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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 Dec 26, 2020 at 1:24 AM, finished with 96 posts and 25 votes.
  • [X] Plan !!SCIENCE!!
    -[X] Press on through the temporal effect
    -[X] First, spend some time to prepare beacons to mark your path.
    --[X] Lya and Viserys will try to merge the spells Dragoneye Rune and Explosive Rune into a new spell, dubbed Mark of Greed.
    ---[X] The new spells functions as both Dragoneye Rune and Explosive Rune, with the only difference that the caster can detonate the rune as a swift action, regardless of distance instead of the Rune activating on being read. The rune still detonates on a failed attempt to remove it.
    ---[X] Meanwhile, Qyburn looks into using Fleshcrafting to create the rune from Aifes living scales, so that Aife and the Ferryman can use the beacons to guide the party back home.
    ----[X] Expected result: By carving the rune into living tissue and having Viserys power it with his magic, the rune becomes extremely difficult to dispel safely and will definitely destroy the scale beyond recovery if a failed attempt is made.
    --[X] If that fails, just ask Aife for a few of his scales and use Ancestral Awaken to learn and cast those spells the regular way.
    --[X] Lastly, Qyburn uses Psychic Reformation to shuffle Feats and Powers [FINAL SETUP PENDING], then uses Quintessence to protect the scales.
    [X] Turn back, better for the Old Gods to spend some of their strength than risk a passage through eldritch chronmancy
    [X] Press on through the temporal effect
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Part MMMDCLXXXXVI: By Arcane Faculties
  • Threadmarks
    • By Arcane Faculties ​

    Twentieth Day of the Fourth Month 294 AC

    A perilous path stands before you, one not built by the hand of your foes and leading you know not where, yet what choice do you have? The Old Gods could bar this path, perhaps, thread Old Wyk together with ghostly roots, but what of the next island il-favored enough to stand upon an unsecured leyline, the next city? Will you wake up one day soon to find Sorcerer's Deep itself in peril from some spell out of deep time? You cannot take that chance, so you must take this one.

    The question now is how to mark the way. The cloak flayed from Mammon's hide glimmers in the dark between your scales, more real than common matter ever could be, yet you are loath to trust it to the whims fate and the twists of the untested trail. Scales... a idea comes to you as you look back at Aife, not an entirely sensible one, but perhaps you can make it more so. "Lya, do you think we could write a spell that allows one to both scry an object and destroy it at a distance when triggered?"

    "Principle of Observation and Principle of Destruction?" she asks startled, her voice echoing strangely through the stone, more felt than heard. "Given enough time that is almost certain to work... oh, you mean now? It isn't going to be pretty, but maybe something you can etch with will and wishcraft."

    Somehow you can hear Ser Richard sigh through his helm and several feet of solid stone.

    ***​

    Moving quickly you rise out of the space Qyburn warns you is shifted in time and carve a chamber from the stone, a simple dome high enough for you to stand comfortably at the center even in dragon shape, wavy bands of rust red running through the walls. As the twins settle to guard your temporary home a mage lantern flickers into being between your fingers, the first light these depths have seen since the world began.

    "Holy Aife, would you agree to lend us some of your scales that we might find our way back to our proper time once our business with the Deep One wreckers is done?" you ask plainly, though not without some guile in reminding her of her patron's enmity against those who usurped his domain.

    She lashes her tail once, twice against the stone, sapphire eyes narrowed in thought and worry. "Yes," she answers at last. "By those arts I was made, I shall trust them once more, them and you, Dragon King." The implication could not have been more clear, she does not wholly trust Qyburn, but she does trust you enough to allow him to work his arts upon her scales.

    For her part Lya is already engrossed in the arcane riddle before her, having already drawn a set of wax styluses that work on stone and started to work up preliminary diagrams, growing exponentially more complex as she works. You catch sight of draconic enchantment, lyrical fey spell-craft and most of all rune-craft stolen by the First Men from some of those you had come here to battle. It is almost dizzying to watch her work. Dizzying and entrancing as her eyes flash with every answer and especially with every question. You quickly put those thoughts back where they belong, this is very much not the time or place.

