Last thread... lasted a week. It'd be a long ITT to write.
Basically, current mission is to distract a giant while hands help their hand friends escape so they can die in peace rather than be eaten by the giant. Then the hands will show us where the entrance to the second floor of the tower is. Right now a friend of us did what she called a "Partial coupling" with an ancient being to assist us, and is willing to answer some questions before the action beggins.
>INV:
> AJ: Crystal ball, 3 rations of food and water, 7 torches, Hat (Worn), Humorous cow statuette, Cross necklace, Rope, Blank paper
> Mirria: Cape (Worn), 3 pens (Worn), Binoculars (Worn), Ankh necklace (Worn), Soul of Ludwig (Dagger, worn), Mind of Ludwig (Skull, worn)
Last thread: >>27166288
>>27222290
huh
The mare I assume is Ludwig is in silence for a second.
~Do you have anything else to ask? Every minute--
~Don't tell her.
~It'd be unbecoming to not say it to a past bearer of Honesty, little child.
~I'll tell her myself, later.
~I hope you do.
They fall silent.
Bump?
>>27222308
What's that Mirria doesn't want to say?
>>27223861
"Mirria? Something wrong?"
~I am--
~Do--
~--we--
~--n't--
~--ar--
I gesture for them to stop, "Fine, she'll tell me later."
~Thanks.
~I advice you not to let this slide. This is knowledge best had.
"I guess? And..." I can't help but ask "Where's the blade?"
She opens her mouth without a word. The blade is there, flowing over it like quicksilver.
>>27223952
...and to bed.
Will have to see if I have more luck tomorrow I guess.
>>27223952
So, does she feel up to distracting the giant?
Not sure if we can help with that, but we might be able to help the hand instead.
[1/2]
>>27226499
"So that'd be it then. You can, uh, complete your task."
~We ~Corrects one of them, I don't know which~ I am wielding her as much as she wields me.
There is a small pause.
~It's actually like when you have your first serious relationship and you just spent the whole weekend in the bedroom because your parents are away for some time and you are kinda drowsy and making unimportant smalltalk? That's kind of the way this feels.
~Little child, did you just compare a coupling of minds and souls with aftersex? ~Asks Ludwig, their jaw clenching.
~Yeah.
~I don't know if I respect or despise you. Probably both.
~The feeling's mutual.
Ludwig pauses again.
~Anyhow, we are ready to stall the masturbating kid. I don't know how helpful you would be to us, but you can assist the hands.
"Yeah," I nod "Yeah, I can do that"
~Fine, then. ~She pauses~ We are with the three-fingered hand.
Heavily mechanisms operate. There is a clicking sensation, and without a flash of any kind we are near the hand, who is expecting us by the waterfall.
It turns to us in shock. Apparently it doesn't recognize Ludwig, but seems to be contented when I tell it that she (They?) can take care of the giant. The hand says that it'll get its friends and meet us in the room before the balcony.
I go there, and a moment later the hand (Who I decide to name 3) comes with... two hands.
I ask 3 about it. It tells me we are supposed to go unnoticed. Alright.
Ludwig and the giant are already fighting, and I peek into the doorway.
Each is yelling for the other to die, their voices growing progresively louder. I had expected something more climatic.
I take my rope from the bag, and we descend into the forest.
>>27227332
The grass whispers under us, and the air takes a distinct tint as Ludwig and the giant scream louder and louder.
>>27227991
Is that a hand tree?
>>27229858
I touch the small tree, and instantly I know what is that Quibra meant about the blade. This tree is screaming, too.
I try to calm it down, and a nut grows on it. The screaming stops, and the tree dies.
Ludwig and the giant are now physically attacking each other. I have the feeling that it's Mirria that is taking care of it.
>>27230208
Take the seed and keep moving.
>>27230237
There are more trees.
One is shapped like a griffon taking to the air, caught to the ground by a hindclaw.
I ask the hands what they are. They don't know, it's been here since the tower happened.
>>27230734
Touch them.
>>27231055
Each gives me another nut and promptly dies. I could swear the grass is dying bit by bit as I take the seeds, but I can't get myself to feel anything but a vague relief about it.
A branch of the large tree falls, impalling itself deeply into the earth.
>>27231183
Upwards and onwards.
>>27231224
We keep advancing, finding groups of trees every few metters at most. The hands try to make me go faster, but I can't leave the nuts there. They need to be planted somewhere safe.
I tell them to go ahead. After a moment picking up the nuts, Ludwig falls near me, yelling something I can't quite understand.
She stands up as if nothing happened despite the crater around her, and is about to take flight when her head turns to me.
~Applejack? ~She asks, carefuly~ Why are you carrying over two dozen lacteries?
~What?
~Souls bottled against their will.
I give a look to the nut in my hoof, feeling exhausted of this tower.
>>27231581
I'm not leaving them here. It's not right.
>>27231634
"They were in those," I point a nearby tree. "They are everywhere"
~They...
