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 pre:Oft him anhaga are gebideð,
metudes miltse, þeah þe he modcearig,
geond lagulade longe sceolde
hreran mid hondum hrimcealde sæ
wadan wræclastas.
Wyrd bið ful aræd.
Often the lone-dweller awaits his own favor,
the Measurer’s mercy, though he must,
mind-caring, throughout the ocean’s way
stir the rime-chilled sea with his hands
for a long while, treading the tracks of exile.
Fate is set.
-The Wanderer  The ravens are circling. Battle-crows wheel through the sky. An omen though you cannot tell if it is for good or ill. You think to ask your companions, but they are all busy making preparations. There has been enough waiting it seems. Your own armor is heavy, and wet, and you are tired already. And yet, there is so much to do still. Whatever your fate, it awaits you under the ravens. Prologue Part One: Who You Are and What You Have Learned Norway, Early 10th Century. Europe cowers in the shadow of Toke Frodsson. Though the Serpent-Breaker is dead, his legacy lives on. After seven years of fighting and invasion, the Great Army of Iceland has conquered Norway, strangling Harald Fairhair’s dynasty in its crib. As the Scandinavian world was focused inward, the rest of Europe breathed a sigh of relief. The sacking of Paris, the death of Charles the Bald, the Heathen Army’s invasion of England, and the establishment of the Kingdom of the Isles in Hebrides, made it seem as if the Northmen were a constant threat, lurking on every waterway and hidden in every mist-shouded valley. Seven years of Northman fighting Northman made the rest of the world think, perhaps, they had weathered the Norse Invasion. But Harald Fairhair is dead, his head stuck upon a pike by Donar Sea-Born, who afterwards proclaimed himself Donar Toksson, King of Norway. As Donar secures his seat in Norway, his followers and former enemies turn their eyes outward, back to a world that is ripe for plucking. Back to the thing that makes them Northmen. Viking. You fought for Donar and the Army of Iceland, you came of age as the great campaign against Norway was starting. And you distinguished yourself enough to put away some silver and renown enough so that, when the fighting is done, you are oathbound to no one except yourself, and you decide to make your fortune and find your fate. 1 - What is your name? (Please specify) 2- Where did you grow up? A. Normandy on the coast of Francia. Rolf the Walker has built a comfortable existence for any Northman who settled peacefully on Norman shores. You lived a life of relative peace and prosperity, with your people farming and keeping the shores safe from raiders. B. Denmark. The trading hub of the North. The Danes pour from the shores of Denmark in seemingly limitless numbers. Some of these are raiders, attaching themselves to whatever the newest great cause is. Some are traders, traveling beyond the known world to bring back treasures and knowledge from distant lands. C. Iceland. A harsh land, once the place of exiles and outcasts in the last decade Iceland has given rise to a people who have reshaped the world to their whim. They are isolationist, suspicious of outsiders and ever sharpening their axes for the next great threat. Raiders and farmers both, one must do what one needs to survive Iceland. D. Hebrides, the Kingdom of the Isles. A newly formed kingdom that is fighting for it’s identity. The Irish, the Picts, and the Saxons surround the Norse, forming a delicate web of commerce and culture. Hunting and farming are more important to your people than raiding, but Ireland is an easy and evergreen target. E. England. The Danelaw has broken the Saxon island of Britain in two. Old Guthrum, leader of the Danes, has become Christian and has no interest in fighting for more land. But many Danes are not ready to settle, and continue border skirmishes with Mercia, Northumbria, and Wessex. Meanwhile, most of your people are figuring out how to live in a new land they suddenly find themselves masters of. Politics and settling are what is on everyone’s minds. F. Norway. A kingdom beset by war. Once a proud kingdom, united by Harald Fairhair and sending off the Swedes and Danes with ferocity, it now has been shattered by the Icelandic conquest. A land burning, people are violent and desperate here, scratching out a living while declaring they are the true Vikings still.  As is true of all your people, you had many teachers as a child. Not knowing your place in Fate's web, you learned many things, preparing yourself for the life ahead. 3 - What did you learn in your childhood? (results will be put in order of Most Votes to Least Votes) A. Skill at Arms. B. Shipbuilding. C. Poetry. D. Trading E. Fishing F. Hunting G. Carpentry H. Farming I. Religious Rituals. J. Other (Explain) You left your home when you came of age, joining the Great Army of Iceland. The great war effort called to many men and women throughout the Norse World, it offered a chance at riches, fame, excitement, and a place in history. 