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
Shimmering Spark, Onyx Steel, and Brie Achtungsex now make the perilous crossing into the Changeling Lands. In Baltimare, Dark Star prepares for his next big assignement, while Silver concludes his mentoring of traumatized foals. Much further away, Iron stands under jeweled nighttime skies, preparing his next move
1724 replies and 99 files omitted.
>>105310"Sounds like Dark Star. Unless there are other blood-red stallions in Baltimare I do not know about." He smiles at the vision of White Orchid. "It is nice having some possessions of your own, yes?"
>>105311"That might be him" she says
White orchid smiles as he looks at his loot
"Yes"
The nun adds,
"Normally the foals don't own their own toys. It's all communal property. We try to teach foals to share"
>>105312"He is friend of mine, and good pony, even if I do not completely agree with some of his more...political opinions." He looks again at White Orchid, feeling a little bit of pride welling up. "It is good to share, but it is also nice to be able to claim ownership to something. It gives you little bit of normalcy, like you can feel like you have control over something in your life."
>>105313After Silver says this, Mint Marine moves a step back, and White Orchid continues looking at the train set. The nun looks slightly upset, about to move a hoof forward, before White Orchid moves his eyes to make eye contact with Silver, and White Orchid responds to Silver:
"It does... It can be"
He gives a smile that is both sorrowful and grateful.
>>105314Silver's not sure if his heart is going to break or burst first. For the moment, he settles for a nod and a heartfelt smile. "I had fun today, you two. I hope someday soon we will be able to spend some more time together. Perhaps next time we will be able to make use of some of that stuff I bought you, huh?" He looks between the two colts.
>>105315White Orchid looks a little happier now. Somewhere in his expression, he gives off the sense that he intends to establish himself as a Barron of toys over his little fiefdom of cap guns, swords, and hats contained in the chest, lending them out to the other foals in exchange for popularity or favors. Mint Marine stands in silence as he always does, or nearly always does, having long learned how to minimize his presence. But for all that, he still wears a look of pain, almost torment
White Orchid:
“That would be nice”
>>105316The image that settles in his mind actually kinda amuses him. It's something that a normal colt would do, and as far as he's concerned, that's a good thing. Silver is still naturally worried for Mint Marine, and definitely hopes that he will start to heal soon, even if he has been left scared. He decides that, while perhaps there are others better suited to helping Mint recover from his trauma, he'll still try to be there for the little colt.
For now he leaves with a "goodbye" to the two colts, happy that he got to know them a bit better, at least.
>>105317Before he leaves, but after he exits the ear-range of the nun, Mint Marine charges forward with a last question,
“Do you really think I am a bad pony?”
>>105319Silver is...quite surprised by the question. Which is probably the point of him asking like this. "No, little one. I...I did not get to properly apologize for all of...that." Checking that they're still out of ear-shot of the nun, he continues. "I forgot where I was, and who I was talking to, and...honestly, I do get very passionate about these sort of things, and...I can not apologize enough for it. It was stupid.
I was stupid."
He gives Mint Marine a soft look. "Again, I do not believe you are bad pony, just like how I do not believe Dark Star is bad pony for believing almost exact same thing as you." He turns to Mint Marine and puts a hoof over his heart. "You are good pony, Mint Marine, who has been hurt very badly. And when ponies are hurt like that, they are capable of doing or believing bad or evil things. I know this myself. But that is not what ultimately matters. What matters is in here. In your heart. And in your heart, I see good pony, kind of pony that would make your grandmother proud."
He removes the hoof from over Mint's heart. "I know you are hurt. And I can understand if you would rather try to face it on your own. But you do not have to try to alone. There are ponies out here who do care for you and would try to do whatever they could to help you heal, and I would be glad to count myself among them. If you would let me."
[Read more] >>105320The little pony’s ears droop for a moment, but slowly go back up. He seems speechless, much as he was before
>>105321Silver sits down to be more at eye-level with Mint Marine. "I would still like to see you again someday, and someday soon at that. I know you are wanting to see harbor, and while I may not be
expert swimmer, especially with this winter coat of mine, I would like to see you make use of that scuba equipment, and perhaps teach me more about wonders of marine life along way."
>>105322This gets a half-smile out of the sad, tired little pony
“... Maybe”
>>105323"Maybe next time you will also tell me about new kind of shark, too." Silver musses up Mint's mane playfully. "Take care, little one. I hope to see you soon."
>>105324He closes his eyes, and tilts his head up into the ruffling with a smile. When Silver ceases, Mint Marine says “see you”
>>105325Silver smiles at Mint before turning and leaving the orphanage. As he trots, he feels as if a weight has been lifted off his chest and shoulders. Like perhaps that things have the potential to be better, now, if not perfect. He will most certainly try to find an opportunity to make good on his claims, so that he may come back to the orphanage to spend time with the two colts he's gotten to know better.
For now, it's back to work for Silver.
>>105327D’aww, that’s sweet
Back to the Quarry, I presume?
>>105328You know it. Time to see if enough time has passed for the pump to do its work.
Okay, I have to sleep now
>>105345So, you want to continue, or do you need some time for yourself first?
>>105348I think it will still be a couple hours
>>105349That's fine. Take however much time you need. I'll wait.
>>105354Alright, so Silver is going to the Quarry
>>105358Precisely. He's going to check to see if the pump has done enough work for him to start.
>>105355>>105359Why did he go from "floof" to "floff" in one post?
