This week, in "Occupied Equestria":
Wondering through through the Changeling lands at night on the road between Bales and Whinnyapolis, Onyx, Brie, and Spark have stumbled upon a set of farm ponies trying to hide their cattle in the forest, away from their changeling occupiers. While rescuing a cow, Onyx and Brie have taken heavy damage, and so they followed them to the cabin of a local woodspony. But they found the woodspony and a farmer replaced by changelings, and after a skirmish are alone and wounded in the cabin in the woods.
Over in Baltimare, Dark Star has decided to give up his life as Dark Star, the Earth Pony farm colt, to become Tyrel Jackson, or "Gold Chains," a zebra and aspiring rap artist. Through the magic of Valmorification, it is possible. Iron is freaking out after possibly having received a message from God herself. That, and his usual social awkwardness. Silver is cashing out on a long standing set of projects, and is readying himself for the next phase
1374 replies and 98 files omitted.
>>109315"Buck,That's terrible. I Got Shot a couple times this morning by a Changling Spy.
Is it a deep wound? Have you got it looked at yet?"
>>109319"Let's hope. Shall we take it slow or just burst in?"
Onyx grabs his halberd in his maw and nods to Spark
>>109319>>109321The aged it’s that big. It’s a grayish color with clear wooden slats, and a simple wooden double door that seems to have been moved, judging by movement in the snow. A sheep darts past and out of the way, but there are no other sounds around besides crickets
>>109321"Bust in, but don't fire until you see their bug eyes. We don't want to shoot the wrong ones. That is, if they are even here."
Spark tries the door and attempts to throw it open.
>>109318Iron shrugs.
"I cannot say I try too hard to know."
>>109320Iron nods approvingly
"Surprised you could withstand many metal bits on you."
He looks at its treated body, not knowing its current state.
"I feel fine. I can still run and punch. That is what matters."
He decides to press on the mission details, looking quite serious.
"I heard you were looking for ponies for yet another mission of your marefriend's faction. Do you have a time and date to execute the plan yet?"
>>109324"I suppose that is your prerogative. So, it was
just tiger that almost killed you?"
>>109325He glances at his direction, nodding.
"There were some 'muggers' that tried to take something from me. They were easy pickings, all things considered."
>>109326Silver's eyes widened. "Huh. In that case, I am especially glad that you are alive and well."
>>109327Iron tilts his head yet again, somewhat uneasy.
"Thank you?"
>>109323>>109321The door is unlocked.... What they see when they open the door is at once both astonishing and expected
In black gossamer, melded to the rear wooden wall of the shed is a large... cocoon like entity. Black on the edges, with thin transparent green tinted front that shapes itself around a pony - grey and brown maned. The pony stands straight up with hooves to his side, with eyes wide open. They are glossed over white, and the pony is suspended in a transparent liquid. It looks like looking at a pony in an open coffin, standing up, if that coffin were of biological matter. That is not the only black gossamer cocoon - a consistency on it about like a spaider web. Immediately next to it is a thinner one, which conforms the shape of a light pink mare with blonde mane. She is
upside down. Her eyes, likewise, are wide open, almost looking like those of a dead fish with something covering them. She, too, is suspended in some sort of liquid.
The ground of the shed is hard dirt with a covering of gravel, no snow. And lying on this snow, towards the front, is another pony. It's the red wine colored pony - the one they met earlier. He, and he alone has closed eyes, although his mouth is open, and his tongue is hanging out,. His head and shoulders are free, and there is an attempt to keep his hooves together in the casket-like stance of the other two. His lower body is already covered in the black and white gossamer, like a giant fly trapped in a much bigger spider web, in the process of being wrapped up to become a meal, his life fluids slowly drained
>>109329Onyx, although expecting it, freezes at the sight for a moment before quickly trying to use his halberd to cut them out.
>>109330Careful not to cut them or freeze them with the cold effect....
[1d20 = 2]>>109331Is that indication I should roll?
Rolling incase it is
>>109332He cuts into the leg of the grey pony while trying to cut him out
[1d20 = 15]>>109333Checked....
Onyx's eye goes wide before he lets out a string of every cuss word he knows before attempting another.
>>109324>>109327"Tomorrow morning. i plan to scope the place out tonight. speaking of which have either of you seen Brie,Spark or oynx?"
