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

[Pittauro]

It really is a pity that the only reactions you can give here are Likes. Sometimes you need some nuance!

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Very true.

Vote closed.

Spoiler: TallyVotersVotersVotersVotersVotersVotersVotersVotersVoters

Vote Tally : Esquestria: The House of the Sun - A pony cultist experience | Page 328 | Questionable Questing [Posts: 9853-10254]
##### NetTally 4.0.2

[X] Return home, with Diary and Frangiclave, and fulfill your bargain with the Daughter-of-Axes. (End the dream, and redistribute your remaining action points.)
No. of Votes: 29
Spoiler: Voters [X] Random Anon
[X] Anjaxis
[X] Arrkhon
[X] AuthorTransient
[X] Clueless777
[X] Cochimetl
[X] Daveeed
[X] dcoconeo
[X] DelightedOne
[X] des-pair-2
[X] Greymere
[X] holylemonaple
[X] Kairae
[X] LieutenantSpirit
[X] Limabot
[X] Machine Elf
[X] MisRAR1
[X] Mr. K
[x] Pittauro
[X] poyac
[X] Quaxotia
[X] Qwoptermain
[X] Solace2117
[X] steampvnc1880
[X] Sveta08
[X] Talon Tiger Dino
[X] Turamarth
[X] Venerable Ro
[X] Zxzx24
[X] Return home, with Diary, Frangiclave, and something else besides. Or rather, someone. (End the dream, bringing Twilight Sparkle with you, and redistribute your remaining action points.)
No. of Votes: 27
Spoiler: Voters [X] Earth-Destroyer
[X] Alan975
[X] Artemis_Fowl_2nd
[X] Calico J
[X] Darkday
[X] darknessworld
[X] Demilich
[X] Diamondfiend
[X] EigengrauFox
[X] Flaregamer82253
[X] IronHydra
[X] K4lepo
[X] Maer
[X] myxlplykx
[X] Nevermort
[X] Oooooooo
[X] Portec
[X] Potdl
[X] Rafuki22
[X] retrueno
[X] ses
[X] Shaper47
[X] Spacemurica
[X] spiderhellian
[X] Steady Gaze
[X] Witherbrine2671
[X] Xoden
[X] This place has a library. Go take a look.
No. of Votes: 14
Spoiler: Voters [X] DelightedOne
[X] Alan975
[X] Arrkhon
[X] Calico J
[x] Diamondfiend
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] HellFire666
[x] K4lepo
[x] Maer
[X] Quaxotia
[X] Qwoptermain
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Steady Gaze
[X] Witherbrine2671
[X] What is this "cellphone" all the kids are talking about? Why do you have one? And what is this "Internet" thing?
No. of Votes: 12
Spoiler: Voters [X] DelightedOne
[X] Alan975
[X] Arrkhon
[x] Diamondfiend
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] HellFire666
[x] K4lepo
[x] Maer
[X] Quaxotia
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Witherbrine2671
[X] Xoden
[X] They are young and impressionable. Thankfully, you are a responsible adult. (Hang out with Rarity and Fluttershy, your real-life confidantes)
No. of Votes: 11
Spoiler: Voters [X] DelightedOne
[X] Alan975
[X] Calico J
[X] HellFire666
[X] keykigdom
[X] Quaxotia
[X] Qwoptermain
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Steady Gaze
[X] Witherbrine2671
[X] Xoden
[X] "Is there anything on your mind, Miss Jack?" (Approach Applejack)
No. of Votes: 7
Spoiler: Voters [X] DelightedOne
[X] Alan975
[X] Arrkhon
[x] Earth-Destroyer
[X] keykigdom
[X] Qwoptermain
[X] Steady Gaze
[X] Alright, WHERE is Stormchaser? (Look for your dear beloved)
No. of Votes: 7
Spoiler: Voters [x] Earth-Destroyer
[x] Diamondfiend
[x] K4lepo
[X] keykigdom
[x] Maer
[X] Rafuki22
[X] Xoden
[X] "To be honest? I think your job is better than mine." (Approach Cheerilee. She is here… somewhere)
No. of Votes: 1
Spoiler: Voters [X] Qwoptermain
[X] "Yes, it's about your daughter. What class I teach her? Well…" (Approach the Rich parents)
No. of Votes: 1
Spoiler: Voters [X] Calico J

Total No. of Voters: 58

No high-schooler for you it seems.

And with that, we can finally exit this dream.

Can't tell when I'll have time to write, but it will happen eventually.

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Yay!

