/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>169287
>have moved to canterlot
Isn't that currently under changeling occupation, or am I mistaken?
What does Posey know about the current political/military situation right now.
Rolling a history/local check (same modifier)
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
>some new shift of power against organized labor
Hmmm, I thought fascism was on the rise here; didn't think organized labor would be on the chopping block with fascists in charge. I guess it must be a product of paranoia with the threat of communism.
Posey takes note of this, looking for any political wedges that may assist the conquest of the Dread League.
>When the family has money again, the father will not be stressed, her mother will recover, and she and Lament could have a life together.
Hmmm, looks like Lament has his own, mortal motivations. Posey observes this from a distance, her golden eyes watching the two silently.

[i]resists the urge to sneak up and jumpscare them

>>169287
>her father's wishes
>stress
>specific suitor
>life together
Hmmm, complex problems require complex solutions... I think I just might have an idea.

>>169288
Posey knows that Canterlot has always been the center of the Equestrian Elite, though it hardly has a monopoly. It seems to be under pony (New Mareland State) control, albeit on the border.

Posey is able to gather a small history of labor relations in Baltimare. Evidently there has always been tension, very often violent, between labor and industry in Baltimare. As Lament tells her, it has been going on since before she was born. Under the Twilight Administration the balance of power shifted decisively towards industry, as factories could simply replace striking and disgruntled workers with cheap migrant laborers that came in by the tens of thousands, although this did not translate to personal success for the Mare's father as now they competed with a company out of Hippogriffia. Lament claims this whole period just made the worker's even angrier, although the mare seems to have preferred this era as the social gatherings were nicer. The mare doesn't care for the gatherings herself much, but her mother does, and she wants to see her mother happy. It should also be noted that the mare doesn't terribly like the migrants. Specifically bat ponies. They look creepy with their slit pupils, and tall ears.

Then came the war. The goods her father makes - industrial dyes mostly used in clothing - came in much higher demand, and so things were looking brighter. But then the pools of migrant labor dried up, and a general labor shortage began. The unions took advantage of this, and several strikes began. Between this and the low profit of the government contracts, what promised to be an opportunity for business turned into a series of losses. Then calamity struck when New Mareland invaded, and cut off Baltimare from most of the world. General shortages, and certainly no selling of goods. Peace came, but was followed by a revolt, which saw discontented workers try to seize the factory and evidently a small amount of damage was done - not that much, but one more bill on top of others. The old unions were abolished and replaced by a new one. The new union will not permit strikes, and the workers think that the (multiple) agreed upon wage increases are not sufficient given the labor shortages and inflation. Workers will act independently of the union, like the aforementioned cabbage throwing (one incident among many). The mare's father evidently has contracts with several state run businesses that are apparently more lucrative than the former wartime contracts, or even trying to compete with the Hippogriffian suppliers.

Lament smiles to the mare (on the one occasion Posey can see his face; the angle she's observing them from does not permit a good view), and places his hoof on her mane at one point in a reassuring manner. The mare more or less keeps her hooves next to her on the sofa. This may be caused by her sadden state, but she's actually less touchy towards Lament than Day Low Rain was the previous day.

>>169289
I'm... not so sure the mare agrees

>>169292
Posey scoffs at the state of labor relations. The mages in League know better, as skeletons don't go on strike (or at least, not successfully)
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=EcXcKg4pm3k
>I'm... not so sure the mare agrees
I was gonna shoot the shot, but I guess no point in jumping the gun.

Posey remains silent, contemplating this information.

>>169292
Oh, I probably should have checked this earlier.
Does Day Low Rain actually live here?

>>169293
Perhaps some day, Posey can revolutionize industrial production in Baltimare by showing the obsolesce of a living workforce.

The conversation drags on for quite a long time for Posey to get the above information - at least 30 minutes. By that time. Posey is likely wanting to do something else.

>>169294
Posey gets the distinct impression that Day Low Rain does not actually live in the manor

>>169295
>perhaps some day
Well, Posey is waiting for the Dread League to get ready to declare war on all life, so her political ambitions are a bit different.
>Posey is likely wanting to do something else.
Posey decides to explore the manor, the presence of this new mare making her question its secrecy, and it's inhabitants. She goes for a stroll, examining its fortifications, rooms, utilities and supposed inhabitants.
In the 30 minutes, did she catch the mare's name?

>>169295
>distinct impression that Day Low Rain does not actually live in the manor
Posey makes note to inquire where she resides at the earliest opportunity.

>>169301
>Mare's name
Lament never actually says the Mare's full name. He does refer to her as "Bell," so she can surmise that is at least part of her name, but likely not her full name. Bell's father is referred to as "Mr. Mordant," at points.

