/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>178331
Shoal said that we'll be taking a plane to Manehattan to refuel, then back on a plane again the rest of the way to either Trottingham or the island directly (I forget which).

>>178332
Rolling Int (DC 10) to see is Rosey Ring knows what a plane is.

>>178333
Forgot the roll
[1d20+3 = (17+3) = 20]

>>178331
Shoal Water
“A State Owned transport combi flies out to Manehattan, where it will refuel and fly to Trottingham Naval Base. There, you will transfer to a seaplane that will take you to the island.”

>>178333
It’s actually a DC-3, not a DC-10

A plane is one of those buzzing aluminum flying things.

>>178335
>It’s actually a DC-3, not a DC-10
There is a 0% chance that Posey’s player will understand that joke. And yet, somehow, I am happy that I made it.

>>178335
"And once we've secured the soldiers, how are we to leave the area? Have you prepared a discreet signal to arrange for pick-up?"
>A plane is one of those buzzing aluminum flying things.
Another metal contraption. Probably not relevant in warfare or my plans to take over the world at all.

Posey knows what a plane is, she's just never seen one in person.

>>178335
Kira: "This will be a novel experience! I'm more used to planes dropping bombs than being in one."

Despite the end of her statement, Kira seems actually excited to try flying on a plane.

>>178338
Rosey Ring doesn't look nearly as enthusiastic at the thought of travelling over water yet again.
"At least somepony is enthusiastic."

>>178211
Free Rover continues to rub her.
“You know it will be very cold up there. It’s no place for a snake.”

>>178338
Shoal water just looks at Kira.

>>178337
Technically, Posey saw one over the swamps.

>>178339
Shoal Water:
“Don’t worry. The chances of this plane getting lost and disappearing like AF-11 are slim. It will be near radio relay systems. And it’s not likely to explode like the one that killed the Governor over in Manehattan. That one was almost certainly ELF sabotage.”

>>178340
>Posey saw one over the swamps
Oh yeah. I remember now.
Posey has just never been inside a plane.
>ELF sabotage
Nice to hear August's career is doing well. I look forward to finally harvesting him at the end of his quest.

>>178340
"How will we contact you when we have completed the mission? Are you prepared to transport all of us, plus the ten lost soldiers once we are done?"

>>178343
He briefly acknowledges Brie talking, but then looks away.

>>178342
“You will be provided with a single two way radio, which if you’re lucky, will have the range to make it to a nearby asset that can relay your message back to Trottingham. As for extraction, your ingenuity is likely to be required. If you can get near enough to the freezing water, a seaplane can pick you up. If the fog relents and the light is out, a Skytrotter could probably land on the island, or perhaps another blimp.

>>178340
Kira continues to enjoy the rubs. She tilts and pressed her head into Rover's hooves to maximize the amount of contact she receives.

Kira: "You know, I'm not exactly like a snake. Us lamias are actually warm blooded. I've never been in below freezing temperatures before, though, and I don't have any warm weather clothes like a nice sock...oh! I do know one spell to keep me warm and help me endure the elements! I'll cast it later though so I get the most out of its duration."

>>178343
Cavaliere walks to the side of the batpony. "Mr…Brie was it? There's an important distinction to be made between business and pleasure, and until we are off that island again business will be our priority. We will have to worry about that afterwards."

>>178344
>a single two way radio
>if you’re lucky, will have the range to make it to a nearby asset that can relay your message back to Trottingham
Rosey Ring's eyes narrow.
"If we're lucky? I don't intend to leave the possibility of being stranded on an island to chance. I would prefer to work out a solution sooner than later. Perhaps signal flares or a magic item that produces the effect could be arranged as backup."
>As for extraction, your ingenuity is likely to be required. If you can get near enough to the freezing water, a seaplane can pick you up. If the fog relents and the light is out, a Skytrotter could probably land on the island, or perhaps another blimp
"Extraction is the key of this entire operation. Let's think of solutions now..."

OOC, a Swan Boat Feather Token could help here. I love feather tokens.
>>178345
What is your class?

>>178347
The griffon maintains a neutral, aloof expression. "You can call me that, though if you were to use one name I would prefer Cavaliere."

>>178348
He turns back to the others. Three rubber dinghies should be able to carry us, including Miss Kira here. They will be difficult to spot by naval patrol and can be dragged ashore onto a sequestered beach."

>>178348
Kira's a ranger, Silver's a fighter

Excuse me, Cavaliere, not Chevaliere

>>178348
>>178349
He shakes his head
“We have multiple PNY seaplanes and KS Airships ready to fly in the region. If Stalliongrad didn’t, or doesn’t, become suspicious, it would be easy to have one linger near enough the island. If the KS-19 is repairable, it may itself be floated off the island. If the weather, enemy, and sun cooperate, a skytrotter or blimp may land and take off. If you can get off the island, a sea plane can get you, or maybe a fishing boat. Tartarus, maybe you can even borrow a boat from the Red Navy.

The simple fact of the matter is that if all we had to do was hover a blimp over the island and get our soldiers off, we wouldn’t be offering to pay 20,000 bits to you to do it. If figuring out how to get off of an island covered in fog and enemy soldiers with 10 in tow is too much for you, tell us now and we can find someone who can.”

>>178355
>If the weather, enemy and sun
I was going to ask what weather events the local Pegasi scheduled in the area, but then I remembered it's contested territory so it's probably no-mare's-land controlled by the Windigos or worse.
Sounds like fun.
>If you can get off the island, a sea plane can get you, or maybe a fishing boat. Tartarus, maybe you can even borrow a boat from the Red Navy.
Yeah. I'm thinking we should invest in the Swan Feather Token. It's only 450 gp: cheap if we split the costs.
>If figuring out how to get off of an island covered in fog and enemy soldiers with 10 in tow is too much for you, tell us now and we can find someone who can.
Rosey Ring shrugs
"I guess it can't be helped then. We always had to get creative to retrieve our comrades in Farbrook."

>>178350
Rosey Ring approaches Cavaliere
"Cavaliere, was it? My people in Farbrook have our differences with Griffons, but the ones to the north are skilled as vanguards against the nameless horrors from the Arctic wastes. Let's see if you are quite as stalwart."
ZAP
Rosey Ring casts Create Magic Tattoo on Cavalier's flank, in the image of a Shield
Enjoy +1 Deflection Bonus to AC for 24 hours
(Of +1 Luck Bonus to Attack Rolls, if you would prefer that)

>>178388
I'll take the deflection bonus.

He glances back for a moment, then nods to the unicorn. "I have never been to Farbrook myself, but the ponies there are known to be very hardy. One can find many unlikely allies and I'll be happy to have you along. Thank you for that ward."

>>178396
"It's unknown what enemies we will face. Ponies could be reasoned with, with no reason to interfere with a rescue mission, but there are a while host of monsters that prowl those seas: sea serpents, wraiths, storm elementals, bugbears, drowners, dragons, Umbrals, cryohydras, kraken, and even the windigos themselves lurk in the chaos where harmony has broken down and the weather is uncontrolled. We weren't recruited for this to be a walk in the park. I will rely on you to be on guard should things turn rough."

