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

[Goldfish]

Finally got my PC set up for a bit and I'm trying to get caught up on stuff I haven't been able to work on this past month.

@Azel, @Crake, what aircraft do we want to build this month? Besides finishing up the two Gladius ships, I mean? Did we want to start on another Dauntless immediately?

How many and what types of Warstriders?

I don't have any Heralds on the sheet yet, but there are 50 Umbral Spies slotted in. Unfortunately, they're a bit more expensive than I remembered (go figure...), so we can only get 5 of them for the cost of 1 Herald. Still pretty nice, IMO. Between work on one last month and finishing it up this month, plus crafting another one as well, Lya will be bringing two more Umbral Stalkers online in the 4th month.

Making gear for the latest batch of 508 Praetorians is eating really deep into this month's crafting capacity, so we have to keep that in mind for other projects.

 

[egoo]

I don't have any Heralds on the sheet yet, but there are 50 Umbral Spies slotted in. Unfortunately, they're a bit more expensive than I remembered (go figure...), so we can only get 5 of them for the cost of 1 Herald. Still pretty nice, IMO.

Click to shrink...

Can't speak for everyone, but I think the Umbral Spies are waaaay better an investment than Heralds.
Muh understanding comes from throwing together the turnvotes and seeing how few stealth/spying-oriented assets we have.
Can we use up all of the Shapeshifter corpses this month?

I'm a-okay crafting zero Heralds, for several months in a row if needs be, if we get a hundred of Umbral Spies ASAP.
We direly need those for Slavers' Bay, Qohor, and some of Westeros too.

 

[Goldfish]

Can't speak for everyone, but I think the Umbral Spies are waaaay better an investment than Heralds.
Muh understanding comes from throwing together the turnvotes and seeing how few stealth/spying-oriented assets we have.
Can we use up all of the Shapeshifter corpses this month?

I'm a-okay crafting zero Heralds, for several months in a row if needs be, if we get a hundred of Umbral Spies ASAP.
We direly need those for Slavers' Bay, Qohor, and some of Westeros too.

Click to shrink...

We could definitely produce more than 50 this month - our total number of Shapeshifter corpses is up to 189 before taking into account those we'll be using during the 4th month - but even those 50 cost more than the normal 8 Heralds we produce each month lately. If we make more Umbral Spies, we will impact what other stuff we can produce, especially aircraft, Beetle Bombs, and Warstriders.

 

[DragonParadox]

Winning vote

Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Dec 13, 2020 at 4:32 AM, finished with 35 posts and 9 votes.

• ---

  9 people have voted

  [X] Vee will activate her Bead of Karma to raise her caster level to 21 then use a Summon Nature's Ally VII spell and a Metamagic Gem of Extend Spell to Summon 1d4+2 Janni to act as scouts.
  -[X] The scouts will persist for up to 84 rounds (8 minutes and 24 seconds), during which time they will scout both sides of the gate while Invisible and Reduced to Small-size, remaining in Telepathic contact with one another and the main party via their own Telepathy and an Interplanar Telepathic Bond Blood Wishes by Viserys. After their initial investigation, they will use their Ethereal Jaunt ability to determine how the gate reacts to Ethereal travelers.

  • Goldfish
  • SeekerofLight
  • Othan763
  • Faucar
  • Shador
  • Angelazreal1
  • silvanknight
  • egoo
  • Ace of Scarabs

 

[DragonParadox]

A Frightful Presence ​

Nineteenth Day of the Fourth Month 294 AC

"I would rather send a more expendable scout than any of us," you note after a moment's thought. You do your best not to be insulted when Mereth still looks a touch startled at the implication even after all this time. The habits of long ages cannot be broken in a few years, no matter how different the experiences. Instead you turn to Vee. "A janni I think, keep them small and unseen."

"Right," your friend nods, setting her staff on the ground. "Upwards and onwards spirits of the four elements."

Four is precisely the number of janni that flicker into being amid a flash of green light. As you whisper a quick wish to keep them in contact even should they pass onto another plane they seem momentarily bemused at the strange world they have been called into. The spirits quickly follow Vee's instructions, flying along on winds of their own conjuring through the clouds and copper gate.

A few moments later, as you are following along to see if there are any marks or signs on the gate that might reveal what lays beyond, you hear one of the janni's voice in your mind uttering the most surprising word: "Dragon! It's..." You never hear what it is for the word cuts off abruptly in the yawning stillness of death. The other three voices suddenly shout inside your mind, broken insane babbling in every language you know and some you don't, then silence again.

