/vx/ - Videogames and Paranormal

>>187863
Dammit Sven,....

>>187865
I'll speak to what I deleted, why I said it, why Indeleted it, and why I want it on record anyway, but Sven is right

>>187865
>>187866
^^ Aww, thank you. Your kind words warms my heart. <3

>>187873
>AI
Oh please, this one is animated, git gud

>>187873
>>187874
That might have made it weirder ...

It was intended as a gesture of appreciation tho

>>187859
>I guess, I'm not really in the mood for more conflict despite it might be accurate criticism, due to the fact that the group has almost turn toxic at this point.
This to infinity.

I'm sorry for not replying... I will get to Vir soon(TM)

>>187851
Okay.

Do you want me to delete my post? Because I can delete it.

If you're going to be angry at me and at the other players any time I or we do anything or try to advance the game at all multiple times a week with no reprieve, to the degree that just trying to tell you your character has succeeded on a skill check results in you telling me to go fuck myself... Do you want to be here? Sure, I could have referred to your character sheet. I had forgotten you had posted it there. Mea Culpa. Just... do you want things to go on like this? We can't make it to Wednesday without you telling me to go fuck myself? Is this fun for you? Because it isn't for me. I am physically ill and can't keep food down. I have to deal with the house freezing over, my internet is constantly shitting out, and on top of all of that, it was 12 AM, time to sleep anyways. No, I don't think to try to awaken you on a post that was clearly reply at your leisure. My first thought is that you can reply when you want, so reply when you want.

Do you need to bite at all of us every few days? Do things need to be like this? I can understand feeling slighted at the skepticism towards the +12 modifier on disable device. I can't really understand why you're mad at me for replying to Brie at all when Brie isn't restricted by the presence of other players. I responded to Brie first, before any other character. I said he succeeds at his skill check and described how it happened. I have received no response on that, nor has brie tried to intervene with Cavaliere's NPC interactions. I just awaken at 3:30 AM to a dry mouth and an "eeeeeee"ing surge protector, and then to your acerbic posts. I can delete the offending post if you'd rather, and Brie can wait until later, I guess after other players have been addressed.

>>187863
>this thread, I feel, is hanging on a thread. ^^ It's just constant fighting. I don't get to play. And it's not fun (in general to be here) which is the main goal of the thread after all.
This, so very, very much

I noticed that those who showed up all had negative things to say about me replying at around 10 PM. I have a feeling that I had just never posted at all and instead opened up that Stellaris save, I would have avoided any such criticism. I know I suggested that I would reply earlier in the day yesterday, but it's just so very hard to sit down and reply when I could be playing Hearts of Iron 4 instead, or just in a more general sense, when I could be interacting with friends at a pony convention in Canada or wherever.

>>187876
Im honestly just frustrated that I didnt get pinged, from a logical standpoint

>>187878
Thats a cool number. Have a sexy thestral

>>187878
This seems petty and
>youre doing it again with the uncondensed posts
But I seem to be the problem. Maybe not "the" problem, but the very obviously and consistently adjacent problem.
Which, by the way, is why I wanted Brie focused on something for a couple sessions; expressly, deliberately, etc.
Anyway, considering the absurd levels of autism I have already displayed in and around this game, yes, I do struggle with a GM not intiiting to that such overly motivated players might want to know,...
And yes, as days go by I detect an increasing list of asks on my part that are technical violations of the intended rules and guidelines.

But I dont think asking to get a "Hey, listen" is a huge reach

>>187877
I don't have any issue with you posting at 10 PM, or even if you play without me past 10. I was just suggesting doing it a bit earlier when you get the opportunity, because 10 PM for you is midnight for me, which is difficult for me to do on a weekday.
No problem if you do it anyway though. I would prefer you advance the plot even if I'm not there, unless my participation is critical in the situation (major combat scenario; something involving the undead). Don't hesitate play without me.
>>187876
This

>>187877
It isnt anger, its frustration. I can be here anytime, if I know to be here in advance. And I will be here the whole time, if I think there's a chance. And once I think there is no chance, I will fuck off and watch Joe Rogan.
So help me not have watched Joe Rogan when there's something going on. Assume I will.drop everything.

I know, its beyond the pale, but so is this whole board Xp

Honestly, I wouldnt have said anything, but got aggrod by "Im suspicious"

>>187876
Get well soon GM Pone!

>>187877
Even if I can't speak for the others, I'm always looking forward to the adventures my characters are having. I think everypony is being too negative. Even years back when I did nothing but make sardonic remarks about the game before I actually joined it, the atmosphere was much more fun-loving and didn't have this snappiness to it. Even Silver/Kira's player has lashed out and I've never seen him do that. We need to fix this.

GM, if you could do anything better, just give everypony a heads up on availability for the night. We had no idea you were sick and had to be late. I know we have a habit of playing fast and loose with time due to lots of solo players, but when there's a party quest there's an expectation that everypony should be "at the table." How is somepony going to know to make time that evening without any prior information?

Brie, please don't be so on edge. No, a GM should never say "I'm skeptical" regarding a skill check modifier because it should be evident from the character sheet that he has. He does have Brie's character sheet, right? He shouldn't have to check the Old Nuts discord just to see it. Also, be grateful that it was a Disable Device check and not a D20 Modern Demolitions check. Though, in that ruleset, Disable Device has synergy with Demolitions so Brie would probably be fine. And I doubt GM Pone would require a roll anyway and risk blowing up two PCs with significant time investment as well as a gaggle of NPCs. Anyway, just be nice.

>>187876
Yes, deal with other players first. I know its play as you can, post-style, but Im "special needs", meaning if I am unable to engage you when you're available I will seek to when you're not, which is part of lends toward me spamming in threads. I've gone to extreme degres to post singularly and only if given cause (until this morning), because I can be here any time. So perhaps as a favor that I can return by having extra degrees of confidence that enable me not sperging in any of the threads,... holla at yo boy
>>187884
GM has a slightly out of date copy of the character sheet pinned in his DMs, but the skills are current. It doesnt break them down anymore, but it did for months and only got reduced when I started running out of characters in the post. But, you're right. I may never get over flipping out like a child when I'm upset, butnit's my primary target right now

>>187804
Silver looks over at Pipette as they trot along. "Are you feeling okay? You are showing symptoms of Traveler's influence."

Who is available tonight or this weekend?

>>187899
Tonight and all through the weekend.

>>187899
I'm GMing one of my in-person games this evening and weekend, but not for the whole thing. I'll have time to roleplay PBP at pretty much any time, but I apologize in advance for any delayed response

>>187899
If there is any doubt of my presence, consider yourself absolved, but I'll be lurking until given cause to post

>>187899
So, are we doing stuff, or not?
I'm free for the rest of today.

>>187906
I'm here. From what I understand, GM pone is deciding whether to just start with whoever is on just to get something going at least, or if he should wait until everyone's on.

>>187906
I think so, yes.

>>187908
Alright. Should we roll anything?
Last rolls seemed pretty decisive. Do we meet the commissar?

Brie flap/climbs up to the torpedo, unrolls and hangs one of his thieves' kits, and prepares to get balls deep

Pipette looks around into the fog, and towards the ground. She extends a hoof out, and then leaves her ankle limp, letting her hoof fall inwards in a curl. She then looks back, and says to the creatures "Davai!" tilting her head. "This way."

She starts along, taking the party around what must be the summit of the hill. She leads them down, past small sets of rock and much grass with its yellow, brown and green tint, and down the slope of the hill. She looks around to either side, stopping at one point, but to the party there are no recognizable landmarks.

The fog thins, and thins more, and soon the wind picks up. As the party moves forward even more, they can see out beyond the hillside, which starts to level out further down, until they clear the cloud, and can see beyond the edge of the hill and the island.

Below them the green grass of the hill levels out until it ends at an exposed basalt cliff. Below that must be the sea, because the green-blue of the ocean and white capped waves moved by the winds are visible, with massive clouds low to the water looming in the far distance and to the right/east. In front of the party, and to the right, is another island very close to the party with a big, rocky cliff side, such that it looks like one conical rock, cut off and jaged at the top. Beyond this is still another smaller string of islands, if mostly obscured. Pipette looks around, and starts moving to the right, towards the north, along the cliff.

