The next big quest with everypony in it is coming soon (TM)
/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal
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1627 replies and 46 files omitted.
>>176764
Silver looks expectantly at Pear in the dark catacombs for an answer. Part of him wonders as he waits if they thought to install lamps or something for their archaeological work, of if they're short on supply.
Silver looks expectantly at Pear in the dark catacombs for an answer. Part of him wonders as he waits if they thought to install lamps or something for their archaeological work, of if they're short on supply.
>>176763
>She must search or otherwise to discover something that hasn't already been destroyed, pillaged, or taken by the militia who stormed through here, or the raiding party, or the archeologists
And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
"Now let's see if this Curwhinny fellow left any legacy behind..." Posey says, more to herself than to Gloomy, which she levitates at hoof-length
>description
Noted.
>I think there is a map somewhere for part of the structure, though it's from the perspective of entering from a different entrance than Posey used. This is a quest from half a decade or more ago, and there are no formal notes, only old posts.
Well, I can't expect a GM to reproduce a map on the fly, but I did express interest in permanently settling in here, so I might like a detailed description at some point. No hurry though.
I need to sleep now.
>She must search or otherwise to discover something that hasn't already been destroyed, pillaged, or taken by the militia who stormed through here, or the raiding party, or the archeologists
And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
"Now let's see if this Curwhinny fellow left any legacy behind..." Posey says, more to herself than to Gloomy, which she levitates at hoof-length
>description
Noted.
>I think there is a map somewhere for part of the structure, though it's from the perspective of entering from a different entrance than Posey used. This is a quest from half a decade or more ago, and there are no formal notes, only old posts.
Well, I can't expect a GM to reproduce a map on the fly, but I did express interest in permanently settling in here, so I might like a detailed description at some point. No hurry though.
I need to sleep now.
>>176765
It seems they did not. All they have is the one light that was brough by Pear, and it is aimed at a wall past Silver. Neither Silver nor Pear are actually very visible in the light.
"But I, well, I have a job here. I'm on sabbatical with the university. And I do need to study the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River. I need to publish something to keep my position with the University."
>>176766
"Hmph! Ask them. I don't have to deal with them anymore. 'This isn't a real watch myee myee myee myeehm! Bah!" She lays down on her side.
>>176767
>I might like a detailed description at some point
This is doable, as all of the old posts still exist and are searchable, and I do believe incomplete maps exist. I just don't think you're going to get every stone overturned before the next big quest.
>And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell, but if what you want to do is to find Silver, she'd stumble upon the flashlight and the noise eventually.
It seems they did not. All they have is the one light that was brough by Pear, and it is aimed at a wall past Silver. Neither Silver nor Pear are actually very visible in the light.
"But I, well, I have a job here. I'm on sabbatical with the university. And I do need to study the Windigo Worshipers of Windy River. I need to publish something to keep my position with the University."
>>176766
"Hmph! Ask them. I don't have to deal with them anymore. 'This isn't a real watch myee myee myee myeehm! Bah!" She lays down on her side.
>>176767
>I might like a detailed description at some point
This is doable, as all of the old posts still exist and are searchable, and I do believe incomplete maps exist. I just don't think you're going to get every stone overturned before the next big quest.
>And search she does, walking slowly and deliberately through every room, until she finds something interesting, or bumps into another party member.
What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell, but if what you want to do is to find Silver, she'd stumble upon the flashlight and the noise eventually.
>>176768
"Something tells me, looking at certain members of your party, that even if you went with them they would find way to take all of credit for whatever discoveries are made. They might try to steal your work, dispute your portion of credit, or undercut your efforts by publishing group's findings before you can, leading to it looking as if you merely copied them. I am not certain university would be very happy by how it looks." Silver breathes out, then continues, "But, if you made clear that there was something else you wished to pursue on your own to your party, something tells me they would agree. They are likely more than capable of investigating Windigo Worshippers without your assistance, and it means they get you out of their manes. And as for you and for university, well, just look at any of these potential adventures. What could be more impressive than pursuing lead on your own initiative, travelling all way across world, finding something lost to time, and coming back to publish your findings on something few knew even existed?"
"Something tells me, looking at certain members of your party, that even if you went with them they would find way to take all of credit for whatever discoveries are made. They might try to steal your work, dispute your portion of credit, or undercut your efforts by publishing group's findings before you can, leading to it looking as if you merely copied them. I am not certain university would be very happy by how it looks." Silver breathes out, then continues, "But, if you made clear that there was something else you wished to pursue on your own to your party, something tells me they would agree. They are likely more than capable of investigating Windigo Worshippers without your assistance, and it means they get you out of their manes. And as for you and for university, well, just look at any of these potential adventures. What could be more impressive than pursuing lead on your own initiative, travelling all way across world, finding something lost to time, and coming back to publish your findings on something few knew even existed?"
>>176768
Kira giggles some more at Neela's silly impression. "You've got that right. Okay, I really need to see if that nice old mare is awake so I can return her tea set. Did you want to talk more after, or is it getting late for you?"
Kira giggles some more at Neela's silly impression. "You've got that right. Okay, I really need to see if that nice old mare is awake so I can return her tea set. Did you want to talk more after, or is it getting late for you?"
I have awoken.
>>176768
>What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell
I think every room requires it's own Search check, so unless a room stands out I'll say that Posey takes 10 on Search for a modified 15 for each room, unless she sees anything that looks like it invites further scrutiny (a bookshelf that looks like it could be a hidden passage, a room that looks like it hasn't been entered in years, any place that looks like it could contain treasure/curses/secrets, etc).
Posey can passively take 10 for a modified 21 on both Knowledge (Arcana) and Knowledge (Religion): she would notice things that only a skilled mage and/or undead expert would notice.
Posey has Darkvision, and might notice things that a pony reliant on a torch or flashlight would not have noticed. If Curwhinny was undead, he might've hidden his secrets in a way that only the dead would notice, and Posey takes that into consideration as she checks the shadowy corners of each room.
For spells, Posey has Detect Magic as an SLA 1/day, and can also cast it out of her lvl 1 spell slots (Dread Necromancers don't have lvl 0 spells). She can concentrate on Detect Magic for up to 6 minutes at a time. Posey intends to fully sweep the dungeon for any and all items/curses/spells/runes, but first she checks how many rooms there are, so that she can divide her spell slots well enough to cover the entire dungeon.
After Posey has completed her systemic search and divination, she will seek out the deepest area in the dungeon, mediate for 10 minutes and begin ominously chanting in tongues to begin a ritual to force any haunts or lingering undead to reveal themselves.
Unless, of course, she bumps into somepony else first.
>>176768
>What I mean by that was a dice roll or spell
I think every room requires it's own Search check, so unless a room stands out I'll say that Posey takes 10 on Search for a modified 15 for each room, unless she sees anything that looks like it invites further scrutiny (a bookshelf that looks like it could be a hidden passage, a room that looks like it hasn't been entered in years, any place that looks like it could contain treasure/curses/secrets, etc).
Posey can passively take 10 for a modified 21 on both Knowledge (Arcana) and Knowledge (Religion): she would notice things that only a skilled mage and/or undead expert would notice.
Posey has Darkvision, and might notice things that a pony reliant on a torch or flashlight would not have noticed. If Curwhinny was undead, he might've hidden his secrets in a way that only the dead would notice, and Posey takes that into consideration as she checks the shadowy corners of each room.
For spells, Posey has Detect Magic as an SLA 1/day, and can also cast it out of her lvl 1 spell slots (Dread Necromancers don't have lvl 0 spells). She can concentrate on Detect Magic for up to 6 minutes at a time. Posey intends to fully sweep the dungeon for any and all items/curses/spells/runes, but first she checks how many rooms there are, so that she can divide her spell slots well enough to cover the entire dungeon.
After Posey has completed her systemic search and divination, she will seek out the deepest area in the dungeon, mediate for 10 minutes and begin ominously chanting in tongues to begin a ritual to force any haunts or lingering undead to reveal themselves.
Unless, of course, she bumps into somepony else first.
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>>176719
"Oh" Father says, looking at Amber. He looks back to the stallion. "Is this about Makea?" He asks, tilting his head. The stallion says nods his head, and with an annoyed tone, says,
"Yeah. It's about Makea. It's about Makea and everything else. Get your flank out here. We need to speak in private."
Father follows the stallion outside. They try to go between a set of buildings. There is piled set of logs near them, and they stand on the other side of the several barrels.
"Oh" Father says, looking at Amber. He looks back to the stallion. "Is this about Makea?" He asks, tilting his head. The stallion says nods his head, and with an annoyed tone, says,
"Yeah. It's about Makea. It's about Makea and everything else. Get your flank out here. We need to speak in private."
Father follows the stallion outside. They try to go between a set of buildings. There is piled set of logs near them, and they stand on the other side of the several barrels.
>>176774
The room that Posey is in has a few severely rusted bars remaining standing. The rusted remnants of bars jutting from the ground or from the pillars, and a few in corners that lay piled, are a hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells. A large openning in the roof has been sealed.
Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering. This lower section is oddly older than the upper portion, and also much more damaged. It appears that it was submerged in water.
>>176776
Generally rolls should be respected. There is a time and place to fudge or ignore rolls. And that time and place is now, apparently.
From upstairs, Posey can hear vague suggestions of noises. To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss." To her right, what sounds like ponies talking.
>>176772
Her ears are back fully
"I mean... It's my area of focus. The religions of the southeast."
>>176773
Laying her head down on the couch as she lays on her side,
"Ugh, I wish we had alcohol. Or bowls... Sure." She says
The room that Posey is in has a few severely rusted bars remaining standing. The rusted remnants of bars jutting from the ground or from the pillars, and a few in corners that lay piled, are a hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells. A large openning in the roof has been sealed.
Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering. This lower section is oddly older than the upper portion, and also much more damaged. It appears that it was submerged in water.
>>176776
Generally rolls should be respected. There is a time and place to fudge or ignore rolls. And that time and place is now, apparently.
From upstairs, Posey can hear vague suggestions of noises. To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss." To her right, what sounds like ponies talking.
>>176772
Her ears are back fully
"I mean... It's my area of focus. The religions of the southeast."
>>176773
Laying her head down on the couch as she lays on her side,
"Ugh, I wish we had alcohol. Or bowls... Sure." She says
>>176780
>hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells.
Posey levitates Gloomy up to safety, confidently relying on her damage reduction to avoid her own hooves being harmed.
>Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering.
Exactly what she was looking for. Posey looks almost giddy, perfectly in her element.
>It appears that it was submerged in water.
Oof, water damage.
>To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss."
Posey suspects this may be a monster, or worse, a has leak, and decides to investigate the source of the hiss, levitating Gloomy behind her.
Her ears track on the sounds of the ponies, but she decides to check the source of the hiss first.
>hazard to hooves, and suggestive that most of this room was divided into cages or cells.
Posey levitates Gloomy up to safety, confidently relying on her damage reduction to avoid her own hooves being harmed.
>Posey can feel that this place has been the site of great magic and great suffering.
Exactly what she was looking for. Posey looks almost giddy, perfectly in her element.
>It appears that it was submerged in water.
Oof, water damage.
>To her left, something that sounds like a step, and a vague "hiss."
Posey suspects this may be a monster, or worse, a has leak, and decides to investigate the source of the hiss, levitating Gloomy behind her.
Her ears track on the sounds of the ponies, but she decides to check the source of the hiss first.
>>176780
"Is that all you want to focus on? This world is so vast, there are so many stories to tell and that are yet to be told, or have not been told for many centuries. Learning more about rest of world would also help to advance your studies of this region and its religions by contextualizing them in grander scheme of things."
Sense Motive: Hmm...is ears back good or bad in this context?
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
"Is that all you want to focus on? This world is so vast, there are so many stories to tell and that are yet to be told, or have not been told for many centuries. Learning more about rest of world would also help to advance your studies of this region and its religions by contextualizing them in grander scheme of things."
Sense Motive: Hmm...is ears back good or bad in this context?
[1d20+3 = (15+3) = 18]
>>176780
"We'll get both of those tomorrow, don't you worry. I'm not gonna leave us without the essentials."
Gathering the cleaned tea set together, Kira slithers outside. She makes sure to hide her tail like she did last time as she knocks on the nice-if-slightly-racist old mare's door.
"We'll get both of those tomorrow, don't you worry. I'm not gonna leave us without the essentials."
Gathering the cleaned tea set together, Kira slithers outside. She makes sure to hide her tail like she did last time as she knocks on the nice-if-slightly-racist old mare's door.
>>176781
Posey goes up the stairs to find a small, rectangular room with blocky stone walls, shelves on two sides, a counter on the far side, and in the center, a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well, with a rusted metal grate overtop. On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders. On the stone circle in the center is a yellow sticker, clearly of greatly more modern origin, with a black-outlined triangle with an exclamation point in it, and the text "Danger Wild Animals."
>>176782
The little pony is feeling awkward and conflicted
"Well, I mean... It is important to me. That's my first time out here in the south. Well, it will be. I mean, aside from the lands around Stableside. It's my first time in the Tenochtichlan Bason. Or will be. It's what I've studied the most."
>>176783
[1d20 = 3]
Posey goes up the stairs to find a small, rectangular room with blocky stone walls, shelves on two sides, a counter on the far side, and in the center, a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well, with a rusted metal grate overtop. On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders. On the stone circle in the center is a yellow sticker, clearly of greatly more modern origin, with a black-outlined triangle with an exclamation point in it, and the text "Danger Wild Animals."
>>176782
The little pony is feeling awkward and conflicted
"Well, I mean... It is important to me. That's my first time out here in the south. Well, it will be. I mean, aside from the lands around Stableside. It's my first time in the Tenochtichlan Bason. Or will be. It's what I've studied the most."
>>176783
[1d20 = 3]
>>176784
"It will not be your only chance to explore here. This place is part of world, after all, and how can we have world-spanning adventures together if we never explore here, as well? And when we do explore here, it will be under far better circumstances than you being forced out here by your university, and with far better company...that company being me, in this case, if it was not clear."
