>>Kent
In Kent, the Mercians face another potential rebellion against their rule. The Mercian throne has long administered the lands of Kent directly, for it is the home of the most holy Archbishopric of Canterbury.

Offa had sought to deprive it of its status and impose a bishopric under his own control as the most supreme in England. Remnants of the rebel king Eadberht’s retinue have been harassing officials and estates belonging to the Mercian client King Cuthred, who is brother to Coenwulf. Their loyalty to their king and kingdom does not permit them to lay down their arms even after their lord's death.

>>Wessex
In the land of Wessex, old Beorhtric rules from his bed, ailing and sick. In his younger days, he, with the help of Offa, had wrestled the throne from the Kentish Ætheling Egbert and sent him into exile. Thereafter, he plunged the Kingdom of Wessex into such subservience that only the coins of Offa were used.

The Frankish King Charles gave refuge to the young Egbert, who met Eadberht there before his rebellion. Eadberht, once a monk, taught Egbert the art of governance. With news of Mercian overlordship slowly disintegrating, Egbert weighs the idea of crossing the channel.

>>Sussex
The land of the South Saxons has had no king for a generation, instead being ruled by a dux, subservient to Mercia.

The death of Offa has given them a reprieve, and for a time they could call themselves free. Their dux, fearing Offa's successor, did not claim kingship.

Alas, his recent death has curtailed any plans he might have had. Now, no one man can say they rule the land. Its nobles are hesitant to elect anyone, and no one has declared himself dux, much less king, for Mercia is embroiled in various struggles. When these are dealt with, no one knows if the elected or declared will be deposed.

This is the world into which you, young hero, are born. You shall make your mark upon the world. May the skalds forever sing your name, and may your chronicles survive to eternity

Hello 4chan I am TravelingQM, named so because of my shit internet, there might come a time when my ID changes although I hope it won't be for a while.

Anyways forget about that.This is an introductory blurb to an idea that has been bouncing around in my head for quite some time, I have been wanting to write some form of historical fiction for quite some time and with this I take a plunge into making my thoughts a reality

I love history, I love reading and learning about it, that said I am not a trained historian, I have no degree nor any training. I am an amateur but I will strive to keep things grounded in history and reality.

Some words I will be using anachronistically, namely place names and terms, for ease of writing and organization. Some facts or numbers might be changed to suit narrative purposes.

Players will take control of a young man (Age TBD) starting in the one of the Kingdoms introduced above. First a roll will be required to determine your families status in this world, the ranks will be listed below. It is favored for you to be part of the ruling class but if your fortune is bad enough then so be it. I'll need 3 rolls of 1d00 and then the average of those three will be the result.

95-100: Royal
94-75: Ealdorman
74-55: Gesith
54-35: Unlandagende
34-15: Ceorl
14-1: Slave

NOTE- Please do not vote for your preferred staring location just yet, as the result of this roll will influence your character's role and participation in each scenario. I could roll myself but I want to see first if this idea is of interest to you folks and I know you guys like rolling lol.

>>5896411
>Northumbria

Norf

Rolled 19 (1d100)

>>5896419

Rolled 76 (1d100)

>>5896422
Rolo

Rolled 5 (1d100)

>>5896419
Uh. Kay.

Here's hoping it's best of 3 and not average or lowest of 3

>>5896430
He said average

>>5896425
>>5896426
>>5896427
33.33
Nice. A repetend.
Also we're a Ceo r(eal)l(ife).

>>5896432
Missed that. Even so, we could have done worse than a 50, although it is still technically unlucky

>>5896435
Oops, my bad. Divided by 2 instead of 3. Not doing great on the comprehension today

Rolled 60 (1d100)

>>5896419

>>5896419
Unlucky indeed folks, With a 33 our intrepid young hero is a Ceorl, part of the vast majority (and lowest) of the Anglo Saxon social class, not counting slaves

A Ceorl is a free man with both rights and obligations. he may own property, bear arms, seek justice under the King or Gods laws. In tunr he owes his lord a tithe of his labour, and for certain days of the year he is obligated to perform militry service.

Well folks there you have it, one away from being a Unlandagende, a rather old term which denotes a noble who is not landed but served as the companion and warrior of a great lord or king.

If you guys want I would propose a deal, I could have our young hero rise a rank in social status but at the cost of having no living family. In Anglo Saxon England a persons family network was their biggest source of power and support. I will leave it to you guys if you want to take the deal. Trade your support network for certain skills and privliges a noble might have.

>YES
>NO

>>5896458
>>NO

>>5896458
> NO
Suffering mode: activate

>>5896458
I will give this another 30-40 minutes and then move on with an update. Hopefully more votes come in but if not then we shall proceed.

>>5896458
>NO

>>5896458
>NO

>NO
Fuck that, we can rise to become a king even if we were a slave, but getting to nobledom at the cost of our entire family being slain, is not exceptable cost to get to that height.

Alright its pretty much a unanimous decision to not kill our family, God smiles from above. You are a Ceorl, now with that decided. I will present to you all the starting options repackaged with your status in mind.

Hm, do I smell the blood of an English man? SEA RAIDERS WWA?

At the end of each little blurb will be themes in parentheses Example:(War, Trade, Farm life) this should give you a idea of what each option promises beyond the small blurb.
>Northumbria
The rule of Eardwulf has been marked by hardship and struggle for the Ceorls of Northumbria. His declining authority has made the land dangerous. The routed army of Wada has resorted to banditry for subsistence, and various estates near your farm have fallen victim to their attacks. The King's thegns and ealdormen are kept close at court in anticipation of Ealhmund marching south. Many anticipate and dread the Fyrd that is sure to be called. If the men are not home, who shall protect their homes?
(War, Survival, Adventure)
>Mercia
Mercia is currently undergoing various struggles. Your Kingdom has been pushed out of East Anglia, and in Kent, remnants of a rebellion remain. To deal with both issues, a Fyrd is likely to be called. A young son might join and gain wealth, or alternatively, the church is always open to men of means.
(War, Religion, Adventure)
>East Anglia
You have pushed the dog Mercians out of your Kingdom. Your father took possession of one of the many estates left behind by the Mercians. Now, your people prepare for the invasion that is sure to come, for there will be a reckoning.
(Survival, Survival, Survival)
>Essex
Your farm lies at the border of Essex and Mercia. Your Kingdom is a client of Mercia, and many landowners on the Mercian side have been slowly encroaching on land that is rightfully Essex's. The King is meek, for he does not wish to lose his crown or provoke Mercian wrath. Regardless, something must be done.
(Political Intrigue, Feuds, Trading)
>Kent
A Mercian sits on the throne, and Mercians dominate the courts of Kent. Your family has been Kentish as far back as anyone can remember. Landless Mercian nobles have been flocking to Kent in search of land, and there is a war brewing between the existing and the newcomers. With the remnants of the rebel army still around, there is opportunity to be had.
(Political Intrigue, Feuds, War)
>Wessex
The Mercians have long dominated the West Saxons economically. Now, with the King ailing and Mercian struggles apparent, change can be sensed in the air. All informed men know of the Ætheling across the sea. Preparations are being made to best position themselves, and your family is no exception.
(Political Intrigue, Farming, Trading)
>Sussex
God seems to have abandoned your land, for what is a land without a King? Your family runs a prosperous farmstead, and with the death of the dux and no successor, order has begun to erode. Blood feuds thought resolved are being renewed, and new ones sprout. Opportunists, both foreign and native, jockey for control of everything. Banditry and raiding are increasingly common. And all men of importance look inward to keep what they have; none look to help. Sussex disintegrates.
(Feuds, Intrigue, War)

>>5896604
>Wessex

>>5896604
>East Anglia

Just go completely balls to the wall hard mode.

>>5896604
How historical are we getting here, anyway? A single axe blow to the chest is a sucking wound that kills you or is there going to be dudes tough as boot leather running around with a knife stuck in his skull for a while still killing before he dies?

What's the "power level" so to speak?

>>5896604
>East Anglia

>>5896604
>East Anglia
It's ogre mode. Btw have you read the Last Kingdom novels by Bernard Cornwell, QM? I just got done reading them last month and they give a very immersive feel of the setting and the time period.

This seems interesting, I'll join.

>>5896604
>East Anglia
Time to introduce Scorched Earth tactics to Britain.

>>5896615
All livings things will have HP and in combat once that reaches 0 they will die. One hit is very very unlikely to kill you, obviously but like in any system the narrative will reflect the outcome of the dice. No men will be running around with knifes in their head, this is a world where all men can die. the individual power spectrum is relatively small.

>>5896627
Yes I own all of them, he is one of my favorite authors, I am nowhere near as a good a writer as him but I hope you'll enjoy our little adventure

On another note choosing East Anglia, very brave of you lot. full disclaimer, barring immense rolls you will probably have to choose between your life or your homeland.

>>5896604

>East Anglia

I want hard mode, punish us QM

Taking into account our pretty decent vote turnout I'll give it until this post is a hour old and then call the vote and move on.

>>5896604
>East Anglia
Plucky young fool seeks adventure, despite it all.

>>5896604
>Northumbria

Alright time is up the vote has been decided. Our young hero hails from the land of East Anglia. may god bless his perilous journey.

Alright there will be one more vote in which you guys will choose a boon for your character, that will be the last decision for today,

I'll stick around to answer questions you might have but no more updates for today after that. I work the weekends so updates might not be forthcoming, we will probably resume in earnest on Monday around 6pm EST.

>Noble Blood
You might be the youngest of your father's sons, but you possess the noblest of blood. Your mother, Wulfflæd, is the daughter of Eadric, who is the thegn of Northwic and a principal member of the King's Witan.

>Open Doors
When you were but a boy, a great ealdorman asked for hospitality from your family. He was on a pilgrimage to the tomb of St Æthelthryth in penance for sins against the church. Grateful, he left behind his sword and cloak to don the dress of a common man and promised the hospitality of his hall should you ever request it.

>Golden Child
Despite being younger, you have proved to be the favorite of your family, the last child that your mother and father shall beget. You are smart and strong for a boy your age; things come easy to you, and your parents have much hope that you'll advance the family fortunes.

>>5896740

>Golden Child

We have to have high STATs if we are to survive

>>5896740
>Golden Child

>>5896419
So an Ealdorman would be a Jarl/Earl, Hauld/Hold, or Thane/Thegn?
A Gesith a Drengr or proto-Knight?
An Unlandagende a Huskarl/Housecarl or proto-Serjeant/Man-at-Arms?
Are those correct?
Have you read/watched The Last Kingdom? Harebrained plot contrivances at times but otherwise pretty solid.
Were any kingdoms at this time still considered Frisian or Jutish rather than Anglish or Saxon?
Will there be Ingvaeonic, Brythonic, & Gaelic Pagang elements as well as Christianity?
Will the Franks/HRE, Danes, & Frisians play a role as well?
Quite intriguing thus far.

>>5896740
>Golden boy

>>5896740
>Golden Child

>>5896740
>Open Doors
Free favors, + a sword? Hel yea.
If you want some tunes to fit the setting, besides Bathory for heavier stuff, I recommend Wolcensmen for a lighter/more mystical ambience. Plus most of the lyrics are in Old English.

>>5896740
>Open Doors
I’d love to play a travelling hedge knight quest.

