Long ago, in the magical land of Equestria, ponies used to live in peace and harmony. One day, however, the two ruling sisters vanished and all magic disappeared with them, ponies losing their powers over nature, flight, and spell-casting. Despite their loss of magic, ponies saw this as an opportunity for reform, seeking to create a democratic republic. Thus, the Nephalian Republic was born.
>You, Stargazer, have just been inducted into the Republic’s most renowned guild, the Guild of Spies.
>A small group of yours has been celebrating the occasion at your local tavern.
>Your mentor of grey hair and brown coat, Asha, downs another glass of ale as you watch on.
>Just then, a stallion comes to your table and begins with a hushed voice.
>"Our spies in the Empire have noticed a sharp increase of activity in the capital. It is in regards to the fireball that was sighted last night."
>Asha looks at him with a raised eyebrow.
>"So what?"
>"Well, it seems that their scouts have found something of 'high value' connected to the fireball. They're planning to send out multiple caravans to retrieve it. We want you to discover what they have and what they want of it."
>"And this is worth disturbing our celebration here?"
>"Caravans go out tomorrow, and I can't imagine how fun this'll be for you with a hangover."
>"Point taken."
>Asha looks at you questioningly.
>Do you want to cut your gathering short and prepare?
Old thread: >>27891412
Sister thread: >>27899885
>>27899905
If it's really so important, they'd probably be slowed down by guards. If we're quick, we might be able to beat them to it.
>>27899905
We're a professional now, and that means work before pleasure.
>>27899905
(1/2)
"I think it's best if we get going as soon as possible. Hell if I know, we might get there before the caravans."
>"That's probably for the best, but if there's scouts there already, we're gonna need some equipment."
"Agreed."
>You look around you at who you can now call peers.
>This is gonna be your first official assignment in the guild, and honestly, you are hype.
>Asha gets up and everypony else follows suit.
>>27900448
(2/2)
>You arrive at the guild house, and it seems like they've been informed of the objective already.
>Nightshade, Evening Star, and Blue Breeze stand bored in the lobby, kicking their hooves at the floor.
>Asha walks up to Nightshade and playfully pushes him.
>"C'mon, you've been relaxing here all day and you're still dozing off?"
>"Shut up Asha, you've been partying it up at the tavern and we've been having our ears talked off with reconaissance information."
>"Oh boo hoo," Asha smirks.
>You cut in before anything escalates.
"So... I'm guessing that this is our group?"
>Evening Star quickly picks up on the subject change.
>"Yep, we're gonna be splitting up the caravans. One pony per transport, while you stay with Asha. It's your first mission after all."
>"Okay, so can we decide what we're gonna do here?" Blue Breeze chimes in. "Evening Star and Nightshade want to leave immediately so we can get a jump on them. I'd prefer to wait til tomorrow, travel during day, and stalk them at night."
>Asha runs the options in her head for a second before responding.
>"I think I'd prefer to leave tomorrow, I'm pretty beat."
>Blue Breeze sighs. "Well great, that's 2 versus 2. What now?"
"A-ahem?"
>"Oh right. Well, what're you up for Stargazer?"
>>27900463
Well, going on mission without being rested is dangerous.
If we're too tired to work tomorrow it could be a wasted effort.
>>27900463
Why not hedge our bets and do both?The ones that are to tired can be in the second group while the ones that aren't can head out quickly and get prepared at the destination while waiting for the others. If there's an opportunity for the early birds, Than they can get it and meet up with the others halfway to make sure we all get back safely.
>>27900463
"Going tomorrow would be best. Being on a mission without rest is dangerous."
>"Screw her opinion! She's probably just scared she'll mess up her first assignment!"
>"Shut up Nightshade. She's a peer like any one of us."
>Thanks, Evening Star.
"Well here. What if you guys go ahead, and those who are tired can stay behind and meet you tomorrow?"
>Asha smiles at you.
>"Not a bad plan, that is, if you can handle setting up camp by yourself, Nightshade."
>"Shut up."
>Evening Star cuts in again. "Don't worry Nightshade, I'll be there to help you."