Her voice fades.
~What? What's wrong?
Lidwig doesn't answer. A moment passes. The giant looms over us, probably searching her.
~That-- That cytraul! ~She says.
Her wings snap open. The giant turns to us, and she impacts its face, caving it in.
~Even excrement, ~She yells as it's bone and flesh restitch themselves~ Even excrement fullfills a purpose!
The giant grabs her with one of its hands.
~SILENCE! ~The hands dissolve~ You not only rape my tower, but you dare fuel it with the people of my land?!
I don't whatever they do next-- with each word she speaks the ground cracks, and I can feel my strenght being zapped. I run for the hands and help them open their cages.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO MIRRIA]
I don't know half the words she is using. Many of them seem to be from dead tongues.
Before, we were stalling the giant, we were being methodical. Now she is going all-out, not even letting me excert some measure of control over the sphere-like mass that is our combined will. She is tearing off entire chunks of its face at a time, undoing its hands before they can reach us.
But I know combat well enough to recognize fatigue. We can't sustain this effort, and if she keeps this up we'll be too tired to escape.Real life happened. Sorry.
>>27232233
Lidwig, I know you're angry, but we don't have the strength to kill him right now.
Don't exhaust us doing something futile.
Fuck, I FUCKING hate to do this, but I've been having this pervading feeling of wrongness all day and just can't focus on writing or drawing. Even my damned teeth feel as if they were just wrong.
Paused until this goes away or tomorrow, whichever comes first.
>>27232782
It's okay, take all the time you need. Be safe.
>>27232782
Sure thing.
Bomp
Cammy: I got banned for a day for being dumb, asked a friend to post this. WIll resume tomorrow
>>27242380
CAMMY PLS I NEED MY FIX
Hurry back you fuck
>>27242380
I think we can let this thread die, OP will make a new one tomorrow or whenever
>>27244162
He wants it to live. It's up to you whether you want to bump though. He'll be back tomorrow some time.
>>27232782feel well
Had to make a small trip to get something I bought over two weeks ago because the transports company are faggots, didn't get it. I am in a bus stop right now, and should be back home in 3~ hours.
[1/2]
>>27232444
I try to communicate, but she actively resists. Flashes of memory jump back and forth, many of which she didn't shw me before. Memories of the things she has sacrificed to keep Surane safe since it's fundation, of Dreamer after Dreamer building this place.
At some point, I don't know when, the giant holds us and throws us agains the ceiling, screaming in rage.
Ludwig opens our mouth and reaches into it. She takes out most of the dagger, keeping in just enough to not loose her hold over my muscles.
The dagger starts to reform on my hoof. Over my forehead, a socket forms in the cranium to receive it.
We fall, but she doen't seem to care. The ground shatters under my hooves.Update I've had done since yesterday, bus should come in ~15 minutes.
>>27250536
(I haven't sent a pulse in a few minutes.)
(Maybe I should send a pulse?)
>>27250536
We agreed that we wouldn't go that far.
She's breaking her word. Thought she had more honor than that.
what did we know
>>27250542
Uh, pulse on.
>>27250764
>>27251543
~Where is your honor!? You promised you wouldn't go that far!
She doesn't answer.
> [CONTROL PASSED TO $caps(%char.name%)]
Yes! Pulseeeeees!
I kind of like it really. There is this other mind near me that is kinda sorta crazy because it's got eyes and it can't stop seeing and it can't take anything out. I don't got eyes so I only have to see when I want to, so I am going crazy only a bit at a time. Lucky fella am I not?
Uh, yeah. Pulse. Righto.
Fwossssssh.
Cool isn't it?
By the way, who are you? I through I couldn't talk. Not that I am complaining, mind you.
Oh! There goes the pulse... my wearer: a chest, larger than last time I checked, four legs and two wings, everything's normal, a head...
And why is one of the legs pointing something pointy (It rhymes...! It does, right?) at the head? Legs oughn't do that. At least they didn't last time I checked.
Hmph. I ruffle a bit in curiosity. Heads don't like pointy things, and legs are supposed to follow heads. This head is weird.
Which is weird in itself, because I could swear I knew this head. The front bit, I mean-- how was it called? fais? Yeah, I know this fais. I don't remember from where, tho. Remembering becomes harder every time I send a pulse.
Maybe I should do something? What d'you think?
Hey, maybe those big things coming here will help!Captcha: Baldwin.
>>27251683
We should stop the big things with the pointy thing before they crush the face.
>>27251793
I try to take the pointy thing from the leg, but it doesn't want to let go.
I think my wearer is saying something, so I send another pulse. Fwosh, there goes another bit of sanity. My wearer is calling me useless cloack, and screaming at my wearer at the same time.
I am confused. I am a king, not a cloack. Kings protect and keep things warm, which is what I am doing. How could I be an useless king?
I don't want to pull much harder, I could hurt my wearer's leg. Good kings don't hurt good people, right? I want to be a good king.