Posey explores the house to find that:

The large library-parlor room occupies a portion of the southeast of the house, with a billard room next to it, which includes a pair of tables with other games. Lament has more than one chest set, including a griffin knight themed set, as well as a drawer displaying what seems to be collectable playing cards. On the other side from the library parlor room is another room likely best described as a parlor room (smaller than the last), with a couple couches and a large potted plant. This room holds a display with a number of weapons (a halberd, assorted pole arms, swords, an entire suit of armor, arquibuses and a musket). Beyond this in the corner is a library, which seems to be more the "real" library than the last. This room is two floors with a spiral staircase going up, a small desk, and while there are several windows, there are book shelves going all the way to the top of the second floor, with a small ladder to reach them. These books look a bit older. Adjacent to this room, though not connected, is a large kitchen, as well as a pantry, a large butler's pantry, and in the northwest corner connected to the entry foyer, a large dining room with a long dining table, a cabinet with a porcelain collection, a chandelier, and a set of silver plateware and candle holders. The long semi-library, the billiard room, and the library are decorated in green, albeit different shades of green, with the true library having a forest green, and the billiard room and semi-library a lighter shade. The parlor room and the living room, as well as the entry foyer have red wall paper. Floral pattern decorations occasionally paint the high ceilings. The dining room is blue and white, like the porceilin in the cabinets, and every outer wall is lined with windows. The entry foyer has a large chandelier, and the two semi-circular staircases going up to a large landing. Underneath this staircase, towards the door going outside that sits between the parlor room and the semi-library, is a powder room, and a seperate, larger bathroom that includes a tub. There is also a closet with boots and umbrellas inside, and across from that, a door that opens into a basement.

Going up the staircase, there is a landing with red carpet, a suit of pony armor on the left, as well as paintings on the walls. It should be noted that most rooms have at least one painting on the walls, as this seems to decorate empty wall space when there is no cabinet or display case. Every single painting that is not a portrait is in the same artistic genre - a school of realism that was popular about 200 years ago. Most of the paintings show nature scenes, ruins, famous landmarks, or mundane scenes like a colt putting on shoes in an outdoors scene. These paintings mostly come from the same four or so artists, it seems. Upstairs, there are also several portraits of unicorns. These appear old and are accompanied by a pair of old photographs - more than a half century old - of mares. At the far end of the landing is a "flower room," with large windows, several potted plants, an old stove, a couple chairs, and a pair of small statues of mares. This room connects to what must be a work room on the left, which has a large, luxurious desk, a large window, a leather chair, more bookshelves, and decorations like zebrican shields, more halberds, and paintings on the wall that include symbols and abstract shapes. There is a table at the far end that is a small, marble square placed at an odd angle. This room connects to the staircase of the library, and to what seems to be a dressing room, that in turn connects to what seems to be the master bedroom. The Master bedroom has a large bed, a phonograph, a sofa, more paintings and cabinets, another statue, and a taxidermied... Chimera? It's not the full animal. This connects to a large bathroom and closet with a marble jaccuzi tub in the former (this must be a new addition as it does not fit with the general decorum) and a closet full of suits. There is also a door that connects to a staircase that goes up to a third floor.

All of these rooms take up the left/northern half of the second floor, but the other half includes one, two, three more bedrooms, on the other side, as well as two smaller bathrooms, and a small smoking room that connects to the flower room. This latter room is decorated with many mirrors.

>fortifications
The manor is not anywhere styled as a castle, and certainly was not actually intended to be a castle. There may be magical wards, but no mundane locks on the main floors. In fact, the staircases going to the third floor and the basement are the only doors that are locked.

>Utilities
The house has electric lighting and indoor plumbing. These must have been added during renovation, as the house's construction seems to have preceded these innovations.

>Inhabitants
Lament seems to be the only pony living in the manor itself, although unmade beds in a couple bedrooms suggest there may have been others.

The manor is of course only one of several buildings on the property.

>>169306
>description
Very detailed.

With nothing better to do, Posey decides to take a bath, in the more remote bathroom, filling the tub before shutting of the water and entering it. She takes about half an hour, paying attention to scrub her mane, coat and other bits clean, applying copious amounts of various soaps and cosmetic products if any are available.
When she's finished, she exits the tub before draining it, retires her mane into her war-bun, and dries herself off, looking especially fluffy as she does. She momentarily recoils at the sight of a mirror, before turning and going about her night, stalking the mansion, like a cat prowling about its turf.
>Lament seems to be the only pony living in the manor itself
No servants of any kind. Interesting.
>unmade beds in a couple bedrooms suggest there may have been others
How fresh do they appear? Are there any clues as to whomever they might be?

>>169306
>The manor is of course only one of several buildings on the property.
Which other buildings are present? Posey might want to explore those, with no mission at hoof.

>>169307
>more remote bathroom
On the second floor?
Posey can probably avoid being found lurking in the manor, and she can probably avoid hearing anything more if she so desires... though it should be noted that the floors creak periodically. The house is more than a century old, and like all venerable, old, large houses, the house has a way of producing noises to make one think they are not alone, even when no pony else is present. Posey does hear Lament and Bell at one point, when the two move to the back porch. She can hear Lament tell Bell something about the plantation evidently having a history of growing indigo at some point, though not much else.

Any blood, or smell of hyena, or other undesirable debris or contaminant is washed off of Posey, and she's left just as beautiful as ever, although for whom her bueaty is intended remains to be seen.

One of the extra bedrooms seems to have been used perhaps a week ago. The bed is made, but there is an empty bottle of whiskey, and a vest belonging to a stallion remaining there. The other room has an unmade bed, an empty wine glass, and a sock that seems to belong to a female. That one is a few days old, if that.

>>169308
Posey can see more buildings. One building best seen from the library, to the left/north of the manor and a bit behind it, is a barn-like structure with a large door and a gambrel roof. The dirt road that moves past the manor goes up to it. Immediately behind the manor is a fountain, though it's empty now, and a few beds belonging to a garden, though it is dead or dormant now. There are several buildings in almost a circle behind the manor in the large clearing that is bordered by trees. There is the cottage that Posey went to during the day, another pair of what seem to be houses, a small building with a covered porch and a steep roof, and then one more, shed-like building.

