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 177 files omitted.
>>113808And more valves are turned off
>>113809Finally he decides to hover over the previously hot pipe he burned his hoof on to see his valve turning results.
>>113810He still shouldn’t touch it
>>113811Iron is a bit miffed at this result
(Perhaps it takes some time. I guess I can go turn the remaining valves off to ensure somepony is going to come down here to investigate.)
And he does so.
>>113812The light in the room slowly dies
>>113813>>113803Iron realizes his mistake.
(Whoops. I sure hope we did not need that light.)
He turns on his flashlight, looking at Midnight.
"This should catch their attention. Now, I assume they have to come around the same place we did, but let us not get our hopes up."
He looks around the room for flexible places to hide.
[1d20 = 18]<Too bad we're daylight creatures >>113814I can’t say I understand the play, but okay.
Anyways, I have to go to sleep now
>>113816*Ruffles the floofy pony’s fur*
>>113819Am I any closer to getting Seb to like me?
>>113827What exactly is Spark doing?
>>113829Well, they have to get closer for that.
>>113828Spark is trying to calm them down after Onyx yelled at them.
>>113831For now, calming tone of voice asking him to sit down.
>>113832All in good time
>>113833They... might be calmed? Onyx leaves the room, and fun steps forward. Seb does too, about one step
>>113835Seb looks at the ground. It’s wooden planks that are suspended up in the air somewhere above the cold ground. It makes a “cloomp cloomp cloomp” sound when stomped on
>>113837"It's ok Seb."
Spark continues to gently pat the floor.
>>113838Seb does the same, tapping the floor. His beats sound a little... different, with different biology in his legs
>>113839Spark chuckles and joins the game, patting the ground in different rhythms.
>>113841The creature tilts its head, then blinks from sideways block lids that cover it’s almost glowing solid blue eyes
It repeats after Spark
*thump*, *thump*, *beat* *thump* *thump*
>>113842"So Seb, do you trust me any more?"
Spark slowly moves a bit closer with his hoof ready to pet.
"I won't hurt you."
>>113843The Changeling looks up at the approaching hoof - at least, the brightest parts of its solid blue orb-like eyeballs look up at the intruding foreleg. His head goes down a little (and tilts up slightly) as the tubular, tattered ears move back a little
>>113846The creature lowers its head further as the foreleg approaches. His ears lower until they are level with the back of his head. His eyes go wide, staring at the looming hoof, until contact is imminent, and he closes his eyes.
*creature is pet*
There’s a little horn in the way, and a ragged black ray running down his neck, but between the two is a bald spot that is open for touching. The top of the head is fairly hard, feeling kind of like the surface of a fingernail, or a beetle’s carapace, but harder and inflexible
>>113848The creature is still bracing
>>113849Spark pets for a little bit longer before letting the changeling relax.
"That wasn't so bad was it Seb?"
>>113850Roll charisma, maybe diplomacy
[1d20+3 = 16]>>113851I think they are both the same stat wise for me.
>>113852The creature presses up into the hoof
>>113853D'awwww.
Spark continues the pets for Seb.
"You are starting to like it, huh?"
>>113854He’s not very soft, but he reopens his eyes, and lets his ears back up partly
>>113855What does Fun think of this?
>>113856He sticks his neck out further, his ears go straight up, and he looks intently at the spectacle before him
>>113857I motion Fun over to join the fun.
>>113859*One black colander-foreleg steps forward*
>>113860I continue to pet Seb.
"Come on Fun, you want some right?"
>>113861Now, the burned insectoid walks up towards Spark, looking at him intently
>>113862Spark holds his other hoof out towards Fun.
"Do you want pets too?"
>>113863He tilts his head, then tilts it back again
>>113864"Come on Fun. You can't let Seb have all the pets can you?"
>>113865He forces his muzzle under Spark’s leg, then his forehead, then lowers his horn to let that go under it
>>113867And thus Spark pets Fun too.
>>113869Fun has basically stolen Spark’s hoof from Seb. Seb’s black spine fares up, and Seb gives a “
HISS!” and his snake-like tongue comes out
>>113870Spark uses his other hoof to pet Seb.
"It's ok Seb. You can have pets too."
>>113871But... Spark is quadruped. How does he pet with both forehooves at once?
>>113872>>113871By using the power to sit!
>>113873This.
>>113872Spark sits down and uses both forehooves for petting.
