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

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Interlude DCLV: Subtle Doom
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    • Subtle Doom​

    Thirteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    House of Master Coryn, Yin, Yi Ti

    "That is what you call temptation?" the words were filled with mockery worthy of a master thespian, with confidence perfectly feigned. Even as the rage and passion bore her up in crimson song Azema knew with the cold certainty of all her four thousand years that if the shadow-bound recovered enough to work his magic even for a moment she was dead.

    Her claws cut silk but they barely pierced the thick hide beneath, even taking advantage of the surprise to lash out a her foe's eyes only a thin trickle of bitter blood slipped along her finger, but her caress was more than merely a physical touch, it sapped the life of her foe as readily as that of any mortal unfortunate enough to find himself in her embrace in times of old.

    "Ohh... feisty," the rakshasa purred in Abyssal, so fitting upon its lips. "Maybe I will take you to bed along with the Hua bitch to be my concubine. I'd have to kill you first though."

    Distantly Azema wondered if the fiend mistook her nature for one of lesser Abyssal heritage or if it actually thought the threat would unnerve one born to the Pit itself. Daggers flashed through the air first deflected by a buffering wing, the second time turned aside by the skin that had withstood the lashing wings of Shendilavri. Fangs sunk into her throat and found no purchase, wild laughter resounded within.

    "Shall we fight forevermore then, Lady of the Poisoned Chalice?" came the mocking question in the tongue of Yi Ti this time. "Are you so desperate to keep this morsel for yourself?"

    "Fen, stay in the room, there might be more of them outside," Azema sent, guessing the ruse instantly and hoping the girl would have the good sense to judge the fight before her with her head and not just with her eyes to see two monsters fighting. Then again, her foe could simply have said that for her sake so she would not just grab the girl and translocale. One passage and one alone, a road without return.

    Fortunately the girl did not look like she was going anywhere, instead slamming the heavy book into the back of the misshapen tiger head with commendable initiative, unfortunately the moment of distraction cost Azema. The fiend found enough space to gesture and chant as from its claws spun trailed caustic mist to devour and destroy. Wood and silk were both eaten away. Somewhere behind her porcelain shattered as Azema's eyes watered from the spell eating into her flesh. One spell went wild, the other hooked under the jaw to spin it around cracking bone, but it was not enough. As the fiend tried the same spell again she was still out of position... too slow, too slow...

    Light and fire bloomed within bound spells, uncoiling new life, though as fragile as that which she stole from her victims in battle it might as well last an age. It would be enough, it would have to be.

    It seemd as though her foe had not expected such a working and it took a rather different lesson. "Which god did you sell your soul to, slave?" Snarling in frustration it sheathed its dagger and drew a scroll not to strike her down directly, but to unbind her protections against enchantment. Likely what it had used to pass the wards on the house also. Azema took the chance for another deadly caress, but it was not enough to stay its wrathful will and the spell flowed into the air, coiling like a serpent. The blessing held, for she whom had cast it was more skillful by far in her arts than the shadow-bound before her

    Again they traded blows, but still the dagger could find no true purchase and even when it did the blessing cast it aside.

    Better to cast, he'll open himself to attack, the Alu demon thought and for the first time since the fight had begun she addressed her foe. "Where is the strength you so boasted of, the potency of thy will and form? Naught but the bluster of an empty drum there is where thunder you have promised."

    The gambit worked and it did not all at once, for the rakshasa drew a second scroll and thought to put it to better use. The black amulet felt cold and dead around her neck. It would only last for moments, but moments were enough to bind another to one's will the alu demon knew too well even as she stuck with renewed fury... once, twice.

    "Leave the girl, she is nothing to you, not worth your pain nor the risk of your days upon this world of form, sister-in-darkness," the shadow-bound spirit whispered sweetly like poisoned honey dripping in the ear.

    Azema was tempted of course, it was the nature of the spell to tempt and only a fool would use it for something one's victim would never do, and this was no fool, but even as she tasted temptation she pushed it aside. True the girl meant little to her, but her task meant much for it was given in service of a realm where perhaps alone of all the kingdoms of men she could walk in her own form under the light of day... home. Her only answer was the flash of crimson claws.

