Dark Star starts has embarked in a new venture - infiltrating cells of leftwing radicals at a local university.
>>150619Makade and Wellspring look to Spark, while Waabishki slowly approaches, and the Doctor enters the room.
They are ready
>>150620Spark heads out with the team.
>>150622Now where is Spark going, and how is he getting there?
>>150623Hmmm… I want to head back to the forest. Would there be another train?
>>150624Trains run on a regular schedule. At least, supposedly
>>150625I assume that means that we can go there and head back the way we came essentially.
>>150627Spark guides everypony to the train station.
>>150628Ply Press again offers his truck to help. Makade carries "a rolled up map" he insists is for lumber harvesting purposes, and Ply Press works with him talking about the machines of the lumbermill of Blackwood. Petal talks with the Doctor before seeing them off, and pets Waabishki, who is slumped against a back window of the truck. The doctor ultimately sits in the back. Wellspring again hides under a tarp, laying down in the truck bed.
Roll die
>>150631The vehicle comes to a stop at a road block
“Papers” a drone asks. There are two more behind him. These are blatant Changeling drones in marked uniforms, who make no effort to disguise their presence.
“Where are you going?”
>>150632I don’t suppose the doctor has papers?
>>150633Essentially, they are asking for identification from each individual. He should, yes
>>150634Then I’m going to have to bluff a way forward. Spark takes the doctor’s papers.
“Medical call to the train station. Apparently somepony got a bit motion sick and passed out.”
[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19]
>>150635The Drone looks at Spark, then down at the papers, and takes them from Spark. He opens them, and examines them more closely
"Faithful Oath?"
"Yes...?"
"Your address is listed as 'Blackwood'. Is that north of here?"
"Yes..."
"And you are here for?"
"Visiting.... old acquaintances. Family, if there is time. I did my residence here."
The doctor has an awkward toothy smile, and would surely be sweating right now if the air weren't below freezing
>>150636“Who better to send for something as unimportant as helping a queasy passenger from holding the line? There are many actual patients that need attending and not holding up our doctors. They are simply asking a favor that will help everypony.”
Name: Virgin Flame Level 5
Unarmored Speed: +10 ft.
Class Features:
Flurry of Blows.
Unarmed Strike.
Evasion.
Still Mind.
Ki Strike (magic).
Slow Fall 20 ft.
Purity of Body.
Bonus Feats (#2):
Stunning Fist
Deflect Arrows
>Will change if I can't use it to deflect bullets. It's fine but I don't want a useless skill.
(3th level feat): Superior Unarmed Attack
>Pic related. Is this okay?
Ability Scores:
Str: 12
Dex: 14+1
Con: 14
Wis: 12
Int: 12
Cha: 11
>(+1) is from the 4th level ability score increase
Size: Medium (0)
Armor Class: 10+2(dex)+1(wis)+1(bonus)=14
Unarmed Damage: 1d8+1
>If I can use the Superior feat, then 1d10 instead
Will Save: 1+4=5
Fort. Save: 1+4=5
Ref. Save: 2+4=6
Attack Bonus: 3+1=4
HP: 36
Skills:
(4+1)x4[first level] +(4+1)x4[sum of the rest of the levels]=40skill points
Climb*: 5
Escape Artist*: 5
Jump*: 6
Knowledge (Religion)*: 6
Tumble*: 5
Heal: 4
Balance*: 5
>* Means Class skill
Description:
She wears a tattered brown cloak. It's hems show how thick it is. Right behind it's hood on the back of the cloak is a yellow sun disc. Slithering beams of yellow travel along the cape of the cloak. There's a cut midway down the cloak near the barrel of the wearer. A belt is tied around her through his specific gap. The collar of the hood is torn so instead, Virgin uses another belt to hold it in place.
Her body is orange-tan and her mane is blood-red. She has summar-grass-green eyes. Along her neck, her mane is pulled into three rings. Creating a row of tufts along it. Her tail goes through a similiar ring while her fringe over her forehead is let loose and wild. Thine white nails can be seen protruding out from her hooves.
I'm ready when you are. Is this an acceptable build with the backstory from before.
>>150639The drone, wearing a long trench coat stares at Spark momentarily.
“And them?” He asks, pointing a hoof at Ply Press, and generally towards the two wolves.
>>150641“Interns in training to become nurses and assistants. More friends of the doctor here that could use some simple, in the field training to help them build experience for their professions.”
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]>>150640Hi new player!
>>150640I think that that's about fine. I reserve the right to reexamine certain features later though, (like perhaps the degree to which bullets can be deflected with hooves, and so forth).
There is still the question of where precisely she is starting at
>>150642He looks to Spark, closes the papers, and tenders them back to Spark.
"Carry on" he says
>>150642Hi!
>>150640There's suppose to be a pouch attached to the belt, in some way, around her barrel and like a bottle of liquer as well. She has the minimum number of bits require for her to function in this world. If possible, I'd like her to be basically broke.
