The Baltimare group proceeds in their task of investigating a strange group of creatures, mostly Griffins, who seem to be involved in creature smuggling. Up on the Boulderfield,-Whinnysota line, the northern group settles in for a cold night along with their new friends and prisoners.
Soon to welcome our Swedish player and his character
1810 replies and 114 files omitted.
>>116158*ruffles the fur of the floofy one*
>>116159*the floof is ruffed, and becomes extra floofy*
*floof pone is now floof ball*
>>116166Touches the floof gently>>116163I was transferred at my job today. I still don’t know what it quite means. It happened suddenly, and didn’t make much sense because we were preparing for trials in less than a week and much of that prep work is more or less gone
>>116167*the floof is touched, gently*
*the face of a kindly old stallion looks up through the parted floof*
>>116167I hope the transfer works out well for you. Maybe you will get more action there. What do you think?
>>116169*the floof pony pony hugs back, or at least tries to*
*there is a
lot of floof to hug through*
>>116172*the floof and the pony inside the floof is hugged*
>>116173But the floof and the pony are not the same...What does this mean? The pony is not his floof, nor the floof the pony?
>>116178From behind,
“Are you having fun roaming streets?”
>>116179Iron turns around, hoping he attracted the right attention.
(Come on. These sort of words should attract her easily.)
>>116180It looks like he has. Probably. Actually frankly he can’t remember well what she looked like, but it’s a griffin who is behaving like she met him before, so close enough.
“What are you doing out here? Good job by the way on your ‘mentally ill homeless guy’ disguise. Very convincing.”
>>116181Iron cocks an eyebrow, a bit suspicious of this griffon. Mostly just to make sure.
"What species is your coltfriend?" he whispers to the griffon mare.
>>116182She just looks back at him with an unamused look
“Don’t fuck with me Iron”
>>116183Iron nods, breathing a sigh of relief
"Thank the Gods I have found you," he exhales out, then points his snout at the cart. "I have 'things' to extract out of here. They speak in strange languages, but they seemed to be guards. Take a look. I also have extracted some clothing, but I need to fetch them first. Frilly looking. Had some city destinations on them."
>>116184Rumors of my death have been greatly exagerated.
>>116186Blue Shekels looks up and around, evidently surveying for who may be watching, before carefully picking the sheet and looking under
“By Poseidon, it looks like you’ve captured a couple aliens. And their dry cleaning.”
>>116187>Blue ShekelsGood meme right there.
Iron nods.
"Indeed. They might know something, but they speak strangely. The clothes are along for the ride."
>>116184Does the floofster want to continue talking to the giant parasite?
>>116188“Probably aliens. Maybe we can retroactively get a warrant on them for illegal entry. I am skeptical as to how much they know. I don’t think we’ll have enough time to fully interrogate them before every other creature there becomes wise to us.”
>>116189Iron nods.
"I figured we would not have the time. Perhaps there is a way to temporarily hold them for later questioning back at the place where ponies usually get interrogated on? The building itself was rather empty as far as I saw during my run in and one of them was awfully calm after seeing his two brethren get bucked."
He pauses for a bit.
"The clothing could help with identifying where is the cargo being sent back at the land on the other side of the water. Some of them had names on them."
>>116191Hiss!
>>116190She picks up a coat, still on the hanger. It’s a fine fur coat, and she examines the pattern on it, a set of stripes.
“I guess we could take them to a customs outpost. It’s their problem to begin with, really. But they should be able to hold them. Maybe they will come to before the end of the night and tell us something... but that’s kind of beside the point. I know why the building is empty.”
>>116189Sure.
"Are numbered names common for changelings? Do you have any names you like to go by becides?"
>>116192Iron cocks his head.
"What is taking up all their ponypower away from their money maker?"
>>116193To answer Silver’s earlier question about Lycinia,
The creature looks up at Silver with wide eyes. Well, she always looks kind of like that, but her mouth closes, lips curled around fangs that hang out, and she has altogether a more serious expression than a moment before
“Yes... I know of her... Numbered names are the standard at birth for Drones and Workers.”
>>116195She looks at him with her slit green eyes. Forest green, not her old turquoise.
“A gathering. In the church. But they are moving back to the main building, or will be shortly”
>>116196No u-er
Do you not want to play as midnight? Iron found Blue Skies
>>116197Sure, can I get the lowdown?
>>116197Iron hums.
"The lights were turned off recently, mostly by Midnight and I, so they will definitely be suspicious when they enter. I assume the job is not done yet?"
His mouth forms into a grin.
"I can keep kicking griffon flank... and beak."
>>116198That’s... kind of it. Iron summoned her, and has shown her the cart full of captives and clothing
See
>>116192 >>116190 >>116189 >>116188 >>116187 >>116197Silver tilts his head at her. "I suppose from your expression it is serious thing to talk about other Queens."
>>116200hmmmm
"So, is there something else we need to plan on?"
