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

[Abhishekam]

@Goldfish Secondly, we should write-up an ultra paranoid security measure list for our PfE banners. They will likely already be treated much like the Roman Legion treated theirs, symbols of their unit's honor, but on steroids since it also protects them from mind control. But that's not enough IMO. I think we should have some kind of company wagon which secures important records, smaller strategic resources (like scrolls and not really big magic items/crates of potions etc.) but also, especially, the banner.

Then ward it to high hell, and maybe post a Construct called a "Warden" which is of a similar template to Heralds which I kind of want to keep using as more diplomatic-warrior-philosophers instead of just standard mainstays of our military. They are important in military function since they perform those duties usually on the fringe and at the edge of tooth and claw, or else we'd send our other non-construct Heralds from the Diplomatic Corps.

But a Half-Dragon-looking type of construct could fit in smaller places and be just as lethal, depending.

Click to shrink...

Something like a specked up Golden Guardian sound good? Lightning damage gives it haste and if we gave it healing with fire damage it would be a tank.

 

[BronzeTongue]

@Goldfish Secondly, we should write-up an ultra paranoid security measure list for our PfE banners. They will likely already be treated much like the Roman Legion treated theirs, symbols of their unit's honor, but on steroids since it also protects them from mind control. But that's not enough IMO. I think we should have some kind of company wagon which secures important records, smaller strategic resources (like scrolls and not really big magic items/crates of potions etc.) but also, especially, the banner.

Then ward it to high hell, and maybe post a Construct called a "Warden" which is of a similar template to Heralds which I kind of want to keep using as more diplomatic-warrior-philosophers instead of just standard mainstays of our military. They are important in military function since they perform those duties usually on the fringe and at the edge of tooth and claw, or else we'd send our other non-construct Heralds from the Diplomatic Corps.

But a Half-Dragon-looking type of construct could fit in smaller places and be just as lethal, depending.

Click to shrink...

We could line the wagon with lead, then put a permanent Irradiate item in the center of floor. The guardian construct should be immune to that kind of thing, and airlock style doors would let us avoid dosing anyone else. Any would be thief would have to make a DC 30 save or take 4d6 Con damage a round(if Viserys or one of the other high power casters make it anyway) We might need some emergency Radiation Ward scrolls, but even that wouldn't compromise the effect since it only gives a bonus instead of immunity.


There are ways around the effect obviously, but they're not exactly common or easy to set up, and most things are going to feel even one failed save.

edit: if we really want to be nasty about it we could add aHypnotic Pattern to the back wall so that anyone susceptible to mind magic who gets through the airlock also has to make a will save to move.

 

[Duesal]

@Goldfish Secondly, we should write-up an ultra paranoid security measure list for our PfE banners. They will likely already be treated much like the Roman Legion treated theirs, symbols of their unit's honor, but on steroids since it also protects them from mind control. But that's not enough IMO. I think we should have some kind of company wagon which secures important records, smaller strategic resources (like scrolls and not really big magic items/crates of potions etc.) but also, especially, the banner.

Then ward it to high hell, and maybe post a Construct called a "Warden" which is of a similar template to Heralds which I kind of want to keep using as more diplomatic-warrior-philosophers instead of just standard mainstays of our military. They are important in military function since they perform those duties usually on the fringe and at the edge of tooth and claw, or else we'd send our other non-construct Heralds from the Diplomatic Corps.

But a Half-Dragon-looking type of construct could fit in smaller places and be just as lethal, depending.

Click to shrink...

I really like the idea of a Half-Dragon Construct guardian for the banners.

 

[Goldfish]

Hmm so we could research Freedon of Movement to make say a Aquatic Freedom Banner with the underwater benefits and a Freed Binds Banner with the other benefits? Just hypothetically. Like how our PfE Banner is more of a Banner of Protection with the alignemnt based bonus part of PfE removed.

Kinda neat and flavorful actually now that o think of it. Research portions of spells you want Communal and get a cheaper and more viable option.

Like if we wanted just the bonus we could research a Banner Against Evil or what have you.

Click to shrink...

That would be too expensive to be worth it, IMO. Look how much a banner using PfE costs, and that's for a 1st level spell. Freedom of Movement is a 4th level spell, so would cost far more.

Also @Goldfish @DragonParadox we can ward an entire Legion with 12 banners despite there being 14 Companies per Legion, and I had a thought to fluff that (I put way too much thought into how it would look in world-building because of all the omakes I do).

Each Company has a head standard bearer, and then the smaller sub-units of each company typically have one as well, and so on and so forth 'til you get to the smaller unit sizes (I think Cohort is the smallest with one).

