/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>145105
Iron huffed softly. "Easy to say," the stallion grumbled with a bit of frustration at the seemingly important yet practically impossible task "but hard to do."

>>145107
"Well, best you get on it."
From within her mane, she pulls out a lighter, and a cigarette. She lights it with a 'ching.'

>>145106
"...."

>>145108
Iron simply opts to look to the roof in contemplation, unsure of where to even start finding those supposed 'friends' for this sort of gig.
Maybe try the fighting arena? he figured in his head, a bit unsure. Perhaps some of them would like to beat griffons for reasons.

>>145108
"You know, it is hard to figure out what you want when you do not say anything."

>>145109
She takes the cigarette, takes a puff, and looks out the window.

“I’d go out tonight, if I hadn’t been stabbed.” She says

>>145110
“I’ll... well, I don’t know you very well...”

>>145111
Iron takes a quick check on his body to see just how visibly stabbed he was, now that Sands reminded him of it.

>>145112
Iron has been stabbed something like four times (admittedly not especially severe stab wounds, but wounds nevertheless) plus a number of bruises from being punched, and many tears in the flesh from birdshot pellets.

>>145111
"You can always say no, it will not bother me."

>>145113
That answers that, Iron mused with a sigh, feeling himself unable to properly 'make friends' with his current look.
What pony could possibly want to establish a relationship with a physically scarred stallion in the middle of the night? It is more likely another band of bandits would try to remove whatever few possessions he had in person rather than finding a miraculous would-be friend willing to take down a gang he's probably not even familiar with.

>>145115
On the one hoof, Iron has found fighting buddies before. on the other hoof, Iron has also been mugged before. Tavern doesn't always hurt, but it's dangerous to go outside.

White Sands has returned to her bored and displeased expression, again looking outside.

>>145114
"Uh.... not right now"

>>145116
Guess I will have to wait, Iron muttered, displeased himself at this rather unfortunate outcome.
However, he soon realized something that may cause a bit of friction if he doesn't address it now, as he turned to Sands once again. "Are you sending the smoke outside?" he tentatively asked.

>>145116
Silver nods.

"Alright then, not right now."

He offers him a hoof to get up off of the bed.

>>145104
[1d20 = 13]
"Oh, I hope my snout isn't too badly bruised! But it's still not as injured as my dignity...." she whimpers.

>>145117
“Huh?” She has to turn her attention to Iron

“Oh. No.”

>>145118
He looks at Silver for a moment, then pulls a foreleg out from between his legs, and extends it to Iron

>>145119
“I can understand that. It’s alright.” Trakr says

“That’s the wrong hallway.”
The mare says

“Yeah, how’s you end up that way? It’s this way.”
Stalwart says.

[1d20 = 9]

>>145120
"You should probably ask Cauldron about putting the smoke in here," Iron suggested. "I do not want to breed hostility between the closests thing I can consider as friends right now."

>>145120
"I'm sorry. I was...I was looking for the bathroom," she says, wincing.
Oh, how I hate lying! she thinks to herself. But if they knew what I was here for they would lock me up and throw away the key. Being alone in the bathroom is my last chance of finding Scabbard, or getting out before it's too late.

>>145120
Silver levitates Clip's drinking glass out and places it on the end table with the other before pulling him up into a standing position.

"Guess we have something to look forward to someday, maybe."

This twink stallion is almost unreasonably cute.

I will try to make it tomorrow.

I will not be available for a while, not until Tuesday.

>>145121
"Not much breeding going on for sure" She seems to grumble to herself.

She complies with Iron's request, raising her left hoof, and smashing the end of the cigarette against her nail. She returns to the look of bored irritation.

>>145156
Oh god, that caught me guard. Delightful giggle.

Iron's eyes widened considerably at Sands' remark in awe at what she just grumbled as he glanced over to where Cauldron might be.
H-how oddly specific, Iron mused in his head, the tiniest bit uncomfortable as he tried to figure out how to interpret such a statement.

>>145158
Black Cauldron has left the room. There is a smell of cigarette smoke. White Sands looks bored.

>>145126
"Uh... Sure...." He has a wide, awkward smile

>>145159
Feeling he should do something to stave the unicorn's boredom, Iron decides to start some pressing conversation up. "So," he started with a neutral, professional tone "are you planning on taking off on your own after your wounds heal?"

>>145160
She turns her head up, examining Iron with skepticism

"Why do you say it like that?"

>>145161
"Because this is a low point where one's loyalty is tested," Iron replied neutrally. "I do not wish for you to go, of course, but you have plenty of incentive after what just happened."

