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

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Vote closed. The power of the fish reaction compels me. :V
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 1, 2021 at 12:01 PM, finished with 31 posts and 11 votes.
  • [X] You've specifically designed the Throne Room to also play host to the originally envisioned Imperial Council, composed of the delegates from each of the regional Voices. That you've made your advisory body more elaborate and given it more in the way of established rules and dressed it up for public consumption, notwithstanding the fact you faced no pressure to do so, but did anyway.
    -[X] This has the added benefit of placing these powerful people directly under your eye, in the very symbolic, and literal, heart of your power, where you can loom over them from your Throne at will. You doubt it will ever be necessary, but there's also no more potent a reminder of your power than completely dismissing an open or closed session while seated upon the Throne, either.
    [X] Put Rhango, Breathtaker and Elaheh into the same room to design the perfect Shark-Horse.
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Part MMMDCCXXXIX: Of Lords and Land
  • Threadmarks
    • Of Lords and Land ​

    Fourth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    Magic can be a wonderful thing, you muse the next day as you sit upon your throne, not from any wonder you had seen or wrought, but the simple convenience of being able to modify the structure of your throne room between sunset and sunrise through diligent and skillful work. Seats meant for the Imperial Council are upholstered anew, some black for the Vox and some crimson for the Princeps. So it is that these powerful people are to sit directly under your eye in the heart of your power in every sense of the words. Here you can loom over them from your throne to your heart's content. You doubt it will ever be necessary, but there is, one must admit, no more potent a reminder of your power than completely dismissing an open or closed session while seated upon the throne either.

    For now your task is another, though no less important, one. Investing those who are to be seated upon red silk, the Princeps of the Western Provinces, be they lords of ancient estate or counts newly raised from nothing or near enough that. Thus Theon Greyjoy, newly returned from his new lands is as raised Count of Greyport, the legacy of the Lannisters undone in name as much as in fact. You suspect quite a few of those attending understand the irony and most find it sweet upon the tongue.

    By now most of the lords of the Vale are content to at least keep their grumblings to themselves when Dalla of the Mists is confirmed as High Chieftess of Northweald, content at least that it is an elected position and thus by some foolish measure 'not as real' as an appointment by blood. To your surprise Ser Roger Reyne, now holding this name in truth, has more support for holding the seat of Castamere than you would have expected of a hedge knight of dubious heritage and unknown character. He could do far worse than support from Ashemark, he could do far worse. Where both Theon and Dalla had been prepared for their respective ascensions, his voice trembles with emotions too many and too deep for even you to name them all.

    You imagine that from the bottom step this must all seem as a dream, impossible and vivid as the colors of the mage-light on polished marble flowing like water. From where you stand it is less dream and more akin to a painting, each brush-stroke carefully measured, and yet when they had been laid the interplay of light and color revealing things one could not in the mind alone conceive.

    One would not think that northern lords not only of the Whitelands but of the Winterlands and Last River would seek out representatives of the Iron Bank in search of loans and trade deals while mostly avoiding their fellow worshipers of the Old Gods in the Vale, or that Baelor Hightower would move to make some sort of deal with Asha before she is even formally confirmed before the court, but so they are and so they work, the dance of the court turning all around you already. The first steps in the dance might yet be slow, the lords and ladies still finding their footing, but you have no doubt that will quickly change.

    ***​

    Later in the day, as you speak with your mother about about the specifics of dealing with Doran Martell, twice a Duke in the Curia and once a Prince, she interjects with a question you had not been expecting. "Did you put out the news that you were making shark-horses for the Dothraki? I swear I have heard that from three different ladies today, the words 'shark' and 'Dothraki' equally distressing for all they have never seen either."

    "No, I..." You break off. "Were they the sort of ladies who might have gotten on Dany's nerves already somehow?"

    She considers the matter for a long moment then nods. "Are you making shark-horses for the Dothraki?"

    "No mother, I am much too busy. Wisdom Elaheh is with the aid of the reputable Khal Rhango," you reply glibly.

    She sighs, though you can see the faintest shadow of a smile on her face. "That would count as in any case, for the purposes of court functions. He is a ruler as much as a general for all he has no land."

