Remove ads

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

Reader mode
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Mar 8, 2020 at 4:31 PM, finished with 37 posts and 16 votes.
Click to expand...
 
DragonParadox said:
Now the storm was laughing at her
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
*Elenei flashbacks intensify*

DragonParadox said:
She didn't scream when he got hit by lightning, though she did taste blood in her mouth for biting her lip.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Well thats one way to prove your favored by a storm god.

DragonParadox said:
Father only let her touch the stone when Ceria assured him that she wouldn't get hit with lightning, which Shireen secretly thought was a little unfair
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Maybe when your older.

DragonParadox said:
That made a lot of sense. Why didn't they tell it that way?

Grownups, Shireen concluded, could be rather silly.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

Wonder if she decided to share that insight with anyone?

Also possibly a magical insight. Maybe.
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Mar 8, 2020 at 4:31 PM, finished with 37 posts and 16 votes.
Click to expand...
 
Remove ads
Part MMMCCCLXXX: Divine Strategies
  • Threadmarks
    • Divine Strategies ​

    Eighteenth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    Keeping your expression carefully neutral lest you prompt another pout from Shireen you say your farewells to Lord Baratheon and, surprisingly, Ceria Storm who had chosen to stay in Storm's End for at least a few more days. Given her last meeting with the elder sky god you would have thought her more wary, but you can see the gleam of wary interest in her eyes and understand. This is her magic in the end, born of blood and bone. One would have to be lacking in curiosity or ambition not to seek out what the revival of the god from whence the bloodline sprang might mean for her. For his part Stannis Baratheon takes one last look over Shipbreaker Bay, breathes a sigh of regret or relief, you cannot say for certain, and takes his daughter's hand, turning back towards the keep.

    ***​

    Nineteenth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    As the sun dawns over Volantis the next morning you, Dany and Ser Richard find yourselves contemplating another fallen power, far younger than Father Sky and far richer in servants who would elevate her onto the throne of power lost, Watcher in the Night and Soldier's Friend. The temple is just as you remember it, at the end of its sword guarded avenue, but perhaps more busy with the comings and goings of the faithful. You are unsurprised to see the cloaks of freedmen turned legionaries among them alongside lawmen and even a few with the look of clerks. A pity Meraxes' flame risks conjuring a shadow just as old as she.

    Zherys of course had guessed what you wish to discuss when you asked him to meet you before the gates of the temple. He arrives without fanfare just as the three of you had done stepping from thin air. Thankfully he seems to be in the mood for wry humor, not melancholy at the failings of the Freehold today. "One might almost think you are working from a list, Your Grace."

    "How did you know?" Dany asks frowning. "We were warded against divination."

    "You, yes, but the pact enacted across the Narrow Sea had little to do with your fates, Highness," the Archon of Volantis says. "I have learned it pays to keep a closer eye on the Sunset Lands than is usual for those of the City, and those eyes and ears have served me well last night. All manner of omens were wrought, lightning from clear skies, old amulets of bronze washed into desperate hands by raging torrents. Him whom you called forth is not a subtle power."

    "A fair point," you allow ruefully. Motioning to the temple you ask "How subtle is She, enough to willfully limit herself from awakening to prevent her old foe from rising in her wake?"

    "Subtlety is not foremost among her strengths, but feints and trickery have their place in war and intrigues are not unheard of among those who practice a soldier's craft," Zherys recounts thoughtfully.

    Instead of scoffing at the words as he might have done Ser Richard nods. "Hopefully the Legion makes use of those impulses better than the armies that have come before it."

    As the four of you enter the temple proper, beneath the dome painted with scenes of battles afoot, ahorse and on dragonback, you reply without a moment of hesitation: "It has shown itself so in battle after battle, and perhaps just as importantly between the battles when it is peace that must be won. The question we should be asking ourselves perhaps is how much that has influenced the goddess?"

    "Perhaps, certainly it is to Her that we must speak if we are to slow her return without bringing harm to the City and the realm," Zherys replies. "While the priests may be a significant factor for Her awakening they do not act willfully to do so and could not truly stop even if they wished to." You half-expect to hear some edge of mockery in the words for those who must be given their magic, but there is none, a fact for which the priests of Meraxes might have Benerro to thank.

    "I think we should probably tell the high priest, assuming he is trustworthy..." Dany begins.

    "If he were not trustworthy he would be dead," the Lord of the Mysterium interjects, though without speaking aloud. Implicitly admitting that one would assassinate a priest if they did not meet expectations is a trifle much even for Volantis.

    Dany merely nods in acknowledgement of the point. "I think we should tell him then, temples like this are a likely place for the the Lost God's corruption to take root. They should have the knwolege to counter it as best we are able to provide."

    What do you do next?

