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

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Winning vote
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 10, 2019 at 4:33 AM, finished with 130 posts and 10 votes.
  • [X] Offer Lady Lynda Wylde sanctuary in Sorcerer's Deep
    -[X] The Deep is safer until her return to life can be revealed. We can make arrangements for regular visitation with little issue.
    -[X] While in the Deep, Lynda Wylde would receive a considerably safer and far more thorough magical education. We could try to accomodate if she decides she wishes to stay instead, but it wouldn't be nearly as good as if she'd studied in the Scholarum.
    --[X] Highlight that her magic is something we haven't actually seen before, and having her watched over by experts would probably be best just in case.
    -[X] Even if Lynda did decide to stay and we gave her a Greater Ribbon of Disguise, recent events will make hiding in plain sight rather difficult. A suspicious courtier could easily sniff out a cover story we put forth.
    --[X] If, however, they don't budge, give Lynda a Greater Ribbon of Disguise and help her and her father work on a cover story, while arranging for some study material to be sent to her until she can actually learn under a teacher.
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Part MMCMXLV: Love's Secret
  • Threadmarks
    • Love's Secret​

    Ninth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    Charm and honeyed words will only go so far to convincing father and daughter who have just found each other again seemingly beyond hope to part. Even with Dany having been the one who worked that seeming-miracle, Sorcerer's Deep is a far off place heavy with strange and unchancy rumors. Sickness and death had made Lynda wary of her powers you suspect, the offer to join the Silent Sisters motivated by more than fear of bringing shame to the family name. Too much too fast had come rushing down upon House Wylde—like a storm rolling in from the bay tipping the world on its side. In the end it is simple sincerity that wins Lord Caspar over, his daughter would be safer behind the Scholarum's wards than counting upon the magic of a simple glamour to linger in the keep or the town below.

    So by evening, after Lynda had been tearfully reunited with the rest of her kin, you carry her to the Deep alongside a single maidservant, her former wetnurse, chosen for her affection as much as her loyalty.

    Gained Lady Lynda Wylde, Fey-Touched level 3 Adept
    ​
    Before departing Rain House you had asked Lord Caspar for more news of the recent inheritance of Lady Shyra Errol, reasoning that he would be more likely to pay attention to rumor and gossip than Stannis, whose view of the world holds little care for such 'fripperies'. Thus you had learned that the new Lady of Haystack Hall, at three-and-twenty years of age, is only in the position to be looking for a husband due to having remarkably poor luck in her previous two betrothals. The first a cousin of Lord Buckler to the flux and the second a knight of House Penrose to a cornered boar's tusk not two weeks before the wedding was to take place, followed a few days later by the death of the long-ailing Lord Robert Errol, Shyra's father, leading some to suspect something other than ill luck may have been involved.

    It is not, however, the lady's dead father that concerns you the most as you fly north once more towards the seat of House Errol under ragged clouds and inconstant rain. That dubious honor goes to Lady Errol's mother Carolei, born to House Keath, sister of the current lord, one of your strongest opponents in the Riverlands after the clash with the Lads cost him the life of his son and many of his household knights fighting foes that march under the Dragon Banner. How much Lady Carolei shares her brother's enmity against your House is more than you can guess, but it would likely be prudent to assume she will be a stumbling block.

    By the time you are in sight of the domed towers that give Haystack Hall its name the three of you had already outpaced the clouds, leaving the stars sparkling overhead, jealous companions to the light of the almost full moon.

    "Lady Shyra would probably be leaning quite a lot on her mother's judgement given the newness of her position," You muse as you look towards the ragged edge of the Kingswood for a place to land. "Trying to directly force a break based on gifts and revelations of the Usurper's failings might not work as well as with more experienced lords or ladies because she is not used to thinking in those terms yet."

    "On the other hand the realization of just how fast the wind is turning, in the Stormlands and elsewhere, might see her stretch her sails that way," Dany replies, the particularly Braavosi turn of phrase sounding a touch odd in Common.

    "Risky," Ser Richard offers. "It's close to a threat, and Stormlanders have a habit of digging in our heels when faced with one."

    "Why don't we spend some time getting to know the lady, then?" Dany asks. From the tone it is clear she means a little more than slipping into a tavern to hear the local rumors. "She would be dreaming right about now "

    ***​

    Tenth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    Dany's eyes open upon the dark tavern room with a bemused look, though not worried or displeased. "Well that was... enlightening." She shakes her head. "Lady Shyra already has a lover, though a wedding is hardly in the cards."

    "He's lowborn?" you ask, certainly not something you look down upon. Your own dearest friends have proven that low birth is no impediment to greatness given skill and ambition.