To the east, posey is already familiar with the small path that goes towards her cottage on the lake.

Posey can see that over to the left/north, behind the gambrel roofed building, there is a large dirt road that goes over into the tree line. Next to this small road is a powerline, which makes the path through the trees even wider. Looming over this northern tree line, and dark against a clouded night sky that reflects the distant lights of Baltimare in a yellow luminescence, the outline of what seems to be a small steeple and another structure, that seems to move slightly in the night.

>>169216
Amber finds a suitably thick piece of cloth–a handkerchief, perhaps–and gags the griffon. This car lacks an adequate closet so she drags him to the next car.

>>169311
The griffin is starting to try to talk, and opens his eyes. Helder pulls out his handkerchief.... until he sees that it is covered in blood. He puts it away quickly before the passengers see it. The griffin manages to yell "Hey!" before Federklied places what seems to be a sock in the griffin's beak. Erich helps Amber drag the griffin to the front of the car, presumably to the lavatory.

>>169313
Amber resists the urge to talk about further plans while their captive is in earshot. Hopefully they can seal him away without further incident.

>>169314
A bit of twine around the beak, then around the claws, then around the hind legs, and an attempt on the wings... forget the wings, just stuff him in the bathroom and lock it.

And it is done.

>>169315
Once it is done Amber takes Erich aside and asks, "My friend, what do you recommend once we get to the next station?"

>>169316
Erich replies:

"Helder better not be shitting us about his contacts in the Reformitsen. If there is even a chance they will turn us over, we'll have to stay in these clothes all the way to Lake City."

>>169317
Amber seems disconcerted by this. "The longer we stay on this train, the harder it will be to keep up the charade. Would they really turn us over?"

>>169318
"I do not know" he answers, clearly irritated. "I've never been completely into this 'occultism'. Helder is the one who got me into this. He's the one who knows someone in the Reformitsen. This is my first time outside of the Herzlands."

>>169319
"And you know Helm turned out…," Amber remarks bitterly. "Let's get more details from him. I don't like being kept in the dark." Amber goes to find Helder.

>>169320
Helder is at the end of the coach, evidently trying to figure out how to close the rear door. He is kind of near passengers at the moment.

>>169321
"The latch is broken," Amber states. "We're going to need to nail it shut."

>>169322
"Yes... But we don't have a nail. We may have to hold it shut till Soldau." He answers, looking at the door, and then at Amber

>>169323
"There must be an alternative," she replies, thinking that sealing the door will help the passengers feel secure. She tries to find something nearby that can brace or hold the door shut.

>>169324
Well, Amber had her wrench, and there was the crowbar.

>>169325
Amber sees about jamming the crowbar between the door and the frame to hold it tight.

>>169326
And...

It seems to hold. Placing the wrench between the door handle and the edge seems to stop it. Jamming in the crowbar for good measure is... hopefully enough. Hopefully.

>>169327
They are over the border, there shouldn't be more intruders…right? Amber is satisfied, and takes Helder and Erich aside to discuss who his "connections" are.

>>169328
There... shouldn't be. Surely they wouldn't cross the border just to stop these dangerous rebels, and also to rescue their comrade whom they left behind? The invisible line on the map will stop them. Right?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Omw9H7In200

Erich and Amber take Helder to the vestibule at the front of the last car. Helder explains:

"I knew several of them when they would come to Katerinburg. I think you saw them too. A Feuerblume and a Geizhals in particular. Wingfried Von Katerinburg is the grandmaster now, and he is the cousin of the deposed Diazella. The Reformitsen appreciate our special knowledge and our art in ways the Imperials simply won't. Birds of a feather, after all."

>>169329
"They would heavily dislike the Empire now, wouldn't they? Hmm…if we don't cause trouble in Hellquill itself, maybe they will be accommodating. What do you say, Erich?"

>>169330
Erich blinks

"I'm not sure what else we can do. We can't go back to Katerinburg, or the Imperial District. That's for damn sure."

>>169333
"We're going to have to trust Helder's contacts then. We'll quietly get off at Hellquill Station and proceed on our way."

>>169310
Posey decides to go out for a stroll, to assess the state of the buildings arranged in the circle, and seek any inhabitants.

>>169310
>steeple and another structure
Ugh oh, that sounds like a church

>>169340
Does Posey see anything of interest outside?

>>169335
"But here's the question. Do you trust you can keep this up for two more stations, all the way to Hellquill? Or should we get off at Soldau, and take our chances with the Soldau police?"

>>169346
One minute

>>169347
Amber is hesitant to answer. "I'd like to get off, except, this close to the border, the Inquisition is likely to have agents ready to intercept us. They're local police, so we probably won't find Helder's contacts and they'll be easier to bribe–but we don't have anything to bribe them with. I would rather go to Hellquill. We've done it so far, and it's not too much more."

>>169340
The first building on the left that Posey sees is the structure with the gambrel roof that is near the manor. It is rectangular, and the roof is tar. The walls are whitewashed, and painted recently enough that it obviously has been painted in the last few decades. The paint is, nevertheless, faded in places.
It has only a few windows, and these are closed with blinds.

Posey would pass a dirt road that leads north, in the direction of the structures over the trees. It's a cart road with the aforementioned powerlines

The second structure is further back, also on the left, and looks kind of like a small home. It has a triangular roof, a painted white wood exterior, and a more or less square shape. It looks rather like the bungalow Posey saw ealier. The blinds on the windows are down, and posey can see that there seems to be a light inside.

