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Inching Closer
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175000
175042 175084 175098
The next big quest with everypony in it is coming soon (TM)
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175003
175004
>>174999 →
"Well, that's helpful! Nopony should bother making fake IDs when there's something so conclusive to test for."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175004
175005
>>175003
"Indeed" He says, with a smile.

He takes the completed Identification Card, which includes a photograph of Amber on plastic-laminated paper with a green edge, and levitates it to Amber in an aura of purple magic.

"Here you go, Amber Sunset."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175005
175006
>>175004
Amber breathes a sigh of relief at this issue being received, and picks up the card with both hooves. "Thank you, sir! How much do I have to pay you?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175006
175007
>>175005
The unicorn pauses, as if needing to contemplate this question. Then he answers.
"There is no charge."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175007
175009
>>175006
Amber hums a little, surprised that this whole procedure was free considering how much trouble it was and how she got a shiny card out of it. But she won't look a gift–uh, monkey?–in the mouth. "That's wonderful. I'm much obliged!"

She pockets the ID securely, before turning to thank High Sewn for all the help and to leave the building. She'll won't waste any more time to head to the restaurant.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175009
175010
>>175007
The card is at least shiny, colorful in a few parts, and waterproof.

High Sewn looks at Amber with an expression that hides her feelings, although one aspect is clear:
"You owe me"

The little filly presumably canters off, making her way past the bat pony stallion from earlier, and onto the streets.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175010
175011
>>175009
Amber will have to make it up to High Sewn somehow. She knows she can, just not how yet.

In the encroaching twilight she hastens to the restaurant, hoping to get there before her shift officially begins.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175011
175012
>>175010
The little pony trots, lopes, canters, or gallops to the restaurant. When she arrives, she goes through the door, towards the bar area... and finds Salt Mixer staring at her.

"Do you know what time it is?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175012
175013
>>175011
"Time for me to work?" Amber answers with an awkward smile. "I had to pick up an identification card, if I didn't I could get in serious trouble after my shift," she elaborates hastily.
Anonymous
7a58c1f
?
No.175013
175014
>>175012
“Good answer.” She says. “How do you not already have one of those?” She asks, as if asking herself. “And put on your work clothing.”
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175014
175015
>>175013
"I never had one, and didn't know I needed it until I was told…" said Amber. She hurries to put on her hostess garb so as to be presentable.

I forgot that she had work clothing
Anonymous
7a58c1f
?
No.175015
175016
>>175014
But Salt Mixer didn’t

“None of us needed it until we were told. It’s just… how were you not told?” She says. By this time, Amber is likely towards the back, picking up her garb. Amber gets a look at a clock. It’s only barely after 6 PM. She could hardly be considered late, unless she was expected to be early.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175016
175017
>>175015
I know being on time is virtuous, but I didn't think she'd be so strict, Amber ponders to herself.

When she hurries back to the front she replies, "I arrived in the city only about a week ago. I never needed a card before." She puts on a pleading expression and continues, "You're not really mad, are you? I got here as fast as I could."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175017
175018
>>175016
Presumably Salt Mixer wanted the extra time for changing into the garb and other tasks that need to be done.

Amber can see her melt and turn away when bombarded by Amber's cuteness
"Someone has been asking for you" She answers
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175018
175019
>>175017
Amber can think of only one pony who would ask where she is. "Is it Mustard?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175019
175020
>>175018
"How did you know?" Salt Mixer asks rhetorically.

As if waiting to be called, Amber feels something, presumably a muzzle, rub along her lower back, then around her shoulder, and then a nip on the ear, as Mustard Trim moves along the right side of her body, ending up to her right and a bit in front of her.
"Hi Amber!"

He wears his waiter garb over his jacket.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175020
175021
>>175019
Amber giggles at the display of affection, embarrassed yet impressed by his boldness. "It's felt like forever since I've seen you, even if it's just yesterday. How was your day? she asks as she nuzzles his neck.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175021
175022
>>175020
"So in home room Literature, Miss Poppy Smith was late so the Tinsel Twins decided to pull a prank by removing half of the chairs from the classroom-" He talks on and on, and reciprocates Amber's nuzzling by nuzzling her shoulder, rubbing his chin and the side of his head against Amber's ear and cheeks in the process.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175022
175023
>>175021
"You can tell me all about it after work. We had best not keep the customers waiting," she replies, looking up with a nervous smile at Salt Mixer. To herself, though, she mulls over how Mustard is talking like a younger schoolcolt and how it clashes with her expectations.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175023
175024
>>175022
"Right." Mustard raises his head, looks at Amber, and then moves back to his position

"I'll see you later!"
He's disappointed most everypony else. It was only a matter of time before Amber was added to that list.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175024
175025
>>175023
There's plenty of room to improve, but also plenty of time. Right now, Amber has work to do, and she makes up for what little lost time she has.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175025
175026
>>175024
With that unpleasant experience grounding dragging her imagination back to reality and stifling the fantasies that occupy the mind in moments of downtime, Amber begins her work in taking ponies to their tables. Guests are already lining up, and Amber has a chart to abide.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175026
175027
>>175025
She hopes for that happy medium where business is good, but not so much that she is swamped. She maintains a cheerful demeanor as she tries to remember which kinds of customers prefer which seating. Tables with few seats are given to solo ponies or small parties while she reserves larger tables for major groups.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175027
175028
>>175026
Does the work provide structure and something to do, or does the rote mundanity become oppressive? Placing customers in just the right area is harder than it may seem. Melon Mangrove actually comes to Amber to complain that there are now too many in her section.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175028
175043
>>175027
"I'll see about easing up there!" Amber replies, quietly chiding herself for letting it get so out of hoof. At least the work is something she enjoys through interacting with different ponies–as long as they aren't the disreputable sort. Other species strange to Equestria might cause a little stress.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175029
175031
>>174997 →
"I'm getting nothing, just herbs and chili powder. You smell like cumin though, for some reason. Have you cooked with it recently?" She looks through the spices that are actually available. "Well at least I know some of these. Salt, pepper, poppy seed, those are common enough. Don't know what citric acid is. This red pepper looks like it's just dried out and crushed chili peppers. I think I've heard of garlic before, I think it grows far to the west of the tribe. Oregano, thyme, rosemary, basil...those are all just dried out herbs and leafy stuff. Still though, wouldn't hurt to give these a try."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175030
175031
>>174997 →
"Coming right up!"

Silver returns to the kitchen and gets to work making more pancakes and gator steaks. It's an interesting cooking combination to be sure. He makes a smaller amount of pancakes since he's only making them for Clip, and he makes sure to make enough so he himself can have at least a couple.

A short few minutes later, Silver places the newly made food in front of their prospective diners, along with their utensils and all of the pancake fixings. Silver also sits down at the table with his own plate of pancakes, adding some syrup and butter to them before digging in and enjoying the fruits of his own labor.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175031
175032 175033
>>175029
"... No?" She says, frowning slightly. "Maybe a week ago..?" She backs up one, then two hoof steps. Kira is left with the spice rack to herself. And it appears Kira intends to clear it out, or at least take one of each.

>>175030
"Oh, nice!" Clipping says, greedily taking syrup. Jubilosa likewise looks pleased, and Mala moves over, as if wondering if he too may sit at the table.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175032
175034
>>175031
Indeed she does, taking one container of each. She turns around and smiles at Neela.

"Huh, I guess I forget sometimes how strong my sense of smell is. Alright, what else do you want to get? You're more of an expert in this food stuff than I am."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175033
175035
>>175031
Silver swallows a bite of delicious pancakes, before smiling at Mala. He motions to the free seat at the table. "You are more than welcome to sit at table, Mala."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175034
175038
>>175032
"Well, let me get it" She says. She turns around in place by twisting her rear end and legs, and jumping her forelegs 140 degrees over to the left, basically turning around in place. As she walks away, she says "And get me one of those little hoof-baskets."

Kira, meanwhile, has everything she needs. Or at least, that she can get out of the store.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175035
175037
>>175033
Mala moves up and sits at the table. Paper Clipping moves away, while Mint Marine - who must have been sitting just out of sight, thanks to his lower height - is happy to see him there.

Khoi, however, walks up towards Silver, wearing a net over her mane, which is back, and a white outfit down to her shoed hooves. She looks up at Silver.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175037
175039
>>175035
Silver looks over at Khoi, and examines her new change in wardrobe. He swallows another bite of pancake that he was chewing before speaking.

"Oh, are you going to your work?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175038
175039
>>175034
What a very deer-like behavior. Kira wonders if Neela often does little hops and prances like that as she gives Neela a cute little salute with a giggle. She goes over to grab a hoof basket for Neela, waving at any ponies both customer and employee alike she comes across.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175039
175040 175041
>>175037
Khoi is dressed in a white coat, with a kind of netting over her forelegs between the ends of the coat and her shoes. Her tail is tied up as well.

"Yes." She answers, sitting down in front of Silver, and looking up at him.

>>175038
Neela goes to the end of the aisle and turns to the right. Kira doesn't see anypony else in the store. Not another customer, and no employees. This is odd, as Kira is pretty sure there was a clerk at the counter... who seems to have run away screaming... Kira finds a basket near the door.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175040
175044
>>175039
That is weird. Where did they all go to? Or is this just a really slow day? Kira grabs the basket and returns to her deer companion.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175041
175044
>>175039
Silver smiles at Khoi. "Have good day at work! You need anything before you go? Something to eat for your lunch? Even hug to send you off?"
Anonymous
c37de4d
?
No.175042
2009700__safe_applejack_solo_female_pony_mare_simplebackground_earthpony_meme_parody_unamused_reactionimage_blackbackground_videogame_game_apple.png
>>175000
>The next big quest with everypony in it is coming soon (TM)
...Really?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175043
175045
>>175028
The customers were requesting booths, which in part are concentrated in Melon Mangrove's section. What else was Amber to do? Best to put them in Cream Pop's section. He doesn't complain, and he has almost as many booths. Or send more to Mustard. Amber already knows she can damn near kill that colt with work and he won't complain. She may have been hesitant to give more customers to Mustard since, you know, that's basically giving him more money and it could look bad but... the mare is literally asking for it at this point. It's not a very busy night. Larkhaven and De Sew are not here, nor, does it appear, is the little zebra colt in the kitchen staff named Xanadoo.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175044
175067 175068
>>175040
She's already trying to take things off of shelves. She takes the basket out of Kira's hooves - which oddly, is possibly the closest Neela has come to Kira, and to physically touching her - and then starts placing items inside. Unfortunately, she sees that Neela has selected rice. shudders

>>175041
Khoi looks up at Silver with her magenta eyes, and her enigmatic kirin face.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175045
175046
>>175043
Unfortunately "not very busy" isn't necessarily an antonym of "understaffed" as the management tries to save money. Amber doesn't begrudge Salt Mixer for that, as it's just an aspect of business. Mustard didn't look too tired today so she sends more customers his way, though she gives Cream Pop some as well to keep things balanced. These are her coworkers, after all.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175046
175047
>>175045
Salt Mixer comes up to Amber and confirms what Amber surely suspects: kitchen staff is the bottleneck of the restaurant tonight, and though it's not enough to require a wait, be mindful. There are a couple ponies that try to seat themselves, especially while Amber is walking other customers to their seats, but mostly it's uneventful. Mostly. There is a lone griffin asking to be seated. He doesn't speak ponish very well, so it's hard to understand him.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175047
175048
>>175046
"Excuse me, did you say you're waiting for company? I can get you a table for two if you'd like." Unfortunately ponies have single digits and can't indicate any number higher than one very well.
Anonymous
a089dcc
?
No.175048
175049
>>175047
“Twee?” He asks, a bit confused
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175049
175050
>>175048
"Mhm!" She takes a pencil in her mouth and writes the number "2."
Anonymous
a089dcc
?
No.175050
175051
>>175049
He nods.
“Ja, twee”
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175051
175052
>>175050
"Glad that's settled!" She assigns him one of the tables for two, presumably run by Cream Pop. She hopes he can handle his inability to speak Ponish.

Forgot if Cream Pop is male or female.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175052
175053
>>175051
Male, like Mustard Trim. Larkhaven, De Sew, Melon Mangrove, and Salt Mixer are female, and the kitchen staff and absentee owner are male

And... that's that griffin taken care of. Now thankfully there aren't too many more non ponies. There's a zebra... Anyways...

Amber does actually get a diamond dog. He has on a shirt, he's well groomed with black ears and most of the head, with a tan chin and belly. Not bad for a non-pony, almost looks like Amber's seen him before.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175053
175054
>>175052
Diamond dogs that are gussied up look funny instead of scary. I can't complain.

She directs her amusement to a friendly smile, as she greets, "Hello, sir. Table for one or will you be having company?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175054
175055
>>175053
He even has a hat he hasn't taken off.

"Table for two. My friend's just behind me." He says in a voice that's pretty well adjusted to Equestria. He looks at Amber fairly intensely
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175055
175056
>>175054
There was one place where she met a diamond dog, and she was hoping to never have to recall it. She pretends nothing is wrong though and leads him to one of the high tables.

"I can get your hat for you if you'd like," she says, glancing at him briefly before pretending to show concern towards another customer.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175056
175057
>>175055
"Oh, no, -" He turns around, and says "Oh, he's here" and is soon joined by a pony - a dark red pegasus stallion with a casual shirt on. He walks up, looks over to Amber, and smiles.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175057
175058
>>175056
Amber's heart sinks. "H-hi," she mumbles. "Here is your table, uh, a waiter will be with you shortly." She returns to her post, worried about what this could mean.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175058
175059
>>175057
The stallion turns to Amber and addresses her

"Oh hey, I remember you!"

Then the diamond dog turns to him
"Oh, so that is the mare. She's rather young looking,"

"She's 18."

"You sure?"

"Yeah, she's 18. What, too young for you? You'd rather that mare that was like fifty?"

"Why do you keep hounding me about that?"

The two exchange laugh as they talk with each other
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175059
175060
>>175058
She can't help but stare as she's being addressed. When the duo get more distracted, she gives the stallion a dirty look and snorts as she trudges off. With her luck Mustard will be angrily questioning her just from overhearing.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175060
175061
>>175059
Red Scabbard: "Nice to see you filly. Didn't know you worked here. But we don't need to be seated, we're going to the bar."

Trakr: "The bar? No, I want to actually sit down for a while and eat. And not at the bar."

Red Scabbard: "You want food here? I thought we were going to Tiffany's"

Trakr: "No, let's eat here. The food here is good. It's like what I had growing up."

Red Scabbard: "Okay, let's go out side." He looks right at Amber "table for two outside"

Amber's not sure if or how he could have known that Mustard Trim has the outside section again. As for Mustard himself, well, he's on the other side of the bar right now, probably doing the job of bussing food himself.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175061
175062
>>175060
Have any customers been seated outside yet?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175062
175063
>>175061
A few, yes. Not many, but a few.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175063
175072
>>175062
There goes that excuse. She's not sure why anypony would want to be seated outside in the cold winter night, but it's not her job to protest. She gives them a table and hopes against hope that it somehow turns out alright.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175067
175069
>>175044
Sense Motive: Silver attempts to divine meaning from her unreadable facade.

[1d20+3 = (11+3) = 14]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175068
175069
>>175044
Kira gulps, only imagining how badly that rice will stick in her throat.

"So, uh...do you cook?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175069
175070 175071
>>175068
Don't worry Kira. You don't have to eat the rice. You have other food options in theory.

She continues just shoving items into the basket
"Yeah. Kind of. Sometimes. When I have to. Usually one deer will do the cooking, not usually me."

>>175067
The enigmatic kirin remains hard to read. Silver can, however, discern one thing: she wants something. Specifically from Silver.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175070
175072
>>175069
Kira looks at the various items Neela grabs off of the shelves, interested in learning what it is exactly that the prey animals eat.

"What do you cook?
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175071
175072
>>175069
Hmm...if the Silver hugs the Khoi, does that satisfy her needs?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175072
175073 175082 175083
>>175063
Amber gets some answer as to why when she sees they are loud, and intend to pony watch, commenting on a mare passing by. There's heaters and in any case the weather is better than over the weekend. Amber takes them to their seat, presumably, and walks past Mustard on the way back as he is moving plates of food.

>>175071
Kirin looks up at u

>>175070
Basics like flour and sugar, and a few tomato's and what have you.

"Well, I know a little about how to make the traditional dishes, like the pufe and galuski, but also a few equestrian foods like hayburgers." She answers
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175073
175074
>>175072
She looks at Mustard and shakes her head in exasperation as she walks by, perhaps to warn him of how rowdy they can be. She is thankful that they are on the other side of the restaurant from her as she resumes her hostess duties.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175074
175075
>>175073
Amber does have the misfortune of overhearing the following:

Trakr:
"But did you? With her."

Red Scabbard:
"I'm not telling."

Trakr:
"Come on! What does that mean? Yes? No?"

Red Scabbard:
"Don't worry about it."

Trakr:
"She's not actually eighteen, is she?"

Thankfully Amber can't make out any more than that before she returns to her post.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175075
175076
>>175074
Amber could strangle that stallion–if she knew how to do that with hooves, and if he wasn't a detective and under somewhat greater legal protection. She mulls over the unpleasant conversation she is bound to have with Mustard after work, and tries to think of different things to say that wouldn't make him more upset while protecting her own oath of silence. Of all the restaurants in Baltimare, and that playcolt had to stop at this one!

She looks to see how possible it might be to sneak into the kitchen.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175076
175077
>>175075
Amber could learn how to.

Sneaking into the kitchen is not very difficult. The only, or at least main chef is a lone stallion, and he pays less attention to Amber than that zebra did. There aren't that many customers coming in for Amber's absence to be noticed, the waiters regularly come up to the kitchen, and one entrance is near the bathrooms. The only difficulty is that Amber would have to pass near Salt Mixer on either side of the bar.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175077
175078
>>175076
Does it look like Salt Mixer is distracted, or is about to?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175078
175079
>>175077
Amber could time it to wait until Salt Mixer is distracted, or perhaps, like Amber is going to the bathroom.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175079
175080
>>175078
She chances it to see if Salt Mixer will be distracted right when Mustard is coming back with the order; otherwise, she will ask to get a drink of water from the kitchen (so as to not interrupt her).
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175080
175081
>>175079
So long as Amber is willing to wait for possibly several trips by Mustard to the kitchen, this is guaranteed to eventually be successful.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175081
175085
>>175080
Why rush a good plan? The perfect is the enemy of the good, or so somepony said; she's not sure who. Amber is not a vengeful mare by nature but Red Scabbard has caused enough grief for her.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175082
175085
>>175072
Oh noes.

Silver gets out of his seat, and hugs the enigmatic kirin.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175083
175085
>>175072
Kira giggles at pufe and galuski, believing them to be very silly words. At hayburgers, she tilts her head. "Hayburgers? Those don't actually have hay in them, right?"
Anonymous
db47b75
?
No.175084
175085
>>175000
Does it involve cheese?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175085
175086 175087 175097
>>175081
Kek

Roll hide for any specific approach. Or bluff if she wishes to be pretending to get water, helping in bussing or what have you.

>>175084
It may

>>175082
squeaky

kylan is hugged

The soft fur and general feel of the kylan is a bit blunted by the separation of the clothing. Her tail moves side to side, and Silver can hear - he can feel - her purr.

>>175083
"Well, yes. Sometimes it's alfalfa, or some other fiber."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175086
175088
>>175085
"BLEGH! I'll gladly take rice over eating grass."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175087
175088
>>175085
D'awwwwwww. Silver might not know why Khoi has decided to be so affectionate, but he's gonna take advantage of the situation. He gives her a friendly squeeze, and even tries stroking her back scales like petting a cat.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175088
175089 175091
>>175087
purr

She has those lidded, kirin eyes, and she slowly blinks. For maximum petting, Silver would need to move her shirt up to have access to the scales.

>>175086
"No, it's not 'grass', it's hay. Rye, timothy, clover. It's not just grass off the ground."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175089
175090
>>175088
Somehow, it seems lewd to do so, but Silver does just that to get full hoof-to-scale contact petting action.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175090
175092
>>175089
purr

Silver undresses the kylan, and can feel those smooth scales that move in as he pets, and reflect light slightly differently as they move with the movement of his hoof. Silver may also have access now to her chest floof, and possibly even her belly.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175091
175093
>>175088
"But it's not like rice or wheat where you eat the grains from the plant, it's just like eating like, well, a grazer!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175092
175093
>>175090
Silver uses his other hoof to play with her chest floof, no doubt the softest part of her body. It's so unlike his own floofy body, as hers is almost like an extension of her mane.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175093
175094 175095
>>175092
It is indeed soft and fluffy. Silver now plays with it out of view of the others. Kira moves her head out, perhaps to give greater access to the floof.

