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

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Really can't remember what might have been that backstory event?

Both our sacrifice of Damphair, and of the Mindflayer that layed the wildfire in out town went unproblematic, IIRC.
 
Artemis1992 said:
Really can't remember what might have been that backstory event?

Both our sacrifice of Damphair, and of the Mindflayer that layed the wildfire in out town went unproblematic, IIRC.
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During Damphair's brief reign a lot of fucked up shit happened. And afterwards hundreds of people died to Wildfire. One of them was his wife, and when Viserys killed the thing in front of a crowd, Tobyis was there, trying to find some kind of meaning in all of the senseless tragedy and horror of it all, why all that stuff happened to him and his friends.

He saw something there no one else did. Maybe he imagined it. But he knows that swords and fire and angry crowds don't scare Mindflayers. He's not sure if even death does.

That he saw fear at all keeps him up at night.
 
Very nice omake @Crake it's interesting to see the kind of lasting influence Damphair is likely to have over SD. On the one hand the proportion of 'Old Deepsmen' to the current population of SD is tiny, but since they were on the ground floor of the expansion they are likely to have a great effect over the culture of various institutions so the cautionary tale of what happens when the mind flayers are in charge is unlikely to fade with time.
 
Artemis1992 said:
The threat of brain-destruction generally seems to work, since that makes what they think is their afterlife impossible.
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For us it's no less understandable than why Tiamat is compelled towards destruction of civilization even as she means to rule over the ashes.

To most people, even mages, why monsters do something is hard to break down into neat little compartmentalized boxes of common truths, not until they hit the big leagues and fighting divine avatars is starting to become a bit "old hat" for them, and hunting down high CR abominations is already routine.
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Dec 22, 2019 at 3:09 AM, finished with 91 posts and 15 votes.
  • [X] Try to arrange another meeting with Pol Qo's sister, then set up a means of staying in 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.
    -[X] In addition, 'the Kami' could give her a "lead" to investigate several caches of lore hidden in the mountainous hinterlands nearby, not only further cementing her influence at court greatly but we can slip in numerous suitably 'aged' looking documents from various eras for authenticity containing lore that could have believably been written by some Eastern Scholar. Have Tyene and our Construct guides with the Fleet try to work out some convincing ones with details that could match their own corresponding timeframe of life.
    --[X] There are some texts we will have to give her that she will have to reveal as her own knowledge from trials and tribulations against darkness, like Rina's journals, but that in itself can be a benefit as it reveals she is not only recovering lost knowledge of dark powers but writing her own accounts as she encounters their marks upon the world.
    ---[X] Of course we need to offset all of the ominous texts with more positive ones sprinkled in, esoteric knowledge on the spheres perhaps, on trade and finance in the west for a town who's lifeblood is trade secured by a canny deal by herself with a visiting dignitary, and sets of texts on architecture and engineering purchased from a merchant venturer who had visited grand halls of stone glistening with a thousand thousand gems.
    ----[X] The shared lore regarding dark malignancy will generally be the same we shared with our loyalists, modified where appropriate for eastern sensibilities and as props. Given the provenance of them will have been Mindblanked, any attempts to call out their origins will be met with equal skepticism since they can't exactly point anyone towards where they might have come from instead. At best it will look like a weak attempt at halting Pol Ning An's rising star.
    -----[X] Lastly, Corlys has certain contacts who could facilitate an ongoing deal to sell her things like Healing Salve, Antiplague and Antitoxin, Vermin Repellent as well as hangover cures, contraceptives and other mostly harmless but extremely useful products. If she inquires about military hardware, flatly tell her that unfortunately, there are dozens or more routine divinations being performed about trades like that being conducted ever since Wildfire was used in an attempt to burn down an infamous port, so it would probably be a Very Bad Idea to try moving large amounts of explosive, incendiary or other esoteric lethal poisons or substances out of the West.
    [X] Have Aradia and Mereth look around the market searching for the following:
    -[X] Books on local history and traditions.
    -[X] Any other unique knowledge is a boon, even if not necessarily esoteric in nature, Yi Ti is a land with a well-established bureaucracy already and might have means to do math and accounting, or similar logistical things involving architecture and engineering, that would be of great value. You are most curious about paper production, and to be honest even acquiring several samples would allow you to attempt researching the most efficient means of wide-scale manufacturing for it, a boon to your administrative efforts, civil, militarily or otherwise.
    -[X] In addition, you are curious about Yi Ti's ways of prosecuting war, and until you crack open the Citadel's own archives you are starting to bleed Westeros and Essos dry of knowledge in that area.
    --[X] Acquire a dozen zorses for the Imperial Stables as well.
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Crake said:
For us it's no less understandable than why Tiamat is compelled towards destruction of civilization even as she means to rule over the ashes.