    The spell you forge is not elegant, far from it. In fact you suspect Teana would not allow any Scholarum student to even attempt to learn it. There is an not inconsiderable chance that casting it will simply detonate the object in the caster's hands, at least if the lines are not inherently part of the 'canvas' which is being worked. Fortunately Qyburn's work is up to the task even if between the three of you it took closer to half a day than a few hours to finish the work that is still faster than you had any right to hope for given the sheer complexity of the task.

    Mark of Greed Created

    "Excellent," you proclaim, holding the marked scales in your hand, heavier than they aught to be from the weight of both their origin and the sigils upon them. Turning to Qyburn you add: "I realize I may be asking an impossible question, Wisdom, but can you estimate how long our journey through time will take from our perspective?"

    The flesh-smith hums, a deep multi-tonal sound what seems to crawl through the air, his many eyes closed in thought. "If the gradient is constant, which it should be from my limited understanding of chronomancy, than we can expect the journey to take twelve thirteenths of a day, which is to say twenty two hours, five minutes and fifty nine seconds."

    In what order and with what wards do you advance?

    [] Write in order of advance buffs and Qyburn's feats

    OOC: I feel kind of bad closing off a chapter with this with only one update per day since it's not the most exciting vote, but I need this stuff to run an engagement properly.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    In what order and with what wards do you advance?

    [] Write in order of advance buffs and Qyburn's feats

    OOC: I feel kind of bad closing off a chapter with this with only one update per day since it's not the most exciting vote, but I need this stuff to run an engagement properly. Not yet edited.
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    Is everyone running on a full tank or have some resources already been spent? If so, much Quintessence and spell slots did we spend?
     
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    ...No wonder you'd have something after so many years of daily writing.

    Get well soon.
    Take as much time off as possible off writing please - I'd rather see the quest die (hopefully not, but since you are always scared of not being able to pick it up later...) than you having medial problems exacerbated.

    EDIT: DP'd?
     
    @Goldfish, what do you recon we will face? I'm suspecting some kind of souped up Earth Monolith or some primordial monster. All things considered, the Tarrasque seems most likely, though that might be wishful thinking on my part.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    By Arcane Faculties ​

    Twentieth Day of the Fourth Month 294 AC

    A perilous path stands before you, one built by the hand of your foes and leading you know not where, yet what choice have you? The Old Gods could bar this path, perhaps, thread Old Wyk together with ghostly roots, but what of the next island ill-favored enough to stand upon an unsecured leyline, the next city? Will you wake up one day soon to find Sorcerer's Deep itself in peril from some spell out of deep time? You cannot take that chance, so you must take this one.

    The question now is how to mark the way. The the cloak flayed from Mammon's hide glimmers in the dark between your scales, more real than common matter ever could be, yet you are loath to trust it to the whims fate and the twists of the untested trail. Scales... a idea comes to you as you look back at Aife, not an entirely sensible one perhaps, but perhaps you can make it more so. "Lya do you think we could shape a spell that allows one to both scry an object and destroy it at a distance when triggered?"

    "Principle of Observation and Principle of Destruction?" she asks, startled, her voice echoing strangely through the stone, more felt than heard. "Given enough time that is almost certain to work... oh you mean now? It isn't going to be pretty, but maybe something you can etch with will and wishcraft."

    Somehow you can hear Ser Richard sigh through his helm and several feet of solid stone.

    ***​

    Moving quickly, you rise out of the space Qyburn warns you is shifted in time and carve a camber from the stone, a simple dome high enough for you to stand comfortably at the center even in dragon shape, wavy bands of rust red minerals running through the walls. As the twins settle to guard your temporary home, a mage lantern flickers into being between your fingers, the first light these depths have seen since the world began.

    "Holy Aife, would you agree to lend us some of your scales that we might find our way back to our proper time once our business with the Deep One wreckers is done?" you ask plainly, though not without some guile in reminding her of her patron's enmity against those who usurped his Domain.

    She lashes her tail once, twice against the stone, sapphire eyes narrowed in thought and worry. "Yes," she answers at last. "By those arts I was made, I shall trust them once more, them and you, Dragon King." The implication could not have been more clear, she does not wholly trust Qyburn, but she does trust you enough to allow him to work his arts upon her scales.

