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 121 files omitted.
>>116379"But is Equestria. And the war is over, I heard they are doing something about the communists, and there is full employment now"
>>116381His mood darkens slightly upon hearing about the communists. "I certainly hope they are. I have lost one home to Reds already, I will not lose another."
To the rest he offers a sigh before his answer. "Story is bit different from truth, I am afraid. I do not know what things are like in Ngua Nam, and we will do our best to make sure you have opportunity in Equestria, but know this: it is not paradise here."
>>116381Dark Star smiles
"I've dealt with a few communists myself."
>>116382She looks at him, holding her muzzle upwards slightly, and seeming to squint her eyes... or maybe they are just like that normally. But to Silver's second comment, something in her resists
"Ngua Nam is majestic land... but Equestria is - was supposed to be - the Shining Castle upon a Hill. It is supposed to be better."
>>116383She looks to Dark Star, then smiles, and nods appreciatively
"We could use some Stallions like you back in Làng Chống Cháy"
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>>116384"Canterlot's splendor does not reach so far. I agree, it is supposed to be, could be, better. But it is not."
>>116385Now, she closes her eyes, looks down and shakes her head slowly
“I do not know... I could go back to my mother and father. They would be disappointed.”
>>116386He tilts his head at her. "Disappointed?"
>>116384He smiles back
"After i get Equestria back in order i might take you up on that offer."
>>116384He smiles back
"After i get Equestria back in order i might take you up on that offer."
>>116384He smiles back
"After i get Equestria back in order i might take you up on that offer."
>>116384He smiles back
"After i get Equestria back in order i might take you up on that offer."
>>116389She nods at him, still smiling
>>116387"Yes. Disappointed. I was supposed to go to Equestria and eventually bring them over. They were happy to see me go. They thought I would come back well off. Instead I would be going back to them not long after I left. With no money, no job, no stallion, no child, no visa, and no photographs of Canterlot Castle to show for it."
>>116393He nods, thinking that over. "Well, we see what we can do to help you here, if you do not want to go back."
>>116344“they extracted her. What else?”
The creature - Zwolf - stands up, and walks forward. She comes closer to the bars on the door of the cage, closer than she likely could have gone with the restraints she wore before, and she walks with her shoulders pushed to the side and her body kind of low to the ground, like a stalking cat. She has a big, malign grin on her face that shows off her fangs - not to imply those could be hidden.
“Tell me, pony, how many creatures have
you drained the life completely out of?”
>>116394"I am still in shock over all of
this. I cannot make big decisions yet."
>>116396"Only the ones that deserved it."
He matches her grin with one of his on.
>>116397She comes even closer, right up to the bars. Mala, who unlike Khoi Lua, has not shown any strong desire to keep his distance from the changeling, now backs a foot away.
"Then consider us the same" She says
>>116398"We aren't even in the same leauge,bug."
>>116399"If that is true, then what do you have to fear?"
>>116400"You misunderstand, i don't fear you are any other member of your kind. I hate you and them because of your actions."
>>116396"Understandable, given circumstances. We shall focus on here-and-now for now."
Silver watches the back and forth going on between Star and Zwolf.
>>116401"My actions? When I was free, I did nothing other than take love from those far too willing to give it out of wedlock.
They were looking for loose mares. If they had listened to their elders, they never would have been vulnerable. And here, well, I am a captive. If anything, I am more of a captive. I've done no more than the hyena has done, and they don't need to electro-shock him to make him do it."
>>116403"Your actions are subversive you,degenerate. You and your precious queen chrysalis are both terrible cretures."
>>116402Khoi Lua seems unsettled by the hole-ridden creature in the cage. She stays on the other side of Silver away from the cage. Mala seems more accustomed to the creature, and in any case less afraid. But he keeps a set distance between he and the creature, back up when she comes closer.
>>116404“I am subversive? Degenerate? Quite the opposite. I can only harm degenerates, and when they are degenerate. I help to enforce moral behavior. Not unlike how I imagine you are an enforcer.”
>>116405"You have quite the silver tongue huh? I can see how you were able to seduce the drunkards."
He frowns
>>116406She continues with a big grin, and cones up slightly placing a black leg through the bars
“If all I’ve done is convince you of my skill... are you
sure you have no use for me? If you’re after these drug manufactures it seems you could use some help.”
