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

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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 31, 2020 at 4:20 PM, finished with 51 posts and 8 votes.
  • [X] Accept their surrender, and remand them in to Quuen Naamaru's custody for now. You will deal with them after accounting for the dead and facilitating the transportation of reinforcements to crush the larger host to the south.
    -[X] Finish up the battle. You will use Mage's Decree once via Bloodwish to offer surrender to all the enemies remaining still resisting, but no more than that. You will also make it clear that this is not a simple stay of execution, but a genuine offer to see reason. There is nothing left to fight for here, nothing but for spite when there is still yet hope.
    [X] Accept their surrender, and remand them in to Quuen Naamaru's custody for now. You will deal with them after accounting for the dead and facilitating the transportation of reinforcements to crush the larger host to the south.
    -[X] Finish up the battle. You will use Mage's Decree once via Bloodwish to offer surrender to all the enemies remaining still resisting, but no more than that. You will also make it clear that this is not a simple stay of execution, but a genuine offer to see reason. There is nothing left to fight for here, nothing but for spite when there is still yet hope.
    [X] Accept their surrender, and remand them in to Quuen Naamaru's custody for now. You will deal with them after accounting for the dead and facilitating the transportation of reinforcements to crush the larger host to the south.
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Part MMMDCXII: As Battle Stills
  • Threadmarks
    • As Battle Stills ​

    Nineteenth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    The answer you give Varys is instant and for once uncomplicated in execution. While the legions would struggle to take prisoners from among the living dead Queen Naamaru has no such troubles. By the hosts she leads, by the scepter she wields, by the unshakable will that lead her to this place the ancient queen of Sathar is more than adept at keeping her new prisoners in line.

    Alas that this is not the full picture of the battle. While you had dealt with the altar the lines still crashed together and many brave soldiers of the First Legion perished to accursed blades, and even when the strength went out of them and the power that drove them was off the field some undead still fought till the last. Once you might have called it hatred of the living, some intrinsic quality to their cursed existence, but that their fellows fight on the other side is proof ten thousand times over that this is not so. Fairer to call it spite, fanaticism or desperation.

    Whatever you might call it only a few of those not of Kasath think to surrender after your spell carried voice makes the offer over the field. Those already dead do not lightly die. Were it not for dragon-fire, for spells, for bombs falling from on high this could have still been a far bloodier battle. Were it not for the men and women of the Legion holding the line neither dragons, nor sorcerers, nor skyships alone could not have prevailed this day.

    Then the last of the enemy finally perish, encircled before the walls of Sallosh, a weary cheer rises from the ranks of the gathered legions, from those who can cheer at least. The healers have work yet to do aiding those they can.

    "Light losses," Dany sighed in relief while looking over the field. Even the companies most in harm's war had not suffered losses of more than three or four out of every hundred, and the reserves had not even needed to be called upon, other then the cavalry to aid in the pursuit.

    "It was quick," Ser Richard adds shortly. Left unsaid is that what you had most feared was the prospect of grinding battle against the untiring dead. That had thankfully been avoided by the speed of the advance, both on the flanks and in the center, and with the dark god's passing many of the lesser dead which had been filled with his will no longer fought as units, but only blindly flailing at their foes.

    On that hopeful note the three of you fly off to find the command tent.

    ***​

    "We should be able to have the citizens of Sallosh back in the city by the morrow, after sending the dead back to the deep with all honors of course..." Ser Gerold looks impeccably clean of course by virtue of the arcane ring he bears, but the dents in his armor that were not there before the battle tell the story of his part in the day's fighting just the same. "You might want to talk to Vargo too, Your Grace. He's upset for not having gotten into the fighting, but well... there was simply no place for him on the line and the man was never trained to fight ahorse. I could have sent him with the champions and such, but... he's no Companion, far from it."

    What do you do next?

    [] Receive a report on Legion losses and the enemy dead

    [] Deal with the prisoners

    [] Speak with Vargo and deal with the return of the Salloshi

    [] Write in

    OOC: If it weren't this late I would have included the Legion report in this update, but I can't really work out the math at 1 AM.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    As Battle Stills ​

    Nineteenth Day of the Second Month 294 AC

    The answer you give Varys is instant and for once uncomplicated in execution. While the legions would struggle to take prisoners from among the living dead, Queen Naamaru has no such troubles. By the hosts she leads, by the scepter she wields, by the unshakable will that lead her to this place, the ancient Queen of Sathar is more than adept at keeping her new prisoners in line.

