We ride again
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1521 replies and 53 files omitted.
>>122141
last 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.
last 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.
>>122142
Midnight finds this a little spooky, and makes a note to tell the others before heading back down.
Midnight finds this a little spooky, and makes a note to tell the others before heading back down.
>>122143
Midnight may return to lower levels, but still hasn’t found Silver or blue shekels (or Iron) yet
Midnight may return to lower levels, but still hasn’t found Silver or blue shekels (or Iron) yet
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Meep?
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>>122157
>>122176
>>122177
The 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?"
>>122176
>>122177
The 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."
"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."
>>122181
He 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"
He 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."
"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"
"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?"
"Did you see any activity that would lead to these incidents? Do you think it was the workers or an external threat?"
>>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"
[Read more] "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"
>>122192
He 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
[Read more] He 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
>>122193
Spark 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?"
Spark 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?"
>>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."
"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."
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>>122053
Iron 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”
Iron 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”
>>122201
Iron 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.
Iron 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.
>>122202
When 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
When 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
>>122205
“Uh... No, I am fine”
She continues tendering the dagger to Iron, holding it in the frog of her left hoof
“Uh... No, I am fine”
She continues tendering the dagger to Iron, holding it in the frog of her left hoof
>>122206
Iron 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
Iron 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
>>122208
Iron 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.
Iron 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.
>>122209
For 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.”
>>122210
Hi pony!
Dark Star is entering the fourth floor, and sees this; >>122128
[Read more] For 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.”
>>122210
Hi pony!
Dark Star is entering the fourth floor, and sees this; >>122128
>>122211
With 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+
With 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+
>>122212
Looking 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.
Looking 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
>>122214
"I Don't Think She's in there." Dark Star thinks to himself.
He listens at the door on the left
>>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?"
"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?"
>>122219
With a dejected sigh, he opts to walk towards the door Skies pointed to, going out the room.
With a dejected sigh, he opts to walk towards the door Skies pointed to, going out the room.
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I’m still best pony, Anon
>>122220
Blue Skies:
“Oh, it’s Dark Star”
>>122223
Dark 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
Blue Skies:
“Oh, it’s Dark Star”
>>122223
Dark 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
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>>122226
Blue 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”
>>122227
Thank you. Indeed they have
[Read more] Blue 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”
>>122227
Thank you. Indeed they have
>>122229
He 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"
He 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"
>>122231
It 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"
It 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"
>>122232
Dark Star's expression darkens
"Why are you investigating something like that in baltimare?"
Dark Star's expression darkens
"Why are you investigating something like that in baltimare?"
>>122233
He 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."
He 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."
>>122235
He 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."
He 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."
>>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
"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
>>122236
Iron 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."
Iron 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."
>>122240
He 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
[Read more] He 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
Iron 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."
Iron 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"
"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"
>>122244
Iron 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."
Iron 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."
>>122244
Dark Star walks closer to the griffion and extends his hoof."My name is Dark Star. and im not actually a zebra."
Dark Star walks closer to the griffion and extends his hoof."My name is Dark Star. and im not actually a zebra."
>>122246
Iron 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."
Iron 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."
>>122247
He 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.
>>122248
He 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"
He 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.
>>122248
He 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
Iron 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..."
Iron 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..."
>>122250
He 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.”
[Read more] He 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.”
>>122252
You 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?"
You 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?"
>>122253
Reeeee 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"
Reeeee 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"
>>122256
He pats down on his jacket, as if to brush it
"Colder. Much colder. And overcast. None of that 'Hearthswarming' stuff either"
He pats down on his jacket, as if to brush it
"Colder. Much colder. And overcast. None of that 'Hearthswarming' stuff either"
>>122255
Iron 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?"
Iron 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?"
>>122259
Iron 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.
Iron 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.
>>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”
“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”
>>122262
Iron 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?"
Iron 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?"
>>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
“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
Seeing 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."
Seeing 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.”
[Read more] “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.”
>>122268
Nodding, 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."
Nodding, 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."
>>122271
Iron 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.
Iron 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.
>>122272
Sands:
"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"
[Read more] Sands:
"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"
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