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
1710 replies and 114 files omitted.
>>116264The knocking sound is a bit lower pitched, like it is hollow. No reply or other sounds on the other side
>>116265Hello
>>116265boops>>116262Listen check?
I think that means listen check.
[1d20+5 = 14]
>>116266Alright, now, where did we leave off...
Silver looks at Zwolf. "I do not suppose you might be willing to agree to compromise?"
>>116267Help! Police! I've been booped!
>>116266Humming deeply, he turns to Skies, hoofing over his flashlight
"Hold this for me. I'm opening up a path."
With that, he places his hindlegs in the optimal bucking position, hooves lightly trailing the ground in search for leverage as his back properly accomodates the upcoming action.
First, he attempts an accurate buck to test the strength of this hollow wall.
[1d20+11 = 19]<Buck this wall in particular! >>116268She sighs, loudly
“To
what?”
>>116267Whispers
>>116269A clinking sound, and sone of the bricks seem to move. They are not quite dislodged, though the wall does not seem impervious
>>116270Iron smiles to himself before trying his luck, going for a far more powerful buck
[1d20+6 = 18]<Hotblooded Stallion Bucks Wall >>116270"If you would be willing to wait little bit longer, or else come with us, we will see what can be done about getting you processed through Customs, get you sent back to Western Equestria through official channels. That might calm at least some fears of my comrades."
>>116272"'Processed through customs'?"
>>116273He shrugs. "I do not know term for it. Basically, we would let government send you back to Western Equestria."
>>116271And with that, Iron should be able to crack down the wall onto the other side. I am not sure I want to explore that yet without Midnight
>>116274"So deportation? She says
GM won't stop sending me the lyrics of In the Arms of an Angel, so apparently we're playing?
>>116290I assume we're entering combat, which is why your presence is needed.
>>116296For you Starry boi, I'll accept the boop. It's great to see you.
>>116299H-hey!
M-my snoot is private, b-baka!
Good to see you back. >>116305There you are. See
>>116270. It's a very simple and non-descript answer, but an answer to a listen check never the less
>>116308>>116307The murder list grows>>116306Midnight turns to Iron and Skies
"Do we have an actual plan?"
>>116309"He wants to kick down a wall" she says
>>116311Midnight stares at Iron, slowly blinking
"That is a terrible idea"
>>116312Iron shrugs
"Seems like a safe option to follow, and possibly the fastest and easiest."
He proceeds to buck the wall again
>>116313>>116312Looks like a "ready or not, here I come"
Skies moves off to the side, and the wall goes tumbling down. Or at least the set of bricks in the doorway move and fall away
>>116314Iron turns around, eager to see what's on the other side.
(Come on, secret slave hiding room.)
>>116314>>116315Midnight just stares, wondering how she got here of all places.
>>116316>>116315I though Dark Star would have responded by now...
>>116317Probably should've pointed out the latest response. He's been out for a while.
>>116081"You know It wouldnt help you. these things are monsters."
>>116102"What in the buck do you think you are doing?"
>>116107Would dark star know the accent?
>>116222>>116223>>116224>>116238>>116237>>116276>>116277"What the buck? why would we let this life stealer back to the occupied zone to drain our brothers and sisters untill they are dead?"
>>116317to be fair i had to look through 8 days worth of posts.
>>116319"She is innocent in all of this. So are ponies she would drain. One can not help one without hurting other, as much as I would like it otherwise."
>>116320"Why are you so sympathetic to these...things?"
>>116319HE’S BACK!
>>116316>>116318Well, for starters, it leads into another room.
>>116319>AccentProbably not, but a wisdom or intelligence roll might help
>>116319>>116321*innocent Changeling noises*
She frowns at Dark Star
[1d20+1 = 18]>>116322wis roll
>>116322Dark Star sneers at it
"How long have you been here,bug?"
>>116323He has difficulty placing it precisely, but as best as he can tell from depiction in a radio broadcast he heard a while ago, it’s an accent of the Northern Ponies, particularly of Griffonia
She snaps her tail
“How could I know? I don’t exactly get days and nights down here. It must have been months. How are you ponies holding off the invasion, by the way?”
