A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
- Thread starter DragonParadox
- Start date
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- a song of ice and fire a sword without a hilt d&d 3.5 dungeons & dragons 100% high octane dragon fuel ave corvidae battle action dragon diplomacy best sister bureaucromancy delicious soul-stuff dragon dreams come true dragon ta'veren greatest uncle hubris is a coward's word in defiance of gods and men mammon's folly mutually assured mage's disjunction qm murderhobo top tier coatl
- Location
- United States
We can regularly headbutt Elder Brains or the Bloodstone Emperor with that.
Just an update I'm about halfway done and 1500 words in. This will take a while, there are a lot of Reacher Houses.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
...Nah, I kinda doubt that.
We'll be getting directly inside their Domain with that shit, so I doubt we'd be able to do that safely more than once... each.
Divine Mojo is just that bullshit.
However, yes, even without the +10 untyped psionic item (I want eet), we already can rock +99+1d6 Willsave when eating the heart of Ymeri's Herald.
Mwha. Mwhahah. MWHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!
Ahem.
It is only us and the dreadful dice now.
Because like hell Ymeri is getting off the hook with dese rolls.
- Location
- Germany
Keep in mind rerolls need a target.
If we make an automatic 20 and the Bloodstone Emps is far out of range, it's useless on the actual contest.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
Yeah, that's why I didn't really include those alongside all other effects.
The 'plan' already has us using nat20, so re-rolls are only of use if we are facing something acting as a foci.
Which we might, when we'll eat Herald's heart. But otherwise aren't.
Bottom line, it's still a singular roll over 100.
Quite a lot, aye?
Jack vile Ripper
The swellest guy in Creation.
- Location
- Indonesia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
I am still in awe that you calculated all of those buffs just because we couldn't digest a godblessed tree...
Yet, it's awfully thematic considering the general status of this Quest.
- Location
- United States
We totally digested that tree.
It was just our rotten luck that we missed out on Flamesense.
Jack vile Ripper
The swellest guy in Creation.
- Location
- Indonesia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
We totally digested that tree.
It was just our rotten luck that we missed out on Flamesense.
My condolences. I hope we could have a better shot this time.
- Location
- Germany
Our gained insight did help with integrating Volantis though.We totally digested that tree.
It was just our rotten luck that we missed out on Flamesense.
If we had left the demonic elefant-coup to Zherys alone, without the scryed knowledge, it would have ended worse.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
Alright, to be fair - about 60% of this is @Goldfish's work, I just re-adjusted a few aged stats from an old post of his and added "what else can we add" to the one he threw together some time ago for deliste.
Ah, if only there was a way for us to keep Willsave of ~60-80 at all times, and not only when we can cast 4-6 spells that need specific party composition...
- Location
- United States
True, it was indeed the insight needed to force Zherys into a corner.
- Location
- France
Hey @DragonParadox, how is Nettles' retraining going? Has she started learning magic yet, or will she only start once she's back from Yi-Ti?
Did we ever Miracle up that Chocolate Fountain?
I'll roll for it when I'm done here. Getting close to 3000 words.
Interlude DCXXXIV: The Reach, A Kingdom of Thorn and Bloom
The Reach
A Kingdom of Thorn and Bloom
A Kingdom of Thorn and Bloom
House Ambrose of Sweetgrove
According to his Goodbrother Baelor Hightower, Lord Arthur Ambrose is a stout enough fellow to have at your back and seemingly not too concerned with the matter of sorcery or strange Essosi ways. However, following the death of one of his sisters to Ironborn pirates more than thirty years past, he loathes Ironborn with a fiery passion. Not only has he banned all ships hailing from the Iron Isles and any merchants known to trade there from his ports but during the Greyjoy Rebelion he has been known to subject Ironborn prisoners to fates so gruesome some have even whispered that his behavior is unbecoming of a knight. No small feat that given how little Reacher lords in general care for the Ironborn.
In less grim tidings his son Alyn a likable lad with a sharp wit with as much as the normal skills expected of a page. He was somewhat close to his grandfather Leyton before the old lord's death and was heard remarking more than once that he would make Sweetgrove as great a center of learning as Oldtown.
Baelor is reasonably confident he could keep Lord Arthur from raising his banners for the Iron Throne, but admits a visit by Viserys' agents or at least a letter could not go amiss.
