Talon Tiger Dino
From the best dinosaur fighting game
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Interesting. We might be needing more Forge in our future. Because that is one big architectural fault.
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Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience
- Thread starter OurLadyOfWires
- Start date
spiderhellian
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I think this is definitely the option we should take. I'd have argued strongly for doing the ritual this turn.
@OurLadyOfWires Could we not include "Have Jade not do the Memory of Light, and instead scry with this turn's action", in the vote? It was a pretty isolated action that was included in both leading plans, which to me indicates that it wasn't much of a factor in decisionmaking…
Hm! It makes for a very elegant answer to Roach's question:
And definitely explains all those inconsistencies better than "Well, it all started when I joined a cult…"
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Greymere
In hell we live, lament
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Ehhhh. Are we confident that she could, even if Bird did give us that option? It's going to be something that was secret even when the Lores and the Mansus were common knowledge, and Bird's mentioned before that Level 7 books are special.
jelloloaf
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Found a few typos @OurLadyOfWires.
Otherwise, nice update. Interesting to learn more about Baldomare, and it's still funny get an outside perspective that doesn't know about what goes on inside Velvet's head and just sees her as freakishly competent at everything.
Otherwise, nice update. Interesting to learn more about Baldomare, and it's still funny get an outside perspective that doesn't know about what goes on inside Velvet's head and just sees her as freakishly competent at everything.
DelightedOne
I trust you know where the happy button is?
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Why not just use Baldomare's action and get a guarantee of finding the book instead of risking it with Jade? Level 7 doesn't sound like it can be found easily.
spiderhellian
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We need Baldomare actions if we want a chance in hell of finishing our SH Sacrament. And for that studying we just put off. I guess we can roll the dice on a CoI, maybe. Or we're able to squeeze one in this turn.
That's the mechanical reason.
Narratively, it feels a little cruel to have her do it, after "I don't want you to do this".
Yeah, I think so. She's level 4 Lantern. It might not be guaranteed, but she's the second most powerful scryer in the world right now, lol.
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Alan975
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Seconded! This seems far more important.
Not as immediately important as SH, so Jade is preferable for the search as well.
Pittauro
Versed in the lewd.
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eh, they're not quite ready, but just give us the leeway to introduce the Lores and THEN we'll talk!
uh.
I wonder, could we get Reproach's loyalty through his sister? I mean if Selene could help with her nightmares...
A thought for the future, maybe.
What the ACTUAL fuck?!
This is FAR beyond what I expected! HOW DID COPPER FIND OUT ABOUT THIS?
Yeah, the Bureau will DEFINITELY appreciate this...
this is such a GigaFlex...
Basically, Velvet showed she ALONE did the work of ALL of the Bureau together, in a case of equivalent scope to the Blueblood Family.
Now, admittedly she's presenting it as "I've been working on this for months, maybe years", compared to the Bureau doing that in basically a single month... but the Bureau is a full organization, and she APPARENTLY worked on this ALL ON HER OWN.
and you know what's the scariest part? While this is a lie we're passing off as truth, Velvet IS INDEED CAPABLE OF DOING SOMETHING LIKE THIS IF SHE WANTS TO.
Mostly thanks to her scrying ritual, but even without that, between SH, Lantern and Moth, she COULD get all those information given maybe a couple months of dedicated effort (as in, multiple APs)
it's kind of hilarious that they're coming to the right conclusions (we ARE that capable) for the wrong reasons.
Also hey, Velvet DID do an admirable job of managing the search!
oh, the answer would actually blow your mind!
We might want to remove the scar soon-ish. I think he might start to take notice of them otherwise.
If not this turn, then the next one.
Velvet is now "one of the boys" so to speak
For all that MLP tries to push a "everyone has a place" and messages of equality... honestly, the way they're introduced it's kinda easy to paint the Unicorns as just better.
Or, generally speaking, I'd argue that "Unicorns can reach higher peaks, Pegasi have the better averages (Flying is THAT good), and Earth Ponies usually seem to be the unlucky ones".
