/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal


Merry Christmas and Happy Hearth's Warming Everyone and Everypony!

[YouTube] The True Gift of Gifting [Embed]

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6554165.png
Occupied Equestria - Awakening
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167000
167005 167012
Ambergriff wonders her way through the bog at night, looking for safety. Silver leads a heroic assault on the infiltrators before they can destroy the city. Both will have to wake soon...

Hopefully Spark's line will continue soon as well.
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167001
167002 167012
>>166999 →
The tongue, presumbaly made for a pair of oxen, is bigger than would be needed for two griffins, but shorter than required for four griffins.

They don't seem... too excited.

Federklied answers,
"If it were many hours ago, I'd be more inclined... But at this time, I'd much rather sleep in it, than pull it."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167002
167003
>>167001
Although with time they could make it work, time is not on their side, and with low light and fatigue it would only slow them down all the more.

"We should not sleep here, I do not like this place. Let's leave the wagon and press onward."
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167003
167004 167012
>>167002
"I do not either" She answers,

Helder injects,
"We can make the ferry by morning, if we walk fast enough"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167004
167006
>>167003
"We must," Amber states with urgency. "It's our ticket to safety."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167005
167008
>>167000
Silver tries this nearby door.
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167006
167007 167012
>>167004
In the background, the crickets have picked up chirping again, and the frogs in the nearby water have begun croaking. Amber and her comrades walk along the trail further, past a few more trees with holes cut into the upper layers of bark and off of the island, over another little path that crosses the road, and into more forest. Amber feels tired. Very tired. Her limbs ache. She's probably walked this far before, but she can't remember when. They don't encounter more griffins that she can recall as they walk along. On each side are old oak trees, or willow bushes, or various other deciduous trees that dominate over the small pathway as they lean over. Sometimes their leaves block out the moon and Amber has to guess where the next step is, as the path is black. And sometimes their leaves cover the trail, while their naked branches leave shadows under the moonlight. The air is cool, and occasionally a breeze blows through. Insects and frogs, besides the occasional bird dominates the sound of the night, besides the patter of their own claws in the leaves, or Helder attempting to make conversation, or Erich and Federklied hurriedly whispering to each other.

Amber feels as if she is in a daze, forcing her limbs forward. Like she is in a trance, sleepwalking. Her limbs go numb, until she is like a passenger in her body.

But eventually, the sky becomes lighter, then orange, then yellow on the right. Then the path turns right, and through a gap in the trees, Amber can see a large river.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167007
167009
>>167006
The doldrums of the night stretch on and on, exhaustion only worsened by Amber's body which grows tired faster than she is used to. Amber would like nothing more than to rest on the cool ground but is harried by urgency and fear. She has to look over her shoulder once in a while out of concern that one of the others fell into that temptation, but fortunately that doesn't seem to be case.

A gasp of relief escapes her beak as morning finally comes with their goal in sight. She finally sits down for a bit, looking up and down the river for any unwelcome surprises lying in wait.
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167008
167010 167012
>>167005
Silver opens the door, perhaps with a bit of persuasion, and it opens. Silver sees that he is to the left of a large room. In the center, and about half of the area of the total, is an open floor that is a few feet lower than the edges, and at the center is a platform of a hexagonal shape two higher than the floor with a set of steps going into it, railings along the steps, and wooden railings around the platform. It has a set of wood holding up a small, half-egg shaped wooden roof over it, has many openings in a sort of "woven" pattern.

Above the central portion of the room is a dome with a similar "woven" pattern, albeit this is made of plaster. To either side of the room's center is a columbs that hold up the cieling, and under the roof behind the columns are set of wooden bench seats facing the platform. Half of these are on the lower level, while the half furthest away are raised up to the level of the floor at entrance. The wooden floor has a simople checker pattern. Much of the wood seems damaged, perhaps from water or fire, although if there was fire, it certainly did not destroy all of the wood. Some of the floor has crates and boxes on it. Silver has entered on the side by benches. But on the far side are doors to other rooms, and light enters from vaulted windows. Some of these have what seem to be stained glass, sometimes visible and sometimes opaque from dirt or soot. But much of this is destroyed, allowing a view straight across the street to the transit ministry.
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167009
167011
>>167007
The water moves swiftly with waves along it. The river is very wide, and Amber is skeptical a bridge could even be built to cross it.

Helder speaks,
"There's a village right down here. They should have a ferry."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167010
167020
>>167008
A direct view towards the transport minstry is exactly what Silver wanted. Using the benchs, crates, and boxes as cover, Silver tries to get closer to the destroyed windows without being seen.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167011
167032 167033
>>167009
"We must be careful, if the Inquisition has any suspicion of where we are headed they would surely send somegriff here."
Anonymous
8de5a54
?
No.167012
167013
>>167000
>>167001
>>167003
>>167006
>>167008
And then my Based German Horse guns down all the polish
Anonymous
4c7c7bf
?
No.167013
2640448.jpg
>>167012
*Angry and flutily resisting neighing sounds*
Anonymous
976c4e9
?
No.167020
167021
>>167010
Looking through the breaks in the windows on the building Silver is in, Silver can see the north sids of the transit ministry isn’t particularly far away - close enough, certainly, to engage with gun fire. The building has relatively small square windows that seem to be recessed into the building relative to protrusions on the left and right sides, but not above of below, though a simple bulge frieze demarcates the separation between the building’s floors. The exterior of the building is covered in white, presumably granite panels. Some of the windows seem to be open. As stated, the building silver is in has windows that are mostly translucent but not able to be seen through. These stretch from the bottom almost to the top. They are broken in enough places that silver can see through them. To see to the left and right, silver must move to the right and left. To see up and down, sometimes the holes are vertical and big enough to see through, but sometimes silver needs to move up and back. The wooden crates and the platform, and especially the lack of illumination within the building silver is located, make it hard for Silver to be seen. But neither thin wood nor darkness will stop a rifle bullet. Note there are also doors in the building silver is in to the left, presumably to the outside towards the transit ministry, and maybe high levels like the tower.

To check for potential enemies or dangers, do a spot check. Or ask a pony to investigate.
a727551
?
No.167021
167022
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]
>>167020
Spot: Silver sees what he can see.
Anonymous
976c4e9
?
No.167022
167023
>>167021
Third floor window three over from the left/east, it’s open. Silver sees a helmeted figure, looks like a drone, with a gun on a bipod leaning on the windowsill. Looks like one of the new automatic rifles. One window over, a bit further inside. Silver sees what may be s drone, perhaps s spotter. There are two more open windows, one on the second floor, and another on the third floor, but nothing is visible inside.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167023
167024
>>167022
Silver relays this information to the others, and asks them, "any ideas to deal with them?"
Anonymous
976c4e9
?
No.167024
167025
>>167023
The white Pegasus:
“We haven’t got any explosives. We can either suppress them and cross, try to take them out with a marksmare, call for fire support, or hope we can take them down in dueling automatic fire. I don’t think we can go around, because they likely have something like this covering every field of fire.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167025
167026
>>167024
Silver looks at Spec.

"Think you can take out gunner? I can provide suppressing fire if you can not."
Anonymous
9d0b35c
?
No.167026
167027
>>167025
Streak peaks over towards the window, through the broken glass. He takes the Lilia rifle in hoof.
“I can try.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167027
>>167026
Silver gets his new LMG ready for suppressing fire.

"This weapon is limited in ammunition, so you all had better get ready to run when firing starts."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167029
167030
Silver, however, pauses, look unsure.

"Hmm...on second thought, this might not be best plan."
Anonymous
9d0b35c
?
No.167030
167031
>>167029
“Then what?” Spectral Streak asks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167031
167034
>>167030
"It might be easier if we all just fired at them at once. Accuracy through volume of fire and all that."
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167032
167033 167036
>>167011
"Yes. We're going to have to remain as hidden as possible until we get to Hellquill."

The trail turns right, running alongside the river. The trail tends to run along a high bank, which sometimes is next to the river, and sometimes separated by shallow pools or grass. But the trail doesn't go far before Amber sees a concentration of houses with white walls and tall, steep sloped black tiled roofs. And to the left, through the trees and on the river, Amber sees a peer.
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167033
167036
>>167011
>>167032
But as Amber comes closer, she notes something. Knights, by the village center, and more importantly, by the pier, which itself is near by the center of this small settlement of a couple dozen houses. Two are in armor, steel, evidently, with a white surcoat with a red cross. Two others also stand nearby. They have no armor but have white shirts with red crosses and red cloaks.
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167034
167035
>>167031
"Okay..." Spectral Streak says.

The white pony, Azelea, the orange pony, and the purple pony, along with Streak and his Jenny, attempt to line up to mass fire on the open window. It is not easy, as the availability to see the open window through the broken window is small. The ponies line up more or less one behind the other, in a small group in the center of the room a bit to the right to gain the right angle to fire.

Do note that the enemy gunner, who is pretty well recessed into the third floor, has the benefit of cover, and thus may not be hit as easily as in the open.
a727551
?
No.167035
167037 167040
[1d20+10 = (14+10) = 24]
[1d20+10 = (4+10) = 14]
>>167034
Silver can't think of any better plan than this, so it's what he sticks to. He once again uses his Jenny as he'll need it's accuracy. He aims for the gunner, counts down for his companions, 3, 2, 1, and...

BANG BANG
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167036
167038
>>167032
>>167033
Amber looks distraught. So close, yet so far away… "How are we going to get past them?" she whispers. "Force is hopeless and they'll be alert to anyone trying to sneak."
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167037
>>167035
Okay....

Behind, and in front of Silver, is a hail of fire from multiple Jenny rifles, relatively focused and concentrated.

[1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8]
[1d20+4 = (3+4) = 7]

[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19]
[1d20+3 = (19+3) = 22]

[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]

[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]

[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167038
167039
>>167036
Federklied:
"The only thing we can do is to walk through the front. They look like Sibuline Order."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167039
167040
>>167038
"Sibuline Order? Aren't they here to stop us?"
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167040
167041 167043 167048
>>167035
Silver feels the sharp though manageable recoil of his new changeling rifle, and shards of glass spray as stray bullets shatter the stained glass and make the opening somewhat larger.

And then Silver hears something new: Automatic rifle, evidently coming a little further from the right. This does far more damage to the window, shattering even more glass.

[10d20 = 88]

>>167039
"They are here to claim this border checkpoint as their own." She answers
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167041
167042
>>167040
Hmmm....

[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 19]
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167042
>>167041
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 4]

[1d20 = 10]
[1d20 = 2]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167043
167044
>>167040
"You're saying they don't know about our status?"
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167044
167045
>>167043
"I don't know. But it's unlikely."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167045
167046
>>167044
Amber frowns. "We should at least try to not look like refugees. We probably look the worse for wear as of now."
Anonymous
5b6c4cf
?
No.167046
167047
>>167045
Erich buts in,
"Nah, these are Sibulines. They won't rob you. Not if you don't look like you have any money."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167047
167332
>>167046
"We can't stay here or go back anyway. I just hope you are right." Amber proceeds forwards.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167048
167049
>>167040
Can Silver see the changeling that's shooting at them?
Anonymous
55ebe59
?
No.167049
167051
>>167048
I should note - two of the ponies, I believe, we’re carrying submachine guns. It should not have been possible for them to make the kind of volley seen earlier, as that is supposed to be simultaneous marksman shooting. Silver is carrying a Grim and a Jenny, which are more or less capable of that kind of shooting, but they should have switched out. Similarly, Silver should have switched his rifle to semi-auto. Alternatively, the fire should have full auto and largely inaccurate. In any case, Silver and the ponies should have coordinated the fire, like with the drip of a handkerchief.

Silver cannot see the presumed Changeling, as it is out of his field of view. Silver can only see breaking glass, and splinters on the floor. Two ponies drop down, while another two run for cover.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167051
167052 167053
>>167049
...oh...

"SCATTER!"

Silver switches to full auto, and fires in what he hopes is vaguely the direction of the attacker.

[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 3]
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 3]
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 15]
[1d20 = 20]
[1d20 = 12]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167052
167053
>>167051
Checking
[1d20 = 9]
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167053
167054
>>167051
>>167052
It looks like the ponies have scattered, save for one who has his hooves over his head, and another that is crawling along. Silver aims the rifle to the right, and with a very mighty CHCHACHA that’s louder than the Jenny, louder than the old Lavender rifle, and indeed, more menacing than any shoulder fired pony rifle Silver can think of, the rifle presses firmly into his shoulder, and a window of a griffin under a blue-green sky with… white streaks? Shatters and disintegrates, giving Silver a view if the transit ministry. There is a “claclacla” reply of gunfire that with a “thump thump” seems to have hit the side of the building, but does not penetrate into the room.

The gunfire ceases.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167054
167055 167056
>>167053
"Anypony hurt?"
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167055
167056 167057
>>167054
“Yes!” Says the orange pony, who lies on the wooden floor over towards Silver’s right.
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167056
167057
F708621F-611C-4AE7-AED6-2E952D9AC0D0.png
>>167054
>>167055
Azalea, who lies in the floor a bit to Silver’s left, still with his hooves over his head, says

“I think I may… I can tell.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167057
167058
>>167055
>>167056
Silver checks over the two for injuries.
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167058
167059
>>167057
The orange pony has a cut. It’s hard to tell if it’s caused by shattered glass, or a grazing bullet. If it’s the former, there could be broken glass in the wound, but certainly no bullet is lodged inside.

Azalea likewise has a bleeding cut. Silver can see why he wasn’t sure if he had been wounded at all - it’s overtop of an existing wound and bandage, and may actually be the result of said bandage breaking or stitches coming undone.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167059
167060
>>167058
"Looks like you two just need some bandages to cover wounds for now."

Do they have any more bandages with them?
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167060
167061
>>167059
If not, the medics may still be with their ride in.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167061
167064
>>167060
"Keep out of sight, I am going to grab medics."

Silver goes back to do just that.
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167064
167065
>>167061
Silver trots out through the building, back into the small square behind the building. Silver sees the Chickpea is still there, it's rotors moving. Silver can see that both medics are still there.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167065
167066
>>167064
Silver calls out to the medics, "Hey, couple of our troops got nasty cuts."
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167066
167067
>>167065
Silver can see the two just barely in the chickpea. One, a sort of skinny granite colored stallion, the same one who helped Silver, is partly leaning out. He looks out, and places a hoof down on the ground.
"Is that all? From all that noise?"

The other is a cream-colored stallion leaning against the wall. He presses against the floor, and looks over towards Silver.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167067
167068
>>167066
"Looks like they were either grazed by bullets or cut by shards of glass. Nothing life threatening, but still needs to be patched up."
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167068
167069
>>167067
It's the cream one who asks,

"Are we... supposed to stay here with you, or leave for casevacs?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167069
167074
>>167068
"It would help if you were with us, I will admit. If there are not enough of us healthy at end of this to stop detonation, it will not matter how many you pick up."
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167070
167071
As if adding it's own opinion to the matter, from off in the distance, Silver can hear a voice on a loudspeaker. It must be a couple blocks over, very loud, and a slight echoing suggests that it's far from the only loudspeaker playing the exact same broadcast at that time. The sound is of a female voice, firmly stating the following...

"Attention, all residents. From the Office of Governor Star: The Mandatory Evacuation Order has been replaced with a Stay in Place Order. Repeat, the Evacuation order is no longer in effect. All residents still within the city limits are to seek shelter immediately. Seek shelter on the ground floor of a concrete reinforced or brick structure. Avoid windows and wooden structures. Do not remain on the streets. Stay out of your vehicles. If you cannot find suitable shelter, please proceed to any subterranean concrete-"

It continues
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167071
167072
>>167070
"And also that."
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167072
167073
>>167071
Is Silverfluff intending to conscript both medics to come with him?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167073
167074
>>167072
Basically yes.
Anonymous
db343ed
?
No.167074
167075 167091
>>167073
>>167069
The cream medic says, "Well, I guess that means we are no longer on casevac duty." He picks up his submachine gun.

The grey medic stands up, and grabs bottles and supplies out of the Chickpea. Both come out, and follow Silver into the building.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167075
>>167074
Silver indeed leads them into the building. He points out the wounded ponies, and stands guard watching the transport ministry from the windows while they work.
Gibs Money
10759cc
?
No.167079
167084 167091
Gibs wakes up in weird hotelroom... With metal bars.

"Aye yo! What happen? One moment I'm just hustlin through life like any zigga in Baltimare and the next I'm in this wacked-ass zoo cage, like I iz animal. If yo don't let me out soon, I'll go beast-mode mutherfuckerz. Hehe, get it? Dat's a rap foo."
Anonymous
e4c3f37
?
No.167083
167084
How many writers are working on this story?
Anonymous
f4c50d7
?
No.167084
167085 167088 167089 167184
>>167083
One GM, with several players - two active this week, thought sometimes others. Occasional fun poster interlopers, like >>167079
Anonymous
10759cc
?
No.167085
>>167084
>Occasional fun poster interlopers
<3
Anonymous
1776383
?
No.167088
167090
>>167084
So it's like a PbP sort of thing?
Anonymous
a5933b1
?
No.167089
167090
>>167084
Is >>>161686 → still canon, then?
Anonymous
2a90f22
?
No.167090
167093
>>167088
looks that up
I think so

>>167089
scrunches
Anonymous
4b79220
?
No.167091
167092 167094
>>167074
The cream medic goes to the orange pony, while the grey medic goes to Azlea. "There's some glass in here..." Silver can see the cream medic extracting glass fragments before bandaging the orange pony, while the grey medic attempts to reapply stiches. But both work urgently, as they know time is not on their side. "We got this" says the grey medic to Silver.

>>167079
"Hey!" One angry zebra mothefucker smacks them bars from the outside with his brass plated horseshoes. "Y'all shut the hell up in there. I done told ya you'll see the magistrate in the mornin'."

"Yo man," says another zebra on the bench behind Gibs. "Ya'll said that two hours ago. It's mornin' already!"

The zebra outside replies, "He'll get here when he gets here." He shakes his head and walks away.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167092
167314
>>167091
While they work, Silver tries to see if there are any additional changelings visible in the windows of the transport ministry.
Anonymous
506bd82
?
No.167093
167097
>>167090
My question is if it's a d&d game or if it's a CYOA RP, or something else entirely. I see dice, and looks like the older threads had d&d in the OP.
Gibs Money
58ea79b
?
No.167094
>>167091
Gibs Money can't believe this Aunt Zecora mutherfucker won't let him out. He bitch-ass-zigga. He looks back over at the brother on the bench behind him, thinking that he at least be a real zigga but then he sees it...

Dat zigga be lookin' at his ass! Gibs immidiately turn on the spot.

"Yousa homo. Yo starin' at mah butt like it'za watermelon. Youa gay-ass!"
Anonymous
4b79220
?
No.167097
167123
>>167093
It's technically D&D, or is supposed to be, using the 3.5e system. It's morphed a little since.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xd5tpFX3_xA
Anonymous
3ae35b9
?
No.167123
167129
>>167097
>3.5e system
Interesting choice for what looks like an EaW themed game. Where did you post character sheets and rules? I tried looking at the older threads, but I couldn't really make sense of them.
GM
e9290aa
?
No.167129
167135 167138
>>167123
Yes, that is what we did. Character sheets have been posted sometimes through discord. No rules for the game besides those in the 3.5 system have been written down. It’s been fairly informal.
Anonymous
910514d
?
No.167135
167136
>>167129
What do you use for ponies? Ponyfinder?
>discord
Oh, so it's a discord thing. I thought it was on the board.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167136
167138
>>167135
Gameplay is 100% on the board, "meta" communication is just done through discord sometimes.
Anonymous
cfae825
?
No.167138
167150
>>167129
>No rules for the game besides those in the 3.5 system
I know a bit about 3.5e, but there has to be some house rules if you're playing ponies. What do you use for pony stats? What level/XP did you start at?
>>167136
I see now.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167150
167151 167176 167177
>>167138
We started at level 5. We do have stat bonuses based on race. For instance, Earth Ponies get I believe a +2 to strength. I could find the notes on that if you’re interested.

I do have a pony finder book, but thus far we haven’t used it
Anonymous
c802f1f
?
No.167151
>>167150
I'm a bit interested. Mostly curious.
Anonymous
573f597
?
No.167176
167187
>>167150
>I do have a pony finder book, but thus far we haven’t used it
Not a big fan of Ponyfinder rules either. It's not known for it's good quality of rules. People use it because bandwagon.
>We do have stat bonuses based on race. For instance, Earth Ponies get I believe a +2 to strength.
What about unicorns and pegasi? Int and Dex respectively?
Anonymous
4c4845d
?
No.167177
167185 167187
I went through some the old threads to get a grip of how things work here. I didn't see anyone roll stats, but when I looked at the point totals one character had 22 points and another other had 33, so I guess you use rolled stats. I don't see very much of the other rules though.
>>167150
What level is the party now? This has been going on for a long time.
Anonymous
3a6cd97
?
No.167184
167185 167187
>>167084
I'm looking at the old threads threads, but a lot of time has passed since then. I can't really tell where the party is right now. Is it like multiple groups or something?
Shimmering Spark
f0c0e47
?
No.167185
>>167177
It's a bit more about the adventure and story than leveling up in this game.
>>167184
Quite a few groups. The primary group is Silver while I am a secondary story of sorts, looking into the occupation of the changelings and the patches of survivors and rebels in the west.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167187
167192 167193
>>167176
Unicorns do get +2 Int, yes, as well as telekinesis magic, and are required for sorcerer and wizard builds. I don't believe Pegasi get Dex as they can fly, which itself is a hell of a boost.

>>167177
There hasn't been a formal leveling, though it's certainly appropriate and earned. D&D has rather extreme power creep as levels increase, and the majority of enemies are and remain "humanoid" equivalent ponies, griffins, and changelings. So leveling has been kept simple to prevent inflation. Party members have acquired many weapons, a house, and NPC followers and companions as booty.

>>167184
At the moment, everyone is split up. Spark is off way north in Whinnysota. Silver and Amber are each in Baltimare in respective dream sequences. Dark Star and Iron are on sort of hiatuses, and Dark Star is in Baltimare while Iron is on a sort of "day trip" away from Baltimare.
Anonymous
bd9d420
?
No.167192
167195 167373
>>167187
>Telekinesis
How does that work? Like in Ponyfinder?
>they can fly
How fast?
>hasn't been a formal leveling
So, milestone, or something else?
>leveling has been kept simple to prevent inflation.
Is that a way of saying that this is like an e6 or e8 kind of game with the HD levels capped? I've done e8 before, so that's np. I like to plan out levels in advance though.
>NPC followers and companions as booty.
That's cool. How would you handle an Apprentice PC? I know some DMs don't like making NPC mentors, but I kind of wanna try that as a quest-giver thing. Could I find know an existing necromancer mentor NPC in this world? I could make one too.
Had an idea for an apprentice necromancer thrall from the Coven of Blood or Society of bones who's doing quests to earn emancipation from her creator. After that I'd like to flirt with leadership, because it's a war themed game.
>everyone is split up
Oof. Where would a player even meet the party then?
>remain "humanoid"
Thank fuck. I'm sick of Ponyfinder's pointless Fey type autism for no reason.
Anonymous
bd9d420
?
No.167193
>>167187
Most important: how do you do attributes? Just basic rolled stats?
Anonymous
7401950
?
No.167195
167196 167225
>>167192
> How does that work?
Kind of just eyeballing it as it goes. Like “no, you can’t pick up an object that heavy. No, it doesn’t extend that far. You have to see what you are handling to know what you are handling.” Typically depending on traits.

>How fast
I think 60 feet per move.

> So, milestone, or something else?
Like I’ve tried to suggest it before a quest and it was ignored. I suppose “milestone” would be correct. Based on quest completion.

>level cap
As I said, it’s been informal, and mostly ignored as a way of preventing inflation. The more serious concern in the campaign has been the inclusion of automatic firearms like submachine guns, and in Silver’s future dream sequence, assault rifles and battle rifles.

>How would you handle an Apprentice PC?
This is more or less how many of the quests have worked. Dark Star has aligned him self with the Blackhooves faction, and the NPC liaison of that faction is acts as a mentor for Dark Star when not on a quest, and basically as a GMPC on quests, as she’s been the most common companion NPC for full party quests. Iron likewise has a Zebra NPC mentor who serves essentially as a GMPC when he goes on quests. These characters are level 5, same as the party, and tend to be deemphasized in combat. And they are waifus because of course they are, what did you expect.

> Could I find know an existing necromancer mentor NPC in this world?
Necromancy in the campaign has been treated as evil and something belonging to a forgotten past. I don’t think a “living” necromancer has been seen in the campaign.

> Had an idea for an apprentice necromancer thrall from the Coven of Blood or Society of bones who's doing quests to earn emancipation from her creator.
For perspective, the Society of Bones and Coven of Blood in EAW are located in a land metaphorically detached from the rest of the Griffonian continent. The main setting of the campaign has been in Baltimare, in the southern half of the equestrian east coast. The city is very much like Barcelona in the Spanish civil war in EAW, and my interpretation has been to make it like Lovecraft’s New York and Providence. I suppose a Dreas Leafye style necromancer could show up there.. but it would be something of an alien element to the city.

> Where would a player even meet the party then?
Historically, this has been the Eastside Tavern

> how do you do attributes? Just basic rolled stats?
Yes.
Anonymous
bd9d420
?
No.167196
167204
>>167195
>The more serious concern in the campaign has been the inclusion of automatic firearms like submachine guns
You use d20 Modern rules for those, right? They weren't too powerful, last I checked. Are you also using the Dr#321 rules for increased damage and threat range on firearms?
>Necromancy in the campaign has been treated as evil and something belonging to a forgotten past. I don’t think a “living” necromancer has been seen in the campaign.
>“living”
Unliving? It could be cool to have been made by a lich. The standard base levels for Mentors is 5 plus modifiers (8ish), but a higher level one could be cool if it already exists in the story.
>but it would be something of an alien element to the city.
I thought of it as being something like a pilgrimage/tourism. The queen herself was from Equestria, so maybe some of her followers might travel to "see what she saw".
>Yes
Okay. Here goes nothing...
How do I roll?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167204
167208
>>167196
Simply type out parentheses, number of dice, d, the number of sides on the dice, and then a modifier, close parentheses
[ 1 d 20 ]
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20+6 = (9+6) = 15]
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167205
Test
[1d20 = 2]
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167206
167207
Test
[3d20 = 22]
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167207
167208
>>167206
.... It's not showing me the results of the original dicerolls. How do I drop the lowest?
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167208
167209
>>167207
I'll just roll the d6's one by one
>>167204
Since I don't really know how equipment is going to work out in a modern setting, and the Coven Of Blood is itself painfully low-tech, I'm probably going to spend most of my starting equipment on corpses/thralls. The thralls I start with are characters, telepathically under my command, but I want to make them proper cohorts when I reach the level, so developing them now is key. I will roll all of their stats at once and assign them based on what is most appropriate to who. My mage doesn't need anything but Charisma, but some Wisdom would be nice.

Corpse 1
Attribute 1
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 3]
Attribute 2
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 6]
Attribute 3
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 5]
Attribute 4
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 1]
Attribute 5
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 4]
Attribute 6
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 4]

Corpse 2
Attribute 1
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 5]
Attribute 2
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 2]
Attribute 3
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 3]
Attribute 4
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 6]
Attribute 5
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 4]
Attribute 6
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 1]

Corpse 3
Attribute 1
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 6]
Attribute 2
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 5]
Attribute 3
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 2]
Attribute 4
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 3]
Attribute 5
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 3]
Attribute 6
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 4]

Corpse 4
Attribute 1
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 1]
Attribute 2
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 2]
[1d6 = 4]
Attribute 3
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 4]
Attribute 4
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 1]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 6]
Attribute 5
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 4]
[1d6 = 4]
Attribute 6
[1d6 = 3]
[1d6 = 6]
[1d6 = 5]
[1d6 = 2]
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167209
167211
>>167208
Corpse 1
13
13
11
10
12
10

Corpse 2
10
10
11
14
15
9

Corpse 3
12
16
8
14
11
14

Corpse 4
6
14
12
17
14
14

Not stellar rolls, but doable. Half are noncombatants anyway. Corpse 3 and 4 are definitely keepers; I only wanted one 16 to glue the whole build together. Might replace Corpse 1 with the elite array if that's allowed, although he's supposed to be a living colt who won't see combat, so having crappy stats is fine for him.
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167211
167212 167219 167250 167373
>>167209
Corpse 4 (White Horse) is my Necromancer: Rosie "Posie" Ring, an apprentice practitioner in The Art. Her origins lie in the Coven Of Blood. Posie is a product of dysgenics by the Dread League, who sought to breed the perfect thrall from the necrotic tissue of a stillborn alicorn. Posie was considered to be a paragon among her cloned sisters, but ultimately still a failure to produce a god of destruction.
Posie's childhood memories are non-existent, just a blur of constant excruciating pain as she writhed about in her vat of fluid. She was liberated from her necrotic cradle as an adolescent filly, and raised by the Coven.
Posie is bound to her master in a powerful Geas that exceeds the formal binds of apprenticeship: until she surpasses her master, she is forever his thrall. Her bindings prohibits her from committing acts in Equestria that would compromise the infiltration goals of the Society of Bones, at least until her emancipation.
Posie's master was a powerful necromancer who cultivated Posie from necrotic tissue. As a mentor, he is an NPC that would not assist in quests or give any formal aid to her, but he may give her quests. I think it would be cool if he were a lich, but that's up to the DM. I would like him to be affiliated with the Dread League, maybe taking advantage of changeling occupation to infiltrate Equestria.
Posie appears to be a white/pinkish mare with a scarlet mane. She appears youthful and vivacious, even in death: her godly blood provides an unlimited well of entropy that keeps her body as beautiful as it was in her short life. Although not a true vampire, her time with the Coven of Blood has given her an appreciation of vampire culture: selfishness, hedonism, and poetic edginess.
In terms of Religion, Posie believes the holy blood in her veins makes her worthy of defeating death, a goal that her peers have forgotten. She believes that the creator of all things beckons her foals to join her in the abyss of entropy as undead, or die if they will not.
Likes:
Necromancy ("The Art")
Books, especially poetry and Eldritch times
Nursery Rhymes
Wine (with a splash of blood)
The dead (both corpses and the unliving)
Her favorite thralls
Violence and anything bloody
Dislikes:
Having to hide her art
Walking into holy sites
Garlic (stinky)
Holy symbols

Corpse 3 (black horse) will be my first thrall: the disgraced plague doctor and thief, Caligo Miasma, from the Society of Bones. He was crucified for stealing the souls of the unborn at a maternity ward. He's a coward even in death, and he accepted undeath from Posie as a means to escape whatever judgement laid beyond the void for his atrocities in life, and so she . He's a skulking coward, and a malignant villain who secretly wishes to finish his grisly work, but so long as Posie exists he is her eternal prisoner and bound to carry out her will.

Corpse 2 (red horse) will be my second thrall: the mad swordsman Frenzied Thresher. He was once a feared warlord who had killed countless innocents. He was ruthlessly wicked and bloodthirsty in life, and his bloodthirst ended up being his undoing, for the shear depravity of his crimes caused him to fall into a state of perpetual madness. He found "salvation" from the madness of taint by selling his soul and surrendering his entire being to The Worms. As a worm-infested raver, he ravaged the countryside until he eventually fell under Posie's control after being deemed a "rogue ghoul". Despite his servitude to Posie, his true loyalty lies with the the Lord of Worms. His deformed, twisted and rotten appearance is horribly monstrous, which is why Posie prohibits him from taking off his armor.
Anonymous
84a3903
?
No.167212
167213 167219 167250
>>167211
Corpse 1 (pale horse) isn't a corpse at all, but a living, breathing colt: Gloomy Glow. Gloomy was an orphaned colt, captured and cultivated by the Coven of Blood to harvest for blood and to sacrifice as a potential slaymate. He was given to Posie as a reward for her excellence in her studies. Posie has not yet expended him, but kept him alive, raising him as her informally adopted "son". She herself doesn't completely understand why she hasn't killed him already; perhaps something about him reminded her of the childhood she never had. She keeps him as something like a pet, spoiling him with hugs, kisses and treats, and attends to his withering health. She comforts him when he's in distress (which is often) and reassures him that everything will be alright (gaslighting) when he worries. She reads him stories and lulls him to sleep, resting beside him in calm meditation
Although Posie's treatment may seem merciful at a glance, her choice to raise Gloomy might be her greatest act of cruelty: her upbringing as a thrall in the Coven of Blood did not teach her to make equal relationships with other ponies, and her mercy is more for her enjoyment and ambition than his wellbeing. Gloomy, like Posie, was a product of dysgenics, modified to be an ideal sacrifice. As a living creature, he's not immune to the taint, and thus he's ravaged by illness that stems from magical corruption, and the depravity of magic torments his mind making him a dream walker in a perpetual nightmare. His tomb tainted soul means that his chronic illnesses resist conventional medicine and magical treatment, and he's dependent on Posie's touch to find comfort from his illness.
Perhaps worst of all, Gloomy was made as a sacrifice for an Eldritch being from beyond the void, a beast of pure darkness that haunts him, seeking to use him as a gate. In his nightmares he has visions of a shadow swallowing the entire world, the antilife, Tenebrous. His fear of The Shadow is greater than his fear of death.
Posie is well aware of this, which is what sparked her interest in Gloomy. When Gloomy was first presented to her, he was in a sorry state, ravaged by the vestige of The Shadow, and yet he lived. He clung to his last shreds of life and sanity despite under spiritual pressure that would have killed any other mortal. In all her unlife, Posie had never witnessed a creature with such a strong will, and reminded him of her mission. The vampires who ruled The Coven of Blood were so hedonistic and selfish in their hubris that most of them had forgotten the true purpose of their religion: to defeat Death itself. When she met Gloomy, a pathetic creature that begged for death and yet still continued to survive, she was so inspired she fell in love, something she thought was beneath her as a sigma-mare undead ubermensch. She wanted to coddle him and spoil him and save him from the ravages of age, and so she took him under her cloak. Posie believes that Gloomy can conquer The Shadow and bend it to his own will. She intends to make him her apprentice as soon as she's emancipated by her master, and teach him to channel his Dark Powers as a true Tenebrous Apostate. If not... He's make an excellent Slaymate.
Unlike Posie's undead thralls, Gloomy is a living creature, and Posie has no magical control over him. Until he becomes her actual apprentice, he is merely a tagalong NPC that will not join in combat. If the DM wishes, he could roleplay Gloomy, as his personality is subject to the influence of The Shadow and inconsistent. In this case, his level of depravity from possession by The Shadow might be so high that it causes him to take random, unexplained actions if the plot demands or have prophetic visions.

Names subject to change.
I will post their character sheets here later. It's been a while since I played 3.5e. I'm used to Ponyfinder.
Anonymous
eaa9b9f
?
No.167213
>>167212
Chaos table
[1d100 = 11]

Taint
[1d10 = 1]
[1d10 = 1]
[1d10 = 3]
[1d10 = 9]
[1d10 = 7]
[1d10 = 9]
[1d10 = 2]
[1d10 = 10]
[1d10 = 9]
[1d10 = 3]
[1d10 = 2]
[1d10 = 6]
[1d10 = 5]
[1d10 = 6]
[1d10 = 6]
[1d10 = 8]
[1d10 = 4]
[1d10 = 4]
[1d10 = 10]
[1d10 = 5]
[1d10 = 10]
[1d10 = 8]
[1d10 = 5]
[1d10 = 3]
Basics of the Setting
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167214
167215 167217 167218 167225
A8AEDA3E-7B25-4A1C-9D59-621D18D061D3.jpg
Alright, let me write up some background fluff just to be sure you understand the setting

Occupied
In the autumn of Sol Solis 1006, the Changeling Hegemony proceeded with its most ambitious plan yet to attack Equestria: a simultaneous replacement of both princesses in Canterlot, of the royal couple in the Crystal City, and of the six ponyville friends. The plan failed when the Master of the Crystalling awoke, fled, and tripped on the floor, alerting the crystal guards. Though many within the hegemony contend, not without merit, that the plan was very nearly a success, Queen Chrysalis's lesson from the failure was the infiltration was too contingent, and too risky. A full frontal assault, costly though it may be, was the best, and perhaps only way to secure love for her overpopulated and starving empire.

Over in Equestria, the rulers were not fazed by this near success of their enemies, but only emboldened in pursuing their chosen path further. Princess Twilight, well on the rise politically after a string of successes, believed that her duty as princess was to spread friendship and harmony. Just as she had before spread it among her friends, then among her town, then among Equestria, now it was her duty to spread friendship and magic across all of the world. After all, if the races of ponies, who once hated each other, could unit in Harmony, and find themselves stronger for it, why not the same for the griffins, zebras, and hippogriffs?

Across the sea, the lands of the griffins had not recovered from the loss of the Idol of Boreas that once united their peoples. More than a dozen smaller successor states had sprung up, and among these forms of government varying from Equestrian style harmony, to feudalism, to despotism, to merchant rule, to mob rule, to communism and fascism took hold and attempted to spread. The larger of these successor states compete with one another to consume their neighbors, and ultimately claim the now vacant title of Empire of all Griffonia.

On the shores of Griffonia remains the Equestrian settler colony of New Mareland. The now former Equestrian dominion has for hundreds of years been more firmly integrated into the economics and politics of Griffonia, and the fall of the Griffin Empire hit the export based economy of New Mareland especially hard, and what would have been a simple recession turned into a great depression. The ponies of New Mareland do not see in the griffins potential future friends and converts to harmony, as Twilight does, but very real and very dangerous present enemies. New Mareland declared independence from Equestria in 1008. The radical far right party known as the Blackhooves took power. The politics of New Mareland are complicated, nuanced, and subject to interpretation, but the gist of what is important is that the Blackhooves and their leader, Duke Erebus Haygle, believe that New Mareland must establish an empire in Southern Griffonia with captive markets in order to secure itself.

Back over in Equus, the old Griffin colony reestablishes itself after a civil war. The original break away state of political radicals, Stalliongrad, continues its experiment after the death of its great leader Steel Stallion. To the outside observer, the state appears inwardly focused on its own problems, having given up the dream of being only one of many federated soviet republics. But the dream is not cancelled nor even deferred, but carried on through more subtle means.

Equestria
In 1010, across the ocean in Griffonia, Duke Haygle and New Mareland proceeded in their design to carve out an empire in Southern Griffonia, invading and colonizing several underdeveloped, backwater griffonian successor states. This blatant departure from the principles of harmony - as perceived by Twilight, anyways - enraged Equestria, and after a period of failed negotiations, lead to the declaration of war between the nations, though exactly who declared war on who is up to dispute, and for more than a year this war proceeded as a phony war.

But this was not the most important event of that year for Equestria: Queen Chrysalis proceeded across the Equestrian border with more than a million drones. But the Equestrians knew they were coming, and fought valiantly in resistance. For two long years, the Changelings slowly ground their way through the sons and daughters of Equestria, slowly carving out an empire of their own in Pony lands. This was the largest war Equestria had ever seen, with millions under arms, a million dead, and vague memories of the Empire of Tambelon and of Quetzlecoatl in those pre-Equestrian days offering the only vague analogies to the present situation.

The war against New Mareland, fought through proxy by griffin powers, had seemed to be on hiatus, or to have scarcely existed at all to those in Equestria. Or so it had seemed until hundreds of thousands of New Mareland soldiers arrived on Equestrian soil, ferried across the ocean in hundreds of warships and freighters captured from the griffins. Equestria, probably already loosing, collapsed quickly under a two front war. Equestria's leaders surrendered (mostly), and the state was split in two between the changelings and New Mareland, while a few equestrians and her allies in Aris and Aquelia continue the war. The changelings enacted a brutal regime, while New Mareland split its territories amongst separate collaborationist governments, and sent its soldiers back across the ocean to continue its wars.

The changeling zone ends only a few miles from the outskirts of the city of Canterlot. It is unknown why Chrysalis will allow that long coveted city to remain outside of her black and twisted hooves, but the odds on favorite answer is that she will not, and it is only a matter of time until the New Mareland lands are invaded as well. Meanwhile, all across Equestria, the memory of harmony dies hard, and ponies prepare a resistance to take back what was once theirs.
Anonymous
eaa9b9f
?
No.167215
167216
>>167214
Is all of this information considered to be common knowledge that new characters would know?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167216
167217
>>167215
Some of the information, like the internal motivations of Chrysalis and what have you, would be unknown, but the more general political realities like "this part of Equestria is under nominal New Mareland rule" should be well known anywhere in the world.
Anonymous
eaa9b9f
?
No.167217
167219
>>167214
Do you have a map of the current geopolitical situation? With Equestria at War lore there comes maps. You mentioned the Griffonian continent; has Griffonia become an empire yet?
>metaphorically detached from the rest of the Griffonian continent
Thanks to the Arcturian Order, yeah. That would change if the Arcturian Order fell though. Not sure what the situation is there.
>>167216
Then I would roleplay my character respectively. A mage from an isolated northern wasteland probably wouldn't know all that much about international politics anyway.
Anonymous
eaa9b9f
?
No.167218
>>167214
>fall of the Griffin Empire
Nevermind that last question. I missed that part.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167219
167220 167373
>>167211
>>167212
I can work with this.

Use of Caligo and Frenzied thresher would probably be restricted for at least the first few missions, though

>>167217
I could probably make one, although admittedly the maps are kind of vague because of indeterminacy.

>Griffonia
The empire under the Archon has united the Hearzlands. Basically the Empire, Aquelia, and Wingbardy are the big griffin states with most of the Evi river valley and southern griffonia under New Mareland rule, and Cloudbury, Vedina, and the northern griffin socialist republic still existing

>Arcturian Order
Probably very shortly before the Dread League attack on the Arcturian Order.

I suppose your character can find out things in real time. I just wanted the basics to be said
Anonymous
eaa9b9f
?
No.167220
167227
>>167219
>very shortly before the Dread League attack on the Arcturian Order
>I suppose your character can find out things in real time.
I suppose my character would have to hurry up with her missions then, because once the Arcturian order falls the league becomes the enemy of every country and characters from there would be international criminals.
>Use of Caligo and Frenzied thresher would probably be restricted for at least the first few missions
That's fine. They would basically just be zombies until Posie reached a level to make them proper cohorts (6-9ish).
>the maps are kind of vague because of indeterminacy
Understandable.

I will write up statblocks this week. Since the other players appeared to have just posted stats right on the board, I'll do the same.
Anonymous
d605a57
?
No.167225
>>167195
>Necromancy in the campaign has been treated as evil and something belonging to a forgotten past. I don’t think a “living” necromancer has been seen in the campaign.
>I suppose a Dreas Leafye style necromancer could show up there.. but it would be something of an alien element to the city.
I probably should have opened with this, but is an old-school Dread League necromancer with a medieval mindset from northern Griffonia welcome in this game? The descriptions I wrote yesterday might give you the impression that the character is just going to kill everything she meets, but that's not the intention. I thought the semi-grimdark war theme plus the split party would make it a cool idea, but I don't want to waste your time or embarrass myself with a character that would just antagonize the party or mess up your setting if that's not cool with everyone. It also goes without saying that the character is evil, although that could be subject to change with character development.
There's also the thing about the Mentor/Master. Making up an NPC questgiver for a new player is a tall order so if you don't want to do that, it's fine. I was looking at the rules for apprentices:
>The DM should develop the mentor's statistics. A mentor has a base level of 5th, modified by the apprentice's Charisma bonus (if any) and by the following situations. These situations only apply when the feat is first taken; if any of these situations change at a later date (for example, the apprentice's alignment changes), the mentor's level does not change.
This overall adds up to about 11 to 15 for a potential. I could write up an NPC statblock if you wanted too. I just want my master to be the necromancer who made me. I'm okay with it if they're not present or relevant to the story.
>Based on quest completion.
This is fine by me. I just remembered that 3.5 edition has a lot of things that use XP as a price, a big difference from Pathfinder. There are things I might want to use for in character creation, so I would like to just pay it all at once and start at a lower level of that's okay with you.
>Historically, this has been the Eastside Tavern
Where is that on the map? Like, what city? Who controls the area?
>>167214
Is it clear what happened to the princesses and Equestrian leadership? It's probably not really relevant to my character, but I'm curious.
>that recent history
Looks like the situation in Equestria is pretty fucked right now. Idk who are supposed to be the 'good guys' here, but that doesn't matter to Posie because she's a 'bad guy'. I said earlier that Posie would have a binding that would prevent her from causing mayhem that would interfere with the Dread League's infiltration or diplomacy goals in Equestria, so maybe I should stick to the meat grinder if I want to steal bodies and kill things. Any suggestions for more chaotic places where an ambitious necromancer might go to kill without consequences or study the impure arts? Visiting the places where our glorious leader Rosa once lived sounds like a cool quest too.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167227
167237 167242 167373
The setting, more or less.png
>>167220
>I suppose my character would have to hurry up with her missions then, because once the Arcturian order falls the league becomes the enemy of every country and characters from there would be international criminals.
Well, for one, the Dread League doesn't initiate the Black Crusade for several years after the invasion of Arcturius, and the invasion itself will take some time. Also, the game has had... a slow pace, in terms of in game time.

But this really raises a more interesting and important question. How will she enter the country? Will she be smuggled in through bribes and freighters? Will she just take a train across Griffonia and walk through immigration? That latter approach may work, but Gloomy Glow may be rejected if he looks like he is diseased.

>is an old-school Dread League necromancer with a medieval mindset from northern Griffonia welcome in this game?
Uh... I think so? What do you mean by that? Equestria and especially Griffonia are pretty medieval.

>I don't want to waste your time or embarrass myself with a character that would just antagonize the party or mess up your setting if that's not cool with everyone. It also goes without saying that the character is evil, although that could be subject to change with character development.
Basically just refrain from random killing, at least within city limits, and it should be fine. Think of it this way. Baltimare is a very large, very dense city where every gunshot and nearly every scream would be heard. Every missing pony will have at least one witness to see them earlier that same night. And the city has a large, active police force, although by Equestrian standards its pretty crime ridden.

At the same time, there's quite a few ways to play "evil," and more than one character has already done it.

>Where is that on the map? Like, what city? Who controls the area?
The main setting, or at least the start of the setting, takes place in the city of Baltimare on the Equestrian East Coast. Baltimare is a smaller metropolis, and the and poorest of the three large Equestrian Coastal cities - but it's still one of the three great Equestrian coastal cities. Something like 600,000 ponies live within the city limits, and about the same in the surrounding areas. Baltimare is located at the mouth of the Delemare River, and at the western most end of Horseshoe Bay. Marshes are located on the southern part of the bay, and a peninsula to the north. Outlying towns like North Point on the coast north of Baltimare have been featured as well. Baltimare is fairly small geographically, with the more often seen eastern half only a few miles across.

The different neighborhoods in Baltimare have been explored in some depth, particularly in the stretch between the city center, which is mostly commercial, and the Horse Shoe Bay, which is a city planner's nightmare of factories, warehouses, and aging tenement buildings overflowing with migrant laborers.