>>145162
"Go?" She says

"Getting up and moving around is the last thing I want to do. I feel sore." She leans back, and tilts her head back, mouth open and eyes closed. "But it looks like your zebra friend is offering a place to stay."

Then she hold her head up, and looks to Iron with a half smile
"Unless you want to rent a hotel room again."

>>145163
Iron couldn't help but smile a little, too, yet he wasn't about to separate from Cauldron just yet. Not after feeling she was unintentionally roped up into this. "I am a bit concerned with moving about while being a target," he admitted with a weak smile. "I could give you some money if you wish to move there while I deal with this gang business."

>>145164
She raises her left hoof to near her face.

"Hmmm... I'll think about it."

>>145165
Seeing her considerating brightened the native's smile, relieved to hear her words. "Perhaps you want to cuddle a bit?" he suggested without a hint of lewd behavior on his tone. "I may be out for a while without your soft coat."

>>145166
"Well.. I suppose I've nothing better to do at the moment."

She has a mischievous smile, and starts to roll her body over, as if to present her side to Iron.

>>145167
Iron's mood lifted further, getting off the sofa excitedly to properly and gently press his chest against her backside as his forelegs draped around her fluffy crest. His lower half, meanwhile, wasn't quite sure what to do, leaving his hindlegs next to hers, yet judging by how he sunk his snout into Sands' mane, I doubt he's too worried about it.

>>145168
"Hehe" She gives a light giggle, indeed being as soft as she looks. She rolls still more - or the top part of her body, at least - to open her forelegs to Iron, and allow her to move a foreleg around him.

>>145169
Iron couldn't help but chuckle a bit as well, face getting a bit red when Sands' foreleg wrapped around him as well as one could while behind somepony.
Yet, despite this, he simply decided to softly stroke her mane with one foreleg while the other snuck over her body to hold hooves with her just to add a bit of extra intimacy.

>>145159
What's the current time?

>>145173
1PMish, maybe?

>>145175
Hmm...this means Silver has some time left to spend before his date with Jubilosa. He looks at Clip.

"Is there anything else you would like to do, or should I leave you to get acquinted with house?"

>>145176
"Well, at some time, I'd like to meet with anyone in printing, or journalism, you know? If you can find free journalists. Not official."

>>145177
"I have some time before my date with Jubee. We can go and see if we can find someone if you want."

>>145178
"Do you know anyone?" He says with a hint of excitement

I can play a bit if that's possible.

>>145182
"Not personally, no...but we can go find someone, together."

>>145183
[1d20 = 2]

>>145184
“We should do that some time. There should be plenty. It’s a big city. I think many sympathize with the movement,” he says, somewhat excitedly.

>>145187
"You do not want to now?"

>>145188
"Sure. Now." The colt stands up, having some pain on his bandaged chest, and needing to reposition his injured right, hind leg.

>>145183
>>145122
Stalwart raises an eyebrow, and tilts his head.

But past him, at the entryway, the door opens.

Amber is no longer the most interesting pony in the room

>>145189
Silver holds onto Clip as he does so, looking worried for him.

"Are you okay?"

>>145190
"Aside from - uck! - the obvious, yeah. Why wouldn't I be."

>>145191
"Alright. Let us go then, perhaps slowly at first."

>>145192
He can't move his head all the way down to his chest. But he tries to look down.

"Well... maybe you're right."

>>145189
Amber gets back up on her hooves and tries to remain as inconspicuous as possible, looking to see what changed.

>>145193
The unicorn helps Clip to trot out of the room and down the stairs.

>>145194
Two ponies enter. One, a stallion. Earth pony? Hard to tell at this angle. Olive green, wearing a black jacket. A smaller mare behind her. Scrawny, kind of greyish-lavender coloring, with thin webbed wings. She wears the same jacket, and stays behind.

Stalwart turns around to face them, as does Trakr

>>145195
Clip slowly follows after Silver

>>145196
Amber slowly backs away toward the main hallway, but stays close enough to hear what they might say.

>>145197
The stallion announces,

"This is Officer Swift Soul of the Order Police of the State Security Administration. We have reason to believe that your office has information that can help us in our investigation."

It's Stalwart who volunteers an answer. It's only him, Trakr, the mare, and Amber anyways.
"Investigation into what, precisely? Do you handle actual crime now?"

"Investigation into collaboration between criminal syndicates and foreign hostile actors to commit acts of terrorism against the State and populous."

Stalwart and Trakr move forward to meet the Swift Soul, who himself moves further into the room. The mare at the doorway remains still. Her slit eyes are fixed on Amber.

