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

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@Duesal, While Siduri and Mereth are scouting, can you add in contacting our allies among the Djinni and Shaitan to warn them and ask for any aid they can provide? We all have a vested interest in preventing the Efreeti from gaining access to those Valyrian Steel spikes.
 
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Interlude DXLXXV: Brewing Madness
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    • Brewing Madness ​

    Twenty-Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    When Wisdom Xor had been called off to do whatever it was Companions did that was too dangerous for anyone else Anya had cursed their luck and suggested that it might be wise to wait on approaching the self-styled 'Purveyor of Unearthly Delights'.

    "I don't think we can afford to wait," Shara Rogare countered, fingers instinctively seeking the familiar shape of a dagger's pommel. "The bastard's too slippery by half, and we don't even have his real name or even a face since he always wears that mask. All we've got is the hour of his next gathering." The man they were hunting seemed to be responsible not only for Jaelys' disappearance but also for the worst and most notorious excesses of the Cult of Zagreus in Tyrosh, potentially going back as far as the tainted wine in Westheaven, although Shara tried to remain skeptical as she could.

    All the truth-finding magic in the world would not keep a source from exaggerating the scope of their information in the hopes of leniency, and the former maid they had shaken down for their first real lead was looking at twenty years in prison. Still, the pieces seemed to line up with a supply chain for magical reagents hinting at a skilled alchemist. As investigators they would have to keep in mind that all this could be a wild goose chase... as agents planning an attack they had to plan for going into the belly of the beast.

    ***​

    The moon was almost full tonight but oft veiled by swift moving clouds driven by wind from the sea, casting strange and fickle shadows among the gravestones. Here a stone angel with its face cracked by time seemed to be leering as it swooped closer, there a curtain of leaves rustled as though from the sound of furtive steps. Just the sort of place where one could put up a depraved spectacle under the naked sky, at least if one did not care for troubling the dead.

    They came in ones and twos, wearing clothes from all walks of life. From a butcher's apron to a merchant's somber doublet and a noble's feathered cap, not that they looked to be particularly attached to those clothes. Shoes were already being abandoned among the long unkempt grass, collars tugged at, buttons snapping off in haste as in every gaze sparked the beginnings of that burning hunger Shara had first glimpsed in the eyes of the dying girl she'd saved from the fire almost against her will.

    Still, the inquisitor waited unseen and unheard together with her colleagues and the redoubtable Argo and Clegane, whose creaking armor had to be silenced by sorcery as they two crouched behind grave markers veiled in glamours. So far it looked like the worst crime being planned was disturbing the peace, and none of the three inquisitors were the sort to arrest people on the strength of one confession and a handful of vague accounts.

    Then she saw him... the mask was just as had been described—wolf fur pulled taut over a polished human skull, bone still gleaming at the back. The night wind carried a heavy musty smell like blood and sweat, and something that almost made the resultant smell appealing. He had not come alone. Walking at his side were six wind-eyed women with wide sharp-toothed smiles dragging along a figure in a white gown that seemed almost to be sleepwalking, Jaelys.

    "Hail, brothers and sisters," the leader called out to the crowd in a voice smooth as poisoned honey. "Know that today we do not only celebrate the pleasures of each other's company in the glory of Zagreus. Tonight another dancer joins those Most Blessed."

    A ripple of fear and excitement passed through the crowd as they began a low wordless chant, seeking and hungering.

    Shara remembered the reports from Westheaven and knew then that the six women were not mortal ones for all they may once have been. Now they bore another name—maenad.

    OOC: Sorry for the cliffhanger guys, but it's way too late for me to trust myself to roll for combat.
     
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    • Tomcost said:
    ... not sure if happy that our minions socialize or worried that he might fall to the bottom
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    As DP said, if anything with his new found freedom he is conspiring to corrupt them into neutrality.

