The next big quest with everypony in it is coming soon (TM)
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1627 replies and 38 files omitted.
>>176102
Kira nods excitedly.
"Oh yeah, let me go get them!"
Kira rushes upstairs, letting Bright Dye get a brief but still very interesting view of how Kira slithers upstairs, moving along anchor points on the steps to maintain upwards motion without sliding back down. She quickly grabs her spear and bow, and slithers back downstairs to ecstatically show off her possessions to the visitor.
Kira nods excitedly.
"Oh yeah, let me go get them!"
Kira rushes upstairs, letting Bright Dye get a brief but still very interesting view of how Kira slithers upstairs, moving along anchor points on the steps to maintain upwards motion without sliding back down. She quickly grabs her spear and bow, and slithers back downstairs to ecstatically show off her possessions to the visitor.
>>176103
Kira slithers back into the room to catch the following exchange. Bright Dye, leaning over to his right towards Neela,
“Do you have any fawns?”
“N-no, I don’t. I haven’t had any.”
“Really? Your teats are enlarged.”
Neela giggles, adjusts herself to sit more firmly upright, and places her right hoof against her neck. Smiling, she looks over to him and asks, “why are you looking at my teats?” Leaning over towards him to tap his right foreleg with her left hoof. She continues giggling, and a few seconds later both creatures turn their attention towards Kira, staring at the spear and bow before she addresses them. Both of them seem somehow surprised to see weapons in the home, even though Neela has surely seen Kira’s bow and spear before.
Kira slithers back into the room to catch the following exchange. Bright Dye, leaning over to his right towards Neela,
“Do you have any fawns?”
“N-no, I don’t. I haven’t had any.”
“Really? Your teats are enlarged.”
Neela giggles, adjusts herself to sit more firmly upright, and places her right hoof against her neck. Smiling, she looks over to him and asks, “why are you looking at my teats?” Leaning over towards him to tap his right foreleg with her left hoof. She continues giggling, and a few seconds later both creatures turn their attention towards Kira, staring at the spear and bow before she addresses them. Both of them seem somehow surprised to see weapons in the home, even though Neela has surely seen Kira’s bow and spear before.
>>176104
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt, I was just excited to show off my things, it's not very often I get to show these off to someone who doesn't already know about them."
She holds out the bow for display. If Bright Side or Neela knew anything about archery or bowmaking they could probably tell what material it is or what it's unique shape is meant for, but otherwise all they can tell is that it looks like a bow bent backwards on itself, made with a wooden core and separate materials on the back and belly. "We make our own bows for hunting. My mom showed me how to when I was younger, and I made this! It was pretty tough to learn to use at first, you need to be really strong to pull the string, but that's the idea behind it; you build the archer to fit the bow, rather than building the bow to fit the archer. Basically you wanted to build a really strong bow first, then you trained yourself to use it. That way you can get every ounce of strength out of every draw!"
Next she shows off the spear. If either Neela or Bright Dye continue to harbor thoughts in their imagination about Kira's culture being like some primitive neolithic tribespeople, they would be quite surprised by the quality and craftsponyship (or perhaps craftsnakeship) of the weapon in front of them. The broad leaf-shaped steel spear head looks honed to a fine edge, and is fastened to a studded shaft that has been balanced near perfectly. It's bigger and heavier than a javelin, but could still be thrown in a pinch if no other option was available. "There's not really any kind of special story about this spear, it's just the average kind of spear you'd see all sorts of hunters using. I haven't actually used it yet. I definitely favor the bow over spears, but it's important that us hunters have a way to defend ourselves in close quarters."
"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt, I was just excited to show off my things, it's not very often I get to show these off to someone who doesn't already know about them."
She holds out the bow for display. If Bright Side or Neela knew anything about archery or bowmaking they could probably tell what material it is or what it's unique shape is meant for, but otherwise all they can tell is that it looks like a bow bent backwards on itself, made with a wooden core and separate materials on the back and belly. "We make our own bows for hunting. My mom showed me how to when I was younger, and I made this! It was pretty tough to learn to use at first, you need to be really strong to pull the string, but that's the idea behind it; you build the archer to fit the bow, rather than building the bow to fit the archer. Basically you wanted to build a really strong bow first, then you trained yourself to use it. That way you can get every ounce of strength out of every draw!"
Next she shows off the spear. If either Neela or Bright Dye continue to harbor thoughts in their imagination about Kira's culture being like some primitive neolithic tribespeople, they would be quite surprised by the quality and craftsponyship (or perhaps craftsnakeship) of the weapon in front of them. The broad leaf-shaped steel spear head looks honed to a fine edge, and is fastened to a studded shaft that has been balanced near perfectly. It's bigger and heavier than a javelin, but could still be thrown in a pinch if no other option was available. "There's not really any kind of special story about this spear, it's just the average kind of spear you'd see all sorts of hunters using. I haven't actually used it yet. I definitely favor the bow over spears, but it's important that us hunters have a way to defend ourselves in close quarters."
>>176098
“Okay…” she says, looking downwards in resignation. But she looks back up, turns around, and moves through the strand of trees that are just beyond the slope. Amber moves forward past this tiny strand of trees, one or two rows, and she sees that they are more or less, already there. Past the tiny number of trees that ringed the edge of what was presumably, an arboreal forest dominated by tall, narrow fir threes, Amber sees numerous acres of fallen trees all in neat rows, approximately facing Amber. Many of trees have roots visible, some are singed, and in many areas beaches and needles are severed from the trunks. There’s an island of standing trees in the distance, besides the one Amber is standing next to, and the pattern of why these exist while trees are felled elsewhere isn’t clear. A few saplings do, however, stand up, including a couple birch trees. The trees that stand are narrow and have few branches extending far from the trunk, although whether that’s how they grew and not the product of some event cannot be said. Under the trees the ground is mostly dead with dead grass, dirt, and snow, sometimes disturbed. In several areas, trees have been cut up and branches removed, with tracks all along the ground. There is a big rectangular pile of cut up wood some hundreds of feet from Amber.
Jakala is uncomfortable with the area.
“Okay…” she says, looking downwards in resignation. But she looks back up, turns around, and moves through the strand of trees that are just beyond the slope. Amber moves forward past this tiny strand of trees, one or two rows, and she sees that they are more or less, already there. Past the tiny number of trees that ringed the edge of what was presumably, an arboreal forest dominated by tall, narrow fir threes, Amber sees numerous acres of fallen trees all in neat rows, approximately facing Amber. Many of trees have roots visible, some are singed, and in many areas beaches and needles are severed from the trunks. There’s an island of standing trees in the distance, besides the one Amber is standing next to, and the pattern of why these exist while trees are felled elsewhere isn’t clear. A few saplings do, however, stand up, including a couple birch trees. The trees that stand are narrow and have few branches extending far from the trunk, although whether that’s how they grew and not the product of some event cannot be said. Under the trees the ground is mostly dead with dead grass, dirt, and snow, sometimes disturbed. In several areas, trees have been cut up and branches removed, with tracks all along the ground. There is a big rectangular pile of cut up wood some hundreds of feet from Amber.
Jakala is uncomfortable with the area.
>>176105
“Oh!”
Bright Dye stands up, and comes closer towards the weapons to look at them. He extends his hooves.
“So you’ve shot this bow many times?”
“Oh!”
Bright Dye stands up, and comes closer towards the weapons to look at them. He extends his hooves.
“So you’ve shot this bow many times?”
>>176107
If he's asking to be handed the weapons so he can take closer looks at them, Kira gladly complies. "Yes sir! I'd like to say I'm quite the shot, all thanks to Mom!"
Bluff: While he does so, a minor aside: Kira tries to see if she can sneak a peak at Neela's teats to see if she can see what Bright Dye was talking about, without Neela either noticing or believing that's what Kira is doing.
[1d20+3 = (2+3) = 5]
If he's asking to be handed the weapons so he can take closer looks at them, Kira gladly complies. "Yes sir! I'd like to say I'm quite the shot, all thanks to Mom!"
Bluff: While he does so, a minor aside: Kira tries to see if she can sneak a peak at Neela's teats to see if she can see what Bright Dye was talking about, without Neela either noticing or believing that's what Kira is doing.
[1d20+3 = (2+3) = 5]
>>176108
Bright Dye gladly takes it.
“Neat!”
He tries to pull back the string on the bow, but has difficulty.
“Wow, this uh, strong pull.”
Secret modifier:
[1d20 = 18]
Bright Dye gladly takes it.
“Neat!”
He tries to pull back the string on the bow, but has difficulty.
“Wow, this uh, strong pull.”
Secret modifier:
[1d20 = 18]
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>>176112
Kira takes the bow in her hooves, and using the end of her tail draws back the bowstring. The bow bends as she draws, the material on the belly contracting while the material on the outside stretches. The act is not without effort as both Bright Dye and Neela can see the muscles in her tail flexing and tightening, but even then she makes it look easy compared to the trouble the stallion was having. She holds the draw for a couple seconds before carefully, slowly returning the bow to its normal state and offering it back to Bright Dye if he wishes to continue observing it.
"It's all a matter of practice, building yourself up to be able to handle the strength the bow demands."
Kira takes the bow in her hooves, and using the end of her tail draws back the bowstring. The bow bends as she draws, the material on the belly contracting while the material on the outside stretches. The act is not without effort as both Bright Dye and Neela can see the muscles in her tail flexing and tightening, but even then she makes it look easy compared to the trouble the stallion was having. She holds the draw for a couple seconds before carefully, slowly returning the bow to its normal state and offering it back to Bright Dye if he wishes to continue observing it.
"It's all a matter of practice, building yourself up to be able to handle the strength the bow demands."
>>176113
“Woah” he watches Kira pull the string back, and when offered, takes the bow back.
“What’s the furthest you’ve shot an animal from? What’s the biggest one you’ve killed? Do they like, run off wounded, or…”
“Woah” he watches Kira pull the string back, and when offered, takes the bow back.
“What’s the furthest you’ve shot an animal from? What’s the biggest one you’ve killed? Do they like, run off wounded, or…”
>>176114
"Hmm, maybe a bit over...seven tail lengths, which is probably the maximum extent of my bow's range. It loses speed pretty quickly once it gets past a certain range. As for largest there's really no contest, it would be that giant eagle. They're as big as we are, maybe even bigger if you count their full wingspan, and heavy too. They really don't like us lamias, and they tend to attack us on sight. It's unfortunate because they're actually pretty intelligent creatures. I was out hunting about a year ago when this big old eagle came swooping out of nowhere, diving at me from above, then slashing at me with its claws and pecking at me with its beak. It was honestly a pretty close call, but I managed to bring it down and carry it back to town. Most normal animals though don't tend to give you too much trouble, and a well placed shot is usually enough to bring them down in one. If not, though, then that's when you need to track."
"Hmm, maybe a bit over...seven tail lengths, which is probably the maximum extent of my bow's range. It loses speed pretty quickly once it gets past a certain range. As for largest there's really no contest, it would be that giant eagle. They're as big as we are, maybe even bigger if you count their full wingspan, and heavy too. They really don't like us lamias, and they tend to attack us on sight. It's unfortunate because they're actually pretty intelligent creatures. I was out hunting about a year ago when this big old eagle came swooping out of nowhere, diving at me from above, then slashing at me with its claws and pecking at me with its beak. It was honestly a pretty close call, but I managed to bring it down and carry it back to town. Most normal animals though don't tend to give you too much trouble, and a well placed shot is usually enough to bring them down in one. If not, though, then that's when you need to track."
>>176115
“You get attacked by eagles?!” He is genuinely surprised. “And tracking. What does that involve? Do you just follow a blood trail?”
“You get attacked by eagles?!” He is genuinely surprised. “And tracking. What does that involve? Do you just follow a blood trail?”
>>176116
Kira nods to the first question before continuing on with the second. "Well following a blood trail is part of it, but there are actually all sorts of clues that animals leave behind. It could be as simple a hoof or paw prints in the dirt, broken sticks and trampled grass, sometimes you find a tree that a certain animal has been scratching themselves on or has been marking or even sharpening their claws on in the case of predators. And then you have things like urine or dung which can also be good indicators of an animal's presence even if it can be pretty gross, and predators sometimes leave carcasses behind when they're hunting. You've also gotta make use of all of your different sense, if you're only bothered with looking for signs of animals and you're not keeping your ears open to the sounds around you or smelling the air for clues, then you're putting yourself at a disadvantage."
Kira nods to the first question before continuing on with the second. "Well following a blood trail is part of it, but there are actually all sorts of clues that animals leave behind. It could be as simple a hoof or paw prints in the dirt, broken sticks and trampled grass, sometimes you find a tree that a certain animal has been scratching themselves on or has been marking or even sharpening their claws on in the case of predators. And then you have things like urine or dung which can also be good indicators of an animal's presence even if it can be pretty gross, and predators sometimes leave carcasses behind when they're hunting. You've also gotta make use of all of your different sense, if you're only bothered with looking for signs of animals and you're not keeping your ears open to the sounds around you or smelling the air for clues, then you're putting yourself at a disadvantage."
>>176117
He nods,
“So if tracking down and killing animals is… well kind of your job, why did you not want to eat the goat earlier?” After a pause, “was it too small?”
He nods,
“So if tracking down and killing animals is… well kind of your job, why did you not want to eat the goat earlier?” After a pause, “was it too small?”
>>176118
Kira blushes, and rubs the back of her pony head with a hoof. "...small creatures like that have their own defense mechanism: being too cute. I mean, he was just this tiny little nugget of a goat, and with a name like Nippy I just...I honestly couldn't. And then Hopper...I'll be honest, even with how big he was if I hadn't blocked it out in my mind before he had the chance to bombard me with cuteness, I don't think I could have done so with him either. You're way too good at raising cute animals."
Kira blushes, and rubs the back of her pony head with a hoof. "...small creatures like that have their own defense mechanism: being too cute. I mean, he was just this tiny little nugget of a goat, and with a name like Nippy I just...I honestly couldn't. And then Hopper...I'll be honest, even with how big he was if I hadn't blocked it out in my mind before he had the chance to bombard me with cuteness, I don't think I could have done so with him either. You're way too good at raising cute animals."
>>176119
“Heh heh, thank you.” He smiles. Then the smile fades. “Though I suppose you swallowed him all the same…”
Neela shakes her head
“She has the body of a Nagini. Even the instincts of a Nagini. But her spirit is something else. Something weaker.”
“Heh heh, thank you.” He smiles. Then the smile fades. “Though I suppose you swallowed him all the same…”
Neela shakes her head
“She has the body of a Nagini. Even the instincts of a Nagini. But her spirit is something else. Something weaker.”
>>176120
Kira continues to blush as she looks away, ears folding down. "Yeah..."
She turns then to Neela, tilting her head. "I mean...probably true, but also ouch."
Kira continues to blush as she looks away, ears folding down. "Yeah..."
She turns then to Neela, tilting her head. "I mean...probably true, but also ouch."
>>176106
https://youtu.be/KZZKzJTGI9E
Amber stares at the sight for a minute. Trees fall in a forest all the time, but never this many. It's impossible for her to know how this possibly could have happened. It looks like some sort of giant had stomped over so many trees, and for some reason cut and stacked some of it up. But why were some burnt? Jakala is not the only uncomfortable pony as this looks highly disturbing.
She considers leaving Jakala behind, but doesn't completely trust her to not move and thinks better of it. In the dim light she carefully steps over the fallen logs and makes her way to the island of standing trees, making sure the smaller filly is right behind her.
https://youtu.be/KZZKzJTGI9E
Amber stares at the sight for a minute. Trees fall in a forest all the time, but never this many. It's impossible for her to know how this possibly could have happened. It looks like some sort of giant had stomped over so many trees, and for some reason cut and stacked some of it up. But why were some burnt? Jakala is not the only uncomfortable pony as this looks highly disturbing.
She considers leaving Jakala behind, but doesn't completely trust her to not move and thinks better of it. In the dim light she carefully steps over the fallen logs and makes her way to the island of standing trees, making sure the smaller filly is right behind her.
>>176121
Neela nods.
Bright Dye turns to her and asks, “Nagini?”
“Yes, the children of the Naga. They are monsters with the chimerical bodies of ponies fused with those of giant snakes. This is the only one I’ve seen. She has the killer instincts, and the strength of a python, but also that false, benign facade of a pony.”
“But why do you say ‘children of the Naga’? I haven’t heard every Griffonian legend before but, I don’t think I’ve heard that one.”
“I mean…” she looks over at Kira. “She’s quite a specimen isn’t she? I didn’t think I’d be… well, sold to one, or even see one myself. But here we are.”
Neela nods.
Bright Dye turns to her and asks, “Nagini?”
“Yes, the children of the Naga. They are monsters with the chimerical bodies of ponies fused with those of giant snakes. This is the only one I’ve seen. She has the killer instincts, and the strength of a python, but also that false, benign facade of a pony.”
“But why do you say ‘children of the Naga’? I haven’t heard every Griffonian legend before but, I don’t think I’ve heard that one.”
“I mean…” she looks over at Kira. “She’s quite a specimen isn’t she? I didn’t think I’d be… well, sold to one, or even see one myself. But here we are.”
>>176123
"So that's why you keep calling me a Nagini." Kira raises an eyebrow. "But then, what's the Naga? Is the Naga the same as a Nagini? Is there a difference?"
"So that's why you keep calling me a Nagini." Kira raises an eyebrow. "But then, what's the Naga? Is the Naga the same as a Nagini? Is there a difference?"
>>176124
“It’s just a term from a children’s story. Don’t put too much stock in it. It just means that you’re… well… how do I say this? A bit child-like. Uh, ‘young’ is the charitable way to say it.”
“It’s just a term from a children’s story. Don’t put too much stock in it. It just means that you’re… well… how do I say this? A bit child-like. Uh, ‘young’ is the charitable way to say it.”
>>176126
"I guess so. I mean, I'm 23 years old, that's definitely far from being an elder. I'd never heard of Nagas or Naginis before meeting you, though."
"I guess so. I mean, I'm 23 years old, that's definitely far from being an elder. I'd never heard of Nagas or Naginis before meeting you, though."
>>176127
“You probably wouldn’t have. It’s just a word that’s used taken from a children’s fable. Just know that not everyone is completely unfamiliar with lamias and what they are.”
“You probably wouldn’t have. It’s just a word that’s used taken from a children’s fable. Just know that not everyone is completely unfamiliar with lamias and what they are.”
>>176129
Neela is silent for several seconds, clearly unsure of what to say
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
thring
Bright Dye lets the string go on the bow and it snaps back.
Neela is silent for several seconds, clearly unsure of what to say
“Sure, let’s go with that.”
thring
Bright Dye lets the string go on the bow and it snaps back.
>>176130
Kira cringes as soon as she hears the sound.
"Please don't do that, you can damage the bow by loosing it without an arrow."
Kira cringes as soon as she hears the sound.
"Please don't do that, you can damage the bow by loosing it without an arrow."
>>176132
"When an arrow is loosed, the energy of the bow string is transferred to the arrow, but without it all of that energy goes back into the bow itself. It puts a lot of strain on the bow and can cause it to crack if done too much."
"When an arrow is loosed, the energy of the bow string is transferred to the arrow, but without it all of that energy goes back into the bow itself. It puts a lot of strain on the bow and can cause it to crack if done too much."