    For her part, Lya is already engrossed in the arcane riddle before her, having already drawn a set of wax styluses that work on stone and started to draw up preliminary diagrams, growing exponentially more complex as she works. You catch sight of draconic enchantment, lyrical fey spell-craft, and most of all rune-craft stolen by the First Men from some of Those you had come here to battle. It is almost dizzying to watch her work. Dizzyng and entrancing, as her eyes flash with every answer and especially with every question. You quickly put those thoughts back where they belong, this is very much not the time or the place.

    The spell you forge is not elegant, far from it in fact. You suspect Teana would not allow any Scholarum student to even attempt to learn it. There is a not inconsiderable chance that casting it will simply detonate the object in the caster's hands, at least if the lines are not inherently part of the 'canvas' which is being worked. Fortunately, Qyburn's work is up to the task even if between the three of you it took closer to half a day than a few hours to finish the work that is still faster than you had any right to hope for given the sheer complexity of the task.

    Mark of Greed Created

    "Excellent," you proclaim, holding the marked scales in your hand, heavier than they aught to be from the weight of both their origin and the sigils upon them. Turning to Qyburn, you add, "I realize I may be asking an impossible question Wisdom, but can you estimate how long our journey through time will take from our perspective?"

    The flesh-smith hums, a deep multi-tonal sound what seems to crawl through the air, his many eyes closed in thought. "If the gradient is constant, which it should be from my limited understanding of chronomancy, then we can expect the journey to take twelve thirteenths of a day, which is to say twenty two hours five minutes and fifty nine seconds."

    In what order and with what wards do you advance?

    [] Write in order of advance buffs and Qyburn's feats

    OOC: I feel kind of bad closing off a chapter with this with only one update per day since it's not the most exciting vote, but I need this stuff to run an engagement properly. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    So... er really bad news. My other hand started acting up and it's looking more and more like carpal tunnel. I'm going to stop typing today. Sorry for the sudden stop.
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    A couple years ago when I first started getting some indications that I might be developing Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, especially in my left hand and wrist, my boss had me order an ergonomic keyboard and a mouse pad with a built-in wrist pad. The keyboard only has a slight curve, not like some I've seen which practically split the keys into two separate sections, and a built-in wrist rest. You may or may not already be using a similar set up, but if not I cannot recommend it enough. I still get twinges in my left wrist sometimes if I roll it the wrong way and pain that shoots down to my fingertips if something pinches just the wrong way, but the overall difference the keyboard and mouse pad have made were like night and day. The keyboard is a Logitech K350 if you need a reference.

    There are also some simple exercises you can do that might help alleviate the symptoms somewhat, and special wrist braces which are supposed to help, too. I admit that I got a brace but didn't wear it much once the keyboard started making such a big difference.

    Get well soon, dude. Take whatever time you need and remember that your health comes first.
     
    Azel said:
    @Goldfish, what do you recon we will face? I'm suspecting some kind of souped up Earth Monolith or some primordial monster. All things considered, the Tarrasque seems most likely, though that might be wishful thinking on my part.
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    I doubt it's the Tarrasque, simply because that doesn't jive with a big ass island exploding. I also seem to recall that DP shares my antipathy for the Tarrasque as a sloppy and bland monster, no matter how much of a classic it has become among D&D players.

    Your Earth Monolith(s) idea has a lot more merit, IMO. Probably one or more that have been enslaved and/or enraged to the point of mindless destruction, then put into a Temporal Stasis or even Imprisonment spell. When the time is right, the effect would end and the Monolith(s) just go into shit wrecking mode. That's a good possibility for the destruction itself, but the actual enemies are more likely something else entirely. @Duesal's idea about an Aboleth Chronomancer seems possible, though I have no idea what that would amount to since, AFAIK, there is no defined Chronomancer class in D&D 3.5 or Pathfinder. The few useful Time-related spells that we know of, however, such as Celerity and Time Stop, point to the potential danger we could face.

    Whatever the case, once we reach the proper time period, we definitely need to equip Lya or Qyburn with Anu-Simung's Cloak of Order and make sure everyone stays within the effect, while also keeping our Spellbane up to continue blocking Time Stop in that manner.

    Chronomancer or not, I also expect a number of powerful Aboleth minions or simply a gaggle/school/flock of Aboleths, since they come in a wide variety, with various specializations and powers unique to their particular breeds. There's a good chance we won't see a single Illithid if we go back far enough, depending on what origin story lore DP is using for them.
     
