/mlpol/ - My Little Politics

>Power: +1 to all Crystal Rune rolls

>>392525
>Eyes following you from outside, impressions of steadily increasing cognizance watch your course, stepping into Moonlight and turning right.
>Stride chiming heavily, the abysmal blankets of pain lift, held back by slim hooves reaching up wards as you reach a large open stretch of white marble, the remains of a wide, burnt field and small blackened forest past it.
>There had once been four large three level fountains here, though erratic bursts of Plasma had stripped most of them, leaving fused and charred sections of molten white stone.
>Eyes open.
>Appearing across the once humble training ground, thousands upon thousands of Lost gaze upon you from the left and forward perimeters bordering the training ground.
>Scattered around in no particular patterns, standing where and when they felt was appropriate.
>Batponies, earth, Crystal, Ferron and Equestrian pegasi, unicorns, hundreds of Harpies from the three variations, Minotaurs, last a hoof's worth of Neighsians.
>Internal hues representing their last emotions and thoughts, Lunars from pitch black to neon light purple, Solars from burnt out red to near white.
>The Independents, factionless, Harpy Dominionites, Imperial Neighsians, and Hegemonics varied too greatly to find cohesion.
>Retaining their vigils on the once-holy mountain, Dracosines gaze downwards, easily felt by their lack of emotion and distress.

>Easily making out the Nightmare on her Moon, quiet starts to permeate, collected upswells of final emotions asked to hold, if only for seconds.
>Small numbers still into silent appraisal, held back by dedication and duty.
>Ears swivel, heads cock, eyes open.
>Reluctant Lunars, reticent Solars, and the rest gaze upon themselves.
>They did not think at their ends, instead allowing their emotions to be unleashed.
>As a few of the calmest observe the Kerbann, they allow themselves to see it.
>Thoughts clear, slowly.
>Memories turn inwards, becoming aware of what it meant.
>The offering is shared between those cognizant, spreading outwards, first by individuals, then to friends, loved ones, family, and acquaintances, onwards to distant relations, reaching those each barely knew, far to the unknown.
>Links form, briefly separating factions and factionless, then, rippling chains ascend from the land and descend from sky, breaking apart to reform.
>Bent as one to the whole, heads lower in sharp emotions, the majority remembering their own voices, friends, family.
>A Crystal mare hums as silence lifts.
>Two.
>Three.
>Five.
>Ten.
>Fifty.
>As one, and all, her kin join.
>Crystal ponies sway in unmoving, ephemeral motions, forcing the oppressive, heavy burden of this place back the slightest touch.
>The masses hold, resisting harshly at first.
>Snickers, cackles, and keks sweep up and down.
>A stormhead shatters, followed by more, angers set adrift as insubstantial weapons and armor form once more, the majority turning as one to face the outlines of a decorated, glorious Palace above, yet the remainder could not.
>Ruined, shattered, broken, and missing, duty was what they could spare.

>One, a young, thoroughly blackened Honor Guard mare steps forwards in the blackened field, stopping at the marble.
>The remnants of a helmet crane around, gazing up at the Moon, then down, offering you a relieved, tired nod.
>Barely formed thoughts are whispered, the voice a thin line of agonized grief.
We did not see it at first.
We failed to understand what it was.
What it is.
It took the loose threads first.
It came back for the rest.
We could not feel slivers of our selves missing.
It returned for shards.
Fragments.
Pieces.
We began to lose our selves.
Scraps.
We did not feel what it had taken.
Chunks.
Then we knew.
Parts.
We felt it laugh.
Sections.
We were too late.
Halves were dragged from us.
We despaired.
Now we are Lost.
We are exhausted.
We cannot resist it again.
We accept.
Tartarus will take what is left of us, not insensate greed.
It is here.
Send us home before there is nothing left to reclaim.
>Taking one step back, the mare's head bows deeply, letting herself drift into past memories, followed by those around her.

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSCzt7UyFfY [Embed]

"YOU!"
>The shriek was that of an Unborn mare, twisted with furious hunger.
"I'VE BEEN FEASTING HERE FOR MONTHS AND YOU ARE RUINING THIS PLACE!"
>Beyond the barracks, sharply raging flames crackle in reply.
"I DON'T CARE WHAT YOU ARE, ALL OF THIS IS MINE TO TAKE WHENEVER I WANT! MINE, NOT YOURS!"
[1d6+19 = (6+19) = 25] <???
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+19 = (1+19) = 20]
[1d6+11 = (6+11) = 17] <???
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <???
>vs:
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] <E.Evasion
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Swirling Flame
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] <E.Assault
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] <B.Flurry
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <Krevotic Denial
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] <Molecular Array: Armor Pulse-Shred
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] <B.Magnetic Shift: Align
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5] <Magnetic Disruption

>Limited Krevotic Denial granted: Amy

>Dancing Eyes
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7] <GM.I DENY That Which Should Not Be!
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12] <Primal Mind’s Eye
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7] <Primal Mind’s Vortex
[1d6+23 = (3+23) = 26] <Primal Psionicism: Godrend
[1d6+23 = (3+23) = 26]
[1d6+23 = (6+23) = 29]
[1d6+23 = (3+23) = 26]
[1d6+19 = (5+19) = 24] <GM.Assault
[1d6+19 = (5+19) = 24]
[1d6+19 = (6+19) = 25]
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+19 = (4+19) = 23] <Ambush: GM.Assault
[1d6+19 = (2+19) = 21]
[1d6+19 = (2+19) = 21]
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13] <GM.Sprint
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13]
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13]
[1d6+8 = (1+8) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <E.Demoralize
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+16 = (6+16) = 22] <M.Deflect Magic
[1d6+16 = (3+16) = 19]
[1d6+16 = (5+16) = 21]
[1d6+16 = (5+16) = 21]
[1d6+10 = (4+10) = 14] <Master Evolving Defenses
[1d6+10 = (3+10) = 13]
[1d6+10 = (6+10) = 16]
[1d6+10 = (3+10) = 13]

>versus:

>Grand Eidolon, Infected False Alicorn
[1d6+63 = (2+63) = 65] <Incineration
[1d6+49 = (1+49) = 50] <Shearing Claws
[1d6+49 = (5+49) = 54]
[1d6+49 = (4+49) = 53]
[1d6+49 = (2+49) = 51]
[1d6+49 = (3+49) = 52]
[1d6+49 = (1+49) = 50]
[1d6+58 = (4+58) = 62] <Extinction
[1d6+39 = (2+39) = 41] <Shatterspike #1
[1d6+39 = (1+39) = 40] <Shatterspike #2
[1d6+51 = (6+51) = 57] <Tailsmash
[1d6+25 = (6+25) = 31] <Resist Damage
[1d6+25 = (2+25) = 27]
[1d6+25 = (2+25) = 27]

>>392534
>Returning the gazes of the Lost gathered, Amethyst was suddenly overwhelmed with just how many there really were. All of them fallen and been robbed of what they ought to have had, and there was nobody upon which blame could be solely placed.
>What sequence of events could have been taken to avoid all of this? Who could have seen such an event coming and assiduously avoided it?
>It hurt to behold, and it was frightening to realise that such things could happen again from the unlikeliest of chances.
>This too was Kaos, a twisted skein of fates, hard to see and even harder to navigate.

>They gathered. They saw. They thought. Then, they knew.
>Amethyst wondered at the song the Lost Crystal Ponies sang, yet did not dare interrupt or join in, her own voice would be needed for something else soon.
>The filly swayed with it, eyes shut and ears relaxed. They were much better at this than she was.

>To hear of how much the Lost had lost, even after their deaths pained Amy further. This was a travesty.
>It would be rectified.
"No more, I will not allow it."
>But how to send them on?
>Back through the Gateway? Through the Saddle Arabian sands to one of the many physical entrances to Tartarus?
>That would not work.
>She would have to forge a link from here to Tartarus itself, but with what?
>Amethyst set her eyes on the Kerbann branch, surely that wasn't possible though. Yet it was worth an attempt.
>Focusing her sorcery once again, the ipotane sought to commune with the Stick, perhaps it in some way retained a link to its parent tree, and that this link could act as a bridge, if not physically for her then at least for the Lost to traverse to the peace they deserved.
>She sang to the world her intent and hoped it would answer. Sorcery to open the way, and song to keep it open.
"Come, I will try to create a bridge, if the fates are kind then they will answer and allow you to cross."

[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]

[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]

>With utter calm, Amy spoke back to the unborn creature that would dare pose itself as a mare.
"Me? No, it is you who are ruin, you do not belong here or anywhere. You stand alone, we do not."
>Free hand reaching over her shoulder, Amethyst once again grasped the hilt of her sword and drew it forth purposefully, holding it before her face single handedly, Stick still grasping forwards, tone immediately threatening.
"You will not have them. Not one more piece. I swear that by whatever means I can muster I will strip from you what you have wrongly taken and return it to them. Nothing of you shall remain."

[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7] < Krevotic Denial

>Power: +1 to all Crystal Rune rolls

>>392584

> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YU9p7_nMwMI [Embed]

>Forming into organized choirs, deep Conclaves, hearty Kingdomists, shrieking Imperials, booming Crystal-Hegemonics and... you had no idea what those were, pit their loathing together at being trapped again.
>Aiming their voices to shatter the raging emotional walls of this vast city, Crystal forces PUSH in eight directions as a Wheel of Resonant Chaos.
[1d6 = 6]
>Lifting the comfortingly heavy burdens of duty once more onto themselves, earth ponies, Neighsians, and Saddle Arabians shimmer behind the Crystal forces in lance formations, swiftly making their final checks.
>Right leg raised and leaning forwards in charging stance, eyes narrow, weapons lower, then storm outwards in thundering lines to SHATTER through the second chains enslaving them.
[1d6 = 1]
>Barriers still holding them in, now unbound by physics the ephemeral Minotaurs take on impressions of ultra-hard metals and composites.
>Leaping towards the thinnest and closest breaches, massive weapons laugh in their grasps to DESTROY this prison.
[1d6 = 1]
>Swiftly joining together, Ferron and their taller pegasi kin streak upwards at the largest breaches, quickest and most agile first, followed by the Harpy Dominion, glaives and their own fantastic half-immaterial weaponry pulsing at full charge.
>Wingblades, dual-beamed lances, hoofclaws, and potent expulsions of their own fury seek to CONQUER new routes across the Lunar night.
[1d6 = 6]
>Selecting the weakest sections of claim on this region as targets of opportunity, unicorns hold until a collective defiance clears their thoughts, each solely asserting their dominance of only themselves.
>Swirling horns ripple, blasts of arcane might shower outwards, shearing beams in their wake, hails of lances, and countless bolts delivering logic itself to SUNDER the chains binding this city as a hostage.
[1d6 = 2]
>Scattering to slip in, under, over, and around the rest, Moorite batponies cheerfully scouting the locale, Eldritch-tinged Hunter-Killers joined by silent assassins from dozens of Cults, professional monster hunters from more, then half a battleline of slow, heavily armored Black Discordites trailing the rest.
>If it couldn't be found it couldn't be ambushed, as the saying went, and what batponies didn't know was always measured in seconds, which lead to immediate, overwhelmingly savage EXECUTIONS of the Unborn's threads binding Lost here.
[1d6 = 4]
>Fanged maws grinning high above, satisfaction spreads throughout the remnants of Dracosine minds, ever prepared to give their lives in defense of new homes and honorable kin of all species.
>Watching the acts play out, the largest signals with a tail flick, leaping off New Canterlot Mountain to roll in a full assault dive, wings spread as thousands sweep downwards after her, fangs and claws readied to SHRED the glutted Unborn's illegitimate connections to this land.
[1d6 = 3]

>Answering your call, Kerbann knows when it comes from and why.
>Ever eager to connect back to its home and share what it had felt, the Stick raises up, then down, striking corrupted marble in a loudly ringing, pure tone.
>Swelling in hand as hidden energies show themselves across New Canterlot, your intent is bolstered by pleasing the Elements.
>Kerbann directing the flow of each to seek their targets, shockwaves rolling outwards in joy as wild remnants of aligned Lost willingly join in:
>Lightning cracks towards the closest metals, then outwards in a chain reaction across the city as Water surges behind, carrying every last volt into the start of a new Geomantic connection.
>Fire and Plasma roil at their shared tormarent, heaving outwards in rapidly expanding jets at the confining walls while the Air fans both, frequent successive blasts spanning in unpredictable cones and waves.
>Earth flows freely, gargantuan octagonal pillars heaved upwards to block and safeguard you while Metal coats the external faces, willing to hold as long as necessary.
>Patiently waiting from a distance, Void outside the city strikes inwards:
>Slipping in the trails left behind from each Element, crackles of red, blue, purple stain and illuminate millions, then billions of stolen threads across the Moonlit sky.

>Rising once more, Kerbann strikes downwards, sending resonance at its distant parent hidden deep inside the conjoined spectrums composing Tallus.
>The Grand Kerbann chimes in response, heaving a single outstretched branch through Tartarus at the closest location:
[1d6 = 4] <Angle
[1d6 = 2] <Arrival Time
[1d6 = 3] <Damage
[360] <Direction
[1d6 = 5] <Pathway
[1d6 = 1] <Resistance

>Fully visible through the barracks, a projection of stolen energies masquerading as a giant alicorn mare, bodily heaving from countless stolen fragmarents of memory threatening to be ripped out.
>A corroded, misshapen wing longer than the tallest Minotaur batters Lilamaredre backwards, the pegasus visibly dented for a split-second before nudging Fire back to her exterior physical limits.
>Aligning her emotions into calmer lines to act upon, Lila was having little success in disrupting the Daymare's existence, charging under the second wing sweeping overhead.
>Leaping and rolling halfway over in air before being stomped down by a hoof wider than an earth pony's barrel, the filly's wings curve underneath, head snapping left to bite into frog while feathers spear upwards in harsh crackles.
>Rings of orange rage around her, furiously burning into the Unborn from underneath, screaming down at the Fire elemental stubbornly clinging on, front right hoof raised once more and left wing swinging back for another blow.
"WHY AREN'T YOU DYING?!"
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22] <???
[1d6+19 = (1+19) = 20]
[1d6+19 = (5+19) = 24]
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+11 = (5+11) = 16] <???
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7] <???
>vs:
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <E.Assault
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7] <Flameshock Barrier
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11] <E.Reaction Speed
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <B.Flurry
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <B.Magnetic Shift: Align
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] <Magnetic Disruption: TARGET
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Krevotic Denial
[1d6 = 2] <Taunt

>>391003
>Whoops.
"Ah, my apologies, miss Silfel."

>Of course, this small hiccup paled in comparison to the expected tensions from the astronomic mishap of Tallus-wide proportions.
>In this case, a loss of life and good meant for them.
>All from that tragic explosion.
>As a byproduct, he is most likely looked upon with contempt for his kind's failure.
>The real question was if he was important enough to push past it.

>Best not to assume.

>José curtly nodded, believing to have understood Silfel's warnings and information.
<Spaneigh> "I thank you deeply for your wisdom, miss Silfel. I hope it will lead me to reach the understanding necessary to right the wrongs enacted upon this world."
>A lofty aspiration, but it was the truth.

>Now facing Sallinas once more, Gallo's focus shifted to finding places around the area where he could visit without the Coalition hoofstamp.
>Hopefully he needn't pull the diplomat card so early when he felt so naked without a group to support him.
<Spaneigh> "Is Villa de Rosa a part of the Coalition? If so, do you know of any place around these parts in which would accept my arrival and harbor mareguards for hire?"
>One last inquiry before a choice had to be made.

>>392606
>She called, and the Kerbann answered. The ipotane grinning mirthfully, the fates had truly chosen to be kind where once they had been less so.
"Oh most joyous of nights.~"
>Blade and Stick lift once more to do battle, this time against more than starved and maddened bugs.
"The bridge forms and you will all be freed from this torment, hold fast, once more and for peace long due, we must hold the line! Choose a better fate! And not least stomp dem but good!"

>Oh but that was quite a large projection for her, such a small filly. Of course Lila had no trouble zipping around through the air, at least until...
"Hay!"
>She shouted at the Daymare in sheer fillyish offense for daring to dent Lila.
"You can't hit her like that!"
>Voice on the air, projected not bodily from her throat but from some deeper part, she sang again, this time towards the Daymare. The intent of her resonance decidedly less kind towards it than it had been in helping to form the bridge.
>Amethyst sang to reach deep, to sever the bindings of the Unborn creature to free what it had stolen away.

[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5]

[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4]

[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]

[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7] < Krevotic Denial

>>392709
>Glee filled voices rejoicing in their slight victory, the Crystal forces bend forwards, a fifth song joins in as ear-ringing cackles of controlled madness, hurling the fractured entrapping walls against the weakest sections constraining their Earth kin.
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2]
>Snared back on their hooves by emotional chains hammered deeply within, Earth pits its honor against greed, heavy weapons cracking into each other's bindings, finding no means to free themselves.
[1d6-1 = (3-1) = 2]
>Clashing against immovable barriers holding them back, Minotaurs of sixty clans ignore the pain of their existence, hacking and crushing with pure intent to free each Lost closeby rather than themselves.
[1d6-1 = (5-1) = 4]
>Slipping through completely unhindered, upon sighting trouble below, all pegasi whirl around in Air, diving straight back into the breaches, hurling scathing insults first, then themselves to free the Hegemonics.
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]
>Little used to seeing their efforts nullified, ESPECIALLY by an Unborn, the descendants of Evalesdraught pause, sharing their calculations, logic, and rationale, before attempting a slightly different route: shredding the debased Daymare's chains holding them here.
[1d6 = 4]
>Severing half of the Unborn's grasp tying Lost across all of New Canterlot, the Black Discordites lead a frenzied charge against its hold of more Lost, some now joining from their hazed soliloquys, sneers and laughter thrown its way in harrowing measures.
[1d6 = 3]
>Rending a full quarter of the Daymare's stranglehold on the Elements, though finding the remainder too difficult to break apart as of yet, Dracosines abide by their unspoken leader's second signal, spreading apart in small squads of violence to rip through the weakest traces of threads binding it to thsi city.
[1d6 = 2]

>Crushed underhoof once more with a cackling squeaky noise, Lilamaredre SEETHES as she wrenches stolen flames from the Unborn Daymare's essence, feeding them instantly into her Core and returning the immaterial blow by ripping feathers and teeth out on the way up.
>Hanging in air and rolling halfway over in a blur, she catches onto the wing's top side, teeth biting down and feathers shearing into fully exposed primary joint, hanging on contemptuously as a ring of flame burns across the vulnerable length.
>Responding by lifting its other wing high, the Daymare prepares to slam down while the pegasus recovers enough to snarl, near-perfectly aligning her innate combination of Fire, Air, and Gravity while slightly taking apart her opponent's exterior layering.
"TELL THIS TALL FAKE UGLY AND FILTHY SACK OF HORSE SHIT WHO I AM-"
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10] <E.Reaction Speed
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] <E.Assault
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7] <Flameshock Barrier
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <Flashburn
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <B.Magnetic Shift: Solidify
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4]
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <Magnetic Disruption: TARGET
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Krevotic Denial
>vs:
[1d6+19 = (1+19) = 20] <???
[1d6+19 = (2+19) = 21]
[1d6+19 = (6+19) = 25]
[1d6+19 = (3+19) = 22]
[1d6+11 = (3+11) = 14] <???
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9] <???

>Shunning the Unborn's magnetic fields as insignificant, harmonic tones leap forwards, scrambling outer layers in broad patterns, tearing Force, Gravity, and Air free, minute backblasts ejecting from it in streaks of black, white, and blue.
>Irritated at a mistake from before, the Void seeks its chance to repay Luna's favor, intense starbursts driven by Moonlight crackling overhead into billions of stolen threads.
[1d6 = 5]

*****
>Razorback Fortress:
[1d6 = 2] <Silver Wish Disc, Dagor Improvements & Repair
[1d6 = 4]

>Purchases:
-1941 BMW R75 + sidecar in German forest camo, 750CC engine, heavy wear, lightly damaged. 5,000 Bits worth of gems paid to Astra Galus.
[1d6 = 4] <Silver Wish Disc, Improvements & Repair
[1d6 = 3]

-Volgograd Factory BMP-1D in desert fox camo, 300HP engine, non-amphibious, heavily damaged. 50,000 Bits worth of gems paid to Astra Galus.
[1d6 = 5] <Silver Wish Disc, Improvements & Repair
[1d6 = 6]

[1d6 = 5] <Silver Wish Disc, Improvements & Repair
[1d6 = 2]

[1d6 = 5] <Silver Wish Disc, OH-58X Kiowa Improvements
[1d6 = 6]

*****
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <Stream Lark: Leadership
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5]
[1d6+3[
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]

>>392515
>An annoyed click of the tongue and an intake of breath can be heard from Pareidolia's helmet.
*"Tsk, right. Hadn't considered that."*

>Looking down, he ponders but fails to determine any reliable methodology to untangle the loaded question.
>Deigning to address it later, he looks up as Dul eagerly chimes in and nods in comprehension, his left fist tapping the grip of his rifle.
*"Of course... if she's able to see information that way, naturally she could observe the progression of a particular 'thread' or 'song' with associated markers. The only limit is her comprehension of what she is observing."*
>He keeps his eyes on the unicorn statue as it withdraws, and begins to tap his fingers around the foregrip of his rifle as a long 3 minutes passes.
*"The question was loaded, there was only so m-"*

>The sound of grating sections of the dome shifting echoes.
>Pareidolia bolts upright, pointing the barrel of his gun at the closest statue in front of him. He sweeps his gaze to eye Katyal's position before looking back to scan the area for any potential reactions.
[1d6 = 4] <E. Perception
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 3]
"What are you- ?!"

>Looking over in disbelief as Katyal states her demand, he points his gun half down.
"Hostilities with this demi-sentient are not- "
>!
>A voice he had not heard in years rings out from behind him, prompting him to turn his head over his shoulder.
(Spiral?)
>Glancing at the countdown timer as he turns, he keeps his body facing frontwards and takes a step to his left away from his high back seat to get a better look.

>>392720
>Noting the struggles of Earth Pony and Minotaur formation, Amethyst renews the focus of her song into a Lance, intent piercing as deep into the Daymare as she could force it. None of what it had stolen belonged to it, what meagre bindings the creature had forced upon these souls was no match. All would be released.
>Bolstered, heartened. Amethyst sang reality onto a path that she wished, a wish she sincerely hoped that others shared. A path away from the Daymare.

[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8]

[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6]

[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9]

[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] < Krevotic Denial

>Amethyst worried for Lila, that squeak did not sound good, not like the squeaking she unleashed when she was squeezed.
>Yet her cheer bubbled up from deep within her into an unbridled grin at the Pegasi's words.
>Yes. Yes! The ipotane made a sweeping bow at the opportunity to have fun once again.
"As you wish your Fillyship!"
>Standing stock still, Amy drew in a slow and steady breath, held it momentarily, and then stated with absolute clarity for all in the training grounds to hear.
"Fell Creature of Foul Disharmony, thine wretched personage hath been undeservedly blessed by the August presence of The Princess of Cute, Prima Lucis Lilamaredre! Great, great, great-"
>Amethyst inhaled again.
"-Great, great, great grandfilly of The Glorious Unconquered Sun, Princess Celestia, Inheritor of True Harmonious Flame, Graduate of the Venerable Baroness Avernus' Tutelage of The Middle Dynasty's Secrets and my Best Filly Friend Forever! As such, on her Fillyship's behalf, I demand that thee immediately cease thine stomping and graciously accept thine defeat at her hooves!"

>>392723
"A solution I've been thinking on since five hours ago but couldn't figure out until just now!"
>Rifle raising to hold rock steady at the Saddle Arabian once more, the woman's eyes flick right towards you before snapping aloud.
"Blame me if all this effort so far goes sideways but I'm fucking sick and tired of seeing loss after loss! Tallus needs at least one fucking victory!"

>Aside from Elemental particles making themselves openly known, the statues had not moved from their initial positions, and did appear as if they could without a direct override.
>Realizing each section of the City-Ground had been fully opened, massive clear diamondine panels on each wall fold outwards and onto each other in semi-liquid states.
>Directly north, the Crystal, Ice, and artificial Rime were among the brightest, releasing trapped currents of cold into the surrounding air, Earth, Stone, Metal cast in much darker hues, though a rigid green-gold panoply to the west was remarkably calm.
>South, the violently shifting sections of Void and lighter Elements blend together, spilling out hues which trigger the black sapphirine helmet's photo-sense into darkening.

>At a calm chortle from behind, Lonestar eases his SMG down slightly before warily lifting it again, Katyal merely raising an eyebrow in her ready, though not eager to kill stance.
>Frozen briefly, Dul had been in the process of turning left, triple jointed claws firmly outstretched and Riftdrowners spiraled upwards to protect the plant on her saddle.
>Blinking once, her head turns upwards to regard you with a wide, cheerful smile.
"Not-ponies is PONY! Ponies were NOT-pony! This one you know! Dul saw them but Dul not know threads right!"