>>5896751
In Anglo-Saxon England, the rank of ealdorman is the highest a noble not of royal birth could achieve. However, it was an appointed position, not hereditary. They were the king's representatives and were afforded vast autonomy, including the right to mete out justice and to call the Fyrd of their shire (the administrative division of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms).

A gesith is a term roughly translating to 'companion.' In the early days of Germanic society, a leader was accompanied by his 'gesith.' They fought beside him and swore loyalty to him. The term denotes nobility and, over time, will become eclipsed by the term 'thegn.' I use them interchangeably here.

An unlandagende is a gesith (noble) who holds no lands. These are often second sons, cousins, etc. They could be warriors, most often they were, for violence is the straightest path to wealth, power, and land.

Yes, I have seen and read The Last Kingdom. Coexistence and assimilation have made the peoples shed their Jutish and Frisian characteristics from long ago. To your knowledge, Brythonic paganism is quite dead on the isles, with the vast majority of the population being Christian. Although, no one knows what the Picts and Irish do in distant lands.

The Franks have their own interests. They have a habit of sheltering exiled kings and princes, using them to advance whatever agenda they might have. Egbert, who is the pretender to Wessex, is currently in Frankia. The Danes, you hear, are heathen raiders. And the Frisians are frequent traders and adept shipbuilders; your father has dealt with quite a few before.

>>5896740
>>Golden Child

>>5896740
>Golden Child

>>5896643
Dang, no walking Stamford Bridge man for us. Alas, the army will have to be more than one man.

>>5896740
>Open Doors
Sord.

>>5896740
>>Open Doors

According to this article, Kent was settled by Jutes & remained distinct in custom. Lots of other things covered therein as well, worth a read:
https://forum.paradoxplaza.com/forum/threads/anglo-saxon-administration.1402297/

Were Northumbria & Mercia mainly lands of the Angles, basically any realms not named after a direction & a seax?

Posting from work as is tradition. The vote shall close in about 7-ish hours. Right about the time I get home from work.

In lieu of a proper update and inspired be our curious anon I'll host a sort of Q&A. Maybe you're all curious about our family, the game system I'll be using, some character we might encounter(King, neighbors, enemies etc) general world lore etc.

When I'm done with work I'll answer any questions posted. Rtnm

>>5897412
Same insatiable anon, I'll bite. What's the weapon & armor system going to be like? Will there be a differentiation between copper, bronze, iron, & steel? Any mythical things going on like Dorfs and Ælves? Can we expect much in the way of interaction with the Goidellic/Gaelic & Brythonic/Brittonic tribes & kingdoms? Currency system? Seafaring? Followers/Party Members and Doggos?

>>5897412

Would you be prepared to kill our MC if we make dumb choices? MC death SHOULD be possible and I prefer quests with real stakes

>>5896740
>Open Doors
Mentor Character GET

I had some free time at work. So before I comnute home I'll post the answer to some questions

>>5897278
I can't say I'm particularly knowledgeable about the administrative/social customs exclusive to Kent. Sounds like more reading.

The topics in the article are things I had general knowledge of. A lot of these are introduced and expanded during/afte the Viking Invasion, Cnuts Rule. Decades/centuries from now (800 AD)

That being said, I will borrow from the past and future to make my life easier. I don't have the time to give each Kingdom/Region the individualistic qualities I would like for them to have. I would bury myself in scholarly articles and research papers for weeks before each update.

Each Kingdom/Region will be a different shade of the same color. You'll get an impression that each is different but functionally behind the scenes they all run the same. That way I won't bang my head researching particular peculiarities.

Yes the Kingdoms of Mercian and Northumbria are of Angle origin as opposed to their Saxon neighborhood to the south.
>>5897446
The system that will be powering the world is one that is based on the Burning Wheel rule set. It's a fairly grity system, it can be crunchy, but never for you guys, for me lol, I do enjoy the crunch. Some rules will be modified from the original to better suit a quest format vs tabletop.

At this point all the cultures of the Isles are iron based, tools and weopsn are primarily iron, perhaps steel if you're lucky. The difference between steel and iron will be most evident in weaponry, steel will perform better. The difference while evident won't be earth shattering.

The mythologies are simply that, myth. Fortunately/Unfortunately, depending on perspective there will be no dwarfs, giants, or elves. People certainly believe in the supernatural, but coming from me, no magical beings will appear. The dice are supernatural enough.

Yes you will have interactions with characters of Brythonic/Gaelic origin. And if you choose you may travel to those parts of the Isle.

The currency at this time is the silver penny, it's the most common coinage. 240 pence make a pound. There might be some odd gold coins from a bygone era in circulation but gold coins aren't being minted.

Yes you can go on a ship and travel the sea if your story heads in that direction. Companions will be “acquired” as your story unfold. Doggos are approved and appreciated in my quest. All companion animals really.

>>5897621
The MC will die eventually, either in battle or in old age. If you guys die it will have been the product of sequential failures and decisions wherein both OOC and IC the chance of death is acknowledged.

On another note Open Doors with a late rally. We'll see if it amounts to anything.

NOTE- Curse the character limit.

Man I was trying to post for like an hour. The lack of a static IP from my ISP is a bitch. I'm phone posting with my data internet

Anyways enough about that. Winner of the vote is Golden Child.

Our Hero shall start out with increased stats, specifics to be determined later.

>>5898101
So when is the quest itself starting?

>>5898591

. I>>5896740
work the weekends so updates might not be forthcoming, we will probably resume in earnest on Monday around 6pm EST.

Feel free to ignore what you will, but thus far I've uncovered the following lore on the tribal & territorial divisions roughly of the time.

ANGLISH/ANGLES

Northumbria:
Bernicia
Deira
Lindsey (contested)

Mercia:
North Mercia
South Mercia
Outer Mercia (Eastern)
Middle Anglia
Lindsey (contested)

East Anglia:
Norfolk
Suffolk

SAXON/SAXONS

Wessex:

Middlesex:

Essex:

Continental Saxonia/Saxony:

JUTISH/JUTES

Kent

Isle of Wight

FRISIAN/FRISIANS

Coastal Settlements

Returned Diaspora of Frisia

>>5899159
>FR*SIANS
ew

Winter 800AD

Outside the halls of your father, Osric Half-Thegn, the winter winds howl and bite. Inside, the firelight from the hearth casts a warm glow on the faces gathered around it. Your father, a man of robust build, sits on a wooden chair, absently fiddling with the pommel of his seax, a smile on his face.

Having spent 57 winters on this earth, he's a well of stories and experiences. And in the monotony of winter, after all the housework is done, there isn’t much else to do but reflect and converse. The household has gathered for a session of storytelling.

Formed in a semi-circle, the young members of the household sit, you in the middle, with your young nephew and niece, Eadric and Wulfhild, at your sides. Your elder brother, sister in law, and mother look on from the back Your father turns to you and speaks...

>Eadmund
>Ælfstan
>Edwin
>Write in: Appropriate name

"Remind me, what tale did I speak of last week?" You pause for a moment to remember. "The one about uncle Edgar, father, how he almost got eaten alive by wolves."

"Ah, yes," your father nods and smiles. "That was a good one, wasn’t it? Well, now let me tell you about...

>How Osric settled an ancient blood feud when he was but a young man, barely out of boyhood,
>How Osric saved the life of Eadwald, King of East Anglia, in the midst of battle,
>How Osric convinced your grandfather to give his daughters hand.


OOC: How's it going folks, we are back at it. I'll give this first vote some time to get everyone to filter into the thread. The story choices, regardless of which you choose will have all happened.This is just the first step in shaping our young hero's priorities and personality

>Ælfstan
>>How Osric saved the life of Eadwald, King of East Anglia, in the midst of battle,
Aelfstan is an honourable and setably heroic name for ourselves considering the glories and adventures we are going to commit on the road to Highking of all of Albion, and the best first step, is having a king be indebted to you for saving his life, especially considering we are the lowest you can be while not being a slave.

>>5900271
>Edwin
>How Osric saved the life of Eadwald, King of East Anglia, in the midst of battle,

>>5900271
>Edwin
>How Osric saved the life of Eadwald, King of East Anglia, in the midst of battle,
Op, you might want to put something in the qtg to try and grab a few more players. In my experience, quests that take a while to start can lose a couple players before the quest even begins, no matter how good it turns out to be.

>>5900306
Hmm will do, I did initially mention that I might start this quest in one of the earlier qtg, the yee haw one. Might as well post it in the B1 battle droid qtg as well.

>>5900283

Supporting, I leave it to the QM to determine how much of the tale is true

Alright, calling the vote for
>>How Osric saved the life of Eadwald, King of East Anglia, in the midst of battle,

I'll give the name vote another half hour. If there is still a tie, then I will roll dice to decide.

In the meantime I'll begin writing.

Well, at now at this just interesting.

>Ælfstan
This is quite the start, already having favor in high places. Are we going to pick a typical RPG skillset or is the realism turned up too high for that?

Vote closed, winner
>Ælfstan

>>5900361
I mentioned earlier, in a post that the rule set would be based upon a system called Burning Wheel. Well I lied, after some revision and testing combat would be way to clunky and time consuming for a quest format.

Instead the quest will be running on a simpler 2d6 system, like those of Dungeon/Apocalypse world. I'll write up a more detailed post about the system at the end of this session.

You sit there nestled amongst your family. Your father stares off to the side for a second before speaking. “King Eadwald wasn’t king in those days, wasn’t even an ealdorman, or a thegn. He was the landless youngest son of a thegn who resided near Dunwic. His two elder brothers inherited their father's lands..”

Eadric interrupted, his voice filled with affront. “But grandfather! King Eadwald should have received land as well, it was his right!”

Your father nodded. “He would have had rights, if the land was his ancestral one, but the land his father held was ‘Bookland,’ Eadric. By the King’s writ and charter, it gives a man the right to give it to whoever he wishes after his death. And Eadwald was a rebellious son, never got along with his old man. When his father died, his estates were split between the church and his two elder sons. Eadwald was left out to dry.

“So he took his sword, horse, and mail and journeyed out to seek employment. That’s where our paths first crossed; he went south to Gipeswic and sought out service with the King. In those times, your grandfather and I made yearly trading ventures to Gipeswic.

“A king called Ethelred ruled then, and for the most part, the land was peaceful, so when Eadwald came looking for work, he was turned away. We met on the outskirts of the city going in the same direction. He had the look of a man whose favorite hound had died. Sad and down on his luck.”

“We made conversation, we got along and he agreed to accompany us for a time. It was the first night we camped that some cunt raiders from Essex got lucky and found us sleeping. Bloody turds, they had some balls on them, raiding that deep into East Anglia. They weren't looking for a fight; else they would have attacked us before we slept, they just wanted easy pickings.”

“Well, bad luck for them that your grandfather was a light sleeper, he always hated traveling, never got a good night's sleep when he did. He roused our group and we all rushed to arm ourselves. I didn’t have a sword in those days, but a seax.” He unsheathes his and shows it off. “Can get the job done, especially when your enemies are green boys.”

“I rushed the nearest man and gutted him. They weren’t prepared to fight and paid the price, still, they outnumbered us. There was one brave lad among them. He rallied them and kept them from breaking. It was at that point I noticed Eadwald wasn’t in sight. I thought he’d been a coward and fled, but no!, He was still sleeping!,” your father guffawed, slapping his thigh. “If your grandfather woke at the breaking of a branch, Eadwald could sleep through Judgment Day.”