It's not NECESSARILY true. There's plenty of Earth Pony businessmen (businessponies) for example, great warriors like Rockhoof, Athletes like Applejack, whatever Pinkie Pie's deal is...
but generally speaking, Unicorns just seem more impressive. Even with just their mark-related spells (see Rarity's gem-finding spell), and when you get unicorns specialized in magic... well, the peak of Earth Ponies and Pegasi can be impressive too, but it's not really a fair comparison.
Even Dash's sonic rainboom pales in comparison to Starlight Glimmer's Time Fucking Travel!
OF COURSE COZY GLOW WANTED MAGIC GONE. I'd be jealous too!
...she kinda said she already knows the story, so wouldn't she technically already know about it?
It's VELVET that doesn't know it...
a taste of the eldritch nature of the Baldomare...
The HAM is half full! @OurLadyOfWires
beside that though... intriguing. Did she lose some of her powers in the distant past?
So... is she telling us she does NOT want us to get her a lvl 7 book? Basically the same way the other time she told us she was glad we did not put her in a position to care?
oh, I really like this.
and I like how this shows WHAT getting the friendship of a Name actually looks like.
Because yeah, a friend cares. And sometimes they'll do something the friend doesn't want exactly because they care.
This is something I'd like people advocating for Friendship with Mareinette to remember, by the way. I'm NOT against it necessarily (I'm undecided as of now), but keep in mind that friendship is a two-ways street, and having Velvet CARE for Mareinette could come with a lot of unforeseen (and foreseen) consequences)
Interesting.
I wonder what will happen AFTER that...
Didn't we assume that already? Sure, we didn't know it's basically a blood transfusion to her weakened self, but we basically knew we'll need a lvl 7 book next time.
ah, you mean that she won't be available for "All In" without the lvl 7 book.
I think we also assumed that, for the most part. Though we were hoping for some intermediate benefit from the lvl 6 book.
mh... in a way, using Baldomare to find the lvl 7 book we plan to gift her feels wrong.
On the other, she'd know anyway.
On the OTHER other hand, she does NOT want us to do this, so involving her feels a bit mean.
...eh, we'll see.
Shaper47
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I kinda want to track down another copy of this knowledge.
How likely is it that a Heirloom level 7 book is behind the Winter Sacrament area?
spiderhellian
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I still think Heirlooms are definitely not the same as a Level 7 books.
It's the last remnant of an older power, not a text of secrets even from Baldomare's era.
I think if they were, we'd have been told to get an heirloom.
In which the wounds will not be healed
New
Sveta08
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It's short. It's imperfect. But it's...
Well, I deeply hope I'm wrong.
The Wounds we Won't Heal
You are...
You... are...?
You aren't supposed to be here.
Yes, I know what you saw. And I know why you are here, but I told her. I don't want her to do this. I don't.
I know where this leads. She doesn't. And of everything that poor mare has to handle, I don't want this to be another burden.
She doesn't know and she shouldn't.
But you aren't going to let that be will you?
No... No I don't think you will. Too eager. Too helpful. Too earnest to just stop now. I can see it already.
Planning. Scheming. Best of intentions as they say!
But I know Velvet. Better than I want to, had to hold her in my hooves for a time.
Unless you decide not to, she will push. And unless you steer her away, she's going to find... truths.
Truths better left forgotten. This is a new age, a new era. A new people to cover the world. These bitter truths won't serve her any good.
But you want to anyway.
Maybe I can't stop you. And goodness knows it would break more than a few things if I stopped Velvet!
So listen close. Because this is something she can't know and the only way to do that, is if you know.
Tell me. You know the names of the Hours. As they were, the way they were once. Maybe in a different reflection than here, but you know them. Know of them. Not just the power they wielded, but of their nature, their names as they were, and how they came to be. How alone they were. You know of the Alukite. Their sisterhood of sorts, the fact they were cursed and spurned and monsters in the age of the Manus. You know of the afterlife, of the Blank Plains and the Door that leads to them. The light like stars amidst dew made of memories. The place where all goes to rest and retire at the end that always comes.
You know all this, and you know things that don't match. But you've never thought to question it. Something I've been... grateful for.
But for my sake, for Velvet's, I have to tell you something you already know.