>>145198
Her mouth gapes open. Wait, these are different police? That's awfully confusing! Wait...these are the occupiers. She freezes in her tracks, feeling a sudden chill as the batpony stares at her. Could it be the same one from the store? Their muted colors makes it hard to tell them apart!

>>145196
"After we return home, you really need to rest. I know of a superb potion maker named Black Cauldron, maybe I can get potions to help cut down on pain and help to heal from her."

>>145088
I don’t have free time just yet, but I really want to learn more about this. Can’t wait.

>>145208
As if on cue Oh, you think you're the only one who can derail and obstruct other people's threads with unwarranted drama?
[

>>145206
Tomorrow I really will have time to play, so let’s aim for then.

>>145223
Hopefully we can play tomorrow

>>145224
Is still a pretty pony

>>145209
Are you okay?

u are also a pretty pony

>>145170
The mane is messier and rougher than when they left in the morning, full of more knots, and drizzled by salt water air. Yet under the ruffled surface, it still feels like fine silk, with a hint of peach smell.

Iron’s body now contacts her long, sleek back and it’s fuzzy fur, the full length of her body pressing against a significant length of his.

Her hoof touches his

>>145205
“Well I had a couple potions when they brought me into the hospital.” He looks down at his chest. “But uh.z yeah. Potions are good. Let’s do that.”

>>145230
Silver looks for a taxi in the neighborhood with Clip, despite how uncommon they are in this particular area.

>>145088
"The Great Horned Serpent?"

>>145234
“Yes. A terror, and source of much chaos from the beginning of the earth. Fortunately he is no more, at least in physical form.”

>>145233
As usual, it’s a while before the first taxi passes, and that one continues driving. But the second one answers and pulls over.

>>145235
"What kind of chaos?"

>>145237
“Wickedness. I suppose you ponies would call it ‘disharmony.’”

>>145238
"Well, I am just curious. Did the serpent do anything in particular that you might say was strange?"

>>145236
When the pair get in, Silver decides to take a chance on whether there will be protesters today.

"To city hall, please."

>>145239
“Strange? I’m not sure what is strange. But you needn’t worry about him.”

>>145241
"I suppose. What drove him out of physical form?"

>>145240
And the ponies are off towards city hall.

Roll die

>>145242
“A hero of our people. The Trickster. Nanabush.”

>>145243
"Can you tell me more about this hero?"

>>145244
“Well, there’s a legend about it. About the slaying. And many other legends. That is, if you wish to hear it.”

>>145246
There is indeed a healthy array of protestors with varied signs outside of city hall. In fact, they occupy much of the square before the city hall, with a few uniformed soldiers taking position along the roads around the square.

Signs vary from “down with the occupation,” “death to collaborators,” “no pedophiles in government,” “no more weapons of war,” “reinstate CAN,” “Peace, Bread and Land,” and “support our brothers and sisters in Manehattan”

>>145245
"I would love to."

>>145248
“Well...” she looks around, sits down, wraps her tail around herself, and wriggles both ears while smiling.

“I suppose I recall the story. Alright.”

The others in the room - Petal, Ply Press, the Doctor, and Makade, dong explicitly cease their own conversations to hear Waabishki speak. But they do not continue them either, and the room is left in silence as she behind her story:

“One day, after a long and troubled journey, Nanabush returned home to find his cousin missing. Calling his cousin’s name and looking around, he was horrified to see the slithering tracks of the Great Horned Serpent, and knew his cousin had been seized. He picked up his bow and crossed rivers and mountains pursuing the trail, which lead him finally to the shores of a dark and gloomy lake the Lake of Demons. Through the troubled waters Nanabush could see the home of the Horned Serpent, and the terrible, evil spirits who served the Serpent. At the center of the mass of evil spirits was the Horned Serpent himself, coiled around the dead body of Nanabush’s cousin. His eyes were a malign, glowing red, his head the color of blood, and his scales every shade. Nanabush resolved he would get revenge upon the Great Serpent.

He ordered the clouds to clear, the winds to be still, and the sun to shine upon the water with all its brightness. In this way he would boil the water and force the serpent to the shore to cool off, where he would set up the next stage of his trap. Taking his bow and arrow, he set up next to a clearing by the lake where he expected the serpent would lay, disguising himself as the broken stump of a withered tree. The sun shone down from the cloudless sky, and under the stilled winds and stagnant air the lake became troubled with bubble and foam. A serpent peeped his head above the water, then another. Not hearing Nanabush’s footsteps, they agreed Nanabush must be sleeping, returning to the lake with a hiss. The water boiled and waves crashes against the shores, until the Great Horned Serpent rose out of the water - his crest glistening, and his scales blinding, reflecting the light like a sleet covered forest under the winter sun. He made his way to the shore, followed by demonic serpents that soon covered every part of the shore.