>>176135
"Awww..." Kira's ears fold down. "I didn't mean to be rude, it's just...that bow is really precious to me." She also says, more quietly, "...plus it takes all sorts of different materials to make one and then days to build it and then months more for it to actually dry..."
"Awww..." Kira's ears fold down. "I didn't mean to be rude, it's just...that bow is really precious to me." She also says, more quietly, "...plus it takes all sorts of different materials to make one and then days to build it and then months more for it to actually dry..."
>>176122
Jakala proceeds, still pulling the sled. She is not so fast as before, and Amber may pull ahead if Desiree. Much if that is because navigating around the downed trees is difficul, but clearly she lacks enthusiasm to be there. It’s a little journey down a kind of valley through the downed trees, past the chopped and cut up trees in the center, and towards the strand of still standing trees.
Jakala
“My mom says it was the Stallos. Coming in and ripping up trees. You know they will grab you and eat you? I think it’s just as well that they tore up the trees. It means they can’t hide in them. I think I’ve seen them before. Moving in the night.” She looks around cautiously.
Jakala proceeds, still pulling the sled. She is not so fast as before, and Amber may pull ahead if Desiree. Much if that is because navigating around the downed trees is difficul, but clearly she lacks enthusiasm to be there. It’s a little journey down a kind of valley through the downed trees, past the chopped and cut up trees in the center, and towards the strand of still standing trees.
Jakala
“My mom says it was the Stallos. Coming in and ripping up trees. You know they will grab you and eat you? I think it’s just as well that they tore up the trees. It means they can’t hide in them. I think I’ve seen them before. Moving in the night.” She looks around cautiously.
>>176136
“Ah, yeah, I see… that makes sense. I wasn’t trying to damage it. I didn’t know.” He answers
“Ah, yeah, I see… that makes sense. I wasn’t trying to damage it. I didn’t know.” He answers
>>176137
Amber doesn't pull ahead, lest she lose sight of her companion. She does wish she told Jakala to leave the sled behind before they moved forward.
"What are the Stallos? Why are they tearing up the trees? Why are we living so close to them if they're dangerous?" Amber asks. Though this is spoken aloud, it's more of thinking out loud since she doubts the little filly knows the answers. She hopes there are none of them in that stand of trees.
Amber doesn't pull ahead, lest she lose sight of her companion. She does wish she told Jakala to leave the sled behind before they moved forward.
"What are the Stallos? Why are they tearing up the trees? Why are we living so close to them if they're dangerous?" Amber asks. Though this is spoken aloud, it's more of thinking out loud since she doubts the little filly knows the answers. She hopes there are none of them in that stand of trees.
"Gloomy, did I ever tell you the story of how Gnolls first came to be? It's..." whispers
Gloomy 's eyes widen in incredulity.
"Really?"
"So the story goes. It might even be why the Society cared about courting the Kaftars."
Gloomy 's eyes widen in incredulity.
"Really?"
"So the story goes. It might even be why the Society cared about courting the Kaftars."
>>176138
Kira smiles at the stallion. "It's okay, I know. Maybe if you wanted I could try making you your own bow someday. I don't know if you'd ever use it, but I imagine it would make for something nice to hang on the wall."
Kira smiles at the stallion. "It's okay, I know. Maybe if you wanted I could try making you your own bow someday. I don't know if you'd ever use it, but I imagine it would make for something nice to hang on the wall."
>>176139
“Giants. They look sort of like ponies kind of but big. And strong. And white. They’ll eat you…” she looks up and around, and lowers herself closer to the ground, almost crawling.
“Giants. They look sort of like ponies kind of but big. And strong. And white. They’ll eat you…” she looks up and around, and lowers herself closer to the ground, almost crawling.
>>176141
“Oh no, I don’t think I could be making bows. Or should be. I’m sure it’s a whole art form to make bows in itself. And I don’t really have much of a use for them. I don’t have to hunt. There are occasional predators, to be sure that harm and harass the animals. But the biggest monsters won’t go this close to the city, or at least I haven’t seen them. And if I did, I wouldn’t try to fight them myself.
“Oh no, I don’t think I could be making bows. Or should be. I’m sure it’s a whole art form to make bows in itself. And I don’t really have much of a use for them. I don’t have to hunt. There are occasional predators, to be sure that harm and harass the animals. But the biggest monsters won’t go this close to the city, or at least I haven’t seen them. And if I did, I wouldn’t try to fight them myself.
>>176143
"It does take a lot of time to learn, but that's why I suggested that I make you one as a gift, someday." At hearing about predators and monsters, however, Kira's ears perk up. "What kinds of predators and monsters?"
"It does take a lot of time to learn, but that's why I suggested that I make you one as a gift, someday." At hearing about predators and monsters, however, Kira's ears perk up. "What kinds of predators and monsters?"
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>>176144
Bright Dye is, and has been staring at Kira’s body since he put down the bow. Or more accurately, at her snake body. Before, when Kira was sitting down he was too, with a coffee table between them. This is possibly the first time he’s had a chance to really take a look at her under good light, as every time before she’s been facing him, or in dim light, or partly obscured. Now he stares at her long tail, partly coiled and for a 4 foot long section, visibly very distended. When Kira says her last words, he breaks out of the trance and looks back up to her eyes.
“Oh. Uh. Oh.” He smiles widely with that toothy smile. “Oh you don’t need to do that for me, heh… yeah, we have coyotes. Sometimes dire wolves will come this far north. And alligators, though if you stay away from the waterways those are not an issue. Same with the river serpents. They won’t attack ponies, at least supposedly they won’t attack ponies, but if a sheep swims in the river it might go under. No, really coyotes are the r worst if they break in. Also there are panthers, though you don’t see that many around here. But even worse are massive rocs, chimera, and hydras, though they are almost never that close to the city.”
Bright Dye is, and has been staring at Kira’s body since he put down the bow. Or more accurately, at her snake body. Before, when Kira was sitting down he was too, with a coffee table between them. This is possibly the first time he’s had a chance to really take a look at her under good light, as every time before she’s been facing him, or in dim light, or partly obscured. Now he stares at her long tail, partly coiled and for a 4 foot long section, visibly very distended. When Kira says her last words, he breaks out of the trance and looks back up to her eyes.
“Oh. Uh. Oh.” He smiles widely with that toothy smile. “Oh you don’t need to do that for me, heh… yeah, we have coyotes. Sometimes dire wolves will come this far north. And alligators, though if you stay away from the waterways those are not an issue. Same with the river serpents. They won’t attack ponies, at least supposedly they won’t attack ponies, but if a sheep swims in the river it might go under. No, really coyotes are the r worst if they break in. Also there are panthers, though you don’t see that many around here. But even worse are massive rocs, chimera, and hydras, though they are almost never that close to the city.”
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I'm going to go ahead and dump my shitty speech that was meant to accompany my diplomacy roll, because I'm bored and want to spur some dialogue.
Surely, the vaguely Muslim-coded starving hyena will not be offended by this baseless (based on d&d lore) mockery of his people's religion and history:
"Do you know the story ponies tell how Gnolls came to be? I'm sure you Kaftars have your own story, but ponies have our own, although I can't vouch for how truthful this one is... Long, long ago, before the three tribes were united, mighty and fearsome... Angel.. descended upon this plane from the void beyond the circle of creation, it's eyes filled fire as it passed judgement on this world for its sins. The Angel and wrought havoc on this world and its ponies for their decadent lives. The Angel, so mighty, carved a path of total destruction, and a lot of ponies and other creatures died, but in its wake, hyenas fed on the remains of the countless dead. As the Angel finished its tour of the world, finally content with punishing the ponies for their hubris, it only then looked behind itself and noticed the hyenas it had fed kneeling in its glory, the first Gnolls, who no longer scavenging animals, but brilliant and cunning creatures reborn by the grace of their lord. The Gnolls were fanatics, howling prayers for the glory of their lord, even though the Angel had offered them nothing in return. They were fearsome warriors, arming themselves with flails and battle-axes as they went on to conquer all surrounding territories and slaughter all in their path, devouring their victims, and killing off fauna faster than they could eat them. To the ponies, it was just wasteful violence, but to the Gnolls, it was the gospel of their lord, for they rid the world of weakness and punished the creatures of this world for their peaceful and decadent lives, and from the mountains of corpses a new world could be born. So devoted were the Gnolls, that the Angel gave them many blessings. Gnolls priests acquired magic and cast fourth spells in its name. Monsters from beyond the void would descend on their enemies, and even deceased Gnolls would rise from the grave to fight again. The priesthood of the Gnolls was so mighty that with their potent magic they could make the skeletons of their victims rise after stripping away their flesh, and ponies fled in terror as their reanimated siblings and parents faced them in Gnoll raids..."
"Agire, the Society sought your friendship, not just for your skills as a Necromancer, but for the strength of your people, for our kind recognize the role of the Gnolls as warriors of Armageddon, creatures of faith. These are dark times, the world locked in precarious stalemates and ceasefires that will last only as long as is convenient for the powers that be; the world of violence that we dream of might not be so far away... Agire, I heard it from your brother Sevberk that in your grave you were waiting for the rebirth of the world; and so I awoke you to tell you that that time draws near. I came to this neighborhood because I believe in you, and I believe in your people and the role you'll play in the reshaping of this world; and so I pled to your lord to bring you back to lead your temple..."
"So, tell me, Agire, will you join with the Society Of Bones again? You died once for your choices, but in the Society we believe that the bonds of friendship need not end in death. You may fight with us once more, or you may shun us and be left in peace. I'll even put you back in that coffin of yours if you wish. The choice is yours."
Surely, the vaguely Muslim-coded starving hyena will not be offended by this baseless (based on d&d lore) mockery of his people's religion and history:
"Do you know the story ponies tell how Gnolls came to be? I'm sure you Kaftars have your own story, but ponies have our own, although I can't vouch for how truthful this one is... Long, long ago, before the three tribes were united, mighty and fearsome... Angel.. descended upon this plane from the void beyond the circle of creation, it's eyes filled fire as it passed judgement on this world for its sins. The Angel and wrought havoc on this world and its ponies for their decadent lives. The Angel, so mighty, carved a path of total destruction, and a lot of ponies and other creatures died, but in its wake, hyenas fed on the remains of the countless dead. As the Angel finished its tour of the world, finally content with punishing the ponies for their hubris, it only then looked behind itself and noticed the hyenas it had fed kneeling in its glory, the first Gnolls, who no longer scavenging animals, but brilliant and cunning creatures reborn by the grace of their lord. The Gnolls were fanatics, howling prayers for the glory of their lord, even though the Angel had offered them nothing in return. They were fearsome warriors, arming themselves with flails and battle-axes as they went on to conquer all surrounding territories and slaughter all in their path, devouring their victims, and killing off fauna faster than they could eat them. To the ponies, it was just wasteful violence, but to the Gnolls, it was the gospel of their lord, for they rid the world of weakness and punished the creatures of this world for their peaceful and decadent lives, and from the mountains of corpses a new world could be born. So devoted were the Gnolls, that the Angel gave them many blessings. Gnolls priests acquired magic and cast fourth spells in its name. Monsters from beyond the void would descend on their enemies, and even deceased Gnolls would rise from the grave to fight again. The priesthood of the Gnolls was so mighty that with their potent magic they could make the skeletons of their victims rise after stripping away their flesh, and ponies fled in terror as their reanimated siblings and parents faced them in Gnoll raids..."
"Agire, the Society sought your friendship, not just for your skills as a Necromancer, but for the strength of your people, for our kind recognize the role of the Gnolls as warriors of Armageddon, creatures of faith. These are dark times, the world locked in precarious stalemates and ceasefires that will last only as long as is convenient for the powers that be; the world of violence that we dream of might not be so far away... Agire, I heard it from your brother Sevberk that in your grave you were waiting for the rebirth of the world; and so I awoke you to tell you that that time draws near. I came to this neighborhood because I believe in you, and I believe in your people and the role you'll play in the reshaping of this world; and so I pled to your lord to bring you back to lead your temple..."
"So, tell me, Agire, will you join with the Society Of Bones again? You died once for your choices, but in the Society we believe that the bonds of friendship need not end in death. You may fight with us once more, or you may shun us and be left in peace. I'll even put you back in that coffin of yours if you wish. The choice is yours."
>>176146
It's likely that, as a farmer/rancher, Bright Dye has seen a fair number of snakes while dealing with his livestock, and it's likely he's seen corn snakes with scale patterns similar to Kira's, but even still her scales simply look exotic, with how smooth and metallic her golden yellow scales they look reflecting the light, contrasted with the black and red diamond patterns going all the way down the back of her tail. Her whiter underbelly looks smooth as well, but it's actually quite rough to provide traction while slithering on various surfaces.
Kira looks quite interested hearing about the various creatures that have harassed his herds and flocks, some of which like alligators and serpents she's familiar with and others like coyotes she's not. She looks particular interested when she hears panthers. But, when he mentions one monster in particular, Bright Dye sees the lamia freeze up, her face looking pale and mortified. She's scared, for the first time that either him or Neela has seen.
"R...rocs? There are rocs here?"
It's likely that, as a farmer/rancher, Bright Dye has seen a fair number of snakes while dealing with his livestock, and it's likely he's seen corn snakes with scale patterns similar to Kira's, but even still her scales simply look exotic, with how smooth and metallic her golden yellow scales they look reflecting the light, contrasted with the black and red diamond patterns going all the way down the back of her tail. Her whiter underbelly looks smooth as well, but it's actually quite rough to provide traction while slithering on various surfaces.
Kira looks quite interested hearing about the various creatures that have harassed his herds and flocks, some of which like alligators and serpents she's familiar with and others like coyotes she's not. She looks particular interested when she hears panthers. But, when he mentions one monster in particular, Bright Dye sees the lamia freeze up, her face looking pale and mortified. She's scared, for the first time that either him or Neela has seen.
"R...rocs? There are rocs here?"
>>176142
Jakala's description stirs no memories in Amber's mind, and she is just as perplexed about what she's talking about. Does she mean bears? Amber had never seen a bear in person before and wasn't sure where her conceptions of them came from. Why would they clear an entire section of forest which is what they live in?
"Then let us stay quiet," she advises. "I want to know a little more about this place, and then head back." Despite trying to sound calm, she is uneasy about the Stallos. They had been here not long ago, and if they were willing to work in this darkness then the dim light would not do much to protect the fillies.
Jakala's description stirs no memories in Amber's mind, and she is just as perplexed about what she's talking about. Does she mean bears? Amber had never seen a bear in person before and wasn't sure where her conceptions of them came from. Why would they clear an entire section of forest which is what they live in?
"Then let us stay quiet," she advises. "I want to know a little more about this place, and then head back." Despite trying to sound calm, she is uneasy about the Stallos. They had been here not long ago, and if they were willing to work in this darkness then the dim light would not do much to protect the fillies.
>>176148
Soon
>>176149
He answers
"Oh yeah. Well, not here. They don't come close to the city. But I mean in the region more generally, yes. Really the mountains, more so. They will carry off sheep and will even attack dragons. They can be a nuisance in many places, yes."
>>176150
Jakala whispers "Okay..." and looks up above the nearby low hills for any shapes. The sky is brighter, and it is clearly twilight now, rather than true night. Many of the stars are no longer visible, and the bands of green light have faded against the blue and purple background of the sky.
Soon
>>176149
He answers
"Oh yeah. Well, not here. They don't come close to the city. But I mean in the region more generally, yes. Really the mountains, more so. They will carry off sheep and will even attack dragons. They can be a nuisance in many places, yes."
>>176150
Jakala whispers "Okay..." and looks up above the nearby low hills for any shapes. The sky is brighter, and it is clearly twilight now, rather than true night. Many of the stars are no longer visible, and the bands of green light have faded against the blue and purple background of the sky.
>>176151
Amber should be getting close to the stand of trees, but she doesn't rush, both for the sake of stealth and not to tire poor Jakala out. Can she make out anything among them?
Amber should be getting close to the stand of trees, but she doesn't rush, both for the sake of stealth and not to tire poor Jakala out. Can she make out anything among them?
>>176152
Amber can indeed see that there is damage to the limbs, with many needles missing, branches missing, and in general with much of the tree besides the bare trunk sheered off. The strand is not thick.
Amber can indeed see that there is damage to the limbs, with many needles missing, branches missing, and in general with much of the tree besides the bare trunk sheered off. The strand is not thick.
>>176153
Amber gets closer to examine more closely what sheered the trees. Are there any clawmarks on the trees? Are there any creatures hiding in the stand? Perhaps an object of any variety?
Amber gets closer to examine more closely what sheered the trees. Are there any clawmarks on the trees? Are there any creatures hiding in the stand? Perhaps an object of any variety?
>>176154
There are some cuts, though likely not claws. Hard to say. No clear signs of wildlife. Some evidence of burning. Branches are broken or sheered off.
There are some cuts, though likely not claws. Hard to say. No clear signs of wildlife. Some evidence of burning. Branches are broken or sheered off.
>>176155
Doesn't seem like bears. Amber wonders what could simultaneously burn and physically take down a tree. As tempting as it is to gather the ready-made firewood here, she decides against staying in the open any longer.
"Let's go back now," Amber says, retracing the path they took from the edge. She eyes the pile of hewn lumber in the distance.
Doesn't seem like bears. Amber wonders what could simultaneously burn and physically take down a tree. As tempting as it is to gather the ready-made firewood here, she decides against staying in the open any longer.
"Let's go back now," Amber says, retracing the path they took from the edge. She eyes the pile of hewn lumber in the distance.
>>176156
Bright Dye looks over at this odd display.
"What is it?"
>>176157
"Okay." Jakala says with greater enthusiasm. She turns around in place, at one time directly turning back and getting caught by the sled, then moving away from the sled, and slowly inching it around until she's going down the hill into the little valley where the pile of chopped wood is, about halfway between the two strands of standing trees.
Bright Dye looks over at this odd display.
"What is it?"
>>176157
"Okay." Jakala says with greater enthusiasm. She turns around in place, at one time directly turning back and getting caught by the sled, then moving away from the sled, and slowly inching it around until she's going down the hill into the little valley where the pile of chopped wood is, about halfway between the two strands of standing trees.
>>176158
Amber follows close to Jakala as they approach the pile of chopped wood. Although not a woodworker she looks to see how cleanly they have been cut compared to the felled lumber everywhere else.
What sort of creatures would leave this here? she wonders.
Amber follows close to Jakala as they approach the pile of chopped wood. Although not a woodworker she looks to see how cleanly they have been cut compared to the felled lumber everywhere else.
What sort of creatures would leave this here? she wonders.
>>176159
The wood is chopped, cut, and split along natural lines. The cuts that exist are clean and straight. The pieces are all of a similar size, or rather, two sizes, one being small and for branches, the other made from tree trunks.
The wood is chopped, cut, and split along natural lines. The cuts that exist are clean and straight. The pieces are all of a similar size, or rather, two sizes, one being small and for branches, the other made from tree trunks.
>>176160
That is certainly not firewood, but intended to be used for building! Amber leads Jakala to cover in the forest at the edge of the clearing.
"We need to collect firewood and go back to tell the others," she directs.
That is certainly not firewood, but intended to be used for building! Amber leads Jakala to cover in the forest at the edge of the clearing.
