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Outlaw (A Norse Xianxia)

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DeadmanwalkingXI said:
Okay, looking up Carving Axes, you can definitely use one as a hatchet. So, that being the case, here's the revised list based on what IF said above:

[X] What do you choose to bring with you?
-[X] Weapons
--[X] Bow

-[X] Small Pouch (3/3)
--[X] Currency, accounting for what Bestla will need
--[X] The Comb

-[X] Ration Pouch (8/8)
--[X] Filled up to 8 meals worth of food.

-[X] Our Person (5/5)
--[X] Quiver w/24 Arrows
--[X] Carving Axe
--[X] Whetstone

-[X] On Olfossa (6/6)
--[X] Tent
--[X] Bedroll
--[X] Spare Shield
--[X] Rope

-[X] Saddlebags
--[X] Linen Undertunic
--[X] Linen Underpants
--[X] Spare Cloak
--[X] Woolen Socks
--[X] Sewing Kit and Supplies
--[X] Personal Hygiene Kit (soap, if nothing else)
--[X] Medical Supplies (Bandages and Herbs)
--[X] As much spices as two inventory slot can carry, aiming for valuable ones for trade
--[X] 6 meals worth of additional food

Basically, all the stuff we need to survive in the woods, plus trade goods and a bow, for either hunting or shooting people hunting us. I was tempted by another shield, but I'd rather not overburden Olfassa, and I don't think a shield would fit in the saddlebags.

It keeps our weapons, some water, and the tool of our trade on our person, and the rest of the survival gear mostly in the saddlebags. Seems good to me.

[x] Next Steps
-[x] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember us by
-[x] Visit Modolfr and demand he tell you what he knows.

EDIT: Water is apparently counted in with Food, and Olfassa is cool with being fully loaded, so we can grab an extra shield, some medical supplies, some more food and spices, and a spare cloak.
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Why have you marked the Small Pouch as 3/3 with only two items listed? Does one of them take up two slots?

And given Barki is a skilled woodcarver I'd say he can simply make another shield if he needs one no? Better to take something else uniquely useful or valuable no?

I'd also like to suggest an addition to the immediate plans:

[] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember Barki by. Infuse it with Ordstirr, vowing that it will remain whole and fine as long as he lives, and that as long as he lives he will fight to return to her side.
 
Yatr said:
Why have you marked the Small Pouch as 3/3 with only two items listed? Does one of them take up two slots?
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All numbers are total including our existing gear. We already have one item in our pouch (a firestarter).

Yatr said:
And given Barki is a skilled woodcarver I'd say he can simply make another shield if he needs one no? Better to take something else uniquely useful or valuable no?
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On one level, yes, on another level, sometimes you need a shield but don't have a few hours to make one. I waffled back and forth on the spare shield, but I eventually hit the point where I thought it was better than the remaining unique stuff I could think of.

Yatr said:
I'd also like to suggest an addition to the immediate plans:

[] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember Barki by. Infuse it with Ordstirr, vowing that it will remain whole and fine as long as he lives, and that as long as he lives he will fight to return to her side.
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To do this, we would need to invest the Ordstirr more or less permanently, and thus be down that Ordstirr until we un-committed it. I dunno if we're allowed to invest only a token amount here, or would need to invest a whole point...if the latter, that's too expensive, IMO.
 
Yatr said:
And given Barki is a skilled woodcarver I'd say he can simply make another shield if he needs one no? Better to take something else uniquely useful or valuable no?
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This isn't as simple as it looks. We're about to be spending the next week being hunted, so downtime may be at a premium. Furthermore, a good shield needs more than just wood; our current one uses wool and rawhide, and it's unclear whether the nails are metal or wood. None of these are particularly hard to get, except that we're outlawed and no one can trade with us legally.

A Norseman without a shield is facing death. A spare is a good thing.
 
DeadmanwalkingXI said:
To do this, we would need to invest the Ordstirr more or less permanently, and thus be down that Ordstirr until we un-committed it. I dunno if we're allowed to invest only a token amount here, or would need to invest a whole point...if the latter, that's too expensive, IMO.
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While I imagine for it to mean anything it would need to be numerically significant, it's also the kind of narrative weapon that could save his life in his time of greatest need. It's akin to nudging the winds of fate to favour him. Creating a kind of personal prophecy. Idk if that's something we'd be allowed to do, but we have already increased Barki's max Ordstirr and I'm sure we will again, so I think it's something that could pay dividends and would also be a move worthy of a great dreng. Like money, Ordstirr is for spending. And what could be more worthy than his beloved wife's peace of mind?
 