>>27251853
A good king knows that sometimes you have to cause a little hurt to stop a lot of it.
>>27251875
That's what bad kings say before doing bad things.
Go away big things. I am talking with my friend.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO MIRRIA]
The cloack envelops me like a husk, trying to take the knife from my leg.
At this point, the risk of anyone but myself and Applejack having this thing is too high. so I resist.
Ludwig is straining to keep control, someone talking to her on the edge of my hearing.
>>27251942
Fight for control.
>>27251942
What's happening? We can't let anyone remove that knife. It's too dangerous now.
bop
I keep fighting Ludwig. She had prepared to fight me, but it seems like the cape is being too much.
But as her hold slips, so does her strength-- I am not weak, keeping my brother safe needed me to be ruthless more than once, but much of the cape's strenght is being leveraged in my neck.
I don't know how long I'll be able to stand at this rate.
In our fight, a sliver of the Ludwig's edge cracks and flies away, piercing the cape with ease and embedding itself in a small cliff.(Real life happened and I am still tired from the trip, 2 coming in a moment)
[2/2]
>>27252794
> [CONTROL PASSED TO APPLEJACK]
Any hand that had been going to the second floor with me scampers away. They already told me where the door is, at least.
I don't think it's seen me yet, but it won't take long for it to.
>>27252859
Grab knife fragment, cut through cape.
>>27253338
No, cut hands. The cape is protecting her.
>>27253439
That won't do shit. He'll just splatter us.
>>27253468
And your choice would splatter her. At least we're still mobile.
>>27253509
No, my choice gets us inside the cape to stop what's going on in there.
>>27253543
How do we get inside without the cape's protection being compromised and the hands following us?
>>27253567
Through the cut.
How do we get away from the giant when it can speak words that freeze us in place?
>>27253587
So making an opening in a shield large enough for us and the hands of comparable size to get through, won't allow anything but us through?
>>27253615
Not planning on sitting down for a teaparty in there.
We're going to get in and out to stop Mirria getting stabbed in the head.
Attacking the giant isn't going to help with that at all.
Could we switch the POV?
>>27253661
Fine, but I still think it's a terrible idea. I'm just not invested enough in any of their survival to go into a full argument.
>>27253695
>>27253661
So plan is rushing through and running away?
Just making sure before I missinterpret the command.
>>27253716
Wasn't that the plan from the start?
She was only supposed to distract him until the hands were free.
>>27253726
I was in the bathroom and when I came back there was an argument, I just wanted to be sure.
Drawin'.
>>27253746Dah, I am still too tired from the trip and now I am also tired from the hour it is, my brain doesn't want to work properly. Sorry, updating tomorrow. Hope my legs don't hurt anymore in the morning. I'll give you all a good eleven hours session tomorrow or die trying.
>>27253932
gnight
>>27253932
>eleven hours session tomorrow
RESUMING.
>>27253695
>>27253661
I grab the silver sliver and run to the cape, making two holes in it-- one to enter and the other to exit with Mirria in my back. Her legs are already shortening, thank the Earth, so she doesn't slow me down too much.
I take on the path the hands indicated to me, more of the trees throwing their seeds to me. I grab all I can.
Soon, I feel something grab onto my tail, but I am relieved to see that it's the pieces of the cape I cut.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO MIRRIA]
~THIS BEAST MUST DIE! ONEIROS ITSELF CALLS FOR US TO DO IT!
~I won't let you kill me!
~YOU COWARD, THIS IS OUR KINGDOM'S KILLER!
~I NEED TO FIND MY BROTHER!
Through the tenuous connection I maintain with Ludwig, I can still perceive the world as she does-- a series of vaguely connected Arias that, from time to time, connect with each other generating flashes of mass.
The giant, a demonic aria, follows after us, opening its mouth.
[DIE]
[!]
[DIE, YOU WHORES]
[!]
It's command, its perverted song reaches after us like a wave of glass shards, trying to shred us to pieces.
~SING!
~WHAT!?
~SING, YOU FOAL!
What in Tartarus am I supposed to sing?
>>27258348
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_bdOTUocn5w
>>27258348
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toAWvBd7FXY
>>27258428
> [CONTROL PASSED TO APPLEJACK]
~I-- Felt like the weigh--! ~She stops to take air in~ weight of the world was in my-- In my shourd--shoulders!
Heavenly mechanisms operate.
They weep.
I don't know what is that she is doing, but the very light seems to warp around us.
~Pleas-- pressure to break or ret ~Another take of air~ retreat at every turn!
The wood of the trees charrs as if burned. Some of them fall, slowing down the giant
-WHAT IN TARTARUS ARE YOU DOING
~ISINGLIKESHITOKAY LOOKING FOR FREEDOOM LOOKING FOR FREEEDOOOM!
~THAT'S THE POINT!
In any other moment I'd stop to ask how is that they speak at the same time, but now I run.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO LUDWIG]
The wave of command is lessened by the little child's... insult to the artform of singing, warped by her defficient harmonics.
