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

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Artemis1992 said:
On the one hand you have a point, on the other Hand though, D&D didn't give all those gods armies of Outsiders for nothing.

I would say that armies being used as focus-points for their god's power is a decent compromise between the purely metaphysical struggle and the kind of battle we have rules for and where weapons matter.

And what I mean with the narrative is not that our ranged deeds of violence count less than others, only that deeds of violence in themselves are less decisive here than usually.
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If we go by full storybook logic, claiming land counts for nothing while gratuitous amounts of violence inflicted upon others are far more important. That and taking certain symbolic objectives, such as the greatest temple in the world, the fortress that was never conquered before and so on.

Epics don't talk about "and then the army walked to village X and claimed it for their god". They talk about "and then King Egregious II marched against the Hittits, and he wrapped 20,000 of their skins around a pillar, before slaying their King with a donkey's jawbone".

The fall of Constaninople is one of the most important moments of the narrative of Europe, because a bastion of Christianity and the mast remnant of Rome fell to the Turks. And if you look at how the moment is remembered, then pop culture is not talking about how the Byzantines lost Anatolia, how the Crusades played into the whole mess or who conquered what random bit of Greece. They talk about how Ottoman cannons tore down the Theodosian Walls, even though that is a very distorted view of the events.

I can assure you that bombardment and the massive deathtoll it will reap will be far more memorable and narrative shaping then the same back and forth with blades that happened for years already.
 
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Azel said:
If we go by full storybook logic, claiming land counts for nothing while gratuitous amounts of violence inflicted upon others are far more important. That and taking certain symbolic objectives, such as the greatest temple in the world, the fortress that was never conquered before and so on.

Epics don't talk about "and then the army walked to village X and claimed it for their god". They talk about "and then King Egregious II marched against the Hittits, and he wrapped 20,000 of their skins around a pillar, before slaying their King with a donkey's jawbone".

The fall of Constaninople is one of the most important moments of the narrative of Europe, because a bastion of Christianity and the mast remnant of Rome fell to the Turks. And if you look at how the moment is remembered, then pop culture is not talking about how the Byzantines lost Anatolia, how the Crusades played into the whole mess or who conquered what random bit of Greece. They talk about how Ottoman cannons tore down the Theodosian Walls, even though that is a very distorted view of the events.

I can assure you that bombardment and the massive deathtoll it will reap will be far more memorable and narrative shaping then the same back and forth with blades that happened for years already.
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I was thinking about other examples, images of soldiers raising flags in Berlin or on Iwo Jima.

Or for older examples, armies crossing a natural border, like a river or an unnatural one like the Chinese Wall or the Limes, gives a good starting point for contesting a domain, which is the point here.
 
Artemis1992 said:
I was thinking about other examples, images of soldiers raising flags in Berlin or on Iwo Jima.

Or for older examples, armies crossing a natural border, like a river or an unnatural one like the Chinese Wall or the Limes, gives a good starting point for contesting a domain, which is the point here.
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Iwo Jima is largely mythologized because it was an insanely deadly battle. There were 25,000 dead and 20,000 wounded over an island that us barely larger then the airfield built on it.

The battle if Gettysburg got the same treatment, with 50,000 corpses. The Battle of Kursk was fought over a largely irrelevant city, but we remember it because more then a million people died there.

The glory of battles is paid for in bodies.

Hoisting a flag on the Reichstag in Berlin was important because it was a sign that the war was over. Doing the same over Warsaw or Wroclaw? Nobody cared. In contrast, the irrelevant city of Torgau got some fame because it's where the US and Soviet forces encountered each other for the same time. A few decades later, Fulda became known in the entire western world, because if WW3 were to happen, it would be there where Soviet tanks would rush westwards.

What matters is context. Breaching Ymeris divine realm counts. Attacking her palace counts. It most be either an important milestone in the campaign or very bloody, preferably both. Then it's narratively relevant. But the means? They don't matter. The means will be exalted through the achievement, not the other way around.
 
...I am confuse, and I am the one who compiled most of the turnvote to begin with.

@Azel, what's Viserys' month-schedule look like, at least approximately?
Do we (and Lya) start with summoning in the isolated demiplane fro the get-go? Or wut?
 
Azel said:
That and doing some odds and ends. Yeah. That was the idea.
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In that case, @Goldfish, we might need that detailed write-up sooner rather than later.
Not the regular Snare upgraded for summoning via items, the "set on a Demiplane attached to... whichever non-Plane-of-Balance-plane"-Snare, the one we suspect actual complications at after we do our first thousand Demons or so.
egoo said:
-[] Part 3 - The Great Summoning: Summon as many Fiends as you possibly can to fuel the ritual.
----[] Summoners: Viserys, Lya (1st Body)
----[] Guards: Dany, Richard, Vee (Free Action), Zherys, Waymar (Free Action), Malarys, Tyene (Free Action), Adamantine Golem (Monk 1)
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This stuff, basically.