4- Why did you join the Great Army of Iceland in conquering Norway? A. You were a simple farmer, and due to a few poor seasons and diseased crops, it was a choice between going aviking or dying. You had no great interest or skill in battle to start, fighting was something that happened to other, baver, men. Though you were a simple footsoldier, you eventually distinguished yourself B. You were born a thrall, the child of captives from another land. Though you were not treated as poorly as some slaves, you were still seen as cattle by your owner. When the master of the house went to battle, you were brought along to serve as his camp slave. However you proved yourself in battle time and time again. C. Your father was a great warrior and died heroically in battle when you were but a babe. You had been living under his shadow all of your life, when the call to Norway was received, it was expected that you would take up your father’s sword and go. Your own desires or interests mattered little. This was your calling. D. As a traveling skald you were a teller of tales, a recorder of history. Though you had received some acclaim from your poetry and singing, you have never gotten out of the smaller villages and homesteads. You desired to write an epic and be treated as a godi in the great mead halls. And so you went to battle, all the while creating an epic of your own. E. When the gods call, you must answer. As a child you were deathly ill for a time, after which you could see and hear messages from the gods. Though these messages were not always clear in their meaning, and though some distrusted your words, you always knew what was asked of you. As such, you traveled to Norway because the gods demanded it.  And yet you were a young and inexperienced warrior at first. The realities of war surprised you. You survived your early days fighting by becoming close to one of the great heroes of Iceland.You looked at them as someone to emulate, and you saw why they were vital to the fighting. They were not your first teacher, but they were one of your greatest. 5- Who was your hero/leader in battle. A. Fearghas Ceirean - An Irishman yes, and worse a Christian. Yet Fearghas was one of the most steadfast companions of Toke Frodsson. The slave-turned-húskarl was a master of delicate swords play and sly thinking. His Tree of Life tattoo was said to give him powers of a healing touch Perhaps because of this he was humane, maybe to a fault, never crushing opponents when a defeat would do, never targeting women and children, even nursing old enimies to health again. B. Fire Myrun - The Valkyrie Shieldmaiden. A devil with the spear and slayer of beasts and monsters. Legends say that it was she who traveled to Folkvangr to bring Toke Frodsson back from the dead. In the Battle of Höggormsfjörd it is said she turned into a fiery Valkyrie to sweep back the Norwegian shield wall, and kill the Norwegian leader, dragging him to Valhalla. C. Fox Asa - A skilled huntress and scout. Though she was the lover of Donar Tokesson when they were young, her restless spirit drew her to the black hills and forests, becoming more in tune with creatures and spirits of nature than of men. Still, when it came time for battle she was silent as an owl on the hunt. Her skill with a bow was nearly peerless and she was particularly fond of knives and short blades. D. Kolbein the Artist - A rune carver and self proclaimed artist. Kolbein was a sturdy warrior who took it upon himself to become the chronicallor and skald of the Great Army of Iceland. He was a talented storyteller though tended to make his tales more and more lewd the more he drank. E. Toki Asulfsson - Son of Ásúlf Horn-Stream (also called, the Brewer, Kin’s-Bane, and Lamb-Arms), the oldest and dearest friend of Toke Frodsson. Toki was a sturdy warrior, brave and as fearless as his famous father. Toki was in the shield wall almost as soon as he could hold an axe. The man also inherited his father’s love of drinking and women, it was said the man will be hounded by bastards until the day he dies. F. Gizzur Tokesson - The youngest son of Toke Frodsson. A beserk married to the giantess Herdie. It was said that when he is not brawling in battle he spent his time wrestling trolls and hunting for better mushrooms and charms to unlock the power of his rage even more. G. Domnar Sulkesson. Also called Snowlocks. The son-in-law of Ketil, King of Hebrides, and the bastard son of King Sulke, killed by Harald. A natural politician with a silver-tongue, he was oath bound to Toke in Iceland, and spend years positioning himself to take land in Norway and Hebrides in addition to Iceland. _______________________________________________________________ All votes are Approval unless noted. You select the options that you would approve of, and the option with the most votes wins. Welcome to Viking game! This is a historical CYOA set in (roughly) the 910s and tries to emulate the Icelandic Sagas. Historical accuracy is important, but will be blurred or tossed out for the sake of a good story if needed. I am not a historian or a native Scadinavian, so I will gladly accept any help in keeping this authentic feeling. there’s magic and monsters and stuff. This game takes place after the Saga of Toke Frodsson, the protagonist of our previous game. Though it’ll be far enough removed you do not need to have read the previous two threads. Though, you can check out Toke’s adventures below. Thread 1 Thread 2 Close Enough Old Norse Pronunciation Guide pre:Á - Pronounced like the 'a' in ‘car’/ É – Prounced with a double e ‘ee’, like the word Beer.. I and Í – are pronounced like the I in ‘hit’, and ‘ea’ in ‘beat’ Ó – The long ‘o’ is pronounced like the 'o' in ‘for’. Ú – The long ‘u’ is pronounced like the ‘o’ in ‘who’. Y and Ý – are pronounced like the ‘ü’ in the Germ. word ‘Fürher’. Æ – Is pronounced like ‘ea’ in ‘bear’. Ø and Œ – Are pronounced like “ur” in “burn” Ð and ð – Are pronounced like the ‘th’ in the Engl. word ‘there’.