[1d20 = 20]>>109336Onyx moves to the next cocoon, cutting slower this time
>>109338Perfection. He's even able to cut out the third pony
>>109337Silver shakes his head. "Brie I know is missing. Spark and Onyx might be with him, as well."
>>109337Iron simply shakes his head, denying any witnessing of the kind.
>>109339"Spark, you patched me up well enough. Will they be okay?"
>>109340>>109341"Horse Apples! this is Going to be Significantly more difficult without them,
He Sighs
"Maybe they'll turn up before then."
He Takes a sip of his whiskey.
>>109342"I was lucky ok? I don't even know what that iodine stuff does. I have no clue, but we need to treat that leg of his and get them back inside."
>>109343Silver takes a drink from his own whiskey. "Just remember, get behind me if bullets start flying. With luck, it will not come to that, though."
>>109344"Alright"
Onyx hauls two of them onto his back, and heads back towards the cabin.
>>109344>>109342>>109334A bit of light from behind Onyx, and the ponies fall on the floor of the shed. They still look out of it, covered in slime. At least the pony who is cut is actually bleeding, implying a heart beat
>>109345"We'll come out unscathed."
>>109347"A lot of Creature traffickers with Rifles,hard. Has Silver told you anything about where we are going?"
>>109346>>109348Spark takes the red wine colored pony inside.
>>109350>>109346Alright... I guess they try to pull the ponies up, place them on their backs, and trudge on to the cabin as the sheep move around the sit, and the fire burns lowly on
>>109351Do we make it to the house ok?
>>109346Alright. Roll a fortitude save
>>109349"In broad strokes."
Iron leans in closer.
"I will be fine. Nothing some good old resting cannot cure later."
>>109356>>109352The two ponies carry the stiff ponies further, towards the barn and towards the house, as the sheep near them. Then, a veil of green light comes over one of the sheep, and onyx can feel something tugging at him.
Have you ever had that feeling in a dream, or as you lie down on your bed, that you are falling down to the ground, even as your body remains in place? Onyx feels that way, tugged to the side while his body remains in place, as if by a hand that has been dipped in icy water.
Onyx falls to the ground
Spark's turn
>>109357Spark readies his pistol. Shall we roll for turns?
[1d20+3 = 18]>>109359I have may questions about the world where a pistol is weaker than a dagger with Spark's strength deficiency... but ok. Spark has had it with these changelings and decides that if any more are lurking around, they need to associate this ponies with pain.
Spark uses his last fire spell.
>>109355"Or else I can patch you up. I have some experience with healing and first-aid."
[4d6 = 12]>>109360It's fucking lit on fire, casting the snow in an orange light, as flames shoot up from teh changeling - tattered grey uniform and all
>>109356>>109362If onyx makes a con save, he can go as well
>>109361His head rises, both forelegs pointing at Silver.
"See? Nothing to worry about."
>>109365Doesn't matter either way it seems.
>>109365Con. Looks like Onyx can recover with a move action
>>109367Onyx gets up and makes sure the two he was carrying are okay, as he picks up his weapon.
[1d20+4 = 5]>>109358The other sheep, with a glow of green from an invisible horn, pulls a rifle out from under the snow, levels it at Spark, and shoots
>>109369>>109360>>109368Snow in the rifle seems to cause it to fail to discharge. The first Changeling falls to the ground to put out the fire
Onyx’s turn
[1d20+11 = 29]>>109371Onyx rushes the changeling with the jammed rifle, raising his halberd up to swing.
>>109372>>109373They backfired the moment they ever faced Onyx.
>>109373Oh. Oh.....
Hit
The first Changeling backs up a couple feet, throws his hooves into the air, and starts speaking
[1d6 = 1][1d10+6 = 9]Is this a reverse Welshman since the sheep are fucking us?
>>109374>>109375You guys make me blush
>>109376Damage
>>109376"Ponish applebucker, do you speak it?"
Spark threatens the first one with pistol ready.
>>109377D-don't flatter yourself, b-baka!
I'd totally beat your flank!