House Appleton of Appleton
Lord Jancor Appleton is a man blessed with a profusion of daughters but as of yet no sons, not even baseborn ones, a fact which is quite troubling for him. The House is a Rowan a cadet branch with claimants scattered 'from Oldtown to Ashford' as the saying goes. Horas Redwyne once jested that he is not sure old lord Jancor even noticed all the magic popping up like mushrooms, unless it was to grind up said mushrooms for a tonic to finally sire a son.
The traditional allies of House Appleton are the Rowans and the Fossoways, though with the inheritance looming they too might be looking ahead to staking a claim should Lord Arthur's eldest daughter not look up to the task of protecting her inheritance.
House Ashford of Ashford
Lord Owen Ashford has a reputation as a skilled tourney knight, though he has not yet been tested in war. Thanks in no small part of being fostered in Highgarden he is known to hold his oaths to House Tyrell closer than most. Perhaps due to this closeness he has been one of the Reacher lords most welcoming of the fey of the Court of Stars, taking great delight in matching his skill with a lance against them. Supposedly the only reason why he did not make it as far as the Tourney of the Deep was that his ship being impeded by poor winds. Lord Owen is yet unmarried and considered quite the catch.
House Ball of Highcrest
Following the death of Lord Yohn Ball in the Greyjoy Rebellion, cut down by Balon Greyjoy himself during the last hours of the Siege of Pyke, Highcrest fell to Lady Glenda Ball who has in the intervening years been content to maintain the traditional alliances with House Crane, House Florent and House Oakheart while maneuvering cautiously against the Bulwers with which the House has something of a longstanding feud with going back to the Blackfyre Rebellion.
Ser Erren Florent had also somewhat reluctantly admitted that the lady may harbor some ill will towards House Targaryen following King Aerys taking one of her servants as a mistress when she was at court in King's Landing. This in turn gave rise to a persistent rumor that it was the lady herself having an affair with the king. When asked about the matter Queen Rhaella replied sadly that there was no truth to the rumors, 'Aerys was well past caring about secrecy by then.'
House Beesbury of Honeyholt [Hightower Banermen]
Though Warryn Beesbury is a faithful man and according to Lady Lynesse, whom he courted once, 'the most boring man in all the Reach'. Ser Baelor does not forsee any troubles with his reliability when war comes. He might grumble about wizards and 'foreign devilry' more than most, but he would not dream of dishonoring his vows.
House Blackbar of Bandallon
By most accounts Lord Tybalt Blackbar is a fair and wise man beloved by the smallfolk, if not his neighbors, but he is grim and humorless with, it is said, a particular loathing for minstrels, mummers and Dornishmen. Supposedly he was once robbed by a company of Dornish mummers in his youth and left in quite the compromising position, but there are so many accounts of the tale that no one knows the truth anymore. The last wit to ask Lord Tybalt directly after partaking of too much liquid courage got a yard of steel through the gut in a duel for his trouble.
House Bulwer of Blackcrown
The Lord of Blackcrown has ties of marriage to House Tyrell, through his wife Victoria, though her connection to the main branch of House Tyrell is tenuous enough that few would count it a reliable tether. Of greater note is the fact that he was supposedly rid of a fey curse by Brandon of Greyshield, leading him to be one of the lords most favorable to the man many in the Reach still consider a Northerner upstart.
House Caswell of Bitterbridge
According to Lord Paxter Redwyne, Lord Rolph Caswell is was one of the Reacher lords most welcoming of sorcery even before Highgarden struck its bargains with the fey. Apparently his son Lorent had been sorely wounded by a treacherous servant in his youth, leaving him short of breath and struggling to hold a sword with two mangled fingers, but some hedge wizard worked his craft one day and Lorent was healed of all his aliments. By most accounts Lord Caswell sent the man on his way with a hearty slap on the back and a chest full of gold, though some wilder rumors claim he hired the wizard 'and dozens of others like him' to work curses on good folk, even that Lorent's vitality was actually stolen from some more deserving soul. At least some of those rumors could likely be traced to House Graceform whose lord had never forgiven Ser Rolph for the broken betrothal in his youth.
