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

Reader mode
I had a Moth sacrament theory.

What if it gives us something that's kind of the opposite of [Honored Guest]? [Honored Guest] essentially allows Mareienette to take our place; to weave with our thread through the tapestry of history, such that noone can say Velvet did not do the social.

Moth Sacrament could give Velvet a [Dishonored Guest]. A Mr. Hyde-like persona, equally impenetrable to [Honored Guest.] We make a brand new thread with which we can weave through the tapestry of history, that simply is not Velvet, even if it acts with Velvet's body. We'd get +1 AP that has to be spent as our Dishonored Guest. The Dishonored Guest cannot do Social actions for us, since it's not us. And we'd have limited control over our alter-ego in much the same way that we lose control of mid-action choices with Mareienette.

And if generating a Dishonored Guest is the end, perhaps the thing we reveal to our victim in the process of building it in the Sacrament is all of the nasty and unpleasant parts of Velvet that we shove into the Dishonored Guest. They see that we have taken the evil in the heart of ponykind, built an unaccountable agent with it, and set it loose with all of our resources.

It'd also be very like the QM to make it a vague-horror-mine, instilling paranoia about exactly what our alterego is doing...
 
Earth-Destroyer said:
3 AP on Celetia is already to much in my opinion. 2 is already almost a full week of work on Celetia if she not out of the death spiral by then then it beyond Velvet's ablity to affect.
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No way that something directly compared to halting a nuclear meltdown takes less effort than the Knock Sacrament.
 
I don't see how the Tower is even the slightest bit relevant. It's explicitly labeled as "Gives a SH scrap" because it's a special location that requires you to reach SH sacrament to make progress on one of the quest's Endings. The other locations are normal mansus locations, that might give reagents or low-level influences or Dreads or whatever completely random nonsense, and only gives scraps on a highroll. We are not going to reach Moth Mastery via mansus scraps unless we find a bunch of moth scrap studyables on expeditions and need to highroll to get the last one or two.

Normal mansus locations are "Roll on a random table to get something." At best it's 20% of a scrap if we're lucky, and then divide further since it may be any of like 4 different kinds of scraps potentially. They're explicitly more random and less rewarding than new locations for a reason.
 
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ses said:
The other locations are normal mansus locations,
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Your explicitly ignoring the Wolf in room here.

As it has clearly been pointed out by the QM befriended higher powers can do a lot to aid Velvet. An example of this can be seen in Mareinette making it so that Velvet doesn't loose all her personal actions due to dancing with death.

Getting lessons from visiting a higher power repeatability during a turn and asking for lessons was a valid option for most of the quest.
 
Shaper47 said:
As it has clearly been pointed out by the QM befriended higher powers can do a lot to aid Velvet. An example of this can be seen in Mareinette making it so that Velvet doesn't loose all her personal actions due to dancing with death.
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mechanically speaking, dancing with death was never meant to have you lose all actions though. So that's more narrative flavouring than a mechanical advantage.
 
Wise Wolf said:
I had a Moth sacrament theory.

What if it gives us something that's kind of the opposite of [Honored Guest]? [Honored Guest] essentially allows Mareienette to take our place; to weave with our thread through the tapestry of history, such that noone can say Velvet did not do the social.

Moth Sacrament could give Velvet a [Dishonored Guest]. A Mr. Hyde-like persona, equally impenetrable to [Honored Guest.]

...

We'd get +1 AP that has to be spent as our Dishonored Guest. The Dishonored Guest cannot do Social actions for us, since it's not us. And we'd have limited control over our alter-ego in much the same way that we lose control of mid-action choices with Mareienette.
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Cool theory, I highly doubt that's how it's going to work but cool theory.

Seems way to much like some sort of SH Sacrament though.

It's probably something like the Changelings trick.

So more like:

Skin-Walker - Muder someone and steal/wear their skin allowing Velvet to impersonate that person.

So for example murder Spoiled Rich and then pretend to be her. Doing stuff like shattering Filthy Rich's heart by taking a bunch of bits while dumbing him so she can make it big at a city.

Pittauro said:
mechanically speaking, dancing with death was never meant to have you lose all actions though. So that's more narrative flavouring than a mechanical advantage.
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I mean, we never actually got to try out the basic dancing with death without intervention so don't really know.

So maybe, maybe not.

It does narratively support the idea of the Master's replacement filling in their roll for this though*.

*Regarding moth and edge at least, so trade bredth for depth.
 
dcoconeo said:
I'm not sure our son(s) are the Moth type given their origin though? Hour > Name, so it's more likely to be Edge + Winter as usual.
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Probably depends on the context of their creation.

Ash usurped the Woods and stole its secrets so it got Moth the power of the Woods Chaos.

Stalking i.e. playing hide and seek, implies moth lessons i.e. moth scraps.

The Hunting Grounds imply edge lessons/scraps.

Not really seeing any Winter for Ash so far.

There was also that option to pick one of our Wolf child's lores. Grail (blood), Lantern (blindness), Winter (ice), Wolf-Divided (AGONY) so it's not exactly pre-determined.

Like, the first son was edge and Winter yes and he gave edge and Winter lessons (he even helped out by giving an Edge lesson to his sister while the two where playing together). But the following children haven't come directly so much as from the Wolf-Divided but from Velvet's actions.
 
