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.
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>>127725Along the shoreline there is more than one set of tracks. One is like that of a deer, or some kind of even toed animal, another is like that of a wolf or dog, and another is.... well, it's hard to say what it is like, really, but it must be a very large animal. The forest seems to stretch almost indefinitely past the lake, but the space between trees makes it traversable, even as it is dark under the canopy.
>>127726"There were highs and lows. Some gangsters, like Spring Valley Run, had popular profiles. And some like Gusto Gutierri had a dangerous but 'rugged,' reputation. And then some incidents, like the Hearts and Hooves Day Massacre - which took place in Bales, mind you - really hurt their reputation. But mostly it wasn't the population they could be brutal with. It was to other gangs, over territory and competition, or even power struggles within the gangs. Manehattan is.... larger, more diverse than Baltimare, and they don't have the Lady. They didn't have the same relationship with the authorities either."
She looks back to him
"Are you asking about the government cracking down here in Baltimare?"
>>127727Luckily Spark has spells that illuminate. He follows the strange tracks.
>>127728They go deeper into the forest, and though there are needles and snow covering sections of it it looks as if the mud and clay preserved them.
It would help if Spark could track
>>127727"The possibility, more like," Iron corrects slightly, but nods. "I am not particularly sure the population would be interested in such a thing, considering the self-centered nature I have witnessed so far." He ponders for a bit, scritching his chin to keep himself active as his mind processed the facts. "I doubt these 'fah-sheeshs' have better things to worry about than this, unless they believe they contribute to a bigger problem in their eyes."
>>127730*"I assumed these 'fah-sheeshs' have better
>>127730>>127731"Well, there are a few possible reasons. Partly it might be because they don't like the idea of sharing power over the city with gangs. Maybe they think the gangs 'exploit the people,' or something like that. Huh! They must be jealous... But they will use it as a basis for a moral crusade. Or they say they do, those lines are used in Manehattan, anyways... The businesses do not like protection racketeering or counterfiet goods, so they call in the Fascists to protect them. And the Fascists don't like these cutting into their tax base."
She turns directly to him
"But the real reason they would look to crack down, is if they are afraid the gang is supporting the resistance."
>>127732Previously sporadically and lazily nodding at the first three reasons presented, his ears flicker at the supposed real reason. "The resistance?" Iron asks, cocking his head slightly.
>>127733"Resistance to the Fascist Occupation. It's lead by the ELF in most places, but here it's by the Popular Front. Not that there aren't individuals who try to take matters into their own hooves."
>>127734"Huh," Iron muses "seems that would definitely be a cause for them to worry, considering the worst enemy always come from within." He pauses, poking his chin "Or at least that is what I heard."
Blinking once or twice, Iron turns his head towards the zebra mare. "I assume the Lady has not commented about the situation for the whole gang, right?"
>>127735"She's probably most concerned about Pransisco. As for any new arrivals from Manehattan... Don't give them an inch. But don't give the government any excuses either."
>>127736"I see..." Iron mumbles, having the slight feeling there isn't much he could do about that unless a fact he is forgetting about this ordeal suddenly revealed an opportunity. "So basically, we may be called to stop some of their operations or guard ours instead?" he asks, feeling at least there's something to do. "I hope they are not as twisted at the ones in the 'pee-err'."
>>127737"For the short term, of course," he adds.
>>127737>>127738"Yes, it is possible. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them are the same as the ones on the pier."
>>127739Iron nods, scratching his chin thoughtfully, flashing back at Sands' last proposal. "...maybe it could use one more spy to effectively watch their movements in order to counter them effectively, too," he suggests.
>>127740"That would be helpful," she says, almost absentmindedly
>>127741"I may have a candidate," Iron replies but tilts his head in mild doubt "but I have no clue if they would accept a random mare into the fold to spy on others willy nilly. Maybe if they take her time as a captive back at the 'pee-err' enough of an insurance..."
>>127742And... Iron is confusing Black Brier Pier with 33 HoebuckHer ears twist until they are facing him
"Huh?"
>>127743HECKING DANG IT. I just remembered what the pier she was talking about.Iron shakes his head. "...wait, no, not there," he mumbles as he rubs his eyes "it may have been a bad idea to get out of bed in my state."
He glances towards the zebra, one hoof still covered by his hoof. "Nevermind," he hastily adds "now I am even less sure."
>>127744Now she looks confused. She breathes, then backs down
"Oh... Okay..."
>>127745Letting a bit of time in order to properly set in, Iron cranes his neck slightly, popping some bones. "What about the stuff we gave you?" he asks
>>127746"It's still in my closet" She says
>>127747He nods, figuring she may not have had the time to sell off the stuff in the middle of the night before placing his body into the backrest with a disarming, still tired smile. "So, how was the lunch hour rush?"
