Continuing, and hopefully introducing new characters.
And on the wrong damn post number
1563 replies and 80 files omitted.
>>177677Silver nods again. "Of course. Adventuring is not just, 'oh, I will take boat to location'. It takes preparation, research, surprising amount of reading and investigating. After all, you need to know what location you are going to is like and where what you are searching for is likely located, or at least know where you can find out. And having both of our sets of eyes will help in finding out what we need to know."
>>177680Both ears go firm for a moment. “Yes… that makes sense. We don’t have much to go on for the moment. I can try to do some research when I get some free time.” She says
>>177679Roll Diplomacy>>177678gasp “How did you know?!?!”
>>177681Silver smiles at this. "I hope I will get to join you when you do."
He carries on nonchalantly
"My guardian for example had an inSAtiable taste for cheese, and I was named after the cheese he asserted was "the best",... can there really said to be "a" best? It all depends on what it's paired with".
>>177684In slow motion, the pony's eyes go wide, his ears go down, then his eyes close, and
"Ahhh! You ate a pony!"
And he turns and starts to run, presumably towards the door
>>177683She simply smiles, lowering her head, and then looking down towards her tail.
>>177682This is actually not the airfield"No?" She answers, raising an eyebrow
>>177685"Wine, perhaps?"
This bap,... his manner is well presented and defined and he's almost supercilious in his demeanor but,... he has no rizz
>>177687"W-wait! I didn't! I promise!"
Kira goes to try to block the door, attempting to prevent the pony from escaping.
>>177687"Heh. Has anyone ever told you how cute you are?"
>>177689Hmmm... kind of want a roll for this. Dex modifier
>>177690Looking up, and then back down
"A pony may have said it. Usually it seemed just a little insincere. Like they were trying to sleep with me, or something."
>>177691"Yes..." She says, and walks away
>>177692"I can not say anything as to their intentions, but I must say, it is very true."
>>177694Kira does
mot beat him to the door. He does at least need a moment to stop and open the door, however.
>>177695Can she grab onto him physically to stop him?
>>177696Can she? Yes. Roll unarmed attack, and presumably grapple. Time to test her ability to lunge.
The bat calmly pours himself some finished tea and muses to himself. Sigh. It is always important to appreciate the finer moments in life."
>>177697First, to see if she can even touch the pony.
[1d20+8 = (15+8) = 23] >>177700Okay, that seems good. Now, to pull the stallion into her coils and away from the door.
[1d20+12 = (20+12) = 32] >>177701So, presumably this would beat whatever attempt he might make to try to escape from her. Kira wraps her tail around the stallion, and pulls him away from the door. She coils around in an empty part of the room, with the stallion wrapped up at the center of her coils.
>>177700>>177701AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!Kira grabs onto the screaming colt with her hooves as he’s trying to open the door, and then manages to pull him back and coil around him, perhaps even covering his mouth if she so chooses.
>>177702“AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!”
>>177703Yeah, screaming at the top of his lungs is likely to invite trouble. Kira stuffs a hoof into his mouth to quiet him.
"Please, just listen! I'm
not a pony eater! I haven't eaten any pony! Please calm down!"
are blood-chokes a thing?
>>177706Just gonna offer, Ive seen it done where a blood choke is:
- A declared thing (kind of like declaring lethal or nonlethal damage)
- an unbroken, unobstructed 2-3 round pin (depending on grapelling checks)
>>177707Does it hurt the creature who is being grappled?
>>177706>>177707I've been making unarmed combat and grapplemancer build in 3.5e for years (making a new one right now), and I've never heard of what you're referring to. You must have the name wrong, because I can't find it in any of my archives.
There's a somewhat similar feat in a PF1e supplement that allows you to coup-de-grace pinned opponents.
>>177709Please, this is group-derived homebrew
>>177708No, though it's not a stretch to say it's possible with a few tweaks, if thats what youre going for
Homebrew wherein this is a common tactic among certain fighting specialists, meaning dont cry if the npc chokes you out
>>177711>this is group-derived homebrewOh really? I have a lot of homebrew spells that I would like to add to the Dread Necromancer list, if anypony is interested. I had some homebrew items too.
>>177712That sounds like a tree of 3-4 feats.
Constrict abilities are worth the investiture though. I've been looking into what to do with them without feats because Bone Lurkers are one of my favorite creations from Animate Dead.
I realize that if you create 12 of them you could form a flying mob that deals auto damage but also has improved grapple, expert grappler, and trample, with a near-unsaveable paralysis attack which auto-hits, with damage reduction making it nearly impervious to bullets. 4d6 mob damage + trample + 2d6 constrict + paralysis is a deadly combo.
It takes 36 HD of the control pool, which means that Posey could control two entire mobs by the time she learns animate dead, or four mobs with Desecrate.
>>177705Please understand that this location, like basically every single shop encountered anywhere else in Baltimare is located on the first floor of a three story building, with the buildings being very close together on the same block, the upper two floors being used for apartments or less often, expanded retail space, and there being immediately adjacent shops and busy sidewalks and streets. Maybe these brick-built structures have sound dampening as an accident biproduct of their construction, but for damn sure not a cent was spent on sound proofing.
As Kira wraps her coils around him, the colt can feel the presence of a quadrupedal inside of Kira, devoured by her, that is as big as he is an runs a full one fifth to one fourth of Kira's body length. To be sure, he could see it before, but now he can physically feel it press against his body, being forcibly twisted and contorted with the movement of Kira's incredibly strong muscles.
The colt is still terrified and tries to scream.
>>177706A constrictor snake may kill its prey by obstructing the movement of blood in the target's body, if asphyxiation takes too long.
>>177715If her hoof isn't enough to muffle the sound of his screaming, she moves the end of her tail around to stuff it in his mouth instead. Regardless, she holds a hoof up and lets out a "shhhhhhhhhhhhh". Her ears fold.
