>If you would like to join, make a sensible loadout here at:
innawoods.net
>When you're done, read over the Operator's Handbook:
http://pastebin.com/B4PD8nAi
>Or of the Hoofbook if you wanna be a pony:
https://pastebin.com/SjEWsDfC
>Overall Pastebin:
http://pastebin.com/u/PonyStrangler
>Then jump into our IRC chat, #OiE on esper.net server or use
http://esper.net/publicirc.php
>Fortress Map:
http://i.imgur.com/Nfy0UK4.png?2
>Bulletin Board
https://pastebin.com/LnwZ7sdq
>Previous Thread
>>27111940
https://desustorage.org/mlp/thread/27301515
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: There's Always A Bigger Fish: Cu'Nir, Có'caire and Lúfa
|Lúfa + Spruce = vanguard| |Cu'Nir + Simon = central| |Có'caire = rearguard|
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
+1 TO ALL STEALTH AND +2 TO ALL RANGED ROLLS!
MARKED! MASSIVE UNDEAD FOR 1 TURNS! +5 BONUS!
>Viciously exchanging powerful blow for powerful blow, both Cu'Nir and the decrepit monster were left untouched by the others attempts, while the Huntsmasters' wings and claws were thrown away by spinal columns the undeads' own gnashing maws harmlessly scrapped at the Gryphonesses' segmented armour.
>And like before, the distraction worked marvelously, leaving the unguarded back of the ghastly amalgamation wide open to Lúfa and Có'caire's weapons. 191/600HP
>Emboldened by their progress, all three Gryphons begin to fly independent of each other in extreme flexible maneuvers that brought them sailing over Simons head multiple times.
>In a desperate move to preserve its unlife, the collective corpse pillar brought out every available bone it had at its disposal, its ghoulish surface exploding in activity like an angered colony of ants.
>Cu'Nir
[1d6+18] M.Assault
[1d6+18]
[1d6+18]
[1d6+18]
[1d6+18] >R.E
>Massive Undead
[1d6+25] >Heightened Defensive Measures
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
>Có'caire
[1d6+15] E.Assault
[1d6+15]
[1d6+15]
[1d6+15] >R.E
>Lúfa
[1d6+14] B.Assault
[1d6+14]
[1d6+14] >R.E
1/2
>>27559567
>>27471332
>With the massive undead growing flighty towards the combined might of the Gryphons shooting right above you, it apparently did not notice the new set of bullet craters in its increasingly perforated appendage, even the black ooze that has been pouring out of every crevice has started to run short. 158/600HP
>>27471775
>Hobbling past the corner and now nearing the southern portal of the Underchamber, you perceived through your pained vision the ragged cloth was no longer hanging on the catwalks railing, in fact it was nowhere to be seen...
>It took you several moments of steadying, but you were able to get a couple of well placed shots off, barely missing the fast pace Gryphons circling the undead. 149/600HP
>Bursting from the abysses' darkness with a demented shriek came a flying patch of shredded robes, as soon as it came into contact it savagely lashed out at the undead, Simon and passing Gryphons.
[1d6+6] E.Assault
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>Angered further, the beast swung its destroyed limb at the vicious new comer.
[1d6+10] >Improvised Skelly Beating Stick
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6-5] U.Movement
>Sand Cutter
>>27559567
>>27559592
>Completely ignoring any that were watching her, Sand immediately flopped onto her left side, then rolled onto her back, curling her front and rear legs inwards while letting the sun comfortingly bathe her barrel, belly, and crotch without a care in the world, as if daring the gryphons in sight to approach her.
>Falling asleep after two minutes of baking in the warm sunlight on the patch of grass she'd not-so-carefully selected, the mare lazily snored in calm, rhythmic patterns, even managing to drool during fitful dreams of exotic, lavish feasts.
>Rudely awoken from her impromptu nap half an hour later, the Lady Knight's eyes open to glare at the strange temple, her face contorting in ways that it wasn't supposed to for several seconds.
>'Tired. Danger. Humans. Gryphon stank.. meh. Smelled worse.'
>Flopping down onto her left side, the earth mare curls her legs under her, head bending down to yawn, then slowly bites onto the gryphonic weapon's haft, heaving herself forwards to stand up.
>Stretching her rear legs out for a bit, Sand orients on the ziggurat's entrance, plodding towards it with a total lack of caution, then bolts forwards once her hooves touch hard stone, trusting her primal instincts to guide her towards battle.
>'Wonder how many enemies there are?'
[1d6] <Earth Walk
[1d6+2] <E.Charge
[1d6+2]
[1d6+5] <E.Fearless
[1d6+5]
[1d6+5]
[1d6+5]
>Post #1/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>LEADERSHIP: +2 to all Melee & Movement rolls!
>THE WING: +3 to all Ranged rolls!
> 27297937
>Breaking off from her harassment run and howling triumphantly at her targeted emplacement little more than a slagged ruin, the younger Light Lancer storms north a short distance to her sisters, the trio synchronizing their movements and turning as one to face the Argus, a heavy green wall slamming down in front of them.
>"One weapon down, just eighty-three more to go! All up to you on that side human!"
[1d6+27] <Synchronized Hardened Shield
>Blister Pod #2: 7/100 Armor, Crippling Structural Integrity Failure!
>Spinning about and dashing around the Argus model's hulking frame, loudly beeping warheads ejecting from their respective pods draws your attention upwards, as does the grim realization that you weren't getting out of this mess unscathed.
>Coming around for another blow as the warheads bounce once on the moonstone flooring, the Executioner's Blade rips through the barrel's underside leaving a rather clean rent in the material, a brief, failed spark of white crossing the blade's edge indicating that the Ethereal marking hadn't activated.
>Plasmatic Driver #3: 99/200 Armor, Moderate Structural Integrity Failure.
>At roughly the same time, a perfectly timed series of ringing detonations transfers through the helmet, leaving you deafened and dizzy, the integrated sunspot visor's protection turning the world black, and is immediately followed by a host of painful stabbing sensations across your upper legs and chest, armored plating crumpling inwards, though another series of pops and clicks from warheads separating above became more concerning.
>Clemency: 13/20HP, Bleeding!
[1d20+1] <Argus Missile Pods: Close Range Barrage
"The undivine harbinger of light and fury cascading flickers of death across the Endless Oceans of our universe-"
>Post #2/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>>27298631
>1 Ambush token.
>Much like it's callsign, the Argus, utterly unlike the most experimental of tanks, or at best a small, hardened outpost bristling with weaponry, had chosen a prime spot close to the Armory's slightly taller doors, a wide, fully open chunk of corridor with zero obstructions, barricades, and hiding places.
>Excepting the singular rent in it's forward facing and a partially slagged plasma turret that was rapidly receding inwards, there was an utter lack of advantages here, particularly due to it's anti-gravity hovering capabilities, affording it the perfect amount of range and sheer fire power to control a much wider area than it currently did.
>Abrupt singing in the Kingdom dialect north of the Construct while you haul ass is followed by two sparkling crystalline shields touching down on moonstone, the first a clear overshot behind as you hit the 60M mark from your target, though the second greatly undershot, slamming down into reality 40M south of the Argus.
>Finished reforming their lines of battle, the mystics had equally divided themselves into two teams, though the first plasmatic lance had pierced their collected anti-planar shield before finalization, booming shouts from the minotaurs indicating at least two now lie deceased, though continuous fusillades of lance-sized arrows continue to hammer into the Construct and it's weaponry unabated.
>Missile Pod #1: 41/150 Armor, Severe Structural Integrity Failure.
>Missile Pod #8: 3/150 Armor, Critical Structural Integrity Failure!
Argus Dominator Unit: 2,794/3,000 Armor
[1d6+3] <Hegemony Mystic Unit 2: Planar Shield
[1d6+5] <Hegemony Mystic Unit 5: Planar Shield
[1d6+6] <Gozkan Rangers Unit 1
[1d6+9] <Gozkan Rangers Unit 3
>Post #3/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>>27300020
>>27307483
>Remaining stationary and locked in place by it's targeting solution, the Argus' plasmatic driver misses your Supremely Tactical Retreat, turning south and tearing ass towards the lines of minotaurs, the closest available cover being a large, destroyed Construct in sight.
>Taking cover behind the hull, the Nightmare's only utterance was a pained groan, Twisted Wing cutting into the communication network with an irate snarl.
>"Princess ain't gonna be talkin' for a while, looks like she got suicided on; Destroyers, plant your manabombs NOW! Jeff, pile in with the Gozkans until the other Argus shon- FUCK! More Breachers in the Atrium! All units not engaged get back here and keep them off the Council! Gotta go shit's looking bad!"
>Right on cue, the flight of angular armored batponies switch from dodging rapid plasma turret fire and warhead detonations around the Dominator's bulk to diving in, physically throwing themselves onto the Construct's weapon pods and hanging fast.
>As each of the Destroyers set off their carried explosives, their namesake finally register to you as suicide bombers, blindingly powerful detonations ringing across the Dominator's hull all at once while it's remaining lances fire overhead, only to be greeted by a counter-volley of massive arrows.
[1d6+8] <S.Suicide Manabombs
[1d6+8] <S.Suicide Manabombs
[1d6+10] <L.Suicide Manabomb
[1d6+10] <L.Suicide Manabomb
[1d6+10] <L.Suicide Manabomb
[1d15] <Argus Plasmatic Drivers
"Mistress of scorn and vapid destruction alike, grant this woeful one the glory of your-"
>Taking a quick, ragged inhale, Hornet Song's eyes survey the mathematic symbology floating about him, then snaps his gaze forwards, a white-hot lance of super-heated plasma ejecting from a blinding white rift above his head.
"RETRIBUTION!"
[1d20+7] <Grand Spell: Solar Ray
[1d20+7]
[1d20+7]
[1d20+7]
>>26943679
>Standing dumbstruck where he was, Corsen eventually tilts his head back, eyeing the ceiling in maudlin annoyance, losing all concern at the events going on around him for a time.
>"These voices.. what idiots are these? What kind of idiot am I?"
>Bringing his gaze down to the cabaret show, then staring at the opposite end of the room with a contempt-filled SIGH, he mutters in an annoyed tone while treading towards the local drug dealer, uncaring as to what or who might hear.
"You I might listen to, but you? No, no, you are a retarded grox fucker, you can't be trusted. You? You are an idiot, why should I care? Stop bombarding me you bedlam-addicted sycophants-"
>Stopping short of the supplier and making a terribly unsubtle attention getting motion, the Cultist's left hand reaches into it's relevant front pocket, lifting a pair of 100 Bit coins out partway with a rigid gaze.
"I know you, you know me, we've done this before but this time is easy. Get me everything you have worth-"
>Flashing several more coins of indeterminate value, the right hand reaches up to tap the bottom of his partially empty pack, sighing in a vain attempt to ignore the oncoming drug-induced crash.
"This much that will fit in here in the next ten minutes. I don't care what they are, only that they're hard enough to shut the voices up and last longer than the next mare that tries to drag me off without asking first."
>Pausing to listen to a stray voice, Corsen's eyes track across the stage, visibly distraught at the appearance of dancing ponies, then makes a series of quick gestures approximating a bottle, or perhaps a phallus, mostly due to his hands shaking angrily.
"And get me six containers of whatever flammable liquids, gels, or substances you can find. I need fire bombs or the void whale trying to make Tau songs in my brain is going to win.. and I HATE Tau!"
>>27559952
>Loud beeping fills the air around Clemency as he looks up at the awaiting warheads as he went by
>He realizes this is going to be his last run on the weapons of this thing
>Then he'll need another way to deal damage
>One from range
>But that last slice on the barrel was satisfying enough
>"Better be enough sabotage on that thing..."
>As he lands, it's like he got hit with a flashbang
>He gasps and grunts as he feels the pain course through his chest and legs
>The world turns black as the helmet protects against the flash
>The gravity effect goes off in it's retribution
[1d6] <Dissonant Gravity
"Time...to...go."
>He kneels and let that spring sensation takes hold
>And as it reaches it's climax, he leaps towards the Hegemony shield units
>Close enough as cover it is to him
[1d6+5] <B.Movement
[1d6+5]
[1d6+5] <Airstream Evade
[1d6+5]
[1d6+10] <Third Lancer
>He lands on his feet, then hands, then back behind the Hegemony lines
>His sight, still recovering from the explosion, spies the battle behind the shields
>Arrows slamming into it, those tank-looking batponies laying on top of it
"Are we getting...desparate enough to use suicide bombers?"
>And his screen becomes darker again as the beam shoots out from Hornet Song
>Clem gets to his feet and tries to regain his thoughts and bearing
>Cairn Wharf, West Pier
>>27458328
>Upon Slav'ing to gaze into the water, so too does several hundred beady eyes peer rapturously upwards at you, the ocean's shallows brimming with schools of brightly colored flatfish, mostly surf perch, and several small octopi, all of which looked to be safe to catch and eat varieties.
>That is, except for a tiny, violently green squid with oddly rectangular eyes on the surface, it's tentacles thrashing about in the water angrily and ejecting ribbon-like clouds of glowing, sticky ink the same color as itself.
>Probably not something you'd want to put in a small fish, but likely rare.
>Receiving no less than twenty overly friendly smiles in your direction from Moors batponies and the shorter, slender clan pegasi alike, the lack of earth ponies in view was compounded by endless fresh small crab, fish, shrimp, lobster, and other food stalls up and down the pier.
>On the far west end however, a number of sturdy wood shacks making a rough circle were rather new looking, one in particular on the northern side covered in Arcane Blades graffiti, along with a sweetly colored, large brown pegasus slumped facefirst in the open window.
>>27561411
>"They may look edible, but fuck going into the water here. I doubt casting a line is fucking safe, even in shallows."
>Shakes my head and suppresses a shiver at the smiles, feeling a bit uneasy. I didn't know a single being here, and I'd like to keep it like that for as long as possible.
>As I walk around the pier, I glance at the seafood in mild curiosity, wondering if there's anything that could possibly be pet-worthy.
>Not that I want a pet or anything.
>Definitely don't want a lil' shrimp I can convert to Nazism.
>Taking a moment, I gaze over at the newer-looking shacks to see if there was anything of interest besides a pegasus, before making my way over.
[1d6]> E. Perception
[1d6]
[1d6]
>Post #1/2: Stratus Vigil
>>27432417
>Snorting loudly in agreement, Stratus' eyes roll, then gives a cheeky smile, her sun baked eyebrows wriggling in an adorable fashion.
"I suspect every world is the same: no leader wants to do paperwork or bash heads unless they get something extra out of it, like a massage or one of those sweet Empire pastries with chocolate and cream inside. I'd bet a hundred Bits that mine is still nuttier than yours though."
>Lifting her wings out of the water and spreading them over the glazed sandstone, the mare's chin alights on the floor, her left ear swirling amusedly.
"That's a funny question considering Razorback met them first. Well, they were a small village of Saddle Arabians and one outcast pegasus that got caught in some weird Eldritch stuff a while back. This was before I was hired, mind you, but what I do know is that they're transparent like Crystal ponies, made of something like lava leech gel, only not flammable, and can shape their bodies how they want. They live off salt and water so they're really good tasting to most ponies, which is why my other job is to keep Sweet from licking them to death. Just treat them like you would anypony that's friendly and they'll be happy to deal with you."
>Nodding appreciably, the crow blue batpony points her left set of claws towards a trio of NATO styled plastic munitions crates, the type that you'd seen other humans trade off for ridiculous prices to the mercenaries before, though these were heavily worn under new ownership.
"That's the ones to take then. All I ask is to get those boxes to their cave safely before morning. Those ponies don't ever need to sleep and really want to have their own rooms something fierce, so they've been working overtime for the last month."
>>27560108
>Easily avoiding the driver, Jeff quickly takes cover behind a downed Construct near the Gozkan archers.
>Luna didn't seem too good, but Twisted piped in instead.
>He doesn't answer amongst the commotion, but does a double take at what the destroyers were doing to the Dominator.
'Sweet fuck...'
>They were literal suicide bombers, slamming into the Construct like Kamikazees.
>He would have never thought they'd go that far...
>Were they THAT desperate to keep the Citadel?
>Trying to avoid the sheer madness taking place, Jeff resets the Gepard onto the his convenienty Construct cover and observes the Dominator's damage.
>Moreso he attempts to hone back in on the dent, he had put previously.
[1d6+3] <M.Perception
[1d6+3]
[1d6+7] <Scope
>Post #2/2: Stratus Vigil
>>27439398
"Heh, keep in mind we don't yet have a law against forced herdships, though I doubt it'd possible to make one last."
>Nose wiggling amusedly for several moments, the insect-eater begins scratching behind her ears slowly, exhaling in a dismayed tone.
"Isiet left a painful gap when she broke off the trade pacts and agreements. All factions big and small are just as pissed as everypony in Manehattan is, the Ferron clans are crying foul. Some from the Moors, Neighvada, and even the Empire are concerned about how they're going to deliver food across Tallus. We're still trying to buy a city translocation hub and make up some of the trading market, been no luck from any faction leaders on that. Everything's a real mess just about everywhere."
>Covering her left eye with the same side's wing, Vigil tips her head back, eyebrows furrowing in puzzlement at the odd, to her, name.
"Jarot? Jaraht? Jarawt? Huh.. that's hard to say. Well if there's anything he can't use we'd appreciate it, don't have much to offer in return but I'll have somepony collate our reports on where the Councilierge has been sending their members. There's even some caches near old Dusk Strider Void-tunnels that we don't have the resources to crack open. Call it a side-effect of having all mercenaries with only a few warriors to back the rest up."
>Lips pursing tightly as squints, the crow blue batmare's eyes shift downwards, scratching a quick, rough sketch of a Saddle Arabian in the sandstone, then a caricature of a pegasus.
"What I've learned so far is that gel-ponies are a small village of Saddle Arabians and one pegasus that were affected by some physical Eldritch influences near a bunch of active volcanoes. They don't feel any pain, don't age, are immune to quite a bit: manabombs, poison, toxins, being frozen and thawed out, fire.. you name it, they've done it. They're a little odd but pretty friendly. You'd have to ask their leader to know more though."
>Post #1/2: Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27443295
>Rolling her neck armor out in a slow motion, Broken twists her head to the side, an already tired sigh emanating from her helmet, the eyeslits sparking green briefly as a stone disc is pulled down from one of the rafters, then dropped in front of you.
"All Tower Guard issued spiked hoofboots.. but hate rain. Hate snow. Really hate ice too."
>Absentmindedly ignoring the Master-Captain's advice, upon downing the entire bottle of sweet orange tasting Heartflame, some dim part of your consciousness broadcasts that your armor was well insulated for the most part, and would likely retain heat for a short time.
>The psion's head shakes negatively at the question, a dim static resonating in your skull before her voice is heard over an isolated, private mental link.
>"No need, will plug ears. Speak mind to mind now."
>Tapping the last rune heavily, the pagoda is instantly, or as instantly as possible considering the nature of the Vortex Remnant's improving capabilities, replaced by Broken Hoof snorting angrily while she loudly crunches down onto ice, physically struggling to keep her hoofing underneath.
>An onslaught of immense cold and buffeting chunks of snow deeply apparent, the near pitch black striking you as most odd, though after the first tremendously chilly moment the cold abates at an alarming pace even as a rather unsettling scene coming into bare view through the darkness:
>The familiar archaic Stalliongrad stonework of a ring of damaged or crumbling square, blocky two-story buildings takes dim shape through the scope's lenses, which were currently icing over at a rapid pace, yet what was most concerning was a ruined fountain in the center of the square covered by at least three feet of ice, the layers gaining at an appreciable rate.
>"This... not natural, dangerous. Would take two minutes to kill most ponies, need to be quick here."
>Post #2/2: Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>Her frustration reaching a positively annoyed level, Broken carefully surveys the old square for several moments, her awareness reaching towards the fervent sensations of life within a wide radius while you catch her half of a conversation.
>"...what do you mean? A conclave of dragons. ...no? A thousand Lunar unicorns perhaps? ...then what? ..Rebirth's wrath? No you deluded idiot, she has not drawn upon the winter's call in half century. ..what do Master-Generals suggest then? ...incompetence and lunacy. When I return, I will ponifally demand answers from the false goddesses myself to silence their bleating!"
[1d6] <M.Psionicism: Lifesense
[1d6]
[1d6]
[1d6]
>Snorting balefully, the Master-Captain heaves forwards, her hoofboots digging into the slippery ice as you were now coming to realize that you were unbearably warm under the current conditions, the heat only growing more intense every second.. not only that, you weren't sure where the suddenly growing orange light was coming from.
[1d6+4] <E.Charge
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+9] <M.Sunken State
[1d6+9]
[1d6+9]
[1d6+9]
>>27559968
>Pareidolia adjusts his movement as he notes the closest shield deploying for him.
>Maintaining his pace to take cover behind the shield when he reaches it, he assess the compromised section of armor and current state of the Argus unit as arrows continue to rain down.
>Complete tactical advantage.
>Purpose made for engagements such as this.
>Disadvantaged.
>It should be vulnerable to electricity. Will need to strike n-
>>27560108
>His eyes widen slightly and he pauses for half a moment as the suicide squadron detonates themselves.
>...What a waste.
>Do they have nothing better?
>He shakes his head slightly as he positions himself at the edge of the shield with a clear view of the compromised armor section.
>Slinging his rifle, he raises both his right arm and points his hand at the dent while looking upwards at the Construct's head(?).
"Fear is the correct response."
AMBUSH TOKEN USED
[1d6+1]< Lightning Strike + Ambush
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
>Feeling the charge both from within himself and the errant static charges from the Argus Unit, he grasps them and wills the two forks of energy to connect, course through the gaps, and leap into the core of the Argus to wreak havoc.
[1d6]< E. Ambush
[1d6]
[1d6]
>Dancing Eyes
>>27458760
>Head tipping back back to stare upon you, or more likely gazing at the immaterial integrity of your question, then gazes upwards further to give the ceiling a critical examination of it's decidedly unsocial nature, the earth pony speaks in a slow, sorrowful manner.
