Continuing
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
File (): 46CAD0D5E8A89E5C8DDC35587B61A5D2-1058653.png (1.0 MB, 1280x914, DE0B4429-1DD8-4626-8D4B-45DBB2AC6CF9.png)
>>165003
"Found stairs to next floor. We will not have to backtrack so far to advance further."
Silver notes the location of the stairs, of moves onto the next door.
"Found stairs to next floor. We will not have to backtrack so far to advance further."
Silver notes the location of the stairs, of moves onto the next door.
>>165005
Um…. Let me see where we are. I think Spark was going to the village.
>>165006
This located at the bed if the hall. There is a small hall beyond the stairs case that is symmetrical with the small hall near the entrance, though this one too has offices and…
Spectral Streak:
“Found bathrooms. No activity here.”
Um…. Let me see where we are. I think Spark was going to the village.
>>165006
This located at the bed if the hall. There is a small hall beyond the stairs case that is symmetrical with the small hall near the entrance, though this one too has offices and…
Spectral Streak:
“Found bathrooms. No activity here.”
>>165007
"Found more offices. How many offices does one television company need?"
Silver continues down this hall to check the offices it connects.
"Found more offices. How many offices does one television company need?"
Silver continues down this hall to check the offices it connects.
>>165018
Silver checks these rooms for any potential devices or hostages. In particular he focuses on the conference room.
Silver checks these rooms for any potential devices or hostages. In particular he focuses on the conference room.
>>165019
Silver sees no living creatures, and while he doesn't exactly know what any "device" looks like, nothing stands out as suspicious. Some folders of papers, a t-square and compass, and a wooden table that is clear underneath. The lights are, however, on in both offices.
Silver sees no living creatures, and while he doesn't exactly know what any "device" looks like, nothing stands out as suspicious. Some folders of papers, a t-square and compass, and a wooden table that is clear underneath. The lights are, however, on in both offices.
>>165024
"Hmm..."
With this floor (mostly) cleared, Silver gets his rifle ready and begins to climb the nearby staircase to the next floor.
"Hmm..."
With this floor (mostly) cleared, Silver gets his rifle ready and begins to climb the nearby staircase to the next floor.
>>165025
Wooden staircase, smaller than the central stairwell and evidently only going up a single level. The walls are white, with a similar maroon colored carpet as in the exterior hallway. The stairs double back with a small landing midway. The one light is on.
The simple wooden door at the top of the stairs is closed.
Wooden staircase, smaller than the central stairwell and evidently only going up a single level. The walls are white, with a similar maroon colored carpet as in the exterior hallway. The stairs double back with a small landing midway. The one light is on.
The simple wooden door at the top of the stairs is closed.
>>165046
Silver puts his ear to the door before doing anything else, trying to listen for anything that might be on the other side.
Silver puts his ear to the door before doing anything else, trying to listen for anything that might be on the other side.
>>165047
It’s louder up here than below, with the sounds of what must be distant voices, or else, radios playing.
Spectral Streak comes up next to Silver
It’s louder up here than below, with the sounds of what must be distant voices, or else, radios playing.
Spectral Streak comes up next to Silver
>>165048
Silver whispers to Spec.
"Distant voices, or radio. Get ready, I am going to open door slowly."
Silver whispers to Spec.
"Distant voices, or radio. Get ready, I am going to open door slowly."
>>165053
Well, how far does Silver open the door?
Silver can tell that the lock on the door has been damaged and is no longer functioning
Well, how far does Silver open the door?
Silver can tell that the lock on the door has been damaged and is no longer functioning
>>165054
At first only a little, so he can see if there are any traps rigged up to the door and set up to trigger if it opens far enough.
At first only a little, so he can see if there are any traps rigged up to the door and set up to trigger if it opens far enough.
>>165055
With the door only cracked open slightly, Silver can see no traps set. The lock is physically broken, but otherwise nothing seems odd.
With the door only cracked open slightly, Silver can see no traps set. The lock is physically broken, but otherwise nothing seems odd.
>>165057
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 10]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 3]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 19]
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 10]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 3]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 19]
>>165061
Silver, at a lower position down the stairs and out of the line of fire, holds a hoof over the now bleeding wound on his neck.
"Черт, это больно...you okay, Spec?"
Silver, at a lower position down the stairs and out of the line of fire, holds a hoof over the now bleeding wound on his neck.
"Черт, это больно...you okay, Spec?"
>>165065
At first, nothing. Then Ching Ching. Two shots are fired at the door, presumably semi-auto from the same weapon as before.
At first, nothing. Then Ching Ching. Two shots are fired at the door, presumably semi-auto from the same weapon as before.
>>165066
Silver pulls the gas mask back. He gets an idea and looks at where the bullets have hit the wall behind him compared with the holes in the door.
Silver pulls the gas mask back. He gets an idea and looks at where the bullets have hit the wall behind him compared with the holes in the door.
>>165067
It's a little hard to tell, as the door was cracked open when it was shot, and the force of the bullets hitting the door has opened it further. Silver can however see that with the exception of four small holes on the far left, presumably from Spectral Streak, the holes are concentrated on the right side of the door near the door handle and where the door opens. A trio of holes have met together, which creates one hole that is large enough to look through.
Looking at the wall behind him, Silver can see that the holes and damage on the wall are concentrated on the far right side (to the right of the door when Silver faces the door. When Silver turns around to look behind him, it is on his left).
It's a little hard to tell, as the door was cracked open when it was shot, and the force of the bullets hitting the door has opened it further. Silver can however see that with the exception of four small holes on the far left, presumably from Spectral Streak, the holes are concentrated on the right side of the door near the door handle and where the door opens. A trio of holes have met together, which creates one hole that is large enough to look through.
Looking at the wall behind him, Silver can see that the holes and damage on the wall are concentrated on the far right side (to the right of the door when Silver faces the door. When Silver turns around to look behind him, it is on his left).
[1d20+10 = (4+10) = 14]
[1d20+10 = (8+10) = 18]
>>165068
Grabbing his Jenny, he steps to the right side of the door while trying to stay out of sight, and double taps the trigger.
[1d20+10 = (8+10) = 18]
>>165068
Grabbing his Jenny, he steps to the right side of the door while trying to stay out of sight, and double taps the trigger.
>>165069
Result unknown, except,
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 14]
[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 18]
Result unknown, except,
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 14]
[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 18]
>>165073
Silver ducks halfway through the reign of bullets, which is very much a good thing, because as Silver falls. a bullet tears into Silver’s flak jacket at an angle and is stopped, which would have penetrated had it hit squarely.
Silver falls to the ground, and Spectral Streak fires more shots
Bang Bang
Silver ducks halfway through the reign of bullets, which is very much a good thing, because as Silver falls. a bullet tears into Silver’s flak jacket at an angle and is stopped, which would have penetrated had it hit squarely.
Silver falls to the ground, and Spectral Streak fires more shots
Bang Bang
[1d20+10 = (11+10) = 21]
[1d20+10 = (11+10) = 21]
>>165074
Silver barely gets up from his position, just to squeeze off a couple more rounds.
[1d20+10 = (11+10) = 21]
>>165074
Silver barely gets up from his position, just to squeeze off a couple more rounds.
>>165075
Four more shots return, evidently in a single, automatic burst.
[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 18]
Four more shots return, evidently in a single, automatic burst.
[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 18]
>>165078
Silver hears more automatic fire:
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 19]
Silver hears more automatic fire:
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 19]
>>165081
Silver makes two shots, and then there is a sound of Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla. What is different is that these shots veer much further off to the right.
Silver makes two shots, and then there is a sound of Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla. What is different is that these shots veer much further off to the right.
[1d20+10 = (7+10) = 17]
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
>>165082
Following the sound of these new shots, Silver adjusts his aim, and double taps again.
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
>>165082
Following the sound of these new shots, Silver adjusts his aim, and double taps again.
[1d20+10 = (9+10) = 19]
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
>>165084
Just in case it's a trick, Silver fires again.
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
>>165084
Just in case it's a trick, Silver fires again.
>>165086 →
From the top, Amber can look outside, glancing through the slats on the small window at the top. Amber can see, far over to her left and to the left of the building, the police are paying special attention to a sheet metal shed. They must have found something there.
From the top, Amber can look outside, glancing through the slats on the small window at the top. Amber can see, far over to her left and to the left of the building, the police are paying special attention to a sheet metal shed. They must have found something there.
>>165085
Nothing for a few seconds. Then a metalic sound, and...
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 11]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 6]
[12d0 = 0]
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 20]
Nothing for a few seconds. Then a metalic sound, and...
Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla Cla
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 11]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 6]
[12d0 = 0]
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 20]
>>165385
Silver moves back down the stairs, and towards Spectral Streak and the Salmon Stallion.
"Did he get you?" Spectral Streak asks, looking over. He looks back at the door for a moment. "This isn't really working."
Silver moves back down the stairs, and towards Spectral Streak and the Salmon Stallion.
"Did he get you?" Spectral Streak asks, looking over. He looks back at the door for a moment. "This isn't really working."
>>165381
Amber continues looking at the shed, wondering if any of her compatriots would be so foolish as to hide in so conspicuous and so small a place.
Amber continues looking at the shed, wondering if any of her compatriots would be so foolish as to hide in so conspicuous and so small a place.
>>165390
Amber can see them start to roll something out. It's the car, recognizable not only for its color and model, but for the clear dents along the front, being pushed out covered in straw out of the shed by two officers.
Amber can see them start to roll something out. It's the car, recognizable not only for its color and model, but for the clear dents along the front, being pushed out covered in straw out of the shed by two officers.
>>165430
Spectral Streak remains down the staircase along with Silver. Silver hears a Cla Cla, with two more shots hitting the door, and spraying splinters
Spectral Streak remains down the staircase along with Silver. Silver hears a Cla Cla, with two more shots hitting the door, and spraying splinters
>>165447
Silver whispers to Spec, as to not be overheard.
"Keep them busy here, I'm going to see if I can flank them from main stairwell."
Silver whispers to Spec, as to not be overheard.
"Keep them busy here, I'm going to see if I can flank them from main stairwell."
>>165449
He nods
"Oh I can do that." He looks over towards the Salmon stallion. "You want to take Pinkie here, or should I?"
He nods
"Oh I can do that." He looks over towards the Salmon stallion. "You want to take Pinkie here, or should I?"
>>165453
"He might be safer here. But are you sure you won't need... help? Or someone to cover your rear?"
"He might be safer here. But are you sure you won't need... help? Or someone to cover your rear?"
>>165458
Silver walks through the hallway, through the reception area, and down the main hallway. Silver walks past the drone from earlier, which perhaps disturbingly, lies down over a yard from where he last left it. Silver makes it to the staircase. The halls are illuminated by lights, and are mostly quiet.
Silver walks through the hallway, through the reception area, and down the main hallway. Silver walks past the drone from earlier, which perhaps disturbingly, lies down over a yard from where he last left it. Silver makes it to the staircase. The halls are illuminated by lights, and are mostly quiet.
>>165462
Silver will notice that this stairway goes up two more floors. The previous engagement was against enemies on the floor above them
Silver will notice that this stairway goes up two more floors. The previous engagement was against enemies on the floor above them
>>165492
Silver goes upstairs, to the wooden door that is half open, and past the railings that are chipped by bullets. And then
BANG
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
Silver goes upstairs, to the wooden door that is half open, and past the railings that are chipped by bullets. And then
BANG
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
[1d20+10 = (12+10) = 22]
[1d20+10 = (9+10) = 19]
>>165494
Silver gasps as the air is knocked out of his lungs. He turns towards his attacker and double taps his Jenny.
[1d20+10 = (9+10) = 19]
>>165494
Silver gasps as the air is knocked out of his lungs. He turns towards his attacker and double taps his Jenny.
>>165496
Hit, and hit. Silver can see that it is a “pony” with a civilian model of shotgun, just inside of a hallway
Hit, and hit. Silver can see that it is a “pony” with a civilian model of shotgun, just inside of a hallway
>>165498
"Gack!" The creature almost hacks, wincing in pain after being pieced not once but twice. He manages to, with a glowing green light, rack the slide "clack clack." He fires
BANG
[1d20 = 18]
"Gack!" The creature almost hacks, wincing in pain after being pieced not once but twice. He manages to, with a glowing green light, rack the slide "clack clack." He fires
BANG
[1d20 = 18]
>>165503
The creature is consumed in green fire before even the second bullet hits. It falls over towards its left, and away from the wall. Silver can see that it is a black drone with a brown jacket. There is red blood splattered across the wall, but blue blood seeping out of the creature itself.
The creature is consumed in green fire before even the second bullet hits. It falls over towards its left, and away from the wall. Silver can see that it is a black drone with a brown jacket. There is red blood splattered across the wall, but blue blood seeping out of the creature itself.
>>165504
Red blood? They must have encountered somepony before them...
Silver looks down at himself, blood seeping through the holes in his flak jacket. With every battle he feels more and more like a block of aged, holey cheese. He pushes on, grabbing the drone's shotgun and any shells he has on him.
Red blood? They must have encountered somepony before them...
Silver looks down at himself, blood seeping through the holes in his flak jacket. With every battle he feels more and more like a block of aged, holey cheese. He pushes on, grabbing the drone's shotgun and any shells he has on him.
>>165505
The shotgun (presumably) has 3 rounds inside of the tube and chamber, and a capacity of 5. The drone has another 5 shells. The shots seem to be birdshot. The hallway goes both left and right, with the drone on the left side. Near the door, a drone sits, leaning against the wall.
The shotgun (presumably) has 3 rounds inside of the tube and chamber, and a capacity of 5. The drone has another 5 shells. The shots seem to be birdshot. The hallway goes both left and right, with the drone on the left side. Near the door, a drone sits, leaning against the wall.
>>165604
Amber looks around at the now darkening trees and bushes, and the long shadows left by the home and barn. Silver sees that now, even the homeowner has gone to the shed, and there is nogriff looking
Amber looks around at the now darkening trees and bushes, and the long shadows left by the home and barn. Silver sees that now, even the homeowner has gone to the shed, and there is nogriff looking
>>165607
The house is unlocked. Amber goes through the side door, and past the room used for operations. There are several other rooms in the house to hide in, naturally, and windows that she may need to duck below
The house is unlocked. Amber goes through the side door, and past the room used for operations. There are several other rooms in the house to hide in, naturally, and windows that she may need to duck below
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
>>165605
It'll have to be good enough...
Silver reinserts the magazine, switches his Jenny to full auto, aims at the remaining changeling and empties the mag.
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
>>165605
It'll have to be good enough...
Silver reinserts the magazine, switches his Jenny to full auto, aims at the remaining changeling and empties the mag.
>>165609
Technically there would have been three in the magazine, as one was in the chamber when Silver removed the magazine.
The changeling that is already dead? I guess he can shoot at that one
Technically there would have been three in the magazine, as one was in the chamber when Silver removed the magazine.
The changeling that is already dead? I guess he can shoot at that one
>>165608
It occurs to Amber that searching the house would take much more time than it would for the police to do so themselves, so she worriedly asks, "Helder? Erich? They know we're here, we need to figure out how to get out."
It occurs to Amber that searching the house would take much more time than it would for the police to do so themselves, so she worriedly asks, "Helder? Erich? They know we're here, we need to figure out how to get out."
>>165616
Nothing but Silence.
Until
"Shhh!"
Looking behind her, a cabinet creaks open. Amber can tell that it is Federkleid
Nothing but Silence.
Until
"Shhh!"
Looking behind her, a cabinet creaks open. Amber can tell that it is Federkleid
>>165617
Amber is a bit jittery, her face wearing an expression between relief and panic. "Federkleid, they found the car. They know for sure we're here."
Amber is a bit jittery, her face wearing an expression between relief and panic. "Federkleid, they found the car. They know for sure we're here."
>>165620
"I'm not surprised." She says, though she sounds slightly irritated.
"What are you doing out in the open?"
Amber has encountered her in a large cabinet in what appears to be a spare bedroom upstairs.
"I'm not surprised." She says, though she sounds slightly irritated.
"What are you doing out in the open?"
Amber has encountered her in a large cabinet in what appears to be a spare bedroom upstairs.
>>165621
"I hid in the barn, they searched it but didn't find me. I don't think it can hide all of us. I just had to warn you, maybe we should run before they look through the house. They would definitely search the cabinets."
"I hid in the barn, they searched it but didn't find me. I don't think it can hide all of us. I just had to warn you, maybe we should run before they look through the house. They would definitely search the cabinets."
>>165622
She pauses for a moment to consider what Amber has said.
"If they aren't looking then let's go. We can't hide and I don't think we can fight them again."
>>165623
No. Silver killed a drone that was in the hallway that had a shotgun. After entering the hallway, Silver found a second drone that was already dead, sitting up against the wall.
She pauses for a moment to consider what Amber has said.
"If they aren't looking then let's go. We can't hide and I don't think we can fight them again."
>>165623
No. Silver killed a drone that was in the hallway that had a shotgun. After entering the hallway, Silver found a second drone that was already dead, sitting up against the wall.
>>165624
Now that is interesting. How did this one die, he wonders to himself.
Going left or right, which direction heads towards where he left Spec and the salmon stallion?
Now that is interesting. How did this one die, he wonders to himself.
Going left or right, which direction heads towards where he left Spec and the salmon stallion?
>>165625
"Yes. Erich! Get out!." Looking elsewhere in the room, a door opens, and Amber can see Helder with part of a sweater covering his face. Erich pulls out from under a bed.
Federkleid:
"You thought they wouldn't look under a bed"
Erich replies
"It's perfect. I could have jumped them if they found you, and you could have jumped them if they found me. They'd never think to watch their own backs once they found someone."
Federklied:
"Yeah right. They'd get all of us at once."
Helder:
"Shut up and let's leave."
Soon, the four are assembled together in the bedroom
>>165626
Left, it seems
"Yes. Erich! Get out!." Looking elsewhere in the room, a door opens, and Amber can see Helder with part of a sweater covering his face. Erich pulls out from under a bed.
Federkleid:
"You thought they wouldn't look under a bed"
Erich replies
"It's perfect. I could have jumped them if they found you, and you could have jumped them if they found me. They'd never think to watch their own backs once they found someone."
Federklied:
"Yeah right. They'd get all of us at once."
Helder:
"Shut up and let's leave."
Soon, the four are assembled together in the bedroom
>>165626
Left, it seems
>>165627
Amber leads the four downstairs and looks out the front entrance,
opposite where the car (and the officers) are.
Amber leads the four downstairs and looks out the front entrance,
opposite where the car (and the officers) are.
>>165628
Amber sees no movement, though naturally, it is the outside and they would be visible, though there is much vegetation, especially to the left.
Amber sees no movement, though naturally, it is the outside and they would be visible, though there is much vegetation, especially to the left.
>>165628
Amber tells the rest, "Stay low and close to the bushes, but don't rustle them." She crouches low on all fours, just about crawling, and proceeds to the left, trying to stay behind the vegetation.
Amber tells the rest, "Stay low and close to the bushes, but don't rustle them." She crouches low on all fours, just about crawling, and proceeds to the left, trying to stay behind the vegetation.
>>165631
Well, the hallway is open, taking a bend that turns right, and presumably straight.
>>165630
Amber does have to pass through the open between the rear door of the house and the wooded area that has not been clear. To the side of this is barbed-wire fenced in field. From the sounds further away, it does sound like the police are spreading out, resuming their search.
Federkleid:
"If they found the car, they must know we are in the area."
Well, the hallway is open, taking a bend that turns right, and presumably straight.
>>165630
Amber does have to pass through the open between the rear door of the house and the wooded area that has not been clear. To the side of this is barbed-wire fenced in field. From the sounds further away, it does sound like the police are spreading out, resuming their search.
Federkleid:
"If they found the car, they must know we are in the area."
>>165632
"I said that," Amber whispers annoyedly as she creeps along, hoping the sunset shadows will help conceal them. How long is this open stretch until they reach denser vegetation?
"I said that," Amber whispers annoyedly as she creeps along, hoping the sunset shadows will help conceal them. How long is this open stretch until they reach denser vegetation?
>>165633
Looking down the hallway, Silver can see two drones. They are indeed drones, with no disguise, though they wear civilian equestrian jackets. One is against the wall, and seems to be looking Silver's direction, holding a Changeling style submachine gun from the last war, and the other is looking to his right, holding a Changeling-style assault rifle, and clearly limping.
>>165634
Maybe 50 feet. Not very far, considering the house can act as cover. However, as the vegetation consists of a few bushes and oak trees, it may be possible to be spotted in it unless they advance far and deep.
Looking down the hallway, Silver can see two drones. They are indeed drones, with no disguise, though they wear civilian equestrian jackets. One is against the wall, and seems to be looking Silver's direction, holding a Changeling style submachine gun from the last war, and the other is looking to his right, holding a Changeling-style assault rifle, and clearly limping.
>>165634
Maybe 50 feet. Not very far, considering the house can act as cover. However, as the vegetation consists of a few bushes and oak trees, it may be possible to be spotted in it unless they advance far and deep.
>>165635
Silver quickly pulls back and sneaks back to where the dead changelings lie. He checks the weapon the already-dead changeling had to see what kind it is and what ammo he has for it.
Silver quickly pulls back and sneaks back to where the dead changelings lie. He checks the weapon the already-dead changeling had to see what kind it is and what ammo he has for it.
>>165635
It's the best chance they have. Unless….
Amber tells them, "Keep low until you get to the dense brush all the way over there. I have an idea."
Amber splits off, and also staying low, returns to the house.
It's the best chance they have. Unless….
Amber tells them, "Keep low until you get to the dense brush all the way over there. I have an idea."
Amber splits off, and also staying low, returns to the house.
>>165642
Amber sees that far off to the right, there are a pair of officers who are walking the open field. They are not looking in the direction towards the barn. But they could.
Amber sees that far off to the right, there are a pair of officers who are walking the open field. They are not looking in the direction towards the barn. But they could.
>>165644
That one was neither tied up nor went missing... but okay
Something like 15 rounds remain in the 30-round magazine.
That one was neither tied up nor went missing... but okay
Something like 15 rounds remain in the 30-round magazine.
>>165645
Silver decides that, with the Jenny being so low on ammo, he should switch over to using this one. He once again sneaks up to the right-hoof corner and peaks around to see if the changelings are still in the same positions.
Silver decides that, with the Jenny being so low on ammo, he should switch over to using this one. He once again sneaks up to the right-hoof corner and peaks around to see if the changelings are still in the same positions.
>>165646
Roll die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNUs82nkMZk
>>165647
Yes. more or less. Silver will quickly be noticed by the submachine gun carrying drone, however
Roll die
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNUs82nkMZk
>>165647
Yes. more or less. Silver will quickly be noticed by the submachine gun carrying drone, however
>>165649
Amber moves into the barn, probably unnoticed. Probably. Unless she wants to stop moving long enough to find out
Amber moves into the barn, probably unnoticed. Probably. Unless she wants to stop moving long enough to find out
[1d20+4 = (13+4) = 17]
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8]
>>165648
Silver takes the carbine, sets it to full-auto if it isn't already, and fires around the corner towards the submachine gun-carrying changeling.
(1/2)
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8]
>>165648
Silver takes the carbine, sets it to full-auto if it isn't already, and fires around the corner towards the submachine gun-carrying changeling.
(1/2)
>>165652
She does not. She goes into a stall with animals and explains, "I am deeply grateful for you helping me hide when they searched, but I came back here because my friends are trying to escape and they need a distraction. In thirty seconds, could you please make a commotion? There won't be any danger, I won't be here."
She does not. She goes into a stall with animals and explains, "I am deeply grateful for you helping me hide when they searched, but I came back here because my friends are trying to escape and they need a distraction. In thirty seconds, could you please make a commotion? There won't be any danger, I won't be here."
>>165659
Silver is able to move before the drone holding the assault rifle is able to completely turn around
Silver is able to move before the drone holding the assault rifle is able to completely turn around
[1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15]
[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13]
[1d20+4 = (15+4) = 19]
>>165661
Silver pops out from behind the corner and against fires a burst into the remaining changeling.
(1/2)
[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13]
[1d20+4 = (15+4) = 19]
>>165661
Silver pops out from behind the corner and against fires a burst into the remaining changeling.
(1/2)
>>165664
Amber clasps her claws gratefully and says, "Thank you." She goes out the barn and heads back to the house.
Amber clasps her claws gratefully and says, "Thank you." She goes out the barn and heads back to the house.
>>165667
Silver checks the assault rifle the changeling was carrying to see if its ammo and magazines are the same as in his carbine.
Silver checks the assault rifle the changeling was carrying to see if its ammo and magazines are the same as in his carbine.
>>165672
It's not looking great for Amber, but at least it's much better for her friends. She thinks about following her friends immediately, but it's too risky now. She goes to the operating room and looks for a place to hide.
It's not looking great for Amber, but at least it's much better for her friends. She thinks about following her friends immediately, but it's too risky now. She goes to the operating room and looks for a place to hide.
>>165673
Amber can hear sounds from beyond.
On the plus side, the police have definitely not found her friends. On the negative... they might have found her.
The operating room has cabinets, tables, gowns and sheets.
Amber can hear sounds from beyond.
On the plus side, the police have definitely not found her friends. On the negative... they might have found her.
The operating room has cabinets, tables, gowns and sheets.
>>165674
Amber quickly clumps up gowns on the operating table and puts a sheet over it so it vaguely resembles the shape of a griffon. She looks for a scalpel.
Amber quickly clumps up gowns on the operating table and puts a sheet over it so it vaguely resembles the shape of a griffon. She looks for a scalpel.
>>165675
Opening a cabinet... yes, there is a scalpel. Making a good griffin shape is a bit difficult because of the size required.
The sheep are very noisy.
Opening a cabinet... yes, there is a scalpel. Making a good griffin shape is a bit difficult because of the size required.
The sheep are very noisy.
>>165676
She closes the cabinet and, if the hallway sounds clear, goes to the kitchen and crouches behind the kitchen counter.
She closes the cabinet and, if the hallway sounds clear, goes to the kitchen and crouches behind the kitchen counter.
>>165679
Amber is... well, she's there. In the kitchen, behind the counter.
Amber can hear police excitedly enter. One is coming through the front door, another through the side door by the operating room. Amber is a little further away in the back, and does not have line of sight with anygriff
Amber is... well, she's there. In the kitchen, behind the counter.
Amber can hear police excitedly enter. One is coming through the front door, another through the side door by the operating room. Amber is a little further away in the back, and does not have line of sight with anygriff
>>165678
In that case, Silver exchanges the carbine for the assault rifle and takes all of the ammo he had on him.
In that case, Silver exchanges the carbine for the assault rifle and takes all of the ammo he had on him.
>>165681
Silver unfortunately finds only one full magazine, and around 12 rounds remaining in the magazine.
Spectral Streak calls out:
"Silver, is that you?"
Silver unfortunately finds only one full magazine, and around 12 rounds remaining in the magazine.
Spectral Streak calls out:
"Silver, is that you?"
>>165680
This is not how she expected it to go. She stays put for the time being, and looks for a loose utensil or can of food.
This is not how she expected it to go. She stays put for the time being, and looks for a loose utensil or can of food.
>>165682
Still more than what he had. Silver hears Spec but, just in case it's a trick, aims the changeling assault rifle forward while calling back,
"Name all of your immediate family members."
Still more than what he had. Silver hears Spec but, just in case it's a trick, aims the changeling assault rifle forward while calling back,
"Name all of your immediate family members."
>>165685
Silver sighs, and relaxes a little.
"You forgot your mother, but that will do. Yes, it is me."
Silver navigates his way towards his son, remaining vigilant in case any changelings lie in wait.
Silver sighs, and relaxes a little.
"You forgot your mother, but that will do. Yes, it is me."
Silver navigates his way towards his son, remaining vigilant in case any changelings lie in wait.
>>165686
One officer, moving around, comes near the kitchen. Whether he intends to enter has not been determined yet.
>>165687
He is silent, and looks up for a moment towards Silver from his position down on the stairway.
"I didn't forget her."
He starts to move up the stairs, and moves the door out of the way, which breaks and cracks in two, with only part remaining on the hinges.
One officer, moving around, comes near the kitchen. Whether he intends to enter has not been determined yet.
>>165687
He is silent, and looks up for a moment towards Silver from his position down on the stairway.
"I didn't forget her."
He starts to move up the stairs, and moves the door out of the way, which breaks and cracks in two, with only part remaining on the hinges.
>>165688
"I found dead changeling that none of us have killed. I do not know what killed him, but now we can search and secure this floor."
"I found dead changeling that none of us have killed. I do not know what killed him, but now we can search and secure this floor."
>>165690
Silver nods, and begins a methodical search of the floor, beginning with where they are and making his way back towards the stairwell.
Silver nods, and begins a methodical search of the floor, beginning with where they are and making his way back towards the stairwell.
>>165692
He turns around, and looks behind him to the can of beets.
>>165691
Looking into a room on the side, Silver can see what seems to be a pair of dressing rooms, with mirrors, a couch, lights, and containers of make up.
But what is more, is a pair of ponies in one of the rooms, both stallions. One is tied up, while the other is simply limp. Both have left trails of blood going to where they are. The tied-up stallion is a lemon-yellow unicorn with closed eyes and a field green shirt, while the other is a beige earth pony in black. Neither seems to be conscious, or perhaps even alive.
He turns around, and looks behind him to the can of beets.
