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

[Paintmaster]

Give the Bureau Forge, so that we can finally have some decent Forge Ponies for a change.

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Yeah, I really want to get that ritual into the Bureau's hooves as soon as possible. Both because its inevitable that its going to start suffering casualties as they dig deeper and having a means to fix that is useful as the commissioner. Additionally it gives us a way to use the ritual to heal Velvet, Shining Armor, and Twilight via Shining as I cannot see him leaving her in her current state.

 

[spiderhellian]

Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts

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What's with the desire for this?

Luna seemed to set a very high DC, so this feels like if just makes it harder for our investigators to find out about Copper's cult?

 

[Greymere]

What's with the desire for this?

Luna seemed to set a very high DC, so this feels like if just makes it harder for our investigators to find out about Copper's cult?

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Because I really, really do not want this backfiring on us and biting us in the ass. The Bureau taking longer to investigate is the cult is worth not incriminating ourselves, considering we don't know how large the penalty for leaving tracks is.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I would rather not one of the preeminent investigators feel that The Commissioner is beholden to information and abilities unbeknownst to them, whilst being able to look back upon Velvet's, quite frankly, meteoric rise to where she now is. To see that, for Velvet to see that he sees that, and deems it unimportant to let him know. It is... a fast way I think to loose trust. To have Reproach begin to do his own investigations, and start to find problems.

I would prefer to shore up potential infighting before it begins.

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I don't think any infighting is going to arise. Beyond Reproach approved of seeing the bodies of our assailants strewn across a secluded clearing like it was a charnel house. The Bureau already understands that Velvet butchered tree ponies past recognizability and yet did not question it when she insisted there was a lone attacker, because they know that she knows that they know and that they all know it would be best to let the wider public think it was a lone attacker. The Bureau is deep in our pocket on this particular matter, and I don't see a falling out occurring from not speaking of the attack further.

 

[Shaper47]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The Worms and their infestation of the Dreamlands

[X] Plan: Overview with a warning
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The Worms and their infestation of the Dreamlands

But you're okay with the implications of the Wolf Sacrament?

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The Wolf does not give any orders. He thinks Velvet can do more with her free will then following any orders he gives.

The Colonel is all about giving orders. Which is especially concerning when you think about how many monsters Velvet has.

Mareinette is basically guaranteed to break free someday and we really need to work on killing her without an RA,

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No we should befriend her.

Names are for befriending not killing.

and Eclipse will need to cross the Branding Door and meet them in the Mansus to summon any of the Names, so them going back is not as dangerous as it was

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A reason not to give them a lore boost.

You can plant the Lores, and inadvertedly end up speeding Celestia's education.

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A good reason to not plant the lores.


We have Cadence and Selene on our side. We can afford to play the long game here.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Because I really, really do not want this backfiring on us and biting us in the ass. The Bureau taking longer to investigate is the cult is worth not incriminating ourselves, considering we don't know how large the penalty for leaving tracks is.

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Selene has set the DC of finding our tracks beyond the capabilities of mortals to overcome, the penalty merely brings things to the realm of scant possibility.

 

[Shaper47]

Selene has set the DC of finding our tracks beyond the capabilities of mortals to overcome, the penalty merely brings things to the realm of scant possibility.

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The Bureau is the best of the best though with hero units.

I'd advise not underestimating them.

 

[Sveta08]

I don't think any infighting is going to arise. Beyond Reproach approved of seeing the bodies of our assailants strewn across a secluded clearing like it was a charnel house. The Bureau already understands that Velvet butchered tree ponies past recognizability and yet did not question it when she insisted there was a lone attacker, because they know that she knows that they know and that they all know it would be best to let the wider public think it was a lone attacker. The Bureau is deep in our pocket on this particular matter, and I don't see a falling out occurring from not speaking of the attack further.

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... Hm.
I disagree fundamentally.

The Bureau agreed with what Velvet said because they are aware of the public perception. They agreed because that's the story everyone else needs to hear.
Everyone else. They will want to know the truth.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

[X] Start being useful Bureau
-[X] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, Heart, 1, EDGE 1, WINTER 1, SECRET HISTORIES 1)

Heart because I think the changeling use Heart for their transformation know.

 

[Shaper47]

... Hm.
I disagree fundamentally.

The Bureau agreed with what Velvet said because they are aware of the public perception. They agreed because that's the story everyone else needs to hear.
Everyone else. They will want to know the truth.

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I think the Bureau understands that any private security measures their boss has are private for a reason. Given Changeling shapeshifting she has a good excuse for not telling them.

 

[Sintonir]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning

Let's go with these two.
...Also, need to find Neighnia ASAP. She might be out for vengeance. She might be out killing people indiscriminately or in some particular pattern (terminally ill, for example). She might be out to find Windy.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

The Bureau is the best of the best though with hero units.

I'd advise not underestimating them.

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Yeah but we've seen what a Hero Unit's stats look like. Shining rocked a +25 to combat that was labeled (Heroic). That's still 34 points short of hitting 159 even on a Nat 100. Like, I don't think OurLadyofWires is lying to us when he said that 150 is impossible for mortals to achieve.