"Yes.. without color, we are a closed, blank book, bereft of -knowing- ourselves, a grossly utilized yet unappreciated spectrum, seen but not understood by the thronged masses of false alicorn believers, they whom are deliberately devoid of acting on their consciously demanded commands. Even to the most unobservant life and unlife, those born or unborn, All Creation must appreciate color or be left behind as the stone wheels of advancement are reshaped anew each generation. Yes.. I understand that color must be appreciated, but do we realize it? Have we degraded our senses to a time where we are hungry, mindless ponies wandering a wild, untamed world, or have we advanced too far without using our primal, savagely honed instincts, the bonds that strove to coalesce our species into the forms and countries they are now? Perhaps.. we never needed borders after all."
>Blissfully closing her eyes after a minute, the apparent librarian nods sagely, turning on hoof to eye the tower of knowledge while the full, utterly confusing weight of her words bears down on your conscious rationale, one forehoof lifting slightly as the books are lifted from their places one after another, the entire stack shortly floating in a series of concentric circles around her, one finally freed from the rings to hover, stationary, in front of you.
"The question is not if there a book that you must write in, no. The question is when you shall use it's importance, and what you shall gain from it. This one, itself a blank world, one that you shall dig within, scrape together, forge, reforge, make and unmake with your will,, shall serve it's purposes.. and, in time, perhaps your purposes as well."
>>27460870
>Once you realized that Lann's hoofwork had caused minor wrinkles in the silk, the layers eventually settle, mostly, back into their former positions, although the entire suit felt almost too clean and had obviously been washed, judging by the refreshing scent of fall rain water.
>You also felt eyes on your back and neck, the subtle wiggling drawing not so subtle attention from fliers passing above and sharp eyes far off, yet the watchers seemed to content themselves.. with merely watching.
>While Tangent passes by with a merry smile and a quick examination of your flanks, you note that the keg actually wasn't a keg, instead being a small barrel of some sort as there were two steel plates melded to the top and bottom, leaving a tiny lip of metal around each.
>Quite odd, to say the least.
>Path turning north and wandering between the sets of barracks, you pass by the aptly named Command Centers's left side, a veritable storm of activity, and several lost feathers, from within drawing your attention for a moment, before turning northeast.
>Nearing the mess hall, which liberally exuded myriad scents of seafood, vegetables, fruits, and of course alcohol, you note a small cluster of odd looking humans, an insensate, dazed looking Arcane Blade between them was undergoing a thorough brushing session, all of whom were seated on the south wall close to the center of the large building.
>To the east and west of the strange scene, row after row of vegetable planters dotted the exterior wall, mostly small berry bushes, though a few were empty, yet a couple of sparkling multicolored Empire pumpkins, a lone fall watermelon, and the tops of what were probably tubers could be seen as well.
>Doctor Tipper
>>27463260
>>27463292
>Examining the mostly precise, clean cuts, if they could even be called that, throughout the armored suit, you find that the entire backpack had been untouched, except for a couple of small energy connections that were decidedly non-vital.
>Her smile fading after several moments, the elderly unicorn's molten eyes swirl once, tapping her front hooves together to make a quiet *pok* sound.
"That.. isn't the Force."
>Nudging the chair in the direction of her desk, several brief clinks occur, as does water being poured into a container while the faded pink doctor speaks solemnly.
"Crystal ponies possess a singularly unique form of emotionally based sonic control. As I understand it, half of their control is vocal, the other half is mental, much like my species, unicorns, direct and manipulate the flows of elemental energies within ourselves, others, and around us. The rest of ponykind calls what Elusine performed 'Crystal runes', but it is simply a natural, esoteric capacity that allows them to shape or reshape the world around them. I suppose the Force has fewer direct uses like Crystal runes do, though I suspect it to be more.. subtle, broad in nature. There was a very young human here some time ago, one whom could manipulate the Force, although it was a bit more.. how should I say this?"
>Hearing water hissing after a bit from the desk, though blocked by Tipper's overly large chair, a pair of tea bags can be seen lifted in a pale pink glow, then dropped into water, humming to herself briefly.
"To put it plainly, it was a 'dark' sort of Force, if that makes any sense. I hesitate to place it in the same category as necromancy or Void summoning, yet that is as close a comparison as I can make. I could also tell that it was somewhat dangerous to the user, and had virtually no beneficial uses either. I haven't seen him in a while, which makes me worry. Would you care for some tea?"
>>27564745
>Was there such as too clean?
>Maybe; Lann could have bleached it white, that'd be too clean.
>Apart from the former discomfort of her suit, Sunny could feel the eyes on her.
>It might have been a little hypocritical of her to observe others and dislike being observed in return, and it was for that reason that she remained out in the open.
>Definitely not because vanishing from sight whenever anyone turn an eye on her would raise suspicion, and thus, lead to a rapid downward spiral of scrutiny into her actions.
>Whatever had caused her to think it was a keg?
>She shook her head at herself.
>Seeing the state of the Mess Hall, Sunny decided it might not be the best place to be at the moment.
>Not unless she wanted to be captured and brushed, like that Arcane Blade.
>Backing out, she turned her path back to the Command Center, an idea forming in her mind.
>If she had time on her hooves, she might as well put it to use and start assembling resources for her yellow brick road operations.
>Locating the bulletin board, Sunny tipped her pinion with ink and quickly penned out a note with practiced motions.
"Heya Razorback, Feathers here, I'm currently finding myself with an abundance of time on my hooves and disliking it, so I'm offering up my Alchemical skills to anypony or anyone who wants them. Pay me whatever you want for it really, although my price, if any, may not always be of a monetary nature. If you're interested, I can usually be found in the Library; If not, don't worry about it, I'll find you."
>Pinning her own notice to the board, Sunny took skimmed some of the others, taking particular interest in the sale of new alchemical recipes.
>Better alchemical recipes.
>She could afford one if she spent all of her money on it.
>It might be worth acquiring one or two of them.
>Turning away she made her way to the Pagoda at a trot.
>>27564231
>Oh shit I accidentally the entire bottle.
>Fuck
>Oh, well.
>At least it tasted good.
>But orange?
>Shouldn't it taste like flame, or something like that?
>Or is that what flame tastes like?
>I thought it would have been more spicy.
>Nodding at her suggestion, then realizing she can't see me, I speak.
>Through my mind, and stuff.
>"Okay. You need me to keep an ear out for you? I'm assuming that'd put a damper on your situational awareness, keeping 'em plugged like that."
>And, off we go!
>Huh.
>So this is what Stalliongrad looks like...
>Strange.
>I've pledged to help Silver all this time, and this is only the second time I've been here.
>It's...kind of beautiful, in a sad, ruined sort of way.
>And snow.
>So much snow!
>As I finish scanning the enviroment, I lower my MG to the ready position.
>"Jeez. I'd hate to be out here without my armor and stuff on. Hell, even without the Heartflame..."
>Wisely not choosing to interrupt her on who she was talking to, I suddenly become aware of a particular feeling.
>Oh.
>Oh, that's why she said drink half.
>Ah, christ.
>This is gonna put a damper on my effectiveness.
>It's like being in a mini-desert!
>Great, now I have to ask her what to do now.
>Curse that bottle for being so similar to one of an alcoholic variety!
>"So...uh, I kinda...accidentally...drank the whole bottle. I'm almost boiling in my skin right now, is there anything I can do to right this situation before I cook myself alive? Besides, you know, taking my clothes off. Also, sorry for doing that."
>Pausing, I peer down my MG3, attempting to look past the orange light to look for enemies, and possibly hear something over the howling wind.
[1d6+3]<E. Perception + MG Scope
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
>Somehow, I feel like this is both my fault and not my own.
>I just wish I could have not chugged that shit like it was orange juice.
>>27564901
>1129 breathes a quiet sigh of relief.
>In retrospect, there would not be much damage that could have come to it from cutting the joints open.
>But still...
"I am surprised you know of the Force."
>Only after he says this does he recall Hodch's uncanny ability.
>The power to gain such knowledge would not be threatening to the Republic from a remote world such as this, however.
>As for the "Crystal ponies", their abilities sound impressive. Perhaps they are similar to the Force, but he does not know enough to make such judgements.
>The mention of a Force User having been inside this compound draws his attention.
>Her knowledge of the Force appears to have different roots.
"It seems as though you may be describing a Sith."
>This is troublesome.
>His location is unknown, but his mere presence is even more alerting.
>Might he be trying to locate or monitor the Clone?
>If that is the case, he may be the one who sent him here, and is observing the result of his work, ensuring that he is well and truly out of the way.
"You are right to be concerned. I believe I may be somewhat of a target."
>There is no guarantee that he will leave it at that.
>Tipper's question eventually brings him out of his thoughts.
>With his Bacta supply now cut off, the feelings of hunger and thirst begin to emerge.
"That would be appreciated."
>>27559567
>>27559592
>Spruce lets out a cheer, loud enough for the gryphons to hear him give them his approval!
>But his voice was quite weak at the moment so he could only hope they did.
>The next thing he knows though, is that a massive bone tentacle was just summoned and it's path was clear.
>Straight at the Norwegiean.
>'Å nei, ikke igjyen...'
>He pushes himself even harder, his sore body already feeling as if he is on the brink of just giving out.
>The fact that this man was not giving out was either amazing or pure fucking insanity.
>Probably a bit of both.
>But, after exiting his dodge he attempts to fire another 3 shots into the creature!
>Even if it was the last thing he could do, he would go down fighting!
[1d6+5] E. Combat Rifles
[1d6+5]
[1d6+5]
[1d6-4] U. Movement Evade
rip kamikaze horses
...
>>27559592
>With the pressure momentarily off, I see the Gryphons managing to evade the undead's retaliation while Spruce and I keep up our fire.
>It's showing signs of weakening drastically as I shift my fire towards the new set of weapons it has deployed against them, intent on weakening them as much as possible.
"Keep it up, we've almost got it!"
[1d6]<B. Leadership: Melee
[1d6]
[1d6+11]<E. Small Arms
[1d6+11]
[1d6+11]
>A loud screech grabs my attention, and I react just in time to catch just a glimpse of what's approaching before I shield myself.
"We've got incoming!"
>Incoming rags?
>Incoming clothes?
>Whatever it is, it's hostile and probably needs killing.
>Rather, killing again.
[1d6+9]<M. Melee: Riposte
[1d6+9]
[1d6+9]
[1d6+9]
[1d6+1]<Voidlash
[1d3]<Infestation
[1d6+2]<Claws
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: There's Always A Bigger Fish: Cu'Nir, Có'caire
|Spruce = vanguard| |Cu'Nir + Simon = central| |Có'caire = rearguard|
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
+1 TO ALL STEALTH AND +2 TO ALL RANGED ROLLS!
>Unprepared for the sheer ferocity coming from the undead, Cu'Nir was forced to fight her way from the swarming appendages. Thankfully her armour absorbed the blows, although just barely.
>Có'caire too had to swiftly change his plans to escape, his own armour soaking up some of the damage but his wounds still mounted before he got out of melee range. 153/240HP
>On the other claw Lúfa did not have thick enough armour nor the mass to endure the sudden onslaught from the monstrous bone pile, leaving the Fledgling to the unmerciful wrath of the undead.
>As one wing was ripped out of its socket the other was stripped of feathers by forcible skeletal grabs, robbing the Gryphoness of flight.
[Gryphonic] "HEL-"
>Her warbling plea was cut short as her flightless tumbling body fell into the thrashing sundering claws. -13/110HP Lúfa
[Gryphonic] "LHUFA!?"
[Gryphonic] "Dammit it all!"
>Howling in rage both older Gryphons dived right at the centre of the floating column of corpse refuse; wings, claws, talons and beaks carelessly bared.
>Cu'Nir
[1d6+13] M.Assault
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13] >R.E
>Có'caire
[1d6+10] >E.Assault
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10] >R.E
>Massive Undead
[1d6+25] >Heightened Defensive Measures
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
1/2
>>27571500
>>27559843
>Letting the connection between Tallus's earth and her spirit lead the way, Sand Cutter was sparred from the ghostly whispers that tried desperately to pour poisoned honey down her flattened ears as she barreled through the black passage.
>Nostrils flared to sniff out where the party went when she entered the main chamber, the mare stormed towards the left portal, heavy hoof falls crunching down on innumerable debris.
>Lead through the oppressing darkness of the starwell and corresponding corridor by the earth, Sand Cutter instinctively lowered her head and raised the Redsteel Fauchard, its fiery blade piercing through the murky barrier that sealed off the Underchamber.
>The pressure from the inky wall forced Sand to a halt, which in hindsight was good, for to her right was broken off catwalk.
>To her left was Simon and a large extruding limb that was attached to a floating pillar of hobbled together cadavers which hovered in front of her.
>Cu'Nir and Có'caire assaulting it with reckless abandon above and...
>The Fledgling Lúfa being ripped apart by ghastly jaws and hands.
>Work was cut out for the knight it seemed.
>>27566625
>Oh shit, Lúfa is dead.
>Oh shit x2, Sand Cutter finally answered your fucking calls for backup.
>With the Huntsmaster and Chef concentrating on one point, you had the all clear to fire at will, adding three more bullets into the lead spongecake that was the massive undead. 127/600HP
>>27569565
>Your Sai met sodden claws that were tipped with thin sewing needles, your weapon and the tools' metals clashed in vibrate sparks before yours gained the upper hand, sending black sparks at the spewing mass of soggy rags. 174/190HP
>+1HP
2/3
>>27572171
>Mostly dodging out of the way of the lumbering "arm", some of the edges of their clothing was torn off by outstretching jaws and vertebrae, prompting a drowning roar to erupt from within the flock of rags. 167/190HP
>While their unorganized attack had no affect on Cu'Nir, their needle tipped talons and wings lanced through Có'caire's armour, making the Gryphon squawk in pained surprise as he fought the undead. 144/240HP
>Still tracking them, the undeads limb followed after the new comer, it vibrating violently before vomiting a hailstorm of bones and meaty shards.
[1d6+10] >Skeloting Gun
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+3] >Evasion
[1d6+3]
>Sand Cutter
>>27571500
>>27572171
>>27572275
>Utterly floored upon arrival at the twisted scene, Sand's first act upon seeing the small gryphon's wing torn was to toss her head left, teeth hurling the redsteel fauchard towards Ghost, roaring at him in a furious tone afterwards.
"Undead must be crushed, not stabbed you fool! Take this and draw it into your range, not the other way around!"
>Tossing her head up to eye the gryphons and their lack of cover, the mare takes a deep, pained breath, then lets it out in a calmed, command shout.
"SPLIT APART! YOU ARE GIVING IT A SMALLER AREA TO TARGET BOTH OF YOU! STRIKE!"
[1d6+4] <E.Leadership: Movement
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
>Snapping her eyes down onto the abomination, Sand briefly weighs her options, then those of the humans and gryphons.
>"I have two of these.. combustion cubes. The clearest answer to this situation is to abandon all logic, for an Undead that carries intellect scorns the living. It cannot be allowed to continue doing so."
>Bending her head down in a solemn motion, every muscle in her body uncomfortably weak and tight, the Lady Knight rocks backwards, then lunges forwards with a small tremor, her front hooves aimed directly at the center of the abomination's body.
"HAVE YOU FELT THE WRATH OF A TRUE WATCH GUARD IN YOUR DAYS ABOMINATION!?"
[1d6+5] <Lunge
[1d6+2] <E.Charge
[1d6+2]
[1d6+2]
[1d6+4] <E.Earth Shatter
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4] <M.Assault
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
>>27571500
>>27572171
>>27572275
>>27573009
>Spruce's smile is short lived.
>The next thing he sees is the gryphon who had rested on his head and had been a joy to be with get ripped apart by the skeletal algomation.
>And there was nothing he could do about it.
>He had some medical supplies.
>He might even have been able to save her with them.
>But it was impossible to get to Lúfa from where he was.
"No..."
"Det kan ikke ende slik..."
[Norwegian] "It cannot end like this..."
>Spruce lets out a small pained cry at his helplessness.
>He nearly trips and falls over, a look of pure disbelief and pain on his face.
"Hun var for ung..."
[Norwegian] "She was too young..."
>His arms feel weak as he tries to run with his rifle...
>He feels the tears well up in his eyes...
>'I cannot save her...'
>'... But I can avenge her.'
>The man's hands begin to shake.
>His expression quickly changing from one of angst to one of rage.
>Spruce's voice is clearly heard across the room this time, thundering with the sound of pure, unrestrained fury.
"YOU. FOUL. UNHOLY. HELLSPAWN!"
>He barely registers that Sand Cutter has come in to the battle, his attention is soley focused on the creature now.
>He forgets about the pain he is in as he begins running faster and tries to shoot another three rounds off at the monstrosity, this time his shots providing covering fire for the two gryphon's who still were alive.
>'Now is not the time to mourn.'
>'Now is not the time to get too far ahead of myself.'
>'Now is the time to keep the rest of them alive.'
[1d6+1] E. Combat Rifles: Covering Fire.
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
[1d6-2] U. Movement.
>Crag Moors: Outpost 4-1
>>27432643
>Feeling eyes on itself, the porcupine's head pops above the rim, then shuffles backwards and begins to dig at a languid pace, seemingly content to make a new burrow.
>Besides the amusingly laid back mammal, the locale was pleasantly quiet, with none of the usual, sinister Everfree sounds off in the distance.
>>27438980
>Phased from the relatively normal Moors woods, this new location was more ruin than an outpost location, most of the trees in sight had blackened bark and twisted limbs, making it difficult to tell when they'd died.
>What appeared to be a statue of some sort was sunken into the ground, the odd architecture something that you'd never seen before, while the peculiarly rank, stagnant stench of swamp water hanging in the air was more than a little concerning.
>>27456803
>Shuttled from the pagoda's matrice onto a damaged, slime covered translocation stone, the surrounding swamp vaguely reminded you of a location in the Foundation's archives where an extraterrestrial beacon had crashed down and begun terraforming, though in this case it was probably just another offshoot of the Everfree Forest's seemingly endless Eldritch mutations.
>Returning to the passenger's seat, the Ride's speakers begin blaring a number of buffering, layered electronic signals and pings, seemingly at random with little coherence.
>>27571500
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4zLfCnGVeL4
..
>Tartarus Isle: Captain Raidor
>>27563403
>Raidor snorts angrily at nothing in particular, but is annoyance is easily discerned by the subject manner.
"She had better hope she has friends, over in Saddle Arabia, because she will find none here! Mayor Quill has been talking about reorganizing trade routes with the Empire and Moors, on top of been attempting to start building more hubs. We're going to need more in order to keep up with trades, now."
>The captain rolls his eyes and shrugs his shoulders at Vigil's attempts at proper pronunciation.
"Minotaurs... I know. Hmm... Dusk Strider tunnels. Those are very old; I know of them, as well."
>Looking down at the rough sand sketch, Raidor nods oddly and confused at the backstory, but he confides in knowing they're friendly enough.
>'The forces of this world are truly unique and... strange.'
"Sooo, on that note-"
>>27432417
>Raidor walks over to the cart full of manabomb crates, and skillfully hitches himself to it, looking over at you with renewed enthusiasm.
"These need delivering!"
>Canterlot, A Lavish Residence: Venous
>>27560501
>The voices dissipate into thick interior air, heckling and calling Corsen a faggot as they went, abandoning him to the gaze of the Drug Dealer.
>Apart from them the barmare was the only pony that noticed his rambling as he neared the dealer, everypony else busy raising the roof as the three mares began to seductively put clothes on while the stallion flaunted his large goods.
>In the non-existent lighting of the den Corsen barely perceived the drug dealer and occupying ponies react to his stiff movements.
"You okay sweetie? Seems like you need to relax."
>She had a Canterlot accent, one dipped in sweet allure.
>The shadowy druggy pone chuckled as a flash from a horn lit up her features and her accomplices for a brief second, followed by a thud resonating on the table before the Operator.
"Here you go then sugar, just hoof over the bits and the bag of 'goodies' are all yours".
>Paying no heed to your ranting, unicorn tongue is heard under the aroused braying from the audience, the dressed up mares now putting on what could only be described as a thong onto the swaying stallion, molesting every corner of his body as they did so.
>With a clop, one of the drug dealers' ponies left her side, they trotting for the exist at a business pace, looking at you out of the corner of their eye.
"When you leave one of my fillies will be waiting for you outside with everything you asked. Now for the rest of the bits sweetie~"
>The request was left hanging in the air, heavier than the rising pungent aroma of 30+ horny equines.
>Venous was regretting the seat she picked, as it was front row view of the stage and the lewd ponies that fondled one another to raucous applause of patrons.
>"This was a mistake."
>And when the off duty mare saw the stallion and his swinging member take to the pole, she tried her best to sink into the sofa's creases, hoping to slip into a different plain of existence to escape such a debauch performance.
>>27562281
>>27563403
>These gooponies sound pretty interesting.
>I wonder what would happen if I stuck my di-
>No. Bad Ivan, no bad thoughts while not in your room.
"I wasn't part of Razorback at the time."
>Idly listens in on the conversation between the ponies as it doesn't technically concern me but it might be useful later.
>>27579072
"Yeah, I guess they do."
>Walking over, I quickly inspect the cart and crates, looking for anything suspicious.
>Just in case.
[1d6]> E. Perception
[1d6]
[1d6]
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress: Orchard
>>27565756
>With the groan of wood being put under stress, the ground near the Orchard on the west side broke open as a thrush of timber branched out, tendrils of slippery vines slick with water snaking their way across the ground.
>Anchoring themselves after gaining several feet in distance, they hoist out of the hole a wooden frame of an unidentifiable quadruped creature, that after cresting the lip of the cavity comes to sudden shuddering life.
>Returning to the frame and coiling together, the vines form pseudo muscles which propel the thing along the Fortresses' expanse.
>Flowers begin to grow and soon bloom simultaneously, hundreds of petals glowing under the moonlight to resemble an illuminating white coat for the quadruped.