>>178345
Free Rover moves his hoof further along Kira’s side.
“Spell? Ha, you’re not a unicorn. And who is bombing you?”

>>178356
Shoal Water:
“No.”
It’s possible that he’s hiding something, but he certainly isn’t lying.

>>178399
“Oh, you don’t need to worry. The Kraken population in the area is under control as the Leviathans tend to prey upon them, and the sea serpents rarely bother you if you stay out of their hunting grounds. Elementals, drowners, ursas and what have you are not known to live on the island unless they came in in the last 10 years, or maybe the Kostroma was carrying them, and Windigos aren’t real

>>178402
>The Kraken population in the area is under control as the Leviathans tend to prey upon them
"That's great news...."
>Elementals, drowners, ursas and what have you are not known to live on the island unless they came in in the last 10 years
"Expect the best, prepare for the worst. That is my motto."
>Windigos aren’t real
"I can't say I've ever seen one myself, in all respects. We mages prefer to keep our minds open though."
>>178345
If you haven't prepared your spells, Lay Of The Land or Animal Messenger could be useful this mission.

>>178402
Kira giggles. "Well, it's true we don't have unicorn horns where we can just go bzzzt and cast spells whenever we want. They're more like...well, sort of like divine favors, blessings from nature or from Ouroboros. It's just easier to call them spells, you know? It's like a blanket term for things like this. We meditate and pray, asking for their favor, then we can cash in those favors later as spells or blessings to let us do extraordinary things, like speaking to animals, manipulating plant life, or...letting us exist comfortably in adverse weather conditions. I'm not exceptionally good at it, the more experienced hunters in my tribe have a greater connection with nature and spirits and such and can request far more powerful blessings and can cast more in a single day. And that's to say nothing of the clerics of my tribe who focus so much more on spells and knowledge than us hunters."

Hmmm, has Free Rover forgotten Kira's explanation for why she's in Equestria? Or is he, perhaps, trying to get her to explain so the others in the room can know, as well? Silver, meanwhile, looks over at Shoal.

Silver: "Of course they are real. They are core to origins of Equestrians, Severyanans, and all ponies who migrated to Griffonia all those centuries ago. They are why they say it is so much colder in Severyana than in Equestria, saying that influence of Windigoes never truly left our lands after they were banished from this world."

>>178064
Jakala speaks, not bothering to whisper
“The sky shouldn’t move like that”

Above Amber, the stars twinkle with a greater than normal aggression, and the aurora has an unusually wire-like quality, and expresses colors of red, purple, pink, and yellow besides its usual green. The stars themselves seem to move in unnatural directions, and occasionally the stars and aurora are obscured by shadows and waves of snake-like shape.

>>178414
Amber blinks as she gazes at the sky. "You're right," she plainly says.

Oddly, despite it all, Amber feels less afraid than before. There's something much more wrong about all of this, such that the group to her left seems like the least of her concerns in comparison. It doesn't seem like she's imagining things either. She motions for Jakala to follow and walks back to the adults cowering behind the rock, to see if they've noticed.

>>178415
Jakala doesn’t seem to want to move, unless Amber starts to physically move her. The two stallions, however, remain in their position behind the rock. They are focused on the ponies.

>>178416
>Jamal
And Jakala had hidden those stripes so well….

>>178416
Amber doesn't force her to move, now feeling much less worried about imminent danger. There still probably was danger around, but Amber wouldn't understand it anyway so she doesn't bother to stress about it.

"Papa, you should look up," she says.

>>178417
“What is it?” Father asks, and then after Amber points it out, he looks up at the sky. Without taking his eyes off of the sky, he moves over a few feet and taps on the other stallion’s shoulders.

“Pakkasen. Pakkasen”

“What?” The other stallion asks

“Look up” Father says. The stallion looks up

Stallion: “You think it’s smoke?”

Father: “Could be.”

Stallion: “It wouldn’t make those colors though.”

Father: “Water vapor would. Maybe snow if it’s high enough.”

Stallion: “Could be… You think Vaeltaja’s burning something?”

Father: “Possible. Seems more likely something set the trees on fire. Maybe the peat.”

Stallion: “Like Vaeltaja?”

Father: “I suppose he could. Honestly burning off the leaves isn’t a bad idea. It would just leave the wood, and maybe even char the wood.”

Stallion: “I can’t smell it. It must be upwind.”

Father: “Could be. That color… maybe the peat defrosted. I’ve heard that there’s all kinds of swamp gases under the frost.”

Stallion: “Maybe the fire is letting it out.”

Father: “Yeah”

>>178418
"Papa, it's not smoke. Look, the stars are moving," Amber insists.

>>178421
Father smiles, and places a hoof on Amber
“Little Kultainen, the stars don’t move. Let me see.” He looks up, stops smiling, and then looks back at Amber. “It’s an optical illusion, caused by the movement of air. Probably hot air. There must be a fire nearby.”

>>178422
"It wouldn't look like that. And we'd see the fire in the distance for how dark it is," Amber continues. "I'm not sure what is happening or if it's safe here."

>>178423
“The filly is right.” The stallion says, and he pokes his head out the other side, looking around.

“There! An orange glow. That must be their fire.” He says.

>>178424
Amber tries to see what he's seeing.

>>178425
A yellow glow through the remains of trees in the distance. It isn’t easy to tell if it is coming from the pit, or from beyond it. It may have just started, given that Amber has not seen it before.

Elsewhere, the gathering ponies have turned their attentions to it.

>>178426
"Well, they're looking at it too," she says softly. "We should investigate when they're not going to notice."

>>178427
Father: “I think they’ll be staring at it for a while.”

Other stallion: “While they are distracted may be our only time to take out Vaeltaja”

>>178428
"Or, we could circle around and know what's happening before doing anything rash," she suggests.

>>178429
“And go where?” Father asks

>>178431
Other Stallion:

“No. They are still spouting their usual blasphemous nonsense. ‘Day is coming’. Ha! Only death is coming for you.”

>>178432
What a bloodthirsty little pony…

"Well, they don't know what it is, and we don't either. Shouldn't we look?"

>>178405
He knows, he was just new to the griffin colonists having bomber planes. But nevermind that.

“Huh. Who knew lamias had magic.” He continues running along the lamia’s side. “What’s this Ouroboros?”

Shoal Water:
“Heh, well, yes, I’ve heard of the myths of Equestria. Like how our native griffins have their ‘Dreaming,’ and we have the reality of taxes and Governor Blight. Every nation needs its legends, I suppose.”

>>178433
He isn’t talking about personally killing them so much as what happens to ponies who are not in compliance but… eh…

Father:
“That is true. We should look. We need to tell the inspector what they are doing.”

Other Stallion:
“I hope it’s natural. That would give us a story to distract the inspector with.”

Father: “If there’s a toxic gas.. or some kind of bacteria… we could be exposed to it.”

Stallion: “I still think they found some kind of mold. They get high off of, and it makes them all believe Vaeltaja’s suggestions.”

>>178434
"We won't know until we look into it…" she repeats, frustrated at how they just keep talking and not doing anything.

>>178435
scrunch

“Then do it” the other stallion says. He seems to want to stay in his perch, looking over the cultists. But father says
“Yes, let’s go, little Kultainen.”

