- Location
- United States
It's unfair to the highest degree to pit a Companion against Doran's lords and knights.
We're not here to cause a scene.
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
We're not here to cause a scene.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Sorry, I just don't have the time to present a detailed argument for why Asmodeus is a greater threat to us now more than ever before and I don't like alarmist statements.
The above is sarcasm, yes, basically I just think that dealing with Asmodeus and Slaver's Bay would be more interesting than a month of wheedling loot out of the Far North as everyone comes after our jock and we are undergunned for that fight because we handicapped ourselves by not bringing our whole crew to whip ass.
So if you want a genuine argument out of me, it's that absolutely do not split the party. It disjoints the narrative, and we won't get jackshit done on either end if we don't go all in on it anyway, as has been demonstrated repeatedly in Slaver's Bay. So if you're deadset on putting devil cults on the backburner for the third month in a row--never a brilliant idea in my honest opinion but what can you do about the zeitgeist, amirite--then go hard on the Valley of Thenn. Maximus Extremis loot protocols engaged, hell bring a fucking small army if you have to, we have three air ships now, we legitimately can.
For what it is worth I think Crake is correct in thinking Asmodeus is more important to shut down than dealing with the far north. The void and the old gods are still playing their game of cat and mouse, and that probably will not change until winter comes in several years, so while it may be our number one problem in the long run it is an issue we can delay in favor of more immediate concerns such as Asmodeus or the Deep Ones.
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
Pretty much what I argued in the first post there.
I lack understanding of what we are to do with the Devils and how to bring amassed forces to SB sneakily enough.
So I argued for massive North-management at once.
Since one thing will go on a backburner regardless, because both are time-sensitive.
:/
Thank you for actually writing shit out.
I'm personally am also pretty sure we'll fail to deal with Asmy's plots regardless - what with us having no idea for his goals/motivation/means in-setting.
So, yeah, I can't say I'm all that pumped to deal with him, all pessimist-like.
Sorry if my idea comes as disjointed, am both half-asleep and back at uni again, forced to study after, like, 3 months of near-free time
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- Location
- ?????????
Asmodeus seems to be trying to create a goddess in Hell or some shite. In all honesty, if we do move on Asmodeus and Slavers Bay, chances are that it will probably lead to us taking the region. Also kinda agree with @egoo here. We have little to no idea what Asmodeus wants with Slaver's Bay. I say we spy for one more month, then deal with it the month after.
- Location
- Germany
Looks good, but I don't think an altitude trigger is in any way feasible. How exactly would it detect distance? This sounds as if you need to make every single one a one-use divination item.
Vote closed, let's see about those Dornishmen.
- Location
- Germany
Okay, but to give another perspective, I have the impression that things in these barrows are waking up by now.
Even the one that only held a tainted earth-spirit, no higher undead, turned about 30 wildlings into meat-puppets that exploded when provoked.
I absolutly understand that working against Asmodeus is more important on the larger scale, but if we want to keep our promise to the Thenns and evacuate more than a handfull survivors we have to act there too.
Right now Slaver's Bay is still in a stage where pure sneaky-work can have some successes, we can gather more intel and do minor sabotage like propping up the Harpy-idiots a bit, before striking (while praying it's not too late), so sending another intrigue-team there could possibly work for the month.
- Location
- Germany
I think as usual for Old Red there are propably multiple goals behind every action, but we can deduct two of them with relative ease and a third is common to all he does:
1. Get a relevant amount of forces on the Material Plane.
He has already shown us that goal in Gorgossos and there is no reason to think he abandoned it. By bringing Slaver's Bay under his power he gets lots of mortals who could summon devils, function as sacrifices for greater solutions that individual summonings and he can turn the Unsullied into troops that would be at least good enough to serve as auxiliaries for Hell with the right training and magic.
Maybe he has a more specific plan in that area, but just getting enough regular control over the region will eventually achieve the goal.
2. Get the Lady of Spears.
We don't know what exactly she is. Maybe he is courting/corrupting an existing goddess to join Hell.