Baltimare is firmly within the New Mareland occupation zone, under the civil administration of the Baltimare Governate. The vast majority of governmental decisions, like social welfare and criminal justice, are performed by the local council, which is controlled by the collaborationist Social Democratic Party, the long-standing leftwing rulers of Baltimare.

>Making up an NPC questgiver for a new player is a tall order so if you don't want to do that, it's fine.
Nah, character writing is fun

>I just want my master to be the necromancer who made me.
I have a suspicion the master will not be the quest giver

>Is it clear what happened to the princesses and Equestrian leadership?
The four princesses surrendered to Changeling Custody. The other characters have varied and less obvious fates.

>Looks like the situation in Equestria is pretty fucked right now.
Yes.

>Idk who are supposed to be the 'good guys' here
The """good guys""' would presumably be the Equestrian Liberation Front, who seek to restore Equestria to something like the status quo ante bellum. This particular faction, however, is less popular than true leftwing pollical factions in Baltimare and has not featured prominently, save for an appearance when they stopped a train outside of the Everfree Forest. Of course "good" is a matter of perspective, and there are options for a communist, fascist, anarchist, or changeling dominated Equestria, as well as plenty of options if all you want is money or mares.

>I said earlier that Posie would have a binding that would prevent her from causing mayhem that would interfere with the Dread League's infiltration or diplomacy goals in Equestria, so maybe I should stick to the meat grinder if I want to steal bodies and kill things
Just refrain from random murder and it will probably be fine. Any normal action adventure game is going to accumulate a huge body count anyways. I'm sure she'll kill plenty of ponies, diamond dogs and what have you just in the normal course of questing.

>Any suggestions for more chaotic places where an ambitious necromancer might go to kill without consequences or study the impure arts?
Well, there's a low grade civil war going on, and proper wars in other parts of the world. I suppose there are options. But the easiest solution may just be to join a faction and kill on their behalf.

>Visiting the places where our glorious leader Rosa once lived sounds like a cool quest too.
That's an idea
Anonymous
4742edb
?
No.167237
167280 167373
BoneChariot_SneakPeek.jpg
>>167227
>How will she enter the country?
I didn't really think of that, but I guess it's logical to start with entry.
>Will she be smuggled in through bribes and freighters?
Well, a convenient thing about being dead is that you can just place yourself at the bottom of a shipping container beneath a bunch of turnips or something and nobody will notice. That's how vampires do it in various media.
I figured someone in the Dread League would have interests in sending agents to Equestria, since the Coven Of Blood specializes in diplomacy and the Society Of Bones specializes in Infiltration.
>Will she just take a train across Griffonia and walk through immigration?
I could do that too. I was making a Charisma character that would be semi-decent at negotiations (mostly deception and intimidation). Posie herself can pass for alive quite easily.
>Gloomy Glow may be rejected if he looks like he is diseased
I'm currently looking to see how I can have a tainted NPC with low Con and Wis without him just dying; his sickness would be supernatural, not medical, so it wouldn't register on tests. Most of it could internalized, so I could just talk it out and say he has allergies and touch him up with a deception or disguise check.
Or I could spend some money on a forged passport and say I'm transporting him to seek foreign medical care. Whatever would work.
I considered just spending some starting gold to have some zombie dire bat or dragon corpses reanimated that could fly us across the borders at night.
>Equestrian East Coast.
Okay.
>Marshes are located on the southern part of the bay
>poorest of the three large Equestrian Coastal cities
>a city planner's nightmare of factories, warehouses, and aging tenement buildings overflowing with migrant laborers
Sounds like paradise for a black mage.
>What do you mean by that?
I meant medieval, but since you mentioned tanks and heavy artillery I thought the ponies here might have postmodern dispositions.
>master will not be the quest giver
Okay. I'll just send them tithes in the mail.

I'm going to make the character level four to account for XP costs. If that results in me having to wait a long time to get to the level where I can actually personally raise my own undead (lvl 8ish), that's okay with me.
Anonymous
9dbbcd2
?
No.167242
167373
FB_IMG_1630953375083.jpg
>>167227
>there's quite a few ways to play "evil," and more than one character has already done it.
Got any stories to tell?
Anonymous
3e9dca1
?
No.167250
167279
>>167211
>>167212
So the gist of mechanics is:

>Posie
Unseelie Necropolitan (vampire aesthetic) Unicorn. Dread Necromancer 3-4 major vampiric and fey bloodlines (expensive, but coo). Doesn't spec into Metamagic or spellcasting at all, but instead focuses on expanding her necromantic powers and fey heritage to give her nifty 1/day spells. Charismatic fearmonger build who uses intimidation-based tactics and debuffs in combat, and falls back on her charnel touch if forced into melee. Very few actual skill points, but deceptive and seductive.

>Frenzied
Dustform-Incarnate Necropolitan (ghoul aesthetic) Earth pony: "warrior who died thrice". Barbarian 1-2, Warrior (NPC class) 1. Tainted Raver. Literally too angry to die. Very much of a "chaos warrior" thing going on there. The red horseman is associated with fire, but I think he'd be interesting if he were vulnerable to fire instead. Str/Cha build. Very scary intimidator.
Cost, about 900 gp, possibly up to four times more. Posie has to remain superior and telepathically control him at all times.

>Caligo
Necropolitan (skeletal aesthetic) Pegasus. Nightstalker 1-2, Expert (NPC class) 1. Stealthy skillmonkey with limited combat powers. Disgraced plague doctor. Alchemy skills and minor divine spellcasting. Very stealthy. Vulnerable to fear based effects due to coward flaw.
Cost: around 900 gp, Posie would have to control him.

>Gloomy
Binder 2. Major Demonic bloodline. Possession by Tenebrous puts in a state of constant hopelessness, and he's still learning to channel its powers. Does not participate in combat. If forced into dangerous situations, uses the Darkness to flee. Major demonic bloodline enables him to bind Tenebrous, and he can only bind Tenebrous. Lichloved feat prevents Posie's zombies from eating him.
Cost: at least 1600 gp. Posie would have no magical control over him, and you need to rely on Charisma skills to make him do anything unusual.
Anonymous
94ad500
?
No.167254
167268 167269 167280
Gibs Money Character sheeit:

Stats:
Ingeligence: 2 "Ah do that fancy book learnin' stuff. Mah brain is as big as mah dick foo!"
Constitution: 20 "Ah, can eat all the fast-food mutherfucker and I still wouldn't die. If a was one of them superheroes, I be the cockroach man."

Skills:
Witchdoctor: 5
Skull-shinking: 3
Runningfrom the popo: 8
Cannabalism: 1
Rioting: 8
Anonymous
cb14312
?
No.167268
>>167254
>Mah brain is as big as mah dick foo!"
I laughed
Anonymous
b51154d
?
No.167269
>>167254
Do you by any chance have an actual character sheet too? I could use an example to see what the rest of the party is going with.
Anonymous
3fc55ed
?
No.167279
167286
>>167250
I know this game doesn't use formal XP, but I want to know if I'm allowed to pay XP costs during character creation. Asking for the sake of bloodlines:
https://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/races/bloodlines.htm
Whether I can reduce my level to account for XP costs would determine if I start at level 5, 4 or 3. I'm interested in major vampire and fey bloodlines on Posie. I need to know before I finish the sheet.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167280
167284
>>167237
>Well, a convenient thing about being dead is that you can just place yourself at the bottom of a shipping container beneath a bunch of turnips or something and nobody will notice.
Uh, how does she sustain herself? By being "an endless well of entropy"?

I suppose she could probably just walk through immigration with an Arcturian Passort, and apply for a business visa claiming she's there for a tour of east coast factories, giving over a pair of odd suits of armor to one of the wealthy factory owners they are visiting. (That would still leave Gloomy requiring explanation, but something like that). Or hide away in a ship

>I was making a Charisma character that would be semi-decent at negotiations (mostly deception and intimidation)
Be forewarned. This is a pre-me too world that does not understand the concept of sexual "harassment"

>I considered just spending some starting gold to have some zombie dire bat or dragon corpses reanimated that could fly us across the borders at night.
I mean... maybe? That's crossing several thousand miles of ocean. Any actual biological creature couldn't make it. Also, there may be radar stations. It'd probably be easier to take a boat at least most of the way there.

>I meant medieval, but since you mentioned tanks and heavy artillery I thought the ponies here might have postmodern dispositions.
I'm still not really sure what you mean by that. If what you mean by "medieval" is having a contemptuous and superior attitude towards the common ponies, that won't go over well with the common ponies, who think that because of whatever socialist ideology that they are equal, whatever that means.

The setting is supposed to approximately parallel the United States of 1943 (although as stated before, Baltimare itself is more inspired by Spanish Civil War era Barcelona). Political philosophy, ideology and the disputes between ideologies is a large part of the theming of the game, with a diverse array of characters having a diverse array of beliefs. On the whole, morality is supposed to be around about as close to the 1940s as I can figure. Most will be religious to some degree or other, some will be highly superstitious, some lukewarm, and a few scientific materialists. Racism will be vastly more tolerated on the whole that in our world, though not by everyone. Sexual morality will be much stricter than in our world (by which I mean it exists) and whores generally won't be respected, although some libertines do indeed exist. There are only two genders, homosexuality is no longer criminally punished but is pretty strongly frowned upon and is not sanctioned by the State in the form of marriage although if you want to argue about lyra and bon bon in the finale I suppose we can have that conversation, hormonal birth control does not exist (though condoms are legal and widely available) so mares have to be careful about who they have sex with. Political ideologies still think that Utopia can be reached, and there is widespread belief in the perfectibility of pony nature and perhaps all creatures.

By contrast, females in the workplace, in leadership roles, and in the military is not controversial in pony lands, although conscription still mostly targets males, and military service strongly tends male. Whereas in our world all political ideologies claim to deliver freedom, and evil is defined as oppression and tyranny, in Occupied Equestria, all political ideologies claim to be the true version of Harmony, and evil is disharmony. The government intervening in your personal friendships is of course considered to be within the bounds of the normal function of the State, as the purpose of the State includes the moral perfection of its subjects.

>>167254
But how will fair when given the clot shot?

Looks like he can't run so well when passed out drunk
Anonymous
c20adce
?
No.167284
167291
>>167280
>how does she sustain herself?
Just hibernating and waiting it out.
>I suppose she could probably just walk through immigration with an Arcturian Passort, and apply for a business visa claiming she's there for a tour of east coast factories, giving over a pair of odd suits of armor to one of the wealthy factory owners they are visiting. (That would still leave Gloomy requiring explanation, but something like that).
I think I'll go with that.
>This is a pre-me too world that does not understand the concept of sexual "harassment"
Good. Let the harassment commence. Bring it on.
>probably be easier to take a boat at least most of the way there.
Alright then.
>all political ideologies claim to be the true version of Harmony
Ah, yes. The undead-supremacists who want the Lich-queen and Vampire coven to magically dominate everyone and snuff out all life are the true harmony ^:)
Then again, I think that's what they believe in Karnath, a couple citystates in Athas, and the Githyanki empire, so that's a not-unprecedented worldview.
Anonymous
c20adce
?
No.167286
>>167279
It looks like Unseelie creatures can't be Necropolitan anyway, so forget about the fey bloodline stuff. It was just a greedy snowflake blend of two conflicting concepts anyway. Gonna stick with the pseudo-vampire theme.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167291
167292
AA755CD9-05ED-48EC-8FC8-7EB19D7EDE9B.jpeg
>>167284
Equestrian ideologues. Foreigners can do whatever
Anonymous
4758ae8
?
No.167292
167313
>>167291
How much of a role does local politics play in the game? This kind of mileau is new to me in d&d.
Also, is there a thing you want me to do to meet up with the rest of the party?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167313
>>167292
>local politics
Basically as much as the player wants it to. It appears more or less as motivation for the various factions, and why they do what they do.

As for how, well, let me figure out what the other players will be doing.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167314
167321
>>167092
Walking across the checkered wooden floor, covered in shattered glass, dust, and splinters, Silver peaks through the tall, open windows at the building across the street.

Roll Spot
a727551
?
No.167321
167330
[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
>>167314
Anonymous
5662d7a
?
No.167322
Starting gold roll
[4d4 = 10]
Anonymous
58e08a4
?
No.167323
167324
1438283792-3f9b0.png
Glad someponies are trying to restart the game.
Anonymous
92d3937
?
No.167324
>>167323
Based
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167330
167342
>>167321
Looking across the small, non-existent street, Silver can see two windows are fully open, and a couple more are fully shot out. There are about two more than that "cracked" open, and more than that with bullet holes. One of the windows is the same that the automatic rifle was at, in front of and a bit to the left of Silver. The other is much further to the right.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167332
167333
OIP (1).jpg
>>167047
Amber and the group walk forward into the small village and towards the pier for the ferry across the Griffking to Kronburg. The Knights seem mostly concerned with themselves, and Amber's group tries to simply walk past them, acting as non-conspicuously as possible. This seems to work, as though one looks over to them, the knights pay the group no mind as Amber and company walk onto the small wooden pier and wait for the ferry to cross. There are other griffins there. Not many, perhaps a dozen or so others. A few look like they are locals who must cross the river on a daily basis, a few are merchants who must cross with some regularity, but a few appear to have longer term plans like Amber and the group. One traveler has two suitcases with him. One merchant - Amber can't tell if he intend to cross the river or not - approaches Amber, and attempts to sell her kebabs.

Amber can actually see the ferry, further east and up the river, slowly crossing. It's one level, enclosed, though with a pilothouse on top of the cabin at the front, low to the water with an all white color scheme, and a big black smoke stack past the middle towards the back creating a pilar of smoke that is visible now from over a mile away. Looking at it right there, Amber has reason to think that they can just get on and cross... until that hope is dashed.

One of the knights comes towards the group. Erich and Federklied volunteer Helder to speak with the leader of that group, a beige, sharp beaked griffin in shining armor who stands just a little taller than the rest. The knight starts off by asking Helder who they are, and where they are going. Helder tells him the same story he gave much earlier - that they are going to funeral of the relative of a friend in Kronburg. The knight asks away, and Helder tries to hold his own. But he seems to be slipping.

As Amber looks over to the ferry which cannot come soon enough, the rising sun reflects obnoxiously off of the water, reflecting into her eyes. A knight approaches Amber. He's a canary yellow color, not wearing armor. He looks over to Amber's viol.

"That's a nice violin you have there." He says to Amber
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167333
167334
>>167332
Amber nods cautiously as she thinks of a way to relieve the pressure off Helder. "It is my one possession I cherish the most. Would you care for some music as we wait for the ferry?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167334
167335
>>167333
The griffin smiles as if he's "caught" Amber; like he believes she cannot play, or that the viol is filled with smuggled items.

"Sure. Play on."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167335
167336
>>167334
Amber carefully takes the viol and bow out of the case, checks to make sure the instrument is tuned, and slowly starts to play. In her mind's eye she tentatively reaches out as she had the previous night. This time, however, she does not try to evoke fear but a tranquil, even sluggish emotion through her music.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167336
167337
>>167335
Is Amber looking to
Impress?
Sooth?
Distract?
Or,
To invoke the power of music to reach out directly and grab the soul?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167337
167338
>>167336
These are trained and stolid knights, if they have their sights set on the party it is for a darned good reason and they will not let up for a mere busker's performance. Amber is so close and cannot risk it; she must go deeper.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167338
167339
>>167337
Amber presses the bow against the string. She is tired. Very tired. It will not be easy to summon the same passion she had last night. Perhaps it will not be necessary. the light shining in Amber's eyes is annoying, but it serves a purpose to keep her awake. The subtle shifts in the light as the waves reflect and refract the sun serve a further purpose in that the small waves of the relatively calm river inspire the motions of her smooth movements back and forth along the string, while her state of mind imbues her music with an almost somnolent quality.

The knight looking towards Amber opens his mouth in evident surprise, and soon, everygriffin on the pier takes notice of Amber's song.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167339
167340
>>167338
Did the foolish knight really doubt her abilities? Amber presses on with determination. She must take care not to let this determination flood into her music and upset it, but to keep it placid and smooth. Let those others be lulled and mollified instead of sticking their beaks into things far beyond them. It is a good thing she loves music so or her playing would feel like a grueling task.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167340
167341
>>167339
Why need a river have waves at all? Wouldn't a smooth pond, or a lagoon be more pleasant? Amber's music again imitates the qualities of water, though now with less movement. Or more accurately, a less chaotic movement; no longer the hundreds of clashing, four-inch-high waves that bounce against the shore and piers, but a coordinated set of smooth, small waves, like the ripples created by a stone thrown into the water. Not that Amber has preference against chaos, mind you, but for this audience, a bit more mathematical precision in the highs and lows of the notes will do.

The biophysical barriers that separate one consciousness from another melt away when confronted by musical harmony, and so too do the barriers that structure our experience. Amber plays a melody that repeats the same notes in a repetitive fashion, cycling her movements in an eternally returning fashion. Time loses its meaning in the face of such repetition. And as time is simply how the mind structures its experience, time becomes a weapon against these minds, trapping them in the same few ever looping seconds.

Then Amber holds one note, and a single moment seems to stretch on indefinitely. Just as perfectly still water seems to stretch on indefinitely, merging with the sky with no clear demarcation in the horizon, so does the present merge with the future, and Amber's own consciousness seems to merge into a collective of all of those who live, and have ever lived.

There is the slightest of interruptions as Amber hears, and then feels the ferry hit the edge of the pier. Not catastrophically so, but certainly far harder than intended. The griffin on the ferry who was to tie the rope, falls off the edge of the ferry and rolls onto the wooden pier.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167341
167343
>>167340
Once again Amber is quietly amazed at just what her music is capable of doing, and she has to consciously avoid falling into the same stupor that seems to have affected everygriff else. The collision of the ferry jars her a bit but she is relieved at how her music has proved effective. She confirms that the knights have been adequately tranquilized before motioning to the rest of the party to board the ferry.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167342
167343 167346
>>167330
"I don't like this. Changelings could be anywhere, and I can't see them."

He keeps his weapon readied, just in case.

"How is healing going?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167343
167344
>>167341
Amber need not fear stupor. She is closer to rapture, carried along with the music to an experience not limited by her sensory organs. But to return to the task at claw is just as well. The griffin from the ferry stands up, and ties the rope. Helder says "thank you" to the knight, grabs his luggage, and swiftly moves to the ferry. Federklied and Erich are almost as fast, going towards the ferry. There is a delayed reaction from the other griffins on the pier, but they too, move to the ferry. When the board connecting the ferry to the pier is placed over, a griffin from inside the ferry stands ready to take money for tickets. Helder basically shoves money to his chest and moves onboard. The knights remain dazed a bit longer, and slowly awake from their torpor.

>>167342
"Indeed. That's kind of how they work." Streak replies, somewhat sarcastically.

The cream medic replies
"They'll be ready to move soon enough. It's just a flesh wound."

Corporal Azelea still lets out a mild "Ah!" of pain, however
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167344
167345
>>167343
"I would still prefer to fight changelings I can see as opposed to ones I can not see."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167345
167354
>>167344
"The changelings disagree with you on that one" Spectral Streak casually retorts.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167346
167347
>>167342
Amber breathes a sigh of relief, and hopes the crowd boarding the ferry will provide sufficient cover that the dazed knights won't remember quite so quickly what they were doing. Exhilarated by the impromptu performance, she breathes in the fresh air of this fine day. It's a good thing indeed that the stupor did not last so long for the others, as the group of them piloting a boat by themselves would not only be difficult but attract additional pursuers.

"I don't like this. Changelings could be here," Silver thought. Would make a funny meme edit.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167347
167348
>>167346
What is that meme?

Helder, Erich, and Federklied move towards the back, moving out of line of sight as quickly as they can. But what of Amber and her viol?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167348
167349 167352
>>167347
Brad Pitt or some other celebrity looking stressed at a gas station with the caption, "I don't like this, niggers could be here."

Amber makes sure her viol is stowed safely and mingles among other older griffons, attempting to look inconspicuous.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167349
167350
>>167348
Alright, roll for luck. Charisma modifier
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167350
167351 167352
>>167349
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167351
6247426.png
>>167350
Opposed
[1d20+1 = (3+1) = 4]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167352
167353
>>167350
>>167348
Amber sits down on a wooden bench-style seat nearer the back, in front of Erich and Federklied, who remain together, and across from Helder, who is trying to separate himself from the other three. Amber can see that the knights shake their heads and look over to the ferry. But they don't seem to spy the group. They don't seem to remember what they were looking for at all.

The ferry's stay at this particular stop is short, and everyone at the pier is quick to get on. Perhaps three minutes, and it moves along.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167353
167355
>>167352
Amber smiles wearily. One more obstacle passed, and for a few minutes she can rest…. She leans forward and asks Erich in a low voice, "What's the next step?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167354
167357
>>167345
"Of course, but you would think I would get say in it at least. War takes two, after all. It reminds me of when I was in first War, pondering on what if we could play turnabout with changelings, make them as paranoid of us as we are of them, not just on battlefield but on homefront as well. How would changelings react if suddenly they could not trust that changeling next to them was actually changeling, or just pony in disguise?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167355
167356
>>167353
"Kronburg. From there, it's a train if we're lucky, or a cart if we're not, straight to the border and to Hellquill. It's a short trip either way."

Erich looks back to the line of trees and the village along the Katerin bank of the Griffking.

"Goodbye to Katerinburg..."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167356
167359
>>167355
Nodding, Amber looks off in the same direction. She still remembers distinctly the palace they dwelled in just a short while ago, but what other reminiscences does she have of this strange principality?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167357
167358
>>167354
"I've heard stories of it working like that in the occupied territories. Where even the changelings have to wonder if the pony they are looking at is a pony. I suppose that's probably how they fought each other back when that was the common thing. And the Olenians... they'd even dress up as changelings. Of course they would do that. It's definitely time they felt fear. That they were on the back hoof. That's what this war is for, isn't it?

Do you wish to make the Changelings feel fear?" He asks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167358
167360
>>167357
"Maybe. Yes. I hope doing so will not cost us everything, but changeling leadership needs to be made to understand what happens when we are left with no other choice but war, and to fear what will happen when we do make that choice."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167359
167361
>>167356
Walks through the forests in Autumn. Not the bogs. The clearer ones to the east of town. Walking through the old town, through the central platz and past the rathaus. The music school in Katerin, playing to an overbearing instructor who would not abide by any mistake. Listening to a stunning performance at the grand theater in the city. Being made to sit in an uncomfortable dress outfit at the temple of Boreas in the village as a chick, with mother chiding any false move as the teacher recites the sacred text. A soldier coming into the home and taking pots; can't tell if he's a Republican or an Imperial. The same home as before, overcrowded with chicks. A charming griffin female in a salon, wearing a beige dress and holding a cigarette, giving a sultry look. That garish looking winter palace, a mimicry of pony style, that the princess had built on the hill. And De Moncree... Trusted advisor to Diazella... That first meeting with him in the library. Those scretched images he showed from the book he retrieved from a locked room in the back. That meeting in the manor house. The secret room full of art he had built in the Summer Palace. Bastard probably made it to Nova Griffonia by now... And sawing away at the viol, playing music banned by for centuries by Imperial decree in that dark, private music hall built into the ancient stone of the old temple buried in the hillside underneath the winter palace, playing to an audience of Princess Diazella, De Moncrief, Helm, Helder, Erich and others of the old group. And the music... That is what she remembers the most vividly and the most fondly. But she takes that with her.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167360
167379
>>167358
"Well... we need to start with Baltimare" He says, taking the magazine out of his Jenny, checking the bullets, and placing it back in.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167361
167362
>>167359
Finally having time to think to herself, not harried by others in pursuit, these memories astound her. Do they feel strange and assumed, or completely native to herself in a way that she could not consider herself as having any different background? Regardless, this reflection makes the past couple of days make more sense. Amber is not merely a court musician, but a holder of dark and powerful secrets within a decadent and chaotic principality. The same music she learned since chickhood, which has become all she is good for, is precisely the reason she is wanted captured and probably dead. The sooner she takes her secrets with her out of the Empire, the sooner she can know a reprieve.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167362
167363
>>167361
That whole concept of her memories, her background... That discredited philosophical idea of an ego, a single consciousness that builds its identity around memories and experiences belonging solely to itself, known but to itself, dying with itself... What could be more lonely, more limited, and more mortal than that? No. Amber knows better. Amber knows that Will is universal, and the Universal Will underlies all reality, that individual consciousness and reason melt into one glorious, unlimited, immortal whole. What separates Amber and her company from the likes of Mother, the inquisitors, and the teacher isn't experiences or memories, but knowledge. Amber, Helder, De Moncree, Helm, Erich... See the world as it is. Past the representation and towards the thing in itself. But the others... They lack the curiosity, the openness, the desire, and perhaps the intellect to move beyond the representation. They remain caught in tradition, mores, and mere naive perception. They fear what lies beyond it, like a primitiveness's aversion to fire. Amber and the like have knowledge and will. And that is why they are special.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167363
167364
>>167362
The backwards Empire is not ready for such concepts yet. Perhaps none of the nations of the planet are. However, this perception is inevitable and they will carry it to the farthest regions until all eventually accept the whole which is clear to so few right now.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167364
167365
>>167363
Perhaps they will, perhaps they won't. Perhaps those who do not will perish. They will perish anyways, the lonely egos...

The ferry moves further and further away from the Katerin shore. The Imperial shore on the right bank of the river upstream isn't necessarily infinitely better, but it's much closer to safety. The border crossing into Soldau is... what? 40 kilometers past Kronburg, if even that? Not that she's ever made the trip before. But the Reformitsen are more understanding of Amber's group and their eccentricities than the Katerintreue, who crave scapegoats, and the Imperial Inquisition, who fear all that is different.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167365
167380
>>167364
Forty kilometers is very short by train, but a grueling trek by cart for tired old refugees. She can only hope that they will have better luck with transportation and concealment than they did within Katerinburg proper. They are much farther from the hotbed of activity that is the royal capital, but the reach of the Inquisition is long indeed and the use of her forbidden music may eventually be found out. Whatever may come, the last leg of the journey to freedom is here.

I'm falling asleep, let's continue tomorrow
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167373
167419 167436
AmberSunsetDetailed.png
>>167211
Yay, new player! Glad to have you here. I like your character concepts and they remind me of Darkest Dungeon, perhaps it was an inspiration. Also having an actually evil PC around will be fun.
>>167192
>Oof. Where would a player even meet the party then?
There's no real official "party" simply because of how stretched out this game has been (playing for literal years). The upsides of playing this game on an imageboard (being able to make a post and respond whenever you want rather than wait for other players to be online) is also a downside, because it's been a long time since multiple PCs have been on at the same time and place (i.e. a "party"). It's mostly individual players off doing their own quests and projects and occasionally meeting up. It's by no means bad, just unorthodox, but to have a party quest you need to be consistently online and hope the other members are too. Silver and I are the most active players currently so if you want to meet up we could make something work.
Here's a list of all the player characters over the course of the game (I might have missed some):
Sister Ash (kirin druid, left permanently)
Onyx (crystal pony fighter, indefinite hiatus)
Spark (unicorn sorcerer, indefinite hiatus, very sporadically online)
Silver Sword (unicorn fighter, active)
Dark Star (earth pony ranger, occasionally active)
Brie (batpony rogue, indefinite hiatus)
Iron (earth pony barbarian, occasionally active)
Swedeanon's character (forgot name sorry, unicorn wizard, left permanently)
Amber (earth pony bard, active)

>>167219
>I could probably make one
The easiest way of doing it might be using console commands in-game to adjust the world to how it would look. I would enjoy having that reference (and, unlike in medieval fantasy games, maps would be commonly available for characters to see), though it would still take several hours and it's up to you whether the effort is worth it.

>>167227
>The four princesses surrendered to Changeling Custody
F
Very early to propose this, but if the party sides with the Harmonists for the most part this might be a big end-game quest. Also is the location of Flurry Heart unknown? Might also be quest material involving her. This is all speculation btw, like you said it's perfectly possible the party might choose a different future with its own quests.

>>167237
>I meant medieval, but since you mentioned tanks and heavy artillery I thought the ponies here might have postmodern dispositions.
Equestria at the start of EaW is very similar to the show albeit with a realistic bent. Big cities are industrialized but much of the population still lives in the countryside and has traditional attitudes. Big cities, especially multicultural ones like Baltimare, will have much looser mores and seedy underbellies. Equestria's military starts out small and low-tech and has primitive tanks and airplanes. Despite this there's a strong intellectual base and military gear is improved very quickly over the course of the game. We haven't seen a lot in the way of tanks, planes and other expensive equipment in the game because 1) we're rather underleveled to deal with those and 2) it's an occupied zone and not a frontline or active military base.

In terms of military equipment, Equestrian is British, Changeling is German (so is Imperial Griffonian, don't think about it too much), Stalliongrad is Soviet, Aquilea is French, and the River Republics are Czech iirc. There's no hard-and-fast rule about having the exact same equipment that was used in our world, it's more about what's cool while fitting the setting.

>>167242
Well, Brie was a classic rogue who never shied away from cutting throats, and who also cut a deal with the Changelings to aid their infiltration in exchange for certain favors. Silver is a good pony in general but has no qualms about being a Casanova; he also is hiding the identity of a changeling from one of his friends who is being fed on. Iron is an unofficial member of a street gang and regularly helps them. Dark Star is…edgy, though fundamentally good. Even Amber, who is a wholesome farmpony who arrived a short time ago, has already gotten her hooves dirty stealing evidence from a police station and has engaged in unprotected hoofholding.

I highly recommend going to the start of the game and reading through every thread to see how the story has progressed, though it's by no means required and it would take an extremely long time to get all the way through. The various dream sequences might also be a little confusing.

Anyway, you can be as evil as you'd like and the world is your oyster as a wide-open sandbox without any of the technical limitations of sandbox games. Short of going full GTA in the streets, like the DM said, you can even be a serial killer actually a potential character concept of mine if Amber ever kicks the bucket. I'm looking forward to seeing you play here!
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167379
167404
>>167360
"Right. It is up to us to save it. I wonder if this pressure is how Element Bearers felt every time they had to stop some great evil."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167380
167381
>>167365
Amber does not recall the remainder of the short ferry ride, most likely for having fallen asleep. After a jolt, Amber looks to see that the ferry has stopped. To the left, Amber can see a stone landing, and a grey stone wall to the left of that. Further down, Amber sees a stairway that goes up to what must be a street, lined to its left with three story buildings so close as to merge one to another, mostly with white colored walls, though sometimes of varying colors like shades of pink and yellow, and with tall, steep red roofs. Awnings line the street, presumably for waterfront cafes. Helder, Erich, and Federklied get up, and grab their luggage.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167381
167383
>>167380
This looks to be a charming town, perhaps more welcoming than Katerinburg. Still, Amber must take care to not let her guard down, especially given how limited time is. She makes sure her possessions are with her and follows the others.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167383
167384
>>167381
Amber picks up her viol to walk out of the ferry. But when Amber comes onto the landing, she sees something not surprising, but not really welcome either. A small fence, and a single griffin in green who is evidently checking passports.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167384
167385
>>167383
She elbows Helder. "Do you know what to do?" she asks, staring at the official.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167385
167386
>>167384
"If they don't have our names on a list then there is no problem. Just show him your passport. But if they do... Bribe, talk out of it, or something else..."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167386
167387
>>167385
Does Amber still have her passport?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167387
167388
>>167386
This basically comes down to "did Amber lose her passport while on the train?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167388
167389
>>167387
In that incident she did not drop anything that belonged to her, so it would stand to reason she still has it.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167389
167390
>>167388
Then she ought to have it.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167390
167391 167392
>>167389
She presents her papers to the official, trying to look as unconcerned as possible.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167391
167393
6475733.png
>>167390
[1d20 = 9]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167392
>>167390
The customs agent takes Amber's passport...

But he has another paper too, which he starts to look at
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167393
167394
>>167391
Amber widens her eyes and looks between the official and the documents in his claws.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167394
167395
>>167393
Is she staring off into the distance, or trying to read what he is holding?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167395
167396
>>167394
She tries to read what he's holding.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167396
167397
>>167395
There does indeed seem to be a list of griffins who are of interest. Whether Amber and companies' names are on that list isn't really possible to determine
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167397
167398
>>167396
Amber can never tell these days the speed at which bureaucracy moves across the Empire. She can only hope that for interregional border checks it's as slow as she remembers. But there's too much tension in the air. "It's a gorgeous day this morning, isn't it?" she remarks casually.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167398
167399
>>167397
And if they are using radios or telegraphs, it won't go so well.

"Yeah... huh"
The agent looks up to Amber to acknowledge the statement, before looking back down to continue to go through the list.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167399
167400
>>167398
If there is one thing not skimped on in the budgets, it tends to be internal security….
"I wish I could linger and enjoy it, but I simply must make it to the music tutoring I am giving. Everything looks to be in order, yes?"

Does Amber have any money to give?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167400
167401
>>167399
Amber herself is low on money. Helder has some, and other items, like jewelry, may also have value.

Amber can also roll for diplomacy to distract the agent.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167401
167402
>>167400
Slipping money wouldn't attract attention, but pestering Helder for said money might, and Amber is naked and doesn't seem to have any jewelry to give.

"Forgive me, I don't want to tell you how to do your job, but if you must check every single passenger we will be stuck here until noon. I have a promising pupil who must learn the intricacies of music and whose parents have a very short patience. Look at how old I am, I am not a dangerous criminal so why should I be kept here?"
[1d20+4 = (20+4) = 24]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167402
167403
>>167401
He blinks, holds the passport up against Amber to verify the photo, verifies the watermark, and gives the passport back to Amber, with no stamp for what is technically crossing an internal border.

"Have a nice day, sir." He says, waving along Amber.

And then Helder

And then Erich (who takes significantly longer because he misplaced his passport and had to find it)

And then Federklied (who had a questionable passport, but is moved along anyways because who really cares if it's old)

Are all moved along into the city
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167403
167405
>>167402
Thanking her lucky stars she didn't get stopped by such a mundane obstacle, Amber also idly wonders whether or not she can be lucky or glib enough to get away next time. Best not to tarry on such thoughts for too long, though, because time is of the essence.

"Do you know what times the train has?" she asks Helder. "Also, how are we going to avoid what happened last time?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167404
167417
>>167379
"I don't know. They have rainbow lasers."

As if in protest against this statement, Silver hears a plane roar, swoop down, and then a loud "chug" sound as its multiple machine guns strafe a target, presumably the front side of the transit ministry.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167405
167406
>>167403
Helder replies,
"I do not know. The best thing to do would be to get the hell away from the police. It may be safer not to take the trains. But if we do, it's not even an hour to the border."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167406
167407
>>167405
"We could try stowing away in the cargo cars…but I have a better idea. Do you know where we can get access to the train staff and their clothing?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167407
167408
>>167406
"No? At the train station, I would presume." He says
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167408
167409
>>167407
"We had best look there. If we conceal ourselves as staff of the train, we're much less likely to be inspected by police."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167409
167410
>>167408
"Well... if we're unnoticed, that may work." Helder says. Erich is clearly listening as well
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167410
167411
>>167409
"Obviously there will be some staff already and they might ask some questions. We can just say we are new hires to help with a larger workload today. For those who are unconvinced, we might have to, er…incapacitate them. We'll need to do their jobs as well, punching tickets, handing out meals and whatever else they do."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167411
167412
>>167410
"That could work. Or to be a porter, or a coal shoveler. The greatest danger lies with the train staff noticing that we are not supposed to be there."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167412
167413
>>167411
"It is a risk we'll have to take. We just need to act like we belong there. All we need to do is make it to the border."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167413
167414
>>167412
He nods

"Just to the border..."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167414
167415
>>167413
"Making it to the station in Helquill is ideal. If we must hop off the train before then, so be it, we just need to leave the Inquisition's jurisdiction."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167415
167416
>>167414
Both nod affirmatively

"Whatever gets us there"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167416
167468
>>167415
And so Amber continues on to the train station…

I need to sleep now
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167417
>>167404
"And we have machine guns. I think we can make do with these."
Anonymous
c10766b
?
No.167419
167423
>>167373
I'm kind of stuck on the "getting into the country" part. I thought new players started already there.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167423
167433 167437
>>167419
I like to start players at their point of entry in Baltimare. Union Station if they enter from Equestria, or Locust Promontory if they are from abroad. I suppose it can be skipped.
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167431
167432 167435 167467 167488
I made a very, very rough draft:
Rosie "Posie" Ring - Necropolitan Half-vampire Unicorn Dread Necromancer 3, Major Vampire Bloodline 3; spellstitched (not represented)

Medium Undead [augmented monstrous humanoid] [Unicorn] [Pony]

Init: +11 (Nimble bones, Improved Initiative); Senses: Darkvision 60 ft, Spot +4, Listen +4
Languages: Pony, Abyssal, Infernal, Griffon

Armor Class: 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17 (2 grotesque Griffon leather , plus 1 dastana, plus 4 natural)
HP: 47 (3d12+22 HD); Corpsecrafted
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +7

Speed: 40 ft (leather armor; nimble bones)
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+1
Attack: Charnel Touch +5 Melee touch (1d8+1 negative), Slam +5 melee (1d6+7 bludgeoning + 1d6 cold), Compound Bow +4 Ranged (1d8+5 piercing)
Full Attack:
Space/Reach: 5/5
Special Attacks: Spells, Rebuke Undead 7/day, Charnel Touch, Telekinesis, Negative Energy Burst, Winter's Chill, Destructive Retribution, Charming Gaze
Special Qualities: Undead Traits, Lich Body, DR 2/Bludgeoning And Magic, DR 2/Slashing; Fast Healing when below full HP; Enery resistance 5 for electricity and 10 for cold, Turn Resistance +6
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +4, Will +8
Abilities: St 21 (+4 enhancement corpsecraft), Dex 16, Con-, Int 16, Wis 14, Cha 19
Skills: Bluff 12, Climb 6, Concentration 9, Craft (stitching) 3, Decipher Script 3, Diplomacy 6, Disguise 6, Hide 7, Intimidate 11, Knowledge (religion) 8, Knowledge (Arcana) 9, Move Silently 7, Sleight Of Hand 5, Spellcraft 12, Use Magic Device 7, Hypnosis 5
Feats: Apprentice (bonus) (lvl 1 flaw); Magical Affinity/Aptitude (bonus) (Occupation); Necromantic Bloodline (lvl 1); Defiler (lvl 3); Reserves Of Strength (severe taint); Cerebrosis (bonus; Rite Of The Blot); Iron Will (bonus; Otugh Hole); Evil Brand (bonus; elder Evil); Evil Brand (bonus; Elder Evil); Versatile spellcaster (bonus; Vampire Bloodline; Stealthy Redundant); Improved Initiative (bonus; half vampire); Stealthy (bonus, Ironwyrm vault)
Possessions: Nightcaller; Unholy symbol, spell component pouch, grotesque griffon leather barding, compound bow + 20 arrows, Gloomy (slave), 2 zombies (bound to nightcaller); "self" (slave price)
Organization: Unique plus thralls (see text)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: Combat Gear
Alignment: Neutral Evil
Advancement: By character class
Level Adjustment: +0 (Half Vampire LA bought off)

Undead Traits:
Spells: (see Dread Necromancer)
Posie casts spells as a third level Dread Necromancer. Her caster level is 5 for all non-necromancy spells, and 7 for all necromancy spells (Major vampire bloodline + spellgifted).

Expanded Spell list
Her spell list has been expanded and modified as follows:
Apprentice Spellcaster: Posie's time as an apprentice has given her the option to replace a number of her spells known. She has replaced six of the redundant spells she knows from her necromantic bloodline:
Cause Fear -> Ebon Eyes
Ghoul Touch -> Desecrate
Vampiric Touch -> Gaseous Form
Contagion -> Clutch Of Orcus
Eyebite -> Antilife Shell
Control Undead -> Ethereal Jaunt

Rite Of The Blot: Posie has dealt with eldritch horrors from beyond the void, which has resulted in a mutated mind in the form of Cerebrosis. Her scarred, necrotic brain matter gives her access to the following Cerebritic spells, rudimentary and difficult to control conjuration magic, mostly in the form of summons:
Lvl 1: Aching Dread
Lvl 2: Call Amoebic Crawler
Lvl 3: Far Realm Visitation; Dimsensional Rift
Lvl 4: Call Cranial Encyster; Lingering Raver
Lvl 5: Soul-Blasting Dread
Lvl 6: Call Kaortic Hulk
Lvl 7: Finger (hoof/horn) of Expulsion
Lvl 8: Call Nightseed
Lvl 9: Welcome Amoebic Sea
Although Rosie knows all of these spells, her current level of Sorcery only gives her lvl 1 slots, so she has only been able to cast Aching Dread.

Mother Cyst: As a physical manifestation of her corruption, Rosie possesses a Mother Cyst; the ugly black lump where her heart used to be. The cyst is internalized in her chest, beneath her ample floof, and "beats" with a painful throb. Posie, in her prophetic hubris, considers her cyst to be sign of The Mother's "love". The cyst gives her access to the following spells, of which she can only cast lvl 1 spells (or lvl 2, if straining with versatile spellcaster):
1 Necrotic Awareness
2 Necrotic Cyst, Necrotic Scrying
3 Necrotic Bloat,
4 Necrotic Domination
5 Necrotic Burst
6 Necrotic Eruption
7 Necrotic Tumor
8 Necrotic Empowerment
9 Necrotic Termination
Rosie Typically uses Necrotic Awareness to seek out Gloomy, should she lose sight of him. Since she has to strain to cast Necrotic Cyst, she has yet not shared her "love" with anyone but Gloomy.

Defiler: In research of the impure arts, Rosie has delved into the forbidden practice of Defiling Magic. Defiling magic scars the land and coats it in toxic defiler ash. Rosie is aware of the destructive nature of this magic, and uses it sparingly, not out of goodness of her cyst, but to keep her practice secret, and for the backlash defiling deals on her own body and mind.
Defiler Points (defilement of self): TBA
Defiler Score (permanent moral burden of defilement): TBA

Spellstitched SLAs: TBA
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167432
167433 167435 167440 167467 167483 167488
>>167431
Charnel Touch (Su): (As Dread Necromancer ability) In combat, Posie prefers to use her endless negative energy to hex living creatures. At will, but no more than once per round, she can deliver a touch attack that deals 1d8+1 points of negative energy, or heal an undead creature 2 HP

Negative Energy Burst (Su): Once per day, Posie can create a burst of negative energy that harms living creatures. Creatures within 5 feet of her take 6d4 points of damage (DC 17 Will for half). Undead Creatures are healed the damage living creatures take.

Rebuke Undead: as a 7th level Cleric (major vampire bloodline + Bloodtouched Rite)

Charming Gaze: From her vampire heritage, Rosie can charm humanoids and monstrous humanoids with her cursed eyes. This is similar to a gaze attack, except that she must take a standard action.

Unicorn Telekinesis:

Undead Weaknesses (work in progress): Rosie Ring possesses the following unique weaknesses
Delusional (-1/3 CR): Posie believes that she is born of Holy Blood and that her powers are a gift from The Mother. Her desire for this to be true is her internal justification for her continued existence. Creature's that become aware of this can manipulate
Phobia (CR -1/3): Princess Celestia, a figure of myth and horror in the Dread League, is a terrific sight to those brought up there. Her phobia refers to Princess Celestia herself, and any holy sites or consecrated temples dedicated to her honor. In the presence of the Princess or on the princesses sanctified lands, Posie takes a -2 penalty on all attack rolls, ability checks or skill checks
Code Of Honor (-1/3 CR): Until Rosie surpasses her Master, she can never disobey an order from a higher ranking member of the Dread League. This binding includes not causing excessive damage in Equestria that might interfere with the Society Of Bone's infiltration goals, or the Coven Of Blood's diplomacy goals. Posie's binding has caused her to leave battles unfinishes and flee before she risks exposure.
Considering
Distractible (-1/3 CR): maybe put something about her adopted 'son' in there.
Energy Vulnerability (CR -1/2; LA -1/2): maybe
Turn Submission (CR -1/3; LA -1/2): would wipe out most of her turn resistance, probably worth the option
Sunlight Vulnerability (-1/2 CR; -1/2 LA): debilitating, but thematic as a vampire descended creature.
Phobia (see above): could include basic vampire weaknesses to represent vampire heritage

Note: the undead weaknesses with no LA adjustment are mostly for flavor. They do, however, reduce her overall CR, and thus her price as a thrall (buying self out of slavery is to represent tithes paid to her Master, as debt for creation).

Taint Score: 20
Corruption: 10
Depravity: 10
Symptions Of Taint:
Paralyzed Face; Bones Thicken
Hubristic; Prophetic

Occupation: Hedge Wizard (if not using d20 Modern rules ignore)
Region (Dread League); regional quirks tbd

Tactics: Until lvl 8, Posie is effectively a melee warrior. At lvl 8 she'll be a master of undead minions.

Military Rank in Dread League
Commander Rating: 2
Commander Aura: Necromantic Commander
Benefit: Undead allies within 30 feet of you that have an Intelligence score of 1 or higher deal an extra 1d6 points of damage on melee attacks made against living creatures. This benefit is considered a morale bonus.

Master: Dread Necromancer of at least 8th levels. The stats above assume Posie was created by a cabal of the Dread League who possessed the appropriate corpsecrafter feats in a desecrated area. This price is represented in her WBL.

Magical Location Bonus feats: the bonus feats Posie Gains from her starting equipment represent training and torture dealt to her by the Dread League, this price adds up to the 5500 gp, the same cost as having been imprisoned in the Otyugh Hole (Iron Will), The Ironwyrm Vault (Stealthy), and the Cerebrotic Mire (Cerebrosis).
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167433
167434 167435 167467 167488
>>167432
Almost 3 hours typing that and I still forgot something:
>Flaw: Test Subject (-2 to all saves vs necromancy and Enchantment spells).
Painful since Command Undead is a lvl 2 spell, but appropriate as a product of dysgenics by the necromantic Society of Bones and the enchanting Coven Of Blood.
Pick up Haunted at lvl 6 to pick up Undead Leadership.

