Welcome back to the Latest Thread of Occupied Equestria
Onyx, Spark and Brie settle down for the night in a cabin in the woods along with a set of recently rescued ponies, saved from Changeling cocoons, as well as the changelings who sought to take them captive, who are themselves locked away as captives.
In Baltimare, Silver, Dark Star, Iron, and now Midnight Lily do their last preparations before seeking to take on a creature smuggling operation in a port-side neighborhood
2377 replies and 189 files omitted.
>>113568Midnight never responded to the last post, so there is no action declared
>>113571Fine...
>>113522She backs away a few feet
"What do you want?"
>>113573He shakes his head.
"Go help your griffon friend."
>>113574>>113576She looks at them, terrified. She pauses for more then a moment. Then she rushes into the dining area towards the griffin
>>113575*Continues petting the old, adorable pony* >>113576>>113577"That is definitely going to stir up some trouble," he whispers to Midnight.
He hustles back to the spot where he got the cart from.
>>113579>>113581Are they intending to go to the stairwell down to the laundry room in the basement?
>>113580*rubs the back of the pony's head and his neck* >>113582Yes, and from there to leave through the half-opened door they both snuck themselves through.
>>113585>>113584Dun worre...
We going back once we secured the evidence.
>>113586>>113585Okay...
They go back through the door into the room in the basement accompanying the laundry room, then back through the laundry room into the maintenance corridor into the loading bay, and back out through the covered area
>>113588So did we get out through the half opened big door?
I can try a strength check to open it further.
>>113590Is he towing that cart? With that he needs a strength check
>>113592>Nat20Ah, I see he's showing off for the lady.
>>113592And the door is shifted straight up, like a garage door
>>113593Oh God
\r
>>113593>>113594Insert Vietnam Flashbacks HereAnd with that, he goes out and plans to hide it in the tallest of tall grass.
>>113595That would be an easier task if he were in a savannah or prairie, and not one of the most densely populated square miles of land in the biggest city in the entire southeastern region of Equestria.
There are some areas in the surrounding ground that offer some room to try to hid things, for instance, a ditch that goes through the property, and a few bushes, but the lack of leaves on trees does Iron no favors, and certainly there is no ground to hide an entire laundry cart
>>113596*Continues petting*Wait.... am I a pony now? >>113597>>113593Yes, you are. We're all ponies now.Iron considers his options.
(Crud. Perhaps it's time I rid myself of this cart thing.)
He looks at Midnight.
"Take out the clothing in the cart and place it in the bushes. We should have time before they come here again."
He unlatches himself from the cart and proceeds to do what he said.
>>113598"Alright, make sure we keep an eye out."
She proceeds to remove some of the clothes and place them under some bushes.
>>113600>>113598A cold breeze blows, and a cloud temporarily obscures the moon
>>113599Screams Can I be a pony?>>113601"What do we do when they come to us?"
>>113600>>113601>>113602As he finishes the whole unpacking thing,
Hopefully. He turns to Midnight.
"We should try to nab an important griffon in there to both create chaos and get some more information."
Confirmed?
>>113604"I could... Throw one of them into a major panic as well. That might help"
I’ll admit I wasn’t expecting Iron to be the one to quit responding
Tries to shake hooves off
>>113612Oh, you wanted me to respond to Midnight's most recent comment? Sure.
>>113606Iron nods.
"If it lasts for more than a week, sure."
>>113614"Heh.... More for about half a minute. Enough to get them to run and be scared..."
>>113616Iron shrugs then smiles.
"So we are going in, then. Alright."
>>113612I ask again. Is the clothes hiding done?
>>113618Is that what you wanted ‘confirmed’? Sure
>>113615Shudders >>113619>>113616Excellent.
Iron goes back into the building, waiting for Midnight.
"Get ready to kick griffon flank."
>>113620>>113618Midnight sighs
"Alright, let us do this."
>>113620>>113621Now where inside of the building do they go?
>>113622First back to the laundry room. We need impromptu zipties in the meantime.
>>113624This is smart, Midnight makes sure to keep an eye out.
>>113624>>113625They go back to the room. One of the machines has stopped, and the hallway continues on forward. The other room is still over to the left. There is no creature in sight
>>113627>>113625He picks 15 ordinary simple clothes up.
