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

Twenty Fifth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

"I would point out that the lore is already categorized by the level of danger it represents, such that common lore might be readily available at the first layer of the system, while restricted lore within the second layer is already monitored fastidiously, records kept of who accesses it, for what reason, and even what project it will go on to advance. That would go on to list all of the other lore, techniques, and spells developed therein." you point out, calling forth an organizational schema of the Scholarum from your cloak. Mages sometimes say in jest that it is more arcane than any grimoire, but the security aspects are very clear indeed. The last thing you need is an offender claiming ignorance. "Anything remotely dangerous that could be easily abused by anyone unobserved for a short period of time would then be held within the Royal Archive, and accessed only with the Crown's personal oversight," you conclude.

"It is not casual abuse I fear, but thoughtful and systematic," Benerro replies. He hesitates a moment, weighing his words. "I have worked with members of the Mysterium in the past, and while Wisdom Zherys has proven worthy of the title at every turn, I must admit I have less confidence in others of his order. Even Lady Elaena, whom I count among the most adept in the crafting of rituals, required aid in extracting her soul from the grasp of Hell."

"Surely she would be all the more cautious of such dangers now," Lya interjects reasonably. "The beginnings of rediscovering magic involved much stumbling in the dark." She gives a wry smile. "When I think of some of my own methods three or four years ago, I still marvel that I came out of it as well as I did. But now that the Scholarum is established with access not just to the remains of ancient arcane traditions, but the real living arts of the Genie Realms. Now that we know the shape of the Spheres and the natures of the powers that seek our ruin, the danger is far less."

"I am not sure I can entirely share your enthusiasm," the priest sighs, the drive that so animates him fading away for a moment, the lines upon his face seeming deeper. "There will always be fools and madmen." You are reminded rather abruptly that this is a man who had seen even more of the old world than Zherys, the scrambling ambition of the Old Blood, the slow decay of Volantis as it sank ever deeper into dreams of the past, and the lives of slaves grew ever more grim.

"I understand your fears, Holy One. To an extent I even share them..." Albeit you very much doubt that any rogue Scholarum mage would try to test his wits against the Red God, there are other secrets one might use with fewer guardians. "However," you continue, "The Red Faith is already deeply involved in the Scholarum by dint of the fact that many of its priesthood are mages. It has what some factions would call unreasonable sway by the sheer weight of its collective voice in multiple facets of the realm." To make the point, you draw a second parchment from your cloak, this one a list of names, the Red Priests that are formally a part of the Scholarum here in Volantis.


One hundred and twenty five Sorcerer-Priests, no less than one might expect from an order that taught sorcery before the awakening and with access to the deepest pool of talent in Essos, but still it makes your point. "This proposal sets a rather different precedent, one that would have other groups reaching for influence beyond their purview, right, or even reach. The point of unifying the realm as much as possible in its institutions was to grant equal access and equal protection under the law from all who would abuse magic, wealth, or power by any other means, and allow for a degree of transparency rather than furthering the cabalistic practices of the Freehold, something we still have to fight against each day as more mages grasp the higher circles of spells and remain merely restless rather than recalcitrant due to the fact that they have been given the means to advance their research for their own benefit as much as the realm."

"A fair point," the Flame Keeper looks almost startled. "I must confess I have never associated our tradition with the secretive mage circles of the Dragonlords, for we accept all who come to learn with faith in R'hllor and love of their fellow man. Where R'hllor's light shines, darkness and secrets cannot long endure. Perhaps in gathering around said light, however, we have constrained it from shining upon others who may have benefited."

Alhough the answer is one that you had been seeking, you moderate your enthusiasm to merely nodding. You can see Benerro is not entirely at ease with the thought in either how it reflects his relationship to R'hllor or how he might present it to his fellows. "Perhaps a tenure for a sufficiently talented priest for a few years heading the local Scholarum, while Lord Naethyreon focuses on matters of rule, might serve as an alternative?" you offer. It would help maintain something of the equilibrium of power the city had grown used to. You have no doubt you could solve any disturbances as they arose, but better an ounce of prevention than a pound of cure.

"How would you foresee this secondment being enacted, Your Grace?" The Flame Keeper asks, looking out the window for a moment, though his gaze is lost in further places still, likely considering who might best fit the task.

"They would have to set aside their duties to the Faith, but for that time the lore could be housed here in Volantis and he could observe the procedures that we have already established are followed. This is neither unusual or upsetting in precedent. Eventually, the lore would be distributed and secured in the proper manner across the realm, but the merits of the system would have had its time to prove its worth. Should abuses follow, despite the measures taken, we might revisit the subject again, if nothing else then to revise security measures."

"Yes, that would be quite sufficient," Benerro nods firmly, a smile once more upon his features. "Thank you for your understating in this matter, I know it was not an easy path to thread. If there is anything I can do to help..."

"There is one thing I would ask of you, Holy One. If it is possible, the ritual used to bind the Herald of Ymeri. I have need of it, but it would have to cover far more space..."

"That would not be easy, nor swift, unless the Lord of Light should see fit to shine down particular good fortune upon the project," the priest replies plainly.

Speaking of the Lord of Light, you had not come to Volantis to speak only to his priests, but also to the god himself, though there remains the question of how do do so. Should you ask for Benerro's aid or wait for Lady Melisandre? Perhaps you might even try to seek out the god in solitary meditation?

What do you do?

[] Ask for Benerro's aid in contacting the Lord of Light

[] Wait for Melisandre to return from the Shadow Plane to aid you in contacting R'hllor

[] Meditate alone and try to seek the Red God

[] Write in

OOC: Well here we are, unfortunately I could not find a prestige class for divine crafter, so straight cleric it is.