... Hm.
I disagree fundamentally.

The Bureau agreed with what Velvet said because they are aware of the public perception. They agreed because that's the story everyone else needs to hear.
Everyone else. They will want to know the truth.

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They already know the truth. That Velvet killed her attackers, and was greviously injured in the process. And that Velvet has said very emphatically that there was one attacker, and that is all that anyone shall hear of the matter. And that her telling them that is intentional. And they acquiesced to it. That matter is settled as far as I can tell.

 

[Sveta08]

I think the Bureau understands that any private security measures their boss has are private for a reason. Given Changeling shapeshifting she has a good excuse for not telling them.

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On the contrary, that only makes it more important for them to all know.

Did they not, after all, join all together in a conference? A Meet the Family event? So if anyone was a changeling, they now have privilaged access to all the most important and valuable people in the bureau. If she, Velvet, has some means of dealing with them should they darken her door, would it not be all the more important that they all know? Because if they risk belief that there is a changeling among them, then all is lost already.

So either Velvet does, or does not trust them. That is what they will see.

 

[Rafuki22]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning

Names are for befriending not killing.

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So you are saying that we could "redeem her"?

Also, that previous talk before the update about Velvet...

It makes me think about Epic The Musical and how i hope that Velvet doesn't end up like Odysseus.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Or they see a Mare that understands the best way to keep her quadruple equicide under wraps is to simply not talk about it at all. Loose lips sinking ships and all that. And most importantly, they agreed with her demands on such.

 

[Arrkhon]

Oh honestly people, the lore is already out of our hands, lantern one at that
We are already on a clock to figure out a good reason for us to smell of lores, might as well make Bureau useful while at it


[X] Plan: Overview with a warning
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The Worms and their infestation of the Dreamlands


[X] Plan A Softer, Lunar Nudge
[X] Plan A Lunar Nudge
[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
[X] Plan A Gentle Nudge
[X] Plan Insurance for the Future (Not a bad sister edition)
[X] Plan Basic Int Test

 

[Pittauro]

really insightful stuff

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really interesting post. I feel like I should say more about it, but I'll keep it to this. There's an update to read after all, and I'm not sure I have much to add to this anyway.

Isn't it nice when you find a song that perfectly encapsulates an entire idea? Isn't it even sweeter when you already knew the song in question?

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nice song. lyrics fit pretty well, yeah.

and now, the update! It's a LONG one, and only thing I saw in advance is that it includes the expedition! (I saw a "inner sanctum" challenge while scrolling).


so, let's see how many of our goals we managed to accomplish!

And then, of course, there is her choice of words. Silky Stream herself is probably too young to realize what she said. But the way she asked that question… it doesn't feel like she is asking if you will be back soon. It feels like she is asking if you will be back at all.

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She's more perceptive than we give her credit for...

"I'll be back before you know it," you say, giving her one last hug.

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ironically considering Moth that could LITERALLY be true

You are not Selene anymore.

Your name doesn't really matter. If anypony asks, you will call yourself Midnight Breeze, or something along those lines.

But there is no reason for anypony to approach you. There is no reason for anypony to even look at you. After all, you are just a unicorn mare, with a short mane and dull-grey coat the color of cement. You look like a perfectly ordinary and boring pony, and you have a perfectly ordinary and boring cutie mark on your flank.

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Velvet might insist even her disguises are special and amazing I suspect

That you are not Selene anymore.

Is this a true and deep change? Is this just a mask? Could it be that this is just a state of focus and concentration, that you talked yourself into believing is more complicated than it really is? You don't know.

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...did she replicate the old changeling transformation? As in, the one from BEFORE their moth artifact was destroyed?

Because if so that's pretty impressive!

"From that expression alone, one would think that you have already done something like this before," he says, tipping his cap to you as you make your way towards him.

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It wouldn't surprise me. And to be fair she at the very least faced Discord an era ago... though he likely didn't take it seriously at all.

And of course she likely saw some real bad stuff in nightmares.

"Thank you," you say, more out of habit than anything else. Because for all that the old stallion gives you a grateful nod, you know that he…

Well, you thank him anyways.

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he probably just doesn't care.

He's our employee, not our friend. politeness is appreciated, but he surely had plenty of rude bosses in his time, and even ruder enemies.

[Expedition: Assault an opponent – Copper Secateur]

[Day 1]

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and so it begins.

each day it takes us is 25 bits. if we're lucky we'll get some back... or we'll get a chance at extra objectives, I suppose.

Let's go!

However, you are still resisting the idea of taking this knowledge as an absolute truth. Or rather, you are being very careful not to fall into the trap of believing these ideas in your mind are everything there is to know about this.

After all, you don't rightly know where this knowledge came from. Which means you don't know if the knowledge you have is complete, or if there are crucial details you were not given.

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I vaguely remember Velvet was not even able to DOUBT some eldritch knowledge. Probably the Lantern-touch gained one, she just instinctively knows and accept it's true.

