/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>176316
“A game on a field at night. I kicked a ball. An office… a badge and a gun. That mare. Her name is… Morning Dew. I remember that. She had a nice black mane. A paper delivered to me by a stallion. Boat down a river, with several other stallions. Trees to either side. An ambush. Hoofcuffed fi a tree. A very wicked mare.” He looks up at the flesh

Milyaketan raises an eyebrow and tilts his head.
“And what is that?”

>>176315
>>176316
>>176317

Posey continues
"...Umoya, the Crocutta shaman, suffered a fate similar to your own, in the same week. I had plans to visit her flock as I did yours, but I'm a very busy mare, you know..."
She looks at Agire
"Milyakaten told me that you were one to consider the wisdom of the Crocuttas, more than himself. I'm sure there's been strife between your tribes, but in the end you're both Gnolls, having more in common with one another than any of the other creatures in Baltimare."
She gestures towards towards the altar with her knife, before floating it to Agire
"I want you to do for her the same that I have done for you. However you wish to do it is up to your discretion, you are a seasoned priest afterall, it should be within your skills. Offer a life to the Angel and make a prayer in her favor, and see if your ordinance as a priest is enough to repeat this miracle for her... If you succeed, perhaps you could take it as a sign, that the Gnolls are mightier when united, in friendship."
She competes her proposal with a shrug
"Or don't. You are, afterall, the next leader of your temple. It's none of my business giving you orders you would refuse. I just think it's something to consider."

>>176317
>A very wicked mare
Posey is intrigued by this, as nothing is more poetic than an undead lamenting in it's most traumatic memories.
"Fascinating...."

>>176318
Agire stares in silence at Posey with reflective eyes.

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

>>176319
The ghast moves up to Posey to take the clump of flesh promised to him.

>>176321
“She looks hungry and dehydrated. I’ll heat up some water and try to keep her warm. Where was she, and where did she come from?” She looks at the mare. “I think this is Kiinteä Maa’s wife, Makea Amy.”

>>176317
>He looks up at the flesh
Posey commands (or rather, permits) the ghast to eat.
She speaks, although it's seemingly more directed at Agire than the ghast
"Ghouls are diet-dependent creatures. Although you have no need for sustenance, you need regular intake of flesh to to maintain your upkeep. Eating flesh, especially raw, will repair your lost tissues and prevent your body from rotting. More importantly, maintaining your diet is important to retain your sense of self, as a starving ghoul regresses to little more than an animal. The more regularly you eat, the closer to life you'll remain, I've even heard of cases where well-kept ghouls managed to procreate with the living... That being said, your craving for flesh will still push you away from the mortal path."
>>176320
>Our religion… I will take it under advisement. They will be… more receptive than us, I could say that.
Posey nods
"Umoya was a wise and powerful shaman, and her loss was a waste to her people. I think it's worth testing if the Angel could be persuaded to release her, certainly a good test for an upcoming chief priest." she replies
"However, for the time being, I think I am done with raising Gnoll priests myself for a long time. After all..." She turns to Agire
"...I really only came here because I told your brother and your widow that I owed them a favor, and Rosey Ring keeps her promises." Posey finishes, a bit smug

>>176322
"We found her on the tundra to the west(?) of here, and she was walking southwards(?). She kept talking about how Beaivi was bringing the sun." Amber feels very worried about the poor mare's condition.

>>176324
He sighs, and looks back to her, sitting down next to the mare and using his right leg to press against her chest and hold her on the bed.

"This is Metsän Vaeltaja's doing. I'll heat her up with warm water and keep her in here. Could you collect some snow to make water?"

>>176325
Amber is curious as to who exactly Metsän Vaeltaja is, but dutifully goes to collect untrampled snow a decent distance away from the huts.

>>176326
The stallion gives a pot to help in this task. It must be filled several times, as the snow is much lower in volume when it is melted than when it is collected. He has a fire going, and though his collection of firewood is disturbingly small, it is sufficient for the moment. He seems to have kept the mare, this Makea Aamu, blinded with the improperly placed mask. She readily laps up the water.

>>176323
Milyaketan again speaks where Agire remains silent.

"As I said, it's not all that different from being alive. Again, thank you, Miss Ring. I don't know how much longer we will be here. The ponies tighten around us like a noose. I have heard they have removed entire neighborhoods up north. I think they will do that here."

>>176327
Amber rushes to get enough water. When she is done, she asks, "I had to leave all the firewood to bring her here. Please, let me collect more before it gets too cold." Jakala's mother's admonition still rings in her head.

>>176327
Posey nods understandingly, walking past the two slowly, towards the door
"It's been a pleasure praying with you, Milyaketan. I wish your temple and your people well. Stay strong and endure, as your kind will be ready to take up arms in Armageddon, be it the Kaftars or the Crocutta. As for the ponies in Baltimare, you won't have to worry about them too long..."
She turns her head and makes direct eye contact, the monstrous, hypnotic glint in her ringed demonic eyes shining brightly in the darkness and her mouth twisting into a villainous fanged grin
"Because they're all going to die!"

And with that last sentence, her Unseen Servant throws open the door and she trots off into the night.
If the Kaftars were to listen closely, they might hear her say "Come on, Gloomy, let's go get waffles" in a motherly, sing-song tone, after the doors slam shut.

>>176333
"با فریشتەکە ڕێنماییت بکات و هێزت پێ ببەخشێت."
Was it Agire who said it, or the assistant?

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

>>176330
He looks back to Amber, and nods
"Go get more."

>>176334
Amber pulls the sled back to the open tundra where she knows she left the firewood. It must still be there.

>>176335
There is no snow to cover up the firewood. It's just a matter of finding it, which thankfully isn't too difficult. The firewood is all there.

>>176336
Amber loads up the sled with the wood. She wishes Jakala were with her. She had been focused on saving the mare earlier, but now this place in the dim light gives her the creeps. She still needs to tell the others what she saw earlier.

>>176334
Posey makes good on her promise to buy the ghast a kebab in the enclave. I think we can skip roleplaying that part, although it might be met with some awkward glares from the Gnolls seeing a pony buy meat.
>It's for a friend

She then seeks out Mason, and informs him that her business went smoothly.
"Oh, Mason dear, pardon me for giving you new tasks on the fly, but it's getting close to morning and I was hoping you might be able to bring us to a local die-ner if that's possible? I want to take my little Gloomy out to feed him something sweet. I'll treat you as well if you're interested in joining us." Posey requests

>>176337
The wind has, unfortunately, picked up. Much more unfortunately, Amber does not have on her full set of clothing. She needs to get back, and soon. At least it drowns out the tinnitus, though the cold is actually threatening.

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

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

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

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

>>176341
gasp

>>176341
Ghoul Ranger from Libris Mortis

>>176342
>There are plenty of diners
"Excellent." Posey says, petting Gloomy's mane and tickling the side of his throat

>>176342
Merely the knowledge that the tinnitus and its frightful, mysterious source is out there makes Amber nervous. She wishes she got back her outer coat.

She hopes it's enough firewood. She quickly starts tugging along the sled once again to get to the village before it gets too cold.

>>176345
She arrives back at the hut, which incidentally is actually further away from Amber than what she understands to be her home.

>>176344
One is open at this odd hour with a few stallions inside. A few of those dreaded bats as well...

Nevertheless, it will do

>>176346
She'll have to distribute the firewood, she supposes…. All in a day's work. Amber checks on the grown-ups and Jakala inside the hut.

>>176347
Alright.
Posey goes inside with Gloomy.
>A few of those dreaded bats as well...
Th-they can't be worse company than vampires, can they?

I need to sleep.

>>176348
The mare is lying down, but still muttering gibberish. The stallion is preparing ersatz tea that he must have pulled out of deep storage.

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

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

Waffle House is S-tier, by the way

>>176350
"Is she going to be alright?" Amber asks quietly. She can't recall ever seeing frostbite as bad as this.

