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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 said:
:???: I'm not sure what your issue with this is, dude. They're not expected to jump into the canals and start fighting the Deep Ones in the water. Sure, if it's feasible to craft en mass we can make Auran Masks, but why are you acting like all of them will be fighting underwater? The Legion will be tasked with setting up chokeholds and making safezones on land which civilians can retreat to (and there are lots of canals, yes, but there are also big town squares and islands), not diving into the waves and hunting down Deep Ones. That part simply isn't what they're there for. They're there to guard the citizens so the PCs can hunt the Deep One leaders without distraction.
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I am being a bit weird about this.

I have some nice soothing lemonade now...

Our relatove lack of ability to project force underwater concerns me a quite a bit. We have the Triton's, and our navy. But nothing approaching the punishing strength of the legion that we can deploy to protect trade routes, cities, ect...

We don't have noteworthy scouts and spies down there, we certainly don't have a blood raven equivalent. As near as I can tell we simply don't have enough Triton's to meaningfully impact the deep ones. And the Triton's aren't even up to legion standards.

Unless I am mistaken we can't even secure territory from the deep ones without a pretty consistent PC presence.

It's just... Concerning? Deeply so? Idk. I am usually TOO paranoid about things. But I can imagine the deep ones causing truly horrific damage with a harrassment campaign.
 
We should probably start flooding the oceans with underwater monsters. Just to make life hell for them all. The next couple of forge monsters should probably go towards that.
 
zxzx24 said:
I am being a bit weird about this.

I have some nice soothing lemonade now...

Our relatove lack of ability to project force underwater concerns me a quite a bit. We have the Triton's, and our navy. But nothing approaching the punishing strength of the legion that we can deploy to protect trade routes, cities, ect...

We don't have noteworthy scouts and spies down there, we certainly don't have a blood raven equivalent. As near as I can tell we simply don't have enough Triton's to meaningfully impact the deep ones. And the Triton's aren't even up to legion standards.

Unless I am mistaken we can't even secure territory from the deep ones without a pretty consistent PC presence.

It's just... Concerning? Deeply so? Idk. I am usually TOO paranoid about things. But I can imagine the deep ones causing truly horrific damage with a harrassment campaign.
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Our long-term plan isn't to take their territory, it's to nuke their cities and kill so many of them that they flee the Plane altogether. Once we kill their leaders and trash their warded lcoations, our Companions can mop up any fleeing CR 7-15 enemies and they know it : assuming they're 1% sane once we hit them hard enough they'll retreat to gather their strength on another Plane or even back in the Far Realm, where they become Not Our Problem (TM).
 
Goldfish said:
We're making them in decent quantities, but not enough to equip a Legion. That may change in the future.
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Could we do that? The legions heavy gear means they actually aren't off balance underwater.

TalonofAnathrax said:
Our long-term plan isn't to take their territory, it's to nuke their cities and kill so many of them that they flee the Plane altogether. Once we kill their leaders and trash their warded lcoations, our Companions can mop up any fleeing CR 7-15 enemies and they know it : assuming they're 1% sane once we hit them hard enough they'll retreat to gather their strength on another Plane or even back in the Far Realm, where they become Not Our Problem (TM).
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Is this actually the plan?

It's not terrible? I...

Usually armies, fight armies. Though the legion kicked so much ass against Daemonic hordes it was funny...

I am not sure how well that will work basically.
 
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Interlude DXCV: Fortunes of the Forsaken
  • Threadmarks
    • Fortunes of the Forsaken ​

    First Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    The wheel spun, the arcane seals flashed... the metal floor shifted beneath the feet of the caravan. Tilqua moved to quiet the chalk-hogs, her hand firm and sure against their stony hides, though the beasts likely weighed six times as much as she. For the first time since she had left the Oasis of the Speaking Sands she was glad for the veil that guarded her face for keeping the hogs fetid breath off her. Or maybe it was just knowing that she would be able to take it off soon and none would know or care for the deed.


