/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>176531
"It's marble from Canterlot. I knew the sculptor. I think all professors who can afford one should have one on display."

>"If he were powerful enough to become a lich, I have my doubts he would have been defeated so easily."
"That is my thought to, and why I do not believe he became a lich. But, between trickery, surprise, numbers, hubris, or a simple lack of will to fight, it is possible for a band of militia to defeat a lich, especially if their number included experienced mages or fighters, and that is why I cannot discount the possibility."

Posey believes she is aware of a lich who more or less fits the description in terms of years of origin and of origin region. However, she does not know him to have ever gone by the name "Joseph Curwhinny" and he does not seem to identify as being him.

>"Yes, those with divine energy channeling powers are scarce these days. Luckily, secular energy channeling is one of my skills."
"Sadly the art of harmonic divination is not as common as we would have thought it would be a decade ago. But it is far from gone, either."

>"I believe a phrase that ponies go by is 'sharing is caring'?"
He smiles
"These socialists say something like that, I believe."

>>176532
>Posey believes she is aware of a lich who more or less fits the description in terms of years of origin and of origin region. However, she does not know him to have ever gone by the name "Joseph Curwhinny" and he does not seem to identify as being him.
Posey suspects that he may have changed names after metamorphosis, as many Liches do. She makes not to report this to the Society.
>These socialists say something like that, I believe
"Very well..."
She stands up, flipping through her grimoire
"I believe I heard rumors of dormant malign energies on a farm nearby. I'll be taking a period of leave to investigate it. You'll read about it in my reference book." Posey says
She turns to leave

>>176533
>>176532
Oh wait, how could I forget
Having interacted for a full minute, Posey now rolls Diplomacy to improve the Dean's attitude towards her.
[1d20+8 = (13+8) = 21]

>>176528
Amber recoils, her ears splayed back, at her father's outburst. It hurts her to hear him yelling at her mother especially when it's a result of her own curiosity, and she feels close to crying. But she reminds herself she is a big filly and should find a better way out of it.

"Y-yes, Papa…can we go get salt now?" she asks in a quiet voice.

>>176528
"From my experience, there is no such thing as an impossible infestation," Cavaliere replies. "You just have to know how they get in and where they're hiding."

Cavaliere dutifully puts up with the examinations and is in good health for his age. Is there any sign of the Equestrian who was having trouble with entry before?

>>176537
Is the weather still getting worse outside?

>>176536
The stallion sighs
“Yeah, but there’s only so much we can do. We can’t do anything about land-entry here, and Central Government has told us to deprioritize them. But if we can find them, we remove them.”

Yes. It seems he’s been pulled off for special questioning in a separate room. Garv was off to the side as well, but placed back in the main room once he cleared his physical.

>>176535
Father places a hoof on her head and pat pat pat.
“Right. Let’s go get some salt. Put your mask back on, Kultaien.”

Mother:
“Akka be with you.”

Father:
“You too.”

The two ponies should leave thereafter

>>176537
"Deprioritized in favor of what? You mean to tell me that changeling infiltrators aren't your biggest threat?" Cavaliere looks intrigued.

And also: "Why was that stallion pulled aside? He sounds like a native of this land."

>>176533
>>176532
>>176534
If the dean doesn't have anything else to say, Posey makes her preparations to leave for the lair, and does so with the swiftness of an experienced grave robber.

Posey takes all of her equipment with her (sword, chain shirt, etc)
She also takes Gloomy with her.

She leaves at whatever point would bring her in line with the others.

>>176538
Somewhat. The wind is heavier. But there is still no precipitation and no clouds.

>>176540
“No. The biggest threat would be insurgent groups like the Equestrian Liberation Front and the Popular Front. They will bomb factories, kill our soldiers and murder local politicians. They are very difficult to fight directly, so mostly we try to cut them off from any foreign sources of support or supplies.”

“That Equestrian ‘native’ is an emigre. He left Equestria after we came in, presumably precisely because he didn’t like the new government. So he claimed refugee status and moved up north, until he found out the weather is awful there and the job market is even worse, so he came back. Or maybe, he got in touch with a ‘Free Equestrian’ or Aquelian handler, who told him to come back as a spy.”

>>176543
She continues to follow along, though her mind is distracted by thoughts of the blast, spirits and that mysterious stone. And then there's the conversation she overheard….

"Papa? Are we really going to move to the city?"

>>176543
"And the changelings don't do that?" he asks with curiosity.

"Well now, those are a bunch of presumptions. There are different reasons one could come up with that would explain his story as well. You just mentioned that these Fronts cause chaos and destruction, and maybe it was their violence a few years ago that convinced him to leave. It's somewhat more peaceful now and that may be the reason for his return, with family ties or simply a love for the land. Has there been any evidence of intent to spy or be a criminal?"

>>176545
The wind howls and tugs at them.

“What? Oh. You heard that. Uh… maybe? We’ll see. I think we might be able to live better there.”

>>176547
"Have you been there? What are the forests like? Is there snow too?" Over the loudness of the wind, Amber's tone is of genuine curiosity rather than cynicism.

>>176542
>>176532
Is there anything else I should work out now before Posey enters the scene?

>>176512
"Heh...I really didn't want to eat you, but it is good to hear it's all good now." Kira finally finishes washing up the tea set, and comes out of the kitchen. "So what was all that about teats you two were talking about when I accidentally interrupted?"

>>176513
Silver nods in affirmation. "Yes."

>>176533
"Debride is your supervisor. She has say concerning any 'leave'." Is all he has to say

>>176546
"Oh, the Changelings do. But the Changelings have the power to do more or less what they want. They've given Army Command a million reasons - well, between six hundred thousand to one and a half million reasons - why we should not give their agents much trouble.

There are a lot of ways that Garv's statement could have been taken, depending mostly on tone and the way it is said. This particular response is assuming that Garv's statement being antagonistic is at least plausible

"And presumptions? Presumptions? You know, you don't strike me as a Weter Griffin. No, you're from the Frontiers, aren't you? And you're not new to conflict either. So let me ask you this. Say a griffin - you can make him a pony if you want - say a griffin comes to your front door and asks if he can come in and have a glass of water. Tartarus, you can make him your long-estranged brother for all it matters. Say your long-estranged brother comes to your front door, asks to come inside, sit down and have a glass of water, maybe a cup of tea. He asks to come in, and you know - you know - that as soon as you go into the kitchen turn your back to him, and start pouring that glass of water, there is some not insignificant chance that he is going to pull out a gun, and shoot you in the back of the head. Shoot you dead right there. Tell me, do you let him in? Hmmm? What's the level of acceptable risk at which you'd tell him 'No, sorry, you're going to have to go down the road'? What's the level of risk? One in two? One in Three? One out of ten? One out of twenty? Well I can tell you this. I know damn sure it's less than one in one before you'd let him in. So yes, we do make decisions of national security on presumptions.

"The ELF and all of its imitators have committed many horrendous crimes in less than a year. They have bombed crowded subway trains. They have bombed our transport planes. They have blown up our offices, the restaurants we visit, and our factories. They have derailed our trains. They have invited us over for drinks after bars and then shot us in the back of a head. They snipe at us from down the street. They shoot us as we sit in the bars. They murder our informants and our local helpers in every conceivable manner possible. And they do all this while consorting with the worst of criminal scum, and foreign spies. They have murdered I assume thousands of our soldiers, thousands of our griffin allies, and twice that number of Equestrians. I don't know the actual numbers because High Command thinks it could only be bad for morale, but I hear enough. This is a war. And this is a war against an enemy that refuses to fight fairly. They refuse to identify themselves as soldiers. They refuse to wear uniforms. They refuse even to target only combatants. Well I am telling you, the ponies of New Mareland are ready to wage war in kind, and with an equal amount of respect for the rules.

This stallion's Princess decided to declare war on us after we asserted our right to exist as a free herd. His Princess lost. And when we took administration over her lands, he decided to flee with all of the movie stars out of the country. Then when the weather got cold and he wanted to come back, tail between his legs. I'm sorry, but I don't have much sympathy for him. I'd much rather he be turned back to face the snow in Weter, than a bullet through the back of my own head. Or be the stallion who let in the next Penny Station bomber.

I don't know what evidence there is. Some other stallion is handling his case. I would assume they are calling his family members and generally putting his admission into Baltimare on pause until they can figure out what in Tartarus is going on."

>>176550
Does she wish to speak to the land owner, or simply walk in? If she just walks in, then nothing.

>>176548
The two ponies pass more huts, a few trees (some of them knocked down), and shacks.
"Uh... well... Yes, I've been there. To Everfrost. I went there two years ago. But no, there's... there's no forest. There's snow on the streets. It's buildings mostly."

>>176551
"Sure you didn't. What now? Oh. He was looking at me. I think he was flirting, or trying to. It was kind of nice, actually."

>>176552
Mouth hanging open,
"Why."

>>176553
Silver shrugs.

"If you mean 'why would they want them', I have no clue, to be honest. If you mean 'why do they have them', Blue Skies is Dark Star's marefriend and he invited her along to help."

