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

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[X] Ask to speak with the Emir. We cannot give permission for agents of a foreign power to recruit mages within our realm with so little understanding of the situation. If he does not want to speak with us, then we must refuse the deal.
 
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Interlude DCCXIV: Secrets of the Mind and Heart
  • Threadmarks
    • Secrets of the Mind and Heart ​

    Ninth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    Northern Golden Company Camp, Near Trader Town, Yi Ti

    Ser Richard Lonmouth was not a spy or sneak though he had played the part a few times in his life, mostly by keeping his mouth closed and pretending to be as much a tool as the sword at his belt. More of a tool really, he thought fondly as he touched the leather bound hilt reflexively. Oathkeeper did not suffer fools gladly and it was only the fact that the blade preferred to speak to him alone that kept it from revealing both of them with some stinging comment while the King was sweet-talking some traitorous noble, pretending to be a humble preacher or a hundred other roles.

    As he walked down the cobbled path between the rippling golden tents Richard knew the one in whose wake he followed was not quite as skilled at the games of masks and mummers, but he'd walk into the lion's or the dragon's lair just the same. Ach, trusting a Dornishwoman, the Red Viper's daughter, with his life, a long way from that day on the Braavosi docks that was for certain. Truth be told it was hard to even remember that her name was Sandviper these days. Where they had come from, where they were going and how their lives became tangled with one another didn't matter. They were all companions of the King, the knight had felt it before anyone had a name for it, but trusting someone with your life was not the same as trusting them to do the job right. Waymar had wanted to be the shield at Tyene's back for obvious reasons but...

    "I'm busy darling, but I won't be for much longer, Ser Cole doesn't look like he was quite up to his name after all the wine," she called out to one of the officers making suggestive gestures. If Richard was playing a sellsword then Tyene was playing a camp follower, a role that was likely to make the young Royce either grind his teeth to dust or strike someone dead with lightning on the spot.

    "You don't think he'll burn bright enough?" one wit called, waving a burning brand from the fire dangerously near the tent he was supposed to be guarding. New recruit, Richard thought. Little as he liked the men of the Golden Company he had to admit they were more disciplined than to do that sort of shit on duty.

    Roars of laughter followed them, the younger of the Cole brothers had the misfortune of being called 'Dick' and a reputation for being the more easygoing of the two serjants. That the shadow spies had no trouble carrying back, but an account of how many men and horses were in the company was beyond them since no one had much cause to mention those numbers aloud strung nicely together and having a shadow break off from its supposed owner to go read the quartermaster's documents wasn't really something they could risk.

    A good thing old Dick always gets drunk on the same day of the month, some said it marked the day he had lost his father, while those sighing over some pretty girl a thousand leagues away, of which there were surprisingly many even among the most battle-hardened soldiers Richard knew, claimed it marked the death of a loved he wanted to wed, not that it mattered much to Tyene. A drunk officer was one whose documents could be read and copied and no one would remember or care for the camp follower garbed in sun-faded silks who had slipped into his tent and just as easily slipped out.

    That at least had been the plan until Tyene took one look inside the tent that smelled of stranger things than alcohol and took a step back in surprise. "There's something magical in there, something hidden under a glamour..."

    Richard whispered a command word, reasoning that he was the one who would need true sight less in a fight on the way back if it came to it, and spotted something as familiar as moss on trees, at least since he had come to Essos, and yet utterly unexpected here, an altar to the Red God. It looked like the Bitch Queen had not been quite as effective at rooting out the worship of other gods as she assumed. Somewhat to his surprise, Tyene shook her head at the news. "Doesn't matter now, we need to get those numbers, get out and we'll deal with this, if there's anything to gain from it, later."

    Later in Sorcerer's Deep Richard looked over the documents drawn from Tyene's memory and conjured with illusion. Fewer elephants, though the ones they still had now possessed wizard riders for some reason, less heavy cavalry, though a bit more light and even more light infantry and they had been blooded besides. It would be a tough fight for any army that wanted to attack the Golden Company in their camps. Luckily the King wasn't bringing an army.

    Cavalry:
    3 Elephants (Mage Riders)
    1,900 Heavy cavalry
    2,100 Light cavalry

    Infantry:
    6,500 Heavy infantry
    7,000 Light infantry

    OOC: You guys do not know why they put mages on elephants yet, that information is probably with the mages in question.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • ..... I almost want the elephants to be magical with illusions and flight while being a bright pink if only for the lols and the fact that the Pink Elephants song from dumbo could be used.
     
    Its cause elephants are badasses and we should be spamming them in our armies with a few template. The bladeleaf template alone would make them a terror on the battlefield. And they should be able to created in the flesh forge. Its a win win.

    Vote for more elephants, they will give you a ride.
     
    Honestly, putting Wizards on an elephant is rather clever. Any decent wizard can autopass the Concentration checks, and being up there affords them good LoS, protects them from melee, and allows them to use low-level spells to support their giant charging warbeast.
    Pike formation? Glitterdust!
     