>>116199“Well, if things go sour, let’s hope you can kick enough of it. We are certainly not done. Dark Star and Silver kind of wondered off.”
>>116201“No...”
She blinks from eyelids that close diagonally, almost horizontally,
“You named a queen... and understood my name...”
Though she speaks and ends in pauses, her words are stated with far more force than Mala, who would lower his volume at the end of his sentences, and had a strong tendency to lower his head and look away. Zwolf looks straight on, though she tilts her head slightly
>>116202“Plan on happening?”
>>116203Iron nods.
"What else needs to be done?"
>>116203"Yes, as in when the griffons notice the prisoners we took are missing"
>>116204“R&M want is to arrest every creature in that building either committing a crime or here illegally. That’s a bit...
optimistic. A more manageable goal might be to collect evidence of some bad shut going on there, deliver it to R&M so they can get some of their stallions to form a perimeter, then go in and take down the leaders, and let the rest flee and get captured, or chase them out.”
>>116205“Yes, that can end badly. They will notice it getting cold, too”
>>116206"I see. Did you happen to hear where these illegal ponies are stored in and how to get there? They should be more than enough evidence to properly set a perimeter and arrest the folk."
>>116207She shakes her head slowly, lightly
“No. They talked about their gathering. No admission of anything illegal.”
>>116208Iron grumbles.
"Figures."
He ponders for a bit, looking at his surroundings
"What about a safe place to store the items in the cart?"
>>116203"Ohhhhh..." A look of comprehension spreads across his face. He starts speaking in Wechselbalg, though with his thick Severyanan accent making it sound different from it being spoken by a changeling. "Ich habe die Sprache während des Krieges gelernt. Die jüngste Praxis hat geholfen."
He slips back into Ponish, working his jaw a little from speaking the foreign tongue. "I do not mean to assume, but from looks of things, but have been captured for while, now. Also looks like they have been forcing you to make jelly from captured ponies. What happened?"
>>116209“Do you want to tie them up and place them in a dark room? A back alley? Or find R&M and dump them off there?”
>>116210She nods, still with a look of almost concern. Then she says
“I was working in Baltimare, recently arrived and in one of those cheap nightclubs, minding my own business, when somepony found a body I left in a bathroom stall. Normally I would slip out through the front, perhaps after changing masks, but this time they stalked me. Jumped me. I wonder if they were planning to do that regardless because I made out with the wrong stallion. Anyways, they managed to subdue me. Put a ring on my horn.”
She looks away from Silver, pacing lightly across the small cell, and even whips her tail in evident annoyance at one point, the ragged thing having more in common with a rolled up cobweb than a horses tail so far as appearance goes, but in movement more like the later.
>>116211He strokes his chin.
"I'd say find R&M and dump them with the clothing, then come back here to gather more evidence. I am pretty sure they want more than three griffons and some fancy clothes."
>>116211"Food collection." He looks a bit concerned at her wording. "I suppose by 'body' you do not mean dead body...right? Just...unconscious stallion from having been drained?"
>>116213She tilts her head in a shrug
>>116212“Well, Alright then.”
>>116214"...you do know where one of those places are, do you not? Otherwise we might as well settle for an alleyway."
>>116214This doesn't exactly put him at ease, but he also considers that perhaps she doesn't always have the chance to check the vitals of ponies she's draining. He weighs his options as he poses one last question to her. "Say I let you free, what then? Do you continue gathering food? Try to return back home? Something else?"
>>116215“Not precisely, but there should be one along the shoreline somewhere, likely north. Customs outposts. They often patrol the water.”
>>116216“Away from here. I can tell you that.”
>>116217Iron ponders for a bit, shaking his head.
"Do you have anything sturdier than clothing to tie these griffons up? I would rather not waste time by looking for them, as by causing a big disturbance, they should come in play, right?"
>>116218“They are not the Police, no. They will not respond to disturbances. BPD might, but they won’t necessarily believe that
we are on the good side.”
>>116219Iron nods.
"An alleyway sounds good."
He inspects the area around him, hoping there is a secluded place to have the griffons in bondage.
>>116217"...Just promise me you will try not to kill ponies when you drain them in future. I do not relish thought of innocent deaths on my conscious." He looks through his keys for the one to the cell, then unlocks it. He offers a hoofshake to Zwolf once it's opened. "Again, I am sorry for hitting you earlier. You were innocent captive in all of this and I reacted rather harshly. I offer you my dearest apologies."
>>116222Khoi Lua
“What?! She is lying! You cannot let her go!”
>>116221There are a number of alleyways and little sections where there is a stairwell and walking area next to a building below ground level. How secluded they are is another question. There are dumpsters.
>>116223He looks back at Khoi. "Do you know she is lying?"
[1d20 = 9]>>116223I'll let the dice decide.
Choosing an alleyway at random, Iron does his best at hiding the cart from most eyes.
Skies and Midnight can assist.
>>116224“She is Kumiho. Even when she tell the truth, she shows her fangs. Prey upon stallions. And she is like the villain of fairy tale, but caged. Of course she would lie to you.”
