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Alright Poners, are you ready to kick some griffin ass?
The ponies have determined that there is a mass group of griffins who belong to the organization inside of a central meeting area in the dormitory square.
>>121010Dark Star was scouting for exits with Blue Shekels
[1d20+5 = 15]>>121011Dark Star looks for a exit
spot
>>121012Down the hallway, it looks like one is visible over to the right. It's recessed into the wall, so he can't see the actual door itself, but he can deduce that it is there.
The greater trouble comes from the fact that across from it on the other side is an entrance into the central area where the griffins are gathering
>>121013Dark Star points this out to Blue
"Looks like one over there."
>>121014She nods, and looks back to him
"Well, that's one. There may be more past it"
[1d20+5 = 6]>>121015"I Don't like this one its too close to the entrance. Lets try to find a better one."
He moves quietly past it
>>121016Dark Star walks past the entrance, carefully, delicately, on his hooves until..... A griffin collides directly with him, knocking him to the ground, and making quite a sound
>>121017He has a look of shock on his face
"Sheeit. sorry griff."
He Reaches down to help him up
>>121018The griffin is a young to middle aged looking griff of grey feathers and a brownish coat who is wearing an off-white colored robe. He looks to Dark Star/Zekker strangely, not immediately taking the hoof
>>121019He shakes his hoof slightly
"Lemme help ya up."
>>121020He offers a paw
"I saw you...."
>>121022He pulls on Dark Star, evidently to pull himself up
"I saw you. You and that Unicorn. You came into the temple and sat down for the lessen. I did not see you come back here..."
>>121023"Yea we come here,heard there was fun. we come straight here after temple."
>>121024"How.... who let you in here? You should be with the rest of the group in the other building"
>>121025"My Zigga with a turban."
>>121026He sighs, almost with disgust
"Well, that would explain where
he has been... But the event is upstairs.... If that is where you want to go"
>>121027"Dat Sounds good my griff. Which way do i go?"
>>121028With a foreclaw, and a look of mild irritation, he points behind him, and through the entrance that he just came from
"Through there. Up the stairs you can find on your left. To the top floor, the third one. At the end of the hall, you will find them."
With a pause, then he says
"Did the Minister approve you?"
>>121029"Yea he did do dat. hey wheres da bafroom?"
>>121030"Behind you. Around the corner. On your left. I would not go up there unless the Minister or the Landlord has invited you first"
>>121031"Thanks muh griff."
He walks towards the bathroom, he walks loud enough so blue can hear his hoof steps.
>>121032The Griffin looks back to him with a somewhat uncomfortable look. At least two more griffins from within the central look over to Dark Star as he walks, but say nothing and do not move. As soon as he moves out of the doorway, they pass out of line of sight. Blue Shekels stands further away, and out of line of sight from any intruding griffin. As he approaches, she says to him
"Well that was unsettling"
>>121033"Very. the one i ran into suspects something."
>>121034"Well.... It looks like we have limited time. Let's hope we don't run into any more."
>>121035"Lets hurry."
Dark Star continues moving towards the bathroom
>>121036It becomes quickly apparent that the bathroom the griffin sent him to was the one that the party is using as a staging area
[1d20+5 = 20]>>121037Dark Star spots to try and see if any griffins followed them
>>121036Um.... is Dark Star going into the bathroom and talking to ponies, or waiting, or.... what is he doing?
>>121038None have followed him to the bathroom
>>121040>>121039He's trying to make them think that he's going to the bathroom,so they go back to doing whatever they were doing. before he goes back and continues searching for exits.
[1d3 = 1]>>121041Alright. Dark Star goes into the other hallway, and waits an appropriate amount of time before, presumably, going back the way he was going
>>121043Hello poner! Silver floof is (presumably) in the bathroom. He may plan, prepare, or otherwise act for the mission at hoof
[1d20+2 = 18]>>121045Alright, how does edge pone cross the same entrance?
[1d20+5 = 6]>>121046Stealthily
>>121047As he walks forward, stealthily, a different griffin moves forward. Into him. Directly into him. Dark Star collides with a griffin and falls to the ground. Again.
>>121047>>121048From where you're kneeling it must seem like an 18-carat run of bad luck.
Truth is...the game was rigged from the start.
>>121048Dark Star Continues walking the way he was going
>>121050“Hey!”
He hears a yelling from behind
[1d20+5 = 10]>>121051He ignores it and looks for a place to hide.
>>121052He does not find one. The other griffin quickly gets up and angrily follows him
“What are you doing? Say you are sorry”
>>121053The Griffin thinks he can smell some alcohol on the zebra
"Sorry, griff. i didnt see you there."
>>121054“By Maar you didn’t! Knocked us both right down!”
He moves closer to Dark Star
>>121055"Look i said sorry."
>>121056He looks at him, and stands before him
“You ran into that other griffin before, didn’t you, stripes? Where did you come from?”
>>121058He is silent for a moment. Then he nods.
“I take it the town group must have shown interest in you. I do not think they will take so kindly to your showing up under the influence of intoxicating spirits... unless they had other plans. Where are you going?”
>>121059"I is looking for some creature."
>>121061"Some zigga named zebron."
>>121062He is silent for a moment
“I don’t think he’s here. This is a private residence. You should not be here at all”
>>121063"Sheeit i wuz invited."
>>121064After still another pause
"... By who?"
>>121065"None udda den maakie himself."
>>121066His eyes grow wide
"Maakie....? What did he invite you for?"
>>121067"He wuz impress by me."
Dark Star tries his best to look smug
>>121068He stands there for another moment, opening and closing his beak as if in a smack
“If that’s the kind of help he’s hiring... no matter. We’ll leave him to his business, while we pursue ours.”
>>121069"Here an apology from me. i really is sorry."
He hoofs the griffion bits.
>>121070He takes the bits, inspects them, then pockets them, before nodding to Dark Star
“Carry on”
>>121071He tries to see if blue is watching if so,He continues down the hallway.
>>121072Blue Skies is indeed watching. Dark Star can also travel to the end of the hallway
>>121074The griffin does not hang around, but goes back the way he can’t from, back into the central area. Blue sheckeks, peaking around, comes through too, to end of the hall. On the sides it rolls more or less symmetrical, with just a couple rooms on the walls. Dark Star has reached the corner
>>121075He peeks around the corner
>>121076No creature visible at the moment, and the hallway stretches down to an end
>>121077Dark Star listens at the doors he's near
>>121078Seems to be silent, though hard to tell with sounds from inside the central area, and from pipes in the walls
>>121079Dark Star slowly opens one
Silver looks to Mala. "Do you have rough idea of how many entrances there are to common room?"
[1d3 = 2]>>121081“.... I think... I think there is the one from the central building, one to the street.... maybe another to the north or to the sea? Those should be closed I think. And the stairs”
>>121080The room is dark, and no signs of any creature in it
>>121083He shuts it. and continues scouting for an exit.
>>121084Looking further down, three things are visible. To the right, halfway down, a recess in the wall. It looks like an exit. To the left, an opening in the hallway, evidently to the central area, right across from the exit. Also the right, just further down, what seems to be a door to a stairwell
>>121085"Buck. this exit looks like the same one. maybe if we go down the stairwell we can find an exit?"
>>121086“That one probably connects to outside. I’m not sure what is through the stairs”
>>121087"This exit might work."
He puts his hoof to his chin in thought
>>121088“.... What are you trying to do, exactly?”
She asks
>>121089"Let's relay the location of this exit to silver."
>>121090“Alright... what’s next?”
>>121092"Did those fire bombs ever get finished?"
>>121093“I believe so, yes.”
>>121094"Prehaps we should scout the main area?"
>>121095".... With all the
Griffins in it?"
>>121096"Yep. i want to see if maakie's ugly beak is in there."
>>121097“Alright.... but don’t get their attention”
>>121098He Chuckles slighlty
"I've been very good at that tonight."
>>121099She smiles back, and shakes her head with an "Oh you"
>>121100Dark Star enters the main hall inconspicuously.
>>121101Gonna need a check on that.... not entirely sure what, but I'm going to need a check
>>121103REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>121103>>121104A couple creatures look towards him
>>121105Do they look familiar?
>>121106No. This is a room full of similar looking griffins, unlike the more diverse crowd in the church earlier that night
>>121107"Dis aint da bafroom. sorry."
He turns around and walks out.
>>121108He evidently does so
>>121109He Walks over back to blue
"Lets just go back to the others. im not very agile tonight."
>>121110Before Dark Star leaves the room, he is able to gleam the following information:
The room itself is square. However, the second floor on the east and west sides "hangs over" the lower floor, making the raised ceiling a few stories above a rectangular shape. On each of the long ends is a railing to a hallway. Some of the rooms on the hanging sections have windows that look into the open area in the center.
The griffins are all dressed in robes, which include brown, white, and red. Some wear hats. Many seem completely relaxed and are clearly socializing in a normal way, while a couple read from books, and a few loiter and stand anxiously, or expectantly.
There is one familiar face - aside from the griffins he ran into, literally - the speaker at the church from earlier, who at the moment is talking to some griffins with a sort of urgency
>>121111>CheckedDark Star Takes in the Sights and gets a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach.
He trots over to blue and says"Something is wrong."
He then moves back to the bathroom.
>>121112She nods, and scurries back
>>121113if he is at the bathroom he enters it
>>121114Behind him, he can tell he has two guests
>>121115He stay calm and walks over to one of the toilets.
>>121116The two creatures follow him from the hallway
>>121116Is this the bathroom they're all hiding in?
>>121118Yes
The only question is whether Dark Star makes it inside first
>>121119He walks inside. towards the toilet.
>>121118He walks inside
>>121120They follow him, and speak
"And where did you come from?"
>>121121"Who wants to know?"
He hasnt turned around yet.
>>121122Insisting, angry:
"What are you doing here"
>>121121Silver tries to hide somewhere in the bathroom while the griffons are distracted.
>>121123"What i'm doing here? in the bafroom? what you think?"
[1d2 = 1]>>121125"You should not be in the building"
>>121126>1"Are you sure about dat?"
[1d20+4 = 13]>>121127At this point, the first griffin reaches to put his claws on Dark Star
>>121128i think he misses
[1d20+4 = 12]>>121129Well, what he's doing is reaching to grab Dark Star. Assuming Dark Star is not flat footed - which is actually not a solid assumption if Dark Star is turned to them, and initiative has not been rolled yet - Darl Star's AC should be 13, which is exactly the number required for it to land
Of course, Dark Star has an attack of opportunity.
Either way, the other tries to grab him as well, next
>>121130Only if you want
>>121131Silver is not going to leave his friend to be taken. He rushes out of the bathroom, sword in his telekinetic grip.
[1d20 = 14]>>121131"Hey git yer dirty griffin claws off of me."
He says loud enough so his friends can hear.
Dark star bites at one
>>121132You damned, dirty griffin!Dark Star manages to move his muzzle over and bite down on a shocked griffin's claw, as his eyes raise in shock
>>121132The other one, just freshly missing Dark Star, looks up in shock at the Unicorn waving a sword
>>121134Aw, fuck, I forget the penalty for a nonlethal strike.
[1d20+2 = 5][1d20+1 = 5]>>121135First, roll initiative
>>121138>>121137These griffins are begining to question their decision to enter the bathroom
Dark Star, then Silver
[1d20+8 = 28]>>121139Dark Star takes a five foot step and draws his bow, then fires at the one that touched him
Bab is +5 dex is +3
>>121142>>121140Dark Star takes a step back, pulls his bow and a single arrow, draws the string, and lets it fly almost point blank, right into the griffin's forehead, dead center between the eyes. A pink electric shock goes over his skull and shines in the eyes, as the energy pushes him backwards before he collapses to the ground on his ass, and then falls over to his side
Khoi and Jubilosa peak out from behind a shower curtain to watch the scene, as Blue Shekels stares
>>121144"Mmmm fried turkey."
[1d20+8 = 19]>>121144I forget what the penalty is for a nonlethal strike, so just take it off of the roll.Silver aims a nonlethal pommel strike at the remaining griffon's head.
>>121146Hit
Silver swings his sword down, and strikes the second griffin with the broadside
[2d6+5 = 9]>>121146In case that hit.
>>121145>>121146The last griffin, having been hit on the shoulder and wobbling because of a pain that runs down through the shoulder and into the right foreleg, turns and tries to run for the door to escape
"HELP!"
>>121148And he's hurt
[1d20+8 = 20]>>121149Dark Star
assuming its my turn shoots another arrow at the retreating griffin
>>121150It is, and he hits
>>121152>>121150>>121148Already in pain from the sword strike that came down upon his shoulder (and may even have broken something), the griffin turns around and seeks to flee the room.... but not before being shot in the back around the base of the wing by an arrow from Dark Star, which, with a burst of pink energy, stops the griffin, lets him shiver once, then collapse to the ground
>>121152>>121148Jubilosa and Khoi come out from behind their shower curtin, and Mala from behind Silver, as Blue Shekels comes closer into the center of the room from near the doorway
>>121153>>121153Dark Star drags him back into the bathroom
>>121154>>121155Silver drags the other griffon inside as well.
>>121155>>121156And so the griffins are pulled inside, tied up by the females, and thrown into the pile of the other griffins inside the showers. There are about five of them now
>>121157>>121155"So...find anything useful out?"
>>121158Dark Star gives him the description of the room from
>>121111"We Found 2 Entrances to the main hall."
>>121158Blue shekels:
“At least two entrances, plus the stairwells. There’s a railing overlooking the main hall.”
>>121160>>121159"Hmm...should we split into groups to cover them?"
>>121161"perhaps. its gonna be hard to get into the main hall without being noticed though."
Hello ponies! Who is here?
>>121167>>121166>>121165Hello little ponies. The ponies are about ready to attack, once they have an approach to the area.
As far as is known, at the center of the building is a large square where many of the members of the organization are congregating, including the minister, but not including Maakie. A set of hallways form a square around the inner square, with four connections to it. These lead to an exit to the central building, one to a Hoebuck street, maybe one to the sea, and a pair of stair cases. The square is over looked by windowed rooms on the second and higher floors, and railings on the second floor on two sides
>>121167>>121168>>121165"well that was quite something" he says motioning to the dead griffins they just killed
>>121169Where is Iron currently?
>>121170i assumed he was in or around the bathroom
>>121169Blue shekels looks down at the griffins as they are dragged off by Khoi
“I think your bow just stubs them... They must have suspected you shouldn’t be here. They seem to know everyone who is here and anyone who isn’t one of them stands out.”
She looks back to him
“The communists were expecting visitors and new faces. Maybe the creatures at the church were. They are not.”
>>121170I think he would be with the others in the bathroom
>>121169I think they're just unconscious.
>>121172"i convinced one earlier that i worked for maakie."
>>121174“ Well, then at least there are some creatures they don’t know that they don’t want to mess with”
>>121172Fair.Iron listens to the conversation for now.
>>121175"Its going to difficult getting into the main hall without being a griffin. its packed full of the flappy merchants in there."
>>121174>>121176>>121173“Well ponies... What is the plan?”
>>121177“Do you want Jubilosa and I to go? Or should we not go inside the main hall at all?”
>>121178"well you said the fire bombs were unethical right?"
Dark Star puts his hoof to his chin in thought.
>>121177>>121178Silver turns to Dark Star for guidance.
>>121178"All we know is that we need to surround them and do not let anypony escape from the room," Iron comments.
>>121179“Well, here’s the thing. Every creature inside of Baltimare territory is protected by the laws of Baltimare, even if they are illegal aliens, and even if they are criminals guilty of acts so heinous even the SDP would hang them. So you can’t just sneak up on them, light them on fire, and kill them. That would be murder. You can kill them if they fight you with potentially deadly force. You can kill them if they imminently threaten someone else’s life. You can kill them if they are felons fleeing capture. But you cannot ambush them and kill them. I know we did exactly that over at Blackwood Pier. But that was a mission from the SSA itself, and the SSA considered itself at war with foreign elements and fifth columnists who themselves would not fight by the rules of law. So we treated it as war. But here, as of now.... even though these criminals are
worse than the communists ever were.... we have a few more restrictions.”
\r
>>121182"Laws are for ziggers."
>>121183""the law didnt care about me when i got kicked out of my home."
>>121184>>121183Blue Shekels reaches over and tries to pet Dark Star with a claw
"Dark Star.... The law needs to care about the zeebs and the griffins. If it doesn't, they will become as disenchanted as you are. And if they do, they will rebel. And I assure you the Party cannot afford that, not at all."
>>121182"We split up into teams. Each team covers one of ground exits. When we are in position, we give griffons order to surrender, and alerting them to status of their comrades we have already captured or killed. Those who do will be taken peacefully. After that, we will converge on those griffons who did not and dispatch them, capturing them alive if we can, killing them if it is not option."
>>121185>>121183"I would rather let them feel shame from being beaten up, frankly," Iron comments.
>>121186"Alright... who is in which team, and will the exits just be the ones that can get out of this building, or get out of the square?"
>>121188Iron raises a hoof, waving it excitedly.
"Oh! Me! I can be obnoxiously loud and threatening to make others surrender!"
>>121189She nods
"Alright, very good. Now which area will you cover and with who?"
>>121185Dark Star frowns and then sighs.
>>121186"that sounds like a good way for none of us to see dawn ever again."
>>121189Dark Star chuckles at iron's response.
>>121191"So you'd rather not split up?"
>>121188>>121189>>121190"We will cover exits to square. We have eight battle-ready ponies, so we will split in teams of two to cover four exits. Teams will be me and Mala, Dark Star and Blue Skies, Iron and Khoi Lua, and Midnight and Jubilosa. Loputu will stay with me, and Meadows will stay with Midnight. For their safey, they should avoid battle as much as possible."
>>121191"I understand your concerns, here, but if we do not split up, we will end up bottlenecked, and they will be able to retreat out of other exits."
>>121193Blue Skies:
"Uh... Well, we could do that, but both Dark Star and I are really... well, we're not entirely effective in melee. We are both more of the ranged type"
>>121194"We could also explore the possibility of blocking off exits"
>>121193Iron glances around the room, thinking a pony is being left out of the plan.
>>121192>>121193"This is likely to get at least one of us killed, if not Everypony."
>>121196With slightly narrowed eyes, White Sands stands rather close to Iron, listening to Silver Sword
>>121198Iron nudges Sands on the shoulder, offering her a small smile. "You keep my flank safe in case some griffon tries to sneak up on us."
>>121199With malign glee, she responds
"Don't you worry.
No one is taking you away from me"
>>121195"So, you and I, and Dark Star and Mala?"
He rubs his chin for a second in thought before realizing how stupid he is. "Sorry, Sands. Where do you think you would be most effective?"
>>121195"That could work, but what would we block them with?"
>>121197"All plans we could come up with have that chance. I will do my best to make sure you all get out of here safely."
>>121201>>121200Iron throws out a guess.
"Considering she uses the tube thing that fires metal bits, she most likely will be guarding the rear."
>>121201"Oh, I'm staying with him"
She places a leg over Iron as Khoi Lua gives her a glare
>>121201"Well, we could rope things off, find some metal objects, furniture, traps.... Fire"
>>121203Iron can't help but blush slightly over the leg placing on him.
>>121195"that could be bad if one gets too close."
>>121201"how about Skies and Mala, and You and i?"
>>121202"Well, I don't think we are alone in this building. It's best to make as little noise as possible."
Sands narrows her eyes and turns her head slightly while keeping her eyes locked on Skies. But she does nothing more and says nothing.
>>121204She looks to Iron and smiles almost smugly
>>121205Mala turns his head, and becomes a little droopy at this suggestion
>>121205"That also could work. I am only one pony out of this group, I am just explaining plan so we have one."
>>121206Silver trots over, and gives Mala some head pats.
>>121203Silver looks over to the firebombs he's packed. "...That could work."
>>121206Dark Star scratches Mala's head
"You're a good boy, i'm trusting you to protect my marefriend."
>>121207"yea i understand. its always better to work together to come up with a plan though."
>>121206Iron chuckles.
"Do you have some tricks in your horn to deal with far away opponents?"
>>121208>>121207Mala closes his eyes, and smiles at the pats, pressing his head upward against the frogs of the hooves as his short fur is rubbed. But when it finishes he says
"But... But I wanted a chance to protect my new friends"
>>121209Her horn glows that yellow-green color just off from her eyes, and pulls out from her pack the strangely curved knife
"There are always other options"
>>121210"It doesn't matter who you are will. By fighting with us, you will be helping to protect all of us; including your friends." Silver smiles at the striped gnoll.
>>121211Iron nods.
"Alright."
He turns to the rest, awaiting the moment to start.
>>121212"Oh... oh... okay"
Blue Skies
"So, will we split up or not, where do we put the archers, and what are we doing with the entrances?"
>>121210Sorry had to go take some meds, i feel like shit"What do you mean?"
Dark Star scratches behind his ears
>>121215"To help you two... To fight for you two. To be useful to someone"
>>121214"I definitely want to get in there and demand surrender or force them into it through my hooves," Iron offers.
>>121217She nods
"That will probably be pretty effective"
>>121216Dark Star continues petting him.
"you will though. you're a Good Boy. Yes you are!"
>>121219He moves forward, now almost pressing into Dark Star, before his tail wags back and forth, and he moves, squatting as if about to sit
His tongue comes out, moving slightly in and out with each breath
>>121220"Good Boy!"
Dark Star pets his back
>>121221Dark Star's hooves go down the spined back of the gnoll, which arches down onto ribs. The fur is lose and moves around over the body as the hood presses against it, and there is a little fat on him.
He seems to really enjoy it, his tongue going in and out as Dark Star pets him
>>121222Dark Star picks up speed on his rubs
"Whos a Good Boy? Whos a Good Boy?"
>>121223*pant pant pant*
The fur is rubbed by easily, as the organs below the ribs bounce a little. Mala is fairly large, larger than Dark Star, actually. But Dark Star manages
Blue Skies:
"Well? We still need a plan"
>>121224"I Think Silver's Plan Could Work."
>>121225"Do you mean, we split up the group into four and one covers each entrance?"
>>121226"Yea, now that he has explained a little more. i think it could work."
>>121227"You do not want to close any of the exits with fire or other things?"
>>121228"That does actually sound nice."
>>121229"So.... Where does that leave us?"
>>121229>>121217>>121212"You know what? We can all just move into positions, so long as we know where those positions are"
>>121230"That leaves us setting an exit on fire."
>>121230"I take the biggest door possible!" Iron extends his hoof as he exclaims.
>>121231"If a pony could sneak past, they could certainly do it. They could time it at the same time as one of you makes a speech to get their attention
>>121232"Well... they are similar in size, but the one right before the entrance to the center building is most obvious to flee to, as is the one near the street. It also requires the least stealth to get to"
>>121233"Excellent. That is where I will go," Iron nods. "I shall wait for the others to decide what positions they want to take before moving out."
He turns to Sands with a grin.
"I will be in good company," he says, proceeding to turn to Khoi. "Will you also accompany us there?"
>>121233"A Speech?" Dark Star smiles.
"That sounds like an excellent plan."
>>121234Khoi nods
"I may. I do not want to fight, but it would be immoral not to"
>>121235"Well, I'm sure one of you three will be happy to provide. Just... don't get us all killed"
>>121237"So no calling them Dirty hook beaks?"
>>121236With a nod, he returns his gaze to Skies.
"We three will take the entrance you have suggested, boss."
>>121238Jubilosa stares at Dark Star
Blue Shekels
"Well, what I mean is, beware that most of us can't take combat well. Maybe put some of us behind walls of fire so we can shoot over them, or try to attack griffins that jump over?"
>>121239She nods
>>121240"Yea that does sound like something we should do."
He makes eye contact with jubilosa
"i didnt mean you. i meant your captors."
>>121241Jubilosa responds:
"Herzlanders. From the Imperial Remnant, maybe. They have the attitude for it, it seems"
Blue Skies
"Where do you want to go?"
>>121242"Imperial remnant?"
he looks over to blue.
"I'd like to give the speech to distract the griffins."
>>121212>>121239>>121241"Alright, here's the situation.
There are four entrances: North, East, South, and West. The North entrance is right across from the connection to the central hallway of the building. That's the easiest way for them to get out. It's also one of the easiest for us to get to.
Then there is the East doorway. That is maybe across from an exit to behind the building and towards the sea, but we don't know. It's most likely locked, if not boarded up. It's also easy to get to. The east entrance is also next to a stairwell, which we know can go both up and downstairs.
Then there is the entrance to the West. That entrance, we know, is right across from an exit to the street. It's probably locked, but still. There is also a stairwell there. This one is harder to get to.
Finally, there is the one furthest to the South. That one may have an exit across from it, but if it ever did it's almost certainly boarded up. It's also harder for us to get to.
Don't forget that there are stairs and rails overlooking the central area"
>>121243"Grieffenhiem" She answers
"The Griffin Empire. If not one of them, one of the surrounding areas. They all have the same decadence to them"
Blue Skies:
"Just... do a good job. Remember that you have several civilians here who you may need the help of, and who will want sympathy for their own personal struggles, as well as for all of the... victims, of the organization here"
>>121244"I will definitely take the North entrance with Sands and Khoi," Iron responds with certainty. "We will strike them down when it is time."
>>121245She nods
“Sounds like you know
exactly what you have to do”
>>121246"Tear the door down, ask for their surrender and if they do not, I beat them up until they do, right?"
>>121244"Dark Star and I will cover North."
>>121244" i won't let you down,blue."
"Grieffenhiem? what do you know about this situation?"
>>121249"I suggest you two take the West. You might need to sneak in to deliver the speech."
>>121251"If it is what you suggest."
>>121248“Oh, there is no door”
>>121249“Hmmmm.... it looks like Iron wants that one”
>>121250Her tail, cat like, with a puff at the end, flips, and she looks away for a moment with her catlike eyes
“I can say they’ve been the sick bird of Griffonia for quite some time, and that they are... Como se dice.... ‘consolidando’? They are... becoming as one. Maybe that is why these are here. But I do not know”
>>121253"Consolidating? that....seems very very dangerous."
>>121253Iron's ear flickers at the sound of his native language, storing the possible question after taking down the big group of griffons.
He turns to Silver and Skies.
"My decision remains firm. We will act as the enforcers of justice from the main entrance. You will have to choose another door."
>>121254Her eyes are narrowed
“Indeed. Much like the Colonists. They try to dominate over everything. But we shall beat them back”
>>121255“Well okay then. Don’t get overwhelmed”
>>121256"It should be alright with three ponies dissuading them from exiting through the northern door, right?"
>>121257“Not if they force through en masse. It may be better to block off two doors and have only two groups”
>>121256"Damn colonizers, beat them all back."
>>121258"I see. I assume Star will do that part of the job with Silver, then?"
>>121259She nods
I still think he may have told all of them>>121260“Probably. Where is Midnight?”
>>121249“What do you think, Silver?”
>>121261As far as i know he only told mala.
>>121262"Sounds alright to me."
“Alright... the south entrance is less important. Somepony stealthy will go light a fire there with our fire bombs to close it off. The west entrance will have silver and probably dark Star. The north will have Iron. The East... well, that will either be closed off with more fire, or covered by midnight. I don’t suppose anypony will want to throw firebombs from the second level or shoot arrows from there?”
>>121265Iron glances at Sands when Skies' suggestion props up.
>>121266Her eyes are wide, not obvious expecting that
“Uh... maybe?”
>>121265"I would but shoot arrows from there but, it'll be hard to do that from the west."
>>121267"Your choice, Sands," Iron places a foreleg on her. "Choose what you think you will do best."
>>121269Now she smiles.
“Sure”
>>121264Sands:
“Give me another smoke”
>>121268“So... you’d rather go to the west?”
>>121270Iron blinks, not sure if she chose or not, but assumes that time will tell what she chooses.
>>121270"thats what i planned on doing. but then again. im not sure anypony else could shoot well from there."
He puts his hoof to his chin in thought
>>121272“Well... you have one other archer. And firebombs. If you want to use those”
>>121273"who has the firebombs?"
>>121274“They should be on the floor of the bathroom” she answers
>>121270He does so, and holds his lighter up to light it for her.
>>121276>>121271She takes the cigarette with her magic, then takes a deep puff
When she pulls it out, there is an orange, glowing end.
“I may be able to light something with this”
>>121275"Where will you be?"
>>121277Iron nods, putting his hoof near the glowing end of the cigarette.
"I assume you want to set the place on fire, then?"
>>121278“That’s kind of the question”
>>121279She shakes her head
“If only brick and mortar burned”
>>121280Iron pouts slightly over her comment.
"I assume it does not, from your comment."
He gently squeezes her.
"At least you will get to stab some of them to death."
>>121281*squeeky*
She is squeezed
She takes another draw, and says
“I’d do worse to them if I had the chance”
>>121283He stares vacantly at a wall.
"I would not put it against you."
>>121284She looks away herself, grits her teeth, and says
“Just... punch them real good”
>>121282“I can go to the south, maybe shoot some of them in the back. Or above to the second level. Or, I can stay by your side”
>>121285"Will do, Sands," he responds sternly.
>>121285"We Could both shoot them from the balcony."
>>121287She nods, and she smiles.
“Let’s run that by silver and midnight”
>>121288"I do not see problem with it."
“Alright then... looks like we know at least most of what we are doing”
>>121290Iron nods.
"I will enact the blunt force trauma and scare tactics to take out the will of these souless beaked folk."
Spark will continue in the north soon.
>>121295No. (You) are cute
>>121293Soon enough, soon enough
Floof pone sticks head out of bushes
>>121298Hello little floof pone.
Who else is here?
>>121299Boop
is discord down for anyone else?
>>121300Hello edge pone!
>>121301Hello floof pony
>>121302Sorry i didnt post yesterday. i had a Fever.
>>121303Awww! I'm sorry to hear that, buddy. I'm glad to see you back, though. You feelin' any better?
>>121305Not really. although i think my fever has broken.
>>121303Aww, it’s okay little edge pone. I hope you are feeling better now than before
>>121304>>121303*Hugs both ponies, keeping mouth and nostrils firmly closed bear fever pone*
>>121306Awwww! I hope you start to feeling better soon.
>>121307is huggedhugs back
I guess we could proceed to the next stage as soon as everypony is here. Midnight may be absent, which could be problematic
>>121308*Is hugged*
\r
>>121311*is hugged back*
Um... was Dark Star wanting to go to the upper level and shoot his bow?
