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

[YouTube] The True Gift of Gifting [Embed]

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Inching Closer
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.175000
175042 175084 175098
The next big quest with everypony in it is coming soon (TM)
1727 replies and 47 files omitted.
Anonymous
3e88b19
?
No.176317
176318 176319 176323
>>176316
“A game on a field at night. I kicked a ball. An office… a badge and a gun. That mare. Her name is… Morning Dew. I remember that. She had a nice black mane. A paper delivered to me by a stallion. Boat down a river, with several other stallions. Trees to either side. An ambush. Hoofcuffed fi a tree. A very wicked mare.” He looks up at the flesh

Milyaketan raises an eyebrow and tilts his head.
“And what is that?”
Anonymous
65c73a8
?
No.176318
176320
clark-ocleasa-f.jpg
clark-ocleasa-gnoll-shaman-illustration.jpg
>>176315
>>176316
>>176317

Posey continues
"...Umoya, the Crocutta shaman, suffered a fate similar to your own, in the same week. I had plans to visit her flock as I did yours, but I'm a very busy mare, you know..."
She looks at Agire
"Milyakaten told me that you were one to consider the wisdom of the Crocuttas, more than himself. I'm sure there's been strife between your tribes, but in the end you're both Gnolls, having more in common with one another than any of the other creatures in Baltimare."
She gestures towards towards the altar with her knife, before floating it to Agire
"I want you to do for her the same that I have done for you. However you wish to do it is up to your discretion, you are a seasoned priest afterall, it should be within your skills. Offer a life to the Angel and make a prayer in her favor, and see if your ordinance as a priest is enough to repeat this miracle for her... If you succeed, perhaps you could take it as a sign, that the Gnolls are mightier when united, in friendship."
She competes her proposal with a shrug
"Or don't. You are, afterall, the next leader of your temple. It's none of my business giving you orders you would refuse. I just think it's something to consider."
Anonymous
65c73a8
?
No.176319
176320
>>176317
>A very wicked mare
Posey is intrigued by this, as nothing is more poetic than an undead lamenting in it's most traumatic memories.
"Fascinating...."
Anonymous
3e88b19
?
No.176320
176323
>>176318
Agire stares in silence at Posey with reflective eyes.

Milyaketan answers
“Outside revenues like the Storm King are alone all that could unite us with the Crocutta. They are not like us. They do not have our customs. Our religion… I will take it under advisement. They will be… more receptive than us, I could say that.”

>>176319
The ghast moves up to Posey to take the clump of flesh promised to him.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176321
176322
>>176314
"I don't know what that means. But when we tried to get her to come to us she didn't really understand. Jakala had to hold her down."
Anonymous
3e88b19
?
No.176322
176324
>>176321
“She looks hungry and dehydrated. I’ll heat up some water and try to keep her warm. Where was she, and where did she come from?” She looks at the mare. “I think this is Kiinteä Maa’s wife, Makea Amy.”
Anonymous
65c73a8
?
No.176323
176327
>>176317
>He looks up at the flesh
Posey commands (or rather, permits) the ghast to eat.
She speaks, although it's seemingly more directed at Agire than the ghast
"Ghouls are diet-dependent creatures. Although you have no need for sustenance, you need regular intake of flesh to to maintain your upkeep. Eating flesh, especially raw, will repair your lost tissues and prevent your body from rotting. More importantly, maintaining your diet is important to retain your sense of self, as a starving ghoul regresses to little more than an animal. The more regularly you eat, the closer to life you'll remain, I've even heard of cases where well-kept ghouls managed to procreate with the living... That being said, your craving for flesh will still push you away from the mortal path."
>>176320
>Our religion… I will take it under advisement. They will be… more receptive than us, I could say that.
Posey nods
"Umoya was a wise and powerful shaman, and her loss was a waste to her people. I think it's worth testing if the Angel could be persuaded to release her, certainly a good test for an upcoming chief priest." she replies
"However, for the time being, I think I am done with raising Gnoll priests myself for a long time. After all..." She turns to Agire
"...I really only came here because I told your brother and your widow that I owed them a favor, and Rosey Ring keeps her promises." Posey finishes, a bit smug
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176324
176325
>>176322
"We found her on the tundra to the west(?) of here, and she was walking southwards(?). She kept talking about how Beaivi was bringing the sun." Amber feels very worried about the poor mare's condition.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176325
176326
>>176324
He sighs, and looks back to her, sitting down next to the mare and using his right leg to press against her chest and hold her on the bed.

