In Changelingia (West Equestria), Brie gains the support of a Changeling queen for his endeavors. Spark is doing his best to help an ill Wolf spiritual leader.
In Free Equestria (East Equestria), Iron is trying to intimidate a group of criminal griffin interlopers. Fantasy Play is helping to shut down an Anarchist press. Silver is helping his new household. Amber Sunset is walking through the city, and Dark Star has just finished helping the orphans.
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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2265 replies and 47 files omitted.
>>135270
"She was among number of people who had been tricked and captured by traffickers operating out of 33 Hoebuck. She needed place to live after she was rescued, so...I offered to let her stay with me."
"She was among number of people who had been tricked and captured by traffickers operating out of 33 Hoebuck. She needed place to live after she was rescued, so...I offered to let her stay with me."
>>135275
(I wonder where are we going...) Iron thought to himself as he followed the mare into the room.
(I wonder where are we going...) Iron thought to himself as he followed the mare into the room.
>>135276
In the room is a table with a typewriter, some shelves, a window with the blinds down, and a turned over table
In the room is a table with a typewriter, some shelves, a window with the blinds down, and a turned over table
>>135277
(Huh,) Iron thought, unaware of this place's true purpose or Sands' reason to come here (this place seems rather fancy.)
(Huh,) Iron thought, unaware of this place's true purpose or Sands' reason to come here (this place seems rather fancy.)
>>135278
"He was pretty bad when I saw him yesterday, but he was much better today. So much better, in fact, he volunteered to help do some work."
"He was pretty bad when I saw him yesterday, but he was much better today. So much better, in fact, he volunteered to help do some work."
>>135281
Iron follows Sands around as she kept looking for whatever she was looking, peering his head behind her to see what she'd find.
Iron follows Sands around as she kept looking for whatever she was looking, peering his head behind her to see what she'd find.
>>135287
With a nod, Iron does as told, frankly a bit confused at her irritation.
(What are we doing?) Iron thought to himself.
[1d20+2 = 7]<Spot Check
With a nod, Iron does as told, frankly a bit confused at her irritation.
(What are we doing?) Iron thought to himself.
[1d20+2 = 7]<Spot Check
>>135288
Iron finds nothing under a stack of papers. But Sands, peers over the end of the upturned table, and a griffin head pops up, reddish in color.
Iron finds nothing under a stack of papers. But Sands, peers over the end of the upturned table, and a griffin head pops up, reddish in color.
>>135289
Iron's head tilts softly at the griffin's appearance, unsure of its intentions as he could've easily tried to attack Sands right about now.
Iron's head tilts softly at the griffin's appearance, unsure of its intentions as he could've easily tried to attack Sands right about now.
>>135291
Iron puts on a far more intimidating posture, walking towards the griffon. "It is a simple message," he confidently asserts "of who is the one ruling this area. You understand what I am saying so far?"
Iron puts on a far more intimidating posture, walking towards the griffon. "It is a simple message," he confidently asserts "of who is the one ruling this area. You understand what I am saying so far?"
>>135293
He smiles sheepishly.
"Oh! Sorry, I did not mean to suggest that. I can find my own way there, if you can show me where to go."
He smiles sheepishly.
"Oh! Sorry, I did not mean to suggest that. I can find my own way there, if you can show me where to go."
>>135296
"What sort of accountant has got armed guards inside his premises?" Iron presents, not being actually sure about how rare that is.
"What sort of accountant has got armed guards inside his premises?" Iron presents, not being actually sure about how rare that is.
>>135298
She gives accepts the hoof shake. Her shake is strong, and she tries to not be the first to break off
She gives accepts the hoof shake. Her shake is strong, and she tries to not be the first to break off
>>135299
(...I suppose,) Iron thought before closing the distance between heads further. "I know that you are working for the recently moved out griffon family from Manehattan," he reveals "now drop the act."
(...I suppose,) Iron thought before closing the distance between heads further. "I know that you are working for the recently moved out griffon family from Manehattan," he reveals "now drop the act."
>>135300
Silver is surprised at this, but pleasantly so. He breaks it off first before it gets awkward.
"Tell Iron hello for me, would you?"
Silver is surprised at this, but pleasantly so. He breaks it off first before it gets awkward.
"Tell Iron hello for me, would you?"
>>135303
"I will keep it simple," Iron starts. "Do not mess with the Waterfront Gang. Try to impede our operations, and you will be dealt with in a far worse manner than the griffons downstairs."
"I will keep it simple," Iron starts. "Do not mess with the Waterfront Gang. Try to impede our operations, and you will be dealt with in a far worse manner than the griffons downstairs."
>>135306
"Nothing big," Iron reassures dismissively as he glanced away, making sure to show off his wounds to see how hard they tried to stop him "I just forcibly made them go to sleep, since this is simply a reminder of who owns the area."
This was followed with Iron's now far more grim expression. "But, if you really want to be an example of how ruthless our ponies can be, I can show you."
"Nothing big," Iron reassures dismissively as he glanced away, making sure to show off his wounds to see how hard they tried to stop him "I just forcibly made them go to sleep, since this is simply a reminder of who owns the area."
This was followed with Iron's now far more grim expression. "But, if you really want to be an example of how ruthless our ponies can be, I can show you."
>>135309
"I have told you already," Iron replied, keeping his stoic look "it's the Waterfront Gang."
(At least I can see that he is scared enough that his mind is almost in a panicked haze.)
"I have told you already," Iron replied, keeping his stoic look "it's the Waterfront Gang."
(At least I can see that he is scared enough that his mind is almost in a panicked haze.)
>>135309
Silver speaks up to get the griffon's attention.
"Hello there. I was directed here by Black Cauldron, she said you could get me good price on jewelry I am looking to sell."
Silver speaks up to get the griffon's attention.
"Hello there. I was directed here by Black Cauldron, she said you could get me good price on jewelry I am looking to sell."
>>135311
"So she did" He smiles, looking rather fat
"And what is it you have to sell?"
Okay, I have to sleep now...
"So she did" He smiles, looking rather fat
"And what is it you have to sell?"
Okay, I have to sleep now...
hopes to play again soon
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Then... Suddenly... Fantasy took off her mask. It was voldymort !!1111
If I post here, assume that I can't play unless I stat the opposite. Just came by to say hi.
If I post here, assume that I can't play unless I stat the opposite. Just came by to say hi.
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>>135316
"Hmmm"
He looks down at the set of jewelry intently, his lips pulling back into what must be a smile.
"A brooch"
He picks one up
"This looks like a wedding band... There's some damage here. Some jewels have been removed..."
He picks up a smaller piece
"A golden tooth. Must have belonged to an equine of some kind."
He smiles back to Silver
"1100 for the lot."
"Hmmm"
He looks down at the set of jewelry intently, his lips pulling back into what must be a smile.
"A brooch"
He picks one up
"This looks like a wedding band... There's some damage here. Some jewels have been removed..."
He picks up a smaller piece
"A golden tooth. Must have belonged to an equine of some kind."
He smiles back to Silver
"1100 for the lot."
[1d20-1 = 8]
>>135569
Charisma: "I killed crocogator in swamp to get that haul. Think you can throw another 100 in there?"
>>135569
Charisma: "I killed crocogator in swamp to get that haul. Think you can throw another 100 in there?"
>>135570
He has a half smile, and places the tooth down. Then he picks up the brooch
"A golden brooch"
Then the wedding band
"A wedding band... It seems to be broken. A necklace, missing its jewels. And a golden capped tooth belonging to a zebra I believe."
Now he smiles more intently
"Only an animal had to die for this haul? You are more efficient than I would have guessed. I assure you, I operate with complete discretion. That is well worth your 100 bits."
He has a half smile, and places the tooth down. Then he picks up the brooch
"A golden brooch"
Then the wedding band
"A wedding band... It seems to be broken. A necklace, missing its jewels. And a golden capped tooth belonging to a zebra I believe."
Now he smiles more intently
"Only an animal had to die for this haul? You are more efficient than I would have guessed. I assure you, I operate with complete discretion. That is well worth your 100 bits."
