Emperor Viserys Targeryen: It is not clear if the fight is barely beginning or just done. In truth, it's not easy to tell whether the danger is occurring right now or sometime in the shadowy future. The Emperor stands holding Dark Sister at an angle, the blade crossing above his knee before barely touching the ground. On the other hand he holds a small scepter or baton of exquisite quality, lines of power lining both it and his entire arm in the beginnings of a raging inferno as he begins to lift it into the air. He is clad in a strange but tasteful mix of Essosi mage's robe and Westerosi armor; what could be a cuirass of sorts stretches over his chest, but his arms and shoulders are covered by long sleeves of silk, and from his back stretches Mammon's Folly in all its terrible splendor, fluttering in the wind. On his head lies the Crown of the Conqueror, a sharp thing with no gems, radiating power in its simplicity. Despite all these things, it is not them that most stays in the mind of the beholder when he or she remembers the piece. It's the eyes; they seem to peer straight ahead, beyond the onlooker, beyond the horizon, beyond the present. They stare always forward, thinking or perhaps knowing a simple truth he is to carry out, a single promise to anyone who gazes at that face.
1. No Runestaff of the Old Gods? That's a very distinct piece of our regalia, quite a bit moreso than the Rod of Quickening.
2. We should have two versions of Viserys -- human, and dragon. He's both, after all. Besides, it'd be cool as hell.
3. Big no-no for the Crown of the Conquerer. We haven't started the invasion of Westeros just yet. If we reveal that we have it, then literally everyone is going to take that as absolute proof that Dorne is our ally (before now they couldn't quite prove it) and then surprise, Dorne is being invaded.
Same really, Though the characters I actually hate in this quest I could count on one hand with fingers to spare.
1. The Goddamned Bear
2. Bahamut
3. ... Does The Iron Throne count as a character?
That's it I think, there are events I'm not happy with, but I can't think of any characters that really get me all egoo style mad.
1. No Runestaff of the Old Gods? That's a very distinct piece of our regalia, quite a bit moreso than the Rod of Quickening.
2. We should have two versions of Viserys -- human, and dragon. He's both, after all. Besides, it'd be cool as hell.
3. Big no-no for the Crown of the Conquerer. We haven't started the invasion of Westeros just yet. If we reveal that we have it, then literally everyone is going to take that as absolute proof that Dorne is our ally (before now they couldn't quite prove it) and then surprise, Dorne is being invaded.
To be fair, nobody works themselves up like egoo does.
Fair point on the staff, though the rod of quickening seems more royal/kingly/stately to me... hmm. On the crown of the conqueror though I dont think it would mean anything horrible. Any Westerosi that gets his hands on the figure and knows enough of history to identify the crown should just assume we're bullshitting or just making it up. Its obvious propaganda!
Fair point on the staff, though the rod of quickening seems more royal/kingly/stately to me... hmm. On the crown of the conqueror though I dont think it would mean anything horrible. Any Westerosi that gets his hands on the figure and knows enough of history to identify the crown should just assume we're bullshitting or just making it up. Its obvious propaganda!
It's majorly risky, dude. I'm sorry, but can you honestly tell me that the Baratheons and Lannisters wouldn't take one look at it and use it as ultimate proof that Dorne has betrayed the crown? The reason this matters is that the justification would drive forth a military response, quite possibly in the form of PC strike teams, which would then require our attention.
Everyone who knows their Westerosi history knows that the crown was lost in Dorne when they murdered the Young Dragon... and then we just suddenly happen to find it? Anyone with a brain will make the obvious conclusion that the Martells willingly returned it to us, presumably with an oath of fealty along with it. There's a very good reason we haven't been openly wearing our crown. We are super close to invading Westeros, but it's not right now.
maybe have all human Viserys figures (current and future, because of course there will be more sets) crafted with tiny little grooves along his brow, and when we crown ourselves Imperator we give out a commemorative little crown that clicks into place on all of them.
I figured fabricating all this stuff with divine insight and all out usual ASWAH cheese meant that I could really go full power on descriptive might and Michelangelo levels of artistic quality. With so many bonuses stacked together these figures should have more in common with small laser sculpted marble art than Warhammer minatures.
@DragonParadox Can this make it to threadmarks? If it makes it to Canon, I'd just love to see Lya's face when she sees two little girls playing with her figurine.
