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Looking around, and you realize things are about fifteen seconds from getting desperate. Thinking quickly, you snap both hands out, holding your axe with your thumb and letting your shield hand by a leather strap, and grab a fistful of two men’s shirts. The one you wounded seems too surprised and dumbfounded to react, while the other man quickly drops his sword and punches you square in the jaw, trying to jar your hands loose from him and his ally. It barely even phases you.


You step forward with a groan, and fear begins to creep into the archers eyes as they realize what you’re about to do. They claw at your wrists in vain attempts to free themselves before with one motion, you shove both over the edge of the wall into the chaos below. The fall is unlikely to be fatal, but you doubt they’ll be bothering anyone until this is all over.


Anders ducks a swipe from a blade and buries his axe in the gut of one of his attackers. He pays for the strike, though, and catches a nasty kick upwards into his stomach while he’s bent over. He drops to a knee, coughing, but manages to block what likely would have been a killing blow with his axe. He snarls angrily, and looks like he’s about foaming at the mouth.


The third man bothering you looks like he’s about to run, but steels himself quickly enough. He grips his short sword with two hands, and steps back towards the waist-high part of the wall. The archers on the other side of him are still firing into the crowd, albeit slowly. You imagine they’re having a hard time picking targets in the madness that has unfolded below.


>Round 10, over
>15 soldiers: Unknown
>10 archers: 1 lightly wounded (left hand) 1 lightly wounded (left hand) 1 moderately wounded (face/head) 2 disabled (unknown wounds - assumed extensive) 1 grievously wounded (abdomen)
>32 vikings: Gunnar seriously wounded (left shoulder), others unknown
>??? villagers: Unknown
>Anders: Moderately wounded (Right thigh, right forearm, abdomen)
>Haskell: Moderately wounded (Left chest/ribs, left forearm)


>Attack Anders’ man while he’s hurt (axe)
>Attack the third man you’ve been fighting (axe/shield)
>Charge further into the archers (power/axe)
>Write-in

>>910128
>Write-in

Rush the third man and shield bash him over the wall he backed up towards

>>910181
This, but with a kick to the gut instead.

>>910262

Oh right, we do have an arrow sticking out of our shield arm don't we?

>>910286
I wasn't thinking of the arrow when I suggested it (I was going for rule of cool), but yeah.

Well, fuck it. Normally I wait for three, but I want to get somewhere before I pass out. 6d10 rolls, please. Offensive shield and striking

Rolled 3, 1, 10, 5, 4, 2 = 25 (6d10)

>>910471

>>910471
>>910181
This as for the arrow fight well just fight through the pain

Rolled 3, 8, 8, 7, 1, 4 = 31 (6d10)

>>910471
Let's try dice again

Rolled 5, 10, 8, 3, 8, 7 = 41 (6d10)

>>910471

Yeah not sure where everybody got to

High rolls are 23 and 18. Writing.

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With a shout of rage, you swing your shield in a sort of punch, slamming the edge of the planks into the side of the third archer’s face, sending him reeling back against the wall. You hiss in pain as you are immediately reminded of an arrow that has buried itself in your forearm, but you bear the pain as you plant your boot on the man’s chest in a brutal front kick. He lets out all his breath in one go as he tumbles from the wall, screaming the whole way down. Even over the din of combat, you can hear the sickening crunch as he hits the ground below.

Anders lunges forward, rage in his eyes. He is promptly met with a knee to his face, sending him flopping onto his back, barely holding on to his axe. His opponent’s eyes light up, and he turns his sword around in a reverse grip to go for the kill in a downward stab. Anders is in deep shit at the moment.

The archer on the end has noticed that there is now nothing between you and him, so he has dropped his bow and drawn his sword, advancing towards you slowly. Looks like he’s realized you’re an actual threat, now. The other archers pay you no mind, still firing occasionally into the crowd when they can find shots

>Round 11, over
>15 soldiers: Unknown
>10 archers: 2 dead, 1 lightly wounded (left hand) (Seems unaggressive) 1 lightly wounded (left hand) 1 moderately wounded (face/head) 2 disabled (unknown wounds - assumed extensive)
>32 vikings: Gunnar seriously wounded (left shoulder), others unknown
>??? villagers: Unknown
>Anders: Seriously wounded (Right thigh, right forearm, abdomen, head) (prone)
>Haskell: Moderately wounded (Left chest/ribs, left forearm)

>Tackle the man about to stab Anders (Power/Grappling)
>Charge at the man advancing on you (Axe)
>Rush deeper into the line of archers (Power/Axe)
>Write-in

>>910692
>>Tackle the man about to stab Anders (Power/Grappling)

>>910692
>Tackle the man about to stab Anders (Power/Grappling)

Not on our watch you don't

>>910692
>>Tackle the man about to stab Anders (Power/Grappling)

Okay, let's get some 6d10 rolls please

Rolled 2, 3, 2, 5, 10, 6 = 28 (6d10)

>>910802
ROLLS!

Rolled 9, 8, 10, 3, 4, 3 = 37 (6d10)

>>910802
Anger and pain?

Rolled 7, 4, 4, 8, 10, 10 = 43 (6d10)

>>910802

Fuck this guy, apparently.

High rolls are 27 and 28. Writing.

>>910824
>tfw minding your own business killing viking seascum and suddenly this six-foot-fuckhuge dude comes over and breaks your spine

Being slav is suffering.

>>910849
Dude rolled fucking TERRIBLY, by the way, in case you guys were interested. He's not having a great day.

>>910867
I was going to suggest suplexing him before the votes were locked in, but I was afraid of the rolls being terrible. Looks like I shouldn't have worried.

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You break into a sprint as the man raises his sword well above his head, about to bring it down on Anders’ chest. At the peak of his height, you slam into him, your body low, shoulder striking him just above his hip. You wrap your hands just below his opposite knee, and extend your legs out, carrying the assailant four or five steps before driving him back onto the floor, your full weight slamming into him. You land a furious punch into his already-bloodied face for good measure before wrapping both of your hands around his throat, squeezing with all the force you can muster. You feel his windpipe collapse beneath your strength, and he coughs blood once as he grabs helplessly at his throat, unable to breath. He flails around, dying.