Shaper47 said:
Probably depends on the context of their creation.
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That does make sense, I suppose. I would say that they can't really communicate to teach, but that might not actually matter in practice?

Regardless, it has always been my opinion that T25 should be our deadline regardless of whether delaying works (unknown unknowns and all that), so Moth Mastery does not really shift any needles to me - if the game is even winnable which I am assuming it is, having almost all the Name friendships we can possibly have should be more than enough, especially considering how the QM outright stated Mareinette Friendship was not quite needed to win the game?
 
Talon Tiger Dino said:
I see no reason to set a deadline independent of Velvet's circumstances.
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Here's our list of spinning plates:

1) Random Occultists finding Ash or other similar 'goodies' and deciding to summon them.
2) Windy and Neighnia (inactive??)
3) Sunny Doom Clock (mitigating?)
4) Eclipse getting a Brand, and then spotting us.
5) Biedde getting summoned and then attacking us.
6) Wolf Cult doing Wolf Things.
7) Us lending Baldomare, and then the Bureau/Celestia scrying us instead (or just spamming the relevant ritual themselves until they hit something).
8) Bureau needs to make progress on Changelings, which needs Name investment to get anywhere.
9) Good ol' Unknown Unknowns.

Moth Mastery only helps with 3 out of all of these, and we can't sit on all of these potential bombs even if we have Baldomare scry twice a month.
Or, we could finish our preparations, win Glory, and make these bombs irrelevant.
 
1. Random occultists finding Ash does not affect Velvet, and I doubt Velvet's victory will stop occultists from finding Ash. Because the Wolf Divided still lives, and gets a vote when it comes to its progeny.
2. Windy and Neighnia might not even be a problem, we don't know.
3. The Sun Clock might be handled, might not be, we don't know.
4. Well I guess we could just eat the Eclipse member that does that, if push comes to shove, the votes regarding Mareinette's Sacrament.
5. That is concerning, but it would be Biedde vs 5 other Names, so I don't think we'll auto-lose.
6. The Wolf Cult is going to Wolf Cult no matter what, Velvet passed up the chance to steer them any other way, leaving them to Silky. Who still doesn't know that she has a cult. And they are on our side.
7. They'd have to create their own scrying ritual first, it's not a ritual you find in the Mansus.
8. The Bureau can get away with a lot of poking around and investigating the Changelings before making any big moves, Tall Tale was proof of that.
9. Until the unknown pops up, we don't know about it.

In short, none of these factors make me want to set down an arbitrary turn deadline we must adhere to. If circumstances force us to All-In sooner, so be it. If circumstances allow us to prepare more, we accept them. Flexible and fluid, our plots should be.
 
Also

4) Moth Mastery can probably deal with it
5) Smiles with some wrong keys can handle it, so just scry and send him in
8) Alicorn All Out is also an option
9) Let's not underestimate Velvet here, she's not that likely to be specifically targeted and is good at running away
 
Shaper47 said:
5) Smiles with some wrong keys can handle it, so just scry and send him in
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QM already mentioned that Smiles is not the logical type that would use these resources like that though, when it was floated above?

Regarding 8), yeah, it could work, though I'm not sure if it would risk Celestia asking questions about where all this force came from if she was looking in the correct location at that time.
 
Shaper47 said:
Could probably just send Mareinette along then to carry the wrong keys. She waits in the background till Smiles gets a wound in then uses the three wrong keys.
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No can do.
OurLadyOfWires said:
[OH HATED FOE]: If Smiles and Biedde ever meet, under any circumstances, the two of them will battle to the death in single combat (no interruptions will be allowed or accepted).
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That only works if Biedde kills Smiles, so we would need to lose a Name to get rid of another Name.
 
DelightedOne said:
No can do.

That only works if Biedde kills Smiles, so we would need to lose a Name to get rid of another Name.
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Huh, good catch.

Well loosing Smiles to kill Biedde isn't really that much of a loss given how presumably it would also involve dismantling Biedde's summoning apparatus.

Just need to summon Smiles again afterwards.

A pain but a manageable one.
 
DelightedOne said:
No can do.

That only works if Biedde kills Smiles, so we would need to lose a Name to get rid of another Name.
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Not sure I'd read it like that.

interruptions read to me as "try to stop the fight". if you're JOINING the fight... well, apparently the Lionsmith has Smiles be there basically to be killed first to give him an opening towards the Colonel, so at least one half of the corrivalry is willing to accept the help of underlings.

and in the middle of a fight I can't exactly imagine Smiles turning down the help. No idea how he'd feel about it though.
 
Pittauro said:
Not sure I'd read it like that.

interruptions read to me as "try to stop the fight". if you're JOINING the fight... well, apparently the Lionsmith has Smiles be there basically to be killed first to give him an opening towards the Colonel, so at least one half of the corrivalry is willing to accept the help of underlings.

and in the middle of a fight I can't exactly imagine Smiles turning down the help. No idea how he'd feel about it though.
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That... makes sense somewhat, however "Oh Hated Foe" explicitly says "single combat" right before no interruptions. So I'm not sure about that.

Smiles sacrificing himself("If It is for the cause, I will gladly burn myself") to give his allies an advantage against Biedde feels in character for him. And weirdly, also for Biedde, but I guess after so long they learned a thing or two with each other.
 
