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

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Part XLIV: Of Secret Fire
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    • Of Secret Fire​

    Fourteenth Day of the Tenth Month 289 AC

    Once all the unpacking and settling in is done and everyone is acquainted with their new surroundings and each other you consider the main impetuous that drove you to seek new accommodations to begin with, surrendering the complete anonymity of the Rat.

    You have Ser Richard on hand in your room, in case of mishap and also Lyra because her curiosity could not bear missing the first time you attempted to use this. The chalice sits on a small stone topped table you moved here from the sitting room for this very reason. You would have preferred a fully non-flammable support but you could not muster up the patience to await getting one.

    Lya looks so exited she is almost dancing in place. Ser Richard looks... ready to kill things which you suppose is fair given his experiences for all it could be considered a show of distrust in your abilities.

    "Veth" you say clearly, the Valyrian word for fire.

    Fire is indeed lit in the empty chalice. You beam, Lyra gasps, Ser Richard unsheathes his sword.

    You carefully take out a piece of teak and feed it into the flames. The fire in the chalice grows and turns cherry red but nothing emerges from it. Frowning you try a small piece of ebony.

    The little demon of flame Yma Selyon had described to you two weeks ago emerges.


    "Who be you?" it asks "You not stoopid last master, not Red One either, you smell like Old Fire, maybe you more cleverer." It finishes in atrocious but understandable Valyrian with what you suppose could be considered a compliment.

    The creature sets itself down on the table, its eyes almost level with yours

    "I am the master of the chalice you emerged from and the one who offered up sacrifice that you may emerge." you answer, "Will you serve?" you ask settling on the question as a compromise between ordering it's service and asking it for terms.

    "Yes'r Kral serve. Got to, bound to service, no one to feed the Fire 'n' I go to sleep," the little creature replies in its pidgin tongue "You give things to fire, not-always-same things and I serve happy."

    That was surprisingly easy, but then you suppose whoever made this thing would not want to jump through too many hoops to use its powers.

    Krall is willing to share its abilities with you as well as explaining that no summons of the chalice can remain upon the world more than one hour per calling and no more than three such rituals may be successfully performed in any day.

    Here Lya shows her worth by inquiring exactly how a day is defined (something you had not considered). Kral replies that it is from the coming of the Great Sky Fire, dawn then.

    Then the conversation tuns to the others in the Chalice. According to the little imp they are two whom he not-very-imaginatively calls Dark and Bright.

    Bright likes song and can "read the flames good". This is some sort of omen reading the creature can't describe too well and you are unwilling to let him demonstrate given that it is supposedly limited in some way. Dark likes blood. After a moment of consideration the Krall adds: "Don't give him your blood or he'll be able t' try to take all the blood. "

    You are certain Dark is the demon you killed but just to be sure you will not be feeding the chalice blood your own or anyone else's.

    You thank Krall for his time and dismiss him. The fire goes out as he re-enters it.

    His abilities would certainly be of use in battle if you had time to prepare and expoure were not an issue (that is you were willing to kill all witnesses).

    Next you wish to try and summon "Bright." You are again thankful for Lya's presence as her priestly training included gaining some skill in song. A novitiate's vocal exercises would certainly make more dignified sacrifices than a tavern song from Ser Richard or your own dubious efforts.

    Once more you light the chalice and then the girl begins to sing. This time the flames turn golden an sway in tune with the music. As the short song ends a fiery bird about the size and build of a hawk emerge from the flames.


    It does not speak aloud. Instead you hear its voice in your mind entwined with a variation on Lyra's earlier song. "So it is you who slew the Dark One I was interned with. Long has it been since I have seen the spark of Power awoken in one of your kind." A moment's pause as it's white-hot eyes consider you. "The fire burns but it has not consumed you, fortunate are you and fortunate are those near you."

    "Dragon Riders my kindred were." you answer, guessing the creature's meaning "More than the beasts they rode for all the Dargons' power."

    "Be weary of pride, boy for often does it herald a fall unthought of," the creature chides you.

    I think I liked Krall better,     you think at it with no small amount of pique.

    "Did you, Mephits are an acquired taste for most though I suppose you do share a kinship to fire," it replies obtusely. "Still I thank you for reminding me of my manners, if even that one introduced itself swifter then I have forgotten myself."

    "I am Velem, a Pheonix farther from home than I ever wished to be and bound to serve the master of this chalice. I thank you young magus and you Ser Knight for removing the Horror of Tainted Flame from my company and you gracious maiden for the gift of song"

    Judging by Lya's wide-eyed joy and and Seer Richard's jump and teeth clenching you would guess they were included in the conversation.

    When you ask Velen about his abilities he gives a concise summary of a very valuable set of skills indeed:

    Lesser Pheonix

    Small Outsider (Good, Extraplanar, Fire)
    Hit Dice    |3d8+3 (16 hp)
    Initiative|+2
    Speed|10ft. (2 squares), fly 80ft. (good)
    Armor Class|16 (+1 size, +2 dex, +3 Natural), touch 12, flat-footed 14
    Base attack/Grapple| +3/-1
    Attack|Talons +6 melee (1d4 +1d4 fire)
    Full attack|2 talons +6 melee (1d4+1d4 fire) and bite +1 melee (1d4+1d4 fire)
    Space/reach|5ft./5ft.
    Special attacks|Burn, spell-like abilities
    Special qualities|60ft darkvision, immunity to fire, vulnerability to cold
    Saves|Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +5
    Abilities|Str 10, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 10, Wis 14, Cha 12
    Skills|Diplomacy +7, Heal +8, Knowledge (Religion) +8 Knowledge (The Planes) +6, Listen +8, Sense Motive +8, Spot +8, Tumble +8
    Feats|Flyby attack, Weapon finesse
    Environment| Elemental Plane of Fire
    Organization|Solitary or pair
    Challenge Rating|2
    Treasure|None
    Alignment| Always neutral good
    Advancement|4-6 HD (small)

    Burn (Ex)
    A phoenix's natural attacks deal their normal damage plus fire damage from the phoenix's flaming body. Those hit by a phoenix's natural attack also must succeed on a Reflex save or catch on fire. The flame burns for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is 12. A burning creature can take a move action to put out the flame.

