/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

First.

Also, love the batzeeb.

>>177003
Holy shit is that Lunar "Butterzeeb" Nadir from the hit /mlpol/ ttrpg Occupied Equestria?

Posey concentrates for as many rounds as it take for her to discern the exact strength of the undead auras.

"I wonder, even if we found Curwhinny, short of him being a lich, how would we identify his remains?"

>>177010
scrunches

>>177011
It’s less than 11 HD

>But how many exactly
Smaller than 11

>but like, how many precisely
Less than 11

>the spell should tell me how many hit die. Not one above, not one less
If Posey can correctly guess the precise thickness of the interfering matter between her and the undead presence, and then the degree to which said matter would interfere with the strength of the present felt by posey, then sure, she could tell exactly how strong the undead is with a bit of math. She can’t.

>>177012
Well. Our question is answered for now.
"There is no lich in these catacombs. Of that much I am sure." Posey concludes
>If Posey can correctly guess the precise thickness of the interfering matter between her and the undead presence, and then the degree to which said matter would interfere with the strength of the present felt by posey, then sure, she could tell exactly how strong the undead is with a bit of math.
Rolling Int
[1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]

>>177014
That’ll handle guesses as to the thickness of the material and the final calculations. Roll Knowledge Arcana for the effects on the spell

>>177017
If Posey’s assumption about the walls being simply fired-clay brick, as the empty and broken burial spots imply, is correct, and if the remainder of her math is correct, then these are around about 3 HD each. If there is actually another substance their, like sand, or if the off angle is making the brick the aura goes through thicker, then it may be a bit higher.

Of course, theoretically there could be a lead wall in there drowning out 99% of the aura. If that’s the case, it’s much bigger than 3 HD…

>>176966 →
Amber is quiet for a moment. Then she says,

"If we can't get him to leave, maybe we could keep the Inspector from coming here. At least for a little while, to give us time."

>>177018
>Of course, theoretically there could be a lead wall in there drowning out 99% of the aura. If that’s the case, it’s much bigger than 3 HD…
A thin sheet of lead would block her spell entirely, so unless an unprecedented, apocalyptic undead is near who's sheer presence seeps through it, she rules out that possibility.
>3 HD
Moderate auras. More than a mindless skeleton or zombie. I would assume ghouls, based on the context, although if Posey is lucky they could be shadows.

You said the auras are coming from the walls themselves? Not the caskets or burial chambers? If it's coming from the walls, that means they could be incorporeal or burrowing.

>>177020
It’s a walled-in burial chamber, evidently walled in by brick and mortar. It isn’t impossible that the auras are coming from beyond the chamber, but it seems unlikely that any aura would penetrate that far through brick, stone, and clay.

>>177019
“Hmmmmm…. Or if he didn’t get back to Central Council… Maybe when the sun does not come on the date they think it will, they will go back to normal.”

>>177021
"Hmmmmmm."
Posey, still Concentrating on her spell, knocks on the walls that she sensed the auras coming from.
"~Yoo-hoo, anypony there?" she beckons

>>177022
"It's not far off at all," Amber replies with a glimmer of hope. "He will be proven undeniably wrong and nopony will follow him after that."

>>177024
He pets Amber, evidently out of sheer nervousness.

>>177023
A sound, and what seems to be scratching back.

>>177025
>scratching back
That rules out incorporeal undead. Bummer, I was hoping for a Shadow army.
Posey writes something down in her notebook.

"It looks like curwhinny isn't here in any capacity that rivals his former self, although we can't really be sure until we've found his body."
>>177008
"Open the casket. We should at least rule out that this one is Curwhinny. Any clothing, pins, or buttons could indicate who it was."

>>177025
pony is pet

"We'll be alright," she sniffles as she wipes at her eyes. "Thank you for listening, Papa."

>>177026
>>177025
Is opening the casket as simple a procedure as "push/lift lid"?