>Right foreleg twisting upwards to rub his chest, a whole Void in the shape of a 5' tall, primal unicorn stallion smiles broadly, giving a firm nod as crackling eyebrows raise in humor, gaze sweeping across the west table.
"Pare, Lone, Hodch! I don't know you ma'am, but I do recognize a younger Vortex Siren when I see one. Greetings to both of you!"
>Wiggling the multi-hued hoof outwards before settling it down, each of the wide sections beyond began to settle in calm, fluorescent colors, the deeply familiar equine's face creases in utter joy.
"This is the best surprise since waking up being snuggled by three Arcane Blades from Tartarus Isle!"
>Helmet swiveling left enough to see for himself, Hodch's voice is light and hesitant.
"...Spiral?"
>
"In two mareners of speaking! My horn WAS rather idolized by plenty of New Canterlot mares and fillies. Now, while I certainly look different from what the damaged hivemind forms had become, the original Astral Legacy and the copied consciousness of High Enchanter Spiral Disclosure really were quite different after all. The second was mostly incapable of reconciling facts it had no original knowledge of.
That's a significant flaw with clones, especially ridiculously placed ones. You see, I had thought it was another Core, but no, that was merely a complete record of his life and achievemarents before he died. No wonder I had felt so damned old and cranky all the time!"
>Jerking out of the low chair onto armored hooves, the Reservist turns fully, eyes twitching before throwing his head back and shouting.
"THAT'S IT! I KNEW YOUR NAME WAS COMPLETELY FUCKING BIZARRE! I'VE BEEN TRYING TO REMEMBER IT CORRECTLY FOR DECADES NOW!"
>Chortling again good naturedly at the outburst, the Void unicorn's shoulders lift half-heartedly in defeat.
"Of course it was! And now that you know the herdname of my dam and sire, you should also know the Supreme Flawed Void iteration had lost it's eidetic memory, among most of its positive marental capacities. Hollow really should've picked a better place for the Kiowa to land, hah!"

>Carefully turning her head to still remain on target, Katyal glances over the stallion briefly.
*"This is the right one, yes?"*
>Not even bothering to subvocalize through radio, Lonestar gives a slight nod in her direction.
"Best as I can tell? Little different, but those tones... it's him all right, can't mistake the way he talked. Talks. Same thing."
>Returning the nod with a short kissy face, she regards the statues with a flatly unamused expression.
*"Hodch?"*
*"Your paymarent will be sent in one minute."*
*"Not what I was asking for."*
*"Unless a PERFECT simulation was somehow performed, that is certainly the individual we have been seeking."*

>Regarding you and Lonestar with an approving gaze, the Void stallion's snout twitches curiously.
"Before I start throwing highly unwanted information, demarends, and requests around, I'd like to know how you all found me. The Third Foundation, that being the Late Dynasty, and its Second Founding or however that prophecy is supposed to play out, cannot be known until they are revealed at the proper times and places. However-"
>Stepping forth onto the platform, the primal unicorn bows slightly, standing upright to regard the statues with a grim, echoing tone.
"Though you will not remember them later, I have a list of final requests. There are Cores, powers, objects, and information here which I need to share with those whom deserve answers. None of the Third will become known, that I swear.
Will you hear my words?"

[1d100 = 35] <Query?
[1d100 = 7]
[1d100 = 8]

>>392727
>Pareidolia turns around fully, facing this absence in the shape of a pony.
>Exhaling, he slowly lowers his gun and removes his left hand from the foregrip to reach into his front vest rigging pocket.
"So this is what you meant by 'not-pony'... "
>He returns Spiral's greeting a nod.
"... It's a relief to see you."
>Finding the reassuring cold of the Rime lattice orb, he withdraws it from his pocket to hold inside his gloved fist.

>A confused expression flits across his face as Spiral's legacy comes to light.
'A clone? Then this was all part of that Dynastic restoration plan?'

>Spiral's mention of the infamous Kiowa arrival causes Pareidolia to wince.
(I should have intervened.)
>Finding the compulsion to move after Spiral asks his questions, he moves to stand in front of him.
>The Rime lattice orb Naliyna had painstakingly made rests on his palm, along with a long overdue apology.
"I should have prevented Hollow from making that wish where he did. I was there and failed to prevent it. For that, I am deeply sorry. Naliyna made this at your request, it belongs to you along with my mistakes which brought you to this place."
>He glances back for a moment at Hodch, Lonestar, and Katyal before facing Spiral again.
"The story is long, but we inferred this location based on messages left to you at Razorback, maps and Astra Galus' hololith tablet, Hodch's background knowledge, and assessment from my assistant Shiibo."
>He taps his helmet with his index finger twice.
"We came to retrieve you under unknown circumstances once it was determined there was a distinct possibility you could be here."

>Power: +2 to all Crystal Rune rolls

>>392725
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sI8FfBjA1OU [Embed]

>Watching the walls crashing into each other and immediately realizing that was a terrible idea, the Crystal forces divert their efforts into shearing disharmonic binds off their distant kin.
>Crystal Forces: 100% Control
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
>Temporarily halting the chains dragging them towards the Unborn temporarily, half of the earth ponies, Saddle Arabians, and Neighsians are freed by combined efforts, loud snorts of approval given.
>Earth ponies: 75% Control
>Twisting about, Earth in unison leaps next to their closest Minotaur allies, then ducks under to strangle the links on themselves.
[1d6 = 5]
>Ringing polearms, greatswords, and axes cleaving bonds while mauls, maces, and extremely thick gauntlets shatter more off those earth ponies closest to themselves, each Minotaur briefly surveys themselves.
>Minotaurs: 0% Control
>Seeing no other choice except to aid Earth in their task, each furiously roars before striking at the decrepit bonds holding them in place.
[1d6 = 4]
>Light Pegasi weapons, including themselves, rebound from the Minotaur's chains while the Harpy Tri-Dominion encounter minimal success, blasting the weakest quarter apart.
>Air: 100% Control
>Realizing they were needed elsewhere, the combined Air powers streak themselves towards open skyward gaps, aiming to sever the Daymare's closest stolen Elemental connections.
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2]
>Tearing through the last emotional holds draining them, all of Evalesdraught's descendants regain their heritage, rapidly surveying the inner battlespace of New Canterlot
>Unicorns: 100% control
>Noting the emotional walls still threatening to collapse as a priority, a new plan is devised: crash those INTO Elemental barriers which, as the thousands of minds consider, would either at best a near-Sorcerous chain reaction and cripple the Daymare's capabilities, or at worst cut off some of its stolen Elemental capacity.
>Delivering rapid patterns of focused bolts to weaken the largest fractures further, shearing lines to act as falling instructions, lances to tilt and twist as directional guides, then blasts to collapse them, close attention is paid to the results.
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]
>Freeing half of their own, dark streaks of ephemerally armored, frenzied equine hybrids join those outside the Elemental barriers, savaging the Unborn's slightly weakening hold as the most important target.
>Batponies: 50% Control
[1d6 = 1]
>Draconic shrieks of anger at the Unborn's deeply woven attachmarents to the emotions and Elements of New Canterlot sing out above.
>Dracosines: -50% Control
>Anger clouding their collective judgement, the leader motions to trade time in freeing others or themselves, each snapping and tearing at chains not Void illuminated trailing to those below.
[1d6 = 6]

>Freed by a lack of secure walls, threads deeply bound throughout New Canterlot crackle as the Elements race outwards, locating new paths to spread a Geomantic web, crossing degraded, damaged, or hidden ones, reconnecting the most stable to them.
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6] <Lightning
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5] <Water
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3] <Fire
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <Plasma
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5] <Air
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <Earth
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3] <Metal

>Minutely slowing the Unborn's erratic internal Elemental control from aligning properly, each pulse-hum of crystalline music disconnects far more, jets of stolen Fire and shards of Earth now erupting from its immaterial body, framing black, white, and blue in strange hues.
>73% Elemental Control remaining
>52% Emotional Control remaining
>Unable to focus on assaults from four completely different angles, the Daymare's cohesion was being torn apart, further hampered by its own tremarendous size leaving it open to more possible vectors.

"Wait wha-"
>Seizing the opportunity to inflict more than tiny scrapes, Lilamaredre trades teeth for hooves, kicking open the wingjoint and lashing scorching feathers into the anomalous cavity, pointy ends first.
>Ripples of her own Fire swirling heavily in the gap, magnetic chaos strikes a ringing tune as the other wing hammers down-
>SQUEAK.
>Nearly flattened and spun over, the pegasi's fury reaches its peak as she shrieks, both wings stretching out and lashing in every direction, seeking to hold onto the immense alicorn's degraded form.
"I'M GOING TO STAB YOUR EYES OUT FOR THAT ONE!"
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] <E.Assault
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <B.RAMPAGE
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12] <E.Reaction Speed
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] <Magnetic Disruption: TARGET
[1d6+3 = (1+3) = 4] <B.Magnetic Shift: Solidify
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8] <Flashburn
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] <Krevotic Denial
>vs:
>Likely lacking the intrinsic knowledge of combat and subtlety, the Daymare resorts to biting at the Fire Elemarental, eyes flaring at the shock of being injured.
[1d6+18 = (2+18) = 20] <???
[1d6+18 = (1+18) = 19]
[1d6+18 = (2+18) = 20]
[1d6+18 = (5+18) = 23]
[1d6+10 = (5+10) = 15] <???
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9] <Field Align

>Stunned for a time, the Royal Guard whispers across the field to all involved.
She still lives!
Free her once more!
Destroy the threads next!
[1d6 = 4] <Lost Leadership

>>392759
>Rapidly nodding in excitemarent, Riftdrowners lower to hold the pot rather than guard it, pointing from the Void unicorn back to the mare statue.
"Those not same-same, little same!"
'I think she confused the statues for.. Astral Legacy at some point. If that is still his name.'

>Clearly smiling, the contained self-Void dips in a brusquely informal bow.
"The exact same to you! It's been one year and four months or so, I think. Measuring temporal matters was difficult when all I could make sense of was Luna's Moon for quite a while."

>Skimming through your reports and briefly opening Basic Equines app, the avatar frowns.
'Highly doubtful. The combined results are unintentional given the information presented: an individual's full history would have been a negligible matter for most. They do not prefer to know all details, only those regarding primary and secondary relevance.
Preserving a consciousness should, theoritcally, allow for engrammatic inspection and copying of spells, rituals, rites, and so on, in addition to examining the intricacies and specific individual methodologies of each. Think of it as combining me with a command mothership, one able to deploy specialized craft-'
>Both eyebrows raise with a mildly smug, satisfied expression.
'And should you speak one or more words about mecha I will probably not laugh at this time. Or scream.'

>Head cocking as you approach, the primal unicorn's eyes contract slightly.
"Your apology is accepted yet I must logically refuse some of teh blame. If you had done so the entire chain of events leading to here and now would not have occurred. In nearly all scenarios I would be dead, whether from a second attempt by Horizon or the hivemind's lack of cohesion, though probably both at the same time."
>Starbursts flattening in what was probably a squint, the stallion leans forwards, then back with a thankful tone.
"She DID finish it! Let me guess: ten days too late? Quite an excellent result too. I am no longer fully vulnerable to Anti however and Void as an Element is painfilly stubborn. This form still cannot safely make contact with the majority of Elements, metals, and materials. For now keep it, then return it to her when you can."
>Thin lines marking eyebrows raise, then lower with a minor echoing sigh.
"Hmm.. can't say I'm surprised. The last solid thoughts I had before being pieced together was the hivemind dragging parts of me in some vague direction.
There will have to be numerous deletions and redactions of specific information, this place cannot be found again. And, since we are quite deep inside one of Princess Cadenza's holiest territories, it would be wise to ensure no traces remain.
As for Astra's tablet.. I cannot simply return it without risking her physically striking me. Hold onto it as well if you would.
One minute please, a decision has been made."
>Outlines of ears flick in apology, the background shifts to normal, colorations brightening as the Void unicorn slides towards the table and halts.
"Yes? .....I see. Unfortunate, but I know the difficulties of trust too well not to understand. What I will take are the following:
First, one Blood Core, Perfected classification. Far too important not to share.
Second, one Pearl Mist. I would have destroyed them before learning the full effects, yet now I cannot think of better options, temporary as they may be.
Third, the Ethereal Core, Flawed and Corrupted classification. It will be highly useful should certain factions still be infuriated and may prevent hostilities from others.
Fourth, one Ice Core, Superior Stable classification. I know a number of Crystal ponies whom must acknowledge that what their ancestral Lorekeepers achieved did indeed improve the world. If Rebirth does not accept it as an honest gift, then I will ensure it is not misused.
Fifth, a Moonstone Tear, Damaged classification. The Reaper's quiet assistance during the First Foundation’s mistakes were not in vain, and by extension certain debts among Her followers must be repaid."
>Appearing on the table before him, the first object provokes a sharp tang of equine blood, the fourth emitting calm, subdued tones, while the fifth beckons in a wordless, sharp tone.
>Heavily bowing towards the statues until the ones in artificial Moonlight perform the same, the unicorn stands upright.
"I shall, and my greatest thanks to you. Except for myself, a unicorn from a rather excellent Lunar Village, and, perhaps, four others, none will know of the Fourth Foundation. It is only fitting that which was not to be should remain as it ought to."

"What are you now?"
>Turning to face Lonestar, the Void unicorn gazes at Hodch momentarily, the second snorting apologetically before turning around to walk south.
"I'll be back in a while, and don't follow me."
>Resuming his inspection of the navy man, the head shakes briefly.
"An experimental, poorly tested composite which I have deemed a soloform. I am now capable of fully exchanging one Element for another within a matter of seconds-"
>Fracturing inwards to a pinprick of black, a neon green, archaic batstallion takes its place, standing above ground a foot, flexing large wingclaws out, though the left middle one points towards Lone's rifle.
"Just like this! Can still spread my consciousness between a hivemind but it sucks, makes thinking and acting between them hard. Like Roust and her armor basically. Now lower that. The Anti bouncing off both of you needs to be purged and I gotta get inside Razorback Fortress to fix it. You're all gonna be screwed by the next Season if I don't!"
>Eyes narrowing into thin slits, the Acid form rolls inwards, replaced by a bristling, heavy set Crystal Conclave stallion, grimly speaking in a slow, irritated and sharp cadence.
"Allow me to make myself crystal clear. Either I return to Razorback, with all of you, or I will be forced to leave two Class 3 Anti contaminated humans here for the next decade as students of circumstance."
[1d6 = 1]

>>392788
>He makes a short ponderous hum in response to Shiibo.
'I see. And we can discuss Command and Control module possibilities for your future frame later. Drones were a common choice on combat oriented mindframes.'

>Nodding at Spiral, he steps to the side to let Spiral speak to the demi-sapient.
>After the requested items materialize, he bows his head slightly towards the unicorn shaped void.
"Your grace towards my failure to at least reduce the harm your incurred is a testament to your species. We can return it to her. I'm only handling it on your behalf. And the same for the tablet. Dancing Eyes injured somepony who came to retrieve it during your absence. But the situation at the Fortress is dire in a number of areas."

>As Lonestar asks his most burning question and Hodch leaves to address the unknown Eldritch contact, Pareidolia looks towards the strange cores and gems Spiral had requested now on the table next to the potted trees.
(Elemental Cores, for use and as diplomatic assuagements. Numerous questions that need answering. Need to brief once we're on the OT-5.)
>Hearing and then seeing Spiral shift forms, he casts a wary glance towards the collection of demi-sapient statues before heading towards the table and picking up his potted tree.

>>392764
>Amethyst could sense the rended threads of energy restoring themselves as they were freed from the Daymare, some struggled as the creature held tight to its captives, some were eager as soon as they were freed and others were lethargic after having been bound for so long.
>The evil could not withstand this.
>Snickering at Lila's interrupted and quite probable complaint at being referred to as a Princess again, Amethyst's laughter was likewise interrupted by a loud squeak.
>How dare the Daymare disregard her Fillyship's introduction.
>Focusing her song on those threads struggling to escape their bindings, Amethyst's song sought to reach a crescendo, bolstered by lingering harmonics, its resonance striking ever deeper, willing the energies and memory free.

[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]

[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] < Krevotic Denial

>It seemed the Lost Royal Guard had at least appreciated Lila's introduction. Perhaps they thought she perished those years ago in the conflagration.

>>392797
'That was merely an analogy, however..'
>Paging through Razorback taken images of medium to ultra-heavy Conclave and Kingdom ExoFrames, along with a limited selection of light to medium modified Imperial versions, 'Shiibo' turns to speak.
'I-'
>Immediately stopping to bring up a new line of distinctly Inquisitorial looking, predominantly silver clad vehicles, then a number of other similar, fairly ludicrous designs, most featuring a prominent, heavily stylized gold raptor, she starts again only to halt.
'The-'
>Bringing up a complete selection of exoskeletons, exosuits, power armors, heavy versions, super-heavy, last ultra-heavy, from past, present, and distant future, then last a small variety of sub-cruiser sized naval vessels related to the Landbarge's original configuration, she lifts both arms wide in an utterly clueless, dazed manner.
'My digital head aches... too many options.'

>Lorinat lowers his SMG without reservation, Katyal doing the same with her rifle, the first pensive for a moment as the woman shoulders hers.
“Fine. I’ll ask questions much later, and there's going to be a lot of them."
"Don’t make me regret this.”
"Of course, and I will not. You live as some of the most exceptional parts of humanity, whether or not you understand my meanings."

"Please use my real name. Unless I am the unicorn in which case merely Spiral would be an amusing fit."
>Swiveling about to settle a strict, professionally appraising glance on you, the Crystal soloform releases a small, frost-tinged breath, right foreleg lifting to present a formally apologetic bow.
"Your honest capacity to attempt comprehending events outside of known definitions, factors, and knowledge is in itself a grace. Would you have succeeded only to buy a few hours or possibly days for me? Or would I have rebuffed your efforts? I do not know which was likely, nor will I disregard your words.
What I stated remains true: had the hivemind not left when they did, I would have been dead within two weeks, three at the most. The perils of uncontrolled, mindless experimarents.."
>Smoothly shifting into a smile, striking patterns of multicolored snowflakes spread throughout Astral's body, right eyebrow raising curiously before taking on a slightly miffed cast.
"Accepted. We will return both, if you would accompaneigh me. And whom is Dancing Eyes? The name i... ...that one. I have not had cause to think of her. I cannot begin to imagine the troubles there, yet one more will occur soon."
>Regarding Katyal, Lone, Dul, then you, the Crystal warps inwards, slowly replaced by 10' tall, broad and utterly hulking Minotaur bull, Seemingly composed entirely of steel.
>The forming appearance was old, though not archaic as the pre-Hegemonics were.

>Remaining bowed as they were, the demi-sentient forms had been marked by a single, flat black line on the right side of each face.
'Possible indicating debts paid or shame lost.'

>New voice gruff, heavy, yet moderately faster than the Crystal soloform, and far more cheerful, he carefully reaches down to gently collect the five objects.
"Collect what belongs to you, store safely."
>Lonestar collecting his and another medium from Katyal, whom stares at the nearly twenty in front of her.
>Helpfuilly lifting four of the smallest ones, two Riftdrowners wrap tightly around the strange Vortex plant as Dul airslides towards the Landbarge.
>Grasping the largest pot, the unusually bright pink barrel cacti is lifted for a brief examination, Astral Legacy then turns to stomp towards the vehicle, voice raised to compensate.
"Reaper’s Winter come in one week, maybe less. Snow, hail, ice, fearsome cold will cover Everfree. Twenty to fifty feet. None of you have felt before. Fortress is south of here, might get more. Lunar-Solar War's end marked by same event.
Crystal Empire will celebrate long and hard, Gryphon Kingdoms less hard. Most of Tallus get less. Northern Neighsia and Hegemony enjoy tunneling, celebrate too. North Equestria suffers if warning not delivered in time. Rime spreads across borders, will inflame tensions between Canterlot and Crystal Empire. Can not allow."
>Setting the pot inside the Landbarge II's rear, the Minotaur reaches in to place the Cores and bottle carefully onto the closest seat, retracting to make a second trip for the next set of desert plants, Lonestar walking up the right ramp to begin checking space for the upright lockers.
*"Rerculon, open all lockers-"*
"Two choices. Can mass translocate hundred miles at a time, but will take fifteen hours, must go around Fold Regions. Or, can use Advanced Warp Gate. Kind demi-sentient made one for me."
>Nearly dropping two of her plants, Katyal's grip tightens around each, spinning around to shout.
"How?! The few of those prototypes that got transferred to Saddle Arabia caused the Burning Bridge!"
>Returning with six to place in again, Astral Legacy lets out a heavy, angered sigh.
"True. Eyes knew. I know. She knows. More not learn?"
"Saddle Arabians tried to explain it to everypony but only the Neighsians, Harpies, Germane, some Gryphanes, and Argenta listened! They got rid of all their copies before anything could happen!"
"Good. Failures caused on purpose, sixth worst sabotage in Tallus history. Ultra-specific chain reaction during critical juncture in late Second Foundation stage. Who, why?"
"…...Horizon. Because she's a cunt."
"Worse than."
>Tapping the center of his chest, the Minotaur brings out three small, white-clear, buzzing orbs before pushing them inside with a grim tone.
"Sweet Dreams has one of five Anti Cores, Supreme Perfected. Spread through Third Foundation, two held by group, became Black Tower Guardians. Others missing.
Nine intact Faux-Naturals here, two more being created. Taking three. Number of others not Damaged, Flawed, Corrupted, Tainted, or Infected stay here, keep Varkest safe.
Must cleanse Razorback and regions where humans have been since New Canterlot, but Lone, Pare, and Hodch first."

[1d6 = 5] <Time

>>392799
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-7IHOXkiV8 [Embed]

>Spitting a single expletive, Prima Lucis lets go of the moderately degraded wing, forcing her half-material body back to its limits.
>Streaking upwards in blue-hot rage, then left at the closest orb, rolling over to present feathers extended straight, the Daymare's eye is torn into before showering apart and outwards, magnetic fields containing it torn beyond its ability to control.
>Snapping far too late, your third round of harmonic fractures across the fake alicorn's body bleed yet more outwards, severing millions of stolen Elements from the Unborn's threads.
>Erupting in visceral jets, each and every color possible streams outwards, leaving wakes to be filled by more, doubling, tripling, quadrupling in less than a second-

>Voices surging into a shattering quality no living Crystal equine or Minotaur could hope to match, let alone withstand, Earth and by extension the Hegemonics are freed-
>Sundering the final chains binding their Minotaur allies, Earth and Hegemony turn to grasp and bite onto still connected links, heaving each back to drag the Unborn's stolen memories towards them, equine and bovine howls rising into a roaring crescendo-
>Grasping the trails of Elemental threads, pegasi and Harpy alike clutch hard, holding them from reinforcing the Daymare's decaying urgings below-
>Sending most of the barriers toppling, unicorns allow themselves a small, fierce grin at a slowly building Elemental chain reaction leading straight towards the Unborn's clueless self-
>Holding the barriers briefly, batponies let go upon realizing the Elements would drag them in as well, throwing middle claws at the catastrophic series of Elements devouring their way towards the Unborn-
>Releasing ALL of the Lost from their efforts, Dracosines perch atop tendrils of Void spreading over New Canterlot's Moon-filled sky.
>A quarter of reptilian eyes watch a mostly complete Geomantic array beginning to stabilize below, the second quarter cackling at respective Elements ripping away from the Unborn Daymare's control, the third quarter studying walls of emotion collapsing back into the city in tiny flakes, the last quarter viewing a Fire Elemarental pegasus stronghoofing the impossible and an unusual, yet highly familiar singing hybrid.
>Bearing sole witness to all of the destruction unleashed, the largest turns her attention down and right, peculiarly drawn to shallow rumbles below the training ground's marble.
>Screeching a terrified warning at a TITANIC glowing root breaching surface from a southwest direction, it arcs up as flying Shades, Half-Shades, Legion, and Legionnaires streak outwards from it, their sole purpose clear: to capture the third greatest Betrayer in Tallus history.
>Disconnected and tiring as it was, the Unborn struggles against cruelly shaped curved hoofclaws, serrated recurve wingblades, heavily armored claws, crysamare coated fangs, and viciously spiked weapons forged from Tartarus itself.
The faceted justice of Tartarus will not allow your escape this Night!
>Thundering from the Grand Kerbann deep below, branches become spears, twisting sharply and extending outwards in a millisecond, piercing the false creature through, thrashing as it screams in barely comprehended fear.
Her will is delivered thusly: an endless decay unto final death is what you shall receive.
>Corroded hooves smashing down into marble below, the Kerbann does not relent, archaic mango leaves sprouting in profuse numbers, heaving once and dragging the Daymare towards the colossal tunnel entrance.
>Assisted by the forces of Tartarus reaving the last emotional and Elemental chains and threads apart, those still carrying memory regarding Lost nearby with calm smiles.
>Resuming their grim duty against the mightily struggling Unborn, the Grand Kerbann's wordless voice booms across Tallus, the heads of Druids, Mystics, Necromarecers, and Sorcerors raising in shock.
You did not show pity, BETRAYER! You shall receive NONE in return! Tartarus does not forgive, nor do I!

>Witnessing the hallowed tree finally wrenching the Unborn down, its screams hollowly ring into the deep, expansive tunnel below, the Draconsine leader takes a single, long inhale.
>The Ancient exhales, releasing her pain, grief and agony laden scales shedding off, eyes closed at washes of acceptance wracking her immaterial body.

>Landing on Plasma-corrupted ground, thousands of Lost gaze around themselves and each other tiredly.
>Standing straight, each takes on their true, proper duties: Shades, Half-Shades, Legion, Legionnaires, among hundreds of Kratha.
>Individually visible for long seconds, final gazes and salutes upon the former glory of New Canterlot Palace are given.
>First to break away is an earth mare Royal Guard, once a prison attendant, now bearing the Legion's colors, storming down after the Grand Kerbann's root.
No prisoner will escape me THIS time!
>A Ranger of Gozka swiftly raises one giant hand to make a fist, heaving a massive great mace over one shoulder.
Come, Earthkin! Much to-do!
>Individuals, herds, groups, then as one, the once-Lost breaking from their past, turning to march into a new, albeit strange one.

>Caught by four unflinching Shades, the once underprincess gives each a faint, pained smile, grimacing as her body slowly pulls into its Core.
"Tell Amy.. need to rest for.. a while.. it all.. hurts so bad again.. got to close my eyes for a.. few minutes.. please tell her I was.. trying to keep her safe this.. time-"
[1d6 = 4] <Recovery Time

*****
>LEGENDARY OPERATION: CRITICAL SUCCESS.
>CRITICAL REQUIREMARENTS MET: 9/15.
>THE LOST SAVED: 8/8.

>SPECIAL CONDITIONS:
NO LOST DEVOURED BY THE UNBORN 1/3.
<50% ELEMENTAL CONTROL HELD BY THE UNBORN 2/3.
<50% EMOTIONAL CONTROL HELD BY THE UNBORN. 3/3
ALL FORCES KEPT ABOVE -50% CONTROL 4/3.
ALL FORCES ACCEPTED INTO TARTARUS 5/3.
ALL FORCES SURVIVED 6/3.

