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

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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 5, 2020 at 4:06 PM, finished with 30 posts and 10 votes.
  • [X] Cutting to the Heart
    -[X] "My Lord, consider this... you aren't alone in this. Every single Lord and Lady in the Seven Kingdoms, and beyond it everyone I have worked to prepare for the tumult that magic's awakening would follow, has to contend with such threats, yet the message I have repeated to them is one by which we could all stand firm under. 'You are not alone'. That might seem trite and simple, but it isn't, it's the lever by which the world turns, that we are surrounded by things which wish us harm but we are also made strong by the collective work we have all put into safeguarding the world, from the very smallest acts of the loyal armsmen pursuing strangers in the dark with nothing but hearsay and tall tales to be their watchword, to the miller delivering the fruits of his craft in tax revenues unto his lord's keeping."
    --[X] "There is a darkness in this land, not of the heart or mind but a real darkness. You know it as well as I do. And the world is not as it once was, nor will it ever be again. These are things that keep to that darkness, knowledge, secret and figment that can turn real in an instant and damn or slay a man, or worse. And for all of that, it isn't enough. We are winning in the East, slowly, steadily, with sure tread, and we are winning here. But it takes more than open scorn for stranger things for it to work. If we ignore the threats we face, mock them and disparage them, the people that trust us, the commons and the knights, the highborn and their vassals, they will do the same."
    ---[X] "Such... simple comforts are nothing more than a temporary balm on deeper, hidden ills. They will tear and bleed away at us like a canker. I cannot deal with all of these threats on my own, though I have been making good progress, and I don't expect anyone else to either. That would be ridiculous, it is why I have been making resources and counsel available to all who seek it, as a King should, but it is also why I have been standing at the forefront of such exchanges."
    ----[X] "More than a simple pledge, I have asked for trust. I hope to gain some measure of trust from you, my Lord, by the time this day is over. Let me seek out the source of what stymied you before. I will show you how I did it, and the reasonings for my actions. Nothing more I ask." And if he learns more of how to do it himself, all the better.
    [X] Retreat with a few friendly platitudes
    -[X] Keep up divinations to know when he has a breakdown, dies or gets controlled/replaced by hostile forces, until then leave him alone.
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Part MMMCDXXX: A Knowing Pledge
  • Threadmarks
    • A Knowing Pledge ​

    Twenty-Sixth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    For a long moment there is silence as you consider the depth of the challenge before you... and before the man in front of you. This is not the world Lord Tybalt had been groomed and trained to face. You have no doubt that he is bold upon the dueling field or in battle against foes of flesh and blood he can face sword in hand, but the unknown is more fearsome by far. "My Lord, consider this... you aren't alone in this. Every single Lord and Lady in the Seven Kingdoms and beyond it, everyone I have worked with to prepare for the tumult that magic's awakening would follow, has to contend with such threats, yet the message I have repeated to them is one by which we could all stand firm under. 'You are not alone'."

    As you pause for breath you are glad to see the Lord of Bandallon seems to be listening, even if he does not believe every word you say. "That might seem trite and simple," you continue "but it isn't, it's the lever by which the world turns, that we are surrounded by things which wish us harm but we are also made strong by the collective work we have all put into safeguarding the world, from the very smallest acts of the loyal armsmen pursuing strangers in the dark with nothing but hearsay and tall tales to be their watchword, to the miller delivering the fruits of his craft in tax revenues unto his lord's keeping."

    "You are allying with them just as the Tyrells do, if not one bunch then the others," he accuses. "Easy to say that you're not alone when..."

    "It's like inviting weary travelers to rest around your campfire and bide a while," Lya interrupts him. "Oh there are oaths and pledges, even banners fluttering in the breze, but in the end it is neither more nor less than seeing who would join and who would not, who would join us in guarding the realm and who would rather linger in the dark."

    "There is a darkness in this land, not of the heart or mind but a real darkness." you assure him, then looking right into his eyes you add: "You know it as well as I do. The world is not as it once was, nor will it ever be again. These are things that keep to that darkness beyond the fore's light, knowledge, secret and figment that can turn real in an instant and damn or slay a man, or worse."

    "Then bring a torch," he scoffs or tries to at least. "Fear makes a poor master. I haven't seen any of these monsters." The words are filled with bravado, a hollow thing streaked thin over a pit of the very fear the old lord denounces.

    You motion to the carpet by the window and where there had been naught but empty air now there was a vision of a harpy, a being dreadful enough to make the point while being far removed from the reality of the Reach and Lord Tybalt's life. "We are winning in the East, slowly, steadily, with sure tread, and we are winning here. But it takes more than open scorn for stranger things for it to work. If we ignore the threats we face, mock them and disparage them, the people that trust us, the commons and the knights, the highborn and their vassals, they will do the same."