"All done. We should keep down here in case more of the guards are around. They should know where and who the most important ponies are."
>>113628>>113625Alright. Iron collects 15 shirts, and no Griffins seem to approach
>>113632>>113625Iron starts to hustle off up the ramp, standing next to the door.
He uses his auditory senses to see if he can detect clawsteps or otherwise any prolonged amount of noise.
[1d20 = 13]<Big Eared Horse Time. >>113633Iron cannot hear much beyond the noisy machines and thick stone walls. Iron hears no one approaching
>>113633Assistance with bat ears.
[1d20+5 = 21]>>113628"Alright, just tell me what you want me to do"
>>113634>>113625"Alright. I do not quite remember your capabilities but I do want them alive for questioning."
He opens the door slowly as if he were expecting an ambush on the other side.
"Moment of truth..."
Door is finally opened.
>>113635A soft whisper, and what could be movement of hooves it claws somewhere above them and further south/forward from the tunnel
>>113637>DoorI think I’ve described at least 8 different doors inside of this building
>>113640The one that was in the laundry room, going up a ramp to reach the first floor.
>>113643They go up the ramp, through the door to the main hallway, and... no creature is immediately recognized as being there
>>113637"That will not be a problem, I do not enjoy killing"
>>113640Her ears flick around a bit, but she stays silent as she follows Iron.
>>113645No creature is immediately visible down either hallway. Then again, there is no light in the hallway, so the darkness may obscure both the ponies and any creatures further down the hallway
>>113645>>113644Iron steadily walks along the corridor.
"We will check the dining room first, see if backup got here already."
He sees her ears flicker.
"Try to listen for any sort of movement."
>>113647"Alright, I will"
She follows, stopping to listen again as they get further down the hall
[1d20+5 = 19] >>113648Air coming out of vents. A distant whisper. No sounds of movement
>>113647Nothing encountered thus far
>>113649>>113648Iron stops at the dining room's door.
"Scout out the room with your ears and get ready. We might get into trouble here."
>>113650Midnight silently trots up to the door and presses her ear against it
[1d20+5 = 10] listen
>>113651Nothing besides the sound of air movement. Maybe what could be whispering
>>113651>>113652>>113653Iron nods, before opening the dining room's door.
>>113654>>113653The room is entirely empty. No creature is inside
>>113655"I knew I was right. Now, where do we go from here?"
She looks around the room a bit for anything interesting
>>113655>>113656"This confirms that word will spread if we do not do something."
Iron thinks, while doing the same.
"Heard any sounds of pony/griffon life around?"
>>113656A chalk board with times on it, another board with the names of meals - “salted herring,” “cornbread” - and a decorative steel sun hung up
>>113657>>113659"No, I think we are safe for now"
She messes with the sun a bit, seeing if there's anything suspicious about it.
>>113669Iron nods, looking at Midnight curiously as she mingles with the steel sun.
>>113669It’s polished steel, probably chrome plated or stainless, and slightly reflective. It has eight fairly straight “rays,” possibly arms or legs, that lean forward clockwise as they spread away from the small circular origin, and have little hooks on the end that point the opposite direction. Almost like like claws on legs, though they don’t seem to directly represent such. The decorative object is simply hung from a nail, and there is nothing behind it
>>113671"Hmph, I would have thought... Anyway, now what shall we do?"
>>113671>>113671>>113674>>113671"Find the enemy and question them."
Iron uses his inferior Earth Poner ears to search for any living beings.
[1d20 = 7]<Ear Radar >>113675Nothing immediately, at least not in the dining hall. The heating system is on though, he can at least hear that much
>>113677(Crud. We will have to do this the hard way.)
What doors does Iron have access to?
>>113678At the least, there is one at the end of the room, the one they came in, and another one a little down
>>113679Iron decides to open the one at the end of the room.
He uses his eyes to see if any droplets of blood can lead to the injured guard's direction.
[1d20 = 17]<What Spotting Skill You've Got There. >>113680No blood save for that generated by the confrontation. Midnight must have patched him well. The door at the far end leads into what has the appearance of a kitchen, with pots, and oven, sinks, and steel cabinets in the middle
>>113681Darn.He leaves the door open, going for the one that's a little down.
