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

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Works of the Divine ​

Twenty Seventh Day of the Second Month 294 AC

After a moment's thought, you wrap the crown in your cloak before ascending from the Vaults. Power such as could raise mountains and command lands is tempting to be sure, but not so temping as to throw caution to the wind. The circlet of vines seems to writhe in your hand for a moment, as though sensing your intent or more likely not wishing to be parted from its roots. "We have business with Yss and Zathir twice over, I think."

Lya nods, but an untimely yawn interrupts whatever answer she had meant to make. "Damn, what hour is it?"

"Getting close to three in the morning," you answer, after inquiring with Varys who had chosen to fly above the city rather than descend into the vaults. As useful as having the hour for all in the city to see, a clock small enough to carry conveniently would not go amiss.

"Alright, I'll send this body up to bed and get the other one out of..." she cuts off again, this time for longer, ending in a sigh. "There has been some kind of disturbance at the Scholarum and they have come to fetch me..."

"They?" you ask, more confused than worried.

"Teana's not in the city. She has taken a few days out in the countryside to recover from Sarnor and Slaver's Bay, leaving the proctors in charge, but they are selected for their skills in dealing with students not arcane strangeness. They don't look too worried, though. This should be fine. You go ahead, I think Dany is curious about Zathir's new home."

"Alright then. Try not to frighten the initiates too badly," you say in parting. "Whatever they have done, it can't me much more dangerous than what we were doing at their age."

***​

Zathir's home is perhaps not the best way to describe the Temple of Concordance, for as one born to the freedom of the sky that could be counted more his domain than any structure of brick and mortar. The clean lines of columns wrought of blue marble imported from Tyrosh support a roof of tin polished to the shine of silver and kept so through sorcery. It is filled with skylights and windows tinted in all the colors of the rainbow, puzzles and parables wrought by light of sun or moon.

At first sight it is hard to pick out the priests from the faithful and simply curious visitors, until that is, you stop looking for robes and start looking for colors. The winged serpent does not require any particular form of garb that could interfere with a priest's other interests, only that the clothes are dyed sky blue that others might know them. Indeed, walking through the main gates from the gardens, you and Dany are greeted with an atmosphere more of philosophical debate than what most would call worship. The fair and even-handed argument and wisdom derived thereof is more of Zathir's preferred form or prayer and worship, though he would of course accept an answer to simple requests for aid.

The Winged Serpent meets you and your sister not in any special chamber, but in what seems to be a lecture chamber, with a skylight and a carved post for him to coil comfortably around as he speaks. He does not come empty-handed, if such a turn of phrase can be permitted when speaking of a serpent. In the whirlwind of feathers, a single rose manifests upon the table, not dead and cut but contained in a sturdy flowerpot, the kind most of the city's residents would use to brighten an apartment window or balcony. Yet this is no ordinary flower, you can tell immediately. The soft petals glow as though under the light of dusk or dawn, even under the even lanterns and flickering stars overhead.

A young man, of Myrish birth to judge from his accent and a former slave from the fading marks of the collar around his neck, walks in and introduces himself as the first of the Disciples of Zathir, and then with a bit of encouragement from his patron explains the rose's virtues. Firstly, its scent protects against enchantment and possession. Secondly, it was found that its leaves can be brewed into a tea that sooths the mind. Perhaps most intriguingly, it is alap a reagent of some power in the forging of the simplest talismans of protection.

  1. Scent grants +2 Against Enchantment and Possession
  2. Leaves can be brewed into a tea that can restore 1 Wisdom Damage per day in addition to natural healing
  3. Access to Rose Petals lowers the cost of Protection from Evil and Protection from Chaos enchantments by 10%

"Fine work," Dany says with a smile. "You know what they say about the rewards of such..."

"I know that 'they' are too often wrong, but in this instance I am glad that they are right," Zathir replies, an edge of amusement to his words.

Dany sets the hammer of Anu-SImung upon the table. "Do you think you can restore the power of this to create rather than merely destroy?" she asks simply. "Not to what it was, of course, but making it more than a tool of ruin. We have what remains of the idol who bore it, if such would help."

For a long moment the god's bright gaze is fixed on the weapon, though you suspect he sees something beyond skymetal and the magic that shrouds it. "I can restore something of the power to create to this, but it will be less as an instrument of destruction. Only upon the forge will it touch lightning, only in forging will it land with the full weight of its purpose. Is that trade acceptable to you, Dragon Lord?"

What do you reply?

[] Accept, you have many weapons but no tools which hold even an echo of divine skill and knowledge

[] Refuse, better to keep the weapon for the wars ahead

OOC: Not much of a vote, but I needed a break point before the segment with Yss discussing the crown. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.

I changed the flower's discount on enchanting to affect Evil and Chaos protections, assuming Good was a mistake?
 
