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

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[X] Empire Day
-[X] In a small public ceremony, attached to some other courtly matters, confer onto Styr the title of Baron of Last Refuge as an administrative formality. There aren't many other people living on that island, but he will have a more even hand and authority in managing those lands and you will provide assistance from your bureaucracy and courts to help them understand the laws and smooth any disagreements with travelers and traders passing through over.
--[X] As a gesture of your friendship, this title will be held by his line in perpetuity so long as Thenn blood lives in the south, a refuge from Winter now, and perhaps in a not too distant future a place of respite from merely the season alone.
-[X] Viserys leads a parade through the streets of Sorcerer's Deep at the head of the Eighth Legion, "Dawn Guard".
--[X] A speech is hosted at the foundations of the Imperial Palace being laid down, displaying a diagram of the final expected product of the massive construction project, having flown there upon the back of Balerion the Black Dread, speaking with his great bulk in the background.
---[X] "My people."
---[X] "Today is a joyous day, not only for having to suffer the presence of fewer foes on the dawning of a new year, but for enjoying the company of newfound friends."
--[X] "This city has grown from a shanty town of four thousand souls covered in miserable storm and wracked with fear, into a metropolis housing near some sixty and a hundred thousand souls, with more arriving every day, more being added to its edifices. It features a strong economy, fair weather and men and women of boundless generosity for both visitors and their fellow citizens newly arrived from across half the world alike."
---[X] "As the wonders of this isle of magic grows with each day, so too do I hope those wonders spread across the realm in its entirety. And now thousands more, rescued from certain peril, have gathered together with us, to prosper and experience that same hope."
---[X] "When men under arms of the Crown were called upon to oppose foes beyond mortal ken, they stood stalwart and defiant in the face of long odds and proved the worth of not only their own mettle, but that of Imperial engineering."
---[X] "Magnificent as dragons and their kin up in the sky are, as I'm sure you well know, they shall not be lonely there for very long."
---[X] "We gather today not only to celebrate the birth of this realm, this Imperium, but to celebrate those who have helped make it possible. For gallantry and intrepidity in the face of risk to one's life above and beyond the call of duty or oaths of service and standing tall in the face of evil, we begin this award ceremony with the highest honor achievable. Horas of Orkmont, step forward." You pin the Imperial Burning Star onto his chest (a dragon ascendant, wings encircled, claws gripping star aflame, made of Valyrian Steel). "Now, kneel."
---[X] "For standing in defense of your fellow man, against injustice, against fearful odds and against the forces of nature itself, I name you gallant in the face of evil. I name you brave in spite of fear. I name you skilled considering the new age and determined under the weight of duty."
---[X] "Answer me then, Horas of Orkmont, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all in need of protecting, to obey your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or perilous they may be?"
---[X] "Then arise, a Knight of the Realm. You have now joined the august Order of the Burning Star, may you shine brightly."
----[X] Move onto the other honors, no less great in importance.
-----[X] "Now we feast!"
 
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[X] Crake

We have successfully looted the entirety of the Thenns (more or less), and now it is time for SPEECH!
 
When we talk to the Giants I want to get a regiment out of them and deck them out in all the fanciest shit. Adamantine armor, Imperial Steel weapon, etc. And possibly have them go through Ser Richard-grade training like hte Minotaurs. Bonus points if we get Wun Wun.
 
Wildfyre
This green substance will readily ignite when dispersed or coming into contact with flammable materials, producing a bright green flame that is magical in nature and will readily devour both magic and mundane materials to sustain itself.

Wildfyre is usually used as ammo for siege weaponry, since few would dare to throw a flask of it manually. A siege shot of Wildfyre deals 4d8 damage to anything within 5ft. of where it hits and 2d8 damage to everything in a radius of 30ft. around that. A small flask that can be thrown manually is a splash weapon with 10ft. range increment and deals 1d8 of damage to anything it hits. Creatures adjacent to where this flask hits must pass a DC 10 reflex save or also take 1d4 damage (this doesn't mesh with the mechanic described below which allows Wildfyre to ignite adjacent spaces, object, and creature). This damage is half fire and half profane damage.

