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747835.png
Occupied Equestria: Through the mist
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173000
173462
In the south in the Kululu Forest, Posey searches for a lost instrument of war. In Baltimare, Kira establishes herself, while Silver enjoys a brief respite. In Hellquill, Amber prepares to play her music to the dictator of Hellquill. Elsewhere, trouble brews.
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173004
Posey is staring down the hydra with her body half-eaten and her puppies flanking to attack on her turn.
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173005
(hydra's turn)
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173006
173007 173019
>>172998 →
Neela is silent for a moment
"... No." She relaxes her body a little

"So... What were your plans for a place to stay?"

>>172999 →
shrugs

The hydra bites at each attacker with its remaining heads.

I'm not sure if frightful presence should still be effective, or if it should even have affected the hydra in the first place

Posey
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
Pup 1
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
Pup 2
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173007
173008
>>173006
It hits, due to Posey being underwater.
Here's to a good damage roll. I need the Masochism bonus to make another head this round.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173008
173010
>>173007
[1d10+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173009
173010
Going to roll Posey's turn preemptively.
She lets her Puppies attack first
[1d20+4 = (19+4) = 23]
[1d20+4 = (8+4) = 12]
[1d20+4 = (2+4) = 6]
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173010
173011
>>173008
Unf.
>>173009
That's two hits
[4d6 = 16]
Grapples
[1d20+7 = (11+7) = 18]
[1d20+7 = (13+7) = 20]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173011
173014
>>173010
swoosh

[1d20+16 = (18+16) = 34]
[1d20+16 = (6+16) = 22]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173012
173013 173014 173016
Posey follows up with a Sunder. Depending on the results of the opposed grapple, she may or may not take an attack of opportunity.
[1d20+10 = (13+10) = 23]
"[Incoherent bubbling]!" (Die!)
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173013
173015 173016 173022
>>173012
bites u
[1d20+6 = (14+6) = 20]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173014
173016
>>173011
Posey provokes opportunity attack as she sunders.
>>173012
[1d8+10 = (1+10) = 11] sunder damage
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173015
>>173013
Ow. Hit

(Posey's AC is 17 rn)
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173016
173017
>>173013
>>173012
Which I believe hits
[1d10+3 = (6+3) = 9]

>>173014
But succeeds
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173017
173018 173020 173021
This would be Posey's whole turn.
Hydra attacks now.
>>173016
Fuck yes. Only two heads left.
Posey's Crawlers stick around for two more rounds.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173018
173020
>>173017
[1d3 = 2]
[1d3 = 1]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173019
173020
>>173006
"I've got Bits, so maybe we can pay rent for an apartment like this one. A different one though, in a different place where we're less likely to be harassed by police officers hitting our apartment."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173020
173021 173033
>>173017
>>173018
The head attacking Pup 2 moves around to attack Posey now

Posey:
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]

Pup 1
[1d20+6 = (16+6) = 22]

>>173019
She nods, pleased with this
"Yes. At worst we could find someone to stay with. Or a hotel."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173021
>>173020
>>173017
Looks like that one hits
[1d10+3 = (4+3) = 7]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173022
173023
>>173013
I'm spirit of good sport I gotta say, iirc, don't Hydras AoO with all of their heads at once?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173023
>>173022
I don't think so. One AoO should be one attack. They have the ability to do it several times in the same round, should there be multiple occasions
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173024
173025
Posey's puppies continue their flanking routine, extending their innards to slurp up the blood as Posey removed the heads.
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11]
[1d20+4 = (14+4) = 18]
[1d20+4 = (16+4) = 20]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173025
173026 173027 173029
>>173024
Three hits
[6d6 = 20]
Three grapples
[1d20+9 = (16+9) = 25]
[1d20+9 = (3+9) = 12]
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13]
I can't believe I've been forgetting flanking bonuses.
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173026
173027 173028 173029
>>173025
Posey makes her own Strike, going for a head
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173027
173029 173030
>>173025
swoosh
[1d20+16 = (8+16) = 24]
[1d20+16 = (9+16) = 25]
[1d20+16 = (19+16) = 35]

>>173026
Posey does not sunder the head
bites u
[1d20+6 = (13+6) = 19]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173028
>>173026
......
FUCK
My spell is going to expire next round. For fuck's sake. Fuck.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173029
>>173026
>>173027
>>173025
Or maybe it doesn't bite her...
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173030
173031
>>173027
Aha! He's grappled, which means he does not AoO
Roll Will vs Vile touch
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173031
173032
>>173030
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173032
173034
>>173031
Pass...
Hydra's turn...
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173033
173034
>>173020
"I've made do with worse, myself, but I've got more than just myself to worry about now, right? Hotels would probably get expensive, paying per night. Anyways, you're still my guide to the city. Know of a good neighborhood to look for an apartment in?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173034
173036 173038 173039
>>173032
It attempts to free itself from the grapple
[1d20+16 = (13+16) = 29]

And then attacks

Pup 1
[1d20+6 = (7+6) = 13]

Pup 2
[1d20+6 = (10+6) = 16]

>>173033
"They are nicer in the west and by the river. Cheapest in the east and by the water."
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173035
Okay, I've taken three of its heads, and Posey's Puppies have done decent damage to it every round. It should be at very low health, but it'll heal.
If I take another head this round, it'll have one head left after Posey's puppies go...
I need to do as much damage as possible to it this round.
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173036
173037 173040
>>173034
It can attack and escape a grapple in the same turn?
Whatever. Posey's puppies are massive HP sponges.

Puppies attack again on Posey's turn, their last attack for this summon
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11]
[1d20+4 = (3+4) = 7]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173037
173040
>>173036
Two hits
[4d6 = 11]
Two grapples
[1d20+9 = (11+9) = 20]
[1d20+9 = (17+9) = 26]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173038
173040
>>173034
"I think we might have enough for a nicer apartment. And the police are less likely to be looking for, well, creatures like us in the nicer parts of town, right?"
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173039
>>173034
Oh wait, the puppy gets an opposed grapple.
It can win with only a nat 20
[1d20 = 5]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173040
173041 173042 173047
>>173036
>>173037
Opposed:
[1d20+16 = (19+16) = 35]
[1d20+16 = (1+16) = 17]

>>173038
"They aren't..." She says

"... That's a lot of money"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173041
173044
>>173040
It appears to be grappled
[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173042
173043
>>173040
>Nat 1
Orcus has tipped the scales in my favor
DC 12 Will saves vs Vile Touch

Posey takes advantage of this to sunder one of its two remaining heads.
[1d20+9 = (1+9) = 10]
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173043
173045
200.gif
>>173042
ORCUS WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?!
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173044
173045
>>173041
If that's a will save, that means he's Nauseated, but only for one round as Posey's puppies are about to disappear.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173045
173049
>>173044
>>173043
You have one round
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173047
173048
>>173040
"Well, even if it turns out that somehow, this isn't enough Bits? At the very least we know we tried, and we'll know for the future how many we'll need."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173048
173054
>>173047
"No, that's enough bits for rent... Just, it leaves fewer bits for other things." After a pause "I would just get an apartment around here... but I've never had that many bits."
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173049
173050 173052
>>173045
Well, I can't outrun it at swimming speed, and with no acid damage left, I can't reliably cut off heads...
Posey could try to summon her puppies again... But idk about that.

With no other options left, Posey's best bet is to try to deal as much damage as possible in this single round, before its fast healing kicks in and the battle becomes unwinnable. It I get it down to low enough health, it might flee, but idk. If my math is right, it should be around 14 HP...

Posey makes a charnel touch against the neaseated Hydra. She uses versatile spellcaster to cast Inflict Moderate wounds.
[1d20+7 = (9+7) = 16]
>inb4 miss
She can always hold the charge...
Anonymous
41c199a
?
No.173050
>>173049
Yes, hit!
[3d8+8 = (13+8) = 21]
Hopefully this drops him
Anonymous
b678647
?
No.173052
>>173049
Wait, my math might be wrong...
Anonymous
b678647
?
No.173053
173055
>one spell slots left
If this doesn't work, it's going to be a Chill Touch battle of attrition.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173054
173056
>>173048
"It sounds like you would value getting some nicer furniture over getting a nicer apartment."
Anonymous
b678647
?
No.173055
173056
>>173053
Or it could try sword + natural weapons, and just try to out-damage him...
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173056
173057 173058 173100
>>173054
"A nice apartment would be nice..." She presses her lips together

>>173055
I'll have to do the math on it later
Anonymous
ec95381
?
No.173057
>>173056
I'll go to bed now.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173058
173059
>>173056
curious tongue flicks
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173059
173060
>>173058
"Like a townhouse by the river... or a house in Westside..." She says
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173060
173126
>>173059
"Well, let's go! Maybe we'll be pleasantly surprised by the prices?"
Anonymous
c5d38ca
?
No.173067
173068
Idk why I cast Inflictoderate Wounds, when I should've just summoned two more crawlers... Inflict spells are garbage. It was almost 2:00 AM, and I wanted the fight to be over, but now idk how I can do enough damage to drop this guy if that last attack didn't take him down.
And I got rid of my >overpowered Defiler feat, so I can't recover that slot.
Anonymous
c5d38ca
?
No.173068
>>173067
Wait... I have one more Cha bonus spell slot than I initially thought. Posey could summon her puppies one more time, for a drawn out but equally .
It would have been smarter to do that while the Hydra was Nauseated though...
If Posey swam 15 ft backwards with her remaining move action, maybe she wouldn't provoke AoO, but the Hydra should have long reach, and that would just let it charge her on its turn, so Posey will have to stay put and rely on her damage reduction to tank this for long enough to summon her puppies again.
Anonymous
36a9f27
?
No.173083
It's the Hydra's turn, once GM is done with math.
Anonymous
6c659dc
?
No.173084
>>172839 →
Amber nods and continues on, but she is left pondering what he could possibly mean by that. A wide smile by a griffon is always something to be concerned about.
That'll teach me to catch up to posts before replying
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173090
173259
GettyImages-157477560-e8b4ffd860a94fb3b15a92ef227d97ff.jpg
>>173076 →
Amber enters into the inner castle, finding medieval walls with rooms built in, and a plaza with grass, trees, stone, a little stand selling pastries and a number of uniformed officers gathered around that, evidently talking and eating. Amber sees a mix of medieval fortifications, baroque additions, and then more modern glass windows. Interestingly, there are two shinny high-end automobiles, a black Mercurial, and a new burgundy Mustang Royal, undoubtably a difficult to obtain import.

But what stands out in the plaza are the two buildings that occupy much of its space. One, standing a bit to the left and the back, is a very old cylindrical tower. But more interesting is the very large basilica, likely possessing the title of "cathedral" and certainly worthy of it. situated to the right at the back of the plaza, alongside the wall, it's tall, rectangular, in the neo-gothic style with one tower near the center, a high gable roof of black tile with a pattern of blue V's, high but narrow stained-glass windows along the side, and a few statues of saints about the door at its entrance.

But Amber isn't here for that. She's here for the structure at the end of the plaza. The Grandmaster's Palace. There are two round towers around the entrance, and two guards, who make eye contact with her and motion for her to enter.
Anonymous
505aa50
?
No.173100
173110 173124
2143254__safe_artist-colon-badumsquish_derpibooru+exclusive_big+macintosh_oc_earth+pony_hybrid_hydra_hydra+pony_monster+pony_original+species_pony_g4_arm+behind.png
610233__safe_artist-colon-harwick_princess+cadance_shining+armor_alicorn_hydra_pony_unicorn_g4_awesome_badass_battle+couple_biting_concave+belly_epic_female_fi.jpg
655063__safe_artist-colon-zilvart_twilight+sparkle_hydra_g4_drool_female_frown_glare_glowing+eyes_high+res_multiple+heads_solo_technically+advanced.jpg
84932__safe_artist-colon-angerelic_twilight+sparkle_hydra_pony_unicorn_g4_armor_athena+sparkle_butt_canterlot_dock_female_fight_force+field_greek+mythology_hi.png
558812__safe_artist-colon-assasinmonkey_oc_oc+only_hydra_pony_first+contact+war_detailed_multiple+heads_swamp_wallpaper.png
>>173056
Any progress on that math?
Idk if it's dead, but I have barely enough resources to repeat the same strategy as last time, so if it's alive, bring it on.
Anonymous
d82befc
?
No.173110
1484370__safe_artist-colon-inuhoshi-dash-to-dash-darkpen_oc_oc+only_hydra_pony_fog_mist_multiple+heads_silhouette_swamp.png
64610__safe_artist-colon-johnjoseco_derpy+hooves_human_hydra_g4_crossover_dark+souls_epic+derpy_grayscale_humanized_monochrome_moonlight+great+sword_multiple+.jpg
1487290__safe_artist-colon-assasinmonkey_applejack_earth+pony_hydra_pony_g4_armor_badass_everfree+forest_female_fight_mare_monster_mouth+hold_multiple+heads_ope.png
14790__dead+source_safe_artist-colon-sunibee_applejack_fluttershy_pinkie+pie_rainbow+dash_rarity_spike_twilight+sparkle_alicorn_dracony_dragon_earth+pony_hybr.png
>>173100
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173124
173125
>>173100
Alright, so going through the math, I believe the hydra is on its last 40 Hit Points, though rising rapidly
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173125
173126
>>173124
>last 40 Hit Points
>last
So what you're saying is I'm not even close then.
Okay, gonna have to hack-and-slash again.

My ability to fight competently is limited by it being past midnight, but I could try if now is all the time you have.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173126
173132
>>173060
"Uh, okay" She says, still surprised by this turn of events. "But it's quite a walk."

To get there, Kira would have to slither nearly a mile past many intersections.

Roll luck

>>173125
Only half the damage from severing a head counts, evidently
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173127
173128
It's the Hydra's turn, btw.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173128
173129
>>173127
Two bites, both at Posey
nip nip
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173129
173130 173134
>>173128
Hah, fucker
Posey, now getting a look at the beast that did NOT drop dead from her strongest offensive spell, gives an exasperated head-toss and summons her puppies again.
This provokes AoO.
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173130
173131
>>173129
Oh, will save
[1d20+10 = (1+10) = 11]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173131
173136
>>173130
>Third nat 1 in this battle
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173132
>>173126
Let's see if this snek is lucky

[1d20 = 2]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173133
173136 173139
Nope, no she is not
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173134
173136
>>173129
nips u

[1d20+6 = (9+6) = 15]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173136
173138
2743761__safe_artist-colon-witchtaunter_lyra+heartstrings_pony_unicorn_g4_chest+fluff_darkest+dungeon_derp_ear+fluff_faic_female_floppy+ears_l-dot-u-dot-l-dot-s.png
>>173131
Okay, Posey summons two puppies, but one of them turns on her.
>>173133
Puppy 1 attacks the snake (technically still flanking, because the other isn't friendly to the hydra)
[1d20+4 = (6+4) = 10]
[1d20+4 = (5+4) = 9]
Puppy 2 Attacks POSEY
[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5]
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]
>>173134
Miss
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173137
[1d3 = 2]
[1d3 = 3]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173138
173139
>>173136
End of fucking turn

Hydra moves now.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173139
173140 173141 173148
>>173133
Kira crosses a street and "BEEEEP" nearly gets hit by a car (she's pretty sure she had right of way, but that's not the point) and ponies scream and run away. Just a little ways further down, two police stallions approach.

"Hold it!"

It could be worse. Kira could be at the bottom of a lake, bleeding out, attacked simultaneously by an alien ooze and a (different) serpent. But it's not good

>>173138
The good news:
The hydra goes after Pup 1
[1d20+6 = (6+6) = 12]

And Pup 2
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173140
>>173139
[1d10+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173141
173142
>>173139
Ow
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173142
>>173141
Oh wait, good
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173145
173146 173150
Posey makes a full attack, using bother her manufactured and natural weapons.
She opens with a Sunder, provoking AoO
[1d20+8 = (8+8) = 16]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173146
173149
>>173145
She hits a head
[1d8+9 = (3+9) = 12]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173148
173152
>>173139
Indeed, it always could be worse. Still, getting nearly run over is not exactly on Kira's to-do list.

"Sorry! Sorry!" She quickly finishes the crossing, holding her hooves up apologetically to the driver. She tries in vain to calm down any fleeing ponies but most get away before she can even get the chance to approach them. When she sees the police officers, she smiles and waves to them as they come closer.

"Oh, hello! Sorry about that, I'm still new to the city. I have my ID on me." Just like with the other officer, she shows these two police stallions her ID bracelet.
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173149
173151
>>173146
I hope that's enough to cut it off.

With the rest of her full attack, she follows up with a slam against the main body
[1d20+1 = (14+1) = 15]
and a bite attack
[1d20+1 = (11+1) = 12]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173150
173153
>>173145
nip
[1d20+6 = (7+6) = 13]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173151
>>173149
[1d6+5 = (4+5) = 9] slam damage
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173152
173160
>>173148
A yellow stallion seems unpersuaded, keeping his distance
"What are you doing here?"

A red stallion moves closer
"It talks?"
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173153
173154
>>173150
He missed

Pup 1 follows up with his tentacles.
[1d20+4 = (17+4) = 21]
[1d20+4 = (4+4) = 8]

Pup 2 is a bad dog
[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]
[1d20+2 = (19+2) = 21]

And Posey can't even dismiss the spell, because she needs acid to defeat the hydra.
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173154
173155 173157
>>173153
Pup 1 hits, but so does pup 2
Pup 1 grapples, this invokes a Will saves vs vole touch
[1d20+9 = (18+9) = 27]
[2d6 = 8]
Pup 2 also grapples
[1d20+7 = (1+7) = 8]
[2d6 = 5]

Posey makes her opposed grapple
[1d20+8 = (12+8) = 20]
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173155
>>173154
Haha! Posey shakes off the puppy, and takes minimal damage.
Anonymous
cbb2594
?
No.173156
(she's still at low HP)
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173157
>>173154
[1d20+2 = (14+2) = 16]

[1d20+16 = (16+16) = 32]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173158
173159
The hydra takes 4 points of acid damage
[1d4 = 3]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173159
173161
>>173158
Hydra's turn.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173160
173161
>>173152
She nods to the red stallion with a smile before addressing the yellow stallion.

"I'm on a mission of great importance to save my tribe, and the kind ponies of Customs recommended that I try to get an audience with Halcyon Shores to that end. Right now I'm just getting a lay of the land and the city. I'm really excited to finally get to see Equestria, even if it no longer technically exists."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173161
173162 173166
>>173159
The hydra bites at Posey
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]

>>173160
The red stallion is surprised, evidently

The yellow stallion says
"We- we got a call s-saying you, uh, were causing a public disturbance. They uh, don't want you by the coffee shop."
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173162
173163 173173
>>173161
>1 head left
Posey makes a full attack, beginning with her sword against the neck
[1d20+10 = (20+10) = 30]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173163
173164
>>173162
YAAAAAAAS SLAY QUEEN, SLAY!
Rolling to confirm threat
[1d20+10 = (3+10) = 13]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173164
173165 173173
>>173163
.............
Okay
Damage
[1d8+11 = (1+11) = 12]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173165
173167 173173
>>173164
And she follows up with a bite, in case that doesn't take off the head
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
And then a slam
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173166
173172
>>173161
She looks around her for such a thing. "Coffee shop?"

Regardless if she sees one or not, she looks back to the yellow police stallion. "I'm really sorry if I'm causing a disturbance, Mr. Police Ponies, I'm genuinely not intending to. I'm just passing through the area." Her ears flop down and she frowns slightly. "It's a little disappointing having so many ponies run away at the sight of me. I'm really friendly, honest. I wouldn't do anything to hurt anypony, in fact I'd far far rather give you all a nice hug."
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173167
>>173165
[1d6+7 = (1+7) = 8]
[1d4+7 = (2+7) = 9]

The sword attack provrkes sn attack of opportunity, btw
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173168
173169 173170
Pup 1 attacks the hydra
If I'm not mistaken, it should be blind now, so it should have a big penalty to AC
[1d20+4 = (20+4) = 24]
[1d20+4 = (12+4) = 16]

Pup 2 attacks Posey
[1d20+2 = (7+2) = 9]
[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173169
173170
>>173168
Both of Pup 22's attacks hit
Rolling to confirm threat
[1d20+4 = (14+4) = 18]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173170
>>173168
>>173169
[6d6 = 22] damage

And grapples
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13]
[1d20+9 = (2+9) = 11]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173171
173173
Hydra's turn rn, if it's still alive.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173172
173175
>>173166
"No!"
This seems to frighten the officers, and one seems to reach for a weapon.

"We do not want any hugs the yellow stallion says."
But it gets so much worse

"Excuse me? What do you think you are doing? Crime isn't high enough so you have to harass innocent passersby?"
Neela moves forward
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173173
173174
>>173164
>>173162
>>173165
The hydra's final head is severed, and with it, blood spews into the water, and the creature drifts slowly upwards, pursued by the ooze that was formerly attacking it. That ooze hits it repeatedly, finally drenching the last of it in acid.

>>173171
It appears to be dead.
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173174
173176
>>173173
Posey plunges her sword into it's heart as a coup-de-grace, just to make sure

.... This provokes an Attack of opportunity from Pup 2
[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173175
173177 173179 173185
>>173172
She holds her hooves up, both in innocence and to try to tell Neela to back off.

"It's okay, I didn't say I was going to, just that I'd much rather give hugs than hurt anypony. I know not everypony like hugs."
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173176
173178
>>173174
[1d8+10 = (8+10) = 18]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173177
173179 173180
>>173175
The red stallion speaks
"Oh-kay... just don't go by the coffee shop again, okay?"

[1d20 = 6]
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173178
>>173176
36 damage, which becomes an unbeatable fortitude save.
Posey dismisses the spell, sending her puppies back from whence they came.

She, too, drifts to the surface, like a bloated corpse.
She climbs onto the beast and lets out a battle cry
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRGHGHGHHHHHH!!!!!!!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173179
173180
>>173177
>>173175
But. The yellow stallion argues back to Neela
"We received a call about a disturbance and we are going to investigate it"
Neela: "The only disturbance here is what you're causing!"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173180
173183
>>173177
>>173179
Kira nods.

"Okay, officers. I hope you both have a great day!"

She looks to Neela, and smiles.

"I appreciate you coming to my aid, but we've got it under control. Come on, you have to show me more of the city!"
Anonymous
5144589
?
No.173181
173182 173188
Posey stays on top of the hydra for about a minute, nursing her wounds.

After that, she decides to investigate the metal structure she saw earlier in the bog, hoping that the major item table was rolled for this very hard fight.
Anonymous
5144589
?
No.173182
>>173181
*2 minutes
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173183
173185 173187
>>173180
Kira didn't exactly have the permission of the officers to leave, nor does she have the compliance of Neela, but if she grabs Neela and slithers past the officers it becomes a matter of how much will does anypony/anydoe have to stop her?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173184
173185
[1d20 = 16]
[1d20 = 17]

[1d20 = 2]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173185
173187
>>173183
>>173184
>>173175
The officers aren't really motivated to stop Kira, but Neela isn't exactly compliant.
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173186
173189
Spoilered
I level up from this, right?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173187
173190
>>173183
>>173185
Kira definitely at least heavily encourages her deer companion to move on, and if that doesn't work then she gently wraps her coils around her to carry her. "Heh heh...sorry about that, she's really defensive when it comes to her friends. She's got that Equestrian spirit of friendship and harmony, you know."

Seeing that the officers aren't likely to pursue them, she waves goodbye to the two stallions, and disappears with Neela around the corner. Once they're a safe distance away, she lets go of Neela if she was forced to carry her.

"Sorry about all of that, Neela, I just don't want you to get in trouble for my sake."
Anonymous
ada8e29
?
No.173188
173189
>>173181
I have to sleep soon.
Muh treasure though.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173189
173191
Treasure.jpg
>>173188
>>173186
There's some pretty cool treasure for Posey to find
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173190
173192
>>173187
"The police are like that. They will just harass you for nothing. You can't just let them do that."
Anonymous
e0ce3cb
?
No.173191
173214 173342
>>173189
Gonna roll search
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173192
173195
>>173190
"I know, I know. I really appreciate that you would go to all of that trouble for me, Neela."

Hmmmmm...does she dare attempt to hug the deer?
Anonymous
e0ce3cb
?
No.173193
I'm trying to figure out how to get this hydra corpse back to base...
Anonymous
e0ce3cb
?
No.173194
Sleeping now.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173195
173196
>>173192
Neela is scrunchy

Kira may think twice about attempting to hug the little morsel, err, friend. It's best for there not to be any witnesses in case it goes wrong.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173196
173197
>>173195
Hmmmm...okay, that's a fair assessment. Still, Kira is very appreciative that Neela has already tried to help her with a situation. Onwards towards Westside they go!
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173197
173198
>>173196
The next impediment...

A group of ponies, about 4 or so, at a check point. olive drab uniforms and rifles. It's a checkpoint
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173198
173199
>>173197
"Wow, those look like military ponies. I didn't know there were military checkpoints in the city." With her usual friendly demeanor, Kira waves to the soldiers as she approaches carefully, not wanting to be shot.

"Hello! I'm guessing we need to show you our identification?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173199
173200
>>173198
The ponies look at Kira as she approaches, watching her silently, but definitely holding onto their weapons

Finally, one, a green earth pony, says
"... Uh, who is passing through?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173200
173201
>>173199
"Us both, she's showing me around the city and we're going to Westside."

She shows the ponies her ID bracelet and any of the relevant papers for both her and Neela to the military ponies.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173201
173202
>>173200
He looks at the IDs, then Kira, them Neela, and back at the IDs.
"So... We have two exotic animals owned by Kubana Kirafiki?" He says, seeming slightly confused.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173202
173203
>>173201
Kira nods as if it's a completely normal situation.

"Yes sir!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173203
173204
>>173202
"I see..." He says, and looks to the creatures

"We're going to need to search those bags"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173204
173205
>>173203
Kira tilts her head at the military pony, and flicks her tongue.

"Why is that?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173205
173206
>>173204
He answers:
"This city is under marshal law, and all bags and large shipments, especially bags that big, are subject to search for contraband at checkpoints."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173206
173207
>>173205
"Why's the city under marshal law? Also, what's considered contraband?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173207
173208
>>173206
"Because of partisan activity. Firearms, explosives, ammunition, certain literature, and certain two-way radios are contraband."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173208
173209
>>173207
"Oh, okay!"

Confident that none of her items fit the pony's description of what is contraband, Kira lets the military ponies look through her bags.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173209
173210
>>173208
Neela is very hesitant, but doesn't have much of a choice.

The pony and another go through the sets of bags
"Why do you have this?"
The bow
"This"
The large amounts of money
"This"
A dagger
"And... whatever this is"
Some kind of crystal
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173210
173211
>>173209
Bow: "That's the bow my mother helped me make when I was a little snakeling. I use it for hunting for food out in the wilderness."

Money: "It's the money I got from selling some foreign coins, jewelry, and a couple gold bars to a pawn shop. They were really nice ponies and have many wonderfully nice things, they even gave me that pocketwatch. You should really shop there sometime!"

Dagger: "Oh, that's my hunting knife. It's very useful to keep one around, you can use it for a very many things out in the wilderness."

Crystal: "Hmmmm..."

Is the crystal from Neela's possessions, or is it one of Kira's?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173211
173212
>>173210
The crystal is not Kira's the dagger wasn't supposed to be either

The pony's ears perk up
"So you're a hunter?" And "How long have you been here?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173212
173343
>>173211
Oh, sorry, I thought he was talking about Kira's hunting knife.

Kira nods. "Yes, just like my mother and hers before her. Feeding the tribe is tough work, though now I'll just be feeding myself. I just arrived here in Equestria, went through Customs and everything. The ponies there were really nice to me, especially this one stallion, Free Rover."

Appraise: Kira looks at the crystal in question, pondering its potential uses.

[1d20+1 = (13+1) = 14]
Anonymous
e0ce3cb
?
No.173214
173216
>>173191
Does Posey find any tanks?
Anonymous
035cf4c
?
No.173216
173237
>>173214
If Posey doesn't find any tanks or treasure in the bog, she drags the Hydra to shore, piece by piece.

She then cleans herself off, and sets out to complete her mission, moving in the opposite direction that she came from.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173217
wonders how friendly/interested the military ponies are

[1d20 = 9]
Anonymous
510fec0
?
No.173218
Screenshot_20240505-143107.png
Using the Consuming Vortex of Traal to conquer the continent for the League could be a useful late-game strategy. It takes advantage of the Blackhooves oppressive push towards secularism, because it's practically impossible to defeat without a decent number good-aligned Clerics to turn it.
It requires high levels spells and a large amount of gold to invoke though. Long-term goals.
Anonymous
bf3cb8b
?
No.173237
>>173216
"Ha... Ha... Haha! A hydra! The trainees back in Mage would be so jealous. How to get it home though..."
Anonymous
bf3cb8b
?
No.173255
173395
3358826.jpg
Gonna bump one more time before bed.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173259
173385
>>173090
Gee, Hellheim, Mom let you have TWO cathedrals?
Amber nods her head humbly and enters the palace.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173342
173347
>>173191
Some feet behind and to the left of where the hydra was is the wreck of a small, metal framed boat. Inside is a saddlebag containing a canteen and a few other items, as well as another smaller bag containing a few coins and what seems to be jewelry.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173343
173344
>>173212
Kira can tell that the crystal is useful for storing magic.

He smiles
"Sounds like that one pony left an impression on you. Where are you from?" He asks

Another two ponies look at Kira, and lean closer, though keep a distance. The fourth keeps watch.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173344
173345
>>173343
Now that's something Kira didn't expect. Perhaps Neela knows some secret deer magic? Either way, she smiles back at the military stallion

"It was definitely a great impression for being one of the first ponies I've met. I'm from Dhamaji village, in Southeastern Zebrica near the Zeblu, the Roamans, Talonsvaal, and near the border of Kiria."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173345
173346
>>173344
Another soldier, a curious white pegasus, leans in, and tentatively extends a hoof, like one might do towards a stray cat, unsure how it will react.

He nods
"What... are you, exactly?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173346
173348
>>173345
Kira just looks curiously at the hoof with a tongue flick, not making any sign that she's bothered by it.

"I'm a lamia!" She says this in a very manner-of-fact way. Apparently, a lamia is just whatever she is.
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173347
173348
>>173342
Yay, treasure!
Posey examines the contents of the saddlebag, and puts on the jewelry.
She opens the canteen to check for hidden compartments.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173348
173349 173350 173355
1597944.gif
>>173346
poke
A stallion has touched Kira's scales

"And you have just arrived in the city?" He asks, then adds, "Where are you going?"

>>173347
It's just a canteen. Hard to tell if it was carrying alcohol or water. The saddlebag includes a decayed hat, a set of photographs, a lighter, a small medical kit, and an electric torch. The jewelry includes a necklace and a bangle.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173349
173388
>>173348
the snek has been poked

All signs point to Kira not being bothered by the touch, and the stallion could continue touching her if he so desired.

Kira nods to the stallions first question, then answers the second, "Westside and the river. My friend is showing me around the city!" She taps her hooves together with some happy tongue flicks. "It's exciting getting to see Equestria!"
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173350
173355 173387
>>173348
Posey discards the decayed items, but keeps the jewelry.

Then she goes about her way to complete her mission, travelling in the opposite direction of the lake.
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173355
173387
>>173350
>>173348
Oh wait, I should probably check Chekov's photos for clues that might aide me on my quest.
Are the photos scrutable? What do they depict?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173385
173395
OIP (1).jpg
>>173259
It's supposed to be one for the city, and another is the chapel for the Grandmaster personally, or at least, for the Order. Then again, what I had modeled this on was a city where each cathedral was of a different denomination

The guards give her the simple enough directions. Through the entrance, she is in a courtyard with a marble floor, a fountain, and columns decorated with motifs of wind. But crossing it to the left, Amber enters an foyer with a long marble staircase going up to a second floor, with tapestries depicting what seems to be hunts on either side. Here Amber also sees the white and black flag of Hellquill displayed prominently. Though the original construction is clearly hundreds of years old, there are more modern elements, most obviously the shinny new marble floors at the upper landing. She enters into a long hall, going right. To the left are large windows, and to the right, maps of Hellquill, and scenes of battles, and just as often, the modern flag of hellquill. Electric lighting pervades.

Amber ends in a large room with stone walls, surely the old refractory. It has vaulted ceilings, columns along the edges, and portraits of griffins, surely the old grandmasters, lining the walls above the columns. The floor To her left is an impressive artifact, a full-sized replica of the idol of Boreas, surely made out of gold.

But what is really most of concern to Amber are the griffins in the room. On the floor, and coming towards Amber from the right, as if they had themselves not been there long, are the familiar sights of Helder, wearing a vest, and Erich, with his violin. Felder lied is present as well, behind them and off to the side.

But in front of Amber are several tables, presumably meant for food but with no cloths covering them. These are in a line, blocking off the far edge of the room. These have chairs behind them, and by the wall, perhaps 20 feet behind and raised behind wooden steps covered in red carpet, are several wooden chairs, and in the center, a wooden throne. But these are not what is occupied. What are occupied are the chairs at the table closer to Amber.

In the chairs are seven griffins. Every one of them is male. They range in age from 30 to 65. They all wear the long, black leather cloaks of the Reformisten. Half are smoking. And moving forward, just about to sit down in the middle, wearing his tattle-tale black cap with a silver eagle symbol on it, is a blue-coated griffin whose identity Amber can guess based off of context, and his appearance in newspapers in Katerinburg. He smiles malignly and takes a seat.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173387
173392
>>173350
Does Posey try to go the same direction she was going when and before she crossed the river, or does she now go in the direction of the river?

>>173355
Yes. It appears to be family photos. A photo of a mare, a stallion, and a foal. A photo of what seems to be a one-story farmhouse. A photo of a tree with no leaves on the branches, with a barn in the background. There are more. Some are damaged.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173388
173391
1488124.gif
>>173349
He presses her scales again

He looks around to Neela
"And who is your friend?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173391
173393
>>173388
The snek is poked/pressed again. She feels firm and muscular, but she's got enough give to avoid feeling hard and uncomfortable. Her scales are nice and smooth to the touch. She points to Neela, simply saying, "She is!"
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173392
173393
>>173387
>>>173350
>Does Posey try to go the same direction she was going when and before she crossed the river
Yes. To her original destination.
> It appears to be family photos. A photo of a mare, a stallion, and a foal. A photo of what seems to be a one-story farmhouse. A photo of a tree with no leaves on the branches, with a barn in the background.
Hmmm, sounds familiar...
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173393
173394 173396
>>173391
petting commences

"And who is she?" He asks.
Kira is in danger of Neela answering

>>173392
Posey can try to take what she wants. Surely there can't be more dangerous creatures, in the water, right?

And then move as she likes
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173394
173402
>>173393
snek is pet

The petting stallion can feel her relax around where he's petting, and she lets out a little, happy, content sssssss.

She answers the other stallion's question just as matter-of-factly as she answered what she was: "She's Neela, my friend."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173395
173404
>>173255
ooh la la

>>173385
Amber looks with surprise to her friends. There is joy that they indeed made it, but this is drowned out by surprise at seeing them here rather than in the Ministry which is where they were headed. Did the rapture of music consume them too?

Amber is too surprised and nervous to say anything when the Grandmaster appears.
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173396
173402 173403
>>173393
>Posey can try to take what she wants.
This is for the Black Crusade. Mission failure is not an option.
>Surely there can't be more dangerous creatures, in the water, right?
If so, Posey will have to deal with them without spells.
>And then move as she likes
She marches onwards.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173402
173405 173406 173451
>>173394
pet pet

"Well..." He pauses

"You are free to leave. Have a good day, miss"

>>173396
Should she chose to walk along the edge of the lake, and then further south, she would walk along the edge of the raised forest floor, and a flooded swamp. Posey does find traces of battle: damaged trees, and a rifle simply set up against a tree.
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173403
>>173401
>>173396
I think you replied to the wrong post.
I think I'm going to go to bed, but if you have the time, I would appreciate a description of the next page in Posey's adventure later.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173404
173413
>>173395
He takes out a cigar, lights it, puffs on it, and then leans back in the chair, raising his high legs and crossing them. He speaks
"You played for my cousin, didn't you?" This question seems addressed to them collectively

"You can play, can't you?"
Anonymous
4166384
?
No.173405
173451 173592
>>173402
>Posey does find traces of battle: damaged trees, and a rifle simply set up against a tree.
Posey follows the traces of battle, knowing that the damaged trees indicate tanks nearby. She looks for any treadmarks.
She also examines the gun, although knows it's not useful to her (she's only proficient in simple and archaic weapons).

I have to sleep now. If Posey walks her way into combat, I'll be up all night.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173406
173407
>>173402
Kira would, but it appears that the other stallion's petting is making her effectively melt into a lamia puddle. She has a perpetual touch-drunk look on her face with her tongue lazily having out of her mouth. She continues to make happy, contented snake noises, and the petting stallion gets the feeling that although she's larger than him, he basically has her in the frog of his hoof.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173407
173408
6778246.gif
>>173406
Kira doesn't have to leave, but she does have to move aside, to make way for more ponies - especially in automobiles - to move forward.

Kira may be rolled over. And if she does, the stallion starts to rub her belly. Well, a little part of it, anyways.

Neela comes up to Kira, and looks at her impatiently
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173408
173409
>>173407
She does roll out of the way for automobiles and ponies, and this does give the petting stallion the opportunity to give Kira belly rubs, discovering that she absolutely loves them. She looks goofily up at her deer friend.

"Heh heh...I like pony pets..."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173409
173410
>>173408
The lead pony says,
"No no, don't touch her. Pay attention to the check point. It can't be that interesting..." then he places a hoof to Kira, and starts rubbing her scales as well. And he doesn't stop.

Neela is scrunchy.
"I noticed. We have to move along"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173410
173411
>>173409
It is indeed that interesting. Both military ponies now have to wonder if petting all lamias is like that, and if other lamias also enjoy being pet by ponies this much. Kira seems to finally notice her friend's impatience and manages to snap out of her stupor despite receiving double pony pets.

"Right, sorry." She looks at the two military stallions with big apologetic eyes. "I'm sorry, sirs, you are really super nice and I wish I could stay longer for more pets, but we have a lot more of the city to see."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173411
173412
>>173410
Kira may think she could be sent in to distract military garrisons. These stallions would likely give her more attention if they were not working. She gets a simple wave, and may move along, slithering closer to her objective.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173412
173415
>>173411
Kira smiles, and waves goodbye to the stallions after getting up. She finally leaves the checkpoint with Neela and continues on their way.

"Whew, sorry about that Neela. I don't know what it is, but there's something special about pony pets."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173413
173414
>>173404
Amber bows humbly. "We have, sir, and we can. There are no better string musicians this side of Griffonheim. What would you like from your humble servants?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173414
173457
>>173413
"Can you play something... esoteric?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173415
173416
>>173412
Kira is doubtless the only lamia these ponies have ever seen. Hopefully she isn't giving them the wrong impression. It does appear, however, that the ponies have found her weakness.

Neela scrunches, lowers her head and lowers her ears momentarily
"So I've seen." Then she turns back and looks to her
"You think you can get a townhouse near the river?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173416
173417
>>173415
Sense Motive: Kira tilts her head at Neela's reaction, trying to get a feel of her thoughts about the ponies petting Kira.

[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]

"I think so. Is that what you would want, Neela?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173417
173418
>>173416
She's irritated, most likely envious

She blinks
"I could not afford to live there." She says
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173418
173419
>>173417
Hmm...perhaps if she wants pets like Kira gets, she needs to see what Kira is doing that causes ponies to want to pet her.

"Maybe I could. If only a few pieces of my tribe's gold and jewelry was worth so many Bits, then I should be able to get enough per month to afford a townhouse near the river. I know I'm not an artisan, but I have useful skills."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173419
173420
>>173418
Slithering through town, Kira notices a few things. One, the city is cold. Not extremely cold, but it's definitely not tropical. The asphalt and concrete sidewalks are colder and less pleasant to slither on than Kira would prefer. Also, Kira isn't exactly built for long distances, and it becomes tiresome.

The buildings around Kira are changing, becoming less often damaged, further apart, and smaller units.

She looks over towards Kira, and asks
"Like what?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173420
173421
>>173419
She definitely would enjoy a nice rest along with something to eat. Getting pets at the checkpoint was nice, but she needs something to get her energy back up. At least this part of the city seems like it's nicer than where they came from.

"I'm a hunter, a trapper, a tracker, a bowmaker, and while I've never actually gotten into a proper fight before all of the hunters in my tribe are trained to also be warriors. I also know a bit of alchemy, though I can only really do basic recipes like my tribe's signature hunting oil. It's a pretty good skill set for a lot of things and, while I know you disagree with the idea, if I'm going to be working for R&M to get an audience with the governor...maybe I can also get paid for it too?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173421
173422
>>173420
"How have you never gotten into a fight before?" She asks, then looks forward. Then she looks back "You can do alchemy? How well, exactly? And I still don't know why you would want to work for Customs" She looks ahead, and then almost starts speaking to herself. "Actually, it kind of makes sense. They prey on the weak and innocent. I can sort of understand why you get along."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173422
173423
>>173421
Unfortunately for Neela, her out-loud thoughts are heard by Kira, who scrunches.

"What do you mean that?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173423
173424
>>173422
"Huh?' She asks

"I mean, you're... I don't know how old you are, but you look old enough to have gotten in several fights." She pauses and looks directly at Kira. "Don't you have to fight... you know. The things you eat?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173424
173425
>>173423
Kira notices that Neela's deliberately avoiding answering her actual question, but she lets it go.

"Well, sometimes. Antelope, wild pigs, and other predators do put up a fight when cornered, but I mean like a real fight, against other sapient beings. I almost did, when the Talons came to our lands in retribution for us attacking the gold mine they had built that was poisoning our water supply, but my mother stopped me. 'You're not ready yet, Kira.' I'm definitely grateful for her doing that, especially in hindsight."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173425
173426
>>173424
"Why?" She asks. "Seems like you'd want to fight."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173426
173427
>>173425
Her tongue flicks, and she looks sheepishly off to the side.

"To be honest...not really. My mother was right, I'm not really ready yet to be a warrior. I'll fight if I have to, but I don't really have that 'warrior's spirit'. I'm more of a sneaky snake."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173427
173428
>>173426
"You don't really look like a warrior, except for the bow and the leather. How could you be sneaky? You're so big."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173428
173429
>>173427
"Oh, we should play hide & seek sometime! I can show you how sneaky us lamias can be."

She smiles, half serious, half joking.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173429
173430
>>173428
She blinks, with a concerned expression
"... On second thought, I'm just fine with knowing where you are." And continues walking forward.

And now, the buildings change to rows of little buildings together like apartment buildings, with small paths leaning up to their doors
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173430
173431
>>173429
It's now in this neighborhood that Kira looks for signs marking vacancies or signaling some kind of offices, as she continues conversing with Neela.

