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

[Pittauro]

So, I'm not really following the conversation, but this is something I feel I should comment on, because as terrifying as the thought is that Celestia has started working on her Lore levels and the consequences of that are… well, I feel like Level 0 may end up giving some initial misconceptions, purely because of our own experiences of growing from that point, as well as meta knowledge.

I want everybody to imagine for a moment that they're playing Celestia Quest. For a while now shit's been going wrong, the QM has been hinting that there's a whole shitload of unique world building to the background, and your new research team finally did something giving you this system message. Except.

Except Cultist Simulator doesn't exist in your universe. You, the players, have never played that game, there is no wiki where you can find information, none of that. The Mansus and everything connected to it is invented wholesale by your QM, and he's not talking. You don't know that Lore can be found pretty easily in books. You don't know Artifacts are a common thing, or that rituals can summon eldritch abominations if you just know how. Hell, you don't even know how many Principles there are. Never mind anything about the heirarchy of the Mansus, or how to acquire Lore scraps, or Glory. All you know is that you have this neat new skill that can presumably be progressed somehow, and it has something to do with these really fucked up dreams.

Celestia has started her path up the stairs, and we should definitely not just sit around and wait. But do try not to forget that she is doing so while fumbling in the dark. Velvet at Level 0 had a Cult and a Master to guide her. Celestia has a bunch of researchers trying to invent the wheel for her.

Click to shrink...

Very true.

Now, Celestia also HAPPENS TO BE A DEMIGODDESS WITH FOUR AFFINITIES, so she has better odds than most.

But more than one level per turn is impossible, one level per turn is extremely unlikely, and I'd be surprised if she reached Lantern 4 in less than 8 turns.

Luna is going to handle the Day realer issue, so other than us teaching her it won't be taking up our actions.

Also, damn the Ruined Church. It so far has been the only place to take our Scraps, and both times it has screwed over our long-term plans. Mareinette's maw took our slam-dunk social bonus and kicked us down a success tier when talking to Comet, and now this Heart thievery has put our All-4 Family Plan at major risk. To say nothing of how being down a Wound hampers everything else we want to do!

Stupid fucking building.

[X] Retreat (you will safely retreat back to the Wake)

Click to shrink...

Luna will decide how to act on it. That's not the same as saying SHE will solve the problem.

For all we know she'll go "I think this ritual you showed me has some promise, do you think it could be changed to fit the situation?" and then Jade and Velvet will have to work on it.

Or maybe Jade will unlock some ritual or knowledge through Memory of Light that also allows to "calm" the inner monster of an Alicorn/Outsider, or another way to access Harmony's powers beside the Elements of Harmony.


Also Mareinette's draining our grail was very much what had us fail the LAST attempt at talking with Twilight. The +20 we would have had would have allowed us to reach the threshold to suggest Redemption of the Forge to Twilight...

 

[angelsadvocate666]

Now, Celestia also HAPPENS TO BE A DEMIGODDESS WITH FOUR AFFINITIES,

Click to shrink...

Is she?

I mean, I've been assuming she has four affinities too, but has the QM said that? And really, more affinities doesn't make her learn faster, I don't think. If anything it'll slow her down, since she'll end up spreading her focus. It's not like she knows she actively needs more Lantern than the bare minimum to see through Chnageling disguises, which is conveniently only Level Three IIRC.

Not that I'm expecting her to stop there, but it's not going to have the urgency of purposefully racing Velvet in levels.

 

[Pittauro]

oh, you're right. I misremembered, I thought we had her affinities in the contact list, but only have them for Luna and Cadance.

 

[spiderhellian]

On a similar note, @OurLadyOfWires now that we've come to terms with Comet do we know his Lores? Is it solely Edge 4?

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Alrighty then. First of all, voting is CLOSED.

We seem to have unanimously agreed that hitting Velvet's head against this wall is a bad idea.

Secondly, I will post the "closing" of this turn, and then we can move on to Turn 20!

I hope you are all doing well! Just give me a few minutes to edit this real quick. I'll ask you guys to vote on something, but that will be up to yall on how to figure out.



And I'll catch up to the thread, and the several pings, later.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Also ugh, we should have went with Eclipse rather than finding the Outsider as the marriage award, the last thing we needed was another Doom Tracker getting plopped on us. Getting hoodwinked by Discord when trying to scry him would have at least been funny and entertaining.

Next turn we need to decipher that Knock Book so we can do Mirror Sac to keep DoA around. With Ash Ghouls now being a thing we absolutely have to hold onto every Edge Git we can. Those things are terrifying and very much have me Regretting annihilating the Master so.