"It will not be your only chance to explore here. This place is part of world, after all, and how can we have world-spanning adventures together if we never explore here, as well? And when we do explore here, it will be under far better circumstances than you being forced out here by your university, and with far better company...that company being me, in this case, if it was not clear."
>>176784
>On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders.
"Looks like an alchemist lab, or what's left of one..."
>a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well
>"Danger Wild Animals."
Posey suspects this might be the source of the hissing.
"Looks like a breeding pit for fodder subjects; Curwhinny was a shrewd mage. Whatever living thing could have survived all this time though? Perhaps whatever was kept here already turned long ago." Posey says quietly, quite curious, but still cautious (signs exist for a reason)
Posey curiously peeks into the well, levitating gloomy Gloomy well away from whatever monster might jump out to snatch him.
>On the counter are empty flasks. On the shelves are flasks, jars, and viles. Sometimes they are broken, sometimes they are empty, and sometimes they are filled with things like mercury, pyrite, salts, and unidentified liquids and powders.
"Looks like an alchemist lab, or what's left of one..."
>a stone circle that rises up about two feet and forms a rim of something like a well
>"Danger Wild Animals."
Posey suspects this might be the source of the hissing.
"Looks like a breeding pit for fodder subjects; Curwhinny was a shrewd mage. Whatever living thing could have survived all this time though? Perhaps whatever was kept here already turned long ago." Posey says quietly, quite curious, but still cautious (signs exist for a reason)
Posey curiously peeks into the well, levitating gloomy Gloomy well away from whatever monster might jump out to snatch him.
>>176789
Poorly defined, black and white, Posey can see a grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body. It then leaps upwards, hitting the edge of the iron grate, and slightly rattling it.
>>176787
Roll Die
>>176788
"Heh, well..." She taps her hooves together, if Silver isn't still holding her hoof.
Poorly defined, black and white, Posey can see a grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body. It then leaps upwards, hitting the edge of the iron grate, and slightly rattling it.
>>176787
Roll Die
>>176788
"Heh, well..." She taps her hooves together, if Silver isn't still holding her hoof.
>>176790
When Pear taps her hooves together, Silver takes the opportunity to grab them from above and below with his own forehooves, as he looks right into Pear's eyes. Or, at least, he hopes those are her eyes, it's a little hard to see in the darkness.
"What say you, Pear Faucet? Will you not be my partner?"
When Pear taps her hooves together, Silver takes the opportunity to grab them from above and below with his own forehooves, as he looks right into Pear's eyes. Or, at least, he hopes those are her eyes, it's a little hard to see in the darkness.
"What say you, Pear Faucet? Will you not be my partner?"
>>176790
>grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body
Posey tries to identify this creature, particularly if it's undead (taking 10 on Religion for 21)
>equine face
"Hello." Posey greets with a wave of her hoof, a bit mockingly
"Do you speak? I might be persuaded to let you out of there, if you're convincing."
>grey face with sunken milky eyes looking back up to her on top of a naked equine face with plastic-like grey skin that's tight to the body
Posey tries to identify this creature, particularly if it's undead (taking 10 on Religion for 21)
>equine face
"Hello." Posey greets with a wave of her hoof, a bit mockingly
"Do you speak? I might be persuaded to let you out of there, if you're convincing."
>>176793
"Ack!" It jumps up again, this time just barely missing the grate. Posey can see that actually, there is a second one in there. They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before.
>>176791
"I'll-" She looks down. "I" She looks back up. "I'll think about it. It's uh, it's a lot to think about."
>>176792
No response.
"Ack!" It jumps up again, this time just barely missing the grate. Posey can see that actually, there is a second one in there. They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before.
>>176791
"I'll-" She looks down. "I" She looks back up. "I'll think about it. It's uh, it's a lot to think about."
>>176792
No response.
>>176794
Kira scrunches, and figures that the mare went to sleep. She doesn't want to make her upset by waking her up from her slumber, so she decides she'll check again in the morning when the mare is awake. She returns to their home, defeated.
Kira scrunches, and figures that the mare went to sleep. She doesn't want to make her upset by waking her up from her slumber, so she decides she'll check again in the morning when the mare is awake. She returns to their home, defeated.
>>176794
"Heh, I suppose that is not no. You are extremely intelligent mare, though. I know when you think it through, you will come to right conclusion." He lets go of her forehooves. "Ready to continue search? That sarcophagus must be somewhere in here."
"Heh, I suppose that is not no. You are extremely intelligent mare, though. I know when you think it through, you will come to right conclusion." He lets go of her forehooves. "Ready to continue search? That sarcophagus must be somewhere in here."
>>176779
Amber tracks him as he goes with her heavily insulated head. What could they be saying that wouldn't be for a filly's ears? Too interested now, Amber sneaks behind the pile of logs to overhear their conversation.
Amber tracks him as he goes with her heavily insulated head. What could they be saying that wouldn't be for a filly's ears? Too interested now, Amber sneaks behind the pile of logs to overhear their conversation.
>>176794
>They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before
"An aberrant ghast... Maybe an abyssal ghoul...?! No, such a monster couldn't possibly be trapped this easily." Posey says to herself
Posey suspects that this is a ghast that has gone completely feral (and thus nonverbal) as a result of going to long without feeding. She sees this as a potential asset
Posey gives a shrug
"Not feeling so talkative, I see. I guess it would be professional to force you to kill yourself right here and now, but.. your presence does lower the value of this property, so until next time, cagie." Posey says, walking away from the well.
She searches the remains of the alchemist lab for anything of value still here. If she finds nothing worth taking, she leaves and sets off in the other direction down the hall.
>They appear to be undead, likely a permutation of ghast, albeit certainly a different variety from what Posey has seen before
"An aberrant ghast... Maybe an abyssal ghoul...?! No, such a monster couldn't possibly be trapped this easily." Posey says to herself
Posey suspects that this is a ghast that has gone completely feral (and thus nonverbal) as a result of going to long without feeding. She sees this as a potential asset
Posey gives a shrug
"Not feeling so talkative, I see. I guess it would be professional to force you to kill yourself right here and now, but.. your presence does lower the value of this property, so until next time, cagie." Posey says, walking away from the well.
She searches the remains of the alchemist lab for anything of value still here. If she finds nothing worth taking, she leaves and sets off in the other direction down the hall.
>>176798
Silver resumes the search! There are still a couple of places to explore like the room underneath the well up top or the other side of this floor of the catacombs. It's also possible they overlooked something in the downstairs section.
"Have you figured out what all of this was built for in first place? It seems so...expansive, to be dug out by Curwhinny."
Silver resumes the search! There are still a couple of places to explore like the room underneath the well up top or the other side of this floor of the catacombs. It's also possible they overlooked something in the downstairs section.
"Have you figured out what all of this was built for in first place? It seems so...expansive, to be dug out by Curwhinny."
>>176800
"Storage of some kind for sure. Possibly it was for hiding items from Customs. Maybe it was for gunpowder, or aging wine... although the shape of the rooms isn't quite ideal for that. Curwhinny was a business magnate whose ships went to the far side of the earth. You should see his mansion on the waterfront in old town."
Roll Search
>>176799
The jars and flasks contain the aforementioned pyrite, mercury, and unidentified salts.
"Storage of some kind for sure. Possibly it was for hiding items from Customs. Maybe it was for gunpowder, or aging wine... although the shape of the rooms isn't quite ideal for that. Curwhinny was a business magnate whose ships went to the far side of the earth. You should see his mansion on the waterfront in old town."
Roll Search
>>176799
The jars and flasks contain the aforementioned pyrite, mercury, and unidentified salts.
>>176802
"I can not imagine how much money he must have made to maintain all of this research. How much does it even cost to import entire living mummy and its sarcophagus?"
[1d20 = 3]
"I can not imagine how much money he must have made to maintain all of this research. How much does it even cost to import entire living mummy and its sarcophagus?"
[1d20 = 3]
>>176803
Kira giggles some more, and puts the tea set in the kitchen.
"Well, I'm fairly certain she's asleep. Makes sense, she's definitely on the older side. Well, she looked like it, I don't know how long ponies live for. But regardless of species old age always comes with a propensity for sleeping. I'll try again in the morning."
Kira giggles some more, and puts the tea set in the kitchen.
"Well, I'm fairly certain she's asleep. Makes sense, she's definitely on the older side. Well, she looked like it, I don't know how long ponies live for. But regardless of species old age always comes with a propensity for sleeping. I'll try again in the morning."
>>176802
>unidentified salts
Posey looks closer at this, but if it's not anything special, she leaves down the hallway.
>unidentified salts
Posey looks closer at this, but if it's not anything special, she leaves down the hallway.
>>176804
"When you already own a ship that's going to Maregypt, not all that much. Well, I mean, many mummies have been brought into Equestria and Griffonia."
Silver does not find the sarcophagus
"But yeah... point taken. His hobby must have been very expensive..."
Roll Listen
>>176805
"Yeah, they live to be... uh... well pretty old." She moves her muzzle out of the box and looks over towards Kira. "What are our neighbors like, anyways?"
>>176806
It may very well be. Hard to say.
Roll listen
"When you already own a ship that's going to Maregypt, not all that much. Well, I mean, many mummies have been brought into Equestria and Griffonia."
Silver does not find the sarcophagus
"But yeah... point taken. His hobby must have been very expensive..."
Roll Listen
>>176805
"Yeah, they live to be... uh... well pretty old." She moves her muzzle out of the box and looks over towards Kira. "What are our neighbors like, anyways?"
>>176806
It may very well be. Hard to say.
Roll listen
>>176807
"Well I've only met the one so far. She seems nice! Though, I'm curious what she has against...'bats', she said? I mean, I don't think I look like a bat..."
"Well I've only met the one so far. She seems nice! Though, I'm curious what she has against...'bats', she said? I mean, I don't think I look like a bat..."
>>176807
"Well yes, but those are brought in for museums and like. This was living, animated mummy that he just kept in his laboratory. How much would it cost to slip that past customs?"
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
"Well yes, but those are brought in for museums and like. This was living, animated mummy that he just kept in his laboratory. How much would it cost to slip that past customs?"
[1d20+3 = (18+3) = 21]
>>176808
"Ugh! Bats! One more menace to look out for at night."
She looks over
"You sort of do, just a little. You have snake-eyes. Bats have snake-eyes. You've also got fangs, well uh, sometimes you've got fangs. You have fangs right? No no, I don't want to see. Just asking. I just thought I saw fangs. But you've got fangs, you've got snake-eyes, and you've got those tufts on your ears. You kind of look like a bat if all you see is your uh, upper half."
>>176809
"I don't know. He'd have the ship's crew on his payroll... very possibly the custom's agents, too. Paying customs at this time wasn't exactly popular. There was an established smuggling trade."
"Ugh! Bats! One more menace to look out for at night."
She looks over
"You sort of do, just a little. You have snake-eyes. Bats have snake-eyes. You've also got fangs, well uh, sometimes you've got fangs. You have fangs right? No no, I don't want to see. Just asking. I just thought I saw fangs. But you've got fangs, you've got snake-eyes, and you've got those tufts on your ears. You kind of look like a bat if all you see is your uh, upper half."
>>176809
"I don't know. He'd have the ship's crew on his payroll... very possibly the custom's agents, too. Paying customs at this time wasn't exactly popular. There was an established smuggling trade."
>>176810
"But what's wrong about the...bat ponies? That's what they're called, right? Aren't they still ponies?"
"But what's wrong about the...bat ponies? That's what they're called, right? Aren't they still ponies?"
>>176812
"They stay up at night. They may rob you or burgle you, and just generally, they are more aware in the night than you are. They and they kind of do their own thing, apart from the other ponies."
>>176814
A sound almost like a conch in the ocean, with a sort of sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers? Oh wait. Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.
>>176813
"I think you might have met them all. Maybe Mr. Loans is down here." Her eyes go wide, and her ears twitch. "But I think that's a mare..."
"They stay up at night. They may rob you or burgle you, and just generally, they are more aware in the night than you are. They and they kind of do their own thing, apart from the other ponies."
>>176814
A sound almost like a conch in the ocean, with a sort of sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers? Oh wait. Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.
>>176813
"I think you might have met them all. Maybe Mr. Loans is down here." Her eyes go wide, and her ears twitch. "But I think that's a mare..."
>>176815
Move Silently: Silver whispers to Pear, "Stay behind me," as he attempts to move quietly towards the source of the voice.
[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]
Move Silently: Silver whispers to Pear, "Stay behind me," as he attempts to move quietly towards the source of the voice.
[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]
>>176815
"Okay, I can get the being aware in the night. But why do they do their own thing? It's disappointing to hear that ponies don't really apply the principles of Harmony towards other creatures, but...not even their own kind?"
"Okay, I can get the being aware in the night. But why do they do their own thing? It's disappointing to hear that ponies don't really apply the principles of Harmony towards other creatures, but...not even their own kind?"
>>176817
Silver swears under his breath, hoping nopony heard that as he stands back up and resumes making his way towards the voice.
Silver swears under his breath, hoping nopony heard that as he stands back up and resumes making his way towards the voice.
>>176815
>sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers?
If this is actually what Posey hears, she would take the salt with her.
>Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.
Posey freezes, not expecting to be disturbed here.
She makes a silent gesture that Gloomy, well trained, understands is meant to tell him to be silent and stay close. She uses her Floating Disk SLA and puts Gloomy on it, because I just remembered I had that.
She moves down the hall, slowly and silently, towards the sound of the speaking, the faint glow of her horn on the sheathe of her sword. Her hooves glide across the floor with supernatural grace.
Move Silently:
[1d20+9 = (7+9) = 16]
>sucking, and possibly... moaning? Whispers?
If this is actually what Posey hears, she would take the salt with her.
>Posey can hear a mare and a stallion talking to each other.
Posey freezes, not expecting to be disturbed here.
She makes a silent gesture that Gloomy, well trained, understands is meant to tell him to be silent and stay close. She uses her Floating Disk SLA and puts Gloomy on it, because I just remembered I had that.
She moves down the hall, slowly and silently, towards the sound of the speaking, the faint glow of her horn on the sheathe of her sword. Her hooves glide across the floor with supernatural grace.