To most people, even mages, why monsters do something is hard to break down into neat little compartmentalized boxes of common truths, not until they hit the big leagues and fighting divine avatars is starting to become a bit "old hat" for them, and hunting down high CR abominations is already routine.
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Is that hard to get for other people?
It's just the nature of the beast. I do remember a quote from a Forgotten Realms novel, not sure which one: "You can only negotiate with a Red Dragon up to a certain point. After that point it doesn't matter what you have that they want, they will simply burn you and yours, pick anything valuable from the ashes and be contend with it."
Freely paraphrased, because again I don't remember the full original and I read it in german.
 
Artemis1992 said:
Is that hard to get for other people?
It's just the nature of the beast. I do remember a quote from a Forgotten Realms novel, not sure which one: "You can only negotiate with a Red Dragon up to a certain point. After that point it doesn't matter what you have that they want, they will simply burn you and yours, pick anything valuable from the ashes and be contend with it."
Freely paraphrased, because again I don't remember the full original and I read it in german.
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It really depends on the person, but I would say overall the story of a world having to fumble and adapt at their own pace and being marked inadequate against the changing of a setting from low magic to high magic is part of what makes the story compelling.

Having everyone just be a natural and totally fine and cognizant of all the changes is less interesting to me, there's less conflict, there's no drive or weakness to their character for them to overcome.

From a story perspective, treating it as nonchalant as you suggest is a bad writing decision.

Viserys as a character has different problems to deal with and frailties to contend with, such as not being able to do more, more quickly, when they already do a hell of a lot. The limitations of the character inform on the conflict they face.
 
Splendid Omake that you just made there Crake.

Though I have to ask one thing. One mind-blaring thing...

@Crake, what in God's green earth is that ghastly thing atop of your avatar? I like the previous one you know?
 
Goldfish said:
BTW, you need to remove the X from your joke plan or the tally will be confused.
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I've discovered a terrible secret, tho.

Russian Х [h] is not, in fact, English X.

ゴゴゴ「Eternal Confusion」!!!ゴゴゴ

JamesShazbond said:
So when exactly are we intending to start the Deep war?

Any one have any new fleshforging concepts?
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We are already in conflict, to be completely honest. They just haven't started attacking our cities yet.

They will likely try to move on us while we'll be dealing with Tiamat's forces - the silver lining being that aside from the post-factum clean-up, there won't be anything taking long in our campaign against the Bitch-queen.

The Shadow-Fortress is mostly a regular (if high-level AF) dungeon-delve, the spy-ring is going to be dealt with in cooperation with Asure Emps, and regular forces of GC...
Well, the Moonchaser, Wyverns, Vee's elementals, Adamantine Golem/Hadhayosh/Yss' Super-snek and our Erynies leave little hope even for their Tiamat-blessed Drakes, let alone regular warriors.

The war with Illithids...
Well, next month we'll be asking around PoW for more willing mercenaries and maybe help from few more city-states.
More water-sneks to defend our coastal cities, and lots and lots of hard-to-hit plant-creatures with constant Zone of Natural Purity.
If illithids don't start the war in the 12th month, we likely will in the 1st or the 2nd month.
 
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egoo said:
I've discovered a terrible secret, tho.

Russian Х [h] is not, in fact, English X.

ゴゴゴ「Eternal Confusion」!!!ゴゴゴ

We are already in conflict, to be completely honest. They just haven't started attacking our cities yet.

They will likely try to move on us while we'll be dealing with Tiamat's forces - the silver lining being that aside from the post-factum clean-up, there won't be anything taking long in our campaign against the Bitch-queen.

The Shadow-Fortress is mostly a regular (if high-level AF) dungeon-delve, the spy-ring is going to be dealt with in cooperation with Asure Emps, and regular forces of GC...
Well, the Moonchaser, Wyverns, Vee's elementals, Adamantine Golem/Hadhayosh/Yss' Super-snek and our Erynies leave little hope even for their Tiamat-blessed Drakes, let alone regular warriors.

