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

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Tomcost said:
We don't need a casus belli other than slavery.

I'm worried about them forcing us to delay the Westeros reconquista
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Well, Norvos doesn't really have the capability to prosecute a full-scale war against us. A military stand-off is entirely within the realm of possibility. I foresee unrest bringing them to the negotiation table. Or maybe the First Axe will try to launch a coup. Our Inquisitors could likely take advantage of such a situation as well.
 
Crake said:
Well, Norvos doesn't really have the capability to prosecute a full-scale war against us. A military stand-off is entirely within the realm of possibility. I foresee unrest bringing them to the negotiation table. Or maybe the First Axe will try to launch a coup. Our Inquisitors could likely take advantage of such a situation as well.
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We need a greater inquisirion presence here too...

Too many plates and all
 
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Adhoc vote count started by egoo on Jun 27, 2020 at 10:53 AM, finished with 33 posts and 12 votes.
  • [X] Arrange to meet both under the circumstances, at the very least if the First Axe dares to challenge you it will be before you have made precipitous announcements like how unworthy prosecuting an undeclared war against those who aren't even soldiers was.
    -[X] Which, incidentally, would rather punctuate how total, brutal and sudden your suppression of the bandits and mages by the tread of your Legions was.
    -[X] It will also clearly show him to be undermining the head of the cult in about as outrageous a fashion as you can think of, by challenging a foreign head of state in front of his head of faith.
    -[X] You are more than happy to give them the opportunity to make a spectacle of themselves.
    --[X] As things stand, and how you intend to approach both, you have little use for subtlety as these two likely do.
    --[X] You have decent enough physical evidence and they both have understanding enough of divination that unless they would like to risk sounding incompetent. It should be simple enough to lay out the claim of Norvosi provocateurs fighting an undeclared war in the Eastern Flatlands. Perhaps they were preparing to do the same elsewhere, before your violent response at any rate.
    --[X] They will make restitution toward the communities damaged by this campaign of madness.
    --[X] If prompted for your 'or else what?' you will state that to start Norvos will face serious sanctions, harshly raised tariffs, and ultimately a complete embargo on trade with them. It depends on how long they dither.
    --[X] Should the raids continue however you will do much worse.
    [X] Publicly confront the First Axe
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Bah, plebs!

[X] Attach a fake beard to Balerion the Black Dread.
-[X] Have him sit on top of the main temple
....
-[X] Profit?

By the way @DragonParadox, what happened to the sinkhole that appeared in front of their main temple?
 
Vote closed.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jun 27, 2020 at 11:38 AM, finished with 38 posts and 15 votes.
  • [X] Arrange to meet both under the circumstances, at the very least if the First Axe dares to challenge you it will be before you have made precipitous announcements like how unworthy prosecuting an undeclared war against those who aren't even soldiers was.
    -[X] Which, incidentally, would rather punctuate how total, brutal and sudden your suppression of the bandits and mages by the tread of your Legions was.
    -[X] It will also clearly show him to be undermining the head of the cult in about as outrageous a fashion as you can think of, by challenging a foreign head of state in front of his head of faith.
    -[X] You are more than happy to give them the opportunity to make a spectacle of themselves.
    --[X] As things stand, and how you intend to approach both, you have little use for subtlety as these two likely do.
    --[X] You have decent enough physical evidence and they both have understanding enough of divination that unless they would like to risk sounding incompetent. It should be simple enough to lay out the claim of Norvosi provocateurs fighting an undeclared war in the Eastern Flatlands. Perhaps they were preparing to do the same elsewhere, before your violent response at any rate.
    --[X] They will make restitution toward the communities damaged by this campaign of madness.
    --[X] If prompted for your 'or else what?' you will state that to start Norvos will face serious sanctions, harshly raised tariffs, and ultimately a complete embargo on trade with them. It depends on how long they dither.
    --[X] Should the raids continue however you will do much worse.
    [X] Publicly confront the First Axe
    [X] Attach a fake beard to Balerion the Black Dread.
    -[X] Have him sit on top of the main temple
    -[X] Profit?
Click to expand...
 
[X] Publicly confront the First Axe

Just get this over with. These people aren't going to listen to anything that doesn't conform to their dream world so find their leader and wake them the fuck up in the most humiliating way possible.
 