>>187897
"Huh?" She tilts her head. She does not wait for Silver's response. "No, I am... I am as good as I can be now. I am my own pony."

They continue along the edge of the cliff, hill to the right and a rocky beach endlessly washed by green waves to the left, until something is visible in the distance. Four ponies. An orange unicorn stallion with a red and yellow mane and a white coat stands, head lowered, and horn glowing light blue. A big unicorn stallion, with a coat black as night and a leather jacket of equal color, and a short, white mane and tail stands on the edge of the cliff with what seems to be a telescope, looking out over the water the opposite direction, towards the west. Near them are two more, a green earth pony in a blue uniform who sits and is handling with his hooves what seems to be a radio, and then a grey pegasus pony carrying a large, wooden rifle, looking around him.

Pipette says,
"That's them. No unexpected visitors yet. Keep quiet until we are closer."

"Кто с вами?" The grey pony spots them first. The black stallion puts down the telescope and turns around, and the green pony stands up, and picks up a firearm of his own. The orange stallion does not move.

"Дружелюбны ли они? Они говорят на северьянском языке? Вы заложник?"

Pipette calls back
"Они говорят, что они здесь, чтобы помочь нам убить сущность"

The green and the black stallion talk to each other, though what they say cannot be discerned. The group moves closer, until they are fifty feet away, or perhaps less.

>>187849
Sorvik:
"Communisten? Welke communisten?"

Bøkli starts speaking to Sorvik in their mutual language, and Sorvik turns to him, and starts a brief argument. Sorvik huffs, then turns to Cavaliere:

"Boete. Wij zullen u helpen. Vertel ons wat u wilt dat wij doen."

>>187912
Somehow, Silver isn't particularly enthused by her response. He wonders how badly the Traveler is affecting her, and figures he'll keep a close eye on her just to be sure.

>>187913
Silver waves at the group of ponies as they approach, as it seems their presence is already known. He calls out to them in clear Severyanan, "Приветствую, друзья! Кто из вас случайно не комиссар Черная Пятка?"

>>187913
>>187914
"What are they saying?" says Posey, who does not speak the language

>until they are fifty feet away, or perhaps less
"~Yoohoo! Hello, my fine gentlecolts." Posey calls, waving a hoof and beckoning the stallions with a coquettish aloofness as she casually strides closer (30 ft), drawing attention to herself for the next maneuver:
She then proceeds to charm any pony that meets her gaze
DC 19 Will vs charm

Also gonna roll bluff (seduction) to break the ice and get them to let their guard down
[1d20+16 = (11+16) = 27]

>>187917
Silver: "Just asking who we are, and asking Pipette if she is hostage. Pipette replied by saying that we are here to kill Traveler."

>>187915
The grey pony in his aqua uniform levels his rifle at Silver
"Кто хотел бы знать? Пипетки, кто они?"

Pipette:
"Они дружелюбны, я думаю."

>>187917
The orange unicorn is almost entirely unresponsive to anything, and the grey stallion keeps his eye and his rifle trained on Silver, or at least, so long as Silver is the closest. But the green stallion and the black stallion both smile at Posey, with the black stallion nodding and raising an eyebrow to her

>>187919
Posey tosses her mane
"Do any of you find gentlecolts speak our language? We have much to discuss, but little time."

I will reiterate that Posey is currently not wearing her armor (she took it off to make that climb check)

>>187919
Silver holds up hooves. "Пипетка говорит правду. Мы услышали ваш сигнал бедствия, и мы здесь, чтобы помочь." He looks briefly over at Posey before readdressing the ponies. "Боюсь, мои товарищи не говорят по-северянски."

But the Black stallion holds out his leg, and motions downward

"Сталь, положите ее. Если есть проблема, давайте решим ее без насилия"

The Grey stallion lowers his rifle, and turns back to the Black Stallion as the two make eye contact. He seems to whisper something to him, with a small, muted conversation. The grey stallion and black stallion both turn back

"Ты кто?"

>>187920
The black stallion in particular looks over. But if he, or any pony else speaks Ponish, he's not willing to reveal it.

>>187922
Silver smiles at the black stallion. He seems to have found Black Heel, and hearing him speak, it seems as if he's possessed of good wisdom. "Меня зовут Серебряный Меч. Мы с друзьями услышали ваш сигнал бедствия и пришли на помощь. Мы спасли несколько членов небольшой группы в заброшенной деревне, а затем нашли Пипетту здесь, у разбившегося самолета."

>>187922
I roll an opposed charisma check to compel any charmed creatures to speak
[1d20+6 = (2+6) = 8]

>>187924
Darn

>>187923
The Black Stallion moves forward, and says to Silver
"А, вы должны быть с ГРУ. Мы думали, что вы приедете с севера или, может быть, увидите вас с юго-востока? Вы уже обезопасили остров?"

>>187920
The black stallion looks to Posey, and says

"You don't sound like an Equestrian. Or even an Aquelian."

The orange stallion, for so long motionless, stops the glow on his horn. He opens his eyes, whips his tail, stomps his horn, and snorts.

Yelling,
"Тьфу! Я же говорил, что вам нужно заткнуться, чтобы это сработало!"

>>187926
"Oh, that is because I am from abroad, from the other side of the world, actually. I moved here recently."
She poses
"I am Rosey Ring, the Undying Sorceress. I am a freelance Warmagus."

>>187926
Hearing Black Heel speak Ponish to Posey, Silver switches to the language as well. "Not...exactly. We are not with GRU, and they are on island, but I do not think they are so concerned with saving any of you. I think they are here to kill you, and reclaim control of Traveler to bring back for study." He looks over at the orange stallion. "Что вы делаете, что требует тишины?"

>>187928
The black stallion raises an eyebrow at "undying sorceress," and exhales more loudly than expected. He does not reply, and turns his attention to Silver

>>187929
He replies
"Good, they are here. I hope it is not too late. No, they should know that we are still loyal. At least I hope so. We have been trying to call for them all day now. We need to speak with them and let them know fully what is going on."

The orange stallion looks surprised to see the set of ponies upon him, and turns towards them. He replies
"Заклинание, я концентрировался на этом"

>>187930
Silver shakes his head. "We tried. We received message over radio sent by them when they landed, just after we saved first group of your soldiers. They did not say anything about rescue, only demanding that all Kostroma personnel travel to their landing location, and they did not sound as if they were here to save anyone." To the orange pony, Silver smiles. "А, я сам скорее воин. Какое заклинание ты произносил?" Back to Black Heel, Silver continues, "You will have to excuse eccentricities of my comrades. Posey here likes to add bit of showmareship to her introduction, as way of selling her services to those who would otherwise be concerned about hiring mares for this sort of task. But yes, she is fine sorcerer."

>>187931
"I can tell you're not from Stalliongrad. I don't think you're Nova Griffonian, they are too proud, too cheap, and too poor to hire from abroad. I'm going to guess that you were sent here by the Fascist confederation, seeing as you have a... Necromancer? In your group." Looking over at Posey. "She's too conventionally attractive to be a conventional Lich." He smiles to her, as if genuinely trying to be charming. Then he looks back to Silver "We always joked they would pay Dread League Necromancers their last bit if they thought it would put off the revolution by one day... We didn't think it was true. Still, I don't know who else would hire Barradian - or worse - black mages around here. Maybe Haukland, but I would have expected a few griffins among you."

The orange stallion replies:
"Гадание. Я хотел увидеть северный берег залива"

>>187932
How do they know I'm a Necromancer? I'm not wearing the bone armor.
I guess this is a sense motive check

[1d20+1 = (4+1) = 5]

>>187933
No idea. Posey hasn't said anything except that she's an undying sorceress war mage.

>>187932
Silver smiles. Perhaps he underestimated the wisdom this Commissar possesses. "Funnily enough, there is griffon in our group. He is back at crashed plane with our bat pony, working on acquiring plane's MGs and turning its torpedo into improvised explosive. But no, we are not from Stalliongrad. I was born in St. Petershoof long ago, but that is beside point. It does not matter who sent us or not, to Traveler we are all just meat to be puppeted. It needs to be stopped, before it escapes this island. And knowing what GRU would do, we are only ones who can."

