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Occupied Equestria - Into No Pony's Land
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103001
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

In the North, in Bales, Brie has just aquired a carriage with which he shall make the journey into the Changeling Occupied Zone, alongt with Spark and Onyx. In Baltimare, Dark Star recouperates from injuries sustained in a near fatal encounter with a Changeling opperative. Silver helps treat two traumatized orphans, and Iron examines ancient secrets in the Jungles
1697 replies and 153 files omitted.
DS
Oj3mF
?
No.103846
103847 103848
>>103834
"No Sir. Her Eyes turned Green, i asked Her how Chrysalis was. she Said Hail Chrysalis. she shot me in the barrel then i turned her into mush with my shotgun. Then.."
He Turns and looks at Blue
"Miss Skies Her Got me to the hospital, if not for her i would be dead....again."

DS
Oj3mF
?
No.103847
>>103846
*Miss skies Here
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103848
103849 103855
>>103846
"Well, it looks like Miss Skies earned her pay. It seems she identified herself as working under the Hegemony... It's possible that Hegemony agents are working to incite partisans. You know, on the train that was attacked, there was a pony who was completely drained by Changelings, suggesting there were Changelings in that group of rebels that attacked."
Skies: "Or, he met a bar slut, got embarrassed when he was drained and didn't want his wife to know, so he blamed in on the rebel attack..."
Sea Breeze
"There's that possibility as well, but Changeling influence needs to be investigated"
DS
Oj3mF
?
No.103849
103851
>>103848
"Hmmmmmmmm who was this pony?"
KnZni
?
No.103850
103854
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103851
103852
>>103849
"We don't know, some passenger"
DS ooc
Oj3mF
?
No.103852
103853
>>103851
Does Dark Star know they are on the train?
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103853
103855
>>103852
Who? Brie, Spark, and Onyx? I don’t think he does
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103854
103856
            [Read more]            
DS
Oj3mF
?
No.103855
103857
>>103853
>>103848
"It Feels "Off" to me"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103856
103859
>>103854
As the two ponies bicker, Iron and Cauldron approach
a ‘fresco’ is a painting on a wall. I meant to say ‘frieze’ which is a sculpted scene kind of like a painting
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103857
103858
>>103855
“What do you mean?”
DS
Oj3mF
?
No.103858
104009
>>103857
"I Don't Know, Something feels Strange About it."
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103859
103860
>>103856
Hm. Not sure to ask them questions or go for loot...
Fuck it, question time and a party split-up to ensure pots are safe and sound.
Iron uses his hoof to signal Cauldron to go ahead and ensure the pots are right where they left them.
"I want to ask some questions," he whispers to her, hoping it does not throw a stick in their snare.

Apporaching even further, he meets the two expedition ponies.
"What made the leader sign the vassalage in the first place?"
KnZni
?
No.103860
103861
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103861
103862
>>103860
The dichotomy between Pear's admitedly cute explanation of a secret fire inside the leader's heart for both her physical visage and what she represented to him to the point where he witnessed what probably the nuns back at the abbey meant, and Grant's gritty viewpoint that also made quite some sense tactic-wise seeing how the bigger tribes, throwing away their honor to ensure victory, leaves Iron with a small grin and frown, emotions swimming around his mind that he can't make sense of.
"What did happen to the United Tribes after the failed vassalage? I thought they would have taken the lands for themselves by now."
(Or maybe they all died due to that disease Pear told me long ago)
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103862
103863
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103863
103870
>>103862
Iron nods at this new nugget of information, somewhat transfixed. Pear has awoken the colt in Iron.
"So do you mean that the cities themselves are still lived in but are now filled with non-Natives? Why would they start to live here again when a lot of ponies died from disease? Did they know what caused it? Did they only need to move the livestock elsewhere and not have a drought?"
Hopefully Cauldron can wake him up of his childish stupor.
Unless she doesn't want to.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.103868
103869 103870
>>103844
Well, I certainly fell asleep.

Silver doesn't know if Mint is talking about changelings as a species or the Changeling nation.
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103869
>>103868
Don't worry. GM went to bed too.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103870
103871
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103871
103872
>>103870
Iron blinks in confusion.
"I do wander why the gods made them suffer that, though. Were they getting too weak and stable, only threat being amongst themselves and not nature itself?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103872
103873
>>103871
Grant:
“Humph! It was not gods who did it, but none other than the Equestrian government and society”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103873
103874
>>103872
Iron looks at Grant like a newborn who heard something brand new.
"How do you know it was them and not the ones above us?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103874
103875
>>103873
He looks at Iron with a very serious expression
“In a way... it was the ones ‘above you’ in that it was the malfeasance of a ruling class.”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103875
103876
>>103874
Iron nods, knowing what he said is right to some extent.
"While I do not think gods rule in a direct sense, they did let it happen."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103876
103877
>>103875
“Pfft! The Equestrians didn’t need the permission of any phantom gods to do as they did. By the contrary, they felt quite entitled to speak for the gods.”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103877
103878 103880
>>103876
He shakes his head.
(What a stubborn pony.)
"Do keep in mind that the gods led us here and saved your flank from being a bandit's toy."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103878
103879 103880
>>103877
“Heh, if you say so”

