Set six years after season 6, Occupied Equestria presents an alternative history where the Changelings have conquered half of Equestria, while a former Equestrian colony - soured to Princess Twilight's notion of harmony with all creatures because of their encounters with griffins - Invaded and took the other half. In Baltimare and the Equestrian Southeast, the magic of friendship has weakened, as Communists, Changeling infiltrators, Fascists, gangs, and corrupt creepy politicians threaten the city. This role play is based in large part upon the Equestria at War mod for Hearts of Iron 4, and uses D&d 3.5e mechanics.
The long train ride to Bales is over, with Brie, Onyx, and Spark reaching their destination a little bruised but not dead or arrested. Before them lies a new and unfamiliar city and world, at the crossroads of Equestria's past and present, and also the Changeling Occupied Zone and East Equestria. In Baltimare, Dark Star prepares to set out on a mission to track down and arrest unfaithful and unreliable local law enforcement that have been leaking information to rebel forces. Silver may finally have a new toy he can use to clear the Catacombs of their undead presence. Iron, meanwhile, has drifted further into an temple in his search for a treasure sough by an archaeological expedition that was ambushed by bandits.
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>>102253It's tricky, but Silver attempts to use his magic to at least keep the ice cram stable, so they don't suddenly come crashing down. He also makes sure to grab some plastic silverware so the colts can actually
eat their cold treats. "Now, I think I saw small park not too far from here. Let us get there before something bad happens to our ice cream."
>>102254It’s a good thing, because the colts are otherwise fairly messy. The fact that it is winter, and somewhat cold outside, also helps.
A park exists a few blocks over to the East. Something about the park makes it feels like it’s less artificial, and more of a snap shot of what this land looked like prior to urbanization - a somewhat swampy deciduous forest. There is a stream along the park, a small pond with uneven edges that must grow and shrink with the rains, a number of oak trees, and a few benches
>>102255It is so very different from Severyana, or even Manehattan, but this feels...nice. Like this is just right for this place. Whether it's a bench, a picnic table, or even just a sturdy fallen tree, Silver looks around the park for a good place for them to sit. "I almost feel as if I should have brought blanket for us to sit on. Can you help me look for good place to sit, little ones?"
Mint Marine shoots off, and after a half minute finds a log, while White Orchid finds a bench
>>102257He at least tests the log before making a decision, to make sure it can hold their weight, and making sure it's not swarming with termites or other insects.
>>102258The log seems a little rotted, and its structural integrity is questionable
>>102260He looks to Mint Marine and White Orchid with this information. "How about we try bench?"
>>102262Silver gives Mint an apologetic look before trotting over to the bench White Orchid found.
>>102263And thus, they sit on the bench. It’s next to a trail
>>102264"Maybe we should trot along this trail when we have finished with our ice cream, hmm?" Silver takes a small bite out of the top of his ice cream, grimacing from the feeling of the cold against his teeth.
>>102265“Okay...”
The ponies start to pick up their oversized ice creams
>>102266He lets out a sigh once the cold feeling passes. "We do not have to if you do not want to. I will not force issue." Silver continues licking up his ice cream, enjoying the taste of it.
I can only imagine if we had had this back when I was colt... >>102268Silver pauses in his enjoyment of the cold creamy goodness to look at the colt. "I mean I will not force you to go along with whatever ideas I come up with. I took you two out here, so it is only right that you two get to decide what we do and what we do not do."
>>102269“But we always follow what the adults say”
>>102197Iron nods at the duo.
"Good. Follow me."
With that, he starts descending towards the combatants to loot their corpses for Cauldron to get more ammo off of them, as well as a weapon change if she so desires.
>>102248I'm practically offering my mobile data to be here so I'd say I won't last very long. I heard there's at least some parts that regained electricity so maybe it'll end soon. >>102271No Submachine gun ammo, but they have rifles and lanterns
>>102273Iron looks at Cauldron.
"I think we should change the coat shredder for now, since you say there is no more metal in it to fire. Pick the coat piercer on the ground and as many ammo as you can carry."
>>102274She picks up a rifle, and several clips. Pear does something with a golden chalice by the stream
>>102275Iron decides to peer closer into Pear's actions.
(She seems to be planning something.)
>>102270"And that is good. It is good to at least consider what your elders say. But they do not have total control of your life. There are decisions that you can make on your own, even now, as long as you understand consequences of these decisions. As you grow older, you will find more things you will have control over, and like many other growing colts I imagine you will start to resent when elders make decisions for you, even when they are made in good faith."
Silver wonders to himself if it's weird to give these colts this type of advice when he's just recently met. "I suppose there is balance to be had between doing things as you are told and doing things on your own initiative." He has a lick of his ice cream. "I will tell you what; for today, while I am watching you, you two can decide where we go and what we do, give you taste of self-determination. I will protect you, and try to offer guidance where I can, but I will only be following."
