1571 replies and 61 files omitted.
>>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 >>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
>>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.