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

[YouTube] The True Gift of Gifting [Embed]

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Occupied Equestria - Winter Winds
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171000
Continuing
1621 replies and 210 files omitted.
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
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No.171001
171002
>>170998 →
Amber groans. "And I don't suppose, with all the time we've had, you've thought about how we're supposed to get there?"
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171002
171003
>>171001
"Well, yes. Arrive in Hellquill on the train."
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
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No.171003
171004
>>171002
Amber pinches her beak with her talons. "Do the tracks go straight to the Ministry of Art?"
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171004
171009
>>171003
"No?" He answers, slightly turning his head
Anonymous
b07e630
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No.171006
171008
>This is the office of Junior Professor of Necromancy Diligent Debride, so says the plaque outside.
Posey takes a long, fake breath as she readies herself for what could turn out to be a very bad idea. She pats Gloomy with the glow of her horn before she glides into the room.
Anonymous
b07e630
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No.171007
171008
Does Posey see any creatures/ponies in the office?
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171008
171011
>>171007
She sees Gloomy

>>171006
Mason leaves the office, saying "Let me find her" and closing the door, leaving Posey alone with Gloomy in the office unattended, for a stretch of time that is most likely about two minutes. There is a clock on the wall, but it's on the side behind Posey. The door opens suddenly, and a mare lopes through the door, stopping suddenly just past posey, to the left of the desk, and turning quickly in place, even as the office does not give much space for this maneuver. Behind, Mason closes the door with himself inside of the office, and the office feels slightly crowded with the four of them inside. The room is dark until Mason flips a switch to an electric light. Under the yellow hued light of the incandescent bulb that sticks out from under a wooden ceiling fan, Posey has a better look at the mare. She is unicorn, with a more or less tan colored coat that is alternatively lighter and pink tinted in places, particularly on the belly and the muzzle. She's a little above average height, and has a lanky appearance with a chestnut mane that is tied in the back with a single pink band, and her tail has the same. Her eyes are a dim green, and she wears large, square shaped spectacles. She smiles, revealing teeth that are just slightly crooked. Her cutie mark, though hard to see, seems to be a black "T" shape with a droplet above it, imposed over a midnight blue blob that fades into the color of her coat. Her appearance suggests neither the vital youth of an ageless immortality, nor the scars and wrinkles that accompany accomplishment and wisdom of decades of experience, but an unhappy medium in between. If posey had any hope that this mare was an assistant, it takes less than a second before she opens her mouth and quickly ends it.

"Hello. Sorry, I was talking to a student after a class. Are you the new student? 'Student' I mean. Come in from 'abroad'? I've never seen one of you before. Well, I have, but I mean, not like this. I'm Dilligent Debride, by the way. I am a professor here at the medical school. I am your liaison with the educational world. There is much we can learn from each other. I have all of your paperwork set up. Oh, you have a foal with you? I didn't know you had a foal. I've always wanted a foal. Is he yours?"

She may continue for a while, if not interrupted
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
?
No.171009
171010
>>171004
"Fine," Amber says tersely. "Next stop, we call for a shift change, get through customs somehow, change out of our uniforms and inconspicuously make our way. Doesn't Hellquill have police on every corner?"
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171010
171020
>>171009
"Uh, well, yes. They are very on top of order and security here. And there should be many levies and knights too. We are right by the border with Longsword."

I mean, Amber can get off here and make it to Hellquill. The distance is decent but not vast. Helder just hasn't planned this far ahead.
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171011
171012
>>171008
>her
Oh.
There goes plan A...
>I've never seen one of you before
Hmmm
>Is he yours?
"He's mine." Posey replies, a little too sharply as she yoinks Gloomy closer to her barrel beneath her cape possessively, a surge of gold pulsing from her eyes for a fraction of a second... before she catches herself and her demeanor returns to her normally polite and coquettish self.
"Oh, pardon, force of habit." Posey says with a bow of her head and a toss of her mane
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Doctor Debride. I am Rosie Ring, certified Necrologist, shadow scholar, and apprentice practitioner in The Art."
She pulls back her cape, once again revealing the smothered colt.
"This is Gloomy, my... son... He's been in my care, as I attend to his unique medical needs and tutor him in The Art to channel his inborn gifts." she continues, as she strokes Gloomy's mane
>There is much we can learn from each other.
"It's always a pleasure to meet a fellow enthusiast. I believe we could have much to learn from one another."
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171012
171013
>>171011
>Posey's plans required a stallion
Kek! Let me know if I need to throw stallions at her, because I am happy to do so.

