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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:
A Timely Journey ​

Twenty-Ninth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

On your return to Greenshield, you are unsurprised to find Lyan Chester eager to introduce you to his father and secure some sort of protection in the face of his betrayal of the Convergence's secrets. You can hardly tell him you had come to a tentative detente with those very beings, but you very carefully skirt around talk of the Iron God whose faith is growing on the island. How the hells you are going to handle the Chosen of the Maiden who knows of the heresy and has every reason to expunge it, you still do not know.

A raven lands on an oak branch above your head and gives a loud almost questioning caw. It is probably a coincidence. Then a second and third join it, all staring intently at you.

"You do not have to introduce yourself like that, uncle," the word comes more naturally when speaking of this almost playful presentation, though from the coldly satisfied timber of his mind, it is very much Lord Bloodraven, weaver of a thousand tangled plots, who speaks with you today.

"It is a poor sorcerer who entirely abandons a sense of the dramatic, Your Grace," he replies in like manner. "The Chosen of the Maiden is not on Greenshield anymore, and indeed it will be long while before she returns to Westeros."

"Oh?" you trust that he did not do anything to imperil the truce you reached at the end of the Conclave, though truth be told you had been considering breaking it yourself quite often of late.

"She has been seeking to make amends with the Old Gods in the name of the Seven, and to secure a more lasting peace. That is a longer tally than any one person can pay, but that does not mean I cannot hand her a task at the opportune time to aid your own endeavors. She is to travel into the Feywyld seeking those Singers men called 'Woodswalkers' and either persuade them to return to the world of flesh or at least discover their fate. The paths of that realm do not run straight..." One of the ravens is cawing now, the sound near enough laughter.

"She will have Garth the Green and his fey allies to lead her on," you point out.

"The only reason why I expect her to return at all from following the Trails of the Lost." Brynden Rivers replies. "See to your plans for the Shield Islands untroubled, Your Grace."

"Won't she have spoken to the other Chosen about the Iron God?" Bloodraven himself had been very wary of the Convergence, but accepted your reasoning for meeting with them, and by extension leaving their plans intact so long as they did not harm the realm.

"No, that is part of the price demanded of her, to leave her own path untrod and unwatched for however long this task takes her to perform. A sacrifice of faith, not of blood." He pauses a moment, some distant distraction calling to him.. "The Seven themselves know, of course, and might send other agents to counter the heresy, but they would have no reason to begin in Greenshield and not some other corner of the realm. The face most afflicted is the Warrior, and should His Chosen move you will know more swiftly than I."

Brandon is tight-lipped and worried when he meets you, but not angry. Whatever Danelle had told him about her journey, the Lord of Greyshield does not blame you for it. On the other hand, he would have every reason to work against Lord Chester from personal animosity, unless...

"House Chester would probably weather the revelation of heresy if you make it now, you know, your only satisfaction removing Moribald from the board, but should they be caught in the contentions of the Deep Ones..."

"I'll have squids for neighbors," he finishes grimly. "Best to carve the canker out while I can."

"I will keep watch to ensure that does not happen," you pledge and not idly so. Interest in the Convergence will not carry you into allowing the people of Greenshield to be warped or enthralled.

"What's it to you?" the lord of Greyshield asks, eyes bright with suspicion, but not denial.

"I get to watch what they are doing, maybe understand their plans," you reply, truthfully again, if not wholly so. "Not like there is much opportunity to figure out what goes though an illithid's betentacled head."

"Fair enough, though if they use it as a base to move against Greyshield..."

"Then I would expect no less of you than to do your duty," you finish.

With a final nod in parting, Brandon Greyshield vanishes in a gust of chill air. Now all you have to do is actually secure Greenshield and the other Reacher lords you had planned for the month?

What next?

