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

[DragonParadox]

What the Nose Knows​

Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

You present yourself as Merys Voranos of Tyrosh and take great care to give the appearance of a noble non-entity who is overly concerned with being recognized. The name you give at least sounds Tyroshi (being that it is of Valyrian origin) but you really should buy some books on the noble lineages of the western Free Cities. They would greatly help with crafting noble disguises for a variety of purposes.

However that is a concern for the future. Aennys appears completely taken by the act to judge by the unsubtle flattery and recommendations of a suitable scent for your "inspired wardrobe." You express interest in the distilling set to create truly unique scents of your own but you add looking suddenly grim: "First I must concern myself with a most distasteful action, my ungrateful, treasonous paramour has been receiving gifts from another, gifts which sadly included one of your creations good master."

You can see multiple emotions warring on the reedy perfume maker's face. Discomfort at revealing a customer and potential being involved in a noble feud, greed over the money for the distilling set. Let's see if I can tip him over, you think

"I travel with the evening tide but I must know who would make an enemy of the House of Voranos." For a moment you fear you have pushed the ineffectual noble to the point of caricature and caused suspicion but Aennys replies: "Do you have proof of this your lordship? It pains me to think that my Art could be used for so underhanded a purpose."

Manfully suppressing your laughter and very glad for he complete expression control given by the seeming you hand the merchant the broken seal from Vana's room.

"Ah this..." he stops looking a touch disquieted. "A very rare scent, one I prepared at the express command of a single customer in the past... three months I think."

You wait patently for Aennys to finish, perhaps not fully in character but better than interrupting him and causing him to reconsider.

"It was for the scent of the Blood Orchid a Summer Island plant with a very unique scent, truly wondrous but the natives refuse to collect it for any price saying he plant is bad luck. Ticho Demetrys asked for nine vials of it, an unusually large amount. When I questioned him he said it was to help discover her, the way he said it..." the merchant stops for a moment. "He sounded... fevered." The merchant certainly looks discomfited now perhaps at having revealed more than he meant, perhaps at the events themselves.

What do you do now? (Plan format)

Regarding the merchant:

[] Press Aennys for more information (Will require Charm)
-[] On the Blood Orchid
-[] On Ticho Demetrys
[] Leave

Do you bring Ser Richard along for the rest of the investigation? (better security, higher change of being spotted)

[] Yes, bring Ser Richard along
[] No, do not bring Ser Richard along

Do you buy a crossbow so you can better defend yourself in a pinch without having to expose yourself?

[] Yes, staying away from the fight would be best
[] No, your sword has served you well so far

What is your next move:

[] Try to find out information about Ticho Demetrys and his family
-[] From bravos and others who gather around the Moon Pool
-[] From your underworld connections
-[] From the girls at the Rose, perhaps the name rings a bell

OOC: Aennys actually had a better than usual chance to make his will save against the glamor because of his keen sense of smell but he failed his check anyway.

 

[DragonParadox]

Secrets of Passion​

Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Most men might hesitate to take risks over something so insignificant as a legend from a faraway place. But then most men could not take the risks you can. They are not Sorcerers, they have not watched through the eyes of Dragons in dreams nor yet seen demons under the light of common day. So as Aennys carefully wraps your purchase in soft wool and sets it into a hansom wooden box you speak the words of the first spell you ever used, that of Charm. You are surprised at his resiliency of mind. He almost throws off the enchantment. Again you wonder at the seeming randomness of who is more resilient of mind. What does that say about people in the silence of their thoughts?

However this is not the time for such thoughts you have information to gather. You ask the now cheerful looking Aennys with seemingly mild interest:

"Considering the ill fortune this flower has heralded for me i would be curious to know why the people of it's land think the Blood Orchid cursed."

"Well I have heard many versions of the tale, perhaps originating on different islands," Aennys replies "It is said that long ago an evil enchantress or perhaps a demon came or was summoned to the Summer Isles. She ensnared a good and brave king with her wiles turning him into a bloodthirsty tyrant. She either had a crown made of Blood Orchids or the first of these flowers sprang from where her black blood touched the soil of the islands when she was finally slain by a mighty hero. Quite a chilling tale but really nothing more than superstition"

"Indeed goodman though no knowledge is wasted." you reply keeping to the pomposity of your role. Privately you are not so sure of the irrelevance of the tale. After all you yourself are an enchanter and you have seen and slain a demon.