In single combat with both of them entering with full HP and nothing interfering Biedde wins single combat 56.95% of the time, according to our glorious AI overlords running a simulation for me.

And of course in the majority of Biedde's wins he comes out of it with only 1 HP and gets instantly Wrong Key'd to death. And it's still shockingly close to a literal coin flip.

When Biedde wins, he has an average of 2.00 HP remaining
Biedde's HP Distribution (when victorious):

  • 1 HP: 54.5% - Most common outcome, wins by the skin of his teeth
  • 3 HP: 31.7% - Second most common
  • 5 HP: 7.6% - Rare flawless victory
  • 2 HP: 6.3% - Least common (Only due to Smiles getting a natural double-wounder upgraded to 3 wounds)
  • 4 HP: 0.0% - Impossible
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And since it's basically a coinflip if Biedde wins in the first place it's extremely unlikely that Biedde comes out of it with decent Health.

It's also kind of funny that the Mastery mechanic really swings the probability in Biedde's favor, as [CRUSHING STRENGTH] would be vastly better than [MY SCARS ARE LESSONS] if neither side had Mastery rerolls. But since rerolls turn the roll into a bell curve which makes the rolls less swingy and closer to their average, that makes the +10 and +20 advantages from Scars have a lot more weight and chip Smiles down, while swingy rolls favor Smiles. Strength vs Skill indeed.

Actually, speaking of such I forgot to include autowounding for nat100s. Re-running the simulation for that:

  • Biedde: 54.87% (down from 56.95%)
Because of Crushing Strength synergy, the fact that Mastery makes nat100s more likely, and it shortens the fight meaning fewer Mastery-enabled clashes where Biedde gets to chip down Smiles with a small personal combat lead.

It's really shocking how evenly matched Bird managed to make them.

And of course the very earliest turn Biedde can act in the Wake is turn 26, by which point Smiles will be Befriended. And frankly it's just really unlikely that Biedde matters compared to Daybreaker. Biedde getting summoned at the earliest opportunity seems unlikely to me, since on Turn 25 conditional on Daybreaker being defused (a tall order!) we can start scrying for ponies capable of summoning him and have Smiles go handle them (With orders to capture alive if it's Steppes)
 
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Turn 23 - Velvet's Phase New
Tally

[X] Plan: A Song of Bright Snow
-[X] (Detectives) Investigate Neighnia
-[X] (Constables) Expedition: The Quarry of Yuxtabai
-[X] (Commissioner) Get your hooves dirty
-[X] (Director) Heart
-[X] (Mareinette) Honored Guest: Mayor Mare
-[X] (Baldomare) Lantern lesson
-[X] (DoA) Consult
-[X] (Smiles-Free) Lead an expedition: Is It Free Real Estate?
-[X] (Cherenkolt) Consult
--[X] Recalibrate: Grail
-[X] (Selene) Soothe the night
-[X] (Jade) Study Moth 3 artifact
-[X] Summon a Mare-in-the-Light
--[X] In a barn on our estate
-[X] Acquire a dead body
-[X] Help Smiles (x2)
-[X] Cover your bases (-5 Follower AP, +2 Velvet AP)

You are Lady Velvet Covers.

And right now, you are on a date!

"Trust me, you really can't tell from down here," your husband continues, as he takes another bite from his lunch. "But every time I fly over Ponyville, it looks a little bit bigger. The colors, also, are changing. Like it's slowly being painted gray as the weeks go by."

You give him a slow nod, still wearing the same relaxed smile you had all day as you sip from your cup.

And true to your expression, you aren't really thinking about anything at all. Right now, you are at peace.

How long has it been since you two went out on a date like this? Too long, you realized at some point. And it would have been even longer if your husband hadn't just marched into your office and declared that he would be taking a mare out in a date today, one way or the other.

So, after jokingly saying that said mare would be either Baldomare, Silky or yourself, you made the oh so hard decision of dropping everything you were doing and spending some much-needed time with your best friend and lover.

"Is it weird for me to think this isn't something bad?" you ask. "I mean, we lived in Ponyville for more than ten years now, but I never really felt like we were that connected to the town. Not like the families that have been here for generations, that is."

Your husband slows down his chewing as he considers your question. But you can already tell from his expression that he agrees with you. After all, you and Silky lived a rather isolated life in the estate for most of Silky's life, and Stormy worked all over Equestria. So, Ponyville has always been a small town that was there, but the recent changes aren't affecting you nearly as much as it is everypony else.

"To be honest, I don't think this is something bad even for the ponies who have lived here forever," he says, partly wise and partly with a shrug. You give him an agreeing nod, but the two of you immediately descent into a comfortable silence as you continue working on your plates.

You and Stormy are currently in Ponyville, having a late breakfast-lunch in a restaurant you had already visited before.

But true to your previous conversation, even this place has already started seeing changes. Some items in the menu were definitely suggested by a city-born cook, and at least one of the waitresses had the small telltale signs of being from out of town.

Because Ponyville ponies very rarely wear articles of clothing. So, even something as small as the earring the waitress had was enough to give her away.

Still, neither of you thought that was something bad. And for all that Rarity and Jade Whistle told you there have been some grumblings, none of them really affected you.

"What are your thoughts on dessert?" Stormy asks, pulling you out of your thoughts just as you take the last bite out of your meal.