The next building past this one is similar in design. It literally is the bungalow that Posey saw earlier.

On the right are another bungalow, albeit one where the roof seems to be dilapidated and the paint is deterioted.

There is a building a bit closer to the manor that is rectangular with a tiny covered porch, a chimney, and open blinds. There are no lights. It isn't completely deteriorated, but there are missing tiles on the roof.

There is also a structure that seems to be some type of shed. Hints of white paint indicate that this structure, too, was once whitewashed. It is hard to say if this building is abandoned or not.

Posey can also see a lonely brick chimney in another plot, and then still another lot that has a hint of a foundation.

>>169348
Erich does not seem to like this answer, but for once, his response is resignation rather than revolt.

"Alright" He answers

Helder actually has the stronger response
"Can you keep it up?" He asks

>>169349
Posey contemplates harassing the creatures in the lit building, but decides that she's knocked on enough doors for tonight.
Can Posey detect any other signs of life/unlife?
Rolling Spot
[1d20+4 = (11+4) = 15]
And Listen
[1d20+4 = (14+4) = 18]

>>169350
A tap, and a couple clops.

A shadow seems to move, albeit briefly.

Further away, Posey can hear the sounds of crickets, frogs, and a yip.

>>169349
Oh yeah, Search check as well, in case there's a secret door beneath the chimney foundation, as there often is in games.
[1d20+5 = (13+5) = 18]

>>169351
>A shadow
What kind of shadow?

>>169353
The best guess is that it's a quadraped, but the distance of the source of the shadow from the blind, as well as the angle, prevents any kind of specificity.

>>169352
Well, yes. Kinda. A simple door on the ground made of wood barely still exists, but it does, sort of. Opening this door reveals something kind of like a crawlspace, or a tiny basement. It is not deep enough for a pony to stand up in, it is covered by a wooden floor that is collapsing, and the ground of this space is not just covered in dirt, but now vegetation.

>>169354
So, not an undead shadow.
Posey decides to check if anything is hidden in the crawlspace.
She feels around with her horn, preferring not to get dirty shortly after bathing.

>>169355
"Why is nothing haunted around here? There should be more hauntings." Posey says to herself, still managing her expectations for what Equestria should look like

Rolling Search, to look for treasure in the crawlspace
[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8]

>>169356
Nope

>>169355
>>169357
Equestrian ghosts don't seem to be very outgoing.

Twigs, a part of a broken bottle, and a deformed tin can.

>>169349
Amber is tired from the fight and the fears it brought, but maintains her resolve. "I can. Can you?"

>>169358
I guess Posey should go to a guild bulletin or something if she wants to encounter the undead.

Rolling an untrained Perform check to dance around in the moonlight and garner the attention of restless spirits (just a shitpost roll)
[1d20+4 = (15+4) = 19]

>>169362
>>169361
From West, and in front of the manor, a chilling breeze blows through, shaking the limbs of those trees that have kept their leaves, and even shaking barren branches. Masses of decaying leaves are lifted up in swirls, cast into the air and falling down again. A cloud passes over the light of the waning gibbous moon, as the wind gently howls.

>>169364
Posey hasn't found the thing I wanted her to yet

I suppose we could. What sort of thing do you have in mind?

>>169359
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfAHbm7G2R0

Amber now has the answer to the question "can a griffin scrunch?" Not exactly, but they can come damn close. Helder finally replies "yes."

Amber feels the train slowing down. She can hear a brief screech as the pneumatic brakes press too hard, and then ease up.

>>169365
Any quest would do.
>you must kill X
>investigate reports of X
>find the lost X
>take X to Y
I'm not too picky.
Preferably undead-related, on in a way that advances the political goal of the Dread League. Fulfilling her duties to the league and advancing her personal powers over the dead are Posey's primary motivations.
I've been back reading some of the old threads, and I see there is/was a lich or something near the city? I didn't absorb the whole situation, but I think the League would have/want contacts with any local liches, so that information might be something Posey would have some wind of. Maybe something related to that, as an aftermath of the other party's quest. Maybe that could also potentially lead me to cross paths with the party, potentially.
Posey is content to sit at home and read, or lay in a coffin forever, but
I'm never going to find it at this rate. Give me a clue, please.

>>169367
Just that she'd see the village that's just down the road. I'm not sure how important it really is

>there is/was a lich or something near the city?
Correct

Okay, I have a couple ideas

>>169368
I guess it's worth seeing what the village is inhabited by, and how secluded it is. It might come in handy just in case Posey needs to commit a quick warcrime for reasons later.

>>169369
It's Equestria, dotted by numerous villages. But there's a specific one nearby

>>169370
Posey decides to lurk on the outskirts of the village, to size it up.

>>169370
How big is the village?

>>169370
Does the village have a name?

>>169371
>>169378
Perhaps it is of interest to Posey, perhaps it isn't, but it is most certainly something Posey could encounter on a nightly walk.

Standing on the foundations of the now lost structure, Posey could walk down that winding path east, and back to her cottage. She could go back to the manor. She could wonder into the treeline, full of wild and still verdant cypress trees, and rows of defoliated citrus trees.

