On Thread Etiquette:
I'm not going to weigh in on the logic of either side's arguments, but I will ask that everyone read over what they write and really consider if the words they used are polite and won't be inflammatory intentionally or not. You cant account for people's tolerances perfectly but at least try to say your piece without saying things that can be easily construed as overly dismissive of the other side of the argument, thank you.
That Research a Master Rune option weve had since forever implies otherwise. Think that's a random Rune from researching randomly though. Unless we can pick and try.
That Research a Master Ruemne option weve had since forever implies otherwise. Think that's a random Rune from researching randomly though. Unless we can pick and try.
Far as I can tell that's for poking a specific Master Rune that we choose while voting for the option in plan (which might create variant runes), but for coming up with entirely new runes (which is the context I was speaking in) that needs insights. Like the master rune we're currently working on for purifying Gromril.
The Rune of Lightstep already makes your footfalls quieter, presumably by reducing how much weight they put on the ground. "A light step" and all that.
But a Rune of Lightness is probably mundanely a thing. We can just ask: @soulcake does Snorri know any Runes that reduce the weight of what they are put on?
You stare down at your armour and weapons once more. It has been just over a century since you last donned it, but you remember the damage it took.
Running a hand over the pristine surface of the chest plate, remembering the shape of the impact despite having undone the damage decades ago. Looking at the back the story is the same, not a single sign of the divots and imprints left by the Greedy One's rain of blows from when you pushed him off. The boots are clean, the gauntlets and helmet rebuilt, it all looks the same. It all feels the same once you've put it on, the work you put to restore it paying dividends.
Save for one piece.
You lift up the cloak, examining the tear along the bottom, left by the Greedy One's final struggles as you had sent him tumbling to his doom.
Though you've repaired it as well, not even risking a single frayed edge, your own shoddy, in your opinion, stitchwork stands out from the fine weaving of the original material. The red dye has not faded, the runes still glow, it functions as well as any of the gear you wear.
Yet it feels...undone. The damage is repaired, but you could never truly replace what was lost. Not like with your armour or your weapons.
But a part of you would throw every other piece away if it meant keeping this last and greatest memento safe.
You let go of the soft fabric, letting the bottom of the cloak fall to the floor before swirling it over your back and clasping it secure.
You walk out of your room, hand Snerra her stack of orders, and out the workshop.
Out of your home.
And into battle once more.
…
You meet King Otrek at the grand feast hall of Kraka Drakk, the only place in the hold large enough to contain the number of nobles and representatives that would be attending this strategy meeting. Which said a lot considering this room was supposed to have enough room for almost every dwarf in the hold.
Around both of you, several dwarfs hustle about, preparing the meals and food meant to be eaten. At the Ancestor's request, the meals are kept light until after the strategy meeting, the ale being the one exception.
"Rhunrikki," King Otrek nods at your approach, "the other commanders will be arriving soon, we'd best get to our seats."
"Might as well," you agree, following the king and six of his Huskarls as they make their way to your seats. Not at the head of the great circular arrangement, but close enough to Grimnir's seat of honour as to be proper considering this is Otrek's hold after all.
The two of you sit in your seats, conversing quietly when the first Dwarf enters.
It is Grimnir, and immediately both of you stand from your seats and bow before him until he waves you to sit back down. The two of you noting how his six bodyguards are carrying stacks on stacks of papers and books. At your questioning glance, King Otrek simply mumbles "He requested our maps and any knowledge we had about the local fauna."
Fair enough.
Grimnir and his party of elders march to the head of the table, the Ancestor choosing to stand instead of sit in the ornate chair usually held in reserve for Otrek himself, while his guard continues past him and towards your own group. When they arrive, they hand off several of the stacks on stacks of recordings to Otrek's own Huskarls before making their way back to their liege, standing silently behind him.
Otrek's guards meanwhile disappear down a door, six more Huskarls entering to take their place behind him.
Eventually, the rest of the noble contingent arrives. Dwarfs from the Empire all over, great warriors, mighty kings, princes and princesses followed by loyal retainers and truly ancient Runelords.
Among the crowd of famed individuals, you catch sight of Prince Stonehammer, the dwarf nodding in your direction and making his way over to sit to Otrek's right.
"King Ironarm, it is good to see you once more," the Prince says as he takes a seat.
