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

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Equestria! A land of peace and harmony, where any species and everypony can coexist. A place where anyone can find something in which they are truly special, be you an earth pony who tends to the land, a pegasus who tailors the weather or an unicorn who performs great feats of magic for the good of all. And all of that under the benevolent leadership of the alicorns, the princesses of the land, ponies with the gifts of all three races who can move the very sun and moon every day.

That is, as far as you know, what everyone can somewhat agree on when it comes to the nation where you were borne. That is the gist of it, the general idea, the underlying theme based on which everyone lives their lives.

But that's the thing about it, its just an idea isn't it…?

But in all honesty, is that how things really are? How things should be? After all, one does not need to go too far for part of those ideas to reveal themselves as facades.

After all, for example, Equestria is full of dangers (and someponies might even say "horrors") that immediately dispel the notion of safety everyone has grown accustomed to. Great beasts roam the untamed lands, some of which, like Ursa Majors, are the easiest to comprehend, being "simple" (even if unstoppable) monsters of rampaging destruction. But that's not mentioning others that are far more subtle… Some even downright intelligent and malevolent like the Changeling threat, and many, many more.

Likewise, as soon as any one of those things start causing trouble, ponies are almost always helpless to fend for themselves. No pegasus knight or unicorn mage can compete against most of those threats, with only the timely intervention of some sort of hero, or maybe even a Princess, being enough to turn the tides.

Ponies, one needs not think long to realize, are soft, innocent creatures, living in a hostile world and kept safe by a very specific number of individuals.

And yet, they live with honest conviction of the idea that they exist in a peaceful land of magic and harmony.

Idea.

An idea, you have learned, is something very powerful. It can creep into a pony's mind and plant roots that can sometimes reach into the very soul, roots that will shape your very being if they are planted when you are young enough.

Roots that require a great amount of effort to pull out, once you realize they are there, and just how wrong they are.

- - -

You wake up in the morning. Today is a very special day, but for some reason the first thing that comes to your mind was how this all began.

It was… years ago. The whole town was abuzz with the latest news, and it would be no exaggeration to say that literal festivities were popping all around at the drop of a horseshoe, parades forming spontaneously on the streets as ecstatic ponies brought out their instruments and joined each other in songs. Food was practically being distributed for free by merchants and bakers, and everywhere one went the repeated cheers could reach even the ears of the most inattentive creature.

"A princess! A new princess has appeared! A pegasus became an alicorn! Hail princess Cadance!"

The story spread like wildfire, and you couldn't help but to overhear bits and pieces of it, slowly forming the bigger picture as you went into a bar. You weren't about to turn down free drinking, after all, especially as you had just left your work after a long day.

Apparently, from what you heard from several ponies around you, a certain pegasus named Cadance had performed some deed. The details on what exactly were a bit confusing, something about a potion and whatnot. But the bottom line was that in the end she turned into an alicorn. Horn appearing in her head and magic coming to her like second nature.

Nopony was really sure of the details. Some insisted that princess Celestia transformed her, while others said it must have been some sort of personal merit or magic, but the most important part was there: a new Princess had presented herself to help rule Equestria. A new all-powerful, immortal alicorn had come to watch over the land alongside the Princess of the Sun.

"But isn't everypony being a bit too hasty about the whole thing? I mean, I hear this Cadence mare is quite young, maybe too young! And besides, is having another Princess really a good thing?"

You were startled out of your drinking, and your innocent eavesdropping from the background chatter, by a mare sitting by your side. It took you a few moments to realize that she was talking directly to you, and not just to herself or the ambient in general.

"What do you mean 'is it really good'?" you asked back, turning to look at the mare, and realizing by the slight blur in your vision that maybe you had a bit more to drink than you should have in such a small amount of time, "she's a Princess now. I mean, look at Princess Celestia, she has ruled Equestria for as long as history goes, and everything is fine. Why would having another Princess be a bad thing?"

The mare looked at you, taking a sip from the mug she was holding, and for some reason gave you a smile. "Well, I asked you if it was something good, you asked me how could it be something bad," she said, with an amused back-and-forward tone, "and it's true that things have been the way they are for a really long time," she took another sip, inching towards you slightly before continuing to talk, "but the point is... is Equestria itself the way it was supposed to be?"

You couldn't help but to raise an eyebrow at that.

The mare sitting right next to you looked normal, a light pink (even if a bit hard-looking and curly) mane against dark red fur, drinking something that might have been just as strong as the drink you were having, sitting in a bar that occasionally erupted into cheers as someone hailed the name "Cadance" or threw bits at the bartender while saying something about serving another round for everypony.

She was a totally unassuming, normal earth pony mare, except for the slight weirdness of what she was saying.

"I mean, we live in a world that is so full of mysteries, so filled with unexplainable things… Is the way that Equestria currently looks like, the way that Princess Celestia keeps it, truly the nature of the world? Or maybe… it is just kept like that through constant effort?"

Her eyes met yours for longer, now, that same pleasant smile on her face. And when she found what she was looking for in your gaze, she began to talk, and her words resonated with whatever it was that she realized was inside you.

What did she see inside you?

[This defines the "aspect" of the cult you will join, which CANNOT be changed without great pains. The cult's philosophy, as well as what it can offer you, will be based on this. Your initial affinity will also be aligned with your cult's, since that is where your initial interest came from, but that can be changed easily as you learn more about the world and pursue the other aspects.]

[] She spoke about this world, Equestria, and the many other worlds that ponykind knows to exist, and the secret passages that connect them. Figuratively, when referring to other countries, and literally, speaking about far away realms that most ponies believe to be only fairy tales. (KNOCK is the principle of openings, and of finding hidden passages and portals. It entails secrets that both locksmiths and burglars share, even if they do not realize it.)

[] She spoke about knowledge, and about how some realizations can be so shocking that normal ponies might even shy away from trying to discover them. She wondered aloud about how could the ponies of Equestria claim to know so much, and yet not even be able to answer a question as simple as "from where does a Princess comes from?". (LANTERN is the principle of knowledge, and of its light that is both illuminating and unkind. It entails secrets that are held by oracles, even if they do not realize it, and scholars, even if they later regret it.)

[] She spoke about change, and its necessity. After all, it is not enough to keep a tool sharp for it to be useful, sometimes it is necessary to smelt it down and forge a new one. And about the fact that, surely, that must also hold true for greater principles. Perhaps even the world itself, no? (FORGE is the principle of transformation, fire and destruction, and of reshaping on all levels, be them physical or spiritual. It hold the secrets that both blacksmiths and rebels share deep down in their cores).

[] She spoke about conflict, and about how even in a place as "peaceful" as Equestria it is inevitable. The friendly competition that allows fillies to grow into adulthood, the clashing of interests that occur in daily life, and even combat itself, although Princess Celestia seems to insist on bearing the brunt of that last one on her own shoulders. But what rewards might be reaped from conflict, if it is so natural? (EDGE is the principle of violence and cunning, and of strengthening through confrontation, no matter what shape it takes. Its secrets are shared by soldiers and merchants, and any creature who sees itself as a predator.)

[] She spoke about life, and how it inevitably leads to death. About stories, and how they inevitably lead to endings. And how all of that was so very beautiful. But whenever you tried to recall her words, you realized she didn't speak much at all. (WINTER is the principle of endings, cold, beauty and silence. It encompasses all things that have already ended and waits patiently for all things that will end. But one knowledgeable on its ways might figure out how to work around endings, and perhaps death itself.)

[] She spoke about life, and its unceasing energy and continuity. About how all creatures, ponies most of all, seem to be dancing a grand dance in pace with the heartbeat of Equestria itself. Neither her words nor her smile stopped for even a moment, and during the whole conversation her hoofs kept beating against her mug. The rhythm was almost hypnotizing. (HEART is the principle of life, preservation and protection, as well as of the dance that must never cease. It is known, even if subconsciously, by any creature that knows happiness and perseverance in the face of adversity, and it is put into practice by dancers.)

[] She spoke about how dry and dull Equestria truly was, even if nopony was willing to admit it. About how nothing new is ever created by ponykind, only maintained, and about how the world itself seems to have forgotten about what can be learned from the satisfaction of desire. Your eyes almost didn't leave her while she spoke, to the point where you almost didn't listen to what she was saying. (GRAIL is the principle of desire, seduction and thirst. It knows about all things succulent and treats both charisma and seduction as the most pleasant of tools.)

[] She spoke about secrets, about how the world hides its own in the most unusual of ways, and about how those secrets change and transform while the world isn't looking. She didn't talk in circles, but she didn't talk in a straight line either, and at the end of it you were left with the irrevocable impression that something was in the wrong shape. Although you couldn't tell if it was the world, or yourself. (MOTH is the principle of unreason, secrecy and change. It understands chaos by understanding nothing at all and can only be learned by following your own whims. But inevitably, it leads you to where you truly desire to be.)

[] She spoke about the history of this world, and how it looks sometimes more like a knot than a straight line, and about how sometimes it even contradicts itself. It is a commonly held belief that the present can go towards many futures, but is it also possible for the present to be connected to many pasts? (SECRET HISTORIES is the principle of the world itself. It is the study and knowledge of the frailty of cause and effect, and of the secret places where more than one possibility took place.)

After that you kept in touch with Copper Secateur, the somewhat unusual mare with which you had spoken on that fateful night. At first it was just the atypical meeting, the normal chit-chat over a hay sandwich that usually marks the beginning of a friendship. But not long after, she invited you to a "party", a small get together with several other ponies, in which you had some very interesting conversations.

Then, another invitation, this time to a much more "selected" group. Only a fraction, you would later realize, of the very same ponies that Copper Secateur had invited to that party. And this time, she spoke freely and in depth about certain things that were wrong with Equestria, and the world at large. The very same things that had peaked your interest on the first time that you had met her.

One of the ponies she had invited left, then and there, and you never heard of him again. But the others, together with you, she later invited to a meeting of a "group" she was part of.

Hello everyone, and welcome to my humble attempt at a Quest. I'm a long time lurker, but never really started a thread before, so I'd appreciate your patience and understanding as I learn how things work.

As you may have noticed, this will be based on a show that is terribly famous, but also on a certain game that is not quite as widely known.

Still, for the purpose of this quest, it takes place in an AU, loosely based on both universes. Canon will not be strictly adhered to, but will be mentioned a lot. Yet, keep in mind that all that happens will be from your character's point of view. Your beliefs of certain truths might prove to be false, or certain events might later reveal themselves as not quite... how you thought they had played out.

Still, this is the general gist. You are have been recruited into a cult, a few years ago, and this cult believes that the way Equestria currently is very unaligned with how it should be.

The problem is... that you have seen evidence for that. The world around you is crooked, and your cult works towards making it right, whether if your personal aspirations align themselves with that or not.

Posts will not yet be "separated" for editing purposes. And Character Creation proper will be right on the next post. So voting can begin without any further ado.

Considering this is a single choice with 9 options, post your votes based on preference, with the lowest number (1 first, 2 second, etc) being the one you prefer the most. Vote to as many options as you like, including none!

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

CHARACTER SHEET
"You are Lady Velvet Covers..."

Biographical information
"But what does that mean again?"

Name: Velvet Covers
Species: Unicorn (female)
Age: Young and elegant, thank you very much
Cutie Mark: A spread open book, with purple covers and blank silver pages. A few white butterflies float around the edges
Appearance: A tall and slender unicorn mare, with light brown coat and a long white mane

Other artworks exist. By other users, in another place. To be added if they permit it.

Status
"The body, the soul, and all the things in between."

"Mundane" status

Status	Total	Base	Esoteric bonus
Martial	9	8	+1 EDGE
Diplomacy	13	11	+1 GRAIL +1 HEART
Stewardship	12	11	+1 WINTER
Intrigue	12	10	+1 MOTH +1 KNOCK
Magic	13	12	+1 FORGE
Learning	14	12	+1 LANTERN +1 SH

(On Status Level, an 8 represents a perfectly average pony, 10 is a pony trained on that particular field, 15 is a pony who can be considered an expert, and 20 is a master of the art involved)

Current/Maximum Health: 0/2 [CURRENTLY "DANCING WITH DEATH"]
Total personal combat: +29 (+9 martial, +20 EDGE)
Current bits (money): 251
Current inventory:

Monthly income: 160 bits/month + (Dividends from Rarity)/month

Relevant items/summons:
-A "Leash", currently used with: No current target
-A "Puppy" currently used with: "Stalk" in general, "Copper Secateur" in particular.
-1x "Wrong Key" (to expire at the END of turn 20)
-3x "Wrong Key" (to expire at the END of turn 24)
-"Temporary Ritual Spot(s)" Velvet Cover's faction will not incur any suspicion when performing rituals (to expire at the END of turn 20)
-Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires (Permanent summons) (Obedience bindings to expire at the END of turn 22)
-Baldomare (summoned creature) (to expire and the END of turn 20)
-The Daughter-of-Axes (summoned creature) (to expire at the END of turn 21)
-Biedde (summoned creature) (to expire at the END of turn 21)

Artifacts only apply their effect when they are "usable", "in your person", "in range" or otherwise available to you personally, depending on their nature.

HEART Level 3 (STUDIED)
"The skin of a furred animal worked into a large blanket, or perhaps a thick carpet. The salespony insists that whoever sleeps under it (or over it) will wake up feeling refreshed."
Appraised cost: 200 bits
Special properties: +30 on tests to recuperate health or cure lasting debuffs. Applies on contact.

SECRET HISTORIES Level 3 (STUDIED)
"A large hardcover book, or perhaps a grimoire, that displays the content of a different book every time its pages are turned. Some of the things written on it, you are pretty sure, are not true, or never happened."
Appraised cost: 200 bits
Special properties: Gives a variable bonus (from +5 to +15) for any rolls that involve "research" or "study", of any subject.

KNOCK Level 2 (NOT STUDIED) (CANNOT BE USED UNTIL STUDIED)
"A hoof-sized tuning fork... or at least a tuning-fork adjacent. The thing has three prongs instead of two, arranged in a triangular pattern. Striking it yields no sound, none that you can hear at least, even though the thing clearly vibrates."
Appraised cost: Unknown (not studied)
Special properties: Unknown (not studied)

WINTER Level 1 (STUDIED)
"Old. Sturdy. Strained from use, but still reliable. These are definitely not the words you would like to use when describing a noose, and yet here you are. You know it has already been used at least twice, and you realize it can still be used at least once more."
Appraised cost: none. You will burn it if you ever want to get rid of it.
Special properties: None.

EDGE Level 3 (STUDIED)
"A piece of metal, whetted by the heavens themselves. Pulverized into thick dust. Kept around the neck, in a fur-colored pouch."
Appraised cost: 200 bits.
Special properties: If a character carrying this artifact fails an "Escape" attempt during combat by a difference of 50 or less, destroy this artifact and automatically succeed at escaping.

LANTERN Level 4 (NOT STUDIED) (CANNOT BE USED UNTIL STUDIED)
"A many-pronged instrument that can fold onto itself like a switchblade. You believe it is a measuring instrument, but you have no idea what it is meant to measure. And for some reason, it seems to work better, or at least its joints seem to yield more fluidly, when used in utter darkness."
Appraised cost: Unknown (not studied)
Special properties: Unknown (not studied)

HEART Level 1 (Reagent)

MOTH Level 4 (Reagent)

A short explanation for the consumable/temporary artifacts known as "Wrong Key"

-Can be used as a "Knock 3" reagent
-Single use (breaks when used)
-Can be used reactively to completely deny an enemy offensive ritual aimed at you or at ponies near your immediate physical vicinity.
-Can be used to instantly inflict a single wound to a summoned creature if used in combat.
-Breaks at the end of its fifth month of existence.
-Using a Wrong Key as a sacrifice to summon the Daughter-of-Axes will decrease the ritual cost by 50 bits, and will give you one level of [Priority] over any opposing rituals.
-([Priority] meaning that, if an opposing party attempts to summon her as well, you will not "compete" for the summoning and will always "win", as long as you successfully roll the minimum required for her summoning and have a [Priority] level greater than your foes).

Your Forge realization allows you to produce "reagents". Disposable, single-use items that can be used to boost rituals, or in very specific narrative circumstances. They possess the following characteristics:
-Reagents may be safely stored away, indefinitely.
-Reagents may have "mixed" Lores. Mixed and matched to your heart's content.
-The "total level" of your a reagent you wish to craft (the added sum of all its Lores) is capped at your Forge level.
-The individual level of each Lore you wish to infuse a reagent with is capped at each individual Lore level you possess

For example, If your levels were Forge 3, Grail 2 and Edge 2, you would be able to craft a "Grail 2, Edge 1" reagent. But NOT a "Grail 3" reagent (because your Grail level is insufficient), and NOT a "Grail 2, Edge 2" reagent (because your Forge level is insufficient)

Crafting ONE reagent is a free action, THREE reagents costs one action, FIVE reagents costs two actions, etc.

Reagent's cost in bits is: 5 -> 20 -> 45 -> 80, etc.

Higher level reagents may have unforeseen/unknown narrative or mechanical effects.

BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".
BOOK EDGE Level 1. "The title is self-explanatory: 'Four self-defense spells every unicorn should know'. You doubt they are anything more than different variations of concentrated telekinesis."
BOOK, FORGE Level 1. "A small handbook on camping, explaining the basics of how to build a tent and start a small fire".
BOOK KNOCK Level 2. "A fairly recent, and short, book about dream interpretation. You know it is recent because it was dedicated to Princess Luna's return".
BOOK MOTH Level 5. "The language used in this is indecipherable. The cover, if it even has one, yields no clue about its subject. And yet, you cannot resist the urge to read it." (Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From an Era that is Ancient Beyond History, "-50" to deciphering rolls.)
BOOK KNOCK Level 5. "An initial survey of its pages reveals several drawings, or perhaps instructions, on how to build bridges and maintain clocks. You suspect the book is about more than just that." (Requires deciphering. Progress 0/100. From One Era Ago, "-30" to deciphering rolls.)

"Esoteric" status

KNOCK

Perks:
-Gain access to the Mansus;
-+20 when "attempting to open something";
-+1 Intrigue;
-Mundane locks no longer work against you;
-Using one action to explore the Mansus gives you two Mansus actions;
-One Knock related re-roll per turn.

-Level 0: You understand that there are other Worlds, and secret paths between them. But the only one you know is the World in your dream, the Mansus, and perhaps that is the only World that matters. (Allows access to the Mansus)

-Level 1: A door is not a passage, it is a thing that denies the passing of something, the opening behind a door is the true passage. And all passages share certain characteristics with wounds, as well as certain words. (+5 when attempting to open something)

-Level 2: A door always bears a price. Most of them demand their prices be paid when they are created, as is the case with wounds and portals. But the doors of the Mansus always were, they were never made, so their prices must always be paid upon passage. (Further +5 when attempting to open something. +1 Intrigue.)

-Level 3: It is not about simply opening something, no. The manner in which something is opened is also of equal importance. You have the impression that the reason as to why something is opened might be even more important, but, for now, you have learned the secret that allows you this much. (Further +5 when attempting to open something. Mundane locks no longer work against you, and Mansus actions now allow for two choices to be picked, or for the same choice to be picked twice.)

-Level 4: Some connections are unions, because they combine "here" and "there" into a single thing. Other connections are divisions, for the existence of a bridge is what transforms a single river into two separate shores. But all of those situations share the similarity of there being a path itself, and the creation of that path is what truly matters. (Further +5 when attempting to open something. Gains a single re-roll for Knock per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 3/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

LANTERN

Perks:
-+20 when attempting to "learn the secrets that are within an object";
-+1 Learning;
-May study 3 books or 2 artifacts per turn;
-You might be able to learn from objects you can touch;
-One Lantern related re-roll per turn.

-Level 0: You know that there is more to knowledge than the simple sciences and magics known to ponies and the other races, and although you have no idea what it is you have been warned that it can easily blind the careless. (+1 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object)

-Level 1: A physical object exists, whether if it is bathed in light or cloaked in shadows. But what of knowledge, or ideas? If those are not illuminated, if a mind does not bathe them in light, do they truly exists? (Further +4 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object)

-Level 2: You know that radiance of Glory escapes from the Mansus, sometimes, away from the Woods and into the Wake. You even think you can see it, whenever light is reflected at the correct angle from a mirror. You try not to look for such angles, or not to stare at it so intently whenever you catch a glimpse. (Further +5 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object. +1 Learning.)

-Level 3: You have learned the secret that allows you to see through shadows. Even the shadows that you cannot see. (Further +5 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object. May study 3 books or 2 artifacts per turn, generate less suspicion to family head, and might be able to learn from objects you can touch.)

-Level 4: Knowledge is light. Its source cannot help but shine, and everything it touches cannot help but distort it. You may only trust mirrors to properly carry it. (Further +5 when attempting to learn the secrets that are within an object. Gains a single re-roll for Lantern per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 0/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

FORGE

Perks:
-+20 when attempting to "destroy something";
-+1 Magic;
-May craft Reagents to boost Rituals. (Max level of reagent is based on Forge Level, and the combination of Lores infused may not pass your personal level on each individual Lore).

-Level 0: You have heard that nothing is truly eternal, and yet nothing can be truly destroyed. While the true meaning of that still eludes you, you have heard that fire can whisper you the answer. (+1 when attempting to destroy something)

-Level 1: What are the words that fire sings as it burns? Ponies knew those words, long ago, much like they knew how to move the clouds and how to befriend the earth so that it might bear fruits. And although they might have forgotten those particular words, you know it is possible to learn them once again. (Further +4 when attempting to destroy something)

-Level 2: Heat, you now know, is the physical representation of change. A metal bends and melts when heated not because of the temperature, but because change is being presented to it, inserted into it. You have learned, now, that it is possible to enact changes to certain things through other mediums, which are both more exotic and more effective than fire. (Further +5 when attempting to destroy something. +1 Magic)

-Level 3: A modern alchemist is no different than a foal, experimenting through trial and error in the hopes of stumbling upon something worthwhile. This, what you now know, is the correct way, in which a deeper understanding of the base elements and the base rules is used to produce the desired result. (Further +5 when attempting to destroy something. May craft Reagents to boost Rituals. Max level of reagent is based on Forge Level, and the combination of Lores infused may not pass your personal level on each individual Lore.)

-Level 4: It is impossible to truly break something. And it is impossible to create something that is truly unbreakable. Everything is in constant flux, and the only thing one can do is steer the direction of that unstoppable flow. (Further +5 when attempting to destroy something. Gains a single re-roll for Forge per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 0/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

EDGE

Perks:
-+20 to Personal Combat;
-+1 Martial;
-Immunity to ambushes, and limited sensorial skills regardless of nearby obstacles;
-During combat, your first of every six combat rolls is rolled twice, and you keep the largest result.

-Level 0: You have learned that conflict is not only inevitable, but also natural. There is a certain sobriety to be gained from that realization. (+1 to Personal Combat)

-Level 1: Combat is not merely to take, or to end, or to divide. It is not only cunning, or strength, or agony. But there is also no way to describe combat without being intimate with all of those. (Further +4 to Personal Combat)

-Level 2: Every life, every living being, is but a confluence of a thousand crucial factors. Cut one, be it artery, passion or sanity, and said life will be ended. You can see them now, every so often, sticking out of those around you like a sore hoof. It chills you now, every so often, when you identify those factors on your loved ones. The factors, you see, seem to beg to be cut. (Further +5 to Personal Combat. +1 Martial)

-Level 3: Combat never ends. Or rather, you are in a combat that has been going on during your whole life, and that has not stopped or paused for even a single moment. Everypony is. It is a battle that began the moment you were born. And that will only end, in humiliating defeat, when you die. Now that you have realized this, you will never be caught unaware again. (Further +5 to Personal Combat. You are immune to ambushes, and you are able to "smell" certain kinds of nearby creatures up to a reasonable range regardless of physical obstacles between you and your mark.)

-Level 4: Decisiveness is crucial. Even the sharpest blade will only cut as deep as you push it into a body, and a blade that is pulled backwards only risks cutting yourself. Once you make a commitment, the only direction you can go is forward. (Further +5 to Personal Combat. Roll twice on your first of every six combat dice, during combat.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 4/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

WINTER

Perks:
-+20 when "resisting things that would harm your mind";
-+1 Stewardship;
-Physical discomforts no longer hinder you, thought they will still affect or harm you;
-You are unnaturally resistant to cold;
-Learn how to summon ~~Flourishing Risen~~ and Torn Risen from dead bodies;
-One Winter related re-roll per month/turn.

-Level 0: You know that death is not the end, although you know not how you came to learn that. (+1 when resisting things that would harm your mind)

-Level 1: There is something curious about stillness. When the air is still you have quiet, when the mind is still you have peace, but what might happen when the spirit is still? Whatever the answer is, you know that it must not be taught with words, for if the answer breaks the quiet then it is, by principle, incorrect. (Further +4 when resisting things that would harm your mind)

-Level 2: Sometimes when your breath exits your mouth it is as cold as a midnight chill, and you know that it is because you have learned certain words. This might happen because the words wish to be spoken, or this might be because your body wishes for you to be silent. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your mind. +1 Stewardship)

-Level 3: The secret without which the first Crossings, past the crossroads and through the great mountains beyond the horizon of the Mansus, would not have been possible. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your mind. Physical discomforts no longer hinder you, thought they will still affect or harm you. You are unnaturally resistant to cold. You may now summon ~~Flourishing Risen and~~ Torn Risen from dead bodies.)

-Level 4: A music may only be shared after its composition is finished. A trail may only be mapped after it is completely walked. A life may only have meaning after death. The nuance, however, lies in understanding what death truly is, for a pony may die several times throughout his life. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your mind. Gains a single re-roll for Winter per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 1/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

HEART

Perks:
-+15 when "resisting things that would harm your body";
-+1 Diplomacy;
-If you reach zero health, you will enter a state of "Dancing with Death" instead of immediately dying.

-Level 0: There is a dance that never ceases, and those who dance it cannot be ceased. You know it rhymes with heartbeats and rolls with the beating of drums, but apart from that you know nothing else. (+1 when resisting things that would harm your body)

-Level 1: What is the difference between a the stomping of a hoof against the ground during a dance and a thunderclap, apart from the scale of it? Both follow a rhythm, both accompany the motions of nature itself, both are a herald to the next one that will soon follow. (Further +4 when resisting things that would harm your body)

-Level 2: To be alive is to continue. To die is to stop. It might be possible to exist without being alive, or to exist without movement, but that form of existence is both unnatural and not right. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your body. +1 Diplomacy.)

-Level 3: Nopony ever really dies, as long as the song continues to be sung. This is the secret hymn that hearts sing, as they beat. This is the secret that allows you to sing back to your heart, when it gives up on singing. (Further +5 when resisting things that would harm your body. If you reach zero health, you will now enter a state of "Dancing with Death" instead of immediately dying.)

-Level 4: PROGRESS 0/4.

GRAIL

Perks:
-+20 when attempting to "convince someone of something";
-+1 Diplomacy;
-You gain one "Leash", a leashed pony will treat you differently in a positive way;
-One Grail related re-roll per month/turn.

-Level 0: You have heard whispers that there is never any wrong in accepting one's own nature. Your rationality denied such a thing, and yet your body agreed. There might be some deeper knowledge to that. (+1 when attempting to convince someone of something)

-Level 1: There are words that beg to be spoken, and actions that beg to be performed, and they share characteristics that are deeper and more complex than the base and carnal aspects that most might attribute to them. What further things might we discover if we learn these similarities? (Further +4 when attempting to convince someone of something)

-Level 2: You have come to realize that there is a circle, of sorts, present in the lives of all ponies. Your desires beget your cutie marks, and then your cutie marks bring forth your desires. For the longest time you have tried to understand which came first, but now you understand that the answer is "neither". The two things are one and the same. The two things are a commemoration of Birth. (Further +5 when attempting to convince someone of something. +1 Diplomacy.)

-Level 3: A pony's desire is a powerful thing. It guides their will through their lives. It guides their bodies in drawing their cutie marks. This is the secret to begin touching it. (Further +5 when attempting to convince someone of something. You gain one "Leash". A "Leashed" pony will act towards you as if they were one step higher on the Acquaintance-Friend-Close Friend-Confidant-Minion sliding scale.)

-Level 4: Everypony, no matter how young or old, is driven by their blood. It runs through their bodies, nourishing their limbs from within. It sings to their souls, granting them gifts of lust and ambition and desire. It is the endless river that they produce, which in turn also nourishes them back. Those who lack it are simply not alive. And that is why the dead, and the dull, do not bleed when cut. (Further +5 when attempting to convince someone of something. Gains a single re-roll for Grail per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 0/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

MOTH

Perks:
-+20 when attempting to "evade someone", or when you do not want to be found;
-+1 Intrigue;
-Mundane darkness no longer affects you;
-One Moth related re-roll per month/turn.

-Level 0: Everything within our minds is a part of us, being something that was both made by us and something that makes us, even the parts we do not understand. What can be learned from them? (+1 when attempting to evade someone, or when you do not want to be found).

-Level 1: There are powers that are pleased by the constant changes within us, but to truly attract their attention there must be changes to our outside as well. Even a slight cut from a lock of a mane, if done correctly, may sometimes be enough. (Further +4 when attempting to evade someone, or when you do not want to be found).

-Level 2: You have learned much from dreaming, but you are also starting to learn things from being awake. The night wind sometimes whispers against the trees, the moonlight paints the land in meaningful patterns at certain hours. But you can only ever notice those things after you have given up on searching for them. (Further +5 when attempting to evade someone, or when you do not want to be found. +1 Intrigue.)

-Level 3: This is the secret known by those who understand what it means to become truly lost. (Further +5 when attempting to evade someone, or when you do not want to be found. Mundane darkness no longer affects you.)

-Level 4: That which is not touched by light cannot be seen. That which is not reached by thought cannot be understood. Those are the truths behind the chaotic nature of the Woods, for it is neither touched nor reached by the ultimate light of Glory. But why, then does, the Woods so desire the Glory? (Further +5 when attempting to evade someone, or when you do not want to be found. Gains a single re-roll for Moth per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 3/4. SACRAMENT 0/1.

SECRET HISTORIES

Perks:
-+20 when attempting to "find something";
-+1 Learning;
-"Book/Artifact Search" actions upgraded, even when performed by servants, and no longer cap when performed by yourself;
-One Secret Histories related re-roll per month/turn.

-Level 0: You have been taught that the history of this world is neither an open book nor a strand of rope, and yet it is full of knots, and parts where it has been written over by scribbles. (+1 when attempting to find something)

-Level 1: There seems to be a beginning to all of this, a place from where everything started diverging or a past that everything can agree on. Whatever its nature is, its making also carved the Mansus, and seeded the Woods. (Further +4 when attempting to find something)

-Level 2: There are several Histories, but only one Mansus, and this has taught you that no matter how tangled a web might be, there will always be a point of convergence. No matter what you search for, there will always be similarities to be found in other Histories. (Further +5 when attempting to find something. +1 Learning)

-Level 3: This is no secret at all, it is in fact something painfully obvious. The secret you have come to realize is, instead, the extends that ponies go to not realize it. (Further +5 when attempting to find something. "Book/Artifact Search" actions upgraded, even when performed by servants, and no longer cap when performed by yourself.)

-Level 4: Coincidences do not exist. Alignments exist. Cause and effect exists. The logic that determines where a lightning is most likely to strike exists. But coincidences do not exist. Not, at least, in the superstitious way that most ponies believe they do. (Further +5 when attempting to find something. Gains a single re-roll for Secret Histories per month/turn, to be used on the result that would benefit Velvet Covers the most.)

-Level 5: PROGRESS 4/4. SACRAMENT 0/1. (Personal Sacrament 1/3)

THE STAIN UPON YOUR SOUL

Current Level: 3/7
Should this counter ever reach 7/7, Velvet Covers will immediately reach the ending "The Mother of Wolves".

THE FIRST SON
"Like a piece of parchment that was put too close to a fire, or wool that was grazed by a candle's flame. This one's soul is marked, now, and that mark is an ugly thing that cannot be taken back."

-[Wolf, thy name is Evil]: "An old malice has been reintroduced to Equestria, like a wind that brings misfortune or a day where the sun just doesn't shine as bright."
(Equestria is now a worse place.)

-[The Benefits of the Mother]: Velvet Covers may now perform Regrettable Actions.
(Velvet Covers may be offered additional actions to further this path.)

THE SECOND SON
"Deeper now. Darker now. This one's mark has grown. But not out of ignorance or innocence, but by intention and design. And that intent, perhaps, might be worse than the mark itself."

-[Wolf, thy name is Paranoia]: "I will speak the words you taught me, in the ears and in the minds and in the souls of ponies. Until they fall upon each other in frenzied fear."
(All non-alicorn ponies, in all of Equestria, will receive a "-5 (Paranoia)" malus whenever they perform an action that requires them to cooperate with another non-alicorn pony.)

-[The Benefits of the Mother]: "The son is not required where the Mother treads, for the progenitor's actions will always eclipse that of the progeny."
(Paranoia will not affect Velvet Covers herself, or anypony near her, in a very large radius. The "location" where Velvet covers is, be it a city or an expedition or a place of import, is immune to the above Malus.)

THE THIRD SON
"Like anything else, the third is time is always the most meaningful. This is the last time it will hurt. Because the next time this one crosses the line, the filth within this one will be a greater part, compared to what remains."

-[Wolf, thy name is Ash]: "The Wolves gnaw around the walls of the Mansus. As any student of Histories know, they will kill you if you linger."
(All creatures not aligned with Velvet Covers will be harmed, or will risk being harmed, whenever they attempt to enter the Mansus.)

-[The Benefits of the Mother]: "Give me their scent, Mother. Tell me your will. The ashes will consume them until only the flavor of their bones remains."
(Ash will "guard" the entrance of the Mansus, afflicting ponies who try to enter. The greater the proportion of ponies it is directed to afflict, the lesser the effect. Additionally, Ash may be given the "scent" of a single character, who will be actively hunted whenever it tries to enter the Mansus regardless of Ash's "guard" orders. Velvet Covers may spend one Mansus action to visit Ash, and give it new directions.)

Traits

Positive:
-Graduated: You have graduated from an institution of higher education (+1 Learning, +1 Magic, +1 Stewardship, already applied);
-Beautiful: +5 when trying to seduce other creatures, or just be pleasant (+2 Intrigue, already applied);
-Gifted: +5 when trying to cast your racial magic (+2 Magic, already applied);
-Well Read: +5 when attempting to decipher or learn from scrolls or books (+2 Learning, already applied);
-The good Velvet: You are immune to your family's complicated reputation, having sufficiently distanced yourself from it... you hope;
-Mare Administrator: +10 when organizing projects that span large areas, or that involves the efforts of several ponies (+2 Stewardship, already applied);
-Above All Suspicion: The alicorns trust you, in a time where trust is a precious and scarce resource. Do. Not. Break. That. Trust;
-Security Detail: Two ponies with varying status (usually 3/3 health and +15 personal combat) will be guarding your "home base" at all times. (But they will not follow you on expeditions, or join you in combats you initiate on your own). Increases the degree of suspicion suffered when strange things happen to you (but not when you perform strange activities).

Negative:
-Scarred [MALUS]: -1 base Health;
-Murderer: "This one's hoofs have taken a life";

Lost/discarded:
~~-Frightened [MALUS]: -10 to Personal Combat;~~ (Cut away by The Incision of the Heart)
~~-Favored in Canterlot (Mi Amore Cadenza) [Possible Malus]: +20 for certain rolls in the city of Canterlot. You will be immediately recognized as a supporter of the crown;~~ (Transformed into "Above All Suspicion")

Attained:
BRANDED by the SECRET HISTORIES: Your cutie mark is no longer merely that... You will be recognized by those in the know, and in turn you will now recognize them back (further effects unknown);
MOTH: Mundane darkness no longer affects you (Level 3);
SECRET HISTORIES: "Book/Artifact Search" actions upgraded, even when performed by servants, and no longer cap when performed by yourself (Level 3);
LANTERN: You may read three books per turn, or study two artifacts, and you will generate slightly less suspicion towards the family head. You now can (try to?) learn (learn... what?) from objects you can touch (Level 3);
KNOCK: Mundane locks no longer work against you, and Mansus actions now allow for two choices to be picked, or for the same choice to be picked twice (if -> else action plans are also acceptable) (Level 3);
WINTER: Physical discomforts no longer hinder you, thought they will still affect or harm you. You are unnaturally resistant to cold. You may now summon Flourishing Risen and Torn Risen from dead bodies (Level 3);
FORGE: Max level of reagent is based on Forge Level, and the combination of Lores infused may not pass your personal level on each individual Lore (Level 3);
EDGE: You are immune to ambushes, and you are able to "smell" certain kinds of nearby creatures up to a reasonable range regardless of physical obstacles between you and your mark (Level 3).
GRAIL: You gain one "Leash". A "Leashed" pony will act towards you as if they were one step higher on the "Acquaintance - Friend - Close Friend - Confidant - Minion" scale. (Level 3).
HEART: If you reach zero health, you will enter a state of "Dancing with Death" instead of immediately dying. (Level 3).

Learned:
-Mirror Keeping Techniques: "Thrice clockwise, then across, till the sheen evaporates. Lay it flat on the ground, then..." (All rituals involving Lantern cost -5 bits, already applied)

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] She spoke about secrets, about how the world hides its own in the most unusual of ways, and about how those secrets change and transform while the world isn't looking. She didn't talk in circles, but she didn't talk in a straight line either, and at the end of it you were left with the irrevocable impression that something was in the wrong shape. Although you couldn't tell if it was the world, or yourself. (MOTH is the principle of unreason, secrecy and change. It understands chaos by understanding nothing at all and can only be learned by following your own whims. But inevitably, it leads you to where you truly desire to be.)

- - -

And that was how things started. And that's why you are here now, waking up on a holiday morning to go to a cult meeting.

You had struggled with the word "cult" at first. After all, you are a perfectly normal citizen of Equestria. You have your house, your job, and would not at all look out of place in the background of any bustling city scenario.

But in the end, you accepted things as they are. You have had your eyes opened, even if at some moments you wished they were not. You learned about just how crooked this calm and peaceful land is. You have already even… seen certain things for yourself. But you share in a belief, so there's no point in trying to spin words around it.

Although… that's what is so curious about ideas. They live within you, they form a core part of you, and yet nopony can divine what they are just by looking at you.

Hell, looking at the mirror, you see nothing but a…

CHARACTER CREATION

Name: [WRITE IN]

[ ] Male

[ ] Female

Cutie Mark: [WRITE IN]

Species:

[ ] Earth Pony: Those who say your species is "grounded" and without magic are dead wrong. Your species is the strongest of the three, and your connection to the land is second to none. (+2 Martial, +1 Stewardship).

[ ] Pegasus: Not being contained to the ground gives you a different view of the world. And while the etiquette of using doors instead of windows has been hammered into you from a young age, you at least will always have the option of choosing. (+1 Martial, +1 Intrigue, flight capable).

[ ] Unicorn: You were borne with a gift. It came in the shape of a horn on your forehead, and the ability to manipulate the world with your thoughts. (+1 Magic, +1 Learning, magic capable)

But you are more than just what you see in the mirror, you are also the culmination of a whole life of experiences. Some of them may have marked you, but others just made you stronger.

Looking into your own eyes you can count more than a few. You are also…

(You have four coins. Everything costs a single coin unless stated otherwise. VOTING FROM HERE ON IS IN PLANNED FORMAT)

Notable characteristics:

[ ] a Workhorse: Lean or robust, tall or well built. You stand a full head over other ponies. (+2 Martial, +5 on tests that require physical strength, and personal combat).

[ ] Beautiful: You are used to heads turning to follow you when you walk around, and that means knowing how to get away with certain things. (+2 Intrigue, +5 when trying to seduce other creatures, or just be pleasant).

[ ] Silver Tongued: Complicated words to impress the simple minded, complicated arguments to impress the wise. You know well how to weave them. (+3 Diplomacy).

[ ] Gifted: There is a flame inside every creature. Yours appears to burn just a bit brighter. (+2 Magic, +5 when trying to cast your racial magic)

[ ] Attentive to Details: You actually use your pocketbook, and your financial life is thankful for it. (+2 Stewardship, +5 when negotiating a commercial deal)

[ ] Well Read: You are fond of the smell of libraries, and books reveal their secrets more easily to your touch. (+2 Learning, +5 when attempting to decipher or learn from scrolls and books)

[ ] Healthy: "Healthy as a horse" is more than literal when it comes to you. (+1 health)

[ ] Naturally Talented: Just a bit faster, just a bit sharper. Some ponies are simply borne better than others, and you are one of them. (+1 on all status) COSTS 2 COINS

Your parents were… (this gives a little nudge towards what kinds of contacts you can call upon, but mostly determines your background PICK ONE)

[-] Regular ponies: The lifeblood of any city, your parents never really amounted to much. But they raised you the best they could, and always loved you very much. (Default option) COSTS ZERO COINS

[ ] Soldiers: Not members of the royal guard, but the sight of spears and armors was normal for you as you grew up. Not many ponies can count "polishing helmets" as a household chore. (+2 Martial, +5 personal combat, -1 Stewardship)

[ ] Farmers: Your upbringing was simple, full of hard work, but for some reason you always thought that gave you a deeper connection to the world around you. (+2 Magic, +1 Martial, -1 Learning)

[ ] Librarians: You didn't actually live in a library, but thanks to your parents books were never in short supply. It was also really useful once homework became a thing at your school. (+2 Learning, +1 Magic, -1 Martial)

[ ] Merchants: You remember the last time you were asked to restock supplies and carry crates, and the first time you were given a quill and a ledger. You soon learned the second is far heavier. (+2 Stewardship, +1 Diplomacy, -1 Magic)

[ ] Travelers: You and your parents were always on the move, carrying cargo and conducting business anywhere and everywhere. As you grew up you started to realize that perhaps your parents might not have been involved in the most legal of things, but by then you had learned a few tricks. (+2 Intrigue, +1 Diplomacy, -1 Learning)

[ ] Minor Nobles: You might have been borne into the political web of nobility, and perhaps you are just a pawn on some larger game. But your blood is blue, and that is all that matters. (Starts with a well-paying, albeit non-prestigious job. Starts with good contacts, and ponyservants to perform one free action for you, if they're not suspicious.) COSTS 2 COINS

And you do remember that time when… (Past experiences, circumstances that change your starting point)

[ ] You were promoted!: Lieutenant, not soldier. Manager, not clerk. There is a hierarchy in this world, and you climbed a step through hard work, not birthright. (Starts with a prestigious job. This job will be better paying albeit more demanding, but it WILL give you easier access to whatever your cult is after)

[ ] You went out on an expedition: Timberwolves are a stark reminder of how hard wood can be, especially when its sharp, sentient and bearing down on your throat. (+1 Martial, starts with personal combat gear)

[ ] You overperformed at work: Performing heroic act, being responsible for a great deal, turning a failure into a success. Whatever it was, you were rewarded handsomely for it. (Starts with two full months' worth of bits)

[ ] You helped to bust a crime operation: What started with innocent overhearing led to you snooping around for a bit, and before you knew it you had a whole case formed. (+1 Intrigue, starts with contacts good standing with local law enforcement)

[ ] You realized you are well liked: Ponies just gather around you, be it for advice or to resolve some quarrel of their own. You are something of a local, informal, leader. (+1 Diplomacy, starts with good standing with the local populace, easier to locate recruiting targets)

[ ] You joined a Guild: You thought it was just the equivalent of buying a library card, or a fidelity stamp to a certain store. Turns out it was more than that. (+1 Stewardship, starts with contacts among merchants)

[ ] You graduated!: Ponykind relies more on craftsmanship and knowing a particular trade, but you went out of your way to pursue higher education. (+1 Learning, +1 Magic, +1 Stewardship)

But of course, there are other things you must consider…

[ ] Married: You are married, and have a beautiful daughter. Your family demands your attention, and it sure would be a shame if something were to happen to them… (+1 coin)

[ ] Frightened: Maybe it is the result of some trauma, maybe you were borne like that, but the end result is the same. You are weaker than most. (-10 Personal Combat, +1 coin)

[ ] Scarred: You survived, but it is better if you do not try to do that again. (-1 Health, +1 coin)

[ ] Compromised: You did something, and your cult connections bailed you out. (You have a personal debt to the master of your cult, +2 coins)

[ ] Enemies: Its not all friendship and magic. Someone out there is trying to get you. (+1 coin)

Aaaaaactually, when you look in the mirror you see… (only one option can be picked, overrides the initial race option. Fantastic racism may apply, and it's a lot harder to be subtle when you're a different race) COSTS 2 COINS

[ ] A (sick) dragon: You do not know why, but you will never grow any more than you already have, about a head taller than a normal pony. Maybe you joined a cult to find a purpose for your life, maybe you joined it to find a solution to this problem. (+4 martial, +2 magic, flight capable, +5 personal combat)

[ ] A gryphon: You're a long way from home, and when you first arrived you did turn a lot of heads. But you've been settled down for a few years now. (+3 martial, +2 intrigue, flight capable, +10 personal combat)

There appears to be wisdom in not putting out too many choices in a row, at least this early on. You will have a "role" on your cult, which will be based on one of the six Status (CK2-esque), and your cult will have an immediate "objective" in mind. Both of those will be voted on the next post so as not to give too many important options right now.

And just for clarification, this "objective" will be related to a specific alicorn. If you pick "You were promoted" your job will grant you easier access to said alicorn, and your residence will be in that city. If "You were promoted" is not picked, next post will also include voting for where you live.

As per advice, voting will be closed in at the very least six hours. More if advised otherwise.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Plan Velvet Covers
-[X] Physiology
--[X] Name: Velvet Covers
--[X] Gender: Female
--[X] Cutie Mark: A spread open book, with purple covers and blank silver pages. A few white butterflies float around the edges.
--[X] Species: Unicorn: You were borne with a gift. It came in the shape of a horn on your forehead, and the ability to manipulate the world with your thoughts. (+1 Magic, +1 Learning, magic capable)
-[X] Traits
--[X] Beautiful: You are used to heads turning to follow you when you walk around, and that means knowing how to get away with certain things. (+2 Intrigue, +5 when trying to seduce other creatures, or just be pleasant).
--[X] Silver Tongued: Complicated words to impress the simple minded, complicated arguments to impress the wise. You know well how to weave them. (+3 Diplomacy).
--[X] Gifted: There is a flame inside every creature. Yours appears to burn just a bit brighter. (+2 Magic, +5 when trying to cast your racial magic)
--[X] Well Read: You are fond of the smell of libraries, and books reveal their secrets more easily to your touch. (+2 Learning, +5 when attempting to decipher or learn from scrolls and books)
-[X] Background
--[X] Minor Nobles: You might have been borne into the political web of nobility, and perhaps you are just a pawn on some larger game. But your blood is blue, and that is all that matters. (Starts with a well-paying, albeit non-prestigious job. Starts with good contacts, and ponyservants to perform one free action for you, if they're not suspicious.) COSTS 2 COINS
--[X] You graduated!: Ponykind relies more on craftsmanship and knowing a particular trade, but you went out of your way to pursue higher education. (+1 Learning, +1 Magic, +1 Stewardship)
-[X] Complications
--[X] Married: You are married, and have a beautiful daughter. Your family demands your attention, and it sure would be a shame if something were to happen to them… (+1 coin)
--[X] Frightened: Maybe it is the result of some trauma, maybe you were borne like that, but the end result is the same. You are weaker than most. (-10 Personal Combat, +1 coin)
--[X] Scarred: You survived, but it is better if you do not try to do that again. (-1 Health, +1 coin)

- - -

But in the end you nod to yourself. You are you. Velvet Covers, the tall (and some would say gorgeous) unicorn mare that is staring back at you in the mirror. Your slender body covered in light brown fur contrasting beautifully against your white mane that…

That actually needs some caring before you leave, you conclude, reaching for a comb with your magic.

You move around your room with just the slightest bit of care. Stormchaser, your husband, is out of town taking care of family business, and you know that nothing short of you dropping a whole cabinet on the floor will wake up Silky Stream, especially since her room is a whole corridor away.

But still, there is no need for unnecessary noise.

Soon enough your mane is presentable, and you start putting on a discrete dress that had been patiently floating next to you for some time now. One final look at the mirror to double check that your right hindleg is completely covered by the long skirt, and out of your room you go.

You do not exactly have difficulty walking, and you can run if you absolutely have to, but as usual you go down the corridor from the room with the utmost care, even though the floor is covered in rich carpeting. No reason at all to wake up your daughter, after all, as unlikely as that could be.

You whisk past the main hall, which was still empty of servants at this time of the day, and out through the front door you went.

- - -

It is somewhat pleasant to go out alone, and although you do notice the appalling gazes that are directed towards you whenever you declared that you will leave unaccompanied, nopony so far has ever really objected to the idea. Not even Stormchaser. So you take your time while you walk to appreciate the morning sun on your fur, the rare silence of a waking city and the pleasant feeling of having only yourself for company.

No accompanying maid, no watchful bodyguard, only yourself.

Until you finally arrive.

Your hoofs take you to a side street in a rather pleasant part of town. The street itself eventually leads to a dead end after another curve and is almost totally empty, save for a few ponies who, just like you, seem to have woken up no more than an hour ago.

Well, it is a holiday after all. Granted that there will be as many ponies partaking in the festivities as there will be those who are working on them, but this is the sort of day that seems to move just a bit more slowly, where things can be taken just a little bit less seriously.

"Well, not for me," you think, as you take one last casual look around you, just to make sure nopony is really paying attention. No matter how discreetly you are clothed or the fact that you are hidden in plain sight, it always pays to be cautious.

You are in a pleasant part of town, mostly an urban area, that is dotted with the small businesses that make life convenient. Bakeries, grocery shops, cafés and other conveniences that thrive by the sheer fact that they are mostly the nearest and most pleasant options.

You walk up to one such shop, an ice cream parlor with a very large "CLOSED" sign hanging from its door, indistinguishable from the other two shops next to it, and go through the unlocked door without a second thought, hastily closing it behind you.

The inside is cold and dark, and although the brief illumination you were allowed had shown that there is nothing but piled up chairs and tables, ready to be carried out when the shop opens, the vague impressions of shadows and silhouettes that they form suggest anything but that. You navigate slowly, already knowing that the direction you should take is generally kept clear, but still not wanting to make a fool of yourself in case it isn't.

Windy Flakes, the unicorn who owns the shop, is known to have a mischievous sense of humor from time to time.

Eventually, you reach the side door that leads to the kitchen, this time completely dark, and once again successfully navigate to the metal portal on the floor, which reminds you of some sort of hatch, the stairs through which descends to the underground storage area.

Although, as you well know, it has been years since that storage had last seen even a single crate or supply of any sort. Well, at least one that carried supplies that could be of use to the shop above, you think while slowly heading downwards.

And as soon as your hoof touches the ground you felt it, like you always do.

A faint gust of wind passes through your mane, even though you know it is impossible for wind to circulate here. You hear a slight… buzzing in your head, though you are sure this place is almost totally silent.

You feel the sensation of dirt under your hoofs, as if you were in the middle of a dark forest, even though you know that if any lights were to be lit you would see that the ground is made of solid stone.

But of course, no light has been lit inside this room in years, not even the slight glow of a unicorn's horn.

A soft smile comes to your face, the unexplainable satisfaction of knowing that right now you are in a place that, even if only slightly, does not exist. A place that no science or magic can explain. A place where the real nature of Equestria is allowed to take form.

"Velvet? I'm so glad that you could make it," you hear a whisper from nearby, that you immediately recognized as Copper Secateur's, "most of the others have arrived during the night."

"Well, you know that I can't be seen going about town during those late hours," you whisper back, allowing your lips to form a light smirk, "has the Master already arrived?"

"Who knows…", you presume that Copper rolled her eyes as she spoke, "for all I know, he never even leaves this place."

Her whispers grow fainter as she talks, and you hear the low sound of hoofs against dirt drifting away in the darkness. Without further ado you follow her deeper into that place.

The buzzing sound inside your head grows louder as the two of you progress, almost imperceptibly.

You know the moment when you arrive at the gathering place, and that is always when you hear the sound of a leaf being crushed underhoof coming from somewhere near. But that only ever happens after you have given up on counting how many steps you have taken so far.

Both you and Copper know that secret, of course. Although you still realize, or at least feel, that you have walked just a bit more than would have been necessary to be on the other side of the street if you were aboveground. Much like how you know that the amount of steps required to leave this place will be far less.

But still, undeniably, you also start hearing the sound of whispering, and hushed conversation, and you know that those are very real. As a matter of fact, this much sound is a lot more than usual, perhaps even the full gathering of the cult is present.

"It makes sense," Copper whispers to you, "the summoning was urgent and specific on the importance of this meeting. It was so unusual that I almost thought it was just some random dream."

You hum in agreement and sit down next to her in that total darkness, talking in whispers almost in a chit-chat manner.

Snap.

Until everyone present hears the sound of a twig breaking, followed by a breeze that is so quick that you wonder if it really felt it. The whispers immediately cease, and although you cannot even see your own snout you are sure that every single face in the gathering has turned to the far end opposite to where you came from.

You hear something clear its throat, and the unmistakable voice of your cult's Master echoes through the room.

"My followers, thank you for gathering in such a short notice. The matter I must discuss with you all is urgent."

Her… his? Their voice is confounding, as always. You cannot pin a specific race or gender to it, and you swear that it changes every meeting, if only slightly, but somehow you always recognize that it belongs to the Master.

Another mystery you do not yet understand, another truth that the world can't explain.

"As you all well know, until now there was little we could do, apart from studying our knowledge and spreading our beliefs. We are powerless to act against the many forces that can suddenly rise against our world. The doors to Equestria are wide open, and any being or Outsider may just barge into it as it sees fit, attracted by the fires of Harmony and magic that the alicorns so zealously stoke."

You hear the sound of pacing, the Master's voice slowly circling around the gathered audience as it speaks.

"Ancient threats like the rampaging Tirek and the deceiving Scorpan, who nearly sucked the life out of the world. Cruel shadows that creep through the hinges of reality. Those, and many others, dating all the way back to Discord, the chaotic god, the first Outsider to enter this world and wreak havoc… But we are powerless to hide, Equestria cannot be hidden as long as it continues to blaze with energy as it does, and we are powerless to do anything about it as long as the abominable alicorns reign and care for the flames."

You hear the hoofsteps nearing you, and you almost think that the Master is looking directly at you when they finally speak.

"We were powerless, that is… a new opportunity has just presented itself. After all, as you all know, not many days ago…"

[ ] The Path Through Nightmares: Princess Luna has just been released from her thousand years banishment. We know that she was the sovereign of dreams as well as guardian of the night, but we also know the path through dreams and other secret places. She is weak and confused from her magical isolation, scars formed from millennia with the beast that possessed her that will not easily heal, and because of that she is the ideal target.

Main objective: Convert Princess Luna to your cause. Bringing a demigoddess to your side will be the final piece for whatever plans you hatch.

Secondary objective: Drive Princess Luna mad, or kill her. Having another alicorn maintaining the current status quo is unacceptable.

[ ] To Hunt the Ascended: The mare named Twilight Sparkle has just reached alicornhood, being crowned Princess of Friendship. But unlike Princess Cadance, who was immediately brought under Celestia's wing, she remains isolated in the town called Ponyville. Despite having a disturbing record of being able to deal with problems, she is also knowledge-hungry and innocent. We will feed her the correct knowledge, and quickly so, for she will not remain the weakest link on the chain for long.

Main objective: Convert Princess Twilight Sparkle to your cause. Her unsurpassed intelligence will be instrumental for enhancing our own understanding about the true nature of this world.

Secondary objective: Completely sever Princess Twilight Sparkle's bond with her friends, or kill her. Having another alicorn maintaining the current status quo is unacceptable.

[ ] To Steal the Seed: The first two alicorns came from another world, which marks them as detestable Outsiders and interferers of this world's true nature. The following two alicorns were ascended, the overpowering flames of the world seeping into them and crowning their very souls. But a final act of abomination has just recently been fulfilled. Princess Flurry Heart, an alicorn, has been naturally borne into this world. But she will remain a filly for many years, and that is also an opportunity…

Main objective: Capture and successfully raise Princess Flurry Heart as one of your own. The alicorns have actively twisted this world since their arrival, but what sorts of wonders might one achieve if it is instead raised under our knowledge?

Secondary objective: Kill Princess Flurry Heart. She is an unacceptable fact that is trying to be wedged into the true nature of this world. And just like an idea, will soon be another nail in the coffin of what this world was supposed to be.

- - -

"You will all be summoned, in due time, to perform your tasks," the Master's voice starts to fade, although no hoofsteps can be heard that would mark his leave, "may you all be lost, and found, in the Woods."

And with that, utter silence falls. You suddenly feel as if you were inside a somewhat cramped place, and you have the slightest feeling that you would find a small crowd and bare stone walls should you make your horn glow. But you know better than that, and the feeling of dirt beneath your hoofs reminds you that you are still in a holy place.

Some ponies will probably stay, perhaps waiting until the store opens so as to not attract too much attention when they leave the place. Others perhaps will remain here until night falls again. But you know you have to leave immediately.

After all, you don't just have a life and appearances to keep, you also have much to think about. Especially because, within the cult, you also have the task of…

[ ] Martial – making sure the cult's dealings can run smoothly, by any means necessary. There are a few burly ponies that you may call upon, but you know that by far the most reliable ones are those adept in EDGE.

[ ] Diplomacy – keeping up appearances. Yours might be a tight circle of faithful ponies, but an iron circle is far stronger when linked in a chainmail.

[ ] Stewardship – running the cult's finances. The cult has its resources, and sometimes it is far easier to buy something than to break into a museum and steal it.

[ ] Intrigue – you aren't the only "institution" that mostly operates at night. Avoiding the eternal war between law and crime, while keeping an eye out for potential recruits, is a subtle dance.

[ ] Magic – ensuring your knowledge is properly applied. Somepony has to make sure the circles are properly written, and that the ceremonial knife hits the proper place.

[ ] Learning - keeping the lore. There is so much you do not yet understand, and so many fragments of truth spread around the Equestria, but that makes putting the jigsaw together all the more exciting.

It is not long before you are greeted by a maid, who politely opens the gate for you, having come back to your small estate in…

[ ] Canterlot – Your estate is literally in the "noble" part of the capital, although still of the "minor" strata that your family is part of, so subtlety will be a must if you are planning on doing suspicious things in person. Here you administer part of your family's several ownings across Equestria, and several other noble families are literally at a stone's throw. Princess Luna, as well as Princess Celestia, are much easier to gain access to. (Low anonymity, great opportunity for interesting contacts, Luna and Celestia)

[ ] Ponyville – You have a rather isolated estate, being the only member of nobility in town, so you need not care much for subtlety when doing things in person. You administer large swathes of land, used for farming, that are owned by your family. The prodigious Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's protege, lives here, but apart from her the town is mostly populated by simple ponies. (High anonymity, low opportunity for interesting contacts, Twilight Sparkle and her friends are here)

[ ] The Crystal Empire – The recently rediscovered Crystal Empire has its own nobles and population, and you are not a part of it. The just-now-unfrozen population is warm to newcomers, though, and quite charming in their own way. Your estate is in a somewhat isolated place, from where you administer your family's trade efforts into the newfound empire, but you will always stick out like a sore hoof by sheer virtue of not being a crystal pony. It is governed by Princess Cadence and her husband, and is (or will be) the birthplace of Princess Flurry Heart. (Medium anonymity and opportunity for interesting contacts, Princess Mi Amore Cadenza and Flurry Heart, if she has already been borne, live here) UNAVAILABLE FOR THE PATH THROUGH NIGHTMARES

[ ] Manehattan – A bustling city, where all sorts of ponies gather and all manners of livelihoods collide. You administer you family's assets from your manor, in the higher well-to-do part of town. There are no princesses here, and all manners of interesting creatures and scoundrels are going about their businesses. But it's the place where you married and had a child, so it feels like home. (Everything is everywhere at once, wildcard option but no alicorns)

- - -

You might have noticed that a lot of things are being said (with the subtlety of a rampaging yak) that your character does not understand, or appears to have some sort of "faith" in it. Well, that's part of being in a cult, but that is, more importantly, the result of the current knowledge you have.

But as you discover more things, these statements will start to make… perhaps a little bit more of sense. And that new knowledge, those new ideas, will not pass through you without causing some sort of change.

Character Sheet has been updated!

All Lore is now Level 0.

Due to your Cult's characteristics, and your initial interest, your Moth Lore is now Level 1!

All voting will be made in plan format.

There will be at least 20 hours before voting is closed.

Despite this being the vote of what your final objective is, keep in mind that this will be the light at the end of the tunnel. You will receive several orders from your cult Master, and will suggest many more to him (her?) in return. And striking against an alicorn is something not to be done lightly or without great preparations.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Plan Rigged From The Start, Learning Version
-[X] The Path Through Nightmares: Princes Luna has just been released from her thousand years banishment. We know that she was the sovereign of dreams as well as guardian of the night, but we also know the path through dreams and other secret places. She is weak and confused from her magical isolation, scars formed from millennia with the beast that possessed her that will not easily heal, and because of that she is the ideal target.
-[X] Learning - keeping the lore. There is so much you do not yet understand, and so many fragments of truth spread around the Equestria, but that makes putting the jigsaw together all the more exciting.
-[X] Ponyville – You have a rather isolated estate, being the only member of nobility in town, so you need not care much for subtlety when doing things in person. You administer large swathes of land, used for farming, that are owned by your family. The prodigious Twilight Sparkle, Princess Celestia's protege, lives here, but apart from her the town is mostly populated by simple ponies. (High anonymity, low opportunity for interesting contacts, Twilight Sparkle and her friends)

- - -

The gates are closed behind you, the maid who had been waiting for you trotting lightly to catch up to your side as you walk through the garden. The parade of trees that form a path towards the large estate is always a fond sight to behold, and you can spy an earth pony gardener tending to a few overgrown bushes in one of the far corners of the green scenario. The path itself, paved with cleanly cut stones, leads towards the mansion itself, the wide two-storied edifice that gives a clear view to the large swathes of farmlands that your family owns.

But for all the luxury that exists within the mansion, all the servants, and influence, and everything else, you are honestly glad that when you look at it you can think of it simply as "home".

Of course, you could never forget that you are a noble. Your family might not hail from a powerful lineage, but they go to lengths to compensate in everything else, be it political clout or economic might, your position administrating the farmlands east of Ponyville is a proof of that. The mansion you live in is easily larger than the town hall of the city (although not taller, by a slight margin) and several of the simple houses that dot Ponyville could easily fit inside your garden.