Figurines Part 2: The Companions (and a few bonus additions).
Companion Figurines:
Lya the Sage: The serene presence of this figurine is the first thing that draws onlookers. One hand is held open at waist level with the palm aimed up, a book of lore or arcane might floating atop it, its pages locked mid ruffle as if she were searching the correct spell-to-be with her mind. Her hair seems unrestricted by gravity, and her exquisitely crafted robes seem to flutter, as if the weight of the working her mind was creating were displacing the air itself. Her poise seems to exude both power and confidence, though a more idealistic or perhaps dreamy outlook could be inferred if the onlooker focused on her eyes, which seem more thoughtful than righteous. Perhaps for her, this is simply another start to the week.
Lord Garin Drekelis: If one were to wonder what would happen if a veteran Bravo and a black shadowcat were to join into one being, it could be this figure. There is something that's quintessentially Braavos about it; long black coat that flutters as he finds himself mid stride, thin rapier in one hand and sharp blade held in the other, both lowered and not yet aiming for their prey. He seems to prowl more than walk, his course certain and his appearance just a bit uncanny. His understated smile seems razor thin.
Ser Waymar Royce: Everything about this figure seems to spell one single thing: Heroism. His face is locked in the midst of a battlecry; eyes almost half lidded as if shielding themselves from an overwhelming light ahead even as they struggle to peer forth, mouth opened in the midst of a heavy roar, sparks of lighting barely visible across his visage. He is clad in masterworked heavy plate armor the likes of which only a knight from a tale could wear, the scratches and blemishes only adding to the sense of dynamic motion about it. He seems only a second away from crashing against some titanic weight, shoulder angling for the blow as he aims his sword with one hand for a thrust, the other held just below the sword hand and aiming low, crisscrossing with lighting itself as if a step away from unleashing a tropical thunderstorm.
Vee: It seems a simple figure at first. A barefoot little woman in simple clothing… Looking for longer than a second however can confuse the onlooker, as there is a sense of primordial weight to it, something unstoppable or… beyond this world. Perhaps it is the stern, unflinching gaze of her hard eyes, eyes which seem to communicate an unstoppable will, as if this woman's determination were a physical beast chained to the great Hardened Steel cages of Mosshold, only a slight wind away from breaking loose and wreaking havoc. She stands with her arms by her sides, only beginning to be raised into the air as she peers into the distance, as if about to summon something great and terrible into this world in mere moments.
Maelor: This figurine seems to have been caught in the middle of something urgent. His left hand is aiming forwards, the first wisps of eldritch fire already emerging from it. He is not looking in that direction though… the young boy's head is turned almost past his other shoulder; he gazes to that side, in the direction his right hand is already raising, as if he were now being attacked from behind too. His face betrays a grim smile that betrays both tension and an almost playful sort of exasperation, as if thinking uncharitable thoughts about the whole situation even as he sees the irony of it. Regardless, the menace soon to come out of his will is all too palpable.
Glyra: This smallish figure seems full of pent up mischief as one of her hands searches for something within her bag, the other already making ready to throw something at an unfortunate foe. She stands on the heels of her feet, as of ready to fly but unwilling to. She seems to be bracing her back against something… or someone. For some reason she fits perfectly when positioned against Maelor's back.
Lord Malarys Vaenor: This man stands facing a small booklet he holds open with one hand, though his eyes do not look at it. They stare instead at an angle, as if watching something from a distance. The other hand holds a sword cane that is only just beginning to be unsheathed, and a small piece of parchment seems to be jutting from the miniature wooden repository affixed to his belt. On it are symbols of primordial Law. The figure seems as if just having finished the judgment of something a mere second ago… and is getting ready to carry out the sentence.
Ser Richard Lonmouth: The size of this statue does not seem enough to contain itself. The knight is standing with Oathkeeper's tip jammed into the ground, the flames around the blade somewhat subdued. His armor is a thing of legend, flame and light, damned and blessed, the armored pauldrons depicting the three headed dragon of House Targeryen in all their might and majesty, while his tabard shows the banner of the house of Skulls and Kisses. And yet for all the beauty and terror of his armor, for all the foreboding menace of the longsword grasped tightly in his hands, the knight seems to be unmoving, exuding a sort of existence in the moment as he simply is, the only thing betraying life being his face. He seems to be eyeing something, scanning it to the very core as the corner of his mouth tilts upwards ever so lightly.
