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
Dark Star and Silver are preparing a task for the Civil Administration. Iron is drowning in a Lake. Brie has just gotten approval to speak with a Changeling agent about acting as a collaborator, and Spark is petting the weird cat things.
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>>108289Are the changelings looking agressive towards Spark now?
>>108333At least I have cute changelings to keep me company... at least they were cute...
>>108334True. I do want Kerr to become big and strong and fight Iron hoof to hoof.
This silence puts my hair on edge.
Was I meant to keep running? To simply confess and have a lil kiss? Beat the ghosts up?
What was the planned outcome?
These questions can be answered after we get out of this cold windigo mess
>>108349*shrugs*
I don't think the GM would do something like that. He'd give plenty of clear warning before something bad happens to Iron and Cauldron. My bet is he's busy.
I am still here, just disheartened
>>108352Too disheartened to play?
>>108351I hope you're right.
Because his words yesterday indicated that my actions are being quite unexpected and he doesn't know what to do currently.
Basically, I put him into a sort of 'between a rock and a hard place' situation where he either makes the porking the solution, the ice monsters break into the shelter and killing both of them or a third solution I don't know of.
>>108355I kinda figured the third solution would be "they bone, nothing else happens, they sleep for the rest of the night, and continue on their way home in the morning when it's safe".
>>108357See, I would agree with you, but keep in mind the snow only happened after Pear literally called the windigoes into existence by slitting the throat of a bandit and throwing him in the fire, causing the temple itself to spew out unknown evil because of it.
>>108358Might be whatever is causing it will get board and wander off to terrorize other young jungle lovers.
>>108359I seriously hope you're right.
Otherwise, I may actually need to roll a new character up.
>>108361You had faith that Silver wouldn't die, now have faith that Iron won't die.
>>108355Oh please. I've known what would happen next (with possible variances depending on character actions) for a long time now
Okay, I guess I can see who is available to play tonight or tomorrow. Remember that Saturday’s and Sunday’s are the only days I am not working, and this is the first weekend in a month I am not either out of town or about to leave or coming back from an out of town trip
>>108368Aw dangit. My timing is the worst.Whenever you're ready, we can proceed. Iron is currently blinded by the flash of light and the jolt is somewhat unexplained.
>>108368I'm damn near always available.
Okay, I am ready for doing something tonight
>>108371The mare carefully picks and combs hairs into the strip of the purple substance (looks like a sort of plastic), then carefully brushes a dye along the outer edges. She paints a longer brush through the center, and goes on to the next one. This continues for some time, until the strips are removed, and a large brush of the staying-chemical added. After a while, the mare tells Dark Star
"Okay, this should dry shortly, then you can wash off"
>>108376After some time, a distraught if determined looking father Maren returns through a door that links the church to this back, grassy area. He carries a holy book in his yellow magical glow, and a sword over his back
"Well, I called Canterlot. Thankfully there are still ponies of the Order around who have dealt with necromancers before"
>>108374Iron Awakens under a clear night sky with a nigh-full moon, and brilliant set of stars. There is neither wind nor forest sounds, nor snow on the ground. Iron is standing outside of the Wirraway, indeed, next to the lake. Cauldron is not in physical contact with him, nor can he see her as of yet
>>108378"That is good...to hear." Silver gives him a concerned look. "I know that look, or look very similar to that. What has you worried?"
>>108378Iron's spatial orientation is severly damaged, darting his head from side to side, trying both to look for Cauldron and find any evidence of what happened previously.
(Was... was it all a dream? Did Pear do this?)
>>108377As they proceed, the semi-urban houses are replaced with older looking, even thatched-roofed houses with older, more wholesome styles. Many of these have tended lawns around, some are abandoned. Old stone windmills churn slowly, as the wind blows on, though with a bit less intensity. The sun sets over the horizon. The stray dogs follow on, but the number of ponies about has dropped significantly. There are more trees now, most Pines and Firs.The land is still mostly flat, and Meadows predominate, as well as agricultural fields. Some are fallow and snow covered, some have clover, and still some have the small, burgeoning plants of fields of Rapeseed or Winter Wheat. Some fields look as if they have been hastily abandoned, or pillaged, an some grow crops even through through the winter.