Pear blurts out:
“The Equestrians only intended to spread Harmony”

Grant retorts
“And they ended up spreading only misery”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103879
103880
>>103878
Iron's left eye twitches.
(This pony...)

Although Grant does make sense, he feels deep within himself that something else caused it.
"Perhaps this idea of harmony was only a ruse to trick them into letting their guard down. Maybe the Equestrians in charge misused it to further their own gains."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103880
103881
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103881
103882
>>103880
Iron blinks at Cauldron's presence.
(Was she here this whole time? Maybe I got too engrossed with the talk to notice her walking in and out and checking the pots.)

Iron simply looks slightly defeated at this discussion.
(Why can these things not be solved by hoof to hoof combat?)
"Grant does make some sense, but Pear is right in them not knowing unless we think the Equestrians intentionally poisoned the population."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103882
103883
>>103881
Something something “Cutie Pox blankets,” something something that only happened once, in a besieged fortress much further north and to a different population than the Marexica, blah blah blah

Grant: “so Dr. Faucet tells me you have already removed some items?”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103883
103884
>>103882
Kek.
Iron nods.
"Nothing of historical value."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103884
103885
>>103883
“And how did you ascertain that?”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103885
103886
>>103884
"Because it does not have any drawings or writing on it."
Iron shrugs.
"Besides, the frescos you mentioned give a pretty clear picture even to me, so you have that part covered."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103886
103887
>>103885
He looks over to Pear for some kind of support:
“I saw coins placed in pots, and several masks”

Grant:
“Coins? Coins provide available insight as to what time the the events took place, and can also tell archeologists who was trading with who. Masks are also of great historical importance, because they tell us about religious practices and customs.”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103887
103888
>>103886
Iron nods.
"I see. This means you need about... 5 coins at most from each pot and perhaps some of the masks."
He leans over to Cauldron.
"What would those masks cost again?" he whispers to his partner.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103888
103889
>>103887
Cauldron
“I don’t even know”

Grant:
“Hardly, as any coin could be a view into the world at the time. What if the one coin that would show trade with Somnambula is not among that five? Then we would be deprived of the important historical knowledge”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103889
103890
>>103888
Well that mask part is boggled.
"Seeing how these bandits pretty much perished at overall equal times, it is highly likely they have not used more than two types of coins to trade with others."
(I hope that makes sense. I think I am going to intimidate rather quickly if not.)
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103890
103891
>>103889
“You misunderstand. These coins are not from the bandits, but from the Marexican rebels. The question is whether any coins from foreign countries entered and are among the horde. In any event, these all belong in a museum for public viewing”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103891
103892
>>103890
Iron squints his eyes at Grant's last part. "You do realize that me and my partner allowed all four of us to even reach this far."
He puffs out his chest to show his collection of bullet wounds.
"You may say that your female partner guided us here, but if we did not clear the bandits we would not be having this discussion right now and you would have been killed and thrown into a ditch like the other members of your team after you stopped being useful and Pear would be either coweing in fear, lost in the jungle or in civilization empty hoofed."
He breathes in.
"I am being quite generous in allowing to part ways with some coins to begin with, so I would say you take the deal. If you really want to, you can inspect the inside of pots and those other two improvised ones repurposed as one for any foreign coins."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103892
103893
22EB0620-E0C7-4319-8444-CC4F23ED05AC.jpeg
>>103891
This quiets Grant for more than a moment, and he physically back away
“I cannot deny that you and... this fine mare have been more than a little helpful. It seems that a finders fee may be in order”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103893
103894
>>103892
Iron simply cocks his eyebrow.
"What do you propose, then?"
Is the pic Pear's face? Man, I'm not going to have her in a positive relationship anytime soon.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103894
103895
>>103893
Yes. Yes it is.
“Well, perhaps a 10% return on any gain netted after we get back to Baltimare, and a mention in the papers”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103895
103896
>>103894
Sorry, Pear. I promised Cauldron some good money to keep her around for this quest and I'm not going to break my word.
Iron simply deadpans at the poor trade.
"10 percent? Do you take me for a fool? You will take 5 percent while I take 95 percent, otherwise I will simply take the pots with me and leave you two behind. After all, you have all of the temple ripe for finding historical knowledge. Some chalices in the river and some dropped coins scattered inside the temple to pick up, too. You can take away the mention in the papers. I will not hold it against you."
Iron leans towards Cauldron again.
"Do you think they might accept only to break their part of the deal?" he whispers to the street-wise zebra.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103896
103897
>>103895
Cauldron, whispering:
“He made some kind of deal with those bandits, and didn’t care when they were shot in front of him. I have no idea what he thinks, but I can almost guarantee you whatever happens, the first ponies he talks to in Saltmane will be the Territorial Police. I don’t think he intended to honor his deal with the Bandits.”