>>187933
Silver: "Well, you did introduce yourself as 'Undying Sorceress'. Anyone would get wrong idea from that."

>>187935
"I got that epithet from my military service. I learned to reinforce my body with magic to resist blows: I am very hard to kill." Posey says
>>187934
Gonna roll bluff to right the ship here
[1d20+16 = (4+16) = 20]

Roll Spot

>>187935
He lowers his ears
"Are you an emigre? I would say it does matter. "Traveller"? Has that damned sea pony talked to you?"

>>187936
"I see... I'll abstain from asking which military."

Silver: [1d20+3 = (8+3) = 11]
Kira: [1d20+8 = (14+8) = 22]
>>187937
Silver: "No, but some of possessed ponies we have captured have. It is pretty catchy name Light Water came up with, I have to admit. 'Our Fellow Traveler'. At least it gives name for it to be referred to, other than just 'entity'."

>>187939
"It's a phrase that means a non-communist who moves towards allegedly the same or similar ends as communists and thus is a useful ally." The ends of his lips go down. "The phrase and practice has fallen out of favor in more recent years due to... mixed results..."

>>187938
>>187939
Out of their peripheral vision, a set of mist starts to swirl in the wind, like a small tornado, twirling in place and darkening.

>>187940
Can Kira feel the static feeling that Hazel told her about?

Static pours out of the green stallion's radio, and he turns towards the mist, as the grey stallion does the same

>>187941
Yes. Yes she can

>>187942
Kira: "Uh, guys? There's a monster about to spawn in!"

Kira draws her bow, while Silver draws his greatsword. How far away are the swirling mists?

>>187932
>"She's too conventionally attractive to be a conventional Lich." He smiles to her, as if genuinely trying to be charming
Oh, you flatter me sir."
>>187940
"I think we have company."
Posey draws her bow

It starts to solidify, being more than 15 feet tall and dark grey in skin, or perhaps fur. It's form is alien and yet to Silver and Posey, too familiar. You could say it is like an elephant, though one that is very lanky. It has two, more or less, pony-like heads, even if the one on its right seems dead. Though its second head could be looking at Posey or maybe Silver, it's primary, upright head is most certainly staring at the black stallion.

It roars

[1d20+3 = (14+3) = 17]

[1d30+3 = (19+3) = 22]
[1d20+2 = (15+2) = 17]
[1d20+1 = (12+1) = 13]
[1d20 = 1]

>>187943
30 feet

>>187944
He manages to turn to her and say
"I'm sure you hear that a lot"
Before the grey stallion catches his attention, and directs him to the new threat

>>187945
Silver: "МЕРЗОСТЬ!"

[1d20+4 = (8+4) = 12]

Kira: "Oh, not this creepy thing again! That is very much not friend-shaped!"

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

>>187945
Let's remember to take the picture this time

Initiative
[1d20+7 = (14+7) = 21]

The black stallion looks at the tall, lanky creature, lowers his head, directing his horn at it, letting it glow, then firing a red laser at it.

[1d20+5 = (5+5) = 10]
[4d6 = 14]

It is hit, and its elephantine skin is a lit. It roars again.

Posey's turn

Mala:
[1d20+2 = (11+2) = 13]

>>187949
Posey fires an arrow
[1d20+5 = (4+5) = 9]

She whistles and her Dreads fly up from over the hill and also fire
[1d20+5 = (16+5) = 21]
[1d20+5 = (2+5) = 7]

>>187950
One hit
[2d8 = 15]

Posey uses her remaining move Action to move 30 ft to the opposite side of the monster to the black stallion, trying to confuse the two-headed creature

Turn over, btw

The grey stallion takes his rifle and shoots it twice in quick succession

[1d20+5 = (9+5) = 14]
[2d8 = 6]
[1d20+5 = (11+5) = 16]
[2d8 = 6]

TAKE A PICTURE

But the abomination is undeterred by the fire, nor does it pay any head to Posey.

It moves forward, and takes a swing with what seems to be a hammer of some kind.

[1d20+12 = (1+12) = 13]
[2d6+6 = (3+6) = 9]

>>187955
Silver will, it's not his turn yet and he has the camera.

It swings at the black stallion, moving past the grey pony and presumably Silver to do so. But it swings too low, and hits the soil near him, giving him time to dodge out of the way.

The orange stallion lowers its head at the abomination, and sends a bolt of blue energy at its side
[1d4+1 = (1+1) = 2] [1d4+1 = (1+1) = 2] [1d4+1 = (3+1) = 4]

Kira's Turn.
Silver can go as well, and also direct Mala

>>187958
Spellcraft to see if Posey recognizes this as magic missile
[1d20+11 = (3+11) = 14]

>>187959
Failed...

>>187958
Kira takes the opportunity to taunt the abomination, hoping to draw its attention away from the commies. "Hey, poopy-butt-head! Your heads are butts and your butt is a head!" She then slithers to be around the abomination in point blank range and away from the commies, knocks an arrow in her bow, draws, and releases the shot aimed at the abomination's head.

[1d20+12 = (17+12) = 29]
[1d8+6 = (8+6) = 14]

Silver calls out to Mala, "Try to get it off balance! On those lanky limbs, it surely has uneven center of balance!" He then moves back a short distance, aiming to have a clear path between him and the abomination. Using the camera, he snaps a picture of the abomination, which should end his turn.

>>187961
>>>/mlpol/380778 →
Hoping you'll pardon the interjections while I
>groove

>>187960
You'll get 'em next time

>>187961
The abomination looks down at the annoying noodle, and roars

click

Meanwhile, the green pony points at Kira with his hoof and yells
"Смотрите, вот еще одна его мерзость!"

Mala shoots at it twice with his shotgun
[1d20+7 = (12+7) = 19]
[2d10 = 7]
[1d20+7 = (3+7) = 10]
[2d10 = 8]

>>187963
Silver: "Она дружелюбная, не нападайте на нее!"

Kira, who can't hear the green pony call her a monster, sticks her tongue out at the abomination and blows a raspberry at it.

The abomination is shot, and its limbs look like they are near falling off, with its colorless insides exposed and near spilling out. But it isn't daunted.

The black stallion moves a few steps back until he feels the edge of the cliff and looks back, then places himself in more firm footing. He lowers his horn, and shoots a set of blue bolts at it
[1d4+1 = (4+1) = 5][1d4+1 = (2+1) = 3][1d4+1 = (4+1) = 5]

It gets hit again, and again, and again, chipped away at until it looks away and roars. but that roar degrades with time, and it pops into black smoke, and fades

>>187967
Yay! Victory!

>>187966
>>187967
Kira: "Yay, we won! And I didn't get bitten by a hellhound this time!"

Silver lets out a sigh of relief, and returns to the group, camera in hoof and sword once again in its sheath. "I suppose Traveler is not too distracted to sent its monsters after you."

>>187966
Posey looks at the fleeting most where the monster once was, with a bit of a grimace
"You you think these beasts actually die when they are slain? Or do they just go back where they came from?"
I guess I should roll arcana
[1d20+11 = (15+11) = 26]

>>187964
The green pony says,
"То есть аберрация, созданная Чернобогом"

>>187969
This time...

>>187970
Posey knows that traditional summons, and specifically outsiders, go back to whence they came. What is not as clear is if these are traditional summons. They don't quite seem to be, given the small differences

>>187969
"No. How did it find us hear? I thought we had lost them." He tilts his head. "Has it been tracking you?"

>>187971
Silver: "No. It may be from Pipette. She is showing signs of being affected by Traveler's influence."

>>187971
>Posey knows that traditional summons, and specifically outsiders, go back to whence they came. What is not as clear is if these are traditional summons. They don't quite seem to be, given the small differences
Well, I'm asking because I am tallying every time I destroy or desecrate a foe so thoroughly that it cannot be brought back from the dead, and I wonder if this counts.
Eh, probably not
>How did it find us hear?
"It is a monster with long-range telepathy. If it also has mindsight, hiding from it would be futile." Posey suggests

>>187972
He sighs,

“We have all taken stress.”