The war with Illithids...
Well, next month we'll be asking around PoW for more willing mercenaries and maybe help from few more city-states.
More water-sneks to defend our coastal cities, and lots and lots of hard-to-hit plant-creatures with constant Zone of Natural Purity.
If illithids don't start the war in the 12th month, we likely will in the 1st or the 2nd month.
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On those subjects, what do people think of Advanced Suzerain +6 HD Sorcerer Gilded Sea Serpents? CR 12, but 31 Charisma, Charisma based spellcasting, and a host of leadership-related abilities make them natural officers in the sea war. Throw Half-Dragon in there either in place of advanced & suzerain or alongside it to make them useable out of the water as well.

Once we juice up the Lys forge, I'd like to see both Advanced Bladeleaf Splinter Drakes and Half-Dragon Druid Splinter Drakes. Call them Thorndrakes or something. The first version makes for a high-tier physical powerhouse with ranged options as well. As for the second, their Wisdom isn't as sky-high as the Gilded Serpent's Charisma, but their HD gives them access to 6th level Druid spells. Furthermore, they get access to Venomfire, and they can apply their venom to their bite and both their breath weapons. Speaking of which, how does Half-Dragon's breath weapon apply to things that already have breath weapons?
 
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Crake said:
The Spice of Magic Part IV​

Fifteenth Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC
<<<Previous

Baedar rapped his knuckles across the door ensconced between subtly-worked heavy metal frames. A moment later the patter of feet moving toward then away from the door signaled his arrival had been noted, as the clank and dull thud of a leaden weight was rolled away from the door, unsealing the other two layers of security around the entrance, one a ward and the other a mechanism.

"Tobyis, am I entering a safe-house, or your home?" He questioned the man as soon as the lead panel had been rolled back into place and locked tightly behind steel bolts set into walls of fused stone. The building exterior hadn't hinted at any windows, either, which was an oddity given most residences in the city made heavy use of crystalline panes, it wasn't exceptional for a man of his standing to have at least one gathering space, letting in natural light in lieu of the common mage lights and lanterns of cold-fire.

"Can never be too careful," his partner muttered. He noticed Baedar peering past his shoulder, exasperatingly shaking his his head as the small girl peering beyond the corner at the strange guest quickly covered their mouth, as if that might make her spying less obvious. "That's my apprentice," he explained, "Who should really be at her lessons right about now...!" They darted away, prompting a snort from Baedar's fellow Investigator.

"Let's head up to my office," they said next. "Going by the look on your face, I'll be needing to crack open the good brandy."

"Yes, that would be helpful," Baedar agreed promptly, since there was really little else to say except that the resources they'd be requisitioning really would be needed instead of merely lending credence to one tempering expectations in matters of danger and excitement.

Most of his work of late he had found was mostly routine reports and changing his own office's filing system during late nights awake at their headquarters, and he expected more than one comment about his own likeness after he spent long enough in the hot southern sun, given how pale one could get spending weeks ensconced in that heavily warded sub-level. "It's not really a matter for light dinner conversation."

"Then we'll skip the meal and head straight to the drinks," Tobyis replied gruffly.

***​

Neither man was one to waste much time on little niceties like small talk, so after pouring no more than a few drinks from a crystal bottle of Tyroshi pear brandy, the two had spread a set of navigational charts and a ledger filled with row upon row of numbers, ships and chartered crews, supplies necessary for a mage to work their craft and to survive in hostile environs. "That girl..." Baedar glanced up at his... co-worker, he supposed. The two hadn't know each other for very long, in fact the most personal detail he even knew of the other man was that he had been married, once.

That there was no explanation for a spouse's absence paradoxically explained more than enough. It was all too common a story in their line of work, a common thread of sentiment perhaps. Either a great sense of duty or a great loss could make one fertile ground for recruitment to the Inquisition, though that alone wasn't enough. The spool unwound which bound one to a greater whole was absolutely essential, Baedar did not deny, but a will even great more so. To be a mage is to know ambition, yet to be an Inquisitor was to sacrifice upon the same altar. So only a vision achieved through the ruination of an empire's foes might one regularly approach that altar, knife in hand.

Tobyis' face was shadowed over in flickering mage light, before he serenely looked up. "She's the one, aye. All over a couple idle pen-strokes..."