    Goldfish said:
    Whatever the case, once we reach the proper time period, we definitely need to equip Lya or Qyburn with Anu-Simung's Cloak of Order and make sure everyone stays within the effect, while also keeping our Spellbane up to continue blocking Time Stop in that manner.
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    That would kinda wreck Viserys' favorite strategy though, so propably hold it back until we are actually sure there are mages (instead of other monsters) down there doing the work.

    Edit: Also, Psionics have a good bag of time-related tricks as well, particularly under Psychoportation, maybe it's going in that direction.
     
    Still, better to take the holidays in rest DP.

    Half of the authors I follow on Royal Road and elsewhere appears to do so too.

    Except Piratebea... that monster!

    On that note, I wonder how would Innworld react if we and the Companions get dumped there?
     
    Goldfish said:
    I doubt it's the Tarrasque, simply because that doesn't jive with a big ass island exploding. I also seem to recall that DP shares my antipathy for the Tarrasque as a sloppy and bland monster, no matter how much of a classic it has become among D&D players.
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    I've often seen the idea that the Tarrasque is causing earthquakes when it trashes around in it's subterranean lair, so it does fit to me.

    Of course, there are other options.

    The Firebleeder – d20PFSRD

    www.d20pfsrd.com

    The Monarch Worm – d20PFSRD

    www.d20pfsrd.com
     
    @Goldfish, unless you think we need to prepare for something specific, I'd leave Qyburn on his default combat load-out. It offers resistance piercing Enervation, double-Disintegrate rays and Decerebrate for capture, so decent mix for all circumstances.
     
    Here's what I've got so far. I agree that Qyburn's current combat loadout should work well for this, @Azel.

    Any changes or additions ya'll think I should make?

    [X] Into the Depths of Time
    -[X] One of the Myrkdreki Twins leads the way, ready to use Wings of Cover at a moment's notice or assume Gaseous Form as needed, while Lya makes certain to have a Brilliant Barrier charm ready to use in an emergency.
    -[X] Qyburn maintains his current combat loadout.
    -[X] As part of long term protection, the following spells are kept active on everyone during the descent:
    --[X] Lya: Life Bubble (taking turns with Aife)
    --[X] Aife: Life Bubble (taking turns with Lya), Reached and Chained Mind Blank, Reached and Chained Nine Lives. The Mind Blank and Nine Lives spells are cast in conjunction with Lya maintaining a Harmonic Chorus spell on Aife, along with separate instances of canceled Moment of Greatness spells in order to raise each spell to 26th caster level.
    -[X] In addition to their normal buffs, before combat the group uses the following spells, prioritizing those with the shortest durations for last and those which seem most useful to the situation, if possible:
    --[X] Viserys: Battlemagic Perception, Greater Blink, Freedom of Movement (himself, plus the Twins), Scintillating Scales, Mirror Image, Ironskin, Starmantle, See Invisibility, Moment of Greatness, and activates his Crystal Rod of Reddopsi. If possible, immediately before combat he casts Searing Agonizing Mass Fire Shield on everyone.
    --[X] Lya: Battlemagic Perception, Greater Blink, Freedom of Movement, Barkskin (herself, Richard, and Qyburn), Mirror Image, Mass Resist Energy (Cold, Electricity, Fire, Sonic), True Seeing (herself and Viserys), See Invisibility, Starmantle, Control Winds, Heightened Awareness, Bless, Wind Walk (via scrolls). If possible, immediately before combat she casts Aura of Vitality on everyone.
    --[X] Aife: Battlemagic Perception, Ironskin, Sign, Entropic Shield, Freedom of Movement, Mass Shield of Faith, Mass Resist Energy (Acid), Mass Conviction, Mass Spell Resistance, True Seeing, Righteous Wrath of the Faithful, Recitation, Dawn Shroud, Caustic Blood, Repulsion.
    --[X] Qyburn: Freedom of Movement, Heart of Water, Heart of Earth, Heightened Awareness, Mirror Image, Touchsight (using 13 PP for 100ft radius), Pierce the Veils
    --[X] Myrkdreki Twins: Battlemagic Perception (using Viserys' PoSK), Heart of Air & Heart of Water (using Viserys' PoSK), See Invisibility (using VIserys' PoSK), False Life (using Viserys' PoSK), Ancestral Awakening (to learn Dispel Magic and Invoke the Cerulean Sign), Scintillating Scales. If possible, immediately before combat they use Viserys' PoSK to cast Call the Void.