(cont.)

“He stumbled out of his tent like a drunkard, and he fought like one too, with clumsy swings of a sword. See, boys, here is a piece of advice: always get a good night's rest before battle. Ignore the men telling you to drink and ignore the whores that only want your silver. Right, where was I?

“King Eadwald stumbling around like a drunkard,” you answer.

“Ah, yes! So there he was, hitting only air, when the brave Sussex boy charged him, his axe raised high. Eadwald moved to parry but got the timing all wrong, and both of them went tumbling down.

“By that time, our little skirmish had gone on long enough that the smart ones fled and the dumb ones died. The boy was brave, but dumb. We moved to get the boy off Eadwald, but he shouted to let him be; he wanted to finish the fight himself. Fair enough, I thought. My father cursed Eadwald for being a fool, and maybe he was right, for after he shouted at us to leave him be, the boy seemed to get the upper hand and was in the process of strangling Eadwald.

“A seax to the head put an end to Eadwald’s woes. I remember he cursed a lot and said many things, but actually said thank you. He did pay me 50 pieces of silver when we got to the nearest village though. Guess it was his way of saying thanks, and a much better thanks compared to simple words, I’d say. I think the whole experience left him too embarrassed to stay in our company; he departed a short while after that.”

“I used the silver to buy a sword and mail. Your grandfather told me I was being a fool spending it on that, but I think it was a worthwhile investment…”

Your father continued on after that, telling other tales of his youth, although none quite as memorable as that.

Soon Eadric and Wulfhild began to doze off, and you likewise began to feel sleep calling you. You reflect and think upon King Eadwald. He’d probably have fared better if

>He was stronger [STR]
>He was smarter [INT/]
>He was faster [DEX],
>He had asked for help [CHA].

OOC: For this vote, you will be choosing the stats that the [Golden Child] boon increased. They are pretty self-explanatory: STR for hitting stuff harder, CHA for diplomacy, etc. The wining option will have its stat increased by 2.

Also sorry for the long wait, still getting the hang of writing on demand.

>>5900452
>>He was smarter

>>5900452
>He was faster [DEX],

Were all about survival in hard mode so being better in combat while also being good at running away is important

>>5900452
>CHA
More allies, less problems.

>>5900452
>>He was stronger [STR]
Fuck off CHA fags, bench press horses

>He was stronger [STR]
If we’re in survival mode, then we better fight just as deadly in survival mode as our foes.

>>5900452
>He was faster [DEX],

Looks like we got a race with no clear leader. I'll give it another hour. As mentioned before if the options are tied the dice will break the deadlock.

On another topic, I'm always looking to improve the writing, so if you guys have any suggestion,comments, questions feel free to voice your thoughts.

>>5900452
>>He was stronger [STR]

Alright looks like this takes it

>He was stronger [STR]

We shall resume tomorrow at around 4 pm EST. Hopefully I'll get more updates out tomorrow, I've been out of practice.

>>5900520
Not a huge amount to comment on re: writing, but if you're looking for tips I have noticed you have a tendency to have solid blocks of single-subject exposition, maybe just throw in some descriptive/flavor sentences to spice it up once you're done writing the post?

>>5900590
Can we ask dear old dad what happened to the sword and mail? I’d still like to be a rebel vigilante against Mercia.

>>5900520
>writing advice
Great so far, you’re a good writer. But I’m gonna be a grammar nazi and point out that you don’t need to place end quotations marks at the end of you dialogue paragraphs when it’s just one character monologue-ing and having another paragraph. To put it more eloquently, grammarly says:
> When a character’s dialogue extends beyond a paragraph, use quotation marks at the beginning of the second and/or subsequent paragraph. However, there is no need for closing quotation marks at the end of the first paragraph—or any paragraph other than the final one.
Other than that, excellent story, again.

File: chart .png (25 KB, 704x448)

25 KB PNG

>>5900609
Yeah, the update was pretty much a monologue, future updates will have more in between

>>5900722
Both the sword and mail are still in your families possession, your father keeps them as mementos, both the sword and mail are taken well care of.

Your immediate family is rich, your grandfather was prosperous enough that he could sell excess goods at Gipeswic (Ipswich) every year. And your father has only advanced the family fortunes. There is a reason he is called Hafl-Thegn, he is wealthy but he lacks a noble tittle. It's one of the few goals he was unable to achieve.

>>5900724
Yeah good suggestion with about the quotes, gonna put my writing though grammarly from now on.

On another note before I start writing [2-3 hours from now] I'll introduce the system. It's relatively simple.

https://pastebin.com/77X8sHFY

The gist of it is that you roll a 2d6+STAT Modifier. The result will fall into one of 3 categories.

10+: You do it with little trouble
7–9: You do it, but with complications or trouble
6-: The QM says what happens

The rule-set I got inspiration from has a mechanic called "moves", its a tabletop rpg game originally and in essence any narrative actions the players took IC would trigger corresponding moves and dice rolls from among its rule book. I will post a pastebin with the basic moves which we will also use and update it as we progress.

In general, the moves triggered (if any) by options option I provide won't ever be explicitly stated (no option will say "Hack and Slash") but it will be clear enough that "hack and slash" will be triggered if you choose to fight someone. That way I feel narrative and mechanics are neatly blended into the story.

If you want you can always keep a tab of the pastebin open to consult what "move' may lie behind an option.

Now we get to decide Ælfstan's stat array. Consult the picture I posted to check the modifiers. I will post 2 stat arrays as examples, but really I invite you guys to create your own as a write in. Make sure to name it. and note STR is increased by 2, you don't need to add it, I will at the end of the vote.

>Warrior
Strength: 16
Constitution 15
Dexterity 13
Intelligence 9
Wisdom 10
Charisma 12

>Balanced
Strength: 13
Constitution 16
Dexterity 15
Intelligence 9
Wisdom 12
Charisma 10

The stat array is
16, [+2]
15, [+1]
13, [+1]
12, [+0]
10, [+0]
9 [+0]

>>5901187

>Balanced

I would honestly support balanced approach, with the +2 to STR we’ll be a hot-shot in combat, especially if we manage to live long enough for a level-up

>>5901187
>Warrior

>Yeoman
Strength: 16
Constitution 13
Dexterity 13
Intelligence 10
Wisdom 10
Charisma 13

Comfortable Wis & Int scores, max Str, & a slight bonus to everything else.

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>>5901187
> but really I invite you guys to create your own as a write in
Uh. Well... I'd love to do that, but I seriously don't understand what the starting stats are, or how many points we have to assign.

So, deprived of all comprehension...
> PUTTING EVERYTHING ON STRENGTH BABY! DISCONNECT THE BRAKES AND REDLINE THE ENGINES! THE ONLY WAY OFF THIS RIDE IS AS A CORPSE! ALL ABOAARD! WOO WOO~!

>>5901238
You can check out the pastebin to see more in depth what each stat would correlate to when rolling. They are pretty self explanatory though

You're gonna hit someone, Move a heavy object, etc roll STR
You're running away, drawing a bow, DEX
You're injured and you have a long march home, roll CON
Your deciphering a law charter, roll INT
A stranger has approached your camp, unsure of his intentions you feel somethings off, roll WIS
Gonna negotiate, make friends, seduce, roll CHA.

The standard stat is array is
16
15
13
12
10
9

Or alternatively like the Yeoman anom you can distribute the total value of the array [75] among the stats as you wish.

>>5901242
Is 18 the maximum cap for stats?
If not, then what's stopping someone from putting forward a meme build, such as:

> =Just an Angry Rock=
> Strength: 31
> Constitution: 30
> Dexterity: 1
> Intelligence: 1
> Wisdom: 1
> Charisma: 1

>>5901187
>Strength: 16
>Constitution: 16
>Dexterity: 16
>Intelligence: 13
>Wisdom: 13
>Charisma: 1
Yes. This is the ideal build. The 2 point bonus at the end gives us 18 STR.

>>5901187
>Warrior

>>5901256
I probably should have specified in an earkeir post, my fault.

You can spread out the total but just like in the standard array no stat can be lower than 9 or higher that 16. So yeah this option is invalid.

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>>5901260
What's the point in having values below what is normally accessible? What, the trees get a CHA score or something? Birds rolling INT checks? Why not just start the thing at 9 and give people 21 points? Why even show values beneath it? Truly, I will forever be irritated by these systems. Same thing with DnD, let me play a drooling retard, Wizards of the Coast you fucking hacks.

>>5901274
Narratively a deficient child would be abandoned in the woods.

>>5901317
How do you know your child has 1 CHA? "Because he's ugly". Arbitrary ass conditions get thrown at charisma as a score because it's something that can't truly be measured. There is no difference between being stubborn and stalwart, but if you're really cool that makes it stalwart and so you have high CHA so it doesn't make you look like a mule being an ass.

Fucking hate CHA.

>>5901187
>Warrior

>>5901329
Most thoroughly repugnant and unpleasant shit stain to ever waste oxygen, literally everyone, including their own mother hates them. Possessed by a demon, must be fed to the wolves if not burnt alive.
There are many things to contribute to charisma, but likewise with all other stats. Strong body but weak grip, talented with fine motor control but poor balance, etc. It is just a representative figure, and a 1 represents failure.

Alright, enough time has passed, [Warrior] takes it. I'll begin writing the next part of our story.

>>5901242
>WarriorPlus
>Str 16
>Con 16
>Dex 16
>Int 10
>Wis 9
>Cha 9
If there comes need of a tie break, consider me switching to warrior.

>>5901346
Ninja’d

The following days are filled with hard work, each day bringing forth colder winds. The sun rises later and sets earlier. Your father, foreseeing a harsher winter to come, decrees the collection of more firewood. He enlists the help of Godser, a young tenant, strong and eager to prove his worth, to aid you. He tells you that Eadric is also to accompany you. He’s 9 but must begin to learn the responsibilities and jobs that will be his in the future.

So, for the next week, each morning, you rise with the sun, fasten a pair of oxen to a cart, and set out, the chilly dawn nipping at your skin. Eadric, grumpy from having to rise so early, and Godser, eager to earn his lord's favor

The oxen will do the real hard work of hauling everything. You quite enjoy felling trees. All of you carry an axe and seax, but Eadric’s is just for show. Godser and you shall do most of the cutting. Snow and dead greenery crunch beneath your feet, the woods silent, all the birds and game gone.

After a time, you arrive at your family’s logging grounds. The oxen are tied to a tree. You, having been put in charge of this little expedition, are to select which trees are to be cut and which shall survive to the next year. You order Eadric to gather small branches and useful deadwood in the meantime.

You take your time picking out the trees and call out to Eadric once finished. “Eadric! Enough of that, come here and stand over there,” you point to a safe spot within view, he complains, “But Ælfstan, I want to use my axe! Why do I have one if I can’t even use it?” he asks.

“You have it so that you get used to its weight, Eadric, so that when you start growing a bit of muscle, you’ll be long used to it. If I let you use it, I think you'll cut off one of our fingers,” you say, pointing to Godser’s hand.

(continued..)

>>5901361
Wait, did our dumbass younger brother actually cut off one of our brothers fingers?!

