Up in the North, the ponies have successfully found who, or rather, what was damaging the mine. But their quest is not over, as they go to look for the source of the trouble. In Baltimare, Iron, Silver, and Dark Star enjoy the fruits of defeating the cultists, while Midnight herds the remaining rescues.
We welcome any new players to join
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
File (): C28BC42DAF57C00E04AAF993BB5CE53B-129737.jpg (126.7 KB, 536x798, 129825.jpg)
1753 replies and 52 files omitted.
>>127827
Her smile softens somewhat
"I guess that is true. I just think collecting may be a bit less of a challenging for us than calculating"
Her smile softens somewhat
"I guess that is true. I just think collecting may be a bit less of a challenging for us than calculating"
>>127829
Iron can't help but widen his smile, turning slightly mischievous. "Oh come on," Iron mutters out, chucking somewhat before looking at Cauldron "do you see me as a pony who backs down from a challenge?"
Iron can't help but widen his smile, turning slightly mischievous. "Oh come on," Iron mutters out, chucking somewhat before looking at Cauldron "do you see me as a pony who backs down from a challenge?"
>>127830
She smiles wider at him,
“I see you as a pony that didn’t do any better at math in school than I did”
She giggles
She smiles wider at him,
“I see you as a pony that didn’t do any better at math in school than I did”
She giggles
>>127831
Iron chortles at the response, lightly tapping Cauldron's chest. "Hey," he mock protests after a bit "I will have you know my father made me study the magical number thingies or unless I sought to get spanked." He pauses, smiling widely "I admit my flank got beet red more than I would like to admit."
Iron chortles at the response, lightly tapping Cauldron's chest. "Hey," he mock protests after a bit "I will have you know my father made me study the magical number thingies or unless I sought to get spanked." He pauses, smiling widely "I admit my flank got beet red more than I would like to admit."
>>127832
She gives a toothy, kind of awkward smile
"My father wanted me to do well in school, I just kind of... slacked off and did other things"
She gives a toothy, kind of awkward smile
"My father wanted me to do well in school, I just kind of... slacked off and did other things"
>>127833
Iron cocked his head. "Oh?" he lets out, intrigued by her potential hobbies as a filly "What did you do before?"
Iron cocked his head. "Oh?" he lets out, intrigued by her potential hobbies as a filly "What did you do before?"
>>127834
"Well, you know. Talk to other fillies and colts. Play around."
She looks down at the notepad
"I would often ask the teacher when I would ever have to use math in life. I had no idea..."
"Well, you know. Talk to other fillies and colts. Play around."
She looks down at the notepad
"I would often ask the teacher when I would ever have to use math in life. I had no idea..."
>>127835
Iron can't help but chuckle. "Me too, actually," the native admits sheepishly, rubbing his cheek "I did not expect to have to use them for all sorts of things either, even less that it would apply to something like this."
The native pulls up his foreleg, looking pensively "I thought we would simply be coercing ponies from the money they owed, nothing more."
Iron can't help but chuckle. "Me too, actually," the native admits sheepishly, rubbing his cheek "I did not expect to have to use them for all sorts of things either, even less that it would apply to something like this."
The native pulls up his foreleg, looking pensively "I thought we would simply be coercing ponies from the money they owed, nothing more."
>>127836
"No, you have to get the money to lend out from a boss, find creatures that need money but can't get it from the bank or pawn shop, sell them the loan, keep track of where they are, how much they owe, and then collect on it. And this is on top of issues like the police, or if borrowers are borrowing to cover debts to a different lender"
"No, you have to get the money to lend out from a boss, find creatures that need money but can't get it from the bank or pawn shop, sell them the loan, keep track of where they are, how much they owe, and then collect on it. And this is on top of issues like the police, or if borrowers are borrowing to cover debts to a different lender"
>>127837
Iron can't help but smile at Cauldron. "Seems you caught on pretty quick, I would say," he replies gingerly, wrapping a foreleg around the zebra "to nopony's surprise, of course."
Iron can't help but smile at Cauldron. "Seems you caught on pretty quick, I would say," he replies gingerly, wrapping a foreleg around the zebra "to nopony's surprise, of course."
>>127838
As Iron places a foreleg around her, she at first pulls away from the movement, but then relaxes into it
"Well, you either catch on, or you fall behind. That seemed okay in school, but it isn't in life, so I caught on"
Her smile is subtle and confident
As Iron places a foreleg around her, she at first pulls away from the movement, but then relaxes into it
"Well, you either catch on, or you fall behind. That seemed okay in school, but it isn't in life, so I caught on"
Her smile is subtle and confident
>>127839
"I sure can tell," Iron confirms warmly, "from your snout poking prowess to this stuff we just went through, I bet you could do anything you wanted with enough time and effort."
Iron moves his head to stick by hers, glancing at her from her side. "Speaking of, do you think all of the goods I have gotten would be able to be invested in a trade you really want?" he asks
"I sure can tell," Iron confirms warmly, "from your snout poking prowess to this stuff we just went through, I bet you could do anything you wanted with enough time and effort."