"Yes, yes" she says, smiling. Posey can tell that it's a genuine smile too, as she seems to be actually excited. Her voice sounds odd, and she must have some kind of accent. Perhaps a foreigner. "There is much... So rare! Hehehe... Your son is he?" She looks down at Gloomy, closing her lips for this smile "You look a little young. Or are you? I'm not judging." Raising the pitch of her voice "So you're certified? Well I am one of a very few licensed necromancers in all of Equestria. I'm also a licensed surgeon." Looking up. "What are his medical needs?" She asks
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171013
171014
>>171012
>"What are his medical needs?"
"Gloomy has a number of medical conditions that conventional medicine cannot treat... most of them are hereditary and if the supernatural variety. I can fill you in on the details later." Posey says, quietly
She puts on a bit of a grim, hushed expression and mouths to imply that it's a sensitive topic to speak of right in front of the foal.
>Well I am one of a very few licensed necromancers in all of Equestria. I'm also a licensed surgeon
"So I heard. It's hard to find somepony who excels in The Art and practices openly, but with the wars and whatnot ponies still come to us for advice whenever things get spooky."
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171014
171015
>>171013
“Oh… I see…”

“Yes, they do, though they’d do it less if they knew what we were up to, hehehe. So… how far along are you? We are going to need to set up your course of study here, after all.”
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171015
171016 171017
>>171014
>So… how far along are you?
Posey's ears fold back somewhat
"I... have much to learn. I'm only an apprentice practitioner. I came to Equestria to complete my studies because the conditions to study my trade in my home were... Oppressive. I possess knowledge of the basic fundamentals of arcana, and entry level training in spiritualist channeling. I possess off-hand knowledge no less than thirteen spells of the most basic power levels, although many of them are specialized or redundant. I have some military background that afforded me the opportunity to enter the practice, and for that purpose I specialize in Necromancy in the context of warfare, particularly with blackweave effects that directly effect subjects with negative energy, or dread affects that invoke feelings of fear by influencing the subjects spiritual bodies. I'm particularly proficient in spiritual channeling, and have used it to quel haunts as well as to calm, counsel or chastise restless dead who sporadically spawn on battlefields and mass graves, although I wouldn't consider myself a priest."
Her ears droop even further
"I am unable to raise the dead myself, but I have seen it done before."

(None of this is a lie)
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171016
>>171015
(Yes, I did rip off the term "blackweave" from Githyanki lore)
Anonymous
93d302c
?
No.171017
171018 171019
>>171015
“Oh. Good. So you’re not a complete novice. I see you’ve focused on the supernatural, and on stigmatized locations. Here, especially at the medical school, we focus on bodies, living and dead, and the very precise application of specific spells. Your background is… Questionable for a 3rd year of the medical school, but maybe appropriate for the School of Arcane Sciences.” Nodding, “yes, that will do. And don’t worry, we’re not so overbearing here. So long as you stay away from the department head” she says through her teeth, almost growling. “No, you’ll like it here. We have access to the best minds, the best books, and other resources” raising the pitch “that you can hardly find anywhere else. In any city, really.”
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171018
171021
>>171017
"That's splendid." Posey replies, taking out her quill to begin signing paperwork
"Where do I begin?"
Anonymous
b4f6f82
?
No.171019
171021
>>171017
>department head
"... My I ask, what does the department head look like? I'm well aware of the need to be discreet; someponies don't exactly appreciate the nature of our craft."
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
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No.171020
171021
>>171010
>abandoning her passengers
"We're going to have to risk using the anonymity of crowds. You do have experience coming here, correct?" Amber inquires, unwilling to assume anything more of Helder.
Anonymous
93d302c
?
No.171021
171022 171023 171024 171025
>>171020
He blinks. “Once. Briefly. More so my experience is with the director himself.”