>>150643Spark takes the papers and hoofs them over to the doctor.
>>150643>like perhaps the degree to which bullets can be deflected with hooves, and so forth).It's completely okay if it's impossible to do but if you decide upon that later, then can I at least exchange that feat for the other alternative feat the PHB points to later. I just don't want to have a useless feat on her. However, if it's just hard in the form of a high DC to deflect bullets, I'll still stick to it.
>Where is she starting. Yeah, where do you think is a good idea based on the backstory and our previous discussion?
>>150644Well it's pretty easy to be broke. She can have maybe 50 bits, if that.
>>150645He takes the papers, and Ply Press begins to drive off. A charcoal grey pegasus stallion on the opposite side turns his head, watching the truck pass.
>>150646The standard "start" is Union Station, Baltimare. Under Virgin Flame's circumstances, perhaps it would be better to start at the east side tavern. Or maybe even just some random location, like a church.
>>150643>50 bits Sounds good.
>Under Virgin Flame's circumstances, perhaps it would be better to start at the east side tavern. Or maybe even just some random location, like a church.Either of those sounds good to me. Have already started at the station before afterfall.
>>150647How about she starts just outside a church. Just about ot visit it. Could she have a bottle of liquer with her as well.
>>150647Which hopefully means we reach the train station.
>>150646Deflect Arrows is a bad feat to begin with. If there is goiyyo be any limitation to what you can deflect in the modern mileau, you may as well swap it for something else.
>>150644>I'd like her to be basically broke.Be warned that 3.5e Monks are quite item-dependent. Dragons exist, and you'll have to throw rocks at them.
If you do want to come into the game with nothing, in lines of an ascetic Monk, consider putting your WBL into temple favors, or donate it as tithes to a Good-Aligned church to increase your blessings, as per the complete champion.
>>150650Yes. The train is running late, mind you, but they make it there.
Wellspring voices concern that just two stations after Blackwood is the (former) Crystal Empire, and though the border is gone, the checkpoints are not. The Doctor is insistent this trainline has no special checkpoints, at least so far as Blackwood, which calms her down.
>>150649You know what? Good enough.
Virgin flame walks up a walkway from the river bank, up the seawall, and onto the main level of the street that runs parallel to the Delemare River. The bridge that provided cover for her through the night, carries a street that enters a plaza with a roundabout, a statue in the middle, and a park on the opposite side. To the west side, next to the river, is a cathedral: Saint Christopher.
Saint Christopher looks little like the ancient gothic beauties of the Heartland, nor the baroque cathedrals of the middle-Celestial seaboard. Rather, it has a distinctly Neo-Classical appearance to it, more like an ancient pagan temple than anything properly Equestrian. It is mostly rectangular in shape, with a square entrance and thirty or so foot tall Doric columns at the entrance, with two towers to each side, and a dome behind. The towers, however, are a feature that once was, rather than a present quality of the building's appearance; the tower on the left and the riverside is knocked down, and the one on the right is covered in scaffolding.
The building has a covered up window on the left side, but the giant wooden door is completely functional.
>>150644>>150653WBL for a lvl 5 Character is 9,000 GP. If you come into the game fresh out of cloister in voluntary poverty, you could consider all of the value of your labors to have gone towards the church, which translates to +18 affiliation ranks, raising your affiliation rank to 21 as a peak Humanitarian (Equinitarian?), and you would become an Altruist at your first level-up when you attain rank 22. At that point, you would be only 8 ranks away from Saint.
The benefits are minor, but you may as well take them. Having a high affiliation rank in the Good Domain can put you closer to the path of Sainthood.
Just give me minute. I'll return soon.
>>150640>Str: 12>Dex: 14+1>Con: 14>Wis: 12>Int: 12>Cha: 11Are you sure you calculated this right? These stats look painfully low for a multi-attribute dependent character.
Are you only using 25 points?
>>150654“I don’t recall checkpoints on the way here, but even so, we can get through them if we made it this far.”
>>150659“Well…. Okay….” The mare, wrapped up in a cloak, says to Spark, looking down. She sits on a bench on the platform, waiting for the train to pull into the station.
>>150660"So, once you get back, what will you be up to?"
>>150662She moves her steel grey eyes up to his
“I don’t really know.” She says
>>150663"No plans or no choices?"
>>150655A bottle of orange liquer is tied to the belt around her neck. She has her hood down as she uses her hoof to take a modicum swig of the bottle. She smacks her lips and close her eyes as she enjoys the flavour.
There's a spot form a previous spillage on the hem of her cloak. Her odor is a mixture of old alcholic beverages and old sweat.
She walks pretty straight towards the church's door but sometimes she has to catch herself as she starts to fall off to the side.
As she comes up to the door, she stops and knocks on it.
>>150652>goiyyoNot sure what this means.
>>150653I don't really know what you're talking about but sounds cool. I don't think I need to worry too much about it though, since I doubt that the DM will have me fight anything like a dragon at least for a while.
Also, it sounds a bit advanced to me.