>>121310Hello
>>121312Iron wants to enter through the northern door and act as a stone wall with Khoi (and maybe Sands, depending on what she believes is best at)
Hmmmm....
Even without Midnight around, Dark Star could go upstairs
>>121314Sands seems just a little hesitant to leave Iron with Khoi, but is even less desirous of melee combat, so she slinks off. Khoi and Iron don't know each other well, but she seems.... motivated
>>121315That is all Iron needs to know, as far as he knows.
Should Iron move out now or wait for Silver and Midnight to choose their positions?
>>121315Midnight's player wont be back until monday. he's on another trip.>>121314Boops native pone
>>121317Hello, horned one.
>>121318*insert knockout scene here*
>>121316As soon as Iron moves into the actual opening itself, he will be visible to the creatures inside of the square, and from basically every point in the square. This is true of all of the characters. Silver and Mala (and White Sands) are at a special disadvantage because they will have to run past an opening to get to their positions.
>>121318I'm wondering if someone else should take control of that character
>>121320Sounds like they'll need a distraction.
Is it time to pull out the trans advocate Iron again?
>>121321Now a distraction could work
>>121322Being on the top level may result in some enemies at the East and West doors being out of line of sight. Dark Star should also be up there before the others
>>121323Hm...Is Skies around Iron for him to ask?
>>121324Yes, at the moment
>>121325"Boss, the path for Silver, Midnight and their companions seem to be pretty exposed," Iron comments.
>>121326She nods
"It seems so"
>>121323im sure it'll be fine.
>>121327"Have you come up with anything to alleviate this small blunder? I could act as a big distraction if need be."
>>121329"I think Silver and his companion are just going to have to run past and hope it will be okay. A distraction may be possible, but it is more likely to alert them to danger and will be very dangerous for the one putting on the distraction"
>>121330"Do you think making noises with rocks would help, at the least?"
>>121331"Hmmm.... It could. But there are a large number of them and every single one of them would need to be distracted and not paying attention while also not being aware of danger. If even one of them is looking that way and thinks something is strange, that might alert all of them"
>>121328Just be sure to be up there
before combat begins
>>121332Iron hums.
"That is a problem. Not to mention they will be nervous of the bat-winged pony if they were to casually glance her way."
He looks at Skies.
"I suppose I could stir up trouble of some sort by mocking a big griffon or something."
>>121334"But if you do that, you've substituted them noticing they are under attack because they see silver to them knowing they are under attack because they hear you"
>>121335Iron huffs in frustration.
"Alright. Maybe I could just make an extremely awkward conversation to make everypony look my way. Would that work?"
>>121336Dark Star puts his hoof to his chin in thought.
>>121336>>121337“Maybe it would be better for Dark Star to draw their attention - he’ll be on the second floor and so out of range.... hopefully...”
>>121339“To go to position upstairs? Certainly we can.”
>>121340"Let's Head that way."
>>121340>>121339"I assume I will have to hold for now, considering the possibility of our cover being blown before the roof pony squad gets there," Iron comments.
>>121342“But once it doesn’t matter if the cover is blown... feel free to be as loud, rude, and obnoxious as you like to our griffin hosts”
She says with a smile
>>121341“Up the stairs. We can go in front of them or behind when there”
>>121343He smiles back.
"Excellent."
>>121343"Lets go in, in front of them."
>>121345“Okay... but I’m best at shooting from behind”
>>121346"Then we can go in the back way."
He Smiles at Her
>>121348“Alright... just remember that somepony needs to tell them all who we are, and give an ultimatum to surrender.”
Outside of the bathroom, to the right on the other side is a stairwell. Going up one flight leads to a landing with another door and another set of stairs going further upwards
>>121353"I'll be sure to include that."
>>121354If Dark Star goes up, he finds the door opens inwards to a hallway
>>121355He opens it stealthily.
>>121356No immediate activity in the hallway. It's actually less well lit on the second floor, with painted off white walls on both sides, and a tan set of tile on the floor
>>121357Does Dark Star see anypony in the hall?
>>121358Judging from what can be seen and heard, nocreature seems to be active in the eastern hall, second level at that moment
>>121359Dark Star Creeps towards the position they are moving to.
>>121361To the right, presumably, is the North side. This would place them above Iron, and above the entrance to the other part of the building. To the left, presumably, is the South side. This would place them opposite Iron and the entrance to the other building. To the left and in front of them is a closed but wide pair of wooden doors that evidently enters a room that partly hangs over the central square, and also covers the eastern entrance from above
>>121363He goes to the spot the decided on before
[lonely pony stuck in the north noises]
>>121515[floofy unicorn in the south noises]
Alright ponies... let’s try this again. Who is here?
>>121525>tfw Czechoslovakian
>>121524REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE
>>121526>flag>>121525I’m’a annex you for that
>>121528>Canadian Reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
>>121529I’ll take you to Tim Hortons later
>>121530Eh thats pretty Good m8. Can we get a bag of milk along the way?
>>121531>milk in bagAlright, that’s way too much Canada for me
>>121532All hail, the glorious leader black Trudeau! hey you got any ketchup chips,bud?
Alright, I am at my apartment. Who is here?
>>121535Before she goes upstairs, Blue Shekels ask midnight
“To our winged pony friend, would you like to guard the East entrance that goes to the hallway and the seaside exit, or would you rather trust that be walked off by flame, and instead stand beside silver or iron at either of two other entrances?”
>>121538Midnight pauses for a moment, considering her options.
"I will take the east entrance."
>>121539Blue shekels looks at midnight for a moment, and pauses, as if not certain. But then she speaks
“Okay. That should divide them, hopefully.”
She moves forward a step
“It will be dangerous to go alone. Take Jubilosa.”
The weird catbird looking thing pauses for a moment, then steps forward, each paw in a line, and with some raised hairs visible between the ends of her forelegs legs and where the leather vest begins. Her head moves from direction to direction in quick, clean movements, like a bird, and she looks at midnight with slit, green eyes
>>121540Midnight politely nods to Jubilosa
"It will be good to work with you."
>>121541She twists her head significantly to the right, causing medium-brown feathers on her neck to pop out almost like cards in a deck-mid shuffle. She responds,
“Who are you?”
>>121542"I am Midnight, I am working with the other ponies here."
>>121543“Working what, exactly?”
Her paws are almost in a line one behind the other, and dried blood stains her brown leather vest running down from a slice in the middle, which overlays her dark-gold fur.
>>121544"Well, I am just here to follow orders, not make them. And now, you and I will be working defense."
>>121545“What... what are we defending against?” She asks
>>121546"I... Am not completely sure..."
>>121547She nods, slowly. As she does so, her green, slit eyes are wide and fixed on midnight
[continuing to look for terrorists noises]
Are these terrorists religious based, closer to Muslims? Or are they simply trashing things Antifa style?
I wonder what the bugs are up to...
>>121551Spark finds himself walking through the active mine. Most vehicles move, some do not, and there is no shortage of workers, both actually working and standing around. Some, at attention, some, idle or waiting.
>>121561Spark doesn't really know that at this point. It looks like the exterior panel, as well as part of the engine and transmission block, where damaged by blunt force applied from the outside
>>121567Ruby is still over playing with Mutey and Broody over by the partly flooded area in the lower mine. A couple workers look over, or seem either irritated or intrigued by the presence of the foals, but most pay them no mind, or seem to not notice them.
>>121573Yay!
Spark ponders for a moment.
"Are there workers here that would do something like this?"
>>121575Um.... who is he talking to?
>>121576Wasn't the boss there talking to Spark last we left off?
>>121577We'll go with that
"Some of the workers are Equestrians from the area. After many of them refused to work here we replaced them from workers from the Crystal Empire.... they are marginally better. The thing is, really any of them could be motivated to sabotage the equipment. They are not too thrilled about mining for the Hegemony"
>>121578"Any of them make any threats that could be more directly related to these attacks?"
>>121579"Threats? No. No threats. Well, except maybe Gemmy last Tuesday. But mostly they claim it's an outside force"
>>121580"Well, let's hear about Gemmy. Might as well while we figure things out."
>>121581"He made a threat about damaging his shovel last week after being ordered to do something he didn't like. He was detained."
>>121582"Do you think that others that were his friends might not have taken a liking to your punishment and acted out?"
>>121583"The Gendarme say that reprisals and being tough stamps out the will to resist"
His facial expression betrays some doubt
>>121584"Which is why you are having terrorism obviously, internal or otherwise. Your defenses are weak and you don't have a clue where or when it will happen again, but you can be sure it will."
>>121585"Look. I know we are having problems, alright. I just need to make it stop. We haven't met a single quota"
>>121586"Not a single one? My, you must be in good graces with the hive to get away with such a bit reputation. Regardless, looks like I will have to get things in working order here. Let me talk to this Gemmy and maybe I can find out what is going on."
>>121587>>121587He is left looking something almost like pic related at Spark’s words
“We can make the quota if we can just stop the sabotage! The rains finally stopped…” he looks down and away, and then back up. Then he answers
“I think Zu Lang has him…”
>>121589"Well... I think we can get things back up to speed soon if you let me work my magic. So... where is this Zu Lang?"
>>121590"He's probably been provoked by your arrival. Maybe near your cart"
>>121591Spark nods and heads to the cart.
>>121592Outside of the wagon, looking in, is a peculiarly tempermental creature. A Changeling, of the dry, almost beatle like skin, wearing field grey.
>>121593"Hello there. Are you Zu Lang?"
>>121594The creature looks back at spark with red eyes that narrow on Spark
"Who are you?"
>>121595"I'm here to get things back on track before you wind up with a crack down. I was told you had someone by the name of Gemmy. I need to ask some questions to figure out the source of the mishaps here."
>>121596He narrows his eyes again. His solid, magenta eyes
"Yes... we do have a 'gemmy'."
>>121597"Fantastic. Arrange for me to speak with him please."
>>121598He tilts his head at him
"Perhaps.... who sent you here?"
\r
>>121599"Your boss of course, from right over there. Or do you mean in the grander scheme of things?"
>>121600"My boss?
My boss? Is that what Otis told you? If anything I am
his boss. I report to the Lieutenant General in Whinnysota"
>>121601"He didn't tell me anything other than you are holding someone called Gemmy. Now, if you would like to report something decent for a change, I would be happy to fix this place up, but I'm going to need a chat with this rebel."
>>121602His mouth opens, and emits a definite "hiss"
But he does not move forward, and means less aggressive response than expressing internal frustration.
"Yes.... He is up in the genderarme center in the town"
>>121603"Thanks."
Spark makes sure the party is all inside their ride.
>>121604This takes them out of the mine. Down the path that goes back up. Through the thin hundred yards of forest, and back into the lower town to the building across from the comapny building. A lone changeling stands outside. It looks like a normal Equestrian police station, with stone elements in the lower floor, and wood above. It must have been a police station not long ago. In a way it still is
>>121605Spark heads towards the police station, hoping the changling isn't the attack on sight kind.
>>121609Perhaps the changeling doesn't notice Spark?
Does the changeling outside look like this?
>>121615>changeling swatterIf only it were that easy.
>>121616Checked.
I meant more the design and cute bow.
>>121616Spark approaches the building whenever you are ready.
>>121616If you tickle a Changeling, it's forced to change back.
>>121615I love that image.
>>121623fluffsHi floof pone!
>>121624Can Spark have fluffs?
>>121626*fluffs the Spark pone*
>>121634I hope you had a good one.
[sneaking past bug noises]
>>121639Maybe we can play tomorrow?
Hopefully I will make some fan art for this game soon. I just need some free time.
Spark continues to investigate the building if he makes it past the changeling.
Alright ponies, are we about ready?
In the central hall of the square, stone and mortar, northern building of 33 Hoebuck, a large number of griffins congregate. They talk amongst each other, sometimes in groups of three or five where one or two personalities dominate, and the remainder listen, though more often in pairs, talking as creatures do in parties and large social settings. Their spirits tend to relaxed and sociable - at least where not excited by argument or heated conversation - and tend at worst to be bored. They chirp not in the cacophany of myriad languages plucked from all corners, as can be heard in the streets and markets of Red Heart, but overwhelmingly in the same, obtuse-sounding foreign language. Off to the side of the hall stand lone individuals. Some seem anxious. Some others, more introverted types by nature, hold with a single claw a small book that they read lines from. A couple more, new arrivals, enter the hall from the entrance closest to the street. All wear robed clothing, mostly red, less often white or brown, and always with a darker band around the beginning of the neck. Some wear headware, and like the robes, it is not a head wear typically seen in the streets. The group is uniformly griffin, excepting a zebra or two, and similar shades of brown, tan and yellow predominate.
In the Bathroom in the corner, and in the hallway, the party and their array of freed prisoners wait. Here, a mood of quiet anxiety pervades. Khoi Lua stands perhaps the strongest, quiet and expressionless, but even she seems to grind her teeth. Mala whimpers and lowers his ears, but then turns his head closer to Dark Star and Silver, and his ears return upright. Jubilosa stands tall, but her eyes focus on distant objects past the wall, and her lower beak is pulled back. White Sands lights another cigarette - where she got it, no one knows - and regularly looks off to the side, in any direction. Loputu takes it perhaps the least well, cowering in a corner, though he's been in such a poor state at least since the garbage chute.
In the center of the group of griffons, a single griffin in flowing dark red robes and with red cap stands on his hind two legs, and yells "Beachtung!" Most griffins turn their attention to him, and with a second "Beachtung," the remainder silence themselves, and turn to him. He then says, in that obtuse tongue, a small speech that all listen to. Upon the completion of this, he then is silent for a moment, looks around, and says, with only slight accent and in the Princess's Ponish:
"The Town congregation is inducting new members tonight and so has us separate until the first stages of their induction are completed. However, we will begin the ceremony as normal before the moon is directly overhead at midnight. We will head over collectively in six minutes."
>>121659Silver looks over at his companions, feeling equally anxious about what's to come.
"Sounds like it is time. Come on, Goddesses will not give us second chance."
>>121660Silver is in a delicate situation, as he has been assigned to handle the entrance next to the street-side exit. That means he'll have to run past another open doorway to get there.
Mala is Silver's assigned companion. He stands up, places his sheathed foreign sword over his shoulder, and looking to Silver, moves his tail from side to side slightly.
Also, you'll probably need to play Dark Star as well, who is with Blue Skies, going to the railing on the second floor to try to shoot down on them from above with his bow
>>121661Let us get to that area before worrying about it too much. The unicorn scratches Mala behind the ears briefly before giving him a, "Come on, friend," and leading him to the doorway they need to pass by.
Dark Star smiles wickedly at Blue Skies. "Ready to get some target practice in?"
Can Silver use a Hide check to stay hidden while crossing the doorway?
>>121662Mala smiles, then returns his face to a more serious expression, and slowly nods.
Blue Skies, calmer even then Khoi, looks from over the railing and back to Dark Star. Her expressionless mouth twists over to the side, then up into a malicious grin. “I’ve been practicing much of my life. Time to do what I was made to do.”
There isn’t really anywhere to hide, but he can roll luck with a dexterity modifier, which is basically the same thing
[1d20+4 = 11]>>121663Dark Star can't help but swoon. "Have I ever told you that I love you?" He leads himself and Skies up and into position.
Dexterity: Silver tries to avoid detection while moving past the doorway.
>>121659>>121660Iron nods, shield and hoof bared.
"Alright, then. I'll move to my spot right away."
With that, the stallion beckons Khoi.
"Let us move."
>>121665MOOPMidnight is pared with Jubilosa, who stands tall if occasionally jittery at Midnight's side, armed with a machete
Meadows stands over to the side, looking somewhat tired, and almost oblivious to the situation
>>121664Silver runs past, dragging a slightly noisier Mala behind him. There is no immediate sign that they have been noticed, not that they can be certain.
Blue Skies keeps her malicious grin, and now moves a step closer to Dark Star
"Not enough"
Light just a bit more yellow than preferred shines down big bulbs tacked on to the side of the walls, positioned as high as two stories up.
>>121666She nods, slowly. Iron presumably equips the large white and black hide shield from the records room
>>121667boopMidnight steps over and gently places a hoof on Meadow's withers
"Do not worry, it will all be over soon... And then I will get you somewhere safer"
>>121668She turns around, and looks back to Midnight - almost looking at her, but not quite, slightly above and to the right
"Well.... I hope it ends well for.... others" she says, somewhat weakly
>>121667Thus both Silver and Dark Star get into their respective positions, and wait for the others to prepare.
>>121669"So do I..."
Midnight nods to Jubilosa and gets in position
Alright little ponies
Blue Skies: "Remember that we can only attack them with lethal force if they attack us first or if they 'flee' from legal apprehension. So be sure to ask them to surrender first, and identity us as acting under the authority of the New Mareland State and the Baltimare Governate. Remember that most of them are only wanted for immigration violation, and their may be a bounty on them if turned in alive, but only the ones wanted for trafficking or other crimes carry a dead or alive reward."
>>121672Midnight nods and prepares her shortswords.
Alright, somepony deliver a speech to make them give in, and roll intimidate
Dark Star and Iron are the best candidates
>>121675"Dark Star" can do it, if everyone else agrees.
>>121676What's his intimidate stat?
>>121675>>121676I agree, dark star. since I have no intimidate
>>121677Well, Dark Star can give the legal-disclaimer portion full of fuck-you's, and Iron can do the heavy work of intimidation
>>121680Sounds good. Are we ready?
>>121681Yes. Dark Star's play, then roll intimidation, then presumably initiative
>>121682Dark Star nods at Blue Skies, clears his throat, and begins his speech in the most authorative voice he can muser:
"
Attention! You are all in violation of the law, and have committed crimes against the State of New Mareland, the Baltimare Governate, and the ponies therein! By order of the aforementioned powers, you are to be placed under arrest! You are surrounded and outmatched! Surrender peacefully and come with us, and no harm will come to you!"
>>121684With these words, all creatures in the hall, whether they be reading or socializing, look up the intruders on the second floor railing. Many also look over to the doorways where now Midnight and Jubilosa, Iron and Khoi, and Silver and Mala step into. Only the rear exit remains open. Many react with expressions of shock, or fear. Some gasp, or whisper. Some are angry, and growl. Perhaps most simply look over and listen, slowly taking in the information they cannot yet process. At least one, standing near the middle, looks on calmly, almost as if with a smile.
You may now make an intimidation check
>>121685Would you happen to know Dark Star's Intimidation and Charisma modifiers?
>>121686According to his character sheet, as high as a +10
>>121688>>121689Some remain calm, but many seem not so convinced
>>121690Stone stomps the floor, grinding it back against the floor, a menacing grin on his face.
"
SURRENDER NOW, GRIFFONS AND YOU WILL NOT BE HARMED!"
[1d20+9 = 12]<Intimidate roll
Well guys, it was nice knowing you.
[1d20+3 = 17]The Griffin in the center speaks:
"So there were intruders... That is why Schwarze Feder did not show up"
Then he addresses the crowd
"
The City has found us, and has sent its revenue agents to arrest us. Remain strong, for there are only a few of them, and so many of us. What do they have? Little Ponies? A deer thing. No. They have attacked us before and we have driven them back. They are not like the Inquisition back home. For they will all Fall."
Then he looks with a devilish grin, and a redness in his eyes that looks unnatural except where caused by reflection
"
With the Power of Maar against our foes, they will beg for merciful Oblivion, and they shall not receive it."
>>121691A small amount of phlem in his throat and the only-so-intimidating female kirin to his side makes his delivery of the line sub-optimal, but his strong will shines through in the line, and some recline to the center, while still more peer out to the sides at the exits
>>121693[YouTube] The Irish Rovers- Johnny I hardly knew ye
[Embed]
Midnight rolls her eyes before clearing her throat.
"Attention griffons! We do not wish to have you! If you come out now you have my word as a worshipper of Luna that you will not be harmed, and your sentence will be shorter. If you show agression, it will be met in turn, and we will not restrain ourselves. IF you survive the ordeal, you would be lucky to gaze upon the light of the moon again within your life time. Please make your decision quick, and for all of us, I beg you to choose correctly."
Diplomacy:
[1d20+10 = 23]
A majority stay in the center, some pulling out weapons
However, 3 run out, towards Midnight, some bearing knives and short swords
4 Run out towards Silver.
4 Run out towards Iron.
3 run out to the unguarded door, with more looking to follow.
And still more reach for weapons, take them from comrades, or survey their surroundings
Roll Initiative
>>121697Rollin
[1d20+3 = 22]
>>121697[1d20+2 = 7]<Initiative
[4d20 = 27][3d20 = 26][4d20 = 34]>>121695As if from directly behind, Midnight can hear a voice speak into her ear:
"The Moon is Not on your side tonight, for it belongs to those older than your god, and they are the more powerful">>121698>>121699>>121700>>121701Dark Star is not threatened this turn, but may attack. Silver fumbles his sword
>>121702All the hair along her spine sticks straight up as she looks behind her, short swords held at the ready.
Silver gets attacked by 4
Midnight, then three griffins
Two griffins attack Iron, then he attacks, then two attack him
[3d20+3 = 40][1d20+4 = 21]>>121698Four Griffins attack Silver, as Mala tries to thrust his way in to help his friend
[1d20+3 = 9][1d20+4 = 18]>>121701Two griffins attack Iron. Khoi is behind in reserve
>>121704Midnight places her attention back on the griffons, and swipes at the first one to get close
Shortsword:
[1d20+7 = 8]
Dagger:
[1d20+7 = 8]
[1d3 = 3][1d6+1 = 3][1d20+3 = 4]>>121700>>121705One definite hit, and rolling to confirm
>>121707I spy a double bullseye
>>121709That's two hits, then.
[1d20+5 = 19]>>121708One comes forth with a sword, and cleaves it through Silver's plate armor - though the hit could be worse. Far more unfortunate is the dagger - it seems as if every single one of these griffins has a dagger of this kind - that is stabbed into the opening for the neck, and hits Silver's shoulder
Mala breaks in, and attacks the griffin with the dagger directly
Dark Star may shoot
>>121706One hits Iron square on his chest, grunting painfully as he readies a powerful hoof punch straight on the offending bird with a swift exhale
[1d20+5 = 8]<Power Attack filled Melee Attack
[1d20+7 = 12][1d8+3 = 8]Blue Skies shoots her crossbow at the back of a griffin fleeing to the northern exit
>>121711Mala hits, and stabs into the creature
>>121712I don't.... I don't think that hits
[2d20+3 = 24][1d6+2 = 6]>>121712The griffin that hits Iron is one that is carrying a sword.
Now, two mare attack Iron
[2d20+3 = 25][1d20+4 = 20]>>121707Three griffins attack Midnight
[1d3+1 = 2][1d6+3 = 9][1d20+4 = 9]>>121707>>121715One hits, and rolling to confirm a crit
[1d3+1 = 3]>>12170312 damage to Midnight,
6+dice damage to Iron
6 Damage to Silver
5 damage done on one griffin attacking
>>121714Iron takes the second hit as he dodges the first, growling slightly as delivers the second strike lashes out at the mare that hit him nonlethally.
[1d20+5 = 22]<Power Attack Melee Strike
[1d20+4 = 13][1d20+4 = 24]>>121717Khoi jumps in to attack with her hammer. Rolling her attack
>>121707Jubilosa attacks with a sword. Rolling her attack
[1d20+3 = 11][1d20+4 = 12]>>121719I don't think it's quite Iron's turn yet, but he can move after enemy griffins get two more attacks
[1d6+2 = 7][1d6+2 = 3][1d20+4 = 6]>>121720Rolling to confirm Khoi's hit, and to roll damage for Jubilosa
[1d20 = 9]>>121718I have no idea what Dark Star's attack modifier would be so just insert whatever it is."ARGH!" Silver staggers from the shoulder hit. He's down one leg.
Dark Star looks over at the griffons attacking Iron. "Hey Blue, do you think we can drop firebombs down there without catching the others in the blast?"
He fires an arrow at a griffon attack Midnight.
[2d6+2 = 9]>>121723Hit. Dark Star lets loose an arrow that goes forth and hits a griffin in the side, exploding with electric pink fire
>>121722Iron proceeds to throw a punch at one of the griffins, connecting with the closest one that could potentially flank him.
[1d3+10 = 11]<Damage
[1d20+3 = 7]>>121723Silver can and should reroll initiative
>>121725And.... Bang! stunned, and knocked down. Another one attacks Iron
>>121707Midnight may attack again
Midnight winces in pain before lashing out at the griffon who attacked her, and got a crit.
Sword: [1d20+7 = 12]
Dagger: [1d20+7 = 25]
[1d20+4 = 21]Over in the back, three griffins run for an empty exit
>>121727The one that attacked Midnight is a female with a partly curved dark beak, armed with only a dagger. Midnight's sword and dagger both stab into her
>>121728rolling damage
[1d6+1 = 7]
[1d4+1 = 2]
[1d20+4 = 6]>>121728Clash!A bottle hits the floor, and lights up in fire around the griffin closest to the exit, as another one is shot in the back, and the third runs away
>>121725None land hits on Iron, as Khoi makes another attack on the same griffin
[1d20+4 = 20]>>121729She takes a sword through the chest, and a dagger through a little between the neck and shoulder. Jubilosa attacks her
[1d6+2 = 7]>>121731And hit
>>121729And with a stab of Jubilosa's sword, the griffin falls to the ground, bleeding, if not quite fully unconscious
[1d20+3 = 18][1d20+4 = 11]>>121733Silver is midway between 2 griffins. 2 Attack before him, and 2 after. Mala is fully in the fight. Rolling attack on the first two griffins, one of whom is an armed sword wielder. Mala has already wounded one of the dagger wielders in pair of griffins that attack after silver's turn.
[1d20+3 = 20][1d20+4 = 9]>>121725Rolling attack for two of the griffins attacking Iron
>>121735That's one hit. Roll damage.
[1d3+1 = 3]>>121725The sword misses, but one attacks with a Dagger. Rolling damage. Iron may attack
[1d3+1 = 3]>>121737Rolling Damage. Silver may attack.
[1d20+3 = 22][1d20+4 = 13]>>121729Two alone attack Midnight. One wounded, one nearly stunned
[1d20+8 = 21]>>121739Silver winces from obtaining yet another stab wound. He stabs at a sword-wielding griffon attacking him with his greatsword.
[2d6+5 = 13]>>121741Damage
>>121738Iron, having racked up a surprisingly number of three attacks, figures his odds are lower than expected.
(I must change my strategy)
With that, he rushes at the dagger wielder, attempting to start a trip attempt.
[1d20+10 = 28]<Melee Touch Attack
[1d20+5 = 19][1d3+1 = 3]>>121740>>121729One with a dagger stabs into Midnight.
>>121741>>121742This wound hits the Griffin square in the shoulders, cutting through his red robe, and shattering bone. He falls to the ground. Even in the bright red of the robe, the blood drenched sections can be seen, ever so slightly darker than the rest.
Mala attacks with ferocity, jumping forward, sword in mouth and swinging wildly
Dark Star's turn
[1d8+3 = 5]>>121744Mala hits the same griffin again with his sword
[1d20 = 1]>>121744Dark Star lets loose another arrow, aimed at the griffon he hit before.
One downed y
Midnight 15 damage
Iron 9 damage
Silver 9 damage
One downed by midnight, 2 wounded attacking
One downed by Silver, 1 wounded, 2 attacking
One downed by Iron, 1 wounded, 2 attacking
Dark Star has the misfortune of the arrow remaining in place as the strong is released
>>121741One dagger wielding griffin may attack Silver, then Silver's turn
>>121729Midnight's turn
>>121743Iron's trip attack lands
>>121747>>121743Correction. Iron has 12 damage
[1d20+3 = 19]>>121746One griffin attacks Silver, then Silver may attack
[1d3+1 = 3]>>121749>>121746The dagger hits into Silver's leg
>>121747>1 downed2 to go
Another strike, this time at the one who attacked her this turn.
Sward:
[1d20+7 = 9]
Knife:
[1d20+7 = 8]
[1d20+8 = 21]>>121751Silver is still standing, if barely. His legs are quite shakey, however, and blood runs freely down them. The unicorn tries to return the favor.
>>121748Iron struggles with the griffin, using his strong legs to sweep under him so he becomes prone.
[1d20+9 = 28]<Trip Attempt (Strength check)
[1d20+5 = 10]>>121755>>121753All Severyans must know Suffering in their lives. As it was with those brave cossaks who fought off the Emperor and who held back the Knights on the Frozen Lake, so too does Silver know it tonight, bleeding from multiple wounds.
But he is a teacher, for a new griffin came to learn it in kind. Silver smashes through a dagger wielder, cutting open a rib. Unlike the last griffin, whose blood was disguised by a red robe, this one's intestines seep out in part onto the floor.
Mala makes still another attack at a Griffin behind him
>>121754Complete Success
[1d20+4 = 8]>>121752A miss, knives barely slipping past the griffin in front of her. But she is not alone. Jubilosa attacks
[1d20+3 = 6]>>121755>>121753One griffin swings at Silver
>>121756With the sweep, Iron adds a slight buck to the beak (as per Improved Trip allows)
[1d20+10 = 22]<Melee Attack
[1d20+3 = 10]>>121758The other, at Mala
[1d20+4 = 16][1d20+4 = 18]From the center of the room, two Griffins aim bows at Dark Star. They shoot
>>121759Hit
>>121761Two hits, I think?
[1d6 = 3]>>121761>>121755One bow barely goes through Dark Star's jacket. But it hits.
>>121762Dark Star has pretty full armor on (surprisingly)
Dark Star's Turn
>>121761With a swift motion, he crashes her hooves on the griffon's head, before returing to original position.
[1d3+5 = 6]<Quick Buck to head
[1d20 = 7]>>121763Dark Star: "Ngh!"
He snorts out air from his nostrils, and aims a retaliatory arrow at the griffon that shot him.
[2d6+2 = 12]>>121765Khoi is stunned for a moment, looking at the contact, throw to the ground, and headbutt before her
>>121766Dark Star has +5 BAB, like +3 dex, and +2 for ranger's favored enemy. Hit
[1d20+8 = 22]>>121767Good to know.
Silver turns his sword's wrath on the griffon attacking his friend.
[1d20+2 = 19][1d20+2 = 6]The bow Wielding Griffin rides the lightning
Midnight is at 15 Damage. 1 enemy downed, 2 wounded.
Silver is at 12 damage. 2 enemies downed, 1 super wounded, one unscathed
Iron is at 12 damage. Two enemies down, 2 unscathed.