"So, that crystal...do you know how to do deer magic?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173431
173432
>>173430
"Huh? No."
She looks at Kira, and says
"Did you say you could do alchemy?"

Kira could roll search
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173432
173433 173434
>>173431
Search: Kira searches for a home or a way to acquire a home.

Meanwhile, she nods.

"Yes, though I'm more of I guess an apprentice alchemist. If I was a cleric in the tribe I would probably know more about alchemy and magic."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173433
173434
>>173432
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173434
173435
>>173433
>>173432
"You have clerics?" She asks. But this is less interesting than Kira's spotting of a leasing office for townhomes, just a little way down the street
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173435
173436
>>173434
"Oh, I see the office!"

After she points it out and starts making a bee line for the building, she answers Neela's question.

"Yes, they handle the preservation of the tribe's knowledge, keeping the tribe healthy with alchemy and curative magics, and the teaching of the snakelings. Really, they do a lot for the tribe, they're just as important as us hunters!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173436
173437
>>173435
Kira has to push open a door, enter, and...

A cream coated unicorn at the desk goes "Ah!" And dives down

Neela:
"And so... hunting. What is that like, exactly?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173437
173438
>>173436
"Oh, hang on Neela." She looks over at the unicorn who, like the mare in the pawn shop, seems to think a desk would be adequate cover in the case of her being hostile. Thankfully for both of them, Kira is the exact opposite of hostile.

"Hello? We would like to inquire about the availability of a townhouse."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173438
173439
>>173437
She peaks up
"A townhouse?"

roll luck
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173439
173440
>>173438
"Yes, a townhouse. Is there one available?"

[1d20 = 10]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173440
173441
>>173439
Kira can only see her ears, her eyes, and little bits of the top of her head
"I don't... Why do you ask?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173441
173442
>>173440
Kira smiles at the cute mare.

"We were hoping to rent. I have Bits!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173442
173443
>>173441
More of her head pokes up, and she looks at Kira

"Like... rent a townhome?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173443
173444
>>173442
Kira continues to beam a smile at her, and she nods.

"Yes, we want to rent a townhome...is there one available?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173444
173445
>>173443
She looks at her with... well, it isn't a smile
"I think some of our tenants may have concerns being neighbors with... large..." She raises a hoof, evidently to point at Kira, but does not complete the sentence
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173445
173446
>>173444
Kira tilts her head.

"What's the concern? I've been vetted by Customs, and I can assure you I'm very friendly. My friend can actually confirm this: along the way we were stopped at a military checkpoint, and two of the soldiers actually pet me before we got permission to pass."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173446
173447
>>173445
Now, she has the wide, toothy smile that is so common among ponies
"Well, tenants may be concerned about... living in a neighborhood with a... a giant snake. Whether it's... whether they are right or not, they may be... scared."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173447
173448
>>173446
Diplomacy: "Please ma'am, I assure you that we would be among the best tenants you have. Whatever concerns they may have at first, once they get to meet me and know me, would evaporate like the morning mist!"

[1d20-1 = (19-1) = 18]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173448
173449
>>173447
She raises her head, and looks over at the long snake-pony. Her muzzle is long and thin, and her ears twitch.

"We could consider it... But rent would need to be paid in full ahead of time, and with a deposit."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173449
173558
>>173448
Kira taps her hooves together excitedly, and her tongue flicks.

"Yay! No problem, just tell me the price!"
Anonymous
4685dd1
?
No.173451
173474 173592 173633
fucking_drowners.png
>>173402
>>173405
Posey follows the traces of battle.
"Oh boy, I sure do love adventuring in the bog with my new silver sword. I feel so vulnerable travelling under the sun without any spells left. I hope I don't suddenly get dogpiled by drowners or other necrophages of the bog." Posey says out loud
Anonymous
39e8aa7
?
No.173455
173474 173592 173646
Spoilered
Posey will make some checks to see what she knows about what sorts of monsters or other hazards lurk in these parts, as well as any other hidden mysteries.
Arcana, for magical beasts/constructs/dragons (or anything else magical)
[1d20+11 = (6+11) = 17]
Religion, for Undead (or anything else holy/unholy)
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13]

Pic unrelated
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173457
173458
>>173414
"Of course, sir," Amber answers.

She turns to the others and whispers, "Shall we play Shornberg's Verklarkte Nacht?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173458
173459
>>173457
He speaks to those around him.

"These griffins will stay here: Turmfalke, Schumann, Mitter, Dolch." Two of the six griffins stand up, and start to leave, as do a small clawful who stood off to the left, and had been noticed by Amber until they began to move."
Then he moves his chair forward, and leans over the table, clasping his claws together and placing his head over them. He looks intently at Amber, then Erich.

Erich nods, and places his bow to the Violin. He is familiar with the peace.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173459
173684
>>173458
Reminds me of that Downfall scene. Fortunately, Hellheim is not under siege, at least not yet.

https://youtu.be/U-pVz2LTakM
Although it is not yet evening, Amber and her closest–really, only–friends play a composition titled "Transfigured Night." As a sextet, it could not be done justice with a few ordinary musicians, but fortunately those present are anything but ordinary. The song starts out gently, with sweet and slow chords reminiscent of the approach of dusk. It is not long at all until Shornberg's more unique and esoteric style subtly creeps into the music as in waves before enshrouding the listeners in its chromaticism, returning occasionally to softer clarity. Shornberg is a quite subversive composer and although the piece is nominally a romance, there are deeper intonations evoking paranoia.

What is love of what is close, for example, but a hatred of the outside? Those damned ponies are a threat to Hellquill, which is all that stands between them and the griffon heartlands. The music's violence suggests what should be done, while its calmer interludes brood over how they overpopulate and despoil what could be productive land. And of course there are sympathizers and traitors everywhere, who lurk in the shadows. Such sentiments are new to Amber and seem to spring from the music itself. Near the middle a part of her is astonished and repelled from such overwhelming thoughts, and although she cannot stop playing, during a quieter and more compatible interlude she desperately starts playing a different song.

https://youtu.be/7vdgZAJVnes

The style, which would be called tintinnabuli had the term been coined, at first feeds off a smaller rhythm in Verklarte Nacht and takes the center stage, with its waves evoking harmony and peace. This at first intertwines with the first composition, but soon enough Shornberg's chaos attempts to overpower it while the new composition recedes. The new song is not outdone for long, and although not as loud its tranquil melody rings clearly. Shornberg's rage rings on before mellowing into harmony as well, while the second piece raises vivid and gorgeous protestations that do not seem of this world. Amber herself is divided along these pieces, and her talons seamlessly switch between one composition and the next, if not combining the two. The two, while euphonically combining at points, clash in dissonance at times, with one piece at first feeding into earthly ambition and then dwelling in melancholy while the other has a more celestial bent that chides the other. Shornberg may be subversive, but how could one hear his timeless opposition and not feel guilt over intended wrongs? Verklarte Nacht finishes with a vaguely pastoral phrase before finishing alongside the other work.

Amber is left exhausted by the end, confused and not entirely sure as to what transpired. What is even more uncertain is how the leader of Hellquill has received this performance, since dissonance in esoteric music is dangerous indeed and can lead to unexpected consequences.
Anonymous
7740e3a
?
No.173462
173467 173474
>>173000
What happend to the edgy one?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173467
173468
2635741.png
>>173462
I don't know. I miss him...
Anonymous
7740e3a
?
No.173468
173469
sad_marble_pie_by_gamemasterluna_d9eofn1-pre.png
>>173467
Its Very sad.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173469
173473
IMG_3512.png
>>173468
It is said that one morning Dark Star went out for cigarettes… and never came back. Lunar Nadir was kicked out of college for non-payment. Tricky Truffle and Succulent Sorrel eventually took over the room at the tavern after finally getting jobs and paying rent, and several little ponies felt themselves without a friend. One bout pony tells of a great hero who could sling guns, and take down changelings, griffins, and criminals alike, and swears he will return when the world most needs him, like King Arthur from his slumber on Avalon - but she is increasingly dismissed as a relic of a bygone era, and marginalized from society.

But Baltimare… Baltimare continues to evolve and progress. With the disappearance of the edgy pony, racism went down 30% overnight. The forces of reaction were overcome. Social mores continued to change and enlighten, and the formerly pony city of Baltimare became even more enriched with a rainbow of new creatures, and acceptance for behaviors previously shunned and kept in hiding.
Anonymous
7740e3a
?
No.173473
173534
B26FC7AE13CFB136F579BB3F943394F0-348570.jpg
>>173469
Truly the Bad Ending.
Anonymous
8b36027
?
No.173474
173503 173546 173592
FD655537513A082F7460040DCD9FED36-1581225.png
>>173462
Posey is edgy
>>173451
>>173455
Does Posey find her way to the tanks?
Anonymous
6b87d28
?
No.173503
173646
>>173474
I guess I'll roll my perception stuff

Posey keeps to the trees, trying to minimize direct sun exposure.

Search to look for tracks/traps
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
Survival to follow them
[1d20+1 = (6+1) = 7]
Spot to look for creatures
[1d20+3 = (7+3) = 10]
Listen to hear them
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
2e955c8
?
No.173534
173546 173558
>>173473
I'd like to see Dark Star again, someday

>>172791 →
Silver smiles widely, and makes a happy little whinny noise as she scritches his chin.

"Heavenly. As to be expected when you are with griffon goddess."
Anonymous
0d7b9d8
?
No.173546
>>173474
Redpill me on Posey
>>173534
me too, he was my favorite.
Anonymous
77e9ee2
?
No.173558
173559 173560
>>173534
Her eyes are again decidedly lidded, and with the sight of her slim, cat-like body from waist to face, Silver is affirmed in her description of her as a "goddess."

"That's right" She says, nodding slowly, and purring

>>173449
"Well" The mare stares at her. "There's a recently renovated unit that may be available for 700 a month."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173559
173561
>>173558
Silver once again rubs his muzzle against her smooth beak.

"You make cutest noises when you are happy, you know that?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173560
173561
>>173558
"We'll take it!"

Kira says this with basically no hesitation, and begins counting out 700 Bits.
Anonymous
77e9ee2
?
No.173561
173562 173563
>>173559
"Tehe" she giggles, and bats at his muzzle with her claw "You too, big boy"

>>173560
"There's also a deposit, but... we don't really allow exotic animals or pets."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173562
173564
>>173561
"What's the deposit?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173563
173564
>>173561
Her batting at his muzzle may or may not result in a boop, which may or may not result in him scroonching. He lets out a happy little whinny as proof of her claim.

"I am not sure I ever saw myself in this position even just year ago, but I am glad that this is where I ended up, in embrace of my griffon goddess."
Anonymous
77e9ee2
?
No.173564
173565 173566
>>173562
"Well... It can vary, but bout 300..."

>>173563
Looking away and with a sigh, she says "I can't say I did either..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173565
173573
>>173564
At this turn of mood for his Jubee, Silver buries his head into the soft plumage of her neck and snuggles in. He can still be heard clearly, even if his voice is perhaps slightly muffled by feathers.

"I know it is not what you wanted, but I hope I can help make this as good of situation for you as I can."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173566
173573
>>173564
Kira adds another 300 to the Bits she's counting, bringing the total up to 1,000 Bits before placing them on the counter.
Anonymous
e1c9bf8
?
No.173572
173573 173592
Does Posey find any tanks?
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173573
173574 173575 173576 173595
>>173566
She looks at the pile of bits
“That’s… a lot of bits to have on you… okay then.” And she looks back to Kira
“But, well, we don’t really allow exotic animals…”

>>173565
Jubilosa takes her claw, and starts rubbing around the base of his right ear.
“Don’t worry.” She says. “You have.” Though she seems troubled, she makes another “purr”

>>173572
the description is hard to do on mobile
Anonymous
e1c9bf8
?
No.173574
>>173573
What I do is type it in notes or on a doc, and then copy-paste it into the text box.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173575
173577
>>173573
Kira looks at the pony with big, hopefully adorable snake eyes.

"Please, ma'am, it's not as though we can't manage our own needs or are some base animals like you would see out in the wild. We are fully sapient, just like any pony. We won't cause you or your complex any trouble."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173576
173577
>>173573
Silver's ear twitches as Jubilosa no doubt marvels at how even his pony ears are fluffy.

Sense Motive: Silver tries to gain a peak into his griffon's head space, hopefully to know more specifics about what's troubling her.

[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173577
173578 173579
>>173575
“Well… our tenants may have concerns about the safety of their… well, they may have fears about the safety of their, of their foals. And their pets.”

>>173576
She keeps scratching. She seems to be troubled by the usual, which are all things in her past.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173578
173580
>>173577
ears are scritched

Silver cuddles his griffon, keeping her attention focused on the present. Her attention is definitely brought back to the present when she feels Silver's Sword finally soften up enough that he comes loose with a pop. She can feel as his seed trickles out of her slowly.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173579
173580
>>173577
flicks tongue

"I would never dream of doing anything harmful to their foals or pets. Pets are for pets, and ponies are already so adorable anyways that I imagine foals must be heart attack-inducing."
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173580
173581 173582
>>173579
sense motive on the giant, scary snake-creature
[1d20+3 = (5+3) = 8]

>>173578
“Ah” she says, as she is cuddled. She extends both claws to hug Silver, and then wraps her massive wings around him. She closes her eyes, and attempts to get lost in his fluff.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173581
173583
>>173580
Bluff: Although Kira genuinely has no intent on eating on eating foals or pets, she hopes the pony will believe her.

[1d20-1 = (18-1) = 17]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173582
173583
>>173580
It's hard to tell who is being absorbed into who with this close an embrace. Regardless, Jubilosa finds herself lost in a sea of light grey fluff. She feels his stout pony heart beat in his chest, and hears the steady breathing in and out of his powerful lungs.
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173583
173584 173585
>>173581
She looks at Kira, and then slowly opens her mouth to say
“Well… I suppose. We’ll need ID, and you’ll have to sign some documents.”

>>173582
There isn’t that much meat or fur to cover the ribs on her chest, though the fur does certainly move across her bones, and there is quite a bit of muscle around the base of her wings. She too, rises and falls with her breathes.

She purrs.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173584
173586
>>173583
Silver lets out a content whinny. He's happy to remain here with her, at least for the moment. He gently massages around the base of her wings.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173585
173586
>>173583
flicks tongue

Kira shows the pony her ID bracelet.

"No problem! I must say, though, it sure seems like ponies like paperwork, I've never imagine signing so much before today."
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173586
173587 173588 173670
>>173585
It’s… a lot of pages.

Looking at the documents, it concerns things such as time of rent payments, the process of requesting maintenance work, and rules. Rules include things like no attempts at “renovation” or serious alteration of rooms, no-subletting, no Kirin allowed at any time, no conjugation magic, no subletting to zebras (why this rule isn’t covered by the previous rule against subletting is beyond Kira’s understanding), no destruction magic, no loud noises after 10 PM, no illegal activities… actually this goes on for a while. Pets are allowed but regulated. Whether the room is in good condition must be verified at the time of leasing in order for the owner to be considered in breach of warrant; however the warranty is always valid and the owner is responsible for maintenance, in which case submitting a maintenance request is the appropriate course of action. It’s a bunch of legal nonsense.

Sigh here, and here, and here.

>>173584
purr
Jubilosa must feel the same
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173587
173589
>>173586
Hmm, seems fairly standard...Kira assumes. She definitely doesn't understand why no zebras specifically. As long as there's no clause that says she signs away her soul, Kira signs the papers.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173588
173589
>>173586
If only he could be there forever...sadly, Silver does have things to do today. Still, he lingers there, unwilling to give up his griffon so soon.
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173589
173590 173591
>>173587
I like how “Absoluteky no Kirin” requires no explanation

How does Kira sign? What slides her signature look like? Where did she learn to read and write? Anyways…

The unicorn asks if the deer is supposed to be staying there as well, and when the question is answered in the affirmative, makes her sign something as well, and makes Kira write her name somewhere.

“You haven’t” the unicorn gives that toothy smile “seen the unit yet.”

>>173588
Just a few more minutes… surely the world will not catch on fire so quickly?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173590
173593
>>173589
Not for a few years, at least. Though it does make Silver wonder, what happened to his Jubee in that future?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173591
173593
>>173589
"Well...may we see it?"

Her tongue flicks out again.
Anonymous
fcf9412
?
No.173592
173595
>>173405
>>173451
>>173455
>>173474
>>173572
With no spells left, Posey keeps her weapons drawn as she matches. She grips her sword in her maw, and levitates her compound bow with her horn.
She draws her hood over her head to minimize sunlight exposure, her golden eyes glowing beneath the shadow of the hood.
Anonymous
2efa9bb
?
No.173593
173605 173606
>>173590
Silver didn’t see Jubilosa in the future. Hard to say.

>>173591
“Sure” she says, moving around Kira (which may not be easier depending on where she places herself), and to the door.
Anonymous
fcf9412
?
No.173595
173621
>>173573
>>173592
Is there any chance that Posey will continue her adventure today?
Anonymous
fcf9412
?
No.173604
I guess not
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173605
173685
>>173593
Kira does try to move around the mare, letting her pass before following her out of the door.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173606
173665
>>173593
He has to admit, the foals were exceptionally cute, but he would miss having his griffon goddess around. He manages to hold off breaking away from his Jubee cuddles for a few minutes before he kisses his griffu again.

"I really do have to get up..."
Anonymous
a7aaabe
?
No.173613
173614 173676
"Stupid Sun...! I thought that bitch princess was captured or something, so why is there still day? The Coven was very disappointed by this development..."

I'm going to make an intelligence check to see what Posey knows about the day/night cycle, and why it continues in spite of recent developments concerning the princesses.
I think princess Celestia counts as a demigod, so I'll roll religion.
[1d20+9 = (1+9) = 10]
Anonymous
a7aaabe
?
No.173614
173615
>>173613
Well fuck. I know skills don't crit, but it looks like I'm still out of luck, unless it's somehow common knowledge that anyone would know.
Anonymous
a7aaabe
?
No.173615
>>173614
Also forgot the -2 penalty for standing in the sun itself, so that's a definite failure.
Anonymous
ea11a7b
?
No.173621
>>173595
Adventure today, or no?
Anonymous
2c80d34
?
No.173622
I guess not.
Anonymous
1ac0fd6
?
No.173623
173624 173630
As an interested party and a friend of the scrunchiest flower this side of the Mississippi. I have a proposal for the game.
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1vHzWLmdeNMdwpV1ZZm7_odK8Se-M19KiiB6iZdOX0mg/pub
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_QNvNjIMKGivuMWayMOsOaXd-w9nCsnvnfyxEb4dbno/pub#h.mp7gnwz1yhkj
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CXF9Q2XUoq0Lzh0H8Zzk8gCq4GMkzB-pYTRxIfQGXH8/pub
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1cPmFbL75JMGQ4im7iH9ySCJYh7tGP3g8eo1xIW5R8KA/pub
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1h0SlmLGUjL6TgOGxxe8ww7yJPiZhfx5864v_6jwlYeg/pub

This is a system developed by /mlp/ for simplified board based pony ttrpg adventures. I think it has a few benefits over homebrew additions to DND, including but not limited to:
>providing more accurate stats and fluff for ponies and other races
>streamlining game play, allowing for clearer combat and more concise actions
>better balances martial and caster characters
>more variety for the many martial characters
>less complex system makes adding homebrew ideas slightly easier

Any thoughts?
Anonymous
a8f4cd3
?
No.173624
>>173623
Looks fairly interesting.
Anonymous
a40d8ed
?
No.173627
173628
Adventure today?
Anonymous
bee136b
?
No.173628
>>173627
It’s possible
Anonymous
a40d8ed
?
No.173629
So, does Posey find those tanks?
Anonymous
a40d8ed
?
No.173630
173632
>>173623
It would be kind of weird to change systems mid game, but not unprecedented.
I'm still lvl 3 anyway.
Anonymous
a40d8ed
?
No.173631
Does Posey need to roll anything else to find the tanks?
Anonymous
1ac0fd6
?
No.173632
>>173630
Stranger things have happened
Anonymous
a40d8ed
?
No.173633
>>173451
Anonymous
f62d3f1
?
No.173634
173638
EW_2GkfWkAESy3W.png

Anonymous
8489e99
?
No.173637
173638
Quest today?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173638
173639
IMG_3805.png
>>173637
>>173634
So I’m back… I’ve got to do a few things, and then I’ll update Posey and everyone else
Anonymous
8489e99
?
No.173639
>>173638
So, tomorrow maybe?
Anonymous
090edf9
?
No.173640
pgqmr46srqn8chpyn6z4.jpeg

Anonymous
e36f623
?
No.173641
173642
3138993__semi-dash-grimdark_artist-colon-uteuk_derpibooru+import_oc_oc-colon-rosa+maledicta_unofficial+characters+only_unicorn_equestria+at+war+mod_ima.jpeg
Quest tomorrow?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173642
173645
>>173641
I'mma try to write up as much as possible tonight
Anonymous
e36f623
?
No.173643
Yay.
Also, I've been playing Posey for more than a year now.
Anonymous
662b033
?
No.173644
2724287__safe_pony_solo_oc_oc+only_clothes_unicorn_vector_bust_portrait_armor_undead_bone_skeleton_hood_equestria+at+war+mod_hoof+polish_artist-colon.png

Anonymous
662b033
?
No.173645
>>173642
If you post just part of it, I could get started on my response.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173646
173648 173649
>>173503
>>173455
Posie finds a little trail, mostly likely used by wildlife, judging by the small, split-hooved tracks and the occasional, much bigger and deeper tracks that run along it. It takes her through a relatively thin undergrowth of moss and ferns that covers mud, peat, baren roots, and especially piles of lost brown leaves. Hanging above are innumerable, though not necessarily dense, hanging cypress and willow trees, whose big, drooping branches that vary from retaining most of their leaves to having none at all, appear along like green and brown dresses on so many giants in this humid, open-air ball. Posey occasionally passes little ponds, round in shape with muddy rims, occasionally filed with cut roots, and filled with muddy water and leaves. Elsewhere are mangled trees, sometimes cut in half.

Posey sees some definite signs that ponies have been this way. In one location, a rifle tuck into the ground with a steel helmet placed on top, in the clear sign of a grave marker. In another area, an abandoned tent. In another area, a broken branch with some cloth tied in a bow to it. In another, a set of roots that oddly has bandages wrapped around it.

These lands belong to the living - not to imply that death is out of place here. Posey knows these swamps to be variously inhabited by Chimeras, Hydras (bigger ones), lake and river serpents, Manticores, vicious and gigantic insects, occasional visits by the dragons from further south, and the occasional overflows of civilization. She can hear the sounds of so many birds chirping and singing their songs, the hooting of an owl, and many insects humming. She can see them fly about, and perch around. There are calls of unknown creatures further away, and the howls of what might be wolves. Posey only sees one terrestrial animal - a small cervid, presumably some kind of deer - which darts away when Posey nears it. It's the first animal to be afraid of Posey's presence, rather than indifferent or outright hostile. Even the plants are defiant and make known that this forest belongs to the living. A tree is not merely covered in leaves in the middle of winter, but is flowering with vibrant, big, blue flowers, dotted with orange spots.

The trail moves near water, bespeckled with so many cypress trees. Posey can tell that these areas are flooded only when the rain comes, based on what undergrowth peaks through. These are dotted by islands that break the little valleys of water. The end of a rifle stands up out of the water, as if propped up by some rock or root just beneath the water's surface. A tree stands out on one little island in a sort of clearing, away from most other trees. It's fairly small, a sapling, looks like it could be a few years old. It has two big branches that move out from the center, a few feet above the ground, though a third, shorter and thicker one is placed behind it, as if in three prongs, like upside down caltrops. The two larger branches stretch out forward and closer to Posey, towards the sky in a kind of Y shape. What is odd is that hanging around these two branches, and wrapped around the back of the tree, is a large, green, military bag that could not be more than some months exposed. The impossible position of the backpack is the clearest sign of magic thus far.
Anonymous
ecd9cb7
?
No.173648
IMG_3814.jpeg
>>173646
Anonymous
662b033
?
No.173649
173650
>>173646
>split-hooved tracks
I take it that we're not using the sapient deer from EaW? (Ngl, too many non-pony countries for comfort)
>a small cervid, presumably some kind of deer - which darts away when Posey nears it
Ah, that clears it up.
>these swamps to be variously inhabited by Chimeras, Hydras (bigger ones), lake and river serpents, Manticores, vicious and gigantic insects, occasional visits by the dragons from further south, and the occasional overflows of civilization.
Then it shall make for good hunting.
>Even the plants are defiant and make known that this forest belongs to the living.
And here I am, having just removed defiling magic from my sheet.
Posey glares at the defiant plants, trying to wilt them with her gaze, but alas, her horn is depleted of spells.
>In one location, a rifle tuck into the ground with a steel helmet placed on top, in the clear sign of a grave marker.
Posey resists the impulse to temper with the grave.
"Patient, Posey, you're on a mission here. Now is not the time for fun." She says to herself
>hanging around these two branches, and wrapped around the back of the tree, is a large, green, military bag that could not be more than some months exposed. The impossible position of the backpack is the clearest sign of magic thus far.
This catches Posey's interest, and she reaches out with the power of her horn to bring the sack towards her.
However, before she does this, she rolls Search to check for traps (if she rolls too low to detect a trap, assume she just grabs the bag)
[1d20+1 = (6+1) = 7] (penalty in sunlight)
Anonymous
ecd9cb7
?
No.173650
173651
>>173649
>deer
The pony show includes non-sapient deer, sapient, quadrupedal, brightly colored reindeer, non-sapient pigs, sapient anthro pigs, non-sapient cats, sapient anthro cats, non-sapient dogs, and sapient anthro dogs. It’s all very confusing.

There are sapient deer in the campaign. Kira even purchased one.

>wilting the trees
The tree with its blue flowers stands there, still defiant. The flowers are almost beautiful, even if the orange spots seem a bit odd. They almost seem to beckon for Posey to come, pick them up and smell them, and put one in her mane.

>grave
The ground beneath looks a bit too solid, too full of roots, to be the actual location of the grave. Posey knows by now the ponies take away their dead when they can. And if there were a body there, the forest has claimed it. Ants, the various predators, fungi… the forest does not give up its dead. Living matter is recycled and repurposed.

>the bag
Perhaps you don’t understand. The arm bands of the backpack are around the split branches of the tree, in such a way that removing the backpack from the tree is impossible. Putting it there in the first place is equally impossible - like the tree had grown through the backpack, it must have been either carefully sewn onto the tree, or its bands moved through solid matter. Posey would need to cut the arm (leg) bands, or just leave it there and go through the back.

To get to the island, the water is surprisingly shallow, though still thick with algae. There is a canteen on the edge of the island.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173651
173652 173653 173654
swamp_flower_by_cloudyglow_dbomowh-fullview.png.32d2a6075f6ec9b7f02a1f79d7abd490.png
>>173650
>The flowers are almost beautiful, even if the orange spots seem a bit odd
Wait a minute, I've seen the show. I know these flowers. These are swamp fewer flowers. Metagaming, but we've all seen the show.
Well, I'm glad that disease doesn't affect me.
>They almost seem to beckon for Posey to come, pick them up and smell them, and put one in her mane. L
Posey does exactly that, appreciating the cruel aroma. She's a fan of flowers, especially the frightful variety.
"Blue, with orange spots...? How delightfully chaotic of a flower. The thralls of the coven would be jealous." she says, as she places one in her mane. She giggles at the pollen tickles her sensitive nose.
>The arm bands of the backpack are around the split branches of the tree, in such a way that removing the backpack from the tree is impossible.
... It's the flowers, isn't it? A pony turned into the tree while wearing the backpack.

I know this, let's see if Posey knows anything about it.
Arcana (trained)
[1d20+11 = (10+11) = 21]
Nature (untrained)
[1d20+3 = (7+3) = 10]

>Posey would need to cut the arm (leg) bands, or just leave it there and go through the back.
Not one to pass up looting the dead, Posey levitates her knife to cut the bag.
>To get to the island, the water is surprisingly shallow, though still thick with algae. There is a canteen on the edge of the island.
So long as it isn't running, Posey has no trouble crossing it, although she doesn't like getting her cost dirty.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173652
>>173651
>cut the bag
*To cut the straps
Anonymous
ecd9cb7
?
No.173653
173655 173656
>>173651
>plants can’t appropriate and crawl across dead matter
>this horrifying magical entity is definitely either a virus or a plant and behaves in every other way the way that plants and viruses do our world, rather than being magical or behaving like a fungus, which can absolutely eat dead matter and is extremely hard to kill
https://youtu.be/oHC1230OpOg?si=5FnwwibTySqiXVn_

>knowledge check
Posey knows that it’s abnormal, and very dangerous

Inside the bag are the remnants of a medical kit, another empty canteen, a wrench, a map, and a lighter.
Anonymous
ecd9cb7
?
No.173654
>>173651
>Arcana
The tree definitely grew through the bag, which means the tree is actually much younger than it appears. The tree has a greatly higher life-signature (life magic) than normal for a plant.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173655
173670 173690
>>173653
>It might kill me anyway
Well, I'll just have to wait and find out what it does then.
>Posey knows that it’s abnormal, and very dangerous
"Well, it's definitely not a rose... I think I like it though." Posey says (her experience with flowers comes mostly from imported bouquets)
"I wonder if Gloomy would like it...?"
>Inside the bag are the remnants of a medical kit, another empty canteen, a wrench, a map, and a lighter.
"No war wands, no scrolls, no summoning talismans, no wonder these scrubs died." Posey remarks
>The tree definitely grew through the bag, which means the tree is actually much younger than it appears. The tree has a greatly higher life-signature (life magic) than normal for a plant.
This makes Posey suspicious, thinking that there might be a mage ahoof.
She stops talking to herself and treads carefully.
She levitates the bag back to the tree, to make it look as if it fell from it.

She then proceeds to the islands, treading cautiously.
Anonymous
ecd9cb7
?
No.173656
173657
>>173653
I’m going to add “trench shovel” to the backpack, which was actually tied to it and has since fallen off next to the tree.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173657
173671 173690
>>173656
Posey takes the shovel, as she might actually need that for her quest.
She proceeds to the island, looking for signs of tanks.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173658
173660 173690
Are there any signs of tanks from the island?
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173660
173666 173690
Ghost_battlefield_concept_art.jpg
>>173658
>To get to the island, the water is surprisingly shallow, though still thick with algae. There is a canteen on the edge of the island.
Posey goes to the island and searches the area. She looks around to check if any tanks are visible from the island. She searches for any damaged trees or other signs of machinery or warfare. She picks up the canteen and shakes it for secret gold coin stashes, but also to follow the trail of artificial objects in order to find the greater battlefield.
If she sees nothing of note, she moves on in her search for tanks.
She almost monologues, but remembers that she's on alert for hostile mages. She silently reminisces her days savaging corpses and magic items from the Arcturian front (menial labor for the lowest-ranking, expendable thralls and ghouls), and thinks of how long and hard she's worked for the privilege of being stationed abroad in Equestria, as well as the price of failure...

Are any rolls necessary?
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173661
Is GM still here for the night?
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173663
I might go to bed soon, if we're done here.
Anonymous
8d9a0f2
?
No.173664
173690
"The water is not too deep here. Surely a pack of drowners won't spring up from hidden sinkholes to ambush me..."
Anonymous
1529c6a
?
No.173665
173666 173667
>>173606
She accepted the kiss gratefully, but when Silver tells her that he has to get up her purple eyes go big, and she makes a pouty face.

“Are you so sure?” She asks, still lying on her back.
Anonymous
14d4b6f
?
No.173666
173690
Spoilered
>>173660
>>173665
Does Posey see any tanks? Or Drowners?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173667
173668
>>173665
"Unfortunately yes. D'awwwww. You make it very much hard to say no to that face." He holds her claw with his hoof. "Makes me wish I had clone of myself you could spend time with, while I did things that were necessary to do. For instance, we have three colts that need sleeping arrangements settled, and breakfast is not going to make itself."
Anonymous
1529c6a
?
No.173668
173687
>>173667
She keeps up the pouty face for a moment, but then stops.

“Alright. Just-“ she smiles softly “come back to me, will you?”
Anonymous
14d4b6f
?
No.173669
173671 173672 173690
Does Posey need to make any other rolls or checks to find the tanks?
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.173670
173671 173673 173674
>>173586
What's conjugation magic?

>>173655
>scrubs
Would that slang exist in the setting?
Anonymous
2d264a9
?
No.173671
173672 173679
>>173669
Yes.

>>173657
Does she take anything else?

>>173670
scrunch
It's conjuration magic
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173672
173690
>>173671
>Yes
What to roll?
>Does she take anything else?
She takes the map, the wrench, and the lighter (if it's still good).
She also takes two flowers, that she fixes to her mane.
>>173669
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Conjuration_School
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173673
>>173670
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Conjuration_School
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173674
>>173670
>Would that slang exist in the setting?
Posey is a trend-setter.
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173675
173686 173690
Posey decides to check the map.
Anonymous
1529c6a
?
No.173676
173677
IMG_3970.jpeg
>>173613
>Nat 1 on a knowledge check
Posey’s favored theory is that the planet is actually round, rotating, and revolving around another celestial body. The princesses have no involvement and are fakes. Any appearance to the contrary is at best, mass illusion magic
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173677
>>173676
Noted
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173678
173690
So, anything of note on the island, or the map?
Anonymous
a494051
?
No.173679
173690
>>173671
What does she need to roll?
Anonymous
deaa6c2
?
No.173680
173690
"At least there's no lacedons or bog mummies in this swamp. Wouldn't want to run into those..."
Anonymous
5ebcaeb
?
No.173681
173682
GM, are we adventuring tonight?
Anonymous
1529c6a
?
No.173682
173683
>>173681
Probably not?
At a pony con
again
Anonymous
5ebcaeb
?
No.173683
>>173682
Oh well then. Maybe another day.
Anonymous
2d264a9
?
No.173684
174136
>>173459
If Amber is being completely honest with herself, she never liked Diazela. The spoiled brat was paranoid, sometimes irrational, and prone to manic episodes. Her cousin here appears smarter, more diligent, more well read, more generally in control of himself, and most importantly of all, 15 years older - and yet he possesses many of the same undesirable tendencies.

Amber knows through many years of special insights that the prejudices the intuitions of the mind impose onto our perception of reality - rationality, non-contradiction, three dimensional space, morality, time, separation of consciousness - are not reflective of the thing in itself. She knows that the condition of the mind dismissed by the superstitious as "schizophrenia" is not a failure to comprehend reality - far from it - but merely a failure to conform to socially imposed misunderstandings. And yet for all of that, Amber will surely forgive herself if the Grandmaster's... shall we call them 'eccentricities'? - are more dangerous than she cares for.

Still, there is no doubt that the Grandmaster is a Griffin of taste and erudition. He too, is a fellow esotericist, even if he is less versed than Amber, especially Helder, or even Erich. His malign smile conveys that he is pleased with what Amber has shown him, but he knows she is holding back. And if he is a dangerous an paranoid griffin, well, all the more reason to please him.
Anonymous
2d264a9
?
No.173685
173688
>>173605
The mare moves out first, followed by Kira and Neela. She looks back with that toothy smile, and asks the creatures to follow her. They move several blocks past multiple street crossings, and notably only some streets are major through traffic streets, while some are lower traffic. Eventually they come to the unit. It's on the very edge of a block, with the right side of the unit next to another unit, but the left side simply forming the corner, bordering a major north-south running road, and the whole block is only a few blocks north of the river. Kira could probably discern that this unit is at the very edge of the area owned by this company, and at the edge of an area served by a school. It's less than a mile from the area of lower density across the river.

The unit itself is has a small space to park a vehicle, a little path leading up the house, two stories with two windows on the second floor, a big window on the first floor on the left with space for potted plants, and a door on the right. There is a stairway leading up the to door, and a small window by the ground which presumably serves a basement. There are windows on the side of the building, and the unit as a whole is covered with a dark brown brick facade. Kira can also see that behind the unit is a small area of yard or garden that is fenced off with wood, and a small path separates this unit from its mirror on the north side of the block.
Anonymous
d704ea4
?
No.173686
>>173675
Does the map or the island have anything interesting in sight?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173687
173798
>>173668
Silver smiles back, replying, "I could not do anything else." He gives her one more quick kiss before getting up and heading out of the room. First things first is a quick shower, Silver's not sure the other members of the household would appreciate him smelling so strongly of sex. Once that's done he cracks open the door to Khoi's room and peaks his head in to see how she's doing.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173688
173694
>>173685
"Wooooooow! It's certainly different from the huts in my village! Does the inside look as good as the outside?"
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173690
173691
>>173655
>>173657
>>173658
>>173660
>>173664
>>173666
>>173669
>>173672
>>173675
>>173678
>>173679
>>173680
Does Posey see anything?
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173691
173692
>>173690
Roll search for the islands, and intelligence for the map.
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173692
173693 173699
>>173691
Search
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]
Map
[1d20+3 = (3+3) = 6]
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173693
173694
2dda23b44ea109681d930a60a3f5cb1b.jpg
tank-skelety-soldaty.jpg
56b90d1e4fb92596653c87b417f45724.jpeg
>>173692
I'm going to assume Posey doesn't find anything on the map, unless the DC was an easy 5 to notice the X that marks the spot and/or something else obvious like a marker for the battlefield.
Posey rolls up the map to inspect again later, since having a map of the area in any circumstance is useful, since Posey is unfamiliar with the geography.

(Internal monologue)
"Tanks... Now that I think of it, I'm not sure what they really look like. I think it was supposed to look something like Mason's combustion carriage, with an oversized musket mounted on it, only armor plated. I don't know what use the Society of Bones would have for such a weapon, unless they're doubling down on the skeleton siege engineers. Perhaps it's a toy for the Coven's thralls; they do handle a lot of the techy stuff these days, with all their fancy metal gadgets and gizmos. Or maybe, perhaps they wanted better vessels for haunt-shifting? A haunted armored vehicle would certainly be a formidable asset if it carries sufficient artillery or transports minions... Yes, yes, that would be a viable substitute if dragon cadavers are in short supply. I wonder if they're cheaper than golems though." Posey thinks to herself, trying to oversell the strategic importance of her actions
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173694
173695 173696 173698
>>173688
As Kira slithers along, the mare looks back at her frequently. She doesn’t seem to trust Kira to cross a street correctly, giving her instructions to “wait” or “go quickly.” She calls out to a frightened (seemingly frightened) mare and foal who was further down the sidewalk, saying it was “okay.” When the three get to the unit, the mare unlocks the door and goes through first, but has no intention of standing in the way of Kira. Concrete steps lead up to the door, which is opened with a traditional key. There’s a tiny space for gardening in front of the main bay window.

Going inside, Kira can see the layout of the unit. The floor is wooden. In front of Kira, and dominating the right side of the unit, is a wooden stairway going up. To the left is what must be intended to be a living room, with bay windows, and ending in a wall covered in pinkish wallpaper with yellow stripes. The left wall also has a couple smaller windows, and the bay window in the front gives a little extra space. In the wall to the right is a doorway - though it should be known that there is another door, underneath and behind the staircase. Going through the door that is along the far wall, on the other side is a kitchen with a linoleum floor, counters with cabinets above on the wall adjacent to the living room, a window with a sink below, as well as a row counter along the left wall with a stove and oven next to the sink, and then a counter that separates the kitchen from the final room. This final room is open with the kitchen and is like the living room but smaller, presumably a dining room. Behind this is a door that leads outside the a small enclosed area with a small concrete patio, a little rock path leading to a door, and to either side some grass and dirt that can be used as green space or for gardening. Next to the dining room on the right wall is a white door leading into a bathroom, which is small and only has a toilet and sink. Next to the kitchen on the same wall is a small room intended as a pantry.

Going up the stairs, the hall leads left to a door to a large room with big windows in the back. This must be the master bedroom. The floors on the upper level are carpet. This room has a closet, and opens to a bathroom with a bathtub, shower, sink and toilet, and which opens to the hallway, the bedroom, but also to a bedroom on the side bearer the street, which is a second, smaller bedroom with a small closet, and windows on the side and the street side. Of course the doors in the bathroom lock.

Going back downstairs, through that little door in the living room that goes under the stairs, there is more stairs going down. This leads into a little room that has a wooden floor and some natural sunlight from a pair of windows at street level. This room is maybe the size of the living room. Behind this is a wall with a door, and going through this, is a more traditional , small basement space with a water heater, a heating stove, and a washer and dryer.

>>173693
It was never a tank…
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173695
173697 173698
B1536F28E71BDA0A7EBC5D5FAD727B54-227947.png
>>173694
>It was never a tank
I might actually be retarded...
Let me backread
>It's a metal tube used on a towed artillery piece.
>a dual action shock absorber from a New Mareland 25 pounder
Idk where tanks entered my head...
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173696
173700
>>173694
The wide eyed Kira makes it quickly obvious that this is the first time she'd been inside such a modern dwelling. She "ooo"s and "ahhh"s at nearly everything she sees. The toilets are especially interesting to her, and she has to be pulled away from the first one she sees as she can't help but flush it over and over again. In the master bedroom, she coils up in the middle of the carpeted floor, wriggling her body to get comfy before exclaiming, "Oh yeah, this will work." She still goes down into the basement, to say that she's checked out the whole house.

Spot: During their tour of the townhome, Kira covertly checks for signs of preexisting damage that she'll need to make a note of, if she doesn't want it to count against her deposit.

[1d20+8 = (17+8) = 25]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173697
>>173695
To be fair, most tanks in this era use artillery pieces as their main gun.
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173698
173700
>>173695
>>173694
Okaaay... Posey continues her hunt for artillery pieces.
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173699
173700
>>173692
Does Posey find anything with this Search check?
Anonymous
2d264a9
?
No.173700
173701 173702 173711
>>173698
>>173699
If you're wanting Posey to be simultaneously attacked by land, air, and sea, that will likely have to wait until I have more time consistently at my laptop.

However, Posey can discern the following:
She seems to have made the right choice in moving to the islands. There are more of the round little pools, and more trees that have been twisted, mangled, and entirely split in two. The land becomes drier and firmer if she moves to her left, which is to say, the same direction she was going before she crossed the water. The map shows lines of movement as well as higher areas, and also a couple marked locations and paths. However, unfortunately it doesn't portray the inundated areas. Posey can quickly discern that which areas are flooded and which are not varies with the rain - just wait a week of no rainfall, and much of what is currently under water will not be.