Move Silently:
[1d20+9 = (7+9) = 16]
With move silently, listen, etc. sort of checks, generally the DM does a secret roll (actually two or more, including the target being fooled or hidden from) so the player doesn't know the result before its consequences. I like that air of mystery but it doesn't seem possible strictly on the board only, since everything is open. Still, if we ever have a situation for a disguise check, it would be nice to have secret rolls.
>>176819
>>176818
"To them it's not their own kind. Most of it is the usual. It's about who gets jobs, housing, who can get in line for a doctor. The kind of reasons ponies always give for why they don't like us here. The ponies don't see the bats as their own kind, apparently."
>>176819
Just move along
>>176820
Posey moves into the hall.
>>176821
You underestimate my power
>>176819
Roll Dexterity
>>176820
Roll Dexterity
>>176818
"To them it's not their own kind. Most of it is the usual. It's about who gets jobs, housing, who can get in line for a doctor. The kind of reasons ponies always give for why they don't like us here. The ponies don't see the bats as their own kind, apparently."
>>176819
Just move along
>>176820
Posey moves into the hall.
>>176821
You underestimate my power
>>176819
Roll Dexterity
>>176820
Roll Dexterity
>>176824
Inside the hallway, Posey sees a bright light coming from an electric torch. Behind it is a mare in a jacket vest. In front of her is a large stallion with a grey coat. He wears what Posey should be able to recognize as a flak jacket.
>>176826
Neela shrugs
"I don't know. It was like that when I got here."
She places more corn in her mouth, and starts munching.
Inside the hallway, Posey sees a bright light coming from an electric torch. Behind it is a mare in a jacket vest. In front of her is a large stallion with a grey coat. He wears what Posey should be able to recognize as a flak jacket.
>>176826
Neela shrugs
"I don't know. It was like that when I got here."
She places more corn in her mouth, and starts munching.
>>176827
"Hmm...I guess I'll have to ask some ponies about it next time I get a chance." Kira coils up in the nearby living room, and rests her pony half on top. "So, we have bat ponies, pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies...are there any other kinds of ponies out there? Besides lamias, I'd never heard of so many different varieties of a single species existing."
"Hmm...I guess I'll have to ask some ponies about it next time I get a chance." Kira coils up in the nearby living room, and rests her pony half on top. "So, we have bat ponies, pegasi, unicorns, earth ponies...are there any other kinds of ponies out there? Besides lamias, I'd never heard of so many different varieties of a single species existing."
>>176827
Is the Dexterity check telling me that I move first, or that I see them first?
Posey is suspicious, but doesn't show it with her usual stoic pokerface, continuing to glide closer until she's certain that she is seen.
She does duck to the side at the light though, pulling her hood up over her head as her eyes adjust to the glare.
Is the Dexterity check telling me that I move first, or that I see them first?
Posey is suspicious, but doesn't show it with her usual stoic pokerface, continuing to glide closer until she's certain that she is seen.
She does duck to the side at the light though, pulling her hood up over her head as her eyes adjust to the glare.
>>176829
It's basically an initiative roll. It means you react first.
And... Posey is blinded by the flashlight as it moves to her. At least the hood provides some protection
>>176825
Silver sees a figure in full chain mail with a longsword on a belt, a bag, and a black hood. It seems to be a mare with a white coat.
>>176828
"Yeah, they uh, that's it. Wait no. There's also crystal ponies, I think, which are kind of the same with sparkly... or something. And then there's uh, the zebra kind of look like ponies to me. Or the ponies look like zebras."
It's basically an initiative roll. It means you react first.
And... Posey is blinded by the flashlight as it moves to her. At least the hood provides some protection
>>176825
Silver sees a figure in full chain mail with a longsword on a belt, a bag, and a black hood. It seems to be a mare with a white coat.
>>176828
"Yeah, they uh, that's it. Wait no. There's also crystal ponies, I think, which are kind of the same with sparkly... or something. And then there's uh, the zebra kind of look like ponies to me. Or the ponies look like zebras."
>>176830
>full chain mail
*Chain shirt barding
>Posey is blinded
Posey is dazzled by light, but that won't stop her from doing this:
Her eyes flash with golden light as she attempts to charm the first pony that makes eye contact.
>full chain mail
*Chain shirt barding
>Posey is blinded
Posey is dazzled by light, but that won't stop her from doing this:
Her eyes flash with golden light as she attempts to charm the first pony that makes eye contact.
>>176832
>charm
It's an unusual lighting situation in the dungeon. It may work with the flashlight not quite shining on her face, but if it's too bright or too dim... not so much
>charm
It's an unusual lighting situation in the dungeon. It may work with the flashlight not quite shining on her face, but if it's too bright or too dim... not so much
>>176833
Pear does not need to be told twice. She moves back, unfortunately losing her train of the flashlight on the undead Knight.
Pear does not need to be told twice. She moves back, unfortunately losing her train of the flashlight on the undead Knight.
>>176832
The creature approaches with a stern glare, it's golden eyes shining with an ominous glow. An overwhelming feeling overtakes you.
DC 19 Will save please
It draws its sword
"Oh, just my luck..." it mutters, in a soft tone
"What's going on, momma?"
"Patience, sweetpea. Momma is working."
The creature approaches with a stern glare, it's golden eyes shining with an ominous glow. An overwhelming feeling overtakes you.
DC 19 Will save please
It draws its sword
"Oh, just my luck..." it mutters, in a soft tone
"What's going on, momma?"
"Patience, sweetpea. Momma is working."
>>176833
I should mention that the creature is also levitating a giant floating magical disk thing that has a foal on it.
I should mention that the creature is also levitating a giant floating magical disk thing that has a foal on it.
>>176836
>>176837
If this thing speaking is enough to catch the grey unicorn off guard, the second voice is absolutely enough to completely confuse him, making him pause and not even quite recognize that the first creature has drawn a sword. The sight of the foal on a floating disk is definitely just the tip of the iceberg.
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
>>176837
If this thing speaking is enough to catch the grey unicorn off guard, the second voice is absolutely enough to completely confuse him, making him pause and not even quite recognize that the first creature has drawn a sword. The sight of the foal on a floating disk is definitely just the tip of the iceberg.
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
>>176838
I did not expect +5 Will
Oh well. You pass.
The unicorn points her sword at you.
"State your business."
I did not expect +5 Will
Oh well. You pass.
The unicorn points her sword at you.
"State your business."
>>176840
>what are you doing with foal?
"This is my son, and he's here for his training."
>Who...what are you?
The mare puffs out her chest
"I am Rosey Ring, Blackweave Warmagus and licenced Necrologist. I am here on orders to examine these grounds for dark magic contamination." She states, boldly
The mare's voice is gentle and eloquent, with a vaguely-slavic accent. She speaks the local language well, although it appears to be a slightly different dialect.
>what are you doing with foal?
"This is my son, and he's here for his training."
>Who...what are you?
The mare puffs out her chest
"I am Rosey Ring, Blackweave Warmagus and licenced Necrologist. I am here on orders to examine these grounds for dark magic contamination." She states, boldly
The mare's voice is gentle and eloquent, with a vaguely-slavic accent. She speaks the local language well, although it appears to be a slightly different dialect.
>>176841
>>176840
>>176843
Now the grey unicorn notices that this strange creature--a sort-of regular mare, it seems--is brandishing a weapon at him. He makes sure to stand in between Rosey and the mare behind him.
"'State my...' Ma'am, you scared us half to death! We thought there was another undead knight Curwhinny had kept here. Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults?" He looks over the the colt who is floating on a magic disk. "Hello there, little one."
>>176840
>>176843
Now the grey unicorn notices that this strange creature--a sort-of regular mare, it seems--is brandishing a weapon at him. He makes sure to stand in between Rosey and the mare behind him.
"'State my...' Ma'am, you scared us half to death! We thought there was another undead knight Curwhinny had kept here. Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults?" He looks over the the colt who is floating on a magic disk. "Hello there, little one."
>>176844
>undead knight
"Undead Knight? Where? In this dungeon?" Rosey Ring replies, seemingly interested
>Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults
"You don't look like an archaeologist. What are you here for?"
>Hello there, little one."
The white mare steps in front of the colt, glaring defensively
>undead knight
"Undead Knight? Where? In this dungeon?" Rosey Ring replies, seemingly interested
>Can you put please your weapon away so we can talk like normal adults
"You don't look like an archaeologist. What are you here for?"
>Hello there, little one."
The white mare steps in front of the colt, glaring defensively
>>176846
The grey unicorn gives an understand look towards the defensive gesture, seemingly knowing where it comes from.
"It was undead, now it is just regular dead. Torn to shreads by Roc after it was lured outside with bait. Look, I am Silver Sword, this mare behind me is Pear Faucet. She is archaeologist, I am pony who cleared this place of undead. Okay, introductions have been made...can you please just sheathe your weapon, for sake of those around us?"
The grey unicorn gives an understand look towards the defensive gesture, seemingly knowing where it comes from.
"It was undead, now it is just regular dead. Torn to shreads by Roc after it was lured outside with bait. Look, I am Silver Sword, this mare behind me is Pear Faucet. She is archaeologist, I am pony who cleared this place of undead. Okay, introductions have been made...can you please just sheathe your weapon, for sake of those around us?"
>>176848
The mare sheaves her sword
"I thought I was the only pony tasked with cleansing this dungeon. Do you work for Glass Horizons?"
>She is archaeologist
She squints at her, but says nothing
The mare sheaves her sword
"I thought I was the only pony tasked with cleansing this dungeon. Do you work for Glass Horizons?"
>She is archaeologist
She squints at her, but says nothing
>>176849
Silver relaxes, now that the threat has been dealt with.
"I was employed by him, yes. I did not think he would send...you said 'necrologist'? I did not think he would send one in after me. Did he send you here or were you sent by somepony else? How did you find out about this place?"
Silver relaxes, now that the threat has been dealt with.
"I was employed by him, yes. I did not think he would send...you said 'necrologist'? I did not think he would send one in after me. Did he send you here or were you sent by somepony else? How did you find out about this place?"
>>176797
Stallion: "We need to do something about Vaeltaja."
Father: "Yes, I can't stand him spreading nonsense around here. I keep my family away from him."
Stallion: "No. I mean he's dangerous."
Father: "Nonsense is dangerous."
Stallion: "Heh. So much more than you know."
Father: "We should address this at coun-"
Stallion: "Kultainen brought Makea to me. She was completely out of it. Muttering to herself. And she was frost bitten. She had it bad on her ears and lips. Even her eyes... it's like she hadn't blinked. She was out of it."
Father: "What was wrong with her?"
Stallion: "I don't know. Dehydration, just the cold... maybe some kind of illness? I don't know what's going on."
Father: "Will she be alright?"
Stallion: "I don't know. I gave her water and heated her up, but she was still muttering to herself."
Father: "Well what has any of that got to do with Vaeltaja?"
Stallion: "What she was muttering. She was talking about the coming sun. And spirits. When she wasn't just speaking gibberish. She's one of those ponies who follow him."
Father: "Do you think Vaeltaja gave her mushrooms? Some other kind of poison?"
Stallion: "Maybe. I don't know. She may have just wondered off into the forest looking for spirits, got lost and then dehydrated. I don't think she would have lasted that much longer either way. She wasn't wearing enough heavy clothing."
Father: "Poor Makae Amuu... She's been sad since her mother died. I think that's why she follows him. He promises the spirits will come back and so she hopes to see him. That's why religious delusions can be so dangerous. They prey on our fears and vulnerabilities."
Stallion: "You're missing the point. I know that. We need to do something about it."
Father: "Yes, we need to bring it up at the council."
Stallion: "The council?! Just- ugh! Do you understand? The Inspector is coming here this week. He is supposed to be hear tomorrow."
Father: "Heh, you know that means he won't be here and earlier than Saturday. We can address this with the council on Friday. Or even ask the Inspector for help."
Stallion: "No! You just - ugh! You don't get it. What do you think the Inspector will think when he sees these ponies spouting that religious horse shit?"
Father: "Well he will be very upset, obviously. It's against the Path Forward."
Stallion: "Exactly! So what is he going to think about the council who runs the village where this happens."
Father: "He should want to help us. To help us put down this new religion."
Stallion: "Don't you think he's going to want to know how it got this bad?"
Father: "....."
Stallion: "He's going to blame us. He's going to tell the Central Council that we either couldn't stop it, or didn't want to."
Father: "The villagers could be silent. They have been silent about their religious practices every other time the inspector has come."
Stallion: "No. They have not. We have a write up. And this is a hell of a lot worse than that old mare with her public prayers. These followers of Vaeltaja won't shut up about convergence and seraphs and the sun and whatever. I mean for Akka's sake one of them was so crazed she went outside without enough clothes and forgot to drink water."
Father: "Do you think maybe there is some kind of pathogen at the blast? I believe Vaeltaja has been taking ponies there. We should ask the Inspector to look into the blast and see if maybe the melted permafrost awoke some kind of, some kind of old bacteria."
Stallion: "You are missing the point! The Inspector can't find out!"
Father: "No, that's exactly my point. We can ask the inspector for help. Maybe intercept him at Kaukainen Piste and tell him we need help. That will make it look like we are trying to solve the problem."
Stallion: "Really? Really? You don't think his first question when he hears that a start-up prophet is taking ponies into the woods and giving them drugs or whatever is going to be anything other than 'how long has this been going on?' Do you really think he's going to believe this hasn't been going on for weeks now? Don't you think he'll ask 'when did you first notice?' Is there any answer you can possibly give that won't sound like a blatant lie or make you look horrifically incompetent?"
Father: "I had no idea it was so bad. We saw Kulho Linssejä moving listlessly. He was out of his mind too, but not frostbitten. He was talking about going to be with his dead wife."
Stallion: "Yeah, it's... I know. I didn't know either. I didn't know it would get this bad. You know, when Metsän Vaeltaja started his preaching I actually kind of liked it. He was talking about Akka and the spirits of the ancestors. I was pleased to hear someone talk about the old gods and the old ways. Such a refreshing change from that horrible silence that's been placed over all of us. It was like a pillar of the old world returning. Resisting. Then she started talking about the seraph and the sun coming early and convergence all of this other pure horse shit, and I realized it was something else entirely. Something new. Ugh! But I thought they could keep quite. But they can't!"