But you are thankful that you have never let any of that go up your head. Having lived in Ponyville for several years now, you must admit that a good part of its warmth and kindness has gotten into you. And right now you wouldn't have it any other way.

You walk past the carriage that is always left at your disposal, and that you only ever use grudgingly and at Stormchaser's insistence, and finally arrive at the front door.

"Thank you Ponpon, but I think it's better if I open it", you say, giving a quick wink to your personal maid, "oh, but would you please take this? I'd hate to drop it like that other time…"

Ponpon lets out a short laugh as the bag you had been carrying gently floats towards her, "no problem at all ma'am," she says, taking the handle in her mouth.

Your horn starts glowing once again, the doorknob of the front door answering to your magic at the same time, and you take one last deep breath before opening it.

"Silky Streeeeeam," you let your voice be carried into the main hall, "I'm hooo-!"

"Mommy!" before you can even finish, a blurred dart of brown fur comes zipping down the stairs, flying through the hall and colliding against you in a tight hug. You're nearly thrown back by her speed, and your hindleg makes you wince at the sudden effort with a sharp pain.

"Mommy! You're back!" but all of that mellows out and disappears as soon as you hug your daughter back, "I was waiting for you so we could have breakfast together, but Soft Sweeps wouldn't tell me where you went!" she continues talking, with all that energy that shouldn't even be able to fit in such a small body.

You ruffle her mane, purple like her father's, and gently let go, "well I was going to wake you up to come with me," you say as you walk into the house, your daughter trailing after you in a mix of prancing and flight bursts, "but you just wouldn't wake up! I shook you and shook you, but you were sleeping like a stone, so I had to leave without you" you make up the story as you go, saying it with as much of a dramatic voice as you could without grinning too much.

"What? No I wasn't! I promise I didn't stay up after bedtime," she says, her prance stopping, eyes wide in a sudden panic.

Of course you immediately know she did, with a reaction like that.

"Of course you didn't," you ruffle her mane again and conveniently turn your head away, hearing a clumsily hidden sigh of relief shortly after, "and that's why I brought us a little something". You turn to Ponpon, who was still dutifully accompanying you, and gently float the bag that she was holding towards Silky Stream. And whatever sort of dread she was feeling from being caught doing something was immediately replaced with glee when you dangled the bagged boxes of ice cream in front of her.

You're sure Windy Flakes wouldn't mind a few less boxes of it, and you did leave payment in the counter.

"Yay! Can we have it for breakfast? Can we? Can we?!"

You laugh at the beaming filly, thinking you can almost see light coming out of her hopeful eyes.

And you almost consider saying yes to her request.

- - -

It was a long day, a long holiday that is. Stormchaser will still be away for a few more days, so it had been up to you to chaperone a hyperactive pegasus filly, and once again you were reminded of how thankful you are for your husband having wings. Soft Sweeps in also a pegasus, having been picked as Silky Stream's caretaker mostly for that reason, but you made sure to dismiss the servants for the day after a while. Most of them were from Ponyville after all, and it wouldn't do to have them work on a festive day.

On a side note, you did wonder how much more of a handful your daughter would be if Stormchaser was an earth pony or a unicorn…

Still, you think while you try to get onto the bed with a completely stiff leg, at least you do know that you will fall asleep almost instantly. In the end you manage to compromise between awkwardly pushing yourself with magic and hoping that the covers you're pulling won't just give out on your exhausted self, although you have the dreadful impression that they will, until you manage to get most of your body onto the comfort of your bed.

Why the hell do expensive mattresses need to be so damn tall…?

But true to your word, you quickly fall asleep.

Until you realize you didn't. Or rather, you did, but you are still awake.

You rub your eyes and look around, immediately recognizing where you are. You have visited this place, before, but always under certain special circumstances, only after you have made some prior preparations.

Never like this, unannounced, unprepared.

Summoned.

You find yourself in the middle of a crossroad, under the pale light of the moon. The crossroad itself is made of some dark-blue stone, paved unevenly in a way that could be footsteps of some many-legged creature. You can see well enough, and although you can't see too far you can make out shapes in the horizon.

A great chain of mountains seems to be in the far, far distance. You can see their silhouettes but no path that leads to them, for although it looks like you are in a plane that stretches on forever, you still feel like the world somehow curves before it actually reaches the mountains.

You look up and see no stars, only the moon. And when you look behind you, another familiar sight greets you.

A great dark wood stretches on and on before you, and more than a few of the dark-blue stone paths lead to it. The forest seems dark and uninviting, almost oppressive, but you feel no sort of fear when facing it. Almost as if its oppressiveness is a part of its nature, and the forest itself could not exist in any other way. Besides, you have already walked those woods a few times and you know that its darkness can sometimes even be welcoming. If not to you, then to some deeper part of yourself.

And above and within the Woods you see the place that you know to be the Mansus.

A great structure floats above the dark forest. The only way you can describe it is as floating, for you see no pillars sustaining it, only a maddening criss-cross of stairs that seem to connect odd platforms and entire floors, or that sometimes lead nowhere at all. There are no walls to speak of, and yet you can see doors that led into closed-off rooms. There is no real shape that gives order to it, and yet your mind can see that it has the form of something like a house, or maybe a pyramid.

And at the very top of that great structure, or perhaps at its center, it's hard to know, there is a great brilliant… Thing, which is neither a star nor a lamp, but still shares kinship with them. It shines at every single floor of the Mansus, its light reaches every single room and platform, although you swear that some of those rooms and floors should block the light and stop it from reaching the ones beneath them.

You are far away from that light, and it can't truly reach you from where you are, but you know that the light is utterly magnificent, and that its name is Glory.

The sound of rustling bushes comes from somewhere near you,
though you can't see any and the Woods are still somewhat far. Shaking your head a bit, you decide not to look at the Glory anymore.

Besides, the rustling bushes definitely sounded impatient, you think to yourself as you start walking down the path.

Soon enough there is no path to follow any more, the dark-blue stones being covered by overgrown roots. But that is fine, because you know that paths are completely useless inside this place. The sound of insect wings keep growing louder and louder as you walk, and is soon joined by the noise of scissors shearing at leaves, and the sensation of branches reaching for your mane, and the pointed impression that your tail is in the wrong place, and the sheer freedom that comes from being lost and-

The sound of rustling bushes once again make you snap into attention.

You shake your head once more and head towards the source of the sound, before you forget the direction it came from and the Woods start to pull at your attention again.

The Woods have no defined path, but you somehow know where to go once you set your mind on it. And you set your mind on arriving where you were summoned.

A small clearing opens before you, the light of the moon coming almost as a glare after you spent so much time seeing it as nothing but soft whispers blocked by the leaves of dark trees. You think you are alone in the clearing, until five more figures emerge from the trees almost at the same time as you do, Copper Sicateur and Windy Flakes being two of them. Each of you came from a different direction, and you realize that the six of you have inadvertently formed a circle. A quick look at the five other ponies reveal that you all know each other, and that you all know what this meeting means.

Snap.

You hear the sound of a twig breaking, and the buzzing from the forest seems to grow just a bit louder. But all of that is drowned out by the voice that comes from every direction.

"It is beautiful, isn't it?"

You look at the five other ponies, who seem just as unsure on what to do as you, and you wordlessly sit around in a circle, all of you facing outwards. A few more silent moments pass before your cult's Master's voice comes again.

"Eternity exists in here. Eternal change… eternal darkness, bathed in moonlight… And this eternity was far more common, in fact, a long, long time ago…" you almost involuntarily raise your eyebrows. Is the Master's voice almost sounding like he is… saddened?

"A long time ago the Woods could stretch much farther than it does today… It could stretch out of dreams and into the Wake, and reach far away from the holy places like the one where we gather… But that is no longer possible in this age, not in such great scale..." the voice seems to take a harder tone as it continues, an angrier tone, "not while the fires burn, not while the world blazes with light."

A twig snaps, and you nearly jump at the suddenness of it. Not because it frightened you, but because the sound came exactly from the middle of the circle. And although you know that there will be nothing there if you turn around, you can still hear the Master's voice coming from right behind you.

"We will change that, my followers. It is still possible to expand the Woods into the Wake, and to make Equestria safe once again, hidden away by its shadows. But for that to happen… there is much to be done."

At that, a shadow appears in the corner of your vision, and you know that you will see the Master if you just look a bit more to your side. But you don't, shutting your eyes tightly instead.

You can hear the Master whisper into your ears, and for some reason you can also hear the whispers to everypony else's ears.

"Comet Feet," the whispers went to the large and gruff pegasus to which you have rarely spoken to, "our followers need to be made ready, for they will sure be needed. Share your knowledge of Edge with our most loyal, and see to it that they have the required tools."

"Starry Dancer," the whispers went to the pink pegasus mare that was sitting opposite to you, "we must ensure that we are in the good graces of our current hosts. Gain the ears of the rulers of Ponyville, so that we might more easily sway them in the future."

"Copper Secateur," the whispers went to the dark red mare that you know well, "gather more followers among the simple minded, and bolster our numbers. But do not yet tread in the way of Starry Dancer's efforts."

"Windy Flakes," the whisper went to the light maned unicorn, who always seemed to have a smirk on his face, "the Wake has its rules, and we must master them. Expand out holdings, build a place where we may more easily gather, and plant the seeds that we may later reap as riches, for we will surely need them."

"Jade Whistle," the whispers went to the aloof-looking earth pony that you have only ever seen in passing, "prepare our cadre and study what components and instruments might be of use, for we will soon need to call upon greater powers."

"And Velvet Covers…" the whispers caressed your ears in an almost tickling manner, "the one we aim for is indeed very great, but like any grand castle there are many avenues to reach it. Look for a way that we might strike at her, search for a path that leads to her. Lead the way and draw the plan, so that our followers might follow your hoofsteps and enact them. But be mindful that you prepare yourself first, armed with knowledge and lore, lest you are not sufficiently prepared and become lost to us."

All of the whispers happened simultaneously and lasted the same amount of time. When they finish, however, you wonder if they were all as equally detailed as yours, or if perhaps it was an idea that was whispered to you, and you simply overheard the diminished echoes of the ideas that he gave to the others.

But as you wonder that, you realize that the presence behind you is gone, and you stand up together with your fellow ponies.

The six of you look into each other's eyes, and for some reason you simply know that you will all reconvene in two months' time, though you have no idea how you shared in that knowledge.

And with that same wordless agreement, you turn around and head back into the forest, hearing the crunching of leaves and the rustling of wood that indicates the other ponies did the same.

- - -

You have a Moth Master. What did you expect, precise instructions?

Perhaps it was intentional, perhaps it was true reminiscing, but you feel that you heard something important from your cult's Master as he spoke about (or perhaps from?) the past. Gained 1 scrap of Secret Histories Lore.

Secret Histories Lore has reached Level 1, Character Sheet updated.

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

You will have FOUR personal actions you can take, with an ADITIONAL action that can be performed by your servants (five picks total). One turn refers to a single month, and one action is (roughly) your actions during a weekend, the accumulated efforts during your nights after work or other equivalents. Try not to think too much into it.

This also means that there will be TWO turns (two sets of 4+1 actions, equivalent to two months) before you reconvene with your cult's Master. This is both so you don't have to shotgun a large amount of choices in a small period of time, and so you can check your progress and consolidate/abort an effort if you feel it's not going the way you think it should.

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.
Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

Current bits: 120

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month

Your actual work is to administrate your family's holdings in Ponyville, but that being a "family business" means that all that's made is sent to the family head. And despite being a grown and mature mare, you must sadly conclude that your income is basically an allowance.

Just for comparison's sake, any other background would give a salary based on days worked, and a daily discount for living expenses, and your monthly "profit" would be somewhere around 60 bits. Due to your noble status, your gains are totally yours, and you do not have to worry about daily expenses. Small luxury expenses will still apply as scenarios demand.

[ ] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)
-[ ] The Dreamlands, the realm of pony dreams, is not a part of the Mansus, and yet you can see it from the Woods, far in the horizon. Search if there is a path that leads there.
-[ ] Perhaps the least subtle of options is the answer, and your target being royalty means that she is not hard to track. Get in touch with your contacts in Canterlot and try to get a hold of an invitation to some event. You surely won't get to her immediately, but it will be a first hoof into the city where she lives. Not suspicious.

[ ] On furthering the cause
-[ ] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (Will involve random expenditure of bits). All sub-choices are not suspicious.
--[ ] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[ ] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[ ] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)
-[ ] In all honesty, the Cult lacks an appropriate place for gatherings, at least when it comes to lesser meetings to discuss small matters, or to simply stash certain things. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.
-[ ] 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? Suspicion depends on how strange the item scouted is.
-[ ] Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.
-[ ] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. Moderately suspicious.
-[ ] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious
-[ ] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
--[ ] Help Comet Feet, the pegasus in charge of the "dirty business".
--[ ] Help Starry Dancer, the pink mare who seems to be in charge of the talking.
--[ ] Help Copper Secateur, your cult's eyes and ears in the dark.
--[ ] Help Windy Flakes, the unicorn seems to be in charge of most of the cult's physical possessions.
--[ ] Help Jade Whistle, the earth pony who, apparently, will be doing a lot of the "occult" for the cult.

[ ] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
-[ ] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 2)
~~-[ ] No other sources of knowledge are currently available~~

Your Lore evolution happens by collecting "scraps of Lore", and the required number of scraps is the Lore level that you are aiming for. As all your Lores are Level 0, you need only a single scrap to progress. But, for example, your Moth Lore which is Level 1 requires two scraps. Scraps may be gained by performing certain acts or through study under a source of knowledge, but using an action to study will also involve a dice roll, which might fail.

[ ] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as a one-time buff for "specific kind of roll" that applies only until the end of the next turn. It is possible, however, to learn scraps of Lore as well, though that might be unlikely, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.

-[ ] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
-[ ] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to find the paths to somewhere else, or to climb even higher into the Mansus.

[ ] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
-[ ] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
-[ ] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting, there are at least six very interesting ones who just exorcised a demigoddess.
-[ ] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now and should write to your parents and request an increase of your share of the family's grants.
-[ ] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?

[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but i will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)

- - -

There will be a minimum of 24 hours for voting, and keep in mind that its two turns before you have to report to your cult's Master.
Also, for the time being you are being very cautious about keeping appearances, as well as you have your family that you don't want to suspect anything. There will be no shenanigans of "working less days a week to gain more actions".

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Friendly Neighborhood Librarymare
-[X] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)
--[X] The Dreamlands, the realm of pony dreams, is not a part of the Mansus, and yet you can see it from the Woods, far in the horizon. Search if there is a path that leads there.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (Will involve random expenditure of bits).
All sub-choices are not suspicious.
---[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[X] 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?
Suspicion depends on how strange the item scouted is.
---[X] [Ask your servants to carry out this task.]
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting, there are at least six very interesting ones who just
exorcised a demigoddess.

- - -

"… and much like I've written to you about this before, I will say it again. If you're going to deny my granddaughter the best possible education, and instead decide to have her raised as some backwater hillbilly then I assur-"

You rip the letter apart, not being able to read another single word from it. The paper glows in answer to your horn as you shred it in half again, and again, and again until its little more than a small pile of dull-looking confetti.

"Sweetheart, are you… oh, letter from Velvet Hill?" you hear your husband ask, cautiously, as he sees the offending pile of shredded letter float towards the trash bin.

"Yes Storm, dad sent me another one of his… pointed letters," you answer with a scowl, trying not to think about it and instead floating a comb towards your mane, and concentrating very hard on it.

But Stormchaser doesn't answer, of course. Instead you can feel his patient gaze on your back even as you try your hardest not to picture the expression you know he is wearing, that partly calm, partly worried look he has whenever he thinks you are…

You sigh, abandoning the doomed effort at your mane and turning towards him who is sitting patiently at the bed, morning sun slowly rising on the open window behind him.

"He just wrote that…" you start, and stop, the words stuck in your throat.

"Is it about today?" he asks gently, confirming his suspicions as soon as you cover your face with your hoofs and let out a second, longer, exasperated sigh.

"Yes, it was about today. Of course it was about today, and he might keep sending those sorts of letters every chance he gets from now on! But that's not the problem…" you say, your voice slowly going from stressed to honestly worried. "I mean… what if he is right? What if we really shouldn't be doing this and…"

You trail off as your hoofs leave your face, and you realize Stormchaser had gently taken them on his.

"Sweetheart we've been through this already," he says with a soft smile, "we can't all move to Canterlot, and we absolutely won't go with their 'suggestion' of her moving in with them."

You only realize you were gazing at the floor when he slowly raises your chin, looking you in the eyes with that optimistic smile of his.

"And besides, Ponyville is a great place isn't it? You're the one who convinced me about this in the first place. Silky Stream will be able to grow up happily here, no matter what, so you shouldn't worry about today."

A small smile slowly forms in your face, and you inch forward slightly until both your noses touch.

"Thanks…" you say, with a final sigh of honest relief, "you're right dear, everything will turn out allr-"

"Mom! Dad! Wake up! Lets go, lets go!"

You choke mid-sentence, and the two of you jump up as the topic of your conversation bursts into the room with the intensity of a small brown hurricane.

"Cmon, you promised! I already got up, and have my bag, and brushed my mane, and-!"

"Terribly sorry Mrs. Velvet, she just flew off and I-"

Your hindleg winces in pain at the sudden jump, but you nearly don't notice it, the chaos of Silky Stream trying to pull her father out of the room by the neck, and of a flustered Soft Sweeps apologizing profusely from the door, being too much for you to handle at once.

Stormchaser gives you a short laugh and a wink, before allowing himself to be dragged away by the filly. And you can see by both of your smiles that all your worries have vanished away.

- - -

"Dear, are you sure you wouldn't have preferred to come by carriage?", Stormchaser asks you the same question for the tenth time in a hushed tone, repeating the same whispered back and forth the two of you have been at since you left the estate.

"We are not taking Silky Stream to her first day in school in that blasted chariot."

"But there's still the trip back home and…" he looks towards your flank with a pained expression, making you roll your eyes at him.

"I'm not just some defenseless mare who cant even walk for…" you stop whispering, noticing for the first time that someone has been rather quiet for a while now.

The definite lack of a brown blur zipping around in your peripheral vision also tells you that something quite unusual is going on.

"Silky? Is everything okay?" you ask her, seeing that she is standing still in front of the two of you, almost frozen in place.

But of course, you chide yourself, you've been arguing with Stormchaser for so long you didn't even realize the three of you have already arrived. The Ponyville Schoolhouse stands in front of you, white picket fence with its gates wide open. The building itself has an adorable charm to it, and although it does look a bit small it is immediately obvious that the place is extremely well kept. Perhaps "lovingly so" would be a more proper way to describe it.

And besides, you had already done a bit of "research" on it. A short letter to the EEA had the school's curriculum delivered to your desk, which you read through a few weeks back, and a few words with your accountant had him subtly check that all of the school's finances were in good order.

You made absolute sure that you weren't enrolling your little filly into a whatever-someplace.

"Mom, dad…?" Silky Stream turns to face the two of you, her voice small, "can't we just... uhm…" she scrapes a hoof weakly on the ground as she tries to find her words.

"Oh, you're not about to back down on us, are you Silky?" Stormchaser scoops her up with his wings and puts her on his back before you even think of what to say, "I told you before, this will be an adventure! And think about the good side of it, you'll make new friends, no more boring tutors at home, and-"

"Maybe just a few boring tutors," you chime in, causing the two of them to shoot a grumpy expression at you, "but a lot less!", you quickly complement your saying, "and only if you fall behind on a subject."

Your husband lets out a short chuckle, and trots towards the school with a few short leaps, causing Silky to bounce on his back and start giggling.

He finally lets go of her when the three of you arrive at the school's door proper, and right on time for it to be opened by a dark-pink mare, who looks at you with a surprised expression until her eyes fall on the giggling Silky Stream, causing her to give an understanding nod.

"Good morning, I'm Cheerilee, a teacher of this school. And you must be Silky Stream, how nice to meet you!" the mare says with a kind smile.

You see the option of hiding behind her father's leg flashing through your daughter's face, but you beam at yourself when she decides not to, and instead greets her future teacher back in a shy manner.

"And you must be Mrs. Velvet and Mr. Stormchaser? Thank you so much for bringing in your daughter, I'm sure she will get along wonderfully well with our other students," she says, inviting you into the school as she talked, "but I have to admit that it was quite unusual to receive an admission by mail, and I don't quite recall ever seeing any of you around town. Have you just moved into Ponyville?"

"Oh, actually we are-"

"We work from home!" you interrupt Stormchaser, "I work from home, that is. My husband travels a lot," you say with a smile, making Stormchaser shoot you an interrogative expression as soon as Cheerilee turns her back.

"Oh, I see," she sets about, walking around the classroom and making some small final preparations while she talks, "well, Ponyville is a big place after all. And I don't mean to pry, but I think I recall that your address was at the east side of town, so it's a bit far from where I usually go."

"Yes, we live in a farmhouse over that part," you answer with a smile, and Stormchaser gives you another, more aggravated, curious stare.

"Really? How wonderful! We have another filly here whose family also has a farm," Cheerilee says almost to herself as she finishes laying a few books over her desk, "oh I can already see her and your daughter becoming the best of friends!"

"I really hope that happens as well," you share in her excitement.

"Well," Stormchaser chimes in, "it was a pleasure meeting you Miss Cheerilee. And just so you know, we will be taking our daughter home today, but starting tomorrow she will be brought here by one of our maid-"

"Mare!" you cut him off, almost facepalming at his denseness, "our mare friend Soft Sweeps. Who is a friend of the family and helps us with our daughter while we are working," you almost growl the last three words at your husband, who (apparently) finally gets what you are doing. Or at least seems sufficiently intimidated to stop talking.

"Very well," the smiling Cheerilee, who thankfully didn't seem to have noticed the exchange between you and Stormchaser, answers with a clap of her hoofs. "I'll be looking forward to this year then, and it was a pleasure to meet you two parents!"

You exchange a few more words before the school bell rings, and you quickly take your leave, dutifully warned by Cheerilee that the two of you would risk being overrun by a stampede of foals if you stayed.

After leaving the school, you are finally positive that this has been the correct decision. To hell with your family's letters. Cheerilee seems to be a wonderful teacher, and if all went well your daughter would make friends with everypony, something that you decidedly know that she lacks, especially since she had been taught by home tutors her whole life.

And for all of that to happen, there is no need for anypony to know if she is from a noble family or not, and there is absolutely no need for any kind of special treatment to keep her from experimenting anything she wants to do. You are going to make sure that Silky Stream has as happy a time as possible.

- - -
- - -
- - -

[Rolling encounter…]

[Oh wow]

[Rolling the 1d6 then…]

It's a beautiful day outside.

When was the last time you noticed that…?

"No, not like that", you think to yourself. There have been several beautiful days, the weather department of Ponyville is wonderful, and you're not in a contemplative mood or anything.

No, what you're wondering is when was the last time you simply looked out through the window and realized it is a beautiful day, specifically because you have absolutely nothing better to do?

You don't remember, that's the answer. For the longest time moments like this, days like these, have come and passed you by while you were busy. It was either catching up with some sort of work, maybe visiting the surrounding farms and plantations for some closer sort of inspection, or taking care of Silky Stream because she was too young. Well, even recently after she started to fly you'd spend days like these watching her learn how to fly better with her father.

But now, for the first time in what seems to be forever, you actually have time that is not only free, but that you also have no idea what to do with. Your husband is busy, your daughter is at a school picnic that she begged you to sign the permission papers for (not that you wouldn't sign them to begin with…), and you are…

Here. Looking out through the window.

Well then, taking a breather for a day is fine. But you must admit that recently you've been having certain… yearnings. But you push the memories of your dreams aside, now was not the appropriate time for that.

However, much as you aren't about to perform certain preparations and go for an afternoon nap into the Woods, you can do something else that you haven't done in a long while. At least not for "no reason", that is.

"May I help you with anything, ma'am?" you hear Ponpon's voice coming from your room's door, dressed in her maid uniform and with a feather duster on her mouth.

"Nothing in particular, thank you," you answer, eyeing two of your more discreet dresses that you have floating in front of you, "just going out for a walk."

"Very well ma'am. Shall I have your carriage ready?" she asks, her face serious. Shortly after, and as if on cue, the two of you laugh for a few moments. "Have a good day ma'am, enjoy your walk," the mare says before going back to her duties.

You settle for the yellow one, make sure it's properly covering your right hindleg, and set out to the front door.

- - -

It's peculiar, the sort of things you can usually miss when you're worried about something else.

Your husband (albeit reluctantly) and your house servants are used to you "going out for a walk" every now and then. But what they don't know is that those are not really leisure strolls, quite on the contrary. During those walks you're mostly concerned about remaining inconspicuous, with the use of a few tricks here and there that help you stick to the shadows just a little bit better, or remain hidden in plain sight for just a bit longer. So you don't quite have the calm and tranquility to notice how wide and inviting the streets are, or how some houses aren't properly "connected" in rows like in Canterlot, how each individual building seems to have a certain charm to it.

Besides, you're usually out through the front door as soon as the sun appears in the horizon, when it comes to that sort of business, both because the cult's meetings are near the darker times of the day, and because the morning sun makes for much longer shadows. You don't actually remember the last time you went out and it was properly afternoon.

So this is being a pleasant experience all on its own. Like hearing a secret from someone you already know, or realizing that the flowers in your garden also have a sweet smell when you just used to look at them before.

Speaking of which, you think as you stop to smell the flowers in a park, Ponyville really lives up to its earth pony legacy.

"Oh my, what have we here? I do love the idea of it, darling, but I think it would look a lot better in blue. It would have more of a modern feeling to it."

You freeze up for a moment, realizing there is somepony right behind you, and apparently talking to you. Recollecting yourself after a moment, you turn around.

"Pardon me?"

And you see a white-colored mare, well cared purple mane waving around her horn. She seems to be looking at your dress quite intently, with both an analytical gaze and a small smile that told you she meant what she was saying.

"Your dress, darling", she looks up from the dress, her azure eyes staring at yours, "the quality of it is marvelous, and the stitching is impeccable… I must say, you didn't buy this here in Ponyville, did you?"

"I think it was in Canterlot, but I'm not sure" you answer honestly, after all you have quite a few dresses...

"But of course, it has Canterlot written all over it!" she says with an elegant nod of approval, "Although..."

She circles around you, her courteous approval slowly turning into a more troubled expression as she takes in the sight of you from a few more angles.

"Although?" you ask curiously.

"Well, the dress itself is very well made, but it just doesn't do to you!" she says as she finishes walking, still looking at your dress as if she was piecing together a puzzle. "Why, a mare of your appearance and looks deserves something that highlights far more of your qualities… And this dress seems to do quite the opposite."

You can't help but to feel amused as she mumbles to herself, something about a style of cut and a complicated word that sounded like a designer's name. And she does sound extremely serious about it, as well, both on the dress part and on the way she complimented you.

"Well," she looks back to you, nodding as if she has arrived at a conclusion, "while this is most surely not a fashion emergency, by all means I'd love it if you accompanied me back to my boutique. I'm sure we can do something about it that will turn out marvelous. I'm Rarity by the way, pleased to meet you," she says, lowering her head with something akin to a small curtsy.

"Velvet Covers," you say back, a small smile coming to your lips as you answer to her refined mannerism with a curtsy of your own, "and the pleasure is all mine. But I do appreciate clothing more on the unassuming side, if it is not for some special occasion".

[Rarity's Intrigue Roll…]

"Oh, I know what you mean," Rarity agrees with a nod, "but still, I must say tha…"

Until her eyes shoot wide open, her mouth still stuck with an "aaa" sound that prolongs itself for half a second more.

The next thing you know, her gracious mannerism completely disappears, legs going straight as ramrods, and a smile that is clearly panicked appearing on her face.

"Oh, Velvet Covers! I mean, Mrs. Velvet Covers. Or is it madam? Or Dame?" her smile starts to crumble, one hoof going to her forehead as if she was about to start sweating at any moment, "Its actually Lady, isn't it? Oh no, I just did it again didn't I?!"

"Excuse me, what?", you honestly have no idea of what is going on.

"Oh, nothing at all, just being polite! I most surely didn't just say your dress is boring," she continues to talk faster and faster, "and I most surely didn't just imply that you have terrible fashion sense! Not at all!"

To be honest, you start getting nervous at her sudden… suddenness.

"And even if I did, what does it matter, right?", she nearly stammers several times, "I mean, what does my opinion matter when it comes to this sort of thing, right?"

She keeps getting more and more distressed, and you decide to-

[Calming Rarity down, breakpoints 40/80]

[Roll: 38 + 11 (diplomacy) + 1 (GRAIL bonus) = 50]

"Hey, hey, calm down. It's all right, you're not offending anyone," you try to soothe her, although something tells you that trying to go for a hoof on her shoulder would be a bad idea, "and in fact, like I said, this dress is supposed to be more on the subtle side. It really says something that you managed to see through it. Why, I'd say that shows you have an excellent sense for fashion!"

You breathe a sigh of relief when you see that the mare is actually calming down.

"Rarity, wasn't it? I'm afraid my own sense for dresses and whatnots is not even close to sharp, so I'd love if you could give me some pointers," you say as she finishes to recollect herself.

"Well, I'd be delighted, but I'm not sure if I can rightly compete with Canterlot-chique," she says, slightly embarrassed, confidence slowly returning to her voice, "but I can say I'd love to work something up for you regardless."

You nod in agreement, "you did say something about a Boutique, right?"

"Oh, but I did, didn't I?", Rarity's eyes widen up slightly once again, as she sees where you are leading that conversation, "although it's a shame that it's… under repairs! That's right, it's in no condition to receive visitors, I'm afraid, especially one of your stature. You wouldn't be able to put a hoof in it without getting covered in paint and all that," she forces another smile.

"Oh, quite a shame then…" to which you can do nothing but agree. "But I'll be looking forward to visiting it in the future, then?"

"But surely, darling. I'll be looking forward to it if it's the case" Rarity answers back almost immediately, a strange mixture of apprehension and hope in her eyes.

"Well then, once again, it was a pleasure to meet you Rarity."

"It was all mine Velvet Covers!"

You go on your way, continuing your stroll in a direction that will lead you back home, thinking to yourself that you didn't expect a pony who had wielded an Element of Harmony to be so… well, pleasantly normal! You quite liked her, actually, and she seems to own a fashion store. It would be an honestly good pastime to go there.

It is only when you see Ponpon, holding open the front gates, that you realize you forgot to ask where her Boutique is.

Well, looking for it might be fun as well.

(Didn't roll enough to get into her Boutique, but enough to avoid… a rather dramatic consequence. Do recall this is Season 1 Rarity (as well as Season 1 every-character-else). The Equestria-famous fashionista is still a small-town dreamer, and although you are a minor noble you are the only one in Ponyville.)

- - -
- - -
- - -

Evening is beginning to fall, and the shadows begin to lengthen. Not exactly "consuming" the world, but not rightly "covering" it either. You tried to remember when you started making that distinction, when your point of view about evenings changed so subtly. And you couldn't find any answers.

The only thing you have done, so far, is ask questions. But perhaps it is time to start working on answering them on your own.

You will be back before sunset, you decide, and before anypony can voice any questions you're already on your dress and out through the front gates. Hopefully, nopony will even notice.

[The Golden Oak Library is not the ONLY place with books in Ponyville, you know… breakpoints every +20]

[Roll: 8 + 12 (learning) +5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) = 25]

You stumble upon a small bookshop at the edge of Ponyville, and enter it on a whim, the bored-looking shop owner barely looks up to acknowledge you as you enter. After sifting through a few books, you finally stumble upon two that at least partly catch your interest.

[Rolling…]

[ ] A handbook that told the tale of a thief – KNOCK Level 1, costs 7 bits

[ ] A cooking manual, with a surprisingly in-depth chapter on how to repair broken kitchen utensils – FORGE Level 1, costs 7 bits

You ponder for a while on whether to purchase them or not, and quickly go home.

(Book searching rolls are divided into levels, that get better every 20 points. And since you were out for book hunting, you'd only meet a certain somepony if you had a result of at least 60)

- - -
- - -
- - -

You look into your own eyes in the mirror, and take a deep breath.

Everything has already been taken care of and accounted for. Stormchaser is out of town for work, you have already put Silky Stream to bed, and you are pretty sure that you're going to sleep in no time as soon as your head hits the pillows.

With a final nod, you bring up the scissors, gently unfurl your mane with the help of magic, and snip a short strand of it right from the middle.

A change done deliberately, but hidden in plain sight in a place nopony would notice.

You say a few words that you know, for good measure, that you sometimes heard being whispered by your Master, or perhaps whispered into your head by the incessant buzzing that accompanies the cult's meetings. But regardless, you also know those words to be holy, or at least that they are uttered in holy places, and that is enough.

You leave the scissors on top of the cabinet, together with the cut lock of mane, right in front of the mirror. And you quickly make your way to bed.

You fall asleep.

And wake up in the crossroads, the Woods open in wide darkness before your eyes.

It is always in a crossroad, that is, in a literal cross between two of the paths of dark-blue stone. And yet, the directions they go is never the same between any two times you have been here.

But this time, you do not worry yourself in finding the path that would lead into the Woods. This time you turn your back to the Woods and look towards the horizon.

You can immediately see how simple it appears to be, and how complicated it actually will be. The whole problem is that the paths must be followed, if you step even a single hoof outside of the dark-blue stone boundary that they set you will not get anywhere, that is why it is difficult for most ponies to even arrive at the Woods to begin with. The paths will criss-cross, sometimes collide, or sometimes wander off in another direction forever, until you wake up in failure.

And there is no point in trying to map them either. You know well that the paths change while you are not looking, and sometimes change even while you are looking.

No, the only way to navigate the paths is to know certain secrets. To know what signs to look for, and which direction to follow once you reach a point where two paths become one, or three, or ten. You think deeply on that matter for a while.

You see your objective. Not directly, but you see it. On the great and far horizon there are vast chains of mountains, sure, but the world curves before it actually reaches them. But right there, right beyond the curve of the world and before the mountains, there is a hue of light. A soft arch of something that looks at the same time like mists, and aurora borealis, and perhaps the faint sheen given off by fireflies. You know that place to be the Dreamlands, as you heard from your Master, as much as even speaking about it surely displeases him… (her?)

However, you also recall that your Master said that the Dreamlands are a different world. A world made by the dreams of ponykind. A place of its own.

Making up your mind, you set forward to try and make your way through the paths.

[To Cross to Other Worlds, CD 60]

[Roll: 68 + 0 (KNOCK – Level 0) + 12 (learning) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) = 85]

You try to recall every single piece of Knock-related knowledge you have, guessing at what parables they could have with the shapes that the paths took, whenever they joined and separated. You press on until you find yourself on a single path that seems to lead on forever. At first you feel a bit discouraged, thinking this is a failed path that would not end until you wake up, but eventually the lights on the horizon grows just a bit stronger, and you quicken your pace in anticipation.

Finally, the path widens up until it forms a circle around itself. But your eyes are immediately drawn to what is in the middle of the circle.

A small lake, or is it just a puddle? A reflective sheen of dream-water shines faintly in the middle of the circle, the dark-blue stone path circling around it as a vein would circle an organ, or perhaps as a shackle would circle a prisoner. But that matters not, you think, as you peer more deeply into the water.

You soon realize that it does not have a shine of its own, instead it bleeds light into the world you are in. For some reason you can't help but to feel revulsion for it, several detestable comments of your Master about the Dreamlands resurfacing in your mind with that realization.

It was like a small corrupted pool, like the tip of a chimney slowly belching poison and smog. It didn't matter that the Mansus was surrounded by an infinite plane, or by the Woods, or the fact that the mountains in the far horizons had no paths that connected to them. During one brief moment, all that mattered was that the pool of water was right there, slowly spreading its essence into the air. Slowly bringing more of itself and its light and its essence into the Mansus, causing the very air around it to become itself.

And you knew during that short moment that if the Dreamlands ever had things its own way, one day it would surely turn the Mansus into itself.

But, you snap out of that idea, forgetting it as quickly as you learned it, for now this puddle is a door, and doors have but one utility.

You carefully dip your head into the dream-water, and take a peek into the other side. And when you take your head back, disoriented, you know you have achieved what you have come for.

But a sense of urgency soon reaches your mind. You know you must wake quickly, for that is the way with paths. You must return to the Wake and commit your choices and turns and twists into memory, less they are forgotten and change when you next come to visit.

You wake up in the morning, the scissor and lock of mane still exactly where you left them. Was it not for your leg you would have practically jumped out of bed, but instead, mostly due to all the practice you have had at suppressing that urge, you gently make your way down from your bed, swipe the lock of mane into the trash bin and bring out a pen and quill with the glow of your horn.

And reaching into as much of your memory as you possibly can, you draw what is the mixture of a map and a poem of how to return to the Dreamlands. Once you are done, you know you will no longer forget it, and the drawing will quickly be introduced to a candle's fire.

You have succeeded at crossing into another world, on your own, and for the first time. This feat is the providence of KNOCK, to which you have introduced yourself. Gained 1 scrap of Knock Lore.

KNOCK Lore is now level 1!

- - -
- - -
- - -

You sit down in your office, a large stack of papers with the reports of crops, tool necessities, punctual problems, and the myriad of other things you have to address daily is piled high in front of you. You float your quill closer to you, and levitate the topmost report to the middle of your desk.

When a slight knock comes from your door, disturbing your concentration before it had even managed to sufficiently gather.

"Pardon ma'am", Ponpon walks into your office shortly after, "but you said you'd like to hear from them as soon as any correspondence arrived."

You look at Ponpon quizzically, but she excuses herself before you can ask any questions.

"Oh," you say to yourself, "I'd almost forgotten I asked them to do that."

Inside the letter is a short report, and a few pictures of…

[Artifact Search: Servants]

[Roll: 54 + 12 (learning) = 66. Level 3]

[Suspicion: 7 + 30 (level 3) = 37. Only slightly suspicious, "eccentric" is the word.]

The skin of a furred animal worked into a large blanket, or perhaps a thick carpet. Your servants also wrote that the owner insists that anyone who sleeps on (or under) it, if they are sick, will wake up feeling refreshed.

HEART artifact

Level 3

Cost: 200 bits

[ ] Buy

[ ] Keep it on hold

- - -

- - -

- - -

And this concludes your month.

On studying for scraps of Lore: During your actions you will be able to choose UP TO TWO books to study at the cost of a single action. Books are "consumable", which means that if you fail the test the book is still used up. Books can only give a scrap of Lore "if they are of your level". Meaning that a level one book can get you from Level 0 to Level 1, and from Level 1 to Level 2, but no further.

(Artifacts are something like that as well, with two differences. You may only "study" one artifact per action spent, and artifacts don't "break" upon studying. Studying an artifact will both yield an attempt at gathering scrap of Lore, as well as attempt to reveal any hidden abilities that they possess, if any. Artifacts can only be studied once for scrap of Lore, but as many times as needed to gleam their ability, if they have one. At a glance, you will only be able to gleam an artifact's Lore and its level, so as to decide whether to buy it or not. Carrying an artifact in your person will grant you its Lore level (not cumulatively, largest Lore level you have on you will apply), but physical objects may be lost, stolen or broken, or simply hard to carry around.)

(Un-bought books will "disappear", un-bought artifacts will remain "on hold", but every turn might be bought by somepony else and disappear as well)

Voting is not required yet. The shopping items will be on the next post as well.
Books and artifacts must be bought on "their" turn, so if you choose not to buy these books (on turn 1, when you have 120 bits), they disappear forever. And if you choose to buy the artifact starting next turn (once you receive your next monthly 120 bits), it will only arrive at the END of the next month, while choosing to buy it on "turn 1" (though you lack the bits) would make it arrive immediately and be available for use/study.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

CONTACTS AND NAMES
"Friends, foes, minions... family."

Importantly, everything here is based on Velvet's own subjective point of view.

Your Family

(WARNING): The death of any character on this list will immediately result in a game over.

Selene:
-Lores: [MOTH 3] [WINTER 3] [EDGE 3] [KNOCK 3]
-Info: Selene is your daughter, and you will brook no argument that claims the contrary. She may be Princess Luna, put to sleep due to powers beyond your comprehension. She may have been entrusted to you by her parents, somehow, rather than born from your own blood. But all that matters to you is that she is one of your fillies, and you have helped her grown every step of the way. The only issue you have with this whole situation is that, to this day, she has not yet called you "mother".

"What should you call her? Well, if you are asking that question then you already failed the secret test. Those who love her call her Selene. Those who know of her call her Luna. And she is happy to be called your daughter."

Luna, the Princess of the Moon

Health: 6/6
General bonus: +20
Lores: MOTH 3, EDGE 3, WINTER 3, KNOCK 3

As an alicorn, Selene has TWO actions per turn.

[MOTH SKILL]: Selene will be able to retain her "Selene" guise, without raising any suspicion, for as long as she wishes. Her guise will remain undetected until she chooses to reveal herself.
[EDGE SKILL]: Selene may use "No holds barred" in combat, which gives her a flat +30 bonus, but causes her to attack all ponies within range (regardless if they are friends or enemies) and to cause severe damage to her surroundings.
[WINTER SKILL]: CURRENTLY LOCKED
[KNOCK SKILL]: Selene may once again dream-walk with confidence. She may also contact almost any character, even if she does not know her location or if they do not want to be contacted. However, she may not impersonate Velvet Covers, or anypony else, when doing so.
[DILIGENT]: Every turn, Selene will automatically perform one random "training" action, in addition to her two personal actions. She is free to use her actions on something else.

Selene is currently "in training". She will have the following exclusive actions available to her, every turn, until they are all completed. These actions will always auto-succeed.
Due to her "Diligent" trait, Luna will always perform at least one of these actions every turn for free. But she may spend her own action-points to advance her training more quickly::

[] This body is new to her, but it is old to the world. She must learn of its abilities and privileges. (Grain +5 to her General Bonus) (TRAINING ACTION)
[] This body is old to her, but it is new to the world. She must learn of its restrictions and limitations. (Gain +1 total health) (TRAINING ACTION)
[] Realize something about Edge. (Unlock her Edge skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
[] Realize something about Winter. (Unlock her Winter skill) (TRAINING ACTION)
[] Realize something about Knock. (Unlock her Knock skill) (TRAINING ACTION)

Once Selene completes her training, she will be able to reach Level 4 in all of her Lores at the same time. That lesson will require an action from Velvet Covers, who must have the requisite Lore knowledge, and will grant Selene a further +1 total health and +5 to her General Bonus. As well, of course, as the upgrade in her personal Lore levels.

Stormchaser:
-Lores: Disciple, [SECRET HISTORIES 3] [KNOCK 1]
-Info: Your dear husband. A pegasus weather specialist from a family of wealthy cloud merchants. Your marriage with him may have been arranged, but the two of you eventually came to love each other. He has an ability, of sorts, that he has never spoken about with anypony else, apart from you that is. He can, sometimes, realize when a particular object or moment is important, and he has no other way of describing it, or explaining how it works. Still, all that matters to you is that he loves you, and he remains determined to be your "moral compass" even in these trying times.

Silky Stream:
-Lores: None/Unknown (too young to tell)
-Info: Your daughter. The little pegasus who you absolutely adore. She has her father's eyes, and perhaps a little more from him when it comes to noticing things. But much to your concern she also has a sweet tooth, one that you hope she will grow out of. Regardless, your thoughts about her would run for too long if you ever tried to list everything good about her, so it's best just to say that you would do anything for her. And to everypony else, she is just a healthy and happy filly who is particularly good at befriending other ponies. And maybe even some not-ponies.

Soft Sweeps:
-Lores: ~~[YOUKNOWWHATYOUDID 3]~~ None.
-Info: Your oldest daughter. An extremely loyal mare who, more than just being your daughter's caretaker, eventually became like an older sister for her. A young and hardworking maid who... had a family in Canterlot, until tragedy changed her life forever. But when she lost everypony else, your family took her in without a second thought. So even though she is still attached to her maid uniform, you treat her like one of your own. No matter how embarrassed that makes her.

Your Friends

All contacts in this subsection are under the following rules:

Regular contacts are classified as one of the following categories, in this specific order:

Acquaintance -> Friend -> Close Friend -> Confidante -> Minion

[Acquaintance]: Any pony you just met will immediately become an acquaintance. This is the first step of most relationships. And unless special narrative circumstances apply, you are reliably able to contact an acquaintance to further your relationship.

[Friend]: Interacting with an acquaintance under almost any circumstances, even if you do not spend an action to do so, will usually upgrade them into a friend.
You may invite a friend to participate in your actions through a "write-in" during the turning phase. But friends can deny those invitations, and they might interact (or even hinder) your planned action in an unpredictable way, depending on the narrative.

[Close Friend]: Spending time and effort (read: actions or bits) on a Friend may upgrade them to a Close Friend.
~~They are like Friends, but closer.~~ Close Friends can be relied to have your best interests in mind, and are honestly interested in helping you. They will not purposefully hinder an action that they are involved in, and will generally be more useful/willing to help as the narrative allows.

[Confidante]: A Close Friend can become a Confidante if you inspire loyalty, admiration, or a debt towards you. Usually after you perform an action of great personal relevance to them.
Confidantes are loyal to you. Their moral compasses are not altered, and they will not act in a way that is improbable or out of character. But other than that, they will follow your lead.
Confidantes provide one action point per turn for you to use.

[Minion]: A Minion is a character who is completely under your control. They are willing to kill, die, or perform any other action under your direction.
There are no socially acceptable ways to transform a Confidante into a Minion, and this tier is should be purely hypothetical.

Rarity:
-Level: [MINION]
-Lores: Disciple, [GRAIL 3] [FORGE 1]

-Info: Bearer of an Element of Harmony, an incredibly talented fashionista who has caught the eye of the high society. She is absolutely enamored with Canterlot and the glamour of other major cities, and has a little sister who's your daughter's age. Furthermore, she considers herself deeply indebted to you ever since you helped her dreams of "making it big" in the fashion industry.

-Extra:
--Rarity will produce (gift you) a certain amount of bits per turn, as long as she can maintain her career.
--Rarity will remain a minion as long as Velvet Covers has a greater level of Grail than Rarity, or as long as Velvet Covers is under the effect of a maximum Grail influence.
--Rarity may "Take a Commission", which will give Velvet Covers an immediate windfall of bits. However, this will cost Rarity's attention towards her ongoing career, and is particularly taxing for her to do often.

Jade Whistle:
-Level: [CONFIDANTE]
-Lores: Seeker, [LANTERN 4] [HEART 2]

-Info: An earth pony mare of aloof demeanor and almost-permanent neutral expression. She was formerly in charge of the "occult" doings of the Cult, but has since taken to following you instead.
You have learned that she had a younger brother, who perished after a terrible accident. The same accident that caused her family to fracture and... "leave". Still, she is an extremely observant and intelligent mare. Although she has difficulty bonding with other ponies, and even more difficulty taking care of herself.
She is making progress though. And you trust she is on the right path.

-Extra:
--Jade Whistle will react negatively if she fails a task you give her, and is generally more fragile to psychological difficulties.
--Jade Whistle can perform certain researches that, generally, would be exclusive to Velvet Covers.

Fluttershy and Comet Feet:
-Level: [CONFIDANTE]
-Lores: Initiate / Seeker, [WINTER 1] / [EDGE 4]

-Info: Bearer of an Element of Harmony, a recluse pegasus mare who seems to be more at ease around animals than ponies. She lives in the nebulous area between the outskirts of Ponyville and the Everfree forest. And despite her extremely shy nature, she somehow got in touch with Comet Feet. Or rather... more than just "getting in touch" with Comet Feet, she seems to be thankful to you for their... budding relationship?

-Extra:
--You have reached an understanding with Comet Feet.
--Velvet Covers may not teach the Lores to Fluttershy. And in return, Comet Feet will "step in" to perform any actions, in Fluttershy's stead, that he considers dangerous, or that are dangerously involved with the Lores.
--Comet Feet, in particular, is not your friend. But thanks to this understanding, he probably isn't your enemy either. You will endeavor to keep things this way.

A large pegasus with a gruff expression that you could easily picture as a member of the guard. He was formerly the pony in charge of the cult's "dirty business". But now, he lives a life of reclusion ~~together~~ with Fluttershy. And you will not pry any further than that.

Cheerilee:
-Level: [FRIEND]
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: Your daughters' teacher, who views her job as important mainly because it helps build the future of her students. She seems to be capable of truly dedicating herself for others.

Filthy Rich:
-Level: [FRIEND]
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: A wealthy stallion who has business in sales and retails at Ponyville. He is a good father, and you feel that he is a dedicated husband, but you can also tell that there is some sort of problem in his family right now...

Applejack:
-Level: [FRIEND]
-Lores: [FORGE]/[UNKNOWN]
-Info: Apple Bloom's older sister and middle daughter of the current generation of the Apple Clan. A dependable and responsible orange earth pony.

Mayor Mare:
-Level: [ACQUAINTANCE]
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: A young and energetic earth pony mare, who is the de facto leader of Ponyville. You had very little contact with her, even when you were the "ranking noble" of Ponyville. But the two of you never had any problems with each other.

Twilight Sparkle:
-Level: [ACQUAINTANCE] (LOCKED)
-Lores: [LANTERN]/[UNKNOWN]
-Info: Leader, as far as you understand, of the Elements of Harmony. A young and genius unicorn mare who, despite her lack of social skills, had a bright and prosperous future ahead of her.

"I ruined her life..."

Everypony Else

Princess Celestia:
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: The Sunbringer, the Immortal, the eternal ruler of ponykind and protector of Equestria. The oldest alicorn in Equestria who needs no introduction. You know, or at least you think, that she was born into this world. Much like you know, or think, that she has made some sort of covenant with Harmony. But for now, after entrusting you with a great responsibility, she is the faraway monarch who is judging ponykind from the reclusion of her castle.

Princess Mi Amore Cadenza:
-Lores: [GRAIL] [WINTER] [HEART]
-Info: Princess Cadance, the first pony ever made into an alicorn, is a pony who had been torn between two worlds for the longest time. A mare who everypony expects to be a Princess, and a Princess who thinks she is still just a mare. You first met her when you were trying to bring a family back together, and that seems to have been the theme of your relationship ever since. You became one of the few ponies who truly know her as "Cadance" rather than a Princess. You gave her a shoulder to cry on when everypony else expected her to be strong. And finally, you helped her marry the love of her life. She cares about you, perhaps more than you know, and she trusts that you will always be by her side. So, it is no surprise that she will also stand by you, as the two of you tackle the challenges of the future. And you will always think of her as a kind pony first, and a Princess second.

Shining Armor:
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: Formerly a captain of the Royal Guard, and currently the Deputy of the Lunar Bureau, both of those titles tremble before the fact that he is the very first husband to an alicorn. A competent, dedicated and trustworthy unicorn stallion, who can be just a little hardheaded once he thinks he must stand his ground. Still, he has not let any of the several adversities that struck his life, from losing his family to having his horn broken, slow him down.

Midday Dew:
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: A thin, skittish and bespectacled earth pony stallion who you met while working at the Lunar Bureau. His documentation, and the things he has access to, imply he has Princess Celestia's trust, or at least that she values him for his skills... whatever those might be. You suspect he is an equivalent "figurehead" the same way that you are, and that he is in charge of whatever secret research Princess Celestia wishes to see done. You have come to call the institution he works for "Eclipse", if that place even has a name at all.

Fair Trial:
-Lores: UNKNOWN
-Info: An unassuming unicorn mare of noble background. She is the current head of her family, following her father's unfortunate demise at a relatively young age, and an Equestrian Judge by title and tradition. Apparently, she presided over a rather scandalous case early in her career, and her (quickly reversed) harsh sentence caused her to be "quietly moved" to the "glamorous" job of a Circuit Judge. After that, she spent a full decade of her career travelling Equestria, representing justice in the smaller and more distant communities. That is, until Princess Celestia herself promoted her to the highest, greatest and most powerful court in all of Equestria, giving the unicorn Her own seat in the Solar Court itself.

The Master:
-Lores: [MOTH 7] [LANTERN 5] [FORGE 5] [EDGE 5] [WINTER 5] [HEART 5] [GRAIL 5] [KNOCK 5] [SECRET HISTORIES 5]
-Info: The guide and lord of the Wildhoof Club, the first occult organization to appear after so long, she is perhaps the oldest and greatest eldritch creature to ever walk the Wake in the present Era. He was also, you learned the hardest way possible, the Will of the Woods. Or perhaps she was the Woods itself. But none of that matters now, because SHE BELONGS TO THE WOLF NOW

Comet Feet:
(Moved to "Your Friends" section under "Fluttershy")

Starry Dancer:
-Lores: [HEART]
-Info: A pink pegasus mare. What she seems to have in good intentions she also seems to have in clumsiness, but maybe you're being too hard on her. She (supposedly) was in charge of the cult's formal talking. And back when you were still talking, you think she thought she owed you. On top of that, you also heard she was either illiterate, or had a great difficulty with reading. And also that she was very close to the Master, perhaps even to the point of depending on her. Eventually, you learned she was a neglected foal who had been raised under abusive circumstances, which eventually turned her into an outcast of the same society she so insistently tried to be a part of. She died, in agony, when the Woods burned, as she foolishly tried to save the only thing she had ever loved. DECEASED

Copper Secateur:
~~[SHE IS CURRENTLY YOUR ENEMY]~~
-Lores: [GRAIL]
-Info: The very first cult member you met, an earth pony mare who was in charge of scouting out recruits. She can be terribly sly when she wants to, and apparently was also in charge of other "shady businesses" in the cult. Presently, however, she is your foe, and the two of you have already tried to kill each other at least once. Eventually, after she failed to kill you again, you one-upped her one last time. DECEASED

Windy Flakes
-Lores: [WINTER]
-Info: Formerly in charge of the cult's finances, a unicorn who always seemed to have a grin on his face, despite his strange sense of humor. He disappeared from Ponyville after the Cult's dissolution, and you are slightly worried about what he is doing, given his... interests.

Jade Whistle
(Moved to "Your Friends" section)

Baldomare: An extremely interesting mare who lives in the Mansus, with her lover Illopony. She is currently living in your estate, and has claimed a room on the topmost floor "to better watch the sunrise". You have come to learn that she is a very good storyteller.

The Daughter-of-Axes: A creature of the Mansus. A snakemare (if such a thing even exists) and a self-declared Name. She certainly has the Knock-knowledge to back such a claim, of course. But she also has a fiery temper and a very foul mouth, to the point that most of the time you think you are dealing with a teenager rather than an Era-old monster.

Mareinette, Our Lady of Wires: Not a part of this world. Not a part of the Mansus. She was declared an abomination even in an era that was full of monsters. And yet she still lives, even after everything else crumbled to dust. She is very old, you know. Very old, and very wise, and so very thirsty. Still, she is far more intelligent than she looks. And for all that she causes you fear and revulsion, you also can't help but feel fascination whenever you think about her.

Neighnia: The ever delightful Miss Neighnia. You have met her in dreams, precisely once, and you almost did not survive the encounter. You might get to know her better if you ever bring her to your side.

Biedde: An old soldier, still guarding his post within the Mansus. You might get to know him better if you ever summon him.

???: ~~What is a Dyad without a Dyad?~~ "Shoo! Nothing to see here."

Ponpon: Your personal maid, a discrete and sweet earth pony mare. She served as the estate's head maid for several years, and seems to know almost everything about all the other servants.

Tip Top: A highly skilled earth pony maid, who has Ponpon's personal trust. The only pony who is trusted with cleaning the central chandelier, despite her lack of wings. And, you learned much later, one of Soft Sweeps' friends in the mansion.

Velvet Pride: Your younger brother. A fine, or perhaps closely groomed, unicorn who seems to have your father's favor. He has recently relocated to the Ponyville estate to oversee its administration and... well, and then there is his current crush in the Daughter-of-Axes, of all ponies.

Cantrip: A unicorn mare assigned as Pride's personal maid. From what you have heard, she has little to no training as a maid, but her sheer skill as a magician was more than enough to attract your father's attention.

Subtle Glare: Velvet Pride's personal butler, and apparently the head servant of your brother's entourage. You know very little about him other than that.

Velvet Hill: your father, and let's stop this right here.

Soft Charm: Your estranged mother. Your only opinion of her is that, on hindsight, you don't think she was a very good mother.

Velvet Wings: Your older brother. Having been born a pegasus caused him not to even be considered as a possible heir of the family, something that only became more clear when you were borne. Your relationship with him, as you grew up, slowly became more complex and forced, until the day he was old enough to leave for the wider world. You hope he understands that those complications happened by you father's design, but you have not had much contact with him ever since.

Velvet Steppes: Your uncle, your father's younger brother. He is an affable, charming and loyal unicorn, or at the very least one who is well liked enough to be welcome in the circles of Canterlot's nobility, despite being a Velvet. He is known as the "Facilitator", but to this day you have no idea why.

Velvet Horseshoe [DECEASED]: The founding ancestor of your family, the pony who first attained the title of nobility from Princess Celestia years ago. Tales speak of him as a ruthless stallion and, apparently, he was known by some as "Velvet Dagger". His legacy, for good or bad, lives on in his family to this day.

Unfortunately, these are not yours to adopt. But only because your daughters need little friends to keep them company.

Sweetie Belle: Rarity's sister. She is your daughter's age, and seems to be terribly conscientious about her lack of a cutie mark.

Diamond Tiara: Filthy Rich's daughter, and a friend of your own daughter.

Silver Spoon: a grey filly of rich upbringing who is friends with your daughter.

Apple Bloom: a yellow filly, who won the Sisterhooves Social with her sister, and is friends with your daughter. She is a member of the Apple Clan and lives in the Sweet Apple Acres.

Scootaloo: an orange pegasus filly. You can tell at a glance that her wings are... smaller, than they should be for a filly her age. Her parents also doesn't seem to live in town, and you are not sure who takes care of her, so you let her stay in your house whenever the situation warrants.

~~Spike: Twilight Sparkle's pet dragon, who lives with her. They seem to have an almost familial relationship.~~ DECEASED

Needle Pin: A mare of the Needle family, and their chosen representative when dealing with the patronage of Rarity. She seems to be a business-keen mare, but you can tell that her family's expectations on her weight heavily on her back.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Last turn's shopping list

These are the items that you have decided to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 120

[ ] BOOK – KNOCK Level 1, buy for 7 bits
[ ] BOOK – FORGE Level 1, buy for 7 bits

[ ] ARTIFACT – HEART Level 3, costs 200 bits
~~-[ ] Buy~~ (not enough resources)
-[ ] Keep it on hold

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)

---

You take stock of your current situation, idly sipping on a drink as you watch one of your ponyservants take away the piles of papers on your "DONE" side of the table.

Small comfort that is... you know tomorrow the opposite side will be just as high as it was today, if not higher...

But a month has come to an end, and you must say you are satisfied with it. You managed to take your daughter on her first day at school, and so far she has taken quite well to it. You managed to meet one of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, of all ponies, by coincidence...
Well, maybe not coincidence, you think, while idly looking at your mane, the cut parts cleverly hidden within it.
And perhaps most important of all, you found a way to the Dreamlands.

You know your Master will summon you, and your compatriots, in one month's time. There is much to be done.

---

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

You have four personal actions, and one ponyservant action.

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.
Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

This turn's available bits: 240 (minus items you decided to buy)
Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month

[ ] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)

-[ ] You have reached the Dreamlands, or rather the place where the Mansus touches the Dreamlands. Now you must explore it.
--[ ] If she truly is the sovereign of dreams, then she must stroll through her realm. Learn the paths she takes between dreams and attempt to track her hoofsteps. But keep to the shadows, for the dangers of the Dreamlands are unknown to you.
--[ ] If the Dreamlands are truly the culmination of the dreams of ponykind then it must be large beyond belief. Tracking Princess Luna will be pointless. Find a way to barge into other ponies' dreams, perhaps making enough of a mess will instead make her come to you.
-[ ] Perhaps the least subtle of options is the answer, and your target being royalty means that she is not hard to track. Get in touch with your contacts in Canterlot and try to get a hold of an invitation to some event. You surely won't get to her immediately, but it will be a first hoof into the city where she lives. Not suspicious.

[ ] On furthering the cause

-[ ] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits). All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[ ] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[ ] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[ ] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)
-[ ] In all honesty, the Cult lacks an appropriate place for gatherings, at least when it comes to lesser meetings to discuss small matters, or to simply stash certain things. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.
-[ ] 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? Suspicion depends on how strange the item bought is.
-[ ]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.
-[ ] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. Moderately suspicious.
-[ ] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious.
-[ ] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
--[ ] Help Comet Feet, the pegasus in charge of the "dirty business".
--[ ] Help Starry Dancer, the pink mare who seems to be in charge of the talking.
--[ ] Help Copper Secateur, your cult's eyes and ears in the dark.
--[ ] Help Windy Flakes, the unicorn seems to be in charge of most of the cult's physical possessions.
--[ ] Help Jade Whistle, the earth pony who, apparently, will be doing a lot of the "occult" for the cult.

[ ] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.

-[ ] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 2)
-[ ] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
~~--[ ] Currently no unstudied artifacts, unless recently bought.~~
-[ ] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure evening weekend, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
~~--[ ] Currently no available books, unless recently bought.~~

Your Lore evolution happens by collecting "scraps of Lore", and the required number of scraps is the Lore level that you are aiming for. I For example, leveling a Lore from Level 2 to Level 3 requires 3 scraps of the appropriate Lore.
Scraps may be gained by performing certain acts or through study under a source of knowledge, but using an action to study will also involve a dice roll, which might fail.
A source of knowledge is only useful to you if it is at most of the same level as you are. So a book or artifact that are Level 2 can give you scraps until you reach Level 3.
Yes, this means that so far your Master is only willing to whisper you Level 1 scraps, since you can only go up to Level 2 under him. Maybe performing your orders well might make him reconsider.
Yes, this also means that if you roll a 100 and get high whatever you can hoard it for later use. Just... remember you'll be keeping a (possibly) haunted thing nearby, just "in case i might need it later".

So what are Lores for? Well, they basically have two utilities.
If you go on your Character Sheet you will see that you have "bonuses" from your Lore. This is the culmination of how the Lores affect you, teach you and change your view of the world. Those bonuses will have broad descriptions, and will apply to any case in which it may be useful. These bonus are only gained by learning and studying, so carrying an item with a high Lore level will not give you access to said bonus.
It is basically your understanding of things. The knowledge that "allows you to do unexplainable things", as you learn more about the workings of the world.

But Lore also has a second utility, think of it as how potent that Lore will be in case you try to "call upon it".
Specifically while INSIDE THE MANSUS or while PERFORMING A MANSUS RITUAL in the Wake ("Mansus magic" in the real world) your Lore also provides an extra +10 per Level, on top of your status and other bonus.