You and Godser begin in earnest, the swing of your axes, the sound of air parting and wood splintering is all you focus on. Eadric's remarks and complaints are related to the background.
Your swings are steady and powerful, the repetitive motion and satisfying crack of timber splitting become a comforting routine.

Despite the chill in the air, you find this task relaxing, when you were Eadric’s age you were just as annoyed at having nothing to do, just watching the men swing for hours on end. But patience is a learned virtue and now it's Eadric’s turn.

You are strong for your age, fast for your age, you are many things for your age. A priest might call you vain and lecture you about sin but when everyone says it so often it’s probably right. You look at Godser, he swings with equal vigor and soon the tree falls, only a dozen more to go.
As the morning progresses, Eadric’s remarks dwindle. Perhaps he's lost in thought, or maybe the fact neither Godser nor you respond has given him a hint to be quiet. You can sense his eyes on you from time to time, with nothing better to do he might as well learn and observe. This is more than just physical labor, it can be practice for battle, at least that's what your father says, You’re not sure about that, a tree doesn't fight back

The sun, weak and low in the sky, offers little in the way of warmth, but its presence is a subtle reminder of the passing of time. You and Godser continue your work, the pile of timber grows steadily. There’s a sense of satisfaction in this, a tangible result of your efforts.

As noon approaches you call for a rest. You all sit on a fallen log, the cold has left your limbs a bit numb but the dried meat and bread are a small reward. You look on as Eadric gives curious glances in Godser’s direction before finally mustering the courage to speak “How did you come into my grandfather’s service Godser?”

(continued…)


>>5901379
No he did not lol. Elfstan is joking that if he let him join in cutting the tree he would chop Elfstan or Godser's fingers off. Also, he is our nephew, our elder brother's son.

Godser, pausing with a piece of bread halfway to his mouth, smiles faintly, a distant look in his eyes. "Well, Eadric," he begins, "it was about one year ago that I came into his service. Before that, I had my farm and land, not as grand as your grandfather’s, of course. My family's land had suffered a poor harvest, and we were struggling. We couldn’t afford the feorm, the King’s food rent, and if one doesn't pay, he must face a fine. But when you cannot afford the feorm, how can you afford a fine? A nearby thegn offered to buy the rights to my land.”

“He saw opportunity,” Eadric says.

“He did,” Godser agrees. “But he was also just. He paid me the value of the land before the poor harvest plus the fine and also offered me tenancy, which I gladly accepted. For a time, things were good, the harvest recovered, I farmed, and he ruled with a light hand. But he was an old man, and his heirs were neither as wise nor as kind as he was,” he trails off.

You take the moment to say, “Not everyone is as fair as my father, Eadric. A man’s fortunes are tied to his lord. If you are just and wise, you will have many followers; if not, they will abandon you, right, Godser?”

Godser nods. “You speak correctly. His heirs were neither, and when the old man was on his deathbed, I took my leave after paying my dues. I traveled for a while, living off what silver I had, until I heard Osric Half-Thegn was looking for tenants. I sought him out, a dozen other landless men did as well. Do you know how he chose who would receive land?”

“No,” responds Eadric.

“He had us wrestle, brawl, and fight,” Godser laughs. A smirk forms on your lips. Godser continues, “He said that anyone could farm, but when men came looking to take his fields and kill his men, he wanted his men to live.” Godser claps you on the back. “If the land was taken, we should live to take it back. He’s a good man, your father.”

(continued...)

>>5901392
Oh sorry, I forgot that our brother got married, let alone have children. But, now that I know that, how old are we? Did our brother have kids at the age of 18?!

You and your group finish up your meal, brushing off crumbs, and the task you set out to complete beckons. You pick up your axe, and Godser follows your lead. The work progresses swiftly, fueled by the conversation and moment of bonding. The last of the trees are felled and cut into more manageable pieces.

Godser and you quickly load them onto the oxcart; at this point, the sun is low on the horizon, with darkness setting in. The winds are a bit colder than they were in the morning. The trek home is filled with idle conversation, Eadric asking Godser about his plans for the future, Godser humoring him, and you reminding Eadric not to be nosy.

You walk alongside the cart, leading the oxen by a rope attached to their yoke, their heavy steps leaving marks on the ground. After a while, the oxen, usually aloof and indifferent to their surroundings, become agitated, their pace quickening by a fraction, causing your senses to perk up.

You grip your seax and turn to Godser, who, upon seeing your gripped seax, nods in understanding. Eadric, sensing the tension, becomes quiet. You take Eadric by the shoulder and order him to stay close.

Gripping both the rope and seax tighter, you order the group to pick up the pace. The pair of oxen become more restless with each step, and you wonder what to do. You turn back to Godser, hoping to find some answers, but he only looks back with trepidation. He doesn't know what to do, you realize. You are the lord and leader of your tiny group.

>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.
>You focus on the treeline and try your hardest to spot anything amidst the shadows
>You shuffle through your memory trying to remember any shortcuts home, but any shortcut would be a hard journey with the cart.
>Write in:

>>5901425
You are 16 years old. our father and mother had us quite late. Your father and mother were 41 when they had you. Your older brother is 34. SIL is 30.

>>5901448

>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.

Gotta protect the young ‘un

>>5901448
>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.

>Stop the cart & have Eadric hide underneath; grab a large yet manageable branch & light it on fire. If it's a beast it should be scared off by the flame; if it's men, they likely already see us & the fire can be hurled to flush them out.

>>5901448
>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.
Better than being ambushed

>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.
Welp, time to put that +3 from strength into good use and crush the head of whatever stupid bandit thought it a good idea to rob us.

>>5901448
>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.

>>You stop the cart and order Eadric to hide beneath it, Godser and you will meet whatever hides in the shadows with cold iron.


As the oxen’s unease grows, you can hear rustling just beyond the treeline on both sides of the path. You turn left and right in quick succession. Emerging from the flanks are two wolves, their eyes filled with primal malice and hunger. Each step accompanies a snarl and barring of teeth.

“Eadric, under the cart, now!” Your voice is firm, there will be no arguments from him. The boy hesitates for only a moment before he scrambles beneath the cart, You pull your seax from its sheath, the metal gleaming coldly in the weak moonlight. Beside you, Godser does the same, his lips set in a thin line.

The wolf on your left is the larger of the two, more confident it ignores your attempts to scare it off with shouts and arm waving, it’s hungry and will have a meal one way or another. Adrenaline rushes through you and finally, you begin to understand what your father means when he speaks of the “battle haze” in his stories, for you are scared but never have before have your senses been heightened to the level they are now, right now it's you, your enemy, and death
You keep your movements measured and calm despite the adrenaline. Thoughts of Godser, on your right, leave your head, all you and the beast can focus on is each other. You know you cannot be the first to move, you must wait, what seems an eternity passes before the standstill breaks when the wolf lunges. Your seax extends to meet its jaws….

Please roll 2d6+3. THIS IS BO1 folks.

Rolled 3, 4 + 3 = 10 (2d6 + 3)

>>5901537

>>5901546
IS this a good roll or a bad one?

>>5901546
Excellent. Now we'll get out of the fiction and prose for a bit to follow the combat OOC. Just to speed things up. 10 and above is an excellent roll.

>Your seax plunges deep into the side of the wolf, you sidestep its lunge.

Roll 1d8 for damage. BO1

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>5901548
No mods? 1 damage time.

Rolled 4 (1d8)

Awesome!

>>5901557
You god damn idiot, at least wait next before someone else gets a chance at rolling.

Question Traveler, but how high can a stat be before it is maxed out from any more additions to said stat?

>>5901557
>Dealt 2 Damage
>Wolf -2 HP [14/16]

>You pull out your seax from the beast, it whimpers but it's wound isn't such that I'll run away just yet.
>You quickly glance at Godser, he's holding his right arm where it's bleeding a bit, but the wolf got the worse end of the deal. Godsers seax bit it deep

Godser -2 HP [21/23 ]
Wolf 2 -6 HP [10/16]

Please roll 2d6+3 once more BO1

>>5901561
18 is pretty much the highest you should have a stat. Anything higher than that provides no stat modifier, just narrative

>>5901570

Rolled 1, 6 + 3 = 10 (2d6 + 3)

>>5901570
>>5901579
Lol used Dice instead of dice

>>5901582
>The wolf and you circle each other, your seax drips with its blood, you taunt the beast, and in a rage, it lunges, your previous blow slowed it down for you swiftly plunge your seax between its shoulder blades.

ROLL 1d8 BO1

>>5901570
Damn, well guess that’s it for combat rolling with strength then.

Rolled 2 (1d8)

>>5901597
Shame that

Rolled 1 (1d8)

>>5901597

Die, early quest vermin

>>5901605
Welp, I now officially apologize to anon
>>5901557
as I have forgotten to sacrifice the local goat for the dice gods blessing.

>>5901559
I rolled once, dipshit.

>>5901609
See apology above.

Oh, and another question Traveler, just how do we level up anyway? Is it through Exp or feats?

>>5901605
>Dealtt 2 Damage
> Wolf -2 HP [12/16]

>You draw blood once more, your own blood is pumping and you think you've got the hang of this, no wonder the poets sing of its glories, it's addicting, especially when your enemy can't hit you

>Godser isn't faring as well as you are, he's not as quick on his feet, the wolf got him on the arm,But not before leaving a souvenir for it

>Godser -5 HP [16/23]
>Wolf 2 -1 HP [9/16]

You know the drill folks, run it back. 2d6+3 BO!

>>5901617
The completion of story arcs provides XP, and particularly strong enemies grant XP.

Rolled 6, 4 + 3 = 13 (2d6 + 3)

>>5901628

Hopefully we don’t go down like a chump on the first skirmish

Rolled 4, 5 + 3 = 12 (2d6 + 3)

>>5901628
Ah, and how many story arcs are planned for the quest, or what really constitues a story Arc?

>>5901633
> You can feel the end drawing near, they say your pagan ancestors worshiped fierce gods of war, and that pagan ferocity is how they conquered these lands.
>Whatver your pagan ancestors might think of Christ no doubt they smile upon the prowess you show tonight. your blade gravitates to flesh.

ROLL 1d8 BO1

Rolled 4 (1d8)

>>5901641
>hey say your pagan ancestors worshiped fierce gods of war, and that pagan ferocity is how they conquered these lands.
>>Whatver your pagan ancestors might think of Christ no doubt they smile upon the prowess you show tonight. your blade gravitates to flesh

>>5901644
PRAISE BE TO CHRIST AND BLOOD! For they surely love their descendants thinking about them.

>>5901644
Halfway there.

>At this point you don't wait for the wolf to lunge, no, now you are the hunter and it is the prey. You slash at its face, it yelps and looks at you full of hate before fleeing

>Dealt 4 Damage
> Wolf -4 HP [8/16] [Half HP]--> [Animal Instinct] --> [Flees]


>Godser trades blood with the wolf, managing to drive it off but not before suffering another bite.

>Godser-5 HP [11/23] Below half HP [Debilitated]
>Wolf 2 -4 HP [5/16] [Animal Instinct]] --> Flees

Congratulations you survived tutorial island, You shall be a hero when you return, Godser will have lots of bedrest and his fair share of priase. Eadric will remember this adventure for the rest of the day, Seems almost getting alive by wolves runs in the family

+1 XP.

I will write up a narrative of the dice with proper prose later on. In the meantime congrats for surviving.