"Prince Stonehammer, this is a pleasant surprise. How fares Ungor?" the King replies, the silent question on his mind evident.
"Ungor will hold, both I and a good portion of the Throng have been sent north to aid the Ancestor in his campaign as well as offer recompense for our delay in the blood of your enemies. Especially considering how Kraka Drakk has taken up our slack." the Heir of Ungor answers, tone sincere.
"We accept the recompense, let whatever debt arisen from this situation be henceforth paid back Prince Stonehammer. Make sure you personally tell your father such when you return to him. Hopefully through the Ungdrin." Otrek says diplomatically.
The Prince nods at the king, then nods at you, "Rhunrikki, king Stonehammer offers his personal thanks for your own efforts. Even we in Ungor have heard the tale of your deeds despite the difficulties of travel."
You simply nod, taking a drink of your tankard.
A quiet encompasses your group, the lot of you content to watch the trickle of entering dwarfs grow into a tide that makes their seats around the table.
Durazkladd, Donarkhun, Barruk, Drakebeard, Ironhammer, Starbeard, the list of royal clans goes on and on, each one was storied and legendary in its own right. Among these fabled clans and representatives are the truly ancient and famed Runelords of the Karaz Ankor. Yorrek Yargrimsson, grandson of Thungni, Galrak Goldeneye, Runelord of Karak Drazh, Gottri Hammerspite, legendary warrior smith of Karak Azul and more famed individuals besides.
When the last dwarf guard enters, the doors are shut and Grimnir clears his throat. Silencing what little discussion dared occur.
"Yorrek, the map." the Valiant grumbles, drawing attention to the ancient Runelord who pulls out a simple Gromril rod which he taps with his hammer.
The center of the room, where the tables were arrayed in a circular fashion is taken up by an absolutely massive map of the North.
"The path is clear. I will take a third of the Throng along the Northern coast," the ancestor says, the sound of a hammer strike rings out and the rotating image of the map is now showing a line with his symbol moving northwards up to the sea of ice and travelling along the coast to the tip of the peninsula.
"Gunn will take another third through the center, clearing the mountains and reopening the paths between the holds," another strike and a second line snakes across the region, an arrow bearing the symbol of Gunn, grandson of Grimnir, marching across the mountains, meeting Grimnir's arrow before the conjoined force moves down south and across the southern half of the region back towards Kraka Drakk.
"The remaining third will be led by Ullek and act as a reserve, following behind, clearing up stragglers and securing our supply route. Gunn will show you your assignments. Ullek will disseminate the necessary information. We march in the morning." Grimnir finishes, before walking out with five of his honour guard. The last, Gunn, begins rattling off the contingents and their assigned roles, going for a good half hour before he finishes and sits down, not on the ornate chair, but on another one he managed to find somewhere somehow.
Well, that was quick.
With that done, the assembled lords and ladies begin discussing among themselves, speaking of strategy and general matters in equal measure. None dare gainsay Grimnir the Valiant, now they simply seek to communicate with their fellow contingent members and how they'll seek to divide themselves.
Having sensed the change in mood Otrek whispers to one of his Huskarls, the dwarf nodding in acknowledgement before marching out of the room through a side door. A minute later, the side doors open and the servants file in, all carrying hearty and filling meals kept back until now.
Already many of the dwarfs are getting up out of their seats and walking amongst themselves, King Otrek nods at you once before getting up and heading over to the Princess of Karak Vlag, his son's bride to be, in her Runic armour glinting in the firelight.
You huff once and take a tankard from a passing servant.
It'll be a long night.
…
In the morning, you meet with the King once more, now at the head of the now incorporated Throng of Kraka Drakk. The king is surrounded by his thanes, disseminating what he learned the night before to all of them before letting them return to their Clans before seeing you.
"Rhunrikki, how do the Runesmiths fare?" he asks.
"Bah, they'll do. If not in skill then in number," you reply.
You both remember the slightly saddening efforts of your younger compatriots a century ago. Though they've made up for that lacklustre performance in the campaigns since, neither of you really forgot their first attempt. Admittedly it may also be due to the sheer number of Runesmiths present in your hold, for its size at least. While the older Throngs have a larger total, in terms of proportion you have more Runesmiths and Runic equipment overall. Allowing the Throng to hit above its weight class in terms of Runic might. The same could be said in terms of equipment, the gear of the warriors closer to that of a hold like Azul than one your age or size.