    Breathe out, breathe in. She was bleeding from a score of cuts, having healed herself thrice over with careful measure to draw each drip of life from the belt and always did she play upon her foe's sorcerous pride. The dagger would wear her down eventually, but every spell cast was another moment for her to sink her own claws into his flesh. With darts of flame he sought to bring her low and by illusions her senses to beguile, but she was not deceived. Finally he fell to his knees, most of his blood dripping on the floor from a thousand gashes, not that Azema fared much better. A look of shock even deeper than the loathing it had shown before was the last thing upon his features as he toppled to the floor.

    The girl, Fen, continued hitting the corpse with her book. Perhaps she was worth keeping alive for her own sake, to some measure at least.

    OOC: Edited to be in accordance to rules as intended.
     
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    • Holy hell Azema rocked this fight. @DragonParadox, has she earned a new level?

    Also Fen is shaping up to be great. I'm guessing she's going to want to learn how to fight after nearly being eaten alive.
     
    AC 25, touch 16, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural)
    hp 115 (10d10+60)
    DR 15/good and piercing

    She was lucky with every hit that hurt him at all.
    @DragonParadox
    That victory was incredibly unlikely.
    As far as I can see she needs Divine Might and Power Attack both active to do any damage at all on a non-crit.
    And with PA her AB goes so low that she has less than 1/4 chance to hit at all.

    Add to that that the spells seem to have hit and pierced her SR and Resistance easily enough I'm just not seeing it.
    Even 23 hits seem very little to bring down this foe.

    Unless she critted on the roll for Knowledge Devotion or some other factor I'm missing?

    Edit: Her Rage from the Passion Domain only lasts a single round, so that's no use here.
     
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    DragonParadox said:
    A Subtle Doom​

    Thirteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    House of Master Coryn, Yin, Yi Ti

    "That is what you call temptation?" the words were filled with mockery worthy of a master thespian, with confidence perfectly feigned. Even as the rage and passion bore her up in crimson song, Azema knew with the cold certainty of all her four thousand years that if the shadow-bound recovered enough to work his magic even for a moment she was dead.

    Her claws cut silk but they barely pierced the thick hide beneath. Even taking advantage of the surprise to lash out at her foe's eyes drew only a drop of bitter blood to slip along her finger, but her caress was more than merely a physical touch, it sapped the life of her foe as readily as that of any mortal unfortunate enough to find himself in her embrace in times of old.

    "Ohh... feisty," the rakshasa purred in the Abyssal tongue so fitting upon its lips. "Maybe I will take you to bed along with the Hua bitch to be my concubine. I'd have to kill you first though."

    Distantly, Azema wondered if the fiend mistook her nature for one of lesser Abyssal heritage or if it actually thought the threat would unnerve one born to the Pit itself. Daggers flashed though the air, once deflected by buffering wing, the second time turned aside by the skin that had withstood the lashing winds of Shendilavri. Fangs sunk into her throat and found no purchase, wild laughter resounded within.

    "Shall we fight forevermore then, Lady of the Poisoned Chalice?" came the mocking question in the tongue of Yi Ti this time. "Are you so desperate to keep this morsel for yourself."

    "Fen, stay in the room. There might be more of them outside," Azema sent, guessing the ruse instantly and hoping the girl would have the good sense to judge the fight before her with her head and not just with her eyes to see two monsters fighting.

    Fortunately, the girl did not look like she was going anywhere, instead slamming the spine of the heavy book into the back of the misshapen tiger head with commendable initiative, though unfortunately the moment of distraction cost Azema. The fiend found enough space to gesture and chant, as from its claws spun trailed caustic mist to devour and destroy. Wood and silk were both eaten away. Somewhere behind her porcelain shattered as Azema's eyes watered from the spell eating into her flesh. Her next two blows went wild, but as the fiend tried the same spell again, she dodged the worst of the acid and shrugged off the rest before launching herself into a fresh attack. Again she could not pierce its hide, not even enough for the slow life-sapping upon which her hopes hung.

    Snarling in frustration the rakshasa sheathed its dagger and drew a scroll, not to strike her down directly but to unbind her protections against enchantment. Likely what it had used to pass the wards on the house also. Azema took the chance for another deadly caress, but since she did not cut deep enough to draw forth pain, the spell flowed unabated and the black amulet felt cold and dead around her neck. It would only last for moments, but moments were enough to bind another to one's will, the alu demon knew all too well, even as she stuck with renewed fury.