But should she move just a little west back towards the manor, and to that small, dirt cart path now lined by wooden poles carrying a powerline, she could follow it through a tree line not a hundred yards in depth and exit into a vast clearing. Over to the left, the far left, Posey would find a large, plowed, fallow field with sprouting grass and rimed with trees that likely mark the border with the road that took Posey to the manor from Baltimare. Over to the far right, Posey can see comparatively neat rows of barren branch deciduous trees that are almost certainly oranges, lemons, or some kind of kind of fruit. But it's what is in front of her, and to her more immediate left and right, that is far more interesting.

The road continues a ways down, mostly straight, and composed of dirt and pebbles. But to either side of this road are a number of structures. At first, coming out of the trees, there is nothing. But to the left, is a wooden structure that Posey understands well enough to call a barn. It has one of those machines parked in it, visible through an open door, the mortals use for their agriculture. Just a bit further past are shrubs growing ontop of the foundations of what must have been, some decades ago, structures. But just a few yards past these, on either side of the road, are small rectangular buildings, slightly raised above the ground, with little steps leading up to them and low angled roofs that hang over the edges, and a small chimney at the end. These buildings are made of wood, sometimes painted white, sometimes barren or perhaps painted brown. In some, grass and shrubs have grown high around them. Some have simple cut grass, while others have manicured rose bushes. Most have gardens behind them, raised beds with raised or dormant plants in them, though some grow winter hardy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, or squash. These gardens are sometimes separated by fences, be they barbed wire or wood, and sometimes open. A couple have compost heaps, with little bits of rotten food wastes sitting on the top. There are perhaps eighteen or so of these small buildings in total. Though a few seem abandoned, most seem inhabited with blinds closed on the glass windows, and a few have lights on inside. These rows of buildings are split in the middle by a pair of slightly larger buildings with big wooden doors, surrounded by dirt and pebbles. The two buildings are slightly different, but both have big chimneys, with the one on the right having an external oven. Further away off to the right, by the tree line, are bigger, two-story buildings with few windows, and timber emanating from the center.

Though the row begins with simple foundations, it ends with two structures that are bigger and more impressive than those that came before. One is a house with a stucco exterior, albeit one that is bigger than any before, being longer, wider, taller, and better constructed than those that came before, with a tile roof. This house has lights on inside. Across from the house, and slightly further away, is a small - very small - rectangular church building, complete with a steeple and a brass sun figure hanging over the door. The walls are coated in fresh-enough whitewash, and the windows are unbroken, suggesting the building remains in use. But Posey does not feel that wicked aura normally exuded by these buildings.

The road continues, veering off slightly to the left, before turning right to cross the river on a small wooden bridge. There is some sort of shed across the river, and then rows of what seem to be more fruit trees. But what lays to the right is more interesting. The road splits, and a section goes to the right, down to the small river. There is a large brick structure that Posey can immediately recognize as a windmill. It's four wooden blades move slowly in the breeze, even as the top of the structure looks as if a hole has been blown into it, or else collapsed from decay. But behind the windmill, on the gentle slope to the river, and the riverbank itself, are more small structures. The river is perhaps twelve or so feet below the ground level, and several small shed-like structures that seem to be homes line the river and the hill. These are made of unpainted wood, usually with tin or sheet metal roofs. Lights, sometimes the consistent yellow of electrical lighting, and more often the flickering of kerosene lamps, shine through many windows, or even sit on the wooden porches that extend out onto the still water of the river. Posey can hear the sounds of a drum coming from the river, and perhaps would see activity if only she peered further. The small river opens to a bayou or swamp, with low cypress trees small than those seen before lining the waterline. Posey can see the outline of what must have been a watermill, but perhaps that is further away than she dares look.

>>169366
"That must be our stop now! About time…" Amber remarks. She makes her way to the front of the train to be ready for when it stops.