>>127748"Oh it's just beginning. I helped prepare some spices and the soup."
Seeing that Iron is leaning back, she takes off her sweater
>>127749"Oh?" Iron replies, surprised tone quite apparent in his mumbly voice before he paused, staring ahead before nodding. "Impressive."
He turns to Cauldron "I figured you were helping him for the whole thing, but I suppose he is quite versatile."
>>127750"I suppose I could go back and help him cook more, I just wanted everything to be sorted out"
>>127751Iron can't help but chuckle heartily, playfully, gently and lazily pushing her body by a mere inch. "You know I did not mean it like that, Cauldron," he protests happily. "I was simply complimenting your father's productivity."
>>127752She smiles back, kind of awkwardly
"Yes, he and his hired help do a pretty good job. I don't know if I fully trust them with
every recipe, but that is why I prepped the soup and spices"
>>127753"Ah, I see," Iron answers, smiling softly still as he relaxed considerably "and I fully understand. No hired help could compare to your magic hooves."
>>127754She sits down next to him though not quite as relaxed. Then she smiles in a mischievous way, and raises her forehooves, and batting them almost like a cat as she shows them off
>>127755Iron can't help but snicker at her display before dramatically gasping slightly, covering his snoot with his hoofsies from being targeted by the flowing, deft forelegs of the master booper. "Goodness," he utters theatrically "do not go starting an assault on my snout in public." The stallion twist his foreleg to place it on his forehead, looking at the ceiling at an angle "I would not know how I would cope."
>>127756"I wasn't"
She smiles, if somewhat awkwardly
>>127729Well, I don't have track. Do I need to roll to avoid getting lost or something?
>>127757Iron snorts before shaking his head "I know, silly," he responds happily, smiling warmly as his potential eyebags would highlight at the crinkles "I frankly needed a bit of downtime after all that serious business last night, so forgive me if I go overboard with my usual antics."
>>127758Spark can make several roles. Survival to track or avoid getting lost, or listen or spot. All of these are Wisdom
>>127759Looks up at him, smiling with a look of almost concern
"It really looks like you do. I suppose it's my lunch break now. At least there is no big problem in my little area. Not yet, anyways."
[1d20 = 18]>>127760Alright then... track roll I suppose.
>>127761Even as the ground becomes harder and the needles thicker, Spark is able to follow the tracks quite a distance from the water. It seems to have traversed the wider spaces between trees with little underbrush, which helps
Roll listen, or spot
>>127760Iron can't help but smile wide at the mention, albeit he looks almost sheepish about it with a tiny blush on his cheeks. "Oh, you do not need to stay with me if you need to be somewhere else," he replies, waving his hoof dismissively, clearly flustered by the implication "I can understand you have much less free time than I do."
>>127763She looks back at him, and has a blank expression expression for a moment, as if caught by surprise on something or encountering some new problem she did not account for
"I mean... I figured... I thought that's what you came here for"
>>127764Light steps in needles distant
>>127765Spark sneaks towards the sound. Can he make out anything?
>>127766Only a silhouette in the low light. It's a quadruped and on the smaller side. Looks like a wolf or other canine, although a doe or even a pony can't be entirely ruled out. It is standing still, and is observing Spark
>>127765Iron twiddled with his hooves, a bit ashamed at her reaction. "I can help at whatever you are doing if you want to," he adds sheepishly, trying his best not to hinder Cauldron's routine by his presence and actions.
>>127767Spooky. Spark is unsure of what he should do. He holds his ground and listens more. Perhaps a clue of what is in front of him can be heard.
>>127769The creature is off to the side, and watches Spark. It has stopped moving or making any kind of sound. It's somewhat hard to see in the dim light, although no other creatures can be seen
>>127768"Well... I came back here to get accounts in order. You know, gambling debts, loans and so on. You've already proven yourself pretty good at collecting" She says
>>127770Well, if I'm not going to get any more clues, I slowly approach the thing.
>>127770Iron nods eagerly, his desire to be useful for his friend/crush being way higher than the creeping sensation of sleep. "I can help you, sure," he responds not soon after "I definitely can do that."
>>127771The creature moves back a little as Spark approaches. Spark can see in the light that it is a wolf, white head and tail, but with darker patches around its upper limbs and back. Judging from its behavior, it seems likely to flee if Spark approaches within a certain distance
>>127772She twists her mouth
"Have you ever... done math?"
>>127773Hmm... then Spark keeps his distance. He tries to pick back up the trail of the strange tracks.
>>127773Iron blinks once at the mention of math, thinking back. "...you mean the whole numbers thing, right?" he asks "Not the power booster drug."
>>127774The trail of footprints becomes harder to see, though now Spark can see that branches are disrupted, and in particular, a bush looks as if some of its berries have been picked
>>127775"...." She giggles "What?"