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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- 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
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Updated plan to include Glyra's new level up. Like @TalonofAnathrax said, there's not really much happening with this level up for her, choice-wise, beyond selecting a new 2nd level spell. I'm torn between Touch of Idiocy and Wraithstrike. They're both really good, but for totally different scenarios. Wraithstrike is stupid good at allowing one to hit most opponents with high AC, while Touch of Idiocy can simply shut down a huge number of creatures by Touch, with no save allowed (basically anything with Int 2, with a good chance of doing the same with anything with an Int of 7 or less), while also being quite effective against any kind of caster, though not necessarily crippling.
[X] "While I originally hail from Qarth, I spent little time there as a child and even less as a man grown. It was but the first step on a journey spanning creation itself, one which I return to now out of familiarity and nostalgia.
-[X] "Although magic has once more flowered upon the Garden, there have long existed rare sites which somehow held a remnant of ancient power. Even more rare, however, were those places which did not so much serve as a reservoir for lingering magic, but instead acted as a timeworn bridge between disparate Planes, allowing a slow trickle of otherworldly energy to coalesce, often with unexpected results.
--[X] "It was one of these places, where the barriers of reality itself grew thin and mystical wonders were still possible, even decades ago, that I discovered as a child of just three and ten. Of course, at the time I thought myself ready to be called a man, but few are those who cannot look upon their past selves and despair at their childish naivety.
---[X] "And so I found myself in another world, where the skies shone like molten steel and the air was like the breath of a freshly stoked forge. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant introduction to the greater cosmos, and one which nearly killed me a dozen times over in my first handspan of days there.
----[X] "Life was harsh, but I persevered, aided by the awakening of my magic. With magic came power, and through the exercise of that power life grew bearable, then comfortable. I did not forget about the world of my birth, known among creation as the Plane of Balance, but neither did I let its absence rule my existence.
-----[X] "What good was it to long for that which I could not have? Luck and happenstance had brought me to the Molten Skies, but no amount of research or treasure could have opened the way for my return to the Garden. I instead contented myself exploring the many Planes, gathering power and lore, and no small amount of wealth. And then a disaster struck, or a miracle was granted, depending upon whom you ask.
------[X] "Much changed among the Planes with the realignment of the spheres, not least of all the reopening of the Plane of Balance to one such as I, who had not stepped foot on native soil for nearly two score years."
-------[X] "So to answer your question, I grew mighty not in the shadow of the Palace of Dusk, but as far from it as any man could ever hope to be."
[X] Glyra Level Up
-[X] Class: +1 Spellthief
-[X] Skill Points (5 points): +1 Bluff, +1 Hide, +1 Move Silently, +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Use Magic Device
-[X] Spells:
--[X] 2nd Level: Touch of Idiocy
[X] "While I originally hail from Qarth, I spent little time there as a child and even less as a man grown. It was but the first step on a journey spanning creation itself, one which I return to now out of familiarity and nostalgia.
-[X] "Although magic has once more flowered upon the Garden, there have long existed rare sites which somehow held a remnant of ancient power. Even more rare, however, were those places which did not so much serve as a reservoir for lingering magic, but instead acted as a timeworn bridge between disparate Planes, allowing a slow trickle of otherworldly energy to coalesce, often with unexpected results.
--[X] "It was one of these places, where the barriers of reality itself grew thin and mystical wonders were still possible, even decades ago, that I discovered as a child of just three and ten. Of course, at the time I thought myself ready to be called a man, but few are those who cannot look upon their past selves and despair at their childish naivety.
---[X] "And so I found myself in another world, where the skies shone like molten steel and the air was like the breath of a freshly stoked forge. Needless to say, it was an unpleasant introduction to the greater cosmos, and one which nearly killed me a dozen times over in my first handspan of days there.
----[X] "Life was harsh, but I persevered, aided by the awakening of my magic. With magic came power, and through the exercise of that power life grew bearable, then comfortable. I did not forget about the world of my birth, known among creation as the Plane of Balance, but neither did I let its absence rule my existence.