Grant:
“95%?! Good heavens, that’s absurd, and most definitely out of custom for finders payments”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103897
103898 103899
>>103896
Iron nods.
"It seems we might need to eliminate him."
Good thing Iron shouldn't appear in any sort of Baltimare records. Cauldron could be found out, so... I might be forced into doing something naughty to the stallion. Let's see what he does next
Iron shrugs.
"Fine then. I will go on my merry way and pick all of those pots up. Be sure to pick up the coins on the floor. Maybe they might be what you are looking for."
He starts walking to where he assumes the pots are, ears on alert and ready to be interrupted by anything.
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103898
>>103897
That first line is a whisper to Cauldron.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103899
103900
>>103897
Cauldrons ears perk up

Grant:
“You can’t do that! These are historical artifacts that belong in a museum!”


Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103900
103901
>>103899
"Sure I can. You have other history pieces inside the temple for you to substitute them. The pots themselves are not worthy of historical value by themselves, there are some gold coins on the ground to pick up and present to your superiors and you have history to spare with the frescos. You have other options than the pots."

Iron leans to Cauldron again.
"Be at the ready, Grant may try to attack us. It should justify killing him," he whispers to her. "Spare the mare if you can, but if she tries anything funny, you can do what is best."
With that, Iron continues his slow walk towards those juicy pots filled with money.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103901
103902
>>103900
“Alright, tell you what. How about a 20% finders fee?”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103902
103903
>>103901
Iron fakes a long yawn, clearly uninterested as he walks even further.
It would be funny to be jailed by police into doing Black Hooves service.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103903
103904
>>103902
The pots are indeed there
“You only found this because of us, you know@
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103904
103905
>>103903
"I believe I have already told you why that point is moot. Do you want to be reminded of your impending demise with the bandits? You would have died and not even see the pots to begin with. You have all of the history scattered in other parts of the temple."
He slows attaches one of the pots to his person, taking his sweet time.
Don't tell me I have to accept his in order not to break the rest of the plot.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103905
103906
>>103904
Nah
Pear slinks off to the area around the entrance, Grant stomps around, complains to pear, then heads towards the entrance. Cauldron gets to the pots. Grant ultimately lopes over to near Iron’s position
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103906
103907
>>103905
Iron takes note.
"They might try to ambush us," he whispers to her. "Be at the ready."
Seeing Grant close to him, he awaits any sort of response while he finishes strapping his first pot and starting the second one.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103907
103908
>>103906
He hears
“Raiding native grave sites is a crime”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103908
103909
>>103907
"Good thing I am a native, then."
(Is he looking to be killed or something?)
"Why did you not bring up that to the band of raiders you were with before? Maybe they would have relented in their search and let you go."
He chuckles, then turns stoic.
"If it did not dissuade them, why should I?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103909
103910
>>103908
“Ugh! Very well.” He lopes on by Iron, past the two of them, and disappears out of line of sight beyond the appex of the cavern trail
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103910
103911
>>103909
"I smell an ambush." he says out loud for Cauldron to hear.
"They may try to use that police you mentioned in order to steal the loot we have worked for. Any alternatives or methods you know to either make it before them or other sellers closer to this place?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103911
103912
>>103910
“We’re out in the middle of the Jungle. There are many ways to avoid police or Saltmane”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103912
103913
>>103911
"I will trust you on that. They are certainly going to try and take these pots back."
Smiling at his prudency, his pot tying increases in pace, going for those last three pots after securing the second one, but wavers as other possibilites are brought up.
"Can they track your identity from how you look? Perhaps they will submit a report to arrest you."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103913
103914
>>103912
“I don’t know. I know they’ve never seen me before, and to the police, one Zebra generally looks the same as any other”