It's wise of Selene to keep some reasonable doubt and caution in mind. Next turn we'll probably finish her lessons, and tell her most of what else we know she doesn't.

You can't wait for your mother to finally sit down with you and give you a proper lesson about these things. But you understand that isn't possible right now, and that it won't be for the foreseeable future. So, you only have your observations to go from.

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yep, we most likely will do it next turn. We can't wait for Heart 4 for the family lesson.

… you also realize that this old stallion is very, very dangerous.

But he isn't dangerous just because he is deadly.

He is dangerous because, despite all this, you don't know what he is hiding. You don't know why he is doing any of this.

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True. he can't be befriended, he can't be denied, he has his own objectives and there's nothing we can do to make him change his mind.

There's a reason we're hesitant to give him "free time"

And of course he's the only being we've met who might actually be able to defeat a full power Celestia.

He did not keep your mother safe. He could have, but he did not.

What he just told you is a lie. You are sure of it.

However, the most worrying part is that…

"You aren't even trying to hide it," you say out loud, towards the darkness of the train cabin.

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oh, NICE that Selene (and surely Velvet as well) realize that!

Because sure, he fought as we asked him to. But he still allowed a thug to pass.

It would have been the work of a moment to take ONE turn to attack the thug, or, you know, not leave the door open, before dealing with the windigo.

"It is the thing that you don't know that kills you," he says.

You don't speak to him anymore, until the two of you reach Manehattan.

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spoken like a true assassin.

In his was this might even be a kindness. A free lesson.

For all we know he shows himself as untrustworthy so we'll remember to not fully trust the Names, and particularly MAREINETTE.

or, of course, he might have other reasons.

At your mother's behest, Jade Whistle performed a ritual to scry the mare who attacked your family. She reduced the information she learned into writing, in the form of a letter she gave you a few hours before you departed.

Spoiler: Jade Whistle

[Reflection of the Tapestry]


[Secret Histories, CD 60]

[Roll: 43 + 14 (Jade Whistle) + 30 (Artifact) = 87]

[Success]


[Lantern, CD variable]

[Jade Whistle will invoke a re-roll]

[Roll: 94 32 + 14 (Jade Whistle) + 40 (Lantern 3) – 10 (Wards) = 138]


[6 success thresholds reached]


Information acquired:
1 – Copper Secateur's location has been confirmed to be in Manehattan. (Scouting the city for whereabouts of her presence is no longer necessary)
2 – Copper Secateur's precise location has been discovered. (Searching the city for her location is no longer necessary)
3 – The precise location of her moveable assets has been discovered. (Searching her stronghold for said assets, during the assault, is no longer necessary)
4 – The general layout of her defenses has been scouted. (General information acquired)
5 – The finer details of her defenses have been scouted. (Useful information acquired, plus situational bonuses)
6 – The precise location of an important item (Velvet Covers' original Manuscripts) has been discovered. (Additional options available during the assault)
7 onwards – [THRESHOLD NOT REACHED]

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well, this went super well!

We found out she's in Manehattan, the precise location, where the loot is, defenses, DETAILS of defenses worth a roll bonus, MANUSCRIPT LOCATION... I imagine the last thing we missed was Neighnia's location.

A shame but still more than satisfactory. Jade really outdid herself!

In Hindsight Baldomare might have been a better pick though, considering the DCs. Still, it worked out this time.

[This being an assault, the entirety of the first day has been used for transportation and preliminary planning]

[Rolling enemy detection – results unknown]

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presumably countered by a moth roll. They should have fairly weak Lantern, so I'm not too worried.

However, the other four immediately disagreed with you. In their own way. And ultimately, Aunt B… Baldomare, that is, told you "that is not how it works". And that the weakest link in that report would have been Jade's ability, or perhaps her loyalty, to report everything she saw accurately.

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eh, Jade's loyalty is beyond questioning right now. and we trust her ability.

I can see her giving us incomplete information, but definitely not wrong intel. Not without someone MUCH better than what Copper should have working for her doing something to counter her.

They gave their suggestions, and that was the moment you realized they absolutely did not think like normal ponies.

Biedde asked you to confirm what your priorities were. And once you told him that, he very succinctly explained to you how you could all carry out a… an assassination.

Baldomare pointed out what you didn't know, and how the creatures that Copper has under her control are still unaccounted for.

Axe herself, to your surprise, seemed to have focused her foul temper into purpose. And despite her scowl, she still dissected the maps that Jade gave you like a doctor would have dissected a body.

And Mareinette… well, she also chimed in.

Although you rather not think about it.

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I kinda wonder what Mareinette said.

Probably a recipe to make cultists tastier

In the end, you did not say much. Nopony really said much. Their words carried so much authority that there was nothing to be added. And compared to them, you were so out of depth that you could only agree with them.

In the end, they only asked for your approval. And you very quickly gave it to them.

And earlier today, you all set out to fulfill your given objectives.



[Due to the nature and competency of your team, you have decided to "multitask", and attempt several preparatory actions at the same time]

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As mentioned before, this is truly a team stacked beyond belief.