>>173696
The toilet downstairs is a little small, and Kira is told explicitly that the toilets in the house are not designed for her massive size, and may break if she puts too much of her weight on it - not that she could fit entirely on top of a toilet anyways. The one upstairs is larger and has better flow. However, both take a little time to refill the upper bowl, and annoyingly the one downstairs sometimes requires a jiggle of the handle to get it to fill properly. Kira is told that the bathtub most likely will not fit her entire body, although she's not sure. Kira is warned to not block drainage on the bathtub and shower, lest it spill over and flood. The carpets upstairs are definitely refreshing after so much concrete and wood. The concrete outside is much less pleasant to slither over than grass, and the stairs, while no impediment to Kira, are not made for her. But the carpet? She can get used to it. The basement has the decided advantage of being mostly underground, and is likely closest to a snake den of any pony-made location she's been in thus far.

While examining the walls and floors, Kira comes to a conclusion - this house has been at least renovated, and very likely entirely rebuilt. She can see from the adjacent homes and the brick outside that at least the base of the house is decades old, but everything inside above the basement is fresh. Fresh paint, fresh carpet... She is likely the first tenant to slither these floors. Well, obviously she is the first to slither them, but no one else has walked them. With all of that said, there seems to be a leak or sign of water damage in the basement in the back portion, and potentially some issue with the water heater.
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173701
173703
>>173700
>Posey can quickly discern that which areas are flooded and which are not varies with the rain - just wait a week of no rainfall, and much of what is currently under water will not be.
It might be smarter to come back then, perhaps...
I wonder what precipitation plans the local pegasi have for next week. I guess Posey could check their bulletin.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173702
173703
>>173700
The basement *is* rather den like, but if the basement floor is concrete like outside then it would be rather uncomfortable to live in and sleep on. The dens she's familiar with have dirt floors with nice soft rugs of fur or cloth to sleep on, so maybe if the basement were to have a covering of dirt...ah, but that would be a lot of work, and the carpet in the bedroom is already a fine place to sleep. She points out the issue with the water heater to the mare, as it could lead to greater problems down the line, and to make sure they know that it's not because of her or Neela.
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173703
173704 173706
>>173702
The mare takes notes about the water heater. The basement floor is wooden, actually, like the dinning room and living room above. The mare notes that a rug can be placed over the floor to make it more comfortable.

>>173701
Posey can gather that the devices these canisters are attached to are very large and will stick through all but a true lake or river.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173704
173705
>>173703
Hmm, perhaps. Again, seems like more work than it's work if there's a nice carpeted bedroom upstairs, but she'll keep that option in mind. Kira looks to Neela.

"So, what do you think?"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173705
173707
>>173704
Neela looks around
“It’s big… very big. And so new. Not much furniture though. Can you really afford this?”
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173706
>>173703
>the devices these canisters are attached to are very large and will stick through all but a true lake or river.
Then she'll continue her search now.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173707
173708
>>173705
Kira nods vigorously, and she flicks her tongue.

"Definitely, it's just a matter of if you want it."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173708
173709
>>173707
She tells the mare they want to speak in private, and then moves to an area where they can speak together.

Sense motive on the Nagini

“What is your plan living here? Us together for a while? How long do you intend for me to be here?”
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173709
173712
>>173708
Kira flicks her tongue again.

"My plan? It's just to make sure you're happy and comfortable for as long you want to stay here with me.
Like it or not, you're stuck with me, and even if the alternatives weren't very pleasant at all, I'd still like to make this a pleasant experience for you. That is why you chose to be with me, right?"

Kira speaks the true true, for what it's worth.
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173711
173712 173738
>>173700
>There are more of the round little pools, and more trees that have been twisted, mangled, and entirely split in two.
If this was from artillery, the damaged trees should form a line, possibly leading to the point from which the rounds were fired.
Posey follows the line of damaged trees, following in the direction of the higher/highest ground, since she assumes that artillerists would have preferred to fire from such a location (presumably both for height advantage and to avoid the water compromising their equipment).
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173712
173713 173721 173738
IMG_4284.jpeg
>>173709
Neela tilts her head, and looks into the eyes of Kira. Kira is certainly not used to looking into the eyes of a creature like Neela, and sooner or later one or both of them will have to break eye contact.

“Alright” Neela answers, after a pause.

>>173711
Clever
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173713
173714
>>173712
It's certainly not very often Kira is faced with the dreaded "deer stare". She blinks, and flicks her tongue again.

"Alright as in 'you accept the answer'? You want the townhouse? What do you mean?"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173714
173715
>>173713
“Yes.” She answers, momentarily looking up to Kira, then away. “It’s a very nice place.” It’s difficult to shake the feeling that Neela is just a variation of the antelope Kira would hunt back home.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173715
173716 173717
>>173714
It's okay, Kira, chase away the tasty thoughts. Neela is a friend, not food...delicious, delicious food...

stomach rumbles

Kira blushes, and also looks away, hoping that it will help with the tummy rumblies.

"Okay, let's go back to the mare and get this deal finalized. Then we can see about getting us food and furniture."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173716
173717 173718
>>173715
Not looking at Neela certainly helps, as she has the unfortunate quality of being food-shaped, rather than friend-shaped.

“Yes” Neela says. “This is a much better area. Far away from where police and customs pry.
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173717
173718
>>173715
>>173716
Going back to the mare, she smiles, perhaps even genuinely.

“What do you think?”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173718
173719
>>173716
>>173717
Smiling, Kira excitedly exclaims, "We'll take it!"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173719
173720
>>173718
“Excellent!” The mare jumps up in place, landing with her hooves slightly spread apart.

“Just one more document to sign… also another 100 bits for the washing machine rental, an upfront payment on utilities, and the city tax… actually there is going to be taxes later, but that’s what’s required at the time of purchase….”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173720
173722
>>173719
"Alright, what is our total up to now?"
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173721
173738
>>173712
>Clever
Clever enough to find something?
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173722
173723
>>173720
“1100 bits in total.” She answers.

Neela moves to where she must think she’s not seen.. then closes her eyes, flips her ears back, goes “hehehehe” and prances along the floor, jumping up and down in springing step that are not so loud on the carpet floor, and turning when she nears the wall. It would be more pleasant to watch if it weren’t unnervingly similar to a slower version of the gait of a springbok antelope.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173723
173724
>>173722
Even through her hunger, Kira can appreciate how happy Neela is. She has no concerns about spending this kind of money if this is the result.

"Alright, let's finish this up!"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173724
173725
>>173723
Neela prances around, coming to a stop next to Kira, hopping all at once into place with all four of her legs. She smiles, and wags her tail.

The mare says, “Okay… sign this. 100 bits and… it’s yours!”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173725
173726
>>173724
Kira signs the document, hoofs over another 100 Bits, and...hopefully, it's hers! And Neela's too. Now all Kira needs is the key.
Anonymous
2d264a9
?
No.173726
173727
>>173725
With blue telekinesis magic, the mare hoofs over the key.

"We can make a second copy, if needed. You know where the office is. Rent period is through the 26th, and is due on that day." She looks into Kira's eyes with her own round, blue eyes. "Enjoy your time in Baltimare!"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173727
173728
>>173726
"Thank you very much!" she replies with a bright smile as she takes the key. She gets another chance to ponder on how similar pony eyes are to lamia eyes. "A second copy would be appreciated, yes. After all, two residents within the same household and all that."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173728
173729
>>173727
She has round pupils, more like a prey animal than a lamia, although she’s otherwise fairly similar.

“We’ll make one, and you can pick it up in the office. But for the moment, there is only one key.” She says. If there is no other business, the mare leaves, and Kira is left alone with Neela
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173729
173730
>>173728
Definitely a friend-shaped creature if she's ever seen one. As there's no other business to attend to, she lets the friend-shaped mare leave. She looks to Neela, smiling.

"So, it's done! I bet you're excited. Ready to get something to eat before we furnish our new home?"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173730
173731
>>173729
Neela uses her mouth to attempt to drag up the large bag of clothing up the stairs. She looks up to Kira when she says this, pauses, and says “… Sure…” as her ears go down, then back up again
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173731
173732
>>173730
"Oh, right! Let me help you with your stuff!"

Neela gets a reminder of how useful it is to have a strong lamia with her, as Kira helps with bringing her belongings upstairs.
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173732
173733
>>173731
She appears to appreciate it, even if she does not say “thank you.” Neela gets to work placing her stuff around the second bedroom, laying a blanket on the floor and putting items in the closet.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173733
173734
>>173732
Kira observes as Neela gets to work getting everything just how she wants it, you know, before they go out for furniture. A question pops into her mind as she watches.

"Hey...I don't know if it'd be too soon, but...would you want to go see your friends in jail, before they get deported? I'm not sure if I could do anything to get them out of jail, but you said you were close and I thought you might want to say goodbye."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173734
173735
>>173733
As she’s placing some item into a closet, standing up on her hind legs with her forelegs on a shelf, Neela looks over to Kira with ears perked up.

“I may… I’m a bit afraid though that if they see I am not in jail, someone may say something about me to try to get themselves out of trouble.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173735
173736
>>173734
"Do you not trust them? As long as you're with me and we have these papers, you should be fine. You're not breaking any laws or being here illegally as long as I'm around."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173736
173737
>>173735
She jumps down so that she’s on all fours, and faces Kira, before breaking eye contact and looking down and away.

“Well… all it takes is one, and it may not be the one I speak to. I don’t know.” She looks back up towards Kira momentarily, then back down again. “I mean with the police. Not with customs. They could still arrest me, or try to.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173737
173740
>>173736
Kira tilts her head at the deer.

"What do you mean? Wouldn't they get in trouble if they tried? We have papers."
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173738
173740 173795 173800
ww2-weapons-helmets-stuck-in-trees-coverimage.jpg
wwii-finds-grown-into-tree-04.jpg
wwii-finds-grown-into-tree-n-002-645x513.jpg
ww2-weapons-helmets-stuck-in-trees-7.jpg
vo9f23sj0gia1.jpg
>>173712
>>173721
>>173711
Does Posey's plan or trying to trace lines between damages trees to point towards high ground locations where the artillery might've been fired bear any fruit?
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173740
173741 173742
>>173737
“No, I mean from the police. They are concerned about crimes, not immigration…” her ears dip down, then back up. “I don’t… really want to talk about it… I probably should visit them. They will be in there for a while.”

>>173738
I mean, if you don’t want to fight anything yet
Anonymous
ee60a76
?
No.173741
173743
>>173740
Posey is out of spell slots, but is still down to fight so long as it's not a second hydra underwater; she'd have to flee from that.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173742
173743
>>173740
Diplomacy: "It's just us, and I don't mind." She flicks her tongue.

[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173743
173744 173766
>>173741
Soonish. Still out of town

>>173742
Her ears twitch.
“Still… I’d rather not talk about it….” She says
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173744
173745
>>173743
Kira nods.

"That's fair. Maybe some other time. Anyways, about going to go get something to eat...are you still feeling up to it?"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173745
173746
>>173744
She moves a little back, raises her left foreleg, widens her eyes. and both ears stand up. But then she eases forward, and the eyes relax.

“Yes.” Her ears wriggle. “I haven’t had decent food since… well it’s been several days now. I don’t care for the food in jail and customs did not feed me at all.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173746
173747
>>173745
Kira imagines her initial fear was that she was going to be the something to eat, but thankfully she has enough willpower to avoid that situation. "Wow, you must be starving! Come on, you can show me your favorite places to eat, or maybe we can go to someplace you've always wanted to go. Then after we can get some furniture for the house and food to put in the kitchen."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173747
173748
>>173746
“I don’t know this area… I would be fine with a food stand though.”

Neela does, however, move towards the door, ready to leave.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173748
173749
>>173747
Kira does as well, letting Neela take the lead. Even if she doesn't know this art all that well, she still probably knows more about it than Kira, and she's a prey animal so she knows the kinds of food prey animals eat.

"I wonder when our new neighbors will say hello..."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173749
173750 173753
If Posey would like to roll search, spot, and listen…

>>173748
Alright, roll luck

Search [1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173750
173751 173753
>>173749
[1d20 = 3]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173751
173752
>>173750
Doh!
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173752
173753
>>173751
Search: Despite some, ahem, bad luck...perhaps a second pair of keen lamia eyes will help with the search for a place to eat.

[1d20+5 = (4+5) = 9]
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173753
173754
>>173749
>>173750
The area is mostly residential. Neela finds a restaurant in a corner of one row next to the major avenue… and the owner rather rudely did not allow either creature in. Neela curses him, then they move along. There’s another restaraunt that is “””closed”””

>>173752
Kira does not see any juicy prey around. Unless you’re counting ponies or that one dog. Or Neela. Oh, you mean the things they eat. Well,.. there’s some flowers… She probably saw a tomato plant in a planter on a window.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173754
173755
>>173753
You know, it occurs to Kira, "So...what do pre...err...creatures like you eat, anyhow?"
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173755
173756 173757 174136
>>173754
She smiles, looks back to Kira, and giggles.

“Heh heh, you don’t know? Well, we eat bread, sandwiches, hay, potatoes, ice cream, middles, dumplings, soup, and things like that.”
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173756
173757
>>173755
And…
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173757
173758
>>173755
>>173756
Kira blushes, and rubs the back of her own head with a hoof.

"Well I haven't really paid much attention to what other creatures eat, all I know are the animals out in the savanna eating grasses and stuff. Oh, I know about bananas! That's how I arrived here, on a ship full of bananas."
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173758
173759
>>173757
“Hehe, and bananas.” She says, wriggling her ears. She looks around, down another street, and…

“Oh hey, there’s a restaurant.”
Going closer, Kira can see that there is set of tables outside, and a counter inside.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173759
173760
>>173758
"Great! If they have bananas, I'll let you have them all, I've pretty well had my fill for a long while."

Kira slithers towards the restaurant with her deer. It's the first time she'll have been to one, so even though they don't really share much in their diet, she'd still like to try something.
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173760
173761
>>173759
A sand yellow Pegasus at the counter answers with a smile. “Hello, and welcome to Shifting Sands. You may seat yourself, or you may order here.”

She reacts more to Neela than to Kira, and Kira may believe she hasn’t seen all of Kira.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173761
173762
>>173760
Kira isn't going to look a gift pony in the mouth, she's going to look her in the eyes, smile, and waves at her with a, "Hello! Thank you very much!" She looks to see what Neela wants to do first before she takes an action.
Anonymous
4f4e320
?
No.173762
173767
>>173761
Neela looks over at Kira
Maybe better if we get it to go.”
Anonymous
5a2e24f
?
No.173766
173795
>>173743
Maybe this week?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
8b510ca
?
No.173767
173768
>>173762
"Are you sure? It'd be nice to sit down and eat at an actual restaurant." Regardless of her answer, Kira turns to the mare behind the counter. "I haven't been here before. Is there anything you would recommend to order?"
Anonymous
79de07d
?
No.173768
173769
>>173767
The mare turns around to point a hoof to the board above her
“The falafel is the most popular, but we also have our fried bell pepper with rice, the pita bread-“ she lists items

Neela whispers aggressively
“You haven’t exactly been welcomed everywhere. Best to get out before they notice.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
8b510ca
?
No.173769
173770 173771
>>173768
Kira begrudgingly has to concede, though she admittedly would still like to sit and eat like a normal pony.

"I'll take a falafel and fried bell pepper with rice. I'm really hungry..."
Anonymous
584ff8d
?
No.173770
>>173769
[1d20 = 9]
Anonymous
584ff8d
?
No.173771
173772
>>173769
“Alright… one falafel…” Neela adds “and another falafel and… three… better make that four breads…”

“Okay… that’s… 8 bits.”
Neela looks up to Kira with pleading eyes that may make her want to order more.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173772
173773
>>173771
Neela is very cute when she uses those eyes. Kira relents and orders another falafel, another order of fried pepper with rice, and some breads.
Anonymous
584ff8d
?
No.173773
173774
>>173772
“And that’s… wow, that’s 12 bits. It should be ready in a few minutes.”

Neela adds peech juice because of course.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173774
173775
>>173773
Kira blushes and remarks, "I'm really hungry..."

She looks over to Neela. "I forgot to tell you to order whatever you want. I'm paying."
Anonymous
584ff8d
?
No.173775
173776 173777
>>173774
Neela:
“Maybe it’s best for you to… not be so conspicuous while we wait.”

Neela grabs another can, and the mare accepts Kira’s bits
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173776
173777 173778
>>173775
Kira tilts her head at Neela after giving the cashier the Bits, like she either doesn't understand what she said or how she would be inconspicuous.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173777
173778
>>173775
>>173776
Hide: Kira does her best to keep her snake tail out of view.

[1d20+13 = (18+13) = 31]
Anonymous
9b41d65
?
No.173778
173779
>>173777
>>173776
Kira is able to press her body against the bottom of the counter, making her invisible from behind it, inconspicuous from most angles, and even appear like part of the decorations or a foot rail if glanced from outside or from a table.

Kira and Neela wait, and are eventually hoofed over several paper bags containing their items by the still smiling, black maned Pegasus pony.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173779
173780
>>173778
As a bonus, Neela now has an example of how adept a lamia like Kira is at hiding.

"Thank you so very much! I hope you have a great day!"

Kira uses her strength to carry the bags full of their food, and slithers out of the restaurant with Neela. She pauses at the tables outside.

"Would you want to eat out here, Neela, or head home to eat?"
Anonymous
b5cf750
?
No.173780
173781
>>173779
Neela looks on at the sight, both Kira's ability to become a decorative foot rail, and to have actually pleasant interactions with random ponies. Neela wastes no time in exiting.

"It could get cold if we wait... but then I don't know how long you want to be seen in the open."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173781
173782
>>173780
"I'm not afraid of being seen. Are...are you afraid of being seen with me in the open?"

Kira previously chipper attitude is shaken by the worry that has just popped into her mind.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173782
173783 173797
>>173781
She pauses, turns her head ever so slightly to the side, and says

"... No?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173783
173784
>>173782
Sense Motive: "Hmmmmmmm..."

[1d20+2 = (3+2) = 5]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173784
173785
>>173783
She seems fine.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173785
173786
>>173784
Kira seems to accept the answer, and brightens back up a little.

"Alright. I'd like to eat here outside the restaurant."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173786
173787
>>173785
"O..kay then. Well, let's sit." Neela moves up to one little wooden table on the edge, moves a seat, and sits down. After placing one of the bags on the table, she opens it and grabs a falafel, ready to bite into it.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173787
173788
>>173786
Hide: Kira likewise moves to a table, coiling around its legs/base to appear less conspicuous to onlookers.

[1d20+13 = (18+13) = 31]

She opens up one of the bags, and investigates this strange food known as a "falafel".
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173788
173789
>>173787
With the help of a plant, a table cloth, and how she'd almost colored like a chair, an onlooker would have to try to find the anomaly to notice Kira.

Kira finds little fried bread balls inside.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173789
173790
>>173788
Tenatively, Kira nibble nibble nibbles on the falafel. Deciding that it's not objectionable to her palette for being prey food, Kira copies how Neela is eating to appear more "normal". Close observation though would show that it really isn't natural to her, biting, chewing, and mushing up the fried dough ball with her teeth before swallowing.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173790
173791
>>173789
Kira's teeth are better at cutting and tearing than anything resembling actual chewing or mushing, and all she can do is to cut the balls in half or slice portions off. Doing so reveals the interior of the balls contain fava beans, an item that Kira does not like the taste nor texture of, and in general the soft and goey interiors are not pleasant. Kira can't really make her mouth make the side-to-side motions that Neela can in order to chew. Attempting to swallow, the sizes and textures are a bit off, with the items slowly sliding down her throat but not quite being forced, such that it feels awkward. It isn't all bad - the taste and texture of the fried bread is not awful - but Kira has the distinct feel of eating something like livestock feed.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173791
173793
>>173790
Hmm...yeah, on second thought, she decides that not tasting the gross beans and not feeling like a cow would be the far better choice. There's a slight quiet pop as she opens her jaw ever so slightly, before scarfing the falafel down her cavernous maw.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173793
173794
>>173791
With the breaded balls being about golf ball sized, she doesn't have to open her mouth that wide. Her mouth only makes contact with the portions of the food she likes most - the bread - and it has a quality that Kira likes out of her larger, normal cuisine that Kira likes, but can't always get: it's warm. The outside of the balls is dry and a little rough, so it goes down her throat slowly, but this is what Kira expects of her usually dry, furry food. Still, it's very small, and Kira may think she would have preferred at least a rat or some comparatively normal food.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173794
173798
>>173793
Perhaps she would prefer some normal food, but this prey food has at least one positive quality: she can enjoy it with Neela without scaring her or grossing her out. She takes care of her falafels quickly before moving onto the fried peppers with rice, and one look at this food is enough for her to tell that this is some of the most prey food she's ever seen. Still...she's doing this for Neela, plus she's still hungry, so she digs in nonetheless.
Anonymous
fb404f4
?
No.173795
173800
6873083__semi-dash-grimdark_artist-colon-jewellier_imported+from+derpibooru_fluttershy_pegasus_pony_a+health+of+information_abstract+background_female_fluttertr.png
>>173738
>>173766
Anonymous
a641eff
?
No.173796
173800
download.jpg
Any word on Posey's search?
Anonymous
a641eff
?
No.173797
>>173782
Back in town?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173798
173801 173802
>>173794
The bell pepper is wider than the falafel balls, and has a smooth texture. Biting into it, it is comparatively hard, has an odd texture, and has a taste that Kira has very likely never tasted anything like before in her life: it's spicy. She's likely less sensitive to it than herbivores, but the taste is novel. Inside is rice, which has less flavor, and a comparatively soft and mushy texture.

>>173687
Peering into the room, Silver can see Khoi laying down on her bed, which has already been made up neatly. She is lying with the long side of the bed near the center, and Silver is perpendicular to her. Her tail is almost straight out, but curling down at the end so that it touches the bed. Her hind legs are underneath her. Both of her forelegs are curled under her in a "loaf" position, and Khoi is brushing her mane with her magenta magic. There is a cup of tea on a dresser behind her. She doesn't react immediately to Silver.
Anonymous
4805f36
?
No.173800
bg,f8f8f8-flat,750x,075,f-pad,750x1000,f8f8f8.jpg
>>173738
>>173795
>>173796
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173801
173811
>>173798
"Mmmmhmhm!" While Kira doesn't care for the rice, she is already in love with the pepper. The bold zest and zing that causes her mouth to tingle combined with the crisp snap of the pepper's flesh is the first indication she's had so far that prey animal food isn't all bad, and in fact might have some special qualities about it. She swallows the rice on its own whole to avoid dealing with the lack of flavor and unappetizing texture, but the peppers she ordered she takes her time with to bite, chew, and savor every last morsel.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173802
173811
>>173798
Heh, do I have two cats in house now?

Seeing she's up, Silver attempts to quietly close the door before properly knocking on it to be let in.
Anonymous
4805f36
?
No.173803
173811
"It's really humid in this swamp. It'll take forever to get my mane back in shape."
Anonymous
61f0c8a
?
No.173807
Can Posey continue her adventure today?
Anonymous
61f0c8a
?
No.173808
2735946__safe_female_pony_solo_oc_oc+only_simple+background_earth+pony_blushing_transparent+background_cute_tongue+out_filly_holiday_halloween_creepy.png

Anonymous
4524f1b
?
No.173809
173811
1121386__safe_artist-colon-vectorfag_oc_oc+only_oc-colon-aryanne_earth+pony_pony_female_heart_high+res_nazi_prone_sad_simple+background_solo_swastika_trace_tran.png

Anonymous
5d75729
?
No.173810
173811
84ce0aeeb28c929913cff101a06602e2 (1).gif
Do you have time this weekend, GM?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173811
173812 173814 173816
>>173810
Yes

>>173809
Awww....

pet pet pets the sad pone

>>173803
Correct, though the colder winter air reduces the humidity

>>173802
She slowly turns her head to the right to look towards Silver as he opens the door, and extends her left foreleg in front of her, in a slow and controlled set of actions implying she is not surprised or frightened.

"Yes?" She finally says

>>173801
The rice, being small, has a tendency to catch in her throat, though surely it will make its way down eventually.

The pepper does, however, have a nasty problem. Kira can't exactly chew it properly, but rather cut it. It's still a vegetable with a hard shell, albeit with a pleasant "sting."
Anonymous
30caa76
?
No.173812
173813
>>173811
Is Posey able to trace the path of the artillery fire to its source, as described above?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173813
173815 173819 173820
>>173812
It would seem that she does not, given the randomness of the presence of the little pools of stagnant water, and the random presence of trees sometimes split in pieces as if by especially vicious lightning, or rent of branches and made to look like twisted telephone poles. But as the ground becomes higher and drier, the number of leafless, branchless trees increases and the number of muddy craters increases, and Posey sees she is nearer the site of a true battle.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173814
173817
>>173811
"Just checking up on you, seeing how you were doing. Are you hungry? I am going to make breakfast."
Anonymous
30caa76
?
No.173815
173818 173825
>>173813
>Posey sees she is nearer the site of a true battle.
Posey continues towards the battlefield, uplifted by the end of her journey drawing near.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173816
173817
>>173811
If Neela is curious, lamias cannot apparently cough, as she tries to make some kind of wheezing action to try to dislodge the rice in her throat. It doesn't work too well, but it's more an annoyance than a genuine threat to her life, so she continues to cut and snap pieces of pepper off to eat it. She finishes by eating her bread, which she absolutely has to eat like a "normal pony" if she doesn't want it gettting stuck worse than the rice.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173817
173822 173823
>>173814
Khoi blinks, looks down, moves her right foreleg out but at an angle to her body towards the right, and then with her brush, places it in her mane and tries to move it down.

"I suppose..." She answers

>>173816
The rice is slowly making its way down, and at worst, she can wash it down with something like a tasty deer later. She's not in any danger of choking.

The bread, however, shows that Kira is not built for this kind of food, as she cannot chew it properly. It isn't especially flavor filled, being a little better than the rice. However, it's drier than the rice, less solid than the pepper, and not shaped in convenient balls like the falafel, so swallowing it is difficult.
Anonymous
30caa76
?
No.173818
173825
>>173815
Are any checks necessary for this, or can she simply find her her way there?
Anonymous
30caa76
?
No.173819
173825
>>173813
Does Posey make it to the battlefield?
Anonymous
f8304ff
?
No.173820
173825
>>173813
What does Posey see?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173822
173824
>>173817
"You suppose?" Silver chuckles. "You do not sound so certain about breakfast. What is it, Khoi? Something on your mind?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173823
173824
>>173817
"Hmmmm..."

She ponders on what to do about the bread, before coming up with an idea. She goes back into the restaurant and up to the counter.

"Excuse me? Could I have some water, please?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173824
173826 173827 173828
>>173822
She pauses for a moment, and pulls herself slightly closer to Silver
"Well I have to get ready for work..." looking down again, and then looking back at Silver
"Shouldn't I be making breakfast?"

>>173823
The mare looks over, then jumps back and folds her wings out
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
Anonymous
a4eb0bf
?
No.173825
wwzdc58esp381.png
>>173818
>>173815
>>173819
>>173820
[undead horse noises]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173826
173837
>>173824
Kira tilts her head at the mare, confused.

"...is that a no?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173827
173837
>>173824
Silver smiles, and chuckles a bit more.

"I do not mind making breakfast, it is how things used to be in our household with duties being split between us. If you really wanted and you had enough time, I would appreciate some help with making pancakes for breakfast."
Anonymous
eb75dd5
?
No.173828
>>173824
What does the battlefield look like?
Anonymous
f7d4075
?
No.173829
173830
Are we playing today?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173830
173831 173832 173835
>>173829
I think so?
Anonymous
f7d4075
?
No.173831
>>173830
I'm ready when you are then.
Anonymous
f7d4075
?
No.173832
173836
>>173830
So, what does Posey find?
Anonymous
f7d4075
?
No.173834
173836
2551713__explicit_solo_female_oc_clothes_oc+only_unicorn_solo+female_vulva_anus_underhoof_dock_book_partial+nudity_frog+(hoof)_robe_artist-colon-.png
Waits to see what battlefield looks like
Anonymous
f7d4075
?
No.173835
173836
2724141__safe_female_pony_oc_mare_oc+only_clothes_unicorn_smiling_open+mouth_horn_magic_sketch_floppy+ears_grin_unicorn+oc_wide+eyes_smirk_glowing+ey.png
>>173830
When?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173836
173838 173841 173842 173843
>>173835
shrugs

>>173834
>>173832
As Posey has surely gathered by now - the entire country is an old battlefield. Near every inch changed hooves in the most recent war, and that is but the most recent in a long series of wars going back several thousand years to the Empire of Tambelon, and perhaps even before that. Peace and the weather have erased most traces, but Posey can still see many remnants. As she moves westward, the signs increase. The ground becomes higher and firmer. Hanging cypress trees become sparser as the ground dries, replaced occasionally with pine. But these are interrupted by craters sometimes as big as swimming pools, tree trunks split in two, rocks that have no business being above the soil layer occasionally sitting on branches, and then periodic pieces of metal of varying size, shape, and evident purpose. Posey comes to a location with more craters and more destroyed trees than normal, including a clearing.

Roll Spot
Roll Listen
Roll Search
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173837
173839 173840
>>173826
She peaks her head up, looking at Kira
"What do you want?" She asks, frightened, as if Kira hadn't already answered that explicitly

>>173827
She lowers her head towards the bed, and then tilts it
"What is a 'pancake'?"
Anonymous
8ee446b
?
No.173838
173843 173844
>>173836
Spot
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
Listen
[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
Search

>craters sometimes as big as swimming pools, tree trunks split in two, rocks that have no business being above the soil layer occasionally sitting on branches, and then periodic pieces of metal of varying size, shape, and evident purpose
"That's... Odd... Perhaps it's a vestige of the battle."
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173839
173845
>>173837
"Uh...I asked if I could have some water, if that's okay."

Despite her now apparent monstrous appearance, being a merging of snake and pony, Kira does appear friendly enough. And, if the mare remembers, she only ordered vegetarian items. You know, not that there are any meat items on the menu, but still.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173840
173845
>>173837
Silver looks surprised at the question.

"Huh, did not know they do not have pancakes where you are from. They are light, fluffy, flat cakes cooked in pan or skillet and usually served with syrup, whipped cream, or even peanut butter. They are very popular breakfast item here, especially among foals."
Anonymous
8ee446b
?
No.173841
173844
>>173836
>several thousand years to the Empire of Tambelon
Does she see any ruins of this empire?
Anonymous
8ee446b
?
No.173842
173844
>>173836
>including a clearing
What is in the clearing?
I've made my rolls. Is there a surprise round?
Anonymous
8ee446b
?
No.173843
173844
>>173836
>>173838
GM, what are the results of my rolls? What did I roll for.
Spot + Listen gives me the sense that there's creatures. What do I encounter?
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173844
173847 173848
>>173842
If there is a surprise round, it hasn’t hit yet

>>173841
The lost city that was the capital of Tambelon is said to have returned to the realm of mists when the dark sorcerer Grogar was defeated. Whatever remains of that Empire, it isn’t visible standing above the surface of this swamp, though who can say what lies under the mud and black water.

>>173838
Posey sees the movement of leaves on the trees, a pair of birds as well as a few dragon flies further off, and a glimmer in the air nearby that may be the humidity, or perhaps swamp gas. Birds sing their songs, wind blows through the trees, with a sound almost like humming.

Posey can see that the clearing is large, like a field, with the far left side being lower and having trees, albeit denuded of leaves, and the far right ending in a canal-like depression that is presumably a ravine, with trees beyond. In the fore, a little less than 100 feet away on the right is a muddy, partly grass covered section of higher ground that has many signs of debris. Steel poles lay on the ground, as well as remnants of mud-covered olive drab canvas. Thick plastic bags likewise stick out of the mud, although exactly what is over there is obscured by grass. Behind this is a blackened-steel rectangular mass that appears to be the ruined remnants of a burnt out truck. To the left of all if this the ground is lower, with multiple large craters at least partly filled with water. Beyond this part if what was surely once a stone house, though the right-three quarters of the building is collapsed and gone. Posey can’t see beyond this, but it it seems to also be mostly bereft of trees. Some kind of vehicle pathway seems to come from the right, turning to move by the destroyed house.

>>173843
Shhhhh don’t rush things
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173845
173854 173855
>>173840
“What is ‘syrup’?” she says to herself, then smiles in a way that shows off her small fangs, and says

“Uh, well I suppose I should learn how to make ‘pancakes’…”

>>173839
She peers up over the counter…

“Oh…Kay…” evidently she pours out a cup of water, as a paper cup full of water is pushed towards Kira over the counter.
Anonymous
0d8649e
?
No.173847
>>173844
>The lost city that was the capital of Tambelon is said to have returned to the realm of mists when the dark sorcerer Grogar was defeated.
~Oooh, spooky.
>Whatever remains of that Empire, it isn’t visible standing above the surface of this swamp, though who can say what lies under the mud and black water.
Definitely going to want to come back here when it's less wet. Gotta help myself to done forbidden treasure.
>a canal-like depression that is presumably a ravine
REEEEEEEE a small creek
>Beyond this part if what was surely once a stone house, though the right-three quarters of the building is collapsed and gone. Posey can’t see beyond this, but it it seems to also be mostly bereft of trees. Some kind of vehicle pathway seems to come from the right, turning to move by the destroyed house.
Posey moves towards the house, checking out the environment as she strolls.
>Shhhhh don’t rush things
Well, it is kind of late...
Anonymous
0d8649e
?
No.173848
173849 173850
>>173844
>capital of Tambelon is said to have returned to the realm of mists when the dark sorcerer Grogar was defeated
A very historic site. Always interested in Grogar's stuff.
I think I might raise my castle here, once I get to lvl 8 and figure out how to nail together a few necrosis carnexes with Landlord. It's prime real estate.
Anonymous
0d8649e
?
No.173849
173850 173860
maxresdefault (12).jpg
>>173848
A tower, conjured from blackened crystal in the middle of the cursed mire, built upon the ruins of an ancient kingdom, surrounded by poisonous plants and deadly monsters... It would make an excellent base of operations (I've had a long time to think about this).
Posey finds herself daydreaming
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173850
173851 173852
>>173849
>>173848
You misunderstand. The swamp is not the exact site of the lost city. That was much further west, and further north, and in any event, that city slipped into another dimension, and its ruins are not present anywhere in Equestria. The swamp is a part of the Empire's former territory, but so is ~2/5ths of all of Equestria

To her left, Posey can glance down into the muddy crater, and the see the remnant of a helmet sticking out. Beneath her in the mud, a few cartridge cases. And to her right are several items of debris - plastic, poles, and suggestions that this area of ground had been cleared of vegetation and dirt moved and leveled, with remnants of tarp and canvas. Beyond this is the ruins of the burned out truck remain, with broken glass and its hulking steel. There is also more than one steel barrel, one near(ish) the truck, and one beyond the craters.

Posey can hear more birds, and a humming blown through the wind. The air glimmers periodically, perhaps gas. Moving up towards the house, Posey can see that the roof has collapsed alongside the walls, save for a small portion on the rightmost edge. The house was made of stone, and if she peers over the remains of the walls, she sees that there is a depression inside filled with stone, perhaps another crater.

Craters are not all of the same size. Some are very large, maybe 20 feet across and several feet deep. Some are only a few feet across and a few inches deep.
Anonymous
0d8649e
?
No.173851
173853
>>173850
>that city slipped into another dimension
Oh well
>The air glimmers periodically, perhaps gas.
Like, explosive gas?

Posey stays back, moving along in her quest for her artillery tube.
>Craters are not all of the same size. Some are very large, maybe 20 feet across and several feet deep. Some are only a few feet across and a few inches deep.
Perhaps made by explosions?
Posey investigates the craters she passes, trying to find any patterns that might lead her to the source.
Anonymous
0d8649e
?
No.173852
173863
>>173850
>The house was made of stone, and if she peers over the remains of the walls, she sees that there is a depression inside filled with stone, perhaps another crater.
Posey decides to investigate the house, out of curiosity.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173853
173856 173859 173863
569577.gif
>>173851
>explosive gas
Very possibly, though it may be a refraction of light through the humidity. All that Posey can say for sure is that sometimes, the air glistens and glimmers.

The craters are mostly circular or nearly circular, have moved mud and rocks, do not have large plants growing in them (smaller plants are not uncommon) and mostly have formed pools of stagnant, opaque water. One has a gasmask along its edges.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173854
173935
>>173845
Kira smiles brightly at the mare, and takes the cup of water. "Thank you!"

Returning to her table outside, Kira does something with the water that other, non-carnivorous creatures might find objectionable: she pours her water onto her bread, wetting it and turning it back into a doughy state. She then breaks the bread apart and reshapes it into little dough balls that are easier for her to eat.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173855
173864
>>173845
Silver smiles at her.

"I will help you learn. Whenever you finish your grooming, come downstairs and we will make pancakes."

Silver leaves Khoi's bedroom, moving onto the next to check up on the next creature in the household: Mala, the good boy.
Anonymous
e7ec611
?
No.173856
173865
>>173853
Posey searches for any signs of artillery
Anonymous
f1557f4
?
No.173858
I guess I'll roll for Posey to search this area, before moving on.
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
Anonymous
f1557f4
?
No.173859
173865 173866
>>173853
>One has a gasmask along its edges.
Posey looks for any other remains of pony activity that could lead her to the artillery.
Anonymous
f1557f4
?
No.173860
173865 173866
>>173849
Posey decides to walk into one of the craters, to see if there's anything of note inside.
She enters the crater with the gas mask beside it.
Anonymous
f1557f4
?
No.173862
If Posey doesn't find anything after searching the entire clearing and visible structures/indents/objects, she moves on, moving to higher ground.
Anonymous
f1557f4
?
No.173863
>>173853
>>173852
Did the house have anything in it?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173864
173867
>>173855
Silver opens the door of the room, which is otherwise cracked slightly open. Looking inside, Silver can see that the curtains are completely closed on the few windows to reduce light as much as possible, and items are strewn out on the floor, including an open encyclopedia, another book, and a couple toys. In the bed are sleeping both Mala and Mint Marine. Mala is on his belly, turned diagonally on the bed stretching from the left edge with a rear paw stretched out over the end of the bed, his left foreleg underneath him, his right foreleg extending out from the side of the bed, and his muzzle slightly exceeding the side and extending out. Mint Marine is at the head of the bed, taking up the remaining one third. He is almost perpendicular to the direction of the bed, laying on his side with his head on a pillow that is propped against the head of the bed, and his belly touching Mala's head. His hind legs must be behind Mala, as is his tail.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173865
173868
>>173856
If by that you mean she searches for the actual artillery pieces, none are found here. If you mean signs of the activity of artillery - it's all around her.

>>173860
>>173859
The gas mask is partly in the water and covered in mud. The water itself has a discoloration and a gleam, as if tainted by gasoline - though surely most chemicals should have evaporated by now. Here, Posey sees again a blue glimmer in the air above the water, and hears that humming through the wind. Posey does not find Equine remains, nor weapons of any kind, though she's surely not the first to visit this side, nor has she uncovered the mud and soil.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173866
173868
>>173859
>>173860
Cooler air moves into the crater, and also the remains of the house, whether it be because of a winter wind, or cool air collecting in low points
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173867
173869
>>173864
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!

Well, Silver doesn't want to disturb the two while they appear to be sleeping so soundly. He quietly closes the door and goes downstairs, both to head to the kitchen and to check on the last two members of the household, White Orchid and Paper Clipping.
Anonymous
c3d695c
?
No.173868
173873 173875 173877
>>173865
>If you mean signs of the activity of artillery - it's all around her.
She searches for signs of artillery that could lead her to a new location that might have the pieces, based on the pattern or direction of the shots.
>nor has she uncovered the mud and soil
Posey uncovers some of the mud with her shovel, to check for anything of note.
>>173866
Posey checks the house and searches it for anything that could lead her to the direction of the artillery.
If the house is partly collapsed, would the collapsed side be the angle that the round was fired from? If so, Posey sets out in that direction.
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173869
173870 173872 173875
>>173867
Mala’s head should be up against the edge of Mint Marine’s chest, actually. Ming Marine’s left foreleg must be folded up and between him and Mala, while the right is either also folded, or over top of Mala. Mala has his blanket over him, which also covers at least Mint Marine’s hind legs. Silver would likely want to be very careful when closing the door and walking away, to avoid waking Mala.

Going downstairs, Silver can see that the whole of the downstairs is illuminated by natural sunlight. He finds Paper Clipping sleeping on that same couch he’s usually on when Silver is around. Paper Clipping is lying on his back, with his head against the armrest, and his hind legs exceeding the opposite armrest, hanging slightly over the armrest. He has a pillow over his face, specifically over his eyes. His muzzle, however, is exposed, slightly open with his tongue hanging on the side. His breathing is a little loud, but not snoring. He has a blanket over his neck up to his muzzle, and over his chest. His injuries and bandages are thus covered. His lower belly and flanks, and everything else, however, is completely uncovered, though perhaps Silver thinks it should be.

Silver sees a folded blanket over near a loveseat and a chair, but no White Orchid.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173870
173871
>>173869
No White Orchid? Hmm...worrisome. Surely if something had happened Clip would have been woken up, but still...

Silver looks around for the missing colt, hoping he's somewhere still in the house, or perhaps out in the backyard.
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173871
173872
>>173870
Paper Clipping’s horn is across the armrest, and his tail spread over the opposite armrest.

Silver does *not* see White Orchid in the living room, the dining room, the kitchen, or the bathroom, nor is he visible on the porch.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173872
173877
>>173871
>>173869
It should be mentioned, Silver would definitely blush should Clip's nudity reveal...certain anatomical structures he hadn't seen before on him.

Okay, now Silver is getting worried. He even goes as far to check underneath the house and the area immediately surrounding their home.
Anonymous
c3d695c
?
No.173873
173874 173877
>>173868
I can only assume this warrants a survival check.
Posey uses the shade of the building for stress support.
And also
[1d8+2 = (5+2) = 7]
Some bloodletting, for extra clarity.

Survival
[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8]
Anonymous
c3d695c
?
No.173874
>>173873
Okay, that's a failure.
Posey heals herself up, and goes back to looking for signs.
Anonymous
536e444
?
No.173875
173877
>>173868
>>173869
Is there anything else that Posey can do to discern the direction that the building was fired at from?
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173877
173878 173880
>>173875
Yes. Roll int.

>>173873
Posey hears more insects buzzing around her than before

>>173868
Which mud does she uncover, exactly?

>>173872
He isn’t underneath the house. He isn’t immediately around it, nor in the half-constructed “rock garden”… Ah! There he is. He’s sitting by the water.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173878
173879
>>173877
Whew! Panic attack averted! Silver trots out towards the colt, calling out to him, "Mind if I join you?"
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173879
173881
>>173878
“Huh?” He turns his head back.