>"Sensing", rather than seeing the ponies and humans moving about, the Thing trots at a leisure pace towards the fountain.
>Being underground sure makes you thirsty!
>Passing the Pagoda, it feels Sunny Feathers presence.
>Halting, it turns its body to face the Pegasi's direction, it raising a leg to waggle at the mare in a friendly gesture.
>>27574256
>Feeling a new drop from the translocation, Zhun is hit with a new wave of nausea
>"Ech, keep this up, I'm going to be sick..."
>Gaining his composure the best he can, he spies his surroundings by popping through the turret mount
>A strange serenity fills him with th ruined achitecture and strange plants
"Ruined, twisted, yet almost peaceful..."
[1d6] <Basic Perception
[1d6]
>A wet step is heard and Zhun spots that one man again
>What a pleasant surprise
>After he gets in, Zhun speaks up to him
"So, I'm Zhun. You are?"
>>27582613
>Waving her wing in return at the mare, Sunny continued on her way.
>...
>Wait a second. What?
>Turning back around, the mare saw what looked like... A plant?
>A plant.
"Land's sakes..."
>A... A sapient plant.
>Returning to the fountain, her previous plans almost entirely forgotten, Sunny observed the Thing.
>And what a Thing it was.
>Where was its head? It almost look like a horse? Something quadruped.
>The pegasus muttered under her breath.
"I'll take Crazy-Shit-In-The-Everfree-Forest for 500..."
>Should she talk to it?
>Oh no.
>Did it havepreferred pronouns?
>Hopping up on the side of the fountain, she stared into the waters.
>It felt like so long ago since she'd been turned into a walking ghillie suit right here.Captcha: Entree Allee
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27566229
>Finding herself sliding towards the left side of the square, then the right, back to the left, and finally scrabbling across the ice straight ahead past the fountain, the Master-Captain grumbles back into your head.
>"Unless entire Watch Guard unit finds us, care not-"
>Keeping her hoofing to a manageable level of sliding interspersed with infuriated stomps, Broken aims herself in a vague direction towards three still standing granite housing units, snorting with an edge of humor.
>"Keheh human! Said drink half! Heartflame means flame of heart on outside! Is meant for po-"
>While your body puts up a valiant defense against your skin suffering the beginnings of a third degree burn, the eyes, however, were thoroughly unable to function, the view through the scope almost blinding under the orange-flavored shafts of light cascading across the square.
>"Is meant for ponies! NAKED ponies that wear no clothing! Strip armor off now or end up like an egg tossed in hot salt spa!"
>Digging her hooves into ice and sliding to a stop, a muted grunt from Rosan's core, fairly cool against your skin, is cut off by impacts of physical assault: a quick removal of the rainbow scarf to hang in the air, the second a tug on your pack, the third a rapid unlacing of your boots before they're forcefully removed, and the fourth the cat's eye band pulled off to hang in the air, Broken now raspily cackling aloud as her focus is split between standing up straight and 'trying' to help you.
>"Cannot believe humans do not know Heartflame! Must share tonight with Elsia!"
[1d6] <M.Psionicism: Lifesense
[1d6]
[1d6]
[1d6]
[1d6+6] <Mind's Eye
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress:
>>27584886
>Coming to a stop at the fountains edge, the floral creature lowered a hoof into the body of lukewarm water, petals breaking off to drift across the surface as the Thing began to drink.
>Featureless head gazed at Sunny, tilting to the side in a confused manner.
>A vine protruded out from its back and pointed to the Bulletin Board next to the Pagoda then swung south to the Library.
>It...it is interested in Alchemy?
>>27586500
>Pagoda.
>Library.
>What...?
>Using her exceptional detective skills, the cogs in Sunny's head went round and round.
>Round... And round...
>She, it, Thing...
>Thing was good.
>Thing seemed to want something, but what?
>It pointed at the Library, and it was looking right at her, she guessed? Maybe it wanted something from her to do with the Library?
>The only thing she really did at the Library that would be of any use to anyone was Alchemy.
>It would make sense, she had just posted a notice making her Alchemy skills available, if so, that had been fast.
>However, it had also pointed at the Pagoda, where she'd been going.
>For what purpose?
>Could chance it.
>Might be wrong.
>Might not.
>Only one way to find out.
>Could go over the evidence again.
>She could do that all night and still not figure it out.
>Or she could.
>It was a plant Thing!
>What would a plant thing want with Alchemical substances?
>Growth serum?
>...
>She was leaving Thing waiting while she struggled internally.
>Sunny placed a wing over her face and shook her head at herself.
"Sorry. It's Alchemy you want, right?"
>Hey kids! Wanna buy some drugs?
>Heavens above, she sounded seedy.
>...
>The mare giggled at herself.
"I haven't got anything better to do right now, so I can get to work soon-ish."
>She looked over at the Pagoda, ears wiggling about amusedly.
"After I go see about acquiring some more recipes, better ones, really..."
>She was rambling.
>Stop that.
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Fountain: A Thing!
>>27586860
>Pulling its foreleg out of the fountain after drinking a fair amount of water, the flower bedecked quadruped bobbed its head up and down plenty.
>Looks like it wants to do some(drugs)Alchemy.
>Or at least learn it.
>Taking a step forward, the Thing used its wet hoof to boop Sunny's muzzle in response to the mares snicker-snackering.
>The smell of wet wood and pungent pollen fills the Pegasi, the plantlife vibrating to mimic the ponies laughter.
>>27586985
>Eye turning down to focus on the wooden appendage now depressing her snoot in slightly, Sunny wiggled her ears inquisitively.
"Anything specific in... Mind?"
>Mind.
"I guess you can't really talk a whole lot, so you'll just have to show me."
>The mare turned her gaze back to meet... The flowery head of Thing.
>It was mimicking her laughter.
>She didn't know plants could do that.
>Most plants didn't have a guiding intelligence, either, so there's that.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xEvb7B4O698
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Fountain: A Thing!
>>27587532
>Placing its hoof down, the flower powered ent thingie turned its head to the Library, pointing with its chin to confirm what it wanted.
>Trotting away from the fountain, a couple of tendrils sprouted from its back and formed a comically accurate arrow sign, it pointing for Sunny to follow.
>Post #1/2: Allys
>>27466399
>Looking up from a half-finished martini glass filled with.. berry water, Allys offers her trademark, bland greeting smile.
"Be careful, I overheard Naliyna looking for somepony to do paperwork. If you get caught you'll probably never get away."
>>27472136
>Tossing a questioning glance in your direction, the rather plump dim green pegasus, obviously female due to her appearance and voice, frowns in deep thought.
"Ginger ale? That is rather rare now, but there may be a bottle in storage. One minute while I look."
>Standing up from her worn bean bag chair, the mare turns right, trodding off to the end of the minibar and ducking inside, returning after a minute to deposit two familiar green and red glass bottles on the bar top.
>Setting a standard sized mix glass next to the two, she flicks four chunks of ice inside with a feather tip from what was presumably an ice bin in a recessed sink.
>Affixing her left hoof to the ginger ale bottle, cracking the cap off with her right, repeating the process to the bourbon, pouring a sixth of bourbon and the rest with ginger ale, Allys slides the glass to you with a pleased smile.
"Enjoy."
>Replacing the caps of each with her teeth, the pegasus carefully folds the bottles under her wings, returning them to storage.
>Post #2/2: Allys
>>27472552
"Mead? That is one drink I rarely serve. We should have-"
>Sitting back down on the strange yet comfortable looking seating, Allys leans forwards to inspect a row of bottles under the minibar, raising an eyebrow after several moments.
"-Neighvadan, Germaneighan, and Canterlotlian. Hm? There are two from the Moors. I find that odd.. batponies refuse to trade honey, most of the time they serve it on fruit slices or eat it plain. Here is one from Canterlot, should be a little should. Sprinkle a bit of salt on your tongue before taking a drink."
>Attaching her right wing to a deep yellow bottle and placing it on the counter, the pregnant mare sets a small salt shaker next to it, sitting back as a deep twinge of amusement crosses her face at the question.
"'No drinking when with foal, or else'. Tipper's orders. As for a story, I could either tell you how a young dragon broke into Trottingham's vaults six years ago, or one of the stories my grandfather shared. He was a Rift Hunter that was hired by one of Therrost Keep's harpies, joining their raiding parties in the Planes, stealing all they could carry before plane-jumping out. This was before they closed access to their island and forbade ponies from sailing there because of how close they were to Construct Isle."
to see
How all the Operators see themselves.
>>27592299
Only tryhards.
>>27585876
>Ow, ow, okay, ow.
>"Yeah, sorry, it tasted good and- wait it's flame of heart on outsi-"
>...
>mfw
>"I know I like flame, but this is taking things a bit far out of hand!"
>And not only is it incredibly painful, I can't see because I'm becoming a FUCKING SUN.
>I roll my eyes as I practically jump out of my clothes, as if they're on fire.
>Because I -am-.
>"Yeah, yeah, laugh it up. Let me give you a quiz on human countries on earth, see how much of them you know."
>Annnd done.
>Looking over at Broken, then the snow, I get a strange idea.
>"Hey, if I'm practically on fire right now, would it be possible to use me as an impromptu ice-breaker, or snow-melter? Might as well make good of a bad situation, right?"
>...
>"Just, ah, don't use me as a battering ram. My skull isn't quite thick enough to handle that."
>>27564607
1/2
>The man stares for a time, watching as the colored horse speaks.
>False alicorn believers?
>Advanced too far without using our instincts?
>What is-?
>His eyes glazed over momentarily, unable to fully assimilate the information being conveyed him.
>This wasn't due to the "weight" of her words, but more accurately due to his inability to comprehend metaphors and similes.
>Such poetic intricacies had been stricken from academy curricula, and thereby common knowledge, ages ago, leaving the populous with only the most basic understanding of comparisons.
>His head gives a slight but rough shake, eyes closing in that moment as he composes himself, mouth having come agape beneath his face coverage.
>He'd think on that later.
>Maybe.
>His head was already swimming just remembering the words themselves.
>These thoughts slipped from his mind as his eyes caught the colored horse lift her...
>Hoof?
>Hoof.
>Lift her thick hoof towards one of the piles of books, calling a few of them to her.
>He couldn't even lie to himself, the sight looked cool, and brought to his heart a sense of wonder and to his face a grin, much as he used to feel as a child, nestled in bed as his old uncle uncovered a less than legal novel from olden times.
>But as quickly as the sensation came, he snuffed it out.
>The man reminded himself that this world of magic and whimsy was impossible.
>It was a fake reality, fabricated by dark hands and imposed upon his mind.
>Why this, and not something familiar and safe, he did not know.
>>27564607
2/2
>His left hand reached out when that single book came to him, fingertips stroking gently down the book's cover as he idly inspected it.
>But he couldn't give in.
>He took hold of the thing, giving a light tug to pull it from whatever force unseeable by him held it.
>He let out a small huff.
"Thank you."
>The man managed to get out, forcing a small smile towards the horse, despite the fact she couldn't see it.
>Even changing the names, horse to pony. They were trying too hard.
>Carefully, he'd pull the book open, running his fingers down the edges of the pages gently as he leafed through the first few pages, not expecting to find anything before closing the book once more and looking back up towards the "Librarian."
"So. How does this... Whole thing, work here?"
>>27588228
>Shrugging to herself, Sunny matched Thing's pace, towards the library.
>Its formation of arrows amused her greatly, they looked almost comical.
>Flower power.
>Was this an actual Treant?
>No, it couldn't be, it wasn't gigantic. An Ent, would be the proper term.
>A wood spirit? Living tree? A physical representation of the Everfree forest?
>While she thought things through, she simply followed Thing the Ent to what she assumed would be the Alchemy lab.
>She still had no idea what she'd be making, but her curiosity had been piqued.
>Curiosity hadn't killed her yet, unlike so many unfortunate cats.
>Post #1/2: Cairn Wharf, West Pier
>>27561557
>Passing by the numerous stalls, nearly all of them were perched over the water too far to pass any safety regulation in existence you could think of.
>Interestingly, none of the batponies or pegasi, the majority of the second eerily familiar to you, a brief memory of a train's interior and loud shouting everywhere popping into surface thoughts, seemed to mind their close proximity to the ocean.
>Examining both the normal and exotic looking sea creatures, most of which were undergoing preparation to be served to hungry ponies, a few catch your eye, the more intelligent ones being either tasty or highly aggressive, so far as your memory was telling you.. which wasn't much in retrospect.
>Before stopping by the first shack on the south closest to the ocean, an intensely angry pegasus shouts from behind:
"DEEPGLOW SQUID RIGHT OFF THE PIER! WHOEVER CATCHES IT GETS EITHER TEN THOUSAND BITS OR TEN THOUSAND SWEET MANGOES!"
>...
>You briefly realize that the voice was around where you'd seen the odd glowing squid on the surface.
>Walking up to the first shack, it's apparently brand new owners, a trio of nauseously bright coated mares from Las Pegasus, greet you warmly before informing that they have nothing for sale yet, but helpfully point you to the west most shack.
>Stopping at the indicated open air building, a rather curious assortment of archaic (and a few new) Moors weaponry, armor pieces, and relics were perfectly aligned across the front table.
>One of the larger helmets on display you note to be similar to the Duelist armor in the Enclave, though this one looked to be an emeraldine-mythril mix, had no slot for a horn,, and seemed like it was meant for an earth pony of significant stature
>Post #2/2: Cairn Wharf, West Pier
>>27561557
>Hearing a new customer, a faded salmon coated batpony with a pale reddish brown mane pokes her head out from behind a pitch black curtain several feet behind the front counter, then strolls out from behind it, speaking with a dry, sharp militant tone.
"Welcome to, or back to, Cairn Depot! Everything's for sale here and trading gets you twice as mu--"
>Pausing in midstride for a split second, the older mare resumes her course, bodily turning left to lean into the counter, two curious, blue-slitted diamond eyes peering right for several moments, then up at you amusedly.
"I haven't seen a human in a few weeks.. then again, you're here for Sweet, but you'll have to wait a while until her hangover wears off. She's been grumpy since her last little escapade in the Dragonspines.. but where are my manners?"
>Flicking the left trio of heavy set fruit-eater wingclaws in a half circle over her chest in an unfamiliar motion, the pale salmon mare bows her head several inches, then holds her right wing up in a sudden 'stop' motion.
"I'm Skip Raider, former Dusk Strider of Clan Shockwing, now owner and operator of this little establishment on the ocean. Before you even think of asking, let me say this: unless you want to know what happens when a batpony with a lousy sense of direction gets lost in abandoned Void-tunnels for a few thousand years, it's just a long damn story with lots of expletives."
>Straightening up, Skip switches to a welcoming smile that, for once, wasn't filled with rape-y intent, instead giving a conspiratorial wink.
"But of course, since coming back to the real Tallus I've heard a little about Razorback.. and their interest in items of legally dubious natures that Las Pegasus, those prissy virgins in the Empire, or what the tight arsed lunar alicorn would be worried about trading or selling. I, of course, have few compunctions. If you'd like a rundown of some real god-killing weapons, then I'm your mare."
>Doctor Tipper
>>27566254
"Only two ponies on Tallus know; myself and Hodch. I'd prefer to keep it that way."
>Removing the tea pot to pour herself a round, the elderly mare sets it back, swiveling the chair to face you, both front hooves holding the cup loosely with a raised eyebrow.
"That he could be, though I don't know how likely it is, mostly since he is.. young. Very young."
>Snorting softly, Tipper leans back in her chair, metallic silvery eyes making an exaggerated, faux-mocking roll in your direction.
"What shall you ever accomplish if you are afraid of a thirteen year old human, one without an aggressive nature whom is more of a danger to himself than others? Every human that places themselves outside the walls of fortress will forever be doomed by that one last terrible mistake they ever make. I must state that you have little to worry about here as this is neutral ground, barring the the exception of two ponies that are, quite frankly, unstoppable by all but the most extreme means, and the fortress itself is rather overprotective of those within it's walls. Mind you, what I've said doesn't even count General Twisted's skull taking compulsion, or her rather mystical ability to shatter diamond, which keeps everypony and most humans from acting on their worst impulses."
>Pitching a dry smile at you, the doctor's ears wiggle in entertained motions, glancing right to her desk, a steaming cup of poured and floating over her head, placed down on a flat chunk of armor.
"Here you are. If you'd like anything else I can send an order to the mess hall, or if you prefer a bit more substance use, I have just about everything on this world, and from a few planes, to satisfy even the most demanding sorts."
>>27418962
>Just when Lont thought he was comfortable with the story he knew, something new pops up.
>Oh we're totally allies with the Ethereals, except we fight from time to time. Also don't worry about them either, we actually have a large percentage of ponies that hate their theoretical guts. But we're totally still allies.
"Yeah...It was quite preemptive of me to say 'I know', now that you mention this."
>Standing up, he checked himself to see if anything was amiss while Rubelline spoke.
>Looking at the robed mare, the Operator clearly saw the extra stress he was putting on her.
>"More of this, aye? Same as Cadence, twice as vague."
>Yes he recognized that he, and to an extension the rest of Razorback, were being sparred from a deadly political quagmire.
>It was just the sense of being left out, the feeling of being handled with safety gloves which silently irked him.
"I shall take your words to heart, Rubelline."
>Drawing closer, the smiling swordsmen gestured for the Lorekeepers hoof.
"Again, thanks for spending your valuable time on me Lorekeeper Rubelline."
>Taking her hoof, he gave it a grateful kiss before departing for the door.
"Have a pleasant night and may you receive good tidings!"
>Door closing behind him, Lont rubbed the nap of his neck as his eyes wondered the crystalline streets as his feet carried him towards the location Rubelline outlined.
"Time to meet with Gelid Steppes."
>He did not question why Gelid would grow impatient of his lack of presence, for all he knew a message was sent to the Crusader Lancer while he talked with the Lorekeeper.
>"By the Metal Kings, please, please have mercy on me with this interview."
[1d6] E.Perception
[1d6]
[1d6]
[1d6+1] >H.E
[1d6+1] E.Movement
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
>>27594133
>These creatures are fucking stupid.
>Ten thousand bits? Could be worth something... but I don't have anything to catch a squid with.
>Giving them a nod, I walk towards that shack instead.
"How'd you figure? I could just be here for shopping."
>Shrugs and nods anyway.
"Name's Bubba."
>A few thousand years.
>This world is fucking insane. Let me go back home.
>Finally, something that doesn't want to get into my pants. Just sell me possibly illegal items.
"Y'know.. That sounds interesting. What type of weapons are we talking about?"
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Fountain: A Thing!
>>27593785
>Reaching the Library first, the flower Being opened up the door and let Sunny walk through first before entering Itself.
>How...well mannered.
>For a tree.
>Swinging its featureless, floral covered head left and right, the Ent gazed at all the books within the first floor.
>Motionless for some time, its legs began to shake, then grew in intensity until its whole body was having a spastic attack.
>Bursting into a frantic prancing dance on the spot, the Pegasi was somewhat dumbfounded by the odd behavior.
>And just as weirdly, it stopped in a heartbeat, it remaining still before trotting for the stairs.
>If it were not for the ring of dislodged flower petals on the floor one would think the had hallucinated.
...
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: There's Always A Bigger Fish: Cu'Nir, Có'caire
|Spruce = vanguard| |Cu'Nir + Simon = central| |Có'caire = rearguard|
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
+1 TO ALL STEALTH, MOVEMENT AND +2 TO ALL RANGED ROLLS!
>The Gryphons hate fueled assault did little to the floating mass grave except dislodge the remains of Lúfa from its macabre grasp, the sight of which distracted Có'caire long enough for bony barbs to spear past his armour. 150/240HP
"AAARG-UH!"
[Gryphonic] "Keep at it Có'caire, do not let yourself be distracted!"
>Cu'Nir
[1d6+13] M.Assault
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13] >R.E
>Có'caire
[1d6+10] >E.Assault
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10] >R.E
>Massive Undead
[1d6+25] >Heightened Defensive Measures
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
[1d6+25]
>Releasing a wail of agony at its rags being peppered away by a maelstrom of rotten calcium projectiles the tattered assailant did a 180 to gain vengeance upon the deathly pillars' outstretched appendage, howls of hatred filling the open expanse above the abyss. 147/190HP
1/2
>>27597856
>???
[1d6+6] >Assault
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+3] >Movement: Evasion
[1d6+3]
>Massive Undead
[1d6+10] >Skeloting Gun
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
>>27573009
>Simon was unresponsive, the sight of fresh death must of brought him low into a stupor. Not even the clatter of the fauchard hitting the stone at his feet woke him up.
"Ve are fighting as one claw, to go at it individually is vhat got Lúfa killed!"
>Roared the Huntsmaster, her booming avian voice bashing against the walls in sharp seething echos.
>Sand Cutters' heavy hoof kicks bashed squarely into the central mass of the column of compressed husks, dozens of dried bones snapping satisfyingly in unison under the earth mares frogs. 114/600HP 1DR REMOVED!
>Completely distracted by Cu'Nir, Có'caire and the unknown flying rags; the undead did not take notice of the Knights' curb stomp, not even when it was slightly pushed away from the catwalks railing.
>>27573378
>Holding back the emotional pain left your hands shaking, even with this baggage stacked atop your physical misery your NATO rounds still found their mark, punching wide craters into the levitating morgue. 100/600HP
>From your vantage point you observed the Huntsmaster and the Chef fly in tandem while a zipping flurry of tattered clothing screeched its way towards the undeads extended "gun arm".
>>27597856
* +2 TO ALL MOVEMENT AND RANGED ROLLS!
Operator Armoury.
>>27598591
Not enough old men.
>>27598591
This is not a bump.
>>27599156
>>27596136
>Was it...?
>Yes it was; Thing was holding the door open for her.
>Gosh.
>After the display, Sunny took another look around.
>Of course...
>Books. Wood. Dead trees.
"..."
>There really wasn't anything she could say, the preservation of knowledge versus the preservation of the natural world.