I open my mouth, and give a single command, deforming the wave completely and turning it against the kid:
~DIE!
The aria, deformed beyond repair by my host, becomes a tightly wrapped sphere -or as close to such a thing as a sound can be- of null orders, which I easily influence into a new design.
It won't be enough, I'd need to be at my full force to kill the kid, but the sphere falls into its ever open mouth.
[D--] The giant coughs blood. [DI--] Again it tries, without success.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO APPLEJACK]
Oh fuck fuck fuck FUCK
>>27258688
Haul ass up that tree before more weird shit happens.
>>27258963
As soon as I cross the door, I feel as if my body was being torn appart again. This time it lasts nearly a minute, giving me time to scream at the top of my lungs.
When it's over, I am in another room, again with no entrance door. Mirria is sleeping nearly with Ludwig in her mouth, the skull nowhere to be seen.
A cold breeze comes from the left.
>>27259152
Try to wake Marriage, then check out what's over to the left.
>>27259332
>Marriage
Urgent, Marriage.
>>27259343
...
I hate phones.
>>27259152
I try to wake her up, but she's deeply asleep. She mutters something, and sparks fly from her blade... I have the feeling they are having a conversation.
I follow the breeze.
Moonlight enters through an open window. The air here feels cleaner than in any other place of this tower I've been in.
>>27259595
Check out the desk.
>>27259669
If the height and size of the stool is any indication, a griffon worked here.
A night gale sings outside, but I ignore it in favor of the papers. They don't seem to be official in any shape or form-- instead, they are a random assortement of doodles and small blocks of text, the kind of thing one does when bored.
>>27259790
Light a torch, continue left.
>>27259876
I look out of the window at my left.
I am pretty sure than that isn't a night gale. They have wings, for one.
>>27259975
Try lowering our rope out of the window.
>>27259975
Call out to the night galeThat moon is literally doing a ':O' face
Also>>27260632
>>27260632
>>27260640Gotta do something, will be back in 1~ hour.
>>27260640
>>27260632
I call the wingless bird while I slide down the rope. It hopps away.
>>27261126
>says he'll be gone for an hour
>is gone for literally an hour and one minute
Best QM
Look at moon, what's going on over there?
>>27261126
Who's that on the moon?
>>27261136
A blue thing is coming.
I could swear it has wings.
I try to guess the speed it's moving at, but can't. Something coming from the moon should be moving far more quickly, yet it moves with what I can only call a glide. It'll be here in a minute or two.
>>27261205
I think it's for the best we stay where we are until it shows up
>>27261205
Make sure the rope is secure since we're going to be using it to bypass that damned forest.
>>27261205
Await blue thing.
>>27261212
>>27261340
I wait.
I was wrong. She wasn't flying-- the mare of the moon is walking down here in some kind of... crystalline path? It can't be made of light. Things can't be made of light, it's a rule.
She is visibly worried.
"Applejack! Finally! Twilight is--"
She dissapears in a---|
aaaa
aaaa
aaaa
aaaa
---|
If the height and size of the stool is any indication, a griffon worked here.
A night gale sings outside, but I ignore it in favor of the papers. They don't seem to be official in any shape or form-- instead, they are a random assortement of doodles and small blocks of text, the kind of thing one does when bored.
>>27261360
Go check Mirria again.
>>27261440
I feel something wrong the moment I move, and open my bags. The rope isn't there.
Weird. When did I put it in the window-- Oh. I guess there IS a way to go back down. I grab my rope all the same.
Huh. Doesn't expla--
~What!? You tried to kill me! You do-- Oh no, don't come with that, for all you know? My brother and I are the last survivors of Surane. You don't get to kill me to get revenge.
Oh. I guess Mirria is awaken, I should check on her.
~Oh, so that's it, right!? You gave me a voice just to use it as a leverage!? ~Tears escape her eyes~ You know what!? Fuck you and your fucking voice!
She spits the knife.
>>27261684
Give her a hug.
>>27261684
I'm sorry Mirria. You okay?
>>27261782
I approach to hug her, or at least put a hoof in her withers, but from her glare I don't think she wants anyone to touch her right now.
>>27261863
Offer her a hug. She doesn't have to accept if she doesn't want to.
>>27261863
Give her some space, then. Go right.
>>27261863
Mirria... you're scaring me.
>>27261863
Hey, I'm sorry about what happened. It's over now though, okay?
>>27262102
>>27262112
>>27262127
>>27262193
"Do you want a hug?"
She shakes her head.
"It's over now. I was, I am scared too, but it's over. The giant isn't here"
She shakes her head again and takes one of the nuts from my bag, then shoves it on my face.
"Is there anything I can do?"
She points to the right
"Alright. But if anything happens just make some noise, alright?"
I go there.
It's a nice room, I guess.
I just had to run away from a... thing that could have told me to die.
And I would have probably killed myself.