Maybe she is dead due to millenia of neglect after Valyria murdered her followers in Old Ghis and he tries to get her reborn as a Duke of Hell. (Maybe an Archduke if he wants to demote Mammon?)
Maybe it's something else, but he is definitly interested in her and her followers and him getting a divine-level ally is the biggest catch in the game, so we should assume he's going for that.
Just using her religion to excert greater control over his minions in Slaver's Bay is of course a secondary goal in this.
3. This point is a factor in all his plans, get souls for Hell.
Just by corrupting the region, regardless of any victories he gains through that on the Material Plane, he increases the flow of dammed souls.
That is always good, always beneficial.
Even if we purge all his minions and glass everything his corruption touched it will send a big influx of soul-ressources to Hell.
- Location
- Germany
- Pronouns
- He/Him
So, if we feed the fleshforge with the parts of a constantly regenerating Hydra - would that work?
- Location
- Germany
We would still have to feed the Hydra, so you just put one more step in between biomass and forge.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
A while back we came across some enemy enchanting which we were able to reverse engineer. They were basically magic detonators which cost 15 IM each to reproduce in full, and could either be set off after a certain amount of time had passed or by willing them to detonate. The timer component alone cost 5 IM and the at-will component cost 10 IM. I figured it wouldn't be significantly different, magic-wise, to produce something which can detect a certain altitude after being released rather than being controlled via thought.
Was planning to ask @DragonParadox for confirmation today, though. What do you think, DP? Is the timer/altitude sensing detonation method for the Sultan's Laments reasonable at the price given below (20 IM for both, plus the device casing) with the above taken into account? If not, what should it be increased to?
Sultan's Tribute - Launcher Munition / Bomblet (5 pounds / 2.25 kg): A sphere of glazed deep red clay interspersed with burnt-brown particles of Brown Mold, surrounding an enchanted metal core and embossed with a thumb-sized portrait of a Dragon. When pressed, the Dragon grins and the core is activated.
- Effect: When activated the core produces a Heat Metal effect causing the Brown Mold to grow until the duration has run it's course with a one round grace period for the user, doubling round by round thereafter from 5ft (1.5 m) to an 80ft (24.25 m) spread.
- When used by a Wyvern Anti-Gravity Fighter, whether fired from its Launchers or dropped from the bomb bay, the vessel's enchanted fire control system is able to activate the Sultan's Tribute remotely as they are deployed.
- Brown Mold: Brown mold feeds on warmth, drawing heat from anything around it. It normally comes in patches 5 feet (1.5 m) in diameter, and the temperature is always cold in a 30-foot (9 m) radius around it. Living creatures within 5 (1.5 m) feet of it take 3d6 points of Nonlethal Cold damage. Fire brought within 5 feet (1.5 m) of Brown Mold causes the mold to instantly double in size. Cold damage, such as from a Cone of Cold, instantly destroys it.
- Cost: 30 IM each
Sultan's Lament - Cluster Munition: This vaguely egg-like oblong of smooth magically-shaped Dragonglass would be completely featureless if not for small iron dial set flush into the flat top section of the device. Manipulating this dial requires a special tool and is necessary to activate a Sultan's Lament, but is otherwise quite effortless for those trained in its use and allows one to determine the method by which the device will detonate and how its payload is released.
- Variable Detonation Method: A Sultan's Lament can be set to detonate upon a sudden sharp impact which breaks the integrity of its outer casing, at a predetermined altitude after being released from a bomb bay or launched from a compatible device (which affects dispersal as described below), or on a preset timer (with available time increments of 1 minute, 5 minutes, 30 minutes, one hour, and six hours).
- Variable Dispersal Pattern: Upon detonation, a Sultan's Lament explosively disperses six Sultan's Tribute bomblets equidistantly from a seventh Sultan's Tribute at the blast's origin point. During the arming process, a technician can select which dispersal pattern will be used based on expected mission parameters.
- Minimal Dispersal: Available only when the Sultan's Lament is set to detonate upon impact, after the passage of a predetermined length of time, or at an altitude of approximately 50 feet, this pattern distributes each bomblet so that their affected areas abut one another in order to effect a 200 foot spread.