[] Dealing with the rest of the delicate Reachers

[] Revive a report (interludes)
-[] Rhaella and the easier Reacher Houses
-[] Denys' research into wild magic
-[] Write in

OOC: This feels like a neat way to tie off this without damaging characterization or forcing me to write more of a character that I do not enjoy dealing with. It also reinforces just how tricky the depths of the feywyld can be which I think makes for a nice moment. Hope you guys agree. I know it's not perfect, but it's the best I can do right now. Not yet edited.
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Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

I have to admit, I quite like this solution. Danelle gets to go have an adventure in the Feywild with some of her friends, and we don't have to worry about her for a good lone while. Perhaps even a century or two...

Have fun in the First World, Danelle!
 
What happened. Why did we neatly sidestep a dilemma we rightly should have faced. We should have to make sacrifices to getour alliance with the dudes.
 
[X] Crake
One Autumn Leaf said:
Oh...well things have changed. With Mega Evolution, Z moves, Gigantamax and god know how many pokemon. There is 900 pokemon now?
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It sounds like there are now Kaiju Pokemon?

Me: "I choose you, Godzilla! Use Thermo-Nuclear Disintegration Breath!"

<Godzilla uses Thermo-Nuclear Disintegration Breath! It's super effective!>

>Enemy Pikachu has been reduced to its component atoms!<
 
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By the way, I absolutely loved Bloodraven's dramatics. 10/10, best uncle. Over a hundred years old, anchored to a tree, stuck in hallucinations 24/7, but damn does he still know how to live!
 
DragonParadox said:
The Seven still exist, so do the Chosen and as Bloodraven points out even if she succeeds it will be far from wiping the tally clean. Plenty of room for conflict down the line, just not with this character.
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That and it does let you come up with a means to give her more character, and if you feel like it maybe we can see some of her adventures in the Fey-wild were she sees exactly why the Old Gods hold such a grudge. Cause while the Old Gods don't accept worship like other deity's they still care about the little meat bags that look after their trees. That and the Seven aren't exactly equipped to deal with the Winter Court and the BS they can throw out.
 
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I'm not really thrilled with this. I'd have preferred just biting the bullet and dealing with the issue head on instead of it being sidestepped this way. This is nothing but a delay.

[X] Crake
 
@egoo So next month we have to talk with House Rowan, House Costayne, Graceford, possibly Leygood, Oakheart and Serry, depending on how much work Rhaella did or didn't do this month (she might have talked to one of those Houses after all, or might not have) and we'll finally be done with the Reach in terms of diplomancing.

As for "how much longer are we going to have to do this?" in general, we just need to get one of the Marcher Houses in the Stormlands to flip (either Dondarrion or Caron... or both) and then knock out the Vale and we're basically done. We could hit the North afterwards but... there's no point. They're too remote to matter and we've interacted with everyone there who we wanted to.
 
Crake said:
@egoo So next month we have to talk with House Rowan, House Costayne, Graceford, possibly Leygood, Oakheart and Serry, depending on how much work Rhaella did or didn't do this month (she might have talked to one of those Houses after all, or might not have) and we'll finally be done with the Reach in terms of diplomancing.

As for "how much longer are we going to have to do this?" in general, we just need to get one of the Marcher Houses in the Stormlands to flip (either Dondarrion or Caron... or both) and then knock out the Vale and we're basically done. We could hit the North afterwards but... there's no point. They're too remote to matter and we've interacted with everyone there who we wanted to.
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So, something like VIserys/Rhaella doing Lord-wrangling throughout the month, while Slavers' Bay and Fey are the subject of other two main focuses (with Viserys also trying to snag the 3 Fey courts we know of, and any unaligned Fey throughout the month) of the month, and all culminating in a bull rushing of Thenn barrows by the month's end?