>>175091
She nods her head
Yeeeah? That's kind of what ponies are. They are not griffins. Or... snakes..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175094
175099
>>175093
Silver continues to play with his kirin, one forehoof stroking her back scales as the other plays around with her chet floof, twirling it and fluffing it and overall just taking the moment to examine it and appreciate this very unique opportunity.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175095
175099
>>175093
Kira scrunches, and her tongue flicks out. "I dunno, it just seems weird to eat hay and stuff. Like it's something an animal would do." She looks around her at the store. "Especially when you have such a wide variety of options available for food."
Anonymous
de3ac86
?
No.175096
175099
6739348__safe_artist-colon-nismorose_imported+from+derpibooru_oc_oc-colon-anon_oc-colon-filly+anon_earth+pony_skeleton+pony_spider_3+panel+comic_bone_cheek+fluf (1).jpg
[dead horse noises]
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175097
175102
>>175085
She hugs the wall to minimize her visibility as she approaches the kitchen, hopefully while Salt Mixer is not looking.
[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]
Anonymous
851fabb
?
No.175098
175099
>>175000
Does this include the cheese in the fridge, and if so, how?
(not so secretly wanting villain, with option to redeem as antihero. Some loki shit, but different specifics)
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175099
175100 175101 175145 175146
>>175098
Maybe

For a bit more clarity, the specific quest in mind is one with the following premise: the New Mareland Navy is contracting mercenaries to try to rescue the crew of a an airship that crashed while following a Stalliongrad Freighter in the rocky sea up north, on a deserted island that is disputed territory between three nations. I feel like you have something a bit different in mind. Feel free to share here or in the comments

>>175096
The last post for Posey was the first part of >>174963 →

>>175094
purr

The floof is long, and directed away from her body. She almost feels like a fluffy pillow, and she puffs it out like she's proud of it, or likes it being fondled.

>>175095
I don't think I've included it before, but paprika is among the spices available, and Neela picked some up independently of Kira.

Neela's ears go down, then back up, and she places all four legs firmly down.
"Normal creatures eat clover, rye, alfalfa, lettuce and so on. I mean, sure, griffins don't but... Most creatures do. We do. It's nice and fibrous. Not everything has to be baked and boiled."
Anonymous
db47b75
?
No.175100
175102
>>175099
>In the comments
Uh,... are you suggesting I abuse the report function again?
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175101
175103 175105
>>175099
So does Sasha survive the treatment?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175102
175109 175310
>>175100
If you need to keep it secret... maybe. Or just message me on discord

>>175097
Makes me think of https://youtu.be/YccozjEe9f4

Amber is successful, as Salt Mixer turns back to make a drink. It helps that Amber is almost the same color scheme as Mustard Trim, and not very far from Cream Pop, and therefore could be confused for them if only viewed from the periphery
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175103
175104
>>175101
Yes.
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175104
175105 175106
>>175103
Then Posey begins interrogating her as soon as she in in condition to answer questions.
She prepares for this my attending to her mane and making sure her only black cape is well cleaned. She sharpens her implements and polishes her jewelry as she prepares to question the dog.
She enters Sasha's chambers, failing to resist the urge to habitually knock before she quickly invites herself in, walking inside with a flutter of her cape, her golden eyes glowing with their sharp predatory aura, as her entropic aura tangibly sucks the energy out of the room with an ominous chill.
"And so we meet again, bitch." She says
Behind her, the Dreads, animated from the severed arms of the diamond dogs, guard the exit behind her, brandishing her magic sword and polearms.
"It appears that you've survived your stay so far. I'll have to extend my thanks to Baka."
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175105
175106
>>175104
>>175101
Posey gages Sasha's reaction before making her next move.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175106
175108
>>175105
>>175104
The bitch is propped up against the wall, sitting upright with the wall behind her. She looks better than before, not having visible sweating. However, her breathes are still hard and fast. This may be the result of illness, but it could be fear. She looks at Posey with somewhat angry eyes and does not speak in reply.
Anonymous
0d805a9
?
No.175108
175110
>>175106
>sweating
Do Diamond dogs normally sweat?
>She looks at Posey with somewhat angry eyes and
As soon as eye contact is made, Posey attempts to charm her with her gaze.
DC 19 Will
"I'll spare the nonsense with you, Sasha. I would like you to know that you are fortunate more fortunate than you may feel for the fact that you are breathing right now. Despite that, you and I find ourselves at an impass. You've witnessed a number of things that few would live to tell the tale of: you've seen my forces in battle, you've witnessed my magic, and you've even found yourself sitting here in my hideout. Protocols from my superiors say that I should eliminate you, but I am deciding to give you a chance to vouch for your own life, and see if your luck takes you any further." Posey says
"So, let's get to know each other. Who are you, exactly?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175109
175113
>>175102
She slips through the knobless kitchen door without much incident and attempts to stay out of eyeshot of the cook(s) without making it obvious she's hiding. She also takes stock of the area. Are there any waiters in the room? Is there any way to see what orders have been placed (presumably she has a decent understanding by now of how tables are numbered)? And, where are the spices kept?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175110
175111
>>175108
>Do they normally sweat?
shrugs
The point is that she is shivering, panting, or otherwise displaying signs of a fever or elevated body temperature.

"I have told you. I am Sasha." After a few seconds, "Who the fuck are you?"
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175111
175112 175113
>>175110
>I have told you. I am Sasha.
Posey elaborates
"Is Sasha your full name? What is your occupation? Where are you from? Why were you being held captive by members of your kind? What were you worth to them?"
>"Who the fuck are you?"
Hmmm, not sure if charmed
"I am Rosey Ring, a sorceress, something that someponies might call a black magician. I was traveling through the big on an important mission, and those... other dogs got in my way."
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175112
175113
>>175111
Wait, why did I just tell the prisoner my real name? I didn't need to do that... I guess that's Posey's vanity speaking.
I guess she could always just kill her.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175113
175114 175115
>>175109
There are no waiters at the moment. There is a little counter near the door where orders are placed and food waits for pick up. Orders are placed by means of paper notes. There are two ponies in the room. One is the marmalade-colored unicorn that Amber could guess is probably the head chef. He is tending to a pan on the stove. The other is a sand colored earth pony colt on the other side of the rectangular room opening a pantry and taking out a bag of potatoes. Amber hasn't seen him before, and it isn't clear if he's been here on the previous days or if he is filling the same role as the zebra colt, who is not here. Both ponies are distracted... for the moment. Amber is at the entrance, and again, could easily be mistaken for Mustard Trim or Cream Pop if you didn't bother to look directly at her. Amber can tell what orders are placed, and yes, she has enough familiarity with the table numbering system that she can more or less visualize where specific orders came from. Mostly.

The spices are presumably kept on one of the high shelves. It appears they are most likely above a shelf opposite where the marmalade unicorn is working. There is an island in the center of the kitchen. Technically two, as there is an open space in the middle.

>>175111
"Sasha Bearing. I was a stacker at a plantation before I joined Rudy and Marlow. I was not 'captive'. They were helping me. I was lover to Rudy and friend to Marlow. And they were not in any bitches way. Not the damned unions, not the fascists, and not any 'magician'."

>>175112
There's a clip from Archer that's perfect for this, but I can't find it on youtube.

But I completely believe that Posey gives up her real name easily.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175114
175116
>>175113
If Amber was a little less focused on what she was doing, she would take note of how many ponies working at the restaurant are varying shades of orange and yellow.

Getting to the spices is a tough task. She is not a unicorn, and her short stature means she needs something like a stepping stool. Standing on one of the islands, besides being unsanitary, would be quite noticeable, and simply asking the chef would arouse suspicion. A small stool should be easy to find though, right?
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175115
175116
>>175113
>I was not 'captive'.
"Oh." Posey says, turning her head to glare at the ghoul behind the corner, seemingly infuriated at being caught off guard by this information.
And here I thought I had a captive princess or noblewoman I could use for political bargaining or favors. Darn...
>And they were not in any bitches way. Not the damned unions, not the fascists, and not any 'magician'."
Wait, am I ... THE BAD GUY?! Oh no.

Posey pauses for a moment. She seems mostly uncomfortable that she mistook an ally of her enemy for a captive.

"Well, Sasha, I think I've heard all I need to hear from you for now. I'll return to tell you your fate in due time." she says, turning to leave
"Oh, and don't bother trying to escape. The hex I put on you won't let you get far without me knowing. For now, just rest, and try keep yourself in good condition." She says, coldly
"Don't let her leave the room." She says to the Dreads, the animate severed arms hovering in mid-air like sentinels by the door

As Posey leaves the room, she trots down the halls and shakes her head in disappointment.
"What a waste of time. I guess I do still owe the Kaftars a favor though... Yes, she'll do nicely... I should tell Baka about it."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175116
175117 175119
>>175115
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ToKcmnrE5oY&pp=ygUSYXJlIHdlIHRoZSBiYWRkaWVz

"Really? That's all you want?" She says

>>175114
checks history

Four ponies. Mustard and Amber are yellow, the chef and Cream Pop are orange, De Sew is black, Salt Mixer is green, Larkhaven is white, Xanadu is either grey with black stripes or black with grey stripes (hard to tell), Melon Mangrove doesn't seem to ever be described, the absentee owner is... absent, and the kitchen help is sand colored, which is either brown or a fifth orange/yellow pony.

>>175114
Roll spot

Please note that at this moment, Amber is not very conspicuous because she looks, to the inattentive, like Mustard Trim coming back to check an order sheet to make sure he didn't screw it up... which is probably not an uncommon occurrence. But if she moves into the kitchen, or if another waiter comes into the entrance, she is likely to be noticed.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175117
175118 175120
>>175116
She'd better not waste any time then.
[1d20+2 = (1+2) = 3]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175118
175120
>>175117
Well Tartarus, there's one right there at the end of the first island.
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175119
175121
>>175116
>That's all you want?
"Do you have anything left to say? I'm a very busy mare, you know; my patience is in short supply." Posey replies
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175120
175121
>>175117
>>175118
>my rolls
https://youtu.be/IPFiKEm-oNI

Okay, well is there a basket or something instead that could be used?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175121
175124
>>175120
Right there! Before the island.

>>175119
"You didn't find it either. No."
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175123
175125
Rolling Intimidate to very subtly imply "this is the last call to convince me not to kill you" as Posey leaves the room.
[1d20+15 = (2+15) = 17]
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175124
175125
>>175121
She'll grab it and nonchalantly place it down before standing up on her hind legs to get to the shelf. Her heart is pounding in her ears, since if she messes up badly this could mean the end of her job.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175125
175126
>>175123
"Nothing I want to tell you. But I'll give you one little tip. Be mindful of the Swamp Fever. It will kill you far more slowly, and far more surely than any foe. And indeed it has killed more than all foes... there were more than three of us when we started..."

>>175124
And crumple

It collapses, evidently made of plastic.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175126
175128
>>175125
Alas, better plastic won't be around for another decade or so. She descends to all fours, grinning with an embarrassed look about her at the chef, who surely has turned around.
Anonymous
e162ea7
?
No.175127
Now that the interrogation with Sasha is over, I think I would like to move forward with Posey's original plan before starting downtime. Posey will later need to arrange to meet with Di Bin Milyaketan and confide her plan to resurrect Agire as a shoosuva through an offering to the Angel.
She also has to mail those haunted objects to their respective addresses, before the ghosts get restless.

But for now, I must slumber, as Posey retreats to snuggle up beside Gloomy.
Anonymous
7e7b1d6
?
No.175128
175129
>>175126
He does indeed turn around.

“What are you doing here?!”

https://youtu.be/Q72SKGvCwAw?si=Bt7_ElgbBOpsGNR0
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175129
175130
>>175128
"Oh, hello, I didn't mean to bother you. I just…um, have a sore throat, and need just one thing for a folk remedy."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175130
175131
>>175129
He shakes his head
"Folk remedy? Why are you back here for that?" He pauses

"You're that new hostess that's dating Mustard Trim, right?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175131
175132
>>175130
"Hm? Oh, yes, yes. I'm Amber Sunset. I don't think we've met," she says, glancing up at the shelf.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175132
175133
>>175131
"I'm Price Run..." He looks at her strangely. "What are you doing back here? Trying to get something to make tea? You're not supposed to be back here. You could get your fur in the food, or start a fire."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175133
175134
>>175132
"Sorry, I was trying to be careful," she says, as she slides the crushed plastic crate away from herself. "I just need something spicy, the spiciest thing we have in the house. That'll help my sore throat."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175134
175135
>>175133
He sighs.

"You shouldn't even be coming to work if you are sick" And after a pause "But I get it. Let me get some of our hotter chili pepper..." He moves to a cabinet and opens it, then finds a can, which he dispenses a little of a red powder into a paper cup. "But it's very hot, and I'm sure you'll need water."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175135
175136
>>175134
"Please, sir, may I have some more?" she pleads. "I want to make sure I don't get sick after all. Can't take half-measures."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175136
175137
>>175135
"Really? This will burn your asshole on the way out." He stares at her. "Just... whatever." He doubles the amount of chili powder.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175137
175138
>>175136
"Thanks. Speakin' of burning, look out for the food!" she exclaims, pointing behind him. Hopefully this buys her time to check the tickets and find the table she's looking for.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175138
175140
>>175137
"Oh, shit!"
He immediately turns around and goes to the frying pan, and is completely consumed by that. The other pony likewise pays attention to that, pausing the cutting of cabbages to see the status of the frying pan and the stove.

But, though Amber has free reign to look at the orders, she has a problem. While she sees an order for a table outside, it doesn't seem to be for Red Scabbard's table.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175140
175141
>>175138
What in particular seems off about it?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175141
175142
>>175140
Amber hasn't exactly memorized the outside table layout, as it varies day by day, but it seems much too far to the left (or the right, going out the door) to be the table Amber seated them at.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175142
175143
>>175141
If only she'd been there a few more days! Then there wouldn't be such uncertainty. Best not to take any chances, since customers can take their time to order. She takes her cup and goes back to her hostess stand, keeping an eye out for Mustard.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175143
175144 175253
>>175142
This is harder than it seems, because the bar blocks the view for much of the path from the door to the kitchen. Amber could roll die to keep an eye on Mustard, or check in some other way...
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175144
>>175143
With the rolls I've been getting, I think I'll call it tonight and try to think of something tomorrow.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175145
175147
>>175099
Kira tilts her head, as she follows along Neela's shopping.

"Normal? I mean...I guess it's more normal here. I don't know how many creatures there are like me over here. I'm sorry if I was rude, I just don't think hay, clover, or others like that are really in the average lamia's diet."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175146
175147
>>175099
And indeed she should be proud of it! Silver admittedly doesn't have much experience with kirins, but something tells him she has some very prestigious floof. Silver fluffs it to its peak floofiness, making it stand very proud and prominent from her body.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175147
175148 175149
>>175145
Neela moves forward and presumably past Kira, looking back at her with her eyes and head turned slightly back, before facing forward and moving towards the exit with the basket on her back.

With a tone of sarcasm, she says,
“Really? And here I thought you only ate plants.”

>>175146
Her eyes go wide, surprised by the floofening. But there is no stopping it.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175148
175150
>>175147
That gets Kira to giggle a bit before she replies. "Yeah, yeah. Alright, let's buy our stuff."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175149
175150
>>175147
No stopping it indeed, and by the time he's done her chest floof rivals his own floof. She might find that it will make her shirt look a bit odd when it's properly worn again.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175150
175154 175155
>>175148
She stops and turns her head just before passing all points of sale.

“Buy?”

>>175149
poof

And… she’s even fluffier now. She’s close to being a danger for discharge of static electricity.
Anonymous
223ec11
?
No.175151
175156
Is the main quest with everypony in it actually going to happen soon, or should Posey go ahead and start working on her plan to reanimate the kaftar priest?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175154
175156
>>175150
Kira nods.

"Yeah, buy. We don't want to just steal their food, silly!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175155
175156
>>175150
Mission success! Silver puts her shirt back on her, where her now even more prestigious floof can be seen distinctly through the silhouette of the shirt.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175156
175157 175158 175163
>>175151
I’m not sure. It will depend on how quickly I can line up the player characters. Also I will be out of town next weekend.

Posey herself needs to be lined up

>>175154
Neela frowns
“The clerk has left. We can just take it.”

>>175155
The Kirin is now overly fluffed
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175157
175159
>>175156
"Surely there's still someone here. Even then, maybe we can at least leave the money for the food up here?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175158
175159
>>175156
Well, perhaps not overly fluffed. I'm not even sure that's possible.

"Better?"
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175159
175160 175161
>>175158
With a small smile, she tilts her head

“Are you forgetting something?”

>>175157
She moves her ears down
“C’mon. No one is looking.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175160
175162
>>175159
Sense Motive: Let's see if Silver can tell what it is.

[1d20+3 = (4+3) = 7]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175161
175162
>>175159
Kira drops her pony body closer to the ground, partially hiding her snake body. She looks at Neela with big eyes, flops her ears, and flicks her tongue as she says, "Pleaaaassssssssssssssssssssssssssssse?"
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175162
175164 175165
>>175161
Neela sighs, turns her left ear up but keeps her right ear down, and turns her head to the right, breaking eye contact with the snake pony, and moving her forelegs back.

“Fine. It’s your money, anyways.”

>>175160
Khoi is clearly snoring much more than before, and might even think she’s communicating something. But she remains difficult to read.
Anonymous
5df7e95
?
No.175163
175166
>>175156
Elaborate. I will take any necessary steps to meet with the party.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175164
175166
>>175162
Kira lifts her pony half back into the air, smiling and clapping her hooves together excitedly. She calls out across the store.

"Helloooooooooo? We're ready to buy our food now!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175165
175166
>>175162
Hmm...perhaps she is asking for a...goodbye kiss?
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175166
175167 175168 175172
>>175163
All she needs to do is apply for work at the local headquarters of customs or perhaps the military some morning.

>>175165
kirin noises

[i]which is to say, absolutely no noises


>>175164
Hmmmm…. Roll charisma
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175167
175169
>>175166
Silver decides to experiment first by smooching the kirin on the cheek to judge her reaction.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175168
175169
>>175166
[1d20+3 = (13+3) = 16]
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175169
175170 175171
>>175167
the Kirin is kissed on the cheeks.

Her ears go up, and she turns her head towards Silver, looking at him. She is a little displeased.

>>175168
Kira hears a mare call back,

“Is it gone?”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175170
175173
>>175169
Hmm, strange. Kira calls back to this mystery mare.

"What's gone? Please ma'am, I'd really like to buy my groceries."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175171
175173
>>175169
"What is it, Khoi?"
Anonymous
5df7e95
?
No.175172
175173
>>175166
Well, Posey did say I'm her applications to the securities school that she specialized in corpse-retrieval and dealing with supernatural events in a battlefield setting. She would have been looking for jobs related to that, especially lucrative jobs that could fund her army.
Does the military normally requisition Warmagi or arcane experts from the securities department of the university?
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175173
175174 175175 175177
>>175171
The Kirin does not reply. She is clearly needy. She stares up at Silver, demanding something.

>>175170
The top of the head of a small, orange mare with a pink mane and green eyes peaks over the edge of the counter.
“The monster.”

>>175172
From what Posey can gather, the attitude towards the military at the university is rather… antagonistic. While the military will advertise recruitment and especially informant work, they don’t go there.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175174
175176
>>175173
Sense Motive: Let's give it one more attempt to divine what she wants.

[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175175
175179
>>175173
Hide: "Uh..." Kira attempts to hide her snake tail out of sight of the mare so only her pony half is visible. "...monster? I haven't seen any monster around."

[1d20+13 = (17+13) = 30]
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175176
175178
>>175174
Maybe… more affection?
Anonymous
5df7e95
?
No.175177
175179
>>175173
Posey well, Posey's job is in part to investigate the military, especially how they're able to recruit mages, so she would be interested in the advertising. She checks fliers if there are any while she's at work or shopping in town.
I guess this could be a Gather Information check.
[1d20+6 = (17+6) = 23]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175178
175179
>>175176
Hmm...she wants more affection, but she doesn't want kisses...Silver pets the kirin between her ears.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175179
175180 175182 175188
>>175177
Posey is able to get a decent amount of information. The military takes volunteers for several different kinds of formations and jobs. Historically volunteers have little to no control if they remain in Equestria or are deployed overseas, but there is more choice now. Customs likewise will hire volunteers, for career and even for one offs. Posey has learned that some important raids, like the recent one that took out Day Low Rain’s sister, were hired mercenaries.

