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

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Angelazreal1 said:
Haven't we pretty much avoided them at every turn?
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Because we don't want war with yet another faction right now, particularly one half a world away.
We couldn't reasonably conquer and hold Quarth (At least not without an overproportional investment in Teleportation Circles), so we let it be.

Once Slaver's Bay is ours or gone we'll have to rethink the situation.
 
silvanknight said:
What is ghost grass?
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It's an eldritch grass that's highly poisonous and kills every other type of grass. The Dothraki long since believed that the end of the world is when everything is covered by ghost grass. Semi-recently in the quest, ghost grass started growing outside of the House of the Undying.

OOC, it's basically terraforming the world. It transforms entire landscapes into something alien.
Artemis1992 said:
In the short wiki entry it sounds like Elyria is very much connected to Slaver's Bay, so they are more likely allies and trading partners to the slavers than victims.
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Maybe, but they're obviously smart enough to see the writing on the wall, and the fact that the Ghiscari can't do jack shit about their shifting allegiance probably enboldened them whereas before they would have been slapped down for this treachery.
Angelazreal1 said:
Haven't we pretty much avoided them at every turn?
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Artemis1992 said:
Because we don't want war with yet another faction right now, particularly one half a world away.
We couldn't reasonably conquer and hold Quarth (At least not without an overproportional investment in Teleportation Circles), so we let it be.

Once Slaver's Bay is ours or gone we'll have to rethink the situation.
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Artemis is right, we have avoided Qarth because that's another plate in the air we don't need to be distracted by right now.

Basically the same reason we're ignoring the fact that there is an Underdark and that Lolth is a thing.
 
Duesal said:
Basically the same reason we're ignoring the fact that there is an Underdark and that Lolth is a thing.
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"Silly person, there's no such thing as an underground dwelling spirits with black skin, purple robes, and penchant for betrayals and poisons. Talk to the nearest Inquisitor so that your worries could be alleviated."

Actually, our stance with the Drow and their Whore-Goddess is similar to the Empire of Man and the Skavens.
 
Jack vile Ripper said:
"Silly person, there's no such thing as an underground dwelling spirits with black skin, purple robes, and penchant for betrayals and poisons. Talk to the nearest Inquisitor so that your worries could be alleviated."

Actually, our stance with the Drow and their Whore-Goddess is similar to the Empire of Man and the Skavens.
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We wouldn't go so far as pretending they don't exist if they're actively raiding the Imperium. For now we're just ignoring them in favor of our other problems.
 
While I detest having to invest time and effort into this guy, it seems that there is not really another choice.

[X] Plan Odds And Ends
-[X] Elyria: Send a missive where you thank them for their gifts and promise them to personally visit their city once the Empire Day festivities are over.
-[X] Tully, Hoster: Keep a close eye on developments there and make sure that Pycelle and Bloodraven tell you promptly what they learn, just in case you need to make some accidents happen on short notice.
-[X] Monford Velaryon: Promise him to have someone look into the matter. With extreme prejudice.
-[X] Tully, Brynden / Dalla: Ask Dalla for a more detailed report on Bryndens tactics and her planned response. You will supply something that can thin out his forces while looking like a random monster attack.
-[X] Shadowbinder: Have the House of Mirrors divine who he is, where he came from, what his skills are, what he planed in Lorath and why he fled so quickly.
-[X] Proceed with laying the first stone of the Imperial Palace, a richly decorated Adamantine block with Truespeech inscription that commemorates the occasion.
 
Vote closed.