>>176307
Neela does not offer much resistance. She almost limp.
"eeep"

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

>>176306
Well, for one, it was probably moved with two ponies. It would have to blend in with stone. It could be behind something. It's likely intended to blend in or just be outright not visible, but out of the way enough that no one would ever bother with it.

>>176351
"I don't know." He answers. "But I'll warm her up here. You should probably get back home, Kultainen."

>>176353
"I will. Thank you for taking care of her." Amber shakes Jakala. "Come on Jakala, let's go home."

>>176354
"You did well, Kultainen" He says

Jakala peaks her head up, jumps off the bed, and follows Amber.

>>176355
Would getting her winter clothes back in any way hurt the mare? If not, she'll put them back on before headed back outside and to the village proper. Otherwise, she'll just have to hurry.

>>176356
No, there are a number of blankets in the hut. The only questionable part is the mask, as it's being used to cut off the mare's eyesight, and hopefully reduce her movement. But there's another mask, and Amber can get hers back and be on her way.

>>176352
"You said you spent most of your time outside, I know, but do you have any idea how much of inside they have covered? If I were to hide something that I did not want found, I would put it inside room that has already been searched and catalogued."

>>176352
It seems Neela really is trying to avoid having what happened to Hopper happen to her. Thankfully for her, Kira is not trying to crush her to make her easier to eat, she's merely just accidently smushing her with an overly friendly hug. She holds it for just a little bit more before she releases the poor deer.

"Thank you for that, Neela. It really meant a lot to me." She smiles at her friend, who very clearly had to take a big leaf of faith to get within what she thought was striking distance of the lamia and hug her.

>>176357
Amber is a little reticent to put on a mask that had been in contact with another pony's frostbitten tissue, and decides to leave it. She is glad to have her outer coat on as she makes her way back, with Jakala and much of the firewood in tow. Summer can't come soon enough!

>>176358
"Hmmmm.... Maybe near the entrance. Possibly the library? I'm not certain which areas have been completely catalogued."

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

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

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

They are talking.

>>176361
Amber knows she shouldn't eavesdrop, especially when privacy in this harsh land is hard to come by as is, but she can't resist and decides to listen without announcing herself.

>>176361
"Well, I know it probably doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me, but I do consider you a friend, and the fact that you're willing to trust me even though you were afraid of getting, well, crushed and constricted, it means a lot to me." Kira rubs one foreleg with the other. "So...thank you."

>>176361
"Library might make sense, actually. Come on, let us go see."

>>176363
"Eh heh" She looks up towards Kira - or maybe not "up," it depends on how high above Neela Kira wishes to raise herself - and gives a teeth-chowing smile. Then she looks down and at Kira's form, and then pokes her with a hoof and taps her, again focusing on the goat, which is the closest part of her body that's on the ground anyways, assuming Kira's body is most angled away from Neela.

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

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

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

Roll Search

Gonna roll Gather Information to see if Posey has heard anything about a lich's lair nearby.
[1d20+8 = (3+8) = 11]
And Research to see if she's read anything about it at the Necromantic Security division of the university.
[1d20+7 = (4+7) = 11]

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

She makes the ghast wait in the car with its kebab, since her Disguise Undead illusion isn't perfect.

>>176365
[1d20 = 19]

>>176366
We'll see how it goes, perhaps we'll have need of somepony's assistance if things don't go as planned.

>>176366
Gonna roll Knowledge (Religion) too see what Posey knows about notable lich's in the area (I can roll again since last time, because Posey has since gain a rank in the skill):
[1d20+13 = (11+13) = 24]
Gonna roll Perform (Weapon Drill), with intent to attract Patrons who might be interested in requisitioning Posey's magical skills in fighting undead:
[1d20+11 = (12+11) = 23]

>>176365
Kira looks down at the deer, and the hoof attached to the deer, and then to the lump in her stomach that the deer keeps poking.

"You are really interested in that, huh?"

>>176368
Gonna roll Aid Another for Gloomy (emotional support colt) to see if I can hit that DC 25 Perform check to attract patrons
[1d20+2 = (12+2) = 14]

>>176368
>>176370
"No Weapons in the Diner!" a pink mare yells. "And no public performances either. Like a bunch of damned Sangee looking for handouts..." She mutters

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

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

>>176369
Her eyes dart up, and she jumps her forelegs up, pivoting away from Kira, looking back at her. She then walks past Kira into the kitchen, giving her as wide of a berth as she can, and looking back as she does so. She enters the kitchen, which is in an open-air format to the living room

>>176371
>And no public...
I probably should have specified my intent to do these checks at the university later.
>"Sure, but it's not an icecream shop. I don't think they'll have sprinkles or Mare & Mares."
Posey just orders Gloomy the fanciest item that his small body could consume, with a doubled amount of any available toppings.

>>176371
"Helloooooooooooo, what do we have here? Light, if you please."

Silver, with magic, might, or a combination of the two, moves the block out of the way.

>>176371
Kira giggles. "Hey, I'm not upset or anything!" She slithers after her after grabbing the tea set. It seems like a good idea to wash it before giving it back to the nice-if-slightly-racist old mare. As she sets it down on the kitchen counter, she tilts her head at her deer friend.

"Is everything okay, Neela?"

>>176374
"Of course. Why wouldn't it be?" She answers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The final item is not any kind of paper. To the left, over top of some of the papers, and with a spider web across it, is what appears to be a fruit. The fruit is recognizable as a citrus, it has a golden color closest to that of a lemon but with an orange tint, it has a pear shape to it, it's rather large, like a grapefruit, and it has the little pits you would expect of a citrus fruit. It is bright in color and is either perfectly ripe, ready to be sold or eaten, or a damned fine imitation of a fruit made with wax or plastic.

>>176375
Since Neela has evacuated the kitchen, Kira takes her turn to head inside and wash the tea set, continuing her conversation with the deer.

"Well...all of that stuff you said, just before I did my 'thing' with Hopper...it sounds like you've had a lot of it on your chest for a while now, not just when I met you earlier today."

>>176375
Hmm, no sarcophagus, but I suppose Silver should have suspected as the block was nowhere near as big as it. But, these are still some interesting items that Silver takes out to examine. The parchment set Silver first gives over to Pear.

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

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

The piece of paper, the note paper, and the fruit all seem to be related, at least to Silver. He's far from the smartest pony, but even he can see how 'tree', 'sunlight', and 'fruit' would related to one another. The fruit especially gives him some pause. "What in..." Grabbing it, he gives it a feel and a sniff. It would be odd to hide away a wax or plastic fruit like this, but it would also be even weirder if it was actual fruit.

>>176375
>I'm very interested to hear what kind of university you attended that allowed not merely display of weapons, but active demonstrations with them in public areas.
The weapon in question is a touch attack specifically Chill Touch.
I sort of figured that an Arcane Academy would have testing /training grounds for various spells, especially universities concerned with securities. If there's a place where people would scout for talent, it would be there.

Those were shitpost rolls anyway though.

>>176371
Shitpost-rolling for karaoke

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

[1d20+8 = (13+8) = 21]

>>176362
The walls of the shack are made of branches and the trunks of small trees. They leave small gaps between them and are not intended to be airtight and retain heat. This means that  Amber can look inside, but someone from inside could theoretically look out as well.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

"There are more opportunities there than here."

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

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

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

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

"We can make our coats just fine."

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

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

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

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

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

"Our life here is stable."

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

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

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

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

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

"Well if you don't decide by spring you are planting. We are not going to bet on moving then have nothing for next winter." Amber can see her mother start to move towards the door. "I still can't believe you sent Tähtien to school. He better not come back talking about this ridiculous 'science'. It's the end of all society..." She opens the door and, "Kultainen Hämärä. Where have you been?"

>>176376
She stops, and her ears flip down. Then she turns her head towards Kira, angled down. She sighs.