Once hit, any creature or object affected by Wildfyre takes the same damage it initially took each round. Furthermore, at the end of a round, any adjacent square, creature within a square or square where a Wildfyre affected creature stands is also set ablaze, taking damage one damage dice step lower then the source from that round onward. So a square burning with 1d8 of Wildfyre damage will set all adjacent squares on fire for 1d6 of Wildfyre damage at the end of the round and so on. A creature can attempt to extinguish itself by making a DC 15 reflex save. On a success, the damage it takes is reduced by two steps, on a failure it is still reduced by one step. A creature can also attempt to extinguish another creature or object as a full round action, lessening the damage take by two steps, but the creature must pass a DC 15 reflex save to not set itself ablaze. Wildfyre keeps burning even without fuel, lessening only by one damage die step per minute it has no fuel. (I've reworded the green text and attempted to clarify the mechanics a bit in the red, orange, and yellow text shown below. Thoughts?)

Once set ablaze, any creature or object affected by Wildfyre continues to suffer the same damage it initially took during each following round. A creature can attempt to extinguish itself by making a DC 15 Reflex save. On a success, the damage it takes is reduced by one die (ex. 4d8 to 3d8) and one damage step (ex. 3d8 to 3d6), while a failure only reduces it by one die (ex. 4d8 to 3d8). Barring magical intervention, the Wildfyre can only be extinguished in this manner if one survives long enough to succeed on one final saving throw after reducing the damage to 1d4, otherwise it will continue to smolder. Another creature can attempt to extinguish a creature or object affected by Wildfyre as a Full-Round Action, reducing the damage it takes by one die and one damage step, but the creature providing assistance must also pass a DC 15 reflex save to avoid being set ablaze. Working together, a victim and someone attempting to help them can make double progress toward extinguishing the Wildfyre. Even deprived of fuel, however, Wildfyre continues to burn far longer than any mundane flame, decreasing in intensity one damage die and one damage step per minute when no fuel is available. At the end of each round where an instance of Wildfyre remains, any adjacent square or square where an affected creature stands is also set ablaze, taking damage one step lower than the source that ignited it (ex. 4d8 to 4d6). Creatures within this area who succeed on a DC 15 Reflex save avoid the Wildfyre setting them ablaze, while a separate DC 10 Reflex save is required to avoid 1d4 points of mundane Fire damage from the intense heat.

Furthermore, Widlfyre resists attempts to magical extinguish it and actively damages enchantments and ongoing magical effects. Each round a creature or object takes damage from Wildfyre, it is subject to an affect equal to a Dispel Magic with a caster level equal to half the damage taken by the Wildfyre. When attempting to magically extinguish Wildfyre, roll the damage for the fire and deduct that number from the caster level of the spell or affect as the Wildfyre consumes the magic it is made up of. If the effect is reduced to a caster level of 0, it fails entirely. When hit by a Dispel effect that overcomes a DC of 15, Wildfyre flames in the affected area become mundane fire for 1d4 rounds and can be extinguished as normal. After that time, it regains its magical properties but looses one damage die step per round it was suppressed.

Wildfyre deals full damage against objects and ignores hardness below 20. Valyrian Steel and Imperial Steel are immune to the effects of Wildfyre.
Cost: 500 GP per flask, 5,000 GP per siege shot, DC 30 Craft Alchemy
@Azel, I finally had time to poke at your Wildfyre write up a bit. My edits are in the spoiler, with one sentence struck through which I believe and be omitted entirely, along with a rewritten paragraph (original in green, new version suitably fiery).