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(Preliminary) 1st month. Adventure/Intrigue actions
[Actually an RA, apparently] Research into the Reach Faepact - the people will investigate the effects of the pacts that already exist, find out where the rituals where enacted and how they are tied together (Progress: ??, requires knowledge of Fey and Magic)
---- Lya (1st body), Dany, Dirriz Bluecloak (Faerie Dragon Racial HD 3/Oracle 6), Glyra & her troupe, 2 Orphne Fey Lords (CR 15), Alysande Redsail (Wizard 3/Agent of the Silver Eye 6), Melisande, Rina, Sandor Clegane (Bodyguard duty),

[] Through the Depths, the Green, and the Wild: Have the following Fey-Courts known to us visited, and ideally brought into the fold (or at least turned on Court of Stars and neutral to us):
-[] Gooldengrove (the one where there's a Driad-queen guarding a Feywild entrance)
--- Viserys, Sir Richard, Rhaella-ship's Driad, Soft Strider, Waymar, 1 Mind Dragon
-[] Depths (asking for assistance from Merling King to smoothen things out and introduce us well).
--- Viserys, Sir Richard, the Breath Taker, Diana the Sea Sprite (Free Action), Waymar, 1 Mind Dragon
-[] Green (asking for assistance from Bloodraven to introduce us well)
--- Viserys, Sir Richard, Soft Strider, Waymar, 1 Mind Dragon

[] To Reach for the Stars: the great darkness beyond the planet your empire stands on holds much promise... but it isn't yet time to blindly go towards the vastness. Have the Moonchaser and the onboard Wyverns thoroughly tested against the vacuum of space, and put through the necessary retrofits throughout the rest of the month.
---- Moonsong, the Moonchaser,

[] The Search for Heritage Long-Lost: with the vessels sister to the Moonsong's flagship coming steadily to service in your forces, yet no immediate conflict on the horizon, their capabilities can be exploited in many great ways. Have the sister-vessels to the Moonchaser attempt locating the Targaryen isles.
---- 2 Moonchaser-class ships, 4 Heralds, 2 Erynies (an at-will Greater Teleport precaution to anything untoward happening around the ships)

[] An Alley, Vacant: By the end of the month, evacuate the Thenns (via the Moonchaser and the sister-vessels).
--- Moonsong, Moonchaser and it's sister-vessels, also whoever's free to ensure the transport's safety at that point

[] The Hunt for the Big Red - Part 2: A task-group dedicated to managing the situation in Slavers' Bay.
--- Garin, Tyene, Malarys, Waymar, Teana, Mereth (give her a Mindblank for the duration of taking part), 5 Mind Dragons, Morwyn & Tuin - the drow assassins, Lady Saenena, Nuri, Aradia the Huntress, Azema, Yrael, Chun Ting Lo (Monk 9), Ser Criston Storm (Human Paragon 3/Fighter 5/Occult Slayer 1), Ceria "Storm" (Favored Soul 8/Sacred Exorcist 1), Ser Denys Trainer (Rogue 1/Alchemist 8), 1x Asura Upasunda (CR 9), 4x Asura Vayphaks (CR 5), 4x Umbral spies, 1x Umbral Stalker,

[] The Curse of Brightbarrow: "Brightgallow near Three Towers, the seat of House Costayne in the Reach, is the site of some sort of powerful transformative curse theorized to be caused by wishcraft gone awry. Most of the villagers were put to the sword following instances of banditry and cannibalism, but there is an indication that Garth 'The Gallant', a fey-sworn knight, has preserved the lives of the youngest inhabitants who were them taken to Greyshield in secret. Investigate the site in search of whatever artifact had worked the initial transformation.
(Opposition: ??; Rewards: ??)
---- Xor, Shara the Inquisitor, Valaena Velaryon, Vrath the Serpentfolk Hexblade (Hexblade 7? @Goldfish?), 1 Yssian Guardian Naga (CR 10), Mercy of the Soul, 3 Erynies

[] A Cult of Personality: In Cinderwood Glade near Ashford, what seems to be a small cult dedicated to a charismatic enchanter with little interest beyond fulfilling his base desires through his arts appeared. Marked for possible recruitment by the devils due to being clever enough to keep his hand away from the high nobility unlike most such power-drunk mages, this man needs to be dealt with – one way or another.
(Opposition: ??; Rewards: ??)
---- Mia the Inquisitor, Anya the Inquisitor, 1 Yssian Guardian Naga (CR 10), Aubert Flowers (Cavalier 10), Thoros of Myr (Paladin 10), Oberyn (Fighter 3/Swashbuckler 8), 4 Erynies