Cauldron looks back, and it becomes evident that Pear is slinking up. She has all four idols with her
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103914
103915
>>103913
Iron nods to his partner, knowing she is relatively safe from institutional retaliation.
However, when Pear brings the idols with her, a small chill courses through Iron's spine.
"Uh oh. They are definitely planning something," he mutters.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103915
103916
>>103914
Pear casually slinks up to Iron and Cauldron
“For all of my colleagues... ‘lack of tact,’ he has a point. Removing items from an archeological site without careful cataloguing can disrupt the investigative process”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103916
103917
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103917
103918
>>103916
She blinks, then says “very well,” and slinks past Iron, almost as if the question never interested her in the first place

Cauldron has a kind of irritated look on her face
BtiMS
?
No.103918
103919
[1d20 = 15]
>>103917
Iron uses empathy to feel Cauldron's emotions that cause her irritation.
aka Sense motive.
(That went better than expected. I assumed something bad was going to happen. Still, that should spread the tiniest seed of doubt on enforcing her partner's wishes... hopefully. Cee-vee-lized folk are strange.)
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103919
103920
>>103918
She’s been shot, personally killed at least 2 ponies, and has generally been involved in a large amount of haste she is not used to
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103920
103921
>>103919
Surprised she only showed these emotions now, tbh. Guess adrenaline is fading.
Iron is bemused that expedition ponies are trying to implicitly state threats if he doesn't give away the pots and agree to their rather unfair trade.
He wraps a foreleg around Cauldron, knowing the pain she's going through, and pats the zebra's shoulder.
He checks his body to see if all the pots are strapped on his body.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103921
103922
The DA randomly decided to pretty much dismiss all of the misdemeanor marijuana cases. Going through every unresolved case from the last six years took a while

Some defense attorney went around my back and got the first assistant to dismiss a cruelty to animals case I spent hours working on. I am not pleased

>>103920
She accepts the foreleg, but remains serious in her demeanor
“What is next?”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103922
103923
>>103921
Oof. That is quite the sudden and dickish moves that have recently happened to you.
That defense attorney is a real dick. Pretty sure he/she wants to hinder you because he/she's scared of you having better success than her tbh.
"We are in the final stretch. If we were to stay the night here and rest aka get some HP through hours of resting and losing rations., do you think they will have enough of a headstart to reach a city and report us?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103923
103924
>>103922
“I do not know, but much can happen in a day”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103924
103925
>>103923
Iron hums.
"We should leave then, before they decide to actually go through with reporting us. It should be a safe trip with you watching my flank."
He squeezes a small hug with his foreleg.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103925
103926
>>103924
This gets a brief smile out of her
“I’m skeptical as to how safe things are going to be”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103926
103927
>>103925
Iron ponders.
"Do you know how much we need to travel to reach cee-vee-lai-sei-tion?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103927
103928
>>103926
“We are a number of miles from the nearest railway station. We could also follow the river. There should be a village or saw mill eventually, and onwards to Saltmane, Mareida, or Tenochtitlan.”
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103928
103929
>>103927
"Perhaps going along the river is best. It would increase our chances to pass by without much issue and allows us to rest and heal our wounds before setting off."
BTW how much heal for simple resting instead of sleeping?
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103929
103930
>>103928
“It increases the chances of encounters with other ponies, if that matters to you” she says. She sounds calmer, but with a slight air of stress still about her
Perhaod half as much, but Iron still needs to sleep eventually to avoid being exhausted
Anonymous
BtiMS
?
No.103930
103931
>>103929
Seeing Cauldron calm herself with the proposition means that she really needs this rest to restore her sanity.
"I do not think it will be much of a problem. We fought hard and now we rest for a bit."
He squeezes her again.
"It gives me more time to feel your smooth coat."
Good enough. Real sleep comes when mission is complete. I'll take this downtime to excuse myself, since I have class soon. See you in 4 hours!
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103931
103932 103939 103944
20502D97-13AC-4A71-80E4-CDFF25D8C9F2.jpeg
>>103930
“Eeep!”
*Zebra is hugged*
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103932
103933
>>103931
I hope Brie comes around today.

Spark looks around to see if there is anypony passing by talking. It seems Spark's favorite pastime is eavesdropping.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103933
103934
            [Read more]            
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103934
103935
>>103933
Although all are interesting and a bit depressing, Spark tries to listen in to the ones talking about a Cinnamon Heart and hopefully learn a bit more.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103935
103936
>>103934
>>103934
Through listening to them, Spark learns that the group of mares is a group of either friends or relatives who are trying to emigrate from the Changeling zone into East Equestria. “Cinnamon Heart” is the third member of that group. These two mares were able to cross, but due to some defect in paperwork at some point, Cinnamon Heart was not allowed to emigrate. These two mares seem more than a little disturbed by this fact, and one of them hopes to talk a consulate into providing the requisite paperwork
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103936
103937
>>103935
Hmm... I don't know how we could help as we would be going the opposite way, but worth a shot if we run into her.
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103937
103938 103940
>>103936
And thus, Spark chooses to do nothing
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103938
103939
>>103937
What's that mean? I don't think I can cross the border, snatch a pony, and bring her back by myself. I need some level of teamwork.
Novice Pussy Handler
ZER2H
?
No.103939
103940
>>103938
Use sorcerer magic to teleport the last mare to the other side.
Teleport as in sweettalk the guards to death.
>>103931
Gimme a minute or two to reach laptop status to continue. I need my Mad Fast Typez to treat the zebra like a chieftain!

Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103940
103941 103943
>>103939
Fine. I guess if I should die on this mission, it might as well be now.
>>103937
I approach the ponies that were discussing Cinnamon Heart.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103941
103942
>>103940
Spark would have been sitting inside of the cabin of the carriage in a red cushioned seat that facing an opposed set of seats, along with the ersatz foals. To listen to the condensations, he would have pulled the latch up on the window, and slid the window open to look out at the passing ponies. Now, Spark opens the door on the carriage to get out, possibly doing the same careful opening and closing one night use to prevent a pet dog from exiting a house as you leave, Spark doing the same to prevent the ersatz foals from roaming about. Spark walks towards the two mares, looking at them. The grey earth pony mare is the first to take notice of Spark, looking at him approaching, but not saying anything to him. As he comes closer, the pink mare notices the grey mare looking over to her left (and the pink mare’s right), and decides to look over that direction for herself. Neither yet says anything to Spark
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103942
103945
>>103941
"I heard you mention something about somepony not making it though the border?"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103943
>>103940
You are severely underestimating the trickster power of the sorcerer, Spark. Channel your inner rich kid and demand the mare pass.
Or hide her either under or in the carriage inside a barrel. That works too.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103944
103945
>>103931
Iron lessens his grip on Cauldron, smiling like a doofus.
"I think you would like some time to relax and let go of any and all fears. Do not worry. I am here to help you through and create the best opportunity you will ever have in your life."
He frowns, looking ahead of Cauldron, then returning his gaze, smiling again.
"At least for now. There might be even bigger opportunities that can help you accomplish any dream you have ever had."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103945
103946 103948
            [Read more]            
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103946
103947
>>103945
"You aren't going to lose your sister. Don't worry."
Spark turns to Cold Stone.
"Do you really think you can get permission here? How much of a long shot is that?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103947
103949
>>103946
“Oh thank you, I don’t even know how I could live without my sister I really need her...” she continues speaking very quickly

Cold Stone’s disposition is more reserved.
“Who are you? We were going to go talk to the consulate to see if they could provide us with a visa”
Cold Stone is also slightly malnourished looking, but has more muscle than the thin pink pony
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103948
103950
>>103945
Iron does his best to huggle the zebra.
"You still sound rather sad about it."
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103949
103950
>>103947
"Just consider me a friend. Now, if you try for that visa and it doesn't work out, come back to me. I will get her through."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103950
103951 103952
>>103948
“It’s been a long day.”
Cauldron actually doesn’t really feel that soft. Her hair is short and slightly course, Iron can definitely feel that she has been sweating, and under her skin she has tangible muscle. All in all she is built more for work than for show. Her skin fits on kind of loosely, but not too losely.

>>103949
Cold Stone is left in skeptical silence

Pink mare:
“Oh thank you! Thank you thank you thank you!”
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103951
103953
>>103950
Spark smiles at the pink mare.
"Now hurry and see about that visa."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103952
103955
>>103950
That's more akin to smooth. Still like. Iron is most likely sweaty too, so no issue there.
"'The biggest rewards are always at the top of the mountain'," he chuckles to himself. "That is what my brother told me once."
His goofy smile is still plastered on his face.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103953
103954
>>103951
“But the consulate is in downtown. At least I’ve heard it’s in downtown. I’ve never been here before and I’ve never spoken to a consulate...”
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103954
103956
>>103953
"Well, if you would like, I can tag along to make sure we get to the right place."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103955
103957
>>103952
“Did your brother give you any advice on fighting entire hordes of bandits? If it were just me, I would have let them be”
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103956
103959
>>103954
hmmm.... if I’m committed to realistic time on this one, Spark would not really have the time to go all the way back into the city. Maybe if it’s nearby?
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103957
103958
>>103955
"Oh, my brother would have simply rushed them, dodging everything they threw at him. Perhaps grapple one of them to use as a shield or do some flips, bucking down at an unsuspecting bandit."
He smiles.
"He is really, really hard to hit to begin with. He would have made defeating these bandits a dirtwalk."
(I would have done the same if I did not leave my armor and shield at Cauldron's place.)
He frowns.
"He may not like the idea of taking this for profit, though."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103958
103960
>>103957
“Hmmm.... I don’t know about all that. What do you mean ‘taking this for profit’?”
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103959
103961
>>103956
It's up to you.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103960
103961
>>103958
He shakes the pots on his pony body to highlight the thing that might annoy his brother.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103961
103962 103979
>>103960
“No, I know that. I mean why would he not like it?”

