Welcome back to Occupied Equestria
Dark Star, Silver, Iron, and Midnight continue their investigation and hopefully, the take down of a group of organized criminals who have taken up operations at an old fortress on the sea shore. They have already rescued a number of creatures and persuaded them to join in their efforts. Now, they most hope that they can strike with enough force, and quickly enough, to destroy the evil that has taken up residence there.
Up in the North, the ponies are waking up, ready for a new day
1447 replies and 141 files omitted.
>>117646Midnight's wings reach under the opposite wing and seem to wrap around something when she hears the warning, placing herself between Meadows and the door.
>>117647Through the door:
"Hello, I'm looking for a Mr. Steel Otis. I have an urgent matter that requires his attention."
>>117646Dark Star pulls out his bow.
and aims it towards the incoming creature.
>>117650Opening the door, Brie enters the trailer.
Spot check (anything that seems useful or relevant)
[1d20-1 = 6] >>117646Iron stops his combing, standing up and expecting a fight, stuffing the pick in his clothes.
"Sands, behind me," he whispers to the unicorn.
He awaits, ready to pounce any living thing that Khoi just mentioned.
>>117651>>117648>>117630The creatures are not yet there, but down the hall
"I would've thought Kurzefeder would have got the heat back on by now. It is too cold here."
"Thing must really be down if he still hasn't got it back up"
"I hope he didn't take extra time with that sicameonese girl"
"And where are those other captives? The gnolls should've brought them up by now"
"Maybe
they are with the girl"
"Whatever, we'll get them ourselves"
>>117652Desk to the left. Blue unicorn mare. Board over to the right with papers pinned to it. What is useful?
[Read more] >>117654"Mr... Otis?" Brie asks, slightly off-put by the scene.
>>117654He decides to await these griffs in the storage room, at the door, ready to pounce them the moment he hears they're in front of the door.
>>117655"I am the forepony's secretary"
>>117656>>117657If Dark Star and Iron are taking their sweet time, so are the griffins. They enter a different room down the hall
>>117658"I see. I was told that I could find him here. Or was he the green unicorn whom I just passed outside?"
>>117659"That may have been the forepony. Steel Otis is here"
>>117648>>117658>>117657Damn.
Iron decides it's a good idea that because they've entered a room further down the hall, he should be able to get to that room and be ready to ambush them faster.
Therefore, he tells this plan to the others.
>>117648>>117643A pair of Changelings walk up towards the third trailer from outside
>>117660"Perhaps I'm missing something, it appears to be just you and me."
>>117663Sleight of hand, frogging a throwing knife
[1d20+9 = 22] >>117661>>117664Midnight nods and pulls out two shortswords from under her wings
"Here we go"
>>117662Onyx watches, trying not to make his staring obvious
>>117662>>117666"Well... that's probably trouble. Let's go talk to them."
Spark heads toward the changelings.
>>117663He is. There is another set of rooms off to the right, and a little hallway
>>117665Successful
>>117666They move in, and stand besides the door
>>117668Ah, my bad. "Thank you young mare." Brie smiles and proceeds toward the other set of rooms.
>>117667There are two of them. The black creatures are drones, wearing white, including a white fuzzy hat. It's a bit of a contrast because almost all of the ones they have met so far wore a grey uniform. They are obviously guards or other security staff. One looks at the door, the other back at Spark
>>117669The little hallway has a room off to the right, another door past that, and a door at the end
>>117667"After you Spark"
Onyx will follow the unicorn, while trying to look intimidating.
>>117666>>117664>>117668With a nod, he beckons the group forwards as he moves himself to the room the griffons had just entered.
(Hopefully they are distracted enough.)
>>117670Poking his head back toward the unicorn mare, Brie asks "Uhm, which room am I looking for?"
>>117673"The main office is in the back"
>>117674"Thanks again." Brie smiles and heads toward the back office and knocks three times on the door.
>>117670Spark addresses the changelings.