"True your lordship," the shopkeeper answers. He sighs "'Tis a pity for the sins of men to be blamed up on a flower. In truth it has one of the most delicate fragrances I have ever encountered and I am told that it is quite beautiful too, having never dealt with the fresh flower obviously"

"Wise words, perhaps some day when my heart is healed I too can appreciate this flower," you end the conversation somewhat melodramatically before taking your leave

Lost 25 Iron Marks
Gained basic alchemist set

On your way to the Rat you stop at a bower wishing to buy a crossbow. You can choose either the Braavosi made model or the far more pricey one imported (or more honestly smuggled) from Myr.

[] Buy Bravosi crossbow (standard Light Crossbow) for 5 Iron Marks
[] Buy a Myrish crossbow (+1 mundane enhancement to attack and damage due to quality) for 30 Iron Marks

You pick up Ser Richard without incident though the more sober thugs look at him in askance.

***​

Once you reach the Rose Garden you are pleased to see Selyse is free. Wasting no time you begin to recount the tale. You do not however have a chance to finish it. On hearing the name Ticho Demetrys Selyse exclaims in horror:

"Merciful Lady of Sorrows, Alinor! That's the name of her latest fellow!"

She runs out of the room shoving her way though patrons and other roses both. You are at her heals praying your delay did not cause one of your friends harm. You breathe easily when you see Selyse has caught up with her redhead companion just as she left a room.

The fair haired girl was laughing in relief: "I've never thought I'd ever be glad that fat bastard Bassaro is is slow riser." Alinor just looks confused as you usher her into Selyse's room.

After you repeat the take to her you expected surprise, fear, terror even. What you do not expect is white hot rage and a truly prodigious collection of swear words and threats. It would seem you do not understand women as well as you thought.

How will you deal with Ticho?

[] Shadow Alinor on her meeting with the man tonight. Accost the noble in a dark corner somewhere. The most direct path but risks interference from passersby or even the watch

[] Mellore knows of a herbalist and supposed maegi that sells a powder which is meant to near instantly put even a strong man to sleep in a blink of the eyes. This would make getting your hands on Ticho considerably easier however the powder is expensive and you do not know for certain it will work. Moreover this gives him more time to realize something has gone wrong.

[] Alinor was supposed to travel with Ticho to a countryside retreat this evening. Go there at once. More likely than not the missing girls, if they are alive, are there.

[] With magic you could replace Alinor, with a sword disguised as a package and wearing the equivalent of chanmaill (Removes risk to Alinor requires revealing magic)

[] Write in

OOC: The two delays (crossbow and Ser Richard) imposed penalties (-10 and -15) on the roll to get to Alinor in time. Luckily for you the dice bailed you out (you rolled 89 on a d100).

 

[DragonParadox]

A Place of Ill Omen​

Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

You cannot in good conscience risk Alinor's life as bait. You had considered revealing your magic and going in her place but only for a moment. Your magic is most powerful when it is not known. The potential complications of having it become known are too profound and far reaching to risk. You will have to travel to Ticho's "countryside retreat" as soon as possible and see if the missing women are there.

Alignment shifts 5 points towards Good, now True Neutral (55/55)

Ser Richard looks less than pleased with so risky a plan but you refuse to budge. There is something sinister about this situation, something strangely familiar like it calls back to a memory from a time you were very young.... or a dream you had forgotten with the dawn.

You spend two more hours finding out where Ticho's supposed countryside retreat is by buying drinks and making merry (or at least pretending to do so) in the taverns around the Moon Pool. Fortunately saying that it is in the countryside is something of an exaggeration. It is supposedly a hunting lodge built by Ticho's grandfather at the edge of the lagoon where the marshland meets the firmer land of the Braavosi Coast. You only encountered one man that had actually been there and he described it as "a miserable, gloomy place that would drive a man to drink." Though the last part may have been a hint to call for another drink.

After some searching you find a serpent boat wiling to take you that far out in exchange for a price so high you think you could have bought the boat for it. You pay nonetheless as time is of the essence. Hopefully you can rescue the vanished girls and remove Ticho before he can further imperil tour friends.

Lost 4 Silver Moons

***​

Sixth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

After a wet cold boat journey and an even wetter and colder two hours on foot during which you learned more than a score new and creative curse words from Ser Richard you finally spy your destination in the distance. At least you did not get lost.

To your light sensitive eyes the pale stone of hunting lodge rises up from the darkness like the corpse of some ancient swamp monster. In the distance a wolf howls mournfully.