>>113875The two changelings move closer to him, almost nuzzling him, both lowering their heads to place them under Spark’s forelegs
>>113875>>113874Now
THAT is peak sorcerer efficiency!
Be wary, for they could glomp you into the succ. >>113876Changelings sure love their pets.
>>113877Umm....
>>113883They still feel kind of hard. Fun whimpers at a point when Spark’s hoof contacts a burned area
>>113884"Sorry Fun."
Spark pets Fun more carefully.
>>113885*creature is pet more carefully*
Seb sits down, and looks up, while Fun stands and turns his head away
>>113886Awwwwww. Did Fun not have fun?
"Did you two enjoy that?"
>>113887They stare at him with giant, opaque glass eyes
>>113890They seem to want something
>>113892I’m not sure he’ll like that
>>113894Can Spark tell what they want? More pets?
>>113899Exactly what these, or any other changelings want, is a mystery. What would a Changeling want that any pony would have to give?
>>113901They tilt their heads in kind
>>113902Spark wonders what they need. Perhaps a hug? He holds his hooves out.
>>113903Seb stands up, and both press forward onto Spark
Okay, so I don’t think anyone else wants to play tonight
>>113905They are hugged, and feel... kind of weird, but both creatures, especially Fun, pull back when hooves touches the wounded parts of their bodies
>>113906I'm just waiting on Midnight/the maintenance pony.
>>113906>>113907And I'm waiting on the zeeb.
>>113906Darn. It is hard to hug hurt changelings.
"Awwww. What else can I do for you so you aren't hurting so bad?"
Uh... is no creature available?
>>113912I'm waiting on the maintenance pony to arrive.
I also want a good hiding spot to nab him/her.
He should know basic info on guard locations.
>>113912Just waiting on the zeeb.
Also, wish me luck, going to fight the Ur-Dragon.
>>113919Deep down, I’m betting she disagrees
>>113922I'd fuck most FiM species tbh.
>>113923Tbh anything that ain't a griffon, yak, or dragon.
>>113924U no have consent to fug this bat
>>113925I'd honestly go for all of it just to see what it would be like.
But I agree they are not great for waifuing.
>>113924Now, do we get to see the maintenance pony come inside so we can ask a few questions, yay or nay?
>>113925>consent>>113926Eh... uh... For them to notice the heat is down would probably take at least 15 minutes, which would be just fine if this weren't supposed to be simultaneous with another party element, but with the party split (moreso) eh....
>>113925>>113927Crud.
Well, I gues I could do some more exploring in the dark while we wait.
Iron steps over to the different-colored archway to see what it's all about with his flashlight on.
>>113928>>113927Midnight simply follows.
"So, what do we do when they get here?"
>>113928It's a section of brick wall that obviously once held a doorway to a different section of the underground. Now, it has a brown-tan brick (as opposed to the red-brown of the walls), some of which are partly cut to make them fit in the walled-arch doorway
>>113929>>113930"We nab the griffons, from the free workers to the guards to the leader of said guards. The more they know the merrier. Of course, we will not harm the workers, even if they are willing. A simple tying should do it for them."
He passes through the archway, wondering what's this door-sized hole all about.
>>113931It’s brick wall. It’s a wall. He cannot pass through it because it is a wall of brick
>>113931"Alright, that sounds like a plan."
Midnight sticks her head through the archway after Iron walks through.
>>113932>>113933Oh.Iron accidentally boops his snout trying to pass through the archway, rubbing his sensitive olfatory aparatus with his hoof.
"Ow. Seems I misjudged."
He walks over to the actual door, opening it and proceeding to walk through it.
>>113934>>113933>>113935If Iron and Midnight had been in this room back in the ‘40s - when 33 Hoebuck was the Baltimare Mare’s Asylum, a church-run minimum security prison and labor camp for prostitutes, petty criminals, and poor mares with foals born out of wedlock that masqueraded as a place of help - then that archway would have opened into some portion of the structure’s lower levels. But the city walled it away when the interior size of the structures were reduced for the new poor house.
*snoot is bopped by wall*
>>113935>>113935Do you mean the door on the right that leads to the hallway?
\r
>>113936Yes. I don't want to go upstairs for now.
>>113938They do so. The hallway looks much the same as it does between the laundry room and the workshop
>>113938>>113939"Are we hiding or just searching for now?"
Midnight follows, looking around
>>113939Iron moves his flashlight around.