"Hello there. I must say, it is a bit cold out here. Why don't you two head the the break room for a bit and warm up. We got this shift covered."
>>117675"Who is it?" Answers the voice
>>117676Glares >>117677"Hello sir, my name is Brie and I have an urgent matter that requires your attention. May I have a word?"
>>117680Entering the room, Brie takes a quick glance around and then settles his gaze on Otis(?).
[1d20+3 = 20]>>117677"What? Surely you aren't new here. You have seen the boss do some deals, right? I hear the trade this time is with a bat. Now, you didn't hear that from me. As you know, bats are a bit jittery and so while he is here, we got this shift."
Bluff roll.
>>117682A wooden desk that is fancier than the construct of most of the room kind of to the left, a grey earth pony behind that, a white unicorn stallion standing over to the side wearing a white fur jacket and cap, a window behind with the blinds down, and over to the right as well, a clock on the wall off to the left, and so forth
>>117681>>117679>>117672And so I guess they go to stand outside the boiler room
>>117684Correct.
Iron peeks into the room, trying to see the griffons inside it.
>>117683He is confused
"We are here to deal with a threat from partisans. This is no 'shift'"
Then he says
"Let me get confirmation from the boss"
>>117684"Mr. Otis?" Brie says looking at both ponies.
>>117686"And interupt the deal? I'm afaid that is a death sentence. Do you have permission from him to interupt such a thing? Not even I am supposed to. I can't even begin to think of what they would do to you if you come barging in and see something you aren't supposed to."
>>117687He nods
"You're the one from the main office, aren't you?"
>>117688Now he's definitely weirded out
>>117688As if to emphasize Spark's point, Onyx moves his halberd from resting on his shoulder to hiding it at attention, still staring straight ahead.
>>117690The other one blinks
"Let me guess. You two are with the PLF?"
>>117689"Quite. I'll cut to the chase. You have a mole in your operation."
Bluff
[1d20+7 = 15] >>117681>>117679>>117672Okay, Ive completely misinterpreted the map.
The one doorway there does not lead into the hall. It leads into the boiler room and not a hallway. And the griffins entered the boiler room
>>117692"... A mole?"
>>117689"Look, I get the feeling you are new to this. Just relax. They will do their thing, and if all goes well, we all might get a little pay bump out of it. This is how the real world works. Sometimes you have to run a little money under the table to get things going."
>>117691"What? No. Our boss ain't with those low lifes. Not enough money in that in the slightest. Trust me, we are in a get in, get out kind of business. Public recognition of that level gets in the way of such things."
>>117694They look confused as all hell. But their weapons go to an at ease position
>>117693"Indeed. Your arrangement with the PLA, well I wouldn't say its common knowledge
yet, and it can very easily remain that way if you prefer. For example. My men and I have the mole in custody."
>>117685>>117693Post should still apply. Add boiler in front of room.
>>117685There are indeed griffins in there, inspecting equipment and such
>>117685>>117690>>117679"The boiler is off"
"And the valves are turned off"
"What the hell is going on?"
"Just turn it back on, get it working. I'm wondering if the damned knolls are on strike, or if Hans and Kurve were running some kind of test"
>>117697"I don't
have an arrangement with the PLF"
His eyes dart nervously to the Unicorn to his left
[Read more] >>117700Use the real dice, the email dice, so we can actually see the dice
He seems to be telling the truth. Further more, he feels the need to convince the pony standing next to him of the truth of that statement
>>117699>>117690>>117696Iron stares at the griffons pensively until he gets an idea, turning to Skies and Sands.
"Can any of you two attract these griffons back here? It should make it easier to overwhelm them," he whispers to the two mares.
>>117702>it doesn't show the dice I used in the bracketsBut if I use the email dice I'll die! ._.
>>117703"what did you have in mind?"
>>117702"I suspected that you didn't." Brie looks to the other pony, a bit of edge in his gaze, while still talking to Otis. "It seems someone in this organization has been,... taking liberties shall we say. This has attracted unwanted attention. Mine."