"This is Metsän Vaeltaja's doing. I'll heat her up with warm water and keep her in here. Could you collect some snow to make water?"
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176326
176327
>>176325
Amber is curious as to who exactly Metsän Vaeltaja is, but dutifully goes to collect untrampled snow a decent distance away from the huts.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176327
176330 176333
>>176326
The stallion gives a pot to help in this task. It must be filled several times, as the snow is much lower in volume when it is melted than when it is collected. He has a fire going, and though his collection of firewood is disturbingly small, it is sufficient for the moment. He seems to have kept the mare, this Makea Aamu, blinded with the improperly placed mask. She readily laps up the water.

>>176323
Milyaketan again speaks where Agire remains silent.

"As I said, it's not all that different from being alive. Again, thank you, Miss Ring. I don't know how much longer we will be here. The ponies tighten around us like a noose. I have heard they have removed entire neighborhoods up north. I think they will do that here."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176330
176334
>>176327
Amber rushes to get enough water. When she is done, she asks, "I had to leave all the firewood to bring her here. Please, let me collect more before it gets too cold." Jakala's mother's admonition still rings in her head.
Anonymous
19cf224
?
No.176333
176334
>>176327
Posey nods understandingly, walking past the two slowly, towards the door
"It's been a pleasure praying with you, Milyaketan. I wish your temple and your people well. Stay strong and endure, as your kind will be ready to take up arms in Armageddon, be it the Kaftars or the Crocutta. As for the ponies in Baltimare, you won't have to worry about them too long..."
She turns her head and makes direct eye contact, the monstrous, hypnotic glint in her ringed demonic eyes shining brightly in the darkness and her mouth twisting into a villainous fanged grin
"Because they're all going to die!"

And with that last sentence, her Unseen Servant throws open the door and she trots off into the night.
If the Kaftars were to listen closely, they might hear her say "Come on, Gloomy, let's go get waffles" in a motherly, sing-song tone, after the doors slam shut.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176334
176335 176339
>>176333
"با فریشتەکە ڕێنماییت بکات و هێزت پێ ببەخشێت."
Was it Agire who said it, or the assistant?

Posey enters back onto the cold street, still inside the tiny enclave.

>>176330
He looks back to Amber, and nods
"Go get more."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176335
176336
>>176334
Amber pulls the sled back to the open tundra where she knows she left the firewood. It must still be there.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176336
176337
>>176335
There is no snow to cover up the firewood. It's just a matter of finding it, which thankfully isn't too difficult. The firewood is all there.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176337
176342
>>176336
Amber loads up the sled with the wood. She wishes Jakala were with her. She had been focused on saving the mare earlier, but now this place in the dim light gives her the creeps. She still needs to tell the others what she saw earlier.
Anonymous
19cf224
?
No.176339
176342
>>176334
Posey makes good on her promise to buy the ghast a kebab in the enclave. I think we can skip roleplaying that part, although it might be met with some awkward glares from the Gnolls seeing a pony buy meat.
>It's for a friend

She then seeks out Mason, and informs him that her business went smoothly.
"Oh, Mason dear, pardon me for giving you new tasks on the fly, but it's getting close to morning and I was hoping you might be able to bring us to a local die-ner if that's possible? I want to take my little Gloomy out to feed him something sweet. I'll treat you as well if you're interested in joining us." Posey requests
Mysterious Ranger
33e5497
?
No.176341
176342 176343
[1d8 = 7]
[1d8 = 3]
[1d8 = 4]
[1d8 = 7]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176342
176344 176345
>>176337
The wind has, unfortunately, picked up. Much more unfortunately, Amber does not have on her full set of clothing. She needs to get back, and soon. At least it drowns out the tinnitus, though the cold is actually threatening.

She has it soon enough. Well, perhaps not soon enough, but she does indeed collect it.

>>176339
The ghast wags its tail, and the gnoll who sells her the kebab is certainly confused. He doesn't speak ponish well at all, and the transaction is conducted mostly by means of pointing.

Mason is asleep when Posey encounters him, but he recovers quickly.

"Of course ma'am. There are plenty of diners."

>>176341
gasp
Anonymous
19cf224
?
No.176343
Screenshot_20240919-234400.png
>>176341
Ghoul Ranger from Libris Mortis
Anonymous
19cf224
?
No.176344
176347
>>176342
>There are plenty of diners
"Excellent." Posey says, petting Gloomy's mane and tickling the side of his throat
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176345
176346
>>176342
Merely the knowledge that the tinnitus and its frightful, mysterious source is out there makes Amber nervous. She wishes she got back her outer coat.

She hopes it's enough firewood. She quickly starts tugging along the sled once again to get to the village before it gets too cold.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176346
176348
>>176345
She arrives back at the hut, which incidentally is actually further away from Amber than what she understands to be her home.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176347
176349
>>176344
One is open at this odd hour with a few stallions inside. A few of those dreaded bats as well...

