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

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Oh, Gendry… This hits me right in the feels.
Gods, now people are looking at me funny for crying while I'm on my break.
Also, damn, Master Mott is gone? RIP.
 
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DragonParadox said:
The Returned and the Lost ​

Third Day of the Tenth Month 294 AC

Gendry woke on something soft... softer by far than his bed ought to be. Strange, he didn't remember going to sleep. Only... no, that had to be a nightmare. I must have gotten drunk somehow and fallen into some strange bed. He squeezed his eyes tight and refused to think about it, tried to will it away. Alas, Gendry Waters was no great magician to be able to make his will manifest upon the world.

"Gendry... are you alright? Do you need something... some water maybe?" The voice was soft, but unmistakable, the little princess with her rolling rs and sharp hissing eses. Her eyes were soft as fading twilight.

"Your Highness, no, I..." for a moment the courtesy his master had so struggled to teach him when they had come into the service of the Dragon battles with his worry. Courtesy did not stand a chance. "What happened?"

She sighed. "There was an attack, a firestorm. The Dale is gone, all of it, everyone. I'm sorry...."

For a long moment the boy lay in bed, unable to understand the words, almost like there might be some trick to them, some riddle he had to unlock in order to learn the truth, his mind rebelling at the meaning of them. All of it, the furnaces and the workshops, the hardening chambers and the alchemical factory, the tea shops and the little bakery on the corner of main street where they sold the best honey and cinnamon pies? It couldn't all just be gone, all that in an instant, as if by some wizard's spell.

Finally, Gendry managed to grind out. "How?" His voice sounded strange in his own ears, not because it was rasping from the smoke he could now dimly recall, nor deeper as he had been hoping it would turn one of these days, but because it sounded so distant, like someone was telling a story in a place far, far away.

"It was agents of the Brazen Throne, the efreeti lords who dwell in the City of Brass." The girl's silver-crowned head tipped slightly, as though inviting him to ask questions and Gendry suddenly realized this wasn't mummery. It wasn't that she wanted something from him, or was waiting for him to gather his wits so he could say something about what had happened before he... died. No, Daenerys Targaryen, Imperial Princess and heir to the Steel Throne, was willing to sit here and answer the questions of a blacksmith's apprentice whose only remarkable quality was being the bastard of a dead, drunken usurper king.

That did not make him feel proud. It did not make him feel happy. It just sent a shiver of fear down his spine. There had to be a reason she was being so kind to him.

"No need, I know what that is," he replied quickly. The memory of the old fire-bearded smith who kept shop not far from Master Mott, his back still marked by whip marks that shone sickly white by day and by night came back to him. 'Never healed quite right, not even with proper magic, but I got away and that's what matters', he said when he caught Gendry looking, and then he had basically drafted the boy to help with his forging and did not speak with him until they were done, but he always paid for the help in good coin. 'Never a bead of sweat unrewarded in my shop...'

"They got you in the end, didn't they, old timer?" Gendry said softly to himself as he got out of the bed. He had a feeling the princess could hear him, but she said nothing.

The silence stretched uneasily between them as the young smith struggled to find the words as a man might struggle to find his footing on a ship in a storm. It was the princess who broke it. "Valeria is fine. I know she told you to stay put, but it did not matter in the end."

A chill of premonition came over him when he heard not the words but the way she said it. "And Master Mott?" Gendry did not doubt he was worth the magic to bring back. More worth it than him for certain.

"He did not return," she replied carefully. "I am sorry, I do not know exactly where he is right now. Divining the souls of the dead is not a sure thing, but I am certain he will find his peace..."

"No, that's..." the boy could feel the corners of his eyes burning, but he did not care. "He would have wanted to live. He said to me that he was going to drink a beer at his old forge once the city was taken and show me around. To laugh at fools and marvel at wonders, he called it."

"Death is not just a curtain you can pass through as you will," she replied gravely. "Sometimes it can be too wearying to return to the world under the sun. I know it's not... fuck it," she cursed under her breath so sharply it shocked Gendry into peering at her more closely. "I am not very good at condolences, but if you need anything, anything at all, keep in mind that you have friends in some really high places."