As you stand from the man in his death throes, you hear a crack come from behind you, followed by the most pained scream you’ve ever heard in your life. Your head snaps back, fearing the worst for your friend, but what you find makes you slightly sick to your stomach.

The man that had been approaching you sits on one knee, the other leg bent out nearly a full ninety degrees from the joint. He’s staring at it in a way that makes you think he doesn’t even realize he’s screaming. Anders pulls his foot back from the kick he just delivered and stands, slowly. You expected to see rage or pain in his eyes, but rather, they are simply empty. His breathing heavy and ragged, he raises his axe, and wordlessly buries it up to the haft in the back of the man’s head. The screaming stops instantly, and the poor soul goes limp. Anders doesn’t even bother trying to pry the axe out of the skull, choosing instead to pick up his dropped sword and advance silently to the remaining archers. He seemed to take no notice of you, a fact that you’re rather glad for. You’ve heard the stories of people capable of this.

Unfortunately for them, the remaining archers have yet to notice your battle-maddened friend, and you’re not entirely positive you want to watch what’s about to happen to them.

>Round 12, over
>15 soldiers: Unknown
>8 archers: 2 dead, 1 lightly wounded (left hand) (Seems unaggressive) 1 lightly wounded (left hand) 1 moderately wounded (face/head) 2 disabled (unknown wounds - assumed extensive)
>32 vikings: Gunnar seriously wounded (left shoulder), others unknown
>??? villagers: Unknown
>Anders: Seriously wounded (Right thigh, right forearm, abdomen, head) (Berserking, but unable to control himself. His dot is now purple, as ‘ally’ is not a great term for a first-timer.)
>Haskell: Moderately wounded (Left chest/ribs, left forearm)

>Pick up a bow and support Anders from back here. Where you're safe. (Bow)
>Rush forward and help Anders. You can make him see sense, if you need to. Probably. (Axe/Def. Shield)
>Watch the massacre that's likely to ensue
>Write-in

>>910925
Shoot the archer behind us and support our troops on the ground

>>910925
>>Pick up a bow and support Anders from back here. Where you're safe. (Bow)

Probably could have called this a while ago, but I'm gonna get some sleep and we'll pick up in the morning. Thanks for playing, guys. I appreciate it.

>>911196
sorry I keep missing these handler

>>911207
Don't even worry about it, man. This is all about having fun. No sense stressing over it.

>>910925
>>Pick up a bow and support Anders from back here. Where you're safe. (Bow)

>>910925
>Pick up a bow and support Anders from back here. Where you're safe. (Bow)

Let's get some 3d10's, and I'll start writing eventually

Rolled 4, 3, 8 = 15 (3d10)

>>911463

Rolled 6, 1, 9 = 16 (3d10)

>>911463

Rolled 8, 1, 1 = 10 (3d10)

>>911463

Rolled 9, 5, 3 = 17 (3d10)

>>911463

Rolled 6, 3, 7 = 16 (3d10)

>>911463

Thanks for pushing through Handler, I appreciate it

>>911502
Booyakah
Booyakah

>>910938
hey man, stop tring to kill funny slav!

that's thrall material right there

Hey, guess who's finally writing.

High roll is 16.

>>912254
I am the definition of perseverance.

Forgot to have you guys roll for the arrow in your forearm. To save time, I rolled for it myself, 3d10 best of three. You ended up with a 20. Let me know if you guys want to roll for it yourselves

>>913780

Oh captain my captain, you're good to go forward on my end

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Looking around your feet, then back up at Anders slowly walking into three armed and ready combatants. While going to help would just as dangerous to you as it would be to your enemies, you don’t feel you can let him go there alone. With a groan of pain, you break the arrow off behind the shield and let the battered protective barrier drop to the ground. You replace your axe in your belt to bend over, picking up a bow and a handful of arrows.

You fit an arrow to the bow, drawing it back. You wish it was a little longer, but you don’t exactly have the time to find one with a better fit. You let the arrow fly just as Anders reaches the ensemble. It sticks solidly in the thigh of the foremost archer, stopping a thrust delivered towards Anders. Nearly immediately, Anders delivers a backhanded slash with his sword, opening a grievous wound across his chest, followed by a kick to the hip sending him off the wall. Anders looks over, watching the man fall to the ground below, bellowing insults as his movements get more and more erratic.

A second archer sees his opportunity, and rushes your friend, sword raised high above his head. You hurriedly reach for another arrow, knowing that warning Anders in the state he’s in would be useless. Fumbling with the projectile, you flinch as an arrow flies past your head, striking the man in the throat. He falls to the ground, choking and coughing as blood escapes his neck.

Your head snaps back, in both rage and confusion, to the archer behind you. He’s holding a fresh bow, and merely shrugs at your gaze. When you give him a questioning look, he motions down to the ground, to the battle that is clearly turning against his, apparently, former employers and comrades. Shaking your head, you return your attention briefly to Anders and the final archer on the wall.

The last man is, you assume, swearing at the flipper, and pointing his sword accusingly at Anders, which draws his attention. The slav realized the mistake that he’s made, and moves Anders between himself and the two of you, to try to avoid giving you a shot.

>Round 13, over
>???? soldiers: Unknown
>6 archers: 2 dead, 1 lightly wounded (left hand) (Seems to have turned traitor on his company) 2 disabled (unknown wounds - assumed extensive)
>??? vikings: Gunnar seriously wounded (left shoulder), others unknown
>??? villagers: Unknown
>Anders: Seriously wounded (Right thigh, right forearm, abdomen, head) (Berserking, but unable to control himself. His dot is now purple, as ‘ally’ is not a great term for a first-timer.)
>Haskell: Moderately wounded (Left chest/ribs, left forearm)

>>913894

Let's secure our new prisoner, approach him and have him lower the bow and keep an eye with a nocked arrow ready to fire in case Anders doesn't just tear this guy to shreds

>>913996
This

>>913894
I knew funny slav would turn around!

Just aim at the last arher and make sure Anders can kill him safely

motion to the funny guy to drop the bow and make a dead man's face to him, complete with tongue out, tring to tell him to pretend to be down

P.S: FUcKING cHAMPIONS!!!!!! YEAAAAAHHH!!!!

