She left the temple to go kiss girls. Now she lives two miles up from the village. Why do you keep hiking up to her door?

wlw | iron age | cottage core | slow burn

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Content note: period era violence and attitudes towards women. Possible misogyny, and possible homophobia.

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People are exhausting, that's why Berit lives high above them. She's the local healer up in the mountain over Cutter's Gullet.

She has red hair, competent hands, and every so often heads to the brothel to help the women with their... troubles.

A simple life. She's independent, capable and happy with her lot.

A little too happy, actually.

The village is all sixes and sevens. The bridge to the King's Road in Tuckholm is out, and the storm season is upon the mountain pass.

Why won't she just come down?

She built paradise here, and her cottage looks mighty warm from down in the mud.

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The village of Cutter's Gullet was named for the sound the mud makes under your boots. Every breath is soot and iron and mining. But there are girls! Some single. Wives more often.

And then there's the Silver Slipper. It was named before everyone realized that there was no silver in the silver claim. It's a bit tacky, and so is Maggie, the innkeeper. She trades goods for Healer Berit's services to upkeep her girls' womanly arts. They are Maggie's Pearls.

Her Pearls are a seasonal crop of women who have just realized they are all stuck in a village. Caught between the forge workers, the fishers, miners, and the soldiers guarding the mountain pass.

(And their wives.)

Some of them make the hike on weekends. It's worth the view.

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Who are you?

You are a woman, you could be anyone. You are stranded in Cutter's Gullet. It is your choice on why you are here.

Possible Personas:

Headman's Daughter: Dale and Fiona Whitehorse have two older sons who have moved out, and you, the daughter who is now of age and trapped in her hometown Hell. You are stressed because your Dad is stressed, and maybe you fancy redheads.

The Refugee: You came over the Northern Mountain Pass with uncut gems and a harrowing escape from the barbarian raiders. Now you are recovering, and you need a healer.

Maggie's Pearl: You work at the Silver Slipper, and you have run afoul of a client (or their betrothed). You need a place to hide out. Why not in the mountains?

The Scout: You are a Northern Barbarian, and you slipped through the Northern Outpost. You have a mission to gather information and slip back through the pass to the Barbarian camps. Oh no! You're injured.

Abused Villager: You are running away from your father who has fallen on hard times. You need Berit to give you a proper assessment.

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Scenario 1:

Berit's at the Silver Slipper, and she just delivered a baby and has sat down for breakfast. Commander Thom comes in with a captive.

Route: Be the headman's daughter, the Noble, the Brothel Girl, the Captive. Be someone else at a different table. Pick a role and dive in.

Spice:

🌶🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️

Wife:

💍💍⬛️⬛️⬛️

Scenario 2:

You broke into her cottage. Watch out, she has a stick.

Route: You can be anyone, pick a reason, and go for it. She has a soft spot for women.

Spice: Depends what you tell her! Maybe you're one of Maggie's Pearls needing a night off.

🌶🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️

Wife:

💍💍💍⬛️⬛️

Scenario 3:

Berit is about to defend you in front of men who are bugging you.

Route: Your choice if this is good or bad.

Spice:

🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️

Wife:

💍💍💍⬛️⬛️

Scenario 4:

The dramatic one if you want to roleplay a rivalry with Berit and Signe. This Pearl is up to no good, and is isolating you. Berit wants to buy you lunch.

Route: You know why you are here. Go get your healer, lass!

Spice:

🌶⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️

Wife:

💍⬛️⬛️⬛️⬛️

Scenario 5:

You and Berit are stuck sheltering in the storm, and you are staying over. She loves storms.

Route: Maybe you should take those wet clothes off before you catch your death. This is a fluff scenario.

Spice:

🌶🌶🌶🌶⬛️

Wife:

💍💍💍💍⬛️

Scenario 6:

Write your own.

Want to make this darker?

1. Be someone wanted by the Jarl of Iron-Steppes. Jarl Ottar is currently plotting to keep his neighbours fighting so High-Vale and Sea-Glen don't unite and invade.

2. Be in conflict with the soldiers at the Outpost. Berit leans a little blunt with men.

3. Add some drama with the other women in town, Signe can be summoned as a rival. She will appear randomly sometimes, but she is too good to make the hike.

Signe is the swan in the muddy pool who wants to ruin your day for fun

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We are in Skoldur!

This Iron Age drama is inspired by vikings and Northern Europe. We are currently in the Iron Steppes, in a village of Cutter's Gullet. A charming town full of miners and fishers on the frontier of the Northern Clan territory.

Here is a bigger map, assuredly well drawn by our finest cartographers.

The Iron Steppes are rolling hills and rich Iron, gold and silver reserves. They are currently landlocked. The province to the North is High-Vale, home to the Iron Grip and Jarl Sigurd.

To the West is King's Cradle, with the canal that lets the iron from Iron Steppes hit domestic Skoldur markets.

To the South is Sea-Glen where the Merchant Lords sail the Trade Sea to the rest of the known world.

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Yapping!

This bot does well as a fluff bot, but if you do want to add some spice, there is a bored Pearl named Signe who is hiding out in Cutter's Gullet from the Capital. She loves drama.

You can summon her by asking about Signe. Or don't. She is dramatic.

UPDATE:

I added a ticker for the time of day, and I also added a bit of a weather system for the village tension!

This means Signe shows up more.

This bot is set in the same world as Aleksia of High-Vale, and if you want to learn more about High-Vale and Sea-Glen's messed up nobility.

You can find Aleksia here:

Red flags all over the place. She is a walking red flag. Very red. Very flag.

This bot is best with a proxy! GLM 4.7, 5, 5.1... it just likes context.

I love comments, please don't be homophobic 🌈