"This place is quite empty down here. I would have thought they would place the workers down here."
(Perhaps I could try breaking the wall that booped me. Maybe there is where they are being held.)
He walks along the hallway, curious as to where this would lead.
>>113940"Exploration for now. Perhaps we can catch the griffon in charge with the commotion the lack of magic lights would cause."
>>113941>>113940One door on the other side of the hallway (a pipe passes over head), and a door at the end of the hall further down
>>113943Iron decides to search the door which the pipe goes into.
(Perhaps this has something special.)
>>113943Midnight opens the door at the end of the hall.
>>113942"Interesting idea"
>>113944This one opens to a dark, damp, cool, and fairly large room with tanks, and some other large metal basins. A couple noisy machines are also present
>>113945Whether this door too is sealed, or it is merely locked, is not immediately determinable. But it does not open
>>113946"Hmph"
Midnight peaks into the room Iron entered.
>>113946"What even is this?" he questions aloud.
He walks over to one of the tanks, hovering his hoof near it.
(Noisy metal things. They are going to give me a headache.)
>>113947>>113948Fairly small, the machine has its own electrical hookup and a small valve.
The tank is metal and does not give off heat
>>113947>>113949Thank goodness I played Factorio to know what this is. Sadly, Iron doesn't.Iron nods to himself, deciding that closing this valve too will disrupt the place even further.
>>113950>>113949"Well, they will definitely notice at least one of the machines being off"
>>113950>>113951wait whatThe valve shuts off, and the machine trips and turns off
>>113952>>113951Iron nods to himself.
"Any luck wuth the other door?
>>113954"No it seems to be locked or jammed."
She steps away from the doorway to let him pass
>>113952>>113955"Let me see."
He walks over to the offending locked door, turning around and charging his big Earth Poner hindlegs, before unleashing a
hopefully good bucking on the door to persuade it to show what it contains.
[1d20+5 = 11]<I sure hope my gains are not for show >>113956*clique*
The door tends back, and possibly breaks internally. Iron can hear that is evidently chained at some point. The door bends and perhaps cracks, but it hasn’t quite given way
>>113957Iron hums to himself.
"So many doors to hide in. Perhaps this is the place the workers are."
Once more, he presents a counter-offer against the door: Open or I destroy you
[1d20 = 13]<If this flies towards somepony and kills him/her, I'd be impressed >>113959>>113958BOOMThe door breaks off its hinges at the bottom, cracks in its center, then breaks off its hinges on the top, falling down to the floor with a "slink" sound from loosening chains on the other side
>>113955>>113960"There we go."
Iron enters, pointing the flashlight around the new room he's just opened, wondering what he can find here.
>>113955>>113961Strangely... it's more hallway for the moment. little bits of mortar have crumbled to the floor, the bricks are a duller coloration, and there are no lights on in the corridor
>>113922>>113920Sorry i've been gone as of late
I've been sleeping to much because im depressed again., also when im not sleeping i stay awake for like 24 hours and then crash. >>113955>>113962"Hm..."
He walks along the hallway, wondering just what could be hidden so strongly by a big chain.
He beckons Midnight to keep close, in case of any surprises.
>>113964Midnight follows, listening for anything down the hall.
[1d20+5 = 20] big earbs
>>113963Awww....
*Skies gives hugs*
We're glad to see you here
>>113965WhispersThe ambient sounds of pumps turning, the movement of steam and water through pipes have gone
>>113963I'm sorry to hear that, friend.
>>113967Midnight stops and grabs Iron's tail, whispering to the stallion.
"I hear voices ahead."
>>113969>>113967This provokes a slight jump from the stallion, but nods with the tiniest of blushes.
"Right," he whispers back before continuing, but turns his flashlight off, hoping he won't crash when arriving at a T section.
>>113970Where is he going? It's perfect darkness without the flash light on
>>113971Can he keep moving forwards like when before he turned on the flashlight?
>>113973Well, he does so.
If he crashes, he crashes.
>>113974>>113973Midnight confidently strolls forward in bat.
>>113974Iron does so. There's really nothing to say about what follows, because Iron has deprived himself of all sensory input
>>113975Midnight strolls forward. A light flickers on, and illuminates just barely the tan brick walls. Iron seems to be a little in front, but far enough ahead to not really be distinguished in the darkness. The path lazy tilts slightly off to the left, then curves back to the right, then bends at a slightly sharper but still natural angle to the left, all in the span of maybe 50 or 70 feet
>>113975>>113976(I cannot see anything.)
