Interlude DXCVI: Uncommon Heralds
Uncommon Heralds

First Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

Lord Ardrian Celtigar had not been certain precisely what manner of help the King had meant to send to Claw Isle, though after the gifts he had given and the generous trade he had agreed for in exchange for the horn he was quite sure it was going to be worth the wait. So it was with some surprise that he greeted the news from his younger son Arthur, who had been entrusted with the magic brazier, saying that the agents of the King had arrived in Crab's Cove, that surprise only grew when he met them.

Four Westerlanders, a Bull-Man, and... Lord Celtigar glanced around the study for the furtive little blue thing, a dragon, or so she claims. Mayhap the King was trying to send a message with the nature of those he sent to defend his leal vassals, to take heart that even the Westerlands were with them. If nothing else the man who had introduced himself as Ser Roger 'Reyne' certainly had aspirations in that direction. From faded memories more than four decades old the man had a little of the look of Ser Reynard Reyne whom the Red Crab had once met and drank with 'in honor of all beasts of crimson coat'. Ser Kennos made only a little stranger showing, a knight sworn to the Red God was not as uncommon as it might once have been, and if he could wrangle the priests to help in his hunt all the better, but the women...

Ah, the women... Ardrian had known all sorts of women in his long years, from demure ladies who would burst into tears if their dress got splashed with mud to flinty eyed she-wolves who would stab you quick with steel-sharp words, and he'd known some who pretended to be the former but were the latter just the same, but he couldn't quite place the two golden-haired sorceresses at first glance. They seemed flustered by his greetings, though the older of the two less than the younger, but when he got to asking what they could actually do with their sorcery they settled right down again.

"I can heal harm to body and mind, ward against fire, frost and enchantment, grant good luck in battle, and sand-speak like the braziers have been enchanted to do," Leila Goldhammer said. "I've a few true battle spells, too, though that is not where I am most skilled. I can also speak or read any tongue for a little while at least, even that of... Those Below, and I have learned something of them as well."

"My magic is more limited in scope," the younger one, Jeyne, half-whispered. "I can feel when enemies are near, even if they are hiding or veiled by magic, and when I do I can deal with them."

Right up until the last five words Lord Celtigar had not been sure if he should let her go out to fight of find something safe for her to do with her magic so she didn't get killed on his watch, but that last part... there was hate there, not the way you might hate a monster you heard in a story or read about in a book neither. She deserved her chance at 'spearing squids', as his armsmen had come to call it.

"Father, mayhap I could accompany our guests to help them find a incurious host down in the village," Arthur interjected. With a apologetic smile he added, "Alas that we cannot host you in the keep. Such dedication to King and people deserves to be recognized, not skulking in the shadows."

What was the boy playing at? Nothing he had said was untrue, but the tone had been... ah. The Lord of Claw Isle shook his head, struggling to hide a smile as he noticed his son eyeing the younger sorceress with a gleam in his eye. Best take him aside later and make it clear that these weren't smallfolk lasses to woo into bed without a thought. A wizard was a useful vassal to have, as useful as a household knight if not more so, and Lord Celtigar knew he would not take well to his knights taking leave of their duties for months for the sake of a babe and he could not imagine the Dragon King taking it any better. For that matter they might even expect a marriage. Would that even be that bad?

The old lord deliberately shook the thought away, that was less putting the cart before the oxen and more sending it rolling down the hill without a care while the oxen were three pastures over. Still, he would have a talk with the boy. Ardrian remembered what it was like being nine-and-ten and a new-made knight, and deep thought was not one of his biggest concerns those days.

OOC: I figured that Viserys would want to send the team to Claw Isle as soon as he could because it's the promise of aid to a loyal vassal. Not only is it in character but it sends a powerful message to have help show up the very next day.
 
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I couldn't think of a way to include her on short notice, I was rushing to get that plan out before work started too.

Sorry guys, but DP was also rushing to move things along too or I would have been open to discussing the details.
 
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@Everyone, please read through this even if you think you have nothing to add, and comment with whatever you have in mind.
Awareness of these things means less salt-trouble down the line, and less people finding themselves having casually voted on things they don't want to do.

If you have anything to add to the list, please comment.

If you are against doing something, please comment too.
This is a community effort, I'm only compiling stuff, I'll just give the reasons for X specific action being here and we'll go from there.

...Yes, this concerns ya'll too, lurkers.
Don't think you get to escape the responsibility by never posting around :drevil:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11th month's Minor Actions proposal

In-Character actions

(Done by VIserys himself, due to narrative importance, or need for direct player input):
[X] Visit Red Priests of Volantis.
-[X] Get the rest of the lore they have, as per Scholarum rules.

[X] Make sure to take some time to look over the marriage law and the inheritance-related laws of the Emperium.

[X] If at all possible, attempt to set up a personal meeting with the Traitor-General of Yi-Ti.
-[X] General purpose: raising awareness on the matters of Golden Company, Illithids, Devils, Bloodstone Emperor acting actively and Long Night coming - ensure that he sees the true dangers to his people - and doesn't interfere with our coming war with Golden Company.

[X] Go and talk to Faceless Men in Braavos.
-[X] Set conditions on which they can operate in your Empire - if at all; what lines they aren't allowed to cross, how they operate on contracts, etc.
-[X] Also access all of their magic lore (no matter the type, Divine or Arcane), as per Scholarum rules.