>>171018
“You already have your student visa. But you need your course of study. We will have to be specific… the university will only tolerate so much leniency…”

>>171019
“His name is Ersatz Orgone. He’s genuinely talented and very knowledgeable… but he has his ‘politics’. He has spent much of his life trying to make necromancy ‘respectable’. To ‘separate’ the practice from its ‘darker’ elements, and ‘rehabilitate’ its reputation…” she shakes her head. “There’s no way around it. You will have to deal with him. But you have to be very careful. He can’t know why you are here. Or where you are from. And he will likely inquire. He’s a black unicorn stallion. Dark black. White mane. A bit smaller. Older.”
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171022
171024 171025 171026
1597901__safe_edit_edited+screencap_screencap_twilight+sparkle_alicorn_pony_g4_-fwslash-mlp-fwslash-_4chan_descriptive+noise_female_mare_open+mouth_reaction+ima.png
>>171021
>>171021
>trying to make necromancy ‘respectable’
>‘separate’ the practice from its ‘darker’ elements
>‘rehabilitate’ its reputation
If Posey had eaten breakfast this morning, she would vomit.
Posey gives Diligent a look of genuine sympathy, something uniquely rare for a wicked and ruthless villain such as herself.
>You will have to deal with him. But you have to be very careful. He can’t know why you are here. Or where you are from.
"... Understood."
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
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No.171023
171027
>>171021
"We will have to play this by ear, then," Amber says, more disappointed or even fearful than angry or hopeful.
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171024
171026
>And I thought Magehold was oppressive...
Posey thinks to herself.
>>171022
>>171021
"Without further ado, could I get a brief introduction of the obligations and activities of applicants? Responsibilities? Attendance? Regular classes? Field work? Research requirements?"
Anonymous
b4f6f82
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No.171025
171026
>>171022
>>171021
"Might I ask, what exactly does Orgone think that a 'reputable' Necromancer should do? As in, what sort of necromancy spells does he fancy?"
Anonymous
f2e4233
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No.171026
171029
168929.jpg
>>171022
>>171024
>>171025
"No... I think some ado is necessary. You need to know where you are, and what we are doing here. This is Equestria. The land of magic and Harmony. The adoptive Homeland of Ponykind. The land that, for a thousand years, was ruled by ageless princesses with the power to move celestial bodies. Whose Paragons yield powers derived directly from the spiritual force of the universe. And this is Jim Haykins University's School of Medicine, the premier medical school in all of Equestria. Do you understand that? This is the top medical school in Equestria. Not Hayward. Not Manhattan University. Not Trottard over in Canterlot. Not any school in the Crystal City, nor anywhere else in Equestria. Right here, in Baltimare. This very building. This is where the most talented students of medicine and medicinal magic come to study - where elite doctors wish to claim a degree.

This Medical School is not where rich ponies send their pampered trust fund colts to study when they are done with preparatory school and need some place to go 'make connections' while they get a pointless degree that lets them go become a bureaucrat, or take a job in the family business, or become an absentee landlord as they lounge around cafes and bordellos in Aquellia. No. When your precious, one and only colt - whom you've poured your heart and soul and riches into - the last of your bloodline, the only heir to your ancient family lands given by Commander Hurricane as a part of the Pegasopolis claim for your knight ancestor's valiant deeds in the fight against the griffins a millennia ago - when he is stabbed through the back by the stinger of a Manticore and is minutes away from death and extinguishing your aristocratic bloodline forever - Jim Haykins University School of Medicine is where you pray to whatever gods may be that the doctor treating your colt learned the necromantic art of life energy drainage, so that he may lower your colt's heartrate just enough to stop the spread of the poison, and prevent him from dying of hemorrhagic shock just long enough for surgeons to stitch him up. Or when you find that the growth in your lung is indeed malign and about to metastasize, and it's too deep to remove surgically, you can take poison, or if you have the money, the power and the luck, you hire a necromancer trained at Jim Haykins to use a death inflicting magic on the cancerous mass. If your trip climbing Mount Everhoof didn't go quite as planned, and you find that your entire right rear hoof from the pastern down is frost bitten and dead, you can amputate, or you can have a Jim Haykins trained surgeon cut the blood veins and reanimate the dead the flesh, stopping decay and infection and letting you keep the hoof, if in a lesser capacity. The medical schools of Stalliongrad, Karthin, Rijekograd and Colthage brag when one of their professors received an education at Jim Haykins. That is who we are.