>>175178
Khoi’s ears go to the side and she looks forward, moving her tail around her body, and semi-scrunching.

>>175175
The mare looks over at Kira.

“Yeah. It had a snake tail. I think it might have been a cockatrice, but I can’t tell.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175180
175181
>>175179
Hmm...is she looking at something in particular?
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175181
175183
>>175180
No. She seems a little irritated
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175182
175184
>>175179
Kira tilts her head at the mare.

"Cockatrice? That's a silly name. What are they?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175183
175184
>>175181
Sense Motive: Dang it, Khoi, Silver's not a mind reader.

[1d20+3 = (9+3) = 12]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175184
175185 175187
>>175183
What Silver knows for sure is that he's very close to getting it... he's just barely off the mark

Khoi looks frustrated, but also a bit sad, looking back into Silver's eyes longingly.

>>175182
"Dangerous monsters with the body of a chicken and the tail of a snake, and wings. They will turn you to stone if you look into their eyes!" The mare says, shaking
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175185
175186
>>175184
Hmm...kiss on the lips?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175186
175189
>>175185
kirin noises
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175187
175190
>>175184
Kira perks up at hearing this description. "Oh! That's just like the Medusa!"
Anonymous
5df7e95
?
No.175188
175190
>>175179
>Customs likewise will hire volunteers, for career and even for one offs. Posey has learned that some important raids, like the recent one that took out Day Low Rain’s sister, were hired mercenaries.
Posey is definitely interested in this. She investigates further, looking for leads of potential targets of such raids. She considers participating herself, looking for a job with an appropriate price for a warmagus of her power level.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175189
175190
>>175186
Nothing ventured, nothing gained...Silver tries it, giving his kirin a kiss on the lips.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175190
175191 175192 175195 175199
>>175187
"Uh.... maybe?" Pause, "Are there more reptilian monsters out there? Look out!"

>>175188
Posey is aware of a few targets. The military, and especially the secret police associates of the military - "The Blackhooves" - have made several raids and arrests over the past week or so, targeting alleged arms traffickers and communist conspirators. What might be more interesting for Posey, however, is the actions of "R&M," The Revenue and Migration Service, better known simply as "Customs." Customs has raided a number of apartments and houses looking for creatures, especially non-ponies, tangentially related to the non-celestialist worshipers at Hoebuck.

>>175189
Silver may regret this. As soon as Silver does this, Khoi moves her head even closer to his, forcing their lips together, sticks her tongue into his mouth, and tries to wrap a leg around his neck.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175191
175193
>>175190
"Mmph!"

Silver is initially caught off guard by this: never before has she acted so forward or needy. He does ease into it, kissing back despite any awkwardness of doing so right in front of Jubilosa.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175192
175194
>>175190
"Oh, no, it's just really similar to a legend from my home. There's no monsters out here, reptilian or otherwise." She folds her ears as she looks at the scared mare. "Can I please purchase my groceries now?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175193
175197
>>175191
She moves her thin lips around to connect with Silver's a little more firmly, holding onto him.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175194
175196
>>175192
"Home?" She seems confused.

"Oh, yeah. What have you got?"

She doesn't seem willing to raise her head very far
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175195
175200
>>175190
Posey investigates both parties, looking for whichever leads her to the main quest pays better, suits her skills, or might have relevant information that she can leak back to the League.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175196
175198
>>175194
Kira looks at Neela, and waves for her to bring the basket of items.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175197
175198
>>175193
While Silver is into this, he does wonder if she really has been replaced with a changeling. Or if all of this affection is going to make her late for work.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175198
175201 175202
>>175197
She very well might, and she very well could. Does Silver wish to push her along?

>>175196
Neela comes up with the items, and places them on the table.
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175199
175200
>>175190
Posey decides to look into the matter so that she can negotiate prices.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175200
175204
>>175199
>>175195
It's kind of an abrupt event though
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175201
175203
>>175198
Perhaps. While Silver may not know it, there is very likely an undead mare somewhere in the city who is growing impatient at how long it's taking for the others to arrive.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175202
175203
>>175198
Kira pays for the items once they're counted and rung up, and asks the mare if she knows where they can get a radio.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175203
175207 175208 175213
>>175201
>>175202
"21 bits..." She says, slightly easing up, and raising her head higher.

"There's an electronics store at the end of this block. On the other side of the road."

>>175201
It's possible, yes
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175204
175205
>>175200
Okay, what do I do then? I'm just trying to cooperate with the quest.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175205
175206 175210
2665732.png
>>175204
Well, either we wait for Kira... or if Posey doesn't take that long for her mission at the church... She might be able to do that before starting.

Mostly it'll depend on how active the players are
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175206
175208 175209
>>175205
Isn't Kira's player the same as Silver's? Do they both need to be present?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175207
175209
>>175203
"Thank you!"

Kira pays for the items, then leaves the store with her deer. Whether the mare sees her snake tail as she slithers out the door, she doesn't know. Either way, she looks both ways before crossing the street to go to the electronics store for a radio.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175208
>>175203
>>175206
Really, what Silver does next depends on how close GM pone is to being ready for the quest, if he should hurry things along and get to Customs or if he can continue doing his own thing for a little bit longer.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175209
175214
>>175206
Yes, bit still

>>175207
Kira hears an "Ahhhh!" as she leaves the store. No matter. It's kind of hard to cross the street, with how much of her there is that needs to cross. Soon enough, Kira is at the store
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175210
175211 175212 175215
Shoosuva_3e.png
84755.jpg
>>175205
>if Posey doesn't take that long for her mission at the church...
Okay, GM, this was my plan:

Step 1: find Di Bin Milyaketan (the chief kaftar priest)
Step 2: capitalize on the power vacuum created by the gap in priesthood succession to propose reanimating Agire, and convince Di Bin Milyaketan
Step 3: explain the ritual of sacrifice to offer the Angel a life in exchange for Agire, which involves a sacrifice check of a DC between 35 (greater planar ally) and 40 (limited wish), to summon Agire's spirit back from the grave to inhabit his body as a Shoosuva
Step 4: procure skill boosting magic (150 gp Divine scroll of Guidance Of The Avatar) and tools (masterwork Karas stone knife) to make the necessary check. If possible, employ Di Bin Milyaketan's clerical magic to boost the skill check.
Step 5: perform the ritual in the kaftar temple, sacrificing Sasha
Step 6: The ritual calls Agire and warping his body into that of a Yeenhogu-blooded, Lemurian Shoosuva (would look like a large undead hyena)
Step 7: Agire in this form would only obey us for about one hour. In that time, we have him undergo the rites of succession to become the new Chief Priest, swearing himself to defend the temple forevermore.
Step 8: cannibalistic blood-orgy (this step is optional)
Step 9: check and see if the newly reanimated demonic Agire doesn't go on a rampage to the Kaftar's and surrounding city (if he does... not our problem; cast Hide From Undead and run like heck)

Oh, and if a Shoosuva is too much to deal with, bringing him back as a Gravetouched ghoul (Yeenhoghu also has dominion over ghouls) would be fine too. A friendly ghoul cleric NPC is actually more useful (and probably more appreciated by the kaftar community), I just wanted to create a Shoosuva because reasons.
Shoosuva:
https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/block/Shoosuva
Gravetouched Ghoul (template):
https://www.realmshelps.net/monsters/templates/gravetouched.shtml

How long this takes depends on how much GM is willing to streamline it. I just spent three months walking through a swamp, but this could be resolved quickly in theory.
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175211
>>175210
I fucked up. Remove "Lemurian" from that body of text.
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175212
>>175210
I should elaborate that this plan was written for a Shoosuva (gotta stay ambitious), and that creating a Gravetouched ghoul would probably be a lot easier.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175213
175215
>>175203
Well, since for the moment it seems that we've got some time...

After a rather surprisingly intense makeout session, Silver pulls back once Khoi allows him. He looks pretty blown away

"Wow...that was new."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175214
175215
>>175209
Poor traumatized mare.

Kira marvels at the electronics abound on the shelves, none of which were available in her tribe. "Wooooooooooow...this. Is. Amazing!"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175215
175216 175217 175219
[1d100 = 7]

>>175210
I see....

>>175213
Khoi has a smile on her face, and an expression best described as "smug."

>>175214
A bronze pegasus comes up, wings partly open.
"Hey, woah woah woah, no animals allowed inside."

Neela is definitely offended by that, and may tell him off
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175216
175218
>>175215
"Wha...animal? No no, I'm a lamia. And a paying customer, too."

She does marvel at the pegasus' wings as they're open, causing her to grow a bit distracted.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175217
175218
>>175215
Silver chuckles and smiles back at her.

"Definitely quite change from how you normally act. I did not know you had it in you to be so formal."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175218
175221 175222
>>175216
He moves back, and spreads his wings wide. Kira has a pretty good look at them

"You'll scare the customers"

>>175217
She hangs her mouth partly open
"I can be formal..."
Anonymous
d8d457a
?
No.175219
175220
>>175215
>I see....
So, is that a thing you want to do before the quest, or should I not bother?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175220
175227
>>175219
Tentative yes
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175221
175223
>>175218
Kira pouts, flops her ears, and looks at the stallion with big eyes. "Pleeeeeaaaaassssssssssssssssse mister," she flicks her tongue as she says please, "all I want is a radio for my deer friend. I have money to pay for it, and I'm super friendly."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175222
175223
>>175218
"No, wait...'forward', forward is what I meant." He chuckles. "Sorry about that."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175223
175224 175225
>>175222
She tilts her head
"I am facing forward, yes."

>>175221
Roll Charisma
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175224
>>175223
Silver chuckles a bit. "No, forward as in being direct. Getting straight to point, no messing about."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175225
175226
>>175223
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175226
175235 175237
>>175225
"Ooohhh, I see...." She looks down, then back up towards Silver. She has a decided smirk on her face, and puffs her chest floof out.

>>175225
The end of his wings start to curl down.
"Well... if you could stay a bit out of sight... or if the deer could come in..."
Anonymous
9c5de4d
?
No.175227
175228
>>175220
I guess that begins with a trip to the church then.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175228
175229
6981620.png
>>175227
Rain starts just before entering the car on the trip into town. the journey is not unknown to Posey, but neither is it wholly familiar, with both familiar landmarks, like the brick factory near the river, and elements that before had gone unnoticed, like the firehouse at the edge of Locust Promontory. It's later at night than the previous visit, and there are far fewer ponies populating the night than before, and what few there are in a zombie-like state, like the soldier, wrapped in a trench coat, who sleepily checks Posey's ID at the first stop. Only a lone truck driver that Posey sees going the other way seems acclimated to the night. What Posey does see, however, is a number of batwinged ponies, whose eyes reflect golden in the dim light, and who most populate the streets so late at night. They form the majority of the military garrison and even the police patrols, and they can be seen in the lit loading bays of factories and warehouses as they wait for trucks to load.

Most of the city is closed, with near every tenement block window unlit and curtains closed, and every schoolhouse dark. Most of the shops are closed, save a few late night cafes and coffee shops whose few patrons form dark silhouttes against a bright background. And yet the city is far from dormant, as the machinery of the city drones on. The whistling of steam, the rotation of lathes, and the idling of diesel engines can be heard long before the edges of distillation towers, or the looming brick facades of manufactories can be seen in the dark, clouded night.

Passing a second checkpoint, Posey sees more creatures on the streets, and these are mostly the kaftar, the crocutta, diamond dogs and a cat-creature Posey isn't sure she's seen before, though even these stay close the sides of buildings so as to best avoid the rain. Posey passes a large armored truck with a machinegun on the top, with soldiers who hide in their trench coats from the rain, but keep watch on the darkness, firmly holding their rifles. But it cannot be the rain alone that causes such furtiveness, as even those inside are more tense than the last time Posey came through.

Mason parks the car. There is something off an issue: it appears there are soldiers by the entrance used the last time to get into the enclave.
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175229
175230
>>175228
>There is something off an issue: it appears there are soldiers by the entrance used the last time to get into the enclave.
Posey casually approaches the entryway and wordlessly strolls past the soldiers. If they try to stop her, her first response is to lift her head from beneath her hood and try to charm them with her gaze, in order of closest to furthest.
Bluff check, to appear inconspicuous
[1d20+14 = (13+14) = 27]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175230
175231
>>175229
They do indeed try to stop her, going so far as to place hooves on her if necessary.

"Sorry ma'am, this establishment has a check point on it. You see it's connected to the underground, so we have to search you and check your passport."

This is a Pegasus stallion of a white color. He smiles at her. The other stallion doesn't make direct eye contact.
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175231
175232
>>175230
Posey shows her ID, and the equipment she brought, which only amounts to her spell component pouch and some mundane scribing and research materials (she left her weapons and armor at home; not wanting to malign the Kaftars).
DC 19 Will vs Charm for the Pegasus who made eye contact.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175232
175233
>>175231
“I don’t think you’d want to go this way. That’s a very dangerous neighborhood. Especially for a pretty mare like you. You must have the wrong door.” He says to her
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175233
175234
>>175232
"I know where I'm going. We all have to take our chances in these trying times. It's just to speak with the relatives of a recently deceased friend." Posey replies
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175234
175239
>>175233
"At 3 AM? This neighborhood is almost entirely not pony, and... you're a pony." He retorts
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175235
175236
>>175226
Kira "oooo"s as she observes how the feathers on his wings move.

"What if I do this?"

Hide: Kira attempts to hide her snake tail right in plain view of the stallion, to show how she can sort of "disguise" herself by having her tail be not visible.

[1d20+13 = (16+13) = 29]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175236
175241
>>175235
"Wah. How?"

When you view her head on, it can be hard to tell she's anything but a pony
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175237
175238
>>175226
This elicits another chuckle from Silver.

"You sure did come out of your shell between breakfast and changing into your work clothes. You did not get replaced by changeling, did you?" The tone of his voice makes it clear this is intended as a joke, but a small part of him does wonder...
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175238
175240
>>175237
She stares at him, and blinks. Beat, then another beat.

"No."
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175239
175242
>>175234
Posey shows her license
"I am a certified necrologist. It is my duty to investigate and alleviate haunts and supernatural encounters surrending the deceased, which naturally involves operating at night, when such events occur."
She adds
"Besides, the creatures in this neighborhood are largely nocturnal. It would be rude to intrude upon them during the day."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175240
175242
>>175238
...Is she a changeling?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175241
175242
>>175236
"I'm an expert hider," she boasts proudly, sticking out her pony chest. "See? I won't scare anypony." She leaves out that she's already inadvertently scared a couple ponies already without trying.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175242
175243 175244 175246
>>175239
"Oh..." The stallion seems somehow uncomfortable with this, and is uninquisitive about more details.

"Be very careful, ma'am. These gnolls 'll eat ponies alive."

The stallion steps aside, and out of her way.

>>175240
No, of course not. Changelings are black and chitinous, and she is golden and fluffy. Then again, she doesn't have fur along her back... her horn is kind of crooked... and she's small, like one...

>>175241
The stallion moves back
"Okay just... don't go too far... or stay too long..."
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175243
175248
>>175242
Posey clippity clops her way to the church.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175244
175247
>>175242
Kira claps her hooves together happily, before asking the stallion, "Where in the store are your radios?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175246
175247
>>175242
Hmmmmmmmmmmm...nah, she's good.

"So, do you need anything else before you head off to work? I want to make sure you are set, but also I do not want to make you late."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175247
175248 175290 175291
>>175244
"Down the hall..." He says. And swiftly moves out of the way of the 800 pound pseudo-reptile

>>175246
She looks up at him and makes an expression with her mouth and eyes that she probably thinks is cute

"Maybe take me to work?" She asks
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175248
175249
>>175243
>>175247
I don't need to RP this whole thing tonight, but I would like confirmation that Posey makes it to the church.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175249
175250
>>175248
Yes of course we need to RP it. I'm checking with the notes to make sure the descriptions are consistent
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175250
175251
>>175249
Okay. I might go to bed soon though.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175251
175252
>>175250
Posey goes down a tunnel, through a dark, poorly lit tunnel until she comes out of a stairway in a building that directly meets the street. On the street one block over is La Fete. And then just across this is the church. It occupies a small property with a brick wall around it. It is rectangular, with a painted wooden door directly at street level, contrasting against the more normal use of steps. There are windows to either side, narrow and rectangular and fairly low. It has a high angled roof, with a black rooftop, and a painted white wooden steeple. It's an odd shape altogether; clearly intended to be tall, yet oddly stubby and close to the ground. The door is closed, and there is no outward information.
Anonymous
befea76
?
No.175252
175292
>>175251
Posey steals herself, trying not to look to close at the sacred geometry of the church, and knocks on the door.

I gotta sleep though.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175253
175254
>>175143
Amber changes up her ploy. While there's a lull in new customers, she decides to just ask Salt Mixer if she can use the restroom, and if approved will go into the kitchen the more hidden way. Of course she takes her cup of spice with her.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175254
175255
>>175253
She narrows her eyes and shakes her head.

"What? You don't have to ask, just go. And don't take too long."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175255
175256
>>175254
"I just didn't want you to wonder where I was. I won't be long." Can she see where Mustard is before she slips into the kitchen?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175256
175257
>>175255
Yes. He's outside on the patio. But he's headed back in soon, surely
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175257
175258
>>175256
Then Amber will wait for him in the kitchen. What could possibly be a better answer than directly from the horse's mouth?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175258
175259
>>175257
And then mustard comes up, with a note and moving quickly.

"Oh, hi Amber!"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175259
175260
>>175258
Whatever doubts she could have regarding her coltfriend get drowned out by his chipper energy, which is certainly much more than she has outside her burning dislike of Red Scabbard. "Hi. I just needed to catch a breather."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175260
175261
>>175259
"Over here?" He says, breathing in and out as if he's exerted himself. "Who is watching the door?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175261
175262
>>175260
"Salt Mixer is watching it, and she doesn't have a problem if I'm not too long."

She leans against a nearby object, pauses, and looks away as if thinking what to say before turning back to Mustard. "Say, did you see that diamond dog who came in a little while ago? He looked very well dressed fer one o' them, don't you think? Do forgive me, I found it a little funny."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175262
175263
>>175261
He sighs
"That's a police detective, apparently. Really wanted me to know that... Two of 'em, off duty."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175263
175264
>>175262
She blinks as if in surprise. "Could be worse. They could be food inspectors," she then replies with a small smile. "I hope the two of them didn't order too many courses."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175264
175265
>>175263
"Heh heh..." His smile fades and he doesn't make eye contact.

"No, it's goulash, the dumplings, and the paprikash... And beer... more beer..."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175265
175266
>>175264
Sense motive: is there more than what Mustard is letting on?
(Unskilled)
[1d20 = 15]

Whatever the case may be, she doesn't address it now but focuses on her totally-not-petty mission. "Diamond dogs like goulash? That's news to me. I thought they liked meatier dishes."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175266
175268
>>175265
It's pretty obvious that Mustard either does not like them and is overly stressed by them, or he's overly stressed by the job tonight more generally.

>>175265
"Yeah, and sharing dumplings. The pony he's with has the Paprikash."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175268
175269
>>175266
Maybe, just maybe they'll be out a little sooner than expected.

"I've never had that before, is it any good?" she asks, starting to get anxious again. "I'm guessin' you're picking it up now?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175269
175270
>>175268
"No, but the order is in. It's alright, I suppose. It can be spicy."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175270
175271
>>175269
Amber feels a sudden surge of dread. Is she too early? "Some ponies handle spice better than others," she says, trying to play it cool. "Is it one of those dishes that takes a long time? I ain't the most familiar with the cooking here, or how the food gets prioritized."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175271
175272
>>175270
"Not really, the order was just placed. As for priority... I haven't figured that out, exactly." He blinks. "Are we limiting seating because of the kitchen?" He looks around at the set of orders. "I don't think it's too much of a backlog?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175272
175273
>>175271
She is too early, she realizes with a sinking realization. Her eagerness proved to be her downfall. Well, maybe not late. She does some filly maths and comes to the conclusion that going back and leaving later again is less likely to cause trouble than spending over twenty minutes in the "bathroom."