I figured spending money on thralls was an exercise in futility when I can't even cast Animate Dead myself. Roleplaying four characters felt obnoxious to do starting off, so I'm would like to start just with Posie and her apprentice. It also makes getting into the country easier so I can actually start.
I'll post Gloomy's sheet shortly. 200 gp of Posie's starting equipment goes towards "conditioning" him, to give him Iron Will, which helps him avoid insanity from taint. He'll otherwise have no starting equipment. I want him to eventually be a cohort, so I'm making him a Binder.
>>167423
I could just go with that. Gloomy's illness wouldn't be too visible, so Posie could go through regular border control with him. It sounds like a good test for her infiltration abilities and charisma skills.
As for cover story, I had an idea for the occupation of "Neurologist": a person who studies death, both mundane and magical. Part mortician, part doctor, part mage, such a skilled pony would be in high demand in a war-torn region where death, disease and amputation are widespread, so I could come with a work visa. That way I have an excuse to skulk around graveyards and carry dark magic implements.
Maybe the Society of Bones could forge me a fake ID (or I could buy it, but I'm cutting it close with starting equipment).
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167434
167435
>>167433
*Necrologist
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167435
167436
>>167431
>>167432
>>167433
>>167434
This is really cool! It must have taken a lot of thought.
>Dread Necromancer 3, Major Vampire Bloodline 3
Is she level 5 or level 6? I'm still relatively new to playing DnD so I'm not the best at reading and interpreting character sheets.
>neurologist necrologist
Reminds me of the Lovecraft story "Herbert West–Reanimator"
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167436
167441 167467
>>167373
>In terms of military equipment, Equestrian is British, Changeling is German (so is Imperial Griffonian, don't think about it too much), Stalliongrad is Soviet, Aquilea is French, and the River Republics are Czech iirc. There's no hard-and-fast rule about having the exact same equipment that was used in our world, it's more about what's cool while fitting the setting.
The Dread League is pretty low tech in favor of having tons of skeletons and thralls, and I want to honor that, since Posie was brought up as a mage in the Dread League and I intend to go cowabunga with minions once I get to level 8. I spent most of my starting equipment on training and perks, and a trusty Nightcaller so I can pretend to be an actual necromancer despite being level 3 with no ability to raise the dead for a long time. The compound bow is as far as I'm going to go in terms of modern weaponry for now, although it synergizes well with my high Str (also the White Horseman has a bow, so I'll use one too). I should be good against anything except paladins and golems.
>There's no real official "party"
I would hope to interact with the other active PCs at some point, because that's part of the fun of roleplay. I guess it wouldn't be too bad just to talk with NPCs or do solo quests, although it feels like a bit of an undue burden on the DM to make solo quests though.
>I highly recommend going to the start of the game and reading through every thread to see how the story has progressed, though it's by no means required and it would take an extremely long time to get all the way through
Yeah, I tried that, but it's admittedly hard to follow. Thanks for pointing out who's active and who isn't, btw; it made it easier to tell what relevant.
>I'm looking forward to seeing you play here!
Thanks. I'm interested in seeing how this will play out.
>>167435
Is she level 5 or level 6
She's actually level 3. The bloodline levels don't contribute to total ECL, but you still have to pay XP to get them; thus, it's best to take them all at level 1. They do count as class levels for certain level based parameters though, including LA buy-off, which has good synergy since it reduced the cost of buying off the half-vampire LA, which let her reduce the LA for half vampire from +2 to +0. Posie is ECL 3, with the same XP as a level 3 character.
Tl;Dr, she spent 7K out of 10K XP to get some perks, and is now lvl 3.
>I'm not the best at reading and interpreting character sheets.
This sheet is an unfinished mess, so I don't blame you. I forgot how complicated it was to make characters in 3.5e. I haven't played in years, and I had to spend a few days looking stuff up.
>Reminds me of the Lovecraft story "Herbert West–Reanimator"
Yeah, something like that.
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167437
167467 167488
>>167423
I'll do that, because doing what you're used to should make it smoother. If I get arrested for dark magic, then so be it.
I'm close to finished, so tell me when you would be open to start.
Rosie counts as coming from abroad, since she's from another continent.
Gibs Money
7ee1ab1
?
No.167438
167439 167467
After escaping prison through the sewers, Gibs is ready to hustle again! But first, he gotta get off all the shit on his body. He gotta find the closest store with pony-axe so he can spray his whole body clean. He was lucky that toilet couldn't tell the difference between him and turd, otherwise he would never have gotten out. Yeah, zigga!
Anonymous
7ee1ab1
?
No.167439
167467
>>167438
>He was lucky that toilet couldn't tell the difference between him and turd,
I'm sorry, that was a bit too gross. :S
Anonymous
02aa07c
?
No.167440
167467
>>167432
I've fucked up. The both of those magical locations are 3K gp, which means on top of the night caller they add up to 9k, which doesn't leave room for my basic equipment or cost of emancipation. I'm either going to have to drop one of those bonus feats, or the Nightcaller.
I could plausibly rank up my defiler score to cover the cost of spellstitching, although that's meant to be for emergencies.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.167441
167466 167567
>>167436
I can't wait to see your character in the game, new fren!
Anonymous
1f2f23d
?
No.167466
>>167441
I'm almost ready with the sheet. I'm open to start posting whenever.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167467
167475 167480 167483
1335324.png
>>167440
>>167433
>>167432
>>167431
>>167437
>>167436
That's a lot to sort through

>>167438
>>167439
Gibbs has escaped his imprisonment Shawshank Redpemption style, but he ain't ready to go to his beach in Zihuatanejo just yet.

Gibbs observes that his stripes... is gone, He now a pure brown stallion. Like an earth pony.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167468
167469
6459312.png
>>167416
Helder tries to take the lead, although it becomes apparent fairly quickly that he's only feigning familiarity with the street pattern. The quaint cobblestone streets of the riverside are repeated one street in further inland from the river, as are the multi-colored blocks of apartments and shops that line the roadway. The further the group goes into the town, the older the buildings become, tending towards closely spaced red roofed, white-walled, half-timber constructs, with dirty stone roads that exist not in any planned-out grid pattern, but haphazardly angling out in which ever direction, occasionally cut by alleys or small squares. Not much time elapses before Federklied calls Helder's bluff, and exposes that no, he does not know where he is going, and she asks a local for directions to the train station. The griffins find and move through the central market square, lined by a large, green stoned temple of boreas with twin spires and a vaulted room, and the rathaus with its square, peaked red roofed tower and rink brick construction. The sight of a set of police passing through the market square encourages the group to move behind a set of stalls set up in the middle, selling vegetables, and to pretend to take interest in buying cabbage - probably a sincere interest for Erich by now. But there is no time to waste. More walking, past packed streets with now lowered buildings, and more trees with falling, brown leaves. The town is only a fraction of the size of Katerinburg, but it's still a proper town. It's a few more blocks before they arrive at Kronburg Hauptbahnhof.

Kronburg Hauptbahnhof is fairly long building with a black roof, and though it is only one story tall, it is as tall as two floors at many points. The building has a reception area in the fore, and two open air platforms with covers on the side away from the street. The building is accessible from the main street, and actually has space for the parking of automobiles, though only a small number are present.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167469
167489
>>167468
Another strange town, though quite similar to Katerinburg. Amber could not wait to get to the train station, and now that she is here, she looks for where staff rooms may be at.

Spot: [1d20+2 = (7+2) = 9]
Anonymous
719118f
?
No.167475
167489
>>167467
Gibs sniffs his unquiely colored hoof.

"Sheeeeeit."

He sneaks around like he's about to steal shit cuz yo ass don't get any respekt points with nasty ass sheeit in yo fur. Sadly for him, he turns the corner and walks straight into a crowd of bitches.
Anonymous
41a4d56
?
No.167480
167483
>>167467
Is there anything that stands out to you?
Anonymous
0056ff5
?
No.167483
167488
>>167480
>>167467
>>167432
I am going to wait to finish this, but I'm ready to roleplay or talk about backstory or exposition changes whenever.
Anonymous
58e08a4
?
No.167484
Fallout Equestria - Witch Hammer.png

Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167488
167497
>>167431
>Rosie "Posie" Ring - Necropolitan Half-vampire Unicorn Dread Necromancer 3, Major Vampire Bloodline 3; spellstitched (not represented)
I can't say I am familiar

>Init: +11 (Nimble bones, Improved Initiative)
That's... a lot

>Languages: Pony, Abyssal, Infernal, Griffon
There isn't really a single unifying pony language, nor a unifying griffin language (although Herzlander is probably a pretty good contender)

>Armor Class: 18, Touch 13, Flat-footed 17 (2 grotesque Griffon leather , plus 1 dastana, plus 4 natural)
HP: 47 (3d12+22 HD); Corpsecrafted
The 3d12 is 3 levels of undead, but where does the +22 come from?

>Skills: Bluff 12, Climb 6, Concentration 9, Craft (stitching) 3, Decipher Script 3, Diplomacy 6, Disguise 6, Hide 7, Intimidate 11, Knowledge (religion) 8, Knowledge (Arcana) 9, Move Silently 7, Sleight Of Hand 5, Spellcraft 12, Use Magic Device 7, Hypnosis 5
116 skill points at level 3? Come again?

>Feats: Apprentice (bonus) (lvl 1 flaw); Magical Affinity/Aptitude (bonus) (Occupation); Necromantic Bloodline (lvl 1); Defiler (lvl 3); Reserves Of Strength (severe taint); Cerebrosis (bonus; Rite Of The Blot); Iron Will (bonus; Otugh Hole); Evil Brand (bonus; elder Evil); Evil Brand (bonus; Elder Evil); Versatile spellcaster (bonus; Vampire Bloodline; Stealthy Redundant); Improved Initiative (bonus; half vampire); Stealthy (bonus, Ironwyrm vault)
I can't say I familiar with many of those

>Three paragraphs of spells
I am not familiar with these

I don't know what books these came from, but just to be completely honest, the odds that I am ever going to be familiar enough with the powers of these spells in order to create encounters that are balanced are probably pretty low

>>167432
I can follow this post pretty well. I can definitely work with these

>>167433
>but appropriate as a product of dysgenics by the necromantic Society of Bones and the enchanting Coven Of Blood.
Don't the two societies hate each other?

>Roleplaying four characters felt obnoxious to do starting off,
We could have them under my control. Which characters do you want to control? Gloomy as well as Posie?

>As for cover story, I had an idea for the occupation of "Neurologist": a person who studies death, both mundane and magical. Part mortician, part doctor, part mage, such a skilled pony would be in high demand in a war-torn region where death, disease and amputation are widespread, so I could come with a work visa. That way I have an excuse to skulk around graveyards and carry dark magic implements.
Maybe the Society of Bones could forge me a fake ID (or I could buy it, but I'm cutting it close with starting equipment).
As Baltimare is well known for its medical school, that works pretty well.

>>167437
>If I get arrested for dark magic, then so be it.
Immigration isn't going to be looking for magic. They care about tuberculosis, weird foreign parasites, and leftist radicals

>>167483
Sure, what do you want to talk about on backstory?

We could definitely start Posie soonish, although I sort of want to bring other characters in a position where they could join her
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167489
167517
>>167475
These bitches be fiiiine. Like, solid 5/10s. One of these is even a pony, and she only got one chin! But he still smells like shit.

>>167469
Well... it ain't in the center of the building. That has the entryway, the time tables, and the ticket office.
Anonymous
fb18269
?
No.167497
167498 167499 167517
>>167488
>There isn't really a single unifying pony language, nor a unifying griffin language (although Herzlander is probably a pretty good contender)
I want to be able to speak the most common language in Equestria (or at least Ponyville and Canterlot, i.e places in the show), so whatever that is I'll pick that. I'll pick whatever language the griffons of the Arcturian Order at the border of the Dread League would be speaking too. I probably should have read a bit more into that.
>where does the +22 come from?
It comes from being created by another Dread Necromancer of at least 8th level, who personally possesses the Corpsecrafter feat or is assisted by another necromancer who has it, after being ritually crucified in a desecrated area on the altar of an evil deity (Desecrate spell), and then gaining Cha bonus once through the Blood Touched Rite.
>I can follow this post pretty well. I can definitely work with these
I'll try to rewrite it in that format then.
>Don't the two societies hate each other?
I see them as more of competing factions who are rather passive aggressive in their bid for dominance in the same country. Posie, being level 3, probably wouldn't be high ranking enough to be an official member of either faction (since everyone who isn't a powerful necromancer is either a mindless monster or basically enslaved).
I mention both groups because it's unclear if the Society of Bones or the Coven of Blood is dominant in the Dread League in this game: should one particular group rise to power, that would be the group Posie would be loyal to.
>116 skill points at level 3? Come again?
Those are modifier, not skillpoints. I posted them in the format of an NPC statblock. If you want her skill point allocations, I can do that.
>Three paragraphs of spells
I put every resource I could into expanding my spell list, since her biggest weakness is her limited spell selection.
>We could have them under my control. Which characters do you want to control? Gloomy as well as Posie?
Well, when I was writing her I got all cocky and kind of wrote a lvl 20 backstory forgetting she's actually just a lvl 3 apprentice. She can't even have cohorts until she's level 6, although she could make Gloomy her own apprentice at lvl 5.
I think it might be better to make the other two show up when she's level 6, if she even gets there.
I would control Posie because she's the actual player character. Gloomy, until he becomes an apprentice, is an NPC, that I technically have no control over. I could roleplay him, although I wouldn't mind you roleplaying him either if you're down for it. He has the personality of a heavily-brainwashed anemic child who's somewhat numb to witnessing unspeakable evils, but still child-like in his own way.

>I can't say I am familiar [3]
Do you want me to cite the sources? I can explain or source any of the stuff, if you want.
The Elder Evil thing was kind of stupid, in hindsight, considering I made a stupid assumption about the "Prime Mover" cosmology. I'll cut that feat. I only wanted it because it could give me Lichloved as a bonus feat at lvl 5.
>I don't know what books these came from, but just to be completely honest, the odds that I am ever going to be familiar enough with the powers of these spells in order to create encounters that are balanced are probably pretty low
I see your concern. Is there a particular aspect of it that you think needs cutting down, so I could amend it? The game didn't come off as very combat-intensive to me, and I didn't build for that in mind, but if you feel like it's unbalanced I wouldn't want to be disruptive.
I would like to point out that most of the stuff her sheet comes at the expense of starting at lvl 3 instead of lvl 5 (7000 XP loss), in addition to allocating almost all of her money to creating her own body, so she's not as powerful as her bare stats might reflect in comparison to a lvl 5 character with full equipment.

>As Baltimare is well known for its medical school, that works pretty well.
That's cool. I'll go with that.
>tuberculosis
Don't have that. I'll just make sure to clear the spiders out of my lungs before the oral examination.
>weird foreign parasites
Do vampires count? Jk
>leftist radicals
Death is a preferable outcome to communism.

>what do you want to talk about on backstory?
Do you like it? Too edgy? Too obscure? Not appropriate for the setting/game? Too boring? Anything that could be improved? I'm open to suggestions.
The Dread League doesn't have very much going for it in terms of lore other than being a country of wicked mustache twirlers, so I was hard pressed to imagine what sort of twisted pony would be born and raised there. I'm not sure if I want to go through with the part of being a clone who grew up in a tank, since I think having childhood memories might actually be better for character development. I like the idea of being bred as thrall stock for vampires though: the kind of nightmarish abuse she would have lived through would make for a good foundation of development.
>I sort of want to bring other characters in a position where they could join her
Take your time then. Current players take priority. I wouldn't want to derail them with my stuff. I'm more than willing to wait while I work on the fine details
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167498
167505 167517
>>167497
>I want to be able to speak the most common language in Equestria (or at least Ponyville and Canterlot, i.e places in the show), so whatever that is I'll pick that
Yeah, Equestria and New Mareland speak what we'll just call "Ponish," but be advised that native tribes in the Equestrian South East, as well as Ponies from Griffonia usually don't. Posey woud definitely speak Ponish, as otherwise it wouldn't make much sense to send her to Equestria.

>Griffins
Probably Herlander?

>It comes from being created by another Dread Necromancer of at least 8th level, who personally possesses the Corpsecrafter feat or is assisted by another necromancer who has it, after being ritually crucified in a desecrated area on the altar of an evil deity (Desecrate spell), and then gaining Cha bonus once through the Blood Touched Rite.
I'm a little skeptical of what seems to be combining multiple source books to give a mage the HP of a Fighter. It's seems a little bit unfair to our fighter, and the several characters with half that HP.

>I mention both groups because it's unclear if the Society of Bones or the Coven of Blood is dominant in the Dread League in this game: should one particular group rise to power, that would be the group Posie would be loyal to.
Just sort of as a general rule the world of Occupied Equestria follows the "historical" playthrough of Equestria at War save for New Mareland's Empire. I think that The Dread League will usually be Society of Bones in a historical playthrough, so that may make most sense.

I don't want to discourage you from doing something with vampires, but I am going to mention the following because it could become relevant: I have a sort of blood-loss phobia/vascovagal reaction that causes me to literally feel numb or limp in my limbs just by thinking about blood loss or blood draws. Don't expect any sort of roleplay around vampiric draining or extraction of blood

>Those are modifier, not skillpoints
Oh, okay

>I put every resource I could into expanding my spell list, since her biggest weakness is her limited spell selection.
I'm just not familair with them

>Well, when I was writing her I got all cocky and kind of wrote a lvl 20 backstory forgetting she's actually just a lvl 3 apprentice. She can't even have cohorts until she's level 6, although she could make Gloomy her own apprentice at lvl 5.
I think it might be better to make the other two show up when she's level 6, if she even gets there.
Honestly, I might be more comfortable with more characters than with supernatural qualities, since it's easy for me to quantify the effects of another melee fighter, and more characters allows for roleplay possibilities.

>Gloomy, until he becomes an apprentice, is an NPC, that I technically have no control over. I could roleplay him, although I wouldn't mind you roleplaying him either if you're down for it. He has the personality of a heavily-brainwashed anemic child who's somewhat numb to witnessing unspeakable evils, but still child-like in his own way.
There's a pretty firm consensus that my best skill as a GM is my writing and handling of NPC characters; I like controlling NPCs. Conversely though, if you want to control an NPC that's okay. Although writing realistic children isn't exactly a strength of mine. You're probably going to get something closer to an adult or a dog

>Do you want me to cite the sources? I can explain or source any of the stuff, if you want.
Yes. I don't know what any of those spells do.

>The Elder Evil thing was kind of stupid, in hindsight
I'm not a super big fan of having Posie or Gloomy have much connection to Elder Evils, because I think that having knowledge of or allegiance to Elder Evils kind of underminds the alien, mysterious, and hostile quality of these forces that make them compelling in the first place

That Cthulhu, through the power of his dreams, unintentionally projects nightmares into the minds of artists through some unknown power, highlights how beyond our understanding he is, and how dangerous he is that he causes harm to people thousands of miles away without even desiring to do so. The cults that worship him are atavistic callbacks to an era before civilization whose simple existence calls into question just how disposed towards reason and civilization humans really are. If Cthulhu is like a Pope to whom you pay tithes, I think it looses much of that.

In EAW, in the Dread League playthrough Rosa Maledicta feels faint and experiences periodic loss of consciousness, and generally has the feeling of being controlled. Then one day, a not-entirely solid creature the size of an elephant appears to her, floating in the air. Rosa recognizes the creature as a Wendigo and realizes that the creatures have been controlling her and directing her on her crusade, as it serves their ends. The way this is done is genuinely unsettling to the reader, and Rosa, though she is making progress in the Black Crusade, is unsettled and shaken in her beliefs by the Wendigo and the fact that she's not even able to completely control her own actions. That's a "traditional" depiction of eldrich powers as something possessing great and unknown powers that is intentionally or unintentionally hostile, and I think it works very well.

I do need to say that for many of the characters in Occupied, who have no magical abilities, I like to contrast them against the supernatural, especially against cosmic horrors, as it is something alien to them. Posie, because she will be by far and away the most knowledgeable player character, and frankly above most non-player characters in the setting, is most likely going to receive mundane horrors as a contrast because it would be alien to her. The setting is modeled on the world wars, so there is a lot of mundane horror to work with.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167499
167506
>>167497
>I see your concern. Is there a particular aspect of it that you think needs cutting down, so I could amend it?
Most likely, the majority of enemies that Posey will face, and certainly the vast majority of enemies faced by the party so far, have been "humanoid" type enemies with melee or ranged weapons. Ponies, Changelings, Diamond Dogs, and Griffins with talons, machetes, and bolt action rifles. Sometimes, there are zombies or animals or monsters with teeth and claws. And sometimes, there is something more exotic, like machine guns, explosives, or combat mages who use deflective shields to bolster their submachine guns. Sometimes there is armor, or cover, or many enemies. But in all instances, combat is ultimately about dice rolls and modifiers. Chance of hitting multiplied by damage against health. It's all about math. I can balance things just by changing the numbers.

Spells, by contrast, tend to be more qualitative, and a bit harder to quantify. When Posie has a spell that I've actually worked with before like vampiric touch that does something like, let's say 2d6 damage, I can say to myself, okay, she's doing twice the damage of a knife, let's put her up against at least one diamond dog with a knife, or maybe even put her against a pony who has a pistol that does 2d6 damage. But if Posie has [spell that I can't remember the name of] that does [I have no idea because I couldn't even name the source book], then... what do I put her against? Four changeling drones who guard a fifth and a sixth with a machine gun? It's an apples to orange comparison, so I really don't know what to expect here. Either she is going to win and win very easily to the point that it's boring, or she is going to lose and lose massively to the point that it's frustrating.

I guess you can just post sources, or what these spells do. If the spells are too powerful I'm probably still going to be hesitant because I'd rather Posie be comparable in power to the other characters when she is alongside them. So long as she's in solo combat though, it shouldn't matter, as the enemies can be adjusted accordingly. There's also the danger that she could be too weak, especially as what are essentially MG42s have been used in combat before, although this is usually easily fixable by adjusting enemies.

>The game didn't come off as very combat-intensive to me
It really isn't. It really isn't. There can be vast stretches with no combat. Also, warning ERP has happened in the past and is probably going to happen in the future. Obviously if you don't want to you don't have to, but other players... probably will

>she's not as powerful as her bare stats might reflect in comparison to a lvl 5 character with full equipment.
Well, this highlights why I need to get a feel of how powerful she is. If I assume she's way OP, but she's not even close, her challenges are probably going to be a bit higher than they ought to be.

>Do vampires count?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvRWniTDxys&pp=ygUZeW91IGxlZnQgbGVhbmluZyBwYXJhc2l0ZQ%3D%3D

>Death is a preferable outcome to communism
https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=FGaosBHdFMA&pp=ygUNbGliZXJ0eSBwcmltZQ%3D%3D

>Do you like it? Too edgy? Too obscure? Not appropriate for the setting/game? Too boring? Anything that could be improved? I'm open to suggestions.
Mostly I'd like to flesh more out. What jumped out to me was Gloomy's woobie status; he'd probably become a favorite of the other players quickly
Anonymous
03cf790
?
No.167505
167522


>>167498
>Equestria and New Mareland speak what we'll just call "Ponish,"
Then that's what I'll know.
>It's seems a little bit unfair to our fighter, and the several characters with half that HP.
Really? Even with constitution boosting items in play? That doesn't quite sound right, but I believe you. If the Fighter doesn't like it, then I guess I should be more considerate...
I do have a lot of hitpoints, but I have very few means of increasing them later due to no constitution score, and can't use conventional healing items. I put all the resources I could into getting those now, instead of having equipment, because that would be hard to increase later. I guess I could drop the corpsecrafter benefit, or take the feat myself to burden the cost instead, if it's too much. I was kind of fond high HP though, since I'm outright destroyed if I go to 0.
>phobia
I understand. I won't be too graphic. I'm not really into bloodplay myself, even if my character would be based on her background.
>realistic children
Gloomy is not a realistic child. He's a tortured soul bred and raised for pony-sacrifice, possessed by an ancient demon, and comes from a society where being raped by vampires or eaten by ghouls is a fact of life, and by some latent talent/insanity remains alive anyway. He also acts affectionate to his "mother" despite her being demonstrably evil, narcissistic, cruel and generally insane. His chaotic nature means he can be roleplayed however, although I would like at least a little bit of autonomy over him if I'm going to make him a proper cohort later.
My inspirations for him were Stygian (season 8), Chrona (Soul Eater), and various Binding Of Isaac characters.
If Posie is the White Horse, Frenzied Red, and Caligo Black, Gloomy is the Pale Horse.

>Yes. I don't know what any of those spells do.
The Cerebrosis spells come from Dragon #330. They consist mostly of conjuration and summoning aberrations. Every Cerebotic spell has a "Cerebotic Escalation" which allows the caster to attempt to make it stronger at the expense of potentially targeting themselves instead.
Posie can cast Aching Dread, which is a fear-based debuff that makes the targets shaken, or frightened by escalation.
Posie won't get access to most of those spells for a while, so I'm not going to post them all here right now (I will later), but a guy posted all of the spell descriptions here, in addition to monster statblocks.
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/hum_forgotten_realms/cerebrosis-t314.html
The summons are what you'd expect: aberrations that attack with tentacles and mental debuffs. They're good summons overall, and compliment Posie's undead summoning.

The Mother Cyst spells are from Libris Mortis, and are all centered around the Necrotic Cyst spell: a spell that grows a clump of necrotic flesh within the target to make them susceptible to other spells in the tree. It's basically the idea that by creating an undead tumor in a living creature, you could debuff, harm or control the target by controlling the tumor.
https://dndtools.net/spells/libris-mortis-the-book-of-the-dead--71/necrotic-cyst--1488/
I could post all of the spell descriptions, but since I don't actually have access to those spells I would rather not. Their names are pretty self-explanatory (awareness, scrying, bloat, domination, burst, eruption, termination, etc). The unifying factor is that they only effect targets that have already been infected with a Necrotic Cyst.
Overall, I don't really know how useful they'll really be, but I took it because I wanted to have as many necromancy spells as possible, and because having a throbbing cyst where her heart used to be is a cool aesthetic.
For utility, it would help me keep track of Gloomy using Necrotic awareness.
Later, it could be useful as a de-facto dominate person on certain targets, provided that they're targeted with the necrotic cyst spell first.

>is most likely going to receive mundane horrors as a contrast because it would be alien to her. The setting is modeled on the world wars, so there is a lot of mundane horror to work with.
I like that dynamic. Sounds interesting. It's actually why I chose to play a necromancer in a modern warfare setting.
Anonymous
03cf790
?
No.167506
167507 167517
>>167499
>what these spells do
Posie's spell list is the Dread Necromancer spell list. It contains the necromancy spells in the player's handbook, plus a couple others. It's overall a very limited spell list, consisting only of necromancy spells:
https://srd.dndtools.org/srd/magic/spells/classSpellLists/dreadNecromancerSpells.html
Although she has more spell known than a typical Sorcerer, her spell selection is very, very limited. Her abilities mostly consist with causing fear, disease, debuffing or attacking with negative energy. She has Summon Undead which gives her some direct damage options. She notably doesn't get animate dead until level 8, so until then she's basically a melee fighter attacking with her Charnel Touch and Inflict spells.
The Dread Necromancer is a fixed-list caster, like the Warmage or Beguiler. She has a lot of spells on paper, but most of her spells only do different iterations of the same thing (fear, negative energy attack, debuffs, create/control undead), and she can never gain any additional spells other than the ones she gained through the feats I listed. Posie can never learn to cast Fireball, Protection from Arrows, Fabricate, Shield, Shocking Grasp, Tiny Hut, etc. She has no offensive evocation spells, very few utility spells, hardly any battlefield control spells, and even fewer buffing spells.
The Dread Necromancer is a fixed-list casters, based on the Warmage. Similar to the Warmage, which knows almost all of the Evocation spells in the players handbook, it's abilities are consistent because it only knows evocation spells. The Warmage was printed in the Mini's handbook and designed to be simple to play and balance, because it's spells mostly just do different kinds of direct damage. The Dread Necromancer is a similar case.

>what are essentially MG42s have been used in combat before
Are you using d20 Modern rules for modern weaponry? Iirc, that was a reflex save vs damage.
No offense, but the way you describe it, it sounds like my high-HP necromancer with some extra summoning spells isn't exactly the biggest balance concern here when I'm hearing about NPCs attacking the party with machine guns and bombs.
>combat mages who use deflective shields to bolster their submachine guns
That sounds like a pretty brutal encounter, depending on what kind of stats you were using for the gun. d20 Modern machine guns are pretty strong if you have Burst Fire.
I can't do any deflective shields though. My defenses come from light armor, high Undead HP, and a bit of damage reduction.

>has happened in the past and is probably going to happen in the future
Yeah, yeah, all of the rest of us bore witness to it on the overboard. I'm braced for severe autism.
>Obviously if you don't want to you don't have to, but other players... probably will
I originally wrote Posie as an implicit necrophiliac (I am NOT one irl though, fyi), since necromancers like Pale Masters, Thralls of Orcus and Yathrinshee all tend to be sexual degenerates, but she's a Half-vampire, so she'd naturally still have an attraction to living things. I didn't sign up to ERP unsolicited or push obscure fetishes on the game though. The door is open.
Anonymous
03cf790
?
No.167507
167508 167517
>>167506
>Well, this highlights why I need to get a feel of how powerful she is.
Well, to summarize things, her defenses are very strong for a caster, due to undead benefits. She has some self-healing capabilities, high HP, natural armor, light armor and damage reduction. I made her specifically this way because I expected her to get sprayed with bullets in the war setting: I really like the aesthetic of an undead character getting peppered with bullets, but still walking through the gunfire an attacking the enemy, immune to pain and fear. It's like a horror movie trope.
However, in terms of combat with monsters and most of d&d as expected, she's just average defensively, maybe a bit below average, because she's still not an actual warrior.

Offensively, she's basically a mediocre warrior. She has a Slam attack that does some melee damage and a high Str score. She has simple weapon proficiency one martial weapon (I chose the compound bow, since she's the white horseman of the apocalypse, and because it compliments her undead Strength), but she has no base attack bonus or feats to back it up, so it will only be good for a couple levels. I don't know how you handle firearms proficiency, but at least at the beginning I planned to only use the longbow, because the Dread League is low tech. Her offensive options consist of summoning skeletons, casting touch-range inflict spells, and using her Charnel Touch (which is basically a lvl 1 Inflict spell).

Skills-wise, she's a low-skilled specialist mage. I spread out her skills thinly to get synergy bonus from 5 Ranks in each of the key skills. Her main skill specialties are going to be Intimidate, Bluff, Concentration, Spellcraft, and Knowledge (Religion, Arcana). She's meant to be a social character based on deception and fear mongering. Her racial bonuses give her minor stealth abilities that will only be relevant at early levels because I don't have the skill points to increase them.

Magic Wise, she's a specialist in necromancy and black magic, and very little else. She lacks most of the offensive evocation, defensive buffing, utility divination, no teleportation (it hurts, but it can't be helped).
I think after reading her spell list, you'll find that her spells are powerful, but easier to deal with than the selection that a typical Sorcerer or Wizard, because since her spellcasting is specialized she's unlikely to surprise you. She also doesn't have very any of the annoying Wizard tricks like "Skip the adventure plot" (Scry + Teleport) or "break the economy" (Wall Of Iron + Fabricate) or "Hahaha, fuck your monsters" (various offensive spells combined with battlefield control) any of those other tricks that give GM's headaches.
Also, at lvl 3, she can only cast 1st level spells. She can't even animate dead until lvl 8.
At lvl 8, if I get there, your attitude towards her powers might change, because she'll suddenly change from a mediocre pseudo-warrior to a master of dozens of undead minions.
She has no Metamagic feats, so just expect her spells do what they would normally do.

Special qualities wise, she's what you'd expect from a Half-vampire who is also undead. She has some limited ability to charm people, emergency fast healing 1 when below half health. As an undead, she has the usual immunities, which make several of her class features redundant (Mental Bastion, Negative Energy resistance, etc). Her biggest blanket immunity is her immunity to mind effecting attacks, although Terrors Of The Deadlands created an option to give a variant weakness to make the undead vulnerable to mind effecting while decreasing it's LA and CR, so I could take that if you're not fond of the blanket immunity.
Spellstitching could give her a small selection of spell-like abilities with limited use.
She's also made with the benefit of the assumption that at the cost of her starting wealth she could have had access to necromancers from the Dread League who could create her under ideal conditions, her Apprentice feat means that her Mentor is a Dread Necromancer of at least 8th level, so her Mentor would have used Undead Mastery to give her bonus HP and an enhancement bonus to Str and Dex. Desecrate means bonus HP. The Corpsecrafter feat tree means a tiny bit more HP, in addition to a bonus to speed/initiative, cold damage on her slam attack, and increased turn resistance.

Note that I was going to add a couple undead weaknesses from Terrors Of The Deadlands to decrease her CR and thus the cost to create her, so I have a bit left over for a wand. Will probably at least include the ones listed above, plus maybe material vulnerability (wood).

>Mostly I'd like to flesh more out. What jumped out to me was Gloomy's woobie status; he'd probably become a favorite of the other players quickly
Well, I meant him to be cute. I thought he could be fun for character development or comic relief. Something about a psychotic necromancer committing various war crimes, and then speaking sweetly to the colt that she's totally-not-grooming-for-sacrifice humors me.

>If I assume she's way OP, but she's not even close, her challenges are probably going to be a bit higher than they ought to be.
I'm a good sport. I won't get pissy just because my evil little pseudo-vampire dies from an overpowered fight. I might feel a little bit annoyed if I feel like I'm just killed with zero options to fight back or avoid it, but overall it's just roleplay, so throw whatever you have at me.
I just hope that, even if you're not using XP, you'll let me level up with a degree of fairness proportional to whatever challenges you throw at me.

>Equestria follows the "historical" playthrough of Equestria at War save for New Mareland's Empire. I think that The Dread League will usually be Society of Bones in a historical playthrough, so that may make most sense.
Okay. I'll take note of that.
Anonymous
03cf790
?
No.167508
>>167507
>I might be more comfortable with more characters than with supernatural qualities, since it's easy for me to quantify the effects of another melee fighter, and more characters allows for roleplay possibilities.
Well, I also thought I should cut them because I couldn't actually afford them as thralls, but if they're NPCs that represent factions of the Dread League that could be a thing.
I could still make them now though, given some time. What level should they be?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167517
167532 167537 167538
>>167489
Amber turns to the other griffons. "We need to split up and search for it. Let's meet back here in ten minutes."

>>167497
>I'm open to suggestions.
There's not much to add, though I would like to remark on just how different Posie is from everypony else. She's a stillborn alicorn turned into a dark messiah necromancer and none of the other PCs come close in strangeness. By comparison, a kirin druid and a Sevrayanan war hero are decidedly average in comparison not to mention my own character, who is intentionally as boringly ordinary as you can get. It's a very creative concept for a character and I hope to see her in-game, but it will be an "Aerith and Bob" situation unless if she disguises herself. Maybe she will need to balance her need to stay inconspicuous with her true nature's hautiness? And if she does disguise herself she needs to worry about ponies mistaking her as a changeling, since everypony is paranoid about them as they are also disguised as ordinary ponies.

>>167498
>I do need to say that for many of the characters in Occupied, who have no magical abilities, I like to contrast them against the supernatural, especially against cosmic horrors, as it is something alien to them. Posie, because she will be by far and away the most knowledgeable player character, and frankly above most non-player characters in the setting, is most likely going to receive mundane horrors as a contrast because it would be alien to her. The setting is modeled on the world wars, so there is a lot of mundane horror to work with.
This is perfect! I do find it interesting how, compared to OE, threats in FiM are usually the eldritch variety rather than mundane. And the whole point of EaW is that the ponies of the show are contrasted with the mundane horror of world war which they're ill-equipped for.

>>167506
>No offense, but the way you describe it, it sounds like my high-HP necromancer with some extra summoning spells isn't exactly the biggest balance concern here when I'm hearing about NPCs attacking the party with machine guns and bombs.
Actual machine guns (not just SMGs, though those are used by more serious threats too) don't pop up as often as you'd think so you don't have to worry that much about them. I don't think we've encountered actual heavy weapons like tanks or bombs in combat yet either; they will likely be at higher levels.

>>167507
>balance
To me it looks fine. Also balance is a secondary objective compared to fun. I consider Silver Sword the strongest active PC, probably stronger than Iron and definitely stronger than Amber, but that's perfectly OK. It's up to the DM and it might take a little while for him to go through everything since he's often busy.
Anonymous
ae01c3a
?
No.167522
167532
>>167505
> and can't use conventional healing items
Now if your character can't heal very efficiently, that's a serious reduction in power.
>I was kind of fond high HP though, since I'm outright destroyed if I go to 0
Okay, that's a fair argument for needing more HP
>Gloomy is not a realistic child. He's a tortured soul bred and raised for pony-sacrifice, possessed by an ancient demon, and comes from a society where being raped by vampires or eaten by ghouls is a fact of life, and by some latent talent/insanity remains alive anyway. He also acts affectionate to his "mother" despite her being demonstrably evil, narcissistic, cruel and generally insane.
>I meant him to be cute. I thought he could be fun for character development or comic relief
What

>My inspirations for him were Stygian (season 8), Chrona (Soul Eater), and various Binding Of Isaac characters.
I have seen this pony show, yes. Not those other things though
>Spells
I will look through them when I have the time

>Are you using d20 Modern rules for modern weaponry? Iirc, that was a reflex save vs damage
Mostly I've been winging it so far

>No offense, but the way you describe it, it sounds like my high-HP necromancer with some extra summoning spells isn't exactly the biggest balance concern here when I'm hearing about NPCs attacking the party with machine guns and bombs
scrunches
In the few instances where machine guns have shown up, the players have command over a literal dozen NPCs, and with weapons like machine guns and mortars. There has been no bombs or indirect fire artillery.

>That sounds like a pretty brutal encounter
Yes.

>I originally wrote Posie as an implicit necrophiliac
Well okay then...
Anonymous
9a2585c
?
No.167532
>>167522
>What
I haven't really finished writing him. The book is still open. The general theme is sad + cute + a bit creepy. It's still in writing.
Gloomy is conceptually meant to be either the perfect Slaymate or a potential apprentice. Posie does attend to his wellbeing and health and makes him feel cared for, in her own ways.
>if your character can't heal very efficiently, that's a serious reduction in power
I will not undersell you on my abilities: I *can* heal efficiently, just in limited ways.
I can heal, it's just that I can't really be healed by others or by items, which means I have to rely on my class resources (and by extension, my own action economy) entirely.
>Not those other things though
Not super relevant anyway. Only a vaguely allusion that I actually meant to cut out before posting.
>I've been winging it so far
Based.
>players have command over a literal dozen NPCs
Well, that's my plan as a necromancer.
>okay then...
Also not super relevant, plus open to recommendation/development/rewrite.

Anyways, I'll finish up my character and start whenever you're ready.

Per player recommendation, I've been trying to backread (skim) some old posts, although it's pretty convoluted and difficult to follow. Something peaked my interest though. What is this "Curwhinny's Farm" place? I read something about ghouls lairing there.
That adventure seems to stretch across multiple threads, and I can't tell if it was ever really resolved or what it was really about, but the site itself interests me, because although Rosie wouldn't really know anything about Equestrian politics or history, she might know rumors about any local undead.

>>167517
>none of the other PCs come close in strangeness
>decidedly average in comparison
See, that's where I'm a little hesitant to insert my edgy pseudo-vampire special snowflake into your tea party, because I don't want to be a dick. I can rewrite my character however the rest of you would prefer, if you wish.
>It's a very creative concept for a character and I hope to see her in-game
Oh, that makes me feel better about it then.
>Maybe she will need to balance her need to stay inconspicuous with her true nature's hautiness?
>disguise herself
Yeah, that's kind of the point. It's the attitude of undead monsters with any interest in mingling with the living (vampires, etc) have, if they're interested with their continued existence. Also an attitude necromancers carry.
Posie herself looks like a normal unicorn at a glance, being the type of Necropolitan that looks more like a vampire. She's stark white like fresh snow (and just as fluffy) with a crimson mane. Her most monstrous feature is her eyes, piercing and frightful, just slightly sunken in their sockets (which could be mistaken for mascara),
>"Let me into the cemetery. I am normal, and can be trusted around corpses."
>needs to worry about ponies mistaking her as a changeling, since everypony is paranoid about them as they are also disguised as ordinary ponies
Well, I guess that'll be a challenge then. Going to have to beat the changelings at their own game. Sounds like fun.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167537
167538 167556
>>167517
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1dTcUyzQL8

"I don't know if I want to take that long, but let's do it." Erich says

Though Erich and Federkleid are hesitant to split up, they do so all the same, each griffin moving to try to find something of use in the relatively small train station.

[1d20+1 = (8+1) = 9]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20-1 = (12-1) = 11]

[1d20 = 14]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167538
167556
>>167517
>>167537
Helder returns, stating "I found teh waiting room, restrooms, the ticket counter, the control room... but nothing of direct use."

Erich has little to comment, save that he noted where staff members would stand at the end of the platforms.

It's Federkleid who has the most important information:
"I watched a porter walk through a door by the platforms. I looked inside. All of the rooms for the trainline staff are inside a hallway there, accessible from the platform, and probably a door somewhere to the left of the main entry."
Anonymous
5b4d987
?
No.167539
167540
Any chance that I (Rosie) could play soon?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167540
167541 167552 167553
>>167539
Probably. It'll probably take some time to finalize the details of spells and combat powers, but that doesn't really matter because the first instances of combat are probably not going to happen very quickly, and Posie becoming acquainted with Baltimare can happen first

If you want to try to start Posie's arrival into Baltimare, you can state what she's carrying, what the gist of her cover story and purpose in Baltimare is and what have you.
Anonymous
5b4d987
?
No.167541
167553
>>167540
>state what she's carrying
I spent almost all of my money on becoming undead and getting bonus feats, so not much in terms of expensive weaponry or magic items.
She'd have:
>a spell component pouch + unholy symbol
>a dagger
>a compound bow + arrows
>forged passport and medical certification
>Medpack
>Mortician's outfit
>Spare robes
>Portable bedroll
>Book of assorted grim fairy tales
>Water bottle
>A week of rations
>A tin of those delicious strawberry candies that grandmas carry
>Brush and comb
>Saddlebags
>grotesque leather barding
>Coinpurse
>Maybe some jewelry

As for her cover story, I'm going with the "Necrologist" gig. She studies the dead, which is a relevant field with the ongoing war and mass casualties.
>Let me into the morgue. I am normal, and can be trusted around corpses.
Gloomy is her adopted son. His condition isn't medical, but Posie simply says he's anemic in case he draws any attention.
Her purpose in Baltimare is one part spiritual pilgrimage and one part military infiltration. She's setting up operations in Equestria so that if the Dread League succeeds in toppling the Arcturian Order and subsequently declares war on the world, it will already have an army yo support it here in Equestria. She's also interested in exploring the supposed ancestral home of ponykind, and increasing her own personal powers.

I'm kind of really tired after work though, so I can't RP right now.
Anonymous
0e797a3
?
No.167552
167557 167657
>>167540
>It'll probably take some time to finalize the details of spells and combat powers
While you're at it, I would like you to answer a couple questions about what I made, and/or ask for your specific approval of variant rules that I referenced. I'm not finished with it, but I won't be finished until I know what you're cool with. These are the most iffy parts, so this might make it easier for you:

1. Are you okay with me being created by an "Expert" or by experts in the Dread League? That being, my Mentor is a lvl 8 (Apprentice feat says they're at least lvl 8) or higher Dread Necromancer with all the appropriate undead-creation feats from Libris Mortis and Dragon #312 (Corpsecrafter, Nimble Bones, Uncanny Speed, Heightened Strength, Improved Animations, Bolster Resistance, Deadly Chill, Heightened Agility, Vicious Claws), provided that I use my starting equipment to pay for the services? I made this decision on the grounds that my backstory would mean I had access to multiple necromancers, as per some of the text in their respective sources, but that might have been a wrong assumption to make without consulting you first. I wanted this because it would let me necro-max my undead body, since I'm a bit of a perfectionist, but it does increase Posie's physical abilities greatly.
If you don't want me to pay for those as professional services, I would like to take some of those feats myself.
I should be honest and mention that several of the Necromantic feats in Dr#312 might be considered redundant with the Corpsecrafter feats, so maybe you might not want me to have both if I use one.
If I had to choose one feat category, I would choose the necromantic feats, as the Corpsecrafter tree doesn't stack with items or the Undead Mastery ability.

2. The Bonus feats Iron Will and Stealthy are both boons granted from magical locations in the Complete Scoundrel: the Otyugh Hole and the Ironwyrm Vault. They each have an equipment value in gp for the price of a bonus feat, but they might be too setting specific for your liking; actually, they're completely setting specific and I refluffed them without thought, which was wrong of me. Those feats aren't very important to me (although I would like Stealthy), so I'll cut them if you don't like me spending money on what's intended as a reward for a sidequest. I'm kind of short on money anyway.

3. I picked the Defiler feat from Dragon Magazine with intent to use Defiling magic rules in the pony setting. You may not like that, because turning forests to toxic ash for the benefit of enhancing might not be appropriate for the pony setting where running out of forest to consume isn't a considerable challenge. This isn't essential to my character, but it was an evil aesthetic I liked, and it felt like a nice substitute to the scarce black onyx gems that I'm bound to run out of in making undead.
Cerebrosis is granted by a magical location too, but it's not setting specific.

4. My (future) cohorts, Caligo and Thresher: you mentioned wanting me to put them earlier. I can do that, but should I just consider them two levels below me, as normal cohorts?
This goes for Gloomy too, but he's not supposed to be a combatant or servant.
If you'd like for me to pay for them using my starting equipment as "thralls" (the term used for slaves in the Dread League), I could fit them in at appropriate level budgets, provided that I cut one or two of the magical location bonus feats. In that case, I could control them telepathically using my normal command undead abilities, which was my plan in the first place before I realized I had run out of starting gold. I would actually like this, because starting with a couple undead under my control sounds like fun, since I'll only be able to animate them later.

5. Will it be possible for me to buy spell components and items in the city? I've already considered that I'll probably have to rob graves to get corpses, but the black onyx gems and diamonds to animate them might be hard to get. You don't really need to answer that, since the economy isn't necessarily something that Rosie would know about.

6. I used taint rules from Heroes Of Horror, the same book the Dread Necromancer comes from (also used in Oriental Adventures and Unearthed Arcana). I would like to use this because tain interacts with a lot of other options from that book and the Dread Necromancer class, but it is an optional rule (also, at DM's discretion, a variant to the alignment system),so I guess I should have asked you first. Are you cool with that?

7. The Undead Weaknesses come from Terrors Of The Deadlands. They don't give me any extra powers as I applied then, but I felt like I should cite them.
Anonymous
0e797a3
?
No.167553
>>167540
>>167541
>If you want to try to start Posie's arrival into Baltimare
I can start when you are ready, btw. I'm less exhausted than last night.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167556
167558 167560
>>167537
>>167538
Amber looks pleased at these results. "Good work, gang. We should get uniforms there and meet up to board the train. It would look suspicious if we all went in together, one by one would be better. Helder, would you like to be our pioneer? If not, I'll go first."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167557
>>167552
>Are you okay with me being created by an "Expert" or by experts in the Dread League? That being, my Mentor is a lvl 8 (Apprentice feat says they're at least lvl 8) or higher Dread Necromancer with all the appropriate undead-creation feats from Libris Mortis and Dragon #312 (Corpsecrafter, Nimble Bones, Uncanny Speed, Heightened Strength, Improved Animations, Bolster Resistance, Deadly Chill, Heightened Agility, Vicious Claws), provided that I use my starting equipment to pay for the services? I made this decision on the grounds that my backstory would mean I had access to multiple necromancers, as per some of the text in their respective sources, but that might have been a wrong assumption to make without consulting you first
I'm kind of skeptical. This is both because of my aversion to min-maxing generally, and also because I'm unsure how it fits with the character. As I understand it, Posie isn't quite some abomination built by the big bad at the end of the movie to serve as a boss fight; she is one prototype of presumably many in a long line of experimentation as a part of a collaborative project between two factions that presumably was aborted when the factions diverged, leaving Posie as one of the more successful remnants of an unsuccessful project.

