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

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Evaunit02mark1 said:
From the sound of it this guy has the same problem with us that Lucan, Lucian? Whatever the hell his name was, had.

They don't like that we're more than willing to boil down practically everything (and to a lesser extent everyone) into numbers and treat every situation we have into something that can be mined for some kind of resource or opportunity.

That being said I don't really see how else we can act because from the looks of things about 85% of the local universe very much wants us dead or worse.

We're essentially in a War economy, it's just that the war is so large, spread so wide, and will take so long that such a situation is our baseline. From outside of course this would seem insidious, at least to those who can't get a seat at the proverbial big boy's table. We're grabbing territory left and right, seducing kings and queens into, if not fealty, then at least favorable trading terms, and growing at an exponential rate due to the fact we're the only game in town with a magical industry. (or we were until the fucking sultan- no no, we'll deal with him in time...)

For the people actually sitting there though they can see full well what's at stake and barring those few who are looking out to keep or raise their standing in society, mostly everyone is on board with the "get as much weaponry, resources, walls, and trained professionals between us and the ever growing cancerous mass of apocalyptic ends barreling towards planetos at full speed." operation we've got going on.

I say let the grumble, within reason, so they have an outlet for their frustrations and we can all get on with things. People not being satisfied with the status quo has been a thing for as long as there's been three monkeys in a group. Not really much we can do about that barring telling them just how far things have fallen and then their minds will break and they'll start worshipping the things trying to eat them and it'll just be a whole mess of tentacles again. (why is it always tentacles or bug parts. Why not a kitten apocalypse for once?)
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It is worth keeping in mind that has far as you know this particular bard, this particular storyteller is not some mastermind, he is just a guy retelling a traditional story in a way that serves a political agenda that is opposed to yours. This is not a matter of 'this character who is a PC is being antagonistic'. Rather the consequence of failing a diplo action and then not taking a followup is that sentiment against the Imperium and its ways and practices is starting to crystalize. For the moment it is hard to tell where though there is certainly a religious element to it. Just thought I would get that out there so you guys do not focus on the person over what he is saying and miss-aim your efforts in this regard
 
Evaunit02mark1 said:
(why is it always tentacles or bug parts. Why not a kitten apocalypse for once?)
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Azel said:
Most of these setups intend to tell a story about how the apocalypse is averted and the rest still wants to tell a story about the apocalypse.

Neither of which is well suited to cats collectively deciding that it is time to end the world and slaughtering everything effortlessly within 5 minutes, which we all know is what would happen if they ever tire of us.
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Funny coincidence...

I was outside with my dog this morning and found a headless rabbit corpse beside the garage door. It was left there by my sister's two cats who have the run of my neighborhood (she couldn't take them with her when she moved). Couldn't find the head anywhere, but they did leave a complete rabbit eye behind (I was surprised how large the eye was for how small the rabbit was). That's not their first headless rabbit corpse, either. It's kinda like their calling card.

To stay on their good side and to encourage them to continue their crusade against rodents, I have a bounty program with them. They just earned another pouch of salmon, and I'm gonna sweeten the pot with a baggie of catnip.

When the catpocalypse finally kicks off in earnest, I hope they'll look kindly on me...
 
Goldfish said:
Funny coincidence...

I was outside with my dog this morning and found a headless rabbit corpse beside the garage door. It was left there by my sister's two cats who have the run of my neighborhood (she couldn't take them with her when she moved). Couldn't find the head anywhere, but they did leave a complete rabbit eye behind (I was surprised how large the eye was for how small the rabbit was). That's not their first headless rabbit corpse, either. It's kinda like their calling card.

To stay on their good side and to encourage them to continue their crusade against rodents, I have a bounty program with them. They just earned another pouch of salmon, and I'm gonna sweeten the pot with a baggie of catnip.

When the catpocalypse finally kicks off in earnest, I hope they'll look kindly on me...
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Dude, you're the Cats' quest giver.

When they get PC levels and kill us all I'm blaming you.
 
BronzeTongue said:
So, since I'm apparently thread!EPA this week, what exactly would it take to deal with the unguided passive corruption of places like the edge of Qohor's forest?

Would pylons of constant Zone of Natural Purity (perhaps in combination with Ban Corruption) be enough or do we need do spend research on it?

It'd be nice if we could roll back the lowest influence areas a bit, but honestly I'd be happy if we could just fence it off in a way that genuinely slows or stops it's spread.
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There will be research actions to that effect once Qohor is fully operational.
 