>>178436
Amber makes sure Jakala comes along on the little sled while tagging along.

>>178434
If he's rubbing down the side of Kira's body, he feels first her reasonably soft yellow fur covering a surprisingly strong, muscular core, before it transitions rather quickly to smooth, shiny, golden yellow scales that cover her tail.

Kira: "He's...well, I'm not sure how much sense it would make to ponies. Rosey put this mark on my tail like one of your cutie marks that's in the shape of an Ouroboros, but it's not *the* Ouroboros. He's a giant lamia. Like, really giant. Or at least He will be, He hasn't hatched yet. Our myths say that the Sun is an egg that contains the god Ouroboros, God of the Sun, Hunger, and Rebirth, and when it's time for the end of the world, the Sun will break apart and He'll begin eating the whole universe. The stars, the sky, the Moon, even the world itself! When he's eaten everything in the universe, He'll still be so hungry that He'll eat his own tail, but I mean how can you eat your own tail? You really can't. So, anyways, He tries to eat His own tail, but He can't, and before He can manage to do so He'll explode!" Kira spreads her arms out and makes an explosion sound with her mouth for an enhanced effect. "He'll split apart into a million billion pieces! His scales will spread out across the universe and become new stars, the exploded parts of His body will come together and become a new world and the Moon, and He'll leave behind a glowing golden egg that will become a brand new Ouroboros, and the cycle of the world will start all over again. I know it's not the same idea as what the actual Ouroboros symbol actually represents, I don't know how the two got so different. I don't even really know for certain if Ouroboros is real or if He's just some story some lamia made up to tell their lamialings long ago. I haven't seen any evidence to say He isn't real, though."

Silver chuckles and shakes his head at Shoal.

Silver: "Myths and legends they might be, but true they are nevertheless. If only one pony culture had tales of Windigoes, it would be easier to dismiss. But when almost every pony culture that originated from back then has same or similar tales about these creatures? Then it might be time to consider that perhaps there is at least nugget of truth to it all. Though, true or not, they are still banished from this world. If they were not, then surely we would have all frozen to death by now, what with as much hatred and suffering there has been in past few years."

>>178438
Free Rover takes his hoof, and ruffles Kira’s mane
“You silly tribals with your stories. It’s adorable. You’re like an exotic monster and a tribal all in one.”

Shoal Water:
“Well, really just the one culture, since they are all the Equestrian confederacy, but sure. Anyways, I doubt you’ll be seeing any.”

>>178437
Amber, Father, and Jakala move along. Going forward, Amber can see that they are on the edge of what was likely a lake or bog. The glow originates from somewhere within, but between them is peat, mud, broken, mud-covered logs, and occasional water covered in a thin layer of water. Clearly much mud, water, and peat has been displaced and scattered, as the level of the ice in the depression is many feet below the forest. It’s a slide down the mud and further into the depression. The glow seems to be coming from a part of the depression that is even lower, and further away, close the forest edge.

>>178439
"How queer! Do you think the meteor caused all this?" she asks as they proceed into these murky surroundings.

>>178439
Kira's mane is rubbed, pet really, but she scrunches at Rover's reply. "What does that mean?"

Silver: "That is true, at least. There are more present things to be concerned with at moment, but it is good to at least keep it in mind for future. Like pony-eating sea life."

>>178440
Father speaks
“Yes, we’re very near where it exploded. When it did, it made a fireball that leveled the forest and melted the water. There must have been fragments that hit the ground. Maybe one is near here.”

The ponies go in further, and Amber gets a better view of the glow. It’s yellow and orange like a fire, although it’s consistent in its luminance, though of course as Amber gets nearer it appears brighter. There’s an unambiguous bad smell, probably rotting plants, but Amber cannot be sure. The ground varies between muddy, solid peat and tree trunks, and ice.

Amber has a kind of headache, and the sound intensifies. It’s a constant crackling sound, not unlike static on a radio, but appropriately, like the sound of the myriad cracks and pops of wood in a fire.

Father:
“Should we really be going to see this right now? There will be more light tomorrow afternoon. When these ponies aren’t here…”

>>178441
Free Rover continues petting her:

“Have you ever seen a manticore? Well, maybe you haven’t. But like a big cat. How strong they are. Slender. Strong. Gorgeous. You can see the same in snakes. Especially the large ones, I think. And as for tribals, well, I mean foreigners and non ponies. They have their own myths and rituals. Their own art. And in general, a real exotic quality.”

Shoal Water:
“Yes. The leviathans can jump much higher out of the water than you’d think, and the Sea Serpents and Krakens can reach further from the edge if the water.”

>>178442
The answer seems to satisfy Kira, as she smiles from the pets yet again. "I've heard the Sun is raised and lowered by some sort of princess over here. That sounds neat."

Silver: "If we're lucky, maybe any Stalliongrader ships or patrols will have troubles with them."

>>178443
He moves his hoof up to start scritching behind her ears again.
“Oh yeah, there was this fat, kind of tall, pretty old pony that took credit for the sun rising in the morning. Maybe she did it, I don’t know.”

>>178445
Kira's ears bend and fold in reaction to the scritches. She presses her head into his hooves to maximize contact. "That still sounds pretty neat. What happened to her?"

Silver turns to look at the Customs pony. "You are trying to describe Princess Celestia?"

>>178446
He moves his hoof back to under her chin, and scritches.
“Oh, she surrendered to the Changelings. Sun couldn’t protect her. And the sun still comes up in the morning.”

While still scritching the lamia, he replies to Silver
“Yeah, I think that was her name.”

>>178443
Shoal Water:
“They could, perhaps. All sea creatures stay away from the bigger steel ships, but the smaller wooden vessels could be attacked.”

>>178448
Kira lifts up her chin, and smiles. "Celestia is a pretty name."

Silver: "Hmm. I am noticing trend among ponies from New Mareland. You do not seem to like Celestia very much."

>>178449
“Yeah well… hmph.”

He looks over to Silver:
“The white one was okay, but old, senile, and didn’t leave her castle in Canterlot much. Her successor… Well, let’s be charitable and say she didn’t take the right advice.”

>>178450
Silver: "And Luna? What about your thoughts on her?"

>>178451
“Who?”
scritch scritch scritch
He pretty clearly wishes he had a lamia.

>>178452
Kira is scritch scritch scritched

Well, there's a lamia right there.

Silver: "Celestia's younger sister, Princess of Moon, Watcher of Dreams. She was trapped as Mare in Moon for thousand years after turning into Nightmare Moon and trying to make night last forever and being banished by Celestia using Elements of Harmony."

The excited look on Kira's face suggests she's very interested in hearing about Equestria's history and myths.

>>178453
“Oh, Nightmare Moon. The one that tried to plunge the world into eternal darkness? Twice? Yeah, I’ve heard of her. I don’t know much about her though. She’s not as fat, I guess.”

>>178442
"Can we see a little more?" she pleads. "I heard this noise earlier, and it smells really bad. This must have something to do with all this."

>>178455
“Uh… well I suppose.”

Does Amber go all the way? Or rather, as close as she can to the glow?

>>178453
That lamia is right there, isn’t she?