“Oh. Uh. Sure!” And after a pause “I was just… watching the water. After walking around a bit.”
Anonymous
cf78c77
?
No.173880
173882 173883
>>173877
>Yes. Roll int.
[1d20+3 = (20+3) = 23]
>Which mud does she uncover, exactly?
The mud at the bottom of the pit, the one with the gas mask near it.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173881
173884
>>173879
"Heh, sounds like ton of fun," he says sarcastically, before sitting down with the colt. "See anything interesting so far?"
Anonymous
cf78c77
?
No.173882
fluttershy___yay_by_theflutterknight_d4ls2zd-fullview.png
>>173880
Yes, yes, yes! Finally! My quest may finally come to a close.
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173883
173885 173886
>>173880
Parts of shell fragments, and a bag. The back has a New Mareland flag on it, and inside, has medical tools.

Posey is able to piece together the scene now based upon the poles, the level ground, plastic bags filled with plasma, the craters, the truck, and the general surroundings. This site was the location of a mobile army surgical hospital set up by New Mareland forces, being next to a road. At some point it was shelled by Equestrian artillery, evacuated, with the evacuation having… mixed results, with most of the equipment being removed, but tents and poles being left behind, and one truck clearly completely destroyed. Some of the craters belong to lighter artillery, evidently 18 pounders, but several belong to larger 35 pounder guns. Now, unlike New Mareland forces, who use artillery as their primary weapon in most attacks and will shell anything that disagrees with them, Equestrian forces employed fewer guns, especially in the Eastern Front and especially in the south, and tended to use them either in important parts of the battle or on important targets. Now, while the lighter artillery could be used in any general attack, the heavy artillery was almost certainly saved for an important target, like a battery, or an intelligence headquarters. It is unlikely that they intentionally shelled a hospital with heavy shells, as doing so exposes their heavy artillery to counter-battery fire. So the question for Posey is: why would they think this was the site of either a headquarters or a battery? There is a third type of crater there, belonging to 60 mm mortars. These could be either Equestrian or New Mareland, and likely came at a later time in the battle than the heavy fire, when this became a front line to an Equrstrian counter attack, rather than in the rear.The equestrian guns must have been miles away, but that isn’t what she is looking for. She’s looking for the New Mareland battery, and wherever the guns were taken.
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173884
173888
>>173881
White Orchid frowns, but then says,

“Well, two freighters have come in to the harbor so far. One has left. I also saw some sort of sea creature. I don’t really know what it was. Mint would know. I don’t know.”
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173885
>>173883
>She’s looking for the New Mareland battery, and wherever the guns were taken.
Is she able to discern what direction the guns were fired from? She would like to travel towards the place from where New Mareland set up its artillery line, to find any artillery devices that might've been abandoned there.
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173886
173887
>>173883
"Close, so close... A little further, Posey, and you'll be out of the sun." Posey says to herself, trying to ignore the obnoxious white light in the sky as she scours the ground for any signs to tell which direction her charge is.

Surely, my nat 20 ability check enables her to find her way to the artillery itself, right?
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173887
173889 173891
>>173886
||There’s one more tiny piece that hopefully you’ve already put together.||

Actually… the sun isn’t so bad. Posey doesn’t mind the light so much now.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173888
173892
>>173884
"It does sound like this is more Mint's bag. I get feeling you like camping, from what I bought for you on our first day of me taking you out. What else do you like?"
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173889
>>173887
>here’s one more tiny piece that hopefully you’ve already put together.
Now I'm feeling stupid...
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173891
173892
>>173887
Is there anything in the truck? The building?
I'm sorry, I'm drawing blanks. I've been on this quest for more than a month, and it's difficult to keep track of all of the clues over time.
>So the question for Posey is: why would they think this was the site of either a headquarters or a battery?
She can only presume something tipped them off, perhaps with machinery moving through the area.
Being from the Dread League, Posey isn't necessarily proficient in modern warfare lore.
I'm going to make another Int check to see if she would know the answer to this question.
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173892
173893 173894 173897
>>173891
Posey doesn’t know a whole hell of a lot about artillery pieces. But she does know that they are big, they are heavy, they have to be pulled either by teams of ponies or trucks, and they have wheels that put pressure on the ground. They are, quite simply, not suited for a swamp. The only way they came through is on a proper road, or at least, through clearings and solid ground. Posey knows that the area she is at is accessible by truck, given the presence of the burnt-out truck. She knows the Equestrians must have thought the artillery was close, either thinking this was it, or it was the headquarters it was being directed from. Thus: follow the road. It’ll take her there.

>>173888
He looks up at Silver
“Well… I’d like it if there were a beach. With sand. Not just rocks. I like ships. I like walking around. Um…”
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173893
173897 173901
mlp-mlp-walking-through-seasons.gif
>>173892
>Thus: follow the road. It’ll take her there.
And so she shall.
[clippity clopping sounds]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173894
173895
>>173892
Silver smiles at the colt.

"I will have to figure out way to take you to beach. Maybe take household out on trip to Meridiennes, or Puerto Caballo. There has got to be sandy beaches there to trot along there, and public docks where we can rent ship to go sailing in."
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173895
173896
IMG_0694.gif
>>173894
He wags his tail and stands up.
“Sailing? We could go sailing?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173896
173900
>>173895
Silver nods, continuing to smile. It's good he has a colt like White Orchid around to remind him of how adorable young ponies can be.

"Of course, if that is what you want! We could make entire day of it if you wished."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173897
173901
>>173893
>>173892
Posey trots down the road, until she finds signs of artillery.
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173899
173901
What does Posey see at the end of the road?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173900
173901 173922
>>173896
"I would like to go sailing! I could raise the sail, and steer the rudder, and... stand... well I don't really know much about sailing. But I'd like to find out!" White Orchid says excitedly
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173901
173902
>>173893
>>173897
>>173899
>>173900
Does Posey find anything at the end of the road?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173902
173903 173904
>>173901
Before Posey can leave the ruins of the house, the hum becomes louder, until it sounds like a pony humming a song right next to her. The blue glimmer in the air becomes wider, turning into waves of blue and white, until it takes a definitive shape - that of a pony with a helmet and a saddle bag, looking at Posey, until it becomes a full, translucent equine figure standing in front of her
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173903
173905
>>173902
>an apparition
Posey is taken aback, although she seems more concerned about her appearance, having just waded through the swamp and not expecting to meet anypony
"Oh.. H-Hello there." Posey says, hastily adjusting her mane
She gives a bow of her head
"I am Rosey Ring, Sorceress in training. Might I ask your name? If you remember, that is."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173904
173905
>>173902
Rolling Religion, to identify this apparition
[1d20+9 = (4+9) = 13]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173905
173907
>>173904
It appears to be a simple ghost. Whether it's actually the soul of a pony, or a magical remnant is up to interpretation.

>>173903
It stops humming, and in an odd, distant voice, seems to say
"Carried Pack. Why are you here?"
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173907
173908
>>173905
>173905
>ghost
Oh, powerful. Must have something anchoring him to the plane
>Why are you here?
"I am on a mission, for my masters, to examine the remains of this battlefield to learn of the weapons that were used in this battle, particularly the dual action shock absorber from a New Mareland 25 pounder." She says, levitating a wrench
She looks around
"And from the looks of it, there was quite the bombardment."
She puts on a bit of a casual tone
"Might I ask you, Carried Pack, what is your reason for haunting this plane? Could it be that you wish to join the undying legion? Or is it that you have some unfinished business left here? From the look of it, your passing was quite abrupt."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173908
173909
>>173907
"No.... I need to get home... Who do you serve?... What year is it?"
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173909
173910
>>173908
"It is [insert current year here]."
"My masters are across the sea. The Dread League, masters of the unliving."
>I need to get home...
She puts on a bit of a sympathetic expression
"I can tell that you're confused. It's understandable, given your predicament. I'll make it clear for you: you are dead. You died some time ago, likely in this battle here. You're anchored to this plane, for one reason or another. Perhaps you might be able to return to where you lived, but there's little left for you in the world of the living."

Btw, is unicorn telekinesis a force effect? Can I use it to touch ghosts?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173910
173911
>>173909
"No... I need to get home..."

I'm tentatively going to say that it's like a hoof, and will touch the ghost the same as a hoof would
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173911
173912
>>173910
"Where is your home?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173912
173913 173916
>>173911
"Maregate... Brisbane... Mareton Bay..."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173913
173914 173915
>>173912
Posey peers at the ghost, intrigued
"So, what's to stop you from going there now? Do you know the way there? Are you stuck, or just confused? Can you leave on your own power?

Is that close, btw?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173914
173916 173917
>>173913
No. Not even remotely close.

"The trees are endless and the same... I cannot go far..."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173915
>>173913
End quotations at the word "power"
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173916
173918
>>173912
>>173914
"That's quite far off even at flying distance..." Posey says
She puts on a thinking face
"You must be lonely out here, all by yourself. Would you mind accompanying me on my journey? You can tell me all about yourself, and we can figure out what's next for you."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173917
173918
>>173914
"Say, do you have any objects of yours here? Something that identifies you, such as a dog-tag, or a piece of uniform? Anything that might anchor you to this place. Perhaps if it were mailed to your home, then maybe your spirit would follow it."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173918
173919
>>173916
"But I am not alone."

>>173917
"My knife. Under that stone. Grey. Split down the center to an almost perfect cube."
Anonymous
bce6f43
?
No.173919
173920 173926 173929
>>173918
>173916
>"But I am not alone."
"Oh, you aren't? Do you have friends here?"
>knife
Posey levitates it
"Hmmm, should be easy enough to mail. Do you remember your home address?"

As glad as I am to chat with the ghost, I am really tired and have to sleep. Maybe the dead soldiers can speak to Posey tomorrow, since it's memorial day.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173920
>>173919
That's... oddly fitting
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173922
173935
>>173900
"We can learn together! I am certain you would be natural." Silver wonders if White Orchid is at all aware how adorable he is.

"We will do it soon, I promise you, but there is one thing I need to do first. I imagine you would enjoy having your own room?"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173925
173926
I am awake now
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173926
173929
>>173925
>>173919
Posey takes the knife and slowly walks down the road, talking with the ghost as she goes.

>hurr durr why are you helping ghosts when ur evil?
Because this is an experience that would help Posey train herself as a spiritualist to expand her personal powers, and might mean a second or third level up at the end of this quest.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173929
173930 173931 173933 173942
>>173919
"Yes. There are others."

"132 Cockatoo Street, Brismane, New Hooflem."

>>173926
"The Others will not like you walking off. They do not like those who take."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173930
173933 173934
>>173929
>others
"Well, where are they now?" Posey says, looking around
"You can come out now." she calls into the ether "No point in hiding, we're all dead here."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173931
>>173929
>132 Cockatoo Street, Brismane, New Hooflem.
Posey writes this down.
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173933
173934
>>173930
>>173929
Do the ghosts respond?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173934
173938 173942 173946
>>173933
>>173930
One pops up from that same crater Posey was examining earlier, peaking out and slowly walking forward, as if his hooves still mattered. One materializes from blue light from a laying position a couple feet off the ground in the clearing. One seems to hop out of the ruined truck. All four are ponies and male. It seems there is one of each type, including a bat winged pony, though she'd need a closer examination to say for sure. They slowly approach Posey
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173935
173936 173937 173941
>>173922
White Orchid smiles widely and his tag wags intensely
"I'd like my own room! I haven't had one in... in years!"

>>173854
"You're... you're welcome" the mare responds, again with that signature pony smile

Kira returns and finds that the water is fairly effective in shaping the bread. It doesn't taste as good as before, but Kira can balll it, and she can swallow it.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173936
173943
>>173935
Damn, Silver knew he was an orphan, but he didn't know he had been one for that long. This colt desperately needs his own room, Silver couldn't imagine growing up and going through his body's changes without a bit of privacy.

"Well that is next thing on my agenda. I am going to look for mission to get enough Bits to expand our house, maybe add bedrooms to underneath area, enough for you, Mint, and Clip. Then while our house is being worked on to add those new rooms, we can all go to Puerto Caballo or somewhere like it for vacation."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173937
173941 173943
>>173935
She didn't much care for the taste of the bread anyhow, finding it to be a bit bland for her, like the rice. At least now Kira can properly eat her bread, and with it finished she's done with her meal.
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173938
173942 173943
>>173934
"Greetings." Posey says, with a bow of her head
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173941
173943
>>173937
>>173935
Unless, of course, Neela wants some of Kira's bread
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173942
173943
>>173934
>>173938
>>173929
Posey puts the knife back where she found it, and turns around to proceed down the road.
"I guess it's none of my business why you're still here. I for one am on a mission though. Tag along if you wish." she says, walking away slowly with swish of her tail
Anonymous
b5cf750
?
No.173943
173944 173945 173946 173949
>>173938
>>173942
Well which is it? Does she engage, or walk away?

>>173941
Neela seems uninterested in getting in the way of Kira and what she is eating

>>173937
Neela eats more slowly, and looks over at Kira as Kira struggles with the act of chewing. She gets up and follows Kira when Kira moves to go inside, taking the bag with her. When Kira is done, however, Neela still has food, especially bread, in the bag.

>>173936
White Orchid jumps up in place
"I can have my own room? And what is this 'Puerto Caballo'?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173944
173950 173964
>>173943
Kira looks over at Neela.

"Had your fill? I don't know how much non-lamias usually eat..."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173945
173950
>>173943
>Does she engage, or walk away?
She's coaxing them to follow her, so that she can get more information out of them. Also, because she has no way of knowing how powerful these ghosts are, so she has to be careful before fighting them. She's banking on the idea that ghosts tend to be lonely types who are eager to either find somepony who will help them resolve their unfinished business, or relentlessly hound them with their with their stories.
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173946
173947 173948 173950
>>173943
>>173934
I would like to make some Sense Motive checks (Assess Opponent), opposed by their Bluff checks, to assess the power (CR) of these ghosts, relatively to my HD (3).
I know for a fact that they must be a minimum CR of 2 (assuming lvl 1 nonelite warriors), and likely CR 3 or higher (assuming lvl 1 elite PC classed characters, or lvl 2 nonelite warriors), so I can discount any result that would say Pushover, so I'll know if these guys are Easy (CR 2), a Fair Fight (CR 3 each), a Tough challenge (CR 4-6), or a Dire Threat (CR 7+)
https://www.realmshelps.net/charbuild/skills/sense_motive.shtml
Posey does this because she is sizing them up to check if she can command them (CR being equal to class lvl for PC classed characters, or lvl -1 for NPC class; which gives her a sense of HD), thereby extrapolating their HD. Luckily, Ghosts are one of those class-leveled undead who's CR scale very quickly with HD.
I know this is metagaming, but this is the sort of thing that Posey would be an expert in and would be careful to observe before she makes her next move.

Check for the first one (the one who first spoke to Posey)
[1d20+3 = (1+3) = 4]
And the others (in order that they appeared in)
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]
[1d20+3 = (1+3) = 4]
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]
>A successful assessment reveals that your foe belongs in one of two adjacent categories (for example, "Easy" or "A fair fight"). If your Sense Motive check result exceeds the opposed Bluff check result by 10 or more, you can narrow the result down to a single category.
>By contrast, if the target's Bluff check result equals or slightly exceeds your Sense Motive check result, you gain no useful information. If the target's Bluff check result exceeds your Sense Motive check result by 5 or more, you may (at the DM's option) gain a false impression, believing your opponent to be much stronger or weaker than he really is (equal chance of either). If the target's Bluff check result exceeds your Sense Motive check result by 10 or more, your assessment is off by at least two categories (for example, a dire threat might be assessed as a fair fight).
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173947
>>173946
Idk why I keep rolling for things I should be taking 10 on...
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173948
>>173946
Btw, GM, if this is too complicated to bother with right now, feel free to ignore this post entirely.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173949
173950
>>173943
Silver nods.

"That you can, all by yourself to do what you want with and decorate as you please. Puerto Caballo is big island south of Equestria. It is supposed to be warm, tropical island of sandy beaches and friendly faces. It sounds like good vacation destination, yes?"
Anonymous
b5cf750
?
No.173950
173951 173956 173957
>>173945
The approach:

Bat pony, from the field
"Who are you?"
Unicorn, from the crater
"That flower is dangerous! Get away from it!"
Pegasus, from the truck
"Who sent you here?"
The earth pony Posey has been talking to, from the house
"Why do you leave?"

>>173946
One is reasonably dangerous and is easy for Posey to defeat if faced alone (but very likely to kill her if, for example, she simultaneously had to face 3 others) one is much the same, though a bit stronger... except not a combat type, one is an extreme push over, and one is extremely dangerous.

>>173944
>>173944
"Yes." She says, opening her mouth as if she is going to say more, but then stopping herself
"I saved some for later." She stands up, and looks back to Kira
"I didn't think you'd try to eat anything here"

>>173949
"I went to a beach when I was much younger... much younger. I was with my father, my mother too. I remember the sun being hot, blinding my eyes. The sand sticking to my fur and my mom told me to wash it off, and then more got stuck to me. I found a starfish. My dad told me to throw it back, and I did. And I built a sand castle! ... it wasn't very good. That was a long time ago. I don't remember much else."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173951
173953
>>173950
>"Who are you?"
Oh, I thought they were listening on the prior conversation.
Posey introduces herself again, with a whirl of her cape
"I am Rosey Ring, the Undying Sorceress. Trainee spiritualist, Blackweave Warmagus, Dread Commando, and Aspiring Necromancer." She says, with her chest puffed striking a pose
>"Who sent you here?"
"My masters in The Dread League across the sea sent me sent me here to collect information and samples on the artillery used in warfare here."
>"That flower is dangerous! Get away from it!"
"Oh, these?" Posey says, taking off the flowers and levitating them
"I thought they'd make a nice gift for my little Gloomy at home."
>"Why do you leave?"
"I am on a mission to investigate the artillery down the road. I'm hoping to get it done quickly, so I can get back home to my little colt."
"Would you care to join me for a stroll? We could talk about ourselves on the way there."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173952
I am going to make a Religion check to see just how much Posey knows about ghosts, their threatening abilities, and how to handle them.
I've played ghosts before, so I know most of their abilities, but Posey is only lvl 3, so I can't assume that she knows.

[1d20+9 = (8+9) = 17]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173953
173954
>>173951
"Must you leave?"

"Those flowers should not be near foals!"

"Those guns belong to New Mareland!"

"I cannot follow far"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173954
173955
>>173953
>Must you leave?
"I must finish my mission. I will be coming back the same way though."
>flowers
"Hmm, too bad then." Posey says, levitating a flower above her hoof and withering it with the negative energy of her charnel touch
>Those guns
"Well, technically I'm looking for a shock absorber, not the gun itself..."
She puts on a bit of a cutesy face
"You wouldn't mind if I took just one, would you? Pretty please? They've been sitting out here to rust for years."
>"I cannot follow far"
"Oh dear, an anchorite. How unfortunate. Is it that you can't stray far from the building, or something inside?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173955
173961
>>173954
"Must it always be 'missions'?"

"How do you do that? That is not normal magic"

"These are weapons to kill Monarchists and Griffins. Not to sell for scrap."

"The knife"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173956
173958
>>173950
"Would you like to make some new memories of building sand castles and trotting along beach?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173957
173958
>>173950
"Well, I was hungry, and I'm in a new place. I thought I'd try the local cuisine."

Kira smiles at her, and flicks her tongue.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173958
173959 173960
>>173956
"Yes! Maybe not so much the blinding. And the clinging sand. I want to build sand castles. I wish we had a beach here."

>>173957
Neela seems to smile back, actually closing her lips to do so.
"Well it's not really 'local'. It's from Maregypt here. But I understand. Was that... your... first time to eat something like that?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173959
173962
>>173958
"Well...I've had potatoes, and recently bananas, but no, never anything cooked like that. That was a very novel experience! Have you ever had anything like that before?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173960
173962
>>173958
"Me too. I guess we are still just barely too far north for sandy beaches. It is kind of sad. Too far south for snow, too far north for sand." He plays a bit with some of his fluffy winter coat on his chest. "I almost wish it would snow little bit."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173961
173962
Sorry, something came up.
>>173955
>missions
"Until my powers exceed those of my creator (which means being lvl ~6-8), I must carry out their will." Posey says, wistfully
"Dead, but still not free. You could say we're not so different, you and I."
>That is not normal magic
"Oh, this? It's basically blackweave magic, commonplace where I come from. I've practiced it well enough to conduit it effortlessly, even though my horn is out of power."
She poofs her mane
"I wanted to keep a strong connection to the gray, because it helps me stay pretty."
>to kill Monarchists and Griffins. Not to sell for scrap
"Well, that's precisely what we're fighting over at the Arcturian front. Griffons and Solarists are ever so tenacious." She says
"And it's not to sell, but to analyze."
>The knife
Posey levitates the knife again
"Would you join me for a stroll if I brought this with me?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173962
173963 173965 173966
>>173961
"How so?"

"THow do you know such magic?"

"Fuck the griffins and the solarists"

"Yes"

>>173959
"Well, I've had falafel before, and of course the pita bread. The pepper is new to me. Have you... had bread at all?"

>>173960
"I like snow" He says

"I've seen it... twice, I think? No, three times. When we went to Vanhoover. Near Vanhoover. I had an aunt there... I think. There was snow. It snowed here in Baltimare... two years ago, I think? Just after Hearthswarming. And then once in the mountains when I went there. I think."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173963
>>173962
>"How so?"
"Well, through practice, study, experience, and danger. I feel my powers grow whenever I am close to death, or in the throes of battle. Just earlier today I fought a five headed hydra all by myself (which would have been a hard fight for an entire party of Posey's level), underwater: I can feel my powers growing already."
(Posey is of the Nerrulite belief that "killing makes you stronger")
>How do you know such magic?
"I always had an attitude for it, but my masters in Magehold taught me how to channel it properly, or at least at the basic level."
>"Fuck the griffins and the solarists"
"Based."
>"Yes"
"Then come along." She says, slipping the knife in her satchel.
She looks to the rest
"Would you mind joining us?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173964
173967
>>173944
"Why do you say that I am dead? I just want to leave"

"I need to save others"

"I need to kill Monarchists"

"I need to get home"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173965
173970
>>173962
"Where I was born it snowed every year, from late autumn, to winter, even into early spring. Foals would go out playing for hours in snow, making snowponies and snowangels before coming back indoors for warm drink while sitting next to fire. At Hearthswarming, everypony would come together in town center to tell stories, spend time with friends and family, and make merry. There would be so many ponies and so many warm and happy spirits that you could feel temperature rise and much of snow in city melt over course of day and night."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173966
173970
>>173962
"Not...not really." She rubs the back of her own head with a leg, blushing. Her tongue flicks out again. "We never had to rely on bread or cake when I was growing up, whenever times were tough, and the bread the less fortunate lamias made and ate definitely looked nothing like that."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173967
>>173964
>"Why do you say that I am dead? I just want to leave"
"Because you are dead. You're a ghost." Posey says
"I'm dead too, even though I don't look it. My spirit is bound to this body."
She raises her hooves, revealing her little heart-shaped stigmata.
"Bound by my master, long ago."
>"I need to save others"
"Who are the others? The battle ended years ago."
>"I need to kill Monarchists"
"An attitude that I can understand."
>"I need to get home"
"Perhaps I could help you with that."
She looks at the rest
"Perhaps we could all help each other. What do you say? Why don't we be friends? I'm sure we could all... Benefit."
I roll seduction. As per libris mortis, I am adding a +4 bonus, for appealing to the business that anchors them to this plane.
[1d20+13 = (5+13) = 18]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173968
173969 173971
Seduction. Not diplomacy seduction

The bat pony's wings extend, and though he is still translucent blue, Posey can see the bloodlines in the webbed wings
"I will be your friend"

"The other soldiers..."
The unicorn says with uncertainty

"They have no decency to shell a hospital. Can you help me end them?"

"Please... help me get home"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173969
173973
>>173968
>Seduction. Not diplomacy seduction
I know what I said.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173970
173974 173976
>>173966
"Should we go back?" She asks
"So... what do you eat? Zebras, I would assume?"
She picks up her bag with her mouth

>>173965
"That sounds like fun! We did something sort of like that at the orphanage. You know, with... less snow. But we would tell stories and... well there wasn't any family, but... warm drinks sounds nice! We would get coco. Sometimes."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173971
173972
>>173968
>"I will be your friend"
"Excellent." Posey replies
>"The other soldiers..."
"Likely gone by now. There are few here in this swamp among the living. Was there anypony in particular you were thinking of?"
>Can you help me end them?
"Oh, we'll end them alright."
>help me get home
"That can be arranged." Posey says.
"If this knife anchors you to the plane, mailing it to your home address should send you with it."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173972
173975
>>173971
The bat pony comes even closer, moving to Posey's side. The spectral edge of the wing touches Posey's side
"So can we travel together?"

"No... I mean.. in general"

"Then I will come"
Says the pegasus

"As will I"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173973
>>173969
Now she'll have to figure out how to fuck a ghost
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173974
173977
>>173970
"We still need some furniture, and maybe some food to put in the refrigerator for you for later, so getting those sounds like a good option to me."

At that second question, Kira blushes profusely and waves her arms in front of her.

"Oh no nonononononono no! No zebras, never! Never any sapient creature. Mostly it was sheep, goats, antelope, sometimes fish."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173975
173977
>>173972
>"No... I mean.. in general"
"Well then, it wouldn't hurt to tour the swamp to see who's left, would it? If I'm not mistaken, I should be trotting right by where your comrades had their artillery set up. Why don't you join us?" Posey says, walking down the road
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173976
173977
>>173970
"Next Heartwarming you will be here to do all of that with us. Well, at least I hope that is what you choose."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173977
173978 173979 173980
>>173975
The unicorn specter stares - or seems to, hard to tell - for a moment, and then replies
"Then I will come"

>>173976
"That's a whole year from now"
He looks up, and then blinks
"Are we going to do all of this? Snow and Caballo and coco?"

>>173974
"No, I..." She looks over at Kira with an odd expression
"Know you don't eat those... but... like, big creatures? And yes, we need furniture."
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173978
173982
>>173977
Posey proceeds down the road, humming softly. She continues strolling until she finds the artillery.
"The machinery should be not far from here..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173979
173982
>>173977
Silver nods with conviction, like he knows for a fact that is exactly what they will do.

"All of it."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173980
173982
>>173977
Kira tilts her head, a motion she has become very familiar with today.

flicks tongue

"I...suppose they are fairly big? Oh, and pigs. Really just whatever we can hunt out in the savanna or that the herders and fishersnakes have ready for eating."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173982
173984 173986 173987 173989
>>173980
"I... see... So do you plan to eat falafels, mostly, while here?"

>>173978
"Wait. let me get my cards."

"We cannot leave yet."

"The Monarchist magic has trapped us here."

>>173979
intense tail wagging
"Yay!"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173984
173985
>>173982
Ffs, let me check the rules for exorcisms...
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173985
>>173984
I think that’s… unnecessary
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173986
173988
Screenshot_20240527-173441.png
>>173982
>We cannot leave yet
>Monarchist magic
I'm going to just roll religion to see wtf this means.
[1d20+9 = (17+9) = 26]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173987
173988
>>173982
"Heh, probably not, but I actually did sort of like those. No, I'd probably find a farm and buy a goat from them, or I'd go hunting. It's be a lot easier if I had access to opium, but I can make do."
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173988
173991 173992
>>173986
They are also tied to objects, like Carried Pack, and Posey does not have these objects. One of them does not understand why this is, and blames the Monarchists. Another refuses to accept this is so, but understands he needs the object to move.

>>173987
“Ah, okay.” This answers Neela, until it doesn’t. Her ears perk up.
“Opium?!”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173989
173990
>>173982
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. It's enough to melt Silver's heart.

"You ready to come inside? I am going to make pancakes for breakfast."
Anonymous
94307e3
?
No.173990
173993
>>173989
“Yes! I want pancakes.”
He hops, and then follows Silver
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.173991
173994
>>173988
Posey requests for each of the ghosts to recall any objects that might have been close to them.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173992
173994
>>173988
"Yes, opium. We made an oil we'd coat the tips of our arrows with. If we didn't bring the creature down with the first shot, they would eventually fall either unconscious or be rendered unable to flee. We're not really built for long-distance pursuits. It also makes you feel all funny and fuzzy for a short time after.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173993
173994
>>173990
Silver smiles and heads back inside with the bouncing happy colt to make pancakes.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173994
173995 173996 174004
>>173991
"My playing cards"

"A scalpel. In that bag you moved earlier"

"My locket"

>>173992
"Okay then..." She answers, still moving towards the row house

>>173993
Silver reenters the house with White Orchid. Now what else does he do?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173995
173997
>>173994
First of all, is Khoi downstairs yet?

And is Clip still indecent?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173996
173997
>>173994
Kira follows, mostly because Neela knows the city better than she does.

"So...are we stopping at the house first and then going to go get furniture?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.173997
173998 173999
>>173995
No.

Yes.

>>173996
"I would assume so, yes." She answers
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.173998
174000
>>173997
"Alright, I just want to make sure."

Kira hums a tune to herself as they stroll/slither along the sidewalks.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.173999
174000
>>173997
Oh my

"Huh, I guess Khoi is not yet ready to come down." Silver looks down to White Orchid. "Want to help me make pancakes?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174000
174001 174003
>>173998
A foal comes up to Kira and asks "What are you?" Before its scared mother can drag the colt off

>>173999
"Sure" White Orchid answers. He comes into the kitchen. However, Silver sees a problem - White Orchid is too small to reach the countertop reliably while seeing what he's touching.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174001
174002
>>174000
Is there a stool or something similar for him to climb up on?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174002
174005
>>174001
Yes.

Silver can finally see that Khoi has come down, being distracted in the living room
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174003
174006
>>174000
Kira smiles brightly, and before the mother gets a chance to pull the foal away, she answers.

"I'm a lamia! I'm from far away, across the ocean in Zebrica!"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.174004
174006
>>173994
Posey collects the items, and asks the ghosts their home addresses to write down later.
Then she goes on her way down the road.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174005
174006
>>174002
Silver peaks out into the living room to see what's going on, while already knowing full well what has her so distracted.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174006
174007 174008 174010 174029
>>174005
It's exactly what it seems like.

>>174004
The paying cards are in the tall grass, being a bit worn down, at least on the outside, by weathering.

The scapple is in the bag in the crater, in fairly good condition.

The locket is damaged by fire, underneath and next to the burned out truck.

>>174003
The little pony waves back, but is moved away

Kira surely arrives back soon
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174007
174030
>>174006
He calls out to Khoi, regardless if the noise will wake up the sleeping beauty or not.

"Hey, in here! We are getting ready to make pancakes!"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174008
174030
>>174006
She does wave back to the little colt before they get too far apart. It gives Kira hope, that foals apparently have less fear than their parents and might learn one day that ponies and lamias can be friends.

When they arrive home, Kira takes a moment to look around at the inside of their rowhouse, commenting, "This is the first time I'm living somewhere different from my mother, you know?"
Anonymous
06b345c
?
No.174010
174029 174067
>>174006
Posey places them in her bag, and proceeds down the road.
Anonymous
5dffcbe
?
No.174029
174037 174067
Ghost_Unicorn_Pony.png
>>174010
>>174006
Okay, so Posey has her haunted pokeballs fetters, and she proceeds trotting down the road, with the ghosts in tow.
Does she make it to her destination? She implores if the ghosts know anything about where the artillery might be stationed.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174030
174031 174032 174037
>>174007
"Huh?' Khoi raises her head, and then looks to Silver. She then walks towards him, into the kitchen with he and White Orchid.

>>174008
Neela places the food down on the counter, and looks around, taking note of what they don't have.

She does reply to Kira
"Really? You mean this is your first time to live away from family?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174031
174033
>>174030
Silver gets the stool for White Orchid, then gives them a list of ingredients to gather from the kitchen: flour, baking powder, sugar, salt, milk, butter, and eggs. He also asks them to check for anything they wish added into the pancakes, like chocolate or berries.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174032
174033
>>174030
"Oh yeah. I've camped out on my own in the savanna, of course, but to actually, properly live without my mother...no, never before."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174033
174035 174036
>>174032
"Do... Lamias normally live with their parents most of their lives? Move out on their own?" Neela pauses, as she seems to genuinely not know

>>174031
Khoi looks around through out the kitchen, opening almost every cabinet looking for ingredients. She actually stares at the baking powder directly, and moves past it. With the eggs, the butter, and the milk, she shakes her head and says what sounds like a curse or something disapproving in a foreign language, but does at least get the butter.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174035
174048
>>174033
"It's normal for us lamias to live with our families for a time, until we're ready to start a family of our own or we get married off to another lamia. It's not like how I've heard it is in other countries where a young adult moves out as soon as they come of age."

Kira doesn't really have much knowledge on what is considered normal furniture for a modern home, be she's already got some ideas of what they need: they need places to sit, both for Neela and whatever non-lamia guests they might have in the future, a place to eat like a kitchen table, a bed for Neela, and maybe a dresser for her clothes. Outside of that it might be nice to get some decorations to spruce things up, like rugs or curtains.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174036
174048
>>174033
Silver chuckles, and grabs the things they forget to grab either accidentally or purposefully. He goes on to describe the purpose of each ingredient.

"Flour is base of pancake recipe. Baking powder is leavening for making pancakes light and fluffy. Sugar makes them sweet, and salt is used to enhance flavor. Milk, butter, and eggs will add rich moisture, and egg especially will help bind everything together."

He asks White Orchid to use his muscles to grab a large mixing bowl, and for Khoi to grab measuring cups and measuring spoons, both teaspoon and tablespoon. He also gets a small pan, puts it on a burner on the oventop, and adds a stick of butter to melt. Silver then tells them to take 5 cups of flour, 3 tablespoons of baking powder, 3 tablespoons of sugar, and a teaspoon of salt, and mix it all together in the mixing bowl.
Anonymous
b684013
?
No.174037
174067
>>174029
>>174030
Does Posey make it down the road?
Anonymous
5525ecc
?
No.174040
174067 174071
Do the ghosts know where the artillery is?
Anonymous
58121be
?
No.174046
174047 174067
Screenshot_20240531-175247.png
Bump
The Floof & The Noodle
89e77c9
?
No.174047
>>174046
silly
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174048
174049 174050 174067
>>174035
"Oh.... I see..." Neela refrains from giving any details on her side, not seemingly wanting to say much

"Just get a bed, a few chairs... maybe a toaster... It'll be liveable."

>>174036
White Orchid listens intently, looking at the ingredients, and taking little tastes of the sugar and the flour. Khoi gets the cups, asking for clarification on which is the teaspoon and which is the table spoon.

It's all coming together.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174049
174051
>>174048
Indeed it is, but they're not finished yet. The sugar is predictably sweet, but the flour is tasteless and dry. Silver shows Khoi the difference between the small teaspoon and the large tablespoon, also explaining that one tablespoon is equal to three teaspoons.

Next, he instructs them to make a well in the center of the mixed up dry ingredients, and to add the now-melted butter, 4 cups of milk, and 3 eggs. He shows the two how to crack an egg, giving it a firm, quick, but not crushing hit against the metal rim of the sink to crack one of the sides and split the shell in two halves, dropping the egg white and the yolk into the pancake mixture. Once everything's been added, the mixture is stirred up until the yolks are broken apart, everything has been mixed together, and the pancake batter becomes smooth. Silver then adds a bit of cooking oil into a skillet, puts it over a burner set to a medium-high heat, and pours about a 1/4 cup of batter into the skillet for each pancake he has room for.

"Now is most time-consuming part. We should be able to make many pancakes, at least two dozen. Key is to cook each side of pancake for couple minutes, maybe three, until bubbles form and edges are dry. Then you flip, and cook other side until it is light brown." After a couple minutes of letting the pancakes cook, he demonstrates using a pancake flipper as bubbles rise to the top of the pancakes and the edges turn solid. "Like so. Repeat as many times as is needed for how many pancakes you wish to cook."

When the first pancakes are finished cooking, Silver puts them on a plate, and pours more batter into the skillet for more pancakes. "You both helped me with making pancakes, so you both get first pancakes. Grab whatever you want to put on top of them: butter, maple syrup, peanut butter, whatever we have that you think would taste good with them."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174050
174052
>>174048
Kira tilts her head. Part of her is worried she might end up with a crick in her neck with all of the head tilting, which is much more worrisome for a creature like a lamia than it might be for a normal pony. She flicks her tongue into the air.

"...Toaster? What's a toaster?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174051
174054
>>174049
White Orchid watches the process intently. When the pancakes are put on a plate, Khoi scrunches, but White Orchid immediately nibbles on the pancake, then adding some syrup.

Lazily, from the direction of the living room, a new pony walks into the room - a unicorn with a disheveled red mane and tail.
"What's going on that you couldn't let me sleep?" He blinks
"Is this pancakes?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174052
174053
>>174050
Kira is very flexible, fortunately
"It's a little metal box that toasts bread, but... nevermind that... I need a bed"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174053
174055
>>174052
While Kira is a bit confused that she needs a box to do a single thing, especially something as silly as 'toasting bread', she cannot agree more on her final statement.

"Definitely. There's gotta be a store for furniture somewhere near here. We'll get you a nice, soft bed to sleep on with some sheets to match."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174054
174055
>>174051
Silver smiles at the disheveled young stallion.

"Good morning, sleepy head. It looked like you had good sleep. Yes, we are making pancakes. You want some?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174055
174056 174057
>>174054
"Oh, yeah, sure, make me some. I like strawberries, and a little sugar on top." Clipping goes to sit over at the table in the dining room. "And make me a coffee, will ya?"

Khoi starts to flip another pancake

>>174053
Roll Luck
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174056
174059
>>174055
Silver chuckles, and while Khoi works on the pancakes, Silver looks for some strawberries and powdered sugar, and gets to work on the coffee.

"'Please' would be nice to hear."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174057
174059
>>174055
Hmmm...is lucky snek?

[1d20 = 14]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174058
Is fairly lucky snek
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174059
174060 174061
>>174056
"Oh, I'll get it myself!" He lazying canters up.

"Ooh, there's a ready pancake" He says, using his magic to take Khoi's pancake

>>174057
Kira slithers around, stumbling upon what seems to be a furniture store. A large grey stallion looks out curiously at the two creatures
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174060
174062
>>174059
Kira marvels at the selection of furniture available in the store, she's never seen anything like it. It serves as a reminder that, no matter how prosperous her tribe and city was, they are a far cry from the prosperity of a country like Equestria. She gives a friendly wave to the grey stallion before addressing the deer with her.

"What do you look for in a bed? Us lamias don't really use the same sort of bedding that other creatures do."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174061
174062
>>174059
Silver reacts by using his own magic to to try to override Clip's grip on the pancake and stop him from taking it.

"Khoi Lua and White Orchid helped make pancakes, they get first crack at them. Ask her if she wants one of first pancakes or not before you just grab it off of her plate."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174062
174063 174064
>>174060
It's almost a warehouse, rather than a true store. However, it has a good set of couches, beds, mattresses, chairs and the like. Neela looks around, and answers
"Well, it needs to be big enough to lay on and soft, but firm enough to support you."

>>174061
Paper Clipping scrunches, and his ears go down

Then Khoi adds
"This is made with the pain and produce of another animal... He can have it."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174063
174072
>>174062
Silver smiles, and lets Clip have the pancake. He even gives him the strawberries and powdered sugar, if it's available.

"See, is not so hard. There is plenty for everypony, no need to hog or steal pancakes."

He then turns to Khoi, looking confused.

"Pain? What do you mean?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174064
174072
>>174062
"That sounds pretty nice. Usually us lamias just use a nice soft rug, or something like it."

Though she is likely too big and heavy to properly try out beds, she still uses her pony half to feel various beds they pass by and continue to marvel at the variety of items this store has for sale.
Anonymous
fd83efb
?
No.174067
174071
>>174029
>>174010
>>174037
>>174040
>>174046
>>174048
What's at the end of the road?
Anonymous
17369be
?
No.174068
174071
B4BD14B0D052C1F18422417DDB1EF549-507688.png
GM, can I please, please, please level up? I've been playing this game for more than a year, and Posey won/survived combat encounters that should have brought her up to the rest of the player's level at this point:
>600 XP driving off Jaguar
>1350 XP defeating Luminous (assuming lvl 4 Paladin)
>Up to 1350 XP for August Wreath (undefeated by choice) (assuming lvl 4 Paladin) + ??? XP for evading ELF (if they were all non-elite warriors, the encounter would be worth about 3000-4000 XP, half if escaping doesn't count as winning it it)
>??? Wolves in the forest (idk if they counted as summons, monsters, or a trap)
>600 XP Diamond Dogs on boat (assuming two lvl 2 non-elite Warriors)
>300 XP Random Thugs in the city (assuming two lvl 1 non-elite warriors)
>1350 XP Hydra (1688-2700 XP if you consider fighting it underwater to be an "unfavorable condition", which I would)
From combat alone, Posey earned 5550 XP (lvl 4, close to lvl 5) estimating normally, or 9550 XP (lvl 5, close to lvl 6) with a more generous estimate. Even with a conservative estimate, she should have earned her way to lvl 4. And this is all assuming the characters involved were minimum level for abilities and hit points totals that I observed.
(If you count Posey as an ECL 5 character (she is ECL 3; LA bought off), she would have earned slightly less (about 1800 less XP). I know Posey's charm ability and reduction did carry her through some encounters, so I get it if you want her to earn less XP despite being bought off.)

Furthermore, Posey has had several non-combat achievements that could factor in to her development as well.
Non-combat
>Several military checkpoints that involved skill checks or use of spells/charming (each could be considered an encounter worth 100-300 XP, because Posey risked exposure for all of them)
>Gained Baka as an Ally, plus brought him to the manor (how much XP would have been given for defeating him?)
>Established connection with the university
>Making peaceful relations with four ghosts (worth 3600 XP, assuming each was CR 3)
>Fooling Alluring into bringing Luminous out of hiding (Alluring has to be at least CR 2, because he took enough hits from the puppy that should have squashed any lvl 1 character)
>Meeting with the Kaftars
>Raising the zigger as a zombie to impress Lament
If you factor these encounters in for the XP that they would have been worth as combat, Posey could be lvl 9 by now.

I really don't mean to be pushy, but I've been playing Posey for over a year, and if it takes me more than a year to gain even a single level, I'm never going to get to play her as a Necromancer: Posey can't natively cast animate dead until lvl 8, which is 5 levels from now. I sit around between posts dreaming of the things that Posey could do, but I won't do any of those things at this rate. I paid XP costs in character creation because I thought that Posey would level up faster, but I still haven't caught up to the party's starting level. I understand that this is PbP and progression is going to be slow, but based on everything Posey has done, she should at least be lvl 4.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174071
174075
>>174040
"The guns were taken further down the road. To a clearing."

>>174067
Past the house, the road continues as a simple set of dirt and rock. Trees line to the left, and a small clear area with trees further to the right. The trees have been thinned, with broken trunks and craters in the tree line. The road continues before turning left into an even more forested section with rougher terrain and sometimes submerged sections, especially to the left. The road itself is often levelled over little "valleys" between higher sections with rocks. But continuing down this road, Posey comes to another clearing. And she spies the first object of immense interest. She sees something she has never seen before, yet has a solid guess as to what it is. In a ruined condition, with a tire entirely missing, and laying on its side, is a giant, steel, gun.