Baedar grinned wryly. "Come now, do you believe for a moment any stroke of the pen from the King's own hand is anything but deliberate? I heard you had to harass people across three departments and two other Bureaus to learn even that much."

The other mage threw back his head, though the laugh was more of a harsh bark than an expression of true mirth. "No, you're right at that. She won't appreciate the 'good fortune' she's been graced with. Even men like the Dragon King can stomp on the little people scurrying around by being generous, I suppose." His face was marred briefly by an angry scowl. "Whatever hidden potential in her will either burn out like embers in the dark, or burn hard and fast. You know they wanted her tossed into a training course with those other girls, 'Lady Alicent' and the Fairwind?" He scoffed. "Ward my tanned-arse. That's a highborn lass."

"Careful," Baedar murmurred. "You're not picky about making enemies around the office, Tobyis, but you don't want to rustle the bushes outside a Companion's window." He pointed to a leather binder still open between the two, with images captured by sorcery and impressed with arcane fire. "The Hells are those?

Tobyis slammed a meaty paw down upon it, a slashing motion sending it toward an open drawer in his desk. "Nothing." Baedar wondered if he had been hitting the bottle even earlier, absurd as it was all the sorcerer could think at that rough dismissal was something along the lines of "he's getting sloppy", but then he had expected better from a man who's trade was secrets.

"Tobyis..." Baedar sat up straighter. "Was that..." Those were restricted files. Baedar knew on sight that was Inquisitor's work, nothing for the likes of them to be getting mixed up in. "Mind Eaters aren't our bailiwick, goodman!"

"The hell they aren't, we're going south, ain't we? Like as not we'll need to be prepared for anything, and I know for fact they've got their stink on those isles and that jungle." Tobyis bared his teeth, stabbing a finger towards him across the desk. "Remember? 'Knowledge is power, guard it well'. That's what they said when they brought you in, wasn't it? Nothing less than the certainty of the dead walking from their graves and fiends dancing in the moonlight where honest men dare not step out their own doors anywhere else in the world but Sorcerer's Deep, and we've not dragons enough to guard every city, much less sweltering haunted ones."

"If you're joining this expedition to pursue a grudge," Baedar began, though cut himself off. "No, let's back up. What was that? Tell me true."

"It was before your time... when Damphair still ruled here," Tobyis replied eventually, anger dying away in his eyes and sinking heavily back into his chair. "Back when sometimes they would take people away and they'd never be seen again, not return changed but just gone forever." He shook his head wearily. "I... she," he trailed off, wearily.

"They took..." Baedar began, hesitating, because he still wasn't sure just what he'd walked into there, weighing the risk of pressing the other mage on this and his own duty to pursue the truth.

"No... not then, it was the Fire that claimed her." Ah. That explained much. "What I saw when it was given to the Trees, I'll never forget. I saw fear through the eyes of madness, Baedar." Blue eyes caught his own gaze, the deepest blue Baedar had ever seen stared out a thousand yards into the distance, sunken eyes that had seen horrors beyond the ken of man and revealed little more than the lie men tell themselves when they wish to be brave but are terrified to face reality. "They're afraid, but it isn't of knives or the baying shouts from the mob. What could make a monster afraid, if not us getting our own pound of flesh out of them? What is worse, Baedar, that there are monsters in this world, or that there are things even monsters fear out there, trailing in their wake, sight unseen?"

He had wondered what would drive a man who looked more natural pulling down sails on the deck of a ship or hauling cargo to port was doing in Inquisitor's garb, or occasionally the graduate robes of a Scholarum mage. Good pay could be had almost anywhere in the Dragon's realm, doing all manner of things, but only vengeance bordering on madness could compel so unsuited a hand toward mastering the arcane with naught but pen and page. He wondered what the man had done in the past, was he a quartermaster for the Golden Company? Did he serve alongside the likes of Lord Torchwood in the past? Perhaps a former Maester who had sold their meager skills as a pirate might prefer over a barber, who might as well just be a butcher turning their knives toward healing.

What other evils had they seen, that a glimpse of some horrid truth had finally driven him to purpose like a man possessed? For every word of praise for the mage's methodical approach to problems, the same competence that had seen them scooped up by the Inquisition, there were many more mutterings upon his manner and his reticence to share the font of that same insight. Both were common enough in the Inquisition, but rarely were the two so married in one person that they become an impediment to working with one another.

