You're getting your vengeance. You're getting your Godsdamned vengeance!
Punching the earth, you throw yourself to your feet, only to find that the damned thing apparently forgot about you or something? Or maybe it's stupid and thought you dead?
Whatever the case, it's stomping up the hill with its back to you.
You grin and stoke your orthstirr. You've got a pretty good idea of how to take revenge for soiling your clothes and it definitely has something to do with that hat on its head.
With a running start, you throw yourself into the air and fly well over the tops of the trees. You're silent as you sail through the air — atgeir raised high — so the monster doesn't hear you coming. (Honed Trick Attack: 44 vs Unaware Defense: 1, Attacker Wins! 6-2(Monstrous Vigor)=4 Damage Dealt!)
You bring Sagaseeker down with the force of an angry Thunder God and cut its stupid, little hat in half.
Along with its head. And the upper part of its back.
Which isn't enough to kill it, believe it or not.
You hit the ground with a roll as the monster wobbles, but regains its balance by the time you're on your feet. And by the time you're ready to fight, it's already turning.
Not a problem, you're still faster than it.
Darting past it once more, you aim a Honed Power-Chop at its weaker leg. (Honed Trick Attack: 12 vs Defense: 5, Attacker Wins! 3-2(Monstrous Vigor)=1 Damage Dealt)
And break its kneecap.
It falls to a knee, giving you time to move away. But not enough time to avoid one, last grasping reach. (Grab Attack: 6 vs Honed Defense: 6, Defender Wins Ties!)
It lightly brushes against your face, smearing your skin with rotting arm juice.
You almost throw up from the vile sensation against your lips. It's a good damned thing that Abjorn exists, it's already hurt your pride enough without stealing your first kiss!
You and the monster are currently inside the perimeter of the fence and are slightly up the hill. Your family watches from the windows as you battle the monster — Asveig has a hand clamped over Asva's mouth.
The monster is hurt, yes, but not all that much. You can tell that it's, more or less, disabled right now. With the broken leg, it can't move very quickly (not that that it could to begin with), but it can still move, which is the problem. It doesn't seem very smart... at least, sort of. You're not sure what it struggles with, but there's something there that you might be able to use, should you figure it out.
It's probably going to resume attacking you, at a slower pace than before, with a bit more emphasis on defense. This time, though, you're pretty damn sure that it's not going to do something weird like throw stuff... unless it does.
You have a few moments of respite before it starts attacking you again, giving you enough time to paint a few more Reinforce-Shield layers on or something else, should you feel like it.
You have 5/5 Endurance | 3/8 Armor | N/A Shield
You have 36/58 orthstirr in reserve and your Frami (20) and Virthing (19) are tapped, though Saemd (19) is not.
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir
You can put 0 more points of orthstirr into your Combat Pool.
You have 36d6 in your Combat Pool
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Not much to say here other than that I'm pretty sure that the plan miscounted the amount of orthstirr that the 3 Honed Power-Chops would take, which is 6 rather than 3 (1 for the power-chop, 1 for the hone)
Other than that, I'm pretty sure that the math is right but feel free to double check.
Also, it was a very, very good thing that you swapped to a higher defense plan. It had 10 basic attacks ready to go and you encountered almost all of them.
[X] Plan Fire In The Hole
-[X] Tap Saemd (+19 Orthstirr)
-[X] 28d6 Attack (27d6 tricks)
-[X] 8d6 Defense
-[X] 0d6 Intercept
-[X] Spend 15 Orthstirr using Reinforce Shield on her armor (-15 Orthstirr)
-[X] Attack with two 4d6 Power Chop attacks trying to bait it out (-2 Orthstirr), then trap its arm with a 6d6 (8d6 w/Hugareida) Inertia-Arresting-Throw (-6 Orthstirr) as a defense when it responds by attacking, use the opening while its arm is trapped to make an attack to make a large hole into a vulnerable area with a 8d6 Honed Leaping-Cleave (-4 Orthstirr), shove the Explosive Charm into the wound (1d6 normal attack) and follow up with an 7d6 (8d6 w/Hugareida) Honed Firebomb-Strike (-9 Orthstirr) directly into the wound made by the Leaping Cleave (hopefully blowing it up from the inside)
-[X] In response to any Trick Attack use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr). If it attacks us with a non-Trick attack use Honed Defenses using our Defense dice (-1 Orthstirr each, 2d6 each) and if that doesn't work and Reinforce Shield is not available, use Halting Vortex (-4 Orthstirr).
-[X] Tactics – We attack it a couple of times in the arms, wait for it to attack, trap said arm with Standstill, then hit it really hard to open a hole, toss in an explosive charm, and hit it in the cut open hole with an explosive attack.
0~0~0
You wipe a bit of blood and corpse juice from your face and sigh as it sticks to your hand.
Whatever. Once this is all over, you'll draw up a nice, hot bath. Won't that be relaxing? If you close your eyes, it's almost like you're already there.
But that is for Future-Halla to enjoy. Right now, you need to focus on Present-Halla's plight.
Letting loose a steady breath, your eyes open with renewed vigor. Settling into a ready crouch, Sagaseeker's purrs rumble louder than ever before. If the atgeir's spirit had a physical form, it would without a doubt be a cat.
An image of your atgeir with cat ears springs to mind. Hah, wouldn't that be a sight?
The monster groans, drawing you back into the present moment, as it lurches to its feet.
The moment it does, you throw yourself into the attack. (Trick Attack: 18 vs Defense: 4, Attacker Wins! 2-2(Monstrous Vigor)=0 Damage Dealt!)
