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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] Goldfish

If the storm is only a side effect or otherwise incidental to whatever magic shenanigans are going on here we're going to look real dumb. Dispelling this undead sharknado might just means you have to immediately deal with an army of undead, flying sharks.
 
Dany's Divination pretty definitively linked the magical cloud with the transport of an enemy army.
 
So all this undead stuff has had me thinking about that anti soul stealing setup we talked about after Viserys almost got stuck in a gem by Tiamat.

This is probably excessive, but that's half the fun of stuff like this.

So we start with a small silver box that's lined with lead. Harden it, then add one Universal Lock to make it very difficult to open. To do so you either need to destroy the whole thing, pass the DC 28 break check, or make the DC 35 check to disable it. It also provides some increased hardness and HP, but the hardened material will exceed that so it isn't that relevant.


Then we cast Puzzle Box on it so that they need to make a craft check against Viserys' spell save DC before they're allowed to try anything other than smashing it. This one is permanent when used this way for no extra cost, so it's a nice addition.

As for direct enchantments. I'd like constant Caustic Safeguard, so that anyone picking it up to try anything with it immediately eats 10d6 acid damage. Each round after that is half as many dice in acid damage until they hit zero, so it'll be pretty unpleasant in the near term. For additional fun, constant Vacuous Vessel and 1/day (or single use) Mad Monkeys.

Ideally, in a scenario where we need this, whoever picks up the box has to make a bunch of checks to try to open it while being eaten by acid. Then once they undo the lock, but beige they open the latch, the MM triggers with the direction of stealing the box and running away with it. If they do get it back they need to make a will save to notice what's -possibly - inside. This is mostly a delaying tactic and a way to get out of a teleport lock/ anti magic field.

As a final possibility, adding Damnation of Memory with the target as "Viserys Targaryen " or "this box" to be triggered by opening it or manually from the inside. Then the attacker will also have no idea who they're after and/or what the significance of the box those monkeys just stole was. :V

This is all almost literally dressing, since it's supposed to be a delay so the actual escape pod can get away.

The escape pod in question is a thinaun doll with its own little emergancy equipment.

We set up a contingency Possess Object to port Viserys into the escape pod if his HP passes some lower bound, if he's effected by certain mind control things, or something similar to that. When he jumps into the doll it immediately activates its single use Invoke Magic Shadow Step item to get out of any interdiction. IM handles anti magic stuff, and since SS is a illusion school shadow spell that doesn't actually involve leaving the plane it should get around dimension locking effects.

At that point Viserys can use a totally mundane Evacuation Rune to get to a fallback point. He can't cast while possessing the doll, but ER lets you toggle the effect as a swift action after its cast so it might work.

Since the box is lead lined and he'd only be exposed for a split second before porting to a safe zone whoever has the box part might not notice until after they've gone to all the trouble of getting the box open that we've left already.

For situations like "fighting the avatar of a pissed god" most of this won't be helpful, but our enemies are often working through minions in chaotic situations. Plenty of those guys could still be a threat under the right conditions.
Alternate Name: Golden Parachute.
 
BronzeTongue said:
So all this undead stuff has had me thinking about that anti soul stealing setup we talked about after Viserys almost got stuck in a gem by Tiamat.

This is probably excessive, but that's half the fun of stuff like this.

So we start with a small silver box that's lined with lead. Harden it, then add one Universal Lock to make it very difficult to open. To do so you either need to destroy the whole thing, pass the DC 28 break check, or make the DC 35 check to disable it. It also provides some increased hardness and HP, but the hardened material will exceed that so it isn't that relevant.


Then we cast Puzzle Box on it so that they need to make a craft check against Viserys' spell save DC before they're allowed to try anything other than smashing it. This one is permanent when used this way for no extra cost, so it's a nice addition.

As for direct enchantments. I'd like constant Caustic Safeguard, so that anyone picking it up to try anything with it immediately eats 10d6 acid damage. Each round after that is half as many dice in acid damage until they hit zero, so it'll be pretty unpleasant in the near term. For additional fun, constant Vacuous Vessel and 1/day (or single use) Mad Monkeys.

Ideally, in a scenario where we need this, whoever picks up the box has to make a bunch of checks to try to open it while being eaten by acid. Then once they undo the lock, but beige they open the latch, the MM triggers with the direction of stealing the box and running away with it. If they do get it back they need to make a will save to notice what's -possibly - inside. This is mostly a delaying tactic and a way to get out of a teleport lock/ anti magic field.

As a final possibility, adding Damnation of Memory with the target as "Viserys Targaryen " or "this box" to be triggered by opening it or manually from the inside. Then the attacker will also have no idea who they're after and/or what the significance of the box those monkeys just stole was. :V

This is all almost literally dressing, since it's supposed to be a delay so the actual escape pod can get away.