Dark Star is at 3 damage. One enemy down, one unscathed.
As if Directing the battle, the griffin in the center points a claw over to Midnight, and another over to Silver. From each sallies forth a Zebra. These are Zebra Stallions wrapped in white turbans, covered in orange and brown jacket, and each carrying two big spears.
He chants,
"Geben Sie Ihrem Instrument die Kraft, sich zu rächen"
And a Black energy surrounds the zebra going towards Midnight.
>>121768Just a moment, little pony
[1d20+8 = 14]>>121768The one nearest Silver jumps in first, and attacks Silver with his spear
>>121771Said spear is deflected by one of the metal plates making up his armor. Miss.
>>121768>>121771And
Now silver may attack, using the same rolls if preferred
>>121752Midnight now has a Zebra entering to attack her, but he is somewhat delayed. Midnight's turn
[1d20+4 = 19]>>121765Khoi attacks with her hammer at another griffin
>>121774Is he still attacking the same target?
>>121773Midnight decides to slash with just her sword this time, at the same target as last turn.
[1d20+9}
>>121776oops
[1d20+9 = 13]
[1d6+3 = 8]>>121775>>121765Khoi's hit lands
>>121777The griffin falls down onto the ground. One remains, and the zebra
>>121778Hit
[1d20+4 = 23][1d20+4 = 16]>>121765A new griffin salies forth towards Iron in white robes, while the sword wielder attacks again, and the remaining dagger wielder attacks again. But the sword wielder is wounded now, hit with a hammer swung by the pissed off Kirin
>>121779Damage tiem
[1d6+1 = 2]
[1d3+1 = 3][1d6+3 = 4]>>121780>>121765Both Hit Iron, stabbing into his hide and slicing his back.
[1d20+4 = 16]>>121781>>121781Midnight's sword slices the Griffin, drawing blood. It isn't a lot, and Midnight has seen griffins, even these civilian griffins, survive worse. But an arround sticks out of this griffin's barrel, which, with a residual shock of pink light, causes him to fall over and down. One wounded griffin remains, and the Zebra. Jubilosa stabs at the remaining Griffin
[1d6+3 = 9]>>121783The sword stabs into the griffin
[1d20+5 = 8]>>121781>>121784>>121783The griffin, already wounded, falls over. Only the Zebra remains.
>>121782>>121765Iron has taken 7 more damage for 19 damage in total.
>>121779>>121777Now, Mala attacks the remaining griffin
[1d20+9 = 24]>>121781But the Zebra Strikes Back
[1d8+6 = 7]>>121786>>121781The Zebra Stabs into Midnight with what might be an unexpected ferocity
>>121785Iron grunts loudly by the double attacks he suffered from the persistent griffons, flesh and white cloth slashed and pierced.
He proceeds to quickly bash the most recent victim of Khoi's bashing, striking him with a quick jab, eyeing at the unarmed griffon.
[1d20+10 = 23]<Melee attack
>>121788Hit
>>121781Midnight at 22 Damage
[1d20+3 = 7]>>121777A remaining Griffin stabs at Silver
[1d20+3 = 22]>>121788And now, the White robed Griffin reaches out to touch Iron with the end of an extended claw. Not swiping at Iron. Touching Him
>>121790The dreaded
CLINK! of a deflected blow is all that greets the remaining griffon.
>>121789Quickly and non-lethally punching the griffon chest, Iron breathes out to further strengthen the blow
[1d3+5 = 8]<Damage
>>121787[silent reeeeing]Midnight looks absolutely peeved, and strikes back against the zeeb.
sword:
[1d20+7 = 26]
dagger:
[1d20+7 = 23]
>>121794Rolling to confirm sword crit
[1d20+7 = 17]
[1d8+1 = 2]>>121788>>121788The Griffin touches Iron right on the end of his snout, and mutters,
"
Bringt unseren Feinden Schmerz"
It feels like Iron has been punched. Hard. Or more like a strong electric shock, that radiates across his face, and his body as some black, dark energy runs through him, and saps him
Rolling damage
>>121793As this Griffin has already been hit with a hammer, Iron's punch is enough to knock the air out of him with a "heee" sound, and he falls to the ground. Only the dagger wielder and the white robed griffin remain.
[1d20+4 = 12]>>121792Two griffins fly up into the air, towards the second level. One bowgriff shoots at Dark Star
>>121792>>121797Miss. Dark Star's turn
[1d20+10 = 17]>>121798"Wrong move, feathers-for-brains!"
He fires off his bow towards the griffon that has yet to attack at him.
>>121800>>121799Not enough to knock him out of the air, but enough to make him slip in his glide, and fall down several feet before righting himself, and forcing him to make a turn to land elsewhere. Never the less, one griffin lands on the same level as Dark Star and Blue Skies, landing on the railing with his hind legs, and falling down inside, opposite Dark Star
>>121796Iron's body shakes slightly from the shock sent across his body, leaving his muscles sore as his eyes go unfocused for a bit, before staring at the griffon intently.
Silver 12 Damage. One griffin remaining, One Zebra Remaining Silver. 3 Griffins down.
Midnight 22 Damage, 3 Griffins down, 1 Zebra remaining
Iron 21 Damage, 3 Griffins down, 2 Griffins Remaining
Dark Star 3 damage, one griffin down, one wounded and knocked back a round, 2 remaining.
[1d20+8 = 12]>>121800With a shout of the red robed griffin, "Stärke für deinen Diener",
A darkness surrounds the Zebra in front of Silver, and enters into his body, nearly making him bigger
He stabs forth, with new power
[1d20+4 = 9]>>121795>>121794With all of the Righteous Fury of the slighted Moon Goddess, Midnight lands her hits against thee Zebra. Roll damage
>>121802The dagger wielding Griffin attacks Iron
[1d20+8 = 11]>>121804Silver's armor is working hard to be worth the money he payed for it. Another deflected blow.
"Ты уже заткнешься?"
Silver turns to the new attacker with a calculated gaze, and strikes forth with his sword.
>>121805Woohoo! the sword is a x2 crit!
[1d6+1 = 4]
[1d4+1 = 4]
[1d20+3 = 6]>>121806Not quite a hit, as it seems this Zebra has Armor of his own
>>121802A griffin attacks Iron with his dagger
>>12180712 damage. The Zebra shouts "RAH!" in pain, but carries forth
[1d20+8 = 17]>>121807He stabs forth, yet again
[1d20+2 = 15]>>121806Dark Star should roll Initiative (+3 dex bonus) against the new griffin
[1d20+4 = 17][1d8+6 = 13]>>121807>>121809He hits, and stabs forth with a fury all of his own
>>121811Dark Star wins. The +4 roll is the attack roll of the bowgriff against Dark Star
[1d20+3 = 23][1d6 = 2]>>121812>>121811An arrow Flies forth, penetrating Dark Star's jacket
The +3 roll is Blue Skies initiative
[1d20+7 = 21]>>121811>>121813Blue Skies turns, and shoots the incoming griffin
[1d20+10 = 25]>>121813Dark Star winces from being turned into a pincushion, and fires his own arrow at the griffon in front of him after Blue.
[1d20+4 = 13]>>121811>>121815Dark Star is shot with an Arrow for 2 damage. There is a new griffin on the same level as Dark Star. It is wounded by Blue Skies, but is not out. Silver has initiative over that one
>>121812+13 Damage to Midnight, 35 damage in total
Khoi attacks the Zebra
>>121818Jubilosa doesn't
quite make it
>>121817>>121816The arrow goes squarely in the chest, between the lungs and below the heart. A massive wave of punk light hits him, and he falls down to the ground, dropping not one but two knives
>>121808>>121805Iron shuffles closer to the robed pony, deciding to trip him.
[1d20+10 = 24]<Melee Touch Attack
[1d20+3 = 9]>>121806A griffin attacks Silver with his dagger
>>121818>35 damage totalI gotta end this quick...
>>121819Midnight strikes once again, praying to Luna this won't be her last time.
sword:
[1d20+7 = 20]
dagger:
[1d20+7 = 23]
[1d20+5 = 19]>>121817>>121821>>121821Miss, and Mala attacks the Griffin
>>121820Hit against the robbed Griffin
>>121822Luna guides her weapons true against the griffin
>>121824You mean zeeb?
[1d6+1 = 7]
[1d4+1 = 4]
>>121824With that, the native proceeds to wrap his foreleg around the robed griffin's backlegs, pulling him towards him in an attempt to trip him up.
[1d20+9 = 29]<Strength Trip Check
[1d8+5 = 9]>>121821>>121825hehehehe, leave the specifics of "Zebra," "Griffin," Changeling" etc to Twilight and her Vizier. Killin' is Luna's specialty.
A stab into the side, then a stab up through the chest, the zebra's eyes turn up, he lets out a "uh.... cuh!" and falls forward, to the ground.
>>121826Suffice it to say, Iron has this griffin's
ass>>121824>>121823Mala cuts into the remaining Griffin
[1d20+6 = 18]>>121826The griffin struggles to keep focus
>>121827>Iron has this griffin's assMuch more homoerotic than I expectedAs a finally offering against the griffon, he raises his free hoof, bringing it sideways to slap the griffon's flank square on where his cutie mark should be.
[1d3+5 = 8]<Damage
>>121827W-wew, priase Luna for that.
Midnight pulls the blades from the zebra, saying a short prayer as she crosses her blades over her amlet. It then begins to glow a deep blue as she casts cure light wounds on herself.
[1d6+2 = 3]
>>121830Isn't Cure Light Wounds a 1d8?
[1d20+6 = 24]>>121823Silver can proceed to his next turn. 12 damage, One Zebra remaining, and a wounded griffin remaining
>>121830We can go with that roll.... or we can wait
>>121829Again, the griffin tries to concentrate
[1d20+8 = 22]>>121832Once again, Silver aims a swing for the beefed up zebra.
[1d20+3 = 18]>>121829The griffin is most definitely knocked down, down to the ground. But he tries to reach up, and touch Iron
>>121831Uh... yeah, you're correct>>121832Sure, let's wait
[1d8+1 = 6]>>121833With far less energy than before, he makes contact with Iron. But he
does make contact.
"Bringt unseren Feinden Schmerz"
And another shock. This time, to Iron's barrel
[1d20+4 = 7]>>121829>>121837Khoi smashes at the white robed griffin, for good measure. To keep him down
>>121833Silver slices into the Griffin. And yet, he stands
>>121837Iron's body shakes quite more strongly this time, eyes popping open from the shock, almost threatening to step on the robed griffon before subsiding, thankfully without stepping on his head.
End Round
Midnight 35 damage. Skipping ahead a round, all enemies down
Iron 28 damage, 3 griffins down, one prone and wounded, 1 remaining
Silver 12 damage, 1 wounded griffin, 1 wounded zebra, 3 down
Dark Star 5 damage, one bow griff, one wounded enemy, 2 down
[1d20+3 = 20]>>121839The Griffin with a dagger has a definite fear in his breathing. He swings nevertheless at Iron
[1d3+1 = 2]>>121839>>121841Iron is stabbed into, albeit with less force than as if attacked by a larger griffin
[1d20+8 = 14]>>121834The Zebra, wounded, attacks Silver yet again with a thrust forward. His exhale is labored with a big "huh!"
>>121834From the opposite Direction, a new challenger approaches Dark Star. It's the griffin he wounded earlier, landing elsewhere and going around
>>121842>>121841Briefly glancing back at the stabbing griffon as his flank was stabbed, the native turns his head and headbutted the robed griffon right on his face, making sure this beaked mage was taking a long nap.
[1d20+10 = 17]<Melee attack
[1d20+8 = 25]>>121843Silver's armor continues to do its job. He retaliates with another swing.
>>121844Dark Star turns to face his new opponent.
[1d20+1 = 5][1d20+5 = 20]>>121846This Zebra is cut into, damned near cut in half, as his intestines enter upon the floor. Like the griffin next to him, perhaps even more so. Mala, growling through teeth that clasp a sword handle, strikes again at the remaining griffin
Dark Star roll initiative. The +5 is mala's attack, the +1 is the initiative from the other griffin
>>121845He hits alright. He hits.
[1d8+5 = 6]>>121848>>121846Mala hits and cuts
>>121848With a sickeing crunch, Iron's stone forehead collides with the griffin's beak, before retreating to face the dagger griffon
[1d3+5 = 7]<Damage
[1d20+4 = 11]>>121850>>121848>>121849The remaining Griffin, likewise, is cut, and falls down in a blood pile. Mala growls at his fresh kill, the second today Silver has witnessed. No enemies remain around Silver
Dark Star has the draw. But the bowgriff on the floor fires first
[1d20+4 = 21]>>121852>>121850The arrow misses. Dark Star's turn
>>121851With that, he falls out. One griffin remains, But Khoi Swings at her
[1d6+3 = 7]>>121853>>121851She hits
[1d20+10 = 18]>>121852>>121853Dark Star looses an arrow towards the griffon now in front of him.
Seeing that the rest of the party is mopping up their attackers, Silver points his bloodied sword at the remaining griffons. "He said you were outmatched. Surrender, or you can join your comrades."
Midnight 35 damage. No enemies remain
Iron 30 damage. 1 wounded griffin remains
Silver 12 Damage. No enemies remain.
Dark Star 5 damage. 3 enemies down. 1 remains.
>>121856That griffin was already limping and wounded. He now falls to the ground, stunned.
>>121855Mala growls and shakes, looking as if ready to tear apart creatures. Jubilosa, likewise, points her sword at the group. Khoi, not finished with the attackers before her, concentrates on that.
>>121857>>121851The wounded Griffin near Iron tries to run past him
>>121858Iron uses this opportunity to grab ahold of the griffon, attempting to initiate a grapple.
[1d20+10 = 14]<Introductory melee strike
>>121860Ohboi, you'll probably faint.Iron attempts to chokehold the griffon, falling backwards slightly to accomodate for his inability to stand with his two hindlegs.
[1d20+14 = 29]<Grapple check
In the Center of the Room, the griffin looks around him at the damage. There is a griffin, caught on fire and fallen down, near the south exit, with two more lying on the ground between the center and the south exit having been shot in the back. In the center of the room, one lays downed from an arrow hit. Up above on the balcony, two are stunned, one of those with a regular arrow stuck in him. Bodies lay elsewhere. The best off are those near Iron, stunned. The worst are the disassembled corpses near Silver.
In the center are some griffins, maybe 10 or so in total, who either did not want to fight or never saw the opportunity to enter. Some of them want to come to the sides to retreat. A few eyeing towards the griffin and the winged pony. None want to go towards Silver, for what the sight of bowls and blood upon the floor do not do for the psychy, the growling, hunchbacked gnoll upon the floor does the rest, and it seems only the scimitar sword in his mouth prevents him from ripping at a griffin's throat.
The red robed griffin acknowledges the set back, but is not out. He stands still for a moment, then says
"Ziehen wir uns hinter einen Schleier zurück"
With this, from the air, in three swiftly assembling vortexes, mist forms, then comes around the griffins, growing to obscure the center of the room - only the center - in a dense fog that cannot be seen through
>>121861He's grappled alright
>>121862With that, he presses on the griffon's neck, making him 'fall asleep' on his arms.
[1d3+5 = 7]<Grapple damage
>>121863That's enough for the wounded griffin, who falls down unconscious. Khoi is taken back briefly from her watching of the magic in front of her, to look at Iron's theatrics
>>121862"Вернитесь сюда!" Silver circles around the pillar of fog, towards the unguarded entrance.
>>121865Mala continues growling towards the mist. Then a shape appears from the mist, looking forward
Midnight slumps back, sitting down. The mare is covered in many cars and scrapes, and is breathing heavy.
She takes a minute to pray, and casts cure light would on herself.
[1d8+2 = 6]
>>121864Iron simply dumps the griffon off him, looking strangely at both the mist and the shape appearing from the shadows, hooves ready to pounce whenever the attack comes.
>>121866Silver halts in his tracks, pointing his sword towards the shape. Dark Star draws his bow, and aims for the same object.
>>121867Midnight regains 6 points of health, but is still 29 below where she started, with two serious stab wounds and a number of smaller ones. Jubilosa looks intently at the mist, from cone sounds of talking
Two griffins poke their heads out
>>121869A griffin pokes its head out, looking over more towards the direction of iron after a glance in Silver’s direction
>>121870Silver lowers his sword slightly. "Will you surrender? For what it is worth, you still have our guarantee that you will not be harmed."
>>121870>>121867>>121869>>121871From deeper in can be heard the words,
"Nein, es soll keine Kapitulation geben"
But several more griffins seem to look out in interest of some kind of surrender
>>121871From one side of the mist, a griffin flies out, evidently heading towards a side away from Dark Star
>>121872As a sign of trust, Silver puts his sword back in his sheath.
>>121873Dark Star keeps his bow trained on the griffon as long as he can, just in case.
>>121874Mala too drops his sword.... Just to free up his mouth, which he now uses to spout high pitched yip-barks and growls at the enemies
The other griffin takes off, and lands on the second level on the side opposite Dark Star
>>121873>>121875Iron sees the two griffons fly up towards Dark Star, humming slightly as he looks suspicious about the ordeal.
>>121875Silver trots over to his friend, and pets him between the ears. "It is okay, Mala, you can calm down, now."
>>121875Dark Star keeps an eye on the griffon.
Silver smiles at the gnoll while he pets him. "Good boy."
>>121870Midnight sighs in relief at her healing before standing back up and checking on Jubilosa
>>121877His ears fall down, and he stops barking, though he remains in a growling "attack" stance towards those looking out. Several more peer out.
>>121878This calms him down just a little bit more
>>121876They move up, and seem to run off to a side
>>121878Blue Skies asks:
"Are we going to do something about them?"
>>121879Jubilosa is completely unscathed, as the griffins and zebra that attacked considered Midnight the more pressing target. She, more so than most, seems to want to press forward, and force the surrender
"It feels good, doesn't it? The feel of victory. Of conquest. Of killing"
>>121880Dark Star looks down at the griffons peering out of the fog. "We'll take them in alive." He announces to the remaining griffons, "Drop your weapons, and come out of the fog peacefully, and you all have our words that you'll be unharmed."
Silver continues to pet Mala and try to calm him down, so more griffons might leave the fog.
>>121881Midnight breathes another sigh of relief before quickly thinking about, and checking on, Meadows.
>>121880Iron looks warily at the two griffs, unsure of why they're being let hanging, wakling around there instead of getting shot down.
[1d20+4 = 13]>>121882He growls, then stop for a moment, then growls slightly, then stops, and then his tongue comes out
Then....
Swoosh an arrow comes
right for Silver.
Mala yells out in a high pitched bark-yip that sounds nothing like a dog, nor indeed any animal Silver has ever heard
>>121883Meadows, thankfully, is further back, in the hallway. To the right, further down, White Sands peers around a corner. She sits calmly, smoking still another cigarette with a poof of smoke. The same brand Silver smokes, oddly enough.
Meadows is down, to the left, by the bathroom. She still seems kind of out of it. Like she doesn't quite know what's going on. But she knows it's not good. She wobbles forward
"Midnight... are you hurt? You are covered in marks"
>>121884At worst, Iron can pull out and around, going up the stairs to meet them for himself
>>121885"Yes, I am hurt, but I am very relieved to see you are not Meadows."
Midnight looks like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders, despite the cuts covering her body
[1d20+3 = 11]>>121885The arrow, thankfully, is deflected by his armor.
Spot: Silver quickly gets into a defensive posture, and tries to peer through the fog to see who shot at him.
>>121887Vaguely, in front of him there is a silhouette. Mala continues yipping
>>121886All is well for her thus far, and will likely remain that way unless an enemy gets past them and into the hallway.
>>121888Let's hope it stays that way.
Midnight stands in the doorway, looking around
>>121885Iron hums slightly, turning to Khoi.
"Two griffons are in the catwalk," Iron whispers. "What do you think?"
>>121887Upstairs, Blue Skies runs off
>>121889A couple griffins look out. One has shot an arrow at Silver, and Mala is growling and yipping at the veiled foe
>>121890"Are they running away, looking for help, or for cached weapons?"
She asks back
>>121888He calls out to the other griffons. "Let me make one guess: your leader, who ordered one dozen of your friends and comrades into battle, while hiding like coward in middle of those of you who did not want to fight, and is ordering you to not surrender, was who just fired that arrow."
>>121891"That's the worst part," Iron reports. "I have no idea what they're doing, but they're not getting shot by either Dark Star nor Skies."
>>121892None reply. Only "
Yeep Yip Yeep Yip" for a moment. Then, in Ponish
"
Come in yourself"
>>121893"Do you want me to go check it?"
>>121894Silver lets out a sigh. "You do realize that means we can not guarantee you will be unharmed, yes?"
>>121894Iron cocks his brow, before nodding. "Do. I'll stay here in case any fools try to rush here."
>>121896Khoi nods, then goes off.
>>121895No response
>>121889>>121895>>121896Two Griffins run off towards the South exit. This is the exit that has a pool of fire around it, but no pony guarding it. To the right of Silver, to the left of Midnight, and opposite Iron (Iron likely cannot see it)
[1d20 = 17]>>121897Silver draws his sword, and approaches the fog. "Your choice."
Before he arrives, however, Dark Star aims a lit thrown firebomb towards the middle of the fog.
>>121897>low HP>guarding MeadowsI'll let Silver take this one, but Midnight holds her weapns at the ready, just incase
>>121897Iron simply stands guard, unaware of the escaping future convicts on the other side, scanning the area for any sort of unwarranted rushing.
>>121898Now
This is effective. The center does not immediately clear up, for what is burned away is replaced by smoke. But it produces an
immediate deluge of griffins, running towards Iron, Jubilosa, and Midnight.
Mala Jumps out and runs towards the side
[1d20+2 = 11]>>121901Strength: Silver tries to intercept and tackle a fleeing Griffon.
[1d20+10 = 29]>>121903Dark Star aims at a different fleeing griffon, and shoots an arrow at them.
>>121903Silver lands on one, before Mala gets to her, while Mala gets to another
>>121904>>121905Hit. And. Downed
>>121901Iron slowly walk backwards, swiping a hoof at one of the fleeing griffons non-lethally.
[1d20+10 = 12]<Melee Strike
>>121901Midnight sighs before striking out at one of the ones running by her.
S:
[1d20+7 = 19]
D:
[1d20+7 = 20]
[1d20+10 = 30]>>121906Silver tries to keep the griffon pinned while he hogties her.
Dark Star shoots at another, with a massive grin on his face.
[1d20+10 = 27]>>121909Confirming
>>121909>>121907Hit
>>121908>>121907>>121905A couple more griffins raise their foreclaws
"Greife nicht an! Greife nicht an!"
>>121911>>121909Another one, shot and falls down
>>121908Midnight hits the fleeing Griffin, who herself has a robe partly covered in fuel oil and flame, strewing blood across the floor as she trips and falls down, leaving a trail of blood
>>121912Iron's hoof clashes with a random griffin, hoping to keep him in place after that blow
[1d3+5 = 7]<DamageWith that, Iron stomps his hooves, attempting to intimdate the fleeing griffs.
"
Lay down on the ground and I'll ensure you'll not be beaten up!"
[1d20+9 = 23]<Intimidate check
>>121913Damage
[1d6+1 = 5]
[1d4+1 = 4]
[1d20+10 = 19]>>121912Intimidate: Dark Star shouts out to the crowd. "
ON THE GROUND, NOW!"
Silver tries to herd the griffons away from the exit.
[1d20+5 = 21]>>121914>>121916>>121911From inside, towards the middle, a flaming robe is cast down and aside.
"Greife ihn mit deiner Kraft an"
With this materializes a green, twisted sword. Like a more massive version of the curved daggers. The ethereal greation, transluscent and hovering, strikes over towards Silver
>>121914Two of them comply immediately. Actually, he's rolling on the ground. Tying to put out the fire
>>121916She falls down, and starts croaking. Jubilosa seems horrified at this scene
>>121917Several more do so, though it looks like Midnight and Mala have already killed a couple females as they fled. More than a couple are covered in burning fuel oil, and stand trying to pull the robes off
[1d8+1 = 9]>>121917>>121918Silver is hit by the magic sword
[1d20+9 = 23]>>121918>>121919"
ARGH!" Silver, hobbling on his four legs, charges the middle of the fog pillar.
Dark Star lets the flaming griffons put themselves out, before seeing that they get on the ground.
>>121918Iron watches in discomfort, figuring that even though they were probably implicitly guilty of dumping corpses down the sewers, these possible deaths by fire is too much. He makes sure to cover as much of the exit as he can, making sure as few griffon as they can try to squeeze through the exit.
>>121920Is that a charge attack roll?
>>121921They no longer seem intent to exit, if they ever were. They now just want the slashing, the fire bombing, the growling hyena, to all stop
>>121922Iron simply stares for a bit, before tugging his cloth shirt out.
"Screw it," he utters, holding his white, worker shirt on his mouth. "This is not right."
He proceeds to try and help putting out the fires on the griffons.
>>121918Midnight stares grimly at the scene before her, before turning to make sure Meadows cannot see.
>>121923Hit against the tan and white griffin, now naked and covered in burns
>>121924Iron's big weight proves useful in this, battering down griffins, already on the floor, with clothing.
The thing is that when the bottle exploded, most of the oil did not immediately burn, but flew up. Which got onto cotton shirts. Which burn more easily than the oil, and are now covered in oil. These can of course be removed, but oil seeps through onto hide, and it takes time to remove the robes.
>>121925Meadows is behind, in the hallway. She can see nothing. But she can hear the screams. The yipping. Even sometimes the more subtle sounds of fire cackling or steel against flesh
>>121926Iron breathes in, knowing there's bout to be some hoof burning.
"Let us commence the trial by fire."
Without care for his own hoofs and forelegs, he starts to take off as many of the griffons' burning clothes as he can.
>>121927The griffin is cut into. Wounded. Ontop of burns. Yet still, he is not out. Though he is knocked down prone, the green and blue jagged, wavy sword swings again, moving back towards him, and to Silver.
>>121928It's a bit awkward to pull off. It would probbaly be easier with a knife. But not undoable. The griffins do not resist, they do not fight back. But they don't help either. He gets at least one off, after some effort
>>121929Iron would ask Sands for the knife, but he's pretty sure she'd rather watch them, opting to juryrig his teeth as the knife, trying to tear up the burning clothes.
>>121926Sadly, Midnight cannot silence the screams for her new friend. But she can make sure that her voice doesn't join them as she stands guard.
>>121931*watch them burn, opting to
>>121931Sands has not been n Iron's sight for the course of any of this. Who knows where she is.
>>121933Silver is under attack, for what it's worth, by the leader cleric
[1d20+8 = 12]>>121930Silver dodges the blade this time. He strikes at the griffon again, hoping for a finishing blow.
>>121936If he were on his feet, that would likely not be possible, and certainly not with the help of his magical powers. Yet, even with some mysterious force helping to protect him, he is hit
[1d20+7 = 16]>>121936From off, over to the right, Mala - covered in blood, off on his own excursion - charges in, and tries to tear into the griffin
>>121935Iron's mind does stop, humming slightly.
"Now that I think about it," he mutters to himself. "I have not seen her on the catwalk with Skies and Star."
With corpses and burning bodies littering the floor, all hostile parties are down. The archer that shot at Dark Star at some point slipped into the mass.
>>121938>>121939Silver rends into the brunt hide and cuts down into it, as Mala comes up and starts tearing at his neck. The Griffin is down, or dead.
>>121940She is no where to be seen, nor is Skies for that matter. Dark Star is on the second level hallway railing
>>121941Seeing the main threat is dealt with, he decides to search the first loose end he should be searching for: Where is Khoi and if she's doing good.
With that, he pulls out himself, following Khoi's steps.
>>121942Best guess is that she went upstairs
>>121943He obviously follows the trail, of course.
>>121941Dark Star is torn between trying to help out with the chaos below, and looking for his absent marefriend. Even for him, this is pretty brutal.
Silver, now bleeding pretty badly from the wound he got from the magic sword, tries to calm his doggo friend down. "Okay, Mala, he's down, you can stop now."
>>121947Mala lunges and tears at the griffin, biting him and pulling his neck. He pulls it in a way like its designed to rip the hide off the bone, or even rip the head off. There is blood on Mala's neck fur and around his mouth, almost all of which was not there when Mala left Silver's side a minute ago. He does not respond immediately, but starts to growl less, before calming down.
Dark Star has a fairly good view of what is below. It looks like, unfortunately, not many griffins remain for bounty. There remain several griffins who are either stunned, or unconscious, that still need to be tied, and a few who are downed but could be saved from bleeding out. Unless the two that went to the other side escaped, there are none to spread the word to any other hostiles elsewhere in the building, and in that regards it is a success.
>>121946There is no trail, persay, but he can go up levels. There is no pony on the second floor
>>121948Silver starts petting Mala's head and down the back of his neck. "Good boy."
Dark Star starts to tie up what griffons he can find with whatever's available.
>>121950Mala at first lurches back, as if to bite Silver's hoof when Silver touches him. But he doesn't, and he moves back, letting Silver touch him. He slowly eases out of tension, blinks a few times, calms down, licks the blood off his lips, and starts to pant, moving his head to where Silver can touch him more.
Upstairs, there are two griffins, one of whom is stunned, one is shot with a bow and stunned in part. Downstairs there are many more griffins. Dark Star has a couple ties, some mane ties, and there is always clothing. Plenty of clothing. All of them were wearing robes of some kind, much of which were burnt, but still.
Though the noises of a few whines and moans don't stop, the scene settles down. Mostly, at least. There’s a terrible smell of burning oil, hide, and cotton in the air. The room is darker now, either by soot covering the lights or the lingering remnants of the mist – though it feels as if some active force of darkness has entered the room and suppressed the light.
The Southern entrance, unguarded for the totality of the fight, still shimmers in flame, as the fuel-oil-whiskey-bottle's contents spread across the floor. The viscous liquid of black and gold spreads partly in a puddle, but partly partly across contours in the floor, revealing an uneven surface that slopes slightly east, towards the sea. A second puddle, connected by a stream to the first, represents either a level gathering basin for the oil, or the epicenter of a second shattered bottle. The still-burning puddles leaves an area slightly to the right that could perhaps be wide enough to fit a creature.