Father: "Well, if we explain the situation to the inspector he might-"
Stallion: "No. You don't get it. There is no explanation we could possibly give to the Inspector that will suffice, with mares and stallions walking maddly around on the streets like that. There is no way around it. The Inspector will conclude that we were willfully Non-compliant. And if you tell him we didn't have the power to do anything he'll just ask why we didn't ask for help earlier, and what's the point of us anyways."
Father: "...."
Stallion: "We need to do something."
Father: "Call an emergency meeting of the town council. Gather every pony, explain the situation. Make a show of it."
Stallion: "We need to do something about Vaeltaja."
Father: "Yes, I can't stand him spreading nonsense around here. I keep my family away from him."
Stallion: "No. I mean he's dangerous."
Father: "Nonsense is dangerous."
Stallion: "Heh. So much more than you know."
Father: "We should address this at coun-"
Stallion: "Kultainen brought Makea to me. She was completely out of it. Muttering to herself. And she was frost bitten. She had it bad on her ears and lips. Even her eyes... it's like she hadn't blinked. She was out of it."
Father: "What was wrong with her?"
Stallion: "I don't know. Dehydration, just the cold... maybe some kind of illness? I don't know what's going on."
Father: "Will she be alright?"
Stallion: "I don't know. I gave her water and heated her up, but she was still muttering to herself."
Father: "Well what has any of that got to do with Vaeltaja?"
Stallion: "What she was muttering. She was talking about the coming sun. And spirits. When she wasn't just speaking gibberish. She's one of those ponies who follow him."
Father: "Do you think Vaeltaja gave her mushrooms? Some other kind of poison?"
Stallion: "Maybe. I don't know. She may have just wondered off into the forest looking for spirits, got lost and then dehydrated. I don't think she would have lasted that much longer either way. She wasn't wearing enough heavy clothing."
Father: "Poor Makae Amuu... She's been sad since her mother died. I think that's why she follows him. He promises the spirits will come back and so she hopes to see him. That's why religious delusions can be so dangerous. They prey on our fears and vulnerabilities."
Stallion: "You're missing the point. I know that. We need to do something about it."
Father: "Yes, we need to bring it up at the council."
Stallion: "The council?! Just- ugh! Do you understand? The Inspector is coming here this week. He is supposed to be hear tomorrow."
Father: "Heh, you know that means he won't be here and earlier than Saturday. We can address this with the council on Friday. Or even ask the Inspector for help."
Stallion: "No! You just - ugh! You don't get it. What do you think the Inspector will think when he sees these ponies spouting that religious horse shit?"
Father: "Well he will be very upset, obviously. It's against the Path Forward."
Stallion: "Exactly! So what is he going to think about the council who runs the village where this happens."
Father: "He should want to help us. To help us put down this new religion."
Stallion: "Don't you think he's going to want to know how it got this bad?"
Father: "....."
Stallion: "He's going to blame us. He's going to tell the Central Council that we either couldn't stop it, or didn't want to."
Father: "The villagers could be silent. They have been silent about their religious practices every other time the inspector has come."
Stallion: "No. They have not. We have a write up. And this is a hell of a lot worse than that old mare with her public prayers. These followers of Vaeltaja won't shut up about convergence and seraphs and the sun and whatever. I mean for Akka's sake one of them was so crazed she went outside without enough clothes and forgot to drink water."
Father: "Do you think maybe there is some kind of pathogen at the blast? I believe Vaeltaja has been taking ponies there. We should ask the Inspector to look into the blast and see if maybe the melted permafrost awoke some kind of, some kind of old bacteria."
Stallion: "You are missing the point! The Inspector can't find out!"
Father: "No, that's exactly my point. We can ask the inspector for help. Maybe intercept him at Kaukainen Piste and tell him we need help. That will make it look like we are trying to solve the problem."
Stallion: "Really? Really? You don't think his first question when he hears that a start-up prophet is taking ponies into the woods and giving them drugs or whatever is going to be anything other than 'how long has this been going on?' Do you really think he's going to believe this hasn't been going on for weeks now? Don't you think he'll ask 'when did you first notice?' Is there any answer you can possibly give that won't sound like a blatant lie or make you look horrifically incompetent?"
Father: "I had no idea it was so bad. We saw Kulho Linssejä moving listlessly. He was out of his mind too, but not frostbitten. He was talking about going to be with his dead wife."
Stallion: "Yeah, it's... I know. I didn't know either. I didn't know it would get this bad. You know, when Metsän Vaeltaja started his preaching I actually kind of liked it. He was talking about Akka and the spirits of the ancestors. I was pleased to hear someone talk about the old gods and the old ways. Such a refreshing change from that horrible silence that's been placed over all of us. It was like a pillar of the old world returning. Resisting. Then she started talking about the seraph and the sun coming early and convergence all of this other pure horse shit, and I realized it was something else entirely. Something new. Ugh! But I thought they could keep quite. But they can't!"
Father: "Well, if we explain the situation to the inspector he might-"
Stallion: "No. You don't get it. There is no explanation we could possibly give to the Inspector that will suffice, with mares and stallions walking maddly around on the streets like that. There is no way around it. The Inspector will conclude that we were willfully Non-compliant. And if you tell him we didn't have the power to do anything he'll just ask why we didn't ask for help earlier, and what's the point of us anyways."
Father: "...."
Stallion: "We need to do something."
Father: "Call an emergency meeting of the town council. Gather every pony, explain the situation. Make a show of it."
>>176850
"I was sent here from the university to sweep it for dark magic contamination, and was tasked by Horizons to report on the state of the property and eliminate liabilities. From the looks of it, I still have some work to do."
"I was sent here from the university to sweep it for dark magic contamination, and was tasked by Horizons to report on the state of the property and eliminate liabilities. From the looks of it, I still have some work to do."
>>176853
>>176851
Silver looks back to the small yellow mare named Pear Faucet.
"University? Do you know her from yours?"
Returning his attention to Rosey, he resumes talking. "Well, contaminated is right, it was used by supposed lich in experiments to try to bring back his dead family. Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up, that quarry outside was absolutely littered with remains of his experiments. What do you mean by 'liabilities', though?"
>>176851
Silver looks back to the small yellow mare named Pear Faucet.
"University? Do you know her from yours?"
Returning his attention to Rosey, he resumes talking. "Well, contaminated is right, it was used by supposed lich in experiments to try to bring back his dead family. Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up, that quarry outside was absolutely littered with remains of his experiments. What do you mean by 'liabilities', though?"
>>176854
>Do you know her from yours?
>>176851
Do I know her?
>Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up
"Only on the surface." She replies
"There are still corporeal monsters lurking about."
"Haunting presences. Monsters. Curses. Cursed items. Mana poisoning. Corrupted Earth Nodes. Planar manifest zones. Portals to Tartarus. Jars full of nameless plagues. Malign energies that could attract a whole host of monsters to the area. The list goes on."
>Do you know her from yours?
>>176851
Do I know her?
>Ponies here really did good job cleaning this place up
"Only on the surface." She replies
"There are still corporeal monsters lurking about."
"Haunting presences. Monsters. Curses. Cursed items. Mana poisoning. Corrupted Earth Nodes. Planar manifest zones. Portals to Tartarus. Jars full of nameless plagues. Malign energies that could attract a whole host of monsters to the area. The list goes on."
>>176858
>I presume that means you have means of detecting dark magic?
"Pfft, I wouldn't be very much of a Necrologist if I couldn't." The mare replies
"I have a sharp eye for the dark arts, and an even sharper horn."
>I presume that means you have means of detecting dark magic?
"Pfft, I wouldn't be very much of a Necrologist if I couldn't." The mare replies
"I have a sharp eye for the dark arts, and an even sharper horn."
>>176852
>>176797
Stallion: "What are we going to propose? Ban Vaeltaja? Accuse him of Non-Compliance? Many of the village ponies will be against it. Even on the council, Kaukainen Ukkonen will veto it. You know he believes that junk. He follows Vaeltaja. And what's far worse is that Vaeltaja will have a chance to speak."
Father: "It doesn't matter if we fail. What matters is that there will be witnesses to our attempt to shut it down. It will show the Inspector we tried."
Stallion: "No. No it won't. He'll wonder how we got outvoted in our own village."
Father: "So we'll look incompetent, they'll just remove us off of the council and bring in someone from the City. We'll lose some privileges. Be fined..."
Stallion: "You think all they will do is to kick your colt out of school and take you off the council? You are as delusional as Makea..."
Father: "Well it's our best shot."
Stallion: "You already know what they will think. Incompetence is Treason. Except they will never believe it is incompetence. They will think that we have been deliberately allowing Vaeltaja spout his nonsense, in defiance of the ban on religion. They will believe we are intentionally subverting their rules."
Father: "Well... Maybe."
Stallion: "Not 'maybe,' they will. Do you know why they will think that? Do you?"
Father: "Because..."
Stallion: "Because it's true."
Father: "We let this happen. I just thought that so long as it wasn't my family-."
Stallion: "Well it's going to be your family. Do you know what will happen when the Inspector judges we are not in compliance?"
Father: "I didn't think it would get this bad..."
Stallion: "I didn't either. We need to fix this problem."
Father: "Maybe go to Vaeltaja and tell him why he needs to make everyone stay silent?"
Stallion: "Vaeltaja thinks the world is coming to an end in a few weeks. And if he keeps it up, it will. For him and for us. He's not going to feel threatened by the central council."
Father: "Maybe talk to everypony individually?"
Stallion: "All seventy of them? They are too drugged up even to think coherently. No. There is only one thing we can possibly do. One thing and one thing only. Cut the head off of this problem, and hope that we can get everypony under some semblance of compliance by the time the Inspector arrives at the end of the week."
Father: "You can't mean-"
Stallion: "I absolutely do. And we have to act now. It's the only way."
Father: "It can't be..."
Stallion: "Oh yes it can. What do you think is going to happen to you if we don't, when the Inspector gets here and sees all of this. What do you think will happen to your family."
Father: "But it's not right."
Stallion: "Doesn't Tähtien Alla live in the city."
Father: "sigh.... Do you have a plan?"
Stallion: "Kind of. We go out wood cutting. I will need another pony and you've got the most to lose of any sane pony besides me. That's why you're in on this."
Father: "Very well.. Let me take Kultainen home."
Stallion: "Meet at my house."
Father starts to walk away from the stallion, looking solemn.
>>176797
Stallion: "What are we going to propose? Ban Vaeltaja? Accuse him of Non-Compliance? Many of the village ponies will be against it. Even on the council, Kaukainen Ukkonen will veto it. You know he believes that junk. He follows Vaeltaja. And what's far worse is that Vaeltaja will have a chance to speak."
Father: "It doesn't matter if we fail. What matters is that there will be witnesses to our attempt to shut it down. It will show the Inspector we tried."
Stallion: "No. No it won't. He'll wonder how we got outvoted in our own village."
Father: "So we'll look incompetent, they'll just remove us off of the council and bring in someone from the City. We'll lose some privileges. Be fined..."
Stallion: "You think all they will do is to kick your colt out of school and take you off the council? You are as delusional as Makea..."
Father: "Well it's our best shot."
Stallion: "You already know what they will think. Incompetence is Treason. Except they will never believe it is incompetence. They will think that we have been deliberately allowing Vaeltaja spout his nonsense, in defiance of the ban on religion. They will believe we are intentionally subverting their rules."
Father: "Well... Maybe."
Stallion: "Not 'maybe,' they will. Do you know why they will think that? Do you?"
Father: "Because..."
Stallion: "Because it's true."
Father: "We let this happen. I just thought that so long as it wasn't my family-."
Stallion: "Well it's going to be your family. Do you know what will happen when the Inspector judges we are not in compliance?"
Father: "I didn't think it would get this bad..."
Stallion: "I didn't either. We need to fix this problem."
Father: "Maybe go to Vaeltaja and tell him why he needs to make everyone stay silent?"
Stallion: "Vaeltaja thinks the world is coming to an end in a few weeks. And if he keeps it up, it will. For him and for us. He's not going to feel threatened by the central council."
Father: "Maybe talk to everypony individually?"
Stallion: "All seventy of them? They are too drugged up even to think coherently. No. There is only one thing we can possibly do. One thing and one thing only. Cut the head off of this problem, and hope that we can get everypony under some semblance of compliance by the time the Inspector arrives at the end of the week."
Father: "You can't mean-"
Stallion: "I absolutely do. And we have to act now. It's the only way."
Father: "It can't be..."
Stallion: "Oh yes it can. What do you think is going to happen to you if we don't, when the Inspector gets here and sees all of this. What do you think will happen to your family."
Father: "But it's not right."
Stallion: "Doesn't Tähtien Alla live in the city."
Father: "sigh.... Do you have a plan?"
Stallion: "Kind of. We go out wood cutting. I will need another pony and you've got the most to lose of any sane pony besides me. That's why you're in on this."
Father: "Very well.. Let me take Kultainen home."
Stallion: "Meet at my house."
Father starts to walk away from the stallion, looking solemn.
>>176859
"Heh, if they are even half as sharp as that sword should be, then you are doing well. Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere."
>>176855
Silver pulls Pear off to the side, not too far away as to loss track of Rosey but still far enough that they can whisper without being overheard.
"So, hear me out. I know it is oddly convenient that this mare comes out of nowhere, dressing like she just walked out of 4th Century with knowledge about undead creatures, but...if she has ability to detect traces of dark magic, then maybe she can find where our missing sarcophagus is."
"Heh, if they are even half as sharp as that sword should be, then you are doing well. Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere."
>>176855
Silver pulls Pear off to the side, not too far away as to loss track of Rosey but still far enough that they can whisper without being overheard.
"So, hear me out. I know it is oddly convenient that this mare comes out of nowhere, dressing like she just walked out of 4th Century with knowledge about undead creatures, but...if she has ability to detect traces of dark magic, then maybe she can find where our missing sarcophagus is."
>>176830
Kira definitely wasn't forgotten about in the heat of the moment, absolutely not.