>Trees didn't necessarily have to be cut down for the manufacture of paper, but for the scale of mass production...
>It was a different story.
>It must have been like walking through the grounds of a mass execution for Thing.
>Regardless she kept her mouth shut, the only indication she had ever thought of such things being the ruffle of discomfort passing through her wings.
>She let the Ent proceed up the stairs before following.
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Library: A Thing!
>>27602404
>High trotting up the stairs (and leaving a trail of pale petals in its wake) the Tree-Quad-Thing entered the lab with an eager snout push at its door.
>As Sunny poked her head into the room she saw the Ent trotting in place in front of the main table, its hooves bouncing its body vigorously as its floral head snapped back and forth looking at all the alchemy doodads.
>It certainly was excited for a walking plant.
![[Excites Externally].gif](https://i.imgur.com/n4FqfOM.gif "[Excites Externally].gif")
>>27602894
>Having reached the Alchemy station, and briefly checking her Regeneration potion...
>Which was simmering nicely, by the way.
>Sunny pocketed the bronze cog she'd left on the table earlier.
>Best not to lose crucial items to solving otherwordly mysteries.
"So... Now what?"
>Ears perked forward attentively, Sunny gazed at the Ent expectantly, and somewhat in bemusement.
>A lively plant.
>The excitement was even a little bit contagious as she wondered what Thing had in mind.
...
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Library: A Thing!
>>27603058
>The shaped head of the Thing investigated each apparatus and ingredient, almost foallike in wonderment.
>And just like a foal it used its tendrils to poke and experimentally touch all the thingie's on display.
>Including Sunny's...
>Snapping its body to face the one eyed Pegasi, the plantquad used its same vines to boop Sunny's nose.
>And checks.
>And ears.
>Several fast paced times.
>After grabbing her attention with a barrage of happy slaps, Thing moved over to where all the ingredients were stored and pointed at it.
>Using its remarkably flexible tendrils, it made a vague image of the sun and a-a -a weed. No! A flower!
>It wanted Sunny to make sunlight?
>>27597856
>>27597871
>Whatever just showed up, it doesn't matter at all any more.
>In an instant, the situation becomes much more familiar.
>Having someone murdered before my eyes, being unable to do anything to help.
>This is not the first time. I have lost allies before to things which I couldn't help against.
>That is how I lost my own life, and Roach, his.
>I'm reminded of times past.
>As Sand Cutter finally makes herself useful, her words almost fall upon deaf ears.
>I want so desperately to put this thing back in its grave, but it dawns on me just how stupid I've been.
>I snatch the polearm from the ground and try to slap some sense into myself, and for once take a proper look at the ghastly situation.
>This is a fucking mess.
>I should've seen that this wasn't working.
>We need a change, now.
>As it unloads on the rags, I put in a few shots of my own while I try and think of what to do, with a newfound lack of confidence in myself.
[1d6+6]<E. Small Arms
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>Cu'Nir tries to keep everyone fighting well, but that goes in one ear and out the other.
>It almost sounds like she's pointing the finger at Lúfa.
>What a load of bullshit.
1/2
>>27606356
>It uses its "gun" at longer ranges, and those bloody spikes, bones and whatever else it's defending itself with when things get up close, but in between those, it goes with that relatively weak club.
>If we force it to use that, we might stand a better chance.
>I call out to the Gryphons, hoping that this is at least better than what we're doing right now.
"You two, back off before those things get you! One of you grab Spruce, and we'll draw it back into the tunnel!"
>With some instructions given, my attention turns to Spruce.
"Spruce, we'll lure it in and stay too close for it's gun, but too far for its defenses - we can hold back its club! Cu'Nir, Có'caire, you do the same - don't go in close, take the safer opportunity you get when it tries to attack!"
>As for the other thing, we can only hope it distracts the bigger undead for long enough.
"It shouldn't be able to swing its gun around anyway because of the confined space, but keep an eye on those rags in case it stops distracting it and comes after us instead!"
>I wonder if I sound as lacking in confidence as I feel.
[1d6]<Marking: Large Undead
[1d6]
>>27605561
>>27590104
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI-FkierpXM
[Indurian] "Ah! My thanks for the reminder - mead is quite the common drink whence I am from, however it has been such a time, I had forgotten the salt!"
>the knight takes his first swig of the drink, salt included, before nearly spitting it back at Allys, managing to contain his surprise at her words
[Indurian] "With foal? I daresay I had not noticed!"
>the knight leans forward, waggling an eyebrow
[Indurian] "It must be your stunning figure, my lady - a pound heavier, you look it not!"
>the knight laughs at his own joke, leaning back in the bar stool and clutching his breastplate
>clearly he thought himself a talented comedian
[Indurian] "Nay, without jest, I am quite happy for you, and for your companion. I myself bore the honor and burden of parenthood before being taken here - a somber tale that, however. One for a different time, perhaps. If ever you have need of a foalsitter, feel free to call upon me!"
>he finishes commenting on the baby as he takes another, smaller, drink of his mead, once again with the salt
[Indurian] "As to the tale, I daresay I am unfamiliar with the Rift Hunters, or... for that matter, roughly three quarters of anything which has just exited thine lips. However, I feel as though the latter stories would be quite lengthy - perhaps the simple draconian mischief tale would suffice, as I am certain our friend here would also like to share a story, and I have stories of my own to share as well!"
>>27597856
>>27597871
>Spruce shouts over to the fighting group, adrenaline masking the pain he must be in.
"DO NOT WORRY I WILL KOMME OVER AT SOME TIME TODAY!"
>He contiued is limping charge, moving around the side of the balcony, rounding a corner!
>Maybe he would get there someday!
>For now, he took a moment to fire another controlled burst of 3 shots at the massive hulking undead abomination.
[1d6+7] E. Combat Rifles
[1d6+7]
[1d6+7]
[1d6-2] U. Movement
[1d6-4] U. Perception
>>27606356
>>27606367
>Spruce yells back in reply.
"GREIT!"
>Whatever that may mean, at least Simon was heard.
>Spruce grabs the bayonet on his chest, pulling it off and attaching it to the end of his rifle.
>Up close and personal now.
>He kept moving, but awaited an attempt by an airborne companion to drag his ass back over to where the fighting was.
>>27604478
>Sunny stood perfectly still under the massive assault of booping and feeling.
>Must be how it sees in detail.
>The Ent sure seemed excited.
>Now was was it doing?
>Following her, Sunny sat and started guessing.
"The sun? Weed?"
>...
"A flower!"
>Wait.
>Oh.
"Sunlight? Sunlight! Sure, I can do that."
>Should have been obvious from the start honestly.
>Hindsight.
>The mare rummaged through the ingredients and started pulling out what was required for a Sunlight potion.
>Half speaking to the demi-sentient, half to the Ent, some to herself, Sunny rambled on about magically strengthened bio-luminescence.
"...I've always wondered how I could play around with the basic recipe of..."
>And so on, most of what she was saying used plenty of long, boring words that barely made any sense. Seemingly haphazardly slipped into the middle of whatever else she was going on about at the time.
>It was like hearing half a conversation while she was having a conversation with herself.
"It shouldn't take too long to make a basic one, but you might have to stop me from going crazy with it."
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy: Sunlight potion
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
0/400
1/8
>Even while she worked on the side, a wing reached into her saddlebags and withdrew another potion bottle, holding it up next to yet another concoction for comparison.
>Nodding seemingly with satisfaction, she set it on the table and got back to work on the Sunlight potion.
"If I do go crazy with it, I'm not going to end up stopping until I've taken this thing as far as it can go."
>Sand Cutter, ENRAGED!
>>27597856
>>27597871
>Momentarily angered at the gryphons refusing the tactical analysis, the Lady Knight settles on her new Plan B: snapping her head around and shrieking at the top of her lungs.
"USE CRUSHING WEAPONS ON UNDEAD! FLATTEN YOUR BLADES OR SOMETHING!"
[1d6+4] <E.Leadership: Melee
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
>Taking a deep breath, Sand manages to keep her composure long enough to revert back to Plan A: stomping her way the head of the abomination with a powerful upward lunge.
>"Idiots idiots IDIOTS!"
[1d6+11] <Lunge
[1d6+2] <E.Charge
[1d6+2]
[1d6+2]
[1d6+10] <E.Earth Shatter
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10] <M.Enraged Assault
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
>>27608877
>Even in the potion's early stages, it was beginning to glow a soft white.
>The mare went from spot to spot in her potion making frenzy, a manic, gleeful look on her face.
>She could have been using the chair for convenience, but it was a boon she consistently neglected, even cursed at the innocent chair being in the way.
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
82/400
2/8
>>27589860
>”Ooh a pegasus haven’t seen one of those yet, wonder what other cute creatures live here.
>Nav takes the glass from the pegasus before taking a quick sip of his drink before speaking
“Oh yeah forgot about that Indurian where are my manners, my name is Navarone, or Nav, whichever I don’t really mind”
>”Hold on that pony is pregnant I thought it was just chubby”
>”I wonder what a baby pone would look like?”
>”Who is this Tipper I keep hearing about?”
>”Maybe she’s in charge”
“Well Tipper is right alcohol can really mess up babies, by the way who is this Tipper the cute little elk at the clinic said something about a Tipper too, who is Tipper and are they in charge here?”
>”These ponies have some weird names, probably some kind of tradition, maybe I could read up on the creatures here in this new world.”
>>27609637
>On the outside, Sunny's method of approaching Alchemy seemed to be chaotic, nonsensical.
>Something should have gone wrong by now.
>Perhaps the demi-sentient was keeping everything from exploding.
>Perhaps the pegasus was supremely confident in striding the fine line between genius and madness.
>Maybe it was all a fluke.
>Whatever the case may be, the potion was coming along better than expected of such a messy approach.
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
166/400
3/8
>>27610062
>Now she was mumbling something about 'additional ingredients' and 'synergistic properties'.
>There was no telling what she was up to or what she had in mind.
>For the time being, though, it seemed that she was simply sticking to the recipe as it was.
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
4/8
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
5/8
>>27610590
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
[1d6+6] < Alchemy Lab
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Diamond Alembic
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Granite Condenser
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Kanpri Calcinator
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Steel Dry-Press
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic White Marble Retort
[1d6+4] < Harlon's Archaic Whitesteel Mortar & Pestle
380/400
6/8
>With a final flaire, Sunny rounded off the potion, poured it into a clear container, corked and sealed the bottle with hot wax.
>Holding it in one wing and fanning the wax, Sunny presented the now softly glowing white and potion to Thing the Ent.
"There. One Sunlight potion, better known as bottled sunshine. I'm pretty sure there's more I could do with it; Refine the process, make it permanent, but it'd require much more time."
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Library: A Thing!
>>27608877
>>27609637
>>27610062
>>27610590
>>27610625
>Throughout the process of making the Alchemy item, the flower-powered-quad-tree-thing stood relatively close behind your back, twisting and turning vines within its petal covered body simulating noisy breathing.
>At least you could not feel air blowing onto your neck and mane, which was nice.
>Hurriedly stepping back (and almost tripping over itself), the Ent marveled in silent wonderment as you presented the sunlight glowing inside the bottle.
>And just like before, the next thing you know you were tightly embraced in a jungle of slippery wet vines as the featureless head nuzzled the your soft cheek.
>It really WAS happy.
>Carefully taking the bottle off your wing it sunk the item into its body for safe keeping (you guess), where slither beams of light burst out of gaps every now and then.
>Even though the embrace had been broken, you could still feel its affection on your muzzle, must be pollen...
>The Ent bounced for the door, a single vine snaking around onto your foreleg.
>It wanted you to follow it.
>Again.
>But more excitedly.
>Which would be easy for you, if it were not for the plant prance jumping with energetic glee down the stairs!
>>27607014
I dont know what to do about the background :T
>>27612312
still cannot think of something.
>Bubba during Hearths Warming Eve
>>27612312
I got an idea now.
>>27611531
>This really was the most energetic tree, Sunny had ever... Met?
>Was that the right word for this?
>Ents weren't a thing back home, but she liked to think she was taking a magical animate tree in stride.
>And suddenly she was being hugged in the manner of a squid entrapping its prey.
>Extremely affectionate tree.
>Were all trees secretly like this?
>She guessed it was a deserved reaction, she had just all but bottled a shard of sunlight.
>In reality, it was just several bio-luminescent plants magically strengthened to a high degree.
>...
>Perhaps if she applied the Sunlight potion to some form of firing system, she could develop an energy weapon. It'd have to include a reagent of unprecedented strength, though, far more potent than was readily available.
>Filing /that/ one away for later.
>Rubbing her cheek a little, and not knowing how exactly she should respond, Sunny found herself with little time to react at all as Thing pulled her to follow.
"Eek!"
>She didn't follow in an openly gleeful manner, her expression more of curiosity than anything else, but she kept easy pace.
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: There's Always A Bigger Fish: Cu'Nir, Có'caire
|Spruce = vanguard| |Cu'Nir + Simon = central| |Có'caire = rearguard|
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
>Leadership: +2 TO ALL MOVEMENT, MELEE AND RANGED ROLLS!
MARKED! MASSIVE UNDEAD FOR 6 TURNS! +3 DAMAGE!
>Grown tired, Cu'Nir breaks away from the cadaver pillars side, her tail directing Có'caire to follow.
"Whe ahre nhot fhinished fhighting!"
"I know that dammit, ve need a plan! Bashing ourselves against it has not brought much results so far!"
>As the Huntsmaster and wounded Chef broke off from their attack, the flying flock of rags flew in, an echoing scream bursting out as it had to endure another hellstorm before reaching the projectile appendage. 134/190HP
>Now crawling all over it, a dozen and more needles revealed themselves so they could plunge into the pulverized bony surface of the "arm". 86/600HP
>Like a rapid dog, the rags kept on going, erratically moving and stabbing in every direction on the limb, even when the undead was about to fire a new salvo at point blank range.
>???
[1d6+6] >Assault
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+3] >Movement: Evasion
[1d6+3]
>Massive Undead
[1d6+10] >Skeloting Gun
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
1/2
>>27615092
>>27606356
>>27606367
>Trying to put a few p229 rounds into the sentient rags was a challenge due to the angle and erratic movements, however you get it in the end, bullets being punctuated by pained drowning howls. 114/190HP
>Quietly watching the rags too while she gathered herself, Cu'Nir tilted her beaked head in your direction.
>Through your AVG/Thermals you saw that her plumage was ruffled, specks of blood running down her armour and fur.
"Vay ahead of you, Có'caire go fetch Spruce! And I don't think it vill bother vith us Simon, not vith those rags harassing it!"
>The Gryphon in question too was beaten up, his avian facial features contorted in pain.
"Ay-he, ghoing now."
>She did not show it, but your experience with your Mate told you she too was affected by the lose of Lúfa.
>>27608612
>Blinking away the afterimages of your AG3's muzzle flare, you think you perceive the Underchamber becoming more...brighter? 70/600HP
>After turning the second corner, you realize you have almost reached the portal that was completely opposite to the one your group had entered from.
>And were now directly facing the undead, thankfully facing it with a rough 100 metre distance between you and it.
>A figure came into view from the darkness, and only after seeing it was Có'caire that approached you lowered your weapon.
"Chome tho phick ya'hoo uhp."
>He sounded and looked like he just had the fight of his life.
2/3
>>27615123
>>27608919
"That is kinda difficult for me, Sand Cutter-"
>Huffing on the spot, The Huntsmaster flapped hard to break out of hover into a forward dive.
"-But I vill try!"
>Positioning herself mid-flight, the Gryphoness brought her metallic wings down dead centre at the macabre column, slamming the runic steel with all her might.
[1d6+13] M.Assault
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13]
[1d6+13] >R.E
>Previously weakened by her first pounding, the massive undeads' decrepit decayed corpse collection shattered under her rage filled beating hooves. 2/600HP 1DR REMOVED!
>Destabilizing finally, the mass began to dissolve and soon fall apart, literally raining powdered calcium down into the abyss whence it came.
>As if in a last ditch attempt to fight it out, the undead bent down gurgling a challenge with its many skulled "head", releasing a tsunami of broken skeletal limbs to rip and tear at the Former Knight.
[1d6+30] >Desperate Defensive Measures
[1d6+30]
[1d6+30]
[1d6+30]
[1d6+30]
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Orchard: A Thing!
>>27614347
>After safely traversing the stairs, you were lead straight through the first floor with no freakouts this time.
>Good.
>You think.
>Reaching the door, Thing once again held it open for you as it bounced outside, you being surprised at just how long the tendril that kept at the door got before you exited the Library.
>Now outside, your flower friend really hoofed it, on galloping north with a long fluttering streak of dislodged petals.
>Thankfully it uncoiled itself off your foreleg, allowing you to run alongside it.
>The worst thing you had to worry about really was the ponies and humans staring at you and the tree thingie you were chasing.
>You're almost shocked no mercenary or guards tried to intervene.
>Perhaps Razorback was that much of the hotbed for weirdness...
>Reaching the Orchard, what drew your attention was the large crater in the ground next to the four rows of fifty trees.
>There was such a great variety of fruits!
>But no mangoes.
>This must be a horrible sight of the Batponies.
>Halting at the lip of the crater, the floralquad lowered its faceless head inspecting something in the hole.
>Judging by the content mimicking mannerisms, it was happy for some reason.
FINISHED!
itc we talk shit about mc
>>27616039
>Reaching the side of the crater along side the Ent, Sunny also stuck her head over the edge, looking in.
>Definitely no mangoes.
>What a terrible fate.
>Regardless of her disappointment in the lack of mangoes, the mares ear wiggled about and her wings had unfurled a little in the manner of a Pegasus about to take flight.
>A sure sign of excitement, or fascination.
>>27616749
adorbs
yбeй eгo!
>Sand Cutter
>>27615092
>>27615123
>>27615144
>As if witnessing anew that most heretical of all acts that a pony could take, that being the unnatural act ofCONSENSUAL SPECIES HOOFHOLDINGthe primary instinct of summoning the nearest Tower Guard to report a Class 3.S. case of felonious degeneracy was replaced by Sand's face contorting in surprise.
>"What manner of Undead this?"
>Offering little more than a contemptful tail flick at the abomination's pitifully assault, the Lady Knight's first order of business was to flex her rear legs, spinning about on the decaying pile with a snarling, contemptful stomp, then dives down, aiming to land Lúfa's body across her neck and withers if at all possible.
"NO BEING SHALL BE LEFT UNBURIED AWAY FROM NATIVE SOIL SO LONG AS THE VIGIL LASTS!"
[1d6+4] <E.Leadership: Iron Will/Fearless
[1d6+4] <E.Rush
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4] <E.Earth Shatter
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+6] <M.Assault
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress, Orchard: A Thing!
>>27617640
>At the centre of the crater was a seed, a large one at that, probably as big as your head.
>It too had vines, albeit smaller, carefully exploring the exposed earth around it it.
>Judging by the layers of sodden dirt on the seed it must of been unearthed recently.
>A couple of the vines reached upwards to you, no.
>Actually not -you-, but the floralquad next to you.
>And in response Thing slithered the same amount of tendrils down, where they wrapped around onto the seeds' tenderly.
>As you stared at this, the Ent pulled out the sunlight from its body, making you wince until your eyes adapted.
>Placing the bottle next to the seedling first, Thing turned its flower covered head to face you.
>After growing a particularly vibrant flower, It broke it off Its body and gave it to you, placing it between your ear and mane.
>And of course another salvo of happy boops.
>With that done, treepony shimmed down into the crater where it curled up next to the large seed, vines from each holding onto each other.
>Reinforcing their tight embrace.
>Apart from the beams of light escaping through the thin gaps between Thing and seed, there was no other movement coming out of the crater.
>>27615092
>>27615123
>>27615144
>>27618542
>Spruce's jaw dropped as he saw Sand Cutter charge in and absolutely fucking rape the algomation made of corpses and bones.
>She didn't look like she was even breaking a sweat as she beat against it.
"Herregud..."
>Then it threw everything it had into an attack against her!
>The mare shrugs it off, not even phased as she pummels the massive creature just as hard.
>Spruce watches in awe, raising his own rifle and firing at the abomination.
"C-Co'Caire I think our job is done."
>His voice cracks a little bit, exhaustion starting to wash back over him now that the fight seems to be over.
[1d6+1] E. Combat Rifles
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
[1d6-2] U. Movement
[1d6-4] U. Perception
Nova is STILL outraged at the prices of Empire Pumpkins.
>>27615092
>>27615123
>>27615144
>That plan proves to be too little and too late.
>It's probably for the best that we never find out if it was a good idea or not.
>Cu'Nir and Sand both dive in for one last attack against the abomination, with Spruce adding some of his own fire.
>Truth be told, I want to put just a few more holes in it for good measure and spite, but we still have other things to deal with.
"We're not done yet!"
>I draw attention to the rags, us being the only things left for it to focus on.
>Before it can turn its attention to us, I slip in a fresh magazine and switch my fire to it.
[1d6+6]<E. Small Arms
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>>27594185
>If what Tipper says is true, then such knowledge is rare. That seems unlikely, since so many possess various abilities that he can only assume are granted by the Force.
>The Clone's knowledge of it is limited, but hers seems to only have come from this young Sith.
>If she is just merely mistaken and not attempting to trick him like so many others seem to intend on doing, she may be trustworthy for now.
>That conclusion makes what she says next thankfully calming, even if it does close off a potential lead.
>After all, getting back to his brothers is one thing, but getting there alive is also important.
"If that is the case, then he may not have the role I assumed of him. If he does exhibit such powers, however, there is still some risk."
>What comes after that is not so soothing to hear.
>While the compound itself may be relatively safe, there are some within who are concerning. That said, he has already had first-hand experience of such individuals.
>What he has not had experience of is this apparent sentience that it possesses. He wonders how or why, but soon deems those questions pointless.
>As Tipper's control over the cup dissipates, 1129 realises he has made a grave error in judgement.
1/2
>>27624111
>This early into the war, the identity of the Prime Clone is still a secret, and should be kept for as long as possible.