"Actually, how do waiters know if a dish is ready?" she asks.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175273
175274
>>175272
"Ideally there would be a busser here to wait until it's ready and then send it... but really we just have to check in. It helps to combine it with turning over the new orders." He answers
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175274
175275
>>175273
"Well, it ain't a busy night, all things considered. Maybe you could show me the dish when it's ready in the kitchen? I don't think it's made too often and I'd like to see what it looks like, since it sounds interestin'." Amber has a soft, easy smile that suggests innocence, provided he is not too suspicious and tests this.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175275
175276
>>175274
"Yeah, sure but-" He looks at the adorable little filly, who would never lie to or deceive him. "Okay... Should I come to you?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175276
175277
>>175275
"You're a waiter and move around a lot. I can't just roam around without Mixer gettin' mad at me," she replies, her ears drooping a little.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175277
175278
>>175276
"Awwww, but she likes you." He pats her head. "Alright, I'll come to you. Just... I don't want her to see me in the wrong area either, but... I'll come to you." he smiles and pets her head more.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175278
175279
>>175277
Filly is pet

"Thank you! Now don't let me keep you."

Amber debates leaving the cup of spice in the kitchen. She figures that although the chances are slim, there's a worry it could be tossed since it's unhygienic to leave a cup around (not that she knows if anypony cares.) She takes the cup and leaves by the same door she came in from, heading to her workstation from the direction of the bathroom.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175279
175280
>>175278
"I'll see you Amber!"

Amber does, however, have the disadvantage of being clearly seen by Salt Mixer, who watches her as she trots past.

At the door is an impatient elderly couple.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175280
175281
>>175279
Her anxiety has not really subsided since now she has to deal with these customers. "Hello, how can I help you today? Will that be a table for two? Would you prefer to be seated inside or outside?" she asks hurriedly.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175281
175282
>>175280
"Table. Inside. It's too cold outside." The stallion says grumpily, looking over the mare as if consulting with her.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175282
175283
>>175281
"Absolutely! We hope you'll like the food here." She leads them to one of Cream Pop's tables. "A waiter will be with you shortly," she says.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175283
175284
>>175282
May have made more sense to place them in Mustard Trim's portion of the indoor section, but Cream Pop is the most senior of the waitstaff and can handle it. Next up, a family of... five?
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175284
175285 175286
>>175283
Good thing Mustard loves serving families with foals. Well, he might not, but it would be good for him to gain experience regarding this anyway since he intends on having foals himself. She asks if they'd prefer being indoors or outdoors. If indoors she gives them one of Mustard's booths.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175285
175286
>>175284
>Amber will use her hostess job to demonstrate to Mustard that he better either learn to pull out or start using condoms
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plzw1NWVYSM

Mustard only has tables, but it works all the same.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175286
175287
>>175284
>>175285
And after the passage of some time, Mustard Trim comes up to Amber

"You want to see the dishes and the process?" He smiles and movers his tail side to side. "Just... let's be discrete. I don't want the other staff to think we're sneaking off to do other things in the back..."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175287
175292
>>175286
After making sure nopony else is coming, she smiles back at him. "If they'll be ready soon, then sure thing. Don't worry about any of it, the kitchen staff can give us an alibi."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175290
175292
>>175247
Silver would say she succeeds fairly well at that goal.

"Hmm. How much longer until you have to get to work?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175291
175292
>>175247
"Thank you!"

Kira slithers past while trying to maintain her current hidden status. She wonders and marvels at all of the advanced technology that she passes by, so much more advanced than anything her tribe had. She wonders to herself how it is anyone could have had the thought to make any of this.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175292
175293 175294 175295 175302
Radio.jpg
>>175287
He continues smiling, though more awkwardly.

"Alright, I'll go first."

The two little ponies go in tandem, one after the other, to make it look more like they are going back independently of each other, and not to, you know, have sex during restaurant hours. They arrive in the kitchen entrance.

>>175290
She looks down, then back up again.

"Not long..."

>>175291
On either side of a carpet floor are a number of radios and phonographs. Some have stands and sit on the floor. Most are on shelves and are intended to sit on tables. Most are wooden. Some have various forms of plastic frames. Neela takes the lead after giving the pegasus stallion a dirty look.

>>175252
knock knock

No response. At least, not yet. Through the window, Posey can see that at least a candle light is on, though any electric lighting - if it exists at all - is off. From windows and the dim, dark corners of buildings and alleyways, golden eyes stare back.
Anonymous
3b5f806
?
No.175293
175296
>>175292
Posey knocks again.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175294
175296
>>175292
"Woooooooooooow...imagine how long it took someone to make these. Especially all of these little numbers in the front!" Kira plays with the dial on one, watching as the needle moves back and forth on the display. Nothing is currently playing as the radio is unpowered, but Kira is still amazed. "Ooooooooooooo!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175295
175296
>>175292
"Alright, I suppose we better head off then. I will drive you to work. At least you'll be able to show me who was lucky enough to employ you!"
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175296
175297 175300 175301
>>175293
[1d3 = 2]

>>175294
Unfortunately, some of the little knobs make satisfying clicks when moved. Still others visibly move a needle across a white board that can be seen through glass.

>>175295
She looks down, then back up at Silver

“Uh, alright.”
Anonymous
3b5f806
?
No.175297
175298
>>175296
Do what does the 1d3 mean? That looks like an urban encounter roll...
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175298
175299
>>175297
Posey gets no reply.
Anonymous
3b5f806
?
No.175299
175303
>>175298
Posey knocks a third time, making her persistent tenacity clear to anyone ignoring her
"Pardon me for intruding on your sanctuary in these trying times, but it's imperative that I meet with Di Bin Milyaketan, on the matter concerning Agire's passing."
She pauses for a moment
"You've probably heard a story of me from Sevberk by now. I'm a friend of a friend, and I've come to discuss a service in response to his passing."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175300
175303
>>175296
Unless Khoi or any of the others need something, all Silver needs is the car key and then they can be off.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175301
175303
>>175296
Even the clicky knobs are interesting to the lamia. Kira looks over at Neela.

"Neela, look! I'm doing the radios!"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175302
175304
>>175292
Why, Amber would never. She can't be sure though if that would be more or less acceptable than intentionally making a customer's food inedible. She has her spice with her and waits to see the dish in question.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175303
175309 175324 175325
>>175299
One of the wooden double doors open, revealing a rather light in color creature that Posey can be fairly sure is probably a Kaftar. It's eyes are dark, if anything, in the light of the nearby streetlight, and it wears a white turban.

"Who are you?" The creature asks in a male, heavily accented voice. Posey can feel that if she looked behind her, she'd likely see one or more other creatures.

>>175300
Just a quick trip upstairs to get the car keys, White Orchid asks "where are you going?" and "can I go?" Mala looks over at Silver and it's a reminder that Silver had an idea to hide the car, and Jubilosa looks just a little bit jealous. Khoi goes out the door, and sits down next to the passenger side car door, evidently waiting for Silver to open it.

>>175301
"Yeah yeah, I see it." Neela says, ears going back as she tries to navigate around the giant snake that's occupying much of the floor. She's also looking at radios but is not turning the knobs.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175304
175305
>>175302
Given that workers going off and having sex when they are not on company time is tolerated, poisoning a customer is probably the more serious issue.

Mustard Trim is happy to show Amber the dishes. he holds up a plate of four or so white balls.
"Here, we have pierogi. It's bread balls filled with mashed potatoes."

Then a bowl of soup.
"Goulash, a soup with potato, onion, and especially paprika."

And then another orange brightly colored dish
"Parpikash, with Spatzle, a kind of dumpling, onion, tomato paste, and even more paprika."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175305
175306
>>175304
"Ooh, colorful! Before the dishes get cold, it'd be best to make sure there's space on their table first. You said they were drinking lots of beer," Amber gently suggests.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175306
175307
>>175305
“Oh yeah, you make room on the table as you take it out. You live empty bottles if you have to.” He answers
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175307
175308
>>175306
Amber is getting a little exasperated. "Okay, but if your tray is full, and the table is full, where are you going to put stuff to make room? The floor? That'd just look bad."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175308
175313
>>175307
"Well, you can carry a little foldable tray holder that you can place the tray on while you place the plates on the table. But I usually just keep the tray on my back. Sometimes you can use a nearby empty table. But in this case, there should be plenty of space as it's only two patrons, and the table is designed for about four ponies." He answers
Anonymous
86c7de6
?
No.175309
175311
>>175303
>"Who are you?"
"I am Rosey Ring, emissary of the Dread League." Posey proudly declares, clearly, but quietly.
She pays no heed to any beings stalking her from behind, as though she has no fear of being attacked.
Anonymous
db47b75
?
No.175310
175311
>>175102
Oh, I missed this one!
>discord
I lost track of you when all the 'ebil nazi' purge happened. I know what the name was, but shenanigens. Suffice it to say, you are correct that your planned event would not mesh with my prospective event. My target is more local ^_~
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175311
175323
>>175309
"We are not expecting any 'Ring', nor does this 'Dread League' mean anything to us. We have no nee-"

The Kaftar is pushed aside, and in his place, a darker, golden colored Kafter in robes and a turban moves in his place.

"Come in." He says firmly, almost demandingly

>>175310
I figured as much. I recall an old plan of yours. It being local is okay, as the next event is only temporary and the action will come back to Baltimare in time
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175313
175314
>>175308
Things are getting desperate, but Amber isn't out of the fight yet.

"Look, this is soup, and it'd be a bad idea to try to balance all that together, wouldn't it? I'm sure you could normally do it, but it's been a long day, and imagine if you spilled something. You wouldn't want to risk that, would you? Give the dapper dog his soup first, and come back for the rest. It'll only take a moment."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175314
175315
>>175313
If it means anything to Amber, she ought to be able to discern that the Paprikash: 1., is already a spicy meal with a large amount of spice, and 2. Uses a very similar kind of spice to what Amber has

"Uh..." He looks at Amber, and then the food, with uncertainty. "Okay, sure." He takes the goulash and starts to go. Then he turns back, and also grabs the pierogi.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175315
175316
>>175314
See? She's merely enhancing its flavor. Amber dares not breathe a sigh of relief just yet.

"Ain't that much easier? Two trips are better than one."

When Mustard is away, she carefully holds the cup with two hooves and shakes it onto the paprikash, attempting to get a balanced distribution instead of just one pile.
Anonymous
2d81660
?
No.175316
175317
>>175315
poof

The whole dish is covered in the red chili pepper. But there’s an issue: it’s a bit too obvious, with the bright red powder.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175317
175318
>>175316
If there's a utensil around, Amber can mix around the sauce to better hide it.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175318
175319
>>175317
There is indeed a spoon and forks. Amber should be aware that there is no way that Price run doesn't know she's there, and what she does may be noticed.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175319
175320
>>175318
Amber considers her actions for a moment. She could probably stir it around with the excuse of really wanting a bite, but it would be a bad look regardless. Instead she blows off the excess spice, with hopefully enough bonding to the sauce to accomplish her purpose.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175320
175321
>>175319
The dish, already colored orange by the paprika, now has an even darker, redder color.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175321
175326
>>175320
What a beautiful dish! Amber almost wishes she could taste its horror, as a way of testing herself and deriving schadenfreude from the fact an icky stallion will suffer the same fate. That's normal, right?

With the hard part done, she waits for Mustard to come back, which should be soon.
Anonymous
86c7de6
?
No.175323
175326
>>175311
>"Come in." He says firmly, almost demandingly
Posey does not need to be told twice. She enters the building as soon as she is invited.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175324
175326
>>175303
Silver replies to White Light first: "Just taking Khoi to work, nothing exciting."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175325
175326
>>175303
Kira's finding it hard to believe that anyone could resist the call of the knobs. While the plastic ones look fancy and modern, the wooden ones feel just a tad bit more natural if not for the varnish that's been applied to them. She looks to Neela to get her opinion.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175326
175327 175328 175329 175330
>>175323
The Kaftar moves back into the candlelit room. Posey can see that pews have been removed, the floor is wooden with carpet, and there are paintings and items on the walls. But Posey isn't paying attention to that. The Kaftar looks directly at Posey, and allows the other to close the door.

"You are the pony who asked for Agire. Why do you speak his name?"

>>175321
Mustard does indeed come back after the passage of only seconds. He's somewhat exasperated.

"And then the final dish, to the very waiting pony..." And he takes it, stopping only if Amber addresses him.

>>175324
"Oh... okay..." The little kylan is waiting for Silver, sitting down, looking up at the passenger side door, waiting for Silver to open it.

>>175325
Neela: "Yeah, it's... these are nice, sure, but... why are you playing with those?"
Anonymous
f047039
?
No.175327
175333
>>175326
"Agire was our friend, one of a kind. His passing a a great disappointment to us, and I'm sure a great predicament to your temple as well." Posey says
"But where I come from, we believe that the bonds of friendship need not end, and so I come to make a proposal to you, one for which I humbly request your assistance." she continues, bowing her head politely
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175328
175333
>>175326
Amber won't slow down the waiter, instead waving him off and returning to her own station. She still has to worry about being spotted by Salt Mixer, but that worry is minor compared to everything else that came before.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175329
175333
>>175326
"Because it's fun and they're interesting, of course!"

The snek appears fully engrossed with the devices.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175330
175333
>>175326
"Are you really sure you want to come? It is nothing exciting, and we may have to trot for quite bit during trip."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175333
175334 175342 175346 175347
>>175328
Amber goes back to her station to find it quiet and with no pony waiting. This may mean some ponies slipped through and seated themselves, but it could just be a normal lull. Amber has time alone with her thoughts. Well, maybe not. Better check the status of the seating to see if anything has changed since she left.

>>175327
"Indeed it was, but what right have you to call hi-" He stops

"Need not end? What? What do you have? What could you have? He is dead. I will not see him again until the next life."

>>175329
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=St8iEpkcDJc&pp=ygUcYmVjYXVzZSBpdCdzIHNvIG11Y2ggZnVuIGphbg%3D%3D

Neela scrunches
"Okay, that's enough"

>>175330
"Okay... I guess it didn't go so well the last time. I'll wait here." He answers, slumping down a little
Anonymous
80e829b
?
No.175334
175335
>>175333
>"Need not end? What? What do you have? What could you have?
"With Agire dead, the line of succession for this temple is broken: that's bad for both of us..." Posey continues
"I propose to you, a ceremony to make an appeal to The Angel to raise Agire from the grave." Posey says, with a blank, serious expression.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175335
175336
2395050.png
>>175334
Posey has his attention
"And what is this 'ceremony'?"
Anonymous
80e829b
?
No.175336
175337
7InbZTI.png
>>175335
"We make an appeal to the other side by offering them a life in exchange for Agire. Depending on the result of our appeal, we may be blessed with a miracle, through which he could return to us." Posey says
Posey opens her satchel and flips through her grimoire, stopping at a page that roughly illustrates the process.
"I'm sure you're familiar with the concept, being a seasoned priest yourself."
She continues
"To do this, it will take some cooperation. Appealing to a higher power for rewards of this magnitude isn't simple, it would require divination, and guidance, the sort of the priestly variety. I myself have a suitable candidate that we could use for the ceremony, but I'll need your assistance, and your approval, to carry it out."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175337
175338
>>175336
"I have not heard of such a ceremony" He replies, though perhaps without firm conviction,

"The Angel does not give life back. Not even for life. Were it so easy..."
Anonymous
80e829b
?
No.175338
175339
>>175337
Posey shrugs
"I'm doing this because we, no I, wish to stay on good terms with the future of the kaftar temple. It's only with your blessings that I can proceed in the appeal; if not, I will be on my way..."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175339
175340
>>175338
"You can make the angel release him?" He asks again, with a hint of desperation.
Anonymous
80e829b
?
No.175340
175382
>>175339
"I, no, we could try." Posey says, her paralyzed face softening in a sympathetic manner
"With your blessing."
Anonymous
548bf13
?
No.175341
175382
I guess this is the part where I roll Diplomacy.
[1d20+8 = (12+8) = 20]
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175342
175376
>>175333
As with baking a pretty cake, Amber knows she can't be lazy. She checks to see what's happened.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175346
175368
>>175333
Silver gives the crestfallen colt some headpats.

"There will be more opportunities, and when there are we will make sure to do plenty of things more fun than taking Khoi to work."

As for the jealous Jubilosa: does she want a kiss, too?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175347
175368
>>175333
"Awwwwww..." Kira, though disappointed, complies to the deer's order as if she were her fawn, and stops playing with the radio dials. "Which one do you like best, Neela?"
Anonymous
8fc8846
?
No.175368
175383 175384
>>175347
The knobs are still there, though. In reach... so many of them....

"This one" She pokes at a semi-random wooden radio with a half-oval tower design, and vertical stripes of wood covering what must be the speaker on the lower, more rectangular portion.

>>175346
"Okay..." the colt lowers his head

scrunchy griffin looks away
Maybe
Anonymous
cb4ca11
?
No.175370
175372
GM, if Posey is going to carry out her plan, she's going to want to buy a couple items, so I would like to appraise the value of Posey's jewelry (3 rings, bangle, necklace, bracelet). Posey should be able to hit a 15 DC taking 10 with all available bonuses.
Anonymous
048ca9d
?
No.175372
175373 175374
>>175370
This is fine, but I strain to believe she can get it done at 3 AM… perhaps a multi-night plan
Anonymous
1855394
?
No.175373
175376
>>175372
It takes 1 minute to appraise. I'm just trying to figure out how much money Posey has.
Anonymous
1855394
?
No.175374
175376
>>175372
>3 AM
Posey is nocturnal.
Anonymous
048ca9d
?
No.175376
175377 175378
>>175373
Sure.

>>175374
Sure, but the non-bat/non-gnoll shop keepers of Baltinare are not.

>>175342
Elsewhere in the restaurant, ponies are about to find out what happens when you don’t do the cooking by the book.

Amber, however, has discovered that two young stallions have slipped through and seated themselves. Melon Mangrove’s section
Anonymous
6aa4785
?
No.175377
>>175376
Okay, so, can Posey tell what her jewelry is worth?
Also, does the priest answer her?
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175378
175382
>>175376
Have any of Melon's customers left yet? Does it still seem crowded in her section?
Anonymous
8fc8846
?
No.175382
175395 175403
>>175341
>>175340
He walks past Posey in a half circle that seems almost predatory or threatening, but with his head visibly locked forward and down as he walks through the dim yellow light of the converted building, it is more likely he is thinking.

"Agire was willing to meet with the outsiders. He was willing to converse with other faiths. No. He loved to meet with the outsiders. No, he wasn't in favor of integration, but he did join that... Society... And it killed him..." He looks to Posey holding his head below his shoulders, such that he is looking up towards her. It doesn't make him look smaller, but more like a cat ready to pounce.

"But Agire was indeed wise. He did trust in the Angel. And he trusted in The Society. I know of no way to bring him back..." Now he looks away, even lifting a paw as if unable to look at Posey. "But I have to take that chance... To get him back." And then his head turns back to Posey, and with a sniffle "Yes. I will take your... offer..."

>>175378
Her section is not equally crowded. The booths along the wall are full, the tables are not. It appears that the interlopers have gone to a booth that was just freshly cleaned - at least hopefully it is cleaned - and was the lone open booth in her section. Hard to say if this is "too" crowded. The tables are far from full.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175383
175385
>>175368
Then perhaps we will see, as Silver goes in to kiss his griffon.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175384
175385
>>175368
"Oooooo! Great choice, Neela!" Not that Kira would know, she knows next to nothing about radios other than that they pull sounds from the air. But, she does enjoy the nice semi-natural feel and look of the wooden radio as opposed to the more manufactured feel of the plastic radios. She takes the radio, and looks to Neela if she has anything else she desires.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175385
175386 175388
>>175383
A mischievous smile, and she kisses Silver back with more skill and less force than Khoi.

>>175384
“Uh” she seems a bit intimidated by Kira’s passion for… knobs. “Well, we don’t have the records to play for a phonograph. Let’s call this ‘good’.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175386
175387
>>175385
Hey, knobs are important, Neela shouldn't be knocking Kira's enthusiasm for them.

"Aww, well maybe some other day then." Kira takes their new prospective purchase up to the counter, excited to delve into this new technology.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175387
175389
>>175386
There’s a mare at the counter, but that mare is willingly replaced by the stallion encountered earlier, who also seems to want to keep a distance from Kira, but is content to remain behind the counter. He looks at the radio chosen.

“Just this?” He asks
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175388
175390
>>175385
Silver wraps his forelegs around his griffon and pulls her in tight. He fully embraces the passion and skill she shows, and attempts to match his griffon goddess despite the difficulty in doing so.

After she has given at least as much as Khoi, Silver breaks the kiss despite how much a part of him wants to continue. He's running late enough as is. "Love you, Jubilosa. I will be back soon, okay?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175389
175390
>>175387
Kira tilts her head at the stallion, curious by what he means. The façade of her being a pony is only slightly broken by a tongue flick. "What do you mean? Is there more we need for the radio to work?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175390
175391 175392
>>175388
She’s a bit more tender than Khoi, oddly, despite not having Khoi’s soft lips. Her tongue is also softer. She smiles to him with half lidded eyes.

