Interlude in beta.
A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
- Thread starter DragonParadox
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- a song of ice and fire a sword without a hilt d&d 3.5 dungeons & dragons 100% high octane dragon fuel ave corvidae battle action dragon diplomacy best sister bureaucromancy delicious soul-stuff dragon dreams come true dragon ta'veren greatest uncle hubris is a coward's word in defiance of gods and men mammon's folly mutually assured mage's disjunction qm murderhobo top tier coatl
Interlude DXLXII: At the Witching Hour
At the Witching Hour
Thirteenth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC
Rina Cox could not say she hated Lys, hate was for other things, cruelty, death, undeserved and ruined lives, hate was for Them, but she disliked it more than any other city she had ever seen east or west of the Narrow Sea. Not for any unkindness done to her, agent of the King on a mission from his own hand, but rather from a surfeit of flattery to everything from her manner of speech and dress, 'so very exotic', her magics which she did her best not to use openly unless necessary, to her looks. If she were being honest that was what rankled her the most, if she heard one more simpering fool ask her how she had gotten her 'alabaster skin', she would damn well tell them.
A small horned head butted against her arm, as though sensing her inner turmoil.
"We will be there in a moment, Alyn," Rina said to her odd little friend as though he was the one in need of reassurance. Small black eyes looked out in amusement out of its hare-like face.
The Gilded Quarter had long since begin to be reclaimed by the city, if not by the high priests and rich magisters who had inhabited much of it before the plague. For one many of those rich magisters were either dead or taking advantage of new opportunities to advance their fortunes, which either meant traveling to the court in Sorcerer's Deep or heading out to invest in the lands newly brought under the plow to the east. True, the King decided who got the land itself, but people needed all manner of goods to live comfortably rather than just survive, plenty of business opportunities for the enterprising trader. Or the dishonest one, Rina could not help but think, even though she knew she was being unfair to go there so quickly. Lady Aerebalys had plenty of businesses in Lys and elsewhere and she was about as far from the image of the greedy slave-owning magister as one could get.
Distracted by these thoughts and happy to finally have some peace to think the young sorceress did not notice just how quiet the streets had become until that silence was broken by the sound of old leaves being crushed underfoot.
"Who is there?" Rina called, her voice cold and clear in the evening air. Shara had said the folk hereabouts generally turned in early on the night the Goblin Market opened so as not to get caught up in any uncanny business. Was this a fellow shopper, or had she caught the eye of some fey out making mischief?
An old man with a wooden leg and a polished silver eye shuffled into view, a wine skin held carelessly in one hand. "Dangerous to be out alone on a night like this, lass..." The words could well had the air of a threat had they been spoken in a different tone, but the cheerful if faintly intoxicated banter sounded more like a welcome distraction.
"You aren't any less alone than me," Rina pointed out.
"Aye, but I'm old and full of gristle, even the stray dogs steer clear of me these days, especially when they see all the missing bits," the man motioned to his missing leg with an elegance at odds with his patched blue cloak and shapeless woolen cap. "Are ye heading for the Faerie Market? You've got that look about you, the cunning they say."
"What sort of look is that?" The sorceress tried to keep the surprise out of her voice. She had used a glamour to pass through the streets as anonymously as she could, the last thing she wanted was to make a grand entrance on her first trip to the Market, this was just scouting before Justice Malarys and Ser Lonmouth arrived from the south.
"Well now, it doesn't seem to be that nippy around here," The man motioned at the puddle not four feet behind her. It had chunks of ice floating in it. "I'd be happy to lead you to the entrance and show you around, if you don't mind moving at the peace of an one-legged gait," he continued.
"Out of the goodness of your heart?" Rina asked skeptically. The moon was out and fey were about.
"Well now, I would not mind being paid in good honest silver if you find yourself happy with my services. I'm Rial the Wanderer, by the way. Used to be a sailor up towards Ibben and the Shivering Sea, but no one will take me on now. Thank fortune I found another strange land to explore right here in Lys."
Something about the man's cheerfully honest mercenary intentions amused Rina. He was not trying to hide behind coy compliments and might even be useful. "Sure, I would not object to a guide, though I would rather settle the price up front."
OOC: Backdating again, Rina would not be lazing about for three weeks waiting for Malarys and Richard.
- Location
- Germany
Why not?
1/10 undead agree death was good for the skin, the rest have the misfortune to be one of the great majority of ugly undead.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Many of which have no skin at all. It really simplifies one's skin care routine.
- Location
- Germany
Or you get the Huecuva-special of casting Disguise Undead at will, all issues with your look solved in one stroke.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Except for the smell.
And maybe the sense of utter wrongness which hangs around you.
But other than that, you're golden!
- Location
- Germany
I hope people in SD are utterly desensitzed to that by now.
First Damphair with his farspawn, then everything magical from us.
People barely react when one of our Erinyes teleports and it smells like brimstone and sulfur for a while.
- Location
- florida
Evening Glory intensifies*
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
@DragonParadox, who was Rina's horned companion? Am I forgetting someone we've already been introduced to or is he a contact she made in Lys?
- Location
- Germany
That weird animal she met in Armun Kelisk.