Iron moves his head to stick by hers, glancing at her from her side. "Speaking of, do you think all of the goods I have gotten would be able to be invested in a trade you really want?" he asks
>>127840
She stops, her eyes are focused, her ears go straight up, and her fur seems to stand up
"What do you mean?" She asks
She stops, her eyes are focused, her ears go straight up, and her fur seems to stand up
"What do you mean?" She asks
>>127841
Iron tilts his head. "What do you mean 'what do you mean'?" he asks in return. The native feels something is off, making sure he didn't miss anything in terms of her emotional state.
[1d20+2 = 8]<Sense motive roll
Iron tilts his head. "What do you mean 'what do you mean'?" he asks in return. The native feels something is off, making sure he didn't miss anything in terms of her emotional state.
[1d20+2 = 8]<Sense motive roll
>>127843
"You know, the whole potion maker business," he clarifies, rubbing her back with his foreleg reassuringly "in order to boost your money making further up, help your family and be safer from this crackdown in the future, remember?"
"You know, the whole potion maker business," he clarifies, rubbing her back with his foreleg reassuringly "in order to boost your money making further up, help your family and be safer from this crackdown in the future, remember?"
>>127845
"Well, I did create a lot of capital through the goods I have gotten," Iron suggests happily, excitement clear in his voice "meaning you could be able to invest in preparations for it. Not to mention I got a few extra hoooves as well if you need more hired help either at your father's place or with your promising enterprise."
"Well, I did create a lot of capital through the goods I have gotten," Iron suggests happily, excitement clear in his voice "meaning you could be able to invest in preparations for it. Not to mention I got a few extra hoooves as well if you need more hired help either at your father's place or with your promising enterprise."
>>127849
Iron's ears straighten, eyes widening at the glomp as he finds his body falling backward due to both unpreparedness and tiredness, but happily accepts the hug, now on the floor, belly up, wrapping his forelegs around her back. "O-oh it is nothing, Cauldron," he stammers out, taken aback by such a massive gratitude exhuding from the mare, clearly blushing hard "you did f-far more."
Iron's ears straighten, eyes widening at the glomp as he finds his body falling backward due to both unpreparedness and tiredness, but happily accepts the hug, now on the floor, belly up, wrapping his forelegs around her back. "O-oh it is nothing, Cauldron," he stammers out, taken aback by such a massive gratitude exhuding from the mare, clearly blushing hard "you did f-far more."
>>127850
After finding she's knocked him to the ground, she stands back up, blushes and smiles awkwardly
"I mean... Thank you"
After finding she's knocked him to the ground, she stands back up, blushes and smiles awkwardly
"I mean... Thank you"
>>127851
Iron blinks once or twice, still laid down on the ground, before looking back at Cauldron, laughing heartily, eyes closing as he waves his hoof dismissively. "Oh do not be worried about my personal space," he comments happily "I am glad I could help you after what you did for me."
He extends both of his foreleg, yet stays prone, smiling warmly "Besides, it is not like you could sour my mood after such a cute display," he comments.
Iron blinks once or twice, still laid down on the ground, before looking back at Cauldron, laughing heartily, eyes closing as he waves his hoof dismissively. "Oh do not be worried about my personal space," he comments happily "I am glad I could help you after what you did for me."
He extends both of his foreleg, yet stays prone, smiling warmly "Besides, it is not like you could sour my mood after such a cute display," he comments.
>>127852
She scrunches her mouth in a twisted smile, then walks over to Iron, over top of him, and hugs, or lets him hug him
She scrunches her mouth in a twisted smile, then walks over to Iron, over top of him, and hugs, or lets him hug him
>>127853
Iron gladly reciprocates the hug, being overly gentle and caring, feeling all the Tartarus he went through back at Hoebuck and the Pier worth it. Her coat... her hugs... her smile... her. It was all for her, for what she did for him so far.
He would suffer a million wounds, drown a thousand times, break all his bones and even hoof over his life. All for that smile, that joy, that cheerful enthusiasm.
He closes his eyes, enjoying such a peaceful, soul strengthening climax as they both hugged for as long as Cauldron wanted.
Iron gladly reciprocates the hug, being overly gentle and caring, feeling all the Tartarus he went through back at Hoebuck and the Pier worth it. Her coat... her hugs... her smile... her. It was all for her, for what she did for him so far.
He would suffer a million wounds, drown a thousand times, break all his bones and even hoof over his life. All for that smile, that joy, that cheerful enthusiasm.
He closes his eyes, enjoying such a peaceful, soul strengthening climax as they both hugged for as long as Cauldron wanted.
>>127854
She actually doesn't feel all that soft and fluffy. Certainty not as much as White Sands. A kind of hard and muscular body underneath short, if kind of soft fur. But she hugs him more. A little harder now even. She closes her eyes, and seems to have tears coming down from them
She actually doesn't feel all that soft and fluffy. Certainty not as much as White Sands. A kind of hard and muscular body underneath short, if kind of soft fur. But she hugs him more. A little harder now even. She closes her eyes, and seems to have tears coming down from them
>>127855
Iron's ears straighthen at the sight before hugging her slightly tighter as well, letting her pour all her emotions on him. "I am glad to help, Cauldron," he whispers to her ear, lightly nuzzling her cheek "You deserve it."
Iron's ears straighthen at the sight before hugging her slightly tighter as well, letting her pour all her emotions on him. "I am glad to help, Cauldron," he whispers to her ear, lightly nuzzling her cheek "You deserve it."