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May 15, 2020 16:41
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D G A A I like the idea of being just some random dude in the Hebrides, it's nice to start small. No idea what a good name is though.
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May 15, 2020 16:55
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Stigur the Bastard D A D A Toughy fucked around with this message at 17:14 on May 15, 2020 |
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May 15, 2020 17:11
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Án the Carver F B E D We will make the best boats
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May 15, 2020 17:22
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Gróa Augustdóttir 2 D 3 A 4 C 5 B We are the unruly and headstrong daughter of August Björnsson. Our father fought with King Ketil against Harald Fairhair in the Hebrides and was slain by Norwegian scum, leaving us an only-child. While it took a lot of effort, we proved to be more stubborn than mother and got her to allow us to train in the spear and the shield instead of more "womanly" pursuits. When the Icelandic call for invasion of Norway came we knew what had to be done and despite mother's protestations we took up our father's arms and joined the group from the Hebrides as a shield maiden. We knew we had made the right decision when we saw Fire Myrun on the field of battle and have been following her since.
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May 15, 2020 17:58
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sheep-dodger posted:Gróa Augustdóttir this is good
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May 15, 2020 19:32
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Gróa Augustdóttir CF CDI DE D
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May 15, 2020 20:35
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Erik the Short DECC Left at home with our mother and sister on these backwater rocks while our father went viking, we came to both admire and despise him for our humdrum life. Whatever happened to him, he never returned, but our mother and older sister would blame any shortfall our household suffered on his absence. When we were told of the call to arms, I proclaimed that I would bring riches to our family and fled despite the protestations of our family. At sea, surrounded by warriors, I heard many tales, but none so bewitching as that of Fox Asa, whose independence and strength allowed her accomplish amazing feats without aid, and was a name in her own right despite her father's fame. I vowed to become like her. Upon arriving in Norway and hearing that she would lead in battle, I knew that my destiny would be made here, and I could bring prestige and wealth back home and show everyone that I could be just as good, or even better, than our probably dead and absent father!
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May 15, 2020 20:49
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Eske 2. E 3. C 4. C 5. A I hope we go hard into poetry. I know that was Toke's thing as well, but I don't recall any CYOA treating poetry as the powerhouse it was in the ancient world besides Ninja Pete's games.
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May 15, 2020 21:00
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Toerveald B C C Inspired by the character I'm running through Bannerlord with, of the same name. My phone keyboard isn't let me use non-standard characters unfortunately.
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May 15, 2020 21:10
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We are Ailish and we're from the Hebrides. We might have Pictish blood. ABG We got visions of battle, and we followed Fearghas.
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May 16, 2020 00:35
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Gróa Augustdóttir - Sure, why not? D J - Warwise - Strategy and Tactics, taught to us by our father's right hand man. C B jng2058 fucked around with this message at 15:27 on May 16, 2020 |
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May 16, 2020 01:57
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B C D D
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May 16, 2020 03:22
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sheep-dodger posted:Gróa Augustdóttir Yeah I was going to write something up but I really like this instead. +1
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May 16, 2020 13:25
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Results You are - Gróa Augustdóttir You are from, Hebrides, the Kingdom of the Isles. (8 votes) Your childhood skills. You are an expert at Skill at arms (5 votes). You are talented, but not a master at Shipbuilding, Poetry (3 votes each) You are passable at Carpentry (2 votes) And you are a novice in Fishing Trading, Religious Rituals, Warcraft, (1 vote each) You joined the Great Iceland army because your father was a great warrior and died heroically in battle when you were but a babe. (6 votes) You looked up to Fire Myrun the Shieldmaiden (5 votes). Fearghas was the runner up with 4 votes, so I’ll try to work something in with him. Will post an update later today.