"Well, they found something alright!" you shout back. "Ware, dragon!"

Though few dragons would resist surging from their lair at such intrusion nothing comes as blessings and wards flash to light among your company, from Vee's deep rooted magics to the shrouded sorcery Maelor and the myrkdreki share, to Zherys' power snapping forth like a well-trained but hungering hound testing its chains.

"So there is a dragon, but it will not coming to us. Perhaps we should send a messenger of sorts and a message that would survive their death," Zherys offered. "Can you conjure adamantine, Your Grace?"

You shake your head. "If there is a true dragon beyond that gate it will not take well to such charades, especially after slaying what it perceives as spies. A show of strength will serve. I should go first..."

"One wonders what became of committing more expendable assets," Mereth asks, not bothering to hide her displeasure.

"What usually happens to it," Ser Richard replies with the tone of weary experience. "Still, better than it used to be these days."

Mereth looks dubious at the prospect but does not object further. Instead she notes. "If it is majesty you wish to show than you should pass the gates with an escort."

"Or one of us could go in your place, Your Grace," the mind dragon suddenly spoke up. "A dragon is an impressive being to be sure, but even more impressive is one who holds the allegiance of other dragons."

How do you proceed?

[] Fly ahead to try to speak to the dragon the janni saw
-[] With an escort
-[] Alone

[] Send one of the other dragons
-[] Mirkdreki
-[] Mind dragon

[] Write in

OOC: I know this is really short. I'll try to get three updates up today to compensate.

 

[Shador]

"One wonders what became of committing more expendable assets," Mereth asks, not bothering to hide her displeasure.

"What usually happens to it," Ser Richard replies with the tone of weary experience. "Still better than it used to be these days."

Mereth looks dubious at the prospect but does not object further. Instead she notes. "If it is majesty you wish to show than you should pass the gates with an escort."

Click to shrink...

Yes! They are bonding!
I still have no idea why this ship is so important to me.

 

[Goldfish]

A Frightful Presence ​

Nineteenth Day of the Fourth Month 294 AC

"I would rather send a more expendable scout than any of us," you note after a moment's thought. You do your best not to be insulted when Mereth still looks a touch startled at the implication, even after all this time. The habits of long ages cannot be broken in a few years, no matter how different the experiences. Instead, you turn to Vee. "Janni, I think. Keep them small and unseen."

"Right," your friend nods, setting her staff on the ground. "Upwards and onwards, spirits of the four elements."

Four is precisely the number of janni that flicker into being amid a flash of green light. As you whisper a quick wish to keep them in contact, even should they pass onto another plane, they seem momentarily bemused at the strange world they have been called into. The spirits quickly follow Vee's instructions, flying along on winds of their own conjuring through the soured clouds and the copper gate.

A few moments after as you are following along to see if there are any marks or signs on the gate that might reveal what lays beyond, you hear one of the janni's voice in your mind uttering the most surprising word: "Dragon! It's..." You never hear what it is, for the word cuts off abruptly in the yawning stillness of death. The other three voices suddenly shout inside your mind, broken insane babbling in every language you know and some you don't, then silence again.

"Well, they found something alright!" you shout back. "Ware, dragon!"

Although few dragons would resist surging from their lair at such intrusion, nothing comes as blessings and wards flash to light among your company, from Vee's deep rooted magics to the shrouded sorcery Maelor and the myrkdreki share, to Zherys' power snapping forth like a well trained but hungering hound testing its chains.

"So there is a dragon, but it will not come to us, perhaps we should send a messenger of sorts, and a message that would survive their death," Zherys offered. "Can you conjure adamant, Your Grace?"

You shake your head. "If there is a true dragon beyond that gate it will not take well to such charades, especially after slaying what it perceives as spies. A show of strength will serve. I should go first..."

"One wonders what became of committing more expendable assets," Mereth asks, not bothering to hide her displeasure.

"What usually happens to it," Ser Richard replies with the tone of weary experience. "Still, better than it used to be these days."

Mereth looks dubious at the prospect but does not object further. Instead she notes. "If it is majesty you wish to show, then you should pass the gates with an escort."

"Or one of us could go in your place, Your Grace," the mind dragon suddenly spoke up. "A dragon is an impressive being to be sure, but even more impressive is one who holds the allegiance of other dragons."

How do you proceed?

[] Fly ahead to try to speak to the dragon the janni saw
-[] With an escort
-[] Alone

[] Send one of the other dragons
-[] Mirkdreki
-[] Mind dragon

[] Write in

OOC: I know this is really short. I'll try to get three updates up today to compensate. Not yet edited.