The escape pod in question is a thinaun doll with its own little emergancy equipment.

We set up a contingency Possess Object to port Viserys into the escape pod if his HP passes some lower bound, if he's effected by certain mind control things, or something similar to that. When he jumps into the doll it immediately activates its single use Invoke Magic Shadow Step item to get out of any interdiction. IM handles anti magic stuff, and since SS is a illusion school shadow spell that doesn't actually involve leaving the plane it should get around dimension locking effects.

At that point Viserys can use a totally mundane Evacuation Rune to get to a fallback point. He can't cast while possessing the doll, but ER lets you toggle the effect as a swift action after its cast so it might work.

Since the box is lead lined and he'd only be exposed for a split second before porting to a safe zone whoever has the box part might not notice until after they've gone to all the trouble of getting the box open that we've left already.

For situations like "fighting the avatar of a pissed god" most of this won't be helpful, but our enemies are often working through minions in chaotic situations. Plenty of those guys could still be a threat under the right conditions.
Alternate Name: Golden Parachute.
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On a slightly more sane note, our Vialesk commission was completed on the 8th day of the 2nd month. We'll need to put together a retroactive order at some point in the coming days.

Among the items in that order, there were:
Character sheets haven't been updated yet, but it's safe to assume that Viserys and all of the Companions, along with other VIPs like Rhaella, Teana, Glyra, etc., are now rocking a set of these. Toe rings are coming into style for some reason...

Although they're not quite complete insurance against all that which might end us, it's a start.
 
Goldfish said:
On a slightly more sane note, our Vialesk commission was completed on the 8th day of the 2nd month. We'll need to put together a retroactive order at some point in the coming days.

Among the items in that order, there were:
Character sheets haven't been updated yet, but it's safe to assume that Viserys and all of the Companions, along with other VIPs like Rhaella, Teana, Glyra, etc., are now rocking a set of these. Toe rings are coming into style for some reason...

Although they're not quite complete insurance against all that which might end us, it's a start.
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Being able to no-sell that surprise Dimensional Anchor will be pretty nice. Ambushes are after all fairly predicated on being able to pin your target in place.

We could also decide to center a different spell on it if we have no intention of retreating from an upcoming fight.
 
Goldfish said:
On a slightly more sane note, our Vialesk commission was completed on the 8th day of the 2nd month. We'll need to put together a retroactive order at some point in the coming days.

Among the items in that order, there were:
Character sheets haven't been updated yet, but it's safe to assume that Viserys and all of the Companions, along with other VIPs like Rhaella, Teana, Glyra, etc., are now rocking a set of these. Toe rings are coming into style for some reason...

Although they're not quite complete insurance against all that which might end us, it's a start.
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In my defense paranoia and copious magic item abuse are practically thread institutions, and sanity is not. :V

A more reasonable thinaun possession target and a daily casting of Evacuation Rune might be worth it if we have the spare time and money at some point though.
 
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BronzeTongue said:
In my defense paranoia and copious magic time abuse are practically thread institutions, and sanity is not. :V

A more reasonable thinaun possession target and a daily casting of Evacuation Rune might be worth it if we have the spare time and money at some point though.
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At least everyone already has their 1/Day Evacuation Rune charm, so it's safe to say they're casting it daily in case of emergencies.
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 23, 2020 at 5:32 AM, finished with 95 posts and 14 votes.
  • [X] Plan Stormbreaker
    -[X] Viserys will cast Moment of Greatness, then Ancestral Awakening in order to learn the Sudden Widen feat.
    --[X] Dany will use her Encouraging Metamagic Rod in conjunction with casting a Harmonic Chorus spell on Viserys to raise his caster level by +3.
    ---[X] Viserys will then uses his Maximize Metamagic Rod to cast a Maximized Time Stop, freezing time for 5 rounds.
    ----[X] While Time Stop is in effect, he will:
    -----[X] Cast Greater Teleport to travel close to Gornath [not necessarily above the city proper or to the epicenter of the strange cloud formation, but close enough for the Control Weather effect to overlap with room to spare] (round 1)
    -----[X] Blood Wish a Spell Enhancer spell on himself to increase his caster level by +2 for his next spell (round 2)
    -----[X] Use Wild Arcana to cast a Widened Control Weather [set to calm weather to its natural state] spell with a 4-mile radius as a Standard Action while canceling his Moment of Greatness spell [doubling the effect of Harmonic Chorus and raising Control Weather to 30th caster level, or 34th to resist Dispelling] (round 3)
    -----[X] Greater Teleport back to the Legion's location (round 4)
    -----[X] Upon arrival, use Miracle to cast a Wandering Weather spell [set to calm weather to its natural state].
    -[X] SPECIAL: If Zathir is willing, ask that he accompany us and simultaneously cast a Control Weather spell in unison with our own in hopes of the combined power being more effective in dispersing the cloud formation and the magic linked to it. If he agrees, we will cast a Mythic Time Stop spell, allowing us to bring him along with us.
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Part MMMDCI: Storm and Sanctuary
  • Threadmarks
    • Storm and Sanctuary ​

    Seventeenth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    "That storm might have an army in it, but no army is going to deal with that, not even this one." Though the words end on a note of pride the grim sentiment is undeniable. You cannot march an army under that cloud, not without knowing what it is that could set fear even in Amrelath's grave-touched bones.