>>174068
Sure? Next quest line
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174072
174073 174074 174136
>>174064
"I... kind of figured, actually."

Kira surely gets the impression that she is wise to avoid placing her full weight on a bed, as simply laying on the edge almost flips the mattress off. But what Kira can feel... it's so... soft.

>>174063
Khoi explains. Kinda. Not really, but she seems to think she is.
"You use animal. Extract its milk. Eat its eggs."

Paper Clipping starts nomming on the pancake.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174073
174080
>>174072
"Woooooooow..." Kira has to actively avoid melting onto the bed. "Are all beds like this?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174074
174080
>>174072
"But these are things they do anyways. Cows produce milk in their udders, and if they are not milked regularly then their udder gets swollen and painful. Chickens produce eggs even without them being fertilized. If it doesn't harm either of them to take what they produce and they're useful to us, then why shouldn't we?"
Anonymous
948a98b
?
No.174075
174079
>>174071
>"The guns were taken further down the road. To a clearing."
"Thank you very much. Let's trot along then." Posey replied
>she spies the first object of immense interest. She sees something she has never seen before, yet has a solid guess as to what it is. In a ruined condition, with a tire entirely missing, and laying on its side, is a giant, steel, gun.
"At last, my mission is coming to a close." Posey declares, striking a pose in vainglory
She readies to prance forward, but catches herself, and first checks for traps and/or landmines.
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
"Any chance that there were any landmines buried here?" Posey asks, to any of the ghosts who will answer.
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174079
174081
>>174075
Posey can see a few craters, and in particular, one next to the ruined gun. She does not, however, find any traps, though a couple rocks may hide snakes or spiders

"We move too fast for the Monarchists to mine their soil"

"Mines probably not. Unexploded shells maybe"
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174080
174082 174083
>>174073
"Not... quite?" Neela looks over at the sight. If it were Kira sized, there would indeed be a serious danger of melting.

>>174074
Khoi has her attention turned to Silver, while Paper Clipping takes a moment to take more butter and spread it on the pancake
"But you make the do that. Impregnate them. Make them make milk. And then you eat of the animal."

Paper Clipping joins in
"You know, she's got a point." He takes a piece and starts to chew
"It's" smack "kind of exploitative of another. That's" smack "the mindset"
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174081
174084
>>174079
Without further ado, Posey prances through the meadow towards the gun and looks for whatever might look like the description of a dual-action shock absorber.
"It should be tubed-shaped, with a spring and a column..."
She examines the remains of the weapon very thoroughly.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174082
174084
>>174080
Silver takes over the flipping and cooking of the pancakes, while Khoi is distracted. Don't want to let them burn, after all.

"You know, you do not have to be pregnant to produce milk, it just takes stimulation to your mammaries. That goes for all or at least most mammals I think, not just cows but ponies as well." He looks over at Clip and says, "It's rude to speak with your mouth full, nopony wants to see what you eat," before returning his attention to the pancakes. "I do not know how dairy industry works. Maybe cows are paid for their milk? I know if I produced milk I would sell it for some extra Bits."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174083
174084
>>174080
"Awww...that's a shame." Having enjoyed the bed immensely, she gets off of it. "Do you like it? Or does another one catch your eye?"

She goes over to another bed to try, finding that it's incredibly firm. Judging from the look on her face, she's a bit disappointed. "Huh, I guess you were right. Still, I guess it's better than sleeping among bananas for days on end."
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174084
174085 174086 174087
>>174081
[1d20 = 2]
There is only one gun in the meadow, though it appears from the size of the area there once may have been many more, and this is simply the one that never left. It's right wheel has been not simply removed but ripped off, as are several parts. Paint is chipped, blown away, or has otherwise fallen off, and there are many scratch marks.

>>174082
Paper Clipping scrunches. Rather intensely. Khoi too, gets the message, and gets back to flipping, or tries to.

"Pay cows?" This gets a little smile from her
"But still... It is a product of an animal. Not in keeping with the place of the Kylan, err, pony."

From the hall, Silver can hear claw steps. Jubilosa walks over to the kitchen door, and peers in. She has evidently washed, with her fur still a bit wet.
"What ae you doing over here?" She asks, looking in and around

>>174083
Neela gives a little smile. "It's nice. Though I think you may like it more... One is needed for my bedroom."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174085
174088
>>174084
Something about seeing Neela smile is uplifting to Kira's soul.

"It's your bed, and we've still got plenty of Bits. Pick one, any one. I'd get a bed for myself, too, if they made them big or strong enough."
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174086
174088
>>174084
>not simply removed but ripped off, as are several parts
Does it have the part that Posey is looking for though?
Posey scrunches a bit, thinking that her mission may not yet be finished.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174087
174088
>>174084
D'awwwwwww. A scrunchy Clip is a qt. Silver smiles at his griffon as she peaks into the kitchen. "Making pancakes and debating ethics about using milk and eggs. Want some?"
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174088
174089 174090 174092
2242433.jpg
>>174086
The hydro-pneumatic tubes are still on the gun. However, it appears a piece of shrapnel has penetrated the cylinder.

>>174085
She wags her small tail. "Okay!"

>>174087
"Ethics, or pancakes?" She asks
Sure. Though eggs sound nice..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174089
174091
>>174088
"Either or. Grab what you want to put on them."

Silver divvies up a plate of pancakes for his griffon, before turning to Khoi. "So, what do you mean, 'not in keeping with place of Kylan'?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174090
174091
>>174088
"D'awwwwwww!" Wait...crap, that one was said aloud. Ah well, surely Neela knows how cute she is, especially for being a normally food-shaped creature.
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174091
174095 174097
>>174089
She takes a moment, and then replies.

“As stewards. And not to consume.”

>>174090
Neela moves back, and appears to blush. She seems almost frightened by the possibility that she might be cute
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174092
174093 174094
File (hide): F6AC5370392D207EE065710C02D4D993-1558866.mp4 (1.5 MB, Resolution:360x640 Length:00:00:13, m2-res_640p (1).mp4) [play once] [loop]
m2-res_640p (1).mp4
>>174088
>The hydro-pneumatic tubes are still on the gun. However, it appears a piece of shrapnel has penetrated the cylinder.
Is that good enough for the Masters back in magebold to analyze the design?
Posey gets to work unscrewing the cylinder with her wrench, humming as she goes.
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174093
174094
>>174092
*Magehold
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174094
174096
>>174092
>>174093
Posey doesn’t know, though she can guess that it will be more difficult to reverse engineer an inoperable cylinder than an operable one.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174095
174098
>>174091
Dread it. Run from it. Cuteness exists all the same.

"Well, come on. Pick one." Kira smiles brightly at the cute deer.
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174096
174098
>>174094
Posey puts the damaged cylinder in her saddlebags regardless.
"Hmmm, I was hoping to get a one in better condition, although I can't say for sure how many there are left out here..." she says, looking around
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174097
174098
>>174091
Now Silver is curious. "Your religion teaches you to be stewards of animal life? Or is it just part of your culture?"
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174098
174099 174100 174101
>>174096
Posey does not see another artillery piece, but she does see that the road continues to the left.

The dampener is very large, needing to be strapped to her, unless she has what is basically a duffle bag.

>>174097
“It teaches us not to harm, but we know our place is as those-who-eat-plants. And… you adjust the clouds and the rain, do you not?”

>>174095
“Uh” she looks down then back up, holding her right leg up “okay”

She eventually picks one. Eventually.
Anonymous
3a7563f
?
No.174099
174104
>>174098
>unless she has what is basically a duffle bag
I figure saddlebags would cut it?
>the road continues to the left.
Posey continues down the road, seeking a more intact dampener, keeping an eye out for any more artillery.
"They couldn't have been spaced that far apart..There could be more nearby."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174100
174104
>>174098
"Eeehhhhh, it is more Equestrian thing than Severyanan, but I see your point. Weather factories, Winter Wrap Up...it is definitely very 'steward like'."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174101
174104
>>174098
Kira claps her hooves together when Neela picks her bed, and her tongue flicks out excitedly.

"Great! We'll remember it for when we're ready to check out, I may be strong but I don't want to have to lug an entire bed around with us as we're shopping. What's next?"
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174104
174105 174106 174107 174108
>>174099
These things are big.

"They would have moved further down the road when we pushed the Monarchists back"

"This was a battery. Six guns in a battery, fourteen batteries in the division."

Roll Search, Listen, and Spot as Posey moves further down

>>174100
She blinks
"Is there much of a difference?"

>>174101
"Well, a dresser. Some chairs for the dining room... couches for the living room would be nice."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174105
174109
>>174104
Silver looks at Khoi for a moment, before asking her in turn, "Is there much of difference between Kylan and Kirin?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174106
174109
>>174104
Kira is as yet blissfully unaware of just how much she's bit off and how much she can in fact chew.

"It's amazing this store has all of this. Imagine how many homes could this store fully furnish, I wonder."
Anonymous
5098c7f
?
No.174107
174109
>>174104
>Roll Search, Listen, and Spot as Posey moves further down
I'm adding +2 to each, with the assumption that at least one of the ghosts succeeds on a DC 10 check to assist Posey on each check.
Search
[1d20+5 = (19+5) = 24]
Spot
[1d20+5 = (19+5) = 24]
Listen
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
Anonymous
5098c7f
?
No.174108
174109
>>174104
>"They would have moved further down the road when we pushed the Monarchists back"
"Let's head down there then." Posey replies
>Six guns in a battery
"That means there should be five more. The odds should be in our favor, so long as scrappers haven't found them first."
>These things are big
How much does it weigh?
Anonymous
2bf1e27
?
No.174109
174110 174111 174112 174114
>>174105
"They used magic instead of spirit to hold the peace of mind. They don't now, and they don't have peace. As for whether they eat animal products, that depends on their position on the Great Vehicle. Some do, and some don't I think. But I have never been the Empire, so I cannot say for sure."

>>174106
After Kira's experience at the restaurant, Kira ought to be aware that she can barely chew at all.

"Quite a lot, I think." Neela looks around
"This table looks nice. And that chair over there... that would be lovely. Oh! And imagine this couch. Do you want any furniture?

>>174107
>>174108
>those rolls
Damn

>>174107
Somewhere under 100 pounds.

"I would hope there are not five more. That would mean five more were lost."

This area tends to be higher, more conventional forest with more diverse trees. The occasional breaks in tree cover continue
Anonymous
5098c7f
?
No.174110
174114 174117
>>174109
>Somewhere under 100 pounds.
That's less than half of Posey's light load then. She remains unencumbered.
(I know this because I've been trying to figure out how to transport that hydra carcass... It sadly weighs more than Posey can drag on her own)
>That would mean five more were lost.
"Then let's go see about that for ourselves." Posey says, trotting along
>Damn
Does Posey see anything of note?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174111
174113
>>174109
"Oh, I don't know what I would get. You saw my belongings, they fit pretty neatly into just a couple bags." She looks around her at all the variety of pieces for sale. "We had furniture, of course, but it was definitely in a much different style from all of this. This looks very...modern, I suppose? Hmm...I wouldn't mind a chest. Someplace safe to store my belongings at home."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174112
174113
>>174109
"Huh. I suppose that is bit of what I am getting at. Equestrians and Severyanans, they may have similar origins - we both originated from various pony tribes living in northern reaches of Equus - but we moved east when windigoes attacked while Equestrians moved south. Then after windigoes were banished from this world, we had hundreds of years of history apart from Equestria where we developed our own language, our own culture, and our own religious practices, all in our own kingdoms and eventually our own empire. It is only because of Groverian Conquests that we ever became part of Equestria in first place."
Anonymous
89ab7c9
?
No.174113
174114 174115 174116
>>174111
It is indeed rather "modern," generally with lathe cut wooden legs, woven fabrics, and sometimes flamboyant dyed colors.

"Oh they'll have a chest around here somewhere. Maybe you should get one."

>>174112
"I see..." she says. "So, you dominate. You are not stewards." Just a little bit disappointed.
Anonymous
cca67a7
?
No.174114
>>174113
>>174110
>>174109
Does Posey find anymore guns further down of the road?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174115
174118
>>174113
"Like I said, Equestria and Severyana are different and have different histories and cultures. Winter Wrap Up for example is very much Equestrian tradition, where ponies helped nature prepare for transition from winter to spring by melting snow and ice, waking up creatures from their dens and burrows, and making new nests and homes for animals. It is very steward-like tradition."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174116
174118
>>174113
Kira flicks her tongue as she smiles, and goes to look for chests. She doesn't need anything super fancy, just something with plenty of storage room and the ability to be locked.
Anonymous
89ab7c9
?
No.174117
174119
>>174110
Posey continues her trek through the woods. The path is occasionally blocked by felled trees, though more commonly, the logs are cut in half and moved to either side. Damage to trees is sporadic, sometimes with all nearby trees intact, and sometimes with an entire acre reduced to muddy craters and wood chips. The path winds along, sometimes hugging the edge of lakes, bogs, or rivers. The sounds of a holler, and later, of a wolves' howl, are miles distant. Closer, Posey can hear the sounds of birds and insects, and occasionally see them.

Then the path takes an interesting turn. Going around the edge of what seems to be a lake, the path turns to the left to hug the left rim of the lake to meet up on the other side. This path, however, is a simple hoof path, not big enough for vehicles. For that, there is a pier that extends into the water, though the last half is damaged, with broken wood and exposed lumber piers. The water of the lake is greenish-brown, and Posey can see movement in it, both from insects and larger creatures. On the other side, a few hundred feet away, is another pier. But in the water, not far at all from pier and not in deep water, Posey can see... What seems to be the barrel of a steel gun sticking out. Insects buzz about, and on the far side, Posey can see what seem to be humingbirds.
Anonymous
89ab7c9
?
No.174118
174120 174121
>>174115
She nods
"Yes, Equestrian harmony" and gives a small smile

>>174116
She has to move a while and perhaps even gets lost...

But she sees it. A series of wooden - all wooden - chests. Some rectangular, some looking like old treasure chests. Some big, some small.
Anonymous
cca67a7
?
No.174119
174122
>>174117
>The sounds of a holler
Like, a pony holler?
>The water of the lake is greenish-brown, and Posey can see movement in it, both from insects and larger creatures.
I take it that means it's not running water?
>But in the water, not far at all from pier and not in deep water, Posey can see... What seems to be the barrel of a steel gun sticking out.
Posey approaches the gun and examines it for the components she's looking for.
"I wonder if the shock absorber rusted by now... Only one way to find out." Posey says drawing her tools as she finds herself getting wet for the second time today.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174120
174126
>>174118
Silver smiles back. He returns his attention to the pancakes, almost all of which should be finished by now.

"You know, if you want to learn more about Equestrian traditions, holidays, and culture in general, it could be good opportunity to get acquainted with colts here and learn all about it from them."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174121
174126
>>174118
Oooo! What's the biggest they've got?
Anonymous
89ab7c9
?
No.174122
174123 174133
>>174119
>Pony holler
Best guess is some kind of monkey, though it could indeed be a pony. It's far away enough to not be an immediate concern

>running water
It does move somewhat, though not much.

>Posey is getting wet for the second time today...
Oh my...
Posey feels something rub against her back before getting in the water. She knows it's the cool touch of one of the ghosts.
"Rust? Why care about that? The paint protects it anyways."

Going into the water, the gun seems to be more or less intact. The steel or aluminum barge it was on has sunk.
Anonymous
cca67a7
?
No.174123
174133
>>174122
>the gun seems to be more or less intact.
>The paint protects it
"Well, that's good news." Posey replies
Posey takes her wrench and attempts to remove the part she's looking for, before dragging it out of the water for inspection.
"And I thought cadaver-collection was demeaning work..." she thinks to herself
Anonymous
cca67a7
?
No.174125
174133
>>174124
Posey checks it there's anything dangerous/interesting on the barge as well.
Anonymous
3f6c963
?
No.174126
174127 174128
>>174120
Khoi tilts her head, while Jubilosa comes closer
"Acquainted... What do you mean?"

Jubilosa asks,
"So... about these eggs..."

>>174121
If Kira is looking for one to sleep in, unfortunately they don't have that

A slate-grey stallion with a black mane and yellow eyes walks closer, then stands maybe 15 feet away from Kira.
"Do you need something?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174127
174129
>>174126
Kira looks at this very stormy-looking stallion who stands so far away, and smiles at him.

"Hello! We're just finding items to purchase. We've already got a bed in mind, now I'm just looking for a good chest to store my belongings in."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174128
174129
>>174126
"You know, get to know each other, before friends, et cetera."

Silver nods at Jubilosa, and gets the carton of eggs and some butter. "How many and how do you want them cooked?"
Anonymous
3f6c963
?
No.174129
174130 174131
>>174128
Jubilosa,
"Oh, just one, or two. Scrambled, with a little bit of fluff. I normally eat them over easy, but I am trying something different."

>>174127
"Has any struck you fancy so far?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174130
174132
>>174129
Silver nods, setting the butter to melt in a skillet as he cracks a couple eggs into a bowl and uses either a whisk or a fork (depending on what's available) to scramble them up. He then cooks up the scrambled eggs in the skillet to her liking.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174131
174132
>>174129
"Hmmmmm..." Kira considers the options available to her, then points to the biggest one. "I like this big one."
Anonymous
3f6c963
?
No.174132
174134 174135
>>174130
Khoi asks,
"What is your intent with the two pony colts? And the older colt?"

>>174131
He moves two steps closer, and asks
"What are your storage needs?"
Anonymous
c74a8ed
?
No.174133
174167
>>174123
>>174122
>>174125
Is Posey able to retrieve the shock absorber?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174134
174139
>>174132
Silver looks over at Khoi, and tilts his head.

"My intent? I cannot just open my home and hearth to those in need because it is right thing to do?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174135
174139
>>174132
"Well, I suppose I need storage for whatever I come upon. I don't have much now, just my bow, arrows, and spear among other miscellaneous items. But, you never know what you could come to own in the future, and I'd like to be able to have a place to securely store them."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174136
174206 174207
Sorry for not replying in so long. I meant to get to this much sooner but finding appropriate music wasn't easy.

>>173684
Amber does not keep a head of state waiting, especially one of such tastes. She turns to Erik. "We will be playing Bartók's duos next. First Ara Táskor into Számláló, then Scherzo into Arab Dal, Szunyogtánc, Gyermekrengetéskor into Szénagyüjtéskor and Lakodalmas, and finally Bánkódás. Got it?"

Erik isn't given much time to get ready, or even to process the strange names, before bow is put to string. The first part starts slowly but coldly, before launching into an atonal melody, before receding again. This goes on several times, and it is a surprise that this was a transliteration of a harvest song, though to an untrained ear it may evoke waves of fields of grain. But in reality, it is the harsh bitterness of repetitive years of work which wear on a farmer who is never able to escape his drudgery. This is followed by a quicker and mounting melody, the lead part of which is filled very aptly with Amber's deeper-sounding viol. As the short section carries on, the disparate notes of the viol and Erik's violin come closer together but never fully merge before an abrupt end. Some deep fissures in being, like that between griffons or ponies, or the conflict of wills within the madness of Diazela, will never be healed before sudden ruination.
https://youtu.be/F-dP9UXo0Hk?t=1761

Unlike in her previous performance, Amber is not hampered by a lack of instruments and is fully within her element in the string duos. The next section starts out with a lively song in unison before the two instruments divide in organized chaos, complete with plucks. What could be more suited for the plans of griffons rended asunder by the terrible entropic beauty of the universe? The two start playing a darkly whirling dance from distant deserts, each instrument complementing the other in an otherworldly, heartless sound. Unknown to the listeners even the notes to it are beautifully symmetric.
(39:47)

The tempo picks up one more time as Amber and Eric play what seem to be the same song at different places yet which mesh together in rhythm and come together twice in a climax. Aptly named the Mosquito Dance, it resembles a horde of pests moving faster than the eye can perceive, uncatchable and yet waiting to descend.
(19:16)

The duo slow down and more closely match their music, though they remain separate enough to lend an ethereal atonal quality to the song. Why this piece is titled "Cradle Song" remains a mystery, with the most likely explanation being that it is an adaptation of an existing lullaby. Rather than being calming, however, it is haunting and sets one's feathers on end. This is assuaged by the next song, the "Hay Song," which among the collection is the most genuinely peaceful and pastoral piece. Given the name, it is most likely taken from some remote pony province, with the atonal yet tranquil melody suiting their unique optimism and harmony even in times of chaos. The leitmotifs carry on through the "Wedding Song," which unlike previous slow sections carries a warmth in it suiting the name, even as it drags to a halt.
(8:01)

Capping out the performance is a morose and tearful song. At times it seems like two separate songs of mourning played together. It retains ethereal qualities yet feels grounded in the agonies and sorrows of life. Is it the plaintive cries of two separated lovers, or evocative of a coming conflict that will shake the world to its core? At one point the song seems to end, but comes back with full volume, as one's sorrows may recede and return. The song slows once more and the two musicians drag out the last note as their performance finally comes to a close.
(23:07)

>>173755
Middles?

>>174072
https://youtu.be/eljAjfttGoI
Anonymous
6dea60e
?
No.174139
174140 174141 174142
>>174134
Semi-scrunchy,
"I mean, how long will you keep them?"

>>174135
His eyes widen
"Well... I don't think we have a chest long enough to place a spear in..."
Anonymous
5be26c0
?
No.174140
174143 174182
>>174139
Is Posey able to recover the parts from the lake?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174141
174167
>>174139
"As long as I can or as they wish, I hope."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174142
174167
>>174139
"Well, either way, the biggest you have should do me fine!"

She smiles, and flicks her tongue.
Anonymous
6dea60e
?
No.174143
174147
1582519614247-0.png
>>174140
It's a bit busy
Anonymous
50a27cb
?
No.174147
174167 174182
>>174143
I just want to be able to plan Posey's next move.
Anonymous
78f875e
?
No.174167
174168 174169 174182
>>174133
>>174147
Soon(TM). As you’ve surely guessed, it’s not 100% smooth. But this whole questline will be over soon.

>>174141
Jubilosa takes up some kind of conversation in the bar area with Clipping, with the word “jam” being heard.

Khoi:
“But they are children. Should they not be with some family?”

>>174142
“Uh… ‘there’s one this way.” He moves to love past Kira. Kira, however, takes up a decent portion of the walk way between furniture, and stretches even further. Either out of fear or politesse, he seems reluctant to move past Kira, and may have to step over her body at some point. He lifts up a foreleg.
“Uh, this way.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174168
174170
>>174167
It sounds like Clip and Jubilosa are having an engrossing conversation. Hopefully Silver gets to listen to more of it, if it's not finished before his current one with Khoi.

"You do not think this could become family?" Silver says, as he gestures over the gathered creatures.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174169
174170
>>174167
"Oh, my apologies sir! I'm still getting used to these pony-sized spaces."

She kindly pulls her tail closer to her coiling it around herself as tightly as she can, making enough room for the reluctant pony to pass by and consequently removing one more excuse of not get closer to the nope noodle.
Anonymous
78f875e
?
No.174170
174172 174173
>>174168
“But… family is of blood, and structured. This is… not that.”

>>174169
This makes it harder to get by directly next to her. He now has to pass directly in front of her, and maybe even touch her. He looks at her, still awkward.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174172
174174
>>174170
"Did they never have adoption where you come from?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174173
174174
>>174170
Kira smiles friendly enough at the sales associate pony, though she also has to admit it's starting to get a little awkward.
Anonymous
0c0c6a5
?
No.174174
174175 174176
>>174172
“Well, they do, but… this is an older colt, a griffin… a gnoll…” she looks down

>>174173
The stallion decides to finally move by. While the passage way isn’t that small, Kira is rather wide when coiled. He looks over to her and scoots by. He smiles with all teeth showing, as he must surely be aware he is well within hugging range. His fur on his legs rubs Kira’s scales, and he utters a “sorry.” He moves past Kira, and looks back to her, still smiling with teeth. “This way… please.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174175
174177
>>174174
Thankfully, for the poor pony's sanity, Kira does not hug the pony (at least, for the moment). She smiles back at him and starts to follow, uncoiling as she does so like a spool of yarn.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174176
174178
>>174174
Silver chuckles, and smiles at the kirin regardless if she can see it or not.

"There have been far stranger families, I must say."
Anonymous
0c0c6a5
?
No.174177
174180
>>174175
He moves ahead, often looking back
“This way.”

They do not move far at all. He stops in front of a very large rectangular chest of white with blue floral decorations, mimicking the decorative style of oriental porcelain vases. It’s big enough for Kira to fit her bow in, her blankets, and basically all of her possessions with room to spare. But while it’s big enough to fit a pony and maybe even Kira, it is not long enough for pole arms.

“Wood construction. There is a lock on it, but for full security you may want to add your own, which you can with the bars here.” He looks back to her. “This is our largest.”
Anonymous
0c0c6a5
?
No.174178
174179
>>174176
She sits on her hind quarters, and moves herself up in a way that she can use her forehooves to make gestures. “But…” she looks down, and her tail curls around her front, with the little tuft of hair in front of her left hind leg. “I wanted a family that was mine.” She moves her hooves in circles around each other in front of her. “My blood and my stallion…”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174179
174181
>>174178
"Well..." Silver puts a hoof on her circling forehooves, stopping them. "...why can that not still happen?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174180
174181
>>174177
Kira lets out an "ooooo!" at the sight of the large container. Even if it's not quite long enough for a spear, it still very much fills all of her needs.

"I'll take it!"
Anonymous
0c0c6a5
?
No.174181
174203 174204
>>174179
“But… Ms. Valador. You are with her? Are you not? I can hear you two. I know we are not betrothed but… And the colts. Am I to take care of them? The oldest one is big enough he can care for himself. And the gnoll. He is a gnoll.” She pauses, looks down, then back up. “Where am I in this? What do you intend?”

>>174180
He looks back to her.
“How do you intend to pay?” He asks
Anonymous
225b93e
?
No.174182
>>174167
>>174147
>>174140
Okay, just let me know when you're ready.
Anonymous
87e0334
?
No.174187
174189
So.. Posey doesn't need to roll anything for this, does she?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174189
174191 174223
>>174187
Actually, rolls related to perception are helpful
Anonymous
e5239d3
?
No.174191
174192 174223
d66xxfjsay051.jpg
>>174189
Spot
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Listen
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
Search
[1d20+3 = (3+3) = 6]
Anonymous
e5239d3
?
No.174192
174197
>>174191
I would like to request that my four ghostly companions here assist me in awareness of my surroundings.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174197
174199
129812.jpg
>>174192
Don't ask me. Ask the ghosts
Anonymous
1d4f2ff
?
No.174199
174225
>>174197
"Hrrk.. T-tell me if you see the shock absorber anywhere, or anything else interesting...!" Posey says, between groans of exertion as she wades into the water and tries to haul out the device or detach the cylinder, her horn straining with its magical golden glow turning a diseased and noxious yellow as she exerts all of her power.
Anonymous
1d4f2ff
?
No.174200
So... Is she able to pull it out of the lake? She should have the carrying capacity to do so.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174203
174227
>>174181
Kira tilts her head at the pony, and says, "...with Bits?" while obviously being confused by the question.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174204
174227
>>174181
Whew. Khoi, uh...she certainly has a talent for asking loaded questions at especially awkward times. Had she said something earlier or had waited until they were alone it would be a lot easier for Silver to come up with an answer, but breakfast is definitely a difficult time to put him on the spot. I suppose the first thing that should be asked is if Jubilosa and Clip are still engrossed in their conversation.
Anonymous
5ffb0c5
?
No.174205
So what does Posey see?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174206
174207 174208
1162079.png
>>174136
Did Amber forget? Erich is from Lushi. He was born with this language, and learned to play the songs of these local greats before he learned his first word of Herzlandish. Erich makes a malign smile towards Amber, and places his bow to string.

Toil, conflict, and endless strife are essential qualities of life. What better subject could there be for the rosined bow? The struggle of competing wills - the heavy burden of those who must live in the dialectic of thesis and antithesis, and even to guide the process of history - these are surely themes that the Grand Master appreciates as he sits leaning forward in his chair, listening to every note, even if the elements of pony origin leave him curling his beak.

Though their host surely lets himself be enthralled by the well of emotion tapped into by Amber and Erich, now resonating along the old refractory, what she cannot be sure about is to what degree he grasps the underlying truth expressed in this and every performance. Standing on the tile floor, with her bow to the mandolin, music pouring out like an oil-well gusher, Amber feels the truth. Music is not an instrument to represent the lived experience of the world. The world is a representation, individual consciousness but a short-lived illusion. Emotion and will are but melody expressed. And any physicist would admit, if only under their breath, that seemingly solid matter is made up of harmonies. Beyond the blinders that are the five senses is an entire realm of music. Sometimes melodic, sometimes chaotic. Sometimes in symphony, sometimes cacophony. But always, always resonating across infinity.

Can you feel it? Exaltation. Rapture. A feeling like carnal pleasure, or rather, the feeling carnal pleasure is analogous to. Through music, Amber feels transcendent, connected to experiences separated seemingly by space, time, and individual consciousness, but is, in reality, all a part of the same universal chorus. She can feel it. It is glorious.

The music stops. For now.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174207
174208
6212656.png
>>174136
>>174206
Amber awakens from terrible dreams, and Celestia, what terrible dreams they were. Amber dreamt that monsters and traitors partitioned her homeland of Equestria, imprisoning its princesses and paragons. Her own father was crippled permanently in the fight, and Amber was forced to live on her own, and become the breadwinner. Thrust into the city, Amber would find herself alone amongst unfamiliar faces, often alien to Equestria. A small, barely heated studio apartment taken from immigrant housing was all Amber could afford with her savings. Working two jobs from sun-up past sunset, Amber could not even afford food, scrounging her only meals from waste; only crime offered any means of getting ahead in finances. The war, as well as luckier, more educated mares, had carried off the good stallions, leaving only a dorky runt as her choice of mate.

Thank Celestia it's just a dream.

Amber awakens in her room with the early morning sunlight giving a soft blue glow to most of the room. She feels cold, even with the covers over most, but unfortunately not all of her body. She lies on her back at an angle partly on her left side. Her left hind leg is on the bed, hanging slightly over at the hoof and out of the covers. Her right hind leg bends upwards, with the area below the knee sticking out from under the covers. There is a red glow coming from beneath the covers, by her right flank. Amber feels nuzzling against her fur. It's not a haunting feeling, not especially real, but a memory that fades as she gains consciousness. Amber is tired, scarcely rested from the night. She is cold. Her genitals are sore.

Then Amber remembers something. She is a cute pony. Moreover, she is a cute mare. And with that, all of her problems aren't so bad. Who could not love a cute pony? What difficulty could not be overcome?
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174208
174209
>>174206
>>174207
Amber shivers in the cold winter morning, struggling to recall who she is and what she is doing here. As her consciousness slowly creeps back, she throws the blanket aside from her flank, straining her eyes to catch this ephemeral glow before it fades entirely.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174209
174210
>>174208
With the covers removed, Amber can see that her cutie mark is glowing. Burgundy in the center, and blue around the edges.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174210
174211
>>174209
Her mouth agape, Amber gingerly touches a hoof to the glowing cutie mark, as if afraid it would start burning.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174211
174212
>>174210
There is no burning sensation. Only the feel of her own hoof against fur, and her frog, hoof, and fur illuminated by the dim blue and burgundy light.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174212
174226
>>174211
Amber gasps. She throws her head back against the pillow and closes her eyes, struggling to remember anything past the veil of sleep. Even if she did this just when she woke up she wouldn't be successful. Some things are unmistakeable, however, despite being mere feelings rather than coherent thoughts. Amber was running from the law, she's pretty sure, though she rationalizes this as subconscious guilt over the purloined letter or her fear of the Blackhooves. There were definitely griffons too, but that's hardly surprising given she bears the misfortune of seeing them every day.

One thing cannot be easily rationalized, however, and that was the vague recollection of music that she couldn't transcribe even if she heard it awake and sober. It was the most beautiful music Amber had ever heard, keen and terrifying, yet her intellect cannot quite grasp it. Merely trying to grasp onto the shadow of that memory chills her, leaving her feeling lonely and naked, and her eyes fly open before vertigo can fully set in. She sits upright in bed, shifts her thoughts to the nuzzling feeling earlier, and takes stock of the dim room.
Anonymous
30fe885
?
No.174213
174225
Is Posey able to recover the cylinder?
Does she see anything else?
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174223
174225
GM, what were those perception rolls for?
>>174191
>>174189
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174225
174228
>>174213
>>174223
>>174199
Posey feels something bite her ear. As before, there is no mystery here. It's (the same) ghost.
"The name is Turn Card, by the way."

Entering into the water, Posey sees that the gun rests on a medium sized metal barge, which sits at an angle. Behind the gun is a cart that has slid off the edge of the barge. The water has low to moderate visibility, with large amounts of particulates, presumably algae, floating about. Walking onto the barge, and especially trying to mess with the gun, Posey stirs up mud and dead plant matter, which clouds portions of the water.

Posey places a wrench to the gun, but the bolt seems to be jammed.
"Looks like there is some rusting"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174226
174229
>>174212
The music... the beautiful, glorious music... She may not remember it, but she will likely pursue it in the days and months to come.

She feels tired. She has awaken a few minutes before her alarm has set her to awake - just enough to not be able to go back to sleep. The nuzzling was but a memory of her young lover's nuzzles the day before. But she can always be nuzzled more... until she can't. The sun is just over the horizon. At least she assumes it is. She can't see it from here, though its light is present. Even the Changelings know better than to stop the Princess from raising the light. The bed and covers are still messy from last night.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174227
174299 174300
>>174204
Khoi blinks

Jubilosa and Clipping are not quite "engaged," but do exchange words with each other as they continue to eat

>>174203
"I mean..." His ear moves backwards, then forwards, and he leans back. Evidently he didn't get the answer he wanted.

"What is your spending range?"
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174228
174230 174231
>>174225
"Nice to meet you. My masters dubbed me Rosey Ring, but you can call me Posey." Posey replies, before bending over to work
>but the bolt seems to be jammed.
Posey tries to break the mountings, hoping the rust reduces its break DC.
She draws her crowbar and attempts to rend it off
[1d20+7 = (18+7) = 25]
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174229
174230
>>174226
Amber groans. Most dreams she has had left her feeling refreshed, but the sheer mental energy of what she went through instead leaves her sapped. Her late-night dalliance certainly didn't help, but she rejects projecting any blame onto Mustard Trim.

She gets out of bed and takes a cold shower. Hopefully she can clean everything up and make it to work before the sun fully rises.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174230
174231 174283
>>174228
And... crack

It snaps off, causing Posey to fall back. She may catch herself, but disturbing the mud in the process. Posey hears much disruption in the water, like fish moving.

>>174229
Mustard is kind of innocent of this...

The glowing has stopped. Amber has the time to shower. The cold water helps to wake her up on an otherwise hard morning.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174231
174232
>>174228
As Posey bends over, they can see a view of her namesake: the black dot on her flank, surrounded by a ring of red fire.
>>174230
>Posey hears much disruption in the water, like fish moving.
Posey decides to move to shore quickly, having been nearly-eaten once already today. She draws her sword and waits for about a minute for anything to charge at her. If nothing charges, she goes back to retrieve her gun.
"Hydras... You can never be too careful."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174232
174233 174234
>>174231
"Nice flank."

>get to the shore
Were it so easy. Posey is still many feet away, and in deeper water with heavy equipment. The cylinder is massive and heavy, and while it is possible for Posey to tie it to her back, in the meantime, it requires at least one hoof, making effective sword wielding impractical. Posey must chose between the two.

Even more mud is disturbed
"There is something in the water!"
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174233
174235
>>174232
>it requires at least one hoof, making effective sword wielding impractical.
Can't she use her horn?
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174234
174235
>>174232
>"Nice flank."
"~Thank you. I work hard to maintain it." Posey replies, momentarily ignoring the present danger
(Posey's main flaw is her vanity)
Anonymous
b5cf750
?
No.174235
174236
>>174233
Posey's telekinesis is less powerful. She may roll but not levitate the cylinder with her telekinesis - the tendency of the odd-shaped ends of the cylinder to get caught in debris counter-acting the buoyancy of the oil and compressed gas in the steel cylinder. She may also use her telekinesis with her sword, but without a strength bonus.

>>174234
Turn Card is about to say more, but another ghost - the unicorn - silences him.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174236
174237
>>174235
>She may also use her telekinesis with her sword, but without a strength bonus.
And here I've been imagining that she's been using her sword with her horn this whole time. Oh well.

On second thought, I could always make a slam attack or a charnel touch, so I don't really need to use the sword rn. Posey uses her horn to steady her grip on the cylinder as she scrambles to shore.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174237
174238
>>174236
"Your left."
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174238
174239
>>174237
Posey looks to her left and suspects the worst.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174239
174240 174241 174242
>>174238
Posey could maybe mistake it for log, a floating back pack, or even one of the ghosts. But it isn't the shape of the former, and much too solid to be the latter. Floating through the water, kicking, Posey can see the corpse of a pony. It's brown mane floats in the water, its eyes white, the flesh on its muzzle and hooves rotting away, exposing skeletal structure, all white the flesh has swollen and mummified. It has a pack on its back which also floats above the entity. It's coming for Posey.

Roll Initiative
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]

Best to roll spot as well
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174240
174243
>>174239
Initiative
[1d20+9 = (12+9) = 21]
Gonna make a knowledge (religion) check (free action) to identify this creature.
[1d20+9 = (5+9) = 14]
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174241
174243
>>174239
And Spot
[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174242
174243
>>174239
Is this abomination visibly male or female?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174243
174244
>>174240
Posey moves first. It's undead, angry, and seemingly not intelligent

>>174242
The size, slightly more squared jaw, and the soldier's back pack and remnants of uniform would imply male.

>>174241
There is movement behind
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174244
174245 174246
>>174243
>seemingly not intelligent
"A zombie, perhaps? That's odd, they're not usually sporadic animations..." Posey says, her momentary panic fading in favor of fascination.
Uses her first turn to move as far as she can onto shore. Once she's firmly on shore, she puts the cylinder down and draws her sword.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174245
174246
>>174244
This would take up Posey's whole turn
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174246
174247
>>174245
>>174244
While Posry is able to clear the barge and move to noticeably more shallow water where she can simply stand upright in the span of six seconds, she does not make it entirely on shore.

It places its hooves down in the mud, and bites at Posey
[1d20+5 = (2+5) = 7]
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174247
174248
>>174246
Do the other monsters in the water become visible yet?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174248
174249
>>174247
Behind the creature, trailing, appears to be another undead creature of similar nature, though the specifics cannot be determined
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174249
174250 174251
>>174248
Assuming the monster's turn is over, Posey takes the Withdraw action to retreat to shore, where she can safely put down her cylinder.
This is a full round action. End of turn.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174250
174251
>>174249
Posey can make it to shore. It makes another attempt at her
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]
[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174251
174252
>>174249
>>174250
Successfully biting her
[1d8+1 = (5+1) = 6]
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174252
174253
>>174251
Ow
Can Posey see how many zombies are within 60 ft?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174253
174254
>>174252
Best guess is... three.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174254
174255 174256
>>174253
Okay.
On Posey's turn, she draws her Unholy symbol and a surge of power rushes through her, her mane flowing in a non-existent wind and her eyes glowing.
"By the powers vested in me, I demand that you kneel!"

Rebuke Undead
Rebuking check
[1d20+7 = (8+7) = 15]
Turning damage
[2d6+12 = (5+12) = 17]
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174255
174258
>>174254
With this check, Posey Rebukes as an 8th level Cleric. Up to 17 HD of undead are affected, and anything with 4 or less HD is commanded. Posey can command up to 7 HD of undead at once.

Turning does not require line of sight, so any undead still underwater may also be affected.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174256
174257
>>174254
Posey feels a very much existing wind rush quickly behind her. The zombie closest to the edge of the water lets out something like a shriek, then moves further down. It seems to kneel in the water, still mostly submerged.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174257
174259
>>174256
What about the others? Are they affected?
Rebuked undead cower, as if in awe.

(Also I guess technically the ghosts might also be affected)
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174258
>>174255
Correction, 18 HD in total undead are affected
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174259
174260
>>174257
screeches
It seems the other two zombies are affected
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174260
174261
>>174259
What about the ghosts? So they cower before Posey's power and beauty?

Posey nods, satisfied that the zombies are commanded.
"That's more like it. Now make yourself useful and come help me carry this giant gun."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174261
174262
>>174260
The unicorn spirit seems to be awed. The other three ghosts seem to have fled.

But the two nearest zombies are commanded.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174262
174263
>>174261
>The other three ghosts seem to have fled.
Huh.
Well, they can't make it far with Posey carrying their haunted objects.
>But the two nearest zombies are commanded.
These are 2 HD zombies right? Posey should be able to command three of them.
If the third zombie continues to attack, Posey draws her sword to engage it. If not, she heals herself and looks for the ghosts.

"Now where did those three go off to?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174263
174264
>>174262
The zombies are a bit larger than expected. The third zombie circles in the water, but none of the three seem eager to - or maybe even capable of - leaving it. The three zombies have retreated to their items. Posey can feel the difference, as previously the ghosts would lope in circles in front of and around Posey, creating a chill breeze, and Turn Card repeatedly touched Posey.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174264
174265
>>174263
>but none of the three seem eager to - or maybe even capable of - leaving it.
"Anchorite haunting zombies; how peculiar... Perhaps they're bound to the boat, or the lake." Posey ponders
"I guess I'm carrying this thing home on my own then." Posey says
She takes a moment to examine the cylinder, to check if it's in good condition
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174265
174266
>>174264
It would perhaps be more accurate to say that the zombies are aquatic - their morphology shaped by the water.