>"Don't help him out too much, alright?" Asha jabs.
>Nightshade does his best not to blush, but fails. "Shut up!"
>"I guess that settles it then," Blue Breeze says. "Imma go head back to bed then."
>She walks away and Asha follows her, skipping playfully.
>Do you prepare your arms and supplies or do you go straight to bed?
>>27900666
Make sure everything is in order, Satan.
>>27900762
(1/2)
>You decide to get everything in order before falling asleep.
>The last thing you want to do is wake up and leave something behind when hurried.
>You pick up a saddlebag and pack enough rations for two days and nights, and you head to the armory.
>You pass up on any heavy weaponry as this should be a simple recon mission.
>A small, sharpened dagger will do quite nicely.
>With that, you head to your quarters, drop your saddle bags, and drift away to sleep.
>>27901169
(2/2)
>It's midday by the time you leave Nephalian territory.
>Apparently, the fireball had crashed into a heavily forested part of the Halean wilderness.
>It's not too far away, but once dirt path turns into forest, it'll be a bit more difficult to navigate.
>As you approach the woods, your group spots a bunch of ponies walking back and forth rummaging through a carriage.
>"Hey, do you see those guys over there?" Blue Breeze asks.
>"Yeah. They don't look too friendly to be honest."
>>27901175
Do they look like they're with one of the caravans that we heard about or do they look like bandits?
>>27901175
>The three of you do your best to determine who they are.
>There are about five of them, four of which wear golden plate armor and carry swords.
>The carriage that they were pulling appears to have been broken.
>One of the ponies seems to point you guys out, and for a second, they stop rummaging through the carriage.
>A moment passes and they resume their business about the carriage.
>>27901625
BANDITOS, walk away because we don't need to go play hero. We're a spy, not an adventurer.
>>27901625
Ok, so they're professionals. We just going to follow them or...?
>>27901625
>You determine that the ponies are probably professional bandits with equipment like that.
"I don't think we should mess with those guys. We're not heros, we're spies."
>"Agreed," Asha concurs.
>"Guys, really?" Blue Breeze toys with her wings. "If they're professional bandits, what did they do with the ponies who own the carriage? We can't just let this be."
>>27901851
You have a plan then?
>>27901851
(1/3)
"You have a plan?"
>"I don't know. Look, I just feel bad, alright?"
"Like I said, we're spies, not heroes."
>Blue Breeze hangs her head.
"Well look at them and what they have. They've already noticed us and there's no way we can go up against them."
>Asha nods in agreement.
>"We can go off the path and circle around them. It's no big deal."
>You continue on your journey to the landing site.
>>27902705
(2/3)
>The woods are getting moderately dense now and there are bushes here and there.
>You could probably find enough foliage for cover if needed.
>Judging by the height of the sun through the trees, the three of you arrive at the landing site with about 3 hours of light left.
>There are ponies milling about the crater and guards, well, keeping guard.
>Smoke still rises from the gigantic pit, despite being two or three days old.
>The guards are wearing gold-trimmed chest pieces and helmets, as well as carrying swords.
>Perhaps that carriage from earlier wasn't bandits after all.
>Oh well.
>Maybe the carriage was broken because Nightshade sabotaged them or something.
>He's the type to do that -- he hates the Empire.
>Though you are employed to a guild that is based in the Republic, you realize that there's more to it than we're good and they're evil.
>Speaking of Nightshade, he and Evening Star have probably already started off and followed the caravans that came before.
>Your group was assigned a single pony per caravan after all.
>>27902726
(3/3)
>You are just about to settle down in the brush when a carriage comes along and stops at the rim of the crater.
>A hefty escort of ten ponies accompanies it.
>Ponies take their time to load several items into the carriage, items that you can vaguely make out.
>No matter how hard you try, you can't see anything other than rock shaped things going in.
>"Psst, Blue Breeze, you wanna follow this group?"
>"I guess if you want me to, sure."
>You continue to lie in wait until the caravan leaves, and Blue Breeze vanishes like a whisper.
>She really scares you like that.
>She can be really nice and kind, but you do not want to mess with her as an active spy.