But this entrance was no escape. One unfortunate griffin seems to have been caught in the initial fire, and fell in the threshold of the doorway. Her clothes must have caught fire immediately, as none remain, though almost her her body has burn marks. Some portions of her body, more burned than others, must have been where the sticky oil bled through the clothing and onto her hide. Unlike the cotton robes, the oil burns slowly, and ultimately deeper into her hide. Around her chest, beneath her neck, the hilt of one of the twisted daggers sticks out.
Another griffin female did not make it as far, but yet perhaps died even more brutally when she tried to get around the fires of the threshold. She is surrounded in blood, not flame and oil, and it pours out of innumerable tears in her flesh. Her robes are tattered and torn in multiple places, with a great tear on her back around her spine revealing flesh as but crushed as sliced. A shoulder, likewise is ripped into, and the once-brown robe surrounding the right foreleg is dyed with blood. But it's her neck that is the worst off, as dozens of small cuts and tears were matched by a force pulling and ripping first the flesh and skin, then the jugular, out of her neck.
Two more lay by the entrance, though they did not get as far. A lies with a stuck in the back of his head, just to the left of where the spine and skull meet. Another one, whose body is turned around in part, has two bolts sticking out of him from the barrel and the shoulder. He may not even be dead.
The fates of these griffins contrast sharply with those on the opposite side, by the North entrance. Five griffins lay on the floor in their red, brown, and white robes. Punched in the head, headbutted, and hit with a hammer, they often suffer broken bones, broken ribs, and concussions. None are yet dead.
Immediately above the North entrance, on the second level hallway, are two more griffins. Though one is shot in the chest with a bolt, both are stunned.
To the East, by the Sea, four griffins and a zebra lay on the ground. The zebra is stabbed through several times, and fell to his side, with only a small pool of blood. One griffin is simply stunned, though stabbed with a machete. Another lays on the floor. Stabbed twice, and bleeding, but not dead when he fell. One lay dead, but a particularly unfortunate female griffin lays down bleeding and breathing heavily with a robe partly on fire. She fled the fire, only to be stabbed with both dagger and sword.
But it's the Western entrance that has the most bloody scene. A scimitar lying on the ground, a zebra rend and split open, guts on the floor, a pair of griffins cut and sliced, open. Two more griffins who, stabbed and cut, were not likely dead when they fell, but may have since bled out. A scimitar abandoned on the floor.
Closer to the center, between the southern and western exits, a lone griffin is prone and unbound. She is perhaps the only griffin in the entire room – besides Jubilosa – to have no injuries of any kind. Opposite that side, between Iron and Midnight, are four griffins, prone on the floor, and with their robed removed, sometimes torn off. These griffins were splashed with burning oil, which then caught their robes on fire. Iron has physically removed several of the robes. A fifth griffin lies nearer the center, though with even more burn marks, and a bow next to him. He is stunned, but his robe was removed before he sustained more serious burns.
Another griffin, lying blacked and charred on the ground like meat fallen through the grate of a grill, was not so fortunate as the last. This griffin, a bow next to him, must have been right next to the splash of the fire. Rather than finding the opportunity to remove his robe, by some misfortune he must have tripped, slipped, or collided with another griffin in the confusion and fog, falling to the ground into a puddle of oil. He burned where he fell. Also near the center is dead and naked leader of the group, the priest of Sacred Heart. He was fortunate to remove his robe. He was not so fortunate to piss off Silver Sword, and was soon stabbed, cut, and mauled.
The fate of the two griffins that flew up to the second level is unknown, as is the locations of White Sands, Blue Skies, and now Khoi Lua.
Jubilosa, anxious before, now trembles. She pulls her beak back or even furls it upwards, looks away, and tightens the muscles around her eyes. She turns herself to look at the prisoners - but away from the burning scene in the center. Before Khoi went off, she would look on the scene before her with less expressive eyes and tighten lips, though she would cover her eyes and mouth with her foreleg. Mala pants and smiles, enjoying Silver's pets.
All in all, a job well done.
\r
>>121956>>121948Iron sure feels iffy about this, ngl.Iron looks around, curious as to where she went. "Khoi?" he calls out tentatively to maybe hear a peep of where she is.
>>121957Iron looks around on the second level, to see that Khoi is not there, nor is she immediately responding to calls
>>121958Iron hums slightly before going one floor up, repeating the process.
The third floor has about the same layout as the second floor, notably with big rooms on the side between the hallway and the atrium than hang over the first floor hall.
But when Iron calls out, he gets a response from the room, over on the right
"Yes? Over here"
>>121960Iron walks over to the room on the right, making sure his ears are on high alert, possibly anticipating a trap from the griffons.
>>121961In the hall, around the corner, lying on the floor is a griffin, dead or dying, with a bolt in his back, and some blood on the floor. Just pass this is an open door. A voice, unmistakably Khoi's, says "Iron? come in here"
>>121962Iron shrugs, expected the deed to be done, and swiftly shuffles towards Khoi.
>>121963The door enters into a hall 50 feet or so long, and big enough for a set of beds on each side, and indeed there are beds on each side, and a few drawers too. Most are empty, but some have sheets and pillows, and a couple even have the sheets and pillows pulled back.
More interesting is what is closer to the door. Khoi is sitting down in the middle, with four griffins, two to each side. Chicks. Small ones. Or rather two very small ones, one almost an adolescent, and one between those two ages.
Khoi looks at Iron. The small griffins look afraid or disturbed, though not
terrified, understanding that something is
clearly wrong, but not understanding what. Khoi herself is mostly not expressive, but with a slight air of concern
>>121964Iron cocks his head, unsure of what to think of this surprisingly twisted event happening in front of him.
"It seems we have found... chicks?" he offers, trying to figure out the proper term for these small birds.
>>121965She nods, halfway, before stopping
“Yes. Well. I do not know what to calm them” she says in her almost over bearing accent.
“But they are here. I do not know why they did not take them with them.”
One of the smaller chicks, with a grey and brown coloration, walks - he at least can walk - over closer to Iron
>>121966Iron looks at the chick with apparent curiosity, mind going back to what the madestallion he and Ash argued about way before as he lets it come closer.
>>121967The chick sits down about two feet from Iron, then sits up in a way so his forelegs do not touch the ground, and he looks up to Iron with big, orange eyes.
Then the oldest Chick speaks in ponish
"What is going on?"
>>121968Iron looks at Khoi, frankly discomforted by what he should say, before breathing deeply.
"A fight out on the main hall," he responds. "Many got hurt out there due to what they did." He pauses. "Some more than others."
>>121969Khoi shakes her head, slowly, and mouths "no."
She has a hoof around the chick that is still young, but in the middle of the age range.
The older griffin, who is still only elementary school aged, still has many questions. "Who are you? Why are there outsiders? ...... Are the elders okay?"
He is tearing up
>>121970Iron looks at Khoi, not really understanding the effects on the children he's causing by telling him this.
"I am not sure who are these elders," he responds. "But some outsiders got angry and decided they were not approving of what they did."
Iron kneels down, hopefully still blocking the exit in case the small griff was outside.
"Tell me. Do you know what they did?"
>>121971Khoi is still shaking her head, but she now moves a foreleg between the older chick and Iron. The middle one looks on in intrigue, the one that came up to Iron is still looking at Iron, and the second youngest, a female, has evidently fallen asleep against a bed post
"They made a community because the outsiders would not let them. And now they are hurt."
He is angry and teary eyed
>>121972Iron simply remains there, opting to stop answering the small one's questions as he figures the chick wouldn't believe if he told the chick, deciding to simply block the exit with his body.
He only shakes his head.
>>121973He is silent for a moment. The moves forward a step, into Khoi’s hooves.
“Are mom and dad okay?” He asks
Now, he can’t stop himself from crying, and he sits down again
The chick leaning on the bed post wakes up, and says a word in some foreign language to the female in Khoi’s arms. She speaks back to her, and both seem confused and concerned, but more composed than the crying older male. The one in front of Iron stops looking at him, and looks back to the older make.
“And Juergen and Deinesheer....”
Khoi removes her leg from in front of him, and places it around him
He doesn’t look up, but says “What will happen to us?”
The older female says something to him in a foreogn language, and he responds with a single word.
Khoi looks back to Iron
“I saw the griffin and the hotbed one go upstairs.”
>>121974With a nod, Iron simply closes the door as he leaves, following Khoi instructions, grunting slightly over the difficulty of the kirin's situation.
(I hope she'll be fine in there. At least she won't be too bloodthirsty)
>>121975Iron goes back to the stairs. While the stairs to the left, going down, are metal, the ones going up are wooden. In the exact separation between the third and fourth floor, a span of about 10 inches, there is naked cinderblock, and above that, a flaking white paint scheme covers the walls. The door - metal, like the lower doors, but unpainted - is open. There is no open railing on this top level, but wooden walls with a simple paint. The hall is not well illuminated to the right, with one simple light. To the left, there is one door, and a door by the corner of the hall. But to the right is one door. It is open
>>121977Iron, mainly looking for the missing party members, carefully tiptoes towards the open door, trying to be as stealthy as possible.
[1d20+2 = 14]<Move silently roll
>>121978The room is dark, with a single light from a lamp off to the left on what presumably is a table. At the opposite side of the room is a slender form of a quadruped. Though sitting when Iron enters the room, it stands up and faces Iron. A green glow emanates from a cylinder on the top of what must be its head, and a glimmering metal object floats in a cloud of green light in the air five feet in front of it. Further over to the right, another figure slumps down, and in the lantern's light is recognizable as a female griffin, looking almost emaciated and unconscious, laying on its back against the wall. Near the griffin, a little further away from Iron is another doorway, and a light comes out from it as well
>>121979Iron tries to stay hidden, maybe getting to witness what is the situation at hand.
[1d20+2 = 17]<Hidden big guy (Hide roll)
>>121980Iron cannot hide in the doorway, though it is very easy to hide simply by moving to the side
If he does so, he can hear - in ponish - a loud whisper:
"Someone's at the door"
>>121981Iron reluctantly walks out with a curious expression, ears folded slightly at the possible chance of danger, even though he may know who is the one.
>>121982Hmmmm.....
From through the trees, a new wind blows harsh and cold down from the North. Spark can feel the winter air drop from the mild cold a minute ago, to something much colder, as the air is filled with the sound of rustling leaves. In front of him, next to the station, is a Changeling, with no disguise, but naked chitin. Perhaps it isn't fair to say "naked," as most of his body is covered in a thick white jacket that seems to be both winter protection and the standard uniform of the Gendarme.
>>121983When he looks in, he sees the form again, silently and delicately walking like a stalking cat nearer the center of the room. But the form is recognizable now as White Sands, still hovering one of those wavy daggers in front of her. She twists her head for a moment, move her head further forward, and says "Oh. Iron! That's you." She light fades and the knife is let down.
>>121981Iron walks towards her, assuming things are in control.
"I am," he answers. "It seems you have caught some griffons."
>>121984Spark hends right up to the station and glances at the changeling, wondering if he will stop Spark from entering.
>>121985She comes in closer to him. Much closer, without regard for Iron's personal space. "Well hello." She says with a smile. She glances over to the griffin collapsed on the floor next to her. The griffin still has a tense facial expression, as if in fear or pain.
"We followed this one up here. Maybe she was trying to hide or access the roof" she shrugs.
>>121986Indeed, he does
"Halt. Papers and your purpose."
>>121987"Unfortunately, I was not given papers. Zu Lang insisted I talk to a prisioner and get the needed information to the terroristic ations halting production immediately or I would join him in there."
>>121987Iron admittedly isn't that uncomfortable with the Sands' bodypressing, aside from a slight blush as she looks appreciatedly at Sands.
"Good. I doubt the boss would want loose ends."
>>121985>>121987A beak sticks out from the open door way, and a griffin comes into the room. White Sands pulls back a little from Iron, but otherwise seems undisturbed. And though the physical appears of the dark and brown griffin doesn't particularly stand out, her response leaves no ambiguity as to her identity.
"Indeed. We can't have them alerting the other parts of this conspiracy..."
She is silent for a moment
"I think I am beginning to understand why the Equestrians sealed the records when they raided this place before. Come look at what is in the next room."
>>121988"Surely you have at least identity papers" he says
>>121990"Surely you can let me pass for a few minutes before I'm sent back to work. Unless you want to argue with Zu Lang about it."
I think this calls for a roll, right?
>>121989>>121990If Iron goes in, he sees a wide open room with unpainted concrete or cinder block walls, and no windows, illuminated by a lantern that sits on the floor. Not far from the doorway, over to the left, a steel hook hangs from the ceiling. Some days before, Iron purchased the hide of a Tiger and of a Bear from a taxidermist. Iron sees here too what looks like a hide cut from an animal. This one is golden color, and comes from a cat, sized to be a cougar or possibly an adolescent lion. Blue Skies comes up to show it to Iron.
"But look at this"
She moves down a few feet to show off a new hide. But the pink colored fur on the hide, and the pattern of a flower, lower on the hide, leaves no doubt as to exactly what it is a hide
of.
>>121991He can
Or he can just show the cards given to them at the check point
>>121992Oh, those will work? I thought they were specific to passing the border.
>>121992Iron studies it carefully, unsure of what's he looking at.
"Is... is that a pony hide?" he asks incredulously, before rubbing it softly, feeling strangely nostalgic about home.
>>121993Maybe show off one with a bluff roll
>>121994She nods
"That's
exactly what it looks like. Griffin hide too. I have no idea if it's a popular thing in central Griffonia, or if they remove the fur, tan it and pass it off as cow leather. At this point I wouldn't really doubt either"
Over further to the right is a metal table, with a couple knives on it. Long, straight knives, not the twisted daggers
>>121995Iron blinks, turning to the table, looking curiously.
"It sounds like they worship appearances, possibly," he theorizes as he walks to the metal table, looking at the knife.
[1d20+3 = 23]>>121995He shows his papers from before.
Bluff roll.
>>121996"Some of their bourgeoisie over their are particularly degenerate. It would surprise me. I
know they like to collect unicorn horns"
White sands, walking in, touches her horn
The knife on the table is a straight edged blade, nine inches, and rounded towards a pointed end rather than consistently tapered. Another knife is equal length, and with the dull end of a butcher's knife
>>121997He looks down at the paper, then back up to Spark.
"Sorry to keep you, Sir."
He walks over a step, and opens the door for Spark
>>121999"Thank you."
He walks inside.
>>121999Iron is unsure of what to think of this, inspecting the item in question with a frown.
"I assume this is simply more evidence to further hunt down the griffons, at least."
He ponders slightly as he remembers the chicks a floor below, figuring they must be taught that it's correct to butcher their enemies...
>>122000Spark walks in to see a pastel yellow female pony receptionist to the left. But they don't stop there. The guard from outside escorts Spark through a door in the center, and towards an area in the back, past some offices. Through a door on the left, and then, there are cells.
The pony in question is a Mahogony brown Earth Pony, looking very fatigued and weak, lying on the floor in a 6 foot by eight foot cell
>>122001Shekels is silent for a moment
".... They are certainly efficient"
There cannot be much doubt that the creatures who live in and operate this place - turning griffins and ponies into leather hide just one floor above where they keep their young - intended to induct these children into this system. At least they didn't want to take the children along with them for whatever is happening at Midnight.
A slight sound of something moving against concrete further into the room
>>122002His ear flickers at the sound, intent in finding the sound as he clip clops towards the noise.
>>122003It must be towards the end of the room over to the right of the entrance. There is a lantern on the floor, but it doesn't illuminate enough over there to determine what is making the movement
Iron picks up the magic light with his mouth, trying to make it easier to illuminate the noise maker.
>>122002Spark clears his throat and speaks to the pony in question.
"So, you are the trouble maker, huh?"
>>122002>another sad brown pony that needs therapyMidnight feels she is needed, but as to where, she hasn't a clue
>>122005With the light picked up, Iron can walk over, and see what it is.
Hanging from a wire on the ceiling, though from a longer line, is what is recognizable as a Griffin. He is upside down, hanging low enough that his lower back is on the ground, neck is awkwardly positioned, and his head is on the ground, while his lower back is hanging in the air, as are his hind legs. His wings are tied, and his forelegs are tied. He is skinny and looks somewhat starved, and has bags around the eyes.
Then he moves, wiggling side to side. There is a small string tying his beak down.
>>122006He looks up, lethargically, at Spark.
"I am"
>>122007This one is
Onyx's problem.
Midnight can be aware of the scene in
>>121956
>>122008Iron looks at the griffon, extremely puzzled at the hanging griffon on hanging upside down. He glances back to Shekels, his ears folded slightly.
"Uh, boss? Did you tie up a griffon in here?"
Midnight surveys the damage with a grim expression before beginning to look over all of her team members to assess their injuries.
>>122008"I need to discuss some things with you."
He turns to the guard.
"Why is he so weak? I am going to need him conscious if I'm going to get anywhere in the interogation."
>>121956The griffin opens its eyes. His eyes. A dark brown color, and out of focus, but looking towards Iron. The pupils contract greatly in the lantern light. His feathers and his hide are a distinct yellow color, somewhat rare but not unseen for griffins.
"No....."
She starts to come over
>>122010Midnight herself took the worst of the damage (around -~29 HP after the healing). Silver is moderately injured, as is Iron, though he left. Jubilosa is..... psychologically damaged, but not physically hurt. Khoi was not hit, and though Mala is covered in blood, it isn't his own.
>>122011"Must be from the interrogation" he answers, but then shrugs
>>122012"Fine. Do we have a room for interogations, or should I just do it here?"
>>122012I guess that does it for me.
Midnight's amlet glows a deep blue, before it begins to spread over her entire body closing some of her wounds.
+10 hp from lay on hooves.
She then takes a few deep breaths before stepping over to gently pet Jubilosa.
>>122012Biting off the mouth restraint on the tied griffin's beak, he curiously gazes over him. "Tell me, do you understand me?" he asks sternly at him
>>122013He nods
"You can have him sit at a table in a recorded room.... Or you can do it here. Either way."
>>122014Jubilosa is frightened and looking at the prisoners, but then looks over at Jubilosa when the blue light envelops her
"Woah... I didn't know the winged ponies could do magic"
She is pet. Her fur is short, and her awkward expression suggests she doesn't understand the gesture.
>>122015The restraint is removed
"Scheisse!"
He bits, then gags, then he says - in accented Ponish, but nevertheless, in Ponish:
"Ja, I understand you Pony."
>>122016Midnight continues the pet
"Only some can, and I receive my magic from Princess Luna. As for the petting, I use it a gesture of comfort and calming."
>>122016Iron simply stares at him momentarily.
"What are you doing, hanging out here?"
>>122016"He is probably going to pass out if he is moved any more. I'll just do it here. Go ahead and let me in."
>>122017She still looks awkward
Then she looks down at the female griffin Midnight stabbed twice as she ran from the fire
"Was that.... was that really necessary?"
>>122018He moves his head, which has the effect of just moving his hanging body
"Was zur Hölle denkst du? Verdammt! Get me down from here!"
>>122019He unlocks the door on the cell. Then he says
"If you need anything, I will be outside" and moves back with military organization
>>122020Iron rolls his eyes, before hopping up to grab the griffon by the waist with his forelegs, then biting off the hanging restraint.
>>122021Spark nods and turns to the pony.
"So, what's your story?"
He then sits down to listen.
>>122023"My story? Did they not tell you?"
He still sounds tired, and somewhat apathetic
>>122022He pulls off the restraint, and... Crash! The griffin falls to the floor once Iron lets go.
"Gah!"
He moves over to the side, as he tries to wiggle out of ties on his forelegs and hindlegs
>>122024Who says Iron let go?Iron swiftly follows him to the floor, basically falling ontop of him, albeit not crushing the griffon with his weight, staring at him directly.
"There we go," he states "now do you feel more cooperative?"
>>122024"Well, the thing about stories is they change from pony to pony. I would like to hear it for you now."
>>122020Midnight stays silent a moment, before quietly admitting
"I do not know"
>>122025He squints his eyes, opens his mouth, moves his head forward, and quickly shakes his head
"
What?"
>>122027Jubilosa pokes the griffin, who shakes slightly, and coughs blood
>>122026"Ugh.... They say I sabotaged a machine or something. They say I am working with the PLF"
>>122028"Ok. So what really happened?"
>>122028Iron huffs slightly.
"Tell me why you were tied up like a berry on a branch and I will unbind you," he offers to the griffon. "Now do you feel like talking?"
>>122028Midnight does not respond to this, but instead walks away, settling to check on Meadows again.
>>122030"Did I not before?"
He asks, with clear annoyance
"I am with ze Imperial Inquisitorial Service! Zat is why ze tied me up!"
>>122031She stands back, head turned down, but eyes up to meet her. Her right forehoof move forward one
>>122029"My shovel was damaged. So was a dump truck. They need to blame some one. Someone who talked to other ponies, who seemed like a plausible terrorist. So they blamed me."
>>122032"It is okay Meadows, it is just me."
Midnight slowly steps forward, careful not to startle her friend.
>>122032With a nod, he turns to Shekels to confirm his words make any sense to her.
>>122033Her head pulls back, then her muzzle moves forward, towards the smaller pony. She blinks
"You look.... better than before. But you are still hurt."
>>122035"Yes, I am. I have used the limits of Luna's blessings for today. Let us hope I need not more."
>>122034She shrugs
"They didn't tell me the Imperial Inquisition would be working here. Then again, I'm not sure they would either."
>>122036She sighs in a slight whinny, closes her eyes for a moment, and lowers her head
"I am afraid you may need more still"
>>122037Midnight moves forward to rest her forhead against one of Meadows' shoulders.
"Do not worry, I will be more careful. I still have to take you to Canterlot after all."
She smiles a bit, hoping to slightly lighten the mood.
>>122037With another nod, the native bites off bird claw and lion leg binding, finally setting the griffon free as he gets off him.
"I assume you went to investigate the activities down here?" he asks
>>122038The great big horse is rested against. Her muscles under short fur are firm
"He"
She lets out a slight giggle
"I hope all will be well... But I can tell something terrible has happened there. I can smell burning oil... and worse."
>>122039He immediately gets up, and walks away from Iron, over towards the left side, by the wall
"Ya."
He moves his claw along the surface of something like a dresser or a tool box
"Not just any activities"
He finds a pair of glasses, and moves to put them on
"Maarist Cultists"
>>122042"Maarist Cultists?" Iron asks ignorantly?
>>122043He places the glasses on his face, blinks, and then nods his head
"Ya. Worshipers of Maar who do his bidding"
He moves his claw along the top still more, then opens a drawer, and another drawer, finding a handerchief and some kind of card. He keeps looking
>>122044Iron nods.
"I assume this Maar is all about sacrifice of the flesh?"
>>122045"Bah!" He shakes his head
"Not of self, anyways. Arcturious asks for restraint of passions, and sacrifice of the self for the common good. Boreas asks for Austerity, and working today for the betterment of tomorrow. But Maar... claims to give anything, or everything, to those who would worship him. Instead he replaces their will for his own."
Then he nods
"Maar does indeed ask for sacrifice. The sacrifice and the suffering of others. One more reason these cultists are dangerous"
After looking through the bottom drawer, he stops
>>122046He nods, scratching his chin.
"Interesting indeed."
Turning to Shekels, he opens his mouth.
"Think this can be added to the list of charges, too?"
>>122047She moves her head in in disbelief
"
Charges?! I think we are well beyond 'charges.' Then again, we likely were a long time ago...."
>>122048Iron shrugs.
"To ensure we can give local authorities more pressure if it tries to prop up again, at the least."
He turns back to the griffin.
"Have you found anything of interest?"
>>122049"This whole building is a nest of them. I was inspecting in the area when they found me. They are rather bold here, walking in public, and gathering en mass in relatively open buildings. They don't expect to be harassed by anyone except perhaps criminals, and even those they expect to repel. Evidently, I was too bold as well. They found near the church, suspicious either of my snooping or perhaps after I asked the wrong question to the wrong local"
Iron nods.
"Are you feeling well to travel? This is about to become a danger zone after the strike back at the main hall, so I either suggest you evacuate or fight if you wish to."
>>122051He nods
“That, I can do.”
He looks around, and pulls off a relatively heavy tan colored jacket
“I had a weapon, but they took it from me”
>>122052Iron shrugs.
"No idea where that could be," he responds, looking to Sands' weapon.
Silver smiles at Mala as he ends his pets. "Do you think you can help gather and count deceased, Mala? I am going to try to keep those who are bleeding out from dying. I get feeling Government is going to want as many live specimens as we can acquire."
>>122056"Live?"
Mala tilts his head to the side
"I can crush their skulls if you want me to"
Without actually waiting for an answer from Silver, he moves his head back up
"Okay"
And walks off
And after inspection, Silver and Mala may discern the final tally:
3 dead griffins near Silver, 3 dead by the south, 2 dead in the center of the room, 1 dead by Midnight. 2 reasonably dead Zebras. Eleven dead in all. One griffin in critical condition by Silver, two by Midnight, and one in the South, for four critical in all. Five alive and conscious but often burned griffins, five beaten unconscious (and often hit with a hammer, and four stunned, though most of these latter have crossbow bolts in them. 14 Alive in all, mostly with injuries. Two Griffins are missing.
\r
>>122057Silver figures he'd better get to work trying to stabilize the critical condition griffons.
>>122058Healing roll time!
Mala licks up blood, often directly off the floor... until he comes across oil, broken glass, or something else unsavory, which leaves him licking his tongue out of his mouth constantly for several minutes to try to clean it off
>>122060Hmmm.... Well that's certainly a successful stabilization. But there are four Griffins, maybe three more rolls would be appropriate
>>122062>>122060Silver is able to, through the application of bandages and other means, stop three of the Griffins from dying of immediate shock or blood loss. The fourth one.... Not so much
>>122063Is the fourth still liv or is he now ded?
>>122064With a 1, I'm pretty tempted to say Silver cracked his ribs while attempting CPR, or caused him to choke on his own blood by laying him on his back
>>122066Hmmm.... maybe with a good enough roll (15 or higher)
[1d20+7 = 9]>>122067Let's see if he can be saved.
>>122068He.... he didn’t make it. But Silver has done well to stabilize three of the downed griffins, particularly under the circumstances
>>122069Silver lowers his head in respect, and closes the griffon's eyes.
He gets up and looks around for who in the party still remains nearby.
>>122070The griffin in question had actually been one downed by Silver earlier, in fact, and was breathing, if unsteadily, when Silver got to him. It turned out that the wound was deeper than expected, and he bled out inside and in his lungs. His heart rate was very high, before becoming faint, and with blood out the mouth... though it didn't seem so much. Whatever fate will become of those griffins who are captured, he evaded it. Whatever fate befalls those who die here... he found it. Neither fate could be particularly pleasant, and Silver will likely never know the full extent of either.
But Silver did save three more griffins. Or rather, he stopped them from bleeding out onto the floor and going into shock, and gave a small antibiotic to the wound as well. A griffin near the south entrance has not one, but two crossbow wounds, but was saved, as was a doubly stabbed griffin near the East entrance. A female griffin - stabbed twice, partly burned, and with her wavy dagger never pulled from its sheath - was the final griffin to be stabilized, with her robe ripped off, a bandage over a burn, and a bandage around her chest extra tight to stop the bleeding
>>122070Midnight would be the only Party member still nearby. Dark Star was formerly on the second floor hall railing, and Iron has gone upstairs.
Though they are not party members, Jubilosa and Mala are downstairs, Loputu and Meadows are in the back around the bathroom, White Sands hasn't been seen, Blue Skies was upstairs, and Khoi went upstairs
>>122072Silver limps over to Jubilosa. "Are you doing alright?"
>>122073Jubilosa has been left by Midnight to guard over the griffins on the floor. Though a skilled ethnographer could possibly distiguish Jubilosa from the captured griffins by her straighter and slightly shorter beak, shorter overall body, and slightly rounder wings when folded, she looks basically the same as any other random griffin - save that she is wearing a brown leather jacket with a big cut in the left side, and she is standing, while the prisoners are not.
She turns to him, with an expression of something near surprise
"Oh... I'm unharmed" she says, though her breathing is heavy and she is anxious
>>122074He smiles at her for a brief second before resuming his concerned look. "That is good to hear, but there is more to one's health than just physical."
>>122075“It’s a bit... taxing”
Her mouth, upturned to a nigh-smile when addressing Silver, returns to a tense pulled back and down turned position, as her eyes are wider than normal - an expression like shock or horror. Her voice cackles. Then she turns her head to the ground
“I didn’t want
any of this.”
>>122076Jubilosa feels as Silver puts a hoof on her should, then slowly brings her into a hug.
"I know."
>>122077As Silver has probably already learned tonight from Griffin Skies, griffins are not as fun to hug as ponies. Part of them is feathery, and the portion that is fur is short haired. The bones are closer to the skin.
Jubilosa remains tense, as if resisting Silver’s touch. This tension lasts all of a second, as the muscles can be felt relaxing under Silver.
She starts crying
>>122078Silver keeps hugging her, letting her cry away the pain. He occasionally pats her back or gently rubs it in small circles with a hoof to help support her.
>>122080She places up her right claw, to try to put it over Silver’s shoulder... which may or may not be wounded. She cries more, into Silver. The other griffins in the hall, still conscious, give judge mental looks at the two emotive creatures together.
Jubilosa eventually calms down to a whimper
>>122081He takes the intense pain in his shoulder like a champ all the way to end. When her tears finally taper off, he pulls back to look at her, still holding her by the sides. "Better?"
>>122082She speaks into his chest fluff
“A little. Not enough. Not nearly enough. But they are doing something at midnight. So I will keep it together.”
>>122084He smiles at that. "You are very strong person. I respect that."
>>122085Her eyes glimmering from reflective tears, she smiles at Silver
“Thank you... Not by choice though... Not by choice”
>>122086He pats her on the shoulder. "If you need some time to recover and rest, go ahead and do so. And if you need shoulder to cry on, all you need to do is ask."
>>122087“But... we’re not done here”
>>122088He looks at her curiously. "Hmm? With what?"
>>122089“With this whole place and... these people. And their schemes!”
>>122093Sorry, but work has been killing me. I’ll have to try for tomorrow.
>>122090"Oh, right. Well, still, if you need shoulder to cry on, all you need to do is ask."
>>122097She seems to press her beak tighter together, and looks into Silver's eyes with her own bright gold ones
"Okay. I'll do that"
>>122098Silver smiles at her. "Do you think you could help me with something?"
>>122099A pause for a moment
"S-sure. Yes I can help. What is it?"
