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[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 51 files omitted.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176765
176768
>>176764
Silver looks expectantly at Pear in the dark catacombs for an answer. Part of him wonders as he waits if they thought to install lamps or something for their archaeological work, of if they're short on supply.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176766
176768
>>176764
"So what was the problem, then?" Kira tilts her head at Neela.
Anonymous
fa2f6d0
?
No.176767
176768
>>176763
>She must search or otherwise to discover something that hasn't already been destroyed, pillaged, or taken by the militia who stormed through here, or the raiding party, or the archeologists
And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
"Now let's see if this Curwhinny fellow left any legacy behind..." Posey says, more to herself than to Gloomy, which she levitates at hoof-length
>description
Noted.
>I think there is a map somewhere for part of the structure, though it's from the perspective of entering from a different entrance than Posey used. This is a quest from half a decade or more ago, and there are no formal notes, only old posts.
Well, I can't expect a GM to reproduce a map on the fly, but I did express interest in permanently settling in here, so I might like a detailed description at some point. No hurry though.

I need to sleep now.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176768
176772 176773 176774
>>176765
It seems they did not. All they have is the one light that was brough by Pear, and it is aimed at a wall past Silver. Neither Silver nor Pear are actually very visible in the light.

"But I, well, I have a job here. I'm on sabbatical with the university. And I do need to study the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River. I need to publish something to keep my position with the University."

>>176766
"Hmph! Ask them. I don't have to deal with them anymore. 'This isn't a real watch myee myee myee myeehm! Bah!" She lays down on her side.

>>176767
>I might like a detailed description at some point
This is doable, as all of the old posts still exist and are searchable, and I do believe incomplete maps exist. I just don't think you're going to get every stone overturned before the next big quest.

>And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell, but if what you want to do is to find Silver, she'd stumble upon the flashlight and the noise eventually.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176772
176780
>>176768
"Something tells me, looking at certain members of your party, that even if you went with them they would find way to take all of credit for whatever discoveries are made. They might try to steal your work, dispute your portion of credit, or undercut your efforts by publishing group's findings before you can, leading to it looking as if you merely copied them. I am not certain university would be very happy by how it looks." Silver breathes out, then continues, "But, if you made clear that there was something else you wished to pursue on your own to your party, something tells me they would agree. They are likely more than capable of investigating Windigo Worshippers without your assistance, and it means they get you out of their manes. And as for you and for university, well, just look at any of these potential adventures. What could be more impressive than pursuing lead on your own initiative, travelling all way across world, finding something lost to time, and coming back to publish your findings on something few knew even existed?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176773
176780
>>176768
Kira giggles some more at Neela's silly impression. "You've got that right. Okay, I really need to see if that nice old mare is awake so I can return her tea set. Did you want to talk more after, or is it getting late for you?"
Anonymous
4237b0e
?
No.176774
176775 176780
I have awoken.
>>176768
>What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell
I think every room requires it's own Search check, so unless a room stands out I'll say that Posey takes 10 on Search for a modified 15 for each room, unless she sees anything that looks like it invites further scrutiny (a bookshelf that looks like it could be a hidden passage, a room that looks like it hasn't been entered in years, any place that looks like it could contain treasure/curses/secrets, etc).
Posey can passively take 10 for a modified 21 on both Knowledge (Arcana) and Knowledge (Religion): she would notice things that only a skilled mage and/or undead expert would notice.
Posey has Darkvision, and might notice things that a pony reliant on a torch or flashlight would not have noticed. If Curwhinny was undead, he might've hidden his secrets in a way that only the dead would notice, and Posey takes that into consideration as she checks the shadowy corners of each room.
For spells, Posey has Detect Magic as an SLA 1/day, and can also cast it out of her lvl 1 spell slots (Dread Necromancers don't have lvl 0 spells). She can concentrate on Detect Magic for up to 6 minutes at a time. Posey intends to fully sweep the dungeon for any and all items/curses/spells/runes, but first she checks how many rooms there are, so that she can divide her spell slots well enough to cover the entire dungeon.

After Posey has completed her systemic search and divination, she will seek out the deepest area in the dungeon, mediate for 10 minutes and begin ominously chanting in tongues to begin a ritual to force any haunts or lingering undead to reveal themselves.
Unless, of course, she bumps into somepony else first.
Anonymous
c4046a7
?
No.176775
176776
>>176774
Needs a “listen.”
Anonymous
299c04e
?
No.176776
176777 176780
>>176775
Rolling Listen
[1d20+3 = (3+3) = 6]
Anonymous
299c04e
?
No.176777
Screenshot_20241002-123851.png
>>176776
Ffs...
I don't suppose there are any medium armored ponies and/ponies talking around?
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176779
176797
>>176719
"Oh" Father says, looking at Amber. He looks back to the stallion. "Is this about Makea?" He asks, tilting his head. The stallion says nods his head, and with an annoyed tone, says,

"Yeah. It's about Makea. It's about Makea and everything else. Get your flank out here. We need to speak in private."