Whatever the man had seen that fateful night when a Deep One had been bled before white roots, Baedar hoped deeply they would not encounter it in the depths of Sothoryos.

There was upholding oaths, a chance of death for duty, and then there were also fates far worse.

It was only later that night as he returned to his home in the city that he realized, perhaps the only man Tobyis trusted more than himself was Baedar, enough to pull them back from the edge when the time came to stake not only one's own life, but those they held a responsibility toward. The man didn't want me going in unaware of how he might react to their influence, he realized.

He didn't know what to think of that. Not at all.
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Good stuff, dude. I'm looking forward to the launch of the expedition and their adventures in Sothoryos.

Baedar and company will have plenty of opportunities to gain XP and experience sufficient trauma/excitement to push past the initial level cap into true adventurerhood.
 
JamesShazbond said:
So when exactly are we intending to start the Deep war?

Any one have any new fleshforging concepts?
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Like @egoo said, it's technically already in progress, or at least the previous Cold War is starting to warm up a bit, as the Deep Ones try to infiltrate their meat puppet assets into the populace of various nations.

We're actively screening for them now, with our Aberration detecting pearls and the first order of Crystal Masks of Detect Psionics, but we have a lot of ground to cover. There will be many more Detect Psionics items available after we pick up our commissions next month, which will allow us to speed the process up considerably. Other lands aren't going to be so lucky, unfortunately.

As for a timetable to outright conflict, it's unlikely to be more than two or three months from now. It's why we're scrambling to hire mercs, build strategic weapons and defenses, and churn out or purchase so many servitor creatures.

We've discussed and brainstormed additional Flesh and Fungal Forge creations, but nothing has been firmly decided upon yet. Feel free to make suggestions, though.
JamesShazbond said:
On those subjects, what do people think of Advanced Suzerain +6 HD Sorcerer Gilded Sea Serpents? CR 12, but 31 Charisma, Charisma based spellcasting, and a host of leadership-related abilities make them natural officers in the sea war. Throw Half-Dragon in there either in place of advanced & suzerain or alongside it to make them useable out of the water as well.

Once we juice up the Lys forge, I'd like to see both Advanced Bladeleaf Splinter Drakes and Half-Dragon Druid Splinter Drakes. Call them Thorndrakes or something. The first version makes for a high-tier physical powerhouse with ranged options as well. As for the second, their Wisdom isn't as sky-high as the Gilded Serpent's Charisma, but their HD gives them access to 6th level Druid spells. Furthermore, they get access to Venomfire, and they can apply their venom to their bite and both their breath weapons. Speaking of which, how does Half-Dragon's breath weapon apply to things that already have breath weapons?
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We don't have the Suzerain template, unfortunately. Gilded Sea Serpents would still make a good chassis to build upon, though. Advancing them to 12 HD (+7) gets them to CR 10, then add Advanced, Sorcerer Creature, and Half-Dragon bringing them to CR 15, makes them effective spellcasters, and beefs them up so they can mix it up in melee very well. And while it wouldn't have 31 Charisma, 27 is still pretty good.