>>103959
Eh...
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103962
103963
>>103961
Iron looks up, a bit uncomfortable
"His master made him a goody-four-horseshoes. Help the weak, punish evil-doers and the like."
He ponders a bit.
"Now that I think about it, this situation would probably stumpt him if it happens with the results we have gotten. Sacrifice your brother's work to make the expedition ponies happy or make the weak ponies sad by allowing us to leave with the gains we have rightfully gotten by combat."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103963
103964
>>103962
“Oh, so he fancied himself a knight in shining armor”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103964
103965
>>103963
Iron nods.
"He most definitely would not agree to help if this was the outcome."
He pointed at the expedition ponies.
"If he had cleared the place of bandits himself, he would have gladly given almost everything to the expedition ponies, escort them back home and even do any special favors they would ask later."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103965
103966
>>103964
“Oh really? You say his ‘master’ made him like that? What do you mean?”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103966
103967
>>103965
"From what I managed to witness back when I was a foal, my brother would always commune with one of the younger elders. He would give some sort of rule of his moral code, then go on to teach them his techniques."
He yawns.
"It was as boring as you would imagine. Laying in place for half of the day, repeatedly punch the air and other silly stuff like that."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103967
103968
>>103966
“And what made you different?”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103968
103969 103971
>>103967
Iron deadpans.
"Do you think I can lay still for half a day, doing nothing? That is boring."
He pulls his free foreleg up and flexes it.
"This is the result of endless fights and other competitve activities from young. Only through brawling and having fun I learned."
A sudden pain from his chest forces Iron to stop flexing.
"I should not have done that... Ow."
He rubs his chest.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103969
103970
>>103968
Iron should have quite a few pains in his chest. Billets have not been removed and are still lodged inside of him, and he is not fully healed by any means. At best, the bleeding is stopped
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103970
>>103969
I know, but flexing only amplifies said pain. Mostly used as a joke.
Iron pokes his collection of bullet wounds, now wondering what they are doing in there.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103971
103972
>>103968
“But why do you not agree with him on helping the weak, or whatever moral issue it was?”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103972
103973
>>103971
Iron cocks his eyebrow.
"I never said that. I only said that the elder's method of training is boring. I would not simply punch a harmless pony without reason. You even saw me not attack a mare with a stupidly powerful weapon until the last second."
He sighs.
"I suppose it is because of how rigid his teaching was that made me dislike his methods. Punching the air 50 times in the same way numbs my mind."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103973
103974
>>103972
“No, I am asking you why you say you would take the coins as profit, but your brother would not. Why are you okay with it?”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103974
103975
>>103973
Iron simply cocks his head.
"I do it because I got through all the bandits and therefore should get a big compensation for my efforts. Not to mention your share of work that you did, and I did promise you would get life-changing money"
He lays down.
"I am okay with it because we got them through a fight, however unequal it was against us. To the victor goes the spoils. Meanwhile, my brother simply decides to give almost all of his belongings out, as if his efforts does not need any sort of compensation. He just does it because 'it is the right thing to do' and gallops into the sunset."
His head lays down, a frown on his face staring ahead.
"It is like he does not care for himself at all."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103975
103976
>>103974
She nods to Iron, with an expression of uncertainty upon her face
ZO/AC
?
No.103976
103977
[1d20 = 9]
>>103975
Iron looks up at Cauldron, standing up again. He uses the power of empathy to see what makes her uncertain.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103977
103978
>>103976
She’s conflicted, although what about, Iron cannot tell


Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103978
103980
>>103977
Internal conflict? Not on my watch!
Iron initiates physical affection, hugging the zebra.

Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103979
103980
>>103961
What do you think?
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103980
103981 103982
>>103978
Cauldron by this time is laying down on the ground. But she’s still huggable, with a neck and ears that are extending upwards

