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877148.png
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 145 files omitted.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104053
104054 104055
>>104051
She is confused, and starting to get irritated

>>104052
“Well, in talking to locals, you are putting yourself out there as a part of the Blackhooves, or at least, the caretaker government. That’s different than infiltrating, and pretending to be somepony else.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104054
104056
>>104053
"I'm fine with that."
He Pins on his badge
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104055
104056
>>104053
Okok. I drop it. I think it was a sexual innuendo.
Iron chuckles, presenting his wide open snout and extending his neck closer to Cauldron's hoof.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104056
104058 104059
>>104054
“Well, at some point I want you to look into the harbor area yet again. We have reports of creature trafficking, and possible arms trafficking, going on there. Of course, you are a little injured now”

>>104055
She pulls her head back in surprise. Then,
*boop*
“Gotcha’”
Anonymous
H/R2X
?
No.104057
104058 104060
dab.png

Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104058
104060
>>104056
The expected ripples caused by the contact between Iron's snoot and Cauldron's hoof makes the victim recoil back, to the point he falls on his back with all legs extended upwards.
To add some more dramatic effect, he lets out his tongue to cement his defeat.
>>104057
Why no colored zebras in show? Sad.
I like Cauldron's color tho, so I not complain.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104059
>>104056
"Creature and Arms Trafficking at the port? thats interesting."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104060
104061 104062
>>104057
Hello

>>104058
“Hehehe”

>>104057
“Well, in the Red Heart neighborhood there are reports of what seems to be creature trafficking, with a number of Griffins, Zebras, Abyssinians, and less often Macaws, Hippogriffs, and ponies of East Equestria and Stalliongrad appearing, but not corresponding to the known inhabitants of those neighborhoods. We believe that smugglers are being paid to bring in illegal
Immigrants, and judging by how many of them don’t seem to remain in Baltimare, we believe the relevant houses in Red Heart are being used as a hub for smuggling to Fillydelphia and Manehattan. This problem has been ignored in part because it was believed to be more of a problem for a Manehattan. However, with pressure from the government there, we have decided to take a new look at it. There have also been reports of Griffin bandits in the Southern jungles and in the swamps, bringing up the possibility that the smuggled creatures are indeed remaining in the Baltimare district.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104061
104063
>>104060
Iron snickers, rolling over to a laying position, but then widens his eyes.
"Wait a minute! We did not even touch the food."
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104062
104063
>>104060
"This Sounds Very Serious,Sir. I Can Try To find A Lead Now,if you wish."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104063
104064 104065
>>104061
“What food?”

>>104062
“That may be in order. If you do decide to take the issue head on, it may be wise to take back up. Griffin trackers are known to be unethical and ruthless”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104064
104066
>>104063
He blinks twice.
"Oh. Right."
He starts standing up with the prize.
"Well, I guess there is no use in stalling. Are you ready to travel the river path?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104065
104066
>>104063
"how unethical and Ruthless?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104066
104067 104068
>>104064
“Well, we haven’t left yet”

>>104065
“Creature traffickers from Skyfall and Sicameon have made an art of the practice. They are overt like the Zebrican slavers, preferring to be discrete, and often Shanghaing ponies or other innocent creatures. All the while they wear monocles and top hats as their minions are armed to the beak.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104067
104069
>>104066
"Sounds like a bunch of savages."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104068
>>104066
"...is that a yes?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104069
104073
>>104067
“In frame of mind and actions, indeed they are. But do not expect them to be simple pushovers. They can be clever and well armed. Mind you, we do not know exactly what activities are going on. Perhaps creatures pay the traffickers to be smuggled in. Perhaps they are Shanghai’ed and sold into Slavs labor. Or maybe they are charge to immigrate, and those that cannot pay their debt are made into indentured servants. The whole neighborhood is in a way separate from the city. Baltimare s Police seldom patrol there, and the area is a no-go-zone for our Territorials. We did not mind so long as the trouble did not spill out. But with the recent complaint by Manehattan, and the sightings of Griffins in Hayseed and the Jungles, we cannot ignore it forever.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104070
104071
2065796__safe_artist-colon-phi_oc_oc only_equestria at war mod_armor_female_greek_helmet_pegasus_pony_simple background_solo_spear_weapon.png
Hello! Greetings! Salutations!
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104071
104072 104079
B795FA4D-0C3B-4862-B72A-79BADBCBBB22.png
>>104070
Holy fuck! He returns!
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104072
>>104071
...Eh?
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104073
104074
>>104069
"Does Anypony live in the no go zone?"
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104074
104075 104076
>>104073
“More like ‘any creature’. Yes, there are creatures living in that neighborhood”
Novice Pussy Handler
ZO/AC
?
No.104075
104077
>>104074
Did we do the resting or did I mess up somewhere?
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104076
104077
>>104074
"I Doubt We Have Any members of the party that live in the area."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104077
104078 104080
>>104075
No, you did not

>>104076
“Probably not. It is one of the oldest inhabited parts of the city, and has more recently been inhabited by pony migrants though.”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104078
104081
>>104077
Oh. That makes sense. I thought we started the resting from the moment we laid down, using it as a dynamic entering and exiting from resting status.
Now that I think about it, does resting mean closing Iron's eyes?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104079
104081
>>104071
Last I remember, Mint Marine made a comment about vampires being as bad as changelings.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104080
>>104077
"Interesting."
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104081
104082
>>104079
Yes. That is correct

>>104078
Maybe some small recovery
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104082
>>104081
I do want that half-health recovery...
Should we skip the remainder of the rest to start the return trip, or do you need some time?
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104083
104084 104085 104087
774EC246-5D16-478A-AD54-44E3F61354EE.gif
New Group Quest if I can get everyone’s segment done and everyone can show up for it
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104084
>>104083
Woah! Really?
Uh oh. Don't tell me what I think it's going to happen...
Pls no. I want a happy Cauldron.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104085
>>104083
Sounds Good to Me.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104086
I am very surprised me and Star were the only ones who reacted at all from this...
So... we try to transport the goods back with half-health Iron, GM?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104087
104088
>>104083
Alright, I just need to finish up with the colts and finish up the catacomb job. Speaking of...