So each company will have a PfE banner except the Scouts (of which there are two companies per Legion), and that even makes the most sense since they can still share part of the warding from each of the other banners in part, and since they are the unit most likely to perform patrol, outriding and scouting actions, it's a good idea not to have part of their defenses regularly split from the main column of the army.

@Goldfish What we should do then, so they aren't excluded from having a nifty main banner with a cool effect, is just create a banner with something that would make scouting easier/better/more effective.

Click to shrink...

Banners for scouts might not be the best idea, if they're performing those duties while dispersed in small numbers. Maybe we should just consider giving them true PfE items instead?

@Goldfish Secondly, we should write-up an ultra paranoid security measure list for our PfE banners. They will likely already be treated much like the Roman Legion treated theirs, symbols of their unit's honor, but on steroids since it also protects them from mind control. But that's not enough IMO. I think we should have some kind of company wagon which secures important records, smaller strategic resources (like scrolls and not really big magic items/crates of potions etc.) but also, especially, the banner.

Then ward it to high hell, and maybe post a Construct called a "Warden" which is of a similar template to Heralds which I kind of want to keep using as more diplomatic-warrior-philosophers instead of just standard mainstays of our military. They are important in military function since they perform those duties usually on the fringe and at the edge of tooth and claw, or else we'd send our other non-construct Heralds from the Diplomatic Corps.

But a Half-Dragon-looking type of construct could fit in smaller places and be just as lethal, depending.

Click to shrink...

Full agreement on this. The banners will need comprehensive security.

Rather than a Warden Construct, what about calling them Librarians? Each company would have a Librarian who guards and carries the banner, but also serves as a repository of lore and records pertaining to their company and their Legion as a whole.

The Librarian could have its Assistants, lesser Constructs, though still quite capable, which serve as additional guards.

We could line the wagon with lead, then put a permanent Irradiate item in the center of floor. The guardian construct should be immune to that kind of thing, and airlock style doors would let us avoid dosing anyone else. Any would be thief would have to make a DC 30 save or take 4d6 Con damage a round(if Viserys or one of the other high power casters make it anyway) We might need some emergency Radiation Ward scrolls, but even that wouldn't compromise the effect since it only gives a bonus instead of immunity.

There are ways around the effect obviously, but they're not exactly common or easy to set up, and most things are going to feel even one failed save.

Click to shrink...

I really would rather avoid introducing radiological weapons and magic of this sort into the quest, if at all possible.

 

[Duesal]

Full agreement on this. The banners will need comprehensive security.

Rather than a Warden Construct, what about calling them Librarians? Each company would have a Librarian who guards and carries the banner, but also serves as a repository of lore and records pertaining to their company and their Legion as a whole.

The Librarian could have its Assistants, lesser Constructs, though still quite capable, which serve as additional guards.

Click to shrink...

I think we can come up with a better name than that. "Librarian" doesn't exactly scream important guardian.

 

[egoo]

I really would rather avoid introducing radiological weapons and magic of this sort into the quests, if at all possible.

Click to shrink...

*Sad Russian Noises*

 

[BronzeTongue]

That would be too expensive to be worth it, IMO. Look how much a banner using PfE costs, and that's for a 1st level spell. Freedom of Movement is a 4th level spell, so would cost far more.

Banners for scouts might not be the best idea, if they're performing those duties while dispersed in small numbers. Maybe we should just consider giving them true PfE items instead?

Full agreement on this. The banners will need comprehensive security.

Rather than a Warden Construct, what about calling them Librarians? Each company would have a Librarian who guards and carries the banner, but also serves as a repository of lore and records pertaining to their company and their Legion as a whole.

The Librarian could have its Assistants, lesser Constructs, though still quite capable, which serve as additional guards.

I really would rather avoid introducing radiological weapons and magic of this sort into the quest, if at all possible.

Click to shrink...

Fair enough. I didn't think about it like that, since it wasn't being used aggressively or anywhere a non-combatant could get at it. Still probably a good call to skip it. I'll look for something else to fill it's role.

 

[Goldfish]

I think we can come up with a better name than that. "Librarian" doesn't exactly scream important guardian.

Click to shrink...

Just an idea. I'm not particularly attached to it, though I do think it's kinda neat.

The name doesn't need to sound imposing in order to get the job done. Having them being a repository for company and Legion lore would be cool, too. They could record deployment history, deaths, accomplishments, and other important information.

 

[Duesal]

Just an idea. I'm not particularly attached to it, though I do think it's kinda neat.

