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

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You know, cold iron particulate suspended in vapor would be a pretty nasty anti-fae chemical weapon. . .

Just saying. . .
 
[X] As Buttercup, trying to gain the favour of the lady and thus inadvertently steering the topic to her opinion of the Fey.
 
[X] Azel

I do wonder what Reach would look like if it remained fey friendly but without area becoming part of Feywild. More like a fairytale land if still rooted in reality?
 
So, ah, I understand they are largely a joke on a good day and a huge pain in the ass on a slightly worse one...
But shall we try to bring the Chosen of Seven on into this?

There is arguably at least some lack of desire on their part to see the Fairytale!Reach happen...

Also, @DragonParadox, we were supposed to keep track of any new drops of materials being left by the Chosen of Stranger for the Chosen of Smith.
Has there really been nothing?
We were pretty explicit in wanting to grab the former, if only that have a talk.
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
Can brute force even solve this problem?

IMO the best solution here isn't to attack the lands or the ritual, it's to go for a decapitation strike on the Fey court itself somehow.
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Given what Ashford told us, the contamination is anchored by the lord sitting on his throne. Removing the lord should thus break the deal.

It's less optimal then flipping the lords or doing more drastical things to the deal making Fey, but it's an option.
Crake said:
It's not optimal. They are progressive. I would rather not have to kill them. Those don't grow on trees.
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Noted. That might mean we have to nuke the local Feywild instead.
Duesal said:
@Azel, you think it's a good idea to bring Lord Randyl Tarly to our war council? It'd be very useful to have a knowledgeable Reach lord famed for his military ability offering his perspective, and I am pretty sure he's less than pleased about Fey influence in the Reach as well. In fact, us promising to counter it is how we got him to swear fealty in the first place.
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Problem is that I don't trust Tarly all that much and his military ability isn't related to this problem. We aren't planning a medieval war. We are planning intrigue and memetic warfare.


Also, given that Viserys will be sitting beneath the stuffed corpse of an Archdevil while discussing this, the whole meeting will have more then a few shades of the Legion of Doom meetings.
 
DragonParadox said:
I'm sorry to hear that, I hope the way I transitioned here was not too off-putting.
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Thread: *is merry and does spoony bard things*
Ashford: "Yeah, and we made this deal..."
Thread: *record scratch*
 
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Crake said:
I think DP just underestimates how we're not entirely rational actors when it comes to Fey plots on the best of days.

Now we're utterly justified in our histrionic reactions with very little capable of downplaying or mitigating how fucking calamitous the Fey having their way would be in even the slightest respect?

Literally nothing threatens our ability to conquer Westeros. Even the Deep Ones only threaten the people we care about, which doesn't effect things on a macro-strategic scale much, just holding an emotional component.

So far the Fey in the Court of Stars are the only credible threat to our invasion plans that has presented itself, with the likes of high CR Clerics, eldritch abominations and ancient dragon deities trying to convince the reader they are the true threat to our plans and failing utterly.

The Lannisters don't even factor on the scale.
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After our little war council - might it make sense to send one of our fey as kind of backdoor ambassador to the Star Council, for a fey-to-fey talk, to confer the notion that the SC are literally playing with tons of fire? Fey do have sometimes problems understanding mortals. Or taking them seriously.
 
MTB said:
After our little war council - might it make sense to send one of our fey as kind of backdoor ambassador to the Star Council, for a fey-to-fey talk, to confer the notion that the SC are literally playing with tons of fire? Fey do have sometimes problems understanding mortals. Or taking them seriously.
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Thing is, most of our troubleshooting Fey are of the "little better than pest" variety who got cheeky and decided to become ludicrously powerful for their type, except for Rhaella, who has an entirely different niche.

In fact, Rhaella might be our only "respectable" Fey Lady in our employ.
 
Crake said:
Thing is, most of our troubleshooting Fey are of the "little better than pest" variety who got cheeky and decided to become ludicrously powerful for their type, except for Rhaella, who has an entirely different niche.
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What about our shadow fey?
Jack vile Ripper said:
Hmm, and Rina could also become some Winter Fey in the future, right? So that brought us to 'two'.
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Eh, Winter fey are the origin of the Other's, that might not be the best pedigree ...
 