Nevertheless, it will do
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176348
176350
>>176346
She'll have to distribute the firewood, she supposes…. All in a day's work. Amber checks on the grown-ups and Jakala inside the hut.
Anonymous
19cf224
?
No.176349
176350
images (9).jpeg
y9n7kgvyy3zc1.jpeg
>>176347
Alright.
Posey goes inside with Gloomy.
>A few of those dreaded bats as well...
Th-they can't be worse company than vampires, can they?

I need to sleep.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176350
176351
>>176348
The mare is lying down, but still muttering gibberish. The stallion is preparing ersatz tea that he must have pulled out of deep storage.

Jakala is laying down with her head on a blanket on a bed.

>>176349
>They can't be worse than vampires, can they?
I don't know. Do vampires sit outside of your windows and "eeeeee" at 3 AM?

Waffle House is S-tier, by the way
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176351
176353
>>176350
"Is she going to be alright?" Amber asks quietly. She can't recall ever seeing frostbite as bad as this.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176352
176358 176359
>>176307
Neela does not offer much resistance. She almost limp.
"eeep"

Her head is straight up toward's Kira's head, and her ears are down

>>176306
Well, for one, it was probably moved with two ponies. It would have to blend in with stone. It could be behind something. It's likely intended to blend in or just be outright not visible, but out of the way enough that no one would ever bother with it.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176353
176354
>>176351
"I don't know." He answers. "But I'll warm her up here. You should probably get back home, Kultainen."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176354
176355
>>176353
"I will. Thank you for taking care of her." Amber shakes Jakala. "Come on Jakala, let's go home."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176355
176356
>>176354
"You did well, Kultainen" He says

Jakala peaks her head up, jumps off the bed, and follows Amber.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176356
176357
>>176355
Would getting her winter clothes back in any way hurt the mare? If not, she'll put them back on before headed back outside and to the village proper. Otherwise, she'll just have to hurry.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176357
176360
>>176356
No, there are a number of blankets in the hut. The only questionable part is the mask, as it's being used to cut off the mare's eyesight, and hopefully reduce her movement. But there's another mask, and Amber can get hers back and be on her way.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176358
176361
>>176352
"You said you spent most of your time outside, I know, but do you have any idea how much of inside they have covered? If I were to hide something that I did not want found, I would put it inside room that has already been searched and catalogued."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176359
176361
>>176352
It seems Neela really is trying to avoid having what happened to Hopper happen to her. Thankfully for her, Kira is not trying to crush her to make her easier to eat, she's merely just accidently smushing her with an overly friendly hug. She holds it for just a little bit more before she releases the poor deer.

"Thank you for that, Neela. It really meant a lot to me." She smiles at her friend, who very clearly had to take a big leaf of faith to get within what she thought was striking distance of the lamia and hug her.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176360
176361
>>176357
Amber is a little reticent to put on a mask that had been in contact with another pony's frostbitten tissue, and decides to leave it. She is glad to have her outer coat on as she makes her way back, with Jakala and much of the firewood in tow. Summer can't come soon enough!
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176361
176362 176363 176364
>>176358
"Hmmmm.... Maybe near the entrance. Possibly the library? I'm not certain which areas have been completely catalogued."

>>176359
mph
The does is dropped onto the wooden floor, and her legs slide apart as she drops to the ground. She can stop playing dead now.

She looks up to Kira showing her teeth and smiling awkwardly
"Uh, you're welcome?"''

>>176360
As the mask has been breathed on, Amber's reticence is... understandable. With Jakala placing her rear hooves on the skids of the sled and her forehooves over the front, the two ponies go closer to the edge of the line of huts. Just beyond Amber's hut is a little building made of wood that stores firewood and other things, and as she gets closer, she can see through the gaps in the timber that there are two ponies inside.

They are talking.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176362
176380
>>176361
Amber knows she shouldn't eavesdrop, especially when privacy in this harsh land is hard to come by as is, but she can't resist and decides to listen without announcing herself.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176363
176365
>>176361
"Well, I know it probably doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me, but I do consider you a friend, and the fact that you're willing to trust me even though you were afraid of getting, well, crushed and constricted, it means a lot to me." Kira rubs one foreleg with the other. "So...thank you."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176364
176365
>>176361
"Library might make sense, actually. Come on, let us go see."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176365
176367 176369
>>176363
"Eh heh" She looks up towards Kira - or maybe not "up," it depends on how high above Neela Kira wishes to raise herself - and gives a teeth-chowing smile. Then she looks down and at Kira's form, and then pokes her with a hoof and taps her, again focusing on the goat, which is the closest part of her body that's on the ground anyways, assuming Kira's body is most angled away from Neela.

>>176364
With her head turned to Silver, in the dim light she seems to give a small smile. Then she moves her head forward and in the direction of the flashlight, and goes forward.