-----[X] "What good was it to long for that which I could not have? Luck and happenstance had brought me to the Molten Skies, but no amount of research or treasure could have opened the way for my return to the Garden. I instead contented myself exploring the many Planes, gathering power and lore, and no small amount of wealth. And then a disaster struck, or a miracle was granted, depending upon whom you ask.
------[X] "Much changed among the Planes with the realignment of the spheres, not least of all the reopening of the Plane of Balance to one such as I, who had not stepped foot on native soil for nearly two score years."
-------[X] "So to answer your question, I grew mighty not in the shadow of the Palace of Dusk, but as far from it as any man could ever hope to be."
[X] Glyra Level Up
-[X] Class: +1 Spellthief
-[X] Skill Points (5 points): +1 Bluff, +1 Hide, +1 Move Silently, +1 Sleight of Hand, +1 Use Magic Device
-[X] Spells:
--[X] 2nd Level: Touch of Idiocy
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Ok Vote actually closed this time. Let's get the update in the road.
- Location
- washington
"Oh no we are inside cement. Oh god the horror!"
- Location
- United States
Damn it. I was sure I found a jackpot.
Update in beta.
- Location
- Brazil
+7 from Strenght.
Had shown himself.
A task.
She.
Too grim and proud.
Lose the "as".
[...] over-stuffed things, she supposed.
Here stood the sorceress she sought, her crimson hair unbound, ...
Magic hung around her, louder than the hiss of the flames, brighter than its light.
The first comma isn't mandatory, I think, depends on what you are going for. "Hanging" isn't something usually directly associated with loudness, so I'd probably put in.
The second comma can be an "and".
Were not for her to hear.
Part MMDCCXVI: Masks and Echoes
Masks and Echoes
Twenty-Eighth Day of the Eighth Month 293 AC
"While I originally hail from Qarth, I spent little time there as a child and even less as a man grown. It was but the first step on a journey spanning creation itself, one which I return to now out of familiarity and nostalgia," you reply. The faint discomfort in your voice is no mere mummery, but rather the hope that the man before you does not know too enough of Qarth to pick out some inconsistency in the tale you are about to weave that cannot be accounted with a child's fading memories.
Thankfully you see nothing more than polite interest reflected in the assassin's face, a thoughtful silence that weighs your every word, but has not yet found any wanting.
"Although magic has once more flowered upon the Garden only recently, there have long existed rare sites which somehow held a remnant of ancient power. Even more rare, however, were those places which did not so much serve as a reservoir for lingering magic, but instead acted as a timeworn bridge between disparate Planes, allowing a slow trickle of otherworldly energy to coalesce, often with unexpected results."
"Most uncommon..." the Faceless Man breathes. If his gaze had been sharp before then now it was a dagger, trying to pry apart your very thoughts.
Gingerly, as one walking the edge of a precipice you speak the next words, keeping ever at the forefront of your mind the secrets which 'Master Liu' would wish to keep so as not to reveal the greater deception. "It was one of these places, where the barriers of reality itself grew thin and mystical wonders were still possible, even decades ago, that I discovered as a child of just three-and-ten. Of course, at the time I thought myself ready to be called a man, but few are those who cannot look upon their past selves and despair at their childish naivety."
"Where lay this ancient bridge?" the man before you asked, not with any scholarly interest but with what you recognize as the wariness of one who knew at least in part the sort of horrors lurked beyond the boundaries of the world.
If the servants of the Many-Faced God have faced such perils before and set them right then perhaps it would be over-hasty to plan their end. Braavos has hosted them for centuries without great harm. Perhaps your wider realm can, too. Then again, even the Deep Ones will fight Devils... you simply do not know enough, and to find out more you must keep the mask firmly in place.
