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

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I didn't realize how boring my life was without SV and SB. I don't know if I should be sad my life is so joyless or just take the dub that this site is back...
 
I was sufficiently distracted by video games for the first time in a long time. I don't usually play video games that much anymore, much less for more than an hour at a time. So the past few days flew by pretty fast on top of going back into the office on Monday.

With that said, good to be back.
 
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Part MMMDCCXLIV: Head Over Shoulders
  • Threadmarks
    • Head Over Shoulders ​

    Seventh Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    For all you have had countless reports in the hand of the Steward of the Deep, and soon to be Censor of the Imperium, it has been too long since you have had the company of your friend Alinor. Not that either of you can quite find the time for a meeting in private when there is so much else to be done, so many places to see and to be seen. Such a place and such a time is the coronation exposition of the Imperial Academy of Arts. She is here as a patron, of course, and you are here as... well, you suppose you are also here as a patron, but as one in a rather more exalted manner than just offering money. Though if one were to listen to Dany, your purpose is to give lie to all the overly dramatic pieces that are hanged about the wall and given pride of place in the sunlit halls.

    "Could you actually do that, Your Majesty?" Alinor motions to one of the more blatant examples of overwrought symbolism. To be fair, you can understand why someone would want to show you in human form but with a dragon's head below your crown, though the composition rather suffers from the fact that the painter had obviously only just discovered, or could only just afford in any case, the kind of arcane paints than could make the image shimmer and move as it alive with some glamour. The movements of the head are all wrong... and you would probably snap any human neck if you tried to carry those horns atop it.

    "With enough magic anything is possible," you reply tactfully. "Have you seen the Barge of Dawn?" That one is by far your favorite, for the simple fact that it does not show you alone or even just surrounded by the Companions in the midst of some struggle or battle, but rather atop a floating vessel whose lines take influence from the Moonchaser for all that it is open to the heavens, and all around you are the people of the Imperium who make your rule possible—nobles and merchants, judges and lawmen, craftsmen and mages. You may be the captain, but they are the crew and all the more valued for it.

    "The one where you are fighting what looks like the sun-daubed black?" she asks.

    In a softer voice you reply. "Yes, but only because the artist's initial composition of an army of demons was a bit too well done. Apparently, he asked Azema for pointers and she saw nothing wrong in giving them to him in all its dreadful detail."

    Alinor winces slightly, though you doubt someone who does not know her as well as you would have caught the motion. "I hope the poor man is alright."

    "Yes, he is surprisingly strong-minded. The artist would likely be in the Scholarum were it not for the fact that he sees magic as a distraction from his art. The Inquisitor in charge of the event just did not think it wise to have images faithful enough to conjure by on display for all and sundry."

    "Wouldn't that be Azema herself?"

    "For an art exposition?" you snort. "Of course not, the last thing any of us need is divided loyalties in an overseer."

    "Speaking of loyalties hopefully undivided, have you given any mind for the Steward of the Imperial Lands?" she prompts. "For my part, I would almost suggest we fetch Hermetia over from Lys, but she has been talking long of going on an 'adventure'..." She says the word in the way one might speak of some dread illness to be warded off. "I have narrowed it down to a list of three proposals for my part, though you may of course know of more who might suit the task."

    You are surprised to hear that your kinsman Laenor is done rusticating enough to potentially take the job, though you can see why he would be considered for it. He would work skillfully with the Scholarum and his manner and lineage will gain the ear of many a magister, though you suspect the Lords of Westeros would find him overproud. The next option is a trade magnate new made in the age of the Imperium, skilled with trade and with words, though old exploits still haunt him with the Iron Bank and he is fearful of the living dead no matter what the law might say. Lastly is Shad Ibm Mal, an azer skilled in both finance and infrastructure, though without much skill with people and less so in a new land.

    Who do you choose as Steward of the Deep?

    [] Laenor Targaryen
    +Skilled mage (Level 13 Concept Cleric of Knowledge and Dream)
    +Ancient Politician (Skilled in Diplomacy and Intrigue)
    +Family Ties (Strong Loyalist)
    -Old Prejudices (Very Socially Conservative)
    -An Aversion to Crimson (Dislikes the Red God and his priests)

    [] Orestor Tynko
    +Trade Magnate (Skilled with Finance)
    +New Man (A Firm believer in Imperial Economic Policy; Economically Liberal)
    +Glad Hander (Makes friends or at least well-disposed acquaintances wherever he goes)
    -Fear of the Grave (Is deathly afraid of the Undead and unlikely to work well with them)
    -Old Debts (Was once a debtor of the Iron Bank, though the money has been paid there are yet those within it who do not trust him)

    [] Shad Ibm Mal
    +Extraplanar Connections
    +Master Builder (Skilled at infrastructure projects)
    +Finance Expert (Skilled in the gathering of gold)
    -Taxman (Being known for parting people from their money makes few friends)
    -Stranger in a strange land (Is not yet immersed in the politics and culture of his new land)

    [] Write in

    OOC: And we are off again. Hope you guys enjoy this, I wrote it kind of fast, just to get it off before it gets too late.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Head Over Shoulders ​

    Seventh Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    For all you have had countless reports in the hand of the Steward of the Deep, and soon to be Censor of the Imperium, it has been too long since you have had the company of your friend Alinor. Not that either of you can quite find the time for a meeting in private when there is so much else to be done, so many places to see and to be seen. Such a place and such a time is the coronation exposition of the Imperial Academy of Arts. She is here as a patron, of course, and you are here as... well, you suppose you are also here as a patron, but as one in a rather more exalted manner than just offering money. Though if one were to listen to Dany, your purpose is to give lie to all the overly dramatic pieces that are hanged about the wall and given pride of place in the sunlit halls.