Your understanding of the life of a necromancer is, I assume, of a life living in decaying ruins in a cold waste beyond the artic circle under endless night, grateful for the ancient wall that keeps you safe from the paladin's blade. Or maybe it's of resurrecting chickens on a secluded hill in the forest, hoping that no mercenary or hunter will discover your secret. Or maybe it's of presenting yourself to the world as an eccentric antiquarian or an erudite mage, while conducting secret experiments in the basement, forever fearful that the inquisition may pry just a little too deeply into your affairs. You've accepted the idea that Necromancy is dark magic. And dark can only exist where the light is not, because any contact with light will always destroy the dark. So you must always hide from the light, lest it destroy you. That is not what we do here. We walk amongst the light with pride. No hiding from the world, and no hiding of the true self. We practice a magic that deals death, and that places in inanimate matter a force that imitates life in a crude mockery. And for that, we are praised. We are paid for by the government, by the nobles, and by the church, and they proud to be our patrons knowing what we do. When we encounter paladins, inquisitors, and yes, the Princesses, we tell them that we are necromancers, we tell them about our magic, and we smile as we accept their money, their kiss on our hooves, and an invitation to the gala. Because they know that our magic can sometimes give them something all of their money, their political power, their fame, and their 'light' magic cannot.

You may see this as slavery. I see it as freedom. And Orgone is as good as any necromancer of the Dread League, but he doesn't want to move to somewhere cold for work. We both prefer mild winters.

Here at the school, we specialize in two broad categories of necromantic magic. The first and most important is magic with a medical purpose. These include inflicting harm, inflicting death, vampirism, draining of the life force, and under certain conditions, reanimation. You may be surprised. The focus is always on precision, not raw power. Being able to reanimate a single dead heart is more valuable than commanding an army of zombies. The second large category is magic with a 'research' purpose. This means anything we want it to mean, though you have to be a very knowledgeable necromancer to persuade the dean your research is on the cutting edge. Sometimes, there is a third category - magic for the sake of security. This includes any help against roaming undead, unlicensed necromancers, haunts, and when the government comes around to the idea that maybe an army of the undead is a good idea.

You can take classes in the Medical School, or the College of Arcane Sciences. As a research assistant, or a third-year medical student. It's about finding the right place for you. You are here because I know who you are. Well I don't. But I know what you are. And I appreciate it. I think you can appreciate the same of us here."
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171027
171030
>>171023
Helder can only give a slow nod, as the doors close, and the pistons start to chug as the train proceeds on the last few miles to its final destination: Hellqill City.
Anonymous
03e8d00
?
No.171029
171032
8uemvlrqmhd11.jpg
>>171026
That's a very long-winded monologue. The poor little poner must be tired.

