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

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065tdsa said:
Isn't "Lords provide soldiers for their liege" a part of the basic Feudal Contract? So Mace saying he can't is basically admitting he can't fulfill one of the basic obligations he has as a Lord. Of course a lot of his fellow lords are in the same situation so there's no doubt he'd get some sympathy from them, but the fact stands that this is very much his problem and there's no reason why his liege should move unilaterally to fix it for him.

If anything, it seems like this should be an opening for us to get something out of him, since he's openly defaulting on his obligations.
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Feudalism is giving way to imperialism. We're never relying on lords for levies or soldiers ever again.
 
065tdsa said:
Well yes duh. My point is that he's admitting it. Which he really shouldn't because it weakens his own position. After all if he can't provide troops then that's an excuse to take away even more of his traditional rights.
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That's Mace Tyrell for you. Less incompetent than you would expect, not nearly as competent as he believes.
 
Winning Vote
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 22, 2021 at 9:19 AM, finished with 61 posts and 7 votes.
  • [X] "At this point, there are no such plans. The reason the Imperium uses a centralized, standing army is to ease the logistical strain and to allow the training and organization necessary to fight in the wars to come. Neither the alchemical manufactories, nor the states enchanters have any capacity to spare for such projects, as arming the state to fight the likes of Baator, the Brazen Throne or the Illithid requires ressources on a scale that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. We have still much ground to cover and should not have our focus waver, lest we pay a dear price for it."
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Part MMMDCCLXIX: Words as Steel Forged
  • Threadmarks
    • Words as Steel Forged​

    Eighteenth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    I would sooner trust the keeping of meat to starving wolves than trust you with a standing army to match the Legion, my lord Tyrell, you think behind a mask of amiable consideration. "At this point there are no such plans," you say instead, speaking to the room at large as much as the Duke of Highgarden. From the looks of it he is making a play for political leadership where he had lost formal oaths, likely stretching into the former Riverlands as well for they are in the same boat.

    "The reason the Imperium uses a centralized, standing army is to ease the logistical strain and to allow the training and organization necessary to fight in the wars to come," you continue. With a smile and a tip of our head towards Tarly you add, "I shan't be stealing the Minister's thunder by explaining this overlong, but know this—neither the alchemical manufactories, nor the state enchanters have any capacity to spare for such projects, as arming the state to fight the likes of Baator, the Brazen Throne, or the Illithid requires resources on a scale that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. We have still much ground to cover and should not have our focus waver, lest we pay a dear price for it."

    No one comments on the fact that you are treating Hell not as a place of eternal damnation but as a military rival first and foremost. That is how the Times puts it, and that is how official documentation is formatted, and damn you will make it a reality no matter the petty greed and grasping of such as Mace Tyrell.

    Though you had been careful to keep your tone level, something in your gaze must have warned the Reacher Duke that this is not a matter he wishes to press on. For his part the new Minister of War looks relieved not to have to deal with the line of questioning for all he might agree with it in his heart of hearts, you trust him to do your will in his post and not his own.

    Mace Tyrell Chastised; Paxter Redwyne more likely to head the faction of central Westeros Monarchists

    The last of the ministers to step forth to be sworn in is your mother. She had considered doing so in a more neutral garb so show a line between the dynastic and the professional, but in the end she had given it up as bad mummery. Half the reason you trust her with the post is because of who she is, and no small measure of her worth to the post is in being a member of the dynasty which in certain parts of the world would hold its own weight. Thus she enters the chamber garbed in crimson and in black, though mortal eyes would be hard-pressed to tell what fabric and what weave she bears. Far more like shadow and dancing flame it is, and the music of the spheres coils around her in subtle harmonies that make her seem larger in the mind for all the eye might say.