Okay guys, that's it for a bit. I'll return around midnight EST. Again, if you have any feedback to make the quest better, feel free to share! I would like to know rather than be left in the dark.
>>27902734
I would like to know more about the setting and characters. Finding it hard to be invested. Also, holy crap why midnight?
>>27902734
Just want to point out that a good number of players are americans.
>>27902777
We were planning on letting the characters be developed and fleshed out through the actions the players make thinking that if the players develop the character, they'll be more attached. We also wanted to avoid too much exposition and let the setting be revealed more and more as the quest progresses. I guess it doesn't work out too well for a cyoa.
Also, we're returning at midnight because the other QM had to take care of something. We can change the time if it is too inconvenient.
>>27902996
It can work, it's just hard and isn't usually pulled off very well. Giving a simple groundwork of a character makes it easier to build and expand upon. In Glory it gives us some simple backstory that hooks us (or at least me anyways) and we can fill in any gaps or better know how to play that character. Also spies and espionage isn't really my thing but that's personal taste. Also keeping us in the dark about the setting doesn't help because we have no idea who we work for, why, and other such questions.
As for time, I personally won't be able to play at that time. I won't be able to play again until after 4pm EST tomorrow.
>>27902734
Keep an eye on them then.
here is a bump from nine.
page 10 ain't the place to be
>>27902734
(1/2)
>The two of you continue to wait in the bushes for the final caravan.
>Asha twiddles with her hooves, quite obviously bored.
>"Sooooo."
"Hm?"
>"How're you feeling?"
"A bit uneasy, really."
>"Worried how your parents think of you being a full fledged spy now?"
"I swear, if you're just trying to get me to talk about my family, forget about it."
>She huffs and returns to twiddling her hooves.
>You've never liked talking about your family with others -- it always seemed to pluck a sour note inside of you.
>Your father, Stormhoof, was incredibly overbearing and very focused on his career as a constable in the Empire.
>Despite firmly believing in the Empire's ideals of peace and order, he did not carry over those traits to the family.
>His life in the military left little time and patience for your mother, sister, and for yourself.
>Your mother, Moonlit Meadow, did not take a liking for this, but she made sure to more than make up for your father's absence.
>She taught you and your sister, Lamplight, to be the best you could be, and that's stuck with you even to this day.
>It still pains you how you dropped everything and left your family for the Republic.
>Your father's constant ranting of the state and goals of the Empire made you despise it.
>You sister did her best to convince you otherwise, and it worked to some degree.
>But you left anyways, wanting to be more than just another mare.
>It was your mother after all who told you to reach for your dreams.
>You guess that it worked out in the end, with you being in the Guild of Spies.
>>27905584
(2/2)
>"Hey, wanna try something?"
"What's that?"
>"Let's try to get a closer look."
"Are you crazy? I don't want us to get caught!"
>"C'mon, it'll be fun. There's nothing to do and it's be helpful to get a better look of what's inside the caravans. It's not like we're gonna get ourselves caught in the firstplace, anyways."
>She slowly gets up from the bush and you look on in disbelief.
>She jumps from tree to tree, bush to bush silently.
>>27905601
the smart thing to do would be to stay behind and be her back up in case she get's caught.
speed bump
good luck during this spam
>>27905668
>You stay behind, hoping that Asha knows what she's doing.
>Well, of course she knows what she's doing, she is your mentor after all.
>Honestly though, she's more like a second mother to you, one that you can call your best friend.
>Through failure and success, she's been there for you.
>And now, you're you'll be there for her, at least, in the case that she gets caught by the guards.
>Asha stops tree hopping now, and sits down.
>You see her peek around the tree and you follow her gaze.
>Seems like you've been focusing so much on her that you didn't realize the arrival of the next caravan.
>On the far side of the crater, two ponies escort the carriage.
>Seems like they're rather light on horsepower, but who knows.
>The use of multiple caravans is a classic trick to confuse which has the objective, and it may just be that lightly guarding this one is a ploy.
>The two of you watch on as they again load several objects into the carriage.
>Asha suddenly turns around and gestures wildly, swinging her forelegs at you and pointing towards the carriage.