How do you proceed:

[] Pretend to be travelers who have lost their way, charm any servants present to find out more of the master of this place.

[] Set a fire to the small stable you can see attached to the house. When those inside come out to put out the fire ambush them.

[] Take on Alinor's seeming (speaking little accusing a sore throat) while Ser Richard takes the role of your guide who is remaining to receive his payment from the noble. Claim that you were so distraught at having missed Ticho that you had to come directly here to apologize.

[] Write in

OOC: As you can see you voted for maximum white knighting. Ser Richard is not pleased that his king is risking his neck to save whores but he has no choice other that to come along and try to keep Viserys safe.

 

[DragonParadox]

Fire in the Night​

Sixth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Travelers approaching at this hour would cause suspicion so far from the main roads and while the guise of Alinor would get you inside you are not certain how well you could impersonate a woman for even the shortest time. So in the end you decide to set fire to the stable and ambush those who would come out to put it out. Looking at the damp wood of he exterior you decide to set the fire inside.

Ser Richard once more proves his worth as he breaks the door of the stable by sheer strength of back and arm. You had originally suggested that he hack through the door with his sword but he looked as offended as if you had suggested turning his favorite mount into boots. Hopefully the sound of the stable doors breaking could not be heard from the house.

Inside you notice a riding horse that most likely belongs to the master of the house. This is something you had hopped for but not expected. With any luck you can end this tonight. Wasting no time you set fire to the dry fodder by producing sparks with magic.

Ser Richard raises and eyebrow and says: "Was wondering if you could to that. Seemed right for a Dragon. Can you use it for other things?"

"Not yet," you reply "We'll just have to handle this fight with steel."

The knight grunts in affirmation as both of you crouch down in the long grass. You take the opportunity to set Varys loose from the inner lining of your cloak where she stays when you take her out.

The cries of the panicked horse ring into the night.

Oddly enough you feel more guilty about the poor beast than about the fact that you are planing cold blooded murder from stealth. After all the horse did not ask to be caught in the disputes of humankind. A large man in boiled leather and two others wearing simple smocks emerge from the house. Once they are well in range for your crossbow you hear one of them call out in pain. Varys had bitten into the man's bare ankle. causing the others to turn towards him. Under your sight the stars and crescent moon seemed to provide as much illumination as the the sun in an overcast day. More than good enough to shoot by.

You aim for the obvious guard as the more dangerous target. To your considerable surprise you strike him in the eye felling hm instantly. Either you have some unexplored gift for this particular weapon or the boasts of the Myrish do not lie.

Gained 300 XP

In the same moment Ser Richard bursts from cover almost casually killing the one whom Varys had bitten before commanding the other one to not move on pain of death. He hesitates but on hearing he sound of your crossbow reloading he throws himself on the ground crying for mercy. As Ser Richard roughly binds the man's hands you grab one of the wet blankets and hurry into the stable to but out the fodder you had lit moments before.

You can hear the knight cursing you for a fool, for once uncaring of your royal dignity but you continue on your path. It's not like the whole stable could be alight in so little time.

Knowing exactly where the fire is you make a good start at putting it out before Ser Richard arrives also carrying a blanket. You easily manage to put out the flames.

Bonus objective complete: Save the poor horse! Gained 75 XP

Now the time has come to decide how you will get information out of your captive swiftest. Ticho is still in the house and shouls the missing girls still be alive then they are in grave danger.

[] Have Ser Richard threaten him. he looks like she could use the opportunity to vent some anger.

[] Try to Charm information out of him. It has worked well so far.

[] Threaten him with magic. There is no fear greater then the fear of the unknown

OOC: To explain that ludicrous series of events: the guard was a Level 2 Warrior (CR 1 because NPC classes are worse than PC ones). He had 10 + 1d10 health. He rolled poorly and got 12 HP. Viserys shot his crossbow and got 19 + 1 +1 =21, a crit. He then rolled 6 damage on a 1d6+1. With the crit that is 12 damage hence the one-shot. He was so enthused at his unexpected success that he thought to save the horse being that he is a 13 year old on a heroism kick. He succeed in that too. Who is bribing the RNG and with what?

 

[DragonParadox]

Veno's Tale​

Sixth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

The man you captured is called Veno. He would not speak of his master's secrets no matter what honeyed words you spoke nor what threats Ser Richard made. In the end you had to resort to torture. As the knight goes about his bloody work you begin to understand why it is kings and lords have their torturers far from sight. Killing is one thing but this, seeing man as just a piece of meat to be broken for your convenience. How many times would you have to see this before you became inured to the horror?