>>176553
"You seemed to enjoy it! Don't worry, I'm sure we'll see plenty more of him, and you'll get plenty more chances to woo him with your feminine charms and wiles." Kira smiles at Neela before continuing. "So what is it like having them?"

>>176555
"Hehe. Uh... fine, I suppose? Bucks like to play with them, but they can get in the way."

>>176554
"Who is 'Dark Star'?" She asks

>>176556
"That pony I told you about who tried to see what alchemical salts and cremated ashes tasted like. He is good pony and good friend, just...not his best moment."

>>176556
"I imagine. I couldn't imagine how bothersome it would be to try to slither about with them. Well, I probably could imagine, they would probably be very sore and ouchy rubbing against the hard ground wherever I go. Makes me glad we don't have them."

>>176553
>Does she wish to speak to the land owner, or simply walk in? If she just walks in, then nothing.
Posey actually has an idea.
She will bring the haunted items from the ghosts she met on her last quest and plant them on the site, and then convince them to spook around the place to make it appear that it is still haunted. Then she can speak to the owner and convince them that "residual malign energies" have made the site into an untenable blighted paranormal hotspot, which could give her leverage to buy up the property for pennies on the dollar. Her status as a licensed practitioner combined with her high Bluff mod should make it feasible, and the lack of priests to exorcise the property may make her the only available consultant.
It's called blockbusting. Jews do it, only with niggers and gang activity.
She'll request that the ghosts do her this favor in exchange for mailing their haunted objects to their respective addresses later. Besides, they seem to like her.

Before I actually try this idea, would this be too annoying to pursue?

>>176553
>"Debride is your supervisor. She has say concerning any 'leave'." Is all he has to say
Posey naturally informs Debride of her leave, and since she needs some field material to finish her latest reference book.

>>176553
Finally know what country this even is

"No forest?" Amber seems amazed this is even possible. "How can ponies get the firewood they need to stay warm?"

>>176559
Delightfully devilish, Seymour!

>>176559
This may work for buying the property, but I don't think that the sequence of events is quite there yet. Technically legally it can't be sold or developed until after the archeological examination is done... which means that the other party member will be gone and all of the cool stuff is removed... Do you want to wait several in-game months for that?

>>176557
"Huh... Black Hooves marefriend and eating pony ashes... okay then... I'm not sure what I expected your friends to be like."

>>176558
"hehe, I'm glad to have them." She walks around her thin, long legs. Well they aren't actually that long, but they are definitely longer than Kira's hindlegs.

>>176561
Reeee I shouldn't have said that

>No trees?

"Oh well that's the neat part. They don't. You see, there's a coking plant that takes coal that's brought up from further south and turns it into gas, which is then burned, like in the street lamps. And when that runs out, they have peat, like we do, or fuel oil." He says, warmly and reassuringly

>>176562
>Do you want to wait several in-game months for that?
No. Posey will go there now first. The other part is good for thought.

Posey goes down to the site with Gloomy. She'll inform the owner that she's here sweeping for malign energies. She can plant the items later.

>>176563
Posey comes to the area, presumably taken by Mason. To every side are the frames of new houses, save on one side where there are low level apartments, and a block over, a school. The lot itself is a city block and an island in the sea of development. It has uncut grass, a couple trees, a dilapidated house, the exposed foundation of a house, and a large hole in the ground consistent with a quarry. Nearish the center is a set of tents that are set up.

>>176553
I should specify tone of voice better.

The griffon scratches the dusty grey feathers on his chin. "It's funny that you should say that. I've been in variations of that situation a good number of times. In terms of prevention I try to be a decent judge of character, and if a griffon looks likely to start causing trouble I maintain a line of sight. There have been times where I decide to trust him, and he forfeits his trust, but by reflection or the rustle of a sloppy draw he also forfeits his life. A few times I have had the misfortune of being held at gunpoint, disarmed, even cubnapped–but he always gets his due.
And once or twice I have been shot in the back and left for dead." He says this last part bitterly. "But I will tell you this. My job is to resolve conflicts, and I will always give the other side to explain himself, even if I need to tie him up first to do it safely. You would be surprised at the number of times a job is due to a misunderstanding, or the target of a bounty is innocent. I don't know this stallion, who he is or where in Equestria he comes from, but Equestrian citizenship is not lost from leaving the country and he does have a right to return to his home." He starts with a strong tone of voice but softens toward the end.

"Now, do you have a probation system for these cases where a returning national can restore his trust when the Customs Authority is undecided?"

>>176562
For every answer she gets she is brimming with more questions. "Have I seen coal before? What is it like? Where do they farm all their crops?"

>>176564
Posey thanks Mason for the ride and usher Gloomy to follow her onto the site.

>>176565
"Well, we're more of in the business of preventing harm than avenging it. And in an odd way, yes, Equestrian Citizenship is lost. Technically, Equestria no longer exists. This is the Baltimare Governate, not the Equestrian Principality. And no one is allowed anywhere in the principality without either an internal passport or a visa, which obviously this stallion does not and could not have. Whatever right he has to return home, I we have a right to return to ours. There's not a true probation system. If we were really sure he was a spy, we'd detain him and send him away. Unsure, we tend to just send them back. But what you're talking about, well, we can put him on a watch list for note with the political police, but honestly, we do that to most of the returning Equestrians. But that's basically what we have for 'probation'."

He looks around at the line, and at those around them. He tilts his head
"Would you like to join in?"

>>176566
"Heh, no, you wouldn't have. It's a rock that burns. It's most like peat, in what it does. They get their food from ponies like us, mostly."

>>176567
Out of the car, and onto the lot.

>>176569
I gotta sleep now. Posey moves deeper into the lot.
She possessively levitates Gloomy to keep him away from any blood-stealing ticks that might be hiding in the uncut grass.

>>176569
"Sounds like they need us a lot," Amber remarks with a smile. "Doesn't that mean we should stay out here so they have food?"

>>176571
Father tries to pet Amber, but with the thickness of the fur coats, his attempts at pets are not successful.

"Heh, maybe, but wouldn't you like to be warm?"

A pony in a heavy coat shambles and staggers along, walking along the small street.

>>176569
Cavaliere mulls this over before answering in a deep but soft voice. "Join in what exactly? I cannot tell you how things should be run, and I am a foreigner, but if you wanted to return to your war-torn home only to be turned away by…" he waves a claw around briefly as he thinks of a word that isn't "occupier" "…management under a different flag, wouldn't you feel like a foreigner in your own country? A bit upset, even? Sir, you can't make an entire populace who have done nothing but been caught in a two-front war feel like aliens and not expect increased resistance. If you had a better system of probation for returning nationals, this 'ELF' wouldn't disappear overnight, but one of its motives for recruitment would be defanged."

>>176573
"And what is 'a better system of probation'?"

>>176574
"Thay's" Father looks over and takes a number of seconds before giving a reply "I think that's Kulho Linssejä." He says of the stallion who staggers down the road. As his face is completely covered, it isn't clear how father could tell

>>176576
"It kind of looks like him. Sort of. He looks drunk..."

>>176562
"Heh, I suppose I do attract interesting company. At least it makes for avoiding dull moments. Now, we still have some more rooms to explore. Maybe other library has some hidden nook in it."

>>176577
"What if he's frostbitten?" Amber asks worriedly, remembering the mare's odd shambling gait.

>>176562
Long and graceful, they make for an excellent display. Kira can see where ponies like Bright Dye would find Neela attractive.

"Do males really like teats? I mean, as far as I know they're just so mammals can feed their young before they can feed themselves."

>>176570
I have awoken.
>>176569
Posey cautiously approaches the tent, her horn glow on the hilt of her sword ready to draw it in case any hobos jump out.

>>176580
"Oh no, I don't think he is. Too much clothing. Although... That gait is weird..." Father continues moving Amber forward

>>176578
"Well.... they are calling for his family now, I am sure"

>>176579
"Heh... Other library?" She asks

>>176581
She has a smug smile on her face
"Oh yeah. Gives them something to play with. Something to look at. I mean of course they like the rump much more, but the more you've got, the better."

>>176583
Inside the tent are two stallions who are examining what seems to be armor.

>>176585
"Yes, you have this one that was burned and other that was relatively untouched right across from here."

>>176585
"Hehe, and I'm guess from that look on your face you have plenty of what the males like?"

>>176585
>Inside the tent are two stallions who are examining what seems to be armor.
Cool, what kind of armor?
Posey approaches slowly.

>>176588
Rusted. Older model. This appears to have been a breast plate.

>>176587
"Plenty" She says, smugly

>>176589
>Rusted
Hmm, probably nonmagical.

Do the stallions respond?

>>176589
Kira continues to giggle.

"Do you think that means I'll be at a disadvantage here with the males? No teats, no rump...I'm pretty strong though, I've got that going for me."

>>176590
[1d20 = 3]

>>176591
She nods affirmatively
"Mhmmm. And they don't like strength. It scares them."

>>176586
Sure
I don't remember what happened five years ago, but let's go with it

>>176590
No. They don't know she is there.

