A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
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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 MMMDXLIX: Prince of the Earth
Prince of the Earth
Twenty Fifth Day of the First Month 294 AC
The Fortress of Eternal Vigil rose into the ruined sky, a thing of pale delicate arches and ramparts meant to last for all time. Stone angels look on with hollow eyes over the half-ruined city, the scenes of valiant archons holding back the hosts of Hell now made cruel mockery by those very fiends coiled at their posts. You are surprised Malphas does not seem to have bothered changing anything about the stonework, not even to carve the number and seal of the Ninth Legion where it can be seen. Perhaps the ice devil is a lover of unblemished irony, or perhaps he has left the fortress intact out of lingering respect for his old adversaries while he burned unwilling vassals.
Whatever the case, the host devils flap their twin pairs of ragged vulture-like wings from their perches at your approach over the killing field of empty streets and wide lines of fire that separates the fortress from the rest of the living city. They are probably not used to anyone unknown marching quite so boldly to the polished steel doors.
The surprises are far from over. You let a single gemstone fall from your hand, glittering jade and crimson along a thousand thousand fractures. A tourmaline, the gemstone of Deep Earth, an offering to those who dwell within.
Lost 20 IM
From oldest deepest dreams of mountains, you raise a titan, from the barren ground you shape its form, harsh and jagged, like a mountain crag come alive and like a mountain it rises under your feet smoothly, carrying you up as it rises until you are standing on one shoulder, Ser Richard on the other. He would have preferred to use his cloak for wings, but the shape is a little too distinctive for your liking. You do not want Malphas or his underlings even thinking the word 'dragon' in passing.
It is thus in infernal and not draconic that you address those upon the ramparts, "To the protectors of this realm, I cry welcome. I come bearing news of lawbreaking and the lawbreaker herself in my custody, but time is short to ensure that more chaos and disorder does not spill from this festering wound. I would speak to one high among you that by your fire the wound may be cauterized."
The answer does not take long in arriving, a mage in the sweeping crimson robes of a cleric of Asmodeus, bearing a staff alight with flame in one hand and a sphere of pulsating crimson that reminds you oddly of the shard the shugenja was carrying, in the other. To judge from his features, you would say he has some mortal blood in him, though far less than most tieflings. The inverse perhaps, a devil with a touch of mortal urgency burning in his veins. "Hail Keeper of the Earth, I am Iradious. Lieutenant of Ever Watchful Malphas, the Cold Flame, and his voice in this hour," he proclaims. "Speak then of this chaos you have witnessed and this prisoner you would see given unto us."
You recount the full tale with not a single lie or omission from the moment the auction began, leaving out not even the confrontation with the archons. Though it might be a risk to admit to having deceived some of the lawful authorities of Heaven's Shore as to your identity, you do so under flattering guise. The garrison, you explain, not the Lord of Heaven, are the true masters of this place and the arbitrators of its laws. Did they not bleed in its defense? Are they not the bulwark that holds back the madness above?
The Soul-Bound of the Lord of Nessus nods, ignoring the less dignified cheers of his fellows from above, and you suspect particularly the suggestions as to precisely what orifice Ezhekidich can shove his laws in. Infernal might not be as comprehensive a tool for swearing in as Abyssal, but it certainly does the job better than any mortal tongue. The general consensus seems to be that he is a puppet with gilded strings and over-fond of the fact.
"Come," he motions. "You cannot hand over a prisoner here under the sight of so many watchers known and perhaps unknown."
"I'm sure you know what you are doing, Your Grace..." Ser Richard begins mentally.
"Most of the time, yes," you interrupt before the inevitable 'but'. "When it transpires that I do not, I am most glad to have you by my side."
That draws a flash of unwilling amusement, followed by weary agreement.
***
There is, however, no treachery to be seen past the steel gates. Inside the fortress, in contrast to its outwe appearance, it is almost oppressively barren, nothing but the odd room number chiseled in above a door and ward markings carved into the living stone. The chamber you are eventually lead into has a table and two throne-like seats facing one another. One is adorned with enchanted brass shackles, the other is not.
"The prisoner," Iradious says courteously, though his eyes make it clear that if you cannot produce one they will be using the chains on you.
His expression does not shift at the sight of the gylou, either not recognizing anything special about her or more skilled than most in keeping his thoughts off his face. "You may remain if you wish," he continues, somewhat to your surprise. "The Ninth Legion could use contacts such as yourself who understand the true value of law, unclouded by... secondary matters."