>>127857
Iron chuckles, retreating his snout, the back of his head returning to the floor, smiling wide. "At least I think you do," he honestly replies, half lidded, grateful eyes staring at Cauldron's own "and nopony could change my mind about it."
Iron chuckles, retreating his snout, the back of his head returning to the floor, smiling wide. "At least I think you do," he honestly replies, half lidded, grateful eyes staring at Cauldron's own "and nopony could change my mind about it."
>>127859
Iron reciprocates the hug, happy to have her hug his neck as he closes his eyes and hugs her back, smiling warmly as well. "Thank you as well for giving me this much time of the day," he mumbles happily, content as ever to hug her crush so intimately.
Iron reciprocates the hug, happy to have her hug his neck as he closes his eyes and hugs her back, smiling warmly as well. "Thank you as well for giving me this much time of the day," he mumbles happily, content as ever to hug her crush so intimately.
>>127861
Iron hums happily at Cauldron's words, heart fluttering slightly. "You are going to make me blush with words like that," he mock protests, still calmly hugging the zebra.
Iron hums happily at Cauldron's words, heart fluttering slightly. "You are going to make me blush with words like that," he mock protests, still calmly hugging the zebra.
>>127864
"Well... I haven't touched it since last night. I'm not sure what all you had there. I could see that you were really in a hurry last night."
"Well... I haven't touched it since last night. I'm not sure what all you had there. I could see that you were really in a hurry last night."
>>127866
"Some directly useful notes and bits, along with some fancy coins I have never seen before and 'bonds', whatever those are," he recounts "as well as some papers, some having pictures of a stallion bedding a mare or two used for blackmail for some reason, then some shiny gemstones and some fancy looking liquids."
"Some directly useful notes and bits, along with some fancy coins I have never seen before and 'bonds', whatever those are," he recounts "as well as some papers, some having pictures of a stallion bedding a mare or two used for blackmail for some reason, then some shiny gemstones and some fancy looking liquids."
>>127867
"Uh.... Okay then. You really have a lot to learn if you want to be a good criminal here. But there's probably something good in there."
"Uh.... Okay then. You really have a lot to learn if you want to be a good criminal here. But there's probably something good in there."
>>127868
Iron nods understandingly. "Perhaps we can go back and you can take a more thorough look?" he suggests.
Iron nods understandingly. "Perhaps we can go back and you can take a more thorough look?" he suggests.
>>127871
"Alright"
She goes out from the back room, into the bar, picks up her sweater, and onto the street. It's a walk of many blocks before they get back to her apartment, her unlocking the door, then locking it back after they enter inside
"Alright"
She goes out from the back room, into the bar, picks up her sweater, and onto the street. It's a walk of many blocks before they get back to her apartment, her unlocking the door, then locking it back after they enter inside
>>127872
Iron blinks a bit, still slightly tired from yesterday's events before turning to Cauldron. "Alright, so I believe it is time for your judgement," he suggests with a grin.
Iron blinks a bit, still slightly tired from yesterday's events before turning to Cauldron. "Alright, so I believe it is time for your judgement," he suggests with a grin.
>>127873
She goes into the closet, and unwraps the towels that cover the horde
"Jewelry and gems." She says, looking at the first portion of the find. "We'd need to take this to a jeweler or somegriff who can determine the exact value of these, but these are at minimum a few hundred bits. Probably more." She looks at the cash. "Nice! A thousand bits. Or 1100, more like." Then she looks at the bonds. "Even better. 1500 bits worth." She quickly looks at the photographs, and as quickly places them away without comment, as if she were forbidden to look upon them. She holds up the coins. "I don't know the exchange rate on these, but it's worth something to the griffins, especially on the foriegn markets." She looks at the crystal glass, and almost drops it as she immediately starts laughing. "Hahaha!" She places it back down without comment. Then she looks at the vial of pink. "Hmmm... Now this is something. I don't know the retail value, but 100 bits minimum." Then she looks at the three rifles, operating the lever action on the lever action gun. It fits her hooves well. "I don't know if you were intending to sell these.... Well, these aren't really as desired as bolt actions. They don't have quite the range or power. But they are easier to create fake permits for, they look more like legal guns, and in any case, guns are at a premium in the city now. Maybe 250 to 350 per gun."
She goes into the closet, and unwraps the towels that cover the horde
"Jewelry and gems." She says, looking at the first portion of the find. "We'd need to take this to a jeweler or somegriff who can determine the exact value of these, but these are at minimum a few hundred bits. Probably more." She looks at the cash. "Nice! A thousand bits. Or 1100, more like." Then she looks at the bonds. "Even better. 1500 bits worth." She quickly looks at the photographs, and as quickly places them away without comment, as if she were forbidden to look upon them. She holds up the coins. "I don't know the exchange rate on these, but it's worth something to the griffins, especially on the foriegn markets." She looks at the crystal glass, and almost drops it as she immediately starts laughing. "Hahaha!" She places it back down without comment. Then she looks at the vial of pink. "Hmmm... Now this is something. I don't know the retail value, but 100 bits minimum." Then she looks at the three rifles, operating the lever action on the lever action gun. It fits her hooves well. "I don't know if you were intending to sell these.... Well, these aren't really as desired as bolt actions. They don't have quite the range or power. But they are easier to create fake permits for, they look more like legal guns, and in any case, guns are at a premium in the city now. Maybe 250 to 350 per gun."