>>165691
Looking into a room on the side, Silver can see what seems to be a pair of dressing rooms, with mirrors, a couch, lights, and containers of make up.
But what is more, is a pair of ponies in one of the rooms, both stallions. One is tied up, while the other is simply limp. Both have left trails of blood going to where they are. The tied-up stallion is a lemon-yellow unicorn with closed eyes and a field green shirt, while the other is a beige earth pony in black. Neither seems to be conscious, or perhaps even alive.
>>165695
Silver sighs heavily and offers them both a quick prayer before standing back up.
"Couple of bodies for later collection."
He continues his sweep of the floor.
Silver sighs heavily and offers them both a quick prayer before standing back up.
"Couple of bodies for later collection."
He continues his sweep of the floor.
>>165696
Silver sees the rooms in the middle are for storage. In this case, large equipment, like cameras.
Silver sees the rooms in the middle are for storage. In this case, large equipment, like cameras.
>>165697
Very interesting how these cameras have advanced compared to the older models he knows of. Is there anything else of interest in the rooms?
Very interesting how these cameras have advanced compared to the older models he knows of. Is there anything else of interest in the rooms?
>>165707
Amber can tell that officers are approaching to close the exit at the rear of the house. But waiting won't change that fact.
Amber can tell that officers are approaching to close the exit at the rear of the house. But waiting won't change that fact.
>>165708
Amber proceeds with the plan anyway. Is there a part of the first floor that juts out farther than the second?
Amber proceeds with the plan anyway. Is there a part of the first floor that juts out farther than the second?
>>165710
Amber circles around to the porch–assuming the police don't see her–and flies to the roof, lying down so as not to be seen.
Amber circles around to the porch–assuming the police don't see her–and flies to the roof, lying down so as not to be seen.
>>165711
Another roll - dexterity modifier
What portion of the roof, precisely, is Amber flying to? The roof is fairly exposed
Another roll - dexterity modifier
What portion of the roof, precisely, is Amber flying to? The roof is fairly exposed
>>165712
The roof farthest away from the eyes of the officers? If that's possible.
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]
The roof farthest away from the eyes of the officers? If that's possible.
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]
>>165713
The roof is fairly steep and covered in black tile. Amber could avoid being visible from three angles but would necessarily be visible from at least one angle, if only the officers looked up. Presumably, if Amber attempted this, she would attempt it on the side closest to the patch of woods.
The roof is fairly steep and covered in black tile. Amber could avoid being visible from three angles but would necessarily be visible from at least one angle, if only the officers looked up. Presumably, if Amber attempted this, she would attempt it on the side closest to the patch of woods.
>>165728
Amber flaps her wings and jumps up. Her first effort results in her hitting the side of the house and falling to the ground, thankfully not hard enough to knock her down, or to be heard. But with the second try, Amber's wings spread and flap in rotating fashion, and for the first time, she feels herself move upward, and take flight. The feeling is unnerving, and the flight pans only a few feet, enough to let her grab her claws onto the roof of the house, and then pull herself up, and onto the roof. The roof is relatively high, and Amber has to cling carefully. She places herself in a position where it would be impossible to see her from the opposite side, and difficult to see her from the sides. The woods behind the house prevent a griffin from going too away from the house to get a good angle to look onto the roof.
The officers look around the house, through the rooms, and through the field next to the house. But to Amber's great luck, they don't look up. Not on that side of the house, at least.
Amber flaps her wings and jumps up. Her first effort results in her hitting the side of the house and falling to the ground, thankfully not hard enough to knock her down, or to be heard. But with the second try, Amber's wings spread and flap in rotating fashion, and for the first time, she feels herself move upward, and take flight. The feeling is unnerving, and the flight pans only a few feet, enough to let her grab her claws onto the roof of the house, and then pull herself up, and onto the roof. The roof is relatively high, and Amber has to cling carefully. She places herself in a position where it would be impossible to see her from the opposite side, and difficult to see her from the sides. The woods behind the house prevent a griffin from going too away from the house to get a good angle to look onto the roof.
The officers look around the house, through the rooms, and through the field next to the house. But to Amber's great luck, they don't look up. Not on that side of the house, at least.
>>165757
Silver takes out the flashlight, and tries to shine it in the pegasus' eyes as he talks to him. True to his request, Silver doesn't advance further.
"It is okay, I will not hurt you."
Silver takes out the flashlight, and tries to shine it in the pegasus' eyes as he talks to him. True to his request, Silver doesn't advance further.
"It is okay, I will not hurt you."
>>165758
The pegasus blinks, but the blink is rather delayed. Silver can see amber colored iris that glow, but the whites do not.
"That's what the last ones said!"
The pegasus blinks, but the blink is rather delayed. Silver can see amber colored iris that glow, but the whites do not.
"That's what the last ones said!"
>>165759
Silver sighs in relief.
"I am with Homeguard. We were sent to eliminate changelings from building and rescue hostages. I can show you bodies of your changeling captors if you do not believe me."
Silver sighs in relief.
"I am with Homeguard. We were sent to eliminate changelings from building and rescue hostages. I can show you bodies of your changeling captors if you do not believe me."
>>165761
"We are clearing building of changelings, then evacuating hostages. We just need you to stay here and keep out of sight until we have verified building is clear. Then we will come back for you."
"We are clearing building of changelings, then evacuating hostages. We just need you to stay here and keep out of sight until we have verified building is clear. Then we will come back for you."
>>165763
Silver stands up, and smiles at him.
"Way things are going, it will not be long. Stay safe, stay out of sight."
He brings his changeling assault rifle up, and resumes his search of the floor.
Silver stands up, and smiles at him.
"Way things are going, it will not be long. Stay safe, stay out of sight."
He brings his changeling assault rifle up, and resumes his search of the floor.
>>165756
Amber waits until they are outside the house (so as to not be seen through the windows) and on the other side, then carefully lets herself down and creeps into the vegetation until she is out of sight.
Amber waits until they are outside the house (so as to not be seen through the windows) and on the other side, then carefully lets herself down and creeps into the vegetation until she is out of sight.
>>165766
Moving through the hallways clockwise, Silver walks past the corpses of the drones, and past the location of the stairwell, taking another turn along the hallway. To the left, Silver looks into a new, large room that seems larger than what existed on the other side and suggest an asymmetric layout of the floor. The hallway does continue, however.
Moving through the hallways clockwise, Silver walks past the corpses of the drones, and past the location of the stairwell, taking another turn along the hallway. To the left, Silver looks into a new, large room that seems larger than what existed on the other side and suggest an asymmetric layout of the floor. The hallway does continue, however.
>>165782
After some minutes, several officers leave the house, though it's hard to say if all have left.
After some minutes, several officers leave the house, though it's hard to say if all have left.
>>165784
It would be unwise to wait until dark, because more police are likely to arrive and conduct a more thorough search. She takes the risk and follows her friends.
It would be unwise to wait until dark, because more police are likely to arrive and conduct a more thorough search. She takes the risk and follows her friends.
>>165786
>>165785
>>165785
Amber moves to the edge of the roof, and prepares to jump off, spreading her wings. But she plumets nearly directly down, half into a bush, and half on the grass, hurting (but at least, not breaking) a hind leg and her left wing.
But far more importantly, Amber can hear from above "Here! There's one!"
>>165785
>>165785
Amber moves to the edge of the roof, and prepares to jump off, spreading her wings. But she plumets nearly directly down, half into a bush, and half on the grass, hurting (but at least, not breaking) a hind leg and her left wing.
But far more importantly, Amber can hear from above "Here! There's one!"
>>165787
This is an exceedingly unfortunate series of events. She takes off sprinting on all fours, not directly toward her friends but more off to the side, into the woods.
This is an exceedingly unfortunate series of events. She takes off sprinting on all fours, not directly toward her friends but more off to the side, into the woods.
>>165788
Amber sprints into the woods. It must be understood that this is not woods in the proper sense, but more a survival of forest that covered these lands before much was cleared to make way for pasture, or the adjacent homestead, or nearby road. Consequently, it is thin in many areas, although it stretches much further forward. Amber knows that a few hundred feet off to the right is a road, and to the left is a pasture. The forest has little underbrush away from the edges, but comparatively dense brush that is unpleasant to move through at the edges.
Amber sprints into the woods. It must be understood that this is not woods in the proper sense, but more a survival of forest that covered these lands before much was cleared to make way for pasture, or the adjacent homestead, or nearby road. Consequently, it is thin in many areas, although it stretches much further forward. Amber knows that a few hundred feet off to the right is a road, and to the left is a pasture. The forest has little underbrush away from the edges, but comparatively dense brush that is unpleasant to move through at the edges.
>>165789
Amber decides to move through the area with relatively little underbrush. She needs to get as much distance as soon as possible, and moreover she doesn't want to draw attention to the road.
Amber decides to move through the area with relatively little underbrush. She needs to get as much distance as soon as possible, and moreover she doesn't want to draw attention to the road.
>>165897
I decided to just press buttons on the keypad without looking at it to see what autocorrect came up with. The result was “Concubine”.”
As there are many possible outcomes, I think it’s appropriate for Amber to have a luck roll
I decided to just press buttons on the keypad without looking at it to see what autocorrect came up with. The result was “Concubine”.”
As there are many possible outcomes, I think it’s appropriate for Amber to have a luck roll
>>165899
Amber continues through the forest undergrowth, running over the first fallen leaves of autumn and under a canopy beginning to thin and show holes. The sky is dark, as night will be coming soon, and the trees cast long shadows that almost make it hard to see. Amber does not see her friends. She does not see any other structures, or any meadows or pastures. But she doesn't see the police either.
Amber continues through the forest undergrowth, running over the first fallen leaves of autumn and under a canopy beginning to thin and show holes. The sky is dark, as night will be coming soon, and the trees cast long shadows that almost make it hard to see. Amber does not see her friends. She does not see any other structures, or any meadows or pastures. But she doesn't see the police either.
>>165900
Although in normal times this would be enough to give her pause, she continues on. She starts making her way to the right, closer to where her friends are. But whether she sees them or not, she doesn't stop.
Although in normal times this would be enough to give her pause, she continues on. She starts making her way to the right, closer to where her friends are. But whether she sees them or not, she doesn't stop.
>>165901
Amber moves right, taking a detour, and eventually comes across a road. Though unpaved, it's well traversed, with little vegatation growing down its center
Amber moves right, taking a detour, and eventually comes across a road. Though unpaved, it's well traversed, with little vegatation growing down its center
>>165902
Amber does not take the road itself but proceeds down its edge, behind the vegetation. Before she does so she looks up the road to see if her friends are behind.
Amber does not take the road itself but proceeds down its edge, behind the vegetation. Before she does so she looks up the road to see if her friends are behind.
File (): 8CF04660932F78D5DEC2AE6B66952859-138490.gif (135.2 KB, 457x386, 8D2D172A-B818-403F-BFCE-6EF2AB73449B.gif)
>>165905
Amber quickly ducks in the shadow of a bush or tree, trying to stay hidden. [1d20+2 = (17+2) = 19]
Amber quickly ducks in the shadow of a bush or tree, trying to stay hidden. [1d20+2 = (17+2) = 19]
>>165906
Amber ducks into the bushes. Two griffins fly above, or seem to, and are followed by an unmarked black car with several serious looking well-dressed griffins with hats.
Amber ducks into the bushes. Two griffins fly above, or seem to, and are followed by an unmarked black car with several serious looking well-dressed griffins with hats.
>>165907
The Inquisition! It's obvious that they will be waiting later down the road and it's unwise to proceed. When they pass by Amber goes away from the road and into the forest.
The Inquisition! It's obvious that they will be waiting later down the road and it's unwise to proceed. When they pass by Amber goes away from the road and into the forest.
>>165908
Amber goes deeper into the forest, a forest that slowly grows darker, not from the claustrophobia of oak trees, but from the fading light of the sun.
Amber comes across a small clearing with what appears to be a cabin.
Amber goes deeper into the forest, a forest that slowly grows darker, not from the claustrophobia of oak trees, but from the fading light of the sun.
Amber comes across a small clearing with what appears to be a cabin.
>>165910
Small, presumably not intended to be a homestead, and adjacent to a shed. There are several windows
Small, presumably not intended to be a homestead, and adjacent to a shed. There are several windows
>>165911
A hermit of some sort probably lives here. Against her better judgement Amber knocks on the door.
A hermit of some sort probably lives here. Against her better judgement Amber knocks on the door.
>>165914
From the side of the cabin:
"Oh good. It's you."
Amber sees Federklied holding her pistol by the left side of the cabin.
The cabin door opens, and Amber sees Erich through the crack of the door.
From the side of the cabin:
"Oh good. It's you."
Amber sees Federklied holding her pistol by the left side of the cabin.
The cabin door opens, and Amber sees Erich through the crack of the door.
>>165915
"You made it! That's a relief. They went down the road and passed me, but are likely to double back. Do you know whose cabin this is? If I found it so easily they will too."
"You made it! That's a relief. They went down the road and passed me, but are likely to double back. Do you know whose cabin this is? If I found it so easily they will too."
>>165916
Erich answers, opens the door, and motions for Amber to enter. Federklied moves in quickly behind Amber. Inside the cabin is a bed, a fireplace/stove combination, a chair, and a couple other items of furniture, but not much else.
"Must be for some landowner who has their main house elsewhere. They are not here now."
Erich answers, opens the door, and motions for Amber to enter. Federklied moves in quickly behind Amber. Inside the cabin is a bed, a fireplace/stove combination, a chair, and a couple other items of furniture, but not much else.
"Must be for some landowner who has their main house elsewhere. They are not here now."
>>165918
"Over there in the corner." Federklied replies, walking in. Begrudglingly, Erich says,
"He got the bed first..."
Moving deeper into the room, Amber can see Helder laying in the bed with the blanket over him.
Against all odds, Amber sees her viol leaning against the wall, next to the bed.
"Over there in the corner." Federklied replies, walking in. Begrudglingly, Erich says,
"He got the bed first..."
Moving deeper into the room, Amber can see Helder laying in the bed with the blanket over him.
Against all odds, Amber sees her viol leaning against the wall, next to the bed.
>>165919
Amber gratefully picks up the viol, grateful it was not left behind. "You think this is a safe place to stay?" she asks Federkleid. "I saw some of them in the air, and this cabin is in a clearing."
Amber gratefully picks up the viol, grateful it was not left behind. "You think this is a safe place to stay?" she asks Federkleid. "I saw some of them in the air, and this cabin is in a clearing."
>>165920
"I wouldn't bet on it. Helder wants to leave in the night."
Erich, grumpily:
"Which of course is why he took the bed first. So he'll be the only one."
"I wouldn't bet on it. Helder wants to leave in the night."
Erich, grumpily:
"Which of course is why he took the bed first. So he'll be the only one."
>>165921
"He has the best opinion on this matter. Rest up, we'll have to leave whether we are ready or not."
"He has the best opinion on this matter. Rest up, we'll have to leave whether we are ready or not."
>>165922
“We’ll have to cut through the swamps, and to the river. We’ll still pretty far away. We’ll need to keep up the pace.”
“We’ll have to cut through the swamps, and to the river. We’ll still pretty far away. We’ll need to keep up the pace.”
>>165925
Amber attempts to sleep. Though perhaps they should carry on, they have been on the run all day and would surely collapse if they do not rest.
Amber attempts to sleep. Though perhaps they should carry on, they have been on the run all day and would surely collapse if they do not rest.
>>165926
Amber doesn't get to lay down in the bed - that is taken by Helder - or in the chair - Erich and Federklied fight over that, with Erich winning out. But she does get to sit up against the bed, and briefly doze off. She is awakened by Federklied some indeterminate time after nightfall, but after not enough sleep.
"We need to go."
Amber doesn't get to lay down in the bed - that is taken by Helder - or in the chair - Erich and Federklied fight over that, with Erich winning out. But she does get to sit up against the bed, and briefly doze off. She is awakened by Federklied some indeterminate time after nightfall, but after not enough sleep.
"We need to go."
>>165927
Amber nods silently and carefully carries her viol. She looks to make sure the others are ready.
Amber nods silently and carefully carries her viol. She looks to make sure the others are ready.
>>165928
Helder requires a jolt to wake up, looking startled and disappointed to find himself not in his bed. Erich wakes up quickly, but seems to be annoyed that he has to leave now. They are ready
Helder requires a jolt to wake up, looking startled and disappointed to find himself not in his bed. Erich wakes up quickly, but seems to be annoyed that he has to leave now. They are ready
>>165929
Amber leads them out of the cabin onto their way. "We're headed north, but stay as quiet as you can. They will be on the road but even in the woods they might be listening."
Amber leads them out of the cabin onto their way. "We're headed north, but stay as quiet as you can. They will be on the road but even in the woods they might be listening."
>>165930
The griffins walk out a back door, and past the wooden shed, and then carefully move over a barbed wire fence into a set of forest.
Helder nods. Then he says, "It's quicker to follow cattle trails and roads as much as possible, but even these lands are not without griffins. We'll move through the forest as necessary. Quickly. If it takes us too long, they can alert the police in Bronze Hill."
The griffins walk out a back door, and past the wooden shed, and then carefully move over a barbed wire fence into a set of forest.
Helder nods. Then he says, "It's quicker to follow cattle trails and roads as much as possible, but even these lands are not without griffins. We'll move through the forest as necessary. Quickly. If it takes us too long, they can alert the police in Bronze Hill."
>>165931
Amber goes along. "I just hope it is possible to get through Bronze Hill before they do so."
Amber goes along. "I just hope it is possible to get through Bronze Hill before they do so."
>>165932
The group walks north, through forest floors that become increasingly damp, then to a barbed wire fence, then across a field which is within line of sight to a house, then to another barbed wire fence and a trail
The group walks north, through forest floors that become increasingly damp, then to a barbed wire fence, then across a field which is within line of sight to a house, then to another barbed wire fence and a trail
>>165933
Barbed wire fences are oddly common here. When they reach the trail they follow it north, splitting off from it if it does not lead that way.
Barbed wire fences are oddly common here. When they reach the trail they follow it north, splitting off from it if it does not lead that way.
>>165934
Helder
"These farms and pastures are new here. Cleared only a few decades ago. Most of this land is still wild. We'll have to go through it to get to the Griffking."
They enter onto a simple trail flanked by tall trees, and elevated somewhat above the surrounding forests. This trail ends near a house, and converges with a road.
Helder
"These farms and pastures are new here. Cleared only a few decades ago. Most of this land is still wild. We'll have to go through it to get to the Griffking."
They enter onto a simple trail flanked by tall trees, and elevated somewhat above the surrounding forests. This trail ends near a house, and converges with a road.
>>165937
Amber decides not to approach the house, or get seen by its inhabitants, nor brave the openness of the road. Instead, going through the woods is better.
Amber decides not to approach the house, or get seen by its inhabitants, nor brave the openness of the road. Instead, going through the woods is better.
>>165938
Amber steps off of the elevated trail and onto the forest floor to find it is not solid and leaf covered like the broad-leafed forest Amber traversed before, but damp, moss-covered, and slowly giving way to Amber's claws.
Amber steps off of the elevated trail and onto the forest floor to find it is not solid and leaf covered like the broad-leafed forest Amber traversed before, but damp, moss-covered, and slowly giving way to Amber's claws.
hopes to play soon
hopes to read moar soon
Soon
>>165799
Yes. Silver sees a bank of several televisions playing broadcasts, along with a large control panel, and black tables with several reels of film.
Yes. Silver sees a bank of several televisions playing broadcasts, along with a large control panel, and black tables with several reels of film.
>>165940
Amber goes further and further, but the night drags on. Amber's claws drag on too, as the ground goes from damp to outright covered in water. Eventually, the terrain is more or less impassible, becoming sunken forest.
Amber goes further and further, but the night drags on. Amber's claws drag on too, as the ground goes from damp to outright covered in water. Eventually, the terrain is more or less impassible, becoming sunken forest.
>>166070
Oh, televisions! This is the first time Silver has gotten to see so much television broadcasting. What are they playing?
Oh, televisions! This is the first time Silver has gotten to see so much television broadcasting. What are they playing?
>>166071
This is an unfortunate development, and Amber becomes worried that, despite the assurances of her friends, it will be impossible to traverse anywhere in the direction they need to go. Nonetheless, the party turns right and skirts the edge of this impassible terrain.
This is an unfortunate development, and Amber becomes worried that, despite the assurances of her friends, it will be impossible to traverse anywhere in the direction they need to go. Nonetheless, the party turns right and skirts the edge of this impassible terrain.
File (): DD01C527DDD8ECF0609538CE8DEFB641-123251.jpg (120.4 KB, 736x634, 8e5cbcfa81f20570313a3e1c91b5c958--princess-celestia-princess-luna.jpg)
Just a little post to show this isn't abandoned. I'll continue the story sometime soon, when I am less busy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsM_VmN6ytk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HsM_VmN6ytk
File (): 0B0ED8BCB2254435DA197DAD5D6D7E88-12692410.png (12.1 MB, 5306x3520, ClubMauriceHighContrast.png)
File (): E16C2298100C8CC1B7A3C514EB56DF23-907195.jpg (885.9 KB, 1500x1000, 1086795.jpg)
>>166072
Several of them are playing clips.
The first clip Silver notices is on the far left. This must be a live broadcast, because the quality of the image is poor, regularly covered in 'snow,' or breaking up in static. All the same, Silver can make out tremendous detail as the camera pans across what seems to be a group of soldiers standing in a trench. The trench itself is well built, with concrete walls and a wooden cover above. The soldiers are packed against the wall in a dense line, most standing, some sitting, and many at various angles to the wall, but by and large facing the camera. There's something decidedly unnatural about their appearance. Whereas the soldiers of yesteryear were noble born stallions who stood straight and firmly in amber clad armor that accentuated and never covered their legs, horns, and wings, the row of conscripts staring back at the camera wear gas masks with large dual filters and rubber covered goggles that give them an almost insect-like appearance. Their heads are sheathed in thick steel helmets that bend out and cover the back of their necks, do not allow the ears to poke through, and only begrudgingly admit of the few unicorn horns. Their backs and sides are covered in what must be several inches of thick nylon. Nylon pads cover their legs, and no wings can be seen, though several bulky outfits attest to hidden appendages. They carry big heavy sacks on their backs, although half at least have taken these packs off and placed them beside or in front of them. Most carry Jenny battle rifles, some pointed up, some on the side, and some let their rifle point carelessly whichever way, even directly at the camera. But most let it simply slump down on the sling or have taken it off and lean it against the concrete wall. Through these cocoons of rubber, nylon and steel, there is a glimpse of the ponies beneath. Hindquarters press firmly against the concrete walls and back against the edges, tails bend in between their legs, and iris in every shade of grey peer back at the camera. They are ponies, after all.
The camera moves further along the trench, before cutting to a pair of ponies with large steel cylinders on their backs, and even thicker goggles and jackets. They carry thin, pointed devices linked by rubber hoses to their backs. And though Silver knows what these are, the narrator explains. These shock troops will help to clear out the webwork of Changeling tunnels once they get there. The camera cuts again, to show a perspective beyond the trench of the yet to be liberated Equestria. Only the tops of trees and distant foothills can be distinguished in the grainy image, beneath a gray and black sky. Small objects trailing dark gray smoke fall down at angles as the footage plays.
Moving over to the next screen, Silver sees what seems to be an earth pony mare and her foals. The angle of the shot allows only the edges of bushes and a paved road to be visible at the bottom of the screen, instead focusing the image almost entirely on a clear blue sky and the ponies within. A mare moves forward, dragging a large bag. She wears a rather nice semi-formal dress that must be green with a band around her middle. Her tail is long, and like her mane, kept up with a tie. Her coat is a soft color, perhaps pink. One, two, three foals of varying sizes follow her. The smallest one stops for a moment, looking back, and the mare in turn stops, sets her bag down, goes back towards the smallest foal, and with a hoof drags him forward, before using the same hoof to pick up her bag and start walking again. What makes the scene different is that every pony in it is wearing a mask - a large, black rubber mask held on the head with a cloth band, with thick goggles that completely obscures the face and muzzle and capped at the end with a pair of short green cylindrical cartridges. The large, rounded ears stand out from the almost insect-like face. The narrator states: "Precautionary evacuations of major urban centers continue."
The next screen is likewise seen for only a few seconds, and is even grainer, with static appearing almost like snow. The camera's perspective is from a road on a small hill, with a few houses of an architectural style Silver knew in his youth below in the foreground. In the distance, Silver sees a cityscape of low buildings, powerlines, smokestacks, and the tops of church steeples that he finds a little too familiar. Much of what is visible is on fire, or at least spewing black smoke, and most of the cityscape is obscured by a black cloud that now consumes the sky. This black cloud rises into the sky with a mushroom shape, with a base and a top almost as wide the city itself. The narrator sorrowfully tells, "Coltsyn has fallen to an infiltrator's attack."
On another screen, briefly, Silver sees another, grainier image. Looking across a bay and beneath rock-capped, tree covered foothills, Silver can see a city of low, foreign-looking, tall-roofed buildings, many ruined, collapsed, or washed away with receding water. In the gloomy skies, Silver can see dots falling with black tails, and thick dust rising in the distance.
Still another screen shows a pony in a white-walled room using magic to insert a pair of glass spheres in an odd container into an opened side of what seems to be a large rocket. This pony wears not only the now expected mask, but thicker goggles, and is completely covered in a thick, presumably rubber suit. Even the horn and tail are covered by rubber.
The narrator explains that this little pony is inserting sarin precursors into a home guard artillery rocket. Sarin, you see, must be stored as its precursors, lest it decay. That the minotaurs of the Asterionese Republic would betray their benefactors in this time of weakness is disappointing, to be sure, but nothing the Republic has not prepared for. Over a hundred thousand tons of Sarin nerve gas were manufactured and distributed, including to the garrison in the Griffonian territories.
Several of them are playing clips.
The first clip Silver notices is on the far left. This must be a live broadcast, because the quality of the image is poor, regularly covered in 'snow,' or breaking up in static. All the same, Silver can make out tremendous detail as the camera pans across what seems to be a group of soldiers standing in a trench. The trench itself is well built, with concrete walls and a wooden cover above. The soldiers are packed against the wall in a dense line, most standing, some sitting, and many at various angles to the wall, but by and large facing the camera. There's something decidedly unnatural about their appearance. Whereas the soldiers of yesteryear were noble born stallions who stood straight and firmly in amber clad armor that accentuated and never covered their legs, horns, and wings, the row of conscripts staring back at the camera wear gas masks with large dual filters and rubber covered goggles that give them an almost insect-like appearance. Their heads are sheathed in thick steel helmets that bend out and cover the back of their necks, do not allow the ears to poke through, and only begrudgingly admit of the few unicorn horns. Their backs and sides are covered in what must be several inches of thick nylon. Nylon pads cover their legs, and no wings can be seen, though several bulky outfits attest to hidden appendages. They carry big heavy sacks on their backs, although half at least have taken these packs off and placed them beside or in front of them. Most carry Jenny battle rifles, some pointed up, some on the side, and some let their rifle point carelessly whichever way, even directly at the camera. But most let it simply slump down on the sling or have taken it off and lean it against the concrete wall. Through these cocoons of rubber, nylon and steel, there is a glimpse of the ponies beneath. Hindquarters press firmly against the concrete walls and back against the edges, tails bend in between their legs, and iris in every shade of grey peer back at the camera. They are ponies, after all.
The camera moves further along the trench, before cutting to a pair of ponies with large steel cylinders on their backs, and even thicker goggles and jackets. They carry thin, pointed devices linked by rubber hoses to their backs. And though Silver knows what these are, the narrator explains. These shock troops will help to clear out the webwork of Changeling tunnels once they get there. The camera cuts again, to show a perspective beyond the trench of the yet to be liberated Equestria. Only the tops of trees and distant foothills can be distinguished in the grainy image, beneath a gray and black sky. Small objects trailing dark gray smoke fall down at angles as the footage plays.
Moving over to the next screen, Silver sees what seems to be an earth pony mare and her foals. The angle of the shot allows only the edges of bushes and a paved road to be visible at the bottom of the screen, instead focusing the image almost entirely on a clear blue sky and the ponies within. A mare moves forward, dragging a large bag. She wears a rather nice semi-formal dress that must be green with a band around her middle. Her tail is long, and like her mane, kept up with a tie. Her coat is a soft color, perhaps pink. One, two, three foals of varying sizes follow her. The smallest one stops for a moment, looking back, and the mare in turn stops, sets her bag down, goes back towards the smallest foal, and with a hoof drags him forward, before using the same hoof to pick up her bag and start walking again. What makes the scene different is that every pony in it is wearing a mask - a large, black rubber mask held on the head with a cloth band, with thick goggles that completely obscures the face and muzzle and capped at the end with a pair of short green cylindrical cartridges. The large, rounded ears stand out from the almost insect-like face. The narrator states: "Precautionary evacuations of major urban centers continue."
The next screen is likewise seen for only a few seconds, and is even grainer, with static appearing almost like snow. The camera's perspective is from a road on a small hill, with a few houses of an architectural style Silver knew in his youth below in the foreground. In the distance, Silver sees a cityscape of low buildings, powerlines, smokestacks, and the tops of church steeples that he finds a little too familiar. Much of what is visible is on fire, or at least spewing black smoke, and most of the cityscape is obscured by a black cloud that now consumes the sky. This black cloud rises into the sky with a mushroom shape, with a base and a top almost as wide the city itself. The narrator sorrowfully tells, "Coltsyn has fallen to an infiltrator's attack."