>>103979
I don’t know
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.103981
103983 104226
>>103980
Awwwww. Can't I just do this mission and catch back up with the rest? Who knows how many more times I will miss them.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103982
103984
>>103980
If that's the case...
Iron lays next to her, wrapping a foreleg around her neck.
"Is something the matter?"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103983
>>103981
Just go for the illegal options.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103984
103985
>>103982
“My father had me raised as a strict Harmonist... we are supposed to help the weak. It kind of feels like a betrayal of his values.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103985
103986
>>103984
"Do you mean you have never helped the weak before?"
(So does she care about the debtors?)
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103986
103987
>>103985
"... Maybe not as often as I should have"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103987
103988
>>103986
"Are you able to help them without risking your own livelihood?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103988
103989
>>103987
“I don’t know...”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103989
103990
>>103988
Iron squeezes Cauldron lightly.
"You cannot help the ponies you want to help because you are not in a position to help them."
He smiles.
"Now that you will have the opportunity to better your life, you will be able to help the ponies you want to help more often."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103990
103992
>>103989
She smiles briefly
“I guess that is true... I still feel like I don’t understand. Why do you disagree with your brother on his... morality?”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103992
103993
>>103990
"My brother simply... helps others because it is what a good pony does. It is strange to simply help without having an ulterior motive behind it."
He frowns.
"He will never stick around anywhere, as he will simply wander almost aimlessly forever and doing good deeds as he goes. Help a colt down a tree? He does it, then leaves when he ensures the family is well. He cannot stay with others with his moral code."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.103993
103994
>>103992
Cauldron blinks, then twists her head
“But a good pony sticks with friends and family, and helps them above all others”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103994
103996
>>103993
Iron sighs.
"He thinks all ponies are family, one way or another."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103996
103997
>>103994
>>103994
Her mouth hangs slightly open, and her eyes are wide.
“Huh” then a laugh “he!” And then “I can say safely that all ponies don’t think I am a part of their family”
She looks away
“Not that I would expect a random pony on the street to fill in for my shift, or pose for an art project anyways...”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103997
103998
>>103996
Iron squeezes her some more.
"I do not know about you, but I think you are part of my family."
He smiles.
"You are the most reliable pony I have ever had the pleasure to meet."
His smile turns mischevious.
"You can draw me as one of your Prench mares if you want to. It is only fair."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.103998
103999
>>103997
She blushes a little, and gives a full laugh
“Hahaha, it’s Obere who is the artist, not me”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.103999
104001
>>103998
Iron ponders.
"So you pose for your sister?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104001
104002
>>103999
She laughs, and lightly pushes a hoof back at him
“He’s my brother, and not like that! Just so he can practice drawing faces”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104002
104004
>>104001
Iron strains to contain a laugh.
"Alrigh-pfft-Alright. I think I get it."
He breathes in, feeling the firm, smooth hoof on his body while containing his laughter.
"And you offer your face every single day?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104003
104006
_aryanne hat.png

Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104004
104005
>>104002
Cauldron, previously laying down, sits up
“When she needs it”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104005
104006
>>104004
Wait, so the artist is a she now?
Iron follows suit, nodding.
"What about the shift you mentioned? You mean in your family's restaurant?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104006
104007 104008
>>104003
Doth mine eyes deceive me?

>>104005
You hush
“Well, yes”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104007
>>104006
Neigh they doth not
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104008
104009
>>104006
Soz
"Have you proposed looking for a replacement, maybe using some sort of sign on the door asking?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104009
104010 104011
>>103858
“But what about it feels strange?”

>>104008
“Oh, my father has hired help before. I am talking about when one of us needs a temporary to fill in. He likes to have us around because he knows he can trust us, but not necessarily a stranger. Besides, we sometimes need part-time employment”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104010
104012
>>104009
Iron lights the mind torch.
"Ah, so you only work there periodically when one of the ponies he hired are not available?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104011
104012
>>104009
"...... I'm Not Sure."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104012
104013 104014
>>104010
“When my father asks me, or my brother or sister”

>>104011
“Well, trust your gut, but know that only solid info can keep the area stable and safe from infiltrators”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104013
104015
>>104012
Iron ponders.
"Do you like cooking or potion making more?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104014
104015
>>104012
"Was there anything else you wished to know about the shooting,Sir?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104015
104016 104017
>>104013
“Potion making. There’s more complexity to it. More artistry. More science. More precise measuring abs compounds too expensive to mess up a batch, and more reward from making a successful potion. But I don’t discount cooking either. It too, has an art to it, and a feeling of making something good.”