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May 16, 2020 18:21
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Prologue Part Two: The Invasion of Norway In hearing stories of your father’s exploits and skill in helping Ketill Flatnose* wrestling control of the Isles you understood two simple things, that one man can unify a people and lead them to greatness, and that Harald Fairhair’s greed knew no bounds. Though you never learned the circumstances of your father’s death, you thought it was the result of Harald’s tyranny. As soon as you could pick up a weapon, you vowed as your father’s only child, you would avenge him. Despite your mother’s wishes you learned the sword path, becoming an expert fighter. You paid for your lessons by helping the warriors in repairing the dragonships, or entertaining them with tales. Perhaps out of duty to your father, August Björnsson, or perhaps out of amusement, they trained you. 1. With what weapon were you most proficient with? A. Sword B. Spear C. Axe D. Polearm E. Bow F. Daggers You put your skills to good use, upon traveling to Shetland and then Norway, you had to fend off several sea-raider attacks on your traveling ship. Upon joining with the Great Army, you were given over to Fire Myrun, for her company of Shieldmaidens**. Here you made a name for yourself as a deadly warrior. Many tales were told about Myrun’s Shieldmaidens and their skill in battle.  2. When people spoke of your skill in battle, what did they talk about? A. Your wild ferocity. B. Your cool and calm skill. C. Your devious tricks. D. Your luck. E. Your ability to lead others. F. Other. And yet not every battle you fought was with sword and shield. Often Myrun and the Irishman Fearghas would act as messengers and ambassadors for Donar Tokesson when a more subtle touch was needed. This could be securing allies and supplies, or keeping neutral parties out of the fighting. 3. How did you learn to settle conflicts peacefully? A. Charm and honesty B. Lies and half-truths C. Wits and a cool head. D. Gold and silver. E. A knife in the back when no one was looking. F. Other It is said that battle brings us closer to the gods. And this was true for you. Through as a child you learned of the importance of the gods; Thunderer, who protected man and helped to grow crops; his wife, Sif, who watched over the family, and whose hair was made of golden thread; and the Allfather, Lord of War, Death and Knowledge. All of these gods have heard your prayers at one time or another, but during the campaign, in talks with Myrun, your fellow Shieldmaidens, and even the Christian Fearghas, one of them held a special place in your heart.  4 - Who was your personal patron god? A. Odin - God of War, Death, Knowledge and Poetry B. Thor - God of Thunder, Strength, and Protection C. Freya - Goddess of Love, Beauty and War D. Frey - God of Fertility, Marriage, and the Sun E. Njord - God of the Sea, Wind, and Affluence F. Tyr - God of Battle, Courage, and Wisdom G. Frigg - Goddess of Family, Prophecy, and Magic H. Heimdall - God of Roads, Wards, and Judgements I. Loki - God of Fire, Strife, and Wit. J. Jesus Christ - Christian God introduced to you by Fearghas. K. Other (Explain) And, just as you were finding your place, the war ended. Harald and his dynasy was broken by the children of Toke Frodsson. The man who tried to be King of all Norse was cast down by the “Kingless” of Iceland. Though his sister and her army returned to Iceland, Donar declared himself King of Norway, and set about solidifying his rule. It was at this time that you went to Myrun and asked to be released from service. She agreed, and you found yourself able to make your own path for what felt like the first time. 5. Why are you choosing to find your fortune and fate now? A Donar Tokesson is a cruel and violent ruler who intends to conquer more land.Though he is far more clever than Harald, you feel uncomfortable serving him. And it is time to go. B Norway is in disarray, and Danes, Swedes, and Frankish Norse all see the opportunity to unseat Donar. You have no interest in sitting around waiting for Donar’s kingdom to be attacked, instead it is best to leave when there is the chance. C Strangely, in your service you did find love. Your lover is from a wealthy family and you will need to earn fame and fortune to win them. D You have lost your appetite for war. Instead you wish to find a place of your own and settle it. E There are disquieting rumors about Hebrides and the going ons there. You feel you must return to the land of your birth and seek answers.  ____________________________________________________________ Again, vote for as many options as you wish to for each question. * Ketill Flatnose is an actual historical character. He first appeared in the stories of Ari Þorgilsson, who claimed to be a descendent of Flatnose. However this is likely more than just someone trying to improve their own ancestry since Flatnose also appears in the Laxdæla saga, Eyrbyggja saga, andLandnámabók. Taking these as a whole, the general story of Ketill is after Harald Fairhair unified Norway, some of his opponents retreated to Shetland, Orkney, and the other Isles to raid Norway. Either Ketill was one of these raiders or he was a follower of Harald sent to squash these raiders. Ketill crushed this rebellion, but instead of coming back home to Norway he decided he could set up his own little Kingdom here. As an aside Flatnose’s real name was Ketill Björnsson. Björnsson is the surname of Gróa’s father so, we might as well clear it up here. 6. Is Ketill Flatnose our Uncle? A - Yes we are technically Royalty and destined to rule. B - No we are commoners and will make our own name.. ** There is some debate as to how much the idea of Shieldmaidens as a concept are historical fact. Certainly there were actual women who were warriors in Viking society, but a "unit" of female warriors? That's more debatable. Maybe it was a complete invention or an exaggeration of historical facts to intimitate/outrage Christians. Much like Amazons were. The physical records do show women being buried like their male warrior counterparts, but beyond that it's a real big historical Nerdfight as far as I can tell.