>>187973
“Well it left us alone for more than an hour. We are at the end of what we can handle. Let us meet with the Stalliongrad forces. They are here.”

>>187974
Posey turns to Pipette quizzically, since it was her idea to meet with the commissar.

>>187974
Silver shakes his head at Black Heel. "That is bad idea. I know it deep in my heart of hearts, they are here to kill any witnesses and reclaim Traveler, not save you and kill Traveler."

>>187976
He tilts his head
“How could you know?

>>187977
Silver: "I just do. I know what GRU is like. I know what Stalliongrad is like. They knew what this thing was before agreeing to trade fuel oil for it. They knew risks, and accepted it anyways. They will not stop trying to utilize it just because some soldiers lost their lives in process. Potential reward for them is just too great to accept otherwise."

>>187979
"We really cannot know for sure." Posey says
"But it sounds like what the military would do back at home." she adds

>>187979
>>187980
He is silent, and stares at Silver with blood red eyes. He wears a cap, but it’s clear that under that cap he has a set of foil. Some of that foil wraps around under his neck.

He too shakes, though to a less visible degree than Pipette.

After Silence, he says

“The important thing is that what ever the Snow Ponies sold us ceases to exist, and its body, and secrets, serve International Communism, not the False Revolution, the Sea Ponies, or whomever else.”

>>187975
pony noises

>>187981
>pony noises
"Use your words, darling. You did bring us here. What was your plan?"

>>187981
Silver sighs. "You all have clearly felt Traveler's influence. You all have first-hoof experience with it. They do not. Tell me, does anyone deserve this? Communist, Fascist, Harmonist? Having your comrade's minds taken over by something else, having them turn against you? Will they believe you if you tell them?"

I got a sleep soon

>>187982
She turns to her
"You asked to come to him. I took you. Our plan was to hold out until reinforcements came."

>>187983
"They should." He answers

>>187985
Silver: "They should. But they will not. How you have spoken, you seem to be possessed of great wisdom. Surely, with that wisdom, you can see that. You have radio. You can talk with them if you do not believe me. Hearing their voices, you know they are not here to help.
We are."

>>187916
He replies,
"Ja, ja, dat kan ik."
He tilts his head
"Wat had je in gedachten als 'nuttig'?"

>>187988
Cavaliere looks down from his vantage point in the turret.
"Survival gear, of iets dat gebruikt kan worden om van dit eiland af te komen, zou handig zijn. Is er een radio en heeft die stroom? Je mag alle wapens meenemen die je vindt."

>>187989
>>187989
Sorvik nods
"Uh, oké, dat zullen we doen"

Cavaliere is left to work for the moment

[1d20+1 = (19+1) = 20]
[1d20+1 = (19+1) = 20]
[1d20+1 = (12+1) = 13]

>>187990
I'm excited to see what's found.

How long will it take for Cavaliere to take the gun down? I would like him to read through the pilot's log if there's time.

Today we mourn the tragic passing of Beefilly fren. Theres mo other words

Are we doing stuff today?
I had to cancel my second in person session today, so I'm free all day (but I can't stay up too long; it's a week day).

The smell of cheese belies the presence of a bat

I'm going to bed, but feel free to RP without me.

>>188014
I see…

>>188016
okay….

>>188017
I was on standby all day, GM. I can't stay up to midnight every night.

>>188017
Thanks for acknoweding my persence. I wouldnt have played well, the suddenness of Wanda triggered some unresolved psychological shit.

To proceed with the group with the Commissar, I need to write a dialogue between him and the Spetsnaz announcer. To proceed with Cavaliere, I need to write out a set of journal entries that tells a mini story of its own. And even for Sven, I need to not only write out Moonlit Meadow's reaction to her, but also three different little stories that are their own investigative trails. Each of those would require probably at least an hour of sitting down and writing it out, which is on its own difficult to do when you're borderline ADHD like I am (I was medicated for it for much of my adolescence). But more importantly, it requires making decisions and commitments that I just really don't feel up to.

Every session, or at least, several times a week, I will get posts directed at me either in thread or on discord that are just negative. Passive aggressive posts like >>188018 and the other one just a week ago, or one I got from Cavaliere this morning telling me I fucked up scheduling. And this is besides the outright aggressive posts towards me like on discord from you-can-guess-who, telling me I am "sucking Posey's cock" On Saturday night. And of course it hasn't even been a week since I have been told to go fuck myself. Basically I am guaranteed to get some kind of out of character negative remark hurled my way more often than I have sessions. Much of this is Brie, who wants to complain that I'm not giving him attention but still refuses to respond to my post telling him the skill check succeeded, but it is not limited to Brie. There are no small comments of praise anymore. This isn't fun for me anymore.

I've been extremely un-confident in a lot of my narrative decisions in a way that I can't really convey or make felt. I spent much of Friday night going back and forth over whether the encounter with the commissar should have him already in combat, or just approach and then he gets attacked, and that is the main reason nothing really happened until Saturday. And there's a thousand small decisions like this that weigh me down and make it difficult for me to proceed. I have had the idea for this quest since the September of 2022 and have wanted it to go as well as possible. But there's never any positive feedback, just "you screwed up scheduling" or "quit sucking Posey's cock" or "the trucks should be Canadian Military Patterns and not American." Would you want to sit down and devote at least an hour to something if that were the only "thanks" you get? And if I should just forget about the posts - if the narrative I'm trying to tell is so meaningless that I should just skip the logs or the dialogue or the little trails - then what is my purpose here?

I remember the spoiler quote "A+ story telling" when Amber was told the story of Flash Prance at Fort Prance four years ago; the "oh no" remark from Dark Star (out of character) when a rifle threatened to go off accidentally and blow everyone's cover in that first quest six years ago; the "nope" response that Amber had to a statue in a basement; the "spooky" remark from Posey after the micorburst in the swamp; or more recently the "that's creepy as shit. Fucking Posadists" from Posey after reading the dream journal of Light Water. These are what I work for, and I remember them long after the person who first said it has forgotten. But It isn't hard to see these are much rarer now than the bitching about scheduling or how I respond to a skill check or about loot or the combat encounters, or if a depicted plane is of an American or British airframe. And those remarks have as much staying power in my mind.

I get hate periodically - actually somewhat often - with my job, but the thing is, I'm paid to do that, and in any case I have to do that. I don't have to do this, and I certainly don't get paid for it. It's getting hard to find the motivation to do this...

Have you seen Dusk's Dawn, the fan animation? It's a full episode-length animation, and it's great to watch, if only because it's bad in a hilarious way. If you read the comments, you can see that it was made fun off mercilessly at the time of its release. And I know one thing for damn sure, the team never made a sequel. And I think that's a shame, even if entirely expected. No one would put time, effort, and especially their heart, into a project if they know they will receive only shit for it.

>>188022
>Passive aggressive posts like >>188018
Bro, that wasn't be passive aggressive. I was just responding to your perceived disappointment in me going to bed last night and explained that I did all I could.

>>188022
I've really liked the quest...

>>188022
>Each of those would require probably at least an hour of sitting down and writing it out, which is on its own difficult to do when you're borderline ADHD like I am (I was medicated for it for much of my adolescence). But more importantly, it requires making decisions and commitments that I just really don't feel up to.
I know that feel. Writing content is hard. I DM'd last weekend and had to climb the same hill.
>on discord
I don't know what's going on on discord, so I can't comment.
>one I got from Cavaliere this morning telling me I fucked up scheduling
Scheduling is a group effort: we could all do better.
>And this is besides the outright aggressive posts towards me like on discord
That's really unacceptable, and you should not have to put up with that. You should at least block them.
>telling me I am "sucking Posey's cock" On Saturday night
Wtf? All we did was fight an ettin-thingy on Saturday. Nothing even remotely resembling that.
That sounds like baseless faggotry, not constructive criticism.
>you-can-guess-who
I think I can guess....
>I am guaranteed to get some kind of out of character negative remark hurled my way more often than I have sessions
Must be demoralizing.
>Much of this is Brie, who wants to complain that I'm not giving him attention but still refuses to respond to my post telling him the skill check succeeded, but it is not limited to Brie.
Ugh...
>There are no small comments of praise anymore.
I, for one, am having fun. This quest is cool. It keeps getting more complex whenever I feel like I've figured out where it is going.
>This isn't fun for me anymore.
Are you saying you want to stop?
I would be disappointed, but I wouldn't hold it to you. I have stopped Gaming games in the past because I just lost the will to keep doing them. No hard feelings or shame if you're just tired of it.
>I've been extremely un-confident in a lot of my narrative decisions in a way that I can't really convey or make felt
I've been there...
>These are what I work for, and I remember them long after the person who first said it has forgotten.
Oh, I didn't know you appreciated feedback that much. I can be more vocal in my enthusiasm.