    "She is Lady Elys Penrose, a sister to her last betrothed," Dany replies surprisingly. "It seems Lady Shyra has no interest in men and was hoping that the marriage to Ser Alyn would provide a chance to continue the relationship discretely. With his death both of them are worried about the future, though I could not get more by just peering in to the lady's dreams." She pauses a moment as though considering her next words carefully. "I'd like to help them if we can. They are rather sweet together. Elys has been a great help in allowing Shyra to make it through her father's illness, even though I suspect she was frightened of being found out by him."

    "A lord or lady needs an heir to continue the line," Ser Richard reminds her.

    "Magic can probably deal with that," Dany shrugs, though you can see from her expression that she is far less ablaze about the prospect that the words imply. How the lords or the Faith would react to such a thing is more than you can guess, but it's unlikely to make your life any easier. Then again it could always be done in secret.

    "I think we need a clearer picture of all the actors before committing to a strategy," you reply slowly. "Lady Carolei in particular is one almost as important to understand as her daughter."

    The news your sister carries upon her second walking of the night is less startling than the first, but also less encouraging—the rebirth of your House is a dark cloud of worry and fear upon the lady's dreams. She remembers well that her husband had been among the rebels from the start, marching under the banners of his namesake, and she deeply resents the death of her cousin at the hands of 'brigands and murderers'.

    How do you deal with securing the loyalty of Lady Shyra Errol?

    [] Write in

    OOC: Well there we go, this should be an interesting situation, compared to the usual Westerosi House recruitment.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Looks like a great hook for her and a way to weaken family-politics as they are now without being too obvious about it.
    Guarantee them the right to marry and enforce the equal value of adoption in one stroke.

    If they do adopt the regular way or create a child of their own by magical support is unimportant in the eyes of the state then.

    Not much of a change, since we already do recognise adoption legally, though I think it requires royal approval to count for nobel inheritance?
     
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    Artemis1992 said:
    Looks like a great hook for her and a way to weaken family-politics as they are now without being to obvious about it.
    Guarantee them the right to marry and enforce the equal value of adoption in one stroke.

    If they do adopt the regular way or create a child of their own by magical support is unimportant in the eyes of the state then.
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    While that is true, doing so openly would be less a can of worms and more like a can of linnorms. This is not something you guys should embark on without a lot of thought.
     
    Time to allow gay marriage. They can borrow a belt of gender flip of they ever decide to have a kid or something.
    Isn't magic great?

    Oh, and Lya is already going to be researching ways to have kids without a normal pregnancy anyway...
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Love's Secret​

    Ninth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    Charm and honeyed words will only go so far to convincing father and daughter who have just found each other again, seemingly beyond hope, to part once more. Even with Dany having been the one who worked that seeming-miracle, Sorcerer's Deep is a far off place heavy with strange and uncanny rumors. Sickness and death had made Lynda wary of her powers, you suspect. Her offer to join the Silent Sisters likely motivated by more than fear of bringing shame to the family name. Too much, too fast, had come rushing down upon House Wylde, like a storm rolling in from the bay tipping the world on its side. In the end it is simple sincerity that wins Lord Caspar over, his daughter would be safer behind the Scholarum's wards than counting upon the magic of a simple glamor to linger in the keep or the town below.

    So by evening, after Lynda had been tearfully reunited with the rest of her kin, you carry her to the Deep alongside a single maidservant, her former wetnurse, chosen for her affection as much as her loyalty.

    Gained one level 3 Adept
    ​
    Before departing Rain House, you had asked Lord Caspar for more news of the recent inheritance of Lady Shyra Errol, reasoning that he would be more likely to pay attention to rumor and gossip than Stannis, whose view of the world holds little care for such 'fripperies'. Thus you had learned that the new Lady of Haystack Hall, at three and twenty years of old, is only in the position to be looking for a husband due to having remarkably poor luck in her previous two betrothals. The first a cousin of Lord Buckler, lost to the flux, and the second a knight of House Penrose, lost to a cornered boar's tusk not two weeks before the wedding was to take place followed. A few days later, the death of the long-ailing Lord Robert Errol, Shyra's father, lead some to suspect something other than ill luck may have been involved.

    It is not, however, the lady's dead father that concerns you the most as you fly north once more towards the seat of House Errol under ragged clouds and inconstant rain. That dubious honor goes to Lady Errol's mother Carolei, born to House Keath, sister of the current lord, one of your strongest opponents in the Riverlands after the clash with the Lads that cost him the life of his son and many of his household knights fighting foes that march under the Dragon Banner. How much Lady Carolei shares her brother's enmity against your House is more than you can guess, but it would likely be prudent to assume she will be a stumbling block.

    By the time you are in sight of the domed towers that give Haystack Hall its name, the three of you had already outpaced the clouds, leaving the stars sparkling overhead, jealous companions to the light of the almost full moon.

    "Lady Shyra would probably be leaning quite a lot on her mother's judgement given the newness of her position," You muse as you look towards the ragged edge of the Kingswood for a place to land. "Trying to directly force a break based on gifts and revelations of the Usurper's failings might not work as well as with more experienced lords or ladies. She is yet not used to thinking in those terms."