Anyways, Silver returns to see that the water level has indeed dropped, as has the angle of the light
>>105360*shrugs*Now here's the question: has it dropped enough to prevent undead from hiding underneath its surface?
>>105363Hmm...good enough. I suppose it's time now. If anything's left crouching/legless, they'll be exposed by the pump by the time he's finished gathering the books Blue Skies needs.
Silver begins the process of re-equipping his armor and weapons he left in/by his cart, in particular he makes sure he's got his Lavender Rifle prepared for detonating the unexploded bomb in the quarry. He also grabs the fishing wire, the container of bait, and his Potions of Hide From Undead before positioning himself above the catacombs quarry exit.
Assuming it's been reopened, that is. >>105364Again, a small trail leads down into the quarry from the edge. To Silver's left, the quarry is deeper, and there is still some water. It leads up almost like an upside down wedding cake to higher levels, with the right side containing the entrance to the catacombs.
>>105365Hmm... Silver decides to do a test run with the sealed bait to see if he can keep it levitated with the fishing wire all the way from the entrance to the bomb by trotting along the trail.
>>105366I'm confused as to what exactly is being attempted here
>>105367Basically, he's seeing if he can levitate the bait on the fishing wire from the catacombs entrance all the way to the bomb.
>>105368If he climbs, trots, and wades all the way from the entrance to the bomb, then sure. That is not a straight-forward process, as it involves the risk of attracting creatures through the hole to the catacombs, and also any possible dangers unseen in the water
>>105369So, it'd simply be better to set up somewhere and drag the bait all the way.
>>105370Okay, I am
very confused by what you are suggesting? Are you suggesting he use his magic to try to extend out to levitate it? Are you suggesting he places the bait on a weighted fishing line exactly the same as if Silver were deep sea fishing for sturgeon, then sling it out on a fishing rod and reel it towards the direction of the bomb?
>>105371The first thing I was suggesting lines up to the former.
>>105372The bomb is across the quarry, and also closer towards Silver. At least 50 meters. His magic cannot extend that far
>>105373Okay, would that be within his abilities if he trotted alongside it?
>>105374The issue with that is that there are two "cake layers" where the elevation of the quarry goes up some feet, and that the last "layer" is partly submerged
>>105375It sounds like the only reasonable option would be to cast it out on the line and reel it back in.
>>105376I'm not sure that he bought a fishing rod, even as he bought fishing line. I guess there are other options
>>105377It wasn't originally the idea I had, but perhaps buying a suitable fishing rod would be a good idea.
>>105378However you want to approach it
>>105379Probably a good idea to go buy a fishing rod, then. Here's hoping it'll be worth less that 36 Bits, or that there's a fishing supplies store in Baltimare ran by a pony, because otherwise there's going to be a very insulted Griffon shopkeeper.
>>105380I'm going to assume this means that Silver goes back to the fishing shop
"Hallo" The white and gold griffin, with the scar running along his face, extends a claw in evident greetings
>>105382"Hello again, my friend. I was wondering if I could take look at selection of your fishing rods?"
>>105383He looks at Silver for a moment, narrowing eyebrows, before easing up
"Oh, yes. We have many fishing rod. What you want? Big fish, little fish? Sea? Lake?"
>>105384"Hmm. Probably small fish, on lake."
>>105386You're talking to someone who knows nothing about fishing. You're also talking to someone who's looking more for avoiding pissing this Griffon off than anything.
>>105386>>105388In other words, I don't know what is best for what Silver's looking for. All I'm looking for is that the rod, reel, and a hook all together costs less that 36 Bits.
>>105388>>105389The Griffin guides Silver through a set of fishing rods kept along a wall, often taking them off and demonstrating their actions. It quickly becomes apparent to Silver that even if the two had a language in common, Silver would not really understand how to buy fishing rods. After some time, Silver explains that he needs a rod that can cast fishing line a relatively long distance, but only needs to support the weight of small fish. The Griffin selects one for Silver that hopefully meets those two qualifications
>>105390Okay then, moment of truth: how much does it cost?
>>105393"And what would be price with reel and hook? Or is that including all?"
>>105394"Vith reel, hook, sinker, line, 25 bits"
>>105395Silver can, indeed, pay for all of that using coins.
>>105396Lucky Silver
(Assuming Silver does indeed buy it)
The griffin counts the coins given to him, then claws over the fishing materials in each of their several pieces - the rod, the reel, the line, the hook, and the weight
>>105397"Thank you. I will remember this store, if someone asks me where they can buy fishing supplies."
>>105398The griffin nods, pulling back his beak in what must be smiling
"Dank Jou!"
>>105399Alright,
now Silver can return to the quarry with the goal of killing those undead..
>>105401First things first: upon arriving, Silver assembles the fishing rod.
This will certainly be new experience. >>105402It's a straightforward enough process, and soon the fishing rod is fully assembled
I have to sleep now... Is it my turn to say Bop?
>>105406Poor Shining.So, you still need a couple hours to be ready like yesterday, or are you ready now? Or do you not want to continue right now?
Okay, I am back from my week-long conference
>>105407Sure
Silver’s move>>105409Silver downs one of his two remaining Hide From Undead potions as he trots into position. He also eyes one of his bottles of whiskey on the way, but ultimately decides it's better to have a clear head than dulled nerves.
Two things: first, how did your conference go, and second, will casting the bait require some sort of roll, or is this going to be a freebee? >>105410It depends on how he “casts” it. If it’s with a fishing rod, then yes
It was mostly fun, almost like a little vacation