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May 16, 2020 19:41
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We wield a Polearm and with surprising skill. They call us Gróa the Gale-Blade. We are known for keeping a cool head while others lose themselves to battle-lust. Our Personal deity is Frigga, and we have concerns about our home. May want to suggest that Kettil adopted our father as a brother. EDIT: D, B. C. G, E, Write-In? AnAnonymousIdiot fucked around with this message at 20:07 on May 16, 2020 |
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May 16, 2020 19:55
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1. F, Daggers 2. C, Our devious tricks 3. B, Lies and half-truths 4. I, Loki 5. A, Donnar Tokesson is too clever by half. We won't get anywhere following him. 6. A The rouge of Hebrides, driven to become a warrior by the untimely death of her father, has plans to become so much more. We, the blood of royalty, shall carve out our own kingdom. Kristopher fucked around with this message at 20:00 on May 16, 2020 |
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May 16, 2020 19:58
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C CD CE HIJ B B
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May 16, 2020 20:08
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AnAnonymousIdiot posted:We wield a Polearm and with surprising skill. They call us Gróa the Gale-Blade. We are known for keeping a cool head while others lose themselves to battle-lust. Our Personal deity is Frigga, and we have concerns about our home. This is pretty much what I was thinking
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May 16, 2020 20:15
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D B A F E yes uncle flat nose
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May 16, 2020 22:05
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Kristopher posted:1. F, Daggers +1
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May 16, 2020 23:09
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A E C F E A
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May 17, 2020 05:51
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AnAnonymousIdiot posted:We wield a Polearm and with surprising skill. They call us Gróa the Gale-Blade. I like the name and weapon. D, B, C, J, E, A I like the idea of us using our wits and keeping calm instead of pure strength or ferocity. Also it would be nice to see how Groa holds together her polytheism while also adding a bit of Jesus to her life
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May 17, 2020 12:58
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Kristopher posted:1. F, Daggers I like this one too.
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May 17, 2020 13:02
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AnAnonymousIdiot posted:We wield a Polearm and with surprising skill. They call us Gróa the Gale-Blade. We are known for keeping a cool head while others lose themselves to battle-lust. Our Personal deity is Frigga, and we have concerns about our home. I like this but let's not tie ourselves to someone else's story D, B, C, G, E, B
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May 17, 2020 16:08
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D D A G D B
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May 18, 2020 02:01
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 Update incoming
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May 18, 2020 03:48
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Prologue Part Three: Gróa and Donar After you hear of some of the rumors of strife and death embroiling the Isles, you decide you must return home. Myrun agrees and, before you leave, you are brought before King Donar. The man is sly-looking, intelligent more than fierce. Though you cannot miss his pointed ears or sharp eye-teeth. It is said that he has the ability to change into a gigantic wolf, one of Fenrir’s children. He tells you that two of his trusted goðar* have come to him and express their admiration for your abilities. As such, being a ring giver, he has decided to gift you something worthy of your renown, in hopes it will help you, and help further his own legend.  1. What does Donar offer you? A Rainbow Chainmail - A fine set of armor given out to Donar’s honor guard. It is fashioned to resemble the Rainbow Serpent that Toke Frodsson killed in his early years.. B. Fire Rune - He knows the Runes for Fire Magic, allowing anything inscribed with the rune to burn, though the fire is uncontrollable. C . Wolfs Fur- A bracelet woven out of some giant wolf’s fur. It smells of wildness and your skin tingles where it touches it. D. Bone Saex - A seax knife fashioned from the bone of a giant. It feel well-blanced and there are runes inscribed in the blade. As you take your gift, greatly humbled, Donar tells you has has heard tales that you are devoted to Loki. This is true that Loki is the god you personally are drawn to. Though Frigg is also important to you, and much more socially acceptable. Donar smiles and asks why you look to Loki more than others. 