"It's a goat, not a pony. I bought it from a farm just outside town. Please, I would never eat a pony. Can we just...start over? Please?"
>>177715If you dont mind the discussion continuing, of course a boa does a blood AND breath choke, but I'm talking about jiu jitsu shit.
>>177714And to this end, improved grappeling is all thats required for this part of the technique, though a (negotiable) 1-3 round duration should be necessary. We went with a system where for every difference of 5 in the grappel check reduced the number of rounds to pull the choke
>>177717Now imagine being able to do it to several hundred soldiers at the same time with a gargantuan flying swarm of rattling bones.
Character goals
>>177718Now imagine killing the one doing and controlling the myriad hundreds, with but a dagger
(Not my aim/interest, just playing the game of pretend)
>>177719I got hit points and DR. Bring it. I'm bored.
>>177716The stallion whimpers and looks up towards Kira. He stops screaming. What he does not do, or at least, has not done yet, is nod.
>>177721Calm yourself! We can meet in game if we're to banter so agressively!
>>177722Kira stops attempting to gag him, but she still keeps a hold of him until he stops panicking. She smiles at him.
"I'm Kira. I'm new here. I just moved into an apartment just down the road with my friend Neela, a deer. I'm hoping to make her happy by bringing her some wine."
>>177725Have you ever known me to not foreshadow?
>>177726All of your posts in this thread are foreshadowing, forever.
>>177727Well hurry the fuck up and get to the customs office ffs
>>177725scrunchTechnically Posey and Silver could probably move ahead
>>177724Kira can feel him shaking. He does not yell, but for the first time, he addresses Kira
"W-what
are you?"
>>177729>Technically Posey and Silver could probably move aheadThat's great.
>>177731Alright.
Just let me know what I need to do next.
>>177732The description given before stands. That is to say, that as Posey is examining the flowers on the ground above the catacombs, she notices a pair of creatures get out of a truck that parks itself next to the empty lot. Out come a pony in a military uniform, and what Posey can recognize as a Kaftar gnoll. They are looking around and wander about. Posey can interact or not, but she'd most likely notice their presence.
>>177729"I'm a lamia. We're from Zebrica. I know, it's weird that I look like a pony on one half and a snake on the other. But I promise you, I'm just as friendly as any proper pony!" She continues to smile to try to punctuate that point.
>>177733Posey decides to cautiously observe the military, while pretending to examine flowers (she was faking it anyway)
Bluff checks to lay low while actually observing them, perhaps wandering as close as she dares if necessary to overhear activity.
[1d20+14 = (15+14) = 29]Nothing suspicious about a mare picking flowers with her colt.
>>177734"Y-you attacked me!" He is still trembling, and still pretty clearly terrified. "You're a, you're a monster. What are you doing here?"
>>177735They move around, look inside of the tent and have a quick conversation with the ponies in there, they go to a tent, and then they approach an automobile next to the dilapidated house. Finally, they walk over towards the quarry, and descend into it, and out of Posey's field of view (unless she comes close enough to watch them).
>>177736Posey briefly steps out of sight and removes her chain shirt (which takes one minute), perfecting her civilian disguise, folding it in her saddlebag. She then slowly follows the soldiers
>"What would the military want to do with this place? Could it be that they know of a hidden mystery to this dungeon?"She thinks to herself
She then approaches after the military
(I may regret taking off my armor, but guaranteeing a surprise round is better than competitive AC)
>>177736Kira looks rather hurt by the accusation of being a monster. "I'm not a monster! I just...I'm not trying to attack you, I just needed you to be calm, to explain to you that I'm just here to buy some wine. Look," she shows him the crates of kitchenware that she's got tied to her. "I've already been shopping at the kitchen supplies store just down the road. I asked the nice stallion at the counter if he knew a good place for buying wine or alcohol and he pointed me over here. Please...can we just...start over? Act like I'm like any other customer coming into the store to make a purchase?"
>>177737Wait. I messed up the description. It is
not military. While the truck driven is the same general logistics truck
M35 duce and a half driven by the military, the pony is
not in a military uniform. He is instead in a similar looking uniform that Posey might understand as belonging to Customs officers. The Kaftar gnoll has on, of all things, a wool sweater
>>177738"I'm not sure you should be here..." The colt says, though sheepishly, and as if aware of the imbalance of power in the situation
>>177739Accurate
>>177740Kira looks at the stallion with big eyes, while attempting the cutest face she can pull.
"Pleeeeeeaaaaasssssseeeeee?"
>>177740>CustomsThis makes Posey much more cautious because they could possibly be here to arrest Posey having discovered her foreign connections, but she approaches anyway because I'm bored and this advances the plot.
She follows cautiously, light on her hooves and ready to eliminate any creature that attacks her.
>>177741"~Truuuuuuuuuuuuust iiiiiiin meeeeeeeeeeeee!"
>>177741"What do you want?" He asks, as if Kira hadn't already said she wants to buy wine for her deer friend
The "Trust in me" thing is pretty spot on>>177742Would she want to, or try to leave?
>>177600Jakala sits upright on top of the sled. It isn't ideal because she is likely visible. But the filly doesn't seem to feel a need to move away from it.
Amber walks around to see that the area all around the stone has been disturbed, it is unambiguously cracked down the center, and upon taking a closer look, it appears to be
both physically chipped and damaged by something, but also clearly marked. Some of the markings are presumably older and chiseled into the stone. But a great many are with charcoal or tar or some kind of writing, and they cover much of the stone.
>>177743"I'd like to buy some wine, maybe some cheese. I have Bits!"
>>177745"Uh... okay" He says. Finally. His voice is weak, perhaps from screaming.
>>177746Kira smiles widely at him. "Thank you!" She releases the poor stallion from his coils, allowing him to stand on his own yet again. She turns her attention to the wines, looking through the selection. Are there any that look interesting compared to the others?