The cylinder has rust in several areas that make it difficult to move up and down. However, it still has pressure and oil.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174266
174267
>>174265
These aren't Lacedons, are they?
>However, it still has pressure and oil.
If that's good enough for her masters to reverse engineer, then I guess Posey's mission is done.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174267
174268
>>174266
Kinda, with ghast stats
Posey doesn't really know much about engineering. The inability of the piston to move is concerning, but it does have structural integrity.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174268
174269
>>174267
I was hoping I would meet Lacedons (aka drowners) in this swamp. They're useful to have around. They should be able to crawl on land too.
Ghouls make up a large proportion of the Dread league, and Posey has seen many before, so would she recognize them?
Posey peers closer to the decayed creatures, examining them more closely.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174269
174270
>>174268
Sure? The command won't last forever though
The fur has fallen out, leaving a hardened, white skin. The eyes have a blue glow, but are white, with milky irises that retain slight purple and golden hues. One is clearly formerly a solider, based on the remnant of a green uniform and a backpack. The other has a pack tied around its waist, though it's harder to tell. The third keeps its distance but does not seem to have been a pony at all, but something bigger.
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174270
174271 174272
"Diet dependents... They go too long without eating, and they become completely feral, and start rotting."
She looks at one of the nearer drowners, aka mudnixers.
She looks at it in the eyes.
"Speak." She orders, firmly
>>174269
> The command won't last forever though
Command Undead has indefinite duration.
>The third keeps its distance but does not seem to have been a pony at all, but something bigger.
"You too, if you're still able to."
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174271
174272
>>174270
>Command Undead
Pardon, Commanding through rebuking has indefinite duration. The Command Undead spell is days/level.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174272
174273
>>174271
The rebuke lasts 10 turns

>>174270
With a gurgling sound, Posey can make out "Why are you here"
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174273
174274 174275
>>174272
>The rebuke lasts 10 turns
The Rebuked condition lasts for 10 rounds (just like being turned). Commanding is indefinite, but has a limit for how many an evil cleric can command at once.
Just like undead destroyed though
>"Why are you here"
"I am here on a mission, from Dread League beyond the sea. We seek powers to bolster our undying ranks."

During the minute which the ghast is rebuked, Posey decides to make a Diplomacy check. She can see that these Ghouls are in poor condition mentally and physically, probably from not having eaten anything in weeks. She appeals to this to gain a bonus to her diplomacy check.
"I'm looking for new recruits, and I'm sure you're tired of eating catfish. I have a rather large hunk of meat on the other side of this swamp that I can't drag home by myself, so why don't you join me for a stroll and we can have ourselves a picnic?"
Diplomacy, on the ghast
[1d20+11 = (6+11) = 17]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174274
174275
>>174273
"Can I swim?" It replies
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174275
174276
>>174273
I messed up this post, but it doesn't really matter.
It's midnight for me, and I'm pretty tired. I'm going to need to sleep soon.

To sum up my intentions, Posey realized that despite having always wanted to slay a Hydra and make a hydra zombie, she can't possibly drag it's corpse back by herself, so she's better off taking its bones. She intends to lead the ghouls to the hydras corpse so that they can devour it and return their bodies and minds to a more ideal state of preservation (since ghouls maintain their bodies through feeding), and possibly make friends in the process.
The ones she's commanded are under her control and she'll take them with her whether they like it or not, but since controlling the ghouls uses up her command pool, she'd rather they followed her.
>>174274
"It depends how well you know the swamp. I don't know if there's a direct water route."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174276
174277
>>174275
"Where"

I think Posey needs an intelligence roll for her ability to find her way back to the lake
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174277
174278
>>174276
>dry ability checks
REEEEEEEEEE.
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]

"On the other side of a battlefield, not far from a damaged airship."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174278
174279
>>174277
"Airship. He knows where that is. Down the river. There?"
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174279
174280 174282
>>174278
"Yes. You'll smell blood in the water once you get to the lake, and you'll find your pride on the shore. We'll meet again there."
She looks to the other ghouls, who remain telepathically under her command
"The two of you, pull yourselves out of the water and carry this gun, you should remember how to. If you do a good job you'll be allowed to feed as well." She orders, strolling off
"And if you do an excellent job, you might even get to bite a chunk out of me, as a treat." She continues, trotting off with a swing of her hips
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174280
>>174279
>pride
*prize
Anonymous
f28baca
?
No.174281
I need to sleep now
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174282
174287 174289
1888436.png
>>174279
Technically, the airship is ion a different part of the swamp than the hydra. Also, the creature Posey is speaking to is counted as one of the "controlled" ones. Of the other two, one is awed, and only one is controlled.

>ambiguously either offering herself sexually to the drowner, or literally offering her flesh to be eaten with sexual overtones.
Don't think I've forgotten about that seduction roll on the ghost. There will be consequences.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174283
174292
>>174230
Amber brushes her teeth, brushes her hair (with different brushes of course), and debates to herself on whether she has time to scrub her sheets once again or whether she should put it off until the evening. She decides that there's nothing worse than sleeping under a wet blanket in winter and does so anyway, if hurriedly.
Anonymous
6bc1b1c
?
No.174287
174290
>>174282
Okay, well, let me just retcon whatever Posey just said to a version of itself that actually makes sense in canon.
Anonymous
6bc1b1c
?
No.174289
174304
>>174282
>>174282
>>ambiguously either offering herself sexually to the drowner, or literally offering her flesh to be eaten with sexual overtones.
>Don't think I've forgotten about that seduction roll on the ghost. There will be consequences.
Posey is a degenerate.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RNFKveZnk2U
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174290
174291 174302
>>174287
T confirm, is Posey trying to get one to go to the hydra, and two to… move the entire artillery piece onto land?
Anonymous
6bc1b1c
?
No.174291
174292 174304
>>174290
She wants them to carry the shock absorber for her, so she can bring it back to Mason's truck more quickly.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174292
174293 174295
>>174283
Though it may be only a few extra minutes, Amber does have time to scrub the sheets. Amber completes her preparations.

Some coffee would be nice...

>>174291
The one that is "awed" is a bit different from the other two, so is it all three, or just one to eat the hydra and one to carry the shock absorber?
Anonymous
4314048
?
No.174293
174301 174302
>>174292
She intends to bring them all to the hydra to restore their bodies and strip the flesh off of the carcass so she can recover its bones. The "awed" one would probably prefer to swim its way there, since Posey has no control over it. The other two Posey commands to follow her, to carry the shock absorber and defend her from any additional dangers she might face on her way back. Once she gets to the hydra, she'll watch the ghouls feed and maybe strike up conversation.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174295
174296
>>174292
Some coffee would be nice. Unfortunately, Amber has nothing for it or even breakfast at the moment, so she just makes a mental note to get a coffee grinder and something to percolate with when she has a small amount of money squared away. She puts on her dress and heads straight to work.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174296
174297
>>174295
Well, that's something to look forward to in the future. The ability to have breakfast. Or at least have coffee. Or lunch. Or dinner. Or being able to afford any meal at all would be nice, really. Anyways, best to get in early to help open the store. It's chilly, and it looks like there may be rain.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174297
174324
>>174296
Amber probably won't starve to death before her first payday, but that doesn't mean it will be comfortable. At least the dress helps to keep her warm as she hurries down to the nicer part of town where the store is.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174299
174305
>>174227
"Uh...that is pretty intense line of conversation that is better had outside of breakfast. I will just say, whatever fears you have, they are unfounded."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174300
174305
>>174227
"Well how much is it?"
Anonymous
33dac81
?
No.174301
174302
>>174293
"And the rest of you can come out anytime you wish." Posey calls into the ether, as she walks back to where she left the Hydra
Anonymous
688e0a0
?
No.174302
174304
>>174290
>>174293
>>174301
Okay, so, I've laid out Posey's intentions as eloquently as I could.
Posey has completed her mission, having recovered two shock-absorbers in varying condition. She has also made several friends, which was what she actually set out to do in this country.
Is she able to make it back to the Hydra corpse?
Anonymous
e0c4b5a
?
No.174303
174304
Starts working on friendship lesson.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174304
174309
>>174289
The Monkey's Paw curls
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUCB9EOl-4M&pp=ygUaeW91IHVuZGVyZXN0aW1hdGUgbXkgcG93ZXI%3D

>>174303
pets friendship pony

>>174289
>>174291
>>174302
Posey doesn't get a full view of the third one, nor does it speak. But it is large, furry, and with long claws. It moves off into the water, evidently nearer the hydra. The other two, however, slowly come out of the water.

Flesh has slightly "regrown" around the mouth around otherwise exposed bone. Algea grows along the back - or maybe that's remnants of an original green color in the fur, since bleached out and greyed. The creatures limp out of the water, with the hooves not quite bending right. They carry the cylinder by Posey's command.

The ghosts remain reticent to come out. Before, Posey would regularly feel a chill wind as they moved by, sometimes touching her. At least once, even biting her. Now they keep a distance, though she can hear their whispers, speaking over each other and in a tone not meant for physical ears.

Posey back tracks, down the road, past the site of the shelling and the ruined truck, then into the woods along the animal trail, and onto the little islands.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174305
174306 174307
>>174299
"... Okay then" She answers

>>174300
"Well this one is 35 bits" He answers
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174306
174366
>>174305
"Oh, p'shaw," she exclaims with the wave of a hoof. "That's not a problem at all. I just need to see how my roommate is doing looking for the furniture she needs."

Speaking of, how is Neela doing with her shopping?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174307
174366
>>174305
"Anyways...what are you going to eat if not pancakes?"
Anonymous
835f333
?
No.174309
174323
>>174304
>The ghosts remain reticent to come out. Before, Posey would regularly feel a chill wind as they moved by, sometimes touching her. At least once, even biting her. Now they keep a distance, though she can hear their whispers, speaking over each other and in a tone not meant for physical ears.
Well look at that: Posey has spooked the spooks.
Posey takes note of this, but doesn't seem bothered by it.
Posey gallops back to where she left the hydra, humming a ballad of victory as she goes.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174323
174325
>>174309
The sun declines in the sky, and now the tree line leaves long shadows, casting much of the forest floor in darkness. Though it isn't Posey's first time through these areas, finding her way back amongst so many similar looking trees and little lakes is not easy. The sight of the backpack-tree, anomalous and eerie as it is, is perhaps welcome as a familiar site. The ghouls do not move fast, and move towards water, preferring it at almost every opportunity, though at one point they flee from it, or rather, at some unseen something within it.

But after some minutes, Posey comes across the tiny little lake that she believes is where she encountered the hydra. The whispers are ceaseless, and the ghouls need no order to enter the water.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174324
174326
>>174297
Dark clouds move over the city as Amber walks to work, and though it seems that it will rain today as it did the day before, it does not. A cool wind accompanies the clouds, and Amber may be glad she wore her dress, though it may not be quite cold enough to be completely comfortable. Amber surely would like coffee or breakfast, and several shops along the route offer such, but Amber likely can't spare the change.

Amber sees High Sewn standing outside in a tasteful green and gold dress. She stands next to the window as if she were smoking a cigarette, although she clearly isn't. She looks over to Amber and says
"Oh good, you're here. We need to do some restocking this morning. And mare the desk in the late morning, I have some sewing to do."
Anonymous
78be317
?
No.174325
174327
>>174323
>though at one point they flee from it, or rather, at some unseen something within it.
Posey telepathically orders the ghouls to report whatever they detected in the water.
>The whispers are ceaseless, and the ghouls need no order to enter the water.
She silently orders them to drag the hydra carcass to shore and begin stripping the flesh off the bones.
"Usually I'd be mortified to tear up such a coveted cadaver, but I can't drag this thing home anyway. I'll have to go hydra hunting another day."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174326
174327
>>174324
One day Amber will have to ask her mother why she has a wool dress in southeast Equestria, where it's almost always too humid and warm to wear comfortably. She starts looking at the dresses of other pedestrians and daydreams of what she can get when she finds her fortune. As-is she is flat broke, unable to buy a coffee, food, or even a taxi in an emergency. She dreads the possibility of having to beg before her first paycheck.

Amber greets High Sewn and looks approvingly at her dress for a while, before realizing she's staring and cuts it out. She feels and probably looks sluggish from lack of energy, but smiles nonetheless. "Happy to help."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174327
174328 174354
>>174325
"Big reptile. In the water."

The third one must have found it already, and the two dive into the water, better at swimming than shambling. They strip before moving it to shore, and there is danger of losing some bones.

>>174326
Amber need scarcely daydream. She works in a store that sells dresses, at once so exquisite they are to be worn only for once in a lifetime special occasions, but within the affordability range of the average pony. And if this is too cheap, High Sewn is happy to show Amber pictures in the magazines of higher-class dresses that cost more than Amber could hope to make in a year - so long as Amber doesn't imply the store is beneath the level of these greats.

High Sewn doesn't seem to mind the staring at all, and actually moves around to show it off.
"There's a set of sweaters on the table. I need those placed on the shelves near the front on the left, next to the stockings. There is more in the back. Remember to put the price tags on.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174328
174329
>>174327
"Yes, ma'am. Sorted by size, right?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174329
174330
>>174328
Amber is from further inland, perhaps the mountains. It's colder there in winter

"Within each row, yes. However in the display I need items to be sorted by material and appearance rather than type. Hence why the grey wool stockings are to be placed along with the wool sweaters rather than the remainder of the stockings."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174330
174331
>>174329
"We're looking to get ponies to buy sets of clothing?" Amber replies.

She starts heading back to fulfill these instructions, carefully balancing the clothes on her back to take them to the front.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174331
174332
>>174330
"Oh, but you need a matching set when travelling west for the Winter." She goes to the desk and evidently starts doing paperwork. Amber is left alone for the time being
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174332
174333
>>174331
While passing by with clothing, Amber asks with some confusion, "Why would so many ponies be headed west? That's closer to the bugs."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174333
174334
>>174332
"It's... not as popular this year" she says, and uses a hoof to move some hair on her mane from around her face.

"But many ponies have family out west. Many of them are from further west, and are returning home around Hearths warming." She smiles

"Of course the ponies we really want to capture are those who visit the mountains for skiing and other holiday making."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174334
174335
>>174333
"Sorry for the dumb question, I should have realized," she replied. "It must be nice to go skiing, I've never been…."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174335
174336
>>174334
"Oh, I went a couple times. With an old business partner. Must have been a decade ago by now. Out even further west. Only got on the skis once and then never again. Can't say you're missing much. But other ponies like it, for, some reason. And we're here to make sure they stay warm and look good doing it. Or stay warm and look good while their coltfriends do it and they stand by watching in the snow, wishing they could go back inside and drink coco. All the same to me, really."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174336
174337
>>174335
The filly can't help but wonder if High Sewn is downplaying skiing simply out of personal taste. She can't imagine the highfalutin, would-be fashionista enjoying any sort of outdoor sport. But it's no time to argue, so she shrugs and arranges the nice clothing in stacks with their price tags on top.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174337
174338
>>174336
Amber manages to do so, then place up the clothing items, then check the stocks.

Annoyingly, Amber finds more clothing that has been moved around within the store by customers. Amber has to find out where these belong, and put them up.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174338
174339
>>174337
Amber especially doesn't like clothing that was sloppily dropped on the floor or thrown over the racks. I bet it was those ziggers the other day, she thinks to herself. She might have to go to the back and get more hangers.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174339
174340
>>174338
>those racist thoughts
oh my, little pony...

And then there are items that somepony had tried on that have to be put back up, and a few shirts that are not entirely on the hangers... And then this set of hangers, right here. The thin wire ones. Wouldn't wood work better for these coats? They are of above average weight. You know what, it's probably best just to rehang this row on more appropriate hangers.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174340
174341
>>174339
Amber wishes there was somepony else to clean up the dressing rooms. Anyway, she tidies things up as much as she can. A good-looking store will make customers happy, which will hopefully make her boss happy.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174341
174342
>>174340
The store is opened, and while it's not a busy morning, the first customers come in. These include a mare with a filly who loves to bounce around, pick up dresses, and then her mother makes her put them back... on the wrong rack.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174342
174343
>>174341
It's impossible to be mad at a filly like that. Amber wordlessly puts the dresses back in the correct positions just after the filly, if at all possible.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174343
174344
>>174342
The little orange filly with a pink bow in her mane has more energy than Amber could dream of having.

High Sewn intervenes
"Oh, she doesn't need to put that back. She'd be the queen of the ball in that. And it's surprisingly affordable with our layaway program."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174344
174345 174346
>>174343
"It is a really pretty dress," Amber affirms. She makes a mental note to ask what "layaway" is.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174345
174346
>>174344
The mare is pressed into buying something...
[1d20 = 5]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174346
174347
>>174345
>>174344
But she has the little filly put the dress back. (on the wrong rack. Again)
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174347
174348
>>174346
Awww…
Well, there's always another buyer around the corner, at least in non-depression times. Amber will just have to keep herself busy.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174348
174349
>>174347
You'll get 'em next time, little pony.

High Sewn has to go in the back to begin sewing, leaving Amber to hold down the store for the next hour or so.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174349
174350
>>174348
Amber keeps within eyeshot of the register while she tries to finish stocking various items. Her hunger makes her realize that selling candy bars at checkout would be a nice way to earn extra money.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174350
174351
>>174349
Perhaps she can make use of that lunch break...

A customer comes in. And another.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174351
174352
>>174350
She would…if she could physically afford lunch. Amber starts to worry over starvation and becoming an unsightly bag of bones. At least the new customers can distract her.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174352
174353
>>174351
Perhaps it's worth asking somepony, like Mustard Trim, to pay for lunch.

Both customers kind of just look around. Amber may not be sure if she should be suspicious, helpful, or hooves off
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174353
174388
>>174352
Mustard Trim is at school, and not only is it rude to keep mooching off him, but wouldn't it be odd for her to show up if she's not a student? Ponies would be asking questions, and making fun of Mustard, and it would be just awful!

She decides to ask one of the customers, "Is there anything you're looking for in particular?"
Anonymous
b97e845
?
No.174354
174365
Skeleton Ball.jpg
>>174327
>"Big reptile. In the water."
"Hmmm, could be another hydra."
>They strip before moving it to shore, and there is danger of losing some bones.
Once they're done stripping the flesh off of the carcass, Posey orders them to gather, stack, and bundle the bones.

Posey watches the display with a blank expression. She picks up a hydra skull and looks into it.
"These would make for a half-decent Bone Lurker, perhaps several. It's a shame I didn't bring equipment to transport the entire cadaver, but it can't be helped." she says, mostly to herself
She looks towards the third ghoul, the one she does not control.
"You, what was your name when you were alive?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174365
174384
>>174354
The ghouls obey.

The skull is elongated, thin, with a small bend down, and over all perhaps smaller than expected.

Posey doesn't have a great view of the ghoul, but what she can see is that it is certainly not a pony. It's large, presumably bipedal, more or less primate-form in appearence, with a naked (if rarely visible from this angle) near-flat face, and hair that spreads in the water. Its shoulders are wide, and its forearms are large.

With a rough and gruff voice, it replies,
"Sakar"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174366
174367 174368
>>174307
"I... I'm not sure" She answers, ears briefly moving down, then back up

>>174306
She wants this bed and this dresser and this set of chairs would be lovely but also there is this set of chairs, and wouldn't a love seat in the living room be nice? What about a couch?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174367
174369
>>174366
Well, first off, they also need a dining room table if they're getting chairs. What do each of the chair sets look like? Kira also comments that the superior length of the couch means even she could potentially use it.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174368
174369
>>174366
Silver tilts his head at the kirin.

"Anything you are hungry for?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174369
174370 174371
>>174368
She looks down

"Maybe"

>>174367
"A table. Oh, yes. We need that. Oh, and maybe little coffee tables. Or end tables. And a table in the bedrooms."

Mostly permutations of wood, though she can get them with leather or synthetic backs.

The longest couch is perhaps 9 feet... not quite big enough to fit Kira if she doubles back
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174370
174372
>>174369
"Well, what are you hungry for, silly?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174371
174372
>>174369
Real leather or fake leather?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174372
174373 174375
>>174371
Tentatively looks real, or at least, more real than other obviously plastic options

>>174370
She lowers her head
"Bread?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174373
174374
>>174372
Hmm...is the leather set one of the ones Neela pointed out?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174374
174377
>>174373
The set pointed out was... not very clear, as she pointed in the general area of several sets, but she seems to have pointed at a pure wood set
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174375
174376
>>174372
"Hmmmm...just bread? What about toast, with something spread on it like peanut butter or jam?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174376
174378
>>174375
She blinks, and then tilts her head
"Peanut butter... I have not heard of that. And this jam... it is... fruit preserves?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174377
174379
>>174374
Kira nods in agreement after some short deliberation on the subject. So, with what Neela has picked out, and the chest that Kira picked out, *and* the longest couch they have, what's the total so far?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174378
174379
>>174376
Silver nods.

"Indeed it is. Peanut butter is basically just mashed up peanuts, which are, well, nuts. Or, they are like nuts but are actually something else? My daughter told me once long ago. Anyways, very simple ingredients, nothing that would violate your beliefs, and they are very good on toast."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174379
174380 174381
>>174377
The stallion starts to add it all up
"At... 611 bits" He answers

>>174378
She moves her head closer, still tilting.

And this "toast." This is... baked bread?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174380
174383
>>174379
"Well, I suppose all bread is baked. It is more like...lightly burnt bread. That probably sounds weird to you, but it makes it amazing. It gets crunchy and it adds this very nice flavor to it, it really is like it transforms bread into something completely different.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174381
174383
>>174379
"Great! We'll take it! Uh, do you happen to offer some kind of delivery service?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174383
174385 174386
>>174381
The stallion actually smiles

"Yes, we do."
He pulls out a notebook and places a pencil in his mouth, which he moves to the side and speaks with perhaps surprising clarity,
"To what address will this be delivered?"

>>174380
She looks at Silver with an immense skepticism, narrowing her eyes more so
"Burned bread is bad."
Anonymous
4e41715
?
No.174384
174388
>>174365
>Sakar
Posey nods
"Very well. I go by Rosey Ring." she replied
She turns to the other drowners
"And you two. I take it you were soldiers in life?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
2f11713
?
No.174385
174388
>>174383
Kira gives the kind stallion the address of their new home.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
2f11713
?
No.174386
174388
>>174383
"No no, it is good actually! Here, let me make you some so you can see for yourself."

Does the house have a toaster?
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174388
174389 174390 174392 174395
>>174353
Perhaps Mustard could come to her...

The pony is a stallion, oddly small looking, with a grey coat and a brown jacket. He is rifling through shirts. He doesn't notice Amber at first, but then he looks back to her.

"Huh? Um... No..." And he goes back to it

>>174384
"I was" replies one, the one Posey first encountered

But the other,
"I was not"

>>174385
The stallion seems a bit more possitive
"Oh, I know that area. We can move it, yes."

Then he asks
"I don't think I've seen you around here. Are you new?"

>>174386
"Uh, sure..."

If not, it would be a good idea for a wedding present Just kidding. Silver is staying unmarried

Yes, there is a toaster
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
69551c6
?
No.174389
174391
>>174388
Kira nods, now smiling as the pony seems to be relaxing around her.

"I just got here today. I've always heard Equestria is a place of friendship and harmony!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
69551c6
?
No.174390
174391
>>174388
Silver takes a couple slices of bread, slots them into the rectangular slots in the top of the toaster, sets the doneness such that they'll be slightly toasted (a nice golden brown color across the toast), and pulls the small level down to start the toasting process. It doesn't take long, a minute or two, before they pop up as toast. Khoi may or may not be startled by the toast popping up.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174391
174419 174420
>>174389
“Are you…” now more reticent

“From the South. Or… from the Steps of the Gods?”

>>174390
Yes. Khoi is indeed startled from the toast popping up

gasp from a sitting position, she jumps onto her hooves and moves back, arching her back.
Anonymous
295a1c9
?
No.174392
174393 174399
>>174388
OOC: while I was interested in small-talking with these drowners who might become recurring characters, I would like to wrap up this quest because it has been over two months, so I'll the dialogue for now. Also, Posey is supposed to be evil, uncaring and manipulative, so she logically shouldn't extend the same friendliness to drowners she already controls as she did to the ghosts she does not.

Posey decides to test out her undead-controlling abilities through some remote-violence and teach the diamond dogs a lesson for getting in her way. Posey telepathically orders the two drowners she controls to march/swim over to the large ship the diamond dogs inhabit and to do what to do what they do best, pull them from the ship and bring their bodies back to her, preferably still alive, but not necessarily.
One of dogs is badly wounded, so it shouldn't be difficult for two ghasts to defeat them. If they're destroyed in the process.... Well, I could always just rebuke the third one.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174393
174394 174396
>>174392
Awww, but small talk is fun…

The commands must be communicated verbally. While the drowners have enough knowledge of the area to carry out her instructions without needing much detail or hoof holding, Posey is likely to need to follow closely behind, lest they stray too far, and she lose control of them.

The friends hesitate, but they obey.

combat dice rolls may need to wait
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174394
>>174393
>friends
*drowners
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174395
174397
>>174388
Amber might be new to the concept of dating, but although she considers it, she's pretty sure it would be rude to ask someone out for lunch on short notice and then have him hoof the bill.

After that experience with the window from a couple of days ago, Amber is a little cautious. She keeps an eye on him to see what he does.
Anonymous
27cdee2
?
No.174396
174397
Meta warning.
>>174393
>The commands must be communicated verbally.
>she lose control of them.
I don't mean to be pushy, but
>A commanded undead creature is under the mental control of the evil cleric. The cleric must take a standard action to give mental orders to a commanded undead
Cleric commands are wordless; it's different from the Wizard spells such as Command Undead or Control Undead. This may become relevant later if Posey tries to use controlled undead to cause chaos without drawing attention to herself.
https://www.dandwiki.com/wiki/SRD:Turn_or_Rebuke_Undead
Furthermore, there is no maximum range for controlled undead. In some novels/modules evil Clerics command their undead minions from other planes of existence or different continents, usually to carry out some ritual at the correct time.
This would be relevant if Posey wants to cast spells that require contacting an undead hundreds of miles away, such as Door Of Decay:
https://dndtools.net/spells/complete-champion--57/door-of-decay--596/
>If you do not know the precise location of the destination undead, you can select the undead creature you control nearest your desired exit point.
>Both undead creatures must be your size category or larger and either willing or under your control.
>(Mindless undead are considered willing only if you control them).
Which is is a Cleric spells specifically accessible to Dread Necromancers.

That being said, Posey has no problem commanding them verbally at this point, particularly if detailed descriptions and instructions are only convenient through word of mouth. I just wanted to note it for the future if it becomes relevant.
The only reason why I specified that she commanded them mentally is because this would be Posey's first time mentally controlling intelligent undead outside of Magehold, besides the spectres in the barn, so she's testing the scope of her powers.
>combat dice rolls may need to wait
No problem, take your time.
>Posey is likely to need to follow closely behind
Posey is going in that direction anyway, so she'll tag along s few hundred feet behind. She follows them them closely as they haul the bones, before removing the bundles and she sicks them on the dogs.
She invites Sakar to come as well, although she has no power to compel him to. Then again, do drowners normally need a reason to drown people?
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174397
174398 174399
>>174396
I don’t believe the command in “rebuke undead” is intended to be simultaneously indefinite in duration and distance

Sakar:
“I know that airship. They are holed up above the water. There is risk. They have weapons.”

>>174395
The stallion continues going through clothing, moves around to another part of the store, and then picks up one, two, three dresses.
Anonymous
27cdee2
?
No.174398
174400
>>174397
>There is risk. They have weapons.
Posey laughs and trots off after the other drowners, brandishing her sword.
"You won't catch any good prey with that attitude. Anyway, you're welcome to tag along if you like."
She proceeds towards the location of the boat.
>I don’t believe the command in “rebuke undead” is intended to be simultaneously indefinite in duration and distance
I mean, I could reference ~25 years of precedent and forum discussions that says they are, but you're the DM so I'm not going to push to hard. I have no use for commanding undead in different countries at this level, but I'm going to want to in the future.
Usually if an effect has a duration or a maximum range, it's stated in the body of the text.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174399
174400
VexedAmber.png
>>174392
>wrap up a quest after only two months
You're in here for the long haul, >pic related.

>>174397
"Do you think she'll like those?" Amber asks. It's a good amount of clothes, and after the experience from a couple of days ago she feels a bit nervous.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174400
174401 174405
>>174399
“Huh?” The pony seems confused. “Oh. Sure.” He picks up the dresses and moves to another new location

>>174398
Still not rest for dice rolls
Posey can hear a sound she’s heard a few nights before. It’s the Tatar of propellers bearing loudly against the air. Through a break in the canopy, a silver plane can be seen

Posey can hear
"One of ours. It’s beautiful."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174401
174402
>>174400
Amber keeps an eye on him as she tidies up, and looks to see if High Sewn is busy at the moment.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174402
174403
>>174401
Looking over to the backroom, High Sewn is still there, sewing something.

Amber hears the sound of something fall to the floor, and sees the stallion running for the door.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174403
174404
>>174402
She knew it! Amber gallops to beat him to the door and attempts a grapple.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174404
174406
>>174403
Amber has an advantage in trying to catch him, partly because she’s likely faster than him, but mostly because he has to stop to try to open the door.

Roll Grapple
Base attack plus strength
Anonymous
27cdee2
?
No.174405
174407
>>174400
>"One of ours. It’s beautiful."
"Glad to see you're still awake." Posey chides
"It looks like the Separatists have really settled in since the war cooled down. They're running the place now." Posey continues
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174406
174407 174408
>>174404
[1d20+2 = (5+2) = 7]
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174407
174408 174409 174410
>>174405
>>174405
NOT SEPERATISTS. Independent. Republicans.
The yelling is not only loud, it startles birds, causing them to rise.

”They are still here…Why are they still here?”

”Can it take us away from here?”

”That’s a two seater trainer. No.”

”We all fit in a bag now. Yes it can.”

The ghosts continue, with their voices becoming inaudible

>>174406
I think her grapple is better than that. Add base attack bonus.

[1d20+2 = (20+2) = 22]
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174408
>>174406
>>174407
But the stallion makes his way out the door, and closes it on Amber
Anonymous
27cdee2
?
No.174409
174411
>>174407
Posey continues toward the boat, letting the drowners go ahead of her as she observed the plane.
"Flying machines... I was never into them, but it looks like they're here to stay, for now at least."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174410
174411
>>174407
Amber opens the door, and chases after the shoplifter. "Stop, thief!" she cries out.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174411
174412 174413
>>174410
The pony does not stop, but starts running. Amber could likely over take him in a straight run, and he can’t turn without Amber seeing. Does she chase? Run him off? Recover the dresses?

>>174409
The drowners, however, seem distressed by the sight of the planes.

They continue until they come to the river. The frisbees don’t need to be told where to go, they get in the water and turn left. She can see it from where she stands: the ship.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174412
174414
>>174411
Recovering the dresses is the important part, since it's her boss's livelihood. Running while holding a dress, let alone three, isn't easy, and she's confident she can get him to drop them.
Anonymous
27cdee2
?
No.174413
174421
>>174411
Posey observes the drowners as they board the ship.
She draws her compound bow.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174414
174415
>>174412
The dresses are strewn across his back, across his neck, and still held in his mouth. They lean towards the left, and may fall off or be thrown aside soon. The stallion looks back towards Amber, before looking forward again. He continues straight, though soon he may have the chance to run into the street, or an alley, or into another store.

The question is, what will Amber do?
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174415
174416
>>174414
Well, she knows a little bit more of the area than she did last time. She gallops along the curb and tries to get alongside him to steer him into one alley which she knows to be a dead end.
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174416
174417
>>174415
Hmmm…

Roll. Strength modifier
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174417
174450 174451
>>174416
[1d20+2 = (7+2) = 9]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
87defcc
?
No.174419
174465
>>174391
Still smiling, Kira replies, "I'm from Southeastern Zebrica. I don't know where the 'Steps of the Gods' are or what gods you are referring to, but it sounds nice!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
87defcc
?
No.174420
174465
>>174391
Silver grabs the toast and puts it on a plate for Khoi. Hmm...it doesn't seem like the crunchy, golden brown slices of bread are going to immediately attack her. And there's a nice smell coming from them...

Silver also presents her with the peanut butter, jam, and butter, with butter knives for all three options, explaining, "You can eat toast as is, but most ponies have it with one of these spread across a side. Foals especially love having one toast with peanut butter and one toast with jam as a sandwich."
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174421
174422 174426
6247426.png
>>174413
The drowners find the ladder going up the side of the ship, and then climb it

[1d2 = 1]
[1d2 = 2]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174422
174423 174424 174426
>>174421
Entering onto the deck, they move around to the door, and kick through

[1d20+2 = (10+2) = 12]

[1d20+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174423
174424
>>174422
[1d20+6 = (8+6) = 14]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174424
174425
>>174422
>>174423
[1d20+5 = (8+5) = 13]
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174425
174426 174427
>>174424
[1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17]

[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d8+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174426
174427
>>174425
>>174421
>>174422
[1d20+6 = (4+6) = 10]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174427
174428 174429
>>174426
>>174425
[1d20+5 = (2+5) = 7]
[1d20+5 = (6+5) = 11]

[1d20+4 = (20+4) = 24]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174428
174429
>>174427
[2d8 = 3]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174429
174430 174431
>>174427
>>174428
[1d20+6 = (18+6) = 24]

[1d20+5 = (5+5) = 10]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174430
174431
>>174429
[1d10+3 = (8+3) = 11]
[1d6 = 2]

[1d20+5 = (4+5) = 9]

[1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174431
174432 174433
>>174430
>>174429
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
[1d20+5 = (11+5) = 16]

[1d20+5 = (3+5) = 8]
[1d20+4 = (13+4) = 17]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174432
174433 174434
>>174431
[1d10+3 = (9+3) = 12]
[1d6 = 4]

[2d8 = 5]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174433
174435
>>174431
>>174432
[1d8+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174434
174435 174436
>>174432
[1d2 = 2]
[1d20+6 = (12+6) = 18]
[1d20+5 = (20+5) = 25]

[1d20+5 = (6+5) = 11]
[1d20+4 = (16+4) = 20]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174435
174436
>>174434
>>174433
[1d10+3 = (6+3) = 9]
[1d6 = 6]

[2d8 = 11]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174436
174437
>>174435
>>174434
[1d20+5 = (11+5) = 16]
[1d20+4 = (7+4) = 11]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174437
>>174436
[1d8+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174438
[1d2 = 1]
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174439
174440 174446
Can Posey see what's going on?
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174440
174444
>>174439
As it is, the two drowners go through the door and disappear into the ship. It's only a few seconds before she hears an infernal growl, electrical charges, yelps, and then high caliber gunshots.
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174441
174442
[1d20+6 = (3+6) = 9]
[1d20+6 = (15+6) = 21]
[1d20+5 = (10+5) = 15]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174442
174443
>>174441
[1d10+3 = (4+3) = 7]
[1d3 = 2]

[1d20+6 = (1+6) = 7]
[1d20+5 = (11+5) = 16]
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174443
>>174442
[1d8+3 = (5+3) = 8]
[1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17]
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174444
174445 174446
>>174440
>infernal growl
Gonna roll Knowledge (the planes) to see if Posey recognizes this otherworldly entity.
[1d20+3[
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174445
>>174444
Fuck
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174446
174447 174452
>>174439
There are screams. After about a minute, a lone drowner comes through the door, dragging a dying grey diamond dog, still wearing his jacket. The drowner is itself almost destroyed, having been sliced, shot, and with visible electrical burns.

>>174444
It’s the same water-ghast Posey has been dealing with
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174447
174448
141411__safe_artist-colon-mihaaaa_rarity_pony_unicorn_g4_animated_clapping_clapping+ponies_eyes+closed_female_gif_mare_simple+background_solo.gif
>>174446
"Excellent work. Now bring him here."
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174448
174449
>>174447
The diamond dog is the same one from earlier that had the trident and fled. It is bit, has flesh dangling from its arms, and is likely to bleed out soon.
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174449
174450 174452
img-1625920-6-suprise_lip_bite_by_daviez20-d4zpr9a (1).gif
>>174448
"So, we meet again." Posey says, with a bit of a smug grin, her inner malice shining through.
>It is bit, has flesh dangling from its arms, and is likely to bleed out soon.
"Looks like we won't have time for a ceremony. Be a dear and hold him down." She commands the ghoul.
She looks down at the dying dog
"You wouldn't happen to be a virgin, would you?"
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174450
174451 174452 174453
>>174417
Amber moves up a bit to the right, and not quite parallel to the stallion. She nudges him, but fails to push him into the alley

[1d3 = 2]

>>174449
He looks at her with horror, then disgust, then… bewilderment. He seems to intend to say “no,” if he intended to say anything at all.

The ghoul, which is clearly not doing well on its own, holds him down
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174451
174452
>>174450
>>174417
Two dresses fall off of the back of the rapscallion
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174452
174457
>>174446
F
>>174449
oh no

>>174450
>>174451
Amber stops, stares at the retreating stallion with contempt, and picks up the two dresses before heading back to the shop. She sighs in disappointment at being unable to catch the shoplifter, or even get all the dresses. At least she got something, and scared him off.
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174453
174454 174455
>>174450
>He seems to intend to say “no,” if he intended to say anything at all.
"Oh well."
>The ghoul, which is clearly not doing well on its own
Posey gives it a little boop on the snoot, healing it 2 hp with her charnel touch.

Posey draws her sword
"Let's get this party started!" she says, as she slowly plunges the blade into her own chest, shuddering at the exquisite pain
"Oh buck yes, that real silver!" She says, coughing up a mouthful of her own vile blood
[1d8+2 = (3+2) = 5]
"Blood for blood."
She grins at the dog, baring her razor sharp fangs
"Oh Great Goat, bless us with an audience! Blow the trumpet and begin the feast."
And sinks her fangs into the paralyzed dog's throat as a coup-de-grace.
[1d6+7 = (5+7) = 12] (double for crit damage)

Posey attempts a DC 25 sacrifice check to offer the diamond dog's life to the Bloated Goat and call an Ataaglith for one hour, as per Lesser Planar Ally. If she fails this check, well, it's a waste but he might still taste good.
[1d20+14 = (14+14) = 28] (+16 if a ghast counts as a creature important to Orcus)
Anonymous
0e98c3c
?
No.174454
174458 174460
>>174453
The ground darkens as a cloud moves overhead. Innumerable whispers from the ghosts fill the air, and something moves up in the water.
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174455
174456 174475
Screenshot_20240402-115412.png
Screenshot_20240402-115439.png
>>174453
Ataaglith's are goat-like demons devoted to Orcus. With their Clerical powers and ability to animate the dead, they are Orcus's perfect children.
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174456
>>174455
I mis-spelled it..
Anonymous
10f1d2d
?
No.174457
174459
>>174452
You’ll get ‘em next time, little pony…

High Sewn is outside of the store when she comes back.
“What happened?!”
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174458
d6f.gif
>>174454
"Ooh, I've always wanted to try this!" Posey says, giddy as she stares into the abyss, prancing on all fours
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174459
174465
>>174457
Amber is still catching her breath and is trembling a little from the adrenaline of the chase. "Sorry…didn't have time to call you. That pony stole three dresses. I couldn't catch him, but I got these two back."
Anonymous
e91cb7b
?
No.174460
174465
>>174454
Posey waits for the creature to appear
Anonymous
c8337a3
?
No.174463
174464
Anyway, while the Artaaglith takes it's time to get here, now that my other McSlave™ has been destroyed, I would like to take control of Sakar.
Posey brandishes her unholy symbol
Rebuke undead
[1d20+7 = (1+7) = 8]
Anonymous
c8337a3
?
No.174464
174465
D_719e20_6294783.jpg
>>174463
Well fuck.
It doesn't crit, but it puts me just below the level I need to control him, just awed.
Posey blinks.
"You're a tough one, aren't you?"

Rebukes left for today: 6
Anonymous
d8a45f0
?
No.174465
174466 174468 174469 174470
>>174419
“Oh… I thought you were from closer. Not that I’ve ever… seen one of you…” after an awkward pause, he says. “Anyways, we can ring you up, and have it delivered all for an extra 25.”

>>174420
Khoi looks at the strange bread with wide eyes, her ears fixed forward. She moves in closely, and Silver can see her nose twitch as she smells it. She extends her tongue, and licks it. Then she extends her muzzle, and tries to bite it, which she fails at when she can’t get her lower jaw underneath it, and instead simply pushes the bread forward until it almost overshoots the plate. Then she uses her magenta magic to pick up the bread, and silver can hear a nibble nibble nibble.

>>174459
“Two dresses is all you got?”
And to herself,
“I’ll wring that son of a bitch’s neck”
To Amber
“Did you get a good look at him?”

>>174460
What are you wanting exactly? A description of this thing?

>>174464
>rolls a 1
>”it doesn’t crit”
The drowned looks at Posey from the river with only its eyes above water. Like an alligator.
Anonymous
c8337a3
?
No.174466
174467
>>174465
>The drowned looks at Posey from the river with only its eyes above water. Like an alligator.
Posey gives it a sort of an awkward shrug. Pic related
>What are you wanting exactly? A description of this thing?
I guess the description doesn't matter, but I was waiting for confirmation that my summoning was successful.
Posey intends to use the necromantic powers of the Artaaglith to help animate the bones she's carrying.
Anonymous
c8337a3
?
No.174467
1719164254606265.png
>>174466
Forgot the pic
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
6cd8098
?
No.174468
174471
>>174465
Kira gives him the extra Bits, but is now curious.

"Have you heard of lamias here, in Equestria?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
6cd8098
?
No.174469
174471
>>174465
Silver waits for her verdict.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174470
174471
>>174465
Amber nods hurriedly, now disappointed in herself for mucking up such an easy pursuit. "I'd been watching him since he came in. He's a runt of a stallion, grey, and was–is–wearing a brown jacket."
Anonymous
a69a636
?
No.174471
174472 174477 174478
>>174470
"Would have been nice if he got a kick in the flank... Teach him from ever coming around here again." Looking over "You couldn't get the last dress?"

>>174469
nibble nibble nibble

>>174468
"No... Is that what you are called? We have heard of snake monsters before. Not... Not quite like you. No."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174472
174485
>>174471
Amber looks at the floor, her expression now crestfallen. "I tried, but the two fell on the ground…I was worried if I left them, somepony else would have taken them away. I'm sorry for not catchin' him…."
Anonymous
876d162
?
No.174473
tumblr_inline_oev5oe3scn1rkapbx_400.jpg
Okay, once our unnamed priest of Orcus shows up, Posey greets him politely and requests that he help bolster the ranks of the Dread League using his innate ability to animate the dead.
An Artaaglith casts Animate Dead as a 6th level Cleric, meaning that with Desecrate it can animate 24 HD of undead (with a max of 12 HD per undead). However, we only have so many bodies available: an incomplete hydra skeleton, two diamond dogs, and one ghast/pony skeleton. The hydra skeleton is incomplete, so it sadly cannot be easily reanimated (in hindsight, I should have summoned the Artaaglith before having the ghasts eat the hydra, so I could have had a zombie... Oh well), as it was; however, it has plenty of bones to create the next best thing: an advanced Bone Lurker.
Using the Hydra skeleton, the diamond dogs, and the destroyed ghast, Posey requests the Artaaglith to give life to a beast of many bones: a Bone Lurker, of maximum advancement, and to order it to obey Posey's commands. This huge sized amalgam of bones will serve as a suitable mount and combat minion for Posey.
Pic related (this is actually a Boneyard, but a Huge sized Bone Lurker
Using the arms cast-off from the diamond dogs, we can animate two Dreads, the severed arms levitating in mid air and brandishing weapons.