[X] Set up a meeting with either a powerful enough servant, or manifestation of Weeping Lady of Lys' power.
-[X] Ask for help against Tiamat, via empowerment of Well of Souls.

[X] Attempt to come in direct contact with R'hlor, seeking out a presense once met before - or inquiring Melisande/Benerro about setting such a meeting up.
-[X] To be done before the middle of 11th month.
-[X] You have questions, and a possibility of an alliance (at the moment - mainly agaist Tiamat, with R'hlor possibly empowering Well of Souls alongside other Gods of the realm - if we can trust him with this, that is) between you, but trusting mere priests' word on the matter as delicate as this simply won't do.

[X] Do acts necessary to gain the help of the remaining deities you planned to use against Tiamat (6 total, Yss already contributed):
-[X] Merling King (Sacrifice: Greater Mind Devourer, +more).
-[X] Old Gods (Sacrifice: Lormar, Slaads, +more)
-[X] Jazzirian (use up the Favor)
-[X] Goddess of The Silver Moon (use up the Favor)
-[X] Weeping Lady of Lys (use up the Favor - needs to be met first)

[X] Dany's birthday is coming up this month. You haven't made a habit of missing them, and you're not going to start that now.

[X] Have a personal meeting with the Chosen of Smith.
-[X] Extensively divine irregular points of interest about him and his works - just in case, since one favored by Smith can prepare far more of a trap than a regular cleric.
--[X] Check his supply routes, from where he gets the materials for enchanting - and the peopel he interacts with along the way, including those he gives the items to, and who gave him the order of Dragon-slaying weaponry. Such spell as Hindisight may come especially in handy if he interacted with someone protected by Mindblank, giving us at least a clue to investigate.
-[X] If no suspicious activity is detected via divination, meet with him - the focus of the meeting is setting up at least mild relationship with the Chosen, and ensuring he focues on bigger threats to people of Westeros than us.
--[X] Sharing with him our wast array of Lore on Enemies of All (Devils, Demons, Daemons, Others, Illithid, Fey, Rakshasa, Tiamat, etc.-) is a big aspect of this. There is also potential of directly sponsoring him (see: Warrior's Chosen) if all goes well...

[X] Use Discern Location, Greater Scrying, and Greater Teleport to find and deal with the Wisps that you encountered so long ago in swamps of Braavos... One way, or another.
-[X] It'll be a very short trip for someone of Viserys' power these days, unless the Wisps take care to reside in local Feywild.
Delegated Actions
(Done by Companions, Vassals or Allies, likely to be done in an Interlude or an Inquisitorial report):
[X] Ascertain the reliability and the trustworthyness of remaining high-standing mages of Mysterium (the Necromancer, The Fire Caller (Summoner ~7+ level), etc)
-[X] Ensure the gathering of the magical and non-magical lore gathered by Mysterium as per regular Scholarum rules, as well as swift integration of the existing system into one set by our Empire

[X] Check the Lys' Flesh-forge's Feywild reflection.
-[X] If possible, have it brought under Imperial supervision and protection, given a possibility of it being able to repeat the feats of Mossforge - but from a whole new angle, so fitting the Feywild it resides in.
--[X] If the situation "on land" proves to be in any way volatile, contact Viserys.
-[X] The mirror that Feywild is often makes but a caricature of the things it reflects of the material world - yet some places hold such power, that Feywild copies it too. You would be ill served by letting anything happen to mirror image of one of the most important locations of the Empire...

[X] Have Divinations run targeting Denys Mallery - ensuring his safety wherever his father decides to send him.
-[X] It might be a good idea to visit him as the cleric of the Earth Mother in person (be it reality or but a dream) - in the light of the deal you set up with the Storm God, he is your best chance at reaching his patron... And, perhaps, ensuring that her blessings spread far and wide, ensuring both her, and your realm's prosperity.

[X] Have Vee, Lya and Dany help Selyse Drekelis, and give all necessary support to give birth to Garin's child(ren?)

[X] Have a report on activities of Court of Stars, and the progress on the task we left him on, by Candlekeep Courtier.

[X] Raise Heart Trees:
-[X] Healing Heart Tree (Panacea, Heart's Ease, Healing Warmth) in:
--[X] Stepstones:
---[X] Western Disputed Lands
---[X] Southern Disputed Lands
---[X] Northern Disputed Lands
---[X] The Daughters March
---[X] Eastern Flatlands
--[X] Greater Pentos:
---[X] Western Flatlands
---[X] Velvet Hills
---[X] Nontelos
--[X] Greater Braavos:
---[X] Sweetwater
---[X] Morrogos
---[X] Braavosi Coast
--[X] Greater Volantis:
---[X] Volantis
---[X] Volon Therys
---[X] Orange Shore
---[X] Valysar
---[X] Eastern Disputed Lands
---[X] Selhorys
---[X] Volon Sar
--[X] Northern Valyria:
---[X] Painted Mountains
-[X] Tree of Crows (Positive Energy Aura, Ancestral Gift, Summon Ancestral Guardian) in:
--[X] Nightfort (castle of Nightwatch)
--[X] The Shadow Tower (castle of Nightwatch)
-[X] Philosopher's Heart Tree (Discern Lies, Tongues, Wisdom of the Ages) in:
--[X] Naath (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Tyrosh (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Mantarys (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Volantis (Mysterium/Scholarum branch)
--[X] Tolos (Scholarum branch)
-[X] Total: 26 Tier-3 Hear Trees, equivalent of 520 CL of items or 1404 HD of sacrifices necessary.
Background Actions
(Done in the background, are likely to appear on-screen if something unexpected happens, otherwise will be but informed of upon completion; possibly in form of a report):
[X] Attempt to summon the familiar Fiend of the Efreeti Sorcerer, one that overtook it's master's empty body and ran from you in Valyria.
-[X] Utilise both it's True Name, and the remaining connection of Efreeti's soul (now a book) to the body (using Yss' curse-staff to pierce the Mindblank/summon effectively)
-[X] To be attempted around the start of 11th month.