The Blank Plains provide rest and succor. It's the end of the line for every soul that knew of them. And when I was once flesh, I knew of them. They were to be my end. My rest everlasting. The final adventure.
So too did Illopony, my beloved.
Now, the cleverer among you already know what I'm going to say now. But such is the nature of what I am and have become, a story half finished would be better not begun.
You see, marriage back then was different. Or, not so different, as heavier. Vows meant something in the same way a brand doesn't mean what a cutie mark does. Vows bind in a way that's more than just words and contract. There was more heart in it. I wonder if Velvet might have invoked some of that for her friend Cadence even. But, what you understand is that, it meant something in a way that's hard to compare now.
I swore to Illopony. To hold, to cherish, to love and keep them till death take us.
And it did.
But I promised. I vowed. To take care of them. Love them and keep them company.
So there, in the Blank Plains I made my home. Full of memories and secrets and the whole world.
The Manus could rattle, the Wake could crumble, and the worms could threaten. But there?
I would stay with them.
My better half.
Even as they forever fade, as long as I can give to them, we won't go out. Of course then, I am bleeding. If I staunch the flow, Illopony would be...
If not for me. For Velvet, don't let her know. Don't ask. Don't hunt.
Velvet and Stormchaser... I don't want their life to be caught up in this. Because even if Velvet succeeds and reaches GLORY.
She will face this same problem in time.
I don't want that hurt for them.
Let them live and love as they are.
So please.
Don't.
Well, I deeply hope I'm wrong.
The Wounds we Won't Heal
You are...
You... are...?
You aren't supposed to be here.
Yes, I know what you saw. And I know why you are here, but I told her. I don't want her to do this. I don't.
I know where this leads. She doesn't. And of everything that poor mare has to handle, I don't want this to be another burden.
She doesn't know and she shouldn't.
But you aren't going to let that be will you?
No... No I don't think you will. Too eager. Too helpful. Too earnest to just stop now. I can see it already.
Planning. Scheming. Best of intentions as they say!
But I know Velvet. Better than I want to, had to hold her in my hooves for a time.
Unless you decide not to, she will push. And unless you steer her away, she's going to find... truths.
Truths better left forgotten. This is a new age, a new era. A new people to cover the world. These bitter truths won't serve her any good.
But you want to anyway.
Maybe I can't stop you. And goodness knows it would break more than a few things if I stopped Velvet!
So listen close. Because this is something she can't know and the only way to do that, is if you know.
Tell me. You know the names of the Hours. As they were, the way they were once. Maybe in a different reflection than here, but you know them. Know of them. Not just the power they wielded, but of their nature, their names as they were, and how they came to be. How alone they were. You know of the Alukite. Their sisterhood of sorts, the fact they were cursed and spurned and monsters in the age of the Manus. You know of the afterlife, of the Blank Plains and the Door that leads to them. The light like stars amidst dew made of memories. The place where all goes to rest and retire at the end that always comes.
You know all this, and you know things that don't match. But you've never thought to question it. Something I've been... grateful for.
But for my sake, for Velvet's, I have to tell you something you already know.
The Blank Plains provide rest and succor. It's the end of the line for every soul that knew of them. And when I was once flesh, I knew of them. They were to be my end. My rest everlasting. The final adventure.
So too did Illopony, my beloved.
Now, the cleverer among you already know what I'm going to say now. But such is the nature of what I am and have become, a story half finished would be better not begun.
You see, marriage back then was different. Or, not so different, as heavier. Vows meant something in the same way a brand doesn't mean what a cutie mark does. Vows bind in a way that's more than just words and contract. There was more heart in it. I wonder if Velvet might have invoked some of that for her friend Cadence even. But, what you understand is that, it meant something in a way that's hard to compare now.
I swore to Illopony. To hold, to cherish, to love and keep them till death take us.
And it did.
But I promised. I vowed. To take care of them. Love them and keep them company.
So there, in the Blank Plains I made my home. Full of memories and secrets and the whole world.
The Manus could rattle, the Wake could crumble, and the worms could threaten. But there?
I would stay with them.
My better half.
Even as they forever fade, as long as I can give to them, we won't go out. Of course then, I am bleeding. If I staunch the flow, Illopony would be...