Pardon the delay. I got sidetracked
>>177743>Would she want to, or try to leave?With no reason to stay, she logically would, but Iit is also part her mission to investigate the weaknesses in this nation, and that means collecting first hand information on how customs took down her allies before arrival.
Plus she hasn't killed anyone in almost a whole day, so she's getting frisky.
So she keeps going and sees where they lead her.
>>177648"Thank you and goodnight."Once he is by himself, Cavaliere unpacks his suitcases changes into his work clothes. This comprises a black cowboy hat, a black shirt, black wool trousers with a belt pouch, and leather boots for his hind paws. He also puts on a dark leather jacket with a fur scruff. Additionally, he places his remaining money, some business cards, a flashlight, and a notebook with a pen into the belt pouch. One smaller suitcase is securely locked; after unlocking it he retrieves a derringer and two rounds; the gun is loaded and concealed beneath his waist. He stares at a much larger revolver for a moment but decides against bringing it with him, and instead locks the suitcase and hides it underneath the bed.
Once ready, he takes the elevator to the ground floor. Along the way he chats with the elevator operator, asking his or her name and how many guests might be in the hotel, compared to a normal season.
>>177747The colt - he's somewhere between 18 and 21, hard to tell - stands up and tries to walk. As he does so. Kira can notice that he has a limp with his right rear leg.
Kira would presumably decide based on the images on the labels, so...
Well, this one has a musical note. This one has a pony bucking a tree. That one has pictures of grapes. This one has a... Is that like a reptile in the water eating grass like a hippopotamus?
>>177693"Heh heh." she blushes, ears down. Then from the side
"Ey Silva! Ya here?"
Looking over to the side, Silver sees two creatures he would not expect to meet here. The yellow pegasus pony, Parade Pass, and Mala, both together.
>>177748They approach Silver
>>177749Unicorn pony. Colt. White in color. Please note that all staff wear similar red uniforms.
"Oh, I'd say somewhere over a hundred. We're lower now, but we've been pretty high most of the last few years. We have ponies who are staying for a while from much further east, or who are working here, or visiting somepony in the merchant marine, or the military."
And he is out.
"Nothing passes the time lime Pu'er tea"
>>177750Kira looks over to the pony, and gasps.
"Oh no! Was that...was that from me?"
>>177750Silver looks over to the pair of creatures approaching, and smiles and waves to them. "Hello! What are you doing here with Mala?"
>>177750Posey watches from the shadows in the distance, taking full advantage of her darkvision.
Gloomy is about to say something about the weird dog from the church, but she silently shushes him.
>>177752"The hoof? No." He answers. He doesn't seem thrilled.
>>177753Mala, who pretty much always stands back now comes up to Silver.
"There's this pony with the Navy who was very insistent on outside help for an urgent task. He asked if there was anypony outside we trusted. So I mentioned you, since you helped with them griffins, he said he wanted you. Went by that house you had, you weren't there. You know your gnoll nearly shot at us. He said you might be here. That or you left, we weren't sure. Glad we found you here."
>>177754https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BF16eA7sdqo >>177755"Heh, he is just being good protector. I am glad he didn't. What is this task?"
>>177755Rolling Sneak to approach stealthily behind them
[1d20+9 = (5+9) = 14] >>177755"Oh. Phew! I'm sorry if I still hurt you, I genuinely was doing my best to not do so. I'm glad though I didn't do that. I hope it heals soon." She turns back to the wines. "Do you have any recommendations?"
>>177656Zoomer haircut>>177740>m35American design which in EaW corresponds to the hippogriffs. EaW gives British Commonwealth designs to Equestria and her colonies.
>>177744What a fascinating stone! "How did it get here, and who wrote all the markings?" she wonders to herself. She tries to read any of it, not knowing if the writing is in her language.
(For the record, Im going for ironically divergent agendas going on at the same time,... a snek deciding where their limit is, while a killer bat waits patiently, while others in sequence inevitably make their way in an obsevably convergent direction
>>177750So much for getting a name. A hundred is a good number for an upscale hotel. No doubt there are interesting characters to meet here.
He speaks with Sweet Design.
"Pardon me, but do you have any recommendations for dinner? Fine dining isn't necessary tonight." >>177757There's a clip for this, but I couldn't find it
>>177756"Something up in Trottingham. He said he was down here on an acquisition, I asked why he didn't have somepony handle it locally, he said wanted help from here. Not from the military, not from Trottingham, and not from Manehattan. He wanted outside help and he said he needs it urgently. I know he expects a fight, I can tell you that. He heard of what happened at Hoebuck. Would you believe that made the news all over the continent? He wants those ponies. He wants you."
>>177760>noooo you can't have the cool truck! you have to have some weird british truck that no one's ever heard ofShush
>>177758Looking at Kira with a "why are you still here?" expression, he says "recommendation for what?"
>>177762>so much for a namescrunch >>177763"Well, what kind of wine and/or cheese you would recommend? I know you want me gone, I...I can't blame you. Can you help me? Please?"
>>177763>I couldn't find itNeither could I.
Posey may not hide her enthusiasm in her approach so well as she glides towards them with supernatural grace, but she interjects nonetheless.
"Did somepony say griffons? A fight? Looking for discreet outside help? Hmm?" she brandishes her business card
Intimidate check to jumpscare, just because
[1d20+15 = (5+15) = 20]https://youtu.be/1XyHmyP9Ang?si=3zEWoZUWeouyZlux >>177763"Hmm, I suppose making daring raid on traffickers that were also housing Maarist cult is fairly newsworthy. Alright, I will come along." Silver turns to Mala. "Something tells me you coming along with him also means you would like to come along, too. Am I right?"
>>177767Why do I keep rolling like shit?
Also DC 19 Frightful Presence, not that it matters though.