"To the library it is. I don't recall anything that looked at all like a casket but... I wasn't exactly looking and it may have happened since."

The ponies walk through the dark tunnels until going into the library. Pear helps by shining her light against the walls

Roll Search
Please Include Me In Lich-related Quest
Anonymous
fb470e8
?
No.176366
176367 176368 176371
Gonna roll Gather Information to see if Posey has heard anything about a lich's lair nearby.
[1d20+8 = (3+8) = 11]
And Research to see if she's read anything about it at the Necromantic Security division of the university.
[1d20+7 = (4+7) = 11]

Meanwhile, at the die-ner.
Posey looks at the menu for several minutes.
"Yes, my son here will have the deluxe waffle meal for little colts. Double sprinkles, double chocolate syrup, double cream, double strawberries, double Mare&Mares, and double powdered sugar... And an orange juice. Nothing for myself."
She gestures to Mason
"He's with me, put his order on my bill."

She makes the ghast wait in the car with its kebab, since her Disguise Undead illusion isn't perfect.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176367
176371
>>176365
[1d20 = 19]

>>176366
We'll see how it goes, perhaps we'll have need of somepony's assistance if things don't go as planned.
Anonymous
fb470e8
?
No.176368
176370 176371
>>176366
Gonna roll Knowledge (Religion) too see what Posey knows about notable lich's in the area (I can roll again since last time, because Posey has since gain a rank in the skill):
[1d20+13 = (11+13) = 24]
Gonna roll Perform (Weapon Drill), with intent to attract Patrons who might be interested in requisitioning Posey's magical skills in fighting undead:
[1d20+11 = (12+11) = 23]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176369
176371
>>176365
Kira looks down at the deer, and the hoof attached to the deer, and then to the lump in her stomach that the deer keeps poking.

"You are really interested in that, huh?"
Anonymous
fb470e8
?
No.176370
176371
>>176368
Gonna roll Aid Another for Gloomy (emotional support colt) to see if I can hit that DC 25 Perform check to attract patrons
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176371
176372 176373 176374 176379
>>176368
>>176370
"No Weapons in the Diner!" a pink mare yells. "And no public performances either. Like a bunch of damned Sangee looking for handouts..." She mutters

>>176367
Silver looks around and sees charred remains, a slate floor, empty holes... why hello there, is that block unstable?

>>176366
"Sure, but it's not an icecream shop. I don't think they'll have sprinkles or Mare & Mares."

>>176369
Her eyes dart up, and she jumps her forelegs up, pivoting away from Kira, looking back at her. She then walks past Kira into the kitchen, giving her as wide of a berth as she can, and looking back as she does so. She enters the kitchen, which is in an open-air format to the living room
Anonymous
fb470e8
?
No.176372
176375 176381
>>176371
>And no public...
I probably should have specified my intent to do these checks at the university later.
>"Sure, but it's not an icecream shop. I don't think they'll have sprinkles or Mare & Mares."
Posey just orders Gloomy the fanciest item that his small body could consume, with a doubled amount of any available toppings.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176373
176375
>>176371
"Helloooooooooooo, what do we have here? Light, if you please."

Silver, with magic, might, or a combination of the two, moves the block out of the way.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176374
176375
>>176371
Kira giggles. "Hey, I'm not upset or anything!" She slithers after her after grabbing the tea set. It seems like a good idea to wash it before giving it back to the nice-if-slightly-racist old mare. As she sets it down on the kitchen counter, she tilts her head at her deer friend.

"Is everything okay, Neela?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176375
176376 176377 176378
>>176374
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" She answers

As Neela walks around the kitchen, she looks back and down at Kira's body to avoid it, whether out of mistrust, or a genuine concern for the massive tripping hazard her body presents. Neela grabs opens a cabinet, pulls out a set of grain, and before leaving the kitchen, starts eating it directly out of the container with numerous small nibbles

>>176372
I'm very interested to hear what kind of university you attended that allowed not merely display of weapons, but active demonstrations with them in public areas.

>>176373
With a bit of motion, the block slides out of place, revealing a cavity with several items in it.

The first item is a piece of paper that appears as if it were taken from a book. It is yellowed from age, and features a tree under a sun, with arrows point around, an evident root ball under a line that seems to be the ground, and what seems to be a connected network of roots. There are numerous symbols and letters that do not belong to the Ponish langue, particularly along the corners of the paper.

The second document is stiffer, thicker set of parchment that is likewise damaged with age, and with the words "Lady Joy" and "Manifest" in big block letters at the top. There's a date and a location "Baltimare Harbor January 1, 770, bound for Amhapura, Abyssinian Empire." Below is listed the names of crew, passengers, and cargo. A quick look at the latter shows items like hoes, rope, salt, and breadfruit saplings.