>>135572
"Do not worry. I pay in coin."
He removes the set of jewelry in the box, and places gold coins in a pile, counting out to 1100 bits
"Do not worry. I pay in coin."
He removes the set of jewelry in the box, and places gold coins in a pile, counting out to 1100 bits
>>135573
Silver smiles.
"That in and of itself is worth that 100 Bits. I thank you."
He shovels the Bits in his bags, which now jingle with the sound of coin.
"I hope we can do business again soon."
Silver smiles.
"That in and of itself is worth that 100 Bits. I thank you."
He shovels the Bits in his bags, which now jingle with the sound of coin.
"I hope we can do business again soon."
>>135574
He nods, with the strange smile still
"I always welcome repeat business"
Silver gains the whole set of coins, which at least are not too bulky
He nods, with the strange smile still
"I always welcome repeat business"
Silver gains the whole set of coins, which at least are not too bulky
>>135575
Silver bids him goodbye, and leaves for his last destination of the night: to go visit Pear Faucet.
Silver bids him goodbye, and leaves for his last destination of the night: to go visit Pear Faucet.
>>135576
Presumably, Silver goes to the motel where Ms. Faucet told him she was staying. It's an L shape one story building with red tile roofs and pink tinted white stucco walls.
Presumably, Silver goes to the motel where Ms. Faucet told him she was staying. It's an L shape one story building with red tile roofs and pink tinted white stucco walls.
>>135579
Good! He enters the front office to ask the person behind the counter which room is Pear Faucet's.
Good! He enters the front office to ask the person behind the counter which room is Pear Faucet's.
>>135580
It's a middle aged mare with her mane in a bun and glasses.
"You lookin' for a guest?" She says, skeptically, looking up from reading a magazine. "And who are you?"
It's a middle aged mare with her mane in a bun and glasses.
"You lookin' for a guest?" She says, skeptically, looking up from reading a magazine. "And who are you?"
>>135581
Silver nods.
"Yes, Pear Faucet. I am Silver Sword, by way. I met her earlier today and we talked about getting toget to talk some more. Is she at her room?"
Silver nods.
"Yes, Pear Faucet. I am Silver Sword, by way. I met her earlier today and we talked about getting toget to talk some more. Is she at her room?"
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As the day progresses Amber seems to grow weary and she elects to return back to her new apartment, choosing a direct route along major streets. Hopefully no new interruptions happen along the way.
She does not spare a glance to her landlord/receptionist on the way up, though it does take Amber a moment to remember where the stairway is. She trudges up the cramped stairs and down the hallway, stretching her neck tiredly. Once reaching her door she pushes her snout below her cloak and pulls it back a moment later with a keyring with a solitary key. It doesn't take long for Amber to open her door and lock it behind her.
Once laying her burlap cloak as well as her headscarf on top of her dress over the counter, the mare does some stretches to loosen those muscles exerted by a day-long trot and heads into the bathroom. The toilet itself is designed with ponies in mind, being slightly elongated and set low to the floor. However, the space which encloses it is not, as most ponies would need to bend their hind legs at an uncomfortable angles with hooves pressed to the wall. Thankfully this is not so much of an issue for Amber, and although the wooden lid is cracked and smells strongly of chemicals, the commode flushes effectively if slowly. The sink is likewise a simple rectangle with a bare pipe underneath, and it has a single faucet topped by a spoked knob. After turning the knob the faucet spurts water erratically with a gurgle but after a couple of seconds and a splash it resumes a steady stream. Once washing her hooves and face Amber places her few toiletries atop its sparse space, including a rustic wooden brush, a simple toothbrush, unbranded tooth powder, and a small bar of soap.
The pony frowns disapprovingly at the only other bathroom fixture, the shower, jammed at the far end next to the toilet. She sighs and puts the brush and soap on the toilet tank lid before sidling over into the shower area. The width of the bathroom is barely enough to stand on all fours, and doing so requires an equine to turn her head to the side with it touching the wall. A simple set of pipes on the same side as all the other plumbing, and again with a knob valve, rises out of the wall to a fixed shower head. Amber determines that rising on her rear hooves is better for comfort and rests either her plot against the wall behind her or her forehooves on the wall in front for support. The shower itself works well and Amber starts by running the soap through her mane, behind her ears, and down her neck, followed by a brush. Although she manages to reach her withers with effort, her hooves cannot reach her loin and croup so she picks up the brush in her mouth. The shower's spray cannot reach her belly directly but suds running down her coat make it possible to wash there. This is followed by her tail, her nether regions and finally down her gaskins.
After rinsing and shutting off the water Amber is now free of the grunge inevitable after a full day of travel, but she's now faced with a new problem. Besides the lack of a shower curtain and spray thus reaching as far as the floor beneath the sink, there is no proper basin for the shower. Rather, the tiled floor slopes gradually into a drain, but part of it failing to do so leaves a puddle of standing water. She shakes herself off carefully and uses a hoof to sweep some of the water into the drain, and as she leaves she shakes the water off her hooves. Shivering in the sudden chill of the room the mare wishes she had a towel instead of having to resort to wrapping herself in her burlap cloak.
Having corrected her hair with the brush to be in the right place--namely, all falling over the right side of her head, she decides to have dinner. She carefully unwraps the bread and cheese, slices it in half, and after giving thanks nibbles on one half until it's gone. No longer hungry for now at least, she wraps the remaining meal, gulps down some water, and brushes her teeth.
Not wanting to go to bed until she's only slightly damp, the mare fishes out a bulky instrument from her saddlebags. In the rosy but fading glow of the sunset shining through her window, she sits on the floor with the cloak around her, carefully tunes this stringed instrument, and plays a little song over and over, trying out different variations.
https://youtu.be/BQtJ3v4lGfY?t=99
This goes on for a couple hours, and when there's no longer enough light to see she resorts to the dimly harsh orange light of a sole unshrouded incandescent bulb on the ceiling.
Yawning, Amber carefully leans her mandolin against the wall and turns to the bare mattress serving as the only bedding in the room. Frowning, she jumps on top of it a few times with nothing happening. She grips a corner with her teeth and pulls it up, spotting a cockroach scurry out. Pupils shrunk and eye twitching, she drops the mattress and hits with a thwack. The young mare grimaces in disgust at the still-twitching remains, and she quickly finds a handkerchief, picks it up gingerly and practically throws it into the sink, washing whatever is on the handkerchief and her hoof down the drain. After what was surely an excessive amount of washing she shuts off the sink.
Amber, after calming down, rests next to her mattress in a supplicative pose. Aloud she says a very common prayer, "O Celestia, our Princess...", which praises the former monarch and provides petition for both well-being and forgiveness. She follows this with a shorter prayer devoted to Luna which requests safeguard from threats in both the world of reality and that of dreams. After following these with lengthy lists of things to be thankful for--mainly health, safe travel, accommodation, and a job--and requests--mainly the physical and economic well-being of her family--she crawls into bed. It takes some repositioning to huddle with the burlap cloth, and she's never truly warm, but she manages to fade off into sleep.
END OF FIRST DAY
She does not spare a glance to her landlord/receptionist on the way up, though it does take Amber a moment to remember where the stairway is. She trudges up the cramped stairs and down the hallway, stretching her neck tiredly. Once reaching her door she pushes her snout below her cloak and pulls it back a moment later with a keyring with a solitary key. It doesn't take long for Amber to open her door and lock it behind her.
Once laying her burlap cloak as well as her headscarf on top of her dress over the counter, the mare does some stretches to loosen those muscles exerted by a day-long trot and heads into the bathroom. The toilet itself is designed with ponies in mind, being slightly elongated and set low to the floor. However, the space which encloses it is not, as most ponies would need to bend their hind legs at an uncomfortable angles with hooves pressed to the wall. Thankfully this is not so much of an issue for Amber, and although the wooden lid is cracked and smells strongly of chemicals, the commode flushes effectively if slowly. The sink is likewise a simple rectangle with a bare pipe underneath, and it has a single faucet topped by a spoked knob. After turning the knob the faucet spurts water erratically with a gurgle but after a couple of seconds and a splash it resumes a steady stream. Once washing her hooves and face Amber places her few toiletries atop its sparse space, including a rustic wooden brush, a simple toothbrush, unbranded tooth powder, and a small bar of soap.