FOUR NAMES, and the weak link is a Demigod princess. mostly because her training is kind of incomplete, really. If it was complete she'd...

...well, she'd STILL be the weak link, but not by THAT much. she'd get another +10 general, +5 to her 4 lores, and the rerolls... oh, and also the Winter Realization.

with a team this stacked and so many objectives, yeah, splitting up makes sense. We have four combatants on the team, and plenty of artifacts to help as well.

However, you could never really bring yourself to hate her. Maybe it was because you were just a filly, and you don't think you could really hate anypony like that. There is something about being young that just makes you more innocent and forgiving. Or perhaps, it was because Silky warmed up to the mare for some reason, and shockingly (but not surprisingly) managed to make the mare warm up to her in return.

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Silky is truly special.

Which means, naturally, that was the place you, Axe and Biedde spent the entire day studying.



[Cut-off party: Selene, Axe, Biedde]

[Preparatory scouting, breakpoints 50/80/100/120]

[Roll: 77 + 50 (Axe, leader) + 30 (Moth total 6) = 157]

[Final threshold reached]

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AND MAX SUCCESS ON THE FIRST OBSTACLE!

From what you gathered, the tall building is a "skyscraper". A watered down and less fancy version of a castle, that can be built for a fraction of the cost for public use. However, even that fraction of the cost is still quite expensive, and it seems the construction of this particular building has been on hold for months now.

You cannot say for sure if Copper herself had a hoof on pausing the construction efforts. However, the fact remains that she got herself quite the conveniently placed stronghold.

The building is tall, it is sufficiently built to be entirely walled and mostly habitable, and it is located on a well-developed part of the city. And thanks to its nature as a skyscraper-under-construction, it is not at all out of place in that part of the city, and everypony seems to take its presence as part of the scenario.

Furthermore, nobody suspects a thing when they see groups of ponies coming in and out of the place, dragging carts full of boxes. And why would they? After all, the ponies themselves are dressed like construction workers, and the crates are unassuming enough to look like regular building supplies.

The perfect coverup for a cult. The ideal way to hide in plain sight, and to have a warehouse-slash-headquarters in a place that is far more convenient than the outskirts of the city.

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Copper really picked a good spot, I have to give her credit there.

"The guards seemed to know what they were doing, and they all know each other's faces," you say, "I don't think we should do something fancy like trying to smuggle ourselves in through a crate."

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hey, I've seen that work in multiple games!

"Yeah. The sewers are the farthest thing from a dignified entrance."

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another classic. THE classic, really.

"Ae asked…" she says, but her next words are so low they are barely a grunted mumble. "Asked how yer sisser is doing an' such…"

She says that and you can't help but feel stunned for a few seconds.

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...

...

that's so cute!

truly, Silky IS special!

The bindings, or maybe the link, that you have with Axe are quite curious. They are all unique, in their own way. But while Biedde's bindings make you feel cautious and nervous (to the point you have avoided even speaking to him at all), Axe's bindings feel different.

They feel like snakes coiling around your lungs, or maybe around something else you have inside of you. But not in a threatening way. Instead, it feels like she is holding onto you, as if afraid she might get pulled away at any second.

Which doesn't make any sense. Because Axe, you know, is very old. She is old, and she is large, and she isn't even a pony to begin with. She is a dangerous creature, that could easily take you on in a fight, even though fighting is not her specialty to begin with.

So why is it that, every now and then, she almost looks… afraid? How could she ever be afraid of anything? What could she ever be afraid of?

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oh. Selene doesn't know about the Chains.

Silky should truly share that dream with her.

Also yeah, now that I think about it they're nearly even in a fight.

Axe is 30+15= +45 (+65 with influence)

Selene is currently 20+15 = +35, soon to be (at the end of next turn), 30+20 = +50, with advantage every 6 rolls, +80 if she doesn't care about collateral damage.

...another turn, and Selene will be the third most powerful being in Equestria, right after Celestia and Biedde.

However, as she slams the door behind her as she leaves, you are once again reminded that you have no idea where the two of you stand.

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Selene, let me share a bit of eldritch, foreign lore with you.

Axe is definitely dangerous, and not a pony. But, more than that...

she is a TSUNDERE!

We'll cover that in your future eldritch lessons, don't you worry!

"I looked around the city and…"



[They have a Winter Name?, breakpoints 100/150]

[Roll: 21 9 + 50 (Baldomare, leader) + 30 (Secret Histories total 6) = 101]

[First threshold reached]



"… and I can confirm the Winter creature, that we suspect is under our enemy's control, is not in this city."

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Baldomare rolled pretty poorly.

I imagine the 150 threshold would have revealed to us the location of Neighnia.

Still, if she's not here then we can't really get her, sadly. We'll have to shift that objective to next turn, We'll probably need another scrying ritual.

At least we know not to waste time with this. Maybe we can... persuade Copper to tell us the location, before we say goodbye.

"Other than that," Baldomare continues, "I couldn't find any of her other pet monsters. I am pretty sure she still has at least three windigoes on her hoofs. But I have no idea if they are inside this central building, or if she has them stashed somewhere else."