Trying to traverse the Woods? +10 per MOTH Level.
Found a hurdle you can't get through within the Mansus? +10 per FORGE Level to blow it up, or +10 per KNOCK Level to open it.
Attempting to ward your room against the horrible thing you miss-summoned, even while it screeches and gnaws at your door? +10 per HEART Level for that ritual.
So on, so on.

On two particular notes, you do not yet know any specific rituals, so it's not on your choices yet. And you might have noticed that on your (successful) attempt to reach the Dreamlands, you had a "+0 (KNOCK Level 0)" and a "+5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus)". This is an example of both bonus. The Secret Histories used its broad buff to "find something", and the KNOCK Lore was the one called upon (because you were within the Mansus) to "reach another world".
Certain places within the Mansus work better with certain Lores. The Woods certainly belongs to MOTH, but things might change as you go up.

[ ] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as a one-time buff for "specific kind of roll" that applies only until the end of the next turn. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[ ] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
-[ ] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to find the paths to somewhere else, or to climb even higher in the Mansus.

[ ] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part

-[ ] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
-[ ] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.
-[ ] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now and should write to your parents and request an increase of your share of the family's grants.
-[ ] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?
-[ ] 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…
--[ ] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
---[ ] Just a social call, nothing more than that.
---[ ] Perhaps a few whispers and hints, in the middle of an amicable conversation, will peak her interest. (A social call, but with subtle attempts at cult conversion.)
---[ ] You can be a friend, but you can also be a client! Commissioning a dress from her will surely help you see more of her passionate side.
---[ ] WRITE IN
--[ ] Cheerilee, your daughter's school teacher
---[ ] Just a social call, nothing more that that.
---[ ] Perhaps a few whispers and hints, in the middle of an amicable conversation, will peak her interest. (A social call, but with subtle attempts at cult conversion.)
---[ ] WRITE IN

[ ] 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.)

-[ ] ARTIFACT – HEART Level 3, costs 200 bits

[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but i will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)

There will be at least 24 hours for voting. Please let me know if something sounds confusing, as i just did some "exposition" on how Lore works.
All voting will be in plan format, INCLUDING the decision of what was bought last turn.

The Dreamlands are not part of the Mansus. Perhaps one day they will be, for better or for worse, but you may not call upon any Lore within it as you would in the Mansus. Well, not without performing a ritual.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Friendship is Ritualism
-[X] Last Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] BOOK – FORGE Level 1, buy for 7 bits
--[X] BOOK – KNOCK Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] This Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] 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.)
---[X] ARTIFACT – HEART Level 3, costs 200 bits
----[X] Buy
-[X] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)
--[X] You have reached the Dreamlands, or rather the place where the Mansus touches the Dreamlands. Now you must explore it.
---[X] If she truly is the sovereign of dreams, then she must stroll through her realm. Learn the paths she takes between dreams and attempt to track her hoofsteps. But keep to the shadows, for the dangers of the Dreamlands are unknown to you.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits).
All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] In addition to your own searching, see if your ponyservants find anything neat.
--[X] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
---[X] Help Starry Dancer, the pink mare who seems to be in charge of the talking.
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] 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…
---[X] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
----[X] Just a social call, nothing more than that.

- - -

As much as you might be uninclined to it, Stormchaser isn't going to be anywhere else for the next few weeks. You usually prefer having the whole bed for yourself whenever you go into the Mansus, since you have no idea if you sleep-talk or do anything else that might cause him to notice you, or that could even cause him to try to wake you up which would be far more inconvenient. But you are filled with a sense of urgency this time.

The map to the Dreamlands is still fresh in your mind, that haphazard sketch of half-written notes and poorly drawn drafts. You don't exactly fear that you will suddenly forget it, but you don't want to just keep it as a memory either.

So you made sure you had as much work as possible, to justify staying in your office until long after the sunset. You look out through the large window behind your desk, and the full moon stares back at you. "Fitting", you think, as you finally put your quill and papers away, and make the somewhat long trek down the corridor towards your room.

Thankfully, and as expected, you can hear your husband's soft breathing, indicating he is fast asleep. You summon up the faintest of lights from your horn, and gently floats the scissors out from a drawer, bringing it towards your mane.

Snip, goes a small lock, that you make sure to toss into the trash bin.

Who knows, perhaps the Moth might even approve of this sneakiness you're partaking in.

You climb onto the bed, each step making you realize just how tired you are from a long day of work, and you don't even notice your head hitting the pillows before you are fast asleep.

For all you are concerned, it was almost as if you had simply blinked, the darkness of your room suddenly lighting up into the moonlight of the crossroads.

You look back once towards the Woods, gazing at it for some reason that your mind can't exactly pinpoint what it is, but that your rationality insists that is to "make sure it is still there", and immediately after that you go towards the horizon, through the path you know that leads to the Dreamlands.

It is shaped like a cavern, this time, its entrance open wide from a small hill of dark sand, the stone path leading toward it. Maybe it is waiting for you, knowing that you are seeking passage, maybe it changes shape every night. But it matters little, for the faint dream-light still comes from its depths in its smoky substance, showing you that it is indeed the passage you seek.

You walk into the cavern, feeling the stone under your hoofs turn into sand, and that sand turn into something else. The faint light from the cave competes with darkness for a moment, until it slowly becomes brighter and brighter as if you were walking into a well lit room, the mist becoming brighter as it grows heavier around you.

And without warning, you step out of that mist, and find yourself in a totally different place.

You are on what looks like to be the end of a long wooden bridge, bright mist completely blocking the path from where you came. And before you lies the dizzying realm of the Dreamlands.

The wooden bridge ends before a floating carpet that seems to go on forever. It splits and turns, even going upside down and spinning into itself several times in what seems like a veritable labyrinth. It reminds you of the crossroads around the Woods, but far more confusing and random. The paths formed by the carpet are flanked on both sides by endless sets of doors, each marked with an unique symbol that you immediately realize are cutie marks, glowing softly in an almost soothing manner.

And on the backdrop of it all, utter darkness. The cutie-marked doors, have a glow of their own, and the very air seems to faintly radiate light, like the mists behind you. But apart from the glow of the Dreamlands, there is only an endless and lightless ocean.

[Taking it all in, breakpoints 40/80/100]

[Roll: 73 + 12 (Learning) = 85, you realize you can try something]

The whole landscape, you come to a conclusion, doesn't make any sense. But that's the whole point, it almost seems to be intentional. And two reasons for that come to your mind: one, because that whole place is the sum of all of ponykind's subconscious thoughts, once connected together, hence it being chaotic.

Or two… because the Dreamlands are shaped by ideas, and the way it stands before you is how your own mind is interpreting it.

Just because you are dreaming right now, it doesn't mean that the scenario before you isn't real. But just because it is real, it doesn't mean that it still isn't a dream.

Does that even make sense…?

"Well", you think, "but if the Dreamlands are still a dream in itself, maybe I can…"

[Glitching the system, breakpoints 60/100]

[Roll: 87 + 12 (Magic) + 5 (Gifted) = 104]

You close your eyes.

If you are correct, then this is a dream. The whole chaotic mess in front of you, at least, is a dream, and consequently it has that shape because your mind is interpreting it like that.

But you are also a pony, a being borne with magic, and magic is something which your race actively uses to reshape the world. Something that you actively use to reshape the world. So, if you attempt to shape the world before you with magic, then maybe you will convince your mind that you actually succeeded, and the landscape in turn will transform into what your magic tried to do in the first place.

You push aside the contradictory ideas that swim through your head as your horn glows, light shining out from it that you can see even through your closed eyes. If anything, you have learned that those sorts of thoughts work best not when you try to think on them, but when you feel them.

And you feel the world settle into place.

You expected some sort of rumbling, maybe some dramatic sound as the impossible labyrinth twists into itself. But you open your eyes after a period of awkward silence, and see the Dreamlands finishing to settle down in a much more convenient shape.

The Dreamlands presents itself to you as a labyrinth no longer, especially not a three-dimensional labyrinth you realize with relief, and instead is now shaped as something like a… perhaps a city? Pleasantly wide pathways, still of that same carpet, meet in avenues, sometimes forming small circles that perhaps could be parks, and sometimes thinning down into consecutive rows that could be small urban streets.

It is still impossibly vast, of course, with the glow of cutie-marked doors still stretching far beyond your sight.

But this is orders of magnitude better than before.

[Successfully reinterpreted the Dreamlands, +20 on all rolls for the rest of this night]

You step out of the wooden bridge and into the wide carpeted avenue, the main issue of your visit there coming to your mind.

How to track Princess Luna?

There was not really any material for you to fall back to. Everything you remember reading, and the few odd classes of pony history you recall, simply mentioned that Princess Luna was "guardian of night and dreams". But considering how unreliable recorded history is, since everypony somehow forgot that Princess Luna was real and not a cautionary fairy tale, that vague knowledge isn't much to fall back to.

Still, the Dreamlands exists, and if anypony can access it it's her.

Well, no other way to start then with a hoof in front of the other.

[Searching for Princess Luna]

[Search Roll: 3 + 8 (Martial) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) = 36, not much progress, really]

[Subtlety Roll: 92 + 10 (Intrigue) + 5 (MOTH bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) = 127, not a ripple in the dreamwater]

You are in unknown territory, looking for somepony who you are not really sure how might react if you find her, so you decide be as subtle as possible while you are here.

And oh, how well that goes.

You make your way deeper into the Dreamlands, your path quickly turning into a maddening criss-cross of confusion. You walk close to the flanking doors, their glowing cutie marks forming shadows under which you walk. You take paths that would have been back-alleys and shortcuts, if this place truly was a city, and when you don't see a path where you wish to tread you make one, a glow of your horn and your self-convinced point of view paving a narrow passage where once there was only blackness.

But in all honesty, for all of the random paths you are taking you also realize that you are walking randomly when it comes to your goal. You keep your eyes peeled towards the horizon, in case Princess Luna appears as some sort of shooting star in the emptiness that surrounds the Dreamlands. You even notice that some doors simply disappear, probably because the pony it belonged to woke up.

But nothing of Princess Luna yet, you think, taking three steps into a wider dream-avenue.

When you immediately realize something is wrong.

[Their detection Roll: 90 + 15 (???) = 105, vigilant, but not enough]

Something reels inside you, a buzzing in your head that is at the same time loud, sudden, and gone before you realize it was there. But by some instinct you wouldn't have been able to pull off with your real-life leg, you jump back towards the dream-alley from where you came and practically hug your back against a door.

You're not even sure why you did it, until you look down towards the floor.

A wave of dread washes over you when you see it. There are shadows on the ground. The shape of something is blocking the faint yet even light of the cutie-marked doors that are out of your view, but you can see that there is something there, and you very nearly stepped on its shadow.

Which, of course, would have meant it would have seen you.

You slowly, slowly distance your back from the door, practically putting your front hoofs on the ground one at a time, your heart beating against your chest, the air you know not to be real still stuck in your throat. Of course you are in a dream, but you know enough about magic and dreams, so you also know that being in a dream does NOT mean you are not in danger.

You keep your eyes on the shadows, but they are too vague for you to even begin guessing what they could be. Whatever it is, though, you intuitively know it is not Princess Luna or another pony like yourself. You simply know by the pounding on your heart and the… revolting sensation in your gut that whatever that creature is, it is not natural. Besides, dream or no dream the fear you are feeling is extremely real.

And then, you hear the chittering.

It is something like the noise of nails against a black board, banded with the sound of clicks and snaps, sending a chill down your spine whenever it reached your ears. Worse of all, you can clearly identify more than one source of it. It is either more than one thing, or one large thing with two mouths that are far from each other.

You gulp, realizing that it could very well be the second case.

Whatever that thing is, it doesn't look like it will move anytime soon, or if it does then it might just come in your direction, and you're not about to risk that. You quickly double back from where you came, sticking close to the shadows.

Keeping the frames of the doors between you and it, of course. The heart-pounding fear on your chest has already overtaken whatever curiosity you could possibly feel.

"What the hell was that… things," you think to yourself as soon as you far away enough, at least for the waves of dread to stop pounding against your heart. You have no regrets of not having seen what it was but, now that you can think more rationally, you realize that you are left with absolutely no knowledge of what you were going against either.

Was it a nightmare? Perhaps something that escaped somepony's dream? Perhaps some subconscious gestalt? You are in the Dreamlands after all, you are pretty sure that this realm can play fast and loose with its own rules, if there even are any.

However, there are still countless cutie-marked doors, going on forever in an endless map of faint lights, that means that most of Equestria is still asleep, and you still have time. You take a few more deep breaths, and prepare to look for Princess Luna again. For all you know, that thing was just some one-of-a-kind creature…

Of course, you think while keeping your body next to the cover offered by the cutie-marked doors, you are obviously not taking the risk of blindly believing in that assumption.

[Cautiously searching for Princess Luna]

[Search Roll: 36 + 8 (Martial) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) – 10 (Caution) = 59, somewhat better]

[Subtlety Roll: 88 + 10 (Intrigue) + 5 (MOTH bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) + 10 (Caution) = 133, like a moth in a forest]

[Their detection Roll: 25 + 15 (???) = 40, they cannot search if they don't even know you are there]

You practically crawl through the paths of the Dreamlands.

To hell with orderly pathtaking. The Dreamlands were a mess when you first stepped hoof in it, so it surely wont mind if you make a mess of it again. You create paths where once there were none, and then you make paths over those paths, and under them. Catwalks appear over avenues you prefer to avoid, holes are formed on the carpeted floor, leading to a level below yours that wasn't there before. You do everything in your power to change direction while still making meaningful progress whenever you hear that horrible noise in the distance, or whenever a wave of revulsion hits you, no matter how far.

And to your dawning horror, as you make your way and weave paths around those things, you realize that there are a lot of them. You even manage to take a look at one of those… creatures, once.

Obviously, you immediately wish you hadn't.

The creature you saw was a formless thing, a shifting wave of revolting darkness that looked too much like flesh. You saw no eyes, unless those glowing red things were eyes, but you did see many mouths. There were things attached to it that you think resembled tentacles, but you turned away before you could get a clearer picture.

The one thing that brought you the most vague sense of relief was the fact that for all of its hideousness, it didn't seem to have any substance to it. Like it was a mist or a shadow or a foggy reflection, but definitely not real.

Well, real enough to be there, and for you to know you do not want to bump into one of those. Real enough for you to realize that the one you saw was apparently licking one of the cutie-marked doors.

But not "real" real… you hope.

Still, for all of your halted and cautious progress, you think you made some headway. You didn't see any shooting stars flying over the Dreamlands, no alicorn figure doing alicorn dream magic, but you do see something that resembles a trail.

You pass by a cutie-marked door that seems to be shinning more than the others. You look around to make sure that you are alone and cautiously place one hoof on the doorknob.

And you feel it. You are not sure if you were going to try and open it, but as soon as you touch it you realize it's not necessary. You can feel the faint energy of relief, the soft whisper of a wordless thank-you. The sensation of somepony being caught mid-fall, and delivered into safety.

Princess Luna had been through that door, she had been inside that dream. Quite recently, you might add.

You quickly look around, searching for more doors that shared that glow, perhaps another hoofprint that marked her passing, something else that you can hang on to. You realize that the amount of cutie-marked doors is diminishing, a horizon clearly appearing where there was once an endless ocean of faint light. Ponies are waking up, perhaps the sun is about to rise.

One last attempt. You will take a route that heads towards the exit, even if you are a bit reckless, but you'll make one last attempt.

[Search Roll: 14 + 8 (Martial) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) = 47]

[Subtlety Roll: 43 + 10 (Intrigue) + 5 (MOTH bonus) + 20 (Dreamscape shaping) = 78]

[Their detection Roll: 23 + 15 (???) = 38]

But you find no sign of the Princess herself, and you arrive once more at the beginning of the wooden bridge, the solid-looking wall of bright mist marking your way back to the crossroads. You did see a few more marked doors, so perhaps you found a path where she had also trodden, but nothing more.

You look back, and watch as more and more of the doors disappear as ponies wake up, the endless sea of light from the Dreamlands disappearing much like the stars might fade from the sky as the sun rises. Perhaps that is intentional, you think, as you turn your back on it and step into the mists.

Perhaps you would also wake up if you waited long enough there, perhaps the Dreamlands would never truly shrink enough, as some ponies obviously sleep through the day. But those are things you are not willing to find out, not tonight.

You cross the mists back into the crossroad, stepping out of the cave and seeing the Woods in the distant horizon.

And you prepare to wake up.

You have come to the realization that sometimes the shape of the world depends on how you interpret it. The light of LANTERN opens avenues in your mind where once there was only darkness. Gained 1 scrap of Lantern Lore.
(Learned by achieving maximum bonus on Dreamlands reshaping)

LANTERN Lore is now level 1!

You called upon your knowledge of the Woods and wove paths of erratic deception around things you did not (and needed not) understand. Gained 1 scrap of Moth Lore.
(Learned by totally avoiding detection)

Let me know if it was too short an update, and if you'd just rather have a whole package. But I thought I'd try my hand on putting out long decision results separately as they are completed.

Character sheet will be updated shortly.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Friendship is Ritualism
-[X] Last Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] BOOK – FORGE Level 1, buy for 7 bits
--[X] BOOK – KNOCK Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] This Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] 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.)
---[X] ARTIFACT – HEART Level 3, costs 200 bits
----[X] Buy
-[X] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)
--[X] You have reached the Dreamlands, or rather the place where the Mansus touches the Dreamlands. Now you must explore it.
---[X] If she truly is the sovereign of dreams, then she must stroll through her realm. Learn the paths she takes between dreams and attempt to track her hoofsteps. But keep to the shadows, for the dangers of the Dreamlands are unknown to you.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits).
All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] In addition to your own searching, see if your ponyservants find anything neat.
--[X] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
---[X] Help Starry Dancer, the pink mare who seems to be in charge of the talking.
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] 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…
---[X] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
----[X] Just a social call, nothing more than that.

- - -

You are distressed.

You can hide it, sure. Plenty of things have already happened in your life, and many of them happened to you while you were powerless to interfere or have any say in it, so of course you can manage it. Just go on with your routine, just keep up with your everyday life.
Bid your husband safe travels when he leaves for his work, tuck your daughter into bed, make the decisions on how many earth pony farmers should be assigned to which fields, send the weekly reports to Canterlot.

But you can still feel that distress eating away at you. Slightly, slowly, almost to the point where you could ignore it if you really wanted to. But you don't want to. You can't.

You think about it every time night falls. You feel it as a shiver in your spine every time you put your daughter to sleep.

What the hell were those things you saw in the Dreamlands?

You dim the light of your lamp, the large working desk in which it sits sending deeper shadows into the floor. You are already done for the day when it comes to work, have already been for a while in fact, but sleeping really doesn't feel like a comfortable idea as of late.

Sure, you could go into the Mansus. But going there in your current mind state, or rather going there without a goal, would not be beneficial. At best you would simply get lost in the Woods, and at worst something else might find you in the Woods instead. The Mansus has its own dangers after all, of which you know only very few.

However, none of them are as wrong as those things. Not nearly as wrong.

For a brief moment you remember that flash of memory. Tongues that weren't tongues licking, scraping, against a wooden door with somepony's cutie mark engraved on it. You are thankful that your daughter still doesn't have hers, or you are sure that your mind would already have started making cruel changes to that memory. But you still have to force yourself to make those images stop.

You take a deep breath, the lamp-warm air from a night's worth of work filling your lungs, bringing you some sort of calm.

Right, you think to yourself, no point in being irrational about it. You are Velvet Covers, and you didn't get your cutie mark by flailing in worry whenever something complicated showed up in your life.

What do you know? That is the first question you ask yourself.

Well, first of all you know about the Mansus, and you know what you have been told by your cult's Master. Equestria might be a magical place, but no matter how one looks at it, it is also extremely unnatural.

You remember struggling with the word "unnatural" at first. The long conversations you had with Copper Secateur on what (at first) were just innocent book club meetings immediately coming to your mind. It really took some time for the idea that the sun and moon are moved daily by Princess Celestia to sink in. Well, not the fact itself, since everypony knows that, but rather the fact that the very concept of day and night, and their constancy, only exists because Princess Celestia makes it so.

"But it has been like that for as long as history goes" you said, stating the obvious.

"Precisely" was her answer, with something akin to a mocking smile.

Clouds are moved by the pegasi, seasons are changed by magic or hard labor. Everywhere a pony looks, she can see a land shaped by design.

The so-called natural order of Equestria is enforced, as if the whole world is a stage in which the props have to be moved manually, or else the play itself will make no sense.

That was what drew you in, at first. That small tidbit of realization that nopony else seemed to notice, that feeling of having your eyes open when everypony else was blind, the satisfaction of completing a small puzzle.

That "being part of a cult", of something closed off, private.

Then, you were introduced to the cult's Master, and you started to learn some other secrets.

You were shown the Mansus, and had to struggle your way through the crossroads and into the Woods proper. You learned about being lost, and how not to be found. You have learned how to walk on shadows, and have sometimes even seen shadows walk.

And that's what was so intriguing about it. You are an unicorn, you know magic, and the things you have seen and heard are not magic. Those things don't differentiate between earth ponies, pegasi or unicorns, they simply happen. They simply work.

The same way you were shocked to realize that Equestria's nature was enforced by ponies, you were also fascinated when you realized that you might have actually found the hints to some natural laws. Real natural laws, even if they were taught to you in secret meetings, or dreams, or through whispers in a dark forest that might not exist.

And right now, you take a deep breath to order your thoughts, what you are pondering is the… next logical question on all this.

Why?

Why does Princess Celestia enforces such things? Moving the sun and moon every day is something beyond deliberate once one starts to think about it. It might be seen as natural after millennia of culture and history, but she is older than that. So why?

And on the other hand, isn't Celestia benevolent? She has been for as long as any pony is concerned, so why does your Master insists that her actions are "abominable", as he says?

And most importantly, why are there those things in the Dreamlands of ponykind? Why are there things that right now could be eyeing the entrance to the dreams of your own daughter?

You sag in your cushioned seat, your mind starting to draw blanks and run in circles thanks to those questions, and to the long day of work you have just been through.

"I don't know…" you say to yourself, almost in a depressed tone, "I know too little about… all of this…"

Your horn flickers for a moment, the lamp before your eyes flickering in return before its light vanishes. It is getting colder, and you don't want to limp all the way back to your room if your hindleg suddenly decides it is too cold, so you start walking out of your office.

"But if there is an answer, then I'm going to find out."

- - -
- - -
- - -

You had many options on how you could have done this.

You could have staged a "coincidental meeting". Two friends bumping into each other on the streets, a flurry of embarrassed apologies quickly turning into smiles as they both recognize each other and head off together, chatting merrily towards the nearest café.

Or perhaps you could have elected a more unconventional road. Although the Woods are vast and shifting, there are certain places that you and your fellow cult members have been taught to traverse frequently. It is possible to carve certain messages on the darkened bark of some trees, that fade after a lunar cycle. Inadequate to storage knowledge, but perfect for scheduling places and times of gathering.

However, in the end this is Ponyville. In all honesty there is not really much need for secrecy when it comes to meeting somepony in private. There is equally no need to go about your business publicly, and leave a trail of crumbs that might be followed in the future, but that doesn't mean you need a great and convoluted plan for every single small part of your life either.

So you had decided, a few days back, to send a letter to Starry Dancer offering to meet with her, and an answer came shortly after.

"There you are!" a delighted voice, followed by the soft sound of trotting, snaps you out of your reverie, "I gotta say, I knew you weren't lying in your letter. But boy was it a surprise!"

A pink pegasus sits in front of you, her orange mane with a single teal streak covering one of her eyes, but not her smile. And her smile, you can see, is both honest and curious.

"And I'm glad you wrote me back, Starry Dancer," you answer, floating the teacup you were drinking from down to the saucer in front of you, although you make no comment on how... short her answer was. Two-letters short, in fact.

The two of you are in a tea house. One not far from where you live, but one that you have never visited before regardless.

Well, not like the list of places you have never visited in Ponyville is short to begin with. The more you think about it, the more you realize that you might as well have just moved into town a few months back, with how little you know about it.

"Of course I would!" she beams at you and take a menu in her hoofs, her smile turning into a questioning gaze as she reads through it, "but uhm… what do you want to talk about again…?"

"Since we are in the same… club," you say in a nonchalant way as a waiter stallion walks towards you table, "I figured I could actually learn a thing or two if I joined in on somepony's else assignment. Well, I could both learn something, and get to know them better," you finish with a smile of your own.

"U-huh…" Starry Dancer has the menu almost covering her face now, you can almost picture her nose touching it. You can't help to tilt your head slightly at her until, "I'll have what she's having!" she puts the menu down a moment later, turning to the waiter stallion before he can even ask the question.

The stallion also seems slightly put off, but he nods shortly after and walks away.

"And why didn't you just say so in the first place then?" she says in an almost excited tone.

Although you're pretty sure you did say so, in your letter.

"So then, what can you help me with?" she continues, with that same innocence.

Which leaves you, admittedly, befuddled for half a second.

"That's… what I was hoping you could answer me?" you try asking, your polite smile slowly crumbling into doubt.

"Oh, right! Of course. Well then, here's what I've been up to these last few weeks…"

- - -

Government in Equestria is a rather… interesting subject, you ponder as you make your way through the streets of Ponyville.

Everypony lives in a monarchy, that much is undeniable. The title "Princess" seems rather unfit when "Queen" or "Immortal Empress" could have fit Princess Celestia much better, or at least would make a lot more sense.

But regardless of her title, she is still the undisputed ruler of Equestria. And under her wings ponykind lives in the richest lands that are known, with mineral wealth that far outstrips the mighty Yakk mines on the far north, and agricultural potential that puts the militarized Griffons beyond the eastern sea to shame. And there isn't a single creature (among those that bother to study about it, at least) that doesn't know that no other race dares to so much touch pony territory thanks to the presence of Princess Celestia.

Having a resident demigoddess reigning over you has its many perks, after all.

But anyway, focus on the topic at hoof, government in Equestria.

Since it is a monarchy, all power and authority emanates from Princess Celestia herself, but after centuries some of that power has become… well, not exactly "decentralized", but somewhat "shared".

As history goes, the first noble ponies were those who performed some sort of great feat. Said ponies would almost always be handsomely rewarded, usually with great wealth or (since it was far more available back then) large swathes of land. However, there was no single family, no matter how large, that could make proper use of so much land as was rewarded, so the usual practice was for said pony to allow others to settle in their land.

Those settled ponies would, in turn, recognize the land owner's authority over them, and suddenly the seeds of a small town have been sown, with the authority of the rewarded (and later known as "noble") pony being passed on through generations. Fast forward a few centuries and you have a noble family that rules over a city, with those who live in their lands recognizing their authority and right to rule.

Ponies tend to be good neighbors like that. Very few such stories have ended in bloodshed.

However, not all cities and towns share that background. Some of them saw their ruling noble families run dry, without heirs to pass the torch to. Others were simply founded by simple folk and were later recognized as a town by royal decree, like in Ponyville's case.

And that's what you have been thinking about. Ponyville's history, and its rulership.

More specifically, its current ruler, Mayor Mare.

You have been living in Ponyville for years now, and you cannot recall a single election taking place. Granted, you could have easily missed it between your isolated lifestyle and your rare trips to Canterlot, but you're pretty sure that they never happened to begin with. Which left you wondering about the "Mayor" part in her name…

Your best guess is that once Ponyville was officially recognized as a town, it would have started paying taxes as per royal decree. She might just have been the pony who rounded up all that work, or was part of a council that took care of mediating relations between the recently-declared town and Canterlot. After that, other public-servant related tasks probably piled up on her reliable hoofs, until she found herself as the de-facto leader of Ponyville. Hence the "Mayor".

And speaking of names, you also realize you have no idea what her actual name is. Oh well, Mayor Mare will have to do.

"Ma'am, we're here", Ponpon calls your attention. You blink twice before looking out through the window, and thanking her with a nod.

You have a very simple reason to be pondering governorship and nobility, and that is because you are about to pay a visit to Mayor Mare.

From the conversation you had with Starry Dancer, she has been trying to get on the good side of Mayor Mare for the last few weeks. More specifically, she has been trying to get a job on the Town Hall, or as the mayor's assistant, "whichever gets me closer to her, that is" was what the pegasus had said. And that is what you are going to help her with.

Unfortunately, you don't really know Mayor Mare. You met her, years ago, when you first moved into Ponyville on some sort of formal meeting your family had with her. But apart from that, you can't really say you had any sort of contact with her.

But what you do have is your name, and a carriage parked in front of the Town Hall, the doors of which have just been opened by Ponpon for you to step out.

Of course you detest riding the thing, but that's for personal reasons. No need to refrain from using a tool if it can be useful.

"Shall I go announce you to the mayor's office, ma'am?"

"No need Ponpon, we didn't exactly schedule a meeting with her. Let's just hope the good mayor has the time for a sudden visit," you say as you walk into the town hall.

Attracting quite a few curious gazes, you might add. After all, a well dressed unicorn accompanied by a fully uniformed maid, arriving in a carriage drawn by two stallions, isn't exactly a common sight in Ponyville, bar during a visit from a representative of Canterlot.

The town hall is mostly a reunion hall, used for grand festivities or ceremonies, receiving dignitaries or simply for the town to gather if there is some matter that needs to be discussed with the community. But you do know there is an office in here from where Mayor Mare works.

Or at least there was, years ago… Wait, there it is.

You walk to a door on the side of the large hall, the one topped by a bright plaque with "MAYOR MARE" engraved on it.

You give the door a few knocks, and soon enough you hear a muffled answer, followed by the sound of a few things being put aside, and of hoofs heading towards the door.

"Good afternoon! How can I …" Mayor Mare herself opens the door, already speaking before quite realizing who she is talking to.

[First (in a long while) Impressions, breakpoints 40/60/80]

[Roll: 36 + 10 (Diplomacy) + 5 (Beautiful) = 51, surprised, but available]

The sight of a well dressed unicorn flanked by a prim and proper looking maid can have the most varying of effects. In Canterlot, it is only expected, while in Ponyville it can earn you downright puzzled stares.

But true to her office, Mayor Mare has been the direct link between Ponyville and all manner of authorities for… well, for as long as you know. Her expression turns quizzical for less then a second before her practiced smile returns to her face.

"How can I help you, Mrs. Velvet Covers?" she finishes, after skipping only a single beat.

"Miss Mayor, it has been quite a while", you say with your most pleasant tone, shifting to an embarrassed one right after, "do pardon my sudden visit, unannounced as it is, but could I perhaps ask for your help on a matter?"

This actually gets her to raise an eyebrow, but a moment later her door is wide open, and she is welcoming you into her office.

"Thank you kindly, and please just call me Velvet," you say as you take a seat, Ponpon closing the door behind the two of you after you enter and waiting outside.

"In that case please just call me Mayor as well, no need for anything fancy with me," she says with a smile as she sits behind her own desk.

Not helpful with your whole "name" curiosity, you think idly…

"Now then, I am quite used to helping ponies, so please do tell what is this matter you have."

Mayor Mare seems to be in full business mode, so you don't think you'll gain anything from beating around the bushes for now.

"Well, I have been… or rather my family has been having problems with our farmlands here in Ponyville, or at least they perceive that they are having a problem," you try your best to sound like you're flustered with the whole situation. Not exactly wanting to agree with "your family", but not exactly sure how to react either. "It is basically a problem with regulation."

"Regulation? What sort of regulation, something on what your lands are planting or the likes?" she answers with genuine concern, you can almost see her trying to remember what sort of laws (ancient and obscure, or recent) you might be referring to.

She probably won't remember anything, you think to yourself. This whole "problem" is made up after all.

"Not really anything relating to that," you assure her, raising a hoof slightly, "it has to do with our working hands. We do employ a rather substantial number of earth ponies, after all, and there has been… problems, so to speak."

You can see a hint of worry in her eyes, and you latch on to that.

"The problems aren't really anything new. Things about payments, and season shifts, the usual issues with the weather department on how long the farmers say a season has to last, and so on… What changed is how our family head back in Canterlot is seeing things. He's recently started to say that since the workers are causing too much trouble, then it means that our business hasn't really integrated well with Ponyville, and that…"

You try your very best to sound tired as you deliver that last line.

"Well, that since we are having so many troubles with our workforce here, then we should move away all of our assets into another town."

You look down, trying to appear as worried as you can, and you see in her eyes that..

[Delivering the Lie, breakpoints 30/70/100]

[Roll: 88 + 10 (Intrigue) + 1 (GRAIL bonus) = 99, so close to the mayor freaking out]

You see her eyes go wide, some part of her very nearly losing control, but being restrained at the last moment, and she becomes speechless for a moment.

Of course, you can understand the reason for that.

Your family owns several farms and plantations to the east, and consequently employs a considerable number of ponies. Those ponies are paid, obviously, and live in Ponyville. Consequently, a good amount of riches flows from your family's coffers and into Ponyville's economy as a whole.

None of those riches are yours, of course, but you do administer them. And although the flow of bits that goes from your family's farmlands to Ponyville workers might not be an artery when it comes to local commerce, it's still significant. A cart that has four wheels can still function with three, but you will either have to make some modifications on its structure, or risk having it tip over if you mismanage the weight that it is carrying.

So what does Mayor Mare has when the sole administrator of almost the entirety of the eastern farmlands of Ponyville enters her office, and simply drops an "you're about to lose one of those four wheels" bomb?

She has a small disaster that's about to happen, that's what she has.

"Well, Mrs. Velvet, we simply can't let that happen now, can we?" you hear her voice almost fail. Almost. But Mayor Mare must have already talked to Princess Celestia herself, and is holding herself as best as she can. "And I'm sure these problems your family is seeing can be absolutely taken care of. But what exactly can we do to help?"

"I totally agree that this is a simple misunderstanding, but we have to somehow show that our relation with Ponyville is good…" you think to yourself for a moment, hoof on your chin, before you deliver the solution you had planned the whole time, "in fact, I think this could all be solved if we had somepony from here as an official contact with us," you say with an "aha!" smile.

"Somepony as a contact? You mean a liaison of sorts?"

"Yes, exactly that!" you clop your hoofs together, as if all of your problems had just been solved, "if we have somepony from the town hall to be an official link with us, maybe to even be a figurehead for our workers and whatnot, we can surely show my family that we have close ties with Ponyville."

[Does Starry Dancer stick the landing?]

[Roll: 24 + 9 (her Intrigue) = 33, no, she does not]

"Do you have anypony you could spare for that role?" you ask hopefully.

And now would be the perfect time for Starry Dancer to knock on the door. The hopeful mare who wants to help the mayor galloping in by sheer coincidence and saving the day. Or at least that's what you had planned with Starry.

But instead, an awkward silence extends itself as Mayor Mare looks thoughtfully (and with a slight bit of panic) at the papers on her desk.

"Well, nopony immediately comes to mind. I know a mare who is reliable and would surely want to help, but this sounds like it will be an awful lot of work and I'm not sure if she'd have the time to…"

No, it wont be an awful lot of work, you think to yourself. Bar signing some pre-written letters you would prepare yourself, this "liaison" would have no other worry except being an official assistant to the mayor. But you can't tell her that right now.

She mumbles to herself a bit more about somepony named "something-jack", but you don't really listen. Your ears straining, trying to hear a knock on the door that isn't arriving.

"Well, I can do it myself," Mayor Mare finally concludes, dread appearing in her eyes as she realizes that either she mauls this unknown amount of work herself, or Ponyville might suffer a blow, "and besides, nothing can really beat 'having close ties with Ponyville' more than letters and reports signed by the mayor herself, rig-?"

Until finally she is interrupted by the sound of knocking coming from the door, one in a particular rhythm that sounded like some sort of music.

And Mayor Mare must have recognized that music, because she lets out a short sight before answering.

"Could you come later? I'm having a meeting right now," Mayor Mare says towards the door, managing a voice that sounds a lot less tired than she looks, and even a bit educated.

You turn around, seeing the door open slightly, a pink pegasus looking in (or rather, specifically looking at you) with an apologetic expression.

"Oh? Terribly sorry miss Mayor, I'll be back later then," she says, moving to close the door.

[Rescuing the Situation, CD 40 (nearly-panicked Mayor)]

[Roll: 100 + 10 (Intrigue) + 1 (GRAIL bonus) = 111, critical success]

"Starry Dancer! Come on in!" you say with a sudden smile, your whole body perking up and facing her as if really in joy. "Why, what a pleasant surprise, how have you been?"

You keep your eyes on Starry Dancer, willing her to walk in with your stare.

And you have your back to Mayor, so there's no way she will notice the slight force in your gaze. But Starry Dancer herself sure does, and her apologetic expression turns into some shade of fright as she meekly walks in through the door.

"Pardon me Mrs. Velvet, but do you know this mare?" you hear Mayor asking from behind you.

"Of course I do! We are good friends, the two of us," you say in the most non-specific way possible, yet still beaming with sincerity, "but I had no idea that she worked for you Mayor… In fact, why not assign her for that liaison idea of ours? I can't think of anypony more reliable than her for the job, especially since it is somepony I already know so well."

You look into Mayor's eyes, your smiling face the picture of a pony who just struck gold during a previously hopeless situation, and you can almost see the options flashing inside her mind.

She could tell you that said mare does not work for the townhall, of course. But that would mean that she would have to tackle some obscure task as a connection between Ponyville and a noble family in Canterlot all by herself, and also that she would risk offending the very same noble who not only came to her for help, but also nearly gave her the news that a lot of earth pony farmers were about to lose their jobs.

Or… she could just smile at the pink pegasus who had recently, and quite sincerely perhaps, been trying to help her in her duties these past few weeks. If she could just play along with the misunderstanding that you brought up, hoping that "you wouldn't realize that you were mistaken", then the problem will have practically solved itself. Starry Dancer might be a bit on the clumsy side, always humming a song, and to be quite honest she sometimes can be a bit of a disturbance. But she is also forthright and earnest, and seems to have a great deal of potential.

Besides, she somehow seems to be personal friends with Ponyville's resident and recluse noble mare.

A few moments later, you see Mayor Mare smiling, a subtle sigh of relief causing her shoulders to relax.

"Starry Dancer," she says, the strain draining from her voice with each word, "take a seat, my assistant, me and Mrs. Velvet here would like to discuss an assignment with you."

You nod in agreement, and pretend you didn't see the quick wink that Mayor Mare gave to Starry Dancer as she sat by your side.

Well, this was our first 100.

Just a short notice, 100s and 1s are critical successes and failures, and that incurs in them having "lasting effects". This might come as a scrap of Lore reward, some material thing, perhaps a status upgrade or something else. But it will always be "a result beyond what you attempted to achieve" (as, I assume, is a normal practice in quests).

On this particular case, Starry managed to leap several steps up on Mayor's trust. Or will be able to, in due time, the two of them being off to a start that will go far better than expected. This 100 will be wholly cashed into Starry's cult mission, and she has you to thank for it.

You are also acquainted with Mayor Mare now.

Also, the starting part was added to give a glimpse on what your character has in mind as of now, as well as to try and show where your character stands when it comes to her current knowledge and understanding of things. Both on what has been said to her in the cult up to this day, and how she feels about it.
As you might have noticed, it currently doesn't amount to much more than questions, if they even are the right questions at all. You can blame Moth for that, but the drive to learn the truth is also in her nature, and the choice to be in charge of the Learning role.

Next actions to follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Friendship is Ritualism
-[X] Last Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] BOOK – FORGE Level 1, buy for 7 bits
--[X] BOOK – KNOCK Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] This Turn's Purchase Options
--[X] 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.)
---[X] ARTIFACT – HEART Level 3, costs 200 bits
----[X] Buy
-[X] On what must be done (finding a way to reach Princess Luna)
--[X] You have reached the Dreamlands, or rather the place where the Mansus touches the Dreamlands. Now you must explore it.
---[X] If she truly is the sovereign of dreams, then she must stroll through her realm. Learn the paths she takes between dreams and attempt to track her hoofsteps. But keep to the shadows, for the dangers of the Dreamlands are unknown to you.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits).
All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] In addition to your own searching, see if your ponyservants find anything neat.
--[X] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
---[X] Help Starry Dancer, the pink mare who seems to be in charge of the talking.
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] 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…
---[X] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
----[X] Just a social call, nothing more than that.

- - -

You take the last bite from your breakfast, a smile on your face. Count yourself surprised, but today you're actually feeling giddy!

A napkin floats towards you as you hum a soft tune, and moments later you are out of your seat. You kiss your daughter's head as you pass her, and soon enough you're opening the door to-

"Sweetheart… is everything okay? You seem to be a bit…"

Until Stormchaser's voice interrupts you, causing your horn to freeze up while its magic is reaching out to the doorknob.

But of course, your husband's puzzled eyes have been following you this whole time. How could you not have addressed that?

"... uncharacteristic, today?" he finishes his sentence, after a good few seconds of fishing for words.

You turn towards him with an actually sincere smile.

"Whatever you mean by uncharacteristic?"

"Well the…" he fumbles for a few moments, until he points to where you were seated a few moments ago, "the humming? And the smiling? And the…"

"Oh," your smile disappears from your face, "you mean I'm uncharacteristic because I'm happy today?" you ask, raising an eyebrow with a you-are-now-digging-your-own-grave tone of voice.

"What? No! That's not what I meant, I mean," he looks at Silky Stream for help, suddenly realizing he was being cornered, but your daughter is too oblivious in her own breakfast to even notice the conversation.

You laugh, cutting him off before he can continue. Stallions are so easy to dance around.

"I'm joking dear, and I know what you mean," you say waving an apologetic hoof, "I'm just a bit excited because I'm visiting a friend today!"

You realize you are sounding a bit like a filly right now, but you can't help yourself for a few moments as you continue.

"Not an official meeting, not anything work related. I just realized this morning that I might not have done something like this in years! In fact, I think I've been so engrossed with work for such a long time that if it wasn't for Silky here with me, while you're out for business, I would have gone mad years ago!"

You can feel that you would actually have trotted in place for a bit while saying that, if you didn't know that it would have been a horrible idea for your leg.

But for all your smiles and excitement, for some reason your husband's quizzical look just grows deeper.

"But… don't you go to that book club of yours every so often?"

You freeze up for a second, a facehoof being very nearly avoided by all those years of etiquette classes. How could you have let that slip by you so easily?!

"Oh, that?" you laugh nervously, waving your hoof dismissively, "well, book club nowadays is almost a job in itself dear. Of course I enjoy it, but I feel like I'm actually starting to get competitive about it" you finish, recomposing your smile and hoping your husband would buy into it.

"Competitive about… book club activities?"

Nope, he definitely didn't buy it.

"You wouldn't get it, dear," you give him a wink, sighing in relief when you see him rolling his eyes and just giving up on the conversation.

And you walk out of the dining room before anypony else can stop you.

- - -

Despite all of that, you were being honest.

Granted, you will have to be more careful when balancing your "social life", or at least how other ponies perceive your supposed social life. You are after all, as far as anypony is concerned, a mare who attends a "book club" every so often. It might be less than once a month, but you can't just rave like a little filly whenever you meet a new pony who's not related to that.

Still, back to the topic at hand. Going to meet your friend.

Well… acquaintance? It doesn't matter. Today is a free day, and you intent to use a good part of it to do nothing important at all, be it work, family or cult related.

Now… where can you even find her to begin with…? You recall her saying something about a boutique, the same way you recall her not pointing you where it was, so…

[Searching for Rarity, breakpoints 40/60/80]

[Roll: 59 + 8 (Martial) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) = 72, you find her, and she's not alone.]

It really wasn't hard at all, you must say.

At first you thought Ponyville's uniqueness would work against you, with almost every house being somewhat different from the other. You even passed by a place, you think it was a bakery, that was styled like a real cake, with brown roofs of "chocolate" and white tiles for "icing", and even a cupcake-shaped... room on top of it? The thing even had giant decorative candles on top of it which might have doubled as chimneys.

You mentally mark that place to make sure you never go near it with Silky Stream, or else she might break the front door or a window while rushing towards it.

But in the end, Ponyville's personal charm actually helped you find your quarry, you think to yourself, as you stand before the aptly named "Carousel Boutique". A soft blue and pink circular building that, upon closer inspection, does seem to be quite like how the fashionista would have liked it.

Even the small windows on the door are diamond-shaped, and you think you recall her cutie mark being something related to that.

You ponder on knocking on the door for a few seconds, but the stylish "open" sign quickly makes you decide against it. A soft bell rings as you open it, and you have to admit you are impressed.

The whole place seems to have been designed to awe from the moment a pony opens the door. Several mannequins are immediately in your view, each with a different kind of clothing, and the whole place seems to have been designed as if it was telling stories of sorts. A mannequin with a male overcoat and a top hat here, apparently courting one with a dress... a trio in summer gowns of different colors there, arranged as if having a pleasant conversation.

You even eye two of them, a more casual dress with an accompanying umbrella next to a filly-sized mannequin in a matching dress, that very much look perfect for you and Silky to wear together.

And the whole place is marvelously detailed. Mirrors at different heights for different points of view flanked by richly colored veils, several dressing rooms, and other small details wherever you look.

You were being honest when you told her that you didn't exactly knew much about fashion, a few weeks back, but even you can tell that the mare has talent.

"I'll be with you in a moment" you hear a familiar voice coming from deeper within the store, followed by the soft hum of levitating magic. Moments later, Rarity comes into view from behind a large set of hangers, each with a different piece of clothing. She doesn't freeze, much to your relief, but you can clearly see surprise in her face.

"Miss Velvet! Such a lovely surprise, what can I help you with?"

"Well, I was going to say I just came for a visit," you walk towards her, still looking around and taking in the decorations of the place, "but forget about me, this place is simply wonderful!"

"I try my best, Miss Velvet," she says with a slight blush, "but thank you, I am indeed a bit proud of my work."

"Oh, enough of the whole 'miss' thing. And you are telling me you designed all of this by yourself? I would have thought this was the hoofwork of at least three different ponies."

"Au contraire darling," she swings her mane, her blush turning into a delighted smile, "everything at Carousel Boutique was made by yours truly."

She walks around you, drawing your gaze to the several different outfits as she continues.

"Of course, inspiration is sometimes hard to come by. But Ponyville has yet to fail me on that regard-", your brief tour, and Rarity's proud smile, are suddenly interrupted by the sound of a short yelp, followed by something falling down, coming deeper from the boutique.

"Oh my, I almost forgot! Please wait a second here darling, I'll be right back," she says, hastily going to the source of the mysterious sound.

And, obviously, you go after her a few moments later.

"Oh I'm so sorry dear. Here, let me help you with this," you hear Rarity's voice, clearly nervous, coming from just a bit further ahead.

"Hey, wai- ouch! Careful with the pins!", followed by another voice you don't know.

"Rarity? Is anything the matter?" you ask, finally reaching the place from where you were hearing her.

You see Rarity, her expression slightly flustered, helping another pony take out an overly large dress that is clearly still in development stage.

Not a pony, you realize, a filly. Her coat as white as Rarity's, and her mane a pink and purple tone that is just a touch lighter than Rarity's. But in all other aspects, the small unicorn is basically a mini version of her.

She looks at you with a somewhat pained expression while the older mare tries to unfold the dress from around her. It clearly looks like the filly tried to walk in that overcomplicated thing, and tripped before her first hoof even touched the ground.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't realize you were attending somepony else before I arrived."

"Don't worry about it darling," she says, concentrating on her magic while trying to unknot a web of frills, "my sister was just helping me with modelling when the doorbell rang."

Which causes her sister to shoot a glare at her, prompting an uncomfortable smile from Rarity.

"Although I may have left Sweetie Belle on a particular pose for too long while we… chatted," she admits, still with an apologetic expression.

But a few moments later the dress is successfully untangled, and you can take a better look at the filly as she is safely floated to the floor.

"Oh, she looks the same age as Silky Stream," you say your thoughts out loud once you take a better look at the recently-freed pony.

"Silky? The transferred filly?" Sweetie Belle looks you from head to hoof, "oh right, you do look a bit like her."

"I had no idea you also had a sister, darling."

You let out a short laugh at Rarity's remark, quickly covering your mouth with a hoof. The two sisters look at you curiously before you can properly answer.

"Oh, sorry. I am actually referring to my daughter, you know."

Sweetie Belle simply nods, as if it was obvious. But Rarity, on the other hand.

"Daughter?! Why, but I thought… Around Sweetie Belle's age?" she looks you over again, twice, three times, her expression aghast.

"Mhmm, she still doesn't have a cutie mark either," you answer, watching the young filly embarrassedly try to hide her flank.

Oh, so she is already at that age then. You'll make sure to be mindful about it.

"But you… Velvet I never would have guessed it, you have the looks of a princess about you!" Rarity finally says, starting to settle down from her surprise.

You wave an embarrassed at hoof at her, that was quite the refined way of saying you are a good few years older than she thought you were.

"Well, I'm flattered. But here, let's not bother your sister with our grown mare talk. Why don't we take this somewhere else, and you tell me about what you have been working on?"

You see Sweetie Belle sigh in relief, both at the prospect of not having to pose anymore for some experimental dress, and because her blank flank was no longer a subject.

"Oh, I'd love to darling. Here, allow me to introduce you to a place I know. The tea is simply fabulous over there," she guides you towards the door with a satisfied nod.

And the two of you walk out of the boutique, idly chit-chatting as you make your way to the streets.

You and Rarity are no longer acquaintances, you are now actual friends!

You are now acquaintances with Sweetie Belle.

For the record, a reminder you have the "Beautiful" trait. And on another note, finding Rarity with another Element Bearer would have been at the +80 breakpoint.

- - -
- - -
- - -

[Book Hunting in Ponyville]

[Roll: 86 + 12 (Learning) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) = 103]

You are in the middle of Ponyville, under the afternoon sun, taking in the sight before your eyes.

And quite honestly, you are currently weighting your options.

You have passed by that building before, of course, but this is the first time you have actually realized what it is. For the longest time you had thought it was the house of some eccentric botanist pony, but you can see now that it isn't.

"Golden Oak Library… huh…" you muse to yourself.

On one hoof you went out today to buy books, not rent them.

But on the other… there could be a few interesting ones in there. And besides, if you recall correctly, you have been to libraries in Canterlot where there were some sort of sales section, when you were younger.

"Although this is a small-town library… it might not have something like that."

What finally makes you decide, in the end, is the afternoon sun. Your thoughts are starting to go from "books" to "how cool it might be inside a tree", so you realize it might be a good time to get inside a nice and shaded place.

You walk through the bright red door, the candle painted on it amusing you somewhat.

And you are greeted by a completely unexpected sight.

"Twiiiliiiiight! I told you somepony would show up!"

The library is a mess.

There are books strewn around the floor and all over the place. Well, not exactly strewn, some of them are neatly piled in columns, but still there isn't almost a single one of them that is actually in a shelf.

However, the mess in itself isn't the most shocking part of it. What made you freeze up for a good few seconds is the fact that-

"I'm sorry miss but uh… We're kinds closed for maintenance right now?"

There is a dragon in the middle of the library!

"Well, more like 'absolutely necessary reordering', according to somepony" he says, making a mock mimic of a voice as he talks, followed by a grumpy expression.

"I heard that Spike," another pony appears, and you hear her walking down the stairs as she speaks, "and I told you, there's no way anypony will be able to find anything in here unless we reorder it by genre and author name. This is important!"

But you don't even notice her, your eyes still locked on the dragon.

Sure, he is small, and purple, and doesn't even have wings yet. But he's still a dragon.

"I'm sorry miss, can I help you with anything?", you nearly jump in surprise as the purple mare appears at your side, carrying a stack of books with her glowing horn.

You recall her walking towards you in your peripheral vision, but she could have teleported there for all you were paying attention.

"Oh, I'm sorry," you take a deep breath, shaking your head a bit, "I was just surprised by your little friend there."

You finally manage to take a better look at the mare who is talking to you. She is quite young looking, to the point where you think she might have only recently become an adult. Her eyes still have that sort of innocent and curious looks that you would expect from a pony who is growing up, but the ease with which she is floating a rather large stack of books shows you that she knows a thing or two (but probably more) about magic.

"Don't worry about it. Spike can be quite a head turner once you meet him, but you get used to it," she says, turning away from you and filing the books in the air, quickly reading their sides and floating them towards a specific cabinet.

"Its just that I've never seen a dragon in my life. I didn't know there were any here in Ponyville."

"We are actually from Canterlot, but you're right, dragons aren't common over there either," she says with a bit of a giggle, "I'm Twilight Sparkle, by the way."

"Velvet Covers, a pleasure to meet you. And you too," you say towards the small dragon, "Spike, wasn't it?"

The purple dragon simply waves you with a dispirited expression, as the other unicorn starts floating more and more books for him to organize as well.

It takes you a few more seconds for your brain to finally make the connection.

This is Twilight Sparkle? This is the pony who is Princess Celestia's personal student? The one who defeated Nightmare Moon after gathering the long lost mythical Elements of Harmony?

She is way younger than you expected.

"Nice to meet you! And I'm sorry about the current state of the library, but so few ponies actually come here that I didn't think it would be any harm to try and rearrange it right now. Oh, are you here for anything in particular?" her expression suddenly lights up, "can I help you find a specific book or something?"

Some books fan around her as if in display, and you honestly wonder if it is intentional from her or some form of subconscious excitement. Either way, she must really like books.

Well, that's something the two of you have in common then!

"Actually I am," you say, and Twilight reacts almost instantly, "no single book in particular, but I do love having some literature to go through during my spare time."

"That's great! You must be the first pony I heard say that since I moved in from Canterlot," she claps her hoofs together, "here Spike, take my share for a few minutes, I'll help our guest search for what she's looking for!"

You feel a tinge of pity for the small dragon as a second pile of books floats towards his head. But instead of being neatly lowered down, they are instead "un-floated" above him, with gravity causing the expected result.

You thank the excited unicorn, of course, but you make sure to stay for as little time as possible to spare Spike the herculean task that he will have to do alone for as long as you are here.

But not before you find a few books that catch your eye, of course.

-A treatise on the relationship of Equestria and its neighboring lands – SECRET HISTORIES Level 3, costs 30 bits

-A dramatic reading of an ancient war – SECRET HISTORIES Level 2, costs 15 bits

-A historical atlas of Ponyville and its surrounding lands – Reveals TWO places for expeditions, costs 15 bits

You leave the Golden Oak Library, satisfied with what you have found, as well as with who you have met, and head back home..

Public access libraries will only ever give you books that are up to level 3, and the incremental +20 rolls while searching cap at 100.

Books are always rolled randomly, but certain cities have a greater "weight" to certain aspects.

- - -
- - -
- - -

The two stallions leave the package at your main hall, at your behest, and you quickly have it opened and moved to your room.

It is flamboyant to say the least, and definitely extravagant. And even though you are looking at it directly you cant quite decide if it is a carpet or a thick blanket. You also can't identify what animal that skin belonged to in life, but by the heavens it is soft.

You put it in your storage for the time being. The thing caused a few murmurs among your servants, but all of them of carefree nature, nothing to be worried about. And you are sure that none of them… felt, what you felt coming from the thing.

It isn't a worrying feeling, but you're also not about to put it as a carpet in your study room or start sleeping in it either. And you definitely will instruct your servants to not let Silky Stream see the thing. There is definitely some Heart going about that item, and you will be wary about it until you can properly study it.

[Acquired a HEART artifact]

Not long after, a servant comes to you with an excited face. You quickly recognize him as the one you sent to go looking for interesting books.

"Good evening ma'am, I have returned from the errant you sent me."

"Good evening. Go ahead, did you find anything?"

[Book Hunting in Ponyville – Servant Action]

[Roll: 1 + 12 (Learning) = 13]

[Rolling for lost bits…]

He moves to take something out of his package, but instead of the report you were expecting, or a list of books and prices you thought he would present, he takes out an actual book.

You raise an eyebrow.

"It was almost like it was meant to happen, ma'am! I didn't even make it to the first bookshop before this wonderful wagon stopped next to me. They had all sorts of books, and once I told them what I was looking for, those helpful unicorns immediately presented me this copy!"

Your raised eyebrow slowly crumbles into dawning horror as you float the book out of his mouth and closer to your inspecting gaze.

"Something something…" you read the jumbled and convoluted title of the blue book, "deep mysteries? By the Flim & Flam book press?"

You quickly go through a few pages, realizing there is nothing useful in that book, and closing it before you actually start to feel sick about it.

"Yes ma'am!" the pony continues, excited, "and I know you told me to report back with a list. But they told me they were travelling merchants, and that it was the final copy they had! I just HAD to get it there and then!"

Several options went through your head. Facehoofing yourself was one of them, facehoofing him was another. Hunting down those two "helpful unicorns" and having a large stallion facehoof them several times was a third, equally alluring option.

But in the end, you simply thanked him for his work, and dismissed him for the rest of the night.

[Lost: 10 (base) + 9 (1d10 roll) = 19 bits]

- - -
- - -
- - -

You gather, once again.

It happened in the same way, the crossroads appearing before your eyes as soon as your head reached your bed. You had almost expected a dizzying sensation, as if you had just been pushed off a cliff, but it never came. You simply looked around, realized you were alone, and made your way towards the Woods.

And once again, you arrive at that same clearing, coming out of the bushes almost at the same time as the other five.

You nod towards your compatriots, with Copper Secateur waving back at you and Starry Dancer doing the same in a perhaps too excited manner.

But once the six of you form a loose circle... nothing. Nothing but silence, and the sound of wind against leaves, happens.

You strain your ears for a sign. Searching for the buzzing that should be mounting in your head, listening for the breaking of a twig that would surely come, waiting for the noise of things scraping against the bark of wood.

But you neither hear nor feel any of that.

Until one of you, a voice you have never heard before that you soon realize is Jade Whistle, starts speaking.

"We hit a roadblock, for a while," she turns her back to the woods and faces the rest of you, an action that the rest of you copy, forming some sort of talking circle, "I thought the best candidates for any magic ritual we might attempt would be among those who had already made their way into the Woods. Affinity, understanding of secrets, a mark of those sorts of things. But I finally settled for those who seemed to have better innate regular magic to them, pony magic that is. And Ponyville has a lot of farmers and weather pegasus, a few them among our numbers, so I'm somewhat confident we have a fledgling magic-oriented team. We just haven't had the opportunity to test them yet."

Her voice seems a bit unfocused as she speaks, somewhat dreamy and droning. But when she finishes, she turns to look at Comet Feet who is sitting next to her. The large pegasus looks around, as if not entirely sure of what he is doing, before starting to talk as well.

"I've got almost nothing. Ponyville is too peaceful, and almost nopony in our cult proper has any affinity to the Edge. I have two, maybe three ponies who have the slightest clue of what to do, but that's it. Our cult almost entirely lacks muscle, and I'm considering going for other cities or hiring help if we need anything done. Although hiring would also involve at least going to a bigger town, where people looking for shady work might be. But for Ponyville itself, recruiting anypony for hard work is utterly fruitless."

He lets out some sort of gruff snort, and turns his head to face Starry Dancer.

"Oh, my turn? Well… I tried to work my way into the town hall for a few weeks, and I thought I had a shot at it. Well, a shot, until Velvet here came along!" she points at you excitedly, "she had a talk to the mayor and suddenly I became her personal assistant! I don't think I'm close enough to actually sway her, but I think she trusts me. At least enough to give me the copy of some keys, including the town hall and its archive!"

She nearly prances with excitement as she delivers her news, then turns to Copper Secateur.

"We are doing well, I'd say. I was far less subtle than I usually am, but Ponyville itself seems oblivious to it. But far more importantly, I think I found a group of ponies who I can train to help me look for conversion candidates. And since we are starting to move with purpose now, I suppose that working towards a web that can expand by itself is the obvious direction to go."

She then turns to Windy Flakes, and the unicorn seems to think for a while before he starts speaking softly.

"I don't have much to report, unfortunately… I do have a plan, I mean. We obviously need a better source of income for the cult, and a place we can gather more easily, but the problem is that initial push. This would be like trying to start an enterprise from scratch, and we simply don't have the bits for it. I did find a good place for it though, a building for sale to the south of Ponyville, distant from the more urban area and away from prying eyes, but still central enough to be a business location. But it is for sale, and we don't have the bits…"

He hits his hoofs lightly while thinking, the soft clopping sound echoing in the clearing.

"I have been entertaining thoughts about… convincing the owner of that building into being more generous," he lets out a wry smile, looking at Comet Feet.

But soon after, he is looking at you, and its your turn to report on your doings.

You open your mouth to speak, but you stop, and you finally feel what Jade Whistle must have felt from the beginning. The whole… forest seems to turn its attention to you. Dark trees seem to bend slightly in interest, the wind seems to howl just a little less as if to allow you to talk.

Your Master is listening, that much becomes crystal clear to you.

You pick your words carefully, and begin your own report.

[You must pick one of each category. Planned voting.]

[ ] On the dreamlands

-[ ] You have not found your any way to the Dreamlands.
-[ ] You have found a way to the Dreamlands, beyond the crossroads and towards the horizon.
-[ ] You have found a way to the Dreamlands and explored it, but found no evidence that Princess Luna is there.
-[ ] You have found a way to the Dreamlands and explored it, finding rescued dreams that confirm that Princess Luna is active in there. (This is the full truth for a report)

[ ] On Rarity

-[ ] There is no need to comment about meeting Rarity.
-[ ] You have met Rarity, a bearer of the Elements of Harmony, and believe that you are on good terms with her.
-[ ] You have met Rarity, an Element bearer, and found out she has a little sister. And that is exploitable.

[ ] On Twilight Sparkle

-[ ] There is no need to commend about meeting Twilight Sparkle.
-[ ] You have met Twilight Sparkle, the young mare who exorcised Nightmare Moon.
-[ ] You have met Twilight Sparkle and her pet dragon Spike, who seems to be small enough to be an easy target.

[ ] On your helping of Starry Dancer

-[ ] There is no need to talk about helping Starry Dancer.
-[ ] Highlight how helpful you were when helping Starry Dancer, gloating before your fellow advisors.

[ ] On your acquisitions

-[ ] There is no need to talk about your acquisitions.
-[ ] You have recently purchased an interesting curio that clearly hums with Heart, and you will study it.
-[ ] You have recently purchased an interesting curio of Heart, and will donate it to the Cult.

[ ] On your servants

~~-[ ] You have a stupid servant who cost you 19 bits on a stupid book, does anypony need a living body for a ritual?~~
-[ ] Just forgive him already.

[ ] On the Things that Stalk

-[ ] Keep that to yourself.
-[ ] Mention that there are dangers in the Dreamlands, but that you have no idea what they are.
-[ ] State that there are... things in the Dreamlands, and demand your Master explain what they are.

There will be at least 24 hours for voting.