    Alas, that this is not the full picture of the battle. While you had dealt with the altar, the lines still crashed together and many brave soldiers of the First legion perished to accursed blades, and even when the strength went out of them and the power that drove them was off the field, some still fought on. Once you might have called it hatred of the living, some intrinsic quality to their cursed existence, but that their fellows fight on the other side is proof ten thousand times over that this is not so. Fairer to call to it spite, fanaticism, or desperation.

    Whatever you might call it, only a few of those not of Kasath think to surrender after your spell-amplified voice carries the offer over the field. Those already dead do not lightly die. Were it not for dragon-fire, for spells, for bombs falling from on high, this could have still been a far bloodier battle. Were it not for the men and women of the legion holding the line, neither dragons, nor sorcerers, nor skyships alone could have prevailed this day.

    Then the last of the enemy finally perish, encircled before the walls of Sallosh. A weary cheer rises from the ranks of the gathered legions, from those who can cheer at least. The healers have work yet to do aiding those they can.

    "Light losses," Dany sighed in relief, looking over the field. Even the companies most in harm's way had not suffered losses of more than three or four out of every hundred, and the reserves had not even had to be called upon, other then the cavalry to aid in the pursuit.

    "It was quick," Ser Richard adds shortly. Left unsaid is that what you had most feared was the prospect of a grinding battle against the untiring dead. That had thankfully been avoided by the speed of the advance, both on the flanks and in the center, and with the dark god's passing many of the lesser dead which had been filled with his will no longer fought as units, but only blindly flailing at their foes.

    On that hopeful note the three of you fly off to find the command tent.

    ***​

    "We should be able to have the citizens of Sallosh back in the city by the morrow, after sending the dead back to the Deep with all honors, of course..." Ser Gerold looks impeccably clean, of course, by virtue of the arcane ring he bears, but the dents in his armor that were not there before the battle tell the story of his part in the day's fighting just the same. "You might also want to speak with Vargo, Your Grace. He's upset for not having gotten into the fighting, but there was no place for him on the line and the man was never trained to fight ahorse. I could have sent him with the champions and such, but... he's no Companion. Far from it."

    What do you do next?

    [] Receive a report on legion losses and the enemy dead

    [] Deal with the prisoners

    [] Speak with Vargo and deal with the return of the Saloshi

    [] Write in

    OOC: If it weren't this late I would have included the legion report in this update, but I can't really work out the math at 1 AM. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    The few...the proud...the Legion!

    [X] Receive a report on legion losses and the enemy dead
     
    [X] Receive a report on legion losses and the enemy dead

    Yes, this is the most important part. Then we go to Vargo, and then to the prisoners.
     
    The memorial service for those who fell at Sallosh while holding back the tide of vengeful dead, complete with 21 Steam Cannon salute and Wyvern flyover, is going to make for an excellent MirrorVision presentation across the Imperium.
     
    tarrangar said:
    The process of recovering all the undead corpses for the Fungus Forge, is already in progress right?
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    Unlikely. Right now our people are tending to the wounded, recovering the bodies of their fallen comrades, securing the area, resting after an exhausting battle, etc. The Undead remains aren't going anywhere in the next few hours, so they get less priority.
     
    [X] Receive a report on legion losses and the enemy dead
    -[X] Have Vargo assist you with the preliminary paperwork.

    He wants to be helpful. He can be helpful.

    He wants to understand the cost of this war, let him see it.

    After the fire, and smiting, and sorcery comes paperwork.

    Also talking about paperwork is a more unique framing device than doing paperwork.
     