Now let us never speak of this ever again.

More seriously: We didn't take this chance of acting in regard to Twilight(s). We've been EXPLICITLY told that Twilight is no longer something VELVET should deal with.

So, we can only wait and see what happens to her eventually. If Shining, Cadance, Selene, Maybe Celestia after Daybreaker is solved, maybe someone else in Ponyville, maybe Twilight just dragging herself out of bed of her own strength, maybe the Wolf cult...

we can only wait and see if any of those or any other elements affects her again, for better or worse.

As of right now I expect that nothing will happen with her in the next 3-4 turns (unless we take another Regrettable Action at least), so her situation will likely not change until after All In.

So... we should now go back to our preps for that.


So, what action should we take next turn? Study Artifact, Study books, Steppes FO, find books, find ritual site, summon influence, explore Mansus...

I think general opinion is mostly split between Steppe FO and Study Lantern+Winter Artifact.

 

[Rafuki22]

Steppes FO

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Fleeting Opportunities are fleeting, i don't think that we can pick it up next turn.

Edit: Oh, wait, the extra AP.

 

[Shaper47]

Well I was proven right in that those Twilight actions were a waste of time. Should have gone to the library.

At very least it wasn't half of a thousand bits this time.

I can only hope this time the thread has finally learnt their lesson.

 

[Greymere]

After that only 2 votes were added and none of them were about changing votes.

If i lost, i lost, but seems weird because it should still be a 28 vote each tie based on the tally.

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One or two people might have gone back and edited their original vote instead of posting a new one? It happens sometimes.

 

[DelightedOne]

Here you can see that there is a tie.

After that only 2 votes were added and none of them were about changing votes.

If i lost, i lost, but seems weird because it should still be a 28 vote each tie based on the tally.

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You can edit previous votes. If you check the two most recent tallys there should be one more name on the option to not take Twilight, can't remember who it was though.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

Once again for the 4th time the votes go against the correct option with Twilight.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I can only hope this time the thread has finally learnt their lesson.

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Even if they haven't, Velvet is banned from interacting with Twilight anyways. It is no longer possible for us to sink AP into her.

 

[Shaper47]

So, what action should we take next turn? Study Artifact, Study books, Steppes FO, find books, find ritual site, summon influence, explore Mansus...

I think general opinion is mostly split between Steppe FO and Study Lantern+Winter Artifact.

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The only requirements for mastery of a lore are six level 5 scraps.

So aiming for a level 4 Moth book in preparation for Moth level 6 seems like a good action to take.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

I want the Steppes FO

C'mon Steppes, go into retirement

Tell Velvet she is a Mafia Princess

Then give her the Mafia Money

So we can summon Mansus Mafia Minions

We can bankrupt organized crime and gain Eldritch power at the same time

 

[Greymere]

So, what action should we take next turn? Study Artifact, Study books, Steppes FO, find books, find ritual site, summon influence, explore Mansus...

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Lantern artifaaaaaaaact...

Unless we both a) get to keep the Frangiclave and b) need to study it to use it. Then do something not Lanterny so we can call a Lantern Influence next turn to study ALL the things. Maybe. Idk, it's late, I'm tired. I'll think about this more later.

Or scry a Level 7 book. Still can do studying things next turn (mainly Lantern artifact + Moth book).

 

[Shaper47]

Even if they haven't, Velvet is banned from interacting with Twilight anyways. It is no longer possible for us to sink AP into her.

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Well so long as Cadence doesn't start anything.

The amount of issues FR would cause would be total nightmare to deal with.

Then give her the Mafia Money

So we can summon Mansus Mafia Minions

We can bankrupt organized crime and gain Eldritch power at the same time

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Sigh, as much as I dearly would love the bits I don't think the QM would allow it. And yes I'm still annoyed over the heart guys bits.

Besides more realistically having that occur while being investigated by Beyond Reproach is just asking for it to blow up in our face.

 

[Flaregamer82253]

Well that's that. At the end of the day we all drew our lines in the sand and had reasons to believe in our preferred choice. We got the Snek friend on deck though, what we really came here for, so there's no hard feelings.

While I think the third action had far less benefits than I thought it would, maybe it will have far reaching effects? Who knows. We should have returned earlier, but hindsight is 20/20.

Our future though means we have the option of researching that Lantern artifact and the Moth 5 book, taking advantage of our AotL. This is my preferred option right now since it will nearly prepare us for the Moth Sacrament and get us a third scryer ready, which frees up Jade and Baldomare for tougher scrying.

