1881 replies and 24 files omitted.
>>125048Silver nods, grabs his rifle from the other room, and goes back to where they left Maakie.
[1d20+5 = 16]>>125051Brie feels fine
But he tries to bite at Brie again
>>125054Silver walks into the hallway. He walks over the dress vest Maakie was carrying. He steps over the double barreled shotgun the Zebra dropped. He steps over first the dead zebra whose brains were shotout, then the Zebra who was stabbed and probably bled out. Then he finds Maakie
>>125052They go
>>125055>>125051I think that fails to land
Brie's turn
>>125055Silver makes sure to grab the shotgun, at trots over to Maakie.
"Boek is dead."
>>125057He is conscious, and looks over first to Undertoe, staring at her. Then Silver says his line, and he looks up to Silver. He tries to hold a grimace, though it starts to fall. He breathes heavily, in then out, and his beak opens
>>125057>>125055Iron stops as soon as he was about to go out the door, before turning back towards the hallyway to begin with and finally to Sands. "...on second thought," he starts off in a whisper only Sands could hear "I do not even trust the old pony..." With that, he does a big 180 and goes back in a wobble towards Silver's last known location. "We will have to hide the guns for the time being, so be sure to be on the lookout."
>>125058"I figured you would give your thoughts on that."
Silver searches Maakie's person for a key.
[1d20+3 = 19]>>125055Another fire spell attack.
>>125060Maakie is more or less naked without the vest, though he has a tie, which has nothing in it. His hat fell off
He takes a ragged breath, and looks back over to Undertoe
"How could you? I thought you-"
She shuts him up by kicking him. Kicking him in a vulnerable area
"Ugh!"
He turns over, and winces in pain
>>125061Hit
\r
>>125049>>125063The tree-like stag goes up in flame
He falls over, screeching in a bizarre way, like an imitation of the voice of some foreign language
\r
>>125062Silver looks inside the hat.
"I suppose I should ask same, why you would turn to supporting these Maarists."
>>125065The hat only has a handkerchief
"Ugh"
He pulls his rear limbs together as he winces in pain. It's a few seconds, but he responds to Silver
"I was not born into wealth or power. Just the chick of a simple hatter, well beneath the wealthy of the wealthiest city on the planet. I had to work to get where I am... where I was. Hard. I did my military service with the Republican Navy. I fought in skirmishes against pirates. I distinguished myself and achieved the rank of officer without an aristocratic title. I worked in entrepôt and found I had a knack for making deals, and got to work with ship captains from Hippogriffia to Nimbusia to Olenia. You want to criticize my methods? Dealing in smuggling, trafficking? I did nothing the wealthiest merchants didn't do. They smuggle and step on those beneath them, who were not clever and lucky enough. But I made my own luck. I did nothing they did not do, at least until I came to Equestria. Your land of Harmony. That's when I started to learn from the Equestrians. You say you want to welcome in creatures from all realms, and extend friendship to them. But when they come they are poor, and like so many sheep for fleecing. So your aristocrats and industrialists exploit them. I participated in this, yes, but it is little different. I play the same game as them. I supported Maarists? What of the Princesses, who ignored ships filled with immigrants, and who let those without papers live and work in Equestria - paying back their smugglers, and making more want to come here. Did they not help the process? Did they not bring in so many more to become victims to gangs, to crowded factories, to tenements, gangs and religious groups the public finds unsavory?
I did not ask to be born into this world, which plays this game. Do not blame me for playing it well."
>>125059She nods
He finds Silver talking to Maakie on the second level (he would basically have to walk near this, leaving). See
>>125060 >>125062 >>125065 >>125066 >>125066Silver ponders where he might have kept his key, or where Blue might have left his vest, if she didn't take it with her.
>>125068Silver walked over the vest as he came down the hall (
>>125055)
>>125069Then Silver goes over and checks it.
>>125066"I believe there are key differences between what you say and what I have seen here."
>>125070"Maybe in a few ways, but it's the same in principle. Do what you can to get ahead."
Silver checks the vest, and has some results, mostly in the inner pockets:
A closed paper note
A somewhat ornate derringer pistol
A Nova Griffonian Passport
Bullets to his Magnum - 6
New Mareland Currency - Bits: 150
Imperial Currency - Crowns: 20
Two cigars
A ring
A dry-cleaners ticket
A flip lighter, looks golden
A Kris (Maarite) Dagger
A Golden Stopwatch
And yes, a Key ring
\r
>>125071"As somepony who got ahead today by
not foalnapping people, using them as slave labor, sacrificing them to resident chaos deity who lives in your attic, skinning them and turning their hides into fur coats and leather book covers, and then feeding remains to your gnolls...I beg to differ."
He takes everything he can find.
>>125059Silver notices Iron.
"Ah, good, you are back! Mind helping me drag our 'friend' down to garbage chute, or are you just here for safe key?"
>>125072"We also salvaged their emotions to be regurgitated as a love drug for Equestrians - They sorely want it. Are you condemning me for being resourceful and efficient?"