Your character sheet will be updated to reflect your current (end of turn 2) situation.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Professional (Non)-Disclosure
-[X] On the dreamlands
--[X] You have found a way to the Dreamlands and explored it, finding rescued dreams that confirm that Princess Luna is active in there. (This is the full truth for a report)
-[X] On Rarity
--[X] You have met Rarity, a bearer of the Elements of Harmony, and believe that you are on good terms with her.
-[X] On Twilight Sparkle
--[X] You have met Twilight Sparkle, the young mare who exorcised Nightmare Moon.
-[X] On your helping of Starry Dancer
--[X] There is no need to talk about helping Starry Dancer.
-[X] On your acquisitions
--[X] You have recently purchased an interesting curio that clearly hums with Heart, and you will study it.
-[X] On your servants
--[X] Just forgive him already.
-[X] On the Things that Stalk
--[X] Mention that there are dangers in the Dreamlands, but that you have no idea what they are.

- - -

It feels a bit like talking to yourself, and a lot like simply knowing that there is somepony right behind you, looking straight at the back of your head.

You think about choosing your words carefully, but in the end the choice is practically laid out before you. There is no reason to lie, and no proof that any lie won't be seen through when you think about it. You will just omit what is honestly unimportant and say your piece.

"I have located a way to the Dreamlands, and I am confident that I can show others how to get there," you start, "and I believe… No, rather, I am sure that Princess Luna is also active in there. I stumbled upon some dreams that have been… it's hard to know what word to use. Dreams that had suffered an intervention? Whatever it was, I haven't seen the Princess directly, nor have I ever felt her magic before, but I know that it was her doing."

You think back to your travel through the dreamlands, a soft tremor running through your body as you try to remember enough, but not too much.

"There are also things in the dreamlands… things I have never seen before," you hesitate, "I don't even know how to begin to describe them. They seemed to be made of solid smoke, and were trying to make their way into dreams, and…" you look at the other five ponies, each looking at you with a different expression between incredulity and curious attention, "whatever they were, whatever they are, take my advice for it. They are dangerous, or at the very least they are extremely wrong."

Wrong, that is the word you should have used from the start. No other description would have done any amount of justice. You force the memories to go somewhere else, not wanting to dally on it, and continue your report.

"Apart from that, I've also located two of the bearers of the Elements of Harmony. One of them is a white unicorn named Rarity, and I believe I am starting to get on good terms with her, but nothing too deep," you try to sound as neutral as possible on the matter, "the other is another unicorn, a purple one, Twilight Sparkle, who if I recall correctly was the leader on the Nightmare Moon situation. But I just met her in passing."

You see Copper raise an eyebrow and give you a curious nod.

"Apart from that, the only thing of interest is that I've acquired a curio that seems to be strong with Heart. I'll be studying it soon, to see if it yields any useful knowledge."

And with that, you finish your report, a sigh of relief leaving your lips before you realize it, as the pressure of the woods seem to lessen around you. The dark trees seem a little straighter now, the leaves a little bit more noisy. You no longer feel like you are near the center of someplace that isn't supposed to have any center at all.

Snap.

The six of you hear it, your heads turning towards the source of the sound, at the same time as some other part of your brains seem to wake up. A light buzz inside your heads, or at least your own, that isn't enough to annoy you, but is more than enough for you not to be able to forget it is there.

You think you hear the sound of a hoofstep, muffled by leaves, and you swear that you can almost see a shadow or a silhouette, but whenever you think you finally have your eyes on your Master, you realize you are looking at the bark of a tree, or the shadow of a stone, or something else with large wings.

"Follow," you hear, in that same un-same voice, heavy with secrets.

And without a word, the six of you stand up and head deeper into the Woods.

The forest grows progressively darker around you as you walk, and soon you cannot see any further than your own snout. You stumble through roots as often as you make straight steps, and the sound of brushes being forced aside and of short grunts and yelps of your fellow compatriots making their way near you soon fills your ears. The buzzing of the Woods itself seems to grow stronger as well, and you swear that you can feel something landing on your body a few times, but it is gone before you can swat it away.

You are sure that you would have lost yourself, being deeper in the Woods than you have ever been before, if it wasn't for the sound of your Master's voice guiding you.

"The news you bring are of both good and bad tidings", the voice comes from the blinding darkness, always just a few steps ahead of you. It has a curious property that doesn't seem to quite cut through the buzzing of the Woods, but rather that it use its cacophonous chorus to its advantage.

"Comet Feet, results must be presented whether if the base material is useful or not. Expand your search elsewhere if you believe to be adequate, or become yourself the only instrument that we will need. Do either, or seek a third choice, but soon will come the day when conflict will be the only solution."

A snap of a twig, dry and echoing, comes from a few hoofsteps ahead, marking the direction you must go. You nearly fall on your face as a root that wasn't there entangles one of your legs, but you quickly shake it off.

"Starry Dancer and Copper Secateur, expand your webs. There are agents of law in Ponyville who, despite being paltry themselves, serve as alarms to more dangerous foes. And we are still far from having followers on every corner and shadow of the town itself, so continue your strides in that direction."

"Windy Flakes, you too must present results. Our gatherings will soon see greater numbers and frequency, as more minds begin their searches for the truth. It won't do for us not to have a suitable location for such."

A leaf that feels like both paper and fur brushes against your face, making you close your eyes in reflex, and it is only several steps later that you realize you are no longer tripping over roots, and that the moonlight is bathing you once again.

"Jade Whistle and Velvet Covers… the six of you must look carefully now, but this knowledge will also be relevant to the next step you two in particular must take."

You blink a few more times, the soft moonlight somehow coming as a glare for a few moments, until your eyes adjust, and you can take a proper look at your surroundings.

The place is too large to be a clearing, so perhaps "opening" would be a more adequate term. The Woods are all around you and you can see it in the distance, but its borders are far away. You have the impression that this is the imitation of a gap in a forest in which you would find a lake, but as expected you see no such thing, only black dirt covered in leaves.

The Mansus itself is also far, you can see its floating stairs and connected floors in the distance, the Glory itself a pinprick against the darkness of the night. You are farther away from it than you think you have walked, although you know such a thing means little within this place.

But one thing is for sure. You know you will never be able to find your way back here again, unless your Master guides you once more.

"The secrets that you are learning, although there was a time they were not secrets, are undeniable, and there is a cause for that," you look around, and realize the voice is coming from underneath a large crooked rock, twisted and twice as tall as Comet Feet, the shadow underneath it not allowing you to see any trace of your Master.

"If you drop a rock, it falls to the ground," the voice continues, as the wind gains strength around you, pushing leaves towards the air, "if you scrape the correct branches of wood or hit certain rocks in the proper way, there will you see sparks that may start a fire."

The wind continues to grow in strength, leaves and dust and feathers and other things spiraling around the six of you in a dizzying pattern as your Master's voice speaks faster and faster.

"But there were times when the falling of rocks was beyond the comprehension of ponies, and the mysteries of fire were a secret of power. And much like the ponies from long ago struggled to master them, so to do you struggle to master the things which surround you within this place. But the Mansus has its laws, and they are as undeniable as gravity and fire… and due to the Mansus' connection to ponykind, those laws can be invoked in the Wake. The six of you do it every time, whenever your knowledge of Lore proves to be useful."

The wind slowly dies out, and you can see that the leaves formed a curious pattern on the floor around the six of you. Almost like a circle, but with each leaf carefully positioned in relation to each other, each branch and feather a line or inscription that you think you can write down in a way that will almost make sense.

"And even greater laws may be called upon in the Wake, if you but learn how to invoke them properly. This circle that you see around you is the very cornerstone of such a ritual, and it is enough to invoke only a single aspect of Lore. The six of you will learn to use it well, but for the two of you, Velvet Covers and Jade Whistle, there are greater tasks that involve this knowledge…"

The voice disappears from underneath the shadow of the crooked rock, this time appearing to come from nowhere at all, almost like a whisper.

"Jade Whistle, ensure that your followers are adept in performing this simple version of the ritual, for you and your followers will be called for when the time comes."

"And Velvet Covers… the knowledge that the alicorn Luna is active in the Dreamlands is most troubling, for it reveals that her mind is recuperating, and that bodes ill for us. In order to gain access to her dreams, however, we will need to perform a ritual capable of summoning two aspects of Lore. The patterns of that ritual are written in the very walls of the Mansus, should you reach it beyond the Woods. Or, you might find it written in books of old, transcribed by ponies who echoed down into ink what they could not understand. Whichever source you seek, it is instrumental that you secure that knowledge soon, lest the alicorn once again stokes the flames within herself, and the sight of her becomes blinding for us."

And with that final whisper echoing in the air, the voice disappears, gone from the edge of the Woods in which it seemed to dance for a little while, leaving the six of you alone.

You are not sure how long the six of you poured over the intricate pattern of leaves and dark sand, but you know that it will no longer escape your memory. The same way you know that as soon as you leave that place, a gust of wind will cause it to disappear as if it had never existed.

And after the six of you are done communing among yourselves on your next steps, you each go your separate ways. There would be no way to leave that place, except by going back into the Woods that surround you, and that would surely entail in each of you becoming lost.

And becoming lost, you know, is something one must do alone.

- - -

You wake up in your room.

Except that you don't.

You can feel it, the soft cushion underneath your body, the weight of your covers over you, the warm feeling of your husband next to you. Your whole body tells you that you are in your bed, and that you will see the same thing you always see every morning as soon as you open your eyes.

But something else, in your mind, tells you that you're not there.

Something else tells you that the life you are about to wake up to is but a dream, and you are not fully asleep yet to reach it.

"You saw them, didn't you?"

You hear a voice. That voice. Contemplating, wise, but with a tinge of curiosity that you are not used to hearing it carry.

"The things in the dreamlands, you saw them shuffling around, didn't you? Thirsting for the light that comes from ponykind, lusting for that spark of warmth. They are not from… around here, as you might have noticed. Quite abominable indeed…" you almost think you hear a chuckle.

Yes, you did see them. But what are those things? Why are they in the Dreamlands?

Where the hell did they come from?

"Oh, you mean you didn't realize it? You didn't notice it?" the voice seems almost surprised, "well, it does make a bit of sense actually… It would be asking a bit too much for you to do."

What do you mean you didn't realize? Didn't notice what?!

Hey! I'm talking to you!

"Do not worry, for you will learn. You must learn, in fact, if you are to understand. But just so you know…" you can feel a smile creeping on the voice, "the alicorns are ancient beings, and they know things that they sometimes choose to forget. Old things. Secret things. But if we reach the dreams of the alicorn Luna, though our goal in there will be another, we might just come upon such tidbits of knowledge, don't you think?"

"So do work towards it, Velvet Covers. You do have potential."

You feel a push, a soft sensation on the middle of your chest that seems to reactivate gravity. Your body suddenly feels far heavier upon your cushion, the blankets over you feel heavy enough to almost be smothering you.

And your husband is snoring, you realize with an annoyed thought as you finally open your eyes.

You have walked deeper into the Woods than you have ever before, and found a secret place that you will never reach again. That is the nature of the Woods, and this realization has somehow opened your eyes. Gained 1 scrap of MOTH Lore.

MOTH Lore is now level 2!

Maybe your Master is satisfied, maybe he is disappointed, maybe he just wishes for you to see. But regardless, the secret he whispered in your ear was like a small candlelight in a dark room. Gained 1 scrap of LANTERN Lore.

Your Master is now willing to whisper scraps of the second Level, you may now learn any Lore up to level 3 under her… him?

You and your fellow advisors have planned your actions beforehand, so arranging meetings or joint actions will not be a problem. You have also taught them all the way to the Dreamlands, though with stark warnings about its dangers.

- - -

Last turn's shopping list

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 7

~~[ ] BOOK – SECRET HISTORIES Level 3, buy for 30 bits~~ (not enough resources)
~~[ ] BOOK - SECRET HISTORIES Level 2, buy for 15 bits~~ (not enough resources)
~~[ ] BOOK – Guide for TWO places for expeditions, buy for 15 bits~~ (not enough resources)

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)

---

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

You have four personal actions, and one ponyservant action.

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

This turn's available bits: 127 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month

[ ] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFY LORE] [THIS IS A FREE ACTION]

Each month you sequester yourself to your cult's gathering place, and use the most basic of rituals that is now carved on the floor of the available rooms. This ritual will double the bonus effect of a single Lore during a single action.

Specify which Lore you want enhanced, and on what action it will be applied. E.g.: You would like to enhance your GRAIL Lore and use it on an action to "seduce Big Macintosh", doubling your current "bonus when attempting to convince someone of something".

This is a blessing that has effect on the Wake, so it will not enhance your "+10 per level of Lore" when attempting to perform other rituals, or when traversing the Mansus.

[ ] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)

-[ ] You have your vague instructions, but the most straightforward is that the Mansus itself, somehow, keeps those instructions within itself. You have never reached the structure itself, deep within and beyond the Woods, but it looks like the time has come.
-[ ] There are old books in this world. There are grand libraries, and then there are restricted archives, and then there are forbidden archives. Go to Canterlot, the place with the greatest concentration of those three, and try to find something there.
--[ ] Go alone, that book certainly wont be lying around, so there will come a time when you will need to be subtle. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
--[ ] Try and take Twilight Sparkle with you, she is Celestia's personal student, right? Her library card is bound to get you deeper than yours. (low chance of success since you are only acquaintances with her. Will cost 40 bits in transportation if successful, 20 bits if failed as you will go alone.)
-[ ] WRITE IN (a variation of those above, or another alternative entirely)

[ ] On furthering the cause

-[ ] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits). All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[ ] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[ ] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[ ] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)
-[ ] In all honesty, the Cult lacks an appropriate place for gatherings, at least when it comes to lesser meetings to discuss small matters, or to simply stash certain things. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.
-[ ] 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? Suspicion depends on how strange the item bought is.
-[ ]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.
-[ ] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.
-[ ] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.
-[ ] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious.
-[ ] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
--[ ] Help Comet Feet
---[ ] It can't be that there isn't a single pony in this town that's not willing to get close and personal. Help him look for them one more time.
---[ ] He might just go deeper into the Lore of Edge, and attempt to become a one pony army. Help him.
--[ ] Help Starry Dancer
---[ ] She has the keys to the mayor's office, now its time to help her get the keys to the mayor's ears.
---[ ] She is supposed to get on the good graces of the law enforcers and guards, and somehow picturing her doing it alone worries you.
--[ ] Help Copper Secateur
---[ ] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.
---[ ] She can't be expected to be recruiting for the cult all by herself forever, help her train those who will multiply her efforts.
--[ ] Help Windy Flakes
---[ ] He needs help acquiring a rather expensive establishment, but bits are not the only currency that matters. Put some favors on the table and promise to pull some strings in the future, but help him get that business.
---[ ] Violence IS a solution. Call Comet Feet, and accompany Windy Flakes on a "visit" to the owner of that fine establishment.
--[ ] Help Jade Whistle
---[ ] She mentioned she got a team together, a fledgling and untested team, help her make sure that they are on par to their task.

[ ] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.

-[ ] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3)
-[ ] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[ ] HEART Level 3 – A heavy rug, or a blanket, that might have healing properties. (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)
-[ ] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure evening weekend, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[ ] KNOCK Level 1 – "A handbook that tells the tale of a thief" (Expected CD: 50 + 10 = 60, for level 1 scraps of Lore)
--[ ] FORGE Level 1 = "A cooking manual, with a surprisingly in-depth chapter on how to repair broken kitchen utensils" (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)

Your Lore evolution happens by collecting "scraps of Lore", and the required number of scraps is the Lore level that you are aiming for. For example, leveling a Lore from Level 2 to Level 3 requires 3 scraps of the appropriate Lore.

Scraps may be gained by performing certain acts or through study under a source of knowledge, but using an action to study will also involve a dice roll, which might fail.

A source of knowledge is only useful to you if it is at most of the same level as you are. So a book or artifact that are Level 2 can give you scraps until you reach Level 3.

[ ] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as a one-time buff for "specific kind of roll" that applies only until the end of the next turn. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[ ] The Woods
--[ ] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
--[ ] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.
-[ ] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus.

[ ] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part

-[ ] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
-[ ] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.
-[ ] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now and should write to your parents and request an increase of your share of the family's grants.
-[ ] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?
-[ ] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call", "a step forward to converting said pony" and if "you are willing to spend bits on this")
--[ ] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
--[ ] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[ ] Cheerilee, your daughter's school teacher
--[ ] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[ ] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

[ ] 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.)

-[ ] ~~nothing interesting is on hold~~

[ ] On invoking the Lores (Rituals and practical occultism)

-[ ] Single Lore invocation of [SPECIFY LORE]

(this will be an additional enhancement of a Lore. Two enhancements of the same Lore cannot be used on the same action, two different enhancements may. These do not stack, and disappear at the end of this turn.)

~~-[ ] Double Lore invocation~~ (not learned)
--[ ] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions.
--[ ] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
~~--[ ]~~ ~~To be performed on another location~~ (you do not yet know or own any such location)

[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)

There will be at least 24 hours for voting.

All voting will be in plan format, INCLUDING the decision of what was bought last turn.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[x] Plan Social and Research
-[x] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [LANTERN] [THIS IS A FREE ACTION]
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have your vague instructions, but the most straightforward is that the Mansus itself, somehow, keeps those instructions within itself. You have never reached the structure itself, deep within and beyond the Woods, but it looks like the time has come.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits).
All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[x]servant action.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
---[x] HEART Level 3 – A heavy rug, or a blanket, that might have healing properties. (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)
--[X] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure evening weekend, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
---[x] KNOCK Level 1 – "A handbook that tells the tale of a thief" (Expected CD: 50 + 10 = 60, for level 1 scraps of Lore)
---[x] FORGE Level 1 = "A cooking manual, with a surprisingly in-depth chapter on how to repair broken kitchen utensils" (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)
-[x] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[x] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call", "a step forward to converting said pony" and if "you are willing to spend bits on this")
---[x] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
----[x]bring your daughter with you, and buy matching outfits. Let Rarity choose the details of the clothes. Hopefully Sweetie Belle will be there so that your daughter might make a friend.

- - -

The bell mounted over the door chimes softly as you enter. The sound itself is unfamiliar, since you usually come and go when the place is still closed and the bell is not properly set, but not unfamiliar enough to surprise you.

"Velvet! Lovely to see you today. Come to take your daughter's usual dose?"

And the place's owner, Windy Flakes, immediately greets you, three sets of chairs floating with the soft glow of his horn. As usual he is alone, has a smile on his face, and, despite his polite tone and pleasant words, sounds like he is trying to be marginally insufferable on purpose.

"That too," you answer, wondering as always if it was just a good natured question or something else, "but I'm here for other things as well". You look around, the ingrained habit of not wanting to be overheard coming as second nature, "Jade Whistle mentioned she'd have it ready by today?"

You know the unicorn runs his shop alone, but there is still no reason not to be roundabout when it comes to discussing certain subjects.

"Have 'it' ready…? Whatever you mean by it?" the unicorn looks at you slightly puzzled, setting the floating chairs down and rubbing his chin.

What the hell does he mean with…

"You know… that?" you say with a bit more of intensity, "the thing we talked about last time we met? That she said she'd make sure she would have set up and all?"

Windy Flakes narrows his eyes, as if trying his hardest to remember.

"Oh!" until his eyes finally lighten up, "you mean the secret underground room where she carved the sigils for us to do our occult rituals? Of course, how could I forget!" he says with a brilliant smile, making your hair go on edge and your eyes jump to the entrance door. "Why, we needed to dig out a whole new room down there. But earth ponies sure can be industrious when they set their hoofs to it."

You reel at his cheeriness, your eyes going wide for a few more seconds as you wait for the front door to be bust open by a wide-eyed passerby pony that definitely heard everything. It takes a few moments for your heart rate to go back down, and your expression turn into a scowl.

Of course he is pulling your leg.

"Well then, you know the way," he says absentmindedly, going back to arranging the place for another day of work.

And you don't even deign him with an answer, making your way to the back room.

- - -

But Windy Flakes was not joking about how industrious earth ponies are, that much is for sure.

You can see a bit of his own intent. The underground storage has not been through an overhaul by any means, and it is clear that he has no intention of failing when it comes to moving this whole operation somewhere else, but a good amount of work has still been put here.

The small corridor you reach, as soon as you finish your trek down the stairs to the underground, is now lit by a small candle. You can see up ahead a door that wasn't there last time you were here, surely to prevent the deeper parts of the storage, where the cult meets, to be touched by any kind of light, especially that candle's. But another addition, the one you came here for, is right beside you.

You open the simple wooden door with a flick of magic, and a small room reveals itself to you. It's only large enough to barely fit the circle, its lines practically dug into the ground with painstaking precision. Being a unicorn you can't rightly imagine how much effort that must have taken for Jade Whistle, her being an earth pony, but that's just another reminder that the three pony races are truly equal, horn or no horn on their foreheads.

A small hole dug on the wall reveals the supplies you need, as well as some basic instructions that, although you learned all you needed in your dreams, you still double-check. A few more candles and a mirror float your way, as is proper when invoking Lantern, and you set about your task.

Thinking about it rationally, you can't help but realize how strange this whole affair is, in perspective. Here you are, a grown mare who already has a daughter, in a dug underground room underneath an ice cream parlor, setting about candles and mirrors for a "magic ritual" that doesn't involve even the slightest glow of your horn. By all logic you shouldn't be there, and by all other arguments this so called ritual shouldn't even work.

But after you are finished, you can't help but to notice that your own image looks just a bit more detailed in your own eyes. You can't help but to see that the candle outside of the room, after you leave, seems to be just a bit brighter. The whole world does, in fact.

And as you make your way back home, the rising sun having barely lifted from the horizon, you can't help but to admit that whatever you did in that room undoubtedly worked.

- - -
- - -
- - -

[But who is with Rarity today?]

[Rolling…]

[That's quite a high roll actually]

You know those eyes. They are the eyes of somepony who is pleading. The eyes of a pony who can't directly say what she wants, but in all other aspects is begging you to confirm what you just said, to reaffirm that it is not a lie or a colorful prank.

That what you said really is true.

"And…" she asked again, hesitantly, "are you absolutely sure you won't need my help, Mrs. Velvet?"

You are sure that a crueler pony would have smirked at that. But to be honest, this whole thing is actually making you worry a bit.

Soft Sweeps is practically teary-eyed before you. She has the hoof trembling of somepony who had just been released from some terrible fate, and you think that the mare would have broken down and hugged you if not for some personal resilience from her.

"Yes, Soft Sweeps, I'll be going out with Silky and there's no need for you to come with us…", you say once more, and watch as she lets out a long sigh of relief, tension clearly leaving her from underneath her maid uniform. "And Soft Sweeps… is everything alright? Is Silky Stream being a hoof-full or someth-"

"Not at all Mrs. Velvet!" the mare quickly interrupts you, causing you to raise an eyebrow, "I have no problems at all taking care of the young miss. Not. At. All!"

The mare quickly gives you a full bow, wings spread and all, as she hurriedly stammers about something she has to go take care of, since you have "so graciously" relieved her for the day, and is out through an open window before you can so much open your mouth to answer.

She literally flew off, still in her maid uniform and all.

"That's… actually worrying…" you say out loud, blinking a few times before forcing yourself to shrug at it. Whatever it is, it's not something you will be able to take care of right now.

You turn around, and start heading to your room, after all you have to get ready to go out.

- - -

You are starting to get accustomed to Ponyville, or at least with the center of the town. You have already walked these streets enough times, between your book-sorties, leisure walks and regular cult-going, that they aren't that strange to you anymore.

In fact, when you stop to consider it, this place is probably more familiar to you now than Canterlot was. When you think back to it, the only thing you remember is spending a lot of time practically locked inside your own house, watching chariots pass by the streets from the window next to your bed.

Thank heavens you had books for company…

"Mom! Look, look!", you hear Silky Stream shout, and you look up to see her zip straight ahead of you, doing a long loop in the air and reorienting herself.

It's not exactly comfortable to have a flying daughter, especially when you can't run well and your husband is not in sight. But you get a lot less nervous now than you used to, whenever you see Silky flying, and she is actually turning out to be quite a good flyer.

Granted, she's not flying that high, she doesn't fly any higher than your magic can reach at least. But for all the worried part of your mind cares she might as well be a black dot obfuscated by the sun, and both out of instinct and rationality you always keep a bit of energy at the base of your horn, ready for some flash-levitation magic in case she comes falling to the ground.

Just in case.

"Did you see that?! I'm learning to do loops!" she says excitedly, flying down towards you, beaming with pride.

"That's my little acrobat. You'll be flying circles around your father in no time," you say with a smile, straightening her wind-ruffled mane with a bit of magic, "but where did you learn that? I haven't seen your father teach you that one yet."

"It was with the other foals in school! They dared me that I am too young to do any upside-down flying, so I went up the school roof during recess and showed them I can!" she says, all smiles.

And you smile in return. You are sure that quite a few red flags passed you by just now, and that you just heard a few things that if anypony else had told you it would have resulted in quite a few glares, harsh words and other consequences.

But you just can't get mad at your daughter. Not when she's showing so much potential!

"And everypony was really impressed!" Silky went on, "especially Silver Spoon and Diamond Tiara. Oh, they are two girls I've been talking to, and then-"

You feel good about this. All of this. Walking with your daughter on a sunny day, hearing her talk about her studies, and making friends in school, and all the other little things you know that makes all the difference. You know very well what a gilded cage feels like, and you will make sure that your daughter is as free as a bird.

You are especially glad about hearing of those two fillies. Their names were Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, right? They surely sound like good little girls, with whom you absolutely would like your daughter to be friends with.

"-so miss Cheerilee said we will all be working together for the next assignment!" your daughter finishes, practically prancing at this point, her little wings threatening to swoop her up and away.

"That's wonderful Silky," you nod back at her. Despite your idle thinking you really were paying attention to what she said, "and look, there's the place I said we are going today," you point at the Carrousel Boutique, that just appeared before the two of you.

You see her eyes light up at the colorful (and aptly named) building, but you give her another satisfied nod when she doesn't simply flash ahead to explore it. You're not so sure, though, if she would have the same willpower if you took her to that strange cake-shaped bakery.

The same soft bell rings when you open the door, and you let Silky Stream go in first. You hear her let out a small impressed "whoa" and she immediately, albeit slowly you note, flies towards one of the elegantly dressed mannequins.

Another small swell of pride goes through your chest. As much as she might be energetic, it is still good to see that she has a taste for refinement. She will also turn into a proper lady, no doubt! With these thoughts in mind you go deeper into the boutique, your daughter surely wont touch a thing while you aren't looking.

And not long after, you hear a worrying, gasping sound coming from deeper within the store.

Is somepony… chocking?

"Rarity I… really don't think… you need to do th-… is!" you hear what definitely is a choking pony, gasping for air as she tries to speak between ragged breaths. A few, several, chilling scenarios run through your head as you wonder what the hell is going on there.

You stick closer to one of the several veils that separates the different fashion-themed areas of the store, your heartbeat suddenly quickening as adrenaline starts to flow through your body. Your casual walking turns into alert stalking in a fraction of a second, and you slowly inch your way towards the source of the sound.

"Oh darling, I told you it's the least I can do! Besides, Pinkie already told you she throws a party for every new pony in town, right? What's wrong with me taking a few measurements of one of my best friends?"

Until you hear Rarity's voice, answering in a perfectly normal tone, and your adrenaline immediately deserts you. You let out a long sigh of relief. Whatever were you thinking that could be going on in there?

You take a few deep breaths to recompose yourself, and once again casually walk to the source of the conversation.

"Excuse me, Rarity? Oh, am I interrupting anything?" you poke your head through one of the coat-hanger rich corners, and you immediately understand what is going on.

"Velvet Covers? Come on in dear, you're not interrupting anything at all!"

Rarity greets you with a warm smile, a stark contrast to the other pony by her side.

"And hello there Twilight Sparkle. Uhm... good afternoon?" you ask, unsure on how to properly greet her.

The purple unicorn seems… well, you settle on "distressed" for lack of better word. But a more accurate description would be that she is bound. Literally bound. She is wearing a corset, an extremely tight corset, with several measuring tapes floating around her. You can also see various rolls of fabric next to her, shades of purple close at hand for comparison, as well as several notes in fresh ink close to Rarity.

On closer inspection, the binding of the corset is still being held close by Rarity's glowing magic, so maybe saying Twilight is "wearing it" isn't as specific as saying she is being "forced into it".

"After… noon" she attempts to answer, and you're not quite sure how to react.

"There darling, all done," Rarity says, after unwinding one last measuring tape from Twilight's hip, and un-magicking the corset, "it was just your basic measurements Twilight, I told you it would take no time at all," she calmly continues, carefully writing down one last set of numbers on her notes.

Twilight Sparkle on her part, at least, seems too busy catching her breath to answer.

"Are you alright?" you ask her tentatively. She clearly is not used to that sort of thing.

"I am," she finally answers after a few more seconds, "just another thing I don't think I've done since I was a filly, that's all."

"Well, I'm starting to think that Rarity might be a bit overzealous when it comes to her dressmaking," you say with a smirk, "or at least I'm pretty sure measure-taking isn't supposed to be so… intense."

You manage to get a smile out of her, and the two of you look towards the other unicorn as she finishes some scribbling on one of her notes and starts putting away the rolls of purple cloth.

"I suppose you're right. And by the way, have you known Rarity for a long time? You two seem to know each other."

"Well, I wouldn't quite say a long time, but it's hard not to connect with her passion," you say, and see her give a short nod, "and I suppose you don't know her for that long either? I think I recall you saying you are from Canterlot when we met in the library?"

"That's right, we met during the preparations for the Summer Sun Festival, and it's… a bit of a long story," she says with a bit of an awkward smile. Of course, you know that "long story" very well, "but before that I was too busy studying in Canterlot at the School of Magic so…"

Your eyes go wide for a moment, did she just casually name-dropped the…?

"The School of Magic? You mean Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns?" you ask, your tone going high to the surprised side, causing her to blush slightly for a moment.

Well, you do know that she is Princess Celestia's pupil, but that sort of thing is like a distant title like "being a noble" or something like that. As much as it seems obvious in hindsight, knowing that she went to that school strikes much closer to home on how incredibly talented she must be.

It strikes particularly close to home, in fact, since your parents forced you to attempt (and fail) the admission test multiple times, up until you were too old for the maximum age requirement.

"Good heavens, that school is for genius unicorns, isn't it? I've met unicorns in university that could do less magic than some of the youngest students in there," your thoughts finish escaping through your mouth before you can finally reign them in again.

But not before Twilight is clearly blushing furiously, wearing that embarrassed smile of somepony who doesn't know of how much they are capable of.

It once again strikes you how young this mare is, but you do believe you are starting to get a read on her.

"Oh darling, Twilight here is a genius, and don't let anypony tell you otherwise," Rarity suddenly joins the conversation, putting an foreleg around Twilight in a side hug.

The purple mare, on her part, honestly doesn't know how to react.

"Well, when you put it that way… But wait," Twilight's eyes suddenly light up, her embarrassment quickly forgotten, "did you say you go to university?"

"I, uh… well, yes. Why?"

"I've always dreamed of going to university!" she says, surprising the two of you with her sudden excitement, "I mean, I still dream about it, but I'm living in Ponyville in order to do research and all... But I mean, just think about it! The studying, all those advanced books, and you actually have to make a thesis to graduate, don't you?"

You look at Rarity, who seems as puzzled as you.

"Yes, but… isn't that the same of what you did… in the School of Magic?" you suppress the 'what you did your whole life?' part of the question, but you can see that Rarity picked up on it.

"Of course not! Up until now I've only ever studied and learned. University is the place where ponies actually expand on those subjects, where they create new things! Some of the best books I've read were based on the graduating thesis of those ponies."

The two of you look at Twilight as she keeps excitedly talking about the merits of "the pursuit of higher education", as she said, and you can't help to think that deep down that part of her is quite endearing.

"Mommy? Ah, found you!"

Until you are all interrupted by your daughter, her eyes still looking around in wonder.

"I'm glad you enjoyed your stay so far Silky," you say with a smile, ushering her closer to you, "these are Rarity and Twilight Sparkle. And Rarity here is going to help us find a dress for me and you today."

Your daughter exchanges some well behaved greetings with the two mares, and Twilight stays for a while longer before she excuses herself, and Rarity can focus solely on the two of you.

- - -

You really don't see what all the fuss was about. Twilight, you come to the conclusion, clearly was just not used to it.

You are on top of a slightly raised one-pony podium, with several measuring tapes surrounding you, gently floating in blue auras. Granted, Rarity didn't bring out the corset on you, but you like to think that you're slim enough that it wont be needed, even at your (not at all important, thank you very much) age.

Silky Stream is calmly sitting on the other side of the room, watching as you are measured, posed and sometimes prodded by the white unicorn.

"Oh, this is going to be such a delight," she says, both to herself and to you as she brings out a few samples of cloth for color comparison, "clothing for younger ponies have really different focuses than for grown mares, not to mention that she is a pegasus, but I have some ideas that I think you'll find wonderful."

"I can't even begin to imagine how you'll pull this off," you say, with some honest flattery, "but I'll be sure to follow whatever you say is best. As long as Silky over there likes it as well, of course," you say, giving both ponies a short wink.

"Mom looks pretty in anything," your daughter replies, crossing her forelegs as if stating the obvious.

You and Rarity both let out a few short laughs.

"Now Velvet, I was thinking about something a bit shorter," she says thoughtfully, "something like a summer view. But how short are you used to having your dresses?"

You let out a small "oh" as the conversation inevitably reaches the point you knew it would. But, like you had concluded not long ago, you like Rarity. She is an elegant and refined mare, and clearly is extremely professional.

So what harm is there in sharing a secret among friends?

"Rarity, could you come with me for a moment?" you ask, stepping down from the podium, and going to a place with less… mirrors.

Its not exactly a secret, and its not something your daughter does not know about either. But it's also not something you see the necessity to parade around… You don't like to think about it as discomfort, but as having elegance about it.

"Is there a problem? Did you not like the summer idea or something?"

"It's nothing, really. Just something I'd like you to keep in mind, since we are still taking measures and all."

Rarity gives you a puzzled look as you turn your right side to her, and gently undo the subtle knotting that keeps the skirt of your dress firmly in place, over your flank.

"What is… oh dear Celestia!" she gasps, eyes wide and hoofs going to her mouth as honest shock overtakes her features.

You are only very slightly uncomfortable about her reaction, but to tell the truth you are far more glad that you're not seeing revulsion in her eyes, as you have seen… in other circumstances. That really goes to show that she has a good heart.

"Oh darling Velvet, how…? what…? Oh I'm so sorry about it, I had no idea!"

"Rarity," you say calmly, redoing the knots of the bindings with a flick of magic while you walk towards her, "it's fine. Really."

"But I mean, you don't even show any sign that-"

"Exactly," you interrupt her, "and since this doesn't change my life in the slightest, there's no reason to make a big deal about it. I'm just letting you know because you are my friend, and because this isn't the sort of thing I can omit to my trusty couturier, is it?" you say with a mischievous and well humored wink.

You slowly talk the shock out of her, as you see her surprise slowly turn into some other feeling, that finally seems to settle in the form of determination.

"Well then, in that case we'll go for an autumn look," she says decidedly, "two sets of long flowery dresses, and they will be fabulous!"

"That's what I wanted to hear," you smile, "although wouldn't Silky look cuter in a shorter dress? It might also help her when she definitely tries to fly in it" you say with a laugh.

And the two of you go back to the measurements, idly chatting as Silky Stream watches.

[The cost of beauty]

[Rolling 30 + 2d10 = 39 bits]

I gotta say, I'm surprised at the dice's interest in advancing both of those niches of friendship. Bumping into an Element bearer is a not a high chance on the list, yet you met Rarity on your first try back then. And now re-meeting Twilight herself on this second roll, which had a good chance of being "Rarity is alone" since it's a social action aimed at her (and Sweetie Belle) specifically, is…

Rarity is now a good friend of yours! You two go along well, and you have shared a personal secret with her, the bond between the two of you growing deeper.

Although you were not focused on it, you have spent enough time with Rarity to notice she would have affinity with GRAIL, as well as some other Lore...

Your bonds with Rarity will not grow any more with simple interactions. The final step of your friendship must be taken by sharing a real experience. [Taking Rarity on an expedition, or perhaps something else, might be enough. But whatever the path you attempt, beware of its dangers.]

You are no longer acquaintances with Twilight Sparkle, you are now friends! You think you are getting a better read on the young mare, with all things academic apparently sparking her interest.

Book and Heart-ifact studying, as well as Mansus exploring, will follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[x] Plan Social and Research
-[x] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [LANTERN] [THIS IS A FREE ACTION]
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have your vague instructions, but the most straightforward is that the Mansus itself, somehow, keeps those instructions within itself. You have never reached the structure itself, deep within and beyond the Woods, but it looks like the time has come.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[x] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits). All sub-choices not suspicious.
---[x] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[x]servant action.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
---[x] HEART Level 3 – A heavy rug, or a blanket, that might have healing properties. (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)
--[X] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure evening weekend, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
---[x] KNOCK Level 1 – "A handbook that tells the tale of a thief" (Expected CD: 50 + 10 = 60, for level 1 scraps of Lore)
---[x] FORGE Level 1 = "A cooking manual, with a surprisingly in-depth chapter on how to repair broken kitchen utensils" (Expected CD: 50 + 0 = 50, for level 0 scraps of Lore)
-[x] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[x] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call", "a step forward to converting said pony" and if "you are willing to spend bits on this")
---[x] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity
----[x]bring your daughter with you, and buy matching outfits. Let Rarity choose the details of the clothes. Hopefully Sweetie Belle will be there so that your daughter might make a friend.

- - -

You like to think of yourself as an efficient mare.

You have already studied a lot in your life, and as time passed you learned how to read even when you're not really interested in the subject. But this time, this is not the case. Well, you might be a bit uninterested in the "frontal" subjects of these books, but your focus isn't on the content of the books themselves. Not their superficial content, at least. Instead, you're facing them as you would face a puzzle. What small realizations can you have from them, you wonder? What secrets does a common writer know, even if he doesn't realize it, and put into paper almost subconsciously?

The more you look for those kinds of things, the more you begin to notice them, and it is being no different while reading these books. To the point where you have to admit that the slight fears of being paranoid, or downright hallucinating, would be creeping up your spine.

If the results weren't so undeniable, that is.

[KNOCK book – level 1, cd 60]

[Roll: 66 + 10 (level 1 source) + 5 (LANTERN bonus) + 12 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) = 98]

[FORGE book – level 1, cd 50]

[Roll: 1 + 10 (level 1 source) + 5 (LANTERN bonus) + 12 (Learning) + 5 (Well Read) = 33]

[Rolled a 1, critical failure. Rolling malus.]

The story about the young thief was somewhat pleasant. Not the best you've ever read, but not the worst either, and the viewpoint of a pony who makes an art about entering places is a bit intriguing. intriguing enough for you to take some notes, that is.

Not of his methods, those were too fantastic. Instead, it was his personal philosophy that made you raise an eyebrow once or twice.

Now, the book about repairing utensils…

"There's no way to sugarcoat it", you say to yourself, "this thing is totally useless!".

The "book" is literally a catalog for sales, to the point where you wonder what made you think it was a manual of anything to begin with. Well, to your slight merit at least the word "manual" is written on the cover.

But…

"Manual for Useful Unicorn Utensils…" you bring the book closer to your inspection, noticing a thin line of text on its side that you hadn't noticed before, "something something… by the Flim & Flam book press…?"

A quick flash of annoyance goes through your head, and the book finds its way to a trash bin shortly after.

Gained one KNOCK scrap of Lore.

The FORGE book, however, was just a waste of bits.

- - -

And now, to find out what this curio is about, that is, if there really are any secrets to it and you didn't just waste a great deal of bits on nothing.

You have your servants bring the rug into your office and spread it open on the floor. The large and mysteriously furred thing raises some eyebrows, but nothing more. Just a small eccentricity by their otherwise perfectly reasonable lady. Your official statement is that you just want to see how it will go with your room, and if you will be able to work with the slightly distracting thing there.

But after your servants excuse themselves, their task done, you make sure to lock the door behind them. You do intent to get some work done, but not paperwork.

Now, how do you get about studying this thing?

First of all, you don't know the first thing about Heart. You know of Heart, of course, that it exists as a principle, but when it comes to its influence and promises you only have educated guesses, not facts.

But you have not come unprepared.

It is still morning, the sun still moving towards the topmost part of the skies. Light is abundant and you can see clearly. But not as clearly as you think you will need to.

You open the windows wide, you even fold the blinders over themselves so they will make as little shadows as possible, you readjust every single reflective surface in the room so they will guide the light of the sun your way, even the small metal beak of your writing pen. When you are satisfied, you sit on the floor, in front of the carpet, and close your eyes.

And you whisper a few words. The same words you whispered before the mirrors and candles a few days ago.

You open your eyes once more.

And now your vision is a bit clearer.

[HEART Artifact – Level 3, cd 50]

[Roll: 28 + 12 (Learning) + 10 (LANTERN bonus, doubled) + 30 (level 3 source) = 80]

First of all, it is incredibly soft, but that isn't something you notice with your eyes.

What you do notice, while you are walking over it, is that the furs on its surface seem to move slightly as your hoofs go over them. You think it's something akin to static, at first, until you realize that the furs are moving slightly away from your hoof just before you touch the carpet, instead of moving towards you.

If they were extremely thin, perhaps, then maybe you could believe that it was the minute air pressure that your hoofsteps were making, just before impacting against the carpet. But the hairs of the unknown beast are too thick for that, so you quickly discard the idea.

You walk in circles, observing the curious movements of the carpet in relation to your body. Minute details to a regular pony's eyes, but jarringly clear to your Lantern-blessed sight.

Until you stop, realizing that the "openings" of the fur in the rug are appearing before your hoofs even leave their previous place now. You crouch down and observe the unprompted reaction from the supposedly (although you now have serious doubts) inanimate object. It's obvious that the thing is magic, as much as it is obvious that it is old. But maybe it also has a will of its own?

And if it does, maybe you should take its suggestion?

You quit your idle strolling over the soft rug, instead stepping specifically where the openings appear. You notice that the hoof-shaped apertures are a perfect fit for your own, as well as the fact that another opening formed a bit ahead as soon as you stepped on this one, and you soon find yourself going about an elaborate path that gets more and more complex.

Five steps forward, reach a hoof back, a short prance to reach that one, a quick jump to the middle of the carpet.

It takes you a good few minutes to finally realize three things: that you are smiling, that you are dancing, and that your hindleg has not protested at all despite the considerable amount of jumping that you have been doing for a while now.

In fact, you don't even feel tired at all. You feel reinvigorated, if anything, and that causes you to snap back to yourself in a moment of clarity.

"You had me for a while just now, didn't you?", you say to the carpet, half expecting it to answer with some sort of fur-opening writing on its surface.

But no answer comes, a bit to your disappointment.

Still, this will be particularly useful. The thing itself seems to be safe, although you will make sure to have it stored. You don't exactly want to get to your office and realize Ponpon had been dancing in it for hours when she was supposed to be cleaning the place. That, and you will have to test if you can actually sleep on the thing, without any weird sleepwalking-dancing happening.

But for now, it seems you found yourself a neat way to recuperate yourself, if that ever becomes needed.

Gained 2 HEART scraps of Lore.

HEART Lore is now level one!

Artifact property discovered: +30 on tests to recuperate health or cure lasting debuffs, if the artifact is available for use.

- - -

Later that day, you receive word from one of your servants, he leaves a short list on your table and excuses himself.

[Book Hunting – Servant roll]

[Roll: 5 + 12 (Learning) = 17]

[ ] A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing, HEART Level 1 – costs 7 bits

- - -
- - -
- - -

You can't help but to feel a little bit excited. Not in a giddy and happy way, but in a sort of adrenalized way, a sharp way. Like when you know that you are about to try something dangerous, that you have never tried before, but that you want to do. Something that you need to do.

The crossroads stretch themselves before you, their maddening paths appearing to go on forever, it is a sight you know well now.

You stride with purpose through them, as you always have, choosing the paths that seem to snake around themselves, and the paths that at first glance appear to take you the wrong way, and the connection between parallel paths that you know will disappear if you so much as blink before you step on them. By now you can already make those choices almost by instinct, for you know that the way that leads to the Woods must be as confusing as the forest itself.

And soon enough, the blue-stoned bricks give way to root and leaf and darkness.

And now comes the time for you to do something you never did before.

The Mansus itself appears to be far away, the floating structure looming over the Woods although you do not recall ever finding yourself under its shadow. And worst of all, you also don't recall ever seeing any stairs that lead to it either. Those stairs must surely be within the Woods, if they exist at all, but at first glance the task of finding them seems to be the equivalent of finding a needle in a haystack.

But you also remember your first time on the crossroads, and how the paths made no sense back then, and how you woke up again and again and again after fruitless nights of walking on an eternal path that led nowhere. But once you learned the laws of the crossroads its paths became less confusing, to the point that today they take you where you wish to go, as a straight path might lead an experienced traveler.

What happened, you realize now, is not that you have mastered the crossroads, but that you merely came to understand them.

So likewise, you conclude, you need not master the Woods, you merely need to understand it as well. Although trying to understand the Woods is a contradiction, as the place is prone to its own whims, and chaos seems to be in its very nature.

But perhaps that's the secret to it, you think. Maybe, and just maybe, that particular contradiction is all you need if what you are aiming for is the correct way out of the Woods.

[The path through the Woods is understanding nothing at all, CD 70]

[Roll: 36 + 11 (Intrigue) + 20 (MOTH Level 2) + 5 (SECRET HISTORIES bonus) = 72]

"The Mansus exists", you recall the tidbits of whispers you once heard from your cult's Master, "and the Woods grow around and under it". But you doubt that the way into the Mansus lies at the center of the Woods, if there even is a center to this place.

Still, if your Master is to be believed, countless other adepts and secret-keepers have already made their way into the Mansus, some of them even scaling high into it. All of them trying to reach for the Glory, that incandescent beacon of magnificence that lies at its summit. But how did they do it? What guided their hoofs through the tortuous branches that surround you?

What else, if not that which they desired?

You look around you, faded moonlight struggling to reach your eyes as it battles its way through branches and leaves and winged things, barely enough for you to be able to see the next tree ahead of you, and you notice for the first time the distinct absence of another light?

Where is the Glory?

Its bright light can be seen even from the horizon, on the crossroads, and its entrancing luminosity can charm you even on the edge of the Woods, if you look at it too intently before daring the darkness before you. But why can't you see it here, when you should be closer to it than even before?

Because the Woods engulf it, you realize. Perhaps it does so in order to protect it, perhaps it lusts for its light, perhaps the Woods feed on it as normal trees might feed from the sun, or perhaps there is no real answer. But the Woods are a part of the Mansus as well, and the whole of this place revolves around the glory. So the path you must take, you realize, surely is the one where the trees grow thicker, where the darkened barks of wood become larger and less inviting, and where the branches grow long enough to almost block your passage, for much like yourself the Woods reach out for the Glory. You will have to force your way through the unyielding hoofs of the Woods itself if you are to make your way to the place where it cannot reach.

With this newfound resolve in your mind, you force your way through the Woods. You walk over and under the large roots of large trees, and blindly grope your way through utter darkness, and forge your way through the deafening buzzing of wings.

Until your hoofs finally touch solid ground again, the sensation almost alien when compared to the jagged and uneven root-covered dirt that you have grown so used to. This new sensation, you realize, is the same that you feel when on the crossroads.

You recognize it even in the total darkness in which you are right now. You are stepping on that dark-blue stone. On Mansus-stone.

You follow it until you nearly trip at a higher block, which you carefully trace with your hoof, and a smile crosses your lips as you realize it.

These are stairs.

You make your way upwards, one careful step at a time, forcing your body through the branches at the high parts of the trees, even as they feel like they are scratching at you, jealously trying to stop you from reaching where they cannot. But soon you are free even from that, and for the first time in a long while you can see again, and you see the Woods as an endless sea of treetops, all around you, the lonely stairs on which you stand spearing upwards and away from it.

You take a deep breath of the cold air, feeling the permanent buzzing inside your head recede as you ascend farther and farther away from the Woods. You know that you are sufficiently far from it when you finally remember that this is all still a dream, and that it is not air that you are breathing.

And before long, at a height where you can still distinguish the individual treetops below you, you reach the end of the stairs.

A grand vista opens itself before you, as what was an endless ceiling of Mansus-stone far above your head becomes the ground where you now stand. You have never been so close to the Mansus before, and now you can see its complex magnificence more clearly. Stairs, hundreds, thousands, countless, form haphazard paths between entire floors that appear to be floating, most of which you can see only the underside of. You can have no sense of space or size, not from the low level where you are standing, but for some reason your mind insists that some of the floating floors are as large as the horizon, while others appear to be as small as simple rooms, at the same time that all of them puzzlingly fit within your eyesight and within the boundaries of the Mansus.

You can see the Glory, high up at its very top, in a place where all the paths converge, illuminating all of the rooms and floors and stairs and corners, and you turn your gaze away, having learned not to stare at it directly.

And before you, you see a sight that is intriguing on its own. A grand plain stretches before your eyes, and but a few steps in front of you the Mansus-stone of the floor gives way instead to cold grass, wet from some recent rain.

You see, far in the distance, stairs that appear to connect that plain to some higher level, as well as paths that appear to lead to other places, but all of them are out of your reach.

After all, right in front of you at the end of the stairs, stands a Door.

And although there might be other paths into the Mansus, you know that this is the only one that is available to you.

[You have reached the Blank Door]

[Divining the secrets of the Blank Door, CD 70]

[Roll: 31 + 0 (WINTER Level 0) + 12 (Learning) + 5 (LANTERN bonus) = 48, failed]

It is not a door on itself, it looks more like a portal. An open arch of Mansus-stone that divides the end of the stairs and the grassed plains beyond it. You think you can see the slightest hint of a mist, but you probably don't.

And yet, for all of its lack of a physical door underneath the arch, you know it is a threshold, you know that crossing it is the first real step into the House of the Sun, where the Glory resides and shines down its light.

You can see that the air itself beyond it is different, old and rich with knowledge and secrets, you can spy circles of grass and bushes that naturally sprout on its plains, and you know that you will learn what you came here for if only you inspect them from a little closer, patterns of rituals and Mansus-laws flourishing as naturally in here as flowers might sprout in the Wake.

But apart from that, you know nothing else of this Door.

[ ] Cross the Blank Door

[ ] Do not

Crossing the Blank Door will fulfill your mission, not crossing it will maintain the mission-options for the next turn, and although you will not have to find your way through the Woods again you will still have to re-try to understand the Blank Door.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

You eye the Blank Door curiously for a few moments and cautiously approach it, your hoofs still unused to the solid feeling of the Mansus-stone after such a long time traversing the Woods. You get close enough that you think the tip of your snout might reach its threshold if you inch forward just a little bit more.

And you immediately freeze, a chill going through your spine as you realize something.

The Mansus is a reality that has some strange properties akin to dreams, or perhaps it is a dream with a touch of reality to it. But it has just occurred to you that, just like you might have in a dream, you are treating a knowledge that you were not supposed to have as if it was something perfectly natural.

This is the Blank Door, isn't it? Well, how in the heavens did you come to know that piece of information in the first place? Much like when you dream that you "met somepony you know" despite not remembering their face, or like how you can dream of being chased by something and not remember anything but the feeling of dread itself, it suddenly dawns at you that you have never before heard anything about this door, or about any Blank Door for that matter, be it in whispers of your cult's Master or anywhere else. The information simply came to your mind as if somepony else had put it there.

And yet you were about to treat it as you would a path in the crossroads, or a grove in the Woods.

You chastise yourself for nearly giving in to carelessness, after all who knows what strange conventions and rules the Mansus itself follows? You have barely scratched the surface on your knowledge about the forest underneath it, so it simply won't do if you are not cautious of the edifice itself.

You exhale a sigh, knowing that this is a battle between your rationality and your passion. You can feel that deep, deep inside of you, some part of you knows this place, knows the Mansus, and this part of you yearns to rejoin it and explore it. You almost think that this sensation is akin to a grown pony returning to their long lost childhood home, a feeling of familiarity and nostalgia that not even decades of life and hundreds of small changes can totally erase.

Perhaps the Mansus shares some deep connection with ponykind, like your Master so often hints at, perhaps it is something else.

But in the end, this is still a place with unknown dangers and hidden rules, and you will not walk into a trap you could have avoided.

You turn your back to the Blank Door, feeling the longing within you grip your heart for half a second before vanishing, and you make your way down the stairs.

It is for the best, you think to yourself, for you must soon awake and commit the path you have taken to memory. There will be other opportunities to enter the House of the Sun.

You have reached the Blank Door and felt the whispers and longings that surround it. You have gained one WINTER scrap of lore, although you do not know why.

Your WINTER Lore is now level 1!

- - -
- - -
- - -

Last turn's shopping list

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 88

-[] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)

---

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

You have four personal actions, and one ponyservant action.

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

This turn's available bits: 208 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month

[] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of [SPECIFY LORE]

Each month you sequester yourself to your cult's gathering place, and use the most basic of rituals that is now carved on the floor of the available rooms. This ritual will double the bonus effect of a single Lore during a single action.

Specify which Lore you want enhanced, and on what action it will be applied. E.g.: You would like to enhance your GRAIL Lore and use it on an action to "seduce Big Macintosh", doubling your current "bonus when attempting to convince someone of something".

This is a blessing that has effect on the Wake, so it will not enhance your "+10 per level of Lore" when attempting to perform other rituals, or when traversing the Mansus.

[] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)

-[] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
-[] There are old books in this world. There are grand libraries, and then there are restricted archives, and then there are forbidden archives. Go to Canterlot, the place with the greatest concentration of those three, and try to find something there.
--[] Go alone, that book certainly won't be lying around, so there will come a time when you will need to be subtle. (costs 20 bits in transportation)
--[] Try and take Twilight Sparkle with you, she is Celestia's personal student, right? Her library card is bound to get you deeper than yours. (reasonable chance of success since you are friends with her. Will cost 40 bits in transportation if successful, 20 bits if failed as you will go alone.)
-[] WRITE IN (a variation of those above, or another alternative entirely)

[] On furthering the cause

-[] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them. (may involve random expenditure of bits). All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)
-[] In all honesty, the Cult lacks an appropriate place for gatherings, at least when it comes to lesser meetings to discuss small matters, or to simply stash certain things. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.
-[] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
-[]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.
-[] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.
-[] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.
-[] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.
-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious.
-[] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.
-[] They're not the Royal Guard, but they're still guards, and as much as they might not have that much work on their hoofs, they're still the go-to ponies in case something worrying happens. Find out how the guard is structured in Ponyville, that will be the first step in getting to know them better. Moderately suspicious.
-[] A pony needs not to be a faithful of your cult in order to be useful, said pony needs only know what to report to whom, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Ponyville has an underworld, small as it might be, and their eyes and ears could be useful. Try to contact them. Highly suspicious.
-[] You cannot expect to succeed working alone, that's why you are in a cult. Take some time to help one of your colleagues. Who knows, you might even learn something from them.
--[] Help Comet Feet
---[] It can't be that there isn't a single pony in this town that's not willing to get close and personal. Help him look for them one more time.
---[] He might just go deeper into the Lore of Edge, and attempt to become a one pony army. Help him.
--[] Help Starry Dancer
---[] She has the keys to the mayor's office, now its time to help her get the keys to the mayor's ears.
---[] She is supposed to get on the good graces of the law enforcers and guards, and somehow picturing her doing it alone worries you.
--[] Help Copper Secateur
---[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.
---[] She can't be expected to be recruiting for the cult all by herself forever, help her train those who will multiply her efforts.
--[] Help Windy Flakes
---[] He needs help acquiring a rather expensive establishment, but bits are not the only currency that matters. Put some favors on the table and promise to pull some strings in the future, but help him get that business.
---[] Violence IS a solution. Call Comet Feet and accompany Windy Flakes on a "visit" to the owner of that fine establishment.
--[] Help Jade Whistle
---[] She mentioned she got a team together, a fledgling and untested team, help her make sure that they are on par to their task.

[] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[] ~~No artifacts available.~~
-[] It doesn't have to be just during a leisure evening weekend, you can fit a few minutes of reading even when walking between rooms if you really get into it! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[] ~~No books available, unless recently bought.~~

Your Lore evolution happens by collecting "scraps of Lore", and the required number of scraps is the Lore level that you are aiming for. For example, leveling a Lore from Level 2 to Level 3 requires 3 scraps of the appropriate Lore.

Scraps may be gained by performing certain acts or through study under a source of knowledge, but using an action to study will also involve a dice roll, which might fail.

A source of knowledge is only useful to you if it is at most of the same level as you are. So a book or artifact that are Level 2 can give you scraps until you reach Level 3.

[] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as a one-time buff for "specific kind of roll" that applies only until the end of the next turn. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[] The Woods
--[] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.
-[] The Blank Door
--~~Attempt to cross the Blank Door~~ (same choice as current objective choice)
-[] ~~You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus~~. (The Blank Door impedes your path, you may climb no higher.)

[] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part

-[] 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.
--[] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
--[] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.
--[] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[] WRITE IN (other ways to check in on your daughter, other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)
-[] Go into town and try to meet somepony interesting.
-[] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now and should write to your parents and request an increase of your share of the family's grants.
-[] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?
-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
--[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
--[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.
--[] Reach out to nobles who, like you, do not live in Canterlot. They, much like yourself, might not be deeply entangled on the webs of politics that surround the capital, but that just means they can also act with more freedom, right?
-[] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be a simple and innocent "social call" or if it will be "a step forward to converting said pony". Specify, separately, if you are "willing to spend bits on this")
--[] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity (will not deepen your connection with her, will probably not respond badly if you start attempting to convert her)
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's school teacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

[] 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.)

-[] ~~nothing interesting is on hold~~

[] On invoking the Lores

-[] Single Lore invocation of [SPECIFY LORE] (this will be an additional enhancement of a Lore. Two enhancements of the same Lore cannot be used on the same action, two different enhancements may. These do not stack, and disappear at the end of this turn.)
-[] ~~Double Lore invocation~~ (not learned)
--[] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions.
--[] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
--[] ~~To be performed on another location~~ (you do not yet know or own any such location)

[] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)

Contacts who are "Good Friends" or better (currently only Rarity) have a better chance of reacting well or being useful if you include them in "Write In" options, although caution (and basic common sense on who to call for what) is advised. This might change if she is carpet-bomb called for everything.
There will be at least 24 hours for voting. Please let me know if the options are too jammed together, or if they could otherwise be in a more readable configuration.
All voting will be in plan format, INCLUDING the decision of what was bought last turn.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Make Sure Your Daughter Isn't Evil
-[X] Purchase Last Turn:
--[X] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of LANTERN
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
---[X] LANTERN should be applied to increase our chances of understanding this object.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] The matters of GRAIL intrigue you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
---[X] Ask your servants to do this.

- - -

You mull over your thoughts, your mind still a bit sharp after a somewhat dull and slow day.

There are nine Lores that you know of, or at least that your Master is willing to tell you about, and you can't help but think of how slightly frustrating seeking them is. Mostly because they are not obvious, even on hindsight, not being the sort of realization that you can easily reach even if you do a good deal of studying by yourself. And yet they have some sort of logic to them, an internal and consistent logic. Like a whole new set of rules that you have to slowly piece together.

You are sure that you would have given up long ago, or at least grown uninterested, if they didn't actually work, and if deep down you didn't know that they actually make some sort of sense. But you still feel like a little filly learning how to do basic additions, struggling to learn the most basic rules of math. Except that as a grown mare you also know that, following that analogy, you still have dozens of other more complex rules to learn before you can start thinking on your own four hoofs and extrapolating based on your knowledge. Or at least that's how it was with mathematics and calculus, during your time in school.

You let out a small sigh, looking at your own reflection in the mirror, the room behind you dimly illuminated by moonlight and your empty bed ready. "But arduous as it might sound…" you say to yourself absent-mindedly, "there's really no other way to do it."

And with that, you float a pair of scissors towards your mane.

You should really find another way into the Mansus, you think idly, or your mane will start suffering as the frequency of your visits increase.

Snip, goes the scissors, and off you go to bed.

And not long after, you reach the Woods.

Snap.

You look around, your mind coming to a sharp focus once again.

You have been walking for a while now, with no real objective in mind, through places far from the light of Glory, where moonlight is plentiful and the roots and branches seem to caress you rather than try to choke you. But although your mind had started to idle away long ago, to the point where you didn't even realize you were lost, you immediately recognize that sound.

"Master?" you look around, searching for the source of the familiar noise, before realizing the effort is futile. "I have come for a lesson, Master, if you would teach me," you finally say out loud, giving a short one-hoof bow to no direction in particular.

You nearly think that you might have miss-heard it, until the answer finally comes.

"Velvet Covers…" there is a… curious tone to the voice? Something about it that makes you unsure whether if it is you, or your Master, who is intrigued, but intrigued somepony surely is, "you search for me, and yet you came here into the Woods, vast and secretive, instead of our gathering place where you might have more easily found me… Why is that?"

"I…" an answer almost escapes your mouth, but something, perhaps your logic finally catching up to you, stills it, and you forget what you were about to say. "I… am not sure, Master. I just thought that…"

You stop again, thinking a bit harder on your answer. Your Master is right, why did you come to the Woods instead of looking for him in your cult's lodge? By all rights, the way this should have turned out was with you simply getting lost in the Woods, and waking up befuddled and frustrated, and nothing else. So why did you come here?

And for that matter, why did it work? How exactly did your Master find you here in the first place? You have been to the Mansus many times before, and you have only ever met your Master when you were summoned here. All your other voyages you have made by yourself, with not a single hint of their presence.

"Progress…" you hear that whisper, heavy with some thoughtful feeling, reach your ears. "But you have come for a lesson, have you not? Your knowledge does you some merit so far, but there is far too much you do not yet understand. Name what you seek."

The curious feelings are gone from the voice, and all that you hear now is the preaching and teaching tone from which you have heard many things over the years. A part of you feels a tinge of excitement at that, thinking that you are about to hear that voice directly teach you a secret, and not simply engage in the roundabout and furtive oratory that you would hear in a normal cult gathering.

But another part of you is mulling over the answer you are about to give, wondering if it is the correct one. You are starting to get a better grasp of how you might apply part of the knowledge you have, and you can feel that you are close to some sort of breakthrough in some areas of it. But there are also Lores that you know nothing about, and despite the clear inclinations of your Master there is one in particular that you know will be of great use to you, although you certainly hope your Master won't take your request as an offence.

Only one way to find out, you think.

