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.
1274 replies and 103 files omitted.
>>108413Iron's fearful heart turns determined, not wanting Cauldron to suffer the fate presented to him and not seeing any treachery aside from neither confirming nor denying her identity.
He puffs his chest and stands tall.
"Then I shall answer your call!"
He slightly glances around him while in pose.
"...how do I go back?"
>>108412>>108414Thank you thank you, I'm here all week
>>108413"You're fine. Just take your time, I ain't in no hurry. It is chilly though"
>>108413Spark waves to them.
"Hello. Where are you off to in such a rush, if you don't mind me asking?"
>>108413Silver nods. "I would ask what I could help with, but I am unsure what all I could do."
Don't be, I'm sure Silver will settle for knowing that one of the Princess is not completely lost to ponykind. [1d20+3 = 4]>>108415Blink, and... he is on Black Cauldron's couch in her apartment's living room, where he went to sleep last night. Light pours into the room, if somewhat dimly, from the window. Iron feels fine, much better than he did before. There are no visible bullet wounds, and what he does have has more or less healed up
>>108416>>108417Ruby looks back over to Onyx, uncertain, and with some fear
Red wine continues
"Cow on girl. Come along.... where is Betsy?"
"Betsy didn't come back. But we need Betsy!"
>>108417This causes red wine to look over, and ask sternly
"Who are you?"
>>108418"Well... let's see"
He strikes the locket. Or tries to
>>108419>>108418The sword hits the ground next to the locket, and flings out of his aura, across the ground
"Well... I never really was a sword wielder anyways. Do you want to try, Silver?"
>>108413He Continues scrubbing
He whistles a tune while bathing.
>>108419"Just somepony traveling. Can we help you with something?"
>>108419>>108420"I suppose I might as well. Sword is in my name, after all." Silver grabs the holy sword off the ground in his telekinetic grip. He gives it a couple swings to get a sense of how it's balanced.
So, just a basic attack roll when he's ready? >>108419Iron reacts like a usual pony whose brain believes it has been contacted to would.
He suddenly sits up, forelegs fumbling with the blankets on him and lightly gasps before breathing heavily.
(Was... was that all real? I do not even have that much imagination to think up most of it.)
He looks to the sides, wondering if Cauldron witnessed his sudden woken action.
>>108423Attack roll, plus a +2
>>108421Thankfully, it holds
>>108422They both look at him with uncertainty
Red Wine: "Where are you coming from?"
Ruby: "How do we know you won't sell us out? How do we know you are not Changelings?"
Red Wine holds up a hoof to Ruby, as if to indicate "stop talking" while still looking at the party
>>108424Cauldron is not in the room. Then, a minute later, the door opens, and cauldron walks out of her room, looking uncertain
[1d20+9 = 15]>>108425Silver looks at the locket on the ground, raises the sword above his head, and with a "RAAAAAHHHHHH!" he swings at it.
Not sure what kind of sword it is. If it's a greatsword, go ahead and add an extra +1 to the roll. >>108425Iron can't help but be relieved at seeing his partner well, rushing over to Cauldron and giving her a big ol' hug.
"Cauldron, you are well!"
He retracts his head to look at her in the eyes, seeing her uncertainty.
"Did you have a silhouette talking to you, too?"
>>108425Does it look like much more to wash off?
>>108425"I wouldn't rat you out, and I doubt my friend here would either. Not a fan of changelings myself."
>>108425"Well, I just crossed the border over this way not too long ago. But I suppose you would think that is just a tall tale. The rest will stay behind as I help you alone if that works better."
>>10842615. Should be a hit. Roll damage
>>108427She is startled, and pulls back a little
"Silhoutte?"
>>108428Dark Star is fine. The smell should be gone
>>108429>>108430Red Wine comes closer. Then a little closer, viewing the two ponies under the light of the full moon
"A crystal pony... haven't seen any of you since 6th division came through last spring..."
Ruby comes closer to him
"We are moving our milk cows. We hide them in the forest meadows, and move them at night, so the changelings do not take them from us. It is very dangerous to have them, and dangerous to move them. Especially at night. Dawson should be further up down at the next meadow. One of our cows is not here"
>>108431He cocks his head, a bit confused.