Your captive's left hand was bloody ruin and Ser Richard had already began working on his right when he finally began to speak gasping through the pain. The tale he wove was as strange as it was terrible. It began with an unusual find uncovered when Ticho had ordered the digging of a wine cellar for the lodge. The diggers finding something solid the marshy ground they called for their master. It was a large irregular sharp-edged stone bearing blood-red markings that softly sang a ever changing-song. Ticho set it up as a curiosity in his sitting room.

The very next day the master began having an affair with one of the maids. He showered her with gifts and affection calling her his beloved and the Light of his Life then one morning he woke in a rage and killed her. Rothos, the dead man who Varys bit was the brother of the maid tried to take his vengence but found he could not. His flesh would not obey him. Veno himself tried to flee but he too found that this could not be done. While the servants could leave this place and return by their master's command and in his company they could not truly abandon it.

Veno began having nightmares of monsters devouring him alive.

Now bound by ties more terrible that gold to their master's whims the remaining servants continued with their tasks hoping against hope that this nightmare would end once their master found her whoever or whatever she is. The pattern repeated itself five young women were killed in after being considered sought out and courted, though the manner of their deaths evolved from the swift to the slow and torturous. The last victim who matched Vana's description had yet to expire from hunger and thirst Veno thought. Ticho was growing impatient with her will to live.

The bodies were thrown into the incomplete cellar. Veno swears that when he deposited the last one he saw one of the dead bodies already there move. On further questioning he admits the body looked strange, grey and bald and smaller then it should have been.

On hearing the description some hidden piece of dream-gained lore comes to the fore of your mind: Tana'ri things of Darkness and Disorder, demons it truth, though only the least of them... for now.

Before he passes out from the pain Veno is able to confirm that there are no other servants in the house.

What do you do with Veno:

[] Kill him
[] Let him live for now

How will you deal with Ticho:

[] Storm the house now
[] Wait for dawn when dark things are not so strong
[] Write in

OOC: If Viseys had not passed a DC 20 knowledge arcana check you would have been going in there expecting zombies. Incidentally you made the right choice taking this quest as soon as it showed up.

 

[DragonParadox]

A Vision and a Choice​

Sixth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Ser Richard wraps Veno's bleeding hand rough bandages while also resecuring the ropes. You are not sure hy you wish to spare him, perhaps because by his account he too is a victim of sorts.

You decide to go at once. At least one of the girls you came to rescue is not beyond help. Ser Richard does not object this time. The surprise must have shown on your face because he comments:

"This is bigger than a few missing whores. Men losing their minds and wills to darkness, I don't know that much of legends but I don't think this is the sort of thing that sorts itself out."

There is a small but keenly noticeable part of you that resents Ser Richard for not giving you the excuse to back out or at least delay.

"So the demons I'll die to steel like the one before?" Ser Richard asks as you approach the house.

"They die easier to silver from what I recall but steel will to it, just takes more effort"

"Silver..." the knight's tone is long suffering. "Very discernin' Grumpkins aren't they? How are you even supposed to get silver to hold a proper edge for a sword?"

You shrug feeling no small amount of frustration yourself. Why is it that these things are happening to you? Fate? Truly horrific luck? Or perhaps magic calling to magic...

You find the door open creaking on it's hinges. As you did not have Lyra's light spell Ser Richard is carrying a makeshift torch made in the stables.
The flickering light makes the shadows of the entrance hall dance ominously. Tapestries seem to reach out like living shadows to envelop you, the eyes of the trophies open the walls appear to glow with the embers of malice. Truly this is an accursed place.

There is a foul voice on the air, it is no formless melody as Veno described but words dripping honeyed poison, a female voice though you can be sure it belongs to no woman: Bide awhile and heed my words and council much have you yet to learn and I hold the wisdom of ages.

Sooner would I cast myself onto a burning pyre creature, I have seen what your blandishments are worth, you reply in the silence of your mind.

So little do you know, a blind child stumbling through life, the Urchin King the Thief King, the Beggar King. You see yourself a broken maddened shell in some Godsforsaken den of savages spitting poison and clinging to empty honors, you see yourself die crowned with molten gold.

To ward off you recall a snippet of arcane lore: The future is not set, no man's fate in stone is written. The voice cannot be speaking the truth because in all the world there is no being mighty enough to know the future just a future. So I might have broken, might still break. So too I could have died forgotten and Dany along with me before the magic came. In glory or ruin I refuse to surrender my will onto you, a sorcerer I am and kin to Dragons who are the bones of the earth and the lords of Fire and air. Begone.