[X] With the help of Yss, attempt to summon the Advodaza that once slew Thoros and tried to corrupt Westeros through works of Alchemist Guild.
-[X] Have Yss look back into time to the connection Advodaza's summoning amulet once had (6 in 9 chances of succeeding).
-[X] If successfull, commence summoning in The Snare, no matter if dead or captured, this thing cannot be allowed to spread it's influence again, as it without a doubt will try.
-[X] To be attempted around the start of 11th month.

[X] Have our Diplomacy corps make moves to set up a personal meeting with Azure Emperor.
-[X] The goal being us sharing the lore on "Enemies of all" with each-other (Yi-Ti is bound to have unique lore on Void - having lived through the Long Night - and Bloodstone Emperor; where as we have extenhsive knowledge of Devils, Illithids and Others (as a new tool of the Void).

[X] Make a massive order of Flesh-crafted and Plantforged creatures (needs a vote and discusssion)

[X] By sending people to look into Tiamat's Shadow Fortress, you are no doubt setting a very difficult task before them - even if they aren't there to actually get in, but just to learn the plans and a quick way to enter later.
-[X] At the start of 11th month, ask Undead of Sallosh to assists Melisande, Shadow!Tor and Anu in their task, if only because one of the guaring measures seem to be engraged Undead of their long-lost nation.

[X] Colalborate with Extraplanar Empires in order to further joint understanding of various subjects, magic and common (military) alike:
-[X] Attempt to set up students' exchange with Shaitan Academy of War (Warmages, Diviners, Officers and Engineers), and the Guild of Shapers (Magewrights).
-[X] Attempt to set up students' exchange with Djinn Order of Arcane Seal (Abjurant Champions) and Order of Stormweavers (Stormcasters).
--[X] Both Djinn and Shaitan establishments will possibly require specific arguments - if any arise, refer from Diplomacy corps, to Viserys directly for hashing out an exact deal.
-[X] Accept the offer from Djinn Order of Cryomancers to hold lectures in Sorcerer's Deep, paying fairly for the privelege of course.
-[X] Collect on the lore necessary for training Djinn Auxilaries (Mystic Rangers) the Captain of Sultan's Bows offered unilaterally, but paying fairly for the privelege.

[X] Collect on the research done by Shaitan Spire of Wisdom, as a first joint research project between your Empires.
-[X] A possibility exists of starting on a new, much more massive joint project - but the price for exotic and difficult research would be equally exotic lore from our side (Runecrafting, Qyuburn's Undeath research, Saena's draconic fleshcrafting works, etc...)

[X] Have Lya transcribe Battlemagic Perception spell for the Jinn Archmage that helped us against the Efreeti expedition into Valyria.

[X] Ask Jazzirian if he would be able to cleanse the corrupted Rose's of Heaven without changing them closer to his nature - like we assume every god would naturally as a part of the process.

[X] The lore Lya uncovered within the Light of Creation is truly fascinating... and opens many magnificent possibilities. Still, first order of business should probably be seeking out similar sources, now knowing what to look for:
-[X] Question the Merling King, perhaps through one of his daughters, if he has such knowledge, and what price would he ask for in return for it.
-[X] Ask Bloodraven (and consequently, Old Gods) if through their deep connection to Earth they ever came upon knowledge like such for Earth spirits.

[X] The collection of lore you gathered is vast indeed... And it's about the time those far from matters supernatural started to profit from it.
-[X] Share the lore and books from your Library with your Vassals and loyal Westerosi lords.
--[X] Share the following:
--[X] Canticle of Decay (Daemons)
--[X] Journals of the Betrayed (Others)
--[X] In Memory of Death (Undead and Vampires specifically)
--[X] Reign of Madness (Illithids)
--[X] The Bitter Cub (Undead)
--[X] Bestiary of the Bizarre (Magical animals)
--[X] Notes on Devils, Fey, Demons, Rakshasa, and other assorted beasties (roughly equal in bonus to Canticle of Decay)
-[X] Make it clear for the Westerosi lords, that not only are they to supply their troubleshooters with this knowledge, but to learn it themselves. In this day and age, nothing less can be asked from a person in power than to know how to recognise the signs of dangers lurking near them.

[X] When visiting Armun Kelisk and Opaline Vault for wares, try to find rare resources:
-[X] Entangle Weed
-[X] Flame Clove
-[X] Livewood
-[X] Obaddis Leaf
-[X] Cassil
-[X] Djezet
-[X] Voidglass
-[X] Mindglass
-[X] Obdurium
-[X] Serren
-[X] Pearlsteel
--[X] Creatures (bodies are acceptable):
---[X] Roseling
---[X] Strangle Weed
---[X] Cassian Angels
---[X] Choral Angel

[X] Proceed with binding of several Valyrian dragons:
-[X] Grey Ghost - Headmistress Teana Strycos,
-[X] Meleys the Red Queen - Zherys, Malarys, or Ceria depending on the desires of the three.
-[X] Caraxes the Blood Wyrm - Zherys, Malarys, or Ceria depending on the desires of the three.