The name doesn't need to sound imposing in order to get the job done. Having them being a repository for company and Legion lore would be cool, too. They could record deployment history, deaths, accomplishments, and other important information.

Click to shrink...

The name doesn't need to sound imposing, I just personally don't think it'd be fitting.

 

[SeekerofLight]

Maybe name them 'Keepers'?

Each squad get its own 'Keeper' to Keep and protect them things that keep and protect them...

 

[DragonParadox]

Update in beta.

 

[Crake]

Banners for scouts might not be the best idea, if they're performing those duties while dispersed in small numbers. Maybe we should just consider giving them true PfE items instead?

Click to shrink...

As written, they already benefit from communal protection from mind-affecting spells and abilities, even while away from the main body. I assume if there's a range limit, it's at minimum theater-scale, meaning inconsequential to their deployment, strategic or tactical.

 

[DragonParadox]

As written, they already benefit from communal protection from mind-affecting spells and abilities, even while away from the main body. I assume if there's a range limit, it's at minimum theater-scale, meaning inconsequential to their deployment, strategic or tactical.

Click to shrink...

They do yes, the effect is literally bonded to the company with their blood, but since I know this will be asked the banner does need to be present for mass engagement, it cannot be hidden somewhere nearby and granting benefits if there is a critical mass of soldiers that need protecting

Winning vote

Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Dec 21, 2019 at 2:00 PM, finished with 57 posts and 11 votes.

• ---

  11 people have voted

  [X] Focus on what you came here to do, a way to get into court and warn the Orange Emperor
  -[X] Find out from Ning what she believes would be necessary for her to be legitimately allowed back into her brother's court without subterfuge, and how long she expects that to take.
  -[X] Is there anything we can do to facilitate her return, given our status as an unknown factor with no association with Pol Qo or his court? Our influence in this area is understandably lacking, but our financial and magical resources are vast.
  -[X] If doing so isn't feasible in the short term, does she see any other less obvious paths to her brother's ear? Mention the possibility of simply bribing our way into his presence and ask her the likelihood of this not only being successful, but her brother actually heeding our warnings.

  • Goldfish
  • egoo
  • BronzeTongue
  • silvanknight
  • Evaunit02mark1
  • Jack vile Ripper
  • Crake
  • One Autumn Leaf
  • Shador
  • Annatar
  • Abhishekam

 

[Goldfish]

As written, they already benefit from communal protection from mind-affecting spells and abilities, even while away from the main body. I assume if there's a range limit, it's at minimum theater-scale, meaning inconsequential to their deployment, strategic or tactical.

Click to shrink...

I meant to ask @DragonParadox about that. Not super comfortable with basically unlimited range. Even something crazy, like a five mile radius, would be better than having it be completely undefined.

 

[Crake]

Rather than a Warden Construct, what about calling them Librarians? Each company would have a Librarian who guards and carries the banner, but also serves as a repository of lore and records pertaining to their company and their Legion as a whole.

Click to shrink...

Just make multiple constructs to guard the standard bearer, and make the promotion standards for that standard bearer the most reliable man in each company.

I think it's better for there be an Annalist position like in Black Company, for keeping records of actions performed by each legion, instead of a construct. One more layer of tradition.

 

[DragonParadox]

To Forge Good Fortune ​

Twenty Seventh Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

As tempting as a score more mages might be, gaining their loyalty is one tangle you are not going to pick apart in a few hours so you concentrate on the task at hand, how Ning might find herself again in her brother's good graces enough to at least deliver the warning about the Golden Company. You make it very clear that Corlys Waters cannot be a direct envoy of the king in the west, though you possess both magic and coin with which you might aid her cause.

For all she had proven to be quite adept in navigating so strange a meeting so far the young mage is shocked and a little sickened at the notion that anyone in Pol Qo's court would take a bribe to give her passage into court. It does not take long for the struggle between pride and notions of propriety to play out though. "I only need him to listen without interruption from Lady Xue or any of her faction and I do not think even she would dare interrupt a formal petition before the throne, it would be no less than impugning upon the Emperor's judgement." Then her expression darkens. "Explaining where I found so much of the new coin from the Elephant Land would be difficult..."

"Does it have to be coin, though?" Tyene asks with an all-too-familiar glint in her eye. "Do the kami object to creative reinterpretations of their powers and actions, particularity ones that would see them praised more?"

"I..." Ning freezes in thought, and this time when you hear the small crackling voices you look at her with sight beyond sight and indeed you see ephemeral beings of flame gather close, some struggling to form the vague outline of a face but most letting their excited whirling and dancing about express their sentiments. "They would not mind playing a trick like that as long as its harmless."