    As the beasts settled and the powers of the wheel that carried the metal chamber across the Spheres stilled, the air itself smelled different, not the well-trod dust of the Xorn hold, nor the sharp wild currents of the Dimwell Delving, it smelled of salt and water and something else she could not name. The sound of thousands upon thousands of voices rang through the steel walls. Not for the first time Tilqua wished she had been able to get her hands on a Talisman of Tongues, but sooner would she find a gold vein in limestone than expect anyone to sell her that where her grandfather could hear. The Xorn might have been willing to sell her such, but she had not been willing to wait with escape so close. Truth be told she had been just as unwilling to risk that had she been wrong in her guess and the gem-eaters would try to cast her off for her cursed blood.

    All that Tilqua owned she had invested into the trio of beasts and their cargo of True Silver and Adamantine, all that was left of her father's inheritance practically torn from Sheik Manar's grasp. Hopefully she had guessed right that the dwellers in the Garden would count it precious, for there was no path for her back to the Speaking Sands. Taking a deep breath to steady herself she pushed and prodded the beasts into action under the strange blue azure sky and onto the crowded streets beyond.

    It was easy to tell the merchants from the locals, for most of the latter were mortals of pure stock speaking in at least three distinct tongues, none of which Tilqua could understand, as though one was not enough.

    "Name and purpose of travel," the words were not spoken, but flickered into being in her mind like a candle lit by a sorcerer's hand. Looking about she saw a bird made of flame perched beside a man grey of hair and cloak both, his features as though carved from granite. An old soldier turned guardsman, that much at least was familiar even if the sights, sounds and excitement turned her stomach over.

    "Tilqua-Bint-Salaan," she replied boldly, unwrapping the veil she had been made to wear since childhood lest others see the mark of the Lost upon her cheek and know of her father's dark fate. Neither the man in grey nor the bird of fire gave any sign that they had noticed or cared for either her name or face, going through questions and instructions smoothly and efficiently to get to the next in line to pass between the worlds.

    Once all the parchments had been inked and sealed Tilqua considered going to the baths, of which she had heard from the mouth of a passing Azer smith. This was, after all, a civilized realm, and it would not do to meet her first customers smelling like sweat and chalk-hog. But something else drew her... the sound of crashing water on stone, the great lake that bordered the city to one side.

    The water foamed and roiled around the base of the pier unlike any Tilqua had seen before. "Is this even water?" she asked aloud to no one in particular, the locals seemed used to guests standing around gawking at their lake. Curious, she left the pier and found a place where the water was close enough to touch over the sandy shore. Taking a bowl from her back she dipped it in and brought it close. The water tasted salty and smelled strange, but there was nothing special about it... at least until it stilled. There in that stolen fragment of the great water Tilqua saw herself for the first time since girlhood, a face more strong than beautiful, eyes of dull gold and horns swept back from her temples. All marks of the blood of the Lost... of her father's shame.


    Yet in this place the most she got was the odd weary stare one might offer to any stranger acting strangely. It was said a Crimson Dragon ruled this realm by sorcery and gave the city its name after his arts. Perhaps compared to the company he kept Tilqua's heritage was barely of note. Ultimately it mattered little. She had a trade to make, and after that another and another, wherever the winds of trade would take her.

    OOC: Tilqua is a Div-blooded Tiefling, which as you can imagine is a massive stigma among other genies, but the Shaitan are not ones to deny an inheritance even under those circumstances, so she has just set herself up as a merchant.
     
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    • zxzx24 said:
    Is this actually the plan?

    It's not terrible? I...

    Usually armies, fight armies. Though the legion kicked so much ass against Daemonic hordes it was funny...

    I am not sure how well that will work basically.
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    The Legion is there for defense. It's a really, really expensive security force.
    But it's not actually meant to win wars or anything. This is D&D, and armies alone can't hope to do that. Indeed, in a large land battle breaks out things have already gone horribly wrong.
     
    Well, that was one wonderfully alien perspective.

    Ocean is but a "lake" to them, huh?
    Fair enough, I guess, when Plane of Water is a thing...

    Great chapter, DP, and thanks.


