Silver and Dark Star just killed several creatures and need to get the Tartarus away as the police arrive
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1716 replies and 20 files omitted.
>>160251
"It is large creature that has body and head of lion, wings of bat, and tail of scorpian. They are fierce opponents when threatened, and are very territorial."
"It is large creature that has body and head of lion, wings of bat, and tail of scorpian. They are fierce opponents when threatened, and are very territorial."
>>160252
She nods along, at first letting her mouth hang open, but then closing it. She listens intently to Silver as he speaks.
“Sounds threatening.”
She nods along, at first letting her mouth hang open, but then closing it. She listens intently to Silver as he speaks.
“Sounds threatening.”
>>160031
"I suppose he is. I'm quite out of my element when talking to him. I'm not quite sure how he reached his conclusions, but I'll have to give them some deeper thought."
"I suppose he is. I'm quite out of my element when talking to him. I'm not quite sure how he reached his conclusions, but I'll have to give them some deeper thought."
>>160259
Amber can only stare blankly in confusion. "Anyway, this is a nice gathering. Has this been planned for a while?"
Amber can only stare blankly in confusion. "Anyway, this is a nice gathering. Has this been planned for a while?"
>>160260
“No.” He breathes out. “No. But we gather here regularly. So we shall make the best of this impromptu meeting.”
“No.” He breathes out. “No. But we gather here regularly. So we shall make the best of this impromptu meeting.”
>>160262
"Heh heh. Surely it can't be. You work at a factor line in the day time, don't you?""
She exposes her teeth as she smiles to Dark Star, and holds the tiny little stub of what remains of her cigarette.
"Heh heh. Surely it can't be. You work at a factor line in the day time, don't you?""
She exposes her teeth as she smiles to Dark Star, and holds the tiny little stub of what remains of her cigarette.
>>160266
"Tarquill, from the main palace. Ershaum, from the military. Hertzell and Nedelheim. Two others I don't know the names of."
"Tarquill, from the main palace. Ershaum, from the military. Hertzell and Nedelheim. Two others I don't know the names of."
>>160268
"
>>160269
"My family has held a noble title in these lands since before the Empire. To be connected to us, is to be well connected."
>>160268
She looks at the pack, takes a cigarette, and smiles to Solar.
"Alright, I'll play with you. Why don't you tell me a few things that you can. Hehe."
She lowers her head and raises her shoulders as she smiles to him in some sort of gesture.
"Can I have a light?"
"
>>160269
"My family has held a noble title in these lands since before the Empire. To be connected to us, is to be well connected."
>>160268
She looks at the pack, takes a cigarette, and smiles to Solar.
"Alright, I'll play with you. Why don't you tell me a few things that you can. Hehe."
She lowers her head and raises her shoulders as she smiles to him in some sort of gesture.
"Can I have a light?"
>>160270
Amber nods. "Thank you for the invitation. If only this had been under more pleasant circumstances."
Amber nods. "Thank you for the invitation. If only this had been under more pleasant circumstances."
>>160271
He takes a more serious expression.
"This is a very old house. Very old indeed. I have many possessions I will be... I will very much lament the loss of. I am trying to remove them as best as I can."
He takes a more serious expression.
"This is a very old house. Very old indeed. I have many possessions I will be... I will very much lament the loss of. I am trying to remove them as best as I can."
>>160270
He lights the lighter and extends it towards her cigarette.
then he thinks for a moment
"Well, I'm not really that interesting. I'm only 19. my brother was always the more interesting pony."
He lights the lighter and extends it towards her cigarette.
then he thinks for a moment
"Well, I'm not really that interesting. I'm only 19. my brother was always the more interesting pony."
>>160274
She lights it, and takes a single draw. But it's a much more shallow draw than those before. She looks up towards Dark Star/Solar Night in silence, with a blank expression, as if uncertain.
She lights it, and takes a single draw. But it's a much more shallow draw than those before. She looks up towards Dark Star/Solar Night in silence, with a blank expression, as if uncertain.
>>160278
"Maybe not in the way you did." She says
"We didn't exactly leave Hearthswarming and Cloudsdale with any money, skills, plans, or place to live." She answers
"Maybe not in the way you did." She says
"We didn't exactly leave Hearthswarming and Cloudsdale with any money, skills, plans, or place to live." She answers
>>160279
He nods, clenching the cigarette in his teeth.
"My Brother and I Got kicked out of our house after our parents were....after they died."
He nods, clenching the cigarette in his teeth.
"My Brother and I Got kicked out of our house after our parents were....after they died."
>>160253
"They can be. Equestria is full of monsters like that in remote places. Some I have seen, some I have yet to. Like chimeras."
"They can be. Equestria is full of monsters like that in remote places. Some I have seen, some I have yet to. Like chimeras."
>>160272
Amber tries to find words to console a griffon who has much more at stake to lose, but nothing comes.
Amber tries to find words to console a griffon who has much more at stake to lose, but nothing comes.
>>160287
She opens her mouth
gasp
"You were stabbed?"
>>160285
"There's a few items I will be smuggling out of the country. Some I will keep here. Hopefully the estate itself will remain unmolested until interest dies down. And hopefully the peasants don't revolt. Again. But a few of the more sensitive items will go missing if the house is searched by police. And those I will have sent along with us."
She opens her mouth
gasp
"You were stabbed?"
>>160285
"There's a few items I will be smuggling out of the country. Some I will keep here. Hopefully the estate itself will remain unmolested until interest dies down. And hopefully the peasants don't revolt. Again. But a few of the more sensitive items will go missing if the house is searched by police. And those I will have sent along with us."
>>160288
"A Few times yea."
He motions to his left side.
"Almost killed me."