>>117705>>117706Actually that makes sense. You're right.Looking at Sands, he shakes his head, turning to Jubilosa.
"Nevermind, two griffons should attract them easily, since they trust their kind," he whispers. "Lure them closer so the melee troops can strike easier and keep our presence hidden."
>>117708"Sounds like an alright plan to me."
>>117708"Okay...."
"hello?"
The two griffins peak their heads through the door
"What are you doing out?"
"Who are you?"
"No grif should be there"
Well, they are coming alright
>>117707"Who are you?
He asks, confused and worried
[Read more] >>117711"I already told you, my name is Brie. And I'm here to collect the head of the pony(ies) responsible for making deals with the PLA." he says calmly.
>>117711Iron readies his hooves for a strike the moment he's able to reach them in a 30ft radius.
"Ready up, melee troopers, and follow my lead"
>>117709He glances at Dark Star
"Fire your bow when they are at striking distance from the melee troopers."
Should be 30ft on all of them. >>117711"You needn't worry, I believe you when you confess no knowledge of it. Your associate there however has been rather quiet."
>>117713"i had planned on it."
He moves about 15 ft away
>>117712He places his hooves on the table and leans up
"Well I'm not the one doing it!"
He calms down slightly, and leans back in his seat
"And I don't know who it is..."
Ready move. If the unicorn attempts to escape, he's getting stuck.
>>117713>>117716And one of them comes into the doorway
[1d20+5 = 25]>>117719Dark Star lets his arrow go
>>117719>>117721Iron sees the signal of somegriff approach from Dark Star, taking the opportunity to charge at the one griffon courteous to come out of the boiler room into an arrow, charging at him with reckless abandon. Fully powered attack, hopefully in a good spot to tickle the griffon in just the right way into unconsciousness.
[1d20+8 = 9]<Here comes punchy time. >>117721It proceeds forward, hits him in the head, shocks him with pink magic, and causes the lower part of his body to keep moving forward as his head moves backward, knocking him on his back in a glorious fashion
>>117722And... right into the wall, hurting Iron's bone, and knocking him prone
>>117718>>117720The White Unicorn simply stands there, silently
>>117727"What I don't get" Brie continues, nonchalantly "Is what the PLA needs mining equipment for. Smuggled ore, that's easy to account for, but equipment? And further," his gaze never wavering from the unicorn "how is it that the secretary at the main office knows, but you don't Mr. Otis. I'm not blaming you, just wondering aloud how extensive this scheme is. I mean, I don't technically need EVERYPONY'S head, just one and an explanation will do."
>>117726Ow my bone. Definitely not gonna impress anybody like that.Iron groggily stands up for this turn's duration.
(I cannot believe you have done this, wall.)
>>117728"She told me that a guy ccame in with another pony with a bag on his head looking for me. Logical conclusion, it's PLA looking to kidnap me or something"
Then he looks down
"They don't always steal the equipment. Sometimes its broken. Sabotaged I think. Sometimes it's missing workers. We think they are joining the PLA"
\r
>>117731Oh yeah, there’s something more here
>>117730"So you're telling me that they're stealing from and sabotaging the company, but you have nothing to do with it. But their activity is enough that the lady at the office knows about it, to the point where she'd offer it to a random pony who shows up with a prisoner in tow. Is that what you're telling me?"
>>117733"Literally everyone knows about the PLA, and she wasn't offering anything. She's asking the guy who has another guy with a bag over his head if he is a terrorist. That's a normal assumption, alongside 'bank robber,' and it wasn't a bank."
[1d20+5 = 18]>>117736Seems legit
>>117734Blue Skies shoots as well
>>117737Brie sighs and rubs his temple. "Show me."
[1d8 = 8][1d6 = 4]>>117737>>117734Blue Skies hits the griffin, and Dark Star's magic bow takes effect
>>117734>>117739The griffin is out, but the other griffins are alerted to the trap
>>117738"Show you that you looked like a PLF member?"
