- Location
- Germany
DP explicitly made it canon that she is bad at this planning stuff.
Also, we haven't invented any outrageously powerful things in a while.
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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- Tags
- 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
Also, we haven't invented any outrageously powerful things in a while.
Shit tier mages are increasingly common these days and a decent proportion of those they meet won't be good hiring prospects - unsuited to mercenary work, genuinely loyal to someone else, non-Tiamet based divine casters, mad cultists... As for mages they do hire, making lethal discipline effective means making the valuable and dangerous believe it can happen to them - if everyone knows there's a use for their death it makes it more credible.
- Location
- Germany
She is not always bad at the longterm stuff.
Remember, Feeder was a freeby for having amused her on her first meeting with Dany.
They defeated armies of the Jogos Nhai, no doubt they made many PoWs, including officers and mages.
- Location
- France
Why bother, when we can just churn out CR 15 beasties in the Forge?
Although we are currently building massive magical fortifications against the Sultan, so that's cool.
On another note, here's my take on Tiamat : she's used to being against scrubs who will genuinely die if they have to fight a few buffed-up Dragons. So sending a few Wyrmlings with human support is indeed a valid way for her to support her followers most of the time. However right now she's also against a Dragon. So your small number of elite minions who can operate in any environment, don't have any clear weaknesses, and have huge power growth potential? Irrelevant when facing us, who have more Dragons and will keep gaining them faster.
The logic here is poor, but Tiamat is genuinely super proud of DRAGONS, so...
- Location
- Germany
The things is though... logistics. Armies march on their stomaches and all that.
Let's assume that each Drake needs... say 5 CL worth of casters or 10 CL of magic items a month. Then that's, for 23 drakes, 115 CR worth of casters or 230 CL worth of magic items. Each month. This does not cover any recruits you would like to make, payments to the soldiery, further sacrifices to Tiamat or merely keeping some items for personal use.
The GC must be rampaging through the far east and stripping every bit of magic from the land like a bunch of locusts just to prevent their own pets from snacking on their people.
Let's assume that each Drake needs... say 5 CL worth of casters or 10 CL of magic items a month. Then that's, for 23 drakes, 115 CR worth of casters or 230 CL worth of magic items. Each month. This does not cover any recruits you would like to make, payments to the soldiery, further sacrifices to Tiamat or merely keeping some items for personal use.
The GC must be rampaging through the far east and stripping every bit of magic from the land like a bunch of locusts just to prevent their own pets from snacking on their people.
- Location
- United States
I see Feeder as more of living bait for Dany to have had at least one positive interaction with Tiamat before everything went down. Once her claws are in you there is generally a lot less in the way of unambiguous gifts. Not to mention the whole "she sees you as her property" thing once you're under her.
No doubt they've got higher CR POWs, but we know they didn't shy away from regular slaves. Granted there was probably a much lower margin of return for the regular slaves.
- Location
- Brazil
Yeah, I too think it's not a matter of the GC being stupid as much as them having bought hangar queens that require uber expensive maintenance.
Their diet likely consists mostly of crafted itens.
Their diet likely consists mostly of crafted itens.
Jack vile Ripper
The swellest guy in Creation.
- Location
- Indonesia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
Ugh. Again, how utterly inefficient...
- Location
- Germany
Crafted items are not valid as sacrifices for the Old Gods, so I see no reason why they would be for Tiamat.
Unless...
Is Tiamat secretly poor? Is her jewelry from the thrift store? Was her vacation in the Plane of Beaches a lie?
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
They have to be old ass unique junk, or it's bust.
- Location
- United States
I do hope they've got enough sacrifices that they doubled their amount of drakes. I want there to be enough that we capture some of them alive. The older ones sound like they might dissipate if we kill them, with the energy going right back to Tiamat.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
The "energy goes back to Tiamat if killed" is true about all her servants/cultists.
Her [Greed] Domain is responsible for dat, and is the reason I really, really want to capture the Mindblanked dragons using the power we rip off Timmie as scrying foci of sorts.
3 free Mindblanks for us, lots of power wasted for her on top of what we steal.
Not to mention, of course, that by merely showing that we have Red Dragon Orb on us we are likely to force her into throwing everything she can at us.
Which we can promptly try to capture, given we survive the experience.
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Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
To be fair every single one of her heads is an evil dragon, they're not known for their forward planning beyond "fuck you, give me."
The fact that they got anything at all is a show of generosity. And yes I am including the continuation of their lives in that statement.
- Location
- Brazil
Seems to be about eating the concentrated Magic to sustain their super mode, not about any uniqueness.
The OG don't accept it because its not really sacrifice. This situation with the drakes doesn't seem to be about that, it's simply a dietary restriction.
- Location
- Germany
They are direct holders of Tiamats divine power. That's not food for them, it's sacrifice for Tiamat. Everything they feed those things will end up in her hoard.
- Location
- United States
I get the feeling their very souls are on loan from Tiamat as well, given that if they're killed it all goes straight back to the goddess unless actively stopped somehow.