So it is that the princess discovers 'by the grace of the kami' a chest filled with silver ingots that must have been buried by bandits or raiders long ago, for no honest man would bury this much wealth. She decides to graciously take most of said silver to the Keeper of the Steel Gate, keeping back only one part in five to dedicate to the kami in a new temple and just as much to give to charity to the peasants forced off their land by the encroaching Golden Company. All in all it is the most public bribe you have seen in your life, one Colonel Xi cannot possibly refuse. Such a stroke of good fortune and the wisdom that accompanied it, of course, deserves recognition before the throne, and all that for only half of what you were prepared to spend.

Lost 10,000 IM

A few hours later you receive a message through one of her associates, a young man who the kami unfortunately 'favor' by constantly almost tripping him in his own robes with gusts of errant wind. Beneath the formal tone of the letter is all you could have expected, her account of Tiamat, attributed to 'the wisdom of the Kami' also had been heard and taken into due consideration by her Pol Que. The shugenja would spend less time trying to assure the succession and more time refining the plans against the Golden Company. You can even pick out Pol Ning's jubilation at her greater prestige in the eyes of not just the court, but other shugenja. Her influence is set to rise again, though how much that will last in the face of both tradition and what you suspect is the greater political acumen of her rival you cannot say. In the end you have achieved what you came here to do with a few hours to spare besides.

What do you do next?

[] Look around the market searching for
-[] Books on magic
-[] Books on history
-[] Books on martial traditions
-[] Write in

[] Seeing if anyone interesting might not be in new horizons in your service, particularly
-[] Mages
-[] Martial adepts
-[] Write in

[] Return home, you have many other things to do
-[] Write in

[] Write in

OOC: You guys can, of course, make a plan to spend more time here, but keep in mind that each of those options takes about five hours and nighttime is not a good time for either recruitment or shopping so it's two actions per day. Tyene needs to get back to Yi Ti, but you can send Mereth and Aradia out on their own to try their luck in parallel.

 

[Abhishekam]

I meant to ask @DragonParadox about that. Not super comfortable with basically unlimited range. Even something crazy, like a five mile radius, would be better than having it be completely undefined.

Click to shrink...

Its range is Plot. Legion rank and file? Basically has to be there where a Banner would be. Outsiders or scouts scoping out the enemy? Banner has to be where a Banner would be...with the rank and file in the columns.

That said if the scout isnt scoring out the enemies for THAT battle and is like off having lunch at a bar or something? Not gonna be covered. That's my understanding anyway.

 

[BronzeTongue]

Could we make the wagon itself a construct instead of putting one inside of it? Then it could use touch range SLAs on anyone inside it's storage compartment. We would need to give them an spell or item to make it so they can like normal lives off duty, but being a magical armored car isn't that bad of a deal otherwise.

 

[DragonParadox]

Its range is Plot. Legion rank and file? Basically has to be there where a Banner would be. Outsiders or scouts scoping out the enemy? Banner has to be where a Banner would be...with the rank and file in the columns.

That said if the scout isnt scoring out the enemies for THAT battle and is like off having lunch at a bar or something? Not gonna be covered. That's my understanding anyway.

Click to shrink...

Exactly right, it covers them when they are on duty and the banner is where it's supposed to be.

 

[Crake]

Okay one more thing.

[X] Try to arrange another meeting with Pol Qo's sister, then set up a means of staying contact should it be necessary. Also, point out that we think it is best that her influence settle into at least an equilibrium with Xue, who we try to delicately point out has had more time to entrench her position in the upper levels of court, and of course even if she isn't as adept in matters of social graces, is definitely canny enough to understand what we really mean, that she isn't as skilled at maneuvering in those circles without more grand shows of power and wisdom.
-[X] To aid with this we use the most powerful magic in the world--Wealth By Level-o-Mancy. We can arrange her acquisition of enchanted totems, one of which could grant her a measure of a silver tongue, as well as some other odds and ends that might give her an edge over her rival.
-[X] In exchange we seek not any token or favor which could become a conflict of interest within her own area of remit, just updates on efforts against enemies such as Tiamat and the like, so that other factors might better martial their efforts where they will be most effective, and when they will be most effective.

 

[Goldfish]

To Forge Good Fortune ​

Twenty Seventh Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

Tempting as a score more mages might be, gaining their loyalty is one tangle you are not going to pick apart in a few hours, so you instead concentrate on the task at hand. How Ning might find herself again in her brother's good graces enough, at least to deliver the warning about the Golden Company? You make it very clear that Corlys Waters cannot be a direct envoy of the king in the west, though you posses both magic and coin with which you might aid her cause.