>>177027
"Heh heh heh" Sitting, he continues to pet Amber's mane, largely missing and instead stroking the hood over her head. Every tooth shows from his mouth, and he looks far past Amber.

>>177026
>She think's there isn't an army of shadows in the region
hehe

>>177028
No. It's in the chamber pretty well. Not quite stuck, but not far from it.

>>177029
>army of shadows in the region
Ooh?
Rolling Religion to see what Posey knows about this:
[1d20+11 = (14+11) = 25]
>Not quite stuck, but not far from it.
Posey helps him out with her horn.

>>177029
>>177030
Silver gives it the good ol' college try, at least.

>>177030
Posey is not aware of anything specific

>lifting multi-hundred pound objects with the horn
No. I don't care what Startlight Glimmer can do

>>177031
>lifting multi-hundred pound objects without a strength roll
No. I don't care what Silver can normally do

>>177033
Just seeing if it was required or not.

[1d20+3 = (10+3) = 13]

>>177033
Okay. She lifts it out herself then.
Posey can lift 690 pounds over her head. Is that enough?

>>177035
(Posey can push or drag up to 3450 pounds)

>>177034
>>177038
Good enough.

It's a very awkward fit. but Silver and the suspiciously strong mare are able to wiggle the casket out of the chamber without letting it fall to the ground, and carefully put it down.

>>177039
Okay. Now lets check out the body.
"If only we had his dental records... Anyway, check if he has any signets, pins, handkerchiefs, or identifying marks on his horseshoes."

>>177039
>>177040
Silver is indeed surprised by the mare's strength given her size, but it's not like he's complaining when otherwise it would have been a struggle to move the heavy slab of marble by himself. Now to check the body inside, if there even is one.

>>177033
>Posey is not aware of anything specific
Could I get just a hint from that good roll?

>>177042
Pretty sure places of great suffering and death periodically generate shadows

And if they don't then shrugs. Maybe there isn't an army

>>177041
>>177040
The casket has been sealed with iron rods and very possibly magic on the side. All of that is by passed by the severe cracks that have broken the rods and shattered the stone, with several chips and cracks all along the top of the lid. It comes off.

Inside:
An equine skeleton dressed in what was once a wool jacket.

>>177043
Hmm...interesting. How decayed is the jacket? Silver's impressed that any part of it would have lasted so long next to a decaying corpse.

>>177044
It is not in great condition, but not gone, either.

>>177043
>suffering and death periodically generate shadows
There's always good news for a necromancer where there's war.
>Maybe there isn't an army
Not yet there isn't.
>what was once a wool jacket.
Posey examines the jacket to check for any identifying features (pins, signets, buckles, etc) that may reveal the identity of the deceased.

>>177045
>>177046
Silver meanwhile checks the skeleton itself for any jewelry or other articles.

>>177047
"Careful. Anything here could be cursed."

>>177048
"I am, most curses do not activate unless you wear, use, or take possession of item."

>>177049
"..Sure they don't..." Rosey Ring replies, the sarcasm clear in her voice
"Anyway, we can't be sure if Curwhinny was a lich or not until we find his body."
>>177043
She looks to Pear, hoping she has ranks in History to make this check
"Was Curwhinny known to wear any sort of iconic clothing, signets, pins or other notable items in life that might identify him?"

>>177029
Amber, or rather Kultainen, relaxes as she is affectionately pet. Maybe her father is right about the importance of science after all…. Then a thought hits her, which makes her exhale clouds into the frigid air.

"Papa? I went to the blast zone with Jakala. Will we get sick too?"

Do we find anything in the casket that would indicate that this is Curwhinny?

>>176634 →
"Well" the stallion looks down. "I don't really know anything about that. Either somepony vouches for him and his story lines up, or he might be under suspicion of being a spy."