Xor: For what should be something weird indeed, this figurine is surprisingly adorable. Sure, it seems to be a single floating eye with a few stalks tacked on top, but that just makes the onlooker appreciate the artistry of the work all the more. This streamlined and perhaps even intriguing figure seems to exude curiosity and good natured friendship, gazing excitedly at something as two stalks hold a book by themselves, some almost arguing with themselves as they stare at each other, while the last few follow the big eye's direction. This floating, curious orb seems to be clad in a protective suit of armor, though he has the bearing of a scholar and not a warrior.
Tyene Sand: This figurine holds an understated air of refinement and exotic allure, swaying almost sinuously with a determined stride and wearing an exquisite dress that mixes the practical with the beautiful. One hand holds a whip formed as if from sand itself, still constructing itself as she rears back to strike with it. The other hand seems to be in the midst of spellcasting, small, whisp-thin trails of something coalescing around it. Her belt seems well endowed with pouches and small yet delicate tools.
Emperor Viserys Targeryen: It is not clear if the fight is barely beginning or just done. In truth, it's not easy to tell whether the danger is occurring right now or sometime in the shadowy future. The Emperor stands holding Dark Sister at an angle, the blade crossing above his knee before barely touching the ground. On the other hand he holds a small scepter or baton of exquisite quality, lines of power lining both it and his entire arm in the beginnings of a raging inferno as he begins to lift it into the air. He is clad in a strange but tasteful mix of Essosi mage's robe and Westerosi armor; what could be a cuirass of sorts stretches over his chest, but his arms and shoulders are covered by long sleeves of silk, and from his back stretches Mammon's Folly in all its terrible splendor, fluttering in the wind. On his head lies the Crown of the Conqueror, a sharp thing with no gems, radiating power in its simplicity. Despite all these things, it is not them that most stays in the mind of the beholder when he or she remembers the piece. It's the eyes; they seem to peer straight ahead, beyond the onlooker, beyond the horizon, beyond the present. They stare always forward, thinking or perhaps knowing a simple truth he is to carry out, a single promise to anyone who gazes at that face.
The future is ours, he seems to whisper.
Bonus Figures:
Mosshold Trainers: These hardy and strangely clad tamers wield whips, food, and collar sticks. They have scars aplenty, courtesy of the dangerous beats they being to heel on a daily basis. 4 figures.
The Harbinger: Enormous and terrifying dragon-construct. The Emperor doesn't really have one of these… right?
False Ravens: Caw! Perfect for perching on hero's shoulders as they search for danger… or on potted plants. 4 figures. Makes a cute ensemble when perched beside each other, their beaks teasing each other and jostling as if for the better view.
Greater False Raven: Caw! Could just be spying on you… or could be biding its time so it can rip your eyes out... 2 figures.
Allied Shaitan Infantry: Earth Genies clad in mighty and solid looking armor, wielding a plethora of traditional weapons. 3 figures.
Allied Djinn Infantry: Air Genies clad in whispy and ethereal looking light armor, caught midflight as they charge on their foe from above with a plethora of traditional weapons. 3 figures.
And more bad guys:
Tywin Lannister: A pensive figure sitting on a toilet, either having an existential crisis or pushing the big one out. 1 figure, toilet included.
Westerosi Levy Spearmen: A sadly underfed bunch of boys and old men trying to hold on to fire hardened spears… and failing at it. 5 figures.
Essosi Slave Spearmen: A sadly underfed bunch of boys and old men with collars, trying to hold on to fire hardened spears… and failing at it. 5 figures.
Unsullied Spearmen: Lightly armored, brave troops holding on to their spears and succeeding at it… though going by their grim expressions it won't be of much use. 5 figures.
Ghiscary Masters: Neither Wise, nor Good, and certainly not Great, this bunch of richly dressed fools couldn't lead themselves out of a chicken pen, much less an Empire. 5 figures in varying states of greed, panic, and confusion.
----
@Azel Eleven National Heroes for the children of the Empire to aspire to. Knock yourself out!
It's majorly risky, dude. I'm sorry, but can you honestly tell me that the Baratheons and Lannisters wouldn't take one look at it and use it as ultimate proof that Dorne has betrayed the crown? The reason this matters is that the justification would drive forth a military response, quite possibly in the form of PC strike teams, which would then require our attention.