On another screen, briefly, Silver sees another, grainier image. Looking across a bay and beneath rock-capped, tree covered foothills, Silver can see a city of low, foreign-looking, tall-roofed buildings, many ruined, collapsed, or washed away with receding water. In the gloomy skies, Silver can see dots falling with black tails, and thick dust rising in the distance.
Still another screen shows a pony in a white-walled room using magic to insert a pair of glass spheres in an odd container into an opened side of what seems to be a large rocket. This pony wears not only the now expected mask, but thicker goggles, and is completely covered in a thick, presumably rubber suit. Even the horn and tail are covered by rubber.
The narrator explains that this little pony is inserting sarin precursors into a home guard artillery rocket. Sarin, you see, must be stored as its precursors, lest it decay. That the minotaurs of the Asterionese Republic would betray their benefactors in this time of weakness is disappointing, to be sure, but nothing the Republic has not prepared for. Over a hundred thousand tons of Sarin nerve gas were manufactured and distributed, including to the garrison in the Griffonian territories.
>>166293
Feels like it's been an eternity, but we're back!
Silver has to physically stop, the neverending flow of sights, sounds, and information giving him a brief sense of sensory overload. Each image adds to the tragedy that is playing out before him, in this time. Even compared to the Great War...this is too much. The armor those soldiers are wearing, while no doubt effective, make them look more like machines of war than they ever did before, and the image of the mare fleeing with her foals causes him to hope that his own wife and foals have made it safely out of the city. But most of all, seeing Coltsyn, the heart of the Motherland with its ancient name restored, on fire does more to break his heart than even hearing that Canterlot was destroyed. All of that history, his people's history, wiped out in such a short time...
He registers the story on the missiles, not really knowing what this "Sarin" is except that nerve gas sounds like a particularly bad way to die. A sense that the world is coming to an end lingers in the back of his mind.
He has a mission to complete, however, and as he is untrained in how to control the bank of televisions, he returns to the hallway and continues onwards clearing the floor.
Feels like it's been an eternity, but we're back!
Silver has to physically stop, the neverending flow of sights, sounds, and information giving him a brief sense of sensory overload. Each image adds to the tragedy that is playing out before him, in this time. Even compared to the Great War...this is too much. The armor those soldiers are wearing, while no doubt effective, make them look more like machines of war than they ever did before, and the image of the mare fleeing with her foals causes him to hope that his own wife and foals have made it safely out of the city. But most of all, seeing Coltsyn, the heart of the Motherland with its ancient name restored, on fire does more to break his heart than even hearing that Canterlot was destroyed. All of that history, his people's history, wiped out in such a short time...
He registers the story on the missiles, not really knowing what this "Sarin" is except that nerve gas sounds like a particularly bad way to die. A sense that the world is coming to an end lingers in the back of his mind.
He has a mission to complete, however, and as he is untrained in how to control the bank of televisions, he returns to the hallway and continues onwards clearing the floor.
File (): B821FC76C502CD6FCC732A4A850143E6-65575.jpg (64.0 KB, 1200x630, comet sighted.jpg)
>>166301
But in the moments before he leaves, one last lonely screen, located on a desk by the entrance opposite the main bank of screens, plays its broadcast to an audience that by now must surely be occupied with more important matters.
The screen shows what must be a street view of a pair of Homeguard soldiers standing next to a truck, pointing machine carbines at a pair of ponies, one of whom lays prostrate on the street, while the other kneels with his forehooves in the air, looking up at his captors. But this image is not viewed for even a second.
The image cuts away to show a black screen with the flags and symbols Silver saw before on the television at his ocean-side house. Music plays, and a voice proclaims, "An important message from the Office of the First Consul." The image cuts a rather clear visual of a now familiar office, with flags in the back, a desk in the foreground that is largely cut off by the close angle of the camera, and a young, light-colored mare in the middle. She is leaned back in a chair, turned slightly on her side and facing the camera. She leans forward toward the camera and places her hooves on the desk.
"Hello ponies" she says, with serious eyes and a voice that does not sound pleased. "Our diplomatic sources have confirmed what we thought at first must be a Changeling trick. The Griffonian Empire has issued a formal Declaration of war against our United Pony Republics, and her Sister Republics. Thousands of their troops have crossed over the borders into the Falcor and Puimont Republics. Revolts have broken out in these and other areas, though whether these revolts are the fifth column of some malign Imperial design, or the coincidental products of a perfidious griffin nature, is not known."
She moves back in her chair, and stares at the camera with a serious expression and focused eyes. Then she places each forehoof on the arm of her chair and leans back. She smiles, though the angry expressions of her face suggest the smile is not intended to make light of a serious situation.
"Did the griffins think that because our ground forces were elsewhere, that we were defenseless against their attacks? Did they think us unprepared? Did their limited minds not comprehend that we can strike them in other ways?" She moves in her chair again, back over her desk. She drops the smile and has a blank, unpleased expression. "For centuries, Equestrians left the Griffonian Empire in peace, even as they ravaged, stole from, and oppressed our kinfolk. We have always pursued a policy of peace and cooperation. And now in this defining hour of our young republic, they have revealed to us who they really are. Who they always have been, and always shall be. Peaceful coexistence is not possible."
She pauses, and looks over to her left, turning her head. Silver can see the freckles under her right eye. A smile slowly builds across her face. "Heh heh heh heh" she laughs, and neither the smile nor the laughter seem reflective of any lightening in her disposition. She looks back at the camera with wide smile showing her bright white rows of teeth, and purposeful eyes. Both hooves are planted firmly on the table. She speaks in a softer tone,
"For centuries, Comet Giotto was viewed by the superstitious Griffins of their Empire as a portent of doom, foretelling personal calamity, or national catastrophe, as it made its pass across the sky above. Well, my little ponies, as Comet Giotto makes its final pass through their skies this afternoon, the Empire will find out just how prescient their ancestors were."
A short pause, and she leans back yet again. "Heh heh heh heh. Our crusade continues unabated. We shall have unity, or else death. Justice shall be done, may the heavens fall. Long live the Republic."
The feed cuts off, showing the symbols again. No music plays.
But in the moments before he leaves, one last lonely screen, located on a desk by the entrance opposite the main bank of screens, plays its broadcast to an audience that by now must surely be occupied with more important matters.
The screen shows what must be a street view of a pair of Homeguard soldiers standing next to a truck, pointing machine carbines at a pair of ponies, one of whom lays prostrate on the street, while the other kneels with his forehooves in the air, looking up at his captors. But this image is not viewed for even a second.
The image cuts away to show a black screen with the flags and symbols Silver saw before on the television at his ocean-side house. Music plays, and a voice proclaims, "An important message from the Office of the First Consul." The image cuts a rather clear visual of a now familiar office, with flags in the back, a desk in the foreground that is largely cut off by the close angle of the camera, and a young, light-colored mare in the middle. She is leaned back in a chair, turned slightly on her side and facing the camera. She leans forward toward the camera and places her hooves on the desk.
"Hello ponies" she says, with serious eyes and a voice that does not sound pleased. "Our diplomatic sources have confirmed what we thought at first must be a Changeling trick. The Griffonian Empire has issued a formal Declaration of war against our United Pony Republics, and her Sister Republics. Thousands of their troops have crossed over the borders into the Falcor and Puimont Republics. Revolts have broken out in these and other areas, though whether these revolts are the fifth column of some malign Imperial design, or the coincidental products of a perfidious griffin nature, is not known."
She moves back in her chair, and stares at the camera with a serious expression and focused eyes. Then she places each forehoof on the arm of her chair and leans back. She smiles, though the angry expressions of her face suggest the smile is not intended to make light of a serious situation.
"Did the griffins think that because our ground forces were elsewhere, that we were defenseless against their attacks? Did they think us unprepared? Did their limited minds not comprehend that we can strike them in other ways?" She moves in her chair again, back over her desk. She drops the smile and has a blank, unpleased expression. "For centuries, Equestrians left the Griffonian Empire in peace, even as they ravaged, stole from, and oppressed our kinfolk. We have always pursued a policy of peace and cooperation. And now in this defining hour of our young republic, they have revealed to us who they really are. Who they always have been, and always shall be. Peaceful coexistence is not possible."
She pauses, and looks over to her left, turning her head. Silver can see the freckles under her right eye. A smile slowly builds across her face. "Heh heh heh heh" she laughs, and neither the smile nor the laughter seem reflective of any lightening in her disposition. She looks back at the camera with wide smile showing her bright white rows of teeth, and purposeful eyes. Both hooves are planted firmly on the table. She speaks in a softer tone,
"For centuries, Comet Giotto was viewed by the superstitious Griffins of their Empire as a portent of doom, foretelling personal calamity, or national catastrophe, as it made its pass across the sky above. Well, my little ponies, as Comet Giotto makes its final pass through their skies this afternoon, the Empire will find out just how prescient their ancestors were."
A short pause, and she leans back yet again. "Heh heh heh heh. Our crusade continues unabated. We shall have unity, or else death. Justice shall be done, may the heavens fall. Long live the Republic."
The feed cuts off, showing the symbols again. No music plays.
>>166303
This sudden announcement makes Silver pause. It makes sense to him, after all: the Hegemony and the Empire were allies for far longer than either of them were allies to New Mareland or these 'Republics'. Of course they would join together in this war. Those final statements by the First Consul, however, send a chill up Silver's spine. To him, it sounds like she fully intends to bring about the end of the world, in the name of victory. He finds himself longing for the days when the only things he thought could do that were long-gone mythical creatures like Windigoes.
He tells himself to focus on the task at hoof, and continue clearing the building of hostiles.
This sudden announcement makes Silver pause. It makes sense to him, after all: the Hegemony and the Empire were allies for far longer than either of them were allies to New Mareland or these 'Republics'. Of course they would join together in this war. Those final statements by the First Consul, however, send a chill up Silver's spine. To him, it sounds like she fully intends to bring about the end of the world, in the name of victory. He finds himself longing for the days when the only things he thought could do that were long-gone mythical creatures like Windigoes.
He tells himself to focus on the task at hoof, and continue clearing the building of hostiles.
>>166304
Silver sees Spectral Streak walk up behind him within his peripheral vision, followed shortly by the Salmon stallion.
"Alright, this part of the floor is cleared. That just leaves the far end."
Silver sees Spectral Streak walk up behind him within his peripheral vision, followed shortly by the Salmon stallion.
"Alright, this part of the floor is cleared. That just leaves the far end."
>>166310
Silver looks back at the two stallions, then at Spec directly.
"What are your siblings' names?"
Silver looks back at the two stallions, then at Spec directly.
"What are your siblings' names?"
>>166311
He looks back at Silver and pauses for a moment, though only very briefly.
"White Light, Silver Rain" looking away "Brown Birch, White Orchid, Mint Marine, Powder Flash. I forget the little one... Daffodil. And my mother?"
He looks back at Silver and pauses for a moment, though only very briefly.
"White Light, Silver Rain" looking away "Brown Birch, White Orchid, Mint Marine, Powder Flash. I forget the little one... Daffodil. And my mother?"
>>166314
"Good." He addresses the both of them now. "Let us go to next floor then, together. It is possible more survivors may be found."
"Good." He addresses the both of them now. "Let us go to next floor then, together. It is possible more survivors may be found."
>>166315
Spectral Streak nods and moves his rifle to a low-ready position. Does Silver know precisely, where he will go?
Spectral Streak nods and moves his rifle to a low-ready position. Does Silver know precisely, where he will go?
>>166316
Silver is going to retrace his steps back towards the central stairwell to get to the next floor. Presumably as they work their way carefully back towards the stairwell, he relays the major points of information he learned from the bank of televisions.
"Coltsyn got firebombed, badly, and Griffonian Empire has joined war on side of Hegemony. It is officially worse than Great War."
Silver is going to retrace his steps back towards the central stairwell to get to the next floor. Presumably as they work their way carefully back towards the stairwell, he relays the major points of information he learned from the bank of televisions.
"Coltsyn got firebombed, badly, and Griffonian Empire has joined war on side of Hegemony. It is officially worse than Great War."
>>166317
Spectral Streak:
"What, those bastards! We can't kill enough of them, I swear."
Salmon pony:
"Who's winning?"
Silver thinks he hears a voice somewhere from behind, though who can tell? The walls are littered with bullet holes, as they pass the few insectoid corpses they left before.
Spectral Streak:
"What, those bastards! We can't kill enough of them, I swear."
Salmon pony:
"Who's winning?"
Silver thinks he hears a voice somewhere from behind, though who can tell? The walls are littered with bullet holes, as they pass the few insectoid corpses they left before.
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
>>166318
Listen: Silver stops in his tracks, motioning for the others to halt as he listens carefully.
>>166318
Listen: Silver stops in his tracks, motioning for the others to halt as he listens carefully.
>>166319
Nothing. And then, brief, subdued talking. Most likely ponish language. From behind. Then silence.
Nothing. And then, brief, subdued talking. Most likely ponish language. From behind. Then silence.
>>166320
Silver keeps his Jenny at the ready as he addresses the source of the sounds.
"Baltimare Home Guard. Identify yourselves."
Silver keeps his Jenny at the ready as he addresses the source of the sounds.
"Baltimare Home Guard. Identify yourselves."
>>166321
Is Silver brandishing a Jenny, or a Grim?
Silver looks down the hallway to see... a left turn in the hallway. There is no reply
Is Silver brandishing a Jenny, or a Grim?
Silver looks down the hallway to see... a left turn in the hallway. There is no reply
>>166322
Hmm...he probably should brandish the Grim, since he actually has the ammo for it. He carefully moves towards the hallway on the left.
Hmm...he probably should brandish the Grim, since he actually has the ammo for it. He carefully moves towards the hallway on the left.
>>166323
Down this wide, black hallway, there are windows on the right, and two open doors on the left, equally spaced from the respective ends
Down this wide, black hallway, there are windows on the right, and two open doors on the left, equally spaced from the respective ends
Silver sees that the whole area is one massive room, with a ceiling extending high up to the floor above, and going back perhaps some forty or fifty feet. In the center and on the far side is a couple desks on a raised wooden platform. Surely these desks must move. With lights hanging above him, black walls, and massive devices that must be cameras aimed towards the platform, this must be a stage. Above the stage is are windows on the second floor, and on the stage stand three ponies, all wearing the green uniforms and khaki pants of the homeguard. One, a white(ish) unicorn in the center holds a Jenny battle rifle, a pony to the left carries an Great War era New Mareland submachine gun, and a pony to the right carries a bolt action rifle of an older Equestrian type, either from before the Great War, its first year, or a New Mareland model. And though they hide partly behind the platform, Silver can see that there is more than one other pony cowering behind, including an orange mare.
"Halt!" the off-white pony demands. "Identify yourself!"
"Halt!" the off-white pony demands. "Identify yourself!"
>>166326
Silver takes a quick stock of the situation, realizing that the distribution, number, and demeanor of the ponies in this room heavily suggests survivors. He lowers the barrel of the Grim, and replies.
"Silver Sword, Baltimare Home Guard."
Silver takes a quick stock of the situation, realizing that the distribution, number, and demeanor of the ponies in this room heavily suggests survivors. He lowers the barrel of the Grim, and replies.
"Silver Sword, Baltimare Home Guard."
>>166331
Sort of. They are next to him against the wall. Out of line of sight of the ponies on the stage
Sort of. They are next to him against the wall. Out of line of sight of the ponies on the stage
>>166332
Silver nods, then looks back to the ponies fortified in the large room.
"Permission to enter, unarmed?"
Silver nods, then looks back to the ponies fortified in the large room.
"Permission to enter, unarmed?"
>>166334
Silver removes his weapons, giving them to his comrades in arms before entering the large room. The first thing he does is get a better perspective on the situation here.
Silver removes his weapons, giving them to his comrades in arms before entering the large room. The first thing he does is get a better perspective on the situation here.
>>166335
Spectral Streak takes the Grim, and hooves it over to the Salmon stallion.
Silver can see the three of them are standing around about the center of the stage. The one in the center points his rifle at Silver, while the other two focus on the respective doors. Silver can see that there are one, two, three, four ponies on the floor behind the stage, trying to use the desk and the stage itself to hide. A green unicorn stallion looks up and over towards Silver, as does a blue-berry pegasus mare, who peaks at Silver through an opening in her wings.
Spectral Streak takes the Grim, and hooves it over to the Salmon stallion.
Silver can see the three of them are standing around about the center of the stage. The one in the center points his rifle at Silver, while the other two focus on the respective doors. Silver can see that there are one, two, three, four ponies on the floor behind the stage, trying to use the desk and the stage itself to hide. A green unicorn stallion looks up and over towards Silver, as does a blue-berry pegasus mare, who peaks at Silver through an opening in her wings.
>>166336
It's never good having a barrel pointed towards you, but considering the circumstances he can't really blame these ponies. Silver addresses the off-white pony, assuming he's the de facto leader of this group of survivors.
"We saw some carnage on our way through building, I am glad to see more survivors. What happened?"
It's never good having a barrel pointed towards you, but considering the circumstances he can't really blame these ponies. Silver addresses the off-white pony, assuming he's the de facto leader of this group of survivors.
"We saw some carnage on our way through building, I am glad to see more survivors. What happened?"
>>166342
Silver nods.
"They are ponies I came into building with. We have been regularly checking to ensure no replacement."
Silver nods.
"They are ponies I came into building with. We have been regularly checking to ensure no replacement."
>>166345
He has his rifle leveled and pointed directly at Silver, holding it up to his left side, and looking down at Silver though the optic. If Silver looked to either of the two other armed ponies, he'd see that they have their rifles leveled in the direction of the open doors.
He speaks to Silver
"So you've said, but I have civilians here, and to protect them, I need to actually see everyone who is up here. Not let us get distracted while they get the jump on us."
He has his rifle leveled and pointed directly at Silver, holding it up to his left side, and looking down at Silver though the optic. If Silver looked to either of the two other armed ponies, he'd see that they have their rifles leveled in the direction of the open doors.
He speaks to Silver
"So you've said, but I have civilians here, and to protect them, I need to actually see everyone who is up here. Not let us get distracted while they get the jump on us."
>>166353
Silver looks directly at the pony in front of him, staring him down directly through the other side of the scope. He clearly looks tired of the welcome he's been getting from these ponies.
"I have killed many Infiltrators today, stopped oil depot from exploding, lost my weight in blood after being peppered with changeling bullets, and even found three other survivors in this building before finding you. I came in here, unarmed, calm as can be despite being in sights of three armed gunponies, which would be very odd if I was Infiltrator trying to not get killed so I could complete my objective. I appreciate vigilance, but if you will not believe I am who I say I am and will not test me to see I am not changeling, then you had better just shoot me now."
Silver looks directly at the pony in front of him, staring him down directly through the other side of the scope. He clearly looks tired of the welcome he's been getting from these ponies.
"I have killed many Infiltrators today, stopped oil depot from exploding, lost my weight in blood after being peppered with changeling bullets, and even found three other survivors in this building before finding you. I came in here, unarmed, calm as can be despite being in sights of three armed gunponies, which would be very odd if I was Infiltrator trying to not get killed so I could complete my objective. I appreciate vigilance, but if you will not believe I am who I say I am and will not test me to see I am not changeling, then you had better just shoot me now."
>>166354
He blinks, and then takes his right hoof to motion to Silver to move to the side. He yells out "Alright, come out where I can see you" evidently not at Silver.
Silver thinks he sees Spectral Streak poke his head in, and then move his head back out of line of sight again.
He blinks, and then takes his right hoof to motion to Silver to move to the side. He yells out "Alright, come out where I can see you" evidently not at Silver.
Silver thinks he sees Spectral Streak poke his head in, and then move his head back out of line of sight again.
>>166355
Silver moves to the side a bit, looking back at Spec before turning again to look at the leader of these ponies.
"One of my team who came with me. Seriously, however, you can not stay here forever. I do not suppose you have been listening in to reports coming over radio?"
Silver moves to the side a bit, looking back at Spec before turning again to look at the leader of these ponies.
"One of my team who came with me. Seriously, however, you can not stay here forever. I do not suppose you have been listening in to reports coming over radio?"
>>166358
The lead pony looks past Silver.
"Alright, you don't want to come out? Well I've got your friend here. And three civilians. If you want to walk away, show yourselves, and put down your arms."
He resumes pointing his Jenny rifle firmly at Silver, though tending to glace to the right doorway.
The lead pony looks past Silver.
"Alright, you don't want to come out? Well I've got your friend here. And three civilians. If you want to walk away, show yourselves, and put down your arms."
He resumes pointing his Jenny rifle firmly at Silver, though tending to glace to the right doorway.
He ignores Silver, or seems to.
"We are not fooling around here! Come out! Now!"
"We are not fooling around here! Come out! Now!"
>>166363
With a groan, Silver shouts out to the three gun'ponies', "ПРОСТО ПРИСТРЕЛИ МЕНЯ УЖЕ, СЛАДКАЯ ВЕЧНО ЛЮБЯЩАЯ СЕЛЕСТИЯ!"
With a groan, Silver shouts out to the three gun'ponies', "ПРОСТО ПРИСТРЕЛИ МЕНЯ УЖЕ, СЛАДКАЯ ВЕЧНО ЛЮБЯЩАЯ СЕЛЕСТИЯ!"
>>166365
Silver just keeps on staring them down and shouting angrily at them in his native Cyrillic tongue.
"Я БЕЗ ВООРУЖЕН И ОКРУЖЕН, НЕ ВАЖНО, ПОНИ ИЛИ ПОДМЕНИМКИ, ТЫ ГЛУП, ЧТО В МЕНЯ НЕ ПРИСТРЕЛ!"
Silver just keeps on staring them down and shouting angrily at them in his native Cyrillic tongue.
"Я БЕЗ ВООРУЖЕН И ОКРУЖЕН, НЕ ВАЖНО, ПОНИ ИЛИ ПОДМЕНИМКИ, ТЫ ГЛУП, ЧТО В МЕНЯ НЕ ПРИСТРЕЛ!"
>>166366
All three ponies stare at Silver. The lead pony fires a single shot with a Bang at Silver.
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]
The ejected cartridge hits his face immediately, and he flinches.
All three ponies stare at Silver. The lead pony fires a single shot with a Bang at Silver.
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]
The ejected cartridge hits his face immediately, and he flinches.
>>166373
The pony with the Submachine gun is hit, but turns towards the Salmon pony, and fires
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 15]
[1d20 = 14]
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 3]
The pony with the Submachine gun is hit, but turns towards the Salmon pony, and fires
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 15]
[1d20 = 14]
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 3]
>>166380
The Salmon pony is still exposed in the open. He's alive, but that's about the extent of the good news. His chest is pierced, and he is bleeding internally.
The Salmon pony is still exposed in the open. He's alive, but that's about the extent of the good news. His chest is pierced, and he is bleeding internally.
>>166382
Silver pulls him back, but Spectral Streak is still in the fight. He fires at the rifle pony
[1d20+6 = (15+6) = 21]
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
Silver pulls him back, but Spectral Streak is still in the fight. He fires at the rifle pony
[1d20+6 = (15+6) = 21]
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
>>166388
With added pressure on the barrel, Silver thinks he's achieved something. He still makes pained whines, and labored breaths.
Spectral Streak comes up to Silver.
"Are you okay?"
And from behind, a shot
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
With added pressure on the barrel, Silver thinks he's achieved something. He still makes pained whines, and labored breaths.
Spectral Streak comes up to Silver.
"Are you okay?"
And from behind, a shot
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
>>166391
“Ah!” Silver can see that the shot to Streak came from behind, and hit him lower on the barrel, around the belly.
“Ah!” He breathes out, and with a hoof, slides over the Grim. Silver presumably has a Jenny on a sling over his back.
“Ah!” Silver can see that the shot to Streak came from behind, and hit him lower on the barrel, around the belly.
“Ah!” He breathes out, and with a hoof, slides over the Grim. Silver presumably has a Jenny on a sling over his back.
>>166393
There was, where Streak was standing in the doorway. Bug now he’s to the side of the doorway along with Silver, out of line of sight from the room.
There was, where Streak was standing in the doorway. Bug now he’s to the side of the doorway along with Silver, out of line of sight from the room.
>>166394
Spec got hurt bad, but how badly is he hurt? Is he still standing or is he as bad as the salmon stallion right now?
Spec got hurt bad, but how badly is he hurt? Is he still standing or is he as bad as the salmon stallion right now?
>>166396
Silver places himself between his comrades and the attacking changelings, keeping his Grim ready. He peaks the doorway for sight of the changelings.
Silver places himself between his comrades and the attacking changelings, keeping his Grim ready. He peaks the doorway for sight of the changelings.
>>166397
Silver can look over to see the "pony" formerly on the left is lying on its back, dead, the pony on the right has collapsed on its belly, evidently dead, but the pony in the center is on its belly, still trying to grasp a Jenny rifle. It has lost its disguise and can pull itself forward only with its right foreleg. Behind, a light yellow pegasus stallion is poking its head up.
Silver can look over to see the "pony" formerly on the left is lying on its back, dead, the pony on the right has collapsed on its belly, evidently dead, but the pony in the center is on its belly, still trying to grasp a Jenny rifle. It has lost its disguise and can pull itself forward only with its right foreleg. Behind, a light yellow pegasus stallion is poking its head up.
>>166398
Silver comes out, aiming the Grim directly at the still living changeling. He shouts at him.
"Drop your gun and surrender!"
Silver comes out, aiming the Grim directly at the still living changeling. He shouts at him.
"Drop your gun and surrender!"
>>166402
The creature curls its lips back, and raises the rifle, firing a shot while holding it with its non-dominant leg.
[1d20 = 6]
The creature curls its lips back, and raises the rifle, firing a shot while holding it with its non-dominant leg.
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20+10 = (14+10) = 24]
>>166404
Perhaps for that fleeting moment in between him pulling the trigger on his Jenny and the sound of Silver's Grim going off, the changeling regrets his choices up to that point. It is a very brief moment, however, before the BANG of the Grim cuts him off.
>>166404
Perhaps for that fleeting moment in between him pulling the trigger on his Jenny and the sound of Silver's Grim going off, the changeling regrets his choices up to that point. It is a very brief moment, however, before the BANG of the Grim cuts him off.
>>166405
Ching
It's almost difficult to manage a single shot on the Grim. Almost. The shot lands somewhere around the base of the head. The creatures head slumps down, and its magic aura and foreleg let go of the jenny rifle.
Ching
It's almost difficult to manage a single shot on the Grim. Almost. The shot lands somewhere around the base of the head. The creatures head slumps down, and its magic aura and foreleg let go of the jenny rifle.
>>166406
"Auf Wiedersehen, Dummkopf."
Silver looks up towards the pegasus who was peaking out.
"Is everypony okay?"
"Auf Wiedersehen, Dummkopf."
Silver looks up towards the pegasus who was peaking out.
"Is everypony okay?"
>>166408
Silver nods.
"We are. Sorry it took so long to figure out they were not. Stay where you are for just one moment, I need to check on my comrades."
Silver nods.
"We are. Sorry it took so long to figure out they were not. Stay where you are for just one moment, I need to check on my comrades."
>>166410
Silver returns to Spec and the salmon stallion, pulling out their first aid supplies.
"Hold still, let me patch you two up."
Silver returns to Spec and the salmon stallion, pulling out their first aid supplies.
"Hold still, let me patch you two up."
>>166411
Both are lined up by the wall. It looks like all three ponies will need treatment. The salmon stallion seems barely conscious, but Spectral Streak presses his teeth together, and waits for Silver to help.
Both are lined up by the wall. It looks like all three ponies will need treatment. The salmon stallion seems barely conscious, but Spectral Streak presses his teeth together, and waits for Silver to help.
>>166432
Spec will have to hold on for just a moment longer, as the salmon stallion's more grievous injuries take priority. What can be done to him with the supplies they have left?
Spec will have to hold on for just a moment longer, as the salmon stallion's more grievous injuries take priority. What can be done to him with the supplies they have left?
>>166433
Silver could try to find and remove the bullets, although it may be safe to let them linger for the moment. He has already stopped the bleeding. The salmon stallion is in most dire need of the magical coagulant, which unfortunately is in the shortest supply.
Silver could try to find and remove the bullets, although it may be safe to let them linger for the moment. He has already stopped the bleeding. The salmon stallion is in most dire need of the magical coagulant, which unfortunately is in the shortest supply.
>>166436
"I will be fine, it is you two I am more worried about."
He still nods at Spec, and gives the salmon stallion a dose of the coagulant.
"I will be fine, it is you two I am more worried about."
He still nods at Spec, and gives the salmon stallion a dose of the coagulant.
>>166437
His breathing improves. He - and Silver, and Spectral Streak - needs bandaging and pain killers, and presumably plasma and blood later.
His breathing improves. He - and Silver, and Spectral Streak - needs bandaging and pain killers, and presumably plasma and blood later.
>>166438
While the bullets do need to be removed from the salmon stallion, they'll be fine left inside for the moment. For now, Silver focuses on just bandaging them up and giving them painkillers, starting with the salmon stallion, then going onto Spec, and then himself if any are left.
While the bullets do need to be removed from the salmon stallion, they'll be fine left inside for the moment. For now, Silver focuses on just bandaging them up and giving them painkillers, starting with the salmon stallion, then going onto Spec, and then himself if any are left.