>The Bonus feats Iron Will and Stealthy
I'd need to look into this

> My (future) cohorts, Caligo and Thresher: you mentioned wanting me to put them earlier. I can do that, but should I just consider them two levels below me, as normal cohorts?
This goes for Gloomy too, but he's not supposed to be a combatant or servant.
At the moment, just present tag-alongs, unless they are supposed to come over separately.

>Will it be possible for me to buy spell components and items in the city?
If you have to ask that question, you clearly do not understand just what kind of modernist, cosmopolitan hellhole Baltimare is supposed to be. Almost anything, from military weapons, to historical or magical artifacts, to rare and exotic animals, to slaves can be bought in Baltimare, or someone who could obtain them could be found in Baltimare, if only you know where to look.

>I picked the Defiler feat from Dragon Magazine with intent to use Defiling magic rules in the pony setting. You may not like that, because turning forests to toxic ash for the benefit of enhancing might not be appropriate for the pony setting where running out of forest to consume isn't a considerable challenge
It would likely be difficult, though very far from impossible, to find locations that can be defiled subtly in Baltimare or the surrounding regions. It's reasonably densely populated, though there is wilderness.

>I used taint rules ... Are you cool with that?
I'm not familiar with that
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167558
167559 167564
>>167556
"But first" Federklied says,
"We must obtain the uniforms"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167559
167560
>>167558
Amber looks unclear. "Aren't the uniforms in that staff room?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167560
167561
>>167559
>>167556
Wait. I may have misread. uh....

>>167559
"Well..." Helder places a claw behind his head and rubs his neck

"I think I would be more useful keeping a lookout on the platform..."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167561
167562 167563 167564
>>167560
"Good idea. Federkleid, follow me in after a couple of hours, then Erich, then Helder. Hopefully they don't notice the newcomers or I can convince whoever sees us."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167562
167563 167564
>>167561
"Hours?" Federklied asks, evidently not understanding Amber's plan
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167563
167564
>>167561
>>167562
I mistyped, pretend I said minutes
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167564
167565
>>167563
>>167561
>>167562
>>167558
As this comedy of errors in the posts proceeds, Amber must now discover for herself:

Is she only medium Sneaky? Or is she just the griffin to infiltrate the KaiserlicheBahn?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167565
167566 167569
>>167564
Do I roll move silently, or is it just a matter of looking inconspicuous?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167566
167568
>>167565
Couldn't hurt to move silently. Amber is, unfortunately, largely deprived of her cuteness superpowers in this form.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167567
167571
>>167441
The two medics finish bandaging up their respective ponies. The two ponies are as ready as they can be right now. Silver knows there are enemies across the street, although save for a few open windows, their location is not known with much precision.

Silver hears the roar of a plane, a changeling medium machine gun fire somewhere in the distance opening fire, and then multiple machine guns firing back.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167568
167569
>>167566
[1d20+3 = (16+3) = 19]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167569
167570
>>167568
>>167565
Amber moves to the door, which she confirms is not locked, and opens it. It leads to a short hallway with foor doors, all along the right. The first is to a small room that seems to hold tickets. The second is for conductors. The third is for porters. The fourth is for guards.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167570
167572 167573
>>167569
Amber looks down at her own stature. Being such an old, wizened griff, Amber is certainly not suited for porter's work, let alone a guard's. It would be much riskier impersonating a conductor, and she has only a basic understanding of what a conductor actually does, yet if anygriff could pull off the look of a conductor, it would be her. Breathing in, Amber opens the door to the conductors' room and steps inside.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167571
167572
>>167567
This is as good a moment to cross to the ministry as any. Silver naturally goes first, keeping his machine gun at the ready and keeping an eye out for any changeling attacks.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167572
167574 167577
6111471.jpg
>>167570
Breathes in
[1d20 = 2]

>>167571
Just run across? With no cover?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167573
167577
>>167570
Amber sees that there is a griffin inside of the room, sitting in a chair and reading some sort of novella, but in a position that he'd clearly see Amber as she entered. On the positive side, it does appear that that are uniforms on a rack by the wall
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167574
167575
>>167572
I mean, is there any cover?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167575
167576
>>167574
Covering fire, or something like smoke. There is no physical cover to cross.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167576
167578
>>167575
Covering fire would mean leaving someone behind, and as far as I know they lack anything like smoke grenades in their arsenal.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167577
167578 167579
>>167572
>>167573
Amber walks in as if nothing is amiss. "At least the weather is decent," she grumbles to nopony in particular.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167578
167579 167580 167584
>>167577
The griffin looks up towards Amber
[1d20 = 12]

>>167576
The radio carried by the white pegasus spontaneously plays a message that Silver can tell comes from the Brigadier General:

"Per Magister Mannis, 'Broken Back' protocols have been enacted. All reserve equipment is now available."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167579
167584
>>167577
>>167578
"You just get here?" The griffin asks, looking back to his novella and not at Amber
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167580
167581 167582
>>167578
Before Silver goes, this gives him an idea.

"Can you radio in and request they fire smoke artillery shells into street?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167581
167582
>>167580
"I can ask" He says. He speaks into the radio

"Are smoke rounds available for the north side of the Transit Ministry?"
[1d20 = 3]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167582
167583
>>167580
>>167581
The response is quick
"Negative. We're working on bringing in mortars. But they are not here yet."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167583
167585
>>167582
"Дерьмо. What is available?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167584
167585
>>167578
>>167579
Amber nods nonchalantly. "Yeah. They're a little worried about being understaffed today so they're calling in a few extra griffs, specifically those retired or close to retirement."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167585
167586 167587
>>167583
The white pegasus just gives the radio to Silver.

"The mortars exist, it's just a matter of getting them there quickly enough... Planes are circling... There's a tank."

>>167584
He raises an eyebrow
"You're close to retirement?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167586
167588
>>167585
"What kind of armament are those planes carrying?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167587
167588
>>167585
"Looking forward to it. I've been saving up for a nice little cottage in Feathisia. Can't come soon enough."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167588
167589 167595
>>167586
".50 Caliber Machine guns and 5 inch rockets." He answers

>>167587
"How?" He asks. "Hard to believe anyone could go without a job who isn't landed."

"Heh" He leans back
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167589
167590
>>167588
"Hmm, okay, how long until mortars are ready to fire?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167590
167591
>>167589
"Could be... ten minutes?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167591
167592
>>167590
"Дерьмо...every minute we wait is another we risk them setting off any bomb they have. We could use straffing runs on north side of transport ministry so we can cross street to enter building."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167592
167593
>>167591
White Pegasus:
"Your call"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167593
167594
>>167592
Silver calls over the radio:

"We need straffing runs on north side of Transit Ministry to keep changelings pinned while we cross to ministry."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167594
167596
>>167593
"This is Flash Magnus Squadron Leader requesting clarification: Strafing run from North to South for suppression, or strafe in circle Southeast to Northeast for effect?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167595
167597
>>167588
Amber smiles back. Hopefully it doesn't seem forced. "Scrimping and saving is the way. Oh and how I've done without the finer things in life for far too long." She shrugs ruefully. "But I will have to go without for a little longer." Amber puts on the conductor's uniform.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167596
167597
>>167594
"Straffing run North to South for suppression."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167597
167598 167600
>>167595
>Ruefully
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G629a_3MkkI

"If only I had the same luxury. Humph."
Amber now has on the conductor's uniform.

>>167596
"Roger that. In holding position. Making run in 15..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167598
167599
>>167597
"Alright everypony, get ready to run.'
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167599
167601
>>167598
Silver hears the roar of the plane get closer and closer, and then
TAT TAT TAT

Silver can hear bullets pellet the edge of the building he's in, and at points, break through the roof, causing splinters of wood and chips of paint to slowly rain down inside the structure.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167600
167602
>>167597
"Best of luck with the shift today," Amber says as she goes out the door, apparently ready to do this job. She opens the door she came in from, and gives a casual nod in the direction of the group. She then goes the other way, in the direction listing the departing trains.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167601
167602
>>167599
Silver stays calm and looks out to the transit ministry, waiting for the stream of bullets to begin hitting the building for the signal to run.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167602
167603 167604
>>167600
Amber sees the set of arrivals and departures. Trains come in from far away - From Middlehiem to Helhiem to Griffinhiem, or Luxwingbird to Reitschied to Vinnin to Griffinhiem, or Osnabeak to Vinnin to Griffinhiem, or from Katerinburg to Griffinhiem, or all the way from Bronzkreuz to Crona... or From Hellquill to Beakua to Soldau... And all of these back again on the departures. Trains are pretty regular, about every 40 minutes.

The other griffins move past Amber

>>167601
The ponies move to the left of the building, to the vestibule outside of the main room, and to the wide, wooden doors. Silver hears the "thud thud thud" of bullets hitting the building, and then across to the transit ministry. Then he hears a few bullets fire from presumably within the transit ministry. Another roar, and another plane moves in, making another run.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167603
167605
>>167602
As the second run begins, Silver shouts out "GO GO GO!" as he runs out towards the transit ministry.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167604
167606 167607
>>167602
Amber looks for and makes a mental note of the train that will depart to Hellquill, if there is one there. If there is, does it look like it is at an early stage of readiness?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167605
167609
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 13]
[1d20 = 8]

>>167603
With more TAT TAT TAT's, the planes fly overhead. Silver can hear that they tend to hit the upper two floors of the transit ministry, and often hit the building from which they came. Sometimes, the bullets move a little lower, and closer to the street than desired. Silver can hear that at least one changeling is trying to shoot back at the passing planes, or at least does so twice. The shots in response are only a few taps.

Silver looks across to see that there are windows a couple feet above the ground level, some of which are shattered. A few have brick protrusions beneath the windows
[1d20 = 4]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167606
167607
IMG_0039.gif
>>167604
[1d20 = 13]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167607
167608
>>167604
>>167606
Not yet. Arriving in 15 minutes.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167608
167611
>>167607
Amber, like any self-respecting conductor, checks her pocket watch, and waits a few minutes for her friends to emerge.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167609
167611 167613
>>167605
Seems like a well-suited entry point into the building when he makes it to the other side...assuming the changelings don't spot them.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167611
167612 167613 167614
>>167608
Her friends emerge after probably two minutes, all dressed in uniforms, though it seems they are porters (for Helder and Erich) and an assistant conductor (for Federklied).

Amber can see that they are not alone, however, with another staff member walking from the central ticket hall to a train at the platform, and at least one police officer moving along the platform.

>>167609
But as the ponies are crossing, there is more "TAT TAT TAT"

[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 1]
[1d20 = 2]

[1d6 = 4]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167612
>>167611
Can Silver see where from?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167613
167615
>>167611
>>167609
It's a distance of perhaps 70 feet, with the center being dirt, and the last 15 feet being poured concrete. It's only perhaps two windows that are open, and both require somewhat slowly moving into the window. Silver makes it across, then Streak, the purple stallion, the white stallion, each of the medics, and eventually Azula....

Silver can guess it's likely the third-floor window three over to the right.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167614
167616
>>167611
Amber doesn't signal to them out of fear of being noticed. It may be a sleepy small town but the radical political changes happening nearby will still have everygriff on edge. Instead she walks officially to the platform where the desire train will arrive, letting the others follow at a distance. She glances at the conductors for the other trains to see what they do.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167615
167616
>>167613
With the group safely across and now against the side of the ministry, can Silver peer into one of the open windows to see if it's safe?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167616
167617 167628
>>167614
One stands at the entrance of a coach car by the front of the train, looks out along the platform at boarding passengers, blows a whistle, and then moves in before the doors close.

>>167615
He can look, although the safety of the open street is a little questionable.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167617
167618
>>167616
Well, that seems easy enough….

Amber double checks to make sure that there isn't some other detail she's forgotten. This plan can't go awry after all.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167618
167619
>>167617
The best made plans of mice and mares and all that... Amber is still very tired. A few minutes now and the train will be arriving from Griffenhiem, before driving straight through to Soldau, and from there, who cares.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167619
167620
>>167618
Fair enough. Amber can have only a few minutes of reprieve before the mimicry skills of her and her friends are put to the test, hopefully for the last time.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167620
167621
>>167619
It's not a comfortable wait, but with time, KaiserlicheBahn Train 114 from Griffinheim to Hellquill arrives into Kronburg Hauptbahnhof.

Amber sees the train conductor get out onto the platform, as well as what appears to be two porters. This, besides the griffins on the train who exit on the platform.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167621
167622
>>167620
Amber approaches the other conductor and salutes. "Well met. I will be taking on your duties for this train."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167622
167623
>>167621
He looks up to Amber
"What? I wasn't told about this in Griffinheim."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167623
167624
>>167622
Amber sighs. "They didn't telegram you in time? Well no matter. This junction is experiencing a bit of a staffing shortage and extra personnel had to be called in. You're going to be needed elsewhere."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167624
167625
>>167623
Hmmm...

Seems like this would need a bluff check
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167625
167626 167629
>>167624
"It's inconvenient, I know, but at least you'll be able to stretch your wings a bit."
Diplomacy: [1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167626
167627
>>167625
He blinks.

"And where do I go?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167627
167629
>>167626
Amber scratches her head feathers, looking a little befuddled. "I'm not the coordinator of all this. All I know is that I belong here."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.167628
168506
>>167616
Silver looks. Their exposed state is very temporary, he just needs to make sure they're not jumping into an ambush.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167629
167633 168833
>>167627
>>167625
The Conductor looks at Amber a little longer, tilts his head, and then shrugs.

"Just as well I suppose. I'd rather go back to Griffinheim."

And he steps off the train.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167633
168833
>>167629
Phew. Well, that's another big obstacle out of the way. Amber once again checks her pocket watch very professionally, waits at the front of the train, and watches the passengers leave the train.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167653
167656
2635741.png
Is Posie around?
Anonymous
f336929
?
No.167656
167658
>>167653
Yeah, I was just sort of waiting to play. I figured there was more approval stuff to be decided or I had to wait until there was an entry point.
Anonymous
f336929
?
No.167657
>>167552
Btw, Necromantic feats only apply to mindless undead, so I removed all references to them.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167658
167659
>>167656
Well, I have more or less decided on the description of Posey's travels. And I think we could do the first few areas before settling down on her exact combat skills (although she may need to do skill checks for other purposes).

Before starting, could you give any insight as to what you want posey to do shortly after her arrival? Also, if you could answer

What is her cover story (like where she is from?)
Why she's there
Who, if anyone, she intends to meet or stay with
Where, or at least what sort of place she wants to stay at
What she's looking to do on a daily basis (if there is any answer besides "adventuring." "Adventuring" is fine)
Anonymous
f336929
?
No.167659
167660
>>167658
>What is her cover story
She's a Necrologist: a death expert. She has arrived looking for work, as such skills are in high demand during wartimes.
>where she is from?
A random pony-inhabited country in northern griffonia that is not hostile to Equestria, preferably one obscure enough to make cross examination difficult.
>Why she's there
To establish a firm hoofhold for the Dread League in Equestria for future domination.
But really, she wants to explore, practice her art, and develop her personal powers.
>Who, if anyone, she intends to meet or stay with
Her adopted child, Gloomy, is to be with her at all times.
Upon arrival, she'd immediately seek out any contacts in the Dread League, as she is obliged to tithe to her mentor.
Her eventual cohorts, Thresher and Caligo, could arrive whenever is convenient for you.
>Where, or at least what sort of place she wants to stay at
A haunted mansion, a graveyard, a battlefield, a morgue, an abandoned factory, an ancient castle or wizard lair, or a similar spooky place with access to corpses, magic, and/or people nobody will miss for the purpose of furthering her research.
Or any place with roaming undead for her to converse with, study, battle and/or dominate.
It needs to have at least some breathable air, because Gloomy is still alive and Posie would prefer to keep him that way until he's ripe.
>What she's looking to do on a daily basis (if there is any answer besides "adventuring." "Adventuring" is fine)
Carrying out missions for her master in the Dread League (if available). Researching and exploring Eldritch secrets. Making money to fuel her spellcasting. Violence of any kind (gotta level up). Establishing a cool lair and base of operations. Practicing her magic in any way possible. Making deals with Eldritch beings. Observing and understanding the undead.
And maybe actually looking for jobs as a necrologist, if all else fails: her skillsets are apprentice mage, mortician, arcane expert, monster-hunter, and undead consultant.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167660
167666
>>167659
Perfect.

Posie's mentor in Magehold, Dark Tides, has given her a dossier for her relocation to the Equestria. This dossier is not written by Dark Tides alone, but with notes taken from correspondence with Dark Tides' contact in Equestria, an alleged unicorn pony stallion currently going by the name "Licorice Lament," who is to be Posie's own contact and mentor in Equestria.

Equestria was established around same time the first advance of the Dread forces were repulsed in Northern Griffonia, and has since become the paragon of "Harmony," and all that to which the Dread League is opposed. Already likely the largest and wealthiest nation on the planet, with the arrival of the group of ponyville friends, Equestria seemed poised to dominate and impose it's harmonic ideology on all others. To great fortune, if not surprise, of observers in the Dread League, Equestria was toppled by a combination of the enemies it provoked, and the revolutionary forces of "harmony" that it unleashed, and split in two. But Equestria has always been ruled as a despotate, and though the rulers at the top may change, so much does not and the ground and even middle levels.

Equestria remains overflowing with magic, both ancient and modern, in its practitioners and antique artifacts. It remains one of the wealthiest and most industrialized of all nations per capita and on the whole, putting the Dread League's stagnation to shame. And though the revision of the concept of "friendship" and "harmony" over the past dozen years has brough competing interpretations of the concept, there is no denying that it has brought a revival.

Equestria is the original home of many of the necromancers and vampires of the Dread League. And just as they learned from Equestria, so too must Rosie Ring. She must learn it's power and its horror, so that she may understand why it must be destroyed, and why destroying it will not be easy. Death is transformative by nature; it does not create so much as take something living and make it, well, less so. And so too must the Dread League take knowledge of both the magical and the mundane from that greatest of all the living lands - the land, if no longer the Principality, of Equestria - and transform it into knowledge that advances the grand plan of the Dread League.

The offensive to drive out those last holdouts of Arcturius will commence shortly. Posie's sojourn will either last until the final preparations for the great, Black Crusade, at which point she shall join with her masters, or she shall remain in Equestria as a part of a cell, ready to weaken Equestria before it can counter. Eitherway, Posie is ordered to begin her journey in the Equestrian City of Baltimare, a city that is no longer a part of the Principality of Equestria, but is now a part of the Baltimare Governate, a protectorate under the control of the New Mareland State.

The first rule of life in Equestria, and this comes from Licorice Lament, is that the new controllers of the region are anal about identifying everypony. Posie is going to have to carry around identity cards, or else get detained as a possible rebel. Posie must, to avoid unnecessary hassle, present herself to Immigration authorities as she enters Baltimare. She may use her real name (why not), and use the cover story that she is from the nation of Firtree in the Griffonian North, from the city of Bonedrift. What's that? Posie doesn't know anything about "Firtree" or "Bonedrift"? Well neither do the custom's agents. She can make things up; just know that "Bonedrift" probably isn't literally filled with buildings made of bones. Probably. Never really been there. But, you know, that's not really something the living do. Except sometimes in crypts and chapels, but nevermind that. Posie is looking to study medicine at Jim Haykin's University and has secured acceptance to the program. She has not, however, secured a place to stay inside of the city, and thus will be staying upon her arrival at a house of a contact of Bonedrift University outside of the city.

And another thing. Posie's mission requires a low profile. And more than that, it requires obtaining quite a few things from ponies in Baltimare; it requires interactions with the living, non-livestock folk. So, Posie will have to refrain from killing the regular cityfolk. And refrain from referring to them as serfs or livestock. She will have to... interact with them normally. Yes yes, it's a rather vague and ill defined order, and not a little demeaning. But it comes from Dark Tides himself, so it must be obeyed to the best of Posie's ability. At least she isn't ordered to... make friends. Yuck!
Anonymous
e060de5
?
No.167666
167667
>>167660
>Licorice Lament
Noted
>Equestria is the original home of many of the necromancers and vampires of the Dread League
Like our glorious leader, Rosa.
>She must learn it's power and its horror, so that she may understand why it must be destroyed, and why destroying it will not be easy.
Mission confirmed.
>Posie is ordered to begin her journey in the Equestrian City of Baltimare, a city that is no longer a part of the Principality of Equestria, but is now a part of the Baltimare Governate, a protectorate under the control of the New Mareland State.
Got it.
>the new controllers of the region are anal about identifying everypony. Posie is going to have to carry around identity cards, or else get detained as a possible rebel
Hmmph. I guess it is what it is.
>Posie must, to avoid unnecessary hassle, present herself to Immigration authorities as she enters Baltimare.
Okay, first hurdle coming right up.
>She may use her real name (why not)
Rosie Ring is her chosen name. Posie is her nickname. Her given name is Specimen #663.
>use the cover story that she is from the nation of Firtree in the Griffonian North, from the city of Bonedrift. What's that? Posie doesn't know anything about "Firtree" or "Bonedrift"? Well neither do the custom's agents.
>Posie is looking to study medicine at Jim Haykin's University and has secured acceptance to the program.
I guess that's my job.
>She has not, however, secured a place to stay inside of the city, and thus will be staying upon her arrival at a house of a contact of Bonedrift University outside of the city.
Okay. Going to have to seek out a lair soon. Posie doesn't need to rest, but she has a foal to take care of, so lodging arrangements are a necessity.
>requires a low profile
An fact of the profession.
>Posie will have to refrain from killing the regular cityfolk.
Can't I kill just a few of them?
>make friends
Gross.
Anonymous
e060de5
?
No.167667
167681 167709 167713 167714
>>167666
Off the coast of Baltimare, a decrepit barge approaches the city. A cloaked figure proudly stands at the helm of the ship. The figure is that of a unicorn mare, young and strikingly beautiful. Her coat is white and fluffy, like fresh snow, her chest fluff puffed out to the sea breeze, exceptionally clean; and her mane is crimson, like fresh blood, done neatly in a bun behind her head, as her tail curls gracefully in the wind. Her most striking feature is perhaps her eyes, like pools of molten gold layered with concentric rings: they burn with mesmerizing beauty, and they glow like those of a predator in the night, rimmed with dark eyeliner. Overall, she is strikingly beautiful, posing with an almost supernatural grace.
Her cloak is black with a fluffy gray rim around the hood, and red in its interior. Beneath her coat appears to be a suit of thin leather armor, of a medieval fashion, if rather grotesque and edgy in its design. Various pockets like her armor, with blades and implements. This is a mare dressed for business, ready to conquer.

Her face, plump and youthful, with sharp but delicate features, appears like it was sculpted from the finest marble. She faces forward to the wind, with her face frozen in a subtle but scheming smile.
...
Frozen

"M-momma? You haven't m-moved for a w-while.." a young and fragile voice stutters you from behind her, as a small, thin, and rather sickly colt pokes its head out from beneath her cloak and gives her a worried prod, before shuddering and giving a hacking cough
The mare doesn't respond for a second, seemingly paralyzed, before her expression suddenly softens like a video unpausing.
"..W-wha-? Oh, sorry to worry you, Sweetie. I just.. really don't like travelling on boats.." She says, leaning down from the helm to hold the foal and give him a nuzzle, gently patting him on the back until his shivers stop
"We should be arriving in Equestria soon. Are you ready? Do you want a snack? Need to go potty? Anything you need?"
"No momma.. I just, want a hug..." the sickly colt replies, with a tired voice, gripping tightly onto the mare. Life slowly returning to him, as if he were sustained by her touch.
"Oh Gloomy, you sweet treat. You complete me." the mare says softly, as she turns her head back towards the city with an almost manic grin, scheming once more.
Yes, it's supposed to be creepy.
Anonymous
4b5be6b
?
No.167680
167681
[dead horse noises]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167681
167703
IMG_3903.jpg
>>167680
Happy Juneteenth!

>>167667
>arrives on what is presumably her own barge
I did kind of have a while description of the journey from arriving as a passenger on a freighter coming into the city...

Anonymous
f876bb7
?
No.167703
167704
>>167681
I don't care how I actually arrive. I just wanted to roleplay.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167704
6032473.jpg
>>167703
Okay

A little busy; next off night is thursday, then probably saturday and sunday
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167705
167707
542893.png
It is time
Anonymous
4eeeb70
?
No.167706
[Dead horse noises]
Anonymous
7898926
?
No.167707
>>167705
Does that mean I can finally play?
Anonymous
badb375
?
No.167708
So... As soon as she gets off this ambiguous barge, Rosie Ring would do some stretches to get rid of the rigor mortis she gets when travelling over water, and then immediately go about her mission.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167709
167711 167712 167713
tumblr_milz4iVJbF1s57dl1o5_1280.png
>>167667
As Posie steps onto the deck, she steps into view of a world completely alien to that which she has known before. The first, and by far the most persistent, and perhaps annoying detail is the heat. It' s perhaps just above sixty degrees Fahrenheit, one of the warmest days she's ever experienced. But it isn't the absolute temperature that is concerning, but the fact that such heat is present in late January, when by all right, it should be well below freezing. Similarly, it's perhaps a little after 8:00 AM and the sun is out, and has been for around an hour now. Quite a difference from a sun that comes up at 11 and sets at 2 PM. The humidity and salt water smell, though unpleasant, are not so unfamiliar to Posie.

The thousands of miles of endless ocean are broken first by sight of land, mostly lowland, though cliffs are not unknown, covered in forest. Most of the trees, thankfully, are barren limbed broadleaf deciduous trees dominated presumably by varieties of oaks with occasional hickory and chestnut trees, and the leafless skeletal trees, though still alive and in winter turpour, are near enough dead that they do not offend Posie's senses. But sprinkled among these are evergreen pines, and at the lowest levels, in mangrove swamps where the forest meets the water, are green cypress trees and willows. It's these green swamps that dominate the shore as Poisie moves towards the mouth of Horseshoe Bay, broken up periodically by by either individual houses or shacks, or even towns with numerous vaulted roof wooden houses of white or timber color, with steeples of white, wooden churches, and the even higher smokestacks of red and brown brick mills that billow out grey smoke. The small brick chimneys of the individual houses do not join their larger counterparts - it's too warm for heating to be necessary.

Past a cliff and alongside mangrove swamp, Posie sees a gap in the coming land that signifies the entry of the bay, and much further away, a green and grey cliff with a small, short, lonely lighthouse that must be at the end of the peninsula. Rounding the edge of the land, Posie sees a yellow stone set of structures that must surely be the left half of a star fortress, likely only ever half completed, that sits just back from the water, and immediately next to a lagoon created by a grassy sandbar. The gunpowder era fortress is far more modern than the castles and outposts Posie has seen back home, but still manages to appear to be anachronistic next to the other sights along her voyage. Before she enters the bay, Posie sees a large, grey freighter with a plume of smoke from its lone stack, a bridge in the center, and cranes to the fore and the rear of the superstructure. It is moving into the bay. Rounding the southern edge of the bay, which is formed by the aforementioned sandbar and lagoon, Posie sees a red and white tugboat pushing one, two, three, four, five barges, mostly empty save for the last which appears to carry steel pipes, moving out of the bay.

The bay itself is large, with one side of the bay only barely within field of view of the other, though Posie, now moving towards the center of the bay, albeit a bit to the south, has a respectable view of both sides, particularly of the south side, which in the portions closest to the ocean, is again dominated by mangrove swamps, broken up by a few houses and roads. It's alongside this portion of the bay that Posie sees the first monstrous construction of metropolis perched at the end of this bay - a massive industrial facility with tall, rectangular beige brick buildings, four of them in total, each with a massive smoke stack several hundred feat tall that pours out smoke into the sky that is carried east out over the water in trails so long it appears to be a natural cloud formation. There is another long rectangular building, and more than one massive electrical station - grey bricks of coils and wires that lead onto massive ninety foot tall steel electrical towers that move mostly westward, but also south into the forest. Behind this are railways and lines of railcars with what is presumably coal and petroleum oil, and in front of it all is another lagoon, although this one is seperated from the bay by rock, and its color is noticably more brown than blue. Next to the lagoon, to the east, are two large concrete cooling towers, each producing large amounts of steam that rise almost like a fog, and join with the black cloud produced by the smokestacks. This set of buildings is the singularly most impressive set in Posie's field of view - it is nevertheless, singular and lonely, being the furthest from the city.

Moving westward along the southern shore of the bay are more mangroves, and then more buildings, until the buildings begin to dominate. Posie sees that the shoreline moves further south as the southern shore has a convex shape. She sees several large piers, grey and brick buildings behind them, and next to them, three ships of reasonable size in full grey color. All three have turreted canons on them, and the largest has no less than two turrets in front of the bridge with two guns each, as well as a steel array over the bridge. The other two ships are less than half the size, but likewise have a canon on the foredeck. The largest ship looks to be visibly damaged, with black streaks across the bridge and a turret leaning to the right as if the deck were compromised.

Moving even further to the west, Posie sees large grey roofed buildings, mostly of brick, that could only be warehouses, interrupted by a few of what must be mills. And then along the western shore of the bay, towards its southern edge, she sees the mouth of a river, fairly large, which has seawalls to either side, and a cozy grassy riverbank. The left edge of the river protrudes into the bay with a rather small peninsula.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167711
167712 167714
>>167709
>the heat
Rosie Ring, being from the far north, isn't amused by the heat, or really the sun in general. Although not bothered by the metabolic debuffs of severe heat, she's not interested in what this weather might do to her skin and coat
"... And so it begins..." The mare groan, whirling her cape and raising her hood
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167712
167714
>>167709
>>167711
Am I off the boat? What can I do next?
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167713
167715
tumblr_milz4iVJbF1s57dl1o4_1280.jpg
>>167667
>>167709
It's the right and northern edge of the river that is more interesting to Posie, as this forms a promintory in the shape of a right triangle that extends a third of a mile past the edge of the river into the bay. A boulevard parrelels the mouth of the river on the left of this promintory, and to the right are large beige brick buildings with grey and green roofs, with inumerable windows, three and four stories in height. These are not warehouses, but surely public buildings and the largest seen thus far. At the very tip of this protrusion into the bay is a large yellow brick and stone star fortress from the age of gunpowder, likely twice the size of the one outside the bay, and with its edges directly on the water. Posie can see that it is in more or less intact, and she can even see a few ponies walking along inside it. In the center of the star, past a rusted fence, she can see a pair of small cannons, or perhaps large machine guns, angled upwards. Behind this fortress is an empty dock, then behind that, is a multiple story ocean liner that sits dormant at its dock. This large grand vessel is the largest and most impressive ship Posie has seen, likely ever, being larger than the freighters and larger than the nearby buildings. It's the section between the ocean liner and the fortress that is her ultimate destination.

But the view does not end there. Because behind this promontory, and especially to the north and right, is the city of Baltimare proper. For a few miles, north to south, is a mass of buildings. Low rise, mostly, but several towering high-rise buildings of steel, glass, and brick stand out along the city skyline, and the horizon more generally. Though they are miles away, the great rectangles stand out. In particular, a tall building of white and glass bows out along its north side, almost like a sail catching wind. Nearby is an almost as tall pink structure that narrows like a right triangle along its upper floors, and then behind these is a rectangular structure with a brown stone facade. In a separate cluster closer to the bay is a beige rectangular building, lacking in much of the architectural flourish that can be distinguished in the taller, further buildings. And besides these tall buildings, Posie can see the vaulted roofs and tall steeples of far away cathedrals in the north and south of the city, a rectangular shot tower, and numerous ten story dark brown or pink buildings that peep up from the mass of three and four story tenement buildings and row houses. And in the foreground, all along the west side of the harbor, Posie can see innumerable docks, several docked freighters and barges with cranes loading or off loading them, long warehouses, and the brick walls of tall manufactories. Some of the buildings are surely the result of genius architects and wealthy patrons, art written in brick for all to see. Far more are older, sometimes depilated tenement buildings and warehouses. And still more are simple practical apartment buildings and factories. But it's a mass of factories, as well as metallurgical plants, chemical plants, and the catalytic cracking towers of refineries that speak to a real industrial power unlike any Posie has ever seen before. And all along the water, where buildings are broken by piers or roads, Posie can see moving automobiles, carts, and ponies walking, or moving boxes of bananas, crates, or barrels.

Moving along the bay to the northern shore, the buildings thin out somewhat, and Posie can see a pier with a Ferris wheel sticking out to the bay. Further along is the peninsula and the hill that runs through it. Posie can see many single-family homes, mostly on stilts at the lowest level, or along the hillside further back from the water, in a line going nearly the length of the peninsula, eventually meeting the lighthouse she saw before.

The sky is mostly blue, though dotted by no small number of clouds.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167714
167715
>>167667
Gloomy, evidently, does not receive a hug in return.

At least on the surface, the city is not much like Magehold, with its ancient castle complex ontop of a hill, steep cliffs the ocean, and narrow streets with crowded medieval style buildings. It's much hotter, slightly more spread out, elevated above sea-level only by artificial walls that span almost the entire shoreline, and by and large built with no eye for beauty. But it is, nevertheless, alive. Decaying and decrepit, even necrotic in places - but alive, and beating like a heart. Posie can hear the sounds of diesel engines, water hitting piers and the seawall, automobiles, and distant sirens.

Posie's ship nears the shore at a designated landing point with fences blocking off possible paths. A red stallion in a green uniform with a broad hat smiles at Posie, and tips his hat with a nod.

>>167711
Fortunately it's still winter. Posie should fear what the heat and humidity will do to her mane in the summer time.

>>167712
According to the dosier, the next stage is to go through immigration.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167715
167716 167717 167719
>>167713
>pic
Is this something like a canon map for the game?
>>167714
>hug in return
>Life slowly returning to him, as if he were sustained by her touch
Is where it was implied, referencing Charnel Touch.
>tips his hat with a nod
Rosie Ring gives a cautious nod to the greeter, telekinetically latching Gloomy by her side as if he were a piece of high expensive and fragile luggage and trotting past wordlessly.
>go through immigration
Posie reads this off of her scroll and sets about doing so.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167716
167718 167719
B-O-Railroad-Baltimore-Immigration.png
>>167715
>pic
It's actually a map of Baltimore that was given in a con book for BronyCon one year. Fort McHenry just kind of neatly parrels Fort Flash Prance in my version. I do not have a map, though that would be helpful.

>hug
Okay good. I was afraid that she was truly evil

>carrying gloomy
Kek

The stallion speaks to Posie, "G'day ma'am," and may or may not be responded to. Should she continue wordlessly, he is a little confused. But either way, the stallion directs her to take herself and her luggage into the building. She enters into a long hall, which has a line that bends back and forth, and leads to several desks with glass windows and a couple standing guards with carbine rifles and green uniforms. There are not that many creatures in the line, but those there are stand out. A half dozen ponies, perhaps, several griffins, and a kirin, who must be what remains from an earlier ship. Posie has a moment to collect herself and her possessions
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167717
167718
>>167715
The dossier has more detailed explanations as needed, but in general the advice is this - what the immigration agents are looking for as red flags are not things that concern Posie. So stick to the story, don't be obviously a Dread Necromancer, and she'll be fine
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167718
167719
>>167716
The strange mare takes a moment to make eye contact with the stallion, her eyes fascinating, like pools a liquid gold; looking too long might make him feel lightheaded... (it's a gaze attack; but don't bother rolling the save)
"...Goodnight." the mare replies, in a foreign griffonian accent, before proceeding to take her luggage to the directed building with haste, moving with grace that seems almost supernatural, like a ballerina, despite her encumbrance.
>Posie has a moment to collect herself and her possessions
And so she does, checking if all of her things are there.
>>167717
*trots up in visibly grotesque armor made of griffon bones*
She fishes out her identification papers.
GM Pony
2280868
?
No.167719
167720
>>167718
Wait is she really walking around in griffin brones

Gaze attack?

Posie at this moment is only really able to carry around luggage. As much luggage as she can carry, but only really that. She has Gloomy for sure.

Behind the glass is a grey stallion, either pegasus or earth pony (hard to tell), with a green cap. He looks to Posie and takes her identification papers. If she's really wearing bones, then his eyes linger on her longer, but generally he focuses on the papers.

>>167715
>>167716
>>167716
Posie is next up in line to the agent at the counter. Posie is asked to hoof over her documents. She asked a series of questions:

"Where are you from?
What is your race?
What is your nationality?
What is your purpose in the Baltimare Governate?
How long do you intend to stay?
Do you already have employment?
Are you seeking medical care or welfare?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167720
167721 167722
992063bab4f68ce2e5953fae4daf093f.png
>>167719
The only noted quality the armor has is that it's grotesque. I thought Griffon bones with a feather surcoat felt cool. Figured griffons would be the most readily accessible bodies in the Dread League, with the Arcturian Order next door.
>gaze attack
Her charming gaze. Requires a standards action, so only applicable when mentioned.
>Posie at this moment is only really able to carry around luggage. As much luggage as she can carry, but only really that. She has Gloomy for sure.
The mare travels lightly, taking mostly only essentials for childcare, and her own black magic implements.
>his eyes linger on her longer
The mare stares back with a stoic expression.
>series of questions:
Posie follows her script for these questions, unless you would prefer me to answer them individually.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167721
167722 167723
>>167720
>charming gaze
Ah

>black magic implements
What now?

If there is any flourish I would like individual answers. Presumably Posie would answer something like "Unicorn" to race, but I'm not certain she would do that.

These questions are said aloud, but also Posie is given a paper with a clipboard to answer these in writing

Next set of questions, and I definitely want individual answers

"Are you a changeling?
Are you a member of a union?
Have you ever participated any armed conflicted, organized or otherwise, against the New Mareland State?
Are you a member of any political party that is a member of Socialists Global?
Have you ever participated in any Hellquill or Longswordian War Crimes, or crimes against Equinity?
Are you a fugitive from Justice?
Are you a follower of the Maarist Religion?"

That last question is not actually printed out, but is hoof written, which is kind of odd.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167722
167723
>>167720
>>167721
Now how could I forget?

"Have you recently been diagnosed with any illness?
Do you have any symptoms of illness?
Have you ever been diagnosed with Tuberculousis?
What is the approximate value of the items you are carrying?
Are you carrying any fruits, vegatables, seeds, or seedlings?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167723
167728 167731
>>167721
>What now?
Her spell component pouch, unholy symbol, a couple onyx gems, unholy water, etc.
>Posie would answer something like "Unicorn" to race, but I'm not certain she would do that.
Unless for some reason she had to reveal her vampiric heritage or the fact that she died years ago, that would be her answer.
>"Are you a changeling?
Are you a member of a union
No. (written)
>Are you a member of a union?
"...Pardon me, officer. By 'union', are we including apprentice conjuration associates, or only high arcana circles?"
>against the New Mareland State?
No. (written)
>Socialists Global?
No. (written)
>Have you ever participated in any Hellquill or Longswordian War Crimes, or crimes against Equinity?
Hahahahahahaha... Who would ever do that?
No. (written)
>fugitive from Justice?
No. (written)
>Are you a follower of the Maarist Religion?"
Do I have to roll to know what this is?
I would like to know before I answer.
>>167722
>illness
No. (written)
>symptoms
No. (written)
>Tuberculosis
No. (written)
>What is the approximate value of the items you are carrying?
Gonna answer this honestly, but it really depends on how my character sheet looks when it's finished. Last posted, it was less than 500-1000 gp, because I spent all of my starting wealth on boons, but otherwise it would be about 9000 gp.
>Are you carrying any fruits, vegatables, seeds, or seedlings?"
I guess I should list the travel rations I brought for Gloomy.
Idk if any of my spells have plants as material components, but I wouldn't list those.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167726
167728
How do I roll?
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167727
[roll 1d20]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167728
167729
>>167723
>Maar
Posie will absolutely know about this religion, though the extent of her knowledge may vary. Maar is one of the main gods in the central Griffonian pantheon, alongside Boreas, Arcturius, and Eyr. He's special in that, under the rules of the pantheon, worshiping Maar is absolutely forbidden, and he is given no special honors by practitioners of the central griffonian religion. Maar is the god of Death, sometimes represented as the god of all evil, sometimes represented as the god of winter, sometimes the god of choas, and usually represented as the god of deception, mental illness, trickery, and what can be best described as schizophrenia - a mismatch between the perception of reality and reality. Because griffin sacrifice and libertinism, as well as other social perversions, are perceived as a part of Maarist worship, such worship is banned in Griffonian Imperial terrirtories. Why the ponies care is not understood.

>>167726
[ 1 d 20 ]
[1d20 = 15]
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167729
167731
>>167728
That sounds kind of cool, but I'm going to say no.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167731
167732
>>167723
>"...Pardon me, officer. By 'union', are we including apprentice conjuration associates, or only high arcana circles?"
He looks up at her with ice blue eyes

"I'll put down 'no'"

>>167729
The officer seems to be more or less satisfied with Posie's answers. He turns his attention to Gloomy
"And who is this travelling with you?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167732
167733
>>167731
"This is my son, Gloomy. We're travelling together."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167733
167734
>>167732
Almost instinctively, he asks
"Where is his father?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167734
167735
>>167733
Posie leans in to whisper
"...He's dead."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167735
167736
>>167734
"I see....

How old is he? Does he have any illnesses? Will he be living with you? Do you have a means to support him?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167736
167737
>>167735
>How old is he?
How do cartoon horses age? He's a colt, no cutie mark, so I guess preteen.
>Does he have any illnesses?
"He has a positive mana deficiency onset by chakra imbalance. It's not contagious, but it requires magical treatment that I administer to him on a daily basis."
>Will he be living with you?
"Yes we will."
>Do you have a means to support him?
"Being a single mother is quite the challenge, but yes, I do."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167737
167738
>>167736
He nods, evidently satisfied.

But it's time for the challenging question

"One more thing, madam. Are you a practitioner of any dark art?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167738
167739 167742 167743
>>167737
"... No...?"
*poker face*

Do I need to roll a bluff check?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167739
>>167738
Yes.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167740
167741 167742
[1d20+12 = (1+12) = 13]
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167741
167742 167743
>>167740
...
I think this would be a nice time to use my Charming Gaze, before the situation worsen.
Will Save, pls
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167742
167743 167744
2010496.png
>>167740
>>167738
>1

>>167741
[1d20+3 = (19+3) = 22]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167743
167744
>>167742
>>167741
>>167738
He finds Posie's "no" unpersuasive
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167744
167745
>>167742
The DC was 17, although it has no other effects for success other than that he can't be effected by my gaze for 24 hours.
>>167743
"W-well, I guess it depends what you mean by 'Dark Art', you know. I'm a Necrologist, my practice is morbid by definition, but without it I wouldn't be able to treat my son's condition, you see..."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167745
167746
>>167744
"A 'Necrologist'? He asks, clearly desiring elaboration

>>167744
Well, the agent rolled a 19+3
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167746
167747
>>167745
"A Death expert. I study all things dead, dying, or decaying. With my specialty in entropic mana, I was looking to get a job, with all of the violence going on here. Bloodfiends spawned by mass killings, shambling amputations, necrotic gangrene, war wraiths, haunted battlefields, necrophages, restless dead: you'd be surprised how ill equipped the average military unit is to deal with such common occurrences on an arcane battlefield. There's always work for a Necrologist where there's war..." Posie says, keeping to her script
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167747
167748
>>167746
With the final element provided from the dossier - a letter from a professor Diligent Debride that corroborates Posie's story - the officer backs off.

"Alright Ma'am, proceed."

Posie is allowed to pass through, and to place her luggage to the side. She is told it will be searched and she'll get it in a few minutes. She is then to go alone past a gate, and around the corner, into an open area in a kind of split off room.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167748
167749
>>167747
>it will be searched
Luckily I spent all of my shekels on boons and am basically broke when it comes to equipment...
>go alone past a gate
I can't take my colt with me?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167749
167750
>>167748
Gloomy is made to wait at the gate. The guards are very serious about this. Before, Posie has seen either unarmed customed agents, or at most a pair of ponies with carbine rifles. But beyond the gate are four armed guards, two with carbine rifles with bayonets, and two with angry looking metal pipes that are probably not melee weapons.

It's only for a minute, she is told
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167750
167751
>>167749
For safety's concern, Rosie is going to charm anypony within 30 ft of her with her gaze (except for the original guy, because he passed), as Rosie cautiously makes looks around before turning to Gloomy and telling him to be a good colt, before she complies with the orders.

They can all make will saves, or you can skip it if this isn't relevant and I'll probably never interact with them again.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167751
167752
>>167750
Pony guard on the left at the far side with angry pipe, pony guard on the far side with a carbine.... But then there are three others that are visible only after you move through the gate. Two along the wall on the right, holding a carbine and an angry pipe respectively, and then a beige colored unicorn pony with a green uniform and red mane, who holds a flashlight.

"Alright, please stand here" he points at a location on the floor "And stare at that point on the wall" pointing his hoof to the opposite wall, which actually is just a gap between windows. "Keep your eyes open as I apply the light"

The pony takes the flashlight, and shines it above posie's eyes, looking at her eyes.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167752
167753
>>167751
Posie complies
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167753
167754
>>167752
While this happens, the guards point their guns at Posie.

He takes a look, does another pass with the flashlight... and then waves Posie through

"Alright, proceed to the next room for your visa"

Does Gloomy have cataracts or anything wrong with his eyes?
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167754
167755
>>167753
Pardon, I had to step out

>Gloomy have cataracts or anything wrong with his eyes?
Other than a look of supernatural dread and the subtle glaze onset by frequent demonic possession, no.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167755
167756
>>167754
Gloomy evidently takes a little while. Hopefully he can survive the seperation from his mother for a few minutes. Posie, meanwhile, is funneled through a door into a hallway, a white stallion in white looks into Posie's mouth and examines her,

Then after that, Posie is made to stand still in front of some sort of magical metal box that produces a blinding flash of light.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167756
167757
>>167755
>looks into Posie's mouth and examines her
Posie takes a moment to cough out any spiders or bats that may be lodged in her throat before this happens.
The stallion would find that Rosie Ring at least appears to be in good health: like that of a vampire that has freshly fed on blood (very young and healthy). She takes excellent care of her body, especially her teeth that seem almost shockingly perfect, if a little sharp... very sharp, actually...
Depending on his knowledge, he might feel like something is amiss, although I'm banking on Necrology being a rather scarce profession.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167757
167758 167759
>>167756
A cotton swab is taken from her mouth, and she is moved on to the next section. After a few minutes, Gloomy joins her, and is basically allowed to remain as close to her as she desires. The lone exception is that he is isolated and made to sit still in front of the flash box.