"And Bright Dye...maybe I'm being silly, but did he look like a cross between a pony and a zebra to you? Can ponies and zebras reproduce together?"
Kira definitely wasn't forgotten about in the heat of the moment, absolutely not.
"And Bright Dye...maybe I'm being silly, but did he look like a cross between a pony and a zebra to you? Can ponies and zebras reproduce together?"
>>176861
>Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere
"I'm not one to take orders from strangers..." The mare replies with a suspicious glare
Despite her words, she does not appear to flee, her golden eyes following silver as he retreats down the hallway
>Give us just one moment to discuss something, do not go anywhere
"I'm not one to take orders from strangers..." The mare replies with a suspicious glare
Despite her words, she does not appear to flee, her golden eyes following silver as he retreats down the hallway
>>176862
"Not particularly...but as long as we keep at least one set of eyes on her or on sarcophagus, there is not much she could do about it. She is necrologist, not magician."
>>176865
Silver returns to the armored mare.
"Okay then, we could use your help with something, but you must swear to not tell another soul about it."
"Not particularly...but as long as we keep at least one set of eyes on her or on sarcophagus, there is not much she could do about it. She is necrologist, not magician."
>>176865
Silver returns to the armored mare.
"Okay then, we could use your help with something, but you must swear to not tell another soul about it."
>>176866
"I didn't know that there were... more of you out there. I suppose but... honestly I kind of feel like maybe we should let the dead lie on this one. It's not the mare, it's... what if he is a lich? What will we do?"
"I didn't know that there were... more of you out there. I suppose but... honestly I kind of feel like maybe we should let the dead lie on this one. It's not the mare, it's... what if he is a lich? What will we do?"
>>176867
Kira is silent for a moment, before tapping her hooves together. "Do...do you think...ponies and lamias could...maybe..."
Kira is silent for a moment, before tapping her hooves together. "Do...do you think...ponies and lamias could...maybe..."
>>176868
Silver whispers back to her quickly.
"We will handle it, like I know only we could. I promise."
Silver whispers back to her quickly.
"We will handle it, like I know only we could. I promise."
>>176867
"Yes, Papa?" she calls back. Her voice sounds squeaky and trembling. "You were taking a while. Is something wrong? You don't look too pleased…."
"Yes, Papa?" she calls back. Her voice sounds squeaky and trembling. "You were taking a while. Is something wrong? You don't look too pleased…."
>>176870
"Uh... okay... I'll trust you on this... I will admit, I am curious
>>176869
"Probably not, but..." She shows her teeth in a strange smile. "Well, deer and ponies cannot. So I don't think ponies and nagas can."
>>176871
He breathes out. He definitely does not look pleased
"Yes. We are out of firewood" He says. "I need to go get some."
"Uh... okay... I'll trust you on this... I will admit, I am curious
>>176869
"Probably not, but..." She shows her teeth in a strange smile. "Well, deer and ponies cannot. So I don't think ponies and nagas can."
>>176871
He breathes out. He definitely does not look pleased
"Yes. We are out of firewood" He says. "I need to go get some."
>>176866
>"Okay then, we could use your help with something, but you must swear to not tell another soul about it."
"I do have a report to write about this site.. but, all on-scene research is confidential." The mare replies
"What is it?"
>"Okay then, we could use your help with something, but you must swear to not tell another soul about it."
"I do have a report to write about this site.. but, all on-scene research is confidential." The mare replies
"What is it?"
>>176872
"I made sure to bring plenty on the sled," Amber insists, lowering her head slightly. "I don't think we have ever run out so fast before."
"I made sure to bring plenty on the sled," Amber insists, lowering her head slightly. "I don't think we have ever run out so fast before."
>>176874
"Oh." He says. His ears move back, then back up. "Well, you know, we share firewood with other ponies so... I have to help them. We work together for the good of the herd, you know."
"Oh." He says. His ears move back, then back up. "Well, you know, we share firewood with other ponies so... I have to help them. We work together for the good of the herd, you know."
>>176873
>>176872
"We are missing sarcophagus. Specifically, we are missing Curwhinny's sarcophagus. You say you were sent here by university, so I will assume you know who he was and why it is so worrisome that his sarcophagus is missing. We think one of other archaeologists moved it somewhere else in catacombs for later retrieval. We need your help in locating where it was stashed."
>>176872
"We are missing sarcophagus. Specifically, we are missing Curwhinny's sarcophagus. You say you were sent here by university, so I will assume you know who he was and why it is so worrisome that his sarcophagus is missing. We think one of other archaeologists moved it somewhere else in catacombs for later retrieval. We need your help in locating where it was stashed."
>>176872
"Well, maybe, but...Bright Dye did make a good point. I do look a lot like a pony, at least from this end. Maybe it would be enough of a similarity to allow...you know..." She taps her hooves together some more, before taking the end of her tail and rubbing it between them. "You know?"
"Well, maybe, but...Bright Dye did make a good point. I do look a lot like a pony, at least from this end. Maybe it would be enough of a similarity to allow...you know..." She taps her hooves together some more, before taking the end of her tail and rubbing it between them. "You know?"
>>176875
She looks back up at him, her eyes wide and pleading. "Shouldn't I come with you then? We could carry more firewood and I know the best spots to find it."
She looks back up at him, her eyes wide and pleading. "Shouldn't I come with you then? We could carry more firewood and I know the best spots to find it."
>>176876
"Hmmm, the Sarcophagus of Curwhinny himself? Well, if Curwhinny really is buried here, he was likely buried with all of his favorite items, as Necromancers do get possessive that way, possibly waiting for resurrection. He was a clever mage, so it's likely that he would have had his minions carry him into a secret chamber in his final hours, sealed away to watch over him until his final hours. Such a chamber should be behind a secret door, or possibly magically sealed up with conjured stone and only accessible breaking down the wall, or through a Passwall. It would likely be deep within the dungeon, with something guarding the area to fight off whoever might disturb him... Where did you say you fought an undead knight?"
I have to sleep soon.
"Hmmm, the Sarcophagus of Curwhinny himself? Well, if Curwhinny really is buried here, he was likely buried with all of his favorite items, as Necromancers do get possessive that way, possibly waiting for resurrection. He was a clever mage, so it's likely that he would have had his minions carry him into a secret chamber in his final hours, sealed away to watch over him until his final hours. Such a chamber should be behind a secret door, or possibly magically sealed up with conjured stone and only accessible breaking down the wall, or through a Passwall. It would likely be deep within the dungeon, with something guarding the area to fight off whoever might disturb him... Where did you say you fought an undead knight?"
I have to sleep soon.
>>176878
He looks down at the little pony, kneels to her, and places a hoof on her head, patting her mane.
"Little pony... I need to go out into the forest. I am going with Pakkasen Alla. To get it. It's not really work for a filly like you. Didn't you say you saw a moose in the forest earlier? Yes, I should not have let you go out alone earlier. Moose can be dangerous. And you saw how Makea almost froze... Ugh! No place for a filly."
>>176877
"No? I don't know." She tilts her head. "You want to... get pregnant by a pony? Or have... eggs, or whatever lamias do? Why would you even want that?"
He looks down at the little pony, kneels to her, and places a hoof on her head, patting her mane.
"Little pony... I need to go out into the forest. I am going with Pakkasen Alla. To get it. It's not really work for a filly like you. Didn't you say you saw a moose in the forest earlier? Yes, I should not have let you go out alone earlier. Moose can be dangerous. And you saw how Makea almost froze... Ugh! No place for a filly."
>>176877
"No? I don't know." She tilts her head. "You want to... get pregnant by a pony? Or have... eggs, or whatever lamias do? Why would you even want that?"
>>176879
Alright duly noted.
Silver has a face that's difficult to place in the darkness of the catacombs. It suggests he's not exceptionally pleased with the answer given.
"Perhaps in other cases, yes, but not here. He was not buried willingly, but sealed by force in stone sarcophagus, costing many lives in process as invading force of militia ponies raided catacombs many years back. After I left, these archaeologists came in, and I discovered that it had been swapped out with one made of iron."
Alright duly noted.
Silver has a face that's difficult to place in the darkness of the catacombs. It suggests he's not exceptionally pleased with the answer given.
"Perhaps in other cases, yes, but not here. He was not buried willingly, but sealed by force in stone sarcophagus, costing many lives in process as invading force of militia ponies raided catacombs many years back. After I left, these archaeologists came in, and I discovered that it had been swapped out with one made of iron."
>>176880
"If I hadn't gone out with Jakala, Makea would have froze. If I kept all of us safe alone, shouldn't I be safe with you and Pakkasen Alla?" she insists. "You aren't going to attack the moose, are you?"
"If I hadn't gone out with Jakala, Makea would have froze. If I kept all of us safe alone, shouldn't I be safe with you and Pakkasen Alla?" she insists. "You aren't going to attack the moose, are you?"
>>176882
He ruffles her mane, and Amber is soon blinded by her golden mane moving in front of her eyes.
"You did well, little pony. Don't worry. We've got this."
He ruffles her mane, and Amber is soon blinded by her golden mane moving in front of her eyes.
"You did well, little pony. Don't worry. We've got this."
>>176880
"I dunno, if I found a nice pony like Free Rover and I wanted to give mom some grandchildren and he was okay with it..."
Kira continues to play with the end of her tail.
"I dunno, if I found a nice pony like Free Rover and I wanted to give mom some grandchildren and he was okay with it..."
Kira continues to play with the end of her tail.
>>176883
pony is ruffled
"I go out into the forest more often than you do. Surely I can help? What if you lose your way?" she pleads as she struggles to reorder her mane.
pony is ruffled
"I go out into the forest more often than you do. Surely I can help? What if you lose your way?" she pleads as she struggles to reorder her mane.
>>176886
He scrunches
"Why don't you go play with your little friend, Jakala? I'll take you out cutting firewood once the weather improves."
He scrunches
"Why don't you go play with your little friend, Jakala? I'll take you out cutting firewood once the weather improves."
>>176881
>After I left, these archaeologists came in, and I discovered that it had been swapped out with one made of iron."
"Then what makes you think that it's still here in this dungeon?"
"Anyhow, if the Sarcophagus was created to seal him, it must be a magical item. If I come within range of it, I could detect it with my horn. A sarcophagus is big: there's only so many places they could have hidden it." She continues
"Or, we could just go aboveground and interrogate the archaeologists up there. It shouldn't take long."
>After I left, these archaeologists came in, and I discovered that it had been swapped out with one made of iron."
"Then what makes you think that it's still here in this dungeon?"
"Anyhow, if the Sarcophagus was created to seal him, it must be a magical item. If I come within range of it, I could detect it with my horn. A sarcophagus is big: there's only so many places they could have hidden it." She continues
"Or, we could just go aboveground and interrogate the archaeologists up there. It shouldn't take long."
>>176887
"The weather isn't too bad. I can carry some firewood and it'll mean what we have will last longer. You know I wouldn't get in the way!" Again, Amber's voice is that high-pitched pleading, muffled by her mask, and she looks vaguely distraught as she looks up at him.
"The weather isn't too bad. I can carry some firewood and it'll mean what we have will last longer. You know I wouldn't get in the way!" Again, Amber's voice is that high-pitched pleading, muffled by her mask, and she looks vaguely distraught as she looks up at him.
>>176889
"That is exactly why we think it is still here in catacombs. It is big, it is heavy, and it would not be easy to move out of here without somepony noticing, especially as there is only one way out of here that could even be used for it. Both of other exits have stairs, and would you want to carry heavy stone sarcophagus up flight of stairs?
"We are hoping we can find it without confronting others, first. It would be too easy to deny accusations, then move sarcophagus out while nopony is looking. We are hoping we can avoid spooking them."
"That is exactly why we think it is still here in catacombs. It is big, it is heavy, and it would not be easy to move out of here without somepony noticing, especially as there is only one way out of here that could even be used for it. Both of other exits have stairs, and would you want to carry heavy stone sarcophagus up flight of stairs?
"We are hoping we can find it without confronting others, first. It would be too easy to deny accusations, then move sarcophagus out while nopony is looking. We are hoping we can avoid spooking them."
>>176888
"Nice?!" She scrunches and her ears go down
"You know... you said it pretty accurately a while ago, when you said there are predators and there are prey. That pony buck, and all of those with him, are predators. And they see us as prey, to be exploited as they please. That buck wasn't even afraid of you! Like... he wasn't even intimidated by you... Okay, I can see why you would want to have sex with him, but he's not nice!"
>>176890
Still kneeling and petting her
"Tell me, little Kultainen, why do you want to go?"
"Nice?!" She scrunches and her ears go down
"You know... you said it pretty accurately a while ago, when you said there are predators and there are prey. That pony buck, and all of those with him, are predators. And they see us as prey, to be exploited as they please. That buck wasn't even afraid of you! Like... he wasn't even intimidated by you... Okay, I can see why you would want to have sex with him, but he's not nice!"
>>176890
Still kneeling and petting her
"Tell me, little Kultainen, why do you want to go?"
>>176891
"Well, we could search through every room and open every door. Once we do that, I could use my magic detection while strolling down the hallway."
"Well, we could search through every room and open every door. Once we do that, I could use my magic detection while strolling down the hallway."
Sleeping now
>>176892
Kira gives her a sad, but understanding look.
"I know, I know, it's just...I dunno, I got what you could just call a feeling from him. I don't know why he wasn't afraid of me, though, not even at first. You know his first reaction upon seeing me was to just go, 'It's just a little snake', and attempt to pick me up?"
Kira gives her a sad, but understanding look.
"I know, I know, it's just...I dunno, I got what you could just call a feeling from him. I don't know why he wasn't afraid of me, though, not even at first. You know his first reaction upon seeing me was to just go, 'It's just a little snake', and attempt to pick me up?"
>>176893
"That is possible. It is not so massive that it can not be done. Though, uh..." Silver looks behind Rosey at the colt still on the floating magic disk. "...will that...thing...make detecting magic more difficult? I assume it is magic and that is why it is flying."
"That is possible. It is not so massive that it can not be done. Though, uh..." Silver looks behind Rosey at the colt still on the floating magic disk. "...will that...thing...make detecting magic more difficult? I assume it is magic and that is why it is flying."