"We need to collect firewood and go back to tell the others," she directs.
>>176161
“Okay.” Jakala says simply, turning her thickly-covered head towards Amber. She goes with Amber as directed.
“Okay.” Jakala says simply, turning her thickly-covered head towards Amber. She goes with Amber as directed.
>>176162
Amber starts picking up whatever dry branches have fallen onto the ground and loading them onto Jakala's sled. It's harder work than she expected, but she keeps underestimating how small she is.
Amber starts picking up whatever dry branches have fallen onto the ground and loading them onto Jakala's sled. It's harder work than she expected, but she keeps underestimating how small she is.
>>176158
"Well...normal giant eagles I can handle...but rocs...they're massive" She shrinks down a bit further. "I heard a story that they're why there's no lamias in Western Zebrica. They ate them all, carried them all off one by one to their nests."
"Well...normal giant eagles I can handle...but rocs...they're massive" She shrinks down a bit further. "I heard a story that they're why there's no lamias in Western Zebrica. They ate them all, carried them all off one by one to their nests."
>>176166
"...meep..."
A small part of Kira is reconsidering if it's actually safe to bright lamias over to Equestria.
"...meep..."
A small part of Kira is reconsidering if it's actually safe to bright lamias over to Equestria.
>>176167
Neela starts laughing in an oddly malign manner:
“Aha! Aha, ahahahaha!”
Bright Dye says
“Oh, don’t be too worried. They stay in the mountains and the dragons and the Cavalum keep them in check. I’ve only seen one around here once, maybe. Don’t worry about them. They aren’t known to carry away ponies around here.”
Neela, sarcastically:
“Why the fear, Kirafiki? How do you know they aren’t friendly here in Equestria? Who knows, maybe the fascists will let Rocs own lamias in the future.”
Neela starts laughing in an oddly malign manner:
“Aha! Aha, ahahahaha!”
Bright Dye says
“Oh, don’t be too worried. They stay in the mountains and the dragons and the Cavalum keep them in check. I’ve only seen one around here once, maybe. Don’t worry about them. They aren’t known to carry away ponies around here.”
Neela, sarcastically:
“Why the fear, Kirafiki? How do you know they aren’t friendly here in Equestria? Who knows, maybe the fascists will let Rocs own lamias in the future.”
>>176163
Jakala picks up twigs and branches with her mouth. Sone are tiny and Amber has to wonder why picking up a twig and carrying it back to the shed was worth the effort. At least one is a large branch that gets caught between two downed tree trunks.
Jakala picks up twigs and branches with her mouth. Sone are tiny and Amber has to wonder why picking up a twig and carrying it back to the shed was worth the effort. At least one is a large branch that gets caught between two downed tree trunks.
>>176168
"But you're ponies, I'm a lamia. They literally eat us for breakfast!"
Kira scrunches at Neela hard. She had better be careful, while Kira has been nothing but nice to her so far, she doesn't know when she'll cross the line where Kira decides she has a bit more room left for dessert.
"But you're ponies, I'm a lamia. They literally eat us for breakfast!"
Kira scrunches at Neela hard. She had better be careful, while Kira has been nothing but nice to her so far, she doesn't know when she'll cross the line where Kira decides she has a bit more room left for dessert.
rot intensifies
"I want chocolate sprinkles on my pancakes, momma."
"You can have all sprinkles you want, my little sweet pea."
"I want chocolate sprinkles on my pancakes, momma."
"You can have all sprinkles you want, my little sweet pea."
>>176171
Soon. I just need to figure out some dialogue. Tomorrow most likely
>>176170
“Oh, they’ll eat dragons. And ponies and sheep and cows. But the most aggressive of them have been pruned over the years, especially by the dragons and Cavalum. I wouldn’t worry too much. They won’t want to get too close to the city. It’s dangerous for them.”
Neela just stares at Kira with an expression that’s hard to interpret.
Soon. I just need to figure out some dialogue. Tomorrow most likely
>>176170
“Oh, they’ll eat dragons. And ponies and sheep and cows. But the most aggressive of them have been pruned over the years, especially by the dragons and Cavalum. I wouldn’t worry too much. They won’t want to get too close to the city. It’s dangerous for them.”
Neela just stares at Kira with an expression that’s hard to interpret.
>>176172
"I hope so...I don't think I could be able to bring one down if it tried to snatch me..."
Sense Motive: Kira may not have much experience reading deer expressions, but interpret it she shall.
"I hope so...I don't think I could be able to bring one down if it tried to snatch me..."
Sense Motive: Kira may not have much experience reading deer expressions, but interpret it she shall.
File (): 1D65EFEB8939A81D942670BD951E9C1A-216470.jpg (211.4 KB, 1024x681, IMG_1566.jpeg)
>>176175
Oh noes. Angery deer.
"I think hiding might be my only option. Good thing it's something I'm good at."
Oh noes. Angery deer.
"I think hiding might be my only option. Good thing it's something I'm good at."
>>176169
Kindling is needed too, and Jakala has got the spirit. Amber tries pulling larger downed branches onto the sled, to provide a good balance of firewood that the adults might appreciate. The constant work also serves to warm the ponies in this frigid weather.
Kindling is needed too, and Jakala has got the spirit. Amber tries pulling larger downed branches onto the sled, to provide a good balance of firewood that the adults might appreciate. The constant work also serves to warm the ponies in this frigid weather.
>>176176
“Heh heh, how could you hide? You’re so big. And… bright.”
>>176177
Jakala’s little hooves tap along the ground. Amber soon enough has to travel further and further from the sled in order to pick up branches. It seems that branches, too, have been cleared away in some areas, leaving only trunks. But Amber finds branches, and after a passage of time, has enough.
“Heh heh, how could you hide? You’re so big. And… bright.”
>>176177
Jakala’s little hooves tap along the ground. Amber soon enough has to travel further and further from the sled in order to pick up branches. It seems that branches, too, have been cleared away in some areas, leaving only trunks. But Amber finds branches, and after a passage of time, has enough.
>>176179
"Okay, let's hurry back now…so we can ride the sled again," Amber tells Jakala. She adds the second part as motivation, for as much as she wants to ride the sled again, she wants to also tell the grown-ups about the odd clearing.
"Okay, let's hurry back now…so we can ride the sled again," Amber tells Jakala. She adds the second part as motivation, for as much as she wants to ride the sled again, she wants to also tell the grown-ups about the odd clearing.
>>176179
Kira smiles proudly at the stallion. "It's sort of a special talent of mine: I'm as stealthy as a cat stalking its prey. I've already surprised at least a couple of ponies today with my ability to hide in plain sight. Like that one pony at the radio store or the mare at the restaurant, when I managed to not startle either of them while buying our stuff by hiding my tail."
Kira smiles proudly at the stallion. "It's sort of a special talent of mine: I'm as stealthy as a cat stalking its prey. I've already surprised at least a couple of ponies today with my ability to hide in plain sight. Like that one pony at the radio store or the mare at the restaurant, when I managed to not startle either of them while buying our stuff by hiding my tail."
Replies for Posey and Silver Soon
>>176181
"What..." He tilts his head. "How do you do that? You're massive and, well, yellow. You're very yellow."
>>176181
"What..." He tilts his head. "How do you do that? You're massive and, well, yellow. You're very yellow."
>>176182
Hide: Kira attempts to demonstrate her ability to their visitor by almost seemingly, magically, making her tail...disappear!
[1d20+13 = (12+13) = 25]
Hide: Kira attempts to demonstrate her ability to their visitor by almost seemingly, magically, making her tail...disappear!
[1d20+13 = (12+13) = 25]
File (): D96B216BA09F02285C878C43931A5AD7-36463.jpg (35.6 KB, 474x474, OIP (1).jpg)
>>175989
"What's a katane?" Milyaketan asks absent mindedly. But it's clear that his focus is not on Posey or anything she says, but rather with Agire. He moves towards him, slowly, cautiously, inspecting every feature of his damaged body. He moves like a family member, or a lover, carefully inspecting their long estranged loved one. Agire likewise has lost focus on the cow, and instead has his focus on Posey and her words, which have clearly rattled him. As Milyaketan comes nearer, Agire turns his attention to him.
"Agire? Agire? Do you hear me? Do you know me? I am your brother. Your bonded brother. Di Bin Malyaketan. I taught you about the Sultan and the Seven Angels; about the creation of the world from the Pearl, and how the Angels were entrusted as its custodians, and how we serve and give our faith to the Angels. How we bonded together. How you were to - how you are to - succeed me. Are you here, brother?" Di Bin Milyaketan walks closer and closer to the ghoul.
Agire stares at him, and then moves his jaw back and forth, and opens it wide before moving it back. And he speaks.
"Bin Milyaketan... Agire... Angels..." He does not blink. "Who are... these..."
Di Bin Milyaketan places a black paw on Agire's cheek, and comes closer to him. Being so close to a ghoul is self-evidently inadvisable, but Milkyaketan is beyond advice.
"Is it you?"
The ghoul, Agire, can only respond "No? I don't know?"
Milyaketan can only take his forelegs and wrap them over the cold, damaged body of the ghoul in a hug. In the light of the candles Posey can see the reflections of streams of tears.
"I did not think the Peacock would bring you back from the beyond... I don't think he has." His eyes go over towards Posey. "But I do appreciate that you have brought this much to me. He has forgotten much. It may not be... him... But I can try to teach him. You've given... at least this much for me to remember him by... after so much was taken, it is nice to... have something back..."
Milyaketan closes his eyes and holds hard onto the back of the ghoul, who in turn, reacts benignly. The ghoul speaks
"I can serve."
Milyaketan says
"Serve you shall."
>>176099
As if on cue, after Posey makes her statement, a noise can be heard in the church. It's a metallic "pinging" sound. Presumably, a wrench or some other metallic object fell some dozens of feet, and landed on a pipe, or more likely, metal scaffolding at an oil refinery not even 500 yards away from the decript church, and the secret enclave of the Kaftar. Baltimare still lives - in whatever this horrid golemn of a city could be said to be alive. Even late at night, even in your secret meetings, it's heart beat can be heard. Powered by materials wretched from the bowels of the earth, fed and grown on foreign labor imported from every far corner of the earth, it pumps its bile to other, similar machines across the planet to keep them moving in the same automaton manner. Just as it does not live with dignity, it shall not die with dignity either. And it is very far from dead and gone.
>>176148
Di Bin Milyaketan smiles and shakes his head at Posey's story.
"Of course the ponies think they were created first, and that we Kaftar took their place. No, we have been around at least as long as the pony. And why reanimate pony bones, or worse, pile corpses, when you could simply eat them? A well-fed kaftar warrior is better in battle than the corpse of even several ponies, and more in keeping with the teachings of the Angel. But I appreciate the compliments coming from a pony mouth. Even as your pony stories twist history to place ponies first, and thus closer to the divine intention, you still have to acknowledge our strength, our faith, and our spirit."
Agire tilts his head, and looks intrigued
"Society of... Bones?"
"What's a katane?" Milyaketan asks absent mindedly. But it's clear that his focus is not on Posey or anything she says, but rather with Agire. He moves towards him, slowly, cautiously, inspecting every feature of his damaged body. He moves like a family member, or a lover, carefully inspecting their long estranged loved one. Agire likewise has lost focus on the cow, and instead has his focus on Posey and her words, which have clearly rattled him. As Milyaketan comes nearer, Agire turns his attention to him.
"Agire? Agire? Do you hear me? Do you know me? I am your brother. Your bonded brother. Di Bin Malyaketan. I taught you about the Sultan and the Seven Angels; about the creation of the world from the Pearl, and how the Angels were entrusted as its custodians, and how we serve and give our faith to the Angels. How we bonded together. How you were to - how you are to - succeed me. Are you here, brother?" Di Bin Milyaketan walks closer and closer to the ghoul.
Agire stares at him, and then moves his jaw back and forth, and opens it wide before moving it back. And he speaks.
"Bin Milyaketan... Agire... Angels..." He does not blink. "Who are... these..."
Di Bin Milyaketan places a black paw on Agire's cheek, and comes closer to him. Being so close to a ghoul is self-evidently inadvisable, but Milkyaketan is beyond advice.
"Is it you?"
The ghoul, Agire, can only respond "No? I don't know?"
Milyaketan can only take his forelegs and wrap them over the cold, damaged body of the ghoul in a hug. In the light of the candles Posey can see the reflections of streams of tears.
"I did not think the Peacock would bring you back from the beyond... I don't think he has." His eyes go over towards Posey. "But I do appreciate that you have brought this much to me. He has forgotten much. It may not be... him... But I can try to teach him. You've given... at least this much for me to remember him by... after so much was taken, it is nice to... have something back..."
Milyaketan closes his eyes and holds hard onto the back of the ghoul, who in turn, reacts benignly. The ghoul speaks
"I can serve."
Milyaketan says
"Serve you shall."
>>176099
As if on cue, after Posey makes her statement, a noise can be heard in the church. It's a metallic "pinging" sound. Presumably, a wrench or some other metallic object fell some dozens of feet, and landed on a pipe, or more likely, metal scaffolding at an oil refinery not even 500 yards away from the decript church, and the secret enclave of the Kaftar. Baltimare still lives - in whatever this horrid golemn of a city could be said to be alive. Even late at night, even in your secret meetings, it's heart beat can be heard. Powered by materials wretched from the bowels of the earth, fed and grown on foreign labor imported from every far corner of the earth, it pumps its bile to other, similar machines across the planet to keep them moving in the same automaton manner. Just as it does not live with dignity, it shall not die with dignity either. And it is very far from dead and gone.
>>176148
Di Bin Milyaketan smiles and shakes his head at Posey's story.
"Of course the ponies think they were created first, and that we Kaftar took their place. No, we have been around at least as long as the pony. And why reanimate pony bones, or worse, pile corpses, when you could simply eat them? A well-fed kaftar warrior is better in battle than the corpse of even several ponies, and more in keeping with the teachings of the Angel. But I appreciate the compliments coming from a pony mouth. Even as your pony stories twist history to place ponies first, and thus closer to the divine intention, you still have to acknowledge our strength, our faith, and our spirit."
Agire tilts his head, and looks intrigued
"Society of... Bones?"
>>176183
Kira's colors, even her diamonds, have the benefit of appearing like the colors and designs of a couch, or of a carpet, and soon enough, Kira's body blends against the rug and the loveseat
gasp
"How did you do that?!"
Kira's colors, even her diamonds, have the benefit of appearing like the colors and designs of a couch, or of a carpet, and soon enough, Kira's body blends against the rug and the loveseat
gasp
"How did you do that?!"
File (): 361852F94BB0372D205DA6C60993A253-71236.jpg (69.6 KB, 1280x720, maxresdefault (3).jpg)
>>176180
Amber can hear the sounds of the wind sweep over the hill, and move past the edges of the hood of her coat. The wind is mercifully mild, as anything much greater would rend from Amber what little warmth she can maintain from her body. It makes oddly little sound passing through what remains of the few trees. Yet it is just as well that the wind keep up, given what Amber can hear when the wind dies down. From within her own hoody, Amber can hear a pair of sounds running in concert, or rather, a single sound that blends two influences that are not at all alike. One is a sound of a thousand cracks at very low volume, sounding closest to radio static, or perhaps raindrops on a roof. The other is a garbled sound like being underwater. Like tinitus, the sound is drowned out by any greater outside source of sound, but never seems to cease. The other sound comes from much further away, from beyond the rim of the small valley. Amber can hear the crackling of leaves, and the breaking of twigs. It sounds like something moving, or walking through the downed forest.
"Okay" Jakala says, trying to lurch forward, getting caught by the static intertia of the sled, then pushing against the snow to start moving the sled, and slowly pulling it up the hill and back towards home.
Amber can hear the sounds of the wind sweep over the hill, and move past the edges of the hood of her coat. The wind is mercifully mild, as anything much greater would rend from Amber what little warmth she can maintain from her body. It makes oddly little sound passing through what remains of the few trees. Yet it is just as well that the wind keep up, given what Amber can hear when the wind dies down. From within her own hoody, Amber can hear a pair of sounds running in concert, or rather, a single sound that blends two influences that are not at all alike. One is a sound of a thousand cracks at very low volume, sounding closest to radio static, or perhaps raindrops on a roof. The other is a garbled sound like being underwater. Like tinitus, the sound is drowned out by any greater outside source of sound, but never seems to cease. The other sound comes from much further away, from beyond the rim of the small valley. Amber can hear the crackling of leaves, and the breaking of twigs. It sounds like something moving, or walking through the downed forest.
"Okay" Jakala says, trying to lurch forward, getting caught by the static intertia of the sled, then pushing against the snow to start moving the sled, and slowly pulling it up the hill and back towards home.
>>175783
Pear's ears go down
"And if you find the right casket, open it, and it contains a live lich... then what?"
Pear's ears go down
"And if you find the right casket, open it, and it contains a live lich... then what?"
>>176184
>"What's a katane?" Milyaketan asks absent mindedly
"A dhampire. A pony bred from vampire stuff. I was a daughter of the Coven Of Blood, and I thought that I would be one of them one day, but... my mother had other plans..." her expression sours
>He has forgotten much. It may not be... him...
Posey's tone takes on a knowledgeable, encouraging tone
"Ghouls are one of the types of undead who retain their memories from life, albeit with their mannerisms recentered around their new unending hunger. They make up the majority of laborers in Magehold. It's likely that he still needs to recover though; makes sure he has a steady intake of flesh, especially brains. With time and luck, he may regain any of the skills he had in life."
>description of Baltimare
>And it is very far from dead and gone.
We'll see about that.
>Society of... Bones
"The Dread League, Necromancers from across the sea. My sources indicated that you were one of our friends. I was told you paid with your life for our friendship, so I figured I would... return the favor. I believed that if the Society made contact with you, your skills as a priest must be heroic, so I wished to see them for myself."
>"What's a katane?" Milyaketan asks absent mindedly
"A dhampire. A pony bred from vampire stuff. I was a daughter of the Coven Of Blood, and I thought that I would be one of them one day, but... my mother had other plans..." her expression sours
>He has forgotten much. It may not be... him...
Posey's tone takes on a knowledgeable, encouraging tone
"Ghouls are one of the types of undead who retain their memories from life, albeit with their mannerisms recentered around their new unending hunger. They make up the majority of laborers in Magehold. It's likely that he still needs to recover though; makes sure he has a steady intake of flesh, especially brains. With time and luck, he may regain any of the skills he had in life."
>description of Baltimare
>And it is very far from dead and gone.
We'll see about that.
>Society of... Bones
"The Dread League, Necromancers from across the sea. My sources indicated that you were one of our friends. I was told you paid with your life for our friendship, so I figured I would... return the favor. I believed that if the Society made contact with you, your skills as a priest must be heroic, so I wished to see them for myself."
>>176186
Amber shivers from the terrible cold, but what really chills her to the bone is the odd combination of sounds. Something is not right, indeed there is something very wrong about all of this. Are the two being stalked, or is the mysterious source of the sound approaching their home? Amber's ears are sensitive but she cannot quite tell now. While Jakala is moving she carefully, as silently as possible–despite the crunch crunch of snow under her hooves–moves towards where the cracks and garbled sound originate.