>>127874
Albeit the stallion jumped after hearing her laugh at the crystal glass, Iron listened intently at Cauldron's appraisal, nodding slightly.
"So, the next priority is to go to a jeweler?" he asks, trying to get into the ropes before looking at the rifles "Maybe we can keep one in case the gang is not as charitable with their weapons."
Albeit the stallion jumped after hearing her laugh at the crystal glass, Iron listened intently at Cauldron's appraisal, nodding slightly.
"So, the next priority is to go to a jeweler?" he asks, trying to get into the ropes before looking at the rifles "Maybe we can keep one in case the gang is not as charitable with their weapons."
>>127875
"They will be less charitable now than they were a week ago, I can tell you that. But we can go to a jeweler, yes."
"They will be less charitable now than they were a week ago, I can tell you that. But we can go to a jeweler, yes."
>>127876
Iron thought for a second, considering his future, planned lineup. "...actually, let us keep the metal shooters," he informs " we may need them for later use."
With that, Iron looks over at the gems. "Would now be a good time for looking for jewelers?" he asks, a bit unsure mostly out of ignorance.
Iron thought for a second, considering his future, planned lineup. "...actually, let us keep the metal shooters," he informs " we may need them for later use."
With that, Iron looks over at the gems. "Would now be a good time for looking for jewelers?" he asks, a bit unsure mostly out of ignorance.
>>127877
"Well, they may want to close up for lunch hour. But that won't necessarily stop them from wanting to do business"
"Well, they may want to close up for lunch hour. But that won't necessarily stop them from wanting to do business"
>>127878
Seeing a likely successful outcome soon-ish, Iron nods. "Then let us make haste," he proclaims eagerly before looking from side to side. "...where is the jeweler again?" he asks
Seeing a likely successful outcome soon-ish, Iron nods. "Then let us make haste," he proclaims eagerly before looking from side to side. "...where is the jeweler again?" he asks
>>127880
Iron nods understandingly, trotting in place and ready to follow at the pace she deems necessary.
Iron nods understandingly, trotting in place and ready to follow at the pace she deems necessary.
>>127882
Iron has made progress, but is still not yet at first base.
I had a dream where certain members of the party joined the equivalent of the CIA, impersonated dead/retired agents, and engaged in torture.
Iron has made progress, but is still not yet at first base.
I had a dream where certain members of the party joined the equivalent of the CIA, impersonated dead/retired agents, and engaged in torture.
>>127882
They leave her apartment, down a straight road in the direction of the harbor, and up another road.
"Here it is" She says, as they approach a single story shop
They leave her apartment, down a straight road in the direction of the harbor, and up another road.
"Here it is" She says, as they approach a single story shop
>>127910
"Should we mention anything about the origin of these gemstones?" Iron asks Cauldron in a whisper, leaning his head over to her ear.
"Should we mention anything about the origin of these gemstones?" Iron asks Cauldron in a whisper, leaning his head over to her ear.
>>127911
"No. And he will not ask. That is why I go to him."
Entering in the shop, they see counters, display cases, and in the center at the end of the room, a lone griffin. He has a double chin, white feathers and the standard amber fur underneath, with hazel eyes that meet the entering native and Zebra
"Shalom" he says to the new customers
"No. And he will not ask. That is why I go to him."
Entering in the shop, they see counters, display cases, and in the center at the end of the room, a lone griffin. He has a double chin, white feathers and the standard amber fur underneath, with hazel eyes that meet the entering native and Zebra
"Shalom" he says to the new customers
>>127913
Iron's snout scrunches at the new word, eyes widening as he looked at the griffon. "What?" he asks, flabbergasted.
Iron's snout scrunches at the new word, eyes widening as he looked at the griffon. "What?" he asks, flabbergasted.
>>127914
He pulls his lips back and up, in what is presumably a smile on a mouth that doesn't allow for much expression
"I take it you came here to sell" He says
He pulls his lips back and up, in what is presumably a smile on a mouth that doesn't allow for much expression
"I take it you came here to sell" He says
>>127915
Recovering from the shock, Iron nods before pulling up his bit pouch, where he comfortably stored the gemstones, taking them out to show the griffin.
Recovering from the shock, Iron nods before pulling up his bit pouch, where he comfortably stored the gemstones, taking them out to show the griffin.
>>127916
His smile grows, vindicated in his assumption. Quietly, he reaches a claw down, beneath a counter, and pulls out a looking glass. With a lone talon, he moves around the gems, inspecting each beneath the glass, which he sometimes twists whichever way, which moves the device in and out.
"Ah. Diamonds, yes? A ruby. An emerald. All, carefully cut."
He holds up a single, green jewel
"This emerald here, it's damaged. It looks as if it were ripped out of it setting in a necklace or ring."
He looks back up to Iron and Cauldron
"I see why you came to me"
Smiling widely,
"Sixteen hundred for the lot"
His smile grows, vindicated in his assumption. Quietly, he reaches a claw down, beneath a counter, and pulls out a looking glass. With a lone talon, he moves around the gems, inspecting each beneath the glass, which he sometimes twists whichever way, which moves the device in and out.