[X] Curse the 2 knowledge-keepers of Asmodeus you summoned last month to same form their wretched cousin from Summerhall resides in.
-[X] Have them thoroughly investigated for anything that can help the group sent to Slavers' Bay, immediately notifying them if any relevant information comes to light - but also keeping an eye out for any other plots of Fiends they may reveal.
-[X] To be done at the start of 11th month

[X] Throughly question the Gelugons and the Cornugon of Asmodeus summoned and captured last month.
-[X] Any and all information relevant to the task of the group in Slavers Bay is to be relayed to them immediately- but also search for knowledge of powerful magics, rare resources, or nefarious plots unconnected to Slavers Bay.
-[X] To be done at the start of 11th month.

[X] Have Amrelath, Maelor and Malarys read the Light of Creation (Amy for his upcoming rule on PoF, Maelor and Malarys for dealing with infiltration to CoB)
-[X] Maelor's copy would obviously be disguised and shrouded away from sight in every way we can, and attempts would be made to never be caught reading it.

[X] Ask Siduri for True Names of Devils serving Dispater. Having saved Zathir, and taken Sidri's oath, you all but ensured your eventual enimity. Once he openly makes a move against you, you will have just as little left to lose with him, as you do with Mammon.
--[X] Take care to learn the names of Devils most likely to operate on Plane of Balance, or otherwise hurting our interest, via divination and interference with other sources (Uniila, Erynies, other captives), and target them first if a move is made against you. Continue operations as standard from there, with questioning of captured Devils leading further into dismantling their operating cells to maximally avaliable degree.

[X] Assign the 4 Spontaneous Search stations created in 10th month to:
-[X] 1 to Sorcerer's Deep Schoalrum
-[X] 3 to Sorcerer's Deep Extraplanar trade route (one on our side, one in Opaline Vault and Armun Kelish each respectively).
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11th month has significantly fewer MAs than 10th had, but whoo boy, is Viserys going to be busy as a Dire Bee between all the expeditions, adventures, and sociopolitical intrigues.
 
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I couldn't think of a way to include her on short notice, I was rushing to get that plan out before work started too.

Sorry guys, but DP was also rushing to move things along too or I would have been open to discussing the details.
@DragonParadox, would it be okay if we include Lya? It's kind of important that she gets involved in the Imperium's publicity more and more.
 
Eh, most outermost bark is dead too. Plus, mystically speaking Coral kinda is alive. There is a difference between Living Coral and the bleached dead stuff. Plus there are Coral Plant creatures like my example.


Immunities dont come with the template and pretty sure coral needs sunlight and water to survive. It's why they grow in reefs and not the ocean floor. Except the stuff that grows by ocean vents anyway. The coral was just a thematic choice for the Aquatic template.
Fire immunity makes water unnecessary because that research was to make weirwoods able to grow in the Plane of Fire -- and good luck getting any water there. Figuring out how to make Coral Weirwoods isn't going to cancel out the fact that they already don't need water.

Point on corals needing sunlight, though. That'll need to be separate research.
Ah, guys, Corals are animals, they don't need sunlight, they need a certain water temperature and food.
We could do Kelp if you want aquatic plants.
 
@egoo, I want an action to:

1. Bookify the two Uniila in Asmodeus' service
2. Interrogate the Ice Devils and Cornugon in Asmodeus' service

Given that we're picking apart Asmodeus' schemes that definitely deserves screentime, and should be done at the start of the month since it will probably influence how Slaver's Bay is approached.
Ah, guys, Corals are animals, they don't need sunlight, they need a certain water temperature and food.
We could do Kelp if you want aquatic plants.
Kelp might work...
 
Lord Celtigar: "Your Grace, I am most grateful for any assistance you care to offer. When can they be expected to ship out?"

Viserys: "Soon."

The next day...

Kennos of Kayce: "He did the laconic reply thing, right?"

Lord Celtigar: "...he's prone to things like this?"

Kennos of Kayce: "I don't think he can go a day without making some kind of grandiose statement."
 
[X] Go and talk to Faceless Men in Braavos.
-[X] Set conditions on which they can operate in your Empire - if at all; what lines they aren't allowed to cross, how they operate on contracts, etc.
-[X] Also access all of their magic lore (no matter the type, Divine or Arcane), as per Scholarum rules.
Unpleasant and dangerous, but I guess it has to happen.
Take the weird compass-thing we unriddled with us, unless we want to keep the persona of that Quarthi/Molten Skies mage we invented for them?
[X] Check the Lys' and Gogossos' Flesh-forge's Feywild reflection.
-[X] If possible, have it brought under dull Imperial supervision and protection, given a possibility of it being able to repeat the feats of Mossforge - but from a whole new angle, so fitting the Feywild it resides in.
-[X] The mirror that Feywild is often makes but a caricature of the things it reflects of the material world - yet some places hold such power, that Feywild copies it too. You would be ill served by letting anything happen to mirror image of one of the most important locations of the Empire...
That's a bit too big for my taste for a delegated minor action?
Sure that works?
 