Okay, let's get some 3d10 rolls and I'll start writing

Rolled 6, 1, 3 = 10 (3d10)

>>914431

Rolled 6, 4, 3 = 13 (3d10)

>>914431
Let's do a bit better then this guy
>>914433

Rolled 10, 6, 10 = 26 (3d10)

>>914431

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>>914453

>>914453
Thank this man. Writing.

Also, for the record, I haven't rolled for Anders or the other dude yet, so I don't know if we even need this roll.

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>>914453
awww shit

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You let the bow rest momentarily by your side as you look back to the slav. You motion towards the ground, and he takes the hint. He drops the bow, and shrugs yet again. He seems to do a lot of that.


You string the blow, but don’t draw it. You don’t have a clear shot anyway as Anders moves, slowly, to engage. His sword arm hanging limply at his side, but the mercenary won’t be drawn in. He holds his own blade out at arm’s length, creating distance between himself and the berserker, doing his best to keep something between your bow and his chest.


His mistake is continuing to glance nervously over Anders’ shoulder at you. In one sudden, violent motion, Anders swings his sword in an arc, knocking the opponent's blade out from between them, and nearly jumping forward into a vicious headbutt. The archer stumbles back, his nose and mouth erupting in a spray of crimson as Anders continues the assault by running him through the belly, forcing him back to the end of the wall. He continues pushing the dying man out over the river, despite his quarry’s attempts to stop him. Finally, he lets the dying man slide off of his blade into the slowly churning river below to die.


Anders turns, his eyes still stark white and completely devoid of emotion. However, even without pupils, you can tell that his vision is locked solely on you. Looks like he’s just attacking whatever may be closest. You wrack your brain for ideas - You could try to get through the blood lust and talk him down, but they’re called berserkers for a reason. You could tackle him to the ground, holding him in one place until the madness passes, or you could simply run. You could also just shoot him, and hope the damage you do isn’t fatal. Either way, he continues towards you, slowly plodding, the end of his sword dragging behind him on the wooden walkway.


>Round 14, over
>??? soldiers: Unknown
>2 archers: 1 dead, 1 lightly wounded (left hand) (Seems to have turned traitor on his company)
>??? vikings: Gunnar seriously wounded (left shoulder), others unknown
>??? villagers: Unknown
>Anders: Seriously wounded (Right thigh, right forearm, abdomen, head) (Berserking, but unable to control himself. His dot is now purple, as ‘ally’ is not a great term for a first-timer.)
>Haskell: Moderately wounded (Left chest/ribs, left forearm)


>Anders has been your friend for a long, long time. You can get through to him. (Charisma. Write-ins will lower the DC)
>Move to tackle him, wrapping him up until he comes to his senses. (Power/Grappling)
>Shoot him, doing your best not to kill him. He’s badly wounded, though. (Bow)
>Run
>Write-in

>>914703
>Move to tackle him, wrapping him up until he comes to his senses. (Power/Grappling)
He is severely injured and we need to make sure he doesn't suffer anymore wounds.

>>914703
huh, remind him of all the shit we went through both on the trip and before.

Look you rampaging cunt, you better step up your game and learn to use a goddamn shield because we both know the why your survival instinct kicked and that is poor showing.

>>914703
>>Run

Berserker is good, just get out of his reach, lead him to the enemy

>>914703
>>Move to tackle him, wrapping him up until he comes to his senses. (Power/Grappling)

>>914766
That is retarded, you are retarded but you do have a point about him using a shield

Okay, let's get some 6d10 rolls, and I'll write the update up in the morning after I get some sleep.

Thanks for playing guys!

Rolled 3, 7, 3, 6, 3, 2 = 24 (6d10)

>>914703

Rolled 7, 3, 9, 6, 10, 2 = 37 (6d10)

>>914876

Rolled 1, 4, 4, 3, 8, 9 = 29 (6d10)

>>914876

>>914887
Thank you for being great.
>>914888
You as well.

>>914876

>>914887
niceu

>>914887
use all the point's we can

>>915107
We can't use points right now.

Hey, who's around? If we get three, I'll pick up the thread

>>916664
Present

>>916664
Here!

Awww yeah

>>916664
Waka waka

Okay, gonna write while I eat. Might be a while, though.

High rolls are both 19

>>916664

Reporting for duty

Sorry for the wait. Had to tear apart a vacuum. Good news: it works. Bad news: Couldn't write while I did that.

>>917340
Man, that sucks.

Anders in this state is worse than useless - He’s dangerous, both to himself and his allies. You drop the bow, and step slowly towards him. His blank, stark-white eyes stare at you as his breathing stays heavy and harsh. The sword still low at his side, it’s not the blade that scares you. It’s his face. This isn’t Anders, and he doesn’t even see you as Haskell. You’re simply another body in front of him.

You don’t even try to reason with him; one step from the range of that sword, you lunge. Just barely, you reach him before he can swing the devastating weapon at you. Wrapping him up, though not as tightly as you like, you drag him to the ground, both of you swearing. He drops the sword, and begins clawing and biting at your arms. It’s largely ineffectual, and rather than trying to adjust your grip, you simply double down, pulling him into your chest to stop him from wriggling out. He’s not pacified yet, but you already see some color coming back into his eyes.

The turncoat archer walks up to you, his hands held out to his sides in a non-threatening gesture. He motions towards the ground, where the rest of your allies sound like they’re in the process of mopping up. Already, you can hear the shouts and hollers of looting. He draws his thumb across his throat, then nods back to the town below. Looks like he’s wondering if you think everyone else is going to kill him. Seems pretty confident you’re not going to, for whatever reason.

>Battle over
>Unknown casualties, unknown prisoners

>I think I can convince them you’re useful (honest, will require a write-in)
>I wouldn't worry about it (lie)
>They’re definitely going to kill you.
>Write-in

>>917402
And so it begins anew

>>917422
>I think I can convince them you’re useful (honest, will require a write-in)
Haskell points a finger to the archer and motions with thumb back to his chest, then nods to the raiding party. "Stay close and they should leave you alone...I would keep your hands to away from iron, just to be safe."

>>917422
>Write-in

run

>>917422
>I think I can convince them you’re useful
We'll just tell them he helped Anders, shot a guy for him. He's a merc, right? Nothing personal, then, he works for us now.