Gendry knew that would matter eventually, but for now all he wanted to do was return to the bed and go back to not thinking about it. He fell almost at once into an uneasy sleep.

OOC: A bit bittersweet. I thought about rolling for magical awakening, but it just did not fit. It worked better just letting the grief unfold naturally. He will still get that roll, later, the experience was certainly traumatic enough.
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Made some additional edits to the chapter, DP.

Haven't used my Sunday afternoon napping powers in a while, but I've still got them. Woke up about a minute before the new chapter was posted.

Great Gendry interlude, too. Really goes for the feels.
 
Master Mott didn't want to return?

Hmmm. Can we assume they did capture some souls? I mean, I would find it a waste, but who knows.
 
This is below the level of abstraction, but I have some stuff that would be neat fluff for how people get by on the day to day in a city touched by the far realms and surrounded by tainted fey.

First would be Sense Madness items to be liberally used to check on authority figures or people heading into government offices. Being able to pick out people who're getting their heads twisted in a way that doesn't involve active magical effects would be very useful and comforting.

Enchantment Sight would also be a popular item for personal use and at security checkpoints. Sure you can get around it, but it makes it harder for people to get hit with unguided/unplanned stuff and more involved for people deliberately trying something.

Visualization of the Mind would be a super flavorful ritual for them to develop. It can do a lot of stuff, but I think the wisdom focused one that helps on everything that uses it and allows a one time reroll of a will save per casting would be popular.

It's tagged as being meditative, so I'm envision something like people ritually centering themselves and reflecting on their thoughts and habits at the end of every day. Both because of the bonus, and as a reaction to the mind bending stuff in their environment.

Rite of Centered Mind could end up popular for similar reasons. It only assists against mind effecting influences, but for a lot of people it might be more comfortable to cast depending on the relative directs we take the fluff in.


Stave off Corruption would also be useful if it applies to far realm taint. It's not a huge bonus, but it lasts for a long time and applies to a fairly esoteric condition. It could make a real difference for people trying to keep it together long enough to reach the Merling King's pool or who are too mutated to survive it and are trying to avoid further mental influence.

Similarly, for short term use, Clear Mind would make for an interesting ritual. A +4 sacred bonus to saves against mind effecting influences is nothing to sneeze at. It'd be doubly fun if we anchored the ritual to Viserys since it's a paladin spell and therefore divine magic.
 
BronzeTongue said:
This is below the level of abstraction, but I have some stuff that would be neat fluff for how people get by on the day to day in a city touched by the far realms and surrounded by tainted fey.
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Thanks. I'll definitely be saving this for later use in fluff scenes

Also since voting seems to have slowed down overnight (stopped really) but the next update is going to take a bit I'm curious what class do you guys think would fit Gendry?
 
DragonParadox said:
Thanks. I'll definitely be saving this for later use in fluff scenes

Also since voting seems to have slowed down overnight (stopped really) but the next update is going to take a bit I'm curious what class do you guys think would fit Gendry?
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Hero of the first age like waymar has or something similiar to it except with hammers instead of bronze swords.
 
DragonParadox said:
Thanks. I'll definitely be saving this for later use in fluff scenes

Also since voting seems to have slowed down overnight (stopped really) but the next update is going to take a bit I'm curious what class do you guys think would fit Gendry?
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Maybe he could stay an Expert abd stay at his forge?

Otherwise maybe a non-preparing divine caster like Oracle or Favored Soul and then over into a class like Runesmith.
 
I think specking into runesmith will suit him best yeah and on the basis of it literally being in the first post I think favored soul probably fits him better than the curse of an oracle... even if some of them are not very curse-like.
 