If not for me. For Velvet, don't let her know. Don't ask. Don't hunt.
Velvet and Stormchaser... I don't want their life to be caught up in this. Because even if Velvet succeeds and reaches GLORY.
She will face this same problem in time.
I don't want that hurt for them.
Let them live and love as they are.
So please.
Don't.
jelloloaf
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Why was it unexpected? As you say yourself, Velvet could have done something similar with a few months of dedicated effort. Copper had the full backing of the non-Inner Circle cultists; that's a lot more resources than us, even if we are very good in the relevant Lores.
This is really cool! Thank you for writing.
spiderhellian
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This was great! Of course Baldomare can break the 4th wall.
I was thinking the same thing — is all that light pouring out responsible for Illopony in some way?
But I had a few concerns. It makes it hard to see how staunching it would befriend Baldomare. Lantern and its light is not merciful.
It would be beautifully tragic, though.
OurLadyOfWires
Uh-oh, better hide those FOALS!
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Thank you for sharing this! It was honestly lovely.
And I must inform you that you theory is-
Sveta08
Shinning Glimmering and Dangerous
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Look very precicely at what OurLadyofWires is saying.
Giving a Level 7 book will let us know the full reason and situation. Not that it would have Velvet fix it, or move to fix it. But that it would make her aware of the full extent of it.
We know that it would have Velvet showing she cares, and wants to help. Wants to give... something, anything back really. But that she doesn't know what, or how. That, is worthy on it's own.
I wrote such that the knowledge, the understanding of what it is to be like in a marriage where one side never dies and always remembers, it is painful. It is a realization that this "idea" of Baldomare would spare Velvet. It would be showing a mutual hand. Lantern.
I also made certain that the writting was... Baldomare focusing on the wound. That she saw Velvet wanting to help 'fix' Baldomare's hurt. Because, well, Velvet likes to do that. Not focused on friendship, but on help, and repair, and offering what she can.
Confirmation would be agony. Denial would be bliss. Denied both I stand in the agony of uncertainty, the only fate I hope for.
But, yes. Reading over the chapter today made me actually cry over this potential fate. So, very very wonderfully done.
But yeah. Just... yeah.
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spiderhellian
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Ah, this is a very good point!
It would be so brutal for Velvet in particular. Kind of perfect that way.
It also really, really, deeply fits with "Blood is the price. It's always the price." Which so dominates the Manaus.
Because surely Baldomare must have paid, or been paying, some price to keep Illopony there. And what else could she pay with?
EDIT: And the more I think about it, the more it seems that whatever this is, it definitely isn't mercy. Quite the opposite.
It really does feel perfect.
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Talon Tiger Dino
From the best dinosaur fighting game
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I'm thinking we have Jade do the borrowed Scry to save Baldomare for that sweet sweet Lantern Influence on Turn 22. To study those artifacts so Jade doesn't have to carry our scrying so hard.
Earth-Destroyer
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First thing you do to treat an injury is identify it fully. Once you know that you can utilize the proper treatment.
Pittauro
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it kinda depends. If we somehow manage to finish the SH Sacrament NOW, then sure.
If not... we probably WILL want to finish it next turn, and we might need another SH Influence to help with that.
OR we might want the Lantern Influence to study the artifacts.
I could live with that.
It also just feels weird to ask her to help with the book we want to gift her...
exactly my thoughts.
Likely impossible. I wouldn't be surprised if all other such copies in the world disappeared as Baldomare ate this, even.
that's a really interesting theory.
Admittedly we didn't think to wonder as HOW Illopony is still there. Baldomare "paying his upkeep" so to speak WOULD make a lot of sense.
I didn't expect the noble to be involved in a Blueblood-tier scheme! I thought it would be a smaller thing!
...I'm, again, wondering... Baldomare knows the old ways and powers. and yet she hasn't found a way to stop what's happening to her.
Assuming a lvl 7 book won't be the end of it, just a way to understand the situation completely... could the answer be found in Harmony instead of the Lores?
I often say I'm not fully convinced that the game will be over after we reach Glory, that we might maybe just become a Long and continue to play.
but I wonder, considering that Baldomare only becomes a "friend" after we give her a lvl 7 book, and considering THAT is the requirement to bring her to the All In expedition...