Father follows the stallion outside. They try to go between a set of buildings. There is piled set of logs near them, and they stand on the other side of the several barrels.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176780
176781 176782 176783
>>176774
The room that Posey is in has a few severely rusted bars remaining standing. The rusted remnants of bars jutting from the ground or from the pillars, and a few in corners that lay piled, are a hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells. A large openning in the roof has been sealed.

Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering. This lower section is oddly older than the upper portion, and also much more damaged. It appears that it was submerged in water.

>>176776
Generally rolls should be respected. There is a time and place to fudge or ignore rolls. And that time and place is now, apparently.

From upstairs, Posey can hear vague suggestions of noises. To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss." To her right, what sounds like ponies talking.

>>176772
Her ears are back fully

"I mean... It's my area of focus. The religions of the southeast."

>>176773
Laying her head down on the couch as she lays on her side,
"Ugh, I wish we had alcohol. Or bowls... Sure." She says
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176781
176784
>>176780
>hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells.
Posey levitates Gloomy up to safety, confidently relying on her damage reduction to avoid her own hooves being harmed.
>Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering.
Exactly what she was looking for. Posey looks almost giddy, perfectly in her element.
>It appears that it was submerged in water.
Oof, water damage.
>To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss."
Posey suspects this may be a monster, or worse, a has leak, and decides to investigate the source of the hiss, levitating Gloomy behind her.
Her ears track on the sounds of the ponies, but she decides to check the source of the hiss first.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176782
176784
>>176780
"Is that all you want to focus on? This world is so vast, there are so many stories to tell and that are yet to be told, or have not been told for many centuries. Learning more about rest of world would also help to advance your studies of this region and its religions by contextualizing them in grander scheme of things."

Sense Motive: Hmm...is ears back good or bad in this context?

[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176783
176784 176785
>>176780
"We'll get both of those tomorrow, don't you worry. I'm not gonna leave us without the essentials."

Gathering the cleaned tea set together, Kira slithers outside. She makes sure to hide her tail like she did last time as she knocks on the nice-if-slightly-racist old mare's door.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176784
176788 176789
>>176781
Posey goes up the stairs to find a small, rectangular room with blocky stone walls, shelves on two sides, a counter on the far side, and in the center, a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well, with a rusted metal grate overtop. On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders. On the stone circle in the center is a yellow sticker, clearly of greatly more modern origin, with a black-outlined triangle with an exclamation point in it, and the text "Danger Wild Animals."

>>176782
The little pony is feeling awkward and conflicted

"Well, I mean... It is important to me. That's my first time out here in the south. Well, it will be. I mean, aside from the lands around Stableside. It's my first time in the Tenochtichlan Bason. Or will be. It's what I've studied the most."

>>176783
[1d20 = 3]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176785
176787
>>176783
Kira receives no reply.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176787
176790
>>176785
"Uh...hello?"

Kira knocks again, hoping she's not being rude.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176788
176790
>>176784
"It will not be your only chance to explore here. This place is part of world, after all, and how can we have world-spanning adventures together if we never explore here, as well? And when we do explore here, it will be under far better circumstances than you being forced out here by your university, and with far better company...that company being me, in this case, if it was not clear."
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176789
176790
>>176784
>On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders.
"Looks like an alchemist lab, or what's left of one..."
>a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well
>"Danger Wild Animals."
Posey suspects this might be the source of the hissing.
"Looks like a breeding pit for fodder subjects; Curwhinny was a shrewd mage. Whatever living thing could have survived all this time though? Perhaps whatever was kept here already turned long ago." Posey says quietly, quite curious, but still cautious (signs exist for a reason)

Posey curiously peeks into the well, levitating gloomy Gloomy well away from whatever monster might jump out to snatch him.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176790
176791 176792 176793
>>176789
Poorly defined, black and white, Posey can see a grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body. It then leaps upwards, hitting the edge of the iron grate, and slightly rattling it.