>>150658No, I counted it again. I had a total of 27 points to spend and that's 27.
>>150656>The benefits are minor, but you may as well take them. Having a high affiliation rank in the Good Domain can put you closer to the path of Sainthood.That's intresting. So what are those benefits?
>>150665“A bit of the latter…” she says, moving her eyes away.
“I had thought before I could write poetry. But that’s not easy to turn into money. When the war came I took a job as a clerk at an oil well, then moved into town for a factory job, then all of that became unbearable after the war. Now, I don’t know. There must be something though, somewhere out there for me.”
>>150667At first it seems like no creature is there, and she’ll have to go through to find someone. But then a mare, or perhaps filly, opens the door. It’s a white mare in a white cloak with dark reddish-black mane tied into a bun. She looks at Virgin Flame, and almost seems to recoil.
“Hello?”
>>150669"Well, have the resistance provided a little of that purpose?"
>>150669Virgin looks at the mare with half-lidded eyes. She tries to give the mare a warm smile but it might just come off as creepy. She blinks a few times and shakes her head.
"Argh. Uhm... Yes, my name is..." She stops for a moment as she peers upward. "Virgin Flame. Sister Virgin Flame. I'm a sister."
She moves to the side so the mare can see the large sun drawn on her robes. She turns back.
"You're universalists, yes?"
What time of the day is it, btw?
>>150670“Yes. I don’t really like to see the world as it is, but as it could be. And so I did what I could, and would do what I could, to make the dream reality.”
>>150671She raises an eyebrow and lowers an ear
“A sister?” She opens the door a bit more.
“Yes, we are. What brings you here?”
>>150672If she just got up, then fairly early morning.
>>150673"You know, writing poems still have worth these days. The right poem can help ponies' spirits."
>>150673"That's great. So am I," she says and gestures with a hoof towards her chest (fluff) as she push it up.
"I'm from the church..." She shuts her eyes hard and her forehead seems to tense. "Aah. It's a church that has an orphanage that lies in Canterlot, or it did..."
She seems to disappear in her own little world. She seems sadder. She takes another swig of her bottle, a bigger one this time.
>>150674Her ears perk up
“That is true” she says
>>150675She moves her head back in mild displeasure, and after a momentary pause, opens the door wider, allowing Virgin Flame to enter
>>150676She recognice the gesture of being velcomed. This brings up her mood and she nods back at the mare.
She takes a step just to enter but not really further.
"Ugh, you know, right? Or, why would you," she says and lets out a few laughs to herself. "But there was this universalist church in Canterlot, called Sss-un sunnnn sunnn... I can't quite put my hoof on it."
She seems annoyed by this.
>>150677“Sunrise?” She asks, lowering an eye and raising a hoof up, as if in offer.
>>150678Virgin's eyes go wide and she smiles. She wagles a hoof in the air.
"Yeah yeah, Sunrise. I grew up there in the orphanage."
Virgin is ecstatic.
>>150676"And poems can even inspire a way to make the world the way it could be. And I think your insight can provide just the right words to do it."
>>150679"Sunrise on the East Slope? I.... think I've seen it on a map? Maybe. Uh... that's nice. What brings you here now though?"
>>150680She smiles
"Maybe. Maybe I'll try to do that. Being away from the city might help that."
>>150681"Uhh... I wanted to check out the church and uhhh..."
Virgin gives the mare a inquisitive look.
"Do you know what uhh..." She pulls off her hood and starts to scratch the back of her neck with the same hoof. "What Sunrise teaches some of the sisters?"
>>150683"They..." She takes a step back
"Uh, are they the ones that, uh... No. I don't think I do."
>>150684Virgin body sways like a tree in the wind. She shakes her head again and refocuses.
"Well, you see, some of the old hags-" She shakes her head and gives the mare a sheepish grin. She then does a playful roll with her eyes. "I mean elder nuns taught a style of martial arts called, Dawnbreaker to willing sisters and to the ones they wanted to pest..."
She looks off to the side with first an annoyed look but that then turn sad.
"One nag taught me the dawnbreaker basics so to cut to the chase. I'm all about turning the other cheek but sometimes you gotta run the merchants out of the tempel, if you know wha' I'm sayin'. There are always some ponies who just has to bother us sooo if you ever need a bouncer or something like that, you can call me."
She flashes the mare a smile and nod before emptying the rest of the bottle's contents down her throat in one long swig.
*[/i]Glug glug glug.[i]*
>>150685"What? Hehehe." She moves a hoof to cover her clearly smiling face
"Alright, I'll see who needs a bouncer. Is that what you're looking for? A job?"
How old is Virgin Flame?
>>150687The filly is unambiguously younger than Virgin Flame
>>150686She smiles and nods as the mare laughs. She holds out her hoof in the air and starts to rock it like a boat on the sea.
"Nah. I don't really need any job. Maybe a meal and a place to stay when there's a real downpour but otherwise I'd just wanna help. I even know some healing stuff. So if ponies get sick, ah can help treating themmm..."