Get him to help carry Anders when he calms down, don't know if he'll make the stairs by himself, and we're injured, too. Also gives the others a reason not to stab him on sight.

We could always use more archers. Not like he can go back to his previous employer lol.

>>917568
>He's a merc, right? Nothing personal

thats the thing this entire thing has become personnal for everyone because of what they did to the raiding party thus why we're bruning it to the ground and killing and taking everything

>>917598
Then he's part of our spoils.

>>917606
I'd rather not run the risk of him trying to escape our farm or attempt to bone our new thrall and get her pregnant.

>>917606
mechanically we already have a thrall

why wouldnt you just fucking take some loot? why a fucking slav merc?

>>917649
He did save our asses by turncoating.
thrall card should be a last resort if we can't convince them though.

>>917687
fuck convincing lets just cut him loose and wash our hands of him

>>917649
>>917646

He would be insanely more usefull than that girl for starters

>>917568
supporting

when anders calms down we ask him to help us carry him

>>918715
>He would be insanely more usefull

citation fucking needed

>>918730

can farm! can carry shit! what else do you need in a farm?

>>918766
Someone who won't stab you in the back? something mercenaries are notorious for doing

>>918766
Someone to keep dad warm during winter?

>>918774
this one I can accept.
And thinking more clearly now maybe he isn't very suited for slave work, better let him go before the dust settles after we give our name and he tells us his, so if we come back to these parts during our conquest we may have a local contact to provide information for a price.
>>918962
But this?

If we keep the girl my plan would be to sell her to Knut's father since she has experience with that kind of work, I don't think she will be much use on a small farm.
With the money we could buy an already broken slave (less chance of betrying us) that could take the heavy labor of our dad's back, because that was the initial motivation for taking a thrall anyway.

>>919030
The problem with selling her is that we still end up with no-one working on our farm, since we would have to waste all of our loot space carting her back home, only to sell her. I didn't hear about any slave markets in our village, either.

>>919252
well than, it's better to leave her and take loot to pay someone, because she won't be much help there either.
I'm just saying she is a waste of space for very little gain.
I guess it will depend on what we find here, if we find valuable loot or a more promissing farm help I say we ditch her

>>919252
>>919280
Okay seriously where you fuckers when were actually making the decision to keep her or sell her off because she's be of the boys was interested in her but for some reason we decided to keep a slab girl who doesn't do labor r work but works with basically oks in a different language to us and is next to useless on the farm as it stands

May as well rape her if we're ditching her I mean it's the most well likely get out of her

>>919294

Exactly, I miss one thread and sudenly we have a useless slav girl around, it still baffles me we didn't offer her to eric and if he didn't accept we raped her ourselves.

we have to fucking sell her while we still have someone interested, I hope we find something good on this tradepost

>>919320
Me as well. I had a rush at work, miss the vote, find the anons made an idiot of Haskell.

>>919280
>>919294
>>919320
>>919331
Where are you morons getting the idea that she would be useless on the farm? Sure, she WAS a book keeper, but that doesn't mean she can't pull weeds or tend a fucking garden. She may not pull plow(unless old dad is up for raising another kid) but she can manage smaller, easier tasks that help around the farm AND she's at least slightly educated, enough for numbers at least. Have her keep inventory and tabulate numbers and sell her services around town during winter/summer when there isn't much farm work to do.
Much better than getting a merc to break clods, at least SHE won't get the idea that it was better fighting and dying for silver than shit farming.

>>919435

Ou yeah, and breaking her and making her loyal while forcing her to do manual labor will be much easier.

I'm not saying to take the merc with us, I'm saying we should not take any of these two.

we should sell her and use the money to pay a local boy to help father or find a better farm help ( a young or something)

>>919435
>>919504

Also, The Idea was to get someone that actually had 2 hands and could do the heavy labor, the pulling weed and tending gasdens partr father can do

>>919504
>we should sell her and use the money to pay a local boy to help father or find a better farm help ( a young or something)

Paying for help would just make Dad look pathetic. You want old Dad to be pitied?

As for finding other slaves, someone needs to be the head slave, able to figure out the management and money shit. Dumb muscle is easy to find. Someone who can read and write? That's harder.

>>919331
Go bitch at Handler if you don't like the character he wrote for us. He just gave us a basic description when we first found her, then after we decided to take her as a thrall, we found out more about her only when we decided to talk to her.

>>919709

pítied how? don't be stupid man, Knut's father pays us for help, is he pathetic? the inkeeper pays people for help, is he pathetic?

we are just offering a job for a local norseman like any other in town, and we are doing that so we can focus on rading.

we only have a farm and a field to plant we don't need a head slave we need muscle to help father, and selling her can get us that, or we can find some here on the trade post (I doubt it but it's possible).

I feel more confortable hiring someone we can trust than putting dad with foreing strangers.

>>919514
>>919744
Since when do you need 2 full hands for heavy labor? Have you ever worked a farm? I don't mean this modern shit, I mean out in the fields for 10 to 12 hours a day, pulling weeds after planting, pushing plow, digging rocks, and breaking clod? It's hard shit, but simple work, and most of it you can do with 1 hand. Plowing? yeah it takes two hands to balance the plow when pushing, but EVERYONE needs help when you till the fields, so that's not out of the question to get help for that. Most of the farm work outside of the fields is finicky stuff that needs two hands and good motor control. Braiding rope and twine, socket and peg work for buildings, thatching, SPINNING twine can be done 1 handed if you have a good drop spindle.
Look, all dad needs is a LITTLE help. He doesn't need a massive brute who may wake up one day and think dad's insides would look better out side. Even a weedy farmer might get that idea, but the bookworm? Treat her right and use her skills, she'll keep dad in beans and beer.

While I'll admit that she is not very suitable as the first and for now only thrall on our run-down farm, I think she will be able to help regardless of her physical weakness, like >>919435
said. And once we have more thralls for manual labor we will be able to use her uncommon skills for administrative work.
The family farm has had hard times for years, a few weeks more until the next raid (where we'll get a field slave) will make no difference, but having an educated specialist will be good later.

Next story post when?

