Remove ads

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

Reader mode
Crake said:
"Three staffs, eleven rods, four rings..."

Harry: "Viserys..."

"...two portable extra-dimensional spaces..."

Harry: "Viserys."

"...eight warding charms..."

Harry: "Viserys!"

"...fifteen assorted talismans..."

Harry: "I get it already!"

Viserys: "Harry, I'm not even a fifth of the way through my inventory. Calm down."

Harry, the very opposite of calm: "You're lighting up the entire block!"

Viserys: "Oops."
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...

It's almost like 'the wealth of empires' makes for better equipment than ' perpetually broke PI'.
 
Last edited:
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 17, 2020 at 7:38 AM, finished with 68 posts and 14 votes.
  • [X] Stay where you are and try to explain your presence
    -[X] When the guards arrive, indicate the slain Soul Reaper as an enemy trying to subvert the people of Mardosh and ask to meet with the Lord Protector ASAP. The matter is quite urgent.
    --[X] Before the guards arrive and while the situation is being sorted out, attempt to reassure the prince, surreptitiously using Wild Arcana and our Rod of Threnodic Magic to cast a Heart's Ease spell which affects Undead. Remind him that he has just come in contact with a servant of the Void, that which is enemy to all that exists, and that he survived the experience. As our victory just now shows, the Void can be fought and it can be defeated. Ask him to be patient a little while longer, for a solution to the curse afflicting the people of Mardosh will soon be revealed, one which should allow us to begin restoring them to life.
    -[X] When inevitably questioned on our presence, explain that we learned of the prince upon first entering the city. We met with him as part of our attempts to discover who ruled the city and their disposition. We did not plan to return to the tower where he lives, but our sister had a premonition that the prince was in danger and that our true enemy had shown their hand. There was no time to give a warning to the proper authorities.
    -[X] The Olethrodaemon who escaped is clearly an important agent of the Void. You can't know how much time you have to try and get the knowledge of it's True Name, or attempt forcing a connection to it, via the Reaper's body.
    --[X] Have Dany grab a piece of the Reaper and spirit it away to safety and the other Companions - both divining all the answers we can, and trying to see if there's a connection we can exploit in order to summon the Daemon back (give her the curse-staff), while you meet with the Lord-Protector.
    ---[X] Keep a mental link open for updates on information newly-divined and corpse-questioned.
Click to expand...
 
Remove ads
Part MMMDXC: In Battle's Wake
  • Threadmarks
    • In Battle's Wake ​

    Sixth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    As day falls into night there is much rattling of swords in Mardosh, though thankfully no drawing of steel. The guards dared not attack ones who were so recently guests of the Lord Protector, Zadin was grateful enough for the magic to help him collect himself that he confirmed your account of the Reaper and its plans for a second Fall of Mardosh. Understandably he is less free with describing your first meeting during which he had practically asked for his uncle's head, but guards were not interrogators.

    So the three of you come before Gurtukul's throne again under less congenial circumstances, with quite a few officers calling for chains, though silenced by their fellows out of respect for your royal dignity if not your deeds in slipping into the Tower of the First Watch, a place forbidden for any foreigner to tread upon. There is talk of treachery and false oaths, but the Lord Protector himself keeps his peace until you have said your piece and brought forth the bones of the reaper and its ancient weapon. The blade does not seem to gleam anymore, but drink in the lights of pallid lanterns and draws the eye of every one of the dead officers in attendance.

    "Careful!" Dany calls as one Commander of a Thousand unconsciously steps forward, drawn to the blade, only to be restrained by a pair of his fellows at a barked order from Lord Protector Gurtukul.

    "Your return had merit and did you honor," he says turning back to you. "That you decided to enter the city by stealth and speak to one who shall not be spoken of in this hall did not, but let it not be said I weigh the scales unevenly. The peril Mardosh has been spared is far darker than the deception worked upon us in your first... scouting," he speaks the euphemism with poorly veiled disdain. "It would be folly to turn away from allies when enemies surround us, but there must be words spoken here and now under the gaze of witnesses and clear moonlight." The dead lord motions to the long empty window frames eaten away by time and wind where the light of a full moon was indeed falling upon the court.

    "What would you ask of us then?" you ask, keeping your voice carefully neutral. You had hoped this might be a step to strengthening the alliance, not putting more conditions upon it, but as long as the conditions are not too onerous you are willing to accede for the same reason you left these halls relieved a few hours past. Better to have allies behind you than foes.

    "That you do not bring spies and agents to Mardosh that are not known to her protectors and that you do not speak or interact with the Unanmed without pressing cause as was the case of your second meeting and not the first. I ask that you trust that i do not serve this Emptyness and would never allow it to infect what is left of this fair city."