The pony frowns disapprovingly at the only other bathroom fixture, the shower, jammed at the far end next to the toilet. She sighs and puts the brush and soap on the toilet tank lid before sidling over into the shower area. The width of the bathroom is barely enough to stand on all fours, and doing so requires an equine to turn her head to the side with it touching the wall. A simple set of pipes on the same side as all the other plumbing, and again with a knob valve, rises out of the wall to a fixed shower head. Amber determines that rising on her rear hooves is better for comfort and rests either her plot against the wall behind her or her forehooves on the wall in front for support. The shower itself works well and Amber starts by running the soap through her mane, behind her ears, and down her neck, followed by a brush. Although she manages to reach her withers with effort, her hooves cannot reach her loin and croup so she picks up the brush in her mouth. The shower's spray cannot reach her belly directly but suds running down her coat make it possible to wash there. This is followed by her tail, her nether regions and finally down her gaskins.
After rinsing and shutting off the water Amber is now free of the grunge inevitable after a full day of travel, but she's now faced with a new problem. Besides the lack of a shower curtain and spray thus reaching as far as the floor beneath the sink, there is no proper basin for the shower. Rather, the tiled floor slopes gradually into a drain, but part of it failing to do so leaves a puddle of standing water. She shakes herself off carefully and uses a hoof to sweep some of the water into the drain, and as she leaves she shakes the water off her hooves. Shivering in the sudden chill of the room the mare wishes she had a towel instead of having to resort to wrapping herself in her burlap cloak.
Having corrected her hair with the brush to be in the right place--namely, all falling over the right side of her head, she decides to have dinner. She carefully unwraps the bread and cheese, slices it in half, and after giving thanks nibbles on one half until it's gone. No longer hungry for now at least, she wraps the remaining meal, gulps down some water, and brushes her teeth.
Not wanting to go to bed until she's only slightly damp, the mare fishes out a bulky instrument from her saddlebags. In the rosy but fading glow of the sunset shining through her window, she sits on the floor with the cloak around her, carefully tunes this stringed instrument, and plays a little song over and over, trying out different variations.
https://youtu.be/BQtJ3v4lGfY?t=99
This goes on for a couple hours, and when there's no longer enough light to see she resorts to the dimly harsh orange light of a sole unshrouded incandescent bulb on the ceiling.
Yawning, Amber carefully leans her mandolin against the wall and turns to the bare mattress serving as the only bedding in the room. Frowning, she jumps on top of it a few times with nothing happening. She grips a corner with her teeth and pulls it up, spotting a cockroach scurry out. Pupils shrunk and eye twitching, she drops the mattress and hits with a thwack. The young mare grimaces in disgust at the still-twitching remains, and she quickly finds a handkerchief, picks it up gingerly and practically throws it into the sink, washing whatever is on the handkerchief and her hoof down the drain. After what was surely an excessive amount of washing she shuts off the sink.
Amber, after calming down, rests next to her mattress in a supplicative pose. Aloud she says a very common prayer, "O Celestia, our Princess...", which praises the former monarch and provides petition for both well-being and forgiveness. She follows this with a shorter prayer devoted to Luna which requests safeguard from threats in both the world of reality and that of dreams. After following these with lengthy lists of things to be thankful for--mainly health, safe travel, accommodation, and a job--and requests--mainly the physical and economic well-being of her family--she crawls into bed. It takes some repositioning to huddle with the burlap cloth, and she's never truly warm, but she manages to fade off into sleep.
END OF FIRST DAY
>>135584
Amber groggily wakes up, blinks a couple of times, stares blankly for a couple of second, and sits upright with a start. The sun is up! I'm...I'm LATE!!!
Cantering to the bathroom she swiftly washes her face, corrects her mane--made much simpler with the world's second-simplest mane style--and brushes her teeth hurriedly. She dons her midnight blue woolen dress as quickly as possible, just carefully enough to avoid causing any damage, and fumbles with the buttons with her hooves. "Come on, come on...." She has a similar experience with her green headscarf. She doesn't bother eating now but stuffs the pack of remaining food--and her nearly empty canteen--beneath her black cloak. She races out of her door, but midway remembers she needs to lock her door. After doing so and securing her key ring she practically jumps down the stairs, is a blur through the lobby, and gallops down the street west to the store, weaving to avoid hitting anypony. Needless to say she breaks a sweat even in the brisk winter morning.
Amber groggily wakes up, blinks a couple of times, stares blankly for a couple of second, and sits upright with a start. The sun is up! I'm...I'm LATE!!!
Cantering to the bathroom she swiftly washes her face, corrects her mane--made much simpler with the world's second-simplest mane style--and brushes her teeth hurriedly. She dons her midnight blue woolen dress as quickly as possible, just carefully enough to avoid causing any damage, and fumbles with the buttons with her hooves. "Come on, come on...." She has a similar experience with her green headscarf. She doesn't bother eating now but stuffs the pack of remaining food--and her nearly empty canteen--beneath her black cloak. She races out of her door, but midway remembers she needs to lock her door. After doing so and securing her key ring she practically jumps down the stairs, is a blur through the lobby, and gallops down the street west to the store, weaving to avoid hitting anypony. Needless to say she breaks a sweat even in the brisk winter morning.
>>135596
She sighs, and waits a moment
“Very well... you’re alone and look too old to be with the Waterfront Gang.”
She puts her glasses back on, and picks up a sheet in front of her. She holds it up and reads off it before placing it down and looking to Silver.
“Her room number is 13.”
She sighs, and waits a moment
“Very well... you’re alone and look too old to be with the Waterfront Gang.”
She puts her glasses back on, and picks up a sheet in front of her. She holds it up and reads off it before placing it down and looking to Silver.
“Her room number is 13.”
>>135598
Silver knocks on the door, and there is quickly an almost frantic "just a minute!" response yelled from inside. It takes a while longer - a decent while, actually, before Silver hears the clicking sound of the chain lock moving, and then the door opens. Then, the red-orange capped head of the small yellow mare pokes out from the cracked open door, and looks over to Silver
Silver knocks on the door, and there is quickly an almost frantic "just a minute!" response yelled from inside. It takes a while longer - a decent while, actually, before Silver hears the clicking sound of the chain lock moving, and then the door opens. Then, the red-orange capped head of the small yellow mare pokes out from the cracked open door, and looks over to Silver
>>135600
She pushes it further open, and moves her front two legs outside. Her mane is kept together in a wrap.
"Oh. Silver Sword, was it? With the sword from today."
She pushes it further open, and moves her front two legs outside. Her mane is kept together in a wrap.
"Oh. Silver Sword, was it? With the sword from today."
>>135601
He nods, and smiles at the mare.
"Yes. To be honest, I had no idea if you would even want to see me after that."
He pauses for a moment before speaking again.
"You look great!"
He nods, and smiles at the mare.
"Yes. To be honest, I had no idea if you would even want to see me after that."
He pauses for a moment before speaking again.
"You look great!"
>>135603
He takes a half step back, and looks sheepishly at her.
"Oh...uh...well, it looks good, still."
He takes a half step back, and looks sheepishly at her.
"Oh...uh...well, it looks good, still."
>>135605
"We talked about getting to know each other better and talking back at quarry. I was wondering if you still wanted to or not."
"We talked about getting to know each other better and talking back at quarry. I was wondering if you still wanted to or not."
>>135613
She opens the door all the way, to show behind her is a fairly small room with a single bed with red covers, an armchair with a floral pattern on it, and a chair on the far end by a counter top. The countertop has a closed book and some papers, as well as a couple folders by it. This area alone is lit with an overhead light, and the remainder of the room is rather dark.
She opens the door all the way, to show behind her is a fairly small room with a single bed with red covers, an armchair with a floral pattern on it, and a chair on the far end by a counter top. The countertop has a closed book and some papers, as well as a couple folders by it. This area alone is lit with an overhead light, and the remainder of the room is rather dark.