They'll slaughter us all once we genetically engineer them to have thumbs and figure out how to open tuna cans.

Didn't any of you watch Love, Death & Robots?

The lesson here is do not give cats thumbs.

Meanwhile on Imperium times, is that goddess in the story the one with sixteen tits? Maybe they need a good heresy so let's spread the rumour of a goddess with 32 tits :V
 
You know speaking of abominations against nature and common sense. I really should spend more time looking at cryptids for inspiration . I mean I know all the standard ones, but my knowledge of the lore does not really go beyond Mothman level, sort of mildly obscure, but then you have things like this:



I mean seriously how high and/or drunk do you have to be to come up with a furry trout?

Whoever the bold creator of this thing I stumbled upon in random internet searches is I salute them!
 
DragonParadox said:
You know speaking of abominations against nature and common sense. I really should spend more time looking at cryptids for inspiration . I mean I know all the standard ones, but my knowledge of the lore does not really go beyond Mothman level, sort of mildly obscure, but then you have things like this:



I mean seriously how high and/or drunk do you have to be to come up with a furry trout?

Whoever the bold creator of this thing I stumbled upon in random internet searches is I salute them!
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Or maybe it's been parasitized by thousands of worms that are now riding around on their new troutmobile in search of their next unwitting host... :eek2:
 
[X] Yes, he deserves to know, his realm is most imperiled by it
 
DragonParadox said:
Kindly Spirits: News from Last Lament, the place with greatest concentration of imperial traders and not coincidentally the greatest concentration of the Inquisition and their assets in region. However it is a Scholarum mage on his journey who makes the report which ends up on your desk. He has reported the presence of azata born of embattled Elysium summoned forth to advise the realm in exchange for some unspecified aid in the future. It seems Jola Daa, the Princess of the isle and sorceress of some note, was they one who summoned them. As he was only able to speak to the least of the spirits the mage was not able to learn more than that, though given it was the lyrakien spoke of how it had come to be in Last Lament it is likely that they are not trying to keep the secret too close. Perhaps there will be an unveiling of the celestial alliance in the weeks and months to come.
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@DragonParadox do we know if the azata alliance is public now?
 
silvanknight said:
@DragonParadox do we know if the azata alliance is public now?
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Alliance is rather overstating it, there is certainly friendly trade going and there are azata at court but you get the sense that the two side can only cooperate in a relatively limited manner. It is not like everyone has planar terminals... or indeed as though such would even be guaranteed to work in the broken realm. At a guess from the envoys in site who are not arch-mages or summoners or anything the connection seems to be mostly concerned with the princess and not the prince.
 
[X] Yes, he deserves to know, his realm is most imperiled by it

Well if we had far realm corruption I'd rather know then not.
 
[X] Yes, he deserves to know, his realm is most imperiled by it

This has the bonus of "Hmm, maybe we should have closer ties to the friendly Dragon over there."
 
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Interlude MCCXXIX: A Warning Heeded
  • Threadmarks
    • A Warning Heeded ​

    Last Lament, Walano, the Summer Isles

    Thirteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 294 AC

    The audience with Prince Yanda Zaq was granted in due time, not so swift as to seem subservient, not so slow as to appear intransigent before the herald of the Steel Throne. Ambassador Sylpine herself was a cautious soul and unused to reporting on matters of arcane and dreadful, and so took the chance to educate herself on the matter as far as her clearance would allow. It was alas far more than peace of mind would endure and so it was with grim bearing and words lees honeyed sweet that she came before the Prince in the sweet lotus gardens he had built for his wife. Perhaps it was this that gave her warning the weight it needed that saw the prince move from disbelief and budding suspicion to worry of an altogether deeper sort.

    What went on beyond the curtains of the palace none could say for certain, but when next the ambassador was taken into the presence of the Prince he was not alone. To his left was seated Jola Daa and all around her a small court of the lithe spirits bright against the starlit night, which were supposedly not fey with which Sylpine was more accustomed, but some manner of angel from a distant sphere.

    A way to show they are not dependent on us for lore or for aid, the ambassador thought, though she did not begrudge the stagecraft.

    "I have heard of this peril that lingers beneath the waves and heard from other lips than yours just as trusted that it is deadly dark and we should not venture there." A smile flashed across his handsome features, though it did not have the life and joy he usually showed. "It seems the fishermen who to this day avoid those waters are wiser than the sages."

