1831 replies and 24 files omitted.
>>126014Silver nods at the stallion.
"I am glad I could help."
>>126014"What about the Social aspect? How do your people interact with each other and other races?"
>>126016"If had to say what were the core social values of Karkardanistan, it would be Respect, Courtesy, and Politesse. Have dignity in your interactions with others, and treat them with dignity. At least that is how it was with the higher classes, who I interacted with the most. Always try to keep composure. The lower classes would act more... 'familiar' with each other, as it is in all nations, but the Temples taught them respect. Neither be cold nor unrestrained, but kind and composed.
As for other races... Well... With other horses, like Saddle Arabians, we have fought wars. Karkadannistan was a part of the Saddle Arabian Empire for a few centuries, and I do not think they have forgotten it. With non-horses" Her expression changes to one of almost disgust
"Let's just say it is much easier to respect the Caliph in Saddle Arabia than... Gnolls, or the Yetis of the south. I will say I interacted with many of them during the Storm King's reign. We had to help supply them. They could be... okay at times, but you could never fully consider them equals"
>>126015She now turns to him
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you"
And she hugs Silver
"Thank you for bringing our son back"
\r
>>126017Silver is a bit surprised by the hug, but he does hug back, pats her back, and releases her in respect for her husband.
"It was nothing. I am glad I could help."
>>126017"How They and You feel about Equestria and Equestrians?"
>>126018He's a bit surprised too, but is still jubilant
Stallion:
"If there is anything we can do for you in return, tell us"
>>126020He waves it off with a hoof.
"Thank you, but I do not need anything as reward. Though, maybe if we meet again some day, we will have to get dinner."
>>126019"Karkadannistan culture, at least for the old guard, was centered on everyhorse taking a role under tradition, that wove them into a social web so that every member of society and every class benefited another, and everyhorse was linked through this web to horses of centuries past, and to generations not yet born in the future. But Equestria took this a step further. True interdependence. Beyond kind but composed... Friendship. True Harmony. That was the image, anyways. And more than Friendship: technology, wealth, and power.
The Storm King came into our lands early, he destroyed temples and burned plantations, and forced most of the rest of us landowners to work with him. But the Storm King died in Equestria. That was a big event for us. Nothing changed my life more, save the day my son was born, and the day the Storm King's airships entered my country.
That Twilight Sparkle is one of the greatest creatures ever to have lived, of that I have no doubt. But I will say again what I said before. I am not certain she had the jealousy and practical cynicism to truly guard what she had created."
>>126021"Well you are invited back anytime!" she says
The stallion leans in again, to hug Loputu, while another colt comes out
"Loputu!"
>>126022Silver looks to the new colt.
"Oh, is this Loputu's brother?"
>>126023Loputu
“Yeah, my little brother”
The colt, who is a yellow green, looks to Silver with big, curious eyes
“Who are you?”
>>126022Dark Star strokes his chin in thought
"Interesting,I'm Glad We took him down,the storm king was a real son of a Diamon dog. Its a shame twilight fought against our liberation"
>>126024Silver looks down at the colt, and smiles.
"Hello little one. I am Silver Sword. What is your name?"
>>126025"Your liberation?"
She tilts her head
"Oh, the Civil War. Twilight was fully invested into her doctrine of opening Equestria. This had... mixed results. Crysalis would not be anything but hostile, and could not be turned to friendship. The yaks would not help with the Changelings, but the Hippogrifs would. Equestria's best friends were those the furthest from the danger, but the closer to the danger, the more they cowered. Then the split with the colony happened, and they tried to conquer an Empire, and Twilight declared war to show that she would stand beside young griffin states... It got messy. She was very much committed to an ideal, and it did not work out for her... But I should not lecture an Equestrian on Equestrian politics"
>>126026 He wags his tail briefly
"My name is Esimene Sula! Nice to meet you, Silver Sword!"
>>126027"It is great to meet you. You are very well-mannered colt."
>>126028Stallion:
"Indeed he is, that's how we raised him"
Colt:
"Well thank you, sir!"
Stallion to colt:
"And let's keep it that way"
>>126027"Yes,Its a Shame her Doctrine was Flawed and it flooded our lands with criminals of the Worst sorts."
>>126030"Well... I've seen very bad sorts tonight. I had no idea there could be such things in Equetsria"
>>126029"Alright, it was nice meeting you all, but I must get back to my compatriots. I wish you all good night."
>>126031"Theres a Grand Struggle aahead."
He Smiles
"And i wouldnt have it any other way, Equestria. Will regain her glory this is wear."