>>919837
Quick follow up, because I came off sounding like I was in complete disagreement with >>919744

We should hire someone to help during planting and the harvest, when dad will need the most help. The rest of the year having a slip of a girl do the make work would ease the burden on dad for tending all the thousand and one things that keep a farm from being a mud hut with hungry people waiting for food to appear.

>>917494
this works for me

>>919744
Because getting others (preferably by kidnapping them) to do unpleasant tasks for free is a pretty basic tenement of Viking culture. Thralls are meant to do the menial shit. You're suggesting hiring a free peasant to do the work, a Karl. The thing is, Karls own their own stuff. Their own farms, their own businesses, their own thralls. They've got their own business to deal with. Maybe we can hire a young son to help out, but it isn't going to be a full time thing, and their family's stuff will be their priority. A thrall? They're reliant on their master doing well, as they're essentially property, to the point where they get written in wills. They can become free, yes, but that's either by writing their release in the will, paying off their price, or through impressing their boss enough to say, "Yanno, toots, i'se likes youse style."

>>919947
I can understand, a first-time viking raider wanting to keep all the foreigners he meets. Our MC will learn the ways of the Nords soon enough. Maybe there's an adventure in there? (Catching escaped slaves)

>>919853
I think its too much hard work for her and she will either crack or try to flee

I can understand taking her as a fuck puppet to dad like the other guy suggested but I still think its a waste of space depending on the loot

>>920193
100% depending on the loot.

But, look guys, I've done farm work, every little bit helps. So, again, while she won't be able to do the heavy lifting (at least not right away, but give it a season and she'll be able to toss hay bales with everyone else while keeping time) she can do the household chores, cook, mend, keep tallies, and all the small stuff that takes two hands, AND keep dad company (of either sort).
IF we find loot that is better than her that will take her spot on the ship, by all means, auction her off to someone else, but don't toss her away without SOMETHING BETTER IN HAND.

Looks like things are getting a little heated without a clear consensus of what to do. That's probably my fault for not clearing things up.

In the grand scheme of things, a bookwormy slave that can read, write, count, and keep records will likely be worth more than one tough farmer. However, at the scale you guys are farming at, that's debatable. Further, you don't have to take the slav as a thrall. He could be hired or even recruited if you sweet talk him enough and me with write ins. It's all a question of if you're going to come across someone as capable at these things as Danica is, and if going for a while without someone with those type of skills are worth the strong back and farmers hands would be to the farm immediately.

I was planning on just hopping straight into writing, but right now I'm not sure I can make anything work without pissing off at least half of you. If we can discuss this civilly and ask any questions you have, we can get to an agreement. Or, I could just throw up options and see where that lands us.

I realize this is kind of rambly, but I'm not sure how better to say things while staying neutral, so I apologize about that. I also apologize for not being around today to try to keep a lid on this and keep you guys informed, but I had baby appoints most of the day that we just got back from. I plan on being up for quite some time tonight, however.

>>921049
I see no chance that one side will convince the other.
One side wants a strong thrall to do hard farm work, because it will help dad to tend the fiends _now_. The girl is just too weak for them.
The other side wants to keep the girl for various reasons (a rare education that like you said will not be found easily, or for sex), hoping that she can help enough on the farm immediately and that we catch a strong thrall on our next raid (which we will surely be sent on, but only you know when).

How often are there raids? Can Haskell expect to get another thrall in the next weeks or will it take a long time? I guess after how well he did Gunnar will have nothing but praise, but there still have to be 4 empty places on the next boat.

>>921536
I'd expect two more raids before the 'season' ends. Maaaybe squeeze in a third assuming no one gets too fucked up on the last one. Taking wounds like Anders has though, kinda slows it down, at least in an in-game sense. We can just time skip healing shit, or if it's not Haskell, potentially leave them behind.

>>921536
Yeah, it's a very divided house right now on the girl. I could be convinced that we leave her, but we would need something better. And if we loot enough gold and silver we might be able to finance a winter expedition after the harvest, or the first raid of the next season. Or pay for the laying of the keel of our own ship.

I would honestly want a woman around to do more of the "women's work". Our farm has been getting along alright with a little hired help coming in but there are plenty of chores she can be doing and the education is not something to pass up. She's versatile and that's worth a lot

If it helps speed the quest up, i say we keep the slave girl.
Decisions already been voted on, fuck the arguers that are slowing the quest down.

>>921049
>>921536
I personally would prefer to keep the girl because of her skills (record keeping, not for sex). Like farmer anon >>920293 said there will be enough things she can do so that the farm will still profit from her being there, if not as much on the short term like from a worker. And in the long run we'll profit more from her than from another worker like Handler said.

Handler, can you make a pastebin with our fellow paladins' charsheets?

I say keep her. An educated thrall is worth more in the long run, and she seems to know a bit of Norse already. If there's a bonus for doing so well getting the archers off the wall, we could use the bonus to buy another thrall off of a crewmate who's looking to sell.

>>921746
I should get around to making those

I'll have them up by the end of next week

>>921671
>>921710
>>921746
>>921788
>>921835
Okay, with that decided, again. Haskell should get to looting.

You spend quite a while debating what to tell the man. Anders struggles, but seems to be getting weaker by the moment. Ultimately, you give the archer a noncommittal shrug, the main form of communication he’s been using, likely for his entire life. He returns it with his usual ease, and pulls his sword from the sheathe to drop it casually to the ground. He repeats it with the dagger in his belt, before leaning against the barrier and sliding down to sit. Looks like he’s taking his chances, the crazy fuck.

Anders finally stops struggling, and you turn your gaze over, fear in your eyes. You’re afraid of the worst for a few seconds, before a loud snore nearly makes you jump to your feet. You’ve never seen a berserker in action, but you’ve heard the stories. Severe loss of energy doesn’t do it justice; Anders fell asleep when he was fighting you with literal berserking strength just seconds before.

You disentangle yourself from the sleeping man, and stand. Looking over your friend, his wounds are quite extensive. If you had to guess, that’s likely what brought forth the rage, and it’s probably what saved his life. From the ground, you hear a shout. On the ground, you see Knut and Erik waving to you. You motion them up, and a few moments later they’re with you. The three of you set to work on bandaging up Anders as best you can. With his wounds as healed as they’re getting on the battlefield, you carefully lower him to the ground with some pilfered rope, and place him with the rest of the badly wounded.