Click to shrink...

Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.

 

[BronzeTongue]

So are we going to shift to true dragon form for this? It's been a while since we did anything on screen in that form.

Maybe we could start holding court in alternating forms to keep in practice or something.

 

[T_of_A]

This is exactly what we made Heralds for...

 

[Goldfish]

You never hear what it is for the word cuts off abruptly in the yawning stillness of death. The other three voices suddenly shout inside your mind, broken insane babbling in every language you know and some you don't, then silence again.

Click to shrink...

That doesn't sound like the Janni are merely reacting to a Dragon's Frightful Presence (nice chapter name pun there, DP!). It even seems more extreme than the reaction I would expect from something like an Ancient Nightmare Dragon, which has an enhanced version of Frightful Presence.

It could be something more along the lines of a more targeted Mind-Affecting effect, maybe psionic in nature? The Maester was apparently researching some pretty shady shit and we know the Deep Ones have been interested in Oldtown and the ancient Citadel archives. There's no telling what he found, has been exposed to, or attempted to ally with.

Or, since we're in the Feywild and a Dragon is possibly involved, likely a powerful one capable of messing with minds, the gate could lead to the Jabberwock.

 

[Artemis1992]

That doesn't sound like the Janni are merely reacting to a Dragon's Frightful Presence (nice chapter name pun there, DP!). It even seems more extreme than the reaction I would expect from something like an Ancient Nightmare Dragon, which has an enhanced version of Frightful Presence.

It could be something more along the lines of a more targeted Mind-Affecting effect, maybe psionic in nature? The Maester was apparently researching some pretty shady shit and we know the Deep Ones have been interested in Oldtown and the ancient Citadel archives. There's no telling what he found, has been exposed to, or attempted to ally with.

Or, since we're in the Feywild and a Dragon is possibly involved, likely a powerful one capable of messing with minds, the gate could lead to the Jabberwock.

Click to shrink...

Though any older Dragon could cast Aura of Terror or IMperious Glare to create a greater Fear than his aura normally does.

 

[Goldfish]

Though any older Dragon could cast Aura of Terror or IMperious Glare to create a greater Fear than his aura normally does.

Click to shrink...

True enough, but doesn't this seem to fit the Janni's reactions very well?

Burble (Su): A jabberwock can burble once every 1d4 rounds as a standard action. This blast of strange noises and shouted nonsense in the various languages known to the jabberwock (and invariably some languages it doesn't know) affects all creatures within a 60-foot-radius spread—these creatures must make a DC 31 Will save or become confused for 1d4 rounds. Alternatively, the jabberwock can focus its burble attack to create a 60-foot line of sonic energy that deals 20d6 points of sonic damage (DC 31 Reflex save for half). The confusion effect is mind-affecting; both are sonic effects.

Click to shrink...

Really sounds to me like they got Burbled.

You never hear what it is for the word cuts off abruptly in the yawning stillness of death. The other three voices suddenly shout inside your mind, broken insane babbling in every language you know and some you don't, then silence again.

Click to shrink...

 

[egoo]

the gate could lead to the Jabberwock.

Click to shrink...

Yes please.

 

[Tomcost]

Yep, the gibbering madness with languages sounds like a Jabberwock.

Which, being a CE dragon with 23 CR, means that we should definitely nuke it. A pity we can't do that from orbit here.

 

[Duesal]

That doesn't sound like the Janni are merely reacting to a Dragon's Frightful Presence (nice chapter name pun there, DP!). It even seems more extreme than the reaction I would expect from something like an Ancient Nightmare Dragon, which has an enhanced version of Frightful Presence.

It could be something more along the lines of a more targeted Mind-Affecting effect, maybe psionic in nature? The Maester was apparently researching some pretty shady shit and we know the Deep Ones have been interested in Oldtown and the ancient Citadel archives. There's no telling what he found, has been exposed to, or attempted to ally with.

Or, since we're in the Feywild and a Dragon is possibly involved, likely a powerful one capable of messing with minds, the gate could lead to the Jabberwock.

Click to shrink...

I've been waiting to kill one of these forever.

 

[Artemis1992]

True enough, but doesn't this seem to fit the Janni's reactions very well?

Really sounds to me like they got Burbled.

Click to shrink...

Gotta admit that sounds likely, just saying we can't rule out other dragons because all older True Dragons are all versatile enough to cause some panic or insanity with relative ease.