>>126032"And a very good night to you!" He says
"You gave us our son back, and for that, we are grateful"
>>126033"What do you mean?" She asks
"You mean the Changelings... or the criminals?"
>>126035Silver smiles, nods, waves goodbye to them, and turns back the way he came to make his way back to the Eastside Tavern.
>>126035"The Answer is Both. I fear both may have infiltrated the Local Government. if thats the case. its going to be challenging to remove them,depending on how high up they are."
>>126036Talve escorts him down the satirs, through the alley and the center plot, then through the alley and locking the door. But before Silver leaves, he asks Silver about his work fighting the griffins
"You say you defeated a whole gang of griffin slavers?"
>>126038Silver nods.
"Slavers, traffickers...and cultists if you could believe it. It turns out there was number of them who were sacrificing those they captured."
>>126039"Sacrificing?! Those griffins are even more vicious than I heard"
>>126037"But the New Marelanders, they can't allow that... can they?"
>>126040Silver nods.
"We found and managed to save two they were in middle of sacrificing. They had cut them open, from collar to abdomen, all way through breastbone to expose their hearts. It was...gruesome. But, it is over now. They have been either killed or captured."
>>126040"They Have more important issues t o attend to. They are fighting a war On their continent."
>>126041He fliches in revolted fascination
"Woah. I hope I can be like you, some day. Maybe I should fight in the Overseas, or the Security Police"
>>126042She nods her head
"I can understand that. Still though, Equestria is not as I had hoped it would be, so far."
She looks directly at him
"But you... you and your friends, have been true Equestrians. Equestria lives in you."
>>126043He smiles
"thank you for saying that. it means a lot."
>>126043Silver smiles at him.
"It is honorable ambition, but do not discount what service you do for others here."
>>126045"They say that... but there's so little you can do. You can't have real weapons, the police won't come here, and the factories do not run full shifts"
>>126044"Well, you saved my life, I know that. What is next for you?"
>>126046"Have faith, Talve. Things can change for better here, if only you have faith."
>>126047He sighs
"It's taking its sweet, long time. I hope you'e right, Silver Sword"
And with that, Silver may go back to the tavern by some means
>>126046"As For tonight. im gonna have a few drinks and unwind after that fight. then tomrrow i need to go fill out some paper work for R&M. I Also promised 2 orphaned colts i would take them to see the Docks and then taking them to get Some Ice Cream."
>>126048Silver bids him goodbye, and continues to trot towards the Tavern.
>>126049"Oh. Sounds like fun. I guess I should go see if those saplings I ordered ever came in"
>>126050He's walking?
>>126051Yeah, unless he sees a taxi he can hail.
>>126052"Young trees, yes. When I tried to reach Equestria, I decided to have a few trees from my family plantation shipped to Equestria as well. I hoped to plant them in Equestrian soil"
>>126053As Silver trots along, he goes past through more half lit streets, and more bombed out buildings, and through a set of buildings similarly bared and guarded to what he saw in little Skynavia. Buildings baring the red and black flag in the windows. After some time, he passes out of Red Heart, and into Eastside, where he can hail a taxi for the last bit of distance
>>126054That he does, asking them to drop him off at the Eastside Tavern.
>>126055A taxi takes him down the streets, dropping him off at the tavern for charge of a single bit. Silver sees that the Tavern is filled with the rescued creatures
>>126054"That would be nice. what kind of trees?"
>>126057"What we grew in our orchards. The Pistachio tree. It's a nut, like a cashew."
>>126056Silver sighs in relief, seeing them all here. He trots up to the bar.
"Hey Glass. Got any whiskey left?"
>>126058"Hmmmm i don't think i've ever heard of that kind of nut before."
>>126059>>126060Silver and Dark Star may or may not notice each other in the room. Dark Star is talking to Meadows at the bar. There are a number of the rescues there. Blue Skies is arguing with Johann about... something, Khoi and Jubilosa are with each other, and Undertoe is sort of between the two groups, but kind of to herself. Mala is near Meadows and Dark Star, but kind of to himself
>>126059Glistening Glass
"Of course we do. What kind do you want?"
>>126060"Oh, it is a great nut. Roast them, crack them open, and eat them."
>>126061"Best you have. Going to need it after tonight..."
He silently eavesdrop on Skies and Johann.
>>126061"Hmmm i might have to buy one of the trees from you,if you dont mind."