>>176593
Posey walks right by them and heads towards the quarry.

>>176592
"Awwww. But that's like my whole thing...well, that and being sneaky. I guess it doesn't change much from my previous mate situation, but still."

>>176592
pet pet pet

We could also just say that the search roll was for both of them since they're just across the hall from each other, if I remember right, and move onto the laboratories. It's up to you.

>>176596
Roll Search

>>176595
"Mhmmm. Of course that's not your biggest issue. Your biggest issue will be your... well, lack of a rump. That, and pony bucks barely like does as it is. I can't imagine many would want... well, a snake."

>>176594
Looking in, she can see that it is maybe 30 or so feet deep, perhaps two acres in size with some lower and higher portions, and there are a pair of gasoline powered pumps pumping out the tiny remnants of water in the lowest sections. On the more raised portions, there are three little work stations with covers. One is empty and has paper fragments. One has a few assorted items and a stallion examining them. One has what appears to be fragments of mummified pony remains and two pony stallions examining them. There is also what seems to be a hole leading into a subterranean area.

>>176598
"Hmm, not unlike home." Posey says quietly
She walks into the hole, carrying Gloomy behind her.

>>176598
>>176599
Wait, are there stairs leading into this hole?

>>176599
>>176598
Okay, change of plans, this isn't a stealth mission, so I shouldn't be treating it like one.

"How do you do, gentlemen?" Posey says, in her sing-song voice
Posey appears to be looking past them at the remains they're examining

>>176599
>>176600
The hole is not one at ground level going down, although I suppose one of those exists somewhere. The hole is what is functionally, but not in design, a doorway. A horizonal entrance to the subterranean level from the quarry walls. There is a ramp leading into the quarry.

>>176601
Which set of gentlemen? I assume the two in the quarry?

>>176602
>I assume the two in the quarry?
The ones examining the mummified remains

>>176603
One stallion is a brown unicorn stallion in a semi fancy vest covered up by an overcoat. The other is a blue unicorn stallion, who is wearing something closer to a rain jacket.

The brown stallion closes his eyes
"Sweet Celestia, another one?"

He has a loud "I'm done with it" sigh, and then,
"Can I help you?"

>>176604
Posey's first order of business is to charm both stallions with her gaze
DC 19 Will

"It's a pleasure to meet you, gentlemen. I am Rosey Ring, certified necrologist. I have been called here to investigate traces of residual dark magic on this site. I will be doing a tour of magical hotspots in the area. If either of you have encountered anything paranormal on these parts, I would appreciate it you could help me pinpoint the location." Posey says
She glances at the remains
"Equine remains... Well-preserved, but seemingly improperly buried. It looks like it was as I thought.."

>>176605
The brown stallion closes his eyes and shakes his head, as if hit with a strong light. The blue stallion simply stares at Posey

"There are no paranormal anythings here nor anywhere. Whatever magic was here has dissipated. There are no crystals to hold it. No living beings..."

He looks over to the remains
"Yes. Equine remains. I'm not sure what else you expected. The fact that you are here tells me that you know exactly what this place is, why there would be remains here, and why they are not buried. And you came here dressed up in that ridiculous outfit. By Celestia, you look like you're an actor about to perform in some kind of play set in the ancient era. I'm going to guess that you're with that 'Silver Sword'. That you're one of the mercenaries who were hired by Glass Horizons to clear this place. That, or you're one of his marefriends, who came by because you thought you could steal some artifacts, like he did. Well I'll tell you. There are no more artifacts, and there is certainly nothing 'paranormal' here or anywhere."

>>176606
>And you came here dressed up in that ridiculous outfit.
Posey is a bit offended by that
"I'll have you know that chain shirt is standard issue for ponies who need to deal with biting zombies. Besides, it matches my cape."
>I'm going to guess that you're with that 'Silver Sword'
Posey's face grows suspicious. This name sounds like a paladin's
"... Who?"
>because you thought you could steal some artifacts
"Wha? No, never..."
Bluff
[1d20+14 = (15+14) = 29]
>there is certainly nothing 'paranormal' here or anywhere
"That's what ponies always say..."

>>176606
>there is certainly nothing 'paranormal' here or anywhere
"If that's really the case, then I guess this shouldn't take very long. I'm doing this as a matter of public service, afterall.. Pardon me, gentlemen." Posey says
"Come along, Gloomy." Posey says, as she proceeds further into the site

>>176598
Kira scratches her chin.

"Well...there was that one stallion at Customs, Free Rover. He seemed nice."

>>176608
Posey looks for a way underground, not really worried about her own safety (she'd just throw herself into the pit normally), but a way to less-precariously levitate her child down.

>>176611
There's some kind of misunderstanding about the geography of the site.

The quarry has a ramp leading down into it. Three of the little awnings, including the one where Posey went to the two stallions and spoke to them, are inside of the quarry. They are in the bottom of the pit, or technically, on a slightly higher level than the flooded lowest portion. They are not at ground level. They are on the floor of the quarry. Posey necessarily would have had to have gone to the floor of the quarry in order to interact with them. That's the only way that scene could have happened. There is no jumping down or levitating down or going anywhere down to enter the subterranean level from where Posey would have encountered this pair of stallions. There are a different pair of stallions at ground level in a tent, but Posey walked past them.

>>176610
Lowering her ears
"Uh huh. What. You want him for a mate, or something?"

>>176612
Posey looks around, searching for a way deeper into the underground
"Say... This supposed Silver Sword, what did he look like?"

>>176612
Rubbing the end of her tail between her hooves, Kira responds, "Well, it wasn't my initial intention when I came here, but...maybe? I dunno, it feels a bit early to be saying that, I mean we literally had only just met, but maybe if we meet up more often and we actually get to know each other then it's something that might be nice to do."

>>176614
Neela walks over towards the couch and lays down on it, letting her forelegs hang off of it
“Get to know each other? Ha, if you feel like it just go for it. And if you two don’t work then just go your separate ways. It’s not like you’re going to be living with him.”

>>176607
>>176608
“This is an archeological site. You can’t go in there!”

>>176613
Is she actually asking them?

>>176615
Maybe I should have treated this as a stealth mission afterall...
>Is she actually asking them?
Yes, she asks them.
>“This is an archeological site. You can’t go in there!”
"I'm a licensed practitioner. Besides, can you really say with certainty that there's no residual malice in this ground? Time and time again ponies did up sites without having them excised first, and then they pay the price..."
Posey decides to punctuate this by using her Unseen Servant SLA (no visible components), to rattle the table that the undead hand is sitting on, and cause the limb to writhe slightly.
"I can sense that my services are dearly needed here." She says, closing her eyes and pointing her horn to the sky, as if reading ambient psychometric resonance.
Bluff
[1d20+14 = (2+14) = 16]

>>176616
Shid, I should have taken 10.

>>176615
Kira tilts her head at her deer friend. "Really? That's all there is to it? No courtship or anything?"

>>176618
Tilting her ears down.
“Do you want courtship? It’s not like you’re getting married to him.”

>>176619
Kira blushes, and continues rubbing the end of her tail between her hooves. "Well, no, we've only met the once and...I dunno, I don't know how these kinds of things work over here."

>>176620
She looks away.
“It’s so weird here. They let ponies chose who they marry.” She tilts her head

“Is there a buck you’re supposed to marry back home? Are you afraid he’ll figure out you’re not a virgin?”

She lowers her head and in a hushed tone says
“Or were you already married…”

>>176621
Kira gets especially blushy at the second question.

"No, no marriage...or 'bucks'..." and, more quietly, "...or mating..." Then, back to her normal volume. "There was one male our families arranged a meeting for, but it didn't work out."

>>176622
She whispers,
“Did you kill him?”

>>176623
Kira lets go of her tail to wave her hooves in front of her body. "What!? Oh nononono, of course I didn't. We just really didn't mesh at all and it would have been a bad pairing. He's alright and I wish him the best, but he just didn't really get me and I didn't get him."

>>176616
>>176615
Do they respond?

>>176624
“It’s okay, I wasn’t going to tell anyone if you did. You can tell me if you did.” She tilts her head and leans forward, looking at Kira. “I won’t tell anyone. I wasn’t sure if you lamias killed or ate your mates or after mating or… actually, do you do that, and you two just didn’t, you know, mate? We Sangee don’t kill our mates. The ponies definitely don’t. I mean, I did stab a buck once. But he didn’t die. Unfortunately.”

Her eyes go wide and both ears shoot up. Then she sits upright on the couch.
“Wait. You’re still a virgin?!?!”

>>176626
"No, we aren't like spiders or mantises. It's, well...I imagine it's a lot like with other species, but I don't know for sure. I do know for certain that we don't kill or eat our mates, that would be...whew, there is no stomach big enough for that. Well, maybe one of the jungle lamias or a sea lamia has the stomach for it, but even then still no. I'm curious about that story about you stabbing a buck, though."

At Neela's absolute shock, Kira confirms her worst fears by nodding. "Still a virgin."

