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

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DragonParadox said:

Inquiring Minds ​

Fifth Day of the Fifth Month 294 AC

Out of all the people you wish to see seated upon the Curia's crimson and black, none are as likely to refuse the honor if it is ill-asked as the Night's Watch. It is a point of pride for them that they do not meddle in the affairs of the South, and in exchange expect no meddling in their ancient charge. Of course, like many matters of honor and tradition, this is more façade than truth. You had done more to empower the Watch, raise up their fallen castles, and give them again the prestige they had of old than any king that had ever sat upon the Iron Throne, even as you were technically a claimant to that throne and foe of all the Seven Kingdoms. In the end, the Lord Commander had taken the gifts you offered with both hands and glad was he for the bargain.

Yet there is a difference of kind and not just of degree between giving aid, even so generous and so varied as you have done, in the way of willing fighting hands, and asking that the Watch take up a voice in your council and vote in the affairs of the realm beside lords and burghers, governors and envoys of strange lands.

"So how do you think the Lord Commander is likely to take this?" you ask the man who had once borne that very mantle, before he had laid it down on the bare stone to take his place on the pale throne of the Greenseer.

"Better from you than from any other, Your Majesty, but I would not expect him to accept without strong argument given," replied Brynden, now the Lord Inquisitor. He wears the garb and mantle of his office with the silver pin glinting upon his breast, 'the better to get used to it as I will not oft have cause to wear it outwardly' he had said. "It will gnaw at Mormont most fiercely to be seen meddling in southern councils as he would see it as a trespass upon the power of princes he has sworn to leave behind. Graver by far than accepting aid that binds the Watch to the South for that sets tradition against oath and oath must perforce triumph. Perhaps you might give the Watch a seat, a voice, and not a vote with which others might be compelled to speak or to be silent."

"And then whatever envoy they send shall be discounted and mocked behind his back, his council mocked, his wisdom discounted," you scoff. "The Curia has little enough power already. I do not want to set the precedent that some of its members have even less than others."

"As you speak of wisdom, I would assume you have your uncle in mind for the posting?" he only half asks, for he knows you well enough to guess your heart in this, not to mention Dany's who had grumbled about Aemon 'freezing without purpose on that old pile of stones' more times than you can count.

"If he should wish it," you agree. "The Citadel shall soon be no more and the Watch has no need to keep a maester for form or for practicality. While Maester Aemon is certainly useful on the Wall, looking through the tomes and inscriptions they have kept, how much more so would he be in Sorcerer's Deep with access to the Palace Library and the brazier to see to it that any lore he gathers will reach the Lord Commander's ear at once?"

"It will seem like unduly favoring your own kin to many lords, particularly of the North," Bloodraven warns after a moment's thought and a sip of his wine. "While he is in the North his name and his tale are oft discounted, but back at court they will be turned this way and that within the hour." A thin smile marks his features. "Given that sorcery may cure the bite of age and he will be known for having the favor of the throne, I would not be surprised if some of the more adventurous or more desperate ladies do not try to tempt him into bed."

By the Endless Dream, they would at that, you realize. An incredulous laugh bubbles to your lips, but then it too settles into a smile. "Ah, but my lord, I am certain with the form you wear they shall start looking to you with such eyes first."

"Worry not for my virtue, Your Majesty," he answers dryly. "I think I still have the skill for fending off such advances."

How do you present your argument to the Lord Commander?

[] Write in

OOC: Brought to you by 'updates for writers in a hurry', here is a bit more Brynden characterization and some foreshadowing for how the less formal side of the court life is likely to manifest.
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Made some minor edits to the chapter, DP.
 
[X] Azel

Let operation "Relocate Aemon to Sorcerer's Deep" commence.
 
I wonder how long it will take from the time we get Aemon to move to SD until we can get him into a sweet new Praetorian chassis?
 
TonedMite said:
Would that be enough to leave him speechless? Because if that isn't, I'm not sure what would be (at least, would be while at the same time being within our power to accomplish).
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I think few things would leave an inveterate courtier like Brynden speechless. Solemnly reflect on how he's reversed that fall from the halls of power and the favor of his kin? Perhaps, that would be like the whole "turning of the wheel".

All of the Old mages from the previous era seem to have a particular affinity for that analogy which leaves me to suspect we're basically just playing a Wheel of Time crossover.
 
Crake said:
I think few things would leave an inveterate courtier like Brynden speechless. Solemnly reflect on how he's reversed that fall from the halls of power and the favor of his kin? Perhaps, that would be like the whole "turning of the wheel".

All of the Old mages from the previous era seem to have a particular affinity for that analogy which leaves me to suspect we're basically just playing a Wheel of Time crossover.
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Is this the first Wheel of Time reference of the year?

Have some Epic Music tax.

 
Crake said:
our enemies


wield

@DragonParadox Is the Three-Headed Dragon talisman going to be Viserys' Holy Symbol? Or would it be better if any icon or symbol which alluded to the Imperium counted for it?

Or if it makes more sense, right now only the Three-Headed Dragon counts, but once Viserys is hooked up to the ID the latter would be the case?
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Right now Marco can just use a book of laws for his holy symbol, but the dragon is more general purpose
 
DragonParadox said:
Right now Marco can just use a book of laws for his holy symbol, but the dragon is more general purpose
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So it has to allude to one of Viserys' domains, but with the ID hook-up, there's a wider latitude? Or does it have to be by Domain no matter what, meaning that'd change as soon as the ID organically gains the Dragon domain since you alluded to that being very likely?
 
The Stillborn God is designed for 5 domains already, not all of which are shared by Viserys.

Either way, I'm pretty sure we already had a ruling that any symbol of the Imperium can work. So we will likely see Imperial Mages using their military rank insignia, tax collectors using their ID badges and similar stuff.
 
OK Vote closed. Let's see how this goes.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Apr 3, 2021 at 12:46 PM, finished with 29 posts and 8 votes.
  • [X] Plan Optics
    -[X] The watch is entirely reliant on the Imperium for recruits, simply due to having no reach to lands outside of its borders anymore. At the same time, it is de factor defending the realm as if it was another branch of its military, tasked with protecting a specific border against a specific foe. This is a state of affairs that is unprecedented and the neutrality of the Watch is no longer truly possible or even desirable under these circumstances.
    -[X] The Watch suffered greatly from being an ignored relic during the last centuries and giving them a voice and a presence in the halls of power would change that.
    -[X] You are mindful of the oaths the Black Brother swore though and thus would propose a compromise. As their oath forbids them from winning glories, and a Curia position might be considered such, their representative could use a mask and glamours to conceal his identity. Perhaps a somewhat theatrical solution, but it would ensure the oath is obeyed while still giving them a seat.
    -[X] At the same time, a member of the Curia is not forced to vote on anything. If he feels that the Watch should not interfere in matters that do not directly relate to their affairs, they can simply abstain from all other votes and discussions.
    -[X] Ultimately though, while you think it would be rather beneficial for the Watch to become noticed in Imperial politics, the choice is his. If he would prefer not to have a formal representative at court, then you will accept his wishes.
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