>>169383
>full of wild and still verdant cypress trees, and rows of defoliated citrus trees.
"Abundant vegetation... enough to raze without ponies noticing." Posey silently thinks to herself
>wooden poles carrying a powerline
"The ponies in this realm rely on these overhead infrastructures for fuel and light. Temporary blackouts are plausible." Posey observes, as she follows the lightning-powered structure down the path
>a large, plowed, fallow field with sprouting grass
"Agricultural activity in the more rural areas. Concealing contingent troops below the fields offers the potential to encircle the cities on sudden notice if forces are built up overtime." Posey ponders, the schematics for such a siege going through her head
>Just a bit further past are shrubs growing ontop of the foundations of what must have been, some decades ago, structures
"Decayed structures... a site of interest."
>small rectangular buildings
This catches her attention. She silently moves closer, as she dates.
"Isolated rural communities... of interest."
>In some, grass and shrubs have grown high around them.
"Either low activity, or cultural taste. Best investigate."
>Some have simple cut grass, while others have manicured rose bushes.
"Roses... A needy flower, one to wither and die when it's not cared for, not loved... The ponies here live peaceful lives, with abundant free time. Mortal activity is present" Posey observes, lurking in the shadows
>Most have gardens behind them, raised beds with raised or dormant plants in them, though some grow winter hardy vegetables like lettuce, cabbage, or squash.
>A couple have compost heaps, with little bits of rotten food wastes sitting on the top.
"Self-sufficiency, peace, humble lifestyles... These ponies would be unaffected even if their capital were to burn, as they have since time immemorable." Posey pauses, as if lost in thought
>Though a few seem abandoned
"...Or perhaps not. The population declines, perhaps either mobilized by war, or moving for opportunities in the city..."
>There are perhaps eighteen or so of these small buildings in total.
"Settlement size... Thorp, not even a hamlet. Perhaps one of countless across the countryside." Posey thinks, as she takes mental note of the demographics
>external oven
"Blacksmith, if my hunch is correct. The ponies here likely repair their own shoes and tools. They would be affected little by supply chain crises."
>Further away off to the right, by the tree line, are bigger, two-story buildings with few windows, and timber emanating from the center.
"Lumber is processed too. Living off the land..." her hooves pat at the fertile soil beneath her, some of the grass turning gray and withering with her touch
"I can feel the love these ponies have for their home... so fertile, so much fuel..." she gives a bit of a sinister, fanged grin
>Though the row begins with simple foundations, it ends with two structures that are bigger and more impressive than those that came before.
"The upper class appears to prefer this side of the settlement. Perhaps the the thorp includes servants and hirelings brought for construction and services..." Posey observes
>rectangular church building
As the sight of this, she freezes, her face twisting in momentary panic, before she regains her composure as
>Posey does not feel that wicked aura normally exuded by these buildings
"This... temple... hasn't been hallowed in years, perhaps not even consecrated. The priesthood may be absent, or in decline due to the state of the princess... The ponies appear to remain faithful though. It's a site of interest." Posey thinks to herself, gritting her fangs
She trots a bit closer, with utmost caution, interested in any holy symbology associated with the structure
Religion Check
[1d20+9 = (8+9) = 17]
>several small shed-like structures that seem to be homes line the river and the hill
"This settlement may be larger than I thought... a Hamlet, perhaps even a village."
>These are made of unpainted wood, usually with tin or sheet metal roofs. Lights, sometimes the consistent yellow of electrical lighting, and more often the flickering of kerosene lamps, shine through many windows
"Structure indicates that the lower class resides here..."
>further away than she dares look.
Posey contemplates crossing the river, her vampire-like phobia causing rigor mortis in her flesh as her body freezes, like a corpse

>>169368
>I have a couple ideas
Could we do that this week or the next?

>>169385
>High grass
Posey can't tell if these buildings are recently uninhabited, or if the owners are just lazy. These buildings do not seem well maintenanced, but they must have been inhabited at least a decade ago.

Posey can say with reasonable certainty that many, or even most of the buildings, are currently inhabited.

Posey can tell that the rectangular structure with the steeple is clearly a church, and more specifically, a type of Equestrian Celestialist harmonism. Or at least, that's what the structure was built as, and that is what the corroded brass sun hanging high above the door would suggest. The windows are open, should Posey dare peer in.

Indeed, Posey may investigate much of anything further, although it is not clear she could do so unnoticed. This little thorp or hamlet is certainly sleepier than the crowded slums Posey saw earlier, but neither is dead.

>>169386
I doubt the meat could be reached this week (between work and Marefair), but I do think at minimum the set up could be completed.

>>169388
>should Posey dare peer in
I'm feeling bored, and Posey is feeling cocky, so she very cautiously approaches the window.
Rolling Stealth
[1d20+9 = (17+9) = 26]

>>169389
>bored
scrunch

Posey thinks she is stealthy as she moves close to the window of the church, and peers in

Inside, she can see that the front rows of the pews have been removed to give a large open floor which has a few wooden chairs on it. Along the wall are black statues of varying sizes of equine shapes, shrunken equine skulls with locks of mane hair hanging down, and shelves with unknown jars. On the floor, drawn in chalk, are unknown complex symbols.

>>169390
>Along the wall are black statues of varying sizes of equine shapes, shrunken equine skulls with locks of mane hair hanging down, and shelves with unknown jars. On the floor, drawn in chalk, are unknown complex symbols.
Oh, not so holy afterall, it seems.
Posey looks almost giddy.
Rolling Arcana to recognize what the chalkline is being used for
[1d20+9 = (13+9) = 22]
And religion too, because why not. Posey is no stranger to black magic, so she might recognize some symbols.
[1d20+9 = (17+9) = 26]

>>169391
Posey knows what culture this came from. This is Zerbican voodoo, a blanket term used to refer to a group of mostly hybrid religious practices coming from the traditional folk folk practices of Zarantia or the Greak Lakes region of Zebrica, esoteric pratices within these same regions, and sometimes hybridized with elements of religion from Equestria or the Riverlands.

Posey does not know precisely what the chalk line is being used for, but a best guess is that its purpose is to summon a spirit for purposes of communication.

>>169392
>summon a spirit for purposes of communication.
Now that's something interesting.
Posey looks around the interior for any creatures
Spot
[1d20+4 = (6+4) = 10]
Listen
[1d20+4 = (14+4) = 18]

>>169393
Posey does not see anything inside of the church building.

Posey does not hear anything inside of the church building. Unless... is that a rat scurrying? Hard to say. From further down on the river, much further down, Posey thinks she can hear a creature talking. From a bit nearer and in front (blocked by the building), she thinks she can hear the sound of a hoof clopping on the dirt and rock road. And then from the tree line, there is a sound of... maybe it's a dog or a hog. Hard to say.

>>169395
Posey steals herself, grits her teeth, and gives a bit of an exerted grunt as she enters the church, hoping she doesn't burst into flames as she enters.
Rolling Stealth, to sneak inside
[1d20+7 = (17+7) = 24]
Once she's inside, she examines the room more thoroughly
Search
[1d20+1 = (20+1) = 21]
(Applying a -2 penalty to checks, because undead phobia)

>>169396
Posey rolls around the front, carefully moving as a cloud passes over the moon, and silently opens the door (which fortunately, is unlocked) and moves inside, closing the door carefully and silently. She finds that though this structure was born as a church, it is now a hollowed-out corpse, used for other purposes.