>Although, even with the abilities of Hodch and the Green Man, that knowledge would have a very limited if not negligible impact on a world as isolated as this.
>It is just as unlikely that he would be recognised as a clone of Fett at all.
>Hesitantly, he raises his hands to his head and removes his helmet.
>The first time, he made sure he nobody could see, but this feels strange.
>A Clone's face is normally only ever seen by his brothers and the personnel inside Tipoca City.
>To have a stranger see it feels odd.
"Thank you. I have tasks to attend to first, but I intend to visit the mess hall later."
>>He sets his helmet aside and takes the cup, responding first.
"As for medical supplies, my own should be sufficient for most applications, at least for a while."
>The Green Man seems to be the source of supplies for this compound, supplying even him with munitions although he tries to deceive him.
>Perhaps his Bacta supply may not be such a critical issue after all.
>He notes as he takes a tentative sip that this is vaguely reminiscent of his time on Kamino.
>Tea was quite a common sight in the mess halls, thanks to their Mandalorian upbringing.
>He'd never seen for himself, no Clone had, but apparently tea was very popular on Mandalore.
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: There Was A Bigger Fish Here...
|Spruce = vanguard| |Cu'Nir + Simon = central| |Có'caire = rearguard|
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
>Leadership: +1 TO ALL IRON WILL/FEARLESS ROLLS! +2 TO ALL MOVEMENT, MELEE AND RANGED ROLLS!
MARKED! MASSIVE UNDEAD FOR 5 TURNS! +1 DAMAGE!
>Being so spontaneous in its movements, the flock of rags inevitably brought itself back into the crossfire of the "gun arms" firing direction.
>In a seething shower of sharp bones more of its layers were perforated, torn apart and mulched to nothingness. 97/190HP
>This however did not persuade the flying tatters to retreat, and with a ringing squawk more needles lanced across the broken surface of the "arm". -18/600HP
>Eventually, with a dry groan the appendage broke off from the ghoulish pillar like a tumor being removed, leaving the rags to fly in the air with triumphant howls.
>>27618542
>Concentrating on Sand Cutter along with it being deprived of its long range weaponry, the massive undead did not anticipate Cu'Nir dive bombing it from above.
>Following the mares advice the Huntsmaster used her metallic wings as bludgeoning devices, ramming the length of her coverts against brittle surfaces. Cracks and splintering skeletal pieces flinging off due to the power behind the beating as a result. -52/600HP
[Gryphonic] "Just die already!"
>Through her red hazed vision, the former Knight underestimated the size of the enemy, and although she was heavy, the sheer force from the collapsing corpse column blew her back into the corridor, carried atop a tidal wave of corpses. -78HP
1/2
>>27624830
>>27619468
>Checking over his shoulder, which itself was a task, Có'caire agreed with fatigue sapping whatever enthusiasm the sight would of brought.
"Lhooks lhike iht...chome ohn, lehts get ohut ohf here beh'fore mhore chome."
>Lowering his frame to allow you to climb onto his back, you saw a disturbing amount of damage was wrought onto his armour, the covert blades running along the length of his wings were in terrible shape.
>Not to mention the Gryphon himself was bloodied, but you didn't know if that was his or...
>Destabilized by your shots, Có'caire squawked with rage as his altitude dropped. -69/600HP
"STHOP THAT! YHOU SHAID IHT WHAS OHVER SHO STHOP!
>>27622135
>The chunks of bone from the collapsing pillar bouncing off of you did not alter your aim as more rounds punched holes into the wailing flock of rags. 78/190HP
>Screaming from the sudden heated pain the rags fly upwards towards the beam of light which had gradually returned to the chamber, reaching it, you lose sight of the foe.
>Though you note it appeared unaffected by the pure sunlight.
>Now that the grueling battle was over, the undead presence has been subdued, the thick unwelcoming atmosphere in the chamber lifted.
>The new found light granted by the sun ray at the centre afforded better vision to all.
>Landing next to Simon, Cu'Nir hissed as her wing muscles cramped, forcing her to leave them hanging down at her sides.
"Are you alright Simon?"
>Peering into the portal, the Huntsmaster saw that the swirling hostile smog that blocked them in was now gone.
>And within the corridor was the knight, on her side atop a sheet of scattered bones.
"And you Sand?"
>Dropping down on the other side of Simon, Có'caire shimmied Spruce off his back with an aggravated grunt.
"What a mhess! This whas ah dishaster."
>Investigating the swamped catwalk, anger turned to sadness as the Chef used a wing to wipe away pulverized skeletons to reveal Lúfa.
>..More accurately, what was left of her...
>>27619350
>Sunny did little more than watch the exchange between seed and Ent.
>Extra sunlight for the seedling.
>The simple tenderness of the event warmed her heart, even through her outwardly reserved exterior.
>Rolling her eyes upward in an attempt to view the flower now placed in her mane, Sunny was totally unprepared for the barrage of boops.
>She even giggled a bit.
"Glad I could help."
>Lingering a moment to watch the tree quadruped curl up around the seedling, the mare was almost transfixed.
>It took her a moment to come to the realisation that they'd been still for some time.
>It was like the quiet had fallen abruptly, she hadn't even noticed the... Presence the Ent brought to its surroundings.
>Was she meant to bury them? She had no idea.
>Best not.
>Waving her hoof a little in farewell, Sunny turned and wandered away.
>She didn't particularly care, nor did she pay any attention to where her hooves carried her.
>She did bring a wing up to lift the flower from her mane to examine it.
>It was a vibrant, lively thing.
>The mare twirled it in her two foremost primary feathers thoughtfully.
>Most things had alchemical properties. This was likely little different in that respect.
>However, she once again had a sentimental issue.
>Others might call it a hoarding problem, but it was really more of an issue of attaching sentimental value to almost everything she came across.
>...Within reason.
>It probably wouldn't hurt to examine it a little, just for research.
>And what better instrument than her tongue?
>She licked one of the petals.
[1d6+3] < E. Alchemy: Identify Reagents
[1d6+3]
[1d6+3]
>At the very least, she could gather some of the pollen from it.
>Being a carrier for life in the plant world, pollen usually had minute traces restorative elements.
>Many variations of healing agents involved the use of certain flowers. Though there were flowers with other effects.
>Her hooves started taking her in the direction of the Pagoda, weaving between buildings.
>>27574256
>>27583710
>'Well, this place is kind of a dump.'
"Eh, I don't know if I'd call this place too peaceful; nothing in the crags is really all about not killin."
>Kraut puts on an exaggerated look of surprise and holds it for a second before he turns the volume down a little.
"Oh we done it now boys, we sitting on gold! Unless this is what jamming sounds like, then we're sitting on pyrite but still possibly close to gold!"
>Kraut hops back out and gives the area another look over, identifying all potential landmarks in case there's something that should be checked out before making this the FOB.
[1d6]E. Scouting
[1d6+3]NVG
[1d6+3]Thermal
[1d6+1]Compass
"Alright, so what we're going to do is find someone who knows enough about radios to say whether or not this is good signal we're getting, unless one of you knows more than me and can do it. If it's what we're looking for then we'll scout the immediate area for threats and then return to base to grab Bren so she can start building whatever fortifications are needed to make this place work.
>'A brilliant plan, like I actually have an idea what I'm doing out here.'
>Everfree Forest, Razorback Fortress
>>27625900
>Dragging your flat tongue across one of the leathery petals resulted in your dexterous organ being covered in a carpet of pollen.
>And just like any other over abundance of taste you felt your entire face contort into a giant ponut.
>Very potent to say the least.
>After waiting for your buds to return to your mouth, you were able to safely taste the petal in the back of your throat.
>Apart from the powdery'ness there was a hint of toffee.
>You were sure you hadn't had toffee in a while.
>Pretty sure.
>Blinking, you realize that something must of happened.
>Because right now you were on the other side of the Orchard!
>In fact, after frantically searching and backtracking, you find that you did weave between the buildings, but not the way you intended.
>The flower fixed to your head was carrying a powerful payload.
>Sand Cutter
>>27624830
>>27625340
>Staring through the weird specks of drifting starbursts across her vision, the dark chocolate mare staring down her nose, wiggling the tip to test her vision.
>Dazedly nodding at the question, Sand stops halfway, then shakes her head in the negative, slowly rolling onto her chest with a strained sigh.
"No."
>Wearily pushing herself up to stand, the Lady Knight casts a solemn look towards Lúfa's ruined body, her ears flattening with a cold, disgusted tone, snapping her head about to deliver a withering glare to Cu'Nir, then to the other three.
"How dare you blame her? What gives you the right to scorn your own kin and kine?! Long has the Vigil been held for those that harrow the Undead and Unborn! Long have the Watch engraved the names of all who dare not yield in the Mausoleum's halls, yet abandon sense, reason, and honor you all have done here! The day the last of the Vigilites finish their endless march into the Oceanlands, long I wait to demand the penance of your crimes!"
>Straightening up through her aches, Sand Cutter stomping back towards the way she came, bilious snarls lacing her angered, noblite voice.
"And I shall see that day comes!"
>Folding her ears forwards, the Lady Knight takes a deep breath to settle herself, then bends her head forwards, breaking into a run, her goal being the outside world, and with it the escaping undead.
>"Find the one that fled or those that will follow, for it shall bear a heavy burden in it's last hour-"
[1d6] <Earth Walk: Locate Undeath
[1d6+4] <E.Charge
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
>>27626368
>...
>Ent flowers are one hell of a drug.
>While she hadn't learned anything specific about the flower, she did know that whatever it was, it was potent.
>Looking around herself, she was astonished that she'd ambled about aimlessly while under the effects of the pollen.
>With a shake of her head and a supremely annoyed whinny, Sunny set off.
>Again.
>This time she would definitely make it to the Pagoda.
>No distractions. No stopping. She was gonna order those Alchemy recipes if it killed her.
[1d6+6] < E. Speed
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>>27624830
>>27625340
>The Norwegian is quite heavy, all of his gear, weapons, and body weight make it a /bit/ hard for the gryphon to carry him.
>The recoil from his lightweight rifle's 7.62mm NATO rounds certainly did not help Co'Caire at all.
>Spruce chuckles weakly.
"Sorry Cocairne... I couldn't resist getting min egen skutt i det..."
>He weakly manages to sling the paratrooper variant of the AG3 back over his shoulder.
>The man seems a bit amazed by the normal lighting conditions suddenly filligg the room.
>It's beautiful.
>Spruce blinks, nearly passing out right there in Co'Caire's grip.
>He mumbles weakly as he sees Lúfa get uncovered, weakly closing his eyes as if that will make the thing go away.
>It doesn't help much, and the darkness seems to encroach upon his vision as he blinks open one last time for today.
"C-C... Có'Caire... I am.... Tired..."
>Spruce blacks out, the operator slumping down unconcious in the gryphon's grasp.
>Post #1/2: Naliyna & ?????
>>27629687
>Streaking from the west side of the orchard through the mess hall and workshop meeting ground, the flurry of activity in the Command Center appears to have only increased as you pass by it, the Tartarus and Arcane Blades mercenaries now looking tired.
>Sighting the fountain and blurring past it, a light brown batmare had passed out atop the lip, along with a suspiciously bright silver coated earth pony swimming laps inside while humming a much too cheerful song, the Fortress's feminine toned, though starkly neutral crystalline voice rings out... in what sounded to be maximum confusion:
"VAN.. RE.. DES.. TRE.. US.. KIN.. CON.. CHER.. UN.. DAL.. ARRIVING FROM CANTERLOT UNDERGROUND WITH ENTOURAGE."
>Springing into the pagoda, a small group of four ponies had clustered in front of the Empire stall on the south side, three in the rather standard looking black half-plate armor favored by mercenaries, the fourth covered by an expensive, strangely styled black leather overcoat with matching hood and oversized red travel packs.
>Taking note of the battle-scarred, albeit merry sounding fuchsia Crystal mare seated behind the front counter, her name springs to mind: Naliyna Remostrine of the same well known family of traders, once a Kingdom Siege-Marauder, then later a merchant at the Empire Station that had disappeared over three years ago, whom was also currently listed as 'presumed missing'.
>The considerably more slender earth mare opposite her, the voice young, the tone neutral and mostly inflectionless, was a complete unknown, though the weapons being removed from the overly large packs and placed on the table were definitely human styled.
>Post #2/2: Naliyna & ?????
>>27629687
"So you're the one that's looking for some of Spiral's books?"
>Tapping her front hooves together while leaning back into her seat, Naliyna flashes a warm smile in your direction, tilting her head and flicking the right ear in a common Equestrian motion that meant 'one minute please' before waving at the much younger mare to speak in a tone that felt threatening to you.
"That is correct. My mother worked for Marquis du Spiral during his tenure as the Underground's chief researcher and xenologist. I have need of his source notes on pre-Dynasty civilizations, particularly Saddle Arabia's founding, the Germaneighan founding mythos, his thesis on unusual batpony mutations, and his dissertation on known Overdark beings."
"Those are.. oddly specific. I'm curious though: why did you decide to track him down to here instead of checking with the Archivists Guild, or the Lorekeepers?"
"I did. They have stated that he can no longer be reached, nor has he responded to their correspondences for over half a year now. I felt it best to locate his last residence and seek his current location from there."
"I have good and bad news for you, which do you want first?"
"Bad."
"Hum.. well, Spiral left a while back without telling anypony. None of us have figured out where he's gone, why, or much of anything else. The goods news is we do have his stuff in the library, should be easy to print a few more if you want them. "
"That is as equally troubling as it is unfortunate, though I understand. Reprints are acceptable. I will pay either pay or trade for whatever fee is necessary."
"I'll have to check what these are worth anyhow. Go head to the library, it's the big building south of here with lots of windows, can't miss it.. or the psion covered in rings."
>Nodding in a short, appreciable manner, the young leather clad mare half-steps left, smoothly trotting out of the pagoda, Naliyna looking up at you with a bright smile.
"Come in! Need something?"
>>27630772
>>27630798
>The flurry of activity as she passed the command post caught only her vestigial curiosity.
>Nope, not interested in the slightest, and she definitely wasn't going to lurk there later.
>As soon as she spotted the silver one he-
>...
>...
>!!!
>...
>As soon as she entered the Pagoda, the mare came to a rearing halt, planting her fore hooves firmly on the ground, her momentum carrying her rump and hind legs into the air before coming back down with a clunk.
>Smooth entrance.
>Ten out of ten, really.
>It made her want to hide, however, she kept herself in the open. She'd already been spotted and her disappearing act would be counterproductive.
>The weapons caught her attention. Now why would a pony have those?
>Stepping up after the exchange, Sunny smiled in return.
"Uh, maybe? I was going to place an order for one of the Star Court's alchemy recipes, not sure which one yet since I can only afford one."
>Eye rolling up thoughtfully, the mare twitched her ears around and brought her attention back to Naliyna.
"Probably the recipe for Refresh, seems like it'd be more useful."
>>27574256
>>27626066
>>27583710
>Novus regards the swamp with disgust, reminded of his past with the Foundation as he hops into the car.
>He looks back at Zhun, face obscured by his gas mask.
>Chinese man, 20's.
>Soviet era gear.
"Ah yes, hello. I'm Novus."
>He sounds quite distracted.
"Give me a moment, I think I know this... Uh..."
>Novus listens to the series of fast, almost random seeming series of pings and beeps emitted by the radio, making him furrow hos hrow slightly at how random it seemed.
>He listened very carefully, holding up a finger to shush Kraut and Zhun for a moment as he listened.
[1d6+1] B. E.W.O.
[1d6+1]
[1d6] E. Perception
[1d6]
[1d6]
>>27625340
>The rags escape into the light, and with that, it seems we can finally calm down a bit.
>I would rather not.
>Có'caire returns with Spruce unconscious in tow. Fearing the worst, I rush over and check for a pulse while Sand starts going on and on, which I quickly tune out.
>At least he's just passed out. For now, anyway.
>With the better light in the room, I turn back as she leaves to face a sight which leaves Cu'Nir's completely pointless question falling on deaf ears.
>For at least a minute, I just stand and stare, oblivious to anything going on around me.
>Then, with a bad feeling about those rags on top of all the other bad feelings, I speak up and break my gaze, looking out over the mass of bodies.
"...Look for anything fresh."
[1d6+3]<NVG
[1d6+3]<Thermal
>>27627003
>>27632196
looks gay
>>27632196
>>27632906
nou
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: Cu'Nir & Có'caire
>Soap Cubes Available:
-Cu'Nir, Golden (prepared) +Detector
-Có'caire, Runic Shield
-Sand Cutter, Elemental Combustion x2
>>27627897
>Barely containing her animosity behind rattling heaving breathes, Cu'Nir stared intensity at the former knight as her clopping echos dampened with distance.
"No one is at fault here, NO ONE! Ve all knew this vas dangerous, especially Lúfa!"
>Unlike before, the oppressive darkness of the corridors were less tangible this time.
>Reaching the outside world, the mares body rejoiced at feeling the sun bathing it in its warm embrace.
>Several metres ahead of the yawning maw of the structure was the pile of rags, grounded into the dirt of the digsite.
>Sniffing the air, Sand Cutter noted there was no stench of death, but instead was water vaporizing into ozone.
>Moving closer she saw that the motionless pile of tatters had limbs after all.
>A tail, four legs and a head. Each one covered in the same drenched material.
>>27630472
>Sighing, the Chef chirped in surprise when you began to fall over.
>Shifting his body he caught you, yours' flopping over the curvature of his back.
"Chan't thake this ahnymore."
>Shuffling around, the Gryphon stomped off for the exit, following Sand Cutters trail.
>>27631342
>Submerged within the sea of shriveled skin and shattered bones crested Lúfa, debris marring her already destroyed physique.
>It was chilling to see in such a short amount of time how most of her body was hollowed out, like a cadaver of fresh slaughter in a butchery.
>Your stomach was almost glad the Gryphonesses' eye was ruptured, least you could not see the blank emotionless stare akin to the recently deceased.
>Suddenly a familiar set of metal pinions intruded onto the sight, they brushing off more of the litter.
"I do not think ve vhile find anything fresh, Simon.."
>Cu'Nirs voice, once filled with contempt was hollow, quiet as she set about to shimmy Lúfa onto her back.
>>27635218
XP Awards!
>+3 to Spruce and Simon, +2 to Sand Cutter, +1 to Cu'Nir and Có'caire.
>>27635908Actually never mind that, no awards.
>>27635908
>>27636145
>Due to powergaming and metagaming, Simon and Spruce lose 3XP from their overall experience points.
>Sand Cutter
>>27635218
>Bowing her head down to let her chilled neck absorb the wonderful sun rays, Sand breathes in the much cleaner air deeply, blowing out with an aggravated twinge.
>Nose twitching pensively, she decides to creep towards the odd pile, then halts short to eyeball it, seething with anger.
>"What are you? What were you? Perhaps a gryphon once, then no longer?"
>Crouching down into a stalking stance, the dark chocolate mare tenses the muscles across her legs in a smooth, even motion.
"No matter now, destruction is all that is requested of us-"
>Leaping up in a tall arc, the Lady Knight drives downwards, her front hooves quickly tapping together, releasing a small air tremor in preparation of pulverizing the undead pile.
[1d6+7] <Lunge
[1d6+4] <E.Speed
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+6] <E.Earth Shatter
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6] <M.Assault
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
>Naliyna
>>27631074
>Motioning for the mercenaries to take a seat on the northwest side of the pagoda, you note the bodyguards had an odd team composition: one Crystal pony, one batpony, and a unicorn.
>Huh.
>Waving you to take a seat on the flat couch in front of her table, Naliyna rolls her ears around while inspecting the weaponry for a few moments, then begins humming in a merry baritone, directing the entire weighty satchel inside the stall.
>Turning back to you, the fuchsia Crystal mare leans forwards, placing her front hooves on the table and muttering annoyedly, though the object of her irritation definitely wasn't you.
"And go broke? Don't even bother, those prices are Lishanki robbery and I've already ordered them from elsewhere anyhow. I also sent a letter to these idiots demanding why they want over three times what others are charging. Here, take a look."
>Emitting a low, throaty whistle, three white price slips are set down in front of you, the first one being an advertisement for the Refresh recipe out from Manehattan, an acceptable 3,500 Bit price tag attached to it, the second, Dragon's Bile, listed as for sale from the Dragonspine Mountains.. in rather difficult to read Common script for 2,800 Bits.
>Coming in last, Venom was priced at 2,300 Bits direct from Cairn Wharf, the floating pier city of batpony and pegasi on the southern edge of the Deep Moors, right on the ocean.
>Folding her left leg over the right, Naliyna turns her head left, ears flattening as a questionably murderous scowl creases her face.
"I'm trying to make sure nothing is ponifally delivered here, so I don't know when they'll come in. Everypony I've talked to in the past few days have all said that because Las Pegasus cancelled all their trade agreements, every place with a translocation stone is forced to reroute elsewhere.. ..I'm tempted to find where these idiots live and stomp heads until my hooves shatter."
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27593388
>Unable to control her giggling, the Master-Captain lifts you off her, placed down on the ice, rapidly melting underneath your feet, a wide radius around you becomes an incredible sauna, bare skin touching fairly smoothed flagstone underneath after a couple seconds while the entire area around the fountain becomes a boiling sauna.
>"Why else would it be called HEARTFLAME!? Said drink only half! HALF!"
>Struggling to keep her hoofing through a raucous snort, Broken stumbles forwards to escape the hot steam venting into her armor, instant relief occurring when all of your clothes are shed, the sensation akin to that of baking in the sun on a cold day.
>"Already am!"
>Collecting your clothing and tossing it into your pack, the master psion slings it over her withers, leaving you with the Twinblade attached to the skin of your back and the HMG in your hands, both of which felt a bit warm, but would probably function regardless of the unnatural circumstances placed upon them.
>"Question, human: how many mares of Stalliongrad will make new countries out of YOU?!"
>Howling in laughter and utterly losing grasp of her Mind's Eye, Broken staggers towards one of the north eastern buildings, the thing spinning around in crazed, uncontrollable circles.