 

[egoo]

Fun thing about Jabberwock, is that it isn't even particularly dangerous for it's CR.
Long as it's alone, that is.

We ignore his Burble because we're Mindblanked.
Richard can come up close and sword with no problem regardless of the wind-effect because stronk.
Jabber's base form has no SLAs, which are the main thing that can fuck up someone in the rocket-tag we play.

What's the problem is that it's has a nasty big pile of HP, AC (Richard hits on most attacks, at least, but not Erynies), pretty great saves, and not half bad single target DPS melee or ranged.

The Red Dragon we have trapped in the Orb is way worse an encounter at the same CR.

 

[Goldfish]

Fun thing about Jabberwock, is that it isn't even particularly dangerous for it's CR.
Long as it's alone, that is.

We ignore his Burble because we're Mindblanked.
Richard can come up close and sword with no problem regardless of the wind-effect because stronk.
Jabber's base form has no SLAs, which are the main thing that can fuck up someone in the rocket-tag we play.

What's the problem is that it's has a nasty big pile of HP, AC (Richard hits on most attacks, at least, but not Erynies), pretty great saves, and not half bad single target DPS melee or ranged.

The Red Dragon we have trapped in the Orb is way worse an encounter at the same CR.

Click to shrink...

It would be pretty difficult for our regular Erinyes to hit it reliably due to the high AC. Thankfully, however, they are all equipped with those Silver-Nocking Points you found a while back, which reduces the ranged attack penalty to hit a Jabberwock from -4 to -2. Still, that means it would have an effective AC of 42 versus their attacks.

They currently have a +20 attack bonus with the +1 Enhancement bonus on their bows. That will be going up to +4 Enhancement when Viserys casts Magic Army on them, raising their attack bonus to +23, and I'm about to update their sheets to take into account the +1 Racial HD all of our Erinyes have earned in our service, bringing them to 10 HD and raising their BAB by +1. So that pushes them to +24 for this fight.

Then Maelor is going to use a scroll of Blessed Aim for another +2 bonus and a scroll of Haste for another +1, raising it to +27. It's not great, but that will let them each make two attacks per round with their full Attack Bonus of +27, meaning they would only need to roll a 15 or higher to hit the Jabberwock. 2 attacks made by 12 Erinyes, or a total of 24 per round, would mean roughly 6 per round made contact. Some Nat 20s might even let their lower attack bonus arrows hit, too.

The shitty part of all this, however, is that even when they did hit, the Jabberwock's DR 15/Vorpal and Immunity to Fire means that, at most, an arrow would only inflict 6 points of damage but could just as easily inflict none at all. Every little bit helps, though, even if they're just serving as a distraction.

Mereth, on the other hand, will hit far more often and much harder.

 

[Goldfish]

Here's what I've got so far. If we're going through the gate, I don't think we should be half assing it. All or nothing.

[X] Fly ahead to try to speak to the dragon the janni saw
-[X] With an escort (everyone)
--[X] In addition to their regular preparations, they cast the following:
---[X] Viserys casts Magic Army to give everyone's weapons a +4 Enhancement bonus if they don't already have it, casts Legendary Proportions on Richard using WIld Arcana, then casts Freezing Glance.
---[X] Vee casts Mass Resist Energy (Fire and Sonic) and Particulate Form and on everyone.
---[X] Zherys uses True Casting and Repulsion at it's current maximum radius of 170 feet.
---[X] Maelor uses a scroll of Blessed Aim on everyone.
---[X] The Myrkdreki uses Ancestral Awakening to learn the Spectral Hand and Haste spells. It casts Haste on everyone then uses Spectral Hand. It prepares to use a scroll of Assay Spell Resistance as soon as we pass through the gate and the enemy is spotted.
---[X] The Mind Dragons uses Ancestral Awakening to learn the Spectral Hand and Touch of Idiocy spells. It then uses Spectral Hand.

 

[silvanknight]

[X] Goldfish

 

[Othan763]

[X] Goldfish

 

[Duesal]

[X] Goldfish

I've got a spot in the Trophy Room dusted off.

 

[Shador]

[X] Goldfish

 

[egoo]

[X] Goldfish

It'd be neat to manage a capture.
With Timmie's corpse on top, we'd have something pretty great to base a future Avatar for Syrax off.
Well, that, or the Red stuck in the Dragon Orb. One of the two.

 

[Goldfish]

It's so much easier to look up stuff, make plans, reference character sheets, etc. on my PC. Using nothing but Skynet the Kindle for the past month has been such a pain in the ass.

/1st World Aberration Problems