He moves his fur out of the way to revile a scar.
"A Few times yea."
He motions to his left side.
"Almost killed me."
He moves his fur out of the way to revile a scar.
>>160288
"That's the best plan. It's unfortunate to have to worry about such things at all, but ameliorating this is the best one can hope for."
"That's the best plan. It's unfortunate to have to worry about such things at all, but ameliorating this is the best one can hope for."
>>160293
"Those bastards will meet their own fates soon enough. We only need to outlast them." He says
"Those bastards will meet their own fates soon enough. We only need to outlast them." He says
>>160292
"Yea after my brother found out.... He wasn't very happy. a full grown zebra stabbing a colt..."
"Yea after my brother found out.... He wasn't very happy. a full grown zebra stabbing a colt..."
>>160298
"The triviality of it all. Their petty politics. They will not last. They cannot. They don't have the fortitude."
"The triviality of it all. Their petty politics. They will not last. They cannot. They don't have the fortitude."
>>160299
"They're all in it for themselves and will tear each other apart when there are no more easy victims," Amber agrees. "The tricky part is staying low until then."
"They're all in it for themselves and will tear each other apart when there are no more easy victims," Amber agrees. "The tricky part is staying low until then."
>>160303
"Well- Then we better be out of here. The Imperials won't be tolerated around here long. They will be gone soon. Let us hope we are out before then."
"Well- Then we better be out of here. The Imperials won't be tolerated around here long. They will be gone soon. Let us hope we are out before then."
>>160312
"Now you're sounding just like Helder. But I can't say either of you are mistaken. Obscurity is painful, but also safe."
"Now you're sounding just like Helder. But I can't say either of you are mistaken. Obscurity is painful, but also safe."
>>160315
"Yea in a perfect world there wouldn't be, but we don't live in that world."
He says taking a drag off his cig
"Sometimes commiting violence is the only way to stop even more violence."
"Yea in a perfect world there wouldn't be, but we don't live in that world."
He says taking a drag off his cig
"Sometimes commiting violence is the only way to stop even more violence."
>>160322
"I can't say that I do, unless they are musical instruments. Not that I dislike antiquities, but my world has always been that of sound."
"I can't say that I do, unless they are musical instruments. Not that I dislike antiquities, but my world has always been that of sound."
>>160323
"I would have preferred somegriffin who understood my family's peculiar appreciation for art. No matter. Just understand that there are some of us who live in a world of sight and touch. What I am trying to move are things I would rather the police, and especially the Imperials never see. It may seem distasteful to many of the naïve and the common folk. But to us, it is simply an expression of art."
"I would have preferred somegriffin who understood my family's peculiar appreciation for art. No matter. Just understand that there are some of us who live in a world of sight and touch. What I am trying to move are things I would rather the police, and especially the Imperials never see. It may seem distasteful to many of the naïve and the common folk. But to us, it is simply an expression of art."
>>160325
"If you say so. I am not one to judge. I did push for a domestic playing of The Rite of Spring despite the jeers it received at some theaters."
"If you say so. I am not one to judge. I did push for a domestic playing of The Rite of Spring despite the jeers it received at some theaters."
>>160326
He tries to withhold judgement at that admission.
"Very well. Come with me."
He starts off through the door of the room into the hallway, down another hallway, and to a simple looking wooden door, innocuously placed near the end of the hallway, just beside a door that forms a secondary interest to a larger study. Helm and Amber are not alone in this, as Mason has joined them. Helm takes a key, and unlocks the door, opening it, and going down.
He tries to withhold judgement at that admission.
"Very well. Come with me."
He starts off through the door of the room into the hallway, down another hallway, and to a simple looking wooden door, innocuously placed near the end of the hallway, just beside a door that forms a secondary interest to a larger study. Helm and Amber are not alone in this, as Mason has joined them. Helm takes a key, and unlocks the door, opening it, and going down.
>>160327
Amber follows him, wondering what he might have that would warrant being stuck in an obscure corner of his manor, rather than on display.
Amber follows him, wondering what he might have that would warrant being stuck in an obscure corner of his manor, rather than on display.
>>160329
Her eyes become wide
"Is this from.... work?" She asks, tilting her head, and flopping an ear.
"Or from nights at the bar..."
>>160328
He opens the door, revealing only blackness.
"Forgive me. Electric lighting has not been installed down here." On the inside, next to the door, he picks up a lantern. With a ighter he produces from his vest, he lights the latern, and holds it up, walking down. The stairs are stone, and it's a straightforward walk down.
"Careful."
When he walks all the way down to the bottom, he takes his lighter, and lights a lantern than he hangs on a column. In the dim and flaring light of the cellar, Amber can see that the ancient stone construct, with its leaks and cobwebs, is a fairly normal wine cellar. Impressive even, with big racks of wine that must surely have come from every corner of the Empire and beyond. Helm looks up at the two.
"Come on."
Her eyes become wide
"Is this from.... work?" She asks, tilting her head, and flopping an ear.
"Or from nights at the bar..."
>>160328
He opens the door, revealing only blackness.
"Forgive me. Electric lighting has not been installed down here." On the inside, next to the door, he picks up a lantern. With a ighter he produces from his vest, he lights the latern, and holds it up, walking down. The stairs are stone, and it's a straightforward walk down.
"Careful."
When he walks all the way down to the bottom, he takes his lighter, and lights a lantern than he hangs on a column. In the dim and flaring light of the cellar, Amber can see that the ancient stone construct, with its leaks and cobwebs, is a fairly normal wine cellar. Impressive even, with big racks of wine that must surely have come from every corner of the Empire and beyond. Helm looks up at the two.
"Come on."