Posey nods through the ado description, with a stoic, professional expression
"Cutting edge practices, I see." She says, at the end of the description
"My speciality is Arcane Sciences in the field of necromantic security, and blackweave spells. I do, however, practice precision 'medical' necromancy as a sort of pet project." she gestures to Gloomy, who appears to be districted trying to catch his mother's elusive tail.
Posey whispers, very faintly
"With standard medical magic, there's no future for colts like Gloomy. He's a product of the terrors of war: mana poisoning and diabolical mutations caused by being exposed to arcane wastes left by magical battlefields and dysgenics experimentation. His chakras are completely chaotic, oozing with necrocarnum instead of incarnum, and his immune system is severely crippled. Conventional healing spells or treatments would surely kill him. He may appear fine on the outside, but that's only as the result of persistent care and avant garde methods. On the inside, his body is filled with strange growths, bloody puss and even internal limbs. He's prone to seizures and demonic possession, experiencing chronic nightmares of a shadowy goat coming to drag him him to Tartarus. His continued existence has been my longest project, and part of the tail end of my apprenticeship. I regularly heal him with negative energies, kill off gangrenous growths, and address his mental conditions with hypnotherapy. He used to require weekly transfusions from me, but thanks to long term efforts that's come to pass, but he still needs to have magically-tainted fluids drained on the regular."
>pic semi-related
Posey speaks up after again, no longer whispering
"I may not have reared Gloomy myself, but he's my foal just as much as any other parent, possessing just as much if not more shared blood between us. I brought him here today in part to demonstrate my medical investure into the arts. I plan that some day he'll be strong enough to carry the weight of death on his back." Posey concludes, levitating the colt
"So I foresee that you'll find that I'm more than ready to take on any research tasks here."
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
?
No.171030
171031
>>171027
Amber goes to find Federkleid. "You're going to have to discard your 'piece'," she whispers.
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171031
171043
>>171030
The scenery outside moves at a slower pace than the train's journey from Soldau to Beakstadt. This makes sense, as the ancient forests and lonely fields are replaced by sprawling fields alternating green, gold, and brown, where potatoes and wheat are harvested and replaced by stubs and fallow fields. The harvest is still underway, as more than once the train passes big red mechanized tractors, combine harvesters, and dull colored ponies under the yoke, pulling potato spinners and carts. But much of the land is not fields. Before, the train passed several ancient villages of thatches rooves, narrow timber walls, and lakeside bathhouses. It still does, on the Lonsword side. But now in Hellquill, such antique constructions are replaced by the familiar half-timber construction of houses with high angled roofs, and whitewashed walls that are so familiar to a Herlander. There are, likewise, many windmills, two fortified castles perched on hills adjacent to the river, and several factories and mills with tall red chimneys and brick walls.

All of this is of course mostly to the left side of the train. To the right, the train more or less follows the Griffking River, still massive this far upstream. On the other side is Longsword, greatly less developed and more often wild or agricultural. More than one field, and even a village, appears burned.

It isn't long before the density of buildings increases, and apartments and mills come to predominate, with a few tracks splitting off to the left or right to serve specific factories or mills, and the tracks move inland to give more space by the river for factories. Many griffins can be seen on either side of teh tracks. They could before, to be sure, but they are more common now that there are regular passersby, and no small number of who seem to be military levies stationed by the border, mostly standing around in uniform talking, or smoking cigarettes. The walls of the great castle complex that forms the capital of all Hellquill is visible through breaks in buildings, sitting atop a low hill in the city.

Hellquill Hauptbahnhof nears, and the engineer collects the baton.

Felderklied responds
"And be unarmed? Are you mad? Why?"
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171032
171034
>>171029
scrunch
no u

"So you didn't birth him..." she says, although her low volume suggests it was to herself and not to Posey. She breathes out, then back in, then back out and back in again. She moves next to Posey's side, and turns her head to her, and then to Gloomy. Her positioning seems odd, until Posey can see that she is attempting to place her tail near Gloomy.

"I cannot give a diagnosis or treatment recommendation to your foal without an exam. No doctor can. But to hazard a guess, I think I know at least a part of the problem. Gloomy, like all living ponies, is dependent on Harmony magic as a part of his broader life force. He needs to be exposed to more of it. It will help him heal and recover strength."
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171033
171048
>>170986 →
Behind Silver's position, and a bit to the right, is where the Changelings that were shooting at Silver from the second floor were. These were the Changelings that were suppressed by the planes. In a hallway going north and towards the direction Silver was going, but on the right side of the courtyard, by where the changelings were that he just fought, is possible direction these changelings were going, or maybe, where they came from.
Anonymous
03e8d00
?
No.171034
171035
>>171032
"I wasn't looking for any diagnosis; I've examined him very many times." Posey replies
"He's also a subject of my research though, which is why I brought him here to disclose that."