The next item is probably the most damaged by age, being afflicted by mold and moisture. It is a set of note paper - actual paper, not the hemp and linen parchment used elsewhere - that has notes like "salinity?" and "Ph level 7.5" a large number of crossed out numbers and words, "109 days sunlight," "Bury depth 2 feet?" and other similar notes.

Another document, most similar to the first, is what looks to be a floor plan. The floor is a more or less rectangular shape that intersects with a large circle in a kind of pear or lightbulb shape. There are stairs going up, support columns, notes of a block in the lower rectangle, but most interesting of all, a super imposed other shape in a blue color, opposed the to black used in most of the document. This shape is lower and most of it is near the rectangular section. It's an oblong shape with many curves that does not correspond to most rules of architecture. At the bottom, is a smaller shape that seems to be a prolife view of the same building. It implies that the floor shown is a subterrain section, and the blue shape is below that.

The final item is not any kind of paper. To the left, over top of some of the papers, and with a spider web across it, is what appears to be a fruit. The fruit is recognizable as a citrus, it has a golden color closest to that of a lemon but with an orange tint, it has a pear shape to it, it's rather large, like a grapefruit, and it has the little pits you would expect of a citrus fruit. It is bright in color and is either perfectly ripe, ready to be sold or eaten, or a damned fine imitation of a fruit made with wax or plastic.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176376
176381
>>176375
Since Neela has evacuated the kitchen, Kira takes her turn to head inside and wash the tea set, continuing her conversation with the deer.

"Well...all of that stuff you said, just before I did my 'thing' with Hopper...it sounds like you've had a lot of it on your chest for a while now, not just when I met you earlier today."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176377
176381
>>176375
Hmm, no sarcophagus, but I suppose Silver should have suspected as the block was nowhere near as big as it. But, these are still some interesting items that Silver takes out to examine. The parchment set Silver first gives over to Pear.

"These probably are from boat that brought mummy over here. It is not mentioned in manifest, obviously, so it had to have been smuggled aboard, but you and your colleagues should be able to use this to follow trail right back to where he was buried. Maybe you can find out who he was, or if there were more like him undiscovered in that area."

The floor plan seems to be the next item unrelated to the rest. Silver looks at it, tilting it to different degrees to see if he can make heads or tails of either of the shapes shown. Maybe it's a floorplan of the catacombs, and it's showing an entire other section that's yet to be uncovered? Or it could be a completely different location and this is showing that there's a hidden section to it, perhaps used as a hideout or additional laboratory by Curwhinny.

The piece of paper, the note paper, and the fruit all seem to be related, at least to Silver. He's far from the smartest pony, but even he can see how 'tree', 'sunlight', and 'fruit' would related to one another. The fruit especially gives him some pause. "What in..." Grabbing it, he gives it a feel and a sniff. It would be odd to hide away a wax or plastic fruit like this, but it would also be even weirder if it was actual fruit.
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176378
176381
>>176375
>I'm very interested to hear what kind of university you attended that allowed not merely display of weapons, but active demonstrations with them in public areas.
The weapon in question is a touch attack specifically Chill Touch.
I sort of figured that an Arcane Academy would have testing /training grounds for various spells, especially universities concerned with securities. If there's a place where people would scout for talent, it would be there.

Those were shitpost rolls anyway though.
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176379
176381
>>176371
Shitpost-rolling for karaoke

"Ponies tell me my head's in the clouds...
I don't care what they say because i'm dreamin' of you
You are the treasure i've found
So bright, so bold yet so elusive
It's hard to look away even though it's blinding me
There are no words to describe how I feel inside
I'm really really stuck on you wow wow
I have to follow my dreams however crazy they seem
And I won't stop 'til I get there, you will see
You're all I need to have the strength to believe
Believe in Wonderland!
I'm gonna follow my dreams however crazy they seem
I'm gonna share them with you, a love so true
You're all I want, together we can move on
Live how we want to!
There is no limit to us, we have the power of love
And we don't wanna live ordinary lives
We have the chance to live in paradise
Believe in WON-DER-LAND~!"

[1d20+8 = (13+8) = 21]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176380
176393
>>176362
The walls of the shack are made of branches and the trunks of small trees. They leave small gaps between them and are not intended to be airtight and retain heat. This means that  Amber can look inside, but someone from inside could theoretically look out as well.

Amber knows these voices. She knows these ponies inside. These are her parents, her mother and father.

Mother: "And when would you want to move? Spring? You know that if you do not plant the fields in spring, we will have no food for next winter."

Father: "Look, I'm not saying that we go now, but at some time we should consider it."

"And with what money? You will need to have money saved up if you want to get an apartment."

"My old friend I worked with could let us live with him. We could share an apartment."

"You want little Kultanien to share an apartment with another family? And me as well?"