    "Could you actually do that, Your Majesty?" Alinor motions to one of the more blatant examples of overwrought symbolism. To be fair, you can understand why someone would want to show you in human form but with a dragon's head below your crown, though the composition rather suffers from the fact that the painter had obviously only just discovered, or could only just afford in any case, the kind of arcane paints than could make the image shimmer and move as it alive with some glamour. The movements of the head are all wrong... and you would probably snap any human neck if you tried to carry those horns atop it.

    "With enough magic anything is possible," you reply tactfully. "Have you seen the Barge of Dawn?" That one is by far your favorite, for the simple fact that it does not show you alone or even just surrounded by the Companions in the midst of some struggle or battle, but rather atop a floating vessel whose lines take influence from the Moonchaser for all that it is open to the heavens, and all around you are the people of the Imperium who make your rule possible—nobles and merchants, judges and lawmen, craftsmen and mages. You may be the captain, but they are the crew and all the more valued for it.

    "The one where you are fighting what looks like the sun-daubed black?" she asks.

    In a softer voice you reply. "Yes, but only because the artist's initial composition of an army of demons was a bit too well done. Apparently, he asked Azema for pointers and she saw nothing wrong in giving them to him in all its dreadful detail."

    Alinor winces slightly, though you doubt someone who does not know her as well as you would have caught the motion. "I hope the poor man is alright."

    "Yes, he is surprisingly strong-minded. The artist would likely be in the Scholarum were it not for the fact that he sees magic as a distraction from his art. The Inquisitor in charge of the event just did not think it wise to have images faithful enough to conjure by on display for all and sundry."

    "Wouldn't that be Azema herself?"

    "For an art exposition?" you snort. "Of course not, the last thing any of us need is divided loyalties in an overseer."

    "Speaking of loyalties hopefully undivided, have you given any mind for the Steward of the Imperial Lands?" she prompts. "For my part, I would almost suggest we fetch Hermetia over from Lys, but she has been talking long of going on an 'adventure'..." She says the word in the way one might speak of some dread illness to be warded off. "I have narrowed it down to a list of three proposals for my part, though you may of course know of more who might suit the task."

    You are surprised to hear that your kinsman Laenor is done rusticating enough to potentially take the job, though you can see why he would be considered for it. He would work skillfully with the Scholarum and his manner and lineage will gain the ear of many a magister, though you suspect the Lords of Westeros would find him overproud. The next option is a trade magnate new made in the age of the Imperium, skilled with trade and with words, though old exploits still haunt him with the Iron Bank and he is fearful of the living dead no matter what the law might say. Lastly is Shad Ibm Mal, an azer skilled in both finance and infrastructure, though without much skill with people and less so in a new land.

    Who do you choose as Steward of the Deep?

    [] Laenor Targaryen
    +Skilled mage (Level 13 Concept Cleric of Knowledge and Dream)
    +Ancient Politician (Skilled in Diplomacy and Intrigue)
    +Family Ties (Strong Loyalist)
    -Old Prejudices (Very Socially Conservative)
    -An Aversion to Crimson (Dislikes the Red God and his priests)

    [] Orestor Tynko
    +Trade Magnate (Skilled with Finance)
    +New Man (A Firm believer in Imperial Economic Policy; Economically Liberal)
    +Glad Hander (Makes friends or at least well-disposed acquaintances wherever he goes)
    -Fear of the Grave (Is deathly afraid of the Undead and unlikely to work well with them)
    -Old Debts (Was once a debtor of the Iron Bank, though the money has been paid there are yet those within it who do not trust him)

    [] Shad Ibm Mal
    +Extraplanar Connections
    +Master Builder (Skilled at infrastructure projects)
    +Finance Expert (Skilled in the gathering of gold)
    -Taxman (Being known for parting people from their money makes few friends)
    -Stranger in a strange land (Is not yet immersed in the politics and culture of his new land)

    [] Write in

    OOC: And we are off again. Hope you guys enjoy this, I wrote it kind of fast, just to get it off before it gets too late.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Made a few additional edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    The position was earmarked for Monford as a reward, but this guy looks too promising to ignore.

    [X] Shad Ibm Mal
     
    Is it my imagination, perhaps combined with three days of separation, or is the forum generally just much more responsive now? Pages loading faster, ratings going into effect more quickly, etc.
     
    Yeah but having a crotchety old fuck in charge won't really endear us to the the population of more socially liberal folks or young people, always good to keep them happy.
     
    Laenor is extremely unattractive due to his social views.

    Orestor is a non-starter, since the Undead minority in SD is predominantly enchanters, so people we want to keep happy.

    Also, don't forget that this is one of the posts that gets you a Curia Principium seat.
     
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    So we go for the promising newbie in Shad or are we keeping Monford for the position? I could go either way honestly.
     
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    [X] Shad Ibm Mal

    This is also a good show of the fact that we don't overly favor magical talent, blood or cultural connections and personal relathionships when considering who the right person for a job is. It shows that anyone regardless of what their background is or where they come from can become a high Rankin official in our Imperium.
     
    Laenor is an exceedingly bad idea. He is explicitely prejudiced against the majority religion of Essos and implicitly prejudiced against everyone else due to being a very conservative Valyrian.

    He would be in charge of three cities that are majority Rhllor worshippers, be responsible for interfacing with the minorities in SD and get a Curia seat. Don't put our slightly racist uncle in charge of this.
     
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