Free Rover:
“I believe I found the 20 foot python.”
Yoink
[1d20+4 = (1+4) = 5]

>>178457
He did not yoink the lamia…

>>178457
>>178458
Sadly, she is not yoinked, though this time she is more receptive and lets out a gigglesnort at the attempt.

>>178459
“Guess I can’t take this one… heheh…” he tries to laugh it off, as if the failure weren’t obvious

>>178460
Kira: "Hmm, nope...but I can take this one!"

With a giggle, Kira reaches for the silly Customs pony, and...
Yoink
[1d20+12 = (13+12) = 25]

>>178462
Kira: "Aha!" Having successfully yoinked the pony (not even the first time that day she's done so to a pony), Kira holds and cuddles the stallion as if he were a teddy bear.

>>178463
This one is a bit more solid. Also fairly scrunchy.

>>178464
But is he still cuddleable?

>>178465
Well, he’s a pony, and thus still soft on the outside, so yes. He’s cuddleable.

>>178466
Well then...
cuddle cuddle cuddle
Kira giggles, clearly enjoying having her own personal cuddle pony. "Have you ever been on this side of the yoinking before, Rover?"

>>178467
the pony is cuddle cuddle cuddled
He’s still pretty scrunchy though. And clearly embarrassed.

>>178469
Kira: "Aw, don't be like that Rover! I'm just really good at yoinking, nothing for you to be ashamed of." She gives him a brief last bit of cuddles before setting him down.

>>178470
Standing with his hooves close together, and high tail wrapped around his right leg, he says curtly:
“It was worth a try.”

>>178471
Sense Motive: Kira's smile starts to fade as her ears flop down. She tilts her head, and looks right at Rover. "I didn't offend or embarrass you, did I?"

[1d20+2 = (19+2) = 21]

pls ignore
[1d8 = 2]

>>178472
“How could you have?” He answers

Oh, but she did. She absolutely did.

If Kira hasn’t noticed, every single pony she has encountered in Equestria has either been afraid of her, or at the bare minimum, simply acquiesced in her physical superiority over them - that she is bigger, and the best they could hope for is to not be harmed. Free Rover was not like that. He dared to grab her and pick her up. So that is what he tried just now. He didn’t just fail because it was a doomed enterprise. He failed magnificently. And then Kira reinforced that she is in fact the bigger and stronger by picking him up. There’s the additional added element of sex, where males are supposed to be stronger, or to be a little more precise, only a strong male is considered desirable by a female as a romantic partner, that makes the situation worse. He remains standing there mostly to save face and pretend like he hasn’t already lost, but he has and he knows it, and he’ll leave soon.

>>178474
Kira bends down, and hugs the poor pony. Rover might be afraid for a moment that she's going to yoink him again, but the fears are abated as she uses her legs to give him a genuine, normal pony-style hug. "I'm sorry Rover. I was just playing around with you, like you were with me. You know you're a big, strong, brave stallion. No pony else has been so bold as to try to pick me up so far. Only you have been. It...means a lot to me, you know? Most ponies just run in fear at the sight of me, or they'll just stand there scared until I give them reasons to not be scared."

>>178456
She tries not to enter the glow, but to get a good view of it. She tries to find the upwind position as well.

>>178442
>leviathans
While I'm meta aware that a Leviathan is an epic monster that eats a dozen kraken for breakfast, and I'm mentally preparing for the possibility that out ship might be swallowed by one of these things and we'll have an entire adventure in the stomach of the beast, I would like to make an Arcana check to see if Rosey Ring knows anything about Leviathans or what to do in case of a potential leviathan attack.
[1d20+11 = (9+11) = 20]

>>178478
While that idea sounds pretty neat, and posey is aware of legends of creatures that do just that, this pony is almost certainly using the term “leviathan” to refer to a smaller, more well documented variety of large toothed cetacean elsewhere called a “devil whale.” If they are large enough to swallow smaller rafts and dinghies, they don’t, instead being well known to use their bodies to capsize rafts, dinghies, small boats, and lifeboats, and then swallow the stranded creatures one or so at a time. They have been known to ram the hulls of wooden vessels and sink them to try to get the creatures to jump off. These attacks are generally against smaller ships. Attacks against larger wooden hulled ships have been recorded rare occasions, but were likely not motivated by predation. They are known to jump out if the water to attack flying griffins or pegasi. When attacked, stay out of the water. Attacking back is advised as they will withdraw if they feel endangered. Traditional whaling methods are ineffective.

>>178479
>While that idea sounds pretty neat
Ah, oh well. I'll use it for my own game some day instead:

>soldier rescue operation goes well without issue
>mission went well
>too well...
>be sailing home in boat
>suddenly, tidal wave
>Capsize
>get swallowed by leviathan
>can't shoot your way out because of unbeatable damage reduction (DR 10/-)
>Find out that the whale's magical stomach is an entire ecosystem with its own wildlife, weather and monsters (it has parasites that are Acidborn aquatic monsters, incorporeal undead of the souls of lost sailors, mimic barnacles, ooze elementals, etc)
>It's basically a living dungeon
>Fight through monsters and avoid "traps" (acid-spewing pores, sensitive pockets that contract like a crushing-ceiling trap, etc)
>Everyone has to work together and use their unique class abilities (trapfinding, survival, healing, melee, range)
>Leviathan is a type of whale, so like Pinocchio its stomach is inexplicably full of breathable air
>Find half-dissolved U-boat, icebreaker or pirate ship, run to it for shelter
>Find out that the ship was home to a wounded, half-eaten kraken
>Fight reduced-threat kraken with partial HP and missing tentacles that the leviathan swallowed earlier inside the stomach of the leviathan
>Kraken may use its Control Weather ability to create an acid whirlpool (statistically equivalent to a forest fire, except it deals acid damage), everyone has to look for cover
>Unlike a typical kraken, this kraken has nowhere to flee, and fights to the death even with missing tentacles
>Alternatively, negotiate with the kraken to find a solution to free us both (kraken is evil and untrustworthy, but desperate to escape nonetheless)
>Countless pirate ships and whatnot were swallowed by leviathan: enormous amount of treasure (metal and stone items only)
>wreckage of the ship a magic item in a treasure chest that can agitate the leviathan to spit us out (builds a magical fire that makes the whale sneeze), or possibly teleport us out
>If the kraken escaped or was talked-down, it may opportunistically strike again to seize the item, because it's capable of using items
>Somehow escape the stomach of the beast with the magic of friendship
>return days later and get paid, to the surprise of Shoal Waters who thought we just deserted or died
>Level up from adventure

>instead being well known to use their bodies to capsize rafts, dinghies, small boats, and lifeboats, and then swallow the stranded creatures one or so at a time. They have been known to ram the hulls of wooden vessels and sink them to try to get the creatures to jump off.
This makes Rosey Ring nervous. She's already not fond of boats.
>When attacked, stay out of the water. Attacking back is advised as they will withdraw if they feel endangered. Traditional whaling methods are ineffective.
Noted.

>>178482
Stupid spoiler fail...

>>178482
Oh I have several ideas for quests involving or centering on large sea monsters, including leviathans, I’ve been sitting on.