"Hmm..." Silver's a bit uneasy about Mint using that kind of language, but he can't blame him really.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104088
104089 104090 104237
>>104087
Mint
“There were two of them at...”
Entering the sentence intent on invective, he stalls out midway
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104089
104091
>>104088
"I know, little one."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104090
>>104088
I'll take that as a no...
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104091
104092
>>104089
Not only Mint Marine, but also White Orchid, hang their heads
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104092
104093
>>104091
"I will not force either of you to relive that. Neither of you deserve that. I will just say this: those changelings were prisoners down there, exactly like you two."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104093
104094 104237
>>104092
“But they are horrendous creatures... the ____ had to hang up a cloth between us and the Changelings, so they wouldn’t see us and constantly try to jump at us and hiss at us”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104094
104095 104237
>>104093
"They were starving, little one. They were not allowed to feed for, as far as I can tell, entire time they were in captivity. That, combined with absolutely horrific treatment they received...well, if you were in their horseshoes, I imagine you would also jump and hiss at anything else."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104095
104096
>>104094
“And they feed on ponies” Mint says, wide eyed
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104096
104097
>>104095
Silver sighs. "What do you know about those two changelings who were in captivity?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104097
104098
>>104096
“That they would hiss at us and jump on their leashes at us. They were trying to feed on us
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104098
104099 104101 104237
>>104097
Silver looks around to make sure nopony can eavesdrop before continuing. "Their names are Kerr, and Wesley. They are brothers from changeling colony established near Tall Tales, where they were foalnapped and shipped over here to Baltimare against their will. They had not ever been very far from colony before being captured. They are young drones, basically changeling equivalent of foals. To them, their queen of their hive is to them what Celestia is to many of us ponies, and then some. She was their mother, and they loved her dearly, and it is clear that, even with being only two of her many children, they believed she loved them much as same. Before War, they lived far north in cold Changeling Lands. Food was scarce for them, and death by starvation was common. To them, Chrysalis was first changeling queen to try to do something to make things better for them, even if it came at our expense. For them, she gave hope, hope that they would not have to suffer, that they would not have to hide. That they could be strong once again.

"Kerr is stronger of two, physically. He tries to be strong emotionally for his brother, and for this sense of honor of his, but it is clear it wears on him. With what they went through, I fully understand how he occasionally breaks down, and must let out his pain. He is distrustful of ponykind, and it can take bit to get him to open up, but he is nice to get to know once he does so, if little bit prideful. When he grows up, he wants to be Jäger, kind of changeling light-infantry unit which engages enemies in close quarters with melee weapons to break enemy resistance. He wants to protect his family, his nation, and his queen, and even if I do not like Chrysalis or Hegemony she has made, I can understand and respect Kerr's wishes.

"Wesley is more outgoing of two, and is very friendly. He seems almost unafraid of ponykind, and is very curious about world around him. He seems to have this desire to learn, and is far more foal-like in his demeanor than Kerr is. It makes very big difference from how he acted...down there, where he looked like he had given up on life, on ever getting freed, where his only fears were what was going to come next. He seems to want to be engineer when he grows up, as far as I can tell. He certainly has eye for building, at least, even if it is in odd changeling-style."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104099
104100
>>104098
While you did save them before releasing this secret, are you sure the two colts that are extremely impressionable of changelings induced by years of pony propaganda against the bugs compiled with the loss of their parents possibly to the bugs is a good idea, Silver?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104100
104102
>>104099
Neither of their parents/guardians died to changelings, thankfully.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104101
104103
>>104098
Both foals are left startled and wide eyed

Mint Marine: "And you know this how?"

White Orchid: "You're making this up"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104102
>>104100
I'm going on a limb here and say this will not bite you in the butt later.
Still, it was very unwise of you.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104103
104104 104105 104117
>>104101
Silver looks at the two colts. "When our group finally found where you were being kept, and broke through locked door, we saw you two on one side of room, and changelings caged on other side. While all of my companions went to aid and free you, there was nopony left for changelings." Silver pauses while he recollects himself. "I did not have good encounters with changelings prior to this. I may have been too old for draft, but I still fought as mercenary for Equestria in Great War. For entirety of war, and since its end, I have considered Changeling Hegemony as my enemy, as our enemy. It is not hard to expand that to whole species, even if it is unjust to lump them all together. But still...I could not just leave them there. They were clearly scared, trapped...hopeless. I did not see them as changelings, as what had up until then had been our mortal enemy. I saw them simply as two beings in need of help. So, while my comrades took care of you...I helped changelings. With additional help of later arrival, we broke locks on their cages, cut straps on their harnesses. I even let them feed on me so they would have strength enough to continue on, even with threat to my health such prospect held. I also gave them shelter in safe place where they would not be under threat. They are gone, now: one of group took them somewhere to 'get help', where from and what for I do not know. But I got to know them while we were together. I could communicate with them using their native language, Wechselbalg, and in doing so I learned much about them and their people. Wesley seemed to take particular interest in me. His favorite disguise looked little bit like Pegasus version of me, almost like one of my actual foals."

He particularly looks at White Orchid for the next two sentences. "Believe me or not, it is your choice. But I would not lie to you, not about this. When you truly get to know them, changelings are not so bad. They can seem almost like ponies, when you get over their insectoid appearance and...unusual diet. It just takes getting to talk with one another."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104104
104105 104106
>>104103
White Orchid says nothing, then blinks, then again goes on saying nothing

Mint Marine:
“YOU TOOK CARE OF CHANGELINGS INSTEAD OF US?!”
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104105
104106
>>104104
>>104103
...why do you do this to yourself?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104106
104107 104115 104117
>>104104
For his part, Silver stands firm against the onslaught, resolute in his decision. "What would you have had me do? Leave them there to rot until police arrived and discovered those two changelings? They had gone through just as same as you had, and then some. Out of six ponies, five had rushed over to see to your needs while completely ignoring them, one of five in particular rushing ahead of others to see you two safe back to orphanage as quickly as possible. Had I not been only one left, it is very likely I would have gone to your sides instead. But that was not case." He gets down to Mint's eye level. "Put yourself in their horseshoes: you are changeling. You are minding your own business when suddenly you and your brother are captured by ponies. You are torn from your family, your home, everything you had ever known and loved, captured by race you had been taught to hate and distrust. They put you in dungeon, do horrible things to you that should be done to no one. They force you to take on disguises against your will, many that are unnatural to you or that cause great strain to your body, especially when combined with what these bad ponies do to you. They beat you or shock you when you complain, when you object, when you try to resist or do anything they do not want you to do. They starve you and do not let you eat, and they beat you and shock you even more when you try. You become so hungry it is hard to think, hard to feel anything except all-consuming hunger. To make things worse, when they are not doing things to you, they put you in cramped cage like animal, cage you are restrained in at that. And across from you are two, life-saving sources of food, always just out of reach, as if your captors are taunting you. This happens every day, until you begin to lose hope, until you believe that you will never escape, until all you wish for and wait for is embrace of death to take you away from horrible place. Imagine being changeling, when you suffer for so long like this, when suddenly door to where you are kept is torn down, and large group of ponies rush in. Imagine seeing all of them rush to aid of ponies in room...all but one." If his expression wasn't dead serious before, the one he gives Mint now certainly is, so much so it seems to bury itself into his mind. "Object all you want. I did good by helping them, and I will stick by my decision to very end of my life. I have no regrets over it. It was first good thing to happen to them in very, very long time. And just as much as I would help them, I would help you in turn. They are good changelings, much like you are good ponies. Both of your lives matter. Even if their lives do not matter to you personally, they matter to others out there."