Suddenly, Virgin sees the two fillies just like this filly in her place. In fact, the whole room seems to have multiplied.
"Oh ooh," she says and immidately sits down on her huanches to regain her balance.
>>150689The floor is probably porcelain, but it certainly looks like marble.
The filly moves a little closer
"Are you okay?" She asks
>>150690I need to go to bed, like forever ago.
I'll grow bald like a monk if this continues. I had fun.
>>15066727? Are you sure? That's a weird number.
28 is considered to be "average", although most games go higher than that.
>goiyyo*going
>>150668Bonuses to Diplomacy, bonuses to saving throws, bonuses to attack and damage rolls vs evil creatures, etc.
But imo the best benefit is potentially having an "official" title of Saint, which should mean your character could qualify for the Saint template, if you wanted to be exalted.
>>150690She looks over at the filly but her eyes are a bit unfocused.
"Yeah, I *
hiccup* Can I ask for something too eat or like some water? I think I drunk too much and eaten... Well, nothing, lately," she says and looks a bit disappointed in herself. Her cheeks turn pink and she hangs her head-
So yeah, I have decided to stop being up during the night since yesterday. Not sayin' you did anything wrong. Just an individual decision. So I can only play early in the morning or in the evening. Just a btw.
>>150697“Uh… sure” she says
“This way”
The filly turns around, her big, bushy tail partly covered by her cloak. The difference in color between her white cloak and ever so slightly grey coat is present, but subtle enough you could almost make a game of guessing where her cloak ends and the coat begins. She takes her towards the back.
For all of the unorthodoxy of the exterior appearance of the modern-style cathedral, the interior confirms more to tradition, even if the hoof-crafted art of half a millennium that can be found in even the minor churches of the Heartland, are conspicuously absent here.
Passing under a high vaulted ceiling with beige mortar roof and wooden beams, the sanctuary is in a giant, hexagonal shaped room under a large dome, with sections off to the left and right, and a large altar in the fore. In these sections, some stained glass artwork can be found, depicting ponies of Hearthswarming, the Pillars, the Elements, and the Princesses in various acts, though some of these windows are gone and replaced with wood.
The most conspicuous work of art is a large statue in the right section of a Diamond Dog wearing a cloak and holding a pony in his right arm, and a staff in his left.
The fillie says,
“In the back, we should have some water.” Still taking Virgin Flame along
>>150693>27? Are you sure? >>150454>Points, I tentatively want to say about 27.Yes, I am. I suppose that when you say avarage, you mean games in general and not according to the DMG because they have pic related as their ruleset.
I can't say I have an opinion on either case. I assume some campaigns can be more high-powered and some more low-powered but I know I'm new to all of this so I don't wanna dismiss a perspective.
>Saint stuffWhile it wouldn't fit Virgin to be a saint in this stage of her story, I do find it intresting. Might not sound like I think so because I have nothing to add though. I like that you almost turn into a paladin, which is a fantasy archetype that has a special place in my heart, with bonuses on damage rolls against evil creatures.
>the Saint template, if you wanted to be exalted.What does that mean exactly, like in dnd terms?
>>150699Doesn't post the second pic.
>>150699You can get bonuses on damage rolls vs evil as a Monk too. Holy Ki Strike ACF replaces your lawful Ki strike with good, and adds 1d6 vs evil.
You can get it as a Shadow Sun Ninja too, even with only one level in Monk, since it advances Ki Strike.
>What does that meanIt would change your type to Celestial, grant you fast-healing and AC bonuses among other useful things. If you don't know what that is, it doesn't really matter anyway. Roleplay and mechanical requirements are steep, although you only need to be lvl 6.
>>150700>22>15Idk what kind of sadistic DM would want to run something like that... It would mean a party full of single-stat casters, and maybe one or two martials who don't want to be alive.
Most games I've played have been 36, although I've played as high as 54.
>>150699>I like that you almost turn into a paladin, which is a fantasy archetype that has a special place in my heartPaladins and monks have a lot in common as far as aesthetic is concerned. They're both supposed to be devoted ascetics who practice a monastic lifestyle. A lot of the crusaders that the fantasy archetype is based on were themselves temple monks.
You could even combine the two with Devoted Ascetic, and the Argent Fist prestige class, which lets you add your Wisdom bonus to AC even when wearing heavy armor, among allowing you to light your fists on fire and stack your paladin and monk levels for most abilities. You can change your charisma-based Paladin abilities to Wisdom-based abilities using the Serenity feat.
I made an Argent Fist once. She was named Sister Joan: the Half-Orc Paladin/Monk Argent Fist of the Silver Flame. I dipped Shiba Protector to effectively add wisdom bonus to everything (AC, attack rolls, damage rolls twice, saving throws, grapples, etc). She was silly because she was effectively a Paladin who dumped Cha and a Monk who dumped Dex.
Tier 5 build, but still good at what she did.