    Yrael: "And this is a cat"
    Mereth: "That seems a bit too fluffy for our tastes"
    Yrael: "Yes, they make cute sounds when you scratch them behind the ears, and if they feel you are sad they come and lie at your feet"
    Mereth: "Yeah, I think we don't want anything to.."
    Yrael : "They also capture and torture smaller animals for fun and bring you their mangled bodies while you sleep"

    Erynyes: "Aaaaawwww"
     
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    @Goldfish, Im currently busy from housework. I'll carefully look over and add alterations in a few hours when I'm less distracted and actually in front of my laptop.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Brewing Madness ​

    Twenty-Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    When Wisdom Xor had been called off to whatever it was Companions did that was too dangerous for anyone else, Anya had cursed their luck and suggested that it might be wise to wait on approaching the self-styled 'Purveyor of Unearthly Delights'.

    "I don't think we can afford to wait," Shara Rogare countered, fingers instinctively seeking the familiar shape of a dagger's pommel. "The bastard's too slippery by half, and we don't even have his real name or even a face since he always wears that mask. All we've got is the hour of his next gathering." The man they were hunting seemed to be responsible not only for Jaelys' disappearance but many of the darker practices of the cult of the worst and most notorious excesses of the Cult of Zagreus in Tyrosh, potentially going back as far as the tainted wine in Westheaven, although Shara tried to remain skeptical as she could.

    All the truth-finding magic in the world would not keep a source from exaggerating the scope of their information in the hopes of leniency, and the former maid they had shaken down for their first real lead was looking at twenty years in prison. Still the pieces seemed to line up with a supply chain for magical reagents hinting at a skilled alchemist. As investigators they would have to keep in mind that all this could be a wild horse chase... as agents planning an attack they had to plan for going into the belly of the beast.

    ***​

    The moon was almost full tonight but oft veiled by swift moving clouds driven by a wind from the sea, casting strange and fickle shadows among the gravestones. Here a stone angel with its face cracked by time seemed to be leering as it swooped closer, there a curtain of rustled as though from the sound of furtive steps. Just the sort of place where one could put up a depraved spectacle under the naked sky, at least if one did not care for troubling the dead.

    They came in ones and twos, wearing clothes from all walks of life from a butcher's apron to a merchant's somber doublet and a noble's feathered cap, not that they looked to be particularly attached to those clothes. Shoes were already being abandoned among the long unkempt grass, collars tugged at, buttons snapping off in haste as in every gaze sparked the beginnings of that burning hunger Shara had first glimpsed in the eyes of the dying girl she'd saved from the fire almost against her will.

    Still the Inquisitor waited unseen and unheard together with her colleagues and the redoubtable Argo and Clegane whose creaking armor had to be silenced by sorcery as they two crouched behind grave markers veiled in glamours. So far it looked like the worst crime being planned was disturbing the peace, and none of the three Inquisitors were the sort to arrest people on the strength of one confession and a handful of vague accounts.

    Then she saw him... the mask was just as had been described—wolf fur pulled taut over a polished human skull, bone still gleaming at the back. The night wind carried a heavy musty smell like blood and sweat, and something that almost made the resultant smell appealing. He had not come alone. Walking at his side were six wind-eyed women with wide sharp-toothed smiles dragging along a figure in a white gown that that seemed almost to be sleepwalking. Jaelys.

    "Hail, brothers and sisters," the leader called out to the crowd in a voice smooth as posioned honey. "Know that today we do not only celebrate the peasaures of each other's company to the glory of Zagreus. Tonight another dancer joins those Most Blessed."

    A ripple of fear and excitement passed through the crowd as they began a low wordless chant, seeking, hungering.

    Shara remembered the reports from Westheaven and knew then that the six were not mortal women for all they may once have been. Now they bore another name—Maenad.

    OOC: Sorry for the cliffhanger guys, but it's way too late for me to trust myself to roll combat.
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    Goddammit, Dionysus... :facepalm:
     
    Deliste said:
    Yes and the fact that you're going to become very desirable.

    You can never go back if you choose, definitely the safest option if you like Earth as it is or question how your loved ones would fare in a fantasy apocalypse.
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    Mindblank as soon as I can, and only go back under my own power.

