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Yes, but not big “army”-sized ones. The dragon princes of Murghôm permit small (40 veteran and fully-equipped, full-pay members or less) mercenary companies (founded by former Murghômi army commanders as that kingdom’s former army shrank under pressure from, and...
#Realmslore
‘Nother Thay question for you, @TheEdVerse: are there any mercenary companies in the Unapproachable East that Szass Tam could hire to help stage the invasion of a neighboring state?
(Aglarond for example…)
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...the decrees of, the dragon princes) to exist, so long as they don’t band together for any purpose whatsoever within the land, or in any adjacent land (for example, Thay). The reason for this is that the ruling dragons don’t want a large army or armies to...
#Realmslore
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...assemble outside their borders and then invade, with the ultimate goal of overthrowing the dragons. So if Szass Tam hires one small band, and word gets around (and the dragon princes have their spies throughout the cities and important waytop towns on the...
#Realmslore
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...cross-Thay caravan roads), others wouldn’t dare hire on with him.
If Tam used magic or blackmail to coerce any Murghômi mercenaries to work for him, under any circumstances, the dragon princes would lash out at him, by slaying and destroying the bodies of...
#Realmslore
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...double the number of competent senior Red Wizards (versus number of mercenaries). They’ve done it before, and they’ll do it again if need be, and Szass Tam will seek to avoid this, because he hates being publicly bested by anyone and have Thay’s populace know...
#Realmslore
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...it (this is one reason he’s been reluctant, and therefore slow, to invade Aglarond one more time; too many public past failures).
And the Mulhorandi watch Thay for signs of weakness, too, and if the dragon princes are humbling Tam right next door, they’ll...
#Realmslore
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...send raiding parties. (Divine rulers and their avatars and Chosen have no fear of Tam, and precious little respect.)
All of which means Szass Tam will likely try to avoid a war on many fronts by hiring one Murghômi mercenary band at a time, as fast-moving...
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...strike forces. This is an ideal role for them, as all such mercenaries are superb horse archers, with their own hardy, well-trained battle mounts. If he uses one such band and reduces it to a few wounded survivors, he’ll pay them off properly, with no...
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...treachery or malice, magically transport them to his border with Murghôm, and only then hire another Murghômi band.
Nimjammir, Vurlakh, and Sessim all host resident mercenary bands. Naelor’s Banner (based on Thuldan Way on the western edge of Nimjammir) ...
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...enjoys perhaps the best reputation among them, for precision on the field, outstanding discipline, and long service (over forty years of financially successful hirings). Symbol: diagonal flaming dagger in canary yellow, point to upper right, on a royal...
#Realmslore
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...purple field.
Shaele Flamehair is perhaps the most notorious mercenary commander, for her calmly reckless boldness as well as her fire-orange hair and beauty, and Shaele’s Shields out of Vurlakh are among the most expensive of the busy mercenary bands as a...
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...result. Symbol: a horizontal row of three orange shields, the center one overlapping the two outer ones.
Turvuld’s Swords out of Sessim are the antithesis of Shaele’s bold and dashing style; they are silent, stolid, stonefaced, conservative professionals who...
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...minimize risks and take great care over small details. Symbol: two crossed silver sabers (curved swords), right over left and points to the top, bisected by a vertical silver spear, point uppermost, on a dun-brown/tawny field.
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He’s truly in a bind then. Perhaps his best hope is to create a wartime accord with Undrek’Thoz… 🤔
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In my game he’s also working on inducting the living (and future dead) of Thay into a standing army. When they do move, the defenders will need to defend against them twice.
What level should this spell be?
#ttrpg #dungeonsanddragons #dnd5e #TTRPGpollsyndicate
Delayed Animate Dead
An unholy union of Gentle Repose and Animated Dead, this spell is cast on a single target who may resist with a Wisdom saving throw or decline to resist. On a… (1/2)
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Though with the Dragon Princes at his doorstep, perhaps a treatise with Tiamat or taking control of the Dragon Masks will needed… 🤔
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If Tam ever somehow makes an alliance with the Dragon Princes, or manages to keep them REALLY busy with something/someone else, watch out...
Though as Elminster gently reminded me: "We DO watch, ye know."
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Hmm. Challenge accepted.
Szass Tam has been kept a cartoon villain for too long. It’s time for some big moves.
And Eliminster is watching, I’d remind the Harpers over there on the Sword Coast that Larloch is watching too…
👀💀
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1) Ahem. It appears to me that being able flush the Dragon Princes out of their lairs in aggressive posture, facing powerful wizards could create opportunity for even more powerful dragons attacking from above.
With this in mind, I was digging through the lore and found…
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Option 1: Aurgloroasa & Daurgothoth - yes, Daurgothoth does want to destroy the Red Wizards, but he also wants to create living dracoliches and Aurgloroasa wants to establish a draconian theocracy Null’s name. What better place to start than to take over Murghôm?
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Option 2: the vampiric dragon Capnolithyl who is already familiar with Murghôm and could establish it as a new vampiric draconic principality under his rule.
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6) for any of these allies, there are several rewards:
1st, gold in hand from the mines of Thay.
2nd, the riches from the fallen dragon’s hordes (which Szass would send his undead armies to collect).
3rd, the potential subjugation of the remaining dragons and Murghôm.
FIN
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Everything you say is valid.
It's a question of Szass managing to convince potential allies, what bargains he can strike, and when he wants to start toppling dominos.
Despite his many reverses when trying to operate outside of Thay, he's on top inside Thay right now.
#Realmslore
Jan 7, 2023 · 11:11 PM UTC
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