Amber shivers from the terrible cold, but what really chills her to the bone is the odd combination of sounds. Something is not right, indeed there is something very wrong about all of this. Are the two being stalked, or is the mysterious source of the sound approaching their home? Amber's ears are sensitive but she cannot quite tell now. While Jakala is moving she carefully, as silently as possible–despite the crunch crunch of snow under her hooves–moves towards where the cracks and garbled sound originate.
>>176188
Milyaketan continues to caress Agire's fur, specifically a line of fluff that rises off of Agire's backbone, like an extended mane down his back
"Societies of Bone, Covens of Blood... These are things to be consumed, not to be worshipped. Agire was a part of a society, but... I don't think it was that one... what is the benefit?"
Agire, however, is more attentive
"What... what can you do..? What do you wish?"
Milyaketan rubs Agire's fur more,
"I hope he regains his memories... that he is still him..."
>>176190
Does Amber wish to crest the ridge?
Milyaketan continues to caress Agire's fur, specifically a line of fluff that rises off of Agire's backbone, like an extended mane down his back
"Societies of Bone, Covens of Blood... These are things to be consumed, not to be worshipped. Agire was a part of a society, but... I don't think it was that one... what is the benefit?"
Agire, however, is more attentive
"What... what can you do..? What do you wish?"
Milyaketan rubs Agire's fur more,
"I hope he regains his memories... that he is still him..."
>>176190
Does Amber wish to crest the ridge?
>>176191
She pokes her little head above, yes, preferably while next to a tree to not be easily seen.
She pokes her little head above, yes, preferably while next to a tree to not be easily seen.
>>176185
Kira giggles. "It's a special talent of mine. I'm probably one of the sneakiest lamias in the tribe, and that's saying something. Hiding and sneaking is less about not being seen and is more about blending into the environment around you."
Kira giggles. "It's a special talent of mine. I'm probably one of the sneakiest lamias in the tribe, and that's saying something. Hiding and sneaking is less about not being seen and is more about blending into the environment around you."
>>176187
Silver taps his chin as he ponders. "Well, if he is hostile, then we just search around here top to bottom for his phylactery and smash it, but I am almost certain it is already found and destroyed. But hey, if it turns out he is around and he is not hostile, then you get chance to talk with pony who has been around for hundreds of years and has plenty of knowledge of esoteric and occult topics."
Silver taps his chin as he ponders. "Well, if he is hostile, then we just search around here top to bottom for his phylactery and smash it, but I am almost certain it is already found and destroyed. But hey, if it turns out he is around and he is not hostile, then you get chance to talk with pony who has been around for hundreds of years and has plenty of knowledge of esoteric and occult topics."
>>176192
Amber must necessarily be aware of three salient facts
One, Amber is small and weak. If anything were to attack her, she could not defend herself.
Second, her legs are small. If something chases her, it will likely catch her
Third, Amber is far from home. If she is in danger, help is not coming.
Are you certain whatever you're doing is worth it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDH30m2YrM
But for only a peak, Amber can gain this much:
Against the slightly illuminated forms of an endless sea of downed trees, Amber can see a form that is closest in shape to a black wolf or other quadruped. This is only a guess, as all Amber can see is a dark silhoutte. It's significantly darker than the tree trunks, the snow, or indeed, anything else on the forest floor. unlike a fox it has no interest in sniffing or looking underneath the tree trunks, but simply moves along as if they weren't even there. But it's much, much bigger than a fox. Bigger than a pony.
Amber must necessarily be aware of three salient facts
One, Amber is small and weak. If anything were to attack her, she could not defend herself.
Second, her legs are small. If something chases her, it will likely catch her
Third, Amber is far from home. If she is in danger, help is not coming.
Are you certain whatever you're doing is worth it?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GnDH30m2YrM
But for only a peak, Amber can gain this much:
Against the slightly illuminated forms of an endless sea of downed trees, Amber can see a form that is closest in shape to a black wolf or other quadruped. This is only a guess, as all Amber can see is a dark silhoutte. It's significantly darker than the tree trunks, the snow, or indeed, anything else on the forest floor. unlike a fox it has no interest in sniffing or looking underneath the tree trunks, but simply moves along as if they weren't even there. But it's much, much bigger than a fox. Bigger than a pony.
>>176196
Assuming Pear is still sitting down on the ground, Silver offers her a hoof to get up with.
"Either way, with your brains and my braun, there is nothing we cannot handle."
Assuming Pear is still sitting down on the ground, Silver offers her a hoof to get up with.
"Either way, with your brains and my braun, there is nothing we cannot handle."
>>176195
Amber has to fight the urge to freeze in place and stare, as her fear is that merely looking at the monster would alert it to her presence. She lowers herself back down the hill and creeps back to Jakala. Despite herself, her eyes are as wide as saucer plates, and her ears are pointed back and twitching.
Amber has to fight the urge to freeze in place and stare, as her fear is that merely looking at the monster would alert it to her presence. She lowers herself back down the hill and creeps back to Jakala. Despite herself, her eyes are as wide as saucer plates, and her ears are pointed back and twitching.
>>176196
Kira smiles proudly at her abilities, before looking at the other two.
"What kind of talents do you guys have? You know, things you do better than most anyone else."
Kira smiles proudly at her abilities, before looking at the other two.
"What kind of talents do you guys have? You know, things you do better than most anyone else."
>>176191
>Agire was a part of a society, but... I don't think it was that one...
Oh
Well then...
>what is the benefit
"Well, I was born into it, so I can't really speak for outsiders." Posey says with a shrug.
>what can you do..?
"I can do many things!" Posey says, buffing out her chest
"... Except animate the dead through my own power..." she admits, her ears dropping
>What do you wish?
"From you? Just to be friends... That is, to continue, or renew cooperation between my masters in the League and this temple, and perhaps request spellcasting services every few weeks or so. Magic of the priestly variety is rare among ponies, especially outside of Equestria. I heard stories that priests are among the mightiest Necromancers, and so I hoped to learn a thing out two from our relationship."
>"I hope he regains his memories... that he is still him..."
"He should, or, I believe he should. The ghouls who serve in the Dread League are for the most part created through direct magic by powerful necromancers, the typical way: they retain their memories, but we have had trouble retaining all of their previous skills and powers. I have heard stories that ghouls created through divine intervention, those "Touched By The King" as we call them, have powers that equalled or exceeded those that they had in life. I'm quite curious if he will confirm those stories, and I have great hopes for his recovery, and I would like to observe his progress over the next few weeks, if possible. It would certainly be a good note on my report to my masters." Posey says, eyeing Agire with a gaze that betrays her fascination
"Anyway, the fact that he's able to speak shows that he hasn't risen with any degenerative abnormalities. He should remember most of what he knew in life in a few nights."
She addresses Agire.
"I wish you well on your recovery."
A thought pops into her head
"Actually, you could use a demonstration."
she orders the ghast forward
"This stallion may not look it, but he is in fact a ghast. The fact that he's risen as a ghast instead of if a typical ghoul proves that he was a pony of formidable power in life, before he met his watery grave." Posey says, the ghast's appearance momentarily shimmering to reveal the rotting monster underneath
She addresses the ghast
"Darling, how about you tell us your name, and a brief description of who you were in life? Show us how well your mind works, to be a good role model. Do well and I'll buy you a big chunk of something bloody from one of those kebab stands. Do exceptionally well and I might even be persuaded to promote you to a free roaming officer one day... After all, ghouls do apply for Dread League citizenship, albeit for the lower classes."
>Agire was a part of a society, but... I don't think it was that one...
Oh
Well then...
>what is the benefit
"Well, I was born into it, so I can't really speak for outsiders." Posey says with a shrug.
>what can you do..?
"I can do many things!" Posey says, buffing out her chest
"... Except animate the dead through my own power..." she admits, her ears dropping
>What do you wish?
"From you? Just to be friends... That is, to continue, or renew cooperation between my masters in the League and this temple, and perhaps request spellcasting services every few weeks or so. Magic of the priestly variety is rare among ponies, especially outside of Equestria. I heard stories that priests are among the mightiest Necromancers, and so I hoped to learn a thing out two from our relationship."
>"I hope he regains his memories... that he is still him..."
"He should, or, I believe he should. The ghouls who serve in the Dread League are for the most part created through direct magic by powerful necromancers, the typical way: they retain their memories, but we have had trouble retaining all of their previous skills and powers. I have heard stories that ghouls created through divine intervention, those "Touched By The King" as we call them, have powers that equalled or exceeded those that they had in life. I'm quite curious if he will confirm those stories, and I have great hopes for his recovery, and I would like to observe his progress over the next few weeks, if possible. It would certainly be a good note on my report to my masters." Posey says, eyeing Agire with a gaze that betrays her fascination
"Anyway, the fact that he's able to speak shows that he hasn't risen with any degenerative abnormalities. He should remember most of what he knew in life in a few nights."
She addresses Agire.
"I wish you well on your recovery."
A thought pops into her head
"Actually, you could use a demonstration."
she orders the ghast forward
"This stallion may not look it, but he is in fact a ghast. The fact that he's risen as a ghast instead of if a typical ghoul proves that he was a pony of formidable power in life, before he met his watery grave." Posey says, the ghast's appearance momentarily shimmering to reveal the rotting monster underneath
She addresses the ghast
"Darling, how about you tell us your name, and a brief description of who you were in life? Show us how well your mind works, to be a good role model. Do well and I'll buy you a big chunk of something bloody from one of those kebab stands. Do exceptionally well and I might even be persuaded to promote you to a free roaming officer one day... After all, ghouls do apply for Dread League citizenship, albeit for the lower classes."
>>176197
Pear's ears move back up, then down as she looks at Silver's hoof. She makes a small smile, moves her ears back up, and grabs Silver's hoof with her own and lets him pull her up. She looks into his eyes as he does so.
"Let's go solve an antique mystery" she says
>>176198
The creature lets Amber go, or seems to. She can hear the sounds of breathing twigs behind her, but she does not see it crest the ridge. Jakal looks back towards Amber and waits.
>>176199
Bright Dye answers
"I can handle animals. Or I do, anyways."
Neela smiles
"Was this yours?" She says, holding up the wooden leopard necklace of Kira
>>176200
Here we run into the same issue...
The manual says that a ghast created by a virus does not retain memories... as for anything else, it seems like a cheap way to obtain resurrection
Pear's ears move back up, then down as she looks at Silver's hoof. She makes a small smile, moves her ears back up, and grabs Silver's hoof with her own and lets him pull her up. She looks into his eyes as he does so.
"Let's go solve an antique mystery" she says
>>176198
The creature lets Amber go, or seems to. She can hear the sounds of breathing twigs behind her, but she does not see it crest the ridge. Jakal looks back towards Amber and waits.
>>176199
Bright Dye answers
"I can handle animals. Or I do, anyways."
Neela smiles
"Was this yours?" She says, holding up the wooden leopard necklace of Kira
>>176200
Here we run into the same issue...
The manual says that a ghast created by a virus does not retain memories... as for anything else, it seems like a cheap way to obtain resurrection
>>176201
"What the..." Kira checks her person for the necklace, finding that it is indeed missing. She looks at Neela in awe. "How did you do that? That's amazing!"
"What the..." Kira checks her person for the necklace, finding that it is indeed missing. She looks at Neela in awe. "How did you do that? That's amazing!"
>>176201
Hopefully either Pear has a light or they thought to install some when they came to catalogue the catacombs, as Silver realizes he forgot to bring one with him while he brings Pear into the previously ghoul-infested tunnels.
Hopefully either Pear has a light or they thought to install some when they came to catalogue the catacombs, as Silver realizes he forgot to bring one with him while he brings Pear into the previously ghoul-infested tunnels.
>>176202
Neela smiles
"Hehe, the true magician never reveals her secrets."
>>176203
Pear grabs a flashlight that is laying against the rock, next to the entrance. Pear turns it on and takes the lead, walking through the blasted rock into the hall, walking along the hallway of the lower floor, then up the old, stone stairs, then along the catacombs until they get to the big chamber, and then to the bedroom chamber. Silver may have to be careful not to walk into Pear as they have only the one flashlight. Pear feels no special compulsion to need to hold Silver's hoof, being more or less comfortable in the catacombs. More than once, the ponies come across a little area sectioned off, like a fallen skeleton that has been marked off for further investigation. Pear walks around these and continues.
They come to the bedroom and the coffin
Neela smiles
"Hehe, the true magician never reveals her secrets."
>>176203
Pear grabs a flashlight that is laying against the rock, next to the entrance. Pear turns it on and takes the lead, walking through the blasted rock into the hall, walking along the hallway of the lower floor, then up the old, stone stairs, then along the catacombs until they get to the big chamber, and then to the bedroom chamber. Silver may have to be careful not to walk into Pear as they have only the one flashlight. Pear feels no special compulsion to need to hold Silver's hoof, being more or less comfortable in the catacombs. More than once, the ponies come across a little area sectioned off, like a fallen skeleton that has been marked off for further investigation. Pear walks around these and continues.
They come to the bedroom and the coffin
>>176201
Amber whispers to Jakala. "Be as quiet as you can and follow me."
She leads her in the direction opposite the monster, trying to find a path that breaks a sight line from the ridge.
Amber whispers to Jakala. "Be as quiet as you can and follow me."
She leads her in the direction opposite the monster, trying to find a path that breaks a sight line from the ridge.
>>176204
Silver's not exactly thrilled to see these halls again, though getting the chance to have an adventure with Pear makes it worthwhile.
"Could you shine light on casket, please?"
With the flashlight pointed towards the coffin, Silver examines it in detail, recalling everything he remembered of the original to see if the two match, or if there are any discrepancies that point to this not being the same one.
Silver's not exactly thrilled to see these halls again, though getting the chance to have an adventure with Pear makes it worthwhile.
"Could you shine light on casket, please?"
With the flashlight pointed towards the coffin, Silver examines it in detail, recalling everything he remembered of the original to see if the two match, or if there are any discrepancies that point to this not being the same one.
>>176204
Kira takes her necklace, and puts it back on around her neck. "That was really impressive! Not that raising farm animals isn't amazing, either, but I really wasn't expecting you to be able to do that without me even knowing."
Kira takes her necklace, and puts it back on around her neck. "That was really impressive! Not that raising farm animals isn't amazing, either, but I really wasn't expecting you to be able to do that without me even knowing."
>>176201
>An afflicted humanoid who dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghoul at the next midnight. A humanoid who becomes a ghoul in this way retains none of the abilities it possessed in life.
The manual says no abilities; it says nothing about memories.
I was basing my information on a handbook that an associate of mine made, which draws from various books (but excludes Dragon Magazine, annoyingly):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QIKsct279kZgBNdCwQmstog3fuQrjNdxpnYq3VuNN48/edit?usp=drivesdk
There are other passages in various books that support this, but I guess it's all open to interpretation.
I guess I should have asked first though. I was assuming that Posey knew about ghouls well enough because she knew so many of them in the Dread League, and was taking 10 for relevant knowledge. I certainly don't want to go forcing my interpretations on you though, since it's your setting. I would like it clarified though, since I this is relevant to my character.
I guess this is as good a time as any to roll to see what Posey actually knows about ghouls.
[1d20+13 = (10+13) = 23]
>An afflicted humanoid who dies of ghoul fever rises as a ghoul at the next midnight. A humanoid who becomes a ghoul in this way retains none of the abilities it possessed in life.
The manual says no abilities; it says nothing about memories.
I was basing my information on a handbook that an associate of mine made, which draws from various books (but excludes Dragon Magazine, annoyingly):
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QIKsct279kZgBNdCwQmstog3fuQrjNdxpnYq3VuNN48/edit?usp=drivesdk
There are other passages in various books that support this, but I guess it's all open to interpretation.
I guess I should have asked first though. I was assuming that Posey knew about ghouls well enough because she knew so many of them in the Dread League, and was taking 10 for relevant knowledge. I certainly don't want to go forcing my interpretations on you though, since it's your setting. I would like it clarified though, since I this is relevant to my character.
I guess this is as good a time as any to roll to see what Posey actually knows about ghouls.
[1d20+13 = (10+13) = 23]
>>176205
Amber may go back up the hill and cross the tree strand the way she came, or a bit to the left, going around the hill and through a tree-less area directly opposite the ridge with the monster. "Hill" is relative, as the actual variation in the topography is slight.
>>176207
Kira would have to slither over to take it, as Neela isn't super close to offer it.
Bright Dye is partly scrunchy.
Neela says "I guess this is yours" and holds up a wallet. Then Bright Dye is definitely scrunchy.
Amber may go back up the hill and cross the tree strand the way she came, or a bit to the left, going around the hill and through a tree-less area directly opposite the ridge with the monster. "Hill" is relative, as the actual variation in the topography is slight.
>>176207
Kira would have to slither over to take it, as Neela isn't super close to offer it.
Bright Dye is partly scrunchy.
Neela says "I guess this is yours" and holds up a wallet. Then Bright Dye is definitely scrunchy.
File (): B90B584B855AEF304381156C607789BB-1564147.png (1.5 MB, 1079x1924, Screenshot_20240917-221305.png)
>>176201
>it seems like a cheap way to obtain resurrection
BoVD sacrifice rules are ludicrously cheap if taken at face value, which I never expected.
Most Ghouls retain no abilities in life, and thus can't really be likened to resurrection, although it might be a good way to start taking levels in the Ghoul Class.
Gravetouched Ghouls do retain their abilities, but they can't be induced with spells, since they're only created with divine intervention (what I just tried to plead for).
That's just my opinion on the matter. I understand if you decide that sacrificing a POW on an altar is not enough to functionally bring back this NPC that was already dead at the time I started the game, that's fine with me. Agire's fate ultimately means little to Posey, but she would be very pleased if she were able to make a new discovery on creating new undead that she could write home about. I just found the idea of bringing back a priest as a ghastly undead version of his previous self through a black magic ritual as a means of "repaying debt" to be a fun character development with no actual reward other than maybe getting on the good side of the Kaftars.
>it seems like a cheap way to obtain resurrection
BoVD sacrifice rules are ludicrously cheap if taken at face value, which I never expected.
Most Ghouls retain no abilities in life, and thus can't really be likened to resurrection, although it might be a good way to start taking levels in the Ghoul Class.
Gravetouched Ghouls do retain their abilities, but they can't be induced with spells, since they're only created with divine intervention (what I just tried to plead for).
That's just my opinion on the matter. I understand if you decide that sacrificing a POW on an altar is not enough to functionally bring back this NPC that was already dead at the time I started the game, that's fine with me. Agire's fate ultimately means little to Posey, but she would be very pleased if she were able to make a new discovery on creating new undead that she could write home about. I just found the idea of bringing back a priest as a ghastly undead version of his previous self through a black magic ritual as a means of "repaying debt" to be a fun character development with no actual reward other than maybe getting on the good side of the Kaftars.
>>176209
Kira giggles, and slithers over to take both. She gives the wallet back to Bright Dye.
"Hey, no harm no foul. Plus it was a really neat trick!"
Kira giggles, and slithers over to take both. She gives the wallet back to Bright Dye.
"Hey, no harm no foul. Plus it was a really neat trick!"
>>176209
Amber decides for the latter opinion, as her instincts kick in and she looks for a more circuitous path to make being followed more difficult. Then she realizes that it's moot because of their hoofprints anyway. Thinking quick, she grabs a twiggy branch and sweeps the snow behind them as they proceed. Doing this slows down the two further.