>>166439
Silver feels a surge of energy as the painkillers hit him. Spectral Streak gets back up, and then slowly, the Salmon stallion. Silver feels tired, as if carried entirely by stimulants. Large portions of his body feel numb where he knows intuitively he should feel pain. His heart beats quickly, yet it doesn't move much blood. But he doesn't feel like he is in a daze. The world around him feels all too real. All three stallions are ready to proceed.
Silver feels a surge of energy as the painkillers hit him. Spectral Streak gets back up, and then slowly, the Salmon stallion. Silver feels tired, as if carried entirely by stimulants. Large portions of his body feel numb where he knows intuitively he should feel pain. His heart beats quickly, yet it doesn't move much blood. But he doesn't feel like he is in a daze. The world around him feels all too real. All three stallions are ready to proceed.
>>166440
"Okay, for love of Celestia, do not get shot anymore you two."
Silver goes back into the room with the survivors.
"How many of you are there?"
"Okay, for love of Celestia, do not get shot anymore you two."
Silver goes back into the room with the survivors.
"How many of you are there?"
>>166441
The yellow pegasus stallion stands up, and looks over, followed by a rust-colored earth pony stallion, and the orange unicorn mare. The Pegasus and the Unicorn are noticeably well dressed, although the blue sweater worn by the rust-colored stallion is not far behind.
The yellow pegasus stallion stands up, and looks over, followed by a rust-colored earth pony stallion, and the orange unicorn mare. The Pegasus and the Unicorn are noticeably well dressed, although the blue sweater worn by the rust-colored stallion is not far behind.
>>166442
"Right. We are with Home Guard, and we were sent here to clear building of hostiles and rescue any captives. There may still be changelings left in what parts of building we have yet to clear, so I advise that you stay here and stay hidden until we can verify there are no more hostiles, then we will call for evac and get you out of here. Understood?"
"Right. We are with Home Guard, and we were sent here to clear building of hostiles and rescue any captives. There may still be changelings left in what parts of building we have yet to clear, so I advise that you stay here and stay hidden until we can verify there are no more hostiles, then we will call for evac and get you out of here. Understood?"
>>166443
He's standing up fully.
"Uh, yes. Thank goodness. They had us convinced that they were Home Guard. Heh" he says, looking nervous. "We'll wait"
He's standing up fully.
"Uh, yes. Thank goodness. They had us convinced that they were Home Guard. Heh" he says, looking nervous. "We'll wait"
>>166444
Silver nods at him.
"They had me convinced, as well. That is reason you always perform flashlight test. Wish us luck, we should be back before long to pick and other survivors up."
Silver keeps his Grim handy as he, Spec, and the salmon stallion resume their sweep of the building, likely at a slower pace to accommodate how injured the salmon stallion is.
Silver nods at him.
"They had me convinced, as well. That is reason you always perform flashlight test. Wish us luck, we should be back before long to pick and other survivors up."
Silver keeps his Grim handy as he, Spec, and the salmon stallion resume their sweep of the building, likely at a slower pace to accommodate how injured the salmon stallion is.
>>166451
Silver definitely swipes all three mags before he goes, replacing the mag he has in his Jenny.
Silver definitely swipes all three mags before he goes, replacing the mag he has in his Jenny.
>>166452
Silver now has a full set in his rifle. Spectral Streak, limping ever so slightly, stays near the door well. But as Silver investigates the weapons left behind by the drone leader, Spectral Streak ventures further into the studio, moving over to the corpse of the drone on the far right, inspecting and then taking the bolt action rifle. The earth pony stallion starts to walk towards Spectral Streak, and then towards Silver and the door after Spectral Streak does not acknowledge him but moves towards the door.
"What do we do now?" He asks Spectral Streak, and Spectral Streak looks back to him only momentarily before placing the sling of the rifle over his shoulder, facing his head forward, and speaking as he walks towards the door.
"You heard him. Stay put for now."
The mare and the Pegasus are both standing, with the mare taking a moment to breath. The yellow pegasus tries to address Silver, or maybe it's Spectral Streak, saying
"Thank you, by the way. Can I get your name? We'll definitely want to tell this story when this is all over."
The salmon stallion cautiously pokes his head through the doorway to speak to Spectral Streak, who is limping as he walks along the wall to the doorway.
"We still don't know where-"
A loud crash, and the thunder of the second most evil sound of gunfire Silver has ever heard:
CHACHACHACHACHACHACHACHA
In a moment, Silver hears the sound of glass breaking, he sees bullet holes appearing immediately above the lowered shoulders of the limping Spectral Streak, the Salmon Stallion moving behind the wall and raising his rifle, clouds of drywall in the hallway on the other side of Spectral Streak, Spectral Streak diving down and towards the door, and the yellow stallion falling.
From the second floor above the recording studio, one of the windows that line the wall breaks.
Silver now has a full set in his rifle. Spectral Streak, limping ever so slightly, stays near the door well. But as Silver investigates the weapons left behind by the drone leader, Spectral Streak ventures further into the studio, moving over to the corpse of the drone on the far right, inspecting and then taking the bolt action rifle. The earth pony stallion starts to walk towards Spectral Streak, and then towards Silver and the door after Spectral Streak does not acknowledge him but moves towards the door.
"What do we do now?" He asks Spectral Streak, and Spectral Streak looks back to him only momentarily before placing the sling of the rifle over his shoulder, facing his head forward, and speaking as he walks towards the door.
"You heard him. Stay put for now."
The mare and the Pegasus are both standing, with the mare taking a moment to breath. The yellow pegasus tries to address Silver, or maybe it's Spectral Streak, saying
"Thank you, by the way. Can I get your name? We'll definitely want to tell this story when this is all over."
The salmon stallion cautiously pokes his head through the doorway to speak to Spectral Streak, who is limping as he walks along the wall to the doorway.
"We still don't know where-"
A loud crash, and the thunder of the second most evil sound of gunfire Silver has ever heard:
CHACHACHACHACHACHACHACHA
In a moment, Silver hears the sound of glass breaking, he sees bullet holes appearing immediately above the lowered shoulders of the limping Spectral Streak, the Salmon Stallion moving behind the wall and raising his rifle, clouds of drywall in the hallway on the other side of Spectral Streak, Spectral Streak diving down and towards the door, and the yellow stallion falling.
From the second floor above the recording studio, one of the windows that line the wall breaks.
File (): 0143DF7A41B77FE4F69A3787AE339761-308656.png (301.4 KB, 1280x720, 1962535.png)
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
>>166454
"SHIT!"
Silver turns his sights upwards and fires a burst from his freshly-loaded Jenny into the second floor window.
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
>>166454
"SHIT!"
Silver turns his sights upwards and fires a burst from his freshly-loaded Jenny into the second floor window.
>>166458
In the dark of the window, Silver can see a dark silhouette holding what seems to be a rifle. With a quick Bang Bang Bang Bang in rapid succession, the silhouette recedes from view. In the next tense moments, Silver expects a reply. But none comes. The room above the studio, illuminated by dim blue lights, is silent, and no motion is visible through the window from this angle. More glass shatters as it falls to the floor. The yellow pegasus starts to get up. Silver may believe at first that his fall was caused by a bullet strike, but he appears unharmed. Spectral Streak, having dived to the ground behind the wall outside the doorway, peaks back in in prone position, holding his rifle. The salmon stallion, not peaking in, but speaking behind cover, laying next to Streak, says
"Well... at least we found their machine gun."
In the dark of the window, Silver can see a dark silhouette holding what seems to be a rifle. With a quick Bang Bang Bang Bang in rapid succession, the silhouette recedes from view. In the next tense moments, Silver expects a reply. But none comes. The room above the studio, illuminated by dim blue lights, is silent, and no motion is visible through the window from this angle. More glass shatters as it falls to the floor. The yellow pegasus starts to get up. Silver may believe at first that his fall was caused by a bullet strike, but he appears unharmed. Spectral Streak, having dived to the ground behind the wall outside the doorway, peaks back in in prone position, holding his rifle. The salmon stallion, not peaking in, but speaking behind cover, laying next to Streak, says
"Well... at least we found their machine gun."
>>166461
Earth pony:
"What was that?"
Yellow pegasus:
"I'm okay..."
Mare:
"Are there more?"
Spectral Streak:
"Almost got me. Keep your eyes up."
Earth pony:
"What was that?"
Yellow pegasus:
"I'm okay..."
Mare:
"Are there more?"
Spectral Streak:
"Almost got me. Keep your eyes up."
>>166464
"Okay...change of plans. We will put these three and other captive I rescued in another room. I know of one that will be suitable." He looks to the yellow pegasus, the earth pony, and the mare. "You three are coming with us."
"Okay...change of plans. We will put these three and other captive I rescued in another room. I know of one that will be suitable." He looks to the yellow pegasus, the earth pony, and the mare. "You three are coming with us."
>>166465
Yellow Pegasus: “Sure…” he shakes, still laying on the ground with his hooves over his head. He stands up, and darts to the door. The earth pony walks more slowly, hugging the walls and glancing over to the windows above. The mare is the hardest to coax out, staying put in her hiding space. Spectral Streak walks over, and essentially carries her out of the room, looking over his shoulder at the room above. The Salmon stallion stands in the doorway to keep watch at the room, then decides to come all the way into the studio, rather than leave his flanks blind in the hallway.
Yellow Pegasus: “Sure…” he shakes, still laying on the ground with his hooves over his head. He stands up, and darts to the door. The earth pony walks more slowly, hugging the walls and glancing over to the windows above. The mare is the hardest to coax out, staying put in her hiding space. Spectral Streak walks over, and essentially carries her out of the room, looking over his shoulder at the room above. The Salmon stallion stands in the doorway to keep watch at the room, then decides to come all the way into the studio, rather than leave his flanks blind in the hallway.
>>166466
Silver, feeling like the least injured of the three and the only one knowing where they're going to go, takes point, keeping his Jenny at the ready as he leads the group back through the parts of the building they already cleared. He speaks quietly to the group as they proceed, just in case there are any eavesdropping changelings watching.
"We are making stop to pick up green pegasus survivor in camera storage room, then we will drop all of you off in second floor office. There is pair of ponies there who managed to sleep through invasion and avoid detection."
Silver, feeling like the least injured of the three and the only one knowing where they're going to go, takes point, keeping his Jenny at the ready as he leads the group back through the parts of the building they already cleared. He speaks quietly to the group as they proceed, just in case there are any eavesdropping changelings watching.
"We are making stop to pick up green pegasus survivor in camera storage room, then we will drop all of you off in second floor office. There is pair of ponies there who managed to sleep through invasion and avoid detection."
>>166467
The earth pony is now the one to reply: “Alright, we’ll follow you”. All six ponies are together in the hallway, out of line of sight from the room watching above.
The earth pony is now the one to reply: “Alright, we’ll follow you”. All six ponies are together in the hallway, out of line of sight from the room watching above.
>>166468
Silver keeps his head on a swivel as he leads the group towards the camera storage room, where he last saw the green pegasus.
Silver keeps his head on a swivel as he leads the group towards the camera storage room, where he last saw the green pegasus.
>>166469
Silver turns left through the doorway and into the hall, which is illuminated both by electric lights and sunlight through the windows. The three civilians move hastily behind Silver, fearing to stray far, but only waiting until Silver had turned the corner to follow. Spectral Streak takes the rear, keeping his gun pointed at the shattered window, and then, last to leave the studio, behind them. The Salmon stallion takes position with the civilians behind Silver. Silver turns the corner to see an empty hallway. It’s mostly quiet, with the humming sound of distant electronic equipment. It’s oddly serene, with no bullet holes to betray the battles that took place elsewhere in this same building. Silver feels the whole building shake and sway slightly, moved by some tremor that must be imperceptible on the ground. Then it’s over in a movement. Silver hears a very distant sound of footsteps, evidently up a stairway.
Silver arrives at his destination, the film storage room. At first he sees nothing but the shelves full of film reels and various other items, but through a gap in the shelves, he sees the green fur of the poorly hidden Pegasus pony.
Silver turns left through the doorway and into the hall, which is illuminated both by electric lights and sunlight through the windows. The three civilians move hastily behind Silver, fearing to stray far, but only waiting until Silver had turned the corner to follow. Spectral Streak takes the rear, keeping his gun pointed at the shattered window, and then, last to leave the studio, behind them. The Salmon stallion takes position with the civilians behind Silver. Silver turns the corner to see an empty hallway. It’s mostly quiet, with the humming sound of distant electronic equipment. It’s oddly serene, with no bullet holes to betray the battles that took place elsewhere in this same building. Silver feels the whole building shake and sway slightly, moved by some tremor that must be imperceptible on the ground. Then it’s over in a movement. Silver hears a very distant sound of footsteps, evidently up a stairway.
Silver arrives at his destination, the film storage room. At first he sees nothing but the shelves full of film reels and various other items, but through a gap in the shelves, he sees the green fur of the poorly hidden Pegasus pony.
>>166471
The Pegasus looks over at Silver with very wide eyes, clearly not expecting somepony to see him. After a beet, he says,
“Oh, it’s you again!”’ Yeah, I’ve just been here… not getting shot…” he moves his tail down under his legs and has an uncomfortable smile. “Did I hear gunfire?”
The Pegasus looks over at Silver with very wide eyes, clearly not expecting somepony to see him. After a beet, he says,
“Oh, it’s you again!”’ Yeah, I’ve just been here… not getting shot…” he moves his tail down under his legs and has an uncomfortable smile. “Did I hear gunfire?”
>>166472
Silver nods, and pulls out his flashlight to give the pegasus the changeling test.
"Yes there was. Now, hold still just one moment."
Silver nods, and pulls out his flashlight to give the pegasus the changeling test.
"Yes there was. Now, hold still just one moment."
>>166473
He squints, and Silver sees his pupils dilate as his ears move back, and he leans back, picking up and folding his left hood. Silver can still see most of the eye. There’s no… obvious reflection? It seems to be an opaque white.
He squints, and Silver sees his pupils dilate as his ears move back, and he leans back, picking up and folding his left hood. Silver can still see most of the eye. There’s no… obvious reflection? It seems to be an opaque white.
>>166474
Eh, close enough. Silver puts his flashlight away.
"Building is not yet clear, but we are moving you and other survivors to more secure office room on second floor."
Eh, close enough. Silver puts his flashlight away.
"Building is not yet clear, but we are moving you and other survivors to more secure office room on second floor."
>>166476
Silver motions with his head for the green pegasus to follow, as he exits the room.
"Come on."
Silver motions with his head for the green pegasus to follow, as he exits the room.
"Come on."
>>166477
The Pegasus follows Silver outside, where the Salmon stallion has taken point in the front. The ponies go forward down the hall until several figures walk into view from the left at the end of the hall. It’s a white Pegasus stallion in homeguard green with khakis, the vermillion pony Silver saw early, and a third pony, a dark purple earth pony stallion, also in homeguard green. The vermillion earth pony must be in his late twenties, and is actually the youngest. He carries a Jenny battle rifle, as does the white Pegasus, who is older. The last stallion, the deep purple earth pony, is probably in his forties, and carries a design of submachine gun Silver doesn’t think he’s ever seen before, with a heat shield and a curved magazine on the side. At first they point their guns at Silver and the ponies, but lower them quickly. It’s the Vermillion pony who says,
“Wait. Orange!”
The Salmon stallion replies “Kumquat.”
The white Pegasus, who has darker peppered tips on his wings, addresses the salmon stallion. “Is this floor secured?”
The Pegasus follows Silver outside, where the Salmon stallion has taken point in the front. The ponies go forward down the hall until several figures walk into view from the left at the end of the hall. It’s a white Pegasus stallion in homeguard green with khakis, the vermillion pony Silver saw early, and a third pony, a dark purple earth pony stallion, also in homeguard green. The vermillion earth pony must be in his late twenties, and is actually the youngest. He carries a Jenny battle rifle, as does the white Pegasus, who is older. The last stallion, the deep purple earth pony, is probably in his forties, and carries a design of submachine gun Silver doesn’t think he’s ever seen before, with a heat shield and a curved magazine on the side. At first they point their guns at Silver and the ponies, but lower them quickly. It’s the Vermillion pony who says,
“Wait. Orange!”
The Salmon stallion replies “Kumquat.”
The white Pegasus, who has darker peppered tips on his wings, addresses the salmon stallion. “Is this floor secured?”
>>166478
Silver's initial reaction of panic of having three guns pointed at him, his comrades, and the survivors turns to relief when he hears the salmon and vermillion ponies speak what must be a code phrase to each other. Although the salmon stallion is the one addressed, Silver nods in response.
"This floor is secure, we are just gathering survivors we found and moving them to more secure room on second floor."
Silver's initial reaction of panic of having three guns pointed at him, his comrades, and the survivors turns to relief when he hears the salmon and vermillion ponies speak what must be a code phrase to each other. Although the salmon stallion is the one addressed, Silver nods in response.
"This floor is secure, we are just gathering survivors we found and moving them to more secure room on second floor."
File (): 30C430C687DB63E559D6AD6B706DADFA-33071.gif (32.3 KB, 112x112, ZeebPat.gif)
What's Nadir up to these days?
>>166482
"Unknown, most likely there are still some left. We were attacked by machine gun from top floor, though it is dead now."
"Unknown, most likely there are still some left. We were attacked by machine gun from top floor, though it is dead now."
>>166073
Amber comes to the trail, a winding road built on raised terrain above the stagnating brown leaf-stained water, composed partly of mounds of dirt that by happenstance rise above the inundated forest floor, partly of alluvial deposits built up by ancient overflows of the Griffking, partly of peat and the decomposed remains of millennia of plant growth, and partly, surely, of dirt and rocks brought from long distances to fill in and reinforce gaps in the roadway. Even in day time, this pathway must be dark, shadowed by the towering growth of ancient oak trees that must surely have grown before the Grimclaw dynasty, and flanked by a thicker undergrowth of willow trees that blot out most of the rays of the waning gibbous moon. Amber knows both rationally and instinctively that she was right to not trust the road, as the same quality that makes it so necessary to Amber and the flock, makes it attractive to danger as well. Looking into the damp dirt, Amber can see what seems to be the tracks of a recent wagon passing, the showed prints of a griffin paw, and the pawprints of some unidentified by presumably carnivorous animal. And yet the alternative is much worse. The opaque waters of the swamp surely hide quicksand, snakes, leeches, freshwater alligators, and perhaps worse... but worst of all, they take from the flock what they can least spare - time. The road is the only quick way from Katerinburg to the border at Griffking, and with haste they will be in Bronzehill by mid-morning. Amber feels tired, exhausted even, and Helder has to be persuaded by the other members not to stop long for rest at the dilapidated remains of a farmhouse present on an outcropping to the left at some point in the journey.
Amber comes to the trail, a winding road built on raised terrain above the stagnating brown leaf-stained water, composed partly of mounds of dirt that by happenstance rise above the inundated forest floor, partly of alluvial deposits built up by ancient overflows of the Griffking, partly of peat and the decomposed remains of millennia of plant growth, and partly, surely, of dirt and rocks brought from long distances to fill in and reinforce gaps in the roadway. Even in day time, this pathway must be dark, shadowed by the towering growth of ancient oak trees that must surely have grown before the Grimclaw dynasty, and flanked by a thicker undergrowth of willow trees that blot out most of the rays of the waning gibbous moon. Amber knows both rationally and instinctively that she was right to not trust the road, as the same quality that makes it so necessary to Amber and the flock, makes it attractive to danger as well. Looking into the damp dirt, Amber can see what seems to be the tracks of a recent wagon passing, the showed prints of a griffin paw, and the pawprints of some unidentified by presumably carnivorous animal. And yet the alternative is much worse. The opaque waters of the swamp surely hide quicksand, snakes, leeches, freshwater alligators, and perhaps worse... but worst of all, they take from the flock what they can least spare - time. The road is the only quick way from Katerinburg to the border at Griffking, and with haste they will be in Bronzehill by mid-morning. Amber feels tired, exhausted even, and Helder has to be persuaded by the other members not to stop long for rest at the dilapidated remains of a farmhouse present on an outcropping to the left at some point in the journey.
>>166486
Silver shakes his head.
"We found these three," he says, as he motions to the yellow pegasus, the earth pony, and the mare, "captive of group of changelings impersonating Home Guard unit in two-story room on this floor. After we killed impersonating changelings, we were attacked by machine gun from second story of room."
Silver shakes his head.
"We found these three," he says, as he motions to the yellow pegasus, the earth pony, and the mare, "captive of group of changelings impersonating Home Guard unit in two-story room on this floor. After we killed impersonating changelings, we were attacked by machine gun from second story of room."
>>166487
He pauses for a moment.
"You know a bomb was found in the regional administrative building a mile from here, in downtown." Then another pause. "I doubt they did all of this just to take the station off the air."
He pauses for a moment.
"You know a bomb was found in the regional administrative building a mile from here, in downtown." Then another pause. "I doubt they did all of this just to take the station off the air."
>>166489
"A thermal area of effect bomb that would not have left us here to be talking about it if the Homeguard and the air reserve hadn't squashed them. We don't know what they have here, but we know damn good and well it's no good for us."
"A thermal area of effect bomb that would not have left us here to be talking about it if the Homeguard and the air reserve hadn't squashed them. We don't know what they have here, but we know damn good and well it's no good for us."
>>166490
"Like Colitsyn...these civilians still have to get somewhere secure until building is cleared and we can call for evac."
"Like Colitsyn...these civilians still have to get somewhere secure until building is cleared and we can call for evac."
>>166492
Silver nods.
"Okay then, we will go finish clearing this building. Do not forget about two civilians in second floor office."
Silver nods.
"Okay then, we will go finish clearing this building. Do not forget about two civilians in second floor office."
>>166493
"Yes sir." He says. He motions to the ponies behind Silver. "You. Come with us." He takes his hoof and moves it towards himself in gesture, and the orange mare, the salmon stallion, the yellow pegasus, the green pegasus, and the red earth pony all come to him. "Not you" he says to the salmon stallion, gesturing for him to stop."
Then the white pegasus turns back to Silver.
"So who is going upstairs?"
"Yes sir." He says. He motions to the ponies behind Silver. "You. Come with us." He takes his hoof and moves it towards himself in gesture, and the orange mare, the salmon stallion, the yellow pegasus, the green pegasus, and the red earth pony all come to him. "Not you" he says to the salmon stallion, gesturing for him to stop."
Then the white pegasus turns back to Silver.
"So who is going upstairs?"
>>166494
"Definitely not...eh..." Silver turns to the salmon stallion, "I realize I never got your name."
"Definitely not...eh..." Silver turns to the salmon stallion, "I realize I never got your name."
>>166495
The Salmon stallion seems to hesitate, but answers
"Azelea Bloom... private first class in the War, but a corporal in the Homeguard." He answers
The Salmon stallion seems to hesitate, but answers
"Azelea Bloom... private first class in the War, but a corporal in the Homeguard." He answers
>>166496
Silver nots, and turns back to the white pegasus.
"He fought well but took large amount of bullets in fighting, most of which are still inside him. I worry about his continued existence if he keeps going."
Silver nots, and turns back to the white pegasus.
"He fought well but took large amount of bullets in fighting, most of which are still inside him. I worry about his continued existence if he keeps going."
>>166497
Corporal Bloom stands silently, and then nods and says “I know where this room is located.” The white Pegasus listens to Silver and then says,
“Very well. Corporal Bloom, escort the civilians downstairs.”
Corporal Bloom stands silently, and then nods and says “I know where this room is located.” The white Pegasus listens to Silver and then says,
“Very well. Corporal Bloom, escort the civilians downstairs.”
>>166499
Silver gently pats Bloom's shoulder, saying to him, "You did good today," before turning back again to the white pegasus.
"I do not know what your thoughts are as to sending somepony with him to help watch civilians, but we may need every pony we can get besides him to clear final floor."
Silver gently pats Bloom's shoulder, saying to him, "You did good today," before turning back again to the white pegasus.
"I do not know what your thoughts are as to sending somepony with him to help watch civilians, but we may need every pony we can get besides him to clear final floor."
>>166500
Bloom breathes in, then breathes out, clearly still in pain from his injuries. He nods. “Thank you.”
The white Pegasus says to Silver:
“Yeah. I agree. Corporal Bloom, can you escort them alone?”
He replies,
“If - if there’s no more bugs behind us…”
The white Pegasus:
“We just came that way. There aren’t.”
Corporal Bloom:
“Uh, yes sir. I can escort them alone.”
He motions back to the civilians
“Follow me”
Bloom breathes in, then breathes out, clearly still in pain from his injuries. He nods. “Thank you.”
The white Pegasus says to Silver:
“Yeah. I agree. Corporal Bloom, can you escort them alone?”
He replies,
“If - if there’s no more bugs behind us…”
The white Pegasus:
“We just came that way. There aren’t.”
Corporal Bloom:
“Uh, yes sir. I can escort them alone.”
He motions back to the civilians
“Follow me”
>>166502
They each nod.
The last pony in the group, the middle aged deep purple pony with the submachine gun, holds his gun up and says
“I’m from Canterlot, and I say kill them all!”
They follow Silver.
They each nod.
The last pony in the group, the middle aged deep purple pony with the submachine gun, holds his gun up and says
“I’m from Canterlot, and I say kill them all!”
They follow Silver.
>>166503
Silver leads the group back towards the unexplored part of the building, Jenny at the ready.
Silver leads the group back towards the unexplored part of the building, Jenny at the ready.
>>166485
Time is of the essence. Amber says to the rest, "We can't afford to stop. Don't make any noise, and be prepared to wade into the water if you hear a search party approaching." She idly wonders what latitude they are on if alligators may be a problem.
Time is of the essence. Amber says to the rest, "We can't afford to stop. Don't make any noise, and be prepared to wade into the water if you hear a search party approaching." She idly wonders what latitude they are on if alligators may be a problem.
>>166505
To tartarus with alligators, there could be hydras or lake serpents in these waters.
As Amber and company walk, the path becomes surrounded on both sides by water, as if built upon a berm or levy to border an inundated field now long abandoned. Federkield and Erich walk a little ahead, with Helder lagging just a little behind. Then the path goes land that is several feet above water, but overgrown with dense willow bushes and other undergrowth, capped as always by massive cypress and other deciduous trees. It isn't very far into this that Amber can see, under the dim light of the gibbous moon, a small coach mostly parked in the dirt off the road. Amber can see a yoke, but no oxen.
And next to the coach is a female griffin, whose white feathers glow under the light. She addresses Federklied and Erich. "Oh, thank Boreas you're here!"
To tartarus with alligators, there could be hydras or lake serpents in these waters.
As Amber and company walk, the path becomes surrounded on both sides by water, as if built upon a berm or levy to border an inundated field now long abandoned. Federkield and Erich walk a little ahead, with Helder lagging just a little behind. Then the path goes land that is several feet above water, but overgrown with dense willow bushes and other undergrowth, capped as always by massive cypress and other deciduous trees. It isn't very far into this that Amber can see, under the dim light of the gibbous moon, a small coach mostly parked in the dirt off the road. Amber can see a yoke, but no oxen.
And next to the coach is a female griffin, whose white feathers glow under the light. She addresses Federklied and Erich. "Oh, thank Boreas you're here!"
>>166504
Silver, Spectral Streak, and the other ponies walk up the stairs to see a single hallway that is much shorter than the hallways on the floor below, with one room to the left, one to the right, and one at the end.
Silver, Spectral Streak, and the other ponies walk up the stairs to see a single hallway that is much shorter than the hallways on the floor below, with one room to the left, one to the right, and one at the end.
>>166514
As they climb the stairs, an avalanche of bullets fired from an airship destroys the building and kills two members.
As they climb the stairs, an avalanche of bullets fired from an airship destroys the building and kills two members.
>>166513
Amber, under the pressure of escaping, has never hated damp terrain so much. She wonders to herself if the Hayseed Swamp is like this.
She is startled by this new appearance, who looks as much a ghost as griffon. The greatest surprise is that anyone but the searchers would be in this wilderness. She glares at Erich and Federklied, exclaiming, "You never told me about this!" Maybe they did, but I have no recollection of it and I'm away from my main notes
Amber, under the pressure of escaping, has never hated damp terrain so much. She wonders to herself if the Hayseed Swamp is like this.
She is startled by this new appearance, who looks as much a ghost as griffon. The greatest surprise is that anyone but the searchers would be in this wilderness. She glares at Erich and Federklied, exclaiming, "You never told me about this!" Maybe they did, but I have no recollection of it and I'm away from my main notes
>>166516
F
That's not terribly far from what could happen
>>166517
The Hayseed must surely be warmer than this, as a cool Fall breeze is stilled by the undergrowth of willows. Amber hears a rustling in the bushes, which is drowned out by the whining sound of the glowing white griffin.
"The wheel got stuck in the mud on the side of the road and... my husband went off ahead with the ox. I've been alone here for I think a few hours and you're the first to come along... surely you can help move our cart here?!"
The other members of Amber's party are no less surprised to see somegriff else on these roads. Then again, they've obviously had some recent use. Erich and Helder are curious though unwilling to be any part of this, and move slightly closer, while Federklied seems unsettled, and moves further away.
Erich replies to Amber's exclamation, if only to divert attention away from the female griffin:
"Never told you what?"
F
That's not terribly far from what could happen
>>166517
The Hayseed must surely be warmer than this, as a cool Fall breeze is stilled by the undergrowth of willows. Amber hears a rustling in the bushes, which is drowned out by the whining sound of the glowing white griffin.
"The wheel got stuck in the mud on the side of the road and... my husband went off ahead with the ox. I've been alone here for I think a few hours and you're the first to come along... surely you can help move our cart here?!"