>>5901658
SWEET! Surviving Tutorial is always great! Also how much exp do we need to level up?

>>5901660
The formula for leveling up is

Current level + 7 = Required XP

Elfstan is lv1 so he needs 8 XP. 7 now that he's got one point

Well folks thanks for joining I hereby declare today's session over, I hope you had some fun, I'll take my time writing the scene out, I want to do it justice. See you guys either tomorrow around 6 pm EST or Wednesday 8 pm EST.

I'm thinking of starting a Twitter account to send out notifications when I post something. Or if you guys know a better way let me know.

>>5901680

>Twitter

Eh some QMs do it but advertising in /qtg/ and the discord is probably sufficient. Admittedly the discord anons are hyper autistic and might not be interested in a based historical quest

>>5901680
ty traveling qm

So Str increases chance to hit instead of damage?

>>5902416

Looks like it, DEX seems purely defensive in this system?

>>5902416
Yes str modifiers your chances to hit. Damge is determined with a d8 and its result can be modified with weapon/armor and special effects.

Godser for example now that he is [debilitated] would roll a d6 and if he were [near death] would roll a d4 all while taking a penalty to STR
>>5902445
DEX is used for all ranged weapons, bows, slings, throwing axes, javelins etc.

Apart from that it would be used to disengage from an enemy without getting hit. Say Godser was about to die and you guys decide to help. Roll DEX to reach him and not get injured in the process. Or just simply running away if things turned real south.

On another note I probably won't run today, the family is demanding my presence for later tonight at dinner so I'll be occupied with that. I might post the battle scene and then leave a vote for you guys overnight but that will probably be it for today.

Rolled 12 + 1 (1d12 + 1)

>>5902516
Until then, gonna roll for cock length

>>5902586
Top kek

>>5902586
Congratulations Anon, you just gave us a cock the length of a horse. I hope you’re ready to bear the consequences of your roll.

Let me rephrase... WHY does Str increase chance to hit rather than damage?

Also, will "bling" play much of a role in this Qst? I've heard it said most wealth, especially displayed jewelry, was earned through battle during this time.

>>5902744

In QMs system, clearly STR means “physical prowess leading to successful weapon contact against enemy” rather than the typical D&D interpretation of “now that you’ve made contact, STR partially dictates your damage dealt”

Your seax extends to meet its jaws, but the wolf is quicker than you anticipated and your blade only grazes it lightly. It veers to the side, its teeth aiming for your arm. With movement born of instinct rather than training, you pull back, its jaws snap shut inches from your flesh. The beast circles, eyes never leaving yours, and you turn with it, your heart pounding in your ears.

A glance to the other side shows Godser grappling with his own adversary. His movements are less refined and more desperate, but he holds his own. The sound of snarling, the crunch of the snow, and the heavy breaths of the combatants fill the air.

The wolf takes advantage of your minute distraction, more cunning this time. It feints to the left, and as you adjust, it darts right, and its powerful body slams into you. You stumble but manage to keep your footing, slashing out with your seax. You feel the blade connect, and a yelp of pain from the beast as it recoils. It's a minor wound, but it's something.

Breathing heavily, you realize never before have you felt as alive as now. The struggle of survival, the rush when your blade finds purchase, you now know what your father meant when he said battle calls to some men. This dance of death, each of you waiting for the other to make a fatal mistake. You relish the tension.

The mistake comes swiftly, the wolf launching itself at you with a ferocious growl. You step forward, meet its charge, and drive your seax forward. The blade finds its mark, plunging deep into the wolf's chest. It howls, a sound that chills your blood, but you don't relent. With a final push, you drive the wolf to the ground. It struggles to rise and with the will to survive only a beast possesses, it musters whatever strength it has to flee.

-->

You turn to see Godser, breathing heavily, leaning by the cart bleeding profusely from his left arm and thigh. Eadric crawls out from under the cart, his eyes wide with a mix of fear and awe.

"Elfstan! Godser's hurt!" Eadric cries.

You rush to Godser's side and rip a length of cloth from your cloak, tying it tightly around his wound. Godser groans through gritted teeth as you knot the bandage, his lifeblood staining the fabric. It would buy enough time for you to get him home.
"Quickly now, help me get him to the cart," you order Eadric. You clear the cart of obstructive log pieces and Eadric helps you lift Godser onto the cart.

"Hurry up boy, get up there with him, put pressure on where it bleeds. Make sure he doesn’t fall asleep," you say. Eadric frantically nods and scrambles up beside him, applying pressure to the bandage as you grab the oxen's reins.

"Hold on Godser. You'll be home soon," you call as you spur the oxen into motion. The oxcart lurches forward into the night. Your knuckles whiten around the leather reins, and you whisper a prayer, finally remembering God.

The seconds feel like minutes and the minutes like hours. Each familiar sight that signals the nearing of your home is a relief. Eventually, you see the glow of your homestead in the distance and sigh in relief. Eadric jumps off the cart and rushes off to fetch everyone inside the hall.

"Tell them to make space for Godser in the hall!" you shout.

Your father emerges from the entrance, your entire family and Godser's wife follow behind.
"We were attacked by wolves grandfather, but we drove them off like Beowulf!" Eadric informs the assembled folk.

"Godser and I drove them off boy" You interject. "Now enough of that, there will be time for stories later."

"Elfstan is right, son," your brother says.

Together you all help Godser from the cart and take him into the hall. The womenfolk of the stead take over from there and order you all to make yourselves scarce while they work. You sigh knowing he rests in capable hands.

Your father gestures for you to follow him away from the bustle. You join the men on the other side of the hall. They look at you in anticipation, wanting to know the full tale from your mouth and not just Eadric's. You recount the tale in full - the eerie moment you felt something was off, the ferocity of the wolf’s attacks, the rush you felt, and how you finally managed to drive it away.

Your father and brother listen raptly, as do all the men of the household, their eyes widening at each of the story's twists and turns. When you finish, your father clasps your shoulder firmly. "You showed great courage and skill tonight. Eadric and Godser would surely have met their ends out there if not for you. And not a scratch on you," he says, eyes full of respect. Your chest swells with pride.

-->

Eventually, the clamor and buzz settle down and the household settles in for the night. As you prepare to sleep, your father beckons you to follow him. He leads you to his sleeping quarters. Your mother is awake and sitting on their bed.

From their chest, he pulls out something which you very rarely see. Only when your father is drunk and boastful does he ever bring out one of his swords.

"This should go to one who will use it well," he says, pressing it into your hands. "I can think of no one better than my bold son."

You grip the leather-wrapped hilt. The pommel is inlaid with bits of silver and when you draw it from its scabbard, you see its edge is sharp. It's probably been some time since the sword has seen battle and tasted blood, but it hasn't lost its edge.

"It's the one I bought with Eadwald's silver. Had it made proper and fancy," your father says.

From the corner of your eye, you see your mother's lips purse. In response, your father says, "Your mother was worried for you. She's not speaking because she's mad at what I'm about to tell you and offer you. She still thinks of you as her boy, but you are a man now, Elfstan.

Come spring, Mercian warbands will begin raiding into our lands. In the summer, a proper army will invade. I have many friends among traders, and that is what they tell me. You're special, son. Your wyrd calls you to greater glories than the life of a ceorl. And a king's life, despite my story, is not worth a measly 50 shillings. He owes me favors and he'll give what I ask. I can ask that..."

Choose one:
>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

>Among one of the King's thegns, there should be one without a son but with a daughter of marriageable age. Your father will provide the bride price, the king his endorsement. This will be your entry fee into noble rank via marriage and succession.

>No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land.

-->

>>5902797
>>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment
This quest looks cool. I'll try to read the rest of it when I get the chance.

>>5902797
>No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land.

>>5902797

>No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land.

Doubling down on hard mode.

Let Mercians and Kings alike find us in due time - marshal the defense! Turn our lands into hunting grounds and let Mercian blood enrich our soil!

OOC: Now it's time to introduce one of my favorite mechanics "special moves" and like the name suggests they are special, they range from combat moves to Diplo moves to wisdom, etc.

It's clear both the character and the narrative are heading toward lots of fighting and bloodshed so I'll present 3 moves and you guys can take your pick Some are passive and some are active and must be called out via options.

Choose one

>Born Leader: Inspiring Battlecry
Roll 2d6+CHA
On a 10+ choose one from the options below
• One ally’s weapons grow keener; they take +1d4 damage forward
• Attacks turn away from one ally; they take +2 armor forward.

>Battle Instinct
When violence breaks out you shall always be the first to act even during surprises or ambushes.

Pragmatic defense
You can [Defend] with STR instead of CON, and when you attack with your shield, it no longer has the [awkward] and [-1] damage tags.

>>5902820
>Pragmatic defence

Alright, folks I hope you enjoy the update, adieu, and till next time. I'm going to rest now.

>>5902820

Tough choice but I’ll go with

>Pragmatic defense

>>5902797
>>5902820
>The King take you into his service.
>Battle Instinct

>>5902820
>No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land

>Battle Instinct

Battle instinct fits with how we reacted during the encounter and being able to react to ambushes is the difference between a successful defence and instant death/capture. Our CON is plenty high and attacking with a shield is kind of silly when we have a proper blade to slash, stab, and bash with.

>>5902797
>Among one of the King's thegns, there should be one without a son but with a daughter of marriageable age. Your father will provide the bride price, the king his endorsement. This will be your entry fee into noble rank via marriage and succession.
It’s called Bretwalda quest. The only way to become king, let alone over-king, is through succession.

>>5902854

I’m sort of hoping that the pragmatic defense trait allows for more attacks per round (one seax, one shield) or maybe once per encounter we get a special attack or something

>>5902820
>>5902856
Also,
>Battle Instinct

>>5902856
Let me introduce you to the concept of "murdering so many people that people literally piss themselves to death when you look at them funny and do whatever you say".

>Among one of the King's thegns, there should be one without a son but with a daughter of marriageable age. Your father will provide the bride price, the king his endorsement. This will be your entry fee into noble rank via marriage and succession.
>Battle Instinct
I would have prefered getting into the Kings court, but this works just as well. And better some leg up then none at all.

>>5902857
I'd wait for the QM to comment on that b/c that:
1.) Is not written anywhere.
2.) Sounds busted af.
Cause seriously at that point we might as well call it "Pragmatic Offense". If you are right though I'll consider changing my vote because flavor be damned that sounds solid and we on hard mode.

>>5902820
So, how do we aquire special moves exactly? Is it through leveling up or through story Arcs or what?

>>5902820
>Battle Instinct

>>5902857
Last sot before I head to sleep. No it doesn't provide more attacks. Read the pastebin which summarizes the rules and the ideas behind the system. What exactly defense does is on there. It's derived from one of the basic moves listed

The other 2 special moves are not based on any of the basic moves. What they say is what they do.

https://pastebin.com/77X8sHFY

>>5902886
They are given out when I feel it is narratively appropriate. Not tied to level or story arcs.

>>5902797
No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land.

>Pragmatic defense

>>5902820
>Battle Instinct

>>5902797
>No need. Whatever your destiny, you'll share it with your family. Mercia and war come. You shall be here alongside your folk to meet them and protect your land.