...On the happier note, if we keep at it throughout the month (i.e. setting up new Snares if the previous one is compromised), now that we don't visit Qohor, we might just get the ridiculous numbers I so love :V
 
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Hmh. Is the month like this OOC, then?

EDIT: Edited
1) We start the mass-summoniung (off-plane, Viserys, Lya and some beefy Companions in case of an intrusion) on-screen, see a chapter or two of relevancy on-screen.
Maybe get that Daemon from Sarnor while we are at it?
2) We get reports on MAs and some RAs (that are viable to have done earlier in the month because they are either quick or were already started on)
3) We get the rest of the reports, RAs and MAs done.
4) We get reports from Reach (faking action against Fey), Lannisters, and Slavers' Bay
5) We see the results of R'hlor's attack on Ymeri (I'm still against making it a large interlude series. 3 chapters at most, I say)
6) We get economy, scholarum, infrastructure reports.
7) We start the ritual to fuck over all of CoS.

If at any point our off-Plane Snare gets messed with, we drop it, and set up another one, continuing the process.

Am I getting the gist of it? Or should I switch 3 and 4 around?
 
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egoo said:
Hmh. Is the month like this OOC, then?

1) We start the mass-summoniung (off-plane, Viserys, Lya and some beefy Companions in case of an intrusion) on-screen, see a chapter or two of relevancy on-screen.
Maybe get that Daemon from Sarnor while we are at it?
2) We get reports on MAs and some RAs (that are viable to have done earlier in the month because they are either quick or were already started on)
3) We get reports from Reach (faking action against Fey), Lannisters, and Slavers' Bay
4) We get the rest of the reports, RAs and MAs done.
5) We see the results of R'hlor's attack on Ymeri (I'm still against making it a large interlude series. 3 chapters at most, I say)
6) We get economy, scholarum, infrastructure reports.
7) We start the ritual to fuck over all of CoS.

If at any point our off-Plane Snare gets messed with, we drop it, and set up another one, continuing the process.

Am I getting the gist of it? Or should I switch 3 and 4 around?
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Switch 3 and 4, with 3.5 being a few shenanigans such as going out as Buttercup for an afternoon.
 
Ahkay, some weird shit with internet here, can't seem to access SV, SB Fimfiction or QQ whatsoever without using Tor?
Don't expect quick reaction times from me today, y'all.

Better yet, tell me if ya have any wishes for the turnvote additions/changes around right now.
Azel said:
Add it. I think everyone was fine with that.

The month is pretty focused and orderly anyway.
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Done.
egoo said:
[X] Spend some time as a Buttercup, acting out terrifyingly nefarious schemes singing crass songs about Tywin being Buttercup throughout Westeros.
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egoo said:
In that case, @Goldfish, we might need that detailed write-up sooner rather than later.
Not the regular Snare upgraded for summoning via items, the "set on a Demiplane attached to... whichever non-Plane-of-Balance-plane"-Snare, the one we suspect actual complications at after we do our first thousand Demons or so.

This stuff, basically.

...On the happier note, if we keep at it throughout the month (i.e. setting up new Snares if the previous one is compromised), now that we don't visit Qohor, we might just get the ridiculous numbers I so love :V
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We can't start that part of the Summoning plan right away. As I explained a couple weeks ago, Lya still needs to learn the Planar Binding Spell, which she can do first thing this month, but then she needs to craft the Planar Binding and Greater Planar Binding PoSK for Viserys to use. Even if she doubles down and helps her Dedicated Wrights with the enchanting, that will still delay us so that we can only begin around the 11th day of the month.

That is not a huge issue, though, as it gives Viserys time to set up several temporary Greater Demiplanes for the Summonings to take place. Each one will use enough spell slots and Mythic Power that we're not going to want him to do much more during those days, at least not where serious conflict is expected.
 
Just wait, some Outsider with too much free time will try to field an army of killer robots golems to try and counter our troops. :D
 
Goldfish said:
as it gives Viserys time to set up several temporary Greater Demiplanes for the Summonings to take place. Each one will use enough spell slots and Mythic Power that we're not going to want him to do much more during those days, at least not where serious conflict is expected.
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That still needs a write-up now if we are starting with it as out first IC action in the month, I think.
I'll start for ya:

[] Lya (2nd body, use Free Action): learn the Planar Binging spell when not watching Zathir work on Anu-Simung's hammer.
-[] Also have Planar Binding and Greater Planar Binding Pages of Spell Knowledge crafted for Viserys.