"Ah. Diamonds, yes? A ruby. An emerald. All, carefully cut."
He holds up a single, green jewel
"This emerald here, it's damaged. It looks as if it were ripped out of it setting in a necklace or ring."
He looks back up to Iron and Cauldron
"I see why you came to me"
Smiling widely,
"Sixteen hundred for the lot"
>>127918
Iron looks at the griffon for a few seconds, before slowly leaning back into Cauldron's ear. "...is that a good deal?" he asks in a whisper
Iron looks at the griffon for a few seconds, before slowly leaning back into Cauldron's ear. "...is that a good deal?" he asks in a whisper
>>127920
Figuring it would not hurt much by trying to rise the reward, Iron leans away before smiling softly. "I would say the cutwork deserves a little more than that, even if one of them is damaged" he starts "1700."
Figuring it would not hurt much by trying to rise the reward, Iron leans away before smiling softly. "I would say the cutwork deserves a little more than that, even if one of them is damaged" he starts "1700."
>>127922
He smiles back
"You must not know much about diamonds," he says, pulling up a particular gem
"It isn't about the damage, or the cut, but what the cuts and the damage implies." Then diverting attention to the diamond
"This is an 'asscher' cut diamond." Then he pulls up another. "Pear shape." Then another gem "An here... A ruby."
Then he looks to Iron
"A diamond is only cut before it is set in jewelry. Here, we have not only a cut diamond, but many diamonds, and many gems. Cut not just for a necklace, but for many necklaces. Do you care to explain to a different jeweler where exactly you got so many different cut gems?"
>>127923
Charisma
He smiles back
"You must not know much about diamonds," he says, pulling up a particular gem
"It isn't about the damage, or the cut, but what the cuts and the damage implies." Then diverting attention to the diamond
"This is an 'asscher' cut diamond." Then he pulls up another. "Pear shape." Then another gem "An here... A ruby."
Then he looks to Iron
"A diamond is only cut before it is set in jewelry. Here, we have not only a cut diamond, but many diamonds, and many gems. Cut not just for a necklace, but for many necklaces. Do you care to explain to a different jeweler where exactly you got so many different cut gems?"
>>127923
Charisma
>>127925
Iron nods. (Well that did not work out,) he thinks to himself (at least he knows what he is saying)
"...I understand," he relents, not overly hurt by his small prodding attempt, but his ears fold slightly and his small pout at the loss of potential extra dosh "I accept your price."
Iron nods. (Well that did not work out,) he thinks to himself (at least he knows what he is saying)
"...I understand," he relents, not overly hurt by his small prodding attempt, but his ears fold slightly and his small pout at the loss of potential extra dosh "I accept your price."
>>127926
He continues his smile
"Mazel Tov! Let me get the money"
He goes back for a minute, and comes back with a number of paper covered rolls. He sits before Iron, opening the coins and counting out coins, until there is a definite large stack of coins before Iron, which he pushes over with his foreleg. Then, he offers a claw to shake
He continues his smile
"Mazel Tov! Let me get the money"
He goes back for a minute, and comes back with a number of paper covered rolls. He sits before Iron, opening the coins and counting out coins, until there is a definite large stack of coins before Iron, which he pushes over with his foreleg. Then, he offers a claw to shake
>>127927
Iron aligns his bit pouch, pushing the coins inside with a foreleg as he stares at the extended claw for a few seconds, cocking his head slightly.
Coins nicely snug inside his trusty pouch, Iron decides to bump his claw with his hoof, thinking that may be the thing he's looking for.
Iron aligns his bit pouch, pushing the coins inside with a foreleg as he stares at the extended claw for a few seconds, cocking his head slightly.
Coins nicely snug inside his trusty pouch, Iron decides to bump his claw with his hoof, thinking that may be the thing he's looking for.
>>127928
He smirks his mouth, and looks at Iron strangely
"Very well"
It is a very large number of bits, more than can fit in his bit patch
He smirks his mouth, and looks at Iron strangely
"Very well"
It is a very large number of bits, more than can fit in his bit patch
>>127151
Don't think I added anything to be honest. Just put a bunch of pressure on the dm and then didn't commit to be part of the campaign.
>>127152
Sorry, about that btw.
Yeah, that was me. No, that wasn't the reason. I just had troubles making a character. Those troubles being laziness. Also, at the time. I had other things on my mind.
Don't think I added anything to be honest. Just put a bunch of pressure on the dm and then didn't commit to be part of the campaign.
>>127152
Sorry, about that btw.
Yeah, that was me. No, that wasn't the reason. I just had troubles making a character. Those troubles being laziness. Also, at the time. I had other things on my mind.
>>127929
Iron stares at the admittedly larger bit amount than he can comfortably carry, looking back at Cauldron, hopeful that she'd aid him with an extra container.
Iron stares at the admittedly larger bit amount than he can comfortably carry, looking back at Cauldron, hopeful that she'd aid him with an extra container.
File (): E61FD8D02F212B314811DDA1C8821C23-1272834.png (1.2 MB, 1985x2400, 1587485743.png)
The quoting system is one thing I can honestly say I love about the update. I hated how quoting a post in a long thread before would lead to long loading times
>>127938
Please do join! I'm joining the game next in-game day probably gonna be a month or two of irl time from now at this rate and although I was planning to join Dark Star on a quest, it might be more practical to team up with you activity depending.
