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

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Winning Vote
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Sep 25, 2020 at 9:25 AM, finished with 80 posts and 13 votes.
  • [X] Plan Information Gathering
    -[X] Infiltrate the Slavers
    --[X] Nuri will pose as a wealthy slave trader from "further away", seeking to establish a breeding facility in Qohor or to buy some special specimens for business partners of hers. The implication here being that she is from off-plane or works with the Rakshasa, but she will not divulge any details.
    --[X] With her are her bodyguard (Liomond) and her personal scribe / clerk (Mia). She also keeps a Umbral Stalker around, which, if noticed, will be claimed to be her pet.
    -[X] Infiltrate the Faith
    --[X] Xor and Kira will approach them independently of each other, the former under the guise of a potential convert, the latter as a wandering bard interested in learning more about them.
    --[X] Each of them will be shadowed by Garin, the Minddragon and the two Umral Spies when interacting with the cult for securities sake.
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Interlude CMIV: By Banked Flames
  • Threadmarks
    • By Banked Flames ​

    Eleventh Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    Nuri shivered against a chill she should not have been able to feel. Like many things in her life she had tested it out and discovered that there were few things short of frost magic that could make her feel truly cold, and she had flown high and dived deep. Yet it was here she drew her cloak closer against the night, the humid air tickling at her nostrils with the familiar scents of wood-smoke, offal and something else she could not quite put her finger on. Perhaps some spice the traders carried with them that she had not known even in Yin.

    And this is an 'honorable' trading guild, she snorted inwardly at her own rationalizations. For all Nuri disliked the notion of feeling fear she could not deny that there was something about this whole damn city that set her hackles up. Maybe it was just that she was a being of the Spheres and this was something from Beyond, maybe it was working with a sellsword who had been hired on in lieu of staying a corpse in place of a proper Companion.

    The knock on the door sounded unnaturally loud for all she was the one making it

    A shaven-haired man wearing the sort of elaborate robe that made Nuri wonder how anyone even walked in them, never mind why they would want to, answered the door, his tongue dripping with honey, his eyes hard as pebbles under swift dark waters.

    ***​

    "I have an interest in slaves. Young slaves such as you sell, the more unique the better," she began lounging on the divan in a decent imitation of Azema trying draw the eye and lull the minds of fools. She took a long sip from the cup at her side. The tea was decent if bland while rice cakes were so sweet she had briefly suspected them of hiding poison.

    "I hope there is no trouble paying in bullion, three parts in a hundred over the market rate," the young inquisitor said from her left, her stiff posture and clipped tone a deliberate contrast to Nuri's own manner. The sort of person who was in a subservient position to the kind of trader Nuri was pretending to be would not be too comfortable, and of course being willing to pay in unmarked gold at a premium should mark them as coming from very far away indeed.

    Their host did not look impressed, if anything he looked distracted, like they were holding him up from dinner. "Payment in gold is acceptable, though if you wish to set up a breeding farm I caution in being careful who you staff it with. There are still all manner of subversive elements looking to set up in isolated places."

    "Securing the site is not a concern," Nuri glanced towards her guard. To his credit the former sellsword knew how to scowl and look menacing without calling undue attention to himself. Then again, he probably had not always been a commander.

    "While I do not doubt the competence of so well-guarded an individual in all regards, I feel I must insist on knowing just where you hail from before addressing the matter of more unique specimens."

    What the Hells did he...? Had the bastard tried to read their minds and hit the wards? Nuri had to remind herself firmly that it was not yet time to set the whole wretched place on fire. One more confirmation of Far Realm incursion she supposed, since those powers were particularly adept at the reading of minds.

    Still, since he had distrusted her enough to try to probe her mind that meant she would need a more detailed story, perhaps more detailed than was worth coming up with on the spot. She could just show her very real offense and pretend to take her business elsewhere.

    What doe Nuri do?