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oh, I suppose the second threshold might have been Windigo locations instead of Neighnia's.

another problem to deal with later. I'd be surprised if she didn't have at least one to guard her in case of emergency.

"[Lantern]!"

The large, intimidating, and maddeningly normal mare who is standing on the corner of the room speaks up. And you all listen as…



[Context, breakpoints 50/80/100/120]

[Roll: 56 87 + 60 (Mareinette, leader) + 30 (Grail total 6) = 177]

[Last threshold reached]



… as she explains to you what she learned about Copper's cult.

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Mareinette likely had a lot of fun in finding out the details of a grail cult.

and, again, max threshold!

She tells you all that the cult had been succeeding in entrenching itself in this city, over the last few months. First doing petty crimes, then offering seedy services. Until finally, for some reason, they started working on a few more legitimate avenues. Such as the art gallery they started funding, for some reason, as well as efforts to enter the maintenance building, mostly for the city itself.

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maintenance building? sure you didn't mean maintenance sector/business?

also, that's probably the art gallery where Copper found Neighnia, and that we visited in a Was-not on the SH nat100 turn

Another month or two, you think, and Copper's cult would have completely disappeared. Together with the mare herself, no doubt. But thankfully, your retribution is coming so early that Mareinette's source didn't even know where they were going, or what their plans were after they vanished.

And, just like always, the link you share with her feels like tongues. And you will not think about that for a second more.

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...tongues.

fitting. EXTREMELY fitting. in multiple ways.

and hey, we came here quickly enough that Copper could not escape! That's good.

Of course if she knew what's good for her she would have left the city already... then again, if she did, we'd have likely found out with the scrying ritual and would simply be attacking her new, far less well-defended temporary residence.

"Every day we spend preparing is another day we risk being discovered. Or worse, it's another day we risk that mare disappearing," you say to the room at large. And after you take one final, deep breath, you declare that "we strike tonight."

And the four pony-creatures, the four Names, nod back at you with varying degrees of amusement.



[You have decided not to make any more preparations, and stage the assault as soon as possible]

[Rolling enemy detection – results unknown]



- - -

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so, one day to get there, one day to explore and prepare.

Thus far it went great. MORE than great, even.

Only thing that could have gone better was the scrying ritual (likely to tell us where Neighnia is), and Baldomare's SH roll (likely to find either Neighnia or the Windigoes), but it's still more than fine.

[Item distribution]

Spoiler: Item distribution

Selene: SH 3, Heart 3, 1 Wrong Key.

Baldomare: Edge 3.

Daughter-of-Axes: Winter 1.

No other items left to be distributed.

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Considering how little focus we gave to artifact gathering thus far, we have a decent inventory I think.

[Infiltrating the outer sanctum, CD --]

[Auto-success, due to thorough scouting]

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and first obstacle is out.

[Infiltrating the inner sanctum, CD 120]

[Roll: 28 + 50 (Axe, leader) + 30 (Moth total 6) + 20 (Jade's scrying - fifth threshold) = 128]

[Success]

[No alarms will happen on time, no additional guard reinforcements for Copper]

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and, again, another smashing success!

and ALL bonuses were necessary! Selene, Biedde, Axe AND Jade's scrying!

More than once you pass by a passage that is blocked by a metal door, bolted to the wall and locked with thick chains. And without fail, Axe would let out a light scoff, muttering something about "amateur adept work", before you walked away.

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We can always go back to it AFTER Copper has been dealt with, if there's interesting stuff in there.

Until finally, you reach the second-to-last floor. You climb up through an Axe-made hole into an empty room, but you immediately realize that the floor is carpeted and the walls are painted. This floor, you realize, was finished to the point that it was pleasant.

This, you know, is your enemy's nest.

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Of course, Copper would not accept a subpar home.

[Inner sanctum reached]

[As per your previous plan, Mareinette and Baldomare have separated from you, to perform other functions]

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mh... deal with the guards/windigoes, block escape path, find loot?

So, the three of you make your way forward boldly, keeping your hoofsteps quiet enough just to make a listener question what they are hearing for a few more seconds.

After all, at this stage, a few seconds is more than enough to separate life from death.



[Ambush?]

[Attacker's roll: 31 + 50 (Biedde, combat-related leader) + 60 (Edge total 12) = 141]

[Defender's roll: 26 + 12 (Guard, leader) + 10 (Edge total 2) = 48]

[Attackers win, Defenders will receive a slowly-degrading "Surprised!" -10 malus during combat]

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ONLY -10?

uh.

well, every little bit helps I suppose.

[Rolling for minimum number of guards: "1d4 – 1"]

[Roll: 3 – 1 = 2]



Two taps. Two ponies. Two guards.

…

A small part of you almost feels bad for what is about to happen next.

Almost.

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Imagine.

You're two guards, on a boring patrol.

when, suddenly, BIEDDE, LUNA, AXE AND MAREINETTE.

You're a random guard in a stealth game, and sadly the main character is not going for a bloodless run.

