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

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OK, since the discussion seems to have stopped, vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 20, 2019 at 4:41 AM, finished with 82 posts and 16 votes.
  • [X] Try to negotiate a lower price in exchange for other benefits. Offer all of the following incentives to each sellsword company, with the understanding that each offer is meant to further reduce the cost of their services.
    -[X] We will provide Masterwork quality Fabricated arms and armor to all of their forces, as well as setting aside the services of a dozen of our Mage-Smiths to provide minor enchantments to their equipment. All at cost, of course.
    --[X] We can also give actual discounts should either company decide to further reduce their fee.
    -[X] In addition to free health care in the form of magical and Alchemical healing to treat normal injuries, disease, and afflictions, we will perform a Raise Dead (a 90 IM service), Reincarnation (a 56 IM service), Resurrection (a 182 IM service), or True Resurrection (a 306 IM service) upon any of their fallen forces, should their remains be brought to us in time, provided they supply the necessary material components. We will also provide free Regeneration (a 182 IM service) spells to those who are injured gravely enough to lose a limb or organ.
    -[X] Show both men the Advanced Plant-Imbued Gigantean Manta Rays who accompanied us to Vialisk and explain their nature. Should they provide us with suitable corpses or the necessary reagents, we can craft for them powerful aquatic servitors at cost, though we will not make sentient beings bound to serve them.
    -[X] Sorcerer's Deep is part of a large growing realm in the Plane of Balance. Better yet, it's an island city located in the middle of a profitable trade route between two continental land masses, one we outright control except for Deep One interference. Although we are unlikely to retain the services of either full company for longer than needed to combat the Deep One threat, we would be able to provide much longer term contracts for smaller numbers years into the future if they are willing to be slightly more generous with their terms in the present.
    -[X] Sorcerer's Deep also has a growing aquatic district which could easily accommodate a large influx of residents, should either company like to consider establishing a permanent presence in the Imperium, perhaps either as residences, training facilities, or even an office from which to hire their services to others in the future, such as guards for ocean going trading ships or explorers. This would be a land grant, one whose size is related to the discount each company offers for its services. We will also handle the construction necessary to make the new properties livable and productive, based on their specifications.
    -[X] Should either company decide to base themselves in the Imperium on a long term basis, for the next decade we will provide them with free Gate-based travel back and forth between the Imperium and the Plane of Water (a 306 IM service), provided they are able to schedule the transit two weeks prior to the departure date.
    -[X] Finally, for a flat 20% reduction in their final fee, we are willing to employ them for a guaranteed six month contract, paying half of their total fee for that time up front and the remaining half upon completion of their service.
    [X] Hire both
    -[X] Serega's Shields (6,000 Heavy Turtle Cavalry strong on the charge, but also capable in a melee; Cost 150,000 IM/Month)
    -[X] Lightning Chasers (3,000 Eel-Bonded Spear Skirmishers/Dart Casters; Cost 90,000 IM/Month)
    --[X] Total Monthly Cost Before Discount: 240,000 IM
    -[X] Speak with the Half-Dragon Sorcerer after Relath tells you whatever he was able to discover about her
Click to expand...
 
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Digging for more forces against illithids:

[] Marid trade houses (we'll likely have to sponsor the effort at least partially).

[] Brine Dragons (need to look into those with enmity against illithid - we'll likely have to pay a lot to get help still).

[] the undead Illithid information broker on Hellven (veery tentatively, they may hate him, but he is still an info broker first and foremost, ergo, untrustworthy).

[] Yss-made Divine Servant Sea-Snakes.

[] More triton tribes gathered by our minions (mostly done).

[] Any support Merling King can offer (Divine Servants? Are there powerful clerics of his on PoW?).

[] Our own plantforged forces (we cant really make armies still, too costly - likely will need to make specialized support units instead).

Am I forgetting anything?
 
MTB said:
Devils are fighting them. Coordinated action possible? (we at home, they somewhere else)
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Ah. No, I don't think that coordinated action is anywhat possible, not with Asmy pissed at us.

Maybe, maaaaybe if the one leading Devils was Lord of the First (with whom we have a tiny amount of goodwill, at least).
But he's too busy doing Blood War.

Meaning, it's either Mammon (fat chance us dimplomancing there), someone directly under Asmy (same), or any other, generally reprehensible, Archdevil.
 
MTB said:
Some calculations for getting people across the plane via Gate:
Diameter 20 foot, means four 5-foot squares
If you use a standing start, you get movement (in 5-foot installments)*2 (running) * 4 (breadth of column) * caster level
throughput per round.
With a spead of 40 feet, that'd be 8*2*4*20 (let's say 20 for CL) medium creatures ==> 1280 per casting of Gate.
Turtles are bigger, but can transport riders, so ...