>>176627
“How are you a virgin? gasp. We need to fix that. There must be some pony or… other creature out there who would want you, and not just thing you’re some gross or scary reptile.” A pause. “I don’t think there are any other lamias here. I certainly don’t want to meet one of those ‘jungle lamias’. Maybe I can give you some pointers on how to get a mate.” She pauses again. “Well… maybe you can just be a maiden forever.”

>>176628
"That would be disappointing, to say the least. I know mom wants to be a grandma someday." She looks at Neela with big ol' pleading lamia eyes. "Can you please give me some pointers on getting a mate?"

>>176629
“Sure ponies have their own courtship rituals. It’s kind of weird actually. The pony buck is supposed to try to sleep with you, and you’re supposed to turn them down and play hard to get or something, annd generally pretend like you don’t want to even though you also have to let them know you do want them because otherwise they’ll lose interest. And you’re supposed to act all shy and timid and whatever. I think it’s because their courtship is also how they select a mate for marriage, instead of just being normal and have their partners selected by their parents. Honestly the key is to just try to look attractive to them and if they want to and if you want to then do it.”

Posey should probably find the owner.

I'm going to take a page out of the Chaosium book and roll a flat luck check to see if Posey would have been smart enough to find any information concerning the land owner's name or appearance before coming here.
[1d20 = 6]

>>176631
I guess not.

I guess I'll have Posey slowly back away and move back towards the tents.

>>176585
"Can't you check on him?" Amber asks worriedly, stressed from everything else that has happened earlier.

"Well, if it makes you feel better, sure."
Father walks over towards the stallion, having to go back to catch up with him.

"Kuhlo? Kuhlo? Hello? Just checking to see if you are alright."

The stallion stops, though he still sways back and forth. He slowly turns his head, covered in the puffy jacket, back towards father. Amber can see his golden eyes.

"memelle mbe'..." He mutters

"Kuhlo?" Father repeats

"Do you hear the spirits? Haha. Can you hear them around us? They are here. I heard from my Seesteinen Kevät today. She will walk among us. And the sun will light up the sky, pulled by the Seraph. Convergence is upon us. I will be with my Seesteinen Kevät. Mblele mbem..."

The stallion turns his body in the direction his head now faces, and he starts walking in a different direction than he was before. Father moves out of the way while the stallion continues walking.

>>176630
Kira would write this down if she had anything to write with, but she doesn't, and then again what Neela tells her is almost enough to get her head to spin.

"That sounds confusing. You're supposed to pretend you don't want them but you actually do? Why not just say yes? It sounds like it would be infuriating if every female I wanted to court tried to make it as hard as possible, I mean it's hard enough as is especially when you're 'weird' like me. I guess I can act all shy and timid...what do pony males find attractive? And what are they called, are they called bucks or is it something else? I don't wanna screw up and call them something weird."

>>176636
"I know right? I guess trying to play hard to get is supposed to make you desirable... somehow... But I think that if you want to have sex with them then just have sex with them, and if you don't, then don't. Of course they say that is 'slutty', or something. Ponies like... well, look at what the pony mares who get attention do. Well groomed manes, petite figure, big butts..." Her eyes go wide

"What are male ponies called?"

>>176637
Kira shrugs.

"We don't really have separate names for males and females. To us lamias are just either, well, males or females." She scratches her chin with a hoof. "Okay, well groomed mane I can do...not so much petite figure and big butt. Also those seem to contradict each other, how can you be petite while also having a big butt? Why do ponies have to make this so confusing..."

>>176638
Neela breathes in, then breathes back out.
"Yeah, I can see why you are a virgin. And now that most of your dating pool is ponies, you're not going to do any better. It's bad enough that you're a big, scary, pony-eating monster. But worse... How would a pony even have sex with you? Do you even want a pony?"

>>176639
Kira's ears droop for a bit before coming back up. "What are pony males like?"

>>176640
"In what way?" She asked. "You've met a few of them today, haven't you?"

>>176641
"Well yeah, but I mean 'down there'. You know?"

>>176642
"Well..." Neela proceeds to give an explanation that makes use of her hooves and her own hindquaters

"The pony penis, well, actually all of the quadrupeds, is contained in a sheath under the lower belly and mostly between the hind legs." She stands up perpendicular to Kira and points towards the corresponding area on her body. "There's only one. I don't know how many there are on lamias but, uh, there's only one on pretty much anycreature you'll find over here. When stimulated it comes out and grows to be about" she sits down and uses her hooves to show dimensions "this long and this wide. It has a pretty consistent thickness and is flat on the end. Same with the kirin and zebras. Horses are bigger. Other creatures, like the deer, taper towards the end and are a little smaller. It's pink and soft at first but gets harder when stimulated. They like to place it in the vagina of the female. Or which ever hole, really, and, well, I'm not sure how it works with lamias but uh, they like to penetrate you and make thrusting motions until they've climaxed. Is that how it works with lamias? I don't know how much you know. It's like this." Neela proceeds to stand her forelegs over the couch, and basically hump the couch.

>>176643
Neela's...in-depth demonstration is certainly informative. Kira takes mental notes, trying to paint a picture in her mind. Her deep crimson blush shows she probably didn't need the mental image of Neela humping a couch to achieve this, but she gets kudos for the extra effort put into her description.

"Uh...hmm...I guess I can see why they have to, when they have four hooves. For us it's a little more, like...coiling and wrapping around each other..." Kira makes twirling and twisting motions with her hoofs. "...I mean I don't really have much or really any first-hoof experience with it but I've seen and heard enough to know, and mom explained some stuff to me a while back so I wouldn't be completely lost when it finally happens. I guess I'll still be pretty lost if I end up doing it with a pony like Free Rover or what have you, but maybe I'll be able to figure out what to do with what she's told me and what you've just, uh...demonstrated. Is that how you learned about it, did someone show you all about mating?"

>>176644
Her ears go down, and she is silent for a second. Then another. Then another. Then another. And another

"No... You know, you should probably just see if you find a buck who likes you. And then... go from there."

>>176645
Hmm...did Kira accidentally say something wrong? Hopefully she didn't make Neela upset...

"I see..." Kira smiles at her deer friend. "Hey...thanks for all of this advice. You're a really good friend, you know?"

>>176646
Neela has returned to laying on the couch with her forelegs hanging off. She lowers her head, has a toothy smile, and blushes

"Heh... do you really think that?"

>>176647
Kira nods with a wider smile.

"Of course! Even with how you thought I was going to eat you (which I never was, by the way), you still have been nothing but helpful with me! You've even been going out of your way to help me!"

>>176648
"You still might." She looks down "Going out of my way?"

>>176649
"Yeah! Like, where you didn't need to do anything to help, you still did. Like those police ponies after that car almost hit me while I was crossing the street, you didn't need to step in to try to help, and in fact it could have been very dangerous for you to do so."

>>176635
Now Amber is very worried. "Papa!" she cries out as she tugs on his sleeve. "Makea Amy, the mare we saved, was muttering the same thing when we saw her! The stallion we brought her to said she was 'delirious.'"

>>176612
>>176625
>>176631
>>176632
I did this a bit awkwardly yesterday, because I was preoccupied with life, but can Posey go ahead and look for the owner of the site?
I forgot to roleplay Posey's instinctive aversion to entering homes without invitation is one of her character flaws earlier, so I'll do that now.

>>176616
>>176613
>what does he look like
"Like you don't know. Or did he never tell you his name? He'll be a grey color, with a white mane, a tripe down his back. Larger. Older. Wearing a flak jacket, most likely. I spotted him just a few minutes ago. But you suspected he was here already, didn't you? Well yes, he's off with a mare. Associate Professor Faucet."

>unseen servant
He scrunches
"You think I can't see that you are a unicorn?"

>>176652
Yes.

>>176650
"Well those police officers were assholes anyways. They want to harass all non-ponies, and probably everyone in that part of the city, because it's not the 'good' part of town to them."

>>176651
He looks at her with concern
"I see... Well, let us go to the shop."

>>176653
Amber is disappointed that her father won't help the poor stallion, but she doesn't want to disobey him. She follows along, glancing over her shoulder at Kuhlo.

>>176653
"Does it make you glad we're in a good part of the city, now? Or at least it looks really nice to me."

>>176653
>Associate Professor Faucet
I'm going to roll Knowledge (Local) to see if Posey recognizes this name from her time at the university, if if it's from a rival uni
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
>He'll be a grey color, with a white mane, a tripe down his back. Larger. Older. Wearing a flak jacket, most likely.
Posey takes out her notebook and writes this down
>Like you don't know.
Posey puts on a flat expression, evidently not caring if the stallion believes her or not
"Silver Sword: That name sounds like that of a Celestian exorcist or warpriest. He probably invited himself in to undercut my work..." Her expression darkens somewhat
>"You think I can't see that you are a unicorn?"
B-b-but muh lack of visible components.
Posey makes a poker face, hiding her embarrassment for her transparent poltergeist stunt
"..... ANYWAY, I think it's best that I speak with the owner of the property. Would you mind directing directing me towards them?"

>>176656
>Knowledge roll
I think it would be best if you rolled again.

