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

[Maer]

Well. Tied again. Okay…

Risen gives more AP next turn as well. Forgot about that.

Windy was also… ambivalent to us? He had no reason to hate or target us, and we haven't attacked him. (For all the good attacking a Winter specialist with a ritual nightmare would do…)

So… there's not much that we can really do. He's lonely out doing Wolf stuff, but I doubt it's targeting us- not since we're best chance for a Wolf Mother ending and the Divided one knows it.

We're one Regret away from being more Wolf Stained than not. After that… well.

Besides all that, if I remember right, Our Lady only listed him as an enemy because we don't know what he's doing, and he's not a friend, but a known and potentially very dangerous pony. He COULD be an enemy, but has no reason to be one.

@OurLadyOfWires Am I remembering that correctly, or did I mis-remember your words?

 

[DelightedOne]

He's the Winterest pony in the world who has been pursuing the Wolf for half a year! He's a threat who's been given all the time he could wish for!

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And now the influence of the Wolf has reached the lowest part of the Mansus he may be even more motivated to follow Him.

Dude could very well be Winter 5 with the Heirloom by now!

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You have no idea of the rage I feel every time I remember there is a Heirloom we could reach and a Sacrament we can do.

 

[Greymere]

You have no idea of the rage I feel every time I remember there is a Heirloom we could reach and a Sacrament we can do.

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Think of it as a reason to send Mareinette out to meet people. Accidentally killing an Element because we rolled a 1 behind the scenes would suck after all!

(I don't know if this would be an actual problem, don't take this too seriously )

 

[spiderhellian]

Risen gives more AP next turn as well. Forgot about that.

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Really not as useful as it looks I think, it's very tough getting to 2 Velvet AP and the Fluttercomet action it saves doesn't do much.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Risen? What risen? There were no risen-related plans. At least not among the top three...

Squints.

Ahh... sneaky sneaky dinosaur. Editing your plans to make them almost illegal

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Hey, that Risen change occurred a couple of days ago, I just didn't realize I needed to change every instance I wrote out my Plan for the tally to notice.

He's the Winterest pony in the world who has been pursuing the Wolf for half a year! He's a threat who's been given all the time he could wish for!

THIS IS A HORROR QUEST AND OUR ENEMIES DO NOT PULL THEIR PUNCHES.

You're right, it probably will be a little less bad than our Master's actions. That really doesn't mean much.

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This is a horror world and our enemies are not guaranteed success. It's just that our past enemies have been:

1. Our former Master, a Name possessing superlative skill in all Nine Lores, with a considerable General Bonus to boot.

2. Another Branded Cultist with the backing of an entire Cult she had been cultivating for several turns before hostilities began.

Windy really does not compare.

Also I just realized that Soft Sweeps stole all of his likeliest recruits. Passively. Which is hilarious.

 

[Maer]

Really not as useful as it looks I think, it's very tough getting to 2 Velvet AP and the Fluttercomet action it saves doesn't do much.

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While true, it's something that lets Flutter/Comet either get books or potentially… I don't know… Social each other? Can we set them up on a date somehow? Hmm… that'd be a fun use of a free, otherwise unneeded action.

 

[spiderhellian]

This is a horror world and our enemies are not guaranteed success

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It's been half a year.

He wasn't guaranteed success. He wasn't an immediate threat.

But he's had more than enough time for both.

 

[Sveta08]

Mhmm.
I say fifty fifty odds on him being dead.
Seeking audience isn't exactly a safe thing, and he was much more... Mono lore focused.

We will see.

 

[DelightedOne]

Think of it as a reason to send Mareinette out to meet people. Accidentally killing an Element because we rolled a 1 behind the scenes would suck after all!

(I don't know if this would be an actual problem, don't take this too seriously )

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I've literally said almost the same thing but I want Rarity to do it because I don't want my Elements with Alukite stains feel like it would make more sense for an Element to do the introductions(gotta use that Grail 3 for something).

And really? After everything that happened we shouldn't expect Bird to off Laughter and Loyalty?

 

[Rafuki22]

As long as the friends/family FO are chosen i have no stakes on this, i'm fine with both leading plans.

I say fifty fifty odds on him being dead.

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I bet 1 vote that he is alive.

 

[Greymere]

I've literally said almost the same thingbut I want Rarity to do it because I don't want my Elements with Alukite stains feel like it would make more sense for an Element to do the introductions(gotta use that Grail 3 for something).