House Chester of Greenshield:
Were one inclined to listen to Lord Moribald Chester he would announce loudly and proudly that he hates wizards, blood magic and especially those who propitiate themselves to bloodstained idols. Less charitable souls will recount how he had only come about this pious condemnation when his claim on Greyshield was refused, only to be granted instead to a Northerner upstart of no known heritage. Most awkwardly for him, however, his youngest daughter was revealed to be a sorceress herself when she stowed away on a ship to Greysheild to learn from the Heroes of Oldtown.
What had been a simmering feud very nearly turned to bloody war until a scathing letter from Lord Tyrell, or some whisper from the Queen of Thorns, settled the matter. The girl could be banished and stripped of her name if her father pleased, but she could not be kept a prisoner on Greenshield, it was therein commanded. 'The laws of the Seven Kingdoms do not allow slavery', it was further accounted and many scathing remarks about the folly of turning steel against a fellow lord when darker perils await one in the depths. With the full support of House Hightower behind the sentiment, and at least the grim agreement of many other Reacher lords with ports on the Sunset Sea, Lord Moribald was left with no choice than to return to his lands and seethe in resentment.
House Costayne of Three Towers:
Lord Armond Costayne is known to be niggardly and small-hearted, and given that you heard something of the sort even from Randyll Tarly, who called the Lord of Three Towers 'penny-wise and dragon-foolish', you doubt there is much exaggeration to the rumors. The best that you have heard of him from Reacher knights is that he never leaves a traveler out in the rain, 'though you had best have a strong stomach for cabbage', the rest of the jest says. Lord Armond has marriage ties to House Caswel through his younger brother and to House Ashford through one of his sisters. Neither connection is particularly close.
House Crane of Red Lake
By the vagaries of road and river trade Red Lake is a town that exists very much in the shadow of Brightwater Keep, leading to many alliances and marriages to House Florent over the centuries, the last of which was Melara Crane, wife of Lord Alester Florent and sister of Lord Richard Crane. How Lord Richard reacted to his goodbrother being revealed as a devil binder you cannot say, but if he was the least bit ambitious you doubt it was without concern for his waning influence.
House Cuy of Sunhouse [Hightower Bannermen]
Lord Branston Cuy is in Ser Baelor's words 'an excitable fellow', likely to rail against the ungodly fey one morning after a sermon and then proclaim himself the champion of misunderstood sprites if he should meet one nestled on a leaf that evening. Thankfully his wife is of a more even disposition and he loves her dearly. Theirs was apparently a wedding that caused quite the scandal fifteen years ago or so since Lord Branston chose to marry the daughter of a poor household knight over ladies closer to his standing.
House Florent of Brightwater Keep: Loyalist
After dealing the the diabolic infiltration House Florent is likely among your strongest supporters in the Reach. That they hope to capitalize on the fall of the Tyrells likely helps in no small measure.
House Footly of Tumbleton: Neutral - Steady (Honored)
One more who can be counted on when the time of war is at hand.
House Fossoway of Cider Hall
The red-apple Fossoways are, as most would agree, the hot-blooded ones, something their lord Ser Tytos certainly seems to live up to. The man had at last count fought seven honor duels for what at times seem trifling causes, but Lady Lynesse shared a somewhat darker account of the man with Azema. According to her Tytos is anything but brash, being instead the sort of man to goad other knights into duels for carefully calculated gain such as was the case with the last lord, Marlen Fossoway of New Barrel. Whether that is just the sort of lurid tale servants might recount to young impressionable noble girl to impress them or there is some truth to the accusation you cannot say. Regardless, the two branches of the House had been feuding ever since and Lord Marlen's son Jon has no legitimate heirs so far.
House Fossoway of New Barrel
Regardless of familial troubles being wed to Mance Tyrell's sister guarantees Lord Jon Fossoway a level of protection and respect one rarely accorded to the head of a middling House. Lord Jon himself is known to be quite personable, the host of many feasts and hunts.
House Graceford of Holyhall
Herman Flowers, tourney knight and new-made griffon rider, had a great deal to say about his father, most of it surprisingly equitable for a bastard who decided to seek his fortune out in the wide world. Like his close friend Lord Bullwer, Lord Harry Graceford is said to be as blunt as a tumbling bolder, having famously explained to his wife precisely how he had come by a bastard at some length when questioned on the matter According to the servants who had been in earshot, which was most of the keep by the end, the lord had finished by proclaiming: "I wasn't wed nor even betrothed to you when it happened so I don't see why you would be unhappy that I'd take him in. If I care for a bastard that's a sure sign I'll love any child you give me too, right?" The lady did not agree.