Sagaseeker glides through flesh and rends bone, but doesn't seem to be doing much in the way of actual, proper damage.
You scowl as the monster roars and its fingerless hand swings up and around. The wall-like mass bears down like the hammer of the Gods. (Attack: 1 vs Honed Defense: 6, Defender Wins!)
Leaping into the air, you land on the club-like hand — rotting flesh squishing and squelching beneath your feet — and bring Sagaseeker down with fiery, crimson fury. (Trick Attack: 12 vs Defense: 2, Attacker Wins! 2-2(Monstrous Vigor)=0 Damage Dealt!)
Just like before, while you tear a jagged gash into the arm-made-of-arms, it is ultimately ineffective.
Your scowl deepens. At this rate, all that this will achieve is tiring yourself out while causing you to wrinkle! A change needs to happen, for your skin if nothing else.
As its other hand rises, fingers-made-of-hands unclasping and reaching out, you know you've found your opening. (Trick Grapple Attack: 26 vs Defense: 2, Attacker Wins!)
Winds howl as it races towards you, but you're ready for it.
With a flick of the wrist and one smooth motion, you gather up and throw out Standstill. It unfurls as it spins through the air like a glorious, eagle-feather cloak. The monster has no idea what's coming its way.
Invisible cloth collides with malformed, rotten flesh and holds it down.
The monster tugs at its arm, but finds it to be truly stuck in the air. Maybe if Standstill hadn't deepened, its raw strength would've been enough to free it.
But now, with Standstill developed?
Not a chance.
You spring into the air with reckless abandon, landing on its wrist and sprinting up the length of the arm. Your hair whips out and trails behind you like a crimson banner as you laugh, the joy of battle getting to you.
Reaching the shoulder, you bounce up off the disgusting, squishy mass of film-covered flesh and find yourself in the air behind it, where the injury you left earlier is more than visible.
Stoking your orthstirr as you raise Sagaseeker up high, a crown of fiery crimson spikes sprouts up around your head in a halo of joyfully violent flames. (Honed Trick Attack: 26 vs Defense: 3, Attacker Wins! 6-2(Monstrous Vigor)=4 Damage Dealt!)
Shooting down on a jet of fire, you turn an already large wound into a massive crevice of rotting blood. Snow stains red as blood sprays from the wound. Thick rivulets of red, glue-like ichor trickles down its body.
The moment you touch down, you've already launched your next attack. ('Thrown' Attack: 4 vs Defense: 2, Attacker Wins!)
With explosive tag in hand, you jam the fired clay tablet deep into its body. Its inside squish and squirm as you force it deeper and deeper, the myriad liquids smearing your arm with thick layers of gunk.
Wrenching your arm free, you take Sagaseeker in both hands and let your orthstirr surge. The atgeir's cutting edge glows with crimson power, flickers of flame darting from its length. (Trick Attack: 26 vs Defense: 2, Attacker Wins! 5-2(Monstrous Vigor)=3 Damage Dealt! Tag Detonates Deep Inside, Bypassing Monstrous Vigor, 3 Damage Dealt!)
Firebomb-Strike craters against the monster's back and burns a large hole in its skin. But the real effect here comes from the tag you jammed deep inside.
The monster swells up as licks of fire burst from its seams. It explodes, raining chunks of meat, bone, and utterly disgusting corpse liquids down on you, drenching you to the bone. You flick your hands, clearing away some of the slurry of liquids, but not nearly enough to get you clean.
The body twitches and you release a heavy groan. The battle isn't over yet, not quite.
Rising from the smoking pile of meat is a small, humanoid creature. It looks almost like an elderly man, if said elderly man was also two-feet tall.
It twitches violently, thick globs of purple poison leak from a tube growing from its mouth. Every muscle in its body shivers and shakes as it convulses over and over again. Those seizures don't seem to be hampering its ability to move much, as it meets your eyes with a maddened gaze that's long since taken leave of its senses.
You're still on the hill, well-inside the perimeter of the fence. A good amount of the snow has melted or been covered with corpse-juice.
The nisse controlling the monster has been pulled from its meat-puppet. From the looks of things, it's quite a bit damaged, well over half way to death. Fortunately, it has lost its monstrous armor, leaving it vulnerable to your attacks. Unfortunately, it doesn't look to be any weaker and it looks to be far faster, too — which means that it's going to be both harder to hit and dodge, while still hitting like a horse's kick. And the poison is still there, too, so that's very nice.
It is going to be fighting you with an aggressive but balanced approach — its offense and defense will be roughly balanced.
You have 5/5 Endurance | 3/8 Armor | N/A Shield | 15/15 Temporary Health
You have 16/58 orthstirr in reserve and your Frami (20), Virthing (19), and Saemd (19) are tapped.
Sagaseeker has 8 orthstirr in its reservoir
You can put 0 more points of orthstirr into your Combat Pool.
You have 36d6 in your Combat Pool
What do you do?
[ ] (Plan Name)
-[ ] (Dice) Attack
-[ ] (Dice) Defense
-[ ] (Dice) Intercept
-[ ] (Dice) (Trick) (Orthstirr)
-[ ] Tactics Write in
0~0~0
AN: Good plan, even if it didn't kill it. You're in the final stretch now! Just a little more and you've got it!
Firebomb Strike can't use Hone, as the way it delivers damage doesn't involve the sharpness of the weapon. The orthstirr spent on that has been refunded. Other than that I believe the math is right, but feel free to double-check.
25-minute moratorium. I'd like to finish this battle today, if that's okay with everyone.