>>113682>>113681Midnight follows, trying a door that isn't the one Iron is opening.
>>113684Another booping target as appeared.
[1d20 = 1] >>113684HE LIVES!>>113687Mission Failed. You’ll get ‘em next time
>>113683Another door opens to a brick stairwell, lit by a single incandescent bulb
>>113687>>113688He takes out the flashlight, illuminating the room further in case of hidden enemies and taking point in case of an ambush.
>>113689No creature is immediately visible in the kitchen
>>113688She listens, trying to locate any creatures along the stairwell
[1d20+5 = 12] Built in bat radar
>>113690(It looks quite ominous.)
Iron ventures a bit forth.
>>113692Inside the kitchen, a pot remains uncleared, if empty, with little bits of red and brown substance on the edges. The oven is off, but has a smell to it of recently cooked grain items. A couple bits of food materials are still out, most notably the outer parts of an onion. There are some knives - mostly placed away - a kitten on a table, and some other items from what seems to be recent cooking. A sink has several pots and pans in it, and there is a large stack of dishes at least five high
>>113691No sounds on the stairwell itself. Possible whispers, somewhere. Less airflow here too
\r
>>113694She decides that it is no threat and moves on to another door.
>>113693>>113691"Somepony seems to have cooked here."
Iron seems a bit amazed at how many dishes have been used.
"Seems there is quite a lot of ponies eating here. I wonder if the 'workers' were included."
He walks around a bit, remembering Cauldron's cooking.
(Is this what she has to deal with at the end of the day?)
>>113695Well... the only other two doors are the door they entered through, and the door to the kitchen, which Iron went through
>>113696Looks like the dishes used to eat with were cleaned, but some of the pots sit idle
>>113698Ah, I thought there were more doors.
Midnight trots up to Iron
"I found a new staircase, and I do not think that any griffins are there"
>>113698>>113699Iron, gawking at the amount of plates, shakes his head frantically and looks at Midnight.
"Alright. I will take point."
With that, he exits the kitchen to the door with the staircase.
>>113700Brick staircase, with iron stairs painted black and an incandescent bulb that gives off a light that’s maybe a bit too yellow. It goes both up and down
>>113701>>113699(Choice... Where would I store slave workers in my buildings when I do not want them found?)
Nodding to himself he goes as down as possible through the staircase.
>>113702A black steel door greats him
>>113703Iron attempts to open it.
>>113704This opens to another room. A bit darker. Off to the right is another wall, but over to the left is a big black metal cylinder. Redlight glows out through a hole. There are various other pipes and cylinders, and a few drums. Along the wall is one door, and on the face wall is a brick arch way with a browner shade of brick
\r
>>113688Back
Was spending time with my grandpa.
>>113705>>113702>>113701Midnight follows, peaking her head into the room
"I... Do not like this..."
[1d20+5 = 21] yet another listen check
>>113705>>113707Iron is dumbfounded.
"What even is this?" he ponders.
He walks a little towards the door.
>>113706D’aww, that’s sweet
I guess Skies does not back out, but rather, explains that she was with the zebra and the fluffy one were at a bar, they started talking about their lives and how they feel a sense of being lost, which lead to a discussion of religion and how they fell out, which lead to a discussion of the old church the fluffy one used to attend, which gave a sense of nostalgia which just added to the sensation of existential depression, which was compounded by the alcohol, and well, here they are now. She asks for the parishioners to forgive their intoxicated, depression filled interruption
>>113707A very subtle roar and definite whispers. The roar comes from the cylinder
>>113708The door to his right?
\r
>>113710With a twist of a handle, it opens inward, exposing a tunnel hallway
>>113709>>113705>>113708"I am not completely sure..."
She walks up to inspect the cylinder.
>>113712Big, black, pretty wide. Seems to be a furnace. Probably fuel oil, but an alternate ability to burn coal can’t quite be ruled out.
>>113711>>113712He then checks on the brick arch way, being sure to close the door before doing so.
>>113713>>113714"I am sure if this thing was damaged, we would have griffins swarming us...."