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    Duesal said:
    We should speak to Vargo, but the Salloshi should stay safe in Sorcerer's Deep for the time being until after Sarnath itself is dealt with and cleansed to the best of our ability.
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    Do we have room for them in SD? I'm sure we have some extra housing, but a city's worth is a lot

    So we should need to deal with the following because of the battle:

    Legion deaths report​
    Vargo Alexi and Salloshi​
    Dealing with Prisoners​
    Dealing with (whats left of) the Altar​
    Studying/removing the temporal field around the Moonchaser​
    Legion funeral + speech​
    Resurrect dragons + riders + soft strider (probably doesn't need its own update)​
    Enemy corpse collection (doesn't need its own update)​
    Get xp from the battle (and the earlier diplomacy + reaper encounter)​
    ​
    Did I miss anything big that we need to do?
    ​
     
    What do you guys think about adding Summon Elysian Thrush to our legion scroll or item supply? It doubles natural healing for everyone in 30 ft of it while it sings and lasts for 8 hours. That's a hefty amount of healing for a level 2 spell. It could easily handle making people more comfortable (and easier to treat) while they wait for attention from a proper healer, and help people recover from all the little injuries they picked up in combat that aren't serious enough to see a healer over.
     
    BronzeTongue said:
    What do you guys think about adding Summon Elysian Thrush to our legion scroll or item supply? It doubles natural healing for everyone in 30 ft of it while it sings and lasts for 8 hours. That's a hefty amount of healing for a level 2 spell. It could easily handle making people more comfortable (and easier to treat) while they wait for attention from a proper healer, and help people recover from all the little injuries they picked up in combat that aren't serious enough to see a healer over.
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    That is a really good spell for our low level mages to have access to, both via their own knowledge and scrolls. I wouldn't invest in too many scrolls of it, though, as Healy Myrrh accomplishes the same effect Alchemically, and we've started producing that stuff in industrial quantities over the last couple months.
     
    I was serious about blowing a few Miracles on gathering the bodies/the ashes.

    Bodies and sacrifices are important, sure, but what is also important is time.

    And we better not dilly-dally, even half a day can mean a lot right now, when we have at least 1 (2?) armies to handle and a God to bully for lunch money his hammer.

    By the by, @DragonParadox, please keep in mind that we want a time ghost or two captured if given the opportunity, and we voted on that, so right now is probably the time for a Companion or two to get onto it, if there are any ghosts still remaining that is.
     
    Archibald said:
    Do we have room for them in SD? I'm sure we have some extra housing, but a city's worth is a lot

    So we should need to deal with the following because of the battle:

    Legion deaths report​
    Vargo Alexi and Salloshi​
    Dealing with Prisoners​
    Dealing with (whats left of) the Altar​
    Studying/removing the temporal field around the Moonchaser​
    Legion funeral + speech​
    Resurrect dragons + riders + soft strider (probably doesn't need its own update)​
    Enemy corpse collection (doesn't need its own update)​
    Get xp from the battle (and the earlier diplomacy + reaper encounter)​
    ​
    Did I miss anything big that we need to do?
    ​
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    We have plenty of room for housing them for the duration of this campaign. It genuinely isn't an issue. They're like 5,000 - 8,000 people total. That's more than manageable.
     
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    Goldfish said:
    That is a really good spell for our low level mages to have access to, both via their own knowledge and scrolls. I wouldn't invest in too many scrolls of it, though, as Healy Myrrh accomplishes the same effect Alchemically, and we've started producing that stuff in industrial quantities over the last couple months.
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    That's fair. It's almost too bad that we're largely abstracting that stuff away, I'm kind of curious about how far we could take low level healing and items. 1 IM of gold as a material component, Healy Myrrh, Bone Reeds, and the Elysian Thrush would be a hell of a base for a field hospital.

    On an unrelated note while I was looking for this I found Phosphorescent Gel, which is one of the few alchemical incendiaries we don't use. It also ignites on contact with the air and acts as a sort of timed explosive. I know we already have stuff for this, but we can always use more.
     
    BronzeTongue said:
    On an unrelated note while I was looking for this I found Phosphorescent Gel, which is one of the few alchemical incendiaries we don't use. It also ignites on contact with the air and acts as a sort of timed explosive. I know we already have stuff for this, but we can always use more.
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    I can see that stuff being used for specialty work, but not really as a combat explosive.

    Being able to time an explosive for an hour without using magic is pretty neat.
     
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