The brown stallion says,
"No, he's not a charlatan like you or the priesthood. Just a straight up thief. Of course I'm not going to tell you where the office is."

The blue stallion, silent thus far, speaks. He raises his left hoof and crosses it over to point to his right.
"The uh, owner is Glass Horizons. There's an office he may be at two blocks past the intersection. Red tile roof."

>>176655
"Yeah... It's cleaner. Nicer looking. Less likely to get mugged. The apartments are much B=better. I'm not sure the neighbors will like... immigrants moving in, though."

>>176659
>I think it would be best if you rolled again.
[1d20+3 = (5+3) = 8]
>charlatan
"Rude! I am a licensed practitioner of Necromantic Securities."
>"The uh, owner is Glass Horizons. There's an office he may be at two blocks past the intersection. Red tile roof."
"Thank you, kind sir." Posey replies, with a cheerful smile
"Come along, Gloomy." Posey says, trotting off towards the indicated building, floating the colt behind her

>>176660
>Worse than before
Well fuck.

>>176654
The sky to their right and behind glows purple/ Closer to the horizon and above the dark silhouettes of trees it glows a brighter shade of blue. In most of the sky, the purple tinge of the sky blots out most of the stars. But to the left and in front of the ponies, a black void bespeckled by numerous stars and adorned by a green luminescent band that hangs in the sky like garland still has its hold. In every direction, the earth itself is shrouded in relative darkness. Around the ponies are many more huts. Sometimes the snow is completely blown off and only dirt is visible, and always on the same side, facing left, though invariably found on the pony's right.

The two ponies come to the store, which is a structure presumably made of wood, and having angled walls, much like the huts. It has a couple, small holes where windows once were that are blocked up by wood. Father opens the door, which does not open easily. Like the hut, thick furs must be parted to enter. Inside are two, technically three walls filled to the brim with items. Shovels, candle wicks, kerosene cans, ropes, gasoline cans, hatchets, matches, sewing kits, bandages, eating utensils, sugar, penicillin, lamps...

There is a sort of fireplace along the left wall that provides lighting for the room, as well as heat. Behind a wooden counter in the center of the far wall and slightly to the right is a single, somewhat elderly stallion wearing an undercoat and an orange cap.

>>176609
In the several rooms of the library and the laboratory, Silver finds several items. Most of these are underneath books or flasks, or behind the same. Some are in cracks. But in one instance, they are hidden in a cavity behind a shelf in a laboratory room.

A sketch of a somewhat tear-dropped shaped creature with six, short wings and no other limbs, and could be said to very vaguely resemble a cross between a honeybee, a crocodile, and a baleen whale.

A sketch of a set of trees or shrubs and the root network, with a special emphasis on what seems to be a vast network of shared roots. It is unclear if the trees depicted are or are not the same as seen earlier.

Still another sketch of a tree and mirrored root ball with a sun above, and a moon, as well as a pool of water below. This one is closer to the trees seen before

A few pages of a manuscript with the title "Remnants of Skyros?" with a sketch of an alicorn.

A map of the Equestrian South East, the Zebrican Northwest, and the chain of islands inbetween, including what Silver can immediately recognize as non-existant land masses in the ocean. There are a few noted points of interest

A map featuring the Thalassic ocean, with two fictional landmasses, one in the north and one in the south. Unlike the previous map, which was very careful with every detail of its fictional geography, this one is much more approximate with its guesses of where these paper-islands are supposed to be located. This map has a sketch of alicorn-shaped creatures, though these alicorns have more butterfly-like wings and curved horns. Beneath it are several pages of writing that seem to be summaries of captain's logs.

A book of poetry

A sketch of what are, for a lack of a better term, sea ponies. This includes what appears to be the sea ponies in a kind of religious ritual, a couple of them in warrior garb, and several of them preparing to attack, or at least approach, a wooden sailing ship.

A vial of a transparent liquid.

An open envelope with a (broken) wax seal and signed as being from the "Sisters of the Three Bodies," which likewise carries the symbols of the Celestialist Church in the South.

A map of some particular city on the water on a river mouth which has a few points of interest. The name "Pirate Jean Claw" comes up. This too has attached pages, which likewise seem to be summaries of captain's logs.

A set of notes that show what seems to be a transfiguration of animals, as well as what seems to be a process of impregnation. This has one attached note.

A very oddly shaped helmet of unknown metal.

>>176663
This has to be the best haul Silver has gotten in many years, excluding payment from completing jobs. Well, also maybe excluding getting a house, but besides that he's very happy with the results. He looks through his findings with Pear.

"It seems like lot of this could lead into even more adventures. We could have our hooves full for while. Maybe I could find way to get some starting capital for some globetrotting adventures. Pirates, lost landmasses of alicorns and alicorn-like creatures, and whatever this chimeric-looking creature is. It would be fun to go on these adventures with you!" Silver makes a note to take a lot of this to the local university to look for somepony's help in deciphering some of the more obscure bits of information located in all of this. The vial and helmet he keeps but doesn't immediately use. Mystery fruit is one thing, but mystery vials and unknown metal helmets are a level of risk that not even Silver can conscientiously take.

There is a lot to read through, and Silver isn't sure how much time he has to go through it all especially as they still have yet to find the sarcophagus. But, he thinks he has at least a little time to go through some of these findings. He starts with the notes on animal transfiguration.

>>176664
It needs to be noted that with the exception of the poetry, none of the papers are especially thick.

There's a note about an artifact crafted custom made for use by a disgraced former manager of the Canterlot Menagerie for the breeding in captivity of rare and exotic animals and magic beasts. The artifact was at one time owned by Vivienne Discret of Aquelia - and Queen Consort of the Grover II - though the timeline is fuzzy as to whether she is supposed to have acquired it from the manager, or vice versa. Jean Claw is said to have stolen the item after it was sold by the dynasty, or possibly stolen, though less charitable sources claim that Vivienne Discret gave it as a gift to Jean Claw directly as a sign that they were lovers. The notes are honestly kind of vague as to what exactly the artifact does, save that it aids in the creation of animals, beasts, and creatures.

>>176665
Silver has to be especially careful with the papers, in that case. He doesn't want any to get damaged or ruined.

Hmm, that sounds like an interesting artifact to have possession of. Especially as thoughts of what happens if Jubilosa decides she wants children and Silver isn't able to provide them being a pony flash into his mind. This leads Silver to look at the pages attached to Jean Claw's map, perhaps they may lead to clues as to where she buried her stash.

>>176666
>she
scrunchy

Speculation centers on a cemetery plot, and not entirely defined portions of a river flood plain.

>>176667
Hmm, probably another task to require use of additional maps to cross-reference and maybe help from the local university, just like these other maps contained within the haul. Silver takes a look next at the opened envelope.

Knowledge, Religion: In addition to reading the contents of the envelope, if present, Silver examines the wax seal to see if he recalls anything about these "Sisters of the Three Bodies".

[1d20 = 13]

>>176668
It appears to be a monastic order. From the symbols on the envelope itself the "Three Bodies" seems to reference the sun, the moon, and the earth. They belong specifically the Tenochtitlan Basin branch of Celestialism, and not the mainline

>>176669
"You have interest in local cultures, yes? Is there anything you can decipher from this?" Silver gives the envelope to Pear, as he looks at the poetry. Part of him feels like it's probably the weirdest item among this haul, at least until he identifies this vial and helmet.

>>176670
"I think" gasp "I think this might be a companion to my religious texts. Or another version of it." She seems to wag her tail.

>>176671
Silver smiles at the cute professor mare. "Do you want to keep it?"

>>176672
She sits down, wraps her tail around her body, and says
"Yes!"

>>176673
Silver chuckles at the adorable display. "Go right ahead!"

Anyways, the poetry is next on Silver's list to investigate. He wonders to himself who might have made it or to what purpose.

>>176660
Posey can't say she knows of her.

Posey finds the building just as she was told. A white unicorn mare with a red puffed-up mane behind a desk greets Posey with a smile.

>>176674
Okay, I got confused. I thought that Silver gave Pear the poetry to examine, and then to keep, not the envelope.

>>176675
>A white unicorn mare with a red puffed-up mane behind a desk greets Posey with a smile.
Posey approaches her doppelganger
"Good [insert canon time of day here], I love how you did your mane." she greets
"I'm here to see Mr. Glass Horizons, about a site visit concerning the Necromantic Securities department of the university, pertaining to a recent malevolence on the property down the street."

>>176675
Ohhhhhhhhhhhhh, okay. Well, if she's excited by the poetry, then she's still welcome to keep it. No way Silver is going to disappoint her like that.

In that case, the next thing to examine would be the map of the Thalassic Ocean.

>>176659
"It's okay, we'll make them see that we're a couple of the best neighbors they could ask for!" Kira smiles brightly at her deer friend. "I'm glad you like it, though, and that it's much safer than your old one. Also you won't have to spend any more time with that griffon from your old place if you don't want to."

>>176678
"Oh, is this about the archeological exam?" She says

>>176679
It's a very big, open ocean, featuring two islands. One of them is massive, almost the size of Olenia, near the north. Another is much smaller, further south, and closer to Equestria.