[] Diplomancing more of Westeros: Placeholder, Reach-stuff mostly.
---- Rhaella, The Seeker, Kira Windgraced, 1 Mind Dragon, 3 Erynies (bodyguard duties of the diplomancers for the length of the action)

[] Waves of Intrigue: Hermetia has held serious reservations about spending long periods of time on administrative matters and the duplicitous ways of Lyseni nobility. Vialesk holds myriad opportunities, both for adventure in relatively civilized and safe environs which still requires a light touch by someone trusted to carry out your will there. Her main focus will be to further investigate the activities of the Deep Ones as they try to gain a foothold over the governing council of Vialesk, to deepen official ties between us and the city and give us a stronger hand in negotiations, develop trade contacts between us and local trade magnates in preparations for expansion of our trade network there, and finally to entice mercenary forces, artificers and enchanters or mages to join us for the Imperium's economic, military and industrial benefit.
---- Hermetia, Kennos of Kayce, 2x Furies, 2x Umbral Spies, 1 Yssian Guardian Naga,

[] Into the Fire: A task-group dedicated to continued action against the efreeti in Plane of Fire (do tasks to their discretion, from fighting on the front, or helping rebel Salamanders to raiding and privaterring).
---- Amrelath, Siduri of Dis, Yurten, 1 Mind Dragon, 4 Erynies @Azel's battle-group of the Undead,
(Preliminary) 1st month. Research Actions
(rough prioritization, with no people assigned yet even, b/c right now we don't know the results for a whole lot of them from 12th month)
[] Project Praetorian: WIth use of Fleshforges, create the sort of soldiers that could reasonably fight even Outsiders - elites and Champions the Empire will need in the coming years. (Progress 21/40, Cost 35,000 IM)
-- Is a priority all-around if we are to actually have a Super-Soldier program before the Reconquest. Also, Sandor needs much plant-love. ;)

[] Dreamscaping: The realm of dreams is an odd thing, shaped by the minds of mortals and shaping them in return, though some beings such as Yss have shown you that it can be altered in more direct ways. You will need to learn about such shaping before you can hope to leverage the dreamscape for your grand work. (Progress: ??/20, requires Dany, progress added by other characters is halved)
-- a slow-burn project, but one needed for the Imperial Deity. Has a non-zero chance of having been completed in the 12th month.

[] Reforging Anew the Secrets Lost: The technique of making Seeker-constructs was lost alongside Valyria itself... Until you took the forge of Gogoss and it's secrets. However, for all their utility, the method of their creation... is severely lacking.
-[] Re-create the ritual technique necessary to create Seekers, without a need for unborn children, or otherwise equally unethical resources, to be used.
(Progress: ??/25, Cost: )
-- Seekers are all-around a nice bunch of toys, but the creation method is largely lacking.

[] Watchful Eyes, by Aeons Untouched: Attempt to create the Watchman-Creature template (Progress: ??/25, Cost: ??)
-- A very needed shit if we are to free up the Erynies from doing Bodyguard duty. Until this shit we don't actually have a reliable way to see through guises around our important people.

[] The Stone of Memories, The Stone of Visions: The mysterious Serpentstone Projector you recovered from the deeper parts of Riz'Neth's city may not look like much... But you have learned quite well how much but a little show before the audience as large as cities could mean for a ruler.
-[] Research the Serpentstone Projectors, emphasizing the function of recording visual and auditory signals - something that may well be priceless if a way is found to make more of such "recorders" cheaply, and also searching for a way to integrate them with the MirrorVision network - allowing to both (hopefully) make MirrorVision sets cheaper and easier to make, and to store transmissions shown - perhaps allowing for plays and speeches to be replayed in the future? (Progress: ??/45, Cost: 50.000 IM)
-- A slow-burn project for a few low-tier Researchers, like the Svitran. Still, is needed for Brainwashing PR purposes and our eventual Moon Landing.