Amber decides for the latter opinion, as her instincts kick in and she looks for a more circuitous path to make being followed more difficult. Then she realizes that it's moot because of their hoofprints anyway. Thinking quick, she grabs a twiggy branch and sweeps the snow behind them as they proceed. Doing this slows down the two further.
>>176211
Bright Dye takes the wallet back, still a little scrunchy
"Well, let's see how well you two keep a flock of sheep"
>>176212
sweep sweep
Slowly but steadily they leave the downed forests and are back on the tundra. Amber doesn't think she's being stalked, but does she really want to go back and find out?
Bright Dye takes the wallet back, still a little scrunchy
"Well, let's see how well you two keep a flock of sheep"
>>176212
sweep sweep
Slowly but steadily they leave the downed forests and are back on the tundra. Amber doesn't think she's being stalked, but does she really want to go back and find out?
>>176213
"Oh no, there is no way I could do that. I was telling the truth when I said you provide a truly invaluable service to us predators. It's very hard to do, and you do it very well!"
"Oh no, there is no way I could do that. I was telling the truth when I said you provide a truly invaluable service to us predators. It's very hard to do, and you do it very well!"
>>176213
Right now it's her priority to get back to the village. They got the firewood and Amber is exhausted from exertion and fear. How does Jakala look?
Right now it's her priority to get back to the village. They got the firewood and Amber is exhausted from exertion and fear. How does Jakala look?
>>176216
"Jakala! Stop and lie down," Amber hoarsely whispers. As if to set an example, she crouches down close to the flat, hard ground, and she strains her eyes to see what is moving.
"Jakala! Stop and lie down," Amber hoarsely whispers. As if to set an example, she crouches down close to the flat, hard ground, and she strains her eyes to see what is moving.
>>176217
Amber sees a pony walking. The pony twitches and sways back and forth slightly as it moves forward. It seems to be a beige mare, with the hood down and a single layer of a fur coat. She is speaking to herself.
Amber sees a pony walking. The pony twitches and sways back and forth slightly as it moves forward. It seems to be a beige mare, with the hood down and a single layer of a fur coat. She is speaking to herself.
>>176216
"Hmmm...well, sort of, though probably not to the same extent as others. Like it used to, way way way long ago, back when the role of predators was to keep prey populations in check as part of nature's fragile balance, but civilization has changed that. It's sort of...supplanted nature, I guess. I'm fine with that, even if I'm a predator and need to eat other creatures to live; it's just a fact of life that I am one. I'd much rather be friends with creatures if it could be helped! It did used to be an idea among some lamias, though, that because of the natural roles of predators and prey that it somehow justified that predators were placed higher up than prey on some kind of hierarchy, like we were destined by nature to rule. That was before my time, though. Recently our leaders were encouraging cooperation with the prey societies around us before this whole war thing, and the only lamias who still held that old 'predator supremacy' belief were either old snakes or just delusional."
"Hmmm...well, sort of, though probably not to the same extent as others. Like it used to, way way way long ago, back when the role of predators was to keep prey populations in check as part of nature's fragile balance, but civilization has changed that. It's sort of...supplanted nature, I guess. I'm fine with that, even if I'm a predator and need to eat other creatures to live; it's just a fact of life that I am one. I'd much rather be friends with creatures if it could be helped! It did used to be an idea among some lamias, though, that because of the natural roles of predators and prey that it somehow justified that predators were placed higher up than prey on some kind of hierarchy, like we were destined by nature to rule. That was before my time, though. Recently our leaders were encouraging cooperation with the prey societies around us before this whole war thing, and the only lamias who still held that old 'predator supremacy' belief were either old snakes or just delusional."
>>176221
Kira nods in the affirmative. "You know, societies of creatures that don't eat meat. Zebras, kirins...I haven't seen a pony eating meat yet so I'm assuming you could probably call ponies prey animals?"
Kira nods in the affirmative. "You know, societies of creatures that don't eat meat. Zebras, kirins...I haven't seen a pony eating meat yet so I'm assuming you could probably call ponies prey animals?"
>>176222
Bright Dye tilts his head
“So any herbivorous creature is ‘prey’? Is that the only reason you use that word?” The angle of his head almost exceeds 90 degrees. “Is there any other reason you use that word a not, I don’t know ‘herbivore’?”
Bright Dye tilts his head
“So any herbivorous creature is ‘prey’? Is that the only reason you use that word?” The angle of his head almost exceeds 90 degrees. “Is there any other reason you use that word a not, I don’t know ‘herbivore’?”
>>176223
Dang, that's one tilted head. Kira's not sure she could match that without bending over. "Uh...I suppose there isn't really any particular reason, other than that it's the term I'm used to hearing from other lamias. Would you prefer that I use herbivore?"
Dang, that's one tilted head. Kira's not sure she could match that without bending over. "Uh...I suppose there isn't really any particular reason, other than that it's the term I'm used to hearing from other lamias. Would you prefer that I use herbivore?"
>>176221
She does not trust this mare, especially considering the direction she originated from. In what direction is the mare headed? Amber nudges Jakala to get up and starts carefully walking toward the village, giving the mare a wide berth.
She does not trust this mare, especially considering the direction she originated from. In what direction is the mare headed? Amber nudges Jakala to get up and starts carefully walking toward the village, giving the mare a wide berth.
>>176226
The mare is travelling sort of perpendicular to the path of Amber and Jakala, slightly angled towards the direction of the settlement, though she would pass it
Amber can hear a phrase of the mare that actually sounds intelligible:
"Beaivi bring the sun. With the seraph at its head and light it."
As she comes near, Amber can see that the right side of her lip, the part that is closest to Amber, is exposed to the air and not covered by a mask. There is visible frost bite on her lip, as it has started to turn black. Her ears are likewise exposed, and the right ear is frost bit at the tip. It's hard to tell given the coat, but she looks somewhat thin. Her boots have ice high along the shaft. She is shaking.
>>176225
He stops tilting his head, and rotates his head back upright.
"No, I was just curious. For what it's worth, you seem really sweet and sincere to me. Not like some others that come to me. Not like some of the griffins who don't speak ponish well, and the gnolls, who generally kind of creep me out."
The mare is travelling sort of perpendicular to the path of Amber and Jakala, slightly angled towards the direction of the settlement, though she would pass it
Amber can hear a phrase of the mare that actually sounds intelligible:
"Beaivi bring the sun. With the seraph at its head and light it."
As she comes near, Amber can see that the right side of her lip, the part that is closest to Amber, is exposed to the air and not covered by a mask. There is visible frost bite on her lip, as it has started to turn black. Her ears are likewise exposed, and the right ear is frost bit at the tip. It's hard to tell given the coat, but she looks somewhat thin. Her boots have ice high along the shaft. She is shaking.
>>176225
He stops tilting his head, and rotates his head back upright.
"No, I was just curious. For what it's worth, you seem really sweet and sincere to me. Not like some others that come to me. Not like some of the griffins who don't speak ponish well, and the gnolls, who generally kind of creep me out."
>>176227
Kira smiles, closes her eyes, and claps her hooves together.
"Yay! Thank you so much, that really means a lot to hear! I sure hope I can get other ponies to see that, too. I know I look like a scary monster to some of them, but I hope they give me a chance to actually know me and see that I really mean no harm. You know, like all of those stories I've heard about Harmony and such!"
Kira smiles, closes her eyes, and claps her hooves together.
"Yay! Thank you so much, that really means a lot to hear! I sure hope I can get other ponies to see that, too. I know I look like a scary monster to some of them, but I hope they give me a chance to actually know me and see that I really mean no harm. You know, like all of those stories I've heard about Harmony and such!"
>>176228
He looks down at Kira's body
"Ponies can be a little... intimidated by your large size, and many of us... most of us are afraid of snakes." He looks up towards Kira and her eyes. "But you're very friendly, and you know the language and that goes far. Thank you for inviting me over."
He looks down at Kira's body
"Ponies can be a little... intimidated by your large size, and many of us... most of us are afraid of snakes." He looks up towards Kira and her eyes. "But you're very friendly, and you know the language and that goes far. Thank you for inviting me over."
>>176229
Kira smiles some more, and opens her forelegs to the stallion. "Thank you for coming! Would you like a hug?"
Kira smiles some more, and opens her forelegs to the stallion. "Thank you for coming! Would you like a hug?"
>>176232
Still with an awkward smile, he opens his forelegs and inches a few inches closer. Then a little closer. Poor stallion probably doesn't know he's been within hugging range this whole time.
Still with an awkward smile, he opens his forelegs and inches a few inches closer. Then a little closer. Poor stallion probably doesn't know he's been within hugging range this whole time.
>>176208
>>176210
Wider Ghoul world-building aside, can this roll give Posey a hint if a unique ghoul like Agire in particular might recover some of his previous potential? That's all that matters right now.
Regardless of the outcome, Milyaketan seems satisfied with the results, so it looks like this quest is successful.
>>176210
Wider Ghoul world-building aside, can this roll give Posey a hint if a unique ghoul like Agire in particular might recover some of his previous potential? That's all that matters right now.
Regardless of the outcome, Milyaketan seems satisfied with the results, so it looks like this quest is successful.
>>176237
Indeed he has been, but Kira is a polite snek and hasn't tried to hug him without his consent. Now that he has given it, she closes the gap, giving him a big pony-style hug with her forelegs. It's a very secure hug, but not uncomfortable, showing that in addition to being very sneaky she may also be adept at giving out hugs. As Bright Dye (presumably) hugs back, he makes an observation: her pony half doesn't feel all that much different from an actual pony, save for her feeling a bit firm due to all of the muscle.
Indeed he has been, but Kira is a polite snek and hasn't tried to hug him without his consent. Now that he has given it, she closes the gap, giving him a big pony-style hug with her forelegs. It's a very secure hug, but not uncomfortable, showing that in addition to being very sneaky she may also be adept at giving out hugs. As Bright Dye (presumably) hugs back, he makes an observation: her pony half doesn't feel all that much different from an actual pony, save for her feeling a bit firm due to all of the muscle.
>>176210
>>176208
It's not about whether or not the new undead creature has the same abilities as the deceased. It's about whether or not it's the same person as the deceased. Is there a continuity of consciousness such that the person is brought back from death and gains personal immortality. Memories are a similar issue, especially because it's practically impossible to know if there is or is not a continuity of consciousness, and memories are used as a proxy.
Nevermind the question of "why wouldn't the players just sacrifice a single vagabond ethnic minority to bring back a dead NPC or player character," why wouldn't every single faction in the setting simply sacrifice an unloved ethnic minority or foreigner to bring back their own dead by the hundred thousand. Killing leaders would be pointless because they would simply be brought back and live forever, spies, moles, informants, and witnesses couldn't be killed to be silenced, and death in general would cease to have meaning.
Of course I'd like to have the ghast say who he was, like the brains in cylinders in The Whisperer in Darkness, but it is indeed an issue.
>>176238
It was his mentor and the Angels who made Agire a powerful conduit. It will be they who may restore him.
>>176239
Neela:
"And for the record, it fell out on the couch"
squeaky
The pony is hugged. He's muscular under the fur, like Kira. He's shorter than some of the other ponies, particularly the mover ponies, but he's stocky and high in muscle. He's also just a little dirty.
>>176208
It's not about whether or not the new undead creature has the same abilities as the deceased. It's about whether or not it's the same person as the deceased. Is there a continuity of consciousness such that the person is brought back from death and gains personal immortality. Memories are a similar issue, especially because it's practically impossible to know if there is or is not a continuity of consciousness, and memories are used as a proxy.
Nevermind the question of "why wouldn't the players just sacrifice a single vagabond ethnic minority to bring back a dead NPC or player character," why wouldn't every single faction in the setting simply sacrifice an unloved ethnic minority or foreigner to bring back their own dead by the hundred thousand. Killing leaders would be pointless because they would simply be brought back and live forever, spies, moles, informants, and witnesses couldn't be killed to be silenced, and death in general would cease to have meaning.
Of course I'd like to have the ghast say who he was, like the brains in cylinders in The Whisperer in Darkness, but it is indeed an issue.
>>176238
It was his mentor and the Angels who made Agire a powerful conduit. It will be they who may restore him.
>>176239
Neela:
"And for the record, it fell out on the couch"
squeaky
The pony is hugged. He's muscular under the fur, like Kira. He's shorter than some of the other ponies, particularly the mover ponies, but he's stocky and high in muscle. He's also just a little dirty.
>>176227
Amber has seen that her fears from before have fueled her misgivings and feels immediately ashamed about it. After all, even her tribe of ponies are creatures of feeling and logical fear has little weight compared to their sympathy. The poor mare needs immediate help and Amber rushes to her side.
"Wait! I'm coming to help!" she shouts, hoping her voice carries across the frigid air.
Amber has seen that her fears from before have fueled her misgivings and feels immediately ashamed about it. After all, even her tribe of ponies are creatures of feeling and logical fear has little weight compared to their sympathy. The poor mare needs immediate help and Amber rushes to her side.
"Wait! I'm coming to help!" she shouts, hoping her voice carries across the frigid air.
>>176242
is squeezed
Kira lets out a small, quiet, contented sssss. Hugs are always nice, but ponies are especially great to hug for some reason Kira has yet to actually figure out.
is squeezed
Kira lets out a small, quiet, contented sssss. Hugs are always nice, but ponies are especially great to hug for some reason Kira has yet to actually figure out.
>>176243
The mare does not respond but moves forward.
>>176203
Silver goes into the small room behind the bedroom, and sees that ominous inscription in bright, white stones above the slab. The warning of a generation long ago.
THIS IS A WARNING TO ANY WHO MAY COME UPON IT, AS WHAT LIES BENEATH IS A DANGER EVEN TO GENERATIONS YET UNBORN
THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF HONOR
NOTHING IS COMMEMORATED HERE, NOR IS ANYTHING OF VALUE SEALED HERE
WHAT IS SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND DISTURBING TO US
SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS A LICH, AN EVIL MAGE WHO HAS TRADED HIS SOUL FOR IMMORTAL LIFE
HE IS AS DANGEROUS IN YOUR TIME AS HE WAS IN OURS
HE MAY BE UNLEASHED ONLY BY THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF HIS SARCOPHAGUS
And below the inscription, on the slab, is a trunk made of ancient, rusting cast iron.
But Curwhinny's sarcophagus was made of stone.
>>176244
"heh heh"
The mare does not respond but moves forward.
>>176203
Silver goes into the small room behind the bedroom, and sees that ominous inscription in bright, white stones above the slab. The warning of a generation long ago.
THIS IS A WARNING TO ANY WHO MAY COME UPON IT, AS WHAT LIES BENEATH IS A DANGER EVEN TO GENERATIONS YET UNBORN
THIS IS NOT A PLACE OF HONOR
NOTHING IS COMMEMORATED HERE, NOR IS ANYTHING OF VALUE SEALED HERE
WHAT IS SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS BOTH DANGEROUS AND DISTURBING TO US
SEALED AWAY BENEATH THESE WORDS IS A LICH, AN EVIL MAGE WHO HAS TRADED HIS SOUL FOR IMMORTAL LIFE
HE IS AS DANGEROUS IN YOUR TIME AS HE WAS IN OURS
HE MAY BE UNLEASHED ONLY BY THE PHYSICAL DESTRUCTION OF HIS SARCOPHAGUS
And below the inscription, on the slab, is a trunk made of ancient, rusting cast iron.
But Curwhinny's sarcophagus was made of stone.
>>176244
"heh heh"
>>176245
"I really am glad you decided to stay and chat, I'm glad to have you as a friend! Maybe sometime I could come over to visit, too?"
"I really am glad you decided to stay and chat, I'm glad to have you as a friend! Maybe sometime I could come over to visit, too?"
>>176245
Amber canters to get in front of the mare's path.
"Ma'am! We're going to get you some help!" she shouts again.
Amber canters to get in front of the mare's path.
"Ma'am! We're going to get you some help!" she shouts again.
>>176246
Pear shines the light primarily on the words above the casket.
"Feather Duster isn't exactly on an academic track... if you were the graduate student told to open that casket, would you?"
>>176246
"Heh, yeah, me too." He pulls away, and is smiling. "You probably can. Although my wife is a little afraid of snakes. Thank's for the tea and the chat. I really need to get back though." He moves away, and a little towards the couch."
"Ms. Pheeta?" He addresses Neela, who looks up at him with her ears standing up. He extends a hoof as if he's going to place it on her shoulder, but then he moves it suddenly up and
boop
Taps her on the snout
"I'll see you." He smiles to her, and walks towards the door
>>176248
She looks towards Amber finally, though her eyes dart about. One seems to have frost around it. She continues mumbling to herself.
Pear shines the light primarily on the words above the casket.
"Feather Duster isn't exactly on an academic track... if you were the graduate student told to open that casket, would you?"
>>176246
"Heh, yeah, me too." He pulls away, and is smiling. "You probably can. Although my wife is a little afraid of snakes. Thank's for the tea and the chat. I really need to get back though." He moves away, and a little towards the couch."
"Ms. Pheeta?" He addresses Neela, who looks up at him with her ears standing up. He extends a hoof as if he's going to place it on her shoulder, but then he moves it suddenly up and
boop
Taps her on the snout
"I'll see you." He smiles to her, and walks towards the door
>>176248
She looks towards Amber finally, though her eyes dart about. One seems to have frost around it. She continues mumbling to herself.
>>176249
Amber gets very close to the mare, close enough that Amber is scared by her and her condition. She reaches out to touch her on the chest.
"There's a village nearby. I'll get you help. Jakala!" She ends by shouting to the little filly, motioning her to come over.
Amber gets very close to the mare, close enough that Amber is scared by her and her condition. She reaches out to touch her on the chest.
"There's a village nearby. I'll get you help. Jakala!" She ends by shouting to the little filly, motioning her to come over.
>>176249
Silver looks at the words again.
"Well, I know that liches and evil mages are real. There is entire country of them. I also know that these ponies had to have died to something, and either they wrote that message down in their dying moments or what survivors there were from this event wrote it down. You would have to be very ignorant to want to open that casket seeing that message without knowing his phylactery was smashed. But real question is; would any of your compatriots be ignorant enough to ignore this warning and either open that casket, or steal it away somewhere?"
Silver looks at the words again.
"Well, I know that liches and evil mages are real. There is entire country of them. I also know that these ponies had to have died to something, and either they wrote that message down in their dying moments or what survivors there were from this event wrote it down. You would have to be very ignorant to want to open that casket seeing that message without knowing his phylactery was smashed. But real question is; would any of your compatriots be ignorant enough to ignore this warning and either open that casket, or steal it away somewhere?"
>>176249
Kira giggles at the cute little snout boop he gives Neela, and waves goodbye to her.
"Bye Bright Dye! I'll see you, too!"
Kira giggles at the cute little snout boop he gives Neela, and waves goodbye to her.
"Bye Bright Dye! I'll see you, too!"
File (): D9A7DD784856B0FE35F52FD92B2CB5F6-952825.png (930.5 KB, 1079x1098, 1000139750.png)
File (): D34790961744D93094CB704B21ECA281-76590.jpg (74.8 KB, 980x975, 3226081105_preview_GHOUL.jpg)
>>176240
>It's not about whether or not the new undead creature has the same abilities as the deceased. It's about whether or not it's the same person as the deceased.