Silver takes it all, evidently
Mala ducks out
>>125073"I am condemning you for your sociopathy, lack of empathy, and your lack of moral code. No matter what arguments you might make in favor of 'getting ahead', know this: it still did not do you any good in end. We are still standing. You are not."
Silver lets Mala go, if he so chooses.
>>125072Iron simply nods, opting to walk besides him and grabbing Maakie with his mouth to help drag
>>125075>>125073Silver helps Iron drag Maakie along.
>>125074"So it is. Then I will take pride in lasting longer than many others. Competition, old role models. Your Princesses and Elements. Life is not a game anyone walks away alive from"
When he finishes, he returns to scowling at Undertoe
Mala was hiding behind Silver, not leaving
>>125076>>125075Mala:
"At the center of this hallway, the stairwell leads down to the basement, then follow the tunnel"
>>125077Silver smiles at Mala, and follows his directions.
>>125077Iron nods tiredly, hoping Sands knows where to hide guns while he does some dirty work for Silver.
>>125078>>125079Mala walks down
"I don't think police will have come down here yet..."
Undertoe follows in the rear, kicking Maakie again before he is picked up, causing him to howl in pain
As they are carrying him down the stairs, Maakie turns his head back, trying to speak to the creatures
He speaks to Mala
"You. I know you your name is.... what was it... was it Tireja? Ah! Mala Mata, that's it!"
Mala moves forward, out of view though.
He speaks to Iron
"How much are they paying you? I can do better"
>>125080Iron simply shakes his head. "I would have considered it if you did not struggle before, beaked one," he responds "negotiation time is over."
>>125081"heheh, never be afraid to seize an opportunity. Do you know what I am offering here? Name a price. Name it! I'll double it!"
>>125082Iron does not respond, clearly sour from his previous encounter with the griffon.
>>125083Iron can't feel the pain, but he can feel
something is off, where he has been shot
>>125078>>125083Undertoe punches him
They carry him down like a pig on a Barbeque, down the stairs, then into the tunnel, down the tunnel and cutting through the boiler room where different griffins are still tied up or lie dead on the floor, then through the hallway and into the old, very old stone room where Jubilosa and Loputu were found. On the wall, there is the garbage chute
>>125084Lightly scratching his shot area with his hoof, Iron turns to Silver, expecting him to send the other.
>>125084>>125085Silver opens the garbage chute door, and motions Iron to help him prop Maakie against it.
"I will do you one favor, Maakie: I will reunite you with many of your dear old friends."
>>125086>>125085"Wait! Three thousand. Three thousand bits!"
>>125087>>125086There's a definite odor when the door is opened - not pleasant
>>125088>>125089Scruching his snout at the stench, he simply shakes his head.
>>125087>>125088Silver gets a grin across the length of his face.
"No deal."
With Iron's help, Silver shoves the griffon into the chute.
>>125091>>125090He is propped up by Iron, Undertoe tries to place her claws to have a part in shoving him in, and is pressed and shoved face first by Silver
"Wait! No! - Ahhh!"
He falls down, head first yelling into the chute, with a smash and rustle of moving bones, followed by a second smash and rustle as the rest of his body meets the pile
He is seen no more
>>125092Silver looks down into the chute.
"I hope you and your friends can get reacquinted. You will have plenty of time to chat."
>>125093>>125092Iron simply looks down, blinking softly before turning to Silver. "I suppose now is the time for this safe you were talking about, right?"
>>125093Silver can see bones and skulls, and the griffin, face first and squirming trying to readjust himself. His white feathers and the white bones make it easier to see in the darkness, but there is no light in that putrid chute but what slips past Silver's head from the room. When he closes it, it will be pure, stuffy blackness
>>125095And with that one final sight, Silver slowly closes the chute, leaving Maakie in the pitch black nothingness.
>>125094Silver gives Iron the keys he got from Maakie's vest.
"Here you go."
>>125096Undertoe goes over, and gives her own glance. But she moves her head back, almost vomits by what she sees behind it. It closes down noisily
>>125096Iron tries to pick up the key, but can't seem to stick it to his hoof before looking at Silver somewhat sheepishly.
>>125097"Yes, sorry for not giving advance warning. There is reason why I thought of putting him down there."
>>125098Silver holds the keyring up to his mouth.
"Here, use your mouth. I can not join you, I am afraid. I need to do something first."
>>125099Iron does so, lazily letting the keyring hang on his tongue. He proceeds to trot back where he thought that safe was.
>>125099"Ugh!"
She is thoroughly disgusted and shivers
"There are
many good reasons"
>>125100Through the hallway into the stairwell, up four floors, to the top floor, and into the old office
>>125101Silver nods, and motions for her to follow him.
"Come, we need to get something for Johann, and that Skynavian mare we rescued."
He makes his way back towards where they found Zwolf, to get a couple vials of changeling honey.
>>125102To the end of the room, on what is now the right.
Mala peels off to the left, to his old room
Undertoe enters the location with the cells and the smashed cocoons
"What is this place?"