    For what I'd pick:

    Obtain Familiar: Raven. Celestial, if possible. No real contenders here, IMO, as it's the only one which speaks.
    Planar Familiar: Coure. Magic Circle and going Incorporeal are great. Fantastic DEX, would even allow a measure of gishing it up through Braavosi-grade Weapon Finess, i.e. DEX to damage.
    Improved Familiar: Faerie Dragon, with the aim of becoming a True Dragon.
    Dragon Familiar: Gold Wyrmling, I like Silver's breath weapon but it's a tad too weak in melee,and water breathing sounds awesome.

    In all cases try to join the party and get good with magic.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Brewing Madness ​

    Twenty-Fifth Day of the Tenth Month 293 AC

    When Wisdom Xor had been called off to whatever it was Companions did that was too dangerous for anyone else, Anya had cursed their luck and suggested that it might be wise to wait on approaching the self-styled 'Purveyor of Unearthly Delights'.

    "I don't think we can afford to wait," Shara Rogare countered, fingers instinctively seeking the familiar shape of a dagger's pommel. "The bastard's too slippery by half, and we don't even have his real name or even a face since he always wears that mask. All we've got is the hour of his next gathering." The man they were hunting seemed to be responsible not only for Jaelys' disappearance, but many of the darker practices, the worst and most notorious excesses of the Cult of Zagreus in Tyrosh, potentially going back as far as the tainted wine in Westhaven, although Shara tried to remain skeptical as she could.

    All the truth-finding magic in the world would not keep a source from exaggerating the scope of their information in the hopes of leniency, and the former maid they had shaken down for their first real lead was looking at twenty years in prison. Still the pieces seemed to line up with a supply chain for magical reagents hinting at a skilled alchemist. As investigators they would have to keep in mind that all this could be a wild horse chase... as agents planning an attack they had to prepare for going into the belly of the beast.

    ***​

    The moon was almost full tonight, but oft veiled by swift moving clouds driven by a wind from the sea, casting strange and fickle shadows among the gravestones. Here a stone angel with its face cracked by time seemed to be leering as it swooped closer, there a curtain of moss rustled as though from the sound of furtive steps. Just the sort of place where one could put up a depraved spectacle under the naked sky, at least if one did not care for troubling the dead.

    They came in ones and twos, wearing clothes from all walks of life from a butcher's apron to a merchant's somber doublet and a noble's feathered cap, not that they looked to be particularly attached to those clothes. Shoes were already being abandoned among the long unkempt grass, collars tugged at, buttons snapping off in haste, as in every gaze sparked the beginnings of that burning hunger Shara had first glimpsed in the eyes of the dying girl she'd saved from the fire almost against her will.

    Still the Inquisitor waited, unseen and unheard, together with her colleagues and the redoubtable Argo and Clegane, whose creaking armor had to be silenced by sorcery as they crouched behind grave markers veiled in glamours. So far it looked like the worst crime being planned was disturbing the peace, and none of the three Inquisitors were the sort to arrest people on the strength of one confession and a handful of vague accounts.

    Then she saw him... the mask was just as had been described—wolf fur pulled taut over a polished human skull, bone still gleaming at the back. The night wind carried a heavy musty odor, like blood and sweat, and something that almost made the resulting smell appealing. He had not come alone. Walking at his side were six wide-eyed women with wide sharp-toothed smiles dragging along a figure in a white gown that that seemed almost to be sleepwalking. Jaelys.

    "Hail, brothers and sisters," the leader called out to the crowd in a voice smooth as poisoned honey. "Know that today we do not only celebrate the pleasures of each other's company to the glory of Zagreus. Tonight another dancer joins those Most Blessed."

    A ripple of fear and excitement passed through the crowd as they began a low wordless chant, seeking, hungering.

    Shara remembered the reports from Westhaven and knew then that the six were not mortal women for all they may once have been. Now they bore another name—Maenad.