>>122100"I could really use some help tying up these captives. You do not have to if you do not want to, however."
>>122101"Yes... I've been trying to tie some up since Midnight left the room. I can do so. I am smaller than some of them, but most of them are wounded. Maybe they will be more compliant to a griffin."
>>122102Silver nods. "I have some rope, if you would like it."
>>122103"Yes. That would be very helpful, or some sorts of ties"
Mala walks up, and sits down, further away from Silver than Jubilosa
>>122104Silver pulls out his rope, and measures some out. "How much, do you think?"
>>122105"Let's not be stingy. They could be dangerous if they get up and free"
One of the captured griffins on the ground speaks out towards Silver an Jubilosa in a foreign language
>>122106Silver just gives her the rope then, while looking at the griffon that just spoke. "What was that?"
>>122107He speaks again.
Jubilosa: "I don't know, I cannot understand him"
>>122108Silver shrugs it off. "Maybe he does not know Ponish."
>>122109"I don't think we have anything we want to say to him and anything they want to hear. Let's shut him up before he alerts the rest of the building or he does some kind of magic with words."
>>122110He looks at Jubilosa for a second before nodding. "They did just prove they could use magic..."
>>122111She takes a piece of rope, places it in her beak, stretches out a section with her right claw, then places it in her claw
"Well we better tie up his mouth, and the rest of them as well"
She looks back over to Silver, then to Mala
"Could you get your... whatever that is, to watch over and stare down the prisoners? He scares them... he scares me. Most of the griffins are wounded and unconscious, but I don't want them to try anything."
slight whining sound
>>122112He looks a little upset at that. "He has name."
>>122113She blinks, and looks away
“Let’s just get these tied up...”
>>122114Silver nods, and trots over to Mala.
>>122115Mala looks up at Silver - or rather basically directly at Silver, since the two are similar height. His big, triangular left ear twitches
>>122116Silver pets behind his left ear. "Could you do me big favor, friend, and watch over captives?"
>>122117His eyes close into upturned half-circles, and he moves his head up into the pet. When his head comes down, he says
“Watch over captives? That’s something I can do!”
He stands up, and smiles
“If they misbehave, do you want me to bite them, or just scare them?”
He still has blood on him
>>122118Silver smiles at the good boy. "Scare them, but if one gets loose, bite."
>>122119He smiles, and opens his mouth, then runs over near Jubilosa. She is already leaning over to tie a tie around a Griffin’s foreclaws, then his beak. Mala takes position standing some feet over the captives in the area between the north and East - the captives who were still conscious when gathered. He stands near a corner, with a view over all of them, and makes a singular growl. Jubilosa stops momentarily to look over her shoulder at the grueling gnoll, then continues her work. She has quite a bit of rope beside her, and one of the wavy daggers besides her to cut it with.
>>122120Silver looks around, noticing the absence of a few members of the party. He trots over to Mala and Jubilosa. "Have either of you seen where Iron went?"
>>122121Mala, standing
“Well, he could have gone upstairs to check on Dark Star or the two griffins that flew upstairs
Jubilosa:
“I bet he went to find that unicorn”
>>122122Silver nods. "That makes sense. I am going to make sure he did not get into too much trouble."
With that, he bids the two ado, and goes upstairs to look for Iron.
>>122123Over in the back by the bathroom are a Midnight, Meadows and Loputu. They report he is not downstairs. So Silver goes up the second level to find Blue Skies isn’t there, but maybe Dark Star is. Iron isn’t there either, nor are the missing two griffins, though two stunned griffins are there.
>>122124Silver looks at the tied up griffons, then at Dark Star.
Silver: "Nice work."
Dark Star: "Thanks. Hey, have you seen Blue anywhere?"
Silver: "No, but I am looking. Want to join?"
Dark Star: "Sure!"
Together, the two continue going up.
>>122125The third level is much like the second, with rooms off to both sides, or rather, a long room on the inside of the building on each of the East and West sides. Going left, there is no pony, and indeed, no creature in the hallways. But to the right, just around the corner, a griffin lies on the ground with a bolt in its back, evidently dead
No pony in either direction
>>122126Dark Star: "Looks like my mare's work."
Up they go.
>>122127Going through the door, the differences are noticeable immediately. Whereas the stairs between first, second and fourth levels were painted metal and concrete, Silver and Dark Star find the top level to be more like the bottom floors. An unpainted wooden staircase, 10 inches of unpainted cinderblock on the walls before the older, decaying paint of an era even the archaic and and uninviting main floors have left behind. The door to the top level is a thick, unpainted steel door that is not ony unlocked but cracked open. Entering the top hallway they find no windows, no open railings to the atrium, walls of dulled, dirtied, and flaking ancient white paint, and only three doors visible. Two to the left, one to the right. The one on the right is actually open.
>>122132Would let Britannia wear eight ties and tell people she's an elder god
>>122133Well then she’ll start doing it in public
What does Midnight do?
>>122134Well, what's going on around her?
>>122135Midnight is anxious, but is soothed a bit by the hug. Loputu, previously in the bathroom, ventures out. He’s not frightened quite like before, but he’s anxious. Silver cane by, asking where Iron went, and left to go upstairs when no answer could be given.
In the main hall, several critically wounded griffins have been given some basic care to stop the bleeding. Jubilosa is tying down griffins to try to keep them from running or flying off, while Mala stands guard over all, occasionally growling.
The fires still burn, and the smell of burning oil grows stronger
>>122136Midnight looks for Silver or Blue Shekels to figure out what the group is doing next.
>>122137Silver said he went upstairs. Blue Shekels is not where she was previously on the second floor
>>122138Then I guess Midnight heads upstairs to find Silver
>>122139Second level shows nopony, but a seemingly dead griffin with a bolt in its back in the hallway to the right
>>122140"well, I believe I am heading the right way"
She continues, hoping she'll find somepony.
>>122141last post should have said “third level”Going into the stairwell, Midnight sees the fourth level is
different than the first, second, and third levels. In many ways, it’s more like the basement. A simple wooden stair set. And unpainted cinderblock transition between the levels themselves and aging, faded white paint walls before even getting to the heavy, unpainted steel door. Opening it, there are hallways with minimal lighting, no windows, and no open railing to the atrium. Two doors over on the far left before the turn of the hallway, and an open door to the right.
>>122142Midnight finds this a little spooky, and makes a note to tell the others before heading back down.
>>122143Midnight may return to lower levels, but still hasn’t found Silver or blue shekels (or Iron) yet
>>122144Then she returns, hoping she just missed them on her way up
>>122145Alright, where does midnight go?
>>122150Will we be ready to play soon?
>>122157I don’t know, little pony. I don’t know
[interrogating pony noises]
>>122157>>122176>>122177The brown earth pony, looking as tired and dissolute as an alcoholic laying against an alley wall, pushes his back higher up the wall, so that he is square against it, rather than in an inelegant lean. He says to Spark
"Let me ask you again, who are you? More to the point, what do you want from me?"
>>122180"I'm nopony special. Just passing through really. But I thought I would offer you the chance to get out of here. I just need to know if you know the cause of these attacks."
>>122181He looks down, shakes his head
"Well I cannot imagine they let someone 'just passing through' to the cells."
Then he looks back to Spark, placing a forehoof on each side
"Alright then, what did
they tell you I did"
>>122182"They suppose you inspired the attacks, perhaps a member or leader of the group behind it, whether it be upset workers or worse."
>>122183"Heh"
He actually does smile at 'leader'
"They are looking for scapegoats for poor management. They say I damaged my shovel back on the second, and that I 'helped a pony defect to insurgent fighters,' or something like that, but I did no so such thing"
>>122184"Did you see any activity that would lead to these incidents? Do you think it was the workers or an external threat?"
>>122185"Heh, I'll tell you exactly what it was: alcohol, and now that Zu Lang's paranoia"
>>122186"Interesting. Who is most likely getting that drunk?"
>>122187"No, you don't understand. What lead to all of this was back on New Year's Eve. That was a Sunday, and most of the workers were from the Crystal Empire where they have the Blue laws, so they expected to have that day off anyways. That isn't how the Marion Mining company did it - we older workers knew that - and it certainly was not how Otis wanted it, but that is what the Crystal workers wanted and they did not care that there was no Union. Anyways more than half had an off day on their shift that day, and Zu Lang found it too much trouble to bust a 'strike.' Figured it would have been easier just to figure out who didn't show up later and dock their pay. So many of them took that day off, either hanging around town, or going up by the lake, Lake Algernon.
I was one of the one half that was scheduled to work that day, but I too left for the lake at the end of the day, and found a group of my coworkers by the western shore of the lake, partly frozen that day, and they were already part drunk. You must understand that we don't get many entirely free days off. And even when not working, things are largely kept in check. How much you can drink, where you can drink, where you can go, how late you can be out at night. Especially in the woods and around the lake. Celestia knows those buggers are afraid of the wilderness around here, and they are afraid to let us near it. So that night we lit a fire - there were many lit around that lake, you could see 'em in a half ring around the southern and eastern shore, and told stories. Drank. More than a few of them brought mares with them.
I was in a group with Crimson Hoof, a Crystal pony from the city up north, and a pony in my shift. He was one of the those brought in when most of the locals quit a couple months ago. He was also one of those who took the whole day off, never-mind the fact that he had to work the same as I did. You could tell it too. He was under the influence of spirits, and was acting like it, gettin' close to the fire on a dare, climbing a tree…"
He pauses for a moment, looking ahead. His breathes sound louder and heavier.
"Changelings' too had joined in our revelry. You could see a few of 'em on the shore. Normally the workers stay far away from 'em, but there were so many of us there we lost our fear of them. They didn't look too afraid of us neither. Now I'm sure Zu Lang sent 'em there to keep an eye on us. Keep us from getting too rowdy. But they didn't seem to see it that way. They seemed to think that they were part of the celebrations too. I'm sure more than a few of them put on a pony's skin and jumped in. They could do that. They had the same kind of ability to hide in the crowd that we had. Lets you just blend in and disappear, and no one would say the next day that you were not doing your job. Because they weren't doing it either, and they wouldn't tell if you wouldn't.
Now, in Equestria we'd often have fireworks on New Years past. Course we couldn't do that this year. But someone must've told the Changelings, or they do something similar. They would- They would even fire off machine guns into the air around midnight in their celebration. Startled me at first, but they did it, sure enough. Even fired off a couple… flares? I think. From a mortar. Looked pretty in the sky. Along with green tracers, some of them goin' over the lake. The ponies didn't seem to misinterpret the gunfire. Hell they probably would do the same thing if they had guns. They joined in the yelling, the cheering…"
He looks away again, and pauses
"Except Crimson Hoof. You know, I noticed he was missing. I noticed it early. I didn't think much of it. Not much at all. He could have gone out to the woods to pee, he could have found a different group of ponies to talk to, he could have gone home. That's what I thought happened to him, anyways. But you know. In the light - it was dark that night, almost New Moon - but under the light of one of those flares… I saw somepony. I think somepony, anyways. Some pony rusty in color, out on the lake. I thought maybe it was him. It worried me. Some of the lake was thick ice, some was thin, some was unfrozen. Not a safe place to walk. I did see hoof prints. Not that he was the only one to dare walk out on it, see how far they could go and maybe fish or wash something off… I looked around for him, asking who had seen him, where he had been. I looked a little into those dark, pine forests, and over that frozen lake… I figured he went home.
The next day, New Years Day, half the work force was missing. All at home either hungover, or just feeling entitled to a holiday. So I worked my shift in someponyelse's shovel in the active section of the mine, near the mill. Then on the second, everyone returned to their shifts. But not Crimson Hoof…."
He pauses again, and this time for a little longer, staring somewhere past Spark
"And I found on that day that my shovel was damaged and not functional. And so they blamed me, calling it sabotage. But from their questions…. that's not why they arrested me. They asked ponies who knew of the whereabouts of Crimson Hoof. I was one of the few to keep track of him that night. They think he went off and joined fighters… off in the woods. And that I helped them. So here I am now. And here you are"
>>122189"What are your feelings on the fighters?"
>>122190He looks back to Spark again, and blinks
"Fighters? What fighters?"
>>122191"You mentioned they think he went to join fighters in the woods."
>>122192He looks up, to his right and away from Spark, pressing out his right hoof
“Oh, that’s what
they think. They think there is some group of resistance fighters out in the woods trying to sabotage Iron ore production so they can’t build as many guns. They think the workers are supporting these resistance fighters, joining them, or sabotaging the shovels themselves. That’s what
they think.
The workers themselves often claim there is a demon or some spirit or other that haunts the forest and takes vengeance on the iron machines that rip up the soil.... or something like that, I don’t know. It comes from an Onibwe legend, one the locals know well, and one they told the new crystal ponies. I don’t know if they believe it, but its a convenient excuse for being too afraid to do certain things. The Changeling gendarmes themselves I think are inclined to believe it. The forest spooks them. They don’t like it’s vast size, and how they can’t keep track of much of what goes on there. Zu Lang I know won’t believe any stories about demons, and he knows his superiors back in Versu.... Versersop... Vesu-whatever-the-Changeling-city is certainly won’t believe their iron production is being held up by superstition, so he doesn’t tell them that.
Zu Lang hears machine gun fire out in the woods, and sees flares shot up into the sky. He’s not going to think they are celebrating - Zu Lang himself cannot rest while he knows he is behind quota. He thinks his guards are fighting some enemy in the night. I guess in a way that is reasonable. What else would his guards do if they
had been attacked in the night, but shoot back and fire flares?
You know a few of the guards had done big bruises and injuries on them when they came back in the second. What were they going to tell Zu Lang? That they had gotten drunk on duty, then tried to fly or climb trees, and fell down and hurt themselves? Or would they tell him that they were attacked by resistance fighters? The same thing with missing workers. Did they join the resistance, or try to fish ice from a frozen lake and...”
He trails off
\r
>>122193Spark nods.
"My apologies."
He takes a moment to think.
"Well... this makes my job a bit harder. How do I find the solution to celebration? Cut the whole supply of drinks?"
Spark chuckles.
"Still, I got to think of a way to get you out of here. Think we can put on a show for Zu Lang?"
>>122194He looks at Spark for a moment
“What kind of show?”
>>122195"Well, you did say there is some superstition involved. Perhaps we can convinve them that something more... supernatural is behind the attacks. They might not want to report it, but if we can provide both the problem and perhaps a possible solution, they might be more forgiving."
>>122196“The lower level guards, maybe. Zu Lang.... not so much.”
>>122053Iron looks to Sands to see that she carries a dagger identical to the ones most of the griffins in the lower chamber had, a wavy steel knife around about 15 centimeters in length, with some kind of engraving on the blade, and a red handle with a black band.
The griffin responds to Iron’s question. Though he looks tired, drained, and starved he moves around the wall and the drawers with purpose
“Oh I’m sure they kept it somewhere. Now to find it”
>>122201Iron walks over to Sands, leaning into her. "I think it is the metal blade you are carrying he is referring to," he whispers to the unicorn mare.
>>122202When Iron went over to the prisoner, Skies and Sands came closer as well. Sands came up and looked at him, but then pulled back several feet. Looking away, and turning herself a bit away from him. The griffin made eye contact with Skies, smiled at her, and readjusted his glasses, but Sands keeps a distance and the griffin, for his part, doesn’t seem interested in the fluffy unicorn. Iron almost surprised Sands when he comes up, but she turns to him, and awkwardly hoods over the wavy dagger with her left hoof
>>122203Iron glances at Sands worriedly. "Something wrong?" he asks
>>122205“Uh... No, I am fine”
She continues tendering the dagger to Iron, holding it in the frog of her left hoof
>>122206Iron tries to use whatever amount of empathy necessary to properly help out the mare he bedded. "You sound troubled," he says instinctually
[1d20+2 = 17]<Sense Motive roll
>>122207She feels awkward around the griffin and seems to be avoiding him
“Oh, I’m fine”
>>122208Iron hums slightly before taking the knife, giving her a confused look before going over to him and presenting it for use. "Is this what you were looking for?" he asks.
>>122209For a moment before Iron hoofs over the knife, the griffin is sort of propped up on his hind, cat-like legs, with his left claw on a drawer and his right claw pulling out a drawer. When iron come up to him, he looks down at the dagger for a second. Then he lets go of the drawers, falls down to the ground, and looks at the dagger for another two seconds. Then, in a hasty and somewhat rude act he pulls the dagger off the hoof with a claw and brings it before his eyes, turning it so it is more fully illuminated by the lantern light
“No...”
He says this absent mindedly
“This is not mine”
Now he says with more conviction
“This is a Maarist ritual dagger. They carry it as a social custom, at least when they think they won’t get found with it, and use it in rituals.”
>>122210Hi pony!
Dark Star is entering the fourth floor, and sees this;
>>122128
>>122211Dark Star peaks into the open door
>>122211With a nod, Iron takes back the dagger, going all the way back to Sands to give it to her, then walk back to the griffon male in question.
"Do you know where they could put it?" Iron asks, opting to help with the search as he, too, searches the room.
[1d20+1 = 7]<Search roll[1d20+
>>122212Looking inside the room is mostly dark, with a table or something over to the left that has a lantern on it, and along a wall to the right, a white and brown female griffin lies back against the wall, looking passed out. There is a door to another area on the right with more light coming out.
>>122213"I don't know."
The room contains more than one vat, another table, another area with a hanging bar, some bleach and dyes, a table with a sewing machine against the wall, a chisel like object on the table, but no place that a weapon would be placed, unless you are counting knives obviously intended for utility.
[1d20+5 = 6]>>122214"I Don't Think She's in there." Dark Star thinks to himself.
He listens at the door on the left
>>122215As Dark Star goes towards the left side of that dark room with no known installed electric lighting, he steps his hoof down... into a bucket of water, turning it over onto the floor with a clang
>>122213From the other room, a "clang" sound
>>122214"Tsk," he lets out, frustrated "I doubt they would leave the tool here." He turns away from the door, wondering what other rooms were currently unexplored, opting to walk to Skies. "Got anything to report, boss?"
>>122217She motions her head towards the door, and says nothing
>>122218There is no door on the left side of the room. The door on the right side is open, and there is some light coming out from that part of the room, but it's hard to see into, nor has the pail made it easy to hear in there
>>122219With a dejected sigh, he opts to walk towards the door Skies pointed to, going out the room.
>>122219>>122218Dark Star looks over and sees a griffin exiting the room
Wait. It looks like... Blue Skies
I’m still best pony, Anon
>>122222 checked
>>122221Dark Star Breaths a sigh of relief
"Oh there you are."
>>122220Blue Skies:
“Oh, it’s Dark Star”
>>122223Dark a Star sees that the griffin has pulled out her .38 revolver, then sees Dark Star, and points it down.
“Oh... Dark Star. It’s you.”
Behind her, out comes the fluffy white unicorn who smells of cigarettes, and ultimately, comes Iron
But behind even him, comes out a slightly tired and starved looking yellow male griffin wearing glasses, a beige colored coat, and a grayish fedora
>>122224>>122223Iron nods at the two new familiar folk coming in.
>>122224>>122225"I See you two made some friends."
>>122222Checked.
Digits have spoken.
>>122226Blue Skies:
“Hmmm? Oh. Yes. Dark a Star, meet....”
She seems at a loss for words, but the yellow-tan griffin pushes himself into the room
“Who is this Zebra?” He asks, a little demandingly
Blue Skies, as if in disbelief
“That’s Dark Star, he’s with us”
“Ah, yes.”
He holds out a claw to Dark Star, and looks him in the eyes with his own, golden orbs. He speaks with a heavy accent
“Inquisitor Johann Lichtshild, of the Imperial Inquisition”
>>122227Thank you. Indeed they have
>>122228"An Inquisitor? Whats somepony like you doing here?"
>>122229He looks at the Zebra gravely for another moment, sighs, and says
"I'm afraid you are already acquainted with the reason for my presence. We, in the Inquistion, are tasked with tracking down and exterminating those forces that creep under the surface, and rot away at the fabric of society, just the same as an exterminator rids houses of termites. Free Thinkers, Liberals, Socialists and Communists.... but the worst of all are those who consort with entities beyond the terrestrial spheres"
He holds up a dagger. It's a wavy dagger with a red handle, and really exactly the same as one he has seen many times today
"These shorelines are infested with
Maarists"
>>122230"Entities beyond the..."
Dark Star thinks back on the book he read
>>122231It does indeed seem to be the same as what he read about in the library. Forbidden knowledge from another part of the world, now come to his home city.
He nods
"Beyond the terrestrial spheres, yes. Maar. A god, older than the Earth, and with a worship older than griffin civilization. He makes dark pacts with groups of mortals, promising much in return for service and sacrifice"
>>122232Dark Star's expression darkens
"Why are you investigating something like that in baltimare?"
>>122233He nods again, before looking at Dark Star in a moment of silence, and clearing his throat
"When the Empire re-integrated the long separated territories of its heartland... We found networks of underground worship. Never showing itself, but there. We tracked them down where we could, taking down rings and covens. We became aware that a few were leaving the country. Not simply to the Dutchy of Whitetail or Grieffenwald... But further away. To a place that had never heard of them, and didn't know what to look for. That couldn't recognize the danger until long after it was too late.
So it was that a prisoner told us there was a group active in Baltimare that had an arrangement with a smuggler to take worshipers of Maar over to Baltimare, where they had not only a congregation but a whole commune going. A second prisoner told us they same, and so I was sent down here to investigate, with the consent of your government. They found me as soon as I found them, to my great grief."
>>122234"There...Are cultists of those things....Here in baltimare? You have to be joking."
>>122235He shakes his head,
"If only it were a joke. They knocked me unconscious, beat me, had me drained by one of those.... Changelings, they keep captive, and hung me upside down with little food or water for I don't know how long now. And they have done much worse to many more. Yes. You have come upon a nest of Maarist cultists here in Baltimare."
>>122236"Buck... this is bad....."
>>122237"Ja. That it is. They came over when Equestria welcomed griffins fleeing the war. They did not know what hid in the bowels of the ships that came. The Maarists knew how to take advantage of the situation, and that they did. If the cultists are not cut back at the source, they will only grow in number and audacity."
He nods again, pushes back his black rimmed fedora, and looks over towards the wall. He seems saddened by the fact that the pail has been turned over, missing the water contained within
>>122238"Have you informed the Government about this?"
>>122236Iron hums slightly at the comment, surprised.
"You have not been the only one, I heard," Iron comments. "Some big, slender pony was drained as well according to Midnight."
>>122240He squints his eyes together
“It’s no part of Maarist practices. They must have some other reason for doing it”
>>122239“I’ve been told that some years ago the Twilight administration was informed of the danger. I don’t know what they did with the information. But that was before we heard of a congregation here. We told the new government after the change of administration, and they allowed an inspector to come. Me.
I don’t think the ponies understand it. It is very foreign to their worldview. The old pony regime did not believe an alien culture could be so dangerous. It must always be tolerated first, before it can be converted to the ‘superior’ pony way. The new regime, like the old, is very worldly. They were certain we meant the dangerous elements were communists, or criminals. But they are something else.”
\r
>>122241"I Relive you. i found this book about the beings. i wish to help you stop the cultists."
>>122241Iron cocks his head.
"Why would you and the slender pony be drained, then?" he asks, curiously. "I thought these Maarist ones were composed of griffons."
>>122242"Well, thank you Zebra. These cultists
must be stopped. They borrow powers from beyond that aid them, and like cockroaches, they scatter when the light is shown upon them. They must all be squished now, in darkness"
>>122243"For me? That is simple. For torture"
Blue Skies walks up, closer, with an answer of her own
"They wanted to collect Changeling honey, to sell on the black market"
>>122244Iron hums. "It does not sound like they would be a member of the order, then," he responds. "Not many like changelings as beings for some reason."
>>122245He shrugs
“Ze Changelings have been helping in teaching their Art of War to the Empire”
>>122244Dark Star walks closer to the griffion and extends his hoof."My name is Dark Star. and im not actually a zebra."
>>122246Iron shrugs. "I have not heard many who would consider changelings as friends so far," he responds to the retort. "Some sense of paranoia that they would be ponynapped and replaced."
>>122247He steps up closer to Dark Star, and the fur on the lion-like upper portions of his forelegs are more visible now. He turns his head, first narrowing his eyes, then widening them, looking at Dark Star with firm, golden Eagle eyes.
"Are
you a Changeling?"
But he places up his claw, and shakes Dark Star's hoof.
>>122248He shrugs again
"Only the second time I was ever around a Changeling, and I felt as if my soul was to be ripped from my body. I think I can understand why their magic is feared"
>>122249"Nope. this is dye. im an earth pony."
>>122249Iron cocks his head, unsure. "Is it that powerful?" he asks doubtfully. "The last time I interacted with a changeling, I did have some memories lose their feel temporarily, but not as far as soul sucking."
He feels slightly unease at this revelation. "As far as I know, the Maarists would not induct changelings into their cause for something as simple as their honey," he utters "most likely they may have been enslaved..."
>>122250He looks more closely at Dark Star’s fur with his extended bird like neck.
“Ah. Yes.”
He pulls back
“Hard to see in the light. Convincing enough, I suppose. My vision has not helped either.”
>>122251“It was a turkey dreadful experience... I lost all will to resist, I was mesmerized, then I felt as if I was leaving my own body into the gut of this hornet-like creature...”
He is still for a moment
“Yes, we heard that a creature smuggled out of Skyfall may be helping them. Perhaps they wanted to sell the honey for profit.”
>>122252You did that pun on purpose.Iron hums slightly. "It sounds quite surreal indeed, losing all will for some creature as it drains you," he mutters "What do you know about the smuggled creature in particular?"
>>122252"You said you were with the imperial inquisition. which Nation are you from?"
>>122253Reeeee that's a typo. It should say "truly dreadful""They had it caged, with a steel collar around its neck. It looked kind of like a female pony, a little smaller.... But with black skin. Beetle like skin, not like skin under fur. Hard. Big green eyes with no whites in them. It had a chipped horn with metal on it, wings like a dragon fly. Holes in its legs, and a blue mane that had holes in it....."
>>122254"I am from the Empire. Helheim." He says
"Born and raised"
>>122255"Ah How is it this time of year?"
>>122256He pats down on his jacket, as if to brush it
"Colder. Much colder. And overcast. None of that 'Hearthswarming' stuff either"
>>122255Iron hums slightly "I have not heard of such a pony in here so far," he responds, rather unsure, turning to Skies and Sands. "Have you two found somepony that fits the description?"
>>122258They each shake their heads, steadily, and the other more quickly
"No"
"Nope"
>>122259Iron hums, turning back to the griffon. "Do you remember anything else about this female looking changeling? Did she say anything in particular?" he asks inquisitvely.
>>122257"No Hearthswarming? what do you celebrate then?"
>>122260“No. She said nothing at all. I was taken to her, placed before her... my interrogators prodded me, somehow got me to think of Boreas, of the streets back home, and the candy shop my father ran.... And then it was like a vampire biting the neck. But she didn’t go for the neck. She went right for the memories themselves... taffy went from pink to grey...”
He seems to tear up
“No, I don’t remember much else else about it. Or her.”
>>122261“The feast day of Saint Klaus, The day the Empire was declared. New Year’s Day. We have many traditions of our own”
>>122262Iron hums softly, looking at Sands and the griffon as he turns his head. "So no sign of this changeling and she was probably a slave for these cultists," he mutters, turning to Skies. "The slaves we are with were the only ones down there, right? No slaves prowling around the building that you know of?"
>>122262"Hmmmm interesting. who is this saint klaus?"
>>122264“A monk serving in the Evi valley during a military campaign who helped the poor, the wounded, and performed some minor miracles. He is a patron of orphans.”
>>122263“Well, if they have a Changeling that could be dangerous... This is a very large set of buildings, and we have yet to explore all of it... who knows what else there could be here”
Skies looks concerned, and Sands looks even more concerned
>>122265"Hmmmmmmm sounds interesting. How did you end up here? did you get captured?"
>>122265Seeing Sands rather uncomfortable, Iron lightly places her hoof on her shoulder, looking sternly. "Do not worry, I will not let your soul be sucked off by them," he tells her "I promise."
>>122267“Heh heh”
She comes up closer to him, and places a hoof on Iron. She feels a little cold, but it is her way of showing reassurance
“And I won’t let them take my Iron”
She looks over her shoulder to Skies
“We’ll stick together”
>>122266“I was looking around. Talking to the locals. When I investigated the old church, and went around the back, two of them came up behind me and started garroting me. I tried to fight back, but more cane up in front of me. I don’t know if they were on to me from my walking around, if someone I asked a question of grew suspicious, of if one of them knew me from back in the Hearzlands. It is not like the Empire here. They are much bolder, less afraid. More willing to act in day light. And the locals are not afraid of being reported to any Inquisition.”
>>122268Nodding, Iron confirms Sands' statement. "I agree. You should stick with Star and the foreign agent," he suggests to Skies "make sure no one gets replaced."
>>122268"i went around the back of the church as well. im lucky they didnt jumpy my friend and i."
>>122269She twists her mouth in a sort of frown. Skie's eyes seem to become bigger, and she seems more concerned with Iron's words now than what was said earlier
Skies
"I guess we should be careful..."
>>122270He nods
"Indeed you are. I do not think they would have kept me as prisoner for much longer."
>>122271Iron hums slightly, pondering about Khoi and the chicks one floor below them, but shakes his head. He doesn't want to taunt the kids into doing something stupid once more. Instead, he looks to Sands, rather fondly as his expressions softens, ears folding as he realizes how close he is to her body. "So... you found something else of note in this floor?" he asks.
>>122272Sands:
"We found her"
She points with her left hoof over to the white-ish colored griffin, who has her tongue hanging out unconscious against the wall
Skies:
"You mean,
besides what is in that other room"
She shivers, and has an expression of disgust
"I came here after she somehow wrestled this one to the ground"
Sands, again
"I think she was wondering around the fourth floor looking for somewhere to hide, though I am not sure"
>>122273Iron cocks his head before nodding. "I suppose that is a good enough answer," he responds, rather surprised nothing else was found. "How close are we to clearing out the place?"
>>122274"I think there's an entirely separate group of these cultists elsewhere in the building," Skies answers
>>122275"So we look for stragglers for now, then?" Iron asks, rather confused. "Maybe there are valuable items on these floors?"