Rather than half of the damage being Fire and the other Profane, since this is our purer version, I think half Fire damage and half being untyped would be a bit more fitting, too. It doesn't change much mechanically, but it's more thematic, since this formulation isn't tainted by Hell.
 
Duesal said:
When we talk to the Giants I want to get a regiment out of them and deck them out in all the fanciest shit. Adamantine armor, Imperial Steel weapon, etc. And possibly have them go through Ser Richard-grade training like hte Minotaurs. Bonus points if we get Wun Wun.
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I would be fine with the giants desiring to be totally noncombatant if that's what they wish. We can relocate them to the Stepstones and they can be neighbors with the Thenns. Preserving their species is more important than a few more Large-sized troops of middling usefulness.

If they like riding mammoths, do you think we could get them to try dinosaurs? Or maybe orcas?
 
Goldfish said:
I would be fine with the giants desiring to be totally noncombatant if that's what they wish. We can relocate them to the Stepstones and they can be neighbors with the Thenns. Preserving their species is more important than a few more Large-sized troops of middling usefulness.

If they like riding mammoths, do you think we could get them to try dinosaurs? Or maybe orcas?
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That'd be okay, but I'm sure we'll get more than a few who want to fight. Those are the ones I care about.
 
i'm still way to curious what type of giants westerosi giants will be. and i do think we should go and talk to them right after empire day is over, i don't like them being in the far north now the Thenn valley is no longer blocking things and the Others have over 100 new wraiths to play around with.
sidenote when was the last time we talked to Mance again? becouse i'm curious how his plan is going.
 
@Goldfish, your "one die and one step" wording is rather weird. It should either use dice or steps, but with a flask doing only 1d8, it should be steps.

See here for the progression: Damage Dice Progression Chart - Tenebrae

Also, the point of having the flask spray adjacent creatures with 1d4 is that this happens immediately, as opposed to at the end of the round.
 
Rovos said:
bloodraven would tell us if they were no longer living. this is also the reason we should talk to them immediately after empire day
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When the Others are already riled up from our last visit and before we can get any of the improvements to our ships done, or even buy the Blinding Glory talismans?

This time they'll know our tricks and we won't have time to prepare the next batch and we won't fight on warded ground.
 
[X] Crake

I hope Thenns realize there are steps they can take to be a part of the fight in general. Can be joining Scholarum, Legion or even Inquisition.
 
Artemis1992 said:
When the Others are already riled up from our last visit and before we can get any of the improvements to our ships done, or even buy the Blinding Glory talismans?

This time they'll know our tricks and we won't have time to prepare the next batch and we won't fight on warded ground.
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yes... but they can't really immediately move to kill all the giants when we show up there tomorrow. the reason they could do so now is becouse we messed with a lot of their things on their doorstep. they had their action they can't do it again untill the old gods have theirs becouse that is how they work. or they could only attack us due to us messing with their things which we wouldn't be doing. they can't really come after us for talking to the giants becouse they alreaddy reacted to our messing with them or becouse they used their action and it is now the old gods turn
 