The other members of Amber's party are no less surprised to see somegriff else on these roads. Then again, they've obviously had some recent use. Erich and Helder are curious though unwilling to be any part of this, and move slightly closer, while Federklied seems unsettled, and moves further away.
Erich replies to Amber's exclamation, if only to divert attention away from the female griffin:
"Never told you what?"
>>166518
Amber's imagination is evidently running wild again. Ghostly griffins will do that. "I thought for a moment you had a cart waiting. Nevermind."
A wagon would provide some helpful rest while continuing on their way, if only for a short while, but only if it is headed in the same direction. Amber asks the griffin, "Which way are you headed?"
Amber's imagination is evidently running wild again. Ghostly griffins will do that. "I thought for a moment you had a cart waiting. Nevermind."
A wagon would provide some helpful rest while continuing on their way, if only for a short while, but only if it is headed in the same direction. Amber asks the griffin, "Which way are you headed?"
>>166519
She looks up towards Amber and makes eye contact. Her eyes are a yellow-green, or so they seem in the moonlight. Something in her expression makes it look almost as if she wasn't expecting Amber to speak to her.
"Oh, over towards the village. By the river."
She looks up towards Amber and makes eye contact. Her eyes are a yellow-green, or so they seem in the moonlight. Something in her expression makes it look almost as if she wasn't expecting Amber to speak to her.
"Oh, over towards the village. By the river."
>>166520
Griffons always look odd, but this is definitely one of the less ugly ones.
Amber turns to Helder. "That's not the way we're going, is it?"
Griffons always look odd, but this is definitely one of the less ugly ones.
Amber turns to Helder. "That's not the way we're going, is it?"
>>166521
Helder takes a solid three seconds to seem to notice that Amber is speaking to him. But then he turns to Amber.
"Uh, yes. More or less."
Helder takes a solid three seconds to seem to notice that Amber is speaking to him. But then he turns to Amber.
"Uh, yes. More or less."
>>166522
She blinks at his use of an affirmation for a negative question. "Yes, it's on our way or no, it's not?"
She blinks at his use of an affirmation for a negative question. "Yes, it's on our way or no, it's not?"
>>166524
He blinks. Between the whining griffin and sleep deprivation he needs a second and a half to ponder Amber's question. "I'm not entirely sure what she's talking about, but it must be near the crossing."
He blinks. Between the whining griffin and sleep deprivation he needs a second and a half to ponder Amber's question. "I'm not entirely sure what she's talking about, but it must be near the crossing."
>>166525
We really do need a rest. And at the very least, helping her might convince her not to divulge if the Inquisition asks questions.
Amber turns back to the griffin in the mundane predicament. "Sure, we'll help," she answers, then looks at the wagon to see how to free it. "Why didn't you use the oxen to pull it out of the mud?"
We really do need a rest. And at the very least, helping her might convince her not to divulge if the Inquisition asks questions.
Amber turns back to the griffin in the mundane predicament. "Sure, we'll help," she answers, then looks at the wagon to see how to free it. "Why didn't you use the oxen to pull it out of the mud?"
>>166526
When Amber asks her question, the griffin is looking forward and away from Amber. But her eyes immediately move to Amber in acknowledgement of the fact that she is speaking to her. She does not reply immediately. In fact, there is a longer delay. Her eyes look around.
"My husband... the ox... it could not quite pull it out. Not how it was stuck."
When Amber asks her question, the griffin is looking forward and away from Amber. But her eyes immediately move to Amber in acknowledgement of the fact that she is speaking to her. She does not reply immediately. In fact, there is a longer delay. Her eyes look around.
"My husband... the ox... it could not quite pull it out. Not how it was stuck."
>>166527
"Okay…." There is clearly something this griffon is not being honest about. At least, except for the most paranoid musings she can be ruled out as an agent of the Inquisition. They would not likely come up with an elaborate trick in so short a time, they would not need to make a trap to catch them nor would they do so if they knew Amber's path. She looks to see how precisely it is stuck.
"Okay…." There is clearly something this griffon is not being honest about. At least, except for the most paranoid musings she can be ruled out as an agent of the Inquisition. They would not likely come up with an elaborate trick in so short a time, they would not need to make a trap to catch them nor would they do so if they knew Amber's path. She looks to see how precisely it is stuck.
>>166528
The left front wheel is on the road, and the left rear wheel is on solid dirt. The front right wheel is in grass, and the right rear wheel is... in a rut? It's hard to see with limited light and the undergrowth
The left front wheel is on the road, and the left rear wheel is on solid dirt. The front right wheel is in grass, and the right rear wheel is... in a rut? It's hard to see with limited light and the undergrowth
>>166529
"Only one corner is stuck, so I think we could all lift it out. It would be much easier with the oxen so they can pull. Do you know when your husband will be back?"
"Only one corner is stuck, so I think we could all lift it out. It would be much easier with the oxen so they can pull. Do you know when your husband will be back?"
>>166532
Amber is sleep deprived, and quite frankly, isn't the best at seeing through deception. But damn it, there was something off about the delivery of that last line.
Amber is sleep deprived, and quite frankly, isn't the best at seeing through deception. But damn it, there was something off about the delivery of that last line.
>>166534
She looks at Amber blankly and starts laughing,
"Heh heh heh, No."
Helder, Federklied, Erich, and now Amber are all next to the cart. Amber hears more rustling in the undergrowth
She looks at Amber blankly and starts laughing,
"Heh heh heh, No."
Helder, Federklied, Erich, and now Amber are all next to the cart. Amber hears more rustling in the undergrowth
>>166535
Amber has no choice but to admit that perhaps those paranoid musings were right now that the signs are unmistakeable. "It's a trap, run for it!" she shouts, pointing to the direction opposite the rustling and sprinting.
Amber has no choice but to admit that perhaps those paranoid musings were right now that the signs are unmistakeable. "It's a trap, run for it!" she shouts, pointing to the direction opposite the rustling and sprinting.
>>166536
Next to the cart, two figures come out of the bushes. By their silhouettes, they must be carrying long guns.
Amber may roll to try to evade
Next to the cart, two figures come out of the bushes. By their silhouettes, they must be carrying long guns.
Amber may roll to try to evade
>>166538
Amber can see, out of the corner of her eyes, another figure on the road in front of them, and one behind them, near where the road goes back over water.
[1d20 = 5]
Amber can see, out of the corner of her eyes, another figure on the road in front of them, and one behind them, near where the road goes back over water.
[1d20 = 5]
>>166541
Amber finds pretty quickly that she can't go very far at all. This location seems to be an island, though it's hard to tell. And the undergrowth is thick. All the same, she can at least, get a little bit aways from the attackers. It's not that hard to hide, with the thick willows and the limited light.
Amber finds pretty quickly that she can't go very far at all. This location seems to be an island, though it's hard to tell. And the undergrowth is thick. All the same, she can at least, get a little bit aways from the attackers. It's not that hard to hide, with the thick willows and the limited light.
>>166542
Certainly an excellent place for an ambush, though it still boggles her how in this vast territory they managed to come across a spot prepared in advance. There is no time to dwell on such matters though. How far away are the trees on the other side of the water?
Certainly an excellent place for an ambush, though it still boggles her how in this vast territory they managed to come across a spot prepared in advance. There is no time to dwell on such matters though. How far away are the trees on the other side of the water?
>>166543
A significant distance. Amber could honestly believe the water is an inundated field, as the proportions are rather similar.
A significant distance. Amber could honestly believe the water is an inundated field, as the proportions are rather similar.
>>166544
Trotting in a soggy field isn't pleasant in the best of times, and not being able to see anything as well as taking several minutes to get across….
This is one scenario where it truly is better to hide instead of run. Hide: [1d20+2 = (6+2) = 8]
Trotting in a soggy field isn't pleasant in the best of times, and not being able to see anything as well as taking several minutes to get across….
This is one scenario where it truly is better to hide instead of run. Hide: [1d20+2 = (6+2) = 8]
>>166545
Amber isn't the most subtle, but her task isn't difficult here. The willow bushes cover her, and the rustling of leaves in the breeze make it hard to hear her. One griffin at least looks into the bushes, evidently after Amber. Amber can hear the female griffin asking "where did he go?' But Amber can see that the other party members are being held up with their claws in the air... except for Federklied, who was evidently tackled to the ground by two griffins.
Amber isn't the most subtle, but her task isn't difficult here. The willow bushes cover her, and the rustling of leaves in the breeze make it hard to hear her. One griffin at least looks into the bushes, evidently after Amber. Amber can hear the female griffin asking "where did he go?' But Amber can see that the other party members are being held up with their claws in the air... except for Federklied, who was evidently tackled to the ground by two griffins.
>>166546
Drat drat drat…I was hoping the others would make it. There is nothing I can do, I am unarmed and they have guns!
Drat drat drat…I was hoping the others would make it. There is nothing I can do, I am unarmed and they have guns!
>>166547
And yet, for this, for all of this, Amber knows exactly what would remedy this situation.
Where'd she leave her viol?
And yet, for this, for all of this, Amber knows exactly what would remedy this situation.
Where'd she leave her viol?
>>166550
She dropped it, didn't she? Amber circles around the hostile band at a distance, trying not to make a sound. Move silently: [1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
She dropped it, didn't she? Amber circles around the hostile band at a distance, trying not to make a sound. Move silently: [1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
>>166551
Amber placed it down when she went to talk to the griffin. Fortunately, it was by the bushes.
Amber is able to creep through the bushes, and slowly, slowly, take the viol.
Amber can hear that Federklied had evidently reached for her gun (but the griffins disarmed her), Erich is being... impolite... and Helder is trying to negotiate. It seems they are simple bandits, as they are most interested in possessions of value, and whether or not they can obtain some sort of ransom.
Amber placed it down when she went to talk to the griffin. Fortunately, it was by the bushes.
Amber is able to creep through the bushes, and slowly, slowly, take the viol.
Amber can hear that Federklied had evidently reached for her gun (but the griffins disarmed her), Erich is being... impolite... and Helder is trying to negotiate. It seems they are simple bandits, as they are most interested in possessions of value, and whether or not they can obtain some sort of ransom.
>>166552
That…makes more sense, and explains why they were unwilling to shoot so as to not attract attention. Now that she has the viol, she retreats a short distance until hidden by the undergrowth.
That…makes more sense, and explains why they were unwilling to shoot so as to not attract attention. Now that she has the viol, she retreats a short distance until hidden by the undergrowth.
>>166553
Amber has the viol now. The large instrument is a bit difficult to drag through the undergrowth, but it is possible if one is careful. They have noticed that Amber is missing, and one or two griffins has their attention focused on Amber, though finding out whether or not they are proactively looking for her, or simply keeping guard if she returns, would require reentering line of sight with them.
Amber has the viol now. The large instrument is a bit difficult to drag through the undergrowth, but it is possible if one is careful. They have noticed that Amber is missing, and one or two griffins has their attention focused on Amber, though finding out whether or not they are proactively looking for her, or simply keeping guard if she returns, would require reentering line of sight with them.
>>166554
Although a plan has already brewed in her head, for now she will stay silent and listen to what's going on.
Although a plan has already brewed in her head, for now she will stay silent and listen to what's going on.
>>166555
One male griffin has taken over interrogation. The griffin is trying to figure out where the group is going, and why. He doesn't quite believe Helder when the latter claims that they are simply travelling to Bronzehill late at night after their train was cancelled, to make it in time for the execution of a will; even if his story is strangely detailed about required witnesses and whatnot. They don't seem to know that Amber's party is fugitives, though they are certainly interested. The government probably would pay a bounty to highwaymen.
One male griffin has taken over interrogation. The griffin is trying to figure out where the group is going, and why. He doesn't quite believe Helder when the latter claims that they are simply travelling to Bronzehill late at night after their train was cancelled, to make it in time for the execution of a will; even if his story is strangely detailed about required witnesses and whatnot. They don't seem to know that Amber's party is fugitives, though they are certainly interested. The government probably would pay a bounty to highwaymen.
>>166556
Amber personally would have tried claiming that they are also criminals, even to the point of claiming to be thieves, but evidently that would not work either. Apparently the adage "no honor among thieves" holds true in Griffonia as well.
There is really only one thing Amber can do. After rubbing the mud off her talons, she takes her viol out of its case and starts playing a haunting tune.
Amber personally would have tried claiming that they are also criminals, even to the point of claiming to be thieves, but evidently that would not work either. Apparently the adage "no honor among thieves" holds true in Griffonia as well.
There is really only one thing Amber can do. After rubbing the mud off her talons, she takes her viol out of its case and starts playing a haunting tune.
>>166557
Perhaps it would have; they would likely have taken their watches and let them go, if they believed Amber. But hope is a powerful thing, and it appears the bandits are hoping someone will pay handsomely for Amber's party, be they nobles ransoming relatives, or the government paying a bounty, Right now, the bandit leader's hypothesis is that the group are rebels fleeing after a successful strike, nevermind the fact that rebels fleeing an unsuccessful strike wouldn't be worth as much.
To play a haunting tune, place the bow against the string, and play it slowly. High pitched. Let the sound linger. The bandits will hear it, to be sure. No matter. It isn't for them.
But Amber knows there is True power held in the vibrations.
Perhaps it would have; they would likely have taken their watches and let them go, if they believed Amber. But hope is a powerful thing, and it appears the bandits are hoping someone will pay handsomely for Amber's party, be they nobles ransoming relatives, or the government paying a bounty, Right now, the bandit leader's hypothesis is that the group are rebels fleeing after a successful strike, nevermind the fact that rebels fleeing an unsuccessful strike wouldn't be worth as much.
To play a haunting tune, place the bow against the string, and play it slowly. High pitched. Let the sound linger. The bandits will hear it, to be sure. No matter. It isn't for them.
But Amber knows there is True power held in the vibrations.
>>166558
To play music in a dark forest, on the run from the authorities, with the only unrestrained creatures around being greedy bandits, goes completely against common sense. But what would common sense get her? It would be to either flee as a coward or attempt a nigh-suicidal fight. To play, to put her heart and soul into her music, is what she must do.
To play music in a dark forest, on the run from the authorities, with the only unrestrained creatures around being greedy bandits, goes completely against common sense. But what would common sense get her? It would be to either flee as a coward or attempt a nigh-suicidal fight. To play, to put her heart and soul into her music, is what she must do.
>>166559
Amber has spent the last... has it been an hour? Six hours? Longer? Hard to tell... the time has passed in an almost trance-like state, being tired, dazed, stressed and sleep deprived, feeling pain any time she stopped even for a moment. But not she grasps the wood of her viol and bow. Hearing the sound... She feels alive.
Music, Amber knows well, is the ultimate freedom from constraint. Free from the constraint of the limitations of the body. Pure emotion, will, and soul. Free from matter and space and time. Why not play a song for old friends?
Amber has spent the last... has it been an hour? Six hours? Longer? Hard to tell... the time has passed in an almost trance-like state, being tired, dazed, stressed and sleep deprived, feeling pain any time she stopped even for a moment. But not she grasps the wood of her viol and bow. Hearing the sound... She feels alive.
Music, Amber knows well, is the ultimate freedom from constraint. Free from the constraint of the limitations of the body. Pure emotion, will, and soul. Free from matter and space and time. Why not play a song for old friends?
>>166560
She does so, channeling her emotions and love for music into this perfect art form. All other worries and anguish can wait; in fact, they're not even relevant in comparison. Forget material woes and embrace the transcendent nature of music.
She does so, channeling her emotions and love for music into this perfect art form. All other worries and anguish can wait; in fact, they're not even relevant in comparison. Forget material woes and embrace the transcendent nature of music.
>>166561
She saws, back and forth. She closes her eyes to focus on the music. She can hear yelling. The bandits can hear her playing. No matter. They have no power to disrupt true music.
In her mind, the music takes form. Or rather, the music depicts the act of formation. Shapes come into being from nothing; a formless void that is slowly occupied by ever changing and moving colors. Amber can't compare it to a kaleidoscope; the colors of the kaleidoscope give no pretense of tangibility. But these colors seem more like fluids, like moisture accumulating and becoming visible as it hangs in the air.
She saws, back and forth. She closes her eyes to focus on the music. She can hear yelling. The bandits can hear her playing. No matter. They have no power to disrupt true music.
In her mind, the music takes form. Or rather, the music depicts the act of formation. Shapes come into being from nothing; a formless void that is slowly occupied by ever changing and moving colors. Amber can't compare it to a kaleidoscope; the colors of the kaleidoscope give no pretense of tangibility. But these colors seem more like fluids, like moisture accumulating and becoming visible as it hangs in the air.
>>166562
And so on the music plays. A swamp is nopony's idea of a good theater, nor does it have great acoustics, but qualities in those areas only accentuate music being played. With these melodies being seemingly unearthly, and Amber entirely engrossed in her performance, trivialities do not matter.
And so on the music plays. A swamp is nopony's idea of a good theater, nor does it have great acoustics, but qualities in those areas only accentuate music being played. With these melodies being seemingly unearthly, and Amber entirely engrossed in her performance, trivialities do not matter.
>>166563
Amber can feel the wind around her, circling and then sucking upwards. The leaves of every bush and tree rustle, but they cannot overpower the sound of the viol. Amber plays intensely, sawing the bow back and forth with an energy she would not have thought remained within her. The complicated movements of the bow come without mediation of thought as Amber translates her will into music.
The shapes take form. The forms does not correlate with any known, but they do resemble things that fly in the air, one like a bat, and another like an insect. Over here, one mimics the shape of a griffin. They dance around in the air, with their fangs and multiple sets of wings.
Amber can feel the wind around her, circling and then sucking upwards. The leaves of every bush and tree rustle, but they cannot overpower the sound of the viol. Amber plays intensely, sawing the bow back and forth with an energy she would not have thought remained within her. The complicated movements of the bow come without mediation of thought as Amber translates her will into music.
The shapes take form. The forms does not correlate with any known, but they do resemble things that fly in the air, one like a bat, and another like an insect. Over here, one mimics the shape of a griffin. They dance around in the air, with their fangs and multiple sets of wings.
>>166564
There is no time or attention to spare for marveling at such a wondrous thing. Amber attempts to create more frightful tones in her music, to scare away those pesky bandits.
There is no time or attention to spare for marveling at such a wondrous thing. Amber attempts to create more frightful tones in her music, to scare away those pesky bandits.
>>166565
Indeed, there is no time for wonder. Only for the music.
Another note joins the sound, followed by another chord, until a symphony plays with Amber. If it weren't so painful, she'd be in ecstasy. The recognizable forms lose their shape once again and they twist and morph into oblong clouds of fluid that dance around and transform again.
The music is pierced by the sound of gunshots. Several of them, all from rifles. These cretins don't appreciate music. But her friends do, and this music was made by and for Amber's friends, after all.
Indeed, there is no time for wonder. Only for the music.
Another note joins the sound, followed by another chord, until a symphony plays with Amber. If it weren't so painful, she'd be in ecstasy. The recognizable forms lose their shape once again and they twist and morph into oblong clouds of fluid that dance around and transform again.
The music is pierced by the sound of gunshots. Several of them, all from rifles. These cretins don't appreciate music. But her friends do, and this music was made by and for Amber's friends, after all.
>>166566
Such a cacophony rudely interrupts her music, but she does not stop playing. Her friends will be set free, and her music is tinged with menacing notes to make this clear.
Such a cacophony rudely interrupts her music, but she does not stop playing. Her friends will be set free, and her music is tinged with menacing notes to make this clear.
>>166515
Silver kicks the door open to the room. This is easy; the closing mechanism has been kicked open. Silver opens the door to a hot, poorly lit, medium sized rectangular room filled with very large black box-shaped machines with lights on them, and fans that make a constant hum.
But this is not what interests Silver. To the far right of the entrance is a doorway with an open door and light coming in from an adjacent room, and what Silver can recognize as the silhouette of a drone holding an assault rifle.
Unless Silver wishes to back out...
Roll Initiative
Silver kicks the door open to the room. This is easy; the closing mechanism has been kicked open. Silver opens the door to a hot, poorly lit, medium sized rectangular room filled with very large black box-shaped machines with lights on them, and fans that make a constant hum.
But this is not what interests Silver. To the far right of the entrance is a doorway with an open door and light coming in from an adjacent room, and what Silver can recognize as the silhouette of a drone holding an assault rifle.
Unless Silver wishes to back out...
Roll Initiative
>>166583
From the room behind the drone:
"Schießen Sie nicht auf die Ausrüstung!"
The drone raises his rifle and moves forward
Opposed:
[1d20 = 10]
From the room behind the drone:
"Schießen Sie nicht auf die Ausrüstung!"
The drone raises his rifle and moves forward
Opposed:
[1d20 = 10]
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
[1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26]
[1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14]
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]
>>166585
"Убирайся из нашего города!"
With a shout, Silver fires a burst from his Jenny towards this drone.
[1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26]
[1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14]
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]
>>166585
"Убирайся из нашего города!"
With a shout, Silver fires a burst from his Jenny towards this drone.
>>166586
>>166587
Silver lets out a quick, controlled burst. One shot hits the creature in it's jaw, one straight through it's skull, one through it's neck, and one hits its shoulder. Silver can see its head nearly explode and spread blue and grey matter behind, slightly lifting up its cap for a moment. It falls straight down on its knees, then over to its left.
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 9]
[1d20 = 19]
>>166587
Silver lets out a quick, controlled burst. One shot hits the creature in it's jaw, one straight through it's skull, one through it's neck, and one hits its shoulder. Silver can see its head nearly explode and spread blue and grey matter behind, slightly lifting up its cap for a moment. It falls straight down on its knees, then over to its left.
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 9]
[1d20 = 19]
>>166589
As soon as Silver gets the chance, he's getting behind cover before he gets shot, then he'll peak to get a view of the situation in this room.
As soon as Silver gets the chance, he's getting behind cover before he gets shot, then he'll peak to get a view of the situation in this room.
>>166590
Silver hears a Pew Pew Pew Pew to his right, past the wall.
Silver seems to be the only occupant of this room. Or at least, the only known occupant.
Silver hears a Pew Pew Pew Pew to his right, past the wall.
Silver seems to be the only occupant of this room. Or at least, the only known occupant.
>>166591
In that case, Silver goes towards the sound of gunfire, right sounds like it's the next room over.
In that case, Silver goes towards the sound of gunfire, right sounds like it's the next room over.
>>166592
>>166593
And Silver can see that there is a firefight in progress. The door at the end of the hall was opened, and Spectral Streak and another homeguard pony have engaged a drone from the hallway. They seem to have failed to kill the drone, and have pulled back to cover at the end of the hall.
>>166593
And Silver can see that there is a firefight in progress. The door at the end of the hall was opened, and Spectral Streak and another homeguard pony have engaged a drone from the hallway. They seem to have failed to kill the drone, and have pulled back to cover at the end of the hall.
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]
[1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
>>166595
Silver pops out into the hallway and gives his own attempt at finishing the drone off, firing a burst towards him.
[1d20+6 = (20+6) = 26]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
>>166595
Silver pops out into the hallway and gives his own attempt at finishing the drone off, firing a burst towards him.
>>166597
>>166596
Silver, peering out of the door, has an advantage perspective that Spectral Streak and the Homeguard do not have. As the Changeling is hiding to the right, Silver's position to the left gives him just the angle to hit the creature. The creature seems to be hit in the head and in the chest with a spurt of blue blood splattering out, and then it falling down just behind the doorway.
>>166596
Silver, peering out of the door, has an advantage perspective that Spectral Streak and the Homeguard do not have. As the Changeling is hiding to the right, Silver's position to the left gives him just the angle to hit the creature. The creature seems to be hit in the head and in the chest with a spurt of blue blood splattering out, and then it falling down just behind the doorway.
>>166600
Silver checks the room at the end of the hall to make sure there are no more changelings inside it.
Silver checks the room at the end of the hall to make sure there are no more changelings inside it.
>>166601
Silver looks in to see that it is a large, rectangular room that is very wide, and on the far side is almost entirely windows out to the studio. The room is dark with control panels with sliders along a portion of that wall, and a desk visible on the periphery to the left.
Looking in, Silver can see a drone laying up against one of panels on the far side, perfectly still and with a pool of blood around it and with a trail on the floor.
Silver can hear the voice of a female drone speaking. The voice is odd, because it combines an odd humming with the speaking voice of a normal mare. Calmly, though with a tinge of fear, Silver can hear it speaking:
"Fünf. Sechs. Neun. Drei. Herausforderung? Antwort. "Wenn der Wind weht"
But off to the right, and somewhat near where the sound is coming from, Silver can see a drone. The drone is wearing what seems to be an equestrian style coat, though it appears clearly in the form of that black, chitinous creature that even without magic imitates the form of a pony. It tries to level a very, very large rifle with a magazine sticking out of its side towards Silver, though it holds it a little low, and clearly sways with each heavy breath. Silver can hear breath, even from here. It's afraid.
Silver looks in to see that it is a large, rectangular room that is very wide, and on the far side is almost entirely windows out to the studio. The room is dark with control panels with sliders along a portion of that wall, and a desk visible on the periphery to the left.
Looking in, Silver can see a drone laying up against one of panels on the far side, perfectly still and with a pool of blood around it and with a trail on the floor.
Silver can hear the voice of a female drone speaking. The voice is odd, because it combines an odd humming with the speaking voice of a normal mare. Calmly, though with a tinge of fear, Silver can hear it speaking:
"Fünf. Sechs. Neun. Drei. Herausforderung? Antwort. "Wenn der Wind weht"
But off to the right, and somewhat near where the sound is coming from, Silver can see a drone. The drone is wearing what seems to be an equestrian style coat, though it appears clearly in the form of that black, chitinous creature that even without magic imitates the form of a pony. It tries to level a very, very large rifle with a magazine sticking out of its side towards Silver, though it holds it a little low, and clearly sways with each heavy breath. Silver can hear breath, even from here. It's afraid.
>>166602
Silver halts upon seeing the scared changeling. He keeps his gun ready, just in case they do anything stupid, but he softens his expression. He mumbles a bit, getting his mouth used to the skill he learned in the later stages of the War and hasn't used since Kerr and Wesley were around, and speaks a heavily accented, slightly clumsy, but still understandable Changeling.
"Legen Sie Ihre Waffe ab. Wir werden Ihnen nicht weh tun."
Silver halts upon seeing the scared changeling. He keeps his gun ready, just in case they do anything stupid, but he softens his expression. He mumbles a bit, getting his mouth used to the skill he learned in the later stages of the War and hasn't used since Kerr and Wesley were around, and speaks a heavily accented, slightly clumsy, but still understandable Changeling.
"Legen Sie Ihre Waffe ab. Wir werden Ihnen nicht weh tun."
>>166603
The creature holds the gun up, and levels it at Silver, though it still sways. Silver can see details on the creature like bright spots where pupils would be on its ice blue eyes, and three prongs on its sliced, tubular ears. It tags a ragged breath.
"Aber Sie werden"
And then, far off to the right, Silver hears more speaking in that uncanny voice that sounds like two mares speaking at once:
"Nächste Eingabe. Fünf. Sieben. Neun. Acht."
The creature holds the gun up, and levels it at Silver, though it still sways. Silver can see details on the creature like bright spots where pupils would be on its ice blue eyes, and three prongs on its sliced, tubular ears. It tags a ragged breath.
"Aber Sie werden"
And then, far off to the right, Silver hears more speaking in that uncanny voice that sounds like two mares speaking at once:
"Nächste Eingabe. Fünf. Sieben. Neun. Acht."
>>166604
"Ich werde nicht. Ich will nur mein Volk retten."
The words off to his right worry him.
"Du sprichst, äh...Ponisch?"
"Ich werde nicht. Ich will nur mein Volk retten."
The words off to his right worry him.
"Du sprichst, äh...Ponisch?"
>>166605
He takes a moment, before replying:
"So do I"
And from off to the right:
"Sag noch einmal?" Pause "Eingabe. Zwei. Drei. Eins. Sieben".
He takes a moment, before replying:
"So do I"
And from off to the right:
"Sag noch einmal?" Pause "Eingabe. Zwei. Drei. Eins. Sieben".
>>166606
Silver motions to the right, and speaks hurriedly. He can't avoid the tone of worry in his voice.
"My family is out there, my children, I would do anything to save them. Help us stop bomb, we will let you go to get your brothers and sisters out of this city and save them, I promise upon lives of my children I love more than anything in this world."
Silver motions to the right, and speaks hurriedly. He can't avoid the tone of worry in his voice.
"My family is out there, my children, I would do anything to save them. Help us stop bomb, we will let you go to get your brothers and sisters out of this city and save them, I promise upon lives of my children I love more than anything in this world."
>>166607
He blinks, with eyelids that come in from each side diagonally.
"But my family is too. My brothers and sisters."
And then, from the right
Bang
[1d20+2 = (10+2) = 12]
He blinks, with eyelids that come in from each side diagonally.
"But my family is too. My brothers and sisters."
And then, from the right
Bang
[1d20+2 = (10+2) = 12]
>>166608
Silver feels a violent tug and a knock, evidently grazed along his flack jacket by a bullet.
Silver feels a violent tug and a knock, evidently grazed along his flack jacket by a bullet.
>>166610
>>166609
Silver looks over to the right to see two changelings. It's hard to find cover, but there may be a desk or chair.