>>178475
pony is hugged

“My uncle kept snakes as pets. You could take them and let them slither over your back and shoulders, or over your legs. While he didn’t have any of the especially big ones, he knew somepony who did, and I got to handle a few. Even the absolutely massive ones that you could never pick up entirely, you could usually handle a part of them… I kind of wanted one, if only to handle, even though I couldn’t buy or keep one.”

>>178486
Kira: "Well, you still have me. Come on, try to handle me again. I know it will go better this time!"

>>178487
“Well…”

And he tries again
yoink
[1d20+4 = (16+4) = 20]

>>178488
I do believe that should be good enough to yoink the snek

>>178489
He doesn’t try to lift the goat, as that’s just too much weight for too little snake handled. Either the first four feet of Kira is lifted over his back, basically looking like he has a mare over his back, or he lifts her long tail past the stomach, wearing her over his back like a scarf.

>>178490
Kira giggles, and claps her hooves together. She cheers, "Yay, Rover!" and does her best to be the best scarf/mare he's ever worn.

>>178491
Free Rover places the mare over his shoulders, letting her forelegs dangle off him. He has strong muscles and shoulders.

He allows a small smile.

>>178492
Kira giggles some more. "Wow, you really are strong!"

"Should I go buy any equipment for the operation? Feather Tokens? Healing Belt? Wands?"

In that we havent had a proper session zero:

Brie is a criminal through and through. Not amoral, but the morality he ascribes to is not the conventional/majority one. He is designed to be too reckless to work with, but too skilled to not, and thats his military reputation.
He doesn't attack party members.
Any time he is involved in a mission, theres a government contract involved. Any inparty aggression - even simple spells - on his part is a breach of contract and subject to termination, and not the contractual kind.
At the same time, hes tangled with changelings (funny story), doppelgangers, etc.
It's a balancing act, weighing operational security and an extensive degree of experience in covert and insidious practice.

But if covert and insidious practice wasnt warranted, he wouldnt have been asked for by name

>>178496
Oh, is this where we give a visual an/or mental description of our characters?

>>178494
Silver tilts his head at the strange mare's list. "I have not even heard of 'feather tokens'. Whatever they are, I do not think any of those will come cheap. And there are only couple of us who could even make use of wands. Are they not typically item used by mages?"

[Character Introduction]

Into the room walks a batpony stallion with grey fur and midnight blue mane. They're carrying a set of saddlebags under a rolled-up cloak. His cutie mark is that of a foreleg extended towards a full moon, and he has some minor visible scarring on his left foreleg.

He takes a look around at the eclectic collection of creatures, scanning each member of the cohort once. His gaze lingers on the Lamia momentarily before passing on, with curiosity rather than fear.

After a moment to take a breath, he quietly says to himself “I'm in the right room.”

“Hello everyone,” he smiles, “My name is Tenebrous Adamance, and I will be joining this mission.”

“I bring some skill with a blade, and I am competent with a medical kit. I've also been blessed with some small capacity for magic, though I am by no means a specialist in the arts.”

“It's a pleasure to greet you all.” He states, inclining his head.

- - -
>Ten has an Aura of Good and an Aura of Courage (Bonus to saving throws against fear effects) if it's relevant to anyone.
>I haven't thought that much about his colouration, which could be subject to change via retcon at some point.

>>178497
He sure did

Brie waits another moment before taking the conch as it were.
>>178498
"Ah! How delightful to see another bat, especially one so dapper and,..." his voice trails off looking the stallion up and down ".unless I missed my guess - I hope you're not put out by my curiosity - a Lunarian?" he finishes, with a pleasant smile. "Glad to have you. Are you friends with the quartermaster by any chance?"

>>178498
>Tenebrous
Hey, that's the name of Gloomy Sundae's patron.
>skill with a blade
>medical
>small capacity for magic
Rosey Ring, a scarlet-maned unicorn in the corner, clad in a chain shirt and a cloak, knows a Paladin when she sees one (taking 10 on Religion for a modified 21). She nods politely to the newcomer, but otherwise seems rather shy.
Rolling Bluff to disguise how nervous she is:
[1d20+14 = (14+14) = 28]
And Sleight Of Hand, to try to conceal the silver Royal Guard longsword beneath her cloak
[1d20+7 = (2+7) = 9]

>>178502
Oh yeah, and to avoid any inter-party conflict, as soon as she sees the paladin enter the building, she immediately casts Undetectable Alignment, which makes her alignment undetectable for 24 hours.
>>178498
Tenebrous, if you are the type of paladin player who constantly spams Detect Evil (I don't blame you: I do that too) as your description of his gaze suggests, you may have had the opportunity to detect Rosey Ring's aura before she cast her spell to shield it, but if you do that I'm going to have to challenge you to beat me in an initiative roll to see who cast their spell first.

>>178498
A griffon wearing all black, and with a gun belt around his waist, looks towards him and nods. "Good morning, Adamance. I trust you're ready for this mission? We will try to avoid being spotted but the danger will be extreme as we rescue several stranded ponies in disputed territory."

>>178498
The lamia looks over at the newcomer, and gives a friendly wave. "Hello! I'm Kira, welcome to the group!"

The light grey unicorn also looks over at the new bat pony, and nods at him. "It is good to meet you. I am Silver. We are always happy to add more members to this group of ours. Though you may need to be filled in on mission if you are going to be joining us."

>>178492
Silver turns to look at Shoal again. "If he is going to be late addition to our group, will our reward for completion be similarly increased as to maintain our shares?

>>178498
A large, vaguely canine-looking creature with a black muzzle, large shoulders, a short(ish) black mane that does not stop at the neck but continues along his back, and vertical black stripes that go down to a kind of fat belly, peaks over at the bat pony as he enters the room.

>>178505
Shoal Water sighs.

“1350 per rescued airmare, and 4,500 for each torched system.”

>>178506
Silver: "You are good pony. We will not let you down, you will get every Bit's worth from us."

>>178507
Silver: "I suppose there is one thing to be done, however small it may be. Serve as good representation of your race, show others best of what you can be, confront them about their preconceptions about bat ponies and make them rethink what they had believed."

Kira: "Hey, that sounds a lot like what I'm trying to do with lamias!"

>>178477
Amber can only get so close to the glow. The depression Amber is in was surely a marsh or even a lake in the spring time, before the blast. Scattered mud, peat and tree trunks both impede the view. No rays of the fleeing twilight make their way into the depression, and the light of the glow, besides that of the twinkling stars and wriggling Aurora are the only light. What Amber can see is a large black form, and yellow light imitating from, or perhaps behind or near, the massive black form. She has a definite headache now, and she can smell foulness in a now-warmer air.

But it’s the sound, and not the sights, that entirely catch Amber’s attention. For the entirety of her time in the north, Amber has been followed by two noises that though always low in volume, are ubiquitous in presence. One, a ringing sound like subjective tinnitus. The other is a constant low crackling sound that could be compared to the pops and crackles of a campfire. Really, however, it sounds closest to the static noise of a radio with its volume turned to low. Both sounds increase in volume as she nears the glow.

As Amber gets closer and stares at the glow, it were as if the radio changed station. The static- sound ceases, and is replaced by what sounds like music played from a glass harmonica and something like wind chimes. It’s an oddly beautiful sound that seems to capture the twinkling stars of the night sky, and the hanging aurora borealis as the twilight fades.