The one that's distantly related to the flying wolf-stags we killed in the North.
Canon Omake: Old Dog, New Tricks
Massgamer
Advance toward the Future
- Location
- The Future
Old Dog, New Tricks
Much change had come to the North in recent years to the point that Ser Rodrik Cassel, the master-at-arms of Winterfell, envied the days when the worst things he had to lead men off to fight were bandits and rapid animals. With the return of magic and legends told of in ancient stories the old knight had found himself needing to adapt quite rapidly in order to better serve his liege lord. Rodrik was not a man to shirk his duty or run in the face of the unknown after all, though what gave him headaches more was the fact it was his duty to train others to face those unknowns and not everyone was as strong of arm and heart as he.
Not to mention ever since Lord Stark spread word to all mages in the North of the offer of gainful employment under him he has had to also train mages when he himself knew very little of magic.
Thankfully assistance from Maester Luwin, and wasn't it that a surprise to pry the maester from his books, along with a mage under Lord Manderly's employ he was able to drum up some form of training so that common armsmen and knights could work decently with mages. Rodrik found it was usually a safe bet to treat mages like more dangerous and diversely skilled archers, great at range and support but usually a bad idea to have them at the forefront of battle. Leave that to the ones with armor and spears.
His nephew Jory was doing something similar with the household guard, mages mainly acting as support for existing fighters until there was more clear coordination.
And weren't the mages a diverse bunch. Rodrik and his armsmen had found themselves working with mages that seemed to hail from all parts of the North, and in a few rare cases beyond it. Some were the scholarly type Rodrik expected mages to be and when not training or on duty were in the library alongside Luwin who Rodrik was sure was writing several books about magic in general as he studied parts Rodrik had no idea about. Others were weirdly devout to Old Gods like the septon that also lived in Winterfell and had much more rural backgrounds, most coming from the mountain clans. Then there were outliers that didn't seem to fit into any neat shape and honestly wouldn't make great armsmen material in Rodrik's opinion, like the warg who brought with him a rather large stag and a rather grand story of apparently hunting the thing for weeks before bonding with the creature.
Rodrik was certainly impressed with it when it was armored and had a human mind to guide it to gore some rather rabid wolves.
It was taking time to get his armsmen and them to really work well together, but from what he had seen and heard they would need their power.
As with many things in the world new change brought it's mix of good and ill news, and as master-at-arms for Winterfell Rodrik was aware of more than most and beyond simple rumors since his lord valued men who actually knew what was going on.
For one the warg under him wasn't the only one in the North. Lord Stark had gotten numerous reports and even more rumors of warg activity from the Neck all the way to the Wall. It was hard to confirm what was truly wargs or just animals acting strangely in respond to other things unless they showed themselves or were really obvious about it. Sadly a lot of times either the wargs were using their powers and beasts to terrorize smallfolk or the smallfolk themselves were targeting wargs even when they did nothing wrong. Ones that survive tended to either disappear into the wilds or come under the employ of a local lord.
Rodrik could certainly see the use of their power in a number of situations depending on the beast used, though his own one talked about how the beast's mind can influence user as well so there was danger involved.
Magic was also bringing thinking beings besides men into the world beyond things heard in tales since Rodrik most certainly never heard tales of man-sized bugs living in the Neck. Then again, the Crannogmen were not the most social people and could have had old tales about them for all he knew. From what his lord had explained when he visited the Neck and it's lord, Howland Reed, there had been no real conflict with these bog-striders since the Crannogmen didn't farm to live and the Neck was large enough and full of enough life to provide for all of them. Apparently the water-skipping beings even regularly visited their floating villages to trade and such.
Sadly not all such encounters with magical beings could end so peacefully, a part of the forests in Barrowlands and several villages going up in flames could attest to that.
Apparently there had been more and more reports of some of the eldest trees found deep in the Wolfswood and other forests coming alive and speaking to those that encountered them. The vast majority of the meetings were rarely hostile and the talking, moving trees seemed content to continue sleeping. However, some foolish woodcutters had apparently been searching for the oldest and strongest sentinel pines deep in the forests far from civilization, which turned out to be said thinking trees. Reports weren't clear but apparently conflict ensued leading to a large forest fire that spread rapidly and killed many smallfolk.
Lord Stark was still speaking with House Dustin on how to respond to that.
There are also reports of how a malicious spirit had drowned dozens of people in the White Knife before being chased down by Lord Manderly's own mages. Considering what little he knew of these spirits and Luwin for all he knew there was countless such things happening around North that were under reported for one reason or another since such spirits tended to be tricksome things. Made him glad their mages had magic to make it easier to spot things like that.
Thankfully not all news was bad, apparently in Forrester lands some unlikely gathering of forest spirits and mortal trappers worked together to bring down some cursed rider that was causing trouble in the area and were expected to be rewarded for their actions. It proved a good example of what Rodrik was working towards and what Lord Stark wanted, magic and man working together for a common purpose.
