Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience

[Limabot]

Okay, it's good that Velvet probably isn't dying from this.

I just hope that Eclipse won't get wind of what will happen here.

 

[ses]

I really do love the name for our Cult by the way.

In other news, going back over our Secret Library:

If we spend a velvet AP and our reagent craft on Manuscripts next turn we can take the Bureau to level 3 Moth (Assuming manuscripts are written post-Sacrament)
If we spend a velvet AP and our reagent craft on Manuscripts next turn we can take the Bureau to any two of (Forge 3, Secret Histories 2, Winter 2)
If we spend a velvet AP and our reagent craft on Manuscripts next turn we can take the Bureau to level 3 Knock

If we read the level 5 Knock book AND the level 2 Knock book we can take the Bureau to level 3 Knock
If we read the level 1 Edge book we can take the Bureau to level 2 Edge
The Forge book is basically worthless
The Heart book is basically worthless

We need Lantern Sacrament to be able to bump the Bureau to level 3 Lantern in a single reagent+AP

Edge cannot hit level 3 even with sacrament+double manuscript+edge1 book, we'd be 1 point short.

If we had Heart 4 we'd be able to reach Heart 3 Library with a double manuscript. But we don't so we can't.

Grail is very far from level 3 Library, we'd need the 4 scraps plus sacrament to be able to double manuscript it.

Frankly I seriously doubt we're going to make manuscripts any time soon tbh. We have so many Sacraments to do. The method by which we will level our Secret Library is obvious: Expeditions! Get big high level books from Expeditions and we can read them to advance our own Lore and the Bureau at the same time!

 

[Greymere]

Get big high level books from Expeditions and we can read them to advance our own Lore and the Bureau at the same time!

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Really, we don't even necessarily big high level books so much as a lot of moderately leveled (Lv 4 - 5) books. We're trying to get Sacraments, not Level 6.

Though I do still want to try and scry a Moth 7 artifact.

 

[spiderhellian]

If we spend a velvet AP and our reagent craft on Manuscripts next turn

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What do you mean by spending our reagent craft on Manuscripts? Making something to feed the Lapdog?

Feels a little tough to know when some of these lores we're not even sure their impact on the Bureau.

But hahaha this convo makes me see why Bird was amused that we cut out the cult from the cultist quest, it's nice to have something to build.

 

[Greymere]

Feels a little tough to know when some of these lores we're not even sure their impact on the Bureau.

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We're not even getting infrastructure bonus from the Bureau yet... but maybe 4/9 will be good enough for that sort of thing.

 

[Shaper47]

Heh, we've still got Reagents for Sacraments, FR Scootaloo to get Dash Confidante, FR Shining for Caddy waifu points along with saving up for rainy day FR and IH.

Just read books instead of write manuscripts.

 

[Pharohman777]

Spoiler: Warning, large image

The rest of the pages are nigh-illegible, ink-dyed by irregular splotches of black and purple. On the largest readable fragment, these words appear: "WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?"

I am completely mentally stable and can be trusted with scissors.

---

Woe, omake be upon ye. I recommend reading on a computer, but in a pinch, 'open in new tab' should help. If any of the images aren't rendering properly, let me know and I'll try to fix it. Still learning how to image host on QQ vs SV.

Hope everyone is doing well.

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I see only one image, 2 pages. Are there more? You said images.

 

[jelloloaf]

I see only one image, 2 pages. Are there more? You said images.

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There are twelve pages total, six images. If you mouse over (or long tap, on mobile) you should see alt text, 1/6, 2/6, that sort of thing.

If some of them aren't showing up for you, maybe try looking around a little more.

 

[excedere]

Been reading this over the course of about a week, from start to finish. Pleased to see it's still ongoing! Happy to open a QQ account to stay updated and vote. Great writing!

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I cannot wait for our personal part of the assault to start.

 

[Pittauro]

It doesn't, that's just the url the image host gave it. Completely safe to ignore, I promise. The alt text though...

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nearly missed this. I miss SV's and SB's automatic invisitext reveal...