>>160330
A chill goes through Amber, perhaps because of the temperature and the sensitivity of old age, perhaps because of the ambience. Glancing at the wine racks, which must have cost an exorbitant amount of money given the quantity and Helm's penchant for taste, Amber follows on.
A chill goes through Amber, perhaps because of the temperature and the sensitivity of old age, perhaps because of the ambience. Glancing at the wine racks, which must have cost an exorbitant amount of money given the quantity and Helm's penchant for taste, Amber follows on.
>>160331
“Nevermind…”
She looks to him, then away, and then back.
She takes a last, long drag of the cigarette, and discards it.
“Nevermind…”
She looks to him, then away, and then back.
She takes a last, long drag of the cigarette, and discards it.
>>160334
“I was wondering where you would encounter Changelings.”
>>160332
Helm picks up another lantern, and lights it. He starts to walk around.
“Come on. This way.”
There is an arch, leading to another section of the cellar. Within is a large set of shelves, with many strange objects on them. Headdress. Ornamental Dolls. A large cowbell. Innumerable flasks and vials. Armor. An entire walk of weapons. Otto at least, these are the things hunted at when the flickering red light of the Griffin’s lanterns reach them.
“I was wondering where you would encounter Changelings.”
>>160332
Helm picks up another lantern, and lights it. He starts to walk around.
“Come on. This way.”
There is an arch, leading to another section of the cellar. Within is a large set of shelves, with many strange objects on them. Headdress. Ornamental Dolls. A large cowbell. Innumerable flasks and vials. Armor. An entire walk of weapons. Otto at least, these are the things hunted at when the flickering red light of the Griffin’s lanterns reach them.
>>160335
What a curious assortment of odds and ends stashed away, evidently from old travels. "Are these the antiquities?"
What a curious assortment of odds and ends stashed away, evidently from old travels. "Are these the antiquities?"
>>160341
"Alright." Perhaps Amber wasn't the best choice for this, because despite this being a dream it's quite a struggle to accomplish.
"Alright." Perhaps Amber wasn't the best choice for this, because despite this being a dream it's quite a struggle to accomplish.
>>160344
Amber's dream strength stat isn't the same as her waking stat, is it? Or is an elderly sedentary griffon as strong as a young farmpony?
Amber's dream strength stat isn't the same as her waking stat, is it? Or is an elderly sedentary griffon as strong as a young farmpony?
>>160349
"Heheh" She tilts her head down, but looks her eyes up to Dark Star.
"You want to wake her to give her a waffle?" She asks
>>160348
And... the shelf is pushed out of the way. Must be a pretty smooth floor. Very convenient. Anyways,
This reveals another door made of wood and braced with iron. Helm fumbles around with a key, but then opens it.
Opening the door, the griffins enter into a rectangular room which has several strange figures of creatures. There seems to be a skeleton of a small dragon, albeit a very strange looking dragon. There is an entire shelf of very, very old books bound with leather.
What stands out the most is this jet black stone statue of a creature that most resembles a very large hound, with a slim form, muscles, claws with long, pointed nails, and bone protrusions. But this is no hound. The elongated, pointed muzzle makes the creature look more like a bat than a hound, an intuition confirmed by the presence of large, webbed wings on the back. The whole statue is made with an utter commitment to realism, with every minor blood vessel and muscle represented. The sculpture must surely have had a very detailed vision, and an equal or greater ability to extract that representation out of stone.
"Heheh" She tilts her head down, but looks her eyes up to Dark Star.
"You want to wake her to give her a waffle?" She asks
>>160348
And... the shelf is pushed out of the way. Must be a pretty smooth floor. Very convenient. Anyways,
This reveals another door made of wood and braced with iron. Helm fumbles around with a key, but then opens it.
Opening the door, the griffins enter into a rectangular room which has several strange figures of creatures. There seems to be a skeleton of a small dragon, albeit a very strange looking dragon. There is an entire shelf of very, very old books bound with leather.
What stands out the most is this jet black stone statue of a creature that most resembles a very large hound, with a slim form, muscles, claws with long, pointed nails, and bone protrusions. But this is no hound. The elongated, pointed muzzle makes the creature look more like a bat than a hound, an intuition confirmed by the presence of large, webbed wings on the back. The whole statue is made with an utter commitment to realism, with every minor blood vessel and muscle represented. The sculpture must surely have had a very detailed vision, and an equal or greater ability to extract that representation out of stone.
>>160350
The statue transfixes Amber's gaze, as this nightmarish "artwork" is illuminated only by the dim lantern light. Who can say what would motivate a sculptor to create such a thing, or any creature to possess it? It is horrid, and Amber can't help but sidle behind Helm.
The statue transfixes Amber's gaze, as this nightmarish "artwork" is illuminated only by the dim lantern light. Who can say what would motivate a sculptor to create such a thing, or any creature to possess it? It is horrid, and Amber can't help but sidle behind Helm.
>>160353
Amber can see the verticle slit eyes and the nostrils high on the hooked, bat-like nose, very carefully sculpted into the stone.
"Yes. This is the lesser of the two pieces that I really wanted to save. If necessary we can simply smash it, or hope it's never found if we toss it down the well. But I really hope to save it. Look at it. It's only maybe four hundred years old, but still an excellent work of art. Look at the craftsmanship."
>>160354
"Hehehe" She giggles
"Alright, let's go back upstairs." She says
Amber can see the verticle slit eyes and the nostrils high on the hooked, bat-like nose, very carefully sculpted into the stone.
"Yes. This is the lesser of the two pieces that I really wanted to save. If necessary we can simply smash it, or hope it's never found if we toss it down the well. But I really hope to save it. Look at it. It's only maybe four hundred years old, but still an excellent work of art. Look at the craftsmanship."