>>116407"Help? What could you help us with?"
>>116408She does her best equivalent of raising an eyebrow
“Your Griffin problem, of course.”
>>116409"Oh? And how would you go about doing that?"
>>116409>>116410"There is no other species as skilled at deception, stealth, and subterfuge, her ability to drain life energy would be very valuable utility in combat, and she has already demonstrated she is skilled orator. And, if she will forgive me for assuming, I imagine there are some Griffins she would
very much like to 're-introduce' herself to."
>>116410And now she does a full malign grin
“Just like you, I can hold a weapon. Unlike you, I can do magic. I can also act.”
>>116412"Oh i assure you i can act,bug."
He pulls back his jacket slightly to reval his shotgun
"Who's to say you wont just stab us in the back at your lesiure."
>>116411"Shes also an enemy silver, she would kill any of us as soon as those griffions."
>>116413"It would be suicide to try to attack us, and it is too dangers to try to go it alone. Besides all of that, she has not given me reason
not to trust her. I am willing to trust her if she is willing to trust us."
>>116414"You put your trust in the wrong species,silver."
>>116415"I would far sooner trust changeling like her than pony like Comte."
>>116412"How can we be sure you won't betray us?"
Mala's the female kirin, right?
>>116421Male, actually. I know it's a female ending in his name, but that's how it is.
>>116422Darn. Sounded too good to be true.
Oh well, guess the hunt is still on.
>>116423You'll make your waifu harem someday.
Hello everypony! I didn’t know you all were up so early
>>116419“Well, I’m not going anywhere without you, am I? And be assured that, however bad of an impression our brief acquaintance has left upon me tonight, my experiences with this dungeon’s owners have left an impression far deeper and stronger”
She turns to her side. On her emaciated barrel there is an area of black chitin stained a deep blue color.
>>116422>female name ending>implying Indo-European language>>116421Khoi Lua is the female Kirin. Mala is the male gnoll
>>116428Oh phew. For a second there I thought I got trapped on.
Glad I was wrong, tho. Can't wait to know her skills.
>>116428Silver takes interest in this apparent wound on Zwolf. "Do you mind if I have closer look at that? I have some experience as healer."
>>116428"Make no mistake, if i detect a hint of betrayl while we let you out of that cage and untill we are done down here. I will not hesitate to end you,bug."
>>116430“If you are brave enough to come so close.
I won’t bite.”
She brings her side closer to the bars, though not pressing against it. She’s still on the other side of a steel door
>>116431“You’re such a charmer”
>>116429.... Are you already trying to waifu her?
>>116432Maybe~
Don't worry. Iron doesn't have the guts to commit yet. Most likely he'll offer a better paying job working for him instead of asking her out on the spot, rutting her into bliss and getting a restraining order after the fact.
Maybe I could sink into the mademare business. That should be a good goal for easier waifu harvesting and nurturing. Iron would make a good manager, me thinks. >>116432Since the matter seems to have been decided, be unlocks and opens the door. He places his trust in her to not bite him.
Heal: [1d20+7 = 25] Silver attempts to diagnose and, if possible, treat her injury.
>>116435The door opens, and leaves the exposed creature there standing upright, nothing separating the two of them.
She continues standing there, but both Mala and Khoi take several steps back. Silver can see the wounded area in more detail, or rather a set of smaller discolored areas, some of which have coalesced into one larger discoloration. Part of the dislocation appears to be electrical burns, similar to what was previous seen on Kerr and Wesley. Some of the discoloration, including discoloration on the legs and neck, are bruises. The bleeding of blue blood under the layers of chitin gives the black chitin a bluish color. Silver cannot do much, but he can add some cream to bruises and burns, and cover them in simple medical cloth
>>116436Сволочи! He is silently yet visibly fuming, recognizing the types of burns and bruises, and recognizing their origin. He does what he little he can, thankful at least he can do something. "There. I am sorry I can not do more to help, but only time and rest can heal these wounds."
>>116436>>116437"Hey those wpunds look familiar."
Dark star grimaces.
>>116437She smiles. Not maliciously. Almost smuggly.
“A true Gentlepony. Thank you.”