With that taken care of, you get your own wounds treated, as well of taking care of Knut’s badly injured left leg and hand, you turn your attention to the reason you even left home - the buildings of the trading post.

There are currently three that don’t have vikings crawling through them. There’s one far to the back, in nearly pristine condition. The windows are boarded up, but you wouldn’t be able to see inside given the distance anyway. There’s one along the wall, that is slowly being engulfed in flames. Very slowly, though, and if you haul ass, you may be able to make it before the entire thing collapses on your head. Finally, there’s a near one directly across from the ladder. The door is kicked in, but looking inside, the interior isn’t too badly torn up. Anything of worth that was in there is likely still around.

>The sealed building in the back corner
>The burning building near the river
>The open house nearest you
>Write-in

>>922414
>The burning building near the river
More loot, less people to argue about enthralling

>>922414
>>The burning building near the river

For pretty much what >>922430 said.

>>922414
>The burning building near the river

Writing

Also, give me some 3d10's, please

Rolled 8, 3, 6 = 17 (3d10)

>>922706
Comin up

Rolled 5, 2, 8 = 15 (3d10)

>>922706

Rolled 2, 2, 4 = 8 (3d10)

>>922706
Goddamit why'd we pick the burning building I'd rather the pristine one

>>922796
See >>922430.

File: Spoiler Image (3.43 MB, 2048x1536)

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“Erik’s gonna hate me for this,” you say, and already the pessimist is groaning beside you. “We should try to salvage whatever’s in that building before the whole thing goes up.”

“I agree,” Knut answers, his hand bandaged and limping beside you. “We don’t even know who set it. Villagers could be trying to keep whatever’s in there from us, out of spite.”

“Fine,” Erik says, grumpily plodding along beside you, begrudgingly, “but if there’s nothing in there, it’s your ass.”

You reach the burning building, the fire spreading slowly. You place your hands on the door to make sure you’re not about to get engulfed in flames. Satisfied, you push the door open, smoke billowing out the new escape route. You push in, sweaty, blood soaked undershirt covering your mouth. Already, and even over the smoke, you have the delightful smell you’ve only ever rarely had bless your nose. Knut and Erik comment on it to, and as you get deeper into the smoky building, you see large sets of tightly sealed barrels lined up against the back walls, as well as several shelves of small ceramic pots and tightly cinched burlap sacks.

Knut rushes over to the smaller collections, and unties a bag. He sticks his face fully in, taking a deep, long whiff of the stuff inside. He comes up for air, coughing an orange dust, his mout and nose coated in the same.

“Spice!” he shouts, excitedly, beginning to gather up all the bags he can. “Once upon a time, this stuff paid for armies and empires! Now, though-”, is as far as he gets before Erik cuts him off.

“We don’t have time for a fucking history lesson,” he shouts as he runs up towards the barrels. A loud snap comes from the crackling ceiling, proving his point. “Just get as much out as we can,” he says, as he tips a barrel over on it’s side, a small puff of yellow coming from it as it heaves over. He pushes it for a moment before a wall begins to give way. He curses, loudly, and begins grabbing bags and pots from a different set of shelving, which you have to admit is going much faster for him.

You could do the same, and likely get out with an armful unscathed. However. These barrels will be worth so much more than the smaller quantities your friends are carrying out, and you are quite a bit stronger than Erik. You’re much more likely to get it out before the roof collapses. However, there is the possibility you’d have to ditch the barrel entirely if it doesn’t go well, or perhaps even risk being trapped under the collapsed roof should things go catastrophically wrong. The roar of the blaze gets ever louder, and you don’t have a whole lot of time to make the decision.

>An armful of bags and pots will be plenty (no roll required)
>Go big or go home. Roll the barrel out. (Will require a power roll, and potentially a secondary athletics roll)
>Write-in

Rolled 4, 20 = 24 (2d20)

>>922845
>Go big or go home. Roll the barrel out. (Will require a power roll, and potentially a secondary athletics roll)

>>922845
>>Go big or go home. Roll the barrel out. (Will require a power roll, and potentially a secondary athletics roll)

>>922845
>Go big or go home. Roll the barrel out. (Will require a power roll, and potentially a secondary athletics roll)

Likely salt or more spice right?

Alright, hit me with some 6d10's, please. May not use the second set, depending on how the first set goes.

Rolled 4, 4, 8, 9, 5, 6 = 36 (6d10)

>>922912

Rolled 1, 2, 3, 9, 4, 6 = 25 (6d10)

>>922912

Rolled 9, 7, 6, 1, 7, 7 = 37 (6d10)

>>922912
The spice must flow

File: all of it.gif (478 KB, 500x267)

478 KB GIF

>>922953

You know it’s a bad idea. You know there’s a decent chance you’ll get maimed, possibly killed. You know it would be far easier, and far safer, to grab the smaller, lighter packages and carry them out the door, rather than trying to roll a three hundred pound barrel out of a burning building.

You also know that a full barrel of what was once the most expensive item on the planet is likely enough to buy a few fields worth of seeds, repair every tool on the farm, and buy a handful of animals to boot. Without a moment of hesitation, you sprint to the barrel, and drop low to drive the barrel out towards the fresh air. Already, the smoke is choking you after just a few short seconds. Steeling yourself and fighting to keep your eyes open against the polluted air, you push the barrel again and again towards the open door. Fighting against time, you hurriedly force the barrel forward, ever closer.

With a final heave, you force the barrel out to the dirt road in the town, falling forward after it. Just in the nick of time, too. As you turn onto your back, leaning up against the horizontal barrel, the door frame collapses inwards, the rest of the building following suit. The acrid smoke suddenly takes on a new scent, somewhere between pleasant and overwhelming.

Gunnar appears next to you, reaching out a hand to help you up. Accepting it, you stand, nodding your thanks. Then you see his eyes. They don’t seem impressed.

“Mind explaining why Anders is fast asleep,” he says, his voice even and calm. Berserkers are something of a controversial issue on raiding boats. Some masters love having them, while other refuse to set sail with them aboard. You’re unsure where Gunnar sits on the matter. He himself seems to be a bit of a loose cannon at times, but you also know he must answer to Big Bjorn - he may not consider having a berserker on board worth the questions that will be asked by the behemoth man.