>>117740"No, that's absurd. How many PLA members have such a fetching suit? I'm talking about the equipment. Show me."
>>117742"Oh that. The foreman told me of another shovel in the northern lot, if you'd leave to go see it"
>>117741And that is his action for the second turn
Midnight disappeared as well now...
>>117743"A shovel. A
shovel. I don't think you understand. I'm not leaving here unless I'm dragging somepony behind me. As far as I can tell its you," referring to the unicorn, "unless you have something more pertinent to tell/show me. If so, now is the time."
>>117743Do you think we should hold for now?
>>117745Yes. Dark Star and Blue Skies downed one griffin, and now the others are alerted to their location and not too thrilled to go in
>>117744"Yes. The steam shovels are being damaged. I don't think it's normal wear and tear. Oil lines ripped and everything"
The Unicorn, standing silently, twists his mouth and looks back to Brie with distaste
>>117746Roger. I'll withhold future actions until the Floof and The batter to come.
>>117746"Very well.
Show me" Brie reiterates with more intensity.
>>117749"Okay..."
He gets up, and starts to walk out of the room
>>117750Brie allows him to lead the way
Taking a cue from others, this is probably a good point to stop for the night
Of course, the moment Dark Star gets back is the moment I pass out...
>>117754I don't believe you, I think you're there.
Can't believe I went to bed so late.
Anyways, here is me.
Which ponies will be available today?
>>117761Mehybeh, I'm still waiting to see. But I should be.
>>117761I'll be available for a couple more hours, then I'll be on again around 7.
I'll be on toward the evening
Okay, we can proceed with something if enough players are online
>>117771I'm back.
>>117771>>117772Two questions: what's the order of combat (if there is one), and are we aiming to capture or kill?
>>117776No order as of yet, but Dark Star shot his bow first, followed by Iron slamming against a wall from bad rolls and then Skies shot an arrow, too, I think.
Midnight hasn't attacked so far.
>>117776Capture is preferrable, but from how the griffs can never talk after getting punched so hard they become unresponsive, I dunno if they can be useful unless the last griff surrenders anyways.
>>117776There is not quite an “order.”
There was more than one griffin that came into the boiler room, concerned about the lack of heat, the “lazy” maintenance team, and the gnolls evidently not doing a required job. Iron had Jubilosa and Blue Shekels come and lure the griffins into the hallway all of the creatures are in (which leads from a door in the boiler room). One griffin came through. Dark Star, with his chad email dice, scored a 20 and knocked down that griffin with blue skies following up his attack. Iron, with his virgin in line dice, scored a 1 and hurt himself on a wall.
I’m not going to tell you capture or kill
>>117777>>117778>>117779Is the griff knocked out? Or should Silver treat him with a pommel to the face?
>>117780Heil, Edgy Boi!
>>117781Knocked out/dead.
But there's two more inside the boiler room.
Surprise round is over, and each group is in their respective rooms
>>117781I mean, Silver can always give that double tap he was going to give to Zwolf to the downed griffin
>>117780Hello. That’s a super cute poner
>>117783I'll use this moment to rush into the room and get shot by the other two griffons, with the shield hopefully granting me more than just 10 AC.
Hopefully the other melee troops follow.
They better shoot me and not any of the prisoners. >>117784You already declared your next action after the surprise round: standing up
>>117780>>117785>>117787"Это снова мы...it was probably not best idea to send in griffin they were talking about." He drags the griffin away from the door to tie him up.
>>117786
Okay, just to be clear: the remaining griffins are inside of a big room with plenty of pipes and such in it. The party is in a hallway that connects to a doorway in the very corner of the griffin room. There is not really a line of sight between the two. The griffins know there is an ambush waiting in the other room, and so are not enthusiastic to charge in
>>117788So Silver quickly drags the griffin away from the door
Do paladins get surprise rounds?