>>127938
Please do join! I'm joining the game next in-game day probably gonna be a month or two of irl time from now at this rate and although I was planning to join Dark Star on a quest, it might be more practical to team up with you activity depending.
>>127940
Nodding, Iron proceeds to place all of the extra bits into Cauldron's saddlebag. "Thanks," he lets out.
Nodding, Iron proceeds to place all of the extra bits into Cauldron's saddlebag. "Thanks," he lets out.
File (): 54B57F4995EC422BEEC077F259AE3BF4-4302446.jpg (4.1 MB, 3507x2480, 1587500902.jpeg)
Alright, I am going to start a series of commentary. Mostly on the Hoebuck questline, but the first instance will be a solo encounter for, and a character only ever interacted with by a character and player who is no longer here. Still, it has left an impression on me.
It starts when Ash and Iron are rescuing the orphans from the gangsters in the Northside cannery, who were seized when the orphanage could not repay a loan. A cream colored Pegasus filly who is on the older end of the lot, seeing the druid Kirin Ash – a type of creature she has never seen before, and who practices magic and belongs to some unknown religion – promptly starts screaming, accusing Ash of buying the orphans for “virgin sacrifice” to pagan gods. The panic is infectious, and soon, several younger orphans are running about along with her inside the abandoned cannery. Iron picks them up, and they are on their way. As Ash leads the herd back to the orphanage, she loses sight of the cream-colored filly on a street corner, and they chase her again. Foals making assumptions about strange magic users that seem rational in the mind of child.
That was the end of that, until Ash’s player wanted more play time while advancement to the next day was pending. So I improvised a “bonus round.” Ash wakes up in the middle of the night to see a shadow running by. Exiting the room, she follows the figure to a downstairs door, through the orchard, through a slim patch of woods, and to a clearing where ponies gather – orphan ponies, including a rust colored earth pony colt recognizable from among those rescued – sitting around a fire under the light of a gibbous moon. The cream-colored filly stands in a prominent position, I believe wearing a hoodie, and holding a rabbit in her hooves. A pony recognizable from among those rescued the day before, and who seems to be the one who Ash followed to the clearing, hooves a kitchen knife to the filly. Ash watches as the filly holds up the rabbit, says something in a black tongue, and slices the rabbit’s throat with a knife.
Now Ash intervenes, revealing herself from the bushes and telling the foals to stop. But the cream-colored filly speaks more in black tongue, and a cold wind picks up, lowing beneath the canopy. In the tree line, a giant black dog with glowing red eyes appears, and sets his eyes on Ash. Ash summons magical powers of her own, and sends down a bolt of lightning on the dog. But the dog survives, rushing Ash, and biting into her. After a struggle, the hell hound is dispatched, and the orphans are rounded up. The nuns are awoken and informed of what has happened, and Ash goes to search the room of the cream-colored filly. She finds a book with an innocuous dust jacket taken from a travel guide. But inside, the book is written in three different languages, Ponish, a griffin language, and black tongue. She can determine readily that this book describes part of the history and some spells for the worship of the Griffinion god Maar.
The nuns are very much disappointed and stunned to hear what the foals have been up to, and while talking to them, Ash learns that the filly is named “Abby Willows,” and has only recently come to the orphanage. The next day, when Abby Willows is confined by the nuns alone in the dorm upstairs to write lessons in an endless series as a part of her punishment, Ash comes to visit her, delivering her food. Ash takes note of the fact that Abby’s mane and tail are cut short in a rather masculine fashion, and she clearly resents Ash after the episode the previous night, crossing her forelegs in a guarded pose. Ash tries to break the tension by starting to braid Abby’s mane. Ash tells Abby that she really shouldn’t be tangling with dark magic and unknown spirits, as it can be quite dangerous. Abby asks Ash if she knows why her mane is so short, and of course Ash responds in the negative. Abby then informs Ash that her mane was cut short by the gangsters during her captivity as a measure to prevent or reduce lice infection. She then explains to Ash that she consulted with spirits of a questionable nature because others failed to protect her, adding “my father thought he could protect all of us fighting in the Army, but he died in the process.” Ash tells Abby that she needs to have faith in the ability of the nuns to protect her from dangers. Abby responds by pointing over to the empty dorm room across the hall – empty because the nuns were forced to give over half the orphans to systems overseas after pressure from the fascists – and says “how can I trust them to do that?!” This leaves Ash speechless. Ash asks her if there were any other books, conspirators, or any other parts of her plan, and Abby vehemently denies. Ash does, however, calm Abby down enough to make her pay attention to the food Ash brought, which she gobbles up quickly.
Though that was the end of Abby’s direct appearances, and shortly thereafter, the end of Ash, it wasn’t the last part of the story. The next day, Iron returned to the orphanage, and helped the nuns by clearing dead trees in the orchard. Bucking a tree, a large, leather bound plain covered book falls to the ground, with pages opening to a strange and alien language Iron takes the book to Sister Marery, who confirms that the book is a religious and spell text belonging to a religion based around an evil griffin spirit, and connects it with Abby Willows and her misadventures.