>>104105
I get that you're bored, but this particular kind of third-person commentary is really not appreciated.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104107
104108 104239
>>104106
White Orchid is, once again, still. Mint however....

"Yes! You should have let them rot! They were going to eat us if they were not in a cage! I can no more put myself in their hooves than I could put myself in _______'s place... .... There are some evils that need to be purged from the world... Unnatural, evil hunger... Unnatural, evil... desires... Need to be put in a cage. Or shot..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104108
104109 104117
>>104107
At the very least, Silver has found the foal that would take the greater liking to Dark Star. Meanwhile, Mint's speech has done little, if anything, to change Silver's expression. "Unnatural evil, like calling for wholesale extermination of entire sapient species? Killing families? Foals?" He stands up. "What that stallion, what those stallions did, that is true evil, and even if we will never fully remove it from this world we will be damned if we will not struggle against it. But as for changelings...only evil I hear about them right now is coming from you. You can not solve this problem with genocide, just as Chrysalis can not solve this problem with subjugation."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104109
104110
>>104108
Tears were already coming down Mint Marine’s eyes. Now, they come down in broader streams. His forelegs tilt to the left, and turn in place on the pavement with a definite sound.
“I am no pony’s food. No pony has the right to do that to me. No one!
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104110
104111 104117
>>104109
Silver sighs in a much softer tone than before, a tone that is matched by a softening of his expression. Now, he just looks...tired, and regretful for having brought Mint to tears. He'd hug the poor colt but he has doubts it would be accepted. "No, nopony has that right, little one."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104111
104112
>>104110
Mint Marine lifts a hoof, placed it down only an inch from where he picked it up, then turns lightly to the right, and lays down in place. He folds his forelegs over his muzzle and eyes, and starts crying in place

A passing mare stares at the scene, but continues waking by, staring

White Orchid speaks, but with a detached voice. He is sitting down, head partly crouched down. His eyes look like they are focused on some sight a half mile away, even as they are aimed at the ground fifteen feet in front of him
“That’s not what he meant...”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104112
104113 104114 104117
>>104111
Internally, Silver wonders what else besides the two EXTREMELY obvious meanings Mint could have had. Externally, Silver is faced with the realization that he wasn't very good with dealing with this level of emotional trauma in the first place. From what little he does know, he tries to keep the colts' focus in the real world by clicking a hoof against the ground and speaking in a resonating voice. Or at least, as resonating as he can manage with his still-recovering throat. "Little ones."

Where in the hell did a friendly visit to the zoo and a conversation about vampires turn into this?
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104113
104115
>>104112
No response from either, although White Orchid does at least turn his head that way
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104114
104115
>>104112
Ask yourself that question.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104115
104117 104140
>>104113
"Focus on me, you two. I am here, I am real, we are in present."

>>104114
Refer to what I wrote only an hour ago in >>104106
Anonymous
76FQ4
?
No.104117
104118
>>104106
>>104103
>>104108
>>104110
>>104112
>>104115
>Trying to Propagandize (My)Children into likening their Mortal enemies
Bad Show
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104118
104119 104138
08C2D00F-98C3-4CDC-97E2-C85B5AB0251D.gif
>>104117
Hello
Anonymous
76FQ4
?
No.104119
104120
_Cute Dash.png
>>104118
A Cute Bread Horse
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104120
104121
>>104119
Okay, so Dark Star was receiving a description from Sea Breeze about some task the civilian government has been putting off, and has now become more pressing after a complaint by the Governate of Manehattan
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104121
104122
>>104120
Talking to the civilian ponies?
Anonymous
NDHPG
?
No.104122
104123
>>104121
No, the alleged creature traffickers
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104123
104124
>>104122
Right.
"is there a Particular time that the drop them off?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104124
104125
>>104123
“Is there a particular time creatures are dropped off? Not quite, that we know of. Unusual Griffins or Zebras have been seen in a few areas of the neighborhood tending towards a grouping of buildings along the waterfront. There have been two reports of small boats leading out from ships entering the nearby freight docks, and heading to what seems to be a subterranean entrance under buildings.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104125
104126
>>104124
"Boats Huh? Did AnyPony say they heard a motor?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104126
104127
>>104125
“No motors. Rowed by oars at night. It’s the sort of boats stored on larger ships, and used to make landfall.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104127
104128
>>104126
"Dinghies? that's strange. how would they move the Animals on such a small craft?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104128
104129
>>104127
“The craft are designed to move creatures. You can move quite a number of creatures, six or so at a time, if you have enough time. Enough for an invasion.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104129
104130
>>104128
"Do you Think The Changlings are involved,Sir?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104130
104131
>>104129
“It’s a possibility that absolutely cannot be ruled out. If they are, I think they might be in violation of their non-aggression pact.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104131
104132
>>104130
Dark Star's Expression Turns Grim
"Let's Hope They Aren't involved then. if i find any evidence that says they are i will let you know as soon as possible,sir."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104132
104133
>>104131
“Very well. Thank you.”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104133
104134
>>104132
Dark Star Stands up and Salutes SeaBreeze.
"was there anything else you wished to discuss,sir?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104134
104135
>>104133
“Dark Star, I am not convinced that I adequately addressed your concern earlier. That the corrupt Baltimare government will not be removed just yet”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104135
104136
>>104134
"Oh.it uh,its ok,Sir."
Dark Star's face betrays him
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104136
104137
>>104135
“Dark Star. I want you to know that yesterday, Comte was inducted, and arrested by the civilian government. We are now looking into charging his associates, and exposing to the public the full extent of what their leaders have been doing, and what the philosophy of ‘accepting ponies for who they are’ inevitably leads to.’ The public needs a chance to smell the rot and decay for them themselves before we can remove it. We just have to expose it to the air and bring it into the light”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104137
104139
>>104136
"That is Fantastic,Sir. I'm Ecstatic to hear that. the boys will have their justice soon."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104138
>>104118
What a silly horse.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104139
104141
>>104137
"Yes. Be advised that although Comte deserves to be taken to a ditch and shot for the crime of being an elected Social Democrat alone, that will not happen in this case. No. Shooting is too clean. It removes the stain, out of sight, out of mind. That would be good for the social liberals, great even for the social liberals, but no good for Baltimare as a whole. Rather, the public must see every detail. Every gruesome detail of what a loosening of social mores inexorably leads to. Comte and his associates will be given a fair and very public trial. And in that trial, which will be performed to the T by the procedures of Equestrian Common Law, Equestrian society will understand that it isn't really Comte who is on trial, or even the Social Democrats, or Liberalism as an idea - a horrible, Griffin invented idea. It is the Public who will be on trial. They will be on trial for allowing ponies like this to govern over them for so long. And thus we might even ask you to protect Comte from any assassins who will try to kill him before he has the chance to dominate the newspapers for the next several months... before he has the chance to talk about his associates"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104140
104145
>>104115
White Orchid moves his head slightly over towards Silver's direction. An ear flops down briefly, but his eyes move towards Silver. They do not focus on Silver, but rather somewhere far behind him.