All at once you feel lightheaded and uncertain on your feet but the voice is gone. Ser Richard looks at you with concern. You wave him off. It would not do for him to know that you were almost defeated by a bodyless voice.

As you reach the door to the sitting room you hear pleading whispers from within, a man's voice: "Why won't you speak with me... I tried... so alone...anything... please."

As you enter you are greeted by an unexpected and disturbing scene. Ticho is is at the feet of a two foot tall irregularly shaped stone monolith covered in foul symbols. Both his wrists cut he is babbling happily as he dies.

What do you do:

[] Rush forward and kill him yourself hopefully ruining the ritual by not allowing him to die by his own hand
[] Cast charm at him, perhaps your spell could ruin whatever hold the demon has on him my mixing foreign magic in the last crucial moment
[] Tip over the stone
-[] Away from Ticho
-[] Towards Ticho, killing him with it.
[] Write in

OOC: Choose wisely

 

[DragonParadox]

Truth and Honor ​

Sixth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Exact positioning is important in rituals and this one looks particularly fragile, an act of desperation. you draw your blade not to kill but to use as leverage. You push the stone. down with a resounding crack.

A piece of the eldritch monolith actually breaks and you can hear the voice in your mind no longer tempting or mocking but filled with impotent rage. You breath a sigh of relief. The dyeing man is no longer happy but sobbing: "Why can't a remember anymore it was the most beautiful... why can't I remember her face, her voice... my love"

"Because it was a lie and now the darkness is lifted from your eyes at last." You are not certain why you answer, perhaps because even such a man as Ticho became deserves the truth before the end.

"I gave her everything... my dreams, my honor, my life." His horror only seemed to grow.

"And all those things she sought by deception." you reply feeling vastly out of your depth for all you were the most knowledgeable one in the room. "Perhaps at the last you can deny her your soul."

"I need to see the moon" Ticho says his voice a faint whisper.

"Where is the girl?" you ask, uncertain if it is nobility or cruelty that impels you to bargain at a time like this.

"Food cupboard... by the kitchen, empty" he replies.

You only just manage not to kill him then and there as you consider the torment the poor girl must have been put though.

"Ser Richard, kindly take this outside," you say, your voice sounding strange in your own ears, unwilling to even look at the dying monster on the floor.

The knight obeys though you can tell he is upset at having to choose between safeguarding your honor and your safety.

You know you should be cautious, that there may still be demons in the house but you can't bring yourself to act on that caution. You head directly towards the ajar door to the kitchen. You can see a cupboard bared with a heavy wooden beam at the other and of the room. Inside you find an pale emaciated woman, Vanna, looking at you with a frightful lack of understanding for a moment before desperately trying to for words through parched lips. You babble nonsensical reassurances as you go to get a cup of water from a bucket in the corner.

It is thus Ser Richard finds you. The expected words ever-so-politely scolding you for a fool die on his lips.

"The bastard's dead an' I hope he rots in hell no matter where he died." is all he says

The knight carries Vana into what you think was the cook's bed just off the kitchen. Just as he sets her down you hear a crash from the kitchen and feral sounds half way between those of man and beast. Ser Richard is the first through the door though you are only a step behind. it seems the demon has gotten out of the basement.

A corpse-like creature stands before you, its boated, pale flesh ridden with maggots, its colorless eyes alight with bestial malice. You let fly a bolt from the crossbow you had reloaded before even entering the house. It connects but the demon does not seem at all perturbed by it as it stumbles towards you. Ser Richard however is far more effective. With one great swing of his sword he decapitates the monster. as it dissolves a spray of noxious liquid escapes its boated mass.

Ser Richard manages to get out of its way in time. You however are not so lucky. As you breath in the foul substance you feel as if your lungs are on fire.

Lost 4 HP

Still even though the pain you still feel joy at your victory.

Quest Complete: Legacy of the Damned. Gained 400 XP
Bonus objective complete: Save Vana. Gained 125 XP

***​

Ninth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Both Vana's recovery and yours have gone well though she is still weak and you continue to have a rasping cough. The bodies of Ticho's other unfortunate victims have been given a proper funeral. as have the servants including Veno who has died of his wounds.

