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
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>>109055Empty Cabin, the fire is burning. Ruby is petrified on the floor
>>109053He gives a surprised look, as if he hadn't thought of it
"I guess it could"
>>109057"Again, I understand if it seems weird, but it would mean lot to me."
>>109049his voice takes on a serious tone.
"Bad business going on down there. i'm going to look into putting a stop to it. i don't want to say to much. but seriously don't go down to the docks unless absolutely necessary."
>>109059"Oh... Well, I didn't really have any business down there anyways"
>>109058He nods
"It is good that the dead have somepony who cares and looks after their remains"
>>109060"There are sadly few who do." He reaches into his bags and pulls out 500 Bits worth of notes. "I would also like to donate, before I leave. It is not much, I know, but I want to give something, that you all might be able to continue to help ponies."
>>109019Oh. I guess I could just open the door and run away.Damn, I missed the new thread for quite a while.Iron focuses his attention on trying to open Cauldron's apartment's front door feverishly.
(Come on, door. Let me through.)
>>109060"I Need the best maretini you can make and an apple whiskey please."
>>109061He takes the money, and does a small bow
“Thank you, kind stallion. We don’t get as much support now that we are cut off from Canterlot, and with so many ponies in need”
>>109063Well, it’s unlocked
>>109064He does so, making a pretty good marketing, and an apple whiskey
>>109065"With so much uncertainty after Equestria's surrender, and so many lost ponies looking for guidance, I know you need all aid you can get." He holds his hoof out for a hoofshake. "Just wanted to thank you for all you do, not just for me, but for all ponies."
>>109066And his wrinkly old face gives a smile
“Thank you...”
>>109065He hurriedly opens the door, quickly dashing away from the building, through the stairs and outside in a rush.
(Retreat and plan the next course of action!)
>>109067He continues to hold his hoof out, not wanting to be left hanging. "May Her light always guide your hoofsteps."
>>109068Uh, okay. There’s a narrow, level hallway, then a set of stairs, more hallway... it can be confusing
>>109069“And May her light guide yours...”
Then he adds
“Perchance... would you like to help the Church?”
>>109070Silver's ears perk up. "What would you need assistance with?"
>>109071“It can be anything from helping the poor, helping ponies with trauma or psychological issues, to the dealing with the occasional recurrences of ancient threats”
>>109070Yeah. I know. He's a bit too scared for his own good. Trust me, things will wrap up satisfactory at the end of the day/group quest, after he mulls over how to spill the beans.Mostly because I want it to be a night confession.Iron looks from side to side.
(Where to, Where to...?)
He gallops towards the hallway with the stairs visible in order to go down them.
>>109072He nods. "I could try to help however I can. All I would need is to be pointed in direction of those in need."
[1d20 = 19]>>109070Spark patches up the bat next.
>>109073It really should already be night
He descends at least one level
>>109074“Well, it looks like you’ve found yourself something already with the bodies at the farm. We’d want to get the priest on that, and maybe some other volunteers”
>>109075Pretty successful
>>109073Because it's the second-best time to bone?>>109075I'm half tempted to make Silver buy Spark a nurse's outfit next time he sees him.>>109076"I would be happy to volunteer. Do you have any idea when that might be?"
>>109077“It’s late today. Perhaps tomorrow. Assuming the corpses do not start to rot...”
>>109078Silver nods, understanding just how unpleasant that would be. "Well, let us hope they do not decompose too much. I shall head there tomorrow to volunteer."
>>109077S-silence, you!Yes.>>109076As in, they woke up super early and it is nightfall or...You mean I was supposed to confess now?If it's the latter, you can make him trip if you want to.Iron is getting a bit nauseous over having to think while in a panic, going down into
(How many stairs are there? They are beginning to look the same.)
>>109076Nice. Spark tends to Ruby, but not with rolls because bandages can't fix this one.
>>109077Umm....
>>109080It’s about the same time for Iron as everypony else. I was thinking about having a delegate challenge/event for Iron with the gang, but nah. Nevermind.
Iron finds the door eventually
>>109081His eyes are open, but he is not conscious
>>109079“Very well. Thank you.”
>>109082What do you mean by delegate challenge/event?Silver waves goodbye to Maren before leaving for the catacombs one final time. He left the supplies he bought in the basement of the ruined farmhouse, and he's going to gather them back up.
He also looks at the pocket watch he bought to check the time. He's not sure if the stores are still open or not.
>>109082Oh. Well now I actually feel bad. Fuck me.I was thinking the groupquest would be starting in a bit, and entering quests alone again would be a bad idea, all things considered. Now I'm not so sure.My weakness is Iron's weakness, sadly.He desperately scratches the door with his hooves, one of them able to maybe open the door.