>"Just wave dick around in circle, makes ice melt faster! Could use as weapon too, will stun every mare in sight!"
>>27637930
>Sighing in happiness as the clothes leave and very, very welcome feeling sits in, I nonetheless feel very exposed.
>Great.
>At least they'll probably be distracted by my form.
>I shift my shoulders as I feel the twinblade stick to my back on the skin.
>Weird.
>Tossing the MG slightly in my hands, I give a brief hope that it won't melt if I have to fire it.
>Annnd now I can't handle grenades, or I'll cook them off.
>Even better.
>I look at Broken, shaking my head.
>"Let them try. My great siege weapon has never fallen to ANY enemy. The land, however, might get a bit...cracked."
>Snorting in mild amusement, I shake my head.
>"Yeah, right. You're welcome to jack me off, if you think I'll ejaculate fire, too."
>Setting a quick pace towards...
>Wait.
>"Okay, where do we go, then? I'm afraid I'm not too familiar with the city. Just point me in the right direction, and I'll melt a path."
>...
>"Also, the second this stuff wears off, we have to immidiately get my EVERYTHING on. I'm not very much looking forward to actually feeling the cold whenever this stuff wears off."
>>27362728#
>He had raised a hand to speak only to be silenced by Tipper's immediate diagnosis. Made enough sense, the Pagoda teleported or translocated him enough times to make him ill. Wonderful job, Surplus, you fuck.
"...Thanks."
>He managed to say before turning to watch her hoof. Then realized she was pointing. His head gave a little shake for clarity before shuffling over to the rows of jars.
"One red pill, one small green tablet..."
>He was dizzy, and probably stupid by any measure, but he was careful enough to pick out the two pills Tipper had told him to take. A shower definitely sounded like a good idea, though. Even that would make him feel better.
"I'll probably have some questions when I wake up. If I remember to remember to ask them."
>He gave his head another quick shake before shuffling down the hall toward what he hoped to be a bathroom or chemical shower. But mostly just wandered. He was exhausted the the point of being overtired and just in autopilot.
>He had a lot to learn about what to really do. Instead of chasing crazy horses and fitting himself into a niche, he should probably get his shit in gear and work with the rest of the team.
>>27637783
>Interesting combination of forces, provided they were able to work together given their differences, such a team would be highly specialised in dealing with magical threats, with some close quarters combat to round it off.
>If that Bat Pony were one with the venom mutation, target acquisition might be one of their functions due to its debilitating effect.
>
>Ears perking at the mention of the higher than normal prices, Sunny inclined her head thoughtfully.
>She never was one to be smart with money, considering she'd spent a considerable amount of her earnings on alcohol over the past couple of years, sleeping outside in favor of spending drinking money on shelter.
>She might have a problem there. No matter.
"Maybe they're just trying to raise funds quickly, who knows what's going on up there right now."
>No excuse for prices inflated to these levels, though, and she mentioned as much to Naliyna.
"So, sending someone to go collect them isn't an option?"
>Whatever for?
>Unknown Lands, Main Dig Site: Có'caire
>>27637656
>The former knights hooves crushed down into the pile of rags, the bodily shape underneath their soggy material deforming from the weighty explosive impact. 36/190HP STUNNED FOR 1 TURN!
>Much like leaves being blown from a raked hill, pieces of mucky cloth and sodden feathers burst away at Sand Cutters precise pounce.
>As the Earth Mare settled down onto all four legs a prolonged, agony filled warble escaped between desperate rattling intakes of air. Bright red blood pooling out in every direction around the twitching jumble of tattered materials.
>>27633961
How do y'all feel about pinatas. I'm borderlining something awful here. But I feel you would be intrigued even after the time that has past. purely for entertainment values.
>>27643010
>>27644354
>Post #1/2: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27637996
>Beacon of the Empress's Light:
[1d6]
>The Empress's Benediction:
[1d6+4]
>>27635218
>So soon, there's already signs of decay.
>Even if there was anything in there, would I even be able to tell?
>Just any kind of clue, so I can leave with some kind of answer.
[1d6+3]<NVG
[1d6+3]<Thermal
>I should have known this was pointless.
>Cu'Nir loudly retorts as Sand Cutter leaves. The most I manage to make in response is quiet, but snappy.
"Bullshit."
>I should elaborate on that, but end up failing to say anything until I see her trying to get the body onto her back.
"Don't."
>There's only one of us who should bring the body back.
>Post #2/2: Broken Hoof, The Frozen Megalopolis>111: used.
>>27637996
>>27645111
>Halting to glance back, the emeraldine eyeslits darkening to protect her vision, Broken's demeaning, vaguely predatory smile is felt under her mask while the entire square is bathed in burning orange light, most of the former ice now little more than vapor wafting upwards into the blizzard somewhere above, seemingly canceled by the Heartflame's powerful effects.
>"If do not recall, I was there during Siege. A human taunted Watch Guard from walls, Commander then ordered all stallions to be captured. Almost happened too, nearly destroyed gates in one charge, every mare wanting a human for their own. Am not wanting to test Heartflame's 'other' effects.. but should go ask a Tachiel drake of Saddle Arabia instead, might enjoy flaming climax more than others!"
>Swinging her head forwards, a twinge of hard, stony directional senses override yours, the instinct of knowing where to step replacing both your thoughts and utterly useless eyes.
>"Follow directions, will take you to me. Bad news then: Heartflame lasts for six hours.. and have already told Tower Guards that Empress has found Solar Prince, they want to have you heat chambers for life."
>Reacquiring her focus and Mind's Eye, with a bout of muffled snickering, Broken guides you towards her location, the sound of a heavy stone door grating after half a minute of walking forwards uncertainly.
>Forcibly stopped by positively cold rear flank armor, the Master-Captain issues an unfamiliar, demanding word in what sounded like archaic earth pony, followed by an equally unfamiliar, soft, regally toned unicorn stallion's voice returning an entirely different phrase, speaking in puzzlement.
"-re ready, yet many more are coming.. what is that light? I cannot see anything beyond it, as if it were a small su- ..oh. Oh no. Is that the use of a full draught of Heartflame?"
"It is."
"..."
"..."
"Is that hi-"
"YES! YES IT IS!"
>>27646023
>Snorting, I resist the urge to escalate to a full blown chuckle.
>"Who, Thrill? They'd have to fight Naliyna off if they wanted a piece of him, and believe you me, that is not one fight I envy. Eh...nah, I'll have to pass on copulating with a dragon. I don't think Heartflame makes me resistant to flame."
>An eyebrow quirks in confusion.
>"I'm the Solar Prince? But I thought I was helping the- wait, did you say 'bed chambers'? I really hope you didn't say 'bed chambers'."
>Guiding Broken along (with her guidance guiding me[how does that even work?]), I nervously call out to her.
>"You're just joking about that part, right Broken? Broken?"
>Bumping into her relatively hard flank, I step to her side.
>"So, what did you tell them? And what did they just say?"
"Uh...yeah, I kinda-"
>Even the warmth of the heartflame dosage I took could not keep the spine-tingling chill running down my back from occuring.
"Uh...eh-heh, Broken? Why did they say those words so excitedly? Is there something about the full draught of Hearthflame I should know about?"
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gi3mW_0pm10
>>27646048
>"Heartflame renders immunity to all forms of fire: natural, magical, mystical, so, yes, you could-"
>Holding back a chortle, a rear hoofboot gently taps against your right shin in a motion, indicating you to step back, likely due to the uncomfortable heat overtaking her armored rear, the mental link closing both suddenly and unexpectedly
"Too busy, cannot talk now!"
>Physically lifted up and set down an unknown distance from the Master-Captain, whom promptly breaks into full blown laughter, a heavy clattering of armor is heard at a considerable distance away, along with a dismayed groan.
>As the obvious sounds of silverine armor scraping on stone continue, the young unicorn's voice calls out in your direction, his tone vaguely note, although a note of guarded annoyance slips in.
"To answer your first question: that was the Master-Captain's exclamation, which has likely drawn more attention than it should. To answer your second question: Heartflame is an ancient alchemical recipe, known solely for the effects which you now exhibit to it's fullest of powers. It was devised by the alicorn known as Celestia, which she used to freely travel throughout the Elemental Plane of Fire, also where the ingredients come from. It is not a tonic meant to be used lightly. Historical records state that she only used it during the most desperate of winters, and.. please do not move from where you are, the heat of your.. ..body.. is simply unbearable."
>No longer than five seconds after the unicorn finishes speaking, perhaps a hundred sets of hooves, shod and unshod alike, can be heard filling the now utterly unfrozen square, voices, mainly mares expressing shock, wonder, awe.. and a few loudly shouting to cover the eyes of every foal, colt, and filly entering the square.
>Aura of Radiance:
[1d6]
>Awe:
[1d6+2]
>Beacon of the Empress's Light:
[1d6+6]
>The Empress's Benediction:
[1d6+9]
>>27646184
>...
>Oh.
>Oh dear.
"Oh. Okay...uh, I guess I'll just...stand here, then?"
>Wait.
>What's that sound?
>Oh no, that's a lot of pones.
>Oh no, I'm naked!
"Sorry! It's kinda impossible to have my armor on, I'd be boiled alive!"
>I stand there, stock-still as I find myself out of words, hope, and am lost without a hope of finding what to do.
>Quick, use your words!
"So...uh...Hi?"
>I nervously look around at masses in front of me, and notice the worryingly large amount of mares.
>Okay, keep calm, keep calm...
>mfw
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27646221
>...
>Only silence from the unicorn's direction leads you to think he had probably left, meanwhile, Broken Hoof continues to howl with laughter while flailing around on stone, her armor making ghastly scraping sounds.
>Quiet whispering from earth mares fills the air, going silent for a minute once you half-shout, though a further clattering of many more hooves in the distance becomes most disconcerting as more ponies enter the square.
>Awkwardly waiting for quite some time, at last one set of hooves, somewhat smaller than most you think, clop their way to within several meters from you, a low, barely heard filly's voice muttering unintelligibly for several moments, then poses a timid, albeit wholly innocent and starkly brutal question:
"Are you the real Solar Prince? The um.. the one that the Empress said would save us when Stalliongrad falls? If.. if you are.. um.. ..can you.. be my first stallion?"
>Somewhere far, far, FAR away:
>Tapping his monocle in the most thought provoking manner he had available to him, Discord lifts his cup of peppermint tea, taking a sniff of the wonderfully warm beverage before settling a cruelly calculated smile on the silverine coated mare across from him.
"You do know that every psion on Tallus is not only seeing, but also experiencing, recording, and preserving the memory of this little world changing event for future generations? Think of what your wonderfully radiant, blindingly charming friend would think about you acting this wa-"
>Burying her head under her hooves, Silver switches to the oldest, most successful mare tactic in existence: screaming.
"SHUT UP SHUT UP SHUT UP I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS MESS IT NEVER HAPPENED IT WILL NEVER HAPPEN I HATE YOU I HATE EVERYTHING JUST GO AWAY FOREVER!"
>In fact, her screaming was so loud that most of Tallus could hear it.
>>27646422
>Turning my head to look uselessly in the direction of the approaching hooffalls, tilting my head in confusion.
"I...uh, well, there's no denying that the empress sent me here, so...I guess? And, well, yes, my goal is, in a broad sense, to save the city, so that's also an affirmative. Uh, sure, I don't see-"
>Wait a fucking second
>Oh god shes a virgin
>Oh god she might be underage
>OH GOD SHE MIGHT BE PROPOSITIONING ME
>THAT TONE HNNNNGGGGFFFFF
>mfw
"Ah, how old are you, now? I'm afraid I can't see that far past my own radiance. Seriously, I can't tell how you can even see -me-."
>*Please be of age, please be of age, please be of age*
>SHUT THE FUCK UP DONG, YOU AREN'T HELPING
>AND DON'T YOU DARE THINK ABOUT RISING
>I FELT THAT TWITCH, YOU STAY DOWN UNLESS SHE'S OLD ENOUGH
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27646449
>A hoof scuffing the flagstone underneath the filly is quickly drowned out by the creeping knowledge that earth pony eyes and minds were focused directly upon you, hundreds of thousands watching the scene play out.
>Silence is all the response you receive for a second, then two, ten, thirty, a minute passes while the background clopping of hooves fills the entire square to burst at two minutes, the entire area now a sweltering, mare scented sauna of pure, utter tension.
>Taking several more steps forward, the filly's voice rings out in a firm manner, reaching a high pitch of mareish anger.
"I'm old enough and I can see without my eyes! I also know THAT-"
>Feeling a waft of cooler air washing across your crotch, the motion is swiftly followed up by a small hoof touching down on stone, her voice now reaching a demanding level of accused offense.
"Will make me a real mare! Now tell me yes or no!"
>Now in a place MUCH further away:
>Completely failing to comprehend the miserable wreck of her eldest sister, Princess Cadence stares down with haunted eyes at Silver, curled beneath her wings and loudly sobbing.
>Patting her forlorn sister in the vain hope that it would calm her, Rebirth tilts her head towards the Moon, her face painfully expressly contorted in a manner that only a freshly re-traumatized alicorn could make.
>"...what in Tartarus could have HAPPENED to her!?"
>>27646501
>Taking a small step back (oh god they're behind me too) at the apparently of age filly, I try to recover.
"Okay, okay, I was just making sure! It-"
>Oh.
>There is only one way this can end, if I am going to survive.
>Taking a breath to steel myself, I nod.
"Alright. I will."
>Raising my voice, I speak to the rest of them.
"I know what you all want, and I have but one request: One at a time, please!"
>Turning my head to look down, I feel the rush of sudden blood throughout my body, and swallow heavily."But first? You."Lord save me from the death of a hundred horny earth mares.
...
>>27595112
>>27646422
"Huh, what was that noise?"
>Checking his sides to stare down both ways of the crystal street he was corssing, Lont's brow was furrowed as he wondered where that distressing voice came from.
>"It was a mare...and sounded awfully familiar..."
>>27646501
>He sighed in annoyance that he could not go one step without sensing a twitch at the back of his mind, a feeling of someone he knew going through something.
>"Voices that are coming from no where and fucking pangs of sudden emotion? It must be the stress. It has to be. Got to be."
"Yeah, yeah its just the stress of it all..."
>>27646221
>>27646449
>>27646521
>Dante in a nut-shell
>>27646521
Silver made a good choice with you. You're really proving your worth.
>>27648345
>>27648361
Someone is jealous they don't have literal hundreds of horny mares biting at the bit to ride your hot snow melting cock :VAnd a filly that wants to be ravaged for the first time~
>Operation: The Frozen Megalopolis, A Critically Failed Yet Catastrophic Success.
>Dante gains: +1XP.
>>27646521
"Not when my eyes are hurting and I have a headache."
>Another wave of air is made, this one a bit smaller and from further away, hoofsteps turning about, an irate, loud huff making itself known to you.
"Don't be silly! You're my stallion now, and don't think you can run away 'cause I'll find you later."
>Snickering erupts from all around, hastening the filly's hooves thumping away as mares begin talking in low tones, none of whom even tried to hide their lack of respect or snickering.
"Is that one really a stallion?"
"Not when it's that big."
"It's so.. small."
"-like a naked mole rat!"
"Humans are odd."
"Weirder than harpies, that is for sure."
"I have an idea!"
"What?"
"It's just big enough for that filly!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
"..."
"Is this legal?"
"What?"
"Letting a filly claim a non-pony?"
"Who knows."
"Who cares!"
"Here is where we as ponies must choose whether or not the Empress lied. Was she telling ponykind a truth that we would eventually enforce with our own wills, or was her vision a mere glimpse into endless possibilities? ...I fear that none but her sisters should ever be allowed to know which is true."
>Removing the translocation stone from the pack, currently being crushed by Broken's unmoving neck, the unicorn presses a hoof on his nose, sighing at her passed out state.
"I refuse to take any responsibility over this catastrophe.."
>Still very, VERY far away:
"I WAS BEING SARCASTIC! IT WAS A JOKE! I JUST WANTED TO SHUT EVERY EARTH PONY UP! I NEVER WANTED THIS TO BE REALITY! WHY?! WHY IS THIS HAPPENING TO ME?!"
"There there, just let it all out.."
>'Why am -I- the one that she chose to comfort her?!'
>Ziggurat Pyramid, Under Main Chamber: Cu'Nir
>>27645603
>Scanning through the clogging sea of husks again your NVG's show no movement while your Thermals detected no abnormal temperature spikes.
>The bones that were still intact resembled those that belonged in ponies, Minotaurs and other beings you were unsure of.
>However there were no signs of Gryphon bones, nothing to indicate that the Shadow Wings were down in the Abyss.
>Not even looking at you, Cu'Nir stepped away from Lúfa and instead marched through the obstructive debris towards the portal where she waited for you to collect the Fledgling.
>Now carrying the grizzly remains, Cu'Nir moved aside to tail you, her head low with a foul face covering it.
.../...
>Sand Cutter
>>27642242
>Hooking her forelegs under what she thought the front legs were, Sand drops her barrel down, compressing her rear legs around the figure.
>Bracing herself for defensive posturing and to prevent escape of her target, the dark chocolate earth pony aggressively snarls downwards, snout wrinkling at the mildly disgusting scent of decay.
"If alive then speak now! If undead and can think, then say graces and prepare to die once more!"
[1d6+6] <U.Brace
[1d6+4] <E.Positioning Maneuvers
[1d6+4]
[1d6+4]
[1d6+6] <M.Assault Pin
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
[1d6+6]
...
>>27648828
>Standing there slackjawed, I literally slap myself out of my stupor.
"Did I...just get claimed by something not even half my height?"
>Oh dear.
>I hope Pella's alright with this...
>Crossing my arms, I huff dissapointingly.
"Hey, I'm not even aroused yet. Besides, I heard how stallions can't even hilt. Guess what mine can?"
>...
>Uh.
>Well, apparently, I have six or so more hours until this wears off, so...
>Okay, time to use this 'Solar Prince' thing to help some of these ponies out.
>But first...
>I go over to Broken's stock-still corpse, and stand above her.
>Now, what did Picket always say was the best way to get a horse moving was?
>...
>Oh right, a firm slap on the flank!
>Thanks brai- WAIT DON'T
[1d6+1]<E. Melee]
[1d6+1]
[1d6+1]
>WHAT HAVE I DONE
>>27655299autism needs to be fixed"...Guess what mine can do?"
>Broken Hoof: The Frozen Megalopolis
>>27655299
"It does appear that you have yes, but if I may ma-"
>Came the young unicorn's voice, now amongst the earth ponies basking in the square's warmth, his tone rather dismayed in comparison to the loud chortles and snickers from all around cutting him off.
"You mean like blind everypony here?"
"It's doing THAT job well!"
"Earth stallions are much bigger than humans-"
"Thicker too!"
"Even my little brother's got a bigger dick."
"Let me guess, you're jealous?"
"What."
"Hold on a minute, did you drink the sun alicorn's blood or something?"
"I heard humans are carnivores."
"Well MAYBE they should eat YOU, fat flanks!"
>Immediately devolving into a myriad of arguments too quickly to pick out individuals, a disgruntled sigh emits from the unicorn, closer than before.
"As I was stating.. if I may make a suggestion: do not taunt them further. It may provoke ire, and there will be some whom will ignore the claim on you, which will both cause infighting an-"
>Still blinded, it takes a bit of stumbling through the crowds, parting to allow you to locate, with a stubbed big toe no less, a motionless set of still cool, polished armor.
>Winding back your hand, the subsequently forceful impact sends the realization to your brain that there was no armor to cushion the blow, which left at least two, or perhaps five, bones shattered in the wrist.
>What was probably worse were the whooping shouts from close by psions, obviously watching with a Mind's Eye, then becoming a chorus of cheers and stomps as the event is shared throughout the square.
>As you begin cradling your abused appendage, the unicorn continues to speak in a dry, almost disdainful tone.
"-and it was not a wise idea to accept herdship with an earth pony whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction, nor was doing that to the Master-Captain's flank. Though I am unable to see at the moment, I presume that you are experiencing significant pain, correct?"
>Tartarus Isle: Stratus Vigil
>>27579072
>Staring down at the shallow sketches with a morose demeanor, Stratus clicks her claws together uncomfortably.
"I'm not surprised at how many are angry with her, but the other side to this is that Las Pegasus lost a lot of ponies. Most of them were pegasi, but a bunch of batponies and some visiting gryphons fell, along with about ten city sections. With as many permanently injured are here, I understand her position, though I wouldn't do the same."
>Lifting her wings and presenting a 'what can you do?' smile, her eyes drift towards the translocation matrice thoughtfully.
"If you do come across somepony selling a hub or if Manehattan produces an extra one, send us a letter. The five small and three medium ones we're using now are nowhere near enough."
>>27580923
>Head tilting in your direction, the crow blue batpony raises a thin, bushy eyebrow curiously, flicking her right set of claws dismissively.
"You weren't? Well, there's not much else left to say about them. Just don't try to lick one without asking, they're not real happy since everypony usually tries at least once."
>Examining the cases without touching them, two short steel bolts were being used to hold them shut instead of locks, which made sense considering most ponies would have severe difficulties trying to finagle them into position for a key.
>Besides foalish scribbling in earth pony and pegasi, all three were intact, barring a few small teeth marks, and had been given a lazy coat of forest camouflage paint along with a line of bright white Common Equestrian text on the top of the first one and each side stating:
"SMALL MANABOMBS. HOOFLE WITH CAUTION!"
>Ruffling her wings together after a few moments, Stratus tosses a squinty stare at the translocation stone, repeating several phrases in kee, a half-circle gateway of brown, red, and crystalline hues popping into place above it.
"Hop in when ready."