Yatr said:
While I imagine for it to mean anything it would need to be numerically significant, it's also the kind of narrative weapon that could save his life in his time of greatest need. It's akin to nudging the winds of fate to favour him. Creating a kind of personal prophecy. Idk if that's something we'd be allowed to do, but we have already increased Barki's max Ordstirr and I'm sure we will again, so I think it's something that could pay dividends and would also be a move worthy of a great dreng.
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Most of this narrative pressure is tied up in the oath to get back to her if possible, which is probably a good idea. I'm not entirely convinced it would be boosted by also investing Ordstirr into the comb. That serves as a warning device, sure, but is not really tied to the oath...

Yatr said:
Like money, Ordstirr is for spending. And what could be more worthy than his beloved wife's peace of mind?
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Not dying so he can return to her? We currently have 7 Ordstirr, total. Going down to 6 effectively permanently could easily be the difference between life and death, depending. Ordstirr normally replenishes, so spending it in the sense of using it is normally an easy choice...investing it like this is a huge drop in our reserves. I'm not saying it's completely indefensible, mind you, just noting that it's a huge price to pay.

@I.F. Ister could we invest a token amount of Ordstirr into the comb to serve as this kind of warning to Bestla, or would it need to be a full point?
 
I'll defer to the groups judgement on this as I haven't taken part in previous Norse quests, it's just an idea I had that I like conceptually. I'm also more interested in making narratively satisfying choices than technically optimised, not to suggest that Barki doing his damnedest to succeed is not satisfying or anything like that, but I rather vote by motivation than optimal resource management. Not making any objective value judgement, totally valid to play by the numbers, just laying my cards on the table.
 
Yatr said:
I'll defer to the groups judgement on this as I haven't taken part in previous Norse quests, it's just an idea I had that I like conceptually. I'm also more interested in making narratively satisfying choices than technically optimised, not to suggest that Barki doing his damnedest to succeed is not satisfying or anything like that, but I rather vote by motivation than optimal resource management. Not making any objective value judgement, totally valid to play by the numbers, just laying my cards on the table.
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That's valid. Like I said, I'm probably gonna vote for an Oath to come back to her if possible, and the comb idea is good if we can do it without burning a full point of Ordstirr.

But, to be clear, I'm also voting for motivation here: Barki is a smart guy and well aware that 1/7 of his Ordstirr could be the difference between life and death. Ordstirr is not just a game abstraction, after all, but a real and measurable in-world thing. The exact number is a game abstraction, but him investing a huge amount of it into a comb purely as a warning beacon to his wife is a real choice in-character, and prioritizes her knowing if he's dead over actually surviving. I suspect she would not thank us for it, and indeed might be very upset that he's planning for defeat rather than victory.

Hmmm. Thinking of it that way, maybe doing it at all is a mistake even if it doesn't take a full Ordstirr.
 
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DeadmanwalkingXI said:
Why specifically? I'm leaning towards not doing it if it requires a full Ordstirr, but it seems valid if it doesn't.
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Barki isn't actually good at woodworking, in-character loss of Ordstirr directly reduces Barki's chances of survival with Bestla would know* (and be further distressed about), and an oath is already 'good enough' in terms of binding Barki to return without any Ordstirr investment.

*Even if it isn't a full '1' unit, the smaller quantities in universe would exist. It could be 0.01 Ordstirr and it would still be most inadvisable, and Bestla would know this and be further distressed. We would literally be giving her a comb of 'this is a reminder of my reduced survival odds'.
 
Shard said:
Barki isn't actually good at woodworking, in-character loss of Ordstirr directly reduces Barki's chances of survival with Bestla would know* (and be further distressed about), and an oath is already 'good enough' in terms of binding Barki to return without any Ordstirr investment.

*Even if it isn't a full '1' unit, the smaller quantities in universe would exist.
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Uh...Barki is in fact very good at woodworking? It's one of our chosen skills. That said, I am leaning towards agreeing with the rest, upon reflection.
 