I’ll be here.”

She waves a claw to wave him bye.

>>175389
“Well, I understand if you don’t want or need a phonograph, a second radio, or a television. The Fillydelphia Electric model 8 is a very good radio.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175391
175393
>>175390
Kira looks over to Neela. "Do we need any of those? I mean, you said we don't have any records, but like what about another radio or...television, whatever that is?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175392
175397
>>175390
Okay, that should take care of everyone. He waves bye to Jubilosa as well as to the other creatures present before he goes out to the car, opening the passenger-side door for the patiently waiting Khoi. Once she's in, he gets in the driver's side.

"Okay, got everything? Ready to go?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175393
175394
>>175391
Neela is at a loss.

The stallion says,
“The Fillydelphia Electric 8 is 82 bits… we have televisions for around 500.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175394
175397
>>175393
Oof, ouch, eee. That's a big price tag, even for Kira who has less of an idea of the actual worth of Bits.

"Hmmmm...I think we'll just take the radio for now, if we need more later we'll be such to come back here!"
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175395
175396 175397
>>175382
>"Yes. I will take your... offer..."
Posey nods respectfully
"I appreciate your willingness to trust me, after everything that's happening."
She continues
"Appealing to the other side is no simple task. Even after exhausting all of my own powers, I have only a one in four chance of succeeding; but together, we could raise our chances."
Posey then explains her plans for the ritual.
She explains that she has a "prisoner of war" (Sasha), a diamond dog, that she's willing to offer for the ritual. She assures the priest that it's unlikely that anypony will come looking for her, because nopony knew she was here in the first place.
Since the ceremony involves sacrificing a creature, it needs to be done in secret, but the chance of success increases if it can be done in front of ten followers and on an altar. If the priest can offer Posey any assistance in bringing the sacrifice into the city unnoticed, she says it would be much appreciated.

Finally, Posey inquires if Di Bin Milyaketan is willing to assist her with spellcasting to increase chance of success. I feel it's safe to assume he has Cleric levels, because his presumed successor was affiliated with the Society Of Bones, and was therefore likely a Cleric capable of casting Necromancy spells. She inquires the scale of his powers (what level spells he can cast), with the presumption that he's unable to raise the dead. If Di Bin Milyaketan is unwilling or unable to assist Posey with spellcasting... Well, she could try to seduce Baka to help her out.

I'll stop here, GM, because I just want to point out that although I mentioned Guidance Of The Avatar in my rough draft, it is a Web archive spell and is considered by some to be kind of cheap (+20 circumstance bonus to any skill check), so I get it if you don't want to include it in your game.
The plan without Guidance Of The Avatar is to buy a scroll of Imbue With Spell Ability and give it to Di Bin Milyaketan, and have him imbue Posey with the spells Sacrificial Skill (1st) and Lore Of The Gods (2nd). Posey intends to sell the scrolls she never uses alongside the rings she can't wear to afford this.

Posey is trying to hit a DC 35 Religion check, which could call a Lilitu and have it cast Raise Dead. The DC 40 check for Limited Wish is pretty much unaffordable without the spell mentioned above.
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175396
>>175395
Or I could forget about those spells and wing it, hoping I roll a 15.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175397
175398 175400 175401
>>175392
Khoi hops into the seat, and fiddles around with the seatbelt.

“Yes.” She says, still trying to figure out the seatbelt.

>>175394
Kira now has her one and only radio.

“82 bits.” The stallion says.

>>175395
“No one here will make any fuss of a dog being slain. I do not just mean the Kaftar. To smuggle in, I am… less sure. Perhaps among equipment, or a delivery. As for location, here in the church, or better, in the crypts beneath it. I will certainly help in any ritual. Where I am most skeptical, is that the angel will accept a trade, but…I am willing.”
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175398
175399
>>175397
"I appreciate your cooperation. Agire was an asset to the Society, and his death is a great loss to us. I'll do everything in my power to undo his untimely deaf, even if the chance of success is low." Posey replies
"I'll make haste. The window to bring him back in good condition is closing."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175399
175404
>>175398
Looking very sullen and with large eyes that reflect tears, he nods.

“Bring him back.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175400
175402
>>175397
Now that Kira can definitely handle, and she still has a good amount leftover after she places the required Bits on the counter and takes her new radio out of the store. Before she slithers towards home with her radio and her deer she waves bye to the store workers on her way out.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175401
175402
>>175397
Using his magic, Silver helps her out with the seatbelt. It's likely just a simple lapbelt, and it gives a satisfying click as it snaps into place. He makes sure to adjust the tightness to fit the kirin.

"So, where did you find emplyment, anyhow?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175402
175405 175406
>>175400
Kira presumably carries it on her back, which is to say, over her stomach on her snake body. It needs to be tied up. The pony stallion mentions home delivery but Neela says it’s unnecessary. Kira walking along the sidewalk is still awkward, with ponies generally wanting to give her room. Crossing the street becomes harrowing when the light turns green as Kira is halfway across. Neela walks behind Kira.

They make it back.

>>175401
She smiles to Silver.
“A restaurant in Eastside. It’s down this road, then turn left on Secretariat, and it’s down four blocks.”
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175403
175407
>>175382
Well, darn. At this point it would be rude to seat them somewhere else, but she doesn't really have any other option or else others will get upset. She approaches them.

"Erm, excuse me. This booth is reserved"–a half truth, as she's indeed reserving it for a larger group–"But I can seat you at another table."
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175404
175407
>>175399
"I can try..." Posey says

Does he say anything about his spellcasting abilities? That might be helpful.

After this is discussed, Posey discusses an intended time tomorrow (at night), and leaves the church to begin preparing for the ritual.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175405
175407
>>175402
He smiles back, before turning the car on and getting it moving.

"That sounds familiar...is it run by zebras?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175406
175407
>>175402
Yay! Kira excitedly goes inside, and ponders where to put their new radio. She is very much wanting to try it out as soon as she can.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175407
175408 175409 175410 175412
>>175403
The two colts scrunch at Amber.

“There’s no sign.” One says.

Table options exist for all three active waiters. Booth options exist for Cream Pop.

>>175404
“Oh yes, I have eight levels in-“ No, he does not say that. He alludes to this not-proven-to-not-be-a-government-informant that he has magical powers, but he is vague on the specifics.

>>175405
“Yes…” she says, with reservation.

>>175406
“Just put it in the living room. And plug it in.” Neela says. She actually comes up to the radio, trying to fiddle with it.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175408
175413
>>175407
"I do apologize for the inconvenience. I can get you another booth right over there," she says as she gestures in the direction of Cream Pop's booths.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175409
175413
>>175407
Kira does so. It takes her a moment to look between the plug and the wall outlet to figure out what she needs to do to plug it in. There's a tiny snap from the electricity as the plug is inserted, causing Kira to jump back lightly with a startled hiss.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175410
175413
>>175407
"And one of them is named Black Cauldron, right?"

If Kira is worried that Silver is going to judge her for working for zebras, it so far appears that she's safe.
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175412
175413
>>175407
"Excellent. I'll get started right away, and give you some time to make your own preparations." Posey replies
With this, she leaves
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175413
175414 175415 175416 175421
>>175409
I don’t think Kira even hissed at Free Rover when he tried to yoink her

Neela jumps back, hoping on her front legs first, then her rear legs, perfectly hopping backwards away from the hissing and presumably rebounding snake. Kira is, well, hopefully not electrocuted, providing she doesn’t hold it on both metallic prongs, which would be difficult with hooves anyways. If she is electrocuted… at least it isn’t fatal.

Noise jumps out of the box. A bit of static, but then music. A sound of trombones, then the saxophone.

>>175410
“Yes, she’s… well she is head chef, more or less.”

>>175412
Posey leaves the church and into the rain, still watched by eyes cloaked in the darkness from the edge of poorly-lit streets.

>>175408
The scrunchy ponies do at least obey Amber in her relocation of them.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175414
175417
>>175413
"Oh, I know her! She's nice, and she knows how to brew potions. Her coltfriend introduced me that night just before we came to Hoebuck."

Silver makes sure to keep his eyes on the road, as he continues to talk with Khoi and navigate his way to Black Cauldron's restaurant.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175415
175417
>>175413
Phew! "Thank you very much. Cream Pop is your waiter and he'll be with you shortly."

She goes back to her regular duties.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175416
175417
>>175413
Admittedly, electricity is more starling than a silly/handsome pony trying to pick you up.

No electrocution, just a startling noise and a rebounding snake. Once she's calmed and starts to hear music, her mood completely changes. She lowers herself down, looking at the radio with big, wide eyes, and her ears excitedly turn towards the source of the music.

"Wooooow..."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175417
175418 175419 175420
>>175414
“Yes.” She nods, closing her eyes. “He was the one who set me up working there. She is… a little demanding. She knows how it is to be, and wants it done that way.”

>>175416
The little box secretes the sound of a whole band, with a bit of static. Neela comes up to it, turns a knob slightly, and with that the sound is clearer.

>>175415
The time moves on. Amber may either focus her full attention on her duties, or the… other portions, if the restaurant.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175418
175422
>>175417
What is there to focus on? It's mainly standing there and waiting for ponies to arrive. She looks around the restaurant a little to pass time.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175419
175422
>>175417
Keeping her ears turned towards the radio, the awestruck Kira looks at Neela.

"And all of this music is just in the air all around us?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175420
175422
>>175417
"It could be how she was raised. When your parents train you in something they are good at, there are times when they demand perfection from you, and it can rub off onto your own personality."
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175421
175422
>>175413
Posey returns to Mason, trying not to get too wet in the process.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175422
175423 175424 175425 175429
>>175418
There’s a bit of speed and back and forth with Mustard Trim. Sone pony watching.

>>175419
“Uh…” she looks up, and to the left, then turns her head to the left, and her right ear flops down and out before she turns her head to look back at Kira. “I guess so.”

>>175420
“Yeah…” she looks down. “She wants it done right,”

The drive is short, and it’s not hard to see why Khoi thought this was a walkable distance. It’s only a few minutes.

>>175421
Oddly… the rain feels refreshing. Posey is not harassed on the way back, not even by the soldiers, who seem to recognize her.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175423
175426
>>175422
Silver stops the car in front of the restaurant when they arrive, but as it seems she's still got at least a couple minutes before she has to go inside, Silver turns towards to Khoi to continue talking.

"That was nice surprise you gave me back at home, but I do have to ask where that came from. Not that I minded, of course."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175424
175426
>>175422
"I've never heard any music like this before. There are so many instruments!"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175425
175426
>>175422
Mustard looks to be doing well. What surprises her more than anything else is that she hasn't heard anything of Red Scabbard.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175426
175427 175428 175430
>>175423
“That was… um…” she looks down and at her hooves, which she clops together. Then looks up towards Silver with an awkward smile. “Heh heh.”

>>175424
“Well, that’s equestrian music. It’s pretty popular here.” Neela answers.

Kira counts… three instruments?

>>175425
Oh, but listen closely. Or look outside. The little pony will find out soon enough.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175427
175431
>>175426
Hmm, she thought she heard more than that.

"Is it anything like your people's music?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175428
175431
>>175426
"It was nice." Silver smiles at Khoi, and reaches a forehoof over to touch her side. "I do hope it happens more often in future. We can work on practicing your kissing."
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175429
175431
>>175422
>who seem to recognize her.
Hmmmmm, Posey would have preferred to avoid that, but it can't be helped seeing how she's so powerful and beautiful.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175430
175431
>>175426
She doesn't want to move from her spot, but pony ears are sensitive and she swivels them to the source of the sound.

Listen: [1d20+3 = (6+3) = 9]
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175431
175432 175433 175434 175435
>>175427
She may have. It can be hard to count and distinguish.

Neela takes a moment to reply
“No. Not really. No.”

>>175428
“Heheh” she lowers her head even more, blushes, and looks over towards Silver, with a very wide, toothy smile that shows off her small fangs. Her side is nice and soft, and she seems to react positively to the touch.

“Maybe… maybe tonight…” she says

>>175429
In fairness, it’s the same ones who saw her go in. But yes, she isn’t entirely inconspicuous, either.

>>175430
Behind. Middle of the restaraunt around the door to the patio.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175432
175436 175606
>>175431
She creeps back to the middle of the restaurant to better understand what's going on. She might be needed anyway to keep the peace.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175433
175436
>>175431
"I would like that." Silver uses his magic to undo her seatbelt. He also leans in towards her if she would like to give/receive a goodbye kiss.
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175434
175436
>>175431
Okay.
Posey returns home. She explains to Mason her intent to bring Sasha back to the church.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175435
175436
>>175431
Kira continues to listen to the music for another couple of moments before resuming talking.

"So, if you were forced to stay here for a bit while I went out on my own, would you be all set? Is there anything else you need?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175436
175437 175438 175439 175444 175606
>>175432
[1d100 = 24]

>>175434
Mason seems a little uncomfortable with this new request, but says nothing. He calmly and carefully backs the car up, and starts the drive home.

>>175433
“Well…”

Looking out back at the restaurant, Silver sees a young zebra mare . She is mostly white in color, with thin black stripes and a bit of black at the end of the muzzle. Her coat is well groomed. Her mane is a short black, combed to the side. Her body has the slight dip in the back, wide barrel, and wider flanks of the typical zebra. Her eyes are a bright blue, and she wears a necklace and earrings. She looks at the vehicle curiously.

>>175435
“I… think so.” She tilts her head. “Are you going somewhere?”
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175437
175606
AmberLookingUp.jpg
>>175436
scary roll
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175438
175440
>>175436
"Well, I was hoping to get some proper sustenance for myself. I...don't think you'd want to be around for that, it sort of creeps out non-lamias. And then I was going to go to R&M to follow that lead from the Customs ponies for a job."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175439
175440
>>175436
The zebra mare distracts Silver from his attempt to smooch the kirin some more. He rolls down his window and looks over at the zebra mare, who likely works at this establishment.

"Hello there, ma'am. I am Silver, Khoi's ride. She will be inside very shortly."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175440
175441 175442
>>175438
“It’s kind of late in the day for trying to do work… though they are probably open. I can’t imagine they’d let the sun going down get in the way of harassing creatures. I still don’t understand why you’d want to work for them.” She pauses, and looks at Kira. “Shouldn’t you have a witness for when you eat? Someone to say it wasn’t a pony?”

>>175439
She walks up slowly towards Silver. She’s reasonably attractive in her own right.

“Ah. I didn’t know she had a…” she looks over at Silver. “I’m just with the wait staff.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175441
175443
>>175440
Hmmmmmm...nah, those thoughts are definitely best kept out while he's with his kirin. He turns to look back at Khoi, and though there is now an audience he does still lean in for a kiss if she should choose to do so.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175442
175443
>>175440
"It's the only way I can get recognized by the governor, and he's the pony who can get my tribe safely settled here. Though, I did hear that one pony mention a mayor..."

After her pause, Kira tilts her head at Neela. "I mean, I could have one, but...why would I eat a pony?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175443
175445 175446
>>175441
“He’s my Fiance” Khoi lies. This may be the first time he’s heard her lie, at least that he could recognize. Then she leans in for another kiss. A hard kiss, like before.

>>175442
“Because you’re big enough to do it.” She answers bluntly. “Do you want to just assume the ponies will take your word for it? Or would you like somedeer to back you up on it?”
Anonymous
9ae4f83
?
No.175444
175491
>>175436
Posey asks if Mason sees any issues with her plan
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175445
175447
>>175443
Kira is still a bit confused as to why she would, but she can sort of sees Neela's point.

"Alright. You don't have to watch me actually...you know, but I suppose it would be good ot have some backup."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175446
175447
>>175443
Damn, that's certainly an interesting path for her to take. Silver accepts the kiss, but he tries to use his own mouth and tongue to try to guide her, showing her how to not be so hard and rough and instead how to be soft and tender while kissing, taking their time to explore each other's mouths and enjoy the moment.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175447
175448 175449
>>175445
Neela stands up.
“You want creatures to get used to you, right? Well then you can’t really be ashamed about how you live.”

>>175446
With Silver’s corrections, she kind of just backs down. She does not remain in the kiss as long as she did in the house.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175448
175450
>>175447
I suppose this makes sense, as she's trying to sell a story rather than prove something. Still, Silver does take this opportunity while he has it to at least slightly messed with Khoi.

"Love you, honey. Have great day at work!"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175449
175450
>>175447
scrunch

"I'm not ashamed of it, I just know how the zebra workers back in Dhamaji reacted whenever they saw how a lamia eats. Anyways, let's go, maybe we can find a farm not too far away that would be willing to sell a goat or something."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175450
175451 175452
>>175449
“Oh. Goat. That’s your meal of choice.”
She has a very wide, sly, closed mouth smile, and moves along with Kira.

>>175448
She blushes, lowers her head even further, and her ears move back. She places both hooves together, bending her legs in and placing them in front of her chest. She whispers. “Really?”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175451
175453
>>175450
Kira nods, as she slithers towards the outskirts of the city, figuring that any farms would probably be further out.

"Oh yeah, it's part of the lamia diet. You don't need a whole lot of room to raise goats, they're filling, and you can get milk from them."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175452
175453
>>175450
Silver whispers back, "Really really." He smiles at his kirin and her cute reaction.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175453
175454 175455
>>175451
“Ah, that makes sense.”

She follows, lowers her head, and then asks
“Would you… like some help? In finding a farm?”

>>175452
She smiles in a display of happiness, again showing off her fangs. “Hehehehe.” She almost squeaks. Then she moves closer, places her nose against Silver’s, and nuzzles him, closing her eyes.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175454
175456
>>175453
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Khoi really is just the cutest thing. Silver closes his own eyes and nuzzles back.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175455
175456
>>175453
Kira comes to a stop, perhaps forcing Neela to dodge out of the way if she was following immediately behind the lamia.

"Oh, uh...sure, if you know where one is. Lead on!"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175456
175457 175458 175459
>>175455
“Nope! But I might be able to find out.” She says.

Gather information, with secret modifier. Neela pretends to be looking for work as a farm hoof.
[1d20 = 4]

>>175454
The little Kylan is nuzzled
“Hehehe.”

Unless Silver has something else he wants to do with her, she hops out. Or waits until Silver opens the door, and hops out.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175457
175458
>>175456
And… Neela doesn’t get much of a response
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175458
175460
>>175456
>>175457
"Here, let me try."

Survival: Taking a deep breath and trying to clear her mind, Kira takes in a deep sniff and tastes the air for any sign of agriculture. Though she gets many unpleasant smells related to urban and suburban areas, she hopes that somewhere underneath them all she can pick out something familiar of farms and animals.

[1d20+10 = (10+10) = 20]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175459
175460
>>175456
Silver doesn't have anything he needs to do with her, and though he would love in that moment to spend more time with his kirin/kylan, he knows she has to go to work. He gives her a brief kiss and wave goodbye as he opens the passenger side door for her to get out.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175460
175461 175462
>>175459
Khoi smiles, and hops right out, with a sound of tapping as her cloven hoofs meet the pavement.

>>175458
Moving out unpleasant smells like diesel and asphalt, Kira can pick up on some tasty smells. Deer, although Neela seems to be upwind, and… yes. Goats. Across the river. To the south. South and south west.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175461
175463
>>175460
What beautiful music those hooves make. He watches his kylan as she goes around the car and towards the restaurant, not leaving until he's seen her safely enter the establishment.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175462
175463
>>175460
"Okay, I think I have it. Follow me!"

Perhaps Neela is a bit disturbed by the strength of Kira's sense of smell, as Kira follows the trail she picked up leading her across the river and towards those mythical goats.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175463
175464 175465
>>175461
After making sure her mane net and her jacket are secured, she trots towards the entrance, looking back at Silver with a smile. The zebra mare continues to watch both creatures.

>>175462
Neela and Kira go a few blocks south and then over, across an iron bridge. It’s still a bit urban, but progressing further, the buildings thin out.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175464
175466
>>175463
While following the trail, Kira decides to engage in some small talk.

"Where else have you been, besides Baltimare?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175465
175466
>>175463
Silver smiles back, happy to see his kylan in such high spirits. He waves at her some more until she enters the restaurant, and then looks over at the zebra mare once more.

"Do you know Black Cauldron, by any chance?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175466
175467 175468 175469
>>175465
She widens her eyes, opens her mouth and audibly breathes in.
“That’s my sister.”