Lord Manderly was certainly agreeable and quick with that plan since he had allowed a number of 'sealfolk' apparently to settle permanently in White Harbor after several worked as agents for the lord alongside his mages. While Rodrik didn't know the whole story behind them Lord Manderly apparently sympathized greatly with group based on his own House's history and repeated the same kindness House Stark did his centuries ago. As long as they were friendly citizens Rodrik was not one to judge and quite frankly he rather interact with sealfolk than some kinds of men he knew existed.
Everyday it seemed like something new was happening and Rodrik was finding it hard to keep up at his age, though till it felt comfortable with slowing down he was going to work himself to the bone to make sure the North's future was secure.
Speaking of the North's future...
He turned his head from the training field to once more find Jon, Robb, and little Arya watching the armsmen and mages having a mock battle against one another. It was close to time for training the boys swordwork and Arya had been learning recently to control her own brand of magic.
Thank the Old Gods her mother had finally settled down on the matter of magic once news of the septons decision regarding it had finally reached them. Seems like the southrons could see sense at times.
Truly this was a new age of wonders.
OOC: Rodrik a bit optimistic on training mages to actually fight well, just cause strong magic doesn't mean everyone great fighter, so likely will take a bit to make an effective doctrine and coherent fighting force. Also a little show of how things are happening in the world outside of our influence and people are doing their own thing.
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For anyone wondering I rolled for all the events in the omake above, good and bad.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Neat slice of Northern life, dude. I especially like mention of the Stag Warg. An unlikely pairing for a hunter, but all the more interesting because of it.
There are a couple place where you use 'rapid' rather than 'rabid', and you drop too many 'apparently's in your story as well. In a lot of places, you could just remove them without further editing.
I have a bad habit for using 'apparently's and 'considering's which I'm constantly having to hold back on or correct when I let them slip into stuff I write.
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Inserted tally
- Location
- France
@Massgamer, please note that in fact, strong magic does mean strong warrior.
At the very least, level 20 gives you the base attack bonus of a level 10 warrior, which is already quite good even if you have no combat magic whatsoever for some reason.
At the very least, level 20 gives you the base attack bonus of a level 10 warrior, which is already quite good even if you have no combat magic whatsoever for some reason.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Gotta keep in mind that Rodrik is working with mages who are probably no more than level three, or level four if he's lucky. They're going to have extremely limited spells and their BAB is going to be garbage.
He just doesn't have the right context to understand their potential.
- Location
- Canada (eh)
Hunted a Stag for weeks... that isn't the Fey who was turned into a stag for ten years after we cornered him and he asked a noble of the wild hunt for help is it?
Winning vote
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Part MMMXIX: A Gathering of Mages
A Gathering of Mages
Eighteenth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC
Before departing the cave under the hill, you raise one final matter; how ready the North is to face otherworldly foes, how many mages had Eddard Stark and others like him managed to find and gather to their banners? Alas, in this Bloodraven cannot give you as precise an answer as an Inquisition report might. Not because he could not find the answer if he sought it, but simply because he does not have the time to peer through every mage's window and guess at the nature of their power. Still, he knows enough to give you a rough approximation of the budding arcane strength of the North. There are dozens of wargs employed with hundreds more refusing to reveal themselves for fear of their neighbors or else having already fled into the woods to live alongside the beasts with whom they were bonded.
Of true mages, Wyman Manderly can boast the most; five and forty not including the sealfolk who had decided to settle in the waters around White Harbor. Little wonder he had been willing to lend one of his best and brightest to House Stark, and well that he had done so. The Lord of the North seems to be attempting to compensate with frantic diligence for all the months of which he had paid little heed to the rising tides of magic. More than two dozen mages had gathered in Winterfell, some of them not even from the North but arriving by ship and by boat, following the promise of not just gold but protection. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the knowledge of Jon's magic and young Arya's blessing by the Old Gods goes farther than words ever could to assure sorcerers of all stripes that they will be treated fairly.
The realization is not entirely a happy one, for you know well the darker sort of mage that could be drawn to those offers. "One more reason to be glad you are keeping an eye on Jon, my lord," you say, confessing your worry to the seer upon his pale throne.
"I am glad to set your mind at ease, Your Grace... and to keep the boy safe," the last is barely more than a sigh even to your ears, but no less sincere for it.
***
Nineteenth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC
The next day dawns through a shroud of morning fog, not unheard of in Sorcerer's Deep but certainly uncommon. You decide to take the morning for audiences, thankfully finding nothing of any great urgency or complexity before your planned excursion to Armun Kelisk and beyond. Letters can only go so far in forging an alliance against the Deep Ones with their erstwhile slaves, the time has come to visit the fortress monasteries. The question now presents itself, how you wish to do so, how to show strength without arrogance?
Although the githzerai have little use for mundane goods, the eddies of Limbo being ever ready to be shaped by a mind strong enough to do so, you know they do trade, for magic and for lore.
How do you travel to Limbo?
[] As a passenger aboard a Djinn skyship
-[] Write in what you want to bring
[] Plane-shift and fly
-[] Write in what you want to bring
[] Write in
OOC: You are about to meet an entirely new faction so I figured a preparation vote would not go amiss. By default you are traveling with Dany since she has nothing else to do this month, but if you ant to add other companions this is the vote for that too.
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