>>27262431
Sit down on the couch.Try not to cry. Cry a lot.
>>27262431
We should take a break.
>>27262470
>>27262576
I sit down and cry. I think Mirria can hear me, but I don't care about it.
My chest still hurts wherever I think about the giant.
I feel cold.
At some point, I fall asleep.Pausing for the day.
>>27262643
hit with the feels today. and you delivered on the 11 hour session.
good stuff man. thanks for running.
beb
Oh and I wanted to ask but forgot: What is everyone's taking on the story? I know I've released relatively little information on the events that led to this point, but I'd like to know what are the interpretations of it.
>>27263969
Oops
>>27263972
What.
Confirming via sekrit club if this fucks up again. How can I be retarded enough to forget my own trip.
>>27263969
>>27263972
>>27263980
I doubt anyone is particularly worried that a 'how am I doing?' post isn't you.
I'm curious
Resuming in a bit.
At some point later, I wake up.
Mirria covered me with the cape, and is extending her wing over me under it.
The moment she realizes I woke up, she points to a paper on the table. "I am sorry. I know you were scared too. I was angry and stupid."
There are more papers under that one, but she doesn't make any effort to uncover them for now.
>>27267074
That's okay. I know something bad was happening to you back there.
>>27267090
"It's fine."
She searches in the stack of pre-written papers and shows another one to me:
"Ludwig was telling me my brother is probably dead. Trying to trigger me. She's so old and so used to being the strongest one around she doesn't understand that others don't want to die. I think she thinks she just can't die by now."
She hesitates, then shows me another paper.
"Applejack, do you like me?"
>>27267120
Sure I do. You seem like a good mare in a bad situation.
What about me? Do you think of me as a friend?
>>27267120
Answer by giving her that hug she turned down earlier.
>>27267142
This.
>>27267136
>>27267142
>>27267195
"Yeah, you are a good friend. Ha ha"
I put a hoof over her withers awkwardly.
She takes the pen and writes in the back of the paper, "You know I didn't ask that way." She pauses, "Have you slept without the other since we came here at all?" Another pause, longer this time, "I don't know if I really like you or if I just want someone to hold me and tell me everything will be alright even when I tell them not to. Because I am an idiot."
I hug her and tell her everything will be alright, and after a moment she relaxes.
I think she falls asleep at some point, I dont know. I also fall asleep.
We wake up a few hours later, I don't know how many. There's the sound of armor coming from above.
>>27267207
Look up. Can we see anything?
>>27267207You'll find out in time, Mirria.
Is there any way we can covertly observe what's going on upstairs?
>>27267207
Must be the floor above. We should continue in whatever direction we didn't enter from.
>>27267472
You want to go right?
I was making dinner, sorry.
>>27267501
sure, why not.
>>27267501
I think so. I'm a little confused about this floors layout.
>>27267539
Basic map. On to make the next room
>>27267532
>>27267472
>>27267225
>>27267222
We look up, but only see a ceiling covered by shadows. After a moment, Mirria takes the cape from over us and wears it again. I had forgotten just how cold this place is without it. Mirria writes that she cleaned the blood from my hat.
We go to the right, searching for a way to go up.
Is that... weeping?
>>27267716
Pursue sound of weeping with caution.
>>27267716
What's that on the floor?
[1/2]
>>27267764
It seems like some religious icon. It isn't a necklace like the others, but simply has a chain that can be hooked to something else.
[2/2]
>>27267958
Mirria gestures at me to stop. The weeping is close now, in the next room at most, as is the sound of armor.
>>27268066
Creep forward slowly.
>>27268066
Collect necklace thingie.
>>27268086
We advance slowly.
Soon, there is an intake of breath.
"Are you Questrian, earth mare?
You smell like Questrian."
The accent is thick, almost impossible to understand.>>27268118
Already done.
>>27268160
Yeah, I am.
Are you Quibra's brother?
>>27268211
"Yes. Do you know Quibra?"
"Ah, my brother.
How is he? I worry for his health.
Mental and physical.
Is our dear Dere still keeping him safe?"
I take a step, but he interrupts me.
"I must ask that,
if you see my ghastly vissage,
You do not attack.
I have known grief and reggret too recently and strongly.
I wish not to kill"
>>27268232
sure, promise
>>27268232
I've learned not to judge by appearance.
>>27268232
Take your time sugarcube.
>>27268288
>>27268285
>>27268256
I approach, and a feeling of revulsion fills me the instant my eyes fall uppon the shape. My eyes lock on the mask he wears, not wanting to even beggin seeing his body.
"Ah, yes. I do not blame you, Questrian and Seranee.
It is an understandable reaction when seeing the dead"
>>27268441
i wanna pet him
>>27268441
Not that dead, if you're still talking.
>>27268462
"But you are talking"
"It is not me,
I am but the memory of a child, reffusing to die, inhabited by a lost soul.
Do you have any matter of importance to speak of, Questrian?