Gonna roll a grapple check on Gloomy's part to catch the tail
[1d20-2 = (13-2) = 11]
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171035
171036
>>171034
It lands, if barely, catching the end. He know has the edge of her tail.

"I see..." She says, staring at the colt.

"But for his health, it would do him well to be exposed to other foals. That will help to replenish his magic, and in a way that is slow enough to prevent shock."

She adds, after a pause
"It's difficult to secure live subjects for testing... But yes, perhaps the College of Arcane Sciences is best for you... If you wish to keep your focus on security magic."
Anonymous
03e8d00
?
No.171036
171037
>>171035
>tfw trying to raise a colt to be evil and insane only to get peer pressured by doctors
"I've been considering what environment to bring him up in. I've been homeschooling him myself, although I'm contemplating what he needs to be exposed to." Posey says, with an indiscernible expression
"The College Of Arcane Sciences is what I was aiming for, yes."
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171037
171038
>>171036
"If only I had a playmate for him..." She says, swishing her tail a bit right to left, though likely not with enough force to break-free.

"The College of the Arcane Sciences is not as prestigious as the medical school. It's the best in all of the Southeast, and perhaps tenth in all Equestria, but it doesn't have the same bragging rights as the medical school. In Arcane Sciences, you will attend occassional lectures, study at home, and act as a research-assistant. You will have access to the library. You won't have the same access to dead bodies as if you were a student in the clinic in the medical school. Remember that medical necromancy comes down, more or less, to sucking the life force out of living things. If you wish to learn weaponized necromancy, that may be more your fancy. If your interests are elsewhere... perhaps not."

Then after a pause
"You should consider enrolling him in school."
Anonymous
03e8d00
?
No.171038
171039
>>171037
>enroll foal into an institution that has required abuse-reporters
"... I'll consider it."

This is where I'd like to ask ooc if Posey's actual mechanical skills and spell list a relevant to her decisions in this college. Posey doesn't have a lot of skillpoints, access to the heal skill, or very much flexibility with her spell list. Is this going to be a sort of faction affiliation thing?
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171039
171041
>>171038
She smiles as she swishes her tail some more.
"Perhaps I can show him around the town. Some fresh air wouldn't hurt. It's much safer outside here, you know."

There is no faction difference, as they are all the same group of "licensed necromancers." There will probably be some difference in NPCs though. The primary differences are in gameplay and in what spells Posey can learn. In terms of gameplay, the College of the Arcane Sciences probably is the best choice, as it requires the least interaction and gives the most freedom.
Anonymous
03e8d00
?
No.171041
171044
>>171039
"You mean now?"
Okay
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
?
No.171043
171044
>>171031
"It's a death sentence, knowing them. We will be searched, if not by customs then at random, and if the weapon is found we will be arrested. There's no hope of fighting them off anyway so best not to risk it." Amber's tone and expression evokes absolute certainty.
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171044
171045 171049
>>171043
She looks at Amber for several seconds, then lets out a long sigh. She reaches into her jacket pocket, takes out the automatic pistol, unlatches a window next to her, then lets it fall out of the window to the ground below.

The train slows down, until it comes to a stop at Hellquill Hauptbahnhof. Final stop.

>>171041
"Well, I meant later... But I could... The poor little thing. Needs some love."

She moves with her hoof to attempt to ruffle his mane.
Amber Sunset
e5d580b
?
No.171045
171046
>>171044
Amber, for the final time, signals for passengers to depart. Her expression is calm but her heart is racing. She looks around the train station to see where customs is and where the train staff rooms are.

Would've been funny to have a random chance for the gun to go off when it fell
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171046
171063
6246743.gif
>>171045
[1d20 = 4]

Customs officers are spaced along the tracks, though tending to the center and right side of the platform. Staff rooms tend towards the left. Perhaps most concerningly, there are Reichsbahn uniformed griffins on the platform, nearer the left and towards the staff rooms.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
a037c71
?
No.171048
171298
>>171033
Then that's where Silver goes, going as fast as they can without rushing blindly forward. They can't afford either to take too much time or to get ambushed again.
Anonymous
f27ba58
?
No.171049
171050
>>171044
Posey does not bite the mare touching her colt yet
Gloomy reflexively shrinks back at the touch of a stranger, but doesn't run off.