>>102276She places the Chalice in the water, whispers into it, then carefully pour the water back into the stream
>>102277Mint Marine:
"We could walk around the pond... I like to do that"
>>102278Silver nods. "Alright then, we will do that after we finish our ice cream."
[1d20 = 13]>>102278Iron blinks.
(Ah, it seems to be praying to the Gods in the river.)
Turning to the path ahead, he decides to ensure Cauldron takes the ammo of that one porter.
"Let us make haste for every second we leave them alone, their ambush will be be better made."
He tries to remain cautious as he walks, trying to find any clues of ambush or left behind goods.
Rolling spot to find anything as he walks along and possibly spot ambush signs.
>>102280>>102280They seem to have left the tavern. There are some mining tools and bags left behind
>>102279The ice cream begins to get messy as the colts' licking intensifies
>>102281Iron decides to rummage the bags for something of use, encouraging the others to do so.
>>102282Pick axe, flare, flood light, battery, towel, vanish remover, careful chest... what is “useful”?
>>102284There are indeed two sticks of dynamite
[1d20 = 11]>>102285>>102286Oh boy. Battery running out.He picks them up and passes it to Cauldron.
"You should know how to use these."
(Hopefully.)
With that, he takes one last look before moving forwards, making sure he spots any ambushes as top priority.´
Rolling spot again.
>>102287No enemies are visible within the cavern
>>102288Man, this is tense.Iron feels a trickle of sweat on his crest.
(Where are they?)
He keeps moving forward, trying his best to go from cover to cover.
>>102289Not much cover is possible within the cavern, save for the darkness itself, which is absolutely perfect. Nothing can be seen that does not have light shined on it
>>102290Iron exhales a bit, looking back at his two companions.
"Where do you two think these ponies are? Would they be waiting outside or at some part of the cavern?"
>>102291“I don’t know... they could be”
>>102281Apologies. I was helping out with some Father's Day stuff. Just carried a 50 pound safe and about 30 pounds of shelving up three flights of stairs.Silver is suddenly thankful he still has a couple "borrowed" bar napkins in his bags, as he remembers he never asked for napkins from the parlor.
I wonder if I was ever that messy of eater when I was colt. >>102292Finally the power came back on.Iron shrugs as he keeps moving.
"They would be waiting in a lit area so they would probably have to wait back at the entrance at least."
>>102293White Orchid asks
“You wear green uniform... why?”
>>102294Cauldron nods
Iron’s move
>>102295My move? Holy hecc. Think I can get a conga line going?Iron tries to recall how much time they took to reach the end of the cavern in order to gauge how ready would the bandits be to ambush the three of them as he walks forward.
(Perhaps they have a lot of time to prepare.)
>>102296A couple minutes since they left. Iron spent time going through their bags
>>102297I meant by going in the temple entrance the first time through and reaching the end part of the cavern.
Thank you for the minute tracking of my actions tho.
Iron ponders on the power of booping a bandit.
>>102298How long has he been inside? Probably as long as an hour
>>102295Silver hesitates. "I am...soldier, of sorts. Sometimes I find things for somepony. Sometimes I help fight bad ponies when there are no good ponies who can."
Sometimes I do not always help good ponies, he leaves out.
If I disappear again, it's because I'm out for dinner. >>102300“Oh, you were a soldier? That’s pretty neat. My father was a soldier.”
>>102299So it took him an hour for jim to get the end...
Yep, bandits definitely have a good ambush waiting for us.
Iron treks far more cautiously as the time needed to get back to the entrance leaves quite some time for the bandits to set up an ambush.
He looks at his two companions to gauge their overall wellbeing, as well as any visible combat equipment on them.
(Both mares should have a weapon.)
>>102302It took an hour to walk to the first area, taste the water because iron likes to test for diseases apparently, cross the stream, walk up the incline, investigate the dead bodies, read a letter, walk down, investigate idols, kick solid stone walls, dive under some water, clear rocks, read frescos, investigate a treasure room, investigate a different treasure room, try to make cauldron tie pots of gold on him, try to make cauldron take those sane pots off, walk back to the top, ambush some bandits, get pinned down, spook the bandits away, pull a bullet from Cauldron, and rummage through the bandit’s stuff. Iron has done one hell of a lot of time consuming shit since entering the cavern besides just walking.
Cauldron is still kind of pissy, and Pear is a little anxious
>Pear carrying a weapon >>102303Ah, you mean an hour in general. Ok, then the bandits didn't have too much time to set up an ambush, but Iron's cautious walk is still the same, albeit somewhat faster.
Iron sure hopes she's pissy over getting shot and not for following him into doing risky work.
Pear's lack of weaponry slightly unnerves him but figures her small size and lack of training means she cannot use what Cauldron has.
They walk ever forward, hopefully without walking right into an ambush and reaching the exit