    What rank is Rhango formally counted as?

    [] Baron

    [] Count

    What do you do next?

    [] Write in

    OOC: And here we are, third update of the day. I did not cover any of the big titles in case you wanted to to all of them at once, but the counts seemed safe enough for an introduction to courtly life. Also, in case anyone is wondering, the one who suggested starting a rumor about shark-horses was Glyra.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • DragonParadox said:
    Of Lords and Land ​

    Fourth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

    Magic can be a wonderful thing, you muse the next day as you sit upon your throne. Not from any wonder you had seen or wrought, but the simple convenience of being able to modify the structure of your throne room between sunset and sunrise through diligent and skillful work. Seats meant for the Imperial Council are upholstered anew, some black for the Vox and some crimson for the Princeps. So it is that these powerful people are to sit directly under your eye, in the heart of your power in every sense of the word. Here you can loom over them from your throne to your heart's content. You doubt it will ever be necessary, but there is, one must admit, no more potent a reminder of your power than completely dismissing an open or closed session while seated upon the throne, either.

    For now your task is another, though no less important, investing those who are to be seated upon red silk, the Princeps of the Western Provinces, be they lords of ancient estate or counts newly raised from nothing or near enough that. Thus Theon Greygoy, newly returned from his new lands, is raised Count of Greyport, the legacy of the Lannisters undone in name as much as in fact. You suspect quite a few of those attending understand the irony and most find it sweet upon the tongue.

    By now most of the lords of the Vale are content to at least keep their grumbles to themselves when Dalla of the Mists is confirmed as High Chieftess of Northweald. Content, at least, that it is an elected position and thus by some foolish measure 'not as real' as an appointment by blood. To your surprise, Ser Roger Reyne, now holding this name in truth, has more support for holding the seat of Catamere than you would have expected of a hedge knight of dubious heritage and unknown character. He could do far worse than support from Ashmark. Where both Theon and Dalla had been prepared for their respective ascensions, his voice trembles with emotions too many and too deep for even you to name them all.

    You imagine that from the bottom step this must all seem as a dream, impossible and vivid as the colors of the mage-light on polished marble flowing like water. From where you stand, it is less dream and more akin to a painting, each brush-stroke carefully measured and yet when they had been laid the interplay of light and color revealing things one could not in the mind alone conceive.

    One would not think that northern lords, not only of the Whitelands, but of the Winterlands and Last River also, would seek out representatives of the Iron Bank in search of loans and trade deals while mostly avoiding their fellow worshipers of the Old Gods in the Vale, or that Baelor Hightower would move to make some sort of deal with Asha before she is even formally confirmed before the court, but so they are and so they work, the dance of the court turning all around you already. The first steps in the dance might yet be slow, the lords and ladies still finding their footing, but you have no doubt that will no doubt chance.

    ***​

    Later in the day as you speak with your mother about about the specifics of dealing with Doran Martell, twice a Duke in the curia and once a prince, he interjects with a question you had not been expecting. "Did you put out the news that you were making shark horses for the Dothraki? I swear I have heard that from three different ladies today, the words 'shark' and 'Dorthraki' equally distressing for all they have never seen either."

    "No, I..." You break off. "Were they the sort of ladies who might have gotten on Dany's nerves already somehow?"

    She considers the matter for a long moment, then nods. "Are you making shark horses for the Dothraki?"

    "No, mother, I am much too busy. Wisdom Elaheh is with the aid of the reputable Khal Rhango," you reply glibly.

    She sighs, though you can see the faintest shadow of a smile on her face. "What would he count as in any case, for the purposes of court functions. He is a ruler as much as a general, for all that he has no land."

    What rank is Rhango formally counted as?

    [] Baron

    [] Count

    What do you do next?

    [] Write in

    OOC: And here we are, third update of the day. I did not cover any of the big titles in case you wanted to to all of them at once, but the counts seemed safe enough for an introduction to courtly life. Also in case anyone is wondering the one who suggested starting a rumor about shark horses was Glyra. Not yet edited.
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    Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
     
    I like Rhango, and Bonebreaker is a total horse bro, but I don't think he needs too much formalized power within the Imperium. So Baron Bonebreaker and his trusty Human sidekick Rhango should be fine.