In the house you have found a reasonable amount of valuables which you had no reason not to help yourselves to.keeping in mind Vana's loss of coin to Lysandree's greed you allowed her to take half of what you found:

Gained three plain silver rings, one gold and jade ring and one plain gold ring
Gained 25 Iron Marks, 13 Iron Halfmarks.

There are only a few more decisions to take before leaving this place.

Do you take the horse (worth 28 Iron Marks):

[] Yes, you could use all the gold or rather Iron you can get
[] No, it's too recognizable

What do you do with the broken demonic monolith

[] Roll the pieces into the bog
[] Bury them
[]Write in

Do you burn down the lodge to cover your tracks.

[] Yes
[] No

OOC: We have a first this update, the first time you actually get hurt. You really should look into getting healing magic for the future.

 

[DragonParadox]

Resolution ​

Ninth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

You decide to singer several more hours to brake up the demonic stone and soil the pieces with magic. Hopeful obscuring the magic will prevent any lingering influence. As you leave you set the house ablaze to cover your tracks but also to prevent other people from inhabiting this accursed patch of ground. Who knows if there are more of them damn hings buried under the marshy ground.

You almost get stooped at the gate for looking like a suspicious bunch with a very valuable ridding horse but you manage to manufacture a tale of woe about being lost in the lagoon for weeks and this being your last surviving horse. The guards are inclined to believe even so improbable a tale of "foolish foreigners" especially after being given a little consideration for all their hard work.

Lost 2 Iron Half-marks

The first thing you do upon entering the city is sell the horse to a shady dealer under a false identity and face (having left Vana with ser Richard so as not to reveal your magic)

Gained 28 Iron Marks

Back at the Rose you receive a warm welcome, perhaps too warm a welcome in some respects. Alinor is very enthusiastic with her kisses of gratitude and you wish for nothing more than to have a seeming active to be able to hide your blush. Ser Richard's unsubtly teasing comments do not help.

Fortunately for whatever remains of your dignity your inopportune celebration is interrupted by Lysandre wishing to know what is with all the noise. If she desired peace and quiet she went about it the wrong way. A furious Selyse explained in great detail what had happened and went on to berate the madam on ignoring her worries. Mellore added her voice to the complaints stating that she had half a mind to just walk out and invite all the girls that had paid their debts to go with her.

Lysandre finally managed to calm them down by promising a better armed guard (not that it would have helped) and to be more attentive in the future (a promise to vague it might as well have been meaningless). You are surprised to note a smug smile of Selyse's face. It seems power plays are the same the world over in a brothel as much as in a royal court.

Returning to the Rat you find Dany has been terribly worried for your safety. She has spent the last day and a half trying to figure out how to cast Charm locked in tour room, having planed to make one or more of the thugs at the Rat to go look for you. You feel terrible at having worried her so but she does not blame you seemingly just glad that you are back in one piece.

You do not yet know what to do about her attempts at magic. She is enunciating words of Old Valyrain a bit too well, imitating the gestures of spell casting a bit too exactly. You might not have noticed had you not spent hours trying to teach Lya. It seems magic is as much in Dany's blood as it is in yours.

Plan for Week Five:

Major actions. Choose one:

[] Meditate on the tumultuous visions that marked your awakening to power (3d100 XP, Possibility to exchange feats)
[] Gorthos has received word of a supposed spirit caller that is surprisingly effective at parting noble fools from their gold. He would like you to offer this maegi the protection of the Old Man and the guild.
[X] You now have a priceless magical artifact hidden under a loose floorboard in your room. Not much of an improvement on a crown. Perhaps with your new funds and Ser Richard to guard you you could move out of the One Eyed Rat
[] Yohn would like you to solve the problem of a feral dog perhaps escaped from one of the pits Gorthos patronizes. It savaged and killed a man who had the Old Man's particular protection.
[] You have come to realize that your powers are a swindler's dream. You could use them to get a significant amount of coin fast and weaken competing criminal organizations at the same time by borrowing as much money as you can from the moneylenders of rival gangs under assumed forms and names.
[] Learn more about how and where Gorthos' Thieves' guild operates
[] Study the Chalice and learn of its powers
[] Write in

Minor actions. Choose two:

[] You have a power that allows you to see magic. Look around the bazaars for any trinket with actual power in it and then acquire it (???)
[] Buy books on the history and noble lineages of the Free Cities and parse them out with Themar's help to be able to create more effective disguises.
[] Milk your familiar for a ready supply of venom (access to DC 10 poison)
[] Meet with one or more of your new friends outside of "work." It is nice having people you can just talk to and they have already given you valuable information besides. (Write-in which)
[] You are feeling a bit homesick. Listen for rumors of the Sunset Kingdoms in Braavos so that you can at east have some news of home.
[] Place charm on the higher ups in the guild to get as much good will as possible by conditioning them to consider you a friend (write-in target)
[] Write in

OOC: Due to the stress of your absence Dany got an awakening roll to see if she would get magic early. She rolled 88 on a DC 90 check.