    Telepathy (Su)
    A phoenix may communicate telepathically with any creature within 100 feet that has a language.

    Piercing gaze (Sp)
    A Phoenix can always see the darkness in the hearts of mortals however they try to hide it (Detect Evil as a level 4 Cleric; at will)

    Echo of the flame (Sp)
    A Lesser Phoenix can imbue a echo of the eternal flames of Elemental Fire onto an item or its choice (Continual Flame as a level 4 sorcerer; 1/day)

    Fan of flames (Sp)
    A Lesser Phoenix can unleash a torrent of arcane fire from its wings searing multiple foes (Burning hands as a level 4 Sorcerer; 1/day)

    Healing light (Sp)
    As a guardian of life and harbinger of renewal a Lesser Phoenix can restore its vitality or that of its allies (Cure Light Wounds as a Level 4 Cleric; 1/day)

    Augury (Sp)
    Bound as it is to the Chalice of Fire Call this elemental can serve as a conduit to the item's powers of divination (Augury as a Level 4 Cleric 1/day)

    You can think of a myriad uses for these abilities both in combat and out of it. Indeed they are so valuable that you grow ever more concerned how desperately the Red Priests must be seeking this thing.

    Perhaps now is the time to utilize one of there abilities:

    [] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[] Write in which and how

    [] No, now is not the time

    OOC: The Fire Grue could use augury well too. the Mephit could use it too in theory but it is not that clever so the results would be worse than usual.
     
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    • Wowzers. That's really useful, raising our threat level significantly as long as we're not afraid of showing the phoenix and giving us some utility besides.

    Hmm. It occurred to me that we can try to revitalize the Windward Society by focusing the group on searching for magical trinkets, which we could draw interest to with Continual Flame (and check the chances with Augury), but if the Red Priests are searching for the chalice, they'll be on the lookout for such things, so it's too dangerous.

    [X] No, now is not the time
     
    [X] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[X] Piercing gaze (Sp) on us and our companions

    Its as good an excuse as any to make sure Lya's on our side and not just using us.
     

    [X] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[X] Piercing gaze (Sp) on us and our companions

    Can we have him teach us/lya burning hand ? 1d4/ level of damage is not that bad.
     
    DragonParadox said:
    [] You have come to realize that your powers are a swindler's dream. You could use them to get a significant amount of coin fast and weaken competing criminal organizations at the same time by borrowing as much money as you can from the moneylenders of rival gangs under assumed forms and names.
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    I think this should wait until we take over our own guild, that way we can demonstrate our great skill as a leader via the rapid destructions of competitors.
     
    [X] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[X] Piercing gaze (Sp) on us and our companions

    I presume it is by telepathic means, although it wouldnt neccessarily be bad if Lya and Ser Richard heard each others and their own possible slippery-slopeness. Heck why not bid Dany to come inside also!
     
    [X] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[X] Piercing gaze (Sp) on us and our companions
    [X] If asked by any of our companions why we did so, respond by saying that there are beings of great power that can mark the uninformed unless one is aware of such matters.
    [X] Afterwards thank him for his service, followed by dismissal until the next time we need to summon him.

    Manners maketh the man after all.
     
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    DragonParadox said:
    Echo of the flame (Sp)
    A Lesser Phoenix can imbue a echo of the eternal flames of Elemental Fire onto an item or its choice (Continual Flame as a level 4 sorcerer; 1/day)
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    This is fairly useful. Put this on a ring or better yet, on the inside of a locket (so it can be closed and opened at will) and you have got a minor magic item worth selling in the market. And also useful for personal use.

    DragonParadox said:
    Lya can, not you, until you do some research into the nature of arcane magic at least.
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    Good to know, this will help her acquire some more spells.
    Also, if our sister starts studying will she end up as a wizard or a sorceress?

    also, that research, do you mean putting skill points in knowledge arcana or actual research?
     
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    mrttao said:
    This is fairly useful. Put this on a ring or better yet, on the inside of a locket (so it can be closed and opened at will) and you have got a minor magic item worth selling in the market. And also useful for personal use.


    Good to know, this will help her acquire some more spells.
    Also, if our sister starts studying will she end up as a wizard or a sorceress?

    also, that research, do you mean putting skill points in knowledge arcana or actual research?
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    She'll be a sorceress, she almost awoke to power at five years old just a few days ago.

    Actual research, that takes real time. Also if you want her to have any skill in knowledge arcana Viserys is going to have to teach her and he can't teach her to a level higher then his own.
     
    [X] Ask Velen to use one of his abilities
    -[x] Continual flame, on a lamp

    The first magic item we created ourselves, I could weep. and for free (it costs 100g to cast continual flame yourself, but a magic being who has it as a spell like ability does not have to pay the material component costs)

    drewski346 said:
    Its as good an excuse as any to make sure Lya's on our side and not just using us.
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    Evil people are capable of having friends
     
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    @DragonParadox About the Lya bookshopping action. I know it wasnt specified in the winning vote to bring anyone else. But would a roll if Dany wants to come with the two be impossible?

    She is afterall curious and always a lil worried whenever her only other family member in the world is always out and about.
     
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