>>160354
"Hehehe" She giggles
"Alright, let's go back upstairs." She says
>>160356
"Oh, well, superstition. You see, the common griffins may associate more, well, for lack of a better term, I'll call it eccentric. They may associate more eccentric statues like these with ill happenings. And the police know better, but they are looking for scapegoats for the same ill happenings, and well, in these times I'd rather it not be found."
>>160357
They open the door to the room to see Sorrel sleeping on the bed. While the bed has been disturbed, Sorrel is in precisely the position Dark Star last saw her laying down. She makes a high pitched sound as she breathes out - an almost cute snore.
"Oh, well, superstition. You see, the common griffins may associate more, well, for lack of a better term, I'll call it eccentric. They may associate more eccentric statues like these with ill happenings. And the police know better, but they are looking for scapegoats for the same ill happenings, and well, in these times I'd rather it not be found."
>>160357
They open the door to the room to see Sorrel sleeping on the bed. While the bed has been disturbed, Sorrel is in precisely the position Dark Star last saw her laying down. She makes a high pitched sound as she breathes out - an almost cute snore.
>>160359
>>160360
"Well you've heard of the massive plague down south? All of that besides the civil war, the death of the emperor, the bandits, the occasional famine, the madness of the princess, and well... Let's be honest. If someone were so inclined, they could blame, say, the death of a next door neighbor who fell off a ladder, or of some noblegriff who fell out of a second story window and impaled himself on a fence - on some sort of spooky hex. Griffins will always find something else - someone else - to blame for their ills.
>>160359
whinnying snore
Her tail twitches. Dark Star's view is primarily of her rump, and of her hind legs, which are stretched out behind her. Her coat is lime green, and her tail is a blueberry magenta-blue.
>>160360
"Well you've heard of the massive plague down south? All of that besides the civil war, the death of the emperor, the bandits, the occasional famine, the madness of the princess, and well... Let's be honest. If someone were so inclined, they could blame, say, the death of a next door neighbor who fell off a ladder, or of some noblegriff who fell out of a second story window and impaled himself on a fence - on some sort of spooky hex. Griffins will always find something else - someone else - to blame for their ills.
>>160359
whinnying snore
Her tail twitches. Dark Star's view is primarily of her rump, and of her hind legs, which are stretched out behind her. Her coat is lime green, and her tail is a blueberry magenta-blue.
>>160361
"True, true. It would be madness to attribute that to a mere statue, but these are mad times. Pray tell, where did you happen to find this statue?"
"True, true. It would be madness to attribute that to a mere statue, but these are mad times. Pray tell, where did you happen to find this statue?"
>>160363
Her head jumps up, and she moves her forelegs so that they are together in front of her. She moves her head up, and looks around. At first she looks straight in front of her. Then she moves her head to the side, where she sees Solar Night. Her ears move forward, and a smile lights across her face.
"You came back for me!"
Her head jumps up, and she moves her forelegs so that they are together in front of her. She moves her head up, and looks around. At first she looks straight in front of her. Then she moves her head to the side, where she sees Solar Night. Her ears move forward, and a smile lights across her face.
"You came back for me!"
>>160362
"I got it from a dealer in Yale a decade ago. And that only after I got a tip from another. You can see it is museum worthy."
"I got it from a dealer in Yale a decade ago. And that only after I got a tip from another. You can see it is museum worthy."
>>160366
"Good" He nods. "You understand. It's rather heavy. It may be hard to get out, but it will be worth it."
>>160367
"You were a Sergeant?" Khoi asks, sitting up, and placing her hooves on the table
>>160368
Her pupils double in size
gasp
She breathes in
"YOU BROUGH WAFFLES!"
She moves one leg to each side of the container, sitting up and looming over the waffles.
"Good" He nods. "You understand. It's rather heavy. It may be hard to get out, but it will be worth it."
>>160367
"You were a Sergeant?" Khoi asks, sitting up, and placing her hooves on the table
>>160368
Her pupils double in size
gasp
She breathes in
"YOU BROUGH WAFFLES!"
She moves one leg to each side of the container, sitting up and looming over the waffles.
>>160369
Silver nods again.
"I helped to drill ponies in boot camp to turn them into soldiers, and I was also in several different engagements as part of platoon."
Silver nods again.
"I helped to drill ponies in boot camp to turn them into soldiers, and I was also in several different engagements as part of platoon."
>>160373
The look of pure joy on Sorrel's face is greater than that of a foal on Hearthswarming day, or of foal seeing a rainbow for the first time.
"Really?!?!?"
The look of pure joy on Sorrel's face is greater than that of a foal on Hearthswarming day, or of foal seeing a rainbow for the first time.
"Really?!?!?"
>>160372
"I actually met one of ponies I drilled in boot camp today while I was out. He was injured and sent to Cloudsdale, and when New Mareland took city he slipped away and avoided capture."
"I actually met one of ponies I drilled in boot camp today while I was out. He was injured and sent to Cloudsdale, and when New Mareland took city he slipped away and avoided capture."
>>160376
"It was like seeing old friend. I cared for each and every one of ponies I trained, even when I had to put on drill sergeant face and get severe."
"It was like seeing old friend. I cared for each and every one of ponies I trained, even when I had to put on drill sergeant face and get severe."
>>160380
"More than I can count. I was not only drill sergeant, of course, but I helped get hundreds to fighting order."
"More than I can count. I was not only drill sergeant, of course, but I helped get hundreds to fighting order."
>>160384
"Wow" She says, listening to him
"Uh..." She looks down.
"Well, I was a nurses assistant in the National Service" She says
"Wow" She says, listening to him
"Uh..." She looks down.