House Hewett of Oakenshield
Lord Humfrey Hewett was considerably more welcoming to his new neighbor on Greyshield, having proclaimed during the height of the trouble with House Chester 'I would take a Northerner over a fishman anyday, why I would even take you Chester'. Some of his acceptance could likely be put down on the fact that Danelle saved his eldest daughter on the birthing bed.
House Hightower of Old Town: Loyalist
Ser Baelor was not a man who agreed to raise his banner to your cause easily nor without thought, but that makes you trust all the more that his loyalty does not blow in the wind.
House Leygood of Horse Hill
The Leygoods are a House that stands upon the borders of the Reach, but they are not marchers, concerned with defending against the Dornish, nor a seaborn House plagued by Ironborn, their feuds over the years have all been with Crownlander Houses and with the King seeming weaker by the moment, unable to even stamp out bandits raising the dragon banner. Lord Rikard Leygood is rumored to be planning to make good some of his ancestors grudges by raising some 'bandits' of his own. From what little Lord Redwyne told you of the man you suspect he would very much prefer for Lord Leygod to be removed, though more as an annoyance than a true rival.
House Meadows of Grassy Vale
Lord Elwood Meadows is a boy of three and ten, newcome into his inheritance after his father was supposedly 'devoured by a monster' while on the hunt. Whether it was indeed some great beast or merely a bear that his attendants called such fearing punishment none know, but it is clear the young lord believed them. He gave an order to hunt down all 'foul and unnatural beasts' and harry from his lands all 'sorcerers, conjurers and those who consort with demons.'
House Merryweather of Longtable
Orton Merryweather is not a man you can expect to greet you with open arms from the first, your father had exiled his grandfather in the first days of the Rebellion and while mere exile could be counted a mercy from him you doubt the Merryweathers see it thus, particularly as it was the Usurper who restored some of their lands. Still, you have received news that his wife, Teana of Myr, that he has been seeking out old connections in the east through her kin to see what you have made of the city. Given that Teana's kin have only prospered under your rule you have some hope that Lord Orton might be swayed.
House Mullendore of Uplands
A veteran of the War of the Ninepenny Kings Lord Martyn Mullendore is still hale for a man approaching his seventieth year. Both an avid hundsman and a collector of exotic songbirds he claims to have gotten the first from his father and the second from his mother 'and rightly so for a man is made of two parts, not just the one'. Even Lord Tarly respects him, though not without grumbling about 'dragging the damn birds everywhere'. Otherwise he seems neither more nor less loyal to Highgarden the the usual run of Reacher lords.
House Greyshield of Greyshield: Neutral - Unsteady (Conflict of Interest)
From what you have seen of Brandon he is a man who will die besides his friends at need, but would much rather live besides them instead if given the chance. If nothing else he understands the threat of Winter like few of those South of the Wall can claim to.
House Oakheart of Old Oak:
Though Lady Arwyn Oakheart is both a widow and it is said of a somewhat delicate constitution she also commands rich lands and many skillful knights, all loyal both to her House and to her personally following her successful effort to rid Old Oak of the dreadful specter of the Red Pox that killed both her parents and her husband. As it was traders who brought the plague to her fief to begin with she has introduced stringent, some say punishing, quarantine methods for them. She is said to be loyal to House Tyrell as they guarantee peace and security in the Reach.
House Osgrey of Standfast [Rowan Bannermen]
Of Lord Osgrey little is known other than that he is a man of deep faith who would have taken Holy Orders, if not for being the last heir of his House. He has done his duty well, producing no less than seven children, four boys and three girls, though otherwise his neighbors count him boorish, distant and too ready to start quoting the Seven-Pointed Star at a feast. Unexpectedly, however, you hear no rumors that he had been persecuting mages in his lands even before the Conclave's decisions. 'It is not given to man to judge what his fellows might do or what powers they hold, but only to seek recompense for evil committed', he had once said to Lord Hightower.
House Peake of Starpike
Lord Titus Peake has both an unusual interest in trade for a Reacher lord and a history of being rather tardy to raise his banners at Mance Tyrell's call, both in the Usurpation and the Greyjoy Rebelion. You would call him an ideal lord to approach but for the fact that he is wed to a Lannister. Still, that is not an insurmountable challenge by any account.