>>122276“No” she answers
“The group we attacked earlier was one of two. And we still haven’t found Maakie”
She answers his second question
“There certainly could be valuables”
>>122277Thinking of Cauldron, he sets off in his small quest to find stuff to plunder for some much needed capital for Cauldron's business, he starts to trot off to start his search with Sands in tow if she wants to.
"That is what I will do for now, then," he states as he leaves the room, eager to explore.
>>122278Sands comes out, but Johann as well
There are two doors at the end of the hall, and the hallway seems to wrap around. One door is further away, the other closer
>>122279Iron first tries to open the door closest to him, trying to open it softly.
>>122280Locked
Sands:
“I think she cane to this one first, and doubled back when it didn’t open”
>>122281Humming slightly, he tries to bust the door open by slamming it with his body
[1d20+10 = 14]<Attack roll
>>122282Well, he certainly hits it. Roll damage or strength, depending on exactly how Iron is approaching it
>>122283[1d20+5 = 17]<Damage rollFunnily enough, it can be either
>>122284Iron kicks the door with his hind legs in a full buck, cracking the door, and while not knocking it to the ground nor separating it from its hinges, it does seem to break the portion keeping it locked in place, and allowing it to open
Sands and Johann both seem impressed by Iron’s kick
>>122285With a nod, he pushes the door open, eager to see what's inside.
>>122286In a way, it’s a construction similar to what was seen in the last room, with a wall to the left and a wall with doors on the right. But in another way, it’s completely different, with the most immediately noticeable difference being the electric lights hanging from the ceiling with open wiring. Against the wall is a rack with no less than three firearms, and several melee weapons. There is a table further back with a handgun on it, a table with a radio - of all things - on the far end, and ornamental carpet in the floor, a separate rug, a painting on the wall, and a bed visible through in the other room
>>122287Iron is admittedly surprised to find such a jackpot of weapons in here, trotting towards the rack in fascination before turning to Sands. "Think this is sellable somewhere?" he asks her, as if she'd know.
>>122288“Someone must have sold it to them, I’m sure it can be resold”
She says
>>122289Smiling wide, he quickly picks as many guns as he can, prioritizing the firearms then the fancier looking weapons, stuffing them on his person.
Spark continues to think up a plan.
"What do you think would work then?"
>>122299From the North, a wind blows down, and a great rustling runs through the pine trees. Down in the pit, Onyx is shielded in part, but he can feel it getting colder. Much colder.
Spark has gone off, talking to a Changeling in uniform, while the new wind has encouraged Ruby and his two "friends" to come closer back, towards the carriage
>>122300He only shakes his head
"If I knew, I wouldn't be in here"
>>122301Onyx seriously wonders how he got qualified as a foalsitter as her herds the foals closer to the wagon.
>>122303"The pit is nice, but where else are we gonna go today, Onyx?"
Ruby asks
>>122304"I'm not sure yet. Depends on how quickly we get out of here... Hang on a moment"
Onyx jump into the wagon and begins looking for something to start a fire with.
>>122303Spark seems to have gone off into the town.
>>122305Presumably they brought blankets and coats. There's a set of matches. No kerosene
>>122306He grabs the pack of matches in his maw, before poking his head out to see if there's a any sticks or such laying around.
>>122307Inside of the pit, nothing... 'cept maybe a few leaves that have blown in. Clay, mud, and that taconite rock. But there is a forest 40 feet above and beyond the brim
>>122308He sets the matches down and grabs his halberd
"Who wants to help collect firewood?"
Ruby, looking around, still semi-mesmerized by some of the machines, now turns his head up to Onyx. A smile forms across his face. And his tail begins to rock back and forth
"I do! I do!"
>>122301"Well.... I appreciate the attempt at help. But It'll have to be Zu Lang, or his lieutenant who would release me"
>>122310"And who is his lieutenant?"
>>122311"Uh, Drei Dwanzig, I think it is"
>>122310"Awwww"
He pats the colt on the head
"Hopefully your friends will stay put... Come on."
He throws his halberd over his shoulder and makes his way towards the brim.
>>122313The friends don't quite stay put, and act as if they do not understand Ponish.
A Changeling guard standing on the brim looks past at Onyx, seeming to take offense to the halberd. But he says nothing, and does nothing. They make their way through the grey earth past more rocks, puddles of water, and stepping aside for a diesel powered dump truck, until they go up an earthen ramp, and onto the ground. Here, the ground is barren with only some naked soil and scattered grass. Further away are tree stumps and denser grass, then pine forests. Pine trees 50 or 70 feet tall into the air, and swaying in the cold north wind
>>122312"Hmm... got a discription of him?"
>>122314Onyx does not acknowledge the guard
"Come on Ruby, stay close"
He makes his way to the forest, keeping a close eye on Ruby.
>>122315"He'll be wearing a darker jacket than the most of them, with black on it, and his fangs are a bit longer. He'll have an officer's cap rather than the steel helmet"
>>122316Ruby comes up closer, like a dog to heel. He has quite a bit of energy, and burst forward to his side. They get there soon enough, where there are some broken branches, and some trees have clearly stripped bark in pairs of downward trails, the left longer than the other
>>122317"Alright. I'll go talk to him."
>>122318"Grab as many of the branches as you can. We'll need them."
Onyx picks up some of the bigger ones, balancing them on his back or carrying them in his maw.
>>122319He nods, weakly
"Remember to try to think their way. They care more about results and security than justice or comapassion"
>>122320Ruby quickly picks up a branch that is broken off from 15 feet up. It is still live with green leaves, and is much, much longer than Ruby, making it awkward for him to carry. but he places the thing in his mouth, opening wide, obscuring most of his body behind leaves and an overly thick branch
>>122321Onyx can't help but laugh at the display, dropping his own sticks as he shakes with laughter at the tiny colt carrying this branch.
>>122322"Mwwwm?"
He asks
He presses forward.... to find the branch is caught between two trees, too wide to pass through. He goes forward again, bowing the branch, but nnot making it through. He tries to turn the left side up higher and the right side lower, to get it in at an angle. Finally, he pulls back, tries to push the right side through first, gets caught on a tree yet again, then the second time, narrowly makes it through, scraping his body against the tree.
He walks over, and drops the branch down next to Onyx
>>122323Onyx stops laughing and pats the colt again
"Good job, now, let's head back"
He picks up his branches again, and they make their way to the wagon again.
>>122324Onyx and the small walking sapling go back towards the carriage
>>122321"Don't worry. I got this far. I think we are just about in the clear."
Spark heads out to find the lieutenant.
>>122325I'm laughing like a madmanOnyx spits out his sticks next to the wagon, and drops the ones off his back, then moving to make a small pile of them.
>>122327Ruby drops his two small half-twigs on the small pile, and then plops down the branch that is twice as long as he is, which obscures the pile and much of the rock to either side with its leaves. It doesn’t fit in the pile, being several feet over in either direction, and its obtuse shape means sitting down it’s almost higher than the top of the pile.
Ruby spits, and licks out his mouth the get the bark out. Then he looks at the big branch and blinks
“Uh... green wood don’t burn as well as dead wood. My bad.”
The silent little grey Pegasus drops off a couple of his own twigs, about three six inch ones that are less than what Onyx can carry in his mouth
>>122326He is not inside the building as the secretary tells Spark
“He’ll be at the pit.”
But going down, around about the milk, Spark sees a Changeling that fits that description
>>122328He ruffle's both ponies' manes
"Oh well Ruby, it'll be fine"
He then gets the small fire ready and uses one of the matches to light it.
>>122328Spark approaches.
"Hello."
>>122330He turns, and narrows his blue eyes at Spark
"What do you want?"
>>122329Ruby's rather long brown mane comes down from his part, covering his face, as Onyx sees a smile underneath the mess of hair.
The grey pegasus Ruby has named "Mutey" recoils his head a little back and down as he closes his eyes, which are soon covered by his darker grey hair. His head pops back up when the hoof pulls away
At first, it barely lights, with a wind nearly blowing the match out. But it catches under one of the softer, dead branches, and a new wind - slowed by the depth of the pit, blows air into it, and a grey-white smoke comes out, before red flames spray up
>>122331"wew, that'll help us get a little warm"
Onyx sits down, watching the fire carefully
>>122331"Here on Zu Lang's orders. He needs to stop the terrorist attacks and I was sent to interrogate the prisoner and find the remaining suspects."
>>122332As the fire rises, it goes closer to the big branch on top, which starts to crackle and pop as the moisture boils and bursts out
Wesley comes, and sits down next to Onyx, and Ruby joins on the other side, at little further away
"Wish I brought Marshmallows..."
>>122333Spark met the Lieutenant maybe 30 yards from the mill, and the sound of a loud, rock crushing machine pervades over all. But he must of heard Spark, for the almost snarling expression on his mouth fades to something calmer yet more concerned. He asks no questions about Spark's identity, at least yet anyways
"And what did you find?"
>>122334Onyx chuckles
"No use worrying about it now. i say we just stay warm."
>>122336At this point, somepony walks up to him. Rather, some creature. It's a Changeling, a Changeling drone. Adult sized, with no disguise nor pretense of being anything other, and a fur coat. With his blue green eyes, he lowers an eyebrow and asks
"What are you doing?"
It's said like a question born from genuine curiosity rather than an accusation of wrong doing
"This is an active mining zone"
>>122335"The prisoner seems ready to point out his comrades. I just need your approval to get an escort and bring him back to find the guilty party."
>>122338He is silent for a moment
"I'll see..."
He starts walking towards the mine
>>122337"Well an associate of mine is talking to some of the higher ups, and I was left to take care of the foals, and it's cold."
Onyx hopes there isn't too much malace in his voice.
>>122340"Foals?"
Ruby pulls back, to the side, and slightly behind Onyx, while Wesley almost indifferently walks forward, before a small purple bat pony rushes past and towards the Drone.
The drone looks back to Onyx
"I see... This isn't the best of all places for foals"
>>122341"I agree, but they're here. So I will try to make them comfortable while they are."
>>122342"This is the middle of an active mine" he repeats
>>122343"I don't see any mining happening around, but If you need me to I'll move."
>>122344He blinks. Then walks off.
>>122345"Good enough"
He headcounts the foals again, just to be safe.
>>122346Kerr runs off in the direction of the Drone, while Wesley sits, tilts his head towards the receding drone, then back to Onyx when Onyx makes more noise. But Ruby pokes his head up around Onyx, then jumps out
"Yay! You made that big, mean old Changeling go away!"
Ruby hugs Onyx
>>122347"Oh, it was nothing"
Onyx akwardly accepts the hug, watching the chngeling foals.
Kerr defeatedly comes back, and lays down across from the fire.... The small, pitiful fire that is already partly burning out, and has only just blackened the big live branch
Wesley says something to Onyx in parasite, and then Kerr says something back to both of them in a sarcastic tone of voice, but that's also in parasite, so you couldn't understand him even if you wanted to understand him, which you certainly don't with that tone of voice. Ruby stands up, and walks back a pace, frightened by the language of the foals he thought were mute
>>122349Onyx gently pets Ruby
"Don't worry, they won't bite. I don't like that tone though... Maybe we should move into the wagon."
>>122350Ruby is pet, but he still has a look of concern on his face, as he doesn't seem to buy onyx's lie about the hatchlings not biting
"Yeah... we can do that"
Ruby stands behind and beside Onyx, looking past him towards Wesley in a way much like he did with the guard. Wesley frowns as he looks back at Ruby, and then hangs his head and looks down. Kerr stands next to his brother, narrowing his eyes and half snarling at Ruby.
>>122351"oh, pay no attention to the one. The other one wants to be your friend still."
Onyx marches up the wagon, opens it up, and gestures the goals inside.
>>122352Wesley and Kerr watch as Onyx goes off, followed by ruby who trots alongside him
When Ruby opens the door, he finds.... A big brown Earth pony laying down inside. And another one.... This one is grey. They look up at him
>>122353Uh.... I seem to have made an error in my math...
WHAT
>>122354The two stallions look up at Onyx, one with a formal blanket, the other with a coat used as a blanket, and both with some bandages or other on them, laying on each respective side of the carriage couches. They look up to Onyx silently, and blink
>>122356I wasn't aware the wagon was occupied...
Onyx slowly shuts the door.
"Uh... New plan?"
>>122357"Yes?" Ruby asks
The other two foals, close together, are still separated, further away on the other side of Onyx
>>122358"I'm... Not quite sure. I'm kinda used to being cold, but I don't know about you"
>>122359"If.... If I could just get a coat..."
>>122360"Of course."
He slowly opens the door again, looking for a free coat.
>>122361Well.... there is the one that is covering the grey earth pony
>>122364I guess...
[1d20 = 17]
>>122365Yes! There is a smaller coat, fluffy and faux fur, fit for a colt. Wesley and Kerr are already wearing jackets of their own
>>122366Wew! Onyx quickly grabs is and presents it to the colt.
>>122367Ruby lights up, and his tail goes high before wagging back and forth
"Yay!"
He grabs the coat out of Onyx's hooves, covering himself in it, fumbling around underneath the coat, until eventually, a leg pops out, then his little head sticks out through it
>>122368Fuck, muh heart
"There ya go"
Onyx slowly shuts the door again, Wondering how long they'll be there.
>>122369Spark has since come back down, now near the mill
Ruby asks,
"So, what we doin' up here?"
Ruby looks around, not turning his head, but turning his whole body in a little circle as he stands in place
"This ain't the state fair"
>>122370Sorry that I disappeared. I'll be free tomorrow.
>>122378Reeeee No boop!
Um... what does Silver do now?
>>122379Hmm...gimme a minute...
>>122379Can you give me a refresher on Silver's surroundings/situation?
>>122380>>122381Yay! Hi edge pone
Iron has gone down towards one of two doors, and has kicked it open, and gone inside
>>122383Dark Star follows him inside
>>122382As Silver walks upstairs to the top level, it is like walking 50 years into the past. The walls are decrepit, there is no wiring inside of the walls (and sometimes, no electric lights at all), and doors and steps are obviously later, cheaper additions to the construction from what is recognizable below.
Silver can see clearly that the ponies have added a new follower - a yellow griffin who wears a thick brown jacket, a fedora and glasses, and looks scrawnier than nature would build him.
Here there are Iron, Blue Skies, Dark Star, White Sands.... Maybe Midnight
>>122384When Dark Star enters, he sees this:
In a way, it’s a construction similar to what was seen in the last room, with a wall to the left and a wall with doors on the right. But in another way, it’s completely different, with the most immediately noticeable difference being the electric lights hanging from the ceiling with open wiring. Against the wall is a rack with no less than three firearms, and several melee weapons. There is a table further back with a handgun on it, a table with a radio - of all things - on the far end, and ornamental carpet in the floor, a separate rug, a painting on the wall, and a bed visible through in the other room
>>122385The still-bloodied Silver tilts his head at the sight of the yellow griffon, and approaches him. "Hmm...who are you?"
>>122385Dark Star looks at the firearms
>>122385Iron simply nods before continuing his plundering of weapons for later selling.
>>122386The Griffin's head turns almost instantly, and the right side of him actually 'jumps,' the right rear and forelegs moving over a few inches. His body turns firmly to Silver now
"Johann Lichtschild of the Imperial Inquisition" he says, firmly and head level to Silver
>>122387Three guns, and it looks like Iron has already placed them on his back
>>122388Three long guns and a handgun.
>>122389Silver's eyes widen a little in surprise. "You are from Griffonian Empire? If you do not mind my asking, what would Inquisitor be doing here?"
>>122388"Hey what kind of guns you got there?"
>>122391>>122389Iron turns to Dark Star, shrugging. "I do not know," he responds before stuffing the last of the weapons under his clothing
>>122390He gives a sharp, short nod, and says
"I am. I suppose you must be with this... group. I was sent here to investigate whether Maarist cultists have been emigrating to Equestrian. I'm afraid to say that indeed they are
>>122392What clothing?
>>122393Silver nods in turn. "That would explain robes and magic. Yes, I am part of this group. Name is Silver Sword. If you are here to help put stop to this, then I will be glad to call you ally."
>>122393Y'know, the stolen white worker's outfit he got about 6-7 sessions ago.
>>122394He pauses for a moment, and his chest visibly moves with a breath
"Well, nice to meet you as well. I'm afraid the forces here should not be underestimated, nor may they be suffered to live."
>>122395Well, either way, the guns are longer than Iron's back (slightly) and don't really fit under clothing
>>122396Ah, well he's carrying on his back, then. Surely they'll fit right in.
>>122396Silver motions to the multiple stab wounds in his shoulder, and the fairly bad wound he got from the magic sword. "We just finished with fight with them downstairs. Over one dozen captured or killed."
>>122397They fit on the back, yes. Fit under clothing...... No. Not really. That's not really possibly with anything bigger than a handgun. Attempting to do that would result in the barrel being straight up next to the neck making moving the head very difficult and probably painful since it would result in the end of the barrel of a presumably loaded shotgun, rifle, or whatever else these may be jamming into your face. With three of them it would probably also break the shirt.
They can of course be strapped over the back, and set at a slight angle, but this is not concealed
>>122398"... Well. That's pretty impressive"
He seems to form a smile
"Looks like you got quite hurt yourself. Small pain, compared to what may happened if the tumor is not removed"
>>122399He's not particularly worried about concealment at the moment, so the latter option is accepted.
>>122400And so it is. What of the handgun?
>>122401I suppose that could fit under clothing so as to not sling it around on the back, right?
[1d2 = 1]>>122402It could
fit, it's a question of pockets...
>>122403>>122402There is an internal pocket
>>122399Silver chuckles. "I suppose you could say we are surgeons, then. To be honest, this revelation that they are Maarists is not very surprising. We found garbage chute on first floor that is filled with bones of ponies, griffons, kirins, and likely others...though it does make me wonder how many of those are results of religious sacrifices, now..."
>>122405His eyes go wide, his mouth is slightly open and the beak pulls back in indignation, before eye brows go forward
"So they are..... Tell me, what else have you learned. What do you know?"
>>122404Kewl. He puts it in there, then.
No gun left behind
>>122407Alright. Now what?
>>122393Dark Star looks at the melee weapons
>>122408He looks for more, of course. He needs all the money he can get for Cauldron's business.
>>122410>>122409There are no more firearms in the room. Yet it is clearly an armory. There are two long spears with bulbous, leaf shaped metal tips. There are three swords, all of different design, one curved, the other a double sided sword of a leaf-shape, and the third straighter but rounded at the end, as if a compromise of the two designs before. There is a battle ax with some material removed behind the blade in the axe head, and against the wall - three separate suits of armor. Leather with plates of metal tied up into them. Some furniture is wicker and some has floral patterns, and there is a stove on the side of the room closest to the wall
>>122411He grabs the spears
>>122411Iron opts to take the two spears and three swords for future selling, also placing them on his back.
>>122412They are fairly long, but still balanced and light enough for throwing
>>122413He's going to have to fight Dark Star for it
>>122406"There is likely not much else that you would not already know. These cultists are brazen enough to commit their crimes out in open; one captured colt witnessed them murder griffon on docks before he was captured himself. Their reach goes as far as Ngua Nam, with our freed kirin captive having been captured there while trying to get to Equestria. There are both zebras and gnolls in their employ, but no ponies, save for Sweet Boek who owns this building. They've been using captives to make clothing and drugs to sell. We know of name of ship they are using to bring captives here. Most importantly, however, is that we know where their leader, Maakie, will be for foreseeable future."
>>122414>>122412Iron bites the handle of one of the spears, rather surprised that his attempt to take it was thwarted by the Starry boi.
>>122416"Oh did you want one of these spears?"
>>122417Iron nods while still holding the spear in his mouth rather stoically. "Fer Cawldron," he says, voice muffled.
>>122418"Ah,i had similar reasons. Blue was trained to use spears back in nimbusia. You can have that one."
He lets go of the one that iron is pulling.
>>122419Iron nods before tucking it on his back with the other weapons rather happily.
>>122415He nods
"Ah, yes. The cultists are depraved of heart, and no few bounds. But just as they contract out for dark, magical powers, so too do they contract for international movement of creatures and material. It is not Maarists alone who have taken up business along these shores, but those consumed by an entirely different kind of spiritual depravity. Skyfall has long been foremost in trade upon the seas, and long too has it been overtaken with a spirit of greed and a conviction that societal status is determined by one's wealth. It is only natural that a few of them resort to even less ethical means to secure their place in the world. So it is that a smuggler out of Skyfall - This Storm Feather Maakie - has made a strange sort of mutual agreement with the Maarist that he will provide them with transport across the ocean - and presumably also, with fresh flesh for sacrifices, and he wrings every cent of profit he can out of the arrangement. But he is not their leader. It's a mutual arrangement of complimentary interests, like the bacteria and the fungi that together make a lichen."
>>122419>>122420Blue SKies enters the room, followed by White Sands with a lit cigarette in her green aura
"Oh great, you found more weapons for us!"
>>122421"Oh hey i was just talking about you."
He says to blue.
>>122422She smiles, and walks up closer to Dark Star
"And what were you saying?"
>>122421Iron looks to the two mares, rather confused. "For who?"
>>122424White Sands takes a long draw
Blue Skies:
"For whoever could use a gun or armor, I suppose"
>>122423"About your training."
He motions to the spear.
"I Thought you might like this."
>>122426"Heh"
She takes the spear, and holds it upright in a claw, pressing it against the floor
"I suppose they did"
The smile goes down a little
"To be in a Phalanx..."
>>122421Silver considers this. "Still, Maakie must be removed. Judging from what I have seen, no others in this organization in Baltimare have enough charisma or strength to take his place. Removing him will likely result in everything here collapsing, and will finally let us cut this malignant growth out of our fair country."
>>122425Iron nods, before pointing to the armors and battleaxe. "That should be plenty," he responds quickly.
>>122428"It's not a matter of leadership so much as expertise. Not many griffins can organize a smuggling operation. Still though, don't fall into the same trap as the government officials. Maakie is useful to them. But he isn't their leader. They can survive without him. Because Equestria, just as in the Herzland, there are the greedy, the angry, the jealous, the lustful and the lost. And they too may fall to the whisper in the dark that calls them to Maar."
>>122429White Sands slowly lets smoke come out of her mouth in a stream
"I don't get it"
>>122430Iron quickly shakes his head before patting Sands on the back. "Relax," he utters sweetly "You do not need to understand."
He gives her a little smile and a blush after realizing what he just did.
>>122431"You know we still have to fight people tonight...
right?
Don't you?"
>>122430"We will try to do what we can, starting here. Speaking of, has there been any developments on this floor?"
>>122432Iron nods once, not getting the implications.
>>122433He looks over to his left
"The big grey one and the mahogany one have gone into that room. But I must say I haven't seen everything"
>>122434"Tell me. Have you ever played poker?"
>>122427He Hugs her
"Spear some for me."
>>122435"Iron and Dark Star. I suppose I will see what they have found."
>>122434>>122435>>122436Silver trots into the room, behind its current occupants.
>>122435Iron shakes his head, looking confused.
>>122436"Heh"
*Griffin is hugged*
>>122437Silver walks in to see:
Blue Skies holding a spear and being hugged by Dark Star
Iron with three long guns on his back, a bulge under his jacket, and talking to White Sands
White Sands smoking a cigarette that smells like Silver's favorite brand
And:
In a way, it’s a construction similar to what was seen in the last room, with a wall to the left and a wall with doors on the right. But in another way, it’s completely different, with the most immediately noticeable difference being the electric lights hanging from the ceiling with open wiring. Against the wall is an empty firearms rack, and several melee weapons. There is a table further back, and a different table with a radio - of all things - on the far end, and ornamental carpet in the floor, a separate rug, a painting on the wall, and a bed visible through in the other room
There are two long spears with bulbous, leaf shaped metal tips. There are three swords, all of different design, one curved, the other a double sided sword of a leaf-shape, and the third straighter but rounded at the end, as if a compromise of the two designs before. There is a battle ax with some material removed behind the blade in the axe head, and against the wall - three separate suits of armor. Leather with plates of metal tied up into them. Some furniture is wicker and some has floral patterns, and there is a stove on the side of the room closest to the wall
>>122439>>122438Silver trots up to the trotting armory. "You certainly have come across motherlode."
>>122440Iron simply nods, returning to whatever Sands means about poker.
>>122438"Well, you see, poker is this game where creatures have cards with different symbols, and different combinations beat other combinations, and you bet money before hoof over who has the best set. It's about understanding the strength of your position, judging other people, and fooling other people into acting the way you want them to. Sometimes, the money is replaced with chips, and you always have cards. But the important thing to always remember is that the chips and the cards... they are not money. They are just tools to use as a means to an end. But they are worthless unless used to play the game.
I don't know what you intend to do with three guns, but I know logically that you can't possibly use them all at once to fight these gangsters. So what is your plan? Are you going to try to cut out and run? Well, you have a thousand or more gold in bounties down stairs you'd be missing out on, and these gangsters are just going to track you down, kill you, and use your zebra as a sex slave. Do you want to keep the guns, or sell them? Do you just hate guns and want to destroy them? That can happen
after you give them to these lackeys and they use them to shoot at enemies."
She backs away from Iron, and turns her side to him to really show off her body
"Look at me! I'm a small, scrawny female with no muscle mass. Do you expect me to do a lot of damage with
this" She holds up the dagger
"This knife isn't even really designed to cut things, it's a ceremonial piece. And I couldn't swing a sword. Look, here's the bottom line. Most of these prisoners here... they are illegal aliens. If you don't want them to run off, you can stop them. You want the guns at the end of the night? Don't just keep them out of the action - that might kill you. Have them use the guns to kill this asshole griffin, turn in the dead body of the griffin to the police for a bounty, turn in the prisoners you freed to the police for a small bounty and have them deported, turn in the guns to the police for the gun buy-back, and then steal the guns out of the back of the police carriage when they are not looking.
That is how you play poker. By using what you have in your hand. Not by stuffing away cards and thinking it's money"
>>122441>>122442Silver, being close enough to listen in on the conversation, frowns near the end of Sands' speech. "We are not deporting them, reward or no."
>>122443Silver may appreciate how much more expressive is the mouth of a pony compared to the beak of a griffin, for White Sands can be seen visibly frowning.
Johann walks by, and starts looking around the room
>>122442"Did some pony say poker?"
>>122442>>122443Iron shakes his head. "Oh no, I mean to sell them off after the mission as a little bonus," he responds swiftly after the whole speech, before humming lightly. "I am pretty sure you still have that revolver one of us gave you, so there is that."
Iron then presents a small smile to her. "Tell you what, you tell me what they do and how much they are worth and I will let you pick one for yourself."
>>122446Silver looks at the rifles on Iron's back. "You are not going to keep one for yourself?"
>>122447Iron turns to Silver, rather dumbfounded. "Do I look like I know how to use these things?"
>>122448The unicorn smiles. "I can show you how to, it is not so difficult. They are immensely useful weapons."
>>122445White Sands turns to Dark Star, smiles, and nods
>>122446"I don't think you're understanding me exactly. You have here three or four or so females and children who aren't big enough to really be very effective with a sword or take hits well, but can be better as support with guns. And then of course you can always use one yourself"
>>122449>>122450Iron cocks his head at the two of them. "I do not want it for myself," he responds once more "I want to get as many bits as possible more than their utility."
He looks at Sands in particular next. "I am pretty sure the only female without a ranged weapon is Khoi, who seems to handle herself well with a hammer, and could potentially use the big axe over there." He proceeds to point at said weapon.
>>122451She looks at him again
"They can do more damage with a gun than a machete, and you can get the guns back at the end of the night. As I said, chips are not money"
>>122452Iron looks at Sands for a moment before digging towards his
big, bulging pistol he had on him. "Alright, alright, what were you thinking of talking?"
>>122450"We should play once this is all over."
>>122453"Well,
I am fine sitting in the back. But if you insist on more firepower...."
>>122454She looks back to him
"I'll think about it, depending on how things go down"
>>122455Iron proceeds to shrug again. "Ah, alright. I thought you wanted one. My mistake," he quickly retorts before pulling his hoof out of the bulge.
>>122456>>122454Johann comes back around
"What did you find?"
>>122457"Offensive tools," he responds
>>122458He blinks, and stares his slit gold eyes at Iron
"My gun. It must have been here."
He holds up a small yellow box
>>122457>>122459"what kind of gun was it?"
>>122461"Steyr M912. A very reliable automatic pistol"
>>122462"Thats a nice model. im more of a revolver stallion,myself." i think i saw it in here somewhere i think iron might know where it is."
>>122463"Well"
He looks over to Iron
"There is a munition box under the table"
Then he looks back to Dark Star, and answers the question
"It is better to have the eight rounds in the automatic, than the six in the revolver. All the same, the heretics fear it"
Blue Skies looks over with a scrunched facial expression, as if offended and wanting to say something, but she says nothing
>>122464"Its all about the Accuracy."
Dark Star says nonchalantly
>>122465"Which of course is why you take ze Steyr"
He nods
>>122466"I Disagree,the Revolver is the most accurate hoofgun."
>>122467He narrows his eyes, and turns his head to the side
"No, I... don't think that's right. Either way, hard to miss when your target is in the same room as you"
I feel like I miss every session now.
>>122472PetsDon’t worry, there will be sessions for you soon enough
>>122473is petI should be free tomorrow night.
Spark will continue the adventure tomorrow.
[hopefully going to play pony noises]
I'll be free all day tomorrow.
Spark continues his adventure.
>>122516Yay!
Does he meet with Onyx?
>>122517Yes. Is Onyx here tonight?
>>122519Yay!
Spark walks over to Onyx.
"There you are."
>>122519>>122520And so the two, presumably meet up.
Onyx is around a tiny little fire not that far from the cart, somewhere down from a ramp entrance to the mine near the grinding mill. He has the three foals with him
>>122520"Hello, how were the bugs?"
>>122522"
chkchkchkchkchk"
>>122522"Well... I might have got caught up in something... and I'm going to need your help."
>>122523Onyx looks concerned at the young bugs
>>122524"well, lemme hear it"
>>122525"Well, there is a pony being falsely accused for sabatoge which I'm trying to free. I might need some back up if the old sweet talk doesn't quite pan out."
>>122526"Sounds fun. So, where do we go?"
>>122525The foals return to a situation much like that before Onyx looked into the cart
Ruby sits down on the left side of Onyx, holding onto (lightly) his left foreleg. Beneath the much taller Onyx it's like hiding behind a table leg. In front of Onyx, and to the right, Wesley sits down with a drooping head. Kerr stands up over his brother, with his right hoof on him. The scowl on his face slowly fades to a frown
>>122527"Right now I'm waiting on the lieutenant to return with word about my request to bring the prisoner over to reveal who has been doing it. Perhaps I can get him to point to the forest and you can pop out and scare them into thinking there is a supernatural force out there messing with them."