"Well, I was a nurses assistant in the National Service" She says
>>160385
He strokes his chin.
"I remember you said you were also in war. You did great job sewing me up after that one gnoll bit my back. How bad was war?"
He strokes his chin.
"I remember you said you were also in war. You did great job sewing me up after that one gnoll bit my back. How bad was war?"
>>160386
But what is he listening for on the radio
Tricky walks up to him.
>>160387
She gives a weak smile
"It was... Well, I could see the aftermath, and hear some of it. I saw several farmhouses and villages destroyed by the raiders. And I was there at the seige of Cua Song. The rebels had a whole set of proper artillery. They surrounded and shelled the city. I was already away from home because I was in the service, but still I had to hide in doorways during some of the shelling. It could happen late at night and disturb sleep. Sometimes I would be called up late at night. I could feel the shaking from the shelling and the artillery shells, and see shelled out buildings. There were several dive bomber planes in the attaché. These would fly at odd hours, attacking the enemy batteries.
But the biggest part of it was treating the wounded... I Saw many of them. I had to treat many of them. Clean them up, give them morphine. Apply tourniquets. Some of them had been hit with shrapnel, some with bullets, some with explosives. Some were stabbed with machettes, stakes... Some were diseased, or even had been run over by their own trucks when they parked them on hills without properly applying the handbrakes. It was... awful." She says, looking away.
>>160388
With a wide grin.
"Come this way"
With a gesture of his claw, he points to still another door at the end of the room
But what is he listening for on the radio
Tricky walks up to him.
>>160387
She gives a weak smile
"It was... Well, I could see the aftermath, and hear some of it. I saw several farmhouses and villages destroyed by the raiders. And I was there at the seige of Cua Song. The rebels had a whole set of proper artillery. They surrounded and shelled the city. I was already away from home because I was in the service, but still I had to hide in doorways during some of the shelling. It could happen late at night and disturb sleep. Sometimes I would be called up late at night. I could feel the shaking from the shelling and the artillery shells, and see shelled out buildings. There were several dive bomber planes in the attaché. These would fly at odd hours, attacking the enemy batteries.
But the biggest part of it was treating the wounded... I Saw many of them. I had to treat many of them. Clean them up, give them morphine. Apply tourniquets. Some of them had been hit with shrapnel, some with bullets, some with explosives. Some were stabbed with machettes, stakes... Some were diseased, or even had been run over by their own trucks when they parked them on hills without properly applying the handbrakes. It was... awful." She says, looking away.
>>160388
With a wide grin.
"Come this way"
With a gesture of his claw, he points to still another door at the end of the room
>>160390
Silver grabs a hold of her hooves, and presses them together for a reassuring squeeze.
"It sounds like what I experienced during war. Dodging hails of gunfire, being rocked by artllery and field gun shells, trying to patch up fallen soldiers before they die so we can get them to medical tent..."
Silver grabs a hold of her hooves, and presses them together for a reassuring squeeze.
"It sounds like what I experienced during war. Dodging hails of gunfire, being rocked by artllery and field gun shells, trying to patch up fallen soldiers before they die so we can get them to medical tent..."
>>160393
This is the fourth door Amber has had to go through to get to the item in question. After it opens, Amber understands why. Amber goes downwards in a small staircase to a room downstairs.
The room is square in shape, with stone bottom, walls, and ceiling, though the ceiling is vaulted upwards in an arch. On the far side is a raised square that seems to be something like a well, containing a hole that cannot be viewed into, at least without directed light like a flashlight, which no one here has. There are slots for torches, and a couple holes in the roof that seem to be part of some kind of ventilation system. The room as a whole is maybe 18 feet by 18 feet, rather large. In the center of the room is a raised square of stone, perhaps an entire foot higher. On top of that is a few pieces of lumber. But it's what is on top of that that demands all attention
On top of the raised platform is a statue that is just a little bit smaller than a life sized griffin Exactly what the statute is made of is hard to say. Surely, it must be a composite of more than material. At the base is a rectangle covered in what appears to be sea amber, with glyphs and writing in some language Amber cannot identity, surrounding it.
On top of the base is a statue of what appears to be a griffin - or something that approximates the appearance of a griffin - sitting on a throne. It's posture has it hunched over, with a curved, arched back, and wings that are only partly covered in feathers that are pulled up, and partly extended. The front legs are unnaturally long and very thin, extending down to the base. The beak is open, as if cawing, and the head is slightly angled, though looking forward.
There are two things that immediately stand out. One, the depiction does not seem to approximate a live griffin, but probably approximates a dead griffin, or maybe a griffin suffering from extreme hunger. The legs are bony and thin, with no muscle and almost bare bone. The paws are so devoid of flesh that only the claws show. The wings are bare in many places of feathers, appearing skeletal and almost like a bat. There is the ridge of an eye socket, but no eye. The ribs show, and the belly is so thin as to be like a greyhound. The tail is very, very long, and curls around from underneath the griffin, all the way up to the front, and halfway up towards the griffin's head in a large 3/4 circle.
But what is more is why this depiction approximates the appearance of a dying griffin. The simple truth is that it isn't a representation of a griffin at all. Rather, it is a depiction of something else assuming the appearance of a griffin - a colony of worms, or at least tentacles, all coming together to shape themselves like a griffin. There are no nostrils, no eyes, no fur, no actual bones or feathers. Rather, the sculpture expertly textures so many hundred smaller worm like creatures coming together in the shape of a hunched over griffin, sitting on a throne. One super organism from a colony of so many others, like a Portuguese Man O' War.
This is the fourth door Amber has had to go through to get to the item in question. After it opens, Amber understands why. Amber goes downwards in a small staircase to a room downstairs.
