I would be personally opposed to that. Personal vendettas complicate matters, we will quietly and efficiently do it. None of that villian crap, because then we start losing.
A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
- Thread starter DragonParadox
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- 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
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Part MMMDVI: Raising Foundations
Raising Foundations
Sixteenth Day of the First Month 294 AC
You feign a thoughtful pause, the kind an agent of the Sealord might offer when asked delicate information about his city. "The House of Black and White... splintered. The larger parts willingly bent the knee where the rest had already decamped for parts unknown, likely beyond the borders of the empire. Their currents whereabouts are currently under investigation by the Inquisition for obvious reasons."
Sari snorts into her tankard. "So it's open season on the runners, no lord to tell me where I can't hunt?" she asks with a too-bright smile that would have been disconcerting once. These days you mark her down as 'enthusiastic' and keep most of your attention fixed on the archmaester.
"I assume the Dragon King asked for some surety of their fealty?" he asks. "Their lore for his Scholarum perhaps?"
"That at the very least, it's the law," you hesitate a moment, as though with unease at pondering the Faceless for too long as most Braavosi do even these days. "Likely he obtained some knowledge of their inner workings as well. If what I have heard of you and what I see... or rather do not see of your magic, I suspect that knowledge would be on the table if you were to stand before the King himself."
"And what would your sorcerer-lord ask for in exchange?" the Asabhadian mage asks. From the way he emphasizes the words you suspect he is translating some specific title into common, but which does not come to mind now.
"The knowledge of the Citadel, especially the books some are seeking to bury in its vaults," you answer and the spark of fire in the archmaester's eyes becomes inferno at the obvious implication. If you are to obtain those books than he too shall have access to them. Two secrets unveiled in place of one and his rivals dealt with.
"You promise much," Marwyn says at last, the caution of a man who has traveled the world in search of hidden and perilous lore.
"I do not promise this, merely share what I believe to be the case, judging from the Dragon's history." You carefully lay down your mug of beer, already gone flat and untouched. You have been to enough alehouses of dubious repute to know not even magic could save this particular swill. "One thing I can promise is a meeting with the King, discrete of course and on neutral ground."
"And what's in it for you then?" the archmaester asks bluntly.
"An opening offer would be required," you reply at once. "I can hardly take this to the King without some solid foundation."
"For a beginning I ask for little, information on the greater perils of our time beyond what was written in pamphlets or handed to petty lordlings for their equally petty oaths, a sealed document assuring me right of easy passage through the Dragon's lands without having to worry about sharp-eyed instigators who would count skills such as mine and those of my companions suspicious from the start. In exchange I am willing to give you all I know about the Golden Shields, which is more than most. The Lady of Castemere used to make extensive use of my services."
Where you expected to see resentment, as when speaking of his fellow archmaesters, there is instead a moment of sorrow, passing like a shadow over his features almost too swiftly to follow. "As a token of goodwill I can share this much, someone or something has compromised Pycelle, he is no longer wholly or perhaps at all Tywin Lannister's creature, though he tries to hide the change. If your king should choose to remove him entirely I would not weep for him."
Well that certainly proves Marwyn's knowledge of things others would rather remained hidden, even if it is your plot he had stumbled over. You nod slowly. "I shall bear that in mind. Do you wish the meeting to be here?"
The archmaester looks around at his companions than shakes his head. "A bit too public to be meeting dragons. There is a sept on Potters' Way that was left abandoned a few months ago. The cellar is easy to enter by magic and just as easily warded against prying eyes."
That place you know all too well, you had helped deal with a cult of Tiamat in that sept. You wonder how much of that tale Marwyn knows, enough perhaps to be attempting flattery through his choice of neutral meeting ground? Regardless, you do not need anything of the sort to be interested in the archmaester of magic.
What do you do next?
[] Write in
OOC: Just to be clear Marwyn is not asking for a note to let him commit crimes with magic, just something to show an investigator who gets too curious about him using high level magic. While it's certainly not illegal to be a visiting mage in the empire (as many extra-planar traders are) how strong one's magic is can draw a lot of attention from the authorities.
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Canon Omake: The Artisans Pride IX
- Location
- Germany
The Artisans Pride IX
<< Previous"I still question the wisdom of this." Given that Qyburn had done so repeatedly before and during it, it came as no surprise to anyone in the group. Neither did the former Maester believe it would achieve anything, but he still felt the need to say it again. Everything was hurting, putting this wholly above what he was willing to quietly accept to indulge his companions.