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

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

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

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

>>176378
Perhaps

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

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

nom nom nom

>>176381
>I don't get it
There is nothing to get. It is a rip off from some 90s anime English dub song.
>nom nom nom
Posey watches Gloomy eat intently, her ringed golden eyes glimmering in the dim light by the window, following his movements closely.

>>176381
The building would likely have been built around Curwhinny's time, for him to have a floor plan of it. It's likely he could go look at local government records for those sorts of buildings built before Curwhinny was sealed away. At the very least knowing dates will let him narrow the search down a fair bit, and there's surely something hidden here to warrant having a floor plan of the place.

He shows the paper with the tree on it to Pear. "Can you read this? I have feeling it pertains to this fruit, and maybe it will shed light on why there would be perfectly ripened, strange fruit in here. And why it is still good after all of this time."

>>176381
Kira tilts her head at her deer friend.

"Well, I suppose the ponies that don't run away screaming at the sight of me do. I don't know what your story was before I first saw you at Customs. It sounds like you've had a hard life. Can you...can you fill me in on some of the details?"

>>176382
After an attempt to eat it with a fork, which is swiftly abandoned, Gloomy starts to eat it with his hooves. This, too, is quickly abandoned, in favor of just shoving his face into the waffles. Soon his muzzle is covered with whipped cream and syrup.

nom nom nom

Wait. Wait! THERE IS CHOCOLATE!

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

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

>>176384
She sighs
"What is there to say? Living from place to place. Poverty. Harassment by Griffin sheriffs and the Baltimare police..."

>>176385
"What about your parents? You know, your life growing up, how was it?"

>>176385
Posey levitates and wipes Gloomy down with a napkin and assists him, levitating a fork and knife and cutting his food for him.
She chides at him softly about making a mess, still staring at him with an almost uncannily affectionate expression..
"Oh Gloomy... I need to get you home, but for now, just relax and enjoy yourself." she says quietly, seemingly more to herself than to the colt
>>176383
If only you could fine someone who were trained in arcane sciences.

>>176385
"When was last time you heard of sun meaning anything dangerous?" Silver looks back at the fruit. "Then again, Curwhinny was doing all sorts of alchemical experiments trying to bring back his deceased family, and one of my compatriots can testify that they did not taste great. Who knows why he would want one of these strange fruits, or what it could do." He looks again back at Pear. "But, then again...nothing ventured, nothing gained. Think I should taste it?"

>>176387
If only...

>>176388
>Think I should taste it?"
OOC, I would advise against that. If it's what I think it is, you'll instantly die.

>>176388
Pear blinks
"What didn't taste great?"

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

>>176386
"Oh..." She looks away. "That I'd rather not say.... But I didn't see them much."

>>176390
Posey hands the nearest waitress a silver doubloon with a skull stamped on it, and honors the request.

>>176391
She looks down at the coin
"Okay then... Waffle minus the waffle it is."

And she actually does bring out the whipped cream, blueberry, raspberry, strawberry, banana chocolate bar.

>>176380
Amber doesn't know what to make of this conversation. A city? Apartment? Central Council? These are all strange concepts she isn't really familiar with. And her brother is coming? Won't that be good? But she doesn't really want to move away….

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

"I gathered the firewood like I needed to. On the way Jakala and I found a poor mare who looked badly frostbit. We took her to a neighbor's hut and he said she's Makea Aamu. I also saw and heard something odd…." She can't help but pause, not knowing how to explain just what that thing was.

>>176390
"These jars filled with alchemical salts and ashes of deceased ponies. My friend, Dark Star, wanted to see how it tasted. It did not taste good at all."

>>176389
That's, uh...that's pretty severe.

>>176390
"Awwwwww..." Kira's ears fold down. "I'm sorry, Neela. I don't know what I would have done without my mom being around. Are those griffin sheriffs why you came over here to Baltimare?"

>>176392
Yay, extra toppings
>>176394
I could be wrong, but do you really think the necromancer lich was up to anything good? Is consuming unidentified substances made by an evil Wizard a risk you're willing to take?
Maybe have it checked by an expert first.

>>176393
Her mother leans down and
squeaky
Picks up Amber, to where she is holding her

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

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

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

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

>>176396
He literally licked equine remains

DM, I am ready to start this evening if you're feeling up to it. No rush of course.

>>176398
wags tail

Where would you like to start?

>>176397
"What is it like? If I'm going to bring my tribe over here, knowing that would be great information."

>>176397
"Heheh, usually how it goes." He looks at the fruit again. "There is still question of what to do with this. Should I just go ahead and eat it, or go to somepony to get it identified?"

>>176400
"Ugh! Misserable! Repetative, boring. I saw a deer get her hoof caught in a machine and... she only has half a hoof. Long hours. Not so great wages. The unions will hire goons to literally beat you if you try to work during a strike, and of course the factories won't pay you if you do not work... You get caught up in a war that isn't your own, and... It's miserable."

>>176401
She looks at it
"I think it's a Lumia. Maybe a citron-lemon hybrid? It's in suspiciously good condition..."

>>176397
Little Kultainen looks adorable being held. She's getting a bit big for it though and she scrunches.

"Well, Jakala and I went west past the tundra to gather firewood. We saw a huge clearing where hundreds of trees were felled, some were burned…there was a pile of logs that had been stacked, and a few standing trees in the middle of it all…"

>>176399
Customs at the port would be most appropriate.

>>176397
Posey gets ready to leave once Gloomy is finished eating. She takes her time though.

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

She also arranges to have the ghost's haunted items mailed to their respective resting places.

>>176402
Silver nods in agreement.

"Never heard of Lumia before. I am not particularly inclined towards getting poisoned, I will take getting shot any day over getting poisoned if it is. But I am curious."

>>176406
Silver isn't, actually.

>>176408
Oh, okay.

>>176402
Kira cringes upon hearing the description, especially about the missing hoof.

"It sounds miserable. Did they at least fix the issue with that machine? It doesn't sound like it's supposed to be eating hooves."

>>176403
"You went to the blast?" Mother asks

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

You can make a new character

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

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

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

>>176410
"They said it was her fault for putting her hoof there. You have to be quick."

>>176406
Neither is Dark Star or Amber

>>176411
"Blast? I don't know what that is. But nearby I saw one of them. The Stallos…" she answers as she shudders in terror.

>>176411
This gets the lamia to pout. "Well that's just stupid. No one wants to lose a hoof, it's not like she tried to. I know some jobs are just dangerous no matter what, but surely there's something to be done to make that machine or other machines safer for workers."

>>176411
>>176409
While he was born in Petershoof, it was before the Severyanan Civil War when Severyana was Equestrian territory, and he wasn't a resident of Severyana when the Civil War began. I think that qualifies for not technically being an immigrant.

Also: [1d2 = 1]

>>176411
>>176414
The die speaks. Let us hope that Silver does not die as a result.

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

munch

>>176412
She gasps
"You saw a Stallo?!?!?"
Her mother is visibly concerned

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

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

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

>>176415
Biting into the fruit, Silver can taste that the rind of the fruit is indeed like a lemon. That is to say, it is thick like a lemon, with a somewhat acidic taste. Then he gets to the flesh. It's simultaneously sour like a lemon, but also sweet like an orange or tangerine. It's a very sharp flavor over all. Not as bad as biting into a lemon, but definitely strong.

>>176416
"Mmmm..."

Silver is surprised and delighted by the flavor. It's not bad at all, like taking the best of both a lemon and an orange. He'll have to remember this "Lumia" and look for more in the markets, the household would love these.
Are there any seeds or a pit that needs to be spit out?

>>176416
"Awwwwwwww...we didn't have factories back home. I can't believe they would just forget that it's living being who are working the machines. You can't just leave them like that. I hope you didn't have to spend much time there."