>>135616
"Have you lived here long?"
She moves further in, goes to the bed, takes some papers off of the bed, and bends down to place them under the bed
"Have you lived here long?"
She moves further in, goes to the bed, takes some papers off of the bed, and bends down to place them under the bed
>>135618
"Well, if you're having a showdown with university faculty... and whatever that was with the zombies... I can imagine it would."
She pushes it under
"Well, if you're having a showdown with university faculty... and whatever that was with the zombies... I can imagine it would."
She pushes it under
>>135619
"Heh. He made me feel like I was in my old adventuring days, having to put my hoof down for payment...sorry..."
"Heh. He made me feel like I was in my old adventuring days, having to put my hoof down for payment...sorry..."
>>135622
She stands back up, and gets on the bed. Her long, red tail is also wrapped by bands. She moves to a position where she is sitting ontop of the made-bed.
"Well, technically my doctorates degree is in equinology, and my undergraduae degree is in equinology and comparative religions. I specialize in study of religions and religious practices. This is actually my first time out in the field on an archeological dig. So... about three days now."
She stands back up, and gets on the bed. Her long, red tail is also wrapped by bands. She moves to a position where she is sitting ontop of the made-bed.
"Well, technically my doctorates degree is in equinology, and my undergraduae degree is in equinology and comparative religions. I specialize in study of religions and religious practices. This is actually my first time out in the field on an archeological dig. So... about three days now."
>>135623
Silver's eyes widen a bit.
"Really? I would have never guessed. What is it like, studying religions?"
Silver's eyes widen a bit.
"Really? I would have never guessed. What is it like, studying religions?"
>>135624
She starts to answer while looking away to her left, near where the carpet turns to tile further back in the room.
"Well, in many ways it's a lot like studying most anything. There's a lot of reading books, a lot of time spent in libraries. You have to track down primary sources, and request books, manusrcipts, and letters from far away. You're expected to know at least one foreign language and translate documents yourself, which is kind of necessary because for many of these primary sources no translation exists. And of course because it's Equinology, it's not enough to just read. You're expected to go on location, to these old chapels built back during the Castallion migration that are falling apart, and speak with old coltec mares who don't even know Ponish, and ask them questions to try to figure out what their beliefs are..."
She then sits upright so that her hind legs face forward, and she rubs the top of her right hoof with her left. Then she moves her head to make eye contact with Silver, her lime green eyes to Silver's blue
"But that isn't what you meant when you asked the question, is it? Yes. There's something special about studying religion Something very different about about it. You see, in Equinology, you try to study how ponies - and other creatures now. The department is looking to an East Equestria-wide renaming of the science to "meta-zoology." But that's besides the point. In Equinology you study cultures, traditions, practices. What ponies do. But religion... religion is about how ponies structure their lives. How they structure their entire universes. How they make sense of everything they experience, and tie it all together. It's about how they understand how everything came to be. Why magic works, what the purpose of life is. What is good and bad, and what to do about it. What happens after you die. And it's not just a theory, it's how ponies actually respond to these questions. It's about how ponies live their lives, build their institutions and structure their societies. You see, it's very important to ponies... well, to creatures generally. It's something they live, kill and die for. And you have to kind of view it like an outsider. Like you're a naturalist, looking at how a manticore hunts a rabbit. Just look at it objectively and make no judgements. But of course for them it's very different. It's the most serious thing in the world, because to them their whole world is always in some way structured around the religion. Even if they don't take it too seriously, or deviate from the prescriptions it's always there. It's their fallback if they are asked questions about morality, or if they fear death. And you are there to understand it, or to try to understand it in the way they understand it. Or to understand it better than they do, really, because you're outside and can see it objectively, and can compare it to other practices elsewhere in the world. But that's very hard to do with religion because it's a lived thing. It's very much based upon subjective experience.
So I guess it can be challenging, but it always feels like you are studying something important."
She starts to answer while looking away to her left, near where the carpet turns to tile further back in the room.
"Well, in many ways it's a lot like studying most anything. There's a lot of reading books, a lot of time spent in libraries. You have to track down primary sources, and request books, manusrcipts, and letters from far away. You're expected to know at least one foreign language and translate documents yourself, which is kind of necessary because for many of these primary sources no translation exists. And of course because it's Equinology, it's not enough to just read. You're expected to go on location, to these old chapels built back during the Castallion migration that are falling apart, and speak with old coltec mares who don't even know Ponish, and ask them questions to try to figure out what their beliefs are..."
She then sits upright so that her hind legs face forward, and she rubs the top of her right hoof with her left. Then she moves her head to make eye contact with Silver, her lime green eyes to Silver's blue
"But that isn't what you meant when you asked the question, is it? Yes. There's something special about studying religion Something very different about about it. You see, in Equinology, you try to study how ponies - and other creatures now. The department is looking to an East Equestria-wide renaming of the science to "meta-zoology." But that's besides the point. In Equinology you study cultures, traditions, practices. What ponies do. But religion... religion is about how ponies structure their lives. How they structure their entire universes. How they make sense of everything they experience, and tie it all together. It's about how they understand how everything came to be. Why magic works, what the purpose of life is. What is good and bad, and what to do about it. What happens after you die. And it's not just a theory, it's how ponies actually respond to these questions. It's about how ponies live their lives, build their institutions and structure their societies. You see, it's very important to ponies... well, to creatures generally. It's something they live, kill and die for. And you have to kind of view it like an outsider. Like you're a naturalist, looking at how a manticore hunts a rabbit. Just look at it objectively and make no judgements. But of course for them it's very different. It's the most serious thing in the world, because to them their whole world is always in some way structured around the religion. Even if they don't take it too seriously, or deviate from the prescriptions it's always there. It's their fallback if they are asked questions about morality, or if they fear death. And you are there to understand it, or to try to understand it in the way they understand it. Or to understand it better than they do, really, because you're outside and can see it objectively, and can compare it to other practices elsewhere in the world. But that's very hard to do with religion because it's a lived thing. It's very much based upon subjective experience.
So I guess it can be challenging, but it always feels like you are studying something important."
>>135625
Silver sits down during her explanation, nodding from time to time.
"Huh...I could see appeal, if I was more scholarly pony. Afraid I got more my father's strength than much intelligence."
He pats the firm muscles in his foreleg before turning back to Pear.
"You must have been to many places, and learned about many religions."
Silver sits down during her explanation, nodding from time to time.
"Huh...I could see appeal, if I was more scholarly pony. Afraid I got more my father's strength than much intelligence."
He pats the firm muscles in his foreleg before turning back to Pear.
"You must have been to many places, and learned about many religions."
>>135626
She seems to smile at the muscle pat
"Only so many..." She says
"I did my doctoral thesis on the branch of Celestialism practiced by the Coltecs and Neighuatl, and especially, for surviving remnants of the Solar Cult. So I went to many old churches in Tenochtitlan, the countryside, to Monestaries... I went to a cave temple of the Moon God, that was something, but I didn't leave Equestria. Of course you're expected to have a general knowledge of religions around the world, so I studied the religions of the Griffins, or the River Ponies, of the Kirin, of the Gnolls and so forth. I've read most of the holy texts of the biggest ten or so religions, I can say that."
She seems to smile at the muscle pat
"Only so many..." She says
"I did my doctoral thesis on the branch of Celestialism practiced by the Coltecs and Neighuatl, and especially, for surviving remnants of the Solar Cult. So I went to many old churches in Tenochtitlan, the countryside, to Monestaries... I went to a cave temple of the Moon God, that was something, but I didn't leave Equestria. Of course you're expected to have a general knowledge of religions around the world, so I studied the religions of the Griffins, or the River Ponies, of the Kirin, of the Gnolls and so forth. I've read most of the holy texts of the biggest ten or so religions, I can say that."