Oddly enough, it was the Mold, whom they had begun dubbing Polyos to mesh with his disguise as a Quarteen sellsword, that spoke up this time. "We have fond memories of this. It is good that they desire to experience it, while we enjoy to be reminded of it. We remember proverbs about the joys of it."
On the other hand, Qyburn was remembering a sore behind from the last few occasions and this one was no different. "It would have been much more efficient to use magic for this. It is not as if you could have not indulged yourselves at another time. The king has a whole horde of Dothraki in his employ after all."
"Come on, Qyburn. Isn't this great?" Elaheh had opted to ride side-saddle and was very much giving off the impression that she was a noble lady enjoying a tour of her lands. "The Reach is such a nice place, even though it's a bit chilly. All these fields,hills and vineyards are something I never saw before. And this forest here is so much more pleasant then Sothoryos. I think we should do this again when everything is in bloom."
"May I remind you that it took magic to even make the horses tolerate our presence?" He knew that he had little chance of talking Elaheh out of this, or out of dragging him along, but his back was hurting as if someone had given him a beating, so he would do his level best to spread the misery to the responsible parties. "That is a sure sign that the likes of us are not made out for the equestrian life."
Front and center rode, to no ones surprise, Osryx and, also to no ones surprise, he was not doing terribly great at it. When he turned around to chime in on the discussion, his horse shuddered and nearly stopped, prompting some hasty wrangling with the reins before he could get it to trot along the path again. "Ah, but didn't you just suggest that magic makes things easier? Clearly we are ready for this, when we have all the spells we need to make it happen."
Before Qyburn could begin dismantling that argument, Polyos called from behind. "You should watch the road, dragon. We are clearly seeing footpads ahead of us." He pointed up ahead into the distance, where one could barely make out three figures hiding behind a leafless bush next to the road.
Immediately Osryx looked to Elaheh, who nodded her consent to the unspoken question. In return, the dragon began grinning wildly and drove his horse to a light canter towards the hiding place of the highwaymen.
Qyburn just sighed, knowing that this would likely be drawn out far more then necessary too. "You are spoiling him. You know that, right?"
Elaheh shrugged at that, her attention firmly on the Myrkdreki. "Why stop him from getting to know the world on his terms?" Nobody answered her, both the old man and the amalgam of deathless spirits well aware that there was little point in it.
Instead they kept watching the proceedings from the distance, seeing events unfold in roughly the direction they had anticipated. Instead of slowing down when he came near the robbers, Osryx gallantly jumped from his saddle, drawing his new blade while in the air and landed in a pose fit for one of the sillier plays coming out of Braavos. How close the dragon came to an actual fighting stance, his audience luckily could not judge, since none of them had any real aptitude for fencing.
Whatever the Myrkdreki was saying to the robbers seemed to not please them all that much, since he suddenly had an arrow lodged in his chest. Normally, that would have been an alarming thing to happen, but Osryx looked mostly offended, as if someone had slighted him. The footpads instead looked a bit clueless what to do, so one of them fired another arrow into the dragons chest, which lodged itself firmly into place too. At this, he finally lunged forward, easily hamstringing the leader of the three and dashing for the archer.
"I think he tried to challenge them to a duel and was turned down," Qyburn commented as they came close enough to the fight to catch some complaining about things being done improperly.
"You heard him. We are one an adventure and he is trying to make the most of it." Elaheh paused as they saw the third bandit making a run for it after seeing the archer having both his hands cut off at the wrist. "It's not as if he puts our task at peril by enjoying himself a bit."
Polyos grumbled for a moment, getting ready to chase down the fleeing one, but Osryx was faster. A dagger flew from his hand, hitting the last bandit with enough force to jam the blade into his skull up to the hilt. "We remember the songs of skalds and singers alike. Not one song was sung about a journey such as this."
"Well, are we not worthy of song? We have it all after all." Elaheh gestured to each of them in turn. "The wise old man. The stoic warrior. The fair lady. And the playful rogue. We are even on a proper quest, searching for a set of unique artifacts and all these things."