What do you reply?
[] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
[] Return to the auction house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
[] Allow 'Hasaan' to melt into the streets, meet the oracle devil tomorrow once all of this is settled
[] Write in
OOC: So far so good, Viserys does not think he tripped any suspicions, at least not more than usual for a devil meeting a new person.
Last edited:
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
While it would be nice to make a new friend we have business to attend to.
[X] Return to the auction-house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
We need that tome and the knowledge contained therein, and we need to make sure that we can still get access to it, no matter who we have to kill or raise to make that happen.
The Cosmos ain't gonna unfuck itself.
[X] Return to the auction-house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
We need that tome and the knowledge contained therein, and we need to make sure that we can still get access to it, no matter who we have to kill or raise to make that happen.
The Cosmos ain't gonna unfuck itself.
Once again we see how Viserys is most dangerous when engaging in diplomancy. It only took the span of a conversation to get a fortress of devils more or less on his side.
I mean sure, it's because he was appealing to their sense of law and superiority, as well as the fact that they're probably underappreciated by the lord of heaven, but still.
Edit:
[X] Return to the auction-house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
Yeah, lets make sure that the whole reason we went to the auction isn't wasted.
Last edited:
- Location
- ?????????
[X] Return to the auction-house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
- Location
- Texas
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Return to the auction-house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Prince of the Earth
Twenty Fifth Day of the First Month 294 AC
The Fortress of Eternal Vigil rose into the ruined sky, a thing of pale delicate arches and ramparts meant to last for all time. Stone angels look on with hollow eyes over the half-ruined city, the scenes of valiant archons holding back the hosts of Hell now made cruel mockery by those very fiends coiled at their posts. You are surprised Malphas does not seem to have bothered changing anything about the stonework, not even to carve the number and seal of the Ninth Legion where it can be seen. Perhaps the ice devil is a lover of unblemished irony, or perhaps he has left the fortress intact out of lingering respect for his old adversaries while he burned unwilling vassals.
Whatever the case, the host devils flap their twin pairs of ragged vulture-like wings from their perches at your approach over the killing field of empty streets and wide lines of fire that separates the fortress from the rest of the living city. They are probably not used to anyone unknown marching quite so boldly to the polished steel doors.
The surprises are far from over. You let a single gemstone fall from your hand, glittering jade and crimson along a thousand thousand fractures. A tourmaline, the gemstone of Deep Earth, an offering to those who dwell within.
Lost 20 IM
From oldest deepest dreams of mountains, you raise a titan, from the barren ground you shape its form, harsh and jagged, like a mountain crag come alive and like a mountain it rises under your feet smoothly, carrying you up as it rises until you are standing on one shoulder, Ser Richard on the other. He would have preferred to use his cloak for wings, but the shape is a little too distinctive for your liking. You do not want Malphas or his underlings even thinking the word 'dragon' in passing.
It is thus in infernal and not draconic that you address those upon the ramparts, "To the protectors of this realm, I cry welcome. I come bearing news of lawbreaking and the lawbreaker herself in my custody, but time is short to ensure that more chaos and disorder does not spill from this festering wound. I would speak to one high among you that by your fire the wound may be cauterized."
The answer does not take long in arriving, a mage in the sweeping crimson robes of a cleric of Asmodeus, bearing a staff alight with flame in one hand and a sphere of pulsating crimson that reminds you oddly of the shard the shugenja was carrying, in the other. To judge from his features, you would say he has some mortal blood in him, though far less than most tieflings. The inverse perhaps, a devil with a touch of mortal urgency burning in his veins. "Hail Keeper of the Earth, I am Iradious. Lieutenant of Ever Watchful Malphas, the Cold Flame, and his voice in this hour," he proclaims. "Speak then of this chaos you have witnessed and this prisoner you would see given unto us."
You recount the full tale with not a single lie or omission from the moment the auction began, leaving out not even the confrontation with the archons. Though it might be a risk to admit to having deceived some of the lawful authorities of Heaven's Shore as to your identity, you do so under flattering guise. The garrison, you explain, not the Lord of Heaven, are the true masters of this place and the arbitrators of its laws. Did they not bleed in its defense? Are they not the bulwark that holds back the madness above?