Mint Marine does not move, laying his belly and muzzle firmly on the ground, his ears down, and his forelegs crossed over his face as he sobs.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104141
104142 104143
>>104139
"Protect him? Me?"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104142
104144
>>104141
This may be your hardest mission yet, Star.
I wonder if that is the group quest...
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104143
104144
>>104141
"Well, you will not be assigned personally, then"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104144
104146
>>104143
"No,Sir. I Can Do It. If it will help me people see the truth."
>>104142
Thats the Animal smuggling mission, i think
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104145
104146
>>104140
Silver puts a foreleg on White Orchid's shoulder, his voice taking on a more urgent tone. He's not sure what else he can do to try to snap at least one of them out of it. "White Orchid! Mint Marine!"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104146
104147 104148
>>104144
"Well, we'll look into that later. But Dark Star, one more thing."
He pauses for a moment

"Your mother was killed by a Griffin, yes?"

>>104145
White Orchid looks to Silver, and now focuses on him.

Mint Marine:
"You are not my Father!"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104147
104149
>>104146
"Y-Yes Sir,She Was."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104148
104149
>>104146
One of them is a start, at least. "White Orchid, are you okay, are you with me?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104149
104150 104152
>>104148
He nods. Very slowly

>>104147
“Griffins... like the sort that killed your mother, or Zebras like the sort that took your farm, are who are being trafficked in. The operation must be stopped. Not necessarily today, but sometime”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104150
104151
>>104149
"Even though i'm injured i feel like i need to start on it today."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104151
104153
>>104150
He nods
“This task should not be treated lightly. You can expect them to be very dangerous. You will likely need help.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104152
104154
>>104149
"Good. Keep focused on me, little one. I am here, I am real, I am in present." He turns to Mint, a bit more worried for him than White Orchid at the moment. Silver puts a forehoof on Mint's shoulder, and gives him a shake. "Mint Marine!"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104153
104154
>>104151
"I Think i know some guys."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104154
104155 104156
>>104153
“As always, where brutality or bloodshed is involved, we prefer it not be associated with either the Blackhooves or the Caretaker government. Once definitive proof of Criminal activity is found, there is still the option to call in for reinforcements, up to and including Territorial Reservists”

>>104152
He stops, and briefly looks up to Silver, with an expression of surprise
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104155
104157
>>104154
Silver still has a worried expression despite his relief at seeing Mint respond. "Mint Marine, can you see me? Can you hear me?"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104156
104157
>>104154
"I'll Make sure to leave my badge at in my Room,Good To Know."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104157
104158 104159
>>104155
No immediate response

>>104156
“Whatever is going on there, it has lasted a while now. At least as long as the caretaker government has been in Baltimare. It can wait a while longer. Perhaps with sufficient subtlety and discretion, you may need only make a probe before Baltimare PD or Customs makes a formal raid. But do not treat it lightly.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104158
104160
>>104157
And there goes all of his relief. He gives Mint another shake. "Mint Marine!"
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104159
104160
>>104157
"I will not treat it lightly at all,sir. Trust me. its personal. these bucking beaks and ziggers need to be stopped from coming in."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104160
104161 104162
9A4E626B-079C-49CD-B7B1-B0CE88DF2138.png
>>104158
Mint Marine moves back suddenly, almost like a startled dog or cat. His eyes are wide and focused on Silver

>>104159
“Very well. Again, refrain from Brutality where possible, and disassociate it from the Caretaker government where it is unavoidable. Preserve evidence of crimes to justify any larger raid, or for public opinion.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104161
104163
>>104160
Yes,Sr."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104162
104163
>>104160
Silver looks very worried about the poor colt. "Mint, please, respond to me."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104163
104164 104166
>>104161
“Very well. Information will be provided to you in a packet. And Please recover.”

>>104162
He looks at Silver with big, wide open eyes, and says nothing
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104164
104165
>>104163
At this point, Silver is on the verge of breaking down, himself. "Please..."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104165
104168
>>104164
Mint Marine sniffles, and blinks
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104166
104167
>>104163
"Thank You,Sir.
He Salutes him
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104167
104171
>>104166
He nods at Dark Star
“You may now leave”
Anonymous
gZo5G
?
No.104168
104169
>>104165
"Please..." Silver gives him a weak shake.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104169
104170
>>104168
He blinks again
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104170
104172
>>104169
And thus Mint Marine has successfully made an old pony feel dead inside. Congratulations!
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104171
104172
>>104167
He walks towards the door and exits it.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104172
104173 104175
E5D9B9CB-8A37-40C3-9732-E2AC3A4E11ED.png
>>104170
At least Silver has company

>>104171
And thus he does so
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104173
104174
>>104172
And thus, Silver gets up, feeling defeated. "Come on. We have been in one place for far too long."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104174
104176
>>104173
Silently, they both get up
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104175
104177
>>104172
he walks over to Felipe
Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104176
104177
>>104174
Silver suddenly has a lot less energy than he did a couple minutes ago. But, he's still, for the most part, following the whims of the colts.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104177
104178 104179
>>104175
“Look like you took quite a beating”

>>104176
The colts don’t really know what they want to do at the moment
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104178
104180
>>104177
"Ha, you should see the Changling that did this to me. she got blown in half."
He rubs his barrel where he got shot and winces

Silver "The Floof" Sword
gZo5G
?
No.104179
104180
>>104177
Silver at this point would rather just get finished with this leg of the trip, an opinion that does not help the colts in the slightest.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104180
104181 104184
>>104178
“Impressive to see you are still walking after that”