>>150698Virgin Flame makes sure to keep her eyes mostly fixed on the filly leading her as not to stumble and break something. She does, however, glance around at times and takes in the interior of the church. Even in with her blurry gaze, she's smiles at what she sees.
Images of stained glass with similar artwork flash through her mind but she quickly supress them.
She sees the diamond dog and makes knowledge (religion) check:
[1d20+6+1]
I just noticed that I have skill synergies (+2) for some of my checks. Will just list them here:
>use Rope checks involving bindings
>Tumble checks
>Balance checks
>Jump checks
<(religion) checks to turn or rebuke undead (class feature)
Last one doesn't matter cause I don't have that feat anyway but wanted to include it here to have all of them in the open.
>>150701>Celestial, grant you fast-healing and AC bonuses among other useful things.>If you don't know what that is, it doesn't really matter anyway.I know D&D catalogize different creatures based on their type and that it has mechanical gameplay effecting properties with it. But what properties a Celestial has compared to, for example an aberration, I have no idea.
>>150713Virgin Flame recognizes the statue as Saint Christopher, an indigenous Diamond Dog from the early days of Equestria, who is the Patron Saint of travelers and river crossings.
>>150714Oh, cool thought it was a more local thing.
Virgin gives the saint a nod.
Thanks, Saint Doggie. It's been a long journey to get here and I bet'cha help me along the way. Virgin thinks to herself.
She turns back to the filly.
"You're church is beautiful."
>>150715The filly turns back
"Uh, thank you."
However, at this point the filly seems a bit distracted by the approach of a beige mare with orange mane an beige coat, wearing a black cloak.
The fillie says
"This is... Virgin Flame? She says she's a nun or something from Canterlot." She whispers something to the mare, who moves past the filly and towards Virgin Flame
She speaks to her
"Hello. My name is Mother Heather. Do you need water? A bed?"
>>150712You would cease aging, not need to eat, become proficient in all martial weapons, gain darkvision, and be immune to attacks that effect humanoids only.
https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/templates/saint.shtml
>>150437"Oh, that's a decent haul. I don't know if it's worth much, but it's worth something, surely. Does anything still work?"
>>150719"We did not get chance to test them yet, we had to hurry to bring them up before waters returned, but it is very possible that all of firearms are still in working order, or just need minor maintenance. Ammunition is definitely done for, but arms did not look like they had rusted or degraded significantly."
>>150720She twists her lips
“All the same, show them to me. There may be some value still.”
>>150716She nods towards Heather and takes the opportunity to sit down. She has begun to see double again.
And she goes, "I just gotta say Mother that you're church is sooo beauitful." Then she gazes upwards toward the ciling and other directions. She seems to have a hard time to focus on the mare in front of her.
She lifts the empty bottle up to drink but notice upon attempting to drink it that it's empty now. She place it on the floor a bit away from her.
>>150722There is no art on the ceilings, though there is a wood carving of Princess Celestia high along the western wall.
Heather whispers something to the filly, who picks up the bottle.
Heather:
"Follow me..."
She attempts to pick Virgin flame up, and carry her to a doorway at the end of the sanctuary. She enters into a narrow hall, and then up a set of wooden stairs, which leads to another small hallway, and an austere bedroom.
>>150723>She attempts to pick Virgin flame up, and carry her to a doorway at the end of the sanctuary.Does she pick her up or does she just help Virgin up on her hooves and lets Virgin lean on her on the way?
>>150724Not very hooves on, except perhaps to help her stand up. Maybe she takes one leg
>>150721"It was bit too heavy to carry while trotting here today. I can bring them here in near future, I just wanted to know if there was interest before I brought heavy chest of firearms all way here."
>>150726“Well, the big question is just how useable they are. If parts are ruined and if is unusually, then parts can probably still be used. There’s a market for parts, but they aren’t as valuable.” She says
>>150727"Nothing about them looked ruined."
>>150728"Well then. Either way, get back to me" She says
>>150723She uses the support of Heather till they reach the bed, whereupon she tries to sit down but basically fall into it.
She looks up to Heather with a slight blush but still blurry vision.
"Uhh... Sorry about this."
>>150729"I will. There is one more thing: I was wondering if you or Iron had anything coming up you could use another set of hooves for? I am in need of new job or mission to bring in some Bits."
>>150731“That’s alright. You get the rest you need. I’ll have little Flowercup get you some water.”
After a delay, the filly returns with with a large glass of water.
>>150732“Well…” she says, looking up
“I’m not sure. Things are a bit, well, uncertain.”
>>150733Silver tilts his head at her, in evident curiosity.
>>150733Virgin sits up on the bed and takes the glass of water in her hooves. She drinks half of it in one go and then place either place it on abedside table or gives it back to the filly.
She tries to remain sitting but she feels sick so she lies down.
"Uhh, could I aks for sum bread?" she says and shuts her eyes as she feels a headache comming on.
Is Flowercup the filly from before?
>>150735“Sure. Flowercup, get her some bread.”