>>176680
"Oh yes, I'm beyond grateful I'll never have to see her again. Ugh! And can you believe that Lash is with her? What happened to him? Just... So many reasons I don't want to go back there."

>>176681
>is this about the archeological exam
"Yes and no. This is a matter pertaining to magical security in relation from recent dark magic activity in the area, although it may impact the archaeological exam. We have reasons to believe that Mr. Horizons will want to know about potential liabilities." Posey replies

>>176654
>>176662
The stallion speaks,
"Hey, Keskiyön Aurinko. I didn't think I'd see you here"

Father:
"Well I had to catch you now, wasn't sure if you changed your hours."

Stallion:
"No no, the Sun is coming, and everypony is going to need all of the supplies they can get for the great home coming. I'm staying open as long as the weather allows. What do you need?"

Father:
"Oh, just salt. One bag."

Stallion:
"What size?"

Father:
"Let me go ahead and get me... I should really buy enough for the family. I really only need one merker..."

Stallion:
"The more you come back the merrier"

Father
"No no, I should really buy more than that, say... three skålpund? Yes. Let me buy 3 skålpund of salt."

Stallion:
"Sure. Now hold on. It comes to me weighed in kilograms. Let me weigh it out on the scales."

The stallion turns away.

Near the counter, to the left and lower, are hung up drawings made with colored pencil on paper. Mill made-made paper and pencils that have to be imported and are relatively expensive. Amber can tell immediately that these drawings are made by a foal, and are proudly displayed as the foal's art. However, even a young foal would attempt to imitate a known form, however poorly. Squiggly lines and colors outside of said lines are normal in representations of family members, dogs, trees, sharks, or whatever a foal may wish to depict. But that isn't what is hanging up here. Of the four images, three are simply of lines scribbled across in green, red, and black. The fourth could be said to imitate a form, only because the center of the image is a solid yellow circle.

>>176682
She flops one ear down
"Is this about that lich?" She asks

>>176683
>green, red, and black
Darn, thought this place was too cold for pan-African nationalists

Amber points up the odd drawings. "What are these?" she asks curiously.

>>176684
scrunchy

The stallion is at the scales
"Oh, these are my daughter's drawings she made. Aren't they pretty?"

>>176686
"They are…um…are they of the aurora?" she asks.

>>176687
"Oh no. These are inspired by dreams."

>>176688
"What kind of dreams were they? Did she tell you?" she asks, intrigued.

>>176689
"Very insightful dreams. I think you know that premonitions can come in dreams, and that sometimes, the spirits will communicate to us in dreams. These are what she saw."

>>176690
"And what do they mean?" she asks excitedly, and her tail would wag if it was unhampered by the coat. "Did the spirits say anything?" she whispers, though her father is right there and she knows he'll hear her anyway.

>>176683
>"Is this about that lich?" She asks
"Yes." Posey replies

>>176691
"Yes, they did. Well, to her. They confirmed what Metsän Vaeltaja tells us. That there will be a great homecoming of the spirits as they return to our world, and our world becomes more like the spirit world. And the Seraph will bring the sun, and there will be an end to the winter."

>>176692
"Ah. Yes. Let me call him." She picks up the phone at the desk and says, "Mr. Horizons. We've got another one." She places the phone down and says "You can go in."

Through a set of wooden doors and into an office that has nice glass windows and a few less bookshelves than Ersatz Orgone. He's a tan unicorn stallion with a grey mane and a blue business suit.

"Another one?"

>>176693
>>176691
Amber feels a hoof press against her back, and then a tug. She is physically pulled backwards.

"That's enough of that." Father says, pulling Amber away from the images. Father addresses the stallion, and has the salt placed in a tin container. "How much do I owe you? Can I pay in lichen?" He asks

"No, no, can't do that now.... I can't sell that for a while. i have to buy this with marks so it has to be paid in marks. 12 skillings."

"Twelve skillings?!?! Half an ort for 3 Skullpund of salt?"

"Yes, it cost me a mark for a kilogram in Everfrost so really this is just breaking even for me... It's okay, we will not have need for money soon. I can take Lichen for the next purchase, okay?"

Father nods
"Alright. Come the conclusion of the Great Path Forward, we won't need money anyways."

Stallion lowing his head and semi scrunchy
"We didn't need money before the 'Great Path Foward'..."

Father
"Well... I'll see you at the next community meeting next week"

Stallion
"Sure. I think the sun will be here by then."

Father:
"I don't know about that but... see you soon!"

>>176693
Posey, with no reservations against abusing her powers, immediately attempts to charm the stallion with her gaze as she enters the room.
DC 19 Will
"Good [insert canon time of day here], Mr. Horizons. I am a local Necrologist by the name of Rosey Ring." She says
"I have been summoned here on suspicion of residual malevolence on the property down the block. I've been tasked with making a site visit to ensure it is properly excised."

>>176695
He looks up to her and speaks with more real curiosity than veiled hostility

"Uh, summoned by who, exactly? And who tasked you?"

>>176696
>he looks up at her
I reiterate my attempt to charm him
>summoned by who, exactly? And who tasked you?
"The Academy Of Arcane Sciences, by the Dean himself." Posey says
"This is a matter of public security, as it's purported that a lich resided on the property. Since the site has been disturbed, it's imperative that it be inspected for residual dark energies. Curses are serious business, a threat to pony life and property; ensuring that they are properly excised is a matter of public safety and personal liability..."

>>176697
"Weren't the lich and the zombies taken care of?" He says, concerned. "They were all destroyed, right?"

>>176698
>"Weren't the lich and the zombies taken care of?"
"You would think so, wouldn't you?" Posey says, with a wistful expression
"But liches aren't the type to stay buried for long. That aside, there remains the issue of Haunting Presences. Just because you can't see any zombies doesn't mean they are not there; they could be lying dormant as haunting presences tied to the land. Haunting presences may either occur sporadically in places of death and misery, or artificially by powerful mages. This site meets both criteria."
These are facts about undead that Posey is sharing to spread paranoia, not lies.
"Furthermore, it's possible that the lich may have poisoned the land to make it more suitable for it's presence. It isn't always obvious at a glance, but such a monster may have cursed altered the land in various ways other than haunting presences. Curses. Contingent Spells. Manifest Zones. Hidden Portals to Tartarus. Any of these factors could reveal themselves unexpectedly if they are not dealt with immediately." Posey says, ominously
But then her tone and expression softens
"But we don't mean to cause you any unnecessary worry, Mr. Horizons. We're only wish to inspect it for the security of our fair city. We wish to ensure that you are made aware of any potential liabilities sooner, rather than later, and any measures that may need to be taken to excise residual traces of dark magic... And not to be the bearer of bad news, but.. it may affect your insurance premiums." Posey says, wincing at the last part

>>176699
His face shows concern, and that concern deepens as Posey lays out the gravity of the situation. "Can't we just bury it?" He tries to interject. However, his expression contorts into sheer horror when she mentions the potential effect on the insurance premiums. He stands up, pushing back his chair.

"What can be done?!"

>>176694
>>176693
>>176691
Behind, the door opens, and the curtain is parted

"Keskiyön" A familiar voice says with force but not at excessive volume. "We need to talk." Looking back, it's the stallion that helped Amber with the mare earlier.

>>176700
>"What can be done?!"
"Well for starters, I'll inspect the property with my magic to assess the gravity of the situation. I would appreciate any documents or maps related to underground structures. If I do sense any haunts, I will attempt to excise them on the spot, but there are powers in this world in cannot face on my own."
>"Can't we just bury it?"
"The archaeological dig seems to already have disturbed the burial of whatever lurked there, but if we're lucky we may just be able to rebury it or transport contaminated materials. Building on top of it may be another story..." She puts on a sympathetic expression
"I can understand what sort of stress you're going through. I come from Farbrook, and the menace of dark magic on our lands has been ever so dreadful, especially with frequent attacks from the shambling dead."
"But momma is-"
"Hush, sweetie. Momma is working right now."

Posey continues
"I'll inspect the site, but I would advise you to keep this under wraps, if you can. If the government, or worse, your insurer, gets wind of the situation, they'll send their own inspectors, and CelEeEHstia knows *cough*, pardon me, knows what they might do then."

>>176701
"Shambling dead?" His ears are down. "We uh, we don't have maps, no, we... we didn't know it was there until a couple weeks ago.

He leans forward
"Can you clear it? Clean it. De-haunt it? Whatever, just make it not like that?"

>>176681
Do the captain's logs with the map have anything of interest of note on them?

>>176681
"You won't have to so long as I'm here," Kira boasts, puffing out her pony chest before she continues, "How did you all manage to become roommates? Is it like me where we just happened to meet, or did you all know each other for a while before?"