"That path is closed now, as I discovered to my sorrow," you reply smoothly. "I found myself in another world where the skies shone like molten steel and the air was like the breath of a freshly-stoked forge. Needless to say it was an unpleasant introduction to the greater cosmos, and one which nearly killed me a dozen times over in my first handspan of days there. Life was harsh, but I persevered, aided by the awakening of my magic. With sorcery came power, and through the exercise of that power life grew bearable, then comfortable. I did not forget about the world of my birth, known among creation as the Plane of Balance, but neither did I let its absence rule my existence."
"You speak the tongues of men well for one who has been so long away on distant shores," the assassin tests you.
In response you shrug, coming as close to sheepish as Liu's lofty expression can ever go. "I wish I could say it is the merit of my mind unaided, but the truth of the matter is that magic has aided me there as well. The first step to returning to civilized society is not to sound like a fool with a mouth full of stones, after all. That holds as much truth out upon the infinite realms as it does upon this narrow world of ours."
"So you gathered lore and secrets until you found the key you sought at last?" Suspicion had faded from the words. One might almost faintly hear eagerness to them, ruthlessly leashed by a will of iron.
"Indeed," you conclude. "So to answer your question, I grew mighty not in the shadow of the Palace of Dust, but as far from it as any man could ever hope to be."
For a long moment there is silence, then the Faceless Man speaks again: "It seems Him of Many Faces has threaded our fates together to his own ends. I have need of a sorcerer to divine certain truths and interpret certain signs for the purpose of ending those who are particularly adept at shirking from the Gift."
"For yourself or your order?" you ask at once. Liu would be no less intrigued than you are at this chance.
"One cannot strike bargains with the God, but only serve him," the assassin is quick to reply, the words not angry but hard as adamantine regardless. "Your dealings, should you accept them, will be with me."
"How may I call you, then?" you ask, allowing a hint of awkwardness into the question. "I did not wish to pry given the nature of your calling, but if I am to deal with you personally then I must have something to call you by."
Again there is no sound save for the distorted voices of the other patrons. When he answers his voice is leached even more of emotion than you are used to hearing: "You may call me Dorren if you wish, it is as good a name as any other."
"Very well," you say briskly, though it is startling to hear a Westerosi name from his lips. What did it mean to him you wonder, that it had been the first to come to mind? That is certainly not a question you can ask, so instead you focus upon the preset. "What do you require and what do you offer in payment? My services are easy to come by, though I am willing to make some allowances for threats that loom over all the world."
The Faceless Man, Dorren, nods, obviously satisfied with your mingling of mercenary practicality and common sense: "I can offer certain favors that my Order can call upon that the Sealord to grant if you have grown tired of your wanderings. I offer gold and silver also of course, and lastly lore, of kingdoms fallen and gods dead and living, even of sorcery, from the vaults beneath the House of Black and White where none but those sworn to the Many-Faced God may step."
"What of knowledge of your own order?" you ask, with carefully measured interest. "I admit I find myself intrigued by the feats you are, ah... suspected to have performed."
"Poor servants of the Many-Faced God we would be were we known for those doings." Something that might have been humor sparks in the depths of Dorren's eyes, though it is swiftly extinguished. "In time that too I might share, as much as is a appropriate for one not of my order."
You nod, satisfied with the answer, and wait for him to make his offer.
Silently the assassin draws from his cloak a small eight-sided gold tablet with letters inscribed in concentric circles upon it. The script is not one you recognize and even after willing upon yourself the power of tongues, it remains stubbornly obtuse. Code then, and not of any ordinary sort. Even as you watch, the letters move and change slowly.
"This is likely connected with some manner of celestial conjunction, one that heralds grave portents," Dorren explains. "Should you decipher it I would offer you a significant reward."
"Even if the conjunction has passed?" you press, not wishing to embark upon solving an empty riddle even for the sake of building trust with the Faceless Men.
"As none of us know what that moment is, it would be unreasonable to set it as a forfeit upon the bargain," he answers instantly.