Ghost Touch ammo for the Moonchasers cannons could be done within a day. Not exactly a whole lot of it, but enough for a few salvos. That and the fact that we don't have to spread out as much as last time means the balance of power is much more in our favor if they try a repeat.
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on May 6, 2020 at 5:39 AM, finished with 50 posts and 16 votes.
  • [X] Empire Day
    -[X] In a small public ceremony, attached to some other courtly matters, confer onto Styr the title of Baron of Last Refuge as an administrative formality. There aren't many other people living on that island, but he will have a more even hand and authority in managing those lands and you will provide assistance from your bureaucracy and courts to help them understand the laws and smooth any disagreements with travelers and traders passing through over.
    --[X] As a gesture of your friendship, this title will be held by his line in perpetuity so long as Thenn blood lives in the south, a refuge from Winter now, and perhaps in a not too distant future a place of respite from merely the season alone.
    -[X] Viserys leads a parade through the streets of Sorcerer's Deep at the head of the Eighth Legion, "Dawn Guard".
    --[X] A speech is hosted at the foundations of the Imperial Palace being laid down, displaying a diagram of the final expected product of the massive construction project, having flown there upon the back of Balerion the Black Dread, speaking with his great bulk in the background.
    ---[X] "My people."
    ---[X] "Today is a joyous day, not only for having to suffer the presence of fewer foes on the dawning of a new year, but for enjoying the company of newfound friends."
    --[X] "This city has grown from a shanty town of four thousand souls covered in miserable storm and wracked with fear, into a metropolis housing near some sixty and a hundred thousand souls, with more arriving every day, more being added to its edifices. It features a strong economy, fair weather and men and women of boundless generosity for both visitors and their fellow citizens newly arrived from across half the world alike."
    ---[X] "As the wonders of this isle of magic grows with each day, so too do I hope those wonders spread across the realm in its entirety. And now thousands more, rescued from certain peril, have gathered together with us, to prosper and experience that same hope."
    ---[X] "When men under arms of the Crown were called upon to oppose foes beyond mortal ken, they stood stalwart and defiant in the face of long odds and proved the worth of not only their own mettle, but that of Imperial engineering."
    ---[X] "Magnificent as dragons and their kin up in the sky are, as I'm sure you well know, they shall not be lonely there for very long."
    ---[X] "We gather today not only to celebrate the birth of this realm, this Imperium, but to celebrate those who have helped make it possible. For gallantry and intrepidity in the face of risk to one's life above and beyond the call of duty or oaths of service and standing tall in the face of evil, we begin this award ceremony with the highest honor achievable. Horas of Orkmont, step forward." You pin the Imperial Burning Star onto his chest (a dragon ascendant, wings encircled, claws gripping star aflame, made of Valyrian Steel). "Now, kneel."
    ---[X] "For standing in defense of your fellow man, against injustice, against fearful odds and against the forces of nature itself, I name you gallant in the face of evil. I name you brave in spite of fear. I name you skilled considering the new age and determined under the weight of duty."
    ---[X] "Answer me then, Horas of Orkmont, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all in need of protecting, to obey your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or perilous they may be?"
    ---[X] "Then arise, a Knight of the Realm. You have now joined the august Order of the Burning Star, may you shine brightly."
    ----[X] Move onto the other honors, no less great in importance.
    -----[X] "Now we feast!"
    [X] Abstain
Click to expand...
 
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Canon Omake: The Artisans Pride V
  • Threadmarks
    • The Artisans Pride V​
    << Previous

    In a city of wonders, where the plants spoke and spirits of flame shared the sky with titans of steel, the mundane was easily overlooked. Mind, even in other cities, nobody would have given the man on the bench much of a second look. Just an old man waiting for something or someone, enjoying the warm, southern breeze and the treat in his hand. Sweet Cloud the merchant nearby called it, some delicacy from the Plane of Air, made of tiny filaments of sugar. It was significantly more noteworthy then the man idly plucking bits of it from the stick and eating them, or at least that what the average passerby assumed.

    The woman who stepped too the bench though? She drew far more eyes with her dress that was far from decent, revealing most of her back and the rather gloomy tattoo of butterflies impaled on a thorny rose bush. A few began to whisper about the pair to each other, wondering what the two of them could have for business with each other. When the woman fiddled with something in her purse for a moment and began to speak, many ears suddenly loosing interest in the pair. Their discussion was very mundane and boring, and took far too much effort to listen to, so nobody bothered. It was in fact so mundane and boring that everyone who did try to listen immediately forgot what they heard and just wandered off, certain that there was nothing worth noticing here.

    "I wouldn't have taken you for someone who preferred not to be noticed," the old man said, then plopped another bit of sugar into his mouth.

    The woman laid a hand on her chest, an exaggerated look of shock thrown back at him. "Wisdom Qyburn! Do you want to call me vain?"