    "Leave the girl, she is nothing to you. Not worth your pain, nor the risk of your days upon this world of form, sister-in-darkness," the shadow-bound spirit whispered sweetly, like poisoned honey dripping in the ear.

    Azema was tempted, of course. It was the nature of the spell to tempt, and only a fool would use it for something one's victim would never do. This foe was no fool, but even as she tasted temptation she pushed it aside. True, the girl meant little to her, but her task meant much for it was given in service of a realm where, perhaps alone of all the kingdoms of men, she could walk in her own form under the light of day...home. Her only answer was the flash of crimson claws.

    Breathe out, breathe in. Slowly, painfully, she felt the vortex of stolen life grow around her unseen and unfelt to her foe. With darts of flame he sought to bring her low, and by illusions her senses to beguile, but she was not deceived. With her twenty-third blow, she struck again to seemingly little effect. Her foe fell backwards, now stone dead, a look of vast surprise upon his bestial features.

    The girl, Fen, continued hitting the corpse with her book. Perhaps she was worth keeping alive for her own sake, to some measure at least.

    OOC: Two outsiders with DR and SR fighting makes for some long fights. This one took 12 rounds, which I guess is not that much in absolute terms, only a little over a minute, but it takes quite a long time to roll for. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    Woohoo, Azema. We're upgrading your gear so hard, girl, you won't know what hit you.

    How close is she to leveling, DP?
     
    Artemis1992 said:
    AC 25, touch 16, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural)
    hp 115 (10d10+60)
    DR 15/good and piercing

    She was lucky with every hit that hurt him at all.
    @DragonParadox
    That victory was incredibly unlikely.
    As far as I can see she needs Divine Might and Power Attack both active to do any damage at all on a non-crit.
    And with PA her AB goes so low that she has less than 1/4 chance to hit at all.

    Add to that that the spells seem to have hit and pierced her SR and Resistance easily enough I'm just not seeing it.
    Even 23 hits seem very little to bring down this foe.

    Unless she critted on the roll for Knowledge Devotion or some other factor I'm missing?

    Edit: Her Rage from the Passion Domain only lasts a single round, so that's no use here.
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    Her Vampiric Touch power only needs to beat the Rakshasa's Touch AC. She also had both of these (Renewal Pact; Stalwart Pact) as Contingency spells to fall back on. I fully expect both of them to have been discharged and in need of being reapplied.
     
    GODDAMN, AZEMA.

    *smack lip*

    DP, the fight was superb. It soothes my bloodthirsty heart.

    The braying for blood, mmmm. So delectable.

    MORE! KHORNE DEMANDS MORE!!!
     
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    Goldfish said:
    Her Vampiric Touch power only needs to beat the Rakshasa's Touch AC.
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    Sorry but no.

    Vampiric Touch (Su)

    An alu-demon gains temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt each time she successfully hits with a claw attack. She cannot gain more than her target's current hit points + the target's Con score (which is enough to kill the target). The temporary hit points disappear in one hour.

    It only converts damage she actually causes.

    Edit: The Stalwart Pact helps though.
     
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    Artemis1992 said:
    AC 25, touch 16, flat-footed 19 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +9 natural)
    hp 115 (10d10+60)
    DR 15/good and piercing

    She was lucky with every hit that hurt him at all.
    @DragonParadox
    That victory was incredibly unlikely.
    As far as I can see she needs Divine Might and Power Attack both active to do any damage at all on a non-crit.
    And with PA her AB goes so low that she has less than 1/4 chance to hit at all.

    Add to that that the spells seem to have hit and pierced her SR and Resistance easily enough I'm just not seeing it.
    Even 23 hits seem very little to bring down this foe.

    Unless she critted on the roll for Knowledge Devotion or some other factor I'm missing?

    Edit: Her Rage from the Passion Domain only lasts a single round, so that's no use here.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    The key is vampiric touch:

    Vampiric Touch (Su): An Alu-Demon gains temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt each time she successfully hits with a claw attack. She cannot gain more than her target's current hit points + the target's Con score (which is enough to kill the target). The temporary hit points disappear in one hour.