>>116225Well, the cart doesn’t look
that different from a dumpster. There is an alleyway and the cart can be placed behind a dumpster.
“Well, let’s hope no pony stumbles upon it here, or tries to sleep in it if it’s a homeless creature”
>>116226Iron nods.
"Tie the creatures up with the ties you have, please. Their previous binds are not really that sturdy."
[1d20+3 = 4]>>116226Sense Motive: Silver looks back at Zwolf, looking for any sign of deceit in her expression.
>>116228So, I've heard that Email dice are pretty stingy when it comes to dice rolls, so I'm just going to test out a roll using comment dice. Feel free to ignore it, I just want to see if it's any better.
[1d20+3 = 23] >>116229>>116230Hell, that pretty much settles it: I'm not using Email dice any more. I'm just gonna use the comment for dice rolls.
>>116228She wouldn’t harm a soul. If ever there were an innocent soul, it’s her
>>116229Nevermind deceit,
She explicitly told him she is a slutty vampire stalking stallions at night clubs.>>116231The email dice looks prettier...
>>116227“I can tie a griffin up”
She produces bands and a black rope like material from her jacket, and ties the creatures up with her own claws
>>116234Iron nods to himself, unlatching himself of the cart and making sure the fancy clothing is hidden in the pile of normal clothes. He turns to Skies.
"How long did they change position from the church to the factory?"
>>116232True, but I do kinda like it when the dice don't fuck me."And if she is telling truth, I would be leaving innocent person here to rot. I can not leave that chance."
>>116235“They were there for a while, but started to leave not long before I heard you”
>>116236“Would you risk innocent victims of hers?”
She pleads
>>116237He sighs. "I do not know. It is hard question."
>>116237Iron ponders.
"Perhaps they have not closed my entrance just yet. Follow me. We are going hunting these illegal ponies and I know where they might be."
He proceeds to start his trek from the entrance he recently opened
Current destination: Boiler Room Different colored wall. Objective updated: Break the wall. >>116240You know, the one that I mistook for a doorway, hinting at there being the old building, and possibly the captives.
Well, I have to go to sleep now
>>116241Oh, that one
>>116238I think Dark Star might say it’s an easy question
>>116242Sleep well.
Just goes to show the different in moral beliefs between Dark Star and Silver Sword.
>>116249*presence is presented to*
>>116250J-jeez Anon, you don't have to tease me like that.Iron is on standby, awaiting the flow of time to resume
>>116251Well, I believe Iron is reentering the structure. He finds that the door to the external cover over the loading bay has not been closed
[1d20 = 15]>>116252UnfIron inspects the area surrounding the door, particularly inside the building just in case.
"See any movement, boss?"
>>116253Iron sees no obvious signs of activity in the loading bay since he last left.
“Some entering the dormitory area. I don’t think the workshop will be very active tonight. I don’t know though.”
>>116254Y-you tease.Iron nods at Skies before comitting to the act of breaking and entering, beckoning Skies to follow, through the path visible to him.
Don't worry. Midnight is still with us. >>116255Iron goes through, then Sheckles scurries along after him, and herself surveys the surroundings. As before, there are doors and pathways leading to the workshop floor, the main hallway, the underground access tunnel, and the storage area.
>>116256B-baka~ S-stop your teasing.But a princess turned rogue would be good waifu material for the native boiIron ponders for a bit
"We should go back to the giant steam machine. Most likely there are griffons investigating the thing, but I believe it holds another room behind a rather flimsy wall. I believe the slaves are on the other side."
With that in mind, he takes the underground access tunnel, expecting the other two to follow.
>>116257“O... kay”
For the moment, it appears that no creature has come back down underground, although sounds of activity from beyond and above can be heard, taking the form of clawsteps and occasional muffled talking.
[1d20 = 6]>>116258Now even princess poner is teasing mehIron hums in thought.
"Probably wondering why the magic lights are off."
He attempts to hear bits and pieces of conversation, particularly if it's somegriff that he can understand as he reminds himself how to get to the steam engine room from here.
>>116259Straight down and one left turn. The lights are still on in the building. What has changed is the temperature. It is much colder now
[1d20 = 5]>>116260UnfIron can't help but slightly shiver.
"I thought caves were supposed to be hotter than this."
He turns on his flashlight, following through the motions as he tries to reach the off-putting wall that may or may not lead into a well of slaves.
(They must be underground to make escaping harder. I know my intuition is correct. Just need to find that path there.)
His ears scan for any enemies as he goes.
>>116261"Midnight, ears up. Griffons are patrolling the area above us, which means they might be at around any corner from spotting us."
>>116262He cannot hear anything approaching, but he does reach the steam room. It’s dark and hard to see, but the lighter patch of wall is over to the right
>>116263He goes over to the lighter patch of wall, giving it a firm series of knocks with a foreleg.
(Maybe something will stir up and answer.)