Bookify the two Uniila in Asmodeus' service
Added.

Interrogate the Ice Devils and Cornugon in Asmodeus' service
Added.
[X] Curse the 2 knowledge-keepers of Asmodeus you summoned last month to same form their wretched cousin from Summerhall resides in.
-[X] Have them thoroughly investigated for anything that can help the group sent to Slavers' Bay, immediately notifying them if any relevant information comes to light - but also keeping an eye out for any other plots of Fiends they may reveal.
-[X] To be done at the start of 11th month

[X] Throughly question the Gelugons and the Cornugon of Asmodeus summoned and captured last month.
-[X] Any and all information relevant to the task of the group in Slavers Bay is to be relayed to them immediately- but also search for knowledge of powerful magics, rare resources, or nefarious plots unconnected to Slavers Bay.
-[X] To be done at the start of 11th month.

Please do read through the list though, if at all possible.
I'm kinda attached to the notion, as this is, in fact, the single largest contribution I do to the thread these days.

People aren't showing much interest in this usually, so...
 
---------------------------------------------------------------
@Everyone, please read through this even if you think you have nothing to add, and comment with whatever you have in mind.
Awareness of these things means less salt-trouble down the line, and less people finding themselves having casually voted on things they don't want to do.

If you have anything to add to the list, please comment.

If you are against doing something, please comment too.
This is a community effort, I'm only compiling stuff, I'll just give the reasons for X specific action being here and we'll go from there.

...Yes, this concerns ya'll too, lurkers.
Don't think you get to escape the responsibility by never posting around :drevil:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
11th month's Minor Actions proposal

In-Character actions

(Done by VIserys himself, due to narrative importance, or need for direct player input):
[X] Visit Red Priests of Volantis.
-[X] Get the rest of the lore they have, as per Scholarum rules.

[X] Make sure to take some time to look over the marriage law and the inheritance-related laws of the Emperium.

[X] If at all possible, attempt to set up a personal meeting with the Traitor-General of Yi-Ti.
-[X] General purpose: raising awareness on the matters of Golden Company, Illithids, Devils, Bloodstone Emperor acting actively and Long Night coming - ensure that he sees the true dangers to his people - and doesn't interfere with our coming war with Golden Company.

[X] Go and talk to Faceless Men in Braavos.
-[X] Set conditions on which they can operate in your Empire - if at all; what lines they aren't allowed to cross, how they operate on contracts, etc.
-[X] Also access all of their magic lore (no matter the type, Divine or Arcane), as per Scholarum rules.

[X] Set up a meeting with either a powerful enough servant, or manifestation of Weeping Lady of Lys' power.
-[X] Ask for help against Tiamat, via empowerment of Well of Souls.

[X] Attempt to come in direct contact with R'hlor, seeking out a presense once met before - or inquiring Melisande/Benerro about setting such a meeting up.
-[X] To be done before the middle of 11th month.
-[X] You have questions, and a possibility of an alliance (at the moment - mainly agaist Tiamat, with R'hlor possibly empowering Well of Souls alongside other Gods of the realm - if we can trust him with this, that is) between you, but trusting mere priests' word on the matter as delicate as this simply won't do.

[X] Do acts necessary to gain the help of the remaining deities you planned to use against Tiamat (6 total, Yss already contributed):
-[X] Merling King (Sacrifice: Greater Mind Devourer, +more).
-[X] Old Gods (Sacrifice: Lormar, Slaads, +more)
-[X] Jazzirian (use up the Favor)
-[X] Goddess of The Silver Moon (use up the Favor)
-[X] Weeping Lady of Lys (use up the Favor - needs to be met first)

[X] Have a personal meeting with the Chosen of Smith.
-[X] Extensively divine irregular points of interest about him and his works - just in case, since one favored by Smith can prepare far more of a trap than a regular cleric.
--[X] Check his supply routes, from where he gets the materials for enchanting - and the peopel he interacts with along the way, including those he gives the items to, and who gave him the order of Dragon-slaying weaponry. Such spell as Hindisight may come especially in handy if he interacted with someone protected by Mindblank, giving us at least a clue to investigate.
-[X] If no suspicious activity is detected via divination, meet with him - the focus of the meeting is setting up at least mild relationship with the Chosen, and ensuring he focues on bigger threats to people of Westeros than us.
--[X] Sharing with him our wast array of Lore on Enemies of All (Devils, Demons, Daemons, Others, Illithid, Fey, Rakshasa, Tiamat, etc.-) is a big aspect of this. There is also potential of directly sponsoring him (see: Warrior's Chosen) if all goes well...

[X] Use Discern Location, Greater Scrying, and Greater Teleport to find and deal with the Wisps that you encountered so long ago in swamps of Braavos... One way, or another.
-[X] It'll be a very short trip for someone of Viserys' power these days, unless the Wisps take care to reside in local Feywild.
Delegated Actions
(Done by Companions, Vassals or Allies, likely to be done in an Interlude or an Inquisitorial report):
[X] Ascertain the reliability and the trustworthyness of remaining high-standing mages of Mysterium (the Necromancer, The Fire Caller (Summoner ~7+ level), etc)
-[X] Ensure the gathering of the magical and non-magical lore gathered by Mysterium as per regular Scholarum rules, as well as swift integration of the existing system into one set by our Empire

[X] Check the Lys' and Gogossos' Flesh-forge's Feywild reflection.
-[X] If possible, have it brought under dull Imperial supervision and protection, given a possibility of it being able to repeat the feats of Mossforge - but from a whole new angle, so fitting the Feywild it resides in.
-[X] The mirror that Feywild is often makes but a caricature of the things it reflects of the material world - yet some places hold such power, that Feywild copies it too. You would be ill served by letting anything happen to mirror image of one of the most important locations of the Empire...