    "Such..." you struggle for a word that encompass folly without naming it such for a moment, "comforts are nothing more than a temporary balm on deeper, hidden ills. They will tear and bleed away at us like a canker. I cannot deal with all of these threats on my own, though I have been making good progress, and I don't expect anyone else to either. That would be absurd, it is why I have been making resources and counsel available to all who seek it, as a King should, but it is also why I have been standing at the forefront of such exchanges."

    By now suspicion and anger had given way to a sort of unfocused hope, that like the magician from a ballad you would be able to wrap up whatever otherworldly power is loose and then leave the final verses back under the light of common day.

    Alas that you cannot offer, but there is something weightier than words you can offer: "More than a simple pledge, I have asked for trust. I hope to gain some measure of trust from you, my lord, by the time this day is over. Let me seek out the source of what stymied you before. I will show you how I did it, and the reasonings for my actions. Nothing more I ask." And if he learns more of how to do it himself, all the better.

    Unexpectedly the lord shakes his head. "A poor use for a king 's time chasing a miller's poor bargain. Better to send some servants sworn to you to see it done..." Then as if only just catching the implication of his words he falls to one knee and prclaims. "I am your man, Your Grace and my House also."

    Whom do you assign to help Lord Tybalt Blackbar?

    [] A Scholarum mage
    -[] Write in

    [] An inquisitor
    -[] Write in

    [] Another sworn sword or sorcerer
    -[] Write in

    OOC: Watching Viserys bulldoze the local wildfae did not strike me as a particularly good use of screen time, especially with the rolls going quite well this time, so delegation it is.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • [X] Pledge to dispatch trusted agents to deal with the matter, to provide him with experts who can provide the counsel he requires to face the obstacles of the day, and of course yourself at his back should the day come his fief and family come under threat by the otherworldly. You will not let loyalty go unrewarded.
    -[X] Make a note to establish a branch of the Inquisition in these lands next month.
    --[X] Approach House Hewett, then House Ball, then Mullendore and Merryweather, what is left of the Houses who have either rejected the Fey's offers out of hand or are currently deliberating on the matter. Then reevaluate based on your Mother's own report.
     
    Last edited:
    DragonParadox said:
    A Knowing Pledge ​

    Twenty-Sixth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    For a long moment there is silence as you consider the depth of the challenge before you... and before the man in front of you. This is not the world Lord Tybalt had been groomed and trained to face. You have no doubt that he is bold upon the dueling field or in battle against foes of flesh and blood he can face with sword in hand, but the unknown is more fearsome by far. "My Lord, consider this... you aren't alone in this. Every single Lord and Lady in the Seven Kingdoms, and beyond it, everyone I have worked to prepare for the tumult that magic's awakening would follow, has to contend with such threats, yet the message I have repeated to them is one by which we could all stand firm under. 'You are not alone'."

    As you pause for breath, you are glad to see the Lord of Bandallon seems to be listening, even if he does not believe every word you say. "That might seem trite and simple," you continue "but it isn't, it's the lever by which the world turns, that we are surrounded by things which wish us harm, but we are also made strong by the collective work we have all put into safeguarding the world, from the very smallest acts of the loyal armsmen pursuing strangers in the dark with nothing but hearsay and tall tales to be their watchword, to the miller delivering the fruits of his craft in tax revenues unto his lord's keeping."

    "You are allying with them just as the Tyrells do, if not one bunch then the others," he accuses. "Easy to say that you're not alone when..."

    "It's like inviting weary travelers to rest around your campfire and bide a while," Lya interrupts him. "Oh, there are oaths and pledges, even banners fluttering in the breeze, but in the end it is neither more nor less than seeing who would join and who would not, who would join us in guarding the realm and who would rather linger in the dark."

    "There is a darkness in this land, not of the heart or mind but a real darkness." you assure him, then looking right into his eyes you add, "You know it as well as I do. The world is not as it once was, nor will it ever be again. These are things that keep to that darkness beyond the fire's light, knowledge, secret, and figment that can turn real in an instant and damn or slay a man, or worse."

    "Then bring a torch," he scoffs or tries to at least "Fear makes a poor master. I haven't seen any of these monsters." The words are filled with bravado, a hollow thing streaked thin over a pit of the very fear the old lord denounces.

    You motion to the carpet by the window, and where there had been naught but empty air now there was a vision of a harpy, a being dreadful enough to make the point while being far removed from the reality of the Reach and Lord Tybalt's life. "We are winning in the East, slowly, steadily, with sure tread, and we are winning here. But it takes more than open scorn for stranger things for it to work. If we ignore the threats we face, mock them and disparage them, the people that trust us, the commons and the knights, the highborn and their vassals, they will do the same."

    "Such..." you struggle for a word that encompass folly without naming it such for a moment, "comforts are nothing more than a temporary balm on deeper, hidden ills. They will tear and bleed away at us like a canker. I cannot deal with all of these threats on my own, though I have been making good progress, and I don't expect anyone else to either. That would be absurd, it is why I have been making resources and counsel available to all who seek it, as a King should, but it is also why I have been standing at the forefront of such exchanges."