[] Stabilization of Sentient Undead: While the process to craft lesser undead has been greatly refined, those who still possess sentience are a different matter. Their state makes the process meant to stabilize a soulless husk impossible to apply, but further research might be able to find an alternative. (Progress 30, Cost 100,000 IM, needs at least one sentient undead as a test subject)
-- Is needed for both geopolitical matters (Essarian Undead), to deal with Other-tainted stuff (is naturally related according to Quburn) and is a great starting point to uber-powerful Undead monsters resources. Like the Mummy Lords.

[] Layering the Defenses: The composite mesh recovered from Varys was truly an ingenious work... Yet based on it, even more could be achieved.
-[] Develop the Composite Armor, combining the expertise of Fey artisans, Imperial magesmiths, and Celestial spellwork to create the sort of armor that has so far no equal in the world - not hindering the wearer in any way, yet leave no gaps or chinks in his defense. Light and inconspicuous, yet stopping even the blades of demonic warriors. (Progress: 20, Cost: 90,000 IM)
-- Spellcaster/rogue top-tier armor. Much use both on-screen and off-screen.

[] Connections Broken, Chains Undone: there are many more beings scattered across the Planes, who may find use in having the connection to what once was their home Planes subverted and becoming Native Outsiders to the Garden - be it because their home is no more, or they themselves have changed.
-[] Create a ritual designed to sever an Archon's connection to their sundered home plane, designating Prime Material as their new home plane and allowing them to reform there in safety.
(Progress: 15, Cost: 10.000 IM)
-[] Requires the "The Final Contravention"-Research to be completed.
--Assumes that the requisite RA is done, but c'mon, I can't be blamed for assuming at least that much :C
Otherwise, this one is not a priority but is an all-around nice thing to have if we are planning to deal with more than just Mammon's Devils in our Employ.

(Unassigned) Researchers: Vee, Lya (2nd body), Velen the Phoenix Birb, Naria the Loreseeker, Valeria the Wondersmith, Beryl the Strategist, Lady Saenena, Wyla Drakelis, Svitran (Cleric of Yss ?? level), Aenie Caleris (+ 1d6 for specialization, Dreamlands-related), Riz'Neth, Maester Qyburn (Archivist 13), Elaheh Marita (Witch 5/Fleshwarper 4), Urak the Forgemaster, Anu of Sallosh,
Scholarum Branches: Stepstones, Tyrosh, Volantis, Tolos, Mantarys, Naath,
(Preliminary) Minor Actions (really, the only few I have so far):
[] Grabbing any unaligned non-court Fey we get to know of while dealing with Reach.
[] Contacting the Wild Hunt, paying them as necessary for information and/or actions against Court of Stars.
[] After grabbing the Thenns, Viserys should visit the Giants and diplomance at them.
[] Viserys spends a few days removing the expedition from Yi-Ti via Greater Teleports and a Gate or two.
[] Viserys, Lya and Richard visit the auction on Hellven in an attempt to snag some of the books. Pointedly not going for anything that's liable to get us in trouble with the local forces/movers. A quick trip in-and-out. *insert R&M meme here*
[] Have 1 Mind Dragon assigned to Maelor's crew in City of Brass
[] Viserys will handle any Reach Lords that Rhaella couldn't diplomance for whatever reason.