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Spoiler: Winning Vote

You have retreated back to the Wake, and abandoned the Mansus Expedition.

You are… it doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter who you are. It doesn't matter what your name is. And it doesn't matter what image you have on your flank.

Tonight, all that matters is getting this done with.

…

For you, it has always been about the bits. Money is the only form of currency you really care about.

And Copper knows this. Of course she does. She knows what everypony wants.

So, you don't care how she goes about everypony else. You don't care what she promises them, who she fucks, or who she promises to fuck if they just do one more thing for her. What matters to you is that she knows that, as long as she keeps the bits coming, you will do what she wants.

Granted, you might have to start jacking up your prices. Especially for this sort of thing.

Because the things she asked you to study were already weird enough… even though they made sense, and were kind of useful.

But the ponies she sent with you tonight? The preparations… no, the ritual she insisted you did, to help with your task?

You barely understood half of the things you were doing. And for all that you can feel the results, this still feels inky to you.

Still, none of that matters right now.

All that matters is that you told her your price, she paid it, and now you have a job to do.

With that in mind, the four of you arrive at your… destination.



[Edge Realization: Velvet Covers is immune to ambushes]

[All guarding characters have been alerted]



Not being able to take a train here, at Copper's insistence, was a drag. Having to hide the cart they hauled here was even worse. But still, finally, you have arrived.

And as the four of you wade through the fields of crops, pulling the cart behind you, the mansion finally comes into view. There is more than enough moonlight for you to see it. And it doesn't take long for you to confirm that the detailed map Copper gave you is accurate.

Yes, there it is. A large mansion, several annex buildings around something that looks like an open spot… the garden, you know. And then there are the surrounding walls. The walls, you all know, are mostly meant to keep critters and wildlife away, given how one-third of the population can easily fly over it.

However, none of you have wings. So, this will be your first challenge.

Thankfully, the map also points at a side-gate, that leads to one of the annex buildings, that you can use to sneak in.

You all know what to do. But still, you gather everypony one last time to make sure they are all in line with your plan.

"Alright everypony. Let's make this quick and clean," you say in a hushed tone, as the four of you and the cart hide behind the tall crops. "Get in, kill the bitch, get out. No stealing, no breaking shit, and no fooling around. And only sic a witness if you have to."

Everypony else answers you with a muted nod. Not all of them are happy that you were put in charge. But still, since that was an order from Copper herself, none of them speak up against you.

With that said, the cart-puller unclips the harnesses from his back, and the four of you silently make your way to the wall. Heading for the side-gate you know will be there, and your first step towards the central mansion.

You almost wish this was a rainy day. It would have made the trip here miserable, yes, but at least the moonlight wouldn't be shining down on you all so brightly. Because even though it is night, it is still so damn bright that anypony would see you, if they were to look out from a window in the nearby annex building.

However, your thoughts come to a crashing halt as you realize that… that you shouldn't be worrying about somepony looking out from a window and realizing you are here.



You should be worrying about the stallion who is right in front of you.



"Good evening, gentlecolts."

There is an old stallion, waiting by the side-gate. There is an old stallion, sitting next to the walls of the mansion, calmly swinging back and forth on a rocking chair.

There is an old stallion, waiting for you all, sitting next to a side-gate that he left wide open. Almost as if inviting you all in… or perhaps telling you that, regardless of the gate being open or not, your actions here will be futile.

He has a pipe on his mouth, a calm expression on his face, and the chilling confidence of a stallion who cannot be denied.

"I can see from your faces that you went through a lot, to arrive here. However, I must inform you that if any of you go through this entrance, you will all die."

He says that.

And you immediately believe him.

You all do.

"Fuck… fuck, fuck FUCK!" one of your companions immediately loses his composure, and runs back towards the cart before you can do anything else.

And you can't blame him. In fact, your own heart is almost jumping out of your mouth right now. And the only reason you have not yet moved is because your own mind has frozen for a few moments.

Because despite the story your eyes are telling you, despite the fact you are just looking at an old stallion, your mind… your body… every other part of you is yelling at you that you are in danger.

That you are in danger, and that you are probably going to die.

So, you don't blame your companion for his reaction. In fact, since you already know what he is going to do, you welcome his reaction.

More than just that, you wish you had brought five carts with you. Because maybe then you would have a chance.

But still, you all have a job to do.

Even though you might not survive it.

"What are you waiting for, just do it!" somepony else yells.

And right after that, a hundred different things happen at once.



