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

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DragonParadox said:
Beneath Scented Boughs ​

Twenty Fourth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

Beginning a correspondence with the lady would not be overly difficult given her current view of Buttercup. Doing so in a way that would not burn your bridges with Lord Ashford proves more complicated. After subtly questioning Lady Adara to discover which of the powers and principalities of Westeros and beyond she is most sympathetic to, you settle upon explaining that you 'do certain favors' for the conclave of Maesters and that they are concerned about growing fey influence. Would it be too much trouble for the lady to keep an eye and an ear out for such matters and deliver letters of that nature to certain hiding places in town?

The answer is thankfully no, though paired with a curiosity about who would be collecting said messages and if you would be reading them personally. You try not to think too much about her obvious disappointment when you answer no. Lya will doubtless find this as entertaining as Dany does, and the less said about what would happen when Glyra learns of how you had recruited your newest agent the better.

Still, with the matter settled and the feast soon concluded, you head out into the keep's walled gardens. A rarity among Westerosi keeps outside Highgarden, Ashford's garden had been a goodswood once, you suspect, from the layout of the weather-worn stones. Weirwoods and their pine sentinels had long since given way to peach, apple and fireplum all in flower, reaching their fragrant boughs over rose bushes, mock orange, and night blooming lily. Here fey spirits and mortal lords and ladies drift among the hedges speaking softly, faint laughter echoing around the corner.

This is an echo of the world the Court of Stars wishes to build, you realize, though only one side. Not the smallfolk bound to the land to the ends of their days, to be freed only at the whim of some lord or lady rather than their own efforts, not the merchants looked at with suspicion as agents of change and foreign powers.

With Ser Richard at your side, you suspect as much to avoid the curious attentions of gossamer-garbed fey as to protect you, you set off in search of Ser Dregaire.

Although the knight did not seek you out, it is clear from the way his deep brown eyes light up at the sight of Ser Richard that he too is curious about the knight who had won the melee and the joust one after another, overcoming even some of his own kin with sword and lance in hand.

"Fair evening to you, bold Ser Geralt, most puissant Buttercup," he greets you with a nod of his antlered head. "What brings you into my company when so many others seek you out?"

"I have always found it wiser, Ser, to seek out my own company rather than having it chosen for me," you answer smoothly.

"A strange habit for a bard whose craft is best fulfilled by drawing many to heed word and song," the fey knight replies, though he motions to the bench opposite to him freely.

"There is difference, I have found, between one's audience and those one counts near enough to call 'company'." You pause, lowering your tone just enough to mark a significant conversation without making an attempt at true secrecy. Too many eyes and ears about, and no small number skilled in sorcery, to do that here and to be seen casting those veils would raise more questions than what you wish to say in any case. "I have found myself well pleased with my audience here at Ashford, but now I would seek out intriguing company..."

It is only after the words had passed your lips that you realize they might be seen as flirtatious in a certain light. Hopefully they would not be... once was enough tonight.

"Oh, pray tell, fair bard, what do you know of the company of fey?" the knight prompts intrigued.

"More than most. I have in my employ several fey, though they would for one reason or another make poor envoys with the spirits of Ashford forest and the Reach. Some are too secretive, others less, and few are respectable my most standards..."

"Gremlins?"Ser Dregaire interrupts and gives a knowing laugh when you nod, surprised. "You had the look about you, skilled though you are in showing the face you prefer to the world. I've lived beside gremlins long enough to recognize those blessed and cursed with their company."

Well isn't that an odd tangle. Most gremlins are darkfey, of the shadow courts, or the wyldfae who answer to no court or lord. Who does the fey knight pledge to that he would know them that well. "I could use more local contacts such as you, Ser."

"'Contacts'...the word is a slippery as a fresh-caught trout," the knight replies carefully. "Just what are you asking and what are you offering good... singer?"

What do you reply?

[] Try to hire him outright, you have the full resources of a realm as your disposal, and a treasure trove of magic bound among the folds of your cloak
-[] Write in offer

[] Try to question him about the shape of fey politics locally particularly with regard to the ritual land bindings
-[] Write in offer

[] Write in

OOC: Some more context of what this place actually looks like, with all the action and revelations recently I feel like we've had very little description going on. Not yet edited.
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Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
 
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Mimas said:
For some reason I get the feeling that Dregaire doesn't really buy that Buttercup is just a humble bard. Wonder how that could be?
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Because we're so ridiculously charismatic that even he is charmed by us.

