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

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So, in general I'm not a fan of acting directly in Hellven right now.

The available manpower-pool is exactly the same we are using for Slaver's Bay and I feel like we are too short on people there already now.
At the very most we can give some economic support to the less affluent parties, but then we'd have to make sure even they can't know where the money/items is from.
 
The Resistance is still around in some form despite millennia of devil rule?
They can endure another few years without our help. Viserys is powerful, but he isn't the necessary key to every situation.
 
TalonofAnathrax said:
The Resistance is still around in some form despite millennia of devil rule?
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There will always be residence so long as there is free will, that is one of the thing that drives Asmodeous crazy about the state of the spheres. They know its hopeless, they have all seen countless other groups crushed and yet they still resist.

To put it another way if you traveled to Dis you would find resistance to diabolic rule there too. Not from conventionally sane people granted, but it's there.
 
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Secrets of the Spirit ​

Twenty Fifth Day of the First Month 294 AC

Where there is a will there is a way also, as the saying goes in Volantis, spoken in different tones by slave and master both, though in tones much different and in this city, fallen from heights the First Daughter could never imagine to depths beyond human knowing, that is no less true. Where there is a will there is a way and where there is magic the way is broader still. You blind the eyes of lesser seers to the futures of Garantos and his lover, then you bid them slip into the shadows of a nearby alleyway and from there you carry them off, a secret in a bottle, not to be opened until you are back home.

Thankfully, two can dance to the tune of the future unseen. You observe the imp giving his report and then you follow its supervisor, a harbinger devil in crimson and grey looking rather harried under the heavy bureaucratic splendor of his robes. Hassan had not been marked as a person of interest, the false tale of being waylaid by madmen and bandits of the wastes not questioned. Another devil might do so in the future, but you doubt they shall. For all Baator's resources are vast, they are not truly endless, certainly not deep enough to chase after one dead messenger, a messenger that might yet introduce you to people you are very much curious to meet.

***​

Garantos takes one look at Sorcerer's Deep from your window and quips, "I like what you've done with the place, pirate Valyrian is it?" He has more in common with Azema than you remember.

"I've also done a bit of gardening," you note dryly motioning towards the great tree rising in the distance a pale shadow against the star-strewn sky.

The conversation that follows is long and sometimes meandering, filled with more jests at your expense than most would dare, but it is certainly enlightening. Unlike many of his kin, Garantos is not driven by some great flame of duty to regain past glories, nor does he seem worn by the state of the Sundered Spheres.

"If I died doing the best I can then I would have died content," the azata says between one jape and the next, but still you feel it encompasses the truth of his being more than any other phrase could have. He wishes to see Braavos again, to visit Rella 'and take whatever lumps she's minded to give me'. Though he is hesitant at first to look into the inquisition, almost wary, when you explain their purpose and the limits you have placed upon how they may handle citizens, Garantos is more open to the notion. Not sold on it my any means, of course, but his love of riddles also makes for a love of secrets.

And secrets aplenty he has from Heaven's Shore. There are apparently four major resistance bands in the city and its outskirts, all working towards what they see as the betterment of its people though through different means:
The Heralds of the Even Hand
Goal: An end to the slave trade and the slums, more equitable living.
Methods: Freeing slaves in transit to and from the market, assassinations of those who support or promote the trade in souls.
Leader: Syleth Star Eye (Yamah Azata Medium 6)
Military Strength: 13
Economic Strength: 5

The Guardians of the Fallen Tower
Goal: Ridding Heaven of the taint of Asmodeous' Rule, returning the spheres to their proper dominions.
Methods: Name Theft, conjuring assisted assassination.
Leader: Ar-Im (Axiomite Wizard/Conjuror 10)
Military Strength: 12
Economic Strength: 6

Those Who Remember
Goal: Honoring the memory of the fallen Empyreal Lords of old, maintaining what remains of Heaven's sanctity.
Methods: Striking against the interests of those who would defile old temples, offering secret sanctuary to those fleeing Hell or other dark powers.
Leader: Reziel (Fallen Iophanite Angel Paladin of Law 11)
Military Strength: 13
Economic Strength: 2

Gardeners
Goal: Building a new order from small shoots, encouraging the expansion of free mortal citizenry that can eventually take up the mantle of the dwindling celestials.
Methods: Economic sabotage against infernal interests, infiltrating the institutions of power, propaganda against the current regime
Leader: Toriel (Spyglass Archon Rogue 7)
Military Strength: 1
Economic Strength: 18

Note on stats: Range from 1 (insignificant) to 100 (About to launch a major uprising/buy out considerable amounts of the city)

What do you do next?

[] Try to get in contact with one of the resistance bands
-[] Write in which

[] Visit the slave market

[] Try to find the ill smith you met earlier

[] Write in

OOC: Sorry this took so long guys, I was both busy IRL and a bit distracted by another quest for the time I did have on SV. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.
 
Artemis1992 said:
So, in general I'm not a fan of acting directly in Hellven right now.

The available manpower-pool is exactly the same we are using for Slaver's Bay and I feel like we are too short on people there already now.
At the very most we can give some economic support to the less affluent parties, but then we'd have to make sure even they can't know where the money/items is from.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
TalonofAnathrax said:
The Resistance is still around in some form despite millennia of devil rule?
They can endure another few years without our help. Viserys is powerful, but he isn't the necessary key to every situation.
Click to expand...
Click to shrink...
Yep. This is good info to have, but it's nothing I would be willing to act on right now.

Overall, I am very pleased with this sojourn in Hellven. No need to endanger our gains now, not when things are so stable here.
 
That makes no sense.


Until you take into account that Asmodeus is basically Thanos in Avengers: Endgame.
 
[X] Recieve reports on Research actions

I'm tired of Hellven and not interested in doing stuff with Slave market/that ill dude/whatever.
 
We could financially support Gardeners to return soft power to locals and maybe other groups as economic power grows.
 
Massgamer said:
We could financially support Gardeners to return soft power to locals and maybe other groups as economic power grows.
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The Devils aren't above armed thugs and assassins, or you wouldn't have extremists willing too resort to the same tactics with Angels in their ranks.

Raising the capabilities of the militant arm of the resistance in proportion to the economic one seems wise, but you want to be careful of where you make your investments. For example if you arm a bunch of militant radicals, they are going to do something to call down the heat before there's enough populist sentiment to back the rebellion. OTOH if you don't give the more subtle militants resources but devote all resources to the peaceful revolutionaries, they have no people willing to protect them from more subtle attacks. And it is easier to arm protection details than muster a military force, so you can ramp up the militant radicals more rapidly than you can help counter-intelligence organizations get their asses into gear.
 
We should put ourselves in contact with the name thieves.

There is synergy between what we do and what they do. We can have deniability in case we want someone important killed, and they can get us the names of the ones they can't kill
 
One small note on something I just realized might be unclear from the update, these are not all the residence movements in Heaven's Shore, just those large enough to note and sane enough for Garantos to work with. He does not traffic with apocalypse cults and other self-destructive sorts.
 
DragonParadox said:
One small note on something I just realized might be unclear from the update, these are not all the residence movements in Heaven's Shore, just those large enough to note and sane enough for Garantos to work with. He does not traffic with apocalypse cults and other self-destructive sorts.
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That's a scary thought...apocalypse cults in Hellven being considered a resistance group. 🤯
 
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