"I would like to learn the secrets of Grail" you say plainly, your eyes searching for something to focus on thanks to the ingrained habit that you should look at your teachers in the eye.

But this is not university, and you definitely don't find anything in the shadows as the seconds go by and you remain without an answer.

"A married, respectable mare like you, asking for such a thing?" until an unexpected answer comes, followed by a gust of wind and the sound of leaves scraping against wood. You tilt your head slightly, unsure of what exactly your Master meant by that.

And does that noise of leaves and wind sound almost like… laughter…?

"Pardon, Master?" you ask quizzically, and the wind dies out almost immediately, your Master's voice seeming to focus back on a single unidentified place once more.

"Think nothing of it," you hear it shortly after, although you can swear that you feel a smirk about it, "but there is unfortunately little that I can teach you."

Your eyes go wide in surprise, this is surely not what you had expected, but you keep your mouth shut out of respect. You try to think of alternatives of what you could do, then. Maybe ask your Master for a lesson on something else? Maybe try and search for a book? Or perhaps Copper Secateur knows enough about it to share? She surely seems to be oriented towards Grail after all, or-

"After all," the voice interrupts you, almost as if it knew your chain of thought, "you know so little of it that it might as well be nothing. You know so little that, so to speak, you do not even understand what it is that you ask."

Another sudden snap of a twig comes from right behind you, followed by the clear sound of a hoof digging through dirt. You actually jump up in surprise, but the noise is gone before you turn around, and as you half-expected there is nopony there when you face the direction it came from.

But when you look down you see it, the clear sign of a clear hoof-print on the black dirt, and a short trail indicating that it had taken a small hoof-full of dirt, unearthing the soil.

You also see the faintest gleam of glass, coming from that tiny makeshift hole. The very tip of a small, empty vial that you quickly dig out with a curious expression.

Not empty, you soon realize, there is a trace amount of some sort of liquid inside the unmarked vial.

"Your ignorance made itself known," your Master's voice comes once again, but from farther away this time, and you can hear that it is growing more and more distant with every word, "when you asked for a lesson of Grail. One does not learn Grail, one tastes from it. And that in your hoofs is a taste, something that long ago had power and relevance, and that might have been revered at higher places within the Mansus or of the Wake. But it is old now, the powers that upheld it are long gone, and it is but a single drop…"

Your heartbeat quickens as you eye the small glass vial, and the viscous fluid on its very bottom. The pale moonlight is such that you can't be certain, but you swear that the single drop of liquid looks too much like blood, its vibrant red concealed by the blue glow that penetrates through the trees from high above.

"So… diminished as its power is… it might be just enough that it will not totally overwhelm and consume you," you hear you Master say with something akin to a smirk, "so I will leave you alone with your… 'lesson', Velvet Covers…"

And the voice disappears, something inside of you telling you that you are truly alone now.

But your eyes have not yet left the small vial, even though you can feel some alarm ringing at the back of your head from what your Master had just said. Your rationality is gripping at you, telling you to take heed that this might be dangerous, and that perhaps there are other, better options, to learn what you seek. But that grip is so weak right now.

And that single drop inside the vial looks so… delicious.

You open it with your mouth, spitting the tiny and ancient bottle cork into the darkness of the forest around you, and on the next second you have the vial upended, flinging its minute content into your open mouth.

And you watch that small, viscous drop slowly inch down through the interior of the glass.

Slowly.

Your body tenses with an anticipation you can't explain, and you can swear that the inanimate drop is actually taunting you.

But on the next second it finally leaves the vial, travelling through the air for a moment until it lands on your tongue.

And you can't even feel its taste.

Your whole body immediately tenses up. Every muscle in your body, every strand in your mane, every thought in your brain, your whole self seems to contract into itself, only to be released outwards a moment later with another sensation you have never felt before.

It is not the feeling of electricity coursing through you, it is not pain, it is not pleasure or release either, but instead some sort of tingling warmth that you can't explain or describe, a maddening sensation that spread out through your body like fire might spread on oil. You can feel it in every fiber of your body, but you can't even begin to describe it, you mind is racing too much right now for you to even bother trying.

You can no longer see the Woods around you, you can't feel your own labored breath, your mind can't even properly identify that the color that took over your vision is a bright red. The only thing you can barely compute is that you are seeing the dreams that your ancestors once shared, long ago, running through your mind as if they were your own, and that you are hearing the lessons that might be learned from warm whispers under dim candlelight, words you can't understand caressing your ears like soft feathers.

You feel the blood coursing through your heart, and the sensation of drowning with your lungs full of air, and the pleasures of consuming and being consumed, and so much more. You would have thought that you were burning alive, if it wasn't for the fact that you are feeling more alive right now than you ever have in your whole life.

And you only realize you are awake, and back in your room, when you hit a writhing hoof against the hard wood of your nightstand, the ache of your limb bringing you back to reality.

You immediately realize you are under your covers, and that you hare hot, drenched in sweat and other things under the weight of your blanket. You throw them aside and gulp greedily from the welcome cold air of your room.

You feel exhausted, yet full of energy, something almost like agony riling from within you as you realize you are both regretful and thankful that the visions and sensations have finally ended.

There might be a lesson in this, but you don't care, you can't even think straight right now.

But there is one thing that you are sure of. You thoroughly regret that your husband is not with you tonight.

You Master has given you a fraction of a mystery of Grail, and while even that was too much for you, you will not forget its taste. And perhaps that was the lesson all along.

Gained one scrap of GRAIL Lore.

Your GRAIL Lore is now level one!

Turn actions will usually be taken from least to most dangerous acts, or from the ones that can be most beneficial (or involve the least amount of tests and dice rolls) to the ones where you actually might gain less and risk more, so as to maximize your bonus. That is to say, this Lore level will apply to the following actions this turn.

Daughter investigation to follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Make Sure Your Daughter Isn't Evil
-[X] Purchase Last Turn:
--[X] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of LANTERN
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
---[X] LANTERN should be applied to increase our chances of understanding this object.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] The matters of GRAIL intrigue you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
---[X] Ask your servants to do this.

- - -

It's a beautiful day. The sun is shining brightly on a spotlessly clean sky, trademark of a competent pegasus weather department, and every color seems to be more vibrant thanks to it. You are sitting on the large north-facing balcony of your estate, sipping from a cup of tea, looking at the scenery before you that might have been more fitting to a painting. Great patches of farmland (your family's farmlands, to be more specific) stretch on halfway to the horizon, bordering a forest that is teeming with life, all of that surrounded by the river that heads to Ponyville.

Birds fly in the sky, paying occasional visits to earth pony farmers below them who seem to carry a few seeds in their saddle bags just for that, and all manner of critters and creatures wander to and from the life-giving river. The perfect picture of coexistence in a plentiful land, crowned by the faraway background of untouched mountains and green lands.

You can even see Canterlot in the distance, that gleaming marble city on the mountainside next to the great waterfall that feeds dozens of rivers on the equestrian valley.

A knock comes from the balcony's glass door, gently shaking you out of your reverie. You float your cup of tea down to its saucer, and patiently wait.

"Please excuse me," you hear the glass door being opened, her voice finally reaching you after a second round of hesitant knocking, which you once again didn't answer, "you called for me, Mrs. Velvet?"

It is Soft Sweeps, as you expected, and you don't need to turn around to know that she is… at the very least confused, if her voice is any indication.

"Yes, I did. Please, come outside Soft Sweeps" you answer calmly, still gazing at the peaceful scenario before you, floating your cup of tea for another sip.

You hear her light steps approaching you, and you go over a few mental notes before starting what you have in mind for this evening.

Soft Sweeps is a young mare. Well, you should stop with the habit of referring to anypony younger than you as "young", but this does apply to her. She had been working in Canterlot at your family's main house for some time, although you are not sure of how long, before being moved to Ponyville when you asked for a pegasus that could be dedicated to caring for Silky Stream.

And that in itself was… maybe just a few years ago? You still recall the final interview you made with her, just to be extra sure. She was brilliantly recommended as an excellent, dedicated and trustworthy maid, and you can distinctly remember the energy she had in her eyes back then, which ultimately caused you to trust her with the most important thing in your life: your own daughter.

But… when did that change? Was it something slow and steady that you failed to notice? You can think back that Soft Sweeps has been growing more and more flustered as time went by, but you assumed it was because she has been in charge of an extremely energetic filly. But was it really that? Could this have been a sudden change, caused my something much more recent?

Whatever it is, your intuition tells you that Silky Stream has something to do with it. She might not have been the cause, but at the very least she was the catalyst. You are sure that Soft Sweeps' recent demeanor has become a lot more noticeable ever since your daughter started going to school.

"May I help you with anything?" the mare is practically behind you now, and you can tell that she is looking around, perhaps searching for Ponpon who would usually be there with you. "I was rather surprised when Mr. Stormchaser said he would be taking the young Miss to school and…"

You close your eyes, taking in the sweet taste of the tea, as well as the slight delay in her voice before she said "young Miss".

"Yes, everypony needs a break every now and then, don't you agree?", you stop for half a second to let that hit her, but continue before she can answer, "and you know my husband, he loves his father and daughter moments. I also dismissed Ponpon for today, so please take a seat."

"Pardon, Mrs. Velvet…?" the confusion in her voice is obvious by now.

But you merely wave a hoof towards the cushioned seat next to yours, as lush and luxurious as your own, and get back to your tea.

You hear her pause for a moment, and you think you can picture the expression she is wearing. She is a maid who has worked for a noble family for some time now, and that is not a job you can survive in without having attention to certain cares and details. You are the lady she serves, and the place you just motioned her to sit in is a seat meant for guests, your guests, ponies of your station and status. And you wonder what she is thinking that you mean by this invitation.

Whatever it is that she is thinking about, you just hope she doesn't think she's walking into a trap.

Well, she technically is, but it's not that sort of trap.

"If you'll excuse me…?" she finally gives in, maybe out of courage, or maybe out of fear that she had been hesitating for too long, sitting on the cushioned seat. She even loses her balance for a few moments as the unexpectedly fluffiness of the thing makes her sink more than she thought she would.

You sneak a peek from the corner of you eye while she is busy reorienting herself.

Her maid uniform seems to be impeccable, covering most of her light caramel coat except for her legs and wings, and her dark mane is tied for convenience. The short dress is still enough to cover her cutie mark though.

But more importantly, you can see that the mare is tense. The well-kept uniform just makes it more clear that she is stiff in some places. And you know those signs well: accumulated stress, the mounting-up of a slow burn over long periods of time, symptoms that most ponies wouldn't be able to notice on themselves unless somepony else pointed them out, or if they had enough life experience for it.

And Soft Sweeps doesn't strike you as a pony who has the latter.

You sigh, imperceptibly, as the mare finally finishes regaining her bearings and reaches something resembling a sitting position.

"Would you like some tea?" you ask with a pleasant smile, finally turning her way.

You see her struggle with the reflex of moving to the kettle in order to serve you at the slightest mention of the word "tea", before reigning herself back in once she finishes interpreting the rest of the question.

"No Mrs. Velvet, thank you," she answers a moment later.

No tea then, you nod to yourself, wondering if she is actually in pain by how tightly shut she is keeping her wings.

No tea, and no sign that she will slowly ease down either? Something tells you that appreciating the scenery in silence will only cause her to worry more. Better keep her mind busy then, who knows where her thoughts might take her otherwise?

Better keep her talking, you conclude. Perhaps a less indirect approach.

"I have to say, pegasus really are something else," you think out loud, "I mean, as a unicorn I have no idea how it must feel like to fly. It's even a bit worrying to watch Silky fly, sometimes. But the whole walking on clouds thing, and the domain you have over the weather… We can see all the way to Canterlot from here thanks to how clear some pegasi keep the sky," you say, absent-mindedly pointing towards the capital of Equestria as you speak.

And you think you see her nod, mumbling some sort of cautious agreement.

Not going to speak unless directly asked a question? Good heavens, this girl either had maid-ing hammered into her, or she is twice as nervous as her body language suggests.

"You worked on my family's main house before coming here, didn't you? How was it there?" you ask, floating your teacup towards you once again.

You ponder on how long you should sip, as it might make her realize you won't be talking for a short while, or if you should pour her a cup and gently ask her to join you and drink some. But, much to your relief, she finally starts answering before you come to a decision.

"It was… nice, Mrs. Velvet. The mansion in Canterlot is much larger than here, but the other maids were kind to me, and the Velvets were good to us…"

She is speaking in a halting matter, and you stay quiet for a few moments after she stops talking, waiting for the inevitable "but" that surely is about to follow. However, it never arrives, as much as you can practically feel it hanging over the mare. And that causes a thought to bubble in your head…

You are still sure that she is acting weirdly due to something recent, or at least that involves her life ever since she was transferred here… But now, something inside you whispers that there's more to it.

You eye the marble city on the far distance. The way she's hesitating to talk about her previous assignment… something about her life when she was in Canterlot, perhaps?

"Yes, well, if you're saying they were 'good' then I sure hope I'm a bit better than good, over here," you say with a small laugh, "but I don't think I ever asked you, how did you ever become a maid? I mean, you're incredibly good at it, but what led you to it?"

You let the question float in the air for a few moments. Hopefully her answer will give you a hint on what direction to go.

But those few moments slowly become a reasonable amount of moments, and you sip at your tea as a full minute comes by and passes.

You know this sensation. This is silence, the tense, brittle kind of silence. The kind that usually precedes the sound of something breaking.

You calmly float your teacup down and take a deep breath, bringing out the gentlest voice you can.

"You know, Soft Sweeps? I can't shake the feeling that something is up with you, or has been for some time now. Is everything all right?" you turn to face her once more.

[The nursemaid's problem, breakpoints: 40/100]

[Roll: 84 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (Beautiful) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) = 105]

You ask softly, in the same tone of voice you would use if your daughter was scared of something.

And you can see it in her face, she is scared of something. You see tension, then confusion, then perhaps fear or something else. Until her expression changes into something you were honestly not expecting.

She starts crying, and it takes a good amount of your hard-earned experience for you to hide your surprise.

"Soft? What's the matter?" you ask gently, but the mare doesn't seem to listen. Her sobbing grows heavier and heavier, and what little embarrassment she felt while she tried to control herself soon crumbles, and she starts moving desperately to try and wipe her tears with her uniform.

Before you can even think of how to respond, she is already fully crying, her hoofs covering her eyes and her whole body trembling.

You freeze for half a second, the thought of how young she is once again coming to your mind. She may be a maid, and one who is very good at her job, but what about the pony underneath that frilled black and white dress? She worked for your family for some time, in Canterlot, and have been with you in Ponyville for just a few years. But even so, if this is her first tour within a noble family then she must not have much experience at all. And you're not thinking about work experience, you are thinking about life experience.

For all you know right now… for all you care right now, she is just a young pegasus mare, and for whatever reason it might be she is crying her eyes out in front of you.

Life can get to anypony like that, sometimes. As much as it pains you even your own daughter might have a moment like this, not many years from now. You feel a knot in your heart when you think about it… Heavens, going by the way you're feeling, Soft Sweeps might very well be your daughter right now. Just a young pegasus who can't bear the weight of something very heavy.

"Shh… it's okay Soft, don't worry…", she very nearly jumps in fright when she realizes you just sat down next to her. You can feel her body tense up in fear when you put your hoofs around her, but you don't care. You just caress her mane gently, bringing her into a hug.

"Its all right… just let it out…"

And her nervousness finally starts bleeding out of her. Her crying grows heavier as she hugs you back in an almost fierce way, but soon you can see her wings untense, sagging to her sides, and her grip on you grows weaker and weaker, until she is only lying against you in a hug.

You undo her tied mane with a bit of magic, and keep her in a hug while stroking her mane.

"There, there…" you finally say. She's still sobbing slightly, but seems to be much calmer now. "Now, do you want to tell me what's bothering you?"

Your tone of voice all but says that she doesn't have to, if she does not want to. But you feel a tinge of relief when you see her taking a deep breath.

"I… I'm sorry Mrs. Velvet. It's just that… I'm so scared…"

You feel her slightly pushing against you, and you let her go, the two of you sitting side by side on the same cushion. She keeps looking down while she talks, but you can see that she keeps the side of her body pressing against yours, almost as if she's afraid of letting go.

And true to her words, you also feel that she is trembling a bit.

"I'm scared that I will lose my job… or that I'll screw up somehow and…" she looks up, towards the distant Canterlot, a few more tears appearing and running down her face, "my family lives there, you know? Back in Canterlot. We never really had much but," she chuckles a bit, the sound half-mixing with a hiccup, "you wouldn't believe how glad I was when I got my cutie mark. Me and my siblings did the best we could to help at home, although there wasn't a lot we could do. But once I got my cutie mark? There in the capital, nobles will fight tooth and hoof to employ a pony with a feather duster on her flank. They almost only employ ponies who were borne for the job, so once I got mine me and my family knew I did it."

She kept her eyes on Canterlot, and you can see a hint of a smile creeping on her lips as some memories come back to her.

But it's the broken sort of smile. The tears that keep flowing down her eyes make it abundantly clear.

"And I did it, Mrs. Velvet. Started small, working for whoever would employ a filly, and climbed my way up as I got older. It was terrifying, sometimes, getting scolded by a noble when I did something wrong or when I had to spend whole days away from home, but I brought every bit I earned back to my family. Even if sometimes I was t-treated like some back-alley pegasus that dirtied half the things I cleaned that day."

Her voice trembled a bit as she talked, though her eyes kept themselves looking at Canterlot.

"But I started working with more maids as I got hired to bigger places, and they'd give me a hoof. Help me lie about my age and all, help me with my chores when they realized I wasn't keeping up with the job because I was too tired or hungry or..."

She stops for a moment, looking down to the ground again while taking a long sniff, trying to reign in a few tears, and you can't help but think back at how she said the other maids were "kind" to her on your family's house in Canterlot. You have been in Ponyville for years now, so you weren't there when she was first employed, but just how far from being a fully grown mare was she, when she started working there?

Or maybe the right question is not "how far from being a mare", but rather an outright "how young was she?"

"And then they sent me here…" her small smile totally disappears now, "and I… please don't get me wrong Mrs. Velvet, I love working here but… Sometimes I just miss my family so much… but I can't spare the bits or the working days on a ticket to Canterlot. I mean, thank Celestia for Ponpon taking me in to live in her home, but I even send over the bits I save on rent and…"

She covers her face with her hoofs again, and you can feel her lean more heavily onto you.

"I can't lose my job Mrs. Velvet, I… I just can't," she finally stops speaking, and you can feel her sobbing slightly every now and then.

"Soft, Soft… why didn't you ever tell me about any of this?" you ask gently, but honestly, "you work for me on paper, sure, but I'm still a mare just like you. And what's with this fear of losing your job? You're one of the best maids we have here, and Ponpon showers you with praise whenever we are talking about housework. Me and Stormchaser even trust you with being Silky Stream's caretaker, so why do you think like this?"

You put a hoof around her again, on a side hug. A lot of things make a little more sense now. Ponpon is an experienced maid that has worked with you for years now, and she also has a house-cleaning cutie mark now that you think about it, but she always seemed a little protective about Soft Sweeps. She must have taken Soft Sweeps to live with her on the very first day she arrived, from what you can tell.

But you're still slightly, only slightly, disturbed that Ponpon never told you about any of this. You just hope that Soft Sweeps won't see you and your husband as terrifying nobles anymore.

"It's because…" she starts answering, but you can feel a final bit of hesitation on her voice that lasts for a few seconds. "It's the young miss, Mrs. Velvet… I could clean this whole estate from roof to basement if you asked me, but I've never been good with fillies. I mean, I could take care of my younger siblings just fine, but the young miss is a noble filly, and she…"

She stops for a while, but you don't interrupt her. You can feel that she's mustering her courage to say something, and whatever it is she is slowly convincing herself that she can trust you. You can also feel the weight in her words as she says them, like your daughter being a "noble" filly makes her some sort of delicate timebomb.

You feel another knot in your heart, and you wonder exactly what sorts of experiences she must have been through while at her work.

"It was fine before she went to school, Mrs. Velvet. I could keep up with the young miss, and she's the sweetest filly I ever met. But the thing is…" she takes a deep breath, as if finally steeling herself, "sometimes after class she just ups and disappears. I have no idea where she goes, and she won't stop doing it no matter how much I ask her to. But most of the days she just disappears as soon as the school bell rings, vanishing in that stampede of foals, and I spend the rest of the afternoon terrified, looking for her and…"

You feel her almost curling up, her voice growing smaller and smaller.

"And I just lost my job by telling you this, didn't I? I'll... I'll go see myself out and…"

She tries to push away from you and stand up, but you keep her firmly in your hug. She looks up to you and sees the disappointed expression on your face, and you feel her curl up in fear even more.

Of course you are disappointed, but not at her. At yourself, mostly, for not realizing you had such a problem sooner, and at your daughter for apparently completely disobeying her own caretaker this much!

You know that you might have reacted differently if you simply discovered that your daughter has been running away almost every day after school. But also knowing a bit of context can make a whole world of difference.

Sure, anywhere can be dangerous for an unaccompanied filly, even Ponyville. And you can see in her eyes why she is so terrified about it. But you can also see she has more reasons than a pony would normally have to be feeling like this about the whole situation, so you know you can, or rather that you must, forgive her for simply failing to report that.

So this whole situation rests on you, both for not noticing it before, and when it comes to making it right.

"Soft Sweeps," you say with a firm and serious voice, although still keeping her in a hug.

"Y-yes Mrs. Velvet…?" she meekly replies.

"You are among the very damned best maids we have in this house, and I wouldn't accept your transfer to Canterlot, or anywhere else for that matter, even if I got a letter from my father," you un-hug her, but still keep a grip on her with both your hoofs, and you look her in the eye as you talk to her, "and I hope that you can trust me if you ever need anything, or if anything complicated like this ever comes up again. And I mean anything."

Her terrified expression has now turned into one of surprise as you keep talking.

"You are also getting a raise," her eyes and mouth go wide open, "and I'll be taking care of Silky's recent antics personally."

You finally let go of her, and the open wings she was just about to use to escape from you sag down to her back like a pair of balloons.

You smile at her, a genuine smile of happiness from the fact that she opened herself to you, and that (you hope) she trusts you a bit more, even if just by a little. Right after that you get up from her cushion and sit back on your own, floating the kettle to serve a second teacup and raising your own towards you.

"Now, about that whole importance of taking a break that I said earlier, you can take the rest of the day off if you want but," you nod towards the teacup you just served, "I would love to drink a bit of tea with a friend. If it catches her fancy, that is."

The wide-mouthed Soft Sweeps slowly turns back to… normal. A refreshing normal, a non-flustered Soft Sweeps kind of normal that, now that you think about it, you haven't seen in a long time. Her expression slowly opens a smile, and you turn to face the scenery when you realize there might be a threat of tears on her eyes again.

You hear her sniff one final time, but you make sure not to pry as she clears her eyes with a hoof, and soon enough she reaches for the cup of tea that is waiting in the table.

"I'd love to, Mrs. Velvet!" you hear her answer.

And you sigh in relief as a pleasant afternoon of tea opens itself before you.

You have learned that Silky Stream, apparently, goes somewhere else after school. This might be some sort of rebellion against Soft Sweeps, the mare she was supposed to listen to, this might also be an attempt at running away, or this just might be something else entirely. Whatever it is, you will use this information to follow through in your investigation.

A choice to address Soft Sweeps' personal (familial) situation will not be directly presented, but write-ins about it will now be accepted.

Soft Sweeps is now extremely loyal to you.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Make Sure Your Daughter Isn't Evil
-[X] Purchase Last Turn:
--[X] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of LANTERN
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
---[X] LANTERN should be applied to increase our chances of understanding this object.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] The matters of GRAIL intrigue you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
~~---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.~~
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
---[X] Ask your servants to do this.

- - -

So. Cheerilee.

You asked your husband for his opinion about her, from the few times he met her when he picked up Silky Stream, and you talked with Soft Sweeps about her on the same subject. But in the end, you only got the general gist about "the nice mare who sees her students off after school". You don't really know any more about her than you did the first time you met her.

Is she dedicated to her job? Apparently. Is she actually competent about it? Your checking-overs of Silky's homework surely suggests so. But is she attentive to detail? Can she actually keep tabs on the lives of every single foal in her class, and steer them into the proper path as an educator? That remains to be seen. After all, you do recall a certain off-hoof remark your daughter made about an escapade to the school's roof, followed by a (surely impressive) aerial stunt. But as much as that episode reveals a promising talent for flight in your daughter, it also opens margin for possible carelessness on her teacher. You must ascertain the truth behind this.

So, this calls for a hoofs-on verification.

And for that matter, you have absolutely no doubts that every single question you made about her, and the scrutiny you are giving to this, is completely reasonable and called for. This is your daughter's teacher you are looking into after all!

You eye the clock on your office's large desk and see that midday is not far. You float your quill down to its holder and close the several reports and ledgers you have in front of you. They will be here when you return, you think with a sigh, they always are.

But you won't worry about that right now. You push your large chair back with an extra help of magic, and down the long corridor you go, making your way to the staircase that leads to the main hall, and the front door of the estate proper.

- - -

You believe you timed this whole affair correctly. The closer you get to the school, the more common the sight of foals running around becomes, alone or in groups, as they head for their homes or to whatever other places they are going, but the sheer amount of them is a clear sign that classes have only very recently finished for the day. You do hope that Soft Sweeps managed to get a hold of Silky Stream today, but you still keep an eye out for the passing ponies, looking for a particularly energetic blur of brown.

You don't see any such blur, however, you barely see any pegasus foals at all. In fact, the only pegasus you did pass by was a rather desponded-looking orange filly, who was talking to an equally sad-looking yellow filly. They probably had a bad day in school, you think as you walk by them.

Actually, they look really sad. By the heavens, you do not miss your younger days. That time can be extremely complicated…

You also look upwards as you approach the school. Now that you think about it, does Silky and Soft Sweeps fly to and from school? It would surely make sense, but it still feels a bit strange for you.

Your idle thinking about how flying around must be as normal to pegasus as floating things with magic is to you is interrupted, when you finally spot the white picket fence around the cute red building.

"Excuse me? Miss Cheerilee?" you peek in through the half-opened doors of the school. The classroom itself is a lot tidier than you had expected, the desks and chairs neatly filed with very little indication that a foal-stampede had just been borne from this place. And thanks to that you have no difficulty spotting the pony you came for, taking stock of what appears to be a cabinet filled with supplies for arts and crafts.

"Mrs. Velvet! I didn't expect you to come by," and she realizes you are here, as well, closing the cabinet and coming towards you, "but I'm pretty sure I saw your friend Sweeps waiting outside before the bells rang. Can I help you with something?"

"If you would have the time then yes, I do have something I would like to talk about. And…" you think for a moment on the best way you could phrase it, "it's something I'd rather talk about without Silky being here, so I asked Soft Sweeps to pick her up as usual."

Cheerilee gives you a rather curious look, but soon nods to herself and heads towards the back of the classroom once again. "Well, if it's something I can help with then I will be delighted to. Celestia knows I'd very much like that all parents came for a talk when they felt that one was in order. Just wait for me to finish tidying up a few things?"

She quickly finishes a last round of organizing some of the shelves that dot the sides of the classroom, and soon enough you have her full attention.

"Now, I'm sure this is about Silky Stream, but I have to admit I'm rather curious what it could be about. So, what would you like to talk about Mrs. Velvet?"

"I hope it isn't something we should worry about, but recentl-"

You are suddenly interrupted by a growling noise that surprises the two of you. And your face immediately turns red when you realize the sound came from your own stomach.

It dawns at you that you left your home without even so much as nibbling something on the kitchen. In fact, when was the last time you ate anything at all? Was it at breakfast? To make such a mistake right before an important meeting, you chide yourself mentally. You foolish, uneducated, amateur!

"Oh Mrs. Velvet," Cheerilee starts laughing, trying to contain her laughter with a hoof on her mouth as you start blushing, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Here, it is getting a bit into lunch time and I'm also starving. Why don't we talk about this over a hay sandwich?"

You take a deep breath to recompose yourself, although you can tell that your cheeks won't be recomposing themselves anytime soon, but you quickly agree with her.

- - -

It takes a considerable portion of your willpower not to wolf down on the sandwich. The thing is absolutely delicious.

You are sitting opposite to Cheerilee, on a parasol-shaded table outside of a small restaurant. She is probably a regular here, considering how the waiter was amicable to her and didn't even ask what she would like. You, for your part, simply asked for whatever she was having, and it turns out Cheerilee has excellent taste, both in restaurants and in food.

But you can't properly express that, not in an elegant way at least, so you have to torture yourself by savoring it bite by bite. If there has ever been a day when you thought etiquette was more of a burden than a tool, this is being the day.

"Nothing like a good meal to bring back some energy," Cheerilee finally says to herself with a satisfied sigh, "and I'm sure going to need it. The students turned in their assignments on Equestrian History today, so…"

She gave the saddle bag she had brought with her a light pat, the thing practically sitting upright on the ground next to her thanks to the sheer amount of papers inside it.

"Well, I'll have them all graded by the end of the week as always, right on time for the next turn in," she finishes with a curious smile. A strange mix of defeated acceptance and satisfaction.

"Never ending work, isn't it?" you comment, floating your sandwich down, "I can relate to that…"

"Yes, I guess we can call it that. But by Celestia, is it worth it!" she replies, her smile now turning even more honest, "that is to say, I like to think that everything we do, every class, assignment and homework, is a small brick that those little ones are building inside of themselves. You mentioned you work in a farm, right? I might not have much of an idea of how it must feel like, but it surely can't be that different. The seasons and the work might repeat themselves, but every seed you plant and every crop you reap, don't you think they help build one more day that Equestria is well fed and growing?"

You give her an odd glance as she turns to give her own beverage some attention, and you can't help but to feel a bit of warmth by the way she put it.

Of course, you know it doesn't apply to you. As much as you appreciate her view of things, you can't honestly think of your work as being as important or grand as she puts it. You can't feel that your work is important when all you do is control the flow of workforce, write reports and keep the delicate balance between your family's demands and the amount of bits they are willing to invest on it.

Not when you know that you're just a pawn of a daughter, sent to take care of a business in a backwater town after being married into a conveniently wealthy family, a living coin in a deal of favors and prestige in exchange of assets. Not when you know that, when it comes to your actual job, you are quite replaceable.

But you snap your thoughts away from that particular direction, Cheerilee doesn't need to know that. And right now, you are a regular farm-related working mother who wants to talk to her about something regarding your daughter.

"That's a charming way to put it" you reply, "and if this endless work of ours helps to build a better future for our foals, then I don't think I mind doing it forever."

And you actually manage to give out a real smile while saying that, thanks to the thought of your daughter.

"Mhm! That's what I like to think is my calling," she nods, finishing her own drink and easing back on her seat. "Now, about Silky Streams, what did you want to tell me again?"

"Right, about that. Well, how can I put it…" you hesitate for a moment, thinking about how you should phrase it, "Silky has been rather… unruly, as of late. So I was a bit worried if perhaps something has been going on in school and she hasn't told me about it?"

Cheerilee looks at you with a raised eyebrow.

"Unruly? Well, I won't pry if you don't want to get into details, but fillies around her age often start taking the first hoofsteps into a more rebellious phase. Although she hasn't been showing any signs of that in class," she looks up and lightly claps her hoofs a bit, as if trying to remember something, "in fact, she is very well behaved from what I recall."

Part of you huffs with pride from hearing her teacher say that, but you can feel that another part is nervously stroking a mental-hoof through a mental-mane, trying to figure out then what the problem is and how you should breach the subject. Should you bring up the rooftop thing? Of course you have some suspicion that perhaps something is happening while your daughter is outside of Cheerilee's view, but how can you properly bring that up without making it sound you're doubting her competence?

Wait. You recall that your daughter said she was taunted into going to the rooftop. Yes, that sounds roundabout enough, so you decide to go with that.

"That's good to hear," you say with a smile, having thought about all that less than a second after Cheerilee's answer, "but I… well, I'm sure you understand that this is a young pony's word about something that happened, so even I don't know exactly what she meant by that. But Silky mentioned that she was recently… taunted into doing something? Maybe goaded by some of the other foals? She wasn't specific on exactly what happened, but I was worried that maybe she was having some sort of difficulty socializing?"

You cast the net wide enough that it isn't clear if you know what happened. She could elaborate on any such "scenario" where your daughter was taunted, she might tell you about some recent falling-off or fight that Silky might have been involved in.

Or she might actually know about a problem your daughter is having and decide to lie about it in order to cover for herself. But the more you talk to Cheerilee the less she strikes you as a pony who would do that.

But instead, she answers almost immediately, and in a way that somewhat befuddles you.

"Taunted? Problems with a friend? I honestly don't know what you might be talking about, Mrs. Velvet. I recall that Silky Stream started out a bit shy, but that was just on her first few days in class. Nowadays she shows excellent social skills for a filly her age. And well, just between you and me," she takes a quick look around, as if checking if she might be overheard, and continues with a lower tone of voice "there are two fillies in her class who are rather… problematic. A few cases of light bullying against the ones who don't yet have cutie marks, some unfortunately normal things for their age. But those two seem to have become a lot more tame after Silky made friends with them."

You slowly nod at her, partly relieved that your daughter is not having any problems in school, as far as Cheerilee knows at least. But that just makes you more confused on what exactly your daughter has been up to. This whole scenario just doesn't look like one that is happening because your daughter is having some sort of problem or is unhappy about something.

"Well, as a teacher I know that there is no such thing as a foal who is friends with everypony in her class, but I can guarantee your daughter isn't having any trouble either. Although I do promise I will keep an eye out for her, if she really is having some odd behavior."

You finish your hay sandwich, munching slowly and thoughtfully, but in the end you can only sigh and agree with Cheerilee.

"That would be wonderful Cheerilee, I'd appreciate if you could do that."

You chat with her for a little while longer, and the two of you go your separate ways.

"We both have to go back to our papers, after all, for the sake of our foals!" she says with a smile.

To which, deep down, you agree.

You might not have discovered much, but at least you can say you had a pleasant time with your daughter's teacher.

You have discovered that, as far as Cheerilee can tell, your daughter is not showing any strange behavior in school. And considering that the mare spends half of every day with her, being her teacher, her word has quite a bit of weight on the matter. Whatever is the source of what is causing you to worry, you will have this information to follow through in your investigation.

Your personal opinion about the details involved might diverge from Cheerilee's, but the two of you are willing to give of yourselves for somepony else's future, and in that you connect. You are now friends with Cheerilee.

- - -
- - -
- - -

[By taking the time to talk with Soft Sweeps, you have learned your daughter has been making some strange escapades after school.]

[By taking the time to talk with Cheerilee, you have learned that your daughter is, in fact, not evil.]

[And by having decided to take immediate action, you will be able to quickly address the heart of the matter. The following is the culmination of your decisions.]

You are walking back to your estate after having a pleasant lunch with Cheerilee. But even though you have earmarked an excellent restaurant for future reference, and that you heard some pleasant compliments about your daughter, you still couldn't find out what you wanted. So you can't help but feel a bit dejected about the whole situation.

"Mrs. Velvet!"

That is, until you hear somepony calling out for you, although you can't see anypony doing such a thing when you look around.

"Mrs. Velvet!" the voice grows louder and closer.

But of course, you finally realize. You better get used to it since you have a flying daughter. The voice that is calling you is coming from above.

"Mrs. Velveeet!" and not a moment later, a pegasus lands in front of you, causing a small cloud of dust from her impact. You wave a hoof around and cough for a few moments before you finally recognize who exactly is in front of you.

"Soft Sweeps? What's happening? What are you doing here?" you ask, slightly confused.

But the mare only looks at you, an energetic gleam on her eyes.

"I found her, Mrs. Velvet! I managed to tail the young miss after she left school, and I found out where she has been going."

Your eyes go wide for a few moments, and the quick glance the two of you share for a moment is enough for her to realize you will follow her lead.

- - -

Soft Sweeps practically marches in front of you, a determined expression on her face. And you feel so impressed by her dedication, especially when comparing to how she was acting until very recently, that you try to match her speed with a light trot of your own.

"Try" being the key word, you already feel your right flank throbbing slightly, telling you just how much you will regret it later.

But the two of you finally arrive.

And to your honest surprise, Soft Sweeps has led you to the front door of a mansion.

"Are you quite sure that this is where Silky Stream came, Soft?"

"Absolutely sure, Mrs. Velvet", she answers with confidence, putting a hoof on the ornate door knocker and hitting it against the metal plate at its base.

The sound is quite impressive, and you are sure that half the mansion must have heard it. But as you wait for somepony to answer the door, you can't help but feel that this mansion is somewhat familiar. Not in a sense that you have ever been here before, but you still feel that it strikes at some old memory of yours about…

"Good afternoon. May I inquire what business the two madams have here?", before you can remember… whatever it is you think you should remember, an elderly earth pony with light-purple coat and grey mane, clearly dressed as a butler, answers the door.

"This is Soft Sweeps, and I'm Velvet Covers," you introduce the two of you to the scrutinizing gaze of the butler, "and I've come to pick up my daughter, Silky Stream," you say with a pleasant smile.

That is a lie, of course. Although you don't doubt Soft Sweep's word, you have no idea what your daughter is doing in there, and you most surely didn't come because you simply intended to pick her up.

But the way you smoothly delivered those words gave the impression that you have been planning to come here since last week.

The butler eyes you from mane to hoof and gives an understanding nod, probably because of the similarity between you and your daughter, which you mark as another evidence that this elderly stallion has recently seen her. A few moments later he welcomes the two of you into the mansion.

"I can call for young Silky, if the madam so desires. But may I interest you in some tea? It would perhaps be more proper for the master to greet you, since the two madams are visitors," the butler takes the two of you to a comfortable living room, and you must say that the way he is treating the two of you shows that he has a great deal of experience in his job.

You spy a feather duster on his flank with a quick glance. Just like Soft Sweeps, it would seem.

"That would be lovely" you say, allowing yourself to follow through a bit more with your curiosity, "I'd be delighted to meet him."

The butler excuses himself, and a few minutes later he returns accompanied by a stallion, with a well-kept dark mane and a red tie.

"Madam Velvet Covers, madam Soft Sweeps, may I introduce you to the master of this house, Mr. Filthy Rich. If you excuse me, I will be bringing your tea shortly," he says, leaving the room once more.

Oh, you realize with a snap.

This is the Rich household.

So that's why you thought you remembered the place.

-Filthy Rich, businesspony, married, mainly involved in sales and retail. Grandfather was involved in the founding of Ponyville, from a commercial perspective, together with the Apple family clan, who has an apple orchard operation south of town. Has a good hoof-full in the town's economy thanks to said background, and to family competence. The two families have an interesting deal involving first-rights and sales of zap apple jam, a rare magical culinary luxury.-

The report file you have about him, that you read years ago when you came to Ponyville, flashes through your mind, and curiously the very last line of the report comes to focus from your memory.

-Threat to Velvet Family operations in Ponyville: Low.-

So you greet him with the same smile he offers you.

Perhaps in another life you might have been his business' executioner, ruining him with a few month's of work and the signing of a few deals at the behest of your family's interests. Just another aggressive takeover, just another shovelful of influence into the commercial life of a small town.

But right now, you are a small filly's mother, and he is the owner of the house who is currently hosting said filly. There is no need for anypony to fuss over any details about your background whatsoever.

"Madam Covers, a pleasure to meet you," he says, giving a quick kiss to both your and Soft's hoofs.

"The pleasure is all mine, Mr. Rich. And I hope my little Silky has not caused any trouble so far?" you ask, trying to fish for a bit more of information.

"Not at all. In fact, she has already come here enough times for me to know they will behave, even if it's just Randolph at home with them. And honestly, I gotta say I'm glad that my Diamond is making new friends. It was just her and Silver Spoon for the longest time, so it's good to see some new faces with them."

"That is good to hear," you say calmly, at the same time you make several mental notes. So your daughter has been coming here for a while now, check, and that Diamond Tiara she had told you about a while back is most likely Filthy Rich's daughter, also check.

You breathe an internal sigh of relief. It seems that this whole time it was just your daughter escapade-ing to a friend's house after school. You will have to give her a good talking-to, of course, but it doesn't seem like anything overtly worrying has happened.

Well, gross disregard for her caretaker, and going several times to an unknown stallion's home without adult supervision sure can sound worrying if you frame it like that, but…

All's well that ends well, you suppose?

"And I assume that's also good for your little one as well? I mean, from what Diamond told me she is new in school, and I sure know I'd be relieved if my daughter had just transferred and made friends as quickly as she did," he says, as Randolph, which you think is the butler's name, walks in with a set of tea.

You see Soft Sweeps give you a quick sideways glance as the elderly pony starts serving the tea, but you don't give her any answer to that.

There's still one last thing you would like to check.

"I totally agree. I haven't met your little Diamond Tiara yet, but I hear wonders about her from Silky. And that's well and good, after all I spend so much time at work that I barely can focus on my daughter when she's home… It truly is a blessing she has made such good friends," you say, accepting a teacup and giving it a short sip.

"I can feel that. And say, if you don't mind me asking, but what do the two of you work with? You must be new in town, because I'm sure I'd remember two respectable mares like you if I had ever seen you before, and being in sales I get by a lot around town."

Bingo. It seems he doesn't have any idea of who you are, as you slightly suspected. It comes with having lived a recluse life for years, you guess.

"Farming" you answer simply, "the paperwork involved, at least. Heavens knows I'm not fit for the actual labor," you finish with a charming smile.

He gives you a knowing nod, and you can practically see the thoughts forming inside his head. He is a business stallion, wouldn't have a cutie mark shaped like bags filled with bits if he wasn't, so he surely won't let go of the opportunity to talk up two mares who (apparently) recently moved into town and that are in the farming business.

Filthy Rich starts talking about his daughter, and regular school-related things. The usual things-we-have-in-common talk to form a bridge between you and him. And soon enough, he starts slowly turning the conversation towards the matters of sales and business in general. You make sure to give him an interested look as you sip from your tea, quite agreeing with the taste of it, and entertain him with a bit of your time.

It's the least you can do, after all he has been so graciously receiving your daughter in his house for some time now.

You will give this maybe half an hour more, or until you finish your tea, then you will charmingly ask him if you could take your daughter home.

- - -

The secret is to be confident about it.

No matter how little you know about a situation, if you act naturally then it surely indicates both that you are in control of what's going on, and that you knew about all the details the whole time.

So, after a pleasant chat with Filthy Rich, you followed him to his daughter's room and collected your daughter, brushing off her wide-mouthed surprise as a silly filly's playing.

And you made sure to show absolutely no reaction when you ended up collecting a second filly to take to her home.

They seemed to be well behaved fillies, all right. It wasn't hard to recognize Diamond Tiara as the pink filly, especially since she has a cutie mark that is practically the same as her name, and you quickly recognized Silver Spoon as the grey one. But you didn't expect to find Sweetie Belle there with them, although that was a pleasant surprise since she is your friend's little sister.

And she recognized you, from the one time you met, so she didn't have any problems with coming with you. You took her home, her parent's home that is, as it seems she doesn't live with Rarity, and went on your way with your own daughter.

To whom you gave a stern talking-to, before you even reached the main street of Ponyville.

"Do you understand what I just said, Silky Stream?"

"Yes mom…"

The three of you are under one of the several trees that dot the streets of Ponyville. Soft Sweeps was quiet during the whole thing, but she kept her forelegs crossed and her expression serious. Your daughter, for her part, is literally downtrodden, looking at the floor with a dejected expression.

It really ties a knot inside your chest, having to talk to her like that. But every time you think you should stop you remind yourself of how important this kind of conversation is. You could be saving her from actual danger in the future.

Your daughter is still just a filly, after all. She answered that she "simply wouldn't answer" when you asked what she would have done if a stranger tried to talk to her in the streets.

You let out a tired sigh. Being a mother is hard sometimes.

"Now, it's good that you are making friends, but me and Soft Sweeps need to know where you are. It would have been okay for you to visit a friend, we would have let you, but you have to ask permission for it first. Otherwise, you know that you're supposed to wait for Soft Sweeps after school."

"But I would always wait for Soft Sweeps after school… technically… just not right after the bell rang or…"

You and Soft Sweeps give her a grumpy stare, and she curls up, meekly, a little more.

Good heavens, you hope she doesn't use her smarts to make arguments like that in the future. Where did she even pick that up from?

"And most importantly," you continue after taking a deep breath, "I am extremely disappointed with the way you treated Soft Sweeps," you say, stamping a hoof on the ground for emphasis. "You know she has been worried sick about you, don't you?"

She looks meekly towards Soft Sweeps as an answer, and was about to look at the ground again when you put a hoof under her chin, looking her in the eyes. You make sure to take on a more gentle tone for what you are about to say.

"Silky, I need you to understand that Soft Sweeps isn't just a mare that takes care of you or that works in our house," you say kindly, pulling her to stand up from the ground, "she is also your friend. Maybe even more than that. She is somepony who lives with you, takes care of you and looks out for you every day."

"I know…"

"In fact, considering how much she cares for you," you continue, a mischievous smile forming in your face, "I'd say she is practically like an older sister to you."

"She is?"

"I am?!"

The two ponies look up in surprise at that.

"Yes, and I am very disappointed that you would treat your older sister like that," you continue with confidence, "she is supposed to be your role-model for heaven's sake."

"Role model?!"

Soft Sweeps gives you a shocked look, at the same time Silky starts looking at her with an increasing amount of light in her eyes. But you immediately turn away from the two ponies, and leave them behind as you start walking towards the path that will take you all home.

"Now, Silky," you say, over the sudden noise of tackling and surprised yelps you hear from behind you, "why exactly have you been going to Diamond Tiara's house to begin with?"

"Oh, its because I've been friends with her and Silver Spoon for a while," you hear her say, her voice coming from a height and angle that possibly suggests that she is dangling from the neck of a flustered Soft Sweeps, "but she doesn't want to be friends with some other fillies because they don't have cutie marks yet. Which doesn't make sense. I'm a blank flank as well and we get along just fine!"

"Is that so?"

"Yeah!" another yelp from Soft Sweeps, which you take as an indicator that your daughter managed to scale to her back, "so I took Sweetie Belle there today, she's one of the fillies that Diamond sometimes is mean to, to see if we could all be friends!"

You let out a short "huh", and you finally turn to face the other two while you walk.

As expected, Silky Stream is fiercely grappled to the back of Soft Sweep's neck, and the young filly's smile seems to be the polar opposite of the mare's embarrassed expression.

"Well then, make sure to ask Soft Sweeps if you want to go to a friend's house in the future. And don't be shy about asking her advice either," the maid throws you a pleading, almost betrayed look at that, "I'm sure she'll know exactly what to do."

"Okay mom!"

And with that, the three of you head back home, the afternoon sun lighting the road before you.

You are now acquaintances with Filthy Rich, a wealthy well-to-do (or perhaps "the" wealthy well-to-do) stallion from Ponyville.

You are now acquaintances with Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, your daughter's friends.

Although I don't think metadata is an interesting subject, I just feel it's important to say that the world is happening around Velvet Covers, and that things are more prone to have good outcomes when you focus your actions, turns and efforts on it.

Specifically on this case, had you waited two or three months without addressing the issue, you would have been called to school by a note from Cheerilee, due to the fact that your daughter had been "causing problems" with other fillies. But thanks to your interest on it, using two actions of a turn no less, you railed your daughter away from becoming a bully herself due to bad influence, and into situation where she is trying to mediate a friendship between the bullies and the CMC.

Emphasis on "trying".

We are still, all of us, slaves to the dice and the Wolf. But please, do not disregard the importance of the weight that your decisions carry.

A quick after-scene will follow soon.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

You are Spoiled Milk, and you have just arrived home after a rather dull afternoon of shopping.

Spoiled Rich, thank you very much. You abandoned the "Milk" part of your maiden name ever since you married.

"Good afternoon, mistress. I trust you had a pleasant day?" you pass by your butler as you enter your manor, to whom you respond by throwing your shopping bags at without breaking stride, which he swiftly catches as usual.

"Is dinner ready yet? There wasn't a single adequate place open today so I haven't eaten in more than a while," you ask, making your way to the living room while the butler tries to balance all your shopping bags to take upstairs.

"Dinner will be served soon, mistress," he answers in his usual droning voice, "shall I summon the young lady as well?"

"Yes, whatever. Call Diamond and Rich, I'll be waiting on my couch."

You hear the butler answer something, which you pointedly don't care about, and make your way towards the comforts of your living room.

A pleased smile finally appears in your face as you start to ease down, your body feeling slightly more relaxed. Living in Ponyville can be so difficult sometimes, with all the unpaved dirt roads, the poor shops and the uneducated lowlifes that seem to be everywhere a pony looks at. As much as you try to shop the unease away sometimes it just doesn't work, simply because there's nothing interesting to buy.

You let out a long sigh, breathing back in the perfumed air of your manor. You should make another trip to Canterlot, you think, or Manehattan, or Fillydelphia, or anywhere that's not here. Things are so much simpler in the better, more developed cities.

You arrive at your living room, already planning your coming weekend, when you suddenly freeze as you feel something under your hoof.

Your mouth goes wide open as you recognize the offending sensation that you just stepped on, whatever calm you were about to achieve instantly evaporating from inside you.

"Randolph!" you call your butler, "RANDOLPH, come here right this INSTANT!"

You do your best to keep your temper level, but this simply will not do!

"Yes, mistress?" the butler finally shows his face from the top of the stairs. How can the incompetent stallion be so calm during this whole thing?!

"What is the meaning of this?"

"Beg your pardon mistress, what exactly do you ref-?"

"THIS!"

You take your hoof from the carpeted floor, revealing the smidge of dirt that is on the carpet.

Dirt! In your mansion! Why do you even have servants if your own mansion is as dirty as the damned streets of the hillbilly town outside?!

"Pardon mistress," the butler answers with his usual drone after inspecting the carpet, "madam Soft Sweeps paid us a visit earlier, and she had her hoofs dirty due to what I believe was a strong landing at a sharp angle. I must have missed this spot, and will clean it right away."

"Visit? Someone who leaves dirt in my house can barely be called a visitor. Rich! Filthy Rich! Get your hoofs down here, we must discuss something immediately!" you call out for your husband, ignoring the butler as he scurries away to do the job he should have done long ago.

"Oh, you're back already. Welcome home dear," your husband comes down the stairs soon after.

"Don't you 'welcome home' me, Mr. Rich. What's this about some," you wave a hoof around, trying to remember the obviously lowborn name, "Whatever Sweeps visiting our mansion? And what the hay kind of name is that, a maid's name?"

"Oh, yes, right. She came with the mother of our daughter's friend. You know, Silky, the little pegasus who has been visiting us and-"

You facehoof in anger, letting out a groan that your husband knows very well not to talk over.

"I have already told you, Rich…" you speak slowly, still trying to reign in your temper, "that our Diamond Tiara cannot, and I mean CANNOT affiliate herself with those dirt-borne foals in her school!"

How can he miss something so obvious? How can he be teaching your daughter something so obviously wrong?!

"That is not the way a pony moves up in Equestria, and she will not learn that if you keep letting her consort with those kinds of ponies."

"Well, I…" he stutters a bit. Good, it means at least he knows he messed up, "I couldn't just chase them away dear, after all the mare she came with was here to pick up her daughter and-"

"Then you should have chased her daughter away," you turn and walk away from your husband, making clear that the conversation is over, "have the butler throw her filly out through the door like some trash or whatever. I don't care."

You take out your gold necklace and place it over the low central table, determined to try and calm yourself down at least before dinner.

"But dear, well, the mother seemed like such a pleasant mare," your husband insists, much to your chagrin, "I mean, from what we talked I might very well try and do some business in the future with Velvet Covers if she-"

You trip. Your body freezes and you fall face first into the floor.

"Dear, are you all right?!"

You feel your husband shake you a few times, and you see his worried face when he turns you around to face upwards.

"Spoiled dear, what happened?!"

"What…" you finally manage to say a few words, "what did you say the mother's name was?"

"What? Dear, you're not thinking straight. Was it the heat? Did you carry too much weight?"

"Her name Rich, what was her name?" you bring your hoofs to your husband's face, shaking him back even while he holds you.

"What does that have to do w-? Agh! Fine! It was Velvet, I think, Velvet Covers!"

You feel the same freezing sensation surge from inside of you again, but this time you master it, and you use your newfound strength to bring your husband's face very close to yours.

"Listen well Rich… our Diamond Tiara and that filly you were talking about are going to be the best of friends. Do you understand?"

He meekly nods as an answer, confusion clear in his eyes.

But you don't care. Your daughter, it seems, must have inherited something very important from you.

After all it seems that, just like you, she has the uncanny ability to find gold even in the middle of dirt.

Your daughter's blank flank and excited demeanor has gotten her close to a trio of fillies, and her innocent manners allowed her to get close to another notorious pair. But what might change once a certain external influence starts to force her hoofs into the situation?

Will your daughter's mediating plan succeed, and a lasting rivalry be put to rest? Or will the situation be aggravated, and she will be forced to pick a side as a wedge is thrown between the two groups?

Door-studying to follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Make Sure Your Daughter Isn't Evil
-[X] Purchase Last Turn:
--[X] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of LANTERN
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
---[X] LANTERN should be applied to increase our chances of understanding this object.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] The matters of GRAIL intrigue you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
---[X] Ask your servants to do this.

- - -

You stand up from where you were sitting, the sensation of Mansus-stone against your coat not exactly cold, but not warm and inviting either. A sliver of Wake logic comes to your mind, wondering how that sensation could be if the Glory is like a sun, and it shines down on all of the Mansus. But you quickly wave that thought aside, for this is not the Wake, and the light of the Glory is not like the sun. It illuminates, it reveals, and it cuts, but it brings no warmth.

You stare at the Blank Door, that sorrowful arch before you, and slowly walk towards it. You have been sitting there for a while, but now is time to take action.

"Sorrowful?", you ask yourself, "why did I think that this Door is…". You eye the Blank Door curiously. Could it be that it, or perhaps the Mansus itself, is whispering things to you, much like how it made you know that this entrance, this threshold, is the Blank Door? Does this entire floor, perhaps, has some sort of influence, perhaps akin to how the Woods causes your thoughts to turn and twist and dance?

Whatever it is, you are determined to learn the truth.

[Divining the secrets of the Blank Door, cd 70]

[Roll: 40 + 12 (Learning) + 10 (WINTER Level 1) + 10 (LANTERN bonus, doubled) = 72]

[Success]

You approach the Blank Door, coming so close that, much like the last time, the tip of your snout nearly touches the shadow of its arch. You close your eyes, and try to just… feel.

There is something about this entrance that just seems to be… so intensely familiar, so old and buried deep inside of you, like a secret whispered in your ear when you were a filly, forgotten after so many years have passed. Like the smell of your favorite place, that doesn't even exist anymore.

You realize that you should be feeling frustration about this, about the fact that you are so close to remembering something, and yet you are failing to truly reach it, but you feel nothing.

You only feel some sort of serenity that…

You open your eyes with a start and look down, tension filling your whole body and clearing your thoughts with a jolt as you realize one of your hoofs is raised, as if you were about to step through the Door. You slowly put it back down, and retreat a little for good measure.

What was this just now? Was the Door calling you in? Was this some sort of compulsion, or some kind of trap?

Or is this perfectly natural, and you are simply fearing something that you do not understand?

You take a deep breath once more, switching your focus. Perhaps you shouldn't give too much attention to the open passage itself. With this in mind, you move to the arch that makes the Blank Door, the ancient Mansus-stone construction that seems to have stood here since time immemorial.

"Everypony who ever entered the Mansus has passed underneath you, right? Well then, what sorts of things have you witnessed through all these years?"

You close your eyes, summoning up the jolt of inspiration you have been saving in a corner of your soul for this exact moment. You do not dare to whisper the words, not here inside the Mansus, not while under the light of the Glory, but you still reach deep within you to bring forth the Lantern you saw in the candles and mirrors and whispers of the ritual you made not long ago.

And when you open your eyes once again, you place a hoof on the cold arch of the Blank Door, bearing with you a wordless question.

But to your absolute surprise, you are given a wordless answer.

"Ah…" you whisper softly.

And a tear slowly falls from your eye, uninvited, falling down through your cheek and then to the ground.

"This is..."

You were dead.

It finally happened. After all the struggles you have been through, after all the pain and tears, and after all the laughter and happiness, you were finally dead.

It was confusing, at first. You almost didn't understand what had happened. You remembered the flashes of something that happened far away, or perhaps long ago. Blurs of pegasus appearing from the snow-topped trees, marks of Edge and Forge in their flanks and murder in their eyes. You vaguely remember an earth pony running through the snow, knowing that fear and cold would claim him before his pursuers ever could. You think that the earth pony might have been you.

And then there were the crossroads. You did not know how you got there, and the dark mountains beyond the horizon frightened you with their distance, but the straight path right before you seemed inviting enough, so you followed it. And then there was the dark forest, in which you followed a siren call whose voice you couldn't rightly recognize, but that seemed somehow soothing.

But that all seemed so… distant now. You couldn't even remember ascending the great staircase that was behind you, as if the first memory of your whole life was of seeing this door before you.

As if that was also supposed to be your very last memory.

It was only then, before that arched door, that you realized you were dead.

Stories came to your mind. Whispered lessons taught by unicorn elders in their dark libraries, cheerful songs performed by pegasus around their sky-borne fire-clouds, memories that were odd because you were an earth pony so you should never have heard them. But still the stories came to you all the same.

About a House where the Sun resides, a Sun which is magnificent and bright, unlike the one that is seen while you were awake. About an edifice that most ponies will only ever visit once in their entire lives, during one of their dreams, and where ponies who seek true power fight to rise ever higher and learn about the secret ways of pain and metal and music. About the place from where everything came, once, and that is always right next to us, like a mother is to her foals or like a shadow is to a hunter.

About the very last door a pony will ever cross. The Blank Door.

About the Door you were about to cross.

Was this the end? Would you miss the loved ones you left behind, although you could not remember their faces? Would you simply cease to be?

Would it hurt?

You realized, although you did not know how, that the answer to all those questions was "No". You might have died, but what about it? You were just returning home. Like how every story must end in order to have meaning, you were just about to write a final period on the long story of your life, so it could be lovingly rolled up in a scroll and preserved for eternity, next to every other story that was ever written.

You were just about to walk out of the stage, and allow others to play their roles, knowing that you participated in the grand dance of life, and that you now deserved to rest.

This would be your conclusion. And as soon as you walked through that threshold the mark on your flank would turn blank again, and your horn would be gone if you had one, and your wings would be sheared away if you had them, and your connection to the land would dull and end if ever you had such a connection, and you would be like how all ponies once were before they stepped out of the Mansus in the very beginning.

And it would all be so very beautiful.

A tear, the very last tear you would ever shed, fell down from your eyes and through your smile, as you took your step through the Blank Door, and into the Blank Plains, and into your conclusion.

[You have divined the secrets of the Blank Door, it will no longer cause you a WOUND, as a price for your ignorance, upon passage]

"This is… the afterlife… This is the place where all ponies went after they…", you say without realizing, much like how your hoof step forward without conscious thought.

You step through the Blank Door. Fearlessly now, wordlessly, bearing with you the same knowledge that every pony who came before you possessed, carrying with you the realization that is given freely to the dead.

There is no way to truly describe how you should do it, you simply know. It is a silent knowledge, a wordless knowledge. A Winter knowledge.

You step through the Blank Door, and leave your cutie mark behind, together with your horn and the fire that burns within you, and you realize that the Blank Door in turn takes away from you the fears and hopes and confusion that you carry, like a servant might undress you of a heavy coat as soon as you return home.

Like that. Exactly like how you should feel when you return home.

The Blank Plains stretch before you eyes, and they are beautiful.

[Blank Door successful crossing action – Wandering the Blank Plains]

[Roll: 92 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 10 (WINTER Level 1) = 113]

[Rolling... New area discovered]

It seems to stretch on forever, a great plain, grass fresh from some recent rain blowing in a soft breeze, dotted with hills and bushes.

There is light here, and you know you would be feeling peace if you could feel anything. In fact, you almost feel like you should worry, as your body doesn't seem to be responding like it normally would. For a moment you even feel like you are a passenger behind your own eyes. But you know what you must do, and you whisper softly inside your head, asking for your hoofs to move and for your body to explore, and soon you are wandering through the plains.

There are no worries here, there is no panic to be felt inside your head, and there is no emptiness either. There are only the Blank Plains, and the endless directions to which you can wonder forever.

You pass through the lights that once were distant, and see that they are glowing bushes with glowing leaves. You notice that they are placed in auspicious formations, and you commit those formations to memory. Two concentric circles, joined together by signs and sigils, which in hindsight are as obvious as the sun and the moon, as the motion of night and day, as simple as drawing a small circle, and then a larger one around it.

So easy, so clear, so peaceful.

You know you have what you came for, but you feel no need to return either. Your cutie mark might be waiting for you, behind the Blank Door, together with your magic. But you know that, waiting there with them, are also your fears and pains and reasons to be happy. So why rush to return all that?

You have hugged your daughter enough times, haven't you? You have been happy and sad enough times, haven't you? And who knows, one day you might even meet your daughter again here, if she also learns the secret paths into the Mansus. So why bother returning at all? Eternity exists in here, so there is no harm in staying for however long you wish. There will be no harm at all, of any kind, ever again, if you never leave the Blank Plains.

You look towards the plains, that seem to go on forever, and spot a particular light coming from a particular hill. You realize that it is not the Winter light that surrounds you, or the glowing of the trees and leaves. Instead, it is the light of Lantern, so, out of curiosity, you head there.

The journey is not long, for that kind of thing is of no concern here, and neither it is arduous, for you cannot feel your body, and that is good. You merely keep whispering the curious whispers about that place, which you soon realize is a wooden lodge, and the hoofs of your body keep walking.

Until you are right in front of the wooden doors, colored like calm and peace thanks to the Winter light that bathes it.

"Oh my, a visitor? Just a moment dear!" you hear a voice from within the lodge. A voice! Can you believe it? There aren't supposed to be voices beyond the Blank Door, so why are you talking, silly?

The doors soon open, and a mare who looks to be your age, wearing glasses and with her mane tied into a bun behind her head, appears before you.

"By the Glory, a dead? No, wait, you are alive?!" she says, a smile forming in her face, and her hoofs soon ushering you in, "come on in dear, come in! It has been ages since I've had a visitor. I didn't even know ponies could reach here anymore!"

Her hoofs feel funny against you, where they touch your body. They feel like warmth and life, but most of all they feel like light and secrets. This mare seems to be quite somepony if even her touch feels like that, especially since you aren't supposed to be able to feel anything at all.