>>175464
Neela tries to ask around again
[1d20 = 3]

“In Equestria? Nowhere. When I was a fawn my family traveled around. Different cities and villages in Lushi.”
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175467
175469
>>175466
It seems like Neela continues to receive no response…
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175468
175470
>>175466
"Oh! Alright, can you just tell her that I said 'hello' and hope she is doing okay? I have couple of things to do, otherwise I would just come in and do so myself."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175469
175470
>>175466
>>175467
Hmm, perhaps if she wasn't travelling with the lamia she would be getting better responses.

"All I ever knew before leaving was Dhamaji and the savanna surrounding it. Baltimare is so different from my homeland."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175470
175471 175472
>>175468
“Uh, sure.” She smiles a little awkwardly. “I think she’s out today… I don’t know. I haven’t seen her. Today at least.” She flicks her tail to her right side.

>>175469
“How… so?” She asks. The sun is going down, and it’s getting darker.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175471
175473
>>175470
Dang, how long has it been? Kira checks her pocket watch for the time.

"All of the buildings are tall and made of different materials, you have all of this technology like cars and stuff. There's also a lot less nature here in the city then I'm used to."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175472
175473
>>175470
"Oh, well, whenever you see her." He smiles and waves at the pretty zebra mare. "Have good day!"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175473
175474 175475
>>175472
She smiles and waves back
“I will!” A pause “And… have a good day, Silver, Khoi’s Fiance!”

>>175471
I mean, she’s been continuously doing stuff all day. Does she have a watch? It’s like 5:30.

“Well, yeah. It’s a city. A big one. The biggest in the region… I am told. Of course there isn’t any nature in it.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175474
175476
>>175473
Silver rolls up his window and heads off. He sees if he can navigate the care to Curwhinny's old farmhouse, hoping that such a remote location for the car will keep the gang off their trail until his business is finished.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175475
175476
>>175473
Yeah, she got a packet watch from the nice ponies at the pawn shop.

"It's a great city full of amazing things, but I do wish there were more trees and dirt in the city."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175476
175477 175478
>>175474
That location is more northerly, close to the road Cherry Hill is on, but much further west. The location is not remote, but is in the middle of new construction. Silver can of course drive there.

>>175475
“Well… it’s a city. There’s a few parks and trees, and a little dirt, but… of course there’s not going to be many trees or dirt.” She trots a few more feet. “That little yard uh the back is the most I’ve seen since I left Lushi.” She says. “In a private yard, I mean. Like on someone’s apartment.”

The two have reached the end of where navigating by dead reckoning can take them. It isn’t clear where they need to go.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175477
175479
>>175476
Survival: Another sniff, another tasting the air, as Kira attempts to figure out the correct path to take to get to the food.

[1d20+10 = (20+10) = 30]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175478
175479
>>175476
It's a good thing he can drive there, otherwise it would be hard to hide the car there. Even if it's not super remote, hopefully it's far enough away where they'll be safe.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175479
175480 175481
>>175477
There’s no question at all. The smell is unmistakeable. Down the road, to the left, and then the equivalent of a few blocks. Goats and perhaps even lambs. And besides that, Kira now knows there are cervines in the wilderness. Also Neela is still there.

>>175478
One way to find out! Silver can indeed drive there. The lot is a lone semi-wild lot surrounded by new-constructed houses.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175480
175482
>>175479
Then it's time to vroom vroom (safely) his way to the farmhouse.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175481
175482
>>175479
Ooooo. Kira's going to have to remember this place for future hunting plans. She excitedly leads the way towards the farm full of food.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175482
175483 175484
>>175480
Silver finds it. The quarry is still an archeological site, but the farmhouse is untouched. A random carry wouldn’t look out of place, with the archeological survey still going on.

>>175481
They’ve left the rows of houses and have entered the woods. The trees break for a meadow behind a barbed wire fence. There’s a smaller enclosure, a henhouse, a barn, and a farm house. Kira can hear the baying of goats.

Neela
“Oh I should have brought wire cutters…”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175483
175485
>>175482
Kira once more tilts her head at the deer. She's going to get a sore neck if she keeps doing that too much.

"Why do we need wire cutters? We just go over to the farm house and pay for a goat."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175484
175485
>>175482
That sounds good. Silver parks the car by the farmhouse, hopefully out of sight, and turns off the engine. He makes sure to grab anything left inside the car to take with him as he trots back towards home. Though, as he passes by the quarry, he gets curious and decides to see if Pear Faucet is still there.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175485
175486 175487
>>175483
She half scrunches, rolls her eyes upwards, and moves her ears back.

“Okay fine, we’ll buy the goats. Have you lived your whole life make to just buy everything, miss money bags?”

The farm house is right there. The lights show it is occupied.

>>175484
Looking in, Silver can see that Pear is indeed in the quarry. She is sitting down, with a hat and jacket on, and her tail curled up next to her, looking down at a set of paper items, presumably cataloguing or examining them.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175486
175488
>>175485
Silver casually saunters on down the quarry to her to see what she's looking at.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175487
175488
>>175485
"I just don't want to steal from them. They're honest farmers, and they provide a very valuable service to creatures like me."

Kira slithers around to the farm house, and knocks on the front door.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175488
175489 175490
>>175486
Silver is seen by a couple familiar stallions, who seem as if they will stop him, but evidently decide against it. They busy doing other things, after all. Pear is looking at pages from books. She’s looking at them fairly intently, and using her hat to block the sun from her eyes. She does not notice Silver, even when he comes close.

>>175487
Kira knocks on the door, and a brown mare answers.
“Hi… Ah!”
She runs away
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175489
175491
>>175488
"Hi, uh..." That's all she can get out before the brown mare runs off. Kira calls after her. "W-wait! I'm friendly!"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175490
175491
>>175488
I suppose they don't have fond memories of Silver after he made off with an enchanted sword. Silver politely clears his throat to announce his presence to the unaware mare.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175491
175492 175493 175503
>>175444
“How will you get the diamond dog in?” He asks

>>175489
A grey stallion comes up. He’s an earth pony, although zebra striping around the legs may be a feature or hybridization. He comes to the door, cracking it open.

“Who are you?” He asks. He looks back and says “It’s just a mare.”

>>175490
Gasp
She turns around, startled.

“Silver Sword? What are you doing here?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175492
175494
>>175491
"Hello Pear! I was just in area and thought I would come say hello, see how you are doing."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175493
175494
>>175491
Hmm. Perhaps it's best for Kira to keep her snake tail out of sight if just for the moment.

"Oh, hello there mister! I was hoping I could make a purchase of one of your goats."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175494
175495 175496
>>175493
“Oh yeah, we have many goats. What are you looking for? A kid, a doe, a buck? Are you looking for a pet, a breeder, a milker, or maybe even for the foreigners?” He answers happily. “A little late to come out here. Who is your friend here?”

>>175492
“In the area? Wha? Uh, hello? I’m going through book pages.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175495
175497
>>175494
"Oh, this is my friend Neela, she's been showing me around the city." She looks back at Neela, then again to the farm stallion. "What do you mean for the foreigners?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175496
175497
>>175494
"Ooo. What is book they belong to?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175497
175498 175499
>>175495
“Well, I mean they will eat the… well never mind, you’re not here for that. What do you need?”
He looks over at the Deer

>>175496
“A book of esoteric magic spells. I believe they are spells of the old ponies of Paradise Valley. Hard to say though. It seems most of the pages are lost, and I can’t say I am familiar enough with the language.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175498
175500
>>175497
"Huh, that is odd, seeing language you are not familiar with. But it would make sense with what else I found looking through those catacombs so many times."

Silver looks around them to make sure nopony is within whispers range, and lowers his voice.

"Actually, can I, uh...tell you something?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175499
175500
>>175497
Kira blinks, once, then twice, before replying to the stallion.

"That's, uh...actually exactly why I'm here..."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175500
175501 175502
>>175498
“Well, there’s both an old ponish, and comparatively modern ponish note, but…” she moves her tail to the other side. “What is it?”

>>175499
“What is?” After a second, “Oh, for the… griffins? The cats? No matter. It’s alright, that’s actually where most of our goats go. The dogs, the cats, the gnolls, the bears, the griffins and wolves, they love goat meat. What are you looking for? A buck? Kids?” Then he says. “Actually, would you like to come to the pen and see what we have?”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175501
175505
>>175500
"I would, just...please don't freak out?" She smiles awkwardly at the stallion.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175502
175505
>>175500
Silver checks again to make sure nopony is in earshot before leaning in and whispering to her.

"So, reason I am in area. To make long story short, I may or may not have stolen car from Waterfront Gang and I may or may not have hidden it away up by Curwhinny's farmhouse so they can not find where I live."
Anonymous
e8e7a7e
?
No.175503
175504 175505
>>175491
>how
"I will hypnotize her, and then I will tell her that she's going to be volunteering at the Kaftar temple to pay off a debt I have to her, and eventually released." Posey says
"If she knows what's good for her, she'll avoid making a scene. It's not the first time I've brought her through military checkpoints." She adds
Anonymous
e8e7a7e
?
No.175504
>>175503
>to her
*to them
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175505
175506 175507 175508
>>175501
He blinks.
“Why would I freak out? No, we have many ponies who buy for restaurants here-“

Neela:
“She isn’t a pony.”

Stallion:
“Huh.”

Neela:
“You are not talking to a pony.”

The stallion looks a little concerned
“What?”

>>175502
She blinks
“What?”

And then a laugh
“Heh”

>>175503
“So make her think she’s being released? Go in willingly?” He looks into the rear view mirror, looking back at Posey.

“If you can pull it off, it’ll work. Just don’t let ‘er guess the truth.”
Anonymous
e8e7a7e
?
No.175506
175586 175587
>>175505
>+14 Bluff
"I think I can manage. This is just how we do business in Magehold."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175507
175510
>>175505
Silver laughs with her.

"Heh, yeah. There is longer story around that, but that is core idea. I just do not want others in your team to overhear, I do not think they like me after last time I was here."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175508
175509 175510
>>175505
"Yeah...like I asked, please don't freak out, but...you can come out and see for yourself."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175509
>>175508
[1d20 = 15]
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175510
175511 175513
>>175508
The stallion walks out, looks over, then jumps back a couple feet.
“A snake?!?!” After a pause “That’s a big snake…” he looks up at Kira with worried, focused eyes. “Is that you?”

>>175507
“Yeah… Critical Theory has not forgotten you… Not every day somepony comes and… takes a sword.” She blinks. “A big, silver sword.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175511
175512 175515
>>175510
Kira nods, then smiles embarrassed at the stallion.

"Yup, that is me. I'm a lamia." She extends a hoof for a hoofshake. "I'm Kubana Kirafiki, by the way, but you can call me Kira."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175512
175514
>>175511
I’mma make the snake do a charisma roll.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175513
175515
>>175510
"Heh, that is me. Big Silver Sword." He chuckles some more, before looking around at the quarry. "It looks lot better here now, at least. No undead clawing at my throat, nor body parts flung around, not even giant Rocs come to fight mummies and undead knights over smelly bait."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175514
175515
>>175512
Oh my.

[1d20+3 = (5+3) = 8]
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175515
175516 175517
>>175511
>>175514
He kind of just stands there, with an awkward smile. He doesn’t quite extend a hoof to her.

>>175513
“Rocs what now?” She says, looking up at Silver
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175516
175518
>>175515
Awww.

"I promise I'm really friendly, mister, if you took the chance to know me."

She gives the stallion a sad look with big, sad snakepony eyes and folded ears.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175517
175518
>>175515
"Did I not tell you? To lure undead out from catacombs I used some really smelly bait I got from hunting store, and it was so smelly that it lured Roc to quarry. You know, those giant dragon-eating birds? It fought mummy and undead knight over bait and won. It is why that mummy was in such poor condition."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175518
175519 175520
>>175516
He shakes
“You you - you’re a snake?” He asks, as if that question hadn’t already been answered by Kira - as if the answer weren’t already in front of his eyes.

Neela
“Don’t worry. She won’t eat your chickens.” She rolls her eyes “Not without paying for them first.”

>>175517
“Oh. Right. Heh…” her ears go back. “And now you’re… hiding a car stolen from the gang?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175519
175521
>>175518
Silver nods and replies, "Indeed", as if it's the most normal thing in the universe.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175520
175521
>>175518
"Lamia, actually. And Neela's right, I wouldn't ever dream of eating any of your livestock without paying for it. You're honest farmers, and you provide an invaluable service for all sorts of creatures!"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175521
175522 175523
>>175519
Her ears go back up, and she looks up towards Silver. She’s still sitting down, but she twists her body towards Silver to have a direct look at him. Her eyes are green, ever so slightly yellow-green.

“So why would you want to hear about old books that aren’t even complete books.

>>175520
“So…” his smile shows every tooth. He’s actually missing a couple on his upper jaw. “You want to see the goats? Or do you know what you want?”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175522
175524
>>175521
Kira actually finds that a bit interesting, though she's not going to stare at a pony's missing teeth.

"No, I hadn't looked at the goats yet. I'd like to see them, if you please."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175523
175524
>>175521
"Because old books are interesting, they tell tales of our history that sometimes have been lost to us for ages." He smiles at Pear. "Rocs, and mummies, and gangs...those are like regular Tuesday."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175524
175525 175526
>>175522
Still smiling. “Oh, oh, uh, okay. F-follow me. If you could, keep a little distance. When we get to the pen, the goats might be afraid of you.” He blinks, and finally takes a step forward “Stay downwind if you can.”

>>175523
“Hehehe” she smiles, and wraps her tail even more. “I think so. That’s why I’m so happy we have these archeological studies. Just…” she looks down “It’s a shame these books have been damaged and so much is missing. And it’s a shame it’s taking time out of our expedition…”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175525
175527
>>175524
"It is unfortunate, and sad. It makes you wonder what has been lost to time forever." He looks down at the pages he can't read, then back up to Pear with a smile. "There is silver lining to how long it is taking, at least...pun not intended. It means I get to see you just little bit longer."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175526
175527
>>175524
"Can do!" Kira graciously slides out of the way of the stallion's path. She seems friendly, or at least she hasn't lunged out at him to eat him as soon as he stepped out of his door.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175527
175528 175529
>>175526
Kira may get the feeling that the pony genuinely does feel that she could lunge out and eat him. He must not genuinely believe it. If he did, he would have gone back inside and locked the door. Instead, he walks in front of her and turns his back to her. Yet still he turns back towards her periodically, and he keeps his distance. Indeed, virtually every creature Kira has encountered, from various sales ponies to Neela, have kept a distance from Kira. Perhaps it’s a distance that they think would let them dodge a lunge from Kira, though Kira thinks the real distance is longer than that. Surely they don’t actually think Kira would lunge at them - if they did, they wouldn’t come near her at all… right? Right?

The stallion leads them to a pin. Kira can hear the baaing of sheep and goats inside.

>>175525
“Yeah,” she says, sullenly. Then when silver says his line.

“Hehe” she giggles, looking up at silver with a blush, a tooth-showing bashful smile, and one ear going back while the other moves to the side.

“D’awww, that’s sweet” she says
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175528
175530
>>175527
These thoughts worry the friendly lamia. Surely if they took the time to get to know her, to follow through on the promises of friendship and Harmony that she had heard some much about with regard to this land, they would realize that she's one of the nicest, kindest creatures they could befriend.

Of course, these thoughts are chased away as soon as they get to the pen. Kira suddenly realizes how hungry she is, all of that pony food earlier wasn't really what he body was needing. She flicks her tongue, getting a taste of the scent of the food inside.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175529
175530
>>175527
"I hope not every day you are here in Baltimare will be spent in this quarry. I would like to spend some more time with you."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175530
175531 175532
>>175529
She continues her bashful smile, tilting her head.
“What do you - what do you have in mind? Is it a shootout with gang members? A dash into an old mill overtaken by rum runners? Maybe a jaunt through a haunted hotel?”

>>175528
There’s still a barbed wire fence in the way. Kira can see a kid, an adult goat, and a few more off in the distance, including sheep and lambs. The adult goat is white, while the kid has alternative white and black, black more so on the top and white around the belly. Kira can hear many “baas,” and smell the delicious smell of goats, sheep, and a chital deer.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175531
175533
>>175530
"Heh heh, those are some good ideas. Part of me was thinking about gallivanting through some forsaken ruins sometime."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175532
175533
>>175530
Oh yeah, Kira is definitely hungry now.

"Which ones are for sale? Or, I guess, which ones would you recommend for, uh...you know..."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175533
175534 175535
>>175531
“Heh heh” she smiles, but her expression slowly changes with her lips coming down.

“Are you serious?”

>>175532
“They are…” the pony is sweating, and both the stallion and Neela keep an even greater distance from Kira than before. They actually would have time to react if Kira lunged at them. The stallion speaks loudly to communicate with Neela.

“There’s a ewe in the back that I am breeding but…” he swallows. “Any of those that are roaming free, that you see here, those uh, those are for sale, yes, I uh, the does are in the barn… these are all free of disease, and internal and external parasites, if that’s what you are asking.” He swallows again. “I’ve had them de-wormed.”

He doesn’t comment on how to best feed your lamia.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175534
175536
>>175533
"Ah, good, no one likes parasites." She looks over her options, before settling her eyes on one of the largest ones available. She points it out to the pony. "What about that one?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175535
175536
>>175533
Silver initially smiles back, but as she asks the question he tilts his head.

"Well, sort of. I would take you to one if I knew of any at moment. Gang shootout happened yesterday, so...whoops..." Silver looks around to see if anypony else heard that slip.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175536
175537 175538
>>175534
“The uh” he swallows “going rate is a bit less than one bit a pound. “That’s uh, a 201 pound buck so, so he’s uh, worth about 175, I would say.”

Kira knows that she could swallow any creature here. There are likely some ewes or bucks or cattle elsewhere that are too big, but not here. The largest will be the most filling, and last her the longest between meals - maybe two weeks. These animals will be the hardest to catch and will need to be killed or drugged before being eaten. Kira may have difficulty being active after eating them, and the bulge may be mistaken for being an eaten pony. The smallest prey will last her an only a few days before needing to eat again. At worst, the smallest prey will require her to eat again before digestion is complete. These will be easier to catch, may not require drugging or killing, and should be less noticeable on her body. They may also have minimal effect on her ability to move.

>>175535
“Shootout?” Her eyes widen
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175537
175540
>>175536
"Uh...yes, shootout, related to stolen vehicle. They started it, if that is what you were worried about."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175538
175539
>>175536
These are very salient points being brought up, and these are ones Kira is considering. She looks at one of the smaller ones. "And what about that one?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175539
175541
>>175538
“There’s a newborn kid I’ll part with for about 25 bits. He’s only about 15 pounds… but there’s one around 3 months old that’s 55 pounds and 50 bits. I have a couple that size.”
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175540
175542
>>175537
“… Oh… No, uh, I’m not worried just… I can’t say I remember the last time I’ve been involved in a shootout, heheh, the closest was that time I was with you, and the griffin tried to stab you. The books don’t really try to stab me.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175541
175543
>>175539
Kira notices that the larger the animal, the more food she goes for what she pays. 15 pounds seems a little on the low side, so...

"Okay. I'll take one of the 3 month old ones, please!" She gets out 50 Bits for the farm stallion.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175542
175543
>>175540
Silver has to chuckle at his next line. "Do papercuts count as stabbing, though?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175543
175544 175545
>>175542
“Heh heh.” And then seriously. “These are burnt in the edges. They can’t even do that.”

>>175541
He moves just slightly closer, then leans in, then moves slightly closer, then leans over… he is too far away from her to take the bits.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175544
175547
>>175543
"Burnt? Did you pick these up from burned library inside catacombs?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175545
175546
>>175543
Kira looks very sad that he won't even get close enough to her just long enough to take the Bits. It's not like she would eat him or even bite...
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175546
175548
>>175545
He leans in a little further, then moves a little closer, then leans in a little further, then moves a little closer, then Neel takes the bits from Kira and gives it to the stallion.

“Do you uh, want me to get the kid for you, or would you like to go take the kid?” He asks.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175547
175549
>>175544
Her mouth is open

“… Yes…”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175548
175550
>>175546
Somehow, it makes Kira even more saddened that Neela had to do it for him, especially when she resembles food-shaped creatures far more than any pony.

"I think it would be best if you were to get it. Maybe you could set it at ease. Maybe..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175549
175550
>>175547
"Ah, yes, that is uh...well that is not my fault, but I know what happened there." Silver awkwardly rubs the back of his neck.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175550
175551 175552 175553
>>175548
The stallion opens the door, closes it behind him, and goes up to the black and white kid. It tries to run from him, but he quickly catches it and picks it up with a “bah.” He holds it under a foreleg, trying to limp along on three legs of his own. His leg is under its forelegs, letting its hind legs hang down. It “bah’s” again, and once he goes through the door, closing it behind him, he starts petting it. Its ears, one black and the other white, go down, then back up. The pony looks at Kira, sits down, and keeps petting it.