>>176896
Under her breath,
"Of course he'd pick you up." Then normally, "That feeling is attraction. You've come upon maybe the first male that wasn't afraid of you, so your body responds by submitting to him. But that's all that feeling is. Attraction. That doesn't make him 'nice'. Being fearless isn't a sign of niceness. Quite the opposite, actually."
Under her breath,
"Of course he'd pick you up." Then normally, "That feeling is attraction. You've come upon maybe the first male that wasn't afraid of you, so your body responds by submitting to him. But that's all that feeling is. Attraction. That doesn't make him 'nice'. Being fearless isn't a sign of niceness. Quite the opposite, actually."
>>176896
>"...will that...thing...make detecting magic more difficult? I assume it is magic and that is why it is flying."
"I can easily distinguish between the magic of others and my own. Besides, if your story is true, this sarcophagus should be sealed with magic so powerful that it would easily eclipse any other auras."
>"...will that...thing...make detecting magic more difficult? I assume it is magic and that is why it is flying."
"I can easily distinguish between the magic of others and my own. Besides, if your story is true, this sarcophagus should be sealed with magic so powerful that it would easily eclipse any other auras."
>>176903
"First I'll need to see every room in this dungeon. Once we've opened all of the doors, I can douse the hallways in a systemic fashion. Since you've been here before, you can show me."
"First I'll need to see every room in this dungeon. Once we've opened all of the doors, I can douse the hallways in a systemic fashion. Since you've been here before, you can show me."
>>176905
(Posey's Detect Magic spell functions as a 60 ft cone shaped emanation. Same goes for her Detect Undead spell. It should be able to douse an entire hallway.)
(Posey's Detect Magic spell functions as a 60 ft cone shaped emanation. Same goes for her Detect Undead spell. It should be able to douse an entire hallway.)
File (): BDD5F07BF805E24840707597070AC4E8-193971.jpg (189.4 KB, 1110x1024, IMG_8022.jpeg)
Has to contemplate if it’s too meta-games to explain why this course of action is extremely inadvisable
>>176907
Hmmmmmmm...well, there shouldn't be all that much left of the catacombs to search through manually.
Hmmmmmmm...well, there shouldn't be all that much left of the catacombs to search through manually.
>>176907
See, this is kind of why I wanted a map, it makes it a lot easier to understand how to search a dungeon, and avoid obvious limitations such as thick stone walls blocking lines of effect.
In any case, Posey wants to start by checking every (known) room in the dungeon, then she'll decide when and how to use her detection spells.
See, this is kind of why I wanted a map, it makes it a lot easier to understand how to search a dungeon, and avoid obvious limitations such as thick stone walls blocking lines of effect.
In any case, Posey wants to start by checking every (known) room in the dungeon, then she'll decide when and how to use her detection spells.
>>176892
The filly looks down. Dare she tell him what she knows? She's just a little filly and probably can't convince him, but he's her father! He's a good pony, but even a good pony will do anything if he's desperate….
Amber shivers in front of him as she stares into his eyes. "I know what you're going to do," she squeaks out, trying not to whimper. "Papa, I know what you're planning to do and you can't do it. You understand how wrong it all is. Killing him won't help your fears, and it won't keep us safe. You need to think of something else or we'll all be guilty because of it."
The filly looks down. Dare she tell him what she knows? She's just a little filly and probably can't convince him, but he's her father! He's a good pony, but even a good pony will do anything if he's desperate….
Amber shivers in front of him as she stares into his eyes. "I know what you're going to do," she squeaks out, trying not to whimper. "Papa, I know what you're planning to do and you can't do it. You understand how wrong it all is. Killing him won't help your fears, and it won't keep us safe. You need to think of something else or we'll all be guilty because of it."
>>176907
>Has to contemplate if it’s too meta-games to explain why this course of action is extremely inadvisable
Is it the part about searching all of the rooms, or using a spell to detect magic?
The search comes first.
>Has to contemplate if it’s too meta-games to explain why this course of action is extremely inadvisable
Is it the part about searching all of the rooms, or using a spell to detect magic?
The search comes first.
>>176909
I didn’t even think about how the stone and dirt walls would limit the effectiveness of Posey’s Detect Magic spell by 90%
>>176911
His face goes entirely pale and contorts in never-before-seen ways.
” Kultainen Hämärä.”
Taking his hoof, he wraps around Amber’s barrel, licking her up, or more likely, dragging her across the ground. He drags her away from the store, and towards a location he must think is private. This certainly scares the hell out of her.
He turns to her, and in a voice that is an attempt at a quiet shout says,
”Do you have any IDEA what is going to happen? There’s an inspector from the Central Council making the rounds to see if the villages are in compliance. He’s supposed to be here tomorrow. He’ll probably be here in five days, seven days tops. When he sees these sick ponies walking around, he’ll call in for medical doctors from Everfrost. And there will be an investigation. And he’ll hear all of these ponies talking about suns and seraphs and spirits and whatever. And do you have even the slightest idea how much trouble we are going to be in?!” He’s beyond exasperated. “No. You don’t get it. Kultainen. We’re not supposed to have those nice dresses, or talk about spirits. We’re not supposed to do anything like that. And Pakkasen, and Ukkonen, and I are in charge of the village, so far as the Central Council is concerned. It’s our job to keep the village in compliance. And when the Inspector sees this, and he hears this, it’s… You have no idea. I am in danger. You might be. Your brother might be. You definitely won’t be going to school, and he might be kicked out.”
I didn’t even think about how the stone and dirt walls would limit the effectiveness of Posey’s Detect Magic spell by 90%
>>176911
His face goes entirely pale and contorts in never-before-seen ways.
” Kultainen Hämärä.”
Taking his hoof, he wraps around Amber’s barrel, licking her up, or more likely, dragging her across the ground. He drags her away from the store, and towards a location he must think is private. This certainly scares the hell out of her.
He turns to her, and in a voice that is an attempt at a quiet shout says,
”Do you have any IDEA what is going to happen? There’s an inspector from the Central Council making the rounds to see if the villages are in compliance. He’s supposed to be here tomorrow. He’ll probably be here in five days, seven days tops. When he sees these sick ponies walking around, he’ll call in for medical doctors from Everfrost. And there will be an investigation. And he’ll hear all of these ponies talking about suns and seraphs and spirits and whatever. And do you have even the slightest idea how much trouble we are going to be in?!” He’s beyond exasperated. “No. You don’t get it. Kultainen. We’re not supposed to have those nice dresses, or talk about spirits. We’re not supposed to do anything like that. And Pakkasen, and Ukkonen, and I are in charge of the village, so far as the Central Council is concerned. It’s our job to keep the village in compliance. And when the Inspector sees this, and he hears this, it’s… You have no idea. I am in danger. You might be. Your brother might be. You definitely won’t be going to school, and he might be kicked out.”
>>176904
It’s probably possible for Neela to get scrunchier, but it isn’t clear how. She puffs up her cheeks.
“He told you to eat me!”
It’s probably possible for Neela to get scrunchier, but it isn’t clear how. She puffs up her cheeks.
“He told you to eat me!”
>>176915
Kira sinks down further into her coils. "...I told them I wasn't going to. You know I'm not going to eat you, right?"
Kira sinks down further into her coils. "...I told them I wasn't going to. You know I'm not going to eat you, right?"
>>176903
"What floor did you say you found the false iron sarcophagus on? An iron sarcophagus is even heavier than a stone one: there are limited paths through which they could have carried it. It's likely that they carried the stone one on a nearby path, or carried it to another room on that floor. If they've taken interest in it enough for them to tamper with it, it's likely that they're interested in performing ongoing tests and examinations on the actual piece, which means it needs to be stowed in a location accessible to the archaeologists, somewhere they can travel in and out of to access the sarcophagus without drawing attention to themselves."
Posey pauses
"Tampering with the grave of a lich is serious business, as it could have wide-reaching consequences on the city. This for all intents and purposes counts as egregious mismanagement of dark magic, and the false sarcophagus is evidence by itself (a sarcophagus is, by definition, made of limestone). It's possible that I could convince Mr. Horizons to order a halt on all archaeological activities on the property and order the return of the sarcophagus to its proper location for security concerns: I don't expect them to comply, but if they try to make a break for it and smuggle out the sarcophagus we could set up an ambush for them as they come to retrieve it. Of course, that plan would make a scene that I might rather avoid..."
"What floor did you say you found the false iron sarcophagus on? An iron sarcophagus is even heavier than a stone one: there are limited paths through which they could have carried it. It's likely that they carried the stone one on a nearby path, or carried it to another room on that floor. If they've taken interest in it enough for them to tamper with it, it's likely that they're interested in performing ongoing tests and examinations on the actual piece, which means it needs to be stowed in a location accessible to the archaeologists, somewhere they can travel in and out of to access the sarcophagus without drawing attention to themselves."
Posey pauses
"Tampering with the grave of a lich is serious business, as it could have wide-reaching consequences on the city. This for all intents and purposes counts as egregious mismanagement of dark magic, and the false sarcophagus is evidence by itself (a sarcophagus is, by definition, made of limestone). It's possible that I could convince Mr. Horizons to order a halt on all archaeological activities on the property and order the return of the sarcophagus to its proper location for security concerns: I don't expect them to comply, but if they try to make a break for it and smuggle out the sarcophagus we could set up an ambush for them as they come to retrieve it. Of course, that plan would make a scene that I might rather avoid..."
>>176919
First order of business would be to check for skid marks, and then the surrounding/lower floor.
First order of business would be to check for skid marks, and then the surrounding/lower floor.
File (): 178A9BA1B47882F8B9D4ED7E39031693-437084.gif (426.8 KB, 1199x927, IMG_4301.gif)
>>176918
>I bet these grad students did want to carry that heavy ass stone up or down stairs. They probably kept it on the same level.
You finally understand me!
>>176916
Posey has explored one of the laboratories, the big room downstairs, and presumably, the storage rooms on the side downstairs and the downstairs hallways. They are currently in the central room that cuts across between hallways.
>I bet these grad students did want to carry that heavy ass stone up or down stairs. They probably kept it on the same level.
You finally understand me!
>>176916
Posey has explored one of the laboratories, the big room downstairs, and presumably, the storage rooms on the side downstairs and the downstairs hallways. They are currently in the central room that cuts across between hallways.
>>176921
Posey checks every room on the way to the place that Silver says the original sarcophagus once was.
Posey checks every room on the way to the place that Silver says the original sarcophagus once was.
>>176918
The small, yellow mare, previous identified as Dr. Faucet, speaks:
“Let me clarify what is going on here. There is a room behind the… well, I suppose it’s a bedroom - there’s a room behind that that was opened and contained a casket on a stone table. There’s this large inscription, I think it’s oin chalk but I haven’t examined it in detail - that claims the casket contains a lich and do not open it. Our leader, Peer Review, does not believe lichs exist - or to be a little more accurate, doesn’t think a mage calling themselves a lich can exist for two hundred and forty years without, well, food or a replenishing magic source. So he ordered it opened, probably to prove the point. But he tasked a grad student whom I’m pretty sure is only here to avoid the draft. So apparently he defied that order and switched out the caskets, hiding the original one. I think he thinks he’s not paid enough to open a casket marked ‘contains a lich’ to find out if it contains a lich or not. The compartment is on this floor. It’s behind the bedroom. We’ve already searched that room, the bedroom in front of it, the library, the smaller library, and the laboratories on the other side from where you came.”
The small, yellow mare, previous identified as Dr. Faucet, speaks:
“Let me clarify what is going on here. There is a room behind the… well, I suppose it’s a bedroom - there’s a room behind that that was opened and contained a casket on a stone table. There’s this large inscription, I think it’s oin chalk but I haven’t examined it in detail - that claims the casket contains a lich and do not open it. Our leader, Peer Review, does not believe lichs exist - or to be a little more accurate, doesn’t think a mage calling themselves a lich can exist for two hundred and forty years without, well, food or a replenishing magic source. So he ordered it opened, probably to prove the point. But he tasked a grad student whom I’m pretty sure is only here to avoid the draft. So apparently he defied that order and switched out the caskets, hiding the original one. I think he thinks he’s not paid enough to open a casket marked ‘contains a lich’ to find out if it contains a lich or not. The compartment is on this floor. It’s behind the bedroom. We’ve already searched that room, the bedroom in front of it, the library, the smaller library, and the laboratories on the other side from where you came.”
>>176921
>grad students
Not only grad students, but commies too: they'll do as little manual labor as possible.
"The sarcophagus probably didn't move far. I would assume the archaeologists hid it somewhere near, perhaps in a closet, underneath a tarp or rug, or buried under some loose bricks and rubble. Keep an eye out for anything that could hide an object of that size. Once we hedge out possible locations on the floor, I can use my dousing to find any traces of magic related to the sarcophagus..."
She then pauses
>>176908
"... Say, what exactly did you intend to do with the sarcophagus when you found it?"
>grad students
Not only grad students, but commies too: they'll do as little manual labor as possible.
"The sarcophagus probably didn't move far. I would assume the archaeologists hid it somewhere near, perhaps in a closet, underneath a tarp or rug, or buried under some loose bricks and rubble. Keep an eye out for anything that could hide an object of that size. Once we hedge out possible locations on the floor, I can use my dousing to find any traces of magic related to the sarcophagus..."
She then pauses
>>176908
"... Say, what exactly did you intend to do with the sarcophagus when you found it?"
>>176924
"For starters? Making sure it has not been opened. Part of me is curious about couple of things, if he really did make final transition to becoming lich, or even if he was if I have managed to destroy him and put him to rest. I thought I found his phylactery and had it destroyed with help of Father Maren here in city, but there is chance that did not work or it was not actually his phylactery. Knowing for certain would put any worries to rest, but...would you want to open sarcophagus that had pony's possible final message of 'do not open, lich inside'?"
"For starters? Making sure it has not been opened. Part of me is curious about couple of things, if he really did make final transition to becoming lich, or even if he was if I have managed to destroy him and put him to rest. I thought I found his phylactery and had it destroyed with help of Father Maren here in city, but there is chance that did not work or it was not actually his phylactery. Knowing for certain would put any worries to rest, but...would you want to open sarcophagus that had pony's possible final message of 'do not open, lich inside'?"