And how the hay can he be so charming even when he is asking something so silly?

You let out a small giggle as your husband woos you, and then you light up your horn to float a nearby menu. Because you would indeed like something sweet right now.

As your eyes go over the several options on the menu-



[Edge 3: Velvet Covers is immune to ambushes]



-you realize somepony is looking for you.

"Sweetheart? What's wrong?" your husband asks, the hints of romance and calm in his voice gone, replaced by concern and a sudden urgency.

And for all that you had a wonderful day so far, you can't help but feel angry at this interruption.

You wanted to have a nice day out with your hubby, and you wanted to have a pleasant evening with him, and you wanted to be able to go a full day without being reminded of everything that is going on.

Hay, you haven't even had the chance to tell him you are nursing a broken rib! You were planning to do that later today.

"Velvet? Dear? What is going on?" he asks, this time a little more forcefully, but that only makes you realize that you have been quiet for a few moments now.

"Nothing dear… or at least nothing immediate."

You say that as you track the nearby smell. Because from what you can gather…

… somepony came down from the clouds above…

… that somepony is looking for you with urgency…

… but they changed tracks and went towards your bodyguards…

And the fact that your bodyguards and this intruder are now right next to each other, but you don't smell a fight, tells you they are talking.

Moments later, one of your bodyguards breaks off from the group, and starts making her way towards the restaurant.

"Or maybe it is something immediate…" you say, sagging on your chair.

The peaceful expression you had a moment ago immediately turns into a frown. And your husband, the lovely stallion he is, can't help but commiserate.

So much for a lovely date day with him…

Moments later, you hear a bell ringing over the entrance door, and the expected sound of hoofsteps begins making its way towards you.

You aren't angry anymore, you are just tired.

But your bodyguards know better. And they wouldn't have interrupted you if this wasn't important.

You watch as your husband looks at the pony, Battering Ram, who you know is waiting behind you. Still, you make a point at looking at your husband's handsome face for just a second longer.

"My Lady?" the mare eventually says after clearing her throat. "We have somepony outside, a runner from Canterlot. He brought a letter."

At least the mare sounds apologetic, you think to yourself.

"You told us not to interrupt you unless there was an emergency, or something was on fire, and…"

The mare trails off as you light up your horn, picking up the letter she had on her hoofs.

The letter, you can tell, is already open. You allowed your bodyguards to open anything directed to you that didn't have a Princess' seal on it, and this letter came from the Bureau.

But you don't bother pulling the thing out of the envelope. You don't have the mind to pretend right now. Instead, you float the letter towards you and you touch it with your hoofs.



URGENT MISSIVE

Velvet. Something happened. Cadance needs your help.

She did not ask me to write you, but this is urgent.

It is about Princess Celestia.

Please come to Canterlot.

Deputy Shining Armor​



A sombering chill runs down your spine. And despite your disappointment that your time with Stormchaser is being interrupted, you can't really be angry about this anymore.

Shining Armor thinks that Cadance needs you. And if this is about what you think it is, then this also involves Selene. Which means your own comfort comes second.

You are only sad that Stormy will have his date cut short.

"I keep my ready-bag under the bed," you tell Ram, and she immediately understands what you mean. "And it will be quicker if the carriage is brought here. Get it done, I will leave for Canterlot immediately."

You say that, dismissing her with a hoof, and the dutiful mare rushes out of the restaurant as soon as you are done speaking.

You figure that, in just a few minutes, Drummer Clap will make it to the estate and start banging whatever doors need to be banged to get the rest of her team moving. A few minutes after that, your carriage will arrive to ferry you away.

And then you will be gone, away from your husband and your family for whatever is happening in Canterlot.

"It's okay dear," Stormy says, taking your hoofs with his own, his smile pushing back against the frown you are wearing. "You will be back before you know it. Or who knows, I might surprise you by visiting with the fillies," he says.

Managing to get a small smile out of you.

You spend the next few minutes together, but soon enough the sound of rushing wind heralds the arrival of your carriage. Too quick for you two to be able to order dessert.

Such is the weight of the burdens you picked up, you suppose.



- - -



This is the first time you had to use your "ready-bag," the pre-packed luggage you keep in your house in case you need to be rushed away from your home.

Granted, you already have a permanent room in the Royal Castle, so most of the things in your bag won't really be needed. You aren't being ferried to some distant corner of Equestria, towards a makeshift camp of the Bureau in the middle of nowhere.

Still, the spare uniform you keep in there will make it easier for you to go straight to business as soon as you land.

And sure enough, business is waiting for you when you land, with Shining Armor standing at the end of the landing platform the moment your carriage door is opened.

"Commissioner, please come with me," he says, as soon as the whirling of the magical wheels die down and his voice can reach you.

So, you march down from the carriage and you follow after him.

And as you walk, making your way deeper into the Royal Castle, you realize that… the stallion, he looks concerned.

More than just that, everypony looks concerned. The guards that let you two by look on edge, the servants that you see here and there look skittish, almost frightened. Even the air in the Royal Castle feels heavy.

Still, Shining Armor doesn't offer you any immediate explanation. He just asks you to follow after him. And you have known Shining for long enough to trust him, so you follow him in silence.

And sure enough, as you two approach the section of the castle that houses the Royal Apartments, you realize that…

"Hold on, Shining. Is it just me, or do I feel…" you ask, but your voice trails off the moment the stallion turns back to face you.