It varies based on the species of undead, but many undead are considered to not be the same people, but monsters created from the remains of what were those people. Intelligent undead retaining the memories of who they were in life contributes to the the horror of their existence, but that doesn't mean they're the same. If not possessing full memories, intelligent undead should at least inherit parts of their previous memories, since that makes them more interesting.
Liches carry scrolls of their most precious memories inside their phylacteries, to avoid forgetting who they are over the centuries.
>gains personal immortality
If you consider being a hollow mockery of your former self consumed by unending hunger and hate to be immortality, then sure.
Liches for example are created in pursuit of immorality, but they lose themselves in the process: hobbies, appreciation for art, things that brought them pleasure, it all turns to dust overtime.
>Memories are a similar issue, especially because it's practically impossible to know if there is or is not a continuity of consciousness, and memories are used as a proxy.
Well, souls are a thing in d&d, so the concept of continuity is much clearer. An undead monster that inherits the memories of a person is not the same person if the soul is elsewhere.
>why wouldn't every single faction in the setting simply sacrifice an unloved ethnic minority or foreigner to bring back their own dead by the hundred thousand
Well, worshipping demons and making sacrifices to dark powers to bring back the dead as monsters has other consequences, and doing so archetypically leads societies to rot and ruin one way or another.
Although, that's kind of what the Dread League is trying to do, so maybe it could work. Who knows.
>Killing leaders would be pointless because they would simply be brought back
Resurrection spells already exist. If your leaders consider being undead to be worth it, they should invest in becoming lich kings.
>spies, moles, informants, and witnesses couldn't be killed to be silenced
We have Speak With Dead too, and could just read their entrails.
Magic complicates things.
>death in general would cease to have meaning
Well, that's part of Posey's cause, in her twisted, evil way.
>Of course I'd like to have the ghast say who he was, like the brains in cylinders in The Whisperer in Darkness, but it is indeed an issue.
That's are already unique among ghouls, having been created from people of heroic level. A ghast telling the story about the person it was before it's horrid transformation into the monster it is today shouldn't mess up the setting that badly.
Besides, I think ghouls as characters can add to this game. We can even have Fallout references. Ghouls are fun when they're more than flesh eating monsters, even if they're still flesh eating monsters. They have their own Cleric domains and magic items that only they can use. I like the idea of ghoul society.
>It was his mentor and the Angels who made Agire a powerful conduit. It will be they who may restore him.
Good enough for me.
>It's not about whether or not the new undead creature has the same abilities as the deceased. It's about whether or not it's the same person as the deceased.
It varies based on the species of undead, but many undead are considered to not be the same people, but monsters created from the remains of what were those people. Intelligent undead retaining the memories of who they were in life contributes to the the horror of their existence, but that doesn't mean they're the same. If not possessing full memories, intelligent undead should at least inherit parts of their previous memories, since that makes them more interesting.
Liches carry scrolls of their most precious memories inside their phylacteries, to avoid forgetting who they are over the centuries.
>gains personal immortality
If you consider being a hollow mockery of your former self consumed by unending hunger and hate to be immortality, then sure.
Liches for example are created in pursuit of immorality, but they lose themselves in the process: hobbies, appreciation for art, things that brought them pleasure, it all turns to dust overtime.
>Memories are a similar issue, especially because it's practically impossible to know if there is or is not a continuity of consciousness, and memories are used as a proxy.
Well, souls are a thing in d&d, so the concept of continuity is much clearer. An undead monster that inherits the memories of a person is not the same person if the soul is elsewhere.
>why wouldn't every single faction in the setting simply sacrifice an unloved ethnic minority or foreigner to bring back their own dead by the hundred thousand
Well, worshipping demons and making sacrifices to dark powers to bring back the dead as monsters has other consequences, and doing so archetypically leads societies to rot and ruin one way or another.
Although, that's kind of what the Dread League is trying to do, so maybe it could work. Who knows.
>Killing leaders would be pointless because they would simply be brought back
Resurrection spells already exist. If your leaders consider being undead to be worth it, they should invest in becoming lich kings.
>spies, moles, informants, and witnesses couldn't be killed to be silenced
We have Speak With Dead too, and could just read their entrails.
Magic complicates things.
>death in general would cease to have meaning
Well, that's part of Posey's cause, in her twisted, evil way.
>Of course I'd like to have the ghast say who he was, like the brains in cylinders in The Whisperer in Darkness, but it is indeed an issue.
That's are already unique among ghouls, having been created from people of heroic level. A ghast telling the story about the person it was before it's horrid transformation into the monster it is today shouldn't mess up the setting that badly.
Besides, I think ghouls as characters can add to this game. We can even have Fallout references. Ghouls are fun when they're more than flesh eating monsters, even if they're still flesh eating monsters. They have their own Cleric domains and magic items that only they can use. I like the idea of ghoul society.
>It was his mentor and the Angels who made Agire a powerful conduit. It will be they who may restore him.
Good enough for me.
>>176250
tap tap tap
Jakala moves closer
Amber touches her fur jacket. The mare looks in the direction of Amber, but her eyes do not focus. She mutters,
"The Sun is coming, pulled by the wings of the Seraph. It will light up all. Can you see it? Can you hear it calling?"
>>176251
"Yes. Most of them would. Peer Review doesn't believe in Liches in the sense of an immortal magician that doesn't need food or external magic. Critical theory is the same, and he's the one who ordered it. Mr. Loans and Dr. Grant would just follow orders. And Feather Duster would risk being fired by switching out the casket."
>>176252
Bright Dye waves at Kira, then looks to Neela and waves to her. He smiles towards the creatures, and leaves out the door, closing it behind him.
tap tap tap
Jakala moves closer
Amber touches her fur jacket. The mare looks in the direction of Amber, but her eyes do not focus. She mutters,
"The Sun is coming, pulled by the wings of the Seraph. It will light up all. Can you see it? Can you hear it calling?"
>>176251
"Yes. Most of them would. Peer Review doesn't believe in Liches in the sense of an immortal magician that doesn't need food or external magic. Critical theory is the same, and he's the one who ordered it. Mr. Loans and Dr. Grant would just follow orders. And Feather Duster would risk being fired by switching out the casket."
>>176252
Bright Dye waves at Kira, then looks to Neela and waves to her. He smiles towards the creatures, and leaves out the door, closing it behind him.
>>176254
"The sun won't be here for three weeks. We need to get you to our village. You…aren't well." It's a bit of an understatement. The mare has hours, if even that.
"The sun won't be here for three weeks. We need to get you to our village. You…aren't well." It's a bit of an understatement. The mare has hours, if even that.
>>176256
"Do you feel it's warmth? Do you hear it calling?" She says
>>176253
>many undead are considered to not be the same people, but monsters created from the remains of what were those people
This is my understanding of basically all undead that aren't created directly from the living. Vampires and Liches are different, because they are created directly from the living, and thus have a continuity of consciousness.
>Well, souls are a thing in d&d, so the concept of continuity is much clearer. An undead monster that inherits the memories of a person is not the same person if the soul is elsewhere.
Dungeons and Dragons is a darker and more cynical version of the world created by Tolkien. Tolkien's world is very heavily based off of his catholic faith, and thus has features of that philosophy: his world has a definite and known metaphysics, a definite and known good and evil, a definite and known theology. These work well enough for high fantasy escapism.
That isn't what this is. This campaign actually takes more thematically from Hearts of Iron 4 than it does from Dungeons and Dragons or even My Little Pony. In so far as that war-arcade game has a theme, it is how differing ideologies compel warfare in a sort of Hegelian Dialectic. This campaign seeks to explore how culture, ideology, religion, and belief motivate behavior, and how these influence interactions between different groups of people. In the real world, people have different views on metaphysics. They have completely different ideas about what is good and what is evil. They have different ideas about whatever gods may be. These ideas are tied into their ideologies, and they are not easily confirmed or disproven by observable facts. To confirm or deny that one religion is correct and another is wrong is for God himself to intervene and tip his hand on the scale of one position over the other. That is actively harmful to the entire point, which is an exploration of motivation and social psychology. So to that end, as far as possible, I will always, always, always, try to keep as much ambiguity as possible concerning the truth of religious matters.
Take the Kaftar praying to their god and getting some kind of response. Does that mean their religion is true? Possibly, but it could also be that they are getting a response from a lesser spiritual being. Perhaps these are from Lovecraftian style aliens. Perhaps the response is from a god they misunderstand the nature of. Perhaps it is from malevolent spiritual entities. Exactly what it is thoroughly besides the point. They have a religion that they think is correct. The ponies think they are devil worshipers at best. Trying to clarify the truth of that matter is to miss the story about how immigrant communities react to their host nations, and how host nations react to the foreign cultures who immigrate there. That's what this is about. This is about an immigrant group trying to maintain their culture and identity, and a native culture who fears the alien, but also wants them to work the night shift. So clarifying whether the Peacock is who Posey thinks it is harmful to the theme. The real world does not eliminate doubt. I don't think this needs to either. The Kaftar believe what they believe because they are who they are. Posey ought to believe what Posey believes because she is who she is. I don't think the truth needs to be divinely revealed in every instance.
>Resurrection spells already exist
They aren't easily powered by genocide
>We have Speak With Dead too, and could just read their entrails. Magic complicates things
I try to disregard it
>Posey's cause and what the Dread League is trying to do
Perhaps you have a different interpretation, but my understanding of the Dread League's mission, or at least, Rosa Maledicta's mission, is that existence is intrinsically evil, as it necessarily entails pain, suffering, and want. She wishes to end this by ending all life, including ultimately all undeath.
>A ghast telling the story about the person it was before it's horrid transformation into the monster it is today shouldn't mess up the setting that badly. Besides, I think ghouls as characters can add to this game. We can even have Fallout references. Ghouls are fun when they're more than flesh eating monsters, even if they're still flesh eating monsters. They have their own Cleric domains and magic items that only they can use. I like the idea of ghoul society.
While I don't think the fallout reference holds because Fallout Ghouls are created directly from living people, and thus have a direct continuity of consciousness, and are technically not undead at all - this is still a pretty good argument in favor of having intelligent ghouls
>>176255
This is actually going through the remains of a location of a quest from years ago
>>176257
"Do you think he was in to me? He was in to me a little, right?" Neela asks
>>176258
"Well, I've barely seen him. Mostly I've been looking at my book."
"Do you feel it's warmth? Do you hear it calling?" She says
>>176253
>many undead are considered to not be the same people, but monsters created from the remains of what were those people
This is my understanding of basically all undead that aren't created directly from the living. Vampires and Liches are different, because they are created directly from the living, and thus have a continuity of consciousness.
>Well, souls are a thing in d&d, so the concept of continuity is much clearer. An undead monster that inherits the memories of a person is not the same person if the soul is elsewhere.
Dungeons and Dragons is a darker and more cynical version of the world created by Tolkien. Tolkien's world is very heavily based off of his catholic faith, and thus has features of that philosophy: his world has a definite and known metaphysics, a definite and known good and evil, a definite and known theology. These work well enough for high fantasy escapism.
That isn't what this is. This campaign actually takes more thematically from Hearts of Iron 4 than it does from Dungeons and Dragons or even My Little Pony. In so far as that war-arcade game has a theme, it is how differing ideologies compel warfare in a sort of Hegelian Dialectic. This campaign seeks to explore how culture, ideology, religion, and belief motivate behavior, and how these influence interactions between different groups of people. In the real world, people have different views on metaphysics. They have completely different ideas about what is good and what is evil. They have different ideas about whatever gods may be. These ideas are tied into their ideologies, and they are not easily confirmed or disproven by observable facts. To confirm or deny that one religion is correct and another is wrong is for God himself to intervene and tip his hand on the scale of one position over the other. That is actively harmful to the entire point, which is an exploration of motivation and social psychology. So to that end, as far as possible, I will always, always, always, try to keep as much ambiguity as possible concerning the truth of religious matters.
Take the Kaftar praying to their god and getting some kind of response. Does that mean their religion is true? Possibly, but it could also be that they are getting a response from a lesser spiritual being. Perhaps these are from Lovecraftian style aliens. Perhaps the response is from a god they misunderstand the nature of. Perhaps it is from malevolent spiritual entities. Exactly what it is thoroughly besides the point. They have a religion that they think is correct. The ponies think they are devil worshipers at best. Trying to clarify the truth of that matter is to miss the story about how immigrant communities react to their host nations, and how host nations react to the foreign cultures who immigrate there. That's what this is about. This is about an immigrant group trying to maintain their culture and identity, and a native culture who fears the alien, but also wants them to work the night shift. So clarifying whether the Peacock is who Posey thinks it is harmful to the theme. The real world does not eliminate doubt. I don't think this needs to either. The Kaftar believe what they believe because they are who they are. Posey ought to believe what Posey believes because she is who she is. I don't think the truth needs to be divinely revealed in every instance.
>Resurrection spells already exist
They aren't easily powered by genocide
>We have Speak With Dead too, and could just read their entrails. Magic complicates things
I try to disregard it
>Posey's cause and what the Dread League is trying to do
Perhaps you have a different interpretation, but my understanding of the Dread League's mission, or at least, Rosa Maledicta's mission, is that existence is intrinsically evil, as it necessarily entails pain, suffering, and want. She wishes to end this by ending all life, including ultimately all undeath.
>A ghast telling the story about the person it was before it's horrid transformation into the monster it is today shouldn't mess up the setting that badly. Besides, I think ghouls as characters can add to this game. We can even have Fallout references. Ghouls are fun when they're more than flesh eating monsters, even if they're still flesh eating monsters. They have their own Cleric domains and magic items that only they can use. I like the idea of ghoul society.
While I don't think the fallout reference holds because Fallout Ghouls are created directly from living people, and thus have a direct continuity of consciousness, and are technically not undead at all - this is still a pretty good argument in favor of having intelligent ghouls
>>176255
This is actually going through the remains of a location of a quest from years ago
>>176257
"Do you think he was in to me? He was in to me a little, right?" Neela asks
>>176258
"Well, I've barely seen him. Mostly I've been looking at my book."
>>176260
"Yes, yes I do…Jakala! Bring the sled over here." Amber feels close to panicking, but realizes she needs to stay calm for her little friend.
"Yes, yes I do…Jakala! Bring the sled over here." Amber feels close to panicking, but realizes she needs to stay calm for her little friend.
>>176260
"Hmmmm...well, we cannot just go up to him and accuse him of swapping out sarcophagus. If he did it, he would immediately move to cover his tracks, including moving wherever he stashed original sarcophagus. If he did not, he will be outraged and may end up tipping off actual culprit, who will then cover their tracks. Have you truly not seen him acting at all weird, or going off on his own out of nowhere?"
"Hmmmm...well, we cannot just go up to him and accuse him of swapping out sarcophagus. If he did it, he would immediately move to cover his tracks, including moving wherever he stashed original sarcophagus. If he did not, he will be outraged and may end up tipping off actual culprit, who will then cover their tracks. Have you truly not seen him acting at all weird, or going off on his own out of nowhere?"
>>176260
Kira nods in the affirmative.
"Oh definitely. I was trying to help you out at a couple of points, I'm not sure if you noticed. I'm not very knowledgeable about this sort of thing, but...I think I did alright."
Kira nods in the affirmative.
"Oh definitely. I was trying to help you out at a couple of points, I'm not sure if you noticed. I'm not very knowledgeable about this sort of thing, but...I think I did alright."
>>176262
"This may come as a surprise to you, but I wasn't dragged away from my sabbatical to investigate the lost treasure of the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River just so I could babysit a grad student and look over his shoulder. I've barely seen him and I've hardly even worked inside the catacombs. I've been mostly here, or if I'm inside at all, I've been in the library. I was up once to investigate a Chincoteague talisman, but mostly I've been far away from him and the other grad student. I saw him when he was assigned and when he unveiled the casket, but I've been far away. Critical Theory is the one who assigned him, and if anypony has been around him, it's probably been Mr. loans. But he's been on his own for, well, probably as much as he hasn't. It's easy to have privacy in here."
>>176261
Jakala tap tap taps, and moves the sled to Amber. The mare is trying to move around Amber to continue her journey to nowhere.
>>176263
"Heh, you did something alright. Maybe next time. You really got his attention with that bow. I thought about bringing out my tambourine, but I don't think I could play it well enough to impress him."
"This may come as a surprise to you, but I wasn't dragged away from my sabbatical to investigate the lost treasure of the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River just so I could babysit a grad student and look over his shoulder. I've barely seen him and I've hardly even worked inside the catacombs. I've been mostly here, or if I'm inside at all, I've been in the library. I was up once to investigate a Chincoteague talisman, but mostly I've been far away from him and the other grad student. I saw him when he was assigned and when he unveiled the casket, but I've been far away. Critical Theory is the one who assigned him, and if anypony has been around him, it's probably been Mr. loans. But he's been on his own for, well, probably as much as he hasn't. It's easy to have privacy in here."
>>176261
Jakala tap tap taps, and moves the sled to Amber. The mare is trying to move around Amber to continue her journey to nowhere.
>>176263
"Heh, you did something alright. Maybe next time. You really got his attention with that bow. I thought about bringing out my tambourine, but I don't think I could play it well enough to impress him."
>>176264
"There are also only three ways out of these catacombs, and I would not want to drag stone sarcophagus up stairs that both other exits have. I suppose our first step would be to ask Mr. Loans about our grad student, yes?"
"There are also only three ways out of these catacombs, and I would not want to drag stone sarcophagus up stairs that both other exits have. I suppose our first step would be to ask Mr. Loans about our grad student, yes?"
>>176266
Kira looks at her deer friend, who she help with moving stuff out of her apartment, and she opens up her forelegs to her.
"Do you need a hug? I hear I give good ones."
Kira looks at her deer friend, who she help with moving stuff out of her apartment, and she opens up her forelegs to her.
"Do you need a hug? I hear I give good ones."
>>176267
"It probably never left the catacombs. Sure?" She says
>>176268
Standing up off of the couch after Bright Dye left, Neela's ears go up, and she looks at Kira with wide eyes. She moves her forelegs back - though not her hind legs - until she more or less rotates her body perpendicular to Kira, showing her her right side.
"It probably never left the catacombs. Sure?" She says
>>176268
Standing up off of the couch after Bright Dye left, Neela's ears go up, and she looks at Kira with wide eyes. She moves her forelegs back - though not her hind legs - until she more or less rotates her body perpendicular to Kira, showing her her right side.
>>176264
Amber quickly pushes off the firewood from the sled. She'll probably end up having to gather it all over, but there's no time to worry about it.
"Please ma'am, we'll pull you to where you need to be."
Amber quickly pushes off the firewood from the sled. She'll probably end up having to gather it all over, but there's no time to worry about it.
"Please ma'am, we'll pull you to where you need to be."
>>176270
The mare is non-cooperative, continuing to mutter to herself. Her language is once again, gibberish.
The mare is non-cooperative, continuing to mutter to herself. Her language is once again, gibberish.
>>176271
If the cold is making her unreasonable, then I just have to make her less cold, Amber thinks to herself.
She takes off a few items of clothing, including her mask, and tries to put them onto the mare. "Please, it's for your own good!" she begs.