>>176923
>Our leader, Peer Review, does not believe lichs exist - or to be a little more accurate, doesn’t think a mage calling themselves a lich can exist for two hundred and forty years without, well, food or a replenishing magic source. So he ordered it opened, probably to prove the point.
Posey bursts out laughing at this.
I think this is the first time Posey has laughed. It's such a peculiar laugh, in her usual soft and beautiful singsong voice, but something about it is... ominously dreadful, malevolent, and borderline supernatural. It booms and reverberates far further than should be proper for a mare of her size, echoing over itself until it fades out all too slowly, like howling ghost in the distance backed by a chorus of kerning spirits. It lasts only a few seconds, but it lingers, refusing to die...
Even Gloomy, the sickly little Colt on the disk, seems spooked by this development, his eyes widening in surprise. It seems his mother doesn't laugh often.
Posey finishes her outburst with a cute gigglesnort.
>Our leader, Peer Review, does not believe lichs exist - or to be a little more accurate, doesn’t think a mage calling themselves a lich can exist for two hundred and forty years without, well, food or a replenishing magic source. So he ordered it opened, probably to prove the point.
Posey bursts out laughing at this.
I think this is the first time Posey has laughed. It's such a peculiar laugh, in her usual soft and beautiful singsong voice, but something about it is... ominously dreadful, malevolent, and borderline supernatural. It booms and reverberates far further than should be proper for a mare of her size, echoing over itself until it fades out all too slowly, like howling ghost in the distance backed by a chorus of kerning spirits. It lasts only a few seconds, but it lingers, refusing to die...
Even Gloomy, the sickly little Colt on the disk, seems spooked by this development, his eyes widening in surprise. It seems his mother doesn't laugh often.
Posey finishes her outburst with a cute gigglesnort.
>>176923
>So apparently he defied that order and switched out the caskets, hiding the original one.
>We’ve already searched that room, the bedroom in front of it, the library, the smaller library, and the laboratories on the other side from where you came.
After her outburst, Posey lets the mare finish and addresses her description.
"Did you find any traces as to how he transported the real or the fake? Any skid marks or scratches on the floor?"
>So apparently he defied that order and switched out the caskets, hiding the original one.
>We’ve already searched that room, the bedroom in front of it, the library, the smaller library, and the laboratories on the other side from where you came.
After her outburst, Posey lets the mare finish and addresses her description.
"Did you find any traces as to how he transported the real or the fake? Any skid marks or scratches on the floor?"
>>176925
>I thought I found his phylactery and had it destroyed with help of Father Maren here in city, but there is chance that did not work or it was not actually his phylactery.
Rosey Ring's eye twitches somewhat
"You... Destroyed what you thought was his phylactery.. BEFORE you knew he was destroyed?"
It appears to be a rhetorical question, as the mare seems more exasperated than disbelieving
"The first impulse of those fighting liches. Destroying a Lich's phylactery doesn't destroy the lich, it just prevents them from resurrecting after being killed through other means. If what you destroyed was a phylactery and Curwhinny was indeed a lich, then he should still animate somewhere, but very, very, VERY angry."
>I thought I found his phylactery and had it destroyed with help of Father Maren here in city, but there is chance that did not work or it was not actually his phylactery.
Rosey Ring's eye twitches somewhat
"You... Destroyed what you thought was his phylactery.. BEFORE you knew he was destroyed?"
It appears to be a rhetorical question, as the mare seems more exasperated than disbelieving
"The first impulse of those fighting liches. Destroying a Lich's phylactery doesn't destroy the lich, it just prevents them from resurrecting after being killed through other means. If what you destroyed was a phylactery and Curwhinny was indeed a lich, then he should still animate somewhere, but very, very, VERY angry."
>>176927
“You laugh, but there’s a logic to it to him. He thinks that whatever energy a mage has is finite. They will need more from somewhere, and it’ll run out after almost a quarter millennium.. I tried to respond that if the mage went into a kind of stasis, or tupor, then a limited supply could well last a quarter millennium. But you must understand, Joseph Curwhinny is not an unknown figure to us. We know him as that business stallion who got rich off of carrying shipments of slaves for Zebrican traders and importing tobacco, then became a kind of weird recluse in his old age, eventually being murdered in what was basically a labor dispute. There’s not much room in that conception for him to have been a lich. To them, he’s the archetypal capitalist: the Stallion who built Baltimare. To call him a lich is an understandable exaggeration of his villainy, but ultimately unnecessary and a distraction from the real point.
I think the casket - and the term used was ‘casket’, and not sarcophagus - may have been light enough to be carried by two stallions if they were strong though for short distances. But they may have dropped it, put it down, or pushed it at some point. I didn’t see any scuff marks, but I wasn’t looking for them.”
>>176928
Concerned pony noises
“Lichs aren’t real, right? They can’t actually hurt us… right?”
“You laugh, but there’s a logic to it to him. He thinks that whatever energy a mage has is finite. They will need more from somewhere, and it’ll run out after almost a quarter millennium.. I tried to respond that if the mage went into a kind of stasis, or tupor, then a limited supply could well last a quarter millennium. But you must understand, Joseph Curwhinny is not an unknown figure to us. We know him as that business stallion who got rich off of carrying shipments of slaves for Zebrican traders and importing tobacco, then became a kind of weird recluse in his old age, eventually being murdered in what was basically a labor dispute. There’s not much room in that conception for him to have been a lich. To them, he’s the archetypal capitalist: the Stallion who built Baltimare. To call him a lich is an understandable exaggeration of his villainy, but ultimately unnecessary and a distraction from the real point.
I think the casket - and the term used was ‘casket’, and not sarcophagus - may have been light enough to be carried by two stallions if they were strong though for short distances. But they may have dropped it, put it down, or pushed it at some point. I didn’t see any scuff marks, but I wasn’t looking for them.”
>>176928
Concerned pony noises
“Lichs aren’t real, right? They can’t actually hurt us… right?”
>>176928
Silver's only physical reaction is to shrug.
"Liches have not been around in Equestria for many, many, many years. Curwhinny may have even been last 'living' lich to exist within this country. All of rest are over in Dread League, so those of us who would fight them do not get much chance to learn. And we do not get chance to research how to fight them either when we come to what we think is simple job clearing out quarry of few skeletons and zombies only to find out it is filled with literal army of ghasts. Still though, I am not so sure he will be so angry. What I saw of his journal, he had made peace with living normal life after his experiments failed. Well, before militia ponies showed up, that is."
>>176929
"I mean, there is entire country of them..."
Silver's only physical reaction is to shrug.
"Liches have not been around in Equestria for many, many, many years. Curwhinny may have even been last 'living' lich to exist within this country. All of rest are over in Dread League, so those of us who would fight them do not get much chance to learn. And we do not get chance to research how to fight them either when we come to what we think is simple job clearing out quarry of few skeletons and zombies only to find out it is filled with literal army of ghasts. Still though, I am not so sure he will be so angry. What I saw of his journal, he had made peace with living normal life after his experiments failed. Well, before militia ponies showed up, that is."
>>176929
"I mean, there is entire country of them..."
>>176929
>He thinks that whatever energy a mage has is finite.
"He knows little of magic then... The power of a mage is unlimited, the only question is how much power a horn can channel on any given day from the ambient magic so abundant in the universe, or the antithesis of such." Posey says, with a bit of a huff
>I think the casket - and the term used was ‘casket’, and not sarcophagus
"Oh, that's actually quite the difference, as it would affect what state his body is in."
>“Lichs aren’t real, right? They can’t actually hurt us… right?”
Posey does not laugh (her laughs are scarce), despite the hilarity of this question. Her paralyzed, professional face remains dead serious as she answers.
"Yes, they are, and they can."
>He thinks that whatever energy a mage has is finite.
"He knows little of magic then... The power of a mage is unlimited, the only question is how much power a horn can channel on any given day from the ambient magic so abundant in the universe, or the antithesis of such." Posey says, with a bit of a huff
>I think the casket - and the term used was ‘casket’, and not sarcophagus
"Oh, that's actually quite the difference, as it would affect what state his body is in."
>“Lichs aren’t real, right? They can’t actually hurt us… right?”
Posey does not laugh (her laughs are scarce), despite the hilarity of this question. Her paralyzed, professional face remains dead serious as she answers.
"Yes, they are, and they can."
>>176929
>I didn’t see any scuff marks, but I wasn’t looking for them.”
"Then let's go look for them." Posey says, proceeding towards said room.
>I didn’t see any scuff marks, but I wasn’t looking for them.”
"Then let's go look for them." Posey says, proceeding towards said room.
>>176933
Silver fishes around in his bags, taking a bit longer to do so than normal being in the dark and lacking night vision. After a few moments, he comes out with a hooffull of pieces that, judging from the small damaged picture among the remains, could have once been a locket. It looks like it was smashed apart with an edged weapon.
Silver fishes around in his bags, taking a bit longer to do so than normal being in the dark and lacking night vision. After a few moments, he comes out with a hooffull of pieces that, judging from the small damaged picture among the remains, could have once been a locket. It looks like it was smashed apart with an edged weapon.
>>176934
>What doses it change?
"A sarcophagus, literally meaning 'corpse eater', gets itself name from how the limestone slowly consumes the flesh of the body. If he were in a sarcophagus for centuries without proper dressings, he would be nothing but bones or even dust by now. It's why vampires prefer wooden caskets." She explains.
>Why would we want to go looking for it at all?
"Because that's my job." Posey says, flatly
"Besides, these grounds have been disturbed, and magic casket or not, some things refuse to stay buried. If we just let the casket stay misplaced, we will regret it later, inevitably." She continues
"Besides, Glass Horizons will want to know about it before his insurance finds out."
>What doses it change?
"A sarcophagus, literally meaning 'corpse eater', gets itself name from how the limestone slowly consumes the flesh of the body. If he were in a sarcophagus for centuries without proper dressings, he would be nothing but bones or even dust by now. It's why vampires prefer wooden caskets." She explains.
>Why would we want to go looking for it at all?
"Because that's my job." Posey says, flatly
"Besides, these grounds have been disturbed, and magic casket or not, some things refuse to stay buried. If we just let the casket stay misplaced, we will regret it later, inevitably." She continues
"Besides, Glass Horizons will want to know about it before his insurance finds out."
>>176938
"A memory of something precious... It's not easy to tell now that any magic it would have had has now vanished, but it's plausible." Rosey Ring replies, squinting at the locket
"A memory of something precious... It's not easy to tell now that any magic it would have had has now vanished, but it's plausible." Rosey Ring replies, squinting at the locket
>>176940
With a bit of trepidation due to the nature of the item in question, Silver nods. Realizing that it may be difficult to tell in the dark, he vocally confirms this.
"You may. Maybe it is real, or maybe it turns out Maren got his magic sword out for nothing after all, who knows."
With a bit of trepidation due to the nature of the item in question, Silver nods. Realizing that it may be difficult to tell in the dark, he vocally confirms this.
"You may. Maybe it is real, or maybe it turns out Maren got his magic sword out for nothing after all, who knows."
>>176942
"...yeah, you know I wouldn't. Anyways...enough about me, I'm a pretty boring subject. But you..." Kira rights herself in her coils. "So...have you had any crushes on males?"
"...yeah, you know I wouldn't. Anyways...enough about me, I'm a pretty boring subject. But you..." Kira rights herself in her coils. "So...have you had any crushes on males?"
>>176942
Posey would like to search the room where the casket was, to look for signs of any pony activity.
Posey would like to search the room where the casket was, to look for signs of any pony activity.
>>176944
"Hehe, I could tell. You wanted to sit in one's lap and the other you tried hitting on even though he's married. He seemed into the attention, though, so I think you had a chance. Have, since I think we succeeded in not scaring him off!" Kira beams a bright smile at Neela.
"Hehe, I could tell. You wanted to sit in one's lap and the other you tried hitting on even though he's married. He seemed into the attention, though, so I think you had a chance. Have, since I think we succeeded in not scaring him off!" Kira beams a bright smile at Neela.
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>>176945
>No one wants to look in the only place in the entire structure that hasn’t already been checked - the only place that’s like a traditional catacomb with bodies in the walls.
I had to look up if “search” is trained check to see if maybe that’s the reason why you haven’t done it thirty posts after being told to do it.
I really am going to have to describe every single place the casket isn’t before being able to finally describe where it is, aren’t I?
>No one wants to look in the only place in the entire structure that hasn’t already been checked - the only place that’s like a traditional catacomb with bodies in the walls.
I had to look up if “search” is trained check to see if maybe that’s the reason why you haven’t done it thirty posts after being told to do it.
I really am going to have to describe every single place the casket isn’t before being able to finally describe where it is, aren’t I?
>>176950
>the only place that’s like a traditional catacomb with bodies in the walls
Pardon, I just haven't been able to fully absorb the description of the dungeon.
Now that you point it out, it sounds like an obvious location to search.
>the only place that’s like a traditional catacomb with bodies in the walls
Pardon, I just haven't been able to fully absorb the description of the dungeon.
Now that you point it out, it sounds like an obvious location to search.
"Say, are there any catacombs in this dungeon? A place where various inanimate bodies or caskets may be stored?"
>>176914
Amber shrinks beneath the scolding of her father the would-be murderer. She looks aside with teary eyes before forcing herself to look back at him. Her lips are stretched back to the point her molars are showing, and her voice is tremulous.
"But…ponies would be talking about what happened to Vaeltaja. Maybe even more than they are now, whether they know the truth or not. They'll be hanging onto his words, thinking about what was done to him. I'm scared too, Papa, but doing this will only make things worse before the inspector comes, and we'll have to bear the guilt of knowing what you did."
She sniffs. The filly is leaned back low enough to make an indent in the snow. "There has to be another way. You could, you could…send him away from the village so nopony talks to him. And there must be something we don't know about, since ponies don't act this way just from words. Something else is doing that."
>>176930
Would Silver know what the Dread League is? I thought it was basically unknown to most.