On the topic of Sea Serpents, if we take a Spitting Sea Serpent and advance it to 15 HD (+3) to raise them up to CR 10, then add the Advanced, Druid Creature, and Half-Dragon templates to bring them up to CR 15, we could make some very nice Snakey Druids. Each would be able to cast 5th level Druid spells, not to mention 3rd level Venomfire. Venomfire on these guys would be awesome, since they already have a very effective acidic poison which they can spit up to 60 feet as often as twice per round using the Rapid Shot. That range can be extended by feat or spell, as can the uses per round.
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Dec 22, 2019 at 7:04 AM, finished with 98 posts and 15 votes.
  • 17
    [X] Crake
    [X] Goldfish
    [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.
    [X] Try to arrange another meeting with Pol Qo's sister, then set up a means of staying in 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.
    -[X] In addition, 'the Kami' could give her a "lead" to investigate several caches of lore hidden in the mountainous hinterlands nearby, not only further cementing her influence at court greatly but we can slip in numerous suitably 'aged' looking documents from various eras for authenticity containing lore that could have believably been written by some Eastern Scholar. Have Tyene and our Construct guides with the Fleet try to work out some convincing ones with details that could match their own corresponding timeframe of life.
    --[X] There are some texts we will have to give her that she will have to reveal as her own knowledge from trials and tribulations against darkness, like Rina's journals, but that in itself can be a benefit as it reveals she is not only recovering lost knowledge of dark powers but writing her own accounts as she encounters their marks upon the world.
    ---[X] Of course we need to offset all of the ominous texts with more positive ones sprinkled in, esoteric knowledge on the spheres perhaps, on trade and finance in the west for a town who's lifeblood is trade secured by a canny deal by herself with a visiting dignitary, and sets of texts on architecture and engineering purchased from a merchant venturer who had visited grand halls of stone glistening with a thousand thousand gems.
    ----[X] The shared lore regarding dark malignancy will generally be the same we shared with our loyalists, modified where appropriate for eastern sensibilities and as props. Given the provenance of them will have been Mindblanked, any attempts to call out their origins will be met with equal skepticism since they can't exactly point anyone towards where they might have come from instead. At best it will look like a weak attempt at halting Pol Ning An's rising star.
    [X] Have Aradia and Mereth look around the market searching for the following:
    -[X] Books on local history and traditions.
    -[X] Any other unique knowledge is a boon, even if not necessarily esoteric in nature, Yi Ti is a land with a well-established bureaucracy already and might have means to do math and accounting, or similar logistical things involving architecture and engineering, that would be of great value. You are most curious about paper production, and to be honest even acquiring several samples would allow you to attempt researching the most efficient means of wide-scale manufacturing for it, a boon to your administrative efforts, civil, militarily or otherwise.
    -[X] Lastly you are curious about Yi Ti's ways of prosecuting war, and until you crack open the Citadel's own archives you are starting to bleed Westeros and Essos dry of knowledge in that area.
    [X] Try to arrange another meeting with Pol Qo's sister, then set up a means of staying in 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.
    -[X] In addition, 'the Kami' could give her a "lead" to investigate several caches of lore hidden in the mountainous hinterlands nearby, not only further cementing her influence at court greatly but we can slip in numerous suitably 'aged' looking documents from various eras for authenticity containing lore that could have believably been written by some Eastern Scholar. Have Tyene and our Construct guides with the Fleet try to work out some convincing ones with details that could match their own corresponding timeframe of life.
    --[X] There are some texts we will have to give her that she will have to reveal as her own knowledge from trials and tribulations against darkness, like Rina's journals, but that in itself can be a benefit as it reveals she is not only recovering lost knowledge of dark powers but writing her own accounts as she encounters their marks upon the world.
    ---[X] Of course we need to offset all of the ominous texts with more positive ones sprinkled in, esoteric knowledge on the spheres perhaps, on trade and finance in the west for a town who's lifeblood is trade secured by a canny deal by herself with a visiting dignitary, and sets of texts on architecture and engineering purchased from a merchant venturer who had visited grand halls of stone glistening with a thousand thousand gems.
    ----[X] The shared lore regarding dark malignancy will generally be the same we shared with our loyalists, modified where appropriate for eastern sensibilities and as props. Given the provenance of them will have been Mindblanked, any attempts to call out their origins will be met with equal skepticism since they can't exactly point anyone towards where they might have come from instead. At best it will look like a weak attempt at halting Pol Ning An's rising star.
    -----[X] Lastly, Corlys has certain contacts who could facilitate an ongoing deal to sell her things like Healing Salve, Antiplague and Antitoxin, Vermin Repellent as well as hangover cures, contraceptives and other mostly harmless but extremely useful products. If she inquires about military hardware, flatly tell her that unfortunately, there are dozens or more routine divinations being performed about trades like that being conducted ever since Wildfire was used in an attempt to burn down an infamous port, so it would probably be a Very Bad Idea to try moving large amounts of explosive, incendiary or other esoteric lethal poisons or substances out of the West.
    [X] Have Aradia and Mereth look around the market searching for the following:
    -[X] Books on local history and traditions.
    -[X] Any other unique knowledge is a boon, even if not necessarily esoteric in nature, Yi Ti is a land with a well-established bureaucracy already and might have means to do math and accounting, or similar logistical things involving architecture and engineering, that would be of great value. You are most curious about paper production, and to be honest even acquiring several samples would allow you to attempt researching the most efficient means of wide-scale manufacturing for it, a boon to your administrative efforts, civil, militarily or otherwise.
    -[X] In addition, you are curious about Yi Ti's ways of prosecuting war, and until you crack open the Citadel's own archives you are starting to bleed Westeros and Essos dry of knowledge in that area.
    --[X] Acquire a dozen zorses for the Imperial Stables as well.
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Part MMMCCXLVI: The Gift of Giving
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    • The Gift of Giving ​