The room is square in shape, with stone bottom, walls, and ceiling, though the ceiling is vaulted upwards in an arch. On the far side is a raised square that seems to be something like a well, containing a hole that cannot be viewed into, at least without directed light like a flashlight, which no one here has. There are slots for torches, and a couple holes in the roof that seem to be part of some kind of ventilation system. The room as a whole is maybe 18 feet by 18 feet, rather large. In the center of the room is a raised square of stone, perhaps an entire foot higher. On top of that is a few pieces of lumber. But it's what is on top of that that demands all attention
On top of the raised platform is a statue that is just a little bit smaller than a life sized griffin Exactly what the statute is made of is hard to say. Surely, it must be a composite of more than material. At the base is a rectangle covered in what appears to be sea amber, with glyphs and writing in some language Amber cannot identity, surrounding it.
On top of the base is a statue of what appears to be a griffin - or something that approximates the appearance of a griffin - sitting on a throne. It's posture has it hunched over, with a curved, arched back, and wings that are only partly covered in feathers that are pulled up, and partly extended. The front legs are unnaturally long and very thin, extending down to the base. The beak is open, as if cawing, and the head is slightly angled, though looking forward.
There are two things that immediately stand out. One, the depiction does not seem to approximate a live griffin, but probably approximates a dead griffin, or maybe a griffin suffering from extreme hunger. The legs are bony and thin, with no muscle and almost bare bone. The paws are so devoid of flesh that only the claws show. The wings are bare in many places of feathers, appearing skeletal and almost like a bat. There is the ridge of an eye socket, but no eye. The ribs show, and the belly is so thin as to be like a greyhound. The tail is very, very long, and curls around from underneath the griffin, all the way up to the front, and halfway up towards the griffin's head in a large 3/4 circle.
But what is more is why this depiction approximates the appearance of a dying griffin. The simple truth is that it isn't a representation of a griffin at all. Rather, it is a depiction of something else assuming the appearance of a griffin - a colony of worms, or at least tentacles, all coming together to shape themselves like a griffin. There are no nostrils, no eyes, no fur, no actual bones or feathers. Rather, the sculpture expertly textures so many hundred smaller worm like creatures coming together in the shape of a hunched over griffin, sitting on a throne. One super organism from a colony of so many others, like a Portuguese Man O' War.
>>160397
He uses magic to have her look towards him, matching her deep red/maroon eyes with his sky blue ones.
"But we survived, you and I. We served with honor, and we came home safe and sound able to live these new lives of ours. And I can not be happier that it was you and I that survived, to be right here, in this moment. Together."
He smiles widely and warmly at his kirin date, who has seen much just like him.
He uses magic to have her look towards him, matching her deep red/maroon eyes with his sky blue ones.
"But we survived, you and I. We served with honor, and we came home safe and sound able to live these new lives of ours. And I can not be happier that it was you and I that survived, to be right here, in this moment. Together."
He smiles widely and warmly at his kirin date, who has seen much just like him.
>>160396
Ever lower….
At this point Amber is highly disturbed and does not approach the statue. In shock, though nervously keeping an eye on the wretched piece, she turns to Helm and asks, "Do you know who made these?"
Ever lower….
At this point Amber is highly disturbed and does not approach the statue. In shock, though nervously keeping an eye on the wretched piece, she turns to Helm and asks, "Do you know who made these?"
>>160402
"Right. one second."
He stands up and goes into the spare room and takes the alcohol and blanket, then returns
"Right. one second."
He stands up and goes into the spare room and takes the alcohol and blanket, then returns
>>160402
All he wanted to do was have her look into his eyes, so he lets go of her with his magic.
"You have been through much. I want you to have good life, and to provide for you to best of my ability. If you wish it to be, that is."
All he wanted to do was have her look into his eyes, so he lets go of her with his magic.
"You have been through much. I want you to have good life, and to provide for you to best of my ability. If you wish it to be, that is."
>>160403
Exactly what the statue itself is made of is hard to say. It appears white in areas, black in others. The base and the throne are covered in what seems to be amber, and some areas have an elegantly crafted black-grey metal that had not corroded. Most of the statue is white. Maybe it's Ivory, horn, bone, or even a rock like marble. Most of it is stained yellow, and covered in dark splotches of red-brown-black. It could certainly be cleaned, as it surely has the age of centuries on it. For all of that, there is no question that, like the Hound, it's creator had vision, and skill in executing that vision. Every detail of the suckers of the 'worms' is crafted, every individual 'worm' approximating a famished griffin.
"Yes. Well, no. No I don't. But I do know that it has been around for milennia. This was around before the first emperor ever sat on the throne at Griffinstone. This was around before the first Katerin Empire, before the first Rumaren Empire, older or at least concurrent with the ancient Karthinian Empire. Before even the Pony Empress. This was the culmination of the artistic tradition of griffins who lived in this land long before us, who themselves inherited concepts and traditions from older ages still. Imagine."
He looks over to Amber
"The wisdom, knowledge, and values of cultures that existed before, heh, before griffin culture. All represented in one statue, that has been passed down for generations. Look at it! It was ancient when that hound statue was made. Utterly ancient!"
>>160404
Tricky:
"You got more alcohol?"
Sorrel's head shoots up, and looks over towards Solar as he enters the room.
>>160405
She pulls her head away, not liking it. She turns away, and then back.
"Heh, yeah. Maybe." She says
Exactly what the statue itself is made of is hard to say. It appears white in areas, black in others. The base and the throne are covered in what seems to be amber, and some areas have an elegantly crafted black-grey metal that had not corroded. Most of the statue is white. Maybe it's Ivory, horn, bone, or even a rock like marble. Most of it is stained yellow, and covered in dark splotches of red-brown-black. It could certainly be cleaned, as it surely has the age of centuries on it. For all of that, there is no question that, like the Hound, it's creator had vision, and skill in executing that vision. Every detail of the suckers of the 'worms' is crafted, every individual 'worm' approximating a famished griffin.