>>104179
If Silver wishes to end what was supposed to be a chance for the poor, traumatized foals with no parental figures nor means, to have fun and get over their recent trauma, he may do so
Anonymous
gZo5G
?
No.104181
104182
>>104180
Oh come on...
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104182
104185 104191
>>104181
Alright.... I’ll refrain from character shaming. Silver is free to do as he does
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104184
104186
>>104180
"yea it got me 3 times. i thought i was gonna die for a second there."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104185
104187
>>104182
Psst. GM. Are you planning the final stretch or am I unknowingly abusing my power as a player over you? I feel like you were expecting the rest to have some solid rules I should've followed but I didn't.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104186
104188
>>104184
He nods, and speaks back to Dark Star in his rather deep voice
“As is always the risk in meeting an opponent. You found her, placed her back into a corner, and she she tried to take you out before you could react. Nevertheless, you held firm, and you prevailed.”
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104187
104189
>>104185
It’s just a question of when to execute the next stretch
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104188
104190
>>104186
"That i did. But if it wasn't for Blue. I Wouldn't be here to talk to you now."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104189
>>104187
So when the stretch happens, I will have a half-health recovered Iron too, right? Making sure that Iron has recovered half-health or Iron recovered to half-health.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104190
104193
>>104188
“Is that so?”
Anonymous
gZo5G
?
No.104191
104192 104194
>>104182
I am incredibly easy to pity-pressure into doing something. Even if they're just fictional characters, I don't want them to have a bad time, but now I am having a bad time because of that. Short version of what I would normally type here is that I have no clue what to do or even what I want to do, all I know is that I want to do something else and yet don't want to be a dick to the colts.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104192
>>104191
Why did you talk about the changeling younglings, then?
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104193
104194 104213
>>104190
"Yea it is. hey have you seen silver around? I Think i need his help on a job."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104194
104195
>>104191
Aww, I’m sorry. I do no for want the game to be unpleasant or un-fun to play (even if sometimes I feel sorry for my own fictional characters)

>>104193
“I did see him earlier today. He was approved for use of an automatic weapon, and left to complete some task”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104195
104196
>>104194
"Hmmmmm did he say what the task was?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104196
104197
>>104195
“No. I know only that it came from Blue Skies”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104197
104198
>>104196
"Hmmmmmmmm, i guess i'll ask her that when she gets out. Hey You want to Get a Whiskey later?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104198
104199 104200
>>104197
Firmly smiling
“I am always up for whiskey”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104199
104200 104204
>>104198
Dark Star Smiles
"Good to Hear, I Could definitely use one."
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104200
104201
>>104198
>>104199
Keep that up! I wanna do that fight against Felipe, pezuña-a-mano!
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104201
104203
>>104200
Felipe is a good CAO
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104203
104205
>>104201
r00d, he a BUL!
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104204
104205
>>104199
He nods again
“After getting shot like that, I can imagine”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104205
104206
>>104203
Yeee
>>104204
"So How's Everything Been Going With You,Felipe?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104206
104207
>>104205
“More or less good. I haven’t been shot recently”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104207
104208
>>104206
Dark Star Laughs
"Good to Hear. hey are there any water fountains around here?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104208
104209
>>104207
“Sure. There is one over on the right side of the lobby, in the back past the first door on your right”
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104209
104210
>>104208
"Thanks."
he walks over to it and drinks some of it,while he's waiting on Blue.

Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104210
104211
>>104209
She walks up to him
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104211
104212
>>104210
"Hey, Do you know where Silver is? I Think i'm Gonna need his help."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104212
104221
>>104211
“Silver? He was going to go retrieve books from the catacombs at that construction site
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104213
104214
>>104193
It's alright. In this case it's nothing that would be your fault, I think. Best way I can describe it is that I'm pretty sure I have some sort of ADD, but I might be self-misdiagnosing. There's just some things I get bored of and lose interest, especially if I'm feeling like I'm stuck somewhere or I'm not making any progress. Like I said, I would love to go through the entire zoo with the colts and give them a great day out, but...ugh. And in more practical terms, I still need to finish Blue's job, and Star is both asking after me and wants to visit the colts, himself.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104214
104215
>>104213
So you just want to skip ahead to taking the foals back?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104215
104216
>>104214
Maybe. There's one thing I want to do for the foals along the way, though.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104216
104217
>>104215
Well, I guess the foals leave the zoo, and follow Silver
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104217
104218
>>104216
Little do the colts know, Silver is leading them to possibly the most diabolical place ever invented: a toy store. "Listen...I am sorry, you two. You know, for earlier. I want to do something for you two, to make up for it."
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104218
104219
>>104217
“Okay...”
“Okay”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104219
104220
>>104218
When they arrive, however long that takes, Silver holds the door open for them. "Go on in, pick out something, anything you want. I will meet you at register in couple minutes, yes?"
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104220
104225 104226
>>104219
“Okay...”
The colts seem to hear and understand
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104221
104222 104326
>>104212
"Hmmmmm, Maybe Iron is at the Bar or Abby?"
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104222
104223
>>104221
I don't think she'll be too happy to hear you contracting me again.
DS
76FQ4
?
No.104223
104224
>>104222
I Like Iron Though,you got a mean right hoof
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104224
Spoilered
>>104223
D'aww, thanks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104225
104228
>>104220
It is not much, but I hope this will help, even if only little bit. While the colts (presumably) look around the store, Silver gets to work looking around the store for some things to get the pair: in particular, for each of them he wants a blanket, a stuffed animal, and a book (fantasy for White Orchid, nonfiction about marine life for Mint Marine), for Mint Marine he wants a marine animal toy and a toy boat, and for White Orchid he wants a toy train and a set of building blocks. He's not sure how well he'll be able to manage, but he tries his best to look. He also looks for a candy bar for Mint Marine, and a bag of gummy candies for White Orchid.
Shimmering Spark
EILIC
?
No.104226
104227
>>104220
>>103981

Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104227
>>104226
Sounds like it could be a big ball to juggle, but he did say it was a group mission.
Although Brie's quest is a group mission, too.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104228
104229
>>104225
Any specificity on what sort of blanket, what kind of stuffed animal, and what sort of fantasy book?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104229
104230
>>104228
The blankets should probably be comfort blankets, or the closest period-appropriate equivalent. You know, something that would feel like the blankets are giving them a hug. The stuffed animal for Mint I'm thinking should be something like a turtle, while for Orchid it should be something like a manticore. And as for White Orchid's fantasy book, I'm thinking something along the lines of "a brave hero goes on an adventure to slay the monster and save the town".
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104230
104231 104232 104233
>>104229
Well, there are indeed stuffed Turtles, as well as a Dragon, an Ursa, a Dolphin, some sort of dragon-octopus cross, a Seapony... maybe a manticore. Blankets include very fluffy, thin, quilted, and normal.