>>135628
She nods
"It was the focus of my thesis. Specifically, to what extent they actually adopted Celestialism after being integrated into Equestria, or just continued their old practices and called it "Celestialism"
She nods
"It was the focus of my thesis. Specifically, to what extent they actually adopted Celestialism after being integrated into Equestria, or just continued their old practices and called it "Celestialism"
>>135630
"Well, in the larger cities and in the areas with the most Castallion settlement, you do see something kind of like the celestialism practiced in the Heartland. If anything it's an older variety, since changes in practices adopted in the Heartland, like a general tendency towards austerity over ostentation, haven't occured in the Southeast. But further away from the cities and the settlements, you have more of an identification of Celestia with the Sun itself, or even what seems to be a direct worship of the celestial entity of the sun, as well greater fetishism of things like the solar calendar. You'll see this most obviously with the lay ponies, though sometimes even with the ministers. And that's more consistent with what we know about the Solar Cult than traditional Celestial Universalism. Of course in almost all of these places the religion is nominally Celestialism, with Celestialist style churches, and ministers reporting to Canterlot."
"Well, in the larger cities and in the areas with the most Castallion settlement, you do see something kind of like the celestialism practiced in the Heartland. If anything it's an older variety, since changes in practices adopted in the Heartland, like a general tendency towards austerity over ostentation, haven't occured in the Southeast. But further away from the cities and the settlements, you have more of an identification of Celestia with the Sun itself, or even what seems to be a direct worship of the celestial entity of the sun, as well greater fetishism of things like the solar calendar. You'll see this most obviously with the lay ponies, though sometimes even with the ministers. And that's more consistent with what we know about the Solar Cult than traditional Celestial Universalism. Of course in almost all of these places the religion is nominally Celestialism, with Celestialist style churches, and ministers reporting to Canterlot."
>>135632
“Well, I thought it was a success. An argument for the survival of the Solar Cult, albeit in a passive, and ‘above ground’ form.”
“Well, I thought it was a success. An argument for the survival of the Solar Cult, albeit in a passive, and ‘above ground’ form.”
>>135633
"I do not know much of region, but I could believe it. You would definitely know more than me."
He scratches his chin.
"So...what do you know about kirin religion?"
"I do not know much of region, but I could believe it. You would definitely know more than me."
He scratches his chin.
"So...what do you know about kirin religion?"
>>135636
"Yes... That is one of the more widespread religions of the Kirin folk. It is a specific permutation of a more widespread lived philosophy that follows the teachings of the 'one who came,' who dispelled darkness," known as Sageheart Contentment in life. That lived philosophy sees the world as coming from one spiritual being. Well, not so much 'being' in the sense of a living, conscious thing, but rather, one spiritual existence, like all of consciousness is one thing, or can be, and reunification with this consciousness is desirable. It generally sees suffering as coming from unfulfilled passions, hence reducing the passions itself generally the goal. What seperates The Great Vehicle from the other versions of the same philosophy is that it's more... 'social.' Well, perhaps that isn't the right word, buts its morality has more focus on altruism and compassion, and helping others than the other varieties, which tend to think of spirituality as something you do alone, and still another version is very austere and shuns all possessions, whereas The Great Vehicle shuns acquisitiveness, but it doesn't shun owning possessions. Well, that's sort of an overview. It's most common in Ngua Nam and the Kirin Communities of the old Empire, especially in the south and on the coast, but not so much in, for example, the Khamare lands."
"Yes... That is one of the more widespread religions of the Kirin folk. It is a specific permutation of a more widespread lived philosophy that follows the teachings of the 'one who came,' who dispelled darkness," known as Sageheart Contentment in life. That lived philosophy sees the world as coming from one spiritual being. Well, not so much 'being' in the sense of a living, conscious thing, but rather, one spiritual existence, like all of consciousness is one thing, or can be, and reunification with this consciousness is desirable. It generally sees suffering as coming from unfulfilled passions, hence reducing the passions itself generally the goal. What seperates The Great Vehicle from the other versions of the same philosophy is that it's more... 'social.' Well, perhaps that isn't the right word, buts its morality has more focus on altruism and compassion, and helping others than the other varieties, which tend to think of spirituality as something you do alone, and still another version is very austere and shuns all possessions, whereas The Great Vehicle shuns acquisitiveness, but it doesn't shun owning possessions. Well, that's sort of an overview. It's most common in Ngua Nam and the Kirin Communities of the old Empire, especially in the south and on the coast, but not so much in, for example, the Khamare lands."
>>135637
"It sounds rather noble, and fitting for kirins. You would not happen to know Great Vehicle stance on warriors, or taking another's life, would you?"
"It sounds rather noble, and fitting for kirins. You would not happen to know Great Vehicle stance on warriors, or taking another's life, would you?"
>>135638
"Well... Generally it's associated with pacifism. For instance, the great stag of the Chital, Sorrowless, was a conquering emperor in his younger years, but converted under the Great Vehicle and spread the religion in his later reign, regretting his earlier conquests. But at the same time, it's kind of hard to say, because unlike Celestialism, and certainly unlike any of the Griffin Pantheon, The Great Vehicle doesn't really moralize actions. It moralizes states of mind. So it isn't so much the act of killing someone that is forbidden, so much as anger, or revenge, or the desire to exert power over someone else. Spiritual leaders in that faith have said that killing in self-defense isn't prohibited. But it really isn't a faith associated with warriors in the way that Celestialism sometimes is, or Borealism is, or even than the followers of the Second Son in the Kirin Grove."
"Well... Generally it's associated with pacifism. For instance, the great stag of the Chital, Sorrowless, was a conquering emperor in his younger years, but converted under the Great Vehicle and spread the religion in his later reign, regretting his earlier conquests. But at the same time, it's kind of hard to say, because unlike Celestialism, and certainly unlike any of the Griffin Pantheon, The Great Vehicle doesn't really moralize actions. It moralizes states of mind. So it isn't so much the act of killing someone that is forbidden, so much as anger, or revenge, or the desire to exert power over someone else. Spiritual leaders in that faith have said that killing in self-defense isn't prohibited. But it really isn't a faith associated with warriors in the way that Celestialism sometimes is, or Borealism is, or even than the followers of the Second Son in the Kirin Grove."
>>135639
He listens, nods, and contemplates on how he can use this information to maybe help Khoi. After a few seconds, he smiles at Pear.
"You really do know your stuff."
He listens, nods, and contemplates on how he can use this information to maybe help Khoi. After a few seconds, he smiles at Pear.
"You really do know your stuff."
>>135640
For a moment, she has a proud smile on her face. It doesn't last long before her lips return to a more neutral expression.
"Only surface level. It's about what they expect you to know to teach classes in religion and comparative religion to undergraduates at the University. But the only area I am really an 'expert' and could really write anything about is the religion of the Neighua, and maybe the Coltec."
For a moment, she has a proud smile on her face. It doesn't last long before her lips return to a more neutral expression.
"Only surface level. It's about what they expect you to know to teach classes in religion and comparative religion to undergraduates at the University. But the only area I am really an 'expert' and could really write anything about is the religion of the Neighua, and maybe the Coltec."
>>135642
“Well, yes. We’re investigating an archeological site reported my a visitor to a village a couple years ago. There’s the ruins of a small town out on the Snake, or ‘Windy’ River around sixty miles northeast of Tenochtitlan. They think it could have relics, artifacts, or especially architecture relating to the religion of the Neighua, specifically the Marexica nation.”
“Well, yes. We’re investigating an archeological site reported my a visitor to a village a couple years ago. There’s the ruins of a small town out on the Snake, or ‘Windy’ River around sixty miles northeast of Tenochtitlan. They think it could have relics, artifacts, or especially architecture relating to the religion of the Neighua, specifically the Marexica nation.”
>>135651
Not sure why I made taht joke since it scks so bad. WEll ,whatever.
I don't think I will be able to play for a while to be honest got irl things to do and so on.
Not sure why I made taht joke since it scks so bad. WEll ,whatever.
I don't think I will be able to play for a while to be honest got irl things to do and so on.
File (): 16A3A1E5F9072337AB9C4B5CBDE98CC0-220924.png (215.7 KB, 408x612, VerityOnTheFence.png)
>>135657
Yes. He would lead he over there as soon as he has a chance. Does the doctor have anything else to note before we leave?