Sorry about not rolling the shadowbinder dice earlier, it slipped my mind when you guys were actually in Lorath and I remembered it when I got to the rumors.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 24, 2020 at 4:04 AM, finished with 73 posts and 12 votes.
  • [X] Plan Odds And Ends
    -[X] Elyria: Send a missive where you thank them for their gifts and promise them to personally visit their city once the Empire Day festivities are over.
    -[X] Tully, Hoster: Keep a close eye on developments there and make sure that Pycelle and Bloodraven tell you promptly what they learn, just in case you need to make some accidents happen on short notice.
    -[X] Monford Velaryon: Promise him to have someone look into the matter. With extreme prejudice.
    -[X] Tully, Brynden / Dalla: Ask Dalla for a more detailed report on Bryndens tactics and her planned response. You will supply something that can thin out his forces while looking like a random monster attack.
    -[X] Shadowbinder: Have the House of Mirrors divine who he is, where he came from, what his skills are, what he planed in Lorath and why he fled so quickly.
    -[X] Proceed with laying the first stone of the Imperial Palace, a richly decorated Adamantine block with Truespeech inscription that commemorates the occasion.
    [X] Plan Odds And Ends
    -[X] Elyria: Send a missive where you thank them for their gifts and promise them to personally visit their city once the Empire Day festivities are over.
    -[X] Tully, Hoster: Keep a close eye on developments there and make sure that Pycelle and Bloodraven tell you promptly what they learn, just in case you need to make some accidents happen on short notice.
    -[X] Monford Velaryon: Promise him to have someone look into the matter. With extreme prejudice.
    -[X] Tully, Brynden / Dalla: Ask Dalla for a more detailed report on Bryndens tactics and her planned response. You will supply something that can thin out his forces while looking like a random monster attack.
    -[X] Proceed with laying the first stone of the Imperial Palace, a richly decorated Adamantine block with Truespeech inscription that commemorates the occasion.
Click to expand...
 
You know, I expect the Lorathi Shadowcaster to be exactly what he seems : a reasonably powerful spellcaster who wanted a steady job, but doesn't want to be subsumed as "teaching minion Z" and made to teach his arts to plebs.
Possibly all that + "he's bound by an oath to the Bloodstone Emperor", but I predict that he's not.

I wonder if "teaching Shadowcasting to the unworthy" is something that will make you enemies in Asshai?
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 24, 2020 at 4:04 AM, finished with 73 posts and 12 votes.
  • [X] Plan Odds And Ends
    -[X] Elyria: Send a missive where you thank them for their gifts and promise them to personally visit their city once the Empire Day festivities are over.
    -[X] Tully, Hoster: Keep a close eye on developments there and make sure that Pycelle and Bloodraven tell you promptly what they learn, just in case you need to make some accidents happen on short notice.
    -[X] Monford Velaryon: Promise him to have someone look into the matter. With extreme prejudice.
    -[X] Tully, Brynden / Dalla: Ask Dalla for a more detailed report on Bryndens tactics and her planned response. You will supply something that can thin out his forces while looking like a random monster attack.
    -[X] Shadowbinder: Have the House of Mirrors divine who he is, where he came from, what his skills are, what he planed in Lorath and why he fled so quickly.
    -[X] Proceed with laying the first stone of the Imperial Palace, a richly decorated Adamantine block with Truespeech inscription that commemorates the occasion.
    [X] Plan Odds And Ends
    -[X] Elyria: Send a missive where you thank them for their gifts and promise them to personally visit their city once the Empire Day festivities are over.
    -[X] Tully, Hoster: Keep a close eye on developments there and make sure that Pycelle and Bloodraven tell you promptly what they learn, just in case you need to make some accidents happen on short notice.
    -[X] Monford Velaryon: Promise him to have someone look into the matter. With extreme prejudice.
    -[X] Tully, Brynden / Dalla: Ask Dalla for a more detailed report on Bryndens tactics and her planned response. You will supply something that can thin out his forces while looking like a random monster attack.
    -[X] Proceed with laying the first stone of the Imperial Palace, a richly decorated Adamantine block with Truespeech inscription that commemorates the occasion.
Click to expand...
 