She investigates the room some more
>>113714It is an archway as if containing a door, but with brick of a different color cut and placed in what would be the doorway
>>113715Pipes going in and out, a few more cylinders, and a little ways to walk past the end of the boiler, perhaps behind it. There are some valves and switches
>>113709Zekker says while slurring his words.
"Dis Griff help me. Wat she say be true."
>>113716>>113715Well, I do want to see what's on the other side at least a lil' bit.
"Hm... I do not thing I can take that many amount of enemies."
>>113719The zebra smiles and rubs his head against the claw
>>113720It’s kind of pointy at the ends, and more than a little bony
>>113721So i guess silver is kill?
I left my favorite pillow that I’ve had for years at the hotel...>>113722It looks like it. A big F to the floof pony
>>113722Apologies. It appears I had called it an early night.
>>113724Oof. Have you called the hotel to see if they can find it? Midnight walks over to inspect the pipes and switches
>>113741Am not poner, am bat!
EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>113742>>113743*Pets each of the little ponies*
>>113743Midnight can see that a large pipe comes over to the boiler, runs into it, and then into another hot unit, a tall rectangle, that inturn sends narrower pipes out, one above, one to the ceiling and to the left, and one to the ceiling and to the right. This unit in turn connects with a set of cylindrical tanks to the right, which send out thicker pipes in all directions, and a few pipes connect with all units from above and below. On pipes, gauges measure temperature and the pressure of steam, while some values are marked as for steam, water, or fuel oil. There is a black steel plate along the right wall near a corner.
>>113744Midnight's eyes widen a bit as she rushes back to Iron.
"Iron! We could destroy the furnace, and lure the griffons down here!"
>>113744H-hey... Stop~
*ears flicker and small smile forms*
>>113745Iron looks at Midnight like she's crazy but considers it.
"Any idea of how many would they come investigate?"
>>113746Midnight smiles a bit
"Well if the vents start pouring out smoke I am sure they would investigate why"
>>113747Iron smiles back.
"Daring. Alright, we can do it."
He then looks behind her at the machine.
"How would we go about it?"
>>113746*Pets the pony some more*
>>113748It's a complicated contraption
>>113748"Shoot it? Punch it a few times? Maybe add too much fuel? I am not quite sure."
>>113749C-come on. I'm tr-trying to concentrate here.
*hindleg starts kicking involuntarily and a little content sigh follows*
>>113750Iron smiles
"I sure can punch it."
He decides to put a hoof on a pipe to have a feel of how hot it is.
>>113751>>113749Haha! This is why I don't respond to the petting, so he won't continue!
"I will shoot it if punching and overfueling do not work"
She looks at the drums lying around to see what they contain
[1d3 = 1]>>113751*continues petting*
Iron takes 1d3 burn Damage
>>113752*pets more*
There is one drum marked with Number 4 Fuel Oil, and a separate drum marked the same that is 3/4 empty
>>113753O-oh. You aren't going to stop, are you...
*lies down belly to the floor*
F-fine! I'll let you pet me. B-but only because you're good at it, nothing more!
*presents head for pats*
>>113753>>113752Iron takes that hoof from the pipe like a pony touching something hot.
He proceeds to lick his hurt hoof.
"I do not think I can touch it without hurting myself."
He takes out one of the garments and wraps it around his hoof.
"One more go."
He tries again.
>>113753How dare you touch my floof!
*Grumpy pony noises*
>>113754"There is fuel over here if we can lift it and figure out where to put it in."
Int check to look for a fueling port on the machine
[1d20+1 = 6] Smort bat noises
>>113754What is Iron even touching and why does he think it isn’t a steam line?
>>113756>>113755Silly me. My brain small.Iron shakes his head.
(Should not try that again. That is too hot for me.)
He looks to Midnight.
"I definitely cannot even touch this thing."
>>113757"Then fuel it is, this drum has less in it. Do you think you can lift it?"
She taps the drum that's only 3/4 full.
>>113759That's what I said, 3/4 empty
>>113763In any case, turning off the heat should attract at least the maid griffon.Iron tools at the big red glare on the machine.
"Is there a way to turn this thing off?" he asks Midnight.
>>113764"There was a panel that probably has some switches. Why? What are you planning?"
>>113765"If we turn it off, then somepony will definitely come here, of course."