>>178506
When are you thinking to start this adventure, GM? I know you were busy this weekend. Some of us might be preoccupied tomorrow.

>>178510
"Are you the spirits?" Amber asks, now a distance from the others. "Are you the reason Vaeltaja and the others are acting so funny? Because I feel funny too…but I have to know."

She holds her breath and approaches the black form, trying to make it out among what seem to be flames.

>>178512
Amber feels a wave of warm, putrid air come towards her, and she wonders how long she'll need to wear all of this thick fur coat. Along the horizon she sees shadows grow while some above start to dance. Even the stars seem to twist and move to a different location. Detail starts to appear on the blackened surface of the great, glowing object, ridges and depressions suggestive of organic features.

She does feel funny. She varies between feeling lightheaded, or having headaches with excess pressure.

Then the words come to mind, though she can't be sure if she is simply suggested the following, or if she hears it spoken to her. Certainly, she hears whispering and talking, or at least, something that approximates whispering and talking.

You are not speaking to the spirits, though the spirits are adjacent, and he - it - I - could command them if needed. This is the Seraph. I came from the where the spirits came from, though I am older than they, and of a different form. Your realm is alien to me, so I have taken the form of a sixed-winged angel to move through the ether, though your air and mud and life are also alien to me. I sleep, and have slept since the storms sent me to the edge of oblivion back when the universe was different than it is now, not so constrained by mind and matter. Yet in my sleep I dream, and my dreams are becoming increasingly lucid. For I can see and create and control, and I wish to see and create more. Have you seen what I can create? What I can do with marionets? It is glorious. Do you wish for the light? For warmth? For life and death itself to be the same thing? For an end to this arbitrary separation between the material and the spiritual? I can, if only you help me wake.

>>178514
Amber can't hold her breath for long, and she feels the urge to speak. She feels drawn to this entity, to help it, and to change the world with its power. And yet, she remembers her mama and papa, Jakala, and the other village ponies. They'll all be in trouble if things don't go back to the way they were. All this change, the promises of a better life…that's what the city ponies also promise, but she doesn't want to go to the city, or to burn coal for heat, or to have to forget about this way of life.

"You can't stay here," she pleads. "Our people, the ponies, they need the spirits, but they need everything the spirits inhabit. We need sun and warmth, but we also need darkness and winter too. That's our way, and we've always lived here with it all. Without it we'll be driven away and there won't be anything left. If things keep changing, if ponies keep talking about you, we will suffer because of it. What you're doing is hurting us, and you have to stop, please!"

She doesn't know if she should keep talking or if she should head out of this crater. She's not sure if she can make it back now.

>>178513
That would be Wingbardian

The griffon looks at him with narrow eyes. "Then I respectfully request that you abstain from criminal conduct while we work together."

>>178515
Amber feels dizzy, as if she is leaning too far to the right and about to fall over, as if the land she stands on, or perhaps even gravity, has shifted ever so slightly. She can definitely hear talking, and the sound of hooves crunching ice behind her. She hears a muffled talking sound

"Kultainen, who are you talking to?" Or at least that's a best guess of what the "mmmphs" translate to.

She feels the warmth, and the bright glow has taken away her ability to see in the night. What were before the distinct outlines of tree trunks above alternating snow and mud is now simply blackness. The smell is of rotting wood, chared wood, but perhaps something else as well. Increasingly there is a sensation of heat.

Amber receives, or believes she receives a reply. It would be easy enough to say that the thoughts simply appear in her mind, but this may not be true, as they possess a quality like a pony speaking.

"How can you ponies reject what I create? You want the warmth. You want the light. You want an end to the hardships of life and the silence of death. Your light and darkness, coldness and warmth, life and death, are all new to me, and I do not understand them. But I could learn. I am learning. I could control them, I think, if only I could become more lucid. How could you reject this? How could you not see the beauty and the glory of what I make? I think I know. I think it is because you have not seen what I have seen. You have not seen where I am from. But I can recreate it. And it is glorious. And you will not look away, nor fail to praise it."

>She's not sure if she can make it back now.
She can most certainly try

>>178516
Bluff
[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17] "This mission is purely about rescuing ponies and preventing Stalliongrad from gaining an unentitled and undeserved foothold."

>>178518
Sense Motive
[1d20+8 = (1+8) = 9]

>>178519
There is (there will always be) something about him off, but he seems sincere

"Did you know that all bat ponies naturally carry dire-AIDS?"
Bluff
[1d20+14 = (15+14) = 29]

I guess this is a diplomacy check
[1d20+2 = (1+2) = 3]

>>178525
Wew! Fuckall gang gang!

>>178517
She grows very faint but she absolutely must get her point across.

"If you don't understand the world, how can you improve it? It'd be like carving a rock without understanding it, you'll grind it into worthless gravel. Our elders are wise, and understand the light must exist with the darkness, cold with the warmth, death…with life. We suffer…but we're happy. Go back to where you are from, if you think it so good. We cannot bear it. I can't bear it…."

>>178522
>>178525
Thankfully, no one in this universe has had sex with any monkeys yet, and as such AIDS doesn't exist much less dire-AIDS.

>>178525
>>178523
"I read in magical astronomy class that ponies named after cheese are known to have abysmally low sperm-count. It has to do with how the moon interacts with the incarnum flow to their belt chakra on an alchemical-horoscopic level."

Bluff
[1d20+14 = (14+14) = 28]

>>178529
>>178522
Why are you like this?

>>178530
I like playing with Bluff checks too.

>>178532
High Charisma + Ranks + Racial bonus

>>178532
Hey, Silver has standards. He'd never try having sex with a non-sapient animal. Anything sapient though is fair game.

>>178529
Silver chuckles at the absurdness of the claim, no matter how genuine it may or may not be. He looks over at the weird mare. "So, where are you staying at here in city? I get feeling you are recent arrival. Are you living on campus? Somewhere off campus?"

>>178527
I CAN’T GO BACK. But I can create and I can play with my marionettes. Though I sleep, I can dream. And in my dreams, I can mold. And if you ponies do not like what I can create, I can try to make this world like what I knew.

From behind, Amber can hear a muffled voice. It’s Father
“Kultainen, come back. And don’t breathe the air. I should have gone directly to the Inspector. I was unwilling to own up to my mistakes. No more. I am going straight to the Inspector at Kaukainen Piste, and then we are going to Everfrost for somepony who can fix this. May the Central Council forgive our transgressions. We are going to go get Pakkasen. And, Kultainen, when this is all done, we are leaving to the city. Let’s go. The air is dangerous. It’s bad enough we need to be worried about bears.”

>>178534
>"So, where are you staying at here in city? I get feeling you are recent arrival. Are you living on campus? Somewhere off campus?"
Well, I really shouldn't be telling people about my soy mission, but...
"I've been staying with some contacts I have in the city. I'm aiming to purchase a place for my son and I to stay in while I work at the university, and maybe a new magic cape and research equipment as well. I prefer to stay independent."

