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

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egoo said:
@das_slash, I'm sorry, but this really, really doesn't seem fitting to the tale what are we're selling to everyone

Us having conspired with Sealord in making an anti-viserys coalition in Braavos, us making alliance between Archons and Relath, us having taken only _Tyrosh_ satellite cities, us having asked Iron Bank to spin them a tale of us being concerned only with Westeros and etc?

It all plays a very important role - show us off in such a light that big dumb fucks in charge other free cities don't get desperate and start making mass sacrifices to fiends in a desperate attempt to fend us off.

Or worse, getting Zherys to protect them.
Fucking Zherys.
*starts to butthurt*

I mean, we're standing on the blade's edge right now.
One wrong move, and they're running around like headless chickens scared shitless.

We don't want that happening.
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Zhaerys is damn reasonable, why hate him so much? He is even afraid of us, which shows great Wisdom! Just Talk to the man, together we can play the remaining free cities like a fiddle.
Think of Relath, everyone wanted him dead and he proved an amazing asset once we showed him Who is Boss, we can do the same for Zhaerys, and he ain't even a dragon.
 
das_slash said:
Zhaerys is damn reasonable, why hate him so much? He is even afraid of us, which shows great Wisdom! Just Talk to the man, together we can play the remaining free cities like a fiddle.
Think of Relath, everyone wanted him dead and he proved an amazing asset once we showed him Who is Boss, we can do the same for Zhaerys, and he ain't even a dragon.
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You're going to have a lot more luck with pro-Zherys campaigning after we take the Three Daughters. We really, really don't want to do anything that even remotely resembles sharing.
 
Duesal said:
You're going to have a lot more luck with pro-Zherys campaigning after we take the Three Daughters. We really, really don't want to do anything that even remotely resembles sharing.
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Doing this before that has its benefits, look, my ideal position for Zhaerys is to give him what he wants, but as part of our empire. Name him the equivalent to the King of westeros for the individual cities in southern Essos.
Volantis would rule over the daughters, and directly under us.
In exchange, we get to integrate volantis peacefully into our empire (much easier now that he is well on the way to erradicating slavery).
 
The assumption here being that they win over Tyene and actually manage to cow the city by wrecking a few warehouses.

Keep calm people. We got most of the Disputed Lands, which is more important then a victory for Rango. This means more money for us, an easier calming of Tyrosh and ab accelerated time-frame for Lys and Myr.

None the less, I dearly hope they fail and we can send Rango there with very specific instructions.
 
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Part MCMXCIX: Threefold Riddle
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    • Threefold Riddle ​

    Twenty-Seventh Day of the Second Month 293 AC

    The temple of Trios shows its age in the spiderweb of cracks that crisscross its dark facade, like wrinkles worked into the stone. Yet much as one may grow old but not feeble with it so the place demands respect not in spite of the blemishes of age but because of it. Around it lies a courtyard and then a high wall beside which dozens of lesser shrines and temples cluster, all seeming fragile in their oft colorful splendor.

    "Another temple built like a bloody keep," Ser Richard grouses under his breath. "Why the hells would priests need 'em?"

    "To house the small army they were allowed to have," you reply in like tone, motioning to the guards garbed in breastplates of burnished steel that seemed to mirror the muscles beneath. Such armor one might have seen in the days of the Freehold's first blush of power when they struggled against the Ghiscari for dominion of the Lands of Long Summers. "As the past few hours have shown time and again Tyroshi magisters are not the more forethoughtful of men."

    "Who seeks to enter the House of Trios, Devourer and Renewer?" a challenge rings out from the gates.

    "Viserys Targaryen, lord of this city by right of conquest," you reply, not bothering to list any titles beyond those relevant to the matter at hand. "I would speak to the master of this place regarding what has been changed this day."

    "The Three are meditating together on the will of the Mighty One," the guard replies. "They have commanded that they not be disturbed and for that I will lay down my life and my fellows also."

    Lovely... more fanatics, this time willing to die over being glorified footmen set to keeping away unwelcome visitors, you think with a flash of perhaps undeserved irritation. You do not yet know who these 'Three' are nor what they seek.