The filly gets up, and leaves the room.
Which probably answers that questionHeather remains in the room, and places a hoof on Virgin Flame, possibly on her back or belly.
“What brings you here, dear?”
>>150734“Well, something about the moon looking blood red and full, instead of waning gibbous. I don’t know. It’s spooked my, well, my parents snd has caused some disruption.”
>>150736Silver has an odd look on his face after hearing this.
"When did you see this?"
>>150737“My… Father claimed to see it last night. He and a neighbor. There’s… there’s legends he knows from older sources. He decided to not open his restaurant for the day.”
>>150738"Hmm...well, it happened about three nights ago, but it may have something to do with what Iron, myself, and rest of our group did on our last mission."
>>150736After getting that glass of water she feels a bit more stable. She is still a bit groggy, though. She struggle herself up on her rump.
"Well, after Canterlot fell and Sunrise with it, I..." She opens her mouth to say something but choses to stop. "I decided to move here for... reasons."
She goes quiet for a moement before she says, "Yesterday I saw your church so I thought I'd visit."
>>150740"Iron may have told you about it already, but we were contracted by government to clear out griffon traffickers inhabiting old asylum at 33 Hoebuck. It turns out that they were in league with Maarist cultists and were sacrificing those that traffickers were bringing in. Moon changed when we confronted leader of cultists and he drew on Maar's power, and returned to normal after we slew him."
>>150741“Do you need anything in particular? A place to stay, perhaps?”
The filly returns with the bread, and gives it to Heather, who offers it to Virgin Flame.
>>150742“Wha…” her mouth opens, and her ears go down.
“Well, I don’t know. That was a week ago. Surely it couldn’t… be that? I don’t know… my father says he has seen signs. He knows things about spirits that lurk in the ether, and that wait to come here and to take our life force from us. He says they have come before, and that if someone just opens the door, they will come again. He claims that Zebras know some things, and the ponies know some things, but that neither knows enough to know the danger. He says that only those with a hoof in each culture can read the signs. He says a lot of things. I don’t know.
Did you hear about that order? They are rationing fuel again. I think it will be a good opportunity for selling under the table, like it was during the blockade.”
>>150744"Hmm. Well, whatever they are, I hope no one will be stupid enough to open that door.
"I did indeed hear that order. One of those we rescued from Hoebuck thinks it is going to be used to concentrate rural populations into cities, make them easier to control."
>>150744Virgin tears into the bread. She realizes that was really hungry as she starts to eat it. Soon it's gone.
The bread really help fill out her stomach with something other than liquor. The blurriness and double images around her suddenly converge into a crystal clear vision. Even if she still has some headache.
She turns over to the pair and draws a circle in the air with her hoof while bowing towards them.
"Thank you. I really needed that," she says and looks up. "I feel much better now."
>>150746I'll add some more stuff.
>>150746"Ehh, you were asking me somthing?"
So, now I'm done.
>>150745“I don’t…”
Her almost cowering demeanor returns for a moment, as she closes her black muzzle and swallows
“I don’t think think that’s right. It must be monsoons. I would say it’s for freezing weather, but it’s the wrong place for that. They must have lost fuel production in another district or something, so they are trying to make up for it.”
>>150748>>150746The filly at least, does not understand the gesture. Heather asks:
“Do you need help finding a place to stay?”
>>150749"Uhh," she begins and scratches her neck. "The plan was really that I was suppose to help you guys. But you're correct in you assumption, I am homeless. I slept under the bridge(s?) along the Delemare River this night."
>>150749"It may be, it may not be, I do not know. I do know that weather outside is definitely not mild."
Silver returns to the previous topic.
"Did your father ever share with you what it is that zebras know?"
>>150750"Aww, poor dear. You can stay here tonight, if you need to. We keep this room around for those in need, and you need it. Just tell us if you need anything else"
Flowercup:
"Like a shower, maybe."
After a pause, Heather raises an eyebrow
"What kind of help?"
>>150751"Well, I think he meant legends and spiritual beliefs. And those who tried to bring about Nightmare Moon... They did not stay in Equestria. They came to us. Well, they came to Zebrica, I mean. But he meant about the powers of spirits, and how zebras can summon them."
>>150752Silver looks intrigued.
"Zebras can summon spirits?"
>>150752Virgin is about to decline the off but then remembers the cold night she just experinced and opts to nod instead to the sugguestion to stay the night.
She can help but to grin at Flowercup's sugguestion.
"From foals and fools you learn the truth," she says and gives Flowercup a smile. "Yes, maybe I-" She takes a sniff of herself and scrunches like those cute poner do<3 "I'll take you up on that offer."
She turns over to Heather.
"Any help you might need. I think I'm fairly knowledgeable when it comes to universalism but I guess my real strength is with Dawnbreaker. I... Could tell you about Princess Celestia. She visit Sunrise's orphanage when I was a filly, I even got a photo of it."
She gestures towards the pouch one her belt.