The two are then taken off to an office where they sit before a cream-colored mare who does paperwork. This is mostly uneventful and drags out for the better part of an eternity, during which Posie becomes perhaps a little two acquainted with smooth jazz.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167758
167760
>>167757
>better part of an eternity
*eyes glass over*
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167759
>>167757
>Gloomy joins her, and is basically allowed to remain as close to her as she desires.
Gloomy stays beside Rosie, usually within touch range, and never straying beyond 30 ft of her in a way that seems almost superstitious.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167760
167761
48670c903edceb395567dc189c6cc96a.png
>>167758
A little bit before the heat death of the universe, the mare says to Posie

"Alright, you've both come back negative for tuberculosis, negative for being a changeling, negative for any watched ponies, and Diligent Debride has verified that you're admitted to the medical school."

She hoofs over a blue card that oddly has Posie's exact likeness on it... and then one in a white color, likewise with her likeness, and the same for Gloomy.

"Here are your national identification cards, and visas. Please keep these on you at all times."

A beat, and

"Welcome to Baltimare"

As Posie leaves the room, she is given back her luggage, which though it's clearly been open and combed through, doesn't seem to be missing anything.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167761
167762
>>167760
Hooray, we're in the country!

Posie takes a map of Baltimare from one of those kiosks they have at travel centers, tucks Gloomy to her side, and gallops off to her rendezvous point.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167762
167763
hqdefault (1).jpg
>>167761
New item in inventory - travel map of Baltimare

Down the boulevard at the end is a cafe, and it's there that Posie is to be picked up by a stallion named Mason.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167763
167764
>>167762
Rosie Ring gallops in that location.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167764
167765
>>167763
Posie sees that there are other ponies around. It's not the first time that she's been surrounded by living creatures, as there are enough of those infesting the lower levels of Magehold. But it does have the feel of being present in enemy territory. She sees the chairs outside of the Rosewood cafe, and sits down. It's a few minutes, at around 10 AM, that a black automobile pulls up.

Has Posie ever seen an automobile before? Likely she has never seen one quite like this. It's clearly pretty new, black in color, with four doors and a large engine in the fore. It pulls across from the right side of the road next to the curb, and the window roles down to show a grey stallion wearing a black suit and a fedora with a red stripe.
Anonymous
5d22267
?
No.167765
167766
>>167764
>Has Posie ever seen an automobile before?
I don't think she would be completely ignorant to modern tech, but they probably don't have very many in magehold. The nobles probably just fly everywhere.

Posie eyes the newcomer cautiously.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167766
167767
>>167765
He wears glasses

"Rosie Ring?" He asks
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167767
167768
>>167766
"It depends who's asking..." The mare replies, not making eye contact
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167768
167769
>>167767
"Mason" He replies

"Licorice Lament sent me." After a pause, "It must be you, because I don't know who else would wear that."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167769
167770
>>167768
Rosie Ring takes a moment to reconsider her choice of attire
"... Yes.."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167770
167771
>>167769
He nods, and looks at her with almost no expression, before raising an eyebrow and saying,

"You want to get in now?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167771
167772
>>167770
"Come along, Gloomy." Posie says, not waiting for the colt to respond before she levitates him into the car behind her

"So... Mason, you said? It's a dread to meet you (said with endearing tone). I am Rosie Ring, as you already know, although I also go by Posie: Apprentice practitioner in The Art."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167772
167773
>>167771
He smiles back at her after that last statement, the first expression of emotion from him. If Posie so choses, she could sit in the front on the passenger side next to him. But more likely, she will get in the back with Gloomy. Possie would want to put her luggage in the back either way. Mason mostly talks without making eye contact, though he will turn to her if she is in the front passenger seat or look back in the rearview mirror if she isn't.

He rolls the window up."So you're the one they sent from abroad." And then he certainly looks back at her before starting the vehicle forward. "You were born like this?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167773
167774
>>167772
Posie gets in the back

>"You were born like this?"
"It's a long story. To put it short, I'm... part of a process."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167774
167775
>>167773
"A process?" He says, looking back. It doesn't seem to be a serious question for clarification. After a pause, he asks "What can you do?" The car has started moving forward, and cuts across into the right lane, and takes a right turn, going along an avenue alongside the wall next to the river. Posie presumably shudders as the car passes by a basilica..
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167775
167776
>>167774
>"What can you do?"
"I'm only an apprentice practitioner, to be honest, although I hope to change that soon with good practice. I know the basics of necromancy, and I have a rather good grasp at controlling the dead, at a level that greatly exceeds that of my peers. Raising the undead, however... Well, that's what I've come to learn." Posie says
"As per my other skills, I can lie, I can stay hidden, I can recognize spells, and my knowledge of the arcane is more than abundant. I'm no pushover in combat either, no matter how dainty I may seem."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167776
167778
>>167775
He looks back at her through the mirror.

"I think Licorice will be pleased to see you. He'll appreciate having one like you there. And if he doesn't... there's only one of you."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167777
167779
full.gif
Undead GET!

Glory to our Supreme Leader, Rosa Maledicta!
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167778
167779
>>167776
"I'll be glad to meet with him too. Last time we met he was nailing me to a cross..."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167779
167780
american-psycho-impressive.gif
>>167777
>>167778
He looks back at her a little longer. The car turns left, and over a bridge, past shops and houses on the other side of the river.

"He didn't tell me that part..."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167780
167781
>>167779
"Oh, he didn't? He did create me, or at least, made me what I am today. You could say I owe him my life, and for that I'm bound to his service."
>over a bridge
Posie abruptly freezes as the car passes over the bridge, unfreezing as it passes over the threshold.
"... Ugh.. I can never get used to that..."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167781
167782
>>167780
So there's no confusion, this guy is not her proper master. He's just a liason in Equestria

"Used to what?" He asks
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167782
167783
>>167781
"Passing over running water."
Oh. I see.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167783
167784
>>167782
He looks back to her again.
"Interesting weakness... There's quite a bit of water here"

I'll be out some minutes
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167784
167788
>>167783
"It's not so much of a weakness... More like a quirk.. It's hereditary..."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167786
167787
"Is this our new home, momma?"
"No, sweetie. This is what Equestrians call an 'automobile'. It's a transport to get around, like the boat we came here on."
"A twanspowt... Like Vesuvius?"
"Yes, just like Vesuvius, although not nearly as fancy."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167787
167788
>>167786
The colt perks up at this, watching the scenes of the city flash by from the window
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167788
167789
>>167787
If Gloomy is sitting on the right side, and he presumably would be, he'd have a view of the passing rows of townhouses, of the great basilica, of the parks, most likely of the courthouse and the center square, and of the high-rise office buildings and hotels off in the distance. It isn't that long before the car turns south and takes them over the river, and towards smaller towns with a brick elementary school, a fire station, small grocery stores, and many single houses. But more than this, the ponies start to see trees, those these are barren limbed oak and chestnut trees.

>>167784
"Well, I suppose I learned something new about your kind." He looks back, but at Gloomy. "Who is he?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167789
167790
>>167788
[enthusiastic colt noises]
"Oh, him?" Posie says, lowering her tone as the colt is distracted
"He's a little project of mine. I nicked him from the thrall herd in the Coven Of Blood after taking a liking to him, and I think he'll show some excellent return on investment. For all intents and purposes, let's say he's my 'son'."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167790
167791
>>167789
"Well that's sweet." He says. "Can you have children?" He begins to say, but trails off, evidently abandoning the question.

"We'll be coming to Licorice Lament's house shortly. It's a bit south of the city."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167791
167792
>>167790
>"Can you have children?"
Vampires can, so idk why I couldn't. Would need a lot of blood though (anybody have that relevant /tg/ screenshot about Hitler and his vampire waifu?)
"... I haven't given it much thought, to be honest. Maybe I'll give it try some time."
>Arriving soon
Good
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167792
167794
>>167791
Evidently Posie isn't pleased with the line of admittedly very awkward conversation.

He turns left off of a road to a gate, gets out and unlocks it, then drives down a dirt road, with open field to each side that is overgrown with grass and saplings. Posie can see field sunken into water, submerged forest, and what must have been orchards at one point, that have since gone feral. It isn't long at all until she arrives at a manor house like that belonging to a grand plantation, though exactly what that plantation once grew is hard to say. There are white pillars at the entrance, wide windows and tall ceilings for a manor that is two stories, with a third or an attic at points, as indicated by the windows.

"And we're here"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167793
167795
1582519614247-0.png
Dark Star wakes up to multiple sensations. The room is cold, but he's under a nice warm blanket. In lieu of a pillow between his legs, he has a rather large and soft mare, though she produces less heat than he may prefer. At least her fur is soft, and her ears press against his chin. He feels a little hung over though. Light is coming into the room from the window.

And then Dark Star remembers that zebras exist, and he feels much worse.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167794
167796
>>167792
"Nice place." Rosie says, snatching up gloomy and taking him with her
Rosie approaches the manor
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167795
167796
>>167793
I Blink my eyes rapidly, adjusting to my hang over. I rub my temple as the light creeps into the room and my eyes, my mouth feels dry as I begin running my tongue over my dry lips moistening them, my head beginning to pound slightly.

I look down at the warmth that i feel emanating from the form next to me
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167796
167797 167800
>>167794
Much of the grass around the manor is overgrown. Mason gets out of the vehicle and goes towards the door. He knocks. Nothing happens. He knocks again, then takes out a key and opens the door. "Chappaquiddick" he yells into the house, then opens the door and moves inside

>>167795
It is amazingly blue. Actually it's closer in color to white, and really kind of like a bluish tinted white, and even then it's a kind of greenish blue. But still. It's very blue. Dark Star is probably thirsty.
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167797
167798
>>167796
I try to get up without waking her up
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167798
167799
>>167797
Pull back away from her, move under sheets, get out from under the sheets... damn it's cold here. Dark Star is out, and she hasn't reacted.
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167799
167801
>>167798
I try not to make too much noise as i walk into the bathroom and turn the tap on and get a refreshing drink of water
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167800
167801
>>167796
Rosie follows him in
The grass seems to wilt slightly as she passes. She pays it no mind.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167801
167802 167804
>>167799
>drinking the tap water in baltimare
Alrighty then. Dark Star is at least made less thirsty. So that's an improvement.

>>167800
Looking inside, there is a wooden floor, a wooden staircase leading up to a second floor railing, old furniture off to the right, and a door entering to what seems to be a dining room on the left.

"Lament?" Mason looks around, moving towards the stairs.

From the left, out from the doorway, Posie sees a new form. It's a mare, evidently a zebra with a pink coat and gray and black stripes, in a black dress with her mane tied back, comes out

"He's still sleeping" she says with an accent distinct not only from Posie's North Griffonian accent, but even the equestrian accents Posie has heard.
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167802
167803 167804
>>167801
>drinking the tap water in baltimare
Wouldn't be the first time

I Walk back into the bedroom, and look for a news paper(if theres one lying around)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167803
167805
>>167802
There isn't a fresh one from today, if that's what he's looking for. The newest one is from yesterday. He could likely locate a fresh one downstairs
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167804
167805 167806
>>167802
Roll Fortitude for tap water
>>167801
>>167801
>"He's still sleeping"
"It would be best not to disturb him then. You know how the masters get when you disturb their slumber..."
"I'm Rosie, Rosie Ring." she says.
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167805
167806
>>167803
I walk over to the bed and put my hoof on Blue's shoulder and wake her up
>>167804
Kek yea
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167806
167807 167808
>>167804
She looks at Rosie, up, then down, then back at her eyes. She nods

"I'm Low Rain. Day Low Rain. An guest of Lament." She tilts her head, clearly not expecting Posie to be here. Mason has gone upsatirs.

>>167805
Blue Skies turns her head over and looks up towards him a single fluid motion. Either she was already awake, or she woke easily. She looks up to him with big turquoise eyes.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167807
167809
>>167806
Rosie waits patiently, tasseling Gloomy's mane
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167808
167810
>>167806
"Good morning"
I say, my voice still a little scratchy
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167809
167811
>>167807
From upstairs, Posie can hear:
"I'm coming"

Nearly stumbling down, following Mason is a fairly tall but still slender black unicorn stallion in a black cloak. His mane is white and disheveled, and his eyes are deep purple. He looks discombobulated, and he seems to have difficultly even making it down the stairs. All the same, he arrives at the bottom of the landing.

"Rosie Ring, is it?!" He nearly yells, looking over to Posie with lidded (probably tired) eyes.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167810
167814
>>167808
She looks a little concerned. Instead of responding, she leans her head forward, and onto Dark Star's chest
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167811
167812
>>167809
"That is me, yes. It's a pleasure to be of your service." Rosie says, with a bow
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167812
167813
>>167811
He moves into the room, and towards a table. The zebra mare places a half empty bottle of wine on it, and Lament picks it up. He holds it for a moment until the mare gives him a glass, and then he starts pouring a glass.

"So you're the one they sent. The one they sent to try to... gain a hoofhold in the Equestrian Southeast, is it? Is that your understanding of why you are here?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167813
167815
>>167812
"As far as I understand, yes. Although, I guess my first case of business is to follow orders; if not that, I would like opportune practice to perfect my art."
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167814
167815
>>167810
I look a little confuse, but lean into it
"everything okay?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167815
167816 167817
>>167813
He moves over to the left, to what must be a living room or parlor.
"Come, sit down." He sits down on a green couch with red roses. The mare follows and sits down on the couch next to him. He leans back holding the wine glass in his magic aura, and places a hoof on the table in front of him. Posie may sit on a similar couch near it positioned at a ninety degree angle to the couch, and also by the table.

"Tell me." He says. "What kind of practice do you have in mind? I'm curious to hear what your expectations are. I want to see how far you Mageholders are from the reality of us Old Worlders."

>>167814
She looks back up to him.
"Either it has to be disguised as a dispute amongst criminals, which they will know is false, or it has to be a crackdown on firearms trafficking gone wrong, which just makes us the aggressors." She answers cryptically.
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167816
167818
>>167815
I look a little confused
"Uh, What do you mean? are you talking about the Restaurant?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167817
167818
>>167815
>red roses
Lovely
Posie sits down
>"What kind of practice do you have in mind? I'm curious to hear what your expectations are.
"The violent type, to put it bluntly. I've got a sort of dead end in my hexing, and I would prefer to try it on living targets." Rosie says
"But first... thralls.. I was forced to leave my personal thralls in mage to get into the countr-"
"- wike Vesuvius!"
"Yes, Gloomy, like Vesuvius... Anyway, I'm looking to test my capabilities to control the dead, and capture a personal guard for my operations here. I know pickings are scarce in inhabited areas, but if you should know of any local haunts or burrows where I could rebuke some muscle, I would greatly appreciate it."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167818
167819 167822
>>167816
Yes. I had to explain myself to Seabreeze yesterday. He's not pleased.

>>167817
"Oh, there's bodies, heh heh heh." but he leans forward, and looks intensely at Posie. His eyes nearly glow. "But if all you wanted was bodies, surely you didn't have to leave Magehold, did you?"
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167819
167820
>>167818
"O-Oh.... What, What did he say?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167820
167821
>>167819
"I'm in danger of being suspended or reassigned. This isn't my first violation, and six civilian deaths is unacceptable to Sea Breeze. We have to make a story to cover for it."
Anonymous
880e535
?
No.167821
167824
>>167820
I raise an eyebrow
"Yes, we do, maybe i can get back in there and put some implicating items around the building."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167822
167823 167824
>>167818
"Raiments, Deathlocks, Dessicators, Skulking Cysts, bonerats, brains in jars, quells, murks, skin kites, and especially Slaymates..." Rosie says, clutching Gloomy closely
"The kinds of undead that aren't easiest to make. I'm on a search for, say, 'organic' thralls. I'm rather interested in what the magic of Equestria has to offer. It's actually why I opted for that Necrologist cover story. I figured that the work might lead me to some bountiful sites."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167823
>>167822
(Also I need shekels for magic)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167824
167825 167829
>>167822
He nods, though he scrunches.

"Equestria has a lot to offer. Both magical and not. The best Necromancers and Vampires are from here. And Equestria produces the best for a reason. And it's not because it's a simple, cozy environment. Though one can... quickly make themselves cozy here."
He pours more wine

>>167821
"Well the police have already swarmed the building, though we can retroactively add evidence. The simplest answer is that it was a raid for illegal weapons trafficking - and they had illegal weapons. But that suggests that the Blackhooves in Baltimare are going to crack down on the Waterfront Gang, and that's not a war we are looking to start. Not now. Another explanation would be that this raid was connected to the Comte case, because they were trafficking foals. Which they were. But that would suggest that the Blackhooves are trying to enforce criminal laws, and especially a criminal case that implicates a member of the SDP council, which is an assault on the SPD, which is not acceptable. What we cannot do is to provide no explanation at all. Because then, you have a Blackhooves agent and a volunteer killing six Baltimare civilians. That would be a declaration of war upon the citizens of Baltimare, and that is absolutely not acceptable. Better in that case to turn the agent over to the local authorities to be hanged as a murderer."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167825
167826
>>167824
"Yes, yes, so I've heard. I'm quite interested in learning all this land has to offer." Posie says
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167826
167827
>>167825
He moves the wine bottle closer to Posie

"Care for a glass?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167827
167828
>>167826
Unless it's blood, nah
"No, no.. it's not to my taste." Posie refuses, politely, squeezing her colt gently
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167828
167830
>>167827
He shrugs

"How good are your reanimation skills?" He asks
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167829
167831
>>167824
"This is a very serious situation, The most appealing option to me is pinning it on comte"
As she continues and ,mentions hanging Dark Star's face contorts into a frown.
"That is the one thing that is not going to happen,... I promise".
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167830
167831
>>167828
"I haven't had any chance to try. I was only recently emancipated." Posie says, trying to hide her embarrassment
"So, nonexistent... Commanding the dead is my specialty, raising them is an art I've yet to master."
>tfw don't get animate dead until lvl 8
Clerics have it so good...
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167831
167832 167838
>>167829
The blue pony sits up. She is vulnerable to a hug.

"Darkie, the politics are a little complicated. Crimes against children are, well, crimes. And criminal matters belong to the local government, to the SDP appointed Baltimare Police. By saying we are making raids on criminal organizations to enforce a criminal law, we are making it unambigious that we are not trusting or allowing the SDP to enforce criminal laws, at least as concerns one of its own. It's an attack on the treaty we made with the SDP to allow them to govern Baltimare. It's not a simple political issue."

>>167830
"Command the dead? Tell me the difference." He finishes the wine, and pours more.
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167832
167833
>>167831
"Halt them, control them, turn them to my side. I spent a lot of time commanding uncontrolled thralls in magehold. It's considered... Lower management."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167833
167834
>>167832
"But only when they are already animated" He replies
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167834
167835
>>167833
"... Yes, for now..." Posie says, burying her muzzle in Gloomy's mane
"...Is it dinner time, momma?"
"Mmmph, not now, sweetie."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167835
167836
>>167834
"So really, you need corpses that have already been reanimated" He adds

It's noon, for perspective
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167836
167837
>>167835
>noon
The time was not why he was asking

"That's only one of my skills. I'm also proficient in blackweave hexes and combat magic, especially the entropic sort."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167837
167839
>>167836
Alrighty then....

He nods, and moves back
"Why don't you tell me a bit about that. Hexes and entropic magic."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167838
167840
>>167831
I Hug her
"We're in quite the fix here, What would happen if we "Found" some evidence that Pointed directly at him, some undeniable proof?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167839
167840 167843
>>167837
>hexes
https://srd.dndtools.org/srd/magic/spells/classSpellLists/dreadNecromancerSpells.html
"The kinds of spells that cause panic in living creatures, or inflict supernatural wounds - I'm rather good at that one, so much that I can do so at will. I know the fundamentals of magic detection as well. I can even conjure temporary undead minions from beyond the void."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167840
167842 167845
>>167838
Pony is hugged
She is still soft

"That would probably be helpful, I think. At least for public opinion. But still, I don't know if we can afford to attempt to replace the Social Democratic Party now."

>>167839
He nods.
"That may be helpful. It may well be helpful."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167841
I'm going to go to bed soon. Could we wrap up the exposition soon and get ready for Posie's first quest later?
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167842
>>167840
"I would certainly hope so... I didn't practice all this for nothing. It's certainly useful when it comes to healing undead thralls, although I have none of my own right now..."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167843
167844
>>167839
"There's a body in the back I'd like to show you"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167844
167846
>>167843
"~Ooh, now we're talking" Posie says, perking up
"Well, what are we waiting for. Let's see it."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167845
167846
>>167840
"Not much else that we could do, Either Pin it on the waterfronters or the SPD"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167846
167847 167848 167849 167853
>>167844
"Follow me" He says. He gets up, goes towards a door behind the stairs, and then through another room with more couches and book shelves that seems to be a study, and then through a door outside, onto a porch. In the back is open grass, and trees past a low area, but he walks towards the left towards a small building that seems to be a kind of guest house. Through a door, Lament opens it, and goes to a simple double bed that has an object on it it under covers. He pulls the covers off

Posie sees the corpse of a zebra mare, still partly dressed in a black cape, that has been cut up and shot multiple times. The eyes are wide open, and oddly red. There is some abnormal quality to it, not the least of which is that it doesn't seem to be decaying despite being laid out in the ambient air. It isn't hard at all to guess the cause of death, as the oddly bloodless cuts are more than enough explanation.

>>167845
"But, you see, Seabreeze isn't happy to start a war. It would need to be a faction we expect to not fight back. Or one we can make peace with easily. Unless we had more resources."
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167847
167850
>>167846
Is it moving?

I don't actually know what it is, so I'm going to roll Religion
[1d20+9 = (8+9) = 17]
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167848
>>167846
"Well preserved, at least." Posie says, brandishing her silver medallion from her implements purse
"Where did you get this one?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167849
167850
>>167846
>bloodless cuts are more than enough explanation
Inflict spells?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167850
167851 167854
>>167849
>>167847
Posie can discern that this particular mare was likely the practitioner of a voodoo religion from the great lakes region of Zebrica, and then, likely a creole Equestrian variant.

But that isn't what makes this zebra interesting. Role to learn more
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167851
167852
>>167850
[roll 1d20+9]
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167852
167855
>>167851
[1d20+9 = (13+9) = 22]
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167853
167855
>>167846
"More Resources Being what exactly?"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167854
167855
>>167850
>practitioner of a voodoo religion from the great lakes region of Zebrica, and then, likely a creole Equestrian variant
"Ah, voodoo. Quite a few arts of necromancy have roots in Zebrican tradition, especially when it comes to reanimation. Zebras have an odd knack for it."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167855
167856 167858 167860
>>167852
Those stab wounds aren't bloodless because they were inflicted by magic. They are bloodless because the heart stopped beating before the wounds were inflicted. This creature died by violence, was reanimated, and then cut down again

It's Day Low Rain who answers,
"This was my cousin"

Then Lament
"A Voodoo sorceress by the name of Rue Dumare. She was one of the better sorceresses in this region. She was killed in a raid by Customs agents about four nights ago, along with several other prominent locals."

>>167854
"Well, in that regard you are lucky. We have voodoo practioners here in these swamps."

>>167853
"Agents, mostly. Soldiers too."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167856
167857
>>167855
"Any idea what smaller Faction would not fight back?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167857
167859
>>167856
"Which ever one expects to lose. More likely the Waterfront gang. The SDP thinks the ponies will side with them. Maybe they will, though maybe not if the ponies think... know they are all pedophiles"
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167858
167861
>>167855
>then cut down again
Aww, what a waste
>"This was my cousin"
"I see..."
>by Customs agents about four nights ago, along with several other prominent locals
"What a waste... If only they'd mind their own business." Posie says, gritting her fangs
She then turns to lament
"Did you show this to me to show me the consequences for exposure? I well aware of the risks."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167859
167862
>>167857
"Yea that would be the Death knell for the SDP. It's time To get out there and "Find" some evidence."
He does the Air quote gesture with his hooves
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167860
167861
>>167855
>We have voodoo practioners here in these swamps
"Do you now? Voodoo is volatile sorcery. Perhaps I might be able to find some thralls of my own afterall. It wouldn't hurt to chat with the locals either."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167861
167863 167897 167925
>>167858
"More or less, yes. There's an ocean between us Old Worlders and Mageholders, and more difference than that between us in mindset. We exist among the living, distinct and above them, but not entirely seperate from them. And a part of that is always remaining hidden. The governments here, there is more than one, go through phases of being wilfully blind to everything, and then overreacting on crackdowns. More good magicians than her were killed that night. You would have had more mentors to look up to, if only you came a week earlier."

He looks down at the corpse
"But part of the reason is to see if she can be of any service in death. Such a pitty to lose her..."

>>167860
He nods and smiles
"Now, you are thinking right"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167862
167865
>>167859
She makes a malign smile
"Perhaps we should" She answers
Anonymous
d790240
?
No.167863
167864
>>167861
>"But part of the reason is to see if she can be of any service in death. Such a pitty to lose her..."
"I can't reanimate her quite yet (unless I move some stuff around on my character sheet, which I might), although she might rise again supernaturallly based on the conditions of her grave. It's not uncommon for mages of her profession to spontaneously reanimate after death. For now, it's best that she be kept somewhere cold and dry."
>"Now, you are thinking right"
Posie smiles
"I guess we should get to business then. I'll head out shortly, although I prefer to travel at night."

I'm really tired, so I think I'll turn in for tonight. Maybe that'll give you some time to write stuff and whatnot.
I had fun though. Looking forward to the next chance to play.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167864
167895 167916
2436719.png
>>167863
Huzzah!

By the way, if you have suggestions or ideas, I want to hear them

Goodnight
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167865
167866
>>167862
I grab my trench coat and head towards the door, after putting my coat on, and fake glasses
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167866
167867 167868 167869
>>167865
It is so. Does he grab his guns, and where does he go from here?
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167867
167869
>>167866
They are still in the saddle bag if i remember right
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167868
167869
>>167866
To get some food
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167869
167870
>>167866
>>167867
>>167868
Does he go for food within the Blackhooves Headquarters, or does he head outside?
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167870
167871
>>167869
Within the headquarters
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167871
167872
>>167870
Downstairs, to the left, down the hall and to the right,

They have a set up in a room with plates, coffee, tea, orange juice, milk, fruit, muffins, toast... even waffles. There are a few other ponies and creatures in the room, also eating.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167872
167873
>>167871
I order Orange Juice and Some Toast and Waffles
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167873
167874
>>167872
Orange Juice, Toast, and Waffles it is. Options for jam are apple, and strawberry. Just those two.

Fellipe and Jacques are down here, as is a white pony unicorn mare, and a bat pony mare that looks familiar.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167874
167875
>>167873
how is the cafeteria set up? where is everyone located?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167875
167876
>>167874
Different tables, like a dining room, with a buffet set up for the breakfast. It's pretty obvious that they just set up breakfast in exactly the same manner and style as existed in the hotel that's being used as the headquarters. Felippe and Jacques are together, while Moonlit Meadow (the bat pony mare) is to herself. There are also empty tables.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167876
167877
>>167875
I sit down at a table to myself, a few tables away from Felippe, and a couple tables from moonlit meadow
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167877
167878
>>167876
Dark Star has his meal to himself. Waffles... doesn't he know a mare who likes those?
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167878
167879
>>167877
He tries to think back, memory slightly hazy, He remember Tricky and Sorrel
He begins staring at his waffles
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167879
167881
>>167878
They are a bit imperfect in shape, and a little small. There is syrup for them.

Tricky and Sorrel must still be at Dark Star's room over at the Eastside tavern, since they didn't really have anywhere else to go.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167881
167882
>>167879
"Shit... They probably are still over there."
i say under my breath
i poke at my waffles pushing them around the plate while drinking my Orange Juice
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167882
167883
>>167881
The waffle produces a streak of syrup along the plate. The orange juice is fine, more or less. To Dark Star's left, he sees the familiar azure white mare, with a black jacket that's overly large, walk past. She turns though, and looks back to Dark Star, then pulls out a chair and sits across from him. She still looks uncertain.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167883
167884
>>167882
"Orange juice is Good"
I say smiling at her, I then order Her some food too
I begin eating my waffles
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167884
167885
>>167883
She smiles at Dark Star, takes a cup of tea, and nibbles on a bit of pineapple.

Waffles are always good.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167885
167886
>>167884
Dark Star ears twitch slightly as he eats his toast
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167886
167887
>>167885
D'awwww

"Plans for today?" Blue Skies asks, still nibbling on the same piece of fruit
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167887
167888
>>167886
"Figuring out how to get us out of this mess."
Dark Star says in a hushed tone while looking down at his toast
"I think i also have classes later to go to."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167888
167889
>>167887
She lowers her head and lays her chin on the table next to the plate, lowering her ears.
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167889
167890
>>167888
"Whats Wrong Blue?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167890
167891
>>167889
She moves her eyes and ears up.
"The same, the Golden Sun" She answers. "It's not a pleasant situation to be in."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167891
167892
>>167890
"It'll Be ok i promise, We'll make it through this"
Dark Star Pets her
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167892
167893
>>167891
pony is pet

She closes her eyes, moves her ears back, and smiles.

After a few seconds, she raises her head up, smiling.
"Thanks, Darkie."
Anonymous
1ed6976
?
No.167893
167894
>>167892
He smiles back at her
"No problem."
He finishes his toast and orange juice
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167894
168141
>>167893
Blue Skies nibbles on a piece of toast and finishes her tea. And soon, Dark Star is done with his breakfast.
Anonymous
db47dbd
?
No.167895
167899
>>167864
>suggestions or ideas
Well, I would really like to fight something. I'm painfully low-level, and I want to learn to raise the dead asap so I don't have to be embarrassed by awkward conversations in front of other necromancers.
If a bunch of necromancers were slain in a crackdown a week ago, their research/equipment might still be sitting in a vault somewhere. I think I'd like to raid/infiltrate a police vault and help myself to some contraband.
If not that, visiting the lairs of said mages would be interesting, to look for leftovers. Maybe I could visit the still living mages and build up contacts.
Also, I backread some of the old threads, and I read the party already investigated some necromancer's lair before. If you still have the maps to that place, I think it would be cool to check it out if there's anything left to see there.

If that fails, I would like to see if I could requisition a job as a freelance Necrologist and maybe make some shekels doing actual legitimate work.

Whatever it is, I want a challenge/encounter. I'm eager to flex my powers and level up.
Anonymous
db47dbd
?
No.167896
167899
[dead horse noises]
Anonymous
844ae47
?
No.167897
167899 168100
>>167861
"Anyway, enough about me. What's the scale of your powers? I'm interested in what the mages of this continent have to offer."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.167899
167900
6257897.jpg
>>167896
>>167897
>>167895
A little busy today and probably at least tomorrow. Also, I need to think in a little more detail of what to do next
Anonymous
844ae47
?
No.167900
>>167899
Take your time. It's pbp. I'll be lurking.
Anonymous
844ae47
?
No.167901
Looking at my options, it's feasible for me to gain Animate Dead as a lvl 2 spell with my Apprentice feat, although I would have to give up one of my Dread Necromancer spells if I also want Desecrate... I think it's worth it:; I don't know if I have the patience to wait until lvl 8 to raise the dead.
Anonymous
d33f3ec
?
No.167915
https://m.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=3&v=E2Zv5fmT5XA&embeds_referring_euri=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fimfiction.net%2F&source_ve_path=Mjg2NjY&feature=emb_logo
Anonymous
d33f3ec
?
No.167916
>>167864
>suggestions or ideas
Maybe something to lead Rosie to the rest of the party, although it looks like you had something else in mind, so do as you will.
Anonymous
c2fa9bb
?
No.167921
167922
6237562__safe_artist-colon-neuro_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-anon_earth+pony_human_pony_undead_zombie_zombie+pony_armor_book_clothes_duo_female_guardsmare_helmet_magic_.png
6237564__safe_artist-colon-neuro_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-anon_earth+pony_human_pony_undead_zombie_zombie+pony_armor_clothes_female_guardsmare_helmet_hoof+shoes_huma.png
6237563__safe_artist-colon-neuro_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-anon_earth+pony_human_pony_undead_zombie_zombie+pony_armor_book_clothes_dialogue_duo_female_guardsmare_helm.png
6237566__safe_artist-colon-neuro_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-anon_earth+pony_human_pony_undead_zombie_zombie+pony_2+panel+comic_armor_cliff_clothes_comic_crying_dialogu.png
6237565__safe_artist-colon-neuro_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-anon_earth+pony_human_pony_undead_zombie_zombie+pony_armor_bed_clothes_duo_female_fire_guardsmare_helmet_ho.png
Weekend plans?
GM Pony
e5ce144
?
No.167922
167923
195525__fluttershy_princess+luna_princess+celestia_suggestive_s1+luna_implied+sex_facehoof_i-dash-shooped-dash-a-dash-pwny_shame_double+facehoof.jpeg
>>167921
That's super cute

I'm sorry, I'll be a little less available and responsive than normal over the next two weeks, although a session may still be possible

You can talk about directions at least
Anonymous
9bf5f44
?
No.167923
167924 167926
6725190__semi-dash-grimdark_artist-colon-php104_imported+from+derpibooru_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-calamity_oc-colon-littlepip_oc-colon-velvet+remedy_pony_undead_unic.png
>>167922
>talk about directions
I want to investigate the lairs and potentially collect the bodies of all of the other necromancers that were slain in the recent purge.
I also want to investigate their histories and capabilities, possibly appraising what level thru might be.
And based on their total level, calculate their value based on Neogi slave prices and CR treasure value, butcher their bodies, stitch them into a horrific frankenstein turducken amalgam, and ritualistically roast after soaking it in wine to summon a titanic demon to launch an assault on the office that carried out the purge, so that we can take revenge while also distracting them so we can steal back any confiscated equipment.
That's just an idea though.
Alive, if this zebra Sorceress was capable of animating the dead, she could be worth between 4800 and 6400 gp (minimum 1600) on the Neogi slave market. If she's in good condition, her corpse could be worth at least a third of that in terms of ceremonial/intrinsic gp value, at least according to certain sources, which would make her 1/3 of enough of a meal for Dalmosh. That's relevant if your cool with an absurdly chaotic shitpost in your setting though, which I kind of doubt.
"Say... Your wine cellar... How much would you say your collection is worth?"

That's just a shitpost idea I had though. I would still like to investigate the lairs of other necromancers and talk with NPCs, or just go looking for undead to control or a faction I can fight for my mission.
I would also like to finish the conversation with Licorice Lament, so I can see what his powers are and what the League has been doing in Equestria so far. Maybe he might have a quest for me.

I took your words on my character sheet into consideration, and I decided that I could probably cut both Cerebrosis and Mother Cyst feats.
I also realized that through bloodline rules I could technically qualify for leadership at ECL 3, and since you said you were more comfortable with NPC characters than an expanded spell list I could get to work on my cohorts.
Caligo would be a Diplomacy/Bluff based Nightstalker. I thought it would be cool to make him a lawyer or a barrister that could assist with social skills in the city.
Thresher will be a Crusader. His job is mostly just to kill things, especially any meddling paladins or clerics that might get in the way of the Black Crusade.
Since they'd be cohorts, I would know exactly what level to make them and get to work right away.
Anonymous
9bf5f44
?
No.167924
167926
2551713__explicit_solo_female_oc_clothes_oc+only_unicorn_solo+female_vulva_anus_underhoof_dock_book_partial+nudity_frog+(hoof)_robe_artist-colon-.png
>>167923
I fucked up that calculation, but the necromancer turducken idea might work with more dead necromancers. Her body alone could be worth 1133-3,400 gp in spell component and/or ceremonial value based on treasure value though, considering a lvl 8 Sorceress is CR 8. As a living slave, she would have been worth ~48,00-6,400 gp (8^2) × 100 gp, doubled for exotic race, tripled for rare skills, possibly quadrupled based on extraneous variables (being a necromancer, voodoo faith, etc). If she were especially beautiful, she her corpse could be worth even more for the right buyer, but I think I'm the only pony who would be interested in buying her while dead.
Anonymous
21deab4
?
No.167925
168100
>>167861
"And so, my mellow Lord Of Lamentation, what might your association with the League be? I'm as interested with the old worlders as you are of Mageholders." Posie inquires, looking the mage up and down as he sips his wine, which doesn't appear to have turned to ash and piss in his mouth
"You don't appear to be quite dead yet... Unless you're particularly good at hiding it. My vampiric heritage makes me one of the more fortunate ones among the Necropolis, but it still has quite the upkeep upkeep." Posie says, fluffing her gorgeous mane and abundant snowy chest floof
"I've heard that being alive had its benefits for blood magic, benefits that are the envy of even the mightiest liches, although, I didn't quite get the privilege to explore them while I was alive..." Rosie continues, gritting her teeth somewhat
"To take such great risks as to stay in touch with Magehold under these conditions, I would suppose that you are greatly committed to the arts. What would you say your specialty is?"
Anonymous
e5ce144
?
No.167926
167927 167928
2706513.png
>>167923
I'm still a bit indisposed, but a session or at least dialogue may be possible sometime

>I want to investigate the lairs and potentially collect the bodies of all of the other necromancers that were slain in the recent purge
That makes sense

>I also want to investigate their histories and capabilities, possibly appraising what level thru might be
>level thru
What

>Caligo would be a Diplomacy/Bluff based Nightstalker. I thought it would be cool to make him a lawyer or a barrister that could assist with social skills in the city.
>Thresher will be a Crusader. His job is mostly just to kill things, especially any meddling paladins or clerics that might get in the way of the Black Crusade.
>Since they'd be cohorts, I would know exactly what level to make them and get to work right away.
That could work

>I would still like to investigate the lairs of other necromancers and talk with NPCs, or just go looking for undead to control or a faction I can fight for my mission.
>I would also like to finish the conversation with Licorice Lament, so I can see what his powers are and what the League has been doing in Equestria so far. Maybe he might have a quest for me.
That'll work

>>167924
The slave market in Baltimare works a bit differently than in Neogi
Anonymous
3db87ed
?
No.167927
I have a problem.png
>>167926
I am not part of this thread/session but I just wanted to chip in and say.....
click
Anonymous
ab34394
?
No.167928
167943
>>167926
>thru
*They
I meant they. I wanted to know how powerful they were.
>That could work
I'll hop to it then.
>The slave market in Baltimare works a bit differently than in Neogi
That's fair.
Although, as a necromancer, acquiring creatures/corpses is going to be a thing I might want to do, and I would like a price formula to know if I'll be trying to find them using Wanderer's Diplomacy.
Anonymous
dd0798d
?
No.167943
167948
>>167928
>I would like a price formula to know if I'll be trying to find them using Wanderer's Diplomacy.
What
Anonymous
c74ac43
?
No.167948
>>167943
A feat, particularly the Canny Merchant feature of it:
>Canny Merchant: You can make a Diplomacy check to track down an item that is normally too expensive to be purchased in the town or settlement where you are currently located. The DC of this check is 10 + (the item's gp cost minus the community's gp limit, divided by 1,000). If this check succeeds, you learn of a merchant who can supply the item to you. You must still purchase it as normal.
https://dnd.arkalseif.info/feats/players-handbook-ii--80/wanderers-diplomacy--3087/
Baltimare looks like a metropolis-sized settlement, but the things that Posie would want to buy are likely to be illegal or otherwise hard to find, so I decided to make my cohort a mercantile type to make resources easier to track down.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167949
167950 167953
123350__safe_fluttershy_magic_high+res_undead_skeleton_necromancer_necromancy_artist-colon-yodita.jpg
So, does this party do any roleplay in between quests?
Shimmering Spark
f0c0e47
?
No.167950
167951 167952
>>167949
I don't recall, but I don't see any reason why that couldn't happen.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167951
>>167950
My character might not meet with the party for a long time at this rate, so I don't really know what to do right now.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167952
167955
>>167950
What your character like anyway? Prior thread tell me you're a Wizard or Sorcerer. That's not that different from mine.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167953
167954
>>167949
Oh yes, but characters have to be in proximity of each other which might be inconvenient. If two or more players are active the DM might be able to make anything work.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167954
167958
>>167953
Looks like this party splits up more often than I expected.
What's your current quest?
Shimmering Spark
f0c0e47
?
No.167955
167956
>>167952
I am not very good at these sorts of games, so I tend to lose what little characterization I think up. I tried to be a more eccentric character that had a shot glass he took everywhere he went and insisted it was important. I ended up forgetting about that after a while.

Then I sort of got separated from every single other character by accident and now I am fighting alongside wolf tribals against changelings.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167956
167957
>>167955
Not very good, you say? From the looks of it, you've been playing for a long time now. No need to be modest.
>got separated from every single other character by accident
Maybe we'll meet someday. I'll make up a reason for Posie not to kill you.
Shimmering Spark
f0c0e47
?
No.167957
>>167956
I have been around a long time, but I haven't played all that much. I never catch the GM at a good time. Still, it is a fun time. I am still looking forward to seeing how the religious wolf storyline plays out. They have religious stories and prophecies that seem to both be true and coincidental.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.167958
167959
>>167954
I'll be finishing up my dream sequence pretty soon, the sky's the limit after that.
Anonymous
d6d3e52
?
No.167959
>>167958
I don't need sleep, but I considered specking into oneiromancy anyway, just for dream sequences. Equestria has a dream realm, so dream magic might be fun.
GM Pony
27ed684
?
No.167960
1598988774773.jpg
Just to explain my absence, I'm still out on vacation right now. I'm thinking of things for Posie and friends to do
Anonymous
25b9ecd
?
No.167961
6621502__semi-dash-grimdark_artist-colon-princessfaeron_imported+from+derpibooru_oc_oc-colon-miracle_pony_unicorn_bone_female_magic_mare_necromancy_skeleton.png
I don't think I want to make my cohorts this early in the game... Managing one character is hard enough, and I haven't had even one encounter yet. I'd rather wait until I get to level six like normal.
GM Pony
db6594c
?
No.168078
168079
Blue.png
Soon.

Maybe Saturday or Sunday
Anonymous
9b26ee0
?
No.168079
>>168078
Do you have a time in mind? Weekends are difficult for me.
Anonymous
e9b4d91
?
No.168082
I still don't have a complete character sheet, but I'm interested in seeing how the plot will develop.
Anonymous
d9e9a95
?
No.168088
168093 168097
6223922__safe_artist-colon-nignogs_imported+from+ponybooru_skellinore_oc_oc-colon-anon_human_pony_skeleton+pony_undead_the+break+up+breakdown_-fwslash-mlp-fwsla.png
Are we doing this tomorrow?
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168090
168093
6378481__safe_pony_unicorn_aggie-dot-io_armor_bone_book_clothes_female_frown_knight_magic_mare_necromancer_necromancy_simple+background_skeleton_sword_weapon.png
2724141__safe_female_pony_oc_mare_oc+only_clothes_unicorn_smiling_open+mouth_horn_magic_sketch_floppy+ears_grin_unicorn+oc_wide+eyes_smirk_glowing+ey (1).png
Necro-bump
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168091
I'm ready whenever today
Anonymous
3db87ed
?
No.168093
168095
>>168088
>>168090
Cute necroponers! Didn't even consider that this might be a "thing," but I'm glad that it is. Because insane dark mages deserve skelly husbandos too.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168095
2181097__safe_skellinore_pony_oc_blushing_cute_shoes_book_tree_cloud_moon_boots_oc-colon-anon_implied+shipping_pumpkin_bone_ghost_bucket_skeleton_spi.png
>>168093
I'm glad we agree. Necromancy is all about 'making friends'. Friendship is magic afterall ^:)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168097
168098
Evil_Twilight_Sparkle.png
I hath returned!

>>168088
Yes.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168098
>>168097
So, where do we start? I was in conversation with Lichorice Lament.
I'm still not sure what you want me to do with my character sheet, but I would rather keep things moving for now.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168099
168100
1300465__safe_oc_oc+only_open+mouth_piercing_lidded+eyes_moon_zebra_foal_pixel+art_dead_ghost_decapitated_severed+head_x+eyes_elderly_cowering_artist.png
819080__grimdark_grotesque_oc_oc+only_magic_zebra_fallout+equestria_forest_trio_gore_dark+magic_zombie_voodoo_necromancy_artist-colon-kalemon_shaman_.png
6458797__questionable_artist-colon-devorierdeos_imported+from+derpibooru_undead_zebra_fallout+equestria_bone_dead+horse_jewelry_jockey_necromancer_necromancy_qu.png
1205067__safe_zecora_magic_commission_book_signature_zebra_skeleton_dungeon_spell_spellbook_artist-colon-oneofyouare_necromancy.png
1188679__safe_solo_oc_clothes_oc+only_magic_jewelry_piercing_book_ear+piercing_earring_necklace_zebra_fallout+equestria_bracelet_robe_fallout_artist-.png
Also, GM.
Was I able to tell what kind of undead monster this Sorceress was? If she was a regular zombie, she can never again be raised with a mere Animate Dead spell, but if she were a different type of undead, like a Juju Zombie, Animate Dead might restore her back to undeath, as per Faces Of The Deadlands.
I had picked a lvl 2 Deathmaster scroll of Animate Dead as part of my starting equipment. If that has a chance of reviving what may be an allied NPC Sorceress and persistent character who could advise and teach me in the arts, I would gladly use it on this Zebra instead of keeping it for myself, although I may not be able to to raise the dead for a while without it.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168100
168101
>>167897
He smiles as he looks to Posie
"I've managed to stick around for a while, haven't I? That should tell you much."

>>167925
His coat is a bit darker than charcoal, well trimmed and shinny, if a bit dishelved in some areas like around his shoulders. His mane is rather long, and though it is clearly disheveled by sleep now, was likely groomed and combed back as recently as last night. The white-fleece color appears to be the original color, or if the fruits of advanced age, has come in gracefully, as attested by the presence of a visible black streak. He is slim and has a concave belly, but is on the whole rather large and tall, and surely a handsome stallion to living mares. Fetlocks extend over groomed hooves that are a bony grey color.

"I can't quite say that death much appeals to me, personally." He says to her. Something in the way he looks at her suggests that instinct would lead to him attempting to court her, were circumstances different, or had he less information than he did. But in that same look is clear restraint, and no effort to pursue such a course.

He still carries his wine glass around in an aura of pruple magic. He places it to his lips, and with a final sip, swallows the last of the liquid, before placing the glass down on what must be an antique table with an oil lamp between himself and the window.

"Oh, I'd say I was a generalist in the arts, but with a preference for the liberal arts. Philosophy, poetry, portraiture, and the like." He blinks and makes another smile. "But of course, you mean the magical arts. In that, I would say transfiguration and
alchemy have caught my attention particularly."

>>168099
Upon further investigation, Posie can determine something new. The corpse was not animated per an internal animating principle. The corpse was instead puppeted via an external source.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168101
168102 168103
>>168100
>That should tell you much.
Rosie nods slowly.
"I suppose so."
>"I can't quite say that death much appeals to me, personally."
"You should try it some time. I've personally done it twice. The first time was rather unpleasant, but the second wasn't bad at all. Morphine is a wonderful thing."
>instinct would lead to him attempting to court her
*is slightly flattered*
>transfiguration and
alchemy have caught my attention particularly
"Ah, a transmorphist. Not quite as romantic as necromancy, but certainly quite useful in its own right. There's no shortage of Necromancers in magehold, but as soon as custom cadavers come into shortage everyone scrambles for the transmuters."