>>188026
Don't be a nigger

>>188027
On the one hand, the pot calling the kettle, on the other hand, okay,

But saying, I have gone to extreme lengths to show GM how much I appreciate his efforts and time, to an increasing degree, The idea that theres been no positive feedback is literally of the devil, because it is a lie

>>188022
>you're sucking posey's cock
Oh, one time I said that, not repeated, but okay, let's have it out. Yes, you're more responsive to less effort posts, especially in a happenstance spray "All the inputs" manner, NGL, it gets results,
Yes, it pertains to the dopamine receptivity of anonboard rp posting.
Its a thing, become aware, and learn from. No one will hate or criticize you, its part of the process.

>>188022
>And even for Sven, I need to not only write out Moonlit Meadow's reaction to her, but also three different little stories that are their own investigative trails.
Hope you start to feel better soon. <3
Don't feel like you have to do anything special for me scratch that, I don't want you to do anything special for me. No, big stories for for trails and not several ones either.

I don't believe in responsibility. If a tree falls on you, don't jump out the way. Take a breath and step aside and if you're too late, at least you were at peace both in life and death. ^^

Just keep her thinking that Vir is a crazy pone. Give her a location to seek out and she will do so. There's no need to overthink it with me. I know you want to do it good but this reminds me how DWK ruined his own fun in making pony videos. He cared so much about making it good that it became a burden for him and while I get that it's us players that causing you most(all?) of your stress, it's better to "not even try while trying" and give me that level of effort. I feel like you know me, I will literally role-play with a rock if you put one before. Imo, Fren.^^

>>188034
Fucking A right, Vir is pure

>>187971
>>187972
"The Traveller could be scrying on the prisoner." Posey says, gesturing to the bound commie on her floating disk

>>188022
>one I got from Cavaliere this morning telling me I fucked up scheduling
I'm sorry, GM Pony. I really wasn't intending on being negative or passive aggressive. What I wanted to convey was that it would be a nice courtesy to post if a game isn't happening one night, or alternatively to post when one is happening. I tend to be too direct rather than gentle in my approach.
>"the trucks should be Canadian Military Patterns and not American."
Had I known this remark would have a haunting effect I never would have said it. Being snarky and critical is second nature to me, as I grew up watching MST3K and Cinema Sins, and to me pointing out flaws in something helps to improve it down the line I also started in this thread making sardonic comments about the game and its players, and though that was very silly it never harmed anyone's willingness to continue. I also like the game's setting of Equestria at War and this manifests partly as wanting the game to be consistent with that setting in various ways. I'll refrain from doing anymore of that.
>But It isn't hard to see these are much rarer now than the bitching about scheduling or how I respond to a skill check or about loot or the combat encounters, or if a depicted plane is of an American or British airframe.
But I have enjoyed this quest and all its little details. It's why I keep notes so that even after it's over I can explore hints and plots that are left over. The atmosphere of this quest has also been incredible and you should be confident in it enough that you don't have to ponder, "how will this be received by the players?"

>>188034
This post came off a bit commanding but it's not meant that way. You do you of course. I just want to relieve you of that pressure you feel. ^^ And my suggestion is based on personal experienced too. The way I get started doing things that are hard to do is by doing one metaphoric step in that direction. If I want to do the dishes, I only make myself turn on the tap.

>>188035
>Fucking A right, Vir is pure
Indeed. ^^
Though, she immediately tried too preen the wings of a bat-pony upon seeing one without asking consent so, I guess, Brie & Lacey wouldn't be safe.^^

>>188042
>Being snarky and critical is second nature to me
"Something we have in common," Brie offers casually, attempting to turn a meta OOC comment into an IC topic for banter,... its fine if you don't wanna, but I have lots of things for Brie to say to/with Garv, when you're ready. ^_~

Yes, playfully trolling GM and all with this. Shut up, its funny

Ostensibly and presumptively, Brie is preparing to fuck with something that could eviscerate his face. He is not going into this with his usual cavaliere attitute, with flippant quips to fire out. No no, this is a very serious matter that will require the utmost of care. In the meantime, he's happy to make all sorts of jibes and comments, never with any ACTUAL malice, just a general sense of "I'm bored, and fuck you, its funny".

Oh don't look at me like that, I haven't even started putting ornaments on Posey!

Unbidden, but unable to refrain, Brie blurts out:
"This whole fucking thing stinks. Mind control? What the fuck?? I've dealt with mafiosos with their heads up their ponut, but this? I dunno mare,...."

>>188022
Alright time to come back to this one.

GM, let me be the first to say "All hail". I came back to this fucking SITE because I wanted to play more. Yes yes, I'm a crass asshole, who flippantly likes crossing lines/boundaries. Yes, we can speak to "the issues" but I came back here expressly and intrinsically for the game. Having said, let me be the first on record to say "tell me what to do and I will do it".
Ngl, I'm NOT good at intuiting what do do without express explanation, but I AM good at doing what needs doing, when I know what that is.

I'm sorry I said the heinous things. I say heinous things. Maybe someday I can stop saying heinous things, idk.

And SINCE no one has responded yet, and SINCE I am that one nigger,...

Lacey is the sort that is quick to diffuse a situation if at all possible. Why? Because it generally leads to more profit, and she wants to have done everything to prevent having to kill everyone in the room. She's not opposed to it, it's just troublesome to have to literally clean up after. Wink.

"Body 'squads' cost bits, bits I could redistribute elsewhere. Are we done here?"

[YouTube] Mike Koglin - The Silence [Embed]
You're objecting?

>>188133
>clears throat
[YouTube] Mars & Mystrë ‎– Faith In 2000 [Embed]
1:21:00

Dont Stop is my last resort. From here, I get creative ^_~

>>188133
While you're being buttmad, notice that the first of the posts you're objecting to was on the 28th, and the rest are from today. So if you're mad that I posted today, lets talk about it and see if we can come to a resolution. But if you think you're gonna >imply and I'm gonna start towing the line you think I should, well I'll give you three guesses how THATS likely to turn out

Yes, not enough skeletons, we know. Moving on

>>188144
>unintended dubs
Not gonna delete this one ^_~

[YouTube] Tengen Toppa Gurren Lagann OST Sorairo Days FULL VERSION [Embed]
(yes, I think ur dumb)

https://suno.com/song/e5b159c7-571e-4e10-a67e-806c10c1af4e
This is my song, it was made for me. It makes me happy-cry to be so recognized by my team. I want to get back to that here too.

I think we're telling a really good story. I hope we can see it to it's completion

<In the waaaaaaaaater's deep embrace, Addy find her special place
This incessant song has been stuck in Brie's head for a very annoying minute. He really hopes it doesn't affect his disable device modifier, this is an awfully big bomb,...
<Gems and ore in a fluid race, a druid's calm in nature's grace
Yeah, you're lucky no one has called you out for playing a druid
<Feck off, its cooking-related

Blackheel stands there, seven or so feet from the edge of the cliff, staring at Silver and making eye contact with his blood red eyes. Though his mouth gives no expression, and though his thick, fur-tufted legs stand solid and firm, a closer examination reveals signs of trembles - lesser, to be sure, than in the others, but present all the same.

But for all the bravado, his lips pull back even as they remain closed. He picks up the mouthpiece with an aura of red magic, places it near his mouth, holds down on the send-button with magic, and speaks:

"Это политический комиссар Блэкхил, отвечающий за надзор за международной миссией помощи в Костроме. Вы слышали наш призыв к ответчику?" - "This is political commissar Blackheel, in charge of overseeing an international aid mission on the Kostroma. Have you heard our distress call?"