And really? After everything that happened we shouldn't expect Bird to off Laughter and Loyalty?

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I mean...

@OurLadyOfWires not related to anything happening this turn, but would it actually be possible to ask Rarity to introduce us to another Element(s)?

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

While true, it's something that lets Flutter/Comet either get books or potentially… I don't know… Social each other? Can we set them up on a date somehow? Hmm… that'd be a fun use of a free, otherwise unneeded action.

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Search for more Short Expeditions to crush for fun and profit. Look for Books. Work on Jade's house for our growing hoard to occupy. Ooh, ooh! Send Comet into the Everfree to clear out a spot to conduct 3 Circle Rituals! He's really good at clearing out an area of anything bearing a pulse, and nobody goes casually gallivanting around the Everfree besides Fluttershy in the first place!

@OurLadyOfWires , is that thing we can have Comet try to do in the future, on a turn he isn't half-dead?

 

[OurLadyOfWires]

Besides all that, if I remember right, Our Lady only listed him as an enemy because we don't know what he's doing, and he's not a friend, but a known and potentially very dangerous pony. He COULD be an enemy, but has no reason to be one.

@OurLadyOfWires Am I remembering that correctly, or did I mis-remember your words?

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That is Velvet Cover's personal assessment of the situation, yes.

@OurLadyOfWires not related to anything happening this turn, but would it actually be possible to ask Rarity to introduce us to another Element(s)?

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No.

I need you guys to understand that "The Elements" are not the "capital i" Institution that they became in canon MLP. Mostly because... (waves hand at the Quest in general).

 

[spiderhellian]

I say fifty fifty odds on him being dead.
Seeking audience isn't exactly a safe thing, and he was much more... Mono lore focused.

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I 100% believe this is not a story or a game where things go that easily.

I agree he's unlikely to target us. I do think he'll wreck a pretty great havoc on Equestria, which is our problem as Commissioner of the Lunar Bureau.

Though fair, maybe Equestria doesn't matter, and that's just a play-to-not-lose mentality

 

[Maer]

Search for more Short Expeditions to crush for fun and profit. Look for Books. Work on Jade's house for our growing hoard to occupy. Ooh, ooh! Send Comet into the Everfree to clear out a spot to conduct 3 Circle Rituals! He's really good at clearing out an area of anything bearing a pulse, and nobody goes casually gallivanting around the Everfree besides Fluttershy in the first place!

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There we go! One more reason to go and grab a Risen. Like what Spread Thin does! That's added value to next turn! I love it. Building up a good chance to get an SH Sacrament, adding value to next turns options, further strengthening our overall position while actively chasing things that we'll improve our odds of obtaining Victory…

 

[DelightedOne]

No.

I need you guys to understand that "The Elements" are not the "capital i" Institution that they became in canon MLP. Mostly because... (waves hand at the Quest in general).

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Ok, then. Mareinette will take a walk next turn if I have anything to say about it(and if Grail is the right lore to find interesting ponies).

 

[Sveta08]

I 100% believe this is not a story or a game where things go that easily.

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Oh?

looks back at Starry

I mean, you're not wrong. We usually have to try pretty hard.
But the Wolf also likes giving us nasty gifts.

 

[Greymere]

Ok, then. Mareinette will take a walk next turn if I have anything to say about it(and if Grail is the right lore to find interesting ponies).

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I'm not 100% sure if we actually roll Grail, since I think Rarity is the only one we met the 'normal' way. It's more that Mareinette's the only one that can actually make a new contact on our behalf bcuz Honored Guest. And she can probably make a really good first impression at least, so maybe if we're lucky she'll leapfrog us straight into Friend

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Oh?

looks back at Starry

I mean, you're not wrong. We usually have to try pretty hard.
But the Wolf also likes giving us nasty gifts.

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Oh yeah, she was also Copper's Moth Prophet. Damn, we were torching her base as collateral. No wonder she threw a dedicated hit squad at us.

Ugh, imagine how much better things would have been if that squad hadn't of killed us.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

I'm not 100% sure if we actually roll Grail, since I think Rarity is the only one we met the 'normal' way. It's more that Mareinette's the only one that can actually make a new contact on our behalf bcuz Honored Guest. And she can probably make a really good first impression at least, so maybe if we're lucky she'll leapfrog us straight into Friend

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And that's the story of how "we" finally met Pinkie Pie.