>>177765>>177768Silver is not exceptionally scared by Rosey jumping out, though whether it's because he was already expecting her to or just through shear discipline is unknown. He tilts his head at the mare, who looks a lot less conspicuous without her chain armor.
"You overheard us, and want to come along as well?"
>>177765"Ah! The fuck?" the pegasus pony is startled, and the gnoll growls, though he stops fairly quickly
He then closes his eyes
"Oh sorry ma'am. We're looking for
warriors." He smiles
>>177766Parade Pass nods
Mala wags his tail
"I'd like to be useful. I was there too...."
"What do you need before you can leave? They want you in a plane. Soon. I don't know many more details than that though."
>>177764"Sure" he says "That will get you drunk, that one I've been told goes well with food, that one is overpriced, and I'm supposed to mention to customers that look like they have money and aren't with Revenue that we have Aquelian wine in the back." He answers
>>177770"I could use quick ride home to grab rest of my supplies and weapons if you are expecting fighting." Looking back at Rosey, Silver continues talking. "I can not claim to know how well she can fight, but she knows magic. Could be useful for whatever we are needed for, if she so desires to come."
>>177771Wow, nice job getting through that quickly. He really does just want her gone.
"Okay, I suppose I'll take this one then," as she grabs one of the 'get drunk' bottles, and heads to the counter. "How much are those 'Aquilean' wines?"
>>177773We also have to move the action along because Kira's pretty much holding up everyone from the next quest"That can be a hundred a bottle. I don't think it's worth it, but if you want something you can't buy any more, well, it's there." He answers
>>177772"We can do that, sure."
>>177774Fair."Alright. Maybe she would like one of those as well. I'll take one. So...what's my total?"
>>177774Silver nods. "Alright, Let us be off then." Turning to Pear, he smiles at the mare. "Well, I suppose duty calls...we are still on for that adventure after, yes?"
>>177776Pear is just startled by the whole thing
"Huh. Yeah, sure" She waves at him with a hoof
>>177775"You want the Aquelian wine? Okay... that's 107 bits."
>>177770"I am a black weave warmagus with decades of experience in northeastern griffonia. I know over forty spells, most of which combat hexes, and can cast hexes of up to third level. I am proficient in light armor and martial weapons, as well as with unarmed combat; it's not my specialty, but more than your average soldier. I have moderate stealth capabilities, and if necessary I can make it appear as though my targets have died from dessication or disease. Through my experience, I have mastered the first meditation of war: my morale is unshakable. I have experience being deployed alongside poisonous gas. I have fortified my body to make myself impervious to minor attacks and I am highly resistant to magic. I have experience in retrieving cadavers from active warzones and toxic mana wastes. I have trained to ignore caltrop wounds and survive stepping on landmines. I am capable of summoning several types of monsters. I specialize in neutralizing griffons and undead, from my experience in Farbrook. Interrogation is another of my specialities, and I pride myself in being able to extract information from deceased subjects. I've trained to work in conditions of total darkness, and despite the need to mediate for spells I am able to work with very little rest. As for poisons..." (continues)
If the spooky unicorn needs to breathe, she does not show it as she splurges her resume as a warmagus
"What does it pay?"
>>177777He hugs the petite mare where she is.
"Good. I am looking forward to it."
>>177778"Heh, you ain't gettin' much out of the dead. Well, I don't know how much of that's true, but if it is, you may actually survive. And if it isn't, well, this ain't the job to lie on your resume. He didn't say exactly how much it would pay. Considering that you'd have to be flown in, I'd assume quite a bit, and paid based on completion."
>>177779squeakyThe little mare is hugged. She feels nice.
She smiles warmly back at Silver
"Yeah."
>>177777Oh ffs, will u never be satisfied?
>>177777Kira places the bits on the counter, as well as an extra 50 as a tip. "Thank you so much. I'm so, so sorry about earlier. I hope you're okay, and that it doesn't ruin your opinion on us. Here, keep the extra Bits. Have a great day!"
With that done, Kira takes her bottles of wine, smiles and waves to the poor stallion, and leaves the establishment to head back home.
>>177781>>177778Letting go of the petite mare, Silver turns to Parade. "See, she is good with magic. And...all of that other stuff as well. She will be useful."
>>177782Sorry, that was meant to roast gets thievery, but nothing untoward
>>177782steals ur get>>177783The stallion's eyes go wide as Kira places the bits on the counter
"Have a" He starts to say. And Kira goes off.
>>177784"You want her?" He asks
>>177786"Well, yes, and I also have sneaking suspicion that she will find way to be on that plane regardless of what we say. Might as well skip that hassle and have her join."
>>177786Awwww. I'm certain she would have stayed long enough to hear him finish his statement. Especially as she would have taken a minute or so to squeeze out of the door.
>>177781"I am willing to negotiate prices, although I would like to be compensated as is the market standard for a warmagus of my power level, plus amenities." She says, tossing her mane
"Where do we begin?"
Posey, like she normally does, attempts to charm the pony as soon as he makes eye contact. Same DC as usual.
>>177788"Oh no" He shakes his head. "I don't think she wants to go. It's too dangerous. Too much hassle. Too much... Well, unpleasantry. They want killers, you know. I haven't had to kill a pony but, well, that's the job."
>>177790"Can't say I've been in the market for a warmagus recently. But it's a bloke from the Navy who is doing the contracting. I'm sure he would like to hammer out the prices before hoof, however. If you want, you can tag along, and see if it's worth you maybe breaking a nail, or getting your hair all up in a tussle." He smiles, and then tilts his head "Or rather, when you realize it's too much for you, you can politely back out on 'it doesn't pay enough'. Save face that way. It's okay. I understand. The rest of us have got jobs to do though."
>>177789Well, there's a moment. If she would like another minute or so, she can have that minute.
Wandering the streets of Baltimare is a lone zeeb. He's carrying a few packs, making it obvious he's not from around the area but he still seems to be traveling light.