- Medium Dispersal: Available when the Sultan's Lament is set to detonate at an altitude of approximately 100 feet, this pattern distributes each bomblet so that each Brown Mold bloom is able to spread to the full 80 feet, with approximately 50 feet between each individual bloom event.
- Maximum Dispersal: Available when the Sultan's Lament is set to detonate at an altitude of approximately 300 feet, this pattern distributes each bomblet so that each Brown Mold bloom is able to spread to the full 80 feet, with approximately 200 feet between each individual bloom event.
- Material Requirements: One 2-pound (0.9 kg) Explosive Pack, Seven 5-pound (2.25 kg) Sultan's Tribute spheres, One 5-pound (2.25 kg) fused Dragonglass casing with integral enchanted detonation mechanism, and 3 pounds (1.35 kg) of sand ballast
- Cost: 210 IM (Seven Sultan's Tribute bomblets) + 20 IM (Dragonglass casing plus detonation mechanism) = 230 IM per Sultan's Lament
- Location
- Germany
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Oops, sorry, dude, but I made a slight mistake in my previous post. The old memory isn't what it used to be (but seems to improve while I'm in the shower for some reason...).
Rather than being command activated, it's a proximity sensor. Here's the two posts which worked out the cost and function;
I still think that should work for my Sultan's Lament devices, but it does limit the detonator's usefulness in other applications.
- Location
- Germany
While command activation would be nice, proximity fuses are even better!Oops, sorry, dude, but I made a slight mistake in my previous post. The old memory isn't what it used to be (but seems to improve while I'm in the shower for some reason...).
Rather than being command activated, it's a proximity sensor. Here's the two posts which worked out the cost and function;
I still think that should work for my Sultan's Lament devices, but it does limit the detonator's usefulness in other applications.
Do they detect living things or what do they scan for?
Inserted tally
Part MMMCCCXCI: Amid Shifting Sands
Amid Shifting Sands
Twenty First Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC
Whispers carry far among a crowd and farther skill when there is magic to echo them. You learn that the Yronwoods have allied themselves fully with the Martells with talk of a betrothal between young Gwyneth Yronwood, granddaughter of the Lord, and Quentyn Martell in the works, though the latter came as a bit of a surprise even to Tyene. "I didn't know Uncle Doran was considering the match or I wouldn't have suggested Quentyn for Pol Ning," she says sheepishly, though after a moment she grumbles. "I wish he would write about these things more often, I sometimes think he has to see me fight a bloody higher demon with his own eyes before he wholly stops treating me as an impulsive child."
You forebear from reminding her that she had first made herself remarked to Prince Doran when she stole away in the night to follow her father into 'exile' in the Stepstones. A child Tyene may not be, but 'impulsive'... that is likely a sin all of you here share save perhaps Ser Richard who throws himself into mortal peril in a very deliberate manner.
One might guess from the cheerful boasts and good-natured revelry of their armsmen and the sheer number of their knights present that House Qorgyle and House Vaith have also sent their sons to Sunspear in the hopes of obtaining surer ties to House Martell, though there had been a a brawl last week involving a pair of Vaith squires, close cousins of Lord Daeron, and a sworn knight of House Blackmont serious enough that there was need of the magics of the Order of the Cauldron to heal them. Ordinarily you would not trouble yourself over that alone. Mingling wine, dreams of glory and the grievances that lies between Houses for generations is almost guaranteed to boil over, but this had been no dispute over old deeds.
Dragon's piss-lick, the Blackmont knight had called out among other colorful invective. It seems there is a growing sense among some of High Lords of Dorne that the Martells might be too close to you.
That had not been a concern when the king who might take their traditional freedoms was Robert Baratheon and you were nothing more than a boy prince with a pirate kingdom, but as your conquests in the east have grown more notable by the day the worry over new laws, new customs and a stronger king presiding over all have caused House Blackmont, House Gargalen of Salt Shore and, perhaps unsurprisingly given their history with dragons and those who rode upon them, House Uller to draw away from Prince Doran's efforts to bind Dorne tighter together in the face of a changing world.
