Víðarrheim Abbey

[sytae432]

Bump! Great group of peoples here

[lonehero]

How many members so far?

[Vaku]

Questions & Answers

How many members so far?

We have not hit our milestone of inviting 20 newcomers—officially.
There are some individuals have not sworn in to live at the Abbey, but have nonetheless relocated to our immediate domain.

We have grown, 1,600% since March 26th—just 20 days!

It was originally me, but how we've grown!

There was a time we were receiving at least one person a day, and thankfully it was just a trickle. It can be very time consuming to bring in a lot of people. Remember, in groups such as these—infrastructure is key! So, from the onset, myself and others have worked very hard to make what we can, both efficient and future proof!

So to your question, directly: We are 16 people. Another 11 actives live in close vicinity, with whom our population actively barters.
Beyond, there are a handful of other locations, filled with tens of people, in total—with whom we also trade.
Remember those fishing trips? It's a very stable economy thanks to the constant flow of new residents.

In some several hours, we have the relocation of a village planned. We'll be adding 5 more people into the immediate vicinity of Viðarrheim Abbey. We have spent this last week preparing a location to their specifications, just nearby, and we're very happy to receive them as immigrants into the area, as more people means more production, more trade, more goods and services, and certainly, more activity!

Below are some screens we took to kick off the weekend:

Speaking of additional people—

Hi,

group of good players here (16 people) looking for a home.

PMd

I've received this message, and we have responded, to keep communications open.
I am personally hesitant to settle a group of this size without some forewarning, although, I've handled more difficult challenges.
Foremost, this refugee situation raises questions: What so greatly threatens a group of this size? Why were they attacked? If they moved, would their assailants follow?

These are just some of the several things that ought to be considered.. Nevertheless, Viðarrheim Abbey does not leave people to the wolves.
If rescue is necessary, we'll aid you—

Especially if you fancy yourself an artist!

Gratitude

Already, our small community have made some very nice contributions which we may begin putting into circulation:

I want to thank MrClothier and Spiritwolf for letting me show of their submissions and talents, and of course, I want to thank the many residents that make this community a fun place to play!


Spiritwolf: Top knarr, bottom shied
iamclothier: Middle knarr

If you're a looking for a village and interested in joining, refer to earlier directions on how to join!
Thanks

[GenghisKhan44]

I would like more information on how to get to the Abbey, and possibly becoming a yeoman, or at least a neighbour.

I also have a couple questions (well aware that this is, of course, RP and not at all intended to be IRL):

1) What do you mean when you say "abbey"? Is it a religious or mythological group? Do you have any patrons, worship deities, observe rites, follow a Rule? Or is it more like the "Redwall" series - its inhabitants are just here to develop the settlement and the people within, feed their faces at feasts until we explode, make a mythos of their own based on honour and the warrior's code, and generally be good people, never mind why (be it "destiny", or whatever)?

I hope you understand the general gist of the question; I apologise if it's a bit confusing and long-winded.

2) Even if I don't officially join - for whatever reason - I'd like to get me some Abbey swag in-game - a shield, or a flag, or something - because your vision seems pretty cool. How would I do that?

[Vaku]

Questions & Answers

I would like more information on how to get to the Abbey, and possibly becoming a yeoman, or at least a neighbour.

Becoming either a neighbor or resident is quite easy. Merely send me a message through the forum. Depending on the nature of your request / desire, I'll reply with a standard welcome letter, or an involved answer. It will mostly come down to me wanting to speak with you in a more fluid setting—and because of this, I'll request an email from you, to which I'll send an invitation from our Slack group.

In this slack group, are Abbey members and locals. In our public chat, you'll be able to arrange trades. gab, or whatever.
In our sub-channel, speak to the village directly, ask for work, teaming up, events, and so on.
You may even speak privately with other members.

Generally, in that message, I'll ask if you'd like to spawn in through a beacon, to travel to us, or for us to pick you up.

Beacon In

In the below image is a member we just beaconed in today—

I build the beacon in a location I've called a monk plot.

I call these monk plots, because these won't be your permenant home. A monk plot is meant to orient you to the community.
This setting introduces new players or not, to the communal living style most are familiar with.
I try to keep it down to two people per plot—so you're like roommates.

Pick Up

In a previous image, I've shown the process of relocating an individual from their hermitage: viewtopic.php?f=56&t=48080#p635061

If you choose to travel to us, I hope you could document your travel, and post the experience here!

