A Sword Without a Hilt: A Song of Ice and Fire/D&D 3.5 Crossover
- Thread starter DragonParadox
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- a song of ice and fire a sword without a hilt d&d 3.5 dungeons & dragons 100% high octane dragon fuel (dragon) ave corvidae battle action dragon diplomacy (dragon) best sister bureaucromancy delicious soul-stuff dragon dreams come true dragon ta'veren greatest uncle hubris is a coward's word in defiance of gods and men mammon's folly mutually assured mage's disjunction qm murderhobo top tier coatl
Mind blank is subtle when no one has reason to look, but it is very obvious when you say cast a detection spell on someone and get no response
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There are false aura spells yes, and false visions. You guys have access to all of this, but keep in mind it is not perfect and if they do see through it well you will be implicated much more deeply than if they just fail their saves normally. The more resources you put into hiding this the more it will blow up in the event that it fails. It is up to you guys to weigh the odds
- Location
- Argentina
I think that we can spin this as something that doesn't imply we have deep cover agents everywhere.
The merchants can have an in with the inquisition without being deep cover agents. We just need to very explicitly say so. What are they going to do? Waste binary divination spells and burn xp to know how deep they were implied?
The merchants can have an in with the inquisition without being deep cover agents. We just need to very explicitly say so. What are they going to do? Waste binary divination spells and burn xp to know how deep they were implied?
Next update in beta, but I'm going to need a few more votes on this one before closing the vote.
Vote closed
Interlude MCCXXXV: Nest of Serpents
Nest of Serpents
Thirtieth Day of the Eleventh Month 294 AC
Clan Hold of the Cobalt Scales, Sea of Fire
Tyene Sandviper was not the least worried when the summons from the queen came from the lipless mouth of a hulking salamander herald bedecked as though for war. That was simply the custom of a realm already inclined to violence and which now found itself engaged in a war to the knife against its once-masters, where a herald could well be the last line of defense of the queen's life against fanatical assassins. True, the salamanders were as viciously amoral as a ball of cobras to anyone not bound to them by kinship or blood brotherhood, but that did not make them fools.
From the day she had stepped off the ramp of a Pegasus Gravjammer, the Seeker on one side, silent and filled with menace, and an honor guard of Preaorians behind her, she had made it very clear the power of the realm she represented which could deal as an equal with the great realms of Sky and Stone. Of course, she did not leave it to threat alone to establish her credentials. Among the gifts given to the queen were several potent works of enchantment the likes of which the corsairs could but rarely afford which they would be unlikely to claim in war, wards of the mind and of the spirit, and in exchange... well, in exchange she had been most interested in the art and artifice of the Cobalt Scales.
One could see it displayed on the walls of the citadel, among the serpentine knotwork, copper and brass and silver upon the dark stone there were weapons of war and shields woven with sorcery. In other holds these were the trophies of defeated foes, the mark of a present rival's shame or the last remnant of some long lost tribe. Not so here, where the the master smith who forged a weapon was seen only a little less worthy of honor than the warrior who bore it into bloody battle. Of all the clans, this one was most likely to actually have something to offer in trade that would be of worth to the Imperium rather than simply being a sharper thorn in the side of the Brazen Throne.
So what does it mean that I am summoned today? The young envoy wondered. It has been too long since the prince entered harbor for it to be some urgent news of the enemy to carry home, and by the same token it is too early otherwise for a return to ordinary negotiations. It was a well known fact that Queen Larissa doted on her son and heir, and always took time to reacquaint him with the doings of the clan before she returned to day to day doings. What's a little late and a little early at the same time?
She glanced at the pheonix flying beside her. "Any ideas what this might be about, Velen?"
"Many guesses and no certainties," the bard replied, intonation somehow turning a tired old mantra into a subtle jest. How exactly he managed intonation when he was not speaking, Tyene had long since given up on trying to figure out. Then in a more serious manner, he added, "I think she had a meeting with some of the most successful traders in the clan yesterday, but my sources could not say it in so many words..."
He had not been selected simply because he could take the ungodly heat without need for spell-ward. One of Velen's most oft used and just as oft overlooked skills was as a listener. One would think someone with moral quandaries against outright engaging in outright spying would not be good at finding secrets, but one would be wrong. His knowledge and his temperament made him a loadstone for those who were looking for particular answers to matters of lore and sorcery, and they were more than glad to trade the local gossip for it... or as it was known in more professional circles, actionable intelligence. The Cobalt Scales were at that odd stage where they were more than a band or league of pirates, but not yet a kingdom in spirit when loyalties were in flux and the courtier had not yet fully emerged as a species to swarm about the throne.
Speaking of thrones, there it was, a tall black basalt pedestal, its base carved into the likeness of toiling slaves and broken captives with the middle given over to craftsmen and traders and the very top, around which the queen was coiled, holding a plaque of her deeds flanked by golden spars. Unlike in many mortal realms Tyene had been to, the throne here was not seen as eternal, a mark of endurance beyond the power of any one monarch. Rather a new one would be erected with each new King or Queen to rise to the leadership of the clan.