There is silence for a moment, and a hint of static. But the static cuts out, and is replaced with a crisp, clear message from a male voice that slowly, enunciates every word. A listener may suspect that the speaker either is not a native speaker and knows the language only from classroom lectures, or perhaps that the speaker expects the listeners to not be native speakers. But the pronunciation is crisp and the accent correct.

"Ваш призыв был услышан. Режиссер приказал спецназу компании «Хладон» провести операцию «Буян». Весь костромской личный состав должен прибыть к месту высадки на северном берегу." - "Your call has been heard. The director ordered the special forces of the company "Halon" to carry out the operation "Buyan". All Kostroma personnel must arrive at the landing site on the northern shore."

"Вы можете прийти к нам?" - "Are you able to come to our position?"

"Согласно Буяну, компания Halon должна обеспечить безопасность всего острова. Сопротивление было встречено и решается. До тех пор весь костромской персонал должен прибыть на северный берег." - "Per Buyan, Halon Company is to secure the whole island. Resistance has been encountered and is being dealt with. Until then, all Kostroma personnel are to come to the north shore."

"Это комиссар Блэкхил. К кому мне обращаться?" - "This is Commissar Blackheel. To whom do I speak?"

"К простому частному. Я всего лишь посланник." - "To but a simple private. I am only a messenger."

"Я являюсь старшим комиссаром. Я прошу поговорить с комиссаром по поводу компании «Галон»." - "I am a ranking commissar. I request to speak with the commissar over Halon Company."

"Вы можете прийти и поговорить с ней лично. Связи по радио не будет." - "You may come speak to her in person. There will not be communication over the radio."

"Знаете ли вы об опасностях на этом острове?" - "Are you aware of the dangers on this island?"

"Режиссер предупреждает о мятеже, внешних влияниях и неизвестной враждебной силе, присутствующей на Mended Horn." - "The director has warned of a mutiny, outside influences, and an unknown hostile force present on Mended Horn."

"Я командую отрядом верных моряков, мы готовы помочь, но в основном не можем. - I command a detachment of loyal sailors, we are ready to help, but mostly we cannot."

"По распоряжению директора весь костромской персонал должен прибыть на Северный берег." - "By order of the director, all Kostroma personnel are to come to the North Shore."

Blackheel lowers the mouthpiece, and in a smack, his tongue comes out of his dry mouth. He moves it back to his mouth.

"Моя группа лояльна Советскому Союзу. Все сотрудники Костромы под подозрением? - My band is loyal to the Soviet. Are all Kostroma personnel under suspicion?"

"Было объявлено, что на острове присутствует неизвестный псих, обладающий враждебным внешним влиянием. Первая задача компании Halon - обезопасить остров Буян. Вопросы лояльности и дисциплины будут решаться только после того, как угроза будет нейтрализована." - "An unknown but hostile outside influence has been declared present on the island. The first task of Halon Company is to secure the island per Buyan. Matters of loyalty and discipline will be addressed only after the threat is neutralized."

"Есть иностранные граждане и конфиденциальная информация." - "There are foreign nationals present among the passengers of the Kostroma, and sensitive information is involved."

"Директор и ответственный командир знают о предназначении Костромы. Операция «Буян» решит эти вопросы, как только угроза на острове будет устранена." - "The Director and the commander in charge are aware of the mission of the Kostroma. Operation Buyan will address these matters once the threat on the island has been neutralized."

"Это враждебное влияние, оно обладает разумом управляемых костромскими пони. Они все еще верные пони, но под контролем плохого актера. Здесь мы имеем дело с магическим влиянием. Мало кто был вовлечен в настоящий мятеж. Можете ли вы распространить информацию о необходимости применения нелетальной силы везде, где это возможно?" - "This hostile influence, it has mind controlled ponies of the Kostroma. They are still loyal ponies, but under under the control of a bad actor. We are dealing with magical influence here. Few were involved in an actual mutiny. Can you spread the word to use non-lethal force wherever possible?"

"Мы знаем о враждебном влиянии. Весь костромской персонал должен явиться на северный берег." - "We are aware of the hostile influence. All Kostroma personnel are to report to the north shore."

Blackheel takes his magic off of the "send" button and lowers the mouthpiece

>>188217
Silver bows his head at the commissar, before looking back up at him with sadness. "They have their mission, and they have made it clear they will complete it, no matter cost. Those ponies and non ponies of Kostroma, those who are now playthings of this Traveler, they have no choice in matter whether they are to be anyone's enemy. But you all do have choice. You can follow their orders, head to North Beach, and hope they do not decide it is too much trouble to figure out if you all truly are loyal or not...or you can join us, help us take out Traveler, and try to save as many creatures as we possibly can as we escape this island. We have plan, we have means, and with your aid we will have numbers necessary to make our assault upon Kostroma just that much easier. I will not lie to you, it is difficult choice to be made. But it is necessary one. And it must be made."

>>188218
Blackheel stands silently. He looks back to the orange stallion, then to the green one, and glances at the grey. Then he looks back to Silver, making eye contact. He tilts his head and raises an eyebrow.

"And what is your plan, and what is your means?"

>>188219
Silver: "Core of it as it pertains to Traveler is this: our explosives expert is turning torpedo from crashed naval bomber into remote detonated improvised explosive device. Our resident blackweave specialist will use her magic to rot Traveler from inside out. It will not be near enough to kill it outright...but it will weaken it. We will then force explosive inside its body, likely though mouth but any orifice will suffice. Its hide has proven resistant to damage, but its internals should not be, and combined with rotting magic and it being in dimension where death is unavoidable certainty it should be enough to make it vulnerable to conventional damage if not kill it outright. For dealing with any summoned monsters, we are also repurposing bomber's MG from its turret. While its high rate of fire means it will be unusable from standing position, from prone position it should be enough to turn any monster Traveler could summon to shreds. Once all that is done comes our plan of escape, where we send out message using magic across island to newly freed Kostroma crewmembers to return to ship ASAP. If needed, we can send rescue party to give aid to this objective. We will then simply use rising tide to unbeach ship and sail away to safety with as many creatures as possible. We are working on summoning ally to help with transporting explosive and MG from plane, but I am also hoping we can use this ally to disable GRU ship to prevent them from pursuing us as we make our escape."

And lastly in GM we pray

>>188217
Posey does not speak the language, but as a warmagus in a despotic army herself, she recognizes the telltale monotonous sound of a messenger repeating the same unreasonable orders over and over and ignoring extraneous circumstances.
"Let me guess: The higher ups were unhelpful?"

>>188233
Silver: "That is basic idea. They ignored any of Black Heel's concerns and kept repeating same order for Kostroma crew to come to their landing site at North Beach."

>>188234
"I don't know about you, but I do not trust them. I intend to leave this island in one piece."

Sometimes unable to restrain himself, Brie is simply trying to occupy his mind. Very grateful for his mask, he's never felt so off-put before. For one, there's this traveler and all this mind control nonsense, which does NOT sit well with him, as a pony who very much values his autonomy. Then there's the fact that WHERE'S THE FUCKING MILITARY?? Oh, yes, there's that one group, but they're obviously not here to mend sails. All the while, all we have is a rag-tag band of misfits,....

Brie looks up from the bomb
>>188246
"Anything needing to be addressed?"

>>188238
>>188234
>>188233
Blackheel is silent for a moment

"The director of the GRU knows only a few things about what is going on here. That there was some degree of treachery among the science team and crew on the Kostroma. That there is an "unknown hostile outside influence" active on the island and the Kostroma. That they do not, in fact, know what in Tartarus is going on, and that it is all contained on the island so far.

I know it is easy for us standing here to dismiss the thought, but they don't know, for example, that our mind-controlled comrades are not infected with a communicable mind virus, be it something physical like a brain parasite, or something more immaterial. They do not know that we who seem normal are not in fact, secretly infected, or are traitors working for some hostile foreign government. If we are being honest, even we do not know that.

Even something as mundane as sailors having been exposed to a Potemkin village version of Skyfall, and getting an inaccurate impression of life under Capitalism, can have an insidious influence if such ideas are allowed to spread.