Becoming a Yeoman

Becoming a Yeoman just comes down to letting me know.

I'll give you a tour of the area. You can determine where you want to settle. I'll give everyone some forewarning, do my best to introduce you to everyone, and leave you to your own devices. I have found that players who do become yeoman, nevertheless, find themselves visiting the Abbey. It builds cart traffic, wagon traffic, boat traffic, and it's a very fun and organic way of playing this game. Some of our yeoman, because we're such a populous location, have taken to even specializing in growing a specific crop, or producing a certain trinket. Be enterprising, and you might even corner a market! This is the result of living densely!

Why the name: Viðarrheim Abbey

I also have a couple questions (well aware that this is, of course, RP and not at all intended to be IRL):

1) What do you mean when you say "abbey"?

I called this place an Abbey, because originally, after being removed from New Brodgar, I thought I would live by myself, and specialize in the growth of one crop.
In the same way monks would produce this or that, that's the angle I thought would be fun for me to play.

March 1st, I managed to find what I thought to be the perfect location—claimed the land, then began to work it:

26 days later, after consulting with some friends in the area, I sent out this thread to generate some interest, "build a following." Very cenobitic, no?
The traction is here, and while I think any community in its first days are fragile, I think we'll be able to persist, in both a permanent and public way.

As for any patrons, rites, rules, etc.—there are none. Personally, I like see where the narrative takes me. The mythos we adopt, I don't want it to be drawn from popular culture, or built as either parody or parallel—I want it to be organic. The heroes, the rules, the venerated people and ideas—I want those to be us: the players that live, die, and contribute at the Abbey. It'll be fun, I think—and given a go at this again, I probably wouldn't even draw from Norse mythology and name it after Viðarr. I'd probably just give it a toponym.

2) Even if I don't officially join - for whatever reason - I'd like to get me some Abbey swag in-game - a shield, or a flag, or something - because your vision seems pretty cool. How would I do that?

Unfortunately our swag has to be earned ingame!
Part of the dynamic at the Abbey is that you can earn tabards, paintings, shields, battle standards and so on! Through achievements you make at the abbey, you might find yourself with a shield that might afford you a little more respect among your peers, or a painting to show off for all your hard work!

Because of this, I'd love to draw more artists into the community. There's only so much scratching I can do, and still call it a design.

I hope this answers your question! I know it's long-winded!

[WilliamWallace]

Nidhogg is one of the best games ever )

[GenghisKhan44]

Wow. You found a spot with ALL THOSE TREES downed? That is a miracle. Even if you didn't, yours is nevertheless a cool story, and it is amazing how things have taken off there. I can go with you on the developing a mythos thing, too. And actually, as it sits, you remind me more of the Essenes in Judaism rather than any Christian variety of monk.* But I would still like to become an anchorite (or, as it were, anchoress) of your abbey. I already have a character - Rowanoak - and a small hermitage. Travelling to you and telling you how it goes sounds like an adventure.

Please, send me a PM.

*Cenobites are monks who live under a Rule of Life, with the governance of an abbot (and even priors, depending on the size of the community). Seeing as your monastic order has neither rule nor abbot, calling it cenobitic would be wrong. I would say you remind me more of the Sarabaites, but y'all don't strike me as detestably Pharisaical in the way you live. But, then, who knows what will develop from this community? I have hope in you guys, that you'll do some good for this crazy world, as New Brodgar does.
BTW, Source: Rule of St. Benedict, Ch 1, as well as Eusebius of Caesaria regarding the Essenes

[Vaku]

An Eventful Weekend Update

I want to welcome the inhabitants of Freehold into the domain of Viðarrheim Abbey, as well as the refugees from Temmie.

Sometimes, we forget that the hearthlands are really alive, with the hustle of speeding ships, the stamping of leather boots, and fires of industry!

Ch.1 The Freehold Voyage

This weekend, for Viðarrheim, we began with a heated knarr race. Our scheduled pickup of the Freehold residents required we send two of our vessels! The former fishing ship, Leaky Planks, had the sharp captain, Eflow, at the helm. Eflow, educated at the Freehold School of Navigation, masterfully kept pace with our newest vessel: Gjöllswift, captained by myself.



In a game of loss and gains, the vessels kept neck & neck, and it was difficult to say who might arrive first at the Freehold inlet, but in the final minutes—it was the fine craftsmanship of Gjöllswift that saw this vessel as the first arrival, by scant seconds!