(Come on! Open up!)
>>109083If they are open until late, then yes
He does so
>>109084He eventually finds a nob, and turns it
>>109085Iron swings the door open and closes it when he goes outside, then proceeds to run in a straight line, looking for any alleys or secluded places to think for the time being.
>>109086He is non-responsive
>>109087Past more buildings, ponies... eventually there is an alley. It kind of smells
>>109085Likely not any place he would buy from. He'll have to wait until tomorrow.
With that, Silver heads for home, several thousand Bits richer today than he was yesterday. He looks up into the night sky as he trots.
Luna's creation is brilliant in this chilly winter air.Here's a question related to the Craft skill: with as slow as in-game time is moving, will crafting items still require the same amount of time as normal, or are there any special rules in place to hasten the process so crafting won't require literal months of real-life waiting? >>109088Iron, disregarding the smell, just goes straight into it.
>>109088Spark just keeps him company, not sure how to fix this.
>>109089Perhaps with the air of industrial equipment
>>109090And there he is. In an empty, smelly alley, next to a trash can
>>109091What can the spark do?
>>109092Iron's nose scrunches from the smell, temporarily distracting him from the panic.
(This places reeks.)
And with that, Iron finally can think with a semblance of clarity.
(...that was quite disgraceful.)
He puts a hoof on his foreleg, looking down at the trash, feeling like he should be part of it.
(I cannot believe I just did that.)
His eyes dart around.
(Why did I ask that? I
knew from the nun that I should not talk or touch mares anywhere without knowing for sure if they want to or not, and from the dream, she was a closet harmonist, or at least she aspires to be one.)
Deep inside, he knows why.
(It would have made it so much easier to know if she was into me.)
But now that he basically forced himself to spill out that part first, the uncertainty slimed its way into the mind of the stallion. Now he has to admit all of that, in front of her.
(Pear
was right. Now how am I going to do it?)
He looks up to see the time.
>>109093Those ponies do need her help and her guiding light. But they were on their own for a thousand years. They may be on their own again for a thousand more
>>109094For all sad words of pen and tongue, the saddest are these: Pear was right again
It’s twilight... or something
>>109095It is a thought that does not excite Silver in the slightest. He smacks his lips together, suddenly feeling more parched than he was.
I need drink. I wonder if Glass has anything which might fix that. >>109096Silver’s problem, like most problems, has a solution
>>109097Indeed it does. Onwards to the Tavern, to drop off his equipment and supplies in his room, and slake his thirst at the bar.
>>109095Iron's mood darkens a bit, seeing both the little time he has left as well as the grimness of confirming Pear's words.
"I have little time. Where could I ever find somepony who can help me with this?"
He inhales deeply, before coughing from the bad smell.
"I have no idea."
He decides to get up from his spot nonetheless.
"Perhaps I should try at bars? That is where ponies 'go and talk' about stuff are, as Cauldron said. Perhaps I could find some old stallion who experienced the same as me."
He pauses.
"I think. Better than here, with the trash."
Iron trash tier confirmed.He ponders which of the two bars he should go.
(Watering Hole sounds like a place to stumble on Cauldron while midtalk, which could turn negative. Perhaps that other bar we used to set up that foal rescue yesterday could do the trick.)
With that, he starts to walk at that particular bar, hoping he knows the directions.
>>109099Watering hole is definitely a good way to stumble into cauldron
>>109098Thus, he does so. He would see Blue Skies with a zebra stallion at the bar
>>109100That Dark Star? I can not recognize him, if it is. Silver finds a seat at the bar (preferably next to Blue and Zeeb Star).
>>109100Good thing he's not going there.
He walks at a slow pace towards the bar who had the barstallion named Glass if he remembers correctly.
(I hope I know where I am going.)
>>109102With an almost supernatural sense, Iron guides himself towards possible alcohol and trouble
>>109101It does seem to be Blue Skies there though. Unless she just went off to have drinks with a random zebra. Her mane is prettier and more well done than usual, as is her coat
>>109103Silver whistles at the sight. "Looks like they treated you
very well at spa." He leans back in his seat to look at the zebra. "And who is this mysterious gentlestallion?"
>>109103The alcohol he despised is mindlinking the location, of course.How else can drunks and loners ever get to drinking places?Iron slowly opens the establishment's door, entering cautiously like an ape ninja.
>>109104“My new coltfriend” she says, hugging his foreleg
>>109106"My, isn't he
strapping. I believe you have struck gold with this fine lad." He feigns jealousy at her "acquisition".