She steps out of the cage, back into the long, slender room
>>116439>>116438He nods in response to both of them. "Alright. May I ask if any of you know where other captives are being kept?"
>>116440Mala calmly, slowly, points his head to the right, and tilts it
“Deeper inside the structure”
Mala does not trail off on his sentence before a pause in his speech
“You will not like what you find”
>>116441Silver looks around at everything around him right now. "You say that as if I do not already expect it."
Well, I'm ready to proceed. Just waiting on Dark Star, now.
>>116441"I already don't like what we've found. The buckers runing this place are going to get theirs."
Alright.... time for me to actually figure out what the layout is. See if we can get Midnight fit this
>>116442Male looks at him with solemn brown eyes, and slowly shakes his head to Silver, as if to say “No. you don’t”
>>116443He turns his head away slightly, slowly, then nods slowly. It seems as if Dark Star’s answer has him concerned
>>116444That doesn't exactly instill a feeling of hope, but it does instill a feeling of fear and urgency.
>>116444>>116445Dark Star looks at silver and the bug.
"After you."
>>116444>>116446Silver nods, and motions for the group to follow. He takes the unconscious pony with him as he follows Mala's directions.
>>116447>>116446Mala moves forward, cautiously, taking them back to the narrow a d short hallway where the four doors meet. He presses down on the door handle with his paw, and then pushes it open
>>116448Dark star readies his bow, also hes in the back of the party where he can see the changling.
>>116450The creature looks back to him, with a bit of an unpleased look
>>116449Don’t worry, we’ll get back to Iron soon enough
>>116447>>116451When the door is opened, it reveals a large room with tan mortar walls and some brick archways that is more empty than occupied. But over to the left is a griffin, brown and white, and off to the right side is a smaller animal cage with what looks like a pony inside
>>116448Silver waits for either an all clear, or some other signal from Mala.
>>116454No such signal either way is forthcoming
[1d20 = 8]>>116453Dark star squints at it
>>116453Perception on the inside of the room
>>116456The Room is more or less clear, except for a griffin, looks to be female and tied down on the right rear leg, and an older colt in a relatively small animal cage on the right side.
The room looks relatively more modern, and from its rectangular design, does not seem to have been constructed with a specialized purpose
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>>116457>>116454Dark Star pounts out the griffion to silver
>>116458Silver looks, and whispers to him. "She is tied down, like Mala was. You think she is in same situation as him?"
>>116459"Potentially, im not sure. Im more worried about our brother over there."
He motions to the pony
>>116460He nods.
>>116457Silver looks over to Mala. "Do you know that griffin?"
>>116462"Hmm...strange..."
>>116460"Your call on what we do. Should we go in loud, try to sneak in and grab colt, see if we can talk things out?"
>>116463"Lets just walk in like we belong here."
>>116465The two creatures stare at the five (six) entering, looking worried
>>116466Dark star trots over to the cage.
>>116467The colt stands up and moves back, his rear hoof hitting a bar with a “clank”
>>116467>>116468Silver stands guard over the group, serving as its muscle. He looks over at the colt with pity.
>>116468"Hey don't worry. we're here to help you. My Name is Dark Star. Whats yours?"
>>116470He doesn’t know why this Zebra is talking to him, but after a moment, he answers
“... Lõputu Sügis”
>>116472He looks up at Dark Star with soft, purple eyes the shade of lavender petals. His fur is a deep blue, almost liquorish color, and it shimmers in a way similar to a Crystal Pony. His dark grey mane has a vague purplish hue, and is tied up, as is his tail, in a single bundle. He appears to be adolescence aged, some years, but not that many years, younger than Dark Star. He pauses for more than a moment, then answers
“I am... born in Bluffhead... but I live in Baltimare”
>>116473Wisdom: [1d20+3 = 20] Silver tries to place the colt's accent.
>>116473"I'm not Familiar with bluffhead."
>>116474I think culture is intelligence based, not wisdom based.
>>116476*shrugs*
The GM is more than welcome to correct me if it is, but I think a 16 would pass either way.
>>116474Northern Pony, most likely Skynavian
>>116475“It is in the Hail Forest, in Skynavia”
>>116478"Where is the key to your cage?"
>>116478>>116477It falls into the Knowledge Skill, related to Local Knowledge, so yeah.
Next time, you should roll Intelligence.