    [] 'Relent' and explain precisely who she works for
    -[] A Rakshasa researcher with an interest in soul lore
    -[] An Efreeti lord with particular taste in 'pets'
    -[] A Shaitan lord slave trader

    [] Storm out and hope Xor and Kira are having better luck

    [] Write in

    OOC: It's been a while since I ran a full social challenge, unfortunately for her Nuri is not exactly a social focused build, more of an all rounder, and the rolls did not fall in her favor.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    By Banked Flames ​

    Eleventh Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    Nuri shivered against a chill she should not have been able to feel. Like many things in her life, she had tested it out and discovered that there were few things short of frost magic that could make her feel truly cold, for she had flown high and dived deep. Yet it was here she drew her cloak closer against the night, the humid air tickling at her nostrils with the familiar scents of wood-smoke and offal, and something else she could not quite put her finger on. Perhaps some spice the traders carried with them that she had not known even in Yin.

    And this is an honorable trading guild, she snorted inwardly at her own rationalizations. For all Nuri scoffed at the notion of feeling fear, she could not deny that there was something about this whole damn city that set her hackles up. Maybe it was just that she was a being of the Spheres and this was something from Beyond, maybe it was working with a sellsword who had hired on in lieu of staying a corpse in place of a proper Companion.

    The knock on the door sounded unnaturally loud for all she was the one making it.

    A shaven-headed man wearing the sort of elaborate robe that made Nuri wonder how anyone even walked in them, never mind why they would want to, answered the door, his tongue dripping with honey, his eyes hard as pebbles under swift dark waters.

    ***​

    "I have an interest in slaves, young slaves such as you sell. The more unique the better." she began lounging on the divan in a decent imitation of Azema trying to draw the eye and lull the minds of fools. She took a long sip from the cup at her side. The tea was decent if bland, and the rice cakes were so sweet she had briefly suspected them of hiding poison.

    "I hope there is no trouble paying in bullion, three parts in a hundred over the market rate," the young inquisitor said from her left, her stiff posture and clipped tone a deliberate contrast to Nuri's own manner. The sort of person who was in a subservient position to the kind of trader Nuri was pretending to be would not be too comfortable and of course being willing to pay in unmarked gold at a premium should mark them as coming from very far away indeed.

    Their host did not look impressed, if anything he looked distracted, like they were holding him up from dinner. "Payment in gold is acceptable, though if you wish to set up a breeding farm I caution you to be careful who you staff it with. There are still all manner of subversive elements looking to set up in isolated places."

    "Securing the site is not a concern." Nuri glanced towards her guard. To his credit, the former sellsword knew how to scowl and look menacing without calling undue attention to himself. Then again, he probably had not always been a commander.

    "While I do not doubt the competence of so well-guarded an individual in all regards, I feel I must insist on knowing just where you hail from before addressing the matter of more unique specimens."

    What the Hells did he...? Had the bastard tried to read their minds and hit the wards? Nuri had to remind herself firmly that it was not yet time to set the whole wretched place on fire. One more confirmation of Far Realm incursion, she supposed, since those powers were particularly adept at the reading of minds.

    Still, he he had distrusted her enough to try to probe her mind. That meant she would need a more detailed story, perhaps more detailed than was worth coming up with on the spot. She could just show her very real offense and pretend to take her business elsewhere.

    What doe Nuri do?

    [] 'Relent' and explain precisely who she works for
    -[] A Rakshasa researcher with and interest in soul lore
    -[] An Efreeti lord with particular taste in 'pets'
    -[] A Shaitan lord slave trader

    [] Storm out and hope Xor and Kira are having better luck

    [] Write in

    OOC: It's been a while since I ran a full social challenge, unfortunately for her Nuri is not exactly a social focused build, more of and all rounder and the rolls did not fall in her favor. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    Sticking to the plan and "revealing" ourselves as a Rakshasa wanting to set up a breeding farm is the best idea. But with Nuri's less than lucky rolls I'm not sure we can pull it off.
     
    Duesal said:
    Sticking to the plan and "revealing" ourselves as a Rakshasa wanting to set up a breeding farm is the best idea. But with Nuri's less than lucky rolls I'm not sure we can pull it off.
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    I think this just isn't the right kind of battleground for Nuri. Probably best to leave. Rather than storming out, however, she can instead claim that such information isn't within her authority to give and make a more dignified exit.
     
    I hope I'm not taking this too slow again, if things start to drag tell me guys and we can speed up, things are more or less mapped out with standard choices as well as vote breaks so I can go faster though the narrative if required.
     