    [X] Ser Kennos of Kayce Level Up
    -[X] Class: +1 Fist of R'hllor
    -[X] Skills (4 points): +1 Diplomacy, +1 Heal, +1 Knowledge (Religion), +1 Sense Motive
     
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    Goldfish said:
    Here's what I've got so far. I agree that Qyburn's current combat loadout should work well for this, @Azel.
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    Since you are the most likely one to make any combat plans that will come out of this, here are some of his nastier tricks against casters to keep in mind:
    - Use Weave the Sources to cast Shatter Mindblank and Feeblemind at the same time, boosting the latter with 4 Power Points to give it an effective Will DC of 29. This is a Standard Action, but can only be done 1/day.
    - Use a Maximizing Gem and 4 Power Points to cast Mind Poison on someone (delivered by his Necrotic Mold familiar) to have a DC 27 Fort save or deal 10 Wisdom damage, then follow up with Feeblemind (DC 25 base, +2 if you spend 4 Power Points, with the WIS damage being a -5 to saves). If you also spend a Quicken Gem or his Belt of Battle charge on the Feeblemind, he can do this within a single round.
    - Everything involving Ego Whip against CHA casters.
    -- Running Schism, use his Standard Action to cast Ego Whip for 11 Power Points (3d4 CHA damage, average 7.5 damage) and his Schism action to cast it again for 7 Power Points (2d4 CHA damage, average 5 damage). Against non-CHA specced enemies, this is pretty much a guaranteed knock-out, especially against dumb muscle beasts, who are now perfect targets for his Necrotic Mold to take over.
    - Split Ray Disintigrate, which costs only 13 Power Points and means the target needs to make two DC 25 Fort saves or get dusted. Also spend a 3rd lvl Spell Slot to make it DC 28. Takes a Move Action for Psionic Focus and a Standard Action to cast. If he starts a round with Psionic Focus from a previous round, use the Belt of Battle charge to do this twice in a round for maximum fun.
    - Thanatopic Enervation is always a crowd pleaser, what with being a guaranteed bucket of suck for whoever gets hit with it.
     
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    Azel said:
    Since you are the most likely one to make any combat plans that will come out of this, here are some of his nastier tricks against casters to keep in mind:
    - Use Weave the Sources to cast Shatter Mindblank and Feeblemind at the same time, boosting the latter with 4 Power Points to give it an effective Will DC of 29. This is a Standard Action, but can only be done 1/day.
    - Use a Maximizing Gem and 4 Power Points to cast Mind Poison on someone (delivered by his Necrotic Mold familiar) to have a DC 27 Fort save or deal 10 Wisdom damage, then follow up with Feeblemind (DC 25 base, +2 if you spend 4 Power Points, with the WIS damage being a -5 to saves). If you also spend a Quicken Gem or his Belt of Battle charge on the Feeblemind, he can do this within a single round.
    - Everything involving Ego Whip against CHA casters.
    -- Running Schism, use his Standard Action to cast Ego Whip for 11 Power Points (3d4 CHA damage, average 7.5 damage) and his Schism action to cast it again for 7 Power Points (2d4 CHA damage, average 5 damage). Against non-CHA specced enemies, this is pretty much a guaranteed knock-out, especially against dumb muscle beasts, who are now perfect targets for his Necrotic Mold to take over.
    - Split Ray Disintigrate, which costs only 13 Power Points and means the target needs to make two DC 25 Fort saves or get dusted. Also spend a 3rd lvl Spell Slot to make it DC 28. Takes a Move Action for Psionic Focus and a Standard Action to cast. If he starts a round with Psionic Focus from a previous round, use the Belt of Battle charge to do this twice in a round for maximum fun.
    - Thanatopic Enervation is always a crowd pleaser, what with being a guaranteed bucket of suck for whoever gets hit with it.
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    I love how Qyburn has become a Companion-grade combatant for those rare times we get him out of the lab.

    This looks great to me, dude. That's at least three solid rounds of high octane FU! before he would need to drop down to a more sedate FU pace.
     
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