Amber shrinks beneath the scolding of her father the would-be murderer. She looks aside with teary eyes before forcing herself to look back at him. Her lips are stretched back to the point her molars are showing, and her voice is tremulous.
"But…ponies would be talking about what happened to Vaeltaja. Maybe even more than they are now, whether they know the truth or not. They'll be hanging onto his words, thinking about what was done to him. I'm scared too, Papa, but doing this will only make things worse before the inspector comes, and we'll have to bear the guilt of knowing what you did."
She sniffs. The filly is leaned back low enough to make an indent in the snow. "There has to be another way. You could, you could…send him away from the village so nopony talks to him. And there must be something we don't know about, since ponies don't act this way just from words. Something else is doing that."
>>176930
Would Silver know what the Dread League is? I thought it was basically unknown to most.
>>176946
She smiles, tilts her head, and briefly wags her puffy tail. “You think so?”
>>176953
Pear Faucet:
“Yes, the set of hallways past the entry door have recessed burial chambers. It was probably the first place we catalogued.”
>>176957
Silver perhaps recalls a skeleton becoming animated and pulling itself out of the walls in the hallway not far past the entry door where they found and fought The Corporal.
>>176954
“Little pony… You just… We have to do something to stop him. To stop this. We can’t banish him. He’s too popular. We’d have to bring it up in council, and Ukkonen would defend him. He would defend himself. It wouldn’t work. It would put us in danger, if anything. We can’t reason with him. He thinks the apocalypse is coming and will not fear the Central Council. He is beyond reason. The most obvious thing to do would be to go get the inspector, probably at Kaukainen Piste, and tell him we have a compliance and probably a medical emergency that we cannot contain. But he’ll think it only got this bad by our deliberate indifference. You must understand. I was in the War. Our Council has already been written up for much, much less egregious violations of the ban on public displays of religion. We will be suspected. Not just Vaeltaja.
I think there is something else happening. A virus, or maybe a bacteria. Probably locked in the soil, and unleashed when that meteor melted and scattered the frost. Distemper, or something else. We’re seeing it more amongst Vaeltaja’s followers because he takes them out to The Blast.
But maybe it is just religious fervor. When the role of Shaman was abolished, it created a desire for a new priest. The Pathway Forward is not popular out here as the Old Gods, even the Central Council understands that. There is a reason why Pakkasen wanted to let Vaeltaja preach when he first started. There is a reason Ukkonen follows him even now. Vaeltaja preaches of a world where we see our loved ones again - of a world that isn’t so dark and so cold. Little Kultainen, you need to understand. This is all nonsense. The pathway forward to a better world and a better life - this one and only world, and our one and only life - will be long, hard, and require great sacrifice, but it is very much worth it. And if you want us to see each other after this week, Varltaja must be taken care of.”
She smiles, tilts her head, and briefly wags her puffy tail. “You think so?”
>>176953
Pear Faucet:
“Yes, the set of hallways past the entry door have recessed burial chambers. It was probably the first place we catalogued.”
>>176957
Silver perhaps recalls a skeleton becoming animated and pulling itself out of the walls in the hallway not far past the entry door where they found and fought The Corporal.
>>176954
“Little pony… You just… We have to do something to stop him. To stop this. We can’t banish him. He’s too popular. We’d have to bring it up in council, and Ukkonen would defend him. He would defend himself. It wouldn’t work. It would put us in danger, if anything. We can’t reason with him. He thinks the apocalypse is coming and will not fear the Central Council. He is beyond reason. The most obvious thing to do would be to go get the inspector, probably at Kaukainen Piste, and tell him we have a compliance and probably a medical emergency that we cannot contain. But he’ll think it only got this bad by our deliberate indifference. You must understand. I was in the War. Our Council has already been written up for much, much less egregious violations of the ban on public displays of religion. We will be suspected. Not just Vaeltaja.
I think there is something else happening. A virus, or maybe a bacteria. Probably locked in the soil, and unleashed when that meteor melted and scattered the frost. Distemper, or something else. We’re seeing it more amongst Vaeltaja’s followers because he takes them out to The Blast.
But maybe it is just religious fervor. When the role of Shaman was abolished, it created a desire for a new priest. The Pathway Forward is not popular out here as the Old Gods, even the Central Council understands that. There is a reason why Pakkasen wanted to let Vaeltaja preach when he first started. There is a reason Ukkonen follows him even now. Vaeltaja preaches of a world where we see our loved ones again - of a world that isn’t so dark and so cold. Little Kultainen, you need to understand. This is all nonsense. The pathway forward to a better world and a better life - this one and only world, and our one and only life - will be long, hard, and require great sacrifice, but it is very much worth it. And if you want us to see each other after this week, Varltaja must be taken care of.”
>>176958
Kira nods enthusiastically.
"Well yeah! If he wasn't into it you'd think he would have stated, 'ma'am, I'm married' or something like that towards your advances. But he didn't, so...I think you have a chance!"
Kira nods enthusiastically.
"Well yeah! If he wasn't into it you'd think he would have stated, 'ma'am, I'm married' or something like that towards your advances. But he didn't, so...I think you have a chance!"
>>176957
Catacombs are something that Posey would be interested in examining even if she had no quest, just for recreation.
>>176958
>“Yes, the set of hallways past the entry door have recessed burial chambers. It was probably the first place we catalogued.”
"That sounds like the ideal place to hide a casket. Let's go check there."
Catacombs are something that Posey would be interested in examining even if she had no quest, just for recreation.
>>176958
>“Yes, the set of hallways past the entry door have recessed burial chambers. It was probably the first place we catalogued.”
"That sounds like the ideal place to hide a casket. Let's go check there."
>>176958
Tears run down Amber's cheeks as she listens to the horrible dilemma. "If you can kill him, you can drive him away. Just get him away from here without hurting him. Please don't do anything so terrible!"
Tears run down Amber's cheeks as she listens to the horrible dilemma. "If you can kill him, you can drive him away. Just get him away from here without hurting him. Please don't do anything so terrible!"
>>176960
Stilling wagging her small, tuft of a tail,
"Hey yeah, that's right. He seemed a bit receptive. You think we'll see him more, right? Maybe he'll be even more receptive in the future. It's a shame we couldn't get either of those movers to stay... Maybe if we had some alcohol. That's what we really need is some alcohol.
>>176964
He breaks eye contact and looks away. He appears to be crying to.
"We don't - we don't have much of a choice, Kultainen..."
>>176959
>>176961
>>176965
Moving away from the central area and along the hallway, past the laboratories, the hallway extends for some feet before turning at a 90 degree angle. There, it continues, coming to a busted down wooden door on the right, and then eventually ending in a mirrored 90 degree turn to the left, which comes back to the central room.
Along the walls of the hallway are recessed burial chambers like in a traditional catacomb or crypt. These are two high, each one offset from the one above or below, and with rounded ends on the top, but flat on the bottom. Some of these are sealed with brick and mortar. Some of them are completely open, and completely vacant. Where this occurs, Posey can see that these are carved into the clay, and supported by stone. A few have clear evidence of being broken open, with bricks on the ground, or with bricks partially covering them. One at least contains a complete equine skeleton.
Periodically, along the floor, there are little markings, sometimes with a small flag with a flat base to stand upright, sometimes with yarn, and most often with chalk, of locations along the floor.
But what may be most interesting is one of the burial chambers on the lower level. Barely squeezed in between the rounded portions on the top, and filling essentially the entire space, is a large stone rectangle. There are signs of chipping and scratches along the edges of the recess, and a few on the stone itself.
Stilling wagging her small, tuft of a tail,
"Hey yeah, that's right. He seemed a bit receptive. You think we'll see him more, right? Maybe he'll be even more receptive in the future. It's a shame we couldn't get either of those movers to stay... Maybe if we had some alcohol. That's what we really need is some alcohol.
>>176964
He breaks eye contact and looks away. He appears to be crying to.
"We don't - we don't have much of a choice, Kultainen..."
>>176959
>>176961
>>176965
Moving away from the central area and along the hallway, past the laboratories, the hallway extends for some feet before turning at a 90 degree angle. There, it continues, coming to a busted down wooden door on the right, and then eventually ending in a mirrored 90 degree turn to the left, which comes back to the central room.
Along the walls of the hallway are recessed burial chambers like in a traditional catacomb or crypt. These are two high, each one offset from the one above or below, and with rounded ends on the top, but flat on the bottom. Some of these are sealed with brick and mortar. Some of them are completely open, and completely vacant. Where this occurs, Posey can see that these are carved into the clay, and supported by stone. A few have clear evidence of being broken open, with bricks on the ground, or with bricks partially covering them. One at least contains a complete equine skeleton.
Periodically, along the floor, there are little markings, sometimes with a small flag with a flat base to stand upright, sometimes with yarn, and most often with chalk, of locations along the floor.
But what may be most interesting is one of the burial chambers on the lower level. Barely squeezed in between the rounded portions on the top, and filling essentially the entire space, is a large stone rectangle. There are signs of chipping and scratches along the edges of the recess, and a few on the stone itself.
>>176966
>But what may be most interesting is one of the burial chambers on the lower level. Barely squeezed in between the rounded portions on the top, and filling essentially the entire space, is a large stone rectangle.
That sounds like what we're looking for. Posey examines this first.
>But what may be most interesting is one of the burial chambers on the lower level. Barely squeezed in between the rounded portions on the top, and filling essentially the entire space, is a large stone rectangle.
That sounds like what we're looking for. Posey examines this first.
>>176966
>Some of these are sealed with brick and mortar. Some of them are completely open, and completely vacant. Where this occurs, Posey can see that these are carved into the clay, and supported by stone. A few have clear evidence of being broken open, with bricks on the ground, or with bricks partially covering them.
Does the brick and mortar appear to be more than 1 foot?
>Some of these are sealed with brick and mortar. Some of them are completely open, and completely vacant. Where this occurs, Posey can see that these are carved into the clay, and supported by stone. A few have clear evidence of being broken open, with bricks on the ground, or with bricks partially covering them.
Does the brick and mortar appear to be more than 1 foot?
>>176968
It is not decorated in any way, and fits within half of an inch of the top of the recess, and is snug with the edges, clearly having hit and slightly damaged the edges of the recess as it was placed. Best guess to the substance it is made of is a cheaper or perhaps spoiliated white marble. The lid as well as parts of the container itself show obvious signs of serious cracking and damage, very unlikely to have been caused during transport, based on the positioning of the damage on the top. There are presumably slots for iron spikes to keep the top in place, though the marble near these is cracked.
>>176969
About 7 and three quarters inches in thickness, which is to say, standard brick width.
Go ahead. You won’t desperately wish you had those spells slots later, to accomplish what could have waited a day, or have been accomplished with a hammer.
It is not decorated in any way, and fits within half of an inch of the top of the recess, and is snug with the edges, clearly having hit and slightly damaged the edges of the recess as it was placed. Best guess to the substance it is made of is a cheaper or perhaps spoiliated white marble. The lid as well as parts of the container itself show obvious signs of serious cracking and damage, very unlikely to have been caused during transport, based on the positioning of the damage on the top. There are presumably slots for iron spikes to keep the top in place, though the marble near these is cracked.
>>176969
About 7 and three quarters inches in thickness, which is to say, standard brick width.
Go ahead. You won’t desperately wish you had those spells slots later, to accomplish what could have waited a day, or have been accomplished with a hammer.
>>176971
“That’s about the sane dimensions, more or less” she says. “Maybe very slightly larger, but I don’t have a measuring tape on me.”
>if you detect magic on the burial chamber you won’t be able to detect magic on anything later
Actually, that makes things more fun
“That’s about the sane dimensions, more or less” she says. “Maybe very slightly larger, but I don’t have a measuring tape on me.”
>if you detect magic on the burial chamber you won’t be able to detect magic on anything later
Actually, that makes things more fun
>>176972
>“That’s about the same dimensions, more or less” she says. “Maybe very slightly larger, but I don’t have a measuring tape on me.”
"Have you actually seen the original?"
>you won’t be able to detect magic on anything later
I can still cast it out of my lvl 1 slots, but I would rather avoid that because I need those, and Dread Necromancers don't get any lvl 0 slots for some reason.
>“That’s about the same dimensions, more or less” she says. “Maybe very slightly larger, but I don’t have a measuring tape on me.”
"Have you actually seen the original?"
>you won’t be able to detect magic on anything later
I can still cast it out of my lvl 1 slots, but I would rather avoid that because I need those, and Dread Necromancers don't get any lvl 0 slots for some reason.
>>176973
>I can still cast it out of my lvl 1 slots, but I would rather avoid that because I need those
Correct. You do.
“Uh, well… briefly… I can confirm there were no markings and I do think it was marble. But I can’t say I did much more than a quick examination.”
>I can still cast it out of my lvl 1 slots, but I would rather avoid that because I need those
Correct. You do.
“Uh, well… briefly… I can confirm there were no markings and I do think it was marble. But I can’t say I did much more than a quick examination.”
>>176974
"I could cast a spell to detect Undead, with the same range as my magic detection. It would at least tell us if there's any monsters nearby or in this casket."
"I could cast a spell to detect Undead, with the same range as my magic detection. It would at least tell us if there's any monsters nearby or in this casket."
>>176975
Pear:
“Any monsters, in that casket or otherwise, are sealed away. They are only dangerous if we disturb them.”
Pear:
“Any monsters, in that casket or otherwise, are sealed away. They are only dangerous if we disturb them.”
>>176979
>>176977
"It would not look good for my track record if I missed undead creatures here when I had already received payment. Anyways, this casket looks like it is correct one."
(OOC, there is one issue with using detect spells I've figured out: if you use Detect Magic, you won't find any other magic items left to be found here in the catacombs, and Detect Undead is the same way for undead if Rosey was, somehow, an evil dread necromancer looking for undead minions for her new lair.)
>>176977
"It would not look good for my track record if I missed undead creatures here when I had already received payment. Anyways, this casket looks like it is correct one."
(OOC, there is one issue with using detect spells I've figured out: if you use Detect Magic, you won't find any other magic items left to be found here in the catacombs, and Detect Undead is the same way for undead if Rosey was, somehow, an evil dread necromancer looking for undead minions for her new lair.)
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