>>175549
She perks up
“What happened there?”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175551
175553
>>175550
"Well, first time we came through here to try to clear undead, we brought entire group. There were mostly ponies with us, but there was also one kirin. Kirin nun, to be exact. Me and one other pony went down to this exit to try to seal it with dynamite we found on body of unfortunate quarry worker who had decided to explore this ruin while it was still occupied. We figured we did not need any other unfortunate souls to try to explore from this direction, and we did not want any undead wandering outside into city. While we did that, rest of group came upon library, and when kirin saw books she immediately thought 'evil books' and went full nirik. By time fuse had been lit and we had returned to group, most of library was up in flames and it was too late to try to stop fuse on dynamite, so we ran back way we came as fast as we could. When dynamite went off, it sealed catacombs and that fire immediately ate most of oxygen inside. We barely made it out.

"I suppose benefit of that is that fire was snuffed out before it could claim everything. It ate through all of oxygen too fast. As for this exit...well, our original plan did us no good. When it was just me I had idea to lure undead out here to kill them with unexploded bomb, and ended up having to reclear all of debris our dynamite made."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175552
175553
>>175550
Oof...this is the hardest part of the transaction...it's always so hard, seeing the farmer get ready to part with their livestock for the final time, especially when they've spent time raising and caring for it. She knows she needs to eat, but still...
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175553
175554 175555
>>175550
>>175552
He continues petting the kid, which has calmed down significantly
“We call him ‘Nippy’ because he likes to nip at your fetlocks.” He says. He does not move closer to Kira. It’s not easy to carry the kid and walk, and he certainly can’t pet it. He continues sitting down.

Kira is likely going to need to come to him. Don’t move too fast, or he’ll run away.

>>175551
“Ugh….” She shakes her head “So much lost. Maybe I should expect that from a kirin… so many don’t appreciate old knowledge and faiths. They just dismiss it as ‘evil,’ not willing to recognize that the spirit is above good and evil.” She says, clearly holding back a much longer rant.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175554
175556
>>175553
D'awwwwwwwwwwwwwww. But also...aaaaaarrrrrrgggghhhh why did they have to name him? And why did he have to tell her? That just makes it ten times worse...

"...nnnnngh...Aaauuugh..." Kira looks down, defeated. "...I can't do it. I can't eat something that cute, not him."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175555
175556
>>175553
While Silver does have other tasks for the day...it's not as if he needs to get to them right that minute, if she wants to share more with him.
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175556
175557 175558
>>175554
“Yes. You can.” Neela says. But she doesn’t want to come up to pet Kira.

The stallion continues petting Nippy, who, true to his name, tries to nip at the stallion’s hoof on one pass by his mouth.

>>175555
She blinks.
“I just… it’s a longer story but… ‘good and evil’ apply to ponies and are terms for behaviors that are good and bad within society. But outside if civilization those terms don’t have much meaning. Nature and spirit aren’t really good or evil. Hurricanes aren’t really evil, nor is fire. They kind of just are. I think burning the books of magic and lore just because the ponies who made them did not have good intentions is a bit short sited, and it shows a deep lack of trust for your fellow pony who would receive that knowledge.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175557
175559
>>175556
"To be honest, it seems as though most of those books were not even really made with bad intentions. Sure, most had to do with occult or legends and myths from other societies, but none actually seemed to have been 'evil' by our sense."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175558
175559
>>175556
"I can't, he's just too cute, plus he's been given a name..." Her ears fold down, and she looks up at the stallion. "May I pet him?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175559
175560 175562
>>175557
I hope this is obvious, but a particular NPC’s opinion an event is not the same thing as an objective and correct assessment of an event

“Exactly!” She says with exasperation, breathing outward and looking down.

“Just… why would you burn this? There’s so much history. So much… esoteric knowledge of magic, and spiritual creatures…”

>>175558
He holds out the kid with both forelegs extended. It bahs.

“Pet him? You can take him. He’s yours.”

He then adds.
“Don’t put too much stock in the names. We just give them that to tell which is which. He was being raised to be eaten anyways.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175560
175561
>>175559
"Aww, but he's just so...so...argh, come on, Kira..." She shakes her head, still being conflicted on what to do. "Ponies really just make everything around them so much cuter. I never had this much trouble back in Zebrica..."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175561
175563
>>175560
The stallion smiles, and continues holding out the kid with both hooves.

“If you’d like to buy another one, or maybe a lamb…”

Neela scrunches, and both ears are back.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175562
175564
>>175559
Unless it's Best Pony

"Well we did delve into lair of long-gone necromancer or lich. It is just...very unfortunate she immediately took assumption that it was all evil."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175563
175564
>>175561
"Maybe, maybe..." Since he keeps holding the kid out, Kira slowly slithers up to him, and begins to pet the kid between his ears. "Maybe I'll take one of the bigger ones instead, after all. I'll be sluggish for a time, but...maybe it will be easier to actually get over any cuteness."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175564
175565 175566
>>175562
Neigh
She looks away and whips her tail.

“Very much so…” she shakes her head “Of course the fire was started by a Kirin…”

>>175563
He continues holding the kid up. Nippy bahs, and squirms when Kira touches him, but he’s held in place. The head is kind of soft, and the fur kind of stands up from his head.

So soft. So… Juicy…
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175565
175567
>>175564
Such helpless prey, too...gosh, if only he didn't have a name...she continues petting him, though.

"Is the big one still on offer?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175566
175567
>>175564
"It probably did not help she was nun, as well." He chuckles. "Again, it could have been much worse. Had that fire been allowed to continue, not even these pages would have been left. All would have turned to ash. At least something can be salvaged and saved."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175567
175568 175569
>>175565
“Oh yeah, that’s Hopper. He’s a two and a half year old buck. We thought he would be a good breeding buck but… No, didn’t quite make the cut. Sure, I can go get him for you. 175 bits. Be very careful with him though. We have to keep him on a rope. He will jump the fence.”

Nippy’s helplessness is actually a good thing. Kira can simply hold him like burger. A goat like Hopper, however, will need to be constricted, have his throat slit, or drugged.

>>175566
“Yeah” she nods, and looks down at the pages.
“It’s something. But something that hints at something more substantial.”
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175568
175575
>>175567
"And what is that something more substantial?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175569
175570
>>175567
Constricting is something she can do, though she does have one more question.

"I already gave you 50 for this little guy." She pets the little burger. "If you keep him, do I still have to pay another 175 for Hopper, or just 125?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175570
175571
>>175569
He scrunches.
“Okay, 125.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175571
175572
>>175570
"Trust me, I'd like to keep this lil cutie as a pet, but I just don't have the space to take good enough care of him."

Kira smiles, and pays the stallion the 125 Bits she still owes for Hopper.

"I only have one request, if possible. Is there a place where Hopper would have trouble escaping?"
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175572
175573
>>175571
He looks up and around. Then he takes the money.

“I think so. There’s a pen just a little back that has wooden walls that are high, a wooden roof and chicken wire in between.”
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175573
175574
>>175572
"Okay, that sounds like it will work. Thank you. Just put him in there, and I can do the rest."
Anonymous
b276261
?
No.175574
175576
>>175573
“Okay.” Holding Hopper in his foreleg, he turns around, carefully opens the door, moves away the new born with his hoof, then closes it. He sets Nippy on the ground, and Nippy immediately runs off and away.

“You know, I’ve had ponies buy goats for a manticore before. Can’t say I saw what it was they did with them. But I can imagine.”

Hopper is across the pen, tied up on a long set of twine to the fence. The goat is white and as big as the stallion, more or less. As the stallion approaches, Hopper moves towards him, leaning his head in toward’s the stallion’s hoof.

In a kind of baby voice, he says
“No, I don’t have any food for you. There’s no food for you. Now come along. He unties the twine, and pulls on it, pulling the goat along. The buck tries to jump, but the stallion pulls taught.

“I’m sorry, Hopper.” He pets the goat. “Time’s up.”

He goes a little further, through a door and into an enclosed pen that must be the one in question. He ties the goat in there, and leaves him. He comes back to Kira.
“You can enter through this pen or go around the long way through another door. He’s in there for you.”
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175575
175577
>>175568
Pear starts to talk… and talk, and generally ramble. She does not maintain eye contact, and moves her hooves about as if the motions of her hooves somehow aid in communicating what she’s talking about.

“Well, looking here, you can see a work religious poetry that references a condition after the universe consolidated into an orderly form. You see, in some traditions, the universe was at first without form and chaotic, then order is placed upon it and it becomes something more familiar to us. Still in an ancient age of gods and heroes, but there are things like, for example, time and three dimensional space, which didn’t necessarily exist in the primordial chaos. So. There’s a fight between the god of chaos and god of order or what have you, order wins, chaos is banished, the primordial essence is ordered. Thats not what this is about. This is about creatures - I guess ‘creature’ is the closest word I can find because they behave like living things - creatures that live in the proposal chaos, or maybe are created as the darkness withdraws. These things are not primary gods, so almost no source ever names them. Well, except Erebus, god of primordial chaos, who is referenced here. Anyways, this document references those… things…”

“Now here’s why this document is so interesting, and why you should care. This document is about the religion of the Crystal Ponies. The Crystal ponies don’t have a story of creation. They don’t have a story of the implementing of order. They don’t have a beginning. To the Crystal ponies, the universe has always existed and always has. It’s like Celestialism in that way. These ‘primordial entities’ are ideas in some of the oldest pony religions. They are in the changeling and the First Nation religion like the wolves, though not the buffalo…” Even Pear can sense this is a tangent, and she pulls herself back. “But basically this document describes things in an honestly kind of purple prose, that have no business being there. Now, we know that the Crystal Ponies have similar concepts. Like the Umbrum, demons and shadows and darkness long locked away in deep caverns and vaults beneath the earth. But it doesn’t have a beginning of the universe.”

“So.” She manages to look at Silver again “what caused this discrepancy? Now, the easiest answer is that the interpreter, who was a modern equestrian, added or misinterpreted material in the original text that’s being transliterated here, so that an idea that’s not from the crustal ponies is being misattributed ti the crustal ponies. I would never say that ‘Erebus’ and ‘the Ubrum’ are the same entity. But I don’t know, others disagree. Maybe this interpreter decided to refer to the Umbrum as Erebus? It’s a poem after all. That’s the most boring answer. But a more interesting answer would be that what we are seeing here is an older strain of the Crystal religion before it was influenced by the Equestrian religion. What if earlier versions of the religion did have a beginning if the universe? Or what if this is a lost strain? Or what if this is actually an older religion, now lost? I think a lot of these questions could be answered if we had the whole book. But we’re not going to know, because we are not going to find it.”

She places her hooves over her face, and seems sad.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175576
175578
>>175574
"I don't know what a manticore is, but I doubt they eat like lamias do."

She watches and waits patiently as he ties up Hopper and returns to Kira. Even with an older goat, the pony still makes him cute, and there does exist some hesitation within the young lamia seeing him interact with his goat he's spent so long caring for. She needs to eat, though, and deep within a primal part of her lends her the resolve to not back down. In this world, there are predators and prey, and it is the natural order of things for the predator to consume, and the prey to be consumed. She nods to the farm stallion as he returns.

"Do you need any more time with him before? It will be quick, when it happens, I promise you."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175577
175578
>>175575
Silver reaches over with his hooves and wraps up the adorkable mare in a hug. He gives her a friendly squeeze to try to console her.
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175578
175579 175580
>>175577
squeaky
“Umph!”
The little mare is squeezed

With Pear sitting and Silver standing, this means he leans over her. Her hat is tilted, nearly coming off. She is smaller and thin, fairly lacking in muscles. Her construct is closer to a unicorn or Pegasus than an earth pony. Her coat and mane are both soft and well groomed.

>>175576
The stallion looks at Hopper - almost straight in the eyes because they are almost the same height - and gives him a scritch on the top of his head between his ears.
“No.” He answers. He looks at the goat a little longer, then turns back to Kira.

“Do you need his horns removed?”
The buck has horns of moderate length several inches long that are curved back and recurve at the end. These will not get stuck in her throat, now would they tear her if the goat moved its head back and forth in Kira’s stomach. But they would make regurgitation very difficult if, for whatever reason, Kira needed to. She’s almost never needed to. Kira also needs to know that while yes, this goat will go down easily enough, and yes, he’ll digest easily enough, he is definitely going to immobilize Kira for some time, he is definitely big enough that his presence in Kira’s gut could inspire unwanted speculation as to her diet, and even getting back home from the farm may not be easy. But if she does choose this goat, this will be the last time for at least 10 days, maybe longer, she’ll need to do this. It isn’t too late to choose the kid, or maybe some third animal instead.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175579
175581
>>175578
He keeps her locked in a hug for a few seconds longer, enjoying the warmth and softness of the mare while he cane before he lets her go. He looks back down at the pages.

"Hmm...does your university have spellcasting unicorns? I am certain there are spells for this specific circumstance, to restore damaged book pages or even completely reverse damages and reconstruct entire books."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175580
175581
>>175578
No, Kira has waffled about for too long already. If she doesn't go along with it now, she might not be able to at all. She looks at the tied up goat, destined for her dinner.

"Does it hurt the goat at all?"
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175581
175582 175583
>>175580
“Bah!”
Hopper moves back, as if sending something wrong, so the stallion pets him more.

“It does, yes. The horns are a part of the skull bone and partly alive.”

>>175579
squeaky
The little mare is hugged. She almost falls over when Silver releases her, until she catches herself with her forehooves.

“There is restoration magic, yes, but the problem is that entire pages and parts of the book are missing.” She answers
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175582
175584
>>175581
Kira shakes her head.

"Better not, then. I'm not here to make the poor thing hurt and suffer." She sighs. "Alright. When you've spent enough time with him, you can go. I'm not sure you'd want to be around for this." Looking back at Neela, Kira continues, "I know you said you can serve as a witness so that ponies don't think I actually ate, well, a pony, but you don't have to physically watch, either."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175583
175584
>>175581
Silver does try to help steady her, when he notices how off-balance she is.

"Perhaps there are spells for that, too, to find missing parts of same object. Or, at least I would think so. Magic has never really been my specialty."
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175584
175585 175588
>>175582
“Hokey dokey” the stallion says, wrapping the twine around a hoof and walking backwards. Hopper complies, and trots along. The stallion takes the goat to the pen, not that many feet away.

Neela waits until the stallion is away, and moves to the edge of the imaginary ring around Kira. She looks at Kira with both ears up to address her directly.

“Why wouldn’t I want to watch?” She asks in a venomous, mocking tone. “You’re just a normal pony, right? Like any Equestrian pony, right? You come up to restaurants and eat your stuffed peppers, you buy your spice at the market. What is there to hide? What is unusual? You’re not a monster, right?” She tilts her head and has a smile that suggestive of anger.

“This morning, I was sold for a bribe to a monster with the suggestion that I be eaten as food by the masters of this land. Oh they were joking, sure, but I know that they were also dead serious. This is all just a game to them. A game of which stallion can prove they are the bravest and who can handle reptiles. They could have just sent you back. That’s probably what they would have done if their supervisors were looking over their shoulder. But instead they let you go because they thought you’d be a great pet, or a mascot maybe, while those of us without paperwork are set to become slaves.”

She tilts her head with a maddened smile.
“And then, for the first time in my life fortune smiles upon me, because someone - someone - thought I was cuter than a goat. Not as cute as a baby goat, no, but cuter than an adult. So I get to live instead of being eaten by the master’s mascot.”

She leans in, lifts a fore hoof and narrows her eyes at Kira, not in anger but a sort of gleeful examination.
“But those customs ponies were right. The old Nagini, the monster of the stories of my youth, requires a sacrifice. And so long as you live, some creature must die.” She tilts her head the opposite direction, ears flopping in the process. “That’s not going to be me.” Turning her body to the side, as if to follow Kira. “Let’s see what a Nagini really is. How you really live.”

Neela breathes out, evidently done.

>>175583
squeak
“Well, yeah but… it’s been burnt.” She says, presumably no longer cradled by Silver.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175585
175589
>>175584
"Okay, but...what if you used both of those spells?"

She is not current being cradled, but if that's what she wants...
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175586
175587
>>175506
Posey will spend part the next day selling her equipment in the city.
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175587
175590 175591
>>175506
He closes his eyes, tilts his head to the left in a shrug, and momentarily takes his right hoof off of the steering wheel.
“Suit yourself.”

>>175586
Which equipment? You’ve mentioned the jewelry, but what else? The jewelry is maybe 90 bits, being on the lower end.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175588
175589
>>175584
Kira blinks, not fully able to unpack everything of what Neela said and meant in her rant. Even though it hadn't been invented yet, it is as if she had been flashbanged by words, unable to really form much of a response, not even so much as a rebuttal, to what Neela has said as it still processes through her mind. Only one thought manages to make its way through the mess of thoughts to the surface to be spoken by Kira:

"Who said you weren't cuter than a baby goat?"

But the rest of her thoughts will have to wait. In Neela's own words, the sacrifice is ready, and her hunger needs to be sated. She waits for the stallion to finish his work, to tie up the goat inside the pen, and leave before she slithers forward into the pen with the goat, taking the opposite side of him. She looks at Hopper with sad eyes, knowing what is about to happen, what must happen.
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175589
175592 175593
>>175585
The little pony remains uncraddled. Hard to say what she wants.

“Well…” she tilts her head, and ear flopping down. “I don’t really know. I can’t say magic is my specialty…”

>>175588
Neela scrunches, and flops her ears down.

But the goat is ready. Kira must either slither around the pen, or through it.
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175590
175591 175594
>>175587
>The jewelry is maybe 90 bits
Oh.
>Which equipment?
The Healer's Kits. The armor she looted. The silver holy symbol. Some of her scrolls.
Mostly just the things I know the market value of, but probably won't use.
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175591
175595
>>175590
>>175587
Since the jewelry isn't worth that much, Posey will only sell the rings, since she can wear the rest.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175592
175595
>>175589
Around the pen, I suppose.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175593
175595
>>175589
Well, nothing for it other than to cradle her and see how she reacts. As Silver resumes the cradling of the small mare, he continues chatting with her.

"What about old, ancient magics?"
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175594
175595
>>175590
Actually, I'm going to keep the holy symbol. It could be useful for impersonation in the future.
Anonymous
5663bc8
?
No.175595
175596 175649 175650
>>175593
“Eep!”
The little pony is cradled. She looks up at Silver with an awkward, toothy smile, and a blush.

“Eh heh, yeah…” she looks away, and then uses her hoof to move her mane, and her hat, out of her eyes. “What I study is all religious in nature.” Moving her eyes up and around and using her hoof to gesture, “rituals, prayers, things like that.” Still smiling awkwardly. “Not really… practical magic. Unless asking a spirit to bring rain or put a hex on your neighbor is your idea of ‘practical’.

>>175591
The rings were the only thing counted in that.

>>175592
Kira slithers the wrong way around, to come to a door on the enclosed pen. The stallion opens it and walks through it.

“Uh, lift the latch to get in or out. You can untie the goat, if you want.” He has a toothy smile, nods at Kira, and moves past her. He isn’t sticking around. Neela follows Kira

>>175594
Do it.
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175596
175606
>>175595
>The rings were the only thing counted in that
Posey still has a necklace, bangle, and bracelet from her adventures, but she likes gold jewelry so she'll wear it unless she needs to sell it.
Selling the armor would put a divine scroll of Imbue With Spell Ability within Posey's budget... but thinking in character, she would just trust the hyena to come up with whatever spells he wants to expend to buff her for the ritual himself.
She does sell her scroll of Hide From Undead, because it's worthless to her (she can already cast the spell with a higher DC) and idk why I put it in my starting equipment.
Posey meditates for her spellcasting during the day, so after her shopping she spends 8 hours relaxing in the manor with Gloomy.

I guess that would be all that Posey is able to do within this day.
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175597
175598 175606
After doing her daily preparations, Posey will make sure that her offering is still alive.
"Good evening, Sasha." Posey declares, as she enters the room
"I have decided what I will do with you. You will be doing some charity work at the local kaftar church."
"I owe a favor to the Kaftars, and you won't stand out too much in their neighborhood, at least not at a glance. Do your job well, and the Kaftars will see to it that you're released peacefully."
Bluff check
[1d20+14 = (16+14) = 30]
>inb4 1
Anonymous
3892b01
?
No.175598
175606
>>175597
I really hope I didn't waste that RNG 16 that I would have needed for the ritual...
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175606
175608 175615 175616
IMG_0694.gif
>>175437
>>175436
>>175432
acute!