    OOC: Sorry for the cliffhanger guys, but it's way too late for me to trust myself to roll combat.
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    Made a few edits to the chapter, DP.

    Shit, now I wish we hadn't pulled Xor off this case. He could have incapacitated this entire gathering in a couple rounds and knocked half the Maenads on their added just as quick.
     
    She didn't, although she finds herself feeling strange things, such as "sympathy" and "consideration of others feelings".

    It's quite a weird experience for her.
     
    One Autumn Leaf said:
    Ahh so I found the wrong one...that is okay. At least they aren't ridiculous monsters. Only CR 8.
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    Yeah, you probably found the race which has the same name. Can see how that would be confusing.

    This actually shouldn't be an insurmountable encounter for our people. Sandor is level 13 (though we haven't actually voted on a level up plan for him, I think), Sharra should be level 8 or 9, and Anya and Mia are at least level 7. They're all very well geared, too, with plenty of Alchemical stuff to supplement their abilities. Mia can open things by Summoning an Invisible monster right on top of them.

    I worry about the dude in the mask, though.
     
    Whoo boy.

    One Grand Cultist who's likely a mid-level Cleric of Zagreus, and six Maenads who likely have a few templates to beef them up.

    A tough fight for sure, but we've got Argo, Clegane, Anya, Mia, and Shara. That isn't mountain-sundering firepower to be sure, but they're definitely not helpless.

    By the way guys, did you know there are Maenad Dragons? They came out recently.
     
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    Okay, so for this fight we have:

    Name: Anya
    Class: Sorcerer 1/Favored Soul (Old Gods) 1/Fighter 1/Mystic Theurge 3

    Name: Mia
    Class: Wizard 6

    Name: Shara Rogare
    Class: Aristocrat 1/Rogue 4/Shadow Thief of Amn 3

    Name: Sandor Clegane
    Class: Fighter 12

    Name: Argo the Cunning
    Class: Minotaur 6/Fighter 5/Occult Slayer 1

    ... Right, then. They're not pushovers by any means, but fighting against that Confusion effect is going to be tough nonetheless. Fingers crossed that the Grand Cultist of the Cult of Zagreus is a CE lunatic and doesn't have a proper battle plan.
     
    Duesal said:
    Okay, so for this fight we have:

    Name: Anya
    Class: Sorcerer 1/Favored Soul (Old Gods) 1/Fighter 1/Mystic Theurge 3

    Name: Mia
    Class: Wizard 6

    Name: Shara Rogare
    Class: Aristocrat 1/Rogue 4/Shadow Thief of Amn 3

    Name: Sandor Clegane
    Class: Fighter 12

    Name: Argo the Cunning
    Class: Minotaur 6/Fighter 5/Occult Slayer 1

    ... Right, then. They're not pushovers by any means, but fighting against that Confusion effect is going to be tough nonetheless. Fingers crossed that the Grand Cultist of the Cult of Zagreus is a CE lunatic and doesn't have a proper battle plan.
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    Mia and Anya both have very good battlefield control options, Sandor and Argo are melee power houses, and Sharra is good for some decent shivving. All of them are really well geared, too, which can make a huge difference.

    It will be a tough fight, but I think they can manage. Like I said earlier, though, the masked cultist has me nervous.
     
    Goldfish said:
    Mia and Anya both have very good battlefield control options, Sandor and Argo are melee power houses, and Sharra is good for some decent shivving. All of them are really well geared, too, which can make a huge difference.

    It will be a tough fight, but I think they can manage. Like I said earlier, though, the masked cultist has me nervous.
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    Yeah, that masked cultist is absolutely going to be a problem. I feel like this entire thing might be a grand sacrifice to summon something bigger, something that the current group can't handle.

    Also, @Goldfish, I just realized. Sandor's sheet is level 12, but he's actually level 13 right now. He gained a level after surviving Gogossos. Did the thread ever agree on what they wanted to level him up in? Are we going Fighter? Occult Slayer? Something else?
     
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