Inside, Posey can see a number of things, including:
at least three shrunken heads.
A book of spells
A suspicious door to what is presumably a loft
Several jars containing herbs
An incense burner that actually does seem to have originated from a celestialist church.
A suspicious door on the ground behind the altar.

At a podium resembling an altar, Posey finds what seems to be a book of spells. There are also cloaks hanging from the wall, and a couple other symbols on the ground.

>>169397
>it is now a hollowed-out corpse, used for other purposes.
How tasteful.
>book of spells
No use to Posey, sadly... Not a Wizard.

Posey looks around, for any signs of recent activity, to check if this church is still inhabited.

>>169398
Posey can discern that whoever uses this structure, does not live in it. But clearly, it is regularly used, albeit poorly locked up.

>>169399
Posey decided to inspect the ritual site, to see if she can see what spell is being cast here. It looks like a Planar Binding.

>>169400
It isn't so glamourous. Something more along the lines of channeling a spirit through a medium.

>>169401
Fascinating. Is it possible to learn this power?
Arcana check
[1d20+9 = (19+9) = 28]

>>169402
Supposedly, it is a natural talent, and only some creatures are receptive. But opinions differ, and with enough of a certain kind of training, perhaps most creatures can do it.

>>169403
Posey takes out her sketchbook and transcribes the runes on the circle for future reference. She carefully levitates the jars with her horn and takes a small sample of each herb, before placing them back where they were. She takes a hair from each shrunken head, and a pinch of incense, sniffing to see how recently it was burned.
Finally, she levitates the book, and flips through the pages, seeing if she can discern anything.

>>169404
Posey makes a mental decision to leave the objects in this building where they were. She is interested in establishing communications with whoever resides here, so she won't frighten them off by indicating their little sanctuary has been discovered, and if it is truly abandoned she could easily return to retrieve the objects in a matter of weeks if they do not return.
She peers into the loft, interested in what kind of lifestyle these locals had here.

>>169404
The book is written in an obnoxious pidgin language that seems to be a dialect of Equestrian Ponish. With effort, a Ponish speaker can understand the text. Posey, though conversational in Ponish, likely has a harder time reading it that a native speaker would. This isn't to say that Posey can't understands it, only that it isn't as simple as reading the text.

Fortunately, there are images accompanying the text that helps in at least understanding what the given spells are about.
Posey can see hexes to be performed on enemies, a female fertility spell, a spell to induce luck, and other such spells.

Posey has samples of the herbs now.

The incense seems to have been burned a few days ago.

>>169405
There is not enough space above the rafters to put an equine, unless said leans down. Posey can see that there is another couple jars with white powder up there.

>>169406
She examines the white powder, sniffing it, tasting some, unafraid of any poisons
"Zombie powder, perhaps?"
Alchemy check to discern it:
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]

>>169407
Forgot -2, this is a failed check.

>>169407
>>169408
It's not cocaine, sugar, or salt, if that is what she is hoping for.

Posey gets the distinct impression that she should not be eating it.

>>169409
Posey takes her face out of the jar, and puts the jar back where she found it.

And with that, I retire for the night. Need to work early tomorrow.

>>169410
After Posey finishes her examination, she exits the building with a dusty sigh.
She makes a mental note to come back to this building to retrieve the materials in the event that she's unable to contact the practitioner(s).
She also examines the exterior of the building, searching for any hoofprints.

>>169419
I'm going to roll Search
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]
And Survival
[1d20+2 = (17+2) = 19]

>>169419
It's potentially a literally dusty sigh with powder on her snout.

Posey sees no hoof prints on the exterior of the building, save for one rather obnoxious black hoofprint that seems to have stuck to the painted wood of the building a little left of the main entrance.

As for the area around the building, Posey sees disturbed dirt around the entrance and further away consistent with hoofprints, although between the rocks and dirt not retaining hoofprints well, evident recent rain, and the wind, the suggestions of hoofprints there are not distinct.

>>169424
>survival
Tracking?

>>169425
>Tracking?
In the event she found hoofprints, yes. She is interested in potentially locating the residence of the practitioners, or the direction they went, if they still exist.

>>169426
Posey runs into the aforementioned problems of weather and the surface stratum being only moderately receptive to hoof prints, but she runs into a bigger problem that she may already be familiar with from her time in the slums: there are not too few hoofprints visible, but too many, such that distinguishing an individual set is nigh impossible. The hoofprints run to the house across the street, to the small rectangular houses nearer the manor, and to the still smaller huts by the river side. They run to the church and they run past the church, to the right side of the fork, the left side, and back towards the manor. There are, simply, hoofprints everywhere. Or more accurately, posey sees the remains of the imprints of a horseshoe, or sometimes a naked frog, often on top of one another.

>>169427
Seeing this, Posey gives up on her search. She will stake-out the abandoned church on her own time to catch the elusive zebras.
For now, she returns to the manor, having been out long enough that it may be morning in not too long.

>>169428
Sooner or later, Posey shall find them

Returning to the Manor, that mare, Bell, has either gone home or gone to bed. Should Posey go looking for Lament, she will find him in the library. Otherwise, she may as well have the manor to herself, with the larger rooms unoccupied.