Edit:
[X] Goldfish
// That's some expenses we can not afford to forget
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When we need Gates open for longer than the spell normally lasts, we use Wild Arcana to duplicate Create Greater Demiplane spells.

First we cast Create Greater Demiplane to establish the Demiplane, then cast it twice more link two more portal Gates to it, one in the starting destinate and the other at the target destination. The Demiplane itself just serves as a transit hub. At Viserys' current caster level, the whole setup will last for 22 days unless rendered Permanent, though he can dismiss them sooner once everyone moves through.
 
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Do we have a PoSK for 'Create Greater Demiplane'? Moving armies might become more common soonish. And we could commission one, now, that we are here if not.
 
MTB said:
Do we have a PoSK for 'Create Greater Demiplane'? Moving armies might become more common soonish. And we could commission one, now, that we are here if not.
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No, we don't. It's something we could commission, I guess, but not really necessary, since we can just use Wild Arcana to duplicate it. It also only used a Standard Action to duplicate it with Wild Arcana, but casting it as a regular 9th level spell requires several hours.
 
Wild Arcana uses mythic power. If you don't need it on the same day for something else (like combat), that's fine.
 
MTB said:
Wild Arcana uses mythic power. If you don't need it on the same day for something else (like combat), that's fine.
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It's a trade off; use there Mythic power to set up the transit scheme in less than a minute, or use a PoSK and use 18 hours (6 hours per casting). I would much prefer the former.

Viserys has seven Mythic power, and each Mythic tier he gains will add two more, so it's not like it critically depleted his reserves.
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Oct 20, 2019 at 4:41 AM, finished with 82 posts and 16 votes.
  • [X] Try to negotiate a lower price in exchange for other benefits. Offer all of the following incentives to each sellsword company, with the understanding that each offer is meant to further reduce the cost of their services.
    -[X] We will provide Masterwork quality Fabricated arms and armor to all of their forces, as well as setting aside the services of a dozen of our Mage-Smiths to provide minor enchantments to their equipment. All at cost, of course.
    --[X] We can also give actual discounts should either company decide to further reduce their fee.
    -[X] In addition to free health care in the form of magical and Alchemical healing to treat normal injuries, disease, and afflictions, we will perform a Raise Dead (a 90 IM service), Reincarnation (a 56 IM service), Resurrection (a 182 IM service), or True Resurrection (a 306 IM service) upon any of their fallen forces, should their remains be brought to us in time, provided they supply the necessary material components. We will also provide free Regeneration (a 182 IM service) spells to those who are injured gravely enough to lose a limb or organ.
    -[X] Show both men the Advanced Plant-Imbued Gigantean Manta Rays who accompanied us to Vialisk and explain their nature. Should they provide us with suitable corpses or the necessary reagents, we can craft for them powerful aquatic servitors at cost, though we will not make sentient beings bound to serve them.
    -[X] Sorcerer's Deep is part of a large growing realm in the Plane of Balance. Better yet, it's an island city located in the middle of a profitable trade route between two continental land masses, one we outright control except for Deep One interference. Although we are unlikely to retain the services of either full company for longer than needed to combat the Deep One threat, we would be able to provide much longer term contracts for smaller numbers years into the future if they are willing to be slightly more generous with their terms in the present.
    -[X] Sorcerer's Deep also has a growing aquatic district which could easily accommodate a large influx of residents, should either company like to consider establishing a permanent presence in the Imperium, perhaps either as residences, training facilities, or even an office from which to hire their services to others in the future, such as guards for ocean going trading ships or explorers. This would be a land grant, one whose size is related to the discount each company offers for its services. We will also handle the construction necessary to make the new properties livable and productive, based on their specifications.
    -[X] Should either company decide to base themselves in the Imperium on a long term basis, for the next decade we will provide them with free Gate-based travel back and forth between the Imperium and the Plane of Water (a 306 IM service), provided they are able to schedule the transit two weeks prior to the departure date.
    -[X] Finally, for a flat 20% reduction in their final fee, we are willing to employ them for a guaranteed six month contract, paying half of their total fee for that time up front and the remaining half upon completion of their service.
    [X] Hire both
    -[X] Serega's Shields (6,000 Heavy Turtle Cavalry strong on the charge, but also capable in a melee; Cost 150,000 IM/Month)
    -[X] Lightning Chasers (3,000 Eel-Bonded Spear Skirmishers/Dart Casters; Cost 90,000 IM/Month)
    --[X] Total Monthly Cost Before Discount: 240,000 IM
    -[X] Speak with the Half-Dragon Sorcerer after Relath tells you whatever he was able to discover about her
Click to expand...
 