He's preoccupied in thought as he wanders the streets, before suddenly tripping over something in his path. It felt like a root, if roots grew in the middle of the road. And if they were.... Gold? His eyes grow a little wider as he traces the "root" of his mishap.
>>177791Well, I mean, it appears as if she has that moment right now.
>>177792The zeeb traces this root up to...is that a pony? Or, half of a pony, who seems to be...oh, it's not a root at all, it's a snake tail, attached to the half of this pony-snake creature who is having trouble exiting the doorway of a store, as she's currently carrying a pair of large creates strapped to her and appears to have a large bulge in part of her snake tail.
>>177791"She says she is familiar with death. Makes sense as she said she is Necrologist from local university. I have no idea what Warmagus is but I saw her with armor and sword, I would assume she would not have those if she did not know how to use them."
>>177793The zebra seems shocked. Not a scared shocked, but a very surprised or caught off guard shocked. Regardless, the sepia to creamish and very dark brown striped zebra does not move as he, rather rudely, stares
>>177791"Very well. Just let me inform my ride of the detour."
She clips her hooves together and gives a mental command to have her ghast inform Mason of the events.
.... Or she just goes and tells him herself, because Idk where the ghast is. In hindsight, I probably should have taken care to keep track of the flesh-eating monster... Oh well.
Whatever the case, it doesn't take her long to be ready.
>>177795The pony-snake creature finally looks, and notices the staring zeeb. She smiles warmly at him with eyes that look like they could belong on a bat pony. She looks a bit bat pony-esque, in fact, save for not having any wings.
"Oh, hello there! I'm just having a bit of trouble getting out, give me...nngh..." With a bit of effort, she comes unstuck from the doorframe, and slithers a bit out. "There!" She waves back to the pony at the counter inside the store, before turning her attention back to the zeeb. "Hey...you don't look afraid of me. Who are you?"
>>177792It's big. It's scary. The zebra still has a chance to run away.
>>177794"Are you sure? She looks like made up and pretty to be a warrior. Well, I'll let this pony sort it out."
>>177796"Very well" He says
>>177794>>177796Silver and Posey are both directed back by the yellow pegasus pony named Parade Pass to the parked Canadian Military Pattern Dodge D60 or whatever the fuck is an appropriate two and a half ton military truck, and starts it up. Presumably the ponies would sit in the back. The gnoll, Mala, moves to the back.
I wanna get to lvl 7 so I can summon a familiar to send messages for me. I even have a name picked out.
>>177799Indeed Silver sits in the back, next to Mala. Presumably the driver of the truck knows the way back to his home, since he's been there already. Just a quick detour home so Silver can grab the rest of what he needs for the mission, then he's ready.
>>177799Posey puts herself in between Gloomy and the Hyena.
"I didn't expect to see a Gnoll working in customs. I heard that there has been some bad blood with the local temple. I guess we're all individuals though, and every creature has to work." she says, making small talk
>>177798The zebra continues to look surprised as he slowly starts to stand.
"Defiant Dust is my name,
And a shaman is my claim.
I was sent from my home
To Equestria to roam."
He cocks his head as if he wants to ask a question, but wont.
>>177802"Huh." He seems kind of surprised that Posey would talk to him at all. He is kind of large, with a hunched posture, though they all have that, and likewise with a light tan fur, black stripes, and a single black stripe like a mane that goes all the way down to his tail. He is fat, fatter than probably any of the gnolls Posey saw in the enclave.
"Oh. I'm not with the temple. I'm with him." He looks over towards Silver. "I wouldn't really work with Customs either, it's just that he does. That's how I encountered him."
>>177803Based.
>>177800>An even stronger intensification of the Super hero "my character is not afraid of anything and can fight off 50 men at once!God I'm not looking forward to it
>>177801Parade Pass, who is in a passenger seat, does lean back to ask Silver about directions once. But they make it to his home after not very many minutes.
>>177803The pony-snake tilts her head at the zebra for a minute, before she gasps and exclaims in wide-eyed wonderment, "You do the rhyming thing! I've heard of zebras doing that but I've never seen in in person! Wow! Oh, I'm Kubana Kirafiki, but you can call me Kira. You say you're a roamer? Would you like to join me on my way home? If you don't have anywhere better to be, that is, I'm just going to drop this stuff off then go to Customs to see if I can get some work."
>>177804"Hmmm, I wouldn't normally work with customs either, but my research has expenses, so I take lucrative work where I can find it." She says, doing her mane as she pets Gloomy
>>177804>>177802"He is very great warrior and friend. I am glad to have found him."
Stopping at home, Silver tells the group he'll be right back as he hops inside to grab the rest of his equipment. We can have a brief encounter with the creatures in his household if it's desired, or we can just skip to him coming back out with his equipment.
>>177805He seems a little confused by a few of the things she says, but does seem a little relieved by the prospect of not being alone as he nods
"Some compant would be nice,
As this town can feel like ice.
But if I may be bold to ask,
Why so far from home is your task?"
>>177804>my character is not afraid of anythingIf that's a problem, just give stronger challenges.
Luminous and the Hydra fights were great. Really got me down to the line.
>>177808Kira starts slithering back home, with Dust by her side.
"My people have been invaded and conquered by the griffons of Talonsvaal. My mom, the lead huntress, sent me here to Equestria to ask for aid. I was told Customs would give me an in with the governor here, who can help, so that's where I'm going to go. You know, after I drop all of this stuff off. I'm not sure travelling all of the way to Customs with kitchenware is going to be a good idea."
>>177812Hmm, then perhaps Silver can have a brief interaction with his household after all.
>>177806>>177807The gist of it is that Jubilosa and Paper Clipping don't even recognize him. Khoi is not there. He'd best tell them he'll be gone for a while.
Mala wags his tail
>>177806He looks over at the mare who is doing her hair and petting a foal
"You don't look like a fighter" he says.