Yes. He would lead he over there as soon as he has a chance. Does the doctor have anything else to note before we leave?
>>135659
"To my friend. He is outside of this town a bit to not draw much attention from the changelings."
"To my friend. He is outside of this town a bit to not draw much attention from the changelings."
>>135660
His hairs visibly stand up. He moves his head and opens his mouth, but only manages to get out "geh" and "ah," never succeeding in forming a coherent response as he squirms.
His hairs visibly stand up. He moves his head and opens his mouth, but only manages to get out "geh" and "ah," never succeeding in forming a coherent response as he squirms.
>>135666
He is silent for a moment, though he seems to take a quick breath out as soon as he takes a breath in
"The beasts are down?"
He is silent for a moment, though he seems to take a quick breath out as soon as he takes a breath in
"The beasts are down?"
>>135667
"As far as I know. I helped take down about three. No more roaring or anything so I assume that was the last of them."
"As far as I know. I helped take down about three. No more roaring or anything so I assume that was the last of them."
>>135668
He pauses again. Both ears stand at full height, swiveled towards Spark. The left ear twitches twice. He stands there for some seconds.
"Is that - is that what that commotion was yesterday?"
He pauses again. Both ears stand at full height, swiveled towards Spark. The left ear twitches twice. He stands there for some seconds.
"Is that - is that what that commotion was yesterday?"
>>135669
"Afraid so. I would be glad to share more, but I have a feeling the changelings would not like such information being shared so publicly. Let's wait until we get to a bit more privacy."
"Afraid so. I would be glad to share more, but I have a feeling the changelings would not like such information being shared so publicly. Let's wait until we get to a bit more privacy."
>>135670
He frowns, and the ears twist somewhat.
"I am... I am a doctor. I am sworn to help and do no harm. But going out into the forest... It is risky. Very risky..."
He frowns, and the ears twist somewhat.
"I am... I am a doctor. I am sworn to help and do no harm. But going out into the forest... It is risky. Very risky..."
>>135671
"Perhaps, but I would say that the risk is about equal to working with the changelings, and probably less if they are in one of their grumpy moods."
"Perhaps, but I would say that the risk is about equal to working with the changelings, and probably less if they are in one of their grumpy moods."
>>135673
"This isn't fleeing into the forest. Just visiting. And besides, they are a bit busy cleaning up the mess to worry about a house call."
"This isn't fleeing into the forest. Just visiting. And besides, they are a bit busy cleaning up the mess to worry about a house call."
>>135674
He breathes in, closes his eyes
"Very well... I will try. But I have to be careful in how I sneak out of here."
He breathes in, closes his eyes
"Very well... I will try. But I have to be careful in how I sneak out of here."
>>135676
"Let me... close out for a few hours..."
He closed a few cupboards, and turns off lights
"I'll need an alibi if they catch me... We should take the alley to the north, down the hill."
"Let me... close out for a few hours..."
He closed a few cupboards, and turns off lights
"I'll need an alibi if they catch me... We should take the alley to the north, down the hill."
>>135678
He locks them anyways, carefully. He hands a stethoscope and bag to Spark
"I think this is your risk to take. Carry these."
He locks them anyways, carefully. He hands a stethoscope and bag to Spark
"I think this is your risk to take. Carry these."
>>135681
"Okay. Onwards." He breathes in, closes the door in the office, then goes through the door to the reception area, locks it, and goes out the front door.
"Okay, you go around right, I'll go left, then go right to Hickory Street." He goes left, and spark goes through a small alleyway that goes to another street. He appears over there in his large brown coat and hat, and waves to Spark, then going with Spark down a street and another directly north, until the two walk along a dirt road by the forest
"Okay, we are clear of the main area they patrol."
"Okay. Onwards." He breathes in, closes the door in the office, then goes through the door to the reception area, locks it, and goes out the front door.
"Okay, you go around right, I'll go left, then go right to Hickory Street." He goes left, and spark goes through a small alleyway that goes to another street. He appears over there in his large brown coat and hat, and waves to Spark, then going with Spark down a street and another directly north, until the two walk along a dirt road by the forest
"Okay, we are clear of the main area they patrol."
>>135652
Not to worry! Tbh it's hard to balance for me too sometimes.
Take all the time you need because I found a good plan that doesn't need coordination with other players for a while.
Not to worry! Tbh it's hard to balance for me too sometimes.
Take all the time you need because I found a good plan that doesn't need coordination with other players for a while.
>>135682
I thought I would have more time to pick this back up, but it looks like it will have to wait a bit.
I thought I would have more time to pick this back up, but it looks like it will have to wait a bit.
How will Amber's second day go?
>>135701
Amber gradually stirs awake and lets her eyes adjust to the light. Initially hesitant to leave even what little warmth the burlap blanket offers, she gets up with a yawn and says a set of morning prayers. Still unfamiliar with the layout of the room, she resorts to turning on the light before going to wash up. She eats the very last of the bread and cheese, makes sure to refill her canteen, and brushes her teeth.
Once she puts on her dress, headscarf and cloak, she has a small internal debate on whether to bring her knife. She decides against it, reasoning that the clothing store should be plenty safe and having a knife might get her in trouble. She does pack her key and canteen though. Although Amber doesn't know precisely what time it is, she's fairly certain there's some time before the store opens, so after locking her door and setting off she proceeds at a determined trot.
Amber gradually stirs awake and lets her eyes adjust to the light. Initially hesitant to leave even what little warmth the burlap blanket offers, she gets up with a yawn and says a set of morning prayers. Still unfamiliar with the layout of the room, she resorts to turning on the light before going to wash up. She eats the very last of the bread and cheese, makes sure to refill her canteen, and brushes her teeth.
Once she puts on her dress, headscarf and cloak, she has a small internal debate on whether to bring her knife. She decides against it, reasoning that the clothing store should be plenty safe and having a knife might get her in trouble. She does pack her key and canteen though. Although Amber doesn't know precisely what time it is, she's fairly certain there's some time before the store opens, so after locking her door and setting off she proceeds at a determined trot.
>>135702
Off in the distance, Amber can hear factory whistles, the greatest sigh of life in the city. But the streetlights are on, and few creatures roam on the streets, and even fewer shops have lights on. Nevertheless, a few automobiles barrel down the streets, and some early morning cafes shine with all lights on. The waning gibbous moon is setting, and few stars are visible in the sky.
Off in the distance, Amber can hear factory whistles, the greatest sigh of life in the city. But the streetlights are on, and few creatures roam on the streets, and even fewer shops have lights on. Nevertheless, a few automobiles barrel down the streets, and some early morning cafes shine with all lights on. The waning gibbous moon is setting, and few stars are visible in the sky.
>>135703
Amber doesn't question how the sun and moon still rise and set with the current state of affairs, but takes in how the sights and sounds differ so much at this time of day.
Those whistles must be some sort of mechanical rooster employed here...
The brisk air is refreshing.
Amber doesn't question how the sun and moon still rise and set with the current state of affairs, but takes in how the sights and sounds differ so much at this time of day.
Those whistles must be some sort of mechanical rooster employed here...
The brisk air is refreshing.
>>135643
"Ah, you hope to find something big there related to your speciality, and bring you great renown as scholar?"
"Ah, you hope to find something big there related to your speciality, and bring you great renown as scholar?"
>>135704
Whatever else may be true about this new state of affairs, there seems to be some kind of regularity to it, and a new normalcy, however uncanny it may be.
It takes a walk of some minutes to arrive in West town. By this time, twilight seeps in, giving the black sky a bluish tint as the moon nears the horizon.
>>135706
"Heh."
She smiles
"You sound like them."
Whatever else may be true about this new state of affairs, there seems to be some kind of regularity to it, and a new normalcy, however uncanny it may be.
It takes a walk of some minutes to arrive in West town. By this time, twilight seeps in, giving the black sky a bluish tint as the moon nears the horizon.
>>135706
"Heh."
She smiles
"You sound like them."
>>135986
"Oh yes. Looking for renown and prestige. Some times it seems like it's all they think about besides politics and funding. They always want to have the most widely known book or publication, the best ratings... I don't think they even think these things will exist in a year, but they act as if it is all."