Because his expression already tells you everything you need to know.

You are not going insane. This is not some weird coincidence. None of that.

The fact of the matter is that the floor… the marbled floor of the Royal Castle, even though it is covered in rich carpet, is hot. The very floor feels warm to the touch, and you can feel it even through your metal horseshoes and the thick carpet.

"We have no idea of what is going on," Shining finally says, his voice firm despite the gravity of the situation. "I heard from the garrison that Cadance was holding an audience, but that she suddenly bolted from the throne, and she was last seen rushing into the Royal Apartment."

He then taps the floor with a hoof, shaking his head slightly as if he couldn't believe his own words.

"A few hours later, the servants started reporting that, well, that it was getting warm. It was getting warm fast. And it didn't take long for everypony to realize this heat is radiating from Princess Celestia's apartment."

He then tells you that he was alerted about all of that soon after, when the Royal Guard realized they couldn't keep their posts near the Princess without their armors giving them light burns. So, Shining immediately sent a runner for you, and now you are here.

"I haven't been able to see Cadance yet. The guards say she entered Celestia's apartment, but… well, we can't even get close to it for more than a few minutes. The best we could do is keep firefighters on hoof, and move away anything that was flammable from the vicinity. We are afraid that fires might break out if the temperature keeps climbing like this."

You swallow something dry as he says that.

Because you wanted to ask him what you could do, what any of you could do, but you already know the answer for that.

He doesn't know. He doesn't know, you don't know, and neither does anypony else.

And that is terrifying.

Not only because the situation is dangerous by itself, after all climbing temperatures are a hazard by itself. But worse than that, the very idea of a Princess having… problems. Well, it is as terrifying as the notion of the sun simply going out. Equestria needs its Princesses, and the thought that one of them is unwell is as personal and terrifying as the idea of a family member being sick.

And worst of all, everypony understand that this is just something outside of your reach as mere mortals. This is certainly related to Princess Celestia, and Princess Cadance is already involved in… whatever is going on.

So, the only thing you little ponies can do is wait. All you can do is wait, and hope, and hold on to the idea that everything will be alright.

"Well, the Royal Guard seems to have everything under control," you say, more to yourself than to anypony else. Because sure enough, the Royal Castle is, very technically, not under the jurisdiction of the Lunar Bureau.

But you know, and Shining certainly understands, that you two are very intimately connected to the Princesses matters. Him as a husband, and you as the Commissioner as well as Cadance's friend.

"So, for now, we can only wait for Cadance to come back to us," you say. "If the Royal Guard needs anything, or any help with the castle, give it to them. And please let me know the moment Cadance gives us a sign of what is going on."

He gives you a quick nod that he agrees with you. After all, you don't have any idea of what you should or even could do to help.

But you two will be ready to assist the moment an opportunity arises.



- - -



VELVET'S PHASE​



This turn's available bits: 504


You have SIX personal actions, ONE (free) social action, and ONE free Mansus Exploration action. (Four personal actions, plus two from "Cover your bases").
Additional notes:
-All your Fleeting Opportunities this turn may be performed with your free social action.
-Unless you Leash Mayor Mare, or perform another social-related action towards her, I understand that you will be hoping Mareinette "jumps" two levels of her friendship during her action.
-Spoiled Rich is not yet a Confidante, and your Followers' Phase vote did not Leash her. You must Leash her in your plan, or further socialize her, if you wish to perform a Moth Sacrament with her.
-That is to say, you might have the option to Leash Mayor Mare later in the turn, but you cannot guarantee you will have the opportunity to do so, given the variables involved in this turn.
-And about the free Fleeting Opportunity for Filthy Rich:
OurLadyOfWires said:
Apologies if the wording was not clear. "Saving" their marriage is anything that ends with them together. "Ruining" their marriage is anything that ends with them separated.
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-[] You are wounded! (You currently have 1 wounds. You must pick one of each option.)
-For every single dice you roll, a success will only heal a single wound.
-All rolls are against a DC 70.
-You currently have an Artifact in your possession. It shall grant you a +30 bonus for your roll.
-Your current Heart application bonus is +15 (since this is a long-term process, you cannot apply Attention of the Laws to it).

Rest, and time, are the only true remedies for a sick body. (You must pick one)
--[] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
--[] Take a few breaks, every now and then. (Costs 1 action. Rolls TWO dice. 0/-15)
--[] You only have one body. Better take the time to care for it… (Costs 2 actions. Rolls THREE dice. 0/-15/-30)
--[] Your wounds are deep and numerous. You can't play around while you are like this. (Costs 3 actions. Rolls FOUR dice. 0/-15/-30/-45)
--[] You are almost broken. So, you will act accordingly. You need only your mind to plan vengeance. (Costs 4 actions. Rolls FIVE dice. 0/-15/-30/-45/-60)