It starts when Ash and Iron are rescuing the orphans from the gangsters in the Northside cannery, who were seized when the orphanage could not repay a loan. A cream colored Pegasus filly who is on the older end of the lot, seeing the druid Kirin Ash – a type of creature she has never seen before, and who practices magic and belongs to some unknown religion – promptly starts screaming, accusing Ash of buying the orphans for “virgin sacrifice” to pagan gods. The panic is infectious, and soon, several younger orphans are running about along with her inside the abandoned cannery. Iron picks them up, and they are on their way. As Ash leads the herd back to the orphanage, she loses sight of the cream-colored filly on a street corner, and they chase her again. Foals making assumptions about strange magic users that seem rational in the mind of child.
That was the end of that, until Ash’s player wanted more play time while advancement to the next day was pending. So I improvised a “bonus round.” Ash wakes up in the middle of the night to see a shadow running by. Exiting the room, she follows the figure to a downstairs door, through the orchard, through a slim patch of woods, and to a clearing where ponies gather – orphan ponies, including a rust colored earth pony colt recognizable from among those rescued – sitting around a fire under the light of a gibbous moon. The cream-colored filly stands in a prominent position, I believe wearing a hoodie, and holding a rabbit in her hooves. A pony recognizable from among those rescued the day before, and who seems to be the one who Ash followed to the clearing, hooves a kitchen knife to the filly. Ash watches as the filly holds up the rabbit, says something in a black tongue, and slices the rabbit’s throat with a knife.
Now Ash intervenes, revealing herself from the bushes and telling the foals to stop. But the cream-colored filly speaks more in black tongue, and a cold wind picks up, lowing beneath the canopy. In the tree line, a giant black dog with glowing red eyes appears, and sets his eyes on Ash. Ash summons magical powers of her own, and sends down a bolt of lightning on the dog. But the dog survives, rushing Ash, and biting into her. After a struggle, the hell hound is dispatched, and the orphans are rounded up. The nuns are awoken and informed of what has happened, and Ash goes to search the room of the cream-colored filly. She finds a book with an innocuous dust jacket taken from a travel guide. But inside, the book is written in three different languages, Ponish, a griffin language, and black tongue. She can determine readily that this book describes part of the history and some spells for the worship of the Griffinion god Maar.
The nuns are very much disappointed and stunned to hear what the foals have been up to, and while talking to them, Ash learns that the filly is named “Abby Willows,” and has only recently come to the orphanage. The next day, when Abby Willows is confined by the nuns alone in the dorm upstairs to write lessons in an endless series as a part of her punishment, Ash comes to visit her, delivering her food. Ash takes note of the fact that Abby’s mane and tail are cut short in a rather masculine fashion, and she clearly resents Ash after the episode the previous night, crossing her forelegs in a guarded pose. Ash tries to break the tension by starting to braid Abby’s mane. Ash tells Abby that she really shouldn’t be tangling with dark magic and unknown spirits, as it can be quite dangerous. Abby asks Ash if she knows why her mane is so short, and of course Ash responds in the negative. Abby then informs Ash that her mane was cut short by the gangsters during her captivity as a measure to prevent or reduce lice infection. She then explains to Ash that she consulted with spirits of a questionable nature because others failed to protect her, adding “my father thought he could protect all of us fighting in the Army, but he died in the process.” Ash tells Abby that she needs to have faith in the ability of the nuns to protect her from dangers. Abby responds by pointing over to the empty dorm room across the hall – empty because the nuns were forced to give over half the orphans to systems overseas after pressure from the fascists – and says “how can I trust them to do that?!” This leaves Ash speechless. Ash asks her if there were any other books, conspirators, or any other parts of her plan, and Abby vehemently denies. Ash does, however, calm Abby down enough to make her pay attention to the food Ash brought, which she gobbles up quickly.
Though that was the end of Abby’s direct appearances, and shortly thereafter, the end of Ash, it wasn’t the last part of the story. The next day, Iron returned to the orphanage, and helped the nuns by clearing dead trees in the orchard. Bucking a tree, a large, leather bound plain covered book falls to the ground, with pages opening to a strange and alien language Iron takes the book to Sister Marery, who confirms that the book is a religious and spell text belonging to a religion based around an evil griffin spirit, and connects it with Abby Willows and her misadventures.
>>127947
Even though the story never goes anywhere after that, and the character hasn’t been seen in well over a year now (and probably never will be again), I am kind of proud of having come up with and executing the ritual in the woods almost immediately after the player indicated they wanted to play. I was pleased by my own blending of EAW lore and the circumstances into making a character who has compelling reasons for doing evil things, and a series of events that recontextualizes earlier happenings
I was very much impressed and pleased for Ash and the player to reason that a rabbit for a hellhound was an unfair trade tilted in favor of the foals, and surely any spirit making such a trade must have more sinister plans. I was disappointed that the character would not call out the teenage girl for being a liar and I did not entirely understand why she didn’t promise to help protect the filly herself. I was most disappointed that neither Ash nor Iron made any sort of inquiry as to where Abby got the books from.
“Abby Willows” is named for Abigail Williams, the accuser at the Salem Witch Trials. I gave her the name while phone posting at a Mexican restaurant, and so was going by memory rather than looking it up, so mistakenly thought that Abigail Williams was the accused. I blame that “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” movie with Nicholas Cage for confusing me. Considering that Abby Willows makes her first appearance by accusing Ash of being a witch who is buying foals for the purpose of Equine sacrifice, it still fits her.