"At least it's warm there. And there's a school Kultanien can go to. It can help her in life."

"A school to learn what? What the Central Council says is true belief? They will fill her head with nonsense and she will learn nothing about the spirits or about how to be a proper mare. They will teach her... What? How to operate a loom?"

"There are more opportunities there than here."

"Opportunities to do what? To get stabbed? There is no nature there. No trees... No hills..."

"It's a hard life here. The cold, the wilderness. One mistake and you're done."

"The land sustains us. It provides for us. And we've made it. And so have our mothers and fathers before us. We've made it by living off of the land."

"But you know, we have to buy many things from the outside. Kerosene, coats. Things we cannot make on our own."

"We can make our coats just fine."

"Yes, but you know that for all of the effort it takes to make one it is cheaper to buy one made by the factories. And if we can't make our coats in our own colors, what is the point of making our own?"

"We only cannot because it is the law imposed by the Central Council."

"But it is the law all the same. And as a village councilor I must be seen to follow it."

"But you keep one at home! I even wear it on occasion, so does Kultanien."

"Not in public. But - ugh - that's not the point. The point is that we have to travel to the station to get supplies every year. It is a long and hard journey,and we would have stores to buy it from in the city."

"Our life here is stable."

"But for how long? Every year, our wood, furs, and bark buy less and less. And with bad luck we may not be able to buy kerosene at all."

"It's stable for the family. We have friends here. We have our way of life here. The way our parents lived, and the way they lived going back to the Deluge. You're a Councilstallion here for Akko's sake."

"That doesn't change the fact that we could buy so much more in the city if I had a factory job. There's electricity there. There's plumbing. Better medicine. Even cinemas..."

"Is it all about money? And would you rather be among strangers, working as a factory worker and living in a crowded apartment than to be respected by your peers, and living among friends in the lands of your ancestors?"

"All I'm saying is that it is something to consider. Auringonlasku emigrated. Let's see whatTähtien Alla has to say when we see him, back from school."

"Well if you don't decide by spring you are planting. We are not going to bet on moving then have nothing for next winter." Amber can see her mother start to move towards the door. "I still can't believe you sent Tähtien to school. He better not come back talking about this ridiculous 'science'. It's the end of all society..." She opens the door and, "Kultainen Hämärä. Where have you been?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176381
176382 176383 176384
>>176376
She stops, and her ears flip down. Then she turns her head towards Kira, angled down. She sighs.

"You have gold. Ponies like you. You're a 'predator'. Even Customs sees you as a novelty. It's not so easy for many of us."

>>176377
Pear takes the manifest
"Yeah... We could look into this... We certainly should"

>floorplan
It kind of looks like a building over a cave or similar feature, like a church or a theater.

>alleged fruit
It feels like a fruit. It smells vaguely like a lemon, though there isn't much of a smell.

>>176378
Perhaps

>>176379
Is this a pop song? An old G1 song?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WTtgQvqa7Os&pp=ygUaaSBkb24ndCBnZXQgaXQgYnV0dG9uIG1hc2g%3D

>>176372
The waitress is happy to allow extra fruit and whipped cream

nom nom nom
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176382
176385
>>176381
>I don't get it
There is nothing to get. It is a rip off from some 90s anime English dub song.
>nom nom nom
Posey watches Gloomy eat intently, her ringed golden eyes glimmering in the dim light by the window, following his movements closely.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176383
176385 176387
>>176381
The building would likely have been built around Curwhinny's time, for him to have a floor plan of it. It's likely he could go look at local government records for those sorts of buildings built before Curwhinny was sealed away. At the very least knowing dates will let him narrow the search down a fair bit, and there's surely something hidden here to warrant having a floor plan of the place.

He shows the paper with the tree on it to Pear. "Can you read this? I have feeling it pertains to this fruit, and maybe it will shed light on why there would be perfectly ripened, strange fruit in here. And why it is still good after all of this time."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176384
176385
>>176381
Kira tilts her head at her deer friend.

"Well, I suppose the ponies that don't run away screaming at the sight of me do. I don't know what your story was before I first saw you at Customs. It sounds like you've had a hard life. Can you...can you fill me in on some of the details?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176385
176386 176387 176388
>>176382
After an attempt to eat it with a fork, which is swiftly abandoned, Gloomy starts to eat it with his hooves. This, too, is quickly abandoned, in favor of just shoving his face into the waffles. Soon his muzzle is covered with whipped cream and syrup.

nom nom nom

Wait. Wait! THERE IS CHOCOLATE!

The waitress found some and has brought it. It's in a bar form, and yes, it will fit on a waffle.

>>176383
Pear looks at the paper, holding it in her hooves
"I think it's alchemical symbols. I suppose this set by the top means sun rays, but... I don't really know what these symbols mean."