    As you are considering whether to insist or move on to the plethora of other calls on your time someone calls his attention from inside. A moment later the gates are unbarred and a figure garbed in simple black robes emerges to speak to you. At a closer look you realize their face is also swathed in black, so much so that you cannot even tell if they are man or woman.

    "What do you seek of us, Child of Dragons?" The voice is a rasping whisper as indistinct as the speaker.

    What do you answer?

    [] Write in

    OOC: A little short, but I need to get a sense of at least the tone you want to have going into this.
     
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    • das_slash said:
    Doing this before that has its benefits, look, my ideal position for Zhaerys is to give him what he wants, but as part of our empire. Name him the equivalent to the King of westeros for the individual cities in southern Essos.
    Volantis would rule over the daughters, and directly under us.
    In exchange, we get to integrate volantis peacefully into our empire (much easier now that he is well on the way to erradicating slavery).
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    No way we hand any single individual that much power, neither in Westeros, nor in Essos.

    Volantis with it's current holdings is a king-level title in itself and one of the strongest at that.
     
    das_slash said:
    Zhaerys is damn reasonable, why hate him so much? He is even afraid of us, which shows great Wisdom! Just Talk to the man, together we can play the remaining free cities like a fiddle.
    Think of Relath, everyone wanted him dead and he proved an amazing asset once we showed him Who is Boss, we can do the same for Zhaerys, and he ain't even a dragon.
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    In theory, I don't have anything more against Zherys than I had against Relath.

    What concerns me is that it was given to us in straight words by DP - he has great ambitions of making his own empire and he won't take being second, let alone somewhere in double digits of our chain of command.
    Unlike Relath, dealing with whose pride is somewhat easy due to him being dragon.

    If we do get a fair, reliable shot at diplomancing him to our side and staying there as a loyal servant?
    I'd take that without thinking.

    But, well, that's just wishful thinking, that's what it is.
    I really, really don't see him taking the sort of deal we'd be okay with before Volantis is the only 'free' city left standing.

    Edit: Azeld-d, somewhat
     
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    Huh.
    These guys are ominous fanatics.

    Just what we need, ugh.
    Not like we won't have enough problems without something that shapes up to be another (neutral?)evil god.

    We should've researched that sort of stuff looong ago, yes.

    That certainly goes on the list for Braavos actions now.
    All the gods there are in locations our conquest will lead us, their domains, sorts of worship they ask for, their servants and etc etc.

    I really don't like getting blindsided by religious fanaticism.
     
    Azel said:
    No way we hand any single individual that much power, neither in Westeros, nor in Essos.

    Volantis with it's current holdings is a king-level title in itself and one of the strongest at that.
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    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
     
    das_slash said:
    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
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    Have you somehow missed all our secret meetings with our allies, our careful and convoluted plans of intrigue and diplomacy that we're using to conquer and hold the Western half of Essos, while also laying groundwork to invade Westeros? Like, we're not just aimlessly wailing away with a hammer, we are carefully using it as a precision tool to carve the geopolitical landscape into the shape we want.

    Our current agreement with Zherys and Volantis's actions are a direct result of diplomacy and intrigue. We're in a cold war because both parties think they can amass more power, faster than the other can if they just have a little time.
     
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    das_slash said:
    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
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    We are very grudgingly working with the Red Priests. You don't get an unlikelier ally than that. And the majority of us were expecting to have a massive showdown against Amrelath which would end in either his death or his sacrifice -- and look at him now, he works for us. Same with Relath. Once most of us wanted him dead, now we make plans on how to make him stronger. We have loads of unlikely allies.

    And secret meetings to overthrow kings? We meet with the Brunes, Velaryons, Royces, and Martells all for that explicit purpose. Even freaking Manderly to a certain extent skirts on treason.

    But more to the point:
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.
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    Bluntly, yes. We're going to conquer the world. We don't like competition. Zherys is competition.
     
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    das_slash said:
    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
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    Unlikely Alliances????

    We have a DRACOLICH as part of are forces!!! What...
     
    das_slash said:
    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
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    A lot of what you want is what makes Planetos a shitty place, and the constant over reliance on intrigue, backstabbing, and plotting is part of what turned me off from reading more of the books.
     
    das_slash said:
    Why not? Its should make much easier to organize the empire, It would be bureaucratic hell to have every city answer directly to the capital.