Amethyst Dalli-StormRose gains: +18XP.
Prima Lucis gains: +18XP.*

>>392803
>Pareidolia gives a concilliatory glance at Shiibo's avatar in the corner of his helmet display while skimming over the motley assortment of normal to absurd designs.
'As I said, later. We'll need to determine what resources and expertise we have access to for manufacturing first. And those Inquisitional designs with Flash's icons are too absurd to use without modification.'

>Letting out a discomforted sigh, he tucks the Rime lattice orb away and shakes his head.
"I understand. Ultimately this is the better outcome. So long as my contrition is understood regarding my and humanity's shortcomings towards you, that's all I needed to impart."

>Taking a step back and craning his head upwards, he watches with some surprise as Astral morphs into a large, steel Minotaur.
"... Dancing Eyes had fractured or broken a number of ribs on the Canterlot Underground delegation's leader that had come to retrieve that tablet. So I felt it necessary we return it when able."

>His gaze lingers on the lines now marking every statue's face as he moves towards the West table to pick up his potted pine.
'I assume that will help it remember.'

>Carrying his plant to the rear of the OT-5, he stores it in his locker.
>As he moves back and forth to assist in carrying the rest of Katyal's gifted shrubs, he asks Astral as he passes by:
"What delineates an 'Advanced' Warp Gate? And is there any sort of human portable countermeasures or nullifications against Anti that we can be equipped with reliably?"

>>392806
>Arms lifting with glee, Amethyst beheld energy and memory escaping the Daymare, long months trapped, it all seemed eager to see the world again.
"Ahh, see that's better!"
>With song and with will, the Lost freed themselves at last from their torment, no more would they be taken from, or be forced to linger in stasis with unanswered questions, with their anger or with their grief. They could go and be with others.
>The filly's musing was interrupted by the rumbling of the ground. Uh oh.
>Amethyst jumped on the spot as the root of the Great Kerbann breached through ground and marble, from where it stood in Tartarus all the way to this place across the bridge she had asked the world to form.
>Even before anything had been said, Amy knew the grand tree was not pleased with the Daymare. Not at all.
"Eep!"
>Amethyst jumped again at the extremely loud declaration of the Grand Kerbann, she knew that anybody like herself will have heard that, no matter where they were.
>Whoops, she might have really done it this time. This might even beat out the one time she accidentally flooded a wellspring.

>Away was the creature taken. Amy felt some small pity for the thing, it was a nascent intelligence after all, could it have been redeemed? She shrugged and watched as it was dragged away to its earned fate. If such a thing could have occurred, the creature would have learned from the memory it had been feeding upon and would not have become a Daymare.
>Putting the thought aside, she waved gleefully at the accompanying forces from Tartarus that had come, it was always nice to see them.
>And it was nice to see that they would be joined by the Once-Lost.
>They weren't completely free of what had occurred of course, such wounds linger on for a time, but now they had received a chance to recover truly, as they had always meant to and deserved. The Dracosines in particular she imagined might not let go until they learned the full truth of that day.
>That was something Amethyst could do, she could compile as complete an account of all that had occurred that day. Perhaps in such an account lay the answer they sought, and maybe it could help the others as well.
>With joyous waving as they left, Amethyst spoke up to get their attention one last time before they went.
"Buh-bye! See you again soon!~"

>The ipotane lingered for a moment before moving over to where the Shades caught Lila as she shrank back into her core.
>She couldn't touch her in this state, too hot, she'd definitely burst into flames if she tried, so Amy simply lingered nearby, smiling and waiting.
>Lila would need an apology for dragging her into this again, she could trade for access to a blast furnace for a while, that would definitely lift her spirits!
>Sheathing her sword, Amy clutched the Stick in both hands and glanced around.
>Awful things had happened here, and the lingering effects had been mostly dealt with.
"You know, I think this would be a good place for a new Kerbann tree, better than a ghastly collection of abandoned buildings and grounds."
>Focusing once more, Stick planted into the ground before the tunnel entrace, Amy sent her will forth on the air and into the world once more, a much simpler request than before. For a Kerbann sapling to take root in this place, to replace decay with growth.

[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]

[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]

[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] < B. Crystal Runes
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5]

>>392828
>Pausing on an unusual jetbike, of sorts, with a full cockpit and suite of particle weaponry, the avatar's expression is wounded.
'I was window shopping for later, sir! This one is quite interesting.'

>Nodding heavily as he passes by once more, the deep voice is sincere.
"I feel weight of words now. Hold no regrets of past."
>Returning with a selection of broad leafed flowers to be set above the ramps, Astral exhales raggedly.
"Bad. Should not have let her remain, too many problems with Primals. Ignorant. Will be set free with warning. Serra's mistake."
>Condensing back into the feral batpony, the right wing is lifted up, extracting a thin, clear black diamondine disc, tapping the surface once.
>Multitudes of tiny silver runes flickering across it, he takes hold with both sets of wingclaws and easily widens it; the appearance was similar to a translocation matrice except less.
"This! Can stretch it out or compact to most sizes. Void and hybrid soloforms can do that without touching it. Made it into a spinning hula hoop once and it actually worked! Which also made me realize I can get dizzy now. Threw up twice too! It's directly bonded to me so any idiot trying to steal it's going for a nasty trip straight into the Vortex somewhere.
Think of this as a variable wormhole connecting to millions more. The specific paths it reaches get stabilized, and the reverse is how it was used as a weapon. This one can't be inverted but they are PAIN to put together."
>Setting the disc down and dragging it out to well over the Landbarge II's width, Astral looks up with a grimace as Lonestar, Dul, and Katyal return with the last floral pots.
"As for the second part: six, but they won't be easy to claim. Anti's the biggest, meanest, and quietest bitch there is. Wanna know how Lucky Strikes, Matron Lucky's sire, was able to break into almost anywhere his greedy eyes saw? Those wingblades and hoofboots of his were Anti-infused diamond, that's how he hid lockpicks and all the other tools. Even IF you knew what they were you wouldn't be able to remember the damn things after a few minutes. Took me six months to realize that.
And if I can't convince or bribe enough Imperials to get access, option three is going straight to the Tower Guard but I do not like those odds. They're going to be massively pissed still, I can feel it. If I screw those up you'd better be prepared to spend a lot of time around Sweet when I'm not available.
Option four: five Nights from now I can make requests from Varkest's demi-sentient for other nifty things, but she's focused mainly on decontamination. Don't wanna take stuff unless she's got spares and I absolutely need it."
>Hoof clicking across several sets of runes, the flat gate becomes a map, showing several hundred thousand Warp Gates across Equestria.
"The Faux-Naturals I've got are are linked on purpose, basically a three-in-one system of vacuum, distillery, and storage. Absorbed Anti is converted over time, but I have to be within ten yards or so to sense it, usually sound and scent. Takes a while without direct contact but is much safer.
Also, the Planar enchantment known as Bane is stupidly illegal for Solars and Lunars outside of special circumstances. Now I haven't been the first for a while, and legally speaking I'm an Elemarental! we don't abide by silly faction laws, or mutative biology, which also means I have no problems carrying one of those weapons. It's damned effective at destroying Anti, just need to find one first.
...wanna know what's real fucked? When Silver brought that bunch of Anti Cores from an unknown Otherworld she had no idea what they were. Later she must've thought copying them for use as a defense was a great idea. Turns out the same shit she brought here was probably what killed said Otherworld. What do you call a mutated, possibly living form of radiation? Trick answer: we don't know since she's probably dead now."
>Rapidly listing Warp Gates through the New Everfree as destroyed, inactive, active, or unknown, Astral glances up with raised eyebrows.
"Huh. Closest one to the Fortress was used two nights ago, hasn't been touched since.
On the technical side, I've got a few solutions to replace the three-stage power crystal and sixty others that got fried underneath the Fortress. Won't be cheap but should be back online in ten to twenty hours, weather shield included."

>Making space in the empty upright lockers for her collection, Katyal glances at Dul hugging the partially immaterial plant before setting it inside the Void-Flux containing one.
"Are those extinct?"
"They rare but not dead-dead. Lots plant here, show safe path in Vortex. When Moon and Sun War end.. few live. Sirens use other paths."
"....do you mean safe entrances straight into the Vortex Plane?"
"Yes! Big-big-big round stones safest but tunnels fun too."
>Back at the pilot's station, Lonestar sits down, pushing his chair back with a grunt before lifting the headset.
*"Hodch, need some more time?"*
*"One or two minutes-"*

>Shadow's Gift #849

>>392835
>Pareidolia sighs as he moves down the rear hatch ramp to stand in front of the map Astral drew, folding his arms.
"Then it's as I feared and acquisition, let alone production of effective countermeasures and armaments will be highly unlikely. Other than potential Bane weaponry, which would be politically difficult to handle. As for Silver, I'm not surprised."

>Looking at the glowing point on the map denoting the gate closest to Razorback, he nods.
"That was what we used to make the journey here. But, to report on the Fortress, the last time we stopped while passing through that Fold Region, nearly all of Razorback had been called to defend the Basin Village against Tainted. The Basin Arena repeater was still off when we made our stop. I'll provide a more extensive report once we're all accounted for, but between that and the Constructs we had to deal with, it has been extremely strained. Likely there are other events that Shiibo and I still are not aware of. If I hadn't successfully wished for a variant personality modeled after 'Spiral', we may never have... "
>The operative trails off as he cocks his head, looking and to the right with focused intent before turning over to look at Astral's bat pony form.
"If we never found you here, when were you going to return?"

>>392829
>Most of the winged Tartarus forces racing back after the Grand Kerbann, well over twenty companeighs of active duty form around the metaphysical breach into Tallus.
>Jailers leaving along with exactly two Kratha, a few pick up real stones to take back as a trophy.. most likely those were going to be placed as decorations somewhere.
>Waves from hooves, wings, and hands are directed at you as most start on the LONG trek back, a Shade and Legion leader share there was nothing they could do to remove the tree's vast touch on reality, directing two companeighs rest to patrol around for a while, and spook anypony coming too close.

>Once-Lost directing gazes to you, Crystal ponies and Moorites place faintly appreciative imprints before following their new duties.
>Except for the odd ones that seemed to be both at the same time.
>That certainly wasn't right.
>Or normal.
>Silently regarding you from the distance, the initial Royal Guard nods firmly, turning to begin her descent.

>Strolling around the barracks to where the Unborn had landed, the four Shades, one ponybat, earth, and Crystal, along with an intensely sour looking unicorn motion for you to halt.
>Feeling Plasma-marked Fire retreating in a large red sphere, a quick discussion of how to move Prima Lucis' Core takes place.
>Unable to come up with a better solution, the unicorn and Crystal pony briskly take off towards the transfer station, the first muttering something about a shovel.
>Taking full shape next to the pegasi's Core, the red and brown streaked earth and Void-tinged batpony, both younger mares, offer completely different bows; the first rigidly formal, the second slapping both wings across her chest before snickering loudly.
Hello again!
We heard your call through the Grand One. It is a great relief to find you well.
And we got here as fast as we could! Who knew a root could move like a greased Changeling? Felt like my wings were rattling apart the whole time!
I did not. Will Prima Lucis recover soon?
Of course! She's on Tallus now, just toss her in a bonfire for a while!
That seems HIGHLY disrespectful.
>Regarding her near-opposite with an ear twitch that promised indecent amounts of pain filled pranks later, the Shade slaps her face with half a wing, groaning in aggravation.
Ohhh now I remember why I hate Legion... YOU are half a bat too dense to deal with right meow! She is a FIRE ELEMARENTAL. Remember the briefings? I've watched Avernus set her ablaze a bunch of times, she won't care much... if at all.
>Politely stamping immaterial ground with a dutiful sniff, the earth mare offers a apologetic head tilt.
I will always err on the side of honor. Regardless, we must return soon, the Baroness will no doubt desire a new Gate to be set here. Safe Journeys to you both.
>Waiting until the stiff necked Earther leaves, the batpony Shade stares upwards without moving, then blinks down at you with a conspiratorial grin, wheeling around and calling over her left shoulder.
........I know where she sleeps. Take care you two!

>Returning to the damaged marble training ground, the local Elements patiently hear your request.. and proceed to promptly detonate showers of questions at each other.
>A quarter of the recently freed were mollified at the idea of an Elemental absorbing Kerbann growing here, half irritated at the presupposed annoyance of the former, while the remainder agree with little reservation, proclaiming another facet of the Endless Cycle SHOULD start here.
>Taking a breath-
>Flickers of the Moon catch eyes all around while your throat seizes from an old trace of burning feathers.
>Coughing out the odd sensation, the utterly flat notes drift for long seconds, though you could feel the message had been sent.
>Feeling a rattling snicker from the left, another Shade hurriedly dives into the tunnel.
>...
>Totally not suspicious.

>Waiting for a response, the Grand Kerbann resonates through its parted section:
We shall grant your favor when the Betrayer is confined. Take this offering of mine. May it serve you well.
>Rigid for a second, the Stick brightens in several degrees, lengthening and becoming solid in your grasp.

>Hearing the sound of metal clanking on crystal, the lead unicorn from before trots around the barracks carrying a large pair of... steel tongs.
>Carefilly setting the hot Core down, the Legionnaire stares hollowly for unknowable seconds.
>Three for you was probably half a century for her, really.
Consider this a *gift* if you would. Place her between Fire Elemental metal so as to not burn a hole through the crysamare.

>>392840
"There's not much that can resist for long. I lasted, what, two months? Only reason I stayed together was Sweet and Silver coming by now and then. Anti isn't merely corrosive, it can destroy bonds at the molecular and magical levels. You saw the progression of that with your own eyes."
>Exchanging symbols between numerous active Warp Gates, the Acid soloform stares down for a few seconds before muttering flatly.
"Politics can fuck right off the edges of my dick. The second I get back everyfuckingthing is going to change. Humans won't be leaving without explicit approval and I have a bunch of ponies in mind to help keep track. Hodch and certain others can stay or leave at their discretion. I owe too much to them.
If the Empress is dead then that's the worst news I could've heard. Despite how marely and many hate her, she did help me as far as she could. That weird version of Primal Anti she has? It's artificial. Doesn't contaminate everything around her. I'm guessing that's why the version they have nullify lower classifications."
>Drawing a line from the close Warp Gate to the first Fold Region, one which had been bypassed by ten miles due to the straight course, then past it, Astral glances up with a severe expression.
"Basin Village? That's.. how the fuck were TAINTED woken from their rest!? I-"
>Briefly stopping himself before snapping, he does with loud teeth clicks, ears flat and face creased in rigid anger.
"CONSTRUCTS?! What in the SHIT has Razorback been doing?! Dipshit idiots! You don't wave your dick freely without something taking notice and showing their own in return! That's it, I'm not apologizing for any feet I stomp on at this point! Only MORONS are stupid enough to piss with Planes that could wipe out Razorback if they so much as decide to breathe in a certain direction hard enough!"
>Rapidly marking a series of Outer Equestria runes as damaged and lost, he continues charting sets of anomalous sections in sheer irritation.
"I don't know. When I said temporal matters were almost impossible to track I meant it. Was able to calculate the number of rotations but I don't recognize time like humans and ponies do. This-"
>Motioning at his neon green feral self before snarling, changing the Warp Gate's name to 'Razorback WG #2'.
"Is HARD to describe. In Canterlot Underground there were dozens of biologists, students, teachers, researchers, assistants, and visitors in my lab day and night, was rare I didn't know what the hour was. That way I was able to keep track of experimarents, appointmarents, and the like. Now the only way I can feel time happens to be Luna's Moon and that new, annoying little one. I'm awake in certain mareners of speaking or I'm not. Probably doesn't make sense but it doesn't matter."

>Clicking back into the ring of artificial Moonlight, carrying a large, fluffy bolt of royal blue cloth-like material on his saddle, Hodch continues towards the Landbarge, stopping at the ramp and staring inside quizically.
“Why do I feel as if I’ve been harshly judged and possibly mischaracterized?”
“Because you deserve it?”
*“Because you deserve it!”*
"....I suppose both of you may not be entirely wrong at this point."
>Selecting the initial Warp Gate to open, Astral Legacy steps off the diamondine disc and leaps straight into the vehicle in a blur of green, landing in the center and glancing around the interior.
"This is new.. and odd."
*"We've got a LOT to share with you."*
>Katyal takes her chosen crash seat at the front passenger side, Dul lying curled against the Void-Flux containing locker while the Reservist motions for you to enter, following afterwards.
"Hatches?"
*"Closing."*
>Carelessly tossing the bolt across the seat before lifting himself up, both ramps retract and close, the deep purple stallion raising an eyebrow at Astral Legacy sitting down.
"In case of problems, issues, and the like, how do Advanced Warp Gates function?"
>Wingclaws spread apart in the common batpony signal for 'easy', the Acid soloform's head cocks.
“Advanced Warp Gates can't connect to a translocation matrice or portal stone unless the Void Remnant accepts it, a required security measure. That means I need to share which locations I want access to before traveling. Pass over it and it'll fold onto itself, then return to me.
Before we return, one small question first."
*"What's up?"*
>Head turning towards the front cabit, then you, Astral takes on a highly puzzled stare.
"Why does it feel like we're already moving?"

[1d6 = 2] <Recovery

>>392842
>Pareidolia hastily Sticks his rifle to the front of his chest, holding up both hands in a placating gesture.
"For what it's worth, I have wanted nothing more than to be able to have complete oversight over the decisions of Razorback's human personnel from the moment I learned there were humans here on this alien world. There's a reason I had asked your ice form all those years ago that very first question. Given my position within Razorback, damage control efforts and awareness were beyond my reach without access and assets."
>He then dips his head and nods towards Astral's now acidic visage.
"And with that clarification I understand the nature of your perception now. I didn't mean to accuse."

>Glancing behind him to see Hodch approach visibly unharmed, he nods and motions to Astral that he would be returning to the transport.
>He moves towards the rear of the upgraded Landbarge as Astral leaps directly through and into the passenger compartment.
>The straps of his pack are looped over the armrest of his seat before he secures himself.
>His hand reaches for the dial on the side of his helmet camera to assist in manually cycling through archived pictures and notes of prior events and activities.
"Hovercraft."

>Clearing his throat, he reaches into his pack to take out the loaned tablet to begin the process of deleting and clearing any logged data of what it had recorded during the retrieval operation.
*"Hold your questions 'til the end of the briefing. To brief everyone here on recent events as of less than 12 hours ago, the majority of Razorback had been formed into a Quick Reaction Force in response to a massive Tainted attack on the Basin Village. Reports at the time we last were on base indicate the repeater relay is still off. A Luminary had informed the skeleton crew on base that the QRF was still undergoing Plasma, Void, Ethereal, and Anti decontamination procedures. Bren's crew was deployed and returned, Luminary cleared them. Mercenaries Mercy and Sunny Feathers are still missing. Dancing Eyes was absent, searching for Belltower. The Crag Moors had reported Class Eighty Psionic fluctuations."*
>Using his eyes, he brings up a list on his helmet display of the current personnel actively at Razorback as of the last time 'Tipper' had provided the roster to Shiibo, and asks her to display it on the OT-5's internal viewscreens.
*"Refer to the screens for a more detailed list of on site personnel and poninnel. As for the Constructs I had mentioned, Astral, my theory is that given their historic trends of sequential evolution based on responding with degrees of force to match whatever they encountered previously, the Construct assault on the Citadel-"*
>He turns his helmet to center on Hodch with a meaningful glance.
*"-was likely provoked due to operator Clemency's wish for an orbital linear cannon and weapons platform, which engaged Construct ships in orbit. Hodch, you can provide a more accurate timeline specifically if you have one. I think it was roughly 4 days ago now."*
>Looking away, he checks the viewscreen panel in the passenger compartment before looking the floor.
*"I was unfortunately on the Citadel at the time of the assault due to a chain of circumstances I don't want to waste time elaborating on right now. But after that attack, I had returned with operators Jeff and Clemency to Razorback with a number of what I believed to be destroyed Construct hulls and a severed arm and weapon. In my attempt to microscopically study the orange fluid inside one of the hulls, this apparently triggered some sort of repair and reformation sequence in the fluid itself. The sample I was observing formed into a marble sized Construct, rendered inert by my suit's properties on contact. One of the hulls repaired itself to combat readiness and was identifed as a Middle Dy-... sorry, Second Foundation survivor Starblazer Type One."*
>He preemptively holds up his gloved hand in supplication for a moment before lowering it.
*"In my defense, none of the literature on Constructs in the entire Library identified the fluid itself as the actual Construct entity. But I understand if you still want stomp on my feet, Astral. The combat log is available, but what was unusual was that throughout the entire engagement the Construct Mothership in orbit was apparently jamming the Construct. The weapon and the arm carrying it somehow disappeared from my pack in the interim between the Construct's defeat and my being cleansed of Construct corruption. Given that none of the other hulls had any active orange fluid remaining, it's unclear to me how that arm could have moved itself out of my pack without anyone noticing."*
>Sagging his shoulders, he exhales and lifts his helmet to take a sip from his canteen.
*"If anyone has comments or questions, the floor is open."*

>>392221

>Like thousands of hiveminds merging?
>The over complexity then makes more sense
>Too many intelligentsia in one thing would cause things to get complexly disordered
"Well, if there were more than one hivemind and they had to work together to modify their units, then they would become overly complex. Hmmm, yeah, I can see how a hundred thousand theories can come from them."
>But them communicating to us via radio and negotiating had to be a breakthrough
>As far as everyone knew, that was the first time
"What do you make of them contacting us via radio and negotiating with us?"

>If the Guillotine's language was, at-times, hard to parse, then this is worse
>Still, Clem is able to understand what the gunship is saying
*"Shared-Air Reaver. Honored to meet you. We're you a pilot of this vessel since there's no sarcophagus?"*
>Taking a moment, he notifies the Guillotine
*"Guillotine, are you connected to this vessel? I'm talking to the harpy of this one."*
>He then switches channel to Reaver's
*"Do you remember how you got here? Also, can I sit in this seat?"*
>Clemency felt a little sheepish at the last request out of respect for the harpy
>It was like getting issued a new jet fighter knowing the pilot got killed within it somehow

>Looking over to Stellar Claw, he nods in confirmation about the Airstreams
"I know they shouldn't but there's more to these ones. The Airstreams run deep in and through this vessel. Maybe her Airstreams is bonded to the vessel itself? It would allow for more reactive and precise piloting if it works how I think it does."

>>392841
>Halting at the motion, Amethyst could feel the waves of heat even from where she stood. Lila had certainly taken in much of the Flame and Plasma the Daymare had held captive. Certainly she would give those energies a better home.
"Hullo! Yes, I didn't even know the Kerbann could be called, I'm very sorry for the bother."
>Amy sure didn't sound sorry about that, she in fact now wondered what it was like to ride the root of the Grand Kerbann. Lucky Shades.
>At the bickering over Lilamaredre's state, Amy interjected.
"Technically should would care, she'd have the time of her life absorbing all the Fire she can."
>A very fond gaze was shot towards the core, mixed with an exasperated one over the many cooking fires Lila had eaten before they could be used.
>Waving farewell to the batpony Shade, Amy replied
"We'll tryyy!~ Bye now!"
>The Earther was so in for it later.

>The ipotane cocked her head, ears twitching as she perceived the locals reception of her request.
>Some certainly didn't like the idea, others did.
>Clearing her sore throat, she hugged her Stick.
"Okie dokie. I can understand if it's a itty bit hasty to do that now. Perhaps another night when all this is settled."
>For now, the energies swirled and wheeled overhead and around, that was good enough.
>As the Stick lengthened into something closer to a staff, the filly's grin widened mischievously, a barely restrained giggle sounding on the air.
>Quite deliberately, Amethyst stated so that none would miss what she was about to say, including the Grand Kerbann.
"You sure sprouted didn't you? Thank you Big Tree, I mean it, thank you for coming here."
>She really did mean it, this might have been much worse without the Great Kerbann's intervention.

>Tongs... As a gift?
>A gift!
>The filly held back a squee, barely, and thought about the issue instead of getting overly excited about the new object to add to the collection.
"Lila made some earlier, there should be enough in one of the sleds, wherever I went and left them."
>Leaving to retrieve the sleds, she returned with them, rummaging around for the elemental metal Lila had made earlier.

>>392846
>Astral's right wingclaws spread apart in a 'complete stop' motion, eyes closing briefly before reflexively swallowing.
"Hold up. Twisted Wing WAS doing that duty damned well, giving me time to experimarent and figure out how to ease humans into accessing magic or the Elements, at least until-"
>Giving the Reservist a friendly grin this time, he takes on a wholly unsatisfied expression.
"Razorback unknowingly spent months empowering enough Class 3 Anti to kill everypony on base and leave a few dozen miles of New Everfree completely contaminated. Only Sweet and Silver were aware. Just barely at that. Get what I'm saying now? Horizon struck at the single best time possible."
'I was correct in an... eerily opposing sense.'
>Silent at the newfound ramifications, 'Shiibo' turns entirely neutral, beginning to slowly correct mistakes spread from prototype and her own reports.
'The weakest links are humans, including you and I. Recall the 2,500 reports I ascribed to temporal matters? Tallus entropy does not account for the wide spread..... we are INCREDIBLY compromised, sir.
Command, executive, external, and majority internal decisions must remain with Astral Legacy and high ranking Starborn until full neutralization occurs and protective safeguards are provided.'
"......oh. No wonder I feel so weird."