[Attackers have unleashed their sealed Windigo]

[Mareinette has initiated combat]

[Windigo has initiated combat]



A sudden, violent, and almost explosive storm appears behind you. It comes from somewhere behind you, hidden behind the nearby crops. Of course, you know it is coming from the cart you all hauled here, and from the jar that it was carrying that was just cracked open.

However-


"[EDGE]!"


-a second explosive sound comes from the farm fields. And something that sounds more like an avalanche than a charging creature hits something solid.

You think you just heard the sound of wood being crushed. You think something very large just barreled against the cart, destroying it completely.

You think you just saw your two other companions being dragged by… something, into the forbidding crops.

You think you are alone, now, with the old stallion.

But thankfully, he seems to have his sight firmly set on the snowstorm-creature that just burst out of the sealed jar.

"Ah, quaint. Well then, I will deal with you later," the old stallion says.

And then he calmly begins to walk towards the flying monster that just appeared behind you.



[Mareinette has engaged three of the invaders]

Spoiler: Mareinette combat rolls

[Mareinette has invoked "NEVER ASK A LADY HER AGE"]

[Details of combat have been redacted]

[Windigo has engaged Biedde in combat]

Spoiler: Biedde combat rolls

[Windigo's current health: 3/3]

[Biedde's health: 5/5]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Windigo – 0, Biedde – 0]

[A Confident Certainty: Windigo can reroll one every six dice]

[?????: Biedde can reroll one every two dice]



[Windigo: 22 40 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 85]

[Biedde: 88 29 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 168]



[Overflow: Windigo – 0, Biedde – 83]

[Windigo suffers one wounds (-50 to Biedde's overflow]



[Windigo: 77 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 122]

[Biedde: 15 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 95]



[Overflow: Windigo – 27, Biedde – 33]



[Neither combatant wishes to perform any actions]

[Combat will continue as normal]

You are only vaguely aware that you are not thinking.

You have the faint impression that you can feel your heart beating inside your skull.

You are pretty sure that you are trying your best not to think about the cacophony behind you.

You knew there was a monster inside that jar, but you never saw it. And yet, when you heard it bursting into existence a few moments ago, you felt its chill. And that chill reminded you of things you would rather not think about.

You knew the old stallion was dangerous, the moment you set your eyes on him. And yet, you are still alive, even though he so casually walked past you.

And your three companions…? You hear yells, and thrashing, and the sound of something wet being broken coming from somewhere behind you.

But the more you run, the lower the noises get.

Because you don't care about the money anymore. You don't care about your companions, or whatever problems might arise if you return without them.

The only thing you care about is getting this job done with, so you can get away from here.

So, you run past the side-gate. You rush through the annex building. And you practically gallop, following the map you were given, until you exit the annex building through its main entrance, and reach the central garden of the estate.

And then… you find her.

Of course she is here.

After all, everything that just happened makes it very clear that… they knew about you. That they knew you were coming before you even stepped hoof on the farmlands.

So, she was waiting for you here.



"Did you really come all the way here just to try to kill me?"



It hurts to hear the words she is speaking. It feels like your ears are being stabbed.

However, despite the unthinking adrenaline rush you are in right now, you can still the mare looks… even more frail than you thought. You were told she was fragile, but she quite literally looks like she is half dead.

So, you grab the bat you were carrying on your back, holding it firmly with your mouth.

You have already killed several ponies with this. And she won't be any different.

She looks terrifying, of course. She sounds terrifying.

But from the still-bleeding bandages you can see around her forelegs, you can tell that she can get hurt. And if she can get hurt, then she can be killed.



"A very poor decision."



But even then, the hateful speed she has as she rushes you is terrifying.



[Velvet Covers has initiated combat]

Spoiler: Velvet combat rolls

[Velvet Covers has invoked the Attention of the Laws]

[Invader is under the effect of a rousing air (+20 to personal combat)]



[Velvet Covers' current health: 1/2]

[Invader's current health: 3/3]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Velvet – 0, Invader – 0]

[A Confident Certainty: Velvet Covers can reroll one every six dice]



[Velvet: 85 88 + 89 (total combat bonus) = 177]

[Invader: 9 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 46]



[Overflow: Velvet – 131, Invader – 0]

[Invader suffers two wounds (-100 to Velvet's overflow)]



[Velvet: 35 + 89 (total combat bonus) = 124]

[Invader: 83 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 120]



[Overflow: Velvet – 35, Invader – 0]



[Neither combatant wishes to perform any actions]

[Combat will continue as normal]

Spoiler: Mareinette combat rolls

[Mareinette has invoked "NEVER ASK A LADY HER AGE"]