>>122529"Maybe. Say, can you take care of those two-"
he points to the changling foals
"I don't understand them"
>>122530"Sure."
>>122528He looks to the changelings.
>>122530>>122531The purple colt is the first to look up at Onyx and then Spark, with almost blank expression, ears that go down for a moment, and wide open, green eyes. The grey pegasus joins in a moment, lifting up a heavy head and looking at onyx with wet blue eyes that glisten
>>122532Spark goes over and hugs the little ponies.
>>122533The purple bat pony pulls back and inch, and starts to hiss. He is cut off by the hug. As he is much smaller than Spark, he is easily dominated. The grey pegasus is less mobile, but closer to the ground and places more weight into the hg, making him a slightly more difficult target. He is hugged nevertheless. Both have been out in the cold and Spark can feel it
>>122534Awwwwww. Poor cold ponies.
Spark comforts the little ponies.
"We will be out of here soon. Don't worry."
>>122535chkchk>>122530"What we gonna do?"
Ruby asks Onyx
>>122536"Well, do what he says until we can get outta here. Hopefully sooner than later."
>>122537"Where you gonna take me when we get out?"
Now, the bright red pony looks up at Onyx with a smile, his tail starting to move slightly back and forth
>>122538"Well, there's lots of places we could go. Where would you like to go?"
>>122539"Well, I hadn't been to the state fair in... three years now? Ever since daddy reenlisted there watn't really any time for it it seemed. I'd always wanted to see the Crystal City. Or.... I know! Canterlot! If we could just get....... Them"
He turns his eyes, but not all of his head, over to a guard that stands some 50 yards away, the same guard that Onyx so bravely made go away a few minutes before
"-to let us travel around rather than stay in our sector"
>>122540"We'll get there, don't worry"
He pets the colt to reassure him
>>122540Spark goes to check on the lieutenant.
>>122541The colt closes his eyes, and slightly lowers his head, but presses up his big, bushy mane for the pets
"Awwwwwww If anypony can put some fear into them giant bedbugs, it's you. Make 'em let us go"
>>122542The lieutenant walks out causally with an haughty expression. Behind him walks a white coated changeling who carries on a leash the prisoner spark met with earlier. The prisoner's head is lowered, but faces forward, with a firm if somewhat frowning expression. His eyes have bags and black around them, and his ribs show those portions not covered by a brown coat
>>122543"we'll go soon enough, don't worry. But apparently we have some busiess first"
>>122543Spark greets them.
"So prisoner, ready to point out who is responsible?"
>>122545He looks up, then over to Spark. For a moment, he is completely expressionless. But then, he narrows his eyes at Spark.
The lieutenant looks to the prisoner. His lips are pulled up midway along his muzzle, almost like a snarl. But the fangs don't help, forcing the lips up at the front. Then, swiveling his head and its massive, dragon-fly eyes towards Spark, he says
"How can you succeed on this? We've been working him down for two weeks now and he has yet to name accomplices!"
>>122544He looks up again to Onyx
"Oh... Alright"
>>122546"Don't worry, it probably won't take more than a day"
>>122547He looks up to Onyx, and his sad expression changes to a smile. His right ear folds in half for a moment, and flops back up, then his tail quickly moves back and forth
"I can wait for ya. I know you'll get it done"
>>122548Onyx chuckles and continues petting the colt
>>122549He stretches out his neck
"I know 'ya can. You scarred off that big, mean old changeling earlier like it was nothin'. I thought for sure we were goners! You see the teeth on that thing? Like ice-cycles. The big ones that form on the siding. But you scared him away"
The guard in question is still 50 yards away, sitting down and looking back at Onyx. He has lazy air about him, with indifferent eyes and relaxed lips, like a lion resting under the Savannah sun at midday. His spliced, tubular right ear twitches.
The mine never ceases to produce obnoxious sounds of diesel engines, rocks tossed into the back of trucks, power shovels digging through clay, and above all else, the pounding of the grinding mill
>>122546"Well, sometimes it takes a pony to get a pony to talk."
>>122551His snarl drops to a colder, straighter impression, and part of what seems to be an eyelid closes in. He nods
"Very well. We shall see what you can do. But I will have my eyes on you"
\r
>>122552Spark nods and motions for them to bring him along.
>>122553The lieutenant himself extends a hoof pointing forward, and the guard walks forward, pulling the chain tight, and with a "cling" the prisoner starts to move forward over towards Spark
\r
>>122554Spark heads to the other workers to find the traitors.
>>122555checks self in lonelinessSpark ponders his plan.
>>122563boops from across the continent
>>122564Intercontinental Ballistic Boops!
>>122584Gah!
Hi little pony! What is Silver up to?
>>122585Currently looking at his compatriots, look around the small armory. He speaks up. "Finish up in here. I am going to scout ahead on this floor. Join me when you are done."
>>122587White Sands nods. Blue Skies:
"Just.... Be careful"
And yet, from somewhere comes another voice, whispered
"Do you think me so easily repulsed?"
>>122588Silver pays little head to the whispered voice. He smiles at Blue Skies. "I will."
The old pony thus leaves the armory to explore this floor of the building.
>>122589Silver opens the door of the room, back into the hallway, and sees something rather different than he may recall
Light enters the hall. Natural sunlight, shining in from a glass roof that vaults upwards divided into one meter squares, covering the area over the rectangular atrium at the center of the building. Two beams cross under the raised glass roof, with flood lights attached. The sun shines through the roof, slightly angled towards the opposite side of the building, and leaving Silver's position slightly in shadow.
The walls on the left side of the hallway that blocked off the atrium are gone. Replaced with a part wrought iron, part wood railing kind of like that found on the lower two levels. Yet Silver can see that he is, in fact, on the fourth floor - albeit one that looks different than when he went in.
The walls hold a fresh set of white wash, tempered slightly by the presence of at least one sun symbol on each wall. The doors and door frames are fresh wood, if somewhat austere. Silver is not alone, as some ponies walk around here and elsewhere
>>122590Silver blinks once, then again, then looks side to side at the new surroundings and the ponies that shouldn't be in there. He reaches out to the nearest one to get their attention.
>>122591Silver doesn't have to look far. Over to the left, Silver sees a mare walking at leisurely pace in his direction. A nun. She wears a simple black habit that raises where in covers her ears, and has no coloring other than a white garment around her neck
>>122592Silver reaches out to touch her shoulder. "Sister?"
>>122593Silver feels something, without feeling the full detailed tactile sensations he would normally associate with touching a garment. It's something there, but it isn't soft or rough or smooth or wrinkled.
She pulls back at the touch. And narrows her eyes
"Are you looking for somepony?" She says to him looking at him
>>122594The feeling makes the fur on the back of his neck stand on end. It's just wrong to him. He pauses for a moment before a question comes to him.
"Excuse me, Sister, what is the date today?"
>>122595She blinks, and her mouth is partly open
"It's the twelfth, I think, of April. Nine forty four. Tuesday."
She looks at him for another moment in silence, maybe a second and a half
"Do you have a daughter or somepony close to you that you expect to be released today?"
>>122598The old pony's eyes widen.
April nine forty...I think I am having stroke...Nervously, he smiles. "I...do believe so, but I think I will be fine, Sister...?"
>>122599She turns her head ever so slightly to the right. Still looking at Silver. Her mouth closes. Then she says
"North o' the' Dam. This floor is for the sisters and patients with higher needs. Who are you looking for?"
\r
[1d20-1 = -14]>>122601Bluff: Silver says the first thing that comes to mind. "I am looking for Willow."
>>122602Her eyes open up "Wippy Willow? Oh yes, she should be coming up soon from her treatment. I'm not sure she's ready to be released yet though. I think she's on a court order...."
She kind of trails off, with less confidence in her most recent words
>>122603He nods. "Thank you, Sister North."
>>122604She looks at him, almost confused, but moves over to the side and tries to walk past him
>>122605Silver steps out of her way to let her pass.
>>122606She does so. But what does Silver do?
>>122607As soon as she's out of sight, the old unicorn releases a breath he didn't know he was holding. His legs get a bit wobbly underneath him. He shakily trots over the railing down into the atrium, the one that not 30 minutes ago was host to a very brutal massacre by his own hooves.
>>122608*over to the railing
>>122608>>122609Trotting over to the railing, Silver can find that his hoof can go no further than to the railing itself - not over it. But his vision extends further, and down to the floor he can see that it is a set of dull greyish stone tiles that break up the otherwise oppressive atmosphere impossed by the bright, whitewashed walls. There is no hint of bodies or blood.... but still Silver can vaguely smell burned clothing. A smell that is added to by a slight smell of disinfectant and bleach. A mare walks past, naked, as does another, and one is visible on the second floor as well. From off in the distance is the sound of a foal crying.
>>122610"I
must be having stroke..."
The unicorn slumps down into a sitting position, holding a forehoof to his head. "April 944...I was not even born yet..."
After a minute of catching his breath, he trots back to look in the small armory he just left.
>>122611Entering the room, he finds it to be, as before, a long common room with two separate other rooms on the right. This room is actually a bit simpler, with a white tile floor, a white washed right wall, and the far wall painted a sort of ocean blue color. There is a table, a wooden chair, and a simple but fluffy couch. One window on the far side opens to outside, looking onto ocean, and letting some light shine in, with rays falling nearly directly below the window. There is an oil lamp, but no electric lights. Looking over to the two side rooms each have a bed but are otherwise mostly plain, and the doors have windows and locks from the outside.
>>122612He just shakes his head. "Oh no..."
The old pony paces out in the hallway, wondering what to do now that he has obviously lost his marbles. Ultimately, he decides to follow whatever is causing the scent of burnt clothes.
>>122613As Silver moves back into the hallway, he comes upon three mares. One, a little further away is North, who has turned and is looking to the other two. The other two are a daffodil yellow mare with a white shirt, and another nun, this one clearly a white unicorn cover completely in black. The yellow mare rocks her head side to side, and moves her mouth as if in mumbling, and does not seem to notice Silver, or even focus her eyes forward. The Unicorn nun tugs at the daffodil mare with a yellow magic glow, trying to pull her forward.
The mares seem to be coming from the stairwell, as the door closes Silver can see stone steps like those on lower floors, and can smell the smell of burned clothing coming stronger from the stairwell
>>122614Silver continues to follow the scent, wondering what could be causing it.
Is it hallucination like everything else? Or is it real?
>>122615Only faint, but it does seem that the air caries it stronger nearer the stairwell. As Silver passes, North says to Silver and to the other two
"Oh! It's the father! Here is Willow"
She looks back to the Daffodil mare, who audibly mumbles to herself and rocks her head back and forth. She pays no mind to the alleged father. The nun looks over towards Silver
>>122616Silver stops in his pursuit of the smell, and looks towards Willow. "...Willow? Is that you?"
>>122617The mare actually does look up, and over to Silver. Her eyes are magenta. Her mouth keeps moving, occasionally stopping, evidently talking at low volume. She says nothing to Silver, however. Partly covered by the collar of her shirt on her neck are a couple darker spots with some lost fur that Silver by now can recognize as electrical burns
>>122618Already knowing the answer, Silver points the burn marks out to the Sisters and asks, "What are those from?"
>>122619North tries to answer
"I... I think it's from her treatment. She has mania"
With an air of almost indignation, the white unicorn nun interjects, looking over towards North and then to Silver. She speaks, with a voice that sounds older and harsher
"The doctor says she has Premature dementia, and has prescribed treatment accordingly. If you ask me, she's been conversing with demons."
She looks back to Willow, who at least sometimes looks in the direction of people who are talking, only to then again look off into the distance down the hall.
>>122620He raises an eyebrow at the Sisters. "You are treating my daughter...with electricity?"
>>122621She answers, with a tone of no apology
"Electrically induced seizures, yes. So says the doctor. And a healthy dose of prayer time, so says I."
Willow looks down the hall and says something under her breath every few seconds, occasionally nodding
>>122622"That is just barbaric!"
Silver tries to listen in on what Willow is muttering.
>>122623She's talking at a really low volume, and her head is pointed further down the hallway, slightly to the right
"The cats jump to the moon and live on the far side?"
Pause
She nods
"Can you take me there?"
She pauses, and moves her head forward, more eager
"My daughter will be there?"
Short pause
"But.... I am stuck here"
A much longer pause. She nods
"I see"
>>122624I wonder who she is talking to...Silver pats the mare's back, while trying to discreetly smell if the burnt clothes smell is coming from her.
>>122625The smell is
not coming from her, and has actually dissipated somewhat since they entered. And yet, there is a slight - very slight - smell of burning
fur from her
She speaks a little more
"Wait?"
And this time, it sounds as if there is a whispered reply
"Just take me home"
Another whisper
"And be with the cats"
>>122625>>122626When Silver pats the back, he feels like his hoof is completely numb. He can feel that it is touching something, but he can feel no details of it. Silver's hoof comes down on the shirt. Her ears twitch back, and her fur goes from a completely upright position to one ever so slightly relaxed
>>122626>>122627It might be a hallucination, and it might feel like it's wrong, but he continues to pat Willow's back. "There, there..."
>>122628Her fur relaxes a bit again, but she keeps staring forward, almost like a dog at alert.
"Tell me when it comes" she whispered
The nun speaks to Silver
"She is not ready to go home"
>>122629Silver speaks back to the nun. "You know that this 'treatment' isn't helping."
>>122630"Guh! The court ordered her to treatment by a doctor. She
needs an exorcist. But the Doctor has his own ways"
She looks down to Willow, who is silent now, and has turned her body to look at the three
"She's only been here a few weeks. Give her more time"
>>122631"With all due respect, what she needs is love and care. She's a pony. She's my
daughter."
>>122632There is a distant whipser
"Well, give her love now while you are visting. She tried to stab a stallion on the street, the court says she is here as long as the doctor says she is harmful to self and others. She can't go home with you."
Willow sounds more joyful
"I can jump to the moon, like the cats, and see my daughter!"
She smiles, turning her head and looking over into the atrium
>>122633Silver nods, and continues to pet his "daughter".
"My poor Willow..."
>>122634She smiles, looking definitely contented. Her mane is cut somewhat short, but still messy. Silver's hoof feels completely as if numb when petting her, only barely registering that he is touching anything. But her mane moves with the pets. She sits down, and stares up into the glass ceiling over the atrium to the blue sky above
"Like the cats"
The nun says to her
"She may be released when the doctor approves. She's had her parental rights taken away, just a reminder. If your granddaughter is with you, she is to stay with you"
>>122635How quickly I've already adopted this mare, and she likely doesn't exist...He nods, and continues to pet Willow to help keep her calm and happy. He begins to wonder if he'll even be able to feel his hoof after he's finished.
>>122636The numbness extends only to the touch itself. Otherwise, Silver feels mostly fine. Mostly. Maybe a little dizzy
"Well, we can't stay in the hallway forever. She needs to come into the room now. Come on"
The nun turns away, and tries to open the door, while North goes towards the door as well.
Willow stands up again, looking again outside, up through the glass ceiling in the atrium
>>122637Silver stands up as well, and looks in the same direction as Willow.
>>122638"Now!"Standing up, Willow looks forward, and when both mares are turned, Willow jumps forward towards the railing, placing her forehooves over the top
>>122639"Willow!"
Silver tries to keep the poor mare from (presumably) killing herself.
>>122640Willow's forelegs go over, and her hind legs push upwards.
When she hits the railing, the two nuns look back and try to intervene. The unicorn grabs her shirt with magic, the other nun tries to run forward to pull on her
Roll grapple
>>122642Silver grabs her successfully, and is holding onto her
>>122643Silver pulls her away from the railing and her certain demise.
>>122644Silver pulls on her, and when this happens she falls down next to the railing, onto her back, looking up at Silver, with her two hooves together over her chest as he stands overtop of her. Silver can feel her with that strange, numb feeling.
But when Silver pulls her down, something happens. A phantom version of her - the image of her, but translucent - remains in her place on the railing. The yellow magic rips the shirt off the ghostly double, and North grabs for a hoof, and fails. The phantom manages her rear hooves over, and then presses forward, jumping off the railing.
She laughs the way down, filling the atrium with her laughter, until after a second and a half there is a loud "clump" sound. The nuns rush to the railing
But beneath Silver, the more solid version of Willow looks up at him. The magenta in her eyes bleeds away, replaced by a pure black that takes up her irises, and ever increasingly the whites as well.
She smiles, and starts to laugh, looking up at Silver
>>122645"...Who are you?"
>>122646From downstairs, a mare's scream is heard. This is swiftly followed by North, then the nun, who place their hooves up to their faces in horror.
But Willow still looks up to Silver in a sort of glee, taking heavy breaths and laughing maniacally, if at a volume reduced for lack of air.
She does not speak. But Silver can hear a voice, male, as if from the distance
"I am Maar. She is with me now, and her granddaughter nearly followed as well."
>>122647"..." Silver starts to chuckle.
>>122648"Stand against me and see oblivion. But there are secrets hidden in the stars. You too may see these"
She keeps laughing at Silver for a moment longer.
But the sensation of hoof against her fades. The light fades. The laughing is slowly replaced by a tinnitus-ringing, louder and louder. Silver sees stars and added brightness, before darkness. Then his eyes adjust. He is standing up, looking down, onto the floor next to the armory room.
The whitewash is faded. The railing has long since been closed up and replaced with solid wall. The sun hanging in the hallway is gone. The nuns are gone. The only real light is from a lantern in the armory room.
Silver feels a little dizzy, his vision has a "spin" to it, and his ears ring.
>>122649"...ughhhh...mulp...mmmmulp...mulp..." Silver keeps his eyes firmly closed and puts a hoof in an ear as he tries to correct his tinnitus.
>>122650As is the nature of such ringing, it remains even when all sensory input is cut off. So too do certain lights, sometimes in color, parade before Silver's tightly closed eyes. But the effects of both start to fade, and Silver returns closer to normal.
>>122651As things return closer to normal, he continues his chuckling from the vision. "...I pissed Maar off."
>>122652Blue Skies is looking at Silver when he opens his eyes
"Are you alright?"
She twists her head
Johann walks out
"Then you have done something right"
>>122653"Yeah, yeah, it will pass. Just dizziness." He slowly sits up. "Maar tried showing me vision of this place back when it was mental hospital. He tricked mare into killing herself by jumping off railing. Tried to say that facing him is facing oblivion."
>>122654Blue Skies twists her facial expression to one of deep, horrified concern
Johann's golden eyes light up
"And that is what he will say. He may well have killed the mare, he may just be taking credit for misfortune. Both are likely for him. Do not underestimate him. But stay resolute against him."
>>122655"I do not fear him. But it seems he is angered by defeat of his cultists, and especially by means which those cultists who faced me in particular died. When we face Maakie, we should expect he will do something to aid Maakie in fight." He pats Skies' shoulder, and looks around. "So, how long was I out?"
>>122656Skies:
"Not very long. You just ran out and seemed to have a spasm. Are you sure you are alright? It almost looked like a stroke, or seizure or.... something"
Johann steps forward more closely
"His power in this world is limited. He cannot act except through followers - though he can exert quite a degree of control on them. Neutralize them, and you limit his power. Be careful though. He can slip through any crack"
>>122657Silver chuckles again. "To be honest, I thought I was having stroke at first, too. Asking nun what date was and having her tell me it was two months before I was even born..."
He looks back to Johann. "That is probably why he is so angry. I killed his priest, myself."
>>122658At the first of Silver's statement, his expression is grave
"He can sometimes replay events from past time. He is ever watchful, and remembers. He may embellish, he may not. But he will show you what he thinks he needs to make his point."
But at Silver's next statement, he smiles, at least to the extent griffin's can
"Heheh. Really?"
>>122659Silver nods. "He cast this magic blade and threw it through air, after things had been completely lost for him. He met his end to my blade, like those he sent to face me previously."
He considers Johann's first reply. "So, do you think he will try to turn us against each other? Try to possess one of us and use them to attack others?"
>>122660He nods, with a smile on his face
"Very good."
Then he answers
"Maar is a god of discord as surely as of madness. He will turn a community against itself, and always seeks to convert rather than to conquer. He will try. It's whether he will find a weak point to hammer that is the real question."
>>122661"We will have to keep eye on each other, then." He stands up. "Well now, I suppose I was going to explore this floor, before all of that happened."
>>122662Blue Skies:
"I guess it's necessary to make sure this area is clear. But make it quick. We have a date with the remainder of the cultists here, and they may already be wise to us"
Iron hums softly as he saunters over the munitions off, inspecting what sort of neat trinkets there are.
He glances at Johann, puzzled at his inquiry. "What is this item you are searching look like?" he asks
>>122666Johann comes back to Iron from a position he took outside of the room, and holds up one claw as demonstration. “A pistol. Small. Black, metal, except on the handle where it is wooden and brown. Comprised of two sections perpendicular to the other,. A silver barrel sticks slightly out the end of it.”
With a hum, Iron starts rummaging his excessively large bulge for a bit, sticking his tongue out in concentration as his hoof moved aside the fabrics before pulling the somewhat average-sized pistol. "Something like this?"
>>122669White Sands smiles at the display. Johann extends his head and twists it slightly in curiosity as Iron rummages, but his eyes go wide and mouth opens as Iron pulls out the pistol
“Ja! That’s it! That’s it!”
>>122670Iron neatly passed the pistol to the griff in front of him casually. "Here you go," he responds, albeit with a small grimace and the slighest of ear folding from disappointment.
>>122671Johann delicately takes the pistol by the handle and pulls it closer to him, his eyes focused on the pistol
"Your service to Boreas and to the Inquisition will be noted"
He inspects it, turning it side to side, and pulling back the slide with a "click" and letting it go forward with a "clack." He then opens his trench coat, and places the gun in a pocket on the left side.
Sands places a hoof behind Iron's head on his neck
"Don't feel bad. There will be more. We will find more."
>>122673With a nod towards Johann, Iron tenses slightly before softening at hearing Sands' words, opting to lean his neck back towards her hoof as he grins softly. "I hope you are right," he responds
>>122674White Sands:
“This place is made for siphoning money off of poor bastards. I’m sure they have some of *that* around here somewhere”
She pets a little more, her hoof diffing into Iron’s long and unruly mane
Blue Skies, just walking back in:
“The Government will pay bounties”
>>122675Hearing the mix of encouragement and opportunity, Iron can't help but feel invigorated as he straightens his head out and ready to move out. "Right!" he proclaims "We shall proceed with the mission."
An awkward pose as the native stands there for a good ten seconds before glancing at Skies. "Where are we supposed to go from here?" he asks
>>122676*an awkward pause follows as
>>122676“I can tell you there should be more opponents the next building over in Administration. I can also tell you that not every stone has been turned over here”
>>122678Humming softly, Iron decides to nod at Skies. "Fair enough," he starts "I will take some time to turn over some stones around these parts." He glances back at Sands. "Follow me," he commands softly, going over to the door "I will be sure that changeling does not foalnap you."
>>122679“Hehe”
The dainty little unicorn follows him
>>122680With Sands on his tail, Iron peeks out of the room, wondering what sort of hidden stones he can unturn somewhere along these rooms.
>>122681Doors over to the right, around about a corner
>>122682Iron daintily walks over to the nearest door to the right around said corner, attempting to open said door.
>>122683The door has steel to it, and likewise seems to be locked. There is a large wooden door frame with a plate over it
>>122684Iron inspects the door slightly, before lightly bonking the door with a foreleg to test its strength.
>>122685The door has a slight give to it, implying a mundane lock rather than a steel bar on the other side. But it's also not wooden, and will not crack
>>122684>>122685Silver follows behind the group, still a little shakey from being mentally raped by Maar. He looks to the weapons on Iron's back.
"Did you decide who you will loan rifles to for fight?"
>>122687Blue Skies pats the shaking, elderly pony on the back
>>122688The (not so) elderly pony is pat. He looks over gratefully at the (not so) griffon next to him.
>>122689She smiles back to him, pulling her beak back in that limited way griffins can
>>122687>>122686Iron shakes his head before turning around and bucking the door in stride.
[1d20+10 = 30]<Unarmed Strike
Who, what, where, when, and why?
>>122691Iron turns around, his rear to the door. Then, he picks up, and....
BUCKS ITHis hooves hit square in the middle, denting it slightly, and knocking it right off both the hinge and the lock, the lock giving way first, and sending it flying back across a room, slightly to the right.
White Sands, standing to his side, jumps back in shock. Blue Skies peaks over holding her crossbow, looking in
"Damn"
>>122691>>122693Silver looks rather impressed at Iron's display of strength. He then looks to Sands.
"Would Sands like rifle?"
>>122694"Hmmm.... I'll think about it. I've never handled a rifle before"
She walks forward a little to try to take a look into the room
>>122693Iron huffs softly before pushing the door open, looking back to Sands with a small smile and one little chuckle before stepping in, ready to see what sort of mysteries this room holds.
>>122695>>122696Silver keeps a telekinetic sheath around the handle of his sword as he too enters.
>>122696>>122697This room looks closest in nature to an office
There is a wooden desk, some papers, A big, wooden cabinet over in the left, two chairs before the desk and another on the wall by the left, a table, a bigger file cabinet nearer the back, a book shelf with some books on it, a carpet, and some other decorative items, including two separate paintings, one a portrait of a griffin in a naval-esque suit, and another of waving hitting a shore with a lighthouse and a windmill under the orange sky of twilight.
Probably the most interesting thing in the room is a stuffed Manticore on the far right. It is partly standing up and a higher ceiling helps. Still, the creature takes up a decent portion of a large rectangular room. The manticore is in the middle of a roar, with big fangs, but still conveys a faint expression of fear in its presumably now artificial eyes.
The walls are white, and the floor is wooden except where there is carpet.
>>122698"What interesting taste in decor..."
Silver trots over, and looks in the desk's drawers.
>>122698Iron's ears droop as he walks inside the room, rummaging around the room as he tries to find any valuables first and foremost.
[1d20+1 = 12]<Search roll
>>122692>WhoIron, Silver, (Midnight?), Blue Skies, the new Griffin who wears a fedora and a trench coat, and White Sands
>WhatThey are exploring another room on the fourth floor
>WhenNowish, but basically sometime after the battle
>WhyTo see if there is anything interesting there
>>122701You forgot where, 4/10 review.
But yes, Midnight will be joining them.
>>122700There is no
obvious valuables out in the open. But opening the cabinets in the back reveals a can of some kind of munitions, bottles of wine and whiskey, a locked steel safe, a pair of wooden cleg shoes, two rings, a telescope, and a big leather belt
>>122699Aside from a brass trinket paper weight that seems to be a miniature of some important griffin building, there are papers. A couple file folders, and papers
>>122702Where is the Fourth Floor, and you are basically in the Northeast Corner. Hi
>>12270310/10
Is there a pony version of Marco Polo?
>>122700>>122702>>122699A detail that is important but was omitted in the previous description: on the far left, there is a wooden double door, painted white and with recessed panels, that is cracked open
>>122703>>122705That is a very important detail.
Silver leaves the papers alone for now, and looks through the crack in the double doors.
>>122705>>122703Iron was trailing towards the steel safe before eyeing the cracked door to the left, going towards it.
>>122707>>122706Opening the door leads to a small little foyer, with a mat on the ground with blue trim. The foyer area is smal, maybe two meters long. To the right there is a coat pole, with a single coat on it. It's somewhat uncomfortable looking fur coat. Green. On the ground is a set of boots. To the left are some shelves, including a hat and a cane.
On the other side is another double door, this one a soft brown but also having recessed panels. But it is closed. There is a simple steel lock closing it from the outside.
>>122704Uh..... Meanderly Polo or something is the pony version
>>122708Iron looks at the room in mild confusion, unsure what even is this. "...what is this place?"
>>122708Silver steps inside and first trots over to the unusually colored coat.
>>122709Midnight looks around, and noticing nopony around her
"Meanderly!"
awaits responce
>>122712A yellow, fedora wearing catbird walks up to her. He twists his head quickly to the side, and blinks at her with slit, orange eyes
"Who are you?"
>>122711Greenish color, shorter hair length. Ever so slightly fluffy
>>122710It's fairly small, between the two doors
>>122713ANother griffon?
"My name is Midnight. Have you seen my companions?"
>>122713The unicorn picks up the fur coat. "What kind of fur is this?"
>>122714Yes. Another griffin for Midnight to bond with. This one is male.
"They are here, as far as I know. Two have gone through the doors on the left"
>>122715Relatively short fur, but a greenish tint, a little bright and closer to the yellow range. Not particularly fluffy, though at least somewhat soft. Honestly it's not clear why any creature would find this fashionable, unless maybe it's their natural coat color
>>122716"Well, thank you. It is nice to meet you"
Se nods
"May I ask your name?"
>>122716>>122711Silver looks over to the others who have entered the room, and shows them the odd garment. "Have any of you seen any coats like this before?"
>>122717He nods
"My name is Johann Lictshild. I am an inspector of the Imperial Inquisition"
With his right claw, he reaches up and tips his fedora
Also see
>>122718>>122718Blue Shekels walks in, sees the coat, and moves her head back with wide eyes
>>122718"Hmmm, nope. It looks odd though."
>>122719Silver gives her a confused look. "What?"
>>122721Johann looks over, and he too moves his head back, though a bit less dramatically
Blue Shekels:
"That.... that might be from a pony"
>>122722Silver slowly looks back to the coat, and considers its properties and color again. "...Oh." He quickly drops it back in the pile, a little disgusted. "Just like selling unicorn and kirin horns. Why am I not surprised?"
>>122723Shekels walks around it, keeping about a foot and a half of distance
"What the hell is wrong with these creatures"
Johann:
"In some circles.... the harder an item is to get, the more of a status symbol it is to wear"
>>122722>>122723>>122724Midnight is silent, but closes her eyes and looks down.
>>122723>>122725Shekels:
"Guh!"
Johann and White Sands inspect it closer
>>122724>>122725>>122726"Of course..." Silver makes some distance between himself and the coat, trying not to think about the pony that coat came from. He instead focus on the locked double doors on the other side of the room.
>>122727It's a door like you might expect within a house, but with an external lock closing handles on the door
[1d20+2 = 18]>>122728Strength: Silver turns his hind end towards the door, and attempts to mimic Iron's door-smashing feat.