>>169430
Posey will likely return to converse with Lament tonight.
At some point around dawn, she'll rest for the day, to take care of Gloomy (feeding, bathing, playing, cuddling, etc) and recover her Arcane spell slots (takes 8 hours of non-adventuring).

For now, I sleep, because I must wage-slave again tomorrow. Let's maybe pick up at the next point Posey meets Lament and start the conversation from there.

>>169431
>>169430
If nothing of note happens before the end of the night (Lament not having anything new to say in conversation), or during the next day, I would like to list Posey's spell slots as recovered.

Posey encounters Lament standing in the manor, between the entry staircases of the foyer, and looking back through the hall towards the entrance that opens the manor to the garden. Precisely when, how, or under what circumstances this meeting takes place, and what, if anything, was said before, are not so important as what he says.
Lament wears a persistent smile that is expressive not so much of an intent to smooth relations with those around him, as of the joy of a mischievous plan well executed.

"Tell me, Posey. Do you wish to harm the enemies of the Dread League, or to enrich yourself by robbing the graves of those who came before?" He blinks, and a brief pause my cause Posey to think the answer sincere. But then he continues

"As I thought. As you well know, more necromancers and vampires of the dread league come from Equestria than any other principality, at least besides the Dread League itself. And yet, Equestria is, or rather, is very nearly, Lich and Vampire free. Why is that? Why would lords and mages choose to live in the frozen wastes, rather than the mansions, castles, and holds they built for themselves, or inherited by right of blood?" He blinks again with that same smile.

This time, he actually waits for Poesy's reply

>>169441
>"Tell me, Posey. Do you wish to harm the enemies of the Dread League, or to enrich yourself by robbing the graves of those who came before?"
"My duty is to forward the interests of the League, through diplomacy, infiltration, subversion and conquest. Killing and plundering are... perks of the job." Posey replies
"So, yes, yes indeed."

>why is that
At this, Posey's expression sours, almost glum. She shakes her head slowly, as if
"... I would say, hubris, and apathy." She begins
"I think you're mistaken, vampires and liches do inhabit castles and mansions all over the world; it's because of that that you never hear about them. They lock themselves away and revel in their powers, lifting not a single hoof to change the war around them. Vampires especially prefer secrecy over infamy: they're content to feed off of populations of ponies, hiding in plain sight. They're selfish and hubristic creatures, who care not of the world of mortals beyond their personal enjoyment, and notoriously hate the prospect of creating more of their kind, beyond that which they can personally control." At this, she grits her teeth, with a bit of a grimace, the topic
"Liches are perhaps the opposite: having spent centuries in pursuit of knowledge and greed, they lose sight of themselves. As their senses dull and all worldly pleasures become but distant memories, they lose all ambition. They lose passion for what they once valued, and forget the reasons for why they transformed in the first place. With nothing left to live for, they lock themselves away in their towers and dungeons, pouring over their tomes and gathering dust for all eternity, or perhaps in fruitless pursuit of whatever research they never completed in their lives." She continues
"Vampire Lords... Liches... Within this world, such beings could use their powers to change the world, and yet they squander it, having their decadent parties or wallowing in self-pity..." the frustration in her face is now obvious
"The purpose of the league was to wage war on life, but until recently, it was plagued with infighting, between hubristic Lords of the Coven so gluttonous and self-serving that they're hardly better than changelings, and the liches who so jealously guard their research that they forget what it was for in the first place..."

>>169442
Wow, that came out horribly. It's what I get for typing it over the course of two hours.

>>169442
"Correct, dear Ring, but you evade the question. Why do we prefer secrecy to infamy? Why hide at all? The reason is obvious. The elk, hunted by the wolf, kicks back. It sometimes kicks the alpha predator in the teeth, dooming it to slow starvation. So too it is with the ponies. They've wisen up over the generations; Equestria had not even formed before the first professional monster hunters and vampire slayers came about, with their special prayers and enchanted weapons. Worse, they began to organize. First it was a hunters guild. Then, the Equestrian Inquisition launched a special subsection to look for necromancers and vampires. But the last few sets of nails to keep the dead in their coffins - for a while, anyways - came when a combination of guilds were given monopoly to work as a single organization under the blessing and direction of the Princess. It was known by several names, but always the same acronym; founded as the Secret Monster Interdiction League of Equestria. Its force of well trained, well-funded, and well equipped slayers and hunters completed the exodus the Inquisition had started. Every unsanctioned necromancer, and every single vampire that dared give a hint as to its own existence found a stake driven through its heart by their agents. Not to imply the Princess stopped with the undead..."
He sighs

"Just over twenty years ago, the organization celebrated killing the alleged last vampire in all of Equestria just a couple hours east of here; a vampire from a family in White Severyana who holed up in the forest southwest of New Horseleans. It gives me no small amount of joy that the organization was just last year finally splintered into a thousand pieces and scattered to the winds. But some of those pieces still remain. I have my sources... I have it on good authority that the agent responsible for killing that last vampire has been hiding in Fillydelphia. He is making the trip back to the Hayseed Forest to locate the lair of that last vampire. It was missed, or at least, ignored by the hunters two decades ago, and he believes that he alone can find it. That lair, he says, holds a large amount of gold belonging to its former inhabitant, among other things. He intends to retrieve it."

“Now tell, me, Rosie Ring. Would you have any interest in perhaps engaging in a little interdiction of your own?”