[Details of combat have been redacted]

Spoiler: Biedde combat rolls

[Windigo's current health: 2/3]

[Biedde's health: 5/5]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Windigo – 27, Biedde – 33]



[Windigo: 90 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 135]

[Biedde: 89 7 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 169]



[Overflow: Windigo – 27, Biedde –67]

[Windigo suffers one wounds (-50 to Biedde's overflow]



[Windigo: 52 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 97]

[Biedde: 23 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 103]



[Overflow: Windigo – 27, Biedde – 23]



[Neither combatant wishes to perform any actions]

[Combat will continue as normal]

One moment, the mare is standing a few paces away from you. Glaring at you from the center of the garden. The moonlight shining down upon her, as the wind softly blows against the nearby trees, as if she were a figure from a painting.

The next moment she is right in front of you.

You don't even have time to open your eyes wide in surprise.

She jumped towards you. Or at least, your mind is convinced she jumped. Because you did not see her legs move more than once, and you didn't hear anything that approached a gallop.

You always preferred using a bat as a weapon because of the range it gives you.

But you don't even have time to swing it. The mare is already in front of you, and inside your guard, before you can blink.

And then, you feel pain.



"Come to my house-"

-the world turns upside down. And somehow, the mare is staring down at you with the moon behind her-

"-where my husband lives-"

-your legs hurt. You think you heard something break, but your brain did not yet have the time to feel what happened yet-

"-and where my daughters sleep?"

-she has a knife on her mouth. A knife that is tied around her neck, and that she took from somewhere under her clothes-

-you think you let out a muted gasp as she sinks that knife into your chest-

"Very. Poor. Decision."



You see your life flashing through your eyes. You only just realized that she tripped you with a hammer-life kick, or at least that she is holding two of your hindlegs with one of your forelegs. You only just realized that the knife she plunged into your chest hurts. However, you also realize that your heart is still beating, and that she either missed your heart, or the knife was just too short to reach it.

But you don't have time to think. You don't even have time to act.

You can only react.

Spoiler: Velvet combat rolls

[Velvet Covers' current health: 1/2]

[Invader's current health: 1/3]

[Current overflow: Velvet – 35, Invader – 0]

[Velvet Covers' Attention of the Laws has faded]



[Velvet: 5 + 69 (total combat bonus) = 74]

[Invader: 91 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 128]



[Overflow: Velvet – 35, Invader – 54]

[Velvet Covers suffers one wound (-50 to Invader's overflow)]



[Velvet Covers has reached zero health]

[Velvet Covers has activated "Dancing With Death"]

[Velvet Covers is being attacked in her home, she will refuse to "Escape" or "Play dead"]

[Velvet Covers has chosen to continue combat]



[Velvet: 64 + 48 (total combat bonus) = 112]

[Invader: 18 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 55]



[Overflow: Velvet – 92, Invader – 4]

[Invader suffers one wound (-50 to Velvet Covers's overflow)]

[Invader has been defeated]

Spoiler: Mareinette combat rolls

[Mareinette has invoked "NEVER ASK A LADY HER AGE"]

[Details of combat have been redacted]

Spoiler: Biedde combat rolls

[Windigo's current health: 1/3]

[Biedde's health: 5/5]

[Current overflow (damage occurs on 50): Windigo – 27, Biedde – 23]



[Windigo: 36 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 135]

[Biedde: 4 46 + 80 (total combat bonus) = 169]



[Overflow: Windigo – 27, Biedde –57]

[Windigo suffers one wound (-50 to Biedde's overflow)]

[Windigo has been defeated]

You flail. You flail wildly. Kicking with all your legs against the mare that seems to have you on an iron grip. But none of your blows really land on her.

That is, until your hoof finally connects with her skull, and you hear something crack.

And suddenly, the mare is thrown off from you. Falling to the side like a puppet that had its strings cut.

And you…

… you…

You don't know what to do next. Your mind is still racing. You are still in too much pain. And there is still a knife dug into your chest.

You are heaving, but even breathing hurts. You feel like you are going to pass out. Your mind is spinning, and your eyes are watering, and everything about you hurts.

You barely manage to move. But still, the first thing you do is look to the side, towards the corpse of that bitch you just killed and…

… wait… Your foggy mind reels in confusion for a moment. You are still lying on the ground, your chest facing up. And you are pretty sure less than five seconds have passed since she stabbed you. But as you look to your side, you see… or rather, you don't see…

… where in Celestia's name is sh-?


!!!!!