    It is entirely posibile to interpret this as 'she has to get though DR to get the temp HP' in fact that is how I think it was intended, but in that case this would be an unwinnable fight, which is about as interesting and engaging as a dead fish, so i went with a different interpretation. Every time an Alu demon hits (gets though AC) they get temp HP equal to the damage they roll if it does not get though DR the target is not hurt, but they continue to accumulate temp HP and if their total accumulation hits HP+CON Score the target falls over dead, not a mark on them. That seemed thematic for a demon of seduction and deceptive attacks.

    Edit: Partly Faceless'd
     
    Artemis1992 said:
    Sorry but no.

    Vampiric Touch (Su)

    An alu-demon gains temporary hit points equal to the damage dealt each time she successfully hits with a claw attack. She cannot gain more than her target's current hit points + the target's Con score (which is enough to kill the target). The temporary hit points disappear in one hour.

    It only converts damage she actually causes.

    Edit: The Stalwart Pact helps though.
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    I stand corrected. That said, the Contingency spells probably made a lot of difference. Azema is also operating in conjunction with others in Yi-Ti. She could have easily had a small number of buff effects active on her before the fight started.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    It is entirely posibile to interpret this as 'she has to get though DR to get the temp HP' in fact that is how I think it was intended, but in that case this would be an unwinnable fight, which is about as interesting and engaging as a dead fish, so i went with a different interpretation. Every time an Alu demon hits (gets though AC) they get temp HP equal to the damage they roll if it does not get though DR the target is not hurt, but they continue to accumulate temp HP and if their total accumulation hits HP+CON Score the target falls over dead, not a mark on them. That seemed thematic for a demon of seduction and deceptive attacks.
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    That is much more powerful than the original.

    She could have saved herself and the girl with a Dimension Door to the nearest ally (or to flee entirely), she could have gotten lucky on a Suggestion of her own, but I don't see it as reasonable to change her natural abilities in such a way that a CR 6 creature can win a straight slugging match with a CR 10 creature that is much tougher than she is for a reason.

    Edit: Or as Goldfish said, with buffs and equipment giving her the edge needed. Anything but fundamentally changing her abilities to become several orders of magnitude better.
     
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    An addition to the above, Azema did have to hit the actual AC not the touch AC for her vampiric touch to work so it wa by no means guaranteed she would manage to steal enough life before the rakshasa killed her though her lower DR, SR and AC. She was on 13 actual HP when the fight ended
     
    On a more serious note, I apologize if people are annoyed with me commenting on older stuff as I work my way through the story. If it's disrupting important conversation about what's happening presently in the quest, let me know, I don't mind stopping.
     
    Tman2033 said:
    On a more serious note, I apologize if people are annoyed with me commenting on older stuff as I work my way through the story. If it's disrupting important conversation about what's happening presently in the quest, let me know, I don't mind stopping.
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    No, it's actually a treat to get a blast from the past every so often.
     
    Artemis1992 said:
    That is much more powerful than the original.

    She could have saved herself and the girl with a Dimension Door to the nearest ally (or to flee entirely), she could have gotten lucky on a Suggestion of her own, but I don't see it as reasonable to change her natural abilities in such a way that a CR 6 creature can win a straight slugging match with a CR 10 creature that is much tougher than she is for a reason.

    Edit: Or as Goldfish said, with buffs and equipment giving her the edge needed. Anything but fundamentally changing her abilities to become several orders of magnitude better.
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    Fair. I really liked the fluff but the last thing I want to do is damage anyone's suspension of disbelief with house-rules. I'll re-roll this with a template to lower the rakshasa's CR somewhat and RAI for the Vampiric touch.
     
    Tman2033 said:
    On a more serious note, I apologize if people are annoyed with me commenting on older stuff as I work my way through the story. If it's disrupting important conversation about what's happening presently in the quest, let me know, I don't mind stopping.
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    Nah, dude, you're fine. Sometimes it's even a neat reminder of the past.

    The only thing we would ask you to watch out for is not to bring up topics that might have been something we were arguing over, since some things are better left dead and buried.
     
    Crake said:
    No, it's actually a treat to get a blast from the past every so often.
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    And it's a nice segue into teaching the newbies the tale of how one of the many foes we had on offer had the ability to not only kill you but erase the very concept of your existence away with a goddamn breath weapon.

    It's been literal years and that thing still scares me.
     
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