    By now suspicion and anger had given way to a sort of unfocused hope, that like the magician from a ballad you would be able to wrap up whatever otherworldly power is loose and then leave the final verses back under the light of common day.

    Alas, that you cannot offer, but there is something weightier than words you can offer. "More than a simple pledge, I have asked for trust. I hope to gain some measure of trust from you, my Lord, by the time this day is over. Let me seek out the source of what stymied you before. I will show you how I did it, and the reasoning behind my actions. Nothing more do I ask." And if he learns more of how to do it himself, all the better.

    Unexpectedly, the lord shakes his head. "A poor use for a king 's time chasing a miller's poor bargain. Better to send some servants sworn to you to see it done..." Then as if only just catching the implication of his words, he falls to one knee and proclaims. "I am your man, Your Grace, and my House also."

    Whom do you assign to help Lord Tybalt Blackbar

    [] A Scholarum mage
    -[] Write in

    [] An inquisitor
    -[] Write in

    [] Another sworn sword or sorcerer
    -[] Write in

    OOC: Watching Viserys bulldoze the local wildfae did not strike me as a particularly good use of screen time, especially with the rolls going quite well this time, so delegation it is. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    Really great chapter, DP, and a great write-in vote to serve as a framework for it, @Crake.I

    [X] Crake
     
    Tomcost said:
    Inquisition time!

    Do we have someone here who can actually diplomance too? I'm tempted to send one of the Orphne.
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    Next month, we gain another Feylord for the Inquisition in addition to the one we have now. I forget how many Feylords the Orphne had, but they are PC-tier quality.
     
    @Crake, waiting until next month is really not ideal. IMO we should send a group right now.
    Are your baby PCs available, actually? Ceria Storm and her lot?
     
    i don't like the idea of sending an Orphne fey here just yet, I feel like without adequate support they'd end up getting hunted down by the Court of Stars due to existing enmity between the two courts.
     
    Goldfish said:
    Next month is five days away. It takes some time to arrange things, so a week or so before our people get out here and start getting settled isn't unreasonable, IMO.
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    The thing is, PCs need to take some time to prepare for new duties anyway. DP considered "next month" promises at the very end of the last month to be extremely prompt, and I can only assume he meant from practical standards, not just in spirit of doing so.
     
    I would spend time preparing for the next turn vote, but I can't start building a preliminary proposal until all of the strategic actions have progress rolled.

    In the interim, my idea is based around two core facets. In between preparations for dealing with our other enemies, we will split our focus between Slaver's Bay and the Reach, we have more than enough assets to do so comfortably and safely, even taking into account what we are dealing with in both. We also get one free combat action every month for all PCs.

    I propose using this to motherfucking overturn the Thenn barrows in one big shock and awe display of Player Character might, exhume everything of worth and kill everything even mildly threatening, and then evacuate the Thenns, detouring briefly to diplomance the Giants, and then evaluating from there. It is a extremely straight forward and simple turnplan. We will divert minimal assets to other obligations as necessary. It will keep next turn hyper-focused and tight. The perfect turn, IMHO. No more will we consign ourselves to jumping between points of view every five goddamn minutes. It will be relaxing. So very soothing to see tangible progress.
     
    [X] Crake

    Crake said:
    I propose using this to motherfucking overturn the Thenn barrows in one big shock and awe display of Player Character might, exhume everything of worth and kill everything even mildly threatening, and then evacuate the Thenns, detouring briefly to diplomance the Giants, and then evaluating from there. It is a extremely straight forward and simple turnplan. We will divert minimal assets to other obligations as necessary. It will keep next turn hyper-focused and tight. The perfect turn, IMHO. No more will we consign ourselves to jumping between points of view every five goddamn minutes. It will be relaxing. So very soothing to see tangible progress.
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    So basically a murderhobo dungeon crawl vacation? I'm in.
     
    Crake said:
    I propose using this to motherfucking overturn the Thenn barrows in one big shock and awe display of Player Character might, exhume everything of worth and kill everything even mildly threatening, and then evacuate the Thenns, detouring briefly to diplomance the Giants, and then evaluating from there. It is a extremely straight forward and simple turnplan. We will divert minimal assets to other obligations as necessary. It will keep next turn hyper-focused and tight. The perfect turn, IMHO. No more will we consign ourselves to jumping between points of view every five goddamn minutes. It will be relaxing. So very soothing to see tangible progress.
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    A show of force...I mean I dig it. It also does make it so that next month has a focus rather than jumping around back and forth as you said. As an addition to this, I would suggest we also do make a makeshift base camp to co-ordinate the murder from. Nothing like a nice spot to look from as thousands of undead are utterly destroyed.
     
    Sure. We can set up a nice little set of Magnificent Mansions to plan, dine and rest out of.
     
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