Everyone who knows their Westerosi history knows that the crown was lost in Dorne when they murdered the Young Dragon... and then we just suddenly happen to find it? Anyone with a brain will make the obvious conclusion that the Martells willingly returned it to us, presumably with an oath of fealty along with it. There's a very good reason we haven't been openly wearing our crown. We are super close to invading Westeros, but it's not right now.
Following occam's razor its much more likely that Viserys simply embellished his action figure with a whole lot of stuff from legend, including the conquerors crown. The presence of it in a figurine would be a the flimsiest casus belli against Dorne ever... though granted, the existence of credible reports having us holding Dark Sister kinda undermine that point.
I'll drop it anyway, its not a hill I'm willing to die on.
maybe have all human Viserys figures (current and future, because of course there will be more sets) crafted with tiny little grooves along his brow, and when we crown ourselves Imperator we give out a commemorative little crown that clicks into place on all of them.
You know what? I like that idea the more I think about it. For the next festival...
I'm working on Dragon form right now, though honestly its looking a bit lackluster compared to the others... imagination is failing me. Also, I can't believe I forgot Dany
Following occam's razor its much more likely that Viserys simply embellished his action figure with a whole lot of stuff from legend, including the conquerors crown. The presence of it in a figurine would be a the flimsiest casus belli against Dorne ever... though granted, the existence of credible reports having us holding Dark Sister kinda undermine that point.
I'll drop it anyway, its not a hill I'm willing to die.
You know what? I like that idea the more I think about it. For the next festival...
I'm working on Dragon form right now, though honestly its looking a bit luckluster compared to the others... imagination is failing me. Also, I can't believe I forgot Dany
Hmmm that's a good point. Should I put her in? I'm honestly confused on her current status.
Following occam's razor its much more likely that Viserys simply embellished his action figure with a whole lot of stuff from legend, including the conquerors crown. The presence of it in a figurine would be a the flimsiest casus belli against Dorne ever... though granted, the existence of credible reports having us holding Dark Sister kinda undermine that point.
I'll drop it anyway, its not a hill I'm willing to die.
Sorry, I really hate to be the party pooper on this since you're so enthusiastic about it. It's just that I knew it would hurt Dorne even if we didn't mean it to.
Viserys' dragon form is actually super neat. DP said that when he takes his dragon form, the cloak enscribes itself onto his scales, showing the world its legend. His scales more or less become gilded in gold. And beyond that, Red Dragons look really neat in general.
Nice chapter, but explaining DF Black Magic with a mostly mundane feedback loop seems a bit insuficcient.
That is after all something Viserys could fix in a heartbeat.
Making it purely supernatural would be insufficient too, for I truly believe in "What magic has wrought, magic can undo."
Only a combination of both factors, psychological changes and a soul-altering downwards spiral seems to come close to your stated intend of making Warlockism nearly impossible to fix.
Sorry, I really hate to be the party pooper on this since you're so enthusiastic about it. It's just that I knew it would hurt Dorne even if we didn't mean it to.
Heh, she's going to be hella uncomfortable about those. On the other hand, that eventual interlude of her father trying and failing to understand how his daughter went from 'disposable Silent Sister material' -> 'HERO OF THE (largest) IMPERIUM (on Planetos), COMPANION OF HIS MAJESTY EMPEROR VISERYS TARGERYEN' will be fun.
Sorry, I really hate to be the party pooper on this since you're so enthusiastic about it. It's just that I knew it would hurt Dorne even if we didn't mean it to.
Viserys' dragon form is actually super neat. DP said that when he takes his dragon form, the cloak enscribes itself onto his scales, showing the world its legend. His scales more or less become gilded in gold. And beyond that, Red Dragons look really neat in general.
Mosshold Trainers: These hardy and strangely clad tamers wield whips, food, and collar sticks. They have scars aplenty, courtesy of the dangerous beats they being to heel on a daily basis. 4 figures.
Maybe make the chamber pot made of gold? Or just have little piles of gold around the chamber pot. The gold not being in the shape of coins but shaped like something you would expect to be IN a chamber pot.
Different poses? He could be casting spells, ready to pounce, in mid-flight, in full attack mode, in the middle of a grand speech, in a pose that's clearly passing judgement, etc.