As always, poor Uncle Steppes...

 

[IronHydra]

Uncle Stepps FO Velvet finally taking over the family business, I would love for her illusion of him to finally be shattered, it was funny at first, but that only lasts so long.
Mafia Princess ftw.

That + Either work on getting a lore book, some other Sacrament, or as I mentioned earlier, Wolf; and get the two for one special, without either of the individual sacrifices or required mats/bits needed that either of them would entail.

We gotta get a schmoove on. Maybe Moth should come first to keep ahead of Celestia.

 

[Shaper47]

I get the feeling a lot of people in the thread want to keep things going as long as we can.

That we're not eager to go for the endgame and shoot Velvet shot at victory.

That there's still so much to explore, to learn, to seduce Cadence.

Aiming for Moth 6 gives us more time to prepare and enjoy this wonderful world.

 

[Witherbrine2671]

Well that's a shame, but voters gonna vote and all that. We got a snek to chat with and a Sacrament to learn all about so I'm content.

 

[Talon Tiger Dino]

That + Either work on getting a lore book, some other Sacrament, or as I mentioned earlier, Wolf; and get the two for one special, without either of the individual sacrifices or required mats/bits needed that either of them would entail.

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I am not worsening the world in order to have the Wolf-Divided shape Velvet's soul for two of her Sacraments. I want him to have as little metaphysical influence over Velvet as possible since she's running to become an Hour. Leave him be to his current past time of intensive impalements.

 

[Pittauro]

The only requirements for mastery of a lore are six level 5 scraps.

So aiming for a level 4 Moth book in preparation for Moth level 6 seems like a good action to take.

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Aiming for Moth 6 gives us more time to prepare and enjoy this wonderful world.

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I think LVL 6s are unrealistic in the short time we have left.

We should instead try to get the Sacraments.

Moth, edge, the TWO sh are right there, we're basically ready for them and can do them all in two or three turns.

IF we're lucky we might have enough time for some of the others, particularly lantern and winter

No, no . I'm not counting those

 

[Shaper47]

I'd rather have the world suffer consequences then risk Velvet suffering consequences but I can be overly paranoid at times and really wanted the Wolf Sacrament for a long time.

Really wish Baldomare,Mareinette or hey maybe our new snek daughter would give us a heads-up about what to expect from a Colonel based Sacrament.

Still so long as we actually get our Edge and Winter Sacraments and get our Edge one soon I'll deal.

I'm pretty burned out on the topic.

 

[IronHydra]

I'd rather have the world suffer consequences then risk Velvet suffering consequences but I can be overly paranoid at times and really wanted the Wolf Sacrament for a long time.

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I'm pretty burned out on the topic.

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I'm sure there's gotta be at least some people who aren't completely against it. That aren't automatically disposed from making those types of votes

Some probably just keep quiet until an opportunity comes up,

I mean, I get it if you were pushing it for a while and never got anywhere.

I don't say this out of some "Lul let's do the bad thing" either, but because I love the narrative idea of it, I'm down to vote in that direction if I can. There's gotta be something that we can do about it to not end up with that ending we were shown so long ago.

Ay sorry if some of y'all are getting tired of me spitting out stuff about this, can't help it, super cool shit.

 

[Shaper47]

I think LVL 6s are unrealistic in the short time we have left.

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How so?

My Math put it as Velvet able to get to Level 6 in Moth by end turn 24. And that's just with what we know for sure works for level 5 Moth scraps.

How's that unrealistic?

but because I love the narrative idea of it, I'm down to vote in that direction if I can

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Same, there are practical benefits too but it's mainly the narrative idea for me.

 

[dcoconeo]

About All In, shouldn't we be calculating our effective combined Lore Levels and aiming to fill "holes" and capabilities we don't have?

I don't think we'll be separated from any companions, at least until the very end (or Selene holding off an angry Celestia) - and so getting Lantern Sacrament is a waste of time for example.
(Especially if Befriended Names are willing to spam max Tier Influences on everyone/everything present)

 

[Shaper47]

About All In, shouldn't we be calculating our effective combined Lore Levels and aiming to fill "holes" and capabilities we don't have?

I don't think we'll be separated from any companions, at least until the very end (or Selene holding off an angry Celestia) - and so getting Lantern Sacrament is a waste of time for example.
(Especially if Befriended Names are willing to spam max Tier Influences on everyone/everything present)

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Getting our Lantern Sacrament costs only 1 Velvet AP and 1 Biedde or Selene AP which is pretty cheap. And we don't know the full benefits of having a Sacrament yet.

