A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover

Twenty-Seventh Day of the Eighth Month 293 AC

Somewhat to your surprise, given all the trouble fey dealings have given you in the past, negotiating with the Shadow King is almost as easy as with Lady Uraka. He easily accepts the notion of waiting a few months or even years for a mount, promising not to sell the shadow. You finally settle upon seven years, more for the roundness of the number than any expectation that it will take you that long to fulfill the deal. Even with all the calls upon your time you could make him a mount in a fraction of the span.

The Unravelling, however, is not so easily procured. Born of great stories broken before their time to the whims of chance, Unravellings are as delicate as they are rare. That one could be sold for your shadow, you learn, bespoke much of the foresight of the Shadow Fey, who saw in you more than your heritage, more than the blood of Aegon the Conqueror. They saw what you might yet become and thus the worth of your shadow in more than merely spinning veils and cloaks. Politely you ignore the implication that they had anticipated either selling it back to you or to your foes if you should prove a enemy to them. After all, you are near enough allies now and you cannot resent simple caution on the court's part. The Shadow King holds one more Unravelling and one more only, this one not enclosed in a box of stone but ragged shadow flickering in his hands.

"One who was almost the salvation of Sarnor bore this shadow," he says almost idly as he sets it in the same box as the first.

Lost Midnight Plate

Gained Unravelling

Almost your ask for the tale, but here tales are more precious than gold. Instead your eyes fall upon the box, warded to turn the gaze of gods away. It had already deceived Tiamat once, why not again? You offer lore for lore—not the making of Valyrian Steel, nor the making of Warforged for that is for Anu to decide upon, and neither do you tempt the fey with knowledge of freeing devils from Hell.

"Do you think us so blind as to need twisting rituals to open our eyes a hairsbreadth to things far off and those yet to come?" the king asks as he notices the other obvious absence, divination rituals, for the House of Mirrors is certainly public.

"No, but I think you would trade it away to those for whom it would have great worth—mortals," you reply, speaking plainly.

The king nods, taking another drink of the dark sweet wine one of his attendants had just brought. "A bargain, then. We will teach the Soul Smith the lore you seek, but you would do well to remember that these are veils and not walls of iron."

"Against such foes any ward is welcome," you answer with a toast. You actually drink the wine, certain that there is no price attached to the hospitality you were offered. Over the next few hours you regale the court with an account of your doings in Lyceos, the fall of the Rakshasa, the final vengeance of Syrax, though you do not mention that the goddess still lingers upon the earth for you too know the worth of secrets.

Lost Staff of Law

Gained Access to Study Project: Weaving Deepest Veils (18 Progress)

"Would you like to meet your daughter, my lord?" Garin asks as the two of your are about to take your leave.

The king smiles distantly. "Thine words cannot encapsulate all that she is, but the offer is appreciated nonetheless. I will come to your halls for a brief time if you would have me there."

So it is that among the myriad of sorcerers, spirits, and other strange visitors that Sorcerer's Deep briefly hosts a fey king and his entourage as the festival nears its closing.

What do you do next?

[] Watch a mage duel
-[] Aemon Naremos vs Mia Netcatcher
-[] Anya of Sorcerer's Deep vs Moonsong

[] Watch the next round of the joust

[] Do another interview
-[] Write in

[] Speak with one of the visitors or competitors
-[] Write in

[] Write in

OOC: Solid rolls for persuasion. Nothing extraordinary, but it was enough since your offer was quite generous.