One, on the far side, is a drone in a chair with a cap, who sits over a desk and has a radio near him, with a pencil and a notebook on the desk. He is holding a pistol towards Silver. But the other, closer to Silver and to his left, is a worker sitting upright, holding a telephone in her hoof. She has medium blue wings and "mane," and is wearing headphones hooked up with audio equipment.
The ponies behind Silver bust in
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 8]
>>166609
Silver looks over to the right to see two changelings. It's hard to find cover, but there may be a desk or chair.
One, on the far side, is a drone in a chair with a cap, who sits over a desk and has a radio near him, with a pencil and a notebook on the desk. He is holding a pistol towards Silver. But the other, closer to Silver and to his left, is a worker sitting upright, holding a telephone in her hoof. She has medium blue wings and "mane," and is wearing headphones hooked up with audio equipment.
The ponies behind Silver bust in
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20+6 = (19+6) = 25]
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]
>>166611
Silver doesn't have time to register the death of the drone he was talking to. He brings his Jenny around and first a burst into the last armed changeling in the room.
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]
>>166611
Silver doesn't have time to register the death of the drone he was talking to. He brings his Jenny around and first a burst into the last armed changeling in the room.
>>166614
>>166615
With a Pew Pew Pew Pew of his own, one, two, three bullets hit the last drone, causing it to gag, and fall out of its chair. Its wings come open, and it starts twitching on the floor like a dying junebug.
The worker stops speaking, and crouches down in its chair. But it doesn't jump out, and stops moving down when the cable on the headset runs out. It gets back up, and again starts speaking into the phone.
"Sag noch einmal?"
>>166615
With a Pew Pew Pew Pew of his own, one, two, three bullets hit the last drone, causing it to gag, and fall out of its chair. Its wings come open, and it starts twitching on the floor like a dying junebug.
The worker stops speaking, and crouches down in its chair. But it doesn't jump out, and stops moving down when the cable on the headset runs out. It gets back up, and again starts speaking into the phone.
"Sag noch einmal?"
>>166616
Silver points his Jenny at the worker and shouts at her.
"Entweder ich schieße auf dich oder ich schieße auf die Maschine. Deine Entscheidung."
Silver points his Jenny at the worker and shouts at her.
"Entweder ich schieße auf dich oder ich schieße auf die Maschine. Deine Entscheidung."
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (7+6) = 13]
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]
>>166618
Silver fires a burst into the changeling.
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
[1d20+6 = (7+6) = 13]
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]
>>166618
Silver fires a burst into the changeling.
With a gag, the creature goes down, collapsing on the floor. Like the drone, its wings expand.
>>166623
They come into the room, and look around.
"Clear."
Spectral Streak comes up to Silver
"Yeah, I hope it stopped it too."
They come into the room, and look around.
"Clear."
Spectral Streak comes up to Silver
"Yeah, I hope it stopped it too."
>>166624
"I am assuming we would be on fire right about now if it did not, or else we would hear explosion, or just be dead."
With the room clear, he looks around at the carnage.
"Is that it? Is building secured?"
"I am assuming we would be on fire right about now if it did not, or else we would hear explosion, or just be dead."
With the room clear, he looks around at the carnage.
"Is that it? Is building secured?"
>>166625
"The building is secured" the vermillion pony says.
The purple and the white ponies come through a door on the right, near the location of the desk where the worker was sitting at.
"Nothing in this room. They must not have had a device here."
"The building is secured" the vermillion pony says.
The purple and the white ponies come through a door on the right, near the location of the desk where the worker was sitting at.
"Nothing in this room. They must not have had a device here."
>>166626
"Might have been underground. That is how Canterlot was destroyed, yes? Underground nuclear ordinance?"
Silver goes to the body of the drone he was talking to.
"Might have been underground. That is how Canterlot was destroyed, yes? Underground nuclear ordinance?"
Silver goes to the body of the drone he was talking to.
>>166627
"Yeah, it could be. They must have taken this place for the radio tower. For transmitting a signal. Could have transmitted to just about anywhere from here."
The drone lays on the ground. Either it's dead, or very near dead, laying on its belly, with its head to the side. Alongside it, is the automatic rifle it dropped. It has a scope, a bipod, a sling, wooden furniture, a bayonet mount, and a box magazine
"Yeah, it could be. They must have taken this place for the radio tower. For transmitting a signal. Could have transmitted to just about anywhere from here."
The drone lays on the ground. Either it's dead, or very near dead, laying on its belly, with its head to the side. Alongside it, is the automatic rifle it dropped. It has a scope, a bipod, a sling, wooden furniture, a bayonet mount, and a box magazine
>>166629
The drone has the barest hint of a faint pulse. It's not conscious, and has lost a lot of blood already.
The drone has the barest hint of a faint pulse. It's not conscious, and has lost a lot of blood already.
>>166631
Hard to say. Stopping the bleeding is the most obvious first step. The magical coagulant may or may not work on the alien biology, and the same with much of the rest of the medicine.
Hard to say. Stopping the bleeding is the most obvious first step. The magical coagulant may or may not work on the alien biology, and the same with much of the rest of the medicine.
[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19]
>>166632
Nopony else seems to be injured, and he still has the medical supplies...Silver sees what he can do to stop the bleeding and hopefully save the changeling's life.
>>166632
Nopony else seems to be injured, and he still has the medical supplies...Silver sees what he can do to stop the bleeding and hopefully save the changeling's life.
>>166633
The bullets seem to have gone through, maybe minus one. Silver applies the last of the coagulant in the open wounds, then closes it with bandages. This may just work.
The bullets seem to have gone through, maybe minus one. Silver applies the last of the coagulant in the open wounds, then closes it with bandages. This may just work.
>>166634
It's not much...but maybe he will live. He does his best to offer a silent prayer to the changeling and his Great Mother to keep him alive.
"Time to let command know, I suppose."
It's not much...but maybe he will live. He does his best to offer a silent prayer to the changeling and his Great Mother to keep him alive.
"Time to let command know, I suppose."
>>166635
The white pegasus approaches the radio the drone was using, and checks it. After tampering with it, he speaks into it.
"WMARE Station is secured. Infiltrators took it over, we took it back. They seem to have been using the tower for communication. We have civilians for evac and wounded."
The white pegasus approaches the radio the drone was using, and checks it. After tampering with it, he speaks into it.
"WMARE Station is secured. Infiltrators took it over, we took it back. They seem to have been using the tower for communication. We have civilians for evac and wounded."
>>166636
Silver stands up, wince a little from the pain his wounds give him. He thinks the painkillers may be wearing off.
"I wonder how many more changelings are left in city."
Silver stands up, wince a little from the pain his wounds give him. He thinks the painkillers may be wearing off.
"I wonder how many more changelings are left in city."
>>166637
What isn't numb is in pain.
Spectral Streak answers:
"Fewer than there were this morning."
Then the white pegasus speaks
"Extraction is on the roof."
What isn't numb is in pain.
Spectral Streak answers:
"Fewer than there were this morning."
Then the white pegasus speaks
"Extraction is on the roof."
>>166638
"Roof? Really? Did chariots get back into service?""
Silver shakes his head.
"Either way, we need to gather civilians, tell them evac is here."
"Roof? Really? Did chariots get back into service?""
Silver shakes his head.
"Either way, we need to gather civilians, tell them evac is here."
>>166639
The white pegasus smiles
"Not quite. But you and other wounded, to the roof. We'll collect civilians."
The white pegasus smiles
"Not quite. But you and other wounded, to the roof. We'll collect civilians."
>>166640
Silver shrugs, and looks at Spec.
"That includes you, young stallion, no buts. Come on, let us go to roof."
Silver shrugs, and looks at Spec.
"That includes you, young stallion, no buts. Come on, let us go to roof."
File (): 20A96099021DF1300B5B88425D45BB93-220941.png (215.8 KB, 430x580, 1675247474940828.png)
Nice game you have here.
>>166642
Spectral Streak scrunches, then moves his gun to the fore, and starts back towards the door and to the hallway
Spectral Streak scrunches, then moves his gun to the fore, and starts back towards the door and to the hallway
>>166659
Silver goes to the downed changeling he was talking to, grabbing the automatic rifle he had as well as the ammo he has on him. He turns to the other ponies.
"Do not forget about this one. If he pulls through, he may be able to tell us about plans these changelings had."
Silver goes to the downed changeling he was talking to, grabbing the automatic rifle he had as well as the ammo he has on him. He turns to the other ponies.
"Do not forget about this one. If he pulls through, he may be able to tell us about plans these changelings had."
>>166660
Silver sees finds no ammo on the drone besides the magazine in the gun... though he may find three magazines on the other downed drone who leans against the wall beneath the row of windows.
The white pegasus, who still holds the phone, answers:
"I think we might just find out before he wakes... the chatter on the radio shows us there's another area of high interest to the changelings. We're going to get you transported over there as quickly as we can. They could use your help.
Silver sees finds no ammo on the drone besides the magazine in the gun... though he may find three magazines on the other downed drone who leans against the wall beneath the row of windows.
The white pegasus, who still holds the phone, answers:
"I think we might just find out before he wakes... the chatter on the radio shows us there's another area of high interest to the changelings. We're going to get you transported over there as quickly as we can. They could use your help.
>>166661
"Sweet Celestia, they sent entire army of infiltrators here, did they not?"
He definitely is grabbing those magazines, then.
"Sweet Celestia, they sent entire army of infiltrators here, did they not?"
He definitely is grabbing those magazines, then.
>>166662
The magazines are much heavier than for either the Jenny or the Grim. "Probably should have expected as much, and that's not counting the ones picked up in the raids." He answers. "Alright. There's a stairway in the back that will take us to the roof."
The magazines are much heavier than for either the Jenny or the Grim. "Probably should have expected as much, and that's not counting the ones picked up in the raids." He answers. "Alright. There's a stairway in the back that will take us to the roof."
>>166664
It's down the hall, and up one more flight of stairs - a staircase that is not the continuation of the main staircase, but the smaller one within the TV station. It leads to a small door that opens on the roof. Behind Silver is the steel television tower itself, and in front of Silver is the view looking north. It's still morning, and the sun is firmly up, though there is a haze. The white pegasus comes out. "Shouldn't take too long at all."
Silver may take a greater look at the city around them
It's down the hall, and up one more flight of stairs - a staircase that is not the continuation of the main staircase, but the smaller one within the TV station. It leads to a small door that opens on the roof. Behind Silver is the steel television tower itself, and in front of Silver is the view looking north. It's still morning, and the sun is firmly up, though there is a haze. The white pegasus comes out. "Shouldn't take too long at all."
Silver may take a greater look at the city around them
>>166665
Silver looks out at the city, wondering where his family is, if they're safe, if they're thinking about him. He hopes they aren't too worried, he'll be back to them before too long. Hopefully.
Silver looks out at the city, wondering where his family is, if they're safe, if they're thinking about him. He hopes they aren't too worried, he'll be back to them before too long. Hopefully.
>>166666
Silver looks out onto the city that he recognizes as Baltimare, with its small center of high rise buildings, factory complexes, wharfs, piers and the like. Though Silver has hardly memorized the Baltimare skyline, there are a few immediately recognizable differences. The city stretches even further than Silver recalls, with endless rows of near identical looking pink houses. Closer in are rows of densely spaced townhouses with pink, red, white or beige stone or brick; the same three or perhaps four designs repeated endlessly. Closer still are apartment buildings of five or six floors with their windows, balconies, and white stucco exteriors, again often with shared designs. The crowded tenement buildings, and aging rowhouses, with their walls of darker brown brick, and often damaged roofs, have been replaced almost entirely. And there are likewise more multi-story department stores with their beige brick. And in the city center, the Celestial Gulf Insurance and Tall Sails Shipping Company are joined by new, equally tall buildings. Rail lines, that may or may not have been there before, crisscross the city both above the street level and on it, and perhaps even below. The rollercoaster on the pier is still there, but across the bay, the quarantine zone at the immigration facility has been expanded by the demolition of a surrounding building to become something like a small prison with its fences.
The area that has changed the most by far, are the waterside districts of Red Heart and Cowtown, where many city blocks have been leveled and replaced with manufactories made of brick, and apartment buildings. One large section in Red Heart has a large walled in section with new constructions, warehouses, abandoned buildings, and naked dirt.
The city is active in this time. Looking down the streets, Silver can see a street that is completely filled with cars in perfect congestion, and another that is almost entirely clear, and then another with a few moving vehicles. Silver can see smoke coming up to the east by the Seven Friends refinery, a trail of smoke to the south near the bridge, and a much, much larger set of smoke to the west and south in the city center coming from another high-rise building just a little smaller than the one he is on now. There are only a few ships in the harbor, and they are tending to move away from the city, though a couple ships remain docked at the wharves.
The sky above the city and its harbor has only a few clouds, but further off, much further off, are clouds that have no business being as tall as they are. Far across the sea, to the north and the east, are clouds that must surely stretch all the way into space. And to the west, though they are harder to see, are likewise black clouds that are too tall. To the north are more clouds, though smaller and restricted to the terrestrial sphere. But above them all, are lights that streak against the sky. Silver sees what looks like a group of meteors that hang in the sky like comets, and numerous other white streaks of what came before. But above all, over the entire sky, is this haze that dims the day, and makes the entire scene feel darker than it has any right to in broad daylight.
Silver isn't sure if he can see his house from here. He can see across the water to Cherry Hill, and he can see the houses there, but he can't exactly pick out which one, if any, are his. Silver can see the hill that runs along the peninsula, with its houses and trees, and knows that somewhere on the other side, are Pear, Birch, Daffodil, and Powder Flash. Somewhere over that hill....
Silver looks out onto the city that he recognizes as Baltimare, with its small center of high rise buildings, factory complexes, wharfs, piers and the like. Though Silver has hardly memorized the Baltimare skyline, there are a few immediately recognizable differences. The city stretches even further than Silver recalls, with endless rows of near identical looking pink houses. Closer in are rows of densely spaced townhouses with pink, red, white or beige stone or brick; the same three or perhaps four designs repeated endlessly. Closer still are apartment buildings of five or six floors with their windows, balconies, and white stucco exteriors, again often with shared designs. The crowded tenement buildings, and aging rowhouses, with their walls of darker brown brick, and often damaged roofs, have been replaced almost entirely. And there are likewise more multi-story department stores with their beige brick. And in the city center, the Celestial Gulf Insurance and Tall Sails Shipping Company are joined by new, equally tall buildings. Rail lines, that may or may not have been there before, crisscross the city both above the street level and on it, and perhaps even below. The rollercoaster on the pier is still there, but across the bay, the quarantine zone at the immigration facility has been expanded by the demolition of a surrounding building to become something like a small prison with its fences.
The area that has changed the most by far, are the waterside districts of Red Heart and Cowtown, where many city blocks have been leveled and replaced with manufactories made of brick, and apartment buildings. One large section in Red Heart has a large walled in section with new constructions, warehouses, abandoned buildings, and naked dirt.
The city is active in this time. Looking down the streets, Silver can see a street that is completely filled with cars in perfect congestion, and another that is almost entirely clear, and then another with a few moving vehicles. Silver can see smoke coming up to the east by the Seven Friends refinery, a trail of smoke to the south near the bridge, and a much, much larger set of smoke to the west and south in the city center coming from another high-rise building just a little smaller than the one he is on now. There are only a few ships in the harbor, and they are tending to move away from the city, though a couple ships remain docked at the wharves.
The sky above the city and its harbor has only a few clouds, but further off, much further off, are clouds that have no business being as tall as they are. Far across the sea, to the north and the east, are clouds that must surely stretch all the way into space. And to the west, though they are harder to see, are likewise black clouds that are too tall. To the north are more clouds, though smaller and restricted to the terrestrial sphere. But above them all, are lights that streak against the sky. Silver sees what looks like a group of meteors that hang in the sky like comets, and numerous other white streaks of what came before. But above all, over the entire sky, is this haze that dims the day, and makes the entire scene feel darker than it has any right to in broad daylight.
Silver isn't sure if he can see his house from here. He can see across the water to Cherry Hill, and he can see the houses there, but he can't exactly pick out which one, if any, are his. Silver can see the hill that runs along the peninsula, with its houses and trees, and knows that somewhere on the other side, are Pear, Birch, Daffodil, and Powder Flash. Somewhere over that hill....
>>166667
"Wow...you can not recognize this city from how it looked when I first came here. So many new buildings, but...many look almost identical. Not much style or culture to be had."
Naturally, his gaze wanders upwards, towards the streaking lights.
"Those are missiles, yes? I saw television broadcast downstairs, talking about missiles filled with deadly gas. They are headed for Changelings?"
"Wow...you can not recognize this city from how it looked when I first came here. So many new buildings, but...many look almost identical. Not much style or culture to be had."
Naturally, his gaze wanders upwards, towards the streaking lights.
"Those are missiles, yes? I saw television broadcast downstairs, talking about missiles filled with deadly gas. They are headed for Changelings?"
>>166669
They move across the sky slowly, leaving white streaks
The white pegasus looks up
"No, those are not missiles. Those are... meteors, I think. Must be heading towards Changelings. Maybe Olenia or West Equestria. Unless they are circling around."
Silver can hear the things before he can see it, with a consistent "chop chop" sound. But only seconds later, Silver sees a green flying machine moving slowly through the air. It's large, and with a main section that is closest in shape to a pill, with skids, a tail like a windmill, and a glass cockpit above the main fuselage. It hovers in the air, and then lands on the roof perhaps only 35 or so feet from Silver. It is very loud, and pushes currents of air everywhere.
They move across the sky slowly, leaving white streaks
The white pegasus looks up
"No, those are not missiles. Those are... meteors, I think. Must be heading towards Changelings. Maybe Olenia or West Equestria. Unless they are circling around."
Silver can hear the things before he can see it, with a consistent "chop chop" sound. But only seconds later, Silver sees a green flying machine moving slowly through the air. It's large, and with a main section that is closest in shape to a pill, with skids, a tail like a windmill, and a glass cockpit above the main fuselage. It hovers in the air, and then lands on the roof perhaps only 35 or so feet from Silver. It is very loud, and pushes currents of air everywhere.
>>166693
Silver has little time to ask questions about meteors before stumbling backwards in a combination of surprise and the force of the wind. He finds he has to yell to have any chance of being understood.
"WHAT KIND OF PLANE IS THAT!?"
Silver has little time to ask questions about meteors before stumbling backwards in a combination of surprise and the force of the wind. He finds he has to yell to have any chance of being understood.
"WHAT KIND OF PLANE IS THAT!?"
>>166695
The white pegaus answers:
"That's uh, that's a Chickpea"
A door opens, and then one pony, then another comes out. Both have that mix of uniform and pants that Silver sees as typical of the Home Guard - what is more special is a jacking and markings that distinguish them as medics
The white pegaus answers:
"That's uh, that's a Chickpea"
A door opens, and then one pony, then another comes out. Both have that mix of uniform and pants that Silver sees as typical of the Home Guard - what is more special is a jacking and markings that distinguish them as medics
>>166696
Relieved at the appearance of medics, Silver approaches them, fighting against the force of the winds.
"THANK CELESTIA YOU ARE HERE, THERE ARE COUPLE OF OTHER HOME GUARD SOLDIERS HERE THAT GOT BADLY SHOT!"
Relieved at the appearance of medics, Silver approaches them, fighting against the force of the winds.
"THANK CELESTIA YOU ARE HERE, THERE ARE COUPLE OF OTHER HOME GUARD SOLDIERS HERE THAT GOT BADLY SHOT!"
>>166699
Silver looks back at the other ponies on the rooftop.
"SOMEPONY GET AZELEA BLOOM, HE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION MOST OF ALL!"
Silver looks back at the other ponies on the rooftop.
"SOMEPONY GET AZELEA BLOOM, HE NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION MOST OF ALL!"
>>166700
It's the purple pony who replies
"On the way"
After the passage of some seconds, Azelea Bloom is produced, limping but able to move on his own.
It's the purple pony who replies
"On the way"
After the passage of some seconds, Azelea Bloom is produced, limping but able to move on his own.
>>166702
"You and you, get on!" The medic points to Silver and to Spectral Streak. Azelea is already being helped up into the vehicle
"You and you, get on!" The medic points to Silver and to Spectral Streak. Azelea is already being helped up into the vehicle
>>166704
Silver goes inside of the vehicle to see aluminum walls, structural ribs, a ladder going up to the cockpit, and several seats and stretchers. It's cramped, but there's enough room for at least a couple ponies to lay down. The interior is quieter than outside, but not by much. The purple pony, at least, is also on the vehicle. The medic comes up to Silver, and starts examining him.
"How are you still standing?!"
Another pony, up in the cockpit, speaks loudly enough to some other, unseen pony, for Silver to hear:
"Did you hear the news?"
Silver goes inside of the vehicle to see aluminum walls, structural ribs, a ladder going up to the cockpit, and several seats and stretchers. It's cramped, but there's enough room for at least a couple ponies to lay down. The interior is quieter than outside, but not by much. The purple pony, at least, is also on the vehicle. The medic comes up to Silver, and starts examining him.
"How are you still standing?!"
Another pony, up in the cockpit, speaks loudly enough to some other, unseen pony, for Silver to hear:
"Did you hear the news?"
>>166705
"That is what first medic said after we got back from clearing train station. I am very strong and resilient pony. Morphine and strong will helps."
Silver listens in on the ponies in the cockpit, wanting to hear the news.
"That is what first medic said after we got back from clearing train station. I am very strong and resilient pony. Morphine and strong will helps."
Silver listens in on the ponies in the cockpit, wanting to hear the news.
>>166706
"Yeah, well you need more. I'm going to have to try to remove any foreign material, then stitch you up. Here. Let me start with plasma."
The medic inserts an IV into Silver's foreleg, and starts giving Silver plasma and morphine.
Above, the pilots speak to the occupants of the cabin
"You're going to want to hear this" They turn on the radio, and then turn up the volume
"Good morning..." The tone is melancholic. "I must, sigh inform you that we have received confirmation about our earlier report. The Directory has confirmed that our First Counsel was martyred when a device was detonated near her location in Bronclyn... No word yet on any of the details, or of the plans of the Directory for succession, but, we'll keep you posted. This is Morning Wave, with Friends of the Ponies."
The medic stops pressing down on the morphine, and freezes in place, kneeling there next to Silver.
"Yeah, well you need more. I'm going to have to try to remove any foreign material, then stitch you up. Here. Let me start with plasma."
The medic inserts an IV into Silver's foreleg, and starts giving Silver plasma and morphine.
Above, the pilots speak to the occupants of the cabin
"You're going to want to hear this" They turn on the radio, and then turn up the volume
"Good morning..." The tone is melancholic. "I must, sigh inform you that we have received confirmation about our earlier report. The Directory has confirmed that our First Counsel was martyred when a device was detonated near her location in Bronclyn... No word yet on any of the details, or of the plans of the Directory for succession, but, we'll keep you posted. This is Morning Wave, with Friends of the Ponies."
The medic stops pressing down on the morphine, and freezes in place, kneeling there next to Silver.
>>166707
Silver only knows the First Consul from her morning announcement, but he knows from the reactions of those around him, she must have been fairly revered. Still, he speaks up to ask a question.
"Any word on Governor Star?"
Silver only knows the First Consul from her morning announcement, but he knows from the reactions of those around him, she must have been fairly revered. Still, he speaks up to ask a question.
"Any word on Governor Star?"
>>166708
It's actually the purple pony who replies,
"I think he's been evacuated. But I don't really know"
The medic resumes injecting the morphine.
It's actually the purple pony who replies,
"I think he's been evacuated. But I don't really know"
The medic resumes injecting the morphine.
>>166709
Silver lays his head back in relief.
"That is good. I knew him, before he became governor. Good pony. He is who I would pick to become First Consul."
Silver lays his head back in relief.
"That is good. I knew him, before he became governor. Good pony. He is who I would pick to become First Consul."
>>166710
"Is that so?" The purple pony looks over to Silver as if to continue conversation, though he looks away with a mix of sadness and fear.
The medic turns Silver onto his side, and says
"Okay... I'm going to begin an extraction. You should be numb by now. Mostly."
"Is that so?" The purple pony looks over to Silver as if to continue conversation, though he looks away with a mix of sadness and fear.
The medic turns Silver onto his side, and says
"Okay... I'm going to begin an extraction. You should be numb by now. Mostly."
>>166711
"As saying goes, it is not my first rodeo. I will ask for something to bite down on if it gets too much."
He looks over at the purple pony, trying not to move too much as to make the medic's job harder.
"This is war, and many more than just our First Consul will be dead before its end. We must be strong, we must stick together, and we will survive." To get the purple pony's mind off of the news, he decides to try to change the subject. "You know, Governor Star shot me in ass once, not long after we met. It was on accident, of course. We were fighting ghouls and ghasts in catacombs found inside flooded quarry here in city, he fired his gun, missed, and bullet ricocheted against catacomb walls, floor and ceiling, and managed to find its way perfectly into my flanks."
"As saying goes, it is not my first rodeo. I will ask for something to bite down on if it gets too much."
He looks over at the purple pony, trying not to move too much as to make the medic's job harder.
"This is war, and many more than just our First Consul will be dead before its end. We must be strong, we must stick together, and we will survive." To get the purple pony's mind off of the news, he decides to try to change the subject. "You know, Governor Star shot me in ass once, not long after we met. It was on accident, of course. We were fighting ghouls and ghasts in catacombs found inside flooded quarry here in city, he fired his gun, missed, and bullet ricocheted against catacomb walls, floor and ceiling, and managed to find its way perfectly into my flanks."
>>166713
-It seems that you have been through many adventures and have a lot of experience with the paranormal. Did you have sex with the lady governor?-
Asked a dark and sinister clad black alicorn who showed himself as he entered followed by a blue-pink unicorn with a broken horn, followed by a gryphon smoking a pipe, and a hippogriff and pegasus.
While those in the hall were dumbfounded by the dramatic entrance of the strangers, several zeppelins could be heard outside. The sounds of the zebels broke the grave silence.
-It seems that you have been through many adventures and have a lot of experience with the paranormal. Did you have sex with the lady governor?-
Asked a dark and sinister clad black alicorn who showed himself as he entered followed by a blue-pink unicorn with a broken horn, followed by a gryphon smoking a pipe, and a hippogriff and pegasus.
While those in the hall were dumbfounded by the dramatic entrance of the strangers, several zeppelins could be heard outside. The sounds of the zebels broke the grave silence.
File (): 36C8422135FDC54123400C559E478D42-57344.jpg (56.0 KB, 1154x693, TfNBiXp.jpeg)
Where's everypony?
File (): 731401055BB54CFCA0CB15F692C27B3A-76994.jpg (75.2 KB, 1144x1016, 6569648.jpg)
>>166786
It's funny that we post within 24 h between us since I justed check on this thread cuz I was curious how things were going ITT.
Well, good luck on with the rest of your campaign when you start it up again.
It's funny that we post within 24 h between us since I justed check on this thread cuz I was curious how things were going ITT.
Well, good luck on with the rest of your campaign when you start it up again.
File (): 48D90F06680EAA9C64D32E33C0F95EFA-92570.png (90.4 KB, 526x475, AmberSunset.png)
File (): DD5D3D1E8B5D3CB5E705A6483B2E8A02-2907546.jpg (2.8 MB, 3513x2661, FMih_fQX0AstPtn.jpeg)
File (): A4072EC117E80BC4164823A5C8BFA56F-300073.png (293.0 KB, 1334x1209, BlueSkiesGrin.png)
File (): 8784B5C140E7FDBA7E44CBA6C4F68BE6-3421227.png (3.3 MB, 2000x2500, 2507892.png)
>>166567
This Saturnalia of dancing figures which Amber sees before her is seen only as projections on the back of her own eyelids. She knows better than to open her eyes at this moment. And if she did, what exactly would she see? Nothing other than constructions of her own mind - the product of limited sensory inputs extruded into shapes and figured molded by the intuitions of space and time... Something different, lesser than the form, the true form of that which is before Amber now.
In all that which was described before, Amber has taken no note of darkness, for black void is, on the back of eyelids just as it is in all things, so dominate and so greatly in preponderance that it is scarcely worth mention. But now, Amber things she sees a rising black smoke in the vision before her, most likely with the background having become ever so slightly luminescent so that blackness may stand out. Amber sees a plume of smoke slowly rising. But it isn't really like smoke. Smoke rises quickly. It changes shape freely. This... this moves more slowly. Almost deliberately. And though its amorphous form is in constinent movement, it is nevertheless cohesive with itself. Perhaps it is more like a cloud of ink underwater, or a deep sea plume... but it isn't quite like that either. For just as what lies before Amber is beyond the ability of the sensory organs to perceive, it is beyond the ability of the rational mind to confine into a single concept, or for any language to capture with a name.
Amber hears a cacophony of noise all around her, and much of it isn't pretty. Leaves shake and rustle with such great thunder that to any other audience, she'd hesitate to play for concern the carefully crafted nuances of her song would go unheard, and unappreciated. Likewise, Amber can hear the loud cracking of rifle shots, and the "zick zack" of cocking actions. Amber can hear loud yelling as the bandits yell to each other, and yell to Boreas. She can hear screaming. But Amber cannot hear her own comrades. They know better than to make any sound.