Even though the story never goes anywhere after that, and the character hasn’t been seen in well over a year now (and probably never will be again), I am kind of proud of having come up with and executing the ritual in the woods almost immediately after the player indicated they wanted to play. I was pleased by my own blending of EAW lore and the circumstances into making a character who has compelling reasons for doing evil things, and a series of events that recontextualizes earlier happenings
I was very much impressed and pleased for Ash and the player to reason that a rabbit for a hellhound was an unfair trade tilted in favor of the foals, and surely any spirit making such a trade must have more sinister plans. I was disappointed that the character would not call out the teenage girl for being a liar and I did not entirely understand why she didn’t promise to help protect the filly herself. I was most disappointed that neither Ash nor Iron made any sort of inquiry as to where Abby got the books from.
“Abby Willows” is named for Abigail Williams, the accuser at the Salem Witch Trials. I gave her the name while phone posting at a Mexican restaurant, and so was going by memory rather than looking it up, so mistakenly thought that Abigail Williams was the accused. I blame that “Sorcerer’s Apprentice” movie with Nicholas Cage for confusing me. Considering that Abby Willows makes her first appearance by accusing Ash of being a witch who is buying foals for the purpose of Equine sacrifice, it still fits her.
One thing that was not mentioned in the commentary:
when Ash opens the book and reads an incantation, the incantation is taken from H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," but with the names of various human gods replaced with villains from the My Little Pony generations, especially generation 1, and several from EAW, including the Smooze and Grogar before he was mentioned in season 9 of the show. The line from Lovecraft translates into English from Latin as:
"By Adonaï Eloïm, Adonaï Jehova, Adonai Sabaoth, Metraton On Agla Adonaï Mathon, the pythonic word, the mystery of the salamander, the assembly of sylphs, the grotto of gnomes, the demons of the heaven of Gad, Almousin, Gibor, Jehosua, Evam, Zariatnatmik, Come, Come, Come!"
Unfortunately I do not have my ponified version as the new code has completely removed the ability to search the website, but it was as stated above, with the reference to "slyphs" certainly remaining in a nod to the brony artist "SlyphStorm."
when Ash opens the book and reads an incantation, the incantation is taken from H.P. Lovecraft's "The Case of Charles Dexter Ward," but with the names of various human gods replaced with villains from the My Little Pony generations, especially generation 1, and several from EAW, including the Smooze and Grogar before he was mentioned in season 9 of the show. The line from Lovecraft translates into English from Latin as:
"By Adonaï Eloïm, Adonaï Jehova, Adonai Sabaoth, Metraton On Agla Adonaï Mathon, the pythonic word, the mystery of the salamander, the assembly of sylphs, the grotto of gnomes, the demons of the heaven of Gad, Almousin, Gibor, Jehosua, Evam, Zariatnatmik, Come, Come, Come!"
Unfortunately I do not have my ponified version as the new code has completely removed the ability to search the website, but it was as stated above, with the reference to "slyphs" certainly remaining in a nod to the brony artist "SlyphStorm."
>>127953
Some disruption in the surrounding branches and bushes, the dirt seems to have been moved aside or even pressed in, and the oval clearly has more pine needles in it then normal. Otherwise, no.
Some disruption in the surrounding branches and bushes, the dirt seems to have been moved aside or even pressed in, and the oval clearly has more pine needles in it then normal. Otherwise, no.
>>127955
There are a couple limbs that are torn and pressed down, most in a particular path of approach, while others are undisturbed. There does not seem to be anything placed in them, nor do they look like they've been eaten
There are a couple limbs that are torn and pressed down, most in a particular path of approach, while others are undisturbed. There does not seem to be anything placed in them, nor do they look like they've been eaten
>>127956
Spark shrugs and tries to find the tracks again, perhaps this was not the destination, but simply a stop along the way.
Spark shrugs and tries to find the tracks again, perhaps this was not the destination, but simply a stop along the way.
>>127950
I don't want to make anything inconvenient particularly since Brie and Dark Star haven't done anything yet. I can wait.
I don't want to make anything inconvenient particularly since Brie and Dark Star haven't done anything yet. I can wait.
>>127959
There are some slim hints of tracks, and a number of silhouettes in the treeline around Spark
There are some slim hints of tracks, and a number of silhouettes in the treeline around Spark
>>127964
A few disrupted patches of needles going off at an angle, and the definite sound of feet, paws, or hooves crunching needles
A few disrupted patches of needles going off at an angle, and the definite sound of feet, paws, or hooves crunching needles
[Reply] [Last 50 Posts] [Last 100 Posts] [Last 200 Posts]
You are viewing older replies. Click [View All] or [Last n Posts] to vew latest posts.
Clicking update will load all posts posted after last post on this page.
Post pagination: [Prev] [1-100] [101-200] [201-300] [301-400] [401-500] [501-600] [601-700] [701-800] [801-900] [901-1000] [1001-1100] [1101-1200] [1201-1300] [1301-1400] [1401-1500] [1501-1600] [1601-1700] [1701-1800] [1801-1853] [Next] [Live (last 100 replies)]
1853 replies | 55 files | 162 UUIDs | Page 17