 

[Cochimetl]

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished

 

[spiderhellian]

looks back at Starry

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Her prison, you mean? Yeah fair enough. I just super duper don't see that happening for a core secondary character who has been up to something nefarious for half a year.

I cannot imagine the narrative unfolding that way. Simply cannot. If he gets eaten by the Wolf, it's not a disappearance in the dark, it's taking a city down with him.

 

[Xoden]

[X] Plan Spreading Ourselves Thin Always Gets Us Punished
Seems more interesting. Though the "No Leashing" part looks like a missed opportunity for no sensible reason (Velvet has already sicced Mareinette on his family and plots Moth Sacrament, why cold feet now?).

 

[Pittauro]

Thanks I hate it. Agency is agonizing. I think a part of me wants to not vote because then whatever happens it's not my fault

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I can relate. It took me until like 12 hours ago to vote first, and then I changed my vote not even 4 hours ago.

This is a tiring quest (in a good way Bird! I mean it in a good way!)

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Hmm
You know?

Maybe, if we have the time, should send Selene to watch over Diamond Tiara's dreams.
Protect from some nightmares there, yes?

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I'm hoping Sooth the Nights does that too.

Risen? What risen? There were no risen-related plans. At least not among the top three...

Squints.

Ahh... sneaky sneaky dinosaur. Editing your plans to make them almost illegal

Now, I'll be entirely honest. I do not like this, because this falls under the "yes, it is technically possible to fail at grave-robbing". But more because this falls under the banner of "I will have to change my storyboarding/have more voting windows to decide how to handle this if it goes wrong" than anything else. However, we are too far in the voting period, and the chance of failure is indeed too small, for me to want to make a fuss out of it.
No, really it's fine. On the off-chance that grave-ribbing goes wrong, I'll laugh, and then we'll figure out how to proceed from there. And since this is something quick, and raising a Risen is a "quick and easy" Free Action, it's also fine for a rushed Risen to cover your bases.

Also, it goes without saying, I am implicitly trusting everyone that no one had a problem with these edits. I followed the conversation, and my understanding is that the plan even picked up more voters because of the changes. And after the back-and-forth on how to alter it.

So, again, it's fine.

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So basically your problem with the change is that it might make more work for you? You Lazy Bird You!


But yeah, I don't think the change is much of a problem. Risen was already in there from before, so this is not adding it. The change is basically that, after realizing that Risen should offer an action this turn, Rarity CAN be effectively be put on Commission Duty (which she has not done recently, so there's not even risk of exceptional stress or failing her career) and get us a nice >100 bits for... basically free.

So yeah, I can't imagine anyone having a problem with it. Not once it's made clear that it won't negatively affect her career, which I think a few players feared before while forgetting you told us we'd get a warning if Rarity was at risk of that.

It wasn't shown "on-screen" per se, but you did confirm it OOC at the end of the update.


Or at least, I assume that's what it meant (i.e. the technically was in regard to be able to say the highest echelons of the Bureau are aware, not that Shining Armor is only technically aware of Luna)

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@OurLadyOfWires also to me the implication was that Luna would reveal herself to both Cadance and SHining during that visit.

So are we doing Forge Redemption this turn or not? I remember people wanting to do it before getting Moth sacrament. If spending actions on Lantern artifact and Moth book delays it then there is no much point in getting ready for Moth sacrament early.
Or Lantern is specifically for Moth book only?

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As Graymere said, we could go either way in the next vote.

I'm leaning towards PROBABLY not. The thing is that basically we HAVE to do it before the Edge Sacrament AND we WANT to do it before the Moth Sacrament (or at least some of us want that), but we Also have other stuff we can do this turn and the next.

Right now we'll most likely do our best to finish Axe's Sacrament, with 3 or even 4 actions put on it.

If a plan with SH Influence wins, we're likely to use the "leftover" actions when we (hopefully) finish that earlier than planned to do 1 or 2 SH Sacrament actions now (though the plan in question also has a grail influence, so more social actions are technically a possibility)

If a plan with Lantern influence wins, we're likely going to study artifacts and books to take advantage of its +40 there.

and Next turn we're likely going to finish SH Sacrament (if we don't finish it now), do Forge ritual (if we don't do it now), maybe do Edge Sacrament right after...