These are what they must consider. Security of the mainland is likely taking priority over... over the wellbeing of a few potentially treacherous, likely infected... ponies."

>>188251
scrunch

>>188265
Silver: "Knowing GRU, they likely know more than they are letting on. Enough to know, not enough to understand. But regardless, to condemn all of Kostroma crew to same fate, even for sake of security, it is sacrificing that bit of equinity which separates us from common animals. Caring for each other, wanting to see whole herd succeed, that is just one of many things that make us special, and to throw that all away for anything, especially safety..." Silver breathes in, and lets out a sigh. "Those few 'potentially treacherous, likely infected' ponies and creatures...you made pledge to them just as they did to you. That you would have their back, support them just as they support you, and that you would trust each other through thick and thin because that is how cohesive unit operates. They need you now, more than ever, as they can not speak for themselves as to their guilt or innocence. GRU believes what they are doing is securing mainland, but we know there is better way that will secure mainland and save these lives that depend on you. And they certainly will not see to that better way. They will stick to their flawed plan, no matter cost."

>>188265
Posey nods in understanding
"It is probable that they are this stage have no intention of letting anyone leave this island alive, let alone get back to the mainland."
She gives a wistful sigh
"It feels like home. The military back in Farbrook used to blow up bridges and shell ships to contain wight, shadow and specter outbreaks after contact with the undead legions, even at the cost of loyal fighters. It was rather wasteful." she says, faking a pained expression

Unsure if he's even within audible range of this conversation - though he is a bat who isn't wearing earplugs atm, so he does have a bit of an advantage - Brie would think "affect is a better term than fake" while analyzing the torpedo he will eventually hopefully not die in a fire because of. It's military hardware, designed to be triggered in a specific way, so his first task would be to disable the activation-function, after which he can work to extract the explosives, then finally to rig a detonation switch or trigger of some kind when the device is squarely in the Traveler's posterior, much like /mlp/ just did with the 4chan cup.

>>188268
Probably one of 'these' hoof grenades, he surmises, deliberately being a chode and double-posting for the last time

>>188266
"So, what are we going to do?" Posey says
"The GRU seem intent on their plan of action. The real question is how do we respond?" She says, with a calm, professional demeanor as she polishes her sword
"I do not intend to lay down and die, and I certainly do not intend to go home empty hoofed." she adds

>>188271
Silver: "Taking on army is different beast entirely from taking on eldritch horror. We should strive to avoid getting into conflict with them for as long as possible while they are distracted. They are not our enemy as of yet, but they will be once we come into contact. It is also best for getting everyone off island safely if we avoid conflict as well."

>>188273
"I'm fairly certain that our escape is precisely what this here is intended to potentiate," Brie says, indicating the torpedo "Difficult though it may be to implement," he acknowledges

Brie carries on because A. he has something he's been dying to say and B. because his poster is an asshole. No, this doesn't count as double-posting, as it is tangential and geared to reference a wider context.

"While not knowing the first thing about anything "eldritch" - first time I'm hearing the word - I happen to exist in the mind of someone who does. From what I am able to gather, it's likely not an issue of KILLING this "our fellow" (laughable) Traveler, it will likely come down to rupturing whatever method it is using to tether its self to this plane of existence; such things do not by nature exist in this sort of cartoon pony (with guns) world, and whatever means it is using to be 'present' is more than likely our target," he says, again turning to the torpedo that he's VERY keen to get started on, and NOT trying to jump on anyone's nerves by indicating, he's just that excited

>>188272
"I believe that we should secure the air ponies as soon as possible."

GM, if I haven't made clear, this is where Brie is going with things. He doesn't think he's going to survive, but he will make the Traveler sorry for coming into his neighborhood.
Theme song
[YouTube] Bury the Light - Vergil's battle theme from Devil May Cry 5 Special Edition [Embed]

>>188274
>>188276
Cavaliere can't help but smirk as he undos some bolts. "You are very confident like the others. I hope nothing happens to dampen those spirits. I just hope our friend the Captain stays true to his assurances."

BTW, "fuckoff" is a very irreverent way by which I attempt to say "That's ridiculous", I'm not trying to be a dick, even though I will do more to be a dick than most people who ARE deliberately trying

He pauses, as if gathering his thoughts.
"Are you familiar with,... its an old and antiquated term, but are you familiar with ninjas? They were quite impressive, by all accounts. Much like samurai but dispensing with foolish notions of fighting fairly. That's more my bailiwick, as they say."

He continues, undaunted, almost in spite (but a thinly veiled pretense of "I do love you, honestly")
"I speak to this specifically, as I happen to know one. Or at least, her family has all the traditional hoobedy-bla that one might expect. I think it's all quite pretentious (and that's saying something, coming from me) but they have an ancestral lineage dating back to some several-hundred years ago, dealing with just such a problem as what appears to be this "Traveler". I though it was just filly tales and superstition, but now I'm given pause. That doesn't happen to me much!" he exclaims, turning back to the torpedo.
"Sorry, I tend to digress, but the point of this spiel was to emphasize that in spite of my superscilious manner, I am taking this matter as seriously as I am able." You can't tell because of the mask, but he accentuates the last bit with a warm smile.

>He's still fucking going
Its been more than half a day and no one is posting. Ahem, thats ridiculous, I'm posting again.
>>188292
"I appreciate your seeming skepticism; I will admit to a bit of presumption, as I'm not as good as interpreting griffon facial expressions as that of ponies. But, let me just say this one is special; in alot of ways. I digress, I was told of and read of something they called a dread. Again, I thought it was nonsense, yet it hauntingly comes back to me as if it was all in preparation. So yes, lets rightly kill this thing, or whatever happens to its butthole." Again, with the mask you cant see it, but his smile and enthusiasm are undeniable

Sorry for the lack of posts. There's not much to say until the plot is moved forward.
>>188301
"If there is such a thing as fate, it has led us to this place. We will fulfill our purpose no matter the cost."

>>188220
The orange stallion, whose long, wavy red and yellow mane sticks out from under the foil hat, moves closer, and for the first time, he speaks in a language other than Severyanan.

"We know the entity, this 'Chernobog' as the superstitious call it, the 'seraph' as the villagers called it, or, as Lightwater, and now you say, this 'Traveller'... we know it was unconscious before, when it fell from the sky and was first found. But also when we found it, it was dormant. It can be put back. But it can wake up as well."

Blackheel raises an eyebrow
"Ally?"

>>188233
Reservedly, Blackheel replies
"Not directly, not enough."

>>188246
Blackheel looks over to the black griffin, taking a moment to reply:

"The GRU named their operation "Buyan." If you do not know the meaning of that phrase, it is an island of the old legends. An island that exists outside of space and time, slipping into our reality on nights of special importance, appearing out of the mists ad disappearing just as quickly It is where the great lich is said to keep the urn containing his soul, or where the old princess came from. They must have had a sense of humor in giving the operation that name. Me, I will be just fine to leave this island and never come back."

>>188266
Blackheel:
"I would question how well you know the GRU" He looks down, then back up

"But yes... even the controlled sailors need our help. I think the GRU does know more about what is going on. Because I certainly do not."

>>188267
He replies,
"Well, not necessarily, if the whole survives..."

>>188277
The orange stallion takes interest:
"Do you have a suggestion how to 'untether' it?"

>>188308
Silver looks over at the orange stallion, and tilts his head. "How you say this...is Traveller still dormant? Has he not fully awoken?"

>>188309
Orange Stallion:
"It's... I don't know. I have never seen it move. The last I saw it was yesterday morning. It was still laying there, covered by its tarp like a body in a morgue. After that it was too dangerous to go near it, with the influence it had over the other crew members. It does not seem to have moved from where it landed in that forest. Not that we could tell, anyways. What I mean is that it wasn't - it wasn't making things with its mind. It wasn't summoning things, or making them out of air. That came later. I do not know how powerful it becomes, or can become."

>>188310
Blackheel:
"From what I've seen, it likes to make bargains more than to fight. Until you piss it off. I think the GRU knows they must kill it. Kill it and dissect it. Take its body parts. What we should have done or would have done if we could have. I still think it failed mostly for want of effort."