"Sit down, will you dear? I know you can't drink in the state you are, but allow me to get us some wine," she guides you towards a sofa, which would feel comfortable if you could feel, that sits before a fire.

You look around as the mare quickly excuses herself, taking the scenery in. You see various trinkets, some filled with memories and others filled with power, laid around over the fireplace and other cabinets. And your eyes finally wander towards the corner of the room, where another pony, with a smile and empty gaze and a blank flank much like yours, is sitting on a cushioned armchair.

"And here we are, what shall we toast for?" the mare finally returns, carrying a bottle of wine and two cups, "well, if you don't mind I'll toast for my first conversation in a long while. Shall we?"

She quickly sits next to you, serves the two cups, and clinks hers with the one she laid in the table before you.

"My dear, you have no idea how… Actually, where are my manners? I am Baldomare, and that there in the corner is Illopony, my dear beloved," she says, pointing to the blank pony, "and I take it this is your first time through the Blank Door, right?"

She drinks from her cup, looking at you curiously.

"Well, I know how you feel, or rather how you don't feel. My oh my, are you going to feel confused when you wake up. Oh, but just a piece of advice, try not to go insane when you wake up, alright? The Blank Plains have this effect on everypony" she gives you a light tap on your head, "don't worry, you're not an unfeeling monster or anything. It's just… how the dead feel, and you're alive right now, as you will be once you wake up, so don't think you simply up and forgot about everypony you love or anything."

She takes another sip from her wine.

"A lot of good ponies went mad, thinking like that. Other simply gave up from scaling the Mansus…" she seems thoughtful as she speaks.

"But that's neither here nor there. No, it is you who are here! And you seem to be new to all of this, so why don't I tell you a little something to get our conversation started?"

She then leans close to you and whispers a secret of about the nature of mirrors that tickles against your ear. You find that funny because, again, you know that you are not supposed to be able to feel anything, and yet you do.

"It's a shame you can't really answer me. I'd love to know about how the world is going ever since this whole mess started. But here, let me tell you a story about how…"

Baldomare speaks happily to you for a good period of time, and everything she tells you seems so very interesting. But then she says something about time and sunsets and the need to leave, so she quickly takes you by the hoof and escorts you back to the Blank Door.

She is gone before you finish crossing back through the threshold, and your mind is still numb with peace and cold for some time, even after you regain your cutie mark and your voice.

So you quickly make your way back into the Wake.

- - -

You wake up in your bed, alone. It is still night, and your blankets feel heavy over your body.

And you feel cold.

You feel cold.

Not the sort of cold that you might feel from being in the rain, but a particular kind of cold that seems to come from deep inside you. A chilling in your soul.

You feel a tear coming down through your cheek. You remember everything perfectly, and this is not the tear of realization from when you realized what the Blank Door is, nor the tear of peace you felt while witnessing a dream that was not yours.

No, you know that this single tear is coming down through your face because you are afraid.

You curl up in your bed, hugging yourself, and you realize you are shivering. What in the heavens just happened?! Did you die? Are you really alive right now? Did you perhaps leave something behind that you will never get back?

You mull over the feelings you had inside the Mansus, and you can't be sure if it was a mercy or a cruelty that you couldn't feel anything while in the Blank Plains. You couldn't feel pain or cold, but you could also not feel love, even for your own daughter.

Did you really, truly think, even if for just a moment, that it would have been fine for you to never see her again? Or your husband, or anypony else? For you to stay there forever?

For you to simply stay dead?

You recall the words of Baldomare, that pony who, despite the fact that she is living inside the Mansus didn't flare any curiosity in you when you met her, thanks to your unfeeling state. You recall how she said that this is natural, that this is how a pony feels after crossing the Blank Door.

That you shouldn't think you are a monster.

But that, you realize, is easier said than done, and you can't find any peace whenever you recall the thoughts and feelings, or lack of feelings, that you experienced within the Blank Plains.

The Mansus, you realize once more, is a frightening place, and you wonder what other sorts of things await if you decide to scale it even further.

You shake your head, hugging your pillow tight. This is not the time for you to think about such things, and this pillow isn't nearly enough to comfort you.

With shaking hoofs, you throw your pillow aside, and float your blanket away from you. And before you rationally realize what you are doing, you are already out of your room, your horn opening your daughter's door with a faint glow of magic.

The more you think about it, the more you manage to calm down about the experience you have just been through, and you are sure that you will commit it all to paper in order to study it better later. But right now you still feel cold and empty, and maybe just a tiny bit dead, and you are sure that you do not want to spend the rest of the night like this.

With another glow from your horn you slowly, gently, sequester the bundle of blankets that you know to be your daughter, and you silently float her back to your room.

You need company, her company, and although your daughter is smaller than your pillow, you also know that she has all the warmth in the world that you will ever need.

You have witnessed something, perhaps a memory from a long dead pony, perhaps a memory from the Mansus itself. But whatever it was, it was once a precious truth. Gained one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES lore.

You have braved the Blank Door, beyond which the lesser laws of the Mansus sprout in trees and grass, put into the proper configuration by the very winds. You have learned the secrets to enact a Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore.

You have wandered through the White Plains, and have found the Lodge of the Sage Pony, committing the path that will take you there to memory. You may now visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony anytime.

Although she claims to not be the Sage Pony, Baldomare seems to know a great many deal of things. You have met Baldomare, and her beloved Illopony.

Baldomare has whispered a secret to you like a friend might whisper a gossip or like a pony might engage in small talk, but to you who knows so little that secret is precious. Gained one scrap of LANTERN lore.

LANTERN lore is now level two!

Servant search for artifact roll will follow shortly. As well as... what comes next.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

You are Silky Stream, and you are about to wake up.

You fumble slightly in your half-sleep, under your blanket, and you realize that you are hugging something very large and warm. Like some sort of big teddy bear or a pillow that...

Oh, wait!

You open your eyes slightly, still feeling a bit sleepy, but you recognize that feeling, that special warmth mixed with a small bit of nice perfume. You're hugging your mom!

Or rather, almost being tackled by her. You are currently right between her forelegs, being pressed against her chest. Which is fine, after all you love your mom very much. You hug her back and press your head against her fur for a bit longer, slowly waking up more and more as the light of the sun grows stronger from beyond the curtains of her window.

Until a few dots start connecting in your head. You don't exactly remember coming to her bed during the night. In fact, you haven't done that in years, you've grown up enough that you aren't scared of the dark anymore, and you haven't had a nightmare for quite a while now. So this is strange... what exactly are you doing here?

You wriggle away from your mom, slowly, sneaking away from her hug inch by inch, freezing for a few seconds whenever you feel her move slightly. Until you can get a better look at her face.

Oh no... you can see it, even with the weak light of the blocked out sun. Your mom is sad.

You feel a small knot inside your chest. This is bad.

You know your mom gets sad sometimes. In fact, you know she used to be sad a lot more, when you were younger and when she thought you weren't looking. She would never be sad around you, and you that is because you make her happy, as she tells you all the time. But your daddy told you once about this, about how she can feel down sometimes, and the two of you made a few secret promises so you could help your mom feel happier.

Like the promise you made to never talk about grandpa near her, and the promise you made to always behave and be a good filly, and the promise you made to never fly or run away too fast because you know that she can't run that well, even if she says it's no big deal. You made a lot of promises to your dad, and they all work! Your dad knows your mom really well, of course, and ever since the two of you started working together, you don't see your mom as sad as she used to be, when you were younger. You also know about other things that work, like when you and your dad surprise her with something, or when she comes back from book club or from an afternoon with her friends, or when she reads a good book. All sorts of things.

But right now, your mom is sad and you don't know what to do. And that makes you very worried.

"Mooom..." you press your hoofs against her chest, shaking her slightly and trying to whisper her awake, "mommy... Mooom!"

"Mmm? Wha... Oh, good morning Silky..." until she finally wakes up, blinking in confusion for a few seconds until she realizes where she is, and hugging you back just a bit more, "yes dear, what is it?"

You can see a smile in her face, but it's a tired smile, the kind of smile you usually see when she kisses you good night before going back to work in her office. Your mom didn't rest at all!

"Mom..." you start speaking, hesitantly, unsure exactly of what to say, "is everything alright?"

You can see her looking at you, the small smile in her face turning into something else that... you don't know what is. But she hugs you, burying your face in her fur this time. And although this is good, because you love your mom, you really can't help but feel a bit worried that you can't see her expression as she answers you.

"Everything is fine, sweetie. Why wouldn't it be?"

But, with your head buried in her chest, you can feel a slight tremor in her voice.

"Mommy, are you... sad?", you ask, feeling the strength of her hug waver for a second.

[A White lie]

[Her Roll: 23 + 11 (Intrigue) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) = 39]

[Your Roll: 54 + 7 (Intrigue) = 61]

"Of course not, sweetie..." you hear her answer.

With that same tremor in her voice, only this time just a little heavier.

"Mommy," you insist, feeling the knot on your chest get a little larger, "what's wrong? What happened...?"

"Nothing happened sweetie, I just..." you hear something strange in her voice, something that you don't know what is and that makes you feel very bad. But you know you are worrying about her even more than you are feeling bad right now.

But why isn't she telling you what's wrong? Maybe the cause of the problem she is having is... you? Maybe you don't make her happy anymore? That thought terrifies you, so you hug her back, stronger now, and try asking one last time.

"Mom... you know I love you, right?"

You hear her breath in heavily, sharply, and she hugs you tightly. You almost think you felt her sniff a little bit.

"I know sweetie, it's just that... Mommy had a very bad dream, where she was in a far away place and she wouldn't ever be able to see you or daddy again and..." you hear her voice break a bit, and her chest is shaking even when she's not speaking now, "and mommy felt very scared and..."

You wriggle away from her hug, gently, making your way up between her arms and towards her neck, until you are level with her eyes.

And you can see that your mom is very tired, and very sad.

So you hug her neck, as strong as you can. Strong enough for her to know just how much you love her, strong enough for you to squeeze the sadness away from her, if you can. And she hugs you back, although you can feel her breathing heavily, and you think something wet might have rubbed against your mane. She simply hugs you back, you hope, because she knows just how much you love her.

"Me and daddy aren't going anywhere mom. I promise," you whisper in her ear, and you can feel her nod as she puts a hoof on the back of your head.

The two of you stay like that for a very long time, and you don't go to school that day.

Requested by another user, in another site.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

[X] Make Sure Your Daughter Isn't Evil
-[X] Purchase Last Turn:
--[X] BOOK – HEART Level 1, buy for 7 bits
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of LANTERN
-[X] On what must be done (searching for instructions to the Ritual that allows for two aspects of Lore)
--[X] You have reached the Blank Door, but have not crossed it out of caution. However, you could see the patterns you seek written in the wet grass and on the glowing bushes, and you might yet learn them if you but inspect them more closely. Reach for the Blank Door again. (CD 70, WINTER. Will trigger another "cross" or "do not" subvote if test is failed.)
---[X] LANTERN should be applied to increase our chances of understanding this object.
-[X] There is too much you do not yet know. You must further your knowledge.
--[X] The matters of GRAIL intrigue you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 3, gives a scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)
-[X] Your personal life, or at least the non cult-y part
--[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, even one as perfect as yours, and you think you might have heard a thing or two recently. You should consult Cheerilee to see how she has really been doing.
---[X] Raising a daughter is hard, especially when she is a cute little noble filly, and you think you have seen Soft Sweeps act strangely as of late. Try and find out what this might be about.
-[X] On furthering the cause
--[X] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.
---[X] Ask your servants to do this.

- - -

[Artifact hunt – Servant Action]

[Roll: 22 + 12 (Learning) = 34, Level 2]

[Suspicion: 50 + 20 (Level 2) = 70. Moderately suspicious, bound to cause some whispers wherever you take it, if you allow it to be seen.]

The cut off appendage of some insectoid creature, encased in glass. Your servant also wrote that the salespony insists that the artifact is, somehow, cursed, although he did not get into detail.

MOTH artifact

Level 2

Cost: 100 bits

You fold the report back into the letter where it came in and stash it in a drawer of your desk. You will think about it later.

- - -
- - -
- - -

SNAP.

You wake up with a start, sitting upright in less than a moment, your heart pounding inside your chest. You are awake, you are sure of it. You are in your room.

And you know what you have just heard.

You look around, but total darkness surrounds you. It must be way past midnight, during that awkward time when the moon is not yet angled for its light to be seen through your closed curtains.

For some reason you start breathing heavily. Tension fills your muscles as you start hearing… something coming from a deep corner of your skull, a buzz of some sorts that grows louder and louder. Something is welling inside your heart, and it is neither fear nor terror, but a close cousin of both that makes you want to run away while keeping you paralyzed in place.

You barely feel your husband's hoof, reaching sleepily for you as a response to your sudden movement. Every last ounce of your senses are aimed at your surroundings and around your bed. Looking for a moving shadow you know will be there, listening for the flapping of insect wings that are bound to come from outside of your head.

SNAP.

You look up, the sudden movement almost hurting your neck. It came from the ceiling.

You can feel it now. You absolutely cannot see it, not even as a solid shadow or a formless silhouette, but you can feel it right there. That… thing that is in your ceiling, holding itself in place with too many limbs, looking down at you with too many eyes. You can feel as it slowly inches towards you, using its terrible height to get closer to you while upside-down, as a normal pony might stand taller in order to reach a higher place with their mouth.

And you cower back into your bed in return, some primal instinct working to keep you as far away from that thing as possible, a wordless cry of terror stuck in your throat.

It stops, right when you feel that it's about to touch the tip of your mane, right when you no longer have any more room to cower into your bed, unless you rip your mattress and dive into the workings of the bed itself.

And you can feel it… sniff at you. With all the wrong sounds that a creature could ever make to fill its lungs, you feel it breathe in the air about you.

"You have seen it, have you not…?" it finally speaks, and you know that you would be trembling if you could move. You know that the thing above you is a terrible thing indeed, old and large and forbidding, but always in control of itself, always speaking through shadows and puppets so as not to scare away the small and soft things that gather around it for its knowledge and teachings.

But not tonight. Tonight, you can feel that its control is being supplanted by something else. Some sort of excitement. Some sort of urgency.

So it will not, cannot, bother with appearances. Tonight, it simply desires.

"You smell of…" another disturbing breath comes, accompanied by the sound of wings and clicking and scraping of claws and talons against the ceiling, "death… You smell of blankness and conclusions… Very good, little Velvet, very good indeed…"

You can hear it, buzzing in excitement, limbs clacking against each other in a parody of how a pony might tremble with anticipation, or clap their hoofs in glee.

You sense that it is opening its mouth, and you don't hear the next word it says so much as you feel it.

"COME."

Its voice is like a living thing. More than a suggestion, more than a command, it is like a compulsion, a separate entity all on its own. You feel that single word hit you like you would feel a swarm of insects cover your whole body, their legs grabbing at your fur, the hairs on their bodies scraping against your skin.

You panic, powerlessly struggling against the living wave of creatures walking over you, trying to swat away at things that are not there, closing your mouth shut as moths try to enter your mouth and ears and eyes. You fail, and you feel them filling your throat, blocking your lungs, eating their way into your head.

You try to scream, chocking at that horrible invasion, thrashing as you feel not that your life is leaving your body, but that something else is entering it.

You don't even realize when you wake up, hoofs against your throat and gasping for air.

Even though you were sure that this just now was not a dream.

Your limbs go limp for a moment, as you stare at the empty ceiling, your mind numb and confused, your body light as a feather.

Until you start feeling a certain… itch, under your skin. It grows slowly, gently consuming more of your attention, little by little taking up more of your thoughts.

And not long after you know what to do, and with a touch lighter than that of a passing breeze you ease your husband's hoof away from your body and jump out of bed.

[The Gathering Call, breakpoints 40/80/120]

[Roll: 83 + 12 (Intrigue) + 20 (MOTH bonus, DOUBLED) + 40 (THAT OLD YEARNING) = 155]

[Absolutely undetected]

You stand next to your bed, your husband fast asleep clutching at the still warm spot where you were next to him. He is adorable, in a way. So caring, so earnest.

So soft and covered in fur.

You see his face, in that total darkness, and notice a smile. You wonder if he is having a good dream. You wonder if you should whisper to him about the Woods, right before you leave.

But something else catches your fancy, and you make your way out your bedroom.

You sneak underneath the floor, through the large pathways opened to you by the shadows, you dance around the soft echo of light given away by the long dead candles of the corridors, and you crawl through the ceiling over the staircase.

You eye the keyhole of the main door, seeing it as an inviting exit towards the night, but the windows are closer to you, so you decide to ride a night breeze into the welcoming darkness that awaits outside.

Your body is wrong.

You know that. You can feel that your skin is too tight, constrictive almost. You feel that your joints and ligaments are jammed inside your legs and hoofs, and your tendons ache every time your try to flex them, the soft body that surrounds you protesting against the wounding effort. But it is what you have, for now, so it will have to be enough.

You jump from treetop to treetop, using passing leaves as cover from the light of the moon, slithering over the high walls of your estate, galloping under the shade offered by clouds towards the dark streets of the town.

You pass by locked doors and closed houses, smelling the sweet dreams that are happening within them. You pass by a couple, two ponies who smell of Grail and other things, but they give you as much attention as they might give to their own shadow, for there is nothing to be seen if they look your way. Even though you are larger than them, and you are more-limbed than them, and you cast a shadow inside of which they could get lost.

Your limbs are out of place.

You walk with urgency now, over lampposts and under rooftops, through closed windows and by the beds of sleeping fillies. Your passing is so quiet that you do not even disturb the occasional candle, your whispers so subtle that you do not cause even a single nightmare.

Until you finally arrive. At a building as unremarkable as any other, at a beacon covered by a smidge of Winter, but that is pulsing with the sacred pulses. A place where the Woods breach into the Wake.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

You reel at your own form, your skin itching for release, the things that should be on your back aching to burst out from the grip of your ribs, your members begging to cut through the muscles of your legs. But you endure, twisting for a few moments as you struggle for self-control, feeling the noises inside your head also coming from your chest and your back and the tip of your hoofs.

You focus all of that agony on the task at hand, your eyes focusing once more on the siren call of home, that comes from deep within the Woods. You wish to burrow through the ground, to reach it as fast as possible, but instead you sneak in through the locked window, and slide through the corners that the walls make with the floor.

You see the whole congregation gathered. Ponies walking blindly through the physical threshold that separates the dull Wake from the sacred Woods, their eyes useless where yours can see clearly. You see their markings and affinities written on their flanks, covered by dull cutie marks of useless skills and senseless symbolism. So many of them, so many souls seeking for the Glory like moths are drawn to light.

You see your compatriots gathered in the center of that place, at a central position of status and prestige. Such dull notions.

You see Comet Feet, next to Windy Flakes, the hoofs of both of them dripping with the ghost of recently spilt blood, dedicated to different aspects. You see Copper Secateur and her satisfied smile, the lush of something delectable within her, like the bud of a small flower. You see Starry Dancer, trying to listen to the music that has been haunting her, which she does not yet know to be the beating of her own heart.

You see Jade Whistle, her eyes filled with the tiny candle-flames of Lantern, sparks that might grow if fostered. And she sees you back, or at least the shadows you cast against the wall, her neutral face flashing with sudden fear as she bows down, mistaking you for your Master.

And you see your Master, great and large and magnificent, still hiding deeper in the darkness, a playful mood about him at Jade Whistle's sudden fright.

You see the smile on the face of its body.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

But you care for none of that, landing in the middle of them, in the single-aspect circle that Jade Whistle had prepared beforehand. Your compulsion is like a physical pain now, and the only way to satisfy it will be by performing your work.

The other four, surprised by the sound of Jade Whistle's sudden movement, practically jump at your arrival, that sudden and hard thump they must have heard coming from the place in the middle of the circle. But you do not care, and you reach out with your constrictive legs and pitiful hoofs, digging into the black dirt of the ground, expanding it with the patterns you learned within the Mansus, making it larger so it might accommodate the attention of more of the laws.

Such is your focus, and your aching, that you almost do not notice the conversation around you.

"By the…"

"What the hell was that?"

"Is that noise… Velvet?"

SNAP.

"She is one who has fulfilled her duty," a parcel of your mind focuses more clearly now, at the sweet melody that is the drone of insect wings, and the scraping of dark branches, "but how fared you all on yours?"

There is a buzz of words and whispers. Several of the ponies in the crowd gathered around the group talking in hushed tones, a few of the inner circle closer to you reacting in their own emotional ways. But one by one they do speak.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

You dig another quarter of a circumference, your time is running out.

"I… well… I have decided to go deeper into the Edge, Master," the sharp voice of Comet Feet barely registers in your ears, "I feel that I am reaching the exercises of the third intensity, and I aim to become everything we will need on that matter."

"We have procured the a new place for gathering. Its previous owner will no longer bother us, although…" you can feel Windy Flake's smile, a Winter smile, crossing his lips, "we might have a bit of a problem with an ongoing investigation. But apart form that, I shall be transferring our operation there in the coming month."

You try and reach for the other side of the circle, but realize your limbs are being blocked by some of your organs. Annoying. You jump to where you need to be, and continue the preparations.

"Mayor Mare trusts me completely now, Master sir. But I… couldn't even begin to work with talking to law enforcement… Sorry Windy?"

"Its alright Starry. More fun."

"And I managed to train a few disciples to help spreading around the word, they can even be sent to another city to start a cell there," you think you notice the pleasant voice of Copper Secateur, "although I'd rather if they didn't until they are tested. But the time I spent with them meant I couldn't look for any new recruits these past two months.

You dig your useless horn into the dirt, drawing the cycles of the moon and the lines of the Mansus with the delicate attention that they require. Part of you wishes that your horn will just fall off from the effort, seeing how much of you it is blocking inside your skull, another part of you could hear a few worried gasps from the ponies around you.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

Almost there.

"The cadre is trained, Master. We have followed your instructions and are ready to assist on the two-aspect ritual," you can feel Jade Whistle's Lantern-gaze upon you, too weak to penetrate the shadows, the worry in her mind trying to guess exactly what is taking place.

"Very good…"

You start heaving with effort, feeling something deep inside you twist in the wrong way. The itch on your whole body becoming almost maddening as it recedes into deeper places inside of you. Your lungs ache with protest as you realize you are becoming lesser, your task still unfinished.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

Just.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

One.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

More.

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place.

LINE.

You scrape a hoof and close the second circle, and then you collapse on the ground. You feel your hoofs trembling, you feel your entire body trembling in fact, and you don't even have the energy to stand up.

Reality finally settles around you like a splash of cold water. Where are you? What in the heavens just happened?! Your memories of but a few seconds ago seem to be draining from your mind like sand in an hourglass. You look around you and you see nothing but darkness, the feeling of dirt under your body, the smell of the Woods coming from nearby.

"Velvet, here, its all right" you hear a voice next to you, hoofs quickly coming around you. It takes you a while for you to recognize that voice as being Jade Whistle, and you are equally surprised at the emotion you feel from it. Jade Whistle always sounds so calm and collected, almost bored at times. What just happened that shocked her so much?

"Here, come with me. You are with us now, you are back. You are safe," she says, as if trying to calm you down, or perhaps calm herself down, but you are too confused to even feel scared about anything. "Comet, help me with her. I know none of you can see but follow my voice."

A pair of stronger hoofs suddenly grab at you, but you are too weak to even react properly. You just let Comet Feet carry you, and he places you next to the ponies you soon realize are Copper Secateur and Starry Dancer.

You breathe deeply, again and again, feeling the cool air slowly bring sense and reason back into your mind. You memory is a blur, but you think you understand part of what just happened, or at least of what you just did.

But you also know that nopony witnessed anything. You know they heard leaves and wings and snaps and other things, but the total darkness of this gathering place means that nopony might ever truly know what transpired.

Except, maybe, Jade Whistle. But you suspect that even she didn't see… everything.

You take a final breath and let out a long sigh, as your mind finally stops spinning. You realize that Copper is holding your hoof, and that Starry seems to be hugging you, but before you can thank them you feel the final presence that now stand in the middle of the circle.

"Beautiful…" it whispers to itself, and the sound seems to come from all directions at once.

"My followers, I have once again called you all in urgency because we stand at the precipice of something great. Our brotherhood is still small, and our efforts may sometimes feel too feeble for the grand goal we have in mind..."

The wind blows from the Woods, although you know you are underground. You hear the gathered ponies around you whisper in wonder.

"But doubt not for a moment, we aim to save Equestria from what it cannot understand, from the dangers it refuses to see. And we will do it by walking the path of opportunity that the alicorn Luna has laid out before us. What we do tonight will be the first true step in that direction."

You hear hoofsteps, the presence seeming to walk around the inner circle as if talking to each of you, walking through the crowd as if giving each individual pony its attention.

"We shall strike at her within her own domain, within her own dreams and mind. We shall raid the libraries of her memory and recover knowledge that has been lost, we shall seek to understand her weaknesses so that we may harness them…" the voice lowers its volume for a moment, its preaching turning into one of warning, "and I offer you all the choice, to witness… There will be lessons to be learned, and your eyes will be opened. But recall the lessons of Lantern and the folly of Moth who seeks for it: knowledge is never kind."

You can feel your Master's yes, if it even has eyes, go over and through all of you, and you understand that you must make a choice.

You swallow something dry in your throat, and make your decision.

[] Witness. (You will accompany the Ritual, and be presented with further choices at the end of it.)

[] Do not. (You have faith in your Master, and for you it is enough that you follow. This will solidify your obedience, and make it much harder for you to want to, or be convinced to, betray your cult. But there is comfort to be found in ignorance.)

This is a very important vote, in which you will form your motivation and plans for the immediate future. Not witnessing will lock you in loyalty, if that is what you wish. Witnessing the ritual will present you with further and more complex options. But it will not be a pleasant experience.

- - -

Your body is wrong, your limbs out of place, your body is wrong, your limbs out of place, your body is wrong, your limbs out of pl-. Gained two scraps of MOTH lore.

I debated for the longest time whether if this should even be a vote to begin with, until I realized it wasn't really up for debate.
Knowledge must be searched for willingly, doors must be crossed out of free will. My liberty ends as soon as I take you before said door, and it must be by your will that Velvet Covers crosses it or not.

There will be at least twenty-four hours of voting

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Are there individual moments in which a pony's life changes forever? Can such a thing be truly pinpointed into a single point in time? Or are those moments, by necessity, the result of a long line of decisions and occurrences?

And what of the world? Do those moments exist for it? Are there moments in which the knots of HISTORY converge, and spear towards the future in a different direction?

If those moments exist, then this is surely one of them.

You are Princess Luna, and you feel… conflicted.

It is late in the night now, late enough for it to be almost morning, and you stand on your balcony looking down at Equestria, or at least the parts of it that fit within your view.

So much has changed, so many things have happened while you were… away. You recall the time when you could see the entirety of the pony kingdom if you just flew up from the Castle of the Two Sisters. The farthest settlements would not even reach beyond the horizon, and you could gaze at all of your charges, those you were meant to protect, from that singular point of vantage.

Or at least you think that's what you recall… you have the impression that you used to have that feeling, at least. But now, although your balcony is high on the side of a mountain, you can only see a small parcel of Equestria from your room.

You let out a conflicted sigh. "Your room", that's… a way to put it.

You wish you could feel angry, your wish that you had the right to feel angry, but you don't… you know you don't. The Castle of the Two Sisters is in ruins. You turned it into a ruin, as far as the history books go, much like you made a ruin of half of Equestria.

Yes. A ruin. You are not blind to the magnitude of your crime.

You sister tries to hide it from you, but you have enough memories from back then to know that some of the rivers and lakes that you gaze upon were not there before, and those do not appear in a mere thousand years. Not to mention certain hills, near and far, and an entire mountain range at the edge of the horizon that just seem unnaturally wrong. You know just how much destruction your duel with your sister must have wrought.

And that is just a parcel of your crime, the part of it that you committed against your people. Equally heavy in your heart is the labors that you have forced upon your own sister after that. Upon your beloved Celestia.

She was left behind, and it was up to her to clean up the mess. Rebuild the cities, care for the survivors, and carry the weight of the sun and the moon on her shoulders. She had to do all that so long ago, and for so long… And yet, for all the horrible things you have made her go through, she still loves you. She even had the care to have this room ready for you when you returned, something about her excitedness when she showed it to you telling you that it probably looks almost exactly like your old one.

So you know there are several things you don't have the right to do. You have no right to feel angry about any of this. You have no right to be ungrateful about anything you have been given. And you most certainly do not have the right to keep failing at your duties as you consistently have these past months.

"So why do we feel so…" you place your hoofs over the marble fence of the balcony, resting your head against your forelegs.

So why do you feel so wrong?

Despite your horrible transgressions, your sister (and your people, if she is to be believed) has welcomed you back with open hoofs. Equestria stretches and prospers far beyond the horizon. Even the dream realms are peaceful, with you needing but to intervene in a few dreams every now and then.

Everything is how it was supposed to be, isn't it? Everything is fine now… right?

"So why can't we help but hate ourselves?!" you bang a hoof against the fence of the balcony, hearing a small cracking sound.

You take a deep breath, trying to still your thoughts. Wrath will not do, you repeat inside your head, and neither will breaking anything, you think as you slowly take your hoof from the ruptured surface of the fence.

But the question remains. Why are you feeling like this?

You don't know. And that might be the cause of the whole problem, you don't know anything.

You are conflicted, your every day and every thought haunted because you have been made ignorant of what truly transpired.

Your sister insists that it is a mercy from the Elements of Harmony, and she refuses to go into any detail, saying that if the Elements think it wise for you to forget, then it is probably for the best that you do. But the fact remains that you have absolutely no recollection of what happened, what you did or why you did it.

You do not even remember how your life used to be before your return.

The very last memory you have is a vague recollection of you raising the moon and doing your duties, some nebulous gestalt of how you think your life was, over a thousand years ago. But after that, there isn't even a blank, there is nothing at all, just the blinding rainbow light of the Elements of Harmony that you saw before collapsing in the ruins of the Castle of the Two Sisters, a few months back when you finally returned. And the only things you have learned since is what some few fairy tale books are willing to teach, which amount to little more than misshapen folklores and puzzling holidays.

Not even a solid memory from your childhood remains, if you even had one. Only vague flashes of lessons from Star Swirl, several disconnected feelings and reminiscences, and a puzzling impression that your sister's mane was of a different color.

But that's just not fair. It's not fair that you don't remember.

And you don't mean its not fair to you, you don't deserve fairness after what you did. This thought tortures you because it's not fair to Equestria. It's not fair to your beloved sister.

You failed. You hurt those you were supposed to protect, you betrayed the pony you love the most, and in the end she was forced to stay behind and pick up the pieces. And now that you are back, everypony including her is acting like there was no harm in that. Like there is no crime for you to pay for. As if you were innocent.

And you don't even understand what happened to you. You can't even remember what you did, or why you did it.

You don't even know what was the source of your greatest sin, Every time you look at a mirror you just see a pony who might do it all again since you have no idea of what caused it.

And that thought terrifies you.

Sometimes you think it would have been better if the Elements had erased you, together with Nightmare Moon. Celestia seems to be doing just fine all by herself, after all. But sometimes, you think that this, these doubts and confusion, just might be your punishment after all.

You look down, not towards the land far below, but at your own hoofs.

"But sister says we will feel better, someday, so… at the very least she deserves that we try to follow her advice."

That is the last comfort you have, although you do not deserve any to begin with. At least, despite all of this, you still have your sister. You might not remember anything, you might not even remember yourself, but at least you know her. You will always know her. And though you might not deserve the warmth that you feel when you are by her side, you know your presence makes her happy.

So you will keep trying, for her sake if nopony else's.

An auspicious chime comes from the great clock inside your room, and you know it is time. You close your eyes and concentrate on your horn, as using it still feels slightly strange. Not as strange as it was on the first few days, you recall that you literally choked on your magic on your very first try after your return. But it still feels like there is something a bit muddy about it, like there is something dirty inside of you that you cannot force out or clean no matter how hard you try.

However, you know that you are able to do this much, without having to bother you sister that is. This is one of the duties that you can perform, even if imperfectly.

[To lower the moon: personal CD 50]

[Roll: 25 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) = 45]

Right…?

Right?

You struggle with your magic, feeling it rebel against your will, the nerves inside your horn flaring in pain as your energy tries to force itself through what you can only describe as blockages. You feel those same nerves tug and wince through their whole extension, from those struggling points in your horn to the tip of your wings and hoofs.

"Just… Move…! Sky damn you!" you throw your patience to the wind, and force three times as much magic as you would need for this, using brute force in place of finesse. The moon practically shines with magic, the subtle glow around it increasing into a shockwave as you fling it down the horizon.

The effort leaves you panting. In anger, not exhaustion. But panting you are regardless.

Another failed setting of the moon. Another show of disappointment from "Princess Luna". You grit your teeth at the dark horizon, feeling your pulse rise as you realize that, with this, you will have finished the night without having done a single thing correctly. Again.

As you look to the horizon you feel a surge of energy heading towards it, its pulse elegant like a symphony while yours was a roar of anger, and you know that your sister is raising the sun from her own balcony, not far from you.

You almost feel her energy reaching out slightly towards you, like a comforting hoof.

But you do not care. You watch your stars being snuffed out by the coming light for a while longer, and make your way back into your room. Maybe in a dreamless sleep you will find a semblance of peace.

[Luna has failed in her task, and this has affected her. She will receive a "-5, Frustrated" debuff for the remainder of the night.]

You cover yourself in your blankets, the smell of the concoctions used to clean it still feeling unfamiliar to you, even after these past months, and close your eyes.

[Two Aspect Ritual: The Path Through Nightmares]

[CD: 60 KNOCK, variable MOTH]

[KNOCK roll: 48 + 13 (Magic, Jade Whistle) + 10 (Jade Whistle's Cadre) + 50 (KNOCK Level 5, the Master) = 121]

[The Ritual successfully establishes a bridge towards the desired target]

[MOTH roll: 53 + 13 (Magic, Jade Whistle) + 10 (Jade Whistle's Cadre) + 70 (MOTH Level 7, the Master) = 146]

[Escape CD set at 146]

Down we go.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

Distant, yet insistent. Enough for your body to give up on ignoring it, despite your mind's protests.

"Luna!"

"Huh? Wai…" you blink at the dark-blue ceiling of your room, that is currently being eclipsed by something large and white, "Sister…?"

"Finally. You know, you are supposed to be the Princess of Dreams, not the Princess of Sleeping," you hear a gentle laughter.

But your mind is still too numb to process whatever she meant by that. Your pillows still feel too soft and warm around you.

"Why do you wake us, sister…" you finally say with a slurry voice, while you spy at your room's clock from between the embrace of your pillows, "t'is not even midday, sister mine… We must sleep…"

You hear her sigh, the kind of sigh that you know to be serious, even after being away from her for so long. Your mind immediately sharpens, and you are already shaking your head awake before her smile totally disappears from her face.

Your sister is conflicted. You see it as clearly as you would feel your own turmoil.

"Luna, there is… there is something I would like to talk to you about," she seems to be in deep thought, as if unsure of how to say something, "although I am not sure if…" but she hesitates once more.

"Thou hath never been one to pick thine words, sister, and you know that is even less needed with us," you say to her, shaking the last of your drowsiness away, an encouraging smile softly appearing on your lips, "please sister, you may confide in us anything."

One of your hoofs goes towards hers without conscious thought, but you see her doubts finally giving in at that.

"You are right Luna" she says, taking a deep breath, "and what I would like to talk about with you is… about back then."

You are taken a bit by surprise, in truth you were not expecting this. After all you have asked her about this subject many times before, albeit to no effect, for she would not reveal to you the truth about what had taken over you. You have asked her about it, pleaded to her, begged even. You have felt rage and impotence at her adamant decision not to reveal you anything, and even vented such feelings on her once. But in return, she would always ask back that you trust in the Elements of Harmony, then she would plead, then she would beg. Her emotions growing with your own whenever you attempted to breach that topic.

And in the end, after you had given up on your queries, she would always apologize.

Those had been puzzling experiences, for you could see that, somehow, those questions would hurt her as well. In the end she would always embrace you, and ask that you forgive her for not giving you any answers. And deep down you could feel through the bond that you share, the one that runs deeper than magic, that she felt pain in denying you as much as you felt for being denied.

So you had given up on asking or searching for answers, accepting the agony of your ignorance as a form of punishment. Coming to terms that the mockery that is your perceived "innocence" is but a burden you will have to carry forever.

But here stands your sister, right now, offering those answers freely.

You can see the conflict in her eyes. She must have given this a great deal of thought, and this surely is not being easy for her.

However, mystifying as this situation may be, you can't help but feel some sort of warmth in your chest. You have no idea why she had denied you those answers so far, but something deep inside you whispers that it is because she is trying to avoid something. Stop something from happening.

Many times, during sleepless days, you have wondered that maybe she was doing this because she thinks you are too weak, that she is protecting you from something. Maybe, you thought many times already, she fears that you will turn into a monster again if you remember.

But you also know that she can feel your struggles. And maybe, just maybe, her love for you has finally won over her caution, and she has finally decided to set you free from your doubts.

You will show her, you will prove to her that you are strong enough to remember what happened, that you are strong enough to stand by her side as her sister. You will prove to her that she can trust you, and that she needs not coddle you as a mere younger sibling. You can, and will, help her carry the weight.

You are not a monster, and you will never be one again.

"Oh sister, we can't express how much we…" you look into her eyes, and you can see reflected back at you your same doubts and fears. And you instantly know that she is thinking the same thoughts, fearing the same fears, and that both of you have arrived at the same conclusion.

The two of you nod at each other. No words are needed.

"The memories of that time are deep within you, Luna. The Elements of Harmony may have locked them away, but they did not erase them," she speaks, her tone a mix between soothing and serious as her horn starts to glow, "you will have to dig deep for it. But if you truly wish for it, then I am sure you will find them."

She touches your horn with her own, the two of them resonating with the strength of the bond you share.

"Open yourself to me. I will show you."

She places a hoof over yours and looks into your eyes with a trusting smile, before the light of your horns becomes so bright that you can't even see each other.

You feel her prodding at your memories, gently, and you allow her in. But she is merely showing you the direction. She will accompany you every step of the way, but it is you who must brave the darkness.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 56 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) = 71]

[Princess Luna is Entranced, she will receive a +10 bonus on her next attempt]

Open yourself to us. We will show you.

Down we go.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

When a surge of memories comes to you. A conversation between you and your sister, a flash of light as your horns touched. You wake with a start, sitting upright in an instant.

"Ouch! Horn! Be careful!" your sister jumps back at the sudden prodding in her leg.

But you are already standing up on your bed and looking around, your eyes not believing what they see.

"Sister of mine, is everything well…?" Celestia asks you, a mix of curiosity and worry in her voice, "thou sudden movements has us a bit worried."

Your ears almost spring up at that. You do not remember when was the last time that you have heard your sister use the Royal We.

"Celestia, thou art…" you turn towards her in surprise, and your eyes finally settle at her properly, the feeling of surprise within your mind tripling when you see it.

You notice that her eyes are nearly level with yours, only slightly taller, and that her mane and coat are covered in a tone of pink. Your mouth nearly hangs open as you realize that her calm, collected and mature expression is… nowhere to be seen.

Your sister is… young. Everything around you is…

"Thou art… in all honesty weirding us out, sister of mine," Celestia looks at you with confused eyes, but quickly shakes her head and gives you a shrug.

The Celestia you know does not shrug.

"As it may be, we have come to warn you that we shall soon set the sun, although we did not expect to have to wake you. Now if you will excuse us, we are tired from the day," she says, exiting your room before you can answer.

You can barely contain your excitement. In fact, you almost stop your sister from leaving, but you are too busy recovering from your shock to be able to call for her before she closes the door.

"Was everything… like this?" you take in the scenario around you, with more attention now, and you fell it. Your mind is slowly filling the blanks, drawing in form the deepest parts of your subconscious, the details becoming sharper as if some sort of veil is slowly being pulled from deep within your mind. "Yes… this is how everything was… This room looks so much like the one where me and Celestia were, when she did her magic, that…"

The idea finally snaps inside your head.

"Of course! We are in a dream!" obvious as it is in hindsight, that last idea finally connects in your head as you recall what just happened. As your mind finally makes sense of the conversation you had with your older sister, and that flash of light, followed by your waking up here right after.

Celestia must have put you in a dream so you could remember your past, so your mind would open itself more easily. Your heart starts racing at the prospect of finally learning about what exactly transpired one thousand years ago. But you quickly calm yourself, an instinct borne from an affinity with traversing the dreams of ponies warning you of a great care you must have.

You are in a dream. And that being the case, it is imperative that you do not disrupt it, or else you might wake up, and your chance be lost. You still your excited thoughts and calm your beating heart, you must tread with care now.

After all, you do not want to leave this dream until you learn what you desire.

Correct.

You nod to yourself, more focused now.

So… you are in a dream, and this dream seems to be formed from your own memories. They are your own memories if you are interpreting this correctly, since you can feel the world change slightly as you give it more attention, feeling more real with each passing moment.

If this is truly so, then you must retrace your steps. You absolutely will not follow through, of course. You will never again betray your sister, not even in a dream like this. But if you live through those moments again, if only you witness what transpired in your past that made you do such a thing, then surely you will learn what happened.

"But we do not even remember what we used to do…" you ponder, murmuring to yourself, "what actions should we take that might lead us in the correct way…"

The answer comes to you, suddenly, in the form of a soothing sensation.

It is almost like you are listening to a melody, but sweeter, deeper within your soul. You are feeling, of course, a great magic spell taking place, you are feeling the power of a single pony moving the very heavens.

But in all of Equestria, you alone are feeling something much more beautiful. You are feeling the love of your sister in motion.

"But of course… thank you, sister of mine. Once more you show us the way," you say out loud, hoping that Celestia is listening, from where you know that she stands at the side of your bed. You can almost feel her horn against yours, the soft sensation of her mind gently guiding yours even now.

You walk towards the door that leads to the balcony, at the far side of your room. And the whole world seems to open itself before you.

"We didn't remember how beautiful it was…" you whisper, your voice trembling with sentiment.

The sun is setting on the horizon, its slow descent painting the sky a brilliant orange, lengthening the shadows as if the world itself was closing its eyes to sleep. An entire town stretches around you, structures of wood and stone that by every right should be simple and rustic, but that were clearly made with love and hard work. Large streets paved with hoof-crafted stone go in every direction, occasionally ending in small parks with beautiful greenery. Commercial stands from which ponies are just now leaving speak of commerce and progress, at the same time timid and vigorous.

A feeling of warmth spreads in your chest, and you feel heavy with emotion. So this is how it was like. Everywhere you look you see hope and promises for a better future. Even the Everfree Forest is there, in the far distance, surrounded by great monoliths that pulse with gentle unicorn magic, signature of your mentor. The forbidding wild forest kept as tame as a walled off park.

The scenery feels incomplete, however. The purple night sky is empty and slowly becoming darker, but even that fills you with a long-forgotten happiness, for you know what comes next.

You force your hindlegs into a mighty upward leap and spread your wings as soon as gravity starts to claim you, while you focus your concentration on your horn. And as naturally as you might move your own hoofs, the moon follows your movement, appearing in the opposite side of the horizon and slowly taking its place in the firmament of the world.

You shout in joy towards the night sky, laughing as you haven't laughed in as long as you can remember, entire constellations appearing over your head for every second of joy that you feel. This is what you were borne to do, this is where you are meant to be.

You look down, and the entirety of the pony kingdom is visible to you. All of it is bathed by the light of the moon, and all of it is within your reach, under your watchful protection. Not even the farthest settlements, those small and faraway beacons of candle-light, need to fear the night, for they are under the protection of its Princess.

Equestria might be large and intimidating, its scars running deep from the recently ended madness caused by the God of Chaos, as much as that might have been years ago. Its dark forests and high mountains might be populated by terrible creature, and the pony kingdom might be tiny when compared to all the dangers that surround it.

But Equestria is also the birthright of ponykind. They need not fear the coming days for you and your sister are here. The two of you, together, will ensure that ponies reach that bright future. No matter how long it takes, she shall be their nurturing beacon in the day, and you shall be their watchful guardian in the night.

This is what you had forgotten, you realize as you take a deep breath, filling your lungs with the cool air of the night. This is what every pony feels, when they fulfill the calling that is written in their cutie marks. This is the joy that fillies feel for the first time when they earn theirs.

This is happiness.

You thank your sister, profusely and deeply, for allowing you to remember all of this. For allowing you to be here, right now. This might be but a dream, a faded memory from long ago, but you know that once you wake up your mind will be at peace. You have finally remembered who you are, and what you are meant to do.

And of course, you realize as well, you know where to go now. The next step in remembering is so obvious that you feel like a fool for not realizing it before.

Eclipsed by the full moon, you focus on your horn again, feeling the magic inside every last sleeping pony resonate in return. And as naturally as one might cross a door, you send your consciousness into the realm of dreams, that shining beacon of peace

This happiness is the happiness you felt every night, when you picked up the torch of responsibility from your sister. This feeling of accomplishment, of being there for Equestria, of being there for your dear sister, is what you have been missing every single day ever since you have returned.

Remembering it, remembering your duty and who you are, was the first step. Now, you take the next.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 82 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 10 (Entranced) = 107]

[Princess Luna is further Entranced, she will receive a +20 bonus on her next attempt]

Down we go.

You feel that you are going deeper now, and the image of a long and dark corridor stretches before you. Doors, locked by heavy chains, flanking you as you advance.

They are each an individual memory, you know, and they are each shut tightly behind multi-colored padlocks of many curious designs. One seems to be made of ruby, shaped like an apple, another has the complexion of a diamond about it. But why are there so many of them? Why are so many of your memories, hundreds, perhaps thousands, locked away?

There is somepony walking right behind you, lighting the way for you. That pony is tall and wise, and you immediately recognize it as your ~~sister~~. That light, you know, is the golden light of her horn illuminating the path before you, casting away the shadows from that dark corridor and giving you the courage to press on.

Even though the light of her horn seems to remind you of the light of a Lantern.

Even though that Lantern seems to be giving off shadows, as if it is covered by Moths.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You open your eyes, confusing memories from a few moments ago vanishing like a mist, the cold and hard reality of your room settling in its place.

"Luna please, you must wake up!"

Your eyes snap open, and you feel a slight burning sensation of tiredness from them. You have bangs under your eyes, you know, and the more you concentrate on the rest of your body the more you realize how weak you feel.

But above all else, you feel annoyed. And your feelings make themselves clear on your face as you glare at your sister.

"What is it, sister of mine? Can you not see that we were focused on our duty?" you snap at her, your voice slightly hoarse, "what cause do you have for bothering us?"

Your sister brings her hoofs away from you, backing off slightly, her expression an equal mixture of worry and sorry, and you feel annoyed at that as well. You know that she worries greatly for you, and that she has good reason for such worries.

And you feel annoyed at yourself for giving her cause to worry. "Annoyed at yourself" being the words you elect to use, in place of the more adequate "angry".

"But sister…" she says, sitting on the ground and trying to think of how to convey her feelings, "you have been at it for too long. We know it is so. Thou have been dream-walking since the last eve, and barely stopped but to raise the moon. It is nearly morning already, and as we wake up to raise the sun we still find you at it!"

"And what of it, sister of mine?" you retort, standing up from your sitting position and heading to your balcony, "is guarding the dream realms not my charge and duty? Is it wrong that I watch over the dreams of our subjects?"

Your answer is aggressive, and you can see your sister back off slightly at it, a tinge of hurt marring her expression as she hears your words. But you also know that she is somewhat… right.

You have been at it for too long.

There is something wrong with the dream realms, with the night as a whole. You feel it whenever you look at the skies, as if something is wrong with the empty space between the stars you place there, no matter how many new constellations you create to fill the void. You sense it whenever you patrol the dream realms, a maddening and unexplainable impression that you are being watched following you wherever you tread, keeping you on edge.

You experience it with your own eyes, in the form of the increased raids from the dangerous creatures of the wilderness. Monsters attacking settlements and small cities as if possessed, as if they are running away from something greater and more threatening than themselves, overwhelming militias and the small detachments of guards that you are attempting to found.

"But Luna…" you hear her words, her tone almost that of a whisper, "we worry for you… With each passing day your health suffers. Great as our subjects might think we are, the two of us still have very real limits, and we know that thou are fast approaching your own…"

But you will not burden your sister with that knowledge. She needs not to know of your plight.

No, watching over the night and guarding against its perils is your obligation. Your dear sister already has too much to worry about, as the cities grow larger and the need for order and guidance grows greater. She may have been borne for it, the sun in her flank may be the undeniable indicator that she is meant to guide and nurture, but you are her other half and you know her well.

You know that even her light has its limits, and by the love you have for her you will not allow anything else to be a further burden on her.

The fact that the dream realms also become greater, and that the borders between the pony kingdom and the perilous wilderness becomes more extensive, is your problem alone.

"We beg of you, beloved sister. At least sleep for today. Let us know that you at least allowed yourself to rest… please? For us…?" you hear her plead, but you shake your head in denial.

You do this for her, you think to yourself, hardening your expression much to your sister's sorrow. She already carries the weight of half the world on her back.

"Leave us be, sister of mine" you say, making it clear that you will not yield to her, "you have a kingdom to run, and subjects that await your light."

You sit at your balcony and focus on your horn, beginning the gentle descent of the moon towards the horizon with its glowing magic, making a point of ignoring Celestia as she dejectedly looks at your back. You can feel, even though you do not see it, that she tries extending a hoof towards you, but stops at the very last moment.

And that causes your heart to ache greatly.

It is only after you hear the door to your room being closed that you allow your expression to soften, and that you allow the sadness you feel, both yours and hers, to make itself known.

However, you still believe that your decision is the correct one. And with that, you walk towards the focusing circle you have in the middle of your room, the one from which your sister just woke you up, and send your mind back into the realm of dreams.

And some deeper part of you remembers this, some part of your consciousness that you cannot rightly identify recognizes this moment. Something was wrong, and you knew in your heart of hears that it was of the utmost importance that you found out what. Some great and terrible shadow was approaching, and you knew that you had to bend your every effort in order to find it.

For the sake of Equestria.

For the safety of your beloved sister.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 17 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 20 (Entranced) = 52]

[Princess Luna is Troubled, she will receive a +30 bonus on her next attempt]

Down we go.

Deeper now. Darker now.

The shadows around you are a physical thing at this point, almost as if they are a barrier in itself. You know that you would never have gotten this far without the light of your sister's horn, coming from behind you. You know that you are getting very close now.

The doors that flank your path, much like the shadows, grow larger and heavier, tightly shut with more chains and with more of the locks now. Some are even sealed with two or three of them, where before there would only ever be one, and you see the patterns growing more clear. The apple-lock next to the lightning-lock, the diamond-lock giving of itself to strengthen the butterfly-lock and the balloon-lock. The five crystal symbols repeating themselves in their lock-shapes, keeping the chains tight. Warding against those terrible and foreboding doors.

You think you hear noises coming from behind them.

You think the noises might be screams.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You practically jump back from the focusing circle, eyes wide with shock even as a pair of hoofs tries to hold you in place.

"Lu, sister dear, it's allright!" you heave, struggling against that grip for a moment, until you finally recognize that lightly pink mane and the worried voice of your sister.

You are back in your room, you are awake.

You are trembling.

"Here Lu, everything is fine now," she brings you into a hug, the warmth of her coat making you realize that you are covered in cold sweat, "we are here with you, you are safe."

You feel her hoof gently stroking your back, her own fear and tension at your state diminishing as you calm down.

But as your memories grow clearer, and you realize just what she has woken you up from, another emotion quickly comes to the fore of your mind.

"Why hath thou woken us, you fool?!" you push your sister away, making her fall on her back, the surprise in her face second only to the hurt in her eyes. "Have we not told you before not to disturb us so?!"

"But sister dear," she starts as she stands up again, her tone small and defensive, her voice confused, "you were having a nightmare, we… We felt it! T'was almost as if you were in danger and-"

"And thou thought it best to intervene?! Thou trust not your own sister to fulfill her duties?!"

You have no patience anymore, you feel exhausted.

It has been weeks now, since you realized what is wrong, what has been haunting your every moment with a sense of dread and impending ruin. And it has been weeks now that you have tirelessly attempted to locate the root of said problem, the cause for said dread.

Something is wrong with the dream realms. Or rather something wrong is within the dream realms.

You do not know what it is, and the dream realms have grown vast and complex with the passing years. But you have seen the signs. There is something large and… abhorrent stalking the corridors of ponykind's sleep, some fumbling violation of everything that should be, trespassing in its halls. It leaves scraping marks against the cutie-marked doors and a not-smell of decay wherever it passes. But you have not yet managed to track it.

Or at least, you had not managed to track it until this very night.

The recollections and recent memories continue to return to you, even as your sister continues to gaze at you, speechless and worried, with eyes both confused and hurt. But you have no time to worry about it, not as you recall that…

That's right, you had just found it.

You have found the thing, that dark and perfidious creature. You came upon a dream-door whose markings were recent, and you made haste to follow its trail.

But, you remember, whatever it is that you were pursuing also has an intellect of sorts, even if animalistic and instinctual. You remember that the paths you followed were long and confusing, that it knew it was being followed, and in return was attempting to throw you off from its scent. Backtracking and going several different directions, trying to scurry away from you.

You remember that it also had its eyes on you, now, and that your pursuit had turned into a mutual hunt. You were stalking and being stalked, searching and being searched for. And you had very nearly found your prey.

Until your fool of a sister woke you up, that is.

"Curses of stars and sky…" you finally say as you remember all of it, "we almost HAD it, sister. We would have been successful, if you had just not interrupted us!"

"Thou almost had what? Please Luna we beg of you, tell us!" she grabs your hoofs in her own, and you can almost see the threat of tears in her eyes.

You sister is terrified. Terrified that her beloved younger sibling has been overextending herself for far too long now, and refuses to tell her the reason. Terrified that perhaps she is failing her dear sister, somehow, by virtue of not being able to help her. Terrified because she feels, through the bond that you share, that something great and heavy has been burdening you, and she does not know what it is.

Terrified that you have been pushing her away, that you are obsessed with something and that she is not there for you, even though she is trying her hardest to be.

But you are too tired to realize it. Too exhausted to know what to do. Too close to your quarry to give up right now.

For you have finally found it, and it will escape unless you return immediately. You know it.

"You have not slept in… we don't even know how long!" she continues, "you barely eat, or speak to anypony! You spend every waking second on the dream realms and… you won't even tell us why…!"

She hugs you once more, tighter than before, even putting her wings around you as if afraid that you will disappear if she lets go of you.

You know all of that, you can feel all of that clearly, because she is your sister, and there is nopony else in all of Equestria that you know so well, or that knows you as well as she does. Much like how you know that you will fall asleep if you but close your eyes, that your exhausted mind might just give in and doze off right here, if you are not careful.

And how you wish to do it, to have just a tiny bit of rest right here, in the safest place in all of Equestria: within the embrace of the one who loves you the most.

You snap your eyes open. You very nearly did.

"Luna, please, just listen to us and… Luna…? Luna?!"

You hear your sister's voice almost as if she were at a great distance from you, growing desperate as she realizes that your horn is beginning to glow, and that you are reaching with your magic towards the focusing circle that surrounds the two of you.

"Sister, please! Don't! We want to help, please let us help y-!"

You force your mind to cross to the other side, sheer willpower dragging your consciousness, even while your feelings, rationality and even your exhausted body begs you not to.

You open your eyes in the dream realms. Alone. This is a place into which your sister cannot follow you.

And whatever warmth that you were feeling from her tight hug, whatever fear that you were hearing from her voice, departs from you in an instant. Your senses become sharp as you focus on your surroundings.

You are back in the hunt.

The dream realms look like the inside of a castle, only without a roof. Corridors of hoof-crafted brick stones run in every direction, interrupted every now and then by pleasant courtyards and gardens with marble fountains. There is nothing to be seen if you look up, though, only an endless and starless blackness.

The not-stench hits you immediately, and everywhere you look there are signs of the thing's passing. Cutie-marked doors are covered in deep gouge, as if something had greedily attempted to force them open, and even the walls surrounding the doors seem to have been put under strain or suffered blows.

You spread your wings, more out of alertness than anything else, and gallop towards one of the doors. A quick and worried inspection reveals that it has not been breached, but you dare not breathe a sigh of relief.

The thing, whatever it is, is growing bolder now, perhaps even hungrier. Its attempts to invade the dreams of ponies are becoming more aggressive, and you shudder at the thought that it might succeed. So far you have only found its tracks, not the beast itself, but you dare not imagine what sort of harm it might cause if ever it manages to invade a pony's mind.

You follow the trail left by it as you head deeper into the dream realms, the trail of harmed doors and forced hinges, of broken fountains and violated walls.

Until you see it. Not the quarry you have been tracking, but your eyes fall upon the one thing that you have been dreading to find all along. On the very end of a dream-corridor stands an opened door, half torn open by wrongly-shaped claws, pulled clear from its hinged by twisted limbs and terrible strength.

You fly towards it, your heart pounding at the thought that somepony might be in great danger due to your failure, knowing that right now something that you do not even know what is has managed to invade the very dreams of one of your subjects.

You rush towards the door and cross it through the hole left behind by the creature, without a single thought or care for your own safety.

But your exhausted mind is all too tired for you to notice that the door lacks a cutie mark on its front. The sharpness of your attention is too dull, from weeks of hunting, for you to remember that the thing you have been pursuing had been waiting for this moment all along. For you to remember that it had also been hunting you back all along.

It does not cross your mind, as it would have if you had been more alert, that the creature you are pursuing could very well be tireless. That, although mindless and impulse-driven, the creature had shown you all the signs that it is very intimate with the concept of malice.

The "trail" had been a trap, a path of destruction made by design rather than mindless instinct, in order to guide you here, to make you worry. It had been waiting for this moment, for you to make a mistake, for you to return to this long and arduous game of cat-and-mouse with a sense of urgency, with just a little more recklessness.

Not even half of your body is through the hole on the "door" when the splintered opening closes around you like the teeth of a predator.

You let out a soundless scream as it tears into you, fangs that are not fangs piercing your dream-flesh, limbs that are not limbs digging into your very soul.

After that, there is only darkness.

You remember now. You remember everything.

The quarrels that you had with your sister, as you shouldered your problems. The certainty that this was an issue that you alone had to resolve, that this was a creature that you alone had to face.

After all, how could you have thought otherwise? This was your duty, back then. This is still your duty, even now.

This is what you were born to do.

Your sister is meant to guide and rule, to nurture and provide, to gently illuminate and provide warmth. It is her burden to make order and prosperity. Yours, on the other hand, is the duty to keep watch, to ensure the safety of the lands. To ensure the safety of her.

And even if it wasn't… you still couldn't have subjected her to it. She may be your older sister, but you know that she is too soft for certain things. You recall her fears in your battle against Discord. You remember her panic, as much as she hid it well from your subjects, when Star Swirl disappeared together with his companions, after his fight against a creature of darkness.

She may be strong and confident, she may be extremely powerful, but she is also… your sister Tia. And as much as you are the younger sibling, you will not allow anything to hurt her, no matter the cost.

Yes, you remember everything. That was exactly what was going on through your mind, and…

No… you remember almost everything. There is one final secret that has yet to reveal itself, but you feel now that you are falling towards it, almost as if you no longer have a choice in this.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 5 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 30 (Troubled) = 50]

[Princess Luna is Frightened, she will receive a +40 bonus on her next attempt]

Down we go.

You finally reach the end of that great corridor, the doors by your side growing heavier and bound with more chains as you went further and further. But a final door stands before you, at the end of that dark place, twice as tall as you are, large and oppressive.

You know that something is locked on the other side of that door, and though you have no idea of what it is you know that it is in there for good reason.

You think about hesitating, you think that something is very wrong and that perhaps you should not be here. You think that perhaps the Elements of Harmony did this, all of this, for a good reason, and that as much as your sister's love might have convinced her to bring you here, perhaps it is you who should agree with her now, and simply head back.

But the comforting hoof of your sister reaches your back, and you know what you must do. She will be here with you the whole time, lighting the way and keeping the darkness at bay.

Although her hoof feels like the bark of a dark tree, and her touch is cold like the wind of night. Although the shadow of her foreleg, cast by the Lantern-light ~~of her horn~~, is longer than it should be, in a different shape of what it should be.

Your focus your magic on the tip of your horn, and direct it towards the great lock that binds the chains. Up until now the padlocks have all repeated themselves, on the doors that have thus far flanked you, they have all shared the same symbols. An apple, a butterfly, a balloon. Shapes that make no sense, but at the same time feel familiar.

But this final lock is unique, and you know that to be a sign of great importance. It is shaped like a six-pointed sparkle, surrounded by five smaller images of itself. It is shaped like magic, and like the grand project that Harmony has for the whole world. It is shaped like the future, delicate and precious, yet full of potential.

And you know that forcing that lock open will be a great transgression.

But you must know. You simply must.

You force your magic deeper into the lock, forcing its delicate mechanism from the inside out, demanding it to yield under your pressure.

And you hear a click.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You open your eyes, seeing for a moment the image of your sister on top of you. But something is wrong.

"Sister…? What are you doing here?" you shake your head, the movement tiring and sluggish. You look around and realize where you are, "we are in the dream realms, sister of mine… How did you even get here?"

There is a heavy sensation in your head, as if something large is holding you by the mane, as if something wrong is stuck to the back of your head.

But Celestia doesn't answer you, she merely gives you a smile as if you had just made a joke or a cute remark, and simply nods for you to follow her.

"Come sister dear, there is something you must see."

Your mind is still in a haze, your vision swimming slightly as you get up, but you follow her.

You are sure that her mouth didn't move as she spoke, just now.

"Sister, please wait for us…" you try to say towards her back, your body growing weaker with every passing hoofstep, your voice becoming smaller as your breathing grows more labored, "we are not… feeling well, and…"

Your sister trots ahead of you, her steps light and confident, getting farther away from you. It reaches the point that you barely cross a corner, and you only see her tail making a turn around the next.

Was her tail not supposed to be pink? Or colored like an aurora borealis? Had her tail always looked like… that?

Until you finally catch up to her. She is sitting in the middle of a courtyard of the dream realms, looking up towards the endlessly dark sky. You nearly collapse by her side, but with a last ounce of your strength you manage to sit down next to her.

You are looking down, your mind hazy, your breaths short and choked.

You feel very sick.

"Look Luna, look!" your sister's energetic voice, a stark contrast to your own state, calls for you, "up there in the sky, can you see it?"

"See what… beloved sister…?" you practically heave the question back at her, but you look up anyways. As much as the movement seems almost impossibly tiring, as much as it causes your back to protest and ache, you still direct your eyes upward.