I wish to be left alone with my disgrace."brb
>>27268480
You're brother's miss you. You should go see them.
>>27268603
"Quibra told me to search you. Dere is getting worried."
"Ha. Dere?
Quibra is still as bad a liar.
Dere fully knows what I went to do.
Is Quibra that I had to leave in the dark.
Saddly, I can not go back, not in this state."
>>27268722
Why not? Your family is worrying about you.
>>27222290
This picture looks like a horse penis.
>>27268776
"But even if Dere knows where you are, Quibra doesn't."
"Would you visit your family when shame fills you, Questrian?
I smell family in you, mare. It is a smell that trascends air, a network that connects us beyond the physical realm, that even my blind eyes can see.
They are my strength as much as I am theirs.
And is because of that that I wish not to provide them from a poisoned well. I would expect you to understand it, mare."
>>27268807
I think you're making excuses. Family's family. You stand by them, and let them stand by you.
And my name is Applejack, not mare.
>>27268834
"I am not mare. I am Applejack"
"Oh, how beautiful to have a name. Treasure it while you can, Applejack.
The memories of me are... damaged. Quibra does not want to remember my name, so I myself can't"
"And... and family is family! You can't just have them only when you want to!" Mirria pounds the floor in support.
"I understand, Applejack and Seranee--
"Mirria."
"I understand, Applejack and Mirria. I truly do.
I came from beyond the veils of death only to help my brothers, after all.
Many of us did.
Yet, it'd be a disservice to make them bitter now of all times. Until I complete my task, I can not meet them eye to eye."
>>27268898
And what is this task?
>>27268921
"And what is your task?"
He pauses.
"I was... traveling with a griffon, named Mariela.
While she never said it directly, I gather it was her teacher that, indirectly, caused the tower to happen. The shame filled her with a flame that filled her with incredible determination.
Saddly, she was not warrior, and I could not protect her.
I... I loved her, and I think she may have loved me back. Yet now I shall not know until I go back beyond the veil. and even then I may never find her.
But now, I need to bury her. To not bury a griffon is to kill her beyond death.
Yet the two forests would be to further the insult: The forest outside the tower was created by the master she was ashamed of, and the forest within the tower is of the giant-- to bury a griffon within her enemy's land is an insult not to her, but to her whole family.
Would you know, by chance, of a land where I could bury her so that her body may rest?"
>>27269015
Er, there's a little forest through the library.
Don't know if it's separate from the other one.
>>27269155
"There is a forest in a library, near the waterfall."
"Yes?
I have not seen this library."
"It's complicated, it'll make sense when you see-- Uh..." I stip awkwardly.
"I see not sense to be offended.
My eyes may be blind, but I see all the same."
He pauses.
"I would like to see this library, if it is no bother"
>>27269369
Sure. We can go out the window.
>>27269398
We take him to the library.
Like the hand, he can't enter it, or even know where it is.
The library is silent but there is a feeling of impatience. After nearly a minute of silence, the library throws books at me.
"Where
"Is
"The
"Prisoner
".
"Why
"Do
"You
"Carry
"Lacteries.
I can feel the shard I picked up warming in my bag, but say nothing of it. I give Mirria a nervous look, and she takes a paper sheer from my bags.
"Ludwig tried to kill me."
The library answers immediately and angrily, targetting Mirria this time.
"Where
"Is
"She
"What
"Did
"You
"Do
"To
"My
"Sister
".
>>27269580
Left her in a dark place to think of what she did?
>>27269580
Relax, she's fine.
>>27269642
>>27269629
"She's fine! Mirria and she argued and we left her in the floor!"
"YOU
The strenght of the book nearly throws me to the floor.
"IDIOT
"She
"Is
"A
"PRISONER
"For
"A
"Reason
"Do
"You
"Have
"Any
"Idea
"Of
"How
"DANGEROUS
"&
"UNSTABLE
"She
"Is
"She
"Needs
"A
"Wielder
"Someone
"Who
"Is
"STABLE
"Do
"You
"Realize
"What
"Would
"Happen
"If
"Someone
"UNSTABLE
"Grabbed
"Her
"?
"!
The library pauses.
"I
"Trusted
"You
The last book is thrown to Mirria, several times.
>>27269681
And we trusted her, but she turned on us.
We can't afford to carry around an unstable prisoner who can take control of her wielder's body.
>>27269720
"She's too dangerous to carry! We ca--"
"Then
"Bring
"Her
"To
"Me
".
"What
"Did
"You
"Come
"For
"Anyway
".
"And
"Why
"Do
"You
"Have
"The
"Lecteries
".
>>27269833
We met someone who wants to bury their friend away from the giant. We were wondering if the forest through the window counted.
>>27269887
"Someone wants to bury a friend of his in your forest. Can he do it?"
The library pauses for a long time. When I am about to answer, a few books are left at our hooves.
"Which
"Of
"The
"Bodies
"Outside?
"The
"Griffon
"Or
"The
"Dog
"?