"Yes. Well, no. No I don't. But I do know that it has been around for milennia. This was around before the first emperor ever sat on the throne at Griffinstone. This was around before the first Katerin Empire, before the first Rumaren Empire, older or at least concurrent with the ancient Karthinian Empire. Before even the Pony Empress. This was the culmination of the artistic tradition of griffins who lived in this land long before us, who themselves inherited concepts and traditions from older ages still. Imagine."
He looks over to Amber
"The wisdom, knowledge, and values of cultures that existed before, heh, before griffin culture. All represented in one statue, that has been passed down for generations. Look at it! It was ancient when that hound statue was made. Utterly ancient!"
>>160404
Tricky:
"You got more alcohol?"
Sorrel's head shoots up, and looks over towards Solar as he enters the room.
>>160405
She pulls her head away, not liking it. She turns away, and then back.
"Heh, yeah. Maybe." She says
>>160406
"Don't…don't you think it looks barbaric? Evil even, like King Sombra? What wisdom do you get from that?"
"Don't…don't you think it looks barbaric? Evil even, like King Sombra? What wisdom do you get from that?"
>>160407
If Dark Star was hoping that the blanket would serve as a distraction, he is sorely mistaken. Sorrel shoots up, jumps off the bed, and rushes over towards him. He is lucky not to be knocked over by the mare, and she stops just in front of Solar, the end of her syrup-covered snout almost touching the whiskey bottle.
>>160408
"Eh heh... Why don't you uh, you ask me something?" She says, frozen.
>>160409
"Barbaric? Evil? No. Don't be absurd. Yes, it is surely a depiction of something the ancients feared. A sound at night, perhaps a predator, or something. But it is a depiction as valid as any other. Think of plays or operas that depict something terrible. It is the same here with art."
He looks away
"Tis' a shame is has to be hidden away from modern griffins. No matter. I found a new owner for it in New Manehattan, if only I can get it there."
If Dark Star was hoping that the blanket would serve as a distraction, he is sorely mistaken. Sorrel shoots up, jumps off the bed, and rushes over towards him. He is lucky not to be knocked over by the mare, and she stops just in front of Solar, the end of her syrup-covered snout almost touching the whiskey bottle.
>>160408
"Eh heh... Why don't you uh, you ask me something?" She says, frozen.
>>160409
"Barbaric? Evil? No. Don't be absurd. Yes, it is surely a depiction of something the ancients feared. A sound at night, perhaps a predator, or something. But it is a depiction as valid as any other. Think of plays or operas that depict something terrible. It is the same here with art."
He looks away
"Tis' a shame is has to be hidden away from modern griffins. No matter. I found a new owner for it in New Manehattan, if only I can get it there."
>>160410
"That does not resemble any predator in the world I know of, not even timberwolves. And if it was something they feared, why is it depicted on a throne?" Amber protests.
"That does not resemble any predator in the world I know of, not even timberwolves. And if it was something they feared, why is it depicted on a throne?" Amber protests.
>>160412
"Well, it's one of their gods, of course. Sitting on a throne like an earthy king. Even without knowing what I know, I can tell you that as it is a decaying griffin made of worms, or what surely must be maggots, it is a god of death. They see death around them and see its power. So they deify it as a god. And in doing so they both place it beyond good and evil, so they may see it as something natural and thus to be accepted, but also as a ruler they can bribe and negotiate with, to give them a kind of power over it."
>>160411
"Well yes. We have water buffalo, and pigs, ducks, geese..." She contemplates the answer.
"Well, it's one of their gods, of course. Sitting on a throne like an earthy king. Even without knowing what I know, I can tell you that as it is a decaying griffin made of worms, or what surely must be maggots, it is a god of death. They see death around them and see its power. So they deify it as a god. And in doing so they both place it beyond good and evil, so they may see it as something natural and thus to be accepted, but also as a ruler they can bribe and negotiate with, to give them a kind of power over it."
>>160411
"Well yes. We have water buffalo, and pigs, ducks, geese..." She contemplates the answer.
>>160413
"Well, we have buffalo, pigs, ducks, and geese, though maybe not exact same kinds of those. What about creatures like timberwolves, manticores, or chimerae?"
"Well, we have buffalo, pigs, ducks, and geese, though maybe not exact same kinds of those. What about creatures like timberwolves, manticores, or chimerae?"
>>160415
The most disturbing aspect of the statue, however, has yet to be explained. It isn't even noticeable until Amber approaches it.
The statue has an unpleasant aura. Coming close to it, the air itself around it is uncomfortable. For a mundane explanation, there is an electric charge in or around or (most likely) in the base underneath the statue, that can be felt from inches away. All the same, it makes the idea of touching the statue absolutely repulsive.
>>160414
"Well... I have never fought a monster, no. I've heard of them, like the Hồ ly tinh, but I don't think I've seen one before."
The most disturbing aspect of the statue, however, has yet to be explained. It isn't even noticeable until Amber approaches it.
The statue has an unpleasant aura. Coming close to it, the air itself around it is uncomfortable. For a mundane explanation, there is an electric charge in or around or (most likely) in the base underneath the statue, that can be felt from inches away. All the same, it makes the idea of touching the statue absolutely repulsive.
>>160414
"Well... I have never fought a monster, no. I've heard of them, like the Hồ ly tinh, but I don't think I've seen one before."