If the cold is making her unreasonable, then I just have to make her less cold, Amber thinks to herself.
She takes off a few items of clothing, including her mask, and tries to put them onto the mare. "Please, it's for your own good!" she begs.
>>176260
>So clarifying whether the Peacock is who Posey thinks it is harmful to the theme.
I am content with it being a mystery, even after witnessing a miracle in its name.
>They aren't easily powered by genocide
At that point, you might just want to nerf how often dark powers are willing to give sacrificial rewards, or put limitations on what contexts they will give them. The BoVD advises doing so.
Evil gods don't just give blessing en mass for free.
>She wishes to end this by ending all life, including ultimately all undeath.
Like Orcus.
And yes, I knew that. I wrote my character based on that.
Posey's existence in her short life was nothing but suffering, and in death she is still little more than another slave, which is why she reviles the world.
It could change with character development though. I still haven't met the party.
>Fallout Ghouls are created directly from living people, and thus have a direct continuity of consciousness
D&D ghouls are created from once living people, either through spells, disease, curses or sporadic depravity.
The ghast here in particular is of the sporadic variety.
>I try to disregard it
Fair.
>To confirm or deny that one religion is correct and another is wrong is for God himself to intervene and tip his hand on the scale of one position over the other.
This is fine. It's why I tried to see some nuance in the Kaftars' culture.
>Vampires and Liches are different, because they are created directly from the living, and thus have a continuity of consciousness.
All undead, as a rule, were once living things. I'm not sure I understand the discrepancy here? I would like some clarification on the matter, because it's relevant to my character. I will adjust my roleplay to accommodate your preferred interpretation, to the extent that Posey would understand it to her knowledge (Posey has a lot of knowledge, but is still only an apprentice Necromancer who can't even raise the dead).
Vampires in particular are known to not possess the souls of their living selves. I'm pretty sure ghouls don't either. Liches destroy their souls and seal them in their phylacteries.
>So to that end, as far as possible, I will always, always, always, try to keep as much ambiguity as possible concerning the truth of religious matters.
That's fine.
Posey is a disloyal occultist when it comes to religion, an apostate by nature, having grown accustomed to worshipping various idols and surrendering her body to demons and nameless horrors for transactional favors. To Posey, it matters not what is objectively correct or what is the one true religion, only what will assist her with her goals.
>"Did I tell you about the time the Coven conjured an aspect of the Bloated Goat? He was so fat and disgusting, with those rotten rat teeth, and he didn't even have genitals... It made him such a great lover..."
Something along those lines.
>Posey ought to believe what Posey believes because she is who she is. I don't think the truth needs to be divinely revealed in every instance.
True, true.
Posey was more interested in the result of her ritual than she was about the source of its power.
>This is actually going through the remains of a location of a quest from years ago
I'm down with that.
>So clarifying whether the Peacock is who Posey thinks it is harmful to the theme.
I am content with it being a mystery, even after witnessing a miracle in its name.
>They aren't easily powered by genocide
At that point, you might just want to nerf how often dark powers are willing to give sacrificial rewards, or put limitations on what contexts they will give them. The BoVD advises doing so.
Evil gods don't just give blessing en mass for free.
>She wishes to end this by ending all life, including ultimately all undeath.
Like Orcus.
And yes, I knew that. I wrote my character based on that.
Posey's existence in her short life was nothing but suffering, and in death she is still little more than another slave, which is why she reviles the world.
It could change with character development though. I still haven't met the party.
>Fallout Ghouls are created directly from living people, and thus have a direct continuity of consciousness
D&D ghouls are created from once living people, either through spells, disease, curses or sporadic depravity.
The ghast here in particular is of the sporadic variety.
>I try to disregard it
Fair.
>To confirm or deny that one religion is correct and another is wrong is for God himself to intervene and tip his hand on the scale of one position over the other.
This is fine. It's why I tried to see some nuance in the Kaftars' culture.
>Vampires and Liches are different, because they are created directly from the living, and thus have a continuity of consciousness.
All undead, as a rule, were once living things. I'm not sure I understand the discrepancy here? I would like some clarification on the matter, because it's relevant to my character. I will adjust my roleplay to accommodate your preferred interpretation, to the extent that Posey would understand it to her knowledge (Posey has a lot of knowledge, but is still only an apprentice Necromancer who can't even raise the dead).
Vampires in particular are known to not possess the souls of their living selves. I'm pretty sure ghouls don't either. Liches destroy their souls and seal them in their phylacteries.
>So to that end, as far as possible, I will always, always, always, try to keep as much ambiguity as possible concerning the truth of religious matters.
That's fine.
Posey is a disloyal occultist when it comes to religion, an apostate by nature, having grown accustomed to worshipping various idols and surrendering her body to demons and nameless horrors for transactional favors. To Posey, it matters not what is objectively correct or what is the one true religion, only what will assist her with her goals.
>"Did I tell you about the time the Coven conjured an aspect of the Bloated Goat? He was so fat and disgusting, with those rotten rat teeth, and he didn't even have genitals... It made him such a great lover..."
Something along those lines.
>Posey ought to believe what Posey believes because she is who she is. I don't think the truth needs to be divinely revealed in every instance.
True, true.
Posey was more interested in the result of her ritual than she was about the source of its power.
>This is actually going through the remains of a location of a quest from years ago
I'm down with that.
sneezes
"What in Tartarus, I don't sneeze. I must've had too much blood..."
ears twitch
"I thought I heard somepony say catacombs for a moment..."
"What in Tartarus, I don't sneeze. I must've had too much blood..."
ears twitch
"I thought I heard somepony say catacombs for a moment..."
>>176272
"Mhmmph!
The mask doesn't quite make it's way onto the mare correctly. It covers her face and blinds her. She also can't speak.
>>176274
She twitches and moves half a step back, raising her left forehoof and twitching her right eye.
"You won't do me like you did that goat." She answers
>>176275
"Perhaps, unless you think Mr. loans knows where it is. Or you want to confront Feather Duster." She blinks. "Are you sure you want to open that casket?"
"Mhmmph!
The mask doesn't quite make it's way onto the mare correctly. It covers her face and blinds her. She also can't speak.
>>176274
She twitches and moves half a step back, raising her left forehoof and twitching her right eye.
"You won't do me like you did that goat." She answers
>>176275
"Perhaps, unless you think Mr. loans knows where it is. Or you want to confront Feather Duster." She blinks. "Are you sure you want to open that casket?"
>>176277
"Like I said, I am almost certain I destroyed his phylactery. But, it would probably not be wise to take that chance...unless that was something you wanted to do. Might make for valuable academic studies, either way."
"Like I said, I am almost certain I destroyed his phylactery. But, it would probably not be wise to take that chance...unless that was something you wanted to do. Might make for valuable academic studies, either way."
>>176277
"Like I did..." Kira shakes her head, and smiles. "Oh, silly Neela. You're my friend. I'm not going to eat you. Promise!"
"Like I did..." Kira shakes her head, and smiles. "Oh, silly Neela. You're my friend. I'm not going to eat you. Promise!"
>>176273
>At that point, you might just want to nerf how often dark powers are willing to give sacrificial rewards, or put limitations on what contexts they will give them.
The simple answer is that you don't get resurrection for a single vagabond. I think that's consistent with IRL religions.
>I would like some clarification on the matter, because it's relevant to my character. I will adjust my roleplay to accommodate your preferred interpretation, to the extent that Posey would understand it to her knowledge (Posey has a lot of knowledge, but is still only an apprentice Necromancer who can't even raise the dead).
Vampires in particular are known to not possess the souls of their living selves. I'm pretty sure ghouls don't either. Liches destroy their souls and seal them in their phylacteries.
Okay, so in general, my understanding of the undead is that undeath is about animation. You've replaced the life force of a living being with another magical force that mimics life force and gives it movement. It is not, however, the same thing, or on the same level as life force. Undead are basically golems. They are inanimate objects animated by magic. In fact I would go further to say that the only real difference between the undead and golems is the choice of material used to make them. And if you have an intelligent undead, it's still an automaton, it's just more like how we would understand a robot or an artificial intelligence, than we would understand a wind up toy. Something like a zombie is basically this. It's just an animated corpse, whether it's animated by magic, or by a parasite, it's still not at all like the creature it was born from.
Bram Stoker-type vampires, I think, are not at all like this. They are more like humans who have lost many human traits, but have maintained their consciousness. There's a section early in Dracula where the titular character talks about being the descendant of Atila the Hun, and fighting off the Turks. He's clearly the same person he was in life, just changed. Most modern depictions of Vampires, from Vampires: The Masquerade to Twilight are like this. Contrast this against old Eastern European depictions of vampires, where vampires and revenants are monsters that arise from corpses.
So let's look at this line from Posey >>176188
>I was a daughter of the Coven Of Blood, and I thought that I would be one of them one day, but... my mother had other plans...
Posey uses the term "I" to refer to the living pony she was created from. This means that Posey believes herself to be a continuation of consciousness from the living being she was created from. The same ego, or person. This is not how I would have imagined Posey to be. I would have believed her to be a different person - if she could be said to be a person at all - from what she was created from. Of course, Posey is your character, not mine. But I've always perceived Posey as basically not having any kind of soul. She may be a tortured soul, I don't know, but I think of her as a meat golem.
As for ghouls and the continuity of consciousness:
So, imagine you are a pony. Then all of a sudden, through a combination of FEV and radiation, you get ghoulified and turned into a Fallout style ghoul. Do you still percieve and experience things in this new form, or is your conscious perception extinguished and replaced by a new conscious being? I would think that you are still you... more or less, because while the body changes, and perhaps even the mind changes, you're still the same person. Now let's say that you die violently, your corpse rots, and then your corpse is turned into one of Posey's ghouls. Is the consciousness inhabiting your corpse you, or something new? If it is you, where did you consciousness go? Is it like you were in a dreamless sleep? Were you deposited into an afterlife, then pulled back? Just the fact that it isn't as obvious, makes it easier to see why this ghoul is less likely to be the same person as the fallout ghoul.
>At that point, you might just want to nerf how often dark powers are willing to give sacrificial rewards, or put limitations on what contexts they will give them.
The simple answer is that you don't get resurrection for a single vagabond. I think that's consistent with IRL religions.
>I would like some clarification on the matter, because it's relevant to my character. I will adjust my roleplay to accommodate your preferred interpretation, to the extent that Posey would understand it to her knowledge (Posey has a lot of knowledge, but is still only an apprentice Necromancer who can't even raise the dead).
Vampires in particular are known to not possess the souls of their living selves. I'm pretty sure ghouls don't either. Liches destroy their souls and seal them in their phylacteries.
Okay, so in general, my understanding of the undead is that undeath is about animation. You've replaced the life force of a living being with another magical force that mimics life force and gives it movement. It is not, however, the same thing, or on the same level as life force. Undead are basically golems. They are inanimate objects animated by magic. In fact I would go further to say that the only real difference between the undead and golems is the choice of material used to make them. And if you have an intelligent undead, it's still an automaton, it's just more like how we would understand a robot or an artificial intelligence, than we would understand a wind up toy. Something like a zombie is basically this. It's just an animated corpse, whether it's animated by magic, or by a parasite, it's still not at all like the creature it was born from.
Bram Stoker-type vampires, I think, are not at all like this. They are more like humans who have lost many human traits, but have maintained their consciousness. There's a section early in Dracula where the titular character talks about being the descendant of Atila the Hun, and fighting off the Turks. He's clearly the same person he was in life, just changed. Most modern depictions of Vampires, from Vampires: The Masquerade to Twilight are like this. Contrast this against old Eastern European depictions of vampires, where vampires and revenants are monsters that arise from corpses.
So let's look at this line from Posey >>176188
>I was a daughter of the Coven Of Blood, and I thought that I would be one of them one day, but... my mother had other plans...
Posey uses the term "I" to refer to the living pony she was created from. This means that Posey believes herself to be a continuation of consciousness from the living being she was created from. The same ego, or person. This is not how I would have imagined Posey to be. I would have believed her to be a different person - if she could be said to be a person at all - from what she was created from. Of course, Posey is your character, not mine. But I've always perceived Posey as basically not having any kind of soul. She may be a tortured soul, I don't know, but I think of her as a meat golem.
As for ghouls and the continuity of consciousness:
So, imagine you are a pony. Then all of a sudden, through a combination of FEV and radiation, you get ghoulified and turned into a Fallout style ghoul. Do you still percieve and experience things in this new form, or is your conscious perception extinguished and replaced by a new conscious being? I would think that you are still you... more or less, because while the body changes, and perhaps even the mind changes, you're still the same person. Now let's say that you die violently, your corpse rots, and then your corpse is turned into one of Posey's ghouls. Is the consciousness inhabiting your corpse you, or something new? If it is you, where did you consciousness go? Is it like you were in a dreamless sleep? Were you deposited into an afterlife, then pulled back? Just the fact that it isn't as obvious, makes it easier to see why this ghoul is less likely to be the same person as the fallout ghoul.
>>176277
Amber continues her technical foalnapping, guiding the mare until she's on the sled and lying down. She'll try to pull the sled back the rest of the way to the village.
Amber continues her technical foalnapping, guiding the mare until she's on the sled and lying down. She'll try to pull the sled back the rest of the way to the village.
>>176278
She pauses for a moment, and then she flips her tail and has a small smile.
"Sure... No risk, no reward."
>>176279
She moves her eyes towards Kira's snake body, both the mass of tail and the lump containing the goat.
"No, not the eating. The strangling and the crushing. It looked so horrible. I always thought that if I die, I want to go down fighting but... not like that. If you eat me, I'd rather I just be still and let you swallow me."
Then she looks back up towards Kira's eyes and has a smile that shows off her teeth
"But if you ever did get the craving for a deer or some other talking creature, I can help you find one. Maybe start with my exbuckfriend?"
>>176281
Amber is best off just leading her forward and letting her trip and fall onto the sled, and then trying to hold her down, possibly with leather straps.
She pauses for a moment, and then she flips her tail and has a small smile.
"Sure... No risk, no reward."
>>176279
She moves her eyes towards Kira's snake body, both the mass of tail and the lump containing the goat.
"No, not the eating. The strangling and the crushing. It looked so horrible. I always thought that if I die, I want to go down fighting but... not like that. If you eat me, I'd rather I just be still and let you swallow me."
Then she looks back up towards Kira's eyes and has a smile that shows off her teeth
"But if you ever did get the craving for a deer or some other talking creature, I can help you find one. Maybe start with my exbuckfriend?"
>>176281
Amber is best off just leading her forward and letting her trip and fall onto the sled, and then trying to hold her down, possibly with leather straps.
>>176282
Kira giggles at that one. "Hehe, I'll have to remember that offer. I'm sorry you saw all of that, though. I promise, I'm not going to constrict you. Just a simple, normal hug, like you've gotten from any other creature. Sounds better?"
Kira giggles at that one. "Hehe, I'll have to remember that offer. I'm sorry you saw all of that, though. I promise, I'm not going to constrict you. Just a simple, normal hug, like you've gotten from any other creature. Sounds better?"
>>176282
What leather straps? Are they on the sled already? Anyway, after futile attempts to budge the barely-conscious mare, she does exactly that. She also asks Jakala to help hold her down onto the sled, though that makes the load heavier.
What additional elements of clothing could Amber give to help the mare keep what little body heat she has left?
What leather straps? Are they on the sled already? Anyway, after futile attempts to budge the barely-conscious mare, she does exactly that. She also asks Jakala to help hold her down onto the sled, though that makes the load heavier.
What additional elements of clothing could Amber give to help the mare keep what little body heat she has left?
>>176282
Silver smiles, and nods in agreement. "Alright. Let us start with looking around here, eliminate most likely possibilities before we move onto less likely ones. We are looking for stone sarcophagus, there should not be so many places here to hide something like it."
If Pear needs a more thorough description of the sarcophagus before they begin their search, Silver provides it.
Silver smiles, and nods in agreement. "Alright. Let us start with looking around here, eliminate most likely possibilities before we move onto less likely ones. We are looking for stone sarcophagus, there should not be so many places here to hide something like it."
If Pear needs a more thorough description of the sarcophagus before they begin their search, Silver provides it.
>>176284
Amber could take off her coat - the outerware coat at least. Taking off her boots is possible, but particularly inadvisable.
Jakala can more or less stand on the mare, but this means Amber would need to pull the sled.
>>176283
Neela is shaking
"I know you won't eat me now because you've just eaten. I think I've gotten hugs before..." She still looks at Kira
>>176285
Pear nods affirmatively
"Makes sense to me"
Stone and rectangular in shape.
Silver can name specific places to look, split up from Pear (though he'd need his own flashlight), or roll search.
Amber could take off her coat - the outerware coat at least. Taking off her boots is possible, but particularly inadvisable.
Jakala can more or less stand on the mare, but this means Amber would need to pull the sled.
>>176283
Neela is shaking
"I know you won't eat me now because you've just eaten. I think I've gotten hugs before..." She still looks at Kira
>>176285
Pear nods affirmatively
"Makes sense to me"
Stone and rectangular in shape.
Silver can name specific places to look, split up from Pear (though he'd need his own flashlight), or roll search.
>>176286
The mare already has boots, but Amber will give her outerwear coat for what it matters. Hopefully the exertion is enough to keep the little filly warm.
Jakala has done plenty of pulling for the "day." Amber takes hold of the harness and slides them along.
The mare already has boots, but Amber will give her outerwear coat for what it matters. Hopefully the exertion is enough to keep the little filly warm.
Jakala has done plenty of pulling for the "day." Amber takes hold of the harness and slides them along.
>>176287
Taking off the over coat, Amber feels cold. Very cold. But she's not naked at least, and she's at no risk of sweating. Pulling the weight of the adult mare and Jakala is not easy, and she needs to hurry before the blinded mare makes her way off of the sled.
Taking off the over coat, Amber feels cold. Very cold. But she's not naked at least, and she's at no risk of sweating. Pulling the weight of the adult mare and Jakala is not easy, and she needs to hurry before the blinded mare makes her way off of the sled.
>>176288
"Keep her in place!" Amber neighs back at Jakala.
She double-times it back to her village, hoping one of the grown-ups is outside nearby and sees them.
"Keep her in place!" Amber neighs back at Jakala.
She double-times it back to her village, hoping one of the grown-ups is outside nearby and sees them.
>>176286
Kira looks sadly with her big sad lamia eyes at her deer friend, who won't take the chance to hug the friendly lamia.
Kira looks sadly with her big sad lamia eyes at her deer friend, who won't take the chance to hug the friendly lamia.
>>176289
Walking along the snow by the small houses near Amber's house, wrapped in thick fur clothing, is a stallion.
>>176290
Going past the small room, into the bedroom, then inti the hallway, and turning right, along a wall there's an opening used potentially for a burial. And inside appears to be stone rectangular prism.
>>176291
Her ears go down
"Does it mean that much to you that I hug you?"
Walking along the snow by the small houses near Amber's house, wrapped in thick fur clothing, is a stallion.
>>176290
Going past the small room, into the bedroom, then inti the hallway, and turning right, along a wall there's an opening used potentially for a burial. And inside appears to be stone rectangular prism.
>>176291
Her ears go down
"Does it mean that much to you that I hug you?"