"It'll have to do, and with you running herd on them they should be fine, I have faith in that at least. We march behind the Throng of Azul, my second will take charge while I'm at the front with Lord Gunn at his request. 'Better to have someone whose walked the routes we'll be taking instead of his maps' he says."
You nod in understanding, finding the logic sound and remembering the size of Lord Gunn's beard.
"We'll start marching soon I reckon, apologies for cutting this so shortly Rhunrikki, but I'd best meet Lord Gunn before things get too busy," the King says, nodding at you before marching off with half his Huskarls in tow.
Well, you'd best go back to that gaggle of fools then.
The first year of campaigning is hard fought for both you and the Throng of Kraka Drakk.
On your end it is shaking off the rust 100 years of no conflict has put upon your skills, on the Throng's end it's about coordinating as part of a far larger organization than they're used to. While you certainly don't bungle about, and in fact do better than average, there is still certainly room for improvement.
Your work is superlative, but compared to the bellowing might of a dwarf like Gottri Hammerspite it certainly looks less impressive.
The only real point of interest was when a regiment you were part of came upon the cave of a Cockatrice, it's terrible gaze stopped from turning one of your people to stone by a quick strike of your Wards, destroying the foul magic letting the dwarfs closest by to chop off the beast's head.
Hopefully, things go better as time goes on.
…
(Roll, Snorri Y2: 50 +40[Cumulative Bonuses] =90)
(Roll, Throng Y2: 96 +35[Cumulative Bonuses] =131)
The year after sees your fortunes change drastically.
Perhaps it is because Otrek seems to have found his rhythm under Gunn's command, or maybe the Throng simply wishes to prove itself, but the battles fought in the second year are won in crushing fashion. King Ironarm leading many a valiant charge to relieve a battered shield wall, crushing flanking strikes that rout many a daemonic force and sunder just as many more mundane monsters. Indeed, among the assembled dwarfs, the Dwarfs of Kraka Drakk begin to develop a reputation for mighty line breakers and shock troops. Their runic equipment allows the relatively small number of dwarfs to fight well above their weight class. Letting them break formations of the enemy and allowing the greater body to sweep up after them.
Lord Gunn too begins to accommodate King Otrek's innate ability to find the proper moment to deliver a devastating charge right where it's needed most, developing an anvil and hammer strategy that lets the more traditional war making of the other throngs mesh beautifully with the short but lightning-fast and terrible charges of King Otrek and the Throng.
You also begin to get into the swing of things. Finding a natural flow in battle with the Runelords of the other throngs. Though you are all separated from each other and surrounded by other dwarfs, all of you still manage to catch on to the terrible powers your fellows unleash. Casting a Rune just as soon as the other ends, developing a pattern that at times manages to keep the entirety of the combined Throngs under the effects of Runic protection.
You especially find the greatest amount of coordination with a Runelord by the name of Kraggi Steelback, who you learn is a member of the Brotherhood of Dron. The two of you ending up alongside each other when battle is met more often than not.
The moment that perhaps solidified both yours and Kraka Drakk's position as a young but dependable hold was during a clash against a horde of trolls that had kept themselves hidden in the highest peaks of the area, only coming down after your army quite literally forced them out through prodigious use of Wrath and Ruin to collapse the caves you had believed they were hiding in.
It had seemingly worked, the horde of beasts came barreling out of the caves, their Greedy Troll master at its head. But what came out of one of the caves was not a Troll, but in fact, a titanic beast bellowing in anger as it tore out of its collapsed lair.
A Stonehorn, something only found in the highest of peaks and most remote locations after Grimnir led a campaign to remove the meddlesome creatures from the World's Edge. Clearly this one specimen managed to evade the Ancestors furious efforts, being this far north and so high up it had remained hidden.
Until now.
There you led the Runesmiths of Kraka Drakk, bellowing at them to slow the creature down. The lot of you manage to cast Wrath and Ruin on it to cushion its charge. Following your lead, Thane Otrek and several of his Huskarls charged at the beast, hoping to stop it from breaking the shield wall holding back the tide of trolls.
In a scene out of a saga, King Otrek charged the rampaging creature head-on, got flipped upwards by a swing of its massive horns to the grief of many watching. Only for them to erupt in cheers as the now falling King positioned himself so that his fall would behead the beast on Trollslayer's edge. The explosion of energy from his weapon literally launching the creature's head away from its body, ending its charge and sending the now separated head flying into the middle of the troll horde.