    He made no move in return, just calmly chewing his treat. "I think the word is 'extroverted' in Low Valyrian. Would you truly try to claim otherwise, what with your attire today?"

    "Ah, but it's so freeing to finally have some aspect of my art I can show in public without startling the poor souls here." She turned around, turning her back to him and drawing her hair aside to give him a better view. "Don't you like it?"

    "I'm afraid my sense for the arts is woefully underdeveloped, my lady, so I will refrain from judging it."

    Thus she turned back, making a point of looking sulkily at him. "You are a cruel man. First you invite a lady to the festival and then you shun her." She didn't wait long to see if she would get a rise out of him, knowing perfectly well that she would have better chances with a rock. "Why are you here anyway? I thought you wanted to continue our project while I took a few days off for my own projects."

    "Such as the woman running from your shop last week?" He arched and eyebrow at her, though Elaheh just nodded in response, seeing nothing wrong with what happened there. "I hope you are aware that the king might be cross with you if he hears of this. She is one of his foundlings."

    Despite his stern voice, she waved him off. "I'm sure he understands, if he cares at all. He brought her to me after all, so I figured I might as well help her out a bit."

    "By terrorizing her?"

    "By helping her to gain a new perspective on things."

    "I'm not sure if that has worked, though she certainly gave me a new perspective when she bowled me over on her way out."

    When this familiar complaint surfaced, she crossed her arms and glared at the old man next to her. "I've already apologized for that, even though I don't see it as my fault in the first place." In return a smiled. It was small, crooked and looked like one of those smiles you never wanted to see in person, which made Elaheh huff in annoyance at having been had. It was easy to forget that even Qyburn would join in some friendly ribbing, if prodded long enough.

    After a moment of silence, she turned back to watching the crowd. It was getting thicker by the moment, everyone trying to get to the Circle of Battle in time to hear the kings speech. "You didn't answer my question though. Why did you want to meet here?"

    "I meant to ask a favor of you. There are some books I need to look over in the library, but I can't copy them, so I need someone to take care of young Ramsay for me tomorrow."

    "Oh? He is here too?"

    "Yes. It was pointed out to me that a young man shouldn't spent all his time in a gloomy cavern with the living dead."

    Elaheh hummed thoughtfully, her gaze shifting to the sky and watching a flock of phoenixes passing by. "I was wondering when Vee would object to his presence."

    "She didn't. It was Lord Saan who said that to me. He was worried that the boys hair would turn grey and his loins wither before he is old enough for a beard." He threw an annoyed look at the woman, who had begun snorting at the comparison. "His words, not mine."

    "Where is he then?"

    "Currently he is with young Ser Royce's ward and the princesses' gremlins. I felt it would defeat the point of the exercise if I were to tag along. They'll watch the fireworks from the keeps gardens later and I would ask you to keep an eye on him from then to noon tomorrow, when he has an appointment at the Scholarium."

    "So you want him to leave Gogossos entirely? You seemed rather fond of the boy."

    Qyburn nodded once, then quietly murmured the words of a cantrip to clean his hands and have the now empty wooden stick in his hand float to a can at the nearby stall of the seller. "I am, but I don't have as much time to teach him and keep him out of trouble as I used to. Lord Bolton was clear that I should take good care of him and I feel the Scholarium is better equipped to take care of his special needs."

    At this, Elaheh turned back to him and studied him carefully. "What special needs? The boy seemed decently bright and eager to learn. Polite too."

    "Eager he is. A bit too eager sometimes. There was an incident with one of the less favored servants at the Dreadfort that displeased Lord Bolton greatly." He meaningfully glanced at the bustling crowd on the street, silently conveying that this tale was nothing to be told in an open street. "I do not wish to have to explain myself for letting something similar occur again."