>>176417
Though the fruit is of a sort where seeds would be expected in its flesh towards the center, all seeds are noticeably missing. It's completely seedless.

Pear just watches.

>>176418
"Oh I didn't. I was late once, was admonished, and then just stopped going."

>>176419
"You got in trouble for being late? How late were you?"

>>176420
"A few minutes! Well, half an hour. But still. They are very demanding."

>>176419
Silver mumbles around the fruit flesh and rind currently in his mouth, the words vaguely coming out as the question "Want some?"

>>176416
"I did, Mama," she says with a frown.

"I saw it, Papa. While we were outside there was a very strange sound we couldn't get away from. At the clearing it was the loudest, and over a crest I looked and saw a Stallos. It was huge and dark, Papa, but it didn't see me." The filly is shivering and fidgeting nervously, but she puts on a brave face. "I hid our tracks like you showed me, Papa. There's no way it could have followed. But it's still so close to here…."

>>176421
"Awwww. Well, I want to promise you this, you will never have to worry about factory work as long as you're living with me!" She smiles at the deer, before continuing on. "So what did you do for money after leaving the factory?"

>>176411
>She seems to have genuinely no interest
I will make up a reason to be interested.
Posey is a blackweave warmagus who specializes in arcane securities, and she's trying to raise funds for her army. She'd be willing to do any sort of mercenary/adventure work if the job payed well.
More importantly, Posey is a Sorceress who has finally been freed of the oppressive confines of Magehold, and she's just itching to find living targets to practice her spells on and expand her powers; in fact, she's desperate to, because exceeding her master's powers (lvl ~6-8) is the only way she can end her apprenticeship and be free of their bindings. So she'd gladly do any sort of mercenary work if the job entailed fighting things.
Also, Posey is bloodthirsty. She wants to fight.
>You can make a new character
I'll consider it, but I already came this far with Posey.
>That's actually kind of relevant to the next big quest
Oh, that's good then.
For the record, Posey's forged passport is one from Farbrook. If ponies ask where she is from, she says she is from Farbrook.
Farbrook has a culture similar to Equestria, so she blends in well. It's also constantly threatened by the Dread League, which is a convenient excuse for knowing many facts about the Dread League should anyone ever grow suspicious.
>>176412
Oh yeah, I passed by Amber's hometown.
>>176419
It looks like the fruit is not what I believed it to be. False alarm.

>>176411
>I'm not sure what it's going to take to get her onto the next quest...
Is there any way Posey could hear about the mercenary job? Is there an [adventures wanted] bulletin anywhere? I'd it advertised in any newspaper tabloids that a shady necromancer might read, or put on posters in a dark alleyway?
I have been waiting to meet the party for more than a year. I don't care if the way to get there is shoehorned.

>>176422
Silver feels something like an electric tingle from his throat and mouth.

Pear comes closer to the fruit, extending her muzzle and sniffing it.

"That can't be a normal fruit...:"

>>176423
Father extends a hoof, and ruffles little Amber's mane, letting her golden mane fall and cover over her eyes.

"You did well, but I don't think that was a Stallos. That was most likely a moose. Perhaps it had rolled in ash or mud somewhere in the blast, making it look dark. But you did good to run away from it. Moose can be very scary."

>>176424
Neela smiles widely, wags her little tuft of a tail, and jumps up on her forelegs. Then she stops, narrowing her eyes and turning her head away

"Waaait... What's the catch? Do you want me to steal for you? Distract ponies while I steal from them? I mean, I could do that but uh... oh, what did I do for money? Uh, various things. Little jobs."

>>176425
>>176426
To join, Posey has to do one very simple, but very counter-intuitive thing. Go down to Customs one morning, and ask to join in for mercenary work.

>>176427
"No catch! Well, I guess being a friend is a catch. Can you call it a catch? I mean, you're doing pretty well on that already. But anyways, besides that there's no catch, I just like having a friend."

>>176427
>counter-intuitive
>Go down to Customs one morning, and ask to join in for mercenary work
Well, Posey had plans to infiltrate and investigate customs herself, since they had killed off several of her potential allies, and knowing what they do could lead her to other Necromancers, even if only to raid their lairs.
She's also trying to buy some property in the city, and fact of the matter is that Posey doesn't really have very many skills outside of killing (idk how much the university jobs actually pay, but I assume it's just proportional to Posey's profession or craft check), so work is work.

So yeah, Posey could do that.
>one morning
Posey prefers to do so in the evening if it's during business hours.

>>176404
The Loney Dove, a smaller ocean liner of the Whinny Line, is very possibly the first passenger ship from Nova Griffonia to arrive in Baltimare since the ocean lanes opened up a week or so ago. Bound from Weter, it arrives at 3 PM.

>>176427
Hmmm...good tingle or bad tingle? Either way, Silver pauses, looking confused. He mumbles out a "Hold on".

>>176431
A wiry griffon walks onto the deck of the Lonely Dove. He is wearing a very fine tan suit with a matching wide-brimmed hat, over a silk shirt and bowtie. He carries two heavy-looking leather-bound suitcases and descends down the gangway to the dock toward the customs area.

>>176430
Mother:
"Oh, that's a place of terrible magic. Spirits came in where the other world converged with ours."

Father shakes his head
"It's called the blast because that's near where a meteor exploded in the air. Near enough to knock the trees down, anyways. That's what the Inspector said."

Mother shakes her head
"Happened over near Metsän Vaeltaja's cabin. Over the Pohjoinen Noaidi. That's a big rock in the ground under the trees which has old runes in it that the spirits often use as a gateway between our world and theirs. If you ask me, I think too many of them came in at once. Or left at once. Or something came in that shouldn't have. That's what caused the blast. I don't know what you saw, but you best be careful out there. It may not have been anything living..."

Father: "Don't tell her such stories. It was a rock from outer space. It exploded in the air because the heat and the friction of the air was too much. The stallion from the Central Council told us so. And what they say is law."

>>176433
"This way please" A grey stallion directs him to a line into a building

"Welcome to Baltimare"

>>176432
It tends towards good. It feels oddly rejuvenating. Silver feels a little more energetic.

>>176435
"Mmmmmm!"

Silver's eyes light up in response. If Pear is sure she doesn't want any, Silver swallows his bite and munches on the rest of fruit.

>>176436
Pear moves over and licks the fruit. But Silver can certainly eat more. Be advised, it's a large fruit.

>>176434
"Who are the Central Council?" she asks her father. She also turns to her mother. "Where is the rock with the runes? And why would a Stallos be near there?"

>>176411
>>176425
makes new character anyway

Later that morning, at the die-ner

A cloaked, shadowy figure enters the diner. It moves furtively and silently, although perhaps not so gracefully as Posey does, seemingly trying to draw little attention to itself. It takes a seat at one of the chairs and gestures for service, a thin black bandage-wrapped hoof waving out from beneath its black cloak.

>>176437
munch

Silver takes another bite of the fruit, but it's gonna be gone soon if Pear doesn't ask for any. He definitely has to remember to look for more of these in the market.

>>176435
"Thank you. Nice weather for this time of year, isn't it?" the griffon remarks as he gets in line.

>>176439
Uh

>>176438
"The new government over in Everfrost. They have say over our village. It's up north. And there are no Stallos."

Mother: "There are Stallos, but they wouldn't go near a Noaidi. It's too sacred of a place. Unless that Noaidi has been destroyed...

>>176429
>Evening
No. It is peculiar to the morning hours.

>>176441
It's cloudy. Which is kind of like Weter at this time, actually. It's warmer here though.

>>176440
Pearf does take a slice of the fruit, maybe taking a knife to do so.

"Woah" Her eyes go wide. Silver himself is surely feeling an ecstatic effect.

>>176442
"Why do they say we can't wear our colored coats? And I want to see the Noaidi." Amber sits up and looks consumed with curiosity.