>>150707>crusadersI remember seeing this as a class in the tome of battle.
>>150701>15>Idk what kind of sadistic DM would want to run something like that...Kek.
>>150761Hello!
>>150759Awww... I just got back from dinner
>>150760Yay!
The last post for Dark Star was
>>150599
>>150753"No! Well... No. What I meant was that there are stories of individual zebras coming in contact with spirits, some good, some not so good, and making deals with them for powers, and sometimes doing evil things with those powers, and sometimes the spirits themselves doing much evil..."
>>150754>scrunches like those cute poner do<3Kek
Heather:
"Oh, well that sounds lovely. Let me see" She looks down, evidently to look at the photograph. But then she pulls her head up, and tilts it
"Dawnbreaker?"
>>150763"Oh. Sorry, I did not mean to offend."
>>150764“It’s okay. Do you need anything else?”
>>150765"I think that was it. Is Iron treating you well?"
>>150766She twists her lips
“We get along fine, if that’s what you’re asking.”
>>150767"Well, I am more asking if he is treating you okay, but your expression says there is trouble."
>>150768She narrows her eyes and shakes her head.
“Yes, he’s treating me quite well. We’ve decided to work together on a business venture. He’s very amiable and east to work with.”
>>150769Silver nods.
"That is good. I hope he knows how lucky he is to have someone like you by his side."
>>150772The unicorn smiles back at hearing this.
"That is very good. It was good seeing you, Cauldron."
>>150775And so, Silver is presumably done with that particular visit
>>150599"The name is solar night,sir."
He grins
>>150777He smiles back, and gives him a quick nod
“How did they like the beer?” He asks with a smile
>>150778"It was Very Good. although some of the mares there kinda thought they were to good for it."
>>150779“Guh. Consider that a benefit. Any mare too good for free beer is not good enough for you.” He smiles, moves around to move a glass, and comes closer to Solar Night
“Try hard alcohol next time. If they won’t take that, you don’t want to touch them.”
>>150780he laughs
"Yea thats probably a good idea."
>>150781He smiles, and turns away.
“Keep it in mind for next time. And surely there will be a next time. Alcohol is your friend for this.”
>>150782"always has been my friend."
>>150783“Heh heh, glad I could help.”
>>150776Silver returns to where Mala was waiting.
>>150785Mala is sitting at a table. He watches Silver as he approaches.
>>150786"Well, ready to go see those colts I was telling you about?"
>>150784Dark star slides him 30 bits
"Thanks for everything mr glass. i gotta get going, im feeling very tired."
>>150787He stands up, wagging his tail
“Yes”
>>150788He takes the money, smiles, and nods his head
“Come back any time.”
>>150789"Well, good! I think they will like you, with as fluffy and nice as you are."
He leads the two outside the Watering Hole, looking for a taxi in this fine weather.
>>150790Dark Star walks back to the HQ making sure he isnt being followed. he ducks through Alleyways.
>>150791Mala smiles, and seems to try to fluff himself up. He gets up, and they go outside.
There is a crack of thunder, and it appears the clouds are denser now. Snow flies in the wind, making its way through the open door, and then around the two standing creatures on the sidewalk. There is ice forming on the sidewalk and roadways.
>>150792It's a bit late, and dark, save for lights in shops and street lights. Dark Star faces a special danger in that those who could be watching outside of the headquarters could see him. He is, at least, wearing a trench coat, hat, and glasses.
A bat pony takes guard, and choses to stand inside.
>>150793"Wow, it is really getting intense out here."
>>150794An automobile - a cheaper one, boxy in appearance, black in color - makes a left turn on the intersection. What it did not take into account, is the ice on the road.
The vehicle turns, slips, and jumps the curb right onto Silver and Mala. There is a bark, and a crack of thunder.
>>150794>>150795And Silver wakes up, back in his room, with a loud crack of thunder. Not much light comes through the window, and Jubilosa sleeps next to him, with her beak open. Silver feels groggy, as if it's too early.
>>150795>>150796Silver lets out a sudden, loud gasp, heart racing and panicked. He doesn't even recognize his surroundings at first.
>>150797It's his room. 6 AM? Too early. Earlier than he recalls. There are storm clouds over the bay, however, which makes he day darker than normal. Jubilosa is passed out on her side, her tongue hanging out.
>>150798Silver takes a moment to calm down before going to the window to look outside in the dark winter night.
>>150799Mundane rain clouds hang over the bay and partly cover the sun. There is some lightning hitting the water.
>>150800"What in fuck..."
Silver leaves his room to go check in on Mala.
>>150801Silver gets out of bed, opens the door, goes down the dark hallway to the closed door of Mala’s room. Silver can see the hyena laying on his side roll over, point his muzzle and ears at Silver, and quickly jump up to stand on his bed baring his teeth threateningly and growling at Silver, before quieting himself and returning his mouth to a neutral expression. All of this happens in about a second and a half from Silver’s opening the door.
>>150802Silver is a little taken a back, and needs a second after this display to respond.