>>177053
"Well... I don't know" he pets her continuously. "I don't think so. Vaeltaja would take his followers deep into the blast, where the soil is more disturbed. And they'd stay longer there. You were only on the edges." His hoof pauses on her for a few seconds. "You said you saw a moose in the blast. Was it acting unusually?"

>>177056
Amber isn't sure if what she saw was a moose, and she knows she went to the middle of it all. Her eyes widen as she looks off into the distance. "I barely got a peek in, I was too scared…but it looked to have been walking in a straight line. I also saw hewed and stacked logs at the blast."

>>177056
Cavaliere narrows his eyes as he scans the room. "A spy for a country that no longer exists. Every inhabitant of this land is a suspect with so wide a dragnet." He turns back to the pony. "If he is causing you this much consternation, I can keep him under observation for you."

>>177057
He ruffles her mane, and her golden hair falls in front of her eyes again.

"Doesn't seem too out of the norm to me. Let's go home. We still have to... the problem has to be solved..."

>>177058
"No. A spy for Aris, or for Aquelia." He leans back. "You know what. Entertain me. What do you propose?"

>>177059
Amber nods and gets up in a hurry.

"It's getting cold out here."

>>177061
"And how, pray tell, would we know that they are not themselves deliberately harborers of spies?"

>>177060
He nods
"Yeah."

The two walk back to the hut where mother is inside.

>>177050
>>177055
>>177062
Any results on this skeleton?

>>177062
"Mama! It's so good to see you!"

Amber rushes over to giver her a hug.

>>177064
"What do you mean?" He asks "About the frontier"

>>177065
squeaky
Amber manages a hug around her, and she hugs back.
"Enjoy your short trip outside?"
Father meanwhile, hangs back by the door. He does not take his clothing off.

>>177066
She lets go and looks off to the right for a moment. "It…was alright. Salt is expensive."

>>177067
"Oh really? How much is it, Keskiyon? She asks, looking back. But Father has difficulty concentrating. He shakes his head, as if to bring himself back into the room. "Oh, they want to sell it by the kilogram and not the skalpund, whatever that is."

But behind, there is rapping on the door
"Keskiyon, are you ready?"

>>177069
"Well, then I hope you have an appreciation for our task."

>>177070
"Are you going someplace?" she asks her mother, smiling.

>>177071
"No" She answers. But her mouth is partly open, and her golden eyes wide as the rapping continues.

"Keskiyon, are you ready?"
Father gets up, and goes to the door.

>>177070
"I do, and I also understand that sympathy is not in your job description. But you should also realize that stallion…" he points off to the detained pony "…has no real evidence against him of being a spy, and is being kept out of his home simply because he left it at a certain point. There is a difference between running a customs gate and being a prison guard, however blurred that distinction may have become after the War. You probably don't want to view yourself as a prison guard for all of pony-led Equestria, and yet you are inviting that comparison. My way out to you still stands: it is essentially risk-free and will let you sleep better at night. What do you say to that?"

>>177072
Is Keskiyon the name of Kultainen's mother? I got confused with the dialogue

"Ready for what?" Amber asks as she looks toward the door.

>>177073
"State again, if you will, just what precisely is your 'way out'?"

>>177074
Peaking through the door, the head of the stallion from earlier:
"Kultainen" He says, looking over with a serious expression. "Your father and I need to go collect a larger batch of firewood." And looking to him, "I've got the sled, grab an axe."

>>177075
I really should be keeping better notes

Amber's eyes widen in alarm. "B-but there's plenty of firewood to go around. It's not necessary, really!"

>>177076
"And that is why we do not leave little fillies in charge of collecting firewood for the winter. Keskiyon, get out here. We must be done before the wind increases."

Father looks back at Amber, as if looking for a suggestion.

>>177075
"If you don't trust the Blackhooves' redoubtable but certainly stretched intelligence assets, or the local police, to keep track of a single stallion, I have the will and resources to do that for you." He cocks a griffon's equivalent of an eyebrow. "Now, is there some sort of 'assurance deposit' you need?"