House Redwyne of the Arbor: Loyalist
Lord Paxter would not have sent his son and heir to Sorcerer's Deep if he did not mean the oath he spoke to you, though it pays to remember that like many Houses in the Reach he too has many bonds of marriage and blood.
House Rowan of Goldengrove
One of the most powerful lords in the Reach, Lord Mathis Rowan is nonetheless a quiet thoughtful man by inclination from what you have heard, slow to trust new things because they are new rather than because they might be counted impious. Still, having lost his daughter to a daring airborne raid of the Sons of the Mist, he has been making use of fey sorceries to ward his keep even while he has proclaimed that he will pay ten-thousand dragons for the return of his daughter. That you happen to know said daughter is with Dala and one of the lord's stolen books is in your library puts you in something of an odd position.
House Roxton of the Ring
Though Garlan Roxton is barely more than a landed knight by most counts, the fact that he bears the Valyrian steel blade Orphan Maker garners him much respect from his peers. He had famously refused more gold than his lands could produce in two hundred years for the blade when Lannister envoys approached him a year before Gerion's expedition. According to Lord Hightower he is no more pleased with you at the moment. Your freedom with gifting Valyrian steel reflects badly on the prestige of his House. Supposedly he had even tried claiming that it is not true Valyrian steel, but 'some lesser witchery'.
House Serry of Southshield
Little had be said of Lord Talbert Serry of late for after the first Deep One raids on the Shield Islands, he had grown obsessed with fortifying his home against the menace from the sea, shunning many of the common highborn pastimes and meetings. Thankfully you have Danelle's confirmation that he is indeed only paranoid and not an agent of the Deep Ones hiding in plain sight, for she too had felt the need to check.
House Shermer of Smithyton
After the Deep One infiltration of their townhouse in Oldtown there is little enough left of House Shermer, but you suspect that will make it all the easier to win them to your side.
House Tarly of Horn Hill: Loyalist
Lord Tarly may be a poor father, but he is both an excellent commander and a man who sees the way the wind blows without needing to be flung out of the proverbial boat first. He will not waver you think.
House Tyrell of Highgarden: Neutral - Steady (Blackmail)
The Tyrells are likely to be the great losers of your conquest, while you might see them bend the knee peacefully they will not do so with an easy heart. Fortunately you have better leverage then sweet words.
House Osgrey of Coldmoat
Lord Errol Osgrey has supposedly been among the most enthusiastic to embrace the Court of Stars, he is apparently trying to court a nymph. By the fact that he remains uncursed you guess his attentions are not entirely unwelcome.
OOC: Finally done. I think this may be the most I've ever written in one sitting for this quest.
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- Location
- Germany
"Some Hedgemage" healing an old and crippling wound?
A fresh one would be easy, but this sounds like the work of Regenerate or maybe some fey-trick.
Should look into that.
He really took that name.
Bold bastard, I've got to say.
But I like it and it's not like the Starks have much influence here.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Very nice, @DragonParadox. Lots of good info in there. There are several houses we need to give some personal attention in the coming months.
Yeah, I was about to say something about the Caswell entry, too. That was no Hedge Mage. Definitely something more going on there, though there is no way to tell if it's for good or ill without some investigation.
Oops, that was a C&P error. Fixed.
- Location
- Germany
Awwww...
I thought he was going for the vastly more provokative version here.
Awwww...
I thought he was going for the vastly more provokative version here.
It's not really about being proactive. No one would have given him land if he took the name Stark without a right to it, that is the kind of thing Eddard could have rightfully taken to the king for judgement. If Brandon had admited his real heritage on the one hand it still would not have given hima right to the name since he is the heir to generations of smallfolk and on the other he would have declared himself born of one of the darkest legends in westerosi history. At that point he would likely be chased out with pitchforks.
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- Location
- Germany
That's the point.
Take up the name of your ancestor who stands one step below the Bloodstone Emperor on the list of mankind's greatest traitors and then make it work.
And get exiled from the home you have built for the sake of what? Pride in a monster? If he had that he would have gone north rather than south from Blackheaven.
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- Location
- Germany
Taking the name soley for the sake of playing on political hard-mode because it's more fun than the regular game?
He is still a good cut above any common lord, including all Tyrells we met so far, so playing with a handicap should be ok.
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Healing or Panacea would do the trick, but that's no Hedge Mage for sure. What's the lever here?