And you freeze.

"Do you see it now Luna?" she asks with glee, almost shaking with joy "have you finally realized it?"

You always thought the sky above and around the dream realms was just an endless sea of nothing. Like the night sky without any stars, or like an endless ocean without any life.

But how wrong you were, all this time.

You become paralyzed in fear, your already numb mind completely freezing when you finally see it.

The darkness, the endless forever that surrounds the dream realms. It is solid.

It is something.

"Oh Luna, you see it!" the thing by your side hugs you with joy, but you almost do not notice it. Your eyes fixed at the impossibly large scale of the darkness that hangs above your head.

It might be further away than the most distant of stars. It might be that it will never reach you, not in a million years, but it is still there.

It is still, and it has thoughts, eyes, and an endless hunger.

And it is looking back at you.

And another realization strikes you, like cold water dripping on your back, making its way into the feather of your wings.

The glow of the dream realms might be less than a pinprick for it, being too far away and weak for its light to ever truly reach it and be reflected back so you could see its true shape, although perhaps that is a mercy. But it is still the only light that you can see anywhere, perhaps the only light that exists in all of creation.

Perhaps it is the last light that exists in all of existence. And no matter how small and weak it might be, the fact that it is the only one… makes it a beacon.

"Yes Luna, that's right," it whispers inside your head, a loving mockery of your sister's voice, "your world's light… Its call is so irresistible…"

You realize without knowing how, you understand it in an instant. Every dream, every song, every thought of love and hope, it is all reflected here in the dream realms. Every colt and filly borne into a loving house, every new cutie-marked door that appears and starts emitting its own light, every new corridor and avenue and courtyard in the dream realms.

Everything makes the light stronger. Every single effort from you and your sister just serves to makes Equestria more visible.

As if you are raising a lamb just for it to be slaughtered.

As if you are planting a tree, just for it to be consumed by worms.

"And now that you have let us in, Luna… we will be together forever," the voice comes from all around you. Wrong now, deeper now, less like your sister now.

And only now do you begin to realize that something, some spawn from that infinite malice, is right by your side.

Only now do you begin to feel how her skin wriggles against your coat of fur, how her mouth seems to open until way past the end of her neck, how she seems to have so many eyes.

"Forever."

You feel that the wriggle of its body is growing more frantic, rubbing against you, forcing its way into your skin.

You would have moved away if you could, forced your way out of its embrace, ran or flied away as fast as your hoofs and wings could take you.

But you cannot. But your body simply does not feel like it is yours anymore.

A splitting headache flares inside your head.

The memories are so strong now, so overwhelming, that you almost forget that they are memories at all. You almost feel as if you are living all of it again.

Everything is going dark.

The very last thing you do remember, from back then, the very last thought you had in that moment, was of severing your connection with your sister, that bond that you share that runs deeper than fate and stronger than love. You would have felt pain in that if it hadn't been a split-second decision, but you had to do it. Like burning a bridge to fend off an invasion, although you were left in the wrong side, like blowing up a mine shaft after digging too deep and finding something terrible, although you were still far under the ground.

You knew in an instant what had just happened to you. You did not rightly comprehend it, but you knew all the same. And you absolutely could not let the same fate befall your sister. You could not let that thing crawl its way into Celestia, through you.

The very last thought you had, as you cut yourself off from the one thing you thought you would never lose, was that you had to protect her.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 77 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 40 (Frightened) = 132]

[Princess Luna is Terrified, she will receive a +50 bonus on her next attempt]

Down we go.

The door bursts outwards as soon as the lock is opened, a tide of darkness spewing out from it like a great river. It catches you fully, and you feel yourself being dragged deeper into it.

You try to look behind you, to scream at your sister for help, but her light is nowhere to be seen, snuffed out in an instant. You do not even hear the flap of insect wings as she blends away into the darkness, still watching with her many eyes, dancing away from the thing that was behind the door, heading towards a safe distance.

You feel the darkness hot against your body, against your mind, like a fluid that is neither water nor fire. You feel it like a prayer of malice spoken a thousand times over a thousand years. You taste it like an endless and primal hunger. You see it as an endless loop of decay, something which is never truly dead, but that is always becoming deader.

You drown in it.

The other doors, every single one of them, burst open as well, their own locks failing and breaking. Every single memory, every single thought and recollection, all of them are freed from their bindings. All of it engulfs you, surrounds you. Enters you.

The most horrible part, however, is that all of this feels familiar.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You wake up, gasping for air in panic with the sensation of drowning still fresh in your mind. You crawl away from your bed as fast as you can, the very covers around you feel like they are squirming and crawling over your skin.

"Luna?! What's wrong? What happened??"

The sensations stop all at once. You are in your room, it is night, and Celestia is looking at you while extremely worried.

You look around, shuddering, taking in the scenario around you.

This is real.

Celestia is right here.

You are awake.

"Luna, what happened?" she asks gently, walking towards you as if careful of how you might react, "what is the matter with you sister?"

You pass your hoofs over your body.

There is nothing heavy crawling at the back of your head.

You are not bleeding.

You are awake.

"Its ok Lu, don't worry," she finally realizes just how scared you are, and moves closer to you, "whatever happened, it's all better now". She hugs you, gently, passing a hoof on your back, "Shh… its allright, sister is here…"

Celestia is white, and larger than you.

Her fur is warm against yours, and you feel her heartbeat against you ear.

This is not a dream.

You are awake…

You hug her back.

"By all your stars, Luna, your body is cold and you're shivering. Whatever happened? Did you have a… nightmare or something?"

You calm your breath, eyes closed against the warmth of your sister's body. She keeps stroking your back, and eventually you manage to answer her with a slight nod from your head.

"Don't worry then, I'm here with you. We will always be together…" she whispers into your ear, and you feel yourself slowly calm down at that.

"At least, for the next thousand years, right?"

Until her hug becomes tighter, so tight that you can barely breathe.

"C… es… tia?" you open your eyes wide in shock, not even managing to properly utter an answer, your breath being squished out of your body.

But when you look up, you see that the thing hugging you is not Celestia, and you are not in your room.

It is something with too many limbs, and too many eyes, and too many teeth.

And before you can scream, they all dig into you, and your body flares in pain.

But they dig deeper than just your flesh. You can feel that they don't just rend at your body and slice through your bones, they are also entering you. Becoming you.

And you in turn are becoming it.

You feel as it drinks from your panic, and bathes in your fear. You feel as it exults in your essence, for your essence is far greater than that of regular ponies whose dream-doors it greedily lusted for.

After all, you were never a pony to begin with.

You are much greater. You are a creature of order, your flesh born into this world by choice, obeying its laws of entrance by birth, and of departure by death. Your soul smells of the outside, of the void between the lights, of the very thing it eternally aches to consume with never-ending thirst. It drinks deep from your mind's memories, then your body's sensations, then the very cornerstone of your soul. It sees the purpose for which you entered the world, and the light that invited you inside, and the mission that you accepted, and the covenant that you have made with it. It licks greedily the marrow of your very being as it sees in there the echo of that thing, that music that grows with every light-born thought of mortals, that nascent beacon in the never-ending darkness.

It sees the light of Harmony, the shining core of this world, reflected in your essence, it sees the marks of the pact you made with it.

And oh, how it causes the creature to want.

The visions grow deeper with every passing moment, and far, far more horrible. You see the black emptiness from which the thing was borne, and the aftertaste of the dying light which fueled its birth. You feel its lust, its un-physical need to burrow into the heart of the world and reach for Harmony and its light and its music.

Its need to consume it, to make it deader and deader, but never truly dead. To make it like itself.

You see-

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 57 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 50 (Terrified) = 122]

[Princess Luna is Horrified, she will receive a +60 bonus on her next attempt]

Down we go.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You wake up already struggling, throwing your hoofs up in an attempt to shove them away from you, crawling through the floor to gain distance from the thing you know is not your sister.

"Luna silly, why are you running?" the thing says with glee, its voice splitting with two new tones with every word it utters, until you are hearing a chorus of deep, guttural tones, "did anything happen, dear? Did you have a bad dream?"

You look around horrified, your heart beating in your chest and your throat dry. Everything looks the same, every last part of your room. Even Celestia looks utterly normal.

Except for the smile on her face, and her voice. That horrible voice that shakes you down to your core.

"Calm down Lu," the thing calmly walks towards you, "why don't w-?"

"YOU. ARE. NOT. OUR. SISTER!"

You focus your magic on your horn, and a moment later a great beam of pale moonlight explodes out of it, ramming the thing through the wall, and blowing up a large hole on the side of the castle. You stop the magic only several seconds later, heaving, shaking. Your hindlegs collapse behind you, and you sit down involuntarily, shaking hoofs going to your face as you try, and fail to…

"Lu…" you hear that voice, Celestia's voice, in the distance.

Oh stars, no…

"Luna…?"

It sounds like its coming from all around you. The sky outside the castle is pitch black now.

"Luna…", the voice seems closer now.

Everything seems to be pitch black now.

"Luna…!"

You can't even see your own hoofs anymore. You can only feel the tears coming down through your face, and hear your ragged breath.

"Wake up sister…!"

The voice is almost upon you now. You hug yourself, closing your eyes although it makes no difference.

"Wake up," you hear a whisper on your ear, and feel somepony hug you from behind.

You expected it to be violent, you expected the claws of some great thing to grab you and squeeze the life out of your body, but it didn't come like that. Perhaps it was even worse, for you perfectly recognized that feeling.

The worst part of it is that you know that its Celestia's hug. You recognize that size, and that warmth, and the way that she crosses her hoofs over your chest as her mane slightly covers your face.

Except that it isn't.

"Why did you do that sister… Why do you hurt us…? Don't you recognize us? It's me, Tia, your dear sister…!"

And the words that it whispers are the same words you know that your dear sister shouted at you, over a thousand years ago, after you first struck against her.

The thing, you know, is already deep inside you. Whatever it had of animalistic before, it now has of malicious intellect. It has learned from all of your memories, and it is now as intelligent as you are.

And you know, deep inside of you, that it wants to have its sadistic fun with you.

You can't even hear your own sobbing anymore. There is only that thing's breathing, now.

And you know it is smiling.

The ground gives beneath you, or perhaps it never existed in the first place. The only thing you know is that the grip it has on you is a lot tighter now.

And that you are falling.

And the thing grabs you by the hindlegs and drags your down, deeper and deeper into the abyss that is itself. You try to scream but you feel you are choking, that thing around you is not air, it burns your lungs with the searing sensation of tar whenever your breathe it in. Although you know that you will never really suffocate or drown.

And you feel the thing's teeth bury into you, its bones made out of black nephrite or some other black crystal, sucking out all of your light with its very existence. It feeds on your body greedily, always finding a new place to pierce, always aware of a new way to elicit suffering and to take from you. Although you know that you will never truly bleed out.

And you feel the thing empty you of all heat, to the point where you cannot even remember what it feels like to move anymore. You don't even know if you have a soul, or if you ever had one. You are not even sure if you are thinking right now. Although you know that you will never freeze.

And it does all of that to you, and more, over and over and over again. And you remember that this is what was like during every single conscious moment while on the moon. Your energy always being drained, but never truly over, your soul always dying, but never truly dead.

For there is no final death while within this thing.

And you regret so very much that you remember it now.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 11 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 60 (Horrified) = 86]

[Princess Luna is Traumatized, she will receive a +70 bonus on her next attempt]

[Princess Luna has lost one sanity point. Nine remain.]

Down we go.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You hear laughter. A horrible, disgusting laughter in your sister's voice.

There is not even any pretense anymore. The thing is enjoying every moment of this.

And you are powerless to resist.

"Get up sister dear, get up!"

Your hoofs move underneath you, your body jerking into motion without your conscious command. You feel a horrible itch, a maddening discomfort as if every single muscle within your body had been replaced with… things.

Wriggling things. Disgusting things.

Decaying things. Dying things.

But not dead things.

You can only watch from your own eyes as you clumsily get out of your bed, every movement alien and wrong. You can only cry as the things force you to breathe in miss-matched heaves.

You can't even whimper in fear as your body drags you towards the disturbing image of Celestia. Her expression leaking with malice, her smile too long and too cruel.

She takes your face in her hoofs looking you deep in the eyes, and you don't even have the control to look away. The wriggles, too, are behind your eyes, and they are keeping your stare fixed an unyielding.

You wish you could cry more, at least then maybe your vision would blur.

"Lu, beloved sister," she whispers, keeping your chin up with a loving hoof, "do you want to see what it will be like when more of us get here?" she asks, fangs showing up in the smile of a pony that is about to deliver the punchline of a joke.

You beg her, you scream at her, you implore for her to stop. You implore yourself to stop, wishing your mind would just shut down, wishing that you would die right here. Anything for this to end.

But your body does nothing like that. Instead, you see your vision jerk up and down in a wobbling "yes".

And she takes you by the hoof, leading you towards the balcony as an older sister might guide her younger sibling.

You look down from the balcony and realize that you are in the dream realms. But what you see is all the more horrible for it.

"You know, we already are in the dreamlands. We always have been," she says, her voice a perfect resemblance of your sister, only wrong, "but those that come first are too small and frail. Your very sight destroys them, before you even notice they are there. Your very presence dissolves them, like a bonfire might evaporate drops of a light rain."

You see it, all of it. The dream realms, its light so dim that the strain to see through the darkness is almost painful. Every single door, every single dream, covered in those horrible things. Great and small, long and thin, tearing down at doors and extinguishing the light within shortly after, ten more emerging from where one entered.

"But those are the little ones, the weak ones. As numerous as dust in the air, present in every corner of creation, heading towards any source of light no matter how small."

You see one, dropping down from the endless darkness. The thing is like a perfect black mixture of crystal and flesh. It is invisible, you see, against the backdrop of darkness because it reflects no light. You only notice it when it is between you and a dimming door, far in the distance.

"And this is all your fault, you know? This is all on you. Every moment spent cultivating dreams and hope, all of it. It just makes everything more brilliant. It just makes the light grow stronger."

It splashes against the ground of the dream realm like a rotten fruit falling down from a tree. If those things are impossible to notice due to the sheer darkness, then how many of them are right outside of the dream realms? How long have they always been there, floating in the darkness, and you never noticed?

"And as the light grows stronger? Well, it just calls for larger and larger of us of course. Until those like myself arrive, those that can resist your sight without being destroyed, those that can touch you without burning away."

Your vision is blurred with your tears now, although that almost no mercy. You can still see the lights dim, you can still hear her voice.

"Oh, I know. Why don't you join the fun?" she asks.

And before you can understand what she means, her hoof is on your back.

And you are falling down from the balcony, screaming a bloodcurdling scream inside your mind, tumbling towards the open jaws of the things underneath you.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 40 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 70 (Traumatized) = 125]

[Princess Luna is Traumatized, she will receive a +80 bonus on her next attempt]

[Princess Luna has lost one sanity point. Eight remain.]

Down we go.

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You don't even move anymore. You know that as soon as you try to, you will realize you can't. You know that as soon as you breathe, you will realize that it is not air around you. You only look towards the nothingness in front of you. The only movement in your body being that of tears welling up in your eyes.

Waiting.

"C'mon Luna, wake up! Today is a very special day!"

Celestia's voice comes closer. Your whole body is so stiff with fear that you don't even shake anymore.

"Do you know what day it is?" she is right next to you now, "that's right! Right now you have just began your second day on the moon!"

With a smile on her face, your sister pulls the covers from over your body, and for a moment you almost think you see your room around you.

"Just one thousand years to go now!"

And then it all starts over again.

[Escaping the Dream, CD 146]

[Roll: 97 + 50 (Alicorn) – 30 (Scars of Nightmare) – 5 (Frustrated) + 80 (Traumatized) = 192]

[Success]

Out we go

"Lu… Luna…? Luna…"

You feel a pair of hoofs shaking you, the sensation distant and numb.

"Luna…! Wake up sister…!"

You wake up-

- - -

- - -

- - -

THE HISTORY OF THIS WORLD HAS BEEN CHANGED, STRANGLED OUT OF ITS PATH BY WILL AND HOOF.

This world's future is now totally divergent from canon.

But Histories do not change without consequence, it always causes everything to tumble around it like a house of cards, into a new configuration.

The ripples of moments like these always reach far into the future, as well as into the past. A History is not a straight line, and time does not move in a single direction. Nothing will ever be the same.

The aftermath will follow shortly. As will your choices.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

You are Princess Celestia, and right now you are having a very interesting conversation.

"And thanks to your patronage, Princess Celestia, the new wing at the hospital will be more than sufficient to accommodate all of our patients," the old pony says, his hoofs clearly working hard to keep up with you although you are already walking slowly. "Me and my staff can't thank you enough, Princess. Truly."

It is still morning, but you have been up for a while now. A corner of your mind is still worried that Luna did not manage to lower the moon properly, but you are more than grateful that you heard her march back into her room and, hopefully, to bed.

There had been days when she simply stayed in the balcony, looking at the horizon, and she would not budge until you carried her away from the spot. There had been days when she simply flew away and…

Well, you hope that those days are all well behind you now.

Your sister is getting better. You know it.

"It is my pleasure Inky Hoofs," you retort to the pony, "after all, although Equestria might be a peaceful place, we absolutely cannot neglect the kind of treatment that you and your students provide."

"It fills me with happiness to hear somepony of your station say this," he says, and you can feel the honesty in his voice, "it makes an old horse like me feel like I just got my cutie mark all over again."

You give him a smile, and the two of you stop as you finally reach the doors that lead to the dining hall.

"Would you care to join me for breakfast, Inky Hoofs?" you ask tentatively, "I'd like to say once again that I am sorry that we could only meet so early in the morning, but we could continue our conversation if you joined me for a meal."

"Hah! I wont fall for this trap again, Princess!" he replies, starting to chuckle as he speaks, "last time I accepted your invitation, I ended up in the middle of a dispute between the Bluebloods and the Greenhoofs. And I mean literally in the middle, they were practically throwing food at each other during their argument".

"Yes I remember," you laugh with him.

"And don't mind about the time, you're a Princess for goodness sake! I should be the one apologizing for taking up your precious minutes."

And with that Inky Hoofs part ways with you, but not before thanking you a few more times. You watch him go as he leaves, politely escorted by a guard since you honestly worry that he might fall down at any moment, and you can't help but to look at his cutie mark when he turns at a corner, like you always do.

A pen next to a scroll, and a long red couch. You think that kind of couch is named a shezlong…? Well, whatever it is, it is terribly fitting, as cutie marks usually are.

You turn back towards the great door that leads to the dining hall. This door is always left unguarded, at least during this time of the day, and you make sure that it is kept like that for a very good reason.

Your dining hall is a war zone, there is no other way to describe it. And these doors, at this time of the morning, are the final threshold between you and another arduous day.

It has been centuries now that almost every single moment of your day is planned and counted, sometimes down to the very second, and it has been centuries now that you have given up even your meals so you could attend more meetings or take care of more issues.

You know that as soon as you open that door your entrance will be declared, and dozens of very well-dressed ponies will get up from their chairs as they wait for you to be seated.

Kibitz is right there, on the other side of the door. He always is. You swear you can hear his watch ticking, and you just know that he is looking at it, counting down how many minutes less you will have to walk from the courtyard to the throne room if you "keep taking so long to attend a single breakfast" like he always says.

But you have not opened that door yet. This is your tiny rebellion against the day ahead of you, the small moment of peace of mind that you allow yourself every morning.

You take a deep breath, and stare up at the tall door, taller even than you are. You are never quite sure of how your expression is like during these few seconds. Are you calm and collected? Are you perhaps dreading the day that is about to start? Do you perhaps look tired?

You are never quite sure, and you do not want to think about what sorts of rumors and unease would spread the castle if you were to be seen during this moment.

So this is why you order that there be no guards on this particular spot, at this particular time of the day.

Your horn starts to glow, but you do not reach for the door just yet. Instead, you bring out the scroll that Inky Hoofs gave you earlier this morning. The latest part of his work that he came to deliver personally, together with his thanks for your investment on his work.

You unseal it and check the title, nodding with satisfaction at what you see.

"A Treatise On Survivor's Guilt, As Observed From The Aftermath Of The Fire On Cloudy Grove Village."

"By I. Hoofs."

You have picked up a few things along the centuries. Far less than you thought you would, in all honesty, since ruling consumes almost every hour of your every day. But psychology was one of them, one of those skills that you knew would be useful since most of your time is spent dealing with ponies. Having your age also helps, of course, since you have already seen every kind of pony across generations.

But, you think as you eye the scroll one last time, right now you have every reason to want to brush up on this particular field.

You fold the scroll back and storage it in your wing, a trick you know that pegasus can't really pull off due to sheer size, and then you reach for the door with your magic, the door glowing in return with the golden light that irradiates from your horn.

"May the illustrious guests please rise," you hear Kibitz's prim and proper voice echo down the dining hall, "Princess Celestia will now grace us with her presence."

You will make sure to read it tonight, you think, preferably after watching your dear sister raise the moon without a hitch.

But for now, a new day begins for you.

- - -

You have been trying to ignore it for some time now, just going with the flow of the conversation around you.

"… but then I said, raincloud taxing is now measured by the amount of raindrops per second!" the elegantly dressed pegasus laughs at his own story, soon being joined by those around him.

Some of them look your way and you offer them a polite smile, a perfectly faked chuckle, as if you were paying attention the whole time, and this causes their laugh to become more relaxed, more honest, the pegasus who had just told the story smiling at the small measure of approval he gained just now.

But in truth you have no idea of what they were talking about. In fact, you have no idea of what is happening at all around the table. You are usually capable of accompanying every conversation without conscious effort, of guiding the tone of the ponies around you, fishing for political intrigue at the same time that you make sure to dissolve tensions before they are even borne.

You have centuries of statesmanship to draw experience from, but for some reason you just cannot focus at all.

There is this sensation that you are having… some sort of high pitched ringing in your head that you have no idea of what could be the cause. Maybe one of your ears is going bad? You haven't seen a doctor in decades, after all. Or maybe some sort of magic is going haywire in some distant place? You recall something like that happening a few centuries back, a very similar feeling heralding a small disaster by a rogue unicorn mage.

Maybe it's another Sonic Rainboom? There was one a few years ago and this… no, nevermind, you are sure that the sensation was not like this.

No, this is literally a ringing, slightly growing in volume and intensity with every minute.

It has actually reached the point where it is a bit painful now. Your expression fails for a few moments as a sudden wince inside your head gets you by surprise, the movement catching the attention of quite a few nobles.

Although that escapes your attention. You are too focused now, concentrating on that almost physical sound that went from subtle to maddening in but a few minutes.

You realize, as you focus on it, that it is not an actual noise. It is a feeling, of sorts, but one that runs deeper than normal… something that you know that should be very familiar, but that you haven't felt in such a long time that…

You get up from your seat, eyes open wide and hoofs banging at the table, the sound of your chair scraping through the floor instantly causing everypony present to go silent. The nobles all look at you, suddenly worried, but you do not care.

Something is very wrong.

You look around, not really focusing on anything, your whole attention on that feeling inside of your head as you start walking towards the door that leads to the exit. You think you hear the nobles whispering, confused as to what is happening, you think you hear Kibitz following behind you, asking you something.

But you do not care. You start trotting, then running, then galloping, your old and aged majordomo being left behind before long.

You don't know where you are running to, you just let your hoofs guide you as you fly past servants and visitors and confused guards, but soon enough you realize where you are heading. And then you take over the semi-conscious efforts of your hoofs, a chill running through your spine as you open your wings and jump out of the nearest window. You were scaling the stairs that lead to yours and Luna's personal accommodations, so there can only be one thing that is causing this foreboding thing inside your head.

Your heart starts beating faster in your chest as you touchdown on your sister's balcony, a crack on the marble fence that you notice causing you to swallow something dry. But you don't even break your stride, trotting towards the glass door that leads to her room as soon as your hoofs touch the ground, levitating the heavy curtains away from your path as you enter her dark-blue painted room.

"Lu…" you whisper hesitantly as you enter, looking around with the glow of your horn.

"Luna?" she is right there, you can see her. A pony-shaped lump under the sheets, crowned by the silhouette of her horn.

She is right there, you can see her. But for some reason you don't breathe a sigh of relief.

For some reason, you just feel more tense now, the ringing inside your head growing louder.

"Luna…" you walk towards her, unsure if you should wake her up or just check on her.

But you do not approach three hoofsteps from her bed before it hits you, like a kick to the chest or a blast of magic right to the face. You almost reel at the suddenness of it, the ringing in your head nearly exploding during half a second, as if somepony had just pulled a sharp hook that was stuck behind your very eyes.

"Luna!" but you recover in an instant, adrenaline taking over as everything dawns on you at once.

How could you not have noticed it before? How could you have let so much time pass you by in some useless breakfast, without even realizing it?!

The ringing in your head, it was the sound of screaming.

The next moment, your hoofs are already on your sister. You fling her covers away, shaking her as you try to wake her up, but another wave of dread washes over you as you finally take a good look at her.

Her expression is horribly twisted, frozen in a soundless scream, her forelegs over her head as if she is trying to shield herself from something. Her body is frozen stiff like a stone, muscles locked in place, her entire posture tense beyond reason.

"Wake up sister!" you shout at her, fear taking over you as you realize that you might as well be trying to rouse a statue from sleep.

Is she even breathing?!

When she finally opens her eyes, the beautiful cyan of her gaze marred, surrounded by a deep red as if she had been crying for her whole life, twisted in fear as if she had just been through something terrible.

And those eyes look at you, directly at you, and you see that they recognize something that summons from within her a sensation that you cannot describe. As if she is looking at anything else, but not at her beloved older sister.

You move to hug her out of instinct, your mouth already opening so that you could say something that might soothe her, even if just a little.

But that movement of yours, that slightest approach, triggers something that is far, far the opposite of what you expected.

"NO!!!"

The world explodes around you, a bloodcurdling scream from your sister reaches you moments before your own back hits hard against the wall, breaking through it and burying you in a pile of rubble.

You are out from underneath the wreckage in an instant, floating the broken marble bricks away from you with a flick of your magic. But your eyes go wide as you take in the scene around you. Luna's magic has thrown you farther away than you thought. The edifice where your personal quarters were is now a smoldering crater, the violence of the explosion having torn the entire building, and its surroundings, clear from the ground.

You quickly look around you, tension rising within you as your experienced eyes analyze the full extension of the damage.

Half the castle is gone.

"Luna!"

But the one and only thought that comes to you is that you absolutely must reach your sister. You see her, or rather you see the brilliant trail that she left behind, quickly gaining distance from the castle. If anything, maybe that terrible explosion was just an impulse she took to get away from there.

To get away from you, some dreadful intuition tells you.

But despite the scenery of destruction around you, the whole of your attention focuses on that comet trail that is quickly heading towards the horizon, its complexion growing closer and closer to that of a shooting star as she goes further and further away.

"Luna, come back!" you shout in her direction, you know that she can't hear you, but you shout anyway.

At the same time that you open your wings, focusing your magic on them even as you keep your eyes sharp on that shining star moving towards the horizon.

Even as you hear the panicked screams of your subjects all around you, hundreds of victims from that sudden and unexplainable violence.

You focus more magic on your wings, and they start to glow in gold.

More, and the air around them starts to tremble with heat.

More, until they finally burst with fire, and you aim your whole body on the unerring mark that you had been following with your eyes.

You kick back with your hindlegs, and you don't jump out of the ground so much as you explode away from it.

You leave the castle behind you, although you know that you would have seen a scene of destruction had you but looked back. But it is not that you do not care for your subjects.

The point is that you simply must reach your beloved sister.

You have to help Luna.

Over the skies of Equestria, a blazing comet gives chase to a brilliant falling star.

[Your pursuit: 79 +50 (Alicorn) = 129]

[Her flight: 100 +50 (Alicorn) -30 (Scars of Nightmare) -5 (Frustrated) +80 (Traumatized) = 195]

[Oh dear…]

You chase after her through the morning sky, furiously pursuing her on wings of fire. Your are frantic with worry, wondering what the hell might have happened to her. Your mind keeps repeating the same image again and again and again in a cruel loop, as you vividly recall the expression of absolute horror that she had in her eyes before blowing you away.

But that just makes you beat your wings harder, straining yourself into a level of effort that even your superior body might not be able to keep up with.

You finally approach your sister, your wings screaming as you propel every last ounce of your energy through it, the horn on your head aching in sympathy to your pressurized magic, the skies behind you burning with a trail that will not fade away any time soon.

You notice that her trajectory is starting to descend now, and you finally get close enough to get a better look at her.

She is curled into a ball, hugging herself. Screaming.

She is not even flying, her wings closed shut around her. She propelled herself all the way here with that single explosion of terror-fueled magic.

You race towards her, getting closer and closer, reaching forward with your hoofs, inches away from actually catching her.

But gravity finally has its grips on her now, and although you are mere inches away from her, the trajectory of both of you is now fatally aimed at the ground.

You give one last mighty flap with your wings, combusting the energy on your feathers in an explosion that actually harms you. But that gives you just enough of a push for your hoofs to finally reach her.

You hug your dear sister, bringing her close to your body and putting yourself between her and the fast-approaching ground, bracing for impact and determined to protect her from the neck-breaking fall that is mere meters away.

But your eyes go wide, half a second before your back hits the grassland, as you hear another desperate scream from your sister as she realizes she is in your embrace, and you feel the split-second burst of teleporting magic coming from her horn.

Your body hits the hard ground right after, head first, and the last thing you see is the image of your own empty hoofs, your sister nowhere to be seen.

Everything goes dark.

- - -

You are not sure for how long you have been awake, and you don't really care. Your horn is glowing, as it has been all this time, and your mind is absent-mindedly repeating the magical spell that you have been doing this whole time.

But your eyes, they are focused on your hoofs. You are sitting on your hind, and you are staring at your hoofs in shock.

You can still feel your sister, right there. You can still feel her in your embrace.

She should have been safe in there. She should have felt safe in there.

But she didn't.

You keep repeating the same spell, again and again and again, each time hoping that it will achieve a different result.

"Princess Celestia! Thank goodness I found you!"

A familiar voice comes from on high, you have the vague impression that it's somepony you know, and that you have known for a long time. You hear her land by your side.

It's probably Cadence, you think.

You don't really look her way to make sure.

"Celestia, what… what happened?! You are bleeding!" you feel her come closer to you, hesitantly passing her hoof over the side of your head, on the part that had felt warm when you woke up, and then sticky and cold as time went by.

So that was blood. The aching you were feeling from there makes a bit more sense now.

"Celestia, we need you help! We are still digging survivors from under the debris, Shining is back there with whoever wasn't wounded, but we need you! And where is Luna?! We couldn't find her anywhere in the castle!"

Shining…? Oh, Shining Armor, the stallion she has been going out with. You remember vaguely that he is captain on your Royal Guard, probably, and something tells you that he knows somepony else who is close to you…

Oh, but more importantly. Cadence is here! She is a powerful magic caster, she might be able to help you!

"Cadence," you interrupt her, your eyes finally leaving your hoofs and looking at her.

She seems worried. You wonder why.

"Celestia…? Wha-"

"Cadence, could you help me please?" you ask her, looking up at your own horn and hoping she will realize what you are talking about, "Luna was here, just now, but she teleported away. I've been trying to track her, but I just can't detect her trail…"

You look back at your hoofs, seeing that they are moving for some reason.

Oh, you have been rocking yourself back and forward for some time now. Strange that you didn't notice before.

"Celestia…? What do you mean… Princess Luna was here?" she asks cautiously, as if some though is starting to occur to her. As if she is piecing something together.

"Yes, I chased after her from the castle. She was just here, I know I'll catch her teleportation trail if I just try a bit harder…"

Or maybe your hoofs are trembling? Probably both.

"Celestia…" you feel Cadence get closer to you, you can see her pink silhouette right in front of you, "you know that teleportation trails don't last… long, do you?"

"Yes, I know. But she was just here! Now help me with this spell, I know that we will track her if we just-"

"Celestia," she interrupts you, and for some reason you think there is some sort of dawning realization in her voice, her tone suddenly extremely sad. "Do you know for how long you have been here?"

"I-…" the words get stuck in your throat, your entire body is shaking now, "I don't know Cadence, the sun hasn't moved in a long time now, so I lost track of time and…"

You take a deep, sharp breath, some burning sensation coming to your eyes as you look towards the sun. Cadence's question doesn't make sense, but for some reason it still hurts to hear her ask it. The sun is right there, frozen right on top of the horizon, painting the sky in a deep orange. It hasn't moved in a long time now, like it's waiting there for something, so how the hell are you supposed to know how long you have been here?!

You don't want to know, and you don't care. All you can think about is Luna. Your heart aches when you remember her expression, right when she woke up. You feel sick when you think of what must have happened to cause all of this.

But she will be fine. You know she will be fine. You promised her she will be fine. You promised yourself she will be fine.

You need her to be fine, or that hole in your heart will never close, it will stay open and aching like it has for the last thousand years.

"My little sister is fine, right?" you suddenly ask, turning towards Cadence while your voice fails, tears falling from your eyes for some reason, "my Luna will be fine, right Cadence? She will be-?"

You feel cadence hug you, whispering in your ear something about how sorry she feels. But you don't listen to what she says.

After all, when she hugs you, you finally forget the sensation you had on your hoofs, the sensation that you had desperately been trying to remember this whole time. You forget how it felt to have your sister in your arms, you forget the last thing you felt before your head hit the ground, and everything turned black.

You finally realize that your sister is not here anymore.

And you hug Cadence back, not being able to hold in the tears anymore.

Curious are the ways of the dice. This was supposed to be an emotional chase, with havoc being cause around Equestria as two demigoddesses raced each other. Luna would start with her "+80 traumatized" and go down "-10" every time she out-raced Celestia. But that would cause havoc in some place as she crash-landed and teleported away in panic at Celestia's approach, fleeing her sister for dear life. Until Celestia's base attribute finally caught up with her.

But then she rolled a natural 100.

Huh…

[Princess Luna is now missing, she is nowhere to be seen in Canterlot after the "unexplained explosion" destroyed half the castle. Every last mare and stallion in service of the crown has been called for to search for her.]

[And it would be best if she is found soon. After all, Despair is the Wolf that devours thought.]

Eight sanity points remain. The Sixteenth blesses.

The rest of the Aftermath shall follow shortly.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

The ritual ends like a fading light, the Knock-bridge between your minds and Princess Luna's dream winking out like a closing eye, the chaos of Moth in the air blowing away in the Wood-breeze like a light mist.

You are back in your body. You no longer have wings and an older sister, you no longer stand before a great and forbidden door, you no longer are something large and winged that flew away and hid in the shadows, as those doors burst open, observing from a distance from that moment onwards, but observing all the same.

You are yourself once again. You are Velvet Covers now.

But will Velvet Covers ever be the same, after this?

The feeling of your coat against the black dirt comes back to you, slowly, and you realize that you are sitting. You take a deep breath, feeling the cold air fill your lungs, and a slight movement of your forelegs reminds you that your hoofs are on the very edge of the ritual circle.

But of course, you remember where you are now. You and your compatriots are all here, gathered around it, in the complete darkness of the gathering place of your cult.

You start hearing things, several things at once, and it seems that everypony else is starting to recover from the experience you all just shared. The sounds that you hear are all… understandable.

Somepony, far behind you, is breathing is gasps, as if about to panic.

A stallion that you do not know seems to be weeping.

You definitely hear the sound of somepony emptying the contents of their stomach.

Whispers, directed at nopony in particular, reach you from near and far. You hear all of that, and many other telltale signs of willpower barely being kept, of self-control barely being held. Of regret and realization, of curtains and windows being open wide only to reveal a light that cuts. Sounds of pain, but not pain of the body, and perhaps not even pain of the mind, but pain at the realization that the world itself does not quite fit how it should.

Although something strikes you as strange. The entire cult is gathered here, so why do you hear… so little? You expect a sea of murmurs to erupt at any moment, you expect at least one follower to break and gallop away, but the sounds of gasps and moans are few, and they are not growing in number or volume as time passes. But why?

Why, you might add, do you think you hear peaceful breathing?

"Come closer…"

You hear a voice, that voice, coming from the topmost edge of the circle, in the part of it where you know that the Mansus-lines converge with the tip of the Glory-circles. Your horn feels slightly off as you think about that, a memory whose origin you can't pinpoint making you think that the place around your forehead is somehow stained with black dirt.

You hear hoofsteps approaching the edge of the circle, stopping right behind you and your compatriots. They are the ponies that you have heard, of the cult's outer circle, and they appear to be shaking. You think they number in less than ten.

But what of all the others…?

"You… all of you, who are awake. You are the ones who made it to the end," your Master says, but there is something terribly wrong about its voice, something you had never heard in it before. "The others… would not have been strong enough. The revelation would have burned them, and Lantern or Winter would have claimed their minds from thereafter… I sent them to the Woods…"

You realize what is wrong about its voice. And although it should be normal, as your Master is surely great in Moth, it somehow feels strange. Maybe because it seems to be too real. Too honest.

You realize that you Master sounds... confused? Not shocked, not afraid, not surprised, but something maddening close to those three. Something that perhaps might see better justice if it is described as "in deep thought".

But a kind of deep thought that you would attribute to yourself, or to anypony else who lives and breathes and worries. Not to… whatever… your Master is.

"We called those things 'Worms'…" the voice finally continues. "And long ago, truly long ago, when the world still had its correct shape and form, even then they already tried to crawl into it… They come from Nowhere, and even back then they tried to burrow through the black dirt of the Woods, or tried to crawl out through secret passages in secret places, dark corridors where the wrong kind of light exists."

You swear that you her the sound of something, coming from the middle of the circle, as if somepony just sat down with the full weight of their body, like one might do when falling back in a dejected manner. You swear that the voice seems to come from an angle as if its owner is looking up, like one might do when remembering something long past.

You swear that, whatever is in the middle of the circle, it almost sounds like a regular pony.

"But there were protections back there. Wards and traps, barriers and thresholds, even the very powers that be would defend Equestria against the worms. And back then the worms would merely inhabit and consume. Those who were foolish enough to leave the wards behind, those who tried to brave Nowhere, would merely be taken, and become ever more dead, forever…"

You swear that you hear something grim about that voice.

"The worms could not take over, in that far past, they could not… become with the memories of those they claimed. But it seems that they can, now. That they have learned how to do it, somehow."

The confusion is almost palpable now, and it is maddening in its silence. You feel like there should be the sound of leaves rustling, or the buzzing of wings against the night, but instead you hear nothing, you feel nothing. You don't even feel lost and, considering that you know you are in a place close to the Woods, that in itself is almost frightening.

But then, the confusion slowly begins to wane, disappearing from the air like stale air would slowly leave a recently opened room. Becoming less corporeal, less memorable, until you wonder if it had been there at all to begin with.

"But there is something else to be learned in all of this, which the most attentive of you may have noticed," the Master seems to be regaining her balance now, its voice becoming sharper and harder, its tone returning to a guiding and teaching one, to the tone better suited to a leader of the faithful, "the alicorn Luna knew too little. She was witness and victim, and her crime was ignorance, both in the past and today. The fate that befell her long ago will be the same that shall befall Equestria if the alicorns keep to their work, but we know now that even the alicorns are young. They were invited into this world, they were borne here, and as it is proper for the law of birth they came without knowledge of wisdom. They are no better than foals when it comes to certain realizations."

The voice is back at its feet. It was never sitting in the first place, the confusing echo you heard from the middle of the circle was surely a lie. You Master is walking now, between the sleeping ponies and through the small crowd of those who remained awake.

"She will always be a detestable outsider, her arrival heralding that of other unwelcome guests, each greater and more abominable than the last, but… she was also made a pawn. She is a pawn of Harmony. She has made covenant with the very cause of Equestria's danger. However…" There is mischief in the voice, now, "pawns may change hoofs, and she has seen what the ultimate result of her actions will be, if she keeps to them. And as well as changing hoofs, pawns may even become other, greater pieces, if they advance sufficiently…"

You think you see eyes go over you, over all of you, and you think you would see a curious glint about them, if they were the kind of eyes that permitted the presence of light.

"The alicorns arrived after the God of Chaos had wrought its destruction, after the world already was as it currently is, and as such are merely employed as guardians of the status-quo, as nurturers of this current and sickening order of things. We must seek older sources, reach for greater knowledge, and above all else we must understand what the fires of Harmony are in the first place, as an initiate might toil to understand the Glory as he ascends ever higher. Perhaps it knows not what it is attracting, or perhaps it does, and to be consumed is its very intention, but before we may know how to best protect Equestria, we must first understand what causes its danger."

There is purpose in the voice now, a course of action forming in its words, like the forgotten footprints of a predator might form a trail under the light of the moon.

"We are practitioners of Moth, first and foremost. We are adepts of secrets and chaos, and of change above all else. Changing Equestria might seem like a daunting task, but it has already been changed once, before, or else we would not face the current threat that stands before us. And much less daunting, surely, will be to change a single mind… especially one whose body has been borne by the laws of this world, and one whose mind has drunk from the same fears that we have. The alicorns have a link to the fires, and though there might be other links and paths she is currently the closest and most readily available."

The voice seems conclusive now, and you think you hear an old and dry oak falling on the ground, the sound coming from far away.

It almost sounds like a hoof, stomping the ground for emphasis.

"We must have the alicorn. We must steal her, like a predator might steal a hatchling in the middle of the night. Windy Flakes," the voice turns towards the unicorn, who seems to be unusually still, "this place is no longer suitable for us. It is heavy with our hoofsteps, and marked with our traces. End it and consecrate our new lodge. The weaker among our followers will be awake by nightfall, and ready to heed our summons in a few days' time, once you are finished with preparations."

The voice grows more distant as it speaks, and the very atmosphere seems to be following it. Going deeper into the darkness, into a place where you cannot follow. The sound of rustling leaves and of the shearing of scissors growing lower and further away, growing wrong and more alien with every passing moment.

"We shall reconvene shortly, and you will each be told what parts you must play then. For now, we must allow the Histories to settle down, for they have surely been rattled tonight, and they will writhe even more before the sun sets again."

And with that, the voice finally disappears, its presence leaving this place forever. And right when your Master leaves you, you hear something that you never thought you would hear inside of this room.

You hear a match being struck.

Without warning or source, a lit candle appears in the very middle of the circle. Nopony is close enough to it to have placed it there, and no glowing horn is in sight, hinting at who might have been responsible for this. But for the first time in many years, light is visible in this place.

The candle's light is constant and unfading, and it seems to have a spark of Lantern on its very center.

You feel the Woods receding from around you, the final whispers of its presence, the ones that did not accompany your Master's exit, disappearing under the scrutiny of light and attention. And for the first time ever, while in this place, you feel worn bricks underneath your hoofs.

You see small and cramped walls around you, dimly illuminated by the candle. You see the faces of your compatriots around the circle with you, and a few other shocked ponies that you do not know nearby.

And you see a great crowd of sleeping ponies behind you, some of them even piled on top of each other.

But none of that really matters to you, right now, for you have seen too much. Your mind is abuzz, and your life, the way you see the world, will never be the same.

- - -
- - -
- - -

What might change? What has changed?

The Opening Lessons:

-You accepted what had to be done, and aided in delivering a blow against a demigoddess, and in that there is a lesson of EDGE. Gain one scrap of EDGE Lore, if the lesson is embraced.
-A great power of MOTH was called upon, and you paid special attention to how it was called for. Though you did not understand what language was being whispered by your Master, if that was a language at all. Though you are not sure if what you saw was real to begin with. Gain one scrap of MOTH Lore, if the lesson is embraced.

The Deep Observations:

-You went deeper, and deeper, and deeper. You went down, and down, and down. And that has revealed to you that passages are not only roads or bridges or dreams, and also that roads and bridges and dreams are always passages. Taking note of this observation will award you with one scrap of KNOCK Lore.
-It was only a glimpse, but it was a glimpse through the eyes of something old, while you felt her feelings and thought her thoughts. There was something different about ancient Equestria, as if it was closer to something that is not quite as abundant today, and you felt it firsthoof. Taking note of this observation will award you with one scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

The Terrible Revelation:

-You have learned how the world will end, how all the worlds end, and you shall carry that knowledge for the rest of your life. But whether if you will carry it as a scar that only marked you, or as a burden that pains you, is up to you. Gain two scraps of WINTER Lore, unless you deny this revelation.

And in the end… after bearing witness to the ritual-

[] You realize that you had a smile on your face: Princess Luna is weak, but she still bears immense power. She is like a spoiled child, unaware of what she could do if she had the will to, so perhaps the term "Princess" really is fitting, after all. You will take her power, or you will take her, and then you will take what comes next. Everything between here and there will become means to those ends.

-You will learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will accept the Terrible Revelation.
-You will receive an additional EDGE scrap of lore, for your ambition, as well as +1 Martial and +1 Intrigue, for they will be sorely needed.
-Any action will be permissible, and everything you did, up until now, has been an act. But you are really good at acting.
-This quest will receive the "Villain" tag.
-And there will be no love within you.

[] You realize just how right your Master is: Your Master is right, and it is a blessing that you have met Copper Secateur and, through her, been induced into the cult. You must defend Equestria, no matter the cost, and only by furthering your cult will that be possible.

-You will learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will accept the Terrible Revelation.
-You will be personally loyal to your Master. Thoughts of betrayal will be much harder to harbor, even if you are required to do more questionable things. The alternative if you fail is too horrible, after all.
-Your loyalty will make itself shown through every small act, and every small word. You will grow in the eyes of your Master more quickly and will be more rewarded for your efforts.

[] You nod, a grim understanding coming to you: Equestria is in danger, and something must be done about it. You have not reached the point where you think a line has been crossed, not when considering what you have just seen. But you will keep that line close to your heart, for you know that you will lose something the day you cross it, and it is not something you wish to lose if you can avoid.

-You will learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will accept the Terrible Revelation.
-You will remain in your cult, but you will be attentive to your actions. The decision of whether what you are doing is correct, or not, will be made by you later.
-This is the "neutral" option. Call it noncommitment or call it wisdom, but the pony sitting on the fence can see further and clearer than those on the ground.

[] You shake your head in denial. This, just now, was wrong: There are better ways to do this. YOU know better ways to do it. But it is undeniable that you do know no a lot, about almost everything else. Your cult has an established structure and is growing, and you have a position of power within in, but after tonight, you do not intent to stay forever.

-You will NOT learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will accept the Terrible Revelation.
-The seed of betrayal will be planted in your heart, and you will slowly allow it to grow. You will remain in your cult, but with a hidden agenda.
-This is the subtle option for betrayal, and you will play the long game. Whether if you will attempt to take over the cult slowly, turning those who are closer to you against your Master one at a time, or if you will aim at taking your Master down in one fell swoop will be up to you.

[] You loudly decry your master. A moment too late, a second after his presence is gone, but you are heard by everypony else: What you did tonight was wrong, and your Master either knew of the consequences, or he is not wise enough to be worth following. But regardless of what he is, you will actively oppose him.

-You will NOT learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will NOT take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will accept the Terrible Revelation.
-You will attempt create a splinter from your cult. It will not be easy, but surely there will be some who will follow. You will choose whether if you will do it immediately, while the fright of the ritual is recent in the minds of the ponies who saw to its conclusion, or if you will do it later, albeit soon. But your intentions will be clear from the start.
-This is the unsubtle and fast option for leaving your cult, while keeping in touch with the esoteric.
-You will make an enemy out of your Master, but your actions will decide just how much of his attention and wrath you will attract.

[] You left. You broke. You galloped away, screaming, and you arrived home limping, your leg cramped with debilitating pain. No more of this. No more.: You do not want to have anything to do with this anymore. The ritual was too wrong, the memories of Princess Luna too vivid. The worms were too frightening.

-You will NOT learn from the Opening Lessons.
-You will NOT take note of the Deep Observations.
-You will DENY the Terrible Revelation.
-You will immediately break ties with your cult. A further option will be opened as to whether you wish too KEEP or FORGET your current Mansus Lore. There is no way to know how your Master, and the cult, will react.
-The quest will change very much indeed.

Regardless of your choice (unless you choose to flee), the following will also apply:

You have seen too much, you now know what exactly is at stake. And considering that "everything" is what is at stake, you are gripped by a sudden sense of urgency. You will receive +1 action per turn, as well as the option to "Neglect work to gain more actions", although those will inevitably draw suspicion.

~~Princess Celestia will now actively start hunting for whoever struck against her beloved sister.~~ Delayed, as all efforts are being directed at locating Luna.

The Grand Galloping Gala has been canceled.

A vote-picking turn will follow, as your cult reconvenes to iron out the next and immediate priorities. By then the news of Luna's disappearance will already have reached Ponyville.

Write-ins have not been offered, but conversation is the basis of anything. If anyone wants to suggest anything, please understand that it must be somewhere between the thought of "accepted it completely" and "denied it completely", following the sliding grade of loyalty that is between those two points. And also, said write-in will be heavily scrutinized before being included into the voting pool.

This vote is extremely important. It will be the basis of how Velvet Covers sees the world and plans her actions. Said view might change in time, as more things pile over this and more knowledge is learned, but this particular foundation brick will never be truly removed.

There will be at least 48 hours of voting, with an additional 24 extension planned unless there is a clear majority established.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Are you supposed to just continue to live normally? Are you supposed to just go back home, and start your day as if nothing had happened?

You step out into the streets, but you don't even bother being cautious or discrete about it. There is too much on your mind right now for you to care about anything at all.

This, all of this, has just been too overwhelming. From the moment you woke up today, it has just been one thing after the other. First of all you have these… memories about how you got to the cult meeting to begin with. You vaguely remember having a conversation with your Master, perhaps in the Woods during a dream, but after that you only recall images and sensations.

The feeling that your body was smaller than it should be, the idea that even the soft moonlight might have blinded you if you looked at it directly. Nothing that really makes sense.

And then there was the cult's gathering proper… and the ritual itself.

You saw through the eyes of Princess Luna. You were Princess Luna during certain parts of it. You felt her confusion at her sister's sudden proposal, even if it was within a dream. You experienced the incredibly deep bond that they share. You saw the world through her eyes and even felt her deep and honest happiness as if it had been your own… at least for the first few parts of the dream.

And of course, there was also what came next…

The alicorns, or at least the two royal sisters, seem to have come from somewhere else. From the "outside" as your Master sometimes calls it, or maybe you should refer to it as Nowhere. But they are not from here, regardless. And their actions, or perhaps the peace that they enforce, is causing something to grow within Equestria.

And this light, this music, whatever it might be called, is in turn attracting…

You shudder, the memory too recent and all too real for you to want to focus on it.

You felt what she felt, and after you left her body you continued to witness what she went through. It is impossible for you not to feel dazed at what happened. You are not sure if what you are feeling is empathy for the suffering of somepony you were for a short while, pity for what she suffered, shame over your own actions, or perhaps some sort of sympathetic fright, borne from the fact that during a few moments you thought that Princess Luna's agony was your own, even though you were already watching from far away.

Well, as far away as you were watching from you could still see clearly, and you could still hear.

You hope that one day you will forget that sound.

But what about it then? What can you possibly do about the things that you have just seen, the things that you have just learned? You are but a single pony, a mortal mare among the countless masses that inhabit Equestria. What can you do to stem the tides, to have some influence over powers whose scope seems to be the entire world, if not far, far more?

What can you possibly do to influence forces of such magnitude? Destroy the peace? Turn Equestria into a land of misery? Much as your Master insists that the world is not as it should be, that surely can't be the way. Equestria is still not a bad world… right?

You do not know. You have a sudden and chilling thought that, perhaps, that terrible fate you saw is the price to be paid for being allowed to feel happiness. As if the whole universe is wired in a way that no hope or joy can truly be experienced for free. This thought hits you like an icy breeze.

You do not know what to do. You are not sure if you know anything anymore.

But you are sure that you must do something, and if nopony else knows what that is, at least your Master seems to have an idea.

- - -

You are finally home and… you let out a tired sigh.

The front gate is locked, of course.

But being locked outside your own house is not the cause of your distress. Even though you are on this situation because something happened, and you have the vague memory of having jumped over the walls around your estate as you left late in the night, heavens know how.

No, what is causing your heart to weight is a simple, almost unrelated question.

"When did this start?"

You eye the keyhole of the heavy gate.

When did this, all of this, start happening?

When was the first time that you looked at a keyhole, much like this one, and started to think of it as a simple road or as a morning dream, instead of as the complicated piece of metal that it is?

You recall a few Knock secrets and focus your magic on your horn for a few moments. With a rapid succession of clicks the lock juts into an open position, its movement so effortless that you might as well have just used the real key you probably left back in your room.

When did you learn to do something like that? Or rather, the question is not when did you learn. But when did it become so obvious that doing something like this can be so simple?

You walk into the main hall of your house, although for some reason even having a roof over your head doesn't help you stop feeling that you might see something in the sky if you look up. Even though you know you will only see those things in the Dreamlands… you hope.

You go up the main stairs, towards the corridor that leads to your family's rooms, and the question strikes you again.

When was the last time, you can't help but wonder, that you walked up these stairs and actually produced any kind of noise that you could hear? You know that some of the wooden steps creak, even if only slightly, you have heard it from when the servants go up and down through it. But when was the last time that those specific spots weren't jarringly clear for you? When was the last time you did not avoid them almost out of instinct?

You open the door to your room, again soundlessly, and peek your head inside.

Your husband is still there, fast asleep and snoring lightly. He appears to be hugging your side of the bed, perhaps thinking you are still there. You try to smile at that, but not even that thought seems to summon any sort of happiness from you right now.

You go into your daughter's room instead, and sit down next to her bed. You try to gaze at her peaceful expression while she sleeps, perhaps that might help you put things into some sort of order or perspective.

But it does not help either. Every time you look at her, you wonder if she is dreaming. And every time you wonder if she is dreaming, you shudder at the thought that there might be something, at this exact moment, trying to force its way into her dreams.

To the balcony then. And if even the company of a book will not do, then perhaps solitude might be the only option left. At least for now.

At least until you sort out your own thoughts.

At least until you can answer the question that is haunting you. The question of...

"When will I ever again see the world as I used to?", you whisper to yourself as you close the balcony door behind you, locking with a flick of your magic.

You already know the answer, of course, but it still torments you all the same.

Up until now you had always seen going to the cult as some sort of hobby, a fancy that a bored noble mare would indulge in, in to forget about the less pleasant parts of her life. You always thought, even if only partially, that your Master's speeches about how the world is wrong were just semantics, a narrative that focused on certain aspects that certainly are pony-influenced, but nothing more.

But after what you have just seen? The world has never felt more wrong, like it is the mixture of several pieces that simply do not fit. Or perhaps you are the piece that no longer fits in it, so the discrepancies that were once subtle are now crystal clear from your crooked perspective.

For the whole day you think you are alone in these thoughts, alone in this point of view. For the whole day, as much as you feel your husband's worried gaze through the window of the balcony, and as much as you picture your daughter's scared expression as she spies at you, you feel you are alone in thinking that something is deeply wrong with… all of this. You think you are alone in this horrible realization.

Until the end of the day arrives and the sun does not set, as if to warn the whole world that nothing will ever be the same.

You have gained a scrap of EDGE Lore.

EDGE Lore is now level one.

You have gained a scrap of MOTH Lore.

MOTH Lore is now level three.

You have gained a scrap of KNOCK Lore.

KNOCK Lore is now level two.

You have gained a scrap of SECRET HISTORIES Lore.

SECRET HISTORIES is now level two.

…

WINTER Lore is now level two.

- - -

- - -

- - -

A full week passes, ever since that morning, before you reconvened.

The six of you are alone now, in the Woods. Your Master has just left after giving you the most basic of instructions.

He seemed dismissive, almost. Distracted. Although in all honesty there was not much to be discussed. Everypony already had a good idea of what needed to be done even before the reunion started.

There was only a single detail, of course, a specific task whose only uncertainty was to whom it would be trusted. But all else went somewhat as expected.

Windy Flakes is to finish establishing the new commercial front for the cult, and Starry Dancer must get in the know with the local merchants and bit-handlers in order to help him. Her task of trying to gain influence with the ponies who enforce the law has been aborted, since there is now an active investigation going on due to a murder. A crime of this gravity is already relatively rare in Ponyville, so her sudden presence and interest could very well be equated (correctly, somepony might add) to some sort of link to it.

Comet Feet has been ordered to continue furthering his understanding of Edge, and to lay low while at it. The Master was specific for him to get away from the town, although summoning him back if needed will not be a problem thanks to the very Woods in which you stand. Copper Secateur, on the other hand, must be more active. The mare has been asked both to attempt to interfere with the ongoing investigations, as well as to try to convert as many initiates as possible, taking advantage of the current ruckus on Canterlot.

And then he gave his final and most awaited instruction, although you cannot honestly say that you expected it to be given to the remaining two of you.

"Jade Whistle and Velvet Covers are to search for the fallen alicorn. Our next step would have been to reach for the Ritual Circle that allows for three Aspects, so that we might summon creatures from the Mansus to do our bidding. But this golden opportunity cannot be allowed to pass us by. Bend your every effort into it."

After saying his piece, the Master simply left, the wind accompanying him with a strange and soft sound that almost sounded like somepony mumbling under their own breath.

And the six of you were left alone.

"Well then ladies, if you will excuse me!" Windy Flakes says with a brilliant smile, turning to walk towards the darkness that surrounds you. Comet Feet leaves at the same time, but without saying a single word.

You, on the other hand, intent to stay and discuss your plans with Jade Whistle, but you can't help but see that the other two mares are still here. Much like you can't help but notice that one of them seems to be almost rooted on the spot where she has been sitting this whole time.

"Starry Dancer?" Copper finally takes the risk, addressing the mare that has been unusually quiet, "is there anything you would like to talk to us about?"

The pink pegasus seems to think for a moment, a nervous expression marring her usually cheerful face.

"Well… I know that Master seemed busy, so I didn't have the opportunity to ask him but… are any of you…?" she clearly hesitates, and mulls over her words for a little while longer, "…about the thirty two ponies who…?"

Copper had been vague enough so that she might be asking whether if Starry Dancer had any ploys she would like to discuss, but the more you learn about Starry the more you realize these social subtleties are not at all needed with her. She may have not even worded a proper question, but you all immediately understand what she means.

The same way you can all see that she is, somewhat, dreading what sort of reactions you might all have.

"Oh Starry, why didn't you just come out and say it?" Copper walks towards her, a calming smile on her face, "we all saw the same thing you saw," she says, and you can see that she means it.

"So you feel bad about it as well…?" Starry asks, slowly, as if somewhat not sure if she should.

"How could we not?" Copper's smile turns bitter, but she keeps it on her face regardless, "but you have to agree as well that it was…"

"In order to protect what is important, sometimes one must do questionable things," Jade Whistle interrupts, or rather complements, Copper Secateur, much to your surprise. She still has her usual expression, that neutral gaze that seems to be only slightly bored.

But this time, you actually feel something a bit deeper about her tone.

"But Windy seemed to have a smile on his face and…" Starry retorts, still downtrodden.

"Windy Flakes always has a smile on his face", you talk over Starry Dancer before she can even finish her sentence, trying your best to seem well humored about it as well.

You also try your best to make it sound like it was just the unicorn being himself, and not that he was acting amused specifically because of the particular thing you are talking about. Although you strongly suspect that was the case.

"But what we mean, Starry," Copper continues, "is that we… well, I think I can say we are all in this together. We have to, after all, you know we do."

It is clear that you are all just trying to cheer her up, to embolden her even if just a little. What all of you are saying is true, or at least you think everypony is being honest. But the weight of the things you are leaving unspoken is just too heavy for this to feel like anything more than bravado. You aren't actually addressing the subject, there isn't really anything that can be said, but the three of you are still here for her regardless.

And you hope this helps her, even if just a tiny little bit. You even dare say that you hope that this helps you too, as well.

You hope that knowing that you all feel the same, and are wordlessly promising to have each other's hinds, will help you focus a little more on what you have to do. That it will shed just a little more light on the whole situation.

"I… I think I understand… thank you," she says, with a lot less energy than usual, but still with a noticeable tone of honesty, even if only dejected honesty.

The answer that you three gave her was clearly not been the answer she had hoped for. But you know that anything else would have been either cold indifference… or the little lies that you would tell a filly to shield her from the truth. But all of you have witnessed the same things, there was no way you could even attempt to say those lies. They would have chocked in your throat even if you tried.

Knowledge is never kind, and the one you all just grasped is perhaps the most unkind that you have ever learned. But you truly hope that she will manage to harness it and work upon it, rather than be consumed by it.

Much like you hope you will be able to do that yourself.

- - -

- - -

- - -

Last turn's shopping list

These are the items that you had the option to purchase last turn. They must be bought with the resources you had available then, but if bought will be immediately available for use or study at this turn.

Last turn's available bits: 201

[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, moderately suspicious, buy for 100 bits
"The cut off appendage of some insectoid creature, encased in glass. Your servant also wrote that the salespony insists that the artifact is, somehow, cursed, although he did not get into detail."

(Books not bought will be lost, other items will be available through the following turns, but have a chance of being sold to somepony else every turn)

---

POSSIBLE ACTIONS

Specify which action will be carried out by your ponyservants. They will apply ONLY your status bonus, as they will follow instructions or carry your name and influence, but they will not apply personal bonus (bonus given by Lore, personal items, personal Characteristics or of any other nature).

Some actions will be tagged with a suspicion level. These are the actions that can be carried out by your ponyservants, and the suspicion level refers to how well they would (or would not) take to your task. Tasks that involve high suspicion might be outright refused, carried out with the inevitable gossiping, or even sabotaged if your servants believe that what you asked them to do is wrong.

Keep in mind that suspicion level refers to what a servant would think if asked to perform such task, regardless of them performing them, being caught or not. If you choose to perform the task yourself, you will take the necessary steps to be as subtle as you can, but the task itself will still raise suspicion if you are caught.

[ ] 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")

[] How much will you dedicate yourself to your family's affairs this month? (You must pick one)

-[X] A sense of urgency: There has never been any need for this, not for this much at least. No more double-checking, no more zeal. There are far more important things to be done. (5 personal actions and 1 servant action. Does not cause suspicion. DEFAULT PICK)

-[] A measured commitment: Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month. (6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[] A furious dedication: You will not be able to do what really matters if you dedicate so much of your time to such mortal affairs. Do as little as it is acceptable, then move on. (7 personal actions and 1 servant action. Will worry those closest to you. Will be noticed by the family head, although you cannot say to what extent.)

-[] A desperate obsession: Everything is falling down, everything depends on this. You will not even sit on your office this month. (8 personal actions and 1 servant action. It is guaranteed that you will be called out for this.)