    Secrets of the Mind and Heart ​

    Ninth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    Northern Golden Company Camp, Near Trader Town Yi Ti

    Ser Richard Lonmouth was not a spy or sneak, though he had played the part a few times in his life, mostly by keeping his mouth closed and pretending to be as much a tool as the sword at his belt. More of a tool really, he thought fondly as he touched the leather bound hilt reflexively. Oathkeeper did not suffer fools gladly, and it was only the fact that the blade preferred to speak to him alone that kept it from revealing both of them with some stinging comment while the king was sweet talking some traitorous noble, pretending to be a humble preacher, or a hundred other roles.

    As he walked down the cobbled path between the rippling golden tents, Richard knew the one in whose wake he followed was not quite as skilled at the games of masks and mummers, but he'd walk into the lion or the dragon's lair just the same. Ach, trusting a Dornishwoman, the Red Viper's daughter with his life, a long way from that day on the Braavosi docks, that was for certain. Truth be told, it was hard to even remember that her name was Sandviper these days. Where they had come from and where they were going, then their lives became tangled with one another didn't matter. They were all companions of the King, the knight had felt it before anyone had a name for it, but trusting someone with your life was not the same as trusting them to do the job right. Waymar had wanted to be the shield at Tyene's back for obvious reasons, but...

    "I'm busy darling, but I won't be for much longer. Ser Cole didn't look like he was quite up to his name after all the wine," she called out to one of the officers making suggestive gestures. If Richard was playing a sellsword, then Tyene was playing a camp follower, a role that was likely to make the young Royce either grind his teeth to dust or strike someone dead with lightning on the spot.

    "You don't think he'll burn bright enough?" one wit called, waving a burning brand from the fire dangerously near the tent he was supposed to be guarding. New recruit, Richard thought. Little as he liked the men of the Golden Company, he had to admit they were more disciplined than to do that sort of shit on duty.

    Roars of laughter followed them. The younger of the Cole brothers had the misfortune of being called Dick and a reputation for being the more easygoing of the two Sergeants. That the shadow spies had no trouble carrying back, but an account of how many men and horses were in the company was beyond them, since no one had much cause to mention those numbers aloud strung nicely together, and having a shadow break off from its supposed owner to go read the quartermaster's documents wasn't really something they could risk.

    A good thing old Dick always gets drunk on the same day of the month. Some said it marked the day he had lost his father, while those sighing over some pretty girl a thousand leagues away, of which there were surprisingly many even among the most battle-hardened soldiers Richard knew, claimed it marked the death of a lover he wanted to wed. Not that it mattered much to Tyene. A drunk officer was one whose documents could be read and copied, and no one would remember or care for the camp follower garbed in sun-faded silks who had slipped into his tent and just as easily slipped out.

    That at least had been the plan until Tyene took one look inside the tent that smelled of stranger things than alcohol and took a step back in surprise. "There's something magical in there, something hidden under a glamor..."

    Richard whispered a command word reasoning that he was the one who would need true sight less in a fight on the way back if it came to it and spotted something as familiar as moss on trees, at least since he had come to Essos, and yet utterly unexpected here, an altar to the Red God. It looked like the bitch Queen had not been quite as effective at rooting out the worship of other gods as she assumed. Somewhat to his surprise, Tyene shook her head at the news. "Doesn't matter now. We need to get those numbers, get out, and then we'll deal with this, if there's anything to gain from it later."

    Later, in Sorcerer's Deep, Richard looked over the documents drawn from Tyene's memory and conjured with illusion. There were fewer elephants than expected, though the ones they still had now possessed wizard riders for some reason. Less heavy cavalry, though a bit more light, even more light infantry, and they had been blooded besides. It would be a tough fight for any army that wanted to attack the Golden Company in their camps. Luckily the king wasn't bringing an army.

    Cavalry:
    3 Elephants (Mage Riders)
    1,900 Heavy cavalry
    2,100 Light cavalry

    Infantry:
    6500 Heavy infantry
    7000 Light infantry

    OOC: You guys do not know why they put mages on elephants yet, that information is probably with the mages in question. Not yet edited.
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    That's pretty pathetic. Give it two Legions, the Siege Company and the Darkenbeast Company, and they would be slaughtered to a man with nearly no losses.
     
    Azel said:
    That's pretty pathetic. Give it two Legions, the Siege Company and the Darkenbeast Company, and they would be slaughtered to a man with nearly no losses.
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    To be fair, we don't know much about their actual forces. They're probably not equal to the Legion, but if they were magically enhanced or equipped, or if they were scattered through with NPCs or blessed characters, I wouldn't be surprised.

    I mean, I expect them all to die when we SotD their units, but I also expect them to put up a bit of a fight against our basic troops. They've been going out and winning against serious forces, after all - undead armies, eastern nations with heavy magical support, etc.
     
    TalonofAnathrax said:
    To be fair, we don't know much about their actual forces. They're probably not equal to the Legion, but if they were magically enhanced or equipped, or if they were scattered through with NPCs or blessed characters, I wouldn't be surprised.