>>108382"You asked for stripes, right?"
She looks a little confused and worried, the kind of worry that she may have performed an entirely incorrect procedure on a customer
>>108379"Something with as much gravity as this should always be done with a measure of solemnity"
>>108383"Fair enough: I simply worry about ponies, even those I have only recently met. What did they tell you over phone?" He looks at the sword, as if judging its design and apparent quality.
>>108380From the sky, comes a voice
"IRON, I CALL UPON YOU. WHAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED IS NOT THE WORLD AS IT IS, NOR AS IT MUST BE, BUT AS IT COULD BE. YOU CAN STILL ACT TO PREVENT THIS COMING"
>>108384The Sword glimmers remarkably
"First, you must negate the magical effects of the artifact itself. Cast some spells on it, use the holy words, and submerge it in sulfur to mitigate its defenses. Then... crack it open with a weapon of magic. After that, some prayers should be all that is necessary to release the fragment of a trapped soul inside
>>108385Iron cannot comprehend who's talking, looking around once again.
"W-what do you mean? What sort of action could I do to prevent that fate?"
>>108386Silver nods, both in understanding and in appreciation for the fine weapon. "Will that put Curwhinny to rest, or is there another step in this process?"
>>108383A horrifying view, but still has a layer of mystery and beauty in the midst of loss. He contemplates how this mission will end.
>>108383"yea its correct, but whats this plastic stuff for?"
>>108388"If it is indeed the sole repository, then yes. Unless there is a portion in the physical body, or another repository."
>>108390"Oh." She looks relieved. "The plastic is to provide a narrow channel for the added dye of the stripes, and to keep them from being mixed in with the base. To keep the white and the color separate, and keep them from mixing."
The zebra is uncertain about the phrasing of that last sentence, but nods anyways
>>108389Stars come out, as well as the rising of a full moon. More trees come by, as well more fields of winter wheat, rapeseed, rye, and the stuble of harvested fields of timothy grass and who knows whatever else, lying fallow and snow covered
>>108391Spark pets the changelings, hoping they have calmed down some.
>>108391"I saw no mention of any other phylacteries, at very least. We shall see if this takes, I suppose."
>>108387He adds some more questions.
"Who are you? Why did you show me a possible future? How can I believe your words are not disingenuous or that you are not going to trap me?
>>108391"I like it when my colors don't mix. i used to mess up the laundry all the time. let me tell you that was a pain in the flank."
>>108392The two remain in the carriage, one standing up and looking out at the terrain as they pass, the other sitting down kind of curled up, between Spark and the doors
>>108393"Well... I suppose we shall. Let us begin"
He takes out a container of yellow powder, and places the locket on the ground. Then, he pours a circle of yellow around it, then on it. He pulls out the book, goes to a certain page, and starts chanting in the clerical language
>>108395She giggles
"Vell... Now you are done. Let us just dry you, then you can wash off"
>>108397Silver, like when Dark Star was getting de-cursed, attempts to make out anything from the strange language he's chanting.
>>108398>>108397He waits for them to finish then he heads to where he is supposed to wash himself.
>>108398The Zebra continues blowing Dark Star for a couple minutes, and continues looking at him strangely, skeptical of his intentions. She completes the task, and dark star is instructed to go into another room, and get in a tub of water
"Alright... the dye should hold"
She actually looks as if she is uncertain herself as to whether the dye will hold
>>108401He Steps into the tub. then he begins to scrub himself lightly.
>>108387"IRON"
It calls out. From the sky, darkly, is the silhouette of a mare (or a stallion? the voice implies mare). Her forelegs are held up, and close together near her neck. It's kind of a strange way to hold them, as she seems to be vertical and sitting up, though anything below her mid-torso is not visible.