[] Viserys: Set off to the Astral Plane to create several temporary Greater Demiplanes to have mass-summoning take place:
-[]
-[]
-[]
-[]
 
egoo said:
That still needs a write-up now if we are starting with it as out first IC action in the month, I think.
I'll start for ya:

[] Lya (2nd body, use Free Action): learn the Planar Binging spell when not watching Zathir work on Anu-Simung's hammer.
-[] Also have Planar Binding and Greater Planar Binding Pages of Spell Knowledge crafted for Viserys.

[] Viserys: Set off to the Astral Plane to create several temporary Greater Demiplanes to have mass-summoning take place:
-[]
-[]
-[]
-[]
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I can't do the write up right now. Stupidly busy with work (and I'll be damned if there isn't another effing hurricane headed for the Gulf Coast...), but I'll try to work on it this evening.
 
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Interlude CMXI: Agent of the Crown
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    • Agent of the Crown ​

    First Day of the Third Month 294 AC

    Cove roughly Twenty Leagues Northeast of Sorcerer's Deep

    People could be remarkably stupid when there was money on the line,     Ysilla Royce thought looking out at the tiny lights on the shoreline. The anchorage here would have been dangerous to try in daytime, at night it would be 'playing bones with the shoals, and not the kind you roll' as Goodman Daret put it.

    All around them the air was alive with the clink of steel muffled by leather and soft soot stained rags, yet it felt almost unbearably quiet. She was glad to hear Kyla's whispered answer. "The moonlight probably helps."

    "And the only reason they can count on it is Zathir," the young Royce noted in disgust. Really, counting on the god of art, knowledge and freedom to get your cargo of poisons, strongwine and dangerous grimoires ashore. Great way to get smited... smote... whichever.

    "Old Lorgis could've been blowing hot air on everything but the strongwine," the older girl reminded her as she raised a thin veil of mist over their position, just in case anyone from the shore was looking their way. They weren't carrying torches, but you shouldn't count on night blindness for an ambush if you could help it.

    "We have to be sure..." Ysilla was not talking about the fog now. The men and women around them were proper Inquisition soldiers, the sort that didn't get sent for a spot of smuggling, but were on call when talk of proscribed texts was in the air, the sorts of men and women whose first job it was to keep the rest of the world from whatever might be in that hold and not making sure all the smugglers down there made it to see the dawn.

    "Alright, this is how we are going in. Cats first, kill or incapacitate anyone who looks like a wizard then get out of there, crossbows at the ready, aim for center mass on the first volley, nothing fancy, then we charge in and mop up," the captain in charge began. "Any questions?"

    Ysilla cleared her throat a little awkwardly. She may have been 'arcane support', but she was also eight and clearly still a trainee. "Shouldn't we give them a chance to surrender before firing? I mean..." she smiled, her voice growing a little stronger. "If these are just normal smugglers in hot water I imagine the words 'this is the Inquisition, lay down your arms and surrender' will have them contemplating their mortality most assiduously."

    A few muffled laughs rang out, then a question in a voice she did not recognize. "Those are some mighty big words. Are you a noble kid?"

    From where he was siting the captain must have seen the speaker because he threw a less than pleased look over his shoulder. "She wore a glamor in the briefing, who or what she is isn't up for chatter."

    Ysilla briefly wondered what it would be like if she did proclaim her true name and heritage. Hello I am Ysilla Royce, and my father might or might not be Lord of a good chunk of the Vale when the King is done with it.

    Kyla threw her a dirty look, likely guessing her thoughts, the familiar 'someone stepped on your grave' chill accompanying it. Kyla had the best magic when it came to little things like that.

    The fight itself was almost too easy, Ysilla put one smuggler to sleep and made another fall over himself with a curse of itchiness while Kyla covered another man in spiders. She really did not scream a whole lot when she had her friend test the spell on her, it just felt sort of weird. By that point most of the men had decided that surrender was the better part of valor, then just as she was looking at them one twitchy fellow decided to make a run for it, screaming something about sorcery and blood.

    A sharp twang rang through the air, then another and another, and the man was still on the ground with three bolts in his back, a rapidly growing puddle of blood spilling onto the sand... dead.

    Ysilla turned her eyes away, swallowing against a dry heave. It really shouldn't be that easy to end a life, that pointless. She didn't understand how anyone could think killing glorious, even if it needed doing.

    She could feel Kyla squeeze her hand briefly, the left so it wouldn't get in the way of her magic. "I'm here."

    "I know, thanks." Sometimes simple words were best.