 

[DragonParadox]

A New Abode​

Ninth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

In less than a month you have increased your funds more than eight-fold. Your unexpectedly swift gaining of riches more arcane dictate that you use the funds to gain more secure accommodations. Getting Dany away from Merin before She can gain too many colorful terms is also a nice ancillary benefit.

You have discovered many options with the aidof your conections. Which do you prefer:

[] The Lonely Tower

Description: Once an observatory and personal retreat built by an eccentric Keyholder this tower is all that remains of that family's abode. It is situated quite near Drowned Town and likely to join the other flooded ruins in a decade or two.

Price: 35 Iron Marks
Basic Operating Expenses: 10 Iron Marks per year

+ Cheap
+ Solid stone construction good for magical experimentation
+ A magnificent view from the top

- Bad neighborhood, harder to attract staff (x2 to all servants wages)
- Will probably sink to join the rest of Drowned Town in a decade or two
- An unpleasantly large number of stairs

[] The Lilly House

Description: This former town house of a small mercantile clan, this house has seen better days, possibility before the Doom. It is a large rambling structure built of a variety of different styles by succeeding generations with the only common theme being the use of white stone. On the other hand it is within a relatively sedate, respectable neighborhood. If you managed to get this place in working order it would be far easier to make connections among the well to do. However many have tried fix the house over the years, none have succeeded leading to the rumor that it is haunted.

Price: 100 Iron Marks
Basic Operating Expenses: 10 Iron Marks per year

+ A lot of room to grow
+ Respectable
+ Safe neighborhood

- Expensive
- Potentiality over-curious neighbors
- Is said to be haunted

[] Wind House

Description: The headquarters of a nearly defunct explorers society this place could prove a treasure trove if you are fortunate... or a firetrap full of old junk if you are not. The current rather senile owner will not sell it unless you agree to keep the Windward Society functioning. This will include higher operating costs, a significant chance of having your secrets discovered and there is also the potential of being drawn into quarrels that are not yours. On the other hand of your current options it is the one that looks the least like a ruin.

Price: 75 Iron Marks
Basic Operating Expenses: 35 Iron Marks per year

+ Treasures of the past
+ In decent condition
+ Potential foreign contacts

- Higher operating expediences
- Obligation to host the Windward Society at least until the last of the membership passes away
- Possibility of being drawn into old quarrels.

What servants will you hire:

[] A cook (recommended, most of the prospective guests could burn water)
-[] Low quality (2 Iron Marks yearly stipend)
-[] Medium quality (8 Iron Marks yearly stipend)
-[] High quality (20 Iron Marks yearly stipend)

[] A maid (may be taken multiple times)
-[] Low quality (1 Iron Marks yearly stipend)
-[] Medium quality (5 Iron Marks yearly stipend)
-[] High quality (16 Iron Marks yearly stipend)

[] An errand boy/girl from the Rat to better keep in touch with the guild (One half-mark to be paid in pennies so s/he won't just run away with the money)

OOC: if you have other house concepts or staff feel free to suggest them. The vote is in plan format.

 

[DragonParadox]

Wind House ​

Eleventh Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

The former owner of Wind House was once called eccentric when he had wealth and influence aplenty. Those days have passed. The Windward Society has been eclipsed and almost forgotten. Less than a dozen members still walk the dusty and increasingly forlorn looking halls, Last month he last of the servants have been let go and Tevos once called Brightsmile let it be known that the old building was on the market but only for those who would sign a contract guaranteed by the Iron Bank to keep it open for the last remaining Windwalkers.

Tevos required no magic to persuade to sell for a price considerably lower than the one advertised and far lower than the House was actually worth. Did his dying eyes see deeper than those of others, perhaps. He whispered something about fate and legacy. You might have dismissed it altogether if he dis not ramble about Dragon bones he once had for the next half hour.

Still the man d fading quickly and few give his words any weight. You doubt he is any sort of security risk and count yourself lucky to have gained so excellent a home for so little gold.