The freehold inlet was alive with the hurried energy of its laborers and movers. News of richer horizons, and promise of being settled next to Viðarrheim, frenzied these denizens into a week-long packing spree.
With departure from Freehold imminent, the community was abuzz, reinvigorated, and excited for the future.

As all their material wealth was shuffled aboard the two Viðarrheim vessels, I could not help but draw parallels: observing how success of razing a village is only a fraction as profitable as successful diplomacy and a glowing future in trade!

With all the citizens and wealth loaded aboard the two vessels, Gjöllswift and Leaky Planks, continued their voyage home.

Elsewhere, however, hearthlings under duress, sent out pleas for help!

Ch.2 The Assault on Temmie

Boulders soared across the southern skies, before slamming into Temmie's defenses. Too many deaths, too many deaths already!

Under siege and great duress, Temmie's leader sent missives to all the known communities in the Hearthlands: "We are short fighters and our village will be sacked within the next 6 hours," he writes. "We are experienced in running a village and would like to join yours (if you'll have us) or start up near you to give and get support," he says.

I read this message as Gjöllswift bobs in the waters outside the Sevilla marketplace. Six hours, he said? Six hours? I study the time, and it occurs to me I am many hours too late. Whatever damage Temmie's assailants plan, it was already long done—and the village's southern walls breached, and the valuables looted, and many—who could not get away—killed.



I'm too late, but I see across the way, on Leaky Planks's mast—a Freehold lookout, and seated on the deck of Gjöllswift, Freehold citizens. It is clear to me, what aid Viðarrheim gave to Freehold to relocate, we could also give to Temmie—but theirs is a circumstance wrapped in peril. Attacked? Freehold's relocation is a story of diplomacy, building infrastructure and connections, but Temmie's relocation would be a matter of rescue. What could provoke an attack on Temmie? What could make a settlement of sixteen the target of some callous attack? I would not receive answers returning silence—Viðarrheim had to respond.

Our voyage from Freehold came to a halt at the shores of the Freeholders' new home, built by the masons of Viðarrheim. As they disembarked, with their goods in hand, I made contact with Hakkius.

Ch.3 The Fires of Compassion & Industry

They were attacked, and he doesn't know why, Hakkius explains to me. He describes their horsemen who, saddled outside Temmie's wall, lobbed, boulders, insults, and promise of vengeance for conjuring a nidbane that slayed one of their own. Even then, he adds that this story is peculiar, and seems so loose a reasoning to violate the fortifications of a growing and defensive village. Hakkius adds to his story, details of so much lost—lives which won't be returned, but whose memory can live on—wealth, which now gripped in greedy palms, and paintings now stolen, hung up in a far and away place.



In contrast to all which Hakkius describes as destroyed or taken, he speaks of the lives saved—of the handful of people who managed to scatter across the Hearthlands.

Experienced now in travelling to so many places by knarr, I agree to search for the lost tribe of Temmie, and bring them back to Viðarrheim. It is a reminder, to myself, and any who have been in such peril, that there is a place, and there are people, who will help you to recover.

The journeys I make are exhausting, and they take me to many places. In one afternoon, I come along a shoreline, where two of the Temmie Tribe stand idle. I welcome them to the raw goods aboard, ensure their comfort, and explain that after this long journey from Temmie, they'll make a new home, keep their identity, and prosper in the domain of Viðarrheim.

It takes three days, before I find the last of the Temmie Tribe, vaulting down the southern hearthland mountains, where their home was beset upon.



Already aboard the vessel are members of their former village, prepared for joyous reunion, as well as acolytes from Viðarrheim, who are eager to greet the new faces.

Night falls upon the rich community, almost doubled in size by the refugees rescued. Eager to work, and make a comfortable life in their new home, the yeomen, acolytes, monks, and neighbors, generate a waves of activity—creating an abbey which never sleeps.

If you enjoyed this story, and would like to be part of the emergent adventure, don't hesitate to reply to this post, or send me a message that describes your interest in joining!

How to Join

You can,
A. Give me a PM , or
B. make a reply to this thread.

Your message should describe your interest in joining Víðarrheim Abbey.
I will reply with more precise information on how to join.

Depending on how you want to join—with a new character or an existing one, steps to joining will be different.

Thanks for your interest, and good luck!

[hakkius]

I have found a great new home at the abbey with a good deal of my old town with me. Better then brodgar!

[cecelia]

have fun with that, vaku