    [X] Baron
     
    [X] Count

    Rhango is too cool to be anything less than a Count! Also the amount of Westerosi who will be pissed about being lower on the totem pole than a Dothraki will be amazing!
     
    I don't think we should give him a noble title. What is he doing rubbing shoulders with Lords by Blood anyway? If nobles want to know what to do with the "tame Dothraki" of ours, they should probably first establish in their minds the idea that rank bestowed by us without land attached to it is worth their attention to begin with?

    If anything he should be getting a Military title. Maybe a nice estate without any noble responsibilities or land management attached to it.
     
    Crake said:
    I don't think we should give him a noble title. What is he doing rubbing shoulders with Lords by Blood anyway? If nobles want to know what to do with the "tame Dothraki" of ours, they should probably first establish in their minds the idea that rank bestowed by us without land attached to it is worth their attention to begin with?

    If anything he should be getting a Military title. Maybe a nice estate without any noble responsibilities or land management attached to it.
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    If we do that I'd like to imagine he spends his days chilling with his horse buddy smoking fat cigars and laughing at those loser Nobles who actually have to spend time stewarding their lands.
     
    Crake said:
    I don't think we should give him a noble title. What is he doing rubbing shoulders with Lords by Blood anyway? If nobles want to know what to do with the "tame Dothraki" of ours, they should probably first establish in their minds the idea that rank bestowed by us without land attached to it is worth their attention to begin with?

    If anything he should be getting a Military title. Maybe a nice estate without any noble responsibilities or land management attached to it.
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    Rhaella's reasoning is that he is formally the ruler of thosuands of people and not just a military commander. That is more people than many barons and some counts have to their name.
     
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    Annatar said:
    If we do that I'd like to imagine he spends his days chilling with his horse buddy smoking fat cigars and laughing at those loser Nobles who actually have to spend time stewarding their lands.
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    DragonParadox said:
    Rhaella's reasoning is that he is formally the ruler of thosuands of people and not just a military commander. That is more people than many barons and most count have to their name.
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    [X] Rhango has rank equivalent to a Count in terms of expected deportment from other nobles. So anyone who snubs him knows what they're in for.
    -[X] Actual standing is probably much higher, due to being a pet project of the Imperator, so how people treat him will probably vary wildly by expectations. He's a big boy and can determine who's worth his time to build connections with and who is trying to get something to brag about.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    She considers the matter for a long moment, then nods. "Are you making shark horses for the Dothraki?"
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    I like how she has to ask, she's been around long enough to know that A. it's not impossible and B. It's something we'd probably do if we thought it would give us an edge.

    Also the Dothraki can just pay to have those made if the scrounge up enough money so it's not like we have to be involved in the process at all any more.

    Ah the sweet sound of progress. Or is that the screams of the foot soldiers facing the Dothraki in the near future?

    I always get the two mixed up.
     
    I mean... we could easily make shark-horses I guess. It's just kinda a waste when the hippocampuses are already a thing.

    The Dothraki will not be happy unless they can ride a super horse on land, sky and sea!
     
    [X] Rhango has rank equivalent to a Count in terms of expected deportment from other nobles. So anyone who snubs him knows what they're in for.
    -[X] Actual standing is probably much higher, due to being a pet project of the Imperator, so how people treat him will probably vary wildly by expectations. He's a big boy and can determine who's worth his time to build connections with and who is trying to get something to brag about.

    [X] Ensure that the major population centers of Westeros just as Essos have Mirror Vision set up in appropriate locales for maximizing viewership of events approaching the end of this month, in the Curia and of other momentous things.

    [X] Discuss progress thus far on everyone's own assignments and determine if they could use your expertise based on who's having the most difficulty (excluding research, not that you're incapable of helping out there, but you're just not interested in getting too distracted while juggling politics this month). So basically talking your way through a problem, or blowing it up. That's definitely your speed.
    -[X] If nothing presents itself, make sure Mikhael Abdul-Hakim maintains his right of passage through Heaven's Shore.
     
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