>>176787
Roll Die

>>176788
"Heh, well..." She taps her hooves together, if Silver isn't still holding her hoof.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176791
176794
>>176790
When Pear taps her hooves together, Silver takes the opportunity to grab them from above and below with his own forehooves, as he looks right into Pear's eyes. Or, at least, he hopes those are her eyes, it's a little hard to see in the darkness.

"What say you, Pear Faucet? Will you not be my partner?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176792
176794
>>176790
[1d20 = 3]
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176793
176794
>>176790
>grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body
Posey tries to identify this creature, particularly if it's undead (taking 10 on Religion for 21)
>equine face
"Hello." Posey greets with a wave of her hoof, a bit mockingly
"Do you speak? I might be persuaded to let you out of there, if you're convincing."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176794
176795 176796 176799
>>176793
"Ack!" It jumps up again, this time just barely missing the grate. Posey can see that actually, there is a second one in there. They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before.

>>176791
"I'll-" She looks down. "I" She looks back up. "I'll think about it. It's uh, it's a lot to think about."

>>176792
No response.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176795
176798
>>176794
Kira scrunches, and figures that the mare went to sleep. She doesn't want to make her upset by waking her up from her slumber, so she decides she'll check again in the morning when the mare is awake. She returns to their home, defeated.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176796
176798
>>176794
"Heh, I suppose that is not no. You are extremely intelligent mare, though. I know when you think it through, you will come to right conclusion." He lets go of her forehooves. "Ready to continue search? That sarcophagus must be somewhere in here."
Amber Sunset
3754071
?
No.176797
176852 176860
>>176779
Amber tracks him as he goes with her heavily insulated head. What could they be saying that wouldn't be for a filly's ears? Too interested now, Amber sneaks behind the pile of logs to overhear their conversation.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176798
176800 176801
>>176795
Poor Kira... Hopefully she can disguise herself well enough in broad daylight.

When Kira opens the door, she can see that Neela is eating corn directly out of a carton with many little nibbles.

nibble nibble nibble

>>176796
"Heh heh... sure" She says, with an awkward smile
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176799
176802
>>176794
>They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before
"An aberrant ghast... Maybe an abyssal ghoul...?! No, such a monster couldn't possibly be trapped this easily." Posey says to herself
Posey suspects that this is a ghast that has gone completely feral (and thus nonverbal) as a result of going to long without feeding. She sees this as a potential asset
Posey gives a shrug
"Not feeling so talkative, I see. I guess it would be professional to force you to kill yourself right here and now, but.. your presence does lower the value of this property, so until next time, cagie." Posey says, walking away from the well.
She searches the remains of the alchemist lab for anything of value still here. If she finds nothing worth taking, she leaves and sets off in the other direction down the hall.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176800
176802
>>176798
Silver resumes the search! There are still a couple of places to explore like the room underneath the well up top or the other side of this floor of the catacombs. It's also possible they overlooked something in the downstairs section.

"Have you figured out what all of this was built for in first place? It seems so...expansive, to be dug out by Curwhinny."
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176801
176803
>>176798
Kira giggles some more at the sight. "Wow, I guess you were hungry. How's the corn?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176802
176804 176806
>>176800
"Storage of some kind for sure. Possibly it was for hiding items from Customs. Maybe it was for gunpowder, or aging wine... although the shape of the rooms isn't quite ideal for that. Curwhinny was a business magnate whose ships went to the far side of the earth. You should see his mansion on the waterfront in old town."

Roll Search

>>176799
The jars and flasks contain the aforementioned pyrite, mercury, and unidentified salts.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176803
176805
>>176801
"Ih- goo" munch munch munch
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176804
176807
>>176802
"I can not imagine how much money he must have made to maintain all of this research. How much does it even cost to import entire living mummy and its sarcophagus?"

[1d20 = 3]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176805
176807
>>176803
Kira giggles some more, and puts the tea set in the kitchen.

"Well, I'm fairly certain she's asleep. Makes sense, she's definitely on the older side. Well, she looked like it, I don't know how long ponies live for. But regardless of species old age always comes with a propensity for sleeping. I'll try again in the morning."
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176806
176807
>>176802
>unidentified salts
Posey looks closer at this, but if it's not anything special, she leaves down the hallway.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176807
176808 176809 176814
>>176804
"When you already own a ship that's going to Maregypt, not all that much. Well, I mean, many mummies have been brought into Equestria and Griffonia."

Silver does not find the sarcophagus

"But yeah... point taken. His hobby must have been very expensive..."

Roll Listen

>>176805
"Yeah, they live to be... uh... well pretty old." She moves her muzzle out of the box and looks over towards Kira. "What are our neighbors like, anyways?"