Inserted tally
Adhoc vote count started by Goldfish on Jun 27, 2020 at 12:30 PM, finished with 41 posts and 16 votes.
  • [X] Arrange to meet both under the circumstances, at the very least if the First Axe dares to challenge you it will be before you have made precipitous announcements like how unworthy prosecuting an undeclared war against those who aren't even soldiers was.
    -[X] Which, incidentally, would rather punctuate how total, brutal and sudden your suppression of the bandits and mages by the tread of your Legions was.
    -[X] It will also clearly show him to be undermining the head of the cult in about as outrageous a fashion as you can think of, by challenging a foreign head of state in front of his head of faith.
    -[X] You are more than happy to give them the opportunity to make a spectacle of themselves.
    --[X] As things stand, and how you intend to approach both, you have little use for subtlety as these two likely do.
    --[X] You have decent enough physical evidence and they both have understanding enough of divination that unless they would like to risk sounding incompetent. It should be simple enough to lay out the claim of Norvosi provocateurs fighting an undeclared war in the Eastern Flatlands. Perhaps they were preparing to do the same elsewhere, before your violent response at any rate.
    --[X] They will make restitution toward the communities damaged by this campaign of madness.
    --[X] If prompted for your 'or else what?' you will state that to start Norvos will face serious sanctions, harshly raised tariffs, and ultimately a complete embargo on trade with them. It depends on how long they dither.
    --[X] Should the raids continue however you will do much worse.
    [X] Publicly confront the First Axe
    [X] Attach a fake beard to Balerion the Black Dread.
    -[X] Have him sit on top of the main temple
    -[X] Profit?
Click to expand...
 
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Part MMMDLXXX: Tangled Talks
  • Threadmarks
    • Tangled Talks ​

    Twenty Eight Day of the First Month 294 AC

    Alas for Dany's imaginings and fortunately for Clegane the Norvoshi see the concept of trial by combat or indeed any duel of honor as a perversion of their god's will. Blood is to be spilled in defense of hearth and holy faith not for pride's sake, say their holy scriptures. That sentiment at least you can agree with even if it closes a door in this instance. There are after all still plenty more to take.

    The seven of you leave the manse as quietly as you had come. No sense drawing attention to House Malthor with what you intend to do next. Unless you are much mistaken the powers that be in Norvos are going to very much wish for a scapegoat of some kind by the time you are done and you do not mean the straw and tar effigies of they sometimes burn at festivals.

    "We are going to need some place suitable to send letters from," you say once you are back in the street. "It would not do to presume to invite ourselves to the temples and palaces of our hosts..."

    "Unless we are inviting ourselves sword in hand," Waymar offers. His expression makes it clear that much like Dany he would not object to the chance to put Purity to that use.

    "Yes, barring that," you reply dryly.

    Garin does not disappoint. The Fivefold Lotus is perhaps the most expensive inn in the Lower city and not without cause. It has all the accommodations a member of the Old Blood of Voantis might expect while traveling, and indeed it was used for that very purpose by many of that rank as well as Braavosi magnates princelings from the east and north at the edge of the ruined lands and once in the distant almost legendary past even by a delegation from far off Yi Ti as the proprietor is happy to recount when you lay your coin on the table. Even the mention that you might call on some of the highest powers in the land from here and they might not be entirely happy with you by what they read does not seem to trouble him.

    "You ain't planning to have them red rats set us all on fire are ye?" he asks with the sort of hearty chuckle that does not belong anywhere near describing people praying for salvation as best they know as 'rats'.

    Still it wouldn't gain you or them anything to take umbrage so you simply nod and settle the generous payment you agreed to for the next two days and contemplate the letters you are to send to the two priests. Something blatant enough that they cannot simply ignore it but not so aggressive as to be met with the Hearthguard. "Varys I'm going to need your services..." It is after all hard to mistake a dragon, even a smell one for something else.

    Getting a letter to the Voice of the Lawgiver while he is out performing his duties is a courteous enough affair, though tense 'with a lot more sorcerer-priests than you'd expect and wearing decent magic beside' according to your familiar. By contrast getting a letter to the first axe sees her return hissing that 'it's a good thing he isn't the First Crossbow or I would still be picking bolts out of my wings'. Suffice to say he did not get a letter to carry in return that time though further correspondence with the Voice does see him assure you that the First Axe will be there and proffers one of the not-quite-apologies that are familiar to envoys and diplomats the world over.

    "So do you think Big Beard is willing to plays a straight hand?" Tyene asks, reading the most recent letter, the one inviting you to the Palace of Norvos. "Because if that's a trap things could get ugly. Norvos gets hit too hard and before you know it goat-thing worshipers in the streets. I don't know about you but Zherys' story of the not-so-good old days gave me chills."

    "Well we can't divine the mind which is a significant thing in and of itself, but the tone strikes me as guarded enough to be sincere, a trap would offer more concessions in the hopes of lowering our guard I think."

    "I guess..." the nod stops abruptly. "Have you read that pile of horeshit all the way yet?"

    "Oh..." The letter goes on to clarify that it is only open to men in your company 'because the chambers at the heart of the palace have been dedicated wholly to the Lawgiver after the destruction of the temple and no women may step there.'

    Is this a power play you wonder, or a genuine part of his faith? Does it even matter, you did not come here to be dictated terms to. The evidence from the Eastern Flatlands is clear, prisoners and all, never mind foresight.

    What do you do?