>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)
>He took a lot of wounds, and fought through them. Who wouldn’t be exhausted? (Half-truth)
>Got tripped, hit his head. Is he still out? (Lie)
>Write-in

>>923010
>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)

>>923010
>>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)

>>923010
>>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)
Not like we would be able to hide it the next time.

>>923010
>>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)

His berserking ways are kind of common knowledge around the village, right?

>>923404
As I understood it, this is the first time he went into the real berserker rage. The other raiders were probably occupied by fighting so nobody noticed it except Haskell.

>>923416
Yeah I don't think they noticed this one too, but Handler has been calling him "the young berserker" for some time so I assumed everyone knew, my bad

>>923479
True, I also remember the "young berserker" comment. But after Gunnar's question I think that until now it just meant that Anders has a very offensive fighting style (two weapons, no shield). Or Handler dun goofed.

>>923010
>>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)
We want people to trust us and take us with them to raid, so we better continue our truthy ways.

>>923010
>>He took a lot of wounds, and fought through them. Who wouldn’t be exhausted? (Half-truth)

With so many fighting men abroad raiding, isn't our village pretty vulnerable to our nordic neighbours? Just remembering the Vikings tv show :).

>>923691
Generally you don't raid the villages of your or other Jarls. Jarls don't like their warriors and freeholders fighting each-other and attacking another Jarls holdings is a declaration of war, so...It happened, but not often. You might have some cattle raiding and a kidnapping here and there, but no pillage and rape unless you wanted to come back from a raid one day to find your town burned, everyone dead, and an army waiting for you.
Historically speaking, I don't know about Handler.

>>923010
>He went into a rage. It probably saved his life. (Truth)

If we have enough around 7 pm central, I'll just get straight into writing

>>933514
That works for me.

:) axes! Spices! Thralls!

>>933514
sounds great, might as well start writing now honestly

>>924804
Let's hope we don't have a mad or power-hungry Jarl next door.

>>933514
Instead of selling the spices we will eat like kings for years and be known as the Spice Viking!

>>933574
At work and on my phone. Sorry anon. I'll probably be able to start around 615-630ish

Writing as soon as this 100+ page doc loads in

“He fell into a rage,” you say to the questioning raid master. “It was like nothing I’ve ever seen. It probably saved his life.”


“Eyes get all big and white,” Gunnar says, raising an eyebrow as you nod in the affirmative. “Unresponsive, all but foaming at the mouth?”


“Sounds about right,” you reply, trying to gauge the man’s reaction. Gratefully, he seems more curious than anything else.


“Boy’s a berserker, Haskell,” he tells you slowly. “You’re lucky he didn’t turn on you when he was done with these slav fucks.”


“He tried,” you return, hand absent-mindedly scratching the back of your head. “I managed to wrap him up until he slipped out.”


“Not many can go toe-to-toe with a ‘serker,” he says, motioning for you to walk with him as he heads for the boats. “Even a wounded first timer is a very dangerous man.”


“I saw what he did to them,” you answer as you turn with the mid-aged man. “Brutal isn’t enough of a word for it.”


“They have a bit of a reputation,” Gunnar responds with a chuckle, stepping over a dropped sheild as the two of you approach the ships. “Start loading up, we need to get out of here before any runners return with help. Got eight of the twelve hostages back, by the way,” he ends the conversation with a wave, walking off towards the center of town.


The next hour or so are spent furiously packing the longboats up with loots, with everything from lush furs to your barrel of spice getting onto the decks. The boats shove off shore, and you’re all heading down river towards the coast. As you scan the banks, you see a man in the mercenary colors heading further inland. Look’s like your slavic not-quite-friend made it out okay, for whatever that’s worth. Now, just to kill time back to camp.


>Talk to a friend (Who?)
>Sit with someone new
>Sit alone (timeskip)
>Write-in

>>934043
>Sit alone (timeskip)

>>934043
>>Sit alone (timeskip)
We've been on this raid for a ton of time, excited to get the story moving

>>934136
Yeah, back to camp, trade stories, and head home with our loot. Maybe trade a bit when we get back.

>>934043
>>Sit alone (timeskip)

>>934043
>>Sit alone (timeskip)

Sister swung by. QM curse is real. I'll start writing when she takes off.

Do you guys want a scene at the camp, or straight back to the village?

>>934330
>straight back to the village
Less chance for complaining about the Thrall.

>>934330
Unless you have something in particular planned for the camp, lets head to the village

The trip back to camp was long, and you elected to spend it alone. You cleaned your wounds, repaired your shield, and sharpened your axe, then before you knew it, you were waking up as the ships pulled up to the beach.

Quickly, the men load the remaining loot and equipment onto the ship as you find Danica, leading her to your spot on the boat. She seems upset and worried at the prospect of leaving, but that’s not really your concern. What is your concern is getting the farm to be productive again, and the girl and the barrel of spice are likely to go a long way towards doing that.

You aren’t sure why, but the trip back to your village feels longer than it did. There wasn’t much talking to be done, the mood rather sour. The raid overall was successful, but took heavy casualties. You’re returning some twenty souls fewer than you left, and yet more wounded. Anders remained unconscious for most of the trip, only waking up with a few hours left to the docks. He remembers little of the battle, though his wounds seem to be healing well. You imagine his comatose state helped immensely with that.

The whole village seems to be there, welcoming your return. Your father is there, standing as far to the front as he can, the biggest smile you’ve ever seen on his face. You make your way onto solid ground, Danica following behind you, her hands bound.

“Who’s this,” you father asks as he embraces you tightly.

“Says her name is Danica,” you answer as you return the hug. “She can read, write, count. Although in that slav-speak they talk over there. I was hoping she’d make the farm more efficient.” You don’t say it out loud, but your father being unable to read or write has always been a large hurdle to that.

“I imagine she will,” he replies as he looks at the girl, who attempts to turn away from his gaze. “But, enough of that,” he cries, clapping you on the shoulder. “What did my Haskell bring home from his first raid?”

You show him the barrel of the fine, yellow spice, as well as the spiked shield boss and small pouch of coins you got from the skirmish with the vampires. Your father nearly breaks into tears when he sees the massive cask.