[X] Have Divinations run targeting Denys Mallery - ensuring his safety wherever his father decides to send him.
-[X] It might be a good idea to visit him as the cleric of the Earth Mother in person (be it reality or but a dream) - in the light of the deal you set up with the Storm God, he is your best chance at reaching his patron... And, perhaps, ensuring that her blessings spread far and wide, ensuring both her, and your realm's prosperity.

[X] Have a report on activities of Court of Stars, and the progress on the task we left him on, by Candlekeep Courtier.

[X] Raise Heart Trees:
-[X] Healing Heart Tree (Panacea, Heart's Ease, Healing Warmth) in:
--[X] Stepstones:
---[X] Western Disputed Lands
---[X] Southern Disputed Lands
---[X] Northern Disputed Lands
---[X] The Daughters March
---[X] Eastern Flatlands
--[X] Greater Pentos:
---[X] Western Flatlands
---[X] Velvet Hills
---[X] Nontelos
--[X] Greater Braavos:
---[X] Sweetwater
---[X] Morrogos
---[X] Braavosi Coast
--[X] Greater Volantis:
---[X] Volantis
---[X] Volon Therys
---[X] Orange Shore
---[X] Valysar
---[X] Eastern Disputed Lands
---[X] Selhorys
---[X] Volon Sar
--[X] Northern Valyria:
---[X] Painted Mountains
-[X] Tree of Crows (Positive Energy Aura, Ancestral Gift, Summon Ancestral Guardian) in:
--[X] Nightfort (castle of Nightwatch)
--[X] The Shadow Tower (castle of Nightwatch)
-[X] Philosopher's Heart Tree (Discern Lies, Tongues, Wisdom of the Ages) in:
--[X] Naath (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Tyrosh (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Mantarys (Scholarum branch)
--[X] Volantis (Mysterium/Scholarum branch)
--[X] Tolos (Scholarum branch)
-[X] Total: 26 Tier-3 Hear Trees, equivalent of 520 CL of items or 1404 HD of sacrifices necessary.
Background Actions
(Done in the background, are likely to appear on-screen if something unexpected happens, otherwise will be but informed of upon completion; possibly in form of a report):
[X] Attempt to summon the familiar Fiend of the Efreeti Sorcerer, one that overtook it's master's empty body and ran from you in Valyria.
-[X] Utilise both it's True Name, and the remaining connection of Efreeti's soul (now a book) to the body (using Yss' curse-staff to pierce the Mindblank/summon effectively)
-[X] To be attempted around the start of 11th month.

[X] With the help of Yss, attempt to summon the Advodaza that once slew Thoros and tried to corrupt Westeros through works of Alchemist Guild.
-[X] Have Yss look back into time to the connection Advodaza's summoning amulet once had (6 in 9 chances of succeeding).
-[X] If successfull, commence summoning in The Snare, no matter if dead or captured, this thing cannot be allowed to spread it's influence again, as it without a doubt will try.
-[X] To be attempted around the start of 11th month.

[X] Have our Diplomacy corps make moves to set up a personal meeting with Azure Emperor.
-[X] The goal being us sharing the lore on "Enemies of all" with each-other (Yi-Ti is bound to have unique lore on Void - having lived through the Long Night - and Bloodstone Emperor; where as we have extenhsive knowledge of Devils, Illithids and Others (as a new tool of the Void).

[X] Make a massive order of Flesh-crafted and Plantforged creatures (needs a vote and discusssion)

[X] By sending people to look into Tiamat's Shadow Fortress, you are no doubt setting a very difficult task before them - even if they aren't there to actually get in, but just to learn the plans and a quick way to enter later.
-[X] At the start of 11th month, ask Undead of Sallosh to assists Melisande, Shadow!Tor and Anu in their task, if only because one of the guaring measures seem to be engraged Undead of their long-lost nation.

[X] Colalborate with Extraplanar Empires in order to further joint understanding of various subjects, magic and common (military) alike:
-[X] Attempt to set up students' exchange with Shaitan Academy of War (Warmages, Diviners, Officers and Engineers), and the Guild of Shapers (Magewrights).
-[X] Attempt to set up students' exchange with Djinn Order of Arcane Seal (Abjurant Champions) and Order of Stormweavers (Stormcasters).
--[X] Both Djinn and Shaitan establishments will possibly require specific arguments - if any arise, refer from Diplomacy corps, to Viserys directly for hashing out an exact deal.
-[X] Accept the offer from Djinn Order of Cryomancers to hold lectures in Sorcerer's Deep, paying fairly for the privelege of course.
-[X] Collect on the lore necessary for training Djinn Auxilaries (Mystic Rangers) the Captain of Sultan's Bows offered unilaterally, but paying fairly for the privelege.

[X] Collect on the research done by Shaitan Spire of Wisdom, as a first joint research project between your Empires.
-[X] A possibility exists of starting on a new, much more massive joint project - but the price for exotic and difficult research would be equally exotic lore from our side (Runecrafting, Qyuburn's Undeath research, Saena's draconic fleshcrafting works, etc...)

