Only if you give him more then the pize is worth.
A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
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- Tags
- a song of ice and fire a sword without a hilt d&d 3.5 dungeons & dragons 100% high octane dragon fuel ave corvidae battle action dragon diplomacy best sister bureaucromancy delicious soul-stuff dragon dreams come true dragon ta'veren greatest uncle hubris is a coward's word in defiance of gods and men mammon's folly mutually assured mage's disjunction qm murderhobo top tier coatl
Only if you give him more then the pize is worth.
- Location
- United States
That's why it's more trouble than it's worth. We're already kind of stretched thin on the prizes.
Generally speaking I do not find those sorts of mirrored enmities the most engaging. It's just black hats and white hats with nothing much to engage with. Ultimately however it is a matter of what fits into the existing world-building and the framing of the story.
- Location
- Australia
Chromatic you philistine.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Can we please not do the multi-dip into four or more classes to min-max them? I hate that way of building characters. It's one thing to have multiple PRCs, because high level D&D characters that go straight through their class are subpar, but just grabbing one or two levels from multiple classes makes my brain hurt. I'm weird like that.
There are plenty of reasons that a planet within the Material Plane might not have a diverse population of sentient mortal D&D races. It even makes more sense that way.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
If you squint hard enough there actually is already a diverse population of sentient mortals on Planetos. The Ibbish seem sort of like a Dwarven off-shoot, right down to being so-noted as not being able to cross-breed with humans very well as per ASoIaF lore. The Iqari people, or "brindled men", also seem to be another off-shoot of Orcs. I would not hesitate to use the Orc statblock when building one such character, as an example. Same for the Ibbish.
We've also got Drow (implying that elves at least existed at some point, or might exist in far, far off lands else where on the planet) and Snake people of multiple implied varieties.
It seems the further from Westeros and Essos you go where human habitation seems strongest (and thus competition between humans who even in D&D are noted to have similar effects on demographics of entire continents) the more non-human races you encounter.
- Location
- The internet
Personally I have no issues with the Races in this story. There are a million cookie cutter fantasy settings who mugged the works of Tolkien in a back alley for thier racial composition and fluff. If I want to read yet another story about the wise and eternal elves being slowly replaced by the race of men while the Dwarves dig variable amounts of both greedily and deep in thier mountain homes, I can find that with basically no effort.
The specific mash up of Martin's heavily threatening lovecraftian fluff, traditional D&D stuff, and DP's own excellent worldbuilding is unique to this story, and I'd prefer it if it wasn't papered over with Faerun clone #582, thanks.
The specific mash up of Martin's heavily threatening lovecraftian fluff, traditional D&D stuff, and DP's own excellent worldbuilding is unique to this story, and I'd prefer it if it wasn't papered over with Faerun clone #582, thanks.
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- Location
- washington
it gets a little grim derp though if all species we find are evil aligned. Not saying they all are but if a pattern starts it could get a bit annoying.
- Location
- Near Water
What, you mean over-dramatic pseudo-philosophers with a martyr complex?
I would not inflict that on you guys.
I've read some of the series, it's not that bad, just people making bad OCs of him that's bad.
But seriously they will probably try to betray us within seconds so we should plan for that.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Numerous people could betray us at any time, the number of factors which effects whether anyone will or won't is intricate and characters are more than their Alignment around here. Even Azema whilst still connected to the Abyss showed more restraint than some human Magisters. Which is saying something.
Everyone wants something. Sometimes the factors lean too heavily towards "safety/prosperity/personal gain" and the outside motivators towards betrayal "more safety/more prosperity/more personal gain" are not sufficient enough to approach the balanced levels necessary to get someone to even seriously consider it, because then they have to weigh it against more factors like "potential for danger/people I might thereby lose access to whom I like/opportunity cost from having to start over from scratch".
Demons wouldn't usually care about that stuff, but mortals care immensely more about that stuff.
Also worth noting that traditional Drow (which these aren't) only adhere to that backstabbing might makes right betrayal complex because there are literally no other options open for them, life of the surface ordinarily being too hostile because of them being associated with the slave servitor race of Lolth, and that the ones who gain most from the system as encouraged from a Deity to sustain and encourage it, eliminating anyone who tries to rock the boat too much. And even then, there exists counter-balancing factors other than the Priesthood who probably just barely keep the whole thing barely functional (seeing as how they still need constant course correction from Lolth, as evidenced by her going silent for a period of time for some spring cleaning resulted in complete societal breakdown).
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I wouldn't be surprised if the hand signal the one Drow gave the other translates to "comply for now, will betray later".
Of course, we're going to counter that by reaming their brains for their true thoughts and intentions. We are not going to trust them without confirmation that they don't intend to betray us.