Posey requests any paperwork she needs to fill out to start her research.
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171050
171051
>>171049
She pets his head, and uses her magic to move his mane above his ears. "Yes of course" she finally stops looking at Gloomy and looks to Posey. She moves back towards her desk, likely stretching her tail to the limits, and possibly pulling it out of Gloomy's grasp.

She takes the book "Quamoon-e-Islamb," with her magic, holds it close to her in her hooves, and then takes a key and opens a lock on her desk, then places the book there, locking it back. She opens another, unlocked drawer, and takes a set of papers out of it, then eyes it.

"Here. Start on these. The hard part has been done already, but you do need to formally sign into the program, get a student card, and of course a library card."

She takes the papers in her magic and offers them to Posey.

"Let me just take him..." She reaches out her hooves, looking to hold Gloomy, trading Gloomy for the papers.
Anonymous
6b2e269
?
No.171051
171052 171053
>>171050
>possibly pulling it out of Gloomy's grasp
This provokes an attack of opportunity. Gloomy has been raised to be a ruthless killer, and thus he pounces
[1d20-2 = (5-2) = 3]

Posey signs the forms with her magic, taking out a bright red quill from her purse, the papers whirling around her in a flurry.
>"Let me just take him..."
Posey squints slightly
"...... He's shy." She says, perhaps a bit unconvincingly, as she levitates Gloomy off of the mare's tail and lowers him back to his fortress beneath her cloak, her own tail twitching beneath it, somewhat possessively.
[1d20-2 = (10-2) = 8]

She examines the papers to make sure she's not activating any contingent curses or binding magic as she signs.
Anonymous
6b2e269
?
No.171052
>>171051
Posey is flat-footed against an enemy she can't see beneath her, and Gloomy gets a flanking bonus, so that hits.
Anonymous
f2e4233
?
No.171053
171054 171057
>>171051
The papers concern primarily mundanities like agreeing to abide by the rules of the university and its code of conduct, not to engage in conduct that would tend to bring infamy to the university by association, a waiver of a right to a hearing if any disciplinary or academic action is taken, a waiver of liability should injury or death occur on campus and in particular, during research, a commitment to serve as a teachers assistant if necessary, a promise not to join a union should an on campus job (including teachers assistant) is taken to compensate for tuition expenses, an agreement to take out a loan to pay for tuition expenses that is not dischargeable at bankruptcy and has a variable interest rate with a floor of 6%... blah blah blah. There's no magic to it at all. There is no curse. It's just a boring legal document, like so much in this oddly low magic world.

Gloomy has unfortunately lost his prior prey. But he has caught new quarry.

"Oh that's alright. The first step to making friends is meeting new ponies." In a baby voice, "Wanna come out, little fellow? Come on. I won't hurt you."
Anonymous
9d428ce
?
No.171054
171055 171058
hcbkfxmxiaq71.jpg
il_570xN.1680129126_6n41.jpg
il_570xN.1997568321_ivj6.jpg
>>171053
>abide by the rules of the university and its code of conduct
>not to engage in conduct that would tend to bring infamy to the university by association
>a commitment to serve as a teachers assistant if necessary
Some details on this would be appreciated, if they are to be relevant, which I think it will.
Posey signs them anyway, with intent to comply as far as it is convenient for her to do so.
>an agreement to take out a loan to pay for tuition expenses that is not dischargeable at bankruptcy
>interest rate with a floor of 6%
Wow, wow, wow! Big red flag there. I thought this was set in an era before student loans and enormous uni tuitions, let alone federally-backed ones.
What kind of tuition are we talking about here? I expected it would be around 25 gp, like Morgrave University in Sharn.
Posey, has already sold her soul and is enslaved for indefinite eternity for her apprenticeship in Magehold, would be super hesitant to do it again just for her cover occupation, especially with any long-term costs that would compete with her tributes to her master.
Anonymous
6e72538
?
No.171055
171058
>>171054
Posey inquires about this personally, if it isn't clear in the documents.