As for filling holes.

Look I know some people don't want to listen but a full strength Ash Goul cover Edge and Winter.

Another good reason for getting Moth level 6 is that we can't get anyone else for Moth.

 

[Earth-Destroyer]

The plan is Spoiled Milk into minion by Mareinette, then use her for moth sacrament, then Mareinette Grail sacrament.

 

[Sveta08]

Well, I feel this is safe to say at least.

Given the everything, think that Velvet was right fairly split on it.

 

[Limabot]

Oh thank the Hours. This vote was actually making me kind of anxious (and not in the fun way), but I am glad this ends here and don't have to worry about it for the next few turns.

Also, no hard feelings on those who did vote for it.

 

[Shaper47]

Hmm, thinking about it studying the Lantern 4 artifact could be useful if we wanted to speedrun to Moth level 6.

It hurts my efficiency driven soul but it possible.

Turn 21 - Study lantern 4 artifact

Turn 22 - Selene scry level 5 Moth Book x 3
-Read Moth Book level 5
-Baldomare scry level 6 Moth Book
-Axe and Velvet Expedition for level 6 Moth Book

Turn 23 - Baldomare SH influence
-Velvet Book Search for Moth Book level 5
-Get Moth Sacrament (also work on personal SH Sacrament)
-Expedition for Moth Books

Turn 24 - Baldomare lantern influence
-Read Moth Books and gain Moth level 6
-Also get Lantern Sacrament

 

[AuthorTransient]

I have made my bed and am lying in it. That said, I am quite happy to see either option win.

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I might be reading a bit too much into it, but if my earlier post caused some guilt, I am sorry. It is likely that even if you hadn't swung that vote that way, that successive turns would have the thread investigate the Twilight path anyway. Though it is a slight shame that Velvet learning Internet slang isn't canonized. Anyway.

I'm fine with studying the Lantern 4 Artifact so that we can get another scrying option in the future.

 

[ses]

What is the current plan on the action refund looking like? Is it really that big a deal that the re-roll for SH is used when we have the SH influence up? (And are forge's redemption'd to full?) We'd have to do multiple SH challenges under the same month later anyway to avoid wasting SH influence...

I'm literally brand new so I dont know what the lantern artifact is important.

 

[Shaper47]

What is the current plan on the action refund looking like? Is it really that big a deal that the re-roll for SH is used when we have the SH influence up? (And are forge's redemption'd to full?) We'd have to do multiple SH challenges under the same month later anyway to avoid wasting SH influence...

I'm literally brand new so I dont know what the lantern artifact is important.

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So far on action refund we have book search either for Heart/Forge or Moth, study lantern artifact or the badly suggested study Moth Book 5 idea.

Getting Heart books would set us up for Heart Level 4 (needed for depths of the church expedition). While Forge Books would set us up for Forge Level 5.

The idea of studying our Moth level 5 Book is because we have a free Aotl but ignores the fact we're going to be studying the Summit. Which is the kind of thing that probably requires a lantern Aotl.

Study the Lantern artifact means our confidents can use it for rituals to apply a lore Application bonus of Level 4. Which with Selene's +30 general bonus and our SH artifact would have her auto pass the scry ritual with a base roll bonus of +70 for the lantern check.

Selene has three actions a turn and Velvet can make a free reagent creation action to boost a lantern check even further.

 

[Solace2117]

What is the current plan on the action refund looking like? Is it really that big a deal that the re-roll for SH is used when we have the SH influence up? (And are forge's redemption'd to full?) We'd have to do multiple SH challenges under the same month later anyway to avoid wasting SH influence...

I'm literally brand new so I dont know what the lantern artifact is important.

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The thread has historically been very risk averse as far as roll risk goes. Sometimes with good reason, sometimes to their detriment. I think there's some sentiment to Steppes fleeting opportunity. Most of the talk has been towards studying the lantern artifact for the reason Shaper mentioned, as well as the scraps to get closer to the lantern sacrament. Others have suggested scrying for a level 7 book to complete Baldomare's friendship quest.
Shaper had talked a lot about a book search to help with getting other lores up, but I haven't seen it get a lot of traction. I don't know that it's a terrible idea, but I think most are prioritizing elsewhere.
The sacrament is still on the table, but people are worried about the unknown cd. The influence gives it a good chance, but like I said, the thread is very risk averse on average and it's labeled as a dangerous action.
Overall I think most are waiting to see how the sacrament plays out before really getting into it, especially after how contested the last vote was.