Chapter 1 - Sigurd

Preface

Okay, before I start, I would like to explain the preparations I have made to play this rpg campaign, what systems I will be using and everything else.

The Oracles

Mythic GME + Mythic Magazines

I'm basically using version 1 of Mythic GM Emulator, along with so many mods and extra stuff that it's basically a homebrew in itself. Most of these modifications are found in the Mythic Magazines, and are systems like simplified NPC Behavior systems, or the random place generator, the Event Crafter (I absolutely love this one) or the long travel system, among others.

Speaking of NPC Behavior, my system is homebrew, basically changing his descriptors to Thoughts, Behaviors and Feelings. More on that later.

GEMulator

I am using, together with Mythic, the GEMulator also to generate the campaigns, the premise of the adventures and what happens between adventure and adventure, so that I have a well-formed structure and know what happens next.

However, I will most likely use it more for the quests and not for the campaign itself, as I want the rpg to be more sandbox open world and less linear.

G.R.E.Y System

A few days ago, someone posted on /aids/ a very simple rpg system focused only on storytelling, I think it will serve well for the purpose of this campaign, which is to explore the capabilities of playing Solo RPG with AIs. Therefore, I will be utilizing it in this game.

You can check it in here: https://rentry.co/GREYSYSTEM

Illustrations

For the illustrations, I used various images created by Aini for the Novelai templates, creating prompts from them with Clip Interrogator, and then blending the prompts together to create a single overall prompt that I will add at the end of every image prompt when generating images with Bing Create. So if you want to use it, here's the prompt:

(whatever you want), concept art, pixiv, inspired by Leona Wood, art nouveau, inked and colored, hd illustration, elegant, full color manga visual style, inspired by Li Mei-shu, trending on deviantart, borderlands art style, dark but detailed, digital art

Character Composer

Last but not least, besides the lorebook generator, I will also be using, sporadically, this other generator of places, characters and objects to give more life to the world of Aidgard.

https://charactercomposer.com/?

That said, let's get started.

Lorebooks used

You can download them here (will update them every 3 scenes):

https://files.catbox.moe/53hcfp.lorebook

The Premise

Aidgard

Summer Dragon

Long ago, the land of Aidgard was blessed by the presence of the Summer Dragon, a majestic creature that brought warmth, light, and life to the people. He ruled with wisdom and kindness, and his advisor, Nicolau "The Mormon" Waltzier, was his loyal helper. But Nicolau had a dark secret: he was envious of the Summer Dragon’s power and glory, and he plotted to overthrow him.

He forged a magic chain that could bind the dragon, and he lured him into a trap with false promises. He then cursed the dragon with a spell that made him sleep for eternity, and he took his place as the ruler of Aidgard, replacing the Summer Dragon with a false one, a Demiurge made with illusions and witchcraft. Under Nicolau's reign, the land became cold, dark, and barren, and the people suffered greatly.

Today, Aidgard is a nation where the sun never rises, and winter is constant. Surprisingly, life has found a way to adapt to this hostile environment, the plants have evolved to photosynthesize what little light is present, and animals have evolved warm-white fur and bioluminescence. The people, who still wear warm, colorful and ornate clothes, live in castles made out of stone and glass, trying to hold on to the warmth of the memories of summer and to their hope that one day, the true ruler will return and bring back the sunlight.

The Cursed Land of Larion

Larion

Of all Aidgard, Larion, the former capital, is perhaps the most affected by the disappearance of the Summer Dragon. Larion was once a lush and beautiful land, filled with forests and meadows, now, it's a twisted parody of what it once was. Frozen and barren, it is a land of darkness and despair, filled with the ghosts of the past, and the frozen bodies of the fallen. It is said that the air is so cold it can burn the skin of the living, and the wind can freeze a man's bones. But despite its harshness, it holds the key to restoring Aidgard to its former glory.

Castle Waltzier stands in the heart of Larion, the home of Nicolau, the Mormon and his Demiurge False Summer Dragon. The Castle itself is an ominous structure made of ice, rock, and glass, looming over the landscape like a spectre. It is surrounded by a labyrinthine forest of frozen trees, and guarded by creatures of nightmares and dark magic.