The mare is suddenly on top of you again. You have no idea where she came from, or how she moved so quickly from where she fell. And she looks more dead than alive, bleeding from her eyes and mouth and who knows where else.

But rather than looking at her face, your eyes are focused on her hoof. Your eyes are focused on her right foreleg, which is firmly pressed against your chest.

Her hoof is pressed against your chest and…

… and you can't see the knife anymore…?

… ah, it's because she punched the knife all the way into your chest and…

… and…



And your vision fades to black before you can see the mare collapsing on the ground next to you.



[All invaders have been defeated]

[Enemy attack repelled]





- - -

- - -

- - -





Biedde looks down at the figure of his employer. She is alive, but only barely. Her mouth mumbling the song that is keeping her heart going, and her legs fidgeting under her as she shakes her blood into motion.

He breathes in a short sniff. Heart does have its uses, but her method definitely needs to be refined.

"[WINTER]."

"Yes, almost. But not quite. I wonder if she will learn from this," he says, answering the thing that is standing next to him.

He looks at his employer for a few more moments, watching as the pool of blood stops expanding around her. She managed to stop the bleeding then. Good enough. She will probably live.

Meanwhile, the thing next to him finishes swallowing the dead body of the last attacker. The one that was next to his employer.

He wonders if the four bodies she had tonight were to her liking. Probably not, he supposed. None of them were mares, and all of them were adults.

A few moments later, he shrugs, and gets to work. The least he could do was to take her to her chambers, and then wait for her to regain consciousness.

"I will leave the cleanup to you," he says to the thing.

And of course, he was referring both to the blood…

… as well as to the several ponies who were looking down from the windows, their faces frozen in shock at what they were seeing.

The thing gives him a dismissive nod, her bony head still preoccupied with gulping down the foreleg that is still sticking out of her gullet. But a few crunching sounds later, her large silhouette is back to its elegant self.

The Grail-monster then looks up towards the shocked audience, and then she-



[Combating suspicion, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Mareinette's roll: 90 13 + 60 (Social action) + 30 (Grail, level 6) = 180]

[Final breakpoint reached]



"[GRAIL]!"



-and then she convinces everypony this is just a bad dream, and that they should go back to sleep.

And they all, without exception, believe her.



[This enemy's attack will create absolutely no suspicion. Its occurrence will be completely ignored both narratively and mechanically, unless Velvet Covers decides otherwise]





- - -

- - -

- - -





You are Velvet Covers.

And you are almost dead.

Everything hurts. And the worst part is that you must cling to this pain, lest you fall asleep and stop singing to your heart.

But still, despite all of that, you live.

You live, and you must make a decision, before morning arrives and your family sees you in this state.





Velvet Covers is now "Dancing With Death". The following statuses will be in effect until she recovers at least one health:
-ALL of Velvet Covers' Lore levels have been decreased to "Nonexistent" (although she still has access to her Heart realization, which is keeping her alive);
-ALL Fleeting Opportunities that might happen will be ignored or discarded, without coming to your attention (because you are in no condition to meet them by happenstance);
-ALL actions that might take place outside of your home will have narrative and/or mechanical maluses associated with them; and
-Velvet Covers will not have access to her "Commissioner" actions.



With that in mind, you have two decisions to make.



[Due to Mareinette's efforts, you are able to completely control the narrative of what happened]

So, what happened?


[] Nothing happened. You are just ill.
-Your family will be worried about your health. But you will tell the, and they will believe you, that you are only sick.
-The events of tonight will be completely accepted as… a series of disconnected events. A group of pegasi colts got hold of some storm clouds, for a prank. The side-gate was left unlocked by a servant. The Lady suddenly got ill. Several small things, with no ties to each other whatsoever.


[] There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.
-Your family will be extremely worried about your (and their) safety.
-Information that you were attacked will, eventually, reach the public (although without any reliable details to it).
-Selene will insist on "Guarding" you this turn (although you are not forced to have her do it).
-Your Investigators will gain the option to "Investigate the Commissioner's attackers", which is a specially tailored investigation aimed at Copper Secateur.
-Your Constable's "Guard" action will be permanently upgraded.
-Your Constables will request to "Guard" you this turn (and the Bureau's morale/trust will decrease if you refuse this request)



[As three months have passed, Mareinette requests an audience]

After the dust settled, she came to you. She expressed her condolences for your situation, she reminds you that she hopes your relationship continues to flourish… and then, she asks you for a small boon.

[The winning option will be used to renew Mareinette's summoning bindings. With the exception of the LAST option, all options will increase in price with every passing re-binding.]

What do you give her?


