Giant Sword Wielding Woman

SPOILER WARNING: This article details an event related to a quest and as such contains unmarked spoilers. 

This is a Forest exploration event. If offers the opportunity to start the Giant Sword Wielding Woman questline. You gain Kola Potion,  Mead,  Sage Powder if you complete the request issued to you upon your 2nd visit. During your fourth visit and after a difficult encounter and a series of  Agility ,  Constitution ,  Intelligence , and  Strength  checks, the participating survivor gains the positive trait Duelist permanently, as well as some  Bandages,  Yarrow Powder and  Worms Poultice.

Inspect
You see a fierce looking, giant woman, wielding sword of nearly the same size as her. Her skin is covered in war tattoos, and her red hair is tied into a very long and rough ponytail.

Talk

 *  First Visit 

Hi... I-... I come in peace. Can we talk?

Hrmpf...

Who are you? Are you with Bjorn's men?

Gwendolen. Yeah.

I'm surprised you don't jump at my throat...

Pfft... No need. You're weak. There is no honor in fighting weaker than I.

That's... Good? I think...

I'm one Finger of Bjorn's Hand, his five closest - and strongest - lieutenants. Now, scram!


 *  Second Visit 

Lady Gwendolen? Would you please answer a question for me?

Hrmpf...

Why is a strong warrior like you following Bjorn's tyranny?

... I follow this scumbag because... He's the strongest. I challenged him. Again and again. He won every time. I respect that.

... If I challenged you to a duel and won, would you join our side?

... No. You'd have to prove your strength to me if you want to challenge me. It would be a waste of time otherwise.

How to prove that we are worthy?

Ah! You'd have to accomplish something worth of a god! Let me think... IF you bring me the belt Megingjord, the famous belt of power of Thor... IF you tame the horse Svadilfari, the fastest and wildest horse there is... And IF you lift the hammer Mjollnir, the giant's bane, that only Thor can wield... I MAY accept to fight you. Now get lost!

(After collecting Megingjord from Burnt Wild Humanoid,  Svadilfari's Hair from Wild Dark Horse, and  Mjollnir from Giant Hammer)
 *  Third Visit 

So... You bring me proof of your strength?


 * Here... Take these


 * Gwendolen Dialogue Tag.png
 * ...! Impressive. Take this. In exchange.


 * + Kola Potion.png Kola Potion, Mead.png Mead, Sage Powder.png Sage Powder


 * A spark is growing in her eyes as she moves around her swords impatiently.


 * Gwendolen Dialogue Tag.png
 * It may be fun after all... LET'S FIGHT!


 *  After the battle 


 * Gwendolen Dialogue Tag.png
 * NO NO NO NO NO! IMPOSSIBLE! It was not a fair fight! TRUE warriors fight with their bare hands! ONE on ONE! Send me your best fighter, for an ultimate duel! No weapon!

Relevant Skills:  Agility ,  Constitution ,  Intelligence ,  Strength  'Gwendolen is waiting for you, fire in her eyes. She shakes your hand, and the duel begins! You're facing each other, eager to fight...'
 *  Fourth Visit 


 * Find a defensive loophole. ( Intelligence )


 * Failure : You side step around her but this pisses her off and she sends you flying with a hard kick in the belly!
 * + Injury.png Injury
 * Beg for Mercy. You've had enough... You beg for mercy, ashamed.
 * The participating survivor gains the negative trait Special Trait Icon.png Depressed temporarily.
 * Continue the fight. Loops back to eager to fight...
 * Success : You side step around her and wait until you find a clear opening, and you strike!


 * Wait and parry. ( Constitution )


 * Failure : You let her take the initiative, but her blow is too strong! You feel dizzy from the punch.
 * + Injury.png Injury
 * Beg for Mercy. You've had enough... You beg for mercy, ashamed.
 * The participating survivor gains the negative trait Special Trait Icon.png Depressed temporarily.
 * Continue the fight. Loops back to eager to fight...
 * Success : You wait for her to take the first move, parry her blow and fight back!