Sigurd

Sigurd

Sigurd was just a teenager when the Summer Dragon was imprisoned and Aidgard was submerged in shadows. His village in the county of Jax was attacked by monstrous beings made of shadow, and to protect his mother and sisters, Sigurd had to face the beasts alone. However, he was not strong enough, losing not only his family, but both his arms. However, he was rescued by an old artificer, Lord Torke, former advisor to the late Elether, who had been Earl of Jax before the fall of Summer Dragon.

Torke saved Sigurd's life by stopping the bleeding from his arms, and despite not being able to recover his lost limbs, used him as a guinea pig for his newest invention, creating biomechanical arms that would replace his recovered limbs, and not only that, but grant him immense strength.

After waking up, Sigurd needed a few years to overcome the grief and failure of having lost his entire family, but decided to use his new chance in life to protect the people of his county against any threat that came from outside. Soon, stories began to come in from the outside, stories about the prophecy of a hero, lost in the dark lands of Larion, who could wake the true Summer Dragon and end the illusion of the Demiurge.

There was no hero left alive, no one else who could leave and search for this hero, and Sigurd, seeing no other alternative, decided to leave his land and set out for Larion, in search of this lost hero. Even if the legend was just a myth, it would bring some hope to his people, and that was what they needed, just hope.

Character Sheet

Strength: 4
Agility: 3
Intelligence: 2
Influence: 2
Willpower: 2
Warrior: 4

Descriptors:

  • Warrior With Biomechanical Arms
  • Searches for the Hero From the Prophecy
  • Haunted By The Failures of his Past
  • Experimented Survivalist

Actual Play

Scene 1

Setup: This scene will work as a introduction for the "reader" for our hero, Sigurd, and also a way for us to estabilish his personality and motives. We are in the borders of Jax, in a quite dangerous zone.

Using GEMulator for this first "quest" Sigurd will be trying to fulfill on his first appearance, this is what I got


[ Scene: Sigurd is in the cabin of a poor family of peasants, that are asking his help to retrieve for them the only cow they have, that was stolen by mercenaries. It's very important for them because most animals are dead on the harsh climate of Aidgard. Location: The interior of the cabin, in the cold tundra of the borders of Jax county ]

Sigurd sat by the wooden table of the house, with a cup of hot cocoa warming up his metallic fingers. Before him were two young children, no more than ten years old, and a middle-aged man, with the woman of the house washing clothes at the distance.

"Please Sir", begged the man of the house, a humble shepherd with a kind expression on his weather-beaten features. His small house was meager, and Sigurd could smell the freshly-cut hay covering the cobblestone floor from the chimney that warmed him. In a corner were stacked, lovingly, wool blankets, more valuable than gold in this nation were light and warmth were the most prized. On the counter, a dying candle burned low, slowly turning the house black, silent shadows dancing like ghosts against the wall. "This winter has been especially harsh, and we can barely afford to eat and keep this house warm, without losing our only cow as well. That vile mercenary took her away and I could not stop him."

Cabin

Sigurd sighed deeply, and stared down at his hot cocoa, wishing this would not become a routine in his travels, although, he was the only warrior within miles that could help them, the only one able to defend the people of Aidgard. If he refused to help, they would have no hope against the bandits and other beasts that stalked the harsh snowstorms, and that already did not hesitate in raiding small villages when they thought they would be defenseless.

"Tell me the direction where they went, and I will try my best", he replied, sipping the cocoa. Sigurd had an imposing countenance, which mixed the features of a handsome warrior, fair skin, blue eyes and straight blonde hair, with the rusticity of his wool tunic and the calloused leather boots with steel lining. On his back he carried a greatsword, so heavy even an average man could barely lift it, yet with him it appeared as a mere rapier.

Sigurddrink

Do they know the directions? (Likely)
Mythic: No

{Sadly, they don't know the directions, explain why}

The shepherd turned to his wife, as if questioning whether she knew anything, but she shook her head. They could not be blamed though, for anyone who ventured outside in the freezing winds beyond the walls of their humble house would likely be lost. Aidgard was a vast tundra, full of treacherous passes and steep peaks, and the mercenaries that raided them often had a knack for evading their pursuers by navigating through the treacherous terrain.

"It is no fault of yours, for the winds are harsh and the snows blinding", said Sigurd, standing up. "But fear not, I have traveled long and wide, and I can track anything in these lands. Rest assured, I will bring your cow back to you, and the one who stole her will regret ever having laid a finger on her."

"Godspeed, Sir", said the shepherd, bowing his head in gratitude.

"May the Summer Dragon bless your journey and bring back the light and warmth of the sun to our land", said his wife, clasping her hands together.