    [] Attempt to contact Meraxes in a dream
    -[] Write in

    [] Speak to the High Priest
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: I hope the transition isn't too jarring between the two scenes.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Divine Strategies ​

    Eighteenth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    Keeping your expression carefully neutral lest you prompt another pout from Shireen, you say your farewells to Lord Baratheon and, surprisingly, Ceria Storm who had chosen to stay in Storm's End for at least a few more days. Given her last meeting with the elder sky god, you would have thought her more wary, but you can see the gleam of wary interest in her eyes and understand. This is her magic in the end, born of blood and bone. One would have to be lacking in curiosity or ambition not to seek out what the revival of the god from whence the bloodline sprang might mean for her. For his part, Stannis Baratheon takes one last look over Shipbreaker bay, breathes a sigh of regret or relief you cannot say for certain, and takes his daughter's hand before turning back towards the keep.

    ***​

    Nineteenth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    As the sun dawns over Volantis the next morning, you, Dany, and Ser Richard find yourselves contemplating another fallen power, one far younger than Father Sky and far richer in servants who would elevate her onto the throne of power lost, Watcher in the Night and Soldier's Friend. The temple is just as you remember it, at the end of its sword guarded avenue, though perhaps more busy with the comings and goings of the faithful. You are unsurprised to see the cloaks of freedmen turned legionaries among them, alongside lawmen and even a few with the look of clerks. A pity Meraxes' flame risks conjuring a shadow just as old as she.

    Zherys had of course guessed what you wish to discuss when you asked him to meet you before the gates of the temple. He arrives without fanfare just as the three of you had stepped from thin air. Thankfully, he seems to be in the mood for wry humor not melancholy at the failings of the Freehold today. "One might almost think you are working from a list, Your Grace."

    "How did you know?" Dany asks, frowning. "We were warded against divination."

    "You jest, but the pact enacted across the Narrow Sea had little to do with your fates, Highness," the Archon of Volantis says. "I have learned it pays to keep a closer eye on the Sunset Lands than is usual for those of the City, and those eyes and ears served me well last night. All manner of omens were wrought, lightning from clear skies, old amulets of bronze washed into desperate hands by raging torrents. Him whom you called forth is not a subtle power."

    "A fair point," you allow ruefully. Motioning to the temple you ask "How subtle is She, enough to willfully limit herself from awakening to prevent her old foe from rising in her wake?"

    "Subtlety is not foremost among her strengths, but feints and trickery have their place in war, and intrigue is not unheard of among those who practice a soldier's craft," Zherys recounts thoughtfully.

    Instead of scoffing at the words as he might have once done, Ser Richard nods. "Hopefully the Legion makes use of those impulses better than the armies that have come before it."

    As the four of you enter the temple proper, beneath the dome painted with scenes of battles afoot, ahorse, and on dragonback, you reply without a moment of hesitation, "It has shown itself so in battle after battle, and perhaps just as importantly, between the battles, when it is peace that must be won. The question we should be asking ourselves perhaps is how much that has influenced the goddess?"

    "Perhaps, certainly it is to her that we must speak if we are to slow her return without bringing harm to the City and the realm," Zherys replies. "While the priests may be a significant factor for Her awakening, they do not act willfully to do so, and could not truly stop even if they wished to." You half-expect to hear some edge of mockery in the words for those who must be given their magic, but there is none, a fact for which the priests of Meraxes might have Benerro to thank.

    "I think we should probably tell the high priest, assuming he is trustworthy..." Dany begins.

    "If he were not trustworthy, he would be dead," the Lord of the Mysterium interjects, though without speaking aloud. Implicitly admitting that one would assassinate a priest if they did not meet expectations is a trifle much, even for Volantis.

    Dany merely nods in acknowledgement of the point. "I think we should tell him then. Temples like this are a likely place for the the Lost God's corruption to take root. They should have the knowledge to counter it as best we are able to provide."

    What do you do next?

    [] Attempt to contact Meraxes in a dream
    -[] Write in

    [] Speak to the High Priest
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: I hope the transition isn't too jarring between the two scenes. Not yet edited.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    [X] Attempt to contact Meraxes in a dream
    -[X] We were heavy handed with Syrax because we had good reason to be wary. On the other hand, a core part of Meraxes' nature is an aversion to kinstrife, which gives us cause to believe she would never willfully ignore a warning if it could lead to war among Essos along the narrow avenue of corruption that the Fallen God is likely to initiate, turning brother against brother and poisoning sister against sister. You would make similar dealings with the others among their dead cabal, provided they're willing to acknowledge the world is not what they have known nor will it ever be again. Those who refuse to stare this reality in the face can stay dead for all you care and you won't lose any sleep over it. Valyria is dead, you refuse to let anyone exhume its remains in some mad parody, be they Fourteen together or Fifteen standing alone.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    "If he were not trustworthy he would be dead,"
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    When I first read this line, for a split second I thought it was Meraxes herself communicating with them. That would have been pretty cool, but I like that it was Zherys' response, too.

    No hesitation, no doubt, if the High Priest of Meraxes' faith isn't trustworthy, they wouldn't be an issue any longer. Great minion! :cool:
     
    @DragonParadox, assuming we send someone to pick up our commissioned order in the Opaline Vault which should be ready today, would there be any Metamagic rods available for purchase there? And if not, can we commission some?

    EDIT: As an addendum to this, if we can commission them, limits on availability would be helpful. Like types, levels, etc.
     
    Last edited:
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top