He cocks his head.
"I thought that was the idea."
>>113766"I was planning on making it malfunction, but that might work as well."
>>113767>>113763Iron nods.
He checks around to see if he can see any sort of panels that could control the giant whirring heat/electricity machine.
>>113768No panel, only a few valves
>>113769He decides to test one of the valves to see if something noticeable happens.
>>113770Test as in turn the valve.
>>113770It tightens, and a flow of something(?) is cut off
>>113772>>113773Iron nods to himself.
"Seems that did... something."
He goes for another one at random, just in case.
[1d7 = 3]>>113775Maybe not the same one again
>>113777Checked in the name of sad skies
WAIT
>>113780Awwww. GM, you're never alone. We're always with you, if not in person, then in spirit.
>>113783>>113782>>113781D’aww
*pets the various ponies*
I guess we can continue with one or more sequences
>>113784*Is pet*
eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
>>113785Well, Midnight is watching Iron turn random valves to unknown effect, and Onyx barged into the bow drool to find some quilts, and in the process, met his new friends, Seb and Fun
>>113786>Bow droolMy sides
Onyx takes the basket of quilts out of the room to the other ponies
Midnight assists in turning random valves.
>>113784*floof pone is pet*
Someday I'll be on at the same time as Dark Star. Then we'll be able to infiltrate this strange cult-like group.
>>113787Reee it’s bedroom
Onyx does so, perhaps not returning a friendly hiss to the other guests of the cabin. Ruby immediately run to the quilts and tries to place one over himself, while Dawson gets up and tries to walk over
“Thank you...”
Um... how many and which valves?
>>113788Perhaps some day. Some day...
>>113789"It's no problem, just rest up."
Onyx then sits close to the door, as if guarding.
Two valves, at random. And preferably ones Iron hasn't turned.
[2d8 = 4]>>113790Is he abandoning the couch?
Uh... okay
>>113792>>113791You know what? Midnight turns a valve that Iron turns
>>113791Depends, which ponies are on the couch convincing him to stay?
I'll wait for Iron to continue Midnight.
>>113794Well, nopony is convincing him to stay, although Ruby untended to sleep by the couch. It’s really more of a matter of who gets the couch when Onyx leaves it
>>113795Ah, I see. Well then Ruby can have the couch, Onyx isn't planning on sleeping with those bugs around.
>>113796Onyx abandons the couch for the wooden door. Red Wine immediately jumps up to take Onyx’s place. He is join by Ruby, who crams himself on the couch as well on the remaining third. Dawson tries to cuddle up next to Rose, who is lying down on her stomach on the mattress that was dragged into the living area. He places the quilt over her and himself
“So... my bedroom is being taken by the monsters?”
>>113797"Sadly... Yes... For interrogation purposes."
>>113798He nods at Onyx
“Right...”
And lays down
Red Wine looks tired, but from his position on the couch he tries to tell a joke
“Wanted to replenish you and your wife’s love stocks?”
His face shows a smile
Over by the fire, the little “colts” take interest, and look over at the ponies
>>113799Onyx gives a bit of a chuckle
"Alright, rest up. Changeling drain is a real pain in the ass, and rest is advised."
>>113800>>113799I'm here! I'm here!
Got ded for a sec there.
I see two valves were turned?
>>113800Rose tries to respond
“Don’t... have ta’... tell...” and she seems to fall asleep mid sentence, or at least loses the energy for it
Dawson looks disappointed, but he places a foreleg over her, and lays down party over her
Red Wine speaks after Rose seems to fall asleep
“I was really afraid I was going to die in a Changeling pod...”
Ruby frowns, and pats him lightly with a hoof
>>113802"Well I'm... I'm glad I could stop that."
>>113801Good to hear it isn't permaded
>>113803He nods with a somber expression. Then he looks back over at the couple
“I hope Rose will be okay...”
>>113804>>113803Crud.
I assume I'll have to wait until tomorrow.
Did the second pipe ever do anything?
>>113805A subtle cessation of a hissing sound
>>113806So another simple cut-off.
Hm.
I'll try turning two more valves
I'll roll 2d8
[2d8 = 9]<If I fuck with more pipes, more griffs will get mad