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

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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Aug 28, 2019 at 3:07 PM, finished with 52 posts and 9 votes.
  • [X] Introduce yourself as Corlys Waters, inveterate traveler and explorer after the manner of your people, Agent of the Crown alongside company sent ahead of a trade mission from the west bound to arrive within a month's time to get the lay of the land and perhaps meet interesting people, particularly interesting, perhaps more openly welcomed upon a doorstep openly plying their trade than carefully balanced along a knife's edge against proscriptions wrought by the ruling body.
    -[X] Aside from trying to coax a conversation toward learning more about the man, generally express an interest in acquiring their service and those much like them on behalf of Viserys Targaryen, "the Dragon in the West". There's plenty you could share just a hare above common hearsay that would be worth hearing, and if he reciprocates generally beyond that level you could let slip more to entice.
    -[X] Even if he should not be interested and not willing or able to point you toward others mages or "cultivators" in general, he might illuminate you on the subject more or just prove to be interesting company in general. You aren't exactly in a rush, here.
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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Aug 28, 2019 at 3:07 PM, finished with 52 posts and 9 votes.
  • [X] Introduce yourself as Corlys Waters, inveterate traveler and explorer after the manner of your people, Agent of the Crown alongside company sent ahead of a trade mission from the west bound to arrive within a month's time to get the lay of the land and perhaps meet interesting people, particularly interesting, perhaps more openly welcomed upon a doorstep openly plying their trade than carefully balanced along a knife's edge against proscriptions wrought by the ruling body.
    -[X] Aside from trying to coax a conversation toward learning more about the man, generally express an interest in acquiring their service and those much like them on behalf of Viserys Targaryen, "the Dragon in the West". There's plenty you could share just a hare above common hearsay that would be worth hearing, and if he reciprocates generally beyond that level you could let slip more to entice.
    -[X] Even if he should not be interested and not willing or able to point you toward others mages or "cultivators" in general, he might illuminate you on the subject more or just prove to be interesting company in general. You aren't exactly in a rush, here.
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Part MMMXXXII: Riddles Great and Smal
  • Threadmarks
    • Riddles Great and Small ​

    Twenty-First Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    In spite Tyene's earlier jest, you are not in any rush to recruit more mages when you can already count hundreds in your service. It's true that new lore and new traditions are always welcome, as are those rare mages able to reach beyond the third circle of spells, but in the end what you most need now is knowledge. This land is vast and its people many as they are varied, likely as skillful and surprising in magic as they are in art and architecture.

    "I am Corlys Waters, agent of the Dragon in the West, sent here in anticipation of a trading expedition that will arrive in one month's time. A traveler, explorer and seeker of new and interesting vistas," you begin. "Interesting people also, particularly those more welcome in the west than plying their craft upon a knife's edge."

    "Waters," the old man smiles, a startlingly open expression, almost mischievous. "The name ill suits you." He pauses just long enough to let you wonder how much he has guessed before continuing. "As it poorly suits all those of the blood of the Broken Empire. Fire still burns in your veins, whether it be embers or a bonfire."

    "That name comes from lands father west of the Smoking Sea than it is from Yin," Tyene explains, exaggerating slightly, not that you blame her. A well rounded phrase should not be a slave to cartography of all things. After all, small lies make the best veil for larger ones.

    "I see..." the old man nods and offers his name, "Chen Fun Li, a companion upon the road to enlightenment. A slow one as you can see from my age, and not particularly strong of back, though blessed with a friend of my own to help along," he motions to the donkey.

    "One whom you have helped along in turn?" Waymar asks, lowering his voice to a whisper, which unfortunately draws more attention to the conversation rather than warding it off, but you know it is a hard impulse to fight.

    "Well of course I helped him. I give him good oats to eat and fresh spring grass... when my travels lead me to grassy places in spring, of course, and a touch of the wind's blessing to lighten his step," Li delivers the latter detail as though it were no more remarkable than the other two.

    If that is the tune he wishes to dance to, you can easily oblige. "A useful skill to be sure, though I have found spinning a horse of air and smoke entirely will serve just as well and cost no oats."

    "Thrifty thought, but dangerous, like carrying a single water skin into the desert. What will you do if it should spring a leak, eh?"

    You could give the 'correct answer', of course. It is hardly a difficult riddle, even for one new-come to this land, but you have a better answer in mind. "Conjure a new water skin." Leaning against the wall, you ask Varys to poke her head out from among the folds of your glamored cloak. "The days of waning magic are done, perhaps forever, certainly for an age. To spend our days warding against it now gains us nothing and costs us some of your strength in turn. "

    At this the sorcerer snorts in genuine mirth. "Ah, the convictions of youth. Rare it is to hear them to my face rather than behind my back. An old master of my order once said growing old is like descending into a great cave knowing not where the tunnels lead beyond the light of our own lanterns. To that I add that the echoes can become quite frustrating eventually."

    You and your companions smile at the passion with which the man speaks, but Fen actually laughs, looking startled at herself for doing it.

    "Come come, let us not ramble here in the street. Better to get inside before the rain starts again," Li leads the way down a series of increasingly narrow streets while his donkey follows along placidly, seemingly knowing the way. After a few minutes you find yourselves standing before an herbalist's shop with a uncommonly accurate image of a phoenix for its sign.

    Inside it is dark with little enough light passing between the pale blue shutters, the smell of ginger, cinnamon, and wolfberry mingled with other herbs for which you do not know the names. Dried tongues of beasts are hung side by side with delicate silver-finned fish presed so fine you are surprised they do not fall to dust at the wind of your passage. All told, some of the ingredients may seem odd but the general sense of an alchemist's workshop is not.