[X] Have Lya transcribe Battlemagic Perception spell for the Jinn Archmage that helped us against the Efreeti expedition into Valyria.

[X] The collection of lore you gathered is vast indeed... And it's about the time those far from matters supernatural started to profit from it.
-[X] Share the lore and books from your Library with your Vassals and loyal Westerosi lords.
--[X] Share the following:
--[X] Canticle of Decay (Daemons)
--[X] Journals of the Betrayed (Others)
--[X] In Memory of Death (Undead and Vampires specifically)
--[X] Reign of Madness (Illithids)
--[X] The Bitter Cub (Undead)
--[X] Bestiary of the Bizarre (Magical animals)
--[X] Notes on Devils, Fey, Demons, Rakshasa, and other assorted beasties (roughly equal in bonus to Canticle of Decay)
-[X] Make it clear for the Westerosi lords, that not only are they to supply their troubleshooters with this knowledge, but to learn it themselves. In this day and age, nothing less can be asked from a person in power than to know how to recognise the signs of dangers lurking near them.

[X] When visiting Armun Kelisk and Opaline Vault for wares, try to find rare resources:
-[X] Entangle Weed
-[X] Flame Clove
-[X] Livewood
-[X] Obaddis Leaf
-[X] Cassil
-[X] Djezet
-[X] Voidglass
-[X] Mindglass
-[X] Obdurium
-[X] Serren
-[X] Pearlsteel
--[X] Creatures (bodies are acceptable):
---[X] Roseling
---[X] Strangle Weed
---[X] Cassian Angels
---[X] Choral Angel

[X] Proceed with binding of several Valyrian dragons:
-[X] Grey Ghost - Headmistress Teana Strycos,
-[X] Meleys the Red Queen - Zherys, Malarys, or Ceria depending on the desires of the three.
-[X] Caraxes the Blood Wyrm - Zherys, Malarys, or Ceria depending on the desires of the three.

[X] Have Amrelath, Maelor and Malarys read the Light of Creation (Amy for his upcoming rule on PoF, Maelor and Malarys for dealing with infiltration to CoB)
-[X] Maelor's copy would obviously be disguised and shrouded away from sight in every way we can, and attempts would be made to never be caught reading it.

[X] Ask Siduri for True Names of Devils serving Dispater. Having saved Zathir, and taken Sidri's oath, you all but ensured your eventual enimity. Once he openly makes a move against you, you will have just as little left to lose with him, as you do with Mammon.
--[X] Take care to learn the names of Devils most likely to operate on Plane of Balance, or otherwise hurting our interest, via divination and interference with other sources (Uniila, Erynies, other captives), and target them first if a move is made against you. Continue operations as standard from there, with questioning of captured Devils leading further into dismantling their operating cells to maximally avaliable degree.

[X] Assign the 4 Spontaneous Search stations created in 10th month to:
-[X] 1 to Sorcerer's Deep Schoalrum
-[X] 3 to Sorcerer's Deep Extraplanar trade route (one on our side, one in Opaline Vault and Armun Kelish each respectively).
‐--------------------------------------------------
11th month has significantly fewer MAs than 10th had, but whoo boy, is Viserys going to be busy as a Dire Bee between all the expeditions, adventures, and sociopolitical intrigues.

Looks great over all, thanks for all your hard work. Two questions: Why are we taking the time to deal with those Wisps in Bravos? Just because we're a vengeful bastard? And do we have any plans regarding the Chosen of the Crone, Stranger and Mother? Wouldn't it be nice to have at least some clue of who they are and what they're doing?
 
@egoo, I want an action to:

1. Bookify the two Uniila in Asmodeus' service
2. Interrogate the Ice Devils and Cornugon in Asmodeus' service

Given that we're picking apart Asmodeus' schemes that definitely deserves screentime, and should be done at the start of the month since it will probably influence how Slaver's Bay is approached.

Kelp might work...
Or, if DP wants to draw some inspiration for the plane or water from a certain game...

I want a treant of this
The Old Gods will like the color scheme if nothing else, or we could fluff it as the Water adapted Weirwood.
 
[X] Use Discern Location, Greater Scrying, and Greater Teleport to find and deal with the Wisps that you encountered so long ago in swamps of Braavos... One way, or another.
-[X] It'll be a very short trip for someone of Viserys' power these days, unless the Wisps take care to reside in local Feywild.

Sealord: "Why is the Swamp On Fire?"

Viserys: "I had to get them."

Sealord: "Who?"

Viserys: "Wisps."

Sealord, gaping: "...I know about your activities, you haven't been out to that swamp in years."

Viserys: "Nobody makes a fool of Viserys Targaryen."

...

Viserys: "Except for Quasits, but then I can't do anything about them."

Viserys, looking at the viewer: "Yet."
 
Why are we taking the time to deal with those Wisps in Bravos? Just because we're a vengeful bastard?
That's just me, but the vote itself is open for interpretation (and as such an actual vote by playerbase).

They are an annoying loose end we never got to covering, and with some new spells we have, given good dice, we won't need much time at all to either eradicate or diplimance them into submission.