    "So then you're flying to have a look yourself?" Ser Richard only half asks as he downs the last of the watered Arbor Gold in front of him with an air of quiet finality. He knows you well by now after all.

    You consider the spells you mean to weave and the help you mean to summon. Time will stretch that far at least. "You and Dany can accompany me of course, but first there is another I would call upon..."

    ***​

    It is strange to see Zathir coiled on the ground under the branches of the godswood. At first you think it might be that this is another Power's sanctum, or perhaps that the ground ill suits him, his glittering scales piled atop the other rather than flowing through the air herding clouds and chasing the sun and moon, but it is your sister who figures it out before you do: "You've grown!"

    He has grown, not in length or width, in the shape of his wings or the size of his feathers, but some indefinable quality upon the edge of perception, seeming somehow more real than the world around him, moving with care lest he snap it like gossamer strands.

    "I have, yes, my temples grow, my disciples learn and they teach those lesson onto others," the Winged Serpent replies. You can hear he proud smile in his voice, though he has no lips to show it. Pride for them and not for his own budding power.

    Good, he will need that strength for the task ahead, you think with no small measure of relief. God though he may be, Zathir does not seem to you one who can easily turn his powers to conflict and contention. In a better world perhaps he shouldn't have to. Alas that this is not that world. "We have need of your aid, holy one," you begin recounting your need.

    "You shall have it," the words are simple as they are unwavering.

    ***​

    You do not travel back to the legion camp, lest the Winged Serpent's presence be noted too soon by darker powers. Instead you twist time to your will as four of you stand outside its reach under the branches of the godswood. Space is next, an image in the mind, black clouds over defiled plains. Fourteen familiar syllables fall from your lips, then all the world seems to shake as though the fist of some giant had gripped and rattled you.

    Reality stretches unbearably thin. It feels as though every bone in your body breaks, every fiber of muscle snaps. You hear a scream and know not if it is yours, Dany's, Ser Richard's or even Zathir's.

    Feathers shine bright as rainbow shards and for a moment you remember when the sky sang the god's ascension.

    The world flows back into focus amidst roiling clouds that cast no rain, shadowing withered plains. The colors of the world seem muted here and for a moment you think the air is as thin as it gets when you rise high into the heavens, then you realize the truth. It is not air that is thin here. It's magic. Something is draining the magic from the world and pushing it towards of the eye of the storm, if this monstrosity could be called that.

    Dany and Ser Richard look strained, the ordeal had obviously cost them more than a moment of pain but Dany nods grimly as she begins to weave magic all her own. She can still do her part so long as the warp and weft of magic holds.

    Dany and Ser Richard take 1 Negative Level

    Fractured magic zone entered, no spells higher than 5th level may be cast here. Currently negated by Zathir's presence.

    "Cast it back, I have strength enough for this," for the first time since he had shed his cursed skin you hear something like rage in the Winged Serpent's voice.

    And so buoyed by genie enchantments and dream-wrought blessings and spells cast in blood you command the clouds to break and the sun to shine through.

    The... sorcery, for it is too grand and terrible a thing to call merely a spell, tears and frays at the edges, shafts of light bleeding through, but it does not unravel. It's roots run deep and drink of blood unjustly spilled. It begins to contract towards Gornath.

    What do you do?

    [] Press the attack as deep and as swift as you can

    [] Withdraw, you have dealt a telling blow, now it is time to withdraw and consider the implications in peace

    [] Write in

    OOC: I know negative levels are usually death effects, but in this case it was a low magic effect. As mythic beings Dany and Ser Richard (as well as Viserys) struggle to endure in areas where magic is not merely suppressed as with anti-magic, but drained. It looks like whatever's out there is trying to even the field in terms of high level magics.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Ooh ooh, gotta grab whatever's making that effect, we already have that Valyrian Pylon to research, upgrading it further to battlefield-wide magic-drain is kinda situational but immensely powerful against enemies like Efreeti when we have out relatively low-magic Wyverns/Moonchasers to field.
     
