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.
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
847 replies and 80 files omitted.
>>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."
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."
>>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."
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."
>>167002
"I do not either" She answers,
Helder injects,
"We can make the ferry by morning, if we walk fast enough"
"I do not either" She answers,
Helder injects,
"We can make the ferry by morning, if we walk fast enough"
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
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.
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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."
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."
>>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.
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.
>>167009
"We must be careful, if the Inquisition has any suspicion of where we are headed they would surely send somegriff here."
"We must be careful, if the Inquisition has any suspicion of where we are headed they would surely send somegriff here."
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
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.
>>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.”
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.”
>>167024
Silver looks at Spec.
"Think you can take out gunner? I can provide suppressing fire if you can not."
Silver looks at Spec.
"Think you can take out gunner? I can provide suppressing fire if you can not."
>>167025
Streak peaks over towards the window, through the broken glass. He takes the Lilia rifle in hoof.
“I can try.”
Streak peaks over towards the window, through the broken glass. He takes the Lilia rifle in hoof.
“I can try.”
>>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 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, however, pauses, look unsure.
"Hmm...on second thought, this might not be best plan."
"Hmm...on second thought, this might not be best plan."
>>167030
"It might be easier if we all just fired at them at once. Accuracy through volume of fire and all that."
"It might be easier if we all just fired at them at once. Accuracy through volume of fire and all that."
>>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.
"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.
>>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.
>>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.
>>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.
"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.
[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
[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
>>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]
[Read more] 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]
>>167036
Federklied:
"The only thing we can do is to walk through the front. They look like Sibuline Order."
Federklied:
"The only thing we can do is to walk through the front. They look like Sibuline Order."
>>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
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
>>167040
Hmmm....
[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 19]
[Read more] Hmmm....
[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 4]
[1d20 = 7]
[1d20 = 6]
[1d20 = 19]
[1d20 = 12]
[1d20 = 8]
[1d20 = 18]
[1d20 = 5]
[1d20 = 19]
>>167044
Amber frowns. "We should at least try to not look like refugees. We probably look the worse for wear as of now."
Amber frowns. "We should at least try to not look like refugees. We probably look the worse for wear as of now."
>>167045
Erich buts in,
"Nah, these are Sibulines. They won't rob you. Not if you don't look like you have any money."
Erich buts in,
"Nah, these are Sibulines. They won't rob you. Not if you don't look like you have any money."
>>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.
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.
>>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]
[Read more] ...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]
>>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.
>>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.
1681671653.png (346.9 KB, 800x600, F708621F-611C-4AE7-AED6-2E952D9AC0D0.png)
>>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.
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.
>>167058
"Looks like you two just need some bandages to cover wounds for now."
Do they have any more bandages with them?
"Looks like you two just need some bandages to cover wounds for now."
Do they have any more bandages with them?
>>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 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.
>>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 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.
>>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."
"Looks like they were either grazed by bullets or cut by shards of glass. Nothing life threatening, but still needs to be patched up."
>>167067
It's the cream one who asks,
"Are we... supposed to stay here with you, or leave for casevacs?"
It's the cream one who asks,
"Are we... supposed to stay here with you, or leave for casevacs?"
>>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."
"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."
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
"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
>>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.
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 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."
"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."
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>167091
While they work, Silver tries to see if there are any additional changelings visible in the windows of the transport ministry.
While they work, Silver tries to see if there are any additional changelings visible in the windows of the transport ministry.
>>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.
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.
>>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!"
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!"
>>167093
It's technically D&D, or is supposed to be, using the 3.5e system. It's morphed a little since.
[YouTube] Bojack Horseman - future of cinema![]()
It's technically D&D, or is supposed to be, using the 3.5e system. It's morphed a little since.
[YouTube] Bojack Horseman - future of cinema
>>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.
>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.
>>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.
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.
>>167129
What do you use for ponies? Ponyfinder?
>discord
Oh, so it's a discord thing. I thought it was on the board.
What do you use for ponies? Ponyfinder?
>discord
Oh, so it's a discord thing. I thought it was on the board.
>>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
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
>>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?
>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?
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.
>>167150
What level is the party now? This has been going on for a long time.
>>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?
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?
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
[Read more] >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.
>>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.
[Read more] > 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.
>>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?
[Read more] >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?
>>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]
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]
Test
[1d20 = 2]
[1d20 = 2]
>>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]
[Read more] 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]
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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]
[Read more] 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]
1683487938.jpg (53.9 KB, 518x606, 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.
[Read more] 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.
>>167214
Is all of this information considered to be common knowledge that new characters would know?
Is all of this information considered to be common knowledge that new characters would know?
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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
[Read more] >>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
>>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.
>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.
>>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.
[Read more] >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.
>>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
[Read more] >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
>>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.
[Read more] >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.
>>167227
>there's quite a few ways to play "evil," and more than one character has already done it.
Got any stories to tell?
>there's quite a few ways to play "evil," and more than one character has already done it.
Got any stories to tell?
>>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.
[Read more] >>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.
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
[Read more] 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
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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
[Read more] >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
>>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.
[Read more] >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.
>>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.
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.
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>>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?
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?
>>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.
>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.
>>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
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
Starting gold roll
[4d4 = 10]
[4d4 = 10]
Glad someponies are trying to restart the game.
>>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.
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.
>>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
[Read more] 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
>>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?"
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?"
>>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."
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."
>>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.
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.
>>167335
Is Amber looking to
Impress?
Sooth?
Distract?
Or,
To invoke the power of music to reach out directly and grab the soul?
Is Amber looking to
Impress?
Sooth?
Distract?
Or,
To invoke the power of music to reach out directly and grab the soul?
>>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.
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.
>>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 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.
>>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.
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.
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
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.
>>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?"
"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?"
>>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
[Read more] 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
>>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.
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.
>>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?
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?
>>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.
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.
>>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.
>>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.
>>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?"
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?"
>>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?"
"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?"
>>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..."
"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..."
>>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?
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?
>>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
"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
>>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."
"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."
>>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.
[Read more] 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.
>>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.
"Well... we need to start with Baltimare" He says, taking the magazine out of his Jenny, checking the bullets, and placing it back in.
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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
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
>>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!
[Read more] 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!
>>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."
"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."
>>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 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.
>>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.
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.
>>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 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.
>>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..."
"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..."
>>167387
In that incident she did not drop anything that belonged to her, so it would stand to reason she still has it.
In that incident she did not drop anything that belonged to her, so it would stand to reason she still has it.
>>167390
The customs agent takes Amber's passport...
But he has another paper too, which he starts to look at
The customs agent takes Amber's passport...
But he has another paper too, which he starts to look at
>>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
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
>>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.
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.
>>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.
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.
>>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?
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?
>>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 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.
>>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]
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]
>>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
[Read more] 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
>>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?"
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?"
>>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.
"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.
>>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."
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."
>>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?"
"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?"
>>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."
"We had best look there. If we conceal ourselves as staff of the train, we're much less likely to be inspected by police."
>>167408
"Well... if we're unnoticed, that may work." Helder says. Erich is clearly listening as well
"Well... if we're unnoticed, that may work." Helder says. Erich is clearly listening as well
>>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."
"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."
>>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."
"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."
>>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."
"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."
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