Leash: I shouldn't actually consider this, we can always do it next turn, it's about what it allows/disallows this turn. So let's give that 0 points.

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if you don't care about leashing a friend to basically do our chores (such a petty use of mind control!) instead of using a Risen for that (such a petty use of Necromancy!), that's fair.

...damn.

@OurLadyOfWires , who could have said in the beginning of this quest that one day a relevant difference between two plans would have been if we'd rather have a Zombie or a mind controlled friend do our groceries and chores?!

What's more ethical and/or convenient, Brainwashing or Necromancy?!

Influences: Lantern ~commits us to two study actions, so we're really gambling on the DoA Sacrament + Key being achievable in three turns. Studying is Lantern scrap + Moth scrap + Winter scrap + 2 strong artefacts + an expedition. SH might be useful on the Sacrament and gives us the option of pursuing our SH Sacrament this turn. Grail could be useful on all the friend stuff (Rarity prob no need lol, Fluttercomet prob doesn't do much, Jade Whistle prob not, Cheerilee/Filthy Rich might help but not sure the impact, Spoiled (?) mayyyybe Good Friend?, Applejack whatever that favour was...)

AaaaaAAA 3 vs. 5?

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Grail is probably more useful than you're estimating, it tends to be +40 to nearly all social rolls... Also in particular FlutterComet is CLOSE to becoming a real ship, so a little push could actually help a lot there!

OKAY LOL YES THAT IS 6 vs. 6 HAVE I MENTIONED THIS IS HARD

TL;DR: How much do you value scouting Windy? How much do you want to study? How much do you think socializing will do?

Lightseeker: FA Family > Study x2 > DoA Sacrament ( 3 ideally) > FA Friends (+ Train Luna/FR)
Thin: FA Family > DoA Sacrament ( 3+) > FA Friends > SH Sacrament (+ Train Luna/FR)

So differences are studying vs. DoA flexibility + SH Sacrament possibility.

Maybe 3 vs. 4?

But hm, we need to study eventually, and it's definitely best to study with the Lantern influence, but we ~need the SH influence for the Sacrament. So over the next 3 turns probably there will be 2 SH sacraments and 1 lantern anyways. And given other possibilities (e.g. Edge sacrament) we probably don't rush SH. So better to get the studying done sooner than later, to see what the artefacts do/get Moth sacrament?

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I feel you. The two plans are REALLY close to each others in good points I think.

For me in the end the determining factor, hilariously enough, ended up being (beside chance of SH Sacrament) that I find the Zombie more ethical than the mind controlled friend

and about Windy... It's a risk. but I'm kinda hoping next turn we'll be able to send Selene, but with all-4 and general +30. So, later but better equipped to find out what we want...

Hey, that Risen change occurred a couple of days ago, I just didn't realize I needed to change every instance I wrote out my Plan for the tally to notice.

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A problem with that might have been that in a previous version of the plan I noticed you removed the X in between [] only from the first line.

Also I just realized that Soft Sweeps stole all of his likeliest recruits. Passively. Which is hilarious.

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eh, he very explicitly was going "somewhere new", which is near certainly NOT Ponyville, Canterlot OR Manehattan.

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WHAT DO WE NEED FOR THE SACRAMENTS:

THE EASY ONES

KNOCK: We'll near certainly (try to) do Axe's Sacrament this turn. we just need 1 scrap and likely 2 to 4 actions on it, depending on luck and ?

So, probably this turn (turn 21) for 2 to 4 actions

SH: We have the scraps. we did 1 of 3 actions for the personal Sacrament. If Spreading Thin wins we'll likely try to do 1 or 2 actions on this AFTER finishing Axe's

So, probably this turn or the next (turn 21 or 22) for 2 actions (if we don't fail a roll)

EDGE: we're ready in terms of scraps. we just want to heal (Forge ritual) and then get a 2 or 3 AotL to help our chances

Likely done next turn, or the one after (turn 22 or 23), for one action, a Biedde action for the influence, and a couple follower actions for AotL bonuses

MOTH: we're a scrap away (and we have the book) for it. We technically have viable confidants and Filthy Rich CAN potentially be used in a pinch, but the plan is to raise Spoiled Rich one more rank first instead.