    Last edited:
    DragonParadox said:
    Storm and Sanctuary ​

    Seventeenth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    "That storm might have an army in it, but no army is going to deal with that, not even this one." Though the words end on a note of pride, the grim sentiment is undeniable. You cannot march an army under that cloud, not without knowing what it is that could set fear even in Amrelath's grave-touched bones.

    "So then you're flying to have a look yourself?" Ser Richard only half asks as he downs the last of the watered Arbor Gold in front of him with an air of quiet finality. He knows you well by now, after all.

    You consider the spells you mean to weave and the help you mean to summon. Time will stretch that far, at least. "You and Dany can accompany me of course, but first there is another I would call upon..."

    ***​

    It is strange to see Zathir coiled on the ground under the branches of the godswood. At first you think it might be that this is another Power's sanctum, or perhaps that the ground ill suits him, his glittering scales piled one atop the other rather than flowing through the air herding clouds and chasing the sun and moon, but it is your sister who figures it out before you do. "You've grown!"

    He has grown, not in length or width, in the snap on his wings or the size of his feathers, but some indefinable quality upon the edge of perception, seeming somehow more real than the world around him, moving with care lest he snap it like gossamer strands.

    "I have, yes, my temples grow, and my disciples learn and teach those lesson unto others," the winged serpent replies. You can hear he proud smile in his voice, though he has no lips to show it. Pride for them and not for his own budding power.

    Good, he will need that strength for the task ahead, you think with no small measure of relief. God though he may be, Zathir does not seem to you one who can easily turn his powers to conflict and contention. In a better world perhaps he shouldn't have to. Alas, that this is not that world. "We have need of your aid, holy one," you begin, recounting your need.

    "You shall have it," the words are as simple as they are unwavering.

    ***​

    You do not travel back to the legion camp, lest the Winged Serpent's presence be noted too soon by darker powers. Instead you twist time to your will as four of you stand outside its reach under the branches of the Godswood. Space is next, an image in the mind, black clouds over defiled plains. Fourteen familiar syllables fall from your lips, then all the world seems to shake as though the fist of some giant had gripped and rattled you.

    Reality stretches unbearably thin. It feels as though every bone in your body breaks, every fiber of muscle snaps. You hear a scream and know not if it is yours, Dany's, Ser Richard's, or even Zathir's.

    Feathers shine bright as rainbow shards and for a moment you remember when the sky sang the god's ascension.

    The world flows back into focus amidst roiling clouds that cast no rain, shadowing withered planes. The colors of the world seem muted here, and for a moment you think the air is thin as it gets when you rise high into the heavens, then you realize the truth. It is not air that is thin here. It's magic. Something is draining the magic from the world and pushing it towards of the eye of the storm, if this monstrosity could b called that.

    Dany and Ser Richard appear strained. The ordeal had obviously cost them more than a moment of pain, but Dany nods grimly as she begins to weave magic all her own. She can still do her part so long as the warp and weft of magic holds.

    Dany and Ser Richard take 1 Negative Level

    Fractured magic zone entered, no spells higher than 5th level may be cast here. Currently negated by Zathir's presence.

    "Cast it back, I have strength enough for this," for the first time since he had shed the cursed skin, you hear something like rage in the Winged Serpent's voice.

    And so, buoyed by genie enchantments, dream-wrought blessings, and spells cast in blood, you command the clouds to break and the sun to shine through.

    The... sorcery, for it is too grand and terrible a thing to call a mere spell, tears and frays at the edges, shafts of light bleeding through, but it does not unravel. It's roots run deep and drink of blood unjustly spilled. It begins to contract towards Gornath.

    What do you do?

    [] Press the attack as deep and as swift as you can

    [] Withdraw, you have dealt a telling blow, now it is time to withdraw and consider the implications in peace

    [] Write in

    OOC: I know negative levels are usually death effects, but in this case it was a low magic effect. As mythic beings Dany and Ser Richard (as well as Viserys) struggle to endure in areas where magic is not merely suppressed as with anti-magic but drained. It looks like whatever's out there is trying to even the field in terms of high level magics. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    OOC: I know negative levels are usually death effects, but in this case it was a low magic effect. As mythic beings Dany and Ser Richard (as well as Viserys) struggle to endure in areas where magic is not merely suppressed as with anti-magic but drained. It looks like whatever's out there is trying to even the field in terms of high level magics. Not yet edited.
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    Click to shrink...
    First of all, damn. Didn't realize this would be a problem ever. If the Void can cause shit like this we need a defense against it beyond bringing Zathir everywhere.
     
    We can't let them take 6th-9th level spells out of the entire fight... that's a huge equalizer right there. A slug fest where they get more rounds to unleash spells which do damage to mundane forces while heavy hitters occupy anyone that could help them is the very thing the high level PCs are there to prevent. Which they can't do as well with access to only a couple of SoD effects that don't even work on undead.
     
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