 * Charge! ( Strength )
 * Failure : You let her take the initiative, but her blow is too strong! You feel dizzy from the punch.
 * + Injury.png Injury
 * Beg for Mercy. You've had enough... You beg for mercy, ashamed.
 * The participating survivor gains the negative trait Special Trait Icon.png Depressed temporarily.
 * Continue the fight. Loops back to eager to fight...
 * Success : You charge blindly with all your strength, and manage to make her stagger!

'And now she's really pissed! She spits blood, and tries to grab you!'


 * Dodge! ( Agility )
 * Failure : Too slow! She grabs your legs and you fall on the ground! You're at her mercy!
 * + Injury.png Injury
 * Free yourself( Strength )
 * Failure : You struggle but her grip is too strong! She punches you in the head...
 * + Injury.png Injury
 * Beg for Mercy. You've had enough... You beg for mercy, ashamed.
 * The participating survivor gains the negative trait Special Trait Icon.png Depressed temporarily.
 * Try again! Strength Lets you repeat the skill check.
 * Success : You hit her shoulder until your fists are bleeding... She loses grip, and lets go of you!
 *  Loops back to tries to grab you! 
 * Success : She charges you like a bull, but you manage to make a quick step left and dodge her! You're behind her! That's your only chance to give her a finishing blow!


 * Try to grab her! ( Constitution )
 * Failure : You make your move, but she recovered too fast! She dodges it easily and turns around!
 *  Loops back to tries to grab you! 
 * Success : You grab her from behind and strange her until she passes out... You won!
 * A kick in the legs! ( Agility )
 * Failure : You make your move, but she recovered too fast! She dodges it easily and turns around!
 *  Loops back to tries to grab you! 
 * Success : You kick her legs and make her fall! You hit her head until she passes out... You won!
 * A punch on the head! ( Strength )
 * Failure : You make your move, but she recovered too fast! She dodges it easily and turns around!
 *  Loops back to tries to grab you! 
 * Success : Your punch knocks her out! She awakens after a few minutes... You won!

''' After choosing an option, and succeeding every check. '''

&#42;Pant* *Pant*... *Pant* Okay... *Pant* ... You've *Pant* WON. Man... You're strong... Wanna fuck?


 * Come here...


 * Still filled with the adrenaline of the fight, you jump on Gwendolen and wrestle her to the floor. Only this time, the "fight" is much more enjoyable than before...


 * Survivor: - Depression.png Depression


 * No thanks...


 * Gwendolen Dialogue Tag.png

Too bad...

I will keep my promise... If you rebel against Björn, I'll help you.

Thank you Gwendolen. Want to join our Camp?

No... It would awake suspicion... I'll join you only for the final battle. When you're ready. Here. Take these. After a fight like this, you'll need them...


 * + 4 Bandage.png Bandage, 2 Worms Poultice.png Worms Poultice, 5 Yarrow Powder.png Yarrow Powder

Leave me alone now. I must ponder my defeat.


 * The participating survivor gains the positive trait Special Trait Icon.png Duelist permanently.

Strategy
Gwendolen fights alone 1v3, but she has a special ability that removes all the permanent bonuses that you've acquired during the game, with the exception of bonus Health. Items also don't work on her, but temporary buff might (uncertain). So, you'll basically face her as if you were using three LV 1 characters, which makes the whole encounter extremely luck-based.

Gwendolen has 20 health points and very strong attacks that deal an average 5-8 damage. She also has a moderate critical chance, so she can potentially one-shot some characters if you're unlucky. If you begin the combat with all 3 characters in front consider resetting immediately, as you are going to receive tons of damage that will be hard to recover.

Some tips:


 * Avoid placing two or more characters in front, or Gwendolen will use an attack that slashes all of them at once.
 * Gwendolen has base +2 Damage Reduction, and she can get a +1 more when using Thor's Blessing. You will need some way to lower it or increase your max damage, such as with a Mystic (Moira) and/or an Archer (Kari).
 * Having a character with a lot of health in front is important to soak the massive damage that Gwendolen deals, for example a Protector (Blodeuwedd). Gwendolen can also attack the back rows, but that uses a slightly less damaging attack.
 * Thor's Blessing usually uses up Gwendolen's whole turn, but on the next one she will deliver one or even multiple devastating attacks. Make sure to protect yourself.