>>27906530
follow that carriage!
>>27906530
Time for recon.
>>27906559
>>27906826
>You nod at Asha, and the two of you set off to follow the carriage.
>Halfway around the crater, you two meet up and sneak alongside each other.
"You saw anything?"
>"Yeah, I saw stuff."
"What stuff?"
>"Stuffy stuff."
"Now's not the time for jokes Asha, we're right here already."
>You look slightly off into the distance and see the carriage setting off.
>The last hour of light has begun.
>The skies and forest have started to darken, and the forest canopy doesn't do much to make it brighter help much at all.
>Thankfully, that's a plus for you as you get to approach closer and closer without being detected.
>Your talent of dark vision helps a lot too, allowing yourself to see better in the dark compared to your peers.
>You watch as the guard in back moves up front with the other.
>Did they see you?
>You warn Asha in a hushed tone.
"Hey, Asha. The guard in back just moved up front. What should we do?"
>"We can probably sneak up behind them and find out what's in the carriage then."
"What? What if they spotted us and the guard's is warning the other?"
>"No problem, we just have to be quick then."
>Before you can say anything else, she maneuvers to the rear of the carriage.
>>27907109
follow her. two ponies are harder to catch then one
>>27907189
I mean yeah, but shouldn't we break off down the road a bit? Two ponies are REALLY hard to check when they're away from each other.
>>27907189
>It's probably best to stick together.
>You follow her lead as best and as quietly as you can.
>Looping around to the back, you see that Asha has already climbed into the carriage and is surveying the contents.
>Asha gags a bit to the horrible smell before she ducks her head down and picks up what looks like a rock tablet.
>You hear the two guard ponies conversing at the front.
>"... you feel any worse for wear besides feeling nauseous?"
>"... I'm alright. Thanks, Glory."
>"Stargazer, here, catch."
>You look to Asha and see a stone tablet flying at your face.
>By instinct, you open your mouth to catch it.
>You are just barely able to get your muzzle on it and secure it.
>Embedded into it is a vibrant purple gem.
>Asha's ear twitches and her eyes go wide.
>"Let's go, quick."
>She moves to jump out of the carriage right as a cream-colored guard pony enters your peripheral vision.
Okay guys, that's it for now. We'll be back again tomorrow (or technically later today). Feel free to leave any comments or criticisms you have! Don't forget to check out the sister thread here >>27899885.
>>27907414
Uh oh. Yeah, let's go really fast.
>>27908042
>You make a mad dash away from the carriage, hoping that Asha is right behind you.
>The sound of hoofsteps either confirm your beliefs, or heed you to run faster.
>A quick glance behind you reveals that Asha is on your tail, with the guards not too far behind.
>Being a pegasus, you can probably outrun them for now, but you're gonna run out of stamina soon.
>You need a plan.
>>27908812
Zig zag between trees so they lose sight of you.
>>27909105
>The forest gets denser and denser as you run away, and you use that to your advantage, zig zagging between the trees so that they lose sight of you.
>Unfortunately, there's not enough tree cover to hide your maneuvers.
>The guards quickly take advantage of your swerving, running directly at you and cutting your turns.
>The brush on the ground gets extremely dense as well, slowing down your escape.
>You jump and dodge the foliage that tries to trip you up.
>>27909322
if they get close to us then we need to run towards a thinnish branch, pull it back and then let it go as they get closer so it smacks them in the face.
>>27909322
That heavy armor and the poor visibility should make it easy to trip them up.
>>27909363
>>27909437
>You refocus your effort on simply running away.
>With their heavy armor, you can lose them in an instant.
>You hatch the idea to bend back a branch, but it's impossible to do at this speed with the stone tablet in your mouth.
>Suddenly, however, the forest clears and you come to a sharp land extension over a ravine.
>You're trapped and there's no way but back.
>Though there's a rope bridge reaching across a ravine, and you have no idea if the rickety boards will hold.
>Then again, you really don't want to go up against fully armored guards.
>>27909793
To the bridge! If it's dangerous for us, it'll be impossible for them.