    "Fine then. I will look after him for the day. Given how the beer and wine is flowing, I doubt that I would have many pleasant customers tonight anyway." Qyburn rose at that moment, but before he could take his leave, Elaheh grabbed one of the folds of his robe. "Under one condition though. I want to know what books you are reading that are so delicate that you can't bring them to Gogossos."

    In return he sighed, gently pushing her hand away. "I would have not expected that there would be so many people trying to pry into my private work when I made my pledge to the king."

    "So? You are asking me for a favor, so I can ask you for one in return. Tell me what you are doing."

    For a moment he looked thunderous, an expression that she had never seen on his face except when talking about his past at the Citadel, but it quickly mellowed into resignation. "It is not ready to show anyone. Idle thought experiments and aimless tinkering."

    "The question is if you feel to need to do this alone or if you would accept some help."

    "Maybe, but it's more a matter of..." He quietly trailed off, shaking his head with a mien of regret. "My work on the matter of the unliving was never an end in of itself. My goal had always been to unearth the secrets of the living flesh. Later on I realized that the unliving flesh is similar, yet distinct, so I began to study it and other states more deeply, seeking to blend the states."

    Elaheh quietly nodded, seeing where this was going. "And then you saw Gogossos."

    "Indeed. So much knowledge, so many wonders, all within my reach. So many years wasted to rediscover the scraps of what Valyria could achieve. I once believed the mind to be more valuable then the flesh, for it could be molded by study and discipline while the body is static. Now I see you twist your flesh each and every day, while I struggle to leave the paths I took years and decades ago. Even the power that felt so liberating when it returned to the world reminds me every day of the limits I've set upon myself with the paradigm I had chosen."

    Again he shook his head, this time turning from her. "I will show you when I have something worth showing and not earlier. That is all I can promise."

    He took a step away and this time she didn't stop him.


    AN: Some more slice of life from the dysfunctional artists commune.
     
    Last edited:
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    Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on May 6, 2020 at 5:39 AM, finished with 50 posts and 16 votes.
    • [X] Empire Day
      -[X] In a small public ceremony, attached to some other courtly matters, confer onto Styr the title of Baron of Last Refuge as an administrative formality. There aren't many other people living on that island, but he will have a more even hand and authority in managing those lands and you will provide assistance from your bureaucracy and courts to help them understand the laws and smooth any disagreements with travelers and traders passing through over.
      --[X] As a gesture of your friendship, this title will be held by his line in perpetuity so long as Thenn blood lives in the south, a refuge from Winter now, and perhaps in a not too distant future a place of respite from merely the season alone.
      -[X] Viserys leads a parade through the streets of Sorcerer's Deep at the head of the Eighth Legion, "Dawn Guard".
      --[X] A speech is hosted at the foundations of the Imperial Palace being laid down, displaying a diagram of the final expected product of the massive construction project, having flown there upon the back of Balerion the Black Dread, speaking with his great bulk in the background.
      ---[X] "My people."
      ---[X] "Today is a joyous day, not only for having to suffer the presence of fewer foes on the dawning of a new year, but for enjoying the company of newfound friends."
      --[X] "This city has grown from a shanty town of four thousand souls covered in miserable storm and wracked with fear, into a metropolis housing near some sixty and a hundred thousand souls, with more arriving every day, more being added to its edifices. It features a strong economy, fair weather and men and women of boundless generosity for both visitors and their fellow citizens newly arrived from across half the world alike."
      ---[X] "As the wonders of this isle of magic grows with each day, so too do I hope those wonders spread across the realm in its entirety. And now thousands more, rescued from certain peril, have gathered together with us, to prosper and experience that same hope."
      ---[X] "When men under arms of the Crown were called upon to oppose foes beyond mortal ken, they stood stalwart and defiant in the face of long odds and proved the worth of not only their own mettle, but that of Imperial engineering."
      ---[X] "Magnificent as dragons and their kin up in the sky are, as I'm sure you well know, they shall not be lonely there for very long."
      ---[X] "We gather today not only to celebrate the birth of this realm, this Imperium, but to celebrate those who have helped make it possible. For gallantry and intrepidity in the face of risk to one's life above and beyond the call of duty or oaths of service and standing tall in the face of evil, we begin this award ceremony with the highest honor achievable. Horas of Orkmont, step forward." You pin the Imperial Burning Star onto his chest (a dragon ascendant, wings encircled, claws gripping star aflame, made of Valyrian Steel). "Now, kneel."
      ---[X] "For standing in defense of your fellow man, against injustice, against fearful odds and against the forces of nature itself, I name you gallant in the face of evil. I name you brave in spite of fear. I name you skilled considering the new age and determined under the weight of duty."
      ---[X] "Answer me then, Horas of Orkmont, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all in need of protecting, to obey your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or perilous they may be?"
      ---[X] "Then arise, a Knight of the Realm. You have now joined the august Order of the Burning Star, may you shine brightly."
      ----[X] Move onto the other honors, no less great in importance.
      -----[X] "Now we feast!"
      [X] Abstain
    Click to expand...
     