>Easily finding the 5CTA's logs, it takes a minute to send them into a scrub mode.
>Standing up, Acid crumples into a thin line, Void expanding outwards to replace the former, solidifying into a mostly complete body.
>Chaotic swirls of red, blue, purple, black, and small Lunar traces slow, the Void soloform drifting to Hodch, reaching inwards to retrieve the three clear-white Cores, setting them in front of the other unicorn and turning around.
>Nodding in return, the deep purple stallion glances down in slight curiosity at the unusually flat humming as starburst eyes glint in study.
"Correct enough for now. Three nights prior."
>Resuming full inspection, the primal unicorn's eyebrows finally raise.
"I will not do so yet, and continue to use specific Dynasty Eras instead of Foundations. Luminaries?"
>Spinning around to face Hodch, the two share a brief contact, second speaking first with a heavy frown.
"A hyper-specialist cleanup unit to primarily deal with contamination; magical, Elemental, Planar, Eldritch, whatever they can hoofle. They place themselves in stasis to prevent degradation so we don't call on them often. Twisted would've deployed all five of the full squads, might take two Nights to cleanse Razorback."
"I see. In short: there are six known generations of Constructs. Primal, that being the originals, Early, Pre-Interim, Interim, Pre-Modern, and Modern. Solely depending on said generation, it is either the fluid or the components operating as a collective which function as the primary individual.
There is a noted discrepancy regarding possible communication between both. Confirmation of such has not been made."

>Keeping herself occupied by toying with a small yellow marble, Katyal looks up with a profoundly interested tone.
"Class EIGHTY Psionic fluctuations? That's a Primal at full tilt! Just getting to see one of them in action is like winning the lottery!"
>Lightly tapping each of the Faux-Natural Anti cores, Hodch makes an incredibly sour face.
"Must be Dancing Eyes."
"Hold o-"
"I cannot explain why she is there, only the following: she stated her intentions to search for a missing pony of Razorback. Both owe significant debts to the other."
"You ever meet her?"
"More often than I prefer to think about."
"Does she... y'know?"
"Have over two dozen teat and genital piercings? ..yes."
>Returning the face with one blending existential concern and no small amount of horror, the woman grimaces, hands raising to rub her eyes.
"That's.. NOT what I meant! I was gonna ask if she explodes heads or uses neural shearing to kill.. jackass."
"Not as far as I know, no. She remains honorable unlike the extreme minority of distant or disconnected Psions."

>Highly interested at the professional killers, the Void unicorn reaches out to pick up the trio of Cores, sliding on air towards you and depositing them, each emitting a faint, oddly flat buzzing sound.
"Do not be alarmed at these, you will find yourselves to be much more clear headed once the Anti has been removed."
>Taking three steps back and sinking down to stand at roughly eye level, an echoing, curious tone is given.
"A Starblazer Type One? The last of those were presumed destroyed during the Late Crystal Kingdom, that being one thousand and four hundred years prior. You are indeed correct, that is most unusual. I recall that specific model as having an equal number of plasma and neutron warheads in two external mounts, short range missile configuration. Were either launched, and what seemed to be its priority?
Please show the marble sized Construct if you retain it. A variety of simple tests can be made which will prove it is either bonded to you or another. Depending on physical size it may have exceptional value to integrate with equipment.
As well, do you recall whom touched the retrieved weapon and arm from the Citadel first? It must have acquired a bond."

>>392848
>Holding up her right set of claws out to wiggle them at the command and control unit, Stellar blinks as doing so scrolls the various screens sideways, each showing the prior model.
"...THAT'S how it works?"
>Experimarentally making short motions and finding a branching tree diagram centered on Rift Plane: Constructed Two Pairs, she imitates a tapping motion with a small smile upon realizing the similarities, starting with the topmost.
"Maybe these are what Crystal ponies tried to copy and wound up building hololiths. Almost the same usage too.. neat!"
>Pulling her hood down a bit, the batmare looks up to regard you with a questioning snout wiggle.
"You've probably seen the older Lunar Knight, Moonblade, Heavy Lancer, and Mage armor designs. Those used to take four armorsmiths a full week to complete and fit a single suit for one individual. Compare those to the Lunar Guard and common marecenary half-plate styles: two smiths, three Nights, a lot easier to produce and fit, using the same amount of material. Without all of that cumulative knowledge we'd be using Lunar Guardian and Dusk Strider designs.
I dunno. Still seems to me Constructs are still going backwards in the time we're improving. And closer to triple that number now."
>Lips pulling back in serious thought for ten seconds, her head shakes briefly before motioning at the screens displaying low quality images, pairs of cloudy orange spheres rolling across what appeared to be a short grass plain.
"I'm not sure yet. As a general guideline, Planar beings hate speech and text. They share information much faster with their own than they can with us. Maybe some piece of your technology has shown them a better method to communicate, like a diplomat would always have multiple fluent translators.
They didn't use Harpy dialects, maybe because they were always hostile towards each other. But some of the best known reports describe Constructs as able to understand Hegemony Minotaur language, either in parts or as a whole. That bothers me and I'm not even sure why."

>Hearing a short, somewhat faster sequence of aery words, Guillotine's channel carries a ringing background tone.
*"Aye, mineself be now. Answers an' words transcribe slow. Sixth Fleet leavest many an' marely records open, nae add vital details...
Ye grace? Beyest speaking tae 'Shattering Skies' by name, 'tis aen 'artifice-flight-an'-combat-assistant-simulant'. Thee 'class-of-combat-duties' be deemed 'Shared-Air Reaver'. ...thee havest confused it."*
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6] <Translation
>Brightening a fraction internally, silver metal bubbles on the surface starting at the least damaged sections.
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6] <???
[1d6+3
[1d6+3
*"....nae know ye as Fleet, not aen insult. Sharing mine an' kin's records tae it."*
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Intact Communication Protocols
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]

"That's a bat odd. If they're really old though, maybe it isn't?"
>Tapping the wrapped charcoal stick against the open tome, the hooded mare nods to herself.
"Could be similar. There's a bunch of rituals that can take pieces of a willingly diverted Airstream and, I dunno how exactly, merge it within Floatplates or barrier shells. All of the old skyboats had one or the other, but most of those are floating museums now.
Only ones that still perform those are the Lunar Navarchs and Blacksail clan. Don't see either of them here much. First is based out of Cairn Wharf on one of the few combat ships still in service, they travel to Argenta a lot. Sea's Bounty might know where the Blacksails are now, they were the ones that built most of the Moors ships.
Neighsians use a few different methods. External plating is still used as armor armor but it either becomes bonded to, synced with, or hangs on Airstreams while in transit. Probably keeps their ships from drifting like that one big fleet did a couple thousand years back."

>Loud chiming from behind draws your attention to a bizarre sight:
>Based off the archaic Lunar Guardian Sorceror style, it was entirely comprised of semi-rigid Lumin, curved half and quarter Moon plates allowing for complete flexibility and range of motion, yet weren't thick enough to serve as medium armor.
>Covered in dozens of small, hanging crystal chimes, the helmet was more akin to partially rigid scale mail, and where a wraparound visor should be was instead an engraved sheet of swirling kanpri, red, blue, and purple hues drifting about aimlessly.
>Halting a meter from Stellar Claws, the batmare is given a single up and down, then you, an unusually flat mid-30's earth mare calling out.
"You are currently experiencing Class 9 Anti exposure.
Clemency, you, your weapons, and your armor are infected with Class 3 and 4 Anti. Please take a seat next to her so I may decontaminate both of you at the same time. This may take five to ten minutes.. possibly more. I am authorized to pursue, engage, stun, or worse should either of you resist."
>Scaled helmet tipping sideways several inches, a droll timbre is added.
"Your mate would be most irritated if I must perform that last one."
>Stellar Claws blanches, turning from the Luminary to you in subdued shock.
"Anti? How?"
"Don't know the full details yet. Decontamination first, then I can share what I know."

>>392936
>Pareidolia nods emphatically while waving his hand.
"Yes, I understand. I'm not blaming her or any other non-humans. I was referring to-"
>Catching himself, he shakes his head.
"-I'll explain at a later time. But out of everyone here, I'm confident you at least will understand."

>As he heads around the OT-5, his expression indicates a metaphorical shrug towards Shiibo.
'While the Anti element is news to me, I was already fundamentally aware of our flawed positions relative to any non-human entities here. Anti exposure is only one example. So long as we can effectively be included in the management of the human socio-cultural and technological element, that will be enough to start cementing Committee infrastructure and guidelines. I'm more than willing to undergo whatever is necessary to see that realized.'

>Pareidolia nods, rolling his shoulders as the faux-natural Cores Astral had previously mentioned to him are placed in front of him.
"Whatever it takes to ensure I am no longer compromised. With you returned, the path to proper protocol implementation is now possible to mitigate and redress the dangers of human contact with Tallus."
>Incredulity seeps out of his helmet as Spiral posits a bond being formed.
"A bond?"
>Fishing around his pockets and pack, he eventually finds the Construct marble.
"The Starblazer did fire one warhead towards the Clinic which was intercepted successfully. Presumed target was the asset denial of Construct pods that been retrieved from a lander by another operational team, but what kind of phenomenon do you mean by bonding? The fluid I observed defied description, but the size of this is unlikely to be of much use. I had used your suit's electrical energy absorption to immediately draw out any electricity I had supplied to it. The arm was touched by Clemency. What are the conditions of this bond?"

>>392913
>Tossing a piece of herself backwards before flitting down the Kerbann's root tunnel, the Shade's shade forms into a tiny batpony in front of you.
>...it was more of a paper cutout, and also meant she was quite high ranking.
>Or at least trusted by the Baroness enough to not misuse it too often.
Don't apologize, you could've been killed by that monstrosity if you hadn't. Besides, you get to share half the glory for locating an Unborn!
See you next time Amy, but give us a little bat of warning first!
>Dancing from side to side briefly, the piece tips in what might have been a bow before zooming around and following after.

>Examining the somewhat properly formed Geomarentic array and Elemental webs brightly shimmering above, they would discuss the matter after proper reconnections were made.
We honor those whom serve justice. Joy will not spread hastily this Night, yet paymarent must be given in exchange for the opportunity. We shall meet again.
>Deep thrums indicating it agreed with the Elements, the Grand Kerbann intones it was time to, cautiously, reclaim New Canterlot from the Blind's fickle grasp and the utterly unwholesome presence of a Primeval.
>A plan was necessary to counteract the first without alerting the second.
[1d100 = 42]

>Locating the ingot in the second sled, lodged between the folding door and pieces of raw pseudocrystallines, lifting the heavy piece to set it away from the pegasi's Core, it would readily mould with little difficulty.
"Perhaps a carry satchel would work."
"Or a large purse."
"You already have a backpack, why not a handbag?"
"WHO DARES SPEAK OF BOXES TO ME?!"
"Pay him no mind, dearest Amy. My former Lord is suffering from a, how shall I put it? Incredibly traumatic experience, yes."

Take care Primus, underprincess.
>Head dipping right and down formally, the Legionnaire phases about, high trotting towards the new entrance.
We will return with a completed Gate soon, one which you shall not need to invoke.
[1d6 = 3] <Cycle

>>392948

>Clemency looks over to the monolith after the mention of the Crystal pony's hololiths
>It never really occurred to him but yeah, they are similar
>Her allegory about the armor makes sense though
>But if they are getting worse, then they must have some sort of chink in the armor or at least a most effective tactic
>And the communications is another lead too
"Well, it is technology. Maybe it is analogous to how they communicate."
>Hegemony Minotaur?
>Not much hope in learning that
"Well if they hate each other like that, they seem to not like us more. Or we haven't found the nicer ones like these Constructed Twos."

>Clemency looks back into the cockpit with an embarrassed look
>Didn't really want to mess up it's name through all the weird translations
>But the "artifice flight and combat assistant simulant" is immediately understandable
>It's like a really sentient AI interface
>Shattering Skies...
>Clemency brings a hand to his chin and leans against the hull of vessel
>The name evokes the imagery of those airburst munitions fired by Stonehenge on his home
>"Those were shattered skies, like airspace being picked to pieces with little warning..."
>He looks up at the current, clear sky and regains his focus and turns to the open cockpit again
*"Shattering Skies, sorry for the mistake."*
>He notices the metals on the cockpit seemingly bubble
>It almost tempts him to just go ahead and sit in the seat
"Hopefully records within this vessel has some answers."

>The chiming makes him turn around
>The sight of the mare covered in chimes is intriguing
>He sees her eye up Stellar Claw then him
"Class 9 Anti exposure?"
>He instinctively looks down
>Obviously nothing wrong or on him
>But he's thinking about the symptoms of this sort of exposure
>Nothing mentally wrong, just tired
"Oh, sure."
>Weird how people don't want to be cleansed of this
>Must be scripted
"Amongst other things happening, better not add one more or I'll feel it."
>With that, Clemency goes ahead and takes a seat next to Stellar Claw, also looking concerned
"I don't know either. Some of Razorback only mentioned some sort of contamination. Didn't expect it to be Anti."

>>392950
>Drawing a line between each of the three Cores, the Void soloform squints at each.
"I do."
[1d6+8 = (6+8) = 14] <M.Research
[1d6+8 = (2+8) = 10]
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11]
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11]

'That may be quite difficult, sir. Wide spread contamination of a known war crime-adjacent factor will, pun not intended, have dissolved a significant amount of trust. Barring those factions which have had limited exposure to Razorback, Princess Luna and the Starborn will undoubtedly be furious at th-"
>Halted from a flat stare, Astral's tone is neutral as starburst eyes settle firmly downwards.
"General Twisted Wing rules Razorback Company as its Matron. Present suggestions to her as I have over four hundred critical implemarentations to perform after removal of Anti has been completed. The Fortress itself is my property, no more or less. What occurs within and does not interfere is solely her responsibility."

>The avatar recoils as if slapped, ceasing all functions for 6.2 seconds.
>Resuming with a pensive glance sideways, 'Shiibo' enters an experimental self-analytic mode, creating a new, small dossier to fill in.
'That is... a much harsher and shorter version of the report I was preparing. ...the prototype warned me of their top-down command structure but I did not expect it to be this strict.
Astral Legacy is required by Razorback Fortress to function, thus he legally owns it, systems and all. Certain buildings are excluded. If he denies access there are minimal chances to negotiate.
General Sapphire Kiwi may legally own Razorback Company as it is a Lunar Protectorate. She and the two Nightblades under her command likely have full authority to punish, jail, imprison, or execute a human without requiring a crime to be committed.
They are strict military minds with a gestalt-borne dedication to their sovereign which, to humans, borders on zealotry, yet has no religious connotations. As such they may not accept an outside view at this time, and suggestions will be reviewed with extreme suspicion due to long term Anti exposure.'

"Depending on the volume or series, if you had continued reading there would be numerous records of Construct symbiotes i-"
"Let me hoofle this. Kat?"
"Yup!"
>Motioning at Katyal, the topaz bracelet is tossed to Hodch, opening it and placing the bolt inside, settling it around his left forehoof.
>Looking up afterwards, the deep purple stallion squints, sitting back with a puzzled frown.
"Strange. Never seen one that tiny before, but it's certainly bonded to you. Ah well.
Neutron weapons are one of the few types we don't have marely records on except for highly specific circumstances: typically deployed against Planar Infected, sometimes Corrupted, smaller Riftseekers, mutated Planars or sub-Planar descendants, and so on. There have been several reports of use against Construct-modified ponies after succumbing to a berserk state. The remains of those are often destroyed with a few hundred bursts of plasma afterwards. Possibly to prevent Rift Infected, though that's speculation on my part."
>Eyes swiveling upwards without moving, the Nightblade's ears flick in thought.
"Conditions? None. They read an individual's genetic code then self-modify until ceasing to be a Construct in most definitions, and are treated as completely neutral by others. From that point on they function in a highly protective state towards the bonded individual, but are far more prominent accept those of a distinctly spiritual nature.
The rejection ratio for Crystal ponies is, so far as I understand it, less than one percent, batponies, five percent, while modern pegasi are closer to ninety percent. Contacting Rift symbiote-carriers is only allowed if their life is in danger, otherwise we leave them alone.
Should the arm and weapon have been from a female it will now be a weapon in Clemency's service, likely with some dedication to Airstreams. ...a few nights ago I may or may not have used an ancient Repair model to improve one human's rifle as a test."
"...Hodch, y-"
"Nopony can prove I did or did not. Regardless, if you would prefer I can dispose of that one."
>Picking up the now mostly white Cores briefly and holding them closer to you with an outstretched hoof, the Void unicorn's outline twitches briefly, head shaking with a small chortle.
"Electrical absorption? I did not add that as a.. of course, the Magitek Core. Its partial sapience must have integrated such as a basic function. Intriguing. And amusing. If it has not been destroyed I will consider better integration."

>Buzz turning to a rapid humming, the Faux-Natural Cores film over in a dull white sheen.
>Physically dragged forwards, the three turn over, becoming a reflective metallic gray, the avatar blinking out in a failure state.
[1d6 = 2] <Recovery
>Subtle background voices, impressions, then imprints dissipating, entire sections of your consciousness clear as a hard to place consistent background fatigue and visceral degradation is torn out of your entire body.
>Leaning back on the nearly invisible float, Astral Legacy's eyebrows narrow, the echoing voice tight in disdain.
"Completed. No traces left within you, armor, weapons, devices, supplies, clothing, or other.. if this is standard exposure then the rest of Razorback will have suffered from equally similar, if not worse. What differences can you tell?"

>>392966
"There's a chance your technology may allowed them a better method for long distance communication rather than using their own. Planars are notoriously hampered by opposing Tallus spectrums."
>Right wing settling on her side, the Cult mare lifts her front shoulders, muzzle creasing slightly, starting from the first images and continuing to write.
"Highly possible. ..it occurs to me since nearly all Otherworld Harpies have moved elsewhere, maybe they'll be more receptive. Have you tried talking to a Construct since then?"

>A quiet, up-down whistle rings briefly before a short, clipped and incredibly fast pair of almost cheerful phrases, internal traces of damage slowly dissolving into perfectly aligned silver metal.
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <???
[1d6+3 = (3+3) = 6]
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9]
>Several hundred feet above, Guillotine's top deck now features multiple small pods along a ridged spine, faint white and blue lights present on each, the Harpy's background quiet save for low, distant thrumming.
*"...Shattering Skies states thusly: a greeting of ally met by hail an' welcomed un'er Moon. Simulant be either mare or stallion 'pon request... 'tis ae strange notion.
Mayhaps four Tallus hours afore thee Common Equestrian be shared freely. Sixth Fleet battle-tone beholds odd meanings."*
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8] <Translation
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Intact Communication Protocols
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]
*"Place thee armored record-carry of Shattering Skies where 'twas, mayhaps faster mineself's efforts beyest."*

>Joining Stellar on the craft's wing, the Luminary's head tilts upwards, kanpri swirling in patterns of stars.
"That's what she's dealing with. Any of your scars aching? Experiencing odd thoughts, strange urges?"
"Not really.. well, I do feel more tired than normal."
"Is that abnormal at this time? No other symptoms?"
"I think so. There are some odd sounds though, keep thinking I'm hearing something talking, but it's not Harpy, Gryphon, or batpony."
"One of Anti's most common sides effect is 'hearing' voices which do not exist. Hallucinations of individuals can begin occurring at Class 8."
>Regarding you with what was probably supposed to be a severe examination, the mare's head sways left and right in small motions.
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9] <Resonance
"Class 10 is self-destructive and poses no threat. Class 9 requires one treatmarent, minimal chance of mutation. Class 8 requires three, low chance. Class 7 requires five to eight, becomes exponentially more severe and dangerous at lower grades.
Class 3 is lethal to the majority of equines within five to ten minutes, and has a high chance of causing an individual to become a Malformed or Abomination."
>Ears swiveling what little they could, the mare's voice drops into a cold timbre briefly before continuing.
"You should be dead right now.
There are no known survivors of Class 2. All of those infected individuals became Malformed, Abominations, or worse within seconds.... that is excluding a bizarre incident involving Captain Shady-Laced Ace of Tartarus Isle.
Class 1 is instantly lethal. Only Sweet Dreams and Empress Silver, whom at current is presumed deceased, know the particulars.
Please remain still for a minute-"
>Taking an incredibly deep breath.. which lasts for fifteen seconds, the Luminary exhales a cloud of highly charged Moonlight, pleasant chimes ringing out in low tones.
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Cleansing Breath
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Hallowed Tones
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Moonlit Blessing

"Are you.. Undead?"
>Scales clinking together, the earth mare rocks backwards, snorting in clear humor.
"Hah, no! I'm a Moonborne Half-Naghtmare, nineteenth generation, Number Fifty-Three. We're fairly new, Luna finished developing the rituals for us little over four years ago. Far safer than the previous versions as we retain our full consciousness, soul, and capabilities without succumbing to Elemental frenzy. We're not immortal either, most of us may live five or possibly ten years longer than normal, but that's about it."
>Head lifting once more, the kanpri plate stills into an eminently familiar dark royal blue, black wingblades forming on both sides.
"Clemency. Do you want the bad news or the utterly fucked news first? There is no good except that you are currently alive and do not seem to be suffering from degradation."

>Tromping underneath draws Stellar's attention, a needle-toned batmare speaking under the wing.
"Two inspection mirrors?"
"For me, please."
>Reaching down to grasp a pair of.. yep, those looked like magnifying glasses, the highly polished white platinum and clear diamondine featuring an a brilliant clarity across each lens a result of deeply bound magical spells.
"Thank you! Ooo, these both look amazing."
"Damned well better be. Oh, if you haven't heard yet there's some sort of trade fleet arriving two Nights from now, whole bunch of Airstream sailing vessels. They're currently stopped in Cairn Wharf."
"Do you know where they're from?"
"No idea, just overheard it a few minutes ago. Anything else you or the Cult needs?"
"Nothing I can think of, these are perfect for what I wanted. Thank you again!"
"Great, take care you two."
>Holding the second one up over her left eye, pointing towards the Harpy control unit, Stellar passes you the white platinum one with a small grin.
"Might as well keep one for yourself. Try it out!"
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <Inspection

>>392951
>Gosh that tiny batpony projection was cute
>Amethyst wanted to boop her, but her fingers weren't small enough.
>She waved farewell a second time to the minibat.

>After having set the ingot down nearby, the filly's gaze exchanged between Lila's core and the ingot multiple times, scratching her head, accompanied by thoughtful tail flicks.
>How to go about this without entirely encasing her Core in elemental metal.
>She could just wait around for Lila to wake up, but there was no telling how long that could actually be, the pegasus had taken a rather savage beating by the Daymare.
>Lifting the tongs, Amethyst picked Lila up and set her Core down upon the ingot and waited to see what would happen, hopefully the heat generated by the Core would soften the metal enough to be worked into a cushion of sorts.
"Not a metal box, but a plate, or a bowl rather so she doesn't roll around while she's in the sled."
>The filly sighed.
"If only her Core was any other shape but a sphere, but nooo, it's always a sphere with these things. Why not a funny pyramid or a cube for once?"
>She didn't think Lila would appreciate her True Shape being anything but round, however.
"Bye bye! Thank you for the tongs! We'll try, but no promises though.~"
>With a grin, she held up her fingers crossed. She absolutely could not promise not to get into more trouble.

>>392976
>Setting the much too warm Core down before taking a step back, small sizzles take place, though radiating far more heat than was comfortable.

"A cube, rectangle, or pyramid would not be comfortable in many ways to sleep inside of. At least, I would think not."
"Spheres are useful in thousands of utilitarian means. "
"Indeed, they lack corners to snag or catch."
"Unless thrown."
"Dat'z a great game! Yu'z frow da biggest wreckin' ball at a buncha grotz an' stomp da wunz dat fall ovah!"
"Typical.. albeit the image you present is rather amusing."
"You could place her in hundreds of locations and she would be unable to travel more than a meter downwards!"
"WHAT will the FOOLS think of NEXT, CARDBOARD BOXES?! YOU cannot HOLD me with your VILE tech-magics!"
>One of the puppets sighs theatrically as that one degenerates into fits of gibberish tinged with loud swearing.
"Would you please ignore him, Amy? The ranting should end soon enough.. unless of course one of you desires to continue hearing such a terribly pitched, grating voice for the rest of this night?"
"I would rather have calm than.... that."
"That is what I thought."

>Melting over the course of a minute into a small cratered bowl, the ingot softens into a pliable shape around it, was no longer emitting dangerous amounts of visible heat radiation or Elemental Fire.
>Most of which was now drafting southward, interestingly.
"A fascinating result."
"Much like using the metal itself as a crucible. Shape it now if you would."

>>392978
>Witnessing Lila passively sizzling and melting fire elemental metal, Amethyst was grateful for the tongs, picking her up at all in this state was not an option.
>A snicker got loose, followed by a giggle at Carron's ranting.
"Nobody tell him."

"Ahh... How?"
>Amethyst pondered a moment over how to shape the metal, the tongs would be a poor means of manipulating the metal, although...
"Oh right, crystal runes, I'm gonna be so horse by the end of the night."
>With a sigh at the thought, Amy drew in another breath and hummed out what she thought may be the correct tones for moulding the metal into a bowl, though with care to avoid flinging Lila's Core away with an errant doot.

[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] < B. Crystal Runes: Power
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>She imagined she had best figure out what to do next now that the grounds were clear of the Unborn's taint. It may be easier to pick up on the impressions left by the humans now, or it might not since the energies that had been bound to the Daymare were freed.
>The mystery woman her sire had come into contact with still lingered in the forefront of her mind, though perhaps there were no real answers to be found here after all. The Crystal Empire would be the next logical course of action, yet she was loathe to bring Lila there at all. Of all the places in the world she could take her friend, the Crystal Empire would be the worst.
>Fire would have to be created from scratch to keep her intact, and without a clear idea of what to do or who to talk to, Lila would spend an unacceptable amount of time being miserable with the weather.