>puppeted via an external source.
Rosie Ringer squints
"This... Mare... How exactly was she raised from her grave?"
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168102
>>168101
>Ringer
*Ring

Posie caresses Gloomy's mane, gently, but possessively.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168103
168105
>>168101
He raises his eyes up towards the beams that traverse the inverted-v of the ceiling.
"I don't know if I would consider it less romantic. We are after all dealing with the building blocks of the universe."

He looks back to Posey
"I wasn't there for it. But I know who had done it. And I can imagine how."

Then he looks down to the corpse of the zebra mare.
"Once the animating principle had left it, the mage replaced it with another. But it was no simple zombification, which replaces the soul with something like the winding coil of an automaton - but something a bit more spiritual in nature. I'm not sure if he used a sort of... extension of himself to fill the body, or if he called forth spirits from the beyond... But I imagine it was something of that nature.

Gloomy is caressed possessively

Day Low Rain moves a bit closer to Lament, and places a hoof on his back, as if to make the nature of their acquaintanceship a bit more evident. Lament seems not to notice.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168104
168106
I'm taking the liberty to roll religion to see what Posie would personally know about this method of undeath.
[1d20+9 = (8+9) = 17]
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168105
168106
>>168103
>I know who had done it.
"Oh, who would that be? I'm curious to know who else might be practicing the art in this region."
>simple zombification, which replaces the soul with something like the winding coil of an automaton
At this, Posie gives a bit of an equine snort at the oversimplication of her passion, but seems to acknowledge his basic understanding of the craft.
>called forth spirits from the beyond... But I imagine it was something of that nature.
"Well, if she were merely a zombie, she could never again be raised as another zombie after destruction, but if she were something else, the same magic that animates zombies might be able to breath some unlike back into her... Or perhaps one of the various curses on her body may activate. It's not easy to tell without thorough examination."

She turns to Lament a bit more directly, producing a scroll with the glow of her horn.
"Is that what you'd have me do here today?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168106
168108
>>168104
Lament is describing two distinct forms of animation.

The first is where the soul of a still leaving creature extends itself to occupy the functions of another being (which must almost always be dead or unconsious) in something between telekinesis and astral projection, although generally requiring telekinesis to "puppet" the non-living thing. It's doable by a powerful enough mage, at least in theory, but generally is conducted with the aid of spiritual magic.

The other process that Lament is describing is where a spiritual entity, similar in nature to a the soul of a living creature, but generally having originated as a spitual entity and never having living, occupies an inanimate thing and animates it. To put it simply: demonic possession. The terrestrial sphere is generally impermeable to these entities, and they require invitation by spiritual practices, although they tend to be hard to control, and thus this practice is usually inadvisable. The souls of living, or formerly living creatures could likely do the same, save that they require a source of motion that is generally lacking in corpses, save for the absolutely most recently deceased.

>>168105
"His name was Sweet Boek, a talented mage and landowner in Baltimare. But he... isn't practicing here anymore."
He looks directly at Posie
"He too, fell to the mercenaries hired by the Customs agents."

"I don't believe she was ever a zombie in the proper sense"

It's Day Low Rain, and not Lament who answers
"I am certain she'd rather serve in undeath, then to join the other side of her family in the Mausoleum."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168108
168111
Rosie Ring carefully unrolls the scroll. It's a rather long scroll of a ghoulish design. Ugly, wrinkled, veined material that looks more like dried skin than parchment. The writing on it is written in red ink, the arcane writings scribbled and chaotic like the ravings of a madman. It's wrapped around a hollow bone shaft, the end of which she twists carefully to reveal a hidden compartment from which she produces a six of exquisitely carved onyx gems, levitating one before Lichorice, revealing it to be carved in the shape of a black equine skull.
"A little parting gift, from my master, in case I needed to make some friends." she says, visibly amused by the irony of her own words
"These materials are rather scarce to come by, and I've only enough for a couple castings, but what's that phrase that ponies use around these parts...? Was it, 'sharing is caring'..?"

>>168106
I meant in mechanical game terms, but I think that's good enough of an explanation without meta knowledge. I would like to try it some day.
>occupies an inanimate thing and animates it. To put it simply: demonic possession
Ah, I know about that spell. It's called Viledeath.

>"He too, fell to the mercenaries hired by the Customs agents."
Posie seems momentarily disappointed, but shrugs.
"So it is then. I might want to see where he's buried some time though."

>"I am certain she'd rather serve in undeath, then to join the other side of her family in the Mausoleum."
Posie smirks
"Then let's get to work."
Rosie Ring positions herself over the corpse, the scroll whirling around her. A section of it glows bright red as she twirls in an elaborate dance (exaggerating the gestures of the somatic components for showmanship). She telekinetically pulls the deceased Zebra's eyelid back, before slipping the carved piece of onyx beneath the eyeball.
"Dark and fell tide, rise at my call. Through the powers vested in me, I demand that this mare LIVES!"

With this, a section from her scroll's writing disappears, as she casts Animate Dead from it, at third caster level (as a Death master)
If she were one of the types of greater undead that could be revived with Animate Dead, she should rise good as new. If she were just a corpse, she should rise as a mere zombie.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168109
Screenshot_20230716-174725.png
Oh wait, I'm retarded. You could reanimate a zombie with FotDL rules. Just not with PHB Animate Dead rules.
I guess the DM decides what works in the end. In any case, Posie is here to make friends.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168111
168112
>>168108
>>168108
>six gems
>to make friends
>make up to six friends
>is a unicorn mage
>already has a slave/younger sibling companion
I see where this is going

"I doubt he's buried" he remarks. But then he turns his attention to Posie, carefully watching as she places the stone on the body of the zebra, and performs her incantation.

The corpse's eyes flinch, already open, and then shine an unnatural hue of green. Day Low Rain breathes in loudly, and raises her right foreleg before her chest as she watches the corpse raise itself up. Then, as if alive, it moves off of the bed, and stands up. The many cuts and bruises don't heal in any significant sense, yet they seal up as if sewn. The zebra mare stands before Posie now, perfectly still.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168112
168113
>>168111
"Welcome back back, miss-" (I forgot her name, if it was mentioned)
Rosie Ring encircles the zebra, placing a hoof to her flank spanking her and further healing the wounds and breathing unlife into the corpse with the boundless negative energy from her Charnel Touch, until she's satisfied with the condition of the zombie.
"Looks like we've made a new friend." she announces, looking rather pleased with herself as she turns to Licorice Lament
"I"m hoping to properly learn this art myself in good time, but for that I'll need some practice. What is our next order of business?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168113
168114
>>168112
"Rue Dumare" Day Low Rain finishes. Day Low Rain looks astonished by the process, while Lament observes more quietly, and with a less clear reaction. Dumare twists her head to follow Posie with her glowing green eyes, until the head can turn no more. With the spank, her tail whips around. Posie can see the wounds heal even further, until Dumare looks like a paler, scrawner version of a live zebra mare, like a fresh corpse. With no command, Dumare moves over to a nightstand by the bed, grabs a purple drape with her hooves, and places it over herself, and then picks up a cane, and a golden brooch, adorning herself with it. Dumare then returns to a standing position.

"Heh heh, I suppose getting you settled." He raises an eye brow and tilts his head. "Do you feel settled?"
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168114
168115 168116
>>168113
>With no command, Dumare moves over to a nightstand by the bed, grabs a purple drape with her hooves, and places it over herself, and then picks up a cane, and a golden brooch, adorning herself with it. Dumare then returns to a standing position.
This is behavior I wouldn't expect from an ordinary zombie. Rosie Ring looks visibly fascinated at this.
"She must've had a strong force of personality... being a sorceress and all." she says, looking on analytically.
Rolling religion, just to catch any anomalies. Perhaps she's something more than a zombie?
[1d20+9 = (11+9) = 20]

>"Do you feel settled?"
"I think this country will be quite some fun." she says, raising Gloomy and telekinetically cradling him. The colt giggles
"I think I would like to be shown my quarters though. I'm going to need a bit of space for my research, and to care for Gloomy." she says, caressing the colt
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168115
168117
>>168114
Posie is not, ultimately, able to understand precisely what is going on with this mare. What she does know is that this zebra was knowledgeable in the art of witchcraft, and was a powerful witch in life. Some magic, or some part of her soul, must surely linger, though the mechanism escapes her at this moment. Posie knows that Voodoo is an ancient necromantic art and can guess that it has innovated since reaching Equestrian shores, though exactly how, she has not learned.

Lament answers,
"I suppose you have a few choices. Besides this bungalow, there is another further back. I also have an available guest room in my manor. Or perhaps you'd rather stay in town."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168116
>>168114
>"She must've had a strong force of personality... being a sorceress and all."
Lament answers:
"She did... she did..."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168117
168118
>>168115
>though exactly how, she has not learned
This sparks a glimmer in her eye, eager to learn this art some day.
>answers
"Since the two of us are to be in your service, what would you recommend? We're not picky. We're both familiar with the thrall quarters back in Magehold."

>"She did... she did..."
"She'll be worth observing then." Posie decides
She points a hoof towards the zombie and speaks authoritatively, her eyes giving off a glow
"Do as your sister says." she orders, functionally passing control of the Zombie to Day Low Rain
She then turns to Day Low Rain
"I'll leave her with you. Think of it as a gift for us to get to know each other. If she ever starts mutating or shambling or otherwise becomes difficult to control, just give me a call and I will handle her."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168118
168119
>>168117
Day Low Rain slowly nods, but then bows her head.
"Thank you..." she says

Lament walks closer to Posie
"Well... I personally prefer the... let's call it country life out here. With the option to go into town at will, of course. There's a library, kitchen, and much more in the manor. But there's also regular parties. If you wish to be more isolated, you may want to go to the guest house. The lake has larger been grown over by trees, but it's separated by a line of trees from the main manor house, and feels isolated, though it's only a quick trot away. But if what you like is to live amongst the city, I'm sure Debride can set you up with an apartment, or perhaps even better options in downtown."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168119
168121
>>168118
>set you up with an apartment
I will not be a rentoid. I am a proud vampiric warlord.

"Well, I do enjoy a good party, and a library sounds splendid, though I don't mind the isolation either. I'm under orders to keep my operations covert; if you'd rather have me in the guesthouse to keep secrets, I'm all but satisfied with staying there."
The pets Gloomy again
"Come nightfall, I wouldn't mind going for a stroll, if you wouldn't mind. To get to know the area somewhat."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168120
168121
"... Lodging aside." Posie continues
"I would like to get to work soon. With recent events, it looks like there's quite a bit of work to be done. The league sent me here to assist you, so, what exactly is your next move, oh Lord of Lamentation?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168121
168122
>>168119
"Very well, let me take you to the guest house. The other one, anyways..."

Lament walks forward, past Posie. His tail moves in such a way that Posie may think he is going to bat her with his tail, but this never happens. He walks out, then looks back to her.
"Follow me"

He walks forward, towards a set of three derelict white buildings. But these are not where he is going. He moves to a small path of dirt and rocks, that leads away from the manor, and through a patch of trees. He walks forward, and into the tree line, with its low shrubs, and hanging cypress trees. The path twists and turns, though not for very long at all before coming to a new clearing. Posie can hear the sounds of insects, and see an octagonal shaped white building with a simple roof that in the center, holds a protruding second floor room. There is a small set of steps going up to the first level.

Behind this small building, Posie can see a pond, though it's almost a swamp, as trees grow directly out of the water on its opposing edge, and even seeing the edge of the pond is difficult, at it seems to merge with the forest behind.

>>168120
"With all of the turmoil, many things long buried come to the surface - sometimes literally. Many things long secure are now up for grabs. If you like, you can try to grab what hasn't been claimed of our recently departed allies in the town. If not, there is much to be done in the outskirts of the town. The settlements of the Delamare valley long proceeded the City, afterall."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168122
168123
>>168121
>"Follow me"
*follows*
>many things long buried come to the surface - sometimes literally.
At that, Posie looks almost giddy.
>Many things long secure are now up for grabs. If you like, you can try to grab what hasn't been claimed of our recently departed allies in the town.
She rears a bit, running her little hooves in the air excitedly
"Excellent. Where do I start?"
>there is much to be done in the outskirts of the town
"I am at your command. Let us get to work."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168123
168124
>>168122
He looks back to her, and smiles
"Would you like to start with the smaller, less conspicuous 'fish,' or go right to the top?"
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168124
168127
>>168123
"While I'm quite interested in taking it from the top, I say I'd like to visit the smaller ones first. I think they might make for some great friends, to help us with further ambitions."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168125
I'm going to be busy got the next half hour. I'll be back.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168126
168127
I'm back now.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168127
168128
>>168126
Hi

>>168124
"You really do seem eager to make friends, don't you? Well I know where a few of them live. Or lived. A few I am sure have been ransacked already... But some... perhaps not. Mason can take you into town."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168128
168129
>>168127
"That's splendid." Posie replies, trotting along

Okay, so, do you want me to roleplay Posie getting settled into the manor and talk more about her backstory and whatnot, or would you rather do a sort of timeskip to the beginning of the quest? I have the next 2-3 hours free.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168129
168130
>>168128
Probably getting settled into the manor. I have some work I'm trying to do, and it may be difficult to plan out a (small) quest tonight. I should be free tomorrow though
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168130
168131 168133
>>168129
Tomorrow is hard for me, but I'll try. Tuesday evening would be easier.

What do Posie's quarters look like?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168131
168132
>>168130
And now I'm off for some number of minutes
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168132
>>168131
Ok
Anonymous
e14a12d
?
No.168133
168134
>>168130
Moving up the steps, Posie opens a wooden door with a square, four-piece glass window into the room

Looking in, Posie can see that the octagon structure has a high roof. Looking in, to the right, Posie can see cabinets for a kitchen, with a sink and cabinets along the walls on the left, occupying more or less the close left quarter of the structure. Around about the center on the right is a wall, with the right corner walled off from the room. In the center, a bit back and to the right, and hugging the wall, is a small, mostly open, steep spiral staircase made of wrought iron that goes straight up through a hole in the ceiling. The celiing as a whole is high, going up about a foot past the square windows that line almost every wall. To

To Posie's right going in is a wall with a door, and beige floral decorations on a white wall. In the center and just a bit off to the right is a small, steep, and mostly open spiral staircase made of wrought iron going up. To Posie's left is a table next to the wall and beneath a window, with several wooden chairs at it. Past that is a green armchair, and beyond that, is a nightstand with a lamp on it. Then Posie sees a bed against the left octagonal corner away from her. Directly across from her, through the gaps in the staircase, Posie can see that there is another door to go out the other side.
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168134
168135
>>168133
"Hmm, it's certainly a touch above my master coffin loft."
she takes a smaller satchel out of her satchel, one with lots of stickers on it.
"Make yourself at home, sweetie. We'll be staying here for a while."
Gloomy takes the satchel and scurries over towards the bed, taking out a collection of what appear to be foal's toys.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168135
168136
>>168134
Lament looks over towards the bed, and to Gloomy, who seems to be laying out traps for anyone who approaches the bed

"There's also the porch on the back. And a basement."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168136
168137
>>168135
"A basement, perfect. I'll set up operations there when I'm ready."

"Now, while Gloomy makes himself comfortable, is there anything else I can help you with? Or would you rather return to your slumber?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168137
168138
>>168136
"No no, it's... what time is it?" He pauses for a moment and raises an eyebrow.
"I suppose I should ask if you... require sustenance, of any kind. In general, I mean. Not necessarily just right now."
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168138
168139
>>168137
"Oh, you won't need to worry about me. I came prepared." Posie replies
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168139
168140 168142
>>168138
He nods slowly
"Very well then. There's more to see in my family's plantation, but all of that in due time."
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168140
168141
>>168139
Hello
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168141
168143
>>168140
_waves_

Hello!

>>167894
Dark Star is done with Breakfast, and he sees that the pony across from him is imminently huggable
Anonymous
b8f7cc5
?
No.168142
168164
>>168139
"That sounds interesting. I'll be with you shortly.".

And with that, I'll leave you to the other guy. I'm going to bed.
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168143
168144
>>168141
He hugs the blue pony
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168144
168145
>>168143
But wait!

She whispers into his ear
"Careful Darkie, if you look too affectionate to me, people may think we're having relations."
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168145
168146
>>168144
He grins
"I don't think a Hug would look that suspicious "
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168146
168147
>>168145
She gives a small smile, and her ears move up.

blue pony is hugged

She feels soft to hug though
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168147
168148
>>168146
'What do you have planned for today? I have to go soon."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168148
168149
>>168147
"There's always something to in Baltimare" She answers

She blinks
"Where are you going?"
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168149
168150
>>168148
"I should probably go see Sea Breeze"
He scotches the back of his head
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168150
168151
>>168149
"I'm not sure it will be pleasant" She says to Dark Star
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168151
168152
>>168150
"I'm sure it won't."
He stands up
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168152
168153
>>168151
And so he's up. Blue's wings briefly extend and move apart, and she looks up towards him, then grabs her plate.

"Good luck, Darkie" she says
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168153
168154
>>168152
"Thanks, Blue., I'll probably need it."
He walks back to Sea Breeze's Office
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168154
168155
>>168153
Dark Star walks out of the cafeteria, through the hall, and towards Sea Breeze's office. The door is closed, at least at first, and a mare at the desk - an off-white mare Dark Star thinks he's probably seen before - looks up at Dark Star but says nothing.

With a simple knock, Dark Star hears
"Come in"
Anonymous
0faed09
?
No.168155
168156
>>168154
He takes a deep breath then walks in
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168156
>>168155
And.... He doesn't have to wait long. Sea Breaze is leaning over his desk, and moves his right foreleg (his good leg) over the desk, and rests his weight on it

"Dark Star. Take a seat. I spoke to your handler last night. Tell me now. What Tartarus were you doing last night to have a shootout that killed six creatures at a restaurant?!"
Anonymous
da6c9a6
?
No.168160
I can do the next part with Posie this evening, DM has it ready.
I'll try to finish my character sheet, for now I'll just go with what I have, and just not use those spells.
Anonymous
31c6fe1
?
No.168164
>>168142
Is there anything more you'd like to narrate concerning the manor?
Anonymous
31c6fe1
?
No.168165
168171
Posie would finish unpacking her things in due time, and getting Gloomy settled in.
She insists on visiting the plantation after nightfall, claiming that that is the best time to witness the activity.
Anonymous
a61e522
?
No.168170
168171
*is a pony*
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168171
168174 168178
6089354_1_1.jpg
>>168170
gasp

A pony!

>>168165
Also I'm back now for the weekend
Anonymous
7cfa32a
?
No.168173
I can start whenever
Anonymous
7cfa32a
?
No.168174
>>168171
So, what next?
Anonymous
4707eb9
?
No.168176
*is ready to make frens*
Anonymous
4707eb9
?
No.168177
Are any other players online?
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168178
168179
>>168171
Are we doing it this weekend?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168179
168180
FcHZXjHWAAE9b6b.jpg
>>168178
Sure. Am back now
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168180
168181
>>168179
Okay.
So, do we start where we left off?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168181
168182
>>168180
More or less. Posey can continue settling in, or go directly into town.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168182
168183
>>168181
It depends, is there anything left to see or talk about at the manor? Posie would spend the rest of the day taking care of Gloomy otherwise, and then head out at night.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168183
168184 168185
>>168182
Only if she wants to look around the basement or the swamp. I can’t really say what will stick out as interesting to her
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168184
168187
>>168183
Posie will inspect the basement while Gloomy sets out his toys.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168185
>>168183
>what will stick out as interesting to her
Anything magical, dead, dying, or otherwise spooky.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168186
If there's nothing there I wouldn't mind just skipping ahead.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168187
168188
>>168184
Posey has to go outside to see the entry to the basement. The basement has an entry from outside and to the left of the house, looking towards the lake. The basement has a set of stones placing its upper dimensions just slightly above ground level, explaining why the little cottage is propped up and requires a set of steps. It's dimensions are actually a bit larger than the floor of the cottage, and it is about square or rectangular in shape. It appears to have been designed as some kind of wine cellar, with stone walls. However, Lament has clearly been using it for other purposes. It has a desk, a table, a chair, and numerous shelves, mostly with various vials, flaks, and jars, with many liquids and minerals and substances in them, and flasks and burners and what have you on the table. There are several books, a couple notebooks and loose pages, and assorted items like a water jug, or a shield of some foreign design.

While the overall aesthetic of the grounds is consistent with a haunted mansion, and the basement in particular wouldn't look out of place in pretty much any adaptation of Frankenstein, it isn't clear just how spooky much of anything is, as Posey isn't sure she's seen even a single pony skull. There's nothing dead here. Well, except for a taxidermied chicken snake.... thing, and a small... taxidermied juvenile owlbear? Hard to tell, it's some weird thing that's kept down in the basement, certainly for storage. It must not have fit in anywhere else. Also there's a few dead bugs and a curled-up spider on the floor next to a shelf. But that's just gross, not spooky
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168188
168190
>>168187
>Lament has clearly been using it for other purposes. It has a desk, a table, a chair, and numerous shelves, mostly with various vials, flaks, and jars, with many liquids and minerals and substances in them, and flasks and burners and what have you on the table. There are several books, a couple notebooks and loose pages, and assorted items like a water jug, or a shield of some foreign design.
Standard alchemist's lab. So far so good.
>While the overall aesthetic of the grounds is consistent with a haunted mansion
Even better
>and the basement in particular wouldn't look out of place in pretty much any adaptation of Frankenstein
"Hmmm, reminds me of my master's workshop... Not as romantic though."
>taxidermied chicken snake.... thing, and a small ... taxidermied juvenile owlbear?
I'll make note to reanimate those when I get the chance.
>just gross, not spooky
Confident with her inspection, Posie returns to her hut to spend some quality time with Gloomy for the rest of the day.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168189
168190
Posie remains inside for the rest of the day, windows shuttered to keep the light out. She only emerges at nightfall, unless somepony comes to check on her before then.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168190
168191 168194
>>168188
The bed looks more or less comfortable, and there is small fireplace near the wall in case there is a need for heat. But probably not. The cottage isn't super comfortable for Posey, as it is made for living creatures. At least it's decent for Gloomy.

>>168189
This is actually much harder than it seems, as almost every wall has windows for Posey to need to try to cover.

Lament leaves her alone, for now at least
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168191
168192
>>168190
>The cottage isn't super comfortable for Posey, as it is made for living creatures. At least it's decent for Gloomy.
Well, it's his comfort that matters. Posie would be fine with a coffin.
"Make yourself at home, Sweetie." Posie coos, looming over the small colt as he acclimates himself
"We may be here for some time." settling herself down aside him and caressing his mane
>>168190
>almost every wall has windows for Posey to need to try to cover.
For the first time in years, Posie feels glad that she is not a true vampire...
Does it have any curtains?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168192
168193
>>168191
Yes. Small curtains that are almost perfectly the size of the window, giving little extra room to cover up the edges, or if the curtains are imperfectly pulled over the window.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168193
168195
>>168192
Posie remains still beside Gloomy while she uses her horn to get to work closing the curtains, the room darkening step by step. At this point she's slipped out of her armor, her golden eyes glowing in the dim light.
"It was so stuffy in that barge, with all of those strangers staring. It's been some time since we've been alone together. Are you glad we've finally arrived, Sweetie?"
"Yes, momma." the colt replies, in a bit of a more hushed tone than you'd expect from a colt his age, the weariness of the trip finally weighing on him
"Hmmm, that's nice then, Sweetie." Posie cops, kissing his neck
The colt looks up and back at her
"Is it dinner time, momma?"
Posie gives a slight giggle, the glow of her horn now the only source of light in the room
"Hmmm, soon, Sweetie, but momma wants to have some personal time first..."
"Yes, momma." the colt replies
And with that, the room blackens

Posie remains in the room until dusk
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168194
168195
>>168190
>Lament leaves her alone, for now at least
Does anything happen between now and Dusk?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168195
168196
>>168193
>>168194
No, and Posie has arrived fairly early in the day, meaning it's quite a while until nightfall comes. At least it's winter time, so sunset comes early.

If Gloomy has been kept up all night, he'll fall asleep. But if he's at all well rested, he'll probably want to go outside to play. If Posey lets him, that is.

Nighttime comes.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168196
168199
>>168195
>If Gloomy has been kept up all night, he'll fall asleep
I wouldn't imagine sleep comes easily aboard a long-term barge, but I guess Posie could always just charm him to sleep.
>But if he's at all well rested, he'll probably want to go outside to play. If Posey lets him, that is.
Well, I don't wanna be a bad mom...
If he requests it, she lets him outside to play, perhaps indulging him with childish games like asking him to pick the prettiest flower in the garden or playing hide and seek.
Gloomy, with his weakened constitution and long day of travel, would tire himself out rather quickly, at which point Posie brings him back into the room like the post above.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168197
168199
When she does emerge, Rosie Ring seems like a changed mare. She seems... Perky? Her cheeks seem rosey and flushed. Her body seems plumper, her fur seems puffier, and she radiates vitality. She trots out of the room with a bit of a sensual swing, as she gently closes the door behind her. Gloomy evidently having been put to bed already, needing proper rest after such a long trip.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168198
Poisie makes her way over to the manor.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168199
168200
>>168196
Hopefully it's too cold for mosquitos, so there's not much of a threat of him getting viral hemorrhagic fever from going outside. And there shouldn't be any chimeras or hydras on the plantation grounds. Probably. The swamp is a nice enough place to play as a kid with no toys.

>>168197
Hopefully all of this means nothing to Gloomy. But for Posey... It's time to play. Or perhaps more accurately, time to work. The time is something after 5 PM, and presumably still in twilight. Unless Posie has waited until true nightfall, in which case, it will be later.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168200
168201
>>168199
>mosquitos
If a mosquito so much as flies past him, Posie would use her negative energy burst to slay every insect in the vicinity. It's personal.

Posie gets to work immediately, her armor back on now. She wipes her face as she sets out into the night, galloping gracefully with her supernatural speed.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168201
168202
>>168200
Gloomy is probably fine being left alone. Probably.

I'm guessing she's going back to the manor?
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168202
168203
>>168201
Yes, the manor.
Posie doesn't really want to leave him in the room, as she usually takes him along with her at work, but she knows better than to put the colt through a forced march in his condition.
Well, I guess she could also just do this tomorrow night... but there is business to be done.

Fyi, I'm actually kind of sick tonight. I don't know how late I can stay up. I was excited for this adventure, but it's getting late.||
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168203
168204
>>168202
Awww... I'm available periodically throughout the week

Life has not ceased in Equestria. Why should death?

Lights are on in the manor. Some flicker, some don't.

Going inside, onto a maroon carpet, and under an electric candle - and it does indeed seem to be electrified, Posie encounters Lament. While there is no reason to believe he is alone in the manor, he is alone on the couch at the parlor when she encounters him. His mane is combed back, he wears a shining black vest and suit with a bowtie, and looks nearly as energized by the night as Posie. He stands up and walks to Posie. He almost looks like he's about to ask her to dance with the way he lids his eyes. But instead, he says,

"You're here early"
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168204
168205
>>168203
>"You're here early"
"I wanted to get this dealt with before my.. son wakes up..." Posie replies, somewhat awkwardly, despite her stoic and determined stoneface
"What is our first order of business?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168205
168206
>>168204
He gives a kind of insincere frown or scrunch before replying.

"Well, I take it you don't wish to become acquainted with the local social group. Or even the city. Down to business already? Well, perhaps you can learn a bit by trying to pick through what is left from those lost a few days ago."
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168206
168207
>>168205
Perhaps I misjudged the situation

Rosie Ring corrects herself, giving her fluff a shuffle
"Where are my manners? Of course I'd like to meet your little posey. Although, I think I might be a little underdressed for that..." she says, her bone armor rattling
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168207
168208
>>168206
He looks at her attire
"Well, it's not exactly customary for formal gatherings, no. But my social circle is... appreciative of your tastes."

He blinks, then adds
"But as I said, you're here early. I can take you into town, if you like."
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168208
168210
>>168207
Posie glances back towards the guest house
"Perhaps I should have taken him along afterall... I thought we were grave robbing tonight." she says
"Tell me, what should I know about this circle of yours?"
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168209
168210
I'm sorry, but I'm exhausted. Maybe we could do this again a little earlier tomorrow?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168210
168212
>>168208
"We may still" He says

He smiles
"You don't think the Dread League sought me out because I'm an especially powerful sorcerer? Or, especially committed to the cause, do you? No. What interests them is my ability to, as we say here in Equestria, 'make friends'. My circle... is knitted to together from those with interests that aren't exactly standard in Equestria. Not necessarily considered seemly, or moral. These are religious preferences, or artistic preferences, perhaps scientific curiosities that are esoteric in nature, or not for the masses, at least. I find these creatures, and we group together as suits us."

>>168209
Perhaps, though I'll probably have to do some work tomorrow
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168211
168214
I can do whenever today, so long as it's not too late.
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168212
168214
>>168210
"Interesting... And where will this meeting take place?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168214
168215
>>168212
"To which meeting do you refer?" He asks

>>168211
I think I'm going to have to go out tonight, so I'm not sure I'm available
Anonymous
911b018
?
No.168215
168216
>>168214
I'm confused, did Lament invite me to meet his associates, or am I going on a combat quest?
Anonymous
fd219a6
?
No.168216
168217 168218
>>168215
Not so much a meeting of his associates, but of a couple key individuals.

Or she can go out exploring
Anonymous
0723898
?
No.168217
168223
>>168216
Did he have a plan?
If the individuals are ready to be met, Posie would get dressed and meet them. If they're not, she would go out exploring to salvage from the other lairs, and maybe kill something along the way.
Anonymous
0723898
?
No.168218
168223
>>168216
Posie would just follow orders and go along with the plan. When in Rome.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168223
168227
>>168218
>>168217
There was only really one pony that Lament intended Posie to meet at first, although that's less important with Posie not living in the city. Posie is fine for some sort of mission.
Anonymous
0ab1266
?
No.168227
168229 168231
>>168223
Then I think it would be best to start the mission immediately.
Anonymous
19403af
?
No.168229
168231
>>168227
I would like to progress to the next part at the earliest convenience. Whatever works.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168231
168232
>>168229
>>168227
My schedule has freed up dramatically

I know a couple ways this could go
Anonymous
3ad5a88
?
No.168232
168234
>>168231
My schedule is not free, but I guess that's a perk of pbp.
I'll go along with whatever Lament wants, since I'm his guest.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168234
168256
>>168232
Lament continues

"As I've said, I've made connections with... a fairly diverse array of those interested in the occult, and things outside of the norm."

"But you're not really looking to make friends quite yet, are you?"
Anonymous
853faab
?
No.168256
168366 168370
>>168234
Posies checks her armor, collapses her spear, and coils her cape.
>"But you're not really looking to make friends quite yet, are you?"
"It depends what you mean by that..." Posie replies
"Although diplomacy and infiltration are the first priorities of the Dread League at this point, I had my own ambitions for travel. You see, it's rather suffocating back in Magehold under my masters' hoof, and I've been eager to test the limits of my personal powers." she says with a flat tone, checking her reflection on one of her knives
Anonymous
853faab
?
No.168257
RDT_20230726_0821315702654213937192295.jpg

Anonymous
1735312
?
No.168366
168368
>>168256
(that means she wants to kill)
Anonymous
1735312
?
No.168368
168371
KV7wf9g7.jpg
>>168366
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168370
168373
>>168256
He raises an eyebrow, and pulls his lips back in something that resembles a smile. But his facial features relax as he utters

"So I've noticed"

His expression does not quite convey disdain, but it certainly does reflect a difference in philosophy and preference on the matter
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168371
>>168368
ur silly
Anonymous
36db8a0
?
No.168373
168385
>>168370
Dungeon Master
I am giving you full permission to railroad Rosie Ring into whatever plot development you have next. Just please let me get past this conversation and maybe later get to my first encounter. I'll meet this new associate if that's what you have prepared.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168385
168386
>>168373
scrunchy

"Very well"

He pulls back
"It isn't my taste, perhaps, but it's not necessarily in every instance inadvisable."

"Among those sorcerers, and those practitioners of the occult and, shall we say, the maligned arts, who were so recently slain, there were at least five of whom I am aware. One, you've already met. Another, the leader of them, likely has police crawling over his worldly possessions. But the other three? They all lived in a particular neighborhood by the seaside. Two of those, close together."

He sits down on the couch and looks towards Posie.
"There's a stretch there of a few blocks that comprise an insular community that belongs almost entirely to a pair of clans formed by foreign immigrants. You needn't worry about police there. The police will not patrol there. They will not even respond to calls without back up, and even then, only for the most dire of cases. And the locals neither trust the police, nor consider them necessary to resolve disputes. Even the soldiers, who so readily respond to the sound of gun fire anywhere else, will not venture there. Not without armored cars. Even then, only with hesitance. The local criminal gangs are bolder, but only barely. They will do business there, but find that the blocks will not permit themselves to be ruled by any outsider.

I do not know what, if any possessions these sorcerers had that would be of any use or interest to you. But I can say almost with certainty, it hasn't left those blocks."
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168386
168387
>>168385
Posie's eyes sparkle, the apprentice magician finally getting a chance to roam free of her leash
"That... Sounds excellent! Where are these blocks?"
She fumbles with her crappy travel brochure, squinting at the text
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168387
168388
>>168386
Posie looks at the map, which reflects a grid pattern that is broken up near the shore by diagonal roads, a couple rail lines, and oddly shaped old buildings. A hoof full of old churches, schools, and manor houses stand out from the sea of apartment buildings, factories, and warehouses that line the shore, but no few blocks... until Posie can see that a portion of the inner city is circled in red as inadvisable to travel to, though it is surely much more than a few blocks.
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168388
168389 168390
>>168387
Posie gives a bit of an evil smirk, clearly not at all intimidated by the common sense red flags.
"So that's how things are around here. Quite different from Magehold, I'll say. I think it's best to reap what's left before anypony else gets there first." she says, fastening her armor

How far is it?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168389
168390
>>168388
"Oh I'm sure you won't be the first, and perhaps not even the first to know what you're looking for. Just the first from beyond the blocks. I would say perhaps twelve miles going by the highways, mostly east."
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168390
168391
>>168388
Well, obviously just in the middle of the city. I assume within galloping distance for a supernaturally fast and tireless sorceress.
Rosie Ring whirls her cape
"Shall I be off now, oh Lord Lament?"
>>168389
She nods
"I should be back before sunrise."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168391
168392
>>168390
"You don't mean to get there all by yourself, do you?" he asks
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168392
168393
>>168391
*is metaphorically chomping at the bit*
"Well, ugh, I guess I could use a ride... I wouldn't want to still be home when Gloomy wakes up." she gives a bit of an embarrassed chuckle
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168393
168394
>>168392
"I'll have Mason give you a ride. He has an idea of where it is and can take you close. Your enthusiasm is admirable, but until I know for sure you can make it past a garrison checkpoint, or avoid getting hit by traffic, and not get lost in the endless rows of near identical apartment blocks, you'd best have a guide. He won't go into the blocks with you. But he could be around if you need to make a quick getaway, or need help carrying away salvaged artifacts."
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168394
168395
>>168393
Posie nods
"Excellent. I'll meet him out front then. Until we meet again, Licorice." she gives him a coy wink and disappears into the night

And while I am absolutely stoked to play this part, my body is running on fumes. I have all of tomorrow off, if you're available any time then. I don't know what your timezone is.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168395
168396
>>168394
I'll be available tomorrow I'm just pleased that I actually have a questline with plenty of violence planned out.
Anonymous
936aeb3
?
No.168396
168398
>>168395
Whenever you're ready then.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168398
168399 168400 168409
>>168396
And then my saturday closed up quite a bit.... I'm still going to write the next bit, but I don't think I can do a continuous session util at least much later tonight

Posie makes her way outside, as Lament calls for Mason. She is surely by the black drab automobile before Mason comes out. Lament follows him out, and speaks to him near the vehicle as Mason has his hoof on the door handle.

"34th and Commanche, to say farewell to Umoya, apartment 24, and to 36th and La Fete, unit 12, to say the same to Agirê Bêdawî. Keep her away from our friends in blue and khaki, and expect quite the welcome. She's planning a Baltimare party, with plenty of fireworks. It'll be a surprise." Lament then looks to her and says "Good luck."

Mason gets in the car, and Posey has very likely already done the same.

Mason doesn't speak much, and takes Posey down the long driveway to the road, then a right turn onto a rather dark two lane road with many trees, and then right again onto a slightly better lit road.

Going towards the City, Posey drives over the same road as before to find a fairly well lit city at night, with many automobiles and carts still on the roads, and ponies trotting about. The sun has gone down, but the day is clearly not over. Mason's one unprompted remark to Posey is to have her ID ready, and to not speak or act at any check points. This actually happens sort of early, near the bridge, when the car has to stop and Posey is asked to give over her ID. But it seems to be more or less perfunctory, as the two move forward again. The city seems to be bathed in a kind of dim yellow light that colors everything, and half of the windows are lit with the same or brighter electric light as the two move along. Only the river and its embankment are completely dim (save for the occasional building). The car takes a left turn down denser streets, and moves northward
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168399
168400
>>168398
Mason continues along this street until he comes to another checkpoint, staffed by ponies in khaki uniforms who hold metal pipes that must surely be the weapons of this future the living have created, but Mason develops a sudden aversion to the checkpoint, places the car back in gear, and turns right, and gling his head to the left. He turns left and moves up, with a dark factory to the right and a row of lights in a diner to the left. Going up block further, he slows down as they pass a brick barrier. "They are walling it off" he says with some degree of astonishment and worry. He goes north a block, and then turns around to pull into a diagonal parking space on the left (now right) side of the road. He gets out and tells Posey "Come with me." He behaves a bit like a parent with a child, holding Posey's hoof if necessary. So close to Posey, Posey can tell that he is no form of undead, just a regular magical unicorn. He seems to have some aversion to the road, especially as a white and black car passes, where he places her on the opposite side of him, though the passage is uneventful. They walk towards a door, where Mason tells Posey "Here" and drags her in. It's a restaraunt in a kind of shotgun-shell design, longer back than it is wide, with the left side having tables and the left side having the bar, and he walks past a golden feathered and a white feathered griffin making his way in. He encounters a large, grey unicorn with a white mane, who is smoking a cigarette inside. His coat is a little darker than Mason's, and he is much larger.

"I need passage to Commanche." He says. The grey unicorn responds in some sort of accent Posey can tell isn't local.
"The military have started blocking it off."
"Are they planning something?" Mason asks
"Probably not, but our friends at Commanche do not know that. They are spooked, as everypony is. They think the fascists will come in and clear them out."
Mason looks back to Posey with a grave expression, as if this somehow means something.
"And what are you going over there for? I've never seen you take interest." The big unicorn asks
"To say farewell to old friends."
"You have friends there? Haha-" He cuts off, as if realizing what this means
"I see. Well be discrete, and keep your head low" He tells him
Mason says "That won't be easy" and again looks over at Posey. Then Mason looks back to him and says "And of course, we were never here"
"Of Course not." The unicorn says. "Good luck"

Mason goes past this unicorn, and to a stairway going down. He goes down it into a vaulted room with electric lighting, beige bricks, and many more dining tables. Posey may notice that it's dimensions don't quite match the upstairs, being even wider to the left, and much bigger overall. But Mason doesn't linger, and drags Posey to the back of this, through a door, and through what must be a kitchen, with several griffins working, big steel pots over gas fires, white cabinets, big sacks of onions and potatoes and so forth, and then past them, to another door that goes into a long, dark hallway. He opens this door, to find it to be the back entrance to a new weird world.

It almost looks like a mirror of the above street, but underground. It isn't quite a mirror, because while you could perhaps pull a cart through it, it is obviously for hoof traffic. To either side of the cobblestone paved pedestrian street are little business, or sometimes just a wall. To the left is a bar with plenty of noise, where Posey can see several of what she can recognize as diamond dogs. She walks past a street vendor zebra with numerous purses. Then further along, a pink earthpony mare in an aquamarine skirt smoking a cigarette says "Hey there" to Mason as he walks by. Mason says "hey" almosty absent mindedly to her as he walks by. Posey can see she has on too much makeup, and her eyeshadow is bleeding. Next to this mare is another creature Posey mare have heard about, but never seen in person - one of that scally, two-toed equiniform creatures from the far south and east. She is green with silver scales, and likewise has on too much makeup, and far more black eyeshadow. She looks "out of it."

To the left a little further up is another shop that has numerous woven baskets for sale, and a female creature inside picking them up and placing them around. Posey has never seen one of these. She's tan with brown stripes, mostly resembles a dog, and has a white head scarf that lets the ears poke up. Past this, Mason looks at the writing on a stairwell, before going up.

They enter on a street more than a little darker than the rest.
"Here, more or less."
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168400
168436
>>168398
>>168399
I apologize for the delay. I had a family emergency.
>my saturday closed up quite a bit
Oh

>"Here, more or less."
"This'll be where we part ways then, Mason." Posie says, whirling her cape
"Until next time. You needn't worry about me; I can take care of myself."

I guess this is the part where I roll a check to get where I'm going?
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168401
168402
Rosie Ring herself seems quite fascinated by all the views around her, the hustle and bustle of still-breathing bodies unlike anything she would have experienced in Magehold. While failing to hide a bit of her bloodthirst enthusiasm at first, she keeps an uncannily calm and almost impervious expression: like that of a mare who believes she's invincible.
"Now, let's see if this new country is worth conquest." She says, to herself, as she trots down the lane

I guess I'll roll the gather information skill to find my way to my destination. It serves as survival in urban areas, if I recall correctly.
[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21]
And a search check, for anything out of the ordinary that I might be interested in (secret passages, clues, etc)
[1d20+5 = (13+5) = 18]
I'll also roll a separate check to find any leads related to my target, by asking around for anyone who might be able to help out a poor, defenseless mare such as myself.
[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21]
And a bluff check, to maintain a low profile
[1d20+12 = (4+12) = 16]
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168402
>>168401
Pardon, the third check was also gather information
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168403
168404 168435 168436
To keep this smooth, I'm going to roll all of the checks I want right here
Untrained knowledge (local) to see what I might know about this neighborhood:
[1d20+3 = (2+3) = 5]
Knowledge [Arcana] to see what I might know about the magical traditions, practices or preferences of mages local to this area, that might clue me into where they would lair.
[1d20+9 = (12+9) = 21]
And last but not least, Religion, to recall any forms of undead that I might encounter in this area, in addition to insight on local traditions of necromancy (such as Voodoo, as referenced earlier)
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13]

Rosie darts around the street as discreetly as she can, with most of her body obscured by her cloak. The golden glow of her eyes can be seen darting left and right, searching for her charge like predator prowling in the night.
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168404
168405
1610221__semi-dash-grimdark_rainbow+dash_twilight+sparkle_pegasus_pony_unicorn_-fwslash-mlp-fwslash-_4chan_black+hole_blood_brainlet_crying_meme_unicorn+twiligh.png
>>168403
>tfw you fail a common knowledge check
In reflection of her background, Posie has absolutely no idea what this strange new world is like. She wouldn't recognize a stoplight of she saw one.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168405
168406
>>168404
Don't worry, you get used to failing rolls eventually
Anonymous
5fe6bde
?
No.168406
168407
>>168405
Hi
Haven't seen you around recently
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168407
168408
>>168406
I've been around, waiting patiently and seeing what the other game frens are doing.
Anonymous
566c371
?
No.168408
Soulblight-Vampire-Lord.jpg
>>168407
I might get to kill something soon, and maybe find some cool treasure along the way. I am excited.
Anonymous
566c371
?
No.168409
>>168398
>much later tonight
How late are we talking about?
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168435
3x07_Glowing_eyes_scott_gold_to_red.gif
>>168403
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168436
168437 168438 168446
The Waterfront.jpg
>>168400
Posey can tell the feeling from Mason is mutual.
“Sure thing. Remember: 34 and Comanche, apartment 24 for Umoya, and 36th and La Fete, unit 12, for Agire. I’ll go see if those mares back there need any help.”

Left alone on the street, Posey finds that there are a number of creatures are up and about. Just as Posey prefers the night to the day, so too do these creatures. They walk on the sidewalks, congregate en masse at their open bars, or take down laundry from the open windows of their illuminated tenement rooms. Posie has never seen anything like these creatures. They are vaguely canine in appearance, like giant wild dogs, dingoes, or coyotes, with unkempt brown fur and hunched backs as they walk on all fours. But for their mimicry of living pony behavior, Posie would assume these were dangerous wild beasts that wondered deep into the city, albeit in frighteningly massive numbers. But their clothing and occupation of decrepit and antique apartment buildings and storefronts, as well as their drab foreign cloaks and alien spoken yap-like language, conveys with certainty that they belong to some ancient, sapient, if perhaps questionably “civilized,” race.

>gather information; leads
The locals do not seem to care for Posey, nor for any defenseless mare. Most pay her no attention, but more than one stares at her with golden eyes that reflect in the night. Posey cannot at this moment discern either predatory glee or fearful suspicion in their eyes; but what she can see that they recognize her as a new and foreign element to their neighborhood, and they keep vigil.

Yet Posey's attempts are not without success. Posey sees a middle aged white pegasus standing on the top of a stairs by a narrow rowhouse behind her. He speaks with an accent like the owner of the restaurant.

"You've entered onto La Fete, a little south of the corner with 35th street. That unit 12 is a town house about a block north. It's to your right. It's actually not on La Fete, but to the right on the north side. Agire was pretty prominent in the community here, for the Kaftar at least. I think he was a priest in Kaftaria, came in with that big group that fled after the Storm King was defeated. I think he was a collaborator, but what do I know. He was certainly a priest here. He was killed recently; it has the Kaftar all riled up.

Commache is a block further west. In front you. To get to 34th, I'd go left. That's a big apartment building; right on the corner. One they built when they raised the street level and rebuilt all of these blocks. It's ancient now, and frankly deserves to be condemned. Many of these blocks have fallen to Tartarus or were shelled in the revolt and haven't been rebuilt. Umoya was Crocutta I think. I knew her even less, but I know she came in with a group from elsewhere in the city. They say the police wanted her, but the Crocutta wouldn't allow it. She was supposedly a teacher, but really she was some sort of witch doctor."

>out of the ordinary
At the moment, there seems to be a kind of excess of information, and little means to interpret it. Posey has pretty good reason to believe that secret passages exist, including entrances to buildings, alleys, courtyards, and underground sections.

>bluff
Posey appears as a regular magical unicorn, although such a thing seems a little less regular than elsewhere in the city.