"THERE ARE TERRIBLE ENTITIES SEALED AWAY. ENTITIES FROM BEYOND THE TERRESTRIAL SPHERE. THEY ARE SEALED AWAY FAR BELOW IN TARTARUS, AND FAR ABOVE IN THE CELESTIAL BODIES. ONCE, THEY TERRORIZED PONYKIND. THEY MAY DO SO AGAIN, IF THAT MARE, PEAR FAUCET, OR ANY OTHER PONY, SETS THEM FREE."
>>108394"I AM THE GUARDIAN OF THE DREAMS OF PONIES. I HAVE DETECTED ILL INTENT IN ONE PONY. THOUGH THE GUARDIANS OF HARMONY ARE SCATTERED OR SEALED. I HAVE SENT THESE IMAGES TO SEVERAL PONIES IN THE AREA OF WIND RIVER. MAY YOU ALL DO THE WORK OUR FORMER GUARDIANS CANNOT.... I HAVE WATCHED OVER YOU AND YOUR SIBLINGS FOR YEARS NOW, IRON. I MEAN WELL TO ALL PONIES"
>>108399Google translate is not really cooperating
>>108402He scrubs, and thankfully, the colors do not dissipate. Dark Star can see that he is white, with black stripes that run down his sides, tending towards the back around the middle, then bending in. Still, a white film forms on the water from something coming off of him
>>108397Spark hums a little tune as he goes.
>>108404Eh, don't really need direct translations for this. Let's just say that Silver is confused at how that language eventually became Ponish.
Goddamn, would Silver consider Iron lucky to have Luna visit him in his dream. >>108404He Scrubs a little less vigorously
"is this the dye coming off?"
>>108404Iron can't help but feel a chill on his spine, struggling to get his words out, completely shocked by the intense weight thrown upon him.
(I cannot believe it, but... her talk about harmony sounds rather familiar.)
Some parts do stand out between the inmense responsibility thrown upon him, breathing a little bit erratically.
"Where are the guardians? Why entrust me to do your bidding? Are you... Celestia? How much time I have left?"
>>108410Sorry I haven't been on more. My schedule has been a bit...
Rocky
>>108409>As they proceed, the semi-urban houses are replaced with older looking, even thatched-roofed houses with older, more wholesome styles. Many of these have tended lawns around, some are abandoned. Old stone windmills churn slowly, as the wind blows on, though with a bit less intensity. The sun sets over the horizon. The stray dogs follow on, but the number of ponies about has dropped significantly. There are more trees now, most Pines and Firs.The land is still mostly flat, and Meadows predominate, as well as agricultural fields. Some are fallow and snow covered, some have clover, and still some have the small, burgeoning plants of fields of Rapeseed or Winter Wheat. Some fields look as if they have been hastily abandoned, or pillaged, an some grow crops even through through the winter.>Stars come out, as well as the rising of a full moon. More trees come by, as well more fields of winter wheat, rapeseed, rye, and the stubble of harvested fields of timothy grass and who knows whatever else, lying fallow and snow covered>>108405>>108409>>108405As onyx continues on, along the stone road, it reaches a more forested area, filled with denser pines, not far off past pastures and fields. There is a small, stone bridge that goes over a small ravine, which is frozen over. In the moonlight ahead, they can see a small number of cows, crossing the road.
"Moo"
"shush, Nancy. Someone could hear you"
But they can hear the approaching cart
"quickly, off the road"
The cow freezes up
"Quickly! Now!"
There are two ponies, both earth ponies. They look to be colt age. A ruby one, and another an almost red wine color.
>>108407"No, that's the settling fluid. Wash it off. The dye should be safe"
>>108408"THE GUARDIANS OF HARMONY WERE MANY. THEY ARE NOW CAPTURED, SCATTERED, OR HAVE RETURNED TO THE HARMONIC ESSENCE. I HAVE CONTACTED YOU AND SEVERAL OTHERS BECAUSE YOU INTENDED TO GO INTO THE FORBIDDEN JUNGLES. THE EXPEDITION HAS NOT YET LEFT, THERE IS STILL TIME"
>>108406"Alright" he says, pulling out the sword
"I guess it is time to do this"
Aww. I almost feel bad it's not Silver