The various fantasy books include "To Where and Back Again," "Grogar the Barbarian," "Last Horizons," "The Once and Future Princess," The "Spring of the Unicorn," and so forth
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104231
104233
>>104230
>Grogar the Barbarian
Nice reference, there.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104232
104233
>>104230
>a Dolphin
Whelp, then from those it'll be quilted blankets for both of them, a stuffed dolphin for Mint Marine, and a stuffed ursa for White Orchid. As for the fantasy book, he takes a look at "Last Horizons" to see what that is about.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104233
104234 104235 104293
>>104230
Now how could I forget "The Synthetic Mares of the Moon"

>>104231
They are all references

>>104232
It tells the tale of an Equestrian adviser and a group whose plane crashed in the high Llamas Mountains of Eastern Zebrica, and who stumbles upon a mystical and secluded village of Panda-la, where the Panda inhabitants use the magical waters of the well spring to live extended lives.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104234
104236
>>104233
"Hmm..." He puts it back to look at the 'Spring of the Unicorn'.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104235
>>104233
I figured as much, but I only got the second one without looking it up on a new tab.
Sadmoment.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104236
104242
>>104234
It tells the story of Ulta Valor, a Unicorn of Pleasant Valley whose herd is oppressed by Vikings, whose taxation and exactions are so severe that the ponies are thrown out of their lands. Ulta joins the Crystal resistance, but is ultimately defeated, and captured and enslaved by the Corsairs of the Southern Islands. Through a series of trials and tribulations, he eventually earns his freedom, learns tactics and strategy, and leads a fight to drive the Vikings out of Pleasant Valley
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104237
104241 104259
0b28564767f40c2f3fe2ebd55e06af4a.png
I know no one asked for this, but I am going to provide a play-by-play anyways because I want to. This is what was going on with Mint Marine and White Orchid as Silver talked to them about Changeling Nymphs. If you don't want to read that for whatever reason, then skip the rest of this post.

It starts off with Mint Marine comparing Vampires to Changelings, which would reflect a popular attitude towards Changelings prevailing in Equestria at that time. He eleaborates, "there were two of them at..." trailing off at the end of the sentence. >>104088 This begins a pattern in Mint Marine's speech where he can never name Comte Burgher, or say explicitly what happened to him. Every time it would be appropriate to name his abuser, or to say the abuse happened, he becomes silent for the length of the time it would take to say the word, then proceeds with his sentence, or stops all together. This reply also tells us something else important about Mint Marine. In his mind, the Changeling race is intimately associated with the experience of his sexual abuse, since that is the only time he has ever seen a Changeling. In his mind, those Changelings and his abuse are linked.

Both ponies hang their heads at the mention of the abuse >>104091. Silver starts off with empathy, but presses his contention that the two changelings should be sympathized with >>104092. Silver is facing an uphill battle here for two reasons. The first is that Changelings are a damned near mythically evil set of creatures that their country has just fought and lost a war against. The second is that Silver is trying to push these two colts to sympathize with and express pity towards two Changelings, when these two colts themselves feel entitled to sympathy, and aren't entirely willing to share the pity pie.

Mint Marine relates his negative experience with those two specific Changelings. >>104093
When I first wrote that scene many months ago, it had a cloth placed between the foals and the changelings, such that they could not see each other, even as someone entering from the door could. The reason for that is that the Changelings had originally had a view of the colts, and would hiss and lunge at the colts scaring them half to death. Thus Comte placed a veil between the two sides so the Changelings couldn't see the colts and wouldn't act aggressively towards them. It was kind of nice being able to make use of that detail which was not able to be expounded upon at the time the scene was described.

In the next few bits of dialogue, Silver tries to explain that the Changelings were hissing at Mint because they were hungry, and implores Mint to try to take the Changeling's point of view. This is a fairly normal form of moral reasoning, just asking someone "what would you have done if you were in their position?" >>104094 >>104095. Mint Marine, however, will have none of this. For him, the way of the world consists mostly of the strong doing what they can, and the weak suffering what they must. With Mint being a small blank-flank pony with no mother, father, friends or connections, that means a hell of a lot of suffering on his part, and a hell of a lot of the strong getting away with it. Mint's father abandoned his mother when he was very young. His mother became an alcoholic, and was unfit to raise him. When his last relative died, he was placed in a Church-run institution that at best fails to replace a family and at worst is oppressive, while never integrating into the life there. And above all of this, the specter of Comte looms. His entire life is filled with examples of people doing things in their own self interest that ultimately caused suffering to him. Thus he is not soothed by a call to "look at it from their perspective." Mint knows very well that his father wanted an easier life than to settle down and raise a foal, thus he left him. He knows that his mother loved alcohol, and chose the bottle over him. And he knows very well that Comte and several of his associates are sexually attracted to prepubescent foals. Mint's conclusion from this whole set of experiences is that need does not morally excuse causing harm to someone else. And if need does morally excuse causing harm to someone else, then morality is a frivolous mental exercise that has no real purpose for being, and may as well be jettisoned for a nihilistic struggle for power, which is all Mint has seen in his life anyways. A second and related issue is that Mint sees Changeling feeding as inherently evil, as it requires literally stripping the happiness from a pony for their own sustenance. Thus a changeling's need to feed inherently requires harming a pony in about equal measure to fulfill. That, in Mint's mind, is evil.

After this, Silver goes quite a step further, trying to humanize... er, equinize the Changeling Nymphs by describing them as beings with personalities, ambitions, goals, and fears all of their own >>104098 >>104103. This is a more successful approach than the last, but it still receives push back from Mint. Silver is still asking Mint to have pity for the Changeling nymphs. However, Mint still feels entitled to be stingy with his sympathy. He believes his sufferings have earned him the right to be sympathized with, and the right to be indifferent towards what he sees as monstrous parasites.

The response to these two bits of dialogue is significant, because it shows that White Orchid has been roped into the conversation. When Silver tells the details of the two Changelings he knows, White Orchid's first instinct is to reject the truth of the assertion. The idea that a Changeling could be just like a pony is just a bit outlandish to him.
Anonymous
KnZni
?
No.104239
104241 104259
209622 (2).jpeg
White Orchid is quick to dismiss many things as untrue or just fairy tales. Perhaps it is because he is older, and he sees "putting away childish things" as an essential part to his growing up. Maybe it is because he has been inculcated into the religion of the order of Saint Prancis, and such religions tend to come with their own comprehensive metaphysical worldviews that "occupy the field" and leave just about everything else to be dismissed as falsehoods and superstition. What is clear is that he is more skeptical about claims than Mint.