"I
"Knew
"The
"Griffon
>>27269908
The griffon.
>>27269917
"The griffon."
The library puts a open book at my hooves, open in a page showing a list of names and dates, tittled "Charge of Dreamer".
The first is Ludwig. The last two are Rubicon and Mariela.
"I
"Would
"Be
"Honored
"To.
"With
"Two
"Conditions
":
"Bring
"My
"Sister
"Back
".
"Plant
"The
"Licteries
"In
"My
"Soil
"Too.
"I
"Can
"Offer
"Them
"Peace.
>>27269957
Sure, sounds reasonable.
>>27269975
We bring Ludwig and the seeds to the forest, and the library let us take Mariela's body in. There is now a door in the first floor that allows us to go out.
With that done, Quibra's brother visibly relaxes, the glow in his eyes becoming less intense.
"That part of my duty is completed, at last.
I have you to thank for that.
Do you have any question you want answered?
I must talk with my brothers, and retake my trek.
Sorry for giving this short a session, but paused for the day.
>>27270064
You know anything about the top of the tower?
beb
>>27270064
>7 hour session
>short
Nigger, you're doing great. The duration of your sessions, not to mention your updates per session, is one of my favorite aspects of the quest as a whole.
You've done a good job of communicating your schedule so I trust you regardless of whether you're running 1 hour or 10.
Resuming in a moment.
RESUMING
INV:
> AJ
Crystal ball, Food and water, 8 torches, Hat (Worn), Humorous cow statuette, Cross necklace, Rope, Blank paper, Strange cross amulet, Shard of Ludwig
> Mirria:
Cape (Worn), 3 pens (Worn), Binoculars (Worn), Ankh necklace (Worn)
>>27270088
"What is there at the top of the tower? What were you trying to get?"
The dog pauses.
"There is a miracle,
And I need it"
>>27274089
What for?Aw yiss we back
>>27274103
"What for?"
"For the good of everyone in all worlds and words--
Oneiros, Earth, Tartarus, Afterlife.
Alive, dead, awaken, sleeping.
I know not the exact nature of the Miracle,
And my third eye perceives no grand power in it.
Yet it is a greatly versatile tool,
Capable of great things if used correctly.
>>27274121
Ask him if it could be used to restore your memory
>>27274141
"Could I remember my life if I used it?"
"Ah, memories, the well we drink from. Take them away, and even our souls slowly disolve.
I am affraid, Applejack. I can not allow you to do that.
The tool may very well have a single use,
And it must be exhaused in stopping the events set in motion.
Where I not to, Dere and Quibra could have no world to live in.
Do you understand my motivation, Applejack?
You do remember things, however.
I see the awakened memories sparkling within your mind like stars.
Alight more flames, and warm your soul.
>>27274172
Okay, so what other way is there to restore my memories? Cause I've been having these...flashes that I think are my memories
>>27274196
"Is there any other way to remember?"
"Live, mare.
Make new memories to awaken the old ones.
Nothing is truly lost,
Just changed.
Such is the nature of life."
>>27274206I want to punch this guy in the face just cause of how he talks
Well then, ask him what his plan is now, maybe we can help in some way
>>27274211
"And what do you plan to do now?"
"To commune with my brothers,
And, soon, I shall return to my quest for the miracle."
"Can we help in some way?"
"You have done more than enough for me,
I appreciate the offer, however."
Mirria nudges me and points to her cape.
"Oh! And have you seen her brother?" I point to her "A pegasus too, I think same coat color?" She nods.
When the dog talks again, my gut tells me he isn't telling us everything.
"I am affraid not, Seranee."
>>27274255
Ask him if he's sure about that, cause you have a feeling he's hiding something from you
>>27274399
"Are you sure of that, suggarcube?"
"Yes, Applejack. I am."
>>27274523
Welp, I guess we'll weasel the info out of him later
I guess escort him to see his bros and see what what comes of it
>>27274593
We accompany him to see Quibra and Dere. After a moment, Dere gestures at Mirria to follow him, and he does so after giving me a confused glance.
As soon as they are out of earshot, the masked dog turns to me.
"Applejack,
Do you have any idea of why I am here?
Of why my very presence indicates great danger for the world?"
Quibra gives us a confused glance, but says nothing.
>>27274656
Nope
We have no idea what's going on with anything right now
>>27274656
You sure you don't have memory problems too?
Because we just talked about how I can't remember anything.
>>27274678
"I don't have much of an idea of anything right now"
"Neither do I,
I, we arrived only in the middle of it.
But a creature desired power, It desired kinghood over all the worlds, out of petty, childish greed.
A king needs an army. It called us,"
His eyes alight in ruby flame
"Spawns of Tartarus, despised spirits, forgotten demons, the souls of the dead."
"But you--"
"Many of us attacked it outright, only paid heed to its call to protect those we love, but that is besides the point.
It had to give up something, something that smelled much like the Seranee does-- The soul of a king.