Alternatively you could showcase the Halfdragon forms if you wanted to as well.
Hmmm, maybe breathing fire, looking smug, laying on a pile of treasure (much to the real king's exasperation), the Usurper having grooves where he can be fitted into the dragons mouth to make it look like he is eating him.
Viserys eating people is the opposite image of ourselves that we want to portray. These are the kinds of things people say to slander us. This would only help them.
The king in his dragon form stands proudly, it's head held tall It's eyes carrying a look of protective fury and within it's mouth one can almost see the glow of fire within. It's scales glitter with a slightly golden sheen, as if lightly gilded, but even then the bright crimson of the scales show's through giving off the effect of golden in a red hot fire, almost liquid upon it's scaled hide. From it one can almost feel as if it is about to take flight and attack those who would dare harm those under it shelters beneath it's wings.
Viserys eating people is the opposite image of ourselves that we want to portray. These are the kinds of things people say to slander us. This would only help them.
Different poses? He could be casting spells, ready to pounce, in mid-flight, in full attack mode, in the middle of a grand speech, in a pose that's clearly passing judgement, etc.
Alternatively you could showcase the Halfdragon forms if you wanted to as well.
I think I may have something at least decent. Could you spitball stuff for a singular Dany dragon figure? Like what's the wyrmling she most likes to be and how it looks in broad terms?
So I #DidTheMath and assuming we on averaged expanded our total number of training facilities by 2 per turn, and invaded in the 11th or 12th Month of this current year, we should have either 3/4ths to the entirety of a Legion to hold the eastern border against Ghiscari aggression. Unfortunately, no matter how you spin it, we should only have around 3 Legions fit for invasion.
It's not quite what I hoped for... mostly because I had wanted to be able to act in multiple theaters by conducting simultaneous operations in the same region even. It seems like the biggest utility of our elites is their outsized combat power (one and a half legions could take on a host of comparable size to a single Westerosi Kingdom, on a good day). With all our advantages, we can probably assume we have the prepared terrain in any situation, and better logistics. So no contest there either, not just training.
Basically, they're good at conducting operations, compared to Levies or Armsmen, levies only useful, literally only useful, for a field battle, and nothing else, and as packing peanuts at that, and MaA more useful for garrison work and hardening a soft center or holding a flank. And what we want to avoid is Westerosi running around in impromptu alliances and ransacking and "foraging" about the countryside more than we could have avoided.
So it's looking like we're going to need a reserve of Gate scrolls to transport our three Legions around Westeros for intimidating the relevant people into compliance or tilting any field battles that we couldn't head off in favor of those flying the Three-Headed Dragon, and of course taking hardened locations via surprise attack.
Also given the method we can make our entrance, there's really no reason not to make the first blow in the war three Legions marching into the center of King's Landing and taking over the city whilst Companions simultaneously take control of the Red Keep and (ideally) capture the Royal Family.
Take King's Landing overnight? People who would strongly have considered siding with Tywin or Robert as a first option will change their minds quickly.
From there it would literally be two priorities, keeping coherent forces from mustering together and trying to take the city back, and trimming down defiant houses who haven't dipped their banners or raised ours. Then grinding up Tywin's forces neat and clean.
Hmm. Do we really want to give the Moonsingers a sword? Their goddess has the domain of peace. Something different might work better. I have no idea what though.
I think I may have something at least decent. Could you spitball stuff for a singular Dany dragon figure? Like what's the wyrmling she most likes to be and how it looks in broad terms?
In dragon form? A quicksilver wyrmling either in her morning flight with her brother, looking at something on the ground with a rather childlike curiosity, curled up around herself and sleeping as a dragon, or just preening as people admire her.
On another note, Rina has super distinctive Reinforced Segmented Blue Ice Fullplate, and she's got a special morningstar/mace blessed by the Old Gods (formerly a mace blessed by the Warrior, but it was our spoils of war).
Hmm. Do we really want to give the Moonsingers a sword? Their goddess has the domain of peace. Something different might work better. I have no idea what though.
I think I may have something at least decent. Could you spitball stuff for a singular Dany dragon figure? Like what's the wyrmling she most likes to be and how it looks in broad terms?
I think I may have something at least decent. Could you spitball stuff for a singular Dany dragon figure? Like what's the wyrmling she most likes to be and how it looks in broad terms?