>>27648587
See: >>27655299 >>27656833
>and it was not a wise idea to accept herdship with an earth pony whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction
>not a wise idea to accept herdship with an earth pony whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction
>herdship with an earth pony whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction
>an earth pony whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction
>whom also happens to belong to an enemy faction
>happens to belong to an enemy faction
>belong to an enemy faction
>to an enemy faction
>an enemy faction
>enemy faction
>I hope Pella's alright with this
>Pella's alright with this
>Unknown Lands, Main Dig Site: Có'caire
>>27652675
>As Sand Cutter locked herself tightly against the assumed undead, she felt the body underneath the rags twitch and shudder in correspondence to painful gasps.
>After a prolonged minute of anguished inhales and exhales a scratchy avian voice pleaded to the former knight, so quiet even she strained to here it.
"...A-alive...plea-"
"What ihs ghoing ohn ohut here?"
>Seeing Sand Cutter in an odd position on top of the same tattered clothing that stabbed him, Có'caire stood at the mouth of the Ziggurat with an unconscious Spruce flopped across his back, his face contorted in anger.
>Dancing Eyes
>>27593720
>>27593724
"Yes."
>Taking the book from the thrumming green field surrounding it, finding nothing written inside except for a bit of scribbling and a printing press number followed by a street address somewhere in a place called the Crystal City-State.
>Silent for a quarter minute, the philosophical mare's head rotates slowly, smoothly in your direction, her eyes flat and blank while her tone takes on a troubled, questioning cast.
"We were to bring two hundred individuals onto this world to solve a problem of our own, human.. but the simulation is failing. Your species is not suited to the program, they are becoming aware of this, but are endangering the program. Your only choice to survive is to impede and destroy technology at all costs. If you do not, then the intelligence wins this game. We, too, shall lose if your own kind do."
>Turning her head as the library doors open, a rather ornate, black leather clad pony smaller than Dancing Eyes steps in, complete with a ground length skirt of sorts and a long, full face covering hood turning left and right.
>Pivoting in a smooth motion straight towards you, the pony half-trots up to a short distance away, head tipping up to expose a pale, rounded ashen blue snout, the mare's voice young, flat, and, as some primal instinct in the back of your mind begins screaming at you, more dangerous than she appears.
"I am searching for, I quote: 'a psion covered in rings'. Do either of you know where to find the one Naliyna indicated?"
>Sand Cutter
>>27658111
>Close to falling asleep in the warm sun during her wait, Sand's head dips down, eyes closing and allowing herself the luxury of a tired rumble.
>Jerking fully awake, the earth mare leaps backwards with a half-startled, half-surprised neigh, whirling about to stare aghast.
>"What is this?"
>Snapping her head around and giving Có'caire a rather tired, dumbfounded look, the Knight's front left hoof raises, pointing at the... whatever it is.
"A mistake, perhaps. That one is alive, not undead. Find a healer, bring them here immediately."
>>27660756
>Crystal City-State...
>At least that sounded reasonable.
>With his eyes raised again, he stared at her in the silence.
>How many drugs has he missed?
>Because right now it looked like even more drugs.
>But then the words came.
>There it was.
>His eyes narrowed, and he watched the "pony" closely.
[1d6] U.Human/Pony Relations
>As he examined it closely, one of his hands strayed downwards, grasping firmly at the edge of his hip bag.
>Did he have anything good in there?
>He couldn't remember if he had any 'nades in there.
>Whatever this actually was, it seemed to have the ability to levitate things.
>Magnetics?
>The man was only slightly versed in the sciences.
>He'd need a distraction, at the least.
>He was not a good shot when it came to his sidearm.
>His head jerked to the side, losing concentration on what was his primary threat.
>Was.
>He'd learned to trust his gut feelings, jokingly called it his "Sixth Sense."
>And this time would be no different.
>But then again, it didn't keep him from getting here in the first place.
>The man swallowed back the saliva in his mouth.
>Oh wait, no he didn't. His mouth was completely dry.
>His hand put some pressure down on his hip bag as his knuckles turned white in their grip.
>A circular object?
>That most certainly might have been it.
>His throat was dry, too, and it felt particularly warm in the room.
>'Say something.'
>'You've been staring for too long.'
"Ashen one, do you mean chainmaille? And, a psion? What do you mean?"
>He released his bag and moved that hand to the strap of his rifle, bouncing his shoulder to bring it to sit more comfortably.
"Can't say I know a Naliyna, either. She a Soviet?"
>He chuckles nervously.
"If she's a cutie, give her my number, eh?"
>He glanced behind her
>Her?
>Primary exit route blocked.
>Sheeeit.
>>27579983
>Refusing to respond to the question, Corsen tosses the drug dealer a harsh stare, instead kneeling down to inspect the package carefully and thoroughly, appraising the package's value to see if he was getting khekked.
"I am not saying I do not trust you.. but I do not trust anything after tonight."
[1d6] <B.Perception
[1d6]
>Eyes shifting to watch the other pony leave, his gaze settles across where the Honor Guard had been.
>'Must have left, good-'
>Standing up and folding his arms, the Cultist's face tightens in thought, then snaps a forefinger and thumb suddenly, tilting his head down to offer a controlling gaze.
>'That.. could be useful, too. How easy are you to manipulate?'
"Before I complete this transaction, I have need something of else, a.. a squire. Young, intelligent, fast, one that will not ask questions, is not aligned to any faction, and is no coward to bloodshed.. or worse."
>>27649915
>There's nothing.
>Of course there's nothing.
>I laboriously lift the body up onto my shoulders and follow Có'caire, my gaze firmly fixed on the ground in front of me.
>Why did I even bother?
>Post #1/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>LEADERSHIP: +2 to all Melee & Movement rolls!
>THE WING: +3 to all Ranged rolls!
>>27560596
>Emitting a static crackle at the incorrect request, the visor's display flashes the brief message of: "Negative Condition, Cannot Fulfill Request!"
>Feeling a wellspring of tensed energy collect throughout your legs, the entire corridor blurs in one long, smooth motion, passing Pareidolia running towards the Argus, Jeff hightailing the fuck away from a burning streak of orange plasma vaporizing a chunk of the corridor floor, and finally a solid cylinder of white leaving afterimages in your eyes.
>Landing well behind two large teams of minotaurs, a series of explosions far behind takes place as you hit moonstone and roll, landing in a sideways slide amidst the hulls of smaller Construct models, leaving you 140M south of the Dominator unit.
>On your feet once more, a series of annoying itches occurs throughout your musculature, flesh and skin closing while uncontrollable muscle twitches indicate shrapnel lodged inside you, several of which needed to be removed.
>Clemency: 13/20HP.
>Winding through the wreckage a short distance away, a single Destroyer, the lower third of it's front left leg missing, the steel armor slagged down into a vague cone shape, limps towards the combat zone.
>Halting only to crash down onto it's rear, the angular helmet turns towards you, the scorched, armored left wing lifting up as it's visible claw taps a small manabomb, still encased, the young stallion's voice calling out in an agonized tone.
"Want it?"
>Post #2/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>>27562680
>Placing the rifle's fore stock down onto the hot, wrecked hull, pools of orange fluid slowly trickle from it, creeping towards you at a lethargic rate.
>Aligning the crosshairs with the Dominator, two sets of smaller flashes momentarily cause a white spot in your vision, and when it clears one of the turret emplacements seemed to have simply ceased existing, now nothing more than a smoking crater while the upper right plasma driver was a bent, charred ruin.
>Followed by three more detonations, an upper, southwards facing missile pod likewise disappears, a second one on the opposite side buckling inwards and leaving a pulverized mass of orange, while the third entirely obliterates the driver that Clemency had taken out of commission, the excess blasts leaving slagged pits across the Argus' hull.
>Argus Dominator Unit: 2,726/3,000 Armor
>Blister Pod #2: -75/100 Armor, DESTROYED!
>Missile Pod #1: -63/150 Armor, DESTROYED!
>Missile Pod #8: 3/150 Armor, Critical Structural Integrity Failure!
>Plasmatic Driver #3: -34/200 Armor, DESTROYED!
>Plasmatic Driver #4: -72/200 Armor, DESTROYED!
>Adding even further insult to injury, a little more than a score of human height arrows crash into the Dominator's southern facing, most of them lodging partway into the armored hull, several erupting in pale, violent orange disintegrations.
>Argus Dominator Unit: 2,546/3,000 Armor.
>Out of nowhere, a wide, shockingly familiar burning hot cylinder of white plasma erupts off your left, slamming into the lower hemisphere of the Argus and leaving an irregularly shaped, melted gouge, a burst of orange caught alight inside, though it's remaining missile pods and two drivers align on the minotaurs once more.
>Argus Dominator Unit: 2,660/3,000 Armor.
[1d10] <Argus Plasmatic Drivers
[1d16+1] <Argus Missile Pods
>Post #3/3: The Armory Blockade: ARGUS COMMAND DOMINATOR, PISSED OFF!
>>27564318
>Barely noticing Clemency preparing to jump, or his stratospheric escape velocity from the Dominator's warheads erupting in a circle around it, the Crystal Rune shield darkens as it absorbs the outer blasts and shrapnel, starry cracks now covering it's north facing as the top section shatters off, dissipating over your head.
>Empire Cover Shield #2: 320/400 Shield remaining.
>Finding no 'head' unit as the Scout/Sentry models in Skykeep had, nor did it seem to have one, reality bends forwards, then backwards in your vision rapidly, a sensation that the more rational part of your brain realizes to be molecular shearing erupts across the skin of your right arm.
>Exiting the skin to dance across the palm, a crackling, bright white and yellow streak of half-charged electrical impulses ejects through the glove, near-instantly striking high and to the left of the inwards dented hull.
>Argus Dominator Unit: 2,608/3,000 Armor.
[1d20] <Lightning Strike: System Shutdown
>Deep inside of the Argus, a hollow, possibly angry thrumming sound takes place, the majority of it's single-barreled plasma turrets aligning down on the Empire shields as a layer of familiar, protective orange honeycomb shielding crackles across it's hull.
[1d6+10] <Enhanced Autologistic Field Repair Systems
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d20] <Argus Secondary Motive Shielding
[1d17+1] <Argus Turret Emplacements
>Weathering the Argus' return fire, two further volleys of minotaur arrows are launched from the Gozkan Rangers, the Hegemony mystics enacting protection against the Construct's unnaturalness while Hornet Song collapses, unconscious and spent in the open between the paired minotaur units.
[1d6+3] <Hegemony Mystic Unit 2: Planar Shield
[1d6+5] <Hegemony Mystic Unit 5: Planar Shield
[1d6+5] <Gozkan Rangers Unit 1
[1d6+8] <Gozkan Rangers Unit 3
...
>Unknown Lands, Main Dig Site: Cu'Nir & Có'caire
>>27661534
>Coldly starring at the twitching pile of rags for some time, Có'caire shuffled on over to Sand Cutter and shimmied Spruce off his back unceremoniously so his wings could fan out.
"Nhot ihn the chondhition tho bhring Healers 'ihmmedihately'."
>Flapping into the air, the Chef flew up back towards the surrounding Ring Town, his flight pattern plagued with fatigue.
>>27662406
>The passage of time between the Underchamber and the sun bleached dirt of the Digsite was blurred to you, the sense of Cu'Nirs presence near you never abating.
>Raising your head at the warm sensation of sunlight bathing your scalp, you saw what awaited for you outside.
>Sand Cutter stood next to a deposited Spruce, whom was dropped close to the heap of sodden rags, they sporadically shuddering with mewls of pain.
>All six limbs for a Gryphon clearly visible jutting out of from under the pile.
>Above, nearing the skirting buildings of the town was Có'caire, he flying towards the direction of the Healers.
"Vhat is going on here?"
>Breaking away from your rear, the Huntsmaster methodically placed herself between you and the tattered clothing, dead weight metal wings excited marginally with suspicion.
"Is it dead?"
...
>>27664368
>So I was right about the rags.
>But it seems as if it's still alive.
>Fucking wonderful.
>One of the Shadow Wings is still alive, and what did I do? Put who knows how many bullets into them.
>This doesn't make things any better. All we've done is trade one life for another.
>Canterlot, A Lavish Residence: Venous
>>27662274
>Chortling in the non-existent light the Dealer Pony leaned back into her couch on the other side of the table followed by a content sigh, her eyes rolling over to ogle at the live debauch action on the stage.
"It comes with the territory honey, even more so after Las Pegasus. And what has been happening lately in this lil' ol city? I cannot blame you~"
>The bag was comprised of tightly knitted wool with a silk noose to open and close it at will, wide enough for even an Earth Pony to access.
>Inside you found two Dampener bottles, six slices of hallucinogenic mushrooms; two of each colour. Two small purses, one containing thumbnail sized pellets and the other smooth powder.
>Lastly, in a tall crystal vial glowed an illuminating rainbow liquid that was warm to the touch, a thick wax layer enveloping the glass cork that contained the multi-coloured content.
>At your words, the Drug Dealers associates mumbled amongst themselves in their own pony tongues, their tones blatantly suspicious.
>Letting them air their concerns for the time being, the Dealer watched transfixed as the mares on stage accomplished truly incredible hoofs of flexibility just to pleasure one another.
"Those two are coming with me after...hm, oh. Pardon me sweetie you were saying something?"
>Raising an eyebrow at your pointing, the drugpony clopped her hooves together once to silence her companions as she sat up.
"Babe, it sounds like you want a nare-mare-do-well for some nefarious plot you plan on doing, no? If that is the case, I want extra payment on top of the drugs."
>Covering her eyes with a foreleg over her muzzle, Venous scrunched in shame as she felt her marehood wink against the sofa she sat on.
>"TRAITOR! HORRIBLE DISGUSTING DEGENERATE DESPOT!"
>In front of her on stage was the stallion, slowly grinding his heated length against the cold shiny metal pole with considerable sack hugging its circumference.
>Making all the mares go wild.
>Tipper
>>27638162
"You are most welcome, and that is correct. Those are derivatives of three species of hallucinogenic mushrooms, ones that I've discovered can temporarily negate the vertigo and nausea effects of translocation. The small dosages you have now will induce a short term, deep sleep recovery state."
>Spinning around in her chair slowly, the elderly unicorn pauses at her desk with a hoof, offering a peculiarly keen smile in your direction.
"That is fine, come back to talk when you feel better."
>Walking down the clinic's length, there was neither a hall nor a shower, only matching rows of overly large medical beds on either side, dark wooden half walls and thick privacy curtains pushed off to the side of each, though two of the beds were apparently occupied at the moment.
>Finding a pair of surgical suites in the back of the building, the one on the right was closed, the left opened and smelling of ammonia, likely in the middle of cleaning.
>Returning to the aged doctor in confusion, you're given a small map of the fortress with simple instructions to a section of human styled barracks along with a warning not to enter the larger housing unit on the east side.
>Leaving the clinic and heading north, the first three buildings come into view after half a minute, though the only entrances were on the east and west ends.
>Imminent Retrieval, Operation #2 Set Up:>Deep Moors Hunter-Killer Forces:[1d6] <Time Period[1d6+2] <Target Acquisition[1d6+2] <Command Force[1d6+5] <Primary Assault[1d6+4] <Secondary Assault[1d6+2] <Ferron Reserves>Arcane Blades Assassin Team:[1d6] <Time Period[1d6+4] <Insertion[1d6+5] <Cover[1d6+3] <Target Acquisition[1d6+5] <VIP Assassination[1d6+2] <Extraction Protocols>Tartarus Air Corps. Assault Team 1:[1d6] <Time Period[1d6+3] <Insertion[1d6+4] <Cover[1d6+2] <Target Acquisition[1d6+4] <Depot Raid[1d6+3] <Reserve Protocols>Tartarus Air Corps. Assault Team 2:[1d6] <Time Period[1d6+2] <Insertion[1d6+3] <Cover[1d6+4] <Target Acquisition[1d6+2] <Target Assassination[1d6+5] <Extraction Protocols
>>27667045[1d6+3] <Cover[1d6+4] <Target Acquisition[1d6+2] <Target Assassination[1d6+5] <Extraction Protocols
..
>>27662827
>Feels awful getting reknitted together
>The spasms are also worrying
>Make sure to pay a visit to Tipper later
>Or any medic really
>Now to assess what's happening
>The Construct now has more gouges in it and the majority of the weapon systems are destroyed
>Must be the targets for those suicide bombers
>"No way getting close again. Better stick to the shotgun..."
>Beginning the process of reloading the SPAS-12 with slug shells, a figure appears next to Clem
>Looking down, Clem instantly stops and inspect the armored batpony
>Injured severely, probably burns at least 3rd degree if the melted armor is anything to go by
>Not to mention the missing foreleg
"I'll take it,sure. Miracle you're alive. Hmmm....how does this thing work?"
>He puts the case in a pocket in his pack
>The thought of why they did that still lingers
>Best not to let it be in vain though
>Back to reloading, Clem makes his way towards the Hegemony units, trying to find a space to shoot between
>The spot near Hornet is suitable
[1d6+7] <B.Movement
[1d6+7]
[1d6+5] <Airstream Speed
[1d6+5]
>Once reaching the space, the one with more minotaurs at least, Clem aims and fires, hoping to damage it
[1d6+8] <E.Shotguns
[1d6+8]
[1d6+8]
..
>>27656833
"Right, don't respond, got it-"
>Okay not my best plan.
>Ow, this sucks.
>Supressing the urge to growl, I turn my vision towards his voice.
"Instead of talking down to me, could you try to get Broken here up? Also, since your eyes weren't blinded by the light I'm producing-"
>They are blinded by your ego, though.
"-Could you tell me just -who- that earth pony was, or what faction she belonged to? Oh, and yes, I am in quite a bit of pain. Do you know any healing spells, perhaps?"
>Or at least how to speak courteously to someone you just met?
>I was -hoping- to maybe go around a bit more, and melt some of the city, but if this keeps hurting this bad I -might- not be able to...
>Crag Moors: Outpost 4-1
>>27583710
>Barely finding space to fit the RPK around the station wagon's mounted MG3, your near total lack of knowledge about the twisted Moors ecology makes inspection of this spot rather bleak:
>Despite the local grasses being (relatively) non-lethal looking, the stagnant pool of water was questionable considering how many times the Moors loving humans wandered past you with a new ailment every week, nor were the trees any safer.
>The only real bit of interest you could pick out was the lone statue in sight, a form of hard black granite or similar, it's shape and style were somehow off to you, though relatively unmarred by the ages it had likely been there, at least until Equestrian expedition teams began setting translocation matrices across the country.
>>27626066
>Besides the odd statue, it seemed likely that the triangular, upwards jutting stone formations in the boggy soil were indicative of this particular locale being unique and easily spotted from the air.
>As the light level was noticeably higher than the last few places, perpetual swamp fog limited visibility to roughly 150M, as far as you could tell, and at the apex of the NVG's range a particularly twisted and highly out of place dead maple tree could be seen, noticeably taller than those around the translocation stone.
>>27631154
>Digging out your Foundation issued smart phone to locate the more solid bandwidths that your ears couldn't catch, while timing the more noticeable signals and pings to determine their distance and possible origin.
>Barely able to register the data flow as operating in the terahertz range, it was apparent that it would take a current generation transceiver to attempt connecting to the wireless signals, and while fumbling around the electronic code becomes apparent as wholly non-human, running in an odd base 2-16 pattern, the implausibly stable bandwidths indicative of an otherworldly, sophisticated command & control system.
>Naliyna
>>27639856
"Why would they need over two and a half million Bits in their first for-sale posting?"
>Both hooves lifting to rub at her temples, the questionably veteran Crystal mare's eyes narrow into thin slits, whether from pain or near-explosive anger was difficult to tell at the moment.
"I'm not going to the Empire just to check on this bunch unless they really piss me off.. or don't answer my questions."
>Placing her hooves back on the table, Naliyna's ears flatten, an appraising, suspect sheen radiates in her eyes for a split-second, her tone then taking on a tiny, humming reverberation.
"Since.. you haven't heard yet, I'll cut out the long parts. A few days ago, the second Stalliongrad-Las Pegasus Conflict hit. Some pegasus named Linara that everypony wants to capture brought two to three thousand Watch Guard and some Councilierge with her. They hit every portal, killed who knows how many Rogues or Elites, then dropped ten city sections while a quarter of the city was asleep. Something like fifteen to eighteen thousand dead. Mostly pegasi, lot of batponies, visiting gryphons, minotaurs, Saddle Arabians, a few Eyes, even some noblite from Germaneigh. One of the Rogue Elites, Iset I think is her name, stepped up as Matron. She spread the news about what happened, then cut every trade pact, agreement, and deal with the rest of Tallus, then announced that she'd be moving Las Pegasus to Saddle Arabia after critical repairs were done."
>Lightly tapping the edges of her forehooves together, her eyebrows furrow in uncharacteristic, for her species, calm, a slow, cool edge creeping into her words.
"Las Pegasus hoofled most trade routes outside of cities with less than two hubs, so right now the translocation network is a giant mess. Everypony's scrambling to keep up the flow of food and goods, but there's a good chance that somepony could pick up the one from the Dragonspines.. if they can avoid the Vigilants."
>>27670861
>Why would anyone need more money?
"Indeed."
>Casting a wary glance at the almost probably near anger induced explosion, Sunny ruffled her wings in the telltale motion of a Pegasus ready to fly for cover.
>She stood her ground though, an amused lilt in her voice.
"Can't say I envy them."
>At hearing the news of Las Pegasus, and it was obvious from her pained expression that it was news to her, Sunny's ears flattened and her jaw tightened at hearing the death toll.
>She may have been raised at sea level, but the Pegasus in her really didn't take the news too well.
>No Pegasus would, she suspected.
>The lapse was momentary, however and her ears soon perked up.
"Avoiding the Vigilants, you say? I may be able to handle that if you need me to. Otherwise I'm only useful for mixing potions in the Library like I've been doing pretty much all night."
>Or mixing a specific potion, rather, not counting the one she'd just made for the Ent.
>...
"I... Might need a refresher on the Vigilants, though. I'm a bit behind on current events.
...
>>27670204
>Novus furrows his brow as he stares at the screen of his smartphone.
>'Terahertz range....? This cant be Vanil's singal.'