THE CHANGELING'S RESISTING. USE MILITARY BRUTALITY WITH YOUR HOOVES! >>109377>>109378Second one is not out
The first one starts to Ramble
"Bitte, wir wollen Ihnen keinen Schaden zufügen. Wir sind Deserteure der neunzigsten Infanterie. Wir sind aus dem Bienenstock in Phantine. Wir wurden in Chrysalis 'Armee eingezogen, als sie unseren Bienenstock annektierte und in den Dienst zwang. Unsere Brigade wurde zerstreut, als die Crystal Empire-Theke außerhalb des Berges angriff. Wir sind seit Monaten im Wald unterwegs. Wir waren hungrig und kalt. Wir haben seit vielen Monaten nicht mehr gegessen...."
>>109380Damn it. They are the good guys. We just killed two of their own most likely. But Spark doesn't know that.
"I can't understand you. Throwing your gun down is a good first start. Now tell your friend to do that too."
Spark points to the other changeling.
>>109381"Hey Onyx! I think this one is surrendering. See if the other one isn't so inclined."
>>109383Fuck
"How? I can't speak a word of changeling"
[1d20+4 = 9]>>109384The second one cycles the bolt, and shoots at Onyx
>>109386>>109384He can hear the bullet wiz past
[1d20+20 = 39]>>109385You just made me think of something even better I can do>>109386"Son of a bitch"
Onyx swings again, but aims for the rifle rather than the changeling holding it.
Sunder attempt. Improved sunder means no AoO. +12 attack bonus, +4 improved sunder, +4 for two handed weapon.
>>109384"Knock the gun out of his grip. I don't know!"
>>109387I grab the changeling in front of me and shake him.
"Get him..."
I point at the changeling shooting.
"to STOP."
>>109388>>109389.... I think it worked
The rifle shatters in half. The wounded Changeling places it’s hooves over its chest, and falls back
>>109390By wounded one, do you mean the first on near Spark or Onyx' one?
What does burning cockroach smell like? Onyx and Spark know. The two changelings are both wounded and neither has any visible weapons.
Onyx’s ability to see in color has just blinked out
>>109393The second one, which had the rifle
>>109395Onyx rapidly blinks for a moment
"Oh buck this, my good eye is going to Tartarus as well?"
>>109395"Come on. And don't try anything funny."
He hauls the changeling behind him along with the pony on his back towards the cabin.
>>109397"Bring him along Onyx and hurry up or we will freeze out here. We need to tend to these ponies already."
>>109397No, Onyx can see, just not in color. He also has this strange feeling like what little joy he had has been sucked right out. Probably needs more vodka
Anyways, there are two changelings still there in front of him
>>109398>haulsNot so easy. They are not tied up or anything, and are still up and able
>>109398"Alright"
Onyx grumbles as he hauls the two ponies onto his back, and roughly guides the changeling back to the cabin.
Oh God. Do we have more tag along NPCs now?
>>109399The one that surrendered should come along well enough, especially to get out of the snow for a while.
But whether or not the changeling is hauled along, Spark takes the pony inside.
>>109400>>109398Getting the changelings to.., well, do anything, is going to take some artistry and persuasion
>>109405Spark opens the door inside and waves them in.
>>109405>Artistry and persuasionWhat a coincidence! That's what Onyx calls his hooves!
>>109409He can try that
>>109406The changelings are scared and uncertain , and full of adrenaline
>>109410Onyx ignores them for now and hauls the two ponies inside
"I wish that bat was here right about now."
>>109411"Yeah. Let me try something."
>>109410Spark goes to the cabin kitchen, or pantries if that is all they have, and finds what kind of food they have.
>>109411The two ponies are dragged up, and in. Onyx feels much weaker than before, with a slower heart beat
Calling it early tonight.
Hopefully the monthly trio can return.
>>109413Onyx searches for the vodka and downs a swig when it is found.
>>109412Only a single drawer of carrots and a few turnips. Actually, there are a few potatoes in a sort of pantry
>>109415Thankfully, a small amount remains
>>109416Not exactly bug bait, but maybe they will understand.
Spark goes back to the door and places a turnip at the door and pats beside it.
>>109416Onyx slowly makes his way back towards Spark
"Those... Damned... Bugs"
>>109418"They might be useful. If they can give us a map or some way to avoid patrols, then our mission might just have a chance at success."
>>109419"Yeah, useful if they could keep their mouths off of every damned pony they see."
>>109417>>109418Ruby gets up. The little colt behaves like an ancient dog with his slow movements
“You’re back!
Rose. Dawson! Are you okay?”
He moves forward
Outside, the two wounded, bleeding creatures look at Spark. They don’t seem interested in eating the turnip