If the diamond dogs had any worthwhile corpses in their base, Posey would like to make those into zombies too.

I'll produce the statblock in a little bit.

This only takes the Artaaglith two actions. The demon serves Posey for one hour hour per HD of the sacrificed diamond dog, although having already used its Desecrate and Animate Dead, Posey has everything she needs from it. Annoyingly, Artaagliths don't come with a list of typical Cleric spells prepared, so I can't ask it to cast any specific spells.
Posey thanks the demon for its service, and asks how things have been doing at the bottom of Tartarus. She invites the demon to stay in this world and sow the seeds of sorrow for as long as it wishes (it's normally difficult for demons to leave Tartarus/abyss without the aide of mortal magic).

Posey heals her remaining drowner over the course of one minute, and permits it to feed on the flesh of the diamond dogs or even the destroyed ghast. She then commands it to search the lair of the diamond dogs for any valuables (including bones) and bring them to her.
Anonymous
876d162
?
No.174474
p1exxuizcau41.jpg
>mfw a lvl 5 Cleric can do all of this, but Posey has to wait 5 more levels before she can cast animate dead herself
Dread League calls for a Dread Necromancer, but still... Clerics are so freaking powerful.
Anonymous
555b883
?
No.174475
174476 174479
>>174455
The black cloud settles in over Posey, and thunder crackles. A long black arm extends from the center of the cloud, moving downwards towards Posey, as a strong, chill wind blows on her location, spreading out in every direction, and blowing leaf and limbs from the adjacent trees. Were that plane still around - it probably isn’t, but if it were - they would see a rain cloud formed by the confluence of the moist air from the north, combined with the cool air from the westward mountains, a sight not at all uncommon in the late afternoon in the Kululu Forests, even in winter. And from this cloud, a microburst, with sudden winds and precipitation. They’d know better than to fly in such conditions, and return whence they came, presumably Baltimare.

Posey however, experiences this more directly. The chill wind is followed by the long black arm of the cloud touching the ground in a torrent of rain. The wind and rain blow, then wash away any lose items. Posey is drenched, and the blood of the sacrifice is washed away clean. The ghosts instinctively run from the downpour, even if they are immune to it, but the drowned welcomes it, looking up to the sky.

The rain only lasts a few seconds, and when it clears, Posey sees her expected guest near her on the river bank. He’s an off white color, standing on four limbs - though the thick hind legs could surely support its whole weight - with the expected curls and carvings cut into it as if it were decorative ivory. Posey can only make out a serpentine form. The goat has a small, well kept black beard and a black mane. Though its irises are red, its horizontal yellow slit eyes appear more alive than dead. It wears armor plating, bronze or dimly gilt in color, that may as well have come from an equestrian royal guard. Its peytral, likewise gilt, has ornate black decorations on the edges, that imply its design, otherwise built for function, has an origin not from Equestria, though very possibly from the living world.

The priest pulls up a lit cigarette of a variety like that Mason smokes, from under its frame, as if it were holding it there away from the rain. It has a still expression, not suggestive of the thralls of any strong emotion, but a mild irritation and boredom closer to ennui.

“And what do you want?” It asks Posey in a fairly deep voice, and is surely answered.

The priest places the cigarette in its mouth as it uses its hooves to perform the necromantic ritual.

>if the diamond dogs had anything worthwhile in their base
The priest looks down, then perks his ears up, and moves his eyes towards Posey, and pulling the muscles around his lips back in a smile.
“You didn’t check, did you?” And then mockingly
Okay… I’ve never known necromancers so rich as to not even bother to check if there’s anything worth looting. Except this one pony. But that was a long time ago.”

>”Thank you for your service
Finally, someone recognizes me as a veteran!”

>how is hell
“Damp. Cold. Noisy. Overcrowded.”

>sow seeds of sorrow
“Perhaps later, though the mortals are doing a well enough job of that themselves, and there is no one else around. But… it’s so peaceful here. And there’s a nice breeze. I think I’ll stay here for a bit.”

The drowner prefers the flesh of the diamond dogs to its fallen comrade - at least while such flesh is available. It goes back into the airship, and drags multiple items, including the rifle, multiple saddle bags, several large medical packets, this large trident-like pole arm that posey has seen before, a still-alive diamond dog, and a crocodile skull.
Anonymous
876d162
?
No.174476
174480 174485
1552278372595.jpeg
>>174475
Spectacular description. Very spooky.

>I’ve never known necromancers so rich as to not even bother to check if there’s anything worth looting.
Pic related
"They got in my way, and these are the consequences. Besides, I have help to check for loot." Posey says, clipping her hooves together to command the ghast to search faster
>Finally, someone recognizes me as a veteran!
"My little lamb Gloomy really appreciates what you do. He wants to be a priest himself when he grows up."
>multiple saddle bags, several large medical packets
Posey checks the bags for gold/items.
She then takes the largest saddlebag and and fastens the shock absorbers to it for her new Bone Lurker to carry.
>this large trident-like pole arm that posey has seen before
Does it appear to be magic or masterwork?
Posey gives it a swing.
>a still-alive diamond dog
Oh, so there was a survivor.
Posey looks down at the living diamond dog.
>does_this_look_like_the_face_of_mercy.png
"I've already had my blessing for today." Posey says wiping the blood from her lip
"So, let's try something new." she says, grinning
She turns to the drowner
"Tie him up my his ankles and wrists, and slowly lower him into the swamp."
She turns to the demon
"Oh priest, would you be so kind as to give us a sermon?"
Posey intends to sacrifice the second diamond dog as well, not for her own benefit, but for the purpose of perpetuating more evil through the ritual that creates a Bog Mummy (although I guess Drowners can be created in the same way).
Rolling a religion check, using the Artaaglith's modifier:
[1d20+6 = (11+6) = 17]
It's unclear how long it takes, but Posey doesn't bother checking if the ritual is successful (she has no intention of controlling the resulting monster), only that the last witness to her atrocity has been fully drowned.

>I think I’ll stay here for a bit.
Oh yes, and last but not least.
"Well, you know, seeing you arrive in that big cloud of miasma reminds me of the time when I was a filly and my aunts conjured the Aspect of Orcus for one of their... lavish parties... If you're interested in sticking around for a few hours, that ship would be a great place to... You know."
she bites her lower lip so hard it bleeds (this is apparently considered to be sexy in vampire cults) and shimmies her hips left a right as she looks away slightly shy.

I seduce the demon
[1d20+9 = (3+9) = 12]
She also shoots the ghosts a bit of a coy look, if they're visible.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
fc5ee5b
?
No.174477
174485
>>174471
eagerly waiting Silver noises
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
fc5ee5b
?
No.174478
174485
>>174471
Kira nods with a tongue flick.

"That's what we're called, lamias! What are the snake monsters you've heard of like?"
Anonymous
e5c182e
?
No.174479
>>174475
Did the diamond dogs have any diamonds on them?
Anonymous
e5c182e
?
No.174480
>>174476
I'm guessing that a 12 on Seduction does not succeed, so in that case after taking everything that the diamond dogs have, Posey ties the loot-full saddlebags as well as the cylinders to the Bone Lurker and readies herself for a flight back to the place where Mason was parked.
A light load for the advanced Bone Lurker should be ~3192 pounds, so it should be able to carry Posey, the drowner, the artillery parts, and any loot from the ship while flying. The demon could hitch a ride too if it wishes. Sakar as well, although I doubt the uncontrolled drowner will willfully leave the swamp.
Posey adds the crocodile skull to the bone lurker, to make the amalgam look more frightening.
Anonymous
c6a62ee
?
No.174484
174485
Would it be appropriate to update Posey's character sheet to lvl 4, since this quest is complete?
Anonymous
e72cf86
?
No.174485
174486 174487 174488 174489 174493 174494 174515 174536
6999201__safe_artist-colon-trickate_importedfromderpibooru_oc_oconly_oc-colon-darienplatecrC3AAte_griffon_equestriaatwarmod_meme.png
There was a typographical error in the description of the priest. His horns are carved kind of like you’d carve ivory, with figures carved into it in a shallow relief. The only one that Posey can clearly make out is a serpent.

>>174472
She sighs loudly, and lopes past Amber towards the door outside, looks to the left, and lopes back in. She continues moving, clearly pacing. “It was a mistake to go to the back. I should have been out here. I could have strangled him myself.” She looks back to Amber: “what type of dress was it?”

The dresses are not high end dresses for Galas. They are regular semi-formal wear used for normal occasions when leaving the home. Should Amber show the recovered dresses to High Sewn (perhaps she’d like to state what it was specifically, which with luck, she’d know), High Sewn says
“Well, that’s not too bad. Still. He better not come back. What did he look like?”

>>174476
>consequences
The priest tilts his head to the left, briefly closing his eyes, and raises his shoulders.
“Fair enough, I suppose.”

>my little lamb gloomy
“Oh it’s a long, hard way to wear I am. Not particularly pleasant smelling or well lit either. Best of luck to him. He’ll certainly need it.”

>bags
The diamond dogs took the most interest in drugs and medical supplies, besides weapons and ammunition. There is more, like sets of bullets, some strange armor, shackles, shoes, a pistol, and a few more rifles, but the gust took most interest in syringes and brown vials. There is some money, though not that much. It’s in multiple currencies. There are a few rings, things like cigarettes, lighters, playing cards, and odd things like ferry passes or movie tickets.

>pole arm
Pretty big for a pony. As Posey swings it, it makes electric sparks.

>survivor
The diamond dog is a female. She’s a tan color, vaguely golden retriever-like in appearance with a longer muzzle and longer, fluffier ears. Are can’t move much, and she breathes heavily, clearly scared. She can’t move her eyes much, but does open them, and moves her orange eyes to Posey. She’s covered in water, despite having been inside during the downpour, and being taken on the land-side by the guest who dragged her down. Posey can see that she’s covered in sweat. And it’s not just fear, or anything from the ghast. She must have been breathing heavily, immobilized, and sweating profusely long before Posey showed up.

The ghast takes little pieces of rope and ties, which are available, and goes up the diamond dog, moving her to the water as Posey commands. Actual slave shackles are available for this act if desired, but the ghast goes for tent-rope first. The diamond dog tries to scream, but her voice isn’t quite working, and her lungs don’t allow her. She floats, and needs to be weighed down to sink.

>sermon
The priest sighs, and it seems he even rolls his eyes and shakes his head. “And here I thought I enjoy a bit of leisure on this business trip. But nevermind that. I don’t have a sermon prepared… I suppose I can refuse a recent one. Very well. I’ll do that then.” He stands on his hind limbs, showing off the designs of the gilt armor over his belly, and he raises his split hooves.

“To He who was here before, and who shall be long after, we commend this sacrifice to you, so that we may honor you, and you may fuel your power, and your glory. And we never forget what you can do for us, as we share in that power, and in that glory…
He does not raise his voice, and though his restrained tone is more suggestive of apathy than rapture, there’s a determination to it.

The ghast fails to fully weigh down the diamond dog, and so she lies on her back in the water, attempting to thrash about, though she may not able to swim even if she were untied. Her long muzzle stays above the water longer than her blond hair, or her eyes, and her rapid breathes, increasingly filled terror, continue for more than a minute, as she starts to spit out water, which flows into her mouth with every short and shallow breath.

The priest looks on at this scene. He has finished his cigarette and is clearly contemplating smoking a new one. Perhaps he didn’t carry a second.

>hip shimmying
The priest smiles, and shakes his head once.
“You were a charmer in your day, I am sure. But I’m not quite in the mood for a lavish party right now.”

From the air on the river bank, a blue light appears, and forms a vaguely equine shape. It becomes increasingly opaque, and Posey can make out the shapes of wings, hooves, and a tail, and eventually finer details like tufts on the ends of long, triangular ears, fangs on a rectangular muzzle, and blood veins on folded web wings. The form gains color, and though it retains a slight translucence and uncanny quality that distinguishes it from a real pony, Posey can see that it is a purple hued, otherwise charcoal colored bat pony stallion of maybe 25, with lavender-purple mane, tail, eyes and webbed wings, and playing cards for a cutie mark. It comes to Posey, looking into her eyes with his own supernaturally-lit purple eyes, and smiles widely and almost malign, showing off his teeth and fore-fangs that look oddly immaterial. Its fur touches posey, feeling like ice, and rough like sand paper. Then Posey feels it bite her ear before walking past.

It’s quite a few saddle bags, and Posry likely can’t get everything. The cylinder is too long to fit into a bag. All the same, Posey can try.

The priest raises a hoof, and lowers his head.
“No thank you. I think I’ll linger here, just a bit. It’s so… peaceful. So far away from everyone…”

>>174484
Sure, I guess

>>174477
Khoi twitches her nose, and stares into the air as she contemplates the toast.

“Crunchy… not burnt, but not soft.”

Khoi’s eyes go wide, and she looks towards Silver with immense curiosity.
“What is this ‘jam’ you speak of?”

>>174478
“Oh, well we have the feathered serpent. I don’t think it’s… quite so… pony like. But they are often helpful beings. And the most powerful are gods.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174486
174542
>>174485
Silver pushes the jar of jam and the butter knife closer to her.

"Fruit preserves, little bits of fruit or berries in sweet syrup. Try some, it is delicious on toast."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174487
174542
>>174485
Kira has an awestruck look on her face that begs for more information on these winged serpents.
Anonymous
60aad43
?
No.174488
174490
>>174485
>The diamond dogs took the most interest in drugs and medical supplies, besides weapons and ammunition. There is more, like sets of bullets, some strange armor, shackles, shoes, a pistol, and a few more rifles, but the ghast took most interest in syringes and brown vials. There is some money, though not that much. It’s in multiple currencies. There are a few rings, things like cigarettes, lighters, playing cards, and odd things like ferry passes or movie tickets.
Posey will take some time at some point to sort out what's valuable and resellable.
I guess I'll need to roll appraise to know how much it's all worth?
>As Posey swings it, it makes electric sparks.
Oooh, a magic weapon.
>And it’s not just fear, or anything from the ghast. She must have been breathing heavily, immobilized, and sweating profusely long before Posey showed up.
Wait a second, this was a prisoner.
>The diamond dog tries to scream, but her voice isn’t quite working, and her lungs don’t allow her. She floats, and needs to be weighed down to sink.
>The ghast fails to fully weigh down the diamond dog, and so she lies on her back in the water, attempting to thrash about, though she may not able to swim even if she were untied. Her long muzzle stays above the water longer than her blond hair, or her eyes, and her rapid breathes, increasingly filled terror, continue for more than a minute, as she starts to spit out water, which flows into her mouth with every short and shallow breath.
I have decided that this NPC is too interesting to murder just yet.

Posey cocks an eyebrow at the dog, and on a whim lifts her up with the glow of her horn, hoisting her up before she can go underwater.
"... On second thought..." Posey says, looking coldly at the hound
"I think I'll deal with her on my own terms." she says, looking the dog up and down like a piece of meat
"She's such a fine specimen. It would be a waste to do away with her in a bog, like this. The Goat would much prefer her on an altar..." she continues, dragging the dog out of the water and dismissing the Drowner who might be feeling very blueballed right now.
"I'll take her with me, and decide how to deal with her later."
>Sure, I guess
Yay!

I am choosing Kelgore's Grave Must as my first Advanced Learning spell.
Anonymous
60aad43
?
No.174489
174490
1632764__suggestive_applejack_strawberry+sunrise_female_pony_mare_simple+background_earth+pony_shipping_blushing_monochrome_comic_lesbian_white+backg.png
>>174485
>From the air on the river bank, a blue light appears, and forms a vaguely equine shape. It becomes increasingly opaque, and Posey can make out the shapes of wings, hooves, and a tail, and eventually finer details like tufts on the ends of long, triangular ears, fangs on a rectangular muzzle, and blood veins on folded web wings. The form gains color, and though it retains a slight translucence and uncanny quality that distinguishes it from a real pony, Posey can see that it is a purple hued, otherwise charcoal colored bat pony stallion of maybe 25, with lavender-purple mane, tail, eyes and webbed wings, and playing cards for a cutie mark. It comes to Posey, looking into her eyes with his own supernaturally-lit purple eyes, and smiles widely and almost malign, showing off his teeth and fore-fangs that look oddly immaterial. Its fur touches posey, feeling like ice, and rough like sand paper. Then Posey feels it bite her ear before walking past.
Posey nearly drops the dog as this happens
"Wh-who are you?!"
Anonymous
e72cf86
?
No.174490
174491 174495
>>174488
>roll appraise?
She can try, but most of the items are ones that Posey will not be able to easily discern the value of.

Posey lifts the diamond dog out of the water before she drowns - not a hard feat, as it was taking a while. The diamond dog coughs, then coughs more, and continues coughing as it tries to expel water.

The Priest has gone through a bag brought over by the drowned, and has removed a pack of cigarettes. He looks up to Posey.
“It doesn’t have to be an altar. A pile of smooth river rocks, or a flat stone surface can serve the sane purpose.”
He flicks open a zippo-lighter, engraved with the image of a deer’s skull, and lights a cigarette removed from the pack.
“Of course, you could also go old fashioned. Like a wicker-griff…”

The drowned doesn’t seem too disappointed. It has killed and eaten. If it understood its instructions to simply drag her below the water, it would have done so.

>>174489
The stallion smiles with its mouth now closed, and looks back towards Posey
“Like you don’t already know.”

Then he turns around and moves back towards her.
“I’m Turn Card”
Anonymous
60aad43
?
No.174491
174492 174493 174499
>>174490
>most of the items are ones that Posey will not be able to easily discern the value of
I'm gonna have to try anyway. I need shekels for my army. I spent all my starting equipment on becoming undead, and momma wants a new Cape Of Charisma (Or Robe Of Bones, or Drake Helm, or Rod Of Undead Mastery, or Improved Unholy Symbol, or Kharas Stone Knife, or etc.), so there can't be any waste.
Gonna bloodlet again myself for a +2
[1d20+5 = (2+5) = 7]
>“I’m Turn Card”
Oh
"Ah, you look a bit different while manifested."
The Floof & The Noodle
89e77c9
?
No.174492
>>174491
I think your bloodletting set your roll to a 2, instead
Anonymous
22272ac
?
No.174493
174499
>>174485
>>174491
>drugs and medical supplies
>syringes and brown vials
Anything worth keeping here? Maybe something that a fake-doctor might trade to some colleagues at the university for some extra bits?
>besides weapons and ammunition
What kind of weapons?
>sets of bullets
If any of these look like magic ammo, I'll check it out.
>some strange armor
Good armor? An upgrade to Posey's nommasterwork chain shirt?
>There is some money, though not that much.
How much money in total?
>a few rings
Ohh, that's treasure. How many is a few? Do they look valuable/magical? Posey checks these carefully.
>playing cards
Posey scrutinizes these very hard, believing them to be magical tarot cards at first. She looks at leach deck carefully, searching for a Deck Of Illusions, or a Deck of Campaign Derailment Many Things.
>ferry passes or movie tickets
... Well, are they still good? Posey might want to take Gloomy for a movie.

Posey uses her Detect Magic SLA to detect any magic in the ship or bags, scanning for magical items, arcane locks, or secret chests.

>>174491
Aye. Turns out cutting yourself in for sadomasochistic ecstacy isn't a reliable method of appraising salvage.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174494
174499
>>174485
Amber gives descriptions of both the purloined dress and the stallion (if additional details are accessible without a previous examination turn).

"Don't worry, I'd know it if he came back!" Amber sputters, eager to make it up to High Sewn for her apparent "failure." She knows, of course, that it's exceedingly unlikely since she nearly caught him.
Anonymous
7622a5e
?
No.174495
File (hide): 3D0C41DC132E2A13349F0E2AE87E22FC-7097601.mp4 (6.8 MB, Resolution:720x1088 Length:00:00:40, RDT_20240712_194731.mp4) [play once] [loop]
RDT_20240712_194731.mp4
>>174490
>The Priest has gone through a bag brought over by the drowned, and has removed a pack of cigarettes.
Based and deathpilled. Milk that poison immunity.
Have a vintage cigarette video, for what I assume is close to the period this is set in.
Anonymous
e72cf86
?
No.174499
174500 174503 174511
>>174491
>>174493
Posey looks through the items and tries to discern their value.

The diamond dogs seem to have placed a special emphasis on firearms, but Posey, for the death of her, cannot understand why. These weapons are designed to be used by anyone with minimal skill and training - any real warrior or mage needs special born skills and a decade of training. And the sights are calibrated out to 300 yards or more - how cowardly! Modern military grade weapons aren’t really in high demand anyways, nor are they very expensive. More importantly, these are illegal to possess. It’s basically the only thing the military forces care about, and won’t just wave through.

The second item they prize is drugs. Again, this is something that could only ever be valued by the living and us of no use to the undead. Morphine is the most common. Posey can just get that from the school if she needed it. Chloroquine and Sulfadiazine, as well as penicillin, plasma, and a couple varieties of anti-venom are also present besides simple saline solution, propanol and iodine.

There’s a can of bullets, a few magazines for multiple types of firearms, then a number of clips, with clips being the most common. Only two clips seem have magic bullets. However, there is a crystal that may have belonged to a magic rifle. Ammunition will also attract the attention of the military at checkpoints

Armor includes a few flak jackets (including ones damaged by Posey and the ghast), and a pair of what seems to be a kind of partial plate armor that obviously is not fitted for ponies. It does not seem to be magic.

It would be simple to say that Posey has found 247 bits and 186 dollarydoos, 24 Thalers and 38 Abyssinian Birrs. However, the bits especially are from several generations of currency. Only the dollarydoos are in paper; everything else is in coins, and the bits predate the occupation.

There are three rings. Two silver, one gold. There is one silver bracelet. None seem to be magical.

There are three sets of cards, though it must be noted that they have signs of water damage. The magical significance of the cards escapes Posey. However, Turn Card comes up, and picks up a set of cards. He pulls out the stack, and starts shuffling then, performing tricks in the air. He’s rather adept at it.

Turn Card says, with somewhat lidded eyes,
“Yes. I have a bit more… body.”
He presents the set of cards to Posey
“Pick a card”

The two ferry passes are from Hoovesplain to New Freedide, and from Starfall to Sunset. They seem to be used. The two movie tickets are stubs, respectively for Blue River Valley at 6:15 PM December 26, 1011, for the Nickelodeon in White Flower. The second is for [i]Island Breeze[i] at 2:00 PM for the Cinnamon Cinema in Mareaway, dated March 29, 1012. These are used.

>>174494
“Mhmmm. Now write it down so it can be used later, and inform Guy when he comes, so he can know who to look out for. I would file a police report, though I know they won’t do anything, if I didn’t have so much to do. Perhaps I still will. Put the dresses back up.”
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174500
174504
>>174499
"Yes, ma'am," Amber answers, intending to do exactly that. She slowly shakes her head in disbelief at the crime rate in the city.
Anonymous
3f0af62
?
No.174502
174519
Where is Nadir? Is she... safe?
Anonymous
0f2db02
?
No.174503
174511 174519
>>174499
>military cares about gunz
Posey is only proficient in simple and archaic weapons anyway, and the same would apply to non-intelligent undead she creates (unless made from soldiers), so she has no problem leaving them behind.
Also, Posey prefers to use her Compound Bow at a range to take better advantage of her supernatural strength, plus biblical myth.
>The second item they prize is drugs. Again, this is something that could only ever be valued by the living and us of no use to the undead. Morphine is the most common. Posey can just get that from the school if she needed it. Chloroquine and Sulfadiazine, as well as penicillin, plasma, and a couple varieties of anti-venom are also present besides simple saline solution, propanol and iodine.
So basically Healer's Kits: treasure under the Goods section. They're worth 50 for each, so each one sold is as much as the material components for a single skeleton/zombie each.
How many in total?
>Only two clips seem have magic bullets. However, there is a crystal that may have belonged to a magic rifle.
No magic weapon left behind.
Posey opens her guts and takes 20 to craft an internal pocket (DC 20) to store the items in, with her skin rapidly regrowing over the wound, aides by her damage reduction and charnel touch. This process takes about 10 minutes of cutting and rehealing.
>partial plate armor that obviously is not fitted for ponies
Non-humanoid Half-Plate? That's worth 1,200 gp, enough to Trade in for a lvl 1 wand, or other items. Posey takes it.
She leaves the flak jackets behind on the basis that they're more likely to be scrutinized as things taken from soldiers, while the archaic weapons and armor are "historic antiques".
>186 dollarydoos
How much is a dollarydoo worth? A bit is a gold piece, right?
>There are three rings. Two silver, one gold. There is one silver bracelet.
Reeeeeeee silver!
Posey takes them anyway. She'll resell them later, or possibly trade them for different jewelry.
>Pick a card
Posey picks the Ace Of Hearts.
Anonymous
9204d4f
?
No.174504
174505
>>174500
High Sewn moves around in the store looking at the shelves, and checks rows of dresses, especially near where Amber is now placing the recovered dresses back up
"With that lost dress, the window we had to replace last week, I don't think we're going to make our target for the month... not like it was going to happen anyways, with the price increases... And the new taxes..."
She looks over towards Amber
"I'd love to stay up here, but I have to finish these custom orders." And tilting her head
"Please guard the store, will you?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174505
174506
>>174504
Amber nods. "You got it." She can't help but feel worried for the older mare, who seems dangerously close to falling on hard times. No wonder just a single dress matters so much to her.
Anonymous
9204d4f
?
No.174506
174507
>>174505
High Sewn, still looking distressed, goes into the back room, leaving Amber alone in the front. She already had the door to the back room wide open, but now she periodically gets up and looks into the main store. A middle-aged mare comes in, looking for semi-formal dresses - oddly similar to the ones involved in the previous incident - and a stallion comes in looking for children's undergarments. But the shift is more or less uneventful until the lunch break.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174507
174508
>>174506
Amber sighs. Is this what city life is really like, getting worked up over routine things because nopony is honest? She sullenly sits out her lunch break.
Anonymous
faa0532
?
No.174508
174509
>>174507
Amber may want to use the lunch break to go out and walk the city, or converse with High Sewn, and in the future she may want to see if it’s possible to share the ex break with Mustard Trim. But if she wishes to stay, and wishes to sulk, she may certainly do so. High Sewn has expressed a desire for an early inventory check anyways.

High Sewn herself is not going out for lunch, and she has not brought a lunch with her (which of course Amber may also do in the future). She says she’s fasting as a part of a diet. Though she does not remain in one place, when her work takes her near Amber, she will volunteer opinions like a strong distaste for recent rules concerning the one-approved-union, and the ongoing supply shortages from a factory out in Fillydelphia.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174509
174510
>>174508
Amber may as well stretch her legs and trot around the block. She's spent long-enough in the store as-is. Before she leaves, though, she asks what a union is and what it has to do with the store.
Anonymous
faa0532
?
No.174510
174512
>>174509
“Oh, don’t worry about it, dear. If it’s ever relevant, you’ll find out surely enough.”
Anonymous
74590eb
?
No.174511
>>174503
Posey loads all of the valuables that she's decided to take onto the Bone Lurker, the living bound dog, and and the ghast onto the bone Lurker as she readies to fly off.
>>174499
What does Turn Card do after Posey picks her card?
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174512
174513
>>174510
"If you say so…" Amber replies, though she doesn't like being kept in the dark. She's not a foal, she should know all this already! Maybe she could ask a passerby during her trot.
Anonymous
924010b
?
No.174513
174514
>>174512
The center of the city, where Amber works, is nicer, cleaner, and (feels) safer than the more easterly section where Amber lives. It’s pleasant enough for a noon-trot.

There aren’t a whole lot of ponies about, but the city feels very far from empty. Amber is periodically tormented by smells like baked bread or boiled cabbage from restaurants and bakeries she passes.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174514
174517
>>174513
She'll have a taste of all of them…soon. She keeps reminding herself that. Amber saunters into a bakery and looks over the products. "It's a nice day today, isn't it?" she remarks to the baker.
Anonymous
74590eb
?
No.174515
174519
>>174485
>It’s quite a few saddle bags, and Posey likely can’t get everything.
I would like to estimate the number of Healer's Kits by their combined weight. How much does the medical equipment weigh in total?
The Bone Lurker can fly carrying over 3000 pounds.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174517
174518
>>174514
The bakery has is mostly white on the inside, with a black chalkboard displaying prices, and glass display cases with a few kinds of pastries as well as large loafs of bread. Amber could get a sandwich if she had the money.

A tan colored earth pony stallion with a white uniform and hat takes a moment to reply to Amber
"Indeed. Especially compared to the rain we've been having."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174518
174519
>>174517
If.
"Well, it's winter. That's just how it is," she says in her podunk accent, still eyeing the food. "Say, you heard about the 'one-approved-union' that's been mentioned around? I don't know much about it or what it does."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174519
174520 174537
>>174502
No. She is caught in eternal limbo.

>>174503
>>174515
Turn Card smiles widely, and sits down in front of Posey
"Ace of Hearts. And here I thought you'd go for the queen." Raising his eyebrows, "Fitting all the same."

He takes the card out, shows it to Posey, then places it in the middle of the stack. Then, he begins to shuffle it with his hooves, flipping through the cards in a display. He moves his wings out and extends his wingtips, and moves the cards from his hooves to the fingers at the end of his wings, and stands up. Flipping the cards, he moves the cards over his head and behind on his back, shuffling the cards and flipping them outside of his range of vision, back and forth between the wing tips. He smiles, making eye contact with Posey. After flipping and shuffling the cards several times, he sits back down and moves the deck back to his hooves, placing the stack on his open left hoof, and with his right hoof, takes the card on the top of the stack and flips it over, smiling widely and showing off his fangs. It's the Ace of Hearts.
"Was this your card?"

>healers kits
Seven of them, weighing about 100 lbs in total.

>dollarydoo
Posey doesn't exactly trade foreign currency in her day job; she doesn't know.

>Posey opens her guts and takes 20 to craft an internal pocket (DC 20) to store the items in
o... kay then...

>>174518
"Oh, yeah." He says

"So uh... I'm guessing you're not from around here? How long have you lived here?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174520
174521
>>174519
""Only about a week. Everything here is so…different compared to the countryside. I haven't seen so many ponies–or other creatures–and I'm flummoxed as to how things work around here."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174521
174522
>>174520
"Oh. So you are new here. Well, so, in Baltimare, much of the work force had unionized. More so in the docks and warehouses and the factories, less so in the... in the bakeries and food industries, but it was a majority of the workers in the city who would be a part of the big unions like CANT and TER, and they would organize strikes and bargain against the big companies and the factory owners for better hours and wages. Then the Fascists came in - the, the uh, the New Marelanders - and they shut all of the unions down. Then they made the 'Baltimare Labor Council' which is supposed to be the one union all workers are a part of, qualifying workers anyways, which approves strikes and bargains with the permission of the government here. They say they are focused on 'Improving production' which of course means they let the companies do whatever they want. About what you would expect, really."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174522
174523
>>174521
Amber tries to process all of this. "Okay, I see. What are the recent rules that have been passed for the union? My manager doesn't seem to like them."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174523
174524
>>174522
"I don't really know... it doesn't apply here... Production targets, price limits. That's a big thing. Compliance with the occupation government. Something like that, I think."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174524
174525
>>174523
Amber is a little disappointed that he doesn't know the specifics. Then again, the stallion said that bakery workers weren't usually part of the union. "Why is it mainly dockworkers and factory workers that are in the union, and not other ponies?" she asks curiously, being ignorant of the controversial implications of this topic.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174525
174526
>>174524
"There were thousands of them, working together for big, wealthy companies, and not receiving much pay. Equestria depended on them, and they worked long, hard hours. It was from their ranks that CANT was formed, and the same with the other big unions. As for now, well, small businesses don't have to have their workers join, though they change the rules periodically. But mostly it doesn't apply to the small restaurants and shops."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174526
174527
>>174525
Now Amber is curious. "If those workers were so important to Equestria, then why did the union that they made get replaced by one big one? I don't see how that would be better for them. And don't they have the same function anyway?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174527
174528
>>174526
"Oh well that's the Fascists who did that. You see, uh, the big unions were wrapped up in politics, with their leaders and many of their members into far-left politics like syndicalism. Also the old unions were supposedly tied with crime but that's a whole other thing. This was a big issue back in the days of Governor Ash and the Princesses. And the Fascists, of course, shut down all of the unions in Baltimare. There was a revolt afterwards... They didn't win. The Fascists don't like anything that isn't controlled by the State anyways. So they replaced all of the unions with one that's supposed to be controlled by the local government but really controlled by them. Of course that means that they don't like their members engaging in Anarchist politics and they try to cut down on that, and on company heads who yearn too loudly for the days of the princesses. It's about control, mostly. That, and production. They want to keep factories running and keep the workers working."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174528
174529
>>174527
"So union ponies are the ones who are breaking windows and stealing dresses?" Amber asks with a shocked expression. "Why would ponies who make stuff ever want to break and steal what other ponies have made?" She looks quite uncertain and conflicted.
Anonymous
924010b
?
No.174529
174530
>>174528
He shakes his head and closes his eyes.

“What?”
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174530
174531
>>174529
"Well, recently a window was broken and the owner told me that whoever did it was an 'anarchist,' and she might've mentioned syndicalism too. Just today some dresses were stolen from that very same shop too. Could there be a link to those old union members?" She asks this question with more focus and looks at the stallion in the eyes.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174531
174532
>>174530
"Uh, oh. Well I don't really know. Maybe? It could be an unemployed stallion, or maybe someone who lost something or someone in the revolt. There have been windows broken around here. I think some ponies blame businesses for the revolt failing, as they think the owners sided with the fascists over the anarchists. And the thief, well, I'm guessing that was just a thief. But I don't really know."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174532
174533
>>174531
The little pony narrows her eyes in irritation. "What's a stallion gonna do with three dresses? It ain't right to steal anyway. And how can they go about blaming every little business for somethin'?" She takes a deep breath to calm down, concludes, "Thanks fer the chat but I oughta go. Have a nice day," and turns to leave. If the stallion has nothing more to say she will head back to the clothing shop.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174533
174534
>>174532
He presses his own lips together and moves his head back
"I don't know. I don't have any use for one dress! I just sell pastries."

He has absolutely no desire to say anything else. The little pony may go on her merry way.

High Sewn is sitting in a chair with a glass of what may or may not be water on the table next to her.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174534
174535
>>174533
Amber walks over. "I might have a lead on who is responsible for breaking the window."

I need to sleep now
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174535
174539
>>174534
She looks over towards Amber, with her long muzzle. She raises an eyebrow

"Hmmm? And who might that be?"
Anonymous
f7edceb
?
No.174536
>>174485
>It’s quite a few saddle bags, and Posry likely can’t get everything.
I already said the Bone Lurker can fly carrying over 3000 pounds.
Posey leaves the weapons (except for the electric polearm) and useless items behind.

How much do the medical supplies, and just the medical supplies, weigh in total?
Anonymous
f7edceb
?
No.174537
174538 174541
>>174519
Pardon, I missed this post.

>"Was this your card?"
Posey's golden eyes widen at this magical display that has seemingly no verbal components.
"What Sorcery is this?!"
Pointless spellcraft check
[1d20+16 = (8+16) = 24]
>Seven of them, weighing about 100 lbs in total.
Ah, not as many as I hoped, but money is money.
>Posey doesn't exactly trade foreign currency in her day job; she doesn't know.
I'll just mark it on my sheet to trade in for later.
Anonymous
f7edceb
?
No.174538
174540
>>174537
For the record, a healer's kit (usually consisting of just gauze, stitching equipment, and a bottle of dubious tonic), weighs one pound, so 100 pounds of them would be 100 kits, which if sold would bring Posey back up to her proper WBL.
Posey loads all of the creatures and loot onto the Bone Lurker, ties the cylinders securely, hers on top of it, and orders it to fly off.
The Dreads (floating severed diamond dog arms) pick up weapons they wielded in life and fly alongside, keeping watch for any dragons, Rocs, or other monsters that might attack us while flying.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174539
174540
>>174535
"It's probably a former member of the big unions. Apparently they're known for such nasty things. It gives us something to start from." Amber is unreasonably excited for how broad the category is.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174540
174548 174560
1498331255994.png
>>174538
If you haven't picked up yet, this is not a straight dark-fantasy setting. This is a heavily WW2 inspired setting. The medical kits are intended to be like the medical kits carried by combat medics in WW2, and who were embedded one to each platoon, or in the division field surgical hospital. These kits are not the first aid kits an individual soldier may carry. They have opiate painkillers, anti-malaria medications, and other elements that cannot be found in any medieval setting. I could not find a weight for these kits anywhere, however as their contents are large (like 50 malaria tablets) I assume they must be reasonably heavy.
>>174539
She raises an eyebrow
"Really now?"
And takes a sip, levitating her drink with her magic up to her muzzle
"I suppose that's plausible, as about half the working population of the city would have been in one."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174541
174548
>>174537
Turn Card smiles and shakes his head
"A good magician never
reveals his tricks"

The magic displayed to Posey by Turn Card evades her understanding. The best guess is that he memorized and kept track of the position of the Ace of Hearts.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174542
174543 174544
>>174486
She starts to spread some of the jam onto her toast.
"Preserves? We have those too. For storing fruits." She takes the toast, places it up to her mouth, and tastes it

And then her pupils grow in size twice over. And she forces the toast into her mouth

"It's... so... sweet!"

>>174487
"Yes. We were told the stories from our elders when we were young. I don't remember all of the stories. But the feathered serpents were more common in the old days, especially before the northerners came. Some of the serpents were as gods. Some lived with the land. Most could fly. Maybe all of them. They were great, majestic beings that lived in the forest. They lived with the forest and were of the forest, like they were its emissaries to the ponies. I don't know, I've never seen one. I don't know if they were ever real. But when I saw you, I thought of them."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174543
174545
>>174542
Silver chuckles at her reaction.

"Us Equestrians like our sweets and our sugary foods, and we produce so much, well, produce that we can afford to make preserves extra sugary and sweet for better flavor. It is good, right?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174544
174545
>>174542
"D'awwwww. You think I'm great and majestic?" She smiles and blushes slightly, before also asking, "Who were the northerners? Other ponies, or were they different creatures?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174545
174546 174547
>>174544
The stallion's eyes widen, and he takes a step, then a second step back.

"No, I uh, what I meant is uh, I... uh I thought of you and, uh... The northerners are the other ponies who come from the north, the Equestrians."

>>174543
nibble nibble nibble

"Myah"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174546
174549
>>174545
Kira is a little bit crestfallen that he's trying to backpedal from the compliment rather than owning up to it, but she keeps talking.

"I thought all of the ponies here were Equestrians."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174547
174549
>>174545
"Heheh. Well, you enjoy your toast, feel free to make some more if you want it, just feed bread slices into top slots, press lever down, and wait for them to pop up. I am going to wake up Mint Marine and Mala."
Anonymous
b574555
?
No.174548
174549
>>174540
>This is a heavily WW2 inspired setting.
Okay, I'm checking the reference tables.
>The medical kits are intended to be like the medical kits carried by combat medics in WW2
That would be a medical kit.
>or in the division field surgical hospital
Surgical kit.
>They have opiate painkillers, anti-malaria medications, and other elements
That would be a pharmaceutical kit.
>I could not find a weight for these kits anywhere
The DMG says to reference the d20 modern core rulebook for contemporary and 20th century settings. I went and found the tables:
Medical Kit: weighs 5 pounds; Purchase DC is 15 (25 gp)
Surgery Kit: weighs 5 pounds; Purchase DC is 16 (32.5 gp)
Pharmaceutical Kit: weighs 6 pounds; Purchase DC 17 (45 gp).
Overall, they have a cost equivalent to the d&d medieval item (gauze used to be expensive, as it came all the way from Gaza). They just weigh ~5 times as much.

Regardless of how much loot Posey actually has, she sets off to rendezvous with Mason, her mission complete.
>>174541
>"A good magician never reveals his tricks"
Posey's ears droop a bit
"I've heard that before, from my masters. Oh well, keep your secrets."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174549
174550 174551 174552
>>174548
Dude I don't care, it's one of these. Leaning towards Medical Officer's kit
https://www.med-dept.com/articles/medical-kits-contents-kits-of-medical-personnel/

>>174546
Awww...
"Well, yes, but no. In the south we ponies were here before the Hearthswarming ponies came from the north. We had our own civilization and legends. But we've since joined."

>>174547
"Oh, uh, okay."
She takes bread, places it in the toaster, and stares at it. A few second later she presses the letter down.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174550
174553
>>174549
Well, here's hoping she doesn't find a new way to burn the house down, as he heads back upstairs and looks inside Mala's room.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174551
174553
>>174549
"Huh. Neat! I guess I'll have to learn all about the different groups of ponies here."

After a second or two of silence, combined with her rubbing the tip of her tail between her hooves, Kira comments, "...are you sure I'm not great and majestic? I thought it was a really nice compliment..."
Anonymous
b574555
?
No.174552
174556
>>174549
Are there any complications with Posey's trip back to Mason?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174553
174554 174555 174559
>>174551
"I, uh" He looks back, and then has that wide smile that shows teeth, until he slowly closes his lips, and looks back towards Kira

"Well... Maybe a little great and majestic."

>>174550
Hopefully those stereotypes about Kirin managing to burn down houses and even burn their bread are greatly exaggerated.

Mala and Mint Marine have shifted a bit in the bed. Mala is still perpendicular in the bottom two thirds of the bed, but he's flipped himself over, from lying on his belly, to on his back. Mint Marine has also shifted. He's still at the head of the bed, but instead of lying on his side perpendicular to the length of the bed, he's now lying on his side with his head towards the bottom. His head is lying on Mala's white, fat, and fluffy belly. Mint Marine's mouth is open and his tongue is hanging out, while Mala's head is upside down and at the edge of the bed.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174554
174557
>>174553
Kira's smile returns, and she continues to rub the tip of her tail.

"Thank you..."

Kira looks over to Neela.

"So, everything's been bought and paid for. I think next we need to go get some food to put in our kitchen. What do you say?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174555
>>174553
They are still very cute, but unfortunately Silver has to break up the sleeping duo. He knocks on the doorframe with some volume.

"Wakey wakey!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174556
>>174552
No. The Priest gives a slow wave goodbye.

Turn Card:
"Oh, we'll get to know each other better. The secrets will go away in time."

Attempting to tie the items to the bone lurker is awkward, but not impossible.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174557
174558 174581
>>174554
"You're welcome" the stallion says

Neela looks surprised, almost scared. It takes her a couple moments to answer
"I, I think so. You... Think we should remain in the house the next few days, or...." She tilts her head
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174558
174580
>>174557
Mala's eyes go open, and directly look at Silver. His ears shoot up, but they hit the bed beneath him, and bend against the mattress. His hind legs shoot up as well. The right one scrapes against the wall, the left is in the air, but hits the curtains and bounces off.