But all of that is simply annoying distraction. The real work, the real communication, the truth is under her claws right now, as Amber saws away on her viol, swiftly but deftly delivering each note. Her friends have responded in kind, delivering notes of their own. Amber cannot hear every note, to be sure, as some are beyond what may be perceived with her ears. But she can feel them, vibrating her body, and what is more, touching her very soul. Together, they compose a rapturous sonata, and in this moment, Amber feels more firmly than ever before the conviction of a truth she's known since she was a small filly, something she's known long before she ever had a talent for music. Amber intuits that music is the body of harmony, and that harmony is the essence of what is real, that everything around us, even that which seems to our eyes and our hooves to be solid, is, one way or another, built upon a foundation of musical harmony. And what is more, that musical harmony is perhaps the purest expression of the soul.
This Saturnalia of dancing figures which Amber sees before her is seen only as projections on the back of her own eyelids. She knows better than to open her eyes at this moment. And if she did, what exactly would she see? Nothing other than constructions of her own mind - the product of limited sensory inputs extruded into shapes and figured molded by the intuitions of space and time... Something different, lesser than the form, the true form of that which is before Amber now.
In all that which was described before, Amber has taken no note of darkness, for black void is, on the back of eyelids just as it is in all things, so dominate and so greatly in preponderance that it is scarcely worth mention. But now, Amber things she sees a rising black smoke in the vision before her, most likely with the background having become ever so slightly luminescent so that blackness may stand out. Amber sees a plume of smoke slowly rising. But it isn't really like smoke. Smoke rises quickly. It changes shape freely. This... this moves more slowly. Almost deliberately. And though its amorphous form is in constinent movement, it is nevertheless cohesive with itself. Perhaps it is more like a cloud of ink underwater, or a deep sea plume... but it isn't quite like that either. For just as what lies before Amber is beyond the ability of the sensory organs to perceive, it is beyond the ability of the rational mind to confine into a single concept, or for any language to capture with a name.
Amber hears a cacophony of noise all around her, and much of it isn't pretty. Leaves shake and rustle with such great thunder that to any other audience, she'd hesitate to play for concern the carefully crafted nuances of her song would go unheard, and unappreciated. Likewise, Amber can hear the loud cracking of rifle shots, and the "zick zack" of cocking actions. Amber can hear loud yelling as the bandits yell to each other, and yell to Boreas. She can hear screaming. But Amber cannot hear her own comrades. They know better than to make any sound.
But all of that is simply annoying distraction. The real work, the real communication, the truth is under her claws right now, as Amber saws away on her viol, swiftly but deftly delivering each note. Her friends have responded in kind, delivering notes of their own. Amber cannot hear every note, to be sure, as some are beyond what may be perceived with her ears. But she can feel them, vibrating her body, and what is more, touching her very soul. Together, they compose a rapturous sonata, and in this moment, Amber feels more firmly than ever before the conviction of a truth she's known since she was a small filly, something she's known long before she ever had a talent for music. Amber intuits that music is the body of harmony, and that harmony is the essence of what is real, that everything around us, even that which seems to our eyes and our hooves to be solid, is, one way or another, built upon a foundation of musical harmony. And what is more, that musical harmony is perhaps the purest expression of the soul.
>>166713
The purple pony smiles, and replies "really?"
A different pony behind him says "No you didn't. you're full of shit." But even he smiles.
Silver can feel a pinch as the medic grips inside of Silver with forceps.
The purple pony smiles, and replies "really?"
A different pony behind him says "No you didn't. you're full of shit." But even he smiles.
Silver can feel a pinch as the medic grips inside of Silver with forceps.
>>166841
Silver does his best not to wince, but it's still clearly an uncomfortable feeling.
"Only thing I am full of are bullets. I swear to you on my honor, we fought undead here in city, and Governor Star accidentally shot me in my ass. He was crack shot with pistols, though. I still remember where it all happened, too, though no doubt company that hired us to clear it out has filled in quarry and built over top of it. Lots of crazy things happened down there on that job. We found mysterious jars of white powder and Governor Star had idea to taste them to see what they were. Turns out they were ashes of dead ponies, enchanted so you could communicate with them in afterlife. Then we got attacked by number of ghasts and one bit Governor Star, giving him curse that would have no doubt turned him into ghast had we not brought him to Cathedral where they removed curse. After that we brought along kirin nun to help deal with them using fire and magic, but she set fire to library inside catacombs thinking they were full of evil tombs. It would have been fine had we not also planned on sealing exit out into quarry to prevent undead's escape, so we had to run back to enterance before fire ate up all of oxygen in catacombs and come back with gas masks and air cannisters."
Silver does his best not to wince, but it's still clearly an uncomfortable feeling.
"Only thing I am full of are bullets. I swear to you on my honor, we fought undead here in city, and Governor Star accidentally shot me in my ass. He was crack shot with pistols, though. I still remember where it all happened, too, though no doubt company that hired us to clear it out has filled in quarry and built over top of it. Lots of crazy things happened down there on that job. We found mysterious jars of white powder and Governor Star had idea to taste them to see what they were. Turns out they were ashes of dead ponies, enchanted so you could communicate with them in afterlife. Then we got attacked by number of ghasts and one bit Governor Star, giving him curse that would have no doubt turned him into ghast had we not brought him to Cathedral where they removed curse. After that we brought along kirin nun to help deal with them using fire and magic, but she set fire to library inside catacombs thinking they were full of evil tombs. It would have been fine had we not also planned on sealing exit out into quarry to prevent undead's escape, so we had to run back to enterance before fire ate up all of oxygen in catacombs and come back with gas masks and air cannisters."
>>166842
Silver now has a small audience of listening ponies. The skeptical pony says, "Zombies and curses? Ha!"
The purple pony is silent, but then says "Here in Baltimare? It sounds so far away."
Still another pony says "Kirin poising the air sounds right"
"I think you're full of more than just bullets. Hey medic, I want some of that morphine."
The medic says "The 'full of bullets' part is right. Hold still."
Silver now has a small audience of listening ponies. The skeptical pony says, "Zombies and curses? Ha!"
The purple pony is silent, but then says "Here in Baltimare? It sounds so far away."
Still another pony says "Kirin poising the air sounds right"
"I think you're full of more than just bullets. Hey medic, I want some of that morphine."
The medic says "The 'full of bullets' part is right. Hold still."
>>166850
It's difficult to do while being actively operated on, but Silver tries hard to hold still as he continues his story with a smile.
"You would be surprised, kinds of things one can find in one's own backyard. Anyways, by this point everypony else had given up on finishing job, but not me. There was money to be made, and I would be damned before I left job half-finished. I went down there final time, finding books and notes left behind from pony named Joseph Curwhinny, who lived here some 200 odd years ago. He lost his entire family to plague, and used catacombs underneath his farm to pursue research into necromancy to try to bring them back. He found he could bring back dead bodies bereft of their souls, and he could bring back souls of dead ponies outside of their bodies, but he could never do both at same time. As it turns out souls do not like lingering in this world for long, as Curwhinny found out when he cremated his wife's body and enchanted ashes so he could speak with her. He did find secret to extending his lifespan, becoming lich of sort, but he never figured out how to bring back his wife and foals. He eventually moved on, found new love, married new mare and even had foal with her, before his new wife's jilted former partner rallied townsponies of Baltimare and attacked Curwhinny's farm. His wife and foal were able to escape, but Curwhinny was sealed in sarcophagus inside catacombs, at cost of lives of most of those who went in to attack him. I found his sarcophagus, surrounded by long dead ponies and warnings left behind to not open it, and even found his phylactery that allowed him to live such unnaturally long life. I broke it with help of local priest, Father Maren, hopefully giving Curwhinny his much needed rest and letting him rejoin his dead loved ones."
It's difficult to do while being actively operated on, but Silver tries hard to hold still as he continues his story with a smile.
"You would be surprised, kinds of things one can find in one's own backyard. Anyways, by this point everypony else had given up on finishing job, but not me. There was money to be made, and I would be damned before I left job half-finished. I went down there final time, finding books and notes left behind from pony named Joseph Curwhinny, who lived here some 200 odd years ago. He lost his entire family to plague, and used catacombs underneath his farm to pursue research into necromancy to try to bring them back. He found he could bring back dead bodies bereft of their souls, and he could bring back souls of dead ponies outside of their bodies, but he could never do both at same time. As it turns out souls do not like lingering in this world for long, as Curwhinny found out when he cremated his wife's body and enchanted ashes so he could speak with her. He did find secret to extending his lifespan, becoming lich of sort, but he never figured out how to bring back his wife and foals. He eventually moved on, found new love, married new mare and even had foal with her, before his new wife's jilted former partner rallied townsponies of Baltimare and attacked Curwhinny's farm. His wife and foal were able to escape, but Curwhinny was sealed in sarcophagus inside catacombs, at cost of lives of most of those who went in to attack him. I found his sarcophagus, surrounded by long dead ponies and warnings left behind to not open it, and even found his phylactery that allowed him to live such unnaturally long life. I broke it with help of local priest, Father Maren, hopefully giving Curwhinny his much needed rest and letting him rejoin his dead loved ones."
>>166851
The whole set of ponies in the cabin of the vehicle watch Silver attentively, minus the ponies raised above in the pilot and co pilot's seats, who, if they listen, have no view of Silver. It's actually the skeptical pony who speaks first. He blinks, and says "Well that's horrifying"
The medic, who is now stitching up Silver, says "I think it's kind of sweet. They could be together forever now."
Another pony behind the main set says "yeah..." and looks down.
Spectral Streak says, "I don't think you've told me that one."
The whole set of ponies in the cabin of the vehicle watch Silver attentively, minus the ponies raised above in the pilot and co pilot's seats, who, if they listen, have no view of Silver. It's actually the skeptical pony who speaks first. He blinks, and says "Well that's horrifying"
The medic, who is now stitching up Silver, says "I think it's kind of sweet. They could be together forever now."
Another pony behind the main set says "yeah..." and looks down.
Spectral Streak says, "I don't think you've told me that one."
>>166852
"Really? Huh...I have no idea why, it is good story. Sadly, destroying Curwhinny's phylactery had no effect on undead that were still there, and even with me fighting my way through to reach his sarcophagus there were still way too many undead to deal with on my own. I contemplated my options. I had found SMG on possession of undead New Marelander soldier in flooded quarry, and made some hoofmade explosives from coffee cannisters, fertilizer, ball bearings, and nails, so I thought I could try to lure them towards me and cut them down in one of tightly packed corridors inside catacombs, but my chances of survival would have likely been low. I was at lost on what to do when I found sudden inspiration...in form of aircraft bomb lodged in quarry wall. It had hit water of flooded quarry first so it never detonated, but it was still very much active and partially submerged underwater. I got to work restarted pumps to drain rest of quarry, I bought potion from little shop here in city called '2 Strong 4 U' to make me hidden to undead, and once quarry was drained I cleared debris from collapsed catacombs entrance. Then I fired into darkness of catacombs, yelled, dropped can of exceptionally stinky bait at my hooves, and ran like Tartarus as horde of undead came flooding out of catacombs and into quarry. I ran as fast as I could up to edge of quarry and saw more undead than I ever had before. There were undead ponies of indeterminate origin, zebra slaves, some ponies who had attacked Curwhinny all those years ago, several undead Equestrian and New Marelander soldiers, one undead knight, and one honest-to-Celestia mummy. I threw rocks down from edge of quarry to lure this horde towards bomb; one even hit bomb and partially dislodged it from its position, making so much noise it drew almost entire horde right to it. I grabbed my trusty Lavender Rifle, aimed at bomb in quarry walls, and...BOOM!" Silver has to keep himself from moving as he says this. "It was loudest sound I had ever heard in my life, my ears were ringing for good couple of minutes as rocks and debris rained around me and I celebrated. Much of quarry was covered in bits, parts, and limbs of exploded undead. No blood, though, I imagine as they were already corpses. Most of horde had been completely destroyed by explosion. Some had been torn limb from limb but were still alive, thrashing about helplessly in little water that was left in quarry without any legs. Only couple of them, including undead knight and mummy, had been outside of blast radius."
"Really? Huh...I have no idea why, it is good story. Sadly, destroying Curwhinny's phylactery had no effect on undead that were still there, and even with me fighting my way through to reach his sarcophagus there were still way too many undead to deal with on my own. I contemplated my options. I had found SMG on possession of undead New Marelander soldier in flooded quarry, and made some hoofmade explosives from coffee cannisters, fertilizer, ball bearings, and nails, so I thought I could try to lure them towards me and cut them down in one of tightly packed corridors inside catacombs, but my chances of survival would have likely been low. I was at lost on what to do when I found sudden inspiration...in form of aircraft bomb lodged in quarry wall. It had hit water of flooded quarry first so it never detonated, but it was still very much active and partially submerged underwater. I got to work restarted pumps to drain rest of quarry, I bought potion from little shop here in city called '2 Strong 4 U' to make me hidden to undead, and once quarry was drained I cleared debris from collapsed catacombs entrance. Then I fired into darkness of catacombs, yelled, dropped can of exceptionally stinky bait at my hooves, and ran like Tartarus as horde of undead came flooding out of catacombs and into quarry. I ran as fast as I could up to edge of quarry and saw more undead than I ever had before. There were undead ponies of indeterminate origin, zebra slaves, some ponies who had attacked Curwhinny all those years ago, several undead Equestrian and New Marelander soldiers, one undead knight, and one honest-to-Celestia mummy. I threw rocks down from edge of quarry to lure this horde towards bomb; one even hit bomb and partially dislodged it from its position, making so much noise it drew almost entire horde right to it. I grabbed my trusty Lavender Rifle, aimed at bomb in quarry walls, and...BOOM!" Silver has to keep himself from moving as he says this. "It was loudest sound I had ever heard in my life, my ears were ringing for good couple of minutes as rocks and debris rained around me and I celebrated. Much of quarry was covered in bits, parts, and limbs of exploded undead. No blood, though, I imagine as they were already corpses. Most of horde had been completely destroyed by explosion. Some had been torn limb from limb but were still alive, thrashing about helplessly in little water that was left in quarry without any legs. Only couple of them, including undead knight and mummy, had been outside of blast radius."
>>166853
"Careful" says the medic, who is sewing Silver's flesh
"So you attacked the darkness?" Says the pony in the rear.
"So you attacked the darkness?" Says the skeptical pony
And the purple pony says, "I've always wondered what was down below. Below the city. And what they cleared out these last few years. I always thought there was something unsettling down there. I've heard other stories. Stories like that."
"Careful" says the medic, who is sewing Silver's flesh
"So you attacked the darkness?" Says the pony in the rear.
"So you attacked the darkness?" Says the skeptical pony
And the purple pony says, "I've always wondered what was down below. Below the city. And what they cleared out these last few years. I always thought there was something unsettling down there. I've heard other stories. Stories like that."
>>166854
"In way, yes, you could say I attacked darkness. Most undead left in quarry were easy pickings after explosion. Undead without any limbs can't respond to you sniping them from afar. I did not know if I had enough ammo for undead knight and mummy, gathered near stinky bait I had left behind, but as I was getting ready to attack them, something strange and amazing happened. That bait must have been even stinkier than I had thought it would be, because all of sudden, out of sky came Roc, attracted to bait, and it began to fight with knight and mummy over it. Knight and mummy fought hard and hurt Roc badly, but Roc managed to tear them both to shreds and limped off with its prize. With that dealt with, what few undead remained in catacombs were easy pickings, and when they were all dispatched I went to owner of development company that owned quarry and claimed my payment. I must have made something like 12,000 Bits for all of that, he even had to go to bank to be able to pay me all of it. All in all, I would say it was well worth hastle, headache, and many, many injuries I suffered trying to clear those catacombs."
"In way, yes, you could say I attacked darkness. Most undead left in quarry were easy pickings after explosion. Undead without any limbs can't respond to you sniping them from afar. I did not know if I had enough ammo for undead knight and mummy, gathered near stinky bait I had left behind, but as I was getting ready to attack them, something strange and amazing happened. That bait must have been even stinkier than I had thought it would be, because all of sudden, out of sky came Roc, attracted to bait, and it began to fight with knight and mummy over it. Knight and mummy fought hard and hurt Roc badly, but Roc managed to tear them both to shreds and limped off with its prize. With that dealt with, what few undead remained in catacombs were easy pickings, and when they were all dispatched I went to owner of development company that owned quarry and claimed my payment. I must have made something like 12,000 Bits for all of that, he even had to go to bank to be able to pay me all of it. All in all, I would say it was well worth hastle, headache, and many, many injuries I suffered trying to clear those catacombs."
>>166855
Purple: "12,000 Bits? What is that in Assignats now? That sounds like a lot"
The pony in the rear
"30,000 easily. No wonder his partner became governor. He's loaded."
Purple pony:
"Must have been a lot of opportunity in those days"
The medic
"I'll definitely believe he absorbed all of those injuries. Stallion is like a tank"
Skeptical pony:
"Yeah, we saw him absorb quite a few bullets. I can believe it"
Purple: "12,000 Bits? What is that in Assignats now? That sounds like a lot"
The pony in the rear
"30,000 easily. No wonder his partner became governor. He's loaded."
Purple pony:
"Must have been a lot of opportunity in those days"
The medic
"I'll definitely believe he absorbed all of those injuries. Stallion is like a tank"
Skeptical pony:
"Yeah, we saw him absorb quite a few bullets. I can believe it"
>>166856
"And thank goddess for that. Worst injury I got during that was from undead New Marelander who had that SMG. He swiped my neck twice with one of his hooves, nearly tearing my throat out in process. It was dangerous work, but money was there. Some momentary pain and distress is well worth long term comfort for yourself and loved ones."
"And thank goddess for that. Worst injury I got during that was from undead New Marelander who had that SMG. He swiped my neck twice with one of his hooves, nearly tearing my throat out in process. It was dangerous work, but money was there. Some momentary pain and distress is well worth long term comfort for yourself and loved ones."
File (): FE6DC545BF3FB6C50E84201249BD3957-9693437.png (9.2 MB, 4886x2708, 1613700.png)
>>166857
The ponies sit by in silence. Then the white pegasus speaks up
"You heard what he said. A little pain and distress, for the long termed benefit of your loved ones. Keep calm, and we'll see this through."
"I think-" says a pony, but he's cut off.
From the cockpit, Silver hears the sound of a radio as its volume is turned up, and he hears the speaking voice of the radio announcer from earlier
"-this message comes signed off by a quorum of the Directory. They have asked us to read the following statement live, and then broadcast a delayed recording transmitted to us. Well, here it goes,
'By a meeting of a quorum of the Directory, the Directory has declared the current military situation to be a crisis. To address this crisis, the Director has appointed a Master of the Ponies. This Master of the Ponies will have full powers of the State, including over legislation, foreign affairs, the judiciary, and the armed forces, to appoint and dismiss ministers, and may rule by decree, subject only to post facto review by the Directory. The pony appointed to this role is Long March, Quartermaster General of the Republican Armed Forces, and his term will last until October 2 of 1022, or until the conclusion of the crisis, whichever is first. Martial law has been declared. Effective immediately and until October 2, the Directory suspended the legislatures of the Republics of New Mareland, East Equestria, Puerto Caballo, and Severyana, and has placed under the direct control of the UPR Military. Likewise, the protectorates of Chirroptera, Maregypt, Gryphus, Karthin..." A number of names are given. "-have been placed under the direct military administration of the UPR for a period not to exceed six months. The protectorates of Asterion, Puimont, and Falcor are hereby dissolved and placed under indefinite military rule. Furthermore, the Directory has declared the suspension of the Constitution of 1022 and of Habeas Corpus. The Directory has adjourned and is in recess, to meet again at an unscheduled date." There is a brief pause, and the presenter reads off "Long Live the Republic." Another brief pause, and the presenter says, "well my friends.... let's see... the broadcast should be patched through in... seven, six, five, four, three...."
The ponies sit by in silence. Then the white pegasus speaks up
"You heard what he said. A little pain and distress, for the long termed benefit of your loved ones. Keep calm, and we'll see this through."
"I think-" says a pony, but he's cut off.
From the cockpit, Silver hears the sound of a radio as its volume is turned up, and he hears the speaking voice of the radio announcer from earlier
"-this message comes signed off by a quorum of the Directory. They have asked us to read the following statement live, and then broadcast a delayed recording transmitted to us. Well, here it goes,
'By a meeting of a quorum of the Directory, the Directory has declared the current military situation to be a crisis. To address this crisis, the Director has appointed a Master of the Ponies. This Master of the Ponies will have full powers of the State, including over legislation, foreign affairs, the judiciary, and the armed forces, to appoint and dismiss ministers, and may rule by decree, subject only to post facto review by the Directory. The pony appointed to this role is Long March, Quartermaster General of the Republican Armed Forces, and his term will last until October 2 of 1022, or until the conclusion of the crisis, whichever is first. Martial law has been declared. Effective immediately and until October 2, the Directory suspended the legislatures of the Republics of New Mareland, East Equestria, Puerto Caballo, and Severyana, and has placed under the direct control of the UPR Military. Likewise, the protectorates of Chirroptera, Maregypt, Gryphus, Karthin..." A number of names are given. "-have been placed under the direct military administration of the UPR for a period not to exceed six months. The protectorates of Asterion, Puimont, and Falcor are hereby dissolved and placed under indefinite military rule. Furthermore, the Directory has declared the suspension of the Constitution of 1022 and of Habeas Corpus. The Directory has adjourned and is in recess, to meet again at an unscheduled date." There is a brief pause, and the presenter reads off "Long Live the Republic." Another brief pause, and the presenter says, "well my friends.... let's see... the broadcast should be patched through in... seven, six, five, four, three...."
File (): F6D08EA8FBDF66530DD8A2FCA3B85B8E-783105.png (764.8 KB, 2303x3954, 2093812.png)
>>166567
>>166840
Amber "sees" the figures before her, the figures known by no name to any language, but may with vulgarity and imprecision be likened to bats made of gas. Before they danced rapturously, but with the arrival of that blackness that may be likened to a deep-sea plume, they now float at attention, facing the plume as if it were their master, or a priest. The yelling has ceased, and no longer can Amber hear rifle report, but neither can she hear that reply, high and low, from her fellow players. The direction of the wind has changed, and though leaves and branches still rattle, Amber's music becomes the preponderant sound pervading the night.
Amber has long known that through music, the mind may be liberated from the limitations of space and time. That infinite gulf between subject and object, or subject and subject, evaporates as Amber saws away another note. She feels she could see through the eyes of another creature, and become witness to scenes and places far away, long ago, or even that which has yet to occur. She could feel what they felt. Think what they thought. See what they saw. But why shackle experience to that which may be seen with the eyes, thought by a limited mind, or felt by a limited soul? Why... when there is so much more?
A whisper comes to Amber, riding the treble as the edge of her bow saws the string. It comes not in the form of words, but of images, images so alien that neither may her eyes see them, nor words express them. But need her field of view be limited to her eyes alone? Why need she be limited to eyes alone? The first vision is of peering through a complex refraction of translucent space, best analogized to a mirror, infinitely reflecting itself, or looking down an infinitely repeating staircase as the same image is repeated again and again. The second vision may be likened to a tempestuous ocean, if perhaps an ocean belonging to a world with laws of gravity unlike our own, with ever moving fluid that reflect violet light in lighter and darker waves. But Amber perceives that this boiling ocean is not of any matter, nor any substance suspended in space and time, but of pure desire - an ocean of the pure desire to dominate.
Amber's perception becomes less of visions, and more of direct emotions. She feels ecstasy, as she has since she began playing, of a kind she can claim to have felt only a few times before in her life. She feels pain, physical pain, that she knows intrudes from the world beyond, the "real" world, undoubtedly caused by the exertion of so furiously sawing her bow. But never mind that. She is exploring a new world here, or perhaps even several worlds. This continues for a couple minutes, until her talons happen to dip into the edge of one of those oceans, a black green abyss that stretches beyond perception. Amber feels it. Fear. Not fear of anything, nor deriving from any known cause, but a fear felt as if in a night terror, directly injected into the mind. And with this, her desire to explore these realms of pure emotion ceases.
Normally, feeling pure fear, like a child in a nightmare, would cause her to "wake," to cease playing and to open her eyes. But Amber knows better than to do that. And she is more disciplined than to do that. She has better self control than to make such a self evident mistake. The visions cease, but Amber mechanically plays more notes. Not with rapture, but with purpose. The fear persists at lower intensity, though it is no longer the uncaused fear of a night terror, but something deeper, and more primordial. It comes now from a sensation, and maybe even a thought, that was suggested to Amber much earlier, when her focus was on the dancing figures. Though before the sensation was drowned out by competing emotions, it persists. It's the sensation of being watched by a predator, like a mountain lion that stalks you as you walk along a mountain trail. Amber's extremely tired forelegs continue playing the same repetition of notes for what feels like an hour, even if in real time it's more likely two minutes.
And then, it is done. Amber may cease playing, open up her eyes, and join her comrades.
>>166840
Amber "sees" the figures before her, the figures known by no name to any language, but may with vulgarity and imprecision be likened to bats made of gas. Before they danced rapturously, but with the arrival of that blackness that may be likened to a deep-sea plume, they now float at attention, facing the plume as if it were their master, or a priest. The yelling has ceased, and no longer can Amber hear rifle report, but neither can she hear that reply, high and low, from her fellow players. The direction of the wind has changed, and though leaves and branches still rattle, Amber's music becomes the preponderant sound pervading the night.
Amber has long known that through music, the mind may be liberated from the limitations of space and time. That infinite gulf between subject and object, or subject and subject, evaporates as Amber saws away another note. She feels she could see through the eyes of another creature, and become witness to scenes and places far away, long ago, or even that which has yet to occur. She could feel what they felt. Think what they thought. See what they saw. But why shackle experience to that which may be seen with the eyes, thought by a limited mind, or felt by a limited soul? Why... when there is so much more?
A whisper comes to Amber, riding the treble as the edge of her bow saws the string. It comes not in the form of words, but of images, images so alien that neither may her eyes see them, nor words express them. But need her field of view be limited to her eyes alone? Why need she be limited to eyes alone? The first vision is of peering through a complex refraction of translucent space, best analogized to a mirror, infinitely reflecting itself, or looking down an infinitely repeating staircase as the same image is repeated again and again. The second vision may be likened to a tempestuous ocean, if perhaps an ocean belonging to a world with laws of gravity unlike our own, with ever moving fluid that reflect violet light in lighter and darker waves. But Amber perceives that this boiling ocean is not of any matter, nor any substance suspended in space and time, but of pure desire - an ocean of the pure desire to dominate.
Amber's perception becomes less of visions, and more of direct emotions. She feels ecstasy, as she has since she began playing, of a kind she can claim to have felt only a few times before in her life. She feels pain, physical pain, that she knows intrudes from the world beyond, the "real" world, undoubtedly caused by the exertion of so furiously sawing her bow. But never mind that. She is exploring a new world here, or perhaps even several worlds. This continues for a couple minutes, until her talons happen to dip into the edge of one of those oceans, a black green abyss that stretches beyond perception. Amber feels it. Fear. Not fear of anything, nor deriving from any known cause, but a fear felt as if in a night terror, directly injected into the mind. And with this, her desire to explore these realms of pure emotion ceases.
Normally, feeling pure fear, like a child in a nightmare, would cause her to "wake," to cease playing and to open her eyes. But Amber knows better than to do that. And she is more disciplined than to do that. She has better self control than to make such a self evident mistake. The visions cease, but Amber mechanically plays more notes. Not with rapture, but with purpose. The fear persists at lower intensity, though it is no longer the uncaused fear of a night terror, but something deeper, and more primordial. It comes now from a sensation, and maybe even a thought, that was suggested to Amber much earlier, when her focus was on the dancing figures. Though before the sensation was drowned out by competing emotions, it persists. It's the sensation of being watched by a predator, like a mountain lion that stalks you as you walk along a mountain trail. Amber's extremely tired forelegs continue playing the same repetition of notes for what feels like an hour, even if in real time it's more likely two minutes.
And then, it is done. Amber may cease playing, open up her eyes, and join her comrades.
>>166872
>>166857
There's the slightest sound of static, and then, Silver hears a voice. The source is a stallion maybe a little younger than Silver, with an accent that seems to be a Dominion permutation of a Griffish Isle accent.
"Hello ponies. Can you hear me? heh heh. I wasn't expecting to have to give a speech. I haven't really done speeches before. This is Long March. As you've heard I've just been appointed Master of the Ponies. The Directory thought I should speak to the ponies, so that way they know who rules them. I uh, haven't had to do that in my past roles. I suppose I should tell you who I am. I was born to a family of poor ranch workers in the state of Kingfisher. The military was my only path to advancement, and I was fortunately enough to be enrolled into university and become an officer, serving in logistics and distribution, and sometimes as an industry liaison. I am a lifelong military officer. I have served in the Galyippoli campaign, the Dominion mine revolt, the Wars of Security, and as a general in the War Against the Princesses and against Wingbardy, besides a number of other efforts like disaster relief or building the railways in Zaphzia. Two years ago I was made quartermaster general of the entire United Republican Army. Just an hour ago I was in charge of logistics of the Glorious Crusade. Heh heh... The Directory wants you to know - I want you to know - that this is not some unplanned for event. No. This is simply a consolidation and simplification of the decision-making process in response to the potential danger posed to our leadership by the enemy. It's a purely precautionary measure taken not because our situation makes it necessary, but so we are ready before it becomes necessary. Let me assure you..."