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Part MMMCXXVI: Of Pearls and Odd Pairings
  • Threadmarks
    • Of Pearls and Odd Pairings ​

    Ninth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    The enormous placid Manta Rays swimming in slow circles around Vialesk feasting upon the great shoals of fish drawn to Palixna's silver radiance may not be the most fearsome creatures the two mercenary captains have ever seen, but they are certainly nothing to scoff at. Rippling fungus-infused flesh envelops and consumes vast gulps of beasts and water, deep black eyes as large as a man is tall peer through the waters as the Triton rider gently guides it along out of the path of other ships and travelers.

    "You made this beast?" the captain of the Shields asks, fascinated. "I have seen the flesh-warping of the Deep Masters, but this does not smell of their foulness."

    "My ancestors learned the art from many places, and now that it has been rediscovered much work is being done to improve and refine the process. Should you be interested in flesh-forged beasts of your own and provide corpses or gold for reagents, such beasts could be made to your specifications," you explain to the increasingly thoughtful stares from both sellswords. You suspect you have found where a great deal of your coin is to be spent, though by no means all of it.

    The offer to forge weapons by sorcery as needed, and provide reliable magical healing at a cost as well as resorting those of their fallen comrades who may wish to return are greeted with good cheer, prompting Captain Magrios to ask if he might visit Sorcerer's Deep of which you had hinted so much. Serega is not far behind, and from there negotiations proceed even more smoothly than before. When you suggest one third lower pay in exchange for a guaranteed six month contract neither warrior so much as blinks, both considering the many uses they can put flesh-forged beasts and better armaments to.

    Serega's Shields and Lightning Chasers Hired (6 Month Contract)

    Lost 960,000 IM

    ***​

    Tenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    Relath had not been idle while you conversed with enchanters, alchemists, and sellswords, seeking out the Merchant House who sold the enchanted pearls scattered throughout the high administration and court of Tolos, those that gleamed with a pale light in the presence of Deep One taint. You wonder if they would mark the presence of hidden agents as Jeyne had been, but there is no way to tell without capturing one. Still, from the Brine Dragon's own experience the pearls will detect more direct forms of Far Realm influence and flesh-craft, making them as valued a tool in the rest of your realm as they are in Tolos.

    Pearls of the Clear Sea
    Ability: Detect Aberration and other Far Realm influence within 5 ft of bearer.
    Cost: 50 IM
    Maximum Number: 3,000

    How many do you buy?

    [] Write in

    Yet it is clear Relath is distracted by something as he recounts his meeting and negotiation with the Marid merchant, something your mother realizes as readily as you. "What did Wisdom Wavespinner speak to you of?" she asks, hesitating ever so slightly over the title.

    "She wished to inquire whether I had a mate or was interested in one," the Brine Dragon replies bluntly. "I suspect she would take it ill were I to ask her if she wishes to be my eleventh wife."

    Silence stretches awkwardly in the wake of his words. So simple, you shake your head. Perhaps you had grown too used to many-layered intrigues to have assumed the sorceress' interest in Relath related to her work and not personal reasons. Then again... "Did she hint she might wish something other than companionship?" you ask.

    "Perhaps..." the Brine Dragon's green frilled tail lashes thoughtfully though the water. "She expressed some interest in what other scions I had sired, though that may have been in an attempt to discover what rivals she might have for my affections."

    Your mother clears her throat a touch uncomfortably before adding: "Lord Relath, you must keep in mind that any children you bear are not only heirs of your body, but of the province of Tolos also."

    She does not add her less than complimentary opinion of any inheritance situation that is drawn from multiple wives, but you suspect Relath hears at least a hint of disapproval for he bristles and replies that he had no intention to be succeeded by any heirs so long as the sun shines and the earth turns. "Succession is a mortal concern," he proclaims.

    How do you approach your second meeting with Wavespinner?

    [] Try to warn her off trying to seduce Relath, he is still a young and brash Brine Dragon

    [] Try to discover if her interest in Relath is indeed more than what meets the eye

    [] Use her interest in Relath to get her to enter your service

    OOC: You guys got 33% instead of 20% off on the merc contracts thanks to the facilities offered and decent diplomacy rolls.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    1. Yes, including Psionics
    2. Keep in mind how cheap those are, a 50 IM magic item is cheaper than a prestidigitation ring or other cantrip casting item
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    Yeah, no questions, we can work with that.