[Axe: 27 + 45 (total combat bonus) = 72]

[Guard-1: 67 + 16 (total combat bonus) – 10 (Surprised!) = 73]



[Overflow: Axe – 47, Guard-2 – 1]

Click to shrink...

the poor, heroic fool

[No combatants available to block you. You will proceed to your target.]



[Ambush?]

[Selene's roll: 52 + 20 (Selene) + 15 (Edge total 3) = 87]

[Copper Secateur's roll: 98 + 10 (Martial) + 10 (Edge total 2) = 118]

[Defender wins, Copper Secateur will not receive any malus, or be subjected to any special restrictions]

Click to shrink...

And we're there! and Copper HAS EDGE 2!

intriguing. I suppose Manehattan tempered her.

I wonder if Copper will learn she's Luna before dying.

"I KNEW THAT BITCH WOULD SEND SOMEPONY!"

And the fact that there is an earth pony mare, with nothing but rage in her eyes, rushing towards you.

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Bitch, you sent 4 thugs and a FUCKING WINDIGO against us, what did you expect?!

[Success, Copper has successfully disengaged, Selene will give chase]

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NO!

BIEDDE, HURRY UP!

[Copper Secateur has been defeated]

Click to shrink...

You say that, and Axe moves to obey. She hesitates for a moment, but a few seconds later she finally gives you a half-nod before going away.

Click to shrink...

I imagine she's actually a bit worried right now. For Selene.

"S-he is going to use you. She a-lready is," the mare croaks through her broken ribs.

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...that's kinda true, but then again that doesn't mean Velvet doesn't care.

"Sh-e is going to use y-ou like she use-d me. L-ike she u-sed EVERYPONY. Just look int-o her eye-s and you wi-ll see," she coughs for a few moments, and several lines of blood fall down her mouth. "All that matters to her is the climb. She is blinded by Glory, and the bitch w-"

Click to shrink...

she's only half right.

the Glory is not ALL that matters. but it's definitely up there.

And the mare's eyes go wide as she watches the light at the tip of your horn spread through the rest of your body. Copper Secateur's expression twists into something, when she finally realizes that…

… when she finally realizes there is an alicorn, a Princess, stepping down on her ruined body.

However, to your absolute surprise, the thing on her face is not fear. Instead…

"-ah, -ah, -ah…"

… instead, the mare is… laughing?

"… y-ou sai-d mo-ther…?"

Yes, you are sure of it. The mare has an insane smile on her face. This is not an expression that any pony should have on their faces, ever. But Copper Secateur is looking at you with an almost psychotic smile.

As if the final piece of a great puzzle had just clicked.

As if she had just realized the punchline of a joke.

And she is laughing, now. Even if the image on the puzzle is that of her death, and even if she just realized she is the butt of the joke.

She takes one last, pained breath, and her lips begin to move. She tries to say something, about how she knew it all along, or how this all makes sense, or how your mother is somehow manipulating you or some other nonsense.

She tries to do something like that.

But her expression is just so insane, so unnaturally unnerving that-

Click to shrink...

well, yeah.

This is the final piece of the puzzle. She misunderstands Velvet's goal and motivation somewhat, but THIS proves to her that she had been disloyal for a long time.

after all, PRINCESS LUNA, the main objective of her former cult, the Mare Velvet SUPPOSEDLY failed to find, is now calling Velvet MOTHER.

Rationally, the obvious explanation is that Velvet SOMEHOW fooled everyone.

Either that, OR, the only other alternative that makes sense... is that the Master and Velvet kept Luna secret for some reason. but that's fairly unlikely.

She can't even IMAGINE that Velvet ACTUALLY thinks of Selene as a daughter. That it's NOT a trick.

[Evidence coverup: Selene]

[Roll: 64 + 20 (Selene) + 30 (Selene: no holds barred) + 15 (Selene's Edge, level 3) + 30 (Expedition's Moth total 6) = 159]

[The CD to investigate the aftermath of this assault has been set to "159"]

Click to shrink...

...I'm going to guess the Bureau will find NOTHING here.

generally speaking, a "beyond mortal" DC, without use of lores, is probably around 130 or so. maybe 140 if multiple positive traits are applicable.

this is, quite literally, beyond any conventional detective.

[Finding critical evidence]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - sixth threshold]

[Destroying critical evidence, cd 60]

[Roll: 26 + 30 (Baldomare) + 0 (Forge total 0) = 56]

[Failure]

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...come on, REALLY?

She's failing to destroy the manuscripts?! That's ridiculous! Surely Selene can spare a minute to destroy those too?!

[Finding moveable assets]

[Auto-success due to Jade's scrying - third threshold]

[From chaos, opportunities, breakpoints 60/80/100/120/150]

[Roll: 85 75 + 40 (Old and Terrible) + 30 (Grail total 6) + 20 ("Context" final breakpoint) = 175]

[Last breakpoint reached]

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...but hey, at least it seems like we'll get a LOT of loot!