>>27909863
>Quickly weighing your options, you decide to cross the bridge.
>If it's dangerous for you, it'll be impossible for them.
>You tap Asha's shoulder and run for the bridge.
>It's not long before you two are there, but one of the guards is quick to follow suit.
>There's no time to test the bridge, so you take a leap of faith and run across.
>The boards do you good and hold your weight.
>Adrenaline overtakes your system now and your focus is intense.
>You take no time to look behind you and check up on the others.
This is gonna be it until later tonight guys. Thank you for following our CYOA!
>>27910257
We have to quickly get across. Even if they try to follow us they'll have to go slowly and we've already gotten a lead on them.
>>27910257
Keep running, unless we can find somewhere to hide. We don't want to get even more lost in this forest after all. Are there some sort of ruins we can lose them in, perhaps a ruined castle of some sort?
>>27910384
It's pretty obvious where we are, but I doubt the castle's ruins survived this long. At least not well enough to be recognized as a castle.
>>27911056
But anon, it's a magic castle.
>>27911096
Considering the condition it was in on the show, I sincerely doubt that.
>>27911107
It was obviously enchanted to remain in that same ruined state forever in order to preserve its derelict aesthetic. It's like you have no imagination, jeez.
Even if it is crumbled to a heap of stones, I bet there'll be an entrance to the catacombs beneath the castle that have survived. Perfect environment for a poner with good night vision.
beb
>>27910383
>>27910384
>You run as far as you can before collapsing in exhaustion.
>Oh gods above, you think you're gonna puke.
>Sweat soaks your body as it struggles for air.
>Sprawled across the ground, you feel completely washed out.
>It takes a long time before you're able to regroup and take in your surroundings.
>The ravine is out of sight and the forest has resumed.
>The sun is almost set now, if judging by how bright it is is any good indicator.
>These are all minor details, however, compared to the massive ruins that lie 30 meters ahead.
>It appears to have been a castle, but it's hard to tell with the walls completely collapsed and tower gone.
>Vines and other foliage have retaken their place and trees grow in the its courtyard.
>The idyllic scene entrances you in your numb state, but you realize a critical detail that you've overlooked until now.
>Asha's gone.
>>27913860
Oh fuck, look around and see if there's a way to make our way back to the bridge without revealing ourself.
beb
>>27913898
(1/2)
>You look around for any signs to where Asha could've gone, but you see nothing.
>She must've gotten held up at the bridge!
>Dammit!
>Everything was going so well!
>You curse to yourself and hurriedly trot in the direction you came from.
>What if they captured her?
>No, she wouldn't let herself be captured like that.
>But what if she did?
>Should you leave her behind?
>You shake the thought out of your head.
>No, you can't do that.
>Forget about being shamed out of the guild, she's your best friend and you are not leaving her to be captured.
>>27915479
(2/2)
>When the ravine is in sight, you take care not to be seen.
>As you peek out of your hiding spot, you see on the other side of the bridge that Asha's been taken prisoner by the guards.
>Fuck! What're you gonna do?
>You can't leave her here, but are you really willing to give up the tablet for ransom?
>There has to be something you can do.
>>27915482
We can't fight two guards with only a knife.
>>27915482
Observe the situation. She might have everything under control, she is more experienced than us after all.
>>27916049
>>27916180
>You decide to stay put and observe the situation.
>You can't take on two guards with only a knife, and Asha is more experienced than you anyways.
>For a while, it seems that they're talking back and forth, as if nothing is wrong between them.
>Soon enough, however, voices raise and the tension causes your muscles to stiffen.
>"... you're a thief and I'm a guard... forgive me if I think my interests are more important!"
>Asha takes a calculated step back.
>Things aren't looking pretty.
>"Well what do you expect to happen? We give it back and then we all go home, pretending nothing ever happened?"
>Once you process Asha's response, you realize that she has a serious point.
>There's no clean escape from this anymore.
>Things can escalate pretty quickly from here, and knowing Asha, it won't end well if something doesn't happen.
>>27917005
Maybe we should leave the tablet and get in there.