    The scene of Phoenix and guard questioning the newcomer reminded me tho' - @Goldfish, can we squeeze in the Spontaneous Search Stations into 11th month's crafting schedule?
     
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    TotallyNotEvil said:
    True, I tried to find Demon Rights Activists the other day, and failed.
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    Sorry, no luck, it might be gone for good unless it's on an Old PC at my parents house, will try to remember to check on december.
    there's always the original of course.

    Edit: Nevermind, i decided to do it again, there it is.
    Just you know.. careful with it.

     
    Well then! Good luck to you, Tilqua!
    A rich but inexperienced merchant with next to no knowledge of local markets is a bad combo, but she is in fact fabulously rich. Even if she gets horribly cheated a dozen times she'll still be wealthy enough to make an excellent living by the time her skills, experience and local knowledge improve.

    Or maybe she'll get herself a good business partner, or get stabbed or stolen from. Who knows?
    Hopefully things will turn out well for her. I wonder if she'll get another cameo in a few hundred years?
     
    Fortunes of the Forsaken ​

    First Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    The wheel spun, the arcane seals flashed... the metal floor shifted beneath the feet of the caravan. Tilqua moved to quiet the chalk-hogs, her hand firm and sure against their stony hides, though the beasts likely weighed six times as much as she. For the first time since she had left the Oasis of the Speaking Sands, she was glad for the veil that guarded her face for keeping the hogs fetid breath off her. Or maybe it was just knowing that she would be able to take it off soon and none would know or care for the deed.


    As the beasts settled and the powers of the wheel that carried the metal chamber across the spheres stilled, the air itself smelled different. Not the well-trod dust of the Xorn hold, nor the sharp wild currents of the Dimwell Delving, it smelled of salt and water and something else she could not name. The sound of thousands upon thousands of voices rang though the steel walls. Not for the first time, Tilqua wished she had been able to get her hands on a Talisman of Tongues, but she would as soon hope for a gold vein in limestone as expect anyone to sell her that where her Grandfather could hear. The Xorn might have been willing to sell her such, but she had not been willing to wait with escape so close. Truth be told, she had been just as unwilling to risk that she had been wrong in her guess and the gem-eaters would try to cast her off for her cursed blood.

    All that Tilqua owned she had invested into the trio of beasts and their cargo of true silver and adamant, all that was left of her father's inheritance practically torn from Sheik Manar's grasp. Hopefully, she had guessed right what the Dwellers in the Garden would count precious, for there was no path for her back to the Speaking Sands. Taking a deep breath to steady herself, she pushed and prodded the beasts into action under the strange blue azure sky onto the crowded streets beyond.

    It was easy to tell the merchants from the locals, for most of the latter were mortals of pure stock speaking in at least three distinct tongues, none of which Tilqua could understand, as though one was not enough.

    "Name and purpose of travel," the words were not spoken, but flickered into being in her mind like a candle lit by a sorcerer's hand. Looking about, she saw a bird made of flame perched beside a man grey of hair and cloak both, his features as though carved from granite. An old soldier turned guardsman, that much at least was familiar, even if the sights, sounds, and excitement turned her stomach over.

    "Tilqua-Bint-Salaan," she replied, boldly unwrapping the veil she had been made to wear since childhood, lest others see the mark of the Lost upon her cheek and know of her father's dark fate. Neither the man in grey nor the bird of fire gave any sign that they had noticed or cared for either her name or face, going through questions and instructions smoothly and efficiently to get to the next to pass between the worlds.

    Once all the parchments had been inked and sealed, Tilqua considered going to the baths of which she had heard from the mouth of a passing azer smith. This was, after all, a civilized realm and it would not do to meet her first customers smelling like sweat and chalk-hog. But something else drew her... the sound of crashing water on stone, the great lake that bordered the city to one side.