>>177809The Monkey's Paw Curls >>177814Oh definitely. If Rosey is going to sleep, then perhaps we can play out the still brief interaction with them. It will give Kira and Dust some time to catch up with them.
>>177811The zeeb nods as he falls in line with the lamia as they walk down the street. He doesn't seem to be bothered with her snakish appearance, though if that is due to trust or simply having seen weirder things isn't clear.
He's fairly quiet, and the walk back gives a better look at his possessions. One bundle, laying across his back behind the withers looks to be some type of armor, with some bits that look like weapons or such sticking out. His other bundles seem to be typical traveling items such as a bedroll and other belongings as they hand at his sides.
>>177816Sure
Jubilosa is the first to see Silver enter. She looks concerned.
"Are you Silver Sword's son?" She asks
>>177817"You must be from Zebrica, like me. I guess you must have at least heard of lamias, or maybe you even have met one before. I'm glad for it, it gets pretty tiring when every pony you meet tries to hide behind a counter, or run away screaming. You're right about this city being icy at times. It's nice to be able to actually start off on a good hoof with someone, get to show them from the start that I'm not bad at all, than I'm not some monster." Slithering along, a question comes to her mind. "Oh! Have you ever found a good rhyme for 'orange'? I've heard there's no word that rhymes with it. Is that true?"
>>177818Silver tilts his head at Jubilosa, before smiling and chuckling. "Wha...oh, heh heh, right, being younger...no, I am neither of my sons, I am just Silver."
>>177820She blinks
"What? No." She says.
Paper Clipping slowly walks up
>>177821The supposed Silver speaks with a voice that is very similar to his, but which lacks the gravel of age she and Clip have gotten used to. In fact, he looks almost identical to the Silver who left not too long ago, just...better. Younger.
Fluffier. "No, it is me. Long story short, while I was out, I took detour to go through old catacombs I had cleared out some time ago, and I found some hidden loot. One piece of which was mystical fruit that I ate and, well..." The supposed Silver spins around in place, showing himself off to the pair. "...I seem to have regressed in age."
>>177819"In Zebrica I reside,
And of your people I have been told."
He pauses for a second to scrunch
"That word has bothered us from the days of old,
If I sid that it rhymed, to you I have lied."
>>177762I'm not trying to ignore names. I didn't see the request for a name. I skim these posts. I have to when I'm responding to like five at once. I missed that a name was asked for>>177822"What..?" Jubilosa sounds almost concerned. Paper Clipping, however
"Wow! You look great."
>>177823"Awwww. That's unfortunate. Alright, my house is coming up here, these apartment...townhouse...things. I'm just gonna put all this stuff inside and grab my things, then we'll head to Customs. If you wanted to, that is. You're welcome to come inside! Again, it's great having someone who isn't immediately afraid of me. Kinda like my roommate."
>>177824"Thank you! I feel great, too, I have not felt this good in years. It feels like I am young stallion again." Silver struts around the room, but stops when he sees Jubilosa's concern. He goes up to her, and holds one of her claws in his hoof. "What is wrong?"
>>177825"To customs I can come,
I have no tasks to overcome.
If you'd like I can wait outside,
Until bacm this way you slide."
The zeeb seems fine to follow Kira's lead for now, as it doesn't seem he's been doing mucb unto this point.
>>177828"You can wait outside if that's what you want, but I would still be more than happy to have you come inside! Nice visitors like you are always welcome to come in!"
>>177824Kira, arriving back home with a zebra in tow, slithers back inside her home, struggling for a minute with the crates before slipping on in.
"Whew...alright...hey Neela, I'm home!"
>>177829The zeeb simply nods and follows her inside. He almost seems a little relieved to be asked inside
>>177749Fine. Oats Mover, he answers
>>177829"Hello" Neela says, looking pleased and walking up to the door
>>177830Believe it or not...
It's heatedThat may sound like a minor thing, but you try figuring out how a heater works
At the door is a spotted doe.
>>177826"Wow, that's incredible" Paper Clipping says
Jubilosa says,
"Is that not a little unnatural?"
>>177830>>177831"Go ahead and take a seat on the couch, if you want." Kira smiles at Neela. "Hello! This nice zebra is Defiant Dust, he's from Zebrica like me! Oh, I've got all of the kitchenware we need! And I got you something, too." Kira gives Neela the bottles of wine, before going to set the crates of kitchenware down gently on the kitchen floor. "The stallion at the shop said the one is for getting drunk, and the other is an Aquileian wine that apparently you can't get in the country anymore. Don't know why."
>>177831Heating is nice, and not something Dust is used to.
He's much less used to the deer however, as he pauses for a moment to determine what she is.
>>177831"Well, maybe not. If documents that I found with fruit are anything to go by...I think it was fruit from Tree of Life. That is probably least unnatural thing in this world."
>>177832>>177830"Hello." The doe smiles at Defiant Dust and looks him up and down. She is a spotted deer, presumably from Hindia in Zebrica.
She looks at the wine
"Aquelian wine?" And after a pause
"Why would you get Aquelian wine..."
>>177834She slowly approaches him, and with her claw, starts to feel his fur.
>>177835His fur is just as soft as it looks, and is even softer than it was just this morning. Silver smiles at his griffon.
"It is still me, I promise you, just...well, younger. This is how I looked back in my prime, when I was about your age. I suppose it is now 'am your age', at least for moment. I do not know how long that fruit will last, or if being separated from tree that it grew on for hundreds of years has reduced its effectiveness at all and made effects temporary."
>>177835"Oh, well, I figured you would like it. You know, like a gift or a treat for you."
>>177836She looks at him, and rubs her claw through his fur
"Be thankful for today, knowing it will never last." She says, running her claw through his fur again. "It kind of puts emphasis on that, doesn't it?"