>>176442
>t is peculiar to the morning hours
Okay, she goes one morning, after long night of writing a boring dissertation on undead combat that painfully only reveals as many weaknesses as her masters permit her to share with the public.
"Buck this. I didn't come all the way to equestria just to do paperwork..!"
And so she finds her way to customs in pursuit of a job where she can make use of her powers.
>Uh
The breakfast goer gestures for service, evidently hungry.

>>176442
It beats the snow and cold, at least. The griffon casually observes the crowd around him.

>>176442
"Mmhmm!" Silver swallows his second bite. "It's good, right? We've got to find more of these." It's definitely an ecstatic feeling, to say the least. He feels tingly all over, like he's been charged up with static. He swears he can feel his fur almost stand on end from it.

munch

>>176443
Father: "It's an old traditional practice that is not in keeping with the modern world. They wish to bring us into the modern era, and they say factory made clothing is the most obvious way to do so. And that Noaidi is probably destroyed, though I can't say."
He extends a hoof and pets Amber

>>176445
The crowd that comes out of the ship is disproportionately pony. Actually, it's majority pony. Must be ponies who went north and got trapped, or who fled Equestria for Nova Griffonia just to find they'd rather go home. Or maybe they are Nova Griffonians who figured that land is no place for a pony... Well, it's hardly a place for a griffin, either.

The creatures are divided into lines, and the Mysterious Ranger will have to go into the "Alien" line

>>176446
Silver has a nice euphoric feeling, Pear gets another small slice, but clearly, the majority is going to Silver. His fur is literally standing on end

>>176444
Sure. A waitress walks over.

"What would you like?" She asks

>>176428
She lowers her ears, then back up

"Did you have many friends in... wherever it was you were from?" She asks

>>176447
>"What would you like?" She asks
A raspy it effeminate voice replies, she speaks in a hushed tone, as if worried of drawing attention to her transaction, her head still hidden beneath her hood.
"F-fourty pancakes." she says

>>176449
"Fruity pancakes? Sure, we have that. Anything to drink?"

>>176450
"No..." The cloaked figure shimmies beneath it's cloak and places a solid gold doubloon on the table, seemingly a foreign coin but worth the same in gold nonetheless
"Fourty pancakes." she repeats, more clearly this time
"And a pitcher of apple juice."

>>176447
Silver offers Pear one more slice before he finishes it off with a final munch. He feels absolutely amazing! He might end up swearing off of all other types of fruit after this, if he can find some more. If only he had this when he was eating his waffles earlier, he can't even imagine how good it would have been. He smiles at Pear.

"I can see why Curwhinny had notes about this, I would want to eat these every day if I could! We need to find more of these after we finish looking for that sarcophagus."

>>176448
"Dhamaji?" Kira blushes, looks away, and messes with the end of her tail. "Not...not many?"

>>176442
>>176446
This is basically the eating of the Forbidden Fruit except Silver is tempting a mare.

>>176447
pony is pet
"But our clothes aren't hurting anypony. I like wearing them. Can't we be 'modern' and have our colorful coats, too?"

>>176447
This ends up working toward the griffon's benefit, as this line is much shorter. Whether the staff for this section are as hospitable remains to be seen.

>>176452
"Eh heh..." Pear smiles with a little blush. "I think that may have been the only one."

>>176451
"Oh, uh... I don't think we have that many. But I'll get as many as I can." She walks away

>>176453
"You were a loner, weren't you? And none of the other lamias were as" She waves a hoof "Soft, as you. Were they?"

>>176455
>Forbidden fruit
oh my...

He scritches her head as well
"You can wear it inside. But you can't wear it out where the inspector can see you. They don't like any signs of luxury or tradition, or differentiation."

>>176456
It's kind of slow though. Eventually, he comes up to a cream colored stallion in green.

"Good afternoon. What is your

Name
Nationality
Purpose here
Occupation
Length of stay
And Race

>>176457
Kira first shyly nods, then slowly transitions to shaking her head at the second question.

"Yes. And not...not quite. I mean, they're not mean or anything, they would get along great with deer like you or with ponies and such, but I'm, uh...I'm definitely soft. It's why my mom wanted me here, and not fighting back at home."

>>176457
>I don't think we have that many
The cloaked figure fishes more gold doubloons out from beneath it's cloak
"Anything- no, everything you have is fine..."
There's a shudder to her voice, almost desperate sounding

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=HrIeP798hiQ

>>176457
"You called them 'Lumia' earlier, so I assumed they have to exist somewhere. It must have come from tree like other fruit do, it is why all of these notes are here."

Hmm...this gets Silver to thinking if the floor plans and shipping manifest are actually related to this tasty fruit.

>>176458
Slowly,

"So you were sent here because your mother thought you wouldn't survive in a warzone? While most of them stayed."

>>176459
"Right..." The mare rushes off

She comes back with a dozen or so pancakes, oats, oatmeal, grits, hay, oranges, and a few other items.

>>176460
"I said it looks like a Lumia... Lumia don't keep for centuries. They don't... feel like that. That's not a Lumia. That's a magic fruit. I've never seen anything like that before. I don't know what it is... what it was... I think you just ate the only one..."

>>176457
Amber pouts. "He's not of our tribe and doesn't live here. Why does he care so much about our luxuries and traditions?"

>>176461
Silver frowns. "Surely not. It did not even have seeds to plant. Now, granted it is odd that it lasted this long, and there is probably something magic about it, but there must be source. Fruit does not just spontaneously come into existence, especially when he has notes about trying to grow whatever tree this came from."

>>176461
"Well, that's part of the reason, but...yes. I really was tasked with trying to get aid from Equestria, I know mom didn't lie. But I also know it's true that I wouldn't survive in a war."

>>176462
"They want what is best for us. They want to turn us into a modern country. That is why. They want to make sure we are in compliance with the law."

>>176463
Pear looks at the notes
"So many crossed out lines... So many failed attempts... These are notes of what doesn't work."

She looks at the manifest
"Left Baltimare Harbor New Year's day 770... that's just a few days before he was killed... Curwhinny was dead before this ship got to it's destination."

She looks at the floor plan
"I don't know what this is. I think it's a church, but... I don't recognize it."

>>176464
"Uh huh." She tilts her head "Do you really think the others would get along with the ponies? Are you sure they aren't just a little less cute, a little more hot headed, maybe even just a little hungrier than you?"

>>176465
"No, it's nothing like that, it's just...they don't really have the same hang-ups I do about eating sometimes, or at least most of them don't, and I'm probably just, you know, exceptionally soft. They really would get along with the ponies, I know that's the case."

>>176465
Silver slowly puts two and two together, seeing the puzzle pieces match together in his mind.

"...Pear? Do you think all of this came from Abyssinia? This book paper, this fruit, that floor plan...all of it? And if there are more of these fruits, growing on actual trees, they would be there?"

>>176457
The griffon nods his head and puts down his suitcases.

"Afternoon. Name is Garv Cavaliere, from Nova Griffonia, griffon, length of stay indeterminate, and as for the rest…" he pulls out a card holder from an inside suit pocket, picks out a card, and slides it across to the stallion.

GUN FOR HIRE
♜
GARV CAVALIERE
WETER

>>176465
"If our coats are holding us back, then why do you let us wear them indoors? That means you don't actually believe the Central Council," Amber points out. She turns to her mother. "Aren't I right? We're not being 'compliant,' just in secret."

>>176466
"Right..." She turns around, and walks closer towards Kira.

"I'm betting they aren't so soft and cuddly as you say they are. Or maybe even as you think they are. The Ponies certainly aren't as soft and friendly as they tell everything they are. I know that. I don't think you are as soft as you think you are... weak, yes. But not as non-threatening."

>>176467
"I don't... maybe? I suppose that would make sense." She says

>>176468
The stallion smiles, and looks back up to him
"Are you here to volunteer with the Military? Or perhaps one of the companies?"

>>176469
He frowns
"Hush, Kultanien."