>>168403
>local knowledge
Posey doesn't know shit
>Knowledge
Posey knows that Equestrian magical traditions tend pretty overwhelmingly to center on the study of Unicorn magic, which is friendly to multiple fields of study.
>Religion and Undead
Equestrian religion centers on the idea of "Harmony," a natural order of things where in every part of the universe has a given role, and that moral virtue can be found in relationships with other ponies. Moral virtue and magic are linked in a greater weave of the universe. Necromancy and the undead are generally frowned upon in this wider religion and are seen as deviations from it.

>predator prowling in the night
Does Posey think that she is the lone, apex predator? Has she forgotten where she is? The living invented killing. The living invented death. They invented the concept of predation. They were to the first to look upon a corpse, freshly slain, rotten, or still wriggling with the last lingering remnants of life, with hungry eyes and watering mouths. Life defies entropy only by maximizing it, by trading its own death for the death of another in a ponzi scheme that lasts until it doesn't. The creatures Posey has found here are the result of a long line of predators or perhaps carrion eaters, who have been killing and eating corpses in the night since at least the beginning of this worldly cycle, and perhaps longer. Posey is not alone.
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168437
168442
ltis7fow6q9a1.jpg
>>168436
>Just as Posey prefers the night to the day, so too do these creatures.
Sounds like a nice neighborhood. Maybe I'll buy a condo here.
>Posie would assume these were dangerous wild beasts that wondered deep into the city
"They can't possibly be worse than Lord Vile's wolves..." Posie whispers to herself, gritting her fangs at an unpleasant memory
>some sort of witch doctor
Interesting lead
>Does Posey think that she is the lone, apex predator?
I cannot overstate Posey's hubris. She believes she is the chosen one destined to bring ruin to this world and all it's pathetic creatures (pic related). She is immune to fear and acts like it.
She airs on the side of caution though, not wanting her crusade to be cut short before it begins.
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168438
168442
>>168436
Posey makes her way towards the indicated destination, galloping at her full speed without rest (hustle speed x 2).
>Equestrian religion centers on the idea of "Harmony," a natural order of things where in every part of the universe has a given role, and that moral virtue can be found in relationships with other ponies.
Are ponies in Equestria usually good-aligned?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168442
168444
>>168437
>>168438
You're going to have to be more interactive with the objective than "indicated destination." As you've hopefully noticed, there are not one, but two locations of interest, each nearby but in opposite directions.

Equestrian culture presents itself as valuing and promoting goodness. How well the ponies live up to this ideal, or even value it, is an empirical question.
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168444
168451 168474
>>168442
Pardon, I misunderstood.

I think I'll go to LA Feta first. It seems like the more dangerous option, but if the priest was killed recently enough for the Kaftar to still be riled up his grave should be worth robbing. Also, I'm kind of itching for a fight.
"Kaftar" makes me think these creatures are gnoll-like monsters, and in d&d gnoll clerics are some of the monster powerful and feared necromancers.
If that doesn't work out, I'll head over to Commanche and see what the deal was with the witch doctor, if I haven't been eaten by hyenas.
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168446
168447 168451 168474
>>168436
>They are vaguely canine in appearance, like giant wild dogs, dingoes, or coyotes, with unkempt brown fur and hunched backs as they walk on all fours.
I take it these are the Kaftars?
I guess I'll make a religion roll to see what I might be able to expect from the temple or home of a Kaftar priest:
[1d20+9 = (2+9) = 11]
Anonymous
d6c4b2a
?
No.168447
>>168446
Not much...
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168451
168458 168471 168474
>>168444
>>168446
Posie knows only this: that the Kaftar, like a majority of Zebrican cultures, place spiritual entities as the objects of their worship. That is to say that they worship gods, unlike the Equestrian or Kirin religions, which see the divine essence as permeating the universe.

I'm not sure how much I can describe tonight in the locations, as an event irl that occurred earlier has kind of deflated me
Anonymous
b031ed9
?
No.168458
>>168451
>an event irl that occurred earlier has kind of deflated me
No hard feelings. Real life takes priority over games. No point in playing if you're not feeling well.
Anonymous
03f9323
?
No.168467
Undead-Army-3200px.jpg
il_570xN.4123916084_qlk1.jpg
undead-army-by-muhammet-feyyaz-3zk4jpmh7c.jpg
des3okf-28a12e0c-c0cf-431d-af31-915fe072f5e1.jpg
undead_army_by_herocollector16_dco419m-fullview.jpg
"Maybe some day..."
Anonymous
294d845
?
No.168471
168472
1465423__safe_female_pony_oc_mare_oc+only_earth+pony_cute_looking+at+you_human_open+mouth_tongue+out_filly_floppy+ears_offscreen+character_hug_prone_.png
1461218__safe_pony_oc_oc+only_window_nom_zombie_undead_wood_artist-colon-neuro_zombie+pony.png
1465442__safe_solo_female_pony_oc_mare_oc+only_simple+background_smiling_earth+pony_cute_white+background_colored+pupils_face+down+ass+up_eyes+on+the.png
>>168451
Is DM poner okay?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168472
1506055721033-2.png
>>168471
Yes, am here. I should be available most of the weekend (I think). I should have the next part up soon
Anonymous
3e0d972
?
No.168473
cachedImage.png

Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168474
168476
>>168446
>>168451
>>168444
The night is bathed in a dim, yellow light from numerous street lights, which are a bit too far away from one another to completely illuminate the sidewalks. Posie looks at the small, rectangular green street signs assuming she isn't color blind, which I'm really wondering if she may be, and sees that she has come upon the intersection of La Fete (the street she is on the right sidewalk of now, travelling north) and 34th (which intersects perpendicularly with La Fete). Looking forward, on the corner, Posie can see that there is a brightly lit location that seems to be a diner, with many creatures in it. Posie can smell meat - hard to tell whether it is fresh or rotten - coming from it. Turning right, Posie can see that there are a few more of these creatures walking about. Not many, but a few. Posie thinks more are female, some wearing headdresses and some not, but it isn't easy to tell with the low light, the distance, and Posie's complete indifference. She can feel a slight breeze, though blocked by the factory, that makes the air feel like a cool autumn day, if only she could forget it's the night in the middle of winter. Past this block, Posie can see that 34th dead ends in a tall, dimly lit manufactory with a high roof. It's one single building past the corner block that Posie comes upon the first location - a tenement building only 30 or so feet wide, and four stories tall, with dark brown, weathered bricks. Posie actually has to step down to enter through the unlocked front door. There are mail slots at the entry, a narrow hallway, and closed, locked doors to either side along these brick walls. The first door right there on the first floor is her destination - unit twelve.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168476
168477 168478
>>168474
>assuming she isn't color blind, which I'm really wondering if she may be
She's not..dark vision is color blind, but lights shouldn't be an issue.
>unlocked front door
Posey feels relieved she doesn't have to confront her irrational phobia of entering buildings uninvited today.
>The first door right there on the first floor is her destination - unit twelve.
She readies her unholy symbol beneath her cloak, and enters the unit.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168477
168478
>>168476
Posies counts her various weapons to ensure they're all there (spear, bow, knife) before she enters, ready for a potential fight.

She enters stealthily, not wanting to alert the locals before she makes her move. Her little white hooves prowl gently on the floor, stepping softly and slowly. I will roll her Move Silently skill to sneak in:
[1d20+9 = (18+9) = 27]

She scans the floor, the ceiling, and all surrounding structures to search for anything unusual (objects, traps, etc). Search.
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]

Her golden eyes glow in the darkness, as she looks around for any hidden creatures. Spot.
[1d20+4 = (5+4) = 9]
And flicks her cute little pony ears in a manner not unlike a bat, listening for any movement. Listen.
[1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15]

(So silly how perception is three different skills in 3.5e...)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168478
168479 168481
>>168476
>>168477
I'm sorry if it wasn't clarified - the building is a multi-unit apartment. The door to the common area of the tenement building is unlocked. The door to the apartment itself - unit 12 - is locked.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168479
168480 168483
>>168478
.......
"... Okay, Posey. You can do this. A door can stop you..."
Posey takes her mace out ready to break down the door, but then her eye gives a twitches, she shudder, and....
She forms a fist with her magic, and politely knocks on the door first.
(Gotta roleplay her flaws)
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168480
>>168479
Meant to say "can't stop you", but I guess the irony sticks anyway.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168481
>>168478
Does she get any reply after knocking?
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168482
(I didn't think I would get a response so soon. I can play for the remainder of the day if you want)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168483
168484
>>168479
Oh, but they can, little pony. Posey was right not to trust doors. This particular one seems to be made out of a few boards of very old wood. It has a large crack running through it, is discolored at points, seems water damaged, and the most recent coat of verdigris blue-green paint is starting to peel off.

At first, Posey hears nothing. Then she hears shifting inside of the room. She may consider knocking again, until a slot on the door is moved, and she can see a pair of brown eyes looking back at her through the slot.

"Who is there?" She hears in labored ponish, and barely made out through a thick accent.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168484
168485 168487
>>168483
Posey curses her vampiric compulsions silently.

With her hood still over her head, she fabricates a lie, playing to the superstitious culture of the kaftars
"Necrologist. A B-class haunt has been detected in these chambers, and it's imperative that any cursed items in these chambers be disposed of properly to to keep the curse from spreading." she speaks softly but sternly, in a formal sounding voice

Rolling bluff, to influence whatever answered the door into letting me in
[1d20+12 = (4+12) = 16]

She goes on, her voice turning dire
"Something has died here recently... And yet it lingers. You are in grave danger!"
And intimidate, to spook them into anxiety-driven compliance
[1d20+11 = (19+11) = 30]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168485
168486 168487
>>168484
Opposed. She gets a buff for xenophobia:
[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13]
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168486
168487
>>168485
Posey looks the kaftar dead in the eyes, her golden eyes glowing in the dim light.
"You feel it, don't you? Something is stirring. Time is of the essence."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168487
168488
>>168485
>>168484
>>168486
With fear, the creature responds

"Nothing has died here recently" But the sentence is said without conviction, not so much because it's asserter knows it to be false, but because she is uncertain of the truth herself. But Posey can hear a lock turned on the door, and a latched undone. The door opens. Posey can see that the creature is female, has a light coat beige, almost white coat striped with black stripes, though most of her body is covered with a thin, white robe. Her legs are thin relative to the body, and tipped in brown paws. Her somewhat muzzle is black, and the top of her head is that light brown, with triangular ears. All in all the creature has the appearence of some ersatz wild dog, and is around about typical of the "Kaftars" she has seen. Her mouth opens slightly to reveal browned, partly broken but certain sharp carnivorous teeth, and her eyes, reflective of the yellow light behind Posey, remain locked onto her, showing clear fear. If she does not fully believe Posey, she at least takes it seriously.

"What... what is a haunt?"
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168488
168489
>>168487
>what is a haunt?
"Something that lingers from beyond the grave. Perhaps it could be from a grudge of one who died restlessly, or a curse set on a soul who dealt with powers beyond their control in life; it could even be the a geas from a great spirit furious with events that came to pass in the area. A haunt can come from many places, but it's always a menace to the living...." Posey says, truthfully
She lowers her hood, revealing her face
"But you know that already, don't you, madame? I'm sure you've felt something... restless, tugging at you recently? A presence, an emptiness, a chill? Something tugging at your very soul, spreading around the neighborhood like a blight, rooted deep into the earth..." she says, playing to the kaftar's fear
"Tell me, what is it that happened here?"

Gotta drive someone somewhere. Will be out for 15 minutes before I can reply.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168489
168490 168494
>>168488
When the dam breaks, it brings a flood:
"I - I - My husband, he died recently, he would do things with those he worshiped with. Rituals. I do not know what he did with them, they did not let me watch, but I think it may have left spirits. And then he had a dispute with a young kaftar who challenged him. I think it happened here, I do not know. I do not know exactly what happened... and then before we came, I do not know what has happened here. I have always heard noises. I do think things have happened here. And much has happened in the neighborhood-"
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168490
168491
>>168489
Posey gives a knowing nod
"These matters are complicated, but they can be resolved with proper expertise. May I come in?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168491
168492 168493
>>168490
"Yes, of course" She moves to the left, and gives room for Posey to enter.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168492
168493 168495
>>168491
Posey enters, taking in the room around her.

Gotta go again. 10 minutes.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168493
>>168492
Back
>>168491
What does the inside of the room look like?
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168494
168495
>>168489
>And much has happened in the neighborhood-
>I have always heard noises.
Posey's gaslighting/burglary campaign is derailed by her curiosity in encountering what might be an actual haunt, a twinkle shines in her eye.
"There is much work to be done then. Let's take things one hoof at a time. You said much has happened in the neighborhood: have your neighbors noticed anything unusual?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168495
168496
>>168492
Looking into the room, Posey can see that she is looking into what must be a living room. The first thing that must be understood is that this is not a manor house; the room is fairly small and cramped. There is a couch that has dark green cushions that are a bit old, and definitely dishvelled and out of place. There is a pair of pillows on the couch, and a blanket. On the floor are a items of clothing, mostly fairly simple robe-like articles of either green or white color. There is a coffee table to the left of the couch, which has an electric lamp, an empty candle holder, a ceramic cup, a plate, and a couple pieces of mail.

But the real prize is when Posie turns back to look at the wall towards where she came in. Posie sees a book shelf with a number of books, many of them with simple brown bindings, a statue of a Peacock painted green that is above it (presumably ceramic, hard to tell), an incense holder that is pretty nice looking and presumably silver, and to left of the door, a simple brown canvas with one, two, three, four, five, six brown Kaftar eyes, three each to the side of a display of peacock feathers. The wall to the left of the entrance has a window to the outside with closed curtains, and to the right is a door going to another room. The floor is wooden with a few stains, and the ceiling is somehow even more stained, pained a simple white.

>>168494
"No, I, I don't believe so. The building here is old. The water has not worked all of the time. They have complained of screams, yes, but I do not know what that has to do with this."
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168496
168497 168498
>>168495
Posey trots over to the book shelf and appraises the items on it:
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12]
She reads the titles of any books on the shelves, judging their contents. Can she make out their contents? Posey reads abyssal, infernal, and griffon.

"You said your husband did rituals with his fellow worshippers. Where exactly did he conduct them?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168497
168499
>>168496
Nothing on that shelf is in Griffin. Actually... that's not true. One seems to be a history book about Griffinheim predating the Grover dynasty. There is a ponish book, "The survival of the witch cult in Western Griffonia," and then one, two, three in some other language that Posey is not familiar with. But what likely is of the most interest is a phrase written in Infernal: "The Seven Mysteries" on one of the books

>>168496
"Well.... Most of what he did he did not do here. He was either at the temple or at that that building on the water. All he did here was prayer. I think. I think all he did here was prayer. It would be here. In the living room."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168498
>>168496
>appraisal
Hard to say, but these books, that statue, and that incense holder are very clearly well above the value of the other items in the room, and well above the value of items you would generally expect someone living in these accommodations to be able to afford.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168499
168500
>>168497
Interesting books.

"In the living room... And these-" Posey points a hoof towards the various shelf items
"Were these part of his prayers? They might need to be... sanctified." she lifts the incense burner and sniffs it lightly
"If he was conducting his rituals at the temple, I might have to visit there..."
She turns to the kaftar
"What are the burial practices of your neighborhood? Considering your husband's... Profession, I would assume he was near the center of it. Did he have anyone to oversee his passing?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168500
168501
>>168499
"Oh. Yes. Well, not most of the time. But some of the time. Yes."
Posey can smell that it most certainly has been used for incense

"The city gave back his body the day before yesterday. We had to fight them over it. There is a plot outside of the town where we are allowed to bury the dead, but we bury many in the crypts below the temple." Her eyes dart and she bursts out "I was not supposed to say that. The city does not let us bury the dead within the city."
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168501
168502
>>168500
>muh zoning laws
Posey clicks her tongue in empathetic annoyance.
"You have nothing to worry about, ma'am. I don't work for the city." Poise replies, getting a bit cocky
"Was your husband buried in city's plot, or was he buried in the temple? What is your temple like?"

I came here to kill civilians, rob graves and desecrate the dead, but scamming and old widow out of her husband's antiques feels beneath me, too easy... I could probably just kill her and get away with it, but let's see how deep the rabbit hole goes first.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168502
168503 168504
>>168501
"He-"

The kaftar is interrupted by a voice coming from Posey's left, coming through the door from the other room. Posey sees another kaftar, a male, larger, and wearing a fitting green shirt, walk through. He has on a white turban that covers his hears and goes down the back of his neck, though some of a long, black "mane" pokes through. He speaks, clearly indignant.

"Who are you? What are you doing in her apartment?"
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168503
168504
>>168502
I have to go again. Sorry. I'll come up with a suitable response in ~20 minutes
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168504
168505
>>168503
Back
>>168502
Posey turns towards the male, putting down the incense gently
"I am a Necrologist, here to investigate traces of a haunt in this area." She says
"Are you a relative of this madame here? The male of the household?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168505
168509
>>168504
"I am Sevberk, her late husband's brother. We do not need any help with a 'Haunt'." He answers. He is a little calmer, but seems offended by Posey's prescence
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168506
168507
>>167628
Silver Sword is joined by his son Spectral Streak, the white pegasus officer, Azelea Bloom, an Orange pony, a purple pony, and two medics, one cream, the other grey. Bloom and the orange pony are wounded, but bandaged. All have either Jenny battle rifles or submachine guns.

Silver sees nothing preventing him from crossing. He is ready. He thinks he hears music of an old patriotic song playing, though he knows not from where. A cloud passes, and the short road between them almost glows reflecting the spring morning light.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168507
168508
>>168506
Then cross they shall! Silver leads the charge, and they should hurry lest anyling starts firing upon them.

"Go go go go go!"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168508
168513
>>168507
The ponies cross the concrete road, and line up against the side of the transit ministry building. There are many windows a little above ground level, some already shattered. No doors are especially close.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168509
168510 168511
>>168505
"Ah, so you are the male of the house. Pardon me, I should have addressed you first."
>We do not need any help with a 'Haunt'
"Are you certain about that? Haunts are serious business if left untreated, especially with improper burials." Poise implores
Rolling bluff to influence him
[1d20+12 = (6+12) = 18]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168510
168511 168512
>>168509
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHC1230OpOg&pp=ygUXYXJlIHlvdSBzdXJlIGFib3V0IHRoYXQ%3D

"I was in the wash preparing to do chores before my shift starts." He adds. "I'm helping her stay on her paws."

Opposed: [1d20+4 = (10+4) = 14] Xenophobia boost
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168511
168512
>>168509
>>168510
Posie can see his turban move down as his ears move back and down.

"My brother did not leave easy... She needs to be secure"
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168512
168514
>>168510
"What a good brother you are, looking out for your brother's widow. How honorable." Posey says with a flattering tone
>>168511
>"My brother did not leave easy... She needs to be secure"
"Then let's make sure of that." Posey says
"Can you tell me anything about how your brother died, where he was buried, or what he was up to before he passed? It could help the whole neighborhood get over this much sooner."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168513
168514
>>168508
Are the windows low enough for Silver to peak into?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168514
168515 168519
>>168512
He stands there silently for a moment as Posey talks, and again seems a bit calmer. All the same he replies to Posey's questions with a laugh "Heh, if you did not know the answers to those questions already, you would not have known to come here. Tell me. Who sent you, pony?"

>>168513
Yes.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168515
168516
>>168514
Then that's exactly what Silver does. He wants to make sure they're not going to jump directly into a trap, after all.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168516
168517
>>168515
Silver looks inside to find.... an almost completely empty room. There is a desk. But that's it. No chair, no clocks, no bookshelf, no potted plants, no cat posters. It's an empty office with one single item of furniture. The walls, while a shade of white, are oddly more pleasant than the whitewashed walls of yesteryear as he remembers them, having a slightly yellowish tint that makes them closer to ecru than true white.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168517
168518
>>168516
Ecru...it reminds him of a certain pony he met long ago...

Can the window be opened from the outside?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168518
168521
>>168517
No.

If there ever was an ecru pony, he is not by Silver's side here in this war.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168519
168520 168524
>>168514
"I only know that he is a priest, he is dead, and that there's been issues since." Posey clarifies
"I come from a third party that operates outside the jurisdictions of the city, sent by a higher up of associates of my profession. I would tell you more but... I'd have to kill you." She says with a shrug
"Nevertheless, do I believe our interests coincide."
She whirls her cape
"I go by Rosie Ring. Why don't we be friends?" she extends a hoof
Diplomacy check
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168520
168521 168523 168524
50px-Xenophobe.png
>>168519
Opposed
[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168521
168524
>>168518
Hmmmm...assuming it's locked, is there any way to unlatch the window?

>>168520
Fanatic Xenophilia wins the day
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168522
168524
I should specify, unlatch it from Silver's side
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168523
168524
>>168520
I didn't think Diplomacy checks were opposed, but I think I just won.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168524
168525 168529
IMG_4496.jpg
>>168519
>>168520
Equestria is not unique among the nations for valuing friendship, but it is certainly exceptional as the land where friendship is very literally, magic. Posey feels something like a magical spark as the kaftar male raises his paw, grabs Posey's hoof, and shakes it. The pads of his paw are soft, with short and blunt, obviously trimmed claws. He's a bit firm. He himself looks down to his paw and her hoof with surprise.

"Sevbêrk" He answers

>>168521
>>168522
It cannot be opened from the outside, no.

>>168523
It was supposed to represent distrust of outsiders
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168525
168526
>>168524
Okay, next question: if they were to bash out the glass from the window, would the opening be big enough for each of the party members?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168526
168527
>>168525
>>168525
Only if they went one at a time
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168527
168528
>>168526
That can be done. He points at the other windows that are nearby.

"I need to break this window for us to get in. See if you can break some others as well so changelings do not know from sound which one we came in from."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168528
168530
>>168527
The ponies abide. The white pegasus shatters a window with the butt of his Jenny rifle, while the orange pony moves down before crashing in one with his submachine gun. Spectral Streak goes the opposite direction, past Silver, to crash in a window. There's another roar as the planes pass overhead again, in the other direction.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168529
168531
>>168524
Posey shakes the kaftar's paw, glad the message has gotten through to him.
"Now, why don't you tell me a bit more about your brother?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168530
168531
>>168528
Silver meanwhile bashes in his own window and works quickly to clear it of any broken glass shards. Nopony wants to get torn to shreads before any fighting happens, after all.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168531
168532 168533
>>168529
"My brother Agire was very spiritual, and very attuned with the angels. He was very strong, and a leader of the community as a priest. He made friends with the others in the city as well. What do you want to know?"

>>168530
Slam the butt of the Jenny through (slightly harder with its bullpup configuration, but still possible, though it works better with the Grim or the Strange), then use the butt to clear the broken glass at the bottom. It is done.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168532
168534
>>168531
"What happened to him in the past couple weeks? How did he die, and where was he buried?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168533
168534
>>168531
Silver whistles to the others that the window is ready, and he climbs through first. He keeps his gun (currently the Strange) at the ready for any changeling interlopers.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168534
168535 168536
>>168532
Sevberk blinks, and stands silently for a moment before answering Posie. He has a someone hushed and deflated tone.

"He was meeting with a group that called themselves 'The Society,' lead by a pony and a griffin just a little south of here. It was a religious gathering. Not of our faith, but Agire was very spiritual and would sometimes be present for the rituals of other faiths. He was there when mercenaries sent by customs from the fascists raided, and they killed him. He was stabbed several times. The police took the corpse, and after I petitioned them, gave the corpse to us. We had a ritual in the temple, and sealed him away in a cellar under the courtyard behind the temple."

>>168533
Silver goes through to again find that it's a fairly spacious empty office. Most likely it's meant for multiple workers, as it's a little long and has several windows. The ponies come through, until finally all eight ponies (counting Silver) are inside. Silver hasn't seen any changelings yet. Unless the desk is a changeling. But changelings can't disguise themselves as desks. Can they?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168535
168537
>>168534
No...surely not. At least, that's what Silver hopes...

"Alright ponies, if they have bomb, my guess it is in basement. Let us find stairs, probably towards center of building. Follow me."
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168536
168537
>>168534
Posey nods knowingly
"Your brother had friends in far places, but it looks as though that ran him into trouble. You have my sympathies. It's not easy working in his profession in these trying times."
"Where was he when he was meeting with 'The Society'? Was he handling any objects that might've been supernatural or mystic at the time?" she implores
"Lastly, with your permission, would like to examine the condition of his grave below the temple, to see if there's any signs of a haunt."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168537
168538 168539
>>168535
Silver looks out through the door to find... a hallway. This is actually slightly blue tinted, rather than yellow tinted. The hallway continues straight in either direction, though to his left, it turns off to the right, apparently going deeper into the building.

>>168536
"He was at the old building where many of their immigrant members lived at 33 Hoebuck Street. I do not know if he was handling any items."

Posey can hear the female Kaftar lightly sobbing. Sevberk slowly walks towards her, sits next to her, and places a foreleg over her.

"It is sensible but... these areas are off limits, especially to ponies."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168538
168540
>>168537
That is the direction Silver follows: left, then right.
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168539
168540 168544
>>168537
I came here to rob these guys, now I feel kinda bad...

"Well, I do respect your customs, but I press you to reconsider. I'm not an average pony, afterall, and I have some respect for your brother's profession. I am skilled in this trade, and I believe I could deal with whatever restless spirit may be bothering your neighborhood. Just a look around; I'll be gone by the end of the night."
Rolling bluff to goad them into consideration
[1d20+12 = (7+12) = 19]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168540
168541 168543 168544
>>168539
I'mma roll opposed. But Posey has worn down their xenophobia
[1d20+2 = (16+2) = 18]

>>168538
When Silver turns, he passes an office, and then to a set of glass doors and large glass windows with a view to outside. Silver can see that to either side of this hallway is a courtyard, with light shining through
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168541
168544
>>168540
Friendship win!
Anonymous
0660b14
?
No.168542
I have just been informed that I'll have to get up at 5:30 tomorrow, so I'm not going to be able to explore the crypt tonight.
It's been interesting this session though. I'm looking forward to the next developments with these NPCs.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168543
168834
>>168540
"Those are not stairs."

Confused, Silver looks around to see if there are handy maps of the building located on the walls, for a pony as lost as he is.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168544
168545
>>168539
>>168540
>>168541
Posey can sense some hesitation from him. The ears go down again. He is silent for a moment, before answering

"You are not Kaftar and you have not lived here. You do not understand...

Agire's soul has been transported to the Beyond by the Angel. He has preceeded both his heavenly brother and his mentor, and he now waits in the Beyond for them to join him, and they wait to be born again with the rebirth of the world. The body he had in life is now simply rotting meat. We Kaftar understand this better than almost anyone. Better than you ponies, to be sure.

But you must understand. We have almost nothing to ourselves in this strange land. Nothing to set aside as sacred. We have no special cemetery, and even our temple is an old pony church. This one old pony wine cellar, where we may bury our dead upright, facing towards the North Star, sealed away and awaiting the rebirth of the world... is one of few places that is our own.

My brother was killed by ponies. Pony customs agents. Our homes have been burst into multiple times by pony soldiers, and pony police, looking for weapons and fugitives. When I first saw you, you looked like a utilities worker or debt collector, or other agent from the city, here to harass my brother's widow.

Di Bin Milyaketan is the chief priest of our religion here. He was Agire's mentor, and was supposed to be succeeded by Agire. He is bonded by ritual to Agire as his heavenly mentor, and was supposed to preceed Agire to the beyond, and wait for him there. He will not be happy to see a snooping pony enter into his temple, through the old crypts and to the illegal burial chamber beyond.

I could help you. But he will not easily allow it."
Anonymous
aa09950
?
No.168545
168546 168551
>>168544
I am questioning why I came to this place... I guess I was looking for treasure and a fight.
>Di Bin Milyaketan is the chief priest
Well, there's some useful information. I kind of doubt there's that much treasure to be had in the crypts. These guys are broke.
If I had 340 go for two holy arrows I could try to bring the priest back, but I don't think his wife would like that... Still a fun idea though.

Posey considers the above thoughts. She ponders silently for a moment, ruffles her chest fluff, and bows her head.
"You've been more than hospitable for a stranger such as myself. I'm sure your brother Agire was a very talented spiritualist, and it's a great shame that he joined the dead before realizing his potential. If what you say was true, I doubt he would have been one to bother his family from beyond the grave.."
She raises her head
"Take care, Sevberk. These are trying times, but I'm sure you and your people have a place somewhere somehow. Equestria is changing, war is on the horizon, changelings are swarming, and something much darker is on the horizon..."
Her face suddenly shifts to something a bit less charming. Her pleasant smile twists into a wolf-like snarl, her rosey cheeks turn palsy with clammy black veins, and her majestic golden eyes look cloudy like those of a dead fish, sunken in their sockets; for a brief moment, she looks truly monstrous. She sneers, and the moment is over as soon as it began.
"...Something is coming, and your brother knew of it, as well as the role he and his people would play. Perhaps he still has a role to play beyond the gray, or even here on the mortal plane. Wait for that time, when your kind will know your calling in this land." she whirls her cape, and turns, fiddling with something beneath her cloak
"I won't torment the two of you any longer. Take good care of your sister in law, Sevberk. There's much stirring in these parts. Rumor has it that the city may be walling-off this district soon."

As she slowly walks away, she levitates back a small object:
It's a clump of sealing wax, stamped with her unholy symbol: the mark of the Dread League.
"A token of our friendship. Your brother was lost helping strangers with their ambitions, people in my profession. It's beyond my powers to undue what was done, but the least I can do is extend our friendship to you. It means that we.. or at least I, owe your kind a favor. Keep it or discard it as you please. Crumble it up if the mercenaries of the city threaten you for it." she floats the wax seal to him as she opens the door to leave
"I'll give your temple a visit if there's anything to be concerned of, but it seems as though this is where we part ways. Until next time, Sevberk, oh faithful hound."
Anonymous
aa09950
?
No.168546
Dread_League (1).png
>>168545
Forgot the mark
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168551
168553
>>168545
I mean I would hope it's at least a little interesting

He listens, looking to Posey with his dark brown eyes. At first, he simply takes it in. Then, he nods. Then, he is confused. And though the confusion does not fade, he moves ever so slightly back in fear, and in recognition that something far darker and more menacing is alluded to, though he cannot fathom what. He takes the wax seal, and looks down to it in his open paw, as his mouth opens slight. The female too, looks over in curiosity, quite content to keep that small sliver of distance between herself and Posey, and that cryptic wax seal she left behind. Sevberk looks away from the wax seal and back towards Posey, his mouth still hanging ever so slightly open. He watches her leave, still dumbstruck. He starts to say "I am not a hou-" as Posey closes the door.
Anonymous
ad93e40
?
No.168553
168704
>>168551
Oh, it's definitely interesting. Much more intrigue than I expected. I think I might give the priest a visit some other time to see what connection he might've had to the league. It's just that Posey would have figured out that there's little reward in attacking to these people or plundering these parts, and there's little she could do to help except overthrow society (which she intends to eventually) if she wanted to, so she may as well leave. I intended to roleplay Posey as a self-serving, sadistic and ruthless monster, but there's little to be gained from turning violent here aside from some books and a silver statue, and I doubt I'd level from the fight; so I gave them a hook to potentially meet again in the future, and took the opportunity to act a little scary.
I sort of assumed this was your intention. If there's a major plot hook that I missed that you want me to follow, don't be shy to tell me.
*closes door*
"Well, that's that. I think I'll give that witch doctor a visit before the night is over." Posey says to herself, as she tosses her mane, swishes her tail, whirls her cloak and trots off into the night (looking deceptively adorable as she patters about on her little hoofsies)
Anonymous
ad93e40
?
No.168555
168704
Posey notes the kaftar clergy as a potential ally of the Dread League, and makes her way towards the tartarian depths of Commanche.
Anonymous
934f335
?
No.168625
168694
IMG_1988.gif
I am out on horse-related business this weekend, and so will likely not be able to play, at least beyond one or two posts, until at least Sunday night
Anonymous
85ff5ba
?
No.168646
[dead horse noises]
Anonymous
c50ff39
?
No.168694
168704
>>168625
What about this week?
Anonymous
5638ae5
?
No.168698
168704
Hey, DM, could Posey search behind any of these Kaftar shops to get enough bones to form a skeleton?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168704
168705
>>168694
I'm at least home, though work has been awful

>>168698
She can try.

>>168555
>>168553
Posey exits the apartment, and then the tenement building, back onto 34th street. The air is only marginally cooler than in the apartment, and that difference is explained by the breeze that makes its way past the manufactory and onto the street. Posey can hear the sounds of distant talking, of idling diesel engines, of automobiles passing through roadways, of machines opening and closing, and the beating of drums in some alien musical performance somewhere nearby. Posey can make out the smell of meat, though further details about its nature elude her. A cloud obscuring the light of the waning gibbous moon moves out of the way, providing a dim white overlay to a street otherwise marked by a mixture of darkness and obnoxious yellow street lights.

Where does Posey go next?
Anonymous
5638ae5
?
No.168705
168709 168714
>>168704
Tell me about it. Work has been kicking my ass.

Posey consider finding a skeleton if it looks convenient. If it doesn't look convenient, she'll just keep trotting.

Imagery
Posey looks over the busy urban hellscape with grim fascination, somber melancholy, and a touch of awe. In her few hours in Equestria, she's seen many things she's never seen before, although little to change her mind about destroying it.
"Equestria... Is much more complex than I expected..." she says to herself, wistfully

>Where does Posey go next?
Posey decides to investigate the witch doctor in Commanche before the night is over, wondering with the innocence of a foreigner from the sunless lands if that pony meant it literally when he said it had fallen to Tartarus
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168709
168710 168714
>>168705
It's hard to tell if they sell skeletons here. In the one corner, there are several Kaftar sitting at tables and served food, while another trio play dice. In another corner, clothing, including those robes Posey sees. In another, a store with bars over the windows that seems to sell.... liquor. If they practice voodoo or witchcraft, it doesn't seem to be advertised at street level. There are several creatures moving along the street level, and several automobiles, though altogether not that many, and the streets, though far from deserted, are far from bustling. Posey cannot tell if the blocks are depopulated, or if she caught them at a lull in the day - day of course meant metaphorically, as it must surely be at least 9 PM.

Posey can see that most of the buildings have weathered brick facades, are about 4 or five floors high, some purely residential, some with commercial services at ground level. Some have electric lights on inside, most do not. The buildings are mostly back to back next to each other, but a few are separated by alleys, and peering through alleys, Posey can see that within the blocks of apartment buildings are courtyards, sometimes partitioned by big fences into multiple tiny patios, or shared communal gardens that are barren or filled with dead plants or small trees in their winter torpor. The same few designs repeat endlessly across rectangular blocks, and most of the buildings seem to have been built in the same decade. Just one street east, Posey can see that neither the street layout nor the buildings share this pattern, as large industrial buildings of more recent origins dominate. Posey can see that to the north and the east, smokestacks and distillation towers peer above the rows of apartment buildings, while to the west, a few towering buildings loom. Nearer her location, the buildings are of glass and brick facade, rectangular shape, and lacking in decorative splendor. Further away, in the center of the city - at least, the commercial center - are a prominent few even taller buildings of more interesting shape, stainless steel or stone facades, and with some decorations, the intricacies of which are not visible in any great detail in the moonlight. Posey can guess that between the billowing steam and the present lights of the industrial and commercial buildings, perhaps a fifth or less of the commerce still operates, while a third or more of the factories continue producing in the night shift, though the ones nearby are certainly still active.
Anonymous
5638ae5
?
No.168710
168711
>>168709
Well, that's a lot to take in.
Posey pauses for a moment, realizing she has no idea where to look in this concrete jungle, let alone where a witch doctor might lurk.
I guess I'll roll a Charisma check for urban tracking, to see what she can find:
[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168711
168712
>>168710
Posey does have a specific address she can ask where to look and a specific name, or she can see if she can get more/new information. Which does she wish to do?
Anonymous
5638ae5
?
No.168712
>>168711
Posey will move towards the address, taking in the environment as she goes.
Anonymous
5638ae5
?
No.168713
168714
I wish I could do this longer, but I have to go to bed. I leave for work early tomorrow. At least it's Friday.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168714
168724 168725 168726 168738
>>168705
>>168709
Moving west one street from Apache to Commanche, and then travelling down, Posey can notice a change. The fluffy wild dog-like creatures known as Kaftars are replaced incrementally yet quickly by a new type of creature that resembles the Kaftar more closely than anything else, with hunched shoulders, a vaguely canine carnivorous appearance, and a brown coat with black muzzles, though less fluffy and with black spots rather than stripes. The space occupied by the two races do merge - and indeed, Posey has seen at least one pony and one griffin in the area, as no space belongs fully to either race - but the southern blocks seem to belong more so to the shorter haired group. The austere white robes of the Kaftar are replaced by shorter and more vibrant clothing of greens and yellows, though clothing seems to be less common among this population. Posey can hear the beating of drums played at some kind of tavern or meeting place. She can see one of the creatures on a third-floor apartment take laundry off of a clothesline (oddly late after sunset to do so). Posey passes a pair of apartment buildings that are collapsed in. This is not odd nor unique to this neighborhood, as Posey has seen many apartment buildings with the top floor collapsed or covered in tarp, but somehow it stands out more here than elsewhere.

Posey passes a building in the center of the block that is three floors tall with red brick facades and a small triangular tower in the center that marks it out as a government building, probably a school. The windows have bars or even plywood over them, and it's either abandoned or otherwise in a state of disrepair.

>>168713
Don't make me link the song
Anonymous
de4f205
?
No.168724
168729 168738
>>168714
>immigrant communities
>enclaves of two vaguely-similar but distinct (see: naturally adversarial) nonpony races
>the two enclaves rest side-by-side
>in the same shithole ghetto
Oh no. The situation is worse than I thought.

"I wonder if this is that 'harmony' I read about... I didn't think nonponies were involved." Posey wonders to herself as she trots along the road
>description
Posey calms her expectations for finding any portals to Carceri in this neighborhood.
"Abundant flesh, little oversight, multiple abandoned buildings, ample noise distraction.. it would be a perfect site to store thralls for contingency forces." Posey ponders to herself with a slight smirk and a satisfied nod, taking a moment to imagine legions of shambling corpses crawling out of the abandoned buildings to spread their chaos to the rest of the city.
>but somehow it stands out more here than elsewhere
>abandoned school
"Darkness, cover, immediate proximity to breathing populace.. if any of these buildings have sewer system access they will do splendidly."
Posey makes a mental note to explore these buildings later, to appraise their worth in storing or transporting insurgent forces, as she clip-clops towards her destined address.
Anonymous
acd72c0
?
No.168725
168726 168738
>>168714
I guess I'll roll a check to see what I know about these new creatures:
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
Anonymous
acd72c0
?
No.168726
168738
>>168725
I guess that's common knowledge.
>>168714
DM, do you use Cityscape in this game at all? I'm interested in how you handle urban encounters.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168729
168733 168734
>>168724
It seems that Harmony has become more inclusive since the books in the Magehold library were written. To the credit of the nieghborhood, Posey has not heard any gunshots, nor seen any armed altercations in the few minutes she's been here. Either that is harmony, or the weapons control is working.

Posey can tell why the abandoned buildings here are more disturbing than elsewhere. More buildings than not have pockmarks and broken bricks, sometimes filled with mortar, but more often left as they are. Quite a few have large sections made of slightly lighter bricks and stones, implying major repairs. Some are blackened and vacant by fire. But in the most severe cases, the apartment buildings are removed whole, leaving a dirt or concrete hole in a wall of buildings, like a gap in a row of teeth. Not here. Here, the most severe cases appear as decayed or burned-out husks, with the outer walls intact, but the interior floors collapsed in on themselves.

Posey gets the impression she may not be the first to think of inhabiting the abandoned buildings. Peering into one of them next to the road, Posey can see the remains of tin cans, food wrappers, and army blankets. Walls are decorated throughout the town with various symbols. An "A" with a circle around it is popular, as is "Fuck [Name of person or organization]," though there is considerable variation in the art. Posey passes a pink chalk stick figure drawing of a smiling quadrupedal creature on a wall next to a diner. Though such art is uncommon on residential structures, the warehouses, abandoned buildings, and even the lamposts can be covered in it.
Anonymous
dd65c33
?
No.168733
168736 168738
>>168729
>diversity
>weapons control
>people squating in warehouses
>evidence of children living in these conditions
>Anarchists who do nothing but larp with spray paint symbols while the system keeps stealing from them
Posey comes from a country that's just liches and vampires ruling over thousands of shambling thralls, and it's still somehow looking better than urban neoliberalism.
>description
"Hmmm, I'll bet nopony would notice if a few of the locals went missing here. Ripe with opportunity." Posey wonders to herself

Do any of these nearby buildings look particularly shady, as if they might be home to criminal gangs, drug dealers, smugglers, monster dens, or other dangerous activity?
Rolling a Local check, for street smarts
[1d20+3 = (3+3) = 6]
Also, while I know what the 'A' means, Posey wouldn't necessarily know that, so she stops by one of the symbols and squints at it, trying to identify the meaning of the sigil.
"Triangular pattern, line through the center, sealing ring.. abjuration, perhaps? It shant be warding anything with such a sloppy application. Perhaps it's chaos magic." The foreign mage mutters aloud, visibly puzzled by this eldritch rune that evades her arcane knowledge
Rolling arcana because I like rolling for stuff
[1d20+9 = (20+9) = 29]

Posey continues towards the address, unless anything unusual catches her attention or obstructs her.
Anonymous
dd65c33
?
No.168734
168737
>>168729
>"Fuck [Name of person or organization],"
Are there any particular organizations or persons that appear more often?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168736
168741
>>168733
>Arcana roll
Seriously?

Posey actually remembers reading about this symbol. It belongs to, and signifies, a comprehensive set of beliefs popular in Griefenwald and the Equestrian Southeast, though not really anywhere else. This system of beliefs essentially holds that harmony is the natural relationship between all creatures (at least emotionally mature adults), and that the institutions and traditions built by civilizations tend to create unnatural divisions between creatures and to feed and provoke the inner demons of greed, hatred, and pride. These divisions serve only to benefit a tiny few, while the great majority are reduced to despair and poverty. Removing hierarchy and distinctions of nationality, religion and the like, combined with good education and the material surpluses allowed by efficiently used magic and industries will allow the better angels of creature-nature to bring about universal harmony. With regards to spirituality, this ideology could be considered atheistic, rejecting the existence of a spiritual realm and considering powerful entities like alicorns and draconiquises nothing other than that. With regards to metaphysics, the ideology is materialist, holding that the only things that exist are physical things like what is studied by the sciences. Magic is considered a fifth fundamental force alongside gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. Magic is a companion to nuclear reactions, gravity, and magnetism, not of a transcendental nature over it. The symbols are to mark territory, to signal solidarity with likeminded individuals, and to demoralize the stooges of the ossified status quo. They are not intended to summon magical forces, save insofar as friendship and solidarity is magical.

>Street Smarts
This entire section of the city looks shady and crime infested.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168737
168742
>>168734
The single most common name is "Lavender Berry," but "The Fascist," "The Occupiers," "The Police," "Haygle," and "The Blackhooves" are also common. There are a few one-off names like "Alcoe," "Brittle Band," and "Halcyon Shores"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168738
168740
>>168726
I do not use cityscapes

>>168725
Posey does know what these creatures are. They are Crocutta. They are a race of carnivorous creatures indigenous to central and southern Zebrica. A sister race to the Kaftar, they have a worse reputation to the latter's already very poor reputation, with a history of raiding, piracy, mercenary work, and most recently as collaborators with the Storm King. If the Kaftar and the Crocutta hate each other, that hatred is not as strong as whatever is pushing them together.

>>168733
>>168724
>>168714
But of course, the most important feature of any neighborhood is the people. The streets are, again, neither bustling with activity nor abandoned. The largely residential character of the neighborhood doesn't seem conducive to retaining it's population at these hours. But the presence of multiple shops and large factories within a few hundred feet ensures that there is indeed some activity. As it was before, mostly she is ignored. A Crocutta... male? hard to tell - stumbles while trying to walk straight, while in front of a set of stairs going into a tenement building, a pair of Crocutta pups play tug of war with each other, pulling on a red rag and growling. The most direct attention she gets in all of this time is from a grey pony stallion who shouts "hey there" at her, and continues walking along with two other stallions. But she isn't completely unnoticed by the crocutta, who stand at their storefronts, or look out from their windows, at this obviously alien element. In the dark of the night, their reflective golden eyes stand out, peering at her like big cats stalking their prey. The act has the semblance of malintent, though whether that is an accurate reflection of the situation, or the fearful herbivorous nature of the pony corpse Posey is built from seeping through and imposing an atavistic interpretation of the situation on her, is hard to tell.

Posey arrives. The building is much larger than most of the tenement buildings she's seen, and appears to have a completely different design. Whereas the average building is tall and narrow, spaced immediately next to some other structure, and with a courtyard in the back, this building is square in shape, presumably with its own internal courtyard, and has a space between it and the large government building (presumably a school) that Posey has just passed. This one has smaller square windows and a facade that is grey stone by the first floor, and brick above. Across the street, posey sees a staircase that goes down, evidently into the underground. This entire block seems longer than the average, and the city layout between 32nd and 33rd streets might be an outlier.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168740
168744
>>168738
>staircase that goes down, evidently into the underground.
Ooh, a dungeon
Posey pays the onlookers no mind, unless they get any more aggressive. She proceeds towards the address of the supposed witch doctor.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168741
168744
>>168736
>With regards to metaphysics, the ideology is materialist, holding that the only things that exist are physical things like what is studied by the sciences. Magic is considered a fifth fundamental force alongside gravity, electromagnetism, and the strong and weak nuclear forces. Magic is a companion to nuclear reactions, gravity, and magnetism, not of a transcendental nature over it.
Interesting take on magic, although I guess it makes sense in context of a high-magic, modern-tech setting.
>rejecting the existence of a spiritual realm
Lol, said the necromancer, lmao even
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168742
168743 168744
>>168737
I would like to roll to see if Posey knows anything about this Lavender Berry:
[1d20+3 = (5+3) = 8]
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168743
168744
>>168742
Nope
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168744
168745
>>168740
They do not get anymore aggressive. Posey has come upon the address, or more accurately, the building containing the address. But before she may enter, Posey must come to terms with her greatest fear, and face her greatest nemesis...

A Door

Closed, and at the top of a few steps

The harmony of the night breaks slightly when there is a sound of distant bang, followed by many taps that Posey may at first mistake for an item dropped at a nearby warehouse, but with the passage of seconds and the occurrence of still more taps, are unmistakably the sounds of an explosion followed by automatic gunfire. A couple passerby's on the street look in that direction, but upon determining that it's nowhere close, find the sound uninteresting and continue on their business.

>>168742
See >>168743

>>168741
The difference in opinions isn't entirely based upon a different set of accepted facts and experiences (though that is certainly a large part of it) but more often a different interpretation of the same phenomenon. It isn't necessarily that something like a "life force" or soul doesn't exist, per se, it's just that it's viewed as a collection of magical energy that inhabits the physical body, analogous in nature to electricity in nerve functions, that dissipates upon entropy of the body. If there is any such thing as a "plane," that is a different dimension of space and time, and if there is anything that Posey may call a "god," it is but an energy being or collection of magic. What they reject absolutely is the existence of a non-physical substance.