"You did not have a strange dream last night?"
>>108431"Well then, we better find it before they get wise."
>>108429"What do you say bartender?"
>>108432"I did have a kind of vivid dream. There were jars of money, and this crazy bitch was trying to start to apocalypse or something"
>>108433Crack, but is it enough?
>>108434"If those damn bugs don't like it I'm in."
[1d20+9 = 22]>>108435Silver isn't one to leave it to chance. He swings again. "YAAAAAAH!"
>>108431He steps out of the tub. and walks back to where he was before.
>>108434>>108436Red Wine takes to Onyx fairly quickly
"We just need to find Betsy, and move them to the other lot. We should be able to meet with Dawson and Rose there"
Ruby is a little more eager to go back
"Betsy! Betsy where are you!"
He goes off into a bush
>>108438>>108437The thing cracks in half, breaking somewhat anti-climatically
>>108439To which location he was at before?
>>108440Silver brings the sword back up to him. He would've expected something more like an explosion of dark magic, but he's not going to look a gift horse in the mouth. He merely looks to the Father for confirmation that the deed has been done.
>>108435Iron nods rapidly.
"I have that exact dream, too! At the end, that silhouette told me she needed me to stop that pony from unleashing it!"
(Let us skip over the fact that we both were about to copulate before dying, Iron. She may think it was an elaborate wet dream.)
He suddenly lets go, fetching his armor and shield and starting to put them on.
"Get ready, Cauldron. We are going to save the world!"
>>108440"would you like me to help move or find?"
>>108442And now she's spooked
"What? No. What?"
>>108441Maren himself looks uncertain, but shrugs, then nods
"It is done"
>>108443Ruby asserts
"Oh yes, could you help us find our cow?"
>>108444"Sure, where should I look?"
He quickly unhooks himself while considering the irony of a one eyed pony searching for a cow in the dark.
>>108444Iron fumbles with all the straps on him.
"She sounded akin to a god, talking about harmony and guardians and being the protector of the Night, too! I do not want to dissapoint!"
I can feel Luna facehoofing in her prison cell/hiding spot. >>108445"Over here, past the trees. Somewhere off into the forest.."
Ruby himself has loped into the forest
What armor is Onyx wearing?>>108446"... Yes...?"
>>108444Silver gives the sword another look over before flipping the hilt towards Maren. "This is extraordinary sword. My father even might have been bit jealous at whoever made it."
[1d20-2 = -2]>>108447A flak jacket for +3 AC if I remember correctly... Probably not"Gotcha"
He heads that way and looks around, rolling... Idk, spot
>>108448He nods to Silver, then takes the sword from him with a flash of his own light. Aye, 'tis a magic sword, back from when they still made those. It is a remnant of the old military order that we keep around here. Looks like it still has some use in it left"
>>108450"In this world of firearms and gunpowder, when I myself sometimes feel like relic of bygone era? I am glad to see it so."
>>108440the one where the mares dyed his coat.
>>108449>>108453Onyx cannot see much in the darkness
>>108451"Aye... I know the feeling myself. I know it quite well... I hope I was able to help you. Hope I was able to help clear out the darkness and bring a bit more light. Well, it looks like it is done."
>>108452"Alright, that should be all"
[1d20-2 = -10]>>108447Finishing up his straps, he simply stands proud, all armor on him.
(I can sense Cauldron's uncertainty about how true is my claim. Damn, my relief and excitement made me do something stupid.)
Iron looks the area behind Cauldron, smiling sheepishly.
"Uh, sorry. I guess unicorns nowadays can make you some
wild dreams that connect between eachother."
He shrugs dramatically.
"
Unicorns, am I right?"
Holding that pose for a bit, he coughs, returning to normal mode wearing his fullplate and shield.
"Well! We were going to fetch some of your flowers, right? I suggest getting some of that rope and bringing a
big gun. We may face some scary predators out there."
A wild bluff appears!
[1d20 = 8]>>108454"I can't see shit, it's too dark"
He tries listening to see if there's any noises that could give the cow away.
>>108454"Thank you ladies. who do i talk to about a haircut?"
>>108454"I am glad for all help you have given me, Father." Silver holds a hoof out for a good ol' fashioned hoofshake. "I could not have done this without you."