Sigurd nodded and stepped out of the cabin, ready to find the missing cow. A normal warrior perhaps would feel annoyed at having to abandon their primary mission in order to rescue a simple farm animal. But for Sigurd, there was an importance beyond simply the inconvenience or even his debt towards the farmer and his wife, because this was also an opportunity to know his lands and the people he was tasked with protecting. And of course, the chance to show off and dispense hope. It would set people's hearts at ease, and his actions would not go unrewarded either. After all, for the kind-hearted peasants of Aidgard, nothing could out-price justice.


Scene 2

Setup: Sooo... We have to find a cow, and don't even know where to start, neat. The chaos factor will go down 1 point, the first scene was pretty chill. The second scene will begin outside the cabin, and will be focused on Sigurd searching for clues to find the god damn cow.

Rolled 1d10, the scene goes as expected, then, let's go.


Is it snowing? (50/50)
Mythic: Yes

The snowstorm was not yet a full-blown blizzard, but the snow was already falling fast, covering the ground and making his job more difficult. He did not need his eyesight however, for his ears were sharp and his sense of touch keen, even if the cold metal of his artificial arms made the task more challenging.

Cabinsnow

"I must hurry before the snows cover the trail", Sigurd mumbled to himself as he walked past the shepherd's small farm. The fenced enclosure for the cow was empty, with a few scattered hay strewn around. There was a clear print on the ground, where the cow's hooves had broken the snow, going deeper into the tundra. Sigurd looked into the horizon, at the mountain pass beyond, and knew this would be no easy task.

Okay, so, let's roll the difficulties with the GRAY system to see if we can find the damn cow. The difficulty starts with 15.

  • Does the scene you are in have any elements that could passively hinder your action, such as low visibility, slippery terrain, etc.? (add +2 per element) - We add +2 for the snow
  • Do you find yourself in a calm situation or one over which you have control? - We subtract -2
  • Can any of your character's descriptors help the roll? - Actually, I think the Experimented Survivalist could help, so -2
    In the end, the difficulty is 13. We will roll Intelligence...
    Results: 12
    12+2
    14

Do I found only the animal's tracks? (Unlikely)
Mythic: No

Is the Mercenary alone? (50/50)
Mythic: Yes

Finally, he found a small print outside the fence, and realized that this was what he was looking for. There was a small depression in the snow, as if the mercenary, pulling the cow along, had tripped for a moment and dug a hole with the cow's horn. Sigurd traced the depression towards the fence, then walked alongside the trail left by the cow's feet, until he saw a larger depression. There, the mercenary must have picked himself up again, pulling the cow harder.

Two human footprints, and two sets of hoof prints later, Sigurd reached the foothills of the mountains that protected the county of Jax. These were not dangerous mountains per se, nor even high, the highest peak reaching two thousand meters above sea level. No, they were dangerous for the many dangers that inhabited the slop. From deep cracks to abysses, wolves, monsters...

Do I see any kind of camp where the mercenary could have slept? (Likely)
Mythic: No
Random Event: Thread Escalates (Defeat Nicolau "The Mormon") - Intolerance of Public

Oh, so I will interpret this as if I don't see any camp or anything like that, but I see something else, something far worse - the evidence that this is a coordinate act done by the lackeys of The Mormon himself.

What do I see that makes me realize that?
Detail Check: Disfavors PC
Foolishly Full

Uh... There is something in the way, simply blocking the way, a lot of somethings, actually.

Are they undead? (50/50)
Mythic: No
Random Event: New NPC (Free Business)

Interesting... So, Mercenaries (business), but clearly related to The Mormon.

{Sigurd will find a group of mercenaries blocking their path, their leader being a woman in black armor, pale skin, light brown hair and crimson eyes. Describe all of this}

Sigurd kept walking, and soon enough, the trail began to vanish. It was hard to tell what had happened, as the snow was already covering the traces, but Sigurd did not need to be a detective to realize that something was wrong. Then, he saw the fire, a small flame barely illuminating a dozen mercenaries huddled together around a dead cow, her entrails open and guts spilling.

This was generated by the Ai itself, I checked in Mythic to see if it was correct or if I should edit it out, and yep, the cow is dead

As Sigurd approached, a woman in black armor raised her head. Her hair was like dry straw, and her face was painted with warpaint, showing off her crimson eyes.