>>177837Neela stares at the bottle, then picks it up and examines it
>>177838As Neela does so, Kira goes upstairs to grab her equipment. She comes down wearing her studded leather armor, with her bow, arrows, and spear in her possession.
"So, did the maintenance pony come by? Did you two...you know?"
>>177838"I suppose it does." He continues to smile at his griffon, as she keeps playing with his new younger chest fluff. "As for 'today' today, I was stopped by pony from Customs. It appears they need help with another mission, and my reputation after Hoebuck has grown quite bit. I do not know how long it will be, they said there is plane involved, but when I get back I would like to experience being young again with you all."
>>177839She's all dressed up now
Neela, simply turning her body, smiles gleefully
>>177840"You're leaving?" she asks
>>177841Silver nods. "To go on whatever this mission is. They are sparse with details. Something to do with Navy, up in Trottingham. Good money, apparently. Enough money perhaps to get expansion built onto this house, get bedrooms added for Clip, Mint, and Orchid. And enough money left over to have some fun with."
>>177841"Hehe, it looks like you two did! Nice job!" Kira smiles at her deer friend. "Okay, me and Dust are going to go look for that job opportunity. I'm guessing you'd rather stay here and enjoy your bottles of wine while listening to the radio?"
>>177842"Trottingham? That far away?" After a pause
"Come back, will you?"
>>177843"Job opportunity?"
She sits down
"Sure, I can stay here."
>>177844"Alright. Be careful if you head out, don't get into any unnecessary trouble or draw attention to yourself, especially from the law. I know you're smart enough to not do that, but I'm just making sure. Oh, and here's some spending money in case you need anything." Kira gives Neela 100 Bits. "I'll be back, okay?"
>>177844"You know I will. No way I could stay away from you." Silver rubs the end of his snout against Jubilosa's beak before kissing her.
The faint 'clink' a teacup and a slight ruffling of pages are the only sounds accompanying the strange bat in the Customs office. His hooves are wrapped gently around a book titled "Metaphysica", penned by Aristrotle, and he seems quite content to wait (while secretly glad that this isn't realtime).
>>177835Dust nods at the deer, obviously surprised at the number of Zebrica natives that are present in this town.
>>177832Dust makes his way over to the couch, and places his cargo besides it as he takes a seat while he watches the lamia and deer interact.
Sorry, conked out >>177848Hey, no need to apologize! I know ponies gotta sleep sometime.Kira takes the opportunity to get a closer look at Dust's cargo. "Are you a warrior of some type?"
>>177814>"You don't look like a fighter"Posey at this point as taken out a comb and has been attending to Gloomy's mane, along with her own.
"Does any mage look like a fighter? The most powerful unicorns are indistinguishable from your average pony, it they're wise that is." She says
>The Monkey's Paw CurlsIf that's what it takes to get to lvl 7, then so be it.
>>177816I'm back now.
>>177831>"Is that not a little unnatural?""Of course it is, it's magic afterall." Posey says, announcing her presence as she enters with a toss of her mane and a whirl of her cape, her golden eyes blazing with enchantment. She has donned her chain shirr armor and her traditional spined dastana bracers, her sword as her side and her new polearm crackling with electricity.
Gloomy makes a similar gesture as he walks behind her, albeit less impressively. He brandishes his crayola crayon in his mouth.
>>177851>>177844>>177846Silver breaks his kiss with his griffon short as he's interrupted by the armored mare. "Ah, right, this here is Rosey Ring and her son, Gloomy. I met her earlier at catacombs, and she is coming along on job. Rosey, Gloomy, this is Jubilosa and Paper Clipping." He motions to the griffon and young stallion, respectively. "I am just saying my goodbyes, letting them know about situation before I go to get my equipment."
>>177848"So uh... who are you?" the doe asks, staring at the Zebra. She's brown in color with many white spots. She's not very large, but probably around average for what she is.
>>177846"Hehe" She nuzzles him back, and then kisses him, placing her claws around his shoulders in a hugging embrace.
>>177851>>177852If Posey goes inside, she would see that there is a staircase going up to the right, and behind it, objects like a couch and a table in a living room, going on in an open floor pattern to windows and a door on the other side. There is a white wall with some items and a door to the left. Silver Sword is hugging a dark brown griffin female and even kissing her. There is a kind of small ecru colored unicorn stallion behind the two with a red mane, looking on.
After Posey speaks and Silver speaks, the Griffin says, in an irritated voice
"Oh
of course you went out and found some young, unicorn mare.
And brought her home."
>>177851The house, before Posey enters - if she enters - is a beach house, with two floors that is raised on stilts on a kind of grassy and sandy patch immediately next to the ocean, on the peninsula north of Horseshoe Bay. It is white in color and timber framed, with a wooden staircase leading up to the front door.
>>177851The gnoll tilts his head and says
"I can't say I have seen many mages at all. There was this one pony who did magic... I guess he didn't look like a fighter either." He leans over to Posey, and starts to sniff her.
>>177854Silver scrunches at Jubilosa, but it feels more like it's being directed at the unicorn.
"It is nothing like that, I promise you." He whispers in his griffon's ear.
"To be honest with you, she is kind of...weird. She just popped up out of nowhere in catacombs wearing chain armor and wielding sword with her son floating on some kind of magic disk, saying she was investigating local haunt. She says she is Necrologist from local university, as well as being 'Warmagus', whatever that is." >>177854>Griffin says, in an irritated voiceSeethe, Jewbird. You kind will be eradicated.
>if she entersShe's been invited, so she doesn't hesitate.
>sniff herPosey smells like roses and moonlight, but beneath her pleasant aroma that is a very subtle, near undetectable trace of blood, plague charnel miasma: the scent of death itself. It's so subtle that only a Gnoll or another creature capable of taking scent as a feat might notice it.
(Posey has the Unnatural Aura trait; animals don't like her)
Rosey Ring looks around the house
"I'm a very busy mare, so let us talk business now, shall we?"