Her mother does not actually answer

"Kultanien, want to come with me to the village shop? We are low on salt."

>>176470
Silver shakes his head clear. "I am sorry if I seem focused on this, but...I can smell adventure coming from this, and it smells like citrus. And, remember when you asked where I would take you on our next escapade?" He smiles at the mare. "I would like you to come with me, when it is time."

>>176470
She cheers up and hops off the bed. "Sure!" She pauses. "Wait, do you think she'll be okay? The mare, I mean. I don't know why she was on the tundra or where she was going."

>>176470
Kira scrunches, though the scrunch feels entirely non-threatening.

"But this is different. They're my people, I know them. They just need a chance."

>>176471
She has a smile that shows off her teeth
"Heh, Abyssinia... Let me check my schedule. Curwhinny's last mystery. Literally, it seems."

>>176472
He blinks
"Who?"

>>176473
"It's easy for you to say they should be given a chance. For someone like me, that's a chance I could end up there" She points to Hopper

"And in any case, you have too much faith in the ponies."

>>176470
The griffon shrugs. "That depends. Military life is behind me and I am what you could say freelance. What I do know is that there is no shortage of work in Baltimare, even compared to Nova Griffonia. There is very important work needed by some very important ponies."

>>176475
"Well, be mindful of the restrictions on firearm and explosive use and possession in the Baltimare Governate. It's for licensed agents and deputies of the government only. In any case. let me arrange for a work visa. There are no immigrant visas available for Nova Griffonians, but... There are war-time work visas available. Come to the next room, we can get you set up."

>>176477
Oh that's right. She didn't stay in the hut, did she?

"Oh... I see... Is she okay now?"

Mother shakes her head
"Bad spirits have been released..."

>>176474
"Why would you end up eaten? You're not food, you're Neela." Kira tilts her head at the deer.

>>176474
"Heh, it will be once we find where that dang sarcophagus is." Silver looks around at the room. "Where is that thing?"

>>176479
"I saw how you looked at me. I've heard the stories..." She replies

>>176480
"I don't think it's in this room." Pear says, turning the flashlight around to the walls.

>>176481
"Probably not. I know we have not explored every room yet. Do we keep looking in other rooms or do we head outside and start questioning others?"

>>176481
Kira tilts her head some more at Neela. "What stories?"

>>176482
She shrugs, and makes a small smile
"It's worked out so far. For me it's a question of whether I'd rather more of my coworkers see me with you, or if I'd rather they see me go off in private with you... Hard choice there... How about we check out another room or two?"

>>176483
Her ears go up
"I mean... Old stories. Just... Nevermind. I just mean that the ponies may not see it your way."

>>176484
"Then I'll half to work extra hard to change that! It's like you said, the ponies do seem to like me. I know that's not the context you used it in, but still. I'll change their minds about me and lamias."

>>176484
Silver smiles as well.

"That is true, who knows what other treasures are hidden away that even time has forgotten, that we may find along way."

Silver heads for another room to search.

>>176476
Cavaliere looks directly at the stallion.

"I assure you, creatures in my line of business don't last long without paying attention to local law."

He follows him to the next room.

>>176485
"And how will you do that?" She asks

>>176486
"I would say the most interesting details have been found already, but clearly not."

Pear adds,
"Have any books been removed from the library?"

And where does Silver go?

>>176489
"Since last time I was here?"

Probably start with the opposite library. But first, Silver looks to see if any books have been removed (that he hadn't removed already).

>>176489
"By being my best self, you know, being an example for my tribe! I suppose it's a good thing I was chosen for this task, huh? Maybe my softness can come in handy."

>>176490
"No, I mean when you were here."

The shelves have since been almost emptied

>>176491
"Well, the ponies like you..." She says "So... does that mean I can just live here, or...?" She looks up toward Kira with her softest doe eyes

>>176492
Kira nods. Even if she wanted to, there's no way she could say no to those eyes.

"You can live here."

>>176492
Sense Motive: Silver tries to read Pear's face to see how she would react to the truth. On the one hoof, Silver has a suspicion that she might not appreciate the books being in the hooves of the Black Hooves. On the other...maybe it would be considered a bad boy move?

[1d20+2 = (9+2) = 11]

>>176494
Silver can't really see her well in the darkness, especially with him not having a flashlight of his own. Silver can, however, tell that she wants those books and cares what happens to them. Silver does seem to have impressed her so far.

>>176493
Still keeping the doe eyes
"And?"

>>176495
Dammit, they say honesty is the best policy. Maybe it will work here.

"Black Hooves have them."

>>176495
"What do you want, Neela?" Kira tilts her head at the deer.

>>176496
She blinks.

“What.”

>>176497
Drawing out each word,
“And also other expenses?”
She continues her doe eyes

>>176498
Kira giggles.

"And also other expenses, yes."

>>176498
"They are, or were, in possession of one Blue Skies of Black Hooves here in Baltimare."

>>176425
>>176427
On whatever day Posey gets to the merc office, is there a test or demonstration they require for proof of skill?

Posey normally passively opposes any Assess Opponent Sense Motive checks (taking 10 for a total of 24) to read her power level because she prefers to keep her powers discreet, but when presenting her resume (I'll dialogue-post that later) and particularly when negotiating adventuring fees, she does the opposite, preferring to boast her powers. Opponents Assessing her would see her would see that she is an adventurer of heroic level (around ~5th level). It challenged for her powers, Posey may be willing to demonstrate that she is able to cast third level hexes (something that only an adventurer who qualifies as a "hero of the realm" could do).
>She comes back with a dozen or so pancakes, oats, oatmeal, grits, hay, oranges, and a few other items.
The cloaked figure stares at the incoming plates with eyes that glow like hot coals beneath its hood.
It waits until the waitress gets puts some puts some distance between them, before putting its hooded face over the plates and eating with a series of somewhat disturbing sounds...

>>176487
Mother shakes her head and sighs

"tssk tssk. If this is how little Kultanien is learning here with us, how much less is Tähtien learning at 'school'? Little Kultanien, the spirits are those who live in the spirit world. These are gods, to whom we give our obedience and sacrifice, in return for our blessings. And they are those who have come before us, who once lived in the world but now live amongst the spirit realm. Our ancestors. Like my mother. The spirits may commune with us at special points where the two meet, the Sieidi and the Noaidi."

>>176505
It's probably best to try to roleplay it, though again, it's a matter of timing

>>176503
She opens her mouth, turns her head to the side, and then looks back to Silver

"Wha-what. 'Blue Skies'? The Blackhooves? Who?!"

>>176502
Neela giggles, then jumps up in the air in a springing motion, forelegs followed by her hindlegs. She wiggles her tail.

"I knew I chose right!"

>>176508
Silver blinks.

"Uh...you just summarized it pretty well. Blue Skies, Black Hooves."

>>176508
D'awwwwwwwwwww.

"D'awwwww. You chose me?" Kira smiles brightly at her deer friend.

>>176508
>it's a matter of timing
I'm not quite sure what you mean.
I'm unaware of what the date is on the calendar of this universe, or if Posey's timeline is necessarily synch simultaneously with all of the others (I notice that there have been quest lengths that vary wildly at the same time, so I sort of assumed individual party members were on loosely different timescopes).
Couldn't they just... Conveniently all meet up at some point?

>>176488
Garv is sat down, and the next step involves a series of questions that must be answered, questions like,

"Are you a Communist? A Harmonist Agitor? A Griffonian Nationalist Agitator? An Anarchist? Are you able to work? Do you know where you will be living in Equestria? Will you agree to abide by all stated laws and regulations of the Baltimare Governate? Are you travelling alone, in a group, or with family? Have you ever participated in Hellquillian Crimes against Equinity? Are you a follower of Maar? Are you a practitioner of Dark Magic?