    Part MMMCDLXXXII: By Dawn's Light Arising
  • Threadmarks
    • By Dawn's Light Arising ​

    Ninth Day of the First Month 294 AC

    As dawn's light strikes the low hills of Last Refuge, Styr, once Magnar of Thenn, kneels before you and a gathering of his folk to accept his new title. No more a king and godspeaker of a line stretching back through the long ages, but still the proud bearer of traditions older than whole ages of the world.

    "Arise Styr of Thenn, Baron of Last Refuge, to be held by you and your heirs so long as the blood of your folk dwells in the south," you proclaim, extending a hand to help him up, shifting to a hearty grasping of the forearm in the manner of the First Men. The gesture reveals the adamantine arm forged for the occasion. Traditionally it would have been bronze, but for a time of new beginnings a new metal seemed fitting, not to mention that it is carved with images of dragons and skyships.

    A cheer rings through the newly flattened ground that would soon be a market square when the work crews and titan tools are done with it.

    Turing to the assembled clansmen you add: "May the day come soon when this is a refuge against Winter's chill and nothing more."

    This time the cheer is even louder. You do not know how many of those who had just seen hearth and home burn believe that they will live to see them restored, but at least they believe your words when you speak them.

    ***​

    As Empire Day starts in earnest upon the streets of Sorcerer's Deep you ride ahead of the cavalry company of the Eighth Legion, the newly proclaimed Dawn Guard, whose banners are quartered with the rising sun in threads of gold. Your own dress is more akin to a cavalryman of the legion than your usual robes, with the golden cloak you bear and the beast your ride marking you apart.

    You could not very well ride Balerion even through the widest of the city's boulevards. He would fit if only barely, but he would be miserable having to slog around on the ground and probably scare the crowd with his grumbling. So instead you had saddled one of Balon Swann's new drake-horses and bridled its mind with sorcery to ensure he wouldn't act up at the wrong time. The last time you had ridden a horse of flesh and blood for any extended period of time you had been driving the spoils of your first outing into the Braavosi marshlands back into the city to sell....

    The thought breaks off abruptly when you spot a little girl who had been sitting on her father's shoulders to see over the heads of the crowd start to tumble forward. Reaching out instinctively with sorcery you catch her and set her down gently next to her rather shaken parent. Unsurprisingly the child herself does not share any of his worries. "Wanna fly! Dada, wanna fly!"

    You are briefly tempted to give the girl her wish with a spell of flight, but her poor father does not deserve running about after a suddenly flying toddler just because he hadn't held on tightly enough. Instead you turn towards her and explain, "When you are old enough you can maybe enjoy all sorts of folk who can fly. There is the darkenbeast riders of the legion, the Griffin Knights, the Swiftwing post on flying horses and the skyships and wyverns, but to do that you have to be good and keep your grades up in school when you get there, you hear?"