Free Actions:
[] Clearing out the Barrows in the Thennlands
---- Viserys, Dany, Sandor Clegane, Lya (2nd body), Sir Richard, Velen, Xor, Waymar, Vee, Riz'Neth, Melisande, 4 Mind Dragons, Rina, 1 Harbinger, 1 Adamantine Golem, 1 Hadhayosh, 14 Heralds, Mereth, Yrael, Lady Saenena, Wyla Drakelis, Roose Bolton, Nettles - Rider of the Sheepstealer, Amrelath, Melisande, 2 Orphne Fey Lords (CR 15), Yrael,

Unassigned people:
1x Adamantine Golem (CR 19 + 1 level Monk), 1x Hadhayosh (CR 20), Nirah - Champion of Yss - the Voice of the Timeless One (CR 20), 1 Harbinger (CR 15), Benerro, Zherys, 10 Heralds, Roose Bolton (Harbinger 9), Blight's Bane (Triton 3/Fighter 4/Elemental Warrior 5), Koron Redmane (Fighter 6/Barbarian 3), Mors 'Crowfood' Umber (Fighter 2/Barbarian 6), Argo the Cunning Bull (Fighter 5/Occult Slayer 1), Asha Greyjoy, Theon Greyjoy, Lothos Saan (Swashbuckler 3/Rogue 3/Scarlet Corsair 3), Grazdan the Grim (Fighter 6/Legendary Captain 2), Diana the Sea Sprite, Nettles - rider of the Sheepstealer, 4 Erynies (the rest are busy bodyguarding), a vague number of plant- and undeath- based minions and meatshields.
 
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Azel said:
I just can't take Danelle seriously anymore after her entire reaction to the Molds was a complete 180° turn after some canned Viserys soundbite.
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That part actually make sense, Danelle has right from the start, made a very concerned effort to not judge based on what you are, that's how she came to team up with Brandon, she saw townfolk about to burn Brandon at the stake, and even though Brandon was definitely a sorcerer, which the faith of the Seven had taught her was wrong, she helped him anyway because he hadn't actually done anything wrong, and Danelle believe in judging people for what they do, not for what they are, so it make sense, that once she learned that the Molds were people, not enslaved souls in undead bodies, she decided to reserve judgment until she had seen what they will do, because Danelle believe very firmly, in not letting her prejudices rule her.
 
egoo said:
So, something like VIserys/Rhaella doing Lord-wrangling throughout the month, while Slavers' Bay and Fey are the subject of other two main focuses (with Viserys also trying to snag the 3 Fey courts we know of, and any unaligned Fey throughout the month) of the month, and all culminating in a bull rushing of Thenn barrows by the month's end?
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And probably pursuing the Court of Stars plot, I don't expect any of that other Reach stuff to take very long.
 
Crake said:
And probably pursuing the Court of Stars plot, I don't expect any of that other Reach stuff to take very long.
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This is mostly about it, I assume:
egoo said:
[Actually an RA, apparently] Research into the Reach Faepact - the people will investigate the effects of the pacts that already exist, find out where the rituals where enacted and how they are tied together (Progress: ??, requires knowledge of Fey and Magic)
---- Lya (1st body), Dany, Dirriz Bluecloak (Faerie Dragon Racial HD 3/Oracle 6), Glyra & her troupe, 2 Orphne Fey Lords (CR 15), Alysande Redsail (Wizard 3/Agent of the Silver Eye 6), Melisande, Rina, Sandor Clegane (Bodyguard duty),
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With the amount of people put on it, we are pretty much guaranteed to get the somewhat workable results sooner rather than later.

EDIT: scratch that, on a re-read that's nowhere enough actual researchers.
But what can do, few people indeed have any good knowledge of Fey :/
 
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DragonParadox said:
"No, that is part of the price demanded of her, to leave her own path untrod and unwatched for however long this task takes her to perform. A sacrifice of faith not of blood." He pauses a moment, some distant distraction calling to him.. "The Seven themselves know of course and might send other agents to counter the heresy, but they would have no reason to begin in Greensheild and not some other corner of the realm. The face most afflicted is the warrior and should His Chosen move you will know more swiftly than I."
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This wont wipe the slate clean as you said, but it sound like it's a step in the right direction, hopefully she succeed in her mission, and the minimum punishment we need to inflict on the Seven is lessened.
 
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