>>177078
"Did you have something in mind?" He asks, raising an eyebrow. "And do you know where you will be staying? Working?"

>>177077
Poor Papa…a lynx has got his tongue. "The only way we'll need more firewood is if we keep the doors open and letting the cold in. And…" she continues, finding newfound resolve, "If you spend so much time outside you'll have to eat more food. It'll be several weeks until sunlight and we need to make sure we have enough food to last us until then. Isn't that right, Papa?"

>>177063
Are there any checks/spells necessary for this?

>>176996 →
“Oh yeah, Vodka is great! Well it tastes terrible. Almost like gasoline. It burns your throat going down. But it’ll t you drunk quickly.”

>>177085
"Blegh! That sounds terrible!" She pauses, as a thought comes to her mind. "...how do you know what gasoline tastes like?"

>>177080
“Yeah, that’s uh, that’s right.”

But the stallion says,
“Get out here.”
And drags him outside of the hut.

>>177086
Neela narrows her eyes,
“What are you implying?”

>>177087
Kira blinks, and flicks her tongue.

"Like, have you drank gasoline before? I don't think it's meant to be consumed..."

>>177087
"No, wait, don't take him!" she shrilly shouts as she chases after them.

>>177088
Scrunching, and narrowing her eyes.

“No…”

>>177089
“Now how could you do that? As for ‘leaving it at that,’ well, while your visa only requires that you work in an economically productive field or more directly for the war effort. But a griffin isn’t the most regulated thing you’ve brought with you. You see, your firearms require licensing. Licensing that only comes with special government work. And we’ll need that paperwork to let you depart here with them.”

>>177090
“Little pony. This doesn’t concern you.” He says to Amber

>>177084
If you want to roll something for the fun of it, why not?

>>177047
>>177063
The inside of the jacket is sewn with purple, he is wearing a ring, and an envelope with a wax seal, addressed to a “Tall Sails”

>>177091
Rolling for fun
[1d20 = 12]
>he is wearing a ring
What is he wearing it on?
>envelope with a wax seal, addressed to a “Tall Sails”
Posey opens the letter and skims down to who it's addressed from.

>>177092
Left pastern.

Directly from Joseph Curwhinny.

>>177093
Does the ring match the wax seal?
"A letter from Curwhinny. We might have our corpse right here. Unless this is Tall Sails..."

>>177093
What does the letter itself say?

>>177094
This particular ring does not seem intended to create a seal, which is to say, no.

>>177095
Without giving a full transcription, it includes lines like
“Don’t trust Cinnamon Corn” and “Meet with Lanteen Rider after the Lady Joy returns.”

>>177091
Kira blinks once more before smiling.

"Okay! Vodka still sounds pretty nasty. Where's the flavor? What's the point of getting tipsy if the process of getting there is unpleasant?"

>>177097
“Well, it’s like courtship, or working, or… anything else, really. It’s the destination that matters, not the journey to get there.”

>>177091
>>177096
Silver looks over, reading the letter as best as he can.

"This was addressed from Curwhinny to his son. Cinnamon Corn was his 'loyal' cohort who sold out Curwhinny's location to militia ponies. Clearly he wanted his son to meet with somepony he trusted, though who Lanteen is or for what reason I do not know. All three are long dead, but perhaps one could look through history by asking their descendants or looking through city records."

>>177098
"I've heard the journey for courtship can be nice, though. The male courting you is supposed to shower you with gifts to help earn your favor."

>>177100
“Like alcohol, or money.” She replies. “But you don’t have to waste time.”

>>177099
Pear:
“Interesting. Another letter, presumably from Curwhinny. We can compare it to the others.”

>>177101
"Well, I'll try to get some wine if I can tomorrow when we go out. Then we can enjoy the journey and the destination."