    [] Insist that all your companions be present even if it must be at a different location

    [] You have very good glamors, good enough to hide from true sight. If the Voice wants only men in his chambers you can pass Dany and Tyene as men

    [] Acquiesce to the terms of the meeting, the public setting will help get your point across as to the gravity of the visitation

    [] Write in

    OOC: I hope all the background world-building is not dragging. I'm doing my best to keep this going at a good clip while making Norvos feel like as much of a unique place as Lys or Volantis. Not yet edited.
     
  • Threadmarks
    • Note says Dany can't walk in, doesn't say shit about her providing overwatch and burning down the roof the second things get nasty.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    Tangled Talks ​

    Twenty Eighth Day of the First Month 294 AC

    Alas, for Dany's imaginings and fortunately for Clegane, the Norvoshi see the concept of trial by combat or indeed any duel of honor as a perversion of their god's will. Blood is to be spilled in defense of hearth and holy faith, not for pride's sake, say their holy scriptures. That sentiment at least you can agree with, even if it closes a door in this instance. After all, there are still plenty more to take.

    The seven of you leave the manse as quietly as you had come. No sense drawing attention to House Malthor with what you intend to do next. Unless you are much mistaken, the powers that be in Norvos are going to very much wish for a scapegoat of some kind by the time you are done here, and you do not mean the straw and tar effigies they sometimes burn at festivals.

    "We are going to need some place suitable to send letters from," you say once you are back in the street. "It would not do to presume to invite ourselves to the temples and palaces of our hosts..."

    "Unless we are inviting ourselves with sword in hand," Waymar offers. His expression makes it clear that much like Dany, he would not object to the chance to put Purity to that use.

    "Yes, barring that," you reply dryly.

    Garin does not disappoint. The Fivefold Lotus is perhaps the most expensive inn in the Lower city and not without cause. It has all the accommodations a member of the Old Blood of Volantis might expect while traveling, and indeed it was used for that very purpose by many of that rank as well as Braavosi magnates, princelings from the east and north at the edge of the ruined lands, and once in the distant almost legendary past even by a delegation from far off Yi Ti, as the proprietor is happy to recount when you lay your coin on the table. Even the mention that you might call on some of the highest powers in the land from here, and they might not be entirely happy with you by what they read, does not seem to trouble him.

    "You ain't planning to have them red rats set us all on fire, are ye?" he asks with the sort of hearty chuckle that does not belong anywhere near describing people praying for salvation as best they know as 'rats'.

    Still, it wouldn't gain you or them anything to take umbrage so you simply nod and settle the generous payment you agreed to for the next two days. Then you sit down and contemplate the letters you are to send to the two priests. Something blatant enough that they cannot simply ignore it, but not so aggressive as to be met with the Hearthguard. "Varys, I'm going to need your services..." It is hard to mistake a dragon, even a small one, for something else.

    Getting a letter to the Voice of the Lawgiver while he is out performing his duties is a courteous enough affair, though tense 'with a lot more sorcerer-priests than you'd expect and wearing decent magic beside', according to your familiar. By contrast, getting a letter to the First Axe sees her return hissing that 'it's a good thing he isn't the First Crossbow or I would still be picking bolts out of my wings'. Suffice to say, she did not get a letter to carry in return that time, though further correspondence with the Voice does see him assure you that the First Axe will be there and proffers one of the not-quite-apologies that are familiar to envoys and diplomats the world over.

    "So do you think Big Beard is willing to play a straight hand?" Tyene asks, reading the most recent letter, the one inviting you to the Palace of Norvos. "Because if that's a trap things could get ugly. Norvos gets hit too hard and before you know it goat-thing worshipers are in the streets. I don't know about you, but Zherys' story of the not-so-good old days gave me chills."

    "Well we can't divine the mind, which is a significant thing in and of itself, but the tone strikes me as guarded enough to be sincere. A trap would offer more concessions in the hopes of lowering our guard, I think."

    "I guess..." the nod stops abruptly. "Have you read that pile of horse shit all the way yet?"

    "Oh..." The letter goes on to clarify that it is only open to men in your company 'because the chambers at the heart of the palace have been dedicated wholly to the Lawgiver after the destruction of the temple and no women may step there.'

    Is this a power play you wonder, or a genuine part of his faith? Does it even matter, you did not come here to be dictated terms to. The evidence from the Eastern Flatlands is clear, prisoners and all, never mind foresight.

    What do you do?

    [] Insist that all your companions be present even if it must be at a different location.

    [] You have very good glamors, good enough to hide from true sight. If the Voice wants only men in his chambers you can pass Dany and Tyene as men.

    [] Acquiesce to the terms of the meeting, the public setting will help get your point across as to the gravity of the visitation.

    [] Write in

    OOC: I hope all the background world-building is not dragging. I'm doing my best to keep this going at a good clip while making Norvos feel like as much of a unique place as Lys or Volantis. Not yet edited.
    Click to expand...
    Click to shrink...
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    I always appreciate more world building. It's cool to see Norvos fleshed out more.
     
    [] Just walk in with the whole party, regardless of objections.

    Seriously, we have spend several updates already when we could have just send a letter.

    Edit:

    [X] Crake
     
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