The King meanwhile did not sit idle, even as the head flew towards his enemies, he too was charging at them, his stupefied Huskarls not far behind. In a matter of moments the building stalemate ended, and the back of the enemy forces broke upon Otrek's literal and metaphorical knee.
Otrek himself was honoured greatly, toasted by Gunn and the assembled dwarfs, the Throng of Kraka Drakk cheering loudest of all.
It is on the eve of that momentous victory that you find yourself sitting and talking next to
[ ]Gottri Hammerspite: The legendary Runelord chortling in glee at the sight of the beast's head, explaining that it's only something he's heard of coming from the east.
[ ]Kraggi Steelback: The only other Runelord whose of an age with you amongst the many venerable elders present. He sips from his tankard quietly, eyeing Trollslayer contemplatively.
…
Gain:
- +1 set of Cockatrice eye
- +1 Stonehorn's horns
- +1 Stonehorn's eye
Two-Hour Moratorium before you vote.
AN: These are supposed to be shorter damnit. Anywho thanks for reading and don't forget to C&C. :^)
The super short briefing seems a little odd to me. Would have thought dwarves would be the type to try and plan for a dozen contingencies and make sure everyone is aware of the state of the battlefield and anticipated timeline of work and campaign, go over supply status, set up lines of communication between parts of the throng...
Ya'll thinking too small we don't need an armored floating chariot we need one of those stone sacred portable altar thingies like the one that was recovered in Karak Ungor in the Dinasty quest I can't recall the name but we need something like it to properly ride into battle otherwise we are not trying hard enough
The super short briefing seems a little odd to me. Would have thought dwarves would be the type to try and plan for a dozen contingencies and make sure everyone is aware of the state of the battlefield and anticipated timeline of work and campaign, go over supply status, set up lines of communication between parts of the throng...
Yes, but they don't need Grimnir for the little details. Or at least I imagine he's not going to hold their hands THAT much. I'm certain all that stuff was handled off-screen.
Grimnir and his party of elders march to the head of the table, the Ancestor choosing to stand instead of sit in the ornate chair usually held in reserve for Otrek himself,
[ ]Kraggi Steelback: The only other Runelord whose of an age with you amongst the many venerable elders present. He sips from his tankard quietly, eyeing Trollslayer contemplatively.
Build up that Social Link with the Brotherhood of Dron. Might help with Rune Metal and other Rune secret bonuses.
Ya'll thinking too small we don't need an armored floating chariot we need one of those stone sacred portable altar thingies like the one that was recovered in Karak Ungor in the Dinasty quest I can't recall the name but we need something like it to properly ride into battle otherwise we are not trying hard enough
I'm pretty sure you're talking about the Anvil of Doom from Torroar's Drunken Dynasty Quest. And Soulcake has said those don't exist yet. Like, the guy who came up with the idea for them hasn't even been born yet.
Tough Call. We have the start of something with Kraggi, and he is a member of the Brotherhood, but Hammerspite was one of our Chargen Masters and so he's definitly fuckin bullshit.
This vote is tough, one is our age and already a member of the Brotherhood, while the other is a full on legendary runelord who could have been our master. IDK what to do.
The super short briefing seems a little odd to me. Would have thought dwarves would be the type to try and plan for a dozen contingencies and make sure everyone is aware of the state of the battlefield and anticipated timeline of work and campaign, go over supply status, set up lines of communication between parts of the throng...
Its the kind of Info Grimnir gave out before the meeting. Its why he asked for those papers in the first place, he gave everyone he trusts, like Gunn, the prereading and trusts them to disseminate the info.
I'm pretty sure you're talking about the Anvil of Doom from Torroar's Drunken Dynasty Quest. And Soulcake has said those don't exist yet. Like, the guy who came up with the idea for them hasn't even been born yet.
"King Ironarm, it is good to see you once more," the Prince says as he takes a seat.
"Prince Ironarm, this is a pleasant surprise. How fares Ungor?" the King replies, the silent question on his mind evident.
"Ungor will hold, both I and a good portion of the Throng have been sent north to aid the Ancestor in his campaign as well as offer recompense for our delay in the blood of your enemies. Especially considering how Kraka Drakk has taken up our slack." the Heir of Ungor answers, tone sincere.