"Oh yes. Looking for renown and prestige. Some times it seems like it's all they think about besides politics and funding. They always want to have the most widely known book or publication, the best ratings... I don't think they even think these things will exist in a year, but they act as if it is all."
>>135987
"Ahhhh. Yes, I apologise, it is adventurer in me. Fame and fortune, what little has not been already plundered centuries ago, are what preserve my existence. But it does make me curious as to why you decided to come on this expedition."
"Ahhhh. Yes, I apologise, it is adventurer in me. Fame and fortune, what little has not been already plundered centuries ago, are what preserve my existence. But it does make me curious as to why you decided to come on this expedition."
>>135988
She makes a frown of some kind, scrunching her mouth, and then answers.
"Well, professors - besides teach - are expected to write and to do field work. Preferably write while doing either of the above. So far, I've only done the former most. The University is getting a little on edge that I haven't published anything, besides my thesis, so they wanted me to take a semester off for sabbatical. That's what this is. The Tenochitchlan basin is in my area of expertise, so it made sense that I go. They hoped I could write about it."
She makes a frown of some kind, scrunching her mouth, and then answers.
"Well, professors - besides teach - are expected to write and to do field work. Preferably write while doing either of the above. So far, I've only done the former most. The University is getting a little on edge that I haven't published anything, besides my thesis, so they wanted me to take a semester off for sabbatical. That's what this is. The Tenochitchlan basin is in my area of expertise, so it made sense that I go. They hoped I could write about it."
>>135991
“Well,” she looks away, “I wouldn’t say that. There’s something... well, I can’t think of the word for it, but there’s a kind of familiarity to the jungles down south, like I belong there. It’s a feeling I don’t really get in the university. I think if this as a kind of coinciding of interests, for me to go on the expedition.”
“Well,” she looks away, “I wouldn’t say that. There’s something... well, I can’t think of the word for it, but there’s a kind of familiarity to the jungles down south, like I belong there. It’s a feeling I don’t really get in the university. I think if this as a kind of coinciding of interests, for me to go on the expedition.”
>>135994
Silver smiles at her, seemingly unaware of her reaction.
"Well, I hope your destiny will help to change world for better."
Silver smiles at her, seemingly unaware of her reaction.
"Well, I hope your destiny will help to change world for better."
>>135995
“Well...”
She looks down at the carpet
“I meant... I meant more like it’s familiar. Like it’s a place that is more like me. Like I know it more. The villagers, the hieroglyphs... I know it better than the politics of the department. You know?”
“Well...”
She looks down at the carpet
“I meant... I meant more like it’s familiar. Like it’s a place that is more like me. Like I know it more. The villagers, the hieroglyphs... I know it better than the politics of the department. You know?”
>>135996
Silver nods.
"Oh, I can understand that. It always feels better to be in your element than not."
He stretches his legs out a bit.
"So...I have asked lot about your studies. What about you? Is there anything you can tell me about you?"
Silver nods.
"Oh, I can understand that. It always feels better to be in your element than not."
He stretches his legs out a bit.
"So...I have asked lot about your studies. What about you? Is there anything you can tell me about you?"
>>135998
Silver gives her a look of concern, hoping he's not done something wrong.
"Well, you had interesting philosophy when we talked inside catacombs. I was wondering if I could hear more about mare behind that philosophy."
Silver gives her a look of concern, hoping he's not done something wrong.
"Well, you had interesting philosophy when we talked inside catacombs. I was wondering if I could hear more about mare behind that philosophy."
>>135999
She looks down, and bats her hoof at a rise in the bed covers
“What was that? I mean what was that that I said...”
She looks down, and bats her hoof at a rise in the bed covers
“What was that? I mean what was that that I said...”
>>136000
"Uh...if you are talking about just know, you asked 'what about me'. If you are talking about earlier, you talked about ponykind needing adversity to overcome in order to unite."
"Uh...if you are talking about just know, you asked 'what about me'. If you are talking about earlier, you talked about ponykind needing adversity to overcome in order to unite."
>>136001
"Oh."
She looks up at Silver
"Yes... Well, if you look at the critical points in Pony history, like the founding of Equestria, or even the coming together of the Elements of Harmony, you see that it was sparked by an external threat, like the Windigo Crisis, or the return of Nightmare Moon. Self interest is often more powerful than the drive to courage, or friendship, or to creativity. It causes ponies to fight. But when self interest aligns with the interests of the group, and ponies are made to work together... Ponies can begin to see past self interest, and see the good in other ponies... what value they have to us and what we can do for them." She gives a light smile
"Oh."
She looks up at Silver
"Yes... Well, if you look at the critical points in Pony history, like the founding of Equestria, or even the coming together of the Elements of Harmony, you see that it was sparked by an external threat, like the Windigo Crisis, or the return of Nightmare Moon. Self interest is often more powerful than the drive to courage, or friendship, or to creativity. It causes ponies to fight. But when self interest aligns with the interests of the group, and ponies are made to work together... Ponies can begin to see past self interest, and see the good in other ponies... what value they have to us and what we can do for them." She gives a light smile
>>136002
"Yes, that is much like what you said earlier. Do you think changelings could have provided that proverbial light for fire under our hooves?"
"Yes, that is much like what you said earlier. Do you think changelings could have provided that proverbial light for fire under our hooves?"
>>136003
She blinks, and then answers, again keeping eye contact with Silver
"I was in Baltimare, west town, when the war broke out. Did you see it? Did you feel it? There was a change in the air, like all of the bickering over working hours, the power of the monarchy, immigration, and all of the politics that have come up in the last few years started to subside, like we were all in this together. Ponies would willingly send rubber and metal into the scrap collector, buy bonds, and turn the lights off if they lived on the shore line. There were lines to volunteer. It wasn't perfect, and it didn't entirely last, but it was there."
She blinks, and then answers, again keeping eye contact with Silver
"I was in Baltimare, west town, when the war broke out. Did you see it? Did you feel it? There was a change in the air, like all of the bickering over working hours, the power of the monarchy, immigration, and all of the politics that have come up in the last few years started to subside, like we were all in this together. Ponies would willingly send rubber and metal into the scrap collector, buy bonds, and turn the lights off if they lived on the shore line. There were lines to volunteer. It wasn't perfect, and it didn't entirely last, but it was there."
>>136004
Silver responds after a couple seconds of silent contemplation.
"Да. I did feel that. Dear Tartarus, even I came out of retirement to help Equestria's army through this nation's darkest days. Had New Mareland not stabbed us in back, I feel we could have beaten changelings."
Silver responds after a couple seconds of silent contemplation.
"Да. I did feel that. Dear Tartarus, even I came out of retirement to help Equestria's army through this nation's darkest days. Had New Mareland not stabbed us in back, I feel we could have beaten changelings."
>>136005
She winces
"Ugh... Yes. But it was not just that. It was maybe four or so months before things started to unravel. CAN... if you're not from here, that's the bigger of the worker's Union. Former workers Union... They took the opportunity to make more demands for higher wages. I heard the Liberals in Manehattan pushed for an elected legislature, though they weren't as organized as CAN, so that didn't go through. The defeats in Acornage and at the Shire, and the names in the newspapers, I think, shook the faith many ponies had in the Monarchy. I'm not entirely certain the Changelings would have been beat back... And of course the whole New Mareland debacle was a mess all of its own. It wouldn't have happened if it came to a head a few years before."
She winces
"Ugh... Yes. But it was not just that. It was maybe four or so months before things started to unravel. CAN... if you're not from here, that's the bigger of the worker's Union. Former workers Union... They took the opportunity to make more demands for higher wages. I heard the Liberals in Manehattan pushed for an elected legislature, though they weren't as organized as CAN, so that didn't go through. The defeats in Acornage and at the Shire, and the names in the newspapers, I think, shook the faith many ponies had in the Monarchy. I'm not entirely certain the Changelings would have been beat back... And of course the whole New Mareland debacle was a mess all of its own. It wouldn't have happened if it came to a head a few years before."