>>160417
"In another culture they are called Kumiho. They are shapeshifters. They change to look like beautiful mares. The legends say they prey on stallions. They will lure you, capture you, take you away and eat you slowly. I never saw one... until I came to Equestria."
She has a look of evident disgust.
>>160418
He waves it off
"Oh don't worry. There are wooden planks underneath it to help move it. Then we will seal it in a wooden crate for the long journey by train and ship."
"In another culture they are called Kumiho. They are shapeshifters. They change to look like beautiful mares. The legends say they prey on stallions. They will lure you, capture you, take you away and eat you slowly. I never saw one... until I came to Equestria."
She has a look of evident disgust.
>>160418
He waves it off
"Oh don't worry. There are wooden planks underneath it to help move it. Then we will seal it in a wooden crate for the long journey by train and ship."
>>160410
"You have something right here."
He motions around the entirety of his muzzle. showing her where the mess is.
"You have something right here."
He motions around the entirety of his muzzle. showing her where the mess is.
>>160422
"Huh?"
She tries to look down at her own snout.
She tries to reach her tongue out to lick it off.
"Huh?"
She tries to look down at her own snout.
She tries to reach her tongue out to lick it off.
>>160421
"Yes, they are...something. I am not so sure they are wholy, inheritantly evil. I once met two young Changeling drones we rescued. They were very startlingly like pony colts. Save that they require feeding off of one's soul to survive rather than food."
"Yes, they are...something. I am not so sure they are wholy, inheritantly evil. I once met two young Changeling drones we rescued. They were very startlingly like pony colts. Save that they require feeding off of one's soul to survive rather than food."
>>160426
"Maybe...but it seemed that they had just as much capacity for goodness and kindness as you or I. It makes me wonder...how did changelings come into existence?"
"Maybe...but it seemed that they had just as much capacity for goodness and kindness as you or I. It makes me wonder...how did changelings come into existence?"
>>160436
"What if they, in ancient times, were once tribe of ponies, but some form of evil, primordial magic corrupted them into form we know of today?"
"What if they, in ancient times, were once tribe of ponies, but some form of evil, primordial magic corrupted them into form we know of today?"
>>160438
"I honestly do not know if it could have happened, but magic is something we still do not understand everything about. It is possible, maybe."
"I honestly do not know if it could have happened, but magic is something we still do not understand everything about. It is possible, maybe."
>>160439
She pauses for a moment.
"Magic comes from the spiritual essence of the world, and from the same essence come those things that live in it, like changelings. Of course the changelings have less of the spiritual in them, and more of the material. That is why they are as they are."
She pauses for a moment.
"Magic comes from the spiritual essence of the world, and from the same essence come those things that live in it, like changelings. Of course the changelings have less of the spiritual in them, and more of the material. That is why they are as they are."
>>160440
Silver tilts his head at the Kirin.
"I always heard it was Friendship, Harmony, and emotion that powered magic. Or, at least powered pony magic."
Silver tilts his head at the Kirin.
"I always heard it was Friendship, Harmony, and emotion that powered magic. Or, at least powered pony magic."
>>160419
"That would take too long, I'm not comfortable being in the same room as this thing. I've never felt this way about anything I've encountered."
"That would take too long, I'm not comfortable being in the same room as this thing. I've never felt this way about anything I've encountered."
>>160441
She closes her eyes for a moment as she speaks
"No. Magic flows from the spirit itself. Well... maybe it flows through harmony, but it is a part of that which is beneath all." She says
She closes her eyes for a moment as she speaks
"No. Magic flows from the spirit itself. Well... maybe it flows through harmony, but it is a part of that which is beneath all." She says
>>160454
"I am almost jealous. Northern Orthodox teachings were more about history of our people and culture than about things like magic. What else did they teach you?"
"I am almost jealous. Northern Orthodox teachings were more about history of our people and culture than about things like magic. What else did they teach you?"
>>160456
"I remember some of what you said about 'role of mare'. You seem like you would make for perfect wife."
"I remember some of what you said about 'role of mare'. You seem like you would make for perfect wife."
>>160458
Silver thinks to himself that Khoi is just too cute to be this single.
"I have already mentioned your goddess-like beauty, intellect, and moral character, but they absolutely deserve repeating. You have also excelled at all of what we would call wifely duties save for sexual intercourse, and that is just because you are waiting for marriage as you were taught by your parents and culture. You are kind and sweet, but you also have greater depths to your emotions and character than many ponies I know. I can see no situation in which in Ngua Nam you would not be seen as perfect catch for any lucky "ngựa giống".
Silver thinks to himself that Khoi is just too cute to be this single.
"I have already mentioned your goddess-like beauty, intellect, and moral character, but they absolutely deserve repeating. You have also excelled at all of what we would call wifely duties save for sexual intercourse, and that is just because you are waiting for marriage as you were taught by your parents and culture. You are kind and sweet, but you also have greater depths to your emotions and character than many ponies I know. I can see no situation in which in Ngua Nam you would not be seen as perfect catch for any lucky "ngựa giống".
File (): 01963785A580F465CFCB1D8FE87068AC-447222.png (436.7 KB, 1600x1419, 151131.png)
>>160460
D'awwwww. If there wasn't a table between them, Silver would cuddle the kirin mare right there in the middle of the restaurant, damn what everyone watching thinks.
"All in all, I am very lucky stallion to be here tonight with mare like you, and I want to do my best and give my all to make sure you have wonderful time with me."
D'awwwww. If there wasn't a table between them, Silver would cuddle the kirin mare right there in the middle of the restaurant, damn what everyone watching thinks.
"All in all, I am very lucky stallion to be here tonight with mare like you, and I want to do my best and give my all to make sure you have wonderful time with me."
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