>>176806
It may very well be. Hard to say.

Roll listen
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176808
176810
>>176807
"Well I've only met the one so far. She seems nice! Though, I'm curious what she has against...'bats', she said? I mean, I don't think I look like a bat..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176809
176810 176811
>>176807
"Well yes, but those are brought in for museums and like. This was living, animated mummy that he just kept in his laboratory. How much would it cost to slip that past customs?"

[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176810
176812 176813
>>176808
"Ugh! Bats! One more menace to look out for at night."

She looks over
"You sort of do, just a little. You have snake-eyes. Bats have snake-eyes. You've also got fangs, well uh, sometimes you've got fangs. You have fangs right? No no, I don't want to see. Just asking. I just thought I saw fangs. But you've got fangs, you've got snake-eyes, and you've got those tufts on your ears. You kind of look like a bat if all you see is your uh, upper half."

>>176809
"I don't know. He'd have the ship's crew on his payroll... very possibly the custom's agents, too. Paying customs at this time wasn't exactly popular. There was an established smuggling trade."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176811
176813
>>176809
Silver hears a mare talking down the hall.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176812
176815
>>176810
"But what's wrong about the...bat ponies? That's what they're called, right? Aren't they still ponies?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176813
176815
>>176811
>>176810
Silver stops Pear physically with a hoof while shushing her.

"Hold up...I heard mare. There is not another member of your team I have not met yet, right?"
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176814
176815 176817
>>176807
>Roll listen
Rolling to Listen to the salt
[1d20+3 = (12+3) = 15]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176815
176816 176818 176820
>>176812
"They stay up at night. They may rob you or burgle you, and just generally, they are more aware in the night than you are. They and they kind of do their own thing, apart from the other ponies."

>>176814
A sound almost like a conch in the ocean, with a sort of sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers? Oh wait. Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.

>>176813
"I think you might have met them all. Maybe Mr. Loans is down here." Her eyes go wide, and her ears twitch. "But I think that's a mare..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176816
176817
>>176815
Move Silently: Silver whispers to Pear, "Stay behind me," as he attempts to move quietly towards the source of the voice.

[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176817
176819
>>176816
Silver proceeds forward and Umph! Silver trips over a cobble stone in the floor that's at a bit of an odd angle. Her falls to the floor.

>>176814
Posey hears something fall to the floor.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176818
176823
>>176815
"Okay, I can get the being aware in the night. But why do they do their own thing? It's disappointing to hear that ponies don't really apply the principles of Harmony towards other creatures, but...not even their own kind?"
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176819
176823
>>176817
Silver swears under his breath, hoping nopony heard that as he stands back up and resumes making his way towards the voice.
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176820
176823
>>176815
>sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers?
If this is actually what Posey hears, she would take the salt with her.
>Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.
Posey freezes, not expecting to be disturbed here.
She makes a silent gesture that Gloomy, well trained, understands is meant to tell him to be silent and stay close. She uses her Floating Disk SLA and puts Gloomy on it, because I just remembered I had that.
She moves down the hall, slowly and silently, towards the sound of the speaking, the faint glow of her horn on the sheathe of her sword. Her hooves glide across the floor with supernatural grace.
Move Silently:
[1d20+9 = (7+9) = 16]
Amber Sunset
3754071
?
No.176821
176822 176823
With move silently, listen, etc. sort of checks, generally the DM does a secret roll (actually two or more, including the target being fooled or hidden from) so the player doesn't know the result before its consequences. I like that air of mystery but it doesn't seem possible strictly on the board only, since everything is open. Still, if we ever have a situation for a disguise check, it would be nice to have secret rolls.
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176822
>>176821
I agree, but it's not really going to matter very soon. I just like a dramatic entrance.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176823
176824 176825 176826
>>176819
>>176818
"To them it's not their own kind. Most of it is the usual. It's about who gets jobs, housing, who can get in line for a doctor. The kind of reasons ponies always give for why they don't like us here. The ponies don't see the bats as their own kind, apparently."

>>176819
Just move along

>>176820
Posey moves into the hall.

>>176821
You underestimate my power

>>176819
Roll Dexterity

>>176820
Roll Dexterity
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176824
176827
>>176823
[1d20+5 = (14+5) = 19]
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176825
176830
>>176823
[1d20+4 = (10+4) = 14]
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176826
176827
>>176823
"Wow...I kinda feel bad for the bats...how did that all start?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176827
176828 176829
>>176824
Inside the hallway, Posey sees a bright light coming from an electric torch. Behind it is a mare in a jacket vest. In front of her is a large stallion with a grey coat. He wears what Posey should be able to recognize as a flak jacket.