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Goldfish said:
Works of the Divine ​

Twenty Seventh Day of the Second Month 294 AC

After a moment's thought, you wrap the crown in your cloak before ascending from the Vaults. Power such as could raise mountains and command lands is tempting to be sure, but not so temping as to throw caution to the wind. The circlet of vines seems to writhe in your hand for a moment, as though sensing your intent or more likely not wishing to be parted from its roots. "We have business with Yss and Zathir twice over, I think."

Lya nods, but an untimely yawn interrupts whatever answer she had meant to make. "Damn, what hour is it?"

"Getting close to three in the morning," you answer, after inquiring with Varys who had chosen to fly above the city rather than descend into the vaults. As useful as having the hour for all in the city to see, a clock small enough to carry conveniently would not go amiss.

"Alright, I'll send this body up to bed and get the other one out of..." she cuts off again, this time for longer, ending in a sigh. "There has been some kind of disturbance at the Scholarum and they have come to fetch me..."

"They?" you ask, more confused than worried.

"Teana's not in the city. She has taken a few days out in the countryside to recover from Sarnor and Slaver's Bay, leaving the proctors in charge, but they are selected for their skills in dealing with students not arcane strangeness. They don't look too worried, though. This should be fine. You go ahead, I think Dany is curious about Zathir's new home."

"Alright then. Try not to frighten the initiates too badly," you say in parting. "Whatever they have done, it can't me much more dangerous than what we were doing at their age."

***​

Zathir's home is perhaps not the best way to describe the Temple of Concordance, for as one born to the freedom of the sky that could be counted more his domain than any structure of brick and mortar. The clean lines of columns wrought of blue marble imported from Tyrosh support a roof of tin polished to the shine of silver and kept so through sorcery. It is filled with skylights and windows tinted in all the colors of the rainbow, puzzles and parables wrought by light of sun or moon.

At first sight it is hard to pick out the priests from the faithful and simply curious visitors, until that is, you stop looking for robes and start looking for colors. The winged serpent does not require any particular form of garb that could interfere with a priest's other interests, only that the clothes are dyed sky blue that others might know them. Indeed, walking through the main gates from the gardens, you and Dany are greeted with an atmosphere more of philosophical debate than what most would call worship. The fair and even-handed argument and wisdom derived thereof is more of Zathir's preferred form or prayer and worship, though he would of course accept an answer to simple requests for aid.

The Winged Serpent meets you and your sister not in any special chamber, but in what seems to be a lecture chamber, with a skylight and a carved post for him to coil comfortably around as he speaks. He does not come empty-handed, if such a turn of phrase can be permitted when speaking of a serpent. In the whirlwind of feathers, a single rose manifests upon the table, not dead and cut but contained in a sturdy flowerpot, the kind most of the city's residents would use to brighten an apartment window or balcony. Yet this is no ordinary flower, you can tell immediately. The soft petals glow as though under the light of dusk or dawn, even under the even lanterns and flickering stars overhead.

A young man, of Myrish birth to judge from his accent and a former slave from the fading marks of the collar around his neck, walks in and introduces himself as the first of the Disciples of Zathir, and then with a bit of encouragement from his patron explains the rose's virtues. Firstly, its scent protects against enchantment and possession. Secondly, it was found that its leaves can be brewed into a tea that sooths the mind. Perhaps most intriguingly, it is alap a reagent of some power in the forging of the simplest talismans of protection.

  1. Scent grants +2 Against Enchantment and Possession
  2. Leaves can be brewed into a tea that can restore 1 Wisdom Damage per day in addition to natural healing
  3. Access to Rose Petals lowers the cost of Protection from Evil and Protection from Chaos enchantments by 10%

"Fine work," Dany says with a smile. "You know what they say about the rewards of such..."

"I know that 'they' are too often wrong, but in this instance I am glad that they are right," Zathir replies, an edge of amusement to his words.

Dany sets the hammer of Anu-SImung upon the table. "Do you think you can restore the power of this to create rather than merely destroy?" she asks simply. "Not to what it was, of course, but making it more than a tool of ruin. We have what remains of the idol who bore it, if such would help."

For a long moment the god's bright gaze is fixed on the weapon, though you suspect he sees something beyond skymetal and the magic that shrouds it. "I can restore something of the power to create to this, but it will be less as an instrument of destruction. Only upon the forge will it touch lightning, only in forging will it land with the full weight of its purpose. Is that trade acceptable to you, Dragon Lord?"

What do you reply?

[] Accept, you have many weapons but no tools which hold even an echo of divine skill and knowledge

[] Refuse, better to keep the weapon for the wars ahead

OOC: Not much of a vote, but I needed a break point before the segment with Yss discussing the crown. Not yet edited.
Here's an edited version of the chapter, @DragonParadox.SPOILER

I changed the flower's discount on enchanting to affect Evil and Chaos protections, assuming Good was a mistake?
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It might not have been a mistake. That could have been a remnant of the Devils' touch after gods know how long the flower spent as that ring.
DragonParadox said:
Didn't you guys already pay for a temple with only the details of building it remaining?
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This isn't an issue of book keeping. Even a temple of 60,000 IM is negligible for us. This is more for record keeping. Every other temple in the Holy Places infopost has its building cost recorded.