[] Time
-"Are you not valuable partners? Is it not fair that you spend some time together?"
-Current cost: ONE Velvet action.


[] Resources
-"What will she buy with it? Oh, this and that… Toys, materials, clothes… never mind none of those would fit a grown pony. Never mind that the word she used to describe them was bait."
-Current cost: 50 bits


[] Freedom
-"So many sights to see, so many places to visit. So many ponies to meat. She has been away from the Wake for so long, of course she yearns to explore it."
-Does not cost any character's action points. You will just give Mareinette some "time off" for herself.
-Current interest: A small village, that barely appears in any map.


[] Offering
-"She was a mare of means, long ago. Would you not help her recreate her collection?"
-Current cost: A STUDIED artifact of level 2 or higher
-WRITE IN which artifact you will give her


[-] Access
-"But a hoofstep, into the place you call home?"
-VETOED by Velvet Covers and Selene.


[-] Accept her "Invitation to Dinner"
-"Tie the knot. Make a friend."
-This option will always be available, and will never increase in price.
-This is Mareinette's Grail Sacrament.
-WRITE IN who will be consumed (must be a minion or a prisoner)
-INSUFFICIENT GRAIL SCRAPS

[] Nothing
-"Perhaps it is time we go our separate ways."
-You will voluntarily end your contract with Mareinette.
-She will leave, and will no longer be bound to you.





Turn 19 is now over. You are no longer under the effect of "A Resolution" Edge influence.

Author's Note: Damn, the drafts I have ready for Soft!Quest will have to wait.

Twelve hours moratorium. Vote by APPROVAL. Pick as many options as you like, and the single option with most votes (for both choices) will be picked. No need for plans, since these options are not sufficiently connected.

Finally, this was a very complicated update to write and put into place. I would appreciate if any mistakes were pointed out so I can fix them. But given how many mechanical concerns I had, and how many little details are involved, I most likely let several little things pass.

 

[angelsadvocate666]

…Jesus fuck.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Damn. It. All.

We have been so fucking crippled by this.
Healing our Scar? Fucked.
Sending Velvet on any Expeditions? Fucked.
Doing any Sacraments? Fucked.
Can RotF heal Wounds? We might want Marinette to unmangle us just so we aren't useless this entire turn.

And it's high time to tear apart Copper.
Thank God for Biedde.

EDIT: Mareinette is in fact no better at clearing the Forge 100 Req than Velvet is, so that's fucking terrifying.

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

I'd honestly like to choose Time for Marienette. It would cost us an action, but being able to befriend her might also maybe let us keep her around (because we don't want her going free). Primarily, I want us to get to know her better. There's a heavy reluctance to use her actions for social actions, but we need to actually benefit from her skills instead of just sticking her in a basement.

And let's go all out on killing Copper next turn. We need to focus on actually winning, but she's far too dangerous of a thorn to let linger, as she's proven time and time again.

 

[spiderhellian]

Wow. Fuck. That throws all the planning out the window . Damn I am glad we summoned Biedde.

One mechanical piece @OurLadyOfWires — I am really surprised we rerolled here, on the first round?

[Velvet: 85 88 + 89 (total combat bonus) = 177]

[Invader: 9 + 37 (total combat bonus) = 46]

Click to shrink...

Does the Edge re-roll just get auto-applied to the first roll, rather than being used for a bad roll?

When I had been simulating it, I assumed it would only be used if we'd otherwise "lose" that round of combat. In the same way that we don't use a reroll elsewhere if we've already passed a check. It seems a lot weaker if it's just auto-used even on a great roll (why re-roll an 85?).

Edit: Oh, and do we get a corpse out of this?

 

[Pororurin]

And only sik a witness if you have to."

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Is this supposed to be sic?

[Invader's current health: 3/3]

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this is the second velvet combat, should be 1/3

[Mareinette has invoked "NEVER ASK A LADY HER AGE"]

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And this is supposed to be grail red I think


that was all that I caught, but onto the chapter and I do not like how bad this is. This screws over our plans pretty badly, although it's not all bad. It gives us a reason to get the LB on Copper's case, which is something we've been planning to do and struggling to justify to them, narratively. So, I'm definitely leaning towards telling our family/the LB what happened.

And Mareinette... I agree with Spirit, we should spend time with her, even just to prevent her from screwing us over completely when we are forced to let her free. Who knows, she might even view us (more) favourably, and help out for lesser costs when free, even if she wouldn't be bound to our will anymore.

Mareinette's gaslighting is still hilarious though, although it sure is strange that so many ponies dreamt that the good lady was eating other ponies.