>>176826
Neela shrugs
"I don't know. It was like that when I got here."
She places more corn in her mouth, and starts munching.
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176828
176830
>>176827
"Hmm...I guess I'll have to ask some ponies about it next time I get a chance." Kira coils up in the nearby living room, and rests her pony half on top. "So, we have bat ponies, pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies...are there any other kinds of ponies out there? Besides lamias, I'd never heard of so many different varieties of a single species existing."
Anonymous
f953940
?
No.176829
176830
>>176827
Is the Dexterity check telling me that I move first, or that I see them first?
Posey is suspicious, but doesn't show it with her usual stoic pokerface, continuing to glide closer until she's certain that she is seen.
She does duck to the side at the light though, pulling her hood up over her head as her eyes adjust to the glare.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176830
176832 176833 176863
>>176829
It's basically an initiative roll. It means you react first.

And... Posey is blinded by the flashlight as it moves to her. At least the hood provides some protection

>>176825
Silver sees a figure in full chain mail with a longsword on a belt, a bag, and a black hood. It seems to be a mare with a white coat.

>>176828
"Yeah, they uh, that's it. Wait no. There's also crystal ponies, I think, which are kind of the same with sparkly... or something. And then there's uh, the zebra kind of look like ponies to me. Or the ponies look like zebras."
Anonymous
ed6fc6d
?
No.176832
176833 176834 176836
>>176830
>full chain mail
*Chain shirt barding
>Posey is blinded
Posey is dazzled by light, but that won't stop her from doing this:
Her eyes flash with golden light as she attempts to charm the first pony that makes eye contact.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176833
176835 176837
>>176830
>>176832
The grey unicorn, takes a ready stance, feeling like he's been transported back two centuries at least. What kind of crazy undead knight did he miss on his first passthrough of this place?

"О, Тартар, I missed one! Get back!"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176834
>>176832
>charm
It's an unusual lighting situation in the dungeon. It may work with the flashlight not quite shining on her face, but if it's too bright or too dim... not so much
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176835
>>176833
Pear does not need to be told twice. She moves back, unfortunately losing her train of the flashlight on the undead Knight.
Anonymous
ed6fc6d
?
No.176836
176838 176840
>>176832
The creature approaches with a stern glare, it's golden eyes shining with an ominous glow. An overwhelming feeling overtakes you.
DC 19 Will save please

It draws its sword
"Oh, just my luck..." it mutters, in a soft tone
"What's going on, momma?"
"Patience, sweetpea. Momma is working."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176837
176838 176840
>>176833
I should mention that the creature is also levitating a giant floating magical disk thing that has a foal on it.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176838
176839 176840 176841
>>176836
>>176837
If this thing speaking is enough to catch the grey unicorn off guard, the second voice is absolutely enough to completely confuse him, making him pause and not even quite recognize that the first creature has drawn a sword. The sight of the foal on a floating disk is definitely just the tip of the iceberg.

[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176839
176840 176842
>>176838
Pear moves the flashlight to the foal on the disk, and then to the undead knight.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176840
176843 176844
>>176838
>>176837
>>176836
>>176839
Overpowering is perhaps a bit of an overstatement...as it is, the grey unicorn just blinks and winces as a small headache flares up. Still though, he responds.

"Wait...what are you doing with foal? Who...what are you?"
Anonymous
ed6fc6d
?
No.176841
176844
>>176838
I did not expect +5 Will
Oh well. You pass.

The unicorn points her sword at you.
"State your business."
Anonymous
ed6fc6d
?
No.176842
>>176839
*dazzling intensifies*
"REEEEEE! Watch where you're pointing that!"
Anonymous
ed6fc6d
?
No.176843
176844 176845
>>176840
>what are you doing with foal?
"This is my son, and he's here for his training."
>Who...what are you?
The mare puffs out her chest
"I am Rosey Ring, Blackweave Warmagus and licenced Necrologist. I am here on orders to examine these grounds for dark magic contamination." She states, boldly

The mare's voice is gentle and eloquent, with a vaguely-slavic accent. She speaks the local language well, although it appears to be a slightly different dialect.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176844
176845 176846
>>176841
>>176840
>>176843
Now the grey unicorn notices that this strange creature--a sort-of regular mare, it seems--is brandishing a weapon at him. He makes sure to stand in between Rosey and the mare behind him.