The sounds of angry pony, occasional shouting, Mustard Trim talking, and howls of laughter

>>175597
>>175598
The skin, in those few places where it shows through the fur, like the nose and the edges of the eyes, is black. She looks oddly stiff, with yellowing eyes, pupils that "bleed" black into her irises. Her eyes are open, and there is a small smile on her face. She does not shiver nor shake, but her chest rises and falls almost normally.

"Okay." Is her only reply

>>175598
You did.

>>175596
>8 hours relaxing in the manor with Gloomy.
lol no

The colt pleads with Posey
"Weren't you going to take me into town? You said there was chocolate sprinkles and pretzels?!"
Pic very much related
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175608
175609
>>175606
Okay, Amber has to see this. Can she peer around a corner?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175609
175610
>>175608
Kind of, though if she comes too close she could be visible to Salt Mixer (if she decided to not look at the commotion... which seems unlikely). She could also go outside to see
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175610
175611
>>175609
Though it's probably more of a breach of work rules than idling within the establishment, she decides to go outside and look in at the patio.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175611
175612
>>175610
Amber can see Mustard Trim awkwardly responding to a table, Trakr bending over about to die of laughter, and Red Scabbard, alternating between hacking up and trying to complain.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175612
175613
>>175611
Poor Mustard! But if he knew why she did this, he would have found the same amount of glee she's feeling. She can't help but stick around for a few more seconds before going back inside.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175613
175614
>>175612
Trakr manages to compose himself for just long enough to struggle out the phrase

"Excuse me. My goulash isn't spicy enough."
Then he goes back to laughing
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175614
175631 175634
>>175613
Trakr does seem to have a good sense of humor regarding the whole thing, and Amber is glad she didn't spice up his dish. Anyway, she knows better than to be missing for an extended period of time and goes back to the hostess stand, wondering if Red Scabbard will leave.
Anonymous
73c0ea9
?
No.175615
175616 175631
>>175606
>The skin, in those few places where it shows through the fur, like the nose and the edges of the eyes, is black. She looks oddly stiff, with yellowing eyes, pupils that "bleed" black into her irises. Her eyes are open, and there is a small smile on her face. She does not shiver nor shake, but her chest rises and falls almost normally.
Fucking hell, I thought Baka cured her.
Oh well, it won't matter soon.
Posey narrows her eyes.
"Very well then."
She telepathically calls the ghast that she still controls.
"Bring her to the car. Tell Mason that I will be there as soon as I have Gloomy."
And with a bippity boppity boop, she casts Disguise Undead, to transform the ghast into a handsome, still-living, elegantly-dressed version of itself.
>One cannot just march a ghoul into the Duke's Court. But as the fumes issuing from the cocoon surround the creature, the form of the ghoul is replaced with that of a stately courtier armed with a rapier. Of course, it will have to keep its mouth shut.
I love that spell's description.
"And do try to freshen up a bit; we'll be meeting important guests. Do well on this trip, and I'll see to it that you are rewarded appropriately." Posey punctuates, sending the ghast on its way as she trots off to comb Gloomy 's mane.
"And you two." She says, referring to the Dreads."
"Drop your weapons, and remain inanimate in this room until I return. Do not pay any regard to those who enter the room." Posey says, functionally putting the Dreads on idle mode.
She trots off
"~Oh Gloomy! I've got such a splendid lesson for you..." She says in her sing-song voice as she finds her little sweetie
Anonymous
73c0ea9
?
No.175616
175631
>>175615
>>175606
Wait... A minute...
>She looks oddly stiff
>yellowing eyes, pupils that "bleed" black into her irises
>Her eyes are open, and there is a small smile on her face
>She does not shiver nor shake, but her chest rises and falls almost normally.
...Is she dead?
Posey takes 10 on her religion check to identify undead, for a modified 21, to check if this dog is undead.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175631
175633 175634 175635
[1d100 = 10]
[1d20 = 18]

>>175614
Amber faces an elderly couple that's a bit... too talkative. There's a bit of back and forth, but mostly there are long pauses of not much going on.

>>175615
The ghast obeys

The little colt's tail wags

>>175616
Well, it's breathing, which implies life, and it's lacking in the typical animating magic of the undead.
Anonymous
73c0ea9
?
No.175633
175634
>>175631
So long as she still has an int score of 3 (ability to speak) and is still alive, she'll do.
It doesn't take long for Posey to get Gloomy ready.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175634
175635 175636
>>175633
The colt is ready soon enough, even if he does smell of mesquite wood.

Posey is ready, as is the sacrifice

>>175631
>>175614
It doesn't appear Red Scabbard is going down without a fight, with him getting Salt Mixer involved
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175635
175640
>>175631
>>175634
Oh no. Amber engages with niceties with the couple as she gets them seated, perhaps at a high table, but otherwise is zoned out. High Sewn getting involved concerns her so she peels herself away to eavesdrop while inside the restaurant.
Anonymous
47c4973
?
No.175636
175640
>>175634
>even if he does smell of mesquite wood
I don't think I get the reference.
Posey sniffs Gloomy for a bit, wondering why his familiar scent of faint charnel miasma and abyssal smog has changed.
Nevertheless, she gets ready to leave.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175640
175641 175642 175664
>>175635
Salt Mixer says they can send the overly spicy spice-based dish back to the kitchen, and give him a new plate that's a bit more within his tolerance levels, free of charge. Trakr commentates on this.

>>175636
Oh no, the charnel miasma and the abyssal smog are still there, just with a bit of a wooden smell added. All the same, they are ready
Anonymous
340e27c
?
No.175641
175643
>>175640
Alright then.
Let's go disappoint some mourning gnolls.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175642
175662
>>175640
Well that's disappointing! At least it made his experience moderately more inconvenient. Amber won't risk doing it all a second time, and goes back to work.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175643
175644
>>175641
Mason is ready as well
>disappoint
wat
Anonymous
340e27c
?
No.175644
175651
>>175643
Just me anticipating failing the check.

Does the drive to the church go smoothly?
Anonymous
33e5497
?
No.175645
175646 175648 175651
What racial bonuses should a griffon PC get? One should be flying, obviously. Griffons are also large and geared more towards fighting, so a physical ability might get a bonus. On the other hand (claw?) a charisma malus would be appropriate.
Anonymous
340e27c
?
No.175646
>>175645
What stats did pegasi get?
Griffons should get flight, and maybe a natural claw attack.
Note that claw attacks are especially useful for flying characters.
Conversely, you could just stat them as 3.5e Raptorans (Races Of The Wild), which are a very powerful and popular race in 3.5e. If you use Raptoran stats, you might want to bump up flight to level 1.
Anonymous
ade7655
?
No.175648
>>175645
they have cat body, so they always land on their feet. also maybe agility.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.175649
175651
>>175595
Heh heh, ain't she just the cutest? Silver continues cradling the little mare.

"I imagine there are plenty of cultures where those really are practical skills. Spirits bringing rain does make me think of how pegasi can manipulate weather. Maybe some cultures saw this occur and assumed it was weather spirits that were responsible."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.175650
175651
>>175595
Alright, Kira heads into the pen. Once inside, she looks at the goat with her sad eyes that look so much like a bat pony's.

"I'm sorry Hopper, but it has to be this way."

She closes her eyes, clearing her mind and preparing herself for what's to come. From deep inside, her instincts begin to call out and reach for the surface. That part of herself which most would consider to be ponylike is slowly quieted as a more primal, animal-like side drowns it out. She is no longer Kira the lamia, facing Hopper the goat. She is now a predator, facing her prey.

Kira opens her eyes, the pupils and irises contracting to be far more slitted, far more snake-like. Gone is the sadness with which she looked upon the goat, replaced with the intense focus of a predator. Her tongue flicks out of her mouth, getting a taste of prey in the air. Her mouth reflexively opens up, a small pop ringing out as her false pony jaw gives way. The skin around her mouth seems to morph and stretch unnaturally as it opens far wider than it should on a normal pony. Her fangs extend fully, and if it weren't for the few remaining pony features such as the ears and mane, Neela would have a hard time believing Kira could have ever looked like an equine.

Raising her upper half into the air as tall as she can given the limits of the enclosure, the lamia looks down at the goat, opens her mouth up fully, and with a small hiss strikes at the goat's head, intending to wrap her jaws around it to start a grapple.

[1d20+8 = (10+8) = 18]
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175651
175652 175757 175758
>>175644
Yes. Though the soldiers are inquisitive tonight, and there are more of them out than the night before. There are more of every creature out than the night before, as the rain has passed. Posey isn't especially harangued, but she isn't necessarily unseen.

>>175645
Uh... let me get back to you on that

>>175649
Still blushing, and still craddled, she looks away and says "Not, heh, not in front of my coworkers. They already think you and I slept-" but then breaks off mid sentence and looks directly into Silver's eyes, and says "Saw what? Pegasi moving clouds? No, that's not it, most of these are far away from any ponies. Or at least there were." It's at this point that her eyes start wandering around again "But anyways it's not quite the same thing. Well, it is, kind of. I mean, the magic is the same, or the magical mechanism is... similar? But philosophically it's an entirely different worldview. Incredibly different. Under Celestialism, ponies are stewards over the natural order. You could say that ponies hold a higher place within the machine of the universe we understand as Harmony, well, a higher place than most creatures. Basically all creatures. And there are a few faiths sort of like that. Like the Changelings. Well the changelings aren't very much like Celestial harmony at all, but I mean, they see themselves as kind of above nature as its kind of top predators, able to take advantage of things, if not necessarily tasked with the responsibility of, well, maintaining it." At this point, Silver probably regrets sparking this tangent. "But, I mean, in these other faiths. The ones where they pray to spirits for rain, they see themselves as below a whole class of spiritual creatures and gods. Well, Celestialism has Harmony as a Spirit and Changelings have the Great Mother that are above them, but, you know" She starts gesticulating as if this aids in communication. "These faiths don't think they have the power to change the weather. They have to ask another spirit to aid them. And that spirit is not as high as, well, being the universal essence of magic and order itself. Or the creator god. But anyways, these spirits manipulate the weather directly themselves by magic. Sometimes these are understood to be singular gods, but sometimes these are more like regular creatures that happen to be made entire out of magic and are immortal. Well, okay, that's not a regular creature, but I mean, it's a level below a god and above the practitioner."

>>175650
Hopper makes it easy for her. The goat doesn't seem to recognize Kira as anything other than a pony at first. Just as he did with the farmer, he walks towards Kira going out to the end of his twine, and stretching his muzzle and neck out towards her, to sniff or lick her, and focusing on her hoof.

With Hopper's head nearly in the center of the enclosure, Kira's full body likely doesn't enter inside the enclosure, at least not until she curls up later. Rather, a little part of her tail remains outside through the still open door. The farmer has walked away, evidently busy with other tasks. Neela stands near the open door, looking intently at the scene through the 2 by 4s and chicken wire that make up the walls of the pen, designed, presumably, to keep the foxes and coyotes out.

Kira finds that the enclosure is shorter in height than she can stand upright, but is still able to loom over the goat. Hopper is not small at all. He is massive for goat sizes, and is as big as the farmer stallion.

Kira easily bites into Hopper's head.
Anonymous
08471cf
?
No.175652
175653
>>175651
Posey quickly and quietly leaves the vehicle, Gloomy trotting beneath her cloak. She telepathically commands the ghast to bring Sasha along. She goes to the church, and knocks, announcing that she's brought the volunteer.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175653
175654 175656
>>175652
Wait. Posey doesn't have internal passports for those two, and the checkpoint would absolutely be looking for those
Anonymous
08471cf
?
No.175654
175655 175660 175661
229307_460s.jpg
>>175653
You could have told me this at the beginning of the week, GM.

Fuck it, Posey spends part of her meditation time making a Forgery check for Sasha and the ghoul.
Forgery is opposed by Forgery, and NOBODY takes forgery, so unless one of the guards is a lvl 5-10 Rogue (in which case, I had better be getting a ton XP for this encounter), it's improbable that they'd think twice, especially with Posey having a modified 26 taking 10 on her Bluff check.
She repeats this for the ghoul.
Posey would already have whatever paperwork she needs to bring Gloomy around.

Forgery checks are made secretly, so roll Posey's check herself. Exhausting all of her relevant modifiers and using her own passport as an example, Posey has a +15 modifier to her forgery check.

Forgery is only a class skill for Experts and Rogues, so it's improbable that the guards have any ranks in it. They do get a +2 bonus for being familiar with the type of document.
Anonymous
08471cf
?
No.175655
175661
>>175654
>Forgery checks are made secretly, so roll Posey's check herself
*Roll her check yourself in secret
Anonymous
08471cf
?
No.175656
175661
>>175653
Am I able to get through, GM?
Anonymous
3acac02
?
No.175660
175661
>>175654
And for good measure, Posey uses her Charming Gaze on the guards to smooth things along (because why wouldn't she? It's at-will, and has no components).
DC 19, as usual.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175661
175663
>>175654
>>175655
>>175660
>>175656
On the one hoof, the ID cards are supposed to have a magic watermark that makes forgery very difficult or close to impossible if the magic is checked. It might be easier to leave the ghast at home and use a cover story about why the dog doesn't have one. Or in the alternative, use forgery to forge birth certificates that are then used to obtain real cards for the ghast and the dog, so that there is only ever one forgery roll.

But really, I don't think it matters, because unless this goes catastrophically wrong, how she was checked in does not matter. So we can just sidestep the issue and say sure, she gets in fine.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175662
175671
>>175642
Amber proceeds to get confused with the seating chart, and then, after an oddly short period of time, Amber can see Red Scabbard leaving, still thrusting his tongue out of his mouth, sometimes unfolding his wings up and outward, and looking back to Trakr angrily. Trakr has a very wide smile across his face, and giggles. Red Scabbard does not specifically look at or address Amber on his way out.
Anonymous
a686c2e
?
No.175663
175664
>>175661
There's always room for that
https://youtu.be/lyXoFWSVDQk?si=gqKcFPvI5n5fDhxG

Anyway, Posey proceeds with her plan.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175664
175665
>>175663
>>175640
Kaftars line up along the street, occasionally showing their beige fur under the light of the few street lamps. They watch Posey as she goes. Posey makes it to the old church.
Anonymous
a686c2e
?
No.175665
175666
>>175664
Posey knocks on the church door and announces that she has arrived.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175666
175667
>>175665
The assistant from the night before opens the door. From within, Posey sees a silhouette against the candlelight, and the voice of the priest calls:
"Come in"
Anonymous
a686c2e
?
No.175667
175679
>>175666 (checked)
"I have brought her." Posey says
She telepathically commands the ghast
>"Bring her in and keep her close. When I give the signal, paralyze her without killing her."

Posey continue
"Have you had adequate time to prepare?"
Anonymous
b7dc688
?
No.175668
175674
Are we doing this tonight, GM?
Anonymous
b7dc688
?
No.175669
175670 175679 175695
Screenshot_20240831-193407.png
Screenshot_20240820-224613.png
Screenshot_20240820-224652.png
Whenever we get around to it, Posey requests that the priest take time to prepare Agire's body, as well as any spells, incense or items that could aid Posey in her skill check, and to call on as many of his flock as he's willing to bring to witness the ceremony.
Posey specifically requests the spell named Desecrate, a Clerical spell that she knows of specifically, as it is the envy of all Necromancers for its ability to create undead with additional HP.

Now to lay out the specifics for the sacrifice. Posey is is personally trying to hit a DC 35 sacrifice check to create the effect of Greater Planar Ally call on a Lilitu, an Apostate Demon that specializes in impersonating deities, priests and angels to trick them into worshipping demons (hitting the DC 40 for Limited Wish isn't so realistic), and to use its powers to raise Agire from the dead. HOWEVER, since Posey is doing this on an altar of the Angel, she is doing it directly under the eye of whatever spiritual entity the Kaftars actually worship. It's possible that regardless of her check or the success of her ritual, an entity from beyond the void will offer its own reward/effect as it sees appropriate for her offering, despite the specifics of her plea. It's also plausible that the Angel will become enraged by a mere pony desecrating its congregation and may smite Posey for her hubris or send one of its servants to attack her, especially if she rolls especially low... Posey cannot take 10 on this roll.
Posey makes an appeal for the audience of a ravenous spirit of hunger to reveal itself and disgorge Agire from the grave.

Posey has a base religion mod of +11. She can further increase her mod in the following ways:
>+1 taking an hour
>+2 altar
>+2 masterwork tool (grimoire)
>+1 tortured 1 day prior (disease + heartbreak)
>+1 HD
>+1 Sadism
>+1 Masochism
With these modifiers, Posey has to roll a 15 or higher to succeed in her check, improbable, but still plausible.

Further, there are other mods that could possibly increase the check, but are not guaranteed:
>+1 successful perform check (Posey's slam poetry)
>+1 race hated by the Angel?
>+1 loss of extremities by hungry demon (does a ghast count?)
>+1 10 or more followers
>+1 100 or more followers (would require rallying the kaftar neighborhood and risk exposure)
>+1 doing it in public (on the steps of the church)
>+2 presence of a ghast (in generic d&d the deity of the Gnolls also has rulership over ghouls)
The following are spell effects that could potentially increase the check:
>+1 Desecrate
>+1 Unhallow
>+1 Guidance
>+20 Guidance Of The Avatar (cheesy)
>+10 Imbue With Spell Ability to imbue Posey with Sacrificial Skill + Lore of The Gods (would also allow reroll of the check)
>+1 killed in really cool and flavorful way (Posey casting Necrotic Bloat and popping Sasha like a balloon)
Anonymous
b7dc688
?
No.175670
>>175669
I could also try for the DC 30 Planar Ally to try to call an Efreeti for 3 Wishes... But that's just asking to get monkey-pawed. Genies are jerks.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175671
175674
>>175662
Watching a pony doing that with his mouth cannot be anything other than amusing. Amber refrains from audibly laughing, but she does smirk as she watches Red Scabbard makes his exit, hopefully for the last time, out of the restaurant. Once he's finally out of sight she can focus on whatever late-night customers arrive, presumably for the bar.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175674
175675 175676
>>175668
I'm a little busy, but we'll get to it

>>175671
However entertained Amber may be by this, it does not entertain her nearly as much as it did Trakr.

The ponies going to the bar, usually single, don't need to be guided. Well, sometimes they do, since a wall blocks most of the view of the bar from the entry point, and you kind of have to look to the far left. The time comes to stop accepting customers for the restaurant, and to close for the night. Customers are still eating, but it's helpful to begin cleaning up
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175675
175677
>>175674
It's part of Amber's duty to turn away latecomers, however many there might be. If there aren't any at the moment she helps the waiters, since she can't bear to stand around when there's something to do.
Anonymous
5501622
?
No.175676
175679
>>175674
>we'll get to it
Ready when you are then.
I laid out potential parameters above.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175677
175678 175679
>>175675
And then, closing time. Amber finds that she did indeed make a mistake, at least early in the shift, in directing too many customers to Melon Mangrove. She has half of the booths, and unlike Cream Pop's, hers are in line of sight to Amber. But it may also be from customers who slipped through Amber while she was not marering her post, as again, hers are the closest to the entrance. A few tables to clean up, chairs to put up, and of course, Mustard is doing the same.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175678
175680
>>175677
"I'm sorry about that imbalance. I should've been more careful with all those customers," she apologizes to the other customers. Unfortunately it seems like her sidequest hurt her performance, at least a little. At least moving things around keeps her from dwelling on it too much.
Anonymous
690c493
?
No.175679
175680
>>175667
>>175669
>>175676
>>175677
Is the priest prepared for Posey's plan?
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175680
175681 175682
>>175678
The customer vary in reaction, many of them not knowing what he is referring to and some understanding. But one gives her an unpleasant look.

It is done: all work that could be considered among Amber's duties is complete.

>>175679
Ritual baths have been taken and prayers said
Anonymous
690c493
?
No.175681
175684
>>175680
>prayers said
Okay, does he have any helpful spell prepared?

Posey wordlessly gets to work, levitating and rummaging through her components pouch while flipping through her necronomicon as she gets ready. With a single hoof, she reaches beneath her cloak to pet Gloomy.
The ghast leads Sasha inside.

"Will anycreature else be joining us for the ceremony?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.175682
175683
>>175680
Drat, I meant the waiters, not the customers.

She might finally get the chance to eat, and takes a gander at the kitchen to see what's available.
Anonymous
eb1e0de
?
No.175683
175685
>>175682
In the kitchen is extra gou