>>176702
>"Can you clear it? Clean it. De-haunt it? Whatever, just make it not like that?"
"I can try. Secular channeling is a skill of mine. I can at least attempt to make the haunt reveal itself. Bear in mind, removing a haunt isn't a simple process, and it could take a while." Posey says
"But I will try. You'll at least get an assessment of the situation, with my professional opinion. I'm doing this in the name of scientific research, and public security, so so long as you allow me to conduct searches and observe activity on the site, there won't be any service fees." She continues
"If you could sign a permission slip for me to visit the property without alarming the workers, that would be appreciated."
She pulls back her cloak, to reveal the chain shirt around her chest
"Ponies see a professional mare in a zombie-bite suit, and they assume she's up to no good. Tsk tsk..." Posey laments, shaking her head

>>176703
Maretania September 734, spotted land coordinates blah blah through fog attempt made to land abandoned for rough terrain and poor visibility

Falabella July 743 land-based birds spotted and hovered around the ship for two days. Mirage showed cone-shaped buildings and temples.

Lady Joy 762 Nimbussian cutter Petros encountered two weeks from Vanhoover. Sails at full dress, hailed us down. Said was underponied for journey as the captain and most of the crew went ashore for supplies, attacked by hostile indigenous pony-like creatures, ship barely escaped with none of the landing party making it back to the ship.

A clipping is attached about an Olenian whaling ship, that purports to have killed a juvenile devil whale in the middle of the Thalassic Ocean, though more by accident than design as it was rammed by the ship. When cut open, the whale's stomach was found to contain several very fresh specimens of a variety of crab that is known to only inhabit shallow bodies of water, 200 or fewer feet in depth. This is in an area of ocean where the expected depth is 2 miles.

>>176704
"Well Lash I've known for a while as he is of the same culture and we hang out in many of the same groups. Girka... ugh, I guess you could call her a work colleague. I met her later."

>>176705
He nods.
"Yes, yes. Those university folk... The city insisted on them. They are hardly mine. Here. Show this to anyone who challenges your right to be on the property. Be they police, other construction workers, or the university ponies." He says, and hands Posey a hoof-written ticket of permission to be on the property 'For research purposes valid until February 10' with his signature.

>>176706
"A work colleague? Was this from the factory work or was it from later?"

>>176707
"Later, when I had to do odd jobs." She answers.

>>176706
"This is interesting...it could still be false reports, but I am inclined to believe it. Thalassic Ocean is big place, and much of it remains undiscovered. We would need sturdy vessel, however, and plenty of supplies and rations to last for potentially weeks..."

The map of the non-existant land masses between Equus and Zebrica, are any of the points of interest noted in places Silver recognizes, or are they noted on the mysterious land masses?

>>176708
"What kind of odd jobs?" Kira looks at her friend with clear interest in her eyes. She really wants to know more about her new friend's story.

>>176709
"Heh, you can't actually want to go out into the ocean to look for lost islands... Can you?"

Points of interest at least seem to correspond to real land masses. Roll knowledge.

>>176710
Her ears are up, and she slowly lowers her head while staring silently.

"Like selling things on the street..."

>>176712
"Ooooo, what kinds of things?"

>>176712
[1d20 = 8]

"Why not? Could you imagine being first pony to make official contact with these mystery pony, and what kind of prestige it would bring you?"

>>176713
"Well... tickets for events, food, trinkets..."

>>176714
"Well..." She rubs her hoof. "There must be some reason it hasn't been found."

Silver recognizes the bat pony city, Tenochtitlan, and then some location in the Summer Isles or perhaps the Meridines.

>>176715
"Could be it is shrouded in some obscuring magics. This one report mentions fog, which could be conjured rather than natural occurrence."

Hmm, alright. Perhaps places to check out in the future, and of course Silver can still take this map to a cartographer or other map expert for further information. He's been able to get through a lot more of all of this than he had originally thought he'd be able to. He finally gets to the manuscript for "Remnants of Skyros".

>>176715
Kira bounces in her coils excitedly. "What kinds of events? And trinkets? Were they anything like the things I sold to the pawn shop?"

>>176716
Remnants of Skystone reference?

>>176693
>>176694
>>176700
Amber smiles apologetically as she is tugged backwards. "Sorry for bothering you, Mr. Shopkeeper." She is definitely noticing a pattern though. Everypony is talking about the sun arriving a couple weeks earlier than it should and the spirits coming into the world. Amber must talk with this Metsän Vaeltaja because that's the source of all these rumors. But then, the shopkeeper's daughter's dreams seem to confirm them too. Amber is disappointed in not having had those dreams herself, but when she thinks about it she can't remember having any dreams at all–

The stallion's entry interrupts her train of thought. "Papa! This is the stallion who helped watch over Makea Amy after we found her," she points out.

>>176706
>'For research purposes valid until February 10' with his signature.
"Thank you for your understanding, Mr. Horizons. I will begin the examination immediately."

(What's the date today?)

>>176723
Posey then leaves back for the property, with a smug, satisfied look on her face, brandishing the permission slip with the glow of her horn.
Posey returns to the site with some actual intent to do her job, and begins sweeping the site for any signs of undead activity or abnormalities that may have been caused by the lich poisoning the earth and/or laying curses on the land during his time there. The looks for phantom tracks that could indicate haunting presences manifesting around the surface. She also checks the local plantlife for uneven withering that could indicate negative energy pollution (gotta keep up that Necro-botany gig).
This naturally leads her to search the underground facilities.

>>176716
The manuscript is hardly a manuscript at all, but a collection of unrelated stories assembled under a cover page.

The first is a philosophical musing on the nature of cycles, and in particular, the fate of civilizations that exist in each cycle. The paper starts off by pointing to the acknowledged fact - or at least, the widely accepted theory - that the earth is of infinite age, that all that is on it has always existed, and that the world as a whole goes through cycles. Civilization as we see it in the world is of a relatively youthful age, and if the previous cycles left any remnants, they are not readily visible. So why is there so little remaining from previous cycles? Surely civilization developed to a high enough degree to leave behind signs. So how exactly do cycles come to an end, and why do they leave so little behind? The paper examines the speculation. A slow decline or decadence does not tend to create the complete renew we see or seem to see in the world. Disease would explain the population decline, but not the lack of ruins. A catastrophic event like a global flood is more plausible. The paper fixates on the renewal having a more divine-spiritual mechanism, like a "snap of the finger" to bring the world to an earlier state, perhaps a literal reversal of time. It also acknowledges the possibility that some outside force, especially spiritual entities, engage in a sort of culling that reduce or prune developed civilizations at the end of a cycle.

The next article is written by an explorer about ruins in the Equestrian Southeast. Temples, irrigation systems, bridges and various other ruins are relatively common in the Tenochtitlan basin especially. However, these belong to the relatively recent history of the indigenous ponies of the region and a collapse that took place around the time of the Empire of Quetzalcoatl, and from which that culture has never perfectly recovered. The account starts by detailing a few ruins seen in by the explorer and by other parties in an area further north, especially around the area inhabited by the Cavalum. These include usually large foundations, though these are often covered by dirt and soil, and columns that are made of single blocks of stone or solidified mortar. The meet of the account is of the author's personal venture into a territory that is almost entirely unexplored by Equestrians as it belongs to the Cavalum. He was told by a chief of a particularly ancient and impressive ruin in a gorge some miles north and asked to be taken there. The chief refused to allow the author nor any stallion access to the region, but a fellow party member, a mare, was allowed access. She was taken to a gorge that was more than five hundred feet in height on either side and twice as wide with a river flowing through it. At one part of the gorge, rock protruded from either side in an unantural manner and possessing unnatural angles, and seemingly composed of mortar or cement. This stretched up on either side the entire five hundred feet and protruded each direction fifty feet on average but almost two hundred feet on the left bank, though at points the eroded and chipped figure could be believed to be a natural formation. Other blocks existed further downstream, sometimes the size of a house. The author noted that the Cavalum would not claim the ruins as their own but claimed them to have been ancient at the time of their ancestors. The author speculates as to whether the dragons possessed once a civilization much greater than the culture they have today, given the grand dimensions of the ruins.

The next article is taken from a ship's doctor from the trade ship Daffodil on stop in an island in what was then the fresh new possession of the Aquelian Meredines. The island was known by Equestrian visitors to possess a set of ruins in the shallow waters on the island's eastern coast which the author decided to visit and examine. These ruins, which the author acknowledges are believed by some to be a natural formation, include long blocks of more or less rectangular stone that extend along the lagoon bottom for hundreds of feet, and are eight feet in width and five feet on average above the floor, and seem to be made from a different material than the surrounding seabed or the reef. These blocks occur occasionally in a rectangular pattern, like frames. The natives claim no memory of when these evident ruins were new, but say they have been there as far back as their stories go.

Another story is an account of a traveller speaking to Zebra king Zibn Zambusa. Zambusa recounts that he followed a caravan deep into the central desert of Zerbica, and saw through a haze of sand the base of large stone structures that he identified with tales of a lost city. A member of that caravan claimed to have entered the structures, and found the dimensions and proportions of the structures to be very large. In particular, he saw depictions of horned equine figures with wings, evidently the subjects of worship. The king likened the images in this account to Princess Celestia, which is why the king recounted the tale in the first place.