"'State my...' Ma'am, you scared us half to death! We thought there was another undead knight Curwhinny had kept here. Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults?" He looks over the the colt who is floating on a magic disk. "Hello there, little one."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176845
>>176843
>>176844
It should be noted that the stallion's voice is rough and grizzled, not helped by a heavy Severyanan accent.
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176846
176848
>>176844
>undead knight
"Undead Knight? Where? In this dungeon?" Rosey Ring replies, seemingly interested
>Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults
"You don't look like an archaeologist. What are you here for?"
>Hello there, little one."
The white mare steps in front of the colt, glaring defensively
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176848
176849
>>176846
The grey unicorn gives an understand look towards the defensive gesture, seemingly knowing where it comes from.

"It was undead, now it is just regular dead. Torn to shreads by Roc after it was lured outside with bait. Look, I am Silver Sword, this mare behind me is Pear Faucet. She is archaeologist, I am pony who cleared this place of undead. Okay, introductions have been made...can you please just sheathe your weapon, for sake of those around us?"
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176849
176850 176851
>>176848
The mare sheaves her sword
"I thought I was the only pony tasked with cleansing this dungeon. Do you work for Glass Horizons?"
>She is archaeologist
She squints at her, but says nothing
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176850
176853
>>176849
Silver relaxes, now that the threat has been dealt with.

"I was employed by him, yes. I did not think he would send...you said 'necrologist'? I did not think he would send one in after me. Did he send you here or were you sent by somepony else? How did you find out about this place?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176851
176854 176856
>>176849
The small yellow mare moves back.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176852
176860 176864
>>176797
Stallion: "We need to do something about Vaeltaja."

Father: "Yes, I can't stand him spreading nonsense around here. I keep my family away from him."

Stallion: "No. I mean he's dangerous."

Father: "Nonsense is dangerous."

Stallion: "Heh. So much more than you know."

Father: "We should address this at coun-"

Stallion: "Kultainen brought Makea to me. She was completely out of it. Muttering to herself. And she was frost bitten. She had it bad on her ears and lips. Even her eyes... it's like she hadn't blinked. She was out of it."

Father: "What was wrong with her?"

Stallion: "I don't know. Dehydration, just the cold... maybe some kind of illness? I don't know what's going on."

Father: "Will she be alright?"

Stallion: "I don't know. I gave her water and heated her up, but she was still muttering to herself."

Father: "Well what has any of that got to do with Vaeltaja?"

Stallion: "What she was muttering. She was talking about the coming sun. And spirits. When she wasn't just speaking gibberish. She's one of those ponies who follow him."

Father: "Do you think Vaeltaja gave her mushrooms? Some other kind of poison?"

Stallion: "Maybe. I don't know. She may have just wondered off into the forest looking for spirits, got lost and then dehydrated. I don't think she would have lasted that much longer either way. She wasn't wearing enough heavy clothing."

Father: "Poor Makae Amuu... She's been sad since her mother died. I think that's why she follows him. He promises the spirits will come back and so she hopes to see him. That's why religious delusions can be so dangerous. They prey on our fears and vulnerabilities."

Stallion: "You're missing the point. I know that. We need to do something about it."

Father: "Yes, we need to bring it up at the council."

Stallion: "The council?! Just- ugh! Do you understand? The Inspector is coming here this week. He is supposed to be hear tomorrow."

Father: "Heh, you know that means he won't be here and earlier than Saturday. We can address this with the council on Friday. Or even ask the Inspector for help."

Stallion: "No! You just - ugh! You don't get it. What do you think the Inspector will think when he sees these ponies spouting that religious horse shit?"

Father: "Well he will be very upset, obviously. It's against the Path Forward."

Stallion: "Exactly! So what is he going to think about the council who runs the village where this happens."

Father: "He should want to help us. To help us put down this new religion."

Stallion: "Don't you think he's going to want to know how it got this bad?"

Father: "....."

Stallion: "He's going to blame us. He's going to tell the Central Council that we either couldn't stop it, or didn't want to."

Father: "The villagers could be silent. They have been silent about their religious practices every other time the inspector has come."

Stallion: "No. They have not. We have a write up. And this is a hell of a lot worse than that old mare with her public prayers. These followers of Vaeltaja won't shut up about convergence and seraphs and the sun and whatever. I mean for Akka's sake one of them was so crazed she went outside without enough clothes and forgot to drink water."

Father: "Do you think maybe there is some kind of pathogen at the blast? I believe Vaeltaja has been taking ponies there. We should ask the Inspector to look into the blast and see if maybe the melted permafrost awoke some kind of, some kind of old bacteria."