>>27917005
Did the guards actually see the tablet? We are surrounded by a lot of old rocks and it is getting darker after all.
>>27917387
They'd see us coming back across the bridge.
>>27917387
And do what?
>>27917005
Look over the tablet well and try to memorize what's on it then reveal ourselves and offer the tablet in exchange for our friend.
>>27917693
Sure
>>27917387
>>27917687
>>27917693
>>27917927
(1/?)
>You sigh to yourself.
>You have no other option but to offer the tablet up.
>You spit the tablet into your hooves and try to memorize it as best you can.
>It has a large purple gem in the shape of a six-pronged star embedded into the center.
>The gem gives off an faint, eerie glow in the low light of the forest.
>Surrounding it are five other stars chiseled into the rock.
>Other than that, there's nothing much too it other than it's oddly light weight.
>>27917979
(2/?)
>You shove the tablet into your saddlebags and burst out of the brush.
>You gallop to the end of the bridge and call out to Asha.
"Asha! Are you okay!?"
>She and the guards turn their heads in your direction.
>"Yeah!"
>Asha's voice lifts a weight off your shoulders and you let a breath of relief escape your body.
>You turn back to the problem at hand and open your saddlebags.
"You two! Guards! I have your ransom right here!
>You pull out the tablet for all to see.
>>27917999
Approach and give them the tablet.
>>27918549
>You carefully get on the bridge and approach them, testing each board before giving it your full weight this time.
>Though you avoid looking straight down as best you can, you know that the ravine is massive in height.
>You resteel yourself and continue across the bridge.
>As you near the end, you keep yourself prepared for anything the guards throw at you.
>Thankfully, nothing happens, at least for now.
>The two guards, a unicorn mare and a earth pony stallion, eye you with caution.
>The mare for some reason has taken off her armor.
>You toss around the idea of why she would do that.
>"Beans, make sure she doesn't pull anything on us."
>You snap back to attention and see the stallion slowly walking towards the bridge.
>Asha calls to you.
>"Don't do anything stupid, Stargazer!"
>>27919001
Let's go, Asha.
>>27919001do something stupid
>>27919018Hey stop that.
>>27919001
Didn't you read the post hinting at swapping the tablet for a fake?
>>27919059
What fake?
>>27919059
Why didn't the qm include the suggestion that I didn't post?
>>27919017
>"Beans, grab the tablet so we can go."
>The mare issuing orders walks over to her armor and starts to put it on.
>Beans, who you can assume to be the subordinate, meets with you proper and takes the tablet with his mouth, bumping muzzles with you.
>He winks at you, then immediately assumes a straight face.
"Let's go, Asha."
>Asha trots over to you, her hooves hitting the ground with great weight.
>As soon as the unicorn guard finishes putting on her armor, Beans hoofs the tablet over to her.
>When she touches it, the tablet instantly shines a brilliant lavender color.
>Everyone turns to look at the source of light and is taken aback by what they see.
>The unicorn's horn is glowing!
"What the hell is going on!"
>>27919302
run
>>27919302
I wouldn't worry about it.
>>27919302
Their problem now.
>>27919066
>>27919132
See >>27917687
I guess I made the mistake of not spelling it out.
>>27919317
>>27919426
>>27919441
>You freeze at the sight.
>What is this?
>No unicorn's cast magic in centuries!
>You start to run away, into the forest, and Asha again follows quickly behind.
>You don't get far before the light becomes blinding and the raw energy overwhelms you.
>Suddenly, a blast of air pressure wraps itself around you and you go tumbling.
>The world is pulled away from you and everything goes to white.
Thank you again for everything guys! How do you all like the CYOA so far? Do you guys like the idea of having two main characters? Any suggestions for how we should change our style? Please tell us what you think, and we will definitely take it into consideration. There's no need to keep the thread alive as we'll be back writing sometime anywhere within the next three days.
>>27919576
>>27919578
There have been other quests that allow control of multiple MC's, but it's awkward when they are working against one another.
No one is really interested in making one of them lose at the cost of the other, and without them being on the same team it's hard to find a reason for them to be staying near each other.
>>27919576
I'd like more drawings of qt poners