>>392984
"Tell him.. what precisely?"
>The dramatic pause.
"Oh no-"
"That your sire still has three cardboard boxes in his possession, ones vast enough to carry all of us? Or that your dam brought an asparagus shipping box made from the finest grade of Crystal Imperial cardboard?"
>The noise intensifies into wordless shouting, teeth snapping, and muted background clanging.
"...why did you do that?"
"Ta make 'iz face go red, dat way 'e gitz dun fastah!"
"Ahhh, that makes sense! ...no it does not make sense!"
"The greenskin is right, it will be less time pushing him over the edge than it will to calm down."

>Searching the crystal archive for the proper sound, your choice of mimicking a blasting note first squishes the Fire Elemental metal's surface down into random wavy patterns around the Core.
>Second springing the material into a bowl upwards, the red sphere bounces slightly, resting in a high cupped state.
>It would work, at least.

>Finally going silent, the other puppets sigh in relief.
"I have faced countless foul beings before, yet few had begun from an insignificant, castoff trace. It is unlikely to have stolen what you seek."
"I agree. The mere fact it would have attempted to devour a city on its own without regard to such important matters as its own stability and coherence proves how truly idiotic such immaterial beings often are."
"Yu'z talkin' a lotta.. fings."

>>392969
>The operator is silent for a few moments as Astral's tone shifts.
"I understand. And I will do so if necessary. Naturally there are more immediately pressing concerns you need to address first. I won't keep you from them."

>His stride remains even and does not slow despite Shiibo being taken aback by the stark example of Razorback's leadership structure.
'After my experience on the Citadel with their highest levels of command, I cannot say this was a surprise. I'd prefer to co-opt with Razorback, but I understand the timeframe is not and may not ever permit it. For now, we can afford to wait and present a proposal after concerns about Anti corruption have been thoroughly disproven. I was considering seeking alternative benefactors and support structures regardless though. Astral and Tipper will need to be spoken to. Maybe the Dragonspines as well.'

>Pareidolia pulls his head back slightly at the news.
"If that is bonded to me, then did I kill it?"
(Is this an acceptable action in light of the Protocol? Bonding process is automatic upon contact with DNA...)
>He shakes his head.
"I don't understand why such a phenomenon would be possible, but the size was likely due to my method of studying it. My uncovered hand must have had skin cells come into contact with the sample. Only the fluid I had collected in that drop was 'activated' by electricity I had introduced to it. And the strange... shapes and cellular-esque organs within it that rapidly assembled itself."
>Pinching it between his fingers, he lifts it off of Hodch's hoof.
"If it is essentially a compliant tool, then I would attempt to utilize it."

>Raising his right shoulder and point his thumb towards his back, he gestures at Astral.
"It allowed me to duel Councilmaster Barlen effectively, as stupid as that entire event was. Your work speaks for itself."

>Pareidolia's eyebrows raise in slight alarm as Shiibo suddenly blinks out.
"Shit-wasn't expecting her to be shut down by this process."
>He immediately puts his hand over the side dial on his helmet camera, sifting through logs and checking on her drive's status.
>Running on slight adrenaline coupled with the sudden invigoration from a fatigue he didn't know he had being lifted, he inhales a short breath.
"My mind is clearer. Murmurings I didn't know I was hearing are gone. Other than concern for Shiibo's drive integrity, I feel more alert."

>>392997
>Squinting towards Katyal and Dul, Hodch raises his attention to the ceiling.
"Possibly. Constructs in a comatose state have several mechanisms for self-restarting unless completely frozen or drained. You would have to apply a minute amount of Lightning to see if it no longer responds."
>Shrugging briefly, the Reservist makes a 'what can you do' motion.
"Why not? Nearly all beings ultimately desire to find their mate or mates, Planars included. I've seen enough couples, herds, and families which may as well have been part of a horror or mystery novel to hold my reservations. I've officiated hundreds of Spectral mareriages too.
And if you mean the odd pre-particulate stages, those are well known but not understood. At all. The danger of comprehending an unknown factor is it's own danger. Often times the safest option is to simply not know. For each useful answer there are usually twenty horrifying ones."
>Starbursts flaring angrily, the Void unicorn's ears flatten in disgust.
"Tools do not have voice or soul, only meanings given. Would you dare force a sapient to comply with your orders simply for the sake of compliance? You ha-"
>Raising a hoof to interrupt Astral from continuing, Hodch sets cautious shallow purple eyes on you.
"Not now, not yet. Since you haven't seen a silver Construct before.. numerous pairs were exposed to lost, or 'acquired' silverine during the Early and Middle Dynasty Eras. At some point an entirely new section of the Rift Plane was formed. The millions of pairs guarding it are reported to be everything from the smallest Scout to hundreds of Citadel sized models. Not even unarmored, unarmed, injured young Crystal ponies have been allowed near it. No injuries, though bruising is kept to an absolute minimum.
Silverine Constructs have one task: find, stabilize, and 'restore' injured beings under the protection of entire assault Maniples. All stasis pods so far recovered have been from Early Dynasty experimarents. A berserk state inevitably results which necessitates their immediate and complete destruction. They've disappeared but that isn't a guarantee they do not still exist.
The Planes and beings from each shape themselves in response to conditions and factors which they have not experienced before. Their actions are varyingly mirrored or inverted facets of opposing Planes and Tallus, sometimes resulting from entire chains of incidents. To state more would be pointless speculation, but to attempt understanding the infinite how's and why's most often lead to insanity."

"What."
>Rolling his ears around while muttering a tone deaf guttural word, the Starborn's face stubbornly creases as a red cloud covers Astral's face.
"Citadel was celebrating the third night after the Moors Restoration Project was completed, several Councilmasters stayed raging drunk the entire time. Pare was taken into a Moonbridge by Princess Luna. On accident. Upon arriving she was interrupted by the news of a remaining Continental Carrier spotted some distance from the Citadel and left.
Instead of allowing Pare to step outside as per usual, Ridgeback decided to throw Barlen, the Heir of Ba`thens no less, at him and demanded they duel. Oranti and Chuz`Ain went along with it.
Had Ridgeback not cheated, Pare would have been granted the opportunity to 'surrender' with full honors and be given an escorted tour along with permission to return whenever he wanted during Night so long as certain Starborn exercises or formal events were not occurring."

>The unit had entirely shut down, screens offline and unresponsive, background systems slowly booting into a protected fault state.

"Then you have been giving Horizon information."
>Lifting the three spheres up and virtually ogling them, Astral Legacy's eyebrows arch.
"The sole precise method to determine where Anti is not, is to locate where it was or currently is. It is a uniquely self stabilizing echo, reminiscent of a near-living programmed radiation, similar to Elemental Plasma, and as such it is fully cognizant yet equally fully controlled. A perfectly obedient tool once given a task by its mistress, and a weapon which leaves no traces save for its own.
Since Anti contains the knowledge of each individual it has infected, it knows what information to use and how: cloud the brain, preventing true memories from setting, blind the eyes, then temporarily removed to see what is not real. Entire lifetimes made and formed, utterly correct, infallible by the unaware, unless willingly removed or destroyed by a higher grade."
>Reaching between the three, a warping line of gray is pulled out, stretching into a flat, thin metallic pane.
>Lifting the pane into place, a bright flash of light occurs, showing a scene through an individual's eyes: falling into a familiar barracks, dazed and struggling to breath through a gas mask.
>Upon standing, the voice spoken was yours:
"Command, the device was activated before successful retrieval. New mission parameters. Awaiting orders."

"I remember everything from the fifteen willing humans whose minds I reached into. Horizon did not acquire those memories as they were buried within Spiral Disclosure's engrams. However-"
>Starburst eyes narrowly regarding you in severe distrust, the Void soloform's voice is quiet, sending the Faux-Natural Cores towards the front cabin.
"Think quite hard on what is and is not correct. Can you recall the precise number of humans whom have been touched by Horizon or one of her agents for a debriefing? How many others have distributed Anti infection and visited where they think they must, yet should not have? Which have fulfilled the unknowable orders given to them without themselves knowing what is true or false?"

>>393006
>Interrupting Hodch, Pareidolia practically spits out the word.
"Mates?! Hold on, I was not aware that was the connotation!"
>Throwing a look and a raised palm at Astral, he replies.
"Of course not! I thought this was a preprogrammed subroutine of cellular organisms that was repairing itself to finish attacking the Citadel! Not a sapient lifeform choosing to attach itself to me."
>Uttering a short groan of frustration, he leans back in his seat and raps the side of his helmet once with his fist.
"If that's what this is, then I'm obligated to at least try to... 'resuscitate' it. But given what I saw and the apparent proto-deity the other Construct had exposed me to, I'm inclined to agree as much as I loathe to say it. I don't like encountering barriers to understanding of this nature, but I may have to make the most hated of all scientific categories-"
>A tone of weary annoyance seeps out from his helmet.
"-an exception."

>"Then you have been giving Horizon information."
>Pareidolia closes his eyes and sighs, a mixture of resignation and aggravation audible.
>Remaining in his seat, he deatchedly considers that he has lost count of just how many major setbacks to this degree have occurred since his arrival.
"I'm not sure whether to be grateful that this was identified before any concrete progress on my mission could be made or infuriated that all my prior progress has been compromised."
>He taps a gloved finger against the armrest. His other hand slides the now cleaned of incriminating data tablet back into his pack.
"Sifting for memory discrepancies and evidence of suggestion now."
>A gong swell of slight pain radiates from his teeth as he clacks them together.
(Wish I had an Amadeus system for this. Would make discrepancy comparison so much simpler. Fucking hate memory tampering.)

[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3] <E. Iron Will + MECCT
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4] <M. FINA
[1d6 = 2] <E. Perception
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7] <B. Medical + N-SMP(U)
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+3 = (2+3) = 5] <Adept Razorback Company
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]
[1d6+3 = (4+3) = 7]

>>392994
>Gorgutz was... Correct. If his face was red with anger, it would burn out faster, anger typically was red in any case, but the redder, the better.
>Simple, clear logic.
"I think it makes perfect sense!"
>That a direct path to an objective would work against an Alpha Legionaire was the more baffling prospect.

>It was a shaky effort, but the bowl took an approximate shape and Lila's Core hadn't been shot over the horizon like a cannon ball, as that was a thing that could have occurred.
"Phew!"
>With Lila's Core settled in her new bowl, Amethyst took up the tongs once again and lifted it, placing it in the clear space in one of the sleds. Once she'd reformed herself, Lila would find herself sitting on it most likely, but it was less undignified than being left upon the ground.
"Well, I'm sure she'll be fine while we take another look around."
>Amethyst pulled the sleds closer to the door of the barracks and headed back inside to where she had initially sensed the memory impression of her sire meeting with that certain individual.
"It was around here, let's see if we can properly follow the impression this time."
>Setting the bigger Stick ahead of herself, she prompted her perceptions to tap into the flows of lingering energies once more, attempting to narrow her focus on that particular moment in time and the moments that followed.
>An identity, words, even a description might say something.

[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5] < B. Perception
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]

>>393010
"Are you merely dense or a retarded biological clone!? Hollow's arriving self wasn't an intentional monster of his own doing!"
>Aggravation takes over Hodch's visage at the Void unicorn's furious exclamation, the deep purple stallions lips curl back in an insulted marener.
"Luna's Black Blood! I thought you were a conceited prick BEFORE now!"
>Eyes narrowed first in anger, second confusion, then in shock and surprise, Astral Legacy holds the right forehoof up in a halting motion.
"I.. no, not at all! Could you not feel her sharing motivations and intentions? I can feel the imprinted echoes of her seeking your approval despite being held by such a minute body! Th-"
"Astral Legacy!"
>Snapping about to regard the Starborn's deathly tone, he was surrounded by a plethora of immaterial Cores, highly varying in size and Elements, including some you didn't recognize, the soloform's ears flatten in visceral fear at dozens of outlines.
>Elementals taking up most of the front passenger compartment, an equal mix of batponies, earth and Crystal, Ferron, pegasi, then a few Minotaurs, Gryphons, Drakes, and Wyrms, each lean forwards in hostile positioning.
>Last is a single native Harpy, the grinning elf-like complemented by large Airstream-tinged claws and wings.
"I will deploy all Naghtmares in my extremely temporary possession. Apologize. Now."
"...forgive my outburst, if you would."
>Leveling a tortured face on you, the Reservist's head dips low, eyes shutting tightly as the Naghtmares recede, speaking in an excruciating pace.
"By the Moon... Pareidolia, I am under thousands of obligations regarding Razorback. I cannot state all of what may, does, and could possibly exist in the Planes, outside of directly shared knowledge and experiences. What I have are select profiles regarding certain Planes and their inhabitants, some of which are purposeful, others are not.
It has never been intention to initiate problems unless completely necessary, but this-"
>Pointing towards you with a ragged exhale, shallow eyes regard you in a sincerely forgiving marener, motioning stiffly at the Void unicorn.
"Is not one I considered. You have my full and undying apologies for a complete lack of knowledge regarding Construct symbiotes and the ramifications thereof. In my own apology, you already know I have been almost completely focused on finding THIS individual to the exclusion of virtually all other matters."
>Head raising to meet Astral's stare, the Nightblade's expression crumbles into drawn out pain, removing the topaz bracelet and spreading it apart, allowing small tinges of yellow-blue Planar Lightning to course up the fresh scars on his forelegs and neck.
"You may have never experienced a single sensation of knowing your soul mate could be like, but that does not excuse me from failing to recognize humans may never have suspected the possibility. I do not know how much this is distressing you, but it hurts me all the same. I would likely be in much the same position.
Allow me to initiate contact with her. I can speak Hegemonic Minotaur which most Constructs speak well. Ten minutes, that is all I ask."

>Losing his former attitude entirely, Astral Legacy sits down two feet above the Landbarge II's floor, holding the pane to the side as it pauses.
"Do not consider either just yet. Regard this as a fortunate blessing in disguise. I had not considered summoning Empress Silver to speak with me.. not yet at least. My existence is far distant from what it was. Time is distorted and often unremembered to me"
>Shooting a concerned glance at Katyal left of him, then the thoroughly dumbstruck Siren, Hodch allows himself to settle for a tired expression.
"The fact she might actually be dead is far worse than not knowing what Anti directly connected to Horizon may have exposed.
At the least, explain to me what forcing Pare into this accomplishes. ...I will not threaten you with these Naghtmares again unless I suspect you are lying."
>Drifting back several feet, Astral Legacy's head cranes around to regard Hodch, speaking in a frustrated tone.
"I will not lie unless a life is in danger. It is simple yet complex at the same time: knowledge of my enemy. Horizon expects full control, compliance, and submission to her commarends. Anti provides that. I do not know if she was brought here or merely crept in after the Anti Cores were brought onto Tallus. She is from an Otherworld where neither equines nor humans evolved into being. That little amount I have gleaned from being exposed, yet there is likely nothing more to learn without either meeting with Sweet Dreams or the former Empress.
Let Pareidolia tell us what he knows. Then I will be able to form a single answer, if not more."

>Rendering your conscious thoughts into strictly recalled lines, the task of correcting and clarifying incorrect facts solidifies.
>The majority form into a branching diagram, while several hundred more offshoots were set at strange angles, recognizing them as faulty due to misdirection, flawed from being incorrect, or entirely false.
>Searching through your past year and nearly a half on Tallus, numerous sets of partially twinned, dissonant, wholly incongruent, and drastically altered sequences surface.
>Selecting each for comparison against reports, a few of your own and hundreds from Razorback conflicted from Bulletin Board postings, each placed and removed to be archived in the Command Center, along with some in the Library, were heavily altered.
>Your own actually pleasant conversations, discussions, and interviews with numerous Lunar allies, marefriends, stallionfriends, hundreds of Independents, and couriers alike in the Fortress, including Minotaurs and Gryphons, had been drastically modified.
>Staggering numbers of unusual facts surface:

>>393010
>>393026
>Nearly all attention had been directed away from Las Pegasus until it separated from Mainland Equestria, then a near-literal wall had been thrown up to prevent accessing Canterlot and Stalliongrad.
>While there was no direct contact from Horizon or her agents at that time, pervasive imprints of Class 2 Anti resulting from The Siege, then Horizon and three of her enslaved, soul-bonded Anti Core earth mares had attempted to eliminate both Astral Legacy and Shady-Laced Ace, better known as Shanis, as they had uniquely threatened her influence.
>The first was regarded as several native Tallus Elemarentals seeking to destroy Horizon as competition, while the second had unlocked the true nature of Sweet Dreams, the Enchained Juggernaut.
>Though the first was explicitly considered a nuisance, Horizon's focus on the second was desperate; she had thrown ALL of her secondary resources into untangling the multi-leveled, willingly Enchained pegasi's efforts into killing Sha'Ro's enemy.
>During their encounter with Marrowgrin, whom had succumbed to Horizon's influence over nearly a decade of effort, Sweet, then falsely labeled as the Black Diamondine Juggernaut, had been working deeply under cover in a heavily protected, Class 2 Anti protected mindset of her own, only breaking out via triggers of her own design, or Empress Silver's later interference.
>Locating reports which had likely been burned, Sweet Dreams was the largest known pegasus in Equestrian history, but had been able to retain her mind when exposed to Anti in Manehattan during a finals hoofball game, the entity seeking new routes to infiltrate high ranked political echelons.
>During a meeting with Stream Lark and the then-unaltered Marrowgrin afterwards, Sweet willingly accepted to undergo 25 Enchains solely to protect all of equinity.
>The majority of her physical, marental, and physiological negative effects were nullified due to the use of the only other Supreme Artificial Anti Core, formerly carried by a Tower Guard Master-General, Jade Luxure, whom was currently missing.
>An extremely sharp, well detailed report from a Razorback squad encountering the white Late Dynasty Gryphene had been changed:
>Shared Roses had vocally warned the arriving humans and Huntermaster Cu'Nir they should not interfere, signaling her intent to continue deceiving Lord Sevrit into thinking his descent into fatalistic cannibalism was his own choice, using her Enchained Eldritch illusions to maintain his actions while sending fledgelings and kin to Stalliongrad.
>Sha'ro was incapable of succumbing to Horizon's influence due to her constant meetings with Stalliongrad's Tower Guard, explicitly staying around the other gifted Supreme Perfected Anti Cores, but was unable to halt Sevrit's self-destruction.
>Directing your thoughts into Razorback's Enclave, it was the sole location where Anti had not been able to penetrate, primarily due to extreme Void exposure into the deepest Black spectrums, while the variety of Crystal Empire devices which both Amerose and Naliyna provided had, in their own tonal measures, destroyed the faux-Element within minutes.
>Regarding the Crystal Empire, nearly all of Razorback had been subtly and forcefully prevented from entering it due to the same; only Lont, Clemency, Thrill, and to a far lesser extent Jeff, were able to break free from Anti conditioning, though had spread infection wide on their travels, with limited results.

>Distinctly remembering your first Operation given by Denra, he had NOT spoken it as the alternative memory tried to suggest.
>In fact, his assistance was required by Councilmistress Oranti as he was still highly regarded by the Starborn and Lunar faction.
>Recalling some of the original wording, Denra was to bring Hollow and Roust with him to find the fire's cause, which did not occur.
>What had been considered a shapeshifter of sorts in the given report was instead a non-Psionic creature, capable of killing without being seen; the massacre was reported directly to Princess Luna herself from a willingly surrendered survivor of The Siege, a highly peaceful Moderatris Shieldmare Psion of some note.

>Dozens of other instances surface
>Kraut talking to himself in the Workshop when you knew none of the Spiral hivemind were in range, regarding details of planned improvements.
>Filth's constant disappearances and increasingly aberrant behavior, incomprehensibly focused on acquiring 'the REAL sun', well over a year after Princess Luna had returned it to the exhausted, greatly weakened true Celestia.
>The False Celestia's limited ability to comprehend facts outside of her limited imagination when separated from the Tyrant had referred to Old Canterlot instead of New more often.

>Princess Celestia had been deeply involved with Harlon, Rhoda, and Suisan, knowing all of their secrets yet unable to share most; she was the one whom had shared their prototype power crystal to the Crystal Kingdom, leading to it becoming the Empire.
>After King Sombra had been kicked out of the Middle Dynasty for his immoral research on immortality, he was accepted into the Old Canterlot College of Magic, quietly hiding his contamination of Ethereal beings and using the remains to create a new generation of Crystal ponies subservient to his will.
>The Tyrant replaced the Sun later once both realized this, honorably seeking to destroy all traces of the unicorn's efforts, but had been slowly Anti-infected by a zealous Solar faction seeking to turn the Sun against what they deemed to be their enemies.
>During the seven months spent felling and harvest ironwood trees on Khalani Island, a variety of Operators were located, asleep in unnatural poses, sometimes speaking to what seemed like a close friend.
>Most Missions or Operations regarding infiltrating Stalliongrad Psions were rarely if ever successful, Razorback and their pony compatriots unable to locate problem causers, few of which had been accurately reported.

"So, what do you have?"

>>393013
"Ahhh.. at last, peace and quiet. How... unusual. And truly wonderful."
"Never thought I would hear those words from a heretic.... Brother."
"......did you just insult, sass, AND degrade me at the same time, Captain?"
"I did. What have you to say in defense of yourself?"
"Yyy.... no. At this time, nothing. Absolutely nothing at all. I am merely enjoying what is, compared to what was. Surely you can appreciate the circumstances, yes?"
>Several facepalms to cloth faces occur, except for two.
"Diz iz downright un-Orky."
"For once I will agree with you, Warboss. Even the darkest of my so-called kin would consider such words to be the equivalent of a Hemlock's D-Scythe weapons."
"I'z not 'eard 'bout dat wun. Are dey DAT bad?"
"Far worse than you can imagine, greenskin. Those are weapons which even we cannot allow the use of, unless against the Great Swarm or the Black Ones."

>Placing the uniquely shaped bowl into the second sled, then the large ingot of cooling Fire Elemental metal, the first resonates with the second in dull pitches.
>While completely unconscious, Prima Lucis had intrinsic bonds with what had been created from her efforts.. probably to make sure her efforts weren't being misused.
>Or the exact opposite.
"I do not which is more assured, Amy. Perhaps you should ask her once she wakes."

>Tapping the full Kerbann branch on white marble, a respectable, though highly unusual scene commences:
>Turning away from the Inquisitor, which Umakachov did not know she had been, your sire's thoughts had been filled with a preponderance of simple, yet highly concerning objectives.
>His primary self-imposed task was to understand, codify, understand, apply his knowledge to, then negotiate with the Four Seasons of this world, appealing to their equine instincts that humans should not suffer from such callous, painful physical conditions.
>The second set of thoughts were slightly clouded, caught between the known strictures and disciplines of Sun and Moon, separated equally between Day and Night Guard, Honor and Lunar Guard, with intermediaries to present new information across each.
>If he could not convince Celestia or Luna that their impositions of preventing (mostly) purestrain humans from achieving their apex developmental roles, he would appeal to Chrysalis, sharing his vast knowledge on the same conditions under secretive oaths on how to quietly alleviate the concerns both would inevitably bring up.

>Tapping into the highly asymetrical view of one Velasi Aguina, a potent yet limited former Psyker, one holding both the auspices of a Rogue Trader and Ordo Chronos Inquisitor, the view changes:
>Her completely unwelcoming stance in the northern Lunar barracks section had been calculated to shed unwanted attention.
>Fouled by the imprints of others, she had rehearsed hundreds of lines.
>Those scattered, self-hating and falsely loathing phrases pointed at the humans of Razorback, she needed a clear path to achieve unity between Sun and Moon.
>Much the same with her later, more open dialogue with ponies, the Inquisitor's thoughts expand: between attempting to quietly herald a renewed reconciliation between equines, she desired the same for humans, seeking to integrate each into respective alignmarents while overcoming the barriers of forced ideologies and religion alike.

>Taking the impressions as a whole, both desired slightly different sense of harmony in their utterly new circumstances.
>Glancing outside towards where the original train had stopped, their shared views had then began to separate on the infinite edges of Tallusian chaos.
>Angry at his fear to resist Sorcerous urgings that the meeting had not occurred as it should, then enraged at his failure to intervene during the meeting, Umakachov was furious at the insolence presented by others towards their holy savior.
>Swearing a ringing, vile oath to make up for such a mistake in the future, no matter the cost extracted, he ran with the rest of Razorback down through the Palace, head bowed, yet hoping he would not be spared.

>Stunned at the first plumes of Plasma spreading high above, the Inquisitor shields her eyes at the first eruption close to the train, dampened synapses shrieking at the multitudes of hostile futures which would cause no end of grief for humans uncontaminated by The Long Night's consequences.
>Silently begging the unique horrors and truly unknown possibilities assaulting her cognizance, the Pacifica Voidborn feels little more than fear as the Palace deflagrates.

"What did your sire seek, Amy?"

>>393026
>Seeing the sudden array of weaponized Elementals and Cores, Pareidolia withholds his response.
>The clear spike in aggression made speaking feel practically impossible.
>His helmet swivels a mere few degrees to look between the angry Nightblade and Astral's voidform.
>A slow nod is offered to Astral, his eyes more focused on the now dissipating Naghtmares.
"It's... fine."
>Focusing on Hodch, he waits for him to finish before replying to both him and Astral.
"First, to clarify Astral, in the same moment she formed the Starblazer also reformed. I had immediately assumed I inadvertently triggered a hostile response, that both were hostile, and then grabbed her within a few seconds. There would not have been any time for me to sense what you described, nor would the situation have been conducive to such. You need to understand I'm not in the business of casually breaking my own Protocol's guidelines regarding sapient life. It informs my entire existence here on Tallus and I do not treat it lightly."

"And Hodch, you can take as much time as you need. I don't expect you to be my personal tutor and fill in gaps in my knowledge when I'm personally responsible for such. I'm the one who should apologize for performing a reckless experiment without consultation with incomplete background knowledge that resulted in this."