>>176384
She sighs
"What is there to say? Living from place to place. Poverty. Harassment by Griffin sheriffs and the Baltimare police..."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176386
176390
>>176385
"What about your parents? You know, your life growing up, how was it?"
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176387
176388 176390
>>176385
Posey levitates and wipes Gloomy down with a napkin and assists him, levitating a fork and knife and cutting his food for him.
She chides at him softly about making a mess, still staring at him with an almost uncannily affectionate expression..
"Oh Gloomy... I need to get you home, but for now, just relax and enjoy yourself." she says quietly, seemingly more to herself than to the colt
>>176383
If only you could fine someone who were trained in arcane sciences.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176388
176389 176390
>>176385
"When was last time you heard of sun meaning anything dangerous?" Silver looks back at the fruit. "Then again, Curwhinny was doing all sorts of alchemical experiments trying to bring back his deceased family, and one of my compatriots can testify that they did not taste great. Who knows why he would want one of these strange fruits, or what it could do." He looks again back at Pear. "But, then again...nothing ventured, nothing gained. Think I should taste it?"

>>176387
If only...
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176389
176394
>>176388
>Think I should taste it?"
OOC, I would advise against that. If it's what I think it is, you'll instantly die.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176390
176391 176394 176395
>>176388
Pear blinks
"What didn't taste great?"

>>176387
"More fruit" He says "And whipped cream. And chocolate. Like a waffle but without the waffle."

>>176386
"Oh..." She looks away. "That I'd rather not say.... But I didn't see them much."
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176391
176392
>>176390
Posey hands the nearest waitress a silver doubloon with a skull stamped on it, and honors the request.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176392
176396
>>176391
She looks down at the coin
"Okay then... Waffle minus the waffle it is."

And she actually does bring out the whipped cream, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, banana chocolate bar.
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176393
176397
>>176380
Amber doesn't know what to make of this conversation. A city? Apartment? Central Council? These are all strange concepts she isn't really familiar with. And her brother is coming? Won't that be good? But she doesn't really want to move away….

"Mom!" she exclaims, as she moves forward to hug the mare. She struggles to get words out of her mouth to explain what happened.

"I gathered the firewood like I needed to. On the way Jakala and I found a poor mare who looked badly frostbit. We took her to a neighbor's hut and he said she's Makea Aamu. I also saw and heard something odd…." She can't help but pause, not knowing how to explain just what that thing was.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176394
176396 176397
>>176390
"These jars filled with alchemical salts and ashes of deceased ponies. My friend, Dark Star, wanted to see how it tasted. It did not taste good at all."

>>176389
That's, uh...that's pretty severe.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176395
176397
>>176390
"Awwwwww..." Kira's ears fold down. "I'm sorry, Neela. I don't know what I would have done without my mom being around. Are those griffin sheriffs why you came over here to Baltimare?"
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176396
176397
>>176392
Yay, extra toppings
>>176394
I could be wrong, but do you really think the necromancer lich was up to anything good? Is consuming unidentified substances made by an evil Wizard a risk you're willing to take?
Maybe have it checked by an expert first.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176397
176400 176401 176403 176405
>>176393
Her mother leans down and
squeaky
Picks up Amber, to where she is holding her

"One thing at a time, little Kultanein. What happened?"

She moves, carrying Amber towards the hut. Amber is not atcually that small, so this a bit laborious. She places Amber on her back.

>>176394
"Heh... alright then... All part of a normal adventure for you, I suppose..."

>>176395
"More or less, yes. That, and they were giving out work visas. We didn't know what factory work was like, so, we took it."

>>176396
He literally licked equine remains
Mysterious Ranger
33e5497
?
No.176398
176399
DM, I am ready to start this evening if you're feeling up to it. No rush of course.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176399
176404
>>176398
wags tail

Where would you like to start?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176400
176402
>>176397
"What is it like? If I'm going to bring my tribe over here, knowing that would be great information."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176401
176402
>>176397
"Heheh, usually how it goes." He looks at the fruit again. "There is still question of what to do with this. Should I just go ahead and eat it, or go to somepony to get it identified?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176402
176407 176410
>>176400
"Ugh! Misserable! Repetative, boring. I saw a deer get her hoof caught in a machine and... she only has half a hoof. Long hours. Not so great wages. The unions will hire goons to literally beat you if you try to work during a strike, and of course the factories won't pay you if you do not work... You get caught up in a war that isn't your own, and... It's miserable."

>>176401
She looks at it
"I think it's a Lumia. Maybe a citron-lemon hybrid? It's in suspiciously good condition..."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176403
176411
>>176397
Little Kultainen looks adorable being held. She's getting a bit big for it though and she scrunches.