    "My lords and ladies, let us first keep close in our hearts the fact that we are united under the banner of the Imperium, and in that unity we must face the world, at times sorrowfully with sword in hand, but also with the open hand of friendship when it can be afforded, when it can be hoped that others might join us of their own accord as so many here have," she begins, her voice soft, but carried to the farthest corners of the chambers by skill as much as the acoustics with which it had been wrought. "Yet we must not be so overcome by the desire to find new allies without as to forget the bonds between us and the ones that bind each of us to the throne. In the days to come I look forward to working with each of you in making sure the contacts we might have gained ere the banners of the Imperium rose are gathered together and made use of in the service of all the realm..." And in this manner she continues yet a long while until you trust the point had been driven well home, even if the skulls of some the listeners were forged of adamantine.

    Your mother is a person of charming and understanding disposition, and broadly speaking she values the traditions and high culture of Westeros, but she is also a survivor of the pit of snakes your father's court was in its later years. Anyone expecting her to deal softly with the Princeps Sanguine has clearly not been paying attention to the dragon sown upon her personal livery, and still less to the one she is riding.

    There are not questions.

    ***​

    That just leaves the High Court to be filled on the day's agenda. Alas, the first of these appointments is as tumultuous as one might expect. The future Excelsus Iudex Morwyn is not dressed like a pirate, and he is doing his best not to speak like it, but after being shaken by your mother's proclamation and grumbling over all the times you had sidestepped their concerns they can smell weakness at last, or think they do. It is Horio of Tyrosh who asks the first question, and he is not gentle about it. "Justice Morwyn, how do you expect to be able to impose legal rulings respected by the honest merchants of the realm when mere years ago you were part of the bands of rogues and criminals who were victimizing them in the very waters around this isle? Must not the public highborn and low have some trust in your probity for your judgements to carry the weight the law gives them?"

    "Well as soon ask how you can trust my former comrades how those same merchants trust them to protect their ships?" the man shrugs, a wide almost all-encompassing gesture that stops just shy of mockery. "Pretty is as pretty does as we say in the Cleft. If you can trust a former sailor of fortune to kill only the right folk and not the wrong ones, surely you can trust another to lay down judgements? Why they called the Imperator pirate in the old days, or lord of pirates when his foes were feeling generous."

    All sound stops as though someone had cast a spell of silence on the hall, all eyes are turned towards you.

    How do you react?

    [] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse

    [] Point out that the words you spoke about the new Minister of Taxation still hold and you trust that Morwyn is the right man for the job

    [] Write in

    OOC: Some good rolls, some bad this time around. Morwyn really stumbled.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Words as Steel Forged​

    Eighteenth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    I would sooner trust the keeping of meat to starving wolves than trust you with a standing army to match the Legion, my lord Tyrell, you think behind a mask of amiable consideration. "At this point, there are no such plans," you say instead, speaking to the room at large as much as the Duke of Highgarden. From the looks of it, he is making a play for political leadership where he had lost formal oaths, likely stretching into the former Riverlands as well for they are in the same boat.

    "The reason the Imperium uses a centralized, standing army is to ease the logistical strain and to allow the training and organization necessary to fight in the wars to come," you continue. With a smile and a tip of our head towards Tarly you add, "I shan't be stealing the Minister's thunder by explaining this overlong, but know this—neither the alchemical manufactories, nor the state's enchanters have any capacity to spare for such projects, as arming the state to fight the likes of Baator, the Brazen Throne, or the Illithid requires resources on a scale that would have been unthinkable ten years ago. We have still much ground to cover and should not have our focus waver, lest we pay a dear price for it."

    No one comments on the fact that you are treating Hell not as a place of eternal damnation but as a military rival first and foremost. That is how the Times puts it, and that is how official documentation is formatted, and damn you will make it a reality no matter the petty greed and grasping of such as Mace Tyrell.

    Although you had been careful to keep your tone level, something in your gaze must have warned the Reacher Duke that this is not a matter he wishes to press on. For his part, the new Minister of War looks relieved not to have to deal with the line of questioning. For all that he might agree with it in his heart of hearts, you trust him to do your will in his post and not his own.