>>117795What, am I Han Solo now?
Is it possible for Midnight to get in an attack or should I wait for the normal round?
>>117796Well, now there are no enemies in line of sight
>>117797Then Midnight bides her time.
Soon
Everypony is gone now and I don’t know why
>>117807Oi, don't ye think I'm out of yer sight, ya mumbling horse!
I never left, I’m just waiting.
Eeees in EEEEEE
>>117807I'm waiting for someone to decide to go in so Silver can go in with them.
>>117814Midnight would follow if Silver leads.
Okay, So the Northern Posse can walk out to the broken shovel if they like.
And the griffins do not walk into the trap a second time
>>117817>>117815Well, I suppose Silver is the first to cautiously enter the room, sword at the ready.
>>117818Midnight cautiously follows, her shortsword and dagger held at the ready.
>>117817I can't. Still standing up n shiet
>>117817Does that mean the unicorn isn’t breaking for escape? Alas
“The hell was that?”
“Jurgen?”
“He just got shot...”
“By whom?”
“Either some of the captives broke free, or an incursion by the gangs”
“What do we do now?”
“See if they come out, and get help”
“Good. No way I am going in there”
>>117822Why would he run to escape?
>>117821Woah!
Iron seems to have gotten in the boiler room.
>>117823Can Iron see where these griffs are now?
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20+5 = 15]
[1d20+5 = 18]
Midnight should probably be in first since she was the only one not doing something else. Silver and Iron, who took actions before, should follow.
I’m thinking roll initiative. The griffins get home field advantage
>>117825Wew, that's a lot of good rolls.
18 15 18?
Alrighty. Let's roll back
[1d20 = 1]<The Laws of Probability dictates that Iron's ass is toast [1d20+4 = 19]
Initiative tiem?
Order:
Chad email dice paladin
Grif 1
Grif 2
Grif 3
Edge Pone
Virgin In line dice
Loose a turn: other in line dice
[1d20+8 = 26][1d20+8 = 12]>>117830dabs in superior dice rolling skillsMidnight slashes with her shortsword and stabs with her dagger at the 1st griffon.
>>117823Because if he ran that would make my job a lot easier
>>117832He is seeing no reason to do anything except stand silently to the right of Otis
The ponies roll into the boiler room. Iron rolls a little too much maybe, as he runs into a set of pipes and trips, falling down. The Griffins are three in number and all to the left of the boiler itself, kind of evenly spaced.
Midnight and one of the griffins fun at each other, with midnight landing the first blows
I’m only granting the first one as landing at the moment
[1d20+5 = 16]
[2d20+4 = 24]
Alright
Midnight’d sword slashes into the breast of the griffin before her, while the second is dodged, grading the feathers of the creature. The creature strikes back, however, with a short sword of his own.
A second one charges over at Iron, who is prone on the floor
The third charges at the fluffy silver pony
1 For midnight
2. Fir Iron, who has -2 AC because he is in the pipes
3. For silver
[Read more] >>117836Nice. Good thing Shield is here to save the day!
>>117836I do believe Silver is hit.
[1d6 = 2][1d6 = 3]>>117818>>117835I believe Silver and Midnight are hit. Iron’s attacker fares no better with the pipes than he does
1. Midnight
2. Silver
[1d20+5 = 20]>>117840Dark Star moves to the door frame
And shoots the griffion standing over iron
[2d6 = 8]>>117841The arrow hits the griffin in his side, sending a pink shockwave
>>117839Fluffball’s turn
>>117833Alright, well he's supposed to be in the process of leading the way to show the industrial shovel.
Its not arbitrary that Brie is insisting either. He's got an ace up his sleeve yet.
>>117843Why would the unicorn lead?
Otis gets up, not quite eager to walk in front of Brie
>>117843Onyx is following the bat.
>>117842Power Attack: [1d20+4 = 9] Silver intends to reciprocate his newfound slash-mark in his chest by giving one to the griffin attacking him.