You then proceed look for servants, a cook and maids only, you do not want to repeat Ser Darry's mistakes. Here you have a rather impressive stroke of luck. An old Braavosi retainer family has been left destitute by the death of one of Tevos' former comrades. Considering the vary favorable terms the man was willing to give you you decide you can at least check on their skills.

The family, a elderly cook, his daughter and two nieces prove to be ideal. Competent, polite and very tight-lipped about their former employers' private lives including the one who left them in this position to begin with. This sort of clannish loyalty could be of great use to you. One of the maids has twin boys of seven years, her husband apparently "lost at sea." Were you a more conventional employer you would frown on that sort of thing but considering the women you call friends that would be somewhat absurd. Moreover it is probably healthy for Dany to be around children her own age (who are not pickpockets or beggars).

Lost 156 Iron Marks

Concerning of such urchins you ask Len for one of his more trustworthy apprentices to serve as a messenger now that you are moving away from the Rat.

***​

Twelfth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

By some chance your leave taking is a month to the day of the moment when you first entered the darkened thieves' den that is the One-Eyed Rat. A single month to rise so high and step back into the world of day and respectable (if not necessarily hard working) gentry. Thismonth has changed you as surely as f you had spent half a lifetime here. You have gained a liking for people you could not have imagined wanting to exchange one word with and a twisted sort of respect for those who's livelihood depends on undermining lawful authority.

For a moment you wonder why Gorthos himself does not take his meals and do his dealings somewhere else. True the windfall from Lembros' kidnapping was exceptional but not unheard of. Then you catch sight of the stab rips in the back of his doublet and you realize the truth: He needs to be seen as one of the guild, living a life the common cut-purses and petty thugs can relate to.

You by comparison were never "one of us" to the rogues of Ragman's Harbor but you were not quite "one of them either. " Neither fish nor fowl nor good red meat as the Westerosi saying goes. Perhaps that is why the ladies of questionable virtue were the ones to become closest to you. They are used to interacting with the highborn and the low in equal measure.

Dany is a touch sad, or perhaps just mirroring your contemplative mood as you go, having said her goodbyes to Merin Len and even Relor still at the same table he was a month ago. You decide to leave her to her thoughts, she is more than capable to speaking her mind if she so desires.

Themar looks less disheveled then usual and for a wonder he does not smell of alcohol. Perhaps he reasons that at least the facade of respectability will be required from now on.

***​

Wind House is a solid looking grey stone building covered in blooming climbing vine that has gone more than a bit wild in the last year. The neighborhood it is it is solidly of merchants and successful craftsmen with perhaps a few scions of poorer gentry (like you in a way) sprinkled here and there.

There is a kitchen with a herb garden still in reasonable good order and three servants rooms (two of the maids will have to share a room). The respectable sized library and chart room is now empty of all but the most obscure or dubious of documents.

The musty smelling but still open master bedroom and three guest rooms that will have been closed off for years but are still mostly furnished

The dining room is completely stripped of furnishings and thus unusable.

The sitting room is perhaps the most intact room of the House, trophies of distant lands mounted on the walls or set on tables. Here the last remaining members of the Windward society will continue to take their meals and drinks before the fire at your expense until they pass from the world. While their presence is troubling when it comes to your many secrets perhaps they experience and contacts could be use to you.

There is also an attic that could easily bee converted into a place to work magic once it is cleared of what looks like the flotsam and jetsam of ages.

***​

Thirteenth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

Lya arrives early the next day, thanking you for the offer of guesting.

Alignment shifts 5 points to Good. Now True Neutral 55/60

As you give her a tour of the house she appears quite impressed and whispers: "I thought they said crime does not pay."

You smile and answer in jest: "They must not know competent criminals then."

Lya giggles and says: "You are terrible." Just then you enter the library as she looks at the books and sill more at all the places other books might be placed she continues: "But that is just fine by me."

You leave her to her unpacking and what looks like reasonably competent directing of the servants. Perhaps he could take something of that task. The other alternatives are Ser Richard (usually busy) or Themar (whom you would rather not contemplate in charge of any accounts for obvious reasons).

How alike and yet how different this place is from the house you grew up in. Perhaps because it is the fruit of your (dishonest) labors you begin for the first time to feel like a lord in truth if not yet a king, responsible for the lives of others.

What do you want to do next:

[] Chalice experimentation.
[] Outing with Dany and the girls
[] Book shopping with Lya

OOC: Not the most important vote but the update need a break point. In other news you are getting closer and closer to Neutral Good. That is a little unexpected.