The body will do its part. But science, and magic, may also provide. As long as you provide the proper "encouragement", of course. (The dices that auto-succeed will always be the ones that have the greatest penalty, and NOT the dices who roll the lowest results.) (You must pick one)
--[] You either don't care, or you don't have enough bits to care. Either way, your body will have to mend itself on its own terms. (Costs nothing.)
--[] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed)
--[] There is no holy grail for healing magic, no miraculous wound-closing spell. But vigor-enhancing spells, and other small boosts, are a thing. The crystals where they are stored for sale are expensive, though… (Costs 60 bits. Two dice will auto-succeed)
--[] It costs extra to have a nurse follow you back from the hospital. But everything is a service, and everything is for sale, if you have the bits for it. (Costs 90 bits. Three dice will auto-succeed)
--[] These are not illegal, they are just extremely hard to find. The fact that they are so hard to find that no regulation agency cared to declare them illegal, on the other hoof, is just a small detail. (Costs 120 bits. Four dice will auto-succeed)
--[] Most of the bits are to pay for his silence. His skills, however, are not to be disregarded. The doctor is so quiet that you sometimes forget he is even there, but he is never more than ten hoofsteps away from you. (Costs 150 bits. Five dice will auto-succeed)


-[] Do something about your opponents
"They might not be your enemies, but they are definitely not your friends."
(Knowing, or at least suspecting, an opponent's location is vital for a non-ritual action to succeed. Otherwise, the pony sent will spend their action investigating an opponent's whereabouts)

Windy Flakes (possible location unknown)
--[] [WINDY] Participate in an assault against this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Try to locate or spy on this opponent
--[] [WINDY] Perform a ritual aimed at this opponent (WRITE IN which)
--[] [WINDY] Attempt to contact or parlay with this opponent this opponent (WRITE IN what to talk about, if you locate them and they are willing to talk)


You also have the free time to…
These personal, non-Mansus actions are free.

-[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFY LORE] (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")

-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: NO TARGET)
--[] Change Leash to another target. (Write-in who)
--[] Un-Leash the current target.

Pick ONE social/teaching action, for your free time at home.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Mayor Mare, the de-factor ruler of Ponyville.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy businesspony.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Spoiled Rich, who seems awfully interested in spending time with you.
-[] [SOCIAL] Spend time with Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend.
-[] [SOCIAL] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [SOCIAL] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)


No more running, no more hesitation. If you don't do this, somepony else will, and that thought sometimes terrifies you.
You must pick a single action. You will suffer a malus if there are no new locations to explore.
Using this action to change Ash's focus risks aforementioned malus.

-[] [KNOCK] Focus your hatred. Give Ash new instructions.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ashen Wastes
--[] [KNOCK] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds.

--[] The Blank Plains (Blank Plains fully explored)

-[] [KNOCK] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [KNOCK] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.

-[] [KNOCK] The Ruined Church
--[] [KNOCK] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)

-[] [KNOCK] The Summit (Summit fully explored)


-[] These are the skills that allow you to climb the Mansus. (Actions towards your possible Sacraments)
--[] Towards that cold Winter that awaits us all
---[] Investigating the End (Costs 30 bits. May be done multiple times per turn. Somepony, somewhere, will die.)
---[] Beg for knowledge of the End, so that you may learn of its necessity. (Will also provide you with an Edge Sacrament) [THIS IS A REGRETTABLE ACTION]
---[] Invitation? No Winter Names summoned

--[] Attempt, even if foolishly, to untangle the webs of the Secret Histories
---[] Investigate your current skills. To try to understand them, if nothing else. (Current progress 1/3) (THIS IS A DANGEROUS ACTION)
---[] Follow Baldomare, towards a place Beyond the Map's Edge (This is an Expedition action) (this requires Baldomare to be set "to participate in an expedition", ONE Velvet action, and 40 bits)

--[] Take that terrifying leap, into the abyss we call change
---[] Don the mask, shear your mane, pick the only pony who will notice it. Snip snip snip (WRITE IN a CONFIDANT to be permanently lost)
---[] Invitation? No Moth Names available

--[] You must learn more. Always, always more. The higher you rise, the more you see!
---[] "The Conversation" (WRITE IN a minion-equivalent pony, or a prisoner, to be destroyed) Requires Lantern 4/4
---[] Pay Baldomare her fee. (WRITE IN FOUR followers, or equivalents, for Baldomare's expedition) Requires Lantern 4/4

--[] Reach for the skills that permits one to enact change
---[] Experiment, Craft, Create (Costs 50 bits per action, current progress 0/300) (WRITE IN if any reagents or sacrifices will be used) Requires Forge 2/4
---[] Set up a Workshop, under the direction of Cherenkolt (Costs 200 bits) Requires Forge 4/4


-[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions might never be available again)
-[] Filthy Rich has reached a crossroad in his personal life. His marriage is not where he wants it to be, and he is not sure what he should do. You should nudge him in the right direction. (FREE ACTION) (WRITE IN if you wish to SAVE or RUIN his marriage, or if you have another idea entirely) (Consult with QM for more details)

-[] The Royal Castle feels, quite literally, like a powder keg, and the temperature is rising. Cadance will come out of that boiler at some point. When she does, she will need your help. (May be picked multiple times)

-[] Your uncle Steppes left you a letter, before he disappeared, with a contact. Get in touch with whoever this is. (This option will not fade away, but will grow weaker the longer you take to pick)


-[] On the treasures that bits may buy (actions where you search for things to purchase)
--[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
---[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (HEART, FORGE)
---[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (LANTERN, GRAIL, SECRET HISTORIES)
---[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (MOTH, EDGE, KNOCK)
(Due to SECRET HISTORIES 3, now you have a better idea of what you are more likely to find in each city)