>>108456Some rustling behind him on the road, some rustling a little further in the forest, and... Is that a moo?
>>108457"We can give you a haircut here"
>>108458His tired old eyes look into Silvers, and he shakes his hoof
"You're welcome... and thank you. Blessed be you, child."
>>108455Cauldron blinks
"... Iron, the fuck are you doing?"
>>108459Onyx heads towards where he thinks he heard the moo, hoping he isn't walking into a trap.
>>108459"Thank you, and may we meet again someday soon. May Her light always guide your hoofsteps." With that, Silver goes back out front of the cathedral, hitches himself back to his cart, and heads back for Curwhinny Farm to gather the supplies he left in the farmhouse's basement, and to collect payment for the completed job.
>>108459"I Need it to be cut into a mohawk."
>>108460"Careful. We are in changeling lands after all. They could be the cow for all we know."
>>108459Iron looks to the ground, lightly kicking the floor a bit, not daring to look at her.
"Um... well... I may have gotten a little too excited over both of us having the same dream. It sounded so... real, like the silhouette actually sent the message to all ponies as she said. Both you and I got the same dream. Do you know of anypony capable of entering into dreams?"
(Mainly because it was not about me porking mares from the getgo.)
>>108463"That's what I'm afraid of..."
>>108460>>108460>>108463Ruby must have heard it, because he's prancing off torwards it.
Red wine says, "I have to watch the other cows... can you take care of my brother, please?... Make sure he doesn't get hurt.."
The ground in the forest is not too thick. It's fairly tall pine trees, with mostly clear ground in between, and many of the plants are dead in the winter. Gaps in teh canopy allow light from teh full moon to shine down onto the snow covered ground beneath. There are plenty of cricket and insect sounds, and a sort of owl "who-who" sound off in the distance. There is no more immediate mooing
>>108462"Certainly. We can do that"
They send him over to a grey-white pegasus in another room
"Oh, hallo! I heard you want mohawk?"
>>108461It is so. Walk besides the church, and out through the gate
>>108464"... Yes... maybe"
[1d20 = 5]>>108466"I'll make sure he doesn't get into too much trouble."
Onyx listens again, hoping that it wasn't a one moo wonder.
>>108466Iron holds up a hoof, looking at her.
"Do you remember what apocalypse it was? If you do, then I assume it was a freezing of the earth by evil incorporeal creatures. Am I wrong?"
[1d20 = 12]>>108468"huh, blind and deaf tonight... Anyone else having better luck than me?"
>>108466Spark follows Ruby.
"Slow down, you might spook it... or something else out here."
>>108466Silver wonders while he trots if Curwhinny has been freed from the mortal coil, and if he's been reunited with his long-dead loved ones in Paradise.
>>108470Oh look at you Mr. Unintentional roll, actually getting a good result.
>>108466"Yes indeed, miss."
He sits down in the chair
>>108471Ruby dashes off, evidently not heeding Spark's advice
"Betsy! Betsy!" he dashes on, until thinks he sees it
"Moo!"
>>108470Onyx can here more hooting, then rustling, and "Betsy!"
Further off in the woods, there's something like a dog keeping its distance, and crickets chirping
>>108474He frowns
"Am mister"
But he starts cutting Dark Star's hair
>>108472There's a way to find out...
>>108469"... Yes"
>>108475Onyx dashes toward the should of what he assumes is Ruby finding the cow.
>>108475Heading down into the catacombs...
Hmm. Might actually be good idea to check... >>108475"My apologizes,Sir. i was shot recently. it sort of messes with you head."
>>108475Iron blinks.
"Yes as in I am right or am I wrong?"
(Is she really that stunned from this?)
>>108481Damnit!
Luna, you big fool! Why must you visit his brain?
Iron, you native birdbrain! Why must you spill out your dreams like that?
>>108476>>108480Past trees, a little further, towards a small clearing and beneath a tall fir tree, Ruby rushes across the ground, stiring up snow and pine needless. There is a cow, who is moving around as if scared. A rope around her neck is caught in the ground around an exposed root
"Betsy!" Ruby runs over to the cow, and looks for the rope end. There are a number of other tracks in the snow
>>108478"Well... lat's get started"
>>108477He does so. The grounds are covered in darkness, but he finds his way.