Of course, we're going to counter that by reaming their brains for their true thoughts and intentions. We are not going to trust them without confirmation that they don't intend to betray us.
- Location
- United States
I'd appreciate it if you leaned more heavily on the virtues of them sticking around and why they aught to sign up with us. I get a bit nervous with so much emphasis on them having the freedom to go wherever they want, when we explicitly brought them back to recruit them. Those spiders were not cheap.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Better?
[X] Plan "Weaving Webs From Truth and Lies"
-[X] "First let it be known that many paths spread out before you and I shall neither constrain nor bar your passage, though without royal patronage at the very least you may be troubled beyond my lands, whose dominion stretches further with each passing day. This is a time of change and a time of menace, where numerous foes swirl forth from their hiding places and grasp out in an attempt to dominate the world unsuspecting."
-[X] "My Companions and I would fight against this fate, and some sworn into my service do so also, some for wealth, some for honor and others simply because they wish to make a new life amongst the terror and madness and cannot see one worth making outside of my borders."
-[X] "With that said the blandishments on offer are not paltry, if it is merely security that entices you, I declare it assured. If it is a cause worth striving in the service of, there are many callings upon my limited time and attention and you are bound to find some worthy of your talents. And if it is vengeance lit within your heart for all the horror you have suffered, then in vengeance writ let our paths meet all the more closely. The time of knives will find you most prepared."
-[X] If called out on the matter of slavery/perceived weakness over the generosity: "While I and my oathsworn vassals and friends are strong in the Power, we do not rule over the chained, for never has there been more foolish a method of binding others to you than chains of agony and misery, restraints for the thinking mind as much as the body. If you wish to serve me, you can find your way in this world anew as warriors, or whichever other calling suits you best. Call the debt owed repaid in full if you would gather under the ever growing shadow cast by my wings." Assume True Dragon form here.
-[X] With a cold smile: "For as the servant of Lolth, Demon Queen of the Lightless Depths, whom I encountered among the ruins of your fallen city learned, their ilk stands ill-prepared to face our fire, indeed."
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- Location
- United States
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Keep in mind we have to give a fig leaf's proof of the fact that we don't demand service, and no one would lightly just walk away after being saved from a fate worse than death with an obvious debt hanging over their head, for the perceived enmity that might earn if nothing else.
These guys are going to be consummate plotters just as a matter of who they were often dealing with. They'll see if the deal is really as good as we say. When it proves to be better, if only because whatever they ask for that we believe more than agreeable, we actually deliver on with no catch, they will be too confused to betray us.
These guys are going to be consummate plotters just as a matter of who they were often dealing with. They'll see if the deal is really as good as we say. When it proves to be better, if only because whatever they ask for that we believe more than agreeable, we actually deliver on with no catch, they will be too confused to betray us.
enigma1995
Gentleman Beholder
[X] Crake
- Location
- Goose Land
IIRC, it's roughly translated as "I disarmed you without any sort of risk and then offered your weaponry back to you to demonstrate that I completely outclass you and have a use for you alive."
No, seriously, that's the Forgotten Realms canonical way to tell a Drow "You can trust me to want you alive and cooperating for the next bit."
"My Companions and I"
If there's a reason for this grammar choice I'm all ears, but otherwise it's just a bit too informal for the situation imo.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
- Location
- Goose Land
You're damn right he does.
- Location
- Australia
Drow culture itself will in some ways "enforce" their loyalty, as will their understanding of Draconic nature.
Betrayal is always paid back more heavily than boons bestowed, "if he's expended X on us in his service, what might Y be in betrayal".
[X] Crake
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- Location
- being near locations is my passion.
Ask them a small overview of their day to day life, no need to go in depth on screen about it, just as a way to connect and to help find the words (i.e. a boost to our Diplo roll), to express the intention of your vote in a way that will resonate with them.
Also, a big button I'm seeing is "The Mending" so something along the lines of "The World had changed, greatly, and you have an opportunity to start fresh in it. If I may make a suggestion, be welcome as my guests for a few months at least, untill you get a chance to acclimatise, and look at your options. Personally, I'm hoping that you will wish to enter my service/employ, but I'd rather make the offer when you both have had a chance to gain greater context to understand what that would involve. Something fitting to your skills and in line with the path you choose to walk
.But regardless, I think you should push the Mending button.
It's red.
Uh, also, something laws, something guide?
We could ask a serpent priest to guide them around a bit perhaps, really hammer in the "god who is enemy of my (nasty bitch of a) god" saved me and my bro from a curse, at the request of the dragon who rules this realm, so that it is eiser for them to let go from their old processes/modes of though - everything is different for them, if they want to survive, then thrive, they have to be cautious and adapt. Quickly.
I think we're obligated to pay some IM to the serpent priest for their time tho
.[X] Crake
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