    "So it oft has been found in the Imperium also that humble souls and local legends can hold precious kernels of truth more precious than gold," the ambassador replied. There was still something about the Prince's gaze that was... odd, a distance that had not been there before mixed with the warm gratitude in his tone.

    "Would that all the realms of the Isles had such wise and honest friends," the princess replied. "Truly, if we should need to seek aid it is no farther than Stone Head which has been made an anchorage of the serpent ships..."

    "The gravjamers of the Imperial Airfoce could be there in a matter of moments," the ambassador replied, carefully not mentioning that an Imperial Legion could to the same with just a bit more time. It was so that Qohor had fallen and before that many of the provinces of the Sunset Lands and before even that Tyrosh. Still, it was not a thing that an envoy said to a host which was to be kept sweet.

    "You are fortunate in such mighty vessels and such bold crews," came the bland reply, as though Sylpine had just missed a beat. Definitely more going on behind the curtain than is being said, though what that was she could not say and one did not interrogate sovereigns in their own halls, or their own gardens as the case may be.

    The gifts of precious stones and golden wood and even some of the transcribed tablets of the island's sorcerous lore did not lie. The prince and princess of Walano were indeed grateful for the warning they had gotten, but they were also wary in a way they had not been before. Perhaps it was merely the nearness of deadly peril which must have seemed distant before.

    What do you wish to see next?

    [] Write in

    OOC: That went a lot better than it could have, but not perfectly for you guys.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    A Warning Heeded ​

    Last Lament, Walano, the Summer Isles

    Thirteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 294 AC

    The audience with Prince Yanda Zaq was granted in due time, not so swift as to seem subservient, not so slow as to appear intransigent before the herald of the Steel Throne. Ambassador Sylpine herself was a cautious soul and unused to reporting on matters arcane and dreadful, and so took the chance to educate herself on the matter as far as her clearance would allow. It was, alas, far more than peace of mind would endure, and so it was with grim bearing and words less honeyed sweet that she came before the Prince in the sweet lotus gardens he had built for his wife. Perhaps it was this that gave her warning the weight it needed that saw the prince move from disbelief and budding suspicion to worry of an altogether deeper sort.

    What went on beyond the curtains of the palace none could say for certain, but when next the ambassador was taken into the presence of the Prince, he was not alone. To his left was seated Jola Daa and all around her a small court of the lithe spirits bright against the starlit night, which were supposedly not fey with which Sylpine was more accustomed, but some manner of angel from a distant sphere.

    A way to show they are not dependent on us for lore or for aid, the ambassador thought, though she did not begrudge the stagecraft.

    "I have heard of this peril that lingers beneath the waves and heard from other lips than yours just as trusted that it is deadly dark and we should not venture there." A smile flashed across his handsome features, though it did not have the life and joy he usually showed. "It seems the fishermen who to this day avoid those waters are wiser than the sages."

    "So it oft has been found in the Imperium that humble souls and local legends can hold rare kernels of truth more precious than gold," the ambassador replied. There was still something about the Prince's gaze that was... odd, a distance that had not been there before mixed with the warm gratitude in his tone.

    "Would that all the realms of the Isles had such wise and honest friends," the princess replied. "Truly, if we should need to seek aid it is no farther than Stone Head which has been made an anchorage of the serpent ships..."

    "The gravjammers of the Imperial Airfoce could be there in a matter of moments," the ambassador replied, carefully not mentioning that an Imperial Legion could do the same with just a bit more time. It was so that Qohor had fallen and before that many of the provinces of the Sunset Lands and before even that Tyrosh. Still, it was not a thing that an envoy said to a host which was to be kept sweet.

    "You are fortunate in such mighty vessels and such bold crews," came the bland reply, as though Sylpine had just missed a beat. Definitely more going on behind the curtain than is being said, though what that was she could not say and one did not interrogate sovereigns in their own halls, or their own gardens, as the case may be.

    The gifts of precious stones and golden wood, and even some of the transcribed tablets of the island's sorcerous lore, did not lie. The prince and princess of Walano were indeed grateful for the warning they had gotten, but they were also wary in a way they had not been before. Perhaps it was merely the nearness of deadly peril which must have seemed distant before.

    What do you wish to see next?

    [] Write in

    OOC: That went a lot better than it could have, but not perfectly for you guys.
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    Made some additional edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    He stuck with us and he ended up getting his wings. Should make for an interesting interlude.

    [X] Zherys Interlude: First casting of Dragonshape upon reaching 18th level.
     
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