>>116321"Empathy. I can put myself in her horseshoes, even if I have never been in her situation, and I know that even if I would not expect it, I would hope that I would be helped, if I was in her position, or if our positions were reversed. And I have found that you can bring best out of others, even those you would otherwise dislike, by treating them with same kindness, dignity, and respect you would expect for yourself.
"Besides, how could I claim to be follower of Harmony if I did not follow its most basic tenets?"
>>116324He smiles
"We're doing just fine. i uncovered one of you friends earlier this morning. Blew her head off."
>>116325"they aren't like us silver. they can't feel like we do. they are monsters that do nothing but take and give nothing in return. you should know that by now..."
>>116322Iron has nothing else to go other than that so of course he strolls into it without worry.
>>116326She wrinkles her lips in disgust
“Very well then”
She stands up
>>116325Mala walls slightly closer to Silver
>>116326Khoi walls slightly closer to Dark Star
>>116326"I believe they have many similiar things to say about us in turn. Does that make us monsters?"
>>116329"When we need to be,yes."
>>116331"Very well then." He sits down. "It is ultimately your decision to make. But you know my feelings on matter: helping her will not make things worse in long run, neither will harming her make things any better."
>>116332"What do you think khoi?"
>>116333The gnoll comes over, and sits down next to Silver
>>116335She says,
“Pay evil unto evil”
>>116336He looks over to Mala with an inquisitive look. "Something to say?"
>>116336Dark Star looks over at the Changling
"Tell me,bug. how many Ponies have you drained the life completely out of?"
>>116337He looks over briefly, then a way, and he opens his mouth as if to say something. For more than a moment, the words evade him, and whatever he wanted to say he fails to say it.
After a while, he conquers whatever was inhibiting him, and speaks in a set of words that are fast and forced, as if he has given up hope of the words having impact, and now hopes only that they are heard at all
“She was caged here, you know? She collaborated with them to be sure, but... it’s easy to collaborate when you’re kind of forced to”
>>116338“Completely? I don’t know. I don’t imagine many. They always found a few drops more could come out even when it seemed the last bits were gone. That’s why they kept the cocoons here.”
>>116340"What do you know about your so called captors?"
>>116340He nods. "It takes strength to speak out, and risk everything. I do not entirely blame those who do not. Some just need to see others speak out first to find courage to join them."
>>116338She looks way, and answers almost indifferently
“That they were cruel. Even by pony standards. They saw these creatures as completely disposable to them. They thought of me as a machine to extract magic from any number of creatures I never knew existed, and to make into honey. They would force feed me, make me cocoon prey. I don’t think they really understood the process. They didn't understand that a creature must find something it loves to be harvested effectively. I don’t think they really cared. They wanted to honey. I suspect they had other uses for these creatures. Conditions are horrible here. Always trapped in this tiny cell. No room to move. I cannot fly. None of my brothers or sisters to see or talk to. A dim, obnoxious yellow light that’s on almost all hours of the day, and total darkness when it isn’t. They chain me down with multiple restraints that ache and chafe. They won’t come near me without sone kind of magical inhibitor - they know better than to do that. There is nothing to do all day. Endless boredom. Not even tiles on the ceiling to count. The temperature is never right, always too hot or too cold. It’s too moist.”
She looks down to the floor
“And then they force me to regurgitate honey... I don’t want to, but if I don’t they will shock me, so I do it without being told now. But they often don’t believe me and shock me again...”
>>116342He looks at Silver, silent for more than a moment, then slowly makes a half nod
\r
[1d20 = 11]>>116343She can see pity flash in his eyes before returning to the cold gaze of before.
sense motive on her story.
"Ponies? we know your captors are griffons. what is wrong with the pony we found in the cocoon?"
>>116343Silver looks back at Mala, and smiles. "While there is lull in action, why do you not tell me your story? How did you come to work for these griffons?"
>>116344“ they extracted her. What else?”
he creature - Zwolf - comes closer towards the bar, standing up, and walking forward, low to the ground, in a manner almost like a stalking lion. 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 of the Race have
you drained the life completely out of?”
>>116345“I...”
Alright, I need to go to sleep
Does anypony want to play this weekend?