Stallion: "You are missing the point! The Inspector can't find out!"

Father: "No, that's exactly my point. We can ask the inspector for help. Maybe intercept him at Kaukainen Piste and tell him we need help. That will make it look like we are trying to solve the problem."

Stallion: "Really? Really? You don't think his first question when he hears that a start-up prophet is taking ponies into the woods and giving them drugs or whatever is going to be anything other than 'how long has this been going on?' Do you really think he's going to believe this hasn't been going on for weeks now? Don't you think he'll ask 'when did you first notice?' Is there any answer you can possibly give that won't sound like a blatant lie or make you look horrifically incompetent?"

Father: "I had no idea it was so bad. We saw Kulho Linssejä moving listlessly. He was out of his mind too, but not frostbitten. He was talking about going to be with his dead wife."

Stallion: "Yeah, it's... I know. I didn't know either. I didn't know it would get this bad. You know, when Metsän Vaeltaja started his preaching I actually kind of liked it. He was talking about Akka and the spirits of the ancestors. I was pleased to hear someone talk about the old gods and the old ways. Such a refreshing change from that horrible silence that's been placed over all of us. It was like a pillar of the old world returning. Resisting. Then she started talking about the seraph and the sun coming early and convergence all of this other pure horse shit, and I realized it was something else entirely. Something new. Ugh! But I thought they could keep quite. But they can't!"

Father: "Well, if we explain the situation to the inspector he might-"

Stallion: "No. You don't get it. There is no explanation we could possibly give to the Inspector that will suffice, with mares and stallions walking maddly around on the streets like that. There is no way around it. The Inspector will conclude that we were willfully Non-compliant. And if you tell him we didn't have the power to do anything he'll just ask why we didn't ask for help earlier, and what's the point of us anyways."

Father: "...."

Stallion: "We need to do something."

Father: "Call an emergency meeting of the town council. Gather every pony, explain the situation. Make a show of it."
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176853
176854 176855
>>176850
"I was sent here from the university to sweep it for dark magic contamination, and was tasked by Horizons to report on the state of the property and eliminate liabilities. From the looks of it, I still have some work to do."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176854
176855 176856
>>176853
>>176851
Silver looks back to the small yellow mare named Pear Faucet.

"University? Do you know her from yours?"

Returning his attention to Rosey, he resumes talking. "Well, contaminated is right, it was used by supposed lich in experiments to try to bring back his dead family. Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up, that quarry outside was absolutely littered with remains of his experiments. What do you mean by 'liabilities', though?"
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176855
176858 176861
>>176853
>>176854
Pear shakes her head

"Uhn uh."
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176856
176857 176858
>>176854
>Do you know her from yours?
>>176851
Do I know her?
>Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up
"Only on the surface." She replies
"There are still corporeal monsters lurking about."
"Haunting presences. Monsters. Curses. Cursed items. Mana poisoning. Corrupted Earth Nodes. Planar manifest zones. Portals to Tartarus. Jars full of nameless plagues. Malign energies that could attract a whole host of monsters to the area. The list goes on."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176857
>>176856
No That was the dice roll Posey failed
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176858
176859
>>176856
>>176855
"Hmmm..." The look on Silver's face suggests he's not fully convinced. "I am not sure about all of that, but...you say you were sent here to sweep for contamination? I presume that means you have means of detecting dark magic?"
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176859
176861
>>176858
>I presume that means you have means of detecting dark magic?
"Pfft, I wouldn't be very much of a Necrologist if I couldn't." The mare replies
"I have a sharp eye for the dark arts, and an even sharper horn."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176860
176864
>>176852
>>176797
Stallion: "What are we going to propose? Ban Vaeltaja? Accuse him of Non-Compliance? Many of the village ponies will be against it. Even on the council, Kaukainen Ukkonen will veto it. You know he believes that junk. He follows Vaeltaja. And what's far worse is that Vaeltaja will have a chance to speak."

Father: "It doesn't matter if we fail. What matters is that there will be witnesses to our attempt to shut it down. It will show the Inspector we tried."

Stallion: "No. No it won't. He'll wonder how we got outvoted in our own village."

Father: "So we'll look incompetent, they'll just remove us off of the council and bring in someone from the City. We'll lose some privileges. Be fined..."

Stallion: "You think all they will do is to kick your colt out of school and take you off the council? You are as delusional as Makea..."

Father: "Well it's our best shot."

Stallion: "You already know what they will think. Incompetence is Treason. Except they will never believe it is incompetence. They will think that we have been deliberately allowing Vaeltaja spout his nonsense, in defiance of the ban on religion. They will believe we are intentionally subverting their rules."