Think of how Descartes thought that the soul interacted with the body by means of the pituitary gland, like how gravity acts upon atoms. Of course Descartes was a Dualist who believed in God and an Immaterial soul, but you get the point... I think.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168745
168746 168747
>>168744
>upon determining that it's nowhere close
How far does it sound? I might like to get involved.
>door
Oh no..
Posey clams up as she approaches the door, winces, and knocks
Anonymous
e14a12d
?
No.168746
>>168745
At least a mile

No Response
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168747
168748
>>168745
Posey knocks a little harder.
Then harder.
Then harder again.
"Hello!?" she calls, with a neurotic twitch
>At least a mile
Hmm, that's pretty far.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168748
168750
>>168747
No response

May want to roll
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168750
168752
>>168748
Posey, due to listed phobia, has not even considered touching the door handle yet, and yet she let's out a blood-chilling roar
"I SAID HELLO!"
Rolling intimidate
[1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19]
Anonymous
e14a12d
?
No.168752
168754
>>168750
Success! Posey's strength of will forces the door to backdown, the handle turning, and the door opening inwards. The door opens to reveal a Crocuta, holding on to the edges of the now intimidated door with her paws. With her black muzzle and trapezoidal ears, she looks at Posey and says in a voice slightly deep for a female, and conveying annoyance, "Are you crazy?!"
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168754
168755
>>168752
>Are you crazy
Hahaha...
"Pardon me, ma'am. I'm... under orders not to enter any building without invitation."
Bluff
[1d20+12 = (14+12) = 26]
She twitches a little bit
"...May I come in?"
Diplomacy
[1d20+6 = (11+6) = 17]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168755
168756
>>168754
She looks at Posey perplexed.

"who ordered you here?"

Also, opposed (Because I like opposing diplomacy rolls)
[1d20+5 = (13+5) = 18]
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168756
168757
>>168755
"Well, I sort of came here on my own, but I have to follow... Customs.."
"I work for some associates of someone who I believe resides here, a creature named Umoya."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168757
168758
>>168756
This answer alarms the Crocutta

"You're working for Customs?! She don't live here no more."
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168758
168759 168761
>>168757
"I don't work for customs. I just... have to follow rules." she bites her lip, silently embarrassed of having let her impulses get the best of her
She looks left, and then right, then forward
"I don't have very much time. Friends of my friends have been dropping left and right from recent police raids, and if I'm not mistaken Umoya is one of the few who hasn't already been slain, so tell me, does the lady Umoya still reside on this mortal plane?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168759
168760
>>168758
She hesitates

I'd kind of like another roll
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168760
168761
>>168759
What kind of roll?
I guess Diplomacy?
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168761
168762
>>168760
>>168758
She says soberly,

"No. She does not."
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168762
168763
>>168761
Posey frowns in disappointment, as this was a creature she would have preferred alive to dead.
"I see. When did it happen?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168763
168764
>>168762
"Less than a week ago." She answers, and opens the door wider
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168764
168765 168766
>>168763
"Ah, so they did get her in the raids. I heard the police wanted her but the locals wouldn't let them; perhaps I was mistaken."
She steps towards the door, but then freezes, in rigor mortis
"M-may I come in?" she standers
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168765
>>168764
*stamers
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168766
168768
>>168764
"Police didn't get her. Customs did. Uh, yes, I suppose."
She steps slightly aside, and her glare conveys that she still doesn't entirely trust Posey, even as she is letting her in.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168768
168769
>>168766
Posey gives a breathless sigh as she clip-clops over the threshold, her demeanor stabilizing
"Customs, you say? Those are the ones who finished Rue Dumare: the raids were likely coordinated, clearing the region of experienced artists such as Umoya and the like."
Her expression softens, and she bows her head respectfully
"You have my deepest condolences."
Bluff
[1d20+12 = (17+12) = 29]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168769
168770 168771
>>168768
"Artist? She asks. After a pause, she asks "How did you know her?"
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168770
168772
>>168769
"I didn't get the privilege of meeting her myself." Posey says
"But she had friends in far places, friends of my friends, all of which were splendid artists."
Her expression darkens
"But it appears the local authorities don't have the same appreciation for the arts as we do, and so they've decided to flush us out. Umoya was a casualty of that crackdown." she grits her fangs somewhat
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168771
168772
>>168769
"Were you a friend of hers? What was she like?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168772
168773
>>168771
>>168770
"Not really, no. She taught my children and would perform spells, so I did know her. She was strong in will and very wise. I don't think anyone is surprised the ponies finally got her. I am only surprised she did not take more of them with her."
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168773
168774
>>168772
"She sounds like a formidable individual." Posey says with a nod
"Did she live in this building?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168774
168775
>>168773
"Yes." She answers
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168775
168776
>>168774
"If you wouldn't mind, may I see her room? I believe there's something that she may have left behind."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168776
168777 168779
>>168775
"It's not mine" she says. Posey can see that this entry foyer is a common area with a row of mailbox slots with locks on them, a door, a window with bars over it, halls going either way further in the back, and a set of stairs going up and down
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168777
168778 168781 168782
>>168776
Of course. I should've gotten that.
"Thank you, ma'am." Posey says, as she turns towards the stairs and walks away, making her way to Umoya's room
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168778
168781 168782
>>168777
Is she able to find the room?
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168779
168781 168782
>>168776
Now that she's entered the building, Posey glides across the halls with an air of impunity, as she searches for her destination.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168781
168782 168783 168785
>>168779
>>168778
>>168777
Well, let's see, it's Apartment 24, which means it's on the first floor... wait no, there is no apartment 24 on the first floor, so that means it must be upstairs, to the... left? Past the end, and here we are. At a unit on the second floor.

The walls are whitewashed, though in a few areas the color has come off and revealed grey underneat. The ceiling likewise sags in areas, or has flakes of paint that fall off. The floor is wooden, and while intact, has obvious scratches in many places, and what looks like water damage. The floors are definitely dirty, with dust, dust bunnies, and periodic candywrapers. A few of the apartments have cracked doors or numbers that have fallen off, which does not help Posey's efforts to locate the apartment.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168782
>>168781
>>168779
>>168777
>>168778
The air inside of the building, though stuffy and suggestive of mold, is noticeably warmer than outside. The building is heated
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168783
168786 168787
>>168781
I'm going to roll search to find my way to the apartment
[1d30+4 = (11+4) = 15]
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168785
168787
>>168781
I doubt I'm going to find any treasure here either, but I've come this far, so I shall proceed.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168786
168787
>>168783
I see I have mistyped that roll
[1d20+4 = (8+4) = 12]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168787
168788
>>168783
>>168786
Posey has found it - second floor, to the left, evidently on the corner.

>>168785
All Posey has found thus far of any value is slave labor and potential mercenaries, which would perhaps explain why the Equestrians let them there in the first place
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168788
168789
>>168787
>slave labor and potential mercenaries
True, it's part of what Posey came to appraise.
Plus with blood magic and sacrifice, any life is a potential profit.
>the Equestrians let them there in the first place
Does not seem like a very stable source of mobilization, imo, especially not for a group that calls themselves nationalists. I guess that's their call though. They'll all join the horde eventually.
>evidently on the corner
Posey moves towards the apartment number in question.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168789
168790
>>168788
>especially not for a group that calls themselves nationalists
The nationalists weren't in charge when they were brought in. That honor belongs to the Celestia and Twilight regimes. The nationalists appear to want them physically removed, so to speak.

>it's part of what Posey came to appraise
They are nocturnal, which makes them great for nightshift labor. They are (very slightly) larger and stronger than ponies, and certainly more intimidating. It's not clear that they are trustworthy though, which makes them undesirable for the job they'd be best at - nighttime guard duty.

The apartment is before her, number 24. Posey is staring at...

A Door...
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168790
168791
>>168789
>It's not clear that they are trustworthy though, which makes them undesirable
Wights don't need to be trustworthy, lol.
>A Door
.... It doesn't count when I'm already inside the apartment building, right?
Posey thinks to herself as her hoof reaches out to knock on the door.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168791
168792
>>168790
Does it? To be sure, she's inside of the insulated portion of the building... But this apartment is a residence

Tapping on the door results in it moving back slightly
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168792
168793
>>168791
Posey puffs her cheeks and pushes herself into the apartment, seeing as the door is unlocked.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168793
168794 168795 168797
>>168792
And... the door simply opens. Posey can see from the splinters of wood that the door was forced open at some point, as the locks are physically broken off, and the hinges show signs of damage. Posey looks inside to see a tiny foyer with beige walls and short on decorations. There is a hallway that goes to an opening on the far side, one door on the left, two on the right
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168794
>>168793
Posey makes haste to search the room for anything of value or interest as she enters.
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
She also casts her first spell of the game: Detect Magic!
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168795
168798
>>168793
>locks are physically broken off, and the hinges show signs of damage
"Signs of a break in.. Contraband is going to be slim here. Hopefully the pigs didn't sniff out everything.." Posey mutters, her expectations low as she searches about the apartment
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168797
168798
>>168793
Going to roll Listen, to detect any creatures that may be lurking here.
[1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168798
168799 168802 168815
>>168795
First room on the right is a bathroom, with a sink near the door on the right, a toilet past that, and a bathtub past that, with curtains and a small window. The toilet looks both clogged and old. There is a mirror that opens to a medicine cabinet - it is clearly opened. There are items (what appear to be bandages - not used) that have fallen out and are on the floor. The sink has brown stains. The doors beneath the sink are open, and Posey has found... Bleach. Also toilet paper. No magic.

The second room appears to be a bedroom. On the far side is a window that is large enough that posey can see the school on the other side. In front of it is a bed, to the left is a night stand, and to the right is a dresser. There are clothes strewn across the floor (like a purple cloak and rubber boots). The matress is not on the bed, but leaned up next to it, and very clearly cut open. The airvents above the bed are opened. Several of the drawers from the dressers have been removed and turned upside down on the floor. A small wooden totem on the ground pings as magical.

The only room on the left is a kitchen. The doors in the kitchen are open, as are the cabinet doors. Posey can see that there is an actually rather impressive rack of herbs with more varieties than Posey has quite frankly seen in any location. There is an empty space in the wall with an electrical outlet that presumably is intended to house a refrigerator. There are a couple pots and pans, though really not many. There is tea, but worryingly, no tea pot. There is an herb grinder, and a large amount of salt. There is one bit of food which remains on the counter, which appears to be the largely smoked remains of the lower leg of an ungulate creature, complete with a hoof. Hopefully that's from a calf, or maybe a pig. Calves have only one toe, right? Right? No magic detected.

The last room, which connects to the kitchen, is evidently a living room. There is a book shelf with a large number of books, several of which have made it to the ground. There is a stand that would presumably hold a phonograph or radio. It's empty. There is a table next to the kitchen with a pair of chairs, though the chair has been moved across the room and is under an opened vent. There is a couch, though all of the cushions have been removed, and cut open. There are three windows, two look out onto the street, and another towards the school. There is a mask which resembles a crocuta. It pings as magical. There is a potted plant by the right, street-side window that seems to be... well it's hard to say what kind of plant that is, but it's not doing well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VxwrAhBpfyA&pp=ygUPaXp6eSBwbGFudHMgZGll . The pot pings as magical.

>>168797
Posey can hear a rat scurrying, movement in the apartment to the left of this one, and what sounds like copulation occurring somewhere above her and to the right. Nothing inside the apartment, save the rat.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168799
168800 168801
>>168798
>A small wooden totem on the ground pings as magical.
>The pot pings as magical
Up to two items here. Could be a decent haul.
Rolling Spellcraft to determine their schools
[1d20+14 = (10+14) = 24]
Posey cautiously picks up the totem with her aura as she examines its aura.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168800
168801
>>168799
Poor terminology there. She picks it up with her horn magic.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168801
>>168799
>>168800
The totem is conjuration, drawing power from a link to spiritual forces.

The pot is, well, it's made of ceramic.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168802
168803
>>168798
>rather impressive rack of herbs with more varieties than Posey has quite frankly seen in any location.
Arcane botanica and herbalism are not Posey's field of expertise (zero ranks), but she appraises them for their value as spell components.
"Looks like she was quite the herbalist. Shame she's gone, we could've used a good balm-monger..."
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
>drawing power from a link to spiritual forces.
"Huh, looks like a little summoning talisman. A rare find." Posey says, as she picks up the totem and places it in her satchel.
>it's made of ceramic
Magic is magic. Posey takes it.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168803
168804
>>168802
>Posey takes it
Like, the dead plant and dirt, or just the pot?

The herbs are decently rare that some of them would not be found in an average grocery store, but neither are they worth their weight in silver. Like... what? 30 bits or so? Perhaps more. Hard to say.

The totem is small and thus easy to take
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168804
168805
>>168803
If the pot is sufficiently large and cumbersome, Posey will leave it be. I thought it was small.
Posey pockets the totem.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168805
168806
This more or less.jpg
>>168804
~8 inch terracotta. Like a normal pot.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168806
168807 168808
>>168805
In an act of mercy, Posey touches her hood to the potted plant and let's her charnel touch wither it to dust.
The plants troubles are over now, try not to be jealous.
She dumps out the soil and places the pot in her satchel.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168807
>>168806
*touches her hoof
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168808
168809 168811
>>168806
The plant is finally relived of its suffering. The dirt and a buried bracelet or poured out, and Rosie Ring is now the proud owner of an 8-inch terracotta pot.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168809
168810
48sl64.jpg
>>168808
Posey picks up the bracelet out of the soil and places it in her satchel for later examination.
But she keeps the pot, because why not?

"Well, this was rather easy. Better report back to lord Lament." Posey says to herself, as she makes her way towards the door, having quenched her curiosity, it not her bloodthirst, for the night.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168810
168811
>>168809
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QflrU7V5HLg

Posey seems to have completed her goals.
Anonymous
7c639fe
?
No.168811
168812 168813 168820
>>168808
>>168810
Satisfied, Posey leaves the apartment, and the building.
She makes her way back to where she was supposed to meet her driver.
>Posey seems to have completed her goals
Except for the picking fights with random creatures goal, although that might've been a bad idea.

It's pretty late where I am. I think it's about time I go to bed. Maybe we could continue this tomorrow?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168812
>>168811
Sure
Silver "The Floof" Sword
e49b11f
?
No.168813
168815 168816
>>168811
Posey left one piece of magical loot behind
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168815
168818
>>168813
Fuck, I forgot the mask.
>>168798
Is it too late for us to grab the mask?
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168816
>>168813
How's it going, btw?
Think our characters will ever meet?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168818
168819 168820 168821
>>168815
Posey hasn't really left yet, so no, it's not too late to get the mask
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168819
>>168818
Then Posey will grab that as well before she leaves, placing it in her satchel.
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168820
168822
>>168818
>>168811
Posey takes her things and discreetly leaves the building, hurrying out into the streets.

Is Posey able to get back to her rendezvous point without obstacle? I heard they were planning to wall-off the district, so it might be complicated.
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168821
>>168818
I may as well ask what kind of auras the bracelet and the mask read as.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168822
168823 168824
>>168820
I don't know. Things haven't exactly gone as I anticipated
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168823
168825
>>168822
Now I feel silly. What were you anticipating? I wouldn't mind a pointer to get things back on track.
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168824
168825
>>168822
What there another place you expected Posey to go?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168825
168826
>>168823
>>168824
Basically, in each respective place, Posey would first go to the home, and from that location, go to a location that was important to the decedent, and get in conflict with those inhabiting those locations. The problems with this is that the locals, even though it's a very high crime area, are still unlikely to attack Posey without provocation or misunderstanding, which can be avoided. Further, information can be hard to come by if you don't know what you're looking for or where to look. Posey could definitely just take what she found and go home, but then what? It can be difficult to set up environments where combat could happen en masse without upsetting the status quo of the world too much. So I don't know.
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168826
168827
>>168825
That's sort of what I expected, although I really didn't have it in me to murder the kaftar widow over a silver statue.
I'm willing to go with whatever you have planned. Just maybe make it a bit clearer.
>It can be difficult to set up environments where combat could happen en masse without upsetting the status quo of the world too much
I get it. I sort of expected Licorice Lament to just give me quests, maybe if just to kill people that he found inconvenient. I'm not picky when it comes to encounters.
Maybe give the cityscape urban encounter tables a look:
https://www.realmshelps.net/adventuring/urban.shtml
Near the bottom of the page.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168827
168828
>>168826
I mean, she can definitely just go home. After all, the decedents here were allies. But I only had one, maybe two other combat intensive ideas already in mind unless she returns
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168828
168829 168830
>>168827
Shoot me the ideas, it just do the setup and we'll see where it leads.
Posey is really just sightseeing in this new country, and hoping to pick a fight with a worthy opponent.
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168829
>>168828
*or just
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168830
168831 168832
>>168828
The other ideas do not take place within the city proper. If all Posey wants to do is explore at the moment, there is much more diversity
Anonymous
9551ff8
?
No.168831
>>168830
Posey will probably head home then. She came out here because she heard that there were mage lairs she could plunder. She'll go back and help Licorice with whatever she's summoned for.
Unless you have a better idea, that is.

I get up early for work, so I can't stay up late for this tonight. For now I guess Posey will head back, to make sure she's there before Gloomy wakes up (he's prone to night terrors).
Anonymous
93cf265
?
No.168832
>>168830
The automatic gunfire from earlier sounds interesting.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168833
168844
610451.jpeg
>>167633
>>167629
Well, now it's just time to wait for the train to leave. Well that's simple, just leave at the time it's scheduled for.... Wait. Is the train on time? Is it late? If it's late, then what?

Time to conduct, little pony
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168834
168835
>>168543
Hmmm... roll a die for luck
a727551
?
No.168835
168837
[1d20 = 19]
>>168834
*gulp*
Anonymous
93cf265
?
No.168836
168837
Gonna roll my own luck dice to assist the DM in describing any potential obstacles in Posey's Odyssey back to the mansion.
"Wow, this alleyway sure is dark, I hope I don't get mugged by a gang of ziggers." Posey says sarcastically as she trots along
[1d20 = 17]
Not serious. Just bored. Feel free to ignore this post and focus on Silver.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168837
168838 168839
>>168835
Silver finds... a layout on a wall. It looks permanent, painted on. The building has a set off offices on each side, a courtyard with a covered walkway down the center on each side of the central third, and then the central third has a hall open to the public that itself cuts that portion in half. The sections of the transit ministry appear dedicated to different roles. The portion silver is in now seems to be the offices of a publicly owned railway company. Other portions are for Maritime Shipping, Waterways, Roads, Internal Trade, Customs, and Air Travel.

The map includes other details as inquired.

>>168836
Posey is not gang raped by zebras. But seriously if she wants to attempt to find Mason or a way out she can
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a727551
?
No.168838
>>168837
"Oh no..."

This...is not what Silver imagined at all. With the size of the building and no clue where the changelings or their bomb would be located, and he has no idea how long they have until they decide to detonate.

Does the layout show a path to reach the position of the changelings who were shooting at them, when they were across the street?
Anonymous
93cf265
?
No.168839
168840 168846
>>168837
I'll roll Gather Information to find Mason
[1d20+4 = (3+4) = 7]
Anonymous
93cf265
?
No.168840
168846
>>168839
Fuck
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168842
Night is cut short for personal reasons...
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168844
168845
>>168833
Oh dear, conducting, conducting….
One thing she knows for sure is that it must not be late. Her pocketwatch is in sync with the clock, right? She supposes that passengers need some time to board, maybe ten minutes, so if that much time is remaining she blows her whistle and shouts, "All aboard!"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168845
168861
>>168844
Amber's pocket watch is... like a minute and 38 seconds off from the clock that's visible on the train station platform.

All aboard it is
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168846
168847
>>168839
>>168840
Posey's not entirely sure she remembers where she left Mason
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168847
168848 168849
>>168846
Posey tries to replace her steps.
What do I roll for this?
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168848
>>168847
*retrace
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168849
168850
1507177722032.png
>>168847
I don't know, but either wisdom or intelligence modifier
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168850
168851
>>168849
Posey's intelligence is higher, so I'll try to get out of this shithole using force of intellect
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168851
168852
1496187300870.png
>>168850
Let's see... Posey came out at La Fete and 35th, after travelling underground for a block and a half... Posey thinks she can get back to where she last saw him
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168852
168853
>>168851
Possibly gallops in that direction, as fast as her hooves can carry her
[s(]Which is quite fast, due to her increased speed and the fact that she can run for unlimited rounds)
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168853
168854
>>168852
Posey's movements attract the attention of the locals, who stare at her as she moves. But if she's being pursued, she must have evaded them. Posey finds the entrance to the underground, and goes past the open shops, to the corner where she left Mason
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168854
168855
>>168853
Posey seeks out Mason, trying to be discreet.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168855
168856
>>168854
Mason is, at the very least, not outside of the establishment where she left him
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168856
168857 168858 168859
>>168855
Posey searches for Mason
I guess urban tracking is a Gather Information check
[1d20+4 = (6+4) = 10]
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168857
>>168856
Drat
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168858
168859 168860
>>168856
Well, gonna do a fallback Spot check
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168859
168860
>>168856
Evidently Baltimare is lousing in grey unicorns

>>168858
I'mma do a roll
[1d20 = 2]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168860
168862
>>168858
>>168859
Mason is doing a poor job hiding inside of this... club? It's literally a basement that they added chairs, a bar, and some booth tables to. He's tonguing a pink mare at a booth near the entrance, presumably the same one Posey saw early
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168861
168863
>>168845
Well that's not good. As she watches the passengers start to embark, she frantically tries to adjust the watch's time.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168862
168863
>>168860
Posey clippity-clops up to him, but stays distant enough not to interrupt their moment, although close enough that he would eventually see her.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168863
168864 168866
>>168861
And.... 30 seconds until departure

>>168862
He either is intentionally ignoring Posey, or genuinely does not see that he is there. He seems fairly consumed by whatever this living-creature social ritual is. Note that the club is fairly loud. They don't have a live band, but they are playing radio or a phonograph loudly, and there is loud talking. A diamond dog starts to walk up to Mason as well
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168864
168865
>>168863
That's closer than she would have liked. She makes one last check any passengers rushing to board.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168865
168867
>>168864
There's an old lady trying to get in. The hold up is she is having difficulty placing her bag inside of the car. It's super annoying
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168866
168868
>>168863
Posey, in no hurry, waits a while, although after a considerable amount of time passes at some point she clears her throat and gives him an icy glare that's impossible to ignore.
Rolling Intimidate
[1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19]
The temperature drops around her, as if there's some dark force of hellish entropy sucking the energy out of the room.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168867
168874
>>168865
Amber sighs, but isn't going to let an old griffon go without help. She helps with the luggage.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168868
168869
>>168866
Did the amount of noise in the room go down?

Which "him"? Mason?
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168869
168870
>>168868
Yes, Mason
Posey gets closer, if necessary
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168870
168871
twilight_is_shut_up_by_dasprid_d8onbcl-pre.png
>>168869
Mason breaks with the mare, looks to Posey, and then stands up near Posey. The mare looks kind of offended, and starts to slink away, looking at Posey. Another pony walks up, but keeps a slight distance.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168871
168872
>>168870
"Oh, pardon, was I interrupting something?" Posey says, with a flat tone, tossing her mane a bit as she walks by
Posey, despite having zero reason to, makes very brief aggressive eye contact with the other mare as she slinks away.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168872
168873
>>168871
The mare understands the message and moves away.

"N-no?" He answers, evidently sincerely afraid of Posey at this moment
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168873
168874
>>168872
>afraid
Good. Fear my power.

"Well, it appears you at least still had some fun tonight. Shall we be going?" Posey says, her golden eyes trained on him
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168874
168875 168877
>>168867
She has to walk over to the griffin, help her get her luggage in... Oh dear, the train is already a minute late!

>>168873
He spends a full three seconds looking back at her before responding

"Yes."
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168875
168876
>>168874
"Then let us go" she says, whirling her cape and gesturing for him to follow her towards the logical direction of the car.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168876
168878
>>168875
Posey leaves, followed by Mason, and further back, the diamond dog and the other pony.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168877
168879
>>168874
Well that's annoying, real conductor or not! Best to not tarry any longer. Amber quickly makes her way to the engine, tells the engineer to get going, and hops into the lead coach.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168878
168879
>>168876
Posey glances towards the other two, and whispers to Mason
"Who are they?"

Rolling bluff, for innuendo
[1d20+12 = (19+12) = 31]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168879
168880 168884
>>168877
Amber finds a grey griffin in the locomotive whom she suspects may not be a natural grey, but covered in coal dust. He gives a firm nod, and starts the train on its way, with a chugging sound of the pistons.

Amber is in the front coach, perhaps 30% full, and beginning her journey.

>>168878
Without looking to her
"I'm not certain, but no one good."

Innuendo?
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168880
168881
>>168879
>Innuendo?
A hidden message. To communicate with him discreetly, without alerting the others.
It was rolled into bluff when the 3.0 innuendo skill was removed in 3.5e

>but no one good
Posey takes this news in a calm, almost cheery manner, showing no signs of distress at being followed

Say, are there any dark alleys nearby?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168881
168882
>>168880
Not per se. Posey and Mason are still underground, which is a series of walls and occasional storefronts.

Posey and Mason are still trailed, but the distance increases.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168882
168883
>>168881
Posey walks slower, pretending to be interested in the various shops trying to bait the followers closer.
Are there any other tunnels or discreet locations she hope to lead them to?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168883
168886
>>168882
Hope? Probably, though Posey does not know of them. As it is, Posey and Mason remain in a fairly trafficked area.

The followers come closer, evidently now intending to close the distance.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168884
168885
>>168879
It's the home stretch to freedom. She can only pray it will all go well.

Oh, and tickets. She needs to use that puncher and check every griffon's tickets.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168885
168888
>>168884
click clack
Time to punch.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168886
168887
>>168883
*could hope to

Posey thinks fast and looks for any areas with thinner traffic
Rolling Search
[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168887
168889
>>168886
That's... maybe a small section beyond a bend which appears to have formerly been a storefront? Hard to tell
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168888
168889 168890
>>168885
Being a conductor isn't too hard, Amber thinks to herself.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168889
168890
>>168887
Posey discreetly heads in that direction, gesturing for Mason to follow her.

As she trots along, Posey grits her fangs, before putting on a sinister grin
"Looks like I really will get to kill tonight."
>>168888
Digits checked
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168890
168891 168893
>>168888
Quads deem that is so

click click

Amber runs into Helder, who is walking through one of the carriages.

>>168889
The arrive by the bend but do not move beyond it, when the pony gets to them first. Coming up behind Mason, the stallion loudly asks,

"Have I seen you before?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168891
168892
>>168890
"Ticket please," Amber asks gently of Helder.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168892
168894
>>168891
"Funny." Helder is in a porter's uniform. He whispers,

"So what is your plan? Remain like this until we get to Hellquill? Or ditch at the border?"
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168893
168895 168898
>>168890
Hmmmmm, I want to get closer to the bend
"Umm, no, no, no, new to country." Posey says, her hood pulled over her head and her features obscured, layering a thick accent (vaguely Romanian) over her speech
Rolling Bluff
[1d20+12 = (3+12) = 15]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168894
168895
>>168892
"Best to keep everything looking normal," Amber whispers back. "When we get to Hellquill Station we can quietly disperse."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168895
168896 168897 168898
>>168893
"Did we catch you with your marefriend? Or rather, with your marefriends? Where is the rest of your crew?" The stallion asks assertively, evidently more so to intimidate than out of a sincere desire for an answer

>>168894
"Sounds good enough. Keep it up." He says
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168896
168898 168899
>>168895
Posey gestures for Mason to move closer beyond the bend, and she cautiously moves back
How close are they?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168897
168898
>>168895
Amber quietly nods and gets on with the work.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168898
168899 168900 168901
>>168893
>>168895
The stallion, a light red creature, evidently a pegasus wearing a vest and a fedora, addresses Mason, and only looks over towards Posey out of response to movement or noise, but not not in sincere interest. The diamond dog is a little further back

>>168896
They are right by it, it's a movement of at most 20 feet to the left, if even that far, though actually getting out of line of sight might require moving past an orphaned wall that used to be a part of a storefront, but now is closed down and the doors are sealed off

>>168897
Is that guy trying to avoid getting his ticket punched? Because it seriously seems like he doesn't have a ticket, the way he moves out of his seat, and tries to go to the bathroom
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168899
168901
>>168896
>>168898
Mason starts to move backwards, and towards the bend
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168900
168902
>>168898
A job is a job, even if it's a fake job….

"Sir, I'd like to see your ticket."
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168901
168902
>>168898
I meant how close are they to us? Are they in booping distance
>>168899
"Mason, come now, fiu is waiting." Posey says, still with her thick accent, pretending to telekinetically drag him around the bend

But really, she waits right by the corner, waiting for them to get in booping range
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168902
168903 168907
>>168901
Not exactly, but she could jump forward and boop him.

They don't move closer to them immediately, though Mason takes a step back. They are kind of close to the brick wall.

"Or was your whole crew killed? Who are you working for now, huh?" Again, said more so with the intent to intimidate.

>>168900
He sounds offended,

"You've already seen my ticket!"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168903
168904
>>168902
She shakes her head. "If I have, it would have a hole in it."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168904
168905
>>168903
He blinks
"I dropped it."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168905
168906
>>168904
"Where did you drop your ticket? If it's on the train we can find it."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168906
168908
>>168905
"Up there. Further up front." He says, just pointing vaguely towards the front part of this coach car (car 3).
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168907
168909 168910
2nyice.jpg
>>168902
Fuck it. Who needs sleep.

Posey jumps forward with supernatural speed.
She draws an arrow from her quiver and
"Boop."
She teaches out and boops the Pegasus on the nose, invoking her Charnel Touch attack with Inflict Light Wounds
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25]
And since he's currently flat-footed, rolling for laijutsu focus
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168908
168911
>>168906
"It'll be some time to the next station. Let's go find it," she says, looking at him suspiciously.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168909
168910 168912 168914
>>168907
Nat fucking 20
Rolling damage for inflict Light Wounds (doubled)
[1d8+5 = (2+5) = 7]
And charnel touch
[1d8+1 = (7+1) = 8]
And laijutsu focus
[2d6 = 6]

As a free action as part of her attack, the bones on her armor rattle and she immediately rolls intimidate to Demoralize
[1d20+11 = (8+11) = 19]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168910
168911 168912 168914
R.jpg
>>168907
>>168909
That's some serious damage

The hell is liajustu though?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168911
168913
>>168910
[1d2 = 1]

>>168908
He doesn't move. Then both Erich and Federkleid enter behind Amber, saying nothing at the moment.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168912
168914
>>168909
28 damage on the first hit, and a 19 to demoralize

I guess that's Posey's surprise round. Rolling for Initiative
[1d20+13 = (10+13) = 23]
>>168910
A skill that samurai use to deal more damage on the first strike in combat.
Posey drew an arrow from her quiver, which counts as a melee weapon since it's treated as a dagger
https://dnd.arkalseif.info/skills/iaijutsu-focus/index.html
Dread Necromancer relies on melee attacks a lot, and has low damage. Posey uses Laijutsu to take advantage of her high charisma to eliminate opponents quickly.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168913
168914
>>168911
"If you cannot produce your ticket, you will be transferred to the authorities at the next stop," Amber says sternly.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168914
168915 168917
>>168909
>>168910
>>168912
It's a bit simpler than that.

The diamond dog grabs the stallion by his shoulder, and tries to drag him away from the master booper

>>168913
He stares at Amber... with that stare becoming much less confident as the other griffins come behind her

"Okay, okay. I don't have a ticket. Can I buy one?"
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168915
168916
>>168914
Is the stallion unconscious?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168916
168918
>>168915
The best guess is yes.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168917
168919
>>168914
"It's too late now," Amber says simply. "At the next stop you will have to pay a fine for being a stowaway, and then you might be able to buy a ticket."
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168918
168919
>>168916
Since it's the next round, I would like to boop the stallion diamond dog as well as he attempts to move away.
That depends if he beats me in initiative though. Do I move before he does?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168919
168920 168924
1882778.png
>>168917
He looks a bit intimidated, then jumps up, almost stumbles out of his seat and nearly hits a griffin on the other side, and then runs away towards the car in front of them.

>>168918
No. His move, however, is to attempt to disengage.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168920
168921 168922
>>168919
Then I make an attack of opportunity.
Charnel touch, this time without a spell
[1d20+5 = (18+5) = 23]
And a demoralizing check
[1d20+11 = (13+11) = 24]
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168921
>>168920
Idk what kind of armor he's wearing, but no way he has 24 touch AC if he's trying to escape
[1d8+1 = (3+1) = 4]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168922
168923
>>168920
Opposed,
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]

Please note that while Posey's initial boop was inconspicuous, this battle against the diamond dog is back in the main walkway as he's moved.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168923
168925
>>168922
Well, charnel touch has no verbal or somatic component, so this only looks like a seemingly-innocent boop.
He should be shaken now.

It's Posey's turn now, but she's used Charnel Touch already, so she's going to make a in melee Slam attack, booping him again, this time not so gently.
[1d20+5 = (19+5) = 24]
And Demoralize as the bones on her armor rattle (gotta love that grotesque Barding)
[1d20+11 = (14+11) = 25]
[1d20+5 = (14+5) = 19]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168924
168926
>>168919
Amber groans. This is not what they needed. She looks to her friends to follow, and calmly follows the stowaway. There's no need to run given that it's a dead end.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168925
168926
>>168923
Don't know where the second melee roll came from, but I think that hits, so I'll roll the damage
Bludgeoning
[1d6+5 = (6+5) = 11]
And Cold
[1d6 = 6]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168926
168927 168929
>>168924
Well, he's left the car.. then the next car...

Federklied whispers
"So are we getting off at the next station?"

>>168925
>16 damage without use of a spell
I'm starting to get skeptical

The diamond dog draws a knife from presumably an internal pocket on his jacket, and stabs at Posey with it

[1d20+4 = (5+4) = 9]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168927
168928
>>168926
"I think if we do, it would raise too many questions," Amber replies in a low voice. "If we want to avoid suspicion, we should continue on to Hellquill itself."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168928
168930
>>168927
"True" She says

As the door to the locomotive is locked, and there is no baggage car, there is but one location left for this rapscallion:
The front bathroom.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168929
168931 168932
>>168926
Well, I did start at lvl 3 instead of 5 for this dhampir-strength, so may as well buck some thugs while it's mechanically relevant.

Posey rears up and attacks him with both hooves
She uses her Charnel touch as a primary manufactured weapon (a touch is considered a weapon), and her Slam as a secondary natural attack
[1d20+5 = (15+5) = 20]
[1d20 = 17]

And a demoralize check; this should increase him to panicked
[1d20+11 = (20+11) = 31]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168930
168932
>>168928
Amber knocks on the door.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168931
168932
>>168929
[1d8 = 2]
[2d6+5 = (2+5) = 7] not sure if this hits, but rolling anyway
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168932
168933 168934
>>168929
>>168931
Posey has hit him, but he tries again to make a stab.
[1d20+2 = (20+2) = 22]

>>168930
No response
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168933
168935
>>168932
"~Oh!" Posey gasps as the dog stabs her in the place where her heart used to be
And then smiles
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168934
168935
>>168932
She knocks again.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168935
168936 168938
>>168933
The dog is not content with the course of events, looking back at Posey with his golden eyes

>>168934
"I'm not here." Is the reply
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168936
168937
>>168935
Amber sighs, unlocks the door and goes in.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168937
168939
>>168936
The bathroom is cramped, but Amber can see her quarry there, hiding on top of the toilet.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168938
168940
>>168935
Are you going to roll damage?
Posey has DR/2 Magic and Bludgeoning from her Lich Body feature, and immunity to extra damage for crits, being undead

Posey glances down at the knife in her chest, then back to the dog.
"Run." she says coldly
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Q7KSZicb6Mc
Rolling intimidate. This time just to coerce, not demoralize.
[1d20+11 = (15+11) = 26]
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168939
168940
>>168937
"We're not police. What's your real reason for sneaking aboard the train?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168940
168941 168944 168962
>>168938
I'm definitely not persuaded this is balanced. It's bad enough that Posey has +5 points of luck on every other player

Posey did not know that diamond dogs could run that fast, as he colides with a griffin, stands up, and starts running again.

Mason says to Posey
"We've got to get out ourselves"

>>168939
"Because to buy a ticket, I'd have to present identification." He says
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168941
168942
>>168940
She blinks. "And why is that an issue?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168942
168943
>>168941
"I may have police looking for me in Griffinhiem..."
He has a large, toothy smile, and his head is low in front of his shoulders.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168943
168945
>>168942
>toothy
>griffon
"What did you do?" Amber asks curiously.
Anonymous
cd3d39c
?
No.168944
168962
>>168940
Posey looks quite pleased with herself, finally getting her fix of violence for the night.
She looks down at the unconscious pegasus, a fine body and a decent sacrifice, but per Mason's heed she realizes he would be too much of a burden to drag with them without standing out, so she follows Mason, abandoning the pegasus to his fate.

And with that, I bid you good night
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMmvrM9wmkc

A fair assessment, but also consider that a lvl 5 Wizard would have fought that battle using 2nd and 3rd level spells like Glitterdust, Fireball, in or Sleet Storm, or a lvl Fighter with a Greatsword would've done far more melee damage, let alone a Warblade or Crusader. I understand your concerns though. I will revise her sheet per your advice.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168945
168946
>>168943
no u

"Well, they claim it involved stealing items out of a store as it was shutting down for the low season, but really I think the manager just hated me. Anyways, I'm trying to leave all that behind me."
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168946
168947
>>168945
Amber sighs once again. He really is just a low-life criminal, but at least he hasn't killed somegriff. Also, with how bureaucratic this land is, she can't risk that turning him in would also expose her and her friends' identities. But she also can't let him know that they're fugitives as well….

Amber replies sternly, "You're beneath our interest, but don't cause any more trouble on this train."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168947
168948
>>168946
He shakes his head, still squatting on top of the toilet with its closed lid.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168948
168949
>>168947
Amber huffs. "Good thing it was still there," she says, loudly enough to be heard by a few passengers. "If you didn't have a ticket, there would have been serious consequences." She leaves the lavatory and resumes her duties.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168949
168950
>>168948
The ~~little pony~~ medium sized griffin is free to ~~her~~ his work. 3 whole cars remain.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168950
168951
>>168949
Well that's not too bad. Hopefully this failed state isn't rife with stowaways and miscreants.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168951
168952
408llp.jpg
>>168950
Hopefully....

Another car, another problem, with a griffin allegedly sleeping. Now has this griffin actually fallen asleep, or do we have another rapscallion on our claws?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168952
168953
>>168951
She taps him on the shoulder with a claw. "Sir?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168953
168954
>>168952
"Schnaaaaaacht!" He snores, or seems to
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168954
168955
>>168953
She shakes his shoulder. "Sir," she repeats, more firmly.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168955
168956
>>168954
He starts to slump
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168956
168957
>>168955
She's starting to see what a thankless job this is…

Amber continues to pester the "sleeping" passenger.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168957
168958
>>168956
He bolts his head up, looks side to side, and says "Huh? What's that? Why did you wake me?"
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168958
168959
>>168957
"Ticket please," Amber asks simply.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168959
168960
>>168958
"Yeah yeah..." He pokes through his jacket pocket, then other jacket pocket, then pants pocket... then other pants pocket...

Nothing.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168960
168973
>>168959
"Have you got your ticket or not?" Amber asks, rather annoyed at this point.
Anonymous
d113c9f
?
No.168962
168963
>>168944
Oh wait, I have Tenser's Floating Disk from spellstitching. I could drag this guy along. He might come in handy later, alive or dead.
>>168940
Posey turns to Mason as she readies to leave.
"Were they friends of yours?" she asks
She put a quizzical amount of emphasis on the word 'friend', as though it's a sort of eldritch art that she hasn't fully wrapped her mind around
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168963
168965
>>168962
"No." He answers, shaking his head. He's obviously ready to bolt out of there. There are at least three creatures looking her direction, though it's hard to say when they started - it may not have been until after the Diamond Dog fled.
Anonymous
d113c9f
?
No.168965
168972
>>168963
"Then let us be off." Posey says, plucking the knife out of her chest, the wound oozing with corrupt black icor... but a trickle of red blood as well? She places the blade in her satchel (removing evidence).
Btw, is the pegasus still alive?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168972
168978
>>168965
Posey's best guess is yes, but without checking the body it is hard to tell.

Mason is happy to go off with Posey's confirmation.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168973
168974
>>168960
"Yes, I have it. It's just..."
He's feeling all around. Then in his seat. Then he doesn't seem to have it.

"I have my ticket." He says, coming a little closer to panic. This griffin is heavier, heavier built, and older than the young rapscallion encountered earlier.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168974
168975
>>168973
The conductor blinks, and is decidedly not in the mood for another train chase. "I'll come back later, please have your ticket by then."
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168975
168976
>>168974
Well, this one is probably slower. Probably. He's still looking for it as they move away.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168976
168977
>>168975
As long as he's not faking it….
Amber is not moving fast regardless, as she checks and punches the tickets of all the other passengers.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168977
168979
>>168976
The remainder of this task is thankless, somewhat tedious, but all in all, uneventful, and frankly not worse than most of what she has to do on a daily basis. At least she gets to punch holes through things.

Then Amber feels the train slowing down. She didn't give them permission to slow down. She doesn't feel a turn, and it's too soon for them to be approaching Soldau.
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168978
168980
>>168972
Then I'll take him. I won't get many more opportunities like this anytime soon.
"One moment, please."
Posey takes a moment to drag the stallion into the hidden alcove. There, she casts Floating Disk, and telekinetically flops the stallion onto it, before throwing her Cloak over the disk to obscure him.
And with that, she gallops off with Mason, towing her prize with her at full speed.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168979
168980
>>168977
For a moment Amber feels sheer panic as she thinks they're approaching the next station, before she had been able to finish or resolve all the problems. When it becomes apparent that's not possible though, she looks out the window and moves up to the engine, where she (hopefully) can unlock the door and ask what is happening.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168980
168981 168982
>>168978
She's going to drag the equivalent of a gurney through a public thoroughfare?

>>168979
All the problems?
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168981
168983
>>168980
Well, that one griffon who still doesn't seem to have found his ticket, but still.
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168982
168983
>>168980
Does it look feasible to get away with it?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168983
168984 168985 168986
OIP (4).jpg
>>168982
Having a body under a sheet floated through the air for at least a city block down a road, then up public stairs, then placed in a car that's parked in a public area? What do you think?

>>168981
Amber walks the approximately six car lengths, during which time the train comes almost to a complete stop. Amber finds the Engineer, the old grey griffin, in a somewhat excited state.

"The police called in and have ordered us to stop. I did not have time to wait for your command. They demanded we stop before we crossed the border." He tells Amber
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168984
168987
>>168983
Oh fine. No kidnapping for me tonight.
Posey gives up on her plan and gallops away.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168985
168989
>>168983
Amber gulps and seems to blanche. "Th-they called in? How?"
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168986
168987
>>168983
Kidnapping plans abandoned, how easily are we able to get to the car?
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168987
168988
>>168984
>>168986
Mason seems content with this choice. Posey doesn't actually know how to get back up, but Mason seems to. He seems a little confused at one point, stopping and looking at doors, before saying "this way" and moving further down, finding a set of stairs, and then coming onto the roadway. He looks around, then to the left. It's less than a block back to the car, still parked there. Mason looks around to make sure he isn't pursued or facing other danger, fumbles with his car keys before unlocking the automobile, and getting in.
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168988
168989
>>168987
Posey gets in after him.
She checks if the coast is clear as they leave.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168989
168990 168991
>>168985
He looks back to her, clearly concerned, but less so than Amber. "Is this your first time on the Hellquill line? Our locomotives are fitted with radios. They called in over the radio, telling us to stop immediately."

>>168988
He starts to drive immediately, going straight. The road turns to the left and takes them out of the rows of mixed-use buildings, and into factories and warehouses, sometimes traversed overhead with walkways, pipes, or conveyer belts.
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168990
168992
>>168989
Amber looks down briefly, then back up to stare at him. "Did they give you the identification code?"
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168991
168992
>>168989
Posey doesn't bother him with smalltalk for a while, instead scanning the area for unexpected obstacles or cars that may be following them. She continues like this until they've gone some distance.
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168992
168993 168994
>>168990
He looks to her, raisng an eyebrow

"No..? They've done it before and did not use an identification code. It's from a frequency generally used by the government though."

>>168991
Posey sees no sign that they are followed. There are obstacles like trucks, though these move quickly enough to suggest they are not traps. The only issue Posey may have noticed is they are going the wrong direction.
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168993
168995
>>168992
>wrong direction
"Um.. the lair is that way...?" Posey says inquisitively, not having mastered the art of automotive magic
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168994
168995
>>168992
"Frequencies can be imitated. Bandits have become more bold and clever, learning from Blackrock. A few trains have been ordered to stop and then robbed by bandits pretending to be the authorities. This is why codes have been recently introduced."
Rolling diplomacy: [1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15]
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168995
168996 168997
>>168993
"Yeah, yeah. I just want to be clear of there. If we go north, we'll probably have one more check point, but we should be fine." He answers, still driving, though if Posey thought they had any likelihood of being ambushed, she'd be uncomfortable with these streets that are more cramped than the ones she left.

>>168994
Bluff. It's called Bluff.

He looks anxious and uncertain. He picks up a receiver, and calls into it.

"This is HB 211. Can you give me the confirmation code. Over."

Response, a few seconds later,
"Confirmation code? This is Germar Grismonde of the Imperial Inquisition. You are to stop the train immediately. There may be fugitives aboard."
Anonymous
1c42a39
?
No.168996
168999
>>168995
"Hmmm, fair point. I'll leave it to you, Mason." Posey says
She takes a moment to recline, counting the spoils of her adventure
Amber Sunset
00374e7
?
No.168997
168998
>>168995
Amber puts on as serious a demeanor as she can manage while feeling so jittery.

"Look, if he was telling the truth, he won't keep his job long because the blame for not stopping will fall on him. But if we stop and it is indeed bandits–because this is exactly the sort of thing they would try–every single passenger will be robbed or worse. Do you want that weighing on your conscience?"
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168998
>>168997
"Are you sure they will always have a confirmation code?" He asks Amber.

But they barely have to wonder. Just ahead, looking out the window (of course through the side, the boiler is in the way directly ahead), they can see the alleged officers. Or at least, the engineer can. The train is almost stopped, though not quite.

"Oh look. They look like they have police uniforms to me." He says
Anonymous
2280868
?
No.168999
New Thread!

>>168996
She finds that she has a knife, an 8-inch pot, a mask, a small... fetish? totem thing? and a bracelet.