The serpents knew Nanabush was cunning. They saw the withered stump, and suspected it could be one of Nanabush’s disguises. A serpent wrapped its tail around the stump to drag it into the lake. It’s tail pricked Nanabush’s sides, and he could barely refrain from crying out in pain. But he held firm and kept silent. The serpent moved on. The Great Serpent moved into the forest, wrapping his body around trees, and his many companions likewise found shade, save for a live sentry, who listened for the pawsteps of Nanabush.

Yet Nanabush was patient, waiting until all of the serpents were asleep, and the sentry looked another direction. In silence, Nanabush carefully pulled an arrow from his quiver, drew his bow, and aimed it right at the heart of the Great Serpent.”

Waabishki acts out the scene, sitting in her hind quarter, and miming the act of pulling an arrow and drawing a bow, closing an eye as if to look down the arrow. She shifts the two toes of her paw, and says,

“The arrow found its mark. The monster awoke with a cry that shook the mountains and startled the beasts sleeping in their caves. The Great Horned Serpent plunged into the lake, followed by its companions, who howled with terror and anger. At the bottom of the lake still lay the body of Nanabush’s cousin. The serpents tore it to pieces, and those pieces toss to the top of the water. The Great Serpent knew he wound die soon, but he, and all his minions, would destroy Nanabush. With the pounding of their tails they caused the waters to swell and rise, crashing against the shore with the sound of thunder. The waters flooded over the land, carrying rocks and trees, and on the crest of the highest wave rode the wounded Great Horned Serpent.

Nanabush fled. He thought of his pups. So he ran through the villages, shouting that they must flee to the mountains, as the Great Horned Serpent and his flood would soon be upon them. The wolves gathered up their pups and fled to the mountains, while Nanabush continued his flight, past the foothills, far north of Gitche Gumee, and to the northern mountain where he found many wolves, creatures, and animals taking refuge. Yet the waters continued to rise, covering the valleys, the plains, the low hills, and the mountains, until only the high northern mountain remained above water. So he gathered timber, and built a raft upon which the creatures and animals placed themselves. The high mountain too soon flooded, and they were left alone upon the water, floating for many days.

But the waters subsided, and the mountains, then the hills, the plains and the valleys appeared through the water. And when it was all gone they knew that their troubles were over, for the Great Horned Serpent was dead; his body sealed away under the waters. His minions fled back to the bottom of the lake, where they remain to this day for fear of Nanabush.”

She leaves the room in silence for some moment, looking out at the other creatures.

>>145249
"Now that's a hero story. I think that was the best one I have ever heard."

>>145251
The Doctor remarks to himself.
“Pretty sure Celestia controls the sun and the pegasi the wind.”
But Waabishki does not seem to hear if, smiling with pride.

“Yes, he is very important to our people, and such stories are an important part of our culture, passed down orally from generation to generation.”

>>145252
"So what happened after the flood? Did Nanabush retire? Did he have more adventures?"

>>145253
“Nanabush would have many more adventures, yes, though he mourned the loss of his cousin. The world has not flooded, nor is it troubled by the Great Horned Serpent’s physical presence, sealed away in the lake. Yet the spirit of the serpent troubles us still, and the demons must be threatened into staying away. That is why the Thunderbird must take flight every year. To do battle with the encroachment of corruption and discord.”

>>145254
"Can you tell me more about the Thunderbird?"

>>145255
“Nanabush knew the demons still posed a threat. He knew he could not be everywhere forever to protect the Ma’iignan from the spirits. That is why he created the Thunderbirds. One for each direction, North, South, and West. They are large, creatures with spiritual powers who protect the Ma’iignan from the underwater spirits, and who punish those who transgress too far. He endowed them with his power to create storms and lightning, and move the winds.”

>>145247
Silver smiles at Clip.

"Remember what you said earlier, about movement here in Baltimare?"

>>145257
"How did he create them? Was it his own magic, or did he have artifacts that gave him more power?"

>>145258
“Yeah. It looks like we found them. Well, we certainly found something.”

>>145259
“Through powers of his own. It’s his connection with the power of life, and of the power of the spirit. It’s.... it’s kind of like you ponies. But, well, more so.”

>>145260
"You want to go check things out?"

>>145260
“Have there been others to have incredible powers as well?”

>>145262
“Not.... not so many. Not now, certainly.”