>>136006
"Shire...I was not there when it fell, thankfully, but from what I hear changelings got pummeled badly before our ammunition ran out. It is sad we could not stay united for long, even under those condititions. Makes me almost wonder if changelings were infiltrating those groups even then to try to destabilize our homefront."
"Shire...I was not there when it fell, thankfully, but from what I hear changelings got pummeled badly before our ammunition ran out. It is sad we could not stay united for long, even under those condititions. Makes me almost wonder if changelings were infiltrating those groups even then to try to destabilize our homefront."
>>136007
"That is the wonder. You never really could tell. It eroded trust in anyone against the war..."
She looks down, closes her eyes as she shakes her head, before looking up to Silver
"We could have won. We should have won. We would have won. But a few bad generals, a bad quartermaster general, and of course the whole 'New Mareland' debacle... That was bad decision piled upon bad decision, until the unthinkable became a present reality."
"That is the wonder. You never really could tell. It eroded trust in anyone against the war..."
She looks down, closes her eyes as she shakes her head, before looking up to Silver
"We could have won. We should have won. We would have won. But a few bad generals, a bad quartermaster general, and of course the whole 'New Mareland' debacle... That was bad decision piled upon bad decision, until the unthinkable became a present reality."
>>136050
He nods, with a sad look on his face.
"There is little that can be done. I just hope we can salvage something out of all this."
He nods, with a sad look on his face.
"There is little that can be done. I just hope we can salvage something out of all this."
>>136052
Silver shakes his head clear of those dark thoughts, and smiles weakly at Pear.
"So...is there anything you could tell me about yourself personally? You seem like interesting pony, it would be nice to get to know you better."
Silver shakes his head clear of those dark thoughts, and smiles weakly at Pear.
"So...is there anything you could tell me about yourself personally? You seem like interesting pony, it would be nice to get to know you better."
>>136053
Her eyes are once again wide, as she lies on her belly on the bed
"Uh... what do you want to know?"
Her eyes are once again wide, as she lies on her belly on the bed
"Uh... what do you want to know?"
>>136054
Silver continues to be confused and intrigued by her strange reaction.
"To start, how did you first discover your talent for language?"
Silver continues to be confused and intrigued by her strange reaction.
"To start, how did you first discover your talent for language?"
>>136055
"Heh" She smiles
"When I was in Parochial school as a filly, there was an option to take a class in the classic language of Unicornia in the form used by the Church. The class was at the same time as my sections' normal lunch period, so I wasn't signed up for it. On the second day of school that semester, I put my uniform on wrong, and so the sleeve fell down, I stepped on it and tripped. Missy Cakes made fun of me for it in front of the whole cafeteria, and after that I begged to be in the classic language class so I wouldn't have to be in that lunch section any more.
Actually taking the class was challenging, and Sister Hearthsworth was a bit... 'distant,' but part of the lesson was to read the tale of Peat Veil in the original language, and it intrigued me... After that, I followed through in classical language, and later moved to the language of the Neighuatl.
I'm not actually that good at it, but it's enough to let me do other things."
"Heh" She smiles
"When I was in Parochial school as a filly, there was an option to take a class in the classic language of Unicornia in the form used by the Church. The class was at the same time as my sections' normal lunch period, so I wasn't signed up for it. On the second day of school that semester, I put my uniform on wrong, and so the sleeve fell down, I stepped on it and tripped. Missy Cakes made fun of me for it in front of the whole cafeteria, and after that I begged to be in the classic language class so I wouldn't have to be in that lunch section any more.
Actually taking the class was challenging, and Sister Hearthsworth was a bit... 'distant,' but part of the lesson was to read the tale of Peat Veil in the original language, and it intrigued me... After that, I followed through in classical language, and later moved to the language of the Neighuatl.
I'm not actually that good at it, but it's enough to let me do other things."
>>136058
Yay!
Spark wonders what is with the doctor's strange behavior, but shakes it off.
"So, my friend isn't exactly a pony... I know it probably isn't ideal, but you are the only pony that can help me."
Yay!
Spark wonders what is with the doctor's strange behavior, but shakes it off.
"So, my friend isn't exactly a pony... I know it probably isn't ideal, but you are the only pony that can help me."
>>136059
He stops, and turns around to Spark, as if to say something. He stops for a moment, but then turns back around, loudly inhaling as he does so.
He stops, and turns around to Spark, as if to say something. He stops for a moment, but then turns back around, loudly inhaling as he does so.
>>136061
He nods, exhaling with labor, and looking behind him before scurrying forward, until they are in the woods. At this point, he more or less follows Spark along to wherever Spark s taking him
He nods, exhaling with labor, and looking behind him before scurrying forward, until they are in the woods. At this point, he more or less follows Spark along to wherever Spark s taking him
>>136065
Spark walks to the lake, walking over the berms, and towards the still water.
The doctor turns around to Spark
“So... where are these creatures?”
Spark walks to the lake, walking over the berms, and towards the still water.
The doctor turns around to Spark
“So... where are these creatures?”
>>136067
“The what?”
It is around this time that Waabishki comes into view, evidently from behind a berm, though she may have come from the forest. She’s clearly moved while the two ponies were not looking. Her soft padded feet make little noise when treading upon grass.
The doctor turns around, jumps back, and moves slightly behind and to the right of Spark.
“Wolves?! You didn’t tell me there would be wolves. I was expecting a Changeling, which would have been bad enough...”
Waabishki slowly walks closer to Spark and the Doctor, stopping a few feet in front of the two. She frowns at the doctor’s remarks, but seems more curious than averse to him
“This isn’t the town’s normal doctor” she says
“The what?”
It is around this time that Waabishki comes into view, evidently from behind a berm, though she may have come from the forest. She’s clearly moved while the two ponies were not looking. Her soft padded feet make little noise when treading upon grass.
The doctor turns around, jumps back, and moves slightly behind and to the right of Spark.
“Wolves?! You didn’t tell me there would be wolves. I was expecting a Changeling, which would have been bad enough...”
Waabishki slowly walks closer to Spark and the Doctor, stopping a few feet in front of the two. She frowns at the doctor’s remarks, but seems more curious than averse to him
“This isn’t the town’s normal doctor” she says
>>136068
"It isn't? Well, we are going to have to make the most out of the substitute."
Spark turns to the doctor.
"Why are you upset? I figured that this would be simple as opposed to working for things with exoskeletons."
"It isn't? Well, we are going to have to make the most out of the substitute."
Spark turns to the doctor.
"Why are you upset? I figured that this would be simple as opposed to working for things with exoskeletons."
>>136069
“I...” he looks down, then turns to Spark
“Is this the patient”
Waabishki moves a leg forward
“He isn’t here. It’s the Mide Priest. Miskobag, if you’ve ever heard of him.”
The doctor sways back before turning to her and speaking
“What are his symptoms?”
“Symptoms?”
“I mean, what is wrong with him?”
“He is ill and nothing is working to cure him.”
“Guh! I mean how does the illness manifest. What are the signs. Does he have fever, vomiting...?” He turns his head at the question
“Well, he has difficulty getting up sometimes. He’s tired easily, and sometimes has pain in... the chest? He also has swelling around his chest I think.”
“How long has he been like this?”
“Since the leaves fell. Three months I think.”
He is silent for a moment, then says
“I think I need to see him to say anything definitive.”
“I...” he looks down, then turns to Spark
“Is this the patient”
Waabishki moves a leg forward
“He isn’t here. It’s the Mide Priest. Miskobag, if you’ve ever heard of him.”
The doctor sways back before turning to her and speaking
“What are his symptoms?”
“Symptoms?”
“I mean, what is wrong with him?”
“He is ill and nothing is working to cure him.”
“Guh! I mean how does the illness manifest. What are the signs. Does he have fever, vomiting...?” He turns his head at the question
“Well, he has difficulty getting up sometimes. He’s tired easily, and sometimes has pain in... the chest? He also has swelling around his chest I think.”
“How long has he been like this?”
“Since the leaves fell. Three months I think.”
He is silent for a moment, then says
“I think I need to see him to say anything definitive.”
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