>>116356I'll be there. Remember to give me a (You) when the time is right.
>>116356Will cookies be provided?
>>116359There are cookies and punch by the door
>>116345Mala looks as if he's suffering something along the lines of stage fright, or fear of public speaking. He opens his mouth, lets out some sound, looks away, quickly looks back to Silver, then looks away, swallows, and then speaks to his audience of one pony:
"I-I came to Equestria when I was a cub. maybe four. My father disappeared, or left maybe a year later. I don't actually know what happened. My mother was strong, assertive. But some times she got frustrated. She got angry. And then some years ago, she got melancholia... It was hard. I got a job and lost it. Mom died... I lost the studio apartment. I was homeless for a while. I found the three gnolls. I had seen them before, during that time I went to school. But they let me do work, and it seemed like a good thing. I had food. Somewhere to sleep where the wind did not blow."
At this point, he looks on into the distance, and tilts his head, in evident contemplation
>>116361>>116361"Did you say... three gnolls? We only encountered 2 down here."
I have resorted to phone posting because my pc refuses to co-operate.
>>116362Mala looks over, and is a little startled and surprised to see his audience grow to two ponies and a kirin. Maybe even a changeling.
"As I said to.... Silver? Silver here, there was a third. The others have been vague, but he must have died when the military raided here."
\r
>>116362F for Edgy Boi's computer.
>>116365"I don't think it was a pony's version of friendship. He would yell at me if I did something wrong, and occassionally mock me. I didn't like that. But we were together often. We ate together, we slept together, we worked together. He was Kaftar, like me. The griffins, who do not know gnolls very well, thought we were brothers. In some ways it was like that."
>>116366"Kaftar, is that different kind of gnoll, or nation of them?"
>>116366"You're right thats not what we would consider to be friendship."
Dark star looks slightly saddend by mala's story.
>>116367"I don't know the word. Race? That could be it. It's a group of gnolls further to the south. Near the mountains of the Karkadann. It was its own country for a while. I think. I don't know, I didn't finish school. I wasn't good at school while I was there. Not that they said anything about gnolls anyways... I am just repeating what other gnolls told me. It is a part of Hyenia now. I think it was conquered by the Storm King, and that is why my mother left."
>>116368He looks down
>>116369He nods, understanding. "Hard to imagine that Storm King managed to build empire with airships, only to get instantly annhilated as soon as he came up against Equestrian aircraft."
>>116369"The storm king needs to be executed."
>>116371Silver looks over to Dark Star. "Storm King is dead. Tempest Shadow killed him before she gave herself up to Equestrian authorities. You did not hear about that?"
>>116370He looks at Silver, blinks, then tilts his head, one ear flopping down.
“Is that what happened?”
With a paw, he takes a step back
“Well... my mother said something about the strength of Equestria once. Protecting the weak.... I’m not sure she believed it when she died.”
>>116371“I thought he was?”
>>116373"Да. It used to be something our country believed in, once. Somewhere along line, that stopped being case. So much of mess we are in now might have been avoided, if we still believed in such."
>>116374Mala looks up at Silver, head pointed down slightly, and seems to acknowledge, but does not comment on, Silver’s political statement
Khoi Lua on the other hoof...
“Yes. I thought Equestria protect weak too. What happen?”
>>116372"No i hadnt. I assumed he was still terrorizing Everypony."
>>116375"That is question we have all been trying to find answer to. It might have been we grew too weak, ourselves, in our complacency. It might be we have forgotten what Harmony truly means. It might be something infected our country from inside, rotting it out. Or, it might very well be something else, or any combination of them."
>>116377"Whatever it is, it must end tonight. I came here because Equestria is supposed to be land of harmony and opportunity. I wanted to raise my foals in a place where they could have more hopeful and brighter future than my parents. I come here and what is this? This must stop."
>>116376"Well, rest assured, he is long dead by now. His empire has been reduced to ashes by infighting."
>>116378"I am afraid you picked rather poor time to come to Equestria, war-torn and divided as it is. We are all doing our best to return things to normal, but it will take great effort for us to do so. It is part of reason why we are here."
>>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"
\r
>>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
\r
>>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.