However, when Silver speaks more, and insists that his experiences are real, White Orchid is more inclined to accept Silver's basic proposition that Changelings are entitled to be thought of as equal creatures. This is because White Orchid has spent more time with the teachings of the Harmonic worldview than Mint, and has generally come to believe its tenets about withholding judgement until you understand the other pony's point of view, of forgiveness, compassion, sacrifice of personal interest for the sake of the other, and friendship. White Orchid knows that the principles of Harmony he's been taught must be true, because his father died in a foreign war that was fought on the principle of helping others. Surely his father would not have gone across the ocean and left nothing behind for him and his mother, soon to succumb to the Sleeping Sickness, unless the sacrifice served some greater purpose, however hard to see and understand. Thus for White Orchid it's not really an absurd proposition after all that Changelings might be like ponies.

And now we get to the fateful set of dialogue that really turns things. >>104106. Silver takes Mint's push back against Silver's proposition as a personal attack, and goes on the defensive, standing "firm against the onslaught," giving a "dead serious expression," and insisting that he will "stick by my decision to the end, I have no regrets." This marks the abandonment of any attempt to show Mint any sympathy or pity. This is basically a deal breaker for Mint, because Mint believes that any kind of discussion about who deserves sympathy must acknowledge his claim to deserve sympathy. He feels entitled to it. Silver again uses the "look at it from their perspective" reasoning to show why the Changelings need their sympathy. Silver gives a list of sufferings the Changelings have undergone. But this list is almost identical to the sufferings Mint himself has undergone, a fact that is not mentioned at all in the top of the dialogue. In one line, Silver says "[imagine] you are torn from your family, your home." Mint could easily retort "I can't imagine having a family and a a home as I've never had that." Curiously omitted from the list of sufferings the Nymphs have experienced is the sexual abuse. Silver may have gotten further with Mint if he had reminded him that those Changelings are victims in that regard too.

Then Silver says the thing that is most offensive to Mint. "[a]cross from you are two, life-saving sources of food." The "source of food" of course, means Mint Marine himself. Mint sees this as Silver saying explicitly that Mint does not have any kind of dignity that must be respected; that Mint does not have a moral right to his own body or happiness. It's as dehumanizing of a phrase as can be. Now of course, to a changeling Mint Marine is a source of food, but Silver was talking about matters of moral right, and when viewed from a moral perspective, Mint Marine does not believe that his own right to not have the happiness brutally stripped out of his soul at least deserves a mention when compared to a Changeling's alleged right to not be caged. After more defensive posturing, Silver does say "and just as I would help them, I would help you in turn... both of your lives matter." But by this time, the damage is done. Silver ends this section of dialogue by not so subtly implying that Mint Marine is morally deficient.

White Orchid does not say anything. As stated before, White Orchid is somewhat impressed by Silver's argument. At this point, he is also being reminded of the abuse he's suffered from Comte. Unlike Mint Marine, who is emotionally unstable, White Orchid is largely emotionally stable. But he starts to break down as he is reminded more and more of the abuse.

At this point, Mint Marine has absolutely lost it. Specifically, he takes hold of Silver's objectifying Mint Marine as a source of food, and conflates it in his mint with Comte's objectifying Mint Marine as a sexual object. If Silver is arguing that it is morally acceptable to forcibly strip happiness from Mint Marine by magical means because you are hungry, then Silver must be arguing that it is okay to force him to felate you if you are lustful... or so goes the unstable mind of this ~11 year old child, anyways. Mint's response is emotional, and almost perfectly conflates the Changelings with Comte. Comte has dominated Mint's mind at all points of this conversation, and now he comes to the forefront.

Mint starts by answering Silver's question "should I have left them to rot" in the affirmative. >>104107 He asserts, very firmly, that the Changelings should have been caged because otherwise they would have tried to eat him. Mint wants to assert himself, and his right to not be a 'food source.' Then he rejects the perspective switch moral reasoning. "I can no more put myself in their hooves than I could put myself in _______'s place." Here, the comparison between Comte and the Changelings is as explicit as it could possibly be. And the argument is the same. Some forms of need - like the need to literally suck the happiness out of child's soul for your own nourishment, or the need to molest children - are asserted to have no moral validity, and are for all real purposes, 'evil.' They need to be 'purged."
KnZni
?
No.104240
104241 104259
856171__grimdark_artist-colon-dimfann_oc_oc only_blood_clothes_dimfann's war universe_military_military uniform_ptsd_sitting_solo_thousand yard stare.png
Mint ends his outburst with "need to be put in a cage... or shot." 'Cage' can mean either the cage the Changelings were placed in, or for Comte, a prison. The word 'shot' is a reference to a conversation Dark Star had with the two colts the day before, where he tried to convince both foals that Comte should and would be shot for what he did. White Orchid was resistant to the suggestion, but Mint Marine had no such inhibitions. Indeed, Dark Star's nearly barbaric worldview of strength and revenge has a real appeal to Mint Marine, as it involves taking the world that Mint Marine experiences it, and dealing with it on its own terms, but from a position of greater power.

Silver, however, entirely misses that Mint's remarks were directed primarily at Comte. >>104108. "Unnatural evil, like calling for wholesale extermination of entire sapient species? Killing families? Foals?" He does not hide that he finds Mint's suggestion morally repugnant. Silver damned near compares the orphaned child sexual assualt survivor to Hitler, and not in the flattering kind of way that Dark Star would do it: "only evil I hear about them right now is coming from you. You can not solve this problem with genocide"

Mint Marine tries to respond by a final reassertion of his dignity as a being and his right to not be eaten or molested. By this point, however, he's basically already lost. Silver responds, finally, by agreeing with Mint... but only after all of the damage has already been done >>104110. Interestingly, this line seems to indicate an understanding that Mint is conflating changelings and Comte... which would have been very helpful just one post before that one.

After this, White Orchid says "that's not what he meant. As it was intended, it was a reply to >>104108, where White Orchid was trying to tell Silver that Mint Marine was not advocating for a Shoah of Changelings, but rather was expressing his hatred of the Stallion who sexually abused him, and in a way that had been planted in his mind by Dark Star the day before. Instead, however, this statement is in reply to >>104110, which means it just sounds odd. The reason for this is because that scene was orginally supposed to be different. After Silver accuses Mint marine of being pony Hitler, Mint Marine runs off, and the PTSD suffering Orchid can only hollowly say there was a misunderstanding. As it was written, Mint Marine stays around to allow for a reply, even though the conversation is already over by that point. White Orchid's line is not said until later, when it has no context.