"Look what we have here", she said, standing up and unsheathing her sword. "A stray warrior come to save a dead cow."

Sigurd clenched his metallic fists and narrowed his eyes, recognizing Alana Of Kyros, a notorious bandit leader, ex-priest of the Summer Dragon, current priest of the Demiurge, that terrorized the countryside of Aidgard. They said she could bend minds and make armies with a snap of her fingers, but Sigurd had no intention of falling for such a trick.

Alana

"It must be hard to be a follower of the false god, if to survive you need to steal cows from villagers."

Alana smiled wickedly, her blade glinting in the snow.

"You speak too big for your metal arms, warrior", she replied. "Now step aside, and you might walk away with your life."

"No", said Sigurd, and pulled his greatsword out. He would never allow a bully to torment innocent people and get away with it, especially not one as cruel as Alana Of Kyros.

Then, she suddenly gave a whistle, and the bandits scattered, running towards him with their weapons drawn. Sigurd drew his battle stance, planting his feet firmly in the ground, the battle starting.

Mercs


Scene 3

Setup: This will be the battle against Sigurd and Alana and her followers.

The chaos factor will go up, returning to 5.

Got a random event: NPC Negative (Villager Family) - Fight Stalemate.

I interpret this as if the shepherd appearing attracted by the lights in the mountains in the middle of the battle. Also, this will be a neat turn 3 random event for the battle in the GREY System rules.


Staring the battle, with the GREY System rules
Turn 1: Normal Roll
The opposition is active (+2), the character is outnumbered (+4), it's snowing (+2), Sigurd is a warrior with biomechanical arms (-2), Sigurd is a warrior (-2), the snowing should be also a hazard for the enemy (-2)
Final DC, 17
Rolled 2 + Strength (4) = 6
So... I fail

Sigurd did his best to fight against Alana Of Kyros's bandits, but there were too many, and he was fighting on his own.

While fighting Alana Of Kyros's bandits Sigurd felt that the situation was slipping away from his hands. These were seasoned warriors, with many more hours on the battlefield than him, and he was losing a lot of energy to defend himself from the many blows that were dealt. Sigurd tried to fend off his attackers, but they were just too much. They pushed him further back, making him lose his balance and fall.

Turn 2: Normal Roll
The opposition is active (+2), the character is outnumbered (+4), it's snowing and Sigurd has fallen (+2), Sigurd is a warrior with biomechanical arms (-2), Sigurd is a warrior (-2),
Final DC, 19
Rolled 14 + Strength (4) = 18
ALMOST, but I failed again

In a surge of energy, Sigurd rolled to the side and stood up, throwing off the bandits that had him pinned down. He managed to slash at one of them, opening a gash on their chest, but suddenly, he felt a sharp pain in his side, as if a dagger had pierced his spine.

He turned around to find Alana Of Kyros right behind him, a look of satisfaction on her face. With a flick of her wrist, she hurled the dagger she had thrown, and it hit Sigurd right on the leg, sinking deep into his flesh. Sigurd groaned and staggered, and the bandits seized the moment to pin him down.

Alana Of Kyros walked up to him and smiled, her crimson eyes glinting in the cold.

"You are stubborn", she said, crouching next to him. "But this is where your journey ends."

Turn 3: The Twist

{The shepherd appears, he was attracted by the light and the echoes of the battle on the mountain.}

"You are stubborn", she said, crouching next to him. "But this is where your journey ends."

Suddenly, Sigurd heard footsteps coming towards them. He raised his head, and saw the shepherd, panting and sweating, a small club in his hand. Alana Of Kyros saw him too, and laughed.

"W-what is going on?", the shepherd asked, horrified.

Alana Of Kyros gestured towards the cow on the ground, mutilated and rotting.

"Your cow was a tasty meal. But I guess you will have to make do with his corpse, and maybe with your own life too."

Turn 4: Roll (+2 to the character affected by the random event)
I think this is my chance, she's distracted by the shepherd.
The opposition is active (+2), the character is outnumbered (+2), it's snowing and Sigurd has fallen (+2), Sigurd is a warrior with biomechanical arms (-2), Sigurd is haunted by the failures of his past, so he wants to protect the innocent (-2), Sigurd is a warrior (-2), Alana is distracted by the shepherd (-2)
Final DC, 13
Rolled... Nat 20 + Strength (4x2 = 8) = 28

Sigurd heard the shepherd gasp, and his blood boiled with rage. He summoned all the strength left in his body, and threw off the bandits pinning him down, lunging at Alana Of Kyros with his greatsword.