    Twenty Seventh Day of the Eleventh Month 293 AC

    Pol Ning is not surprised to hear you would speak to her again, though she is far more wary now. Shocked though she may have been at the notion of high officials receiving bribes she understands influence and how that may be traded upon, doubtlessly expecting some request now that she is higher in the graces of her brother's court. When you instead advise caution in the use of said power there is surprise aplenty to be seen. "Best to strike a balance with Lady Xue then to risk all attempting to unseat a foe behind such strong battlements as tradition provided and which she has spent no small amount of time strengthening."

    The martial metaphor seems to strike a chord, some of the worry fades from her gaze. "What do you propose then? Wait until she loses face again in attempting to undo the curse?" she shakes her head, the tiny amber disks woven into her robes clinking. "Taking months for a pregnancy to prove false hope for the curse is a cruel thing, it does not merely ensure that no life can be seeded but blights it in the womb." The young princess' expression darkens with a glimpse of sorrow beyond courtly games. Though she may be ambitious enough to wish that she remain her brother's heir Ning is not unmoved by the deaths of those who might be her nieces and nephews.

    "There, I believe, I might offer some assistance, I am a merchant as much as an agent of the King and can offer the chance to buy many wondrous wondrous faqi," you are careful to use the Yi Tish term for magical tool, not 'spirit tool' or 'kami vessel', such objects are known to be alive and sentient with their own wills and desires. Being presented with the 'gift' of a spirit tool is how many foolish shugenja are said to suffer at best a humbling and at worst far darker fates in the legends of the Golden Empire.

    Ning nods in understanding, such things are commonplace here where trade is the very lifeblood of the city and no stigma is associated with it as one might find further south. "What powers would these tools possess?"

    With every account you give she grows more and more interested. While such treasures may not be as rare in Yi Ti as they were in Westeros or other realms where magic all but vanished by the time the Doom struck Valyria, the monasteries guard their lore jealously and the Wu Jen rarely turn their craft to the same task twice, spending years in the crafting of great artifacts for themselves or their patrons in place of works crafting simple talismans. The latter is more often the product of peasant superstition or untrustworthy ronin sorcerers who usually live one step ahead of the magistrates or the mob.

    "Not all are as tales say, of course," Ning hastens to add. "Many of those who look to me for guidance lived that life for they did not know a better one was posibile. Being unlettered does not make one dishonorable." From the tone you guess that that is a defense she often has to make use of at court.

    "Of course," you nod in genuine sympathy. You have had to overcome similar hurdles in regards to the acceptance of magic and from a far stronger position than she has. "In exchange for this lore I ask only for accounts of the efforts against enemies such as the Dark Queen and the like, so that others might better martial their efforts where they will be most effective, and when they will be most effective."

    "A generous offer, I can only hope that I will learn much from it." Including who these others are, hangs in the air unsaid but heard just the same.

    Speaking of lore you range it so that 'the Kami' will give her a "lead" to investigate several caches of lore hidden in the mountainous hinterlands nearby, hopefully cementing her influence at court further. Ning is at first dubious on the notion until you explain that you have access to several Yi Tish scholars of ancient history who might translate the lore for authenticity, made all the more believable by alchemically treating the paper to seem aged. What you do not share is that those scholars had seen that history with their own eyes and now lived in bodies of brass and gears aboard the fleet that even now approached Yin.

    There are some texts you will give her that she will have to reveal as her own knowledge from trials and tribulations against darkness, like Rina's journals, but that in itself can be a benefit as it reveals she is not only recovering lost knowledge of dark powers but writing her own accounts as she encounters their marks upon the world. Still, you would not wish to make her too much a bearer of ill omen lest you give cause for others to shun her words for their own peace of mind. You add more positive accounts of esoteric knowledge on the Spheres, trade and finance in the west for a town who's lifeblood is trade, secured with a canny deal by herself with a visiting dignitary. Among these are sets of texts on architecture and engineering purchased from said merchant who had supossedly visited grand halls of stone glistening with a thousand thousand gems.