Vote closed. Sorry it took so long guys, I was a bit more busy than usual IRL and I also worked on some background stuff.
Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Jul 12, 2021 at 11:33 AM, finished with 66 posts and 7 votes.
  • [X] Lock It Down
    -[X] Reassign Wardstone (Write in)
    --[X] Reassign all wards earmarked for Qarth to go to Qohor instead (20 km Boundary, 10 km Dispersal, 10 km Phase, and 10 km Uncertainty)
    --[X] Take a set of Tier-2 Wards (Dispersal, Phase, & Uncertainty) from storage and add them to the existing Tier-5 Wards protecting Westhaven
    --[X] Swap the Tier-5 Wards in Tyrosh with the Tier-2 Wards in the Eyrie
    -[X] Reinforce Wardstones
    --[X] Build 4 Wardstone Chambers in Qohor (requires 8 Supplies) and three Wardstone Chambers in Westhaven (6 Supplies)
    --[X] Add Light Reinforcements to the Wardstone Chambers of Sorcerer's Deep, Lys, Qohor, Gogossos, and Westhaven (Total Cost: 92 Supplies) //Every base has 4 chambers save for Westhaven which has 7
    -[X] Reinforce Qohor
    --[X] Repair the Fleshforge of Qohor, Total Cost: 14 Supplies
    --[X] Build a Legion base in Qohor (3 Barracks) Total Cost: 3 Supplies
    --[X] Build an Air Force base in Qohor (2 Hangars (2 Supplies), 1 Berth (2 Supplies) Total Cost: 4 Supplies
    -[X] Rebuilding & Repairing
    --[X] Rebuild the 9th Legion (2x Infantry Battalion, 1x Cavalry Battalion) Total Cost: 6 Supplies, 6 Training
    --[X] Repair damage of the 12th and 14th Legion, Total Cost: 2 Supplies, 2 Training
    --[X] Rebuild the 1st Fighter Squadron (1x Wyvern) Total Cost: 32 Supplies, 32 Construction
    --[X] Build 4 Manufacturies in Gogossos, Total Cost: 100 Supplies
    --[X] Build 2 Construction Yards in Westhaven, Total Cost: 75 Supplies
    -[X] Total Expenditure: 342 Supplies, 8 Training, 32 Construction
Click to expand...
 
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Part MMMDCCCXLVII: An Eye Enthroned
  • Threadmarks
    • An Eye Enthroned ​

    Fourth Day of the Tenth Month 294 AC

    Though Qohor is the most recent of your territories it is also among your most precious thanks to the Forge even now being reshaped under Qyburn's hand. You suspect the vast investment of military personnel and supplies as well as arcane engineering will go quite a ways to mending the ravaged economy of the city. The creation of a new legion camp and an air force base on the ashes of the dark woods that had for so long shadowed the city will bring comfort to those who find hope under the dragon banner and strike fear in the hearts of those who harbor treachery.

    On top of that, as Garin rightly points out, the woods provide a unique chance for the legion to test themselves against more than mortal foes and for the air force to fly for greater purpose than just keeping their hand in. Perhaps there will come a day when the citizens of Qohor will look out from their windows to see lines of alchemical fire on the horizon and count it as no more exceptional than the sound of the morning patrol down the street.

    All across the land whether Wardstones are reassigned or left in place plans are drawn up to ensure they are reinforced and protected, that the burning of the Dale will not be repeated. The banners of the Ninth Legion will rise again and the First Fighter squadron will fly once more, its proud history remembered. Perhaps in time even the ruined shell of the Duskrunner will once more take to the sky, though for now that is an expense you cannot afford.

    For now... for today, even as orders go out for the building of new manufactures in Gogossos and new construction yards in Westhaven, the Imperium is still reeling from what must have seen to many as a bolt from the blue. The most the average citizen outside the Deep had heard of the Brazen Throne would have been Embra's words echoed in the magic of the mirrors, perhaps the odd article on the local paper if they had one. Even the Princeps. the highest lords and officials of the realm, will likely not have known that much of the efreeti and their plans. Compared to the looming threat in the North, the damnation of Hell or the voracious madness of the Deep Ones why would they know or care about the genies doing war in a world far off?

    Among the less versed in arcane cosmology of the Riverlords and the Reachers the genies are even known as grumpkins leading to such absurd rumors as 'grumpkins had burned down the capital'. Thankfully the days of being helpless in the face of absurd rumors west of the Narrow Sea are past. Accurate reports travel by brazier to the ducal residences, or governor residences, and from there by raven it quickly reaches the counts and more influential barons.