White Orchid is described as stilled. Initially, this is because he is genuinely pondering Silver's argument. White Orchid is not as bothered by Silver's lack of expressed pity for the colts - he's more emotionally stable, and take the slight. He's also less offended by any suggestion the Changelings might have had a moral right use himself and Mint Marine as foodstuffs. Achieving a more just, harmonic world has already required White Orchid to sacrifice living in a home with a father. It would hardly be surprising that happiness and love itself be sacrificed for the nourishment of others. Where Orchid starts to fall apart is with the references to Comte and the abuse by both Silver and Mint Marine. This causes him distress which he expresses in the form of stillness and a thousand yard stare.

Thus both foals are left crying. Silver tries to order them both to focus on him. White Orchid knows that foals who don't immediately obey adults get smacked or hit with rulers, so he nominally abides the first time Silver asks, and then actually abides the second time. Mint Marine has neither had a father figure, nor has he been broken in by the nuns, so he is less obedient to this old stranger. If anything, defying an adult is a small victory in a life devoid of victories. Thus Mint Marine defies Silver until Silver has his hooves on him.

And that's pretty much it. I just wanted to say what happened as I saw it. I definitely appreciate the time and the effort that was placed into writing the dialogue, and even if the ultimate result was not what was desired, I still think that it is worth it.
\r
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104241
104243
>>104240
>>104239
>>104237
Wait a second, you mean there was a right answer to appeal to Mint's emotions in this particular instance? Well shit. I would've never even tried to talk about the changeling youth to no one, and the reason is that it's way too risky to point out the changelings were helped by Silver to two foals whose views are mostly negative.
Orchid could try to defend changelings in the abbey later and promptly make the nuns panic and either make the abbey changeling-sympathizing (unlikely), do nothing and hope nothing happens (most likely, but could attract the attention of any Black Hooves member going for adoption) or snitch the child out in order to protect the others (unlikely). Last option (and middle option if conditions are met) would mean that Silver will be arrested next, along with the names and faces Orchid can remember, for being changeling sympathizers. This leads to most of the party being jailed since changelings are not exactly liked or seen as pony beings here.
In Mint's case, however, I am quite shocked to see he was not actually expressing hatred towards the changelings, but Comte Burgher. I would've thought that the grown ups in his life, no matter how much hate he has for them, would've mentioned the atrocities they caused and poisoned his perception of the bugs. Therefore, my predicition could be flawed. Basically, Mint, hurt by Silver's words, becomes so bitter that he either shines a spotlight on himself for the nuns to worry about (most likely) or goes to the point of ratting out Silver, either spreading it as a rumor or going to the more appealing Black Hooves directly, since he's starting to warm himself up to the idea of joining the strong. Silver goes to jail, which leads to most of the party being jailed.
This is why I was strongly put off by Silver trying to defend the changeling youth. I don't think I could trust a secret with two colts that could act impulsively through typical taunts or other foalish methods to extract the secret out of them. They surely didn't know that the bugs were taken and given love, unlike the colts who were quickly placed back at the place one of them seems to despise.
In any case, this was, fundamentally, a bad idea from the very moment the pony younglings knew that the changeling younglings were taken care of in the good kind of sense. These shark jumps should be more planned in order to ensure that the ponies you want to convince don't rat you out when they are unconvinced. An example of a better approach could be planting two changelings disguised as ponies to befriend Mint and Orchid (which, funnily enough, Kerr and Wesley would be the best canditates.) Sure, they may feel betrayed when they find out they're changelings (even worse if they can recognize them, since they don't need more reminders of being diddled), but they will ultimately feel more conflicted about liking changelings, since they would've had good memories of the bugs to counteract the propaganda, and the ratting out becomes way less likely.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104242
104243 104278
>>104236
"Probably not, no..." Next, he tries 'The Synthetic Mares of the Moon'.
Anonymous
J39Od
?
No.104243
104244 104245
>>104241
Was Iron seeking to leave without PEar, or what is going on there?

>>104242
no commentary on the above?
okay then...
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104244
104246 104247
>>104243
Honestly, I don't think she'll like the idea of being escorted by the ponies who are taking part of the history with them, so unless she tries to run up and stick with us, we're probably not going to fetch her.
However, if she does decide to sit with us after Iron does the "I is dead from boop" scene and we rest for a bit more without saying much, maybe she'll ask and we say "I suppose I did say I'd do that," and then we would take her.
Tl;Dr Iron would need Pear's confirmation to be escorted back to civilization, otherwise he'll leave her behind assuming she does not want to be escorted by the pony who's using history for his own gains.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104245
104247 104253
>>104243
In short: My entire side of that scene was predicated on the idea that the discussion was about changelings, and only changelings. Had I known the discussion was more about Comte and what he did, it would have gone much more smoothly. As it is, I am a rather literal person who likes it when people say what they mean outright.
Outside of that, my only comment would be that that entire scene was draining.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104246
>>104244
...that Tl;Dr wasn't even necessary...
Why do I do this to myself?
Anonymous
J39Od
?
No.104247
104248
>>104244
Okay, I have my own plans

>>104245
Sorry...
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104248
104250 104253
>>104247
Wait, just thought of a couple more things: first, there was a lot of information about Mint and how he would react that neither I nor Silver would have known at that point without breaking the dialogue up with a sense motive check, and second, the idea that Silver was suggesting that they should let themselves be eated by changelings is just...no.
Ah well, what's done is done.
Anonymous
J39Od
?
No.104250
104251 104252
F4C65A7E-E3B9-479E-B853-18D741448DE8.jpeg
>>104248
Okay then...
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104251
>>104250
It's alright, man, nothing to feel sorry over.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104252
104455
>>104250
I'll assume you're not ready to game due to work constraints.
When you're ready, say something along the lines of Iron being rested up and ready to move out, along with Cauldron recovering from her stress and bullet wound, and we'll go from that.
Anonymous
J39Od
?
No.104253
104254 104255 104256
>>104248
>>104245
Okay, we’ll just consider the whole experience a write-off then
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104254
104255
>>104253
Eh...okay?
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104255
>>104254
>>104253
That was unexpected.
Do not be afraid of doing something bad to our characters when we step up to do something we think will succeed just to be proven wrong. Otherwise you'll have to write off almost every action anyone will make.
Also be careful of selective write-offs or the ones you don't save will be frustrated and envious.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
7MBpK
?
No.104256
104257
>>104253
I have no idea what you mean by "write-off", here.
Anonymous
ZO/AC
?
No.104257
>>104256
Basically, the whole thing didn't happen and it resets back into Mint talking about bats == vampires or even further back where Mint does not say that.