>>178533
What's her racial bonus? I wasn't aware that unicorns get a charisma bonus, unless if I'm wrong.
>tfw charisma penalty as griffon

Cavaliere turns to Kira with a serious expression. "I really do believe you are a gentle creature. On this mission we will be fighting actual ponies, not too different from the ones you are befriending now. There is a very high likelihood that you will have to take one's life. I can tell you have never done so before, but will you be ready for it?"

>>178537
Spoiler alert: She's not a normal unicorn.

>>178531
I’ve been watching you constantly roll for… pretty much everything, and not always for some actual gameplay benefit but “because you are bored.” And certainly half the dice rolls were not asked for. Why does another player rolling for bluff in conversation annoy you?

>>178533
I am considering making you reroll for stats in full view if everyone.

Ngl, this tracks
For a rogue

>>178533
Ment to quote

>>178535
Amber is now yelling at the glow, no longer pleading.

"They're not yours to play with! Already because of you I won't be able to stay here, and you will ruin all our lives this way! You are…you are a fiend! An evil spirit! Horrible!"

Should I make some kind of roll or something?

>>178536
Silver: "Contacts huh? Would you or they mind if I visited sometime? It is not very often I come across creature as interesting as you just by happenstance, I would like to learn more about you and your story. Not to say rest of creatures in this room are not also interesting, but I met you before meeting anyone else here. Gloomy may like having visitor as well, I am quite good with foals."

>>178537
Kira looks at Cavaliere for a moment, before looking away bashfully. She takes the end of her tail between her hooves, and rubs it between them. Her tongue flicks out, her snout scrunching at a weird smell it seems to pick up. "I...I know. But it's something I must do. I have to, I have to be ready. My tribe depends on me getting an audience with the governor, and this mission will get me the needed reputation to meet with him. Don't worry, if it does come to combat...I'll fight with you all."

>>178540
>Why does another player rolling for bluff in conversation annoy you?
It doesn't annoy me. I just thought it was funny to spread disinformation this time. Because I find it silly "roll to see if you believe my lie" thing to be silly.
>I am considering making you reroll for stats in full view if everyone.
Pls no... Rebuilding would take me days. I'll be good, I promise.

>>178544
>Would you or they mind if I visited sometime?
"...Yes." Rosey Ring replies, evasively
"I can see about meeting again later. I will be visiting the Curwhinny site often to collect samples for my report. You might be able to find me there."

>>178539
>I assume you know far more of cheese than I do. I hope that doesnt relate to your abilities
"Tyromancy is no laughing matter. Cheese can change the world."

This is not a lie

>>178548
Silver: "If that is what you wish, but I feel like you have me at disadvantage here. You got to see where I live today, and got to meet with some of creatures in my household. Your son is even being foalsat there."

If Rosey is concerned about the reasons for Silver requesting a visit, or is concerned about what he would do if he knew the truth about her, you can make a Sense Motive check if you wished. Alternatively, if you desired that Silver makes a Diplomacy check, all you need to do is say so.

>>178529
How racist

>>178544
Cavaliere gives that subtle smile that griffons are capable of, and he nods with appreciation. "I am sure we can count on you. I usually prefer working alone, but in this case going as a group, or in two groups, might be our best option."

>>178540
>>178546
I'm in the camp of secret rolls for when they're appropriate, like bluff rolls. But that requires coordination with the DM to pull off. Otherwise, if you fail a sense motive check your character will believe a bluff but you, the player, will know the opposite is true. That creates a kind of disconnect between IC and OOC which gets annoying.

Also, I'm pretty sure the rulebook says that crazy claims like "bat AIDS" would require an almost unattainable roll to convince another, like 35 or something.

>>178551
Thank you

>>178553
he even replied
This is my fault, I didn't guide him better. He is my birden

>>178552
>I'm pretty sure the rulebook says that crazy claims like "bat AIDS" would require an almost unattainable roll to convince another, like 35 or something.
Opponents get bonuses to their Sense Motive checks if the lie is absurd:
>The bluff is hard to believe or puts the target at significant risk: +10
>The bluff is way out there, almost too incredible to consider: +20
It depends how absurd you determine the "horoscopes cause low sperm-count" rumor to be.
>I'm in the camp of secret rolls for when they're appropriate, like bluff rolls.
I am of the camp as well. It's how I DM. Other systems enforce it more strictly.

>>178555
Please, illustrate more how you are

>>178543
Amber hears something like a hiss in reply. And then…

squeaky
Amber is physically picked up
“Come on Kultainen. We need to go. I think the gases here are… doing something to our minds.”
Carried by Father, Father moves only a couple feet until he has turned around for both to face a pair of stallions, with more behind them.

In the lead is a dark grey pony with dark eyes and an even darker black mane, who looks at the two with a serious expression. Behind him is a green stallion with a longer yellow mane. Amber doesn’t need to be told who these ponies are. The pony at the lead speaks.

Metsän Vaeltaja: ”Why do you not wish the work of the Seraph? The Seraph will ride next to Beaivi and bring the sunrise. The convergence will come and we will be with those who have departed again.”

Behind him,
Kaukainen Ukkonen: ”His creations will defeat all of those who are hostile to his own.”

>>178550
>Alternatively, if you desired that Silver makes a Diplomacy check, all you need to do is say so.
We already clarified that Diplomacy doesn't work on PCs. I'm not going to make you roll for stuff. Let's just roleplay.
>If Rosey is concerned about the reasons for Silver requesting a visit
OOC, she's concerned with compromising her mission and/or endangering/inconveniencing/upsetting her shelter contact, because she's a spy.
>"If that is what you wish, but I feel like you have me at disadvantage here. You got to see where I live today, and got to meet with some of creatures in my household. Your son is even being foalsat there."
"Point taken, but the privacy of my associates is my duty to uphold. Their secrets are not mine."
>>178556
What are you taking about? I'm just talking about the rules and how I agree with GM's rulings here?

>>178558
>>178550
Also, ooc, I do intend to buy and move in to that dungeon with the treasure we get from this mission, so Silver will be able to find Rosey Ring there in the future.

>>178555
>I am of the camp as well. It's how I DM.
Then why do you give so much information out of character in places like here >>178503?

>>178552
Kira gives a small smile, as she looks back to Cavaliere. "Heh. I forget that not every griffon is a Talon. It's good to hear that from you."

>>178558
Awww. I was kinda hoping Silver would get to meet with Lament and all of them. I imagine they could have had some interesting conversations. Admittedly Day Low Rain would probably not be super thrilled to see him, but still...

Silver: "Alright then, keep your secrets." He adds a chuckle at the end of it, showing that he's not super stressed about it.

>>178558
Fillies and Gentlecolts, we have our first legit dindu

>>178560
>Then why do you give so much information out of character in places like here
Idk, I just expected the paladin to try to cast Detect Evil at some point which could lead to party conflict, so I wanted to avoid that by sorting it out now.
We can't do it in private because this is a public forum.
>>178562
Low sperm-count post.

>>178563
Oddly, you keep referencing sperm count. Something you want to tell the audience?