 

[Shaper47]

There has been an attempt against the Commissioner's life.

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Seems good

Make a friend

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Look now we know how to get her friendship.

 

[Quaxotia]

Guess we have the excuse we need to have the Lunar Bureau hunt down Copper eh? As soon as we figure out how to obliterate her cult in a mysteriously convenient Name raid right before.

Does the Edge re-roll just get auto-applied to the first roll, rather than being used for a bad roll? When I had been simulating it, I assumed it would only be used if we'd otherwise "lose" that round of combat. In the same way that we don't use a reroll elsewhere if we've already passed a check. It's a lot weaker if it's just auto-used even on a great roll (why re-roll an 85?), and the "May reroll" does seem to imply a level of choice.

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That also has me scratching my head. Damn, it's really bad luck to take this injury, especially when we summoned Biedde for the explicit purpose of guarding from this sort of thing.

 

[Light_Seeker]

well, that's a clusterfuck and all our plans are now out of the window.

QM, were there any clues to this being prepared, or we got fucked over by some unlucky roll of the dice?

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

And Mareinette... I agree with Spirit, we should spend time with her, even just to prevent her from screwing us over completely when we are forced to let her free. Who knows, she might even view us (more) favourably, and help out for lesser costs when free, even if she wouldn't be bound to our will anymore.

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Her goal, to my understanding, is to have us become an Akulite, which would be an unfortunate game-over with the current version of Velvet. My hope is that befriending her would allow us to set boundaries, even though an obvious one should already be in place: she is to not consume what is ours.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

We can't even Study shit well now

Velvet has suddenly become the least competent member of her cabal.

@OurLadyOfWires , would letting it be known that an assassination attempt on our life has occured give us access to government-mandated top of the line health care for free? Or do we still pay out-of-pocket for the good healing?

 

[Pittauro]

I SAW IT!

WE'RE BEING INVADED!

SEMI-ACCIDENTAL SCROLLING!

going to read now... but we'll HAVE to attack back now!

it seems like Copper has decided for us.

 

[spiderhellian]

QM, were there any clues to this being prepared, or we got fucked over by some unlucky roll of the dice?

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Our enemies don't pull their punches, and Copper hadn't done anything for a few turns. That's warning enough. (And we were pretty prepared! Biedde summoned, Mareinette guarding, what more can you really ask for?)

Got messed up in the Ruined Church, and then, well, you can see the combat rolls. Though that reroll piece is going to haunt me.

Probably the biggest mistake was the Ruined Church, really. Hubris to risk a dangerous expedition when we had a lot of important things coming up. I am filled with regret at not pushing the No-Hubris plans harder.

 

[DelightedOne]

Oh, we were actually attacked? Good thing we had two Names Guarding.

But from the still-bleeding bandages you can see around her forelegs, you can tell that she can get hurt. And if she can get hurt, then she can be killed.

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I knew "dream wounds" weren't real.

Oh, oh my god.

[Velvet Covers has activated "Dancing With Death"]

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We are Dancing With Death! I know I said I wanted to see what that looks like but come on, our luck was really sucked dry this turn... maybe because we summoned 2 Names? If anything could bring Velvet's luck to 0 that is it.

We had an audience? Holy fuck that is bad.

[Combating suspicion, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Mareinette's roll: 90 13 + 50 (Social action) + 30 (Grail, level 6) = 170]

[Final breakpoint reached]

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... Forget it Mareinette's bullshit saved us. We really need to give her a good gift for that.

Velvet Covers is now "Dancing With Death". The following statuses will be in effect until she recovers at least one health:
-ALL of Velvet Covers' Lore levels have been decreased to "Nonexistent" (although she still has access to her Heart realization, which is keeping her alive);
-ALL Fleeting Opportunities that might happen will be ignored or discarded, without coming to your attention (because you are in no condition to meet them by happenstance); and
-ALL actions that might take place outside of your home will have narrative and/or mechanical maluses associated with them.
-Velvet Covers will not have access to her "Commissioner" actions.

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Wasn't that first thing on a "In which"? Something with a Regrettable Action, I don't remember it.
That drains our options next turn to basically nothing, but Mareinette's Heart Influence became a must now.

So are we telling the truth or lying? Both are attractive in their own ways: Lying about the attack lets us take things at our own pace but telling the truth also makes our family really understand what is happening and gives the Bureau an excuse to fuck Copper up, there is also the guarding upgrade/free action.

Oh boy, finally reached Mareinette's rebinding, let's see:

[] Time

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Acceptable, our plans are all fucked anyway, what is 1 action when we can't do anything.