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Part MMMCDLXIX: Laying Foundations
  • Threadmarks
    • Laying Foundations ​

    First Day of the First Month 294 AC

    "...send someone to Elyria to speak to the Council of Elders," you tell the slightly harried looking diplomat who looks about twenty years too young for his post. If you were to guess you'd say he got into the diplomatic service on his family's patronage and he was quietly shuffled off to working in Sorcerer's Deep where he could be seasoned for work further afield in a prestigious position.

    Matters further west require a subtler hand. You had personally sent a letter to Driftmark assuring Lord Velaryon that you would look into the rumors about his son and deal with them thoroughly. You trust Brynden to keep an eye on Hoster's doings at court and warn you if there is cause to intervene of course, but as to the younger Tully brother...

    "There are many monsters in the untamed corners of the Mountains of the Moon, are there not Dalla?" The message is carried by sand and sorcery as far as the hidden fastness of the Sons of the Mists.

    "Aye, that there are. Thinkin' of sending somethin' to take a bite out of them knights?" comes the reply, sharp as stolen steel.

    "Right, I will just need you to give Captain Jorah here an account of his forces, tactics and positioning."

    The captain, newly transferred from the Legion to the Inquisition after it was discovered he had a gift for languages and almost perfect recall, still looked a touch uncomfortable about conspiring with the 'wildlings' that had been the stuff of frightful bedside tales in his childhood, but he quickly greets Dalla in the Old Tongue and soon enough they start formulating possible responses.

    ***​

    The hollow hill that would soon house the heart of the palace, from prestigious offices, to the treasury and the even more precious library filled with lore only the most trusted might see, but that is not where the foundation stone must go. Adamantine carved with runes of true-speech sinks into the stone at your command, the writing upon it marks the day and the hour by the conjunction of the heavens that all might know it, upon it etched your hopes for the for the budding empire as well as a few solemn verses courtesy of the Academy of Arts.

    The block is also very deliberately not connected to any of the planned wards and protections, magical only in the tongue of its inscriptions at Teana's suggestion. "I have lost count of how many otherwise daunting old protections I was able to take apart in Volantis because the ward-smith conveniently built one enormous centrally located keystone into them," she had explained when you first brought the plans for the palace's magical protections to her attention.

    Of course the other half of the reason Teana was so adept at taking apart old wardings is because most of the mages of Old Valyria had little knowledge of shadow magic, not something you would have to worry about considering you have Melisandre to call upon. Speaking of Shadowbinders though... You catch the priestess' eye. "Any news of our missing visitor from Lorath?" you ask silently through Varys.

    "He is what he appeared to be, interested in sharing his lore, but on his own terms. There are many in Asshai who think as he does, thinking their arts too perilous to master for the greater portion of humankind." There is an edge of old frustration almost worn smooth by the years in her mind-voice that leads you to suspect her own studies had not been free of overly-exacting instructors.

    You thank her for looking into the matter than dismiss it from your thoughts. You have many more pressing concerns than one mage too mired in the secrecy of the past to be a part of the future dawning.

    What next?

    [] Another perspective on Empire Day
    -[] Joran of Dragonstone
    -[] Yssla Royce
    -[] 'Fair' Walda Frey
    -[] Renly Storm (the Changeling)
    -[] Thoros of Myr
    -[] Write in

    [] More reports on the doings of the last month (Rumor post)

    [] Continue with Viserys
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: I was not sure if you guys wanted to give a speech at the foundation laying too so I stopped where I could still insert one. Also, if you just want to wander around and take in the sights of Empire Day like you did in the tourney that's fine.
     
    Last edited:
  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Laying Foundations ​

    First Day of the First Month 294 AC

    "...send someone to Elyria to speak to the Council of Elders," you tell the slightly harried looking diplomat who looks about twenty years too young for his post. If you were to guess, you'd say he got into the diplomatic service on his family's patronage and he was quietly shuffled off to working in Sorcerer's Deep where he could be seasoned for work farther afield in a prestigious position.

    Matters further west require a subtler hand. You had personally sent a letter to Driftmark assuring Lord Velaryon that you would look into the rumors about his son and deal with them thoroughly. You trust Brynden to keep an eye on Hoster's doings at court and warn you if there is cause to intervene, of course, but as to the younger Tully brother...