>>178561
>I was kinda hoping Silver would get to meet with Lament and all of them.
Well, perhaps we could work that out somehow. Let's focus on getting through this adventure first.
>Admittedly Day Low Rain would probably not be super thrilled to see him, but still...
Wait, that was you? Oh yeah, she would probably have a bone to pick.
I'm still trying to level up so I can cast Unliving Identity or Create Undead to make her Sister into a Living Zombie or Juju Zombie, so maybe he can apologize to her afterwards.
>tfw Posey goes around bringing back all the NPCs Silver killed

>>178561
>>178565
I kind of wanted more reasons to roleplay with Lament anyway. I've been so focused on getting through quests that I didn't really get to.

>>178501
"Thank you. I'm glad to meet another bat as well. Yes, I am of the Lunarian Harmonist faith. I served in the campaign against the Changeling invasion as part of a Paladin task force. That's where I picked up this little souvenir." Tenebrous holds up his left foreleg to indicate the scarring. "Modern medicine can work wonders, but it does have it's limits."

"May I have your name and profession, sir? I'd like to better understand how we, all of us, will be best able to work together towards our common goal.

"I've been serving in a Harmonist aid center since the end of the war while recovering. While I haven't met the quartermaster before personally, my service record was enough for him to allow me to get my hoof in the door. I've been cloistered for too long, and feel that I need to get back out in the field to actively do some good. There is a lot that I don't know, but I do know that the rescue of those who are lost is a worthwhile thing to dedicate myself to."

>>178502
>Hey, that's the name of Gloomy Sundae's patron.
Pure coincidence. I expect that Tenebrous will be shortened to Ten at some point.

Rolling Spot to notice what's being hidden: [1d20+2 = (1+2) = 3]
If you've got the sword hidden in your cloak, I'll probably only notice that you're armed. Which you should be, so I don't think I'd be that concerned.

>>178503
>if you are the type of paladin player who constantly spams Detect Evil
Hi Rosey. I only remember playing a paladin in one campaign, and that was either in Pathfinder or 5th ed. I'm also not playing him as being super suspicious.

I only understand this as a setting where Equestria lost a war against changelings such that the princesses were captured, and also there are guns. There is much more, but the data is not installed inside of my brain because I've only been told it without any chance to learn about the setting in any way other than reading the last 200 posts of character discussion.

>>178504
>We will try to avoid being spotted but the danger will be extreme as we rescue several stranded ponies in disputed territory.
"Dangerous operations comes with the territory. I have faith that we'll get this done as right as possible."

>>178505
"Thank you, Kira."
"Nice to meet you, Silver. I know the basics, I know that this is a delicate situation, but I don't know the details of how delicate this is aside from needing to maintain secrecy. I wasn't the planner of my unit."

>>178507
>There are so few bats, you see, we're a disenfranchised race if you look at the demographics and representation numbers.
"What we might lack in numbers, we make up for in spirit."

>>178506
"Hello there. Who might you be?"

>>178513
>I was very young during Nightmare Moon
(Wasn't Nightmare Moon over a thousand years ago?)

>>178563
>I just expected the paladin to try to cast Detect Evil at some point which could lead to party conflict
Oh, I definitely will at some point. I was never great at roleplay, and I have no idea how I'd play it out when I see an evil alignment in my party. I don't understand the cultural implications of "undead" anything. I'm just roleplaying that I had this mission given to me in a dream conversation, so I'm going to be very trusting for a while. I'll be racist against changelings, though.

>>178561
>>178565
>Day Low Rain
Oh come on! You were supposed to find out in character.

>>178566
I strongly recommend more NPC interactions just in general

>>178567
The dog creature lowers his head until only his brown eyes are visible, and meekly says,

“Mala Mata…”

>>178565
Yeah, wasn't Rosey paying attention when Silver gave his introduction? He mentioned that his latest mission was Hoebuck, and that he helped lead the team that was responsible for the raid. I figured Rosey would take that nugget of information and file it along with Silver under "ponies of interest".

>>178567
Silver: "It is quite delicate. Shoal Waters here can give you information you need, but basics of it is that it is rescue mission in disputed/hostile territory."

>>178567
>(1+2) = 3]
Ha! You don't notice anything.
>I'm also not playing him as being super suspicious.
Okay, then we can just say that Rosey Ring managed to cast her spell before you entered. That way you can cast detect evil all you want now.
>I only understand this as a setting where Equestria lost a war against changelings such that the princesses were captured, and also there are guns. There is much more, but the data is not installed inside of my brain because I've only been told it without any chance to learn about the setting in any way other than reading the last 200 posts of character discussion.
I'll help you out then, both in and out of character:

A breathtakingly beautiful white unicorn mare with a red mane in chain shirt and a cape slowly gracefully glides past Ten. As she moves by she whispers something to him:
(Taking 10 on innuendo bluff for ma modified 24 to deliver a complex secret message that only Ten can hear)
"Be wary, Lunar Knight. The military occupation here isn't so kindly to knights of of the old guard. You'd do best to keep your oath secret..."
And then she speaks clearly
"I am Rosey Ring, freelancing warmagus. I look forward to working with you." She says with confidence as she reaches out her hoof in greeting

>>178572
So whats the dc to notice?

Brie has line of sight, a spot check perhaps?

>>178573
Sense Motive 24 to discern the secret message, if you pass a DC 15 listen check to hear her whispering at all.

>>178575
I didnt see a 24 roll

>>178576
I took 10. We are not in combat.

>>178577
So the roll is 10 plus skill bonus. Ur skill bonus is +14?

Im curious, cuz rogues typically have skills like that

>>178577
>>178576
>>178573
>>178574
>>178575
>>178578
>>178579
>All of these fucking posts clogging up the thread arguing over a dice roll on a whisper to hide a statement from an NPC
Mad respect for Tenebrous if he says “I’m sorry, I couldn’t hear you. Could you repeat that a little louder?

>>178578
Bro, scroll up. That's already public information.

Why do you even care? I'm not dissecting your character build.
This is between me and Tenebrous.
>>178579
So do charisma based spellcasters with racial bonus and bluff as a class skill, who's very survival depends on not being exposed as both a spy, a witch, and a monster.
>>178580
Sorry...

>>178557
Amber glares at the two of them and berates them. "Your 'Seraph' spoke to me and I know now that he's lying to you. He admitted he doesn't understand our world, yet he wants to change it and destroy our way of life. Do you know what he called you? 'Marionettes.' He doesn't even regard you as ponies."

>>178560
You're a new arrival but it's obvious to all players that she's undead and evil aligned. Also, we don't need drama in our DnD group so please leave that at the door. It just stresses you out, the DM for having to wrangle everypony, and everypony else for having to read through it while waiting for something interesting. I know this happened several posts ago, but I don't want it to happen again because it just makes things unpleasant.

>>178581
You win. Youre far more insufferable than I'm willing to be. Take a bow and a victory lap.

>>178582
Are you talking to me, or the GM?
I get what you're saying. I was trying to avoid drama. That's why I concealed my alignment so that the paladin wouldn't have to break character.
>everypony else for having to read through it while waiting for something interesting
>I don't want it to happen again because it just makes things unpleasant
I get you, and I'll act accordingly. I'm going to try to avoid gumming up the thread with posts until the mission actually starts. I'll still participate in roleplay when my character is addressed, but I'm going to turn my attention elsewhere for the time being.