There's quite a bit of waiting, and Garv has time to creature-watch. The easiest time to be had amongst the immigrants are the Nova Griffonian ponies. They answer a few questions, go through a few medical checks, and are ultimately stamped as residents on a quick path to citizenship. They are told of offers of subsidized or even free housing, free health and education, and guaranteed jobs if they repatriate to the Griffonian Territories or New Mareland Proper, though requirements of Military service are hinted at. Even those who insist they wish to stay are directed towards available jobs, mostly in what seem to be defense related fields. Garv sees a few ponies, what seems like two large families, that he can guess by their stocky bodies and fluffy coats are Skynavian or perhaps Cubrian ponies, who are given the same fast-track to citizenship, guaranteed jobs and housing as the Nova Griffonians, evidently as favored asylum seekers.

Another category, slightly larger, are those Nova Griffonian griffins who seek entry, like Garv. None of the griffins are offered residency (save two, who evidently have some kind of special status or connections), free-housing is not offered, and the griffins in general are asked far more questions concerning membership in political insurgent groups or even occultism.

Those with the absolute easiest time getting in are those who are believed when they say they are simply visiting. Save for a single pony couple, these are all griffins, and all comparatively well off, judging by their suits, dresses, and jewelry.

And then there are three groups who face the most scrutiny. The most skepticism is levied against who is perhaps the single largest group - returning Equestrian nationals. A decent number of these quickly satisfy the Custom's officer's questions and are let through, but many more are subjected to deeper scrutiny. When did you leave Equestria? Why did you leave Equestria? Who did you meet with there? Do you have any connections with the Equestrian Liberation Front? Do you have any connections with the Popular Front? Who are you relatives here? Where are your properties here? Did you take any wealth with you when you left? Did you leave any behind? Do your family members here have ELF or PF connections? Why are you returning now? Do you want to tell us again why you left Equestria? Customs officers try to split this group into those who can be let in, and those who need to be investigated further.

But two tiny groups are the unluckiest of all. There are a few Vedinan and one Skyanian Griffins who are seeking admission but outright turned back because they are told there are no available visas, save for very particular paths. And finally, there is a family of Nova Griffonian yaks who are turned back for similar reasons.

They make a bit of a scene, yelling and stomping.

>>176511
>Couldn't they just... Conveniently all meet up at some point?
This is basically what I intended, it just seems the other characters are not ready

>date on the calender
It's supposed to be something like January 28th, 1013, but you're trying to put Posey on a much faster timeline than the other characters, so I think the number of days that pass should not be taken very seriously as they will not line up between characters.

>>176510
"Well, yes, between being deported to be a literal slave for the fascists or worse sold to the zebras, and running away and having to support myself by" she shudders as she hints to a deeper, scarcely imaginable horror "working a job... this was the better option. Even though I am pretty sure you did want to eat me. It's all good now though."

>>176509
"The Black Hooves have several books of Dark Magic and ancient history and religion?" She says blankly.

>>176512
>but you're trying to put Posey on a much faster timeline than the other characters, so I think the number of days that pass should not be taken very seriously as they will not line up between characters
I didn't intend to. I figured Posey would need to spend some downtime to get situated at the university anyway.
>it just seems the other characters are not ready
Well, I guess that's that...

I wouldn't object to being randomly thrown into the quest surrounding the Lich's Lair, if that's plausible.

>>176514
So the thing about the Lich's lair is that it was the site of a quest that concluded about... five or so calendar years ago.

The idea is that after Silver's character went back to the scene When I straight up just told his player that he left a massive piece of loot behind, it was populated by a set of characters who themselves were from a flash-forward dream sequence from a different player. The group is a University team who are doing an archeological survey of the quest location for construction on the site.

Silver went there this time to hide an automobile he stole from the mob, and is staying probably because he wants to screw one of the characters involved in the archeological survey.

>>176515
>The group is a University team who are doing an archeological survey of the quest location for construction on the site
Well, that is something Posey might catch wind of.
>Silver went there this time to hide an automobile he stole from the mob, and is staying probably because he wants to screw one of the characters involved in the archeological survey
Hmmmmmm, well then. Idk what I could do there then. I just like exploring dungeons.
I'm going to want an independent lair of operations at later level, and an abandoned lich's lair sounds like a good place to move in...

>>176508
"So those are good spirits…and you said there are evil spirits too. How did they get here and what do they want?" Amber leans forward as do her ears. She stares in interest.

>>176512
"I am not affiliated with any political group. I am here for temporary work, and I do think one of the local hotels here will be sufficient to stay at. I do agree to follow your laws. Alone. I have never been near Hellquill and do not intend to visit. I personally am not too tolerant of Maar, the Dark Arts, or their practitioners either." He talks rather deliberately, almost as if bored, and does not have the sort of distinct accent one might expect from a griffon foreigner. With the last answer, though, he gives the customs officer a small smile, the mouth behind his beak and below a thin black mustache curling up slightly.

While he waits the griffon remarks to himself on the curious customs practices. "It's like a rat maze where all are pushed to different, distinct exits. Yet their own are not given the same advantages and rewards as the Nova Griffonian ponies, or even the griffons for that matter. I think I know what to expect from this place."

>>176516
Even though the archeological survey is being done by a team from a completely different university, yes, Posey is very likely to hear about it.

>Independent lair of operations.
The convenient thing is that it is right, smack in the middle of developing subdivision. It's on a property with a (now drained) lake that can be restored, an old farm homestead, and of course the subterranean lair. There's a pretty good school system to send gloomy to, and it wouldn't be hard at all to hook up to water, sewer, electricity, and gas. The owner of it may be willing to sell it as is once the required Archeological survey is complete, for the right price.

It's now being ransacked a second time, but as demonstrated, not everything has been found.

>>176517
She is silent for a minute
"Yes, from the same space and by the same means. Some old pony spirits can be malevolent for various reasons. But they go to Rotaimo, along with all those who are wicked, in the underworld, locked away there. Gods can be displeased if they are not honored... They are honored less and less, nowadays... But the spirits are by and large benign, though you must always respect them.

Though there are... gods of evil things. There is a god over every domain, after all. the god of death, the god of plague and sickness, Ruohatta, for example. They tend to lord in the underworld, mostly." She answers

>>176518
The customs pony, a big black earth pony, asks the questions coolly and more or less professionally, but he does turn around to look at the commotion. Elsewhere, a yak and an Equestrian national, are not happy.

Garv's biggest surprise is when he is moved to another area, has a submachine gun pointed at him by a golden pegasus, and is told by another pony to keep his eyes open and stare straight ahead as he shines a light above his eyes.

>>176519
>The convenient thing is that it is right, smack in the middle of developing subdivision. It's on a property with a (now drained) lake that can be restored, an old farm homestead, and of course the subterranean lair. There's a pretty good school system to send gloomy to, and it wouldn't be hard at all to hook up to water, sewer, electricity, and gas. The owner of it may be willing to sell it as is once the required Archeological survey is complete, for the right price.
That sounds like good real estate. I think I'll conjure my massive enchanted castle-tower made of black crystals on top of it (which is gonna require me to be at least lvl 8, but I can wait for that part).
Hopefully the land should be cheaper than usual because the place was haunted.
>It's now being ransacked a second time, but as demonstrated, not everything has been found.
Cool. Any chance I could join? I have no idea how long the other quests are going to take.

>>176519
"Can the good gods protect us, mother? And how do we honor them?" she asks.

>>176521
"Of Course." She answers. "Akko, Leibolmai, Beaivi, and many others. Give them your reverence, your faith, abide by customs, follow the rituals, and venerate those who came before us. Rember though that while the spirits have a realm all of their own, they are here in this world as well inhabiting every pony, every animal, every rock and tree. Have respect for them, and they may respect you."

>>176519
Cavaliere glances at the submachine gun and breathes out, but otherwise keeps his cool as he raises his claws and stares ahead. "You had some changelings come in?" he casually asks.