    OOC: I was hopping they would finally get to fight some actual otherworldly enemies, but I got 1 on the d6 for enemy quality which was mundane smugglers so instead I made this more of a character piece.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Agent of the Crown ​

    First Day of the Third Month 294 AC

    Unnamed Cove roughly Twenty Leagues Northeast of Sorcerer's Deep

    People could be remarkably stupid when there was money on the line,     that was a lesson Ysiilla Royce thought as she looked out at the tiny lights on the shoreline. The anchorage here would have been dangerous to try in daytime. At night it would be 'playing bones with the shoals, and not the kind you roll' as Goodman Daret put it.

    All around them the air was alive with the clink of steel muffled by leather and soft soot stained rags, yet it felt almost unbearably quiet. She was glad to hear Kyla's whispered answer, "The moonlight probably helps."

    "And the only reason they could count on it is Zathir," the young Royce noted in disgust. Really, counting on the god of art, knowledge, and freedom to get your cargo of poisons, strongwine, and dangerous grimoires ashore. Great way to get smited... smote... whichever.

    "Old Lorgis could've been blowing hot air on everything but the strongwine," the older girl reminded her as she raised a thin veil of mist over their position just in case anyone from the shore was looking their way. They weren't carrying torches, but you shouldn't count on night blindness for an ambush if you could help it.

    "We have to be sure..." Ysilla was not talking about the fog now. The men and women around them were proper inquisition soldiers, the sort that didn't get sent for a spot of smuggling, but were on call when talk of proscribed texts was in the air, the sorts of men and women whose first job it was to keep the rest of the world from whatever might be in that hold, and not making sure all the smugglers down there made it to see the dawn.

    "Alright, this is how we are going in. Cats first, kill or incapacitate anyone who looks like a wizard, then get out of there. Crossbows at the ready, aim for center mass on the first volley, nothing fancy, then we charge in and mop up," the captain in charge began. "Any questions?"

    Ysilla cleared her throat a little awkwardly. She may have been 'arcane support' but she was also eight and clearly still a trainee. "Shouldn't we give them a chance to surrender before firing? I mean..." she smiled her voice growing a little stronger. "If these are just normal smugglers in hot water I imagine the words 'this is the inquisition, lay down your arms and surrender' will have them contemplating their mortality most assiduously."

    A few muffled laughs rang out, then a question in a voice she did not recognize "Those are some mighty big words. Are you a noble kid?"

    From where he was sitting, the captain must have seen the speaker because he threw a less than pleased look over his shoulder. "She wore a glamor in the briefing, who or what she is isn't up for chatter."

    Ysilla briefly wondered what it would be like if she did proclaim her true name and heritage. Hello, I am Ysilla Royce and my father might or might not be Lord of a good chunk of the Vale when the king is done with it.

    Kyla threw her a dirty look, likely guessing her thoughts, the familiar 'someone stepped on your grave' chill accompanying it. Kyla had the best magic when it came to little things like that.

    The fight itself was almost too easy. Ysilla put one smuggler to sleep and made another fall over himself with a curse of itchiness while Kyla covered another man in spiders. He really did scream a whole lot, when she had her friend test the spell on her it just felt sort of weird. By that point, most of the men had decided that surrender really was the better part of valor, but then just as she was looking at him, one twitchy fellow decided to make a run for it while screaming something about sorcery and blood.

    A sharp twang rang though the air, then another and another, and the man was soon still on the ground with three bolts in his back, a rapidly growing puddle of blood spilling onto the sand... dead.

    Ysilla turned her eyes away, swallowing against a dry heave. It really shouldn't be that easy to end a life, that pointless. She didn't understand how anyone could think killing glorious, even if it needed doing.

    She could feel Kyla squeeze her hand briefly, the left one so it wouldn't get in the way of her magic. "I'm here."

    "I know, thanks." Sometimes simple words were best.

    OOC: I was hopping they would finally get to fight some actual otherworldly enemies, but I got 1 on the d6 for enemy quality which was mundane smugglers so instead I made this more of a character piece. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    This was great. Kyla and Ysilla POVs are always fun. I'm glad to see that they're getting some experience in a somewhat controlled setting.

    I think the inquisition agents would have been more alarmed to learn she is Waymar's sister rather than Yohn's daughter. Does she not realize what a big deal her brother has become?

    Also, just putting this out there; if someone covered me in spiders, I would run around screaming before falling over dead from a heart attack.
     
    Goldfish said:
    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

    This was great. Kyla and Ysilla POVs are always fun. I'm glad to see that they're getting some experience in a somewhat controlled setting.

    I think the inquisition agents would have been more alarmed to learn she is Waymar's sister rather than Yohn's daughter. Does she not realize what a big deal her brother has become?

    Also, just putting this out there; if someone covered me in spiders, I would run around screaming before falling over dead from a heart attack.
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    She was raised a Royce of Runestone, the importance of that name drummed into her head since before she could talk in full sentences so that is naturally what springs to mind first, hell it might be what springs to Waymar's mind first.
     
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