    The water foamed and roiled, around the base of the pier unlike any Tilqua had seen before. "Is this even water?" she asked aloud to no one in particular. The locals seemed used to guests standing around gawking at their lake. Curious, she left the pier and found a place where the water was close enough to touch over the sandy shore. Taking a bowl from her back she dipped it in and brought it close. The water tasted salty and smelled strange, but there was nothing special about it... at least until it stilled. There in that stolen fragment of the Great Water, Tilqua saw herself for the first time since girlhood, a face more strong than beautiful, eyes of dull gold, and horns swept back from her temples. All marks of the blood of the Lost... of her father's shame.


    Yet in this place, the most she got was the odd wary stare one might offer to any stranger acting strangely. it was said a crimson dragon ruled this realm by sorcery and gave the city it's name after his arts. Perhaps compared to the company he kept, Tilqua's heritage was barely of note. Ultimately it mattered little. She had a trade to make, and after that another, and another, wherever the winds of trade would take her.

    OOC: Tilqua is a Div blooded Tiefling which, as you can imagine, is a massive stigma among any genies, but the Shaitan are not ones to deny an inheritance even under those circumstances, so she has just set herself up as a merchant. Not yet edited.
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
     
    egoo said:
    Well, that was one wonderfully alien perspective.

    Ocean is but a "lake" to them, huh?
    Fair enough, I guess, when Plane of Water is a thing...

    Great chapter, DP, and thanks.


    The scene of Phoenix and guard questioning the newcomer reminded me tho' - @Goldfish, can we squeeze in the Spontaneous Search Stations into 11th month's crafting schedule?
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    I can't check right now, but I think there were some out on the 10th month's crafting schedule. We still need more, of course, so more will be added for this coming month.
     
    For a moment, I thought she was a slave making a gambit for freedom.

    I really want to see more of her adventures.

    Why am I getting so sympathetic to NPCs of late?
     
    Crake said:
    Well, we are training actual factual Alchemists now. So we should see an increase in production soon.
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    Yep. It'll be nice to have a lot of true Alchemists in SD. Once they've had time to get themselves established, we'll have justification to outright purchase small to medium quantities of all sorts of Alchemical substances that we can't be bothered to craft and track ourselves. Once they reach 3rd level and gain Swift Alchemy, that'll help a lot as well.
     
    Abhishek M said:
    All Alchemists are eligible to be the head of a alchemical factory right? Do they get XP from that?
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    They would still need to be at least 5th level, as an acting project manager in one of our facilities needs eight or more ranks in Alchemy to qualify. Alchemists do get a Competence bonus to their Alchemy skill equal to the class level, but we're already using an enchanted statue to provide all of the workers with a +5 Luck and +5 Competence bonus to their Crafting skills.

    It would be cool if they could get XP that way.
     
    Goldfish said:
    They would still need to be at least 5th level, as an acting project manager in one of our facilities needs eight or more ranks in Alchemy to qualify. Alchemists do get a Competence bonus to their Alchemy skill equal to the class level, but we're already using an enchanted statue to provide all of the workers with a +5 Luck and +5 Competence bonus to their Crafting skills.

    It would be cool if they could get XP that way.
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    It would be minuscule. Leila got one level from purely enchanting after nearly a year at it. Adventuring is where it is at.

    Only thing is, maybe Alchemists are better off studying, at least until Level 5. They are hardly defenseless at that level. While everyone was STUDYING THE BLADE, the alchemist was preparing enough explosives to wage a war!

    Though I imagine most would be content to research or manage a production line.
     
    Crake said:
    It would be minuscule. Leila got one level from purely enchanting after nearly a year at it. Adventuring is where it is at.

    Only thing is, maybe Alchemists are better off studying, at least until Level 5. They are hardly defenseless at that level. While everyone was STUDYING THE BLADE, the alchemist was preparing enough explosives to wage a war!

    Though I imagine most would be content to research or manage a production line.
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    Every Scholarium trained Alchemist will be issued a Launcher upon graduation, too, unless they're going into a line of work with virtually no chance of entering combat.

    They're great for anyone low level character, but really synergize well with Alchemists.
     
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    Ok so shall we start debating the Fungus Forge orders? What's the list look like now any how much can we spend on it over the corpses every month?

    We do have two now. One with more options and a higher CR limit.
     
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