    Mace Tyrell Chastised; Paxter Redwyne more likely to head the faction of central Westeros Monarchists

    Last of the ministers to step forth to be sworn in is your mother. She had considered doing so in a more neutral garb to show a line between the dynastic and the professional, but in the end she had given it up as bad mummery. Half the reason you trust her with the post is because of who she is, and no small measure of her worth to the post is in being a member of the dynasty which in certain parts of the world would hold its own weight. Thus, she enters the chamber garbed in crimson and in black though mortal eyes would be hard pressed to tell what fabric and what weave she bears, for more like shadow and dancing flame it is, and the music of the spheres coils around her in subtle harmonies that make her seem larger in the mind for all the eye might say.

    "My lords and ladies, let us first keep close in your hearts the fact that we are united under the banner of the Imperium, and in that unity we must face the world, at times sorrowfully and with sword in hand, but also with the open hand of friendship when it can be afforded. When it can be hoped that others might join us of their own accord, as so many here have," she begins, her voice soft, but carried to the farthest corners of the chambers by skill as much as the acoustics with which it had been wrought. "Yet we must not be so overcome by the desire to find new allies without as to forget the bonds between us and the ones that bind each of us to the throne. In the days to come, I look forward to working with each of you in making sure the contacts we might have gained ere the banners of the Imperium rose are gathered together and made use of in the service of all the realm..." And in this manner she continues yet a long while, until you trust the point had been driven well home, even were the skulls of the listeners forged of adamantine.

    Your mother is a person of charming and understanding disposition, and broadly speaking, she values the traditions and high culture of Westeros, but she is also a survivor of the pit of snakes your father's court was in its later years. Anyone expecting her to deal softly with the Princeps Sanguine has clearly not been paying attention to the dragon sown upon her personal livery, and still less to the one she is riding.

    There are no questions.

    ***​

    That just leaves the High Court to be filled on the day's agenda. Alas, the first of these appointments is as tumultuous as one might expect. The future Excelsus Iudex, Morwyn is not dressed like a pirate, and he is doing his best not to speak like it. But after being shaken by your mother's proclamation and grumbling over all the times you had sidestepped their concerns, they can smell weakness at last, or think they do. It is Horio of Tyrosh who asks the first question, and he is not gentle about it. "Justice Morwyn, how do you expect to be able to impose legal rulings respected by the honest merchants of the realm when mere years ago you were part of the bands of rogues and criminals who were victimizing them in the very waters around this isle? Must not the public, highborn and low, have some trust in your probity for your judgements to carry the weight the law gives them?"

    "Well, as soon ask how you can trust my former comrades how those same merchants trust them to protect their ships?" the man shrugs, a wide almost all-encompassing gesture that stops just shy of mockery. "Pretty is as pretty does, as we say in the Cleft. If you can trust a former sailor of fortune to kill only the right folk and not the wrong ones, surely you can trust another to lay down judgements? Why they called the Imperator pirate in the old days, or lord of pirates, when his foes were feeling generous."

    All sound stops as though someone had cast a spell of silence on the hall, all eye are turned towards you.

    How do you react?

    [] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse

    [] Point out that the words you spoke about the new Minister of Taxation still hold and you trust that Morwyn is the right man for the job

    [] Write in

    OOC: Some good rolls, some bad this time around. Morwyn really stumbled.
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    Made some additional edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    It's the simple truth, after all. When we seized Torturer's Deep and made it our own after ganking Damphair, most of our new subjects were pirates, and then they went on to be pirates in our name, if with a more focused victim profile.

    [X] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse
     
    [X] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse

    He's not wrong! We were just a very specific pirate back then since we mostly targeted slavers and certain houses.
     
    [X] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse
     
    [X] Agree, keeping your tone light and jesting, no need to remind anyone that some of those seated in this very hall must have once called you pirate and worse
     
    "Remind me, how many of you were part of efforts to kill me in the past few years? If I could not forgive and give a new chance for loyalty for those who tried to murder me, Lord Brune and his relatives would occupy a great deal of the Ministries."
     
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