Yatr said:
While I imagine for it to mean anything it would need to be numerically significant, it's also the kind of narrative weapon that could save his life in his time of greatest need. It's akin to nudging the winds of fate to favour him. Creating a kind of personal prophecy. Idk if that's something we'd be allowed to do, but we have already increased Barki's max Ordstirr and I'm sure we will again, so I think it's something that could pay dividends and would also be a move worthy of a great dreng. Like money, Ordstirr is for spending. And what could be more worthy than his beloved wife's peace of mind?
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Speaking of prophecies, while Barki (and in fact any Norseman) could create a personal prophecy.. making the winds of fate favor them is, uh, actually very hard. For example, while Barki would be able to nudge the Nornar into making a fate of 'Barki returns to Bestla' much more likely, the exact details would be very not up to him.

Returning dead, returning as a thrall, returning as a Draugr - All are options. Returning home alive and in triumph is only one of the possibilities.

IMO, "I will return," spoken to Bestla after a tearful separation and hug would probably be as binding on Barki as Stigmar's oath to Halla on the boat would have been.
 
DeadmanwalkingXI said:
@I.F. Ister could we invest a token amount of Ordstirr into the comb to serve as this kind of warning to Bestla, or would it need to be a full point?
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You could invest ordstirr into the comb, but it would need to be a full point as it is something that has narrative weight. A chekov's gun, if you will.
KreenWarrior said:
A Norseman without a shield is facing death.
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I will note that while this is the sentiment the Norse held, it isn't nearly so cut and dry. Sometimes a man fights with two weapons, sometimes a man fights with two hands on one weapon, and sometimes they do so to great effect as Gunnar does in Brennu-Njals saga.

0~0~0

I will likely call the vote here in an hour or so
 
[x] What do you choose to bring with you?
-[X] Weapons
--[X] Bow
-[X] Small Pouch (3/3)
--[X] Currency, accounting for what Bestla will need
--[X] The Comb
-[X] Ration Pouch (8/8)
--[X] Filled up to 8 meals worth of food.
-[X] Our Person (5/5)
--[X] Quiver w/24 Arrows
--[X] Carving Axe
--[X] Whetstone
-[X] On Olfossa (6/6)
--[X] Tent
--[X] Bedroll
--[X] Spare Shield
--[X] Rope
-[X] Saddlebags
--[X] Linen Undertunic
--[X] Linen Underpants
--[X] Spare Cloak
--[X] Woolen Socks
--[X] Sewing Kit and Supplies
--[X] Personal Hygiene Kit (soap, if nothing else)
--[X] Medical Supplies (Bandages and Herbs)
--[X] As much spices as two inventory slot can carry, aiming for valuable ones for trade
--[X] 6 meals worth of additional food

[x] Next Steps
-[x] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember us by
-[X] Promise to do his best to reunite with Bestla
-[x] Visit Modolfr and demand he tell you what he knows.
 
I.F. Ister said:
You could invest ordstirr into the comb, but it would need to be a full point as it is something that has narrative weight. A chekov's gun, if you will.
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Check. I think I'm against it, then. There's some utility because she could, like, break the comb to let us know she's in trouble, but it could also easily be misused to do things like trap us and weakens us in a way we can ill afford. I do not think Bestla would want us to do it.
 
Alright, voting is now closed.

I've made a couple minor adjustments to the items you've decided upon. The medical stuff (Bandage, Medicinal Herbs) has been put into a Tiny Pouch. The tent has been swapped for a tarp, as they are the same thing essentially and it makes a bit more sense as you don't carry a tent around, you build a tent from the materials on hand.

Also, I've clarified the types of arrows that you have. You didn't get to pick them as Barki would only have so many of each on hand, as arrows are hard to make.
-Sharp arrows are used in combat and for hunting big game. They have arrowheads made from stone and will ruin the skin of small animals.
-Blunt arrows are used for hunting small animals like squirrels and foxes without damaging the hide. They have no arrowhead and do little damage in combat.
-Broad arrows are made with iron arrowheads and are very well suited for combat, but will horribly damage the hides of anything shot with them.