...will a way to fully heal her be revealed with the gift of a lvl 7 book? Will it be a post-All-In thing, be it Epilogue or continuation?
hey, for all we know Velvet will go through the Tricuspid, get somehow TRAPPED in there, and then we'll play as Soft Sweeps or Stormchaser trying to free her from beyond the Tricuspid, where she'd have been captured by whatever's left of the Sun In Splendour and the Forge of Days!
spiderhellian
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I doubt it.
It seems she's paying the price to keep Illopony bound to those old ways and old rules. To the old afterlife that is now otherwise empty.
I don't think you can have it both ways, bind him to the Mansus without paying its price.
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Shaper47
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Should probably just make a conditional plan so both sacraments get done.
I heavily doubt it goes that far but maybe it prevents Velvet accessing that knowledge.
Same, we'd only be able to wring 400 bits of them afterall.
You know how rich nobles are. That's like pocket change.
I'd expect more like 2000 bits for that level of blackmail.
That's going a bit far.
Way too far.
Pittauro
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eh, bit costs have always made little sense. It's a problem of mechanics vs narrative.
We have, as leader of the super-police, a wage that's more or less double what Bird once said is the normal wage of an average pony (around 80 bits I think). That already seems fairly weird to me, as I'd expect such positions to be paid much more... but then again, Maybe it's an Equestria thing.
most likely! But an apostle run (or something like it) could be pretty cool.
Maer
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Maybe if she becomes an Hour we can heal the damage? Or perhaps she'll be intaking enough light to offset the light she's losing? I'm unsure. But it is certainly a possibility… and regardless, all we need to do to keep our own Stormy is help him climb as well. The tribal door is gone, he needs some Winter for the Blank door, the Church is not as worrying a threat as it was before Mareinette was summoned, and we're going to clear the tricuspid gate so it can once more be accessed… the main fear is him accidentally meeting the Wolf. But if she's an Hour, she could probably put a warning sign in. So…
If she's taught her family sufficiently, there's no reason they couldn't come after her in relative safety- especially compared to every other aspirant… pretty much ever.
If she's taught her family sufficiently, there's no reason they couldn't come after her in relative safety- especially compared to every other aspirant… pretty much ever.
Talon Tiger Dino
From the best dinosaur fighting game
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Oh joy, we can get the Forge of Days Relationship Special 2: Damaged Mansus Boogaloo if Velvet's husband ascends after her.
Cochimetl
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Won't that cause Crime of the Sky problems?
BritBiscuit
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Well if Baldomare is Wounded, and we are good buddys with the Sun's Wound, clearly the solution is to shove some Wolfy Magic into Baldomare so she doesn't bleed out, sure she'll then just eternally bleed and feel the pain of it but she won't die of it!
(Side effects of Wolf Medicine may include:
-Apocaleptic scenarios
-Eternal Pain
-A never ending Hatred of everything
-Heartburn
-Cold like symptoms
If you aren't sure your Eldritch Ailment needs Wolf magic consult your local Heart General Practitioner.)
(Full disclaimer that the above statements are entirely a joke and not pushing a Wolf agenda)
(Side effects of Wolf Medicine may include:
-Apocaleptic scenarios
-Eternal Pain
-A never ending Hatred of everything
-Heartburn
-Cold like symptoms
If you aren't sure your Eldritch Ailment needs Wolf magic consult your local Heart General Practitioner.)
(Full disclaimer that the above statements are entirely a joke and not pushing a Wolf agenda)
Flaregamer82253
Was the choice life, or death?
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I mean... there's technically, theoretically, a way to take Velvet's entire family with her during her ascension, but it's rather against the quest's most basic requirements...
(It's a lovely day to go graverobbing~
)
Shaper47
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Well I'm going to have to adjust my planned omake of Velvet letting her brother and uncle know about the upcoming town meeting to include the upcoming lack of competition for the opportunity she's set up for their hooves.
More Lantern might mean we comprehend her better and thus her wound and thus how to help her if we go with our personal lantern sacrament.
Sus