>>177856>Silver scrunches at Jubilosa, but it feels more like it's being directed at the unicorn.Oh no, it's directed at Silver
She listens in to Silver
"Oh... I see... I would ask where you meet these people, but apparently the answer is 'The catacombs'. Mala said you were dropping off the car around there?" She moves her beak together and head upwards as she says the first part, and sounds concerned but mostly calmed down.
>>177857>Seethe, Jewbird. You kind will be eradicated.>If she's been invitedI don't think she has been, but there's a landing from which Posey can stand and look through an open door.
>>177857The gnoll takes an unmistakable interest in Posey's scent. He continues to sniff her, sometimes bringing his nose close to Posey, until she either forces him to stop, or they reach the house.
>>177858>>177857"Yes, just for moment while I am gone. It will be back soon." Silver nuzzles his griffon a bit more. "I love you, Jubee. I will be back before you know it." Looking back at Rosey, Silver replies. "All I need to do is grab couple of things from upstairs and then I am ready. Will not take more than minute."
Silver goes upstairs alone, disappearing into a room that must be his bedroom before coming back out and downstairs in genuinely about a minute. This time he has a bundle of firearms with him, including from what can be seen a bolt-action rifle with a bayonet, and a pump-action shotgun. "Okay, I am ready."
>>177858>I don't think she has beenOh
>The gnoll takes an unmistakable interest in Posey's scent. He continues to sniff her, sometimes bringing his nose close to Posey, until she either forces him to stop, or they reach the house.Posey stops at the door, and turns to look up at the gnoll
"May I come in?"
>>177859The griffu closes her eyes and nuzzles him back
"But do come back to me, will you?"
Mala comes inside.
"I got the pistol and the sword. What else should we get?" He asks, and he himself walks upstairs.
>>177860The gnoll looks down
"Well it's Silver's house. I think he'd be okay with it?"
>>177861Posey seems to believe that this is good enough to overcome her psychological phobia, and she enters the building after the Gnoll.
>>177861"Weapons, ammo, medical supplies. Anything that would be useful for fighting."
>>177859"Who is the client for this operation?"
>>177864"Navy, up in Trottingham. Apparently they reached out to Customs all way down here in Baltimare because of Hoebuck."
>>177862Inside, both the gnoll and Silver have gone upstairs, but the griffin and the unicorn remain downstairs
>>177863Mala:
"I have your greatsword, my scimitar, the dagger, and that pistol from yesterday. Uh, anything else?"
>>177866"I think that will do us."
>>177867"Do you have your armor? And that new sword?"
>>177865"Have you already negotiated compensation?"
>>177870"Well, we have not yet actually
arrived at Customs to negotiate compensation. We need to get back on truck and travel all way over to there."
He looks around hopefully, but Ms. Skies hasnt returned swith her supervisor, so he resigns himself to more of Aristrotle.
Paltry, in comparison to diogponies (diogenes xp) , but worth the read if only for context.
>>177850"A warrior I am truly not
For destiny tied me a different knot
Although I fight to keep the peace
I am ultimately cut from a shaman's fleece.'
>>177854Dust turns towards the inquistive deer, still surprised to see her
"My name is Defiant Dust
I am not intruding too much I trust.
But meeting your friend, a creature of legend
Has left my out of place feelings much lessened."
>>177871"Very well then."
Rosey Ring turns to leave the house, towing her colt behind her.
It would be at this point that her cutie mark is visible for the first time: a dark sun in a white sky
(kudos to anyone who gets the reference)As she leaves, her horn begins fastening her hair into a sort of war bun, with a casual air that suggests she's done it enough times to easily do so without a mirror. She begins tying her tail similarly.
>>177874"Oh of
course" the doe rolls her eyes. "Everyone likes the Nagini...
>>177873A green stallion returns
"Yes?" He says
>>177875Is this white sky distinct from her white coat?
Googled it. Oh God >>177876>Is this white sky distinct from her white coat?No, her coat is the sky. Her cost is snow white.
>>177875>>177876Silver addresses his griffon and the young ecru stallion with a "Look after the house while I'm gone" and a wave goodbye, before joining the snow white mare outside alongside his gnoll friend. He looks back at Gloomy again. "Do you need foalsitter for him? It sounds like we are going into combat zone. It is definitely not place for colt."
>>177874"Ooooo, shaman! A place in a tribe that commands wisdom and much respect! I'm a hunter for my tribe, myself. Oh, I'm ready to leave if you are."
>>177877>>177878The gnoll likewise tilts his head
"You're taking the colt?"
>>177876He seems a little surprised by her reaction, but brushes it off as the two seem to have a history
>>177879Dust nods and grabs his roll that seems to be armor and weapons. He hesitates for a moment, but ultimately decides to grab his other packs as well, just to make sure he doesn't over stay his welcome.
>>177880"Well, I was considering it. It depends how long the mission will take. I could summon my foalsitter, but I figured he could use the experience. My master started me even younger."
>>177878"Hmmm." Rosey Ring seems torn
"What do you say, Gloomy?"
Morale Check to see if Gloomy is insane enough yet to indulge Rosey Ring's bloodthirst (until I can gain the mentor feat, I cannot control this NPC)
[1d20 = 19] >>177881"You can leave your things here." The deer says. "They are safe with me."
>>177882The gnoll
"I wish my mom taught me such things when I was your age. Mostly she just drank and yelled at me."
Griffin:
"I can look after him. It's alright. We've got a nice place and several colts just a little older than him here."
>>177881>>177883Hmmm. Perhaps, Kira wonders to himself, this zebra needs a place to stay. She'll have to think on that, as they get to know each other better. She does look at the deer in such a fashion to try to communicate to her not to mess with Dust's belongings, if he does leave them here in the apartment.
"Have fun!" She waves goodbye to the deer, and slithers out the door, presumably alongside the zebra as they travel towards Customs together.