"Midnight!" he whispers as he walks a bit slower. "Do you still hear the sounds of talking? Is it getting closer?"
>>113977Have a horse to make you happy
>>113978"Shush and I will tell you"
[1d20+5 = 20] bat radar
>>113978Though the path may be straight, Iron's walking cannot be perfectly so. He grazes into a wall, though at this angle it's hardly a harsh bump
>>113980At first as she winds along the path, a single whisper. Then another. Then silence. Towards the ends, a couple together at once. Another bulb flickers on as she moves forward
>>113978>>113982"The voices are getting closer"
>>113983>>113982"Alright. Get ready."
Iron decides to turn on the flashlight now to see if he can spot anything beaked in front of him.
>>113985There is nothing in the dark. Only a brick hallway that proceeds straight onwards, eventually culminating in an end. There are some doorways and entries
>>113987Hides>>113983A light turns off behind her, a cylindrical light turns on ahead of her, and... she walks right into Iron
>>113988>>113983H-hey!Iron feels the soft body pressing against his back, making him jump slightly.
(Oh boy.)
>>113986Iron decides that the end doorway should be where the possible griffons Midnight may have heard should've come from the door furthest from them.
In any case, he tries using his ears to try and guess at what door Midnight's hearing the whispers as he goes, stopping if he can pinpoint any other door he passes through.
[1d20 = 19]<Inferior Earth Poner Ears>>113987DARGH! NO! STOP!
>>113989Iron hears nothing. It's eerily silent
>>113988>>113968i think i've composed myself enough to continue,if you guys want to.
>>113987Pls, no more boops. My poor snoot.
>>113988"Eep! S-sorry Iron."
She steps back, blushing and looking embarrassed.
>>113991Alright. Can't guarantee I'll be of much use at this hour, but I'm ready.
>>113990Iron scratches his head.
(Strange. No sounds anywhere.)
>>113992He coughs heavily, blushing himself.
"No problem. It was an accident. I completely understand."
(Gods. I do not want to be flustered right now...)
A lingering threat of impulse threatens Iron's otherwise stable thought process.
>>113990He goes to the furthest door available, beckoning Midnight to follow, and opens it.
>>113993Y-you big meanie! >>113995She follows, uttering a silent prayer that they'll start having good luck on this mission.
>>113994>>113991Okay, it looks like the two of you have agreed to keep Skies in the scene. Skies gave an explanation (with a high bluff check) that the two of your are nostalgic and lost, and partly intoxicated
"Very well... Let us continue"
An orange stallion, appearing to belong to the generation seperating Dark Star and Silver, perhaps a little closer to Silver's age, walks up to the two. He is well dressed, has on reading glasses, and a has a short, trim mane with both white and blue aspects
"Hello. Would you like to join us?"
He asks
The speaker (priest?) continues speaking, often using a free claw or less often his wings to add emotion
"The arimaspi tore through the outer edges of the city, leading up to the top. The Knights of Archturus - shining in their ancient armor, and decorated with the medals of a thousand campaigns - stood there, in guard of their great city. Each carrying the bravery of a hundred generations. Each believing themselves to be blessed by Arturus himself, and believing that light shall triump over darkness. And each one of them fell by the Arimaspi. Smashed by his giant club. Limbs torn off and sundered. No matter who or how, all fell. And so the griffins of Griffinstone looked on as one by one, their faith in the might of the Griffonian Empire, of the Impregnability of their city, and in the deliverance promised to them by their gods, was smashed before them, just as had so many knights, and the city gates"
>>113996>>113995This opens to... a relatively bare room. Not all of it can be seen. Brown stone floor, and stone walls
>>113997>>113996Iron huffs in disappointment.
(At this point we will never find them.)
He walks a bit further inside the room, hoping to least hear the whispering Midnight heard beforehand.
"Maybe they are on the big place with many valves," Iron whispers to Midnight.
>>113997"Ya we do dat."
He says to the orange pony his words slurring slightly
>>113997>>113998"There is no harm in going back to see."