>Battle Instinct

>>5902964

Thanks for clarifying QM. Honestly both pragmatic defense in battle instincts seem like great traits so I’d be happy with either one

>>5902797
>>5902820
Anyway this being a pivotal vote I'll give it till Friday 10 am EST. I posted quite late and I want everyone to get the chance to vote, this choice brings us out of the prologue and into the meat of things.

Summary of the story votes so far.
Kings Service =2
Marriage = 2
No Need = 5

Summary of special moves vote
Pragmatic Defense = 3
Battle Instinct = 7

If anyone spots any mistake in my counting lmk. In the meantime I'll be plotting out our hero's path for each option.

>>5902797
>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

>Battle Instinct

>>5902797
>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

>Born Leader: Inspiring Battlecry

Revolting on this one.
>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

so a tie then is it?

>>5903398
Well, lets break that in half.

The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

>Pragmatic Defense

>>5903400
Sigh, lets try that again without the fool part please.
>The King take you into his service. Your fortunes will be tied to your lord, and how high you rise depends on the quality of your service and favor garnered Come spring, your father will buy you all the instruments of war a man of noble rank possesses (Horse, Mail, Shield, and Helmet) - a serious investment

>Pragmatic Defense

>>5903400
>>5903392
Anons, if I may interject. I have to ask what choosing to suck the king's toes accomplishes. After all...
We purposefully chose family over status.
We purposefully chose the hardest path to walk.
We are our families pride and joy.
To give up our family, knowing the hardships they'll face, knowing the gamble they're taking on us, all to go galavanting about in the kings court with not an ounce of charisma or status to our name.

It's a stupid gamble. I'll not suggest you remain with them but why not consider marriage instead? I'll change my vote if need be to convince you all because while I'm willing to accept risking the MCs life, throwing your families lives behind a gamble in direct contradiction to the first choice we made ITT feels like peak hubris and may kill the quest before it starts.

>Thegn Marriage
>Born Leader
Both contribute towards climbing the ladder.

>>5903707
It would be foolish to not accept our Father's generosity and take advantage of his ephemeral favor with the lord. We are not charismatic enough to flit about a court, I agree, but we are a capable warrior through and through. If we survive and contribute our hand to the (inevitable) wars, we will bring glory to our family, and may even be granted lands or titles if the opportunity arises.

Alright it is time to close the vote
VOTE CLOSED

>>The King take you into his service.
>>Battle Instinct

Come spring you shall travel to the capital of Dunwic and therein swear to King and join his household guards.

Battle comes easy to you, where others would hesitate and falter you act quickly.

I'll take my time writing up the update, it'll be on the bigger side of things.

Your words catch in your throat, unable to say anything in the face of the options offered. Your father searches for an answer in your eyes. You turn to your mother who sits at the foot of the bed, tears form at the corner of her eyes before she wipes them away. She sighs in melancholic resignation and stands up, she takes your hand into hers, a familiar warmth you've known all your life, and places a kiss on your cheek.

“I'm sad Elfstan, sad but proud. You don't know how many brothers and sisters of yours died in my womb. Your brother Ealdred was a gift, you were a miracle. And now my miracle has grown into a man. We want what is best for you but know this, my dear. Whatever path you choose, whether it leads to the service of a king or the life of a ceorl, we will stand by your side. Our love and support are yours, now and always." She finishes with a reassuring grip, the question in her eyes as to what you shall choose.

There is a silence in the room, no one wishing to break the lull. You think for a few seconds, then you remember the sword in your free hand, the excitement, and satisfaction as you drew it from its resting place. Your mind is made.

“I wish to join the King, father, to be a warrior,” you say.

Your father's hand clasps your shoulder, a deep breath comes out from him. “Good choice, son,” he says.

Your mother gives you a strained smile. “I know you will do great, Elfstan. Now go and sleep, I'm sure you're running on the fumes of excitement,” she says. You nod and give your thanks.

Having made your decision, you return to bed. You grip the handle of the sword tightly, committing everything to memory - its weight, the texture of the pommel, the intricate decoration, the glint of the blade as it peeks out from its scabbard. You feel a restlessness, a need to stay awake. It feels like if you close your eyes, everything that has happened will have been a dream. You struggle against your eyes before finally, you surrender to slumber.

You awake the following day at dawn, and everything remains true. Your sword is where you left it, Godser is on the other side of the hall nursing his wounds, and signs of last night's revelry remain throughout. With a sigh of relief, you close your eyes and sleep takes you once more.

When you awake properly this time around, you can hear voices coming from the common area. Your father, brother, cousin, and all the men of the stead are gathered there already. They must have let you sleep a little while longer - a small gift. You walk to the common area, the wooden floors of the hall creaking with your steps.

Your brother Ealdred notices you first. “Elfstan, brother, it’s good that you've awoken. Father was just about to send for you. He has an announcement for all of us.”

Your father nods and clears his throat. “Before winter’s grip tightens further, we have one last great task,” he says. The men look at each other puzzled but silent, knowing better than to interrupt. “We shall have a hunt! The wolf my son bloodied is still out there, and I mean to finish it. Its pelt shall make a fine cloak.”

The assembly nods in approval, your father and brother smile. The men are ordered to arm themselves with bows and spears. Your father, brother, and yourself all have horses. The rest of the men will travel on foot. Everyone quickly prepares, and within the half hour you ride out.

It is strange to see the path along which everything happened bathed in the morning sun. It looks nothing like it did in the dark of night. It is, of course, just as cold as it was the day before.
Your horse walks along at a steady pace. The party moves in focused silence, the forward scouts are on foot scouring for the wolf's tracks and blood trail. Eventually, one of them finds a trail. The wolf's paws left a clear path to follow, the bright blood stains help as well.

“You got the beast good, Elfstan. We might find it already dead,” Eadric says as he examines the blood marks.

“Less work for us then, we move on,” your father says as he urges his horse forward. You and your brother are at his side, the footmen spread out on the sides. Hooves and boots crunch the soft snow, breath steams in the frigid air.

Eventually, one of the forward scouts finds something. “My lords! The wolf, it lays near death!” he calls.

Excitedly the party moves along. Hearing that the animal poses no more danger, those on horseback gallop forward. From a distance, you can see the big beast lying on its side. As you move closer you can see it labors to breathe, not even raising its head in response to the party.

Your father turns to look at you and nods toward the wolf. It’s time to finish what was started. Not wanting to risk scaring the horse, you decide to dismount a few feet away. One of the men offers you a spear, but you shake your head and draw your sword.

Approaching the wolf, it still doesn’t stir. All that shows it is living is its open eyes and the gentle rise and fall of its chest. You grip the handle of the blade and aim. You thrust at its heart and end its suffering. Pulling out your sword, it shines red. The men cheer behind you as you wipe down your blade and sheathe it.

Your father orders the youngest men to drag the carcass home. Once home, the men are put to work skinning the beast in preparation for the tanner to do his job. Your father having sent for him in the morning, as soon as the men finish skinning, he takes the remains and departs to his house to do his work.

The men celebrate the easy hunt, and life goes on. Days pass by, and eventually the tanner returns with the wolf pelt. From there on, the women of the house under the direction of your mother will labor to turn the pelt into a proper garment.

Weeks go by. You sit beside your mother as she works on the wolf cloak. She is putting the final stitches and comments on the fineness of it. “It will be worthy of a great warrior,” she says. You laugh and thank her for that. As spring nears, compliments and comments like these have grown.

You are not sure if they are reassurances for herself or you. Regardless, you appreciate them and make it clear. Your father and brother are not of sentimental disposition and treat you as they always have. You find both things comforting.
------
Spring 800 AD
Further weeks pass, the snows relent, and the wind no longer bites. The livestock that survived the winter are let out of their winter homes. The fields are being prepared, everyone is doing something - a contrast to the inactivity of winter.

You come to the realization that you will not be here to see the fruits of everyone's labor grow and be harvested. You will be off in the capital doing whatever the king commands. You spend a few days in melancholy before you remember your parents' words.

Time marches on and soon your father informs you that the day of departure is near. On the eve before the day, your family is gathered for a meal. It shall be the last time you are all gathered together for quite some time.

Conversation flows and everyone eats eagerly, especially the fresh meat that spring has brought. You, however, eat a bit more slowly, realizing that there is a certain finality to the end of the meal.

The following early morning, you say your goodbyes to your family - tearful hugs from your mother, and well wishes from your brother and sister-in-law. Eadric makes you promise to visit. Your father waits patiently.

You’ll be accompanied by your father and 3 other men. All young and strong, you live deep in the kingdom, and so the roads are relatively safe, but your father wants no chance. And so they are mounted and armed with spears and shields.

You finally manage to escape your mother's grasp you mount up. Your first destination will be Gipeswic. Your father has business interests there, and it is a good place to purchase all that you shall need. You turn one last time to look upon your childhood home before riding out.

wyrd bið ful aræd
END OF PROLOGUE ROLL 2d6

No votes today, just a roll to help me decide our hero's next adventure. I am amazed each of my posts had a separate ID. no idea how that happens

Anyway like last time no updates on the weekends, Though I might pop in from time to time to answer questions and check up on the thread.

Rolled 1, 4 = 5 (2d6)

>>5904506

Based prologue, at least we survived so far

>>5904506
Question, but what does the bottom text say? Old English translators I’ve been looking at for help, have been pretty useless for me to figure out what it means?
>>5904509
Uh Oh, that doesn’t not look good for our journey at Gipeswic.

>>5904828
It's a phrase from an old English poem called "The Wanderer". It's exact translation is still debated but they range from "Fate is inexorable" to "Settled in truth is Fate"

A deep dive into its translations can be read here. If you scroll down the linked page you can see a list of various translations of the phrase

https://oldenglishpoetry.camden.rutgers.edu/2017/06/08/wyrd-bid-ful-araed-the-wanderer-line-5b/

>>5905069
Gee, thanks man! Personally after going through the list, I like “Fate is firmly set.” It works well with what has happened, and flows well with what has been written and eluded to so far in Aelfsran’s adventure.

The warm breeze is a welcome change from the chill and hardships of winter. As your horse maintains a steady pace, you find your thoughts drifting, shifting through memories and absent musings.

Your life, up until now, has been entwined with the cycle of the farm - planting, harvesting, resting, and then repeating the cycle year after year. It's a life you've found satisfaction in, a life marked by the joys of working alongside your family, interspersed with moments of tranquility and comradery. The rare errands on horseback for your mother or father, though mundane, always seemed like small adventures, breaking whatever monotony you might have felt.

Lost in these thoughts, the rhythmic clop-clop of hooves against the earth and your father's voice suddenly bring you back to the present. Turning, you see him looking at you, an inquisitive look on his face.

"What are you thinking about, lad?" he asks, his voice tinged with curiosity.

"Just about the farm," you respond with a shrug

"Huh," sounding mildly surprised “Homesick already lad?

“No” you shake your head “That’s just where my mind went, there's not much to look at” You gesture to the lonely landscape beside the road.

"Fair enough” Your father nods “I just thought you'd be wondering about the capital, the king, or even Gipeswic. It’s been a while since you’ve been there."

His words prompt a new train of thought. You would return to the farm eventually but it wasn't your life anymore. You walk a different path and it couldn't hurt to know more about…

>Gipeswic
>The King
>Dunwic

Welcome, folks to another week of Brwtalda quest. Starting slow and giving people a chance to trickle in and choose the upcoming exposition dump with this vote lol.