2. What is your response? A “Loki serves an important part in the realms of the gods. He is constantly questioning and going against their rules and norms. He teaches us that, though we are bound by Fate, we must also question what we assume to be Fate and the natural order. If we do not, we will never grow.” B “He is a knot in the rope of Fate. Without him yes, it is a straight rope, unknotted and clear. But what can you do with no knots? Can you make a net? Can you sail a ship? Knots are needed, a nuisance yes, but needed. Loki is a necessary evil, and he should be given some respect. “ C“I am not and Icelander, nor am I Danish, Frankian, or even Norwegian. I am Hebriden. I am an outsider and used to disrespect. Loki too is an outsider. He is both giant, and god. He is the father of monsters, and the mother of Odin’s steed. He does not belong and is looked down on. It is sad and...I ..see myself in him. “ D “Loki is fighting Destiny at every chance. And though it is small and unloved, it is through his actions that the gods die. Loki attempts to write his own stories, and though they end in tragedy, he is committed to that. How can I be any different?” E “ There is beauty is chaos. Loki understands the great joke of the world. And he revels in it. Seeing what men may do to each other....one must laugh, less our minds go mad.” Donar listens to your reply and then, giving away no emotion, sends you on your way. Though you are given the freedom to leave, and a trinket by Donar, you still must find a way back to Hebrides. Eventually, you find a suitable ship. And so, with your atgeir** and your silver, you start your journey home.  3. How do you get home? A You take work rowing with a trading vessel. Though the travel will be slow and grueling work, you will earn money through these travels and return with more wealth. B You hire a company of warriors to travel with you. This will be extremely costly, taking most of your wealth. Once you make it home, you also will need to shelter and feed these men, lest they choose to raid your own home and leave. C You take only your closest companion and book passage on another ship. You will have a close ally of yours with you and still most of your wealth. However, word of your return will spread. D You travel in disguise and take only yourself. You will be alone and arrive home as a surprise. Though the seat of power in the Kingdom of the Isles is Ketill’s fortress Suðrborg on the Isle of Skye, your family’s home is not on Skye. Instead of settling under the same roof as his brother, your father staked a claim on one of the other islands in Hebrides.  4. Where is your home village? A Garebyr - Small farming village on Muck. It is a tightly-knit settlement, prosperous and hard working. Farmers and whalers are the backbone of these people. Though happy and peaceful, Garebyr’s wealth makes it a target from random raiders looking for a plentiful haul and missing the easy pickings of Christian churches. B Vindrness - set in the Cuillin on Rùm, this settlement clings precariously to rocky cliffs overlooking the sea. It is a fortress first and foremost and has all the grim and oppressive nature of one. The men here know that, should the Isles ever be threatened they will be on the front lines, and their fate is linked to the safety of the Isles. C Ormsdal - On Lewis. Deep in the island’s centre and surrounded by deep forest, this settlement is removed from much of the world. A significant portion of the settlement is Gaelic and even Christian. This, combined with the attractive amount of lumber the village is hording, has earned the ire of Ketill. D Brennakirkja - On the island of Iona. A settlement that spreads out from the ruins of a burned and dismantled abbey. Though the settlement is surrounded by good farmland, it is a sore sight for many Christians in Ireland as well as England. Though not attacked since before you were born, you remember ever-present Irish and English ships off the coast, and lines of horsemen watching from woods, and the feeling of being watched. E Hærrifjörd - On Harris in the Outer Hebrides. A densely wooded fjord cutting deep into the land. Islands dot the water, providing natural protection against incoming raiders. This is good because, should invasion come from the north, Harris and it’s settlements would burn before getting help from Skye. Your relationship with Flatnose must also be considered. Though the old king was too elderly and too distracted by the Picts to fight Harald himself or send men, he is still well regarded, and his opinion of your family has likely not been changed since you left. 5. What was King Ketill’s relationship with your family? A Ketill gifted your father land, men, and slaves. Even after your father’s death you lived a life of privilege, though your family was all too aware it was tied to the whims of Ketill. B Ketill gave your father was he was owed in service and nothing more. Your family built up a comfortable life before the death of your father, and after his death the settlement has taken care of you and your mother. Ketill has remained a distant Uncle, paying little attention to you or your family. C Ketill gave your father nothing. There was a violent disagreement from the brothers and your father left with only his sword. Everything you have ever known was built on his blade and blood. After his death, your family’s wealth and standing declined greatly. Ketill has kept your family from power, either from some great grudge or a fear of challenging his authority. . __________________________________________________________________ Like the game? Want to chat about it/help my unending need to research Norse farming techniques and find images? Join the discord and ask for the @Gróa-n Stronger role for updates! *”goði” (or Gothi or godi) is an Icelandic social class that is essentially the nobility. How Donar is using it is the equivalent of “jarls”. Donar wouldn’t be using Norwegian or Danish terms quite yet. ** atgeirs were a type of polearm the Norse used. It’s called "mail-piercer" or "hewing-spear" and we don’t know exactly what it looked like. Probably like a glaive of some sort? In some Icelandic sagas it was used by Gunnar Hámundarson not only to fight but also pole vault onto his horse NinjaPete fucked around with this message at 15:48 on May 18, 2020 |