>He remains leaned back in his seat, tilting his helmet visor to regard Hodch.
"I agree with Astral on this, Hodch. If we want actionable intelligence on Horizon, we need to determine what information she was editing. It's the only way we can counteract what amounts to espionage."
>He then mutters.
"And if I'm lucky, her pride may have left my plans beneath her notice."

>Sifting through a sea of memories, information, data points, and connections, he focuses inwards in an attempt to assess what he could verify.
>He would then explain what he could determine and what discrepancies were identified.

>>393039
>Amethyst grinned at Sindri baffling the others. Now that was proper Alpha Legionaire doctrine. He could be lying or he could be completely honest, knowing they would not believe the truth even if he told it to them.
>He was correct in one open aspect, their circumstances truly had changed, and yet...
>She pondered all that she had just witnessed, and there was a truth in it that had not been apparent until just this moment.
"This time of quiet is simply the calm before the next battle finds us, or we find it. I'm not sure how I know but I know in a way that cannot be explained that a WAAAGH!!! is coming. We have felt its barest foreshocks this night, the faintest hint of thunder in the farthest distance. The Regicide board is set, the Unborn Daymare of New Canterlot has been taken, but this I know to be true; a nameless thing is on the other side and it will not be ignoring us."

>Within the building, speaking openly for the benefit of the puppets, Amy decoded the impressions of memory now the only remaining impressions on these grounds without anger and grief clouding it.
"Mm. Papa wished to understand the nature of the equine Seasonal embodiments, and ask for their aid on Humanity's behalf. There was a condition, one of pain, but its nature is one I cannot divine, or he was unwilling to linger on strongly enough to leave a clear picture of it."
>Moving through the building, she followed linger memory where it may have lead, standing where those others had stood long ago, running her right hand along objects and surfaces, Stick ever in her left.
"There was an imposition on Man, placed by Sun and Moon, that he wished to escape, or circumvent. He would turn to Life in trade for what Sun and Moon would be unconvinced to provide. I feel the impediment was, and remains, the Era Lock.
>That would make sense, much of what he'd asked her to seek were his writings regarding it, knowledge from probing its limits and capacities, components for rituals, experiments for interacting with it. Some things could be made, others would come under assault by the Lock, unmade by it. However it could be partially circumvented by the inclusion of a third party, a native to Tallus, the Lock did not seem to attack information transfer.
>Moving on, she located the elusive Inquisitor's lingering signatures, the woman seeming to have gone to some lengths to conceal herself, even against leaving traces such as those she now sought. Had New Canterlot not been the site of a magical event of such magnitude, she might have succeeded in leaving no impression at all.
"I sense she who was Inquisitive, whose path wound through the oceanic void, where aetherial currents were shifting and murky, keeping watch over the oldest clockwork. She has her own magic, and knows that it may leave echoes in the fabric."
>The Inquisitor was smoke and mirrors to Amy, insubstantial, shrouded, such a state was bred into her nature as a defense. Cautious. Guarded.
"She pushed others away, a crafted masquerade, yet she too wished to reconcile Sun and Moon. The same for Man. Why? Less clear. Survival perhaps, or some further off goal."
>Looking towards the train, Amethyst already knew that they had taken one to Razorback's location in the New Everfree, and yet also knew that herself and Lila were unlikely to follow the same path there. Where they had gone was a less travelled track, and no conductor was likely to take them to it.
"Their goals were in Harmony only momentarily, but their own ideations set them branching off on their own paths."
>Obviously, she knew without sensing that her sire's path lead he and her dam to Tartarus, but the Inquisitor's was yet shrouded.
>He had hoped he would be ended, which would appall Amethyst if not for the fact she knew for certain her sire no longer felt that way. It would be all too easy for the past to seize her own emotions, yet she held onto the certainty of the present that the past had forged.
"There was a Night that was Dark and not True Night, a shadowy thing that damned uncountable souls and all those to follow. They wished to be free of that ancient memory they had not beheld, but whose Grim fate they had inherited nonetheless. They witnessed those untouched by taint, and knew such taint could occur again without vigilance. Despair, she grasps for a thread amongst the Kaos and Flame, wondering, fearing it forever lost, the Doom of Man looming too large to avoid."

>>393045
"Genuinely innocent actions resulting from a lack of knowledge is uncommon, but can be fixed. Also fully sterile environments are your best friend next to?"
>Hodch's tone and hard expression at him definitely noticed, Astral sighs in a muted crackle.
"A long stick. Stare until boredom, then find another interesting object to stare at next, repeat until asleep."
"Least you remember that much."
>Regarding your words with a swirling appearance, probably meant to be thoughtful, the soloform makes a polite dismissal gesture.
"In your defense you had no understanding or concept of Rift symbiotes. Mine is fairly limited from more or less detailed observations, reports, and chatter. As you did not know then no blame can be ascribed. However, you will find it difficult to truly kill a Construct. Unless fully destroyed though magma, Void, or similar methods, they are remarkably resilient."
>Side eyeing the Elemarental in humorous theatrical disdain, Hodch mimics pushing a lever with the left forehoof, teeth clicking twice, then imitates wind blowing and an unsubtle crashing noise.
"It isn't the fall that hurts, it's the elevator suddenly stopping either from a safeguard or reaching rock bottom.
If you want instruction on the Rift's more objectively known facts, get Mercy and Twisted together for a few lectures. Or Dancing Eyes when she's in a good mood. Most of my knowledge deals with the baffling variety of barriers and shields, though Rift Carriers, Repair models, Landers, odd weapons, unique pairs, and peculiar sightings are my hobby."

"That could range from everything to... not quite everything."
>Both unicorns sitting back to digest the information given, 'Shiibo' enters startup phases, blinking and immediately bringing up diagnostics.
'I do not.. feel good. That should not be possible. I am not directly connected to sensor interfaces, modules, or suites capable of simulating nausea.
Performance degradation reported: moderate. Restoring data archives and isolated sectors, then cross-referencing.'
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
>Pointedly making notes of her own, Katyal's tablet beeps as she rapidly types.
"Don't understand. So you and most of Razorback haven't had any contact with Horizon whatsoever. That's bizarre to put it mildly. Not sure whether to be confused or relieved. Think I'll stick with both for right now."
"Agreed. ...I'm still going to Void nuke that bastard's world no matter what anyone or anypony says. They can sue me in Planar court afterwards. Capital V will be all too pleased."
>Giving Hodch the Void equivalent of a 'what did you just say' glazed look, Astral Legacy's front legs fold over his chest as the Reservist continues.
"Details regarding Memorial Village are correct. It puzzled me how many humans were utterly ignorant to what was written, and the after action report was quite bizarre. Luna spent half the Night piecing together what did occur, and.. hold on-"
>Tapping his chest, the biological stallion frowns, head twisting upwards before instantly turning Moonlight pale.
"Yes, it's me. ......she did WHAT!? Stop her!"
"Is that Twisted Wing?"
"Yes it is, an- .....WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE'S TALKING!? Since when!? ....she was halfway insane before th- ..are you POSITIVE somepony isn't trying t-"

>Lowering the volume and distractedly making a text only record, the avatar puts a 'Do Not Want' sticker above her head while Astral speaks in an unusually soft echo.
"Colossal gaps remain unanswered. My primary concern was the lost, separated, disconnected, distant, and presumed deceased humans had sought her out, yet you experienced precisely zero indications of that possibility.. excluding the likelihood of one. I may aid Hodch in rendering one planet an uninhabitable wasteland.
The partially restored Solar Tyrant shard she had overcome and her soul-bonded earth ponies did not leave instructions. That is utterly opposite of her standard methods. If they had done so there would have been an immediate information spread followed by disappearances and agents being set within Razorback. I can only attribute that disruption to Sweet and the Empress.
What confounds me is what happened to her agents. I estimated well over one hundred and sixty thousand. Numerous city blocks of Las Pegasus were thoroughly saturated by Anti, though none were close to the Rogues or Elites. Much the same with sections of... Stalliongrad. Hm."
>Lines marking his eyebrows raise, lower, then arch heavily in thought.
"You may have inadvertently isolated two factors which were previously ignored.. Clarion Call, possibly Serra. I would prefer to know know where both are soon, but I will cross-reference Lonestar's experiences first. The start of a multi-tiered search pattern will be- no. That may be it. I believe Shanis was able to physically injure her.
Allow me to consider for a time."
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9] <Teacher Razorback Company, Pre-Nay 29,997
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
>vs:
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <Teacher Razorback Company
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]

"HOW CAN SHE REFUSE A DIRECT ORDER!? She's a NAGHTMARE for fuck's sakes, we all have a drop of Luna's blood! ....I haven't deployed any yet. Why? ....let her go and make sure she doesn't shove random pieces in somepony's ass o-"
>Fitfully hunching and now quietly shouting at the Moon Orb between both hooves, the avatar's face was priceless, turning the volume up slightly.
'What did he say?'
"What did she say? ......no, I'm not coming back to help you out, she's your problem now! I've told you before: figuratively screw the Rift, I have a massive problem to deal wi-... that does not sound good. Nope. Nope! I am disconnecting immediately, have fun up there!"
>Tossing the sphere down and placing both hooves on his snout at an uncomfortable angle, Hodch mutters between them exhaustedly.
"Crystal Naghtmares, not even ONCE.. no, all of you are naturally excluded."
"Feeling judged again over there, playcolt?"
"Wouldn't you like to know."
"I don't this time."

>>393059
>Smooth marble, fractured wood, though there were still a few polished pieces remaining, faint surface level echoes are released at your touch, the poorly holding together imprints becoming a slightly noticeable hum.
>Now able to hear unique tones of metal in the wreckage, more kanpri and whitesteel are acquired, filling pockets, hood, and last hands.
"You could stay Faded and obscure, setting traps for the higher value pieces while informing how the game unfolds."
"Or one could slay the opposing player when their back is presented. After all, that pathetic thing was allowed to remain here on purpose. I find myself most disgusted at the notion of there being an even more crude, hideous half-beast than a Warp Spawn."
"I hope you don't mean th-"
"No, I most certainly do not."
"Oi, dat'z un-Orky!"
"So are Grot snipers and Kommandos, greenskin."
"DOZE IZ PLENTY ORKY, BEAKIE!"
"Perhaps the thunder you hear is..."
>All stop for a few seconds, excluding one muffling a snicker.
"Did you hear that?"
"Wot?"
>Unseen though barely felt, far off rumbles to the north roll and spread, minute flashes of yellow-white tastes on the air.
"Dey'z got da big gunz out! Why'z we muckin' about 'ere!?"
"How does weather function on the surface?"
"There is a form of weather control. I believe pegsai make friends with clouds."
"It can be rather Kaotic in the outer regions, so the lovely Baroness shared."

>Carving records of Otherworld resonance into memory, the remaining outlines of a few familiar, known, and unknown Operators fall apart as little holds them together.
>Tracing back to the Inquisitor's preferred corner, her visage doesn't fade, instead outlined in a subtly distorted shifting white-gold.
>Scent different from Sorcery, Mysticism, and the various forms of magic, it held an oddly unwelcoming tang.
"Do you mean an Inquisitor, Amy?"
"Few words can describe my aggravation towards them properly. How would one find their way here?"
"Perhaps fortune smiled.. briefly."
"Then there must be hundreds of Guardsmen serving here!"
"General, how quaint of you to suggest there are usually six cultists for each Planetary Defense Force and Guard member! Why, it would be no surprise to hear of entire cities overrun by decadence."
"The heretic is correct, but no traces have been found of such."
"Does that naturally exclude her sire?"
"You are insidiously aggravating for a red-haired witch."
"Am I not correct? He has indeed redeemed entirely from his own efforts, hmmm? And why do I feel so harshly judged by YOU, barbarian?"
"'Cuz yu'z started it, spiky!"
>Watching the older train fade into bare patterns of metallic outlines, an echo of stolidity surrounded by swirls of motion stills, the echoes unable to continue playing further.
"I cannot help but to consider two entirely different Paths which should have crossed did not solely from such a Night."
"Fate is ever fickle even to those she looks upon kindly, elf. For one positive, there is a single neutral, and a singular negative."
"I know this better than most. Can you say the same?"
"....you have two rather sharp points, yet your tongue is perhaps the worst of them."

>Stepping out of the barracks, a bright purple brick tunnel to your left pops open, the same slightly chunky earth filly tossing a pair of green rectangles to land in front of your Juggernaut clad hooves.
"Hay again, got two more Cards for you! I w-"
>Skittering backwards as a corroded, nearly falling apart white door swings open 10M in front of you, a sharply rotten stench of Anti drifts outwards.
>Whole sections of the interior missing in staggered, ragged diagonal lines, what had been bright white paint was decayed into diffused gray, two thin, bright silver disks rolling out.
"Oooo that is TOTALLY not good. Great, more messes to deal with."
>Blinking as the top hinge creates, the filly groans, leaping straight towards the somehow familiar door and scrambling inside, calling over her shoulder before the entire doorway scatters apart in clear flecks.
"Later!"
[1d6 = 1] <OH YES~
>vs:
[1d6 = 2] <OH NO!

>Popping into air 5M front of you, a soft gray pegasus mare in her late 20's hovers, wings flapping as bright yellow mane wafts around a mailmare's uniform, a pair of hilariously overstuffed brown satchels on both sides threatening to spill letters, boxes, crates, jugs, and bottles.
"Hello there! I have two deliveries for you!"
>Dropping down and fishing into one side, then the other with her tongue sticking out, the eyes were.. unusual, yet the voice was infectiously cheerful.
"There they are! Thought they got lost again. Take care now miss!"
>Pulling out a pair of small, metallic foil covered cardboard boxes, each had entirely different designs of hearts, the mailmare places them on one of the discs, then vanishes in a shower of bubbles.

"...that had better NOT be what I think it is."
"Now DAT'Z flash!"

>Somewhere far away, not so deep underground, an uncovered, piercing eye squints, the harsh mare's voice speaking in accusation:
"Heresy?!"

>Uncomfortable silence reigns for ten seconds until a booming voice rings out.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST DO?!"
"Oi.. Oi dunno! Dey'z got da flashy bitz!"

>>393074
>The filly found herself inadvertently pocketing every shiny thing her hands drifted near, yes, the more gifts for the collection.
>Truthfully, Amethyst wasn't really sure there was something else out there plotting and scheming on such a grand scale as she had implied. Yet perhaps there was something known by a piece of her she paid little mind to. The Unborn had been permitted to remain.
"Whatever it is, it will not reveal itself but through its pieces."
>She herself came to a halt, listening for what the puppets did.
>Pegasi weather dancing.
"In their own way they sing unto the flow of Sky, Lila would be able to tell you more."

>Focus once more upon the echoes, the filly clarified her peculiar tendency for esoteric mutterings. The imprints themselves had been clearer than she had put their revelations.
"Sorry, yes... An Inquisitor of the Ordo Chronos, a Rogue Trader in fact, whatever those are. Those are the words left behind with the echoes."
>The idea of there being so many guardsmen summoned tantalised Amy, however...
"I do not think that many were summoned. The size of the barracks here suggests the group was substantially smaller, and for those Humans to be untouched by the Longest Night must mean they are from other realities, or other strands along the web of time in whatever shape that takes for them."
>The echoes faded, the fabric of Tallus could hold no more, even from such depth as the magical catastrophe had allowed.
"There is little more that we can lea-"

>Head snapping in the direction of the purple tunnel, Amy responds immediately.
"Hay (You)! >:3"
>Just barely and momentarily distracted by the sudden flood of Anti, Amethyst shifts her direction between it and the intruding filly before remembering her earlier threat.
"C'mere!"
>With that, she breaks out into stuttering and excited motion, hand outstretched to close the distance between finger and snoot.

[1d6 = 2] < Furious Charge :3

[1d6 = 2] < Supreme Grand Master Boop

>But she was getting away.
"No, no, no! Get back here! You can't run forever!"

>The tunnel or door was replaced by... A mailmare.
>Her finger itched.
"Hai!~"
>Gazing down at the boxes, her ears perked forwards alertly, head cocked.
>Wait, oh no. The dreaded bawkses.
"Thank you! I-"
>The mailmare was gone. Only bubbles remained.
>Another appearing and disappearing pony whom had escaped greeting affections, Amethyst made a face.
"The list of snoots is incomplete..."
>She took a deep breath and shouted towards the empty air.
"You can help by expanding it!"
>Attention back on the bawkses, the filly collected the various left gifts and packed them away, examining each bawks from a variety of angles before she did so.
"They do indeed appear to be mehtul bawkses, but they are both too small for anybody to be hiding within them, unless there are very tiny beings within."
>A mystery gift to be unbawksed later.

>The ipotane shuffled, looking around for the source of the booming accusative voice.
"I think you just invoked somepony by name."

>>393076
>Agreeing on the first, the second is considered... and promptly taken out of context.
"How deviant of the-"
"SHUT-"
"-m to-"
"IT-"
>Sharing the perfect amount of professionalism for a mutual annoyance, the cloth strip shakes briefly.
>You're not entirely sure why, but the rather peaceful atmosphere was going to remain that way.
"Until the Sun is moved."

"I have never heard of that particular Ordo before. It sounds as if they keep track the proper dates on paperwork."
"Most Rogue Traders are a blight originating from Terran houses and clans. The original charters signed by the Emprah grant them unfortunate amounts of power."
"Brother, your... nevermind. They have a long history of reckless behavior. Many have insatiable greed and hunger for power under the guise of serving the Imperium, leading to endless petty squabbles, battles, and wars. I have dealt with a few, but one is of little worry."
"Yes, you are corre- ....UNTOUCHED by the Longest Night?!"
"There are countless planets lost in the Warp which haven't been touched either! We used those as target practice if they weren't big enough to raid."
>Great confusion meets pure concern, excluding one in a patient zen state, two being muffled, the third experiencing bliss alongside the fourth, silently enraged from keeping the second contained for now.

>Pausing and head turning at the powerful emotes sent at her, the response is equally surprising.
"Wot you want chime filly? o_O"
>Snickering as hoof one misses that first step, sliding awkwardly forwards and using the Stick as a pole, which twists you sideways, noodly hand reaching out at a kissy face.
"No snoot four you yet~ >:)"
>Marenaging to tap the blistering left flank, a marshmallow wiggle is given before racing in.

[1d6 = 4] <YES >:|
>vs:
[1d6 = 6] <NO D:<

"...did I just inhale an entire crate of hallucinogen grenades!?"
"If you did, witch, then I have done so as well."
"ALL of us have drank far too deeply from THAT well."
"Be patient and wait until she tires, then search for the tracks she has left behind."
"What a SHAPELY... ......ahem. Nevermind.."

"Couriers are busy professionals, Amy! They know their duties well and expect nothing less than perfect deliveries, on time, every time! Perhaps you should find that one when she is not on duty.. or have her send a package."
>Inspecting the tiny boxes, both were just large enough to contain something slightly smaller than itself.
>Curiously using real metals, the thin copper, brass, bronze, and colored steel hearts had been carefilly cut, then glued onto all four sides, one lopsided and partially curved, the other straight in line.
>Inspecting the top and bottom, squiggly painted hearts along with what looked like a kiss were on each.
>Upon rattling, there were two objects inside, one much heavier than the other.
"Cardboard AND metal? Must be highly important."
"Oh it IIIISSSS..."

>Shaking each other in a rather quiet scuffle, trouble finds troublemaker.
"YOU FOOL! TRUE NAMES AREN'T SUPPOSED TO BE INVOKED WITHOUT MEANING!"
"DEN STOP MUCKIN' ABOUT AN' LET'S GORK 'EM!"
"Idiots.. Amy, where shall you travel next?"

>>393073

>As Shiibo reinitializes, Pareidolia shifts his attention away from the two sitting ponies.
'Sorry. I was not expecting Anti cleansing to cause a system crash. Are you alright?'
>After confirming her condition, he would relay the same analysis of Anti discrepancies he had told Hodch and Astral to Shiibo.
"Will need to update records accordingly. Pending Astral's analysis conclusions. I lack enough information to form accurate conclusions myself on Horizon's goals. The extent of her awareness of our goals specifically remains to be seen. But at least the Anti has been removed here before any concrete infrastructure was established."

>He shrugs at Astral as Hodch experiences command chain issues.
"It's unclear to me with my limited information what this could all mean. I'm sure you and Hodch will be better equipped to contextualize all the variables."
>Cocking his head as Hodch becomes increasingly animated, he remarks:
"Somehow, these command difficulties do not surprise me given my time on the Citadel. Another member refusing to follow orders or protocol?"

Introduction
Balanset-1A balancing device is designed for precision correction of imbalance and vibration analysis in industrial environments .

This versatile device is ideal for:

single- and two-plane balancing of fans, pumps, electric motors, spindles, crushers, centrifuges, and other rotating equipment ,

diagnostic vibration measurement and defect detection ,

ensuring high operational safety and energy efficiency .

Balanset-1A is widely used by service teams, maintenance contractors, repair workshops, industrial plants, and engineering professionals .

Why Choose Balanset-1A
The Balanset-1A system includes:

a two-channel measurement unit ,

a pair of industrial accelerometers ,

high-precision digital phase marker and reflective tape ,

robust mounting accessories ,

high-accuracy electronic scales for measuring test and correction weights ,

licensed Vibromera balancing software for Windows ,

heavy-duty carry case for all components .

All you need for operation is any notebook running Windows OS .

System Capabilities
Vibrometer Mode:
Vibration velocity RMS measurement from 0.02 to 80 mm/s .

Balancing Mode:
Repeat balancing using archived job data .

Advanced Functions:
Support for custom influence coefficients .

Commercial Offer
Balanset-1A — EUR 1751
Product page: https://vibromera.eu/product/balanset-1/

Standard Package
Dual-channel measurement unit

2 vibration sensors (accelerometers)

Laser tachometer (phase sensor) with reflective tape

Magnetic holder

Electronic scales

Balancing software (USB flash drive)

Sturdy transport case

Shipping Terms
Worldwide delivery:

CTT Standard (Portugal Post): EUR 36, 7–30 days, https://www.ctt.pt/

EMS Express Mail Service: EUR 250, 4–10 days, https://www.ems.post/

Payment options:

Bank transfer

Credit/Debit card

PayPal

Technical Assistance
1-year warranty: covers any manufacturing defects, with repair or replacement at no extra charge .

Extended technical support (subscription-based):
Direct WhatsApp chat with experts, photo/video troubleshooting, remote software and hardware setup guidance, vibration data interpretation, tailored recommendations for your equipment. Subscribe: https://vibromera.eu/pricing-all/

Get in Touch
Website: https://vibromera.eu/shop/2/

>>393096
'For now, yes. 100% of my data... HAD been compromised.'
>Scratching her head while sifting through readouts, the avatar pokes at a selection of separated archives, dumbfounded.
'Noted, cross-references initiated. Falsified, misdirected, artificially inflated, redacted, and altered files have been filtered.
No behavioral changes deviating from maximum expectations or factors. Zero patterns of clandestine activity or feeding information to external sources, excluding six probable deceased. There is not a single digital or physical medium, human, equine, or Gryphon vector indicating a breach.
Unless Anti has a transmission capability over a distance of 500 miles, this is incomprehensibly random.'
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
>Alternating between a dozen moods, the avatar settles for dumbfounded, staring outwards.
'Control on this scale is unimaginably simple. Why deploy an undetectable, self-destructive, inherently lethal weapon slash monitoring system without using it? I.. do not understand.'

>Phasing to the front cabin, then back to the crew compartment's center, Astral Legacy pulls a second gray thread from between the trio of Cores, drawing it into another metallic plate.
"I do not know how long it will take me to consolidate."
>Visibly confused while staring between the two, the Void soloform regards you with a puzzled expression.
"The most susceptible and suggestible humans have not found their way to Horizon or her agents, nor the reverse. This is bizarre."
[1d6+8 = (4+8) = 12] <M.Research
[1d6+8 = (4+8) = 12]
[1d6+8 = (1+8) = 9]
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8] <Teacher Research
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]

"If I have to repeat this one more time-"
>Muttering while picking up the Moon Orb and placing it into his chest, Hodch takes on a slouched sitting posture.
"The situation you encountered was the third and final Night after the Moors Restoration Project, started by Jeff, had been completed.
Recruitment increased by a factor of ten. Eighty percent of Night and Lunar Guards, ninety five percent of Starborn, two hundred thousand Independents, an entire Crystal Kingdom division, nearly sixty Minotaur Klaves, and more were involved. There isn't a single Councilmaster, current, former, or other, that hasn't near-fully contributed.
They spent much of that time tapping the right individuals to bring together enough resources, marepower, equipmarent, knowledge, materials, and coin. End goal: reclaim all of the lost batpony, Ferron, Independent, Navarch, and Lunar territory. We had to bring most of the former Council out of stasis as well. You met Hornet Song... and probably wish you never did.
Nearly a year was spent compiling full, complete charts and maps of the current Central, Coastal, Ferron, and Crag Moors regions. Scars were marked by large warning signs and warding steles. The edges of Fold Regions were located and barriers were placed to prevent access. Problematic locales were subjected to invasive studies, fortification, then purging. The safest towns and cities close to the Deeps are now excruciatingly hardened.
Those efforts dealt significant tolls. Do you understand?"
>Face tightening briefly, the Nightblade Reservist stares downwards in subtle annoyance.
"After the last Constructs were checked for cognizance Flowing Spark picked hulls apart, melting the rest which flooded the lower levels. She was spotted swimming through molten halls carrying objects with her which, and I directly quote this from Twisted Wing: she was protecting in crystal barriers, end quote.
At Dusk, Twisted noted her been dragging intact systems, components, weapons, armor plates, head units, everything she'd salvaged, and began placing them all over the Citadel in a massive Geomarentic array. Orders were given to ignore Naghtmares unless they committed harm.
A few hours ago she wandered across the Atrium at least forty times, drawing lines of Living Flame while placing candles made from pieces of HER OWN CORE, which she has never done before. Se went straight to the center, stared directly at the Spire, then began speaking, the second act which she has never done before, while invoking a crystalline ritual. That is the third NEVER DONE BEFORE.
Then she began trapping individuals she deemed as deserving and appropriate based on a wholly unknown before now form of divination to accept one or more Rift symbiotes. That is the fourth through sixth En-Dee-Bee."
>Eyes rotating up and left onto you, he takes on a sorely aggravated tone.
"Each Starborn has a drop of Luna's Black Blood driven into our heart over the course of three rituals, bonding us until death and beyond. Excluding those whom would die it is the second of two requiremarents. Those whom will not survive are on permarenent hard probation.
Naghtmares are individuals whom willingly submitted their ka to Luna. They feel her emotions far more deeply, though we treat each other as kin. We are able to share information and deliver orders, not stupid, wrong, or emotional ones, from extreme distances. That is a safeguard which keeps us equal to the other, preventing power struggles, political stupidity, or succumbing to interference and influences not of our own.
Before the Lunar-Solar War, she witnessed.. something in the Elemental Plane of Fire and became able to summon Living Flame. As a Naghtmare, no being on Tallus, including Princess Luna, or those of Fire, Magma, Lava, or Plasma, are able to comprehend an iota of what transpires inside her Core or mind. That makes her the the third most dangerous Naghtmare in existence."
>Reclining with a grim face, he sighs.
"Twisted Wing cannot even sense what she is doing. Since I have minimal tolerance for being burned, the Burning General is on her own unless Flowing actively harms another, in which case she will be immediately executed. That has not happened.
The remaining Citadel survivors and relief forces are scared shitless. I do not blame them, nor do I desire to tempt and risk fate again this week. Does that count for 'protocol'?"