You can make sharp and blunt arrows out in the field, but broad arrows are beyond you unless you have the arrowheads on hand.
Scheduled vote count started by I.F. Ister on Jun 21, 2024 at 9:36 PM, finished with 35 posts and 5 votes.
  • [x] What do you choose to bring with you?
    -[X] Weapons
    --[X] Bow
    -[X] Small Pouch (3/3)
    --[X] Currency, accounting for what Bestla will need
    --[X] The Comb
    -[X] Ration Pouch (8/8)
    --[X] Filled up to 8 meals worth of food.
    -[X] Our Person (5/5)
    --[X] Quiver w/24 Arrows
    --[X] Carving Axe
    --[X] Whetstone
    -[X] On Olfossa (6/6)
    --[X] Tent
    --[X] Bedroll
    --[X] Spare Shield
    --[X] Rope
    -[X] Saddlebags
    --[X] Linen Undertunic
    --[X] Linen Underpants
    --[X] Spare Cloak
    --[X] Woolen Socks
    --[X] Sewing Kit and Supplies
    --[X] Personal Hygiene Kit (soap, if nothing else)
    --[X] Medical Supplies (Bandages and Herbs)
    --[X] As much spices as two inventory slot can carry, aiming for valuable ones for trade
    --[X] 6 meals worth of additional food
    [x] Next Steps
    -[x] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember us by
    -[X] Promise to do his best to reunite with Bestla
    -[x] Visit Modolfr and demand he tell you what he knows.
    [x] What do you choose to bring with you?
    -[x] A selection of those spices, including salt, with real value for trade or bribery
    -[x] Currency, accounting for what Bestla will need
    -[x] Enough food for at least seven days - including flour and other ingredients to cook, and implements for cooking
    -[x] Several water-skins, with water
    -[x] A warm cloak
    -[x] Bedding for sleeping rough
    -[x] A change in clothes
    -[x] A seax
    -[x] A hatchet
    -[x] A means of starting a fire
    -[x] A bow or several javelins, depending on Barki's preference
    -[x] The comb
    -[x] Any gambeson or armor we might have
    -[x] Rope
    [x] Next Steps
    -[x] Carve a wooden comb for Bestla to remember us by
    -[x] Visit Modolfr and demand he tell you what he knows.
Click to expand...
 
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I.F. Ister said:
I've made a couple minor adjustments to the items you've decided upon. The medical stuff (Bandage, Medicinal Herbs) has been put into a Tiny Pouch. The tent has been swapped for a tarp, as they are the same thing essentially and it makes a bit more sense as you don't carry a tent around, you build a tent from the materials on hand.

Also, I've clarified the types of arrows that you have. You didn't get to pick them as Barki would only have so many of each on hand, as arrows are hard to make.
-Sharp arrows are used in combat and for hunting big game. They have arrowheads made from stone and will ruin the skin of small animals.
-Blunt arrows are used for hunting small animals like squirrels and foxes without damaging the hide. They have no arrowhead and do little damage in combat.
-Broad arrows are made with iron arrowheads and are very well suited for combat, but will horribly damage the hides of anything shot with them.

You can make sharp and blunt arrows out in the field, but broad arrows are beyond you unless you have the arrowheads on hand.
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Check. That all makes good sense. Only having 2 Broad Arrows is less than ideal in this instance, but it makes sense as we'd mainly have a bow for hunting rather than war before all this.
 
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The lololol troll trial (Shard)
  • Apocrypha
    • The lololol troll trial

    Comb come call doom's womb now,
    Clear not collared caller.

    Proofless praiseless and less,
    Pluck out late luck and lack.

    Torn worn torment today,
    Troll's triumph rolled out to say:

    Lawless life lied and laid,
    Loss without and within.

    ===

    AN: On request by Discord mates, poetry about the sham trial!

    If anyone ever confused by what I'm writing, I can give translations!
     
  • Apocrypha
    • Alright, so, what's the overall traveling situation like? As in, are you riding hard for Modolfr or are you taking it slow and resting as needed? Would you like to burn Ordstirr on the travel to decrease the time taken?

    It will take about 24 hours to reach Modolfr's house, accounting for rest of both you and your horse and the time it takes to construct sleeping quarters. If you push it, you could arrive after ~5-ish hours of travel, but you will be quite tired by the time you stop unless you spend an ordstirr to mitigate the exhaustion. If you forgo sleeping quarters + amenities, it'll take you about 20 hours.
     
    Last edited:
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