--[] Although you are personally judicious about such habits, you are still a noble. Searching for "peculiar items" to "add to your collection" is certainly not out of place… right? (Search for an artifact to buy)

--[] You have ingratiated yourself with the merchants of Ponyville. Tap into your sources and procure an artifact. (Specify LORE and LEVEL, up to Level 3. It will be added to your available list, but will be more expensive than normal)

--[] You haven't forgotten about it, you just put it on hold until a more convenient time. (Purchases done here will arrive/be completed at the end of this turn.) (Does NOT cost an action)
---[] NO ARTIFACTS AVAILABLE


On furthering your interests
-[] Jade's house is now adequately clean. Or at least sufficiently presentable for ponies to work on it. You should… (Forge-aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
--[] You need a place where you can safely, and discreetly, store items. Use the upper level of her house for it.


On planning an Expedition.
(All options involve a test, and can fail, Secret-Histories aligned ponies are better suited at attempting these tasks)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Equestria is full of undiscovered places. You must learn their secrets…
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is recent in its ruin, whose History is decided. Mundane as it might be, it might still bear treasures. (Search for an "easy" expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that is old in its History. Where the influence of the Mansus is but an echo, but that can still be heard in the wind. (Search for an intermediary expedition)
--[] [EXPEDITION] Search for a place that should be better left forgotten. According to the powers of this Era, at least. Finding it will be hard, though, and uncovering its secrets even harder. (Search for a very hard expedition)

-[] [EXPEDITION] Sally out and lead an expedition (will open an "Expedition planning" vote later this turn, with you as the leader)
-[] [EXPEDITION] Scout out a known expedition yourself. (Write in which)


On furthering knowledge. Yours, or somepony else's.
-[] [TEACH] Write a Manifest. It will not benefit you directly, but it will certainly benefit anypony else with whoever you allow into your library. (WRITE IN Lore)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Rarity, and make her a Seeker.
-[] [TEACH] Teach Jade. (Already a Seeker)
-[] [TEACH] Teach Fluttershy, and make her a Disciple. (Forbidden)
-[] [TEACH] Teach your family the Lores. (Requires "all Lores" to be Level 4 or higher, affects your entire family)

(You may study three books, OR two artifacts, OR one book and one artifact. Studying/developing a ritual costs an entire action.)

-[] [LEARN] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is
--[](Write in which Artifacts

-[] [LEARN] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure weekend evening, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it!
--[] Write in which books

-[] [LEARN] It all fits together, somehow… or so you hope.
--[] [LEARN] "Unknown Ritual – A Memory of Light" Step one (Progress 0/100, uses Learning and LANTERN)


On scaling the Mansus (Pick TWO options for every action spent)
-[] [MANSUS] The Wastes

--[] [MANSUS] You hate him, and he loves you so. Visit Ash, and tell him who else you wish to suffer. (Give Ash new orders)

--[] [MANSUS] Stalk the Ashen Wastes. The alternative is to be stalked.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Hunting Grounds, and pray that tonight you are the huntress rather than the hunted.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Boiling Swamps, and pick on its treasures like carrion picking on a corpse.
--[] [MANSUS] Tarrying in the Wastes is always a poor idea… but there is no other way to discover what this place holds. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] The Blank Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] [MANSUS] Visit the Garden of Mirrors, where the Mares attend the glassy flowers.
--[] [MANSUS] Explore what lies beyond the Garden of Mirrors, behind that pale veil of fog Requires a Winter Sacrament
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for The Tower, at the impossible edge of the Blank Plains, and meditate on what you are lacking. (Gain one scrap of Secret Histories Lore) This option will not net you any gain.

-[] [MANSUS] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [MANSUS] Wander through the maze of broken stairs. Perhaps you will stumble upon something.
--[] [MANSUS] Reach for the Valley of Keys, where the snakemare of the Mansus once toiled for her freedom.
--[] [MANSUS] Seek audience with the Wolf-Divided (you will be given a useful gift. Gifts will always be increasingly more precious and useful. There is no risk of receiving any maluses or wounds) [This is a Regrettable Action]
--[] [MANSUS] There are other markings to be followed within this maddening labyrinth of stairs. Follow them. (Search for a new area)

-[] [MANSUS] Beyond the Tribal Door
--[] [MANSUS] Explore the depths of the Ruined Church (Mansus Expedition)
--[] [MANSUS] Visit Biedde on his post, and gaze upon the Worm Museum This is a bad idea (Biedde is your enemy)
--[] [MANSUS] What remains of the heart of the Mansus is but a tortured maze of glass and dead ends. Wander through its corridors.

-[] [MANSUS] The Summit
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon the Final Gate.
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon that ruined Workshop, where Cherenkolt's remains lie scattered.
--[] [MANSUS] Ponder upon the Broken Gate of hateful glass.


On more personal matters
-[] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.

-[] Much to your own satisfaction, you now have a personal life outside of your maids, immediate family and business related meetings. You could choose to spend some time with…
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony.
--[] Spoiled Rich, who is so very glad you are here today.
--[] Applejack, daughter of the Apple Clan and older sister to your daughter's friend
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)


On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)
Write-in any sacrifices you plan to use.

