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

Twenty-First Day of the Second Month 294 AC

"There is no path back to Sarnor that was, but there is a path forward," you begin solemnly. "In this very city one was unearthed wrought of the arts of Sarnor who wished to revive them, one named in part for the very god whose shade we banished from these skies. Let it be remembered that the legacy of the Sky Smith will not be wholly lost with that embittered tyrant." Thus you recount Anu's tale, from his awakening by the Golden Company to the confrontation in Sallosh and his own 'resurrection'. You pass lightly over his oaths so as not to seem as though you are pressuring them and then you wait for a reaction.

Alas, it is not one you might have hoped for. 'Servitor' you hear whispered along the stone rows in a tone you know too well. It is the same Essoosi magisters take when confronted with those they held in chains mere years ago, 'tool,' you hear uttered in dust-dry whispers from those who wonder what cause you have to 'ring around' the issue since 'clearly' no automation could have done what you have said. Some even doubt that a warforged could even want so lofty a thing as companionship.

Glancing at Lya you see sparks of crimson and gold nearly fly from the corners of her eyes. It's been a long time since Lya has been motivated to speak to a crowd.

"Should I?" she asks mentally, not wanting to step on any plans you might have.

The only plans you have are to introduce them all to the idea of your realm, and being weaned off the preconceptions of an age long past would be a good beginning. "Go ahead."

You feel the magic rise beside you, arcane insight and ancient memory, the stature of princes and the dreams of dragons. "You who whisper and who wonder in not so subtle remarks, do you not know what most of Essos, most of the world would think of you? Dark spirits and revenants they would call you. The timid would bar their doors with oak, ash and garlic flowers, the bold would set out with fire to lay you low, yet in the Empire you have a chance to walk unhindered. Studies have been made and questions answered, by Anu, by me, by others still dedicated to the expansion of our understanding of the world that would allow you either to take on new bodies of metal or to have lead poured upon these bones you now possess, that you might walk among the living without bearing the echoes of death. These gifts we give freely and without rancor, expecting nothing but friendship and respect in exchange."

A bit blunter than you would have said it, but then sometimes a warhammer applied early is worth any number of taps of the mallet given later. Queen Naamaru obviously agrees to judge from the amused inclination of her head, a deliberate motion you suspect, the small mannerisms of life do not long endure the grave.

"I find it most fitting that the arts of Sarnor that was should aid in the raising of our future," she speaks up, her voice magically enhanced to be heard by all just as yours and Lya's are. "Granted for some of us those arts are more part of a future that has fallen to dust before we could behold it, but that is no cause to be bitter or spiteful. We have all seen too much, suffered too much to dismiss a hand offered to us."

She is speaking only to the warriors of Kasath, you realize, her own subjects are assumed convinced because she is. Not that anyone has the courage to keep whispering after Lya and the queen have had their say.


Later, as the four of you walk through the streets and market places of Sorcerer's Deep under a glamour, you confirm to Queen Naamaru that you could raise her to flesh once more, though the process is likely to be too complex to expand far beyond her inner circle. Lya assures her that she is more than willing to share research notes. If you know her mind, and you flatter yourself in counting yourself an expert on 'the mind of Lya', you suspect she is hoping the mages of Sathar would be interested in adding something of their unique arcane lore to the Scholarum's repository.

For her part Queen Naamaru accepts gracefully and lets it be understood that any derivative ritual will of course be shared, leaving the door open to other collaboration. The conversation lulls as you come upon the Godswood. The queen had been impressed by how ordered the city was, by the size and scope of the Great Library as well as the batteries of steam launchers that protect it in lieu of walls, but here she seems wistful. "I have no desire to wither more grass beneath my feet. Come, let us speak of battle, for in that at least I am undiminished."

Speaking of battles you do so in depths of the Hall of Horrors, for she is the first visitor in a long while who seems to genuinely enjoy the sight of dead horrors all around. Guessing the direction of your thoughts she explains. "It is perhaps petty of me, but it is pleasant to see that even those who count themselves deathless are nothing of the sort."

What are your thoughts about your longer term relationship with Sathar?

[] Military alliance only

[] Alliance and a free trade zone

[] Write in

OOC: Lya cheated a lot with magic in that speech, AoN, VoD, Divine insight, etc. The trick with doubled morality bonuses doubling and setting her roll result to 20, but putting all those links in just felt distracting, so I'll just acknowledge it here.