"We accept the recompense, let whatever debt arisen from this situation be henceforth paid back Prince Stonehammer. Make sure you personally tell your father such when you return to him. Hopefully through the Ungdrin." Otrek says diplomatically.
[ ]Master: Gottri Hammerspite.
As a beardling, Master Hammerspite broke his first hammer upon his master's anvil, an act that would define him. In the days since then, his hammering arm has gotten stronger far faster than his skill at making them. Which says much, considering kings pay fortunes for the things and Smednir himself once sniffed in approval at the sight of one. It was whispered amongst your fellow Apprentices that master Gottri's blows were so mightily furious that he broke a hammer for every twenty runes he made. Of course, that was a lie, you learned later from the Dwarf himself that it was actually every 17 runes. Shows what you know. So commonly did he break his hammers that Master Gottri became incredibly adept at making ever stronger hammers and ever more aware of the flaws he found in yours. You heard tales that Master Gottri himself took the field as a part of Grimnir's Throng, his bellowing call and thunderous blows rallying many a dwarf and smiting many a foe. Under him, your eye became keener than the truest axe edge, your metalworking the equal of any master blacksmith and your hammers second only to the Hammerspite himself. You equally remember running in fear as he began chortling in manic glee, the telltale sign that either the hammer he was using was bound to explode in a shower of magic and metal or the rune he was making would blind you for a week. (Specialization: Weapon and Banner Runes, hammers, blacksmithing.)
"The remaining third will act as a reserve, following behind, clearing up stragglers and securing our supply route. Gunn will show you your assignments. We march in the morning." Grimnir finishes, before walking out with five of his honour guard. The last, Gunn, begins rattling off the contingents and their assigned roles, going for a good half hour before he finishes and sits down, not on the ornate chair, but on another one he managed to find somewhere somehow.
I guess he wants to get shit done. I can respect that and it seems like a solid plan. Grimnir's fury along the north would both drive things up into the mountains for Gunn to deal with and it would drive things that love battle out of the mountains and down from the Sea of Chaos.
Indeed, among the assembled dwarfs, the Dwarfs of Kraka Drakk begin to develop a reputation for mighty line breakers and shock troops. Their runic equipment allows the relatively small number of dwarfs to fight well above their weight class. Letting them break formations of the enemy and allowing the greater body to sweep up after them.
As I noted above, because we hit harder than might be expected for such a young hold we're going to have Consequences from that for a long long time to come and getting such a reputation is a glorious one.
In a scene out of a saga, King Otrek charged the rampaging creature head-on, got flipped upwards by a swing of its massive horns to the grief of many watching. Only for them to erupt in cheers as the now falling King positioned himself so that his fall would behead the beast on Trollslayer's edge. The explosion of energy from his weapon literally launching the creature's head away from its body, ending its charge and sending the now separated head flying into the middle of the troll horde.
Eyyyyyyyyyyy! That's rad as fuck right there that is.
For the votes we know a bit about Hammerspite as a person, in theory at least and he's a very good Runesmith and on the other hand Kraggi seems interested in Trollslayer which is heh a good icebreaker and is a member of the Brotherhood. I'd be happy with either, though my inclination is Kraggi to see more world building about the Brotherhood, even if only by implication.
The super short briefing seems a little odd to me. Would have thought dwarves would be the type to try and plan for a dozen contingencies and make sure everyone is aware of the state of the battlefield and anticipated timeline of work and campaign, go over supply status, set up lines of communication between parts of the throng...
[]Kraggi Steelback: The only other Runelord whose of an age with you amongst the many venerable elders present. He sips from his tankard quietly, eyeing Trollslayer contemplatively.
well, well, well, one of our best works yet in terms of offensive strength is getting attention from a fellow rune-lord...and we got three ingredients!!! That's awesome! any of them tier 3 or 4?
[X]Kraggi Steelback: The only other Runelord whose of an age with you amongst the many venerable elders present. He sips from his tankard quietly, eyeing Trollslayer contemplatively.
well, well, well, one of our best works yet in terms of offensive strength is getting attention from a fellow rune-lord...and we got three ingredients!!! That's awesome! any of them tier 3 or 4?
[X]Kraggi Steelback: The only other Runelord whose of an age with you amongst the many venerable elders present. He sips from his tankard quietly, eyeing Trollslayer contemplatively.
