Frankto Vinneti

The Oathsworn: A Kitchen Sink Urban Fantasy Alternative

Oathsworns (also called orc-né, or simply orc) are powerful manifestations of primal rage, formed by the ancient entity known as Horkos. These fierce spirits possess the ability to infiltrate and manipulate vessels crafted from mortal bodies, turning them into deadly instruments of mayhem and destruction. Their ultimate goal is to carry out Horkos' will, and they stop at nothing in pursuit of this goal, often spreading chaos throughout the world and leaving a trail of devastation in their wake.

When not furthering the sinister designs of their Father, orcs are frequently used as supernatural mercenaries and hit-men, a task they excel at on account of being virtually immortal and with nothing better to do with their time than to kill things, or learn to become better killers.

Raging Rebirth: The Makings of an Orc

When an Oathsworn takes possession of a mortal body, called infestation, the process is both horrific and awe-inspiring. The spirit enters the host, seizing control and infusing the body with its own dark power. The Oathsworn and the mortal body become one, a single entity driven by rage and bound to the will of its malevolent creator. This brutal transformation eventually reshapes the host, granting them a grotesque, terrifying visage as the orc grows larger and more powerful until the flesh and skin of the host tears from trying to contain its repulsive new growth.

Strictly speaking, "oathsworn" or "orc" is a word that refers to the spirit inhabiting a prepared vessel. The process of creating an orc is unique to Horkos, as the soul must be trapped inside a massive, pustulent growth on his body and left there to mature, a torturous process that takes centuries. Once finally hatched, the soul emerges scarred and unrecognizable, stripped of everything that once made it human, ready to join the legions of the Oathsworns.

Dark Father: Horkos, The Oathbreaker

The ancient being called Horkos is every bit what you might expect from the father of such a vile progeny. He is a manifestation of unchecked rage, seeking to sow discord and bedlam throughout the cosmos. In his quest to spread destruction, Horkos crafted the Oathsworns to be his loyal servants and weapons of terror.

It wasn't always so, however. In a time that predates history, Horkos was pressed into the service of the Furies, the Erinyes of Greek mythos. Tasked to enact the vengeance of the Furies upon oathbreakers, this great work eventually twisted Horkos to embody this vengeance until he lost sight of his purpose altogether.

The Maw: The Oathsworns' Domain

The Maw is a nightmarish realm within the Nevernever, where Horkos and his Oathsworn minions dwell. Jagged mountains, churning seas of blood, and valleys littered with the corpses of those brave few who sacrificed their very lives to bind Horkos away, often mounted as grim trophies, and warnings to any who would dare to enter.

Orcish Society and Ritual Combat

The casual violence of Orcish society doesn't make it any less civilized. Though there aren't laws, per se, there are still conflicts and conflict resolution. Since the waste of perfectly usable vessels is a sin to most oathsworns, they resolve infighting with a form of ritual combat.

Trollkona, aka The Nithings: Night Hags from the Otherworld

The trollkona of Jötunheim are something of a misnomer. Though the word trollkona literally means troll woman, they are actually hags. Originally, they were valkyries who, for one reason or another, abandoned their duties to the Aesir gods. Labeled as cowards, or nithings, the trollkona are most commonly known as Night Hags, a linguistic corruption or lexical shift from nithing to nithing hag to simply night hag.

Seven there once were, but now there are four. They have survived for an age and will survive many more, their very names stricken from the minds of men and gods alike. Now, they are simply known as the awful physical sensations their names inspire: [splitting headache], [searing pain], [crushing loneliness], and [numbing cold].

A Sinister Tale: The Origin Story

Once upon a time, the Valkyries accompanied the gods to Jötunheim. However, the legendary trickery of the Giants served them well that day, and some of the Valkyries were separated from their flock. Desperate and alone, the Valkyries roamed the unfamiliar terrain of Jötunheim until they stumbled upon a group of mortal men who had wandered into the realm of the giants.

The Valkyries were initially wary of these mortals, but they soon realized that the men were brave and skilled warriors. Intrigued by the mortals' bravery, the Valkyries decided to observe them from afar. Over time, they became enamored with these mortals and began to intervene in their battles, providing them with divine assistance in exchange for their loyalty and devotion.

As the relationship between the Valkyries and mortals deepened, it became clear that they were no longer merely serving Odin's will. The Valkyries began to use their power to manipulate battles and advance their own agenda, causing chaos and leaving destruction and ruin in their wake.

The gods became aware of the Valkyries' treacherous behavior and sent their own warriors to Jötunheim to confront them. In the ensuing battle, many lives were lost, and the Valkyries were branded nithings for their cowardice. Where there were originally seven, now only four remain.

Over much time and many mortal ages, the Valkyries hid in their forest in Jötunheim, forsaken by all. The Valkyries' powers and influence over the mortals ultimately corrupted them, driving them beyond the threshold of sanity and valor. The mortals became consumed with power and violence, causing mayhem and death with them wherever they went.

The Valkyries were reviled and shunned by the gods and their own kind. They were seen as outcasts and failures by all, stripped of their honor and their place among the chosen warriors of Valhalla.

As the years passed, the Valkyries grew bitter and resentful, blaming Odin for their exile and their ruined reputation. They began to use their powers for their own gain, manipulating mortals to do their bidding and seeking revenge against those who had wronged them.

The Valkyries became known as the trollkona, the witches of the forest, feared and reviled by all who knew of them. They continued to use their powers for their own gain, causing chaos and destruction wherever they went.

In the end, the Valkyries' thirst for power and revenge consumed them completely. They were unable to find redemption or forgiveness and remained nithings for all eternity. Their names were forever associated with treachery and darkness, a warning to all who would seek to wield divine power for their own gain.

Taboo: Stricken from the Universal Records

The trollkona are known not by names but by the physical sensations their names evoke. Their names are essentially runes, and when read, spoken, or heard, they are not processed as text or speech, but rather as an unpleasant physical sensation. This sensation is universally recognized, and the names can be understood by everyone alive, regardless of the language they speak.

Their names are not simply unknown but literally stricken from the universal record, rendered taboo. They are not just forgotten or hidden, but removed from the very fabric of reality itself, and thus impossible to recall through any means.

Problem

The system needed upgrade points to function simultaneously as a progression currency, a spendable currency, and a healing resource.

Method

I modeled XP thresholds, required kills, upgrade point yield per kill by tier, upgrade costs, and several probable player upgrade behaviors.

Data

• Tier
• Same-tier kill XP award
• Upgrade point yield
• Upgrade count per slot
• Rank cost per upgrade
• Upgrade path behavior

Player Behavior Projections

• Optimal: Player fully levels one upgrade before installing another upgrade.
• Semi-Optimal: Player increases an upgrade to rank 5, then alternates between new upgrades to rank 5 and existing upgrades to rank 10.
• Sub-Optimal: Player takes each upgrade to rank 5 before installing another.
• Least Optimal: Player installs all upgrades first, then ranks them up at the same time.

Result: The model showed a vastly overtuned upgrade currency yield, warranting a tune-up that retained the same progression curve with more manageable awards.

Conclusion

The revised upgrade point ratio is sufficient to support projected player upgrade behavior while leaving room for healing, award variation from other factors, and use as an in-world economy.

Artifact: View progression economy spreadsheet