>He sets his phone on his lap, looking over at kraut.
"So... It appears that we have not tapped into Vanil's signal right here but somehow we have tapped into something that would match the levels of an enemy Command and Control system.... Kinda similar to the brain activity of those things that stag god made that fucked the west coast..."
>He pauses a moment to stare off into the distance, eyes unfocused.
>The man shivers slightly, then returns speaking as if nothing happened,
"... So were either being effectively jammed or... The communications of something nearby are simply overpowering Vanil's signal. Either was I can't determine where your coltfriend is, Kraut."
>Despite his words, he tries again to listen to the signal for /anything/ that may sound out.
[1d6+1] Basic E.W.O.
[1d6+1]
[1d6] E. Perception
[1d6]
[1d6]
>>27669677
>Instantly switching to a scathing tone, a semi-solid thump on stone is given in your direction, the young stallion pained at the contact.
"Human, I have given solid advice towards your continued survival in an enemy city-state, lamented the fact that you have caused injury to yourself, which means that I must go and explain to OUR Empress that the original plan has been altered greatly, and to make matters worse you are taller than I! Since you have never heard a unicorn before, know that this is how we speak, it is an inherent attribute of my species, so if you do wish to hear condescending, wait until we meet again, SHOULD she allow me to live, and you shall have it in full!"
>Instantly recognizing the logical appeal for what it was, the unicorn sighs, silent for perhaps ten seconds before responding in a flat, sharply clipped accent.
"I do not know that one's name. She is definitely of the Watch Guard overherd, her mannerisms are a perfect match, and, no, I am no healer. There is a more pressing matter at hoof, that is, the longer you stay here, the more will come to escape the blizzard. Though I am content that the Master-Captain, whom is most assuredly awake and forcibly holding her entire body still, will search through the earth ponies to find whom is and is not of the Dynasty's lines, the chance that a leading member of the Watch Guard, or at worst, the Councilierge, will come here increases by seven-point-six percent per minute."
>Don't talk to me or my son ever again
>>27678252
...
>>27678836
.....
>Post #1/3: Allys
>>27607712
"I hope you enjoy it."
>Shaking her head in mock-aggravation, the barmare relents to give an equally hearty chuckle, leaning left and patting her visibly thicker right side.
"You humans and your jokes. You see this? It is unmistakable now, but a month ago Caliya asked if I was merely getting fat. When I could not lose weight running with Naliyna or Roust, I went to see Tipper, and she informed me that she is positive I am with foal, but declined to say how many."
>Smiling wistfully at the offer, Allys sits back further on the bean bag chair, affixing a front hoof to her glass and taking a quick sip from it.
"Thank you, although Caliya is a nervous mess right now, I am sure he will appreciate your sentiments. I will like to ask of your experiences later, they will no doubt come in quite hoofy. If only to keep Mercy sane, I would enjoy asking you to look over our foal, or foals, whichever may come, now and then."
>Wiggling from side to side to sink into the odd furniture more comfortably, the pregnant mare tips her head down, a half-amused smile creasing her lips.
"The first then."
"I was born in Las Pegasus, but my mother raised me in Trottingham, something about flying lower to the ground being more difficult and she did not want her third daughter ending up like her mother in Cloudsdale, a rather.. stale cloud city of pegasi."
"Between school and daily translocations to Manehattan with the swimming team, I worked five hours a night at a small coffee shop opposite the Trottingham vault. If you have ever seen a bank or a ruler's armory, then you will know what security one would find."
"One night before closing, a very young Sea dragon, perhaps thirty or forty years old, came and sat outside the shop, requesting: 'a barrel of coffee, black, no sugar, with a bucket of mint'."
role playing is against the rules
>Post #2/3: Allys
>>27607712
>Pausing for several moments to search under the counter for a (likely) stolen straw, the dim green pegasus tosses it into the glass of berry water, rolling her eyes at an awful, grinding metallic noise off to your right, then purses her lips thoughtfully.
"It took the owner and I a half hour to make enough, not including ten minutes to even find a steel barrel that did not smell of brine or fish, nor the trip to acquire a cartload of coffee beans for replacement. The entire time her eyes were stuck on the shop's windows. At first I thought she was ensuring we did not foul her order or attempt to use low quality ingredients, yet she was not combative like dragons often are, merely.. curious, blithe, as if she knew her wait would be long, and did not care overmuch. Only twice she looked up to see where the Sun was, paying little attention to anything else. It was then that I realized she was watching the vault."
"Most in Trottingham knew of the rather wretched mare that ran the vault, and how often somepony would be delivered a letter stating that whatever possessions they had stored there were lost, either through careless record keeping or from train bandits. Some suspected that she was enriching herself and her ever so brutish minions, but none dared to investigate. In my ponifal opinion, that was her downfall."
"Some have stated that the dragons may have come from another world, mostly out of boredom. If so, they also brought their love for acquiring wealth. The dragon was content to wait until her order was completed, and sat with us on the walk, drinking and talking with us on the city. This lasted for another hour, though during the time I noticed a telltale signal: her tail twitched whenever money was discussed."
"At the moment the vault's guardponies were changing, a great storm emerged without warning, striking Trottingham, though the coffee shop was entirely spared."
>Post #2/3: Allys
>>27607712
"She removed a scale from below her left eye, rather painfully I must add, stating that she hoped the payment was enough. The stallion that employed me was quite shocked, the scale of any dragon is worth more than it's weight in Bits. She bid us both a good night, then leapt directly into the storm."
"I thought that she must be eluding one of her parents, or perhaps both. It was not until I heard the sounds of metal being cut that I understood she had been biding her time, waiting for one of Trottingham's infamous storms to cover her theft. The sound lasted for a minute, and being the rather silly filly I was, I decided to see what she was doing."
"Every pegasus on Tallus will tell you the same that I do right now: flying into a storm, any storm, can only lead to trouble."
"I will spare the details of being hurled around by cyclones for a few minutes above the city, or the number of times I threw up. When my wings felt like they would be torn off and it was becoming hard to stay awake, I was stopped by something flexible, strangely warm, and bright blue."
"The same Sea dragon had caught me as she was escaping. As she was trying not to laugh, I spotted that she was carrying a satchel so big that my small house then would fit inside. When she landed a bit from the city and I could see straight again, I thanked her for saving my life. In return, had this to say: 'As thanks for not turning me in, I'll give you and all your descendants anything desired or wanted, whenever and wherever needed'."
"I fell asleep then. When I awoke the next day, I was trapped inside a large house made of scales. On the smallest one was a rather crudely scratched in name, but on the largest.. a perfect, beautiful carving."
>Leaning back, Allys remains silent for a bit, then closes her eyes with a distant smile.
"..I feel the same wonder now that I did then. A dragon, self-indebted to a pony.. even now I cannot fathom how deep a debt she feels she must repay."
>Allys
>>27609653
>Eyes lifting up to the ceiling in a mock-offended, almost human manner, the pegasus brings her gaze back down, both of her ears twitching in odd patterns.
"A small amount now and then will not, but I will take every possible precaution concerning my mate's.. indelicate intricacies."
>Cocking her head to the left, Allys' eyebrows furrow inquisitively, then lifts both of her wings up several inches, the expression easing with darkly tinged amusement.
"..I see. You must be new here since I do not know your preferred dish nor beverage. Doctor Doctor Tipper is the eighth most feared unicorn in Equestria, the current continent of which you now inhabit, or so most of the Guard have told me thus far. Though there are a few technicalities and technicalities, she is indeed in charge.. as much as she prefers to be, that is. While she leaves all economic, mercenary, military and faction related decisions to others whom are more qualified or experienced, her word is law when it comes to matters of medical care, civil dealings, and substance use. To put it more simply, she is Razorback's den mother."
>Nostrils flaring once, the pregnant mare turns her head towards the left, then returns to offer a small shrug of her front shoulders.
"There are none outside the few elite ponies and humans that live here whom dare challenge her. Mind you however, her 'rule', such as it is, is not treated with fear from her well-meaning threats, nor pity due to her her age. The hard truth is that despite her tendency towards alcoholism, she is simply wiser and more level-headed than most give credit for."
>>27675902
>Briefly, then wholly shocked out of my anger, an eyebrow raises.
"Why does it matter what my height is? I'm genuinely curious."
>Does he have a height complex, or something like that?
>Whatever.
>And I should've realized his speech patterns, I was in a herd with two different unicorns before.
>I facepalm, thinking for a moment.
"Okay, shit, maybe I can turn this into a benefit. I could -try- to get information out of her, or, failing that, just decline, but that would hurt my standing with the rest of the city -that- much more. Ah, no healing spells? Shame. And Broken i-"
>My gaze rockets to the iron flank pone that I slapped.
>Or where she would be.
"You know, getting up would be great, now. Considering I want to get moving..."
>And then I turn my attention back to the unicorn.
"Shit, those ain't good odds. I'd -like- to stay here for a bit longer, but that depends on whether or not you think you can keep me protected. One of my hands -is- fucked up right now, -plus- I can't wear my armor on account of- well, you know."
>Sighing, I shake my head.
"So, if you could find a healer, or a dozen guards, that would be fantastic. Otherwise, I would have to regrettably leave."
>This has become a right shitshow.
>>27678902
........
>>27675042
>>27670204
>'Well, at least it doesn't look like there's any real pressing structures immediately nearby, so that's a little less work to do.'
>Kraut shakes his head at Nobus's report.
"I don't know what brain activity you're yapping about, but I do know that it sounds like pyrite."
>Kraut hops out of the wild ride and does the stealth thing out of a desire to not sit down or sit still.
[1d6]E. Stealth
[1d6]
[1d6]
"You just keep doing you, and just because me and Vanil are still technically in a bachelor herd doesn't mean he's my coltfriend... I think"
>'Fuck if I know, it might.'
>Once properly or improperly hidden away, Kraut draws his shield and spell slinger and walks the perimeter of the outpost, looking for suspicious shit as nobus does his nerd shit.
[1d6]E. Perception
[1d6+3]NVG
[1d6+3]Thermal
>'Hopefully nothing decides to pop out and give me a good fight. That would just be terrible, awful really.'
>>27682814
>>27683354
>>27683753
>>27684370
>>27670204
>>27675042
>>27682336
>NATO weaponry
>Shouldn't be hard to figure out
>Right?
>It looks like a light machine gun at least
"True..."
>Everything seems harmless
>For now
>But they seem to found a signal
>Like they have been waiting for this seeing the excitement
"There may be someone at base with radio knowledge..."
>Turn this place into a FOB?
>Zhun stays quiet as Novus listens and plays around with the frequency
>"Maybe we don't need to go back for a radio operator. I know nothing about radios or frequencies."
>...
>Stag god?
>West Coast?
>Weird man
>But the prospect of an enemy command and control center is familiar enough to Zhun
"So we scout out signal? Can you get a location?"
>Meanwhile, Zhun looks up and around to spot the mechanic jump out
>"Scouting perhaps. Also, bachelor herd?"
>Deciding that Novus can quickly hop on the gun and guessing he's more trained in whatever gun that is, Zhun gets down and hops out
"Keep listening and report anything. I'll patrol around."
>Mechanic has a shield?
>Looks like he trained in being a pointman
>Interesting
>The thoughts go as Zhun hip carries his Type 80 and patrol a slightly tight circle around the Wild Ride, keeping line of sight on it as much as he can through his ballistic mask
[1d6] <Basic Perception
[1d6]
>Post #1/2: Cairn Wharf: Skip Raider
>>27595414
>Lifting her head, the salmon colored mare sniffs once, quietly, finding yourself on the receiving end of that one well-worn smile, the one blatantly telling you that she had been not-so-subtly watching your progress.
"All mares have their ways, but Sweet is, well, sweet.. in a few adorably frightening ways. There's not much she hasn't talked about whenever she shows up, especially about this one peculiar human that allowed her to eat their clothing once. Not only that, none of the other humans I've met has claimed any relation to Razorback, and believe me, I'm good at sensing a lie."
>Dipping her head in acknowledgement at your name, Skip bends down, both of her wings reaching for something, then seats herself on a tall (for a batpony) stool.
"Now that's an easy one to say compared to the others I've met. Glad to meet ya Bubba, but don't worry yourself here, I'm not looking to claim a human like most batponies do. I'm just a worn out Strider that wants to retire somewhere with lots of sunshine, warm water, and maybe a couple of cute mares to hang around with, you know?"
>Offering a splendidly , the mare's wings are lifted and placed on the edge, spreading both sets of pockmarked wingclaws over the interestingly large array of weaponry.
"Funny you should ask, I've got a little of.. everything from the 'old world' here."
>Post #2/3: Cairn Wharf: Skip Raider
>>27595414
"The white and yellow leather wrapped blade without a clawle, similar to a hoofle but smaller, is a Sunkiller. Was made by Lesseth harpies to combat Shrikes and some of the Void critters. See the rows of inlets on both sides of the blade? Ejects plasma from them, has a limit on how many times it can be done though. I'll part with it for a hundred fifty thousand, or equal trade."
"I'm pretty sure you've seen twin-beamed pegasi lances before, but I bet you've never seen the originals. There's one of each here: ruby, emerald, diamond, and sapphire. In the back I have amethyst, citrine, garnet, opal, quartz, aquamarine, topaz, and peridot. Unlike the reproductions, all of these are full sized at five feet and can be used by nearly every species. They pierce heavy armor with ease and will deploy nasty elementals, some of which I'm quite sure haven't been seen in the past thousand years or more. Two hundred thousand each."
"Those sets of wingclaws there are all made from Void-flux, something I've been told hasn't been seen in a long time, tears through flesh, armor, and bone alike, but leaves wounds which are near impossible to heal from. Since you can't use 'em as is, unless you know a batpony or two that can use a set, they reforge pretty easily."
"The big flanked blade next to your hand is a minotaur sawthresh. The spikes on the reverse are made from an acid avreek's spines, melts most anything that ain't protected. Blade's edge is a vadnian alloy from the Vortex. It's heavy, sure, but why skimp on offense? Hundred forty thousand."
"The long, slim triangular spikes on the other side are meant to be used as lance or spear heads, punch blades, you name it. They're solid kladine, basically tail segments segments taken off Void Stalkers.. am I ever glad we exterminated THOSE things. Forty thousand for one, or I'll exchange for good stuff."
>Post #3/4: Cairn Wharf: Skip Raider
>>27686325
>>27595414Last item description fouled up:
"See the flattened oval with the tapered tip there that kinda looks like a minotaur arrow head?"
"Don't touch the long bone knife there, has a venom that's hard to treat. Made that from the skull plate of an oreprentas husk-fiend. I glued it's dorsal ridge-spines on either edge there with turavel, they'll go right through even a minotaur's skin and break off, makes 'em hard to remove. Cover it in tree sap every once in a while and they'll regrow.. ..just don't leave it in for a night or it could regenerate the whole damned creature. Two hundred ten thousand."
"Mace with bladed rings on the head was carved from a solid chunk of Thondrus alpha blood, probably the most acidic creature there ever was. It might look light but I filled the head with mercuros shidhe.. stolen from the Dominion Plane by me, of course. Handle's a piece of branvid wood that washed up in Orus Bay, I guarantee it won't rot. Detox will keep the acid from spreading on flesh, but it'll eat through cloth, armor, and shields like nothing else. It's three hundred thousand, and trust me, it's well worth that price."
"In the middle here, the chunk of bronze chain with the dull triangular head that looks like rusted iron? The whole thing weighs maybe three pounds, and on impact it weighs a hundred more.. then comes a force elemental that makes shattering spheres look weak. A battlemare took it off a shattered Ethereal Principian Legionary, one of their insufferably obnoxious warrior-nobles. Hundred thousand flat."
"And last but certainly not least, this one's a little special to me-"
>Post #4/4: Cairn Wharf: Skip Raider
>>27595414
"Ever seen anything made from an alicorn?"
>Leaning forwards and placing her right set of claws atop a heavy, single edged blade, the surface covered in tiny stars, swirling in calm, soothing patterns.
"Little history lesson for you: back before Equestria was even an idea, there were five.. well, four alicorns really. Anyhow, the second sister was Celestia, Bearer of the Sun; third was Chrysalis, the Protector of Life; fourth was Cadence, the Essence of Rebirth; and the fifth one, my ponifal favorite, was the Nightmare, Moon and Stars herself. The Luna you see is different from the one I know, must've happened while us Dusk Striders got lost in abandoned tunnels, left to explore elsewhere, or died out."
>Eyes squinting merrily, Skip Raider taps the surface once, sitting back as the appearance shifts to a view of the blood red Moon, the weapon radiating an aggressive, demanding blood lust, an alien compulsion to pick it up ringing in the back of your mind.
"Regardless.. you feel that? It's what happens when the flesh, blood, bone, and a few others things of an alicorn is forged into a physical material and made into a weapon. Even if you ask nicely, I'm not going to share how that's possible. It's name is the Nightmare's Fury. Does exactly what she does: shreds armor, gorges on the blood and life force of most anything, is lighter than a feather, and most importantly, terrorizes the piss outta everything solar related."
>Drumming both sets of claws on the solid wooden counter, Skip tilts her head up, eyeing something off to your right with a morbid, yet utterly pleased smile.
"No batpony I've heard of these days knows how to use a blade like we did. Took a lot of practice, sweat, blood, tears, but swordplay is an art.. well, normally I wouldn't consider trading her, but I've heard rumors that Razorback is in possession of some rather interesting relics. Or, if you'd rather just buy her, one million Bits."
>Post #1/2: Dancing Eyes & ?????
>>27661593
>Dipping into the more logical, rationale sectors of your mind to assess information on the collection of quadrapedal species tentatively known as ponies, several patterns and lines of thought begin to develop.
>In the first, their mannerisms, while similar to your own, seemed to be based on a much more personal level of interaction; they were, in fact, far more comfortable with intimate, public contact than most humans could accept.
>The second that pony language, specifically their choice of words and linguistic differences, showed they had only minor acclimation with homo sapiens, and while they were still in the process of adjusting, there was indeed a gradual pushback against human social conformism.
>Adding to this was the knowledge that any electronic simulation, no matter how carefully prepared or well orchestrated, had numerous flaws, which left a high likelihood that you were merely tripping harder than you should.. then came the tiny, silent, wholly implausible theory:>You may have been abducted from your own world.
>In the time it'd taken you to speak, the larger pony had stalked up to the newcomer and was engaging in a staring match of such viciousness that the air seemed to be warping.
>...
>Looking again, the relative space around the two WAS warping, barely perceptible whispers of anger passing on an ephemeral breeze, spherical bubbles roiling in visibly hostile patterns, yet more concerning than the previous factors was an eerie silver and green tinged glow formed between them.
>Post #2/2: Dancing Eyes & ?????
>>27661593
"Naliyna directly specified: 'covered in rings', which I presume means piercings. A psion is an earth pony capable of projecting the force of their thoughts into the physical spectrum. This often takes the form of an object held aloft by a phased field of energy, extending to operating a tool or weapon, performing what unicorns call 'micro-surgery', or creating illusions of sufficient complexity to fool most. There are other capacities available to psions, yet I have no experience with them."
>Head swerving around the librarian, the thinner pony remains content to peer your direction for several moments, the hood shaking side to side in a negatively confused manner.
"I.. do not know what a 'sew-vee-yet' is, nor do I have the vaguest clue what is meant by your last statement. I have come to acquire several of Marquis du Spiral's to-be-published works under the auspices that I would not cause a commotion, nor sha-"
"You-"
"..do you mean myself?"
"Yes."
"What may I do for you?"
"Hold still."
>Cut off by an annoyed sigh from Dancing Eyes throwing a hoof up, the sound of something akin to a sledgehammer slamming into a corpse is trailed by the telltale crunch of shattering bones, the smaller pony thrown only a few feet backwards, collapsing on her back with a ragged, tortured exhale.
[1d6+10] <Master Shattering Earth
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
[1d6+10]
"You are interrupting my 'get fucked up on at least two drugs and read a book' time. That one.. tiny.. little.. annoying thing about you that I can't figure out is pissing me off."
>Rotating her head and neck around to spy you, the much larger mare's eyes had twisted as well, the right a hostile, flaring green, the other a calm, no less furious molten silver, casually tossing her chin up in visceral annoyance.
"I've half a mind to rip it's soul out and make a necklace with it, or maybe carve out it's lungs to see if it can still scream. Any good ideas?"
>>27687611>Rank 1: Bashing Soak[1d20][1d20]
>Broken Hoof & ?????
>>27679505
"From my estimate you stand roughly four hooves, or close to sixteen inches in standard measurements, above most earth ponies, which makes the current situation most distressing when one needs to gauge where the Moon is. It is, to put this situation as nicely as I am able to, quite painful."
>Once more sounding dismayed, a brief kick of hoof on armor takes place, the earth pony and unicorn emitting their own sighs, the first amused, the second tired.
"In the interest of preventing further complications, I respectfully request that you do not deceive, abandon, nor vilify that.. filly. Though the chance is not particularly high that you may be able to sway a portion of the Watch Guard into becoming neutral towards your own faction, it does, at least, exist."
>"Keheh! No comment. Not healer, but will set fractures-"
>Hearing little more than armor scraping and hoofboots setting down, small pops, snaps, cracks, and a tiny crunch all emanate from your wrist, an utterly unhelpful amount of pain and white spots filling in the glaringly orange bits of vision you had, and drowning out the ever increasing number of hooves packing into the square.
>The key word there was: 'had'.
[1d6+9] <M.Psionicism: Kinetic Shaping
"The Master-Captain is capable of the the first. That is, searching through the overherds and determining whom is of a less hostile faction or mindset. If you would please?"
"Done."
[1d6+3] <Allied Support
"On the second, I do know how to create a physical defensive shields, though my ability to strengthen such is, truth be told, quite weak as I have had only the most basic of resonance instructions. If, however, you wish to.. save more of Stalliongrad's citizenry, then I suggest immediate execution of whichever plan to be best."[1d6] <?????[1d6] <The Watch[1d6] <The Vigil
