Continuing, and hopefully introducing new characters.
And on the wrong damn post number
1713 replies and 83 files omitted.
>>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."