    Unsurprisingly, Waymar takes the chance to walk between the shelves, peering at tools and ingredients while the rest of you take a seat. Li does not seem to mind his wanderings, though when the knight calls back a questions about distillation procedures the old man shrugs and explains that this is not his shop, he is merely watching it for a friend. "You have lived an interesting life to have learned the ways of warrior and healer so young."

    "Aye that is one way of putting it, that is for sure," he laughs.

    Meanwhile, you observe your host considering your next question. It is clear that in bringing you to the shop he has lead you to where more mages may be found, a silent show of trust, but of the man himself you still know little.

    What do you do?

    [] Try to probe deeper into Li's history and magic

    [] Ask about something else
    -[] Write in

    [] Say your goodbyes and travel elsewhere
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: You seem to have impressed the old man at lest somewhat.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Riddles Great and Small ​

    Twenty-First Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    In spite Tyene's earlier jest, you are not in any rush to recruit more mages when you can already count hundreds in your service. It's true that new lore and new traditions are always welcome, as are those rare mages able to reach beyond the third circle of spells, but in the end what you most need now is knowledge. This land is vast and its people many as they are varied, likely as skillful and surprising in magic as they are in art and architecture.

    "I am Corlys Waters, agent of the Dragon in the West, sent here in anticipation of a trading expedition that will arrive in one month's time. A traveler, explorer and seeker of new and interesting vistas," you begin. "Interesting people also, particularly those more welcome in the west than plying their craft upon a knife's edge."

    "Waters," the old man smiles, a startlingly open expression, almost mischievous. "The name ill suits you." He pauses just long enough to let you wonder how much he has guessed before continuing. "As it poorly suits all those of the blood of the Broken Empire. Fire still burns in your veins, whether it be embers or a bonfire."

    "That name comes from lands father west of the Smoking Sea than it is from Yin," Tyene explains, exaggerating slightly, not that you blame her. A well rounded phrase should not be a slave to cartography of all things. After all, small lies make the best veil for larger ones.

    "I see..." the old man nods and offers his name, "Chen Fun Li, a companion upon the road to enlightenment. A slow one as you can see from my age, and not particularly strong of back, though blessed with a friend of my own to help along," he motions to the donkey.

    "One whom you have helped along in turn?" Waymar asks, lowering his voice to a whisper, which unfortunately draws more attention to the conversation rather than warding it off, but you know it is a hard impulse to fight.

    "Well of course I helped him. I give him good oats to eat and fresh spring grass... when my travels lead me to grassy places in spring, of course, and a touch of the wind's blessing to lighten his step," Li delivers the latter detail as though it were no more remarkable than the other two.

    If that is the tune he wishes to dance to, you can easily oblige. "A useful skill to be sure, though I have found spinning a horse of air and smoke entirely will serve just as well and cost no oats."

    "Thrifty thought, but dangerous, like carrying a single water skin into the desert. What will you do if it should spring a leak, eh?"

    You could give the 'correct answer', of course. It is hardly a difficult riddle, even for one new-come to this land, but you have a better answer in mind. "Conjure a new water skin." Leaning against the wall, you ask Varys to poke her head out from among the folds of your glamored cloak. "The days of waning magic are done, perhaps forever, certainly for an age. To spend our days warding against it now gains us nothing and costs us some of your strength in turn. "

    At this the sorcerer snorts in genuine mirth. "Ah, the convictions of youth. Rare it is to hear them to my face rather than behind my back. An old master of my order once said growing old is like descending into a great cave knowing not where the tunnels lead beyond the light of our own lanterns. To that I add that the echoes can become quite frustrating eventually."

    You and your companions smile at the passion with which the man speaks, but Fen actually laughs, looking startled at herself for doing it.

    "Come come, let us not ramble here in the street. Better to get inside before the rain starts again," Li leads the way down a series of increasingly narrow streets while his donkey follows along placidly, seemingly knowing the way. After a few minutes you find yourselves standing before an herbalist's shop with a uncommonly accurate image of a phoenix for its sign.

    Inside it is dark with little enough light passing between the pale blue shutters, the smell of ginger, cinnamon, and wolfberry mingled with other herbs for which you do not know the names. Dried tongues of beasts are hung side by side with delicate silver-finned fish presed so fine you are surprised they do not fall to dust at the wind of your passage. All told, some of the ingredients may seem odd but the general sense of an alchemist's workshop is not.

    Unsurprisingly, Waymar takes the chance to walk between the shelves, peering at tools and ingredients while the rest of you take a seat. Li does not seem to mind his wanderings, though when the knight calls back a questions about distillation procedures the old man shrugs and explains that this is not his shop, he is merely watching it for a friend. "You have lived an interesting life to have learned the ways of warrior and healer so young."

    "Aye that is one way of putting it, that is for sure," he laughs.

    Meanwhile, you observe your host considering your next question. It is clear that in bringing you to the shop he has lead you to where more mages may be found, a silent show of trust, but of the man himself you still know little.

    What do you do?

    [] Try to probe deeper into Li's history and magic

    [] Ask about something else
    -[] Write in

    [] Say your goodbyes and travel elsewhere
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: You seem to have impressed the old man at lest somewhat.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Made some edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    I like Li. I hope he doesn't end up being evil. I have a feeling this dude has an interesting background and I would like to delve more deeply into it.

    [X] Try to probe deeper into Li's history and magic
     
    TalonofAnathrax said:
    [X] Goldfish

    We are wasting precious IIC time chasing this random shiny... But we play this to have fun, so why not?
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...

    Right now we're just killing time doing something mildly productive but also taking advantage of that opportunity to soak in some of the local culture.

    That's about as close to "wasting time" as we get, too.
     
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