He raises his forelegs, but they are folded in the middle joint. He then turns on his side, which pushes Mint Marine's head up

"mhhhhhmm"
Mint Marine is slower to get up, but does start.
Anonymous
d5000a5
?
No.174559
174579 174584
>>174553
Posey takes 20 to securely tie down all of the loot, particularly the cylinders.

As the bones Lurker approaches Mason, Posey makes sure to wave friendly to him, to make sure he's not too alarmed by the site.
"~Yoohoo! Mason! I got the cylinders, and then some." she calls out from atop the huge flying amalgam of animated floating bones.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174560
174561
>>174540
Her ears go down. "Half?" she asks, dismayed.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174561
174562
>>174560
"Something like that. CANT alone had 8%. Every dock worker and truck driver in the city. At least I think it was 8%. Don't quote me on that. It was very popular to announce oneself as a member of the unions. Still is, sort of."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174562
174563
>>174561
"Do you think there's somepony in the unions we could ask who could point out who's breaking and pilferin' stuff?" Amber asks, trying to remain hopeful.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174563
174564
>>174562
"Not unlikely, considering it was likely one of their ilk responsible. Then again, I don't know if they go bragging amongst themselves about the harm they bring to others. Though they likely do... They have nothing else to brag about."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174564
174565
>>174563
"Nothing? What do you mean?", Amber asks, already making a mental note of this conversation.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174565
174566
>>174564
"Ponies of great talent and accomplishment don't become anarchists, and they certainly don't go around smashing windows."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174566
174567
>>174565
"True, I suppose. What I'm trying to figure out though, is how we can stop them."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174567
174568
>>174566
"How to stop the anarchists? What a lovely question to have answered. The Progress Monarchists, the Communists, the Fascists, and the Social Democrats have been combining their efforts for more than a decade now to stop the Anarchists. Though I suppose you could say the former lot are winning, seeing as how the Anarchists have been foiled at their every attempt thus far. Still, tell me when you have an answer."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174568
174569
>>174567
"Well…" Ambers says as she looks away and sways a hoof on the floor, "More about stopping them from hurting this shop specifically. It's best to start small."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174569
174570
>>174568
"Stopping shoplifters and vandals would be very much appreciated, yes." She responds, a bit more firmly.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174570
174571
>>174569
Amber will take whatever encouragement she can get. "I'll figure something out," she says with a small smile.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174571
174572
>>174570
"Well, that'll be lovely. Now if you could, get a start on checking the inventory."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174572
174573
>>174571
"Right away!" Amber answers with no hesitation. There's now an objective in mind and it helps motivate her for the tedious work.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174573
174574
>>174572
The little pony may be busy as a bee, going about her work until Guy arrives. Or she can engage with High Sewn, who will spontaneously try to talk about either politics or Amber's love life. Either way
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174574
174575
>>174573
Amber strives for a balance, getting important things done but taking brief reprieves. After all, she has another job after this one.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174575
174576
>>174574
All the same, High Sewn goes on a tangent about the unions mentioned earlier claiming they were mainly intended to try to keep bats from working in Baltimare. Amber may be concerned that her employer is a bat-lover. Likewise, High Sewn tries to probe Amber for information about Mustard Trim and Amber's relationship with him. Why this mare who is around Amber's mother's age is taking interest in such things may just be beyond Amber.

And either way, time moves nearer to 1 PM
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174576
174577
>>174575
"B-bats? What makes you think that?" Amber is at once both intrigued and skeptical, as well as a little worried.

"Oh, he's nice…we went on a date last week, and I met his family…well, most of them. He's smart and focused on his studies but not too ambitious. If you ask me, that's rather cute." It's a more pleasant sort of conversation and it doesn't occur to her whether such questions by her boss would be inappropriate.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174577
174578
>>174576
Bats:
High Sewn spews forth unsolicited opinions on political matters
"Bat ponies, from the south. When they began to come to Baltimare in large numbers, the Unions felt threatened, claiming they 'compete for jobs' or what have you. Of course this isn't the case. The bat ponies don't even work during the day. They work the night shift, which allows for an extra one third of productivity out of the same machines. Of course the unions said that meant less work for them. That's how they like to see things. No concern for the whole, only for what benefits them."

And when Amber talks about Mustard Trim, she is not detached and dictating to Amber, but rather moves closer to Amber, leaning in, propping herself up on her fore knees, hooves on her cheeks, listening intently and smiling widely. The middle aged mare is still a school filly, it seems.

"Oh, that's so charming! Where did you go? What did you do? What are they like? What did you do afterwards, hehe. Not too ambitious? Now that isn't right. A colt ought to be ambitious. A refusal to accept reality as it is is the great virtue of the youth. There's something wrong with the colt who doesn't imagine himself as the next Flash Magnus, I think. But is he cute. Like, what does he look like?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174578
174584
>>174577
Amber flatly replies, "I'm surprised they can operate the machines at all. I ain't sayin' they're stupid or anythin'. You know the expression, 'blind as a batpony'? Don't they see with their voices somehow? It can't be easy to run loud equipment in a room like that."

The conversation revolving Mustard is a little warmer though, as she feels the attention is a form of approval and enjoys it. "Well, we first chatted at Coconut Cove, if you know where that is, then one day we went down the coast to the south where there's an actual cove and a restaurant away from the hustle-bustle, where we ate and explored the surroundings, and, uh, the mornin' after that I went with his family to church, before going home with them. They're nice and gave a lot for Equestria, and were wondrously hospitable towards me. I helped him study…." Amber then visibly blushes and avoids looking directly at Sewn. "We, er, um, did some kissin'…." She clears her throat and continues, "He looks similar to me in color, except a bit darker in mane and coat, and with bluish eyes, no nose marking, and he's taller than I am. He has a woodworking cutie mark too!" Amber avoids mentioning any of her believed causes of Mustard's lack of ambition, and decides to not contest Sewn on whether there's something "wrong" with him.
Anonymous
948934b
?
No.174579
>>174559
Does Mason react?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174580
174584
>>174558
Silver smiles upon seeing Mala wake so quickly.

"Good morning, sleepy heads. You sure do wake up easily, Mala. Anyways, there are pancakes downstairs if either of you are interested in breakfast."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174581
174584
>>174557
"Well, I'd like to follow up on that lead for work, so I can start working towards meeting the governor. I don't know if you'd want to come along for that or not. You'll definitely need some food and entertainment if you don't want to, but even if you do want to come along, it'd be nice to have some in the house."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174584
174585 174586 174597 174605
>>174559
The priest flatly waves with a single spliced hoof. Posey feels another cold, sandpaper rub against her fur.

Mason is low in the chair in his car, and does not react until Posey taps on the windows. It would be easy to think that he fell asleep, but he looks over to Posey rather quickly. He rolls down the windows.

"What in Tartarus is that? And what is that you brought back? Is that a hostage?"

>>174578
To some degree, High Sewn seems vicariously offended
"Now where did you hear that? Bat ponies can see just fine. And they can tolerate loud noises well enough. They wouldn't work in the factories if they couldn't."

It's too distinct points in time, however

"Coconut Cove? I know that place. Interesting choice of live music there. And a cove? Oh, that sounds lovely. Interesting that he would take you to his parents so soon. Usually stallions don't want to have to explain to their parents 'where did that mare go?" And after a pause, and her leaning in with a playful smile
"Was smooching all you did? He sounds handsome. Don't correct me if I'm wrong on that. I like to imagine it my way."

>>174580
After Mala turns himself over, Mint Marine's head falls onto the bed, and he makes a "Myah" sound as he continues lying, trying to sleep. Mala stands up and jumps off the bed, revealing a pistol lying on the bed that was previously underneath him.

But then, Mint Marine shoots up
"Pancakes?! I want pancakes!"

>>174581
"Oh, the governor won't want to meet you." Neela says, probably to herself. "But food, yes. Let's go get that." And after a pause "Can we get a radio?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174585
174587
>>174584
Silver looks at the pistol, and tilts his head. He asks Mala a question before he address the excited colt.

"Where did that come from?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174586
174587
>>174584
Kira gasps, and her pupils dilate a bit. If Neela looked, she could swear she sees sparkles in Kira's eyes.

"A radio!? I've heard of those! They read words sent through the air to you, right?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174587
174588 174589
>>174585
"I've had it since yesterday" Mala answers

>>174586
"Uh, kind of" She answers. "You use them to listen to music, and to radio programs. It's basically required in every house."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174588
174590
>>174587
"Oh, right, I remember that...event. Did you sleep with it?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174589
174590
>>174587
Kira claps her hoofs together very excitedly, and does a little "bounce" with the front half of her body.

"Ohohoho! That sounds amazing! I don't want to be breaking the requirement, let's definitely get one!"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174590
174591 174592
>>174588
"Yes." He says rather bluntly, lowering his head but still looking up towards Silver

>>174589
There's a "Thump" sound and the floor vibrates as they are not above solid ground. Neela's legs move a little apart and her ears go down as she's startled by Kira's movement - or more accurately, she's startled by the shaking floor.

"Yes, you should get one." She looks down towards the wooden floor, but then back up towards Kira "but aren't you afraid you will run low on money?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174591
174593
>>174590
"I've still got plenty! And I should get more from that job, so no worries."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174592
174593
>>174590
Silver shakes his head. "Not very good idea. You are lucky it did not go off. Put it somewhere safe in future, okay?"

Alright, he's made the colt wait long enough. He looks to Mint Marine, and smiles. "You want some pancakes? They should still be warm, and we have plenty of stuff to top them with."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174593
174594 174595
>>174591
She tilts her head, one ear pointing towards the ground
"And again, what kind of job is it exactly you want to do?"

>>174592
Mala pulls his lips together, his ears go down, and he leans back and lowers his head

"Yes!" Mint Marine says, hoping off of the bed and standing in front of Silver. His tail wags, but then stops

"What kind of toppings?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174594
174596
>>174593
"Fruit, preserves, peanut butter, syrup. All kinds of things, you would have to look for yourself. You can Frankenpony your pancakes any way you want, as long as you think it would be tasty!"

Silver comes over to Mala, and gives him some reassuring headpats.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174595
174596
>>174593
Neela looks just a bit cuter than normal in this style of pose.

"Oh, anything really, as long as it gets me closer to my goal. Money wouldn't hurt." She rubs her foreleg. "Well...I do mean anything, but...I do hope it's nothing, you know...unseemly. I want public opinion of lamias to improve, and the only way that will happen is if I serve as a shining example for my tribe and species."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174596
174599 174600
>>174594
Mala's head is pat. The ears go a little higher

"You have all of those things?"
Mint Marine does not wait for an answer. He instead gallops along the wooden floor, leaving through the door, skidding on the floor in the hall and grazing the wall as he turns to the left and towards the stairs.

>>174595
"But I mean, what would you do?" She asks, evidently not satisfied
Anonymous
7b4e78c
?
No.174597
174598
>>174584
"~I got the cylinders." Posey says, visibly dripping with vainglory
>What in Tartarus is that? And what is that you brought back?
"I brought friends!" Posey declares
>Is that a hostage
"Something like that. She was like this when I found her, so I brought her with me."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174598
174601
>>174597
"Friends? I can't fit that thing in the car." Referring to the bone lurker. He says. He looks over towards the diamond dog. "You want to take her back?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174599
174603
>>174596
"Oh, uh...give an example?" She smiles sheepishly. "I suppose that would be easier for me to answer than just listing off every time of job I would do."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174600
174602
>>174596
Silver hugs his gnoll/hyena friend as the excited colt runs excitedly out of the room towards the object of his excitement.

"I hope you know I was not trying to berate you, I just got worried about your life and wellbeing."
Anonymous
7b4e78c
?
No.174601
174602
>>174598
>I can't fit that thing in the car."
Fuck, I thought we had a truck. Need a new plan....
"Well, I suppose I could order it to bury itself and wait to be picked up some other day with the truck... Or perhaps order it to fly above the clouds and follow us... No, that would be too risky, better to bury it here for now." Posey says, a twinge of disappointment audible in her voice.
"As for you..." she says, referring to the ghast
She gives the undead monster a little boop on the snoot, and it's rotten flesh shimmers and warps a bit as its appearance is replaced by that of a handsome, comely blue living stallion with a well-groomed yellow mane.
"A little makeover, for the time being."

(Posey has used on of her new spell slots to cast Disguise Undead on the Ghast. It has a duration of 24 hours and magically glammers an undead creature to have a new appearance.)
https://dndtools.net/spells/spell-compendium--86/disguise-undead--4391/

The two dreads, being only severed skeletal arms, fold themselves up in a way that makes them easy to conceal as luggage.

>"You want to take her back?"
"I think I will. She shouldn't be too much trouble..."
Posey gives the diamond dog a sharp look
Intimidate
[1d20+13 = (7+13) = 20]
Followed by an attempt to Charm her with her Gaze (Will DC 19)
"Is that right, dear?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174602
174604 174606
>>174600
He's rather large, with a lot of fat, muscle, and the second highest amount of fluff in the household. His fur is coarse, but still fluffy, and arches up along his back. But while Silver is hugging Mala,

"I know how to handle a gun!" Mala yells with more than a tinge of anger. He's actually kind of intimidating

His ears go down.
"I wanted to protect Minty... Everyone... to be the protector..."

>>174601
I believe that this one is in a car, while the pervious one was in a truck which Mason would logically still have access to

Poof
The Ghast now appears a stallion, albeit a rather confused one

The diamond dog tries to sit up, and nods towards Posey in affirmation.

From the front passenger seat, there is a "Now who are you?" It comes from Turn Card, who is now sitting in the seat next to Mason. Mason yells, opens the door and gets out of the car.
"Where the fuck did you come from?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174603
174607
>>174599
"You are looking to kill for the occupiers, aren't you?" Neela says bluntly
Anonymous
7b4e78c
?
No.174604
174608
>>174602
>"Where the fuck did you come from?"
"Oh, he does that sometimes." Posey says with a giggle
"This is Turn Card, one of the soldiers I befriended on my journey." She says, glancing at her saddlebag if any of the other ghosts reveal themselves
>bitch nods
"Excellent." Posey says, with a less-menacing smile
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174605
174608
>>174584
In the first conversation, Amber folds her ears back and looks down in an apologetic way. Batponies might be good customers, or High Sewn might just favor them for personal reasons. "Sorry, I didn't know about that, I haven't met many…."

When it comes to talking about her own dating life, she's much more relaxed and chipper. "Isn't it great music there? I wish I could play as well and as vividly, and it's a bit of a shame such a talented griffon can't find a better patron." As questions get more suggestive however, Amber's face becomes flushed and she laughs nervously. "He's plenty handsome to me, and sweet and caring as well. You'd like to meet him."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174606
174608
>>174602
Silver, surprised by the sudden anger and yelling, takes a sudden step back, his ears folding back. After the initial surprise goes away, and he hears Mala's reason, he relaxes again.

"I did not mean to imply that you did not know how to handle firearm, Mala. You are fighter, warrior like me. You are protector." He smiles at him. "That does not mean I will not worry over your health. You are my friend.
Of course I will worry."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174607
174608
>>174603
Still sheepishly, Kira replies while rubbing one of her forelegs with the other, "Well...can I be honest? I don't...really want to kill anyone. I'm a hunter, sure, and in my tribe hunters also double as warriors and protectors of the tribe...but I've never actually...you know..."

She goes from rubbing her foreleg to rubbing the tip of her tail between her hooves.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174608
174609 174610 174611 174617
>>174604
Next to the car and to Posey's right, the blue form of Carried Pack takes shape, and looks towards Mason. Mason looks back, and then steps back, still uncomfortable. To Posey's left, the unicorn medic - Posey hasn't gotten his name - also takes a translucent blue form, looking over towards Mason with an electric blue shape that lacks distinct features like eyes.

"Are you two dating?" Turn Card asks, though Posey may not hear it well

Irritated, Mason asks
"Anything else?"

>>174605
"And be nice to them if they visit the store. Sometimes they will come through before going off into night shift, especially security guards, or janitors, here in the city center."

"It's an odd flavor for a club. Makes it feel fancier than it is, like you're in a Canterlot theater rather than a Manehatttan night club."

"'Handsome to me'. Well, that tells me what he looks like. Why did you have to dispel my illusions like that? Makes me feel better though, being single over here. Sure, you can bring him by. See if he needs a sweater."

>>174606
Mala lowers his head further, and looks up at Silver. Mala's shoulders are taller than an average pony, but he tends to hold his head out level with his shoulders, making him at once both taller and shorter than the average pony.

>>174607
She starts to smile rather widely
"Really now? Not even zebras or deer?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174609
174612
>>174608
Kira shakes her head.

"Nope. Never zebras or deer, or anything else that talks."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174610
174612
>>174608
"I will, I will. Y'know I won't trade insults with a stranger unprovoked."

"I haven't been in many night clubs, so I ain't sure what to expect from one. The music just carries me away. It was hard to believe that what I was listening to was coming from right in front of me. I should go back and listen to more of it…."

Now Amber is struggling to not look offended. "No, he is plenty handsome! He's just a bit wiry, and it's nothing a better diet wouldn't fix. I haven't seen him wear a sweater, only jackets."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174611
174612
>>174608
Silver continues to smile at his friend.

"You really care about Mint, huh?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174612
174613 174614 174615
>>174610
"Well, certainly don't do it with customers. They need to feel welcome." And after a pause. "Unless it's another vandal or thief, then they can go hang themselves."

High Sewn tries to lean back on her back in the chair, with her head extending over the armrest. If she were a normal sized mare, this may have worked well enough. But her frame is too big, and she extends too far over in each direction.

"Oh, it's nice enough to try. I've been a few times, more so in the past, of course. Not that it was quite my fancy, but I will go with others." She looks over to Amber, now trying to sit up again. "Aren't you some kind of musician?"

"Sure, he just needs a diet change" She smiles and nods, and then looks away as she says "Oh of course he thinks he is too good for sweaters. Bring him over here, we'll find something to put him in."

>>174609
"Those Customs agents, the military, the police... they are not very nice. Even if they don't have you killing creatures they will have you rounding them up." She blinks "Do you really think they'd accept you?"

>>174611
His head lowered
"Well, yes. I mean... he was interested to know things... to have a big... to have someone strong on his side... to protect him..."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174613
174629
>>174612
"Mhm, I play the mandolin and it's my hope–when I've saved enough, of course–to apply to music school. Music is…" and she pauses for a moment to find her words, "…magical, and it improves everypony's lives. I think in these times it's needed more than ever."

"But so are nice clothes," she continues with a giggle, "So when he's free I'll invite him here. I think he'll appreciate it."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174614
174621
>>174612
"Then he is very lucky to have someone like you, Mala."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174615
174621
>>174612
"I don't know...the Customs agents and the military ponies were pretty nice to me..." She straightens herself up. "I have to try. My tribe is depending on me, I can't fail them."
Anonymous
9139f68
?
No.174617
>>174608
>"Are you two dating?"
"No."
>"Anything else?"
"That'll be it, Mason."
Anonymous
41949e8
?
No.174621
174623 174627 174628
>>174614
Mala closes his eyes and simply accepts any headpats, standing there silently.

>>174615
“Can you depend on the ponies though?” She asks. “The new government, more specifically I mean.” And a little pause, “They will assume things about you, and have their minds concluded.”
Anonymous
2e96b19
?
No.174623
174624
>>174621
Does Posey need to roll anything to get home, or can she take 10 on Bluff while Charming the checkpoint guards?
Anonymous
41949e8
?
No.174624
174625 174626
>>174623
Posey needs a cover story as to why they were out and why she has so much… stuff. She needs to keep the diamond dog quiet, and keep the ghosts from spooking the guards.

If this is satisfactory, she may take a 10
Anonymous
2e96b19
?
No.174625
174626 174629
>>174624
>Posey needs a cover story as to why they were out and why she has so much… stuff
The medical supplies are licensed tools for her profession.
The Polearm is a historical artifact, as is her other archaic weaponry.
She didn't take very much else besides jewelry.
>She needs to keep the diamond dog quiet
I figured Charming and and asking her politely might work, and if not that maybe threatening her would be good enough...
She could put a Necrotic Cyst inside her that could allow her to detect, scry on, or destroy her at any time. I was looking for a chance to use that spell...
I guess this is as good a time as any to ask what the bitch's name is.
>keep the ghosts from spooking the guards
Posey asks them to un-manifest for the sake of convenience.
Anonymous
2e96b19
?
No.174626
>>174625
>>174624
Posey takes the gag off of the bitch and gives her a chance to speak.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174627
174629
>>174621
"Well...then I suppose I will just need to give them reasons to not assume bad things about me!" She says, optimistically.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174628
174629
>>174621
pat pat pat

"Is something matter, friend?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174629
174630 174631 174632 174645
>>174613
"You ought to talk to Guy more. He plays a musical instrument, and he's in college too." And after a pause "I'm not sure what music could do to help... this, except maybe to improve the atmosphere. But I wouldn't consider myself a connoisseur of music either, so I can't really comment."

And smiling again,
"Yes, bring him here. I'm very curious to see what 'cute to me' looks like."

>>174625
She is still sweating.

With a hoarse voice, she answers
"Sasha"

>>174627
"Oh, they won't need a reason" she says, almost to herself

>>174628
"It's just..." His ears go down "I don't know... I haven't really been trusted... either to do things right, or... to do the right thing..."
Anonymous
394b00a
?
No.174630
174633
>>174629
>"Sasha"
"Well, Sasha, are you going yourself on this car ride without that muzzle on?" Posey asks flatly
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174631
174633
>>174629
"I trust you to do right things, and to do them right."

Silver smiles at his closest friend.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174632
174633
>>174629
While the sentiment of her saying is understood, combined with what Kira said makes it sound as if they won't need a reason to *not* assume bad things about Kira. Regardless, Kira smiles at her deer friend, and flicks her tongue.

"Well, ready to go to the market, to get some food and this 'radio'?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174633
174634 174635 174658
>>174630
Breathing in, "I -" then out, and back in again "Yes?"

Mason comments
"She looks very sick"

>>174631
Mala looks up at him
"But do you trust me with Minty?"

>>174632
"I think we have everything but... are you looking to have the furniture delivered later?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174634
174636
>>174633
"I would prefer sooner rather than later. You know, so we don't have to worry about it in the future."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174635
174636
>>174633
Silver nods resolutely.

"I trust you completely."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174636
174637 174638
>>174634
"Oh, well... we should probably do that then" She says

The stallion who has agreed to help is still nearby

>>174635
Mala simply looks up at Silver with big, brown eyes
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174637
174639
>>174636
"What is it, Mala?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174638
174639
>>174636
Kira turns to the stallion who has been waiting patiently for them.

"Uh, excuse me. Is there anything we need to do with regards to the delivery?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174639
174640 174641
>>174637
He turns his head, and looks away
"Nothing, really..."

>>174638
"Already have the address, just pay, and whenever you're ready"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174640
174642
>>174639
I thought Kira already paid, tho
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174641
174642
>>174639
"Are you sure? It sure does not seem like nothing."

Silver tries to get a look at his friend's face.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174642
174643 174644
>>174640
Uh, okay then

The stallion gets with another stallion, who move the items of furniture into a truck that is outside to ship the items to Kira's apartment.

>>174641
"Well, maybe I could use a few more pets... and nice words..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174643
174646
>>174642
"Heheh. Very well, then."

pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet

"You are great friend and protector, Mala. Mint Marine really is lucky to have you looking out for him."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174644
174646
>>174642
This is something Kira can help with, if they let her.

"So, is there anything else we need to do? Should we return to the apartment immediately, or can we attend to our other tasks?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174645
174646
>>174629
"We have something in common so it can't really go wrong," Amber replies with typical optimism.

If there's nothing more to be said, she returns to work.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174646
174647 174651 174652
>>174643
Mala is pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet pet

Mala smiles, and turns his head, then an ear moves to the side and back up.

"Thanks..."

>>174644
The stallions think they have it under control, and they seem to, picking up the large furniture with their hooves, placing it on their backs, and getting it in the truck. They are quite good at it.

"Well, usually the customer is there to unlock the apartment, direct where they want the furniture to go, and to supervise the whole process." He answers

>>174645
The little pony works on inventory, and is joined by Guy at around 1 PM, when the store reopens.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174647
174648
>>174646
"Hello Guy, it's good to see you this afternoon," Amber greets warmly. "How is school?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174648
174649
>>174647
Guy looks over at Amber strangely, clearly not expecting the little pony to engage in conversation with him

"Good... It's just started, more or less"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174649
174653
>>174648
"What are you studying again? It's in college, right? What is college like?" Amber fires off these questions in rapid succession and suddenly stops, as if she wants to ask more but is holding herself back.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174651
174653
>>174646
Kira watches in awe of how strong and deft these ponies are.

"Ohhhh, okay that makes sense. I suppose that means we should hurry up and get back home, huh?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174652
174653
>>174646
Silver gives Mala's ear a nice little rub.

"So, why is it you want to be warrior and protector like me?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174653
174654 174659 174660
>>174649
"I was studying accounting, when my parents had hopes of sending me back to Nouveau Aquila. I still am, but I may change. I'm taking classes with the University of Baltimare. I am living off campus and am not taking classes full time, so it's not the full experience, but... why do you ask?"

>>174652
His ears perk up, and then his head

"Can I?"

>>174651
"Sure. You might be able to ride with us" He looks down at the not-really-a-pony. "If you can fit"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174654
174655
>>174653
"I'm curious, because I want to apply for music school when I can. Where is Nouveau Aquila and why do yer folks want you to head back? Is accounting difficult?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174655
174656
>>174654
"I see... Nouveau Aqila is where my family is from. It's in Nova Griffonia, far north from here. They've thought of returning once things have... settled down. And accounting... yeah, it's kind of hard. A lot of math. Many principles to memorize."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174656
174661
>>174655
"It must be very chilly up there. Why did you have to leave?" Amber would be beside herself to turn down an opportunity to ask about a distant land.
Anonymous
394b00a
?
No.174658
174661
bigstock-A-Happy-Dog-Travels-In-The-Sum-458000187.png
>>174633
>"Yes?"
"Very well then."
Posey looks at Mason
"Let's get going."
>"She looks very sick"
"We can treat her when we get back. If her condition acutely worsens before that, I'll sedate her."
Posey uses her horn to crank down the window on the bitch's side so that she can get some fresh air
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174659
174661
>>174653
Silver nods and smiles at his friend.

"Of course you can, you already seem to be well on your way. Maybe sometime I can show you some techniques my father showed me for wielding that sword I gave you?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174660
174661
>>174653
"Oh, no need to worry about fitting! I can fit into whatever nooks and crannies are left for me for the ride." She smiles brightly as she says this, but she does not yet really realize if she can fit or not.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174661
174662 174663 174667 174695
[1d20 = 13]
>>174656
"It can get cold, yes. Much colder than here. The ocean keeps it from getting too cold, however. We left because of the instability and... malaise... that was common in all griffin lands at the time."

>>174658
Mason
"Then let's get going. I'd rather not drive through this area at night anyways." Mason gets in the car and closes the door.

The diamond dog is not very well able to move on her own, although with much effort, she can sort of make it into the car on her own.

>>174659
Mala moves his bushy tail side to side
"Yes." With big bright eyes

>>174660
He raises an eyebrow

"Okay... you can try."

Going downstairs, and to the curb, Kira can see that there is a truck waiting with a red paint job, and a covered back. It's a different model of truck than Kira saw at the docks, but similar enough to not be completely unfamiliar. There are only two seats in the front, however, although some pony could probably stay in the back.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174662
174664
>>174661
This causes Silver to ruffle the top of Mala's head.

"Anyways, we have big day ahead of us. I want to see if I can find mission to get money to pay for house expansions, make it so everyone has their own room if they so wish."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174663
174664
>>174661
Kira volunteers to stay in the back to give everyone else room in the front.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174664
174665 174666
>>174663
Ideas floated include one of the stallions sitting in the back and Neela up front, Neela sitting on the lap of one of the stallions (Neela proposed that one), and maybe Kira popping in through the window between the cab and the back

>>174662
Mala tilts his head
"How are you going to do that?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174665
174669
>>174664
Kira likes that last idea, if for nothing else than to still be able to talk to everyone during the short trip. But besides that, what are the stallions' thoughts on Neela's proposal?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174666
174668
>>174664
"Well, I have had two really lucrative missions within city so far. First was clearing out quarry of undead, but I do not believe those are exceptionally common. Second was from Customs, and I think you are familiar with that job. Maybe they have more jobs they need help with?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174667
174668
>>174661
"Hmm, malaise…you mean a fatigue of the corruption and short-sightedness of the ruling class?" Amber feels like this is an oddly familiar subject.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174668
174669 174670 174673
[1d20 = 10]
[1d20 = 16]

>>174666
"Maybe... That sounds very dangerous though..."

>>174667
Guy seems mildly offended
"Well... Yes, but it's more than that. It was an economic collapse and, well, it's hard to explain to someone who isn't, well, a griffin, but there was a real lack of hope. The loss of the Idol of Boreas hurt on a spiritual level."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174669
174674
>>174665
>>174668
The stallions don't seem terribly impressed, but one decides to allow her to sit up front with him.

Roll dexterity for Kira's ability to fit
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174670
174671
>>174668
Amber likewise becomes a bit more dour as she replies, "Sort of like losing your gods and not knowing where they could be at? That does leave you feelin' adrift and worried…."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174671
174672
>>174670
"Not 'losing' them, but more losing their favor, and their connection to us."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174672
174675
>>174671
"It's so easy to take them for granted and forget how important they are for well-being, prosperity, and culture…. Amber whimsies. "Y'all don't have any hope of this 'Idol of Boreas' returning?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174673
174677
>>174668
"Maybe, but I am used to that. Plus, usually more danger means more money."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174674
174677
>>174669
Dexterity? That's something Kira can do!

[1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174675
174676
>>174672
Guy's widen and he tilts his head slightly back, as if he only now understands what Amber meant

"No. I think the ponies tried to find it some years ago. It's been lost. Nova Griffonia has tried to move on since then but... Griffins can't agree on what direction to go. There's been fighting."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174676
174677
>>174675
"Disharmony is affecting more than just ponies…." Amber murmurs. "What direction do you think griffons should go in?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174677
174678 174679 174680
>>174673
Mala nods his head slowly
"Then I guess... we go into danger."

>>174674
Kira can fit, kind of, but it's very inelegant. Kira is longer than the bed of the truck and must curl up to some degree. The edges of tables and the bed frame are unpleasant and jab into Kira, while the top of tables almost make her slide off.

A stallion says, looking back
"Careful. Don't put too much weight on anything. You could break something."

>>174676
"We don't have a royal family. I would say that an elected republic is best, but there's just too many view points, too much disagreement. At the moment Nova Griffonia has a strong griff, and I think that's where it will need to stay for the time being. Over in Old Griffonia... I don't know. I've never been there. Then again, I don't know Nova Griffonia well either."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174678
174682
>>174677
Kira nods, feeling just a bit uncomfortable and perhaps second guessing her decision. Oh well, nothing to it other than to keep going she supposes, as she does her best to avoid causing damage to her brand new furniture.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174679
174682
>>174677
"I am guessing you are not thrilled to dive headfirst into danger?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174680
174681
>>174677
"There are a lotta griffons in Baltimare, and probably a good number in the university too. Don't you talk about world events with them? They might offer some insights."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174681
174683
>>174680
"I have, a few times. With family too. They are... opinionated..."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174682
174686 174687
>>174679
"No, that... that makes sense. I am ready to dive into danger. If you are..."

>>174678
Kira is able to poke her pony body through the window, placing her partly in the cabin. The stallion in the passenger seat has Neela on his lap. It's a tight fit. Neela has a smile, enjoying it, while the stallion is clearly second guessing his decision. The driver is the only one with much room, which he needs for the gear shift. This is likely Kira's first time to see how a vehicle is driven.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174683
174684
>>174681
"Nopony can agree on everything. What do they think?" Amber seems curious about why he's open with a pony coworker and not his fellow griffons.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174684
174685
>>174683
"One is absolutely bent in favor of a republic lead by the social democrats. I guess more than one is. Another wants a kind of libertine state that's business friendly, lead by an elected monarch. That's an uncle of mine. Another wants a Discret to be brough in as a monarch" He visibly gags "And then at school one wants a communist government." And frowning "They can be rather passionate about it."
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174685
174688
>>174684
Amber's mouth droops open in surprise. "Those are all completely different! I ain't sure which is the most popular among your folk, but did they come up with those ideas by themselves?" Maybe ponies and griffons aren't that different after all, if we're all so divided, she things to herself.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174686
174688
>>174682
Silver smiles at his friend.

"It is okay to admit that you would rather not. Besides, I have something else for you to do, if you want it."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174687
174688
>>174682
Kira watches intently to see how it's done. While she was a passenger in that truck earlier at the docks, that was just riding in the back with the nice Customs ponies without a view that was anything like this.

"Wow...this really is amazing! I have no idea how ponies came up with all of this stuff."
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174688
174689 174691 174692
>>174685
He sighs
"They didn't. Many griffins support each of those ideas." And after a pause
"It's okay, they can't figure out which idea is the most popular either."

>>174686
Mala looks up at Silver
"What is that?"

>>174687
Neela has her hindquarter's on the stallion's lap, and her legs up and on the dash. She's content with the situation. The stallion kind of holds her up with his forelegs, and moves her a bit to the right, giving more room for Kira, who is behind and in the middle. The truck moves forward, stopping and going frequently. The driver asks

"What do you mean?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174689
174690
>>174688
"How do they get along at all? It sounds like they're all on edge. Do you think one will come out on top? And what do they think of Equestria?"
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174690
174693
>>174689
"They haven't really gotten along. There was a series of armed conflicts that really was a civil war, which ended with the CEO of an arms company taking over as president of a new republic, and he's more or less kept a sort of order, between force and money. As for what they think of Equestria... Back in the day they were kind of just dismissive of Equestria as weak and effeminate, and kind of just 'over there'. I haven't been recently, though."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174691
174697
>>174688
"You know, all of this...technology! Vehicles, and radios, and all of this stuff! We never had anything even remotely close to any of this."

Kira is still perhaps slightly confused as to why Neela decided she wanted to sit in this pony's lap. Curious...
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174692
174697
>>174688
"Well, if I am gone, that means I would need to have somepony - or someone - serve as head of household until I got back. Someone I trusted completely, who is big and strong and able to protect everyone, who I know would be able to do good job..."

Silver looks right at Mala as he says this, and raises his eyebrows.

"Does that sound like...anyone I know? Perhaps anyone who might be right here, with me now?"
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174693
174697
>>174690
"You haven't kept in touch? Well, what do the griffons over here think? I haven't had the chance to speak with many of them." Amber neglects to mention the disgusting landlord she has, who represents the less desirable aspects of griffonkind and who casts a shadow on the day merely with a thought.
Anonymous
3b140dd
?
No.174695
174698
>>174661
Does Posey make it back to the manor?
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174697
174698 174699 174700 174701
>>174693
"We do, - kind of - we just don't talk about politics. As for Griffins over here, they vary. Some want a social democratic republic, some want a kind of communist or anarchist state... or non-state... some want the princess back, and some are enthusiastic about new business opportunities in southeast Griffonia... Mostly they care less than the griffins back in Nova Griffonia, which is a nice change."

>>174692
Mala tilts his head
"So... not with you... on the job?"

>>174691
Kira can, in fact, discern why Neela chose to sit where she did. It's actually pretty obvious. You see, ponies are fairly soft, and generally nice to sit on or lean against. Much better than the edges of furniture, or the tops of tables that don't quite give you good grip in a moving vehicle. And certainly it's better than having a doe sit on you. The only other creature that potentially has a better seat is the driver, and he has to deal with three peddles, a wheel, and that stick. Neela's seat is thus best in the house, though it does leave her head and neck exposed to possible predator attacks from the cargo-window.

What Neela did not appreciate that Kira surely can is that Kira's position places her in-between multiple possible friends/existing friends and gives her a good view of the Baltimare street.

"Oh really?" The driver looks back towards Kira and seems kind of off put by Kira's way of being in the vehicle, and looks back to the road
"Where uh, where are you from?"
Anonymous
22734c3
?
No.174698
174704 174705
>>174695
>>174697
Does Posey get home?

Posey's first order of business is to check on Gloomy, then to escort the dog inside and get her treatment so that she's still alive for Posey to decide what to do with her later. Posey recounts her adventure to Licorice Lament, and she makes arrangements to have the cylinders shipped back to her masters.
At this point, Posey is looking a bit strained; although not physically tired, it has been some time since she last had her daily 8 hours in meditation that she needs to replenish her arcane spells. She's never had her powers depleted for this long before, and that makes her feel vulnerable.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174699
174706
>>174697
"Those that do care seem to be less than welcome among the ponies here," remarks Amber. "They tend to have a reputation for mischief in service of their causes."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174700
174706
>>174697
"Well, if you choose this task, no. Instead you would be stallion of house while I am gone, in charge of making sure everyone is safe and sound and dealing with any emergencies."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174701
174706
>>174697
That does make sense, ponies are indeed really soft and friend-shaped. Kira would sit in one's lap if they were big enough. She also does appreciate the benefit of being in the position she's in, even if the furniture poking into her body is a bit uncomfortable.

"Dhamaji. You probably haven't heard of it? It's a city in Southeastern Zebrica, in the area near the Zeblu, Talonsvaal, and Roam. Actually we're also really close to the frontier of the Kirin Empire. It's way, way far away from here, so far away that I had never seen a pony before in my life until I got here. Like I knew you all existed, we had books about you and Equestria but still, we only ever saw zebras or griffons. The kirins liked to keep to themselves rather than coming all the way out to our tribe."
Anonymous
38c8df8
?
No.174704
174705
>>174698
I just need confirmation that Posey gets home.
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174705
174709
>>174698
Oh, Posey is definitely tired. Somehow, she feels like more has been taken out of her on a physical level than expected. Must be the weather, although it's actually cooler here and now than it is on the Dread Peninsula in summer.

Mason turns the vehicle on, and begins to move. The cylinder barely fits in the back, needing to be angled, and the diamond dog lays back, with a few bags covering her to act like blankets. The door closest to her head is cracked open to allow the flow of air. Mason himself rolls down some windows on a few occasions. The roads are long, windy, and lonely for the first portion of the trip, travelling through endless forest, and periodically over creeks and in one instance, a true river.

At one point, the vehicle comes upon a segment of the road where there are very clear cracks in either side, and the tree line is clear on either side. Mason slows down, and looks to either side, where trees are snapped off from their bases, uprooted, branches broken, or in some cases simply bent to either side. The broken trees form a line that crosses the road and is maybe 20 or 30 feet wide. When this segment of road is crossed, Mason steps on the gas, accelerating the engine much faster than the shift of the gear can match.

Mason enters the main road going north, and by this time the sun has set, and the remainder of the trip is in increasingly dwindling twilight, becoming full night by the time they meet the one checkpoint outside Baltimare. Posey is only minimally expected, and they make it to Licorice's manor, where he is up and about with Day Low Rain.

>>174704
Sure
Anonymous
48fa069
?
No.174706
174707 174708 174710
>>174699
Guy tilts his head, looking a bit offended

"What? What do you mean?"

>>174700
Mala simply looks up at Silver

>>174701
The stallion listens, and occasionally looks back

"Oh uh... yeah, I've heard of the Kirins and their grove before. I've delivered furniture for a few kirin. They are a bit odd though. Reserved. Most of them anyways."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
89e77c9
?
No.174707
>>174706
"What is it Mala?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
89e77c9
?
No.174708
>>174706
"They are a bit odd." Kira giggles. "They look really exotic though, a different kind of exotic from you ponies. You're exotic because, well, we never see any of you around where we live, while kirins are just, well...exotic! I've heard of lamias living within the Kirin Empire and the other kirin nations. An entirely different subspecies called 'fire lamias'. Supposedly they have fire magic, hence the name, and I've even heard some of them have the physical features of kirins! Very reclusive though, and apparently very territorial. I'm not sure if they're more or less territorial than the huge jungle lamias to the south of my tribe."
Anonymous
a7f8d62
?
No.174709
>>174705
>Posey is definitely tired. Somehow, she feels like more has been taken out of her on a physical level than expected. Must be the weather, although it's actually cooler here and now than it is on the Dread Peninsula in summer.
"I should have never gone out during the day, or crossed over and through all that water... Anything for the mission though... urgh!" Posey groans glassy-eyed, necrotic black veins visibly pulsing through the white fur on her face in what could be described as the undead equivalent to a migraine. Her fur appears blotched and patchy, and her mane is frizzy and discolored. Her face contorts erratically, at times seemingly feral as bat-like or wolf-like features push themselves to the surface. Despite being a daywalker, adventuring in such conditions doesn't come without its costs...
She distracts herself by combing her mane, brushing her fur, polishing her armor, checking her makeup as best as a pony can without a mirror, and generally trying to salvage her appearance.
>over creeks and in one instance, a true river.
Posey winces and yelps quietly at this, trying to suppress the visibility of her pain.
>At one point, the vehicle comes upon a segment of the road where there are very clear cracks in either side, and the tree line is clear on either side. Mason slows down, and looks to either side, where trees are snapped off from their bases, uprooted, branches broken, or in some cases simply bent to either side. The broken trees form a line that crosses the road and is maybe 20 or 30 feet wide. When this segment of road is crossed, Mason steps on the gas, accelerating the engine much faster than the shift of the gear can match.
"I wonder what caused that...?" Posey wonders aloud
>by this time the sun has set, and the remainder of the trip is in increasingly dwindling twilight, becoming full night
"At last, the Night..." Posey says, her mood improving alongside her face, seemingly energized by the darkness. The blacked veins on her face fade away. Her fur becomes snowy white, seemingly absorbing the filth into itself. Her mane shines scarlet once more. Her eyes glow with that menacing golden aura. All monstrous, un-pony features fade from her face as she reclaims her comely and delicate appearance.
Posey performs all necessarily checks and charms with her improved modifiers to get past the checkpoint.
>Posey is only minimally expected, and they make it to Licorice's manor, where he is up and about with Day Low Rain.
"At last, I have returned, victorious!" Posey declares, puffing her chest out with a whirl of her cape, raising her sword in the air, her horn shining with a halo of sickening light in all her golden vainglory. A vain smugness betrays her normally paralyzed face and calm demeanor.
The Dread animated diamond dog arms levitate just behind her, one brandishing the electric polearm as if held by an invisible sentinel, the other gently leading the captured bitch by her shackles.
Behind her, the disguised ghoul drags the cylinder, saddlebags loaded with other spoils of the adventure.

The ghosts do whatever they want, I guess. Posey doesn't control them.
Amber Sunset
6c659dc
?
No.174710
>>174706
Amber gives a small, reassuring smile as she explains, "Nothing to do with you, but I've heard of griffons working with radical groups like the anarchists that give Sewn so much trouble. But, uh, I guess those are only rumors to me, since it's been only ponies that have gone after the shop."