/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>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.

>>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.

>>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]

>>168446
Not much...

>>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

>>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.

"Maybe some day..."

>>168451
Is DM poner okay?

>>168471
Yes, am here. I should be available most of the weekend (I think). I should have the next part up soon

>>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.

>>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.

>>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...)

>>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.

>>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)

>>168479
Meant to say "can't stop you", but I guess the irony sticks anyway.

>>168478
Does she get any reply after knocking?

(I didn't think I would get a response so soon. I can play for the remainder of the day if you want)

>>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.

>>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]

>>168484
Opposed. She gets a buff for xenophobia:
[1d20+4 = (9+4) = 13]

>>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."

>>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?"

>>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.

>>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-"

>>168489
Posey gives a knowing nod
"These matters are complicated, but they can be resolved with proper expertise. May I come in?"

>>168490
"Yes, of course" She moves to the left, and gives room for Posey to enter.

>>168491
Posey enters, taking in the room around her.

Gotta go again. 10 minutes.

>>168492
Back
>>168491
What does the inside of the room look like?

>>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?"

>>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."

>>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?"

>>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."

>>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.

>>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?"

>>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."

>>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.

>>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?"

>>168502
I have to go again. Sorry. I'll come up with a suitable response in ~20 minutes

>>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?"

>>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

>>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.

>>168506
Then cross they shall! Silver leads the charge, and they should hurry lest anyling starts firing upon them.

"Go go go go go!"

>>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.

>>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]

>>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

>>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"

>>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."

>>168508
Are the windows low enough for Silver to peak into?

>>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.

>>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.

>>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.

>>168516
Ecru...it reminds him of a certain pony he met long ago...

Can the window be opened from the outside?

>>168517
No.

If there ever was an ecru pony, he is not by Silver's side here in this war.

>>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]

>>168519
Opposed
[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]

>>168518
Hmmmm...assuming it's locked, is there any way to unlatch the window?

>>168520
Fanatic Xenophilia wins the day

I should specify, unlatch it from Silver's side

>>168520
I didn't think Diplomacy checks were opposed, but I think I just won.

>>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

>>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?

>>168525
>>168525
Only if they went one at a time

>>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."

>>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.

>>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?"

>>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.

>>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.

>>168531
"What happened to him in the past couple weeks? How did he die, and where was he buried?"

>>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.

>>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?

>>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."

>>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."

>>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."

>>168537
That is the direction Silver follows: left, then right.

>>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]

>>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

>>168540
Friendship win!

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.

>>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.

>>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."

>>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."

>>168545
Forgot the mark

>>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.

>>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)

Posey notes the kaftar clergy as a potential ally of the Dread League, and makes her way towards the tartarian depths of Commanche.

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

[dead horse noises]

>>168625
What about this week?

Hey, DM, could Posey search behind any of these Kaftar shops to get enough bones to form a skeleton?

>>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?

>>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

>>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.

>>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]

>>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?

>>168711
Posey will move towards the address, taking in the environment as she goes.

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.

>>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

>>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.

>>168714
I guess I'll roll a check to see what I know about these new creatures:
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]

>>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.