She raised her own blade in a fraction of a second, parrying his attack, but the impact was too strong, and the blades broke, pieces of metal flying out. Sigurd saw an opening, and punched her straight on the chest, sending her flying backwards.

With a swift movement, Sigurd grabbed the dagger on his leg and plunged it into the side of her neck, while her lackeys surrounded her, too afraid to move. Blood spurted from her wound, and Alana Of Kyros gasped for air, clutching at her throat. Then, she fell lifeless to the ground, dead.

The bandits scattered like a flock of frightened birds, vanishing into the night, and Sigurd breathed a sigh of relief. The shepherd was on his knees, crying softly, and Sigurd put a hand on his shoulder.

"I am sorry it has to end like this", said Sigurd.

The shepherd sighed and wiped away his tears.

"I wish...I wish we had the light of the true Summer Dragon once again", he said.

"And maybe we will someday", said Sigurd. "The darkness will not last forever."

The shepherd sighed again and walked towards the dead cow, and then, started dragging its corpse towards the cabin.


Scene 4

Setup: Sigurd isn't happy with this outcome. He will leave the shepherd with his cow, and search for the mercenaries to interrogate them.
Chaos Factor: 6
Rolled... Scene Interrupted
Thread Escalates - Defeat Nicolau "The Mormon" - Trust of Inside

What... With the basic meaning of those words, I have no idea of what they mean on this context. Let's see other meaning for them to get inspiration.

Trust: an arrangement whereby a person (a trustee) holds property as its nominal owner for the good of one or more beneficiaries. (Basically, what The Mormon is over Aidgard)

Inside: Informal - a position affording private information.

The mercenary will negotiate confidential information about The Mormon if I spare his life. Nice.


[ Scene: Sigurd leaves the shepherd and his family and hunts the mercenaries that ran away, so he can interrogate them about what they were doing here with Alana. Location: The mountains. Climate: Snowing ]

The mountains

The mercenaries' trail was not hard to follow, since they were too panicked to hide it properly, and their boots left deep prints in the snow. Soon, Sigurd reached the mountains, and he could hear the distant sound of voices and footsteps coming from a valley below.

{Sigurd falls upon them}

He sneaked down the ridge towards the voices, and found the mercenaries sitting around a campfire, huddled together and shivering. The temperature had dropped, and even Sigurd felt cold in his woolen clothes. He decided to wait, and observed their camp, noting how tired they looked, how hungry and scared, how unprepared for a real battle they were. Sigurd waited for a few minutes, then, he made his move.

With a cry, Sigurd jumped out of his hiding spot, and grabbed the nearest mercenary, throwing him on the ground. The bandits leaped up and drew their weapons, but Sigurd was ready, and with a slash of his blade, he cut off the closest man's hand.

{One of the mercenaries, too scared to fight back, blurts out that he will give Sigurd all the information he wants about Nicolau}

The next few seconds were a blur, with punches and kicks and blows exchanged, but Sigurd, in a burst of speed, managed to disarm the mercenaries and take control of their camp. He held the surviving ones at the edge of his blade, and forced them to answer his questions.

"Nicolau", one of the mercenaries whispered. "Nicolau Waltzier, I can tell you everything."

Sigurd raised an eyebrow.

"Speak", he commanded.

The mercenary gulped and shuddered, and he opened his mouth.

Is it related to why the mercenaries and Alana are here? (Very Likely - Yes is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes

Are they searching for something specific? (50/50 - No is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes

Is it something related to the Hero of the prophecy? (Likely - No is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes

Did they already know I was coming? (50/50 - No is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes

{He tells that they were called by Nicolau to retrieve something related to the Hero from the prophecy in these lands (expand upon this, what is this thing?). Alana were guiding them because of this, and they already knew Sigurd was on his way there.}

The mercenary gulped and shuddered, and he opened his mouth.

"We were sent by Nicolau Waltzier to retrieve a map, a map that shows the way to the hero of prophecy, lost in Larion. We knew that you were coming here to find him, and Alana was supposed to keep us hidden until you passed us by. But, we were hungry and weak, and we could not resist stealing the cow."

Sigurd narrowed his eyes.