    I mean, I expect them all to die when we SotD their units, but I also expect them to put up a bit of a fight against our basic troops. They've been going out and winning against serious forces, after all - undead armies, eastern nations with heavy magical support, etc.
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    That's a massive misconception there. Having been in serious battles doesn't mean an army is strong for being so often victorious.

    It means it might be spent.

    See the pitiful 3 elephants they have left.
     
    Poor Dick Cole, dude should have changed his name... :V

    Reminds me of the campaign sign I saw years back for a Mike Hunt who was running for some kind of office.
    TalonofAnathrax said:
    Honestly, putting Wizards on an elephant is rather clever. Any decent wizard can autopass the Concentration checks, and being up there affords them good LoS, protects them from melee, and allows them to use low-level spells to support their giant charging warbeast.
    Pike formation? Glitterdust!
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    There are some pretty nice spells a properly prepared Wizard could use to turn a mundane elephant into a terrifying killing machine. Never mind that a war elephant is probably already a terrifying killing machine.
    Azel said:
    That's pretty pathetic. Give it two Legions, the Siege Company and the Darkenbeast Company, and they would be slaughtered to a man with nearly no losses.
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    Yeah, but they've been engaged in one war or another for years now. It is pretty impressive that they have so many men, though how many are from the original GC before they headed east and how many are new recruits is hard to guess at. They're also probably the closest thing to an organized military Planetos has going for it, not counting the Legions, of course.

    Their magical support helps a lot, too, I'm sure.

    That said, ours are bigger, better trained, better equipped, and have much better support. They're basically Forge corpse fodder if we decide to destroy them after dealing with the leadership and Tiamat's lackeys.
     
    Azel said:
    That's a massive misconception there. Having been in serious battles doesn't mean an army is strong for being so often victorious.

    It means it might be spent.

    See the pitiful 3 elephants they have left.
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    This is D&D though. They'll have leveled, accumulated sacrifices and loot... Whatever doesn't kill you does make you stronger, here.

    Goldfish said:
    Their magical support helps a lot, too, I'm sure.

    That said, ours are bigger, better trained, better equipped, and have much better support. They're basically Forge corpse fodder if we decide to destroy them after dealing with the leadership and Tiamat's lackeys.
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    True.
     
    Ironically I think the most efficient way to kill them with magic is summoned elementals, not big boi damage.
     
    Aside from the warbeast aspect, keep in mind that an Elephant is a big bag of HD if any of those mages are good with sacrificial magic.
    I could see emergency measures in that direction, from Tiamat-tought mages.
     
    Fact is a mercenary company, even one consistently victorious and by extension rich, will have trouble expanding its forces to the extent a wealthy kingdom like our own can. Pretty sure their advantages against most armies they've met so far have been mostly based on their many casters and Tiamat's other help, like those drakes they have.

    Elephants are amazingly killy. But also very easily spooked and can become a threat to the army using them when they stampede. So really putting mages up there to buff them is just sensible, because it defuses all the mundane cheap tricks people used to deal with them and preserves your very expensive war beast. I can only imagine they figured this out too late and are now incapable of getting new elephants.
     
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    zxzx24 said:
    It does seem sad, but thats no cause to underestimate them. We dont know their magic tricks for example.
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    We knew their magic as it was some months ago though.
    Our little cousin was the only caster worth something on a companion-level fight.

    If they do magic tricks I expect more ritual stuff to call down Tiamat's high-end minions than directly dangerous mages.
     
    065tdsa said:
    Fact is a mercenary company, even one consistently victorious and by extension rich, will have trouble expanding its forces to the extent a wealthy kingdom like our own can. Pretty sure their advantages against most armies they've met so far have been mostly based on their many casters and Tiamat's other help, like those drakes they have.

    Elephants are amazingly killy. But also very easily spooked and can become a threat to the army using them when they stampede. So really putting mages up there to buff them is just sensible.
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    You can use Magic to control warbeasts in ways you can't control war elephants. For example, the tactic of using greased up pigs set on fire probably wouldn't work.
     
    Artemis1992 said:
    Aside from the warbeast aspect, keep in mind that an Elephant is a big bag of HD if any of those mages are good with sacrificial magic.
    I could see emergency measures in that direction, from Tiamat-tought mages.
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    One Animal Growth spell could affect all three elephants, as could a Haste spell. Then Mage Armor on each of them, assuming they aren't already in heavy barding, Bull's Strength, Cat's Grace, Bear's Endurance, Resist Energy as needed, and you have three combat monsters at your disposal.

    Other good spells of you have Divine magic include Shield of Faith, Bless, Aid, Barkskin, etc.

    If you're gonna focus your spells on a few champions, elephants would be a good choice, if you have the means to control them.

     
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    Crake said:
    You can use Magic to control warbeasts in ways you can't control war elephants. For example, the tactic of using greased up pigs set on fire probably wouldn't work.
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    Exactly my point, yes. The main problem the Golden Company now has, is that they apparently can't get new elephants. I guess they are unwilling or unable to detach mages to teleport them over from their usual suppliers, presumably because they realize someone would notice and intervene.
     
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