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MTB said:
What about our shadow fey?
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We are trying to keep them from getting entangled with the Star Court. They... don't seem to respect each other much. The Shadow Fey see them as a bit too close to becoming Godly rather than truly trying to become symbiotic with mortals, and the Star Court see them as upstarts.
 
Crake said:
We are trying to keep them from getting entangled with the Star Court. They... don't seem to respect each other much. The Shadow Fey see them as a bit too close to becoming Godly rather than truly trying to become symbiotic with mortals, and the Star Court see them as upstarts.
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I'd really liked not to go burned concepts on them, waste of time and resources, but it seems I lack some good ideas for diplomacy ...
 
I think we would be better off establishing some contacts with some of the local fey ourselves and trying to get introductions going from there.

Ser Dregaire might be a good start.
 
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Part MMMCDXXV: A Surfeit of Charm
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    • A Surfeit of Charm ​

    Twenty Fourth Day of the Twelfth Month 293 AC

    You had expected to struggle to charm Adara Ashford whilst playing the wandering bard with no name or kin. However you find yourself faced with the opposite problem. After a few cups of wine and a few songs the lady is very charmed indeed if coy looks and flirtatious compliments are to be believed. Thankfully Lord Ashford seems to take his mother's interest in Buttercup in good cheer, though that may have something to do with Dany still playing your young pupil doing a poor job hiding her amusement at the sight. Ser Richard, ever loyal, manages to keep an expression as solemn as he had meeting the Sealord for the first time or Syrax in the ruins of Lyceos, though you know the knight well enough to expect a jest or two in private in the days to come.

    At least you get your questions answered in good time, even the ones the lady would have otherwise perhaps avoid recounting at a feast: "They have no shame at all, you know," she tsks, taking a fortifying gulp of wine. "I suppose it makes sense seeing as they live in the woods with the beasts, but that doesn't mean decent folk should encourage them doing things their way. They are pretty enough I suppose, the ones that look like people at least, but that's no reason to..." had your hearing been less keen you probably wouldn't have caught the words 'rut like beasts'.

    You gather that it had fallen to some rather earthy fey to forge the pact with Lord Ashford, dryads perhaps or some kin of theirs. Whether that came down to the young lord's own proclivities or the nature of the Green Wardens you cannot say for certain. Still, given the plans for Margaery to wed the slumbering king you suspect there must be some level of ritual significance to the act of joining mortal man and fey spirit in so intimate an embrace. You also learn where in the woods near Ashford the ritual had been enacted. The Mother's Glade... Does it have something to do with the Earth Mother's worship in times long past, you wonder and make a note to ask young Denys Mallory if the One he serves has any insights into the matter.

    As to Lady Ashford herself, once you had persuaded her that Buttercup is only as much of a friend to the fey as any other he might meet upon the road in good cheer and your companions pledged no loyalty to the Court of Stars, she seems much more at ease with how attentive her son is to Rina. Truth be told you doubt anything will come of it, the young lord is drawn by mystery and magic, not any deeper yearning, and Rina you suspect is enjoying the moment, fleeting as it, is for its kinship with her own youthful dreams.

    "A pity your Ser Geralt has no interest in taking oaths to a lord," the lady interrupts your musings. "Whatever ballads might tell the world needs knights rooted to lands and subjects more than wanderers without a home. Are you certain..."

    "I have known Ser Geralt through good times and ill, for years now. I can say with confidence that it is not yet time for him to make roots," you lie smoothly.

    She sighs. "Then I suppose it is time to say goodbye to all of you. I confess I shall miss your songs also, good bard."

    You glance down the table. Dany had heard that one too, of course she had. Still, if you are ever going to recruit the lady to keep an eye on rumors of fey workings now would be the time. She would certainly be open to correspondence.

    Do you try to recruit Lady Ashford to keep an eye on the agents of the Court of Stars?

    [] Yes, more eyes would always be useful

    [] No, better not to risk so easily noticed a connection

    OOC: Hopefully this strikes a good balance between the lighthearted tone of the arc and underlying concerns. The social rolls were certainly entertaining to me.
     
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