Of Bright Beginnings

Twenty Fourth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

"How long has that been there?" There is not much doubt as to what Tytos Blackwood refers to. The dawn age heart tree looms over not just Sorcerer's Deep but the whole of the island. As you watch, Felzath lands lazily among the crimson crown, displacing a veritable cloud of raucous brightly-hued birds that had come to make the tree their home.

"Depends on how you are minded to count it. The tree itself was there since the Dawn Age, but it was dead for so long the wood had turned to stone. Likely as not it died with the Hammer of the Waters," you reply, careful not to seem too boastful. There is hardly any need when plan truth makes for so grand a tale. "Three moonturns past I bled a great sacrifice upon the roots that the Old Gods give it life again and its power could stretch over the island."

"So the tales of greybeards spry like in their twentieth year are true then?" At your nod the Lord of Raventree laughs, a sound of honest mirth, almost seeming to surprise himself. "Looks like I should have listened to Brynden and let him sail to the tourney instead of letting the damn Freys get ahead of us."

You remain diplomatically silent. It poorly suites a king to take any side in the likes and dislikes his bannermen have towards one another.

"Down there is the legion Headquorters and besides it the planar terminal..." The two of you walk the streets at an amble, pointing out important landmarks and discussing what they represent, not just to the city but the realm you are building. Who your friends are as much as your enemies. "Yes those are some traders from the Endless Sky, Djin-blooded. No, they are not all proper mages, though they do have some power from their heritage..."

"The Shadow Tower where the Scholarum mages study is not visible from there, it's wrapped in its own shadow. Think of it as its own tiny bubble of existence, that makes it far safer from any who would attack or steal from there, and the guardian constructs make it safer still." You motion to the ancient Salloshi guardians with their bows of iron and sorcery standing still as statues yet unwavering in vigilance.

"What ages does it teach?" Lord Tytos asks, the timber of the question subtly different from those he had posed before, sharper and more focused.

"Well the youngest student is seven and the eldest three score and seven," you reply remembering Teana's last report. The latter number was likely to get a lot higher if any of the Singers, who had been asking questions about 'human magic' recently, decided to try their hand at it, but that you do not add. It had been enough of a shock for Lord Blackwood to see one of the Children of the Forest haggling over the price of a spell-sung bow with potential buyers in the bazaar. No need to bring up the possibility that some of them might take up wizardry.

However surprised the Lord of Raventree might be at the sights and sounds of Sorcerer's Deep, his eye is still sharp and his mind sharper. As you pass though the Godswood, where Leshies walk among twined branches and and sun wolves leap among the pools of light, he knows the latter at once as kin to the wolves of the Night's Watch and the former as some of the spirits sighted in the Riverlands aiding the Lads. "Having the eye of the gods themselves on that lot likely helps..." he mutters under his breath. Clear enough that he does not approve of raids and ambushes, but he does not disapprove enough to bring it up to you in so many words.

There is far too much to see to linger overlong upon the thought, and it seems that he finds all of it heartening for the fate of the Seven Kingdoms.

As the visit nears its end in the red light of twilight, for a lord cannot afford to remain missing by sorcery from his keep for long without arousing suspicion, you consider what to fill the night with.

What do you do next?

[] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the flesh forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)

[] Return to the Riverlands to speak to the Ghost of the High Hearth

[] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat

[] Set up a meeting with either a powerful enough servant or manifestation of Weeping Lady of Lys' power to ask for aid against Tiamat

[] Have a personal meeting with the Chosen of Smith

[] Receive reports on the Genie War including the performance of the Wyverns

[] Write in


OOC: Don't worry about missing the mind dragons if you do not pick them this vote. they will be woken with Viserys there. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
 
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Now that we've proved to Tytos our tree is bigger than his, let's get down to important matters; baby Pseudogragons! And Mind Dragons!

[X] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the flesh forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)

/cannot contain his excitement

/spontaneously combusts into Far Realm flavored Gummy Tentacles
 
I prefer to finally speak with his Redness. It will be like speaking with the devil again, so that his memory lives on...

[X] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat
 
[X] Receive reports on the Genie War including the performance of the Wyverns
 
[X] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat
 
[X] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the flesh forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by egoo on Dec 7, 2019 at 6:50 AM, finished with 10 posts and 9 votes.

  • [X] Receive reports on the Genie War including the performance of the Wyverns
    [X] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the flesh forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)
    [X] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat
 
[X] Speak with the Red Priests of Volantis and commune with the Red God himself to ask for aid against Tiamat
 
[X] Witness the First of the Mind Dragons emerge from the flesh forge (will include Varys' hatchlings)
 
*contention intensifies*
Adhoc vote count started by egoo on Dec 7, 2019 at 7:38 AM, finished with 18 posts and 16 votes.
 
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We're going to do all of the options, it just depends on what order they come in, so I don't mind which option wins.
 
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