>>176292
"Well..." Her own ears go down. "...it's...I guess it's a show of trust. You know, that you trust me to not actually eat you, or constrict you, or do anything bad to you, you know? So...yeah, it does mean a lot to me. I don't want to force you into doing anything, but..."
"Well..." Her own ears go down. "...it's...I guess it's a show of trust. You know, that you trust me to not actually eat you, or constrict you, or do anything bad to you, you know? So...yeah, it does mean a lot to me. I don't want to force you into doing anything, but..."
>>176292
Is this it? Silver calls for Pear to shine the light on it so Silver can see to pull it out, as well as to see how much it's been disturbed.
Is this it? Silver calls for Pear to shine the light on it so Silver can see to pull it out, as well as to see how much it's been disturbed.
>>176296
Amber is shivering despite the exertion, and looks worried. "This mare was on the tundra. She is very cold and can't think straight."
Amber is shivering despite the exertion, and looks worried. "This mare was on the tundra. She is very cold and can't think straight."
>>176296
Kira's eyes, still big but no longer looking quite as sad, lock on her deer friend. "Are...are you sure?" She sounds quite excited as she asks her this question.
Kira's eyes, still big but no longer looking quite as sad, lock on her deer friend. "Are...are you sure?" She sounds quite excited as she asks her this question.
File (): 1D9A0BE4AB1FD1B6321BD0B0A57A21BC-279245.jpg (272.7 KB, 1920x1920, kp0h60gyyk191.jpg)
>>176280
>Undead are basically golems.
That would apply to mindless zombies or skeletons (the kind created with Animate Dead), but intelligent undead (ones created through greater magic, or through extraordinary means) are free-thinking creatures.
>And if you have an intelligent undead, it's still an automaton
I disagree, but I'm not the GM, so whatever. I can accept that.
Intelligent undead are capable of being cunning villains, taking heroic class levels, and even forming their own societies. If they're autonomous, it's questionable if living things are as well.
>it's still not at all like the creature it was born from.
This I do agree with.
>Vampires
Vampires vary wildly across different eras and media, yeah.
>This means that Posey believes herself to be a continuation of consciousness from the living being she was created from.
It's a bit more complicated than that, but Posey herself does not have the words to describe her own doomed existence (and I'm not sure if I can properly put them in writing). She's still haunted by memories of trauma, pain, hopelessness and betrayal, even if she's not the same creature she was before.
>I would have believed her to be a different person - if she could be said to be a person at all - from what she was created from.
Posey has died twice, and been reanimated twice just as many times. She didn't consider her old life to be worth living, since she was just a tool for the pleasure of others and unable to eat or live under the sun. Posey has never had autonomy, not even now, so she's had little time to reflect just what she is. Her existence is a bit new, and the memories of her past life are hazy, like a nightmare, so in a sense it's like she's only just been created for the first time.
>Of course, Posey is your character, not mine.
Idk, I guess I could try harder to roleplay her existential dread. I'm not exactly an excellent writer...
I gave Posey Gloomy to humanize her, as I felt she might be just an edgy, power-hungry megalomaniac without him. Posey tells herself she's just grooming Gloomy to sacrifice him and make a Slaymate, but really Gloomy is the only thing on this barren earth that Posey cares about, because he makes her feel like she's alive, and he's the only thing that belongs to her and her alone (at 100 gp, Gloomy was the most valuable piece of starting equipment Posey came into the game with).
Also, while Posey might be my character, Gloomy is actually in part based on me. I know that makes me sound fucked in the head. Pls no bully.
>She may be a tortured soul
That's kind of what I was going for. Idk. I'll explore it.
I did want to explore Posey as a character, and as an antihero. She does believe that she has a destiny beyond service to her masters, which is why she's so diligent in expanding her powers and being free of service.
Posey is based on the first horseman of the apocalypse: the white horse of conquest, which is likened to the antichrist. I wanted to develop her as a charismatic leader of her own undying legion, both powerful and beautiful, even if her ambitions are ultimately evil and nihilistic. Posey believes that if she increases her powers, she can become more than just a lowly thrall one day.
Worth noting, if Posey's destroyed, as a katane/dampire, she could potentially have a chance of rising as an actual vampire, but it's not really part of my plan for Posey (she could become a lich at lvl 20).
>Do you still percieve and experience things in this new form, or is your conscious perception extinguished and replaced by a new conscious being?
I mean, you tell me. I do believe that ghouls retain at least some memory of their previous selves, even if the ghouls themselves are monsters independent of their souls. Ghouls retaining memories makes their existence all the more horrific and tragic, imo, as it gives them enough humidity to perceive their own wretched existence.
I recommend reading Libris Mortis, as offers several different perspectives DMs can draw on.
>Is the consciousness inhabiting your corpse you, or something new?
It could be a crude mockery of you, intelligent and retaining your memories
This actually raises a point of considering the source of Undeath. Both the ghast and Agire would be considered "Sporadic" undead, not created by spells. Fluffwise, they may retain more of their past selves than ghouls created by magic. Agire in particular was created through divine intervention, so he might be a unique ghoul, such as a Gravetouched Ghoul.
Imo, if ghoul society had a hierarchy, I would imagine sporadic ghouls with the most memories of the people they once were would be at the top of the totem pole, while ghouls that have regressed to being little more than starving animals with no sense of self (see: low charisma score) would be at the bottom.
>If it is you, where did you consciousness go?
Perhaps your soul went elsewhere, or perhaps it's hopelessly trapped as a spectator inside its own body (as is the case for Juju Zombies, who are based on original zombie myths) begging for release by an adventurer who might repose it and free it from its torment.
>If it is you, where did you consciousness go? Is it like you were in a dreamless sleep? Were you deposited into an afterlife, then pulled back? Just the fact that it isn't as obvious, makes it easier to see why this ghoul is less likely to be the same person as the fallout ghoul.
I really don't know GM.
I feel like discovering more about the true nature of death and undeath and revealing the answer over Posey's adventures would be fun, as Posey is still learning to make friends.
>Undead are basically golems.
That would apply to mindless zombies or skeletons (the kind created with Animate Dead), but intelligent undead (ones created through greater magic, or through extraordinary means) are free-thinking creatures.
>And if you have an intelligent undead, it's still an automaton
I disagree, but I'm not the GM, so whatever. I can accept that.
Intelligent undead are capable of being cunning villains, taking heroic class levels, and even forming their own societies. If they're autonomous, it's questionable if living things are as well.
>it's still not at all like the creature it was born from.
This I do agree with.
>Vampires
Vampires vary wildly across different eras and media, yeah.
>This means that Posey believes herself to be a continuation of consciousness from the living being she was created from.
It's a bit more complicated than that, but Posey herself does not have the words to describe her own doomed existence (and I'm not sure if I can properly put them in writing). She's still haunted by memories of trauma, pain, hopelessness and betrayal, even if she's not the same creature she was before.
>I would have believed her to be a different person - if she could be said to be a person at all - from what she was created from.
Posey has died twice, and been reanimated twice just as many times. She didn't consider her old life to be worth living, since she was just a tool for the pleasure of others and unable to eat or live under the sun. Posey has never had autonomy, not even now, so she's had little time to reflect just what she is. Her existence is a bit new, and the memories of her past life are hazy, like a nightmare, so in a sense it's like she's only just been created for the first time.
>Of course, Posey is your character, not mine.
Idk, I guess I could try harder to roleplay her existential dread. I'm not exactly an excellent writer...
I gave Posey Gloomy to humanize her, as I felt she might be just an edgy, power-hungry megalomaniac without him. Posey tells herself she's just grooming Gloomy to sacrifice him and make a Slaymate, but really Gloomy is the only thing on this barren earth that Posey cares about, because he makes her feel like she's alive, and he's the only thing that belongs to her and her alone (at 100 gp, Gloomy was the most valuable piece of starting equipment Posey came into the game with).
Also, while Posey might be my character, Gloomy is actually in part based on me. I know that makes me sound fucked in the head. Pls no bully.
>She may be a tortured soul
That's kind of what I was going for. Idk. I'll explore it.
I did want to explore Posey as a character, and as an antihero. She does believe that she has a destiny beyond service to her masters, which is why she's so diligent in expanding her powers and being free of service.
Posey is based on the first horseman of the apocalypse: the white horse of conquest, which is likened to the antichrist. I wanted to develop her as a charismatic leader of her own undying legion, both powerful and beautiful, even if her ambitions are ultimately evil and nihilistic. Posey believes that if she increases her powers, she can become more than just a lowly thrall one day.
Worth noting, if Posey's destroyed, as a katane/dampire, she could potentially have a chance of rising as an actual vampire, but it's not really part of my plan for Posey (she could become a lich at lvl 20).
>Do you still percieve and experience things in this new form, or is your conscious perception extinguished and replaced by a new conscious being?
I mean, you tell me. I do believe that ghouls retain at least some memory of their previous selves, even if the ghouls themselves are monsters independent of their souls. Ghouls retaining memories makes their existence all the more horrific and tragic, imo, as it gives them enough humidity to perceive their own wretched existence.
I recommend reading Libris Mortis, as offers several different perspectives DMs can draw on.
>Is the consciousness inhabiting your corpse you, or something new?
It could be a crude mockery of you, intelligent and retaining your memories
This actually raises a point of considering the source of Undeath. Both the ghast and Agire would be considered "Sporadic" undead, not created by spells. Fluffwise, they may retain more of their past selves than ghouls created by magic. Agire in particular was created through divine intervention, so he might be a unique ghoul, such as a Gravetouched Ghoul.
Imo, if ghoul society had a hierarchy, I would imagine sporadic ghouls with the most memories of the people they once were would be at the top of the totem pole, while ghouls that have regressed to being little more than starving animals with no sense of self (see: low charisma score) would be at the bottom.
>If it is you, where did you consciousness go?
Perhaps your soul went elsewhere, or perhaps it's hopelessly trapped as a spectator inside its own body (as is the case for Juju Zombies, who are based on original zombie myths) begging for release by an adventurer who might repose it and free it from its torment.
>If it is you, where did you consciousness go? Is it like you were in a dreamless sleep? Were you deposited into an afterlife, then pulled back? Just the fact that it isn't as obvious, makes it easier to see why this ghoul is less likely to be the same person as the fallout ghoul.
I really don't know GM.
I feel like discovering more about the true nature of death and undeath and revealing the answer over Posey's adventures would be fun, as Posey is still learning to make friends.
>>176297
Waving over. "Well get her inside."
They aren't far away from a little hut, where he opens a door to let the ponies in.
>>176298
Right material, right basic shape but... it's not it. The dimensions aren't quite there.
>>176299
She moves a little closer. In fact, she places a hoof up, and places it on Kira's back on her snake side, probably right over Hopper's head.
"Just don't try to wrap around me with your scales." She says
Waving over. "Well get her inside."
They aren't far away from a little hut, where he opens a door to let the ponies in.
>>176298
Right material, right basic shape but... it's not it. The dimensions aren't quite there.
>>176299
She moves a little closer. In fact, she places a hoof up, and places it on Kira's back on her snake side, probably right over Hopper's head.
"Just don't try to wrap around me with your scales." She says
>>176301
Kira quickly and happily wraps her forelegs around the deer, hugging her tight (but thankfully, not too tight) and exclaiming, "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! You're the best, Neela!"
Kira quickly and happily wraps her forelegs around the deer, hugging her tight (but thankfully, not too tight) and exclaiming, "Oh thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou! You're the best, Neela!"
>>176301
She tugs the sled over to the door of the hut, huffing and puffing, and waits for the grown-ups to carry her inside.
She tugs the sled over to the door of the hut, huffing and puffing, and waits for the grown-ups to carry her inside.
>>176302
squeeky
Neela's frame is forced up against Kira's chest, her head upwards and toward Kira's. Kira has held cervids like this before, and many more antelope, though not with such friendly intent. This is the first time she's ever actually felt Neela. She's small, a bit thicker around the belly, and her fur is short. She certainly smells like the cervids she's held before.
>>176303
"Where then?" Pear asks
>>176304
The stallion takes a moment, but if Amber doesn't pull them inside, the stallion physically moves the mare and Amber inside of the hut. A fire is already started, and there are blankets.
squeeky
Neela's frame is forced up against Kira's chest, her head upwards and toward Kira's. Kira has held cervids like this before, and many more antelope, though not with such friendly intent. This is the first time she's ever actually felt Neela. She's small, a bit thicker around the belly, and her fur is short. She certainly smells like the cervids she's held before.
>>176303
"Where then?" Pear asks
>>176304
The stallion takes a moment, but if Amber doesn't pull them inside, the stallion physically moves the mare and Amber inside of the hut. A fire is already started, and there are blankets.
>>176305
Silver puts a hoof to his chin, thinking on where he would put a stone sarcophagus containing a potentially unliving lich in these catacombs...if he had one, that is.
Silver puts a hoof to his chin, thinking on where he would put a stone sarcophagus containing a potentially unliving lich in these catacombs...if he had one, that is.
>>176305
Amber may as well bring the sled inside for the time being, as she waits for the mare's condition to be checked on. It's cold outside after all.
Amber may as well bring the sled inside for the time being, as she waits for the mare's condition to be checked on. It's cold outside after all.
>>176300
>>176301
Besides the discussion metaphysical nature of undead, I think this quest is over.
What Posey has accomplished on this mini quest
>1. Posey has re-payed the favor she promised to Agire's widow for the loss of her husband (whether she appreciates it is another story)
>2. Posey has secured good relations with the Kaftar church, which means she's found at least one venue she could solicit for paid divine spellcasting services (I guess Baka is a Cleric too though), as few other temples would accommodate her (a Cleric of Celestia could recognize her as undead, and even so they're quite rare in Baltimare)
>3. Posey has installed an undead monster into the line of succession for the kaftar clergy, who may one day become an ally of the Dread League (having an undead Cleric leading them could likely corrupt the temple in a way that is favorable to us)
>4. Posey has confirmed that the sporadic reanimation of ghouls can be induced through divine intervention, and may have even created a unique ghoul (this is good for her apprenticeship)
>5. Posey has disposed of the last witness of her previous quest, and having dealt ~60 points of Vile damage to her, she has destroyed her so thoroughly that she can't easily be brought back from the grave (this is a good mark on the Destruction Domain temple affiliation)
>6. Posey has discovered strange fungus magic associated with the Crocotta; a potential plot point to explore later
Satisfying for a mini quest.
With this, Posey wishes Agire well on his recovery, and bids them farewell as she takes her leave.
... Unless of course either of these priests would like to find some way to reward me for this charitable crime against nature, that is.
>>176301
Besides the discussion metaphysical nature of undead, I think this quest is over.
What Posey has accomplished on this mini quest
>1. Posey has re-payed the favor she promised to Agire's widow for the loss of her husband (whether she appreciates it is another story)
>2. Posey has secured good relations with the Kaftar church, which means she's found at least one venue she could solicit for paid divine spellcasting services (I guess Baka is a Cleric too though), as few other temples would accommodate her (a Cleric of Celestia could recognize her as undead, and even so they're quite rare in Baltimare)
>3. Posey has installed an undead monster into the line of succession for the kaftar clergy, who may one day become an ally of the Dread League (having an undead Cleric leading them could likely corrupt the temple in a way that is favorable to us)
>4. Posey has confirmed that the sporadic reanimation of ghouls can be induced through divine intervention, and may have even created a unique ghoul (this is good for her apprenticeship)
>5. Posey has disposed of the last witness of her previous quest, and having dealt ~60 points of Vile damage to her, she has destroyed her so thoroughly that she can't easily be brought back from the grave (this is a good mark on the Destruction Domain temple affiliation)
>6. Posey has discovered strange fungus magic associated with the Crocotta; a potential plot point to explore later
Satisfying for a mini quest.
With this, Posey wishes Agire well on his recovery, and bids them farewell as she takes her leave.
... Unless of course either of these priests would like to find some way to reward me for this charitable crime against nature, that is.
>>176309
the mare continues to mutter, in what is presumably slurred regular speech. The stallion gets her on a bed, and she wriggles her legs about and tries to get back up.
"What's wrong with her? Is she delirious?"
the mare continues to mutter, in what is presumably slurred regular speech. The stallion gets her on a bed, and she wriggles her legs about and tries to get back up.
"What's wrong with her? Is she delirious?"
>>176200
>>176310
Milyaketan moves off of Agire and looks over at fascination towards the ghast. The ghast moves slightly closer and into the candlelight. It opens its mouth, and it's jaw trembles. With a voice that is raspy and strained, he forces out:
"Hopping... through the snow. A colt jumping about. A mare calls... Evening Dew? Walking along a town path... A baton... A mare. She smiles."
>Unless of course either of these priests would like to find some way to reward me for this charitable crime against nature, that is.
Milyakaten is tall at the shoulder, but holds his head level to his shoulder rather than far above, appearing at once tall and short. With silent paw steps he moves slightly closer to Posey, like a cat.
"Did you have something in mind?"
>>176310
Milyaketan moves off of Agire and looks over at fascination towards the ghast. The ghast moves slightly closer and into the candlelight. It opens its mouth, and it's jaw trembles. With a voice that is raspy and strained, he forces out:
"Hopping... through the snow. A colt jumping about. A mare calls... Evening Dew? Walking along a town path... A baton... A mare. She smiles."
>Unless of course either of these priests would like to find some way to reward me for this charitable crime against nature, that is.
Milyakaten is tall at the shoulder, but holds his head level to his shoulder rather than far above, appearing at once tall and short. With silent paw steps he moves slightly closer to Posey, like a cat.
"Did you have something in mind?"
>>176306
nails sign to the front of her office at the university
Sign reads
[LIMITED TIME OFFER: DISCOUNT NECROLOGY CONSULTATIONS. QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO LAIRS OF UNDEAD MONSTERS COME WITH FREE ON-SITE VISITS]
>>176315
>"Hopping... through the snow. A colt jumping about. A mare calls... Evening Dew? Walking along a town path... A baton... A mare. She smiles."
"Surely you can do better than that. You were a hero in life, with powers that equalled or exceeded my own right now (lvl 4 or greater). Try to remember." Posey chides, encouragingly
Posey levitates a clump of flesh off the ground and floats it to the ground.
"Let's get some fluids in that skull of yours. The flesh of the living brings you closer to life. Remember who you were..."
>"Did you have something in mind?"
"Well, there was ONE thing I had in mind, but you might find it a bit uncomfortable..." Posey replies
nails sign to the front of her office at the university
Sign reads
[LIMITED TIME OFFER: DISCOUNT NECROLOGY CONSULTATIONS. QUESTIONS PERTAINING TO LAIRS OF UNDEAD MONSTERS COME WITH FREE ON-SITE VISITS]
>>176315
>"Hopping... through the snow. A colt jumping about. A mare calls... Evening Dew? Walking along a town path... A baton... A mare. She smiles."
"Surely you can do better than that. You were a hero in life, with powers that equalled or exceeded my own right now (lvl 4 or greater). Try to remember." Posey chides, encouragingly
Posey levitates a clump of flesh off the ground and floats it to the ground.
"Let's get some fluids in that skull of yours. The flesh of the living brings you closer to life. Remember who you were..."
>"Did you have something in mind?"
"Well, there was ONE thing I had in mind, but you might find it a bit uncomfortable..." Posey replies
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