    Your desk is piled high with words of condolence and offers of aid. If you are reading the intent behind the words most of the latter are even sincere from a mingling of fear that such a calamity might befall their lands and an understanding for the prosperity the Imperium brings. The unrest you had been half concerned with does not seem to be materializing in the slightest. Granted you do not suspect the offers of loans to be entirely disinterested, but then you would have to be an utter fool to do so.

    "Refuse them all cordially," you bid in passing to your diminutive golden assistant as you make a mental note to come back this evening to seal all of the letters. For now the time has come to face the realm in the eye of silver.

    What do you proclaim in your first mirror speech since the burning of Everfire Dale?

    [] Write in

    OOC: In case you re wondering where the grumpkin connection comes from they too are said to grant wishes to mortals.
     
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  • Threadmarks
    • Jeeze, a guy takes one burning fire punch to the crotch and suddenly everyone's trying to get their hooks in.

    Downright rude that is. Not even bothering to wine and dine, not even so much as a how do you do, just right up with "offerings of aid" and "sincere condolences."

    We are not a hussy god dammit.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    An Eye Enthroned ​

    Fourth Day of the Tenth Month 294 AC

    Although Qohor is the most recent of your territories, it is also among your most precious thanks to the Forge even now being reshaped under Qyburn's hand. You suspect the vast investment of military personnel and supplies, as well as arcane engineering, will go quite a ways to mending the ravaged economy of the city. The creation of a new legion camp and an air force base on the ashes of the dark woods that had for so long shadowed the city will bring comfort to those who find hope under the dragon banner and strike fear in the hearts of those who harbor treachery.

    On top of that, as Garin rightly points out, the woods provide a unique chance for the legion to test themselves against more than mortal foes and for the air force to fly for greater purpose than just keeping their hand in. Perhaps there will come a day when the citizens of Qohor will look out from their windows to see lines of alchemical fire on the horizon and count it as no more exceptional than the sound of the morning patrol down the street.

    All across the land, whether Wardstones are reassigned or left in place, plans are drawn up to ensure they are reinforced and protected, that the burning of the Dale will not be repeated. The banners of the Ninth Legion will rise again and the First Fighter squadron will fly once more, its proud history remembered. Perhaps in time even the ruined shell of the Duskrunner will once more take to the sky, though for now that is an expense you cannot afford.

    For now... for today, even as orders go out for the building of new manufactures in Gogossos and new construction yards in Westhaven, the Imperium is still reeling from what must have seemed to many as a bolt from the blue. The most the average citizen outside the Deep had heard of the Brazen Throne would have been Embra's words echoed in the magic of the mirrors, perhaps the odd article on the local paper if they had one. Even the Princeps, the highest lords and officials of the realm, will likely not have known that much of the efreeti and their plans. Compared to the looming threat in the North, the damnation of Hell or the voracious madness of the Deep Ones, why would they know or care about the genies doing war in a world far off?

    Among the less versed in arcane cosmology of the Riverlords and the Reachers, the genies are even known as grumpkins, leading to such absurd rumors as 'grumpkins had burned down the capital'. Thankfully, the days of being helpless in the face of absurd rumors west of the Narrow Sea are past. Accurate reports travel by brazier to the ducal residences, or governor residences, and from there by raven it quickly reaches the counts and more influential barons.

    Your desk is piled high with words of condolence and offers of aid. If you are reading the intent behind the words, most of the latter are even sincere from a mingling of fear that such a calamity might befall their lands and an understanding for the prosperity the Imperium brings. The unrest you had been half concerned with does not seem to be materializing in the slightest. Granted, you do not suspect the offers of loans to be entirely disinterested, but then you would have to be an utter fool to do so.

    "Refuse them all cordially," you bid in passing to your diminutive golden assistant as you make a mental note to come back this evening to seal all of the letters. For now the time has come to face the realm in the eye of silver.

    What do you proclaim in your first mirror speech since the burning of Everfire Dale?

    [] Write in

    OOC: In case you re wondering where the grumpkin connection comes from they too are said to grant wishes to mortals.
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    Click to shrink...
    Made some minor edits to the chapter, DP.
     
    Wait, is it the Ninth or the Tenth month right now?
    Also, Something Something A date that will live on in infamy Something Something.
     
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