>>393108
>Leaning forward, he rests his elbows against his knees.
>His head lookds down ponderously as he posits.
"Is it possible Horizon chose a more indirect approach? Utilizing humans to position and maneuever resources for access and benefit without having them come into direct contact? A layer of more 'disposable assets'?"
(Could be similar to Rounders in that sense... )

>Pareidolia nods as Hodch finishes, opting to withhold his more critical comments.
"I understand. Sorry. I won't press the topic further."
(Seems this is the extent that can be expected for Lunar command structure arrangements. Works for them I suppose. Only reinforces my incompatibility with them.)
>Using his helmet's eye tracker and with a slight eye roll, he writes out a memo note for Shiibo in bold text stating: [Note: Do not join Lunar faction. C&C is Swiss cheese.].
>Looking up briefly in recall, he then adds:
"My meeting with Hornet Song was very brief. Combat against the Argus Command Dominator at the Armory was more pressing. I remember him being a... we would call him a 'womanizer'. Flippant attitude towards mares and his responsibilities."
>Materializing his still unnamed graviton "gun" in his hand, he looks at it in a vain attempt to see the graviton held inside.
"When would be a good time to ask for access to what I would need to finish modifying this conceptual weapon?"

>>393116
>Designating modified reports in priority against original and subtly unaltered versions, 'Shiibo' eyes through each, checking Operators, allies, aligned, friends, then individual access dates.
'No, sir. ..minor correction: let that be recorded as a no to all three possibilities.
One: all known and theoretically possible avenues from direct to indirect contact have been wide open for one-point-five Tallus years. Personnel and ponial files show moderately direct influences from primarily Lunar, Ferron, and Moorite sources. Assuming one in every five hundred Independents from Las Pegasus were Anti-infected sleeper agents tasked to operate in purely clandestine roles, there are zero such individuals noted.
I have gained access to a previously hidden archive containing Lady Roust's post-Mission and Operation reports. Remarkably complete and... a bit too highly detailed. She noted nineteen potentially unknown pegasus agents during Hollow Case's excursions when sales occurred in Lucky's Bar. The majority fit a base profile for Independent, yet have strictly Solar or Lunar faction behaviors.
Two: Razorback Company's size and distance between known squads would easily have covered ninety to one hundred infiltrators with minimal chances of discovery. Excepting minor faction, cultural, or civil disputes, discrepancies or treatment based on sex, minute political overtures and posturing, numerous accounts of slight misconduct regarding unclear Lunar laws for a protectorate.. there is no pattern. The reverse of a pattern is equally missing.
Three: from where? The individuals I suspected to be agents or assets have been confirmed as allied or friendly, including a LARGE number whom were unfairly treated.. not by noteworthy Razorback Operatives, high ranking or noble Lunar faction members.'
>Trailing off in a deep scowl, the avatar regards Hodch with a peculiar glance before facing you, both hands palm up in faint anger.
'I may or may not impose a necessity in assisting with the destruction of a specific planet in the future.
As stated previously, direct interference from Sweet Dreams and the Otherworld alicorn known as Silver, real name unknown at this time, cannot account for the statistically random actions presumably taken by Horizon. Planar and Eldritch interference are equally minimal.
In sum: the inconsistent usage of Anti as a weaponized surveillance tool meets no singular or composite theoretical nor hypothetical at this time. We may be looking at a dead end.. or the remains of one.'
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]

"Don't worry about it, I.. need some time to think. There's over six thousand Lunars outfitted with Construct pieces now. If that doesn't get written on my death certificate as partial cause of death I'm going to feel insulted..."

>Bringing up an incredibly long scrolling list of noteworthy Lunar achievements, retrievals, recoveries, and findings conducted with Razorback's aid, the avatar shrugs.
'Positives: exceptional loyalty to their sovereign reinforced by willing choice. Stated sovereign owns a partially habitable Moon, which you should inspect properly. Instant or immediate access for dealing with high difficulty to near-deific threats. Espionage, combat effectiveness, and esoteric ratings are superb. Willingness to sacrifice for the best of their own.
Limited yet unusually potent blessings. Historical knowledge varies depending on species. Diplomacy is typically a when needs must priority. Economy and majority of internal cultures are based on respect and equal trade. Vast network of valuable faction contacts with hardened and sheltered assets across most of a super-continent.
Overall average compatibility rating: 50%.
Negatives: ...most everything else? A bizarre insistence for testing a specific fruit on the posterior of a Princess. Minimal to high difficulties when dealing with select individuals and herds. Poorly explained hostilities. Unusual and inarticulable behaviors which do not fit other factions. Arcane knowledge which drives individuals into a host of psychoses. Exceptionally secretive in select aspects.
...Naghtmares. Spectrals. Undead. Equipment produced from Eldritch, Planar, and Extra-Planar beings. Baffling deals with the former. High risk to lethal rituals or rites. Wide variety of curses.
In comparison the Solar faction majority is <10% compatible.
I require significant additional data to conduct formal evaluations. At this time I cannot recommend more than maintaining commonality and shared interests.'

>Unfocused gaze fixed on the opposite wall, small, slow and angered twitches on the deep purple stallion's muzzle speak of numerous, probably physical, disputes.
"I do not like him. At all. Hornet Song is from Canterlot, about 29,850 or so. During that time there were thousands of stallions like him stupidly fooling maretriarchs into thinking they were losing some ridiculous 'culture' war over sex based roles in Equestrian society, and he STILL plays into it as if the past millenium hasn't changed those entirely.
I'd rather have Denra and his misery inducing shenanigans any day."
>Finding the pinpoint bead nestled inside at a minorly offset angle, it ripples back into the precise center as the avatar twitches.
'....was it SLEEPING!?'
>Taking off the bracelet and unfolding it into an oval doorway, Hodch tosses it to land in the passenger side's unnoccupied center.
"Go ahead and finish it while he's busy."
[1d6+8 = (3+8) = 11] <M.Research
[1d6+8 = (5+8) = 13]
[1d6+8 = (6+8) = 14]
[1d6+8 = (2+8) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7] <Teacher Razorback Company
[1d6+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9]
[1d6+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d6+5 = (3+5) = 8]

>>393091
>Peace in this moment had been earned, of course the scuffling of puppets could never break it. There would be time enough for new conflict once new days and new nights had broken.
"She seemed rather too serious for it to be something as silly as paperwork, but then you would know better than I about Inquisitors. I just sense she attached great importance to these words. She doesn't feel greedy or power hungry, unless shes very good at hiding it. At the very least, this Inquisitor may yet remain with Razorback, and having known papa she may also be willing to vouch for us with some convincing."
>Amethyst just needed to make contact with them now.

>Another! One whom could speak that strange language!
>Ever more mystery abounds, but she'd also promised snoot later.
"Later! I'm holding you to that!"

>She huffed again with frustration, recovering her balance after her absolute failure to close to melee for non-consensual assault boops.
"That was no hallucination, they're both real, and they're both magic!"
>The boxes were stowed next, after a rather careful follow-up examination including a taste test and an ear press, shrugging an putting the mystery aside. She would thoroughly unwind them along with the satchel Avernus had gifted her. So many gifts to categorise.
>Anti, however, was not a gift. Anti was dangerous. Extremely dangerous. Time she left before it could come to affect her.
>Taking Stick firmly in hand, the filly backed away from the flood and out of the building, she would have to hope it remained localised. Once she was clear, she intoned Crystal Runes to examine her own signature for the taint of Anti.
>The baffling part was how it had come from nowhere for seemingly no reason.

[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] < B. Crystal Runes
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4] < B. Perception
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]

"Im uncertain. I don't see that we have any choice but to try the Crystal Empire to locate mama's relations and seek information from them."
>She gazed over at the sleds, unwilling to get too close to them in case Anti had latched onto her. She'd need to be damned sure she was clear before so much as setting a hoof in Lila's direction. She'd also need to remember how to clear the infection of Anti.
"If it's not a Daymare, it's Anti. City's got problems."
>She humorously responded to Gorgutz in the meantime.
"Just... Tryz not ta say watevuhz word it woz youz said dat 'appens ta be sum flash git'z name."

>>393156
>The true Brothers deliberate for 5.1 seconds, deciding there was nothing to be gained from obfuscating facts.
"My experiences with Rogue Traders consist of doubts and betrayals beyond measure. Few of those granted Charter by the Emprah could hide their thirsts for long. Most sought the powers of authority, dominion, or decadence, but there are a few whom maintained truly noble causes.
If you cannot sense misdirection then she either holds the Imperial Truth closely, or has little tohide, save from those whom would seek her misery on the altars of ignorance."
Hm. I believe you may have the Khan's luck on this matter, Primus. I know a number of true facts regarding that secretive Chronological Ordo. They are firstly obsessed with maintaining exacting dates of Imperial records.
There are countless Lexicanum articles regarding the Light Age of Technology, the Dark Age of Technology, the Ages of Strife, and the Long Night before the Unification Wars. Our Forging occurred soon before the Great Crusade, yet much was lost during that time.
That was followed by the Age of Apostasy which rent the Imperium into forsaken ignorance. We sought datavaults by guile and force, yet none held enough history to reclaim truth. The Age of Redemption held for a time before the Waning, which is when the Imperium truly weakened as a whole. Astra Militarum, Adeptus Sororitas, Adeptus Mechanicus, Adeptus Astartes, and the Inquisitorius sank into depths unforeseen, bereft of the few truths which were honestly sought.
During those times, Rogue Traders descended in the hundreds of thousands, keeping secrets from all, often to maintain their perceived superiority."
>Sharing their reservations, the red pointy eared witch twitches first, then the elder Farseer.
"What we know from the mon`keigh's Fall are tales, legends, and myths which mirrored our own, save for occurring within millennia rather than decenturies. What we know of that time is quarter lie, quarter truth, and half failure of conscience.
Many were the Traders that sought to uncover convenience for their own ends, yet I do recall a handful that fully believed in their heritage."
"Feeling hope without knowing meaning is a cause lost to the fated. Perhaps she was once adrift, and now knows otherwise. Speculation can wait until the ironies of fact are lain bare at your hooves."

>Tasting, seeing, then hearing the vast Otherworld illness from a refined corridor that felt green, it was tinged by single-minded aid, caught between duty and desperation to deliver hopes, or perhaps wishes, to the worthy.
>The strange, decaying doorway had arrived shortly after the precipice of a great victory, countless thoughts and emotions held back, swirling around glories championed by a tiny few.
>Ripping apart in thoroughly self-destructive, inconsiderate measures, no trace of Anti could hold in this city long, nor was it cohesive enough to betray your presence.

"Do so with the proper amount of haste, yet be cautious. Your dam was not typical amongst the Crystal-reborn's ranks. Ever were her words wrought in harsh measures."
"A victory hard won is to be sung praise of, but mind those whom would watch for such an event!"

>Slowly, painfully rolling onto bandaged chest and barrel with a stiff, pain filled huff, a piercing, drugged eye darts across the omniverse within perception.
"Whom speaks towards me?"
>Lips curling back, then downwards in the haze between reality and thought, bright white-gold clouds drifts across hindered consciousness.
"Twice now my name has been called forth on this sanctified world. Why do you seek me? How do you know me?"
>Slowly searching from a tempered view, the bristling, suspicious mind expands outwards.
>Logical, reasonable, and silent questions beckon outwards in calm.
"Show yourself that we may judge each other accordingly in this short time of peace. I bear neither harm nor ill will unless both are set against me."
[1d6 = 5] <Reaction

>Red-painted green and bloodied crimson cloth strangling each other, the scuffle halts.
"Oi, dat'z wun uv dem Weirdgirls, izn't it Beakie?"
"I do not know! Draw this attention to you in a better place Amy, it is not cold enough for you here!"
"How should I know? There are countless among the Psycana and I do not know what you have felt. We may only see from Amy's eyes and feel what the outermost reaches of her mind can share to us."

>>393158
>Amethyst listened intently to the puppets explain some of the words she'd heard with other words she scarcely had an idea of. She'd learned much from her sire of these things, both from his teachings and going through his journals while he wasn't looking, even so, there was still much that made little sense.
>It was an entirely different universe she'd had no contact with, of course it made little sense.
"I truly don't get the sense that she is as you have described Rogue Traders to be, at least from her echoes here. There was a great concern in separating herself from other humans, but she could not conceal her desire to work on their behalf for their benefit. Perhaps this one is one of those exemptions from the norm you beheld."
>They were right though, further speculation served no purpose, or she would be here all night pondering possibilities instead of acting upon them. A funny thing for a Farseer of all beings to remind her of such a thing, but that was no surprise for the two that were with her.
"Fate must be impelled into tangibility, or be left as unrealised possibility."

>The flood of Anti did not last long, and thankfully it had been destroyed before it could take root in her.
>With a sigh of relief, Amy moved back over to the sleds and tied the rope back around her waist, peering over the edge and down at Lila's Core with some concern. Considerin how she might shield her from the Ice Amy was about to take her into.
"Maybe a barrier of compressed Air around her Core to insulate her."
>That would not work, Lila's Fire would consume all the available Air within the barrier to fuel itself very quickly, and once she'd reformed herself into her Equine shape, the barrier would break.
>A larger barrier around the sled would bleed Fire more quickly.
"No, I can't do it with resonance, the physical properties and mechanics of Fire and Ice are too difficult to tamper with. Sorcery then."
>A sorcerous barrier around the sled keyed to shield against Ice from entry may work. Air at its event horizon would have to shed the property of Ice, becoming elementally neutral excepting its own nature.
>To prevent Fire from bleeding out of the shield, the sorcerous barrier would also have to contain those energies, however, considering how much Lila likely contained, there was a good chance she'd turn the sled into a fireball very quickly.
"I'll have to give it some more thought before I attempt anything."
>The walk to the Warp Gate would serve as time enough.

>Withdrawing from the grounds with the sleds in tow, Amethyst caught a Sending on the edge of her mind, cocking her head as if to hear it better.
>The ipotane came to a stop not far from the Gate. Now she'd gone and done it, like Gorgutz, she'd said something to invoke the True Name of a being. What was it she'd said? The Sending had come after her final few words, the name was in there somewhere.
>It wasn't 'git', the only word both her own phrase and Gorgutz' shared was...
>Amy had been about to think it before stopping herself.
"Ahh, hello?"
>Wait no, thoughts were sent, not linked together, so talking and thinking would not work unless she'd specifically worked sorcery to Send them.
>She wondered if she could do this with anybody or if it were specific to this being because of the particular nature of whatever magic she had that she would notice her name being spoken aloud from... Wherever it was that she was. Or perhaps it had something to do with Canterlot itself.
>Yet she'd spoken that word multiple times before and had not received such a response, had she spoken it aloud on Tallus? Amy didn't think she had, she'd only said 'flashy' after leaving Tartarus.
>No matter, both hands clutching Stick, Amethyst closed her eyes and focused her thoughts into sorcery, coupled with knowledge of the being's Name, Sent them only towards that being.

[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

(Hello? Hello! We weren't seeking you, we simply stated your name aloud by chance conversation. Sorry!~)
>She could feel the mind take full notice of her now, Amy got the sense of an Equine shape, pain, body inebriated, mind clouded by it in turn.
>There was suspicion, but not irrational. A request for revelation, an offering of intent. No trust, irrational to offer without mutual exchange.
>How to reveal herself? A Name was called, a Name should be offered in turn. However to give her Name especially in this manner carried real risk, the being may not be the only one listening for Sending.
>She mixed a thought well into a mental image of where she stood, gazing up to include the ruined palace of New Canterlot as a recognisable landmark. Still cautious, she sent the thought along.
(My Name is Amy, who might you be?)

>>393204
>There was no deliberation this time, only shared questions which had no questions to advise you with.
"Seek this Rogue Trader out in order to ascertain her motives first and judgement second. If she is pure of heart, soul, and purpose, she will bind herself in harsh oaths to be presented as an equal."
"She may be too lost to speak with her own mind willingly, yet there are exclusions to mon`keigh... at times."
"I take no offense with your words nor meanings. Isolated and heretical as some of the Charter borne Houses became, few would dare offer to hold and oath only to violate the same. Use that to your advantage, Primus."

>Pulling the sleds side by side, the rear one was decidedly cool enough.
>Filled with sufficient refractory materials, it wouldn't melt without both a rampage and significant anger from the former underprincess.
"Request her to awaken slowly, without violence or brutality. She knows you well enough to agree with such a minor imposition!"
"Or ask her to not turn into a miniature solar body."

>Easily pulling both sleds away from the barracks, depot, and training ground once set aside for Razorback, a temperate calm had formed around the translocation matrice.
>Eyeing it in suspicion.... it certainly wasn't a Warp Gate due to the higher frequency communications passing back and forth in the tens of thousands per second.
>Hundreds of Vortex couriers passing through unknown Planar channels at distances you couldn't examine, they were mostly unaware of your presence.
>...except for one which felt like a wriggly, rotund, bipedal spine-covered cactus merged with a floral proto-humanoid .
>It didn't like the Blind, and since it couldn't sing, it held traces of curious distaste towards New Canterlot.

>Bidding the Elements to offer favors in the long distance between, they were slightly curious rather than apathetic.
<High Gothic> "A hallowed behest of thine Night tae ye, mine greetings and blessings grace thee."
>Pausing after the highly archaic, the rather soft, aerily brusque verbiage, tone, and non-melodic voice belong to that of a falsely harsh unicorn mare in her late 30's.
>The prior inquisitive bent touched her words in calm rather than sharing or delivering suspicion.
("Perhaps this name truly is little known amongst marely and many alike... ignore my expletives if you would. Few of this world recognize purity of intent and surety of purpose combined.")
>Reverting to an informal tone after four seconds, the imprint of a polite gesture is felt.
("It is an honor to be called upon in this marener, Amy. However, for your privacy....")
>Dull images of harsh, bright silver and gold armors larger than the prototype version your sire had deemed to be acceptable twitch into perception, not distinct enough to match with what you knew.
("The name I bear is 'Flash', primarily for my choice in wargear among... other reasons. Those are less important on this world than they were before.")

>Subdued, sparkling royal purples, golds, blues, silvers, and white mix among tiny stretches of calm yellows, passive oranges, and possibly furtive reds, the mountain not too far above you was dotted with a wide variety of known materials.
>Mostly hidden by gazing, Spectral Dracosines, each bore a new vigil of their own cause though weren't hiding among the ruins.
>As the Elements share their limited, albeit taciturn awareness, the hosts of scorched, melted, burned, seared, crumbling, and shattered atomic bonds, previously opposing, mingled with each other.
>Stacks of burning Solar paladine and chilling Lunar Lumin had been placed far from their their assigned locations, displeased at the hindrances of remaining unused.
>Twinges of thought, mostly equine in nature, cloud or share aspirations which were drawn to the barracks left of you.

>Feeling the backwash of a rigid exhalation, the mare's voice is exhausted, worn down by pain.
("I am unable to speak for long in this marener for long, nor can I move from this place. My wounds are still fresh, deep, and... hideous.
It is improper to speak from afar unless you prefer such. As we do not know each other enough to establish trust, after this following Dusk I ask you to find a sacred locale, whether reliquary, temple, altar, whether holy or unholy alike, then call forth my name twice.
Should I hear and the Medicae deem me capable of speaking, I will send my Scion to accompaneigh you for a meeting place. He will rigidly guard you to whichever location you accept.
Walk in peace. if you are able to.")

>Unable to hear external communications you didn't share, the scuffle ends with no clear winner or loser, followed by Kerbann cloth risking to deliver facepalms.
"I do not know what has transpired Amy, yet this is no time to nightdream unless answers occur. Finding where your sire and dam have been before Lilamaredre wakes is essential."
"Travel quickly before the squads return. They may not be able to prevent those whom cannot understand why you remain here from investigating."

[1d6 = 3] <Reaction

>>393153
>Passing an equally confused glance towards Shibo's display, he replies.
'Those were all meant to be one possibility, not three, but I see. We'll have to shelve the Anti question for now.'

>Nodding at Hodch, he stands and moves towards the now open portal.
'Well... better that then dead I suppose. Hopefully Hodch can clear the misunderstanding. The last time we entered the Storm King's room, Hodch had mentioned the electrical emissions were well controlled. There is a possibility your systems won't be negatively affected if they remain on. If there was anything pressing you needed to continue, we can try it.'
>Waiting if Shiibo deemed it necessary to perform any additional measures or shut down before entering, he would then return to continue redressing the error in his conceptual weapon's properties against Psions and attempt to redirect those processes towards making the conditions for coaxing a graviton more appealing.

[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]

>>393211
>She nodded in assent to the puppets.
"However we shall need to find this Rogue Trader first, I sense that both she and Razorback are at the end of the same path, the signs along the way for one are greater than the other."
>Peering over towards the sleds once more, Amethyst shook her head.
"Neigh. Lila deserves her rest, she nearly got krumped by that Daymare, I shall try to form an elemental barrier around the sled instead momentarily. I just need time to ponder its exact structure, filtering Fire and Ice from their attachment to Air is something I haven't done before."

>Receiving thoughts arrowed toward her from the unknown being, Amy easily recognised High Gothic, which was odd because her shape was that of an Equine, yet she spoke a language that as far as she knew, could only have come from the reality her sire had originated from. Perhaps she had learned it from another of the summoned Humans.
>Examining the images of armours that Flash sent, Amy was more certain that this pony must have been involved with either her sire, the Rogue Trader or another of that particular reality.
>Communicating in this way seemed to be taxing to the mare, however. Injury. Amy briefly considered whether or not it would be possible to sorcerously convey resonance to promote healing at such a range.
>Projected resonance at extreme ranges via sorcerous Sending was an exciting possibility to consider that she couldn't keep from tinting her thoughts, but thought better of attempting a trial run on a near stranger.
("Okie dokie! Hope you get better soon!~")
>With that, she disengaged her Sending magic and stirred herself from the reverie of thought, catching the words of the puppets.
"Ehh? Ah? The one we'd just invoked contacted me a moment ago, she's offered a meeting after the next dusk if we pick a spot and invoke her name again. She was strange though, a pony, but she could speak High Gothic and knew of the shiniest of armours. Silver and Gold, but no Blue."
>They were right however, time to leave. Amy turned to consider the sled Lila was snoozing in.
"Now for this barrier..."
>A sorcerously constructed elemental barrier would be a clever trick for the ipotane to pull. Air would have to be permitted free entry and exit, but any other attached elemental energy would have to be filtered out much as a mask filtered air for contaminants. A sheer block on Ice was relatively straightforward, the problem was Fire within the barrier building up, some of it would have to be allowed to bleed out, but slowly, so Amy selected an arbitrary temperature similar to that of Saddle Arabia as the upper limit before Fire would begin filtering out.
>Trusty Stick ever in hand, Amy examined the sled closely. The barrier would also have to be attached to the sled rather than a point in space, or it would simply fly off into the aether along with that point of space.
>Casting her sorcery, she focused upon the structure of the sled itself, defined a central point relative to it in order to anchor the barrier, and formed a roomy ovoid shape around it before turning her attention to the properties of the barrier.

>Ice permeability: Minimal
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Fire permeability: Partial
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Air permeability: Total
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] < B. Sorcery
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]

>If this went wrong, she'd have to dispel it and try again.

