Odd's Saga After a factious ball game Odd son of Hrut has drunkenly composed a poem which could be understood as mocking Plokka son of Ulf. He called him "Pleasant Plokka the sheep sh*gger!" A Skald passing through Ulfsteade repeated the rhyme.
The unanswered question of whether it was intentional hangs over the valley.
The feud roll is a 4. Odd has been challenged.
Odd draws a "fated dream" card. He accepts the challenge and takes five men (2d6 = roll of five) with him as he heads to recruit the mercenary Wolf. He is ambushed on his journey.
My Characters
Ulf, old Ulf, family head. A lawyer and noted bowman.
Rolf. Ulf's eldest son. A Viking hero
Plokka the sheep sh*gger Ulf's second son
Ari Ulf's kinsman
Wolf. An outlaw and mercenary
Hrot. Farmer of Hrotsteade.
Odd. Hrot's son
Arse, Hrot's kinsman
Grimm, a sheep herder and Hrot's old mate
Egil. A wise councillor with an unpleasant wife (Thora) and daughter (Hild)
Feud Levels:
0 – Neutral
1 – Insults
2 – Compensation demanded
3 – Raiding
4 -- The Challenge * (game one level)
5 – Blood Feud
6 – Kill-on-sight
Actions like killing, burning property, winning duels, or refusing compensation change this track by + or -1.
High feud levels give bonuses (vengeance) but also penalties (must attack).
B. Legal Phase
Between battles, players attend the Althing:
Pay compensation
Call witnesses
Attempt outlawry against rivals
Recruit new allies
Trigger plot events
Reduce (or escalate!) feud levels
A diplomacy / court phase makes narrative progression rich.
Fate / Prophecy Cards
A deck that represents omens, dreams, curses, and prophetic warnings.
“The Fated Dream” – see opponent’s deployment
“Bad Omen” – morale penalty
“the scorned woman” – vengeance bonus
These add the supernatural flavor without breaking historical realism.
The Scenarios
The High Pass Ambush
Odd's Stand at Grimmsteade
The Sheep Dispute
Duel at the Hrotfljót
Attack at Arsendi
Final Standoff – Odd's Last Stand
The High Pass Ambush
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The High Pass ambush. Ari and Grim hold the high ground.
I'm using Pillage for this game. Lion Rampant didn't give the right feel. |
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| Ari and Grimm sent by Plokka to kill Odd. This way Plokka can deny involvement. |
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| Odd and his kinsman Arsë |
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| The ambushers begin a furious charge |
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| Odd's only bowman kills one of Ari's spearman, a guy who clearly needs a repaint. |
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| Odd wield's a Danish axe. Devastating but slow. Turns out Odd's miniature is an old Mike's Models guy from the 70s. |
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| Arsë wounds Ari. Time to dig out the micro dice! |
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| I separate out the melees so it makes sense. Odd is winning! |
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| Odd does well and after another round of combat the enemy is going backwards |
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| And this is a bloody game! |
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| Grimm falls to odds axe. |
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| Ari flees with only three men surviving. |
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| Grimm and the other three are fallen. |
Next game Odd's Stand at Grimmsteade.