"...uh...hello. Are you doing okay?"
>>150803Mala’s ears come down, then he hangs his head down, and then crouches on the bed, still standing.
“Yes…” he says
>>150804"Okay. I just wanted to make sure."
He smiles at Mala.
"Want me to leave you alone for now?"
>>150805Mala lays down on the bed, his big brown eyes looking up at Silver
“It’s okay.” He says
>>150806Silver continues to look at Mala.
"Or would you want to get out of bed? What is it that you want to do, my friend?"
>>150807He blinks
“… sleep?” He says, looking at Mala
“Unless… is there something else?”
>>150808"No, there is nothing that needs done. Sleep well, Mala."
>>150809He seems to smile, then covers his face with a leg, and turns, burying himself in the covers
>>150810Silver leaves Mala's room, closes the door, and goes down into the living room.
>>150811On the couch, lying on his back, and lightly snoring, is the small ecru stallion with red mane, still sleeping under the knitted blanket.
There is a light on, and sound in the kitchen
>>150812Silver goes to investigate the kitchen.
>>150813In the kitchen, Silver sees Khoi Lua poor hot water from a tea kettle into a cup. The honey-gold mare looks up towards Silver,
“Good morning.”
>>150814"Morning. How long have you been up for?"
>>150815"Maybe 15 minutes, if that. I am making tea." She says
>>150816"Will there be enough for two? I...really need something right now."
>>150817"Well..." She looks at the kettle
"Yes. Let me get another tea bag."
She opens a cabinet, and takes out another cup, and another tea bag. She pours a cup, and then another one.
>>150818Silver smiles brightly at Khoi.
"You are wonderful treasure, Khoi. Thank you."
He takes his cup when offered, and heads to the kitchen table.
>>150819She smiles
"Thank you."
Silver sits at the table, and has a view of the bay through the window. Lightning strikes the water.
Khoi comes, and sits down at the table near Silver, looking out at the water.
>>150820Silver stays there for a minute in silence, blowing on and sipping his tea as he watches the storm. Even when he first breaks the silence, he keeps looking at the lightning hit the water.
"I had dream, and in dream it was storming like this, but...worse. Ocean rolled back, revealing treasures that had sunken to bottom. It was bitterly cold and snowing, like it would back in Motherland during winter. I could watch and see ice actually forming and expanding over roads in city. It was like something you would hear about in ancient tales of when Windigoes hunted ponies."
>>150793Hmmmm are there any side doors?
>>150822Yes. It’s a whole hotel.
>>150821She looks over to him, snd blinks
“What? That’s sounds terrible!”
>>150823Silver nods.
"You can see why I needed something to drink. If it was not for you and this tea, I would be looking for bottles of alcohol."
>>150823He tries one of the side doors
>>150825There is a door there. It is locked, but he can call a guard to it.
>>150824She shakes her head
"Tea clears the mind. Alcohol clouds it. Try this. It'll make you feel calmer, and more stable."
>>150826He knocks on it. im assuming this door is on like the side of the building?
>>150828Yes. End of the hallway.
A stallion walks up, and peers through the door.
>>150829He holds his badge up to the door
>>150830The stallion looks at the badge, then unlocks and opens the door, then takes the badge, looks at it,, and draws a revolver on Solar Night
"This is for a brown pony, not a yellow one." He says
>>150827He chuckles.
"Sometimes it can smooth out rough edges, like whetstone to blade, but I see your point."
He takes a sip of his tea.
"It will be lot easier to try with good brewer like you."
>>150831"im undercover,friend. you can ask sea breeze. i can't be seen walking in the main door. just cool it with that revolver."
>>150833He puts it down, and then pats Dark Star, perhaps more than the latter would have preferred. He looks through Dark Star's bag, and finding the revolvers (but no bomb), he carries the bag as he walks with Dark Star inside the building.
"Alright, I'll take you in."
>>150832She smiles, almost laughing
"It's just boiling water and a tea bag. You can add things though. Like sugar, or saccharine, or honey. Or even milk."
>>150834"You would be surprised what little things I can fuck-up given enough time."
He lets out a chuckle to go alongside hers.
>>150834"I understand why you had to do it. no hard feelings,brother. lets go."
He follows the guard
>>150836The guard takes him through half-lit halways to an area of offices Dark Star has been to before. The stallion is a steel grey, and judging from the eyes and fangs, seems to be another one of the bat winged ponies, though his accent is Equestrian-Celestial seaboard.
"Who are you going to see? Seabreeze?"
>>150835She has a strained smile
"That's... that's alright." she lifts up the tea and takes a sip
>>150837Silver in return gives her a concerned look.
"What is wrong?"
>>150838"Why the self-doubt?" She asks
>>150837"yea i was stopping by to see him before i am going to retire for the night."
>>150840"Uh, okay. Are you housed here? You sound like a local" He says
>>150839"Because I tend to make mistakes, or screw things up. It is something I have been through most of my life, despite my successes: screw-up."