>>393213

[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (1+1) = 2]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]

>>393235

[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

>>393236

[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (5+1) = 6]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>>393237

[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]

>>393238

[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (3+1) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]

>>393239

[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+1 = (2+1) = 3]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3]

>>393240

[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< E. Small Arms + Unnamed Graviton Weapon + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]< M. FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]< E. Small Arms + SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (5+6) = 11]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]< SGSC FINA
[1d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]< Graduate Researcher + Skill Specialization
[1d6+6 = (2+6) = 8]
[1d6+6 = (4+6) = 10]
[1d6+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Advanced Technological Weaponry & Tactics
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]< Observer Post-Space Age Technologies
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Post-Space Age Weaponry
[1d6+2 = (4+2) = 6]
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]< Pupil Planar Lightning Modification
[1d6+1 = (6+1) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]< Observer Elemarental Plane of Lightning
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]
[1d6+2 = (2+2) = 4]< Observer Conceptual Lightning Plane Objective-Creation
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7]
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5]< Observer Lightning Elementals
[1d6+2 = (6+2) = 8]

>>393213
>>393235
>>393236
>>393237
>>393238
>>393239
>>393240
>>393241

'I received three interlinked questions, three interlinked answers were delivered. Anti itself is a secondary priority to immediately dispose of.
Sir, cross-referencing Astral Legacy and Hodch's information with the.. restored and unaltered reports show a disturbing trend. Horizon's continued existence and known operational radius represents a Class 2 threat reaching near-critical mass. Las Pegasus and Stalliongrad have not deliberately engaged, meaning she is currently elsewhere in a tasking stage.
This should necessitate immediate hostile engagement utilizing all of Razorback's assets, however there are no indicators as to her current location. New Canterlot is a medium probability.'
>Screens clearing and focusing on a suite of diagnostics, the avatar motions briefly: 100% of the drive had been corrupted, the data's entirety infected.
'I was fooled, yet not datamined. The entropic effects were not due to Tallus. Direct confirmation regarding full scale contamination has been made. This evidence is, according to my understanding of equine legal processes, admissible. There is a caveat: Razorback is a direct Lunar Protectorate and as such can not deliver to non-Lunar courts.
The primary Solar faction and Crystal Empire may, on the surface, consider this admission to be an act of negligence regarding esoteric warfare. Ignorance of the law is no excuse, yet if they were unaware of humans spreading Anti there is a-'
>Image flickering once, the model cringes internally, then externally.
'I will not continue without the assistance of a skilled lawyer."
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <E.Electronic Warfare
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]

>Setting the tablet away and sitting back in her chair fully, Katyal's knees are tucked under chin, arms hugging both legs as she visibly melts a fraction.
"Aaaand now I'm bored with three fully loaded guns and enough explosives to probably kill or shatter a small Abomination."
>Making a short hoof on chest tap, the living unicorn sets it down to regard the woman with a disinterested tone.
"Shouldn't be. Six crates of Luna's moonshine, all volumes of Lunar Laws and Treaties, a complete set of Post-War batpony Berzerker armor, kanpri of course, full access with trade rights to most of Luna's Villages, and fifty thousand gems from various regions have been confirmed as delivered to Olvia Tributary. Countess Folunasi signed for them.
You are also stipulated to cease placing crude drawings on my windows, but nothing else. Would you care to discuss a second, wholly different contract?"
"I'm.. surprised she's still there and not in Prance like usual. Or Ehh, lemme think a bit."
'>Regarding the Starborn's oddly stoic marener, the avatar peeks into multiple applications, eyebrows raising in subtly polite intrigue.
'This is unusual. I am moderately surprised he is not shouting or passed out from stress. But if he does either within the next two hours you owe this helmet a proper cleaning.'

>Studying Elemental Plane effects using the Landbarge's particle array, her hardware, then software are checked before disconnecting from the Rerculon's systems and giving a 'safe' motion.
>Stepping back into the Storm King's Room, it had not been entered since you were last here.
>Undertaking a quick self check, 'Shiibo' halts, while turning a rigid, sweeping gaze across the room.
'No discernible tra- I feel them. Outside. They. Are. Staring. At. Me.'

>Returning to its active state, the conceptual forge spreads apart, offering its uninterrupted sequences and services again.
>Setting the firm requirements of changes necessary in your mind, the scornful Psionic effluent from imprinting recedes into a minimum state, now reshaped into a slightly insulting, or possibly minutely offensive form.
>Finding that a complete removal would fundamentally destroy your creation, the peculiar moulding imparted into the functions of Collection and Return are eased by transfer.

>Sensing paranoia fueled hatred brimming within the Room, the avatar's hands snap down to clutch her skirt, screaming aloud.
'YAMETE KUDASAAAAIIIIIIIIIIII!'
[1d6 = 1] <...Reaction?

>>393234
"Den yu'z bettah paint somefin' red on ya roight quik!"
"This may be the only time I cannot more highly approve greenskin's suggestion."
"Do you KNOW what that beast did!? He spoke of splashing over Khorne's CRIMSON AND BRASS on a Predator!"
"If an Ork can improve a paint job, it is a most deserved reward."
"Was I mistaken in hearing her squeak?"
"No, you were not. While a truly Elemental being cannot be easily harmed easily by similar aspects, they still suffer aggravation."

("I am.. trying, thank yo-")
>Losing connection from lacking maintenance, the dueling puppets end their ineffectual blows.
"Which form? There are at least nine hundred variations."
"Far more than that! Why, I can think of thirty from Cadia which are only spoken by specific Regiments in formal matters! There are ten ceremonial, five related to the Mechanicus, and three only used in processions!"
"OI! Doez she got de-"
"DO NOT USE THAT WORD AGAIN!"
"Oi'z not dat dumb! Oi was gunna say SHINY FINGZ! Mebbe she knowz where da best bitz iz ta loot!"
"An unusual offer, though if you have not discovered ill intent it is likely she is highly curious. One's true name carries profound weight and an equal amount of danger."
"Silver is reserved for noblites and nobility, gold for royalites and royalty. Perhaps she is an important attache or liaison with some pull."

>Selecting the closest local Elements for this endeavor, they grant a shape.. which occurs as a strangely melted vent on a moderately squished oval, complete with an internal heat-exchanging fan attached to the sled's ceiling.
>Partially interconnected above, Prima Lucis' core had been emitting enough Fire to warm the interior slightly, but was now cooling sufficiently from circulation.
"Not the worst result. It will work."

>>393246
>Amy responded to the puppets as she worked, guiding energy into taking a... Shape.
"No idea, it was a dialect that I understood and I'm only fluent in two. As for the shiny fingz, it was very similar to the designs papa had been working on, but bigger, and of course shinier."
>It was a shame that they were only mental images, she'd have loved to get into that armoury.

>Stepping back to admire her work, Amethyst stared, then cocked her head, then scratched in bafflement at the exact and entirely unknown shape it had taken.
"That wasn't intentional. What is that?"
>She examined it from multiple directions, the filly cautious about poking it with her Stick for fear of interfering with whatever it was that it was doing.
>He was right, it was working, but...
"I've never seen this thing in my life."
>With a sigh, she left the mystery to be a mystery and turned back to the translocation matrix, pulling the sleds onto it.
>Extending her will she sought out the path the Crystal Empire, runes her dam had taught her to remember to take her to a place she had only heard about before.
"I really hope Lila doesn't freeze."

>>393247
"Ah, it must be Terran High Gothic Supremis! The most common choice, and for good reason!"
"Ancient Terrans had a different name for it. The term 'gothic' originally meant a specific style of architecture."
"Ahh, there must be a great foundry and forgeworks available. If a few of those coveted Standard Templates exist here, it would be quite interesting to.. change one or two, wouldn't you say?"
"I agree. Give this heretic a jaw that I may crush it!"

>Giving the object a delicate poke, aside from it thunking briefly, the Elemental oddity was decidedly semi-physical, enough they could be reclaimed.
"It is a radiator of.. sorts. Little should melt or freeze above a certain temperature."
"How do you know what it is?"
"For one, it's similar to those installed in the majority of power armors, vehicles, generators, turrets, walkers, and most ships. For two, we can see through her eyes when she is not focused."

>Selecting Equestria, Northern Equestria, Crystal Empire, then City-State, the only available location read as a train station south of the Spire some distance.
>Stretching outwards, a dull, multi-hued tunnel passes quickly, ripples of cold air wash across you before sliding onto solid, melodic tinks chiming underhoof.
>Immediate creases of frost descend on your clothes and wiggling ears, inhaling a somehow familiar, comfortably ringing chill, noting vast amounts of Rime spread throughout.
>Facing directly north into an impressively tall gated and walled, highly spread out gleaming city comprised entirely from partially fluorescent crystal slabs.
>Deep reds, blues, purples, greens, and more provided plentiful light to easily see, accompaneighed by the Moon's strangely shaded colors above.
>Greatly different from your dam's knowledge, both fanciful gates were open and locked in place, one squads of four Heavy Defencer ExoFrames in diamond formation stood before each, bearing the standard Rimeshock impactor lance and external double hoofblade combination.
>The arch above them was decorated by a large mural, two highly familiar alicorns surrounded by hundreds of Crystal ponies in archaic armors or ExoFrames, and a stunning variety of Changelings, ranging from shorter than Ferron to a few nearly 8' tall.
>Behind the Twin Sisters, three Ethereal Golems stood at rigid attention; exacting triangular shields in the left hand of each, the most prominent one bore a heavily spiked combat shield, second carrying an incredibly plain impactor tipped lance, while the third held an unusual warscythe.
>The high wall to your left was covered by countless crates, boxes, barrels, a majority large enough to fit ten ponies the size of your dam inside.
>Numerous mares sorting through and stacking crystal slabs towards the end, no attention was paid to you, the sound of Power constantly humming in their quiet background.
>To the right, a three level transfer station was far larger than New Canterlot's version:
>The ground level featured an unusual 200M, if not longer, solid crystalline wall with ten entrances; a single old, dark purple Kingdom style trader's tent had been neatly kept at the corner closest to you.
>The flaps had been closed down in a specific marener which meant the owner had chosen to live elsewhere.
>What you could see refracting from the second floor's ceiling was an almost filled foyer, hundreds of Crystal ponies, only a few with clothing other than ribbons, bows, or ultralight scarves, lounging on large circular rugs, the groups varying from herds of four to several dozen.
>Couches and a few chairs were scattered around for those traveling or without a herd, four small check in stations sorting through the chaos, though you do spot a number of.. batponies.
>Batponies in EXTREMELY thick, full body covering, puffy Empire winter clothing no less, the fluorescent threads, bulky wing warmers, and thick, darkened visors rather amusing to see first hoof.

>Sensing and feeling slight attention set on you, the ExoFrame protected squads stare through their wraparound visors.
>Hard, and in extreme confusion no less.
[1d6 = 2] <Reaction
"Does this remind you of certain places, sister?"
"Yes... it does."

>>393242
>Pursing his lips with a grim expression, he nods at her avatar.
"Right, the legal ramifications can be dealt with later. Not something I even want to consider running damage control for yet."

>Stepping back into the undisturbed room of the Storm King, he looks around cautiously despite being aware he wouldn't be able to see any impending electromagnetic interference.
>Receiving an all clear, he heads towards the conceptual forge and sets his graviton "gun" down.
>An arched pair of eyebrows are directed towards his assistant.
"They? What do errant electrons want with you?"

>A scowl darkens his face behind his helmet as the nature of his conceptual gravarm's foundation prevents him from removing its anti-psionic properties without unraveling the weapon itself.
>He brusquely waves a hand hrough the half-formed strands of ideas he had hoped to weave and instead begins adjusting their pattern to minimize the effects of said property in an attempt at damage control.
>Shifting to try and create a more palatable environment for containment and coaxing, he stops as Shiibo delivers a canned response straight from the 90's.
>With an unamused scan of the room, he draws Four Storms in its shovel head configuration and strikes the pommel claw against the floor.

[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]< Stormsearch Mystic Lightning Elemental

"I was told all guests were welcome and would be unaccosted. She is mine."
>He experimentally reaches out with his elemental search and Empress granted Lightning channeling capabilities to rebuff any unwanted voyeurs.

>>392974

"Not really had a chance to speak with them. They all seemingly left after the battle."

>Place thee armored-record carry?
>Oh the hardcases
>Looking over to the monolith, Clemency hops off and gets the one not being used
>Going back to the cockpit, he looks around seeing if there's' a slot before deciding to place it on the seat
>Hopefully it'll help with the translating

>Looking at the Luminary, he sees her question Stellar Claw like a doctor
>Mentally, he's also taking note of her questions and answering it in his mind
>"No thoughts, no urges, no hallucinations..."
>His then focuses on the Luminary now examining him
>All these classes of exposure rising in severity
"If I'm supposed to be dead, then something else is going on right?"
>Remaining still, Clemency inspects the mare's movements before seeing the cloud of Moonlight
>He breathes in the cloud, hoping it'll cleanse him of this severe amount of Anti
>But how did it get there in the first place anyways?
>At least there''s some levity between Stellar Claw and her
>Clemency shrugs
"Go ahead and give me the worst. Let's see how bad it is."

>Looking down, he sees the second half of his delivery arrived
>He sees the two magnifying glasses
>Probably the best looking ones he's seen
>Seeing Stellar Claw hand one to him, Clemency smiles and takes the magnifying glass
"Oh, thank you!"
>Following suit, he also looks at the Harpy craft with it

>>392237
>I only had the feeling of suppressing a sigh at that.
>At least she still has sarcasm.
>Or at least what I hope is sarcasm.
>Nodding along, I keep from telling her that I only really understood sonar.
>Its what some whales have, so she was part whale.
>fatty
"Well, that's some sort of good news, I suppose."

"Feeling better is good, as well."
>Depending on how much is in there, I could look up and research some things while we were traveling along.
>...
"Yeah, it would probably be best for you to wait until we get back to Razorback to start experimenting."
(I don't WANT to know what she considers biologically safe.)

>>393283
>Stuck in looping cycles until you bring the conjoined weapon into existence, 'Shiibo' crouches down to protect herself, shouting at millions of tiny, black dots appearing in the Room, lines of Gravity and Lightning bent around each.
'GRAVITONS! I KNEW THEY COULDN'T BE TRUSTED!'
>Mentally blanking out at masses warping in from minute gateways across Planes and Tallus, impossible numbers appear in direct view.
>Orbiting in calm, distinct and thoroughly familiar patterns of external study, approximations of the avatar's limited clothing, then yours, form into cohesive shapes.
>Slight forward dips are given from a select number, all save a few scattering back to where they came from, the A.I.'s face aghast, then angered.
'What? They're curious of what we wear?!'
>Standing up to cautiously survey, close to thirty Gravitons are marked within the Room, returned to drifting in inexorably blithe, random motions.
>Puzzled at her displays briefly, 'Shiibo' spins around to face you with a sharply curving smile.
>Left hand on stomach, the right reaching up to place on the same cheek, her voice becomes slightly husky.
'Hm-hm-hm~! What a remarkable surprise from you, sir~! I could never have imagined you being so willing to risk everything to save me from the grasp of certain death!'
>Eyebrows raised, both arms reach forwards to clasp across her chest, leaning forwards and changing to an eager, faintly demanding tone.
'How DO you intend to claim me, sir? A challenge of wits and subtlety perhaps, ensuring I have no choice but to lose? A test of strength, endurance, and willpower, which you shall no doubt win?
Will you drag me off to somepony with a complete lack of ethics and moral standards, downloading me into a well tailored, pliant body, one tailor made to your wonderfully EXACT and fulfilling specifications?'
>Freezing for two seconds, the avatar stands upright, right eye twitching once before straightening her outfit pensively, then clears her digital air.
'AHEM. ...where was I? Ah, yes-'

>Bringing up an image of Denra seated alone in the Pagoda, the avatar gives it a harsh side eye.
'Sharpened Words is a former Solar Diplomat, considered disgraced by most Solar factions due to his confirmed Anti-induced erratic behaviors. Such charges will become admissible when or if approved by a Lunar Judge, yet he is somewhat pony non grata for now.
Princess Luna, her Council, and certain Starborn have.. decently regarded diplomatic protocols, yet their status towards Razorback will be thoroughly damaged. They may consider Swiss cheesing us, sir, given the Lunar predisposition towards Anti. I do not know how to counteract their inevitable furor yet.'
>Pausing to bring up a meeting between Twisted Wing, Naliyna, and Roust in the Mess Hall, she takes on a more serious posture.
'Three highly actionable diplomatic measures are available sir. I understand the intricacies of interspecies relations well enough to gauge which would be most likely to succeed alone, though doing none will cause significant faction aggression.
Sapphire Kiwi is the primary avenue, but we cannot approach her indirectly nor externally. That would not only be treated as a psychological and spiritual weakness, she would consider humans as a blindside threat. That would cause her to retract Matron status under hostility, which would entirely destroy the current Protectorate status, allowing direct aggression from Canterlot, the Crystal Empire, Stalliongrad, Las Pegasus remnants, and others seeking revenge. A strictly face to snout meeting is necessary.
Her well meaning delegations of Starborn to undertake tasks and deal with situations which they are specialized in is considered to be remarkably temperate. Excepting her terrifically inappropriate version of hostile negotiation, however, she is beloved by dedicated combatants. Acquiring her support will reduce risk factors by over sixty percent. And possibly more.
Naliyna Remostrine's assistance in clarifying Razorback's Anti-infected actions would significantly reduce concerns among the Empire, Independents, and Moorites, with a marginal proportion of Lunars. Her history is exceptionally appealing among most equines given long standing traumas, yet her recall is often poor at best. I have confirmed Anti is >95% responsible for such.
Friendly, warm, cheerful, dedicated, and loyal to her.. stallion, she has never been considered lackluster nor a burden despite those difficulties. She is the second mostly highly accepting equine towards humans, yet may be the most critical.
Lady Roust's highly positive relationship with humans, ten in particular, may be measured strictly against humans being labeled as willing or unwilling agents. She has immediate access to the Changeling Hive, including her Queen. Her reports, of which I have retrieved the correct versions, are remarkably different from those humans have written.
She is a well known, steadfast, trusted, and honorable, factor of Razorback's success. While she prefers the sub-Matron duties, I must state Vanguard genotypes are incapable of falsehood without excellent reasoning, and do not waste time in decision making.
Despite being a Changeling, her open attitude, clarity of conscience, and bonds of duty will garner support among the neutral, Lunar-leaning, and questioning Solar aligned factions. Independents, batponies, and Lunars prefer her as well.'
>Left leg retracting and placed behind the right, the avatar's expression shifts to concern, both hands set in attention, head tilting left with a small grin.
'There are certain absolutes on this world, sir. The full cooperation of all three are required to reach those, however limited they may be. All three may sincerely forgive Razorback's inexplicable, unseen, unknown, and unwilling states as being Anti carriers.
To place the answer in your hands: how would you prefer to reach for the Stars, only to land on the Moon?'
[1d6 = 1] <Choice

>>393367
>Setting the charcoal stick in her tome, Stellar exchanges her studious air for pure mischief, snout crinkling deeply which fully exposes more thin, spiderwebbed white scars across it.
"Constructs don't react to individuals without weapons and armor that aren't displaying aggression. That includes shouting, posturing, pointing, or similar. I've been able to walk through some a few times for study, so long as I don't do something dumb like try to grab a weapon.
Scouts might even follow non-threatening individuals to investigate elsewhere if a big enough command pair is around."
>The batmare's cloak shifts as she turns, splaying out her free wingclaws before motioning at Blackhorn politely.
"If you can locate a pair try to reach out them, and they should recognize her as one-that-has-become-two, or however that's called."

>Picking up the heavy case and returning to Shattering Skies, Stellar points backwards with her right set of wingclaws.
"Pulled that one out above the top whatever-they-are little round things in the rear."
>Walking behind the Harpy gunboat, below the top rear projection is an open, rectangle slot which accepts the unit with ease.
>Lifeweave foaming across and hardening into a solid panel, taking notice of the four main, wide rectangular vectored thrust systems, six secondaries, then a number of smaller ones, several seemed to be undergoing routine checks.

*"Aen success, ye grace. Havest connected thee Sixth Fleet datastores."*
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <Translation: Shattering Skies
[1d6+2 = (3+2) = 5] <Translation: Guillotine
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <Intact Communication Protocols
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d6+4 = (4+4) = 8]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]

>Trying her best not to study the Luminary, then utterly failing after three seconds while the mare thinks, Stellar picks out a new tome to begin drawing.
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <M.Sketching
[1d6+4 = (3+4) = 7]
[1d6+4 = (5+4) = 9]
[1d6+4 = (2+4) = 6]
"Yes. We will not know for sure until we can sit down and discuss further though."
>Taking a deep inhale, a sweetly toned scent and taste emerges, reminiscent of tropical air mixed with the bitingly invigorating high Airstreams.
>Head tilting from one side to the next for half a minute, the Half-Naghtmare stills before small Moonlit fireworks cross the kanpri visor.
"Seems.. or not? ...no, not quite. Thaaaat is weird. Localized Anti inside you is scattered and fragmarented, like parts or pieces which have been fractured, incapable of being restored by each other. Hm. Another variable to deliberate on later."
>Tracking up and down three times slowly, Fifty-Three's head turns to the Cultist, giving an 'acceptable' nod, then focuses back onto you.
"That was much quicker than the other humans. You are both officially clear; no Anti remains within you, equipmarent, weapons, armor, or other.
First of all: the Anti you've been producing has been directly absorbed by General Sapphire Kiwi since however long ago it took hold."
"Wat."
>Small Lumin scales above both eyebrows raising, the earth mare emits a quiet snicker at Stellar Claw's dumbfounded look.
"I know that stare and see it a lot. Sapphire Kiwi is the Ferron name she was born with. Twisted Wing is the Lunar name she had been given in an honored game of random chance. The original mare was a pegasus Dusk Strider whom was caught in a Stormdrift Cloud and marenaged to escape, though just barely. Don't know how or why though, sorry. Never asked."
>Swaying sideways once, the chimes inert now, glancing from side to side briefly before the kanpri false-visor returns to calm royal blue and purple swirls.
"Second: now, if she doesn't immediately kill you in one of a billion mareners, there's a bat and a Bit of good news: four of her Enchains tear Anti apart given enough time. One stonewalls a certain amount which prevents critical mass, another deharmonizes the majority, another was confirmed as negating a threshold amount, but the rest do next to nothing.
Third: nearly every location a human or pony of Razorback has gone to since the week after you all left Canterlot delivered increasingly worrying reports of unusual illnesses. That includes ponies whom joined later, humans that arrived, etcetera. You see where this is going. I have few clues how all of you were exposed to Anti, but the pattern is explicit and clear.
Fourth: the most reports were from Las Pegasus and Stalliongrad, compared to the Crystal Empire where certain individuals spread it. Lunar Villages, Independent towns, and smaller locations are secondary. We've isolated majority infection zones but until purging Anti from all the humans here, then Razorback, we cannot allow contact with others, otherwise it will rebound.
The other small bat of good news is there were incredibly low numbers of reports across the Moors, Navarchy, and Ferron lands. We believe, but do not yet know for sure, portions of the Void may be inherently disruptive and possibly antagonistic towards Anti. Since none of Razorback has been targeted by Flitrakes, Screamers, or similar utterly hostile beings, we will have to study at length to determine why.
Questions? Commarents? Concerns?"
"Just one: how long does it take for common symptoms to occur?"
"From one minute to one week. Individual resistance is a poorly understood factor. We do not study Anti, only destroy it where and when encountered. For right now I would prefer both of you remain here until full decontamination has been achieved. I will return once that is completed."
>Scaled helmet bowing, the Luminary swivels right, head lowering and tromping forwards, chimes silent for six steps before ringing out in loud tones, exhaling another cloud in front of her.

>Lifting the flat diamondine mirror into view, a variety of bound spells activate and present noteworthy, if rather basic information:
>Immediately determining the composition of Shattering Skies to be the Otherworld Harpy material known as lifeweave, passing over a weapon marks that one as lifeblaze.
>Enacting a standard entropic analysis, the material was determined to be 8,000 years old at most but likely closer to 5,000.
"Pretty neat, huh?"

>>393369
>The sound of an EXPENSIVE component blowing out, similar to a fuse yet higher pitched, caused Wild to pitch forwards.
"Why.
>Swiveling around, the leading repair tendril points straight downwards, lifting up to mark a line directly upwards which ends at you.
>...yep, definitely in range.
>Of what, you had no idea.
>Why?
>Now that was a fine answer.
>Wiggling twice before rejoining the remainder, Wild exhales through exterior speakers, thankfully not in an electronic tone, but a more normal, somewhat humanish one.
"Before I felt tiny, as if I were drowning in a barrel of tasty mare milk but wouldn't be able to drink it all. Now I might be able to make some cheese."
STOP TALKING ABOUT FOOD! WE DON'T EAT!
"I refuse your objectively silly demarend, and I have already 'eaten' in case you did not notice. You will be what I REPLACE next if you continue, understood?"
...fiiiiine.
"Good."
>Piecing together nearly three-quarters of the head unit, colors ripple into her new pattern while each repair unit drops down to collect more sand.
"The majority will not interfere with you whether biologically, mentally, emotionally, psychologically, spiritually, or otherwise. Additions are external equipment; flashlights, cameras, information displays, analysis systems, small secondary, tertiary, or backup weapons. I will not produce harmful versions even should you ask."
>Torso swiveling left, right, back to center, the Eldritch-Android's right hand lifts up to collect an anchor from the left shoulder cabin, then hangs it directly above the reconstruction taking place.
"Attachments range from higher specification, complex wearable objects to compact implanted versions. Those will be referred to sufficiently knowledgeable individuals, primarily biological researchers, doctors, and psychologists regarding their possible usage."
>Shearing off individual segments via repair tendrils, strands of black mass raise to hold each in position, which are melted and reshaped into more or less appropriately sized armor plates.
"REPLACING the connections which I had JUST replaced!"
[1d6+14 = (3+14) = 17] <Grade 1 Auto-Repair
[1d6+15 = (2+15) = 17]
[1d6+15 = (1+15) = 16]
[1d6+13 = (1+13) = 14] <Grade 2 Auto-Repair
[1d6+13 = (3+13) = 16]
[1d6+13 = (3+13) = 16]
[1d6+20 = (3+20) = 23] <Tryptaran Autorestoration
[1d6+4 = (1+4) = 5] <Repair Tendril #1
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <RT-#2
[1d6+3 = (5+3) = 8] <RT-#3
[1d6+4 = (6+4) = 10] <RT-#4
[1d6+3 = (6+3) = 9] <RT-#5
[1d6+2 = (5+2) = 7] <RT-#6
[1d6+2 = (1+2) = 3] <RT-#7
[1d6+1 = (4+1) = 5] <RT-#8