He Smiles
>>126062It seems to be a historical argument about the course of the development of the Griffonian Empire, in particular, the crusade against the river nations. Skies seems to believe that the Griffonian Empire did not have the essential military virtues to defeat the River ponies - in particular, Nimbusia - while Johann seems to believe it had more to do with happenstance. Likewise, Johann believes that the Idle of Boreas was an essential Palladium securing the wellbeing of the Griffonian Empire, while Blue Skies believes that the power of nobles is what ruined it - a view Johann does not entirely disagree with. As they argue more, they come upon the agreement that an active, virtuous citizenry is essential to the wellbeing of the state
>>126063She smiles, with a "heh"
"Oh, I don't know about that. But If I can ever get a plantation going, you can certainly have some nuts"
>>126062>>126064"Two shots of Dragon's Breath, coming up"
Glistening glass pours whiskey into a glass - decidedly
not measuring it out into shots
>>126064He smiles to himself, seeing the two manage to come to an agreement, despite coming from different backgrounds.
>>126065He nods with gratitude at Glass.
"Thank you, so much."
He downs the whiskey fairly quickly.
>>126066"Then deal"
She giggles with him too
>>126067It's pretty damned strong
>>126068Dark Star tries to motion at undertoe stealthily
"Whats their deal?"
>>126068He lets out a sigh in surprise.
"Woah...No kidding, 'Dragon's Breath'."
>>126069Assuming this is to Meadows:
"Hmmm? Oh, I don't know. They found her upstairs somewhere. She's been pretty eager to get in the fight, though, and she's good with a gun"
>>126070It'll light up with a flame, that is for sure
>>126071"Maybe we should say something to her? She Looks pretty uncomfortable."
>>126071"Needed that, though. Thank you, Glass."
>>126072"You... Yes, sure."
She looks back again to Undertoe
"She is only the third hippogriff I had ever seen"
>>126073He nods
"If you need anything more, I'm right here"
>>126074Dark Star stands up and walks over to Undertoe's table.
"Hello."
>>126075The red Hippogriff seems to glance at Dark Star and see him before he approaches, though she acts like she doesn't. She moves her eyes up to him when he stands over her. She's leaning down in her booth, forelegs on the table, not drinking anything
"Hello"
>>126077She blinks
"And my name is Undertoe"
>>126080"Mind if i sit down?"
He motions at the seat across the table.
>>126082"I Didnt get a chance to talk to you back at the fortress. Are you well?"
He asks with concern in his voice
>>126083She says, with out any kind of enthusiasm
"The best I've been in nearly two years"
>>126084"Would you like a drink? i can only imagine what you've been through."
>>126085She sits up
"Forgive me if I seem rude. I'll buy a drink"
>>126087After some time, she orders a drink. A mixed drink of some sort
>>126088Dark Star orders another apple whiskey
>>126089"One more, coming up"
Glistening Glass fills another glass with whiskey
>>126090"So,Where are you from?" He Asks Undertoe
>>126091"I was from a small town in northern Hippogriffia. And I lived in Equestria thereafter"
>>126092"How did you make you why here? what made you want to come here?"
>>126093"I came here to study at James Haykins University. Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to work for a shipping company. Then the war broke out"
>>126094"Ah the war.if you don't mind me asking how did you end up down there?"
>>126095"In Maakie's room? Sure, I guess"
She takes a long drink from her mixed drink
"I would go to bars or clubs, sometimes, with my best friend there. There was a place she was going to meet some guy. She wanted me to come along. And so I came along. There were these griffins who sprung on us and blind folded us... and I ended up there"
>>126096A Look of Sadness creeps across Dark Stars face.
"Im Sorry that happend to you."
>>126097She still has a blank, though un-pleased expression, one she has carried for much of the conversation. She says nothing
>>126098"I Was Almost Abducted once,when i was a colt."
Dark Star Blurts out unsure of what to say next.
>>126100"Yea, it was by a Griffon."
Dark star looks a little embarrassed by him blurting that out.
>>126101She places her drink down, and then looks directly at him.
"Are you really a zebra?" She asks
>>126102"Oh i had almost forgotten, about the dye. No im A Earth Pony. I Went undercover to get yo'all out of there."
>>126103"I heard all of that argument in the... church, but who exactly do you work for?"
>>126104"Why Would you like to know?"
Dark Star says Non hostilely
>>126106"I'll Just say. That What i do is Legally sanctioned."
>>126107"That much I understand. What I want to know is
by whom?"
>>126109She moves her head to the side, keeping her eyes on him as she asks
"The fascists?"
>>126111She closes her beak, holding the position, then moves back against the seat
"Why?"
>>126112"Why,What?"
He asks a little confused
>>126113"Why would you" she stops herself "Why
do you work for the fascists?"