What do you do?
[] Accept the deal
-[] Write in desired reward
[] Reject the deal
[] Write in
OOC: The social combat was not easy even for Viserys. The Faceless are not pushovers, particularly masters who get sent out to deal with powerful undead mages.
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- Location
- Brazil
Lose the "too".
Lose the "there is".
Strike.
What would it mean to him, you wonder, that it had been the first to come to mind?
Present.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
What type of magical auras does Viserys see emanating from the tablet, @DragonParadox?
Transmutation and divination, both moderate.
- Location
- Goose Land
Braavos has a deal with the Faceless to help with threats. Once we absorb the Free City into the fold we should have the ability to approach them and see about setting up a similar contract. From there it shouldn't be too difficult to set up something that is mutually beneficial and lets the Faceless focus on the "putting down threats against all and Undead Abominations" bit rather than the "Assassinations for Hire" bit.
It may be a solution to our "Inquisition is unable to handle higher level threats" problem.
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- Location
- Goose Land
What has Dorren already tried?
My first instinct is to try a Dispel or to give Object Reading a shot, but both of those have issues.
You would have to ask him IC since he might be hesitant to tell you of his other sources right now.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
What kind of reward do we want? Material wealth is not an issue for us, nor is magical power. Specific types of information might prove valuable still, but I think simply being able to call upon the Faceless Men, not as Assassins but rather allies against various horrors, Undead and other nasties, would be of much greater worth.
- Location
- United States
Calling on them, and lore. They probably have some incredibly valuable lore.
We can bargain for them not to assassinate us later.
- Location
- France
Sending a Faceless Man after Illyrio sounds amazing though.
MAXIMUM PARANOIA
Or at least have one infiltrate the Shadow Fortress and slip in a Teleport focus, or a spy Construct or two.
EDIT: The Faceless Men would probably try to kill Tiamat's mages if they knew what they'd done: they performed mighty necromantic rituals to help stabilise (and thus empower) the Salloshi undead.
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- Location
- Germany
But doing so would be vastly more efficient as Viserys.
For that kind of deal we should reveal ourselves.
- Location
- United States
Illyrio I'd much rather do ourselves.
- Location
- France
I edited my post
I wonder if the Assassins would deal with the Salloshi undead kings if we gave them some useful gear to help their master assassins get out alive?
Sending assassins was very conspicuously not on the table. Remember killing people is a divine sacrament for the Faceless and the price they ask are influence by more than pragmatic concerns. that said they will likely fight undead horrors because they are undead horrors.
- Location
- United States
If nothing else we can count on them in the Long Night.
- Location
- France
Can't we ask them to assassinate powerful necromancers or undead ? Surely those very same religious reasons should make them more amenable to doing so.
You can yes. I was just pointing out that you can't send them after living foes as easily.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
[X] Accept the deal
-[X] We need no reward. Consider this a favor for a potential ally, one we would like to be able to call upon for aid should there come a time where our interests align.
-[X] Ask Dorren what, if anything, they have already learned from the tablet, and the manner in which the information was acquired. We would prefer not to waste time on avenues of research which have already been exhausted or proven fruitless. Of course, he need not reveal the sources themselves, merely their methods and results, if he is concerned with confidentiality.
-[X] Slip the tablet into our cloak upon accepting the deal, then only remove it when we reach the Divination proofed room of the Shadow Tower.
-[X] We need no reward. Consider this a favor for a potential ally, one we would like to be able to call upon for aid should there come a time where our interests align.
-[X] Ask Dorren what, if anything, they have already learned from the tablet, and the manner in which the information was acquired. We would prefer not to waste time on avenues of research which have already been exhausted or proven fruitless. Of course, he need not reveal the sources themselves, merely their methods and results, if he is concerned with confidentiality.
-[X] Slip the tablet into our cloak upon accepting the deal, then only remove it when we reach the Divination proofed room of the Shadow Tower.
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