    Part of you has absentmindedly seized upon the fact that in the Sarnori tongue cities are feminine, though towns and villages are not, and wonder if contact with Sarnori merchants is where Volantis gained the title Queen of Cities, but mostly you are worried about the second request. You had hoped the prince could be a leader of the Slain of Mardosh, hardly possible if you were to have nothing to do with him. On a personal note he does not deserve the imprisonment decreed upon him and indeed that is part of the reason why he was so vulnerable to the twisted herald.

    Dany certainly thinks so given that she is filling your head half with those very same arguments and half with curses in half a dozen tongues directed at the Lord Protector's 'pigheadedness'.

    What do you do?

    [] Agree
    -[] In full so you can be on your way sooner, you will come to a different deal soon enough
    -[] In part, explaining that to isolate the prince only favors Mardosh's foes

    [] Refuse the oath

    [] Write in

    OOC: The social rolls were poor-to-middling this time around unfortunately, still it could have been worse, you could have ended up fighting the guards, who being undead you guys only have limited means to deal with non-lethally.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    In Battle's Wake ​

    Sixth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    As day falls into night there is much rattling of swords in Mardosh, though thankfully no drawing of steel. The guards dared not attack ones who were so recently guests of the Lord Protector, and Zadin was grateful enough for the magic to help him collect himself that he confirmed your account of the Reaper and its plans for a second Fall of Mardosh. Understandably, he is less free with describing your first meeting during which he had practically asked for his uncle's head, but guards are not interrogators.

    So the three of you come before Gurtukul's throne again, though under less congenial circumstances, with quite a few officers calling for chains, though silenced by their fellows out of respect for your royal dignity if not your deeds in slipping into the Tower of the Watch, a place forbidden for any foreigner to tread upon. There is talk of treachery and false oaths, but the Lord protector himself keeps his peace until you have said your piece and brought forth the bones of the reaper and its ancient weapon. The blade does not seem to gleam anymore, but drinks in the light of pallid lanterns and draw the eye of every one of the dead officers in attendance.

    "Careful!" Dany calls as one Commander of a Thousand, drawn to the unlight, unconsciously steps forward only to be restrained by a pair of his fellows at a barked order from Lord Protector Gurtukul.

    "Your return had merit and did you honor," he says turning back to you. "That you decided to enter the city by stealth and speak to one who shall not be spoken of in this hall did not, but let it not be said I weigh the scales unevenly. The peril Mardosh has been spared is far darker than the deception worked upon us in your first... scouting," he speaks the euphemism with poorly veiled disdain. "It would be folly to turn away from allies when enemies surround us, but there must be words spoken here and now under the gaze of witnesses and clear moonlight," The dead lord motions to the long empty window frames eaten away by time and wind, where the light of a full moon was indeed falling upon the court.

    "What would you ask of us then?" you ask, keeping your voice carefully neutral. You had hoped this might be a step to strengthening the alliance not putting more conditions upon it, but as long as the conditions are not too onerous you are willing to accede for the same reason you left these halls relieved a few hours past. Better to have allies behind you than foes.

    "That you do not in person or by proxy spy in secret upon the city of Mardosh and her people, and that you have no further contact with the Unnamed."

    Part of you has absentmindedly seized upon the fact that cities are referred to in the feminine using the Sarnori tongue, though towns and villages are not. You wonder if contact with Sarnori merchants is where Volantis gained the title Queen of Cities, but mostly you are worried about the second request. You had hoped the prince could be e leader of the Slain of Mardosh, hardly possible if you swear to have nothing to do with him. On a personal note, he does not deserve the imprisonment decreed upon him and indeed that is part of the reason why he was so vulnerable to the twisted herald.

    Dany certainly thinks so given that she is filling your head half with those very same arguments, and half with curses in half a dozen tongue directed at the Lord Protector's 'pigheadedness'.

    What do you do?

    [] Agree
    -[] In full so you can be on your way sooner, you will come to a different deal soon enough
    -[] In part, explaining that to isolate the prince only favors Mardosh's foes

    [] Refuse the oath

    [] Write in

    OOC: The social rolls were poor-to-middling this time around unfortunately, still it could have been worse, you could have ended up fighting the guards, who being undead you guys only have limited means to deal with non-lethally. Not yet edited.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    I'm going to preemptively call these guys 'Boar Pricks'.

    Because I have a hunch that they're going to bring their fair share of useless traditions and are going to be a thorn on our side.
     