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May 18, 2020 04:09
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B A A B B
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May 18, 2020 04:22
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Wikipedia posted:Various methods for becoming a werewolf have been reported, one of the simplest being the removal of clothing and putting on a belt made of wolfskin, probably as a substitute for the assumption of an entire animal skin (which also is frequently described). NinjaPete posted:You are brought before King Donar. The man is sly-looking, intelligent more than fierce. Though you cannot miss his pointed ears or sharp eye-teeth. It is said that he has the ability to change into a gigantic wolf, one of Fenrir’s children. C. Wolfs Fur- A bracelet woven out of some giant wolf’s fur. It smells of wildness and your skin tingles where it touches it. AD AD BCDE BC malbogio fucked around with this message at 04:52 on May 18, 2020 |
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May 18, 2020 04:34
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Why Donar offered the knife eludes us. Maybe we remind him of her mother? Fact is, we're not her. We are Gróa, and we can only test ourselves against the winds of fate. Since our home is hurting for supplies, working with a trade ship to Vinderness is just common sense. At least there do people not think we jest when we say we can handle ourselves. Kettil doesn't mind this, in fact, I think he barely notices his niece.
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May 18, 2020 04:42
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1. A 2. A 3. CE 4. D 5. BC
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May 18, 2020 04:44
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1. B 2. D 3. AD 4. EC 5. B
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May 18, 2020 12:32
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A A A B B
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May 18, 2020 15:34
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C A D E B
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May 18, 2020 15:38
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1. A 2. DC 3. C 4. D 5. C
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May 18, 2020 16:31
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1. A If we're going with the polearm, we should start with some decent armor, to compliment it. 2. C 3. A The other choices I'm voting for are likely to make us poor, so a bit of extra starting cash could go a long way 4. C 5. C Our wealth is in timber and the king hates our guts. Lets see where we can go with this.
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May 18, 2020 21:21
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Part 1: Gróa Returned Battle-crows wheel through the sky. An omen though you cannot tell if it is for good or ill. You think to ask your companions, but they are all busy making preparations. There has been enough waiting it seems. Your own armor is heavy, and wet, and you are tired already. And yet, there is so much to do still. Whatever your fate, it awaits you under the ravens. It awaits at Vindrness*. Even from this distance you can see the stones of the outer ring looming above the cliff face. The roof of the hall, tucked behind the taller inner wall is visible as well. But you see something that troubles you, or it is rather what you do not see that is troubling. There is no smoke rising from the roofs of any of the bothies or the great hall. There are no people visible along the cliffs, or scraping out a meagre crop in the fields outside the walls. There are no herders, or herds, in the pastures either. Just the ravens. Circling. “This may be where we leave you Augustdóttir,”** Torvoldt says from behind you. You turn back to the trader and his crew, all eyes on you. They are busying themselves taking in the sail and preparing to row to the stoney beach at the foot of the cliffs. You are surprised Torvoldt hasn’t asked you to row yourself ashore. The cheap bastard has made you earn every step of your journey home. But he is a decent man compared to many you have met and he runs a tight ship, only one of his men tried to put hands on you without your permission. Torvoldt himself held the man down when you took the offending fingers. “It may be,” you admit. “Me and my money, correct?” “Aye that was the deal,” Torvoldt replies, motioning his rowers to get into position. “But you know Gróa, you are good in a scrape, and you’ve already pulled your weight on this journey. I could use a good warrior on my boat.” 1 What trouble on the journey did you help with? A The ship was overtaken by sea raiders, you leapt into the raiders ship and punctured the hull enough to cause the boat to sink. B During a mighty