[You have completed your main objective, and decided to retreat without pursuing any other opportunities]

[Expedition completed]

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So, Copper is dead, Neighnia was sadly not there, we ONLY killed three guards, got a lot of loot... BUT failed to destroy the manuscript.

All in all it went well, but could have gone better. if only we didn't fail that last Forge roll..

You report to her that Baldomare located the manuscripts she talked about, but that they were locked inside a safe. The Name-mare could not crack the safe open before the chaos began, and you had no time to look for it after the building began to crumble. So, for all that you know it exists and who has it, those are still unaccounted for.

Click to shrink...

This is bad. then again, next turn the bureau will likely go there, and possibly find the Manuscripts (if some cultist didn't move them away). So... maybe Velvet can make them disappear if she joins the expedition.

Otherwise we'll have to do a follow up.

Maybe two, even, if we want to also go after Neighnia.

[] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

-[] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)

-[] A "journal" explaining that some members of this cult acted in Ponyville, before moving to Manehattan. (Attempt to point your investigators towards Ponyville, although this might be a bad idea)

-[] A "letter" sent from Windy Flakes. (Attempt to tell your investigators about Windy Flakes as a pony of interest)

-[] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

-[] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (You will leave pre-prepared copies of Lore manuscripts. WRITE IN how many Lore levels, capped at your own Library levels)

-[] WRITE IN

(If writing-in, suggest the "effect" that you want rather than the narrative description behind it. You may suggest anything, pending QM approval, as long as it is something that can be left behind in the form of a letter, a scroll, or a very small item)

Click to shrink...

and here's the question. Do we want to introduce the lores to the Bureau? They certainly could use some Edge and Moth, though we might hesitate to share Lantern with them.

Another possibility would be to leave instructions for rituals, particularly the remove-scars one. We could then have Velvet perform it on Shining as a "desperate" attempt to help him heal, same with potentially later Twilight. Make it look like we got lucky...

...or... what if we added instruction for Incision, and tried to convince Celestia to use it to deal with Daybreaker...? Probably too difficult and dangerous, but it's an idea...

Copper Secateur, the mare who, in truth, helped you climb out of the rut that was your life several years ago, has been killed. She died, laughing, as she realized the depth of your betrayal to her.

Click to shrink...

I actually feel sorry for her. If we had tried to get closer, to bring her into our confidence for real... this wouldn't have had to happen.

We could have recruited her, and eventually she could have very well become our right hoof.

Once Velvet gets over her pain, wounds and anger... she'll probably feel sad about it.

But you betrayed us first.

Click to shrink...

sad thing is, she didn't.

Master tricked us both. she fell for it first, but we also didn't trust her.

and, of course, Selene was the first betrayal, and Twilight the second, even before we started trying to kill each other.

---

aaand I'll post this massive reactionpost now, and continue to read the discussion later.

 

[DelightedOne]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning

 

[BritBiscuit]

Would the paranoia malus effect the investigation because that might allow more leeway to the ammount of evidence we can plant if the case is that planting more evidence adds to the investigators bonus additively?

Also I hope that the loot we got is like reagents and artifacts and if we are really lucky hopefully a level 7 book to finish Baldomare's FRIENDSHIP QUEST TM gotta get those perma summons to cut on costs and also get some of that sweet sweet worldbuilding.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Dream Warning is useless without the means to access dreams, guys. You are hindering the Bureau's ability to round up Copper's Cult for no benefit.

 

[spiderhellian]

Because I really, really do not want this backfiring on us and biting us in the ass. The Bureau taking longer to investigate is the cult is worth not incriminating ourselves, considering we don't know how large the penalty for leaving tracks is.

Click to shrink...

Do we just never want the Bureau to discover the lores?

Because it doesn't seem like there's going to be a better opportunity to introduce them. Planting evidence anywhere else is going to be more suspicious than this!

Give a DC 159 some credit. At some point we need to take some marginal risk to allow them to be effective, and this is the best opportunity we're going to have.

[X] Plan: Overview with a warning

[X] Plan A Gentle Nudge
-[x] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[x] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, MOTH 1)

[X] Plan A Colder Nudge
-[x] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[x] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, WINTER 1)
-[X] A "letter" sent from Windy Flakes. (Attempt to tell your investigators about Windy Flakes as a pony of interest)

[X] Plan A Lunar Nudge
[X] Plan Insurance for the Future

 

[Rafuki22]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning

[X] Plan A Colder Nudge

 

[Shaper47]

Heart because I think the changeling use Heart for their transformation know

Click to shrink...

Why do you think that?

So you are saying that we could "redeem her"?

Click to shrink...

There's plenty of ways to put her desires to use in a productive way.

Ponies who like murdering can become soliders for instance.

For our Honoured Guest she can eat things we're fine with. Like dissidents against Princess Selene.

Or we can set her up with a government funded abortion clinic as a good friend. Mares who aren't ready for a child or nobles looking to get rid of accidents can go to her for her services.