    "Mhm," the the girl nods with a brilliant smile that would not look out of place on the face of one of Glyra's kin. "I'm always good."

    Somehow you doubt it. You will your horse to move again and continue the parade.

    ***​

    Later as the sun approaches its zenith you do fly upon Balerion over the city to stand once more before the foundation of the palace. Already more had been built than the ceremonial foundation stone but it was still far from the final shape the palace is to take. Thankfully you can change that. Your power weaves through the air to forge the largest illusion you have ever cast, the palace in its full glory wrought of ethereal figment.

    "My people," you begin before the assembled people, in Sorcerer's Deep and beyond. "Today is a joyous day, not only for having to suffer the presence of fewer foes on the dawning of a new year, but for enjoying the company of newfound friends." The arrival of the Thenns had been remarkable enough to be presented on the mirror-news so you would not be confusing those not of Sorcerer's Deep, still you had ensured they would not go into too much detail so you could deliver the account in full. "As the wonders of this isle of magic grows with each day so too do I hope those wonders spread across the realm in its entirety. And now thousands more, rescued from certain peril, have gathered together with us, to prosper and know that same hope."

    Motioning to the sky above where wyverns dance around the stately forms of the three Moonchaser-class vessels you continue: "When men under arms of the Crown were called upon to oppose foes beyond mortal ken, they stood stalwart and defiant in the face of long odds and proved the worth of not only their own mettle, but that of Imperial engineering. Magnificent as dragons and their kin up in the sky are, as I'm sure you well know, they shall not be lonely there for very long..."

    You pause until cheers and laughter had been spent, then send out a mental signal to the small delegation waiting behind you before continuing: "We gather today not only to celebrate the birth of this realm, this Imperium, but to celebrate those who have helped make it possible. For gallantry and intrepidity in the face of risk to one's life above and beyond the call of duty or oaths of service and standing tall in the face of evil, we begin this award ceremony with the highest honor achievable. Horas of Orkmont, step forward..."

    The young man had been waiting with less inward patience than his bearing might hint to most steps forward quickly. Carefully you pin the Imperial Burning Star onto his chest, a dragon ascendant, wings encircled, claws gripping a star aflame, made of Imperial Steel. "Now, kneel," you add.

    Dark Sister is quietly content at the task for which she is drawn. It is not battle, but a worthy purpose for her to bear. She hums softly in the stillness that follows, a song of steel only you can hear. "For standing in defense of your fellow man, against injustice, against fearful odds and against the forces of nature itself, I name you gallant in the face of evil. I name you brave in spite of fear. I name you skilled considering the new age and determined under the weight of duty."

    "Answer me then, Horas of Orkmont, do you swear before the eyes of gods and men to defend those who cannot defend themselves, to protect all in need of protecting, to obey your liege lord, and your king, to fight bravely when needed and do such other tasks as are laid upon you, however hard or humble or perilous they may be?"

    So he answers, a man who had come to these lands a reaver in a madman's company, who had died in your service and been enslaved in soul only to return to life and duty both. "I do, Your Grace, and ask only for the strength to carry that duty onward."

    "Then arise a Knight of the Realm. You have now joined the august Order of the Burning Star, may you shine brightly," you reply clear for all to hear. All who bear witness cheer in their own manner, fey and spirit-kin, serpentfolk and stone giants looming above. You even catch a glimpse of leaf-green eyes, one of the bolder Singers choosing to attend.

    Thus you continue on to other honors no lesser in importance nor less gladly received before at last proclaiming to one and all: "Now we feast!"

    And so it is that day as sounds of feasting, singing, drinking and merriment fill the streets once more.

    What next?

    [] See to the meeting of the giants
    -[] Write in with whom

    [] Head to the Reach
    -[] Write in where to start

    [] Write in

    OOC: Sorry this took so long guys. I was unexpectedly busy today.
     
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