Inserted tally
Part MMMCCCV: A Prisoner's Wishes
A Prisoner's Wishes
Eight Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC
"All who come in peace are welcome in my realm," you reply simply. Intrigues you can deal with, not happily perhaps but you will take the games of spies over open battle. Should the lines become too blurred or worse still, others caught in the crossfire, you will of course levy sanctions.
At this explanation Galzerai nods thoughtfully, even that slight motion of his great bulk enough to send eddies of briny water swirling towards you. "Expect she who guided you here to pass into the Garden seeking the bargains of an early tide."
"How long would she have refrained from visiting them without my presence here then?" you ask ruefully "Truly speaking, what gives anyone the impression that my mere leave will stop or start such conflict from crossing over into my borders, when both of you would be equally impressed with my offers and equally hold worries of the other benefiting without further involvement from yourselves? My silence only guarantees none shall benefit at all."
"You have perhaps spent too long among mortals, young one," the tone is more amused than chiding. "Without your heralding it might have taken years or even decades for many dominions and emirates to take an active hand in such trade. We have far more time to ponder such matters who do not dwell ever under the reaper's shadow."
Some small part of you bristles at the answer and ponders reminding Galzerai that dragons, for all their long years, are not truly deathless, but that is a distinction without a difference. Vanishingly rare is a wyrm nearing their twilight years that has not found some means or another to endure beyond it.
"Be that as it may, by engaging in open and honest dialogue both sides might know where they stand," and what they stand to lose. The last you do not say aloud but you have no doubt the elder dragon heard it just the same. The first of your tasks complete, you decide to push the thought a touch further. "If there were more open channels of speech between the various realms such deception as Islin very nearly perpetrated would be much more difficult. More broadly, Vialesk's distrust of brine dragons might be soothed by knowing more of your mind."
Galzerai scoffs, iron-hard scales scraping against his throne as he speaks. "While the City of Splendid Waves remembers its history it will distrust dragons, and so long as it possesses great wealth it will not be wrong in its vigilance."
Lya giggles at the bluntness of his answer, drawing a second look at first dismissive then mildly curious, but not enough to ask aloud whatever question passes through his mind. Instead, he tips his head to the side thoughtfully and asks: "Given your intention to gather support against the Deep Ones I wonder, will you be passing through Kelasi waters soon?"
You had intentionally avoided the subject until now, but as he was the one to bring it up you see no reason to lie or evade. "I am, yes, is there a message you would wish carried to the Emir of that realm?"
"Yes, tell him that his daughter asked for certain personal concessions in her confinement, ones I am not opposed to granting but have no intention of offering without cost. She has agreed to trade wishcraft for them. I am not certain how much her father carers about the loss of honor given his utter lack of that virtue and plans to wed her to my so far conspicuously absent slayer." The dragon laughs, a deep rumble through stone and water at all the dead sellswords and perhaps the treasure he has been able to strip off them and add to his hoard. "Nonetheless, I think it might be something he would wish to hear."
"What personal concessions did the princess ask for?" you ask intrigued. Embra had been willing to offer a wish in exchange for saving her life, you doubt even the most lighthearted marid would trade it without very good cause.
"She has requested that I do not make that answer known to any who ask me without her express agreement," Galzerai replies with admirable resolve. Not many would have such a care for their prisoners as to keep their secrets.
What do you to?
[] Ask more questions
-[] Write in
[] Try to negotiate further
-[] Write in
[] Depart
-[] Write in where to
-[] Write in
OOC: A bit of an open ended vote, but you guys have plenty of time to discuss overnight.
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- Location
- Brazil
Sure, but:
They require a literally magical diet to sustain themselves. Too much power in too small a package, it'd seem. They look like they are about to burst at the seams from the buffs she gave them, and eating magic is how they stave that off.
Besides which, I highly doubt Tiamat refuses any addition to her hoard.
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Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Actually, it sounds like Tiamat may have skimped out on the Divine Power in her Drakes. She minimized her investment while maximizing her return.
Unfortunately, the resulting Drakes are horribly inefficient and require huge amounts of specialty food.
- Location
- Brazil
To expand on the point of it being sustenance, just the other day we had Viserys realize that the simple magical creatures like the huge crab would either mysteriously starve or collapse under its own weight during the decline of magic.
Same principle, the drakes are just going at it so insanely hard that they require such a diet.
Same principle, the drakes are just going at it so insanely hard that they require such a diet.
- Location
- Germany
At this point we are basically arguing if Tiamat is a greedy bastard or a fleshcrafter with a lot more bluster then actual talent.
How about we cut the difference and just call her Queen Bitch as usual?
- Location
- United States
How scandalous!
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
ALL FOR SAY AYE.
Anyway, I'm bemused... he's curious about us, but I'm not sure where to take that yet. Could we use the Princesses circumstances with some kind of angle towards Kelasi? The loss of face for her would be... difficult to stomach for her father. Part of me wonders if he would care more about her being made to grant a wish than he would her dying as a hostage.