    "On the other hand, the realization of just how fast the wind is turning, in the Stormlands and elsewhere, might see her stretch her sails that way," Dany replies, the particularly Braavosi turn of phrase sounding a touch odd in Common.

    "Risky," Ser Richard offers. "It's close to a threat and Stormlanders have a habit of digging in our heels when faced with one."

    "Why don't we spend some some getting to know the lady then?" Dany asks. From the tone it is clear she means a little more than slipping into a tavern to hear the local rumors. "She would be dreaming right about now."

    ***​

    Tenth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    Dany's eyes open upon the dark tavern room with a bemused look, though not worried or displeased. "Well that was... enlightening." she shakes her head. "Lady Shyra already has a lover, though a wedding is hardly in the cards."

    "He's lowborn?" you ask, certainly not something you look down upon. Your own dearest friends have proven that low birth is no impediment to greatness, given skill and ambition.

    "She is Lady Elys Penrose, a sister to her last betrothed," Dany replies surprisingly. "It seems Lady Shyra has no interest in men and was hoping that the marriage to Ser Alyn would provide a chance to continue the relationship discretely. With his death, both of them are worried about the future, though I could not get more by just peering into the lady's dreams." She pauses a moment as though considering her next words carefully. "I'd like to help them if we can. They are rather sweet together. Elys has been a great help in allowing Shyra to make it though her father's illness, even though I suspect she was frightened of being found out by him."

    "A Lord or Lady needs an heir to continue the line," Ser Richard reminds her.

    "Magic can probably deal with that," Dany shrugs, though you can see from her expression that she is far less blasé about the prospect than the words imply. How the lords or the Faith would react to such a thing is more than you can guess, but it's unlikely to make your life any easier. Then again, it could always be done in secret.

    How do you deal with securing the loyalty of Lady Shyra Errol

    [] Write in

    OOC: Well there we go, this should be an interesting situation, compared to the usual Westerosi House recruitment.
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    Made some edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    This will not be the last time people of the realm cannot beget heirs the usual way. Undying spirits with absolutely no interest in the act, curses, governors odd enough that they cannot, simple affection like here.. Might as well get the notion out of the way.

    [X] Artemis

    Excellent chapter DP!
    Disappears again
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Great work @Takesis I love these stories of how magic changes society in unexpected ways.
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    Deliste said:
    Uhh Canon DP?

    The schizophrenic somehow taxidermist who blithely talks about things like Amber Sarcophagused Lich and/or Other Champions to anyone who will listen?

    I don't believe we would have such poor practices, Vee and Lya should be responsible for that, it's normally done with Fabrication pretty explicitly anyway.
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    Alas Shula, canon is not ready for your fine cuisine. But you do agree DP, that a shop playing with poison and amulets against it can exist?

    Also about the update, Pride Month was just over. But I suppose it's just a matter of time we meet women who are more than just friends, I guess. I'm with Dany!
     
    A Greater Ribbon of Disguise uses the Alter Self spell, ya'll, which fully allows one to change their gender. It's not so easily seen through as a simple illusion, and could possibly allow a female-turned-male to impregnate a lover.

    If we give the pair a Greater Ribbon of Disguise, Lady Elys Penrose can play the lowborn commoner, or perhaps the Essosi scholar, etc., whom Shyra decides to wed. In private they can get up to whatever they want, but for right now the fiction of Shyra being heterosexual is fairly important to avoid significant political and religious issues.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    While that is true, doing so openly would be less a can of worms and more like a can of linnorms. This is not something you guys should embark on without a lot of thought.
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    Well everyone know that to deal with those, you just need a good spear and sufficiently thick fur clothes.

    Okay you also need to be a legendary Viking prince, so I guess if we are opening a can of linnorms, we will have to give Theon the right clothes, and tell him to kill them.
     
    So uhh thing to note I have confirmed with DP that people under Mindblank are invisible to Arcane Eye. Why is this important? It is because we may have solved our Mindblank spy problem.
     
    Artemis1992 said:
    Keep in mind, most people want Viserys to have handcrafted children, if any.
    This is a step in the right direction for that.
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    Is it? I don't see why we can't just make our own children, and not bother having to justify it to anyone by dint of ruling the world. Lady Errol, on the other hand, is in a very different position on a lot of levels. Surely there are simpler solutions to gain her loyalty.
     
    egoo said:
    ...Walk me throug hthis, again.
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    If someone shows up invisible to Arcane Eye but visible to the human eye they are under Mindblank. Essentially that is the crux of it. So have Inquisition members go around with an Arcane Eye partner (someone casting arcane eye) and literally use the protection against divination against them. They have Mindblank or they are suspicious enough to be looked into.
     
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