I wish not to give such grave news to someone who barely knows me, Applejack, so I will have to pass on the burden to you.
When you feel she is ready, tell her. We can only hope she will then say the last word her throat has left to produce."
Before I can say anything else, Mirria and Dere return.
>>27274775
Oh thanks that cleared everything right up.
Now if you'll excuse us we need to get going.
Lots of tower to explore.
[1/2]
>>27274828
We use the door that apparently decided to appear...
[2/2]
>>27275038
And wonder again what in Tartarus is that thing.
It can't be a walkway to the moon made of light. Things can't be made of light. It's a rule.
>>27275076
Test for material. Throw something onto it, like a rock or something nearby.
>>27275076
Have Mirria test it out.
>>27275124
This
>>27275149
>>27275124
"Can you please prove than that isn't light"
She takes a piece of paper and flies up there.
She stands on it and writes me a message, "It's like a cloud, but harder. Feels brittle."
No.
She is not standing in a walkway made of light.
Mirria laughs mutely at me.
>>27275180
>brittle
Think it could support our weight?
>>27275180
Welp. Lets try it out ourself.
>>27275231
>>27275265
She lifts me to the walkway that isn't made of light.
She's still laughing.
>>27275434
sh-shut up, it's not funny
>>27275434
Boop the shit out of her.
>>27275453
My thirst of vengance steals me of common sense, and I fall on my face.
Drat.
>>27275592
Raise head and scowl, before laughing suddenly.
>>27275664
I want to stay angry, but can't help but laugh with her.
This place is so stupid.
>>27275721
>A legitimate moment of safety and happiness
This is so sweet
But I guess we need to continue walking, have we been to the left or to the right yet?
>>27275721
Can we walk further up?
Sorry, real life happened. Parsing commands as soon as I am done eating.
>>27275803
We start walking the walkway.
It's like the doors of the tower, only not painful-- I now realize that the pain of them was produced by how sudden they were, while this is like a full-body itch.
After a while, Mirria gives me a questioning look. Should we keep going?More real life happened. Tomorrow I'll have to first take a bus trip at 7 AM, come back before 7 PM, and help someone else take things to a bus. It'll be a busy day, but I'll try to at least post an update ortwo.
>>27276903
Are we getting closer to anything?
>>27276957
The moon is getting bigger.
>>27277020
Well, keep going then.
>>27277070
My brain hurts.
>>27277210
Have a look around. Walk to the top.
>>27277255
There is a door with a key nearby. The key is pointing to the key hole.
Mirria looks... up? nervously, but I can't see what is that she's looking at.
I think I don't want to.
>>27277316
Open the door.
>>27277376
Mirria pushes me in. I don't know why, but I comply.
Mushroms alight the room, and there are some things in a table.
>>27277619
> [CONTROL PASSED TO MIRRIA]
Something is pounding the door. I locked it as soon as we got in, but the bangs in the heavy metal surface are nearly deafening.
Applejack doesn't seem to notice them.
>>27277717
Check the table. Look for other exits.
>>27277756
A page catches my sight immediately, written in red on several languages.
"ROOM IS SAFE."
"IF YOU ARE NOT APPLEJACK OF EQUESTRIA, I BEG OF YOU. SEARCH HER AND GUIDE HER HERE.
-Princess Luna"
The rest of them are written in Equestrian. I don't know enough of it to read them.
>>27277814
Show Applejack. What does she think?
>>27277845
I show the pages to her.
She freezes for a moment and starts reading them again.
And again. And again. And again.
She starts trembling.
>[CONTROL PASSED TO APPLEJACK]
eg of you--|
eg of you--|
eg of you--|
eg of you--|
eg of you--|
>[CONTROL PASSED TO MIRRIA]
>>27277872
oh god i think we broke AJ quick give her a hug
>>27277872
Ask her what's wrong.
>>27278058
>>27278048
When I try to move the paper, she grabbs it.
I grab her head and force her to face me. Her eyes never leave the text.Pausing as soon as this particular situation is resolved.
Also a new Real Life happened, and Saturday will also be busy-ish.
>>27278318
Hug her. Applejack pls.
>>27278318
Cover her eyes.
>>27278536
>>27278582
I hold her. She is still looking at the text, and now is muttering what little of it she's reading again and again.
I cover her eyes, and after a moment she falls asleep.Alright pausing for the day.
>>27278603
Just cradle her to sleep I suppose. The room is safe. The note said to search her, but I'm anxious about what we might find.
>>27278603Oh, and thanks for running. I have to try drawing something for you soon.
>>27278733
Thanks.
broomp broomp
miracolous bump
beb
Dear players:
I finally got a replacement hard drive for my desktop computer, since the old one gave up after... what, a decade of use? I dunno.
As such, what little free time I had today will probably have to be used moving the files of the old HD to the new HD and hope that the old HD doesn't completely die before the copy is over.
My apologies.
>>27284017
No problem.
Should I bump this?