***
As Tyene finishes her summarizing the last of her uncle's letters on the matter aloud for the relief of being able to speak freely in the warded apartments you had been provided upon presenting yourselves before the Sandship, Waymar's lips twist into an unaccustomed grimace. "And Andrew Dayne's taking advantage of their worries to press his own position about magic, isn't he?"
Recalling your meeting with the head of House Dayne more than a year and a half ago you wonder if your words had not sank in as much as you might have hoped. He had not been disruptive to the efforts of Doran's own mages to recruit in his lands you know, but it is easier to extract grudging acceptance in deed of a lord than still his tongue. "What is Lord Dayne saying since he arrived for the tourney?"
Somewhat to your surprise it is Dany who answers. She had melted into the crowds at the harbor, seeking to learn more of the hedge mages and cunning men who now plied their wares in Dorne, too petty in their powers to concern the Three Orders. "Since the Conclave Lord Dayne has been saying that the Faith should guide sorcerers onto a righteous path. Some of them seem to agree, though not the ones who have been east and learned low magic from Scholarum trained sorcerers." She pauses a moment. "I heard something else of lords and gods. Tyene, just how comfortable do you think the Fowler twins would be with the idea of blood sacrifice?"
It is not often that your friend is surprised into silence. "What kind?" she asks at last.
"To the Old Gods," your sister replies and that is when you remember something Oberyn had said years ago when he presented you with the sapling that would become the first Heart Tree in Sorcerer's Deep. It had come from Skyreach, seat of House Fowler.
Carefully you reach out along the familiar mind link to the puppet Varys and beyond that to the mind of Bloodraven upon his pale throne. You are not certain if you should be impressed or annoyed at the answer.
"Lord Fowler did not learn how to consecrate his Heart Tree from the Old Gods, he learned it from us," you explain. "He sent a mage with a perfect memory to Myr to observe a public consecration then performed it himself with a sacrifice of outlaws from the Red Mountains. For what it might be worth Jeyne Fowler is not under any blessing of the Old Gods, she is just skilled with a bow."
"I doubt Dayne and his like would care much for the competition besides a High Lord of Dorne offering blood to heathen gods," Tyene says what all of you were thinking. "We should warn Uncle Doran."
The door creaks open. "Such an ominous greeting you give me, Tyene," Doran Martell himself says while entering. He takes the news of Lord Fowler's doings with less surprise than you might have expected. "I suspected something of the sort when Lord Franklyn laid out his full support on the table with hardly any conditions of his own."
Thus the prince of Dorne recounts his own moves in the game of influence and power. He had drawn the Daynes of High Hermitage to his side to balance out the influence of their kin from Starfall. "After finding the Sand Way to Ghost Hill they saw too much profit in magic to abandon it, or give the Faith authority over its use..." The Lord of Dorne sighs. "Lady Toland, who holds the lands on the other way, is still somewhat discontent at the Martell armsmen guarding her end of the passage, but not so much that she would make common cause with the Ullers or Blackmounts, she dislikes the former for dynastic reasons and the latter for personal ones."
"I see," you nod. "Who do you think would be most amenable to meeting with me, or with 'Corlys Waters envoy from Sorcerer's Deep' if a lighter touch is needed?"
"With Dayne himself you should act boldly or not at all, the man has such an aversion to subterfuge I sometimes wonder if his mother bedded an Arryn." The words startle a laugh from Waymar and a giggle from Dany, while Tyene having perhaps heard the jest before merely smiles. "Harmen Uller would be most amenable to changing his tune. I know Ellaria has been trying to persuade him into a less grudging collaboration, but..."
"He does not think much of his daughter's good sense for falling in love with father," Tyene finishes dryly.
Which Dornish House do you approach and how?
[] House Dayne to settle the matter at its heart
[] One of the Dornish Particularists to make them more at ease with the idea of your rule
-[] House Blackmont
-[] House Uller
-[] House Gargalen
[] House Fowler to speak of their new-found devotion to the Old Gods
[] House Toland to explain the reasoning for the limitation of instant trade
[] Write in
OOC: This turned out longer and more complex than I anticipated, if anything is unclear do not hesitate to ask questions.