The Soul-Bound of the Lord of Nessus nods, ignoring the less dignified cheers of his fellows from above, and you suspect particularly the suggestions as to precisely what orifice Ezhekidich can shove his laws in. Infernal might not be as comprehensive a tool for swearing in as Abyssal, but it certainly does the job better than any mortal tongue. The general consensus seems to be that he is a puppet with gilded strings and over-fond of the fact.
"Come," he motions. "You cannot hand over a prisoner here under the sight of so many watchers known and perhaps unknown."
"I'm sure you know what you are doing, Your Grace..." Ser Richard begins mentally.
"Most of the time, yes," you interrupt before the inevitable 'but'. "When it transpires that I do not, I am most glad to have you by my side."
That draws a flash of unwilling amusement, followed by weary agreement.
***
There is, however, no treachery to be seen past the steel gates. Inside the fortress, in contrast to its outwe appearance, it is almost oppressively barren, nothing but the odd room number chiseled in above a door and ward markings carved into the living stone. The chamber you are eventually lead into has a table and two throne-like seats facing one another. One is adorned with enchanted brass shackles, the other is not.
"The prisoner," Iradious says courteously, though his eyes make it clear that if you cannot produce one they will be using the chains on you.
His expression does not shift at the sight of the gylou, either not recognizing anything special about her or more skilled than most in keeping his thoughts off his face. "You may remain if you wish," he continues, somewhat to your surprise. "The Ninth Legion could use contacts such as yourself who understand the true value of law, unclouded by... secondary matters."
What do you reply?
[] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
[] Return to the auction house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
[] Allow 'Hasaan' to melt into the streets, meet the oracle devil tomorrow once all of this is settled
[] Write in
OOC: So far so good, Viserys does not think he tripped any suspicions, at least not more than usual for a devil meeting a new person.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I want to get back to the auction house as much as everyone else, but I'm also extremely curious about what we might learn during the interrogation. Making another contact here in Hellven, especially one as highly placed as Iradious, could also be useful in the future.
I won't be upset if we head back to the auction right away, I just don't want to miss this opportunity.
[X] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
I won't be upset if we head back to the auction right away, I just don't want to miss this opportunity.
[X] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
Jack vile Ripper
The swellest guy in Creation.
- Location
- Indonesia
- Pronouns
- He/Him
[X] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
Always a pleasure to outwit the fiends of the Nine Hells.
Always a pleasure to outwit the fiends of the Nine Hells.
- Location
- United States
The issue is if we don't go back to the auctionhouse that book we were after might be sold to someone else. What about a compromise vote? While this wouldn't give us the contents of the interrogation, it would at least secure a new contact for us, if only in the guise of a Shaitan Archmage.
[X] Return to the auction house at once to report your success, and ensure nothing unfortunate happened to your hopefully future source of lore
-[X] Tell Iradious that while we don't have the time now, we would be interested in a future meeting
- Location
- United Kingdom
[X] Duesal
Why would that guy continue to auction his stuff? The whole point of it was to help fill out a ruse that he'd actually died. He clearly wants to settle up in a way that involves him getting most, if not all, of his stuff back. We can probably assume that he won't be selling anything more in the meantime.
Additionally, the primary reason we want the book is to get soul lore. Contacts with the devils running the free range organic soul farm formerly known as heaven are perfect for that. Maybe not immediately, but we could get a broader range of benefits from this kind of exchange to compliment the lore itself.
[X] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
Additionally, the primary reason we want the book is to get soul lore. Contacts with the devils running the free range organic soul farm formerly known as heaven are perfect for that. Maybe not immediately, but we could get a broader range of benefits from this kind of exchange to compliment the lore itself.
[X] Stay to watch the interrogation, a contact with the Garrison could be of use, if dangerous
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
I don't expect that he will actually continue the auction, but we can perhaps get the lore anyway, if he's feeling generous. He might still be willing to sell us a copy.
Evaunit02mark1
S-s-smell the Prey, S-s-start the Hunt.
Eh, the main reason I'm not keen on sticking around is because we don't know what kind of game Heronius is running. All he asked us to do was drop the girl off and then come back for the lore, not shoot the breeze with the local constabulary and try to sell the guy a bridge. Besides if there are any survivors to the assault party his shell game is going to be pretty moot anyway.
Also he promised us at the bare minimum a look at the book, I'm sure we can throw enough money, reagents, and other rare things at his face to get a copy of it.
This thing is the possible foundation of our people's literal salvation and afterlife, I'm more than willing to pay to that effect.