    I just thought that they had a wider detection range, because I expected roughly same-day effect as "Detect X" spells on em.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    She does not add her less than complimentary opinion of any inheritance situation that is drawn from multiple wives, but you suspect Relath hears at least a hint of disapproval for he bristles and replies that he had no intention to be succeeded by any heirs so long as the sun shines and the earth turns. "Succession is a mortal concern," he proclaims.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Good point.

    @DragonParadox
    Is there any chance that a dragon slain in combat or by treachery would not heed the call of Resurrection?
    If I had to guess I'd say that too is a mortal-only problem.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Of Pearls and Odd Pairings ​

    Ninth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    The enormous placid manta rays swimming in slow circles around Vialesk, feasting upon the great shoals of fish drawn to Palixna's silver radiance, may not be the most fearsome creatures the two mercenary captains have ever seen, but they are certainly nothing to scoff at. Rippling fungus infused flesh envelops and consumes vast gulps of fish and water, deep black eyes as large as a man is tall peer through the waters as the triton rider gently guides it along, moving out of the path of other ships and travelers.

    "You made this beast?" the captain of the Shields, asks fascinated. "I have seen the flesh-warping of the Deep Masters, but this does not smell of their foulness."

    "My ancestors learned the art from many places. Now that it has been rediscovered, much work is being done to improve and refine the process. Should you be interested in flesh-forged beasts of your own and provide corpses, or gold for reagents such beasts could be made to your specifications," you explain to the increasingly thoughtful stares from both sellswords. You suspect you have found where a great deal of your coin is to be spent, though by no means all of it.

    The offer to forge weapons by sorcery as needed, and provide reliable magical healing at cost, as well as restoring those of their fallen comrades who may wish to return, are greeted with good cheer, prompting captain Margos to ask if he might visit Sorcerer's Deep, of which you had hinted so much. Serega is not far behind, and from there negotiations proceed even more smoothly than before. When you suggest one third lower pay in exchange for a guaranteed six month contract, neither warrior so much as blinks, both considering the many uses they can put flesh-forged beasts and better armaments to.

    Serega's Shields and Lightning Chasers Hired (6 Month Contract)

    Lost 960,000 IM

    ***​

    Tenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    Relath had not been idle while you conversed with enchanters and sellswords, seeking out the merchant house who sold the enchanted pearls scattered throughout the high administration and court of Tolos, those that gleamed with a pale light in the presence of Deep One taint. You wonder if they would mark the presence of hidden agents, as Jeyne had been, but there is no way to tell without capturing one. Still, from the Brine Dragon's own experience, the pearls will detect more direct forms of Far Realm influence and flesh-craft, making them as valued a tool in the rest of your realm as they are in Tolos.

    Pearls of the Clear Sea
    Ability: Detect Aberration and other Far Realm influence within 5 feet of bearer.
    Cost: 50 IM each
    Maximum Number: 3000

    How many do you buy?

    [] Write in

    Yet is is clear Relath is distracted by something as he recounts his meeting and negotiation with the Marid merchant, something your mother realizes as readily as you. "What did wisdom Wavespinner speak to you of?" she asks, hesitating ever so slightly over the title.

    "She wished to inquire whether I had a mate or was interested in one," the dragon replies bluntly. "I suspect she would take it ill were I to ask her if she wishes to be my eleventh wife."

    Silence stretches awkwardly in the wake of his words. So simple, you shake your head. Perhaps you had grown too used to many-layered intrigues to have assumed the sorceress' interest in Realth related to her work and not personal reasons. Then again... "Did she hint she might wish something other than companionship?" you ask.

    "Perhaps..." the dragon's green frilled tail lashes thoughtfully though the water. "She expressed some interest in what other scions I had sired, though that may have been in an attempt to discover what rivals she might have for my affections."

    Your mother clears her throat a touch uncomfortably before adding: "Lord Relath, you must keep in mind that any children you bear are not only heirs of your body, but of the province of Tolos also."

    She does not add her less than complimentary opinion of any inheritance situation that is drawn from multiple wives, but you suspect Relath hears at least a hint of disapproval, for he bristles and replies that he had no intention to be succeeded by any heirs so long as the sun shines and the earth turns. "Succession is a mortal concern," he proclaims.

    How do you approach your second meeting with Wavespinner?

    [] Try to warn her off attempting to seduce Relath, he is still a young dragon and brash with it

    [] Try to discover if her interest in Relath is indeed more than what meets the eye

    [] Use her interest in Relath to get her to enter your service

    OOC: You guys got 33% instead of 20% off on the merc contracts thanks to the facilities offered and decent diplomacy rolls. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    33% discount is very nice! That will save us quite a lot in the long run.

    Haha, Relath's got game, y'all.
     
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