"Well, Jakala and I went west past the tundra to gather firewood. We saw a huge clearing where hundreds of trees were felled, some were burned…there was a pile of logs that had been stacked, and a few standing trees in the middle of it all…"
Mysterious Ranger
33e5497
?
No.176404
176406 176431
>>176399
Customs at the port would be most appropriate.
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176405
176411
>>176397
Posey gets ready to leave once Gloomy is finished eating. She takes her time though.

After she returns to the manor, she meditates for 8 hours during the day to recover her arcane spells, unless any more pressing matters present themselves.

She also arranges to have the ghost's haunted items mailed to their respective resting places.
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176406
176408 176411 176412
>>176404
>Tfw everyone in this game is an immigrant
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176407
176411
>>176402
Silver nods in agreement.

"Never heard of Lumia before. I am not particularly inclined towards getting poisoned, I will take getting shot any day over getting poisoned if it is. But I am curious."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176408
176409 176411
>>176406
Silver isn't, actually.
Anonymous
5d8da11
?
No.176409
176411 176414
>>176408
Oh, okay.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176410
176411
>>176402
Kira cringes upon hearing the description, especially about the missing hoof.

"It sounds miserable. Did they at least fix the issue with that machine? It doesn't sound like it's supposed to be eating hooves."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176411
176412 176413 176414 176415 176425 176426 176439
>>176403
"You went to the blast?" Mother asks

>>176405
I'm not sure what it's going to take to get her onto the next quest... She seems to have genuinely no interest

You can make a new character

>>176407
"It is rather intriguing. I wouldn't eat it. But then again, I wouldn't challenge Peer Review over a sword, or get in a knife fight in an old building, or prosition a mare I've just met for sex either..."

>>176406
That's actually kind of relevant to the next big quest

>>176408
>>176409
Yes he is. He's a Severyanan Emigre

>>176410
"They said it was her fault for putting her hoof there. You have to be quick."
Amber Sunset
33e5497
?
No.176412
176416 176425
>>176406
Neither is Dark Star or Amber

>>176411
"Blast? I don't know what that is. But nearby I saw one of them. The Stallos…" she answers as she shudders in terror.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176413
176416
>>176411
This gets the lamia to pout. "Well that's just stupid. No one wants to lose a hoof, it's not like she tried to. I know some jobs are just dangerous no matter what, but surely there's something to be done to make that machine or other machines safer for workers."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176414
176415
>>176411
>>176409
While he was born in Petershoof, it was before the Severyanan Civil War when Severyana was Equestrian territory, and he wasn't a resident of Severyana when the Civil War began. I think that qualifies for not technically being an immigrant.

Also: [1d2 = 1]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176415
176416
>>176411
>>176414
The die speaks. Let us hope that Silver does not die as a result.

"Heh, fair point." He looks nervously at the fruit. "Nothing ventured..." Slowly, he opens his mouth, brings the mystery fruit closer to him, and..."

munch
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176416
176417 176418 176423
>>176412
She gasps
"You saw a Stallo?!?!?"
Her mother is visibly concerned

They go through the door and into the hut.
squeaky
Amber father picks her up off of her mother's back and places her other the bed, facing him. He sits down in front of Amber

"Little Kultainen Hämärä, there are no Stallos. It is but a superstition."

>>176413
"Well, they didn't have much interest in it. It was easier just to find another doe." She answers. She picks up the container again
munch munch munch

>>176415
Biting into the fruit, Silver can taste that the rind of the fruit is indeed like a lemon. That is to say, it is thick like a lemon, with a somewhat acidic taste. Then he gets to the flesh. It's simultaneously sour like a lemon, but also sweet like an orange or tangerine. It's a very sharp flavor over all. Not as bad as biting into a lemon, but definitely strong.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176417
176419
>>176416
"Mmmm..."

Silver is surprised and delighted by the flavor. It's not bad at all, like taking the best of both a lemon and an orange. He'll have to remember this "Lumia" and look for more in the markets, the household would love these.
Are there any seeds or a pit that needs to be spit out?
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176418
176419
>>176416
"Awwwwwwww...we didn't have factories back home. I can't believe they would just forget that it's living being who are working the machines. You can't just leave them like that. I hope you didn't have to spend much time there."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176419
176420 176422 176425
>>176417
Though the fruit is of a sort where seeds would be expected in its flesh towards the center, all seeds are noticeably missing. It's completely seedless.

Pear just watches.

>>176418
"Oh I didn't. I was late once, was admonished, and then just stopped going."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176420
176421
>>176419
"You got in trouble for being late? How late were you?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176421
176424
>>176420
"A few minutes! Well, half an hour. But still. They are very demanding."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176422
176427
>>176419
Silver mumbles around the fruit flesh and rind currently in his mouth, the words vaguely coming out as the question "Want some?"