"We recall no songs in which the heroes looked for severed heads." The many-souled creature paused for a long while, apparently wracking his memories for something. "We are most unlike any group of heroes we recall to have heard about."
The Kyton just grinned in return. "Then maybe we need a few new songs. Yours are clearly lacking tales about such a most interesting fellowship as ours."
For the oddest reason, Qyburn had a feeling of intense dread at these words.
AN: Just a bit of character interaction while on the road. Please don't mind the casual murder our group of 'heroes' gets up to.
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- Location
- ferreries
Goddamit Prycelle, would it kill you to be discreet for a while? The pacification of the western provinces is still months away, we can't have you being discovered!
egoo
Totally Not Creating Problems Where None Existed
- Location
- Russia
As a side note, we really shouldn't promise, or som much as offer, the lore of Faceless to anyone, even Marwyn.
Hell, especially to Marwyn, he's one of the few mages who can actually put it to use.
We only got it as reference material for ourselves on a promise to Faceless to not use it to teach anyone.
We can establish something like their system, if we get a willing Deity... or someone mad enough to try and succ power from an unwilling one.
But even so, I wouldn't trust pretty much anyone but the Companions with this sort of lore.
Hell, especially to Marwyn, he's one of the few mages who can actually put it to use.
We only got it as reference material for ourselves on a promise to Faceless to not use it to teach anyone.
We can establish something like their system, if we get a willing Deity... or someone mad enough to try and succ power from an unwilling one.
But even so, I wouldn't trust pretty much anyone but the Companions with this sort of lore.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Depending on how politically well-connected you are, you would likely approach the government first in some capacity and a high political officer (or Viserys if it's from a really big whig) would offer the same kind of documents... in fact I can't imagine there isn't a form for this already as we have high level delegates visiting the Plane on a semi-regular basis from Armun Kelisk and the Opaline Vault for the financial council, who might have an entourage, and yes, all likely having some powerful magic in artifice or spell lore.
- Location
- Germany
Nah. He is doing fine. If people keep a close eye on Pycelle, they are less likely to snoop around Varys. And Pycelle is much more disposable then Bloodravens spare body.
- Location
- Germany
I think the word you are looking for is "passport". Some documentation that proves who you are, why you are here and why you have no Scholarium documents covering these topics.
- Location
- United States
Poor Osryx just wanted his adventure. I get the feeling he'd absolutely love dealing with Fey.
- Location
- ferreries
Yeah, you're right.
I also must say, I adore that adventuring group. Especially Osryx. He really is a murderous kitten in the shape of a man-dragon.
- Location
- Germany
DP said as much in his first proper chapter appearance. A meeting between Osryx and Moonsong would be a very memorable event for everyone in a 10 mile radius.
Now, if he were to spend some time with Glyra and her troupe...
- Location
- The Netherlands
i alreaddy said we should have 1 or 2 myrdrekki wyrmlings tag along with Glyra and her troupe, it being an old one would just make it better.
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
Qyburn, hearing about the King's enjoyment of bards: "No minstrels."
Elaheh: "But--"
Qyburn: "I'm not agreeing to anything I know I'll regret already. No bards, no minstrels, no mummers and especially no chroniclers."
Osy: "*INHALE*"
Qyburn: "I do not care what accounts you write--"
Osy: "*exhale*"
Qyburn: "--so long as they do not include me."
Osy: "*INHALE*"
Elaheh: "But--"
Qyburn: "I'm not agreeing to anything I know I'll regret already. No bards, no minstrels, no mummers and especially no chroniclers."
Osy: "*INHALE*"
Qyburn: "I do not care what accounts you write--"
Osy: "*exhale*"
Qyburn: "--so long as they do not include me."
Osy: "*INHALE*"
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
[X] Meet those Fey Courts with arranged groups while everyone else goes about their business, reconvening afterwards to deal with the rest.
- Location
- Texas
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Crake
- Location
- Philippines
Wait! Hold up, what are you doing with the old man you fu-
Oh, nevermind. Carry-on then...
Crake
I AM THE STORM THAT IS APPROACHING
- Location
- USA
When it's narratively convenient.
Also when it's practically convenient. You guys can use Sending to coordinate.
- Location
- Germany
We explicitly got the lore for traching.
Sure, we can't let others into the Faceless' pact, but teaching the lore for the classes ( including Ur-Priest) is fair game.