There's a sound of him licking a part of his lips, as if his mouth is dry
"The situation on the front and on the homefront is under... control. The enemy may strike back harder than we hoped... to be sure, but it is not harder or worse than we prepared for. We have special, secure communications networks, secure underground bunkers, secure rail lines, and stockpiles of food, fuel, medicine, and weapons to last more than a year. The appointment of a Master of the Ponies is just a part of that. A contingency prepared ahead of time. Understand... if we stick to it, we will prevail. Ponykind will be made whole again. And the future we make for our foals will be brighter than where we are today... Long. Live. The Republic"
That last word is almost inflected like a question. The sound of the broadcast continues in silence for a few seconds, until it cuts out and music begins. Finally, the broadcaster adds
"That concludes the message given to us by the government. We have received orders to the effect that we are to broadcast only when deemed necessary by officials, and only what they deem necessary. We are to remain off the air otherwise. Until you hear from us again I suppose, hopefully in just a few hours. Stay strong out there. This is Friend of the Ponies, signing off."
Music plays, though the pilot turns the volume down.
>>166857
There's the slightest sound of static, and then, Silver hears a voice. The source is a stallion maybe a little younger than Silver, with an accent that seems to be a Dominion permutation of a Griffish Isle accent.
"Hello ponies. Can you hear me? heh heh. I wasn't expecting to have to give a speech. I haven't really done speeches before. This is Long March. As you've heard I've just been appointed Master of the Ponies. The Directory thought I should speak to the ponies, so that way they know who rules them. I uh, haven't had to do that in my past roles. I suppose I should tell you who I am. I was born to a family of poor ranch workers in the state of Kingfisher. The military was my only path to advancement, and I was fortunately enough to be enrolled into university and become an officer, serving in logistics and distribution, and sometimes as an industry liaison. I am a lifelong military officer. I have served in the Galyippoli campaign, the Dominion mine revolt, the Wars of Security, and as a general in the War Against the Princesses and against Wingbardy, besides a number of other efforts like disaster relief or building the railways in Zaphzia. Two years ago I was made quartermaster general of the entire United Republican Army. Just an hour ago I was in charge of logistics of the Glorious Crusade. Heh heh... The Directory wants you to know - I want you to know - that this is not some unplanned for event. No. This is simply a consolidation and simplification of the decision-making process in response to the potential danger posed to our leadership by the enemy. It's a purely precautionary measure taken not because our situation makes it necessary, but so we are ready before it becomes necessary. Let me assure you..."
There's a sound of him licking a part of his lips, as if his mouth is dry
"The situation on the front and on the homefront is under... control. The enemy may strike back harder than we hoped... to be sure, but it is not harder or worse than we prepared for. We have special, secure communications networks, secure underground bunkers, secure rail lines, and stockpiles of food, fuel, medicine, and weapons to last more than a year. The appointment of a Master of the Ponies is just a part of that. A contingency prepared ahead of time. Understand... if we stick to it, we will prevail. Ponykind will be made whole again. And the future we make for our foals will be brighter than where we are today... Long. Live. The Republic"
That last word is almost inflected like a question. The sound of the broadcast continues in silence for a few seconds, until it cuts out and music begins. Finally, the broadcaster adds
"That concludes the message given to us by the government. We have received orders to the effect that we are to broadcast only when deemed necessary by officials, and only what they deem necessary. We are to remain off the air otherwise. Until you hear from us again I suppose, hopefully in just a few hours. Stay strong out there. This is Friend of the Ponies, signing off."
Music plays, though the pilot turns the volume down.
>>166921
Silver is the first to break the silence.
"Hmm. He does not seem to have much experience with public speaking."
Silver is the first to break the silence.
"Hmm. He does not seem to have much experience with public speaking."
>>166922
The white stallion replies
"No. No he doesn't"
Then the purple stallion
"The First counsel could word it better..."
Then the white stallion retorts
"Sounds better than you if you were put on the spot"
The white stallion replies
"No. No he doesn't"
Then the purple stallion
"The First counsel could word it better..."
Then the white stallion retorts
"Sounds better than you if you were put on the spot"
>>166923
"I suppose we ultimately do not need somepony with that kind of experience. Rousing, impassioned speeches may inspire soldiers, but speeches are also for political campaigns." He sighs. "Still, though...he is sorely lackey presense and authority our commanders had during Great War."
"I suppose we ultimately do not need somepony with that kind of experience. Rousing, impassioned speeches may inspire soldiers, but speeches are also for political campaigns." He sighs. "Still, though...he is sorely lackey presense and authority our commanders had during Great War."
>>166840
>>166920
Amber's musicality in the most inhospitable of environments has given her a window that generations of mystics have sought to peer through. The "dancers" in front of her that defy description would have sufficed to awe and mesmerize any pony or griffon that did not possess this power, and the manifestation resembles ancient forbidden rites done for arcane purposes. Yet once this veil has thinned the urge to go onwards is undeniable.
It was never intended for her to view such things. Lying before her are fractals that would give the most brilliant mathematicians pause and spaces that the most imaginative surrealists could not visualize, but what captures her attention is pure, unfiltered, foreign emotion, if it indeed be that and not merely a side effect of something ineffable. Were she more lucid she would wonder how emotion could exist outside of any being, but almost as if entranced she mentally dives headfirst into such a strange world and feeling suffused by it.
This brief sojourn ends with the sensation of the starkest terror she has ever known, with the memories of those bandits and the Inquisition and even the changelings seeming dim and inconsequential in comparison. A discipline not entirely her own prevents her from cutting off the music, which would have at best perhaps left part of herself in that strange realm. The music continues, painfully slowing and finally reaching an artless conclusion.
Shaking from sheer fatigue, Amber slowly opens her eyes and looks around. Try as she might, she cannot shake that pitted sensation of doing something abominably wrong and being caught for it, though the precise reason of this dread defies her. What just happened in the here and now?
>>166920
Amber's musicality in the most inhospitable of environments has given her a window that generations of mystics have sought to peer through. The "dancers" in front of her that defy description would have sufficed to awe and mesmerize any pony or griffon that did not possess this power, and the manifestation resembles ancient forbidden rites done for arcane purposes. Yet once this veil has thinned the urge to go onwards is undeniable.
It was never intended for her to view such things. Lying before her are fractals that would give the most brilliant mathematicians pause and spaces that the most imaginative surrealists could not visualize, but what captures her attention is pure, unfiltered, foreign emotion, if it indeed be that and not merely a side effect of something ineffable. Were she more lucid she would wonder how emotion could exist outside of any being, but almost as if entranced she mentally dives headfirst into such a strange world and feeling suffused by it.
This brief sojourn ends with the sensation of the starkest terror she has ever known, with the memories of those bandits and the Inquisition and even the changelings seeming dim and inconsequential in comparison. A discipline not entirely her own prevents her from cutting off the music, which would have at best perhaps left part of herself in that strange realm. The music continues, painfully slowing and finally reaching an artless conclusion.
Shaking from sheer fatigue, Amber slowly opens her eyes and looks around. Try as she might, she cannot shake that pitted sensation of doing something abominably wrong and being caught for it, though the precise reason of this dread defies her. What just happened in the here and now?
>>166924
If the ponies intended to answer, they don't answer immediately, but look towards Silver in somber silence. Two of them seem to nod.
Silver hears a radio, this one coming to the white stallion
""This is Brigadier General Circling Camp of the 78th Republican Guard Reverses. Per the Magister Mannis, all Homeguard Units are now under the authority and direction of the Republican Guard, which places all units in Baltimare under my command. Now, the Magister Mannis has decreed that disabling all mass-thermal devices is of top priority, and I whole-heartedly agree. Our reports suggest that Baltimare has or had three devices. One was smuggled into the naval base on the south side of the harbor. The infiltration team that was supposed to detonate this device was picked up in last night's raid, and the device was found earlier. Another device was in the center of the city in the administrative building. This was disabled by homeguard forces before it could be activated. A team communicating with enemy forces abroad, presumably to receive activation codes was located and destroyed in the WMARE building. But a fourth group, presumably with a device, is located in the Redheart district of town in the transportation ministry. We don't know why they haven't denotated the device yet, but we're not exactly eager to find out, as they may denotate it at any time. We're asking all available units to be ready to attack this position. Stand by."
If the ponies intended to answer, they don't answer immediately, but look towards Silver in somber silence. Two of them seem to nod.
Silver hears a radio, this one coming to the white stallion
""This is Brigadier General Circling Camp of the 78th Republican Guard Reverses. Per the Magister Mannis, all Homeguard Units are now under the authority and direction of the Republican Guard, which places all units in Baltimare under my command. Now, the Magister Mannis has decreed that disabling all mass-thermal devices is of top priority, and I whole-heartedly agree. Our reports suggest that Baltimare has or had three devices. One was smuggled into the naval base on the south side of the harbor. The infiltration team that was supposed to detonate this device was picked up in last night's raid, and the device was found earlier. Another device was in the center of the city in the administrative building. This was disabled by homeguard forces before it could be activated. A team communicating with enemy forces abroad, presumably to receive activation codes was located and destroyed in the WMARE building. But a fourth group, presumably with a device, is located in the Redheart district of town in the transportation ministry. We don't know why they haven't denotated the device yet, but we're not exactly eager to find out, as they may denotate it at any time. We're asking all available units to be ready to attack this position. Stand by."
>>166933
>>166933
Amber opens her eyes to see nothing that wasn't there when she closed them. The leaves of the trees, as well as the branches, shake ever so slightly. But these have calmed down. There is no wind, but a slight cool autumn breeze. The moon shines down, though the forest canopy blocks most of it. A few leaves fall around Amber. Besides the slight rustle of the trees, there is no sound.
Her forelegs ache. For the moment, it seems as if Amber was premature in believing herself to have been caught.
>>166933
Amber opens her eyes to see nothing that wasn't there when she closed them. The leaves of the trees, as well as the branches, shake ever so slightly. But these have calmed down. There is no wind, but a slight cool autumn breeze. The moon shines down, though the forest canopy blocks most of it. A few leaves fall around Amber. Besides the slight rustle of the trees, there is no sound.
Her forelegs ache. For the moment, it seems as if Amber was premature in believing herself to have been caught.
>>166934
"Goddesses, how many of these bombs do Changelings have? I suppose we have our next target..."
"Goddesses, how many of these bombs do Changelings have? I suppose we have our next target..."
>>166936
"Don't we have wounded to evacuate?" Asks a pony, presumably the pilot, from the copula above
"Don't we have wounded to evacuate?" Asks a pony, presumably the pilot, from the copula above
>>166937
"I suppose so...but it is not as if you have need of me for such task. Take me to Redheart."
"I suppose so...but it is not as if you have need of me for such task. Take me to Redheart."
>>166938
The white pony looks back to Silver.
"Well, then let's not run away from the fight." He looks up to the cupola "Take us to the Transit Ministry" Then he looks back to Silver "And to answer your question, too damned many."
Silver hears the pilot speak over the radio
"Air control, we will not be proceeding to deliver wounded in Blackwater. We will be joining the fight with a hoof full of infantry at the Transit Ministry."
Silver can hear the reply
"Very well, turn around, there is a courtyard clearing a hundred meters south of the transit ministry that should be clear, may be hot." a pause, and "Be advised, you will not be at a safe distance in the event that device goes off. Do you understand?"
And the pilot,
"Roger that. We know what we are getting into."
Corporal Bloom, all bandaged up, looks back to Silver and the white pegasus
"So we're going back to the shooting?"
The white pony looks back to Silver.
"Well, then let's not run away from the fight." He looks up to the cupola "Take us to the Transit Ministry" Then he looks back to Silver "And to answer your question, too damned many."
Silver hears the pilot speak over the radio
"Air control, we will not be proceeding to deliver wounded in Blackwater. We will be joining the fight with a hoof full of infantry at the Transit Ministry."
Silver can hear the reply
"Very well, turn around, there is a courtyard clearing a hundred meters south of the transit ministry that should be clear, may be hot." a pause, and "Be advised, you will not be at a safe distance in the event that device goes off. Do you understand?"
And the pilot,
"Roger that. We know what we are getting into."
Corporal Bloom, all bandaged up, looks back to Silver and the white pegasus
"So we're going back to the shooting?"
>>166944
The medic speaks
"There's a bit left, yes. He'll feel numb, but it does reduce pain."
Silver can feel the vehicle make a sharp left turn, and the view outside of single family homes and trees in the distance, is replaced by the waters of the horseshoe bay.
The medic speaks
"There's a bit left, yes. He'll feel numb, but it does reduce pain."
Silver can feel the vehicle make a sharp left turn, and the view outside of single family homes and trees in the distance, is replaced by the waters of the horseshoe bay.
>>166946
"Okay..." Corporal Bloom nods
Spectral Streak speaks to Silver
"Look out there. They got Fillydelphia..."
Looking out the window, Silver can see the somewhat familiar visage of the Baltimare Harbor from Locust Promontory to Cherry Hill, with its rows of warehouses near the shore, and piers that stretch out into the water, with several freighters waiting. The mostly blue skies have a slight, dark haze over them, and comet tails, visible in broad daylight streak across the sky. Far off in the distance are vast, black clouds that stretch almost into. But most ominously, right in the center of Silver's field of view looking north, is a twisted black cloud with a mushroom-like shape, peering out over the horizon, beyond the hill on the peninsula.
"Okay..." Corporal Bloom nods
Spectral Streak speaks to Silver
"Look out there. They got Fillydelphia..."
Looking out the window, Silver can see the somewhat familiar visage of the Baltimare Harbor from Locust Promontory to Cherry Hill, with its rows of warehouses near the shore, and piers that stretch out into the water, with several freighters waiting. The mostly blue skies have a slight, dark haze over them, and comet tails, visible in broad daylight streak across the sky. Far off in the distance are vast, black clouds that stretch almost into. But most ominously, right in the center of Silver's field of view looking north, is a twisted black cloud with a mushroom-like shape, peering out over the horizon, beyond the hill on the peninsula.
>>166947
"Богини спасают нас..."
Silver is left speechless for a moment afterwards.
"I have witnessed explosions before, but none I have seen have made cloud of that size..." Despite his fear, he steels himself, a look of resolve on his face. "That is more reminder than we will ever need of importance of our mission. We will succeed, because we must. This is our home, our families, and we will be damned to lowest levels of Tartarus before we let these insects destroy it."
"Богини спасают нас..."
Silver is left speechless for a moment afterwards.
"I have witnessed explosions before, but none I have seen have made cloud of that size..." Despite his fear, he steels himself, a look of resolve on his face. "That is more reminder than we will ever need of importance of our mission. We will succeed, because we must. This is our home, our families, and we will be damned to lowest levels of Tartarus before we let these insects destroy it."
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>>166935
Amber looks around for her friends or the bandits. Despite the stillness of the night she is still apprehensive; it is, after all, midnight in the middle of a dark deserted swamp.
She sits down to rest. Despite her forelegs being different from her hindlegs, she's still a quadruped and isn't exactly in a state to move.
Amber looks around for her friends or the bandits. Despite the stillness of the night she is still apprehensive; it is, after all, midnight in the middle of a dark deserted swamp.
She sits down to rest. Despite her forelegs being different from her hindlegs, she's still a quadruped and isn't exactly in a state to move.
>>166948
The white pegasus tells the ponies,
"You heard him. This is our homes we are fighting for. And they have shown they will burn us all if we do not stop them. Have your weapons ready when we hit the ground."
The vehicle moves in closer. Silver can see that the old rows of tenements are long gone, and the vehicle moves past a wall into an area with some new looking warehouses, a few older abandoned buildings, and quite a few simply empty, sandy lots, occasionally flanked by new looking, modern manufactories.
Silver sees it: the transportation ministry. It's a rather large building of white stone, mostly rectangular in shape, running north to south, with raised ends, and a raised center with a small dome on top. In front of this building, and towards the direction of the water, is a massive open area, partly covered in grass, partly in gravel, and with a few decorations Silver can see is intended to be a plaza. New constructions of commercial buildings are on the far side. But to the edge of the building and north is a much older building of a square shape with a dome, and to the south is what seems to be a warehouse. As the vehicle approaches, a now familiar sound echos throughout the city, overcoming even the loud sound of engines and spinning rotors.
In the days of legend, the wailing of the banshee was feared, as it foretold coming doom. Someone would die tonight. Silver hears a wailing sound perhaps analogous to the ominous cry of the banshee, but this is no ghostly wail of creature beyond nature, but the two-toned electronic howl of the Signal Thunderbolt. With its prolongated "Awooo" rising in volume, lowering, and then rising again, this is no all-clear, but the third warning of the morning. Whether the mundanity of the source is more assuring than the supernatural is up to the listener.
The white pegasus tells the ponies,
"You heard him. This is our homes we are fighting for. And they have shown they will burn us all if we do not stop them. Have your weapons ready when we hit the ground."
The vehicle moves in closer. Silver can see that the old rows of tenements are long gone, and the vehicle moves past a wall into an area with some new looking warehouses, a few older abandoned buildings, and quite a few simply empty, sandy lots, occasionally flanked by new looking, modern manufactories.
Silver sees it: the transportation ministry. It's a rather large building of white stone, mostly rectangular in shape, running north to south, with raised ends, and a raised center with a small dome on top. In front of this building, and towards the direction of the water, is a massive open area, partly covered in grass, partly in gravel, and with a few decorations Silver can see is intended to be a plaza. New constructions of commercial buildings are on the far side. But to the edge of the building and north is a much older building of a square shape with a dome, and to the south is what seems to be a warehouse. As the vehicle approaches, a now familiar sound echos throughout the city, overcoming even the loud sound of engines and spinning rotors.
In the days of legend, the wailing of the banshee was feared, as it foretold coming doom. Someone would die tonight. Silver hears a wailing sound perhaps analogous to the ominous cry of the banshee, but this is no ghostly wail of creature beyond nature, but the two-toned electronic howl of the Signal Thunderbolt. With its prolongated "Awooo" rising in volume, lowering, and then rising again, this is no all-clear, but the third warning of the morning. Whether the mundanity of the source is more assuring than the supernatural is up to the listener.
>>166950
Amber is alone in her hiding spot, separate from friends and bandits alike. It's rather calm, actually. The ground is soft, though not too moist. She's tired, but her previous experience at least gave her some adrenaline.
Amber is alone in her hiding spot, separate from friends and bandits alike. It's rather calm, actually. The ground is soft, though not too moist. She's tired, but her previous experience at least gave her some adrenaline.
>>166951
Someone would indeed die tonight, and Silver will make sure that it isn't him or his loved ones. Somewhat numb to the pain coursing through his body, Silver gets up, grabs the LMG he picked up off of the changeling at the TV station, and readies it for combat.
Someone would indeed die tonight, and Silver will make sure that it isn't him or his loved ones. Somewhat numb to the pain coursing through his body, Silver gets up, grabs the LMG he picked up off of the changeling at the TV station, and readies it for combat.
>>166952
Despite her fatigue, or rather because of it, she checks her viol for any possible damage incurred while playing, then stows it and gets up. There's a danger that if she doesn't move she might fall asleep where she is. She looks for her friends, reasoning that if the bandits were still around they would have seized her already while she was playing music.
Despite her fatigue, or rather because of it, she checks her viol for any possible damage incurred while playing, then stows it and gets up. There's a danger that if she doesn't move she might fall asleep where she is. She looks for her friends, reasoning that if the bandits were still around they would have seized her already while she was playing music.
>>166953
The vehicle aligns itself next to the ministry building in the large plaza in front of it. It starts to descend. And then Silver hears another noise that by now, is also all too familar. It's a sort of zip sound, a "tatata that's much too close together. And Silver hears thumbs against the hull of the vehicle as what is clearly a changeling machine gun shoots at them, and lands several hits. There is a sudden jerking as the engines accelerate, the vehicle pulls up, and quickly to the north. Silver hears the pilot and copilot yelling "Too hot" and "get us out of here!" as the vehicle swerves up, over the dome, and then lowers itself as the zipping continues. There is another, albeit smaller clearing of dirt next to an abandoned building behind the square domed building. But the vehicle manages to come down and land. The pilot speaks to them,
"This was the closest we could get without being exposed in the open."
>>166954
Perhaps the strings are a little more worn than before, but no. Everything is in perfect condition.
Amber moves back towards the road, and sees that her comrades are already up and moving about. Helder comments "Glad you came through."
Erich comments
"Had to show off, didn't you?"
And Federkleid:
"So that's... what you do here. Okay..."
There are a few conspicuous holes, as if nibbled away by a beaver, on the carriage and on a pair of trees, as well as one visible in the ground beside the road. That, and a number of leaves cover the road. But other than that, it's much as when Amber left it, with shadow covering much of the road and the shoulder, and moonlight illuminating the other portion.
The vehicle aligns itself next to the ministry building in the large plaza in front of it. It starts to descend. And then Silver hears another noise that by now, is also all too familar. It's a sort of zip sound, a "tatata that's much too close together. And Silver hears thumbs against the hull of the vehicle as what is clearly a changeling machine gun shoots at them, and lands several hits. There is a sudden jerking as the engines accelerate, the vehicle pulls up, and quickly to the north. Silver hears the pilot and copilot yelling "Too hot" and "get us out of here!" as the vehicle swerves up, over the dome, and then lowers itself as the zipping continues. There is another, albeit smaller clearing of dirt next to an abandoned building behind the square domed building. But the vehicle manages to come down and land. The pilot speaks to them,
"This was the closest we could get without being exposed in the open."
>>166954
Perhaps the strings are a little more worn than before, but no. Everything is in perfect condition.
Amber moves back towards the road, and sees that her comrades are already up and moving about. Helder comments "Glad you came through."
Erich comments
"Had to show off, didn't you?"
And Federkleid:
"So that's... what you do here. Okay..."
There are a few conspicuous holes, as if nibbled away by a beaver, on the carriage and on a pair of trees, as well as one visible in the ground beside the road. That, and a number of leaves cover the road. But other than that, it's much as when Amber left it, with shadow covering much of the road and the shoulder, and moonlight illuminating the other portion.
>>166955
Somewhat befuddled as to how her friends are still here but not the bandits, Amber meekly asks, "Are you all alright? We need to get going."
Somewhat befuddled as to how her friends are still here but not the bandits, Amber meekly asks, "Are you all alright? We need to get going."
>>166956
Erich answers
"Yes, and we do. We need to get going to get to the fair by the morning."
Helder picks up a rifle, to see that that the end is sawn off. He picks up a different rifle, and pulls back the action to insert a clip. But he too eventually pays attention to Amber
Erich answers
"Yes, and we do. We need to get going to get to the fair by the morning."
Helder picks up a rifle, to see that that the end is sawn off. He picks up a different rifle, and pulls back the action to insert a clip. But he too eventually pays attention to Amber
>>166958
"We're going to the fair?" she asks, not having heard about this course of action earlier, or perhaps forgetting it.
"We're going to the fair?" she asks, not having heard about this course of action earlier, or perhaps forgetting it.
>>166959
"I do!" shouts the purple stallion. Azelea Bloom also seems to be smiling, if limping. Even the medic seems to be deployed, with a curved magazine submachine gun. But the white pegasus asks,
"How will we approach the building? They have machine guns and there is open space on every side around the building."
>>166960
reee that was supposed to say "ferry"
"I do!" shouts the purple stallion. Azelea Bloom also seems to be smiling, if limping. Even the medic seems to be deployed, with a curved magazine submachine gun. But the white pegasus asks,
"How will we approach the building? They have machine guns and there is open space on every side around the building."
>>166960
reee that was supposed to say "ferry"
>>166961
Ignore my previous reply then
Nonplussed, Amber says "That is crucial. Will we be able to afford the fare?"
Ignore my previous reply then
Nonplussed, Amber says "That is crucial. Will we be able to afford the fare?"
>>166962
Federklied:
"We better. Erich, did you get you money?"
Erich
"What I had. I wasn't going to leave it."
Federklied:
"But do you have enough?"
Erich
"Well, if I don't then Helder does
Helder
"Yeah yeah, of course you can't keep money. I have enough for that and to bribe the guards too. You won't have to try anything drastic"
Federklied:
"We better. Erich, did you get you money?"
Erich
"What I had. I wasn't going to leave it."
Federklied:
"But do you have enough?"
Erich
"Well, if I don't then Helder does
Helder
"Yeah yeah, of course you can't keep money. I have enough for that and to bribe the guards too. You won't have to try anything drastic"
>>166961
"First thing we need to do is scout enemy machine gun positions. Stay down, follow me, and keep your ears and eyes open for any ambushing changelings."
Silver sneaks towards the machine gun that fired at them, hoping to get a good look at the situation they're being faced with.
"First thing we need to do is scout enemy machine gun positions. Stay down, follow me, and keep your ears and eyes open for any ambushing changelings."
Silver sneaks towards the machine gun that fired at them, hoping to get a good look at the situation they're being faced with.
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>>166964
Erich moves over to the wagon, opens it, and reaches in. "This isn't pretty." Amber can see that he moves to the side a set of rope and bags. "This might be useful." He pulls out a pair of water containers "And this is nice." He pockets a necklace." He turns and looks to Amber. "They didn't seem to have much there. I don't know what they had on their persons." Federklied looks into the front of the cabin, but evidently find anything interesting.
Erich moves over to the wagon, opens it, and reaches in. "This isn't pretty." Amber can see that he moves to the side a set of rope and bags. "This might be useful." He pulls out a pair of water containers "And this is nice." He pockets a necklace." He turns and looks to Amber. "They didn't seem to have much there. I don't know what they had on their persons." Federklied looks into the front of the cabin, but evidently find anything interesting.
File (): 46517E553BB2D1E32B7C5C4281F08467-132256.png (129.2 KB, 500x273, 6552438.png)
>>166965
With Silver is the White pegasus from earlier, as well as the purple pony, the orange pony, Corporal Azelea, and Spectral Streak. Presumably the two medics and two pilots of the Chickpea could be considered, as the chickpea is still on the ground behind Silver.
Silver has no point of view of the Transit Ministry building, as it is completely blocked off from view by this reasonably large square building, which seems to have a dome and two towers, and is a couple hundred feet on each side. This building faces much of the whole of the north side of the transit ministry, and extends slightly to its east and front. To the south and north of this building are more, smaller buildings. It does appear that Silver could enter this building, although it might require shooting off a lock. Note that the side of the transit ministry is reasonably large, about the same size.
Silver was shot at from the front of the Transit Ministry building, which faces a very large open area that is likely a thousand feet across, and could be a public park in the future. It's possible to shoot across this area, although not with great accuracy. across this field on the south side is more buildings. These are shorter and seem to be warehouses. Silver does not actually have a precise guess of the size of the transit ministry, but probably 250 feet wide and 750 feet long, hard to say if it has internal courtyards. Entry points are likely on every side... but he doesn't have a good vantage point here.
Silver does have a radio, which could be very helpful for requesting aid.
With Silver is the White pegasus from earlier, as well as the purple pony, the orange pony, Corporal Azelea, and Spectral Streak. Presumably the two medics and two pilots of the Chickpea could be considered, as the chickpea is still on the ground behind Silver.
Silver has no point of view of the Transit Ministry building, as it is completely blocked off from view by this reasonably large square building, which seems to have a dome and two towers, and is a couple hundred feet on each side. This building faces much of the whole of the north side of the transit ministry, and extends slightly to its east and front. To the south and north of this building are more, smaller buildings. It does appear that Silver could enter this building, although it might require shooting off a lock. Note that the side of the transit ministry is reasonably large, about the same size.
Silver was shot at from the front of the Transit Ministry building, which faces a very large open area that is likely a thousand feet across, and could be a public park in the future. It's possible to shoot across this area, although not with great accuracy. across this field on the south side is more buildings. These are shorter and seem to be warehouses. Silver does not actually have a precise guess of the size of the transit ministry, but probably 250 feet wide and 750 feet long, hard to say if it has internal courtyards. Entry points are likely on every side... but he doesn't have a good vantage point here.
Silver does have a radio, which could be very helpful for requesting aid.
>>166995
Silver sees one just a bit over to the left. It's a wooden door with a half circle top. A bit thick, and standard sized for the entry of one person
Silver sees one just a bit over to the left. It's a wooden door with a half circle top. A bit thick, and standard sized for the entry of one person
>>166993
"All rather basic, but better than nothing. Would you recommend taking the wagon itself? It is an extra burden and sticks out, but on the other hoof–er, claw, it would make us resemble travelers instead of refugees and might provide shelter if we need it."
"All rather basic, but better than nothing. Would you recommend taking the wagon itself? It is an extra burden and sticks out, but on the other hoof–er, claw, it would make us resemble travelers instead of refugees and might provide shelter if we need it."
>>166997
Helder, who is visibly holding a carbine rifle, looks over at the carriage. Federklied is the one who answers
"It's tempting to stay the night in it... to be sure. But I don't think we could take it. Not without oxen to pull it."
Helder, who is visibly holding a carbine rifle, looks over at the carriage. Federklied is the one who answers
"It's tempting to stay the night in it... to be sure. But I don't think we could take it. Not without oxen to pull it."
>>166998
"Could the four of us pull it? It is nothing too big." In the dim light she tries to analyze the expressions of the other three, to see whether they might be offended by the suggestion. She also glances at the wagon's tongue to tell whether it's even possible to hook up four griffons in lieu of two oxen. Wasn't that how the bandits pulled it in the first place, or if they had oxen where did they go?
"Could the four of us pull it? It is nothing too big." In the dim light she tries to analyze the expressions of the other three, to see whether they might be offended by the suggestion. She also glances at the wagon's tongue to tell whether it's even possible to hook up four griffons in lieu of two oxen. Wasn't that how the bandits pulled it in the first place, or if they had oxen where did they go?