>>176520
Eh, good enough

Posey is called to an office on the third floor - the top floor - of the administrative building of the Jim Haykins Medical School. Openning the wooden door, Posey enters into a high roofed roof with ornate wooden friezes along the walls, rows of book shelves with a ladder, a big, decorated globe, a clock, a statue - statue of Princess Celestia, and a number of other ornaments. Behind a massive mohanghany desk is a black unicorn stallion with a long, pure-white mane. He's of a bit of a smaller frame, but he has a very serious expression. He wears a purple cloak and golden bracelets on each pastern. Posey knows who this stallion is. This is Ersatz Orgone, Dean over the Necrology Divisions in both the Medical School and the School of Arcane Sciences. He speaks

"Miss Ring, I've heard you have interest in local Necromantic lore. Well then, I don't know how much you know, but I'll give you the quick summary. There was a stallion who lived in Baltimare in the 700's called 'Joseph Curwhinny'. And as you've guessed, he was very far from an ordinary stallion. He was a business stallion, and one of extraordinary talent. He took his father in law's company, the 'Celestial Shipping Company,' and made it into an international juggernaut. The rich and powerful have never been liked, and have always been resented by those of lesser talent in every civilization. Naturally, he became the target of criticism. It didn't help that he was involved in practices considered unsavory today, like dealing with Zebrican slave traders and importing a number of them, and the nasty conditions sailors faced in those times. He was targeted and killed in a revolt against local authorities in 771.

Of course, that isn't why you're here, is it? Curwhinny was always known to have immense interests in the occult. 'Dark' magic, esoteric religions, the customs and practices of foreigners and long dead civilizations... Things considered untasteful or strange at the time. In his later years, he spent more time doing that than at his business. When he didn't seem to age it was considered another bad sign. There were rumors he was conducting horrible experiments on dead and living subjects, and was a full blown necromancer. Those were just rumors until a couple weeks ago.

Several weeks ago, a land developer found zombies in a previously unknown set of ruins under his property - a property known to be the location of a farm owned by Joseph Curwhinny, and a location in the aforementioned revolt. He hired mercenaries to clear them out. What was found seemed to confirm the worst of the rumors. Remains of many, many bodies from dug up graves and imported zebras. Militia who perished in the fight... It seems he was a full blown necromancer, and not of any good kind, either. There is an archeological dig being conducted now. We put in the a bid, but it looks like the University of Stableside got in first. Hmph! They have no respect for history, nor magic, and certainly not for our side of the arcane arts. They will try to twist and contort whatever they find to fit their thinly-veiled communist interpretation, and in the process will doubtless bring more infamy to our practice.

Is there something you wish to know, Miss Ring? Outside of providing evidence to the contrary, our best move is to condemn this Curwhinny, and to try to seperate ourselves from his image. All of this is on a property called 'Silver Lake,' really just an abandoned quarry filled with rainwater, in the 'Silver Lake Development Project' in the northwestern part of town."

>>176524
She nods
"It certainly was, though I am not so sure it survived the blast. Metsän Vaeltaja lived near there. He saw the blast. He tells us that it was the convergence of the spirit realm and our realm. That he himself has become a medium between the worlds, able to speak to both. He says he saw what he calls the Seraph, and that this Seraph will bring the Sun on its wings, ahead of Beaivi-"

"ENOUGH!"
Father is angry
"We do not talk about that stallion and his nonsense in here! Not in front of Kultanien, and there will be absolutely no talk of it when the inspector gets here. Do you understand?"

Mother is taken aback.
"Well, I-I - he says the spirits will live among us."

"It is nonsense and we will not have that here!"

Meakly
"I... didn't say it wasn't, just... he says the spirits will walk among the living. I can understand why that would have an appeal to the others. I would like to see my mother-"

"Iwould like many things. All he says is manure! He cannot speak to the dead and he can do nothing but lead us astray. I have respect for the old ways. I respect the old gods. But Kultanien is impressionable. She could be led astray. And in this household we respect science and the Pathway Forward. The stallions from the city said it was a meteor. A rock from space. And that is all it was. The both of you will not speak of this when the Inspector comes. You will not even speak of the Old Gods when he is around. We are in compliance with the Pathway Forward here. Do you understand?"

"Yes..." Mother says meekly. She is cowed.

>>176523
He says
"Some? They are lousing the city, probably. Not many from the sea though. We at least have that much covered"

The next step is a medical examination, with many questions about the throat, symptoms and whathaveyou. Evidently they are looking for disease. At least one griffin from Nova Griffonia fails this test.

>>176527
>a statue - statue of Princess Celestia,
Posey momentarily recoils at this, as if she's been stuck by an unseen hoof, her vampiric heritage making the holy iconography painful.
>Posey knows who this stallion is. This is Ersatz Orgone, Dean over the Necrology Divisions in both the Medical School and the School of Arcane Sciences.
Oh buck.
I would assume that the Dean of the Necrology division would be able to recognize a shambling corpse when he sees one, regardless of how well she does her mane and makeup. I'm going to say that Posey casts Disguise Undead before meeting any high ranking member of the Necrology division, using the extra level of Glammer to disguise her true nature.
>They have no respect for history, nor magic, and certainly not for our side of the arcane arts. They will try to twist and contort whatever they find to fit their thinly-veiled communist interpretation, and in the process will doubtless bring more infamy to our practice.
This actually seems to motivate Posey. Those who disrespect the arts should be punished.
"Oh no..." Posey interjects softly, letting the stallion continue
>Is there something you wish to know, Miss Ring?
"Curwhinny's body... Where is it now?" Is her first question
"Has this Silver Lake site of his lair been properly exorcised before excavation? I do specialize in haunts."
>There is an archeological dig being conducted now. We put in the a bid, but it looks like the University of Stableside got in first.
>thinly-veiled communist
Posey puts on a bit of a smug, mischievous smirk
"Well, if they are commies, they shouldn't be complaining too hard if someone were to visit their site first, now would they? Property is theft, as they say..."
Take 10 for a 24 bluff (innuendo) check, for Posey to passively propose visiting the site her self, bidding results be damned

>>176529
>Posey momentarily recoils at this
Orgone raises an eyebrow
"Not in keeping with your political tastes, Miss Ring?"

>"Curwhinny's body... Where is it now?"
"I have no idea. The rumors say he became a lich. I doubt that very seriously. If it's true, he was either bound and defeated in the revolt, or he made a very quiet escape to the Dread Lands. He's not in Rosemont Cemetary, I can say that with confidence."

>"Has this Silver Lake site of his lair been properly exorcised before excavation? I do specialize in haunts."
"Not to my knowledge, but I cannot say I've consulted with the church, whom I presume would be contacted first for such a procedure. They didn't contact us, I know that."

>"Well, if they are commies, they shouldn't be complaining too hard if someone were to visit their site first, now would they? Property is theft, as they say..."
He mirrors Posey with a smug, mischievous smirk of his own
"How do such rights fit in with a socialist theory of property rights? Seems to me it would be open to all who are able. Especially to those who are more able."

>>176530
>"Not in keeping with your political tastes, Miss Ring?"
"W-what? No. We're not all that different in Farbrook. I was just.. taken back by the quality of this lovely statue."
Bluff
[1d20+14 = (8+14) = 22]
>The rumors say he became a lich
"If he were powerful enough to become a lich, I have my doubts he would have been defeated so easily. I can't say for certain though."
>or he made a very quiet escape to the Dread Lands
I'm going to roll knowledge (Religion) too see if Posey knows of such a lich
[1d20+11 = (17+11) = 28]
>I cannot say I've consulted with the church, whom I presume would be contacted first for such a procedure.
"Yes, those with divine energy channeling powers are scarce these days. Luckily, secular energy channeling is one of my skills."
>Seems to me it would be open to all who are able.
"I believe a phrase that ponies go by is 'sharing is caring'?"