Put one way, Tom of Sevenstreams is considered charming by Westerosi standards--and he is, but he's not Viserys "charm your pants off unintentionally" charming.
 
[X] Plan Offering Stories
-[X] "Oh, I know better then to ask a Fey for things good Ser and I'd wager there is little a wandering minstrel such as I could offer you."
-[X] "However, there are certain parties who would be most interested in acquiring the services of one of your stature, who could offer quite a lot more then I. Arms and armor, a steed, a place in the sun as an esteemed knight in his service... His pockets are deep and he is generous to those who are loyal."
-[X] "There is little love lost between my employer and the Court of Stars though. Weaving people into tapestries not of their own choosing... *gesture around you to indicate the "warding"* What point is there in living, fighting and loving when all is pre-ordained by something? Might as well kneel before a god who wields fate as a tyrants fist."
 
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[X] Azel

i like this fey and getting more of them is something i like. How are our courts and troupes doing btw, i'm interested how the balubar/pech court is going
 
DragonParadox said:
It is only after the words had passed your lips that you realize they might be seen as flirtatious in a certain light. Hopefully they would not be... once was enough tonight.
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Viserys: "I forgot to turn my swagger off before starting this mission."

DragonParadox said:
Gremlins?
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We must have that distant haunted look in our eyes of someone who has been on the recieving end of too many pies.

That or its just a reasonable conclusion.
 
[X] Plan Offering Stories

Methinks this will result in him expounding upon his personal views about what the court of stars is doing.

Which seems to be the point?
 
Azel said:
One of the many possible productive outcomes of this.

@DragonParadox, he is Large, right?

@Goldfish, do we have a good Huge mount among our default plants?
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Yep. We sold 100 of my Hedgethorn Hippogriffs to the Shaitan.
Hedgethorn Hippogriff
Dire Greenbound Hippogriff [advanced to 6 Racial HD] - CR 8
N Huge Plant
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft., scent; Listen +4, Spot +9
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 14, flat-footed 24 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +16 natural, -2 size)
HP 198 (12d8+144)
Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +7
Immune: Plant Traits, Resist Cold & Electricity 10, DR 10/Magic & Slashing, Fast Healing 3
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., fly 110 ft. (average)
Melee bite +19 (2d6+9), 2 claws +19 (1d8+9)
Space 10 ft. Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 29, Dex 19, Con 26, Int 2, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+24
Feats Ability Focus (Entangle), Dodge, Hover, Wingover
Skills Listen +7, Spot +19; Racial Modifiers +4 Listen & Spot

Plant Immunities (Ex): Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms). Immunity to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): 12th Caster Level: At will - Entangle (DC 16), Pass Without Trace, Speak with Plants, 1/Day: Wall of Thorns
This would actually be a pretty great mount for a Large-sized Fey knight.
 
Goldfish said:
Yep. We sold 100 of my Hedgethorn Hippogriffs to the Shaitan.
Hedgethorn Hippogriff
Dire Greenbound Hippogriff [advanced to 6 Racial HD] - CR 8
N Huge Plant
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, tremorsense 60 ft., scent; Listen +4, Spot +9
DEFENSE
AC 29, touch 14, flat-footed 24 (+4 Dex, +1 dodge, +16 natural, -2 size)
HP 198 (12d8+144)
Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +7
Immune: Plant Traits, Resist Cold & Electricity 10, DR 10/Magic & Slashing, Fast Healing 3
OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., fly 110 ft. (average)
Melee bite +19 (2d6+9), 2 claws +19 (1d8+9)
Space 10 ft. Reach 10 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 29, Dex 19, Con 26, Int 2, Wis 16, Cha 17
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+24
Feats Ability Focus (Entangle), Dodge, Hover, Wingover
Skills Listen +7, Spot +19; Racial Modifiers +4 Listen & Spot

Plant Immunities (Ex): Immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms). Immunity to paralysis, poison, polymorph, sleep effects, and stunning.

Spell-Like Abilities (Sp): 12th Caster Level: At will - Entangle (DC 16), Pass Without Trace, Speak with Plants, 1/Day: Wall of Thorns
This would actually be a pretty great mount for a Large-sized Fey knight.
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Looks pretty great for his purposes.
 
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