For all she had proven to be quite adept in navigating so strange a meeting so far, the young mage is shocked and a little sickened at the notion that anyone in Pol Qo's court would take a bribe to give her passage into court. It does not take long for the struggle between pride and notions of propriety to play out though. "I only need him to listen without interruption from lady Xue or any of her faction, and I do not think even she would dare interrupt a formal petition before the throne. It would be no less than casting doubt upon the Emperor's judgement." Then her expression darkens. "Explaining where I found so much of the new coin from the Elephant Land would be difficult..."

"Does it have to be coin, though?" Tyene asks with an all-too-familiar glint in her eye. "Do the kami object to creative reinterpretations of their powers and actions, particularity ones that would earn them greater praise?"

"I..." Ning freezes in thought, and this time when you hear the small crackling voices, you look at her with sight beyond sight and indeed you see ephemeral beings of flame gather close, some struggling to form the vague outline of a face but most letting their excited whirling and dancing about express their sentiments. "They would not mind playing a trick like that, as long as it is harmless."

So it is that the princess discovers, 'by the grace of the kami', a chest filled with silver ingots that must, of course, have been buried by bandits or raiders long ago, for no honest man would bury this much wealth. She decides to graciously take most of said silver to the Keeper of the Steel Gate, keeping back only one part in five to dedicate to the kami in a new temple and just as much to give to charity for the peasants forced off their land by the encroaching Golden Company. All in all, it is the most public bribe you have seen in your life, one Colonel Xi cannot possibly refuse. Such a stroke of good fortune and the wisdom that accompanied it no doubt deserves recognition before the throne, and all that for only half of what you were prepared to spend.

Lost 10,000 IM

A few hours later, you receive a message through one of her associates, a young man who the kami unfortunately 'favor' by constantly almost tripping him in his own robes using gusts of not so errant wind. Beneath the formal tone of the letter is all you could have expected. Her account of Tiamat, attributed to 'the wisdom of the Kami', had also been heard and taken into due consideration by her Pol Que. The shugenja would spend less time trying to assure the succession and more refining the plans against the Golden Company. You can even pick out Pol Ning's jubilation at her greater prestige in the eyes of not just the court but other shugenja. Her influence is set to rise again, though how much that will last in the face of both tradition and what you suspect is the greater political acumen of her rival, you cannot say. In the end, you have achieved what you came here to do with a few hours to spare besides.

What do you do next?

[] Look around the market searching for
-[] Books on magic
-[] Books on history
-[] Books on martial traditions
-[] Write in

[] Seeing if anyone interesting might not be in new horizons in your service, particularly
-[] Mages
-[] Martial adepts
-[] Write in

[] Return home you have many other things to do
-[] Write in

[] Write in

OOC: You guys can of course make a plan to spend more time here, but keep in mind that each of those options takes about five hours and nighttime is not a good time for either recruitment or shopping so it's two actions per day. Tyene needs to get back to Yin, but you can send Mereth and Aradia out on their own to try their luck in parallel. Not yet edited.

Click to shrink...

Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

 

[egoo]

I...
Hm.
Well, this works, but I kinda wanted to share our lore on other vile shit that isn't Timmie, and ask for his respective lores on the shit prevalent locally.
I never expected us not to go meet him in person.

 

[Duesal]

[X] Crake

I...
Hm.
Well, this works, but I kinda wanted to share our lore on other vile shit that isn't Timmie, and ask for his respective lores on the shit prevalent locally.
I never expected us not to go meet him in person.

Click to shrink...

Our only goal here was coordinating against Tiamat. So long as that is accomplished the Orange Emperor is largely irrelevant beyond being a potential replacement if things don't work out in the Azure Empire.

 

[DragonParadox]

I...
Hm.
Well, this works, but I kinda wanted to share our lore on other vile shit that isn't Timmie, and ask for his respective lores on the shit prevalent locally.
I never expected us not to go meet him in person.

Click to shrink...

Well you do have access to one of his mages. maybe 'the kami' could reveal more stuff to her or she 'finds a book in the market'. You guys have a deniable way to slip in lore if you want.

 

[Goldfish]

Could we make the wagon itself a construct instead of putting one inside of it? Then it could use touch range SLAs on anyone inside it's storage compartment. We would need to give them an spell or item to make it so they can like normal lives off duty, but being a magical armored car isn't that bad of a deal otherwise.

Click to shrink...

A wagon to house the banner wouldn't be amiss, but making the wagon itself a Construct would be excessive. A solid box of Hardened steel and Adamantine, lined with lead and awarded against theft should be plenty, especially if we assign powerful Construct guardians to it.