    I'll be frank, i think the quest in its current state and with its current voter base is sorely lacking It what makes asoiaf asoiaf, no intrigue, no unlikely alliances, no complicated plots to overthrow our foes.
    Its just hammer hammer hammer, everything gives way because of our own personal power.
    If we saw any character in the books acting like we do they would be dead within the year, but we get away with It because no one really can stand our power.

    I want diplomacy, i want secret meeting to overthrow kings, i want to make allies and play our enemies until they fall right into our hands, not just a power fantasy.

    Sigh, i guess i'll just look forward to our Next meeting with the spymaster of the shaitan.
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    We have a aberrant, a dracolich, a brine dragon and are working with the Reds who are slaving, human sacrificing asses. I'm sorry unlikely allies? As for the power fantasy... welcome to DnD a world where high magic can change the laws of physics.
     
    Speaking of conquest, after we have reclaimed what is rightfully our (westeros, the free cities and slavers bay) are we just going to conquer the entirety of the known world? Because if so, I would like to inform you that the known world makes up less the 1/4 of Planetos. As in the planet
     
    Gawain said:
    Speaking of conquest, after we have reclaimed what is rightfully our (westeros, the free cities and slavers bay) are we just going to conquer the entirety of the known world? Because if so, I would like to inform you that the known world makes up less the 1/4 of Planetos. As in the planet
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    Yes. All of Prime Material is slated for conquest. Well, conquest and diplomancing. Territories that voluntarily join the Imperium get a lot of nice benefits.

    As for it making up 1/4 of the world? Excellent. More resources to exploit and peoples to conquer.
     
    Gawain said:
    Speaking of conquest, after we have reclaimed what is rightfully our (westeros, the free cities and slavers bay) are we just going to conquer the entirety of the known world? Because if so, I would like to inform you that the known world makes up less the 1/4 of Planetos. As in the planet
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    Yeah, this is long term, as in very long term, planning. Like, beyond the scope of the quest (most likely), past the point where DP just goes "you win forever" with jazz hands or whatever. Viserys has an expected lifespan in the centuries, before Lya really gets into researching immortality. Like, there might be a few polities that Viserys wouldn't conquer, because they're good places to live, that are well ruled, no-slavery, etc., but would likely fall under our cultural hegemony and be absorbed over time (particularly if we conquer their neighbors), but overall, Viserys is going to think towards conquering places simply because he knows he is a better ruler, and that they will flourish under his aegis.
     
    Devourer and Renewer
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    I like the sound of that, honestly. Sort of a Shiva-type deal, where he destroys what has been created to make room for what is coming. Hell, they might recognize that Viserys is destroying the old order for a new one, and fall into line!
     
    Diomedon said:
    Like, there might be a few polities that Viserys wouldn't conquer, because they're good places to live, that are well ruled, no-slavery, etc., but would likely fall under our cultural hegemony and be absorbed over time (particularly if we conquer their neighbors), but overall, Viserys is going to think towards conquering places simply because he knows he is a better ruler, and that they will flourish under his aegis.
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    Let's be honest, this is ASOIAF. Any places like that would have long since been overrun.
     
    Duesal said:
    Yes. All of Prime Material is slated for conquest. Well, conquest and diplomancing. Territories that voluntarily join the Imperium get a lot of nice benefits.

    As for it making up 1/4 of the world? Excellent. More resources to exploit and peoples to conquer.
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    A little under, actually. The planet is supposed to be a bit over 1 percent earth size
     
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    Duesal said:
    Let's be honest, this is ASOIAF. Any places like that would have long since been overrun.
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    I'm mostly thinking of the Summer Islands. Anti-slavery, pretty chill, ritualized warfare to prevent the ravages of war from hurting the people, etc. Viserys would have a hard time justifying conquering them to himself. He might accidentally fall into the role via acting as overlord by helping them repel a deep one incursion or zombie plague or something, but he's not going to deliberately knock down a place like that when there are so, so many places being run much, much worse, or much more in need of protection (see: Every single polity West of the Bone Mountains.).
     
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