 

[Greymere]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)

[X] Plan Dream Warning
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The Worms and their infestation of the Dreamlands

[] Plan A Softer, Lunar Nudge
-[] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, MOTH 1, EDGE 1, WINTER 1, SECRET HISTORIES 1)

[X] Plan Ritual Knowledge
-[X] You planted a cache of false information, meant to throw your investigations off any trails they might pick up. (Attempt to make the investigator's job more difficult, on all fronts)
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] (WRITE-IN) The details of the Forge's Redemption

Adding in a non-soft version of Lunar Nudge, cause if we're going to play it riskier as some people seem to want we should include all the non-sunhorse Lores in the list and not just two. Assuming five carries the same discovery risk as two, anyway. So... pending possible deletion depending on what Bird says

[] Plan A Lunar Nudge
-[] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[] A detailed treatise about one of the Lores. One, or several of them. (KNOCK 1, MOTH 1, EDGE 1, WINTER 1, SECRET HISTORIES 1)

 

[LieutenantSpirit]

[X] Nothing. (You did not plant any evidence. Better safe than sorry.)
[X] Plan A Gentle Nudge
[X] Plan A Colder Nudge
[X] Plan A Lunar Nudge

 

[Shaper47]

yep, we most likely will do it next turn. We can't wait for Heart 4 for the family lesson

Click to shrink...

Bit busy next turn.

Axe sacrament, healing scar (Cadence and Selene witness) and a SH Sacrament action are more important.

Besides if we send out servants or Jade for heart books we'll get heart 4 pretty soon.

Because sure, he fought as we asked him to. But he still allowed a thug to pass.

It would have been the work of a moment to take ONE turn to attack the thug, or, you know, not leave the door open, before dealing with the windigo

Click to shrink...

Mechanically he probably could have just ambushed the assault team. Got something like a free strike and an ambush bonus.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Why do you think that?



There's plenty of ways to put her desires to use in a productive way.

Ponies who like murdering can become soliders for instance.

For our Honoured Guest she can eat things we're fine with. Like dissidents against Princess Selene.

Or we can set her up with a government funded abortion clinic as a good friend. Mares who aren't ready for a child or nobles looking to get rid of accidents can go to her for her services.

Click to shrink...

Mareinette would never run an abortion clinic, because to her that's basically tossing unbaked cake out of the oven and into the garbage.

Adding in a non-soft version of Lunar Nudge, cause if we're going to play it riskier as some people seem to want we should include all the non-sunhorse Lores in the list and not just two.

Click to shrink...

Nah, include some Sun Horse Lore, get her to dilute that Lantern with pursuing other topics. Like how we have nothing at level 5 while Copper, Comet, and Windy do in their primary Lores. Make her spread things out. Get some Forge in some hooves! I wonder what her other lores would be.

 

[BritBiscuit]

So to propose a plan do you just have to name it with a check box and have the subvotes with the - next to them?
Like this is how I think it works if anyone could correct me.

[X] Plan Insurance for the Future
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] Reveal the Worms and the threat they pose to everyone

Also for that write in vote about the Worms I think that would work based on what OurLadyinWires said about wanting the results rather than the narrative.

I propose that plan due to wanting
A- The Bureau to start on the path to Lore knowledge even with the risk it poses due to increased capabilities in the hands of what is likely going to become the Suppression Bureau so they are effective.
B- The knowledge of the Worms so that even if Velvet dies and we have to rebuild with Soft Sweeps (likely without access to the Bureau) at least people are aware and working on the Worm problem (it just seems like a prudent choice to make in character even the horrible truth might possibly trigger a roll to inflict dread to the investigators) also it would possibly lead to the knowledge of the threat being shared with Eclipse and Celestia possibly leading to research into wards or even the discovery that Luna didn't betray her sister and Celestia's guilt for being a horrible sibling could be eased possibly putting her in a better headspace and allowing her to be slighly better at holding Daybreaker back (likely not fully fixed tho).

@OurLadyOfWires
Actually would revealing the threat the Worms pose in evidence include the possession of Luna in this write in or should I do a seperate plant about the Cult infiltrating the dream of Luna triggering her disappearance because that would allow us to show that we are making progress with hunting the perpetrators of the attack and also would give Celestia valuable info like I posit above in B?

 

[Shaper47]

[X] Plan Insurance for the Future
-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)
-[X] Reveal the Worms and the threat they pose to everyone

Click to shrink...

That's literally just Overview with a warning under a different plan name?

[X] Plan: Overview with a warning

-[X] A very vague treatise about the Mansus, and the Lores. (This will have no inherent "Lore level", but attempt to point your investigation towards the existence of the Lores)

-[X] (WRITE-IN) The Worms and their infestation of the Dreamlands

Click to shrink...

 

[BritBiscuit]

That's literally just Overview with a warning under a different plan name?

Click to shrink...

I didn't see that one so thanks for informing me, however I think there is a slight difference in the effects of the Worm write in, I think it might be better to just simplify it to the threats they pose as that would include the dreamlands infestation but also include the possession of Luna into Nightmare Moon but if OurLadyInWires says in future that there would be no difference in the effects of the two write ins I would be fine voting for that one instead. Just to restate thanks for informing me.