>>114003>>113999The Unicorn pony tilts his head and gives a partial frown at Dark Star, but leads the two (three) to a set of seats
"Alright, follow me. Now he's speaking of the loss of the Idol of Boreas"
>>114001>>113998The room is rectangular and fairly bare, Judging from the stone ground, and walls covered in simple mortar, this room is either used for storage, or whatever occupied it has long since been stripped away and removed. There is a door on the far right
>>114004>>114001He shakes his head.
"Nothing here," he whispers to Midnight. "Alright. Check for whispers before we go back."
>>114006>>114003I take it they just sit back and listen?
>>114004Silver keeps his voice low, so as to not disturb the speaker. "Griffonia's very own religious artifact, and symbol of power, wealth, and rightful rule."
>>114008Forgot to mention that he sits down.
>>114010>>114009He continues
"From his throne high on top of the tree of Griffinstone, Guto the Sixth watched the Aramaspi tear through his knights, and slog his way towards his throne. From that Throne room, Guto the Sixth could peer out over his vast domains, and by decree rule a territory that spanned all of Griffin kind from East to West, only hemmed in by Pony Spear and Magic. Everygriffin, rich and poor, old and young, had for centuries lived under Griffinstone's holy rule, and appealed to Griffinheim's courts. All of the power, glory, and wealth of a continent was concentrated in that room, and he was surrounded by treasures vast and deep of gems and swords of conquered creatures and coins of every mint, baring the images of a thousand conquered kings and two dozen imperial predecessors. And chief in the center of it all was the divine idol of Boreas, said to be minted by Boreas himself, the physical manifestation of the principle of law and order. It's presence in that room gave he who sat on the throne the divine right to rule. So it was claimed anyways.
That, all that - all the gold, all of the knights in armor, and Arcturus and Boreas themselves - could do naught even to save themselves in that moment. For Aramaspi carried on, through the Knights of Griffinstone, through Guto's personal guard, and into the Throne room. And as the century old dark wooden doors, engraven with the scene of Grover's coronation, cracked in two, and came crashing down, scattering across the floor and taking a knight with it... In that moment, Guto's eyes made contact with the firery red eyes of Aramaspi. And he knew... He knew that Aramaspi was sent by none other than
Maar. He came to take away that Idol, and the law and order of all Griffonia in the process. And Guto the sixth - brave, stupid griffin - rose up. Pulled out his sword, a sword given him by his second uncle, the previous emperor. And he charged for Aramaspi... Like swatting flies. With a slash of his claw, so ended the life of Emperor Guto the Sixth of Griffinheim. The Cyclops grabbed the idol, pushed his way through so many knights on the bridge connecting the palace to the town, and knocking them over into the winds, before plowing his way back through the snaky roads of the city"
>>114011Silver listens intently, personally curious about griffon history.
>>114011Dark Star Fakes looking interested.
he thinks to himself about how nice that tree the griffon was talking about,would look on fire.
Darn it. Foiled by time yet again.
I'll roll for Iron to at least try to listen for any griffin activity.
[1d20 = 16]
<Big Ears sonar
>>114014And now, Iron himself can hear it. Vaguely, only, but he can start to hear it
A movement of air that may just be air flowing between old and long sealed rooms, but it might just be a distant whisper
>>114013>>114012"Aramaspi - red eyed, satisfied in his mission and purpose, ran out through the smashed gates, chased by a slew of knights. He dived, deep into the gusty canyons beneath the ancient tree of Griffinstone. And it is said that there, he met his fate, and joined with Maar in the spirit realm. But not - not - before taking half a dozen more knights with him, brave enough, gullible enough, to follow him into those winds from which no creature breaks free.
So the city was left in mourning for the chaos and destruction caused by Aramaspi. Buildings set ablaze by tipped over lanterns, roofs torn off, street vendor carts tossed several leagues and several streets over. And terrible carnage in loss of life, mostly of those who resisted. But most of all... They mourned the loss of their claim. Their claim to rule over a fourth of the world. To make every griffin bend the knee to them. And they understood, then and there, just how fragile their power and their glory were. Just how impotent their wealth, their spears, and their prayers had been against one sent by Maar. And they trembled. And they cried. Because far more was lost them than any funeral oration for their dead emperor, or any portrait of the destruction, or any wailing in loss over the idol, could possibly capture"
>>114015Can he relatively pinpoint its location? Does it lead to the door behind him? Maybe on the other door available? Above?
I think I have an idea but I want to make sure. >>114016Unfortunately, this is one of those sounds that is fairly difficult to discern its origins
Maybe after a roll