This turn's available bits: 321 (minus items you decided to buy)

Monthly revenue: 120 bits/month

[] A fleeting opportunity (rumor mills spin, opportunities come and go. These actions will never be available again)

-[] You heard from Rarity that Twilight Sparkle will be going to Canterlot to try and visit Princess Celestia, due to her worries. She has not called for any of her friends to come with, but you just might "coincidentally" be visiting your family back in the capital for similar reasons. (Costs 20 bits on transportation)

[] On what must be done (searching for Princess Luna)

-[] Jade Whistle said that she will try to devise a Ritual to locate Princess Luna. The Mansus is the only advantage you have over the search parties, so helping her on this is surely the way to go.

-[] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.

-[] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else. Not suspicious, but servants will take no proactive action other than bring back information.

[] 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. All sub-choices not suspicious.
--[] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
--[] In the great libraries of Canterlot… the ones that are open to public access, that is (20 bits in transportation)
--[] In the many small bookshops that dot the side streets of Manehattan (35 bits in transportation)

-[] In all honesty, the Cult lacks an appropriate place for gatherings, at least when it comes to lesser meetings to discuss small matters, or to simply stash certain things. Scout for a suitable place, or other buildings that might be for sale. Not suspicious.

-[] 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? Not suspicious. Suspicion might arise if you later decide to buy the item, depending on its individual suspicion level.

[] Ponyville politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] There is somepony in charge of the "heavy lifting" within your cult, of course, but you could do with a few strong hoofs at your personal disposal. Go looking for such contacts. (Low chance for success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet) Moderately suspicious.

-[] There are bound to be, among all of those large, strong earth ponies, some who wouldn't mind a way to make some extra bits on the side. Reach out to them. (Scout out for ponies willing to get their hoofes dirty among your own employees. Low chance of success in Ponyville, according to Comet Feet). Highly suspicious.

-[] You are the highest authority from your family in Ponyville, and have countless earth pony farmers working under you. The next logical step it to scout for those who would be loyal to you and your cult. (Scout out for cult candidates within your own employees). Highly suspicious.

-[]Copper Secateur may be in charge of finding suitable candidates, she even was the pony who first introduced you into the Wildhoof Club, but you could use followers of your own.

-[] You have access to ledgers, but only your ledgers, and the fact that most of your produce is syphoned to Canterlot or to the railroads means that you actually don't have much of a feel when it comes to the merchants and bit-handlers of Ponyville. Attempt to contact the merchant guild of Ponyville, or whoever makes bits exchange hoofs, and expand your influence. Not suspicious.

-[] They're not the Royal Guard, but they're still guards, and as much as they might not have that much work on their hoofs, they're still the go-to ponies in case something worrying happens. Find out how the guard is structured in Ponyville, that will be the first step in getting to know them better. Moderately suspicious.

-[] A pony needs not to be a faithful of your cult in order to be useful, said pony needs only know what to report to whom, and when to keep one's mouth shut. Ponyville has an underworld, small as it might be, and their eyes and ears could be useful. Attempt to contact them. Highly suspicious.

[] Canterlot politics (furthering your influence in this town specifically)

-[] Despite the current kerfuffle you have with your family, you are still a noble. Try and reach out to others like you. Expanding one's influence has to start somewhere after all.
--[] Reach out to your family, at least the ones you go along well with.
--[] Reach out to other minor nobles of Canterlot.
--[] Reach out to other higher nobles of Canterlot, although that might be more complicated.

[] On aiding the cult (options not related to your current task, but related to the cult or with interactions with its members)

-[] Help Comet Feet
--[] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
--[] He definitely is attempting to go deeper into the Lore of Edge. Help him.

-[] Help Starry Dancer
--[] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
--[] She is supposed to get into the good graces of the local merchants, but you can't help but worry that she will be swindled out of her every bit during the whole thing. Give her a hoof.

-[] Help Copper Secateur
--[] She was the first pony you met from the cult, and you two have become good friends. Pay her a visit.
--[] What she did when she first met you, the whole recruiting dance, seems to be something she does often. Accompany her during one such night out and see if you can be of use.
--[] She has her plate full, this time, and trying to impede an official investigation is not something to be done lightly. Offer her your aid.

-[] Help Windy Flakes
--[] You realize you don't know very much about him at all. Time to remedy that.
--[] He is setting up a new business, isn't he? Surely you can be useful on that front.

-[] Help Jade Whistle
--[] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
~~--[] She is attempting to devise a Ritual that will aid you in finding Luna. Help her.~~ (Already an option as your current assignment).

[] On furthering your knowledge (actions directed at increasing your Lores, as explained in the Informational threadmark)

-[] The matters of [SPECIFY LORE] intrigues you, petition your cult's Master for a lesson (currently willing to teach all Lores up to level 4, gives a single scrap of Lore WITHOUT triggering a test)

-[] There is something about this… thing, and you must learn what it is (pick a single artifact to learn from its Lore, and check it for hidden abilities).
--[] ~~No artifacts available.~~ (Unless if recently bought)

-[] 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! (Pick up to two books to attempt to learn a scrap of Lore. Consumes books).
--[] BOOK, HEART Level 1. "A small book that covers a particular kind of elegant dancing".

[] The Mansus is a place of contradictions. It exists, and yet it doesn't. It is frightening, and yet it calls to you. Only through exploring it will you learn its secrets.

(Exploring a known part of the Mansus will yield the most varied of rewards, through a hidden roll of a dice. But beware that most rewards will be temporary, such as an Influence or a temporary buff. It is possible, however, to learn fragments of Lore as well, or to be rewarded nothing at all. Proceed at your own risk.)

-[] The Woods
--[] Explore the Woods, and its many whispers
--[] There are other places connected to the Woods, but that are not in the Mansus proper. Look for them.

-[] The Blank Door
--[] Explore the Blank Plains, the first afterlife of ponykind
--[] Visit the Lodge of the Sage Pony. You may not be able to talk to Baldomare, but you surely can listen very well.
--[] There are other parts connected to the Blank Plains. Look for them.

-[ ] You have studied the Lores, and are now more knowledgeable than before. It is time to climb even higher in the Mansus. (Mansus Hurdle CD 80, WINTER)

[ ] On the matters of house and heart (actions directed towards your own family, the part that you care for deeply as well as… the rest)

-[ ] 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.
--[ ] Alright, this might be a BIT on the cult-y side, but… why not start giving your family subtle hints of Lore here and there? You might catch their attention, or perhaps even their interest.
--[ ] WRITE IN (other ways to spend time with your family, or anything else)

-[ ] Bits are the engine of Equestria! You have been working your hooves off for years now, so it can't be seen as scandalous if you write a letter to your father requesting an increase in your share of the family's grants… right?

-[ ] You do know "your place" in the family, but bits are still important. A letter asking for a one-time gift will surely be better received than one asking for a permanent "raise", right?

-[] You really shouldn't, but needs must. Every single ledger from the farms east of Ponyville pass through you, it would be a simple matter to have some "administrative mistakes" make some bits disappear from the coffers and appear in your pockets. Highly suspicious.

[] On those who surround you (actions directed at your contacts and friends)

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

-[] Sit down and work on a letter. Reach out to nobles who do not live in Canterlot. They, much like yourself, might not be deeply entangled on the webs of politics that surround the capital, but that just means they can also act with more freedom, right?

-[] 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… (SPECIFY if it will be "a social call" or "a step forward to converting said pony". SPECIFY if "you are willing to spend bits on this", for that little extra leverage)
--[] Rarity, who bears the Element of Generosity (will not deepen your connection with her, will probably not respond badly if you start attempting to convert her)
--[] Twilight Sparkle, who leads the bearers of the Elements of Harmony
--[] Cheerilee, your daughter's schoolteacher
--[] Mayor Mare, the de-facto ruler of Ponyville
--[] Filthy Rich, a well-to-do and wealthy bussinespony
--[] WRITE IN (arrange to take your daughter to meet some of your younger acquaintances, or plan something else entirely)

[] 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.)

-[] ARTIFACT – MOTH Level 2, buy for 100 bits (in case you have not bought it at the end of the last turn)

[] On invoking the Lores (see RITUALS for more information, as well as CD and cost. SPECIFY if you will offer SACRIFICE)

-[] "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)

--[ ] To be performed your cult's gathering place, where it is discreet but the cult will know of your actions. (Jade Whistle's Cadre can currently aid with a +10 bonus)
--[ ] To be performed at your own home, where the cult will not know of your actions, but you probably will be discovered or leave traces of it.
--[ ] ~~To be performed on another location~~ (you do not yet know or own any such location)

[ ] Others WRITE IN (anything, but I will have to consider it, and it might make the voting period a bit longer)

Contacts who are "Good Friends" or better (currently only Rarity) have a better chance of reacting well or being useful if you include them in "Write In" options, although caution (and basic common sense on who to call for what) is advised. This might change if she is carpet-bomb called for everything.

While I honestly do not expect nearly as many voters to participate, the turns will start to get a bit more complex on their planning. There will be at least 48 hours of voting.

All voting will be in plan format, INCLUDING the decision of what was bought last turn.

And one last thing that must be addressed. IF you wish to keep the results on your attempts to find Luna a secret, make sure you do it away from your fellow cult members. You cannot be expected to convincingly lie on your reports if you take Jade Whistle to tag along, for example, or if you ask help for anypony else on that matter. Considering the mixed stand you seem to have about the Master, I figure this is relevant for you all to know.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

"Mommy, can I stay here with you?"

It was a sudden request. Your daughter simply appeared in your office, way after her bed time you might add, and asked if she could stay with you. You asked her if she had a bad dream, or if she would like you to read her a bedtime story or anything. But her answer was straightforward in a way that only a child's request can be.

"No, just wanna stay here with you, if it's ok."

That had been a few hours ago.

Silky Stream is still worried about you, that much is clear, and you can't blame her for it. Saying that you lost your composure on the day you witnessed Princess Luna's dreams doesn't even begin to describe how you were.

In hindsight, you know it could have been a lot worse. At least you were just quiet, at least you "only" wanted to stay alone, you didn't break down or let any stronger emotion take over you.

You would like to say that you also didn't react nearly as bad as the Princess, but even thinking about such comparison feels outright insensitive to you.

However, as much as your reaction was one of silence, it still did not stop your family from worrying, of course. Stormchaser subtly (well, subtly by his standards that is) hid from you that he had been called for an obviously urgent trip, after the explosion in the royal castle, just to stay with you for the next few days. He and your daughter practically hounded you during that time, until Stormchaser was content and convinced that you were feeling better.

But your husband is a grown stallion, he has the maturity of an adult, and a worrying situation like that is something he can handle. Your daughter, on the other hoof, is just a filly.

She wasn't just worried, she was scared. She still is.

So, you can understand why she is still feeling like this, why she is still coming to you more frequently, with that poorly hidden trepidation caused by something that is out of her control. That is why she is sleeping on the cushioned sofa you have on your office, wanting to be in your company simply because she has no idea of what else she can do.

"But still, as much as mommy enjoys being with you, it really is time for little fillies to go to bed," you whisper in her direction, not really wanting to wake her up, and get up from your chair.

You could float her with magic, of course, but for some reason another whim catches your fancy, accompanied by a mixture of nostalgia combined with the slight sadness that the day will soon come when you will no longer be able to do this.

"Let's see if I can still…" but that day is not today, and with the gentlest of touches you slowly lift your daughter with your hoofs and put her on your back.

Of course you are proud that you managed to do it without her waking up, but when did your little filly get so heavy?!

Your leg protests slightly at the added weight, but you couldn't care less. With gentle hoofsteps you make your way down the corridor, and head into your daughter's room.

You cheat a bit on this last part, using the slightest nudge of magic just to get her to a better position so you can put her to bed. But soon enough you have your daughter peacefully tucked in, her little face resting on her pillow, breathing softly.

You let out a small sigh. There are several things going on through your head, several thoughts from which you can pick right now, some of them good, many of them bad.

But the only thing that really comes to mind is that your daughter is growing. Slowly, quickly, steadily, into a pony that right now is totally different from the little foal you would carry not long ago. And although you adore her to pieces as she is right now, you can't help but think that watching her grow even more will be a change that you know will be for the best.

Changes can be good, after all. Of course you knew that, but having somepony remind you about it is always good.

"So thank you for reminding me of this, sweetie," you give her a light kiss on the forehead, with a smile on your face, and you write a mental note that you ought to be extra cheerful tomorrow to put her at ease.

You take one last look at her peaceful expression, feeling your mind go into the usual rounds of thinking about how cute your daughter is, and then you move to turn off the lamp. She really needs to sleep after all, and you need to let her.

You turn to the lamp.

And you realize that it is off, the candlelight within it dead and cold.

You tilt your head in surprise. Well then, you just need to close the curtains and leav-

The curtains are also closed shut.

You feel your heart beating just a little bit faster, not exactly with worry or fright, but instead accompanying the rhythm of your mind as it slowly reaches the realization that something is very, very wrong.

You look around, searching for the source of light, your mind trying to make sense of the fact that you can see your daughter clearly, you can see everything clearly, and yet there is not a single candle or open window in sight. You even make sure to even check your horn, as much as that sort of magical misfiring would be beyond weird from a mare your age.

Until you finally realize something.

Your eyes are closed. They have been closed this entire time.

A slight chill runs down your spine as you slowly open your eyes, only to be greeted by the total darkness of your daughter's room, the soft sound of her breathing and the pounding of your heart being the only things keeping you company.

And you finally understand what has happened to you.

You wonder what this change means. You wonder if it could ever possibly mean something good.

You have reached the third level of MOTH Lore and have come to a "realization", learning a secret that comes with it. Velvet Covers no longer needs light to operate, at least while in mundane darkness.

You have learned that the third level of a Lore will always entail "a subtle change of mind and body", although you do not know if that is good or bad.

You believe that the next level of knowledge can be achieved once you reach a "confident certainty" pertaining the Lore.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Plan Outreach
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of MOTH (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] A measured commitment:
Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month.
(6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[X] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.
--[X] Invoke the power of the MOTH to Protect You From Nightmares.
-[X] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else.
-[X] Help Comet Feet
--[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer
--[X] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
-[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
-[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] [Servant Action]

- - -

"Goodbye! And you make sure to listen to Soft Sweeps!"

"Okay mom! Byeeee!"

You exchange farewells with your daughter for what must be the umpteenth time as your carriage slowly makes its way towards the gates of your estate, and you are sure you would have done it a few more times if not for the fact that the carriage has finally turned toward the road, placing the walls between you and her.

You sag down to your seat, already starting to feel worried.

"Everything all right ma'am?" Ponpon, sitting next to you, asks.

But that's just a courtesy question. She knows you too well, so the answer is already obvious.

"Aaaahh…" you let out a disgruntled moan, your hoofs going to your face as you try to regain some semblance of composure, "it'll be a whole week Ponpon. A whole week!"

You sit back up as the carriage gains speed. A beautiful scenery of farmlands and greenery passes through your window, although you couldn't care less.

"I told her and re-told her everything she should be careful with. Soft Sweeps was kind enough to agree with staying the nights until we are back, so thank the heavens for that. I trust everypony that works at our house... but still."

You fumble, as if you are trying to grasp for something that isn't there, only to give up not long after.

"I'm sure Silky will be just fine, ma'am. And you have already been away from home before, when she was even younger," she remarks, with a calm expression that seems only very slightly humored.

"Yes, but Stormchaser had been home during those periods," you say, unconsciously summoning the archives of your head and drawing a timeline of when you had been at home taking care of your daughter.

Your heartbeat quickens as you reach out for more and more of your recollections. You have practically been with Silky during her whole life, you have to turn this carriage around right now and-!

"Ma'am", Ponpon shakes you out of it before you can finish your thought process, and you see in her eyes that she knows exactly what you are thinking about, "Silky Stream is already a grown filly. Plus, she's with Soft Sweeps, and although she hasn't told me what exactly happened between her and Silky, I can guarantee that she is taking to her assignment as her caretaker with dedication."

You look into Ponpon's eyes and you can see that she is being honest, a long sigh escaping you as you lightly let go of yourself on your seat.

"I suppose…" you admit defeat, trying not to think too hard about it.

Ponpon, seeing that you have finally calmed down, lets out a short laugh as she remembers something.

"In fact, perhaps too much dedication, ma'am. There's been this gossip going around that Silky has been calling her 'sister' and…" she chuckles a little bit more, "well. You worry too much ma'am. I promise you that everything will be just fine."

You really hope Ponpon is right. But you still can't help but worry about it, even if just a bit less.

- - -

There has been no small amount of effort put into it, the whole affair of searching for the Princess. Pegasus town criers arrived in Ponyville less than three days after the news, and they brought with them instructions to anypony interested in helping in the search for Princess Luna.

The details that they brought about the occurrence, as well, were interesting. They declared that there had been an attack on the capital, and that Princess Luna went missing. Their version of why the sun did not set that day, also, followed the lines of Princess Celestia immediately setting out to look for her.

But you have a little bit more of… insight, of what happened. You can connect the subtle holes on that narrative well enough.

They also omitted a few details that you heard from gossip, of course, the ones about Princess Cadance sitting on the sun throne during those few first days. But from what you have heard, Princess Celestia is already active once again, and seems to be engaging in this search with every last fiber of her being.

Understandably so, of course.

Regardless, your carriage arrives at the Ponyville train station, in which you, Ponpon and one of the two carriage-pullers board one of the daily trains specifically dedicated to ferrying volunteers for the search.

Princess Celestia must truly be mobilizing all of Equestria for this. Hearing that there would be means available for anypony who wanted to join is one thing. But seeing the actual train schedule, the Equestria-wide train schedule made to gather and move around every last bit of available horsepower is another thing entirely.

And your understanding of just how large this whole thing will be just grows when you finally arrive at your destination.

It was a rather short train ride. The train followed the railroad that leads to Canterlot, but took a curve right before entering the tunnels that would scale the insides of the mountain, towards the capital.

That curve was not there the last time you took this train, mind you. Earth pony industry really is something else.

And after no much time at all it arrives at a train station that, again, you are sure did not exist last week.

The building itself seems solid and reliable, but the lack of pony flare or the usual ornaments that one would expect from equestrian architecture goes to show that it was built to be functional. That is, perhaps, the only evidence that it had been built in a hurry.

You disembark from the train together with dozens of other volunteers and you take a look around. You can't help but notice that the place right outside the train station looks like a Royal Guard camp.

Actually, you realize in a few moments, it IS a Royal Guard Camp.

Royal guards, the real deal and not just regular town guards, are waiting next to the train, pointing the coming volunteers in the direction they should go. A small sea of tents, topped with colored banners, is visible not far from there, and you can mentally map their purposes. A sea of small tents in orderly rows, probably to be occupied by volunteers, large tents topped with red flags surrounded by cargo carriages, possibly for supplies. The place seems to have been well thought out, and already you spy that one of the larger tents is a bit far from the rest, with the flag of the Equestria fixed on its top, instead of a plain colored one.

You give Blunderer, your accompanying ponyservant, some quick instruction of where to head with your luggage, and nod for Ponpon to follow you.

Yes, there are royal guards herding the volunteers into lines, but you aren't just any old volunteer.

You are in a travelling dress, and you have a fully uniformed maid by your side. That is bound to get you to places more easily.

[The application of influence, breakpoints 40/80]

[Roll: 6 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) = 22]

"Excuse me sir, good evening," you and Ponpon approach one of the royal guards that are directing the lines, "me and my friend here would like t-"

"Ma'am," he cuts over you, with the sharp voice of a pony you would indeed expect to be in the guard, "please follow the lines so you can be sorted together with the other volunteers."

His tone was like a slap to your face. He didn't even look at you while he was speaking, but he made it very clear that you should get moving and not disturb him any further.

And much like how you would react to a slap, you really stand there for a few moments, slightly shocked.

You can see Ponpon biting her lips as well, as if unsure of what you will do next.

"Ma'am, should w-?"

"Ponpon" you interrupt her, a smile re-appearing on your face, "would you kindly help Blunderer with our luggage?"

You see Ponpon look at you with a somewhat wary expression, but she quickly leaves you with a hurried "yes ma'am".

Why is she suddenly so worried? Does she expect you to start a loud fuss with the guard or anything? You honestly thought she knew you better than that. Besides, you know that it wouldn't work regardless.

No, you have something else in mind.

[The other path, breakpoints 50/100]

[Roll: 80 + 12 (Intrigue) + 15 (MOTH bonus) = 107]

You head to the lines, as you were dutifully directed by the polite royal guard, with the only difference being that you don't exactly fall in on the line, you navigate through it. Some ponies might call it "skipping" but what you are doing is far more advanced than that.

You weave your path through the gathered mass of ponies as they try to form a semblance of order. It is a little like trotting towards a closing door, only to pass through it moments before it finally closes, like the subtle dance in the shadows of a twilight, when neither the sun or the moon are in primacy, the crossing of the subtle path that forms whenever order and chaos clash. You do not collide against a single pony, even as dozens of them walk to and fro around you, while getting into an organized position, and you are the very first pony of the line on the exact moment that everypony is finally in orderly rows. You don't even spare a glance at the waiting guard as he handles you a brochure with instructions and points you in the direction you should go.

You mind absently notes that you have not stopped walking during all of this, not even for a moment. But you ignore that useless "rational" part of your brain as you make your way to the sea of white tents, floating the brochure in front of you and quickly checking the map printed on it.

Rationality failed you the moment that guard dismissed you, so you will take the other path.

You make your way into the sea of white tents, although the one on the opposite direction that you were supposed to head to. This place is a Royal Guard camp, for sure, but only in the sense that it was prepared by the Royal Guard. There are no patrols to speak of, or at least respectable patrols, as every last guard is busy taking in the next mass of civilians that just arrived.

This is not a military camp on a war footing, there are no walls or palisades. And that must be because everypony knows that, well, that ponies are trusting and reliable beings, or at least that the grand majority of them are, especially when they gather in large numbers to help each other. So although you could have some critics to the fact that you have not stumbled on any pony who thinks you are being suspicious, you also see the logic in not diverting their already thinly spread efforts into guarding against the very ponies who have arrived to lend their hoofs.

You do have to take some detours every now and then, of course, after all you are already quite far from the clearly labeled "volunteer camp", and you are already working your way through the supply camps and the more militarized part of the complex. But soon enough you have your sights on the place you believe that the leadership is, the banner of the pony kingdom flying high on top of it.

There are two guards in front of the door, of course.

But sometimes, not faking anything is the best form of fakery.

You confidently trot in the direction of the two guards, with the same focused (and perhaps slightly bored) expression you would wear while working, and the two guards simply nod at you and open the door so you can go in.

"The meeting is already underway, ma'am," one of them even volunteers politely.

Its rather ironic, you muse. There technically "was" an attack against the capital by an unknown enemy, as the stories go, although you know the fact of the matter is a lot more complicated than that. But technically, going by that version of the story, you "are" an agent of said unknown enemy.

So, you find it somewhat amusing that you managed to sneak into a command tent of the Royal Guard under these circumstances. It even crosses your mind that if that attack had been the opening move of a war, and if you were an assassin, then you would be able to cause all sorts of trouble from here on.

And you are only slightly worried that these thoughts crossed your mind so suddenly. Ponies are, after all. peaceful and trusting creatures, so you wonder just how strange this thought just now was supposed to have been. You shake your head to dismiss those thoughts, knowing that you have far more important things to focus on, and step into the large tent.

[The Most Important Treasure Hunt Ever]

[Crown adherence: auto 100. Every last bit of infrastructure will be bent to this end, by Royal Decree if needed.]

[Commonpony adherence: 86. National commotion.]

[Noble adherence: 27. Even now, they see this only as a chance to turn on each other.]

And you see chaos.

"Sir, another train just arrived. The headcount should be coming in shortly."

"I'm telling you, we don't need just a headcount, it needs to be specific! For the third time, how many pegasus do we have in this camp?!"

"Captain! There has been a problem with the train bringing supplies from Cantelot, we wont be able to-"

"Sir, somepony is already gathering the volunteers, they are waiting for you to-!"

"Captain, please you have to-!"

You see chaos.

The inside of the command tent is large and tall, a proper meeting hall where over a dozen ponies are gathered. There is a large wooden table on the center with a gigantic and detailed map of Equestria spread over it, divided into several areas by red lines. Each area, you think, centered around a camp such as this.

You aren't savvy on the workings of the Royal Guard, but everypony is wearing some sort of insignia or armor, and everypony seems to be talking at the same time.

No... you might not know the first thing about the Royal Guard, but you are knowledgeable when it comes to power and status. In a few moments it becomes clear to you that what you are seeing is not exactly everypony talking at the same time, but rather that everypony is talking to a single pony at the same time.

On the far end of the table you see him, a unicorn stallion in armor, his helmet forgotten next to him on the table as he passes a nervous hoof over his forehead.

That is probably the "captain" everypony is shouting for.

And he desperately is in need of assistance.

[Aiding in the ponyhunt, breakpoints 35/70/105]

[Roll: 96 + 10 (Stewardship) = 106]

You see confusion, and that is something you know well. You see how you could cause this chaos to grow, how to turn this whole place into an uncoordinated buzz of contradicting activity with but a few whispers or panicked remarks.

But you are not here to cause chaos. Quite "au contraire" as Rarity says all the time, you are here to do the opposite.

However... you simply wont be able to work while everyone is being so… loud.

"Will everypony please be quiet."

You stomp a hoof on the table, and everypony falls silent as if a sudden cold breeze had hit them.

You take a deep breath. Everypony is looking at you now, including that "captain", but you know that their surprised attention will not last long.

"Lady Velvet Covers," you say shortly, "from Canterlot," you add in the blink of an eye, and you immediately see that some of the ponies calm down noticeably with that, at the idea that some higher authority has sent an agent to aid them.

Well, that is technically not true, although the semantics of you really being a noble making it some sort of grey area, but they probably don't need to know that.

"And you are captain…?" you throw an inquisitive glance, a commanding inquisitive glance, at the pony on the other side of the table, to which he replies by nearly going ramrod straight in his posture.

"Captain Chalkhoof, my Lady," he answers, and you merely give him a grave nod for an answer.

You sit down next to the table and give the map a once-over. It seems you were correct in believing that there are several camps such as this, each in charge of an area, and this camp seems to be responsible for searching the surroundings of Canterlot and the neighboring lands and cities, all the way to the terrestrial limits of Cloudsdale.

But if they are all as disorganized as this one, the search is off to a very poor start indeed.

"Supplies," you say, as if you were addressing a pony whether than just saying the word, and as you intended you see one of the ponies around the table snap into attention, "get me an inventory of what we already have on-site. I want this camp established and sure that it will be fed before we start planning our search parties."

"Whoever is in charge of the civilians," an armored mare reacts, "get me that headcount. We can sort everypony into groups later, but what we can't do is produce more tents out of thin air. Give me an answer of how many more ponies we can manage before this place bursts with volunteers."

"And…" you stop, finally taking your eyes away from the map as you look around, noticing that everypony is still in silence. You can feel a strange unease settling into the air as they keep their confused eyes on you.

You let out a theatrically annoyed sigh, making sure everypony present can hear it, and you look straight into the captain's eyes, far as he may be on the other side of the table.

You clop a hoof against the table twice, sending him a stare as if he were failing to answer a very obvious question, and let a wordless "Well? Tut-tut?" hang in the air around you.

"What are you waiting for?" the captain finally snaps out of it and looks at the still-stunned ponies around the table, "by the princesses, do what she says!"

And with that, the command tent becomes a buzz of activities. Several ponies rushing away to perform their assignments, and several others getting things into order as you continue to snap out one instruction after the other.

You see one of them bringing a chair and placing it next to the captain, and you head there before even being invited to, the captain himself looking much less lost as he starts telling you the details of the situation while you float an apparently ownerless set of ink and paper in your direction.

"And have some guards watch the path between the train station and the civilian camp proper. I don't want anypony losing their way between those two places and ending up here by accident!" you shout at nopony in particular as you start taking notes of what the captain is saying.

- - -

After a long week, most of which was spent getting the camp into an efficient semblance of order so that proper searches may begin, you finally say your farewells to captain Chalkhoof. He seems almost distraught when he realizes you are leaving, but after a few deep breaths he gives you a confident nod.

"Thank you, Lady Velvet. You can trust us to take it from here."

Later this month you will receive word that the areas around Canterlot are being combed. Princess Luna is not, as far as the searches go, anywhere in the lands surrounding the capital. This knowledge will aid in your own efforts while searching her.

Equestria being a kingdom, "noble adherence" can be seen as "organization", while "commonpony adherence" can be seen as "available workforce". The search efforts have muscle and means, but from what you hear of noble gossip it seems to be extremely lacking in organization.

Your aid to the searching camp has been efficient enough to attract somepony's attention.

Social shenanigans to follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Plan Outreach
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of MOTH (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] A measured commitment:
Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month.
(6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[X] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.
--[X] Invoke the power of the MOTH to Protect You From Nightmares.
-[X] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else.
-[X] Help Comet Feet
--[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer
--[X] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
-[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
-[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] [Servant Action]

- - -

You know a lot of things. Granted that nopony knows everything about anything, but you do pride yourself on your knowledge and education, even if just a bit.

However, you can say with a fair degree of certainty that you do not know the first thing about bombs.

You have never seen a bomb. You have never seen anything explode, bar the occasional magical mishap you have witnessed years ago, and you have never even witnessed the strange contraption called a "Party Cannon" which you have heard that exists in Ponyville.

However, you can't help but shake the feeling that, right now, you are holding a bomb.

"Can we?" the bomb whispers, repeatedly trying to force its way out of the tight grip of your foreleg, "can we? Canwe canwe canwecanwe?"

This "bomb", of course, is your daughter.

"Hush… just a little bit more…" you whisper back, willing her to stop prancing with your quiet tone.

You and your daughter are in the pitch-dark corridor of the second floor, right in front of the door to your own room. Well, Silky Stream is in a pitch-dark corridor, you can see just fine, but she knows the house well enough to know exactly where she is.

The two of you are here right now because your husband is still sleeping in your room, on the large bed beyond this very door. The same husband who arrived only yesterday, late at night, several days later than he said he would. The same husband who nearly collapsed at bed as soon as he arrived, obviously exhausted after heavens knows how much work he had to do thanks to the recent uproar in Canterlot.

The same husband who, today, is…

"How much longer? Moooom?!" Silky whispers in your direction. You smile at her impatience, and you note that at least she is still whispering, but she sure could use a little more of composure for this kind of situation.

Well, you can't exactly blame her either, you were also giddy yourself when you woke her up earlier this morning.

"Just a little bit more, Silky…" you whisper in her ear, feeling her trembling in excitement.

And then you hear the signal you had been waiting for, the soft chime of the clock on the main hall. The exact indication that Stormchaser has slept at least six hours now.

"Ok, he's all yours," you let go of Silky, and lightly open the door to your room with a flick of magic.

"DADDY!" your daughter practically explodes through the door, banging it open and flying straight into the large mount of covers shaped like her father's sleeping silhouette, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY DADDY!"

You walk into the room a few moments later, hearing the satisfying mixture of surprised whimpers from a recently-awakened stallion and your daughter's excited shouting as she repeatedly jumps on top of him.

"WAKEUP DAD! WAKEUP WAKEUP! ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY DADDY, LETS GO LETS GO!"

The prancing continues, and it gets quicker and more frantic with each passing moment. You have the impression that your husband reoriented himself under the sheets so your daughter will at least be jumping on his back now, but that makes little difference for the overexcited filly.

And as much as he clearly does not want to get up you calmly walk towards him anyways.

"Happy birthday dear" you whisper to the defeated mount of sheets, knowing that he can still hear you clearly even over your daughter's clamoring, "and I think we both know she won't stop until you're out of bed," you say with a smile.

"Can't my birthday present be…" he interrupts himself with a loud "ack!" as Silky probably lands a hoof somewhere more delicate, "five more minutes…?"

"No," you answer with a charming smile, which you know he can't see anyways, and then you turn your back to the two of them to head out of the room, "Silky dear, make sure daddy gets downstairs soon, alright?"

"Okay mom!" she answers, without breaking stride from her prancing.

You close the door behind you, ignoring the faint impression that your husband is calling for your help, and head downstairs.

- - -

"You honestly thought we would forget, dear? Preposterous!"

"Yeah daddy, prep… preposterous!"

Stormchaser nearly chokes at your daughter's attempt at imitating you, but soon enough he gulps down the cake he was chewing on.

"Well, I mean, I forgot about it. Besides, you know I don't really mind all of this," he says, trying to sound convincing in his lie.

Keyword being trying.

"Take note Silky," you say, changing your tone to something that sounds mockingly serious, "once you are a happily married mare you will celebrate your dear husband's birthday, no matter what he says."

"Right!"

You see your husband smile at that, a nearly imperceptible blush working its way through his cheeks, and you smile back at him.

The three of you are on top of a hill, one that is right next to your estate. This is a place you had found out about years ago, being an elevation that is right next to the very last bit of farmlands that surrounds your family's property. You had visited it once, long ago, with a prospecting team to see if there was anything worthwhile available to mine, although mining next to a farming operation is highly discouraged, but you earmarked it due to its beautiful view.

You have already been here before with Stormchaser and Silky, of course, but it still is one of your favorite places to be.

Especially during a picnic!

"Daddy, do you like the cake? Do you?" you daughter does the equivalent of jumping up and down while sitting still, "mom said I couldn't go to the bakery because I'd want to eat the place, but I told her what flavors to pick!"

Your husband nods profusely, in the middle of stuffing his mouth with another piece, and that is more than enough of an answer for your daughter.

"But whatever happened for you to take so long, dear?" you ask him, floating a napkin towards his face, "you usually don't take that long during your trips. And I can't remember when was the last time that you got home so late."

"It's just," he starts with his mouth still full, gulping down mid-sentence, "just boring work stuff dear. Nothing really important to share with you."

He might have said that, but you still see a small frown in his face as he wolfs down on his piece of cake. You still see a slight… shadow in his eyes.

You let out an inaudible grunt, this just will not do! You get up from where you are sitting around the picnic basket and sit down next to him, giving Silky a slight wink for her to follow your lead.

"Oh my dear cute sweetheart," you sit next to him, leaning against his side and resting your face against his shoulder, "don't be like that."

You feel him groan slightly at that, hearing you change your tone of voice into the cuddly-spoiling variation that always gets you what you want from him. He already knows what comes next, you grin at the thought.

"You're always such a big strong stallion, and also a caring and huggable dad," your daughter lands next to him, hugging him by the waist as if on cue, "but you don't have to be like that all the time if you don't feel like, especially not with your two favorite girls."

You see him frown at that, his smile turning into something else as he tries to resist your wiles.

But you know him too well to be dissuaded just by that. You've been married with him for too long.

"I just don't think it's important that I talk about work here and…"

"Not talking about work is fine, keeping certain parts of your life separate is fine, but you clearly brought a bit of those rainclouds back home. And I mean in here," you lightly touch your hoof against his chest, and you feel him sag a bit at that, "so don't worry, and just let us help you get that weight off from your shoulders, then."

"Yeah, nothing daddy says isn't important," Silky says helpfully, the side of her face still pressed against her father in a tight hug.

You see Stormchaser's mood slowly crumbling, and a tired expression finally surfacing from beneath his bravado.

You smile at that. You know he was happy with your and Silky's surprise, the whole birthday idea. You know he wouldn't fake that sort of thing for his own daughter, but you also realized that he has been carrying something heavy for a while now.

And it's not fair that he bends mountains to take care of you and Silky, but don't get anything in return.

You love him. So of course you will always take care of him.

"Well… like I said," he sighs, but takes the two of you in with a wing-hug, "it's just boring work stuff. But with the whole uproar in Canterlot, everypony seems to think that…"

And so, he begins to talk, and you and your daughter just stay there listening to him. It isn't anything major, in the end, just the piling up of small problems, the constant addition of those little unreasonable things that might happen when he is away from home. Just the coupling of several little unfair situations, one after the other.

So you can see why he was resistant about letting it show, you can see why he didn't think that sort of thing was even supposed to bother him. But you know he is wrong in thinking that way.

You know that it's the small things that eventually smother you, that it's the small problems of life that slowly creep up behind you, until you are surrounded and drowning in them.

So, it makes you honestly glad that you can be there for your family to help them with these small things, much like how they are always there for you.

And after you are all done eating, you head back home, your daughter practically dragging her father by the neck when you get close to the door, not wanting to wait any longer to show him the present that she asked you to buy for him.

You have completely recovered from the stress caused by the Ritual's experience.

Having spent a good amount of time with your family, after acting only in a slightly strange manner as of late, your family and close servants are completely unsuspicious of you, currently.

- - -

- - -

- - -

Stallions sure are a hooffull, you idly think to yourself.

They sometimes can be extremely simple creatures, of course, but it is precisely due to their simplicity that they are sometimes hard to maneuver around.

You have years of experience with your husband, and the fact that he had been completely smitten with you from the very first day you were introduced to each other helps a lot, so he doesn't exactly count. In fact, you think as you recall the first few weeks of your arranged relationship, it was him who practically put his heart out to get you interested in him…

But regardless, although most stallions can be easy to read and understand, the simplicity of their single-mindedness also makes it hard to get them to soften up. Sure, most of them react well enough when you are charming or something like that, but when those few and straightforward doors aren't available you are usually left with a brick wall that won't budge, no matter how hard you bang your head against it.

And you can think of one such stallion, also coincidentally a pegasus, who has been worrying you as of late. Of course, you could technically disregard your worries and see him as no more than a work acquaintance. But in your personal opinion that is not really an option anymore, not after what you all saw in Princess Luna's dreams.

You can no longer see the cult as a mere pastime, or an intriguing avocation. No, the six of you are all in this together now, and although you honestly do not comprehend your Master well enough to have a final opinion on him, you realize that he is at least as invested in this as you all are. Probably a lot more, in fact.

You might not be able to get a read on your Master, at least not yet, as you are not even sure if he is a pony to begin with. However, you most definitely can get a read on Comet Feet.

Something about him, several things in fact, have been worrying you, and you have been acting upon said worries, as much as he strikes you as the kind of stallion that is especially hard to get close to.

To this end, you have been leaving a few marks and signs on the dark trees of the Woods, scribbled messages in the spots your Master has taught the cult to look for, places where thoughts and visions can linger for more than a single night, although they always turn to dust at the end of every moon cycle.

You have not been the only one either. Several trees were already marked, the signs that more of the recently induced have found their way into the Woods, the telltale hints of increased coordination and of the execution of more subtle actions. But you, for your part, left messages specifically for Comet Feet, and hoped he would deign to answer them.

And much to your surprise, just last night he did so.

Maybe it is paranoia, maybe it is just how his mind works, or maybe it is just a coincidence, but last night was the very last night of the lunar cycle, and you found his message during that small frame of time in which it would not last for more than a few hours as the first sunrise of the next cycle fast approached.

But regardless, he answered you, and carved on the black bark of that tree the instructions of where to find him. You set out on the morning of the next day, not wanting to lose the opportunity. He has wings, after all, and instructions to "stay away from town", so relocating every few days is certainly not beyond him.

You left your estate at first light. Your husband's birthday was a few days ago, and he is out of town again, but you left a note for Ponpon saying that your usual walk would take more time than usual.

You crossed the town, heading to the south-eastern road, the one next to the bank of the river that cuts off the Everfree Forest.

You headed onwards, as the houses that were farther from Ponyville became scarcer, and the looming forest, far as it may be, seemed just a little bit darker.

You passed by a small wooden cottage that seemed to have grown out from the ground, or at least that's what it looked like with its roof being literally covered in the outgrowth of plants and leaves. You saw a good number of critters nearby it, eating from bowls with fresh vegetables that looked like they had been recently placed. Whoever lives there sure looked like somepony who cares about the local wildlife… or who is simply too disconnected from actual society to be bothered about living so far from the city itself.

But you passed by even that small cottage, and went further away from Ponyville.

Your leg had already starting to ache for a while when you finally reach it.

It is a… place, that is for sure. You went out of the road after passing by the hollowed-out tree, you followed the nearly forgotten dirt path, you did everything the carved instructions told you to, although it was somewhat spooky for most of the time.

And you finally arrive at a… place. You are standing in front of an abandoned shack, its rotting wooden roof barely held by rain-punished walls, a single glass window with a broken hole in it gazing back at you like the empty socket of a dead skull.

You are sure that, normally, you would be feeling frightened about being here. But the messages left in the Woods are not only lines of carved text. The trees also remember bits and pieces of thoughts and visions, they shear away at your memory for every small chip you carve in their hardened barks. Walking here was almost like walking to a place you had visited when you were maybe a filly, the distant memories imprinted by Comet Feet lending themselves to you during every hoofstep of the way.

The place looks abandoned, and glancing up you can see that it is totally covered by the surrounding trees, with leaves and vines obscuring it from the aerial view of anypony who might fly over it. You also realize that you had your eyes closed for a while now, and a quick peek reveals that the wooden shack is almost completely untouched by sunlight.

You close your eyes again, for good measure, and take a quick look around the shack.

At first you think it is an abandoned woodcutter's lodge, since several of the trees that surround the shack seem to have been recently cut. However, you quickly realize that is not the case as you notice a few more things.

You quickly realize that these are signs of training.

You don't see a single tree that has been totally cut down, all of them had been struck, by something sharp you might add, but none of them had been felled as if sawed down for wood. The marks you see on these trees have been made with finesse, with something that you don't quite believe was an axe, but that you are not knowledgeable enough to precisely pin down.

Then you see trees that have been physically punished. You don't have any better words for it, seeing that these are trees with legitimate craters on their trunks. Some of those craters are shallow, or are simple cracks against the woods, but some are deep and speak of a terrible strength, the mark of a horseshoe clearly visible as if purposefully carved by a powerful hindleg kick.

And then you notice… other trees… You don't feel like looking at them, much less approaching them, but those trees seemed to have been…

You see markings that could only have been made by teeth or claws, deep and frantic gouges all over their surface serving as evidence that nothing but mindless hatred had been unleashed upon them. You avert your eyes before you start connecting the dots. There is a lesson here, but you have not come to learn about this, specifically, so you turn your closed eyes towards the forgotten building once again.

And then you realize Comet Feet has been looking at you this whole time, from where he is crouching down on top of the rotting shack.

"Velvet Covers…" you hear his voice, deep and clear, as he lightly jumps from the precarious roof and lands next to you, "were you followed?"

You can't quite place if he is in a bad mood, or if this is simply his usual disposition.

"Not that I know of," you reply politely, to which he simply nods.

You take another look at him, and you realize you never really appreciated how large the pegasus is.

He is built like you would expect an earth pony to be built, a large earth pony that is. He is a full head taller than you are, horn included, and you are pretty sure that your two forelegs put together wouldn't amount to a single one of his. His coat is dark, not exactly black but of some particular color taken to the extreme side of dark, maybe some deep dark green or the likes. His mane, however, cut short probably for practical reasons, is raven black.

He is also… sharp, so to speak. You don't feel an Influence about him, to which you are thankful as it would have made talking somewhat harder, but you can feel the Edge about him. Comet Feet must truly be dedicating himself to pursuing it.

"Why are your eyes closed?" he remarks, his head turning quizzically as he inspects you with the same scrutiny you are inspecting him.

You chide yourself mentally for it, this is really something you must start being mindful about, and open your eyes, the clear image of the Pegasus turning into a badly illuminated version of himself.

"Pardon, but they weren't exactly useful in this darkness to begin with, were they?" you answer with a pleasant smile.

The stallion shrugs, and walks deeper into the forest, towards the patches where the trees are still unmarred and untouched. You take his reaction as an invitation to follow him.

"Well, here you are," he says as he walks in front of you, "you were insistent enough. What is it that you want?"

That is the question that you had been practicing how to answer for a while now. Most of your scenarios would have you simply playing it by ear, of course, but you did anticipate that Comet Feet might just be as direct as he is being right now.

However, you also recall that those were not the scenarios you had been hoping would unfurl.

"Well," you pick your words carefully, knowing that you should use preciously few of them to get a point across, "I was honestly wondering if you would like to discuss about what we saw on the Ritual…?" you look at his back while you speak, trying to fish for some sort of reaction that you could latch on to, "it was after all, quite the… experience."

"I saw the same thing you all saw," he answers simply, approaching one of the trees and passing a hoof over its trunk, taking a deep breath and pulling his hoof back.

Before you can even think to reply you hear a loud cracking noise, followed by the sound of frightened birds flying away in the distance. You close your eyes to make sure of what just happened, and you see that Comet Feet's hoof is now resting on a small crater on the surface of the tree.

He still seems composed, however, if only a little disinterested. You think about your options and try again.

"Yes, of course. But I was wondering how exactly… do you think we should go about with dealing with it? Since Master told you to stay away from town, I couldn't help but wonder if you had time to give it some deep thought and…"

You hear him sigh, but you can't be sure if it is just a deep breath or a sign of something worse.

He moves his foreleg for a few moments, and you only realize his hoof was stuck on the tree when he forces it out, the clear sign of a horseshoe imprinted on it.

Then he turns to you, and you realize his sigh meant he is rather annoyed.

"Look, I know that I've been sent here while things are happening, but that doesn't mean I'm doing nothing. And if you are here to pester me with ideas like Windy Flakes did, then I'll let you know that I'll just give you the same answer."

Your mind jumps to full gear as you try to take all of it at once. Did he think you meant he was just idling about while everypony else worked, and took offense in it? Would trying to apologize have any effect? And what about Windy Flakes being here as well, and what the hell did the unicorn tried talking to him about?

And most importantly, you can finally see a hint of… something in Comet Feet's eyes. It looks too much like confliction and doubt, but it could very well be annoyance or anger.

You've been quiet for too long now. Less than five second, sure, but you can identify a closing window when you see one, especially in a conversation.

"I promise you I didn't come to pester you about anything," you quickly say, trying to be as diplomatic as possible.

But you still have no idea of what direction to go, and you only brought yourself precious few seconds to think.

Heavens be damned, you decide to address your worries. If nothing else, you at least hope that honesty works here.

"It's just that... I personally am not sure of what to think, about the whole thing…" honesty, sure, but no need to be straightforward about it. Maybe he will open up if he identifies himself in your own worries, "I mean, I know I have to do something. We have to do something, but what direction should we aim for? I trust the Master as much as anypony else, but how far do you think we will have to go on this road?"

You see something flicker in his eyes, a change in his expression, but having your eyes open means you can't tell for sure with so many shadows covering the two of you.

You decide to press on, and hope for the best.

"Is there a line that perhaps we shouldn't cross, or-?"

"I think," you see his brow twitch at that, and he interrupts you with his deep voice, "that we should all be focusing on our tasks, instead of idling about into other ponies' businesses," he says, making himself very clear, before his expression closes once again and he turns his back to you, pointedly focusing his attention on the recently struck tree.

You saw it, you know you did. You hit a nerve that you shouldn't have, or maybe you struck a particular chord too strongly.

But there is a nerve to be struck to begin with, and you can clearly see that something is deeply bothering the stallion. You were right in your worries, but for today you seem to have hit a wall.

And from his reaction, you realize that you have nothing else to gain here right now, only to lose. Comet Feet is by no means threatening you, of course, but you can see that he will be as resistant to your questions as the trees before him will be to his hoofs.

But he is also a pony like yourself, and you know that he will eventually calm down, or that time will at least allow you for another chance in the future. So, you take your leave.

[To catch a Comet, breakpoints 50/80]

[Roll: 24 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) = 40]

[Wrong question.]

You were not persuasive enough for Comet Feet to open himself to you, but you did manage to understand him a little better. He is clearly conflicted about something, although he did not tell you what.

You have also learned that Windy Flakes has been paying him visits. Something about pestering him with ideas?

Further cult social-ing to follow.

OurLadyOfWires · Aug 22, 2024

Plan Outreach
-[X] Before this month starts, you will perform a ritual to draw the attention of MOTH (This is a free action to summon "The Attention of the Laws")
-[X] A measured commitment:
Give everything a once-over, sign everything in stacks. The farmlands wont just crumble and burn if you miss a few numbers this month.
(6 personal actions and 1 servant action. Might be noticed by those closest to you. Will not be noticed by the family head if you do not do this often.)

-[X] You seek the Princess of the Night, and perhaps you are the only pony in Equestria who can access the Dreamlands, bar your compatriots (to whom you showed the way). She is bound to be there. And even if she is not, she is bound to sleep, and everypony has a door.
--[X] Invoke the power of the MOTH to Protect You From Nightmares.
-[X] You are a noble, albeit a lesser noble. But the crown has called for every stallion and mare for help, and it would be very noble of you to join in the searches. Offering your help to the search parties will surely give you useful insight, on their progress if nothing else.
-[X] Help Comet Feet
--[X] He is out of town in… whoever knows where. Reach out to him, he could definitely use some company.
-[X] Help Starry Dancer
--[X] She seems somewhat rattled. You all are. Lend her an ear, or perhaps a shoulder.
-[X] Help Jade Whistle
--[X] She might not be as quiet and disconnected as she seems. Get to know her better.
-[X] Of course you love your family very much, but you could always spend a bit more time with them.
--[X] Just another pleasant day that you will spend with them. Perfect for cooling your head off.
-[X] There are books that could be of use. You should start looking for them.
--[X] In Ponyville, and its… great assortments of libraries? (no extra cost)
----[X] [Servant Action]

- - -

Starry Dancer doesn't seem to be the kind of mare that likes being subtle. You have been tempted to believe that she doesn't even know how to be subtle to begin with, but she has been hanging on to her position as Mayor Mare's assistant without any problems, so you discarded that thought some time ago.

Unless… she has been so honest and earnest about actually doing her town-hall related tasks that she really believes her job is being the Mayor's assistant. That is highly possible, now that you think about it, and that reversal of roles between "means" and "ends" seems to suit the mare down to a "t".

Well, regardless of Starry being capable of any sort of subtlety or not, you have decided to answer her in kind, and not be roundabout in your intentions. Starry Dancer has been clearly affected by what you saw in Princess Luna's dreams and you are worried about her, so you will check on her to see if everything is all right.

You don a dress which you believe will be sufficiently good at not drawing attention, and you head out of your room towards the stair.

When you hear a somewhat heated exchange coming from the main hall.

"Miss, for the last time," you hear Ponpon, her usually calm voice very much not calm right now, talking to somepony else, "I cannot let you in unannounced like that. And we have walls for a reason, so please fly your way out of the front door and wait by the gate!"

She seems to be… discussing with someone by the door?

"But I got a letter from her, she told me she would meet me in a few minutes!"

You also recognize that second voice, and you rush your way down the long staircase to get a better look at what is happening.

"Then where is that letter?" Ponpon answers, the annoyance in her voice making it clear that she has repeated this question at least five times.

"I told you, I forgot it and-"

"Starry Dancer? Is that you?" you finally arrive at the main hall, and you can see the pink hoofs of somepony who is almost trying to force their way in, while Ponpon struggles to keep the door shut.

"Velvet!" the pony in question, who you can see is definitely Starry Dancer, lets out a happy yelp. Coupled with that, the last push she did, probably motivated by her surprise, caused Ponpon to give in on holding the door, and the pink pegasus nearly barged through it as it was suddenly opened, falling face first on the floor right after.

"Ma'am, do you know this…?" Ponpon looks at you quizzically, and then at the pink pegasus on the ground.

"Velvet! I got your letter!" but the mare jumps back up with a flap of her wings before your maid can even finish her sentence. "Did I get here too soon? I was worried I'd miss the hour like last time, so I made sure to get here extra soon!"

You nod to Ponpon, and wave a hoof at her to indicate that you would take it from here. Ponpon, for her part, merely shoots another strange look at the pegasus, and makes her way out of the hall while shaking her head.

"So, what do you wanna talk about?" she asks.

To which you answer by almost biting your lips, but years of etiquette stop you at the last moment. Instead, you merely give her a… smile, which you hope doesn't look as uncomfortable as you actually feel.

"Starry… well, you are here then," you quickly regroup your wits, "but did you even read the letter I sent you?"

"I did, of course."

"And didn't I say I would meet you at the Town Hall, and for you to just make yourself free this afternoon, if possible?"

The mare nods, causing you to forcibly suppress a facehoof.

"And… whatever did you tell Mayor Mare you would be doing this afternoon then, since you are here?"

"Oh, I just told her your letter was asking me to sort something out relating to the earth pony farmers."

Well then, she is at least capable of telling a lie… of sorts. "Of sorts" because you really have been sending some reports to the Town Hall, to have them signed by Starry, but nothing really time consuming.

And at least her visit here "at your behest" will help with the whole narrative that you made up for Mayor Mare…

"Well then… why don't you follow me then?" you look around, seeing the empty main hall, but knowing just how far your voice can reach from here, "why don't we go talk somewhere more private?"

- - -

It takes you a few moments to realize what had happened, in the end. But when you think about it in absolute facts, Starry Dancer literally landed on your estate's garden, completely ignoring the common courtesy that pegasi have of using doors and respecting walls, and now…

Well, now she is sitting next to you at your balcony, looking down at your farmlands, after having effectively barged into your house without any previous warning.

Maybe that is her charm after all, her ability to squeeze herself into other ponies' lives like that. Maybe that is the Heart in her.

But as Ponpon leaves the two of you, with a recently laid out set of tea in the small table, you are finally alone with Starry Dancer. Now you can finally lay down some issues that have been bothering you.

"So, Starry," you start, clopping your hoofs together. Indirect approaches definitely don't seem to work on the mare, so maybe…? "How have you been?"

She tilts her head towards you, going for her own cup of tea. You notice idly that she is not picking it with her wings, as you have seen Soft Sweeps do.

You also notice that she very poorly suppresses a grimace as she takes a sip, right before quickly putting her teacup back on the saucer. You eye the bowl of sugar cubes that are right next to her, and wonder if she knows that they aren't there for show.

"I'm fine," she says, still struggling with her grimace, "why do you ask?"

You look at her face while she answers, and you can see that she is… not exactly lying, but she is not telling the truth either. You don't see the smile that you think would usually accompany her words, you don't see the gleam in her eyes that should be there.

But maybe you are facing this whole situation from the wrong perspective, you are still trying to read too much into her.

"Fine fine? Or just fine?" you ask, trying to tone down on your words. Less casting of wide nets, less double purposes. More meaning.

"Just fine…" the mare says, reclining against her cushioned seat.

Ah, there it is. You were starting to think that what you were seeing were the signs that Starry Dancer was lying to herself, some disturbance borne from the attempt of keeping up a false bravado of optimism. Maybe even one that she might have been fostering ever since the end of your last reunion, after the talk the three of you had with her.

But no. It was nothing complicated, and it was nothing even as simple as that. Starry Dancer, you think you finally understand, is a mare who wears her feelings on her sleeves. You definitely won't pity her for that, neither will you look down on her for it, but you surely don't envy her either.

However, you think as you float some sugar cubes into her cup of tea, this doesn't mean that you will simply let her fend for herself after all.

She sees the teacup, now properly sweetened, float towards her with a surprised expression, and you let out a sigh as she seems to realize that the solution to that particular problem was in fact quite simple.

"Why just fine then?" you ask, sipping from your own tea, "that sounds like having a lot going on in your mind."

She seems to ponder for a few moments, but not in a way that she is picking her words. Starry Dancer seems to be thinking more like she is trying to remember everything that is going on in her mind, so as to be able to list them.

Definitely the extreme of straightforward, you think. She doesn't have the mind of a filly, she is a grown and mature mare all right, and she isn't exactly innocent either. But you can tell that she… well, that she has that particular trait for living her life.

"Well, I have no idea why I have been picked for the Inner Circle, for starters," she starts talking, looking towards the horizon without really focusing on it, "everypony else seems so competent. I mean, I would never have gotten half as close to the mayor if it wasn't for you."

You nod at that, although you hope she knows that it is more in an encouraging way than in some sort of presumptuous agreement. But after a few moments you realize she doesn't have anything else to add for now.

"You are being quite competent in keeping your position, though. Mayor Mare doesn't strike me as a pony who would trust just anypony with helping her, and yet here you are," you see her smile a bit at that, maybe in a somewhat shy manner.

"Maybe… but there's all the other things as well and…" she stops for a moment, but not to sip from her tea, "I mean, the things we saw… well, I'm terrified, to be honest. I'm scared that I'm not even having nightmares about it, because I feel that I should, but I'm also scared that having nightmares about it would mean that one of those things managed to…" she doesn't finish the sentence, instead pointing a hoof towards her head, waving it in a wiggly motion of sorts.

And that is more than enough for you to understand what she means.

"And I'm scared of what might come next, on how we might even begin to…" she stops again, this time for a little while.

But you can see that something is still on her mind, so you make sure not to interrupt her thoughts. She sits there quietly for a few more moments before taking a deep breath and asking.

"Say, how was the first time you met the Master?" she asks out of the blue.

You wonder where that came from, but you think you can see where her thoughts took her, so you answer her honestly.

"It was during a cult meeting, the very first one I ever attended, in fact," you try remembering the details about it, but as usual the thing that you now know to be the Woods makes your memories a little bit fuzzy, "I just heard their voice, of course, but I can't really say much about that night apart from that."

She nods at that, and you calmly wait for the answer that you know will soon come.

"Mine was in the Woods, way back when Copper first introduced me into it," she starts talking after what must have been a full minute, "introduced me into the cult, that is, although I still have no idea how I made it past the crossroads by myself…"

She seems to be reminiscing.

You let her.

"But I was lost in the Woods, having arrived there after who knows how many tries… My mane got a lot shorter, mind you. But there I was, wandering, when… well, when a puppet appears in front of me."

"A puppet?" you raise an eyebrow. That was surely not what you were expecting.

"Yes, a pony-sized puppet made of wood, strings attached to it and all," she laughs, both at your reaction and at the memory, "and it started to dance."

"It… started dancing?" you repeat, slightly incredulous.

"Yes. And I don't know if it was the Woods, or if it was because I was on that sleepy-mindlessness, or if it was just on a spur, but I started imitating its dance, and well…" she starts stepping her hoofs against the wooden table, lightly, in a rhythm that seems strangely familiar to you.

But she is not even looking at her hoofs while she does that, to the point where you wonder if she is even doing it consciously.

"I talk to the Master a lot," she continues, her eyes still locked in her memories instead of anywhere physical. "There's this place right outside the Woods where there's this… big temple of sorts, and I always feel better when I wake up, if I visit that place. But sometimes when I go there, I find the Master looking at it from the shadows, and we talk a lot whenever we meet there, about all sorts of things… I always wake up feeling better after…"

She stops talking, but you honestly wish she hadn't. You trust her enough to believe that she is telling you the truth, but it still feels like she is talking about a completely different entity from the one you know, with all this story about puppets and… and talking.

"What I mean is, I know how everypony seems to think that the Master is somewhat spooky, I hear it from the other members after some of the cult meetings. But I really think his intentions are in the right place, and… well, I'm worried that he seems to be worried," she fumbles a bit with her words, as if unsure of how to express herself, "I'm worried that maybe he was also affected by what we saw, or that he also feels bad about the… aftermath of it, in Canterlot… and I haven't found him in the Woods, not ever since our last meeting."

You nod, slowly, part of your mind wanting to go full throttle with everything you just heard from her, as there is a lot of things that you wish you could ask her to be a little more specific about. But you wrestle that part of your mind back down, knowing that your current, and rather simplistic, mindset is required for what you will try to convey next.

"Well Starry, I really had no idea about that, and I'll admit I also sometimes think the Master is… strange. But I hope that he isn't the only one you trust in the cult," you say, struggling for a few moments with the word "one", since the term "pony" tried to jut itself through you lips a few times.

"Of course I trust the rest of you, its just that…"

"And that's what I mean," you cut her off in the middle of her hesitation, "that's what we meant when we told you we are all in this together. I realize that the Master seems a bit… off right now, but we can't just walk in circles while panicking because of it."

She seems to cringe a bit at that. Good, at least she understands that that's exactly what you think she is doing, although you hope you are not being too harsh to her.

"I say you can trust us in the sense that you can fall back to us if anything comes up," you eye her mane inquisitively, seeing several badly cut parts of it that corroborate to your suspicions, "just how often have you been going to that place in the Woods looking for the Master anyways?"

She cringes even more, slightly curling herself in her cushion, and trying to hide part of her mane with a hoof.

"A few…"

You sigh at that, but you mellow down your tone a little bit.

You are indeed being too harsh with her. She did say she was terrified of what she saw in the Princess' dreams, after all, so it was you who should have realized that she really meant it when she used that word.

"Here Starry," you say, floating her empty teacup from her hoofs and filling it again, "I know the Master probably has a better idea of what to do then us, but that doesn't mean we can't help you with the little things."

You make a point of putting the sugar cubes while you talk, and slowly stirring her teacup while at it.

"So you don't need to rely on him for every small thing, or you will just feel lost the day he is not there waiting in the shadows of the Woods," you then float the teacup towards her, which she meekly accepts again, "but hey, we are much easier to find then the Master, don't you think? So try relying on us more often," you finish with a smile.

Starry Dancer looks at the teacup for a few more moments, then at you and your smile, and her fearful expression slowly, slowly, turns into something less scared, and more Starry Dancer-y. Even if only slightly.

And you give yourself a satisfied nod at that. It might not have been exactly what you were hoping for, but you believe this will be as much encouragement you will be able to give the mare today.

"So you mean to tell me that you met the Master for the first time with him giving you a puppet show?" you ask suddenly, causing her to stifle a laughter.

And then she starts telling you about it in more details.

- - -

You watch her fly away, a pink dot heading towards the buildings of Ponyville. She did not have the common courtesy of letting you take her to the door, of course, she basically said her goodbyes and jutted upwards with her wings.

Honestly, even Silky knows that's bad manners…

But regardless, you mull over a few things that she talked to you about.

You can see that Starry Dancer left better than she arrived, that's for sure, and from her somewhat relaxed demeanor after your chat you think that she will get over the whole Ritual experience soon enough.

But the parts of the conversation where she talked about the Master… those made little sense to you, and you are not sure how you feel about it.

However, you will have to think about it later. This whole visit took a lot more of your time than you expected, and you would very much like to get your other errands done before your daughter arrives home from school.

[The rhythm of the dancer, breakpoints 30/60/90/120]

[Roll: 49 + 11 (Diplomacy) + 5 (GRAIL bonus) = 65]

Starry Dancer is now feeling better about the Ritual, and understands that the members of the Inner Circle will be there for her if needed, or at least that you will for sure.

Starry Dancer still feels indebted to you, for helping her out earlier, but you have not garnered any further favors from her, apart from her honest gratitude. She will be able to operate with a lot more confidence now, thanks to the cult's presence, since that's what she got from her talk with you. (Garnering further personal favor from her would have been the 90 CD)

Jade Whistle to follow.

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

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

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Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

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Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!

Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!