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- Location
- The Netherlands
"Lord Fowler did not learn how to consecrate his Heart Tree from the Old Gods, he learned it from us," you explain. "He sent a mage with a perfect memory to Myr to observe a public consecration then performed it himself with a sacrifice of outlaws from the Bone Mountains. For what it might be worth Jeyne Fowler is not under any blessing of the Old Gods, she is just skilled with a bow."
gotta say that is really damn clever, should probebly talk to him about our protecol for blood sacrifice
gotta say that is really damn clever, should probebly talk to him about our protecol for blood sacrifice
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
The proximity fuse is based off these, so it's normally creature-based.
- Location
- Germany
Hm... speaking of trade...
@DragonParadox any progress on a practical steam engine? The Bulabar had a toy sized prototype months ago.
@DragonParadox any progress on a practical steam engine? The Bulabar had a toy sized prototype months ago.
I'm going to have to read up on steam engines before answering that. You are right they should have made some progress, I just have to figure out how much is reasonable.
- Location
- Germany
The most direct progression from the Aeolipile would be a reaction design steam turbine. It's basically an improved Aeolipile in a casing.
Steam turbine - Wikipedia
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
[X] You set out the following itinerary:
-[X] Tyene and Waymar will meet with Lord Fowler. Mostly because Waymar was the one who originally set out the party line for "who's deeds are worthy of blood sacrifice" originally and you have abided by them, and even walked back a bit in regards to some of your decision making process when passing such a sentence. If not even all cultists are beyond redemption, being able to truthfully say that at the very least Lord Fowler isn't looking for excuses to feed men to the Heart Tree is essential for getting things working harmoniously in Dorne between the Faith and other devotees to Gods.
-[X] Speak to Lady Toland as yourself and explain not only the rationale behind limiting trade through the passages, but how they aren't going to be the pivot behind economics because you have other plans to enrich Dorne. It's not just Doran who will be the big winners of the reconquest, but instead it will be those who remained loyal to the end despite all cause to act otherwise, both as a reward and, albeit unspoken, penance to ensure that the sacrifices Dorne has had to make, as well as the rather bloody history between our House and all of theirs, will not be forgotten or set aside, but mended by all means at your disposal.
-[X] Have Dany continuing her dragnet for information, dream walking if necessary to dig for more information on the Particularists and Andrew Dayne. You aren't comfortable approaching either without a personal feel for their characters and concerns. There are times where you approached matters of Faith but also traditionalists with a mindset that wasn't particularly helpful until you adjusted course at the last second.
-[X] Tyene and Waymar will meet with Lord Fowler. Mostly because Waymar was the one who originally set out the party line for "who's deeds are worthy of blood sacrifice" originally and you have abided by them, and even walked back a bit in regards to some of your decision making process when passing such a sentence. If not even all cultists are beyond redemption, being able to truthfully say that at the very least Lord Fowler isn't looking for excuses to feed men to the Heart Tree is essential for getting things working harmoniously in Dorne between the Faith and other devotees to Gods.
-[X] Speak to Lady Toland as yourself and explain not only the rationale behind limiting trade through the passages, but how they aren't going to be the pivot behind economics because you have other plans to enrich Dorne. It's not just Doran who will be the big winners of the reconquest, but instead it will be those who remained loyal to the end despite all cause to act otherwise, both as a reward and, albeit unspoken, penance to ensure that the sacrifices Dorne has had to make, as well as the rather bloody history between our House and all of theirs, will not be forgotten or set aside, but mended by all means at your disposal.
-[X] Have Dany continuing her dragnet for information, dream walking if necessary to dig for more information on the Particularists and Andrew Dayne. You aren't comfortable approaching either without a personal feel for their characters and concerns. There are times where you approached matters of Faith but also traditionalists with a mindset that wasn't particularly helpful until you adjusted course at the last second.
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