"So envoy Sand-scale," the queen began once the formalities had been seen to in unaccustomed silence. Besides Tyene, Velen, and the Seeker, the only other people at the foot of the throne were the prince and two others, veteran captains known by their scars. "You have spoken much of the might of your Imperator and of his wealth, and you have shown both by deed as much as word, but tell me how swift if he in seizing the chance unlooked for?"
For a moment Tyene froze. She couldn't mean... "As swift as thought and spell, Your Grace," she replied, happy that her voice came out even.
"The war drags on and hope of swift victory is ever scarcer," the serpentine woman coiled. "We are not made to trade blow for heavy blow like the giants of fallen Mehama who now lick the boots of the Brass Tyrant, and yet we will not bend our necks to the children of stone who have so oft treated us ill, but your lord he has dealt with us well, yes? Respectful words and rich gifts we have been offered over and above the gift given when first he walked these halls, without which we would be slaves to the Brazen Throne in all but name. As one child of fire to another, I ask of Viserys-Wyrm does he have the might to hold the Cobalt Scales beneath his wings."
Princedoms of Flame: 100 (Critical Success) -> Cobalt Scales offer fealty in exchange for immediate Military Aid
Tyene gains 1800 XP
What do you do?
[] Accept the Fealty
-[] Write in what you send (Minimum of one capital class vessel to show your commitment)
[] Refuse, you do not have the resources to spend on this (will negatively affect relations with the clan in particular and all the rebel salamanders to a lesser extent)
OOC: This was a pretty good place to get a crit, but it also requires a commitment from your guys.
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- Location
- United States
- Location
- Germany
Is their homebase here warded?
How much territory will we have to defend, how many subject gain?
What about their fleet, they still only have a few raiders or anything that can stand up to the Shield and Sword frigates of the Sultan?
Yes their port is warded, otherwise they would not be able to function at all.
I'm going to have to wait for Azel to nail this down, but in principle I will say they have only raiders. They can swarm enemy frigates with good conditions, but standing up to the Brazen fleet is not their style
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Here's an edited version of the chapter, DP.
Nice job, Tyene and Velen!
EDIT: And the Seeker, too. I'm sure it stood there looking broodingly threatening in just the right manner.
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- Location
- Greece
Should definitely over-represent here, both to have comfortable margin of error when talking of protection of a polity and also send a clear signal on the alacrity as well as the weight of promises made.
They are essentially going "We are screwed alone. Let's see how much you prize newly-won subjects."
They are essentially going "We are screwed alone. Let's see how much you prize newly-won subjects."
- Location
- United States
Good time to station PCs here in full. Amrelath's been gathering minions, he could certainly use the loot to be gained from fighting here.
Not to mention good time to foster relations with a future duchess neighbor.
Goldfish
Friendly Spider-Fish Abomination
- Location
- Formerly of the Far Realm
Maybe Amrelath, some Fiery Dragonbeasts, and a capital ship and it's support craft? I wonder if the Djinn or Shaitan could be convinced to lend some forces to the endeavor as well, in a bid to further reinforce another avowed ene!y of the Brazen Throne?
[X] Duesal
- Location
- United States
I won't be home from work for at least two hours but once I am we can go overkill.
Also now I guess we can have a second Fire Forge, lol.
Good night guys, see you tomorrow with more diplomacy near and far.
- Location
- Greece
[X] Duesal
A Heart Tree (they are immune to fire) with Crusader's Edge, Panacea and Veil of Haven would be real good here. Better get static investments going on top of any reinforcements.
"A collared reptilian visage, displaying heady delight and mad hope, chain links depicted at the moment of shattering."
A Heart Tree (they are immune to fire) with Crusader's Edge, Panacea and Veil of Haven would be real good here. Better get static investments going on top of any reinforcements.
"A collared reptilian visage, displaying heady delight and mad hope, chain links depicted at the moment of shattering."
- Location
- Germany
1. This is not their homebase, but an outlying settlement. It's generally considered rude to invite envoys to places where they would be getting shot at when approaching. Their capital, which is currently under attack, is warded though.
2. Militarily, they only have one base left that really matters, which is their capital. The Efreeti-aligned Salamanders did a real number on them and managed to overrun two smaller outposts outright.
3. Their fleet is pretty much irrelevant at this point. Most weaponry was stripped from the ships to defend the capital and they lost their only two spelljammers in the fighting.
Also, if you want to send any PCs along with the Imperial Air Force, keep in mind that they will primarily function as envoys. Amrelath for one is absolutely not interested in finding out how good the Salamanders are at shooting flying targets with their bombards.
- Location
- Argentina
So they are desperate, and not in a position to offer much.
Huh. At least it is a beachhead in the PoF
- Location
- Germany
Well, you have to bail them out first. They are currently putting everything they've got into defending themselves, as the Brass Scales clan is getting a lot of war material from the Efreeti.
On that note, keep in mind that the Old Gods don't like their trees getting destroyed, so growing one on an active battlefield would be not the greatest idea. Not that the tree would change much.