    "I have seen it," the young mage interrupts abruptly, almost seeming to surprise herself. "Halls of tainted brass and screaming souls, nameless altars upon which tainted flame burns. I have seen it in dreams, though the gentle baku must have warded my dreams from seeing too much. Xue claimed it may have been the altars of the red robed ones, the slave priests of the far west, but I went to meet those of them who live in Trader Town and they did not seem of that malignancy, but kind in their own way though they did not have the answers I sought. It is good to see that evil at least lies beyond the veil of worlds."

    Scant comfort when any efreeti slaver looking for a profit can pass his ship through the veil with one turn of the wheel, you think but do not say. She will have troubles aplenty when the book are in her hands, the same lore you handed to the loyalists of Westeros though between distance and wards it is unlikely for anyone to put the two together and practically impossible to prove it.

    Ning An shakes herself from the grip of dark memory. "This alchemy, how much more of it can you provide beyond the yellowing of pages?"

    Having expected the question you reply that you can provide an ongoing deal to sell her things like Healing Salve, Antiplague and Antitoxin, Vermin Repellent as well as hangover cures and other mostly harmless but extremely useful products. Though the shugenja grows more thoughtful at the word 'harmless' she does not ask for weapons, either guessing correctly that you would not provide such or not wishing to count upon them.

    As deals are finished and your most urgent business in Trader Town settled Ning An Pol interjects, her tone growing formal, almost imperious. "You have done much for me and asked for very little, it would be an ill thing for me to let you depart so, Corlys Waters. I cannot of my will alone copy texts from the Imperial Library, but that which is mine alone to share I will." So saying she takes out a delicate jade and soapstone box fashioned to resemble the earth and sky and commands it to open.

    Instead of the floor beside you there appears a second much larger chest, the faint shimmer of ethereal mist marking where it had been called from, a spell alike in function to the one Anu had used back in Sallosh though the taste of copper and embers at the back of your throat marks a different crafting.

    "Too secret to be kept in the world, too precious to allow far from hand or both?" you ask impressed, all the more so by the fact that most of it is filled with writings and not any treasure of sorcery.

    "The latter," Ning explains, pleased with your reaction. "There are several copies of every text so you may simply take an account of everything we have amassed." She pauses a moment. "I must warn you that some of this has been recovered from the sealed valuts beneath the ruins of Sunder Peak Monastery, if any of the orders who claim descent of that lineage realize such lore is in the possession of a... foreigner like your king they will likely take it ill."

    A barbarian in the possession of sacred texts she means. You bite back a snort at the notion, though you appreciate both the warning and the diplomatic way she phrased it.

    How much of the lore do you take?

    [] All of it, more knowledge is always useful, all the more so for coming from a unique source

    [] Only that which does not come from the monastery vaults, you do not need more enemies

    [] Write in

    OOC: Like with the Azure Emperor you guys put Ning An in a position where she would have to reciprocate or lose face even if its a risk to her.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • [X] All of it, more knowledge is always useful, all the more so for coming from a unique source

    Take it all!!!
     
    And here we go, just what I hoped for.
    I am glad it worked out this way.

    [X] All of it, more knowledge is always useful, all the more so for coming from a unique source
    -[X] Take care to only copy any lore present, though - best not to leave anyone a connection to scry on.

    Even if anyone in Yi-Ti learns that we are applying some otherwise super-secret lore (highly unlikely, due to distance and wards)... We can safely say that Phoenixes/Genie/ruins in Sothoryos revealed it to us, and it wouldn't even be much bullshit.

    @DragonParadox, the lore in question likely being the means to train Yi-TI -specific classes, yes?
    DragonParadox said:
    There are some texts we will have to give her that she will have to reveal as her own knowledge from trials and tribulations against darkness, like Rina's journals, but that in itself can be a benefit as it reveals she is not only recovering lost knowledge of dark powers but writing her own accounts as she encounters their marks upon the world. Still you would not wish to make her too much a bearer of ill omen lest give cause for others to shun her words for their own peace of mind. You might add more positive accounts of esoteric knowledge on the spheres perhaps, on trade and finance in the west for a town who's lifeblood is trade secured by a canny deal by herself with a visiting dignitary, and sets of texts on architecture and engineering purchased from a merchant venturer who had visited grand halls of stone glistening with a thousand thousand gems.
    Click to expand...
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    also this art may need editing.
     
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    All of it, of course. We don't need to give poor @Duesal a stroke.

    [X] All of it, more knowledge is always useful, all the more so for coming from a unique source
     
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