That said for Zathir's temple we never got the cost since we more or less all agreed we'd be willing to pay whatever was needed.
 
Duesal said:
It might not have been a mistake. That could have been a remnant of the Devils' touch after gods know how long the flower spent as that ring.

This isn't an issue of book keeping. Even a temple of 60,000 IM is negligible for us. This is more for record keeping. Every other temple in the Holy Places infopost has its building cost recorded.

That said for Zathir's temple we never got the cost since we more or less all agreed we'd be willing to pay whatever was needed.
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The Protection from Good is and actual mistake
Then I misremembered charging you guys already. 25.000 IN should do for the temple.
 
Azel said:
[X] You do not care if it retains no ability to harm what so ever and if there is anything that can help him to twist it even further away from that purpose and towards creation, he just needs to say what he needs.
-[X] Reagents, up to 500,000 IM.
-[X] Purified living brass, as much as you can produce on short notice.
-[X] Valyrian steel, up to a few metric tons.
-[X] The aid of other gods, whom we would bribe for their aid in the appropriate fashion.

Might as well throw some resources at this if it helps. A crafting artifact can't possibly be a bad investment, given our budgets and plans.
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The Old Gods are the most obviously useful candidates here since they have a proven track record of repurposing magic items for us via runecraft. I'm not sure about the others, but I definitely won't say no to their help for the ultimate crafting tool for Lya.

@DragonParadox, is there any kind of temple benefit for Zathir's temple yet?

Yss has this:
Temple Bonus: Access to three free commune spells a week, citizens have access to minor divinations for the price of sacrifice, the CR 30 Avatar of Yss will defend the temple to the death

The Merling King has this:
Temple Bonus: Blessing of the Waves (+20% Fishing Efficiency, 33% chance that any vessel that would be lost at sea in the Stepstones due to weather is instead blown off course in some manner deemed fitting to the Merling King)

The Moonsinger Goddess has this:
Temple Bonus: Stepstones Provincial Wealth increased by 3 due to the strong Braavosi community

etc etc.

The Great Sept of Sorcerer's Deep for obvious reasons doesn't have a blessing, and while the Great Temple of R'hllor doesn't have one yet it's only a matter of time. We'll probably see something big in the wake of the war with Ymeri.
 
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Duesal said:
The Old Gods are the most obviously useful candidates here since they have a proven track record of repurposing magic items for us via runecraft. I'm not sure about the others, but I definitely won't say no to their help for the ultimate crafting tool for Lya.

@DragonParadox, is there any kind of temple benefit for Zathir's temple yet?

Yss has this:
Temple Bonus: Access to three free commune spells a week, citizens have access to minor divinations for the price of sacrifice, the CR 30 Avatar of Yss will defend the temple to the death

The Merling King has this:
Temple Bonus: Blessing of the Waves (+20% Fishing Efficiency, 33% chance that any vessel that would be lost at sea in the Stepstones due to weather is instead blown off course in some manner deemed fitting to the Merling King)

The Moonsinger Goddess has this:
Temple Bonus: Stepstones Provincial Wealth increased by 3 due to the strong Braavosi community

etc etc.

The Great Sept of Sorcerer's Deep for obvious reasons doesn't have a blessing, and while the Great Temple of R'hllor doesn't have one yet it's only a matter of time. We'll probably see something big in the wake of the war with Ymeri.
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A free Research Action would be nice @DragonParadox. Not sure in what manner you would limit it, though.
 
Crake said:
A free Research Action would be nice @DragonParadox. Not sure in what manner you would limit it, though.
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Maybe give a re-roll to the SD universities and Scholarium? Roll one research contribution per month twice and pick the higher result.

Speaking of longstanidng research, @DragonParadox, how is the steam engine going? If it's not finished, can we just stop this backgrounding and have it as a proper research action for our engineering department?
 
Hey @Azel, it'd be great practice for Lya to be Zathir's foremost assistant in repurposing the Artifact even if it ends up taking up a research action. Her Mythic Path is pretty narrowly limited to acts of inspiration and creation, and not much is more inspired than this. This is the sort of deed that will echo in her legend, learning her craft from the gods themselves to forge herself a personalized Artifact of Creation.
 
Azel said:
Maybe give a re-roll to the SD universities and Scholarium? Roll one research contribution per month twice and pick the higher result.

Speaking of longstanidng research, @DragonParadox, how is the steam engine going? If it's not finished, can we just stop this backgrounding and have it as a proper research action for our engineering department?
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  1. I like the re-roll idea for Zathir's temple boon
  2. As for steam, I'm going to say it's hit it's limit on what can be done in the background. I'll have a research option compiled in the morning.
 
[X] Azel

I'm really curious what our craftsmen can make with a divine hammer of creation.

Could this potentially help with out plan in restoring the Plane of Law alongside the anvil from earlier?
 
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