-[] [FORGE] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores.
(You cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] [FORGE] Level 1 reagent (5 bits)
--[] [FORGE Level 2 reagent (20 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 3 reagent (45 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Level 4 reagent (80 bits)

-[] It's grim work, but needs must.
--[] Acquire a dead body from the local cemetery.
--[] Acquire a live pony. (You have no place to keep live prisoners)

-[] "The proper things, in the proper manner, in the proper order. God help us all." (Perform a Ritual)
--[] "The Attention of the Laws" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Forge's Redemption"
--[] "The Incision of the Heart"
--[] "The Path Through Nightmares" (specify target)
--[] "The End is Beautiful" (specify target)
--[] "The calling of Influence" (specify Aspect)
--[] "The Reflection of the Tapestry" (specify subject)
--[] Invoke a Risen (SPECIFY dead body used as source. ONE Risen is a FREE ACTION)
--[] Create an Ash-Ghoul (Write in how many sacrifices)
--[] Invoke a Windigo
--[] Invoke a Mare-in-the-Light
--[] Invoke Baldomare Already summoned
--[] Invoke the Daugher-of-Axes Already summoned
--[] Invoke Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires
--[] Invoke Biedde May no longer be summoned
--[] Invoke Smiles Already summoned

--[] To be performed at your own home, where you will... hopefully not leave many trails
--[] To be performed in Jade's old house (only up to Two-Circle rituals)
--[] To be performed on another location (you do not yet know or own any such location)


-[] Something else? (WRITE IN. Anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)



It is saturday, and discussions were had ahead of time. So, twelve hours moratorium.

Please discuss with QM before suggesting something too detailed about Filthy Rich. I much prefer a write-in where you tell me your intentions, rather than a write-in where you explain the narrative you hope happens. Tell me what you want, and leave the narrative to me.

And let me know if I missed anything, or if anything needs correction.

I hope you are all doing well!
 
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OurLadyOfWires said:
-Unless you Leash Mayor Mare, or perform another social-related action towards her, I understand that you will be hoping Mareinette "jumps" two levels of her friendship during her action.
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We were hoping she would go up one level and we would be allowed to Leash Mayor Mare after the leash on Spoiled breaks from our Moth Sacrament? Is that not how it works? We have until the END of this turn after all. If we aren't allowed to do that we should have been told during follower's phase, that was critical to our plan.

And we're not allowed to double up social actions on confidantes via mareinette anyway.
 
OurLadyOfWires said:
The very floor feels warm to the touch, and you can feel it even through your metal horseshoes and the thick carpet
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Mmm, sounds like the castle is suffering from Hyperthermia!


@OurLadyOfWires What I would like for the Filthy marriage is to shatter Spoiled's confidence (that she can play this game of nobility, that she has people she can trust outside of Filthy, that she can have friends in this world beyond her family) and drive her back into his arms that way.

Is that feasible? Is that too much the narrative, and not the intentions?
 
Of course there is something new to read right after I started playing Deltarune after miserably failing to finish Sans' pacifist special fight. Guess chapter 1 will be half done.

OurLadyOfWires said:
[Edge 3: Velvet Covers is immune to ambushes]
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Does somepony want to die? Cause the last time someone ambushed Velvet they died... nevermind she also died.

OurLadyOfWires said:
"My Lady?" the mare eventually says after clearing her throat. "We have somepony outside, a runner from Canterlot. He brought a letter."
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Ooh, Velvet just got the nuclear meltdown warning. Got it.

Guess it is time to rule Equestria!

About Filthy Rich, did anyone have a good idea of what to do? Aside from any write-in I am leaning to ruin his marriage but saving it sounds nice too(unless we make her go crazy).
 
--[] You don't have time for this. (Costs 0 actions. You will only roll ONE healing dice.)
--[] The medicine taste is worse than its appearance. But it is exactly what you need, if they are to be believed… (Costs 30 bits. One dice will auto-succeed)
-[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SECRET HISTORIES]
-[] The delights of subservience (Leash currently targeting: NO TARGET)
--[] Change Leash to another target. (Spoiled Rich)
-[] [KNOCK] The Shattered Stairways
--[] [KNOCK] A labyrinth of stairs. A monument of a gone age. A sprawling ruin. See where the many paths might lead you.
--[] Take that terrifying leap, into the abyss we call change
---[] Don the mask, shear your mane, pick the only pony who will notice it. Snip snip snip (Spoiled Rich)
-[] Filthy Rich has reached a crossroad in his personal life. His marriage is not where he wants it to be, and he is not sure what he should do. You should nudge him in the right direction. (FREE ACTION) (SAVE)
-[] The Royal Castle feels, quite literally, like a powder keg, and the temperature is rising. Cadance will come out of that boiler at some point. When she does, she will need your help. (5x)
-[] [FORGE] It's actually a lot simpler than it sounds, now that you know what you are doing (produce a reagent, write in which Lore/combination of Lores.
(You cannot produce a reagent with a Lore level superior to your own.) (Producing a single reagent is a FREE ACTION, producing 3 costs 1 action, 5 costs 2 actions, so on.)
--[] [FORGE] Level 4 reagent (80 bits)
--[] [FORGE] Purify a level 6 Forge Reagent

Seems like a short and sweet turn plan. I hate hate hate spending bits on healing when we have the Heartifact. But I know people will get mad at me if I try to argue against it, even though it's 30 bits to avoid a 15% failure chance.
 
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