>>108484"Ruby! Wait!"
Onyx gallops at full tilt towards Ruby and Betsy, at least wanting to be there when the inevitable comes.
>>108487The cow seems terrified, but Ruby comes up to her and tries to calm her by petting her with a hoof
"Betsy... it's okay"
The crickets stop, as the hooting continues
>>108488Not much time remains >>108489Onyx stands beside Ruby and whispers into his ear
"Stay still, there's something coming"
He then looks to see if he can see any threats.
>>108489Silver continues on his way towards the catacombs.
>>108490Is Iron going to talk with Cauldron about his feelings towards her, since he almost dream-boned her? >>108490... What?
>>108491>>108493Behind him someways, Onyx seems to have gained a friend with the following dog. But that is far from the most interesting developement. In the woods, looming, is a large entity
"Who who! Who who!"
>>108492He is there
>>108494"Huh, I expected it to be the dog. Spark? You got any lights on you?"
Onyx stares towards the sound, wishing he had been wise enough to grab his halberd.
>>108492R U crazy? He's gonna get super flustered over it, specially without giving her some sort of benefit.>>108494...nevermind. Let's restart from waking up and seeing Cauldron come out. We'll go from there.Seeing his partner well makes him let out a grateful sigh, standing up and walking towards her.
"You seem strange. Did you sleep well?"
>>108495He doesn't have his Halberd?
>>108496She blinks
"What time is it? I think I way over slept... I had this weird dream about jars of money, and this crazy cultist bitch who tried to summon demons or something..."
>>108495"I guess I can make one... but we can forget about escaping if we light ourselves up and there is a changeling patrol."
>>108497I can't recall if our weapons were taken when we crossed.
>>108494Silver parks in front of the levelled farmhouse, and once again delves into the darkness.
>>108496Come on, mang, it'd be cute, and a great way to develop their relation. Just have him be sincere.Plus, it means he'd have a better chance at sleeping with her later. >>108498They were not. Brie spent like an hour arguing for the right to keep them
>>108497Still in the wagon
>>108498"Buck, good point. I guess we wait until this thing reveals itself."
Onyx hoofs at the ground, obviously impatient for this thing to show up.
>>108497He blinks as well, raising his eyebrows.
(The silhouette was right... Was it actually not a dream I had? It seems like that time where I got sucked off by drones while her Queen spoke to me, but more plausible since she also got the same dream... I must be subtle about this.)
"Really? I would have thought you dreamt about Zebrica, not about a random 'beach' summoning demons."
He shakes his head.
"Minds are quite strange."
>>108500Awesome.
>>108501"I know bugs see in the dark, but there is no reason to think it is going to reveal itself. It would call it's friends and swarm us if they wanted to. Let's just get the kid and cow out of here."
>>108502"No, it was in the jungles. It was rather vivid"
>>108503Because eeeeeeey... I'm about as wise as onyx and I didn't expect a fight?
>>108504"Alright... Come on Ruby, but stay away from the trees unless there's no other options."
>>108505Iron blinks again.
"Huh."
He looks over to the table.
"Shall we have some breakfast? You can tell me about it while I have a quick bite."
>>108499Sadly, Iron's will is weak for that exact scenario. He'd be too afraid to do it. After he gets the pots, tho... that's the time to strike. >>108506>>108504"Just let me get this"
Ruby tries to pull the rope out
from the trees comes a large creature. It looks like a bear... but not its face. It has a flat face, and a narrow beak on it The body of a large bear, and the face of an owl
"Caw!"
>>108507He keeps cutting, and cutting, and cutting
"There you go sir! I hope that work for you... hmmm, your hair tends to stay down. Doesn't quite work for mohawk"
>>108508"No... I think I'm fine. Anyways, I think we slept right through breakfast"
>>108510"buck... You get your cow, I'll distract... That"
Onyx steps away from Ruby, doing his best to reflect moonlight off his fur and at the creature.
>>108511Onyx is not very reflective, but he can get the creature's attention. It looks kind of pissed
"CAW!"
>>108512"That's right ya freak, over here"
He puts as much distance between himself and Ruby as he can