    "There are many monsters in the untamed corners of the Mountains of the Moon are there not, Dalla?" The message is carried by sand and sorcery as far as the hidden fastness of the Sons of the Mists.

    "Aye, that there are. Thinkin' of sending somethin' to take a bite out of them knights?" comes the reply, sharp as stolen steel.

    "Right, I will just need you to give Captain Jorah here an account of his forces, tactics, and positioning."

    The captain, newly transferred from the legion to the inquisition after it was discovered he had a gift for languages and an almost perfect recall, still looked a touch uncomfortable about conspiring with the 'wildlings' that had been the stuff of frightful bedside tales in his childhood, but he quickly greets Dalla in the Old Tongue and soon enough they start formulating possible responses.

    ***​

    The hollow hill that would soon house the heart of the palace, from prestigious offices, to the treasury and the even more precious library filled with lore only the most trusted might see, but that is not where the foundation stone must go. Adamantine carved with runes of truespeech sinks into the stone at your command. The writing upon it marks the day and the hour by the conjunction of the heavens that all might know it, upon it etched your hopes for the budding empire as well as a few solemn verses courtesy of the academy of arts.

    The block is also very deliberately not connected to any of the planned wards and protections, magical only in the tongue of its inscriptions at Teana's suggestion. "I have lost count of how many otherwise daunting old protections I was able to take apart in Volantis because the ward-smith conveniently built one enormous centrally located keystone into them," she had explained when you first brought the plans for the palace's magical protections to her attention.

    Of course the other half of the reason Teana was so adept at taking apart old wardings is because most of the mages of Old Valyria had little knowledge of shadow magic, not something you would have to worry about considering you have Melisandre to call upon. Speaking of Shadowbinders, though... You catch the priestess' eye. "Any news of our missing visitor from Lorath?" you ask silently, though Varys.

    "He is what he appeared to be, interested in sharing his lore, but on his own terms. There are many in Asshai who think as he did, thinking their arts too perilous to master for the greater portion of humankind." There is an edge of old frustration almost worn smooth by the years in her mind-voice that leads you to suspect her own studies had not been free of overly-exacting instructors.

    You thank her for looking into the matter, then dismiss it from your thoughts. You have many more pressing concerns than one mage too mired in the secrecy of the past to be a part of the future dawning.

    What next?

    [] Another perspective on Empire Day
    -[] Joran of Dragonstone
    -[] Yssla Royce
    -[] 'Fair' Walda Frey
    -[] Renly Storm (the Changeling)
    -[] Thoros of Myr
    -[] Write in

    [] More reports on the doings of the last month (Rumor post)

    [] Continue with Viserys
    -[] Write in

    [] Write in

    OOC: I was not sure if you guys wanted to give a speech at the foundation laying too so I stopped where I could still insert one. Also if you just want to wander around and take in the sights of Empire Day like you did in the tourney that's fine. the only thing that is fixed is the coronation. Not yet edited.
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    Click to shrink...
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    I would like to get more rumors, but afterwards one or two chapters from other POVs experiencing Empire Day would be great.
     
    [X] Tell Teana to have a look if she can make it so that the foundation stone seems to be the main anchor of the wards, but actually will just obliterate people with a wild magic surge if they try to meddle with it.
    [X] Another perspective on Empire Day
    -[X] 'Fair' Walda Frey
     
    On another note, I'm strictly against having any coronations without having a proper throne room. To say nothing about no Serpentstone machines to record the occasion for posterities sake.
     
    Azel said:
    On another note, I'm strictly against having any coronations without having a proper throne room. To say nothing about no Serpentstone machines to record the occasion for posterities sake.
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    Click to shrink...
    I also really really really want those Serpentstone Recorders for our coronation. It'd be a huge disappointment if we failed to record that of all events.

    [X] Azel
     
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