    Retroactively add Tor the Rakshasa to the group as the secret master and have him snap at the merchant for blowing his cover?
     
    Yeah, I think we should cut our losses on this approach and hope for better luck with Xor's group. He's got a much better chance to pull his ruse off, IMO.

    [X] Storm out and hope Xor and Kira are having better luck
     
    Goldfish said:
    Yeah, I think we should cut our losses on this approach and hope for better luck with Xor's group. He's got a much better chance to pull his ruse off, IMO.

    [X] Storm out and hope Xor and Kira are having better luck
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    I think that might not be the best way to handle this. That would just put them on higher alert than they already are. They already know something is up since Garin's attempt to buy a baby failed due to not fulfilling the terms of the contract.

    We might be better off expressing anger at the attempt to read Nuri's mind, along with a threat of her supposed master's displeasure at the insult. Customers aren't expected to submit to interrogation pretty much anywhere.
     
    [X] Imply the expressed, precise and extreme displeasure of her direct liege should she be subjected to so blatant an invasion of the sanctity of mind of those under their imminent grace and protection, for they possess secrets not theirs to take.
    --[X] Just because the clientele is in possession of better than flimsy protections that would make normal customers unworthy of the bother of a thorough interrogation, doesn't mean they should even be subjecting Nuri to one. Very much a case of 'biting off more than one can chew'.
    ---[X] If they don't have an adequate means of recompense for the imposition, they can be assured that there will be an accurate report made. One containing descriptions, and other more arcane means of identification. Anyone who can afford to mindblank their agents isn't joking about exterminating someone's entire bloodline down to the last atom.
    ----[X] Not that you're threatening anyone. Oh no. Truly.
     
    Tomcost said:
    In random news, a legislator here has just been discovered engaging in sexual acts while on camera during a session at Congress. With an underaged girl, presumably.

    I may complain a lot about this country, but hell, it brings some laughs from the sheer absurdity from time to time.
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    I think I need to update on this situation because it is far too bizarre

    The legislator was forced to resign under threat of being kicked off by vote by the rest of the legislators. He held until the last moment hoping he could conserve his spot. He even went through all the mayor media crying and explaining what had actually happened:

    He said that the internet had gone out, that's why he was not paying attention to the official meeting at the Congress, and his girlfriend has just come (1). She told him that she had recovered from the surgery (2), and so he invited her to sit on his lap, and he decided to test her new implants (3).

    1) He was happily married and with 3 children until that moment
    2) The kind of surgery that increases your breast size
    3) With his mouth. Furiously.

    All of you can complain about Aurane as much as you want, but this is another level of stupidity altogether.
     
    Tomcost said:
    I think I need to update on this situation because it is far too bizarre

    The legislator was forced to resign under threat of being kicked off by vote by the rest of the legislators. He held until the last moment hoping he could conserve his spot. He even went through all the mayor media crying and explaining what had actually happened:

    He said that the internet had gone out, that's why he was not paying attention to the official meeting at the Congress, and his girlfriend has just come (1). She told him that she had recovered from the surgery (2), and so he invited her to sit on his lap, and he decided to test her new implants (3).

    1) He was happily married and with 3 children until that moment
    2) The kind of surgery that increases your breast size
    3) With his mouth. Furiously.

    All of you can complain about Aurane as much as you want, but this is another level of stupidity altogether.
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    Are you sure this legislator, isn't a dimensionally displaced son of Aurane and Elissa Farman?
     
    Tomcost said:
    I think I need to update on this situation because it is far too bizarre

    The legislator was forced to resign under threat of being kicked off by vote by the rest of the legislators. He held until the last moment hoping he could conserve his spot. He even went through all the mayor media crying and explaining what had actually happened:

    He said that the internet had gone out, that's why he was not paying attention to the official meeting at the Congress, and his girlfriend has just come (1). She told him that she had recovered from the surgery (2), and so he invited her to sit on his lap, and he decided to test her new implants (3).

    1) He was happily married and with 3 children until that moment
    2) The kind of surgery that increases your breast size
    3) With his mouth. Furiously.

    All of you can complain about Aurane as much as you want, but this is another level of stupidity altogether.
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    I'm slightly afraid you're giving DP ideas for future Auranes.
     
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