It was called the Conspiracy of Stars.
A fancy name, yes. But it was more out of symbolism than anything else, as it usually is with that kind of spooky stuff.
Still, it was called that because the stars... well, so many ponies forget that the stars are also part of the night sky.
Strange as it might sound, I think it is because it's easy to ignore the stars on most nights. It's easy to forget about them.
And yet they are always there. Dancing around the darkness. Serving the Moon's bidding.
And here's another thing about the stars. They are easy to ignore, but they still shine. Not as bright as the Moon, of course, but maybe that was the point.
The stars, each of them, can only shine a tiny light. But when they work together, they can still illuminate the night.
So, I guess it made sense for Her to call them her Stars. They moved at Her will. They danced at Her tune. And they kept the night bright while the Moon did not want to be seen.
But fancy name or not, I was not in on it. At least not at that point.
Still... a part of me suspected that... a part of me started to suspect something, on that cold morning.
A part of me, small as it was, suspected she was not just a pony, when she spoke to us before our attack against that first den.
And I don't think I was the only one.
​

​

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poetic.

Also pretty accurate.

Velvet is not indeed JUST a Pony.

Frankly I seriously doubt we're going to make manuscripts any time soon tbh. We have so many Sacraments to do. The method by which we will level our Secret Library is obvious: Expeditions! Get big high level books from Expeditions and we can read them to advance our own Lore and the Bureau at the same time!

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Yeah, realistically Manuscripts are not really an option when many of our sacraments require multiple APs.

SO, CURRENT SCHEDULE:

Turn 22 (now): Biedde Edge Sacrament, get lvl 7 book and lvl 6 reagent for Baldomare and Cherenkolt Name-Friendship respectively, get Prisoner for Mareinette Grail Sacrament, rank up Spoiled Rich relationship for the Moth Sacrament.

Turn 23 (next turn): Expedition for Baldomare lvl 7 book, which we can give her immediately, and lvl 6 reagent, which we need to work on later. Grail Sacrament with the prisoner (and Mareinette friendship, though not high enough lore for the power itself), and Moth Sacrament with Spoiled Rich.

that's already 2 APs (for moth and grail sacrament) we're committed to., as well as some follower APs and bits on the expeditions. Maybe we can get a second Baldomare action mid-turn by giving her the book immediately? That would help a bit.

Turn 24: convert forge 6 reagent into the ingot of blue gold, and heal Velvet of the radiation poisoning from the process.

While doing all of this there's some potential for turn 23 and 24 progress on SH sacraments, Lantern Sacraments, potentially even Winter and Forge though that's unlikely.

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We're nearly done with Edge Sacrament, with Moth and Mareinette AND her Sacrament basically locked in for next turn. That's already 2 APs locked in turn 22.

then there's more work to be done for Cherenkolt and Baldomare too with expeditions. Then the work to refine the forge reagent and heal Velvet.

There's also the SH Sacraments, both requiring Velvet AND Baldomare actions.

Even ignoring all Name actions, just from Moth, Grail, SH Sacraments and Forge Name, that's....

1 AP Moth
1 AP Grail
1 AP Blue Ingot for Cherenkolt
3 APs for SH (2 on personal, 1 on Baldomare's) Sacraments.

That's already 6 APs (over 3 turns probably) for four Sacraments and 3 Name Friendships. Also AT LEAST 1 Cherenkolt Action (for Ingot) and 2 Baldomare's (for expedition and SH Influence to help the personal sacrament).

and then we might consider, depending on scraps, Lantern, Forge and/or Winter Sacraments.

AND then we need to actually study the things we find in expeditions too, any valuable book or sacrament.

Manuscripts are just inefficient, unless we REALLY need the lvl 3 infrastructure bonus from the bureau milestone I think. We're better off studying books and artifacts we find in expeditions (and doing more sacraments, expeditions, mansus exploration, summonings...)

Really, we don't even necessarily big high level books so much as a lot of moderately leveled (Lv 4 - 5) books. We're trying to get Sacraments, not Level 6.

Though I do still want to try and scry a Moth 7 artifact.

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In some cases a lvl 1 book is nice for the lvl 1 library, but then the lvl 2 already requires 4 levels worth of scraps, and then 9 levels, and so on... it can sometimes make sense to "fill the gaps", see how lvl 1 edge is good enough right now, but yeah, higher level books are just better most of the time.