>>104014
“What did the stallion tell you? I’ve heard from Blue Skies, but not from you.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104016
104019
>>104015
Iron smiles.
"Your food is enough testament to that."
He unfocuses his gaze on Cauldron.
"Would you like to do potion making as your job?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104017
104018 104019
>>104015
"Well it Began when i Told them "I Knew what you did." i wasnt expecting to Hear he was a part of the WaterFront Gang."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104018
Spoilered
>>104017
sweating intensifies
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104019
104020 104025
>>104016
The stripes mix together, and she becomes a blur
“I think potion making”

>>104017
“It’s far from surprising. The Baltimare police system has been corrupt for some time. Mayor Larry Berry was just below the Chief of Police before he was voted in to replace High Tower, who resigned in a scandal. The police have been taking many bribes, and generally tolerate organized crime where it doesn’t kill anyone or overstep its bounds. They think that the gangs can’t really be stopped, and fighting them will cause violence, so they let them continue practices like loan snarking. That may have been what you stumbled in on. But there is more to it than that. More recently, the gangs have taken a role in supporting partisans, mostly by means of weapon smuggling. We don’t know the exact field of relationships between the Baltimare Social Democrats, the gangs, and the left wing partisans, but we have reason to believe it is more than nothing.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104020
104021
>>104019
Blinking multiple times, he nods, smiling.
"With this amount of money, you can definitely afford to make potions as your job."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104021
104022
>>104020
“Well, there’s more to it than that. Starting up my own shop would be like running a business, which has its own set of issues”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104022
104023
>>104021
He cocks his head.
"What kind of issues?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104023
104024
>>104022
“Dealing with customers, accounting, finance, employees, advertisement, and so forth.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104024
104026
>>104023
"The potential of potion making should make dealing with these issues simple. You only need to showcase the benefits of the potions to skyrocket your work."
He pokes his chin.
"Maybe give out potions to increase someone's ability to think, spot and other enhancements to the body. That would surely be useful, and profitable."
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104025
104026
>>104019
"well,Sir. If i may Speak Frankly. it sounds like they are a bunch of Treacherous Pussies who Don't Have What it takes to Protect our Ponies. they should be treated just like the communists for letting them operate at all."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104026
104027 104028
            [Read more]            
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104027
104029
>>104026
Iron simply smiles back.
"You know I am going to accept your request. We always stick together."
Another wrap of the foreleg on Cauldron's neck.
"We are the dynamic duo!"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104028
104029
>>104026
Dark Star Frowns And Then Looks Down.
"I See."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104029
104030 104031
            [Read more]            
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104030
104032
>>104029
Dark Star Keeps quiet. But he returns to looking at Sea Breeze.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104031
104032
>>104029
Iron chuckles.
"I got excited."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104032
104033 104034
>>104030
“Well... any further questions?”

>>104031
She gives a half smirk, and and a playfully corral expression
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104033
104035
>>104032
"None Particularly,Sir. Actually, is there anything else that needs to be done?"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104034
104035
>>104032
Iron blushes a little bit.
"What?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104035
104036 104037
>>104033
“There’s always something that needs to be done.”

>>104034
critical, not corral
“Nevermind”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104036
104038
>>104035
"What Needs to be done?"
ZO/AC
?
No.104037
104038
[1d20 = 11]
>>104035
Iron does the unthinkable, booping the zebra on the snoot!
KnZni
?
No.104038
104039 104040
[1d20+7 = 19]
>>104037
Reflex save!

>>104036
“Everything. It’s like gardening, always tending to something. There’s investigating attacks upon the military, investigating tips about partisan activities or espionage, cultivating community watch programs, talking to locals, setting up sting operations for local government officials believed to be corrupt, investigating the loyalty of territorial soldiers, surveilling areas, taking part in raids, and so forth. There are a few tasks for the civilian government as well that may be necessary.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104039
104041
>>104038
Can I use my hit chance for boop chance?
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104040
104041
>>104038
"Talking To Locals about what?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104041
104042 104046
38F068F0-2EA7-4E00-907B-C6F1CA7D22E2.gif
>>104039
Pic

>>104040
“Talk to them about their issues with the caretaker government, what their wants and concerns are, who they are afraid of, and ultimately, any subversive activities”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104042
104043
>>104041
So... I'll just... take that as a yes.
Iron barely boops the zebra mare next to him.
"Do not act silly. You were definitely thinking something."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104043
104044
>>104042
Yip yip! Yip Yip!
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104044
104045
>>104043
Iron chuckles.
"Spill it out."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104045
104047
>>104044
“Spill what out?”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104046
104048
>>104041
"Hmmmmm that sounds pretty light. maybe i wont get shot again."
He Laughs
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104047
104048
>>104045
"You said 'nevermind' just a second ago."
Iron squints his eyes in mock determination.
"And I will find out what you meant."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104048
104049 104052
>>104047
“You just said you got excited, and it was strange. That is all”

>>104046
“Maybe not. It’s very different work”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104049
104050
>>104048
Iron blinks.
"What is so strange about being excited?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104050
104051
>>104049
“Oh, nevermind. There is nothing to it, really”
ZO/AC
?
No.104051
104053
[1d20 = 16]
>>104050
Emapthy time!
What is Cauldron thinking about?
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104052
104053
>>104048
"i'll take Care of it."

Thread Watcher
TW