>>188311
Silver lets out a concerned "hmmm" before resuming. "Posey here had theory, that his current form is not his final form, perhaps that this form is necessity for surviving in dimension that is hostile to him and that, if threatened, he may transform into something more dangerous and active, but also more vulnerable."

>>188312
Orange stallion:
"I don't know... I have only seen it in the one form"

Pipette moves closer
"When I tried to cut it, it melted my scalpel. Melted it. And only the scalpel."

>>188311
"You think? Would you bet your life, and the safety of all your countryponies, on that assumption?" Cavaliere looks at the commissar with a neutral expression.

>>188314
Blackheel
"I suppose we could leave it to the GRU. Or you can join... Light Water."
With that last statement, he pulls his lips up, unable to hide his disgust

>>188313
>>188315
Silver looks over at Pipette. "Ah, it was you that briefing mentioned. We pulled some notes off of one of possessed ponies we captured that talked about that. We will see how resistant its insides are to damage, at least."

Looking back at Black Heel, Silver finally replies to him. "We are moving to whaling station, where Posey will use scroll of hers on leviathan whale skeleton we found to summon ally to help us, then we are going to gather anyone else left on island not possessed who will help us in killing Traveler. I would ask you to join us in this aim, as your help and leadership would be invaluable. We have no intention of joining Light Water, and I do not believe GRU is here to kill Traveler, only subdue him to bring him back alive."

>>188315
Cavaliere's face does not betray any judgement. "You unequivocally believe we should leave this island and trust that the GRU will destroy this mind-controlling threat instead?"

>>188317
"Yes, but what in Tartarus is the phrase 'summon an ally' supposed to mean? I understand that you are saying words, but I do not know what you mean by them. The last allies I tried to summon are very possibly here to kill us. The ones before that betrayed us to some kind of outer-worldly thing."

>>188317
"No. As I said, killing it and dissecting it has never been properly tried."

>>188318
Silver: "Posey knows more specifics about that than I do. But I assure you, we are not GRU and we are not Light Water; we are just regular, decent creatures, here because we must be, because no other creatures can do this, and because if we do not, millions will suffer for it."

>>188316
>>188318
Blackheel sighs
"While I don't know exactly what you mean by that, I know enough to know that you're referring to some kind of atavistic practice akin to religion or fetishism where you hope to make some kind of pact with some kind of untamed something in the hopes that it will damage your enemy more than it will damage you. No. I am currently living out the results of the last magical entity that someone decided to bargain with. And I know more generally, where this train of logic leads. The socialists of Aquelia finding themselves betrayed by the Republicans. The Communist Party of New Mareland siding with the Nationalists in a war to "contain the fascism of Wingbardy," just to find themselves subsumed. Besides so many pacts with so many 'gods' and princesses that found their followers become slaves at best, if not livestock to those they trusted. No. I have had enough of mercenary allies. If I must die to violence, I will die facing my enemy, not stabbed in the back."

>>188320
"I should hope we have no need for such 'pacts.' Modern weaponry has not been tested against something like this, but it's the best we have. As for your case, we just need to curb this threat and get off the island."

>>188319
I should question how Silver learned of Posey's real name and why he would be telling it to a foreigner. I've been avoiding mentioning the other party members by name for a reason, and we probably should have come up with aliases beforehand.

>>188320
Silver: "I would assume if it were some sort of pact, Posey would be wise enough to know it is bad idea. No, I do not think it is what she has planned, though I know not for certain what it is. We are not here to betray anyone, or make anyone into slaves or livestock. None of us have any loyalty to one state or system or another. Or, at least, none of us do anymore." Silver's voice rings with sadness and loss for a moment as he says this, before he resumes. "This goes well beyond states and nations. Traveler must be stopped, and whatever secrets allow him to control ponies so thoroughly must not be allowed to fall into anyone's hooves. Not Stalliongrad's, certainly not New Mareland's, not even Equestria's if it still existed. And if you do not care for your own life, then think at least for those who are following you, and those who are possessed and need help now more than ever. Or of all of those across world who will be affected if we fail to do this. And if even this is not enough, if not for yourself, for your duty to your soldiers, for saving millions of innocent lives...then I am afraid I do not believe you."

>>188321
We all introduced ourselves at the mission briefing. Besides, how many mares do you think there are in the world with the name "Posey"? I imagine it would be a very common name for ponies.

Pardon my tardiness. I was preoccupied working overtime.

I'll be available to RP in a bit, just let me backread.

>>188317
Brie's head pokes out sideways from inside the machinery
"Sorry to interject, but I quite tend to agree. I'm still of the mindset that the GRU are about to join in the fun of unwanted thralldom, but even if they avoid that fate it sounds like bullets will have a similar effect to scalpel."

>>188220 (didn't see this post)
>We are working on summoning ally to help with transporting explosive and MG from plane
Posey's eye twitches, as Silver spills her plan
Hopefully, Blackheel won't ask quest-
>>188308
Oh look, he did
>"Ally?"
Posey sighs
"I am a warmagus, and one of my past duties has been calling, procuring, and controlling monsters to serve as engines of war. It requires time, materials, implements, and considerable personal resource expenditure on my part... but whatever it takes for the cause, comrades..." Posey explains
>'Chernobog'
Posey pounces on the opportunity to change the subject away from her black magic.
"This 'Chernobog', is anything known about its nature or abilities?"
>Buyan
>It is where the great lich is said to keep the urn containing his soul, or where the old princess came from.
"What a fascinating story." Posey says, with new intrigue for this location
>"Not directly, not enough."
Posey nods in genuine understanding, being a mere frontline soldier working for almighty liches who wouldn't lift a hoof to help her on the battlefield.
>"I would question how well you know the GRU"
"I cannot say that I am familiar with the GRU, but given the way they are responding to your SOS, I believe that approaching them directly at this moment may be inadvisable. I could be wrong though."
>>188309
"It seems as though it is as I suspected: the beast went into hypotrophic torpor to endure the stress of impact." Posey says, vindicated
>>188311
"The creature will likely become vastly dangerous and mobile when it awakens from dormancy, but that may also be when it can actually be destroyed, no longer pulled into its metaphorical shell."
>>188312
"It is not guaranteed. It may not lose any vulnerability at all. It is best that we try any and all means to destroy it beforehand, and if that failed we could try to taunt it out of its shell for combat, and kill it then."
>>188316
REEEEEEEEEEEEE STOP TELLING NPCS ABOUT MY EVIL POWERS
Also, you shouldn't be showing all of our cards to the communists: they might become our enemies as soon as we defeat the Traveller.
>>188318
Possy groans at unnecessarily having to explain away her black magic.
"It is a complicated incantation and I am not eager to explain the nature of my arts, but I assure you that I can control it. I have done this before."
>>188320
Posey sighs
"So be it, then." she says
>>188321
Posey is just her nickname. Rosey Ring is her proper, given, name.
>>188322
The Pact thing was actually a completely separate plan. I just wanted to make a flying whale skeleton.
Also, in the future, please refrain from unnecessarily telling NPCs about my magical practices.

.
.
.

It has dawned on me that greentext-replying to individual quotes in the thread doesn't make any sense narratively, and makes for poor dialogue. I will try harder to respond more organically in the future.

>>188320
Bat head pops out from a different section of machinery
"Oh, Blackheel I think I heard it was. Are you armed in any capacity? I can spare a blade or two if you're in any way proficient."

>>188319
"I see..." He tilts his head and narrows his eyes

"Why are you here?"

>>188321
"Magic, explosives - anything that can be tried, should."

>>188322
"I wouldn't be so hasty to discount the possible benefits to the arcane sciences in particular, and of the value that could come from this entity. All the same, it has certainly earned my personal ire..."

>>188326
"'Calling' monsters? Like how this thing calls monsters?" He raises an eyebrow, clearly skeptical

"'Chernobog' is 'the Black God,' a mythical source of all evil in the world, or at least, the lord over it. But these are the stories of the superstitious. I would not put too much weight into them."

"The thing awakening is new to me. I don't know that it can, but I don't know that it can't, either. It is bad enough as it dreams."

>>188327
"I have my horn, and my revolver." He answers