Heh, we've still got Reagents for Sacraments, FR Scootaloo to get Dash Confidante, FR Shining for Caddy waifu points along with saving up for rainy day FR and IH.

Just read books instead of write manuscripts.

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FR Scootaloo might not really be an option. We don't know Dash, so we'd have to have Velvet think about Scootaloo enough to heal her with an eldritch ritual while making up an excuse as to the "how".

As for Shining, not sure when it will come up. Probably soon, admittedly.

There are twelve pages total, six images. If you mouse over (or long tap, on mobile) you should see alt text, 1/6, 2/6, that sort of thing.

If some of them aren't showing up for you, maybe try looking around a little more.

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oh, I missed it.

let me check...


...nope, I can't find any of the other images, I'm stuck on 1/6. Only saw this that I missed before:

I am completely mentally stable and can be trusted with scissors.

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Can I get a hint?

 

[DelightedOne]

FR Scootaloo might not really be an option. We don't know Dash, so we'd have to have Velvet think about Scootaloo enough to heal her with an eldritch ritual while making up an excuse as to the "how".

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Use the free social to meet somepony new in the Personal SH Sacrament turn? That would be a SH roll I think.

If it is, we would be going 40(Influence)+30(SH 5) for a +70 with just the lore side.

 

[Pittauro]

Use the free social to meet somepony new in the Personal SH Sacrament turn? That would be a SH roll I think.

If it is, we would be going 40(Influence)+30(SH 5) for a +70 with just the lore side.

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We're probably going to use the free social on other stuff.

For example, I THINK it counts for Grail or Moth Sacrament (they ARE kind of social actions, aren't they?) and if not, there's Filthy Rich up to Confidant, or Rarity lessons (potentially including Grail Sacrament Once we reach Grail 5, assuming her personal one is viable).

Potentially even Comet Feet lessons, if after reaching Edge 5 We'll be allowed to have Biedde share the Sacrament with him as well. It's more likely to be a Biedde action, but it might actually require both...

Or Selene lesson, if we get all lores to 5...

 

[Cochimetl]

Can I get a hint?

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Spoiler

"WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?"

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By the way, I would also appreciate a hint for page 4. I have found what I did not seek, but while I found it interesting, I did not find it useful.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Or Selene lesson, if we get all lores to 5...

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We don't even have All-4 thanks to a CERTAIN BUILDING

 

[DelightedOne]

For example, I THINK it counts for Grail or Moth Sacrament (they ARE kind of social actions, aren't they?)

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I'm pretty sure Sacraments are their own type of action.

and if not, there's Filthy Rich up to Confidant

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Personal SH would take like 2 turns at best to be done, I think we will have time.

Potentially even Comet Feet lessons, if after reaching Edge 5 We'll be allowed to have Biedde share the Sacrament with him as well. It's more likely to be a Biedde action, but it might actually require both...

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Didn't Comet give up being stronger in Edge?

After all, you are everything he hates, everything he wants gone. You are an Edge-sharp invader, standing at the threshold that separates his home from everything else. You are the crushing reminder that his past did not simply disappear, and that there are still ponies out there who remember who he is, and what he has done.

You are the consequence of his actions. Reckoning incarnate, clad in battle Edge and sharp vengeance, who came to collect the price for the latest of his many wrongs.

You are everything he hates, and everything he knows he cannot escape from.

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Aside from that I'm... uncertain if Biedde would allow or accept that, if we got his Sacrament.

Please…! I-I beg you! I will do anything just please-!"

"I could have said you would have made a fine apprentice, but that would be a lie."

"That would have been a lie, because success, and victory, are self-executing virtues. And that you fell off from the Path is evidence that you were never suited for it."

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And after reading that again, I would rather not do/have him do something he doesn't like.

Or Selene lesson, if we get all lores to 5...

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Hahahaha. Good joke. Heart levels make that basically impossible unless the thread stops being greedy and actually uses actions for long term gain and even if you meant just Selene's lores, it could still take a lot of time to get Winter 5 for sure(frolicking in the Blank Plains may not always give scraps... unless we cross the Barrier).