Father: "Well... Maybe."

Stallion: "Not 'maybe,' they will. Do you know why they will think that? Do you?"

Father: "Because..."

Stallion: "Because it's true."

Father: "We let this happen. I just thought that so long as it wasn't my family-."

Stallion: "Well it's going to be your family. Do you know what will happen when the Inspector judges we are not in compliance?"

Father: "I didn't think it would get this bad..."

Stallion: "I didn't either. We need to fix this problem."

Father: "Maybe go to Vaeltaja and tell him why he needs to make everyone stay silent?"

Stallion: "Vaeltaja thinks the world is coming to an end in a few weeks. And if he keeps it up, it will. For him and for us. He's not going to feel threatened by the central council."

Father: "Maybe talk to everypony individually?"

Stallion: "All seventy of them? They are too drugged up even to think coherently. No. There is only one thing we can possibly do. One thing and one thing only. Cut the head off of this problem, and hope that we can get everypony under some semblance of compliance by the time the Inspector arrives at the end of the week."

Father: "You can't mean-"

Stallion: "I absolutely do. And we have to act now. It's the only way."

Father: "It can't be..."

Stallion: "Oh yes it can. What do you think is going to happen to you if we don't, when the Inspector gets here and sees all of this. What do you think will happen to your family."

Father: "But it's not right."

Stallion: "Doesn't Tähtien Alla live in the city."

Father: "sigh.... Do you have a plan?"

Stallion: "Kind of. We go out wood cutting. I will need another pony and you've got the most to lose of any sane pony besides me. That's why you're in on this."

Father: "Very well.. Let me take Kultainen home."

Stallion: "Meet at my house."

Father starts to walk away from the stallion, looking solemn.
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176861
176862 176865
>>176859
"Heh, if they are even half as sharp as that sword should be, then you are doing well. Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere."

>>176855
Silver pulls Pear off to the side, not too far away as to loss track of Rosey but still far enough that they can whisper without being overheard.

"So, hear me out. I know it is oddly convenient that this mare comes out of nowhere, dressing like she just walked out of 4th Century with knowledge about undead creatures, but...if she has ability to detect traces of dark magic, then maybe she can find where our missing sarcophagus is."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176862
176866
>>176861
"I think that she could. Do you trust her with the sarcophagus?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176863
176867
>>176830
Kira definitely wasn't forgotten about in the heat of the moment, absolutely not.

"And Bright Dye...maybe I'm being silly, but did he look like a cross between a pony and a zebra to you? Can ponies and zebras reproduce together?"
Amber Sunset
3754071
?
No.176864
176867
>>176852
>>176860
Amber freezes in place, eyes wide, when she hears that they intend to "cut the head off of this problem." After her father says he will take her home, she sneaks back into the store to avoid him finding her.
Anonymous
6ada74f
?
No.176865
176866
>>176861
>Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere
"I'm not one to take orders from strangers..." The mare replies with a suspicious glare
Despite her words, she does not appear to flee, her golden eyes following silver as he retreats down the hallway
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176866
176868 176873
>>176862
"Not particularly...but as long as we keep at least one set of eyes on her or on sarcophagus, there is not much she could do about it. She is necrologist, not magician."

>>176865
Silver returns to the armored mare.

"Okay then, we could use your help with something, but you must swear to not tell another soul about it."
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176867
176869 176871
>>176863
"Oh, he might be. Hard to tell. I think the stripes will sometimes occur on ponies, but, yes, zebras and ponies can reproduce with each other. He could be part zebra."

>>176864
little pony hides

"Kultainen? Kultainen Hämärä?" He calls, looking for her.
Anonymous
058ba7b
?
No.176868
176870
>>176866
"I didn't know that there were... more of you out there. I suppose but... honestly I kind of feel like maybe we should let the dead lie on this one. It's not the mare, it's... what if he is a lich? What will we do?"
Kubana "Nope Noodle" Kirafiki
3952934
?
No.176869
176872
>>176867
Kira is silent for a moment, before tapping her hooves together. "Do...do you think...ponies and lamias could...maybe..."
Silver "The Floof" Sword
3952934
?
No.176870
176872
>>176868
Silver whispers back to her quickly.

"We will handle it, like I know only we could. I promise."
Amber Sunset
3754071
?
No.176871
176872
>>176867
"Yes, Papa?" she calls back. Her voice sounds squeaky and trembling. "You were taking a while. Is something wrong? You don't look too pleased…."