>>5907788

>The King

We’re going to live and die on the King’s favor, best to learn what we can of him

>>5907788
>The King
Know how the king is like, so we don't piss him off, is always sound advice from what my Father always told me.

>>5907788
>>The King

3 is a crowd. Vote closed for the King
It's been pretty slow today. Writing.

>Ask about the King & any other nobles of note.

Your father’s gaze wanders off. "The King... Eadwald, he's a prickly fellow," he begins with a hint of jest in his voice. "Prideful, always has been. You remember how he rejected help but later paid his dues. We're heading to his court because he still owes a debt. A prideful man, but one who settles his debts."

Your laughter is light, a mix of amusement and a touch of apprehension. "So I'm to become a mind reader, then? To discern when he needs help?" you ask, half-joking.

"No, Ælfstan," your father answers, his tone level, bringing a sense of seriousness to the conversation. "You're to use your eyes and wits. Besides he's changed since he became king. He won't ask; he'll command. And you must be ready to respond."

"And does he have there any redeeming quality?" you ask, a mild edge of exasperation in your voice. "He's pious" your father states simply. You ponder this, wondering how this could be helpful. Seeing your contemplation, he adds, "A few 'praise Gods' here and there endear you to him, easy I know”

The conversation shifts as your father’s tone becomes more serious. "Look Elfstan it’s not just about the King or your skill with the sword. You’re entering the halls of power, a place where every step counts. Don’t get lost and take a wrong turn Elfstan.

He looks at you directly, ensuring you grasp the weight of his words. "There are Ealdormen who resent Eadwald, saw his ascent as an affront to them, and your presence might ruffle feathers."
You can't hide your annoyance. "I’ll have Ealdormen begrudging my existence," you mutter. "You never mentioned this Father."

"You never asked," he replies calmly. "Besides I know you’ll succeed despite them, you’ll find friends in the King’s thegns, along with the churchmen who supported him in the witan's election.

He pauses letting you absorb his words before continuing. "The church supported Eadwald because they would rather a thegn’s son who fights than an Ealdorman King who dances to the tune of Mercia.“

You take a deep breath absorbing all that your father has said and wonder what exactly you are getting into, Your father sensing your doubt places a hand on your shoulder in a comforting manner. “You’ll do fine son, I wouldn’t have offered this if I didn’t know you would be suited to it.”
You nod and turn to look at your father “Thank you, I know you…..” suddenly what you are about to say is cut off by something ahead on the road…

>The sound of women screaming is heard in the distance, and out of the nearby underbrush sprouts a young woman, a nun by the look of her garment, more worrisome is the blood that stains it and the fearful look on her face
>What looks to be a group of travelers begin to fight among themselves, A man lies dead having been gutted by the seax of another. Curses and screams can be heard even from afar
>A group of heavily armed men all clad in mail and riding horses ride towards you, arms raised in a signal to halt.

OOC: Not a lot today, some small info dump and a vote I'll leave overnight.

>>5908146
>>The sound of women screaming is heard in the distance, and out of the nearby underbrush sprouts a young woman, a nun by the look of her garment, more worrisome is the blood that stains it and the fearful look on her face
Praise God eh?

>>5908146
>A group of heavily armed men all clad in mail and riding horses ride towards you, arms raised in a signal to halt.

>>5908146
>>The sound of women screaming is heard in the distance, and out of the nearby underbrush sprouts a young woman, a nun by the look of her garment, more worrisome is the blood that stains it and the fearful look on her face

>A group of heavily armed men all clad in mail and riding horses ride towards you, arms raised in a signal to halt.

>>5908146

>A group of heavily armed men all clad in mail and riding horses ride towards you, arms raised in a signal to halt.

Uh oh

Was unfortunately called into work today. Update incoming in the late evening.

Vote Closed
>A group of heavily armed men all clad in mail and riding horses ride towards you, arms raised in a signal to halt.

Your words are abruptly cut off by the distant sound of horse hooves. Turning, you see a rising dust cloud, signaling the approach of riders. Your father, Osric, subtly nods to his men. They reposition their horses, forming a defensive line beside you. Their faces show uncertainty, their lips pressed tightly, hands resting on their spears.

The intoxicating adrenaline you felt a season ago slowly starts to seep in. Instinctively, your hand moves to your sword's hilt. The feel of the pommel stirs thoughts of battle within you, but a sharp glance from your father pulls you back. “Don’t be so fast to draw your blade, Ælfstan. Think before you act,” he cautions quietly.

The crescendo of hooves halts abruptly as three riders come into view. You immediately notice their fine war horses. Each rider is adorned in a mail shirt, a finely woven red cloak pinned at their shoulder. Their shields display a red deer.

The lead rider signals for a halt, maintaining a cautious distance. His eyes sweep over your group slowly and methodically. The tension among your men is almost tangible, a mix of readiness and restraint. Your father, however, remains composed, staring intently at their shields. You're about to ask him if he recognizes the emblem but are cut off by their leader.

"You travel heavily armed," he states, his tone laced with suspicion, though of what, you are uncertain.

"A man has the right to protect himself," your father responds, his voice steady. "Whom do we address?"

"I am Wulfhere, captain of Ealdorman Ethelbald’s guard," the rider replies.

“I am Osric of Saxham,” your father responds. “My son and I travel accompanied by our men.” He gestures to your horsemen. “What brings the men of Lynscir to these parts? You're an awful way from home.” You sense your father has his suspicions about these men's intentions, but you are oblivious to what they might be.

Wulfhere looks as if he's mulling something over before finally speaking. "We are on a task from Lord Ethelbald, seeking a young woman taken from the abbey at Beodericsworth by bandits. Have you seen anything out of the ordinary on your travels?"

Your father’s eyes narrow slightly, analyzing Wulfhere's words. "No, we've seen no such thing," he replies cautiously. "But I must point out, Captain Wulfhere, that the abbey you speak of lies on royal lands, not within Ealdorman Ethelbald's. Why would your lord concern himself with matters so far from his writ?"

Wulfhere's expression tightens, a flicker of annoyance or perhaps apprehension crosses his face. "Ealdorman Ethelbald takes the safety of all within the kingdom seriously," he states, his tone unconvincing. "Banditry is a threat to everyone, regardless of whose land it is on."

Your father hums thoughtfully. "Indeed, banditry is a concern for all. But it's unusual for an Ealdorman's men to ride so far for a matter typically handled by local thegns or the king's guards."

You watch the exchange closely, feeling out of your depth. Your father undoubtedly understands the significance of this encounter better than you do. He turns to you, meeting your eyes. His gaze drops to your sword, and the hand still resting on it. An unspoken question passes from his eyes to yours, and you realize he's asking if you’re ready to draw it. Why your father would want to engage these men and what they represent is lost on you, but his silent inquiry resonates clearly in your mind.

>Nod yes
>Shake no

Nothing like work to derail your day, I'll leave this vote and we'll get back on track tomorrow.

For the curious Lynscir is the area around modern-day King's Lynn. And Beodericsworth is modern-day Bury St Edmunds. And Saxahm is still called Saxham today. A quick Google search by the curious will give you a vague idea as to where our characters are.

>>5909506
>Nod yes

>Nod yes

>>5909512
Hot damn, we’re 40 miles away from these fuckers, what kind of Earl tries to send 3 handsomely prepared warriors to fight bandits over 40 miles away over the kidnapping of a nun?! Unless he is a saint, these men are liars and we are going to get some fucking LOOT!!

>>5909506
>Nod yes
Obviously the Earl wants the woman

>>5909506
>Nod yes
A brawl is surely brewing...

A dangerous drawl is indeed brewing folks. Vote Closed

>Nod Yes

On another note, I will be switching to a 3d person pov from now on. While writing I realized I felt restricted by the 2nd person's pov. So yeah I think this is also a pretty good time to change it without being jarring, especially since it is gonna be a melee with lots of participants

Elfstan subtly nods in affirmation to his father's question As he lifts his gaze, he notices the men opposite them, they are tense but he realizes they are oblivious to the silent exchange between him and Osric. Realization dawns upon him, the initiative lies in his hands, and his sword will likely be the first drawn and to taste blood.

Elfstan’s mind races with the possibilities, precious seconds before the men take note of his intentions. A decision needs to be made.

>Write in:
OOC:

-On your side are Elfstan, Osric who have swords and shields, and 3 of your father's men on horseback each with spears and shields.

-On the other side are 3 men armed with swords and shields, mail, and also on horseback.

-The two groups stand a small distance across from each other, a single horse gallop will bring a rider from each side to the other's line. To the left of the road lies some underbrush leading to a forested area, the right has relatively open ground.

I wanted to do a small experiment and deviate from how the last combat went. It was pretty straightforward, just some dice rolls and a summary, afterward I compiled everything and wrote up a coherent narrative. This time I want to give you guys a chance to contribute to the battle’s narrative and outcome. I envisioned combat to not be so granular and dry as it was, I invite you guys to write in actions that you want to see Elfstan and his party do besides simply swinging swords

An example could be
>Elfstan draws his sword and swings first at Wulfhere, as he gallops forward he yells to his companions to watch his back, after his swing, he tries to pull Wilfhere from his horse and trample/kill him underneath

Something different might be to right away try and kill the horses of the enemy, limiting their mobility and allowing your group to pick them off or run them down, etc. Or to order your 3 horsemen to gang up on one rider while Elftsan and Osric solo the other 2. Or any kind of combination where you use your numerical superiority.

Your only limit is your imagination, physics, and the consequences of bad rolls. Whatever write-in wins I will ask from the players Elfstan’s appropriate opening roll and I will handle the NPCs, I’ll post the update either to the completion of the write-in or at a point where dice rolls/narrative need player participation. If my experiment doesn't stick and players don't want to do write-ins I will nonetheless move to a less stale simulation of combat and provide actions myself (like the example), at that point, the players will simply choose their preference from the bunch

>>5910245
Yeah, Im going to be telling you right here right now QM, don't really think about trying to do this. Most of the Anons that come on to a quest aren't creative of plans (at least not all of the time), so when they see something that requires them to think really hard and in a complex way besides very simple plans. If you want, then you can come up with a series of possible plans that can be further refined upon by the playerbase thanks to simple enough idea's, but besides that it is not going to end well for you.

>>5910615
I gathered that might be the case, just wanted to throw it out there and see if anyone would bite, alas it's fine.

Now here are the options I came up with the in meantime. Anons can choose their favorite

>Elfstan urges his horse forward and attacks Wulfhere, he shouts at his party to deal with the other 2 riders while he deals with Wulfhere. In pairs, his companions each take on a guardsman
>Elfstan swings not at Wulfhere but at his mount, hoping to kill it, his father duels another guard and the rest of his father's men descend upon the remaining guardsman
>Elftsan draws his sword and instead of going forward alone calls out for a united charge forward, having 2 more men than the enemy, they will scatter or fall to superior numbers.
>Having superior reach and numbers you stand your ground and hold for their charge. Their horses or themselves will fall to your spears.
>Write in: Edits or original

>>5910753

>Elfstan swings not at Wulfhere but at his mount, hoping to kill it, his father duels another guard and the rest of his father's men descend upon the remaining guardsman

Topple the enemy lieutenant!

>>5910753
Always cripple horsemen from their horses, then it’s just an easy killing.
>Elfstan swings not at Wulfhere but at his mount, hoping to kill it, his father duels another guard and the rest of his father's men descend upon the remaining guardsman

1 and a half hours then vote closes and I ask for a roll.