[] Resources

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...worrying but acceptable in a mechanic way, the narrative way is nauseating.

[] Freedom

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Okay she is not even trying to hide it anymore, she literally said "So many ponies to meat". Maybe.

[] Offering

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Nope. We need all our Artifacts at the moment, it is a shame we did not study the Knock one, it would have been perfect.

[-] Access
-"But a hoofstep, into the place you call home?"
-VETOED by Velvet Covers and Selene

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Ha, vetoed.

[-] Accept her "Invitation to Dinner"

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Nope, never and that is why I want the Elements back together ASAP.

So we are fucked, can't do anything till we heal and need to make hard decisions... so the usual.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

At least our Resolution call was spot-fucking-on.

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

We can't forget is that Windy is still out there, too. Copper is a threat, but focusing solely on her would be a mistake. I would be surprised if Windy hasn't discovered Ash-Ghouls. I genuinely believe we need to check in on him before he decides to do something drastic, like, say, taking advantage of a pair injured factions after an attack on Copper next turn?

 

[Limabot]

I'd honestly like to choose Time for Marienette. It would cost us an action, but being able to befriend her might also maybe let us keep her around (because we don't want her going free). Primarily, I want us to get to know her better. There's a heavy reluctance to use her actions for social actions, but we need to actually benefit from her skills instead of just sticking her in a basement.

And let's go all out on killing Copper next turn. We need to focus on actually winning, but she's far too dangerous of a thorn to let linger, as she's proven time and time again.

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I agree on Time likely being useful. If I recall correctly, Mareinette's social actions where she can replace Velvet relies on her knowing Velvet well to properly make decisions in line with how she thinks. Thus, if we do spend proper time with her, it may make any potential unintended side effects of using Mareinette in that way less likely.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I guess next turn will be a full social turn since those won't get us killed.

Unless... @OurLadyOfWires , are all our Realizations gone with our Lore Levels?

If we still have Realizations we can full send on studying stuff. No bonuses are bad, but progress towards 100 is progress towards 100 on deciphering those old tomes.

 

[Rafuki22]

-ALL of Velvet Covers' Lore levels have been decreased to "Nonexistent" (although she still has access to her Heart realization, which is keeping her alive);

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Doesn't that mean that we have moth 0? You know, the same level as Celestia?

However, if Princess Celestia's Lantern ever reaches your Moth level, she will discover your connection to the Lores.

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[Venerable Ro]

Y'all wanted some Heart scraps, right?

Well now, people were brainstorming a way to send the Bureau after Copper, looks like it was handed to us on a silver platter. We've even accounted for the Windigoes.

Honestly, we can make some serious gold out of this straw, recovering a wound won't be particularly difficult and we can get some excellent sympathy out of our loyal Bureau.

And of course Mareinette, I'm definitely in favor of giving her some of our time. We really must thank her after all, she had to fight three windigoes tonight, that deserves appreciation.

 

[Venerable Ro]

Doesn't that mean that we have moth 0? You know, the same level as Celestia?

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Well yes, but since we don't have any other Lores either it's a moot point. You definitely made my heart skip a beat though, so kudos for paying attention.

 

[Limabot]

Doesn't that mean that we have moth 0? You know, the same level as Celestia?

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I would presume Bird is not that cheap; they generally are more of a harsh, but fair, QM. Besides, I think it only applies if Celestia or Eclipse actually meets with us, which isn't going to happen given how we'll be cooped up in the manor all month until we get better.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Doesn't that mean that we have moth 0? You know, the same level as Celestia?

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Nope, Lore Level 0 is actually a step above "Nonexistent." We have cratered so hard she could personally examine us and we'd register as a mundane pony. Which is hilarious, frankly.

 

[DelightedOne]

We can't forget is that Windy is still out there, too. Copper is a threat, but focusing solely on her would be a mistake. I would be surprised if Windy hasn't discovered Ash-Ghouls. I genuinely believe we need to check in on him before he decides to do something drastic, like, say, taking advantage of a pair injured factions after an attack on Copper next turn?

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Baldomare action? That could be it.

I'm so sad almost everything we planned is not possible anymore, we need to rework all of it to account for inexistent lores. The only good thing that came out of it is the excuse to catch Copper (good thinking genius now everyone here wants to kill you).

Doesn't that mean that we have moth 0? You know, the same level as Celestia?

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Holy shit, I pray we don't meet Celestia like thi- wait a minute... We don't have any lores, she can't see anything. Ha, one less thing to worry about... Unless the Realization counts, then we are fucked.