 

[Pittauro]

We don't even have All-4 thanks to a CERTAIN BUILDING

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correction: all lores Selene knows to 5

 

[Pharohman777]

...nope, I can't find any of the other images, I'm stuck on 1/6. Only saw this that I missed before:



Can I get a hint?

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Yeah, the other 5 images aren't showing up on mobile I think.

 

[spiderhellian]

@jelloloaf somewhere down the road you need to edit in some details on this whole ARG into the post itself so people reading through don't miss it, this is incredible. I didn't even realize how accurate "pushing the boundaries of what an omake can be" was!

 

[Pittauro]

Didn't Comet give up being stronger in Edge?

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Did he? We thought that when he spared Shining, but then we found out he spared him because he was needed by the Master...

Hahahaha. Good joke. Heart levels make that basically impossible unless the thread stops being greedy and actually uses actions for long term gain and even if you meant just Selene's lores, it could still take a lot of time to get Winter 5 for sure(frolicking in the Blank Plains may not always give scraps... unless we cross the Barrier).

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?

We need 2 scraps. that's a tier 4 winter influence. We didn't get winter scraps from influences already, right?

We do a ritual, maybe sacrificing the cursed artifact (if that removes the curse in the process, as there's no more artifact to curse you the following turn), and we also get the +40 from the influence on the sacrament rolls.

Actually, let me check the DC...

110 for +30, 150 for +40.

we roll... +13 (magic) + 40 (winter 4) + 40 (potential lvl 4 artifact sacrifice). = +93, with a reroll.

so, decent odds all things considered. and if we only get tier 3, we can try and get a winter scrap some other way in the coming turns.

As for the Winter Sacrament actions... We don't know if there's a CD. if there is, it's probably similar to SH.

This is of course if we're at all interested though.

Personal SH would take like 2 turns at best to be done, I think we will have time.

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2 turns with 2 Baldomare and 3 Velvet actions. we PROBABLY can do it, but still, it's a decent commitment.

Aside from that I'm... uncertain if Biedde would allow or accept that, if we got his Sacrament.
And after reading that again, I would rather not do/have him do something he doesn't like.

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Honestly no idea there. He might, He might not. that's a Was-not after all

Hahahaha. Good joke. Heart levels make that basically impossible unless the thread stops being greedy and actually uses actions for long term gain and even if you meant just Selene's lores, it could still take a lot of time to get Winter 5 for sure(frolicking in the Blank Plains may not always give scraps... unless we cross the Barrier).

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We don't need Heart for Selene, for Winter the "best case" would be calling a winter influence, getting the tier 4 (% should be around... 67.5% I think, with at least tier 3 being basically a sure thing). +93 with reroll to reach 150), getting 2 scraps like that, and then doing 3 APs of Winter Sacrament over the two turns the Influence lasts (just in case we get a roll with DC).

By the way, I would also appreciate a hint for page 4. I have found what I did not seek, but while I found it interesting, I did not find it useful.

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I feel Dumb, I continue not getting it

Oh, I got it! I was going about it all wrong . Now to read page 2...

EDIT: Also found page 3. This is fun!

EDIT: now on page 4! I admit google helps a lot with the phonetic translations and "flipping".

 

[jelloloaf]

By the way, I would also appreciate a hint for page 4. I have found what I did not seek, but while I found it interesting, I did not find it useful.

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All I'm willing to say right now is that it's somewhere in there, and it is possible to find. If you're still stuck later, let me know, but I'd rather err on the side of being too vague than too explicit.

@jelloloaf somewhere down the road you need to edit in some details on this whole ARG into the post itself so people reading through don't miss it, this is incredible. I didn't even realize how accurate "pushing the boundaries of what an omake can be" was!

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Thanks :3

I've been talking to Bird about fitting it into the threadmark order, and I would like to make it a little more explicit that you should be out looking for more pages, but, again, I'd much rather be too vague and give hints if people are struggling than make it too easy and remove the challenge. I'll keep tinkering with it.

I feel Dumb, I continue not getting it

Oh, I got it! I was going about it all wrong . Now to read page 2...

EDIT: Also found page 3. This is fun!

EDIT: now on page 4! I admit google helps a lot with the phonetic translations and "flipping".

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Kids these days can't even be bothered to hold their laptop up to a mirror to read the reflection, smh my head (/s)