>>5910753
>Elfstan swings not at Wulfhere but at his mount, hoping to kill it, his father duels another guard and the rest of his father's men descend upon the remaining guardsman

Alright, lads VOTE CLOSED. This time around I will need 3 people to roll 2d6.

I will apply the appropriate modifiers on my end. The first will be for our boy Elfstan trying to kill this horse. The second is for your father. And the third for the trio of escorts

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

>>5911055

Rolling for sweet loot from these banditos

Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d6)

>>5911055
Rolling for that Horse kill from pops.

>>5911078
>>5911057
Damn all of them either fail or pass with major compilations. This sucks.

Indeed. pass with complications. Elfstan has 4+3 =7. and Osric has 5+2 =7 as well. both achieve what they set out to do with some bumps along the way. All that's left are the 3 escorts. I'll give it another 15 and then someone who rolled before can do so again.

Rolled 3, 4 = 7 (2d6)

>>5911090

Here’s another one if you need it QM

>>5911122
Excellent. Our trio of men successfully gang up on the sole guardsmen.

7+3=10

Thanks, those are all the rolls I need. A summary of the events will be posted on the morrow

Triple Sevens, interesting...

Like a lightning bolt, Elfstan gallops forward, his sword drawn. In a brutal swing, he cuts deep into the front leg of Wulfhere's horse. The hearth guards, caught off guard, are unable to react.

The horse lets out a wretched scream and falls forward. Whether due to fortune or experience, Wulfhere escapes without injury. He quickly gathers himself off the ground, sword drawn, his face flushed red, curses spilling from his lips. He lunges at Elfstan.

Wulfhere: 24 HP
- Mail Shirt [2 Armor]
- Shield [1 Armor]

>Elfstan, with the better angle from horseback, stands his ground and meets Wulfhere's sword.
>Without his horse, Wulfhere cannot escape for risks of being run down. Elfstan maneuvers outside Wulfhere's range waiting for his allies.
>Write-in:

Following behind Elfstan is his father, Osric. He turns and barks orders at his men to focus on the last man while he handles his own. Swords drawn, the two warriors' blades meet in a dance of swords. Experience versus youth, each with their own strengths, they draw blood from each other, but only superficially. After the initial flurry of swings and parries, the two combatants paus to reassess.

Hearthguard 1: [24-1 = 23 HP]
- Mail Shirt [2 Armor]
- Shield [1 Armor]

Osric: [22-1 = 21 HP]
- Shield [1 Armor]

The three farmer horsemen heed their lord's command with steely conviction. Bolstered by their numerical advantage, they charge, spears extended, each taking a different angle, seeking to cut off paths of retreat. The Hearthguard, outnumbered but not defeated, valiantly tries to defend. His sword parries one attack and his shield deflects another, but the third spear finds its mark. The man winces and momentarily loses concentration, allowing the 2 who missed to quickly stab at him in quick succession. At the end of the scuffle, he is severely injured and remains on his horse through practice or sheer will.

Hearthguard 2: [24-18 = 6 HP] [Near Death]
- Mail Shirt [2 Armor]
- Shield [1 Armor]

OOC: I LIED. Update today folks. Have it. One part of the fight going very well. The other 2 still up in the air.

>>5911196
>Elfstan, with the better angle from horseback, stands his ground and meets Wulfhere's sword.

>>5911196

>Without his horse, Wulfhere cannot escape for risks of being run down. Elfstan maneuvers outside Wulfhere's range waiting for his allies.

Try to draw him clear of the main fight and then charge the guy fighting our dad for massive critical damage

>>5911519
This, also since we’re on Horseback we can always cut him down should he ever desire to flee like the Cur he is.

>>5911196
>Elfstan, with the better angle from horseback, stands his ground and meets Wulfhere's sword.
Nothing to fear from the other two, they are overwhelmed with more trouble than we can deliver anyway.

We got a tie. I'll give it 2 hours from this post then if it's still tied I shall roll do decide which option wins.

Rolled 1 (1d2)

1= Stand your ground
2= Maneuver with horse

Like last time I need 3 people to roll 2d6 please.

1st for Elftsan
2nd for Osric
3d for the farmer trio.

Rolled 5, 3 = 8 (2d6)

>>5911766
rolling for elf

>>5911798
NICE! +3 thats 11.

Rolled 4, 1 = 5 (2d6)

>>5911766
Roll for Osric

>>5911798
Hanged Anon please roll for damage.
1d8+2

This is Elfstan dealing damage to Wulfhere.

>>5911801
5+2=7 for Osric.
Another clash where both the Hearthgaurd and Osric give and receive blows.

>>5911801
Not terrible roll, looks like thats going to have some complications.

>>5911811
Dad is not as good in his old age anymore.

Rolled 4, 6 = 10 (2d6)

>>5911766

If we still need a roll?

>>5911811
Don't forget to roll the 1d8+2 for Elfstan's damage dealt. I'll give you 40 mins then someone else can take the roll.

>>5911815
Excellent. The farmers are pulling their weight in this fight, they outnumber the man but still. The guys they're fighting is toast.

>>5911818

A bit shameful for Elfy-boy but he’ll eventually grow into a terror on the battlefield

Rolled 4 (1d8)

>>5911818
Got it man thanks for the heads up!

>>5911831
Damn, would have loved some high HP loss, but a 1/6 for no damage is something I will still take any day of the week.

>>5911832
Wait, no Fuck! I forgot to add the +2, sigh. Alright make that 1/4 HP loss then. Alright good start from everyone save Dad then.

Nice nice, update sometime tonight. Good rolls all around.

The hearthguard, beset on all sides and wounded cannot repel the attacks of the three farmers. One spear pierces the hearthguard's chest with a sickening crunch, the tip bursting out his back in a spray of crimson. His mouth opens in a silent scream as the force hurls him from his saddle. He hits the ground hard, limp as a ragdoll, breath driven from his lungs.

Dazed and helpless, he can only watch as the farmers surround him, faces twisted in battle rage. Spears slam down in a flurry of violence. The sharpened points plunge into his exposed flesh. Blood pools beneath him, soaking the earth as he writhes feebly.

His lifeblood floods outward. The man's eyes go wide with animal panic, hands clutched futilely at his mangled flesh. He chokes and gurgles, drowning in his fluids. With a last, desperate gasp, his thrashing ceases.

Hearthguard 2: [6-6 =0 HP] [DEAD]

Wulfhere and the other hearthguard turn at the gruesome sounds of their comrade's demise.
"You whoresons!" Wulfhere spits as he dodges another of Elfstan's blows. "I'll gut you like pigs for that!"

Elfstan says nothing, concentration, and battle haze have taken over. They circle one another warily, Elfstan's height on horseback allows him to rain down powerful swings. With a cut here and bruise there Wulfhere staggers back under the impacts, unable to mount an effective counterattack or escape.

Wulfhere [24-3 = 21 HP]
- Mail Shirt [2 Armor]
- Shield [1 Armor]

Meanwhile, Osric and his foe continue their dance, youth, and speed pitted against hardened skill. They trade superficial wounds, neither gaining the upper hand on the other, but the hearthguard's eyes narrow as he takes in his dying ally. Sensing this battle is lost he turns his horse abruptly, he flees towards the tree line. The emboldened farmers rush to cut off his escape, spears at the ready.

Hearthguard 1: [23-1 = 22 HP]
- Mail Shirt [2 Armor]
- Shield [1 Armor]

Osric: [21-1 = 20 HP]
- Shield [1 Armor]

Surrounded by four blood-splattered enemies, the warrior curses. "Damn you to Hell!" he snarls, brandishing his blade defiantly. Outnumbered he knows he is not likely to make it out unscathed much less alive.

>Finish it, kill them all, you'll get answers to any questions you have from the Abbey they come from.
>Demand their surrender, They'll be stripped of their weapons and armor and you'll get to the bottom of their intentions.

OOC: Here ya go folks. That dude died a brutal death. At 2 vs 5, the battle is effectively over especially considering one of them is on foot. If you choose to kill them you'll simply roll to see how fast and how bloody. Same with if you choose to keep them alive, roll to see how much resistance they put up, even on a 6 they will get killed or captured, they'll just have made it a bit more costly.

>>5912254
>Demand their surrender, They'll be stripped of their weapons and armor and you'll get to the bottom of their intentions.

>>5912254

>Demand their surrender, They'll be stripped of their weapons and armor and you'll get to the bottom of their intentions.

We can always kill them afterwards

>Demand their surrender, They'll be stripped of their weapons and armor and you'll get to the bottom of their intentions.
Information first, justice second.

>>5912254
>Demand their surrender, They'll be stripped of their weapons and armor and you'll get to the bottom of their intentions.

Someone roll me a 2d6.

Rolled 2, 2 = 4 (2d6)

Sure, rolling.

>>5912822
A bit bloodier than hoped but the job gets done in the end.

Update later tonight.

Up the date, QM Man.

Elfstan grips his horse's reins tightly, ensuring his mount doesn't trespass into Wulfhere's range. Wulfhere darts forward, slashing at the horse’s leg. The beast shrieks, blood falling on the dirt as the horse receives a nasty gash, it limps back and buckles. Cursing, Elfstan slides from the saddle, narrowly avoiding being stabbed. He draws his sword just as Wulfhere attacks. ‘So this is a household warrior’, Elfstan thinks grimly.

"What’s your real business? Three men armed for war in the King’s lands. Traitors I think," Elfstan shouts.

"That business is my lord's boy, do not concern yourself with that! And I am no traitor!" Wulfhere snarls back.

Steel sings as their blades clash. Elfstan dodges each blow, the swings from Wulfhere whizzing as they pass by. Wulfhere's face contorts in a snarl, eyes blazing with ruthless determination. Wulfhere is well-trained and experienced, but Elfstan has talent, ‘unnatural talent’ thinks Wulfhere.

The fight stretches on, neither man tiring. Elfstan searches for an opening, some slip in form. Then Wulfhere overextends on a backswing. With clever footwork, Elfstan steps forward and knocks the sword from his opponent's grip. Following the movement he slams the pommel of his sword against Wulfhere’s temple. Wulfhere collapses without a sound.

‘One down,’ Elfstan thinks, catching his breath. He looks towards where the remaining Hearthguard is, he’s being dragged from his horse by a pair of angry farmhands. Nearby is the corpse of one of the farmhands, ‘an unfortunate death,’ Elfstan thinks. Osric barks orders to them as they manhandle the hearthguard, "Knock the man out, then search him well and strip him! Arms, armor, coin, anything that looks important!"

Elfstan likewise does the same to Wulfhere's unconscious form. He lifts his mail from his person, cuts his coin pouch from his belt, picks his sword off the ground, and rummages around the supply bags from his dead horse. Elfstan finds nothing that stands out, just rations and basic traveling supplies. About to give up he notices a small bit of parchment rolled up with one of the rations of dried meat. “Father! Look, a parchment scroll.”

Osric walks over and examines it. “I can’t read that well but it looks like a writ, one that hasn’t been signed and sealed though. Regardless we’ll be taking these men to the Beodericsworth Abbey. We’ll get some more answers there.” Osric glances at Elfstan’s horse and notices the injury. “Can it carry you?”