>>122729CrackSilver may not be as strong as Iron, but he's still got a bit of strength in him. The lock does not break. The wooden handles on the door, however, break off, and the door opens inwards, hitting something on the side and bouncing off, partly closing.
It's open
>>122730Silver looks inside the newly opened door.
>>122730>>122729"Good job!"
Midnight draws her weapons before approaching the door with the others
>>122713Iron doesn't even begin to understand what the room's purpose is, swiftly returning to pillage that safe over in the other room.
>>122731>>122732A "thud" inside, and the two can see into what is evidently a bedroom.
The walls are mostly a bluish color, and here too are they decorated with a a couple paintings, one being of a city scape of low rise buildings and canals, and another of a sailing ship. On the right is a large bed, kingsize, with huge fluffy pillows and white bedspread. Over top of the bed, recessed into the wall is a glass that covers over a saber sword with intricate hilt. Opposite the bed is a television, and on the side closer to the ponies, a day bed. The wall on the right has two windows that are covered up, and there are electric lights over the top. There is a dresser on the nearby wall, and a night stand to either side of the bed, as well as a radio to the bed's far side. On the far side is a cracked open door on the left that has a leather leash leading in from the bed, and to the right is a fully open door that reveals a bathroom with marble sinks and.... a Jacuzzi?
>>122733It looks fairly solid. Small, steel and cube shaped
>>122734You know what's gonna happen nextIron tries his best to force the lock open with a much needed bash from the body.
[1d20+10 = 16]<Unarmed Strike
>>122734>leashlood
"well... this is not what I expected..."
>>122734"Okay, this
has to be Maakie's room."
Silver trots over to the displayed saber to inspect it.
>>122735Bam!
The safe gets pushed back, and into the wall with a loud thud, and it
hurts. Bone is not as strong as steel, and Iron's right rear hoof is in pain from this
>>122737It's approximately a saber, a rather long but kind of thin slightly curved single edged blade. The cross guard is intricate, perhaps overly so, like a string of steel tied in a knot, and there is an engraving on the handle. Above it is the sheath, which is itself engraved with initials like "R.S.N"
>>122736Maybe not,
but let's keep going
>>122738He looks to see if there's a way to retrieve it without breaking the glass.
>>122738Midnight walks around the room, investigating
"What is is we are looking for?"
>>122738Iron's hoof recoils back, letting out a series of 'ow' as he clip clops back, stabilizing his breath from the steel boobytrap.
>>122739A close look implies that the glass opens through some mechanism on the right side of the glass. However, it's definitely intended to be difficult to remove, at least not without some kind of key
Also see
>>122740
>>122742>>122739"Silver, do you know what this saber is for?"
>>122740>>122742Silver sighs, and steps away for the moment to investigate the rest of the room.
"Nothing in particular, if I am being honest."
He decides to open the door with the leash.
>>122743"I would assume it is Maakie's own personal weapon. I am unsure if it is real or ceremonial."
>>122744Opens slightly, Silver can see off to the left that there is some clothing, so it must be a closet, and....
BAMThere is an attempt to close the door on Silver
>>122744>>122745"I see..."
Midnight follows the stallion, not sure what the group is really up to.
>>122746"Ack!"
Strength: Silver scrunches his snoot, and attempts to force his way through.
[1d20+1 = 13]>>122748>>122749>>122746Midnight notices the odd exchange, and decides to try as well
>>122748>>122749Silver runs into the door, and falls down to the ground
>>122750Midnight flings the door open
Inside it's a rectangular shaped room with some suits and houseclothing, but above all
"Ah!"
A frightened creature before her. A beak, red fur, wings, a simple blue mane, purple eyes, and ears that seem backwards from that of a pony. Female and somewhat small, wearing black socks on her rear, hooved legs, and a golden necklace around her neck. There is a leather tie around her right foreclaw
>>122752"I do not wish to hurt you!"
Midnight backs up a step, to seem nonthreatening
>>122750>>122751>>122752Silver pauses in rubbing his sore flanks to look at the sight of the creature before him. He looks rather shocked. "Hippogriff...what are you doing in Maakie's...closet?"
>>122753She stands forward for a moment, then tries to move off to the side, peering out
"What... What do you want?" she says
She actually has less of an accent than at least half the creatures here
>>122754She speaks to him
"What do you want from me?"
>>122755Silver tries to match Midnight in looking nonthreatening. "Who are you? What are you doing here?"
>>122756She moves, and again tries to hide her body off to the right off the doorway, now placing herself behind some clothing and hiding herself behind a dark purple bathrobe
"I am.... Undertow... I am just a servant. What do you want?"
She's breathing heavily, and definitely sounds frightened
>>122757Silver motions to himself with a hoof.
"I am Silver Sword, and this pony here with me is Midnight Lily. We, along with our other companions, are here on assignment by Baltimare government to put end to what is going on here. We are here to help, we have no interest in hurting you."
>>122758She comes out from behind the rack of clothing, showing more of herself. She's a darker red color, with a mostly pony-like body, and she doesn't look particularly fatigued or starved.
"They raided? They raided?"
She's silent for a moment, then her eyes narrow
"Took them long enough"
>>122759Silver nods, sadly.
"I know. There have been many evil things that have taken place here. It should have been stopped before. I suppose you were Maakie's personal servant, judging from your location."
>>122760She moves a little, and takes a careful look at the stallion before her
"You could say that, yes."
>>122761Silver continues to avoid (or at least tries to avoid) looking threatening, which might be difficult from his slightly bloodied appearance. He smiles at her. "You have my word, you will not be harmed."
>>122762She exits out into the room, looking behind herself at Silver
"The City sent you, you say?"
The leash, still tied to her, moves with her. It's long enough to at least allow her to go most places in the room
>>122763Silver nods. He points to the leash. "Would you like me to remove that for you?"
>>122764"Yes... Please. There is nothing in this room to cut it. I've tried."
>>122765Silver nods, pulls his survival knife out of his bags, and severs the leash.
>>122766It's a bit tough, but it does cut through, and she pulls up her claw and closes it
"Cuts better than ceramic vase shades, thankfully"
>>122767Silver motions to the displayed saber. "You never tried to pilfer that?"
>>122768"Of course I tried. It's locked away behind plastic and glass, and at any rate he doesn't like it when you try to take it"
>>122769Silver trots back up to it again. "You do not mind if I do, though?"
>>122770"Go right ahead and try"
>>122771Silver first tries to force it open using his telekinesis.
>>122772There's some sort of mechanism that prevents it from simply pulling out
[1d20+8 = 20]>>122773Silver sighs, unsheathes his greatsword, and strikes at the glass with the pommel.
>>122774The glass shatters. But it doesn't shatter open. There is something within it that makes it tougher, more resistant to breaking
[1d20+8 = 18]>>122775Silver grumbles, and strikes again.
>>122776It shatters a little more, and flakes of broken glass fall down and onto the bed
[1d20+3 = 16]>>122777Power Attack: Silver strikes again, harder this time.
"AAARGH!"
>>122778It cracks further, and silver goes through into a layer underneath, cracking through the other side. There is a definite hole in the glass-like panel, though it does not run the length of the sword
>>122779"They really built this display well. Maakie must have prized this sword."
He tries to widen it by smacking his sword handle against the hole's sides.
>>122780She nods
"He didn't want me to take it, that's for sure"
Again, it doesn't break like normal glass, and only with effort does the hole get wider
>>122781Silver continues until he can remove the sword and its sheath from it's place. He reads the initials on the sheath. "'R.S.N'. Royal Skyfall Navy?"
>>122782"Yep. He was a Lieutenant in the Navy, or something. I don't know, I didn't care much to pay attention. But he
loves that sword"
>>122783Silver smiles slightly malevolently. "Good."
He puts the saber in his bags, and looks to Undertow.
"So, what will you do, now?"
>>122784"Is he in prison yet?"
She asks, and blinks a couple times
>>122785"Not yet, no, but he is still in this building, we know where he is, and we just dealt with number of his underlings in central atrium. We are going to attack him and who else he has left with him."
>>122786She pauses for a moment
"Good. Finally."
>>122787"I am not expecting you to accept, but if you wanted to help settle score with him, we found small number of rifles."
>>122788"I"ll take one> what do you have?"
>>122789Silver looks through the double doors and calls out. "Iron? Can we see rifles?"
>>122790Iron has just hurt himself trying to kick in a steel safe
>>122791>>122741Silver trots over to him. "So
that is what all that commotion was about."
(You) are all cute ponies.
When would be a good time for us to play again?
>>122792Iron jumps softly on his hoof, using it to point at the safe.
>>122807Silver looks more concerned with Iron's hoof. "Do you need me to look at your hoof for you? You look kind of hurt."
>>122808Iron quickly shakes his head, pointing at the malicious safe next to the two. "If you wish to make me feel better, then open that thing," he retorts.
>>122792>>122809White Sands walks up, looking at the two, and at the safe
>>122809Silver looks at it. "If we can get back to Khoi, we can trade one of rifles on your back in exchange for hammer. Then we can try to open it." He motions to the hippogriff now with them. "But first, our new party member needs weapon."
>>122810>>122811Iron deadpans at Silver, ears folded in disbelief. "I said I'd feel better if you opened it," he responded sternly before shaking his head "Guess it is going to be locked forever, then."
>>122812White Sands, pulling away a the end of burnt of cigarette that surely must've been extinguished minutes ago with an aura of dark green light, says,
"Bet one of those fat chickens has a key on them"
Johann looks over at White Sands in offense
>>122813Iron nods, but looks around to find no griffons save for that beaked investigator next to Sands, humming softly. "Where would it be?" he wonders
>>122812"We can open it, but we need hammer or something similar to bust lock on it."
>>122814>>122815"Either hidden or on one of them" She answers
Then the new, red hippogriff enters, and adds to the conversation
"On a night like this, when he'd expect to open it, he'd have it on his person"
>>122816>>122815Iron was about to respond to Silver when he notices the new entrant, looking at it in contemplation. "Who are you?" he asks
>>122817Her eyes go back, and she moves back a little
"My... my name is Undertoe. I've been kept here as a servant..."
>>122818With a nod, Iron steps forth. "Do you know the room's owner?" he asks tentatively, with almost giddy excitement
>>122819She breathes in, then breathes out, pulling back into a position in the doorway that separates the foyer and the office
"Yes..."
>>122819>>122820"Maakie...perhaps we will have to take safe with us. Whatever he had inside it must be of value."
>>122821Blue Shekels, who has been peering around the desk, opening drawers, looking through them, going into the hallway and peering around, and now looks skeptically at the new rescuee, volunteers:
"Come back for it. Either we strike Maakie first, or he strikes us.... and I think there are more of them..."
>>122822Silver nods. "That is also good idea. It is not as though this area will become off limits after we face him."
>>122823>>122822>>122821>>122820After some consideration, Iron nods. "Agreed, we must take down that Maakie griffon before we can freely explore more of this place." With that, he turns to Skies. "I assume you want to strike now?"
>>122824"Unless we would be more ready later, or if we want to take the defensive. Yes."
>>122824>>122825"Let us head downstairs. We can work out our plan of attack with others."
>>122826Johann:
"There are more? Very good"
Skies nods
White Sands says nothing, and Undertoe moves forward slightly and sheepishly says
"Alright..."
>>122827>>122826>>122825With a shrug, Iron nods. "Fair enough," he responds before going next to Sands with a watchful gaze towards Undertoe, considering about the rogue agent in this building.
>>122828White Sands in kind looks back to undertoe, who stares back and does not seem eager to move forward past the stallions.
Eventually Blue Skies exits the room, then Johann, then White Sands, while Undertoe remains in the doorway to the other room
>>122829Iron narrows his brow, looking at the hippogriff questioningly before beckoning her to move past the stallions to follow the group. "Come on," he responds "Unless you seek to reunite with your slavemasters instead."
>>122830To this she gives a more intense look, almost a glare. But she cautiously moves forward, taking a "long route" and only breaking eye contact with Iron to look at Silver, and once Johann (who is in front of Iron, and past him). But she comes forward, though still not past Iron
>>122831Iron rolls his eyes as he plants himself in a way where she's in front of the others, with Iron at the backlines.
>>122831Silver gives a reassuring smile to Undertow. "I can trot with you if you would like."
>>122832She looks back at him
>>122834Iron sniffs softly before sneezing loudly, wiping his nose.
>>122835The sneeze almost Startles Skies, who turns around and looks back, while Johann pulls back a little, and covers the top of his beak with his right claw, looking with a slight mixture of judgement and concern towards Iron
>>122833She looks to him
"Alright"
And walks up beside him, but separate two feet or so, as much as the narrow corridors and rooms will allow
>>122836Iron chuckles softly before shaking his head, deciding to stay at the back of the group.
>>122837The group goes ahead. Skies in the front, Johann near her, presumably Silver and Undertoe next, then Iron who has White Sands near him
>>122838Iron makes sure to wrap a foreleg around Sands' barrel, to ensure she doesn't disappear due to that
nefarious soultaker
>>122839She could use the warmth, as she feels fairly cold, coming closer to Iron. She seems to share Iron's suspicion of the Hippogriff, as she looks forward towards her
>>122838Silver makes sure he doesn't make Undertow/Undertoe uncomfortable while they return to the atrium.
>>122841>>122839tfw wrote everything but lost it when writing the last wordUndertoe looks back, but moves forward with increasing confidence as they go down first the wooden stairs, then the stone stairs, then down to the first floor and exit into the hallway
As soon as the ponies enter the hallway, they stumble upon Jubilosa, who seemed to be running, and halted, scratching into the tile floor to avoid sliding. She wears and expression of startlement and fear that does not completely dissipate when she recognizes who is coming out of the stairwell. She mouths something to the ponies, though she does not say it outloud.
Further down the hall, from around the corner and from the atrium, there is the sound of barking. A higher pitched, "yip" barking, and a lower pitched, louder, rough
Woof
>>122843Iron snorts bemusedly, reading his stance to encounter these yipping foes.
>>122843Wordlessly, Silver rushes towards the barking, drawing his sword along the way.
>>122844Jubilosa draws nearer, and says to Iron
"Somecreature came in. In the atrium"
>>122845Going down and then peering into the atrium from the East side, Silver can see the scene
There is a big, burly Diamond Dog draped in red with white trim and golden patterns. He is carrying what resembles a single edged sword, with the blade extending with a triangular shape past a point near the end. He is growling at Mala, who does not seem to have his own sword but is growling, moving back and forth. The dog will make a swipe as Mala moves back, while trying to come in to stop the second intruder: a griffin. He wears a white robe and tries to dance around to untie other griffins on the ground who sometimes call out in a foreign language. Every now and then, Mala will have enough distance to lung towards this griffin, causing him to retreat, but not for long, and not by much
>>122846Is this robed griffon within charging range for Silver?
>>122847Not within a single turn, but in two, yes
>>122848Silver runs into the atrium, intending to help support Mala and keep the robed griffon at bay.
"Ублюдок с перьями!"
>>122846With a shrug, Iron steps forth, wondering what sort of enemy is around the corner.
>>122850He sees a big, burly diamond dog near the center of the room, moving forward. Mala is in full retreat, running towards the opposite corner, and the Diamond Dog follows to give him no respite. Meanwhile, a white robed griffin is trying to untie a another griffin, before looking up to Silver, who seems to want to challenge him. Prisoner griffins holler and yell in foreign tongues to harass their captors and encourage their rescuers
>>122849The white robed griffin hears this, looking up towards Silver, readying one of those wavy daggers
>>122851Silver points the sword towards the griffon while trying to keep him away from the prisoners.
"You are outnumbered and outmatched. Surrender and you will not be harmed."
>>122851Iron cocks his head at the scene, unsure of what's going on, turning to Sands."What is this place?"
>>122852He dives back down, trying to untie a griffin
>>122853"Don't you recall? This is the bottom floor. The place you all decorated with so much blood and fire"
>>122854Iron nods once, quick to remember. "Right," he responds before turning to the potential enemies.
[1d20+5 = 12]>>122854Charge: Silver charges the robed griffon, sword pommel first to try to knock him out.
[1d20+5 = 18]>>122856The griffin moves back, and Silver only just barely misses him. But miss him he does. The Griffin moves and tries to strike him with his dagger
[1d3 = 1]>>122856>>122857I
think that's a hit
[1d20+1 = 7]>>122855The Dog himself now looks over towards Iron, and raises his sword
Roll initiative
[1d20+4 = 13]>>122858The dagger just barely finds its way past his armor, but the wound is little more than a cut for him.
>>122860Though the griffin may have been happy to have a nick, his face betrays a look of dismay when Silver does not run from him
Hit
>>122859[1d20+2 = 10]<Initiative
>>122862Iron wins. Iron's turn
[2d6+5 = 9]>>122861Silver strikes the griffon with the hilt of his sword like a club.
[1d20+5 = 17]>>122864He is hit upside the head around the beak with an "umph"
But he looks back, steadies himself, and swipes back at iron with his wavy dagger
[1d3 = 2]>>122864>>122865I think this is
exactlty the number needed to beat Silver's AC
Swiping a section of Silver's fur that is not guarded by his plates, the dagger cuts into Silver
[1d20+4 = 5]>>122865Barely a miss. The dagger glances off his armor like a ray of light.
Silver strikes at the griffon again, hoping to knock him out with this next one.
>>122866His AC is 18, remember? 5 for armor, 3 for Dex.
>>122863Iron gallops at the snarling dog, providing with a nice little tumble attempt.
[1d20+10 = 19]<Melee touch attack
[1d20+5 = 18]>>122868Okay....>>122867Silver lurches forward, but to the side of the griffin. More than that, he loses balance, falling over, and onto the ground.
Meanwhile, the griffin staggers slightly back, moves forward, and attempts to plunge his dagger into the prone pony
>>122869The dog himself charges forward, though not as quickly as Iron. He barks with a loud
Woof. He's got the snub nose of Pitbull, and a brownish coloration
Iron hits
[1d3 = 3]>>122868>>122867>>122870This one
does hit
>>122870With a snug hold of the dog's leg with his foreleg, Iron quickly pulls it up and towards him to make him trip.
[1d20+9 = 12]<Trip attempt
>>122870>>122871"Сука!"
The dagger barely gets through his armor, sinking wickedly into the pony flesh below. Silver tries to stand up to face his attacker again.
[1d20+3 = 13]>>122869>>122872He wrestles with the Pony eagerly
>>122873Silver can do so, still having an action left over to make a single attack
[1d20+6 = 7]>>122872The dog strikes back with his sword
[1d20+4 = 10]>>122874Silver swings his hilt-first sword again at the robed griffon.
[1d20+5 = 7]>>122876Silver does not hit. The griffin tries again, swiping at Silver
>>122875>>122872The dog lurches forward, and in the process, slips on some oil, falling towards the ground
[1d20+4 = 11]>>122877This is starting to look like a comedy of errors. The blade goes very wide, and Silver answers with another swing of his own.
>>122877Taking the advantage in stride, the native slams a foreleg on the dog's back
non-lethally.
[1d20+5 = 16]<Power Striked Unarmed Attack
[1d20+5 = 8]>>122878The creature moves aside, if barely.
He swipes again. Jubliosa runs in from over towards the main entrance to the building
>>122879Hit
>>122879Hit
[1d20+4 = 22]>>122880Another miss, and...
>>122880Damage
[1d3+10 = 13]<Damage
[2d6+5 = 16]>>122881A solid hit!
[1d20+6 = 26]>>122882Iron smashes down on the fallen dog with his two hooves, hitting him solidly in the upper chest with a "huh"
But the big dog pushes himself back up, and swipes at Iron with his sword
>>122883Silver hits the creature solidly in the side of the head with his pommel. The griffin falls to the ground, unconscious before he hits it, and a second after that, Jubilosa is over him tying his claws together
[2d6+6 = 18]>>122882>>122884He strikes Iron right through the chest plate, piercing him
>>122884Should Silver roll initiative to attack the diamond dog?
[1d20+5 = 7]>>122888>>122889Charge: Silver charges at the diamond dog from behind, trying to knock him out like Iron was trying to do so.
[1d20+6 = 7]>>122890>>122889Silver goes first, but does not hit. The dog turns to Silver and tries to Slash him with his sword
With the high pitched voice that is labored for breath:
"The gangs want to clear us out? We will clear you out!"
>>122891>>122890But it looks like the buck to the chest has done him harm. He falls to the ground again
>>122886Iron snarls at the enemy before leaning his head back and slamming it at the dog.
[1d20+5 = 6]<Power Attacked Unarmed Strile
>>122893He, too, slips, and falls to the ground
[1d20+4 = 18]>>122894Silver tries to knock the dog out again with a pommel back.
>>122895>>122896While the dog is still on the ground, Silver - the only one of the trio still standing - slams the back of his head into the big brown Diamond Dog. It his him where the spine meets the head, and he falls down to the ground.
Mala rushes up with his sword, barking through a closed mouth. But he's there as the action is just over
>>122897>>122893"Идти спать." Silver offers a hoof to Iron for him to get up.
>>122897>>122898Iron grumbles on the ground, face first against the floor, waving his hoof around in the off chance he catches anything, either dog or pony.
>>122899"Are you alright, Iron? He got you good."
>>122900Iron grumbles some more, swiping softly around him, still believing the fight is still ongoing.
>>122901"Iron! He is downed!"
Silver looks over at Jubilosa and Mala. "Where are others? Are they safe?"
>>122902Iron stops his swiping, simply opting to rest his foreleg on the ground, still unmoving.
>>122898>>122899Blue Shekels looks down from over the second floor balcony, carrying her cross bow.
Johann walks out over the floor, looking at the whole sight, his beak hanging open
"By Boreas..."
Jublosa has tied up the griffin and is looking around to see who may have gotten loose, checking other ties.
Mala rushes over, barking with a sword in his mouth
Little nadirs and recesses in the floor space now have pools of blood and oil. The black and gold of the fuel oil mixes with the crimson red like the paint brush dip cup of a child's art class.
>>122902Mala needs a moment to calm down, still barking
Jubilosa:
"They came in looking for the griffins here and were too powerful for us. I think Meadows and Loputu are hidden but.... I can't be sure"
Mala spits out the sword
"I tried to hold them off as long as possible.... There are more in this building, I know"
>>122904"We need to look for Meadows and Loputu as soon as we can. Khoi too, wherever she is. Then we need to make quick plan of attack."
>>122903Silver just opts to pick the earth pony off the ground.
>>122904>>122905The stallion's snores can be heard as Silver picks Iron up, limp save for a stable breahting felt on the oldpony's barrel, pushing against his armor.
[1d20+7 = 22]>>122906"IRON!"
Heal: Silver takes out his medkit, and does his best to heal the wounded earth pony's injuries.
>>122905Jubilosa:
"Alright, I'll go check"
Jubilosa runs off, towards the entryway
Blue Shekels says:
"All clear up here"
She doesn't quiet shout it. It's spoken more softly than her distance would suggest
Mala has now calmed down now, and has a more intimidated sound in his voice:
"They were looking for other group of griffins... They found them. They know something is not right."
>>122907Silver presses a hoof onto pools of blood coming out, and manages to half the bleeding, pressing hard and wrapping a bandage from around Iron's neck, then down, then around his forelegs, to apply pressure to his chest area.
>>122907>>122908Iron mumbles something in his sleep, squirming softly from Silver's ministrations before snoring once more.
>>122908Silver looks over to Mala. "Is something wrong?"
>>122910He is silent for a moment
"It's not over...."
>>122911Silver cocks his head at him. "In what manner? Now is not good time to be cryptic."
>>122912"We defeated the group of them that lives here and some of the hired help. But their leader... and the ones who live in the town... they are here as well. As are some of their helpers. They know someone is here. I think they have for a while, but they are sending in townies now. Not just helpers"
>>122913Silver nods. "Then we will defeat Maakie. Once everyone is gathered, we will plan our attack, and you will lead us to him." He reaches over, and pets Mala between the ears. "Good boy. You did great job defending captives."
>>122914He sighs, but then slowly begins to smile
>>122909>>122914Mala:
"There is an infirmary in this building. I don't know how much they have, but there is one on the second floor of the Administration building"
>>122915Iron mumbles something as he gently swipes at where Mala's voice was last heard before snoring softly.
>>122915Silver considers his options. "We
are out of healing items, and I only have tiny bit of medical supplies left...how far away would it be?"
>>122917"Second floor. Down the hall on the left, in the next building over. They may find us though"
>>122916Mala pulls away, and bites the air
>>122918"...damn it. I am going over there." Silver gets up, and goes for the indicated location.
>>122919Mala moves a little forward
"I don't think you'll want to go alone. You'll need to take everyone... or it won't go well if you encounter the leader of the hired help..."
>>122920Silver sighs. "We are not well off, but we will see what others say."
>>122921Shekels jumps ove rteh railing, and glides down to the other side of the room, tumbling on the floor. Johann walks up, still looking around
"I can see this group was.... defeated"
>>122922Silver nods. "Mala knows of infirmiry. It is out of our way, and potentially occupied, but we are in dire need of medical supplies."
>>122923"I see..." He looks over again
"It looks like you all have taken a beating yourselves"
Shekels walks over
"Alright, we need to strike" he looks down to Iron
"If we still can"
>>122924"Admittedly...we could be in better state."
>>122925Shekels
"Alright.... less try to quickly get some medical supplies before we strike like a hammer and anvil"
>>122926Silver nods. "We should do so quickly."
Our party is full of qties.
bleps
Seriously, though, when are we playing?
So.... how about we try to pick the game back up tomorrow? I should be free.
>>122938Whenever people can play, I suppose
>>122939Yay! We could try tomorrow
>>122940I'm sorry that we didn't make it this time.
Let's aim for tomorrow. Sound good?
Anypony out there tonight?
>>122953Let’s hope for even more ponies soon.
>>122960but there were no ponies that day
>>122971Not many around, I think.
>>122972Well, more than one is better.
>>122972Just keeping the fire lit
>>122974>>122973*hugs ponies*
>>122976Maybe there will be more ponies tomorrow.
>>122991I couldn't make it today. Sorry. I have a good feeling about tomorrow though.
>>123020>boopsI'm not a player poner, but it looks like the interest in slowly raising.
Have faith in Celestia.
>>123025I must decline for now, but I'll read, learn and watch how you play.
>>123026Lurkers are always nice. Activity has been pretty slow recently because a player has been mostly absent, but we expect to complete a quest soon, perhaps starting tomorrow.
You want any links to any particular scenes?
Actually, here is a link to the beginning of a fight sequence in this thread:
>>121659And here's a questioning sequence from a different quest-line with a story from an NPC that I take some pride in:
>>122180Go ahead and give those a read. If yo have any questions, feel free to ask me
>>123027Thanks poner, I appreciate it.
I don't promise I will, but, curiosity is here.
We'll see.
>>123028Any time, you are welcome!
Where do I even start with this? Is this just one thread of hundreds? Has anyone been recording since the beginning?
Seems I'm late to the party. :(
>>126821Hello!
Occupied Equestria is an RP set in Equestria, a few years into the future in an alternate world where Equestria has been half conquered by Chrysalis's Changelings, and half conquered by a reactionary pony faction, with all of the princesses and elements deposed. Right now there are two groups (kind of three), one in the City of Baltimare in "Free Equestria," and one in the wilds of Winnysota's Iron Range.
We welcome new players
It has been going on a while, yes, and there are several threads.
This thread is the current thread
https://mlpol.net/vx/res/125000+50.htmlAnd this is the first ever thread
https://mlpol.net/vx/res/67940.html
>>126821Hello. It is a bit to read through, but if you rather join in the latest thread, we can get you up to speed and join in if you would like.
>>126821Hey there! You interested in joined, or are you here to watch?
>>126821If you're interested in joining the game, your first step is to decide what sort of pony you want to play, and then leave it up to the GM to place you. Its been going on a long time, and you're not expected to know everything that has happened.
The game functions based mostly on D&D 3.5e rules, but you won't need to know all that right out of the gate.
>>126825>>126821All you really need to know is that Blue Skies is for hugs, headpats, and boops
>>126827NGL, I am hoping to have impressed Blue when Brie gets done killing
Can Midnight look for Meadows?
>>126831Yes, and she's not hard to find. Sitting alone on a bar stool, hunched over and clearly too big for the bar stool, next to a glass of water and a bowl of roasted peanuts, looking back out over the bar towards the door with an almost worried expression.
>>126832The smaller mare parks herself in a stool besides Meadows.
"Do you mind having some company?"
>>126833She turns over, around to Midnight. He eyes are a deeper, steel grey than she recalls from earlier. Wrinkles on her face have disappeared, Her coat is a darker sandy brown, and her mane is a darker Chestnut Brown.
"Why, yes. I was just waiting on that hornless pony... Dark Star, I think is his name, to return. He told me he may have a golden chain that belongs to me"
>>126834"Ah... I do not think we will see him again til morning. But on a happier note, it looks like you are feeling better."
>>126835"Yes... The old, silver colored one gave me this jelly and... It made me feel much better, like I was decades younger. I am still very hungry, but not so tired anymore"
>>126836"I am glad to hear that."
She pauses a moment
"You say you are hungry, would you like to come with me? I was just getting to go look for some food."
>>126837She smiles
"That would be delightful! But... What if Dark Star comes back with the griffin and the chain?"
>>126838Midnight giggles a bit
"Oh, he is with the griffin? Trust me Meadows, we will not see him until the morning"
>>126839"Oh. Okay then..." She steps off of the stool, and stands next to it. She is completely naked, and areas of shorter and parted fur suggest the absence of jewelry where it would normally be worn. She almost looks like a wingless alicorn, with her thin belly, thin but long legs, and massive height. She looks back to Midnight, and lowers her muzzle so that, even though she is looking down, she looks as if she is looking up to Midnight, in a pose of deference. She smiles in a very warm way
"So... where can you take me?"
>>126840Midnight can't help but smile back
"Well, let us see if there's someone who can recommend somewhere."
She looks for a bartender she can ask about local resteraunts.
>>126841Glistening Glass is right there
"My bartender hasn't returned yet. But I am here? What do you need? A restaurant... Well, it's so late at night. There should be a diner open, and probably a few serving
bats"
>>126842"Where would the diner be?"
>>126843"Should still be open. Down the road, three blocks, two over to the left"
Wait... We're posting in the wrong thread
https://mlpol.net/vx/res/125000+50.html