storm you took over the piloting of the ship when Torvoldt was unconscious with drink. You held the ship together and oversaw the repairs yourself. C During a stop over in Orkney, several of the crew men were taken as slaves. You were able to secure their release with minimal bloodshed. D A great shark from the depths attacked the ship, cracking the hull. You kept it at bay as you and others had to enter the water to make repairs. “I am sure you could Torvodt, and I wish you luck in finding one. I am going home,” you eyes drift again towards the ravens, Torvodt notices. He is a fat man, but with a doughy strength and ropey muscles you have seen as he works the rigging of the ship. You have not asked if he is a warrior, you have no really asked if he is even Norse or merely a trader willing to do business with them. Yet, even he knows the most likely reason that ravens circle above.  “It is worrying Augustdóttir. Are you sure you wish to step ashore?” You nod and grab onto a line of rigging as the rowers heave the boat forward. “But I must ask something of you.” “Oh? You wish to hire my ship again? I know your purse is fat enough with silver, so I would hear your request.” “It is a request Torvodt. You will earn nothing but my favor, something I will repay when asked.” “Honor vows are all well and good, but I would first hear the request.” 2. What do you ask of them? A When they leave for Skye bring word to King Ketill that you have returned. B Wait here at the cliff foot for you to return. They will be paid by you for their trouble and delay. C Come ashore with you, you will have men to investigate with, in return you will feast them. D Watch the cliffs as they are leaving, if they see smoke, there is trouble and Ketill should send men. E In a month’s time, when they return this way, come to Vindrness with supplies. F Leave the extra sail and mast with you. You intend to outfit your own ship in the future. G Keep your return secret, tell no one in Skye. Torvodt is silent for a time, finally he spits over the side of the ship, “Is that all? I suppose I owe you at least that much.” You nod and watch the shore approaching, as the ship slips through the waves you consider how you will approach Vindrness. Assuming the ravens are an ill omen, you must plan your approach with care. 3. How do you approach your home? A Wait on the beach until nightfall and sneak in under the cover of darkness. You will be blind as to what is happening in the fort, but no one in the fort will expect you. B Set up on one of the hills overlooking the fort, you can watch and observe until you get a better read on the situation. Though, the hills have bad blindspots and lines of sight, you may be snuck up on. C Climb the cliff face as you did when you were a girl. You know the path to the inner ring and you could get in with no trouble Of course, you are older now and heavier, and have no attempted that in at least a decade. D Do not go to the fortress, instead search some of the outlying herdsmen’s huts, find someone to question to get a better read on the situation. And pray that whoever you talk to is friendly. E Walk up the mainroad, weapons sheathed and plainly seen. You will pose no threat to anyone in the fort, and will be at their mercy. You had best hope it is mercy.  ***________________________________________________________________________________________________ Because Gróa is a thinker, we need to spend some time with her weighing her options here. Updates will slow down during the week as I am still teaching and teaching during Covid is a nightmare. So hopefully every other day for now. If you have questions of me, please as here or join the discord and ask for the @Gróa-n Stronger role to chat and get my attention. Previous Votes  *Visually, Vindrness is a hodgepodge. Mostly it’ll be based on Dún Aonghasa in Ireland, which is a really cool looking ring fortress, not quite what the Norse in Scotland should have, but it looks too drat cool to not use. **So stylistically this game will switch between two “modes” I guess? The Icelandic sagas are written in a very beautiful but objective and even sparse at times style. They are very fun to read but sometimes move too fast or seem too terse. I found when writing Toke’s Saga that at times I really wanted to slow down and have dialogue or subjective thoughts but pulled back because it didn’t fit the tone. For this game I am not worrying about that. A lot of the game will be in the style of the prologue or Toke’s Saga, but at times I may “zoom in” and write something more like this. If I have the time. *** As with Toke there is no canon image of Gróa. She’s whatever you envision! I encourage people to post images that capture what you feel she is like. NinjaPete fucked around with this message at 14:31 on May 20, 2020 |
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May 19, 2020 04:49
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Does it truly feel so long ago since we set foot home? Feels like our home has packed up and went underground. Perhaps we should get a head start for a ship of our own, in case the worst happens. Our time gave us enough knowledge of sailing. If we could keep Torvodt's ship afloat we could manage our own. Good thing nobody knows of the cliff face; we're stronger now than we were when we left.
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May 19, 2020 05:01
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