A final paper talks about caves in the Equestrian Southeast and other locations. It mentions that in most cultures in the regions, caves are considered haunted or entries into the underworld by native ponies. Some bands of the Cavalum, however, recount tails of an enter race being forced below ground in past eras by their foes and claims that some caves connect to their subterranean domain.

>>176728
Hmm...perhaps originally these stories were unrelated, but it's clear they were put together in this "manuscript" with a purpose. It's clear whoever put this together, possibly the artist of the first philosophical musing, means to string together a story of a great expansive civilization, ancient and lost to history. It was absolutely the intent of the author to lead whoever might have ended up reading this towards this conclusion, regardless of it's factuality. Paired with the map of the mystery landmass between Equus and Zebrica, Silver believes he might have found a guide for investigating this supposed lost civilization. He shows the manuscript along with the map to Pear.

"You have studied this region quite extensively, yes? What do you think of this?"

>>176717
Neela looks up and then down, angling her head down. Her hooves are still curled hanging over the bed.

“Uh, yeah. Sure. Like that.”

>>176724
>>176739
Does Posey find her way underground?

>>176739
"Did you like doing those odd jobs?"

>>176723
Like... January 24, or... something like that. Between January 20 and January 30 for sure.

"Celestia Speed"

>>176724
This feels like at least one roll

Please be aware, there is a foundation, a small farm-house (not that old), a well ruin, a couple trees, uncut grass....

>>176740
Posey may either:
Walk down into the quarry and past the ponies while holding out her permission slip. This option is hindered by Posey's lack of a middle finger to show alongside her permission note.

Or,
Search for an alternate entrance

>>176742
"Sometimes, yes, but..." She looks down, and pauses for several seconds "... No..."

>>176743
Kira looks with intense curiosity at her deer friend. She flicks her tongue.

"What did you like or not like about them?"

>>176743
>This option is hindered by Posey's lack of a middle finger to show alongside her permission note.
Posey innovates: she conjures a floating, glowing, technicolor-flashing middle finger with her magic as she strolls past the other ponies.

>>176743
>"Celestia Speed"
Posey yelps and trips a bit at the words, the door hitting her in the butt as she moves out the door.
>This feels like at least one roll
Whatever it is, here it is:
[1d20 = 3]
Posey is eager to go underground or indoors ASAP, preferring to stay out of the sun.

>>176746
>3
Gonna roll to see if Gloomy found anything interesting, -2 for being a child
[1d20-2 = (2-2) = 0]

>>176748
Nope...

>>176729
"So, let's see if I understand this. There's supposed to have been an entire civilization, or even several, that were at least as advanced as us? Or at least, as advanced as we were a thousand years ago? And the only evidence they left behind is third-hoof hearsay and a few rocks that are unusually straight? Heh. Could this 'Zibn Zambusa' not be bothered to go in and look at the ruins himself? A cyclical model of the universe is far from universally accepted. Sure, the old Celestialist religion, and most of our philosophers have believed it, as do, for example, the Buffalo, or the most common of the Kirin religions. But the Changelings believe the universe to be fresh and new, and the Griffonian pantheon believes something similar, as do, for example, the wolves of Equus. And I've heard of those ruins on Balamy. Those are either natural formations, or the ruins of a much more recent civilization." Breathing out

"But still, it is a fact that many things that are built are forgotten and lost. Many civilizations have come and gone already. This is a fact. The ruins of old Karthinia dot the cities and farmlands of modern Wingbardy and Toulouse. The lost city of Trot was destroyed by Changeling attackers. Both the Crystal Empire and Tambelon have into and back from the veil of darkness. Even this... bunker, this... this construct we are in right now... was lost and unknown for two hundred fifty years, despite being right here, on the edge of a manor. It is a fact that there are many cities and towns of eras long gone in the Equestrian jungles that have been abandoned after rivers moved, or disease killed ponies, or war caused them to be abandoned. And then, even those theories that reject an infinitely old world, do generally believe there was some kind of cataclysm that destroyed those who came before. So... maybe? I am sure there is something there. I just don't think it's as mystical as some may think. But personally... I think that what is there, is just as interesting."

>>176746
Kek

Posey enters inside into a tunnel going to the left and the right which is held up by stone on the floor and ceiling. She does not feel haunting presences.

>>176748
Gloomy runs off after something that is moving.

Wait. It's just a lizard. Actually, better stop him. He might run into a snake, or a poisonous spider.

>>176745
Nice

>>176744
Looking up and around
"Oh, ponies and griffins bitch [in a mocking tone] 'Hey, this is fake. I want my money back. You stole my wallet. myee myee myee myee myeem'."

>>176750
>Posey enters inside into a tunnel going to the left and the right which is held up by stone on the floor and ceiling.
Posey slowly walks into the tunnel, with intent on searching the entire underground.
She looks down both paths for anything that peaks her interest.
>She does not feel haunting presences.
Posey remains hopeful. She proceeds with intent to begin her revelation ritual once she is at the deepest point in the dungeon.

>>176752
Along either side are two doors. Going through either takes Posey into a large room which has recesses in the ground, the rusted remains of chains, and a few bones in a pile.

>>176753
>a large room which has recesses in the ground, the rusted remains of chains, and a few bones in a pile.
Ooh, that's a great sign.
"Oooh, I like this place already. Feels a bit like home, doesn't it Gloomy?"
"I can't see, momma..."
"Oh, sorry sweetie, let me just.." (can Posey's horn produce light? I can't cast light)

>>176750
Silver nods in agreement.

"It is interesting just to see what really is there, just as it is to speculate on what could have been there. I imagine there was something that came before us, though what it was or if they were even ponies or something else entirely is up to debate. I know lots of ponies have tried to claim that there was ancient alicorn civilization predating modern ponies ever since Celestia and Luna first appeared. I would like to look at these ruins and other places like them to see for myself. It also sounds like you would want to go see."

>>176751
Neela's impression gets Kira to giggle. "That's silly! But what do you mean by fake?"

>>176754
>Can Posey produce light
No. Well, technically yes, her magic is luminescent, and that luminescence has some utility, just not enough to illuminate a room of this size. The room is 40 or so feet across, with a few pillars to hold up the ceiling. Gloomy could see things a few feet away, but not up to the walls.

>>176755
"No... Celestia and Lune earned their alicornhood..." She says this not so much as speaking to Silver, but to no one.

"I don't think dragons built anything though... Go see them? Well, yes. Actually, that's where we are supposed to be. We are supposed to be investigating settlements belonging to the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River, rebels against the Equestrian Rule shortly after the integration of the Marexica into the Equestrian Covenant."

>>176756
"Oh, you'll have to go ask them. They didn't like the watches and bags and what have you we sold them."

>>176757
>Gloomy could see things a few feet away, but not up to the walls.
He doesn't need to see far, so this will work.
Posey proceeds to examine the room, searching through it's contents.

>>176757
"Why would they complain about buying watches and bags? It's not like you forced them to buy them...you didn't actually force them to buy them, right?"

>>176757
"Sounds interesting, though I imagine you would much rather investigate them with different company than what you are currently keeping." Silver smiles at Pear, though whether she can see it depends on where and how the light from her flashlight is shining. "Which I suppose leads me...even from searching these few rooms, we have come across plenty of clues leading towards new adventures, finding that what has been lost or perhaps never found in first place, and what I have learned throughout my life is that adventures are always better with good company." Taking one of her forehooves in his, Silver continues. "How about it, Pear? Would you like to go on these adventures with me, be my partner, discover these lost stories waiting to be told? I have this feeling, we would do great things together."

>>176758
(Posey is just going to keep moving from room to room until or unless she finds something interesting. If you have a map, I would appreciate seeing it but by bit.)

>>176761
>>176758
I think there is a map somewhere for part of the structure, though it's from the perspective of entering from a different entrance than Posey used. This is a quest from half a decade or more ago, and there are no formal notes, only old posts. What I can say for sure is that Posey is on a "lower" level, this lower level is ringed by hallways that ring the whole structure, there is at least a large rectangular room that Posey is currently in and that she can discern was used for keeping beasts or animals, I think there are multiple vaulted square rooms used for general storage in the lower level... somewhere, and
there are two stairs going up a level to the higher level, with stone steps that are damaged. Upstairs, there is a central room accessed by the hallways with a well in the center and a hole to the ground level, on the side closest to Posey is a bedroom/study with a chamber behind it, and on the side opposite is a library. On either side are small rectangular laboratories, about three on each side. The hall rings around in front of these with catacomb burial spots on each side, until it goes to a tunnel that connects to the surface through what was once a trap door in a house. The entire structure is very symmetrical. I'm sure I am forgetting something, like evidently a smaller, breakaway library. But Posey is only going to find stones and debris that's piled neatly into corners if she simply walks through. She must search or otherwise to discover something that hasn't already been destroyed, pillaged, or taken by the militia who stormed through here, or the raiding party, or the archeologists

>>176759
"Oh no, of course not," She forces a smile

>>176760
"Yeah, they aren't the best of-" gasp. She breathes in, and looks up to him. "Um..." Her ears go down, and Silver can see her teeth reflect in the dim light. "Well, I mean..."