Can't do shit about them, Mindblanked directly by Stranger, we have no clue who they are or what are they doing.
Well be killing them if we ever find out, of course.
Apparently hadn't had a Chosen yet.
I'm... not sure. @Duesal, who was the last champion of Crone we heard of..?


That's a bit too big for my taste for a delegated minor action?
Sure that works?
DP said there is such a thing as Feyeild reflection for Lys' forge, and we already got most of the Fey-population subjugated there.

We are just ensuring that nothing untoward happens there while we aren't looking, with this.

If anything does, and we find out...
Well, there goes one of planned actions and starts an Adventuee I guess.

Protecting our strategic investments is kinda like that.
 
Uncommon Heralds

First Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

Lord Adrian Celtigar had not been certain precisely what manner of help the king head meant to send to Claw Isle, though after the gifts he had given and the generous trade he had agreed for in exchange for the horn, he was quite sure it was going to be worth the wait. So it was with some surprise that he greeted the news from his younger son Arthur, who had been entrusted with the magic brazier. That surprise only grew when he met the king's agents who had arrived in Crab's Cove.

Four Westerlanders, a bull-man and... Lord Celtigar glanced around the study for the furtive little blue thing, a dragon, or so she claimed. Mayhap the king was trying to send a message with the nature of those it sent to defend his leal vassals, to take heart that even the Westerlands were with them. If nothing else, the man who had introduced himself as Ser Roger 'Reyne' certainly had aspirations in that direction. From faded memories more than four decades old, the man had a little of the look of Ser Reynard Reyne, whom the Red Crab had once met and drank with 'in honor of all beasts of crimson coat'. Ser Kennos made only a little stranger showing, a knight sworn to the Red God was not as uncommon as it might once have been, and if he could wrangle the priests to help in his hunt all the better, but the women...

Ah the women... Adrian had known all sorts of women in his long years, from demure ladies who would burst into tears if their dress got splashed with mud, to flinty eyed she-wolves who would stab you as quick with steel as sharp words, and he'd known some who pretended to be the former but were the latter just the same, but he couldn't quite place the two golden-haired sorceresses at first glance. They seemed flustered by his greetings, though the older of the two less than the younger. When he got to asking what they could actually do with their sorcery, they settled right down again.

"I can heal harm to body and mind, ward against fire, frost, and enchantment, grant good luck in battle, ans sand-speak like the braziers have been enchanted to do," Leila Goldenhammer said. "I've a few true battle spells, too, though that is not where I am most skilled. I can also speak or read any tongue, for a little while at least, even that of... Those Below, and I have learned something of them as well."

"My magic is more limited in scope," the younger one, Jeyne, half-whispered. "I can feel when enemies are near, even if they are hiding or veiled by magic and when I do I can deal with them."

Right up until the last five words, Lord Celtigar had not been sure if he should let her go out to fight or find something safe for her to do with her magic so she didn't get killed on his watch, but that last part... there was hate there. Not the way you might hate a monster you heard tale of in a story or read about in a book neither. She deserved her chance at spearing squid, as his armsmen had come to call it.

"Father, mayhap I could accompany our guests to help them find an incurious host down in the vilage," Arthur interjected. With an apologetic smile, he added, "Alas that we cannot host you in the keep, such dedication to king and people deserves to be recognized not skulking in the shadows."

What was the boy playing at? Nothing he had said was untrue, but the tone had been... ah. The Lord of Claw Island shook his head, struggling to hide a smile as he noticed his son eyeing the younger sorceress with a gleam in his eye. Best take him aside later and make it clear that these weren't smallfolk lasses to woo into bed without a thought. A wizard was a useful vassal to have, as useful as a household knight, if not far more, and Lord Celtigar knew he would not take well to his knights taking leave of their duties for months for the sake of a babe, and he could not imagine the dragon king taking it any better. For that matter, they might even expect a marriage. Would that even be that bad?

The old lord deliberately shook the thought away. That was less putting the cart before the oxen, and more sending it rolling down the hill without a care while the oxen were three pastures over. Still, he would have a talk with the boy. Adrian remembered what it was like being nine and ten and a new-made knight, and deep thought was not one of his biggest concerns those days.

OOC: I figured that Viserys would want to send the team to Claw Island as soon as he could, because it's the promise of aid to a loyal vassal. Not only is in in character but it sends a powerful message to have help show up the very next day. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
 
Unpleasant and dangerous, but I guess it has to happen.
Take the weird compass-thing we unriddled with us, unless we want to keep the persona of that Quarthi/Molten Skies mage we invented for them?
I'm not sure, honestly.

I don't like dealing with them either, but we probably could spin this as another bargaining chip...


We have the power of state and some fuckhuge PCs

They have the power of being Assasin order that is nearly impossible to eradicate.
Or at least not without some fuckhuge losses of Admjnistration for us.

We are kinda at an impasse there :/


It seems we'll have to come to terms with each other, and us having to pay them for lore and knowledge they hold...
I don't like that in the slightest, but they have a fair bit of cards stacked there.

Maybe we could take a few out by pointing at the astrolabe and explaining that it leads to B!S Emperor's lands.
 
[X] Colalborate with Extraplanar Empires in order to further joint understanding of various subjects,
Include "holy" air and earth please? Purified hellfire, holy water, and then sacred air and earth will go a long way towards making hellven easier to rebuild.

There's also the box the faceless men wanted us to open...

Edit:
Would someone forward these suggestions to Egoo for me? I am probably still blocked.
 
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