So, 1 action for the sacrament, 1 to study the moth book (1 to 3 of the study rolls from the action), and 1 more action to "befriend" Spoiled Rich.

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THE NOT SO EASY ONES

Those 4 sacraments are either ready or one turn from being ready, basically.

After those there's

LANTERN: we need 4 scraps. 1 from artifact, 2 from influence, we need one more (potentially Baldomare lesson if we don't get a book or artifact in time). Then we need 1 Baldomare action to send her on an expedition (no bit costs) and 4 points worth of followers to help her (Axe is worth 3 points, Mares in the Light are worth 2 each, everyone else is worth 1 point).

Probably doable in 2 or 3 turns? Especially if we get another source for the last scrap needed.

WINTER: 3 actions, 30 bits per action, 3 random deaths in the world. Oh, and we need 3 more scraps (1 can be from the lvl 4 artifact, leaving 2. We could try a winter influence ritual for 1 or 2 more scraps)

FORGE: We're 0/4. We need to be at least at 2/4 before we can start the action chain, so we need to find sources of scraps, unless we want to bet on a tier 4 influence from ritual. THEN we need to take X actions, for 50 bits each.

Each action rolls 1d100 + Magic (13) + Forge Level (+40) + Forge reagents (0 to 40, depending), and we need 300 progress.

on average that's 3 actions without reagents. Could be more, unlikely to be less. We MIGHT be lucky and get scraps from those actions themselves.

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LIKELY NOT ANYTIME SOON

HEART: unknown requirements for either Personal or Mareinette ones, and we'res till only lvl 3 anyway

GRAIL: Both Mareinette and Personal come with problematic requirements (cannibalism vs permanent brainwashing of 3 minions). We also don't have the scraps

 

[Greymere]

As Graymere said, we could go either way in the next vote.

I'm leaning towards PROBABLY not. The thing is that basically we HAVE to do it before the Edge Sacrament AND we WANT to do it before the Moth Sacrament (or at least some of us want that), but we Also have other stuff we can do this turn and the next.

Right now we'll most likely do our best to finish Axe's Sacrament, with 3 or even 4 actions put on it.

If a plan with SH Influence wins, we're likely to use the "leftover" actions when we (hopefully) finish that earlier than planned to do 1 or 2 SH Sacrament actions now (though the plan in question also has a grail influence, so more social actions are technically a possibility)

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Tbh, if Talon's plan wins (which seems most likely atm), I kind of assume we're just going to throw everything except what's being allocated to the FOs into DoA and figure out what we're doing afterward depending on how many leftover actions we have, if any.

(I mean I'd hope 5 AP's worth of attempts would leave us with at least one or two leftover AP, but we know nothing about the Sacrament, so)

 

[Flaregamer82253]

In Talon's plan I think Forge' Redemption is basically a must have. A forge LV3 reagent leaves us at +83, and we have few other focuses in this plan

Edited: corrected numbers.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

Honestly I plan on trying FR regardless of which follower plan wins. Another Wound and Velvet Memories are too good to pass up, and with 7 Velvet Actions this turn it is easily slotted into even a 4 DoA Plan.

4 DoA
2 FO
1 FR

Easy. Especially since making a Reagent is a Free Action. Slap that +40 Bad Boy down, Rarity's got the cost of that and the Ritual covered with that Commission work.

 

[DelightedOne]

Tbh, if Talon's plan wins (which seems most likely atm), I kind of assume we're just going to throw everything except what's being allocated to the FOs into DoA and figure out what we're doing afterward depending on how many leftover actions we have, if any.

(I mean I'd hope 5 AP's worth of attempts would leave us with at least one or two leftover AP, but we know nothing about the Sacrament, so)

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I disagree with using 5 AP on DoA, we need one to do Forge's Redemption because I don't think we should let Velvet "2 Health" Covers go to a unknown expedition(in potentially another History!) when she got a wound in a Mansus Expedition last turn, had to return home, was attacked and was Dancing with Death.

 

[spiderhellian]

+40 Bad Boy

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This is an obscene waste of bits.

We're paying more than a RotT costs for 2%.

We've got Biedde to pay for and expeditions and future reagents and rituals.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

This is an obscene waste of bits.

We're paying more than a RotT costs for 2%.

We've got Biedde to pay for and expeditions and future reagents and rituals.

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Can you link the math? I know our chances of failure are low, but I didn't think THAT low.