>>117846Silver put his faith in the in line dice, and the in line dice failed him
The sword goes wide off to the side
>>117844Well, we ended here
>>117749>>117751>>117845We're still in the office, but just as they're not putting their back to Brie, he's keeping them in front of him.
[1d20+7 = 9][1d20+7 = 8]>>117848Good enough
>>117847Oh yeah. My turn.
Midnight glares at the griffon who just swiped her, and slashes back with her sword and dagger.
[1d20 = 3][1d20+2 = 4][2d20+3 = 30]And now, from the other room, in bursts help.
Jubilosa takes the lead, charging in with a short sword taken off of the other griffin.
Khoi follows closely, calmly charging with silver’s hammer.
Mala jumps out, wielding a scimitar in his mouth
Blue Skies rolls out with her bow, staying in the rear
Jubilosa and Blue Skies +3
Khoi +2
Mala +1
Though Iron stumbled at first, he is now up and ready to fight.
Iron should roll initiative
>>117848“Oh... Kay”
Otis slowly gets up from his chair in what is turning out to be a very tense moment
[Read more] >>117850>>117849Observe how the oppressed native rises up!
[1d20 = 17]<Thankfully, Probability should help me this time. >>117850Brie sighs. "Look, I'm quite confident that you're not telling me everything. I'm also confident that if what you weren't telling me weren't incriminating, you would just tell me. You claim that the machines were sabotaged, fine. Show me the machines. I'm not just going to start stabbing ponies without cause." he says with an exaggerated wave of his hoof (the one not holding a throwing knife). He's still looking at the Unicorn. "Show me some sabotaged equipment and I can conclude that that as well as issues with the PLA - is it PLA or PLF? I never could get that straight - are the cause for the unsatisfactory production and consumption of resources. Otherwise,...."
The order for round 2 is:
Midnight
Grif 1
Grif 2
Jubilosa
Iron
Blue Shekels
Edge Pone
Silver
Khoi
Mala
[Read more] >>117852The Unicorn has the dead eyes of a mackerel
He blinks
>>117854"Ahhhh, I get it. You're protecting somepony else." Brie says tapping his chin
>>117855If those are the dice rolls you want to go with...
>>117856He nods, slowly
>>117857"This other pony, let's call her Matilda. Is what Matilda is doing urgent? I mean, are lives at stake if she and 'whomever else' were to lay low for a while?"
[1d20+5 = 13][2d20+4 = 35]>>117858Midnight misses. She misses pretty well.
One of her short swords hits a pipe, and bounces out of her wing-claw
The griffins are now more than a little frightened at the small horse coming at them, but neither does a clean retreat look possible. They fight on
1. Midnight
2. Iron
3. Silver
>>117859Who is Brie talking to and who is the other pony
[Read more] >>117860Brie is giving a hypothetical name to the pony(ies) the unicorn is theoretically trying to protect with his silence.
>>117861Talking to the Unicorn still. Not excluding Otis, but Otis is clearly as oblivious to what is going on as Brie is, relatively speaking.
>>117860Your call: either the griffon misses Silver with that 11, or he crits with that 20.
>>117861He shakes his head
>>117864Well, the center dice is for Iron, as it was last time.
But that’s a +4 on that 11, so I’m not convinced it’s a miss
>>117862Unless she’s wearing armor it’s a hit
>>117865Wait, does a 13 on an AC of 13 hit or miss?
>>117865"We're making progress then! Come, let's look at the machines shall we?" He bounces forward and then - with a spring in his step - leaves the room, headed for the exit. "Come come!"
>>117866If attack roll >= to AC, attack roll wins.
>>117865His armor + his Dex bonus puts him over 15 AC, so it's a miss.
[1d20+4 = 22]>>117866It’s the first one that hits
Otis gets up to leave, and the unicorn more slowly after the two others
>>117869What armor is he wearing
>>117868Speaking of which, rolling to confirm crit on Iron
[Read more]