    [X] Agree, saying that you respect Mardosh's autonomy, but respectfully point out that to isolate the Prince could be dangerous, especially with his already extant supernal link to the people which if properly exploited could cause grievous harm to the city, as the Void has already demonstrated intense interest in doing just that.
     
    At the risk of ruining our alliance with Mardosh and forcing us to destroy them, at least the soldiers, I think we should outright refuse the oath.

    Doing otherwise would leave Mardosh as a complete blind spot for our intelligence services and would open it up not only to further Void agent infiltration, but Devils and other darker powers.
     
    Goldfish said:
    At the risk of ruining our alliance with Mardosh and forcing us to destroy them, at least the soldiers, I think we should outright refuse the oath.

    Doing otherwise would leave Mardosh as a complete blind spot for our intelligence services and would open it up not only to further Void agent infiltration, but Devils and other darker powers.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    That is a good point, but I think there's a diplomatic way to parse that fact without alienating them.

    Like pointing out that our subterfuge is literally the only thing that is preventing the Void, and other threats, from succeeding in their acts. Because they are equally subtle and insidious threats.
     
    I'm willing to refuse because A. we only got part of the asshole so he can and probably will return, and B. Not talking to the Prince does not stop both what he's done and how vulnerable he left himself and his citizens by doing it.

    Just because the Void went for the prince does not mean it can't just go for some other random schmuck and do the exact same thing it just did, all it has to do is poke a hole in the very flimsy veil of bullshit and then watch the fireworks.
     
    [X] Refuse respectfully.
    -[X] Point out that while you respect Mardosh's autonomy, there is the fact that all of the threats which seek to imperil the world are at this time acting through subterfuge and subtlety. While you have indeed been conducting intrigues in Mardosh and elsewhere, you have been letting your reputation for open-handed dealing and honesty speak for you when the dust settles in such matters, because it is necessary to move with a subtle and swift hand in those instances. It is literally the only thing which prevented civil war in Mardosh you would wager, and it is never possible to always communicate urgency or the extent of a threat before it has already acted. You could explain just the barest portion of the evils your Inquisition has prevented in the last year to make it clear why you cannot both hamstring yourselves.
    --[X] Furthermore, to isolate the Prince does not actually remove the problem. With his supernal link to the people, he presents a critical weakness in the city which could just as easily be a strength to the Void or a strength to Mardosh.
     
    Last edited:
    Crake said:
    --[X] Furthermore, to isolate the Prince does not actually remove the problem. With his supernal link to the people, he presents a critical weakness in the city which could just as easily be a strength to the Void or a strength to Mardosh.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    I fear that if we were to prove that the Prince is the axis that the enemy (Void, Baator, hells Demons) needed for Madrosh to fall, then I fear that the Prick would just kill the Prince to remove the inconveniences.
     
    [X] Refuse respectfully.
    -[X] Point out that while you respect Mardosh's autonomy, there is the fact that all of the threats which seek to imperil the world are at this time acting through subterfuge and subtlety. While you have indeed been conducting intrigues in Mardosh and elsewhere, you have been letting your reputation for open-handed dealing and honesty speak for you when the dust settles in such matters, because it is necessary to move with a subtle and swift hand in those instances. It is literally the only thing which prevented civil war in Mardosh you would wager, and it is never possible to always communicate urgency or the extent of a threat before it has already acted. You could explain just the barest portion of the evils your Inquisition has prevented in the last year to make it clear why you cannot both hamstring yourselves.
    --[X] Furthermore, to isolate the Prince does not actually remove the problem. With his supernal link to the people, he presents a critical weakness in the city which could just as easily be a strength to the Void or a strength to Mardosh.

    I'm okay if this doesnt work, we'd just have to keep a larger presence of Inquisition in the city as we hold no allied ties between us.
    Mind, once we rezz them.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Hmm...? There are certainly issues, but I did not set out to build a no win scenario. I think I may have failed to communicate something. What exactly has you so discouraged?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    What he's asking for is absolutely impractical even with the ironclad empirical evidence that our acting with subtlety prevented greater harm, and it was clear we weren't acting with untoward motives for having done so because we approached the lawful leader of the city peacefully, and remained to address the authorities during our second infraction due to the need to communicate the danger of the threat to them.

    Someone who is so hidebound as to not make exceptions for extenuating circumstance, like not having enough knowledge if the undead ruling the city are sane enough to meet in peace, or secondly preventing everyone from dying to Void interference, is not someone we are going to convince under any circumstances. He's an irrational actor and you have not presented him in any other manner by his actions. Perhaps his motives are actually not meant to be presented in that way, but I fail to see how.
     
    Reader mode
    You must login or register to reply here.
    Remove ads
    Back
    Top