>>177101
"See if hoofwriting matches up?" Speaking of, could Silver see if it looks as if the writing looks like it was made in a hurry or not? It's a minor thing, but it could be potentially useful to know if this was written while the catacombs were under siege or not.

>>177103
It’s smudged, and yes, with a lower quality of calligraphy than Silver has seen before.

>>177102
Neela smiles, and her little tuft of a tail wags.
“Yes! But not white wine. Well a white wine will work but… I like red wine more.”

>>177091
"Please, don't go! It's wrong! You don't need to!" she cries out hysterically.

>>177091
"I have my ways. I also have all required paperwork, but they are for the eyes of a pony with appropriate clearance," Cavaliere replies with a cold stare.

>>177105
Father looks over at Amber and leans down to pet her. Without making eye contact with the other stallion he says,

“No no. You see. We can head off the inspector at Kaukainen Piste and uh, and slow him down. You see, if when the sun doesn’t rise, it’ll blow Vaeltaja’s credibility. Everypony will stop following him. Then we can just clean things up.”

“Did you tell her?!”

Still petting Amber and not looking at him, father meekly answers, “She overheard.”

The stallion gives a long sigh, and in a much calmer tone of voice answers,
“How, pray tell, are we supposed to slow the inspector? And you know as well as I do that when the sun doesn’t rise, Vaeltaja will just claim it’s because of everypony’s sins of traitors or he just miscalculated and it’ll come later. And then when it does rise in two weeks, he’ll claim it was him. And we can’t wait two weeks. This is harming ponies now. Makea might have died and definitely would have lost an ear if we didn’t happen to find her, and I don’t even know who else he’s drugged.”

>>177106
“Well, as a customs and immigration officer, I am that pony.”

>>177104
>>177095
Silver also relays this information to Pear and Posey: "It looks as if he wrote this as militia ponies were barging down door. Of course it is possible that this was not written by him and was instead planted on this corpse, but that seems bit of stretch to be likely possibility."

>>177104
"Oooo, interesting. More details about my deer friend!" Kira smiles, and flicks her tongue again. "I don't know if any of the wines from my tribe will have survived, but if some have and I manage to bring some over, I want you to be the first one to drink."

>>177108
“Well… judging from the remains, he must have defended himself, at some point…”

>>177109
“Oh, your tribe has special wines? I’m betting those wines are super concentrated, right? Must take a lot to get one of you drunk. Like the wines used on Polyphemus. And you probably have them in big, clay, jars. Yes, I’d like to taste one of those.

>>177110
Kira nods in the affirmative to all of those questions and statements, before opening her mouth an yawning. It doesn't open nearly as widely as it did when she ate Hopper, but perhaps it's still just a slight bit disturbing. Still, it's a reminder of how late it's gotten, not to mention how much boat lag Kira much be suffering. Having a belly full of goat probably doesn't help much in that regard.

>>177107
Amber still stares at the fiercer stallion, her eyes wide and her body quivering. Being pet calms her down a little though.

"When it doesn't rise, Vaeltaja will be humiliated. You can order him to recant then, or banish him if he refuses, and you'll have the village's backing. But if you hurt him, his followers will know you're afraid of him and will turn against you. We also don't know what's happening to the villagers.
We could try following one of them, or watch Vaeltaja's hut to see if he's responsible."

>>177110
"Of course. This was not same Curwhinny who spent years trying to bring back family he lost to plague, researching occult rituals and foreign cultures, pouring his earnings from his business into learning alchemy and necromancy, bringing back bodies without souls and souls without bodies. He had grown in his unnaturally long life, accepted his loss and failures, moved on, found love again, got married and had son. He was fighting first and foremost to ensure they could escape, sure, but no doubt he also fought as hard as he could to be able to see them again. He may have failed in this second goal, but he still got to see them again, reuniting with his first family in Elysium, and getting to wait in paradise until his second family also came to join him."

>>177107
The griffon eases his expression. "Then you can assure me that you have authorization for viewing confidential papers related to military intelligence."