“That’s a lot of potential, there, son,” he says, wiping a single drop from his eye. “I’d see Olaf about it, he’ll get you the best deal. Goti could probably whip that shield into shape for you as well. Big Bjorn also wanted to see you at his estate. I’ll have a cart bring the barrel out to the farm,” he tells you as he backs slowly away from the docks, the thrall’s tether in his good hand. “I’ll see you at home,” he says, still beaming as he turns to walk home. That leaves you alone, with a few things to do.

>Go see Big Bjorn
>Go to Goti, the blacksmith’s
>Go to Olaf’s trading post
>Write-in

>>934790
>>Go to Olaf’s trading post
See if he has a bed for Danica, as well as if he's got a book or two written in Slav that we can learn from. It would be a good idea to learn how to speak it, and to train her to speak Norse.

>>934790
>Go see Big Bjorn
Doesn't hurt to acknowledge our patron before seeing to our spoils.

>>934829
Changing to
>Go see Big Bjorn
to hurry this along.

>>934790
>Go see Big Bjorn
pay respects to the big man... and also >>934834

>>935318
meant >>934913, trying to hurry it along

>>934790
>>Go see Big Bjorn
Report back to the boss. If he wants a report of the raids from our view, don't boast, Gunnar will have enough praise for us.

>>934790
>Go see Big Bjorn
Maybe he has praise and a promise for further raids for us!

And Danika stays with us, we won't pay for her to sleep somewhere else.

>>935786
>And Danika stays with us, we won't pay for her to sleep somewhere else.

Well, yes, but that doesn't mean we shouldn't buy a bed for her to sleep in.

File: Big Bjorn.jpg (14 KB, 236x379)

14 KB JPG

You give a small wave to your father’s back as he leaves, and begin making your way through the village towards Big Bjorn’s sprawling estate. A few minutes of walking, and you arrive to the huge house that Bjorn lives in. You’re about to knock on the door when it opens, the massive occupant nearly jumping out of his skin at your sudden arrival.

“Odin’s Bones, Haskell,” he shouts, a hand to his panting chest. “Warn a guy, would you?”

“You asked to see me,” you answer flatly, “and I tried knocking. This is more your fault than it is mine,” you say, a grin forming across your face.

“I suppose that’s fair,” he grumbles as he motions you inside. The floors are covered in lavish furs, the walls mounted with dozens of war trophies, mostly strange-looking weapons you don’t recognize.

You follow him to a small table, where he picks up a coin purse, tossing it to you.

“Hundred fifty,” he explains plainly as you catch it in the air. “For your services feeding the village. Find anything else worthwhile?”

“A spiked shield boss, Knut found a map of some sort, and I dragged a cask of some spice or another home.”

“A good haul,” he says, stroking his beard. “Not many first timers make out so well. But!,” he says, loudly, as he heads for the door. “I need to be off. Meetings with Gunnar and a few others. Management things. See you around, Haskell,” he says as he ushers you outside, closing the door behind him. He hurries off into the village, and disappears around a corner. It’s strange seeing the giant man in a rush, but you suppose he’s a busy person.

You’re left alone, yet again, with a few different things to do.

>Go see Goti
>Go see Olaf
>Go see someone else (who?)
>Go home
>Write-in

>>935937
>See Olaf
Lets try to get some of the spice bartered off to him. Save the rest for sale later, don't want to flood the market. And see if he knows anyone that's having trouble paying their debts. If we can take on a freeholder for a term of indenture with our cash that would help out even more.

>>935937
>Go see Olaf

>>935937
>Go see Olaf
Need to buy bed and Slav book for Dani.

>>936029
Yeah, a slav book, and probably a couple of ledgers too. We really need to get an inventory from the farm for what we really need before we spend all our silver though.

gonna start using a name as my router keeps resetting and changing my tag.
am >>935963 and >>924804

>>935937
>Go see Olaf
Also
>buying your thrall a bed

Not until we're nice and loaded and it's warranted he can sleep on the floor like most other thralls

Also how the hell do we intend to get over the language barrier Shortterm?

>>936066
Speak slowly and loud till she gets it, always works surely. Alternatively, hand sign what we want her to carry/do.

>>936055
True! No bed for our thrall.

>>936032
Aren't books super expensive? Better to speak to her and teach her ourselves...

>>936101
How about we compromise on some furs and straw for her bed, and a journal and quill so she can write about her life?

>>9362dad probably already managed a place for her to sleep, let's check with him before spending. but the journal is a good idea

>>936579
>>936258

Thinking better now, we don't need a new bed because we have our brother's old one

>>936759
>Thinking separate beds were a thing in 800 CE
Unless you were REALLY wealthy, everyone crammed into as few rooms as possible. Gotta keep the fuel from running out and conserve heat.

> a bed
>at all

She's a fucking thrall she doesn't need comfy things

>>937118
>she doesn't need comfy things

What is she, a dog?

She needs more then nothing, bud. At the very least a pile of hay, some furs, and an old blanket.

>>937149
she can sleep in our bed if she wants one so bad

>>937200
let's not go there please, I really hope this doesn't turn in a harem management quest

if we don't have a spare bad let's find some hay and furs like the other anon said

I'm gonna archive the thread here, and we'll see Olaf to start the next thread off. Busy week, so may have to wait until next Tuesday depending on what happens this weekend. Thanks for playing, folks, and I always love feedback and questions.

>>937149
>She needs more then nothing, bud.

three meals a day, not being raped by a massive not slav, she's already gotten a pretty sweet deal and pound for pound its not a bad deal compared to what other thralls likely get in servitude

>>939405
It is literally just hay and furs on the ground, anon. Is even that too much of a luxury? Should we just tie her to a post and leave her outside like a horse? Because sleeping indoors might be too fancy for her right now, going by your views.

>>939467
just saying shes got it good just by sleeping on the floor and doing our books

>>939484
And I'm just saying that you need a minimal amount of comfort for your slaves. Hay and furs shouldn't break our bank, and should be enough for her to rest on without her freezing on a bare floor and catching a cold or shit.

>>939498
>>939484

will you guys shut up about it please? it's literally a non issue as father already took her home and probably took care of all the preparations, let he handle it as the head of the house anyway