The Mormon knows about me? (50/50 - No is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes

Do they already have the map with them? (Very Unlikely - Yes is Favorable)
Mythic: No

Do they already know where the map is located? (Likely - Yes is Favorable)
Mythic: Yes
Random Event: Pc Positive - Ruin of Messages
Ruin of Messages? This sounds like some cool title for a ancient city

"You already knew I was coming? How did you know that?"

"I cannot say", said the mercenary. "Nicolau is...he has eyes and ears everywhere, and even if he is a bit mad, his power is real. That is all."

Sigurd grunted and stepped away from them, pacing back and forth, his mind racing.

"The map. Where is the map?"

"We do not have it yet, but we know where it is", the mercenary replied. "The ruins of Rask, the old city, hold the secret in the catacombs. But it is not an easy task to retrieve it."

Sigurd narrowed his eyes. He did not know much about the city of Rask, except that it was a hellish wasteland, frozen, and devoid of life. But he could not let a chance like this slip. This map might really lead him to the lost hero, and even if the hero was only a legend, Sigurd knew that this was a crucial step, even the only step, that could lead him forward in his mission.

Now, I have a question on what Sigurd would do, so I ask the AI...
{Considering Sigurd's past, what should he do with the mercenaries, knowing that if they live, they could go back and hurt people, but if he does something to them, he would end up hurting people with their guard down?}

  • Sigurd cannot risk allowing the mercenaries to roam free and continue causing harm to others, so he ties them up and leaves them there to freeze to death in the night.
    And so he does

Sigurd did not like what he was about to do, but the mercenaries had shown no remorse for their actions, and the only way to protect the innocent was to eliminate the threat completely. He could not kill them in cold blood, however, so he simply tied them up, and left them there, to freeze in the night.

As he walked away, Sigurd felt a pang of guilt in his chest, but he reminded himself that this was the lesser evil, for if he spared them, they would only cause more harm in the future. He was not proud of what he had done, but sometimes, such sacrifices were necessary.


Cena 5

Setup: Sigurd will be back to the shepherd cabin, see if they are alright, and decide what he could do to ensure their survival, now that their cow is dead

Chaos: 5

The scene happens as expected


As the shepherd and his wife prepared a meal for him, Sigurd sat by the fireplace, warming up his metallic arms and gazing at the flames. It was a small fire, but it brought him comfort, and for a moment, he forgot about his mission, his loneliness, his guilt, and lost himself in the dancing lights.

The shepherd approached with a steaming hot bowl, and gently placed it on the table beside Sigurd. The smell of stew wafted through the room, and the warmth from the fire soothed him. Sigurd closed his eyes, breathing in the aroma, and felt a sense of contentment wash over him.

"We need to find a way to get you to survive now that you are without your cow", said Sigurd, breaking the silence. He picked up a spoon and tasted the stew, relishing the savory flavors and the feeling of food filling his stomach.

The shepherd and his wife looked at each other, their faces weary and pale, their bodies thin and fragile.

"How can we survive?", the shepherd asked. "We barely have enough food and fuel to make it through the winter, and now our cow is dead, leaving us with nothing."

Sigurd finished his stew and set the bowl down, his mind working quickly.

Is there any city nearby where I could bring them to safety? (50/50)
Mythic: No

Could they find food and shelter on the ruins? (Unlikely)
Mythic: Yes

Sigurd finished his stew and set the bowl down, his mind working quickly.

"There is a ruin", he said, turning to the couple. "A ruin to the east, where once stood the great city of Rask. I do not know much about the dangers there, but there might be food, shelter, and resources. I'm heading there tomorrow, and I could take you along."

The shepherd at his wife and his two children, who were playing with blocks on the floor, and lowered his head.

The shepherd

"I cannot risk my family's lives", he replied. "They have suffered enough, and the ruins of Rask...It is too dangerous."

"Would you rather stay here and starve?", asked Sigurd.

Mythic (Very Unlikely): Yes

The shepherd nodded, and his wife wiped away a tear.

"I will leave tomorrow", said Sigurd. "There is no other choice."

As the shadows grew longer, Sigurd felt a sense of sadness wash over him. It was not just the tragedy of the shepherd and his family, but the emptiness he felt inside, a void that would not be filled by hot cocoa